“Tito was scared of Chuck!”

PC: How has training been going for your fight at UFC Fight Night on January 25th?

RE: It’s been going good, you know? I started my camp early because I was training with Keith Jardin for the Forrest Griffin fight. It’s gone good.

PC: Who are the other guys in your camp you’ve been training with?

RE: My teammates, Nate Marquardt, Joey Villasenor, Dan Christison and George St. Pierre came out and trained with us for a little while.

PC: How does it feel to be headlining this card?

RE: I don’t know. It’s pretty good, you know? I’m not going to lie, it feels pretty good. It’s just a fight.

PC: On The Ultimate Fighter season 2 finale, you dropped Brad Imes, a big heavyweight, several times. Why did you feel it was necessary to move down to 205?
 
RE: I just felt like it was a lot of weight for me to be carrying. I didn’t really feel comfortable being that heavy. I didn’t think I moved very well, so I figured I would move down in weight.

PC: You seem to improve every time out. What are some of the things you’ve been working on for this fight?  

RE: Basically just polishing up everything. It’s more or less just getting to the point where I’m comfortable with everything I’m doing inside the cage. Practice is a lot different than the fight itself, so I just want to be comfortable in there.

PC: Before your knockout of Jason Lambert in September, you were coming off of 5 victories by decision. Can we expect a knockout in this fight?

RE: I’m going to go out there and see what happens. I’m not going to try and go out there and try to get the knockout. It’s not something I go out there and search for. I think if I go out there and fight the way I’m capable of fighting, then the knockout will come.

PC: You’re fighting Sean Salmon. This is his first fight in The UFC. What do you know about him as a fighter?

RE: Not too much, to be honest man. I know he’s had a pretty busy pace, but that could do a lot with the guys he’s fighting.

PC: I know you’re a big boxing fan. Who are some of your favorite fighters; past and present?

RE: I like my boy Sweet Pea, Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones and I’m a big Mike Tyson fan. I love Mike Tyson. I love Shane Mosley as well.

PC: Let me get a prediction from you on the Mayweather/De La Hoya fight on May 5th?

RE: I love De La Hoya too, but I think that Floyd’s age and speed will get him the victory. I hope it’s a good fight, but I’m thinking in my head Floyd may pick him apart. Floyd doesn’t have that power though man. Is Floyd’s dad going to train De La Hoya?

PC: It’s still up in the air, but I’m thinking he will.

RE: That’s got to be tough, but he taught him the style, so I’m sure he could break it down.

PC: You’re a former football player and you have great stand up. What made you choose MMA over boxing?

RE: I was into boxing the whole time I was doing football. After football was over, I got into wrestling. I still have my hands from boxing, but I know the difference between street hands and boxing. I went into MMA because it had more to do with grappling.

PC: Chuck Liddell just defeated Tito Ortiz. What did you think of that fight and how many fights do you think you’re away from a Liddell type of bout?

RE: I think I’m one fight away. I’m not saying I will get a championship fight after this one, but I think I will be moving on to bigger names. As far as the Chuck and Tito fight, I think Chuck got tired at times, but he totally dominated. I think that Tito is a little scared of Chuck. Tito is a bully type of fighter. When you show a guy like that you’re not going to be bullied, then you have a different fighter all together. He came into a situation where he’s not the bully in the fight; he was actually the kid getting picked on. He was fighting Ken Shamrock like a caged dog and you could see against Chuck he had a different mindset; he wasn’t the bully.

PC: The UFC just added Quinton Jackson to the 205 pound division. What did you think of that acquisition?

RE: I think it was a good acquisition for The UFC. I think if you want to be known as the best, you have to beat the best from every organization and Dana is going out and getting the best fighters. I hope they get them all.

PC: I appreciate the interview Rashad. Is there anything you want to say in closing to your fans?

RE: I just want to thank everyone for supporting MMA and shout out to Team Jackson!

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