Stevenson calls out Aoki

[CJRockstar]

Stevenson: "I'm Fighting For The Title Again"
by Ariel Helwani, MMARated.com



Joe Stevenson has been involved in some big fights throughout his career. However, coming off a devastating loss to BJ Penn in which the UFC lightweight title was at stake, Saturday night’s UFC 86 battle against Gleison Tibau may be the biggest fight of his career. MMARated.com spoke with “Joe Daddy” about moving on from the Penn loss and getting ready for Tibau.

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Ariel Helwani: Before we get started, congratulations on the recent birth of your son.

Joe Stevenson: Yeah, another boy…this is number four. It gets hard, we had a bunch of girls names ready and it just didn't work out the way we wanted.

AH: You are truly living up to your nickname. With four kids at such a young age?

JS: Yeah, well, I am 25-years-old but with four kids, I'm looking like I'm 37.

AH: Are you going to try for a couple more or is that it?

JS: I don't know. My wife and I were thinking about maybe adopting a girl, but, for the most part, I think we're pretty much done because she keeps telling me to go get fixed.

AH: Alright, good to know. Would you encourage your kids to go into the fight game or now that you're involved in it would you rather them not?

JS: Well, to tell you the truth, I want my kids to do whatever makes them have fun; whatever they're going to have a good time at and enjoy doing. All I want to do is push them to be the best of what they want to be.

AH: So you would not be against them being a fighter?

JS: No. If they want to be a fighter I'd help guide them and give them as much knowledge that I have to it to help better them, but, other than that, if they wanted to do tap dancing I would be like ‘alright, well, time to put on the shoes.’

AH: Let’s talks about Saturday night as you will be facing the dangerous Gleison Tibau. The last time we saw you in the Octagon it was in a losing effort to BJ Penn at UFC 80. Have you officially put that fight behind you?

JS: The way I look at it, I'm fighting for the title again in my head because to get another title shot, I got to beat Gleison and not just beat him in a close decision. I've got to go out there and finish him.

AH: Do you still harp on the loss to Penn?

JS: Well, this is a funny story: I got my hair done, you know, I got it lined up and stuff, and the dude had cut the scar because it hadn't healed all the way. It totally was bleeding again, and I saw that and that kind of perturbed me. But other than that man, I try to be very strong-minded and my practices have been phenomenal. I got my new school here in Victorville (California) and under Mark Laimon I opened up a Cobra Kai (school) so now it’s just about training every day and having fun with it.

AH: Have you watched the Penn fight on tape?

JS: About 30 times [laughs]

AH: What did you think of your performance?

JS: I practiced to go into his power hand, his right, because I thought his left hook was more dangerous and he never really throws his right. However, in this fight, I guess he was practicing his right hand a lot more according to his boxing coach. But to tell you the truth, I started that fight ten weeks out, and other than before that ten weeks I was just relaxing with family and stuff and trying to get as much family time as I could but now that I look at it maybe coming into camp in pristine shape would have been the best idea. Other than that, I think a fight is a fight. Anyone can win on any given day, depending on luck and preparation meeting at the same time.

AH: We hear so much about the new BJ Penn, were you impressed with his game?

JS: Well, to tell you the truth, in my book it goes: Dan (Henderson), Randy (Couture), and then BJ, those are all people that I want to aspire to be, so, honestly, he beat me on that day and was in great shape and did a great job, I can't take anything away from him.

AH: Honestly though, what did you think when he licked the blood off his gloves? That had to creep you out a little bit.

JS: I didn't see it. I didn't see that until after the fight and watching it on the videotape. I was pissed off for a minute, it was like, ‘oh you jerk!’ It’s cool though, I mean we all pass a blood test [laughs] so I guess it’s OK.

AH: When you saw him do that on the tape, did you feel insulted in any way?

JS: I was more emotionally pissed off that I lost at that time, so I didn't really care about anything. Then after when I saw it, yeah, I freaked out for a second and it was like, ‘dude!’ My father-in-law is Hawaiian and my wife is Hawaiian and he was like, ‘he's a savage,’ and I was like, ‘fair enough.’

AH: In your mind, how many fights do you need to win in a row to warrant another shot at the lightweight title?

JS: I think that depends on who and how impressive, so it could be as little as two to three, it could be as many as four to six. All I know is when I get that shot, I'm going to take it and run with it.

AH: Are you surprised that the UFC matched you up with Tibau following a title shot and not a top five contender in the lightweight division? Perhaps Tyson Griffin who's also fighting on this card (against Marcus Aurelio)?

JS: Tyson was offered. The whole thing is Tyson is a good friend of mine. Not that one day we wouldn't fight, but he is, him and Gray are two guys that unless it’s for a title fight and we're making a lot of money off of it, there's no reason to fight.

AH: So, Tyson was actually offered to you and you said you'd rather not fight your friend?

