MMA Fighting - Eurobash: Episode 42 (w/ Jai Herbert, James Webb)

Episode Date: July 2, 2019

On the latest episode of Eurobash, Jai Herbert (14:23) discusses his lightweight title capture at Cage Warriors 106. James Webb (1:02:20) gave his thoughts on retaining his middleweight crown on the back of his controversial draw with Nathias Frederick at the same event. Hosts Peter Carroll and Niall McGrath look at the latest European MMA news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Boating for Flight 246 to Toronto is delayed 50 minutes. Ugh, what? Sounds like Ojo time. Play Ojo? Great idea. Feel the fun with all the latest slots in live casino games and with no wagering requirements.

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It doesn't feel like a P2. I made that point there on Twitter today. It really just doesn't have any sort of feel to coming into it. I think especially over here as well, because we have the pay-per-view to look forward to this weekend, 30 quid.

You know, I'm not feeling it, man. And I'd just like to introduce my co-host, Noel McGrath. But we had a bit of a mad week. I'm just back from London. And I think one of the most memorable cage warriors events in a long, long time night at champion is absolutely unbelievable. We had the UFC card, which Noel McGrath is going to tell you,

about because oh it was a busy bunny unfortunately but um yeah well i just take a quick run at these headlines as usual now and we can start complaining about that pay-per-view in a few minutes why not let's do it so nicholas dalby and ross houston in a fight for the age is in the unification bout at the top of that night of champions card amazing amount of traction coming off the back of that of course it was it was stopped due to the vinyl surface becoming unplayable due to the amount of bloodshed one of the most unbelievable things i've ever seen in my life it was uh i tell you there's it was unprecedented really i've never seen anything like it but this is the thing right so everybody is standing around this medical room at the end of it these are the most hard in people

in mma in europe and everyone's like giggling like schoolgirls and shaking their heads like usually you know when we're trying to get our work done it's like come on come on let's get it over with but this was like people who just couldn't stop talking and i mean the talk has continued we're well into monday night now and it's it's still really the talk of the town nicholas dalby and and Ross Houston and Nicholas Dalby's resurrection. I mean, what did you think of that when you watch it at home? Is it as big as I feel it is? Because it feels huge to me.

I think even the way maybe the fight ended even made it a little bit bigger because it was such an unprecedented event. There's no closure. Yeah, and I put eyes of the world on it because this fight, people are going to tune in because they hear this fight stopped from literally too much blood in the cage. They're going to go, oh shit, man, I have to watch this stuff. So you're going to go tune in and watch it.

I guarantee probably more people tuning the cage worries after the event was actually over and watched the back in the UFC fight, but I'd love to know the numbers. But yeah, I think it was big, and I think the fact Nicholas Dalby looked to be gaining quite a lot of momentum in the fight. I had a 10-8 round in that second round. A lot of people told me that. The two shots, the one that broke Ross Houston's nose and the two takedowns really set the president for the end of that round. So yeah, I think, you know, Ross... Even without the blood, it was an amazing fight, really, you know. And I think, you know, the respect for each other that had as well was a, you know, a,

fantastic, you know, the piece you did was fantastic in the SPN, by the way. I know you had a few issues. But listen, yeah, you conveyed it perfectly, you put it across perfectly. And I think it's great that, you know, someone has got that access and showing what Cage Warriors have done for UFC talent and European talent, because it's very important. Without Cage Warriors, mate, we probably wouldn't even be covering this sport. And that's true. Sorry. Yeah, and moving on from that, Joy Herbert, Mads Burnell, Samir Fadine, and Modesses Bacoucau, have been crowned, newly crowned Cage Warriors champions on the back of that event.

We'll talk about that bit later. James Webb retains his middleweight title after fighting to a controversial draw with Natoyos Frederick. Moving on from that, French MMA legalized. Beginning in January 2020, we can see some events there.

And look, I can already hear Cage Warriors people talking about it, Bellator people talking about it. Everybody wants to do the force. KSW UFC, obviously. And imagine Franny and Gannu coming off that big win. over Junior DeSantos, I'm sure. That would be huge if they could do something

over there, you know. A lot of fights announced last week. I tried to keep on top of it. I probably missed a few, but here we go. Misha Serkenoff by Jim Crute. Glover to share by Nikita Kroyloff, Agustu Sakai, Viz Tabura, Allseff or September's Vancouver event.

Next up, Volcan Osdemir, the Latifia has been rebuked. Yakin Silva by Nazareth Hacperast and Mara Romero Borrella v. Lauren Murphy and Antonina Shevchenko

v. Lucy Pudelova and Dagostasich for Gennedy and Joucru and Claudio Silva v. EMF. all booked for the Covington v. Lawler in New Jersey.

I know you spoke to Colby Covington recently. Yeah, very interesting. Yes, and UFC Copenhagen has its first fight. Gunner Nelson

v. Tiago Alves. That is quite a tasty fight for European event. I do. I love it. I think it's, you know, maybe the UFC,

you're changing and there stands in the European market. I doubt it, but listen, that's a fight that is worthy of any main card on a pay-per-view. I love what I think is explosive one for the fans. Hopefully, as I was tweeting today, maybe Nicholas Dalby gets added to the UFC

Copenhagen card. I think it's a no-brainer because he's obviously from there. And Mads Burnell possibly as well, you know? Really good performance from Mads as well. But listen, I want to ask you, how did you enjoy the, you were there? Yeah. It seemed pretty loud. There was a lot of cheering going on.

I know Joy Herbert brought a big crowd up from Wolverhampton. What was the atmosphere? What was everything like in the arena? It was incredible. And you know, that arena itself, to book that place, I mean, you're walking around backstage and the history of the place is stunning, you know? Like, you're in VIP rooms where, you know, Paul McCartney

and all these, the Rolling Stones and Frank Zappel would have been in. It's just you can feel the history off the place. And to be honest, I got in on Friday and just watching the whole Cage Warriors team work, that was something that we wanted to have in the piece. But unfortunately, with the enormous amount of talk about the main event that the piece got kind of shaped into that

but unbelievable I mean from Matt Jones the PR guy who was churning out all those videos which of course lead to these brands being built and you know you have Harry Fitzgerald who booked all the he booked that of that venue you know

I'd say he was instrumental in getting it done you know I was speaking to Ross Abrams Russ Abrams would I say and Donald Dollary our friend Paul's father Like these guys, they're rigging up all the media rooms. It's just the way they all work together. Marsha, obviously. It's very family sort of oriented.

It's unbelievable. They all seem to love it, you know. And of course, Brad and Josh. Yeah, great lads. Synonymous with the brands. They were, I thought they were brilliant at the weekend. What was it? Unbelievable.

Well, about a hundred times. Yeah. But Samir Fidane, what did he say? Brad said about him. Back flippery. It's the best word I've ever heard you was on a broadcast. But, yeah, you know, amazing. And look what Ian Dean did again.

You know, unbelievable. Like, I mean... UFC matchmakers. I'd love to see him do the European cards and shows. I think it'll be, you know, we get a lot higher quality fights

here in Europe, I think if he was doing them. Sometimes he does things that, you know, people don't even understand when it's made, but then it actually makes perfect sense at the end.

You know what I mean? Like, it's unbelievable foresighty going on. Well, look what they've done with Joe Herbert after obviously losing to Reese McKee. This is a perfect segue to our first guest. There you go.

That's what happened. He's been very sensible about the matchmaking. He's, clearly studied a path to get him and Jack Grant to fight against one another. Obviously, with Reese moving to Welterweight. So, you know, extremely clever matchmaking from him. They want their biggest stars, the biggest guys, the best fighters in their main events.

And we definitely got that on Saturday. I thought Joy was fantastic. Yeah, he's unbelievable. And, like, as I say to him in this interview, it's coming up. I felt we need to talk to Joy and James because, you know, I did speak to Russ and Nick straight after, as everyone saw. so I felt like I really wanted to get there taken. One thing that people might forget about Joy is,

you remember this. Bamma took him off a card because he didn't sell enough tickets. Yeah, we went mad about that on our old show we used to do. But how good must have feel for him? Oh, yeah, it's two fingers back up with these guys going, listen, you... I bet the best prospect in the UK. I am the best prospect in the UK, pretty much is what that says.

And you heard him on the mic after, and I think he's becoming more and more polished every time he seemed. Like, it's mad. You look at what he's done again. And it wasn't even the striking that I was impressed by. It was again, his defense was, you know, incredible. And the fact was willing to engage Jack on the ground. So Jack is an animal.

Like, he's an absolute savage. And the real talk of the town obviously was in the lead up to it. As we had Graham on the show last week, and he was saying, you know, five guys were likely to, you know, be on the UFC's radar very prominent here. And the talk in the town was Jack Grant 100% getting signed if he wins that fight. They were to whispers going around. And when you're Joey Herbert, you must be rubbing your hands together,

I think about that, you know? Yeah, definitely. and listen, if they're not watching him before last Saturday night they're certainly watching them now because it was a phenomenal performance and you know, as I was saying there, most polished, he didn't actually even seem that happy afterwards. I even said to him on the

phone there today, I was like, you know, he actually seemed so electric when he's being interviewed straight after, he's going to like, oh, what's the crack today? I wasn't really happy. That just shows you how, you know, competitive these guys are, if there's little things going wrong but they feel as though maybe they could have done a little bit more. Yeah, well, they're unbelievable, like, I mean,

the talent there, to stand out that card was very difficult. Definitely. You know what I mean? Like the fact that Nicholas and Ross steal all the headlines and you have a performance from Joy like that, you have a performance from Mads like that. You know, James Webb and Frederick was an insane fight. Yeah, it was.

The traction on Lyon while that was going down was insane. And to be fair, Samir and Modestis Bukakis, they completely upset the Apple Carte with those wins. I know Joy did as well, but not to the extent of these guys. I mean, everybody taught Martin Hamlet was going to win that title. Everybody expected Sam Creezy to win that title. Just unbelievable, man. it's absolutely unbelievable.

Did I forget our last headline? Did I name that Norman Park is fighting Zelkowski for the KSW 50? No, you didn't. What did you think of that? Because we didn't know because of these catchway fights he was having and stuff like that. And obviously, Gamrod's in a bit of an impasse there with KSW now. How, like, the fact that he is at this contract situation, is that a big blow to KSW?

