Athlete

I did my part. I signed it for UFC 205 in New York. I signed my part, and Julianna turned it down. She didn't want to fight that time, but I don't care about this because I am a fighter, and if she don't want fight, we was looking for another opponent to make fight.

Martial arts, for me, is not just some kind of job to gain some money or whatever. No, martial arts, for me, is my lifestyle, my religion, my philosophy... Martial arts are everything for me.

Strawweight, they have one power. In flyweight, they have totally different power. You can be the best one in the strawweight, but here, it's a totally different field. This is not someone who has less power than you. This is someone who has more power than you. This is where I feel this is my field; this is my territory.

Fighters can say whatever, but what they are feeling inside, it's totally different.

I know my strengths. I know what I'm good at.

If you can see all my life, I've been training since a very young age. I've been competing in so many different competitions, so many different opponents, and so many different countries.

In the fight, we are fighters, but after, we have respect for each other.

I'm not going to the past, and it's not tied to me, every time moving forward, and this is more important - to move forward every time.

Of course my goal is to be the champion, and of course I want revenge with Amanda because I feel much stronger, and I know next time it will be a totally different result of the fight.

I've been in martial arts more than 20 years; I've seen fighters who barely have a professional fight say they're the best in the world. I've seen many people use these words. At the end of the day, that doesn't matter. What matters is when the door closes and everyone clearly sees who deserves or does not deserve something.

Not everything happens as we want or desire. It doesn't matter. I'm a fighter, and I'm ready to fight every time.

My coach has taught me since 5 years old, and he stresses not just the quality of training but the mental part. Technique and the mental game have to mesh, balance.

Every experience brings something. From one point, it is good because you know what to expect from this kind of opponent - what is her speed, her striking force.

I believe in my strengths - in my power, my speed and technique.

When I grew up, the idea that I had to be the best at everything I do was put in my head by my mother. This is just how I am. I'm not just here participating.

To have an opportunity to fight for the title, you have to prove you deserve it against top opponents.

I'm doing what I love to do. Martial arts is my everything. It's my life, my philosophy, how I think, who I am.

I don't think getting punched in the face is too fun. I keep going because this is what I am. Every time I fight, this is why we live. We have to feel this. That's how we become stronger. That's how we become champions.

I've been in martial arts for so many years, so to hold the belt of UFC and be on top of the biggest organization, it will be represented in this belt.

My ring name is 'Bullet,' which was given to me by Pavel. It's, like, tradition for your coach to give you your fight name. There's a superstition that says if your fight name matches who you are as a person, it will give you a lot of success in your fighting career.