A lot of times, my best friend was my dog.

To me, fighting is special because that's what I enjoy to do. Every fight is a memory to me.

The learning curve, and the things that you have to adapt to on a daily basis in the UFC, is pretty crazy. It's a huge burden for anybody to have: not just the fighting itself but learning how to deal with the other responsibilities.

Money and fame, it only makes you so happy. You gotta find other reasons to fight. I want a certain amount of money to do the things that I want to do.

Mixed martial arts - there's just been a lot of trash talking and things like that. People, I feel like, aren't really being true to themselves or being honest. I don't know, maybe that's what they feel they need to do to entertain things.

My dad died, and he wasn't in my life because he had schizophrenia, so it's been something that my entire family has been fighting against since I can remember.

When you want to be a fighter, you have to give it everything you got. MMA just became who I am because of the amount of work I was putting into my training. It all starts in the gym. The hours turn into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months; it's like school - the more time you spend learning, the better you'll be prepared for a test.

Every fight is personal, but with myself.

I live in a very nice neighborhood. There's nothing that really goes on around here.

I respect my competition.

I love my 303 ladies. We go hard here, you know - we're fierce!

I wanna fight the best.

Being resourceful and creating is a big part of my Lithuanian culture. My grandfather is part of who I am, too. He was a professional wrestler. He had a very functional, very slick, long frame.

I feel like anything can be worked out; you just gotta talk through it as adults.

Martial arts is about honor and respect.

I'm sick of all the hate and anger and stuff like that going on.

What's the point of being the best in the world if you scratch and claw your way to the top, and you push everybody down instead of lifting everybody else up with you?

I've got Pat 'HD' Barry in my corner.

I've done taekwondo striking my entire life.

I think that's what makes me so great of a fighter. I'm crazy as hell. And fighting helps me with that.

All I can do is make sure I show up to fight, and then they have no choice but to pay me.

Any mistakes that I make is an investment in my future.

People think after the fight you get to sit around and relax and all that. But really, people come around and family and all that, so it's a whole 'nother responsibility you have to take care of.

Of course, fighting is one of the most emotional things that you can possibly do. You have to constantly deal with your emotions, especially myself. I have so many that that's where I get my energy from. But it's a matter of controlling them, and yeah, I just don't let nothing affect me.

Your mind is just like your body. It's a muscle you can train and get better at.

I think we have a great opportunity as fighters and athletes to be good role models. I'm by no means perfect, but I think we can try.

I think it's important to inspire other people to try and do things that people discourage you to do.

To me, fighting is special because that's what I enjoy to do. Every fight is a memory to me.

Money and fame, it only makes you so happy. You gotta find other reasons to fight. I want a certain amount of money to do the things that I want to do.

My dad died, and he wasn't in my life because he had schizophrenia, so it's been something that my entire family has been fighting against since I can remember.

Every fight is personal, but with myself.

I respect my competition.

I wanna fight the best.

I've had to push myself and I've really matured.

It's Chelsea and you will always have competition for places here.

You have to work hard and your chances will come.

I love Everton and all I think about is playing for Everton.

I looked up to Rooney and he had played for Everton when he was 16 and I wanted to do the same.

My mum has always kept my feet on the ground and told me that if I carry on working hard it will pay off. I used to say 'If I play for Everton one day' and she would always say 'No, when you play for Everton.'

When I was younger I just used to get the ball and take on all the players because I was bigger and stronger. You cannot do that in the Premier League. You are playing against men.

It was when I came back from Leeds that things started to change. I went from being a kid to having to man up and going into a man's game.

I'm the type of player who takes risks, so every now and then I'm going to give the ball away. I just have to learn not to do it in silly areas of the pitch.

I'm not scared when I'm on the pitch.

It's not me feeling pressure, it's just me putting pressure on myself if I don't do my best, and I know I can do better.

Partying? I don't really think about that.

You need to cut a few things out if you want to be the best you can be.

You can always be more professional.

I know how important it is to take different tactics from different managers on board.

I feel like I am ready to understand every aspect of the game.

When I was at Everton, I went through a lot of up and down spells, lacking in confidence.