I don't know, because they produce so much talent now. Yeah, I don't know. That it's like, do they need him that badly anymore? I think it may be. Probably huge for Poland. Yeah, but he puts all. on it as well Norman Norman Norman's like these guys he doesn't like a lot of these guys

he's fighting against us you know that's a story line it's a bit of traction it's a bit of eyes it's a bit of interest and I think Norman is that kind of guy that creates that tension that you put him in a melting pot and it'll bloody explode you know what I mean that's Norman he's a unpredictable guy we know that very well and I'm just worried

about Norman in terms of you know is he training the whole time is he looking after that weight it's still a concern for me he hasn't looked bad like I mean he's looked really good and some of the fights like that really good you know so it's it's hard to know like uh he's just a natural beast but i think if maybe i know he's a kid and all he's very busy but you just wonder sometimes you know there was talks you know he talks of retirement is that hunger is that desire still there to really compete at the

higher level or is it just about the book for norman or is it just a negotiation tactic at this stage you know um actually interesting now to bring it up i don't have it down on the list but i watched it before i came up did you watch darren tales interview with jane edward for fighters only Watch literally saw it as it was coming in here. We're actually recording the podcast somewhere different today. So I saw it just as coming in here. I was actually quite like... I just flicked through it.

I like the honesty. Like, I mean, he's kind of saying, I think Jim put to him like, are you back now when he was saying, I said I was back after I lost of Thorne Woodley, so I was obviously not, I was lying then. No, well, I like, you know, I like what he said in terms of him taking a little bit time out to find himself, really, is what you're saying.

He's just doing, you know, if I'm not 100% committed to going to the gym, I'm not going to go to the gym. And I like that. And he also said ahead of the Masvidal about he was kind of like, I was fully switched on. I was going to the gym every day. But after the sessions,

that's when I kind of, he said I was probably only 50% outside of the gym. You know, because he was staying in the casinos and stuff like that. I love that honesty. That honesty says to me that he's really... I just hope he learns. Yeah, but like the honesty is showing me

that he is thinking about it. He is having that conversation with himself. And to be honest, I think, like, you know, I, like, you know, he spoke about the Tenoree incident the course and that stuff's hard to talk about. You know,

when he's talking about all the attention and people shitting on him online and how it doesn't really phase him, but sometimes it just gets the better of you. It was a very good interview. I was, yeah, no, I listened to it. I didn't actually, I'm going to sit down maybe this evening or tomorrow

and listen to it through it through hole. I haven't had a proper chance to analyze it, listen to it. But, yeah, listen, you know, I just hope Darren takes a little bit more time. I've said this. You know, every week I seem to say this if his name comes up,

take a bit of time. out, get the head right. As he said there, do what you want to do for a while, then get back in, full commitments. And listen, I just hope he's learned for that. I hope, you know, sometimes you go, maybe he's going to go down the route

of becoming a party boy and that sort of lifestyle. I think it'd be a real shame if he did. Hopefully Darren gets this sort and gets back in there. I hope for 185 as well, man. I don't want to see him at 170 anymore. Yeah, I don't know. I know there was a question about that, but I was kind of pottering around

trying to get the podcast together. So I didn't know. I don't think he made a commitment either way. Yeah, yeah. But it's also like, you know, a young guy with a new child. Like there's so much stuff. Yeah, it's a lot to balance. And just the eyes that are on him as well, you know.

He'd be recognised now everywhere he probably goes in Liverpool. Yeah. The same thing with Paddy Pim that I used to say to him. If I was you when I was 21, I'd be dead already. Yeah, I know. I know I would. But look, we'll get on to the first interview of the day. It's the new Cage Warriors lightweight champion, Mr. Joy Herbert.

an absolute pleasure to have him on the show for the first time. Really great to speak to him. I had two brilliant errors in the interviews this week. One is that I taught that Joy's ring name was the Black County Badger. It's actually the Black County Banger. He was like, what is wrong with you, man? The Black County Badger, are you that so stupid? I was like, what does that mean, Joe?

He's like, man, it's the banger. And I was like, oh, for fuck. Badger. Oh, man. Well, look, I'm happy for you all to laugh at me. Don't worry about that. Well, get on to join now. We're back in about 15 minutes.

Love his loads. And now, I am joined by the newly crowned Cage Warrior's lightweight champion. A man who has been so resurgent under the banner, it's been a sight to behold. It's Mr. Joy Herbert. How are you, sir? I'm ecstatic, mate. I'm freaking buzzing. Buzzy, man.

How are you? I'm good, I'm good, but enough about me. You're the guy everybody wants to hear from. I mean, let's talk about the performance, first of all, because it was stunning. I mean, there was some grappling exchanges in the early round, and then in the second round, you just took hold of the contest. Your striking was absolutely unbelievable. Your job was fantastic.

You weren't afraid to mix it on the ground with Jack Grant, who we know is a grappling mastermind, really, for a guy his age, he's unbelievable. How satisfied are you with that performance, Joy? I'm really happy with you, you know. But I'm just, I was well prepared, you know what I mean? I've been preparing for weeks for this fight, you know what I'm saying? Not even for weeks, really. I've been preparing for years for these defining fights, you know what I mean,

these big events. And, you know, I was in the gym, training in these situations. So when I was in there, you know, it was just second-nature to me. So, yeah, I was, but I'm really happy with the performance, you know what I mean? And so I'm glad that I showed that, especially in the grappling exchanges, that I could hang in there with him. and not just hanging there with him. I looked, you know, when I was on the floor with him,

I looked, and when I was in his guard, you know, there was one point where I, like, I was hitting him, I landed his few elbows, a couple of good strikes, you know, I was hanging him in there, was being dominant on the ground with him as well. You know what I mean? So I'm just proving that I'm like,

I'm up there with the top fighters now. Absolutely, absolutely. And one thing I said to you, I spoke to you briefly outside the hotel yesterday before we headed on. One thing I heard before this card was a lot of people were saying that Jack is knocking right on the door. He's right on the door to UFC and if he got that title,

there was a very good chance that he would be signed. After the fact, and now that you have won in such a dominant fashion, I mean, you took over the fight in the second and third. How do you feel about your proximity to UFC? Because as we know, Graham Boylan had said it before the event, he expected maybe up to five guys to get a call after this fight within a few weeks. Do you feel that? Do you feel like this belt is the thing that will put your you on the radar for the UFC? Is that what he said? About five guys?

Is that what he said? Yeah, well, he said up to five people. And look, we know that the, the path between Cage Warriors and the UFC has been

set in stone for a very long time now. So that's just what I wanted to ask you about, really. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, like I said, a couple of people, I mean,

I've had loads and loads of messages on Facebook, on Instagram and everything. There's a couple of people as well in the, in the MMA media. And they've said to me, like, you know, Jack was meant to be getting the call up. After this, after he won this fight, you know, because a lot of people thought he was going to win.

So, well, and obviously, but people are close to me and people who are trained with in that, and they, like, they were very, very confidence, especially in my coaches, that knew that I was going to do it. You know what I mean? I knew I was going to do the business. But, like I say, a lot of people said that whole, after he got, after he won this fight or whatever, he was going to get the call up. But then obviously, I won in such a dominating fashion, you know what I mean? I think it's time.

I got the shouting what I'm saying. Yes, because you've taken his momentum, right? You've taken that momentum that he is gathered and, you know,

I always remember an interview I did with Phil DeFries, the KSW Heavyweight Champion where he said, this is like Highlander. When you kill the other guy, you take all his experience. And when you have done that,

you've taken all his momentum. You've taken his alignment with the UFC as far as I'm concerned. Do you know what as well? I'm glad that it wasn't like a, you know, like a one minute, not quick or 30 second,

knockout. Yes. Do you know what I mean? You're glad you overcame adversity? Yeah, and I'm glad it was a three round, three round fight, you know what I mean? It went three rounds and I showed, you know, I was in a bit of, I was in a couple of bad situations,

got out of them easily, you know what I mean? You put the pressure on, I handled it, and I picked him apart. So, like, I was glad that I showed that, like, you know, I outclassed him. That was better than, like, just getting a quick, quick knockout, because then, you know, people still all about questions.

So, I'm, listen, I'm, I'm knocking on the door now. I think it's my time I should get a shout. I want you to cast your mind back to the Bama days, if you will, for me. A story that a lot of people were very, very upset to hear about back then was the fact that you were taking off the card because I believe Bama didn't believe that you and Lewis Monarch had been selling enough tickets, if I remember correctly, for an event.

I mean, how good does this feel now? You must feel like you have completely vindicated. and you must feel like you've proved a lot of people wrong by doing this. Yeah, exactly, you know what? Do you know what? You know all that sits down to, Kajwa's really? I mean, they haven't really, they don't really, they're not really bothered about me selling tickets. Even though I do sell, I do set a decent amount of tickets, but they're just worried about the talent.

They know how to nurture talent, don't they? They really do, like, I mean. Yeah. They haven't given me any easy fights, you know, I've had good fights. Do you know what I mean? and I've had like, tough fights that I've had to show up to improve myself and that.

But yeah, like I say, we've bam out like, you know, certain things like ticket sales, like me and Lewis weren't going to send enough tickets even though it was in Newcastle. And what a fight that would have been, man. Like, I mean...

Absolutely. We've been a cracking fight. But, yeah, that's what they said to me. Oh, yeah, we had to cut one of the the lowest ticket sellers or something. I was thinking low's ticket said. My last fight, I saw it about,

hundred tickets or something in Birmingham I was thinking what you're on about. But I was just like, you know what? But like I say, Kage Warriors, that's all they care about is the talent, you know what I mean? And look where I'm now. So I'm glad that

it's all happened for a reason, as me, you know what I mean? At the end of the day. So yeah. Is it an emotional thing when you when you reach this milestone? I mean, I know you have plans for doing much more, obviously, in M.A. But was it an emotional thing? Do you know what? It was, um,

it's mad because I like I was really, really confident that before it, you know, a couple of times weeks before, it was a bit of emotion, you know, like,

especially when I've had to go, you know, like being working and training, it's getting hard and that and I'm thinking, I think to myself, I'm 31 now, you know what I mean?

I need this, I need this win. Because if I, you know, if I lost this, it would have put me back of me and I'm, you know, I'm not getting any younger and, you know,

I've looked after another three fights or four fights before I get another title shot and then to get my, another chance to get in the UFC. So, all these things were going in the back of my head, and I was thinking, nah, man, I need to win this fight. I have to win this fight. I want to get in the UFC, you know,

and chase my dream, you know what I mean? I need to win it. So it was like, I had a lot of pressure on myself going into it, but then close to the time, especially on the day, you know, I just, I just thought, nah, no, he's not taking this away from me, this is mine. And just, like, I knew I was going to win. So then when I won, I was, I wasn't, like,

that, like, oh, like, I wasn't, like, I wouldn't, like, burst into tears or anything, because I just, I just knew. It was my time, if you know what I'm saying. I'm babbling on a bit there, but like... No, no, no. I'm very happy with your rables. Believe me, Joy.

It's funny you say that about the work thing because I was looking at your WhatsApp status and it just says at work and that feels like you always are one way or the other at work in the gym or with your employment. Like, I mean, you told me on Sunday morning like you were going to be in work on Monday, right? Yeah, I did tell you that, but to be honest, I got home on the night and my hands are still swollen. Well, how dare you? you. Did you not go to work today, Joy? This is disgraceful.

