Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Bryce Hall - From Social Media Influencer To Bare Knuckle Boxer in BKFC

Episode Date: August 3, 2023

Bryce Hall (@brycehall) is a social media influencer with more than 35 million followers. He is making his BKFC debut on August 11 in BKFC against Gee Perez in Albuquerque, NM. He joins Chris Van Vliet to talk about what made him want to do a bare knuckle fight, his future plans with BKFC, his boxing loss against fellow influencer Austin McBroom in 2021 and the viral moment that came out of his post-fight interview, his training with BKFC Champion Lorenzo Hunt, what his future goals are, why he doesn't feel the need to prove his haters wrong and much more!  Use the code CVV to get your first month of BlueChew for FREE at http://bluechew.com Quote I'm thinking about: "The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." - Muhammad Ali For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://chrisvanvliet.com If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All systems are gathered. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Blaine! How are you, my friends? Welcome back to another one on Insight. I'm CBV Chris Van Fleet. It is episode 499. Oh, man. Episode number 500 is next.

Yes, I can count. What comes after 499? It's 500. But thank you so much for being with us on this one. And for so many of you, for being with us on all 490, of these since we started doing the podcast back in 2019. And also for a lot of you, way before that on the YouTube channel, I've been doing the YouTube channel for 12 years now.

But I appreciate you. And if you've been listening for a while, I'm sure you've picked up on this. I'm not just a pro wrestling fan. I obviously love movies and TV shows, but I'm a big combat sports fan. I love watching UFC. We've had a bunch of UFC fighters on the show,

Tito Ortiz, Chuck Ladell, Stebe Miochich, Sean O'Malley, the list goes on and on and on. I also watch boxing, and over the last few years, I've become a big BKFC fan, bare-knuckle fighting championship. And if you haven't seen this, take a few minutes today to just take a look at some of the highlights, some of the knockouts on YouTube. They are intense. So when I saw that influencer Bryce Hall had signed on for his first BKFC fight on August 11th

against the undefeated G. Perez. I was intrigued. I was intrigued because I'm like, this is not celebrity boxing. This is the real deal. Like, people's faces get pretty messed up here. So if you're not familiar with Bryce, he has over 35 million followers on all social media.

It's TikTok here. 24 million on TikTok, 6.5 million on Instagram, 3.4 million on YouTube. and Facebook, Twitter, throw that all in. I mean, he has quite the reach. But fighting isn't new to him. He did have a boxing match in 2021.

It was YouTubers versus TikTokers, another influencers who he was taking on. Austin McBroom. He lost that fight by TKO. And now we see him here in BKFC. Now, boxing and BKFC are two very different sports. So this is going to be really interesting. Check out the videos that Bryce has posted on his social media.

I mean, he's taking his charge. training here for his BKFC debut really seriously check him out on social media it's just his name at Bryce hall check me out it's just my name at chris fanfleet and take a screenshot let us know that you're listening to this let us know that you're watching bkfc on august 11th out of albuquerque new mexico it's going to be real interesting so let's dive into this it's so interesting to hear his whole take on all of this please welcome Bryce hall you got a high quality camera there I'm just trying to keep up with you. Come on.

My camera's an iPhone. Well, dude, it's good to be talking with you. Thank you so much for jumping on with us. 100%. Thank you for having me. Yeah, of course. I mean, this is just around the corner here. How are you feeling about making your BKFC debut?

I'm just ready to fight already. I mean, like, we're a week and a half away. I'm at the point in my camp where it's like now we're on the decline of the intensity. I'm just ready to, like, get in there and just do my thing. So walk me through how this comes together because this isn't like an influencer boxing match. This is the BKFC. Like, this is the real deal. BKFC is blowing up rapidly and I see it continuing to blow up rapidly.

Me being a social media influencer, I class on to viral moments. I thought every influencer boxer, the influencer boxer scene is kind of dying. It's oversaturated now. And the only people that are really like bringing eyes to the sport are like Jake Paul, KSI, and Logan Paul. I thought what better way to just kind of like one up them and stick like the middle finger to their face than to do bear knuckle. Because no other influencers ever going to do it. They'll say that they want to, but they're never going to do it. I'm going to be the only one to do it.

So it's like just one up to all you people that are veterans in the YouTube box in space. So is this like a one time? deal or are you planning like if you win here is this you know you're going to have more matches after those i want to work with the bkfc long term uh that that's ideally the goal because i see this sport uh expanding extremely far it's it's like a very very interesting um combat sport so if i win i might do another fight but i regardless of what happens on august 11th i want to i want to continue to work you can't see. So you're known for creating these viral moments.

