Jared Cannonier

Of course, money is always the issue when it comes to quitting a job to do a job.

Youth doesn't equate to wisdom.

My focus is training and being better every day.

We don't even use names when we are in there fighting, to be honest. I'm not even Jared Cannonier in there. We are just physical beings and physical vessels with our own will to take advantage of this situation we call life.

If I'm looking back, I'm going back. That's anxiety and that's not beneficial to me winning a UFC title, that's for damn sure.

I don't concern myself with the past and what happened, I am on the path. I came from there; it's apart of me and ingrained in me. I don't need to come out of the now.

I don't have to force myself to not be excited or to think about the title. It's small to me, to be honest. That's just my perspective.

The planet Earth is my home. So no matter where I go, I can dig my feet and set some roots and thrive.

First and foremost, I'm the 'Cannon Man.' That's the whole meaning behind my last name. The Cannon Man, so look it up.

I'm not cannon fodder. I'm the one who's going to be blasting and shooting cannon balls.

A fight is a lot like life; you don't really know what to expect. All you can do, is prepare yourself for the worst situations and the best situations.

I sweat real easy. I sweat very easily.

I take cues from different martial arts and I switch stances. So, that doubles the number of attacks I have. The more weapons in my arsenal, the more likely I am to be able to adapt to more situations.

If I fall short, it's a lesson to learn - not a reason to quit.

I don't get on the ground and hold people down. If I'm on top, it's going to hurt. You're going to give up, or you're going to get out of there.

I'm not big on cutting 20, 30, 40 pounds. I'll cut 10 pounds easy. I'm not fixing to zap myself just to make weight. I for one think that's cheating, to try to get that big of a size advantage on guys.

If you a bad man, you'll fight the biggest, the best. Find a challenge, and then over the challenge, that's how you become the baddest man on the planet.

I'm not balling out of control, I'm not splurging or anything like that.

I'm not stupid, I don't spend my money on dumb stuff.

In my situation, when I quit my job, I was able to get paid from the UFC to sustain myself.

I don't have sponsors or anything like that.

The only thing that concerns me is getting better.

I'm not gonna sit here and say that I'm the best. But I will say that I am continuing to get better.

I train at the best gym in the world.

The only thing people can do when they get on top is hold me down. As soon as they gain leverage to land some shots, I'm getting up.

I've learned over time that footwork controls time and space as far as combat sports goes.

I don't doubt myself.

My thoughts will express what's in my soul.

I want to adhere to the present. And whatever happens in the future, I want to be prepared for it.

All I have to do is be the best version of myself. And that's going to be enough to fight and win a UFC title from Israel Adesanya.

I don't care how good a striker you are. I mean, I've gone up against kickboxers and stuff like that. And when I figure you out, you know, I'm going to take ownership of you.

You have to go out there each time and perform.

Israel has garnered a lot of clout. Rightfully so. The man has been putting in work. He has been doing his thing and looked good doing it.

I don't care what people say. I don't care what people do. As long as they are not getting in the way of me doing my thing, we ain't got no problems.

As long as I keep winning, that's closer I get to retirement.

I'm a fighter before I'm a mixed martial artist to be honest.

I can't put all my eggs in one basket. I have to plan carefully.

God has blessed me with a wonderful family and a wonderful career with the FAA.

A fight's a fight. Whoever it is, I'm going to do the best I can to put you away.

It feels good to know that I only lost to the cream of the crop.

It's definitely a nudge for your ego when you realize, 'Hey, I've only lost to champions and former champions and, you know, title challengers,' and stuff like that.

I would prefer never to fight on a Shabbat.

It's not fun working 10 hours a day and then going to try and train at night.

Knowledge, wisdom is the deciding factor in everything you do in life.

My diet was always adjusting being around professional fighters, athletes, and acquiring all the knowledge of how to do it: eating right when to eat, moderating my portions and trying to be more healthy not just as a fighter but as a human being.

You can't be sitting there looking and admiring your work. The fight ain't over until the fight's over.

When I dropped religion, when I broke that curse, doors really began to swing wide open for me and then I really started to connect with the earth, with every individual who I come in contact with, and with the cosmos in general.

My second fight at light heavyweight was against Glover Teixeira, who was ranked No. 3 in the division.

I had this drive to do the martial arts. It wasn't necessarily mixed martial arts, but I always had the drive to be a martial artist from being a kid watching them on TV, but especially from the Army where I got my first real taste of martial arts.

I've taken the bumps, the bruises, and the losses.