Athlete

The first time I crawled into the octagon, I just felt like an animal, you know? Like a creature, like I wasn't quite human.

A lot of coaches in MMA focus on MMA wrestling. My coach, his high school team is ranked 10th in the nation. Izzy Martinez is very connected to the wrestling community.

Having that Christian base keeps me focused on what I have to do. It keeps me out of the clubs and in the gym.

For a long time, I consciously tried to be a good person for others. Not anymore. Caring about other people keeps me in line, but I've decided to just be myself.

I don't really deal in trash talk too much. But I show my confidence.

Fighting was something inside of me that I didn't realize was there.

Being labeled as someone who would cheat hurts more than anything else I've ever been through in my career.

One day when I was bored, I just went down to a powerlifting gym, Via Strength Systems in Albuquerque. I knew I needed to expend my energy somehow. I started working out with them four days a week. I became obsessed with lifting and being fit.

I feel as if I'm God's champion, and I have a lot of pride in that.

Fighting was something inside of me that I didn't realize was there.

I wouldn't argue that Anderson Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA.

We're all going to make mistakes; they're inevitable. It's what you do after these mistakes that matters.

My opinion, football is the most dangerous sport there is. After that, I'll give it to probably boxing.

Growing up, I was poor. In college, I was poor. I never had anything.

I want to take this time to thank Daniel Cormier for being my biggest rival and motivator. He has absolutely no reason to hang his head. He has been a model champion, a model husband, a model father, a teammate, a leader, and I aspire to be a lot more like that man, because he's an amazing human being.

It's a cold world out there, and this world will pass you by if you give another man anything over yourself.

I'm not saying Gustafsson isn't a champion. He's not the champion that I am. He's not a champion at all. I've won the belt seven times. He got tapped out by Phil Davis and lost to me fair and square. This guy gets so much praise. Having a close fight with me was the greatest thing he's ever done.

When it comes to fighting and other fighters, I try to be respectful.

I am an athlete in every sense of the word. Athlete, martial artist.

I don't believe a champion is the biggest, baddest, meanest dude in the world. I think the champion is like a warrior; it's like the head knight or lead samurai: humble men of integrity, respect, and honor that treat people kindly.