Cameron Hanes - Keep Hammering Collective - KHC 069 - Chito Vera

Episode Date: April 23, 2024

Join us for a discussion with Chito Vera, Ecuadorian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Follow along: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronrhanes Twitter: https://twitter.com/cameronhanes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camhanes/ Website: https://www.cameronhanes.com Follow Chito: https://www.instagram.com/chitoveraufc  Thank you to our sponsors: GoHunt: https://gohunt.com/ use code CAM when you sign up for $50 towards the gear shop + 10% off the GoHunt store Sig Sauer: https://www.sigsauer.com/ use code CAM for 10% off  MUD\WTR: https://mudwtr.com/cam use code CAM for 15% off  Ketone IQ: https://hvmn.com/CAM use code CAM for 20% MTN OPS Supplements: https://mtnops.com/ Use code KEEPHAMMERING for 20% off and free shipping Hoyt: http://bit.ly/3Zdamyv  Timestamps: 0:00:00 Intro: Embracing the High’s and Low’s of Life 0:03:56 Chito’s Mindset & Attitude for Growth 0:11:29 How Chito Got into Martial Arts 0:14:44 Fighting in Clubs as a Kid 0:18:22 The Beginning: Chito’s Training Regime 0:20:01 Striking, Jiu Jitsu & Putting on a Show for Money 0:24:44 What Makes People Love a Fighter? 0:26:30 Rivalries in Fighting 0:30:47 Ad Break 0:34:37 Some Fighters Give Up Early 0:36:06 Max Holloway's Epic Knockout of Justin Gaethje 0:39:29 Getting Accepted into the UFC 0:48:37 Gaining Success in the UFC 0:57:18 A Winning Rhythm, Broken Orbital Followed by a 5 Win Streak 01:02:49 Dealing with Adversity, Chito’s Diet & Lifestyle 01:06:14 Chito’s Upcoming Goals 01:10:31 Turning Down Fights 01:17:36 Hunter Campbell 01:19:58 Outro

Every step I take, I move my truth. Every time they tell me stop I use. Every comment hate that makes my feel. Gather up my energy and boom. I hear them talking, saying the way that I move it's so reckless. That is a part of my mind I've been blessed with. Giving my blood so I am relentless. All right, welcome to the Keep Hammering Collective.

I'm here with Marlon Chito Vera. What's up, buddy? Man, I'm sore. You're sore? Yeah, we had a good day yesterday, huh? It was great, man. I've been looking forward for a while to do that. I've been being a big fan of yours for a long time, wanting to run with you, train, learn

how to shoot the bow, and it was an amazing day. A great experience. Really? Yeah. I had so much fun because I don't know how, you know, we connected, obviously, through UFC and watching you a fight, and I'm there sometimes with Joe, so it's, but I just, I liked how, I liked, you know, I think everybody loves your attitude. You're so positive.

You're, uh, you seem fun. without even no or spending time with you one on one, you seem like a fun, happy person that just works their ass off. I mean, that's what I do. You gotta keep the right attitude towards everything, right? Not every day you win, not every fight you win. And sometimes that alone just can dictate where you're going life or who you are or how you approach things.

And I mean, if you keep the right attitude, good things will come to you. Yeah. Well, it's, I mean, you're, your last fight was a big fight, championship fight, five round war. And yeah, I mean, it's, that's, the fight game is such a hard job, you know. Yeah, I mean, it's, I will say it's a blessing to be able to put myself on the spotlight like that and have the opportunity just to like go big on front of the world. But at the same time, you know, it's big risk, high reward, but also the downfall is the spikes are like quick, right? Like, you can go from from being everyone's number one fighter to like, nah.

So that's what, in my opinion, is the best game because it's all mental. It's like how you handle the noise, how you handle the ups and downs. And besides that, I mean, makes a better story towards the end when you get it done. Yeah, that's what I always say. Anytime I get disappointed or something doesn't work out, I'm just like, fuck, it's going to make a better story now. after I get kicked in the balls or something. Yeah. It's easy to have a good attitude when you're just winning all the time.

And that doesn't really test you. You know, of course, everybody would love it, but that's not how life works. Yeah. So how you handle those valleys and gets you to the peaks. Those, I mean, you have to embrace when you're on board. You have to, like, almost like, I appreciate when you touch rock bottom because now that you're touching there, you can actually jump back.

When you're in the middle, there's nowhere to go up, you can go down. Sometimes you get sideways because you don't have a sight. But I mean, it's life. Yeah. In a sport, in performing, yeah, it's awesome to just go win, win, win, win, but I mean, in real life, they don't work like that. There's apps and down. There's life.

There's families. There's kids. your family, your wife, your everything, right? And there's, it's never all pretty. It's never all like beautiful sunset and rainbows. There's an ups and downs and how you handle that is what makes you better. And what I want to make people want to be around you, want to make people like like you because it's like how you keep it up.

And like for all of us is a different journey. For all of us, it's just a different path. And you just have to go through. You know, it's chopping, chopping and keep going forward. Yeah, keep working. Well, where did you learn that mindset? I will say from my father, my grandfather, like, I, growing up, I never see complaining around me. But also, I knew we weren't like the rich family that everything is, you know, you have wealth for generations.

But I never saw my father, like, complaining and being like, oh, I don't have this, I don't have that, how I can get there. because in our family, there were like wealthy families. They were like actually some wealthy families near us, like on my own family. But we weren't that. And I never see my dad like comparing himself or like, now that I'm an adult and I'm a grown man,

looking back, I never saw him like going like, fuck, like why don't have what this guy have? Or how can get that? He just put his head down and work and he provide. Yeah. So for my own self, for my own family, I'm like, I can do less than what he did for us. So that's what made me go bigger.

Yeah. You know, left the country, trying to marry to the UFC, become a UFC fighter, and I've been trying my ass off since 2014. Yeah, I love it. I mean, but I do think that that's a great lesson too, because I think a lot of kids grow up and they hear their parents, or for sons, especially their dads, because I think sons look to their dads to model how you're supposed to be as a man.

And if the dad is always bitching and complaining about some other guy or his situation at work or his life, then the son sees that and they're going to mimic that. You pretty much you're making a bitch. And indirectly, you don't want that for your kids, but you don't realize how much kids it leads and how much they pay attention. Sometimes you're like that. He's a little kid. He don't fucking know.

They know. Yeah. And that gave me awareness growing up because I'm like, I was aware of everything my father. I was like, I thought it was the coolest guy, farmer guy, ride horses, drive of F-150. So I'm like, that guy is a fucking badass. He's a badass. And without fame, without money, but everywhere he goes, hey, Mr. Berra, hey, Marlon, like, let me, let's trade a few cows or whatever. Yeah, yeah.

He was always making business. town and it's a small farm town so right either either you're cool or you're not because this is a small town right and I was just like as a kid I remember just paying attention of every little detail shakes everybody's hand

look people in the eye and he never sit down and tell me all this but you see that's what my son is around let's say I lost a fighter I'm not doing well or I feel like something is wrong I just keep the best attitude towards it because he's feeding from

me every day. So I'm like, I'm not going to let this kid get the worst of me. Right. He's going to get the best of me, even if I'm not there in that moment. And it's, it's all a perspective. You just got to, maybe today we're not good. Maybe it won't be tomorrow. But at some point, you will figure it out how to be good and that's all that matters. Yeah. Yeah. It's a, it's, I mean, it's so valuable to have that attitude. It's a, I mean, it's everything, really. I mean, because that's going to dictate where your life goes. And it's like, yeah, you didn't get the result you wanted in that last fight. But man, you, from us talking yesterday, you told me you're changing things around, trying to,

you know, trying to grow, trying to get better. And that's, I mean, that's the name of the game. I think a lot of guys, they get comfortable doing what they're doing, their routine. They lose, they stay with that same routine. But you can't. I mean, you can't do the same, and expect better, different results. I mean, you have to, like, move pieces. Like, what I'm trying to do right now

is getting my athletic seems better. Like, I was never the good athlete. I was never the kid that won the race or racing bikes. I was always like, fuck, I'm slow. I'm not too strong. I was small, skinny. I was just tough and kind of like a little smarter than something. But I was like, how I can do to beat this guy on a wrestling match?

