I'm going to do everything in my power and train as hard as I can to make sure that 12-pound gold buckle that says UFC on it is somewhere at my house.

But after defeating Carlos Condit, I've shown I deserve to have a title shot.

You see a lot of guys who are told they will be the number one contender if they win the fight in front of them. They have fought a couple of really tough guys to get there, but when the chance is presented to them, something happens in some shape or form, and they aren't able to take it. They end up losing. That was the biggest fear for me.

Pressure lets you know what kind of person you are.

For some reason, I have a thick skull.

The hardest thing is that the people who don't know anything about fighting, they label you. Once they get to know me, they're like, 'Ah, you're not anything like I thought.' That's probably the hardest thing about being a fighter - everything else is easy.

Pride is an amazing thing.

I've got a wife who keeps me humble.

I wrestled at 165 pounds in college. I would actually cut from 205 pounds down to 165, and it wasn't really a big deal for me. With me wrestling all of the time, my body got used to it.

I really didn't know If I wanted to pursue the Olympics for wrestling. I didn't know what to do with my life. So, I prayed about it. My manager called me a few weeks later and asked if I wanted to fight. I agreed to give it a shot, and I went out and got knocked out.

I spent a lot of my childhood growing up in Oklahoma, where I wrestled and played baseball.

I drive a big F-350. It's a dually. I put Ranch Hand front bumpers on it so it sticks out about another 12 inches.

Fighting lives and dies; you can't fight forever.

I know that I wouldn't be where I'm at if it wasn't for God.

I'll be the first one to tell you that I'm fat out of season. I love McDonald's, and I love Taco Bell. But, whenever it comes fight time, I'm always ready.

If you do what you love, you're going work your butt off every day.

The toughest fight I've ever had was T. J. Grant.

I've been under the lights since my freshman year of high school.

What I realized is that no matter what you do, you're not alone in life. Every accomplishment worth a salt, there is someone else there who played a role and took a part.

I see myself as a power puncher, but for some reason, I can never sell myself that I'm one of the elite.

I've wrestled all my life.

When my kids grow up, my goal is someday, someone will come up to them and say, 'Your dad was an amazing person.' Not saying I was an amazing fighter but a genuine person. That's what I strive for.

Growing up wrestling, you get injured, and they expect you back on the mat in a couple weeks unless it's really bad.

As an athlete, there is no bigger compliment in my mind you can pay a guy when you say he can get the job done despite the obstacles he'll face.