"I think it's an awesome match-up, I think the fans are going to be very happy about this. I'm very happy to get a chance to headline a card."

"(B.J. Penn) is a legend. You've got to beat a legend to become a legend, so this is a great opportunity for that."

"I'm good at wrestling. If I'm able to utilize my wrestling skills to put BJ in disadvantageous positions when I fight, then I'm going to do that."

"I'm not getting a title shot, so I need to be fighting the next best opponent. As long as I'm getting tough fights, I guess I'll be happy. You can't keep being denied forever. I understand the situation (the UFC is) in. They're in the market of selling fights, the business of selling fights."

"I basically feel like I haven't done the appropriate job of putting the exclamation point at the end of my sentences. ... Refining my grinding style to a point where it's more open, more damaging, more finishing."