We would wrestle on the soccer field and I was always getting pain I was always getting like manhandlesly what the fuck but I was a tough guy that we were like hey let's do another run dude I just kick your ass let's go let's go let's go and now what I'm trying to change is that

like I have that I have the power I have the durability now I need to be more mobile I need to become a better athlete because I wasn't born too gifted right like I wasn't the guy that could just jump high or run fast. So now I'm like getting my plios better.

And like my coach is taking me a run in different conditioning guys. Just like just to get a little better because I already know how to put my head down and run far. I can do that. I can climb. I can I can push myself. I know that. And I can always give a little more. I can be like, okay, an inch, an inch.

I can get those inches by being tough. But now I need to become a little better athlete. then that will give me just more wrinkles in my game. Yeah, I think that, I think those type of, the type of person you are and that you just described, those have a higher ceiling, if you're talking about, like, potential. Because the great athletes, they've, they've been winning just on athleticism, on God-given talent.

They haven't necessarily had to work, haven't had to put their head down and just be like, okay, I need to get to work. And so their ceiling gets to hear where somebody who's like, I'm never going to stop improving. They'll pass them eventually. A hundred percent. Like, I don't have a ceiling. Like, I don't have goals set in a way like, okay, if I won the bill one time, that's it.

I want to want it a hundred times. I want to like, I want to try my best to do it as long as I can. That's why I kept my nutrition the way it is. I kept my diet. I kept my life. I'm not trying to fuck around. I'm not trying to go to a club. I'm not.

I want to be. lonely. I want to like just because it's a short career. Yeah. I got six more years. Realistically. I mean, I can push for more years maybe here and there,

but top prime, like good health and everything I got, six, seven years. Right. So like, why fuck around now? Yeah. I got the rest of my life to play and do whatever I want. So now it's just,

just force it, kick the door. I've been like, mother fuck is I'm going to get it. I like hearing that too because I was, as a fan, it's frustrating for me to see like Connor. He's made like so much money. He's like at the top of the game. But I'm like, God, this is a prime of your fighting life. You know, you could be winning the biggest fights because you can party and be rich the whole rest of your life.

You know, I was just thinking that these years are so precious because as a fighter, it's like, this doesn't last forever. He doesn't last forever. And it's, it's, so I love hearing your attitude about that. that too because yeah i mean so even you know for a fighter 40 is old well shit 30 more years of your life left what are you going to do you know it's like make the most of the fighting now and uh you know and also your attitude reminds me of i think it's one of your favorite fighters from i don't know you can tell me but george st pierre yeah it's you know he came in and he was i think a karate striker but then he really embraced wrestling which he

He wasn't, I mean, that wasn't his thing. But he trained with the Canadian national wrestling team, I think, and made that one of his strengths. So he was always evolving in the same way. He was the type of guy that from the outside, we talk a little bit sometimes, but he will go box for three months, then go wrestle for three months,

them go grapple for three months. And then when the fight got close, he brought all those guys together. So he was like the perfect fighter. like his his his his his explosiveness his his his his his telete seems like those texts weren't like it was the best technique in the war it was just the few seconds that he got for like changing levels and just boom it was a bullet so he was similar to me like not really have a like a strong background or something his background in karate was real like he was since i was since a little kid yeah

i started when i was 16 yeah yeah that's pretty old to start yeah and I showed to my first Yu-Git-2 class, I showed up with a pack of cigarettes and hungover. So I was just a street fighter. So that's why I also appreciate more how far they got because I wasn't supposed to do this. I was supposed to just fuck around and fell. And then one day I went,

that's it for me. Fuck the night life. Fuck all this. Because everybody was like, every day my phone rang, dude, party, party, party, party. And then that was fun. Yeah.

I go to a party, everybody, have a good time, fun and jokes. But then I was like, okay. Is this it? This is going to take me anywhere. Right. And since I love fighting, and a friend told me like, dude, just start fighting. Like, why are you fighting for free? Yeah.

And I'm like, makes sense. So my neighbor took me to a J-2 gym. Yeah. And I never left. I showed up when, it was like a Tuesday, Wednesday, show up. pay the month. They were like, you don't want to take the free classes? I'm like, no, no, no.

I'm here for good. This is in Ecuador. In Ecuador, yeah. And when I started training, like a month later, I stopped picking up the phone for parties. All my friends were like, dude, what the fuck? I'm like, dude, I'm going to miss you now. It's like, what are you talking? What's the UFC?

I'm like, I'm going to be there one day. Don't worry about it. Everybody was like, dude, you're crazy. They will never, because back then there was not one Spanish-speaking person. or anyone for South America fighting. So it was like, it was like impossible to do it. Why did you believe you could do it? I don't know.

God, man. I was just like, when I say I want something. Yeah. When I want to be good at something, I just forget about the world exists and just be like, if I want that, that's what I want. Did, uh, so that was 16, you started? Yeah, 16 turning, yeah, 16.

Yeah. Because my first pro five was a 17. Oh, and you, So up until then, what do you mean fighting in the streets? It was kind of like Jorge Mosvedol? Was it like organized fights or just like getting and talking shit to each other? I wish it was like that because that would give me a better base for fighting. It was literally dark in the club, kind of drunk.

Someone barely touched me just soccer punch. And then it was like a 10 versus 10 type of cops came. It was a mess. Yeah. And that's how you get hurt. That's what you get killed. but sometimes. For sure.

I'm lucky I never run into the wrong person. That's true. Like, I would, like, chilling. And I was a little kid. I would put, like, a button up, so they let me into the club. I look a little older.

You put it on a what? Like a bottom up. What's that? Oh, button up. Yeah, yeah. I look a little older. Oh, yeah, yeah. Like, leather shoes kind of thing.

So they let me go in because I was, I was, like, 13, going to clubs. How old do you have to be there? 18. 18. Okay. But I didn't have a hair on my face. I looked like a baby.

And somehow they let me in all the time. I don't know what it was, but I looked like a baby. But like I've been in the club drinking and like someone would look at me. And I would like throw my drink. I was just looking for a fight. Was it, were you trying to get respect from other people or you just, you just. I just thought it was cool. I would, I would, I would, I wouldn't drink.

at a friend house first, friend house. And we were like, okay, no fire into the future. Come on, they don't ruin the night. Fifteen minutes into the club, I was throwing hooks left and right. And the worst part about it was like, most of these times I wouldn't end getting my ass kick. You would? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Because they were men or what? They were like, man. Yeah. Like, I would throw like one or two and they were like, they were like push me. And I would like. Go flying. Yeah. You probably wait, how much?

120, 125. Yeah. So you had to succor-putch him. Oh, yeah. Otherwise, you weren't getting anything off. Most times would have nice, but he's from the side. Oh, man. Yeah, that's not, I mean, not a great future if you keep that up.

So it was a good move to get that. And so nobody, I mean, you just did that on your own? The training? Yeah. Yeah, like, not. My friend took me to one class. Okay. And after that, I used to talk the bus every day.

Like, I didn't miss a day. Really? Not even when I have, like, the test at school and or homework. I don't even did those things. I never did a homework. Oh, I was like, fuck school. Get off of school, eat, lunch, shower, walk, hijack, take the bus every day.

And so did you graduate high school? Do you have high school there? Yeah. Yeah. Did you graduate? Yeah, I did. Yeah, good. Okay.

And then so Hart, did you ever like, I just imagine somebody who, now you start and learn skills, then did you ever want to go back to the club and be like, oh, I could be a legend back there. Now I know how to fight. I never went back. Oh, never went. I was like, and if I went and I was already like a blue belt, I would be like, don't even talk to me. Like, I wasn't drinking.

I was just like, I was chilling. I had a good time. but someone pushed me, I'd be like, whatever. I was already gassed out because I was training. I would do like beginners class. I would do the regular class. I would do the advanced class. So I was stabbed out.

