you are now?

EA: It truly is like a storybook story. I grew up in an area with a whole lot of bad influences around me and I overcame it because I always believed in myself that there were better things out there, and I'm doing a lot better for me and my family. If I didn't come from where I came from, I wouldn't be grateful for what I have today. So it makes me even happier as a person.

FK: The UFC held its first-ever event in Philly last summer. Was there a part of you that was wishing you could have fought on that card?

EA: Yeah, part of me was. I did get to watch it in my home town and I wasn't able to fight on the card, but I have to make a living so I can't make emotional decisions. I have to make sure that the steps I take in my career are what's best for me and my family. That's the bottom line. It's cool to say you're from the UFC, but if you're the brokest dude in there then it really don't mean much, especially if I have to take on a second job and stress out about money. I think when you're in the pinnacle of the sport that you should be paid like you're in the pinnacle of the sport and that's not what's happening right now and that's the reason that I haven't jumped ship yet.

FK: You've fought some of the top lightweights in the world outside of the UFC and you train a lot with Frankie Edgar. When I talked to Frankie I asked him how he thought you would match up against UFC fighters, so I'll ask you the same thing: how do you think Frankie would match up against some of the top guys that you've fought?

EA: This is the thing. It's really just about getting out there and getting after them, and the same thing goes for Frankie. It's not the people he's fighting that make him great, it's him that makes him great. It has nothing to do with his opponents or who he's coming up against. Frankie knows how to succeed, Frankie knows how to win. So no matter which promotion he fought in he would continue that success. That's just what would happen and I'm the same sort of way. No matter where you put me or who you put me up against, the fight's with me, not with anybody that they put up against me and I know how to win that battle within myself. It doesn't really matter either way. Frankie's been successful in the earlier years and he's continuing that now. He knows what to do to win. We're the same way. It's funny, you know, we're both from the east coast and we're both doing well. I'm happy about that.

FK: You fought in Dream's six-sided cage. Was there any difference?

EA: Nah, not at all. I fought in a ring and I fought in a cage and there's a bit of a difference, but to be honest with you, if you put all kinds of thought into it then that's what it going to end up being. If you build it up to be this great thing then it's going to become a great thing. No matter where you fight, you fight the same. There are certain things that you can do against the cage that are pros...