Issue 181

August 2019

The heavyweight legend looks back at some career highlights

Can you walk us through the moment when you became the UFC Heavyweight Champion after that vicious KO win over Cain Velasquez? You were running around the Octagon, looking skyward, with your arms up and fists clinched in pure elation. What emotions where you experiencing in that moment?

That was a special moment in my life. It was the biggest moment in my career. The feeling that I was having at that time, I can’t explain it. I’m not sure if everyone remembers but ten days before the fight I suffered a knee injury. I should have pulled out of the fight but I didn’t. I went in there and I won the fight with that big punch. It was amazing. That first fight (with Cain) was…how do you say…perfect. You are 17-4, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion with wins over Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum, Shane Carwin and many other huge names.

What fight from your illustrious career are you most proud of to this point?

I think one of the fights that means a lot, outside of the title fights, was my debut in the UFC against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90. It was a fight against one of the biggest fighters in the UFC’s Heavyweight division at the time. I was very nervous going into that fight. I felt like they (the UFC) put me in there to lose. I went in there and won the fight convincingly. It was one of my best memories, too. That will always be a special fight to me. As a fan of the sport who are your favorite fighters to watch and why?

I enjoy watching good fights, of course. I really like watching Jose Aldo. I know his last fight against Conor McGregor wasn’t really a fight. It went too fast but I like to watch him fight. I like to watch Jon Jones fight, too. There are so many guys out there now. It’s hard to pick just a few because there are a lot of guys now that can put on a good show.