He's quietly spoken and never courts controversy, but the words of Australia's UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker speak volumes, especially where his lofty ambitions are concerned.
Whittaker makes the first defence of his title against Cuban veteran Yoel Romero in Chicago on Sunday (AEST).
In person Whittaker comes across as affable and humble, never relying on trash talk to sell his fights.
While he's not the type to shout his deeds from the rooftops, Whittaker radiates confidence and self belief and has no issue with publicly declaring his goals.
In an Instagram post this week, Whittaker appeared with his belt draped over one shoulder and the Australian flag over the other, with the picture accompanied by the words, "On my journey to become one of the best fighters ever known."
Belts and titles are not however, the major driving force for the 27-year-old Sydneysider, who was born in New Zealand.
"He wants to be known as the greatest fighter of all time so that's what drives him," Whittaker's manager Titus Day told AAP.
"Whether he wins the belt this weekend is by the by.
"I don't think he even really cares about the belt that much except it's sitting there, we drag it out for press ops and that kind of thing, but he hasn't changed at all.
"If anything he's a bit more humble because he understands he's now got a bit more responsibility than he's previously had."
Whittaker won the interim title against Romero in Las Vegas last year and subsequently was upgraded to undisputed champion.
"The people I surround myself have no problem at all putting me down,' joked Whittaker, whose fight will be broadcast on Main Event.
Whittaker is also acutely aware fortunes can quickly plummet in his risky profession.
'Whilst he's young he has also got an older head on young shoulders because he also understands that all of that could be gone tomorrow," Whittaker's overall performance coach Fabricio Itte told AAP.
"I think he's very grounded in that sense. He's lost fights before, he understands that it's inevitable that there is another loss waiting for him, maybe several losses along the way."
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