The Neutral Corner

PETE SELL IN TRAINING

The Neutral Corner caught up with Long Island native Pete Sell, who was training for UFC 90 at Matt Serra's gym in Huntington. After recovering from a shoulder injury, Sell returns to the Octagon on October 25.

Neutral Corner: Who wins between Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, both men in their prime?

Pete Sell: I gotta go with Muhammad Ali. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. That guy's moving on you, I don't think Tyson would be able to touch him.

NC: Who wins, Randy Couture or Mike Tyson

PS: In their primes? Randy Couture and Mike Tyson? I gotta go with Randy Couture. If Tyson doesn't hit him with that knockout blow right from the jump and Couture got him down, and it's probably a very good chance of Couture getting him down, that's it, show's over, he's not getting up. That's it, he's not getting up from that. Once he's on the ground, he's finished.

NC: What's your quick opinion on Kimbo Slice?

PS: He got a lot of respect for not doing much in the sport. I can't hate on the guy. Good for him, ya know, he got paid and everything. He's a superstar. But what do you do with the guy? They amped him up as a street guy on the internet, he made his name, and now you see what happened in his last fight. Maybe the pressure would be off him. They were trying to hype him up so much and he's probably like, I'm still learning. So if the guy keeps putting his time in, keeps doing his thing, good for him.

NC: One of the knocks against boxing is that there are too many sanctioning bodies, too many fighters claiming to be world champions, do you fear that happening in MMA?

PS: Eventually I guess that could happen, with there being too many leagues and too many champions and it becomes the type of thing that they have to unify the belts. As of right now, I believe the UFC is still the biggest show in town. These other shows have a long way to come. I don't think anything is happening like that in my time.

NC: What boxer do you like to watch?

PS: In boxing, I'm a big fan of Bernard Hopkins.I like Bernard Hopkins a lot, I like his rugged style.

NC: Did you watch his last fight?
PS: Yeah, yeah good stuff.

NC: OK. Last question, Pete Sell and Bernard Hopkins in the Octagon, who is coming out the winner?

PS: I gotta be honest with you, if you are asking me or Bernard Hopkins, I'm not going to try and trade with that guy. I'm taking his --- down. I'm shooting right for that double leg and I'm putting him on his butt. It's going to be me just because of my ground game. He doesn't know anything about a ground game. He would be a fish out of water on the floor. If I sit there and trade with him, of course he's going to beat the crap out of me. But I'll put him in a world where he doesn't know.

-- CASSIDY