Yeah, I figured, I rang him up and that's like, can I come to me tomorrow? My hands are swollen, man, and them killing me. It's like, yeah, yeah, do you. You can start on Tuesday. Well, I'm sure they're terrified of you, man. No, I'm a nice geezer, man. I'm not like that to be doing the way. So, like, everyone knows I'm sweet, like, you know what I mean? Just turn it on in the cage, you know what I'm saying? I see your partner that's been by your side, through your whole career, really, as far as I've been cover in an anyway what what does that mean for you two guys like i mean these are so close it just you can even see it off you just exude this kind of closeness it mean you must feel uh very very

proud that you can achieve this with her by your side yeah man it's it's like this this title isn't just like um it's not just me who's one it you know what i mean it's like it's her as well it's my coach's my team that's what i feel like you know i know it's just me in the case like but it's just a lot of people who put put efforts and time into this time into me you know i mean like the rest of my girlfriend she's have to put up with like you know not going out just we've had to stop in and that

she's had to deal on my food and that it's all about me all the time you know what I mean so like like at the day they'll be they'll be reaping the benefits too when I get to a when I get in the UFC and I get you know

starting and some big dough and that was there ever oh yeah well was there ever a time where like you know she was like talking you about a retirement when all this bad stuff happened with Bamma when you know I'm sure like You know, we all have egos and when they take a big knock like that,

which I'm sure it was. A lot of people thought it was absolute garbage that that happened. You know, I think the vast majority of people did. Was there ever a time where she told you, you know, believe in yourself, don't give this up yet? Like, was there ever a time where it was like that for you? Nah. I mean, yeah, yeah, she was like, she's always been like, yeah, just, you know,

just keep going, man, keep going to get there in the end. But we've never thought now, let's give up and that, you know what I mean? It's always, you know, keep on, man. push on and keep grinding. That's what I've done and look where I've got to. Yes, absolutely. I wanted to ask you as well, Joy, obviously Natoyas and James Webb had a big fight that night. And I had James Webb on the show. So in the entrance of balance, I know that I've seen Fabian tweeting about it.

I've seen a lot of the guys from Renegade tweeting about it and being on social media. They're not happy with how that went. What is the mood in the Camber Garden that fight for you guys? I like, listen, it's definitely got to have it. They've got to have the rematch and it's got to be... And I think it's going to be huge. I think the rematch wherever it takes place because, like, I mean, both these guys, right,

they're very good fighters, we know that. But I've never seen as much traction for an Atoyas fight or a James fight as was taking place when they fought. It was pretty crazy fight, you know? It was a crazy... Listen, I was in the background. I was still, I was warming up in the back, sorry.

But I was still like looking at it on the Miel's phone life. We're still watching it, Abby. But look, you know, it was a lot of good grappling exchange in it and that. And then see the technique that Napa uses to stuff the takedown. It's very unique. Yeah, he sees. But listen, you know, like, we was talking about this as well.

Like, James held onto the legs at one point. And do you know, like, what was that fight the other day? It was he rolls down to Junis, yeah. Oh, and Jessica Andrade. He held onto the arm bar. Right, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's got dropped on the head. Right.

Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, no, I know the technique. Right, right. now he's he's just picked up his legs and what like he meant to stuff the head and then you like you sort of you sprawl out on the head that's what he did I think when you if you look at um like on the first or second round he did he did that technique then but I think I think it was the fifth round wasn't it like and I sort of I think he sort of lifted up the yeah the legs a lot more and then like James dropped on his head but he had still had like holding that his legs so right you know you guys weren't too

happy with that because I mean like as we can see at the judge's scorecards when we look after afterwards, that point basically caused Nathaius the fight as far as two of the three judges were concerned, you know? Yeah, and I think as well, like, you know, at the end of the round, like, two, three minutes,

James was sort of like laid in, like, half guard and that in it, and, or sorry, side control and stuff. We didn't be doing nothing, he weren't, like, moving or nothing. You guys felt you needed more activity, maybe landing shots or something? Yeah, they could have stood it up.

Like, they didn't they? They could have studied up, but we weren't really moaning about that because, like, you know, and that he could, you know, he could have worked more to get to his feet. He could say, but at the end of the day, he was, James wasn't doing nothing on top. So I think that he could have stood it up, like, but I'm not a referee at the end of the day. Like, you know, Mark, Mark Goddard was, you know, one of the top, best referees in the world, so I'm going to start saying he should have done this incident.

So whatever, you know what I mean? Yeah, no, no, and I appreciate you saying, I appreciate you just giving the take because I want, in the interest of balance, like, I mean, obviously James is going to be on saying he, you know, he agreed with it and I knew you guys so I did want to ask about it but um what I wanted to ask you next joy was what is next for you look I mean do you feel like there is a 155 or there within cage warriors that you could defend against if this call doesn't come immediately or do you already have your eyes on UFC opponents at this stage yeah I'm already thinking you're see I'm thinking yeah me and um me and Jack would be like clearly the best lightweights in

the division. I agree. Clearly, you know what I mean? And then I've just, I've like, I outclassed him for three rounds, you know what I'm saying? Total domination, really. So, like, who else is there, really? No, there's some, there's a few good lads coming up.

I'm still thinking they need a couple of more fights, you know what I'm saying? But whatever, if I don't get the UFC shot, then I'll defend against whoever. They don't want me to defend them. It's like, any day, I'll never duck to fight or anything. Look at my last few fights. They've been cracking fights. Unbelievable. McCogne, you know what I mean?

he was he's a wiki striker and you got um o'keefe the last he's three fights before me was so many people out in like that's what was so impressive about you man your fight against o'keef blew my mind because you literally took

the one opportunity you had and finished that fight it is actually mind-blowing for me to watch that I couldn't believe it you know it was it was so impressive man well like I knew I knew this I sort of knew how it was gonna go he's either gonna go me at the start like pinging him quick

um or he was gonna get older me get me down and I was going to have to weather the storm and then you know and when I got to my feet I heard all I heard was breeze gold and I'm making pay and then I just thought stuck it on him but I didn't want to get too close so he could close a distance on me and take me down again so I step back and then I went in and I caught him in a knee like it's funny me talking to you now because you're obviously so calm and as you said everyone knows it you're you're a sweet guy but after you win man the emotion like you are you were on fire in that cage I love it when they interview you for the post for the interviews,

it's always so, it's like electric, you know? Yeah, yeah, I'm always stopped babbling on. Some geese are put on Facebook the other day, freaking,

good looking at USC joy, but they're going to need subtitles for you. They'll need to be ready for the beep, beep, beep. What is the, can you tell me about the, your ring name? What is it, the black county badger?

Black country, bang. Banger? Black country, yeah, bang. So, Jesus, always like the. Badger, I was like, what the... I just read it wrong. It's called...

Like, they say, they call me the Canon or the Black Country Banga. Was the Black Country is... I don't know if you know, it's a part in the Midlands, like. Right. Wolverhampton, West Brom. Part of Birmingham, Tipton, like, all around there, like. That's a cool name. That's a cool name.

Like, that was a good black country banga, like, so yeah, yeah. I can't believe I thought it said Badger. I feel I'm very embarrassed. Badger. Yeah. Well, look, well, Joy, that's all I have for you, man. And it's been an absolute pleasure to speak for you. I'm so happy for you the fact that you've got to prove everybody wrong.

We all knew what a talent you were. And my God, you're showing it now, man. I hope that call comes for you. I honestly do. Well, man, nice one, brother. Thank you very much for having me on. I can't wait to see you fight next, whether it's in cage, whether it's in the UFC or wherever it is. I can't wait to see it again.

You're electrifying, man. Honest to God. Nice one, brother. Thank you very much. You enjoy the rest of your day. And make sure you're not late to work tomorrow or else your boss is going to do it. Yeah, man. All the best, man.

Bye, boy. Sorry, bro. And fantastic to speak to Joy Herbert. The Black County Badger himself. I'm only messing, Joy. Don't bash me. But the basher. The banger?

The banger? Jesus Christ. It's a good name. I'm not going to lie. I actually really like it. It wasn't part of my vernacular before the weekend. Or was it until minutes ago. So what can you do?

But great to hear from him. So I think he has such a good story, man. After all the crap that went down with Bama, what a fantastic, not even resurgence because he's lost like once. There's no point in calling that that, but just a great way to shut the critics up and show people what they're missing.

Definitely. Listen, I did not see the UFC card. I've seen bits and pieces. I saw Big Franz knock out. What did you think of? There was only two Europeans on the card, right? Yeah, it wasn't the most electric card in the world. Let's be honest about a lot of decisions in there,

but I think if we're going to talk about the Europeans, it was a mixed night, and I think if we look at Paul Craig's fight against Albert on Mindfeld, you just have to go, like, what are you doing, Paul? I saw it, it was a first round, K-L, right? Yeah, exceptionally sloppy, in my opinion,

thrown a lot of spinning shit. Sort of look for the takedown, grind it on Mindfeld, up against the cage for the early part of the first round, and then, through that spinning kick, sort of, the first one sort of half-landed, didn't really do too much damage then tried it again but it was like a half-ass effort got his ass knocked out effectively two seconds after that i don't know what you're doing if you're

potentially fighting for a ufc career here do you think so yeah you know possibly i think with paul you know it's been hitting miss really he's got no real momentum going in his ufc tenure and are they really looking for guys like that in the light heavyweight division i think they need guys in the low heavyweight division yeah i think they need guys but you know you always feel that what paul may Maybe that, you know, is he really, is he really on that level sometimes, you know, some of the things he does in there? I don't know. I'm looking at his record here just now in the USC. He is three and four. Like, I mean, it's, it's not a winning record. I'm not going to, I'm not trying to paint it up that way. But is that really enough to see someone unceremoniously. Yeah, no, I don't like to, you know, telling the UFC to cook guys or anything like that. But I see your point, I mean, the way you were talking about consistency, you, like, I mean, it's win loss, win loss.

That's what it is. And you need consistency. And when you're not showing consistency to a level that the UFC are going to look for, are they going to keep your rounds? I'm not too sure. I think it's a lot more cutthroat maybe to certain divisions and certain fighters than it used to be in the UFC. Yeah, absolutely. And you only have to ask Norman Park about that.

Yeah, that's true. Like, he was even thrown out when it was pretty sound the lads like. It was ridiculous for the team Norman out. Ridic. What is it next for a big friend? That's what I want to ask you. Yeah. Does he get the winner of the title fight?

Again, I think Gino de Santas was sloppy. If you look at that fight... He turns away from him, right? Before the blow lands, is that correct? Yeah, he's nearly a turn away? Yeah, he did. But even before that, there was a lot of sort of feints and messing around. There was no real...

He wasn't committing to anything. And he landed a few nice leg kicks early on as well. But ultimately, you saw he sort of turned away. It was a weird, weird. But the sound of his fists hitting this guy... The hammer fist then is just... God. It's pretty sickening.