Hours. Yeah, you're exhausted. And the moment I graduated from high school, I said doing the morning class, the noon class was like the pro-fighter's class, and then the classes in the afternoon. So I was in the gym 10 hours a day. Whoa. How long did it take you to get your,

black belt. Like close to 10 years. Still a lot of training. Yeah, like a lot of training. But I would like go every day. Yeah. And until Port-Proble, I compete almost everything. And then did you compete in Jiu-Jitsu?

I competed in a lot in Ecuador. I went from Peru to a bigger tournament once. I never did the U.S. opens, nothing like that. Because by the time they become popular, I was already fighting. And once instead of fighting, I never compete again in Jiu-Jit. Oh, I see. Because you just liked the full MMA. I thought it was, it become boring to me.

Right. I was like, where my grapple. Right. When did, so when did striking come in? Like a year later, when I become a Bluebell. Okay. There was like a guy in the gym that trained the other guys, like a kickboxing guy. Right.

And then I started training with them. And then when they invite me to like the pro class and but it was a bunch of like men like 200 pound black belts like they were a slop and everything but I was a hundred pounds. Right. So we were like trained and it was more like very low level but you try hard enough that something sticks right. Yeah. Yeah. And fighting big guys it doesn't matter. I mean. Exactly. So because right now, when I see you fight, it's mostly striking, you know, and you have that base in Jiu-Jitsu, 10 years, black belt, but everybody, I think, not everybody, I just know me. I see you as a striker mostly now. I know.

And right now, today, I train with the men this person. It's the best Jitsu you can have in the whole entire world. And they have a thousand kids at the highest level, like the best grapplers in the country today. and I don't grapple. Like I grapple weekly. Yeah. I go there, I go to the Complus. But not in the fights usually.

I do private sessions with them. Yeah. And then I just like to scrap. Yeah, yeah. I know because I was thinking, you know, after talking, you know, against with that O'Malley fight, I was like, man, if you could have just like taken him down, just change that up a little bit. I didn't even thought about it. The threat of taking, taking them down.

But I mean, that's true. And that's also part of. growing. Yeah. The thing with those things, people go from like, okay, I'm a super good striking. One fight didn't go well,

and then you go full on wrestling. Yeah. That's, in my opinion, also like not the best route. Right. But mixing it up is what will make you great. So I'm going to, I'm going to work on that to mix it up

because I spar like high level guys and most of my sparrings are like wrestlers. So they shoot a lot. And we grapple a lot. in the ground. But once the fire gets on, I just want to elbow you in the forehead. Well, I know you've had some crazy, awesome knockouts, you know, the front kicks, the, I mean, all sorts of. That's a problem too, because now you're falling in love with that. Yeah. I don't see people falling in love with a red naked joke. No, no. You kick someone head to

another dimension. You're like, you know what? Let's stick to this. Yeah, it's, it's so exciting to watch but yeah i i think there's a fine line too because if we think about ufc 300 which which we were both there um you have to mix it up because it's like if you look at altramane sterling's fight he just took the back or or held uh cater down basically didn't really do much striking and then i mean you you'll win but it's not going to be a highlight real and you don't get the push from the you don't get the big fights because they like they like making the crowd yell that i know that's that ufc wants and it it's part of the show yeah so that's what i'm saying you gotta mix it up but at the end of the day you have to give in some you have to give them something in order to get i mean because

we all want more i want to get paid more i want more bonuses i want more of better contracts but in order to get those you have to make someone believe well i guess uh you know you could go the wrong way on that too because what was that fight? Because it had that big bonus, right, for knockout of the night, the $300,000. What was that fight where, gosh, a big, tall black guy landed, like, thought it was a walk-off.

Jaylon Turner and would kind of. That was crazy. Yeah. When I, like, when I went, one, two, guy fell down, almost cold. One follow-up punch. One, yeah. You walk out with a win. And then you kind of like,

And then you went like, right for the fuck. What do you mean what the fuck? You got to kill the guy. I know. But he wanted that walk off, hopefully to get to $300,000 maybe. Do you think he was thinking that? Yeah, but if you punch the guy, they go to the ground and you, you Superman punch him from the top to the bottom. Yeah.

That's a, I give you $300 for that too. Like a Dan Henderson. Yeah. Yeah. He should. Oh, my boy. Oh, my boy. Yeah.

He should go for. Yeah. If you heard someone, don't, don't be cool. fighting is not for the cool You heard someone You get the job done Because look what happened We're kind of recovery

Next round came on I know Took him down and stop him I know That's in how much money was lost Because he didn't get his win bonus Probably I don't know what his contract is

I mean I don't know either But you're losing pretty much half every check And I get it If the guy's better than you And you get beat That's cool Yeah Losing like that most hurt

I would have been messed up in the head if I would lose like that. Right. Like if I have like an arm bar and I feel like, oh, I don't want to break his arm. And then the guy knocked me out. I would have been waking out, sweating at night. Yeah. That's not, I mean, you heard the guy. Yeah.

Stop on his head. Finish him. They go for it. I know. It's a, yeah, it's such a crazy, crazy business. What do you think, you know, it's crazy? Like, you, you lost against. sugar, sugar, right?

Yeah. Not sugar. I don't know. That's a good question. But people seem to like you more. You know, like the crowd pop is more for you. And it's like, what makes people love you or love a fighter? I will say authenticity.

I'll be an authentic. I mean, you've got to be yourself. You got to like, you got to keep a good head on your shoulders. And you have to have a good attitude. Like, if you don't like someone, like, fuck you. like in MMA you you can't be friends with everybody you can be like just because you hang out in one event or one signing you guys are not that doesn't mean you guys are friends like my friends and fans like that like fans like when you're authentic when you fight hard and I said before

he's like a Connor McGregor version but met in China so that's what comes to it like I'm not trying to be like Connor like I'm not trying to be like Connor like I'm I have a few suits, but I'm not Connor. Right. I'm not trying to be any other. Like, I admire GSP. I admire Max Holloway. I admire like Adesania.

I'm not trying to be like them. I'm trying to be like me. Yeah. It's a, you know, there is only one Connor. He's really good at, but yeah, he's a man. Mimicking somebody like that is just not going to work. And I got like that.

I heard him before saying like, oh, I want to be like Connor. He's the biggest superstar. And I also heard me saying, I want to fight Connor. That would be a massive fight. And then it goes back to like, oh, Connor is the best. I'm like,

I mean, you gotta choose, you gotta choose one of his narrative. You can be all. Yeah. How much, how much of it is like these beefs? Because I get the feeling that you really don't like him that much because of maybe

you feel like he's not authentic. But how much is it like for the show? Like you create this rivalry to sell or how much is real on usually? I feel like some. fighters really like play the game and like they just they just do it for the show but that lesson means they don't want to knock you out yeah for me i just like to keep you real in the way like i'm like you're my opponent fuck you i'm not your friend i'm not going to be shaking your hand and hugging you and wishing you the best and telling your team god bless because we weren't exactly the same right

and one guy got to walk out of their sad family's going to be sad I don't want my kids to watch me lose like that. Right. I don't want my kids to watch me hurt. I don't want my family to watch me like that. So you have to say, fuck you. I get it. Some people call this sportmanship, but this is not a sport.

Fighting is not a sport. Fighting, fighting is fighting. You fight. You get paid to get some job. And you only get ahead when you win. Yeah, it's like that's people have that. It's not fighting, but people don't like when people who compete against each other are buddies.

Like I hear people talk about the NBA right now that everybody is like, likes each other when it was Michael Jordan, Larry Bird. Those guys, they hated each other. They wanted to hurt each other. You know what I mean? And people like that more because how can you be buddies and somebody's going to win, somebody's going to lose, and that's not even fighting. Yeah.

But the crowd, like the people from Boston, the people from Chicago, they're like, they want their team to win. But I mean, the players are like... Buddy, buddy. Because, I mean, they're making millions. Right. They lose the game. They're still filming a commercial.

They have crazy endorsement deals. For us, it's like, you don't win a fight. You're left behind. Right. Doesn't matter if that was for the title, if you're number one contender. In fighting, you're only as good as your last fight. Right.

