The trash-talking has officially began for the UFC 113 co-main event in Montreal between Josh Koscheck and Paul (Semtex) Daley.
The two welterweight contenders offer up their views on the May 8 fight at the Bell Centre in new blogs on www.ufc.com.
Koscheck (16-4) dismisses Daley as a one-dimensional fighter with a big mouth. Daley (23-8-2) says Koscheck is overrated with a glass chin.
Both accuse the other of talking trash.
"He's gonna have to realize that come May 8, once we get into the cage, there is no more trash-talking," Koscheck wrote. "He's gotta shut his mouth and fight, and that's the difference between me and this guy. He's had a couple of good fights, but he hasn't fought anybody like me, that's for sure. I can guarantee that this fight won't go past the second round. It will probably end in the first, but I may carry him to the second round."
Daley predictably sees a different outcome.
"He's not that great a wrestler," he wrote. "His takedowns have been stuffed by almost every opponent he's faced. He can't kick-box for crap, not if his life depended on it. If he tries to stand with me for even a second, I fear for his well-being.
"His ground and pound is crap. If he grounded and pounded me in my sleep he'd barely have enough power in his punches to wake me up."
Daley also took a shot at Koscheck's fighting pedigree.
"I've been fighting top guys for years, in MMA and kickboxing. I was fighting top guys while you were doing your homework in college, hanging out with nerds, and wrestling."
Koscheck says the brash Brit can pick his poison.
"I can submit guys, I can knock guys out, I can head kick guys, and I'm not gonna have a problem standing toe-to-toe with Paul Daley. He's not gonna hit me with anything I haven't been hit with. . . . This guy has only one chance on May 8 and that's a puncher's chance."