I've done it in kickboxing, I've done it in boxing. After you clean out a division, you move up in weight.
I'm a guy that, if I see people running away from something I'm like, 'Why you running away? What's over there?'
Staying in the moment is something I'll never achieve unless I'm hanging out with the right people and just being in the gym as well.
My least favorite thing or my pet peeve would be people who literally ignore the other people you're with, or the situation, and they just dive right in and cut off the conversation.
Put it this way, people in my position in the UFC, their coaches couldn't tell them to sweep the mats because some people feel like they're better than that. I'm not one of those people. No matter how I am on camera, people who really know me, who know my soul, know I keep that same energy. So ain't nothing change but the change.
Look at all the champs over time once they get the belt - they just fall off. I'm not one of those guys. The belt isn't my ultimate prize, it just looks good with all my other gold, chains, and diamonds.
If I ever feel like I need to see someone to help me adjust to whatever life situation I'm seeing, I'll go. You're sick. When you're physically ill, you go to the doctor. It's the same thing about your mental. If you feel you're starting to get sick, you go see someone who can help you.
I've said this before, I would fight my grandmother if I had to. And she's dead.
Fighting is worldwide. Fighting is fighting, everyone understands what it is.
I was an oddball in kickboxing because of my style. I'm different. I'm fleet-footed and I understand how to move and work the system.
Conor changed the game and he paved the way. He did those big numbers and I'm one of the guys who is going to carry that forward.
In 2013, I went through a really great depression.
I've learned how to be famous and a lot of people don't prepare for it and it's something that can change life for the better or for the worst.
I know there are kids who are looking up at me because of what I've done, and see my success and think, 'If that guy can do it, so can I,' then I love that and that's great.
I do what I do for a job. This is fighting. This is a bloody sport. It's not a nice sport.
If people want to take the chance to watch, to see what I bring and try to use it to better themselves, yeah, OK. But I'm not one of these guys who's going to try to be a role model and be an angel because I want to get a Nike sponsorship.
Your parents and people close to you, whenever you want to do something or you want to follow a dream, they'll try and stop you. It's not out of their hating, it's just protection. They want to try and preserve you. Like 'oh what If he fails?' From the culture we're from, they want to protect you.
I'm fortunate enough that my dad was well-off, my family was well-off, so we're able to go to private schools and stuff like that.
I had to work to where I'm at. I was not an athlete in school.
I have to plot my path to greatness.
