"I don't like Jay Hieron very much. He just bothers me, the way he talks, and he thinks very highly of himself. And after the last few fights he had, they were very closely contested, and somehow in his mind he didn't really see it that way. You know, I thought he should have been thankful of the judges and he's just too sure of himself."
...
"I don't think he's got enough tools in his bag to give me too many problems."
Okay then. Being "too sure of himself" might be something that Askren himself could be accused of as well at times, but he does have a solid point about Hieron's tournament run. Next up, he states who he thinks is the favorite for the season five welterweight tourney:...
"I don't think he's got enough tools in his bag to give me too many problems."
"I was impressed with Rick Hawn last season, so you know I would definitely not be surprised if he came through the tournament and won it this season."
And on the topic of Marquardt:
"You know, I'm pretty indifferent with him now that he's decided he isn't gonna sign with Bellator. Obviously I was trying to taunt him into getting him into Bellator to fight with me because that's one way I can build my name and my record and my reputation up is fighting people better than myself. He would fit that category at this point."
I respect that he's honest about trying to goad Nate into Bellator so he could make possibly make something off a big name, and admitting that Nate might be better than him. Perhaps he isn't too sure of himself after all. You can catch the whole interview after the jump.