well Tom congratulations on your first UFC title defense um you know everyone knows you can finish fights easy but I don't know if everyone expected you to finish this one in literally a minute did you see it going that way and how happy are you with your own performance the the performance was a bit messy to be honest um if I hit anybody clean they're going over that's a that's that's what's going on these days if I hit someone clean they're going over and there's no arguments about that it's proven now um curs was actually a lot slower than I thought but he had really long answer so a few of a few of his punches I thought were going to miss and they got me but uh yeah we were still like both finding our range as as the fight kind of progressed a little bit um I managed to catch one and it was over um there was some talk about maybe the stoppage was a little bit early did you feel that he was basically stuck there and wasn't going anywhere and it was a fair stoppage mate what kind of idiot is saying that like I dropped him with a onew he's face down on the canvas I've got 250s on his back and I'm landing seven eight unanswered shots like where where is he going to go do you know what I mean like what where's Curtis blades going to go after that there's only one place going to go and it's asleep so are we going to let it get to that point or are we going to look after fight at safety because I I don't want it to get to that point do you know what I mean he's he's unable to intelligently defend himself and uh it was stopped at the right time great refering by Mark Gard you know you said there that you're you're dropping everyone early these days you know is it despite what the punch machine says do you think you might be one of the hardest hitting heavyweights of all time at this point uh I have good timing I have good timing that's what it is um hey if any heavyweight hits and I'm accurate if any heavyweight hits you on the in the face you're probably going over do you know what I mean and I hit accurately I hit fast I make my opponents twitch before I hit them so they don't see the punch um so probably not like I don't think I'm some crazy power puncher but if I hit you you definitely going to sleep yeah we all know what sort of should be next Dana was in here and says that they'd be crazy not to make you the backup for Stipe versus Jon Jones so it sounds like you're going to New York is there a part of you though I know you get itchy Knuckles right they fight in November we don't know what happens to them then they could maybe want six months Gap is there a chance you fight anyone other than those two or does it have to be them next like who be the winner of ser and maybe v no I want to fight Jon Jones or or stie let's not discredit stee in what he's done um I think a lot of people are looking past him probably maybe sometimes me to be honest but um whoever wins that one I'm fighting next for sure unless they both retire you're a little bit surprised we haven't heard from Mr Jones tonight I didn't know that we hadn't I'm sure we will at some stage you'll be very angry about it all the fact that everyone's saying that I can beat him but that's okay um on the contrary to what JN Jones Fanboys might think I have nothing against Jon Jones as a person I think I'm the best heavyweight in the world and if he thinks he's in the heavyweight best heavyweight in the world let's settle it simple as that it's not rocket science there's two guys who are claiming to be the best heavyweight in the world let's settle it simple as that right here uh you said in media you know Curtis blades has been in the top five of This heavyweight division for like even before you were in the UFC is this a guy that you think you'll have to see again you know considering how the first fight when you're technically one one or are you done with the Curtis blades chapter me and Curtis blades on a Trilogy give the people what they want to see it seems like it seems like every time he loses a numberal contender he fights his way no c c is a high level guy man I've said all week he's the toughest stylistic match up in the division for me I still believe that Curtis is good I thought the fight was going to go longer um I didn't mean to knock him out that early I see I've got an issue right with f figh and coaches always saying the obvious thing which is let's drag Tom into deep Waters let's see what he's like when it gets to the third and fourth round [ __ ] great drag me there then but no one's been able to do it yet so you can mouth the all you want when the camera's in your face but let's see what happens when it comes down to drag him in the third and fourth round and the fifth round no one's managed to do it yet so I'm still waiting for that myself I'd love to see what I look like myself when I do that because to be honest with you in the last two years since I fought Curtis last my training has been on an absolute different level like these days I just train with a a squad of heavy weights that's chose out for me it's just honestly it's the highest level training of heavyweights of anywhere in the world that we've got right now we have the highest level of heavyweights in one room we have like between 10 and 15 top level heavy ways every day on the map and the amount of improved since I've been doing that is incomparable is that is that a word we're we're going with that incomparable to uh the progress I made before that like my training now is honestly I can't even tell you how much I've improved in the last two years and um with that level of training and those level of training Partners I just feel like my skill level has gone through the roof so as part of you annoyed it was only a minute long would yes I want I want longer then last one for me uh you kind of touched my like you're not like you're giving Stipe credit like Stipe could win