He's a sick individual. I liked him getting in Dana's face and shouting at him afterwards. I was like, yeah. Well, like, Dana's been very disrespectful to him, and he's not the only fighter, as we well know.

Dana's a lovely man. He's a lovely man. But, you know, that's another thing, maybe. I'll probably just have a little bit of a rant here. But, you know, Dana White's signing this new contract.

You know, the lack of real hype around the international fight week, even though it's a really good card. Is Dana like the man anymore? I just seem, there's these incidents happening every other week with Dana, more so probably than ever. where we're just going, we're questioning decisions,

the fans are questioning decisions, and nothing's really getting, nothing's really getting done about it. I'd love to see a change in the USC now. And I, like, you know, I know it'd be a big risk the day it does finally happen, but it's not obviously happened for another, what, eight years or whatever the contract he signed is.

But Dana is, um, maybe, well, look, every, disinterested than ever. Well, every week, I feel that there's something popping up that's making fans go, oh, what's it, what's, what's his problem? Like, do you need to get rid of him? Like, lockdown?

was like recent the pay-per-view thing was recent definitely yeah so I mean I don't know I don't agree with a lot of stuff he does

Tony Ferguson you know he's publicly disrespected him when he was interim champion he's you know gone off in Ghana he's gone off on Calvington basically said you know

he got offered a lot of fights Colby said it's the complete opposite Colby said he's back on good terms of Dan and I spoke with him there during the week and you know he thinks maybe should get Trump to have a word man yeah he should but but he's

thinks maybe the power is out of Dana's hands, maybe it's more in W-E-E-I-M-G's It's probably a good point. It probably is. But do you think W-M-E-I-M-G are saying don't sound Brendan? Yeah, well, that's true. That's not happening.

It doesn't make any sense. But yeah, so I suppose we'll move on to Knight of Champions now, will we? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, let me just take that card up there. You threw me off there. He's signaling, right? You're saying. He's shouting into the microphone.

I'm shouting today. I'm shouting today. Well, it's usually the opposite. No, no, yeah, that's good. Like, I mean, I'm improving day by day. We're just in new settings just for this week. So, you know, it's fine, Peter. Don't worry.

It's grandma, buddy. Thanks very much, I'll be back. You're good for him. You seem, you look like you're drained, Peter. I am very drained. Oh, you wouldn't believe it. But Nicholas Dalby and Ross Houston, right? When I was kind of in the medical room there, there was kind of whispers, I didn't hear

an official. Did you get a medical? No, thank God. They would have put me in the ambulance straight away. But the thing is, right? Like, after sustaining them cuts and stuff like that, there's likely going to be a medical suspension here, right? Yeah, you'd imagine so.

He really would. Like that elbow. Not that they can, not that absolutely means that they can compete in Copenhagen, but it is an extra obstacle, right? Because they're going to have to get cleared. And, like, as we saw that cut on Nick's head, we saw a broken nose on Rosslick. I mean, I'd say, I'd say Dobby's nose is broken as well.

They were questioning that, whether it was or not. But in a perfect world, I think everybody wants to see these guys fighting Copenhagen again. Like, I mean, after a war like that, they want to see something happen, you know what I mean?

They definitely want to see Dalby in there. I mean, this is what I was kind of saying about the whole event. It was full of good stories, like the joy when we just talked about. Mads is a very similar story to Nick. You know, James Webb being the apprentice of Chris Fields,

the man who used to hold that title. Sam Creasy was set up for him. But really, you know, Nicholas's story was, was so compelling that it actually saturated the whole thing. And when you think about that

and a night of six title fights, he's the story. Like, I can really feel the momentum behind him now for this Copenhagen card. Maybe not so much at Ross because he doesn't have the, like, it's not his native country

and stuff like that. But you feel like, you feel like in a perfect world if we were to get that fairy tale ending, it would be, it would be Copenhagen for Dalby, right? Oh, yeah, 100%. And that will be the worry for me, though,

you know, in terms of, you know, he did look pretty banged up, he looked pretty beaten. Do we really want to see a guy, do we, you know, get in there that's taking, a lot of head trauma, let's be honest about it, that elbow was bloody nasty. Was. Would it be better maybe for the longevity of his career and his mental health? For a guy who's suffered from mental health problems as well, maybe he needs to see a bit, a bit more careful. And maybe, maybe pass this one up, but obviously if the opportunity comes, you're not going to see Nicholas Dalby turn that one down.

It would mean the world to him. And I think it would be a great, great story, but only if his mental health. is right and you know he's not too badly injured from that because i would expect you know some suspensions well it would be a nice consolation if he just got the contract and he did like i mean he wasn't waiting on copeland not that he needed to fight there but even to be a guest fighter there so he can put him he can set out with stalls you know exactly be involved in it in some way well i think it would help the u s a if he was you know but like you know you know the way these guys work um they don't really give a shit pt to be honest you let's be honest about it in terms

like europe seems to me as if it's an aflato It is an afterthought and they're just basically making up these, you know, doing their obligations to their ESPN contract in terms of putting on fight nights. And we seem to get some pretty shallow cards. And I think, listen, I don't think it'd be a bloody rocket science to work this one out. If Nicholas Dalby was on the card, you know, you're getting a lot more love. You're getting a lot more eyes on the card in Copenhagen. But listen, it wouldn't be surprised me if the UFC didn't sign them, but I hope they do. Yeah, I think

And he deserves it. Yeah, yeah. I really hope to see that happen, man. He's a fantastic person. And both him and Ross gave me so much time, man, ahead of this fight and after it. And that interview I did that's featured in the last part of that ESPN article is one of the most intense situations. There's actually a video of it up online now. Is there a video?

Is it coming up today? Oh, he didn't put it up. It was a documentary group that I was following Nick. They put it up and very intense. I actually thought he was having a joke with me. And then next of all, the emotion just comes up. and just like, well, I mean, I knew how much this means to him, obviously, but when you see it, him processing the fact that maybe I'm not going to make this

carbonating threat. It was like, insert, I know it's different, but it was like what Paul Rebond's after that fight. That's when it sort of, it dawned to me. I was like, well, shit, man, sometimes we don't actually stand back and go. Well, it's the week, the thing, isn't it? We don't even get to process the stories because there's a fight card next week and we just go, oh, here it is, here it is. We have to move on to this.

That's it. And sometimes I think when you're there and you see it in your feet, face and you see the switch as you said the trigger you know from a smile to so emotional tears it just shows you what's going on on these guys heads in the buildup especially man the fight week is so so draining for any fighter just very grateful to share that he wanted to share that mom with me and and i really can't thank him enough i think he's a special guy i really is i agree with you incredibly special person and um i met his whole family over there on fight week and you know i remember when he fought darn tail in dublin and the two of them were dressed in suits they were having like

great fun with the fans as well and I'm just really good humble guys and even after the mulpeda fight Nick came over and he was having a few beers with Phil for the whole know he having big chats talking about different things he's a lovely lovely lovely fellow it's impossible not to like to go there really is but um you know we spoke a lot about joy already but um jack grant um he looked brilliant in the first round in that fight obviously then joy starts coming on and he was brilliant in the second and third round he was absolutely brilliant but i think it's far from the last that we've seen a jack grant man yeah no Yeah, listen, I just think again

Why not do the Grant v. Sorin back fight now? Well, maybe that's what they do with Joy if their UFC don't come calling immediately. Yeah, well, yeah, that is true. This, I think, you know, for Joy, I wouldn't mind seeing him have another couple more fights in Cage, whereas I don't think there's any massive rush for him to get to the UFC.

I think he's very, very good. I think everything we've seen from, maybe he isn't ready yet. Maybe one or two more fights as champion. would maybe polish him off a little bit more, having that belt. It's doubtable that that would, absolutely. But I think he gets in there and he competes straight away. No, no, no.

I'm not saying that. But maybe for his career, maybe it would be better if he had another fighter to round things off. Yeah. Like he even said to me in that interview, I said, like, what's the difference? What's the difference? He goes to cage. They just know how to nurture. They know how to build me properly, you know?

100%. And I think if you look at the fight against Reese McKee, that was a phenomenal performance from Reese when he beat him. But he's just got better. He's added so much weapons to his game. And as I said again, I'll go back to it, man. The defence was fantastic. Yeah.

Absolutely fantastic. That was the most impressive thing in the fight for me. I don't know. His jab man was under the label. You know, weathering that storm. We knew he had a good job, though, I guess. Yeah, we've seen all that from him before. So cerebral in the stand-up, really good with picking his shots.

Composure, it's everything you want in a top-level fighter. And I think we're very much on the way to seeing that from Dior. I'm excited to see this guy go. And he will be in the UFC. I think it's just a matter of time, definitely. There was some talk that Mads Manel had possibly injured his knee after his fight with Dean Truman. He looked all right to me. Yeah, I saw him kind of outside afterwards and stuff.

He looked okay. But that would be, I mean, look, he's in a very similar situation to Dalby. His story was not as publicized. He's not had the same gap since the UFC that Dalby has had. But he has looked tremendous under the cage where his banner. Like Dean Truman, I've got so much respect for that guy. He's a stalwart under the cage where his banner. And look, Dean was on his back in the first round of that fight.

And then he's going. Should you even listen to what Mad said about him at the end, man. That was so nice. That was a really, really good thing to say. And I think it is, you know, it is true. And when sometimes you just look at the situation and what it means about guys and to see one guy, basically, he was really pissed off for himself. You could see, he was like, fuck, he was nearly in tears. It's very, very tough.

But yeah, like, is Madd ready for another shot in the UFC? I think he's magic. I do. I really do. But I just think the fact that there hasn't been that distance like Dalby has had, you know, I think that was. that will make the USC reluctant. But honestly, like, I think Dalby and Bernel are the right guys to get on that Copenhagen card, like to compel them, the local interest and stuff like that.

So I hope it happens for him. I just think his case probably isn't as good as Dalby's, just based on distance and stuff like that. But he's certainly capable, he's certainly a talent. And I'm sure the fight he got cut after was that Ernie Allen one, where he was really dominant over Arnold. It was a savage. Yeah.

I believe it was, anyway. It could be. No, you're probably right, yeah. There was a Liverpool fight. It's been a while, yeah. That was only last year, right? Is it last year, Liverpool? Yeah, that's it.

Like, in May, 2008, and he's won three fights in Cagewires since then. Fucking hell. Like, that loss to Arnold Allen, you remember, it was midway through the third round, and Mads had been dominating that fight. So his only other loss was Michael Preseris, who probably didn't make weight, let's be honest.

But, um, James Webb and the Toys Frederick was a fight that was so electric. Simon headset in the media room, He was downstairs interviewing on somebody. He said it was sounded like a rap concert because we're all like, oh, oh, what it was on? You know, I want to ask you this, and we did a little chat about this outside a few minutes ago.