People forget about all the great things you did. I mean, that's what you have to be mean. It's not as, it's not as port in. the one that you can be like shaking hands and be like fuck yeah like you have to be mean yeah i saw even you kind of had words with even omelie's trainer what's or his coach yeah yeah is it tim yeah yeah yeah yeah was he talking shit or what i mean he said before like you know part of the war part of the game he he took shud in between rounds like he goes like come on you saw come on body quit and I literally

they were cleaning the blood of my nose and I literally just grabbed my cup I'm going to fuck you it sucked my dick but I'm like they take like oh yeah he's just jealous or Emmys I'm like jealous of what? One I don't want to be like you two you're a fucking cook

I mean yes first square you won the fight I'm not making a excuse like a little bitch he had a great fight and I'm not a bitch you're a bitch in the first fight you make every excuse impossible Yeah, we won five rounds. I mean, we'll get to the end of the fight.

Now we're one and one. But when the coach was like, oh, yeah, if you want to get down, I'm like, I'm not talking to you. You're the one talking to me. But don't get me wrong. You can be a bigger guy. And I know you might have the advantage. And most likely you will beat me in a real fight. But also, guess what?

I don't give a fuck. You talk shit. I'm fighting you. Right. And if he's not a fighting with rules, I'm not fighting by the book. so fuck you simple as that yeah

and then they're the ones talking about me and they felt the people how the people go more towards me than them I mean

I guess they're the ones are jealous not me I don't even think about it they're the ones have been talking about me for years yeah

they can fucking I don't care I would like to see I mean because you guys are one and one I mean he can say

whatever he wants and he looked great in the last fight I can't take anything away he won the belt great great fight against Sterling, you know, defended against you, whatever, but you're still one-on-one.

What I remember most, I remember, yeah, he landed a good knee on you that would have dropped almost anybody else, but not you. And then I remember at the end of the fight that left body shot to the liver, it looked like, that had him, you know, over in the corner of the knee. I mean, I would say if you put the knee and the body shot, the body shot was more damage in the knee. Yeah. I mean, thank God I took it. I mean, I might be not the most talented guy, but

pretty tough. I got, I got a strange. So I take that because I can work on the rest. How did it feel? Did it hurt like shit? It really, it was, when I saw the picture, at the beginning, I was like, oh, he got to hit me with the muscle with the tight. But when I saw the video, I was like, no, that was a bone to my nose. Yeah. That felt like a slap. It was weird. Really? I honestly, I like to believe. like, you know, you gotta be living miracles. I mean, maybe maybe God just put the hand on my show

and be like, not today. I got you this time. But it was weird. Like, in a way, kind of like, whoa, that was a hard shot. But then what I actually hurt was that one punch on the fifth round. It was like literally a clean punch

right, like on the eye coming down. So that one, that was what was blinking my eye. your eyeball. If I close my eye, I look normal. But if I open my eye, I have two dogs in front of me. So I was like, oh, you mother fuck. And then the thought comes to your mind. You're like, okay, it's time.

You should quit. Just make yourself a ball. Let you do like Peter Pad you and the referee stop. I went, fuck you. I'm not going to do that. Do fighters do that, you think? 99.9.9. They feel everything.

Sometimes they get a slap. they just go. Yeah, yeah. They're just like ready to be out. I'm done. They send me home. Yeah. Fuck, no.

You send me in a coffee. I'm not doing that. I'm not made for it. I'm not going to quit. Yeah. That's why. And that's why people love you. I mean.

Honestly, that's why I take care of myself the way I do. Because they want to fight like that. I don't. Sometimes a lot of people just, just take a knee and they go like, yeah. It's all, it's all, that's all mental because you're like, oh, I'm a little tired. Yeah. And let's just have it pass your guard,

going to empower you. You make it seem like you're fighting it off a little bit, but you're not really. But they are literally, you're squeam because I've been on fights and I'm like, are you just giving me your back like that? But because of the inside it, you're like, oh, let's fucking get out of him.

You're like, you also get tired too, but then guys just, they just rolled over. Yeah. I can do that. I lost fights in the past, but not because I gave up like right yeah I don't I can't I understand that I can't speak to it because I haven't done it so I don't want to be critical of anybody I don't know what it feels like just to get need in the face or a head kick or so but I know I get what you're saying and I think that's like again that's why people love you is because you will go out on your shield I mean it's like you know there's some amazing fights at 300 what people are talking about is Holloway and Gehchi that was that was that was that was the best fight of the night that was I think they should

be the main event because they still fighting for a bell yeah yeah and the amount of times that Max defend his 45 bell and Gage is being the batter like I mean 12 5 12 bonuses mm-hmm oh crazy he always brings it doesn't he

if you go back everybody was like yeah Max too small Max lost to Dustin the power blah blah blah yeah me personally just out of a fan perspective, I was rooting for Max. And then it's crazy how sometimes

you're so laser-focused on that one night. He makes it look easy. Even the first round, that kick at the end of the buzzer that he broke his nose. And then after that, it was just downhill, downhill for Gage. I'm rough to Gage.

Yeah. Broken nose, beat up, got the wobble a few times. He don't give a fuck. And towards the end, when Max invited him to fight, He said, you know what I give it to you? And what a K-O.

I know. Forehead to the ground, dead call. Yeah, it's, you know, it's crazy how the narrative goes because I remember I was sitting there Cateside when Max fought Volk and Volk lit him up. And people are wondering, oh, he took so much damage. Because he had also lost to Dustin took a lot of damage. And like you were wondering like, man, he's not old, but has he been fighting so much that he's just, it's too much.

So they were like, maybe he's on his way out. Back then, when he lost to bulk, the third one, and he lost to Poitre, he was done. He was done. That was it. The crowd goes, yeah, he's not, he was never that good. He went and he beat J.I. Rodriguez, which is a badass. And he beat the guy from London.

What's his name of the, he trades in Canada with Trister. Arnold, Arnold. Yeah. He beat Arnold Allen, which he was a bad. another prospect was coming of amazing wins. Oh, he's back. Oh, wow. He's unstoppable.

I know. After he's just done. Now he's back. And then from those two fights, he went to fight Gage. Yeah, too small. He already lost a 55 or not too much power. He goes and put on a clinic. Yeah.

And finish with a chaos of the century. Right. Now, or he will beat the fuck out of Islam. You go like, two weeks ago, he couldn't beat Gagey. Right, yeah. But that tells you about, like, how important is like stay away from the crowd, stay aware from the noise because he just go left and right.

And the media also, not just the people, but the outlets go, yeah, no. Oh, fuck, he's the best. Oh, like if he goes and be Islam, best of all the time. Yeah. He goes and gets manned handled. Yeah, we knew it.

I'm like, you motherfuckers, pick a side. Yeah, I know. They're always trying to make the story, which is I think I read that you grew, up living in a box with no shoes, right? I mean, I saw that too. They were saying like I was like the, I was homeless walking to a jihito gym in the, in the farm.

But yeah, it's just making the making a better story. I was curious about, um, so you, uh, so you went, you started jiu jitzy than striking. And then somehow how did you get on UFC is that was it? Was it USC Ecuador or what was it? No, so South America. I was fighting already in South America. I was booking my own fights I was like just calling everybody like come on

give me a fight I fight for free just give me a poster that says I'm fighting this guy and I can go and knock doors for sponsors for flight tickets. So you needed that poster that said Marlon Cheeto Vera versus whoever

that as leverage and then I go with that I was literally going to offices and just asking people like would you sponsor me for this fight like and I would take 100 bucks here 100 bucks there get flight tickets but I would literally tell them my five for free. So they would pay me like 200 bucks, 300 bucks per fight. And I was just, my thing was like, become well known and the UFC will call you.

