“Of course I am tough, but I am smart, too. I’m more smart than tough. People watching my record and say that this guy is tough. This is not about tough; this is about mind. You think when you fight. This is about everything.”

I came to the UFC to fight with top-level fighters and become the undisputed, undefeated champion. This is my goal.

These guys talk when I’m injured, but when I’m healthy, where are these guys? Tony or Conor, it doesn’t matter. Or maybe they’re going to fight it each other? It doesn’t matter.

I’m from Dagestan, I’m born in Dagestan, and Dagestan is a different level for people living a tough life, people living in the mountains.

I need eight weeks, train hard, last one week make weight, and go to the war. Because when I go to the war, I have to know I am ready or no.

I want to stay humble, but I have to talk because the other guys talk too much, and I understand the crazy power the UFC PR machine has.

I don’t know about politics so much. I’m a professional athlete.

Next fight? If the UFC tell me, ‘What do you want?’ I’m going to say Tony Ferguson.

My best background is, like, smash opponents. I all the time go forward. I all the time try to take down somebody. Make him give up. This is my style, you know. This is what I do all my life.

When I fought with Michael Johnson, when I took his arm for the kimura, I can break it, but I go very slowly, be careful, because I don’t want to give him injury.

I never have a problem with the weight cut. My number one enemy is injuries because I train so hard.

I train, eat, sleep, and repeat.

My style is not like anyone’s. I’m not a typical wrestler.

They’re all fake belts. To be honest, I think real belt is Tony Ferguson’s.

I think about only me.

You have to punch hard for knockouts, and to beat me, you have to knock me out.

Where is Conor? He wanna fight with a bus. I want to fight with a real gangster. Iaquinta, thank you so much.

If you fight with all your might, there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner.

Tis hard to fight with anger, but the prudent man keeps it under control.

It is difficult to fight against anger; for a man will buy revenge with his soul.

There comes a time when people start trying to dim your light. It’s the toughest fight, stay strong, you’re meant to fly beyond the skies.

Do not take someone’s silence as his pride, perhaps he is busy fighting with his self.

I don’t promote giving up. I promote fighting and winning.

Who wishes to fight must first count the cost

We are never assured of justice without a fight.