Hi guys. Training has gone extremely well this week; so well that I’ve realized I was even more over-trained for the last fight than I originally thought. Two weeks away from my fight at UFC 75, I felt tired and just wanted the fight to come and go so I could relax.

But now, two weeks out from UFC 78, I can’t wait for the first bell, and I am really excited and looking forward to it. I am counting the days until I fly over to America.

NOT DRINKING THE KOOL-AID As I said last week, me and Rashad isn’t a grudge match. I like the guy and respect him as a fighter but of course, all that doesn’t mean I’m not going to go all out to beat the crap out of him at UFC 78 - especially as he seems to be dismissing me as an opponent.

I read Rashad’s column on UFC.com the other day and also watched his video interview, both with great interest. He seems to be saying I think I am better than I actually am, that I am fooling myself into a false sense of security or whatever and am even taking it easy in the gym because I believe my own hype.

For Rashad to think I am arrogant in my own ability is complete rubbish. Look at my interview, I’ve always stressed I am learning as I go along, that I am a few steps behind the top of the division. I have never, ever, ever thought “I’m undefeated, I am great, and so I can take it easy” or believed my own hype or anything like that.

That’s just not me, that’s not the sort of fighter or sort of guy I am and I’ve got a gym full of people, not to mention my family and friends, who’d tell me if I ever started acting like that and set me straight.

Over the last year or so we’ve had all sorts of writers, TV crews and media at the Wolf’s Lair gym and you can watch the footage or read the reports – I train full blast – to failure – every single time I train.

If Rashad is hoping for an early Christmas present, he better ask Santa for something else because I’m not going to gift this fight to him by coming in underprepared!

But it is very interesting that Rashad thinks I’m the kind ad of guy who reads a few magazine articles on himself and thinks “Yeah, I’m pretty great aren’t I?” and skips going to the gym for a few weeks.

That may be your attitude, Rashad, but it’s not mine.

ONE LUMP OR TWO, SUGAR? Rashad also seemed to think the only thing I’ve got going on that works for me is my attitude to fighting, as though my game in itself isn’t anything to worry about.