And Joy mentioned this in the interview as well, I'll be fair. You're talking about the... The pedigree. Yeah, well, no, the pile driver in the foot, the last one. Yeah. I question to you, right, we had a chat about this. Obviously, Jessica Androj is fighting against Rose Namichunus when Rose had a hold of her arm.

Yeah, the Camara trap. Yeah, what's the difference between that and what James Webb was doing with his arms around? Sort of like he underhooks in his knees. Webb is going for the double leg, and then Natoyas picks him up from around the waist. He overgrips the waist, and he pulls them up, and he drops them down. And I think the rule is that if you control a person's body going into the ground head first, you're spiking them. So I think that's where the rule is different in terms of Natia. is launching him into the ground

rather than Rose is holding onto something that is that is a potentially going into an arm bar. Yeah, I mean, she's attacking a submission rather than than Natoya seems to be just lifting and spiking. Okay. I don't know. Like, I mean, that is not a clear distinction by any form.

Because that's the first thing, after having that conversation with you and, you know, you were right, that is the real. Well, no, it's good for devil's advocate because I didn't actually hear that argument until Joy had said to me in the interview and I was like, well, wow, I'm not going to start bullshit here because I don't know.

Because we had that conversation and I came up and I was watching the card and I went, well, is that not the similar thing? Obviously, just a different limb. Yeah. So I don't know. I don't know. I'm listening. I don't think you could say that

Natoyos was attacking a submission. Well, that's true. That's true. I don't know. Maybe that isn't a good enough distinction. Maybe, but like, after he said that to me, I can understand why I've seen Fabian. I've seen lots of their team renegade guys

online talking about oh, Natoyos was robbed and the same in the same respect that the, you know, the team KF and the Irish fans in the English,

like some, some fans in Ireland are talking about, you know, James definitely won that fight. I definitely saw a lot of that afterwards. I was scoring it.

You know, when you're working at the event, you're looking at a screen, you're running back and forth. You know, I wasn't. I probably had, you know, my thighs went in the fight

by a round and I think maybe obviously the point deduction sort of level of it. So you had the draw as well. I had the draw, I had the draw, no problems of the draw at all.

I had James up going into the last round 3-1, and then when I said it to the other media members in the room, like a lot of them were like over two-two. I thought he was lucky not to be disqualified for his mouth alone towards Mark Goddard. Yeah, he was pretty bad, man. And I think Goddard, let's be, you know, let's call a spade of spite.

I think he actually handled it very well, the situation. Told his corner, you know, control your fighter. He kept answering back Mark. He wouldn't stand where he wanted to stand. Mark was visibly and noticeably on the broadcast shouting at him. And I think Goddard handled it well. I actually do believe Godder could have disqualified him just for talking back to him and not obeying the official because it was pretty bad, man.

A lot of people, I don't know if you saw the first that looked like a pedigree, the kind of situation there. A lot of people thought that he should have been, some people were saying in the media room, like maybe he should have been pointed there or warned there. So then the thing later on, but I certainly, like, when you look and you hear what James has to say about his injury now based off this. Well, he looked, you could tell after the fight visibly straight away, He was rolling his shoulder in his neck and sort of bending over a little bit.

So hopefully he's not, you know, too badly injured. My mistake you'll hear in the interview later on, another epic from Pizzi, really calamitous, calamitous Carol this weekend. I was speaking to Team KF as they made their way towards the media room afterwards. And James was like, fuck off. Well, obviously. But James goes, oh, I don't even want to put this on my shoulder. He says about the belt. I thought he was saying, like, because he drew.

didn't feel it. That was actually a shoulder injury. So I say to him in an interview, I heard you say this. He goes, yeah, my shoulder. I couldn't feel it. Pizzi-Totty to jam. Yeah, yeah.

I was like, oh my God. Brilliant. Brilliant stuff, Peter. But look, I think the one thing I do think that both Natoyas and James, even if they're both upset about this decision, is the one shred of positivity they need to take from it, is the fact that everybody was talking about this fight while it was going down.

I mean, it had such massive. subtraction on line, obviously these big techniques, the pile driver and the pedigree, they went viral. You know, like, look, there's no way James going to take that as a consolation now

where he's suffering with a massive neck and arm injury. But the fact that it's so talked about means that the rematch is going to be big. Eyes are on it, man. Eyes are on it. I always run that whole card at the weekend. And I think when you have a main card like that,

and you've two fights that end in such spectacular circumstances, you know, so pretty fucking. in wild. And you know, as I said, I think people are going to go back even watch,

even going to watch that. Yeah, absolutely. Did you see Samir Fidane's knock out? Yes, I did. It's unbelievable. Yeah, I think Creasy was a little bit.

He left himself open for it, all right? He ran in, kind of. He tends to do that. It's hands down. He was winning the fight as well. Very disappointing from his point of view.

It's two title fights. O and two now. Yeah. Because there's a big upset against Nathan racing and now there's the big upset against Samir? Was it a good stoppage? I'm still a little bit out in it, man.

Yeah. Look, I didn't. It's not like I've trawled over this a lot of times, but at the time I did feel like it was a good stoppage. Was there a complaint afterwards? No, I think he actually sort of, from what the commentators were saying anyway, Josh and Brad, they were saying, you know, it was a good stoppage, maybe the creasy acknowledged that he went out because it's sort of like his equilibrium went and then he sort of fell. When he fell to his side, I thought he was out. His eyes maybe went. Maybe, you know, I wouldn't mind looking at it again, but I thought there would have been a little bit more, maybe debate

about the stoppage. But listen, I'm okay. I'm okay with it. If the fighter's okay with it, I'm okay with it. Yeah, that's, yeah. Medesis Pekakis, his cornerman, David Batten, actually walked away from the time, but 15 years ago, sorry, yes, 15 years

ago, the first night they unveiled the titles at Strike Force 4. Modest's Buchakis's coach, David Batten, he walked away from that event with a title, and now you know that's an amazing story yeah and now here comes modesta's win the title the first little way in to win a cage warriors title 14 15 years later absolutely unbelievable against martin hamlet a guy who i thought would have been definitely on the uc's radar for that coping he can't i understand it he is a huge following in scandinavia he's a well-known wrestler over there course wrestling's huge over there i think he has 15 world honors and look um not as much as you yeah well of course but but after uh after a few takedowns you could tell that like ma isn't going anywhere and he can pack a punch on the feet and look that's the way it ended in the end it's um it's martin on his knees and modestis just laying into him until the referee stops it

unbelievable performance for modestis and i know chris fields had his eye on the winner of that fight unfortunately with what happened with james james explains like i mean i think that was a lower on the priority list for chris fields but um even the uh the uh decision there the the judging score cards that one. I thought it was very cool to see Chris approach all the judges afterwards Dave Leatherby, Ben Carthage, Mark Colette and Darrell Ransom, I believe.

He sat down and he just said, look, explain it to me. There was no losing the rag. There was nothing like that. He was just an explanation process. I walked over and they all seemed very happy chatting away. There was nothing mad. I think as a coach, he's, that's the difference.

He goes out of his way to understand where the judges are coming from. He puts a lot of effort into it, and I think even in terms of the other regulatory issues that he's sort of really educating himself, and he wants to learn about it. It's not that Chris feels you'd see in between rounds screaming in the corners at his fight. It's a very calculated, Chris, and I think we might even see that on Twitter this week with John Calvin, in terms of the lack of fight cards that are taking place in the country. It's gone mad on Twitter for the last couple of weeks, man, and it really did sort of take a different level. Unless any Irish media publications want to actually invest in this, we're not going to get to the bottom of it. And, you know, this is something I've pitched to every media outlet in the country.

And if they don't want to, you know, get someone reporting on this, a huge story that has the whole community. It's actually drawn a schism through the community where there's people at one side on the IMAP situation and then you have the other governing body. I don't necessarily believe that's the right way to do this. but I don't know what way to do it, you know? It's very difficult. Look, all I'll say is the scene that created Connor McGregor, Patty Houlin, Neil Seary, Paul Rebbing, it's dead. There's Norman Park.

These fighters were created in a thriving Irish scene, and that scene is no longer, and that hurts nobody more than it hurts me, believe me, but that is just the situation we find ourselves in, unfortunately. It is, and it's sad if you look at some of, it's just, you know, something needs to be doing and I think maybe maybe they could be doing more, maybe, you know,

are we aware of everything that's going on? I think there needs to be a lot more transparency. Absolutely not aware of what's going on. It's very, very hard to get information as we've talked about in the past. I'll tell you the thing that's annoys me about it in oil is when I was trying to tell this story, nobody wants to talk to me, and now they're onto me every week,

can you do this? I've lost two contracts. I've lost two contracts in Ireland over this because you guys wouldn't talk to me. Barry Ogles me. Well, that was the same thing happened to me. I got a couple of messages off people talk about it now. When I asked you a couple of months ago,

there was very little coming back. Barry Augustby and Andy Ryan were the only people that would ever talk about it. Barry is now turned his, like he's hung up his gloves, so to speak. Andy is involved.

Largid due to what's going on in terms of that. But I'd love to be able to cover Andy and talk about what he's doing there, but it's unfortunately, Emma wouldn't play ball with the media at the start. So why can we, why should we, it's very difficult to convince media

that it's all done, We've done a 180 now. It's full disclosure now. Like, it's just, it's tough. Back to the card. Sorry. Alex Lahore and Aaron. I always get a rant in every week.

Yeah. And there'll be more, don't worry. But there was a lot of Dars trading going on in that fight, but Alex comes away. It's a different performance from Alex, I must say, from usual. Scary man all the same. Yeah, I'd love them to do that Reese fight now, to be honest. Yeah. Listen, Reese is open to it.

Reese text me during the Cardi or not. Oh, pretty much open on anything. I think he wants to take a little bit more time off, get back in there. I think he feels as though he's up towards. I think maybe even the Joy Herbert fight has risen Reese's stock a little bit in terms of what he's going to be allowed doing that well-to-weight division. And rightly so, listen, Reese is a big boy, touch a death. Yeah, exactly.

What Joe has done on the back of it, nearly fortifies that result from. It does. So, you know, why not do that fight? Yeah. Why not? Adam Armis Singer gets a split decision not over Darren O'Gorman in their fly-away contest. very interesting fight that

tough one for Darren there to come out on the wrong side of the split but what can you do this is the game we're in Haggard Foss has an unsuccessful debut at middleweight against Jason Radcliffe a man who was faced James Webb of course in the past and of course another opponent of James, a previous opponent

of James Webb's Thomas Robertson gets a rear-naked choke win over Michael Eunice Morgan Sherrye the man who gave Sauron back a really really competitive back a really competitive fight even for the interim Federer

split decision win over Lewis Monarch and starting the night off James Head and gets a decision over Kingsley Crossford. That is all the results. But what I want to talk to you before now, before we get off this is the vinyl issue with the canvas, right? So this is the thing that I was talking to a lot of people involved with this at the end. There's soft canvas. Yeah, it's a vinyl thing. But the reason why

is because that they, back when they were getting broadcasters on board, they didn't like the canvas because the blood stays on the canvas, as in you cannot clean it between rounds. Like the UFC canvas, yeah. Where you can clean a vinyl canvas in between fights, so it looks spanking new then every time. Exactly. They had it for a few events. They had it for the Cage Warriors unplugged.

