Question: Nick, how are you able to juggle training for a world title fight and studying for a bar exam?

Thompson: Very carefully (laughter). I get up in the morning about 6. I'm at the gym at 6 doing my strength and conditioning. Then I go straight to class. Then it's back to the gym. I've got a little break room there. I study for a couple hours, train again, go home and study some more.

Question: Is there a way you can compare what being an MMA fighter is and becoming a lawyer?

Thompson: You know, I think there's a lot more similarities than most people would expect. Just because both of them are technical chess matches. One, you're using your body, the other you're using rhetoric. But in either case, you're picking out a strategy and trying to beat your opponent (like in a) chess match.

Question: Jake, what is a normal training day like? Have you changed it up for this title fight?

Shields: Normal training day? I mean, my days vary a little bit depending on the day of the week. But, usually, my first training session is at 11 or 12. I spar, five, five?minute rounds with big gloves, and then I grapple (for) like 30 minutes. Then I'll go take a little break, then I'll come back and do either strength and conditioning or pad work. If I have energy, depending on how I'm feeling, I'll go hit a run. If I'm too exhausted, I'll just wait for the last day.

Question: Jake, has Cesar (Gracie) brought anybody in special to get you ready for Nick?

Shields: No, I've been training with the same people – like Nick Diaz. The only thing that is a little different, I've been training and sparring with Jon Fitch a little bit.

Question: Nick, knowing that Jake is awesome on the ground, do you have any special tactics you're going to use in this fight?

Thompson: Yeah. I'm going to try to avoid being put on the ground (laughter). I feel comfortable there. I think my submission skills are decent. My wrestling is decent. Jake is as good as anybody in the world at taking people down and submitting them. I definitely don't want to be there any longer than I have to.

Question: Nick, have you brought in anybody special to try to get yourself ready for Jake?

Thompson: It's going to be hard to find someone that can do everything as well as Jake. But I've got some guys in my camp that in their individual areas I think overall can reproduce what Jake does. I obviously have Sean Sherk in my camp, guys like that. Have a few black belts. So I'm just kind of piece-mealing everything together.