In the UFC, you can communicate with your eyes or facial expression, but spoken words are prohibited. 

You have to be careful because anything you say could possibly be misconstrued as a verbal tap out.

Once I’m in the locker room I slowly begin to warm up my engine in a timed and deliberate manner. In my next fight, I’ll undergo the same methodical process I’ve used many times before. 

Before I enter the arena for my long walk to the octagon, I try to stay relaxed and calm. It’s a waste of physical and psychological energy to get revved up too soon.

I’m not sending out spies to find out his gameplan, but like most UFC fighters, I do study tapes of everyone I’m preparing to meet in the octagon. 

As to video taping my workouts, I only allow specific sports news programs to do so - and even then only selective footage. 

The true colors of a fighter are revealed during the fight, not his practice. My focus is always on what I need to do - so I can impose my will.

Adults know the real dangers are the ones we face every day. These are the threats of ordinary life – a crippling car accident, a cancer diagnosis or having foreclosure take your home. 

One of my worst fears has long been that of living my life haunted. Haunted by the corrosive awareness that I never really tried for something big. We’ve all met older, unfulfilled people who’ve repeated those two dreaded words “if only.” 

When I was a high school teacher, I told my colleagues I wanted to fight in the UFC. I got a lot of jokes and disbelieving looks. I knew I might fail in my quest, but the prospect of living the life of a haunted man was the motivation I needed. 

Working towards my dream of being a UFC fighter hasn’t been without its outright hardships. It wasn’t easy walking away from teaching math. Training, fighting and traveling all the time still require considerable sacrifices. But I wouldn’t change anything because I know I’m not living on auto-pilot. In fact, I’m in the daily rumble of constant, satisfying activity. Doing now what used to be just a dream, assures me I’ll never be saying “if only.” 

If we stand still in life we can count on getting run over. As with fighting in the octagon, not being bold is a prescription for getting cold-cocked. But it’s always hard breaking our inertia - that forceful pull that keeps us locked in the same place. 

During my Big Decision Year, I confronted my fear of breaking out and moving on. In the struggle to change my career equation, the hazard I faced was not to be found under my bed. 

I was able to slay a real monster - one that resided within me and kept saying “Don’t do it, stay where you are.” 

I personally like Evan Tanner, David Loiseau, Nate Quarry and Jason McDonald. Anderson Silva and I have a very cordial relationship. 

On September 6th, in Atlanta, Matt Hamill and I will try to inflict upon each other as much pain as possible. Yet I have the greatest respect for Matt as a fighter and as a person. Except for that particular evening, I wish the best for Matt in every way. 

In my experience, positive or negative feelings seem to make very little difference. When you’re a professional and your job is to fight – you fight.