JS: Yeah, I mean emotionally it’s hard. Up until this point you know, BJ was the closest person I've ever fought, whereas Tyson is a great friend, and it doesn't make any sense right now.

AH: Where do you see yourself fitting in the UFC lightweight division right now?

JS: Well, first of all, in your mind you always need to be the best, so I'm still on top, I just stumbled. In (the) rankings, you know, I don't really check the Internet too much, I stay off of it because when I first started, I remember the headache that I would get from watching people say, ‘oh yeah, this that and the other’ and, I mean, emotionally it does hurt you. You're like, ‘wait a minute! You jerk!’ You know, it doesn't really matter if it’s a 13-year-old kid with acne or if it’s a 27-year-old guy that thinks he can do it or someone that's really legit and has an opinion. It still hurts, words hurt.

AH: What are you expecting from Tibau this weekend?

JS: I'm honestly expecting this fight to be on the ground. I'm thinking he's got powerful double leg (takedowns) (so) sometimes I'll be on my back, sometimes he'll be on his and just waiting for the right opportunity to let everything go is where this fight is going to be won.

AH: If you defeat Tibau, who would you like to fight next?

JS: Honestly, you know, after this fight what will happen is I will not pick up my phone for a week. I'm going to spend some time with my family, go back to my school over here and I'm going to probably go for another week and do a vacation and then after that I always call (UFC matchmaker) Joe (Silva) and then say, ‘hey Joe! So, what's next?’

AH: Calling people out in the lightweight division is sort of the flavor of the day. We recently saw Kenny Florian call out Roger Huerta and now they are going to fight at UFC 87. So, that said, is there someone out there that you would like to fight?

JS: I don't know…(Shinya) Aoki. I think he's an awesome fighter. I think that would be a good fight. That's about it, to tell you the truth.

AH: But, obviously, he’s not in the UFC so…

JS: Yeah, I know, because actually I did ask (Silva) for him.

AH: Really? OK, well, maybe we could start a rumor now that you're going to fight for DREAM.

JS: That will work. I just resigned man [laughs].

AH: Well, in the meantime, best of luck Saturday night against Tibau.

JS: Hey man, I appreciate it.

Stevenson: "I'm Fighting For The Title Again"

... I think Joe wants to die...

[drop toe hold]

at least he shooting for top tier fighters, if aoki did actually come to the ufc and if joe did actually beat him then joe would shoot up the ranks, i know those are two big ifs

[CJRockstar]

Originally Posted by drop toe hold

at least he shooting for top tier fighters, if aoki did actually come to the ufc and if joe did actually beat him then joe would shoot up the ranks, i know those are two big ifs

Well, Joe is a big Internet reader, so I'm sure he knows Aoki said earlier this week he wants to challenge himself by coming to the US and fighting the best lightweight fighters in the world over here. Otherwise that would just be pulling Aoki's name out of his ass, and thats just dumb lol. But Aoki's desire to fight top tier Lightweights will most CERTAINLY lead him to the UFC...right???

[Ubermensch]

Aoki would kill him Joe's bread and butter is his ground game and Aoki is way better than Joe is on the ground. His best chance will be standing but JZ is a better striker than Joe and look what happened to him.

[hunterkiller]

As long as BJ Penn is in the lightweight division of the UFC, Stevenson will never be the lightweight champ.

I think the fight that makes a lot of sense for Stevenson would be Sherk. Both have lost to Penn this year and it could determine who can continue to climb back to a title shot and who has to start over.

[The Sundance Kid]

I personally think that Joe would have a great chance of beating Aoki.

[jcurin]

Dana should send Joe Daddy to japan for a DREAM event... he's not the UFC champ, got pounded by the reigning UFC champ, so what would dana have to lose?

[ArMnHC]

Originally Posted by The Sundance Kid

I personally think that Joe would have a great chance of beating Aoki.

i agree. Uber mentioned the JZ/Aoki fight, but JZ got caught up in Aoki's game. he didnt use his striking much. Joe could do very well against a guy like Aoki, and im sure Joe knows there is no way he beats Aoki grappling. if Aoki comes to America (and not Elite XC's version of America), then id be all for seeing that fight.

and just for the record, i was wondering why Joe wasn't fighting Tyson Griffin on this card...now i know why LOL

[brandFATAnew]

Damn, I would have been stoked to see Joe Stevenson and Tyson Griffin go at it on Satuday. On a side note, as someone mentioned earlier, I think Stevenson vs Sherk would make a lot of sense. Maybe as their next fight?

[sandywh]

Joe is a good fighter, and pretty smart, I think he could beat Aoki, but he better be damn near perfect to do it. With Aoki, you are always half of a mistake away from being caught.

Aoki is at the top of my list of Japanese fighters I'd like to see fight in the cage.