T.J. Dillashaw

I'm always reinventing myself.

I'm not one who looks for the drama.

I've always wanted to coach 'The Ultimate Fighter,' I thought it would be something I'd really enjoy.

I'd rather be an athlete than a fighter, an athlete is going to go there and figure out the ways to win, see the holes in the game.

I got thrown into the lion's den when I got to Alpha Male. My first sparring session was with Joe Benavidez, Chad Mendes and those guys, just bleeding from my face, its not like they took it easy on me. It was one of those things where we sparred 3-4 days a week, and we got thrown in there and that's what made me as tough as I am.

Have I been overly aggressive in some sparring sessions? Yes, I have. There's things, there's punches and things I've thrown that's been too aggressive and I've gotten to where I've had to tell myself, yeah, I shouldn't have done that, kind of thing.

I wasn't ever really friends with Garbrandt. We weren't really that close. But guys like Justin Buchholz, the head coach, he was always in my corner. Danny Castillo. Guys like that.

I'm not the flashy guy with the neck tattoos trash talking your head off.

I'm just going to speak the truth and if people like it or don't, it's the truth.

I'm not a guy that's gonna go out there and not be me and be fake and talk a bunch of crap.

Let's really have the best fight the best. I think that's the way it needs to go.

If you really look at the sport, when the No. 1 ranked fighter beats the No. 2 ranked fighter, the only thing that's up next for him is a title fight.

It's been fun to get out and work with a lot of coaches. I've broadened my knowledge.

I'm not one who wants to hate on anybody.

As long as you're willing to soak up information and learn from anyone who is worth learning from, that helps you out so much. I can become a new fighter, I can learn new tricks, I can improve my game.

This sport is crazy, anything can happen.

Lance Palmer, I'm always talking with.

Chad Mendes, I'm hunting with all the time.

Justin Buchholtz is one of my best friends.

What's going to build my name the most is by beating Demetrious Johnson. I think he's the best pound-for-pound in the world. I'd love that fight.

Any time you have to tell work where you're at and what you're doing, that's considered an employee, not a contractor.

I respect Demetrious Johnson. I respect him as a human being. He always acts like a professional, he's a nice guy, but that still doesn't mean that I can't say that he's scared to fight me.

I'm in the gym nonstop, I'm always in shape, so I'm willing to do what it takes.

I'm one of those guys who's a hard worker.

I wanna watch Cub Swanson against Aldo.

I was chasing that Demetrious Johnson fight. It just really didn't seem like it wanted to work itself out.

I'm a big time hunter. I grew up my whole life hunting and providing meat for my family.

I felt in college I wanted tattoos. I'm really glad I didn't. I was broke. I would've been bargain shopping for a tattoo artist.

It's always in the back of your head that this is a crazy sport.

I know there's nobody working harder than me.

It's something to be proud about when I'm done, to look back at my career and know I've handled myself the way I wanted to - that my son can look back at my career and be proud of his dad.

No matter where you're at, there are always guys you don't get along with. If it's any kind of job or any kind of situation in life, there's always going to be someone that gets on your nerves, and it definitely is the case with some of the fighters.

Most of the guys I've come across in the UFC have always been really polite and are always friendly with each other. We all understand how hard it was to get where we're at and how hard it is to stay there, so it's a mutual respect for each other.

I'm a big fan of the calf slicer, some moves that aren't always done inside the octagon.

I've been known for that. My emotions get the best of me.

Let's be honest, I've never said I wasn't a sore loser.

I don't take losing very well.

I am leaps and bounds better than Henry Cejudo. I greatly believe that. But unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to prove it.

Everyone is wanting to make a name for themselves, and Dominick Cruz has been doing that by talking. He's been behind a desk, being a reporter, talking about fights.

I've got no problem making 125.

My first vehicle I had to buy it myself and work to get it. My dad was really hard on me.

I don't have maybe the typical fighter story of having to grow up rough. I grew up great.

I was raised the right way, my parents did a great job, I owe them everything. Without them, I'm not the man I am today.

I wouldn't say I grew up with a silver spoon. Yeah, I was very fortunate. I have a great family.

What it really comes down to is that I believe I'm the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and to do that, I need to beat the best.

The reason why I'm so shredded at 135 is because I'm a professional athlete. I do everything the correct way.

It's a sport, you've got to push hard and you've got to get after it. You can't complain, you can't be a sore loser and all this shoulda, coulda, woulda stuff.

It took me two years to get a title shot off a split-decision loss to Dominick Cruz that the UFC told me they thought I won.

Immediate rematches or rematches in general, I don't know if they ever really do change.

I'm not a fake one.