--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believed I could knock out Rory…" description: "\"I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, and sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, but I know I can kno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/stephen-thompson-5214_believed_i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdon_2506266.jpg" --- # I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny… ![“I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, and sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, but I know I can knock these guys out.” quote by Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/stephen-thompson-5214_believed_i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdon_2506266.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/stephen-thompson-5214_believed_i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdon_2506266.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/stephen-thompson-5214_believed_i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdon_2506266.jpg) > “I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, and sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, but I know I can knock these guys out.” [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confidence in knockout ability fuels performance, though outcomes remain uncertain. **In simple terms:** Believe you can win, but accept uncertainty. Key Takeaway Train hard, stay humble. Themes confidence uncertainty competition athletics Mood determined focused Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - training camps - fight preparation - mental conditioning - career planning Key Concepts sports psychology risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence with realism? - What strategies keep you grounded? A Different Perspective Overconfidence may lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I always wanted to knock guys out. It was a mindset that I had when I tuned pro - knock everybody out and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-always-wanted-to-knock-guys-out-it-was-a-mindset-that-i-had-when-i/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [Anybody in the UFC has a chance to knock you out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/anybody-in-the-ufc-has-a-chance-to-knock-you-out/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I know I can knock Robbie Lawler out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-know-i-can-knock-robbie-lawler-out/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [You can put 10 Dominick Cruz's in front of me, I'll knock them all out. 10 out of 10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/you-can-put-10-dominick-cruz-s-in-front-of-me-i-ll-knock-them-all-out/) [Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/) > [“Knock knock! Who’s there? Amory! Amory who? Amory Christmas and a Happy New Year!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-laughing/knock-knock-who-s-there-amory-amory-who-amory-christmas-and-a-happy/) Johnny B. Laughing > [Why should we strive, with cynic frown, to knock their fairy castles down?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-cook/why-should-we-strive-with-cynic-frown-to-knock-their-fairy-castles/) [Eliza Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-cook/) > [“... I opened the door to a knock and found a ashen-faced messenger quailing at the prospect of facing an undead witch who was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-poole/i-opened-the-door-to-a-knock-and-found-a-ashen-faced-messenger/) [Sara Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-poole/) > [“We knock on the door and wait”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/we-knock-on-the-door-and-wait/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [When Everton knock it long, they don't knock it long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/when-everton-knock-it-long-they-don-t-knock-it-long/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [You can't knock somebody for how they got into the business. 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I no longer had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/the-first-time-i-went-to-abbey-road-and-put-those-headphones-on-i/) [Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/) > [I can't never stop nobody, can't knock nobody hustle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-can-t-never-stop-nobody-can-t-knock-nobody-hustle/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [My intention is to knock out Andy Ruiz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-ortiz/my-intention-is-to-knock-out-andy-ruiz/) [Luis Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-ortiz/) > [If opportunity doesnt knock, build a door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-opportunity-doesnt-knock-build-a-door/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Stephen Thompson > [I understand it's part of the sport, part of the game to have people who like you and people who don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-understand-it-s-part-of-the-sport-part-of-the-game-to-have-people/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [Everybody asks me, 'Hey, what's your most memorable fight?' For me, it's definitely the Matt Brown fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/everybody-asks-me-hey-what-s-your-most-memorable-fight-for-me-it-s/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [To be honest with you, Conor McGregor at 170, I think he's just going to be thrown around like a little rag doll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/to-be-honest-with-you-conor-mcgregor-at-170-i-think-he-s-just-going/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I know that pretty much everybody I face is going to wind up wanting to take me down eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-know-that-pretty-much-everybody-i-face-is-going-to-wind-up-wanting/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I rage playing video games. I think that's the only time you will ever hear me say a cuss word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-rage-playing-video-games-i-think-that-s-the-only-time-you-will-ever/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I was like 'You know what? I'm training with these champions. Guys like Georges St-Pierre, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt... 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Like when Michael Bisping knocked out Luke Rockhold. I thought... everybody thought that Luke Rockhold would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/you-gotta-be-ready-in-this-game-like-when-michael-bisping-knocked-out/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [We kind of understand at this level of the game when you work your way up to the top there's a possibility you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-the-game-when-you-work-your/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [Ben Askren, he's a tough boy. Golly, he's a tough boy. That's what wrestling does. 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Once I get you frustrated then I got you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/as-a-fighter-my-goal-is-not-to-get-hit-and-frustrate-my-opponent-once/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) [Explore all 102 Stephen Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) ## More Believed quotes > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [“I didn't know if I believed in 'happily ever after' anymore. I mean, I didn't know what would happen tomorrow, let alone for forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kate-strohm/i-didn-t-know-if-i-believed-in-happily-ever-after-anymore-i-mean-i/) [Stephanie Kate Strohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kate-strohm/) > [Alfred Nobel believed that social changes are brought about slowly, and sometimes by indirect means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertha-von-suttner/alfred-nobel-believed-that-social-changes-are-brought-about-slowly/) [Bertha von Suttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertha-von-suttner/) > [Aaron Spelling always had his finger on the pulse of pop culture, he knew what the public wanted to see. He was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-milano/aaron-spelling-always-had-his-finger-on-the-pulse-of-pop-culture-he/) [Alyssa Milano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-milano/) > [I never believed that they was such thing as love at first sight but I think I'm having that feeliing @sarahlovemoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishack/i-never-believed-that-they-was-such-thing-as-love-at-first-sight-but/) Mishack > [“I wish I believed him. He's looking at me like he can see where I begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcnamara/i-wish-i-believed-him-he-s-looking-at-me-like-he-can-see-where-i-begin/) [Amy McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcnamara/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/no-statement-should-be-believed-because-it-is-made-by-an-authority/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I never believed I'd have a six-pack, especially not at 35 years old. I always thought it was a genetic blessing. It's not. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sullivan-stapleton/i-never-believed-i-d-have-a-six-pack-especially-not-at-35-years-old-i/) [Sullivan Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sullivan-stapleton/) > [“For a moment, I believed you.” He ordered me, dryly, recovering his usual poise again. He does not only have a selective hearing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tionne-rogers/for-a-moment-i-believed-you-he-ordered-me-dryly-recovering-his-usual/) [Tionne Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tionne-rogers/) > [There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/there-was-a-time-when-idealistic-folksingers-such-as-myself-believed/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I felt uneasy, but sometimes, like I said before, I believed in Col. North and there was a very solid and very valid reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawn-hall/i-felt-uneasy-but-sometimes-like-i-said-before-i-believed-in-col/) [Fawn Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawn-hall/) > [And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/and-upon-this-act-sincerely-believed-to-be-an-act-of-justice/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) Browse all 1,214 Believed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, and sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, but I know I can knock these guys out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Thompson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdonald-johny-hendricks-and-jake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdonald-johny-hendricks-and-jake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/stephen-thompson-5214_believed_i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdon_2506266.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/stephen-thompson-5214_believed_i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdon_2506266.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/stephen-thompson-5214_believed_i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdon_2506266.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believed I could knock out Rory MacDonald, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, and sometimes it happens…” — Stephen Thompson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Thompson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believed I could knock out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdonald-johny-hendricks-and-jake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-believed-i-could-knock-out-rory-macdonald-johny-hendricks-and-jake/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```