I've had plenty of fights where the guy's virtually unknown and very tough. I mean a lot.
I didn't get into too many fights when I was younger. I think I got into, like, one fight when I was in high school, and that was because someone was being rude towards my mom, and that was it.
I've had a great run. I've been a world champ. I've been a top contender. I've been a poster boy for the organization, for sponsorships, been able to do a lot.
I'm a big fan of 'The Last Dragon' - Bruce Leroy and Sho'nuff - that's one of my favorite movies growing up.
One of the guys I've always said was one of my favorite fighters to watch was Sakuraba. He's always been really creative. He's got a great attitude, and I think he has the right approach of just going in there and letting it all hang out.
I've kind of lived the same lifestyle I've had since I was a little kid. Basically, working out and hanging out with my friends and competing. I feel like a really lucky guy. I haven't had to do anything I don't want to do in life, and that's not the case with everyone.
Fighting Raphael Assunaco isn't that exciting to me. I have nothing against him; he's a good guy and a good fighter.
As a kid, I loved contact sports, especially American football and boxing.
This is the one sport you don't want to be one foot in one foot out.
My first reaction to any fight opportunity is yes, just out of instincts. That's why I'm in this sport.
When I face an opponent in the cage, it doesn't really matter who they are. Whether they're my buddy, like Scott Jorgensen, or someone I don't like, like Dominick Cruz, I'm going in there and realizing this guy is trying to hurt me, and that's what I'm going to do to him. I try to keep it real basic.
The cheaters are going to find way to cheat over and over again.
This is a mean world, and everyone likes to jump in and kick people when they're down.
There's some weirdos out there, a few stalker fans out there, but nothing I can't handle. People are just going out of their way to hunt down information and get a hold of me. People call obsessively or things like that.
I'm kind of - I guess you could say - a momma's boy.
I was 133-pounder all through college, and that's probably my natural fighting weight, but if it isn't broken, why fix it? I've been a champion at 145.
After a loss, you have to reassess a little bit and be realistic.
If someone gets into the Super Bowl, should they stop trying to get back into the Super Bowl? You gotta be kidding me.
Kid Yamamoto is a guy that has star power.
I'm not really good at worrying. I think I get that from my pops. He can be in some really dire straights and be a real optimist, so I don't sweat the petty stuff.
