JUNIOR DOS SANTOS VS. FABRICIO WERDUM
GAMEBRED BAREKNUCKLE MMA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS
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Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA
JACKSONVILLE, FL. – September 6, 2023 – MMA legends Junior Dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum went face to face Wednesday at the final press conference before the former UFC Heavyweight Champions square off headlining Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA event this Friday, September 8 from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. and streamed live and for free on the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA YouTube page.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased here.
The press conference also featured Irwing “Irwin” Armando Rivera and Joshua Weems, who highlight a stacked undercard lineup in a three-round bantamweight contest.
At the press conference, Masvidal announced that the Dos Santos vs. Werdum winner will be in line to face the winner of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA’s next main event, which will see heavyweight brawlers Alan Belcher and Roy “Big Country” Nelson meet in an explosive clash on Saturday, October 28 from Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. Additional details on that event to come.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena:
JUNIOR DOS SANTOS
“It’s a privilege to be here in the main event on a big show. I love to be doing this at a high level. On Friday night we’re gonna be ready to put on a great show for Jacksonville. This is a special moment in my career.
“My training camp does not change too much fighting bareknuckle. I’ve hit the pads and heavy bag as much as I could without gloves. The big difference is that there could be some more cuts on your face.
“I don’t think of this as a rematch because so much is different today. The main thing hasn’t changed though, it’s still his grappling against my striking.
“My motivation is to go in there and show the world the best of me. When I do that, I’ll walk away with a win.
“I built who I am through a lot of hard work and sacrifice. That’s why I’m privileged to be in this position again. I just love to fight and now that I’m doing a new thing in bareknuckle, it’s gonna be very fun.
“Fighting the winner of Belcher and Nelson would be great. That will be an exciting fight as well and whatever happens after Friday, we’ll be ready.”
FABRICIO WERDUM
“I’m happy and excited for this fight to be here. I’ve prepared my body and I believe that this fight will go down in history. 100%.
“I don’t think about the past, I just think about today. My moment is now and I don’t think about what’s come before.
“No gloves will help my grip and with my grappling. I think it might be a little bit of an advantage for me. I’m very comfortable with no gloves.
“I think it’s only a small difference for me to be bareknuckle, because MMA gloves are small. I train a lot of the time with no gloves in the gym anyway. I’m really excited to have this bareknuckle fight for the first time.
“Masvidal is an amazing guy. He’s a fighter and he knows what I’m trying to do. I can call him and ask him about anything.
“I’m only focused on this moment Friday night. After September 8, I’ll start thinking about the next fight.”
JORGE MASVIDAL, CEO of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA
“This is a team venture and I’m thankful to my team. I’m so pumped. I’ve been around fighters long enough and I know what it’s like when you’re about to fight. Especially when you’re about to go bareknuckle. You put yourself into a special place. It’s where you need to be to compete.
“I truly believe that this is gonna be one of the most talked about events of the year. It’s one of the best fight cards from top to bottom. We have the right guys on this card. This is one hell of a show. Everyone here on this stage lays it all on the line and really gets after it.
“The winner of this main event fight Friday will face the winner of our October 28 fight between Roy Nelson and Alan Belcher, which is gonna headline another huge card at Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. This is huge news and we’re excited.
“Every day I’m very conflicted on who’s gonna win the main event. That lets me know that it’s a hell of a fight. Both guys are legendary individuals. Dos Santos has always been able to put anyone’s lights out and Werdum is so well-rounded and another great all-time heavyweight.
“This is the closest thing you can get to true combat. I’ve gotten the best talent I could possibly get my hands on and they’re all fighting on September 8. If you’ve never seen bareknuckle fighting, it’s totally different because of the intensity. You have to come out and see it.
“These guys have been studying each other ever since they fought the first time. I think it’s gonna be one of the best fights of the year.”
IRWIN RIVERA
“This is my opportunity to better my life. People have wrote me off, but I make sure that I make the most of every opportunity. I know why I’m here. I’m gonna put on a phenomenal performance.
“I’m not coming for fight of the night, because I’m finishing this guy. I know what I want and it’s just a matter of being smart, focused and taking what I want. I’m coming.
“Fighting is all mental. Everything is in the head. I’ve worked so much on that and it’s propelled my fighting style and my fight IQ. I know what I have to do and I just do it.
“Fight night is my purge day. I let it all out. That’s what I plan to do. I give respect to every man with the courage to get in the cage with me, but that respect comes after. Right now we’re at war.
“I know who I am. It’s just about enjoying the process and delivering on fight night. I’ve been doing this for a long time. It’s nothing new to me.”
JOSHUA WEEMS
“I’m just ready to put on a show. It’s an honor to be on a card with legends like this. Me and Rivera both have styles where we can’t have a boring fight. It’s my first time fighting in Florida and I can’t wait.
“The pressure is on, but I always say that I do my best under pressure. I can’t wait to get in the ring and put on a great show.
“My last fight I didn’t feel like myself, so I’m glad to be back at the weight I belong at. I’m gonna be me out there. I’m very unpredictable and he’s gonna find out what that’s all about.
“Rivera comes forward, but I have a lot of tools to stop that. He’s gonna feel my strength in there. I’m in the best shape of my life. So I’ll have no excuses.”
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