They had a UFC canvas, so it's a finer canvas. Yeah, interesting one. But look, look, you see the situation around. Everyone's moaning online. Why isn't this on BT sports, etc? you can guarantee that Kaz and his team are trying to get it on Binky sports and maybe this final situation is because of that as well, you know? I don't know for sure, but I'm just saying from what I heard.

Listen, Goddard made the right decision. Oh, yeah. You could see boat lad slipping off each other. It wasn't getting any better. And he's been full transparency there, like. It was great. I spoke to Dalby on Sunday morning. It's like, look, I can't blame Mark for that.

You look. Did you see when he called it, just let me, when he called that fight, Ross had gained an advantageous position off a slip. And he slipped. So I think when Mark was looking at that, he was like, this is going to end due to this canvas.

That's exactly what I was about to say to there. You know, he slipped off and you could clearly see it. It was just, it was going on. There was more blood coming. The cuts, you know, if you look at, I think Ross had three separate cuts above his head, one just above his nose there as well. Yeah.

All gone into his eyes. The cut on dabby's fecking. The side of his head. Actually, Mark was talking me about that. He said, because that's so close to your actual bone, it just, just goes mentally, you know. And around the area of the Roy Cain protruding vein.

Yeah. That's where it was. I have a horrible one on my neck there. Oh, the one of his balls. Oh, Jesus Christ. I don't fucking have that out. It's disgusting. Fucking hell.

You won't be sleeping out tonight thinking about that. But listen, yeah, listen, well done, Mark Goddard. I'd like to say, great decision. I thought it was the right decision. And, you know... I thought he had a good night, you know. Safety first, Pizzi. Yeah, absolutely.

She'd also note that Ian Gary, this is the first time I've been around him on Fight Week. Poor fella. His fight pulls out, but my God, he has a way with the media. He approached the media by himself, did several interviews by himself. He's, uh, look, the guy, the guy has got something. He's got, he's got a serious energy to him out there. Like, I mean, he had the media eating out with the palm of his hand. He wasn't even fighting.

He just shows up the media room. That's what you want. You want that. It's got this great. You got this really, really kind of infectious energy to him. And they actually, I met a lot of the guys because Taka showed up on Saturday night to watch James. Adam Shelley was there with James.

Really a great bunch of lads. And you feel like Team KF is going to kind of have the presence that SBG had back in the day in Cage Warriors. Like there's going to be a lot of them there. You know, we see it with a lot of teams with Cage Warriors. And I can just imagine I was kind of looking at them all sitting there, Taka, Adam, Ian, Chris, James. And I was like this, you can see in next year maybe all these guys. I think it's good that young lads are starting to recognize the media like that. you know, obviously a lot of them still have a long way to go

and how they approach us. That's a good point. I didn't even think of it. What they do. You need guys like that. You need to learn what the media is there for, what we're about. Have a working relationship because, you know, a lot of fighters do. And we don't often probably publicly say this, treat us like shit.

Oh, yeah. And, you know, we wouldn't go on there and say who or what. But listen, it happens many, many of times. And it's very frustrating. But when you build a relationship with certain guys, they respect you for what you. do and you respect obviously them for what they do and that's the way it should work we're here for the purpose exactly and that's the most important and that's the most important thing always ask them

and if they don't answer their phone you're you're to blame still as well moving swiftly on we're going to have a word with james now um he's so upset man you can you just feel it off him like he's just he he's watched this fight you know i'd say a lot since it happened and you know i can see where he's coming from completely. Like, I mean, he scored 12 takedowns in that point. Is he Irish? I don't know this one now. He's from swords.

All right. It's just, it's just, you know, you can see where both, I guess you can see arguments on both sides. As always said, I think the fact that I've scored it for James and you've scored it for Natoya says how close it is. Yeah, no, no, 100%. But I think as well, man, something like that, there must be an awful come down for a fighter after the fight, just a dump of emotions.

And I think, I think that's where. really it. You talked him probably in a week he'd be as good as new and he's back in a bit. He'd be like, he'd be rejuvenated. It must be very tough. It's why these guys are going to be so good as well. 100%. Like, beating themselves over like a pretty, like a pretty great fight. Like, you know, everybody's really excited about that fight.

He doesn't lose his belt, his belt and he's still walking away. But we look at Joy Herbert in the other extreme. It goes about ways he won the fight and he's still fucking not happy. Do you know what I mean? Well, he's happy. He's happy. He's happy. But, yeah, I don't know. It's just a fighter mentality. That's what makes them, you know, so special for me. And better people than us.

Well, yeah. Me, I mean to you, but all right. Maybe me. But look, we'll talk to James. It was quite a long conversation with James because there was a lot to get through and just picking his brain on the different situations that went on in that crazy fight. So, look, we'll be back in about 20 minutes and we'll wrap this baby up. And as advertised, we are now joined by the Cage Warriors Middleweight Champion,

Mr. James Webb, who fought to a controversial draw with Natoyas Frederick on Saturday night at Cage Warriors' Night of Champions. James, you've retained your belt, but how do you feel about this? I didn't get to speak to you on Saturday night. A little bit disappointed. Like, a little bit disappointed still, you know. I just feel like the judges were a bit off, too honest with you. And it's not, like, obviously I think most fighters always say that, didn't they?

You know, they've got the issues, but it seems to be a lot of people think that, like, not just me. So, yeah, I've disappointed. still mate very disappointed it was an incredibly exciting fight and we'll speak about the judging later on and the fight itself was incredibly exciting as it's going down uh twitter's exploding i mean it looks like he tries to hit a pedigree on you at one stage and then of course there's the there's the massive um the pile driver which you know sent shutters up my spine i can only imagine how that made you feel i mean has there been any damage lasting damage from that impact because it looked quite severe to me um i don't know but i haven't actually

you got any damage from the fight at the moment um no damage just um my shoulders um in bits from how i landed like my neck went one way and my land it come down like so i was a bit a bit concerned about that but i haven't really gone i get it checked out yet you know well how does it feel like i mean how do you feel physically around the shoulder on the neck i can't actually lift my arm up yet properly above my head so um yeah i can't lift my arm like i can raise it to like like a lap raise almost but I get a lot of pain in the top of the shoulder where I landed on it so um I'd like if I didn't know at first of I like dissipated um the shoulder and it went back in then I was worried maybe if I cracked the collar bone but the collar bone seems to be that

right on the top of the bone you know so um I don't really know me I don't really know after you've had a look at that back I mean do you feel like that should have been a disqualification how do you feel about are you were you happy to fight on or how do you feel yeah I'm happy to fight on me yeah like I don't want to look for a way out you know like I'd have been more annoyed if he got disqualified

you know I was in there to fight you know so now I'm happy that we just I'm happy that carried on you know I think at a spot especially last round

you know I spalled it a little bit I mean I do think people are if you're gonna fight I do think you should know the rules you know

like that doesn't even come into my head to try and pick someone about and put them on their head you know but um well I don't know

what goes through people's head, you know. It's interesting, right? Because the way this is, there's so many people passionately on both sides, right? So all these people on the Toyside are so passionately saying he was robbed, this is a, this is a people on your side also very passionate that you won this fight. I saw lots of opinions, but it usually points to a very close fight. How did you see it when you look back at it?

Like, I mean, how did you score that fight? I scored that four one to me. four won. Yeah, I think I won the first, the second, the fourth and the fifth. Right. I think I lost a third, and I think I deserved to lose the third because I lost the rear naked choke. I had a choke and lost it.

And he, like, he had a lot, he stopped, like, he managed to, like, have a lot more control on the feet, you know. But in the first, second, fourth and fifth, I found out, I think I was taking him down a hell of a lot, you know. Yeah, that's what I was in always. I think he was 12 takedounds, you know. 12? And 12 takedowns in the fight, yeah.

So, and, you know, how many times did I get to mount? How many times? I was on the back three times, I think. I had tempted a choke. You know, like, I don't know. I don't really know, mate. I scored that 4-1. That's all I see it, 4-1.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for your coaches, Chris Fields, and Tom King. That will be no surprise to you. And one thing I noticed after the fight, which I thought was incredible. really really incredible was Chris Fields calmly discussing the fight with the judges who were there Darryl Ransom

Mark Colless Dave Letterby and Ben Cartledge and I mean it's a great show of professionalism everyone's very emotional after something like this happens I know how much this victory meant to you but I mean I was just wondering is it too is it too fresh

right now to have that conversation with Chris to go back to the drawing board like I mean was there anything that you've seen after the fact where you were like, well, maybe I could have done this, maybe I could have done that? Nah, like, there's little things I know I can correct, like, being, like, in the, like, to be honest with you, man, I've spirited and trained with so many high-level jiu-jitsu guys and so many heavy guys, and no one's ever set up out of my mount.

I didn't really expect that, you know? That happened, like, many times, like, you know, one thing I should have learned after the first, well, the thing is, maybe, after that happened once, I don't expect it to happen. again. I just think, no, that can't happen again. Like that was a freak thing? That's not, that surely can't be irregular occurrence. You can't keep doing that. You know, the energy that must take. And especially after you keep getting up after being taken down, I know how that feels,

you know, you're saps. So I just have no idea how you can keep sitting up on something like that. But, I mean, looking back in hindsight, I probably should just stop mounting, you know, I should just look for the half guard and just try to like find the way from there. I shouldn't have kept progressing, you know? But obviously progression in my head is always a good thing, you know. coming from like a deducive background progression scores points. Clearly to the judges, as soon as it hits the ground, no one cares anymore. They just want it back on the feet.

Apart from one, I think Mark Colette was the one who scored it for one like I did, you know? Right, right. So, um... I don't know if you're going to be annoyed with me sharing this, but one thing that I was, I was aghast about after the fight was you were on your way to the media room and you turn around to Tom King and you say, I don't want to put this belt on my shoulder. Have you been able to reconcile that feeling now?

I hope you have because... No, no, Pety, that wasn't to do with that mate. That was because I couldn't physically put it on my shoulder. So this is from the pain of the... I miss and terrible that completely. I'm sorry. I couldn't put the belt on the shot. I can't lift the arm.

So after that point finished, my head, I said to Chris, I said, if they want to talk to me, I said, I can't talk, you're going to have to talk, man. I said, my head, I've hurt my head. I've hurt my neck. and then Tom was saying about it. I said, I can't put the belt on. And then if you look at all the interviews,

I did the belts on the left shoulder. I had to put it on the left shoulder. My right arm's hanging low. I think I had a bottle of water. My arms down. I can't lift the arm. Do I mean? I'm struggling.

