UFC 133: Phil Davis Talks Being Ready For The Opportunity Against Rashad Evans On The Fight Fix

Host Dustin Green is back with another edition of The Fight Fix. He recaps all of the major results from Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum and then gets into a one-on-one talk with UFC 133 main event fighter as well as rising light heavyweight contender Phil Davis. Green talks to Davis about taking the fight on short notice, the effects of success, comparisons to Evans and much more.

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Transcription:

10 secs, Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum recap

Phil Daivs Interview

1:17, on adjusting to his recent success: "Man, it's been a crazy 7 months man.  My neighbors - they didn't know who I was.  Next thing I know, my neighbors are like 'Man Phil!  I saw you had a package.  I didn't want it to just sit there, because I was worried about you.  I now you need your packages Phill!'  It's like everybody's just looking out for me you know.  I left my garage open, they closed my garage.  I mean just crazy stuff.  Everybody is just doing what they can.  Helping me out.  Tryin' to help me get to the top.  It's been crazy man, I appreciate it.  I just love all the fans and the support I get.  It's been a great couple of months."

2:12, on if he likes being under the radar in comparison to Rahad Evans: "Absolutely.  I like being under the radar.  I like being the underdog.  I'd prefer people to think that Rashad's gonna win.  That leaves me with nothing to do but my job - to get in there and entertain.  Anything I do will be like 'Man, I didn't know he knew how to punch?  Man, he looks like he's dazed!'  Anything I do will be icing on the cake.  I like coming in as the underdog.  Eventually, I won't be.  By the time I get to that point, I'll be capable of coming in as the favorite and just being a strong favorite."

3:03, on making improvements in his game as he prepares for Rashad: "My last fight, I missed a couple of takedowns...and that bothers me.  Wrestling is what I do.  It's what I love to do.  It's a battle I win every time.  100%.  Anytime I don't win that battle 100%, that bothers me.  That's something I'm gonna correct.  Later on, people will say 'Phil is unstoppable when it comes to wrestling.'  I want that to be one of the things that people say about me.  That way it casts a bigger shadow over the other things that I do well.  If I'm ok at wrestling, ok at striking, oik at Jiu Jitsu, you're just all around well.  But if you do something great, people don't really talk about the other things that you do.  To me, I kinda like that because it gives you a chance to surprise some people."

3:57, on his place in the 205 division & where a win will put him: "I really don't know where this would put me other than in a really great spot.  Really great spot with the company.  Really great spot in that title line.  It's the next step in my career.  This is gonna put me in that elite level of the 205 division."

4:33, on staying prepared for short notice fights: "I also stepped in on 2 weeks notice against Rodney Wallace.  It's not even like a negative thing to me.  It's a potential opportunity.  It's an opportunity for me to get out there and show what I can do.  When you step in short notice, people automatically think you're the underdog.  People think 'Oh, well this guys been preparing for this fight date, so he should be the better guy.'  In all truthfulness, yea, it's true.  For me, I try to stay in good shape.  I try to always be in the gym.  When I get a call - fight this guy, short notice - I'm all in.  Because I know I been working.  I know I've been keeping my running up.  It's just me.  If you dare me to do anything, I will do it."