TRAINING: My typical day starts at 6am with strength & conditioning. Then team practice is at 10:30, which on any given day may cover any one of the many disciplines in MMA. At 5pm I return. I follow this routine until Sunday & have off. I have strength class on Monday and Wednesday, but on the other mornings I still do just my conditioning

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started to train in 2003 after I graduated from college. I love fighting so much and I figured why take the chance of fighting in the streets when I can get paid to fight in the Octagon. Even though the street fights are a lot of fun, I put it behind me and started to train with a true purpose. 

Do you have any heroes? My mother is my hero because she is such a strong person. I have never even seen her cry.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? The UFC is the top, and a great organization. I have been a big fan since my adolescent years when I use to take karate. I can remember like it was yesterday my best friend and I watching one of the events. We said one day we will be fighting in the UFC. So what is like to fight in the UFC? It’s a dream come true.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Michigan State University, Psychology 2003.

What was your job before you started fighting? I worked at a hospital in Lansing doing security. Next to this job it was my favorite job. You learn a lot about life working in a hospital, the lessons I learned in the hospital you can't learn many places.

Accomplishments in amateur competition? Junior College National Champion for Niagara Community College.  All-American wrestler.

Accomplishments in pro competition? Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, TUF 2 heavyweight winner, TUF 10 coach

Ranks in any martial arts styles: None

Favorite grappling technique: Kimura

Favorite Striking technique: Left hook

•    Lone loss: Lyoto Machida (UFC 98)

•    Has a testy feud brewing with UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, a former training partner and friend

•    His hero: His mother. Mother of eight whom he said he has never seen cry

•    Rivalry with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is one of the sport’s best; filled with vitriol and humor

•    Graduate of Michigan State University (2003), bachelors degree in psychology

•    Wrestling pedigree: Jr. College national champ at Niagara Community College in New York; three-year starter at MSU, former assistant wrestling coach at MSU

•    Winner season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter, heavyweight division

•    Coach, season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, opposite Quinton Jackson

•    Two-time high school state champ (New York)

•    Started his pro career back in 2004 as a protégé of UFC legend Dan Severn

•    Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Rolles Gracie; black belt in Gaidojutsu, Greg Jackson’s martial art

•    In early 2011 severed ties with longtime trainer Greg Jackson, a fallout he attributed to having to fight former buddy Jones

•    Presently trains at Imperial Athletics in Boca Raton, Fla.

•    Nomadic: Has strong ties to Chicago (where he has trained extensively in the past), New Mexico, New York (where he’s from), Michigan and now Florida

•    Regularly appears as commentator for ESPN’s “MMA Live”