So I was like 5 and 0 and this UFC for the ultimate fighter in South America come out. So this guy was like, hey guys, send me your profile to this, send your profile to this email, age, record, country, city. and I will send the same mail like 50 to 60 times a day so I can be on top of the mail and one day this got replaced like dude stop fucking sending you emails I already know who the fuck you are yeah quit I'm like dude I just my dream I do like I will do anything like I would wake up back then and just wake up on a separate please God I want to be in the JFC please go I want to be the JFC I did that for like since I was 16 to like they called me at 19 really like I would like every day just be

like you see you see you see hey you have to go to the bank and do a deposit fuck that I got a train hey I like I would get invites with my family because I didn't want to work I didn't want to go to college it was just train eat sleep train eat sleep and I was like just hold on guys just just keep support me because they will call me just just wait just wait just keep just give me enough to feed my kid and pay rent. I don't need clothes. I don't need parties. I don't need cars.

Just give me enough so I can just survive each and then I can make it. And my family was good like that because it was like my sister, my dad, my wife family. They were like pitching like a hundred each. Helping you. And I would like just cover the basics. Because think about it. Back then sounds like a lot of money. but rent was only 300 bucks.

Like the monthly rent. Yeah. And then... That was a lot if you don't have a job. Back then, and especially back then, that was like, fuck. Like a 600 month rent was like if you were rich. But looking back, if everybody had a regular salary, a hundred each is more...

It's easier. Now looking back. But it's like, they give me time. And there was one time my dad told me, look, dude, I'm going to give you two days. December. Like, this was 2013 or 2014, 2014, I'm going to give you to the December. If by December, this UFC, or whatever the fuck you call it, it's not giving you a chance. You have two options. You keep doing your journey. I love you. But there's no one panic from me to you.

And I know my dad. He wouldn't give me. me a dollar right or just quit your shit and come work for me because you with the work I think you have you will make any farm look good mm-hmm we shake hands say okay fucking November 19 something like that I get the email mr. bear you have been selected for the ultimate fight oh you got to go to Albuquerque New Mexico to Jackson's MMA they're gonna get tried out blah blah blah how that make you feel I crash the car.

Crash the car? Yeah, I was so excited. That was like, oh my God. And pop, he hit the car, flat four tires. Oh. I don't even give a fuck. Yeah. I literally called a friend.

I'm like, yo, pick up the fucking car. I got it. I took a cab, went home and said, like, telling my wife, like, yeah, we were married. And I was like, they fucking call me. They fucking call me. They fucking call me. They fucking call me. They're fucking called me.

I'm going to a bus. I got to leave for six months and fucking call. And she's like, what are you talking about? And then I showed her the email and she was like, I mean, she was just as happy as it was. And then I went home and I told me that they called me. He went, okay, good for you. You won the bed.

Yeah. And then a few weeks later, they flew me to Abu Kierki. I literally took boxing clubs, shing girls, five shorts, two jeans, ten t-shirts and just left. And then we trained for a few months. Then they sent us to Vegas to do like medicals. Who you're training with? Back then was like it was like Jail Rodriguez like the Mexicans,

figures from South America, but back then Jackson was what? Like golden era. Right. John Jones was there. John Jones Prime Time. Cabo's around prime time, Holy Home Prime Time. Diego Satchez Prime. Tim Kennedy Prime. Like, it was a fuck.

It was like, when I got there, I was so Star Trek that I couldn't even, I was like, what the fuck I'm doing here? I wouldn't get my ass kick. You don't, you don't understand. I wouldn't get tossed around in wrestling. I would get my ass kick every two isn't sparring. Like, they were really going to do, this guy suck. But they didn't understand.

I was coming from Ecuador, turning on a living room with two fucking lawyers. Right. Like, I would, like, hit meets with, like, let's see you're a big runner and all. Like, who you are. I would go to a guy like, you'd be like, can you hold me for me? Yeah. And you literally would be doing this for me. Right.

And that was a training I had. It was just a bunch of friends pushing me and helping. Who didn't know anything. Nothing. So how could you be good? Yeah. So when I got there, they were, I mean, one of the UFC people that won't say his name because I don't know if he wanted me to say his name. He told me that the people from Jackson called him, like, hey, dude.

Selling back. He's, he's fucking awful. Yeah. And this guy went like, no, giving time. Yeah.

Just give him time. He's been training in Ecuador. There's no one out of the fucking country fighting. So just giving time. Mm-hmm. And I mean, that guy served my career because if that guy would send him home back then, that was it.

It's over. There wasn't a second chance for that. No. You had a chance. You weren't good enough. That's it. Wow. And that was,

but it was crazy because I would have Carlos Condeed. Mm-hmm. John Dutton, like, it was like, when I go to the gym the first day, I was like, holy fuck, two weeks ago, I was watching you guys on TV thinking I would never be here. Right. When you're in Ecuador back then, you're like, are I going to call you? It's like a different world probably feels like you're so far away. It's an, you don't even know how the U.S. looks like, how they feel to be there.

Like, being at Walmart back then was like, wow, Walmart. It was fucking crackheads. And you still like, whoa, there's a McDonald's inside Walmart. That's fucking crazy. Yeah, right. So it was a crazy experience. Yeah, yeah. And so you trained there for how long?

Like a few months and then they sent us to Vegas to do like try out. What were you like when you, so you felt you're getting your ass kick there. When you'd call home, what would you say? Oh, I would tell my friends like, dude, I'm like, wow, a white belt. And they're like, they're like, how it feels? I'm like, dude, I just get punched in their face like 40 times before I can even react. And then they were talking about, but what, they're just faster. I'm like, dude, they know how to fight.

I don't like, like, if it's a real fight, like, if we go, like, okay, get in the cage and small gloves and no shingers, I might do better because I always say, fuck you. Yeah. You under the light. It's not just, not just straight technique. But it's like technique for technique, I was just getting tossed around. It was like, they would make fun of me. They would be like, oh, you fucking like, they were like when we live, because we live at the gym and the dorms.

So they would literally make fun of me. It's like, they're your fucking fire. I was like, fuck you. Let's go right now. That was one thing. Every time they were talking shit, I was like, let's go right now. Yeah. That street friend is a different animal.

Right. So you had heart the whole time. That was, that's been there forever. Right, right. So, okay, so you trained there for a few months. And then when did you start to actually have some success? The second time around I came back. So I went, I did the ultimate fighter.

I won my fight. Then I got sick. I couldn't compete. So Dana gave me a chance in the finale. And then I came, do my camp for that fighter. And then I was like confident. I won my ultimate fighter fight. I came back.

So I started getting success. I started like actually kicking some ass, feeling better. I would pay the coaches separate so they can train me more private. And then I feel like, holy shit, I'm on top of the world. Yeah. It would feel cool. Starting to come around then. Yeah.

Yeah. But the first time in, it was rough. Yeah. And then so when you won your first one, you got sick, then you went back to train, and then how'd that next fight go? I lost my UFC debut. Oh. I thought I won the decision, but they did give it to my opponent.

Was it, where was that at? Was that a... It was in Mexico City. Okay. It was the first time they went there. Oh, big card then. Big card, it was Cain against Mark. It was Berdun against Mark Hahn.

It was a big win. Mm-hmm. And that one, you thought you won? I thought I won the fight. That one I thought I won. Mm-hmm. I have a few decisions. Like, I look back and I'm like, they couldn't turn those around.

But... Yeah, like that Jose Aldo fight. I think in my whole career, the Jose Aldo fight, the sonja don't fight and my UFC debut they could easily be turned around yeah yeah okay so you lost that one to Mexico City then what happened I went back home train back home did you make money for that fight eight grand eight grand all right so you're back home you're fucking bowling with that shit that's a lot of money back home I mean when you're 19 and you have eight grand it feels like yeah feels good I mean I

I had a few months of rent. When you go home, were they thinking you were like king shit? No, that didn't change until like four years ago. Oh, okay. My first 10 fights in the JFC, I was nobody. Yeah. Like you go back home and he's like, yeah, that's a JFC guy. He win one, lose one.

Yeah, yeah. Like my, even when I won my first JFC fight, like nothing happened. Like I went back home and it was like, like, What did you make for that one? 8 and 8. Oh, 16,000 then. 16,000. Nice.

