We always train with heavier sparring partners to make it harder so the fight will be easier.

Nobody gave me anything. I conquered everything. And I gave them a lot more than they gave me back.

That was my biggest dream, to one day become champion in MMA and boxing. That is my biggest dream.

I take a lot of pride in beating guys like Kyle Dake or David Taylor or these guys who have been basically bred to do this from Day 1. The best camps, the best high schools, the best universities. I never had that. It's not necessary, but I never had any of the frills a lot of those guys had.

High school wrestling is awesome.

I have wrestled in almost every tournament in the world. I've won the Olympics, NCAAs, and World Championships, but none of those can truly compare to the feeling I felt when I won my first and only state championship my senior year of high school.

The way the podium is situated in wrestling, the first place spot is the center. So if I'm in a bathroom, I'll look for the first place urinal.

I've dreamed on numerous occasions that I've lost the biggest event in my life, and there was absolutely nothing that I could do about it.

I've become close with Masoud Esmaeilpour and consider him a friend. We send each other messages from time to time on Instagram, checking in to see how the other is doing. Whenever I see him, he's always a gentleman, giving me tips about my next opponent. There is a tremendous amount of respect in our friendship.

I don't describe myself as a nationalist, but I do love my country.

For Americans, of course, it's football, basketball, and baseball. We live for it. In many ways, it sums up who we are. In Iran, it's all about wrestling. The patriotism toward their country comes out in the way they wrestle, so it makes sense why they're the best.

I was an All-American at three different weight classes in college. Started off at 149, then 157, and then finished up my senior year at 165.

Believe it or not, my goal was always to play in the NFL.

I'm not a big guy that watches technique from my opponents. I try to do what I do best and hope that my stuff is better than their best stuff.

I think a lot of guys get out of wrestling for financial incentive to go to the UFC, but I'm doing well.

I've got a home. I've got a wife. I've got everything I need.

There's a pride in representing your country on a stage like the sport of wrestling, which I've done since I was five years old. There's nothing that can deter me other than my own decision to leave the sport.

People need to feel like their heroes are human, not on the mat but in the world. The more people can see that, the more they can understand that they're capable of doing great things as well.

Within a match, there's so many things that happen that could ultimately determine the outcome: You reach too much with your right hand, you step forward with your left leg, you get your head out of position.

There's always an opportunity to be your best until I hang up my shoes.

It's easy to be selfish and focus on what you have to do and what you need to do to accomplish your goals and be like, 'I'll give back later,' but there's no better time than now.

If I wrestle in 2020, I want it to be my own decision and not the IOC's.

I enjoy wrestling. I enjoy the sport. I get to go against the world's best athletes.

I am who I am and who I try to be - someone who loves wrestling and loves people.