Lyoto Machida

Karate is my main martial art; that is what I train in every day. It has always been in my life. Sumo is another Japanese martial art that I got into at an early age. It is something that has helped and added to my overall stance and is a good base. It is not something I necessarily use in all my fights, though.

One of my brothers teaches karate at our gym and also handles the administrative side of the gym. My other brother is a fighter like me and teaches a class at the gym. So my brothers are always at the gym together training.

My father was a very tough guy with me and my brothers. He wanted to teach us a lot of discipline and life philosophy. As I became more interested in martial arts, he started teaching a lot of fighting philosophy and karate philosophy. While he was a tough father, he also knew when to be sweet and show a softer side.

I can't say 'OK, let's begin to exchange and see where it goes.' We want to give a fight and give people a good show, but you have to play on a safety zone.

Only because you moved forwards, it doesn't mean you were effective. Sometimes it's the wrong criteria to be used.

It's best to keep a strategic fight and try to win because the level of the sport is so high.

I think to keep my principles. To keep my principles, I think, is the most important thing. Every day, everyone change. It's normal, but your principle never can change.

I always go into every fight trying to forget about what happened in the past, whether I won or lost.

I respect Brock Lesnar as a fighter, but I know that I can fight him.

Brock Lesnar is a big challenge for me because he's a big guy: very, very strong, very, very powerful, very, very fast. I like the challenge. Brock Lesnar, for me, would be a very good fight.

I believe in my striking game against Weidman's wrestling. He's complete in every aspect of the game, but I'm confident in what I do.

When I was 15 years old, I watched Royce Gracie in the cage, and I thought I'd like to do the same thing.

Its not just about competition: it's my life, my lifestyle. So I train every day, and I feel very good, because sometimes training is like meditations for me; it's a good escape to me to the problems for everything.

I'm a real martial artist, my father always taught me that some way I have to train every day, no matter what happens your life.

In the mornings at around 5:30 A.M., I train karate with my family.

I eat very healthy all the time, low on fats and sweets and no fried foods.

Anderson Silva, Georges Saint-Pierre, and Rodrigo Nogueira are some of the top fighters in the UFC among many other great fighters. The UFC has many of the toughest fighters around.

My father is a Japanese Shotokan karate master, so I have been training karate with my family since I was three years old. I got my black belt in karate at 13 and got introduced to judo and sumo shortly after.

I never underestimate anybody.

My father is a master in karate. He always taught me the philosophy of Karate. When I'm talking about philosophy, I mean respect to willpower, self confidence. Those qualities, I think it's very important, not just for fighting, but for any person.

I've always worked hard and stayed focused.

Having your father to help you to get back up is good, but you need to get up by yourself and walk alone. Life goes on.

I don't believe in ideal places for a fight.

I have a lot of respect not only for the fighter but the man Vitor Belfort. I think he has done a lot for the sport, and we all have to respect him.

A fight involves the emotion, the strategy of combat. There are many factors connected to a fight.

I always go there to put on a fight knowing that my opponent is well prepared and will do his best. That's the challenge that motivates me.

When I prepare for a fight, I never expect it to be easy. I believe that that would create a chance for me to not give my best in the Octagon.

I have no control of life. I have to prepare myself for any situation.

I live my life - I walk the right path - but I can't be like, 'Oh, I'm scared of this or that.'

I like to empty my mind and focus on developing my abilities in training.

I'm a guy that always had positive thoughts in every situation in my life.

Fighting in Brazil is always great because you're close to the fans. It's a good energy on fight day: during the open workouts, the support on social media is always closer.

We must recognize our opponents' merits.

We teach the karate methodology, bringing back the history of the martial art, the attacks that stopped being used when the martial art became a sport and that my brother and I use in the cage.

I have a great run in the UFC.

Many of my greatest fights and moments were in the UFC, and they were always good to me.

I will not talk bad about the UFC.

I feel that not only have I been out there promoting my style of karate, but just promoting the traditional martial arts, and it makes me very happy.

I don't want to be in this sport just to participate. I want to be in this to win, and that's what motivates me every day to break down barriers and to get better every time and to exceed my limits and to win fights.

If I had a choice, I'd rather not fight someone from Brazil, but as a professional, I couldn't say no.

I think we both matured together in this sport, so I think fight between Michael Bisping and myself would mean a lot.

I like to be busy and fight many times a year and showcase all my potentials.

I have a good relationship with the UFC.

Hard moments can happen with anyone. And these are the situations that you have to overcome.

I focus on my opponents the same way whether they are a champion or not.

Separating your profession from friendship is very difficult.