but it seems like they're saying like you're going to fight John next you're going to fight John next why don't you think fans and pundits are giving Stipe this chance against Jon Jones he's just a bit older is he and he's not I mean I think he last one like he lost his last fight that was like three or four years ago and then he's not won for like four or five years so I understand do you know what I mean but I I don't think at heavyweight you can ever count anybody out um so we'll we'll see how that fight goes you know what I mean but as I said excuse me I'm a bit gassy I just had a beer I uh I think I'm the best heavyweight in the world right now and if you think you are whoever you may be John John Stipe whoever let's fight about it it's pretty simple do you know what I mean I'm not there's absolutely no disrespect here for all the Jon Jones or stpe Fanboys I'm the best heavyweight in the world if they think they are come and get it let let's settle it it's very it's very very easy to settle in this sport we both sign a contract we both get a date we both train for eight weeks and let's fight in front of 20 thou 25,000 people and millions watching around the world and let's see who the best is everyone will see it we'll decide and we'll move on Tom before the fight you said it was going to be the greatest ring walk of all time do you think it delivered what do you think I think it delivered solid I reckon it was solid and to top it all off I got a message off no Gallagher this this morning he he he uh whatsapped me I don't know I have no idea how I got my number actually I think it was him anyway he said it he said it was him and it was him on the the WhatsApp picture uh and I just sent one back saying yeah mate I'm coming out to super sonic as well as part of my walkout and he sent one back saying that's that's amaz like he loved it he Lo and I hope that nol got to see it and Liam got to see it and uh went with my usual Curtis I don't know Patty's walkout is pretty awesome as well though is it so um but for me personally I don't think I'll ever get a walk out and reception like I did did tonight I mean you say that could we potentially get null to play you out at some point I don't know that's not really a thing though is it with the UFC but I mean I'd be up for it yeah last one from me obviously the performance was fantastic and hopefully the Jon Jones fight does happen but with it being so good you think it could have potentially pushed Jones further away I have no idea I don't know Jon Jones is a straight guy man I don't know what he's doing he does some weird moves like I'm I'm just over here trying to be the best heavyweight in the world be the best version of myself he's done all that he's done every I'm not taking away from what he's done in his career the the guy's career is unbelievable but um I'm just trying to me personally I'm trying to fight people and that's it so I don't know what he's doing I can't speak for him Tom down here to your left um obviously this week was the 2-year anniversary of that uh ill- fated night the O2 Arena how how good did it feel to exercise the ghost of that that night CU yeah that that was good I mean I've not nothing against Curtis I actually really like him as a human being he's a really cool guy um but I just needed to beat him it I knew that I was better than him then and as as I just said to these guys me now in comparison to me two years ago with the training regiment I've got is hey it's just not even close like I'm way way better now than I was then and uh I'm ready to take on anyone man honestly Minute Tom diping your knuckles soaking your hands in petol must have worked eh they're like stones mate they're like stones do you know what it is uh a lot of Americans don't get a British humor I was obviously taking the piss there but you know what I was going to keep that going I thought it was hilarious that the way everyone was uh but then um like kids started asking me about how long I leave my knuckles in for and then I got tagged in a couple of stuff on Instagram of like kids putting the knuckles in petrol I'm like I don't even know if this is safe you know I don't really want to promote this anymore so uh if you go to my YouTube channel you can see a video where I like explain I don't really do it so sorry Americans I was taking the piss on that one uh Tom right here hello uh you mentioned having a beer post fight what was the beer of choice oh they just give me some uh Stellaris it was terrible it was awful like the cheapest beer ever but it was it tasted pretty good I uh feel pretty good now I say once you got the finish I think everyone in the stands got a bit of a beer shower there was beer flying everywhere you got one on your way I did I did someone passed me a pint I started drinking it and then someone knocked out me I just like thanks for that but uh it was great right that I'll never get a reception like that again I've literally gone out there tonight and just live my dream and um how many people in all honesty existing on planet Earth right now say that they get to live their actual dream I don't think there's many um and I just feel like so privileged and grateful to be able to do that like for the for I I've been to every Manchester show basically that there is sitting in the nose beds with my dad do you know what I mean and then to to go in there and be the co- Main Event fight for a UFC title is just incredible Tom you're making it look easy in there every time you're stepping in there still keeping that shortest average fight time in the UFC when you say you're the greatest heavyweight on the planet and you look at Jon Jones and Steve P miic that dominant fashion in the way you're winning do you see it going the exact same way with those guys are you that confident in your abilities no absolutely like well I'm confident in my abilities yeah