Well, this makes a lot more sense. Because when you say this, Chris goes, oh, just put it in front of you. Like, he's agreeing with the situation. So yes, that would make a lot more sense the way you've told me. I'm sorry about that, man. But Jesus, like, this sounds very serious, James.

The bell, you're talking about, didn't you? It's the bell. You were talking about that. Yeah, yeah, I felt like it... Yeah, I couldn't put it on the shoulder, I couldn't lift the belt up, mate. I literally have... My girlfriend's carrying me...

My fiancé, should I say. She's carrying me, um, my suitcase round. I can't even drag that, mate. Oh, you think it's just an excuse. I've been trying to play that card as well a little bit, you know? But, nah, like, you know, like, that's, yeah, that's what I'm doing with at the moment, just the arm, you know, the shoulder. So...

Can I ask you, um, there was some huge... reactions to after the fact when the big pile driver happens at the very start maybe the first 15 seconds in the in the fifth round and then there's also a back and forth between the tires and mark goddard and a lot of people were we're pretty annoyed about that when i was when i was looking at it online i mean i have like based on everything that's happened here the the the pile driver the the situation like the second time it happened in the fight the way this fight is turned out i mean Have you lowered your estimation of Natoyos as a person after this situation? Well, not really, mate, because I mean, I don't really care that much about him anyway.

Right. I think I'd be, like, you know, you have to your respect or opponents, but I mean, respect only goes on for the sport of it. You know, I don't, like, I only really, I like to be a nice person, but I only really care about my friend. You know, and if that was my friend, that was that in that way, I'd be disappointed with them. but that's just, that's probably obviously not someone I'd be a friend with, you know, so now, I don't really, I don't really care about him, to be honest with you. Did you, were you aware of that? How he, now, how he, now I saw, like, the argument, how he conducts himself is up to him,

completely up to him, you know, like, I wouldn't act that way. Like, it's a sport, you know, you listen to the ref and that's it, you know. But now, like, now I don't, no, I don't care, mate, really. honest with you. You sound really dejected, James. I'm not going to lie to you. This is the most downtrodden, I think, I've ever spoke to you,

and I've spoken to you after losses and stuff like this. I know, yeah, yeah, I just, it's just hard to take me. I just feel a bit deflate. I don't, I mean, I don't, I don't, I don't know where you're, you're obviously seeing the stuff you're saying, but I haven't actually heard.

I've, I've had a lot of messages to me and, like, a lot of, like, coaches who are, you know, like, I'm not going to mention anyone's names, and I've had like fighters message me who are in the UFC and coaches from the UFC and people from high journalists or MMA journalist you know and they're they've pretty much all said the same thing like 4-1 scored 4-1 maybe 3-2 couldn't see how it was a draw you know and that sort of deflates me and after when I was talking to people after I was

just like what what what is the point of me doing this if like that's how the how was the judge and scored I don't know how I'm going to want to fight in that like is he is he being scored because throwing shots after I've taken him down like that was where he was wanting to be you know like I don't think he stopped me taking down once like I don't I I just it's deflating I might as well why am I going to fight for I don't fight for any money anyway pizza you know don't fight for no money but what the fuck is the point of fighting and risking your health and then like in my opinion judges who aren't competent enough to judge it like if you if they want to just see a stand up fight go and kick go on judge kickbox not boxing you know I mean

let like the, let MMA guys judge MMA you know, let guys that are involved in the sport of Jiu-Jitsu or I don't even, I don't know who them other two judges were

so they definitely ain't done like Jiu-Situ that I know of, you know? But, like that's how I see it, you know what? Like, it should be about who's putting

who's game plan on who. And I, you know, like, apart from the third round when he was, you know, he was,

he was landing some shots. I don't feel like I was, you know, like, when did I get taken down and was held there and was mounted and this and that. I don't,

It just didn't happen. You know, and it's deflating. I just think, what the fuck am I doing? And what am I doing this? I don't need to do this. Just go and pay 50 quid and do the Irish Open. I mean? It's about 150 quid now, James.

Yeah, but I'll just go win that, you know? So, it's, it's... That's our first deflating me, you know? Yeah, it is. It's tough to hear you, um, so downtrodden. I'm not going to lie to you, but it's, it's... I'll tell you, um, one thing I said to you an awful lot after this, and I could tell how dejected you were, obviously was,

there is going to be a lot of interest in this rematch. This rematch has to happen. Even from listening to you now, you can tell them which you'd want a rematch in this situation if it was available. I know Notorious is going to want it. And I know the fans are going to want it because I know you weren't happy. You weren't satisfied with the outcome of this fight. But if you could see social media as this is happening, it's absolutely erupting.

I feel like even though you are the champion, you've retained the belt, your well-known commodity. I feel like this was the most talked-about contest you've ever been in while it was going down, if you understand what I'm saying. Can you ever, can you take some kind of positivity out of that, that, I mean, you will get a chance to get him, get back in there with him, or is that not even going to do it for you at this stage? Yeah, like, again, I mean, I would do. Of course I would. Like, I'm, like I said, like, I don't, you know, there's no, I don't really, I don't really care about that. Like, I'm up for it, you know what I mean?

I wouldn't say no to it. I'm up for it. Like, there's, there's obviously a few things that I'd want to discuss as well. Like, you know, like, to be honest with you, there's a lot of, like, concerns I have how someone is still lifting someone up in the fifth round, you know? Like, I have concerns over that, you know, like, um. What kind of concerns? Like, well, just, you know, like, I have concerns of what people are taking, you know, at the moment. So, yeah, like...

Could have possibly been using... You're suggesting he might be using PEDs, James, like... Yeah, possibly, yeah. Yeah, possibly, yeah, there's a lot of people out there doing it, you know. And I think if you look at the way I put pressure on people, it gets tiring, you know? I was wrestling for 25 minutes. And then I was getting live spiked and sat up out of that amount. That's an impressive feat in itself wrestling for 24 minutes.

I mean, it's like we hear people like Daniel Kornrii talking about, you can wrestle for two rounds and then you're going to have to take... Two rounds and then you take a round off, yeah. Yeah, I know. Yeah. And it's harder when you're being wrestled. Do you know what I mean when you've got to try and get back up? Of course. You're trying to lift two people's weight. Yeah. So, you know, like, I'm not speculating, you know, but that's definitely road I want to go down in the future, you know, especially with cageways, I'm just going to, I'm going to just put it out there. If there's title bouts that have to be fought, I think everyone should be. Everyone should be. tested, you know, everyone. It's not a bad shout at all, you know. I think everybody would agree that we're trying to clean this up. But the one thing I would say is you've seen how Lusada has fallen on its face with the UFC.

There's so many different situations where, you know, it seems like, like, I'm not saying I'm completely against it. It just seems to be very hard to get it right, if you know what I mean. Yeah, no, it does. Yeah, it does. But, like, I mean, like, is there any fear about the shoulder here or the neck, James? like, I mean, do you think that's going to be okay? Do you think that will be okay? It's just, I can't get over the fact you're saying, like, you can't move it. It's quite startling. Well, no, no, I mean, I can't move. Don't get wrong. There's improvement since Saturday.

Right. But, I mean, like, there's a lot of pain. The pain is still, it's sharp. You know, I can't, but I can't put my arm above my head, you know. That's what I'm at the moment. I can't reach straight at my own properly. And that's not from, like, you know, I've had loads of fights. I had loads of grappling competitions. Like, that's not from the fight, that's just from coming down on my head, you know, like, my head

went one way and my shoulder behind the other, you know? So, that's what that is, you know? I know, I know your coach, Chris Fields, wanted to make a big call out on Saturday night. He had everything gone according to plan, but I could see that he was so invested in the situation

that I just occurred with you. He didn't get a chance to do it. Have you heard from him at all? Like, is that he told me, I think it was three weeks before this fight that he wanted to face the winner of the Lloyd Heavyweight title fight and of course we know it's Modestus Buchaukos have you talked to him about that since? No I actually haven't

really seen him mate. I didn't really after the fight on side of I went back to the hotel room mate I just went back home and went back to the room and Sunday I left pretty early I haven't really spoke to him mate he flew back to Ireland so I've like messaged him a little bit but I haven't really spoke to him

as a bit you know but I do think that was something he was thinking about you know and just a word on your teammate eing gary i felt like ian got a big opportunity taken away from him for saturday night to compete in the card but he actually made it yeah he made it work for him somehow like he did so much media he was in the media room he loves the camera that lad doesn't he james yeah yeah he just that's what he does mate just wants to be around it honey he loves it he does love it fair play to him but i can feel i feel like um i mean i saw

tacker there i saw adam shelly i feel like you guys are going to have a team of five and six guys there maybe even as close as next year you know it seems to be an incredible atmosphere you guys yeah yeah we ever really it's a good vibe man like there's a really good vibe going on you know um a lot of the guys are solid you know really good guys um everyone like sticks together as a team and um there's none of that there's none of that there's none of that bullshit you know like no one not training everyone just trains together you know like it's a team vibe like uh everyone looks out for each other it's good it's good man you know like it's solid and I think the training we get as well as next level, you know, like it is.

Like, the improvement I've made in a year is massive, you know. So, yeah, like, I expect there to be a lot of, to be a lot of them guys sort of there in the next year or two and even to the bigger shows, you know. And just a final question. When would you like to do this? Like, I mean, if that rematch is there, is there another fight you would prefer over that? one or is the rematch the way to go? No, I don't know.

I don't think, I mean, I don't know. What else is there? You know, I don't think there's anything else in, like, what? Like, Jason and Thomas, two guys who have just recently beat, both got wins, didn't they? So, yeah. Like, you know, nah, like, I don't know, maybe London, end of the year. November? Yeah.

That'd be a good one for you, right? You'd bring up a lot of people to that one. Yeah, I'm going anywhere else, man. They come to me. was like I mean like sorry I know I said I'd already asked you the last question but I've won more like the way you're sounding here like and I mean I spoke to graham boiling before this fight card and he thought like maybe five people could be looking at UFC contracts if they got wins there is that what this is I mean like you're a middleweight we know that's a division that's not the

heaviest on talent like was that what you were looking at there is that how you what you feel you were fighting for on Saturday yeah that was part of that man that was that was a big part of it as well you know I feel like a I've ruined a chance there, you know? Like, I just feel like I, I'm disappointed. I didn't finish the fight as well. Like, I'm, you know, like finishing fights is what I keep trying to do is. I'm disappointed in that.

And I had opportunities to, you know, and I didn't do it. Yeah, I feel like I messed that up. And I just, then I feel like the whole, like, I feel quite happy about the whole situation. I feel happy about finding the Apollo. I feel happy that. You know, like, it was a good opponent. It was a good fight for people, but I'm just deflated on the outside about the rest of it, you know? So, like, that's how it is, you know.