That's good. Yeah, life's getting better. Yeah, yeah. And then my last, my 30 UFC fights, I was 1 and 2. That was in London. And then my just was like, I need to feel this. I can train at home. This is, makes no sense.

Being at this level, treated at home, like, it was the lowest of the lowest level. So I need to get out of it. and figured it out right and then i went to i moved to callie i lived with my manager and we looked around and we find few places that might work or not and then after that i used to stay i say i'm not going back and then i stayed here for a year and i was teaching classes cleaning the gym just just making enough money so i can survive and my family network i don't took money from my sponsors so they can keep it so they can be good too. So I do that for one year, no family, nothing for one year.

And then got a fight. Pretty much they told me you don't want this and you're out, which has a little bit of pressure, right? Yeah. So I went to Australia, all odds against me, won that decision, flew back home, packed everything, say goodbye to my family and never get back. Just bring my wife and kids back.

Yeah. With me. So what were you two and two at that time? I was two and two back. Yeah. So I brought my family without a plan. I didn't have a place. I didn't have nothing.

I just flew back and flew them back with me. Did they, were they like good with that? Or are you sure this is a good decision? Well, the kids were too small to say anything. Right. My wife used say, sure, whatever you want. I trust you. Yeah.

But when we got here, it was rough. because, I mean, it's what, six, seven grand in the count. Got a small apartment in Santa Ana, the worst part. And just be like, we have two options. We make it or we're done. Right. We figured it out. And back then, just to get the overhead, I was teaching 19 classes a week.

19. Just teach, teach, train, teach, teach, teach. train, teach, and clean the gym at the end of the day. How much would you make for all that? A thousand bucks. Okay. And with that, plus what I have from the last fight, survive until the next one.

Right, right. By then I went through surgery. Oh, what happened? My elbow was just a bunch of bone chips bogging me. I went to surgery, but I was like almost negative with money. Yeah. And some fight fell off in London again. Ooh.

And I went up for Brad Pickett, in 10 days notice. My arm is still bent over. One of my therapy just literally push it back on place to kind of like I can pass medicals in London. And I was like,

if this fight don't go my way, I have like two months to get a nurture nurse and get the morning and survive. If this fight goes well, I can actually take a break. Because he was actually pretty good, wasn't he? Fuck, yeah. Yeah.

I mean, one of the heart this fight I have till today. Really? Yeah, because I remember he had a good name. And he punched hard. This is his retirement fight. I catch him at the end. But still, my experience level and where it was in life was like, I wasn't supposed to win this fight. Right.

Even I heard from the JFCs, like, don't worry if you lose this one, we won't cut you. I was like, okay. Yeah. Thank you guys. But like back then, it was like, take it or leave it. Right. Yeah. I just moved a family.

You had to take it pretty much. From Cali. From Ecuador to Cali. Most expensive place. Yeah. No plan, no sponsors. And I was like, um, Brad Pickett 10 days. What were they going to pay you for that?

Fuck, it was like 16 and 16. Okay. It was like 30-something I make. Yeah. But I kick him in the hedge. I get the bonus. Oh, you did? That was the first time I was like, okay.

So you got knockout of the night. Yes. So I had rent for six months and I was like, okay, I kind of get a float. Was it 50,000 bonus? Yeah. Oh, man. So I put my head out of the world. I was like because before that I was, I wasn't training. I didn't train for like I will say two months. I was coming off surgery. I was of course, I was fat for being a 35er because I haven't touched the gym. You start thinking your career is over. And when they offer you a fight like that, for me, it was like, this is a street fight.

Like, someone when I heard my family, I got to defend them. Right, yeah. There was not time for camp. There was no time for preparation. Cut 20 pounds in 10 days. Like, they pretty much told me, you just made it to the cage and take your bonus. You're show a bonus.

Right. Yeah, you're probably going to lose. We just need a fight. And somehow, I had one of the best nights of my life. Wow. But also is because. You're backwards against the wall. It was extremely against the wall.

I was like, that was it. What was the head kick? What just a? Left kick to the head. I did it third round. Did you set it up at all? I just throw a headmaker. I was losing the whole fight.

Really? Yeah. Well, kind of. Yeah. I definitely lost the first round. Second round, I kind of come. I started making more damage. Yeah.

And third round, but they were giving the fight to him no more than what. Yeah, yeah, his last fight. 100%. Yeah. If that kick wouldn't land, it would be, it would be talking about a different story. Wow. So that, but that kick, so you got, that kick gave you $66,000 more dollars because you got

16 to show, then the 16 to win plus a 50. Yeah. Man, that's a big head kick at that time of your life. That was, that saved my life for a few years. Yeah. And then, so did you get healthy after that? I took my time and I went back to therapy in my album because I was still fucked up. Like my arm hurt the whole time.

It wasn't a big start. They just remove bone chips. But still, you get swollen and all the shit. Not at all. Yeah. Yeah. Huh. And then what happened after that?

I went on a nice win streak. I beat two more guys. And I kind of like got in a good feeling. Oh, I can make it. I can become a world champion. That was when I said, believing in myself. I was like, okay. Because I was always the other dog.

Guy coming from Ecuador. Always fighting just to survive for the next fight. I didn't have the time to be like, okay, I can do this. So I got into a rhythm. But then again, they offered me another short of a fight against Young Lineker. So I won three in a row. And now it's like, instead of give me another guy like me to go four or five in a row, hey, you want to fight Young Lineker in Brazil?

Was he ranked? Number three. that may you know when i look back i'm like i took the fight out of excitement fuck yeah number three yeah you had a little confidence because you'd won yeah but i wish some like my manager told me like hey do you want this i would think maybe wait i say fuck it that's a big reward but then you go in there i get in there i lost a decision and it was kind of like a close decision it wasn't like asking for three rounds actually he I end kicking his ass in the third round

because he just gassed out he couldn't find me and he got gas but then he's like now you lost a fight and again you go back home and it's like fuck I had a nice wind street going on and I mean because

it wasn't a big drawback then my next fight they offered me was like you want to fight again in Brazil again this guy looks like four feet tall joke like that guy I don't think they can even test him. Why? The needle he'll go through. What? He's a block. Oh, oh, yeah. The needle would just so hard, muscular. He was a rock. That guy touched me, and I have never felt that in my life

until today. He could punch, huh? I mean, no with technique. He was like, literally just throwing slabs like that. Yeah. When he touched me the first time, he broke my orbital. Jeez. Caught my eyebrow in one punch. Oh. And you're like, Like the, holy shit. I told myself, like, what is this? Sean O'Meil is a big puncher. Yeah. Not even close.

Rod Fond is a big puncher, not even close. Young Linnaker felt like a little bitch next to this guy. Whoa. I was like, I was like, what's going on in here? Yeah. And then first, I mean, I was trying. I was like punching me hard and everything. And I was like, I couldn't get it.

And then we got to the third round. I was like, I'm losing this whole fight. I just started swinging in a skisling. scrapping with him and of course like everybody they all get tired against me yeah so he's not getting tired but he's he's already ahead and then fight over now I'm two in a row he won the decision he won the decision yeah rockboard my face looked my face looked like a mess my forehead I had bombs in my forehead I have never had that before caught shot eye broken orbital geez and then I was like a war no what yeah I'm done

everybody you're done you're done usually how it goes like if you lose two yes not good if you lose three they'll cut you right back then yeah yeah if you have if you're a big name today no but back then that was it so it took my time off i started healing i didn't took a fight didn't ask for a fight i went like three months it's like i'm just gonna get better and focus on getting better and being again, being that low in life, just make me shoot for the start. I went on a five win streak. Five. I went and stopping everybody.

Stop. All finishing. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Then I go to fight Sonja Don, which was during the pandemic. That was probably one of my biggest bullshit decisions. Like the whole world went, fuck you. Yeah, yeah. You outstruck them and I can't remember that fight.

He threw the bigger shot. Yeah. But I grind him out. Right. Took him down. I mean, the fight, when Bruce Boster was reading the cart, he had his head down. Knew he lost. Gus out.

And I was like celebrating. Yeah. And then the race is heading. He went like this. Oh, yeah. Oh, God. And I went like, what the fuck? That has to hurt.

That hurt. Yeah. And because that happened, they reward us with Fight of the Night, which I was like, fight of the night. Yeah. Don't take the fight of the night bonus away and make it a non-conscious. Make it right. They didn't need that.

I mean, there's not underpower to do it. Yeah. So because of that, they give you the shot of mildly fight as a reward. Oh, I see. Well, and then you beat him. I beat him. And that's why pretty much a fight for the title. So he came on.

I guess it worked out all right. Life circles in a good way, I guess. So why not? Yeah. So your durability and, like, like that you're now, it's like you're, because you're in better shape generally than everybody. That's, is that your biggest asset, do you think?

Yeah. Because I know. I just know, like, I'm like, I know I'm going to last in the marathon. Yeah. I'm going to last. I'm going to last. And you've been through so much. I mean, all those examples are like, this is it.

I got a win. And my back's against a wall. That gives you so much strength. I mean. That gives you a different push. Different mindset. Like, once you get to, once you read light your, yourself, you're like, I still have like three or more strokes. I still have like a little

window to span. And that, that just goes along in life. Yeah. I just help you overall. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's, I get that too. I mean, there's all sorts of famous quotes about like Tyson says, everybody's got a plan to they get punched in the mouth. It's just like, so it seems like you, you know, you can deal with adversity as well as anybody. And yeah, I mean, it's, I love how hard you train. I do think that we talked about that yesterday that just your diet, eating so much meats and fats, it's protecting your brain. So you're not getting knocked out. You're not taking that brain damage, which is huge. They're staying away from drinking. It's staying away from clubs and like just just watching everything I eat your around. I'm like, is this going to help

me when a fight? Yes. But also don't mind fuck yourself. Like sometimes have some fun. Sometimes eat a little bit of the good of the phone stuff just like okay i tried oh fuck i feel like shit now yeah and you're like i don't really need that right so like keeping that that good balance of healthy balance being really good but also sometimes give it a try and that pays off yeah i wonder uh you know your dedication to training like that it reminds me a little bit of kabib you know how he'd say he would just you know train, eat, sleep, train nonstop. And I mean, you can out work. I don't know.

I mean, skill, yeah, you got to train your skill, but there's something about this hard work. There's something that goes with that. And guys like that, they're being, he was training at an age that I wasn't trained. Right, yeah. He might be older than me, but when he started with ensemble, I was probably playing soccer on the street.

Yeah, he's like a little kid. Which I sometimes I'm like, I have that disadvantage because I didn't grow up doing something like this. I'm just tough. Yeah. But they have, most guys have six to 10 years of more work than me, even if they're younger. Yeah. So it's like, that's one thing that I also take pride of because I'm like, okay, I wasn't supposed to get this far. Right.

No, that's true. And I'm going to go farther now. Well, it might be maybe it's an advantage now because you started later. So you're still getting better. You know what I mean? Some of those guys that start early, they get to their ceiling at maybe 28, and they've, you know, it's hard to improve. But you're still, so you started late, you're still getting better. That's exactly what coach told me that is.

Look how much you did with what you have. Right. So now that you're looking to get better, just wait to see what you're doing it. And I was like, I take that. I want that. Let's do it. Yeah, I love it. It's, I don't know.

So for right now, I mean, we know your last fight. What would you like to see coming up? Perfect world. I want to fight November. My son's score garden. And I would like to fight Peter Jan. So I think that's a no-brainer for the fans, for the UFC. And right there, you have a former champ against a title challenger.

Yeah. The winner can sit right there. for the tower shit. Right. It's a fight that we'll fight our asses of because this is a big one. There's a lot of stake. There's a lot of stake. Yeah.

And you like your matchup against him? Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, for a while there, he did look really good. He did look like, I was surprised. Who did he fight? Was it, was that O'Malley fight?

Could have went the other way? It could, yeah. Yeah. It could. Yeah. Because they had a pretty good fight. Yeah. When you watch the fight, I watch it a few times.

Just like to take the bias, I want to be like, who I wish you won't, who I don't like or whatever. Yeah. Just like, just watch it as a human. Like, I don't care about either one. And there's a point you can give it to either one. Yeah. But you can definitely give it to yeah. Yeah.

With no questions to ask. Right. Because that would change a lot of mine's career too. Yeah. Yeah. Because no one went, oh yeah, that was a fair decision. Everybody went like that was a bullshit decision. Right.

So that's kind of like one of those. Because he went from no contest against Pedro Muñoz, which is ranked 8, 7, to number one contender for the belt. So that path. Yeah, he went backwards. Help the confidence. Oh, yeah, for sure. I don't have to fight these fucking guys.

Yeah. I had to fight Rod Fund, Cruz, Edgar, Sanhagen. I mean, Aldo, Sonja Dong, even I fought him before. So, like, when I look back, I'm like, ho-oh, yeah, that's a resume. I've been in front of some motherfuckers. Yeah, you have. And that also helps. That's why even if he beat me, I can take those punches because I'm like, I've been

in front of guys that hit double harder than you. Right. But he didn't have to go through the line. Yeah. They just went like, boom. But when you have, that's not hipok Pedro in the eyes. Yeah. Why is that like a knock contest?

Yeah. That should be a pedro's one. Right. But I don't make the rules. But you know what? I mean, I don't, I don't know what his mindset is. He seems very confident, but you know how it goes. When you're laying in bed at night and you're thinking and you're like, did I really,

did I really fight all the best guys to get here? Because you can say you fought all the best guys. You know. in your heart. You're like, no, I, I've went through the gauntlet and I survived. And yeah, beat me that night. But, you know, he could say just like what you said, man, did I benefit from that I poke? And then I kind of got a pass on some of these going through the fire. You know, he might have doubts on his own head. Who knows? I mean, we're all humans. Yeah. I mean, there's, there's nothing difference about all of us. He's, I mean, there were ethic, the mindset, all that. But yeah.

Real life you're still going back home. Yeah. You have to think about it. Yeah, you're always honest with yourself at some point. And deep down in your heart, you know. Yeah, the world tells you one thing, but you know. But yeah, I mean, I don't know. I don't know.

I like that you want to fight, Yon, because I think a lot of guys might say, God, maybe I'll get an easier matchup, get a couple more wins, but you're like, no, I want to fight the former champion. Go straight to the fire line. That's awesome. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I would. I would love to see that fight too.

Yeah. I mean, that would be... And he said he won it too. Did he? He declined before. Because we met... We saw a child at my last fight because he fought two. And it's like, hey, I won you next.

Yeah. And I say, what are you talking about? You declined twice. Yeah. Don't be acting tough right now. He's like, no, it wasn't a good time for me. Well, then shut the fuck up. Fuck off.

Do you guys always know when the other fighter declines? Because you always see like... The UFC. you do they all like hey he he said he couldn't make it okay I mean if you're people will say I've never turned down a fight and then you hear the other side it's like no he's turned down three fights

yeah so you see let you know it's like hey he didn't want it what else would you want or we have this other option because when I fought Cruz the original fight was me and Jan in Boston oh because he declined they called

Cruz and they make it in San Diego so it can be bigger for both of us I see. So I was, I said yes to both guys. Have you had to turn down a fight before? The only time I turned down a fight was the UFC called me to fight Sanjay Don in China when they were trying to push him because he was this new guy coming out of China. Yeah, to grow that market.

But the month before that fight, they were going to Argentina. And I say my whole career, my time. this 12 fights i've been fighting in london against uk guys i've been fighting in brazil against all these brazilians i've been going to everybody's fucking bagger yeah can you please give me a fight in argentina against a guy from the u.s so i come for the first time in my life be like fuck yeah chiro let's go because the ufc don't like when you decline because it was a great match for the time and we end fighting and waste like few fights later.

But I was like, come on, give it to me. So I stand that for me. I said like, I don't fucking want it. I take a fight in Argentina. And I told them who I won. Right. I said I won Frankie Science in Argentina. Frankie Science was coming off beating this Mexico guy in Chile.

So it makes just sense bring Frankie again to South America. He already won in South America. I'm a nerd. I know this thing that makes sense and not. And I was like, this fight makes sense. They went, oh, you're going to find an Indiana. Back then, I had one friend in Argentina. This guy that was with me the ultimate fighter.

Yeah. That I didn't ask for. And they went, he already accepted the fight. I'm like, oh, you guys call him first. Yeah. So they called him first. Put the pressure on you. So I say, I mean, my third daughter was just born.

So again, I need the money. Yeah. So I lose a friend. He went right away with the fire and I was like, fuck you, you fucking piece of shit traitor. I say. Oh, so he didn't accept? No, he accepted. Oh, but not first?

Well, they called me. Yeah. They say, you want to find out of internet, right? I said, yes, this is the only option you have. And it was my friend because back then we were friends. And I say, you guys called him already? Yeah, we did. So I was like, I have a.

Just born daughter. I'm living in California. If I decline this fight, now it's two declines. Oh, yeah. It's not good. I say, okay, cool. This guy went on line, fuck you a piece of shit.

I'm going to knock the fuck out of you, you fucking weak bitch. I went like, oh, because he talks a lot. Yeah. I say, dude, fuck, I love you, but whatever. So I lose a friend.

That's the only friend I have lost in years. So, all fight come. Just talking mad shit. Because he talks, it's a guy for Argentina. That's what they are. They're cocky motherfuckers.

Who's that on your shirt? Oh, Maradonna. This is fucking fun. I didn't realize that. With a shot that says, no drugs. Yeah. Okay. So he all come.

I'm going to kick your ass. You're a bitch. I used to kick your ass at Jackson, which is true. Yeah. He's an older guy. Strong. He used to toss me around.

Especially in like full contact his point and he punched her. Yeah. He has that corner style like big left hand but the only problem with him he goes like this. Everything opens up. Yeah exactly. Yeah. So we get to the fight first round

he started going crazy. Did he talk shit like when you guys were in the cage? No really. No. So he went he just started the fight like he went hands down crazy body kick he started swinging like a match like a madman.

Fucking I just put my hands up. I let him just go crazy. Kind of like started just going like, I'm seeing everything, but it looks like he's fucking kicking my ass. Right. First round is over. I was like, holy shit, that was crazy.

He went, he went like bananas. Yeah. Second round, we start again. He threw a kick. I took him down. He got up pretty quick. And then how I heard him? Oh, I,

I clinching and I said throwing knees, boom, boom. And one knee went through. He falls to the ground, start punishing him. Yeah. Took his back, chock him out. He was battered. Full cut in the eyebrow, cut on the cheek, bleeding a lot. When the fight's over, I went on, like, brother, I never asked for this fight.

Yeah. You used to be my friend. I love you. And there he was cool. Someone in the car, I think was his family. They went like, fuck you a piece of shit. I'm like, what it did? But whatever.

And then fights over, he started going crazy like Omiley. Right. Oh, you fucking couldn't knock me out. You're a bitch. You have to choke me out. Yeah. I was like, dude, I fucking beat the fuck out of you, but whatever. Yeah.

So since then, we haven't, we don't even talk anymore. Really? Yeah. Oh, yeah. We actually got close. Yeah. But, I mean, it is what it is. Yeah, that's a rough one.

I mean, you were in a tough position, though. Because they were like, That was when the UFC started going to South America. They went to Uruguay. They went to Chile. They went to Argentina outside Mexico. Yeah. So I was like, I want to be cheer on.

I went in there for the local guy. Everybody's like booing me. I'm like, mother fucking. But I did, going back to if I declined in the past, that was the only time. Because I was like, why am I going to go to China? Right. In not even in business class. It's fucking like this.

According to 135. I'm like, nah. Sometimes you have, that's the only time I actually stand that for myself. Besides that, I've been a good company, man. Yeah, well, I mean, it seems like they like you now. The fans like you, you're a fan favorite, you put on a show. Yeah, no, I've been, they've been good to me. I mean, they, I would say because of my situation, I never been a prospect.

Yeah. And even that they keep me around, I'm all good with them. Yeah. And yes, we all want to be. make more right but i feel we have to earn that yeah and so i get it what are you ranked right now number four four it's a pretty good number yeah so who's like so sean then who sean maraq koree myself and peter yann okay yeah i mean if you and you and yon fought perfect then you're right there it is perfect so you're right there come on hunter let's get it done come on honey baby where you at

we both love hunter campbell he's a man such a good guy he's a man i'm trying to get him here to do because everybody sees Dana. I want to have Hunter here. You know what's crazy? He's a real run. Yeah. Yeah, we talk about running. I run with him in Vegas once. And, you know,

myself was like, I was sizing him up. I'm like, he's a big motherfucker. Yeah, he's pretty big. So when he's like going short and shirt, he's actually, you don't realize how big it is. And I did talk for a second, like, there's no way he can keep up with me. Yeah. He actually started like, beating me

I was like, holy shit on Vegas hit. And I was like, oh, you're a fucking real runner. Yeah. Like I told him, man, like, dude, I was doubting you a little bit. Right. Because it's a, you know, it's a business, man. You don't expect them to be. Right.

Full on a hammer. He was going crazy. I was like, dude, we need to run more often. Yeah. Yeah. No, I know. I talked to him at all the fights. He's always so good.

And I've been trying to get him to come on the podcast. I said, hey, you got a lot. He's got some probably so many good. stories about working with fighters and trying to set stuff up. Like to me, when I was younger, Dana was handling with all the fighters, right? Like, doing the meetings. Now that I go to the top, now the guy that deal with the fighter is a hundred. So he's my day now.

So that's the guy that called me, say, hey, you want this fight? Hey, this is your new deal. So, like, to me, like, I remember when I was a kid, I was like, fuck, one day I want to get there. Like when you're like dealing with straight to the boss, you don't, you're not going too much maker. Like, manager, you don't talk. Like the boss is going like, yo, let's meet up tomorrow. There's a big fight for you. I'm like, he feels so fucking good.

I bet. It's been a long road. It's been, I mean, 23 fights in the UFC. Man. Not many people get that far. No. It's been a long road. You've been kicking ass.

I'd love to see it. Well, God, dude, we had such a fun day yesterday. I was so so thankful you came all the way up here to Oregon and we got to lift run shoot. The woods were cool. Those fucking climbing those mountains, no joke. I was talking to my friends said it. I'm like, is it like a nice, cute bat?

You have to actually crawl at some point. Yeah, that one, a couple of steep hills. Yeah, it's cool. It was amazing. It was like, thanks for having me. Great experience. And it was fun having been running with us too. with an Olympian.

That guy. When he say, yeah, you know, a 350 mile. I'm like, motherfucker, you're a bullet. Yeah. That's another level of running. Yeah, for sure. Well, it's, man, I can't. It's such a fun day, a busy day, but we got it all in.

It was a great day, man. Yeah. And like how I like to always end this show is this is your new bow right here. I want to shoot it again. You shot so well yesterday, but it's like such an honor to share my life with you, to give you a bow. And, you know, we talked about hunting because, you know, I know you said you like getting on horses and being in nature and just being out there, like no worries, no cares. And the same thing with shooting a bow is like when you're shooting that bow, you're not distracted by anything else. You're laser focus on people will be surprised.

I don't care how you are bringing that thing back. you feel your shoulders when I gave up and then focus, look through the little hole. I'm going to become a shooter now because it's really fun. And when I like something, and it's challenging like that. Yeah.

And my goal one day is to go to a real hunt. Yeah, well, we need to make it happen. But yeah, in the meantime, just shooting arrows down range, it's just a good, it's like a release, but it's also just a distraction from normal everyday pressures of life. and you can get out there and just kind of reset.

I love it. I mean, yesterday I was extremely tired for the run and just getting on that focus era. It was great. I really appreciate you for that. Thank you. Oh, yeah. No, no, brother.

I'm so thankful you came. It's been an honor spending the day with you and then doing the podcast here. So I appreciate you. Likewise, man. Thank you so much. All right. Keep hammering, guys.

Yes, sir.