Jimi Manuwa

Now I've got near the top, I can see the games that people play. I thought everyone wanted to fight the best, and earn title shots, but it's not like that.

I'm an explosive fighter so I've always got to have that strength, but you've got to mix it with endurance.

I used to fight in school. I was a rough, athletic child. I always knew I could fight and, watching UFC, I was always fascinated by it.

I've got big respect for Corey Anderson. He's a great fighter, he poses a big threat.

I've never turned down a fight in my life. Ever.

I was introduced to money as a teenager, my friends had nice things. It came naturally to me to try and make money.

At school, I was a lot more advanced compared to the other kids but I didn't like authority and was kicked out for fighting.

I had lots of fun; I was in the boy scouts, I went camping. I just used to mess around like a normal kid.

I remember being happy and a little wild kid.

But that's the great thing about MMA, you know, you can never predict what's going to happen.

I've never been a decision fighter.

Look at my record - I always bring a finish.

When I was ranked No. 11 or 12, they offered me Gustafsson who was the No. 1 contender, and I didn't hesitate. I was No. 10 when I fought Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson who was the No. 1 contender. We accept fights, but not everyone is like that, I'm beginning to find out. It's not right.

I listen to my body and if I need to rest then I rest, but at the same time I'm not lazy.

One little mistake at the highest level costs you a fight, which I've learned.

I like exciting fighters - Anthony Pettis, Jose Aldo. I like all the great fighters, Cain Velasquez, all the champions. They're so good at what they do. I just admire people who are good at what they do and people you can watch and learn from.

I'm a big fan of Anderson Silva.

I like watching athletics and I like watching boxing. Probably the sprints, I like watching sprinting.

My earliest sporting memory is probably going judo when I was about 6 or 7 years old. My dad and my brother did it for a couple of years when I was young, in Nigeria.

We used to go to the fairground, and there's that punchable thing that measures your power. It was from one of those that I knew I could punch.

A lot of people think they're better than they are and it can be very hard to get found out when you come up against a good fighter, getting dominated in every single way - every area you thought you were good in.

I don't know anything about CM Punk. I'd never even heard of him until he was mentioned in UFC. I wouldn't know him if I walked past him in the street, I don't know... he might be a good wrestler but there are people in the UFC who are just good wrestlers.

In every sport you get cheats.

Whatever the crowd is - cheering, booing or whatever - it's not anything I bother to think about.

When I'm champion, I'll fight the best because I am the best.

I'm not really into supplements, I mostly try to get it all from my food. I take multivitamins, vitamin D - which is really important - zinc and magnesium, but that's about it.

But the thing about Brazilian fans is that they respect top fighters and I will win them over. When my hand is raised I believe they will cheer for me.

I know the mistakes I made against Gustafsson and I won't do that again.

Fighting isn't an ordinary career, so you have to allow your body time to recover in between training sessions.

Massages and swimming are feel-good activities which are both mentally and physically relaxing.

When you're in a fight camp, you're working your body harder than normal and it's important to still look after yourself and to relax.

The last few weeks are always the hardest during any fight camp.

It's been frustrating. Since I've broken into the top five, I've seen the politics of fighters dodging fights, cherry picking fights and this that and the other.

My plans are to avenge my loss against Volkan Oezdemir and get the UFC title.

I'm not interested in story lines or trash-talk.

I want the belt. I'm focused on the belt, I'm focused on the world championship belt.

It doesn't matter to me who the opponent is, I'll be ready in all areas.

That was one of the great moments for me, getting a knockout in front of my home crowd in London.

Yeah, I call my warrior spirit the lion.

My diet is just the normal stuff that you know is healthy - nice, clean food - meats, vegetables, fresh juices. I don't have too many sauces, I just like really plain chicken, broccoli: all clean stuff.

I love apple crumble and custard - that's my little treat.

On fight day, I usually have peanut butter and porridge in the morning; bananas and a nice fruit salad. Then, as the day goes on, I'll have some carbs.

I don't think anyone hits as hard as I do in the light heavyweight division.

That's what it's all about in MMA, we're not the highest paid athletes in the world, so when you can get the big money fights you have to take them.

Mixed martial arts has small windows of opportunity and there's always new faces coming through, so it's easy to forget you.

I always like to keep busy, I always say if you're not injured then you should fight.

From my three loses in my entire career I've always learned from them and came back stronger.

I've knocked out a lot of people so I'm not going to cry about being stopped, it's part of the game and I can accept that.

I always say if you can't knock someone out with four ounce gloves on there is something wrong with you.

I enjoy healthy foods but I'm not scared to have a cheat meal or cheat day, have a burger or whatever.