Derrick Lewis

“As long as they pay me good, that's all I care about.”

“I believe the tough fights bring out the better fighter in myself.”

“It's all the stuff I've been through in my life. From family struggles, people doubting me, things I went through as a child and going to prison, they all played a factor in who I am today. It really made me a better person. Going through those situations can make or break you as a human being.”

“I really don't like watching women fights.”

“Brock Lesnar is not a fighter. He's scared to be hit.”

“Bowing and showing respect - I don't give nothing about none of that. I'm just coming in and fighting.”

“I just really want to put the past behind me, because it makes me angry thinking about it. But it's also the reason I've made it this far in my career. It's like, built up in me. It's what I think about when I fight. My childhood.”

“I've been having people doubt me all my life.”

“In 2010, Strikeforce came to Houston, and DC was something like 5-0 or 6-0, and I'd seen him at the expo. I seen him walking around and I seen he had a pink cast on his hand, and I was like, this guy is way too fat... because he looked shorter and fatter. Because back then I was slim, I was like 235. So, I was like, man, I could take this guy.”

“I've been in that situation three or four times before where I'm losing the fight - the fight seems almost over with - and I knew I had to finish him and stop playing possum as much.”

“I've been in that situation many times before - where I'm losing and I have to knock a guy out.”

“I grew up watching my mom and my stepdad fight.”

“I don't know how to do takedowns.”

“The only reason I want to climb up the rankings - beating the champion and beating guys in the top five - those are the guys that get the endorsements and get the most money and get paid the most. That's the only reason why.”

“I just believe that my heart is the best in the sport. And I believe that's what carried me through my whole career. Not my talent or my power or anything like that. I just believe my heart.”

“I don't even train for these fights. I'm not mad when people say that because it's true.”

“At first, whenever I first got into the UFC, I was like, 'oh my God, I'm in the UFC.' When you come from where I came from, being in the UFC basically meant I was on top of the world.”

“I'm not scared to fight anyone, I'll call anyone out.”

“I throw so hard because I sit and wait for that perfect moment.”

“I tell people all the time that it would be good if they forget about me next week, that they don't even mention my name anymore.”