but um I never see it going that way to be honest I'm not even trying to finish like tonight I didn't even feel like I really have my range on him properly I thought it was going to be a long fight thought it was going to be like three four rounds at least curtes is a tough guy to get out of there um yeah that that's when I do my best work is when I'm like not like I say it was a bit of a messy performance but I got the win I got the bonus so I ain't complaining about nothing do you know what I mean it was great and how was this fight day in comparison to others long day in your own City and that atmosphere like we've all mentioned that was unbelievable one of the most stressful days of my life really honestly yeah so I changed my uh I changed my sleep pattern over the last couple of weeks started sleeping at like 4:00 a.m. staying up sleep until like 10:11 like as late as I could and then last night I thought right I'm just going to get a normal night's sleep now I'm going to go to bed like midnight get up like 7 or 8:00 then I'm going to get like a big nap in the afternoon so that was my plan mate there is no chance I could nap I was so nervous all day I was literally just lay there thinking of a million different ways about how this fight is going to go so I've L at this point i' may have literally been awake for about 24 hours I'm pretty tired um but it was all worth it m I can't complain you know I've been saying it all along I've got a lot of friends who you're an otherton guy I'm an otherton guy like uh a lot of my friends work in a [ __ ] Factory they start at 4:00 a.m. and they work for 12 hours and they do that every day without complaining like I've got to do it once I've got I've got to fight one night at 4:00 5 a.m. these guys are doing that for 30 40 years and looking after the family doing it that way like I ain't got nothing to complain about but it was definitely a long day and defending that belt that you've got in front of you now I know you believe that you are the official heavyweight champion but do you think it will feel much different and I'm not talking about if it's Jon Jones that you defeat because that's a different different success entirely but will it actually feel different holding the official UFC title No I I think I'm the best heavyweight in the world I don't think I'm the uh John's the Undisputed Champion but I'm the best in the world if that makes any sense we know we know what John's doing John John was also saying John John was there crossing his fingers and toes tonight open that I'd lose to Curtis let's not [ __ ] about it like he put he posted about it loads anyway that I'm going to lose to him uh yeah that didn't happen so um that's the fight I won next final one for me that fight obviously be early next year are you cool just waiting your time and obviously if something does happen in November where you're ready to step in that'll be you did it last year didn't you yeah I'll do it again I'll do it again I'll be ready to go in November if it well there's talks in November is there yeah like they're talking about fighting in November where where's the announcement and the contract signed cuz I I don't really know where that is at the moment so um I I'll be ready to step in mate in November if someone gets injured which is quite likely let's be honest um so I I'll be ready mate I I'm ready to fight whenever to your left sorry mate yeah just two quick ones for me you say you're the best heavyweight in the world who's number two and who's number three it's a good question um I think at the moment you have to say Jon Jones is number two I don't know it's it's a tough case with JN isn't it to be honest because he's had one fight against the guy that was really good stylistically a really good stylistic matchup for him um so I don't know but I I don't I don't like rankings anyway but I know that I'm number one that's all I'm bothered about and the other one for me is uh I don't know if you heard Michael busman's comments in the leadup to uh to this weekend I think he he said it a couple of times I think he said it on the broadcast and he definitely said it at the Q&A he said that you you've got the ability to become one of the all-time greatest and possibly one of the pound-for-pound best ever he's called you the heavyweight George St here um what does it mean to get that sort of Praise from a legend of the sport who's sort of preceded you in as a as a as a UK MMA champion and how far do you think you can go massive Praise of course um as you said bis Bin's a legend in UK MMA not even even I think it's a bit it's not right just to call him a legend in UK MMA he's a legend in MMA um but I think I can I think I can definitely fulfill that I feel like I've got the I've got what it takes do you know what I mean and and and I've thought this for a long time but obviously I didn't have the proof to back it up but now now I do and I think that people are starting to jump on the bandwagon a bit and if you're know you know I'll work on proving you wrong do you know what I mean but uh for right now I've got a lot more work to do so I'm not getting ahead of myself uh one fight at a time and all that stuff um but for right now I just want to you know I don't know how long I'm going to stay in this sport for like I know now I'm I'm 31 heavyweights go a lot longer than other divisions but I'm definitely on the second half of my career now uh so I want to make as much money and and get as much Glory as possible and have as many fights as possible like I want to I want to be as active as I can so we'll see what happens Tom just in front of you you said in the cage that you're just an ordinary man doing extraordinary things we've seen a lot of you know champions in Combat Sports lose the Run of themselves with Fame and money um how do you keep your humility and are you afraid of losing it uh