So, and also, like, when you go back to, like, you know, Brendan the other day, obviously. Brennan, he gets a take down and he's not giving a contract, you know? Yes. Like, there's me. I'll just bust it out, 12, man. I've gone back, like, 25 paces. Oh my God Yeah maybe it's anti-takedown now

They don't exist I don't know anymore Yeah like if I've got the takedown Maybe got a nice finish That'll look great But 12 takedowns They've already just They've just fucking

They've just screwed that picture up And put it in the bin So I don't know Fuck it James I hate to hear you so down on yourself But I know

Your mood will improve This is still very fresh I really appreciate you Getting on and speaking to me man I always do No no problem mate No problem. I'm glad to get your solitaire me, mate.

I'm really glad to get your soil of this. Yeah, no, no, no, no, no. I hope that shoulder heals up. Please tell me when it does so I can tell everybody, because I know people are going to be concerned. Yeah, no, I will, man. I'll let you know. I'll let you know.

All right. Nice one, James, right? I'll talk to you soon, mate. All the best. Bye-bye, mate. Bye-bye. Great to speak to James there. Obviously, very, very low energy, I felt, you know,

I can feel his disappointment very clearly in that interview. I'm sure all of you guys will as well. But it's time for Noel to take the stage. Noel, BT Sports are charging in 1995, which translates to about $23,000, I believe. Yeah, it's a piss. Go for it. Yeah, no, just crazy.

I think when they haven't done enough really, they've messed up, let's be honest, over the years. They've messed up the original content. They were supposed to have for us. The shows didn't kick off. They were kept shopping and changing. The product isn't out there as it should be. It's a lot like their Champions League coverage.

The numbers drop massively when I'm from Sky to BT. They just have a way of messing up things in terms of promoting them. And I think they did that with the rugby as well. There's any rugby fans listening here with the Heineken Cup, the Champions Cup. The traction on that went down massively because of BT Sport. And I think, you know, when you're trying to charge people already a subscription for this service and then you're bumping an extra 22 quid on to a sport that you really probably haven't given your full length

in terms, that didn't sound too good, in terms of actually putting your best product out there to the audience to consume, you have issues and you're trying to pull the wall over people's eyes and you're not pulling it over my eyes because I'm not bloody buying it. I don't care if it's international fight week or not. I think it's pretty poor taste from BT sports

to start implementing. this and you know I'm not happy and I don't think a lot of people will be happy and I think that's going to translate over in the numbers. I often use my friends as a guide as to how interested they are in these fights and I haven't heard it once. You know, I haven't heard any talk of all. John Jones. Can I come over and watch the Jones fight?

And it is a good fight. You used to get that. Yeah, you did. Do you believe like if people don't buy this, I saw a tread on M.A. Reddit there today and where people are like, Like, don't buy this. We need to show, we need to talk with our wallets here. Yeah.

Yes, not buy it. I also saw something from Sean Sheen. I don't know if you saw it is. This is going to be a problem. Just, I'm just going to read Sean's tweet. Just cancelled my air sports subscription as they did confirm to me as reported elsewhere that they have lost the rights to BT Sports with UFC Premier League, etc. Come August 1st and are keeping the same subscription purse.

That's going to be a massive issue now as well because there's a lot of people that can only go through the air sports subscription, right, to get it. Like, what's going to happen there now? Do people have to change their network provider to get it? Yeah. Yeah. That's what they have to do when it's getting maybe little BTs or to Bellator's issues now. And we don't want that again. I don't want to be coming on talking about TV deals every week when we've a lot going on in the sport.

And yeah, that's what's going to happen. I didn't realize that either until you just said it to me there. That's shocking. That's going to, like, you know, you're trying to build a market here. We rue the day that we chased 11 sports out of town. Yeah. well we didn't well I think we are now

after all this but listen I think people will talk with their pockets and I don't think it's going to be a good outcome for BT sports in the UFC on this side of the pond and I think you know maybe maybe people are getting sick of the way fights have been promoted

over the last number of years and listen I've no problem with it I think the American audience as we said are more adept to understanding what fight promotion is and what it means I think maybe here we're not as

maybe, you know, take it at face value of what it is, maybe we're getting sick of it here. And maybe that's why the talk isn't there, because John Jones has obviously got a lot more vocal in the last couple of years. He's embraced this bad boy image. But people just don't seem to be talking about it. You used to always get, oh, you know, Jones

is fighting, you'd have, you know, the odd sort of casual crossover. Is there only one fight card this week? Because they used to do a couple. Yeah, he used to do three. Yeah. Two or three. A couple of times, all right, yeah. And listen, the fight card is, don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic Let's have a look at the card here.

The main European interest will go to them for us and then we'll make our way back. Jan Blackowitz v. Luke Rockhold. I feel like a lot of people are looking past Jan straight away and they're talking about Luke Rockholds date with destiny against Anthony Smith and potentially John Jones. Date with destiny. It sounded like the show he was on a few years ago. But Jan is no mean feat. Like I mean, look at some of the wins he has there.

Like, I mean, he's going to go to war with you. never forget that rematch you had with Jimmy Manoa in London. That was absolutely epic. That was a fight. The rematch nobody wanted to see. Yeah, and after such a crap first fight, and it just could total, you know, 180 on it. It was absolutely fantastic.

I favour, look, I favour Luke Rockhole here, but I do feel like that the US audience are really overlooking Jan completely. Of course, sir. And he can gain so much from a win here, man. Of course there. It's going to be interested to see Rockhold as well at that 205. He's huge. He's a big guy.

coming off that loss to Yol Romero that nasty loss like it's going to be interesting to see if Lou can really translate anything over against such a big powerful guy in Blagovitz it could be an issue for him here in terms of that

I'm not really sure which what way this is going to go down I think I am going to go Rockhold I think Rockhold really might have a chip on his shoulder ahead of this one something to prove lost two of his last three outings I know at 185 but Rockhold man has been you know since he lost that world title, he's been

tittering on the edge. I just think what we get with Rockow's sometimes is a lack of consistency and real maybe will to do it. Maybe a little bit like Gagherden Musassi we were talking about last week. Yes. Where is his head at? Is he a bit flat, like? Yeah. Yeah, well, we're going to fire. This is the spark he needs.

It's a really interesting fight. And yeah, listen, I wouldn't rule out Blagovitz, but I do fancy Luke Rockow, I'll have to say. What about Arnold, Alan, the biggest fight of his life to date against Gilbert Melendez. Another Cage Warrior's veteran who has made his way and been very successful in the UFC. And it feels like he should be about 50, but he's in like 23 or something. Five and a hour in the UFC.

Yeah, he's brilliant. I love watching this guy fight. I love his demeanor, the way he carries himself, the way he bands with the media, with his dad and stuff like that. It's brilliant. And I really think this guy is getting Gil Melendez

at the right time. It hasn't been a good run for Gil and his last, what's he lost? Jesus, five of his last six UFC fights, obviously against very high-level opposition because we remember Gil, I think probably more from the Strike Force days than we do obviously UFC tenure where he's just been absolutely

you know, marvelous in strike force. But I think it's a downhill spiral for him here and now and I think this is the big name that's going to really propel Arnold Allen. You're not very good at his name. I'm terrible with his name. Into the upper echelon. Yeah, that's what I feel.

I feel like it's the win that's going to really push him out there, you know? Yeah, and I'd love to see him just get a few more fights in, you know, in a year, have a good year of two or three fights. and it just seems like he doesn't, he fights me once a year. Is that correct? I know he's at injuries and stuff like that. But just a little bit more consistency. You get a bit more active.

But what a fighter and what a talent, you know. Jack Marshman, another Cage Warrior's veteran, is up against Edmundsia Boisin on the prelims. Edmund, you know, he blasted through a couple of guys. I think he was on Dana White's, I know he contender series. This is the guy that is basically, he's reinventing the Glendale Foyc Club name, basically, with his performances.

He's beathead. Darren Stewart, he's beat Charles Broad in the UFC so far, and he beat Antonio Jones, Dana-Stuyers, a man who's actually taking on Will Flurry next week, Antonio Jones and Bellator in Tackerville. But Jack Marshman against Edmund, Jack probably coming, his last fight must have been against John Phillips in London, I have to say.

But that's a tough fight for Jack, man, and it's a tough fight for Edmund as well, because Jack's going to be able to challenge him in areas that maybe other guys cutting, right? Yeah, and I think you know, the issues which hopefully he got his work piece of lined out anyway, all that sort of thing but yeah, no, it's going to be an interest one.

Hopefully they gave him the day off so he could fight. That'd be nice, wouldn't they? Listen, Jack is tough as nails, but are they going along the lines here of a guy they see who's, you know, sort of inconsistent performances in Jack Marshman and trying to make a name out of Shabazzian. Oh, that's the way it's set up. That's the way it's set up.

So, listen, it is a big one for Jack. He needs a win. I think if he loses this, he could be in a bit of trouble as well. because of the way the last fight went to, you know, a lot of people thought John Phillips should have got that fight. So, yeah, it's one of those ones where you're going, it's a little bit hard to judge,

but you'd have to favour Shabazzian. I've been impressed with him, I have to say. Yeah, I have as well. The Austrian Wonderboy, who was snapped up very quickly by Paradigm, who got his debut, of course, off the back of a stunning one-punch chaos, I believe. He got signed, and he bet Michael Pizarres, no mean feed at all, especially a guy

wrestling heavy against such a striker like Ishmael, but he's taking on Chance Rackontour. I really like this guy. I think he's absolutely brilliant, Ishmael, and I think... ACB killer. Yeah, I think he's set up for a big one here, to be honest. Chance, no mean feet again.

I mean, all of these fights are very competitive. I think it's good. The one thing I want to say here is, having guys like that, have our Arnold Allen on these big showcase events as well. It's sensible from the UFC to place them here. And we don't Give them one compliment there, show. I know. Shot him a bone.

But, yeah, and then another Cage Warrior's veteran, then on Pani. Pani. Yes. Is this her debut? Is this her UFC debut? No, no. She's fought in the promotion before. She came back in, as far as I'm aware.

Yes, she fought in the ultimate... Macy Chasen beat her in the final of the ultimate fighter finale. So she signed in the back of that, obviously. No, no, she went to Superior Challenge and then she came back in. Right. So that's what that's my penny. So it's going to be interested. obviously, you know, didn't work out for it.

Nice is so good, man. Like, I mean, Jesus. But it didn't really work out for Invicta as well. So it's, you know, it is, it's going to be a challenge here for it's going to be a test. It's going to be an interesting fight. But yeah, good to see her get the shot. She's very popular in her home country of Sweden. Sebastian Vendal Martinez has always talked to Opanis.

So I'd like to see some consistency. It's going to be an interesting scrap. Our homies on MMI Niet. Well, let's take a look at the rest of it now. We've had a look at our European talent. Let's look at the fights that are jumping out of us