"Keeping the belt is my top priority. This fight is the most important fight of my life. I'm making every sacrifice like staying away from my friends and family because this fight means so much. I can relate to (Jon) Jones's path. I was able to win the Pride Grand Prix belt when I was 23 and Jones is also 23 so it's a similar story. But I'm going to do everything in my power to not let him get a belt at 23."

"I think his biggest asset is his wrestling but he's also a very good kick boxer, even though he doesn't knock people out. He's always landing strikes which makes him tough. I did notice that he doesn't have big knock out power. But in this weight class if anyone lands a properly placed punch people will do down. I think I can knock anyone out. I think that this weight class is full of heavyweights that drop to light heavyweight. We hit very hard and anyone on any given day can knock someone out. So of course I can knock him out."