Ben Saunders didn't want to fight Alan Jouban but knows it's going to be good

Veteran welterweight Ben Saunders isn’t exactly thrilled about the thought of “10th Planet on 10th Planet crime,” but he knows he and Alan Jouban are going to throw down.

“It’s not a fight that we both really wanted in the sense of having kind of the teammate on teammate, but it was what it was,” Saunders told MMAjunkie Radio. “We talked to Eddie (Bravo). It’s just an unfortunate situation, but it is what it is. We’re both fighters. We’re both professional, so we’re going to accept that. As far as stylistic matchup, man, it’s fireworks. I don’t think you can get much better.”

Saunders (21-8-2 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and Jouban (15-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC) meet on the FOX-broadcast prelims of UFC on FOX 28, which takes place Feb. 24 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

While Saunders currently spends the majority of his time training under the American Top Team banner, he’s long been a pupil of Bravo’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, just like Jouban.

Saunders said the matchup has put Bravo in a tough spot, and he won’t stand in either fighter’s corner.

“I don’t think he’s even going to come to the event,” Saunders said. “He’s probably going to watch it from a secluded place back home.”

It’s probably for the best. After all, both Saunders and Jouban have a penchant for exciting contests – or as “Killa B” puts it, the ability to go Super Saiyan. Consider what Saunders says goes through his mind when he finds himself in a position to finish a fight.

“We’re about to be super artistic, and there’s about to be bloodshed,” Saunders said. “I have a select few zones that I feel if I get you in a zone where I can attack you from at least four to six of my eight limbs, high probability you’re going to get messed up.”

And Saunders insists despite the familiarity between the two, there will be no hesitation to pull the trigger on Feb. 24.

“When I was in LA, we did some classes together,” Saunders said. “We sparred back in the day, but honestly, we never did MMA, hardcore sparring on the regular. It’s more of that we’re friends through the gym and being around each other and being on the same team more than consistent, daily training partners. That definitely doesn’t make it as personal.”

To hear more from Saunders, check out the video above.

For more on UFC on FOX 28, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Dan Tom. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.