Thiago Alves on Facing Georges St. Pierre at UFC 100: 'I Was Born For This'

Thiago Alves and Georges St. Pierre joined the media Thursday for a conference call regarding their UFC 100 welterweight title match.

Suffice it to say, this matchup lacks the venom of St. Pierre's last championship defense against BJ Penn, as both combatants were quick to praise each other.

Alves seemed supremely confident in his ability to topple GSP and emerge with the gold. The huge welterweight, who is in the midst of a seven-fight win streak including victories over Josh Koscheck, Matt Hughes and Karo Parisyan, sounded like he believes a title is his destiny. What follows below is a select list of his quotes.

On his destiny of being champion:
"Emotionally, I think I was born for this. I was made for that day, for these kinds of things. That's what I want, that's what I've been asking for my whole life. I think you get in life what you ask for, and I've been asking for this kind of event, this kind of title shot. I'm really excited. I know there is a lot of pressure involved but you have no choice. You've got to learn how to deal with it and make the best of it. I'm dealing really well and excited to be part of it. I can't wait to get in there."

On his confidence level:
"First off, I'm a big fan of his, his style and the way he fights. He's a great fighter, no doubt about it. I'm just really confident. I know it's my time. I have no doubt in my mind. Everything I've been through all the struggles, all the situations I've been through have prepared me for the championship, for the belt. I'm ready, I'm really excited. I know it's going to be a great fight and I'm ready."

On any special preparations:
"That's the thing, GSP is dangerous everywhere. You've got to be careful everywhere, not just the takedowns. The takedowns are just another weapon he's got. He's a dangerous striker, got great jiu-jitsu. Like I said, I'm preparing for everything. Preparing with the best wrestlers, best strikers, got the best jiu-jitsu guys. I'm prepared for everything he's got. He's the champ, he's the man and you can't just think he's going to do one thing. He's very well rounded and I'm prepared for everything."

On how he rebounded after his 2-2 start in the UFC:
"I just grew up. After my loss to Jon Fitch, I realized, "Man what are you doing?" Not even that, after my suspension, I was like, "I can't do that to myself." That's just the way to take the sport. Either you're in 100 percent or not. If you're in, take everything you got and put it into sport. Make it your life. That's what I did. I've been living it since I was 14. But in the last couple years, I made it even more clear what I want to be and what my goals are, and I'm working harder to get there."

On putting aside distractions:
"Not right now; I'm too tired to go out on the weekends. I don't have the time or patience. I just want to rest to be ready for the next week of training. Training is hell. I can't wait for the day of the fight so we can have some fan. That's just the way it is. Partying? Parties will always be there, we can party after the fight.

On GSP's abilities:
"First of all, he's a really well-rounded fighter. He's a complete athlete, complete fighter, the champion. I'm ready in every situation, wrestling, standing on the ground. I have to be ready for everything like I am now. I have a lot of respect for the champ, but I'm ready 100 percent for whatever he throws at me."

On cutting weight:
"The cutting weight thing... it's never an easy thing to do. Nobody likes to lose the weight, especially to drain yourself, dehydrate yourself. It's pat of the game. It's not a mystery, not a thing you've never done before. Every time you fight, you gotta go through with it. If you do it right, you'll perform. Well. If you don't, it's a mistake and you're not going to perform well. It is what it is."

On his journey from Brazil until now:
"I got here with the dream to be the best fighter in the world. I left my family. When I got here, I'd never been more than two weeks away from my family. All the situations, the emotional charge and troubles you get adapting yourself to a new country, a new way of life, new people you never met, it's a lot of things. But that doesn't mean anything. Just because of that I'm not going to win the fight. What happens in the fight doesn't matter.

"I came here to be best fighter in the world, I came here to make history. I came here to give a better life to my family in Brazil. I came here to make history, not just for me, for my teammates and everybody. That's what keeps me going, what motivates me every day. Not just for me but for a lot of reasons."