NEW YORK — UFC 205 is almost here. The fighters are all in town, cutting weight, and mentally preparing for the first UFC event in Madison Square Garden.
We chatted with a handful of UFC 205 athletes to get their thoughts on competing on the most stacked fight card ever assembled.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch UFC 205 live and only on Sportsnet PPV
Michael Johnson
Johnson has the tough challenge of trying to hand Khabib Nurmagomedov his first career loss. Johnson says he isn’t intimidated by Nurmagomedov whatsoever and the fact he’s fighting at MSG doesn’t matter to him.
“I’m not here for the bright lights and the big city. I’m here to do work.”
Yoel Romero
Romero goes up against former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and a potential shot against Michael Bisping could be waiting in the wings.
Thiago Alves
Former No. 1 welterweight contender Alves will be making his 155-pound debut against longtime lightweight challenger Jim Miller and with his weight not being an issue he’s extremely confident heading into the matchup.
“I’m just going to be too much for him to handle. He’s hoping that I’m to weak, hoping that I’m going to be too slow. Hoping’s not going to help anything.
Katlyn Chookagian
Chookagian is 8-0 as a pro and hopes to rise up the ranks in the women’s bantamweight division after moving up in weight. The 27-year-old thinks training with Eddie Alvarez and Frankie Edgar, both of whom are fighting at UFC 205, will help her against one-time title challenger Liz Carmouche.
Raquel Pennington
Pennington has embraced her role as a dark horse in the women’s bantamweight division and knows a win over former champ Miesha Tate puts her near a 135-pound title shot. Pennington was coached by Tate three years ago on The Ultimate Fighter 18, which makes for an interesting dynamic.
Belal Muhammad
Muhammad is coming off his first UFC win and says he’s feeling more comfortable with each outing. He faces Vicente Luque.
Tim Boetsch
Boetsch, whose nickname is “The Barbarian,” faces Rafael Natal and says he’s going to revert back to that “barbarian” style of fighting that led to success earlier in his UFC career.
“Throwing people down and smashing them is what works for me.”
Bryan Caraway
Caraway isn’t competing on UFC 205 but he’ll be cornering his girlfriend Miesha Tate who fights Raquel Pennington on the main card. Caraway says Tate went “back to basics” in preparation.
Follow James Lynch on Twitter @LynchOnSports
