The Weekly Wrap: Feb. 28 - March 6

Quoteworthy

“I don’t know why, but I trained harder for this one than I did the Urijah fight. Mentally, I was in a really good place. I heard a lot of people saying, ‘You’re the best in the world.’ People are trying to say that, so I started thinking like that. I actually pushed myself harder than I ever had before.” -- Mike Brown at a post-fight press conference following his victory over Leonard Garcia.

"I had recovered, gained composure and saw where I was at. I was so amped up by the crowd, ‘cause I had recovered, so I tried to just jump up. I got caught in the arm-head choke. It was so tight, I thought about biting him." -- Leonard Garcia to WEC.tv about his fight against Mike Thomas Brown.

"I think (Faber would) be the easiest fight to promote and it would get a lot of viewers, man. We could do a nice pay-per-view show and I think people would tune in… they love him. Hopefully we'll do it in Florida again. I'm starting to build a fanbase of my own and as long as I'm not fighting dudes in their own hometown, I'll start getting some cheers." -- Mike Brown to Sherdog.com following his victory on a rematch with Urijah Faber.

“I imagine they’ll make [Brown-Faber II] a huge deal because it is a huge deal -- the best fighters in the world at 145 pounds and the most exciting fighters in the world. So I can’t wait to do it and be a part of it and get my belt back and watch it and drink a beer when I’m done.” -- Faber on Sherdog Radio Network's "Beatdown" show.

“Come on, son! I’ve always said that Jardine is made for Rampage and I believe that Rampage will take him out with uppercuts. Either an uppercut or knees.” –- Juanito Ibarra, former trainer of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, on Jackson’s chances against Keith Jardine this Saturday at UFC 96.

“Quinton’s a smart guy and he’s going to go back and watch out for leg kicks. The Wolfslair guys are great strategists so they’re going to know that Keith has great leg kicks. I don’t think they’re going to be a huge factor in this fight because he knows they’re coming. It’s like me coming up to you and telling you I’m going to punch you in the face with my right hand. If you’re ready for it it’s a lot harder to punch you in the face with my right hand, so I don’t think they’re going to be a huge factor in this fight.” -- Jardine trainer Greg Jackson on “Beatdown” radio.

“After I win, and me and Rashad have always talked about this, he’s helping me train for this fight and there’s no way we’re going to fight after this. People ask me this all the time. The people love this sport, but we’re not businessmen. We give the audience what they deserve, but I’m not fighting one of my best friends. It’s not going to happen.” -– Keith Jardine to Yahoo Sports on his future at 205 if he beats Jackson.

“I disagree with that. And I have to their face many times. This isn't basketball or football. You're not part of a team. Do you want to be the champ? If Rashad's got that belt, what are you going to do -- sit your whole career out and wait for Rashad to retire? Their careers are going to cross paths. And when they do, they're going to have to fight.” –- UFC President Dana White to USA Today on Jardine’s aforementioned comment.

“He will eventually have to face Rashad Evans if Rashad Evans keeps winning and he keeps winning. They say they won’t, but I guarantee you they will. We’ll be making the Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine fight. This isn’t basketball or baseball, they’re not a team. What happens if Rashad Evans holds the title for the next three years? I’m sure they’re not that good of friends.” –- UFC President Dana White during the UFC 96 press conference.

"I want to press forward, never forgetting the feeling of challenge. Right now we are in a depression but when you see the fight I put up, conditions will turn around!" -- new UFC signee Yoshihiro Akiyama discussing his signing at a press conference he called in Japan this week.

“Somewhere along the lines I became one of those guys I used to talk s--- about. I stopped training and doing the things that got me here in the first place. I don’t know when it happened or why it happened or how it happened. But it happened." -- Brandon Vera on Sherdog Radio Network's "Savage Dog Show" discussing his place in the UFC heading into his fight with Mike Patt on Saturday night.

“[Stanozolol] can be used in various forms, but is not something that would be found in a decongestant nose spray.” -- Erin Hannan, communications and outreach director for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, to Sherdog.com about Kirill Sidelnikov’s claim that a nasal spray caused him to test positive for the steroid Stanozolol.

"I did my job, and I got nothing bad to say about anybody because, at the end of the day, I can hold my head up high and know that I am real human being and I don’t need to take pot shots at others to make myself feel better or to make myself look better to future endeavors. I know what I brought to the table, and I think people from the inside, who really understand the sport, I think they know what I brought to the table." -- Former EliteXC matchmaker Jared Shaw to Versus.com in his first public comments since the folding of the company.

The Week Ahead

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson looks to get past the UFC's resident light heavyweight spoiler Keith Jardine in the main event of UFC from Ohio, while Dream launches its featherweight grand prix tournament from Saitama, Japan. Also, Sherdog.com streams a live Pure Combat card on Saturday night from Tulare, Calif., headlined by UFC veteran Jason Von Flue.