Stephen Thompson

“Crap happens, you know? It happens, especially when you're in this sport long enough.”

“A lot of people think you're not the champion until you defend it one time.”

“When you're out there in the octagon and you've got thousands of people, millions across the world, either cheering for you to win or cheering for you to get knocked out, the adrenaline is going, so it doesn't hurt while you're out there. Now fast forward to about an hour and a half to two hours after the fight? Oh yes. It's pretty painful.”

“Sometimes people say, 'You've got to go out there and grit your teeth and just throw.' That's never been my style, but I think I need to be a little bit more aggressive instead of counterpunching.”

“You do have those guys that talk a lot. I understand they're doing it for a reason, to hype a fight, but then you get guys who do it and you can tell that they're trying too hard.”

“I learned a lot during the Matt Brown fight.”

“I've had many fights, but this is the biggest stage I've ever fought in. The UFC is the best.”

“I do respect everybody who I step in the Octagon with.”

“There were a few times in previous fights where I was hurt. It's just a matter of not giving up, if you know what I'm saying.”

“Striking is what I do.”

“From what I've seen of Darren Till, he's very durable. He likes to throw that left hand so he has a chance to knock people out.”

“I know I can knock Robbie Lawler out.”

“I've known guys who've got knocked out and they get back in there too soon, next thing you know they get clipped and they're out again.”

“I'm not the type of guy to back down from anybody. I think if you want to fight in the octagon you have to have that mentality.”

“I'm going to give it my all to get that title. And whether I make it or not, I'll know I've competed with the best. And that's enough for me.”

“I'm constantly working my wrestling and jiu-jitsu, which is going to make me more confident in the Octagon.”

“You see a lot of fighters who just got into the UFC getting a lot more recognition than the people who have been in there.”

“Movement is everything when it comes to the fight game.”

“I understand it's part of the sport, part of the game to have people who like you and people who don't.”

“You never go into the ring feeling 100 percent.”