Everybody has their own path. Everybody peaks at different times.
Win or lose or draw, you always go back and critique your performance and say you could have done things better. Even if I put the guy away in one round, I can go back and say I made a lot of mistakes and need to tighten up. But that's the type of person I am. Improve. Improve. Improve. When I lose I come back stronger than ever.
I'm familiar with adversity.
I feel like everybody's who fighting, young fighters and still learning and growing, that should be their goal - to be the UFC world champion.
If you move in and out, throw shots and use angles and the guy's feet are planted, you look a lot better.
Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself.
I feel like I've always been a great fighter but I'm learning the patience part of it and not getting overwhelmed with emotion and adrenaline and going out there and brawling like a maniac.
I've been the underdog my whole life.
When I'm in south Florida I'm training, resting, training. I'm working on my craft out here, very tediously. That's what I come out here for.
I'm not a quitter, man. Just look at my history.
Those deep, dog fights - I love that. That's why I fight.
I'm proud of everything I accomplished in this sport.
Of course, every time I get beat out there, I want to avenge those losses. I'm sure every fighter does.
Seven years is a long time, and seven years of fighting the best guys in the best organization in the world, the biggest organization in the world, it hardens you. You don't stay seven years without evolving. It doesn't happen.
Every fight is like a different landscape of what you go through. But sometimes it's small injuries. Sometimes it's lessons you walk away with. Every fight is different but they all hurt, for sure.
I probably should have been fighting at 155 for a long time, but I was so close to the top at 145.
I think a lot of fighters are cutting way too much weight.
Normal pain is no problem, that just comes with the job.
No matter where I came from, I'm a fighter.
Destiny doesn't make mistakes.