I'm not afraid to lose it because it's never going to happen um I don't know I feel like this I'm me personally and I can't speak for everybody but I'm not really that into like the celebrity lifestyle at all it doesn't really phase me I like I said this all week and uh my team my poor team over there are probably going to be sick of it but what I like doing is sticking a pair of gloves on the other person sticking a pair of gloves on both taking our shirts off going in a cage full filled with 25,000 people and millions watching around the world and finding out who the best is that's what I like doing now for other guys I know the guys have got movie roles and rap albums coming out and the pushing this brand and they're pushing that brand what I like doing is fighting people that's what I really like doing so uh I'm not interested in buying a yacht and cruising about on that or buying a private plane and going to a party in Vegas I'm not really that interested in it mate what what I'm interested in is being the best version of myself that I can possibly be there was a beautiful video that came out I think it was go a society did it where you spoke about your your child and uh raising awareness for autism how important is it to you to use your fighting career as a vehicle to raise awareness to cause as closest to your heart um I'm always a bit on the fence talking about autism but I feel like I need to because it's something that doesn't get enough attention um I'm on the fence for the reason being that I'm new to it my child's 5 years old we've had a diagnosis two years so it's it there there's people there who've been looking after autistic people for 30 40 years you know what I mean I'm very very new to it but um I know that me and my family were very lost before we got a diagnosis and I think that there's a lot of people out there who have been waiting literally years to get any diagnosis and any help with it and uh it's a tough place to be in and and we were having a tough time with it and we still are we still do have a tough time with it and I want to get as much light and help for other families as possible so if I have to use my platform for it even though like I said I'm not the most educated person on autism or anything like that and I don't claim to be but if I Can Shed any light on it I absolutely will thank you congratulations thank you Tom uh just here uh two for me um you've done a lot of charity work in Wigan and um I saw a video of the young people actually with you the other day um was that a lot of the motivation behind this fight like having all these young people looking up to you uh and has that helped you to win today I don't I don't really it sounds a bit mad but as as a high level professional athlete I think you have to be a bit selfish so I don't really see myself like as an inspiration and um I'm going to do this to inspire this kid and that kid if if me being successful as a byproduct of that that's absolutely amazing and uh I want to do more of that kind of stuff um and it's still as a guy as I said on the on the pulse fight uh interview as a regular guy I still find it a bit weird that I'm like inspiring people um but if I can do that's not my intention my intention is to win fights and be successful in that but if I can do that as a byproduct that's incredible and uh I'll do that as much as I can and and you talked a little bit more about like trying to make money through fighting as well like you won a bonus say so how much does that mean to you and we asked Paddy before about what he was going to spend it on and he says family um what's your plans is there any I don't know to be honest but me Paddy and my mate my mate Mick Park in W one which I was absolutely over the moon for him and all honestly I've got goosebumps talking about it um Mick is the nicest guy ever and he's still like he's 4-0 in the UFC now but he's still like a bit overlooked cuz his performances and I'm sure he'll agree with me with me on this have been a bit boring so far and he went out there tonight in front of like a a home crowd and performed knocked the guy out and got 100 Grand bonus like that is unbelievable like when the UFC came in and Mick wasn't with me Mick's Mick's already gone Mick's left um when the UFC came in and told me that I won a bonus and Mick like I was just as excited for Mick as I was me like absolutely incredible and obviously Patty as well but I don't know Patty as well as I do Mick I see Mick all the time and Mick's just the nicest guy ever and he deserves it so much thank you do you think your performance uh kind of pushed Alex pereira's dreams of coming up to heavyweight down a bit oh no no I don't think so um but here's Here's a thought for you I was thinking about this the other day what about so they're saying that stie and Jon Jones are going to fight in um MSG in November why don't we do a tournament we'll do John Stipe me Alex and do a fourman tournament two fights in one night and let's find out who the real heavyweight champion of the world it's like we got the the best best heavyweight of all time we got the the best MMA figh of all time we've got the light heavyweight champion and then we've got me who's just a poxy interim Champion do you know what I mean let's let's do that two fights in one night put it to Dana I'm sure Dana's going to be here in a minute and uh he's been Dana didn't really like the idea of him moving up no I don't this is I am honestly the biggest fan of Alex Pereira what had like he's one scary guy um but would that not be a cool little little thing two fights in one night like let's see how we get on I mean I've got the the lowest average fight time in the UFC and it's even lower after tonight like my chances of doing all right in that are pretty good like let's let's put some money on the table and let's uh let's see who the guy is at heavyweight