2017 is going to be the biggest year for martial arts in the history of the Earth.
— B. J. Penn
I just love the fighting.
Being the champ is fake, all of that is all fake.
When I first started fighting, I thought I was God's gift to fighting.
There's just something about BJ Penn that gets people amped up. You don't know what's going to happen but something is going to happen. He might disappoint you, make you happy, make you cry or make you jump out of your chair, but he'll do something to you.
Keith Kizer doesn't want to look anyone in the eye.
The sport has definitely moved beyond that founding idea of MMA, but without a doubt we wouldn't be sitting here right now if the Gracies didn't come here and teach their style and create the UFC.
Hawaiians are mellow people, but we all live on an island so we see each other all the time. So like you either got to be real nice, because once you have a problem with somebody, you're gonna see them over and over and over, and you're gonna end up fighting. That's why we fight. We're all stuck in one area. You can't get away.
I separate my family life from fighting.
I think I could do good against some of the top welterweights. Yeah, pretty big guys, but you gotta live some times, you gotta step up sometime, huh?
I live my life my way. I try to do the right thing, but I know there are going to be people who aren't happy with what I do or say no matter what, so I'm not going to worry about it.
Do people talk about Kenny Florian coming from a wealthy family and all this? I don't think they do. People say these things about me when they don't even know me.
I'd feel OK facing anyone for the welterweight title.
We see fighters fight their whole career and never get a title shot. It doesn't matter if they rack up 10 wins if people think they're boring. We all know how it works.
My lasting legacy now is just going to be in highlight reels.
The UFC is martial arts and it's all about technique.
The last thing I'm trying to do is trying to look to go out into a fight. Ask anybody who knows me, I'm not the first guy to go around and just start pushing people.
Back when we won the 170-pound title, I knew we were going to go back and get the 155-pound title but the 145-pound title wasn't even a thought in the mind. We would have had that title already if it was around.
I know there are a lot of others who are willing to take shortcuts for the sake of money, but when I see that... I get real irritated. I hate it.
You just go out there, you've got to keep training, keeping training as hard as you can and keep winning fights. The only thing that's real is the fight. Everything else is fake.
When the whole fighting thing started, I never knew at the end it was going to be all about your record. I never had that mentality. I wanted to fight everybody.
Fighting, to me, has always been something different than what everybody's else opinion is. I've never believed what everybody else has.
For me Keith Kizer can't be trusted, the head of the Athletic Commission can't be trusted. I never want to fight under the Nevada State Athletic Commission again.
Out of Brazil, they're always gonna have another Wanderlei Silva, another Minotauro, another Anderson Silva.
As far as Mike Dolce goes, I would never hire him again for anything.
I would never take a fight with someone to one-up someone else. You know, you do things because you want to do them.
I look for ways to try to build the sport, ways to put more fans in the seats and more money in our pockets.
I have my own morals I live by.
I'd like to fight welterweight and lightweight at the same time if I could.
I want to leave a mark in this sport.
Mixed martial arts, UFC, or what have you, I don't think it has anything to do with rankings. It doesn't have to do with 'this guy beat this guy so he deserves a title shot.' It might be like that every once in a while, but this is entertainment and the two biggest names - the best story.
You look at somebody like Frankie Edgar and you think, 'oh, that little guy,' this and that. But these guys, they want it. And even if you're sitting there and you think you've figured something out, or got something you're going to surprise somebody with, the first thing you've got to do is have more heart than these guys.
I should have never fought at 145.
It isn't always the funnest feeling, sparring three days a week, getting punched in the face at 38 years old, it might not always be the funnest feeling but it's better than a lot of other things. I love it.
Martial arts was founded on the spirit that it's not only a sport, but a way of life.
I thought I would go win 100 in a row with 100 knockouts.
Of course I can't retire on a win - but then, I can't retire on a loss either.
I think I should stay retired.
This is my wife. MMA is my wife. For life.
I wish I owned the UFC, you know?
I definitely like the rubber guard. I always try to use it, especially when I'm just grappling or at the gym.
Tsunamis are always big news around Hilo, grew up always getting ready to escape a tsunami.
I don't want any freebie fights.
You can't make everyone happy no matter what. All I can do is live my life and try to be successful and please myself.
Jon Fitch is a great opponent, a tough opponent, but St. Pierre brings the whole backing of Canada with him to a fight.
When I was 22 years old, I wanted to become the lightweight champion of the world.
Honestly, I don't have any special techniques for Sean Sherk.
My best moment in the UFC, I guess now that I look back, I guess my biggest accomplishment is the two belts in two weight classes. I really wanted to see if I could make it three, but you know, you're talking about the best guys in the world.
Maybe if I had made the move in my early 20s it would have been different. But I did not feel good at 145.
