VIDEOS | UFC 235 Pre-fight press conference highlights

By Drake Riggs - January 31, 2019

UFC 235 is looking to be the biggest card of the first half of 2019 and on Thursday we got the card’s first press conference.

Robbie Lawler, Ben Askren

In attendance was the light heavyweight and welterweight champions Jon “Bones” Jones and Tyron Woodley. Of course, so were their opponents in Anthony “Lionheart” Smith and “The Nigerian Nightmare” Kamaru Usman.

Also at the presser was the UFC debuting “Funky” former Bellator and ONE Championship champion Ben Askren and former UFC welterweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler.

As one can imagine, the combination of all these personalities made for some fun exchanges.

And last but not least on the panel were the bantamweights Pedro Munhoz and former champion Cody Garbrandt who were rather cordial with one another. Especially compared to the welterweights.

At the beginning of the UFC 235 presser, Askren shared that Usman “threatened” him backstage which lead to some banter. On top of that, the two men in the title fight shared a lengthy back and forth at one point thus showing how much they want the win come March 2.

Unfortunately, we also had the news broken from UFC President Dana White that the bantamweight bout between Holly Holm and Aspen Ladd is now off.

The full card along with the fighters’ first staredowns can be seen below.

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1091158747370508288
  • Light Heavyweight – 205lbs: (C)Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith
  • Welterweight – 170lbs: (C)Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman
  • Welterweight: Robbie Lawler vs. Ben Askren
  • Bantamweight – 135lbs: Cody Garbrandt vs. Pedro Munhoz
  • Featherweight – 145lbs: Jeremy Stephens vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov
  • Light Heavyweight: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Misha Cirkunov
  • Bantamweight: Alejandro Pérez vs. Yadong Song
  • Strawweight – 115lbs: Tecia Torres vs. Weili Zhang
  • Bantamweight: Thomas Almeida vs. Marlon Vera
  • Welterweight: Diego Sanchez vs. Mickey Gall
  • Middleweight – 185lbs: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Charles Byrd
  • Bantamweight: Gina Mazany vs. Macy Chiasson
  • Strawweight: Polyana Viana vs. Hannah Cifers

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/31/2019

Related

Austen Lane

Austen Lane guarantees violence against Jhonata Diniz at UFC Vegas 91: "I will turn it loose"

Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024
Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz
Jose Aldo

Jose Aldo reveals Dominick Cruz was originally set to be his return opponent at UFC 301

Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024

Jose Aldo was originally supposed to fight Dominick Cruz at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 4. It was announced that Aldo will be returning to the Octagon and fighting at UFC 301 and will be taking on Jonathan Martinez. Although Martinez is a tough test for the former champ, Aldo revealed to Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter, that the original plan was for him to fight Cruz but the former champ had an injury in camp.

Joaquin Buckley
UFC

Joaquin Buckley booked for UFC St. Louis co-main event against streaking welterweight contender

Curtis Calhoun - April 24, 2024

UFC president Dana White has granted welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s wish to compete in his hometown next month. White announced on Wednesday that Buckley will face 6’5″ welterweight Nursulton Ruziboev in the UFC St. Louis co-main event on May 11th. At the UFC 300 pre-fight press conference, Buckley hijacked the microphone to implore White to give him a main event slot in St. Louis.

Mike Malott, Gilbert Urbina
UFC

Mike Malott's UFC return booked for July 13th against Gilbert Urbina

Curtis Calhoun - April 24, 2024

UFC welterweight prospect Mike Malott will look to avenge his first career loss against a former The Ultimate Fighter finalist. According to reports, Malott will face TUF 29 standout Gilbert Urbina on July 13th at a to-be-announced location and venue. News of the Malott vs. Urbina fight was first reported by Sportsnet.

Anthony Smith and Alex Pereira
Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith eyes future fight with Alex Pereira: "I would step in the fire with him"

Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024

Anthony Smith is hopeful to secure a future fight with Alex Pereira. Smith and Pereira have taken shots at each other in the past, and now that the Brazilian is the light heavyweight champion, ‘Lionheart’ is hopeful he can face him down the line. Smith believes it would be a fan-friendly fight as he says he would step in the fire with the Brazilian.

Jamahal Hill, UFC 300

Jamahal Hill changes tune on referee Herb Dean's non-stoppage at UFC 300: "It makes me think before obeying a ref's command!"

Curtis Calhoun - April 24, 2024
Alex Pereira, Charles Oliveira,
Charles Oliveira

Alex Pereira sends a message of support to Charles Oliveira after UFC 300: "Sometimes we lose"

Josh Evanoff - April 24, 2024

UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has sent a message of support to Charles Oliveira. It was a very different night for the two Brazilians at UFC 300 earlier this month. Both men fought on the main card of the historic event, with Alex Pereira headlining it. ‘Poatan’ faced former champion Jamahal Hill in the main event, while Charles Oliveira met Arman Tsarukyan on the main card in a title eliminator.

Jon Jones
UFC

PHOTO | Jon Jones returns to training for the first time since suffering torn pec

Josh Evanoff - April 24, 2024

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is now back in training for his return to the cage. ‘Bones’ has been out of action since a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 last year. That win snapped a three-year hiatus for the former light-heavyweight and also saw him earn heavyweight gold. Jon Jones famously won the title that Francis Ngannou left vacant upon his exit from the company last year.

Arman Tsarukyan, Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev

Arman Tsarukyan slams Islam Makhachev after comments about avoiding rematch: "When was the last time you fought 2 times in 6 weeks?

Josh Evanoff - April 24, 2024

Arman Tsarukyan isn’t happy with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The Armenian fighter is fresh off his return at UFC 300 against Charles Oliveira. There, the two lightweights competed in a title eliminator of sorts, and put on a show. After three rounds of action, it was Arman Tsarukyan who emerged with a split-decision victory over ‘Do Bronx’. In the process, he earned a shot at Islam Makhachev.

Jamahal Hill
Khalil Rountree

Jamahal Hill opens as betting favorite ahead of UFC 303 co-main event fight against Khalil Rountree

Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024

Jamahal Hill has opened as the betting favorite ahead of his UFC 303 fight against Khalil Rountree. Hill is making a quick turnaround after losing to Alex Pereira by first-round knockout at UFC 300 for the light heavyweight title. Despite being knocked out, Hill will return on June 29 against Rountree, which the UFC announced would be the co-main event of UFC 303. Of course, the main event sees Conor McGregor taking on Michael Chandler.