TRAINING:  I start my first training session at nine. Usually I go to do my conditioning training, and at 12:00 I do my grappling training. Then I come back at night time to do my striking training.

When and why did you start training for fighting? 2001. It was just a natural progression from what I was doing, which was a lot of competing in tournaments. This was the next step for me.

What ranks and titles have you held? Black Belt in BJJ, Sengoku middleweight champion, 2007 STRIKEFORCE middleweight Grand Prix champion

Do you have any heroes? My father

What is your favorite technique? Right hand

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? I’m in the best organization in the world, and I’m here to be the 185-pound champion.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? College of fighting – I’m still studying.

What was your job before you started fighting? Teaching martial arts.

•    Defeated Andrei Semenov, Jeremy Horn, Sean Salmon, Yuki Sasaki, Logan Clark, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Kazuo Misaki during his post-UFC stint.

•    Rematch against Misaki in August of 2010 considered to be one of the best of 2010

•    Pro since 2002

•    Nine wins by KO, 12 by submission