Issue 158

September 2017

One of the world’s most dangerous fighters breaks down a quintet of life-changing bouts.

1. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov

The Jacaré fight was my number one fight. The Weidman bout was great and all, but at the time of my fight with Jacaré, I had been injured for 19 months.

I tore the AC joint in my shoulder twice and questioned continuing this career. I was $20,000 in debt, and at that time of my life, it was a large sum of money.

It was a struggle living in the gym and living in the garage at my manager’s place. I was slumming it.

Taking out a guy like Jacaré – a guy I looked up to – was a sign of making it in the sport. It became real. A $100,000 paycheck was the world to me at the time.

2. Vitor Belfort, UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold

This was a turning point in my career. It changed my mindset and confidence after everyone had written me off.

I let it get to me, and this was the first time I got emotionally tied into a fight. I felt a lot of pressure to go out there and prove myself. To be in that environment in Brazil was a learning experience.

Then to get caught like I did... It helped me relax moving forward. It put me in a great space. I learned a lot. I want that one back. If you don’t want to avenge your losses you aren’t championship caliber.

I let it go, but f**k yeah, I wanted that back.

3. Costa Philippou, UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou

A Knockout of the Night performance. To end him with those body shots was great.

That win came right after my loss to Vitor, so it felt great to get back on the winning track.

4. Lyoto Machida, UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold

This was the fight that projected me to the title. He was another guy I looked up to, so to go out there and smoke him the way I did felt damn good.

It was what I thought would happen. I knew if I got on top of him, I could make it an easy night for myself – and that’s exactly what happened. I was happy with that and wanted to get up and stand with him more.

He was a little rattled when I knocked him down a few times, but I wasn’t going to let the fight go on any longer than it had to.

5. Chris Weidman, UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor

There were a lot of struggles going into that fight. It was a world title fight and the pinnacle of the game and that means a lot to me, obviously.

I had a staph infection and so many other injuries in that camp. To win the fight in the fashion I did was awesome. I think it opened people’s eyes.