Victorious. I feel that is why I did all the training, why I make the sacrifices, that is why I got into the shape I am in. I feel I have won, that's millions more coming my way, I feel great.

It's important to stay hydrated - first thing I do in the morning is stretch and drink water.

I won't ever shy away from a fight and if it makes sense down the road, I'll do it. But it will be on my terms.

I believe in working harder and putting in the time - being completely obsessed. And, yeah, I think that's life.

I worked my ass off to earn what I have. You have to understand, not many people where I come from get to experience this kind of life.

Fourteen weeks before the Mendes fight I tore 80 per cent of my ACL [anterior cruciate ligament]. That is the main ligament for stability. Every day in that training camp when I was working my way back, I was saying "real champions fight through any adversity". That is why I am a real champion and he is not. Look at my eye [he had seven stitches put in an old wound after an injury in training the night before we met]. Fighters fight on. Aldo got scared, he went running and I worry he will run again.

I daydream too. I visualise. I think ahead, I can do it now, sitting here. I think ahead to the walk-in, I can hear the crowd, the music, I can feel the cameras all around me, I can feel movements in my body as I am heading there, I can bring up that incredible feeling you get when you step into the cage.