Quotes from Jimi Manuwa

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.

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

Stylistically, every fight in the division is a hard fight. Lyoto Machida is unorthodox, Jon Jones is long and tall with good wrestling, Ryan Bader has good wrestling. You can't pick one and say, 'I want to fight him.'

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.

I don't think there's anyone who strikes like me in the world.

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

David Haye was the perfect opponent for me because he was a small heavyweight with a big name and we were about the same size.

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

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 like all styles of MMA, my first classes in the sport were BJJ but I prefer to stand up.

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

And I took to fighting very well. I'm a fast learner, and I needed to learn quickly. I knew this was what I wanted to do and I put everything I had into it.

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