In Soviet times the border was closed so we couldn't get out of the country, and I had been reading Robinson Crusoe. I wanted to see the ocean, I wanted to see boats, I wanted to see black people, because we didn't have that in the Soviet Union. I was all excited by that stuff.

If he goes down, he is to get up, and continue to fight, until I finish the process.

Aggression means emotions. Emotions means you’re gonna get off your plan and that means you’ll lose the fight.

I would compare it to an actor. I drive myself into the character that later on is in the ring.

If I am 100% prepared for the fight, my opponent has no chance to win the fight. I am saying what I mean: He has a 0% chance to win the fight. There is going to be no luck involved; there is going to be nothing else to stop me from winning the fight.

It's such a gift in my life to be able to compete - to have the health.

My brother is a doctor and he will take care of post-traumatic stress. I think he'll do it for free.