Growing up without a dad and not having a father figure - I noticed a hole in my life. For the longest time, I would run away from my problems instead of confronting them. I felt empty at one point. Not depressed, but empty.

The medal just was an object, just a medal, and that's it. What really meant something was the blood, the sweat, the tears that went into getting that medal. I'll always have the memories of that with me.

I've accomplished everything I've ever wanted to in my career.

Henry Cejudo is going to become the greatest combat athlete of all time, being an Olympic champ and a two-division champ in the UFC.

Look at Colby Covington. The guy can fight, and the guy can talk. To a lot of people, he just grinds people out, and many people consider him boring, but because he opens his mouth, people want to watch him fight. A lot of people want to see him win; a lot of people want to see him lose.

I can easily fill out at 135 pounds and feel good.

I don't like to open my mouth a lot because, I'll be honest with you, man, I come from the streets.

I'd like to see him fight at 135 for the championship. I want to see how good Demetrious Johnson is or how far he could take it.

The only thing I know how to do is survive.

I actually won the Copper Gloves in Arizona.

It was very important to me to join an organization that has an established track record of helping young fighters grow into world class athletes and champions. Gladiator Challenge has been a home to such fighters as Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans, Urijah Faber, Tyson Griffin, Chael Sonnen, Michael McDonald, and many others.

To beat Henry Cejudo, you might have to bring an AK-47 and a couple dudes.

I come from the sport of wrestling, where there's nothing but respect on the mat.

I think something that has separated me from the rest of the competition - maybe it's just my way of thinking - I don't necessarily go into fights just wanting to win but to actually dominate. So when I don't feel like I dominate, sometimes I feel like a loser, I guess, you know, maybe in that perspective.

M.M.A. is growing, and it's a basic wrestling sport. A lot of fighters are ex-wrestlers. A lot of guys take the easy way out, make quick money.

I would love to fight in Mexico City.

I know success; I've done it, but success is not what everyone thinks it is. It's only a tool and a platform for a greater message. That's where my nickname 'The Messenger' comes from. The UFC and a world title are a platform for something greater. For a bigger purpose.

I think T. J. Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson - I'm a bad matchup for both of them.

Will I become a UFC champion some day? I know I will.

You can accomplish anything that you dedicate yourself to. Think how many people struggle across the world, across the country. I know anything is possible if you set your mind, your body, your soul, and your faith to it.

Why call out the champion in my first title defense? Because that's who Henry Cejudo is.

I have the best style to defeat the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world - Demetrious Johnson.

I got a huge target on my back. But you know what, I'm going to embrace that, and everybody is on notice - flyweights and bantamweights.

I want to fight for a credible organization and face high caliber opponents.

I think I have all tools in the world to beat anybody at 125 pounds. I really do.

Coming from the background that I come from, being a gold medalist, you see Ronda Rousey and Daniel Cormier doing so well. Yoel Romero. All these Olympians. It's kinda hard to bet against them.

I started competing on boxing, so I have my hands. I'm an O.K. wrestler, so why not?

God bless America. I am American. I'm very patriotic. I love this country.

At some point, if the UFC allows me, I'd like to go to 125 because I know I can win that belt, man. I'm too strong, and I'm too fast.

Henry Cejudo is a motivator.

I've done things, from the Olympics to defeating two of the greatest fighters of all time.

When I'm inspired, I know I can get things done.

My number-one goal was just to be a good person, a good father, a good husband and then, after that, was to be an Olympic champ and eventually a UFC champ. And I've done everything I've ever kinda set my mind to.

I've been the best in the world, and I believe my self worth, it's more important to me than my net worth.

I'm a fighter now. I'm officially a mixed martial artist. I'm not a wrestler no more.

I've traveled to Brazil, Europe, Asia - all in preparation to defeat Demetrious Johnson, to defeat the pound-for-pound best fighter in history.

I respect Demetrious Johnson to the fullest. I wouldn't travel the world and find different training partners and coaches to help me defeat this man if I didn't want to win.

There's not too many times in life do you get a chance at redemption.

A lot of people didn't believe in me.

I'm an Arizona boy.

I would meet Tim Elliott at 135. At heavyweight if he wanted.

I want to fight Tim Elliott. I want to fight him.

When you get hit to the body, you don't even worry about your face no more.

If you think you're higher than UFC, if you think you're better than all the other fighters, then maybe you should get pulled.

I have a nutritionist living with me, cooking my food, weighing it, portioning out a lot of things, and it's very detailed now.

Suffering makes me hungry. Suffering allows me to put some hurt in my opponent. It's a good thing.

I would definitely love to finish school.

I'm the one. I know I'm the one. I have the style, I have the wrestling. I know I'm the one to beat Demetrious Johnson.

I don't just want to fight Demetrious: I want to beat him, and he's been on my mind since he beat me.

I still feel there is a trilogy between Henry Cejudo and Demetrious, and I see that playing out in the future.