I mean, you just mentioned it there. What do you have planned for this? Like, I'm thinking from the walkout to the time you get in there to, you know, the end of the fight. So I have, I have like my three-step plan. I already have the thing that I'm walking out to is going to go viral. Can't say that yet. Okay. What I do in that ring is going to go viral.

and then my after speech is going to go viral. The things that I'm going to say in my after speech, when I knock out a 3-0 bare-knuckle fighter, that's going to go viral. And then the song that I walk out to, everyone's just going to go, What's off? You know that your after speech after the Austin McBroom fight

went viral for... I'm going to completely... That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going to do something referencing that. Was that intentional when you did? in that interview? I'm not a boxer. I didn't think it was going to go as viral,

but I was kind of like just joking around. Because you're like, I've never said that I'm a fighter, and then it cuts right to like you being like, I'm a fighter, he's not. Yeah, no, I did mean what I said when I meant like, yeah, this is not my profession. But yeah, there was like a ton of people in the audience,

millions of people were watching. Like, I just got punched in the face a bunch. I didn't know how to take a public L, like that. So, I mean, it was like a lot of pressure on, but I didn't expect that to go as viral as it did. You always hear athletes talk about how

they learn so much more from a loss than they do from a win. So what did you learn from that loss in the McBroom fight? So I've never taken such a public L like that for millions of people.

But it did. It did teach me how to take an L, how to take something on the and just move forward and not let it consume my life. This time going into another fight, a lot of people are talking shit, but there's no pressure on me this time. That was like my first fight. I was the favorite of the fight. Austin Broom was the underdog.

This time, I'm the underdog, and I'm going into a fight with a 3-0 bare-knuckle fighter that has to prove himself. Like, you know, this is why bear knuckle is so brutal. I'm going to go in there, and I'm not going to rush. anything. I'm going to let him come to me and I'm just going to do my thing. It kind of sounds like you're saying like he has everything to lose here and you have everything to gain. Yeah. There's not a single thing that I have to prove in there. I have to go in there. That's my only job is to go in there. And then whatever happens happens? Yeah. But he's he knows

that I'm going to go in there. I'm going to make wheat and then two days after because you have two days, not one day. You have two days after you're way in to eat. eat, chill, recover, I'm going to be like 185 pounds, like in that ring. Like I'm, I walk around at like 195, 200. I'm going to be feeling great. I'm going to be bigger. And I can just sit back and take punches. Let him come to me and he will not be on the inside.

He hasn't, he hasn't even been hit by somebody as heavy as me. This episode is brought to you by Blue Chew. And if you've ever been thinking of trying Blue Chew, how about your first month for free? Yeah, when you use the promo code CVV at checkout at bluechew.com, you'll get your first month for free. You just have to pay $5 for shipping. Guys, this is the same active ingredients as Viagra, Seattleis, and Lovitra, but it's in chewable tablets and a fraction of the cost. And the best part, it's all done online. There's no doctor's visits, no awkward conversations, no waiting in the last.

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I haven't had food in so long. I want food. So it's all I can think about. You're obviously aware of the reaction that this announcement got online. Like, everybody is counting you out here. What was your response when you saw that? I honestly don't blame them whatsoever to count me out, but it's like, look at the people G. Perez has fought, you know?

Did anyone think that G. Perez was going to lose to any of the guys that he's fought? Those guys look like they have absolutely no fighting experience. I am 100%, regardless of what you say, I'm 100% G. Perez's hardest opponent that he's ever fought in there. I have more experience than any of those guys that's fought. I can hit way harder. I'm taller. I'm stronger.

And I'm way faster than all of his opponents. Like, he's not going to go in there bully. Like, I'm not like a small guy from a gas station. I just randomly hired to do like a random bare knuckle fight. I have fight experience and I know how to use my punches. You feel like when he came up and kind of pie-faced, to you or people are calling it a slap and I'm like didn't really look like a slap you feel like you should have reacted differently to that uh again like what do I have to prove the guy

slapped me in the face it's like he's doing doing some promo for the fight uh did I think it was disrespectful yeah but it's like what am I going to do just be like oh I will punch you in the face right now I'm going to do that August 11th I feel like like the way in here or the stare down like I feel like you've got something planned for this. I may or may not have something planned for that. What does training look like here? By the way, what are you drinking here? Is this some sort of special fuel for BKFC?

Of course, yes, it is. And dude, this one is so good. Which flavor do we have here? Sourbucks. Mmm, okay. I was looking, I was like, okay, maybe this is going to go against my diet, but zero calories, zero sugar. Like, I'm like, okay, let's do this.

I saw these videos of you training with Lorenzo Hunt, the juggernaut, who is an absolute beast. What has he taught you about bare knuckle that maybe you didn't know? So my background is wrestling. He taught me a lot of the grappling aspects or I would say bear knuckles is like a form of like dirty boxing. So like when you wrap up with somebody, you're not allowed to like hit, hit until the ref like separates you. Yeah. In bare knuckle, you can grab them by the neck, give them an upper cut, you can grab them by the neck, give them like a hook.

You can hit in clutches for a very long time in bare knuckle. So we've been working on a lot of the inside fighting, a lot of like the dirty boxing, like holding his arm, popping him across the jaw. Like, you know, I feel most comfortable doing the grappling aspect. So I think G doesn't understand that I'm not going to go to him. I'm going to wait for him to come to. me and then I'm going to wrap up and hurt.

How are your knuckles feeling right now? And they're pretty messed up right now. You are? Oh, my gosh. They're pretty messed up right now, but I'm just like recovering them now. This whole situation that we're in right now, this whole era right now of influencers who are boxing or you stepping into the world of BKFC, how much of this do you think you owe to Jake and Logan Paul? I think owing it to them is like a crazy word.

I think thanking them for bringing so many people to the sport, I would say. I would say thank you for giving creators, smaller creators, the opportunity to just show out and do a sport that they're not comfortable with or a sport that they're not that they didn't grow up doing for money, you know. I think it's great for the story. sport. I think influencers, celebrities, all of all of that's great for any sport that you do. So who's next? Is it KSI? I've heard you mention KSI and other interviews. Is that who you have your eye on

if you get the W here? I don't think KSI wouldn't want to fight me. Especially once you see what I do. Like August 11th, I think he's going to make up an excuse and say like, oh, he lost Austin McBrugh, blah, blah. And I think right after this, I want to fight Austin McBrugham again.

I want to actually show people what I'm capable of. And Austin McBrough, whether he wants to do a bare knuckle or with pillows on our hands, like I'm down. Like I know for a fact, if we had that rematch, I would put them on the canvas. I'm sure you're aware that for a big portion of the population, influencers is like a dirty word. And they're like, oh, wow, Bryce Hall's an influencer. I already don't like them.

I don't know anything about him, but he's an influencer. I don't like him. Do you feel like you have to prove those people wrong? So this is my thing. I really could care less what the general public thinks about me. If you like me, you like me, and I'm making content for you to escape from your day-to-day life, you know. I don't care of people. I'm not here to please everybody.

If you like me, thanks. I appreciate that. the ones that got me here, but also my eighters got me here. I'm a big pro wrestling fan, and I feel like everything you're saying in this interview and all the interviews that you do, I feel like you might make a great pro wrestler one day. The WWE are you talking about? Yeah, like maybe it's you versus Logan Paul, you know, next year at SummerSlam. Logan Paul's a big dude.

He is a big dude. Yeah. I don't know. Could you ever see yourself having a pro wrestling match? I can see myself cameoing in it, but I definitely don't see myself like doing a, being a character like Logan Cole. I just, I think that I don't really like that big stuff. Did you ever see yourself being in the position that you're in right now? Like five years ago, did you ever picture at 23, this is where you'd be at doing what you're doing?

I definitely did not see myself ever doing a bare-knuckle boxing match. But what about everything else? Just, you know, the growth you've had on social media, TikTok, and YouTube. I started social media when I was 14 years old, and I'd never had a plan B. So I said it was either this or nothing. So I saw myself be successful because I never quit. And I wouldn't quit no matter what. I didn't see it.

I didn't, like, fathom how big it was going to get. But now that I'm here, I'm super grateful and I continue to, I'm going to continue to expand. Do you think there was, like, one specific moment, one specific video that actually allowed you to have some of the influence we have now, like, that really stepped it up to that next level? Not a specific one. It was actually, like, just a bunch of videos that, went super viral, people seeing my face more, and then people feeling comfortable with me because they see my face so much. Well, this is going to be really interesting. I'm so excited. I'm a huge BKFC fan, and when I saw that you were going to be part of this, I was like,

dude, I need to tune in for this. So I can't wait to see this. And I end every conversation talking about gratitude because it's such an important part of my life. I wake up every day, I say out loud three things I'm grateful for. So, Bryce, what are three things in your life that you're grateful for right now? my mother. I'm super grateful for my mom. Helped me with a lot. I'm super grateful for my success in everything that I've done. And I'm super grateful for the opportunity to fight on BKFC.

Give us a prediction. August 11th, BKFC, it's you versus G. Perez. Second round knockout. Boom. Okay. There we go. Bryce, thank you so much, my friend. Thank you so much. Okay, so there we go, my friends.

So interested to see what happens with this fight. I mean, G. Perez is undefeated in BKFC. Bryce raises a really good point here. Like, G has a lot more to lose than Bryce does. So it's August 11th, live from Albuquerque, New Mexico. All the details are on BKFC.com. Take a screenshot. Let us know that you're listening to this and tag us, share it out, and we'll share it out.

He's at Bryce Hall. I'm at Chris Van Vleach, and since we're talking fighting here, how about a quote from Muhammad Ali to wrap things up here? The fight is one or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. If you are a BKFC fan, by the way, go check out my previous episode with David Feldman.

It's on YouTube. It's also here on the podcast. What he's built over these last handful of years, is really amazing. It's the fastest growing combat sport in the world for a reason. And hopefully we have a bunch more BKFC athletes here on the show. Be great. Be grateful. We will see you on the next one.

Woo! Episode number 500 for some more insight. Woo! Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do. With rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this.

notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Take advantage of but get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast. What should be? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned.