UFC 136: Chael Sonnen and The Best Quotes Leading Up to the Fights

UFC 136 is less than a day away, and it's anticipated to go down as one of the best cards of the year.

What makes the card so great is the matchups it features and the fighters who will be going head-to-head. The event will be headlined by UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar taking on Gray Maynard for the third time. It will be a rematch of their draw from earlier this year.

In the co-main event, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo defends his title against former lightweight title challenger Kenny Florian.

Also on the card, Chael Sonnen looks to get another shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, but he must get through Brian Stann first.

In the build up to the fight, Sonnen has been more outspoken on Silva than he has on his opponent, who is a former U.S. Marine and former WEC light heavyweight champion.

These are the best quotes leading up to tomorrow's fights.

Nam Phan:

"I've got to finish this guy." From UFC.com interview.

The anticipated rematch between Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia might be for the wrong reasons, but it still promises to lay any doubts about the first fight's result to rest for Phan, who lost a split-decision to Garcia last year.

Garcia is no stranger when it comes to closely contested decision victories. Four of his last seven fights ended by split decision. One of the remaining three was a draw.

Phan admits that he has his doubts if this fight goes the distance this time around. Look for him to come out with nothing to lose despite being 0-2 in the UFC.

He can't afford to lose another close decision, but he might be able to get by on entertainment value alone if it doesn't go his way this time.

Jeremy Stephens:

“Come Oct 8, I’m going to beat the (expletive) out of Anthony Pettis. Knock him off his pedestal, whatever the (expletive) he thinks he’s on. Just expose this chump.”

It wasn't too long ago that former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis was a fight or two away from a UFC title shot.

In fact, Pettis only accepted a fight with Clay Guida because he didn't want to sit out for his shot against the winner of Edgar and Maynard.

After losing against Guida, Pettis now finds himself on the undercard of UFC 136 against Jeremy Stephens, one of the UFC's most exciting and durable fighters.

Many are expecting this fight to produce fireworks, and there is no reason to think otherwise.

Chael Sonnen: Nobody Wants to Fight Brian Stann. I'm Not the Only Guy.

"Nobody wants to fight Brian Stann, I'm not the only guy and that's not a big secret. Our paths were going to have to cross sooner or later. Brian's not going to get called out by anybody and that includes me."

Former middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen will take on Brian Stann tomorrow night, and it might turn out to be the toughest fight of Sonnen's career.

Sonnen isn't one to look forward to any fight, and it's easy to see why. Win or lose, he often leaves the cage with more damage done to him than his opponent.

He relies on his superior toughness when it comes to pulling out the victory, but that is one thing that Stann also has.

Sonnen has never been knocked out in a fight, but this could be the first time if Stann connects.

Dana White: I Want to See Kenny Prove Me Wrong, Show Me That He Won't Choke.

I want to see Kenny prove me wrong, show me that he won't choke in a title fight.

After losing to Gray Maynard in front of his hometown crowd, former lightweight contender Kenny Florian was seen by many as a choker when it comes to big fights.

UFC president Dana White admits to not understanding why Florian looks more motivated to win and put on exciting fights when he's not fighting for a title or a title shot.

This is Florian's chance to put all notions to rest because he is fighting for a title once again when he takes on Jose Aldo.

Kenny Florian: I Definitely Think Aldo Is Going to Be the Most Difficult Test

I definitely think Aldo is going to be the most difficult test of my career. From Florian's ESPN blog.

Florian has a well-documented career inside the UFC, and it has seen many ups and downs. Most of his lowest moments came at the most important times in his career.

Two of his previous title fights ended with him losing his chance to hold a UFC championship belt. The first came against Sean Sherk in 2006. The second came against B.J. Penn in 2009.

Florian has paid his dues, and it might finally pay off tomorrow night in quite possibly the last title shot of his career.

Brian Stann: Sometimes It's About Who Fights Better at That Particular Time

"It's not always about who the better fighter is, sometimes it's about who fights better at that particular time and that's what I plan on doing Saturday night."

Former U.S. Marine Brian Stann comes into his fight with Chael Sonnen as a heavy underdog, but he knows where his place stands and plans on making the most of it tomorrow night.

Stann knows where his strength lies, and it's in his fists, which have knocked out his last two opponents. Knockout victories over Jorge Santiago and Chris Leben make Stann one of the most dangerous opponents a fighter could face in the middleweight division.

Frankie Edgar: I'm All About the Anti-Bully Movement. Let's Put Him to the Curb.

"I'm all about the anti-bully movement. Let's put him to the curb." From UFC weigh-ins.

Both Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard admit they are sick of thinking about the other one.

After two fights, Edgar has yet to defeat Maynard, but he still remains champion.

In interviews leading up to the fight, Maynard hints to being the bully in their third fight, and it might be what wins or loses him the fight on Saturday.

Edgar will make the proper adjustments to deal with any bully tactics Maynard has, and it will take a different game plan by Maynard to get the better of Edgar.

Melvin Guillard: I Want to Be Able to Outshine Everybody on This Card.

“I didn’t want to fight in New Orleans because [UFC 136] is a stacked card,” Guillard told ESPN.com. “It’s an all-star card. And I want to be able to outshine everybody on this card. I want to make sure that everybody knows I am the real deal.”

Melvin Guillard might be one or two fights away from a UFC title shot, and it's a long-time coming for the 28-year-old.

Guillard brings a 29-8-2 record to his fight with Joe Lauzon tomorrow, and it could turn out to be the most exciting fight of his career. Neither fighter is known for slow starts, and Lauzon has never won a fight by anything other than by TKO or submission.

Guillard holds 19 knockouts to his credit, including three in his last four versus Evan Dunham, Shane Roller and Waylon Lowe.