You're never as good as they say you are, you're never as bad as they say you are. That's a quote I live by.
Israel Adesanya
There's no one like me. No one.
When I'm having fun, I'm the best in the world.
It's about legacy, it's about moments, it's about being an icon - I'll do what I do and the money will flow.
I've got Africa stamped on my chest, and I've outlined Nigeria because that's my bloodline.
In boxing, you've got CTE from head trauma constantly.
They say to never underestimate anyone, but they don't tell you to overestimate people either, so I'm just going to do me.
Kelvin Gastelum, there's many ways I can classify his style. I like it. He's improved. One thing I can say is that he's improved over his run in the UFC from 'The Ultimate Fighter' and now being a contender. But his style? It's very Mexican. You have the Mexican style of boxing, and he has a Mexican style of MMA, like smart Mexican style.
I'm real petty. I remember everything like an elephant.
I'm not proud of my chin but I can take a shot.
I make moves on my terms.
Kids will tell me 'oh I want to be like you when I grow up,' you know. I just thought 'nah, don't be like me, be like you,' because first of all they don't really know me but second of all I understand what they're trying to say but I just let them know - be like you.
Look, I can't dim my shine just because some people feel uncomfortable.
I tried so many times to fit in but I could never ever fit in. I was always like, an outcast.
I feel like MMA athletes are the best athletes in the world.
There are no limits, man.
Coming up in this country, I've seen it so many times. When you see somebody rising you want to tear them down because you feel inadequate and you want to call it humble.
A guy like Conor McGregor, one thing I really appreciated when he first got in the game and one thing that really inspired me was his love for fighting.
All that matters is how you see yourself.
I just want to fight and be remembered as the best, who fought everyone and beat them. Then the money, the numbers, the records, they all chase me.
A lot of guys just can't handle the spotlight and the pressure, so they shy away from it, like 'oh, I don't want to be in it.' That's never me.
I've already made my own mistakes in this game, even in the UFC. I'm just smart about how I make mistakes.
I've been a heavyweight in boxing, in kickboxing. I'll do it in again in MMA.
I do what I do for a job. This is fighting. This is a bloody sport. It's not a nice sport.
I've said this before, I would fight my grandmother if I had to. And she's dead.
I've done it in kickboxing, I've done it in boxing. After you clean out a division, you move up in weight.
God mode is something that I've always tried to unlock within myself.
Even when I was fighting in China I met some guys on the local circuit that we're fighting, they didn't enjoy it, they wanted to be musicians and do other things, but they're just fighting because it pays the bills and they get money for it.
I am not going to be one of these guys who doesn't defend his belt. I am going to defend my belt actively.
I'm the runt of my people.
The amount of work we have to do to get to that Octagon, we should be getting paid what we're worth.
I don't want to be fighting when I don't want to fight.
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.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a beautiful thing.
Look at rugby, the national sport, you have guys weighing 130kg, 140kg, who can run like sprinters full clip into each other causing brain damage constantly on that field.
I'm not trying to be one of those guys that's bigger than everyone else in the weight class.
I don't just think about the belt, I think past the belt.
If you visibly compromise someone or hurt someone, or hurt their vision, you're not supposed to still just stand there and wait for them to come to you.
Uriah Hall, you ever play that game Tekken where you just button bash? I always think that's what he looks like. He's just button bashing and hoping something cool will come out of it.
A fighter walks in the room and people are like 'oooo' because everyone is trying to be a tough guy.
There doesn't need to be hatred after a fight, because it's all said and done. I'm cool with a lot of my opponents in the UFC. There's people I've fought who were my friends in kickboxing tournaments and after we were still cool.
I don't focus on anyone but myself.
I get really aggravated if I don't train, if I don't let that testosterone out.
Aang is an Airbender, and he became the Avatar after the last one died. He has to realize his destiny as the Avatar by mastering all of the elements - earth, fire and air. For me, I feel like I'm mastering all the different styles or elements of MMA. It's my destiny to become the Avatar of this game.
I just want to fight the best.
I know what I bring to the table, I know my work. That's why I'm able to push for what I want.
I just have to do what I have to do. I have to defend my belt.
I've fought injured so many times for so many years.
They don't really teach you how to be famous and a lot of people don't realise that this game comes with a lot of traps. So I'm just looking after myself, looking after my health and making sure I don't fall into those traps.
I'm a guy that, if I see people running away from something I'm like, 'Why you running away? What's over there?'
