I'm a champion, I have to defend this belt.
If I want to fight for a 155-pound title - if I hold the 145-pound title - give me the fight.
The one thing the fans wanted to see is me getting the title shot.
Canelo's the big name, but I am the champion going in... I took this fight. I'm not in a situation where I have nothing to lose in this fight. I've got a title to lose.
At the end of the day, I am going for all the belts, so I am going to have to go through all of them. And I would live to fight the U.K. guys - even in the U.K.
A rematch is one of those things that will always be there when you remove a champion, and it's something you definitely need to give them - that chance for a rematch. That's the only way to do it.
I'm definitely an active champion. I'm looking forward to defending my belt as many times as possible.
Best matchup? You know, I don't really know. It doesn't really matter, and whoever has the belt would be fine for me.
After you win all these belts, you cannot fight all these mandatory guys.
I want to fight for the real belt, not the interim title.
You have to take the belt, and I dont give my opponents a chance to take my belt. I go out there and take away their opportunity to take my belt away from me.
If you really look at the sport, when the No. 1 ranked fighter beats the No. 2 ranked fighter, the only thing that's up next for him is a title fight.
I am not going to be one of these guys who doesn't defend his belt. I am going to defend my belt actively.
I said as soon as I got the belt, I want number one contenders.
The guys I lost to always challenged the title, because they were, like, title eliminators. I lost to Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson and they fought for the belt. Then I won fights against really tough guys.
You look at the top five right now and see guys like Kelvin Gastelum, who I've beaten, Carlos Condit, who I've beaten, Robbie Lawler, who I've beaten. How are those guys more notable than I am, and I'm the champion of the world?
I want to defend and put my title on the line as much as possible. If the top in the division are ready to try to come and take my belt - and the key word is 'try' - I'm ready to give them that opportunity.
I want the undisputed belt.
I think I could have asked for a title shot after I beat Ian McCall.
An interim title is just a guarantee at a title shot. If I'm going to fight the best guys in the world, I want a guarantee that I'm going to fight for the title.
