I don't care if I am ever remembered in this sport for anything.
Derrick Lewis
I go into every fight with a bad back and overweight and a damn-near diabetic.
In 2010, Strikeforce came to Houston, and DC was something like 5-0 or 6-0, and I'd seen him at the expo. I seen him walking around and I seen he had a pink cast on his hand, and I was like, this guy is way too fat... because he looked shorter and fatter. Because back then I was slim, I was like 235. So, I was like, man, I could take this guy.
George Foreman acts more like my grandfather. He and my grandfather act just alike - they're both Christian type guys. They try to help everyone.
I set some goals for myself. I really want to run through this whole heavyweight division.
You eat salad and you're hungry the next 30 minutes and you're hungrier from when you ate the damn salad.
Brock Lesnar is not a fighter. He's scared to be hit.
I hate being in boring fights. It frustrates me.
The guys in the top five, they're good everywhere. Me, I'm just almost one-dimensional.
Since I was probably eight years old, just about everyday, all the way until I was 14 or 15 years old, just about everyday my mom and my stepdad would roll around in the living room fighting.
I just believe that my heart is the best in the sport. And I believe that's what carried me through my whole career. Not my talent or my power or anything like that. I just believe my heart.
I don't know how to do takedowns.
I think Cormier is gonna come out and try to wrestle me, try to get me tired, and try to push the pace. I know he might not say that I'm on his level but I think I am and he thinking that I'm not, really.
I've been in that situation many times before - where I'm losing and I have to knock a guy out.
I go in to fight just to fight. I don't care about submissions, the technique and all of that.
The only reason I want to climb up the rankings - beating the champion and beating guys in the top five - those are the guys that get the endorsements and get the most money and get paid the most. That's the only reason why.
This heavyweight division, it takes just one punch for anyone. It doesn't matter how hard you train or what.
I'm fighting just so I can take care of my family.
It's all the stuff I've been through in my life. From family struggles, people doubting me, things I went through as a child and going to prison, they all played a factor in who I am today. It really made me a better person. Going through those situations can make or break you as a human being.
You've got to try to find some type of mental edge on your opponent.
I just have a crazy sense of humor.
The sport itself is dangerous. Anything can happen.
I'll fight anyone.
The one thing about me, if it is a 15-minute fight, I'm fighting every one of them 15 minutes. And if it's a 25-minute fight, I'll be fighting all 25 until the bell rings.
I have a couple of properties. Bought some houses and just rent them out.
That would be great if I could be a role model or inspiration to those who have been in my shoes before.
I don't care if I ever fight for the belt or get the belt.
It's like I say all the time, it's the heavyweight division. It doesn't matter if the guys a black belt or if he's a world-class boxer. We still have a 50-50 chance.
Like a lot of people have said, it's not a bad loss to lose to Mark Hunt, so it's really like a learning lesson.
I don't train like a mixed martial artist. I don't respect the sport like everyone else does.
My heart outweighs all the talent. If they've got more talent, I believe that my heart will still overcome that. You've got to have heart to step inside the octagon anyway.
If I'm the champion, the whole UFC division should be ashamed of themselves for a guy that had no damn skills being the champion. They should all just go relocate somewhere.
I know Cormier is a wrestler so you really got to get them hips down on him so I've been working them hips really good.
That's what really gets me going, thinking about my past. I think about all the tough times and bad times I've had in my life and I bring all that into the Octagon. That's only because it's hard going in there trying to fight someone who didn't do anything to you.
I grew up watching my mom and my stepdad fight.
I don't fight just because I love it just that much. I'm fighting because it's a job for me.
I throw so hard because I sit and wait for that perfect moment.
Everyone else is a mixed martial artist. I'm not a mixed martial artist, I'm a brawler.
Basically, I guess they just thinking I've been winning my fights just by luck. I just think I've been winning my fights on heart.
You've really got to stay ready 24/7. You really can't get ready because there's no telling. They'll call you short notice to fight anyone so you really have to stay ready.
There's nothing I really want to accomplish. I already set my family up pretty good right now.
It's a job to me, basically. I'm not trying to be the best fighter in the world or nothing like that. I don't come in trying to think I am the best fighter. I don't care about none of that. It's just a job to me.
I'm an optimistic guy.
I've been having people doubt me all my life.
I've been through so much stuff that I hope even my enemies wouldn't have to go through.
It would be cool to let people know that it doesn't matter what kind of background you have in your past, that you can still make something out of your life.
I ain't trying to fight for no title.
I don't care what people think.
I used to only train 30 minutes a day.
If I was really trying to be the best fighter in the world, I would be in the best shape and taking it more serious but I'm not.
