“Joel is a very talented guy, very talented striker. He also has a lot of submissions...I would say (he's) even similar to my style. I can submit you, but I can knock you out. I'm a striker predominantly, but my ground game is always dangerous. I think Joel is a guy like that, an up-and-comer starting, and I think that's what makes this fight exciting ? my style against his style, an up-and-comer against a veteran. We have all the ingredients to make one of the best fights of the night. -via UFC News”

“The big thing is, he's moving up. The power is different. Here at 170, we carry a different level of power. Let's see if he can adapt to that. He definitely has the height to deal with it because he's a very tall guy. It surprises me that he makes 155, but yeah, it's going to be good. I'm excited. I like fights like this that really are going to have me bringing my 'A' game in there.I'm going in there to get a big finish...I don't know if it's going to be a submission or a knockout. I think it's going to be a knockout, I just feel it. The way I've been training, the hunger I have here in Brazil. I see a knockout coming, but we'll see. I'm going to be pushing for a finish. If I see a submission, I will definitely jump for it, as well-Via UFC News”