My dream is to be the best fighter at 155 pounds in the world.
I'm trained in mixed martial arts. I started when I was 14 and did my first competition at 18. It was a grappling competition against all guys a weight category above me, and I got first place.
Seminars, TV shows, documentaries, always spreading Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I'm an instrument of this art more than a character myself.
I think Robbie Lawler is a good name and a fight that interests me.
My whole life, I thought I sucked. And then I get in here, and I grapple other people, and I'm like, 'I'm actually good.'
I believe in my wrestling and I believe in my jiu-jitsu.
Stylistically, though, I've always liked Carlos Condit, because he at least amounted to at least the level of doing what I do. I mean, but I think he stands a little upright.
I called out Rafael Dos Anjos in Brazil, so he could be a potential contender. People don't talk about Jorge Masvidal enough. He'd be a great fight: he comes to fight.
My body size and everything was perfect for being a heavyweight wrestler rather than being a linebacker.
People see a lot of my standup, and that's what I'm known for since I was trained in karate and kickboxing, but I also have ground game.
Everyone thinks Australia and New Zealand MMA fighters don't have that wrestling base, whereas a lot of Americans and other countries have, with them being able to do wrestling at high-school levels.
In the UFC, it's about names. Every fight is hard, and everybody knows all the disciplines. Some might know more than others.
I already knew a lot about the ground aspects of MMA, being a wrestler, but there was so much more. There was kicking, punching, and other things I wish I could have done as a wrestler. It really stoked my interest.
People say that I'm a boxer. I actually started with kick boxing, and then I moved onto boxing, and then I moved onto grappling.
I'm a two-time world champion in jiu-jitsu. I can try to submit you.
It's interesting because my Mixed Martial Arts upbringing is less Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is the traditional thing that people study.
Wrestling is one of those things that make me emotional.
I started competing on boxing, so I have my hands. I'm an O.K. wrestler, so why not?
Conditioning is the most important thing in MMA.
When I was in seventh grade, I was a scrawny boy with no muscles, so I went out for wrestling. My intention was to develop secret wrestling skills so that if I were jumped by a bully, I'd shout, 'Ha!' and he'd be on the ground in a headlock.
You can't out-wrestle me. You can't out-strike me. You don't have more power than me.
MMA is so exciting. It doesn't matter if you know the rules or not. If you like a fight, it's automatically gonna draw you in.
I just don't want to be a champion; I want to be one of the best fighters there ever was.
Eighteen years doing this, my friend. Eighteen years - combat sport. I think you will not find this in history, I believe.
I will be the UFC lightweight champion. Mark my words.
