Kiwi lightweight Dan Hooker is already back in the gym, after his five-round war against Paul Felder in the main event at UFC Auckland a fortnight ago.
"There're two things about me," Hooker tells Newshub. "I can take a punch and I heal fast."
The 30-year-old and his American adversary played out a five-round epic at Spark Arena, after which 'The Hangman' was awarded a razor-close split decision.
The partisan crowd exploded when ring announcer Bruce Buffer proclaimed him the victor and Hooker's reaction showed just how much that meant.
"I knew, when I came in on fight night, that I'd be hit with that wave of energy," he told Newshub's Fight Club podcast.
"I was able to stay calm, but once the decision got read and I realised I was the winner... that's why I fell over.
"It was just relief. I was relieved that all that pressure, that situation and everything went to plan, and I was able to get my hand raised."
The response to the judges' decision has been mixed, but after rewatching the bout several times, the Aucklander has no doubt he deserved to be named the winner.
"I thought I had a good first three rounds, everything was going to plan. He didn't seem to be adjusting or able to cut me off at all.
"I thought I was up quite clearly in the first and second rounds. In the third, I started exchanging a bit more and standing my ground a little bit more, and then he came in like a house on fire in the fourth round.
"He realised that he was down and that he needed to make a change, and so the fourth round was just me adjusting to him. He started getting more aggressive, giving me less space and cutting me off.
"Instead of moving more in the fifth round, I adjusted by closing the range, looking for the clinch and it paid dividends at the end."
The win propelled Hooker inside the division's top five rankings for the first time, rarefied air where no fighter is beyond a callout.
Former champion Dustin Poirier shapes as his most likely next opponent and Hooker is already planting the seeds on social media.
'The Diamond' hasn't fought since he lost his lightweight title to Russian phenom Khabib Nurmagomedov in September last year.
Hooker asked Poirier in a tweet if he "could see me now?", to which the American responded "I got 25 minutes for you", referring to a five-round main event.
"It looks like I'm the only option for him, unless he wants to wait around.
"It looks, from rumours - and rumours are generally true - that [Justin] Gaetjhe will be getting the [Conor] McGregor fight next, which is a pretty exciting match-up.
"That leaves Poirier with no opponent. I've now got a nice high number, which he likes and he's paying me a bit of attention."
Hooker plans to pour fuel on those flames during his trip to Las Vegas this weekend, supporting teammate Israel Adesanya in his title defence against Yoel Romero at UFC 248 on Sunday.
And while pundits and fans alike have been sounding warning bells for 'The Last Stylebender' against the powerful Cuban wrestler, Hooker shares no such concerns.
"Everyone thinks it's going to be a tough fight, but I think, for Israel specifically, this is a very easy match-up.
"I think this is going to look like Derek Brunson all over again," says Hooker, referring to the American wrestler Adesanya took apart two years ago.
"Honestly, I think this is going to be an ass-whooping and I see why Israel wants the fight.
"It's going to look like someone very fast and very slick just piecing up someone who looks as though they're stuck in the mud."
Join us for live updates of Adesanya v Romero at UFC 248 from 4pm Sunday
