What would you learn from Michael Chandler?
Michael Chandler is a great wrestler. That is one of my downfalls, it’s always been my wrestling. Everybody knows it. Anyone who’s ever fought me, that’s probably their game plan – to take me down and stop the submissions. I think Michael Chandler helps me not only take people down, but he also helps me with my defense. That’s gonna be the biggest takeaway from him.
What would you learn from Conor McGregor?
Conor McGregor, he’s a dog in the standup department. I think standup-wise I can learn a lot from him there and his wrestling defense is very underrated. If you watch Conor’s fights, a lot of really good wrestlers didn’t take him down. I think that’ll help me out a lot, just getting a little bit of his wrestling defense. Of course, he’s not a really offensive wrestler; you hardly ever see him take anyone down, but just being able to get that defensive wrestling will be one of the biggest takeaways for me.
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What do you think is going to be your toughest challenge in making it to the end?
The biggest thing for me is my son; he plays travel baseball. His first two tournaments are going to be going on while I’m here. A lot of people don’t know this, but I went to prison when I was 20. I missed my oldest daughter’s first year, and since that, I told myself I would never miss anything else. I haven’t. This will be the first time that I’ve ever missed anything – birthdays, Christmases, events, this is my first time ever. That’s gonna be hard for me. Especially on those days when I know he’s out there playing, and I can’t be there. I know, honestly, I’m gonna use that as fuel for my fire. The man standing in front of me is taking me away from that, he’s taking me away from my kids and my family and I am here to make him pay for it.
Why are you going to be the winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 31?
Honestly, I think it’s because I care less than they do. It’s weird to say that, but all of these guys, this is make or break for them and that’s in their mind: ‘This is make or break.’ They have to do it. But me, if I don’t make it, I know that I’m just a couple fights away from the UFC anyways. So, I’m gonna go in there without the pressure and the whole weight of the world not on my shoulders and I’m gonna fight my ass off. I know going in there with that attitude I’m going to get my hand raised in both of my preliminary fights and, at the end of the day, I’m going to get my hand raised in front of God and everybody. And I think that I’m gonna give God the glory and I’m gonna be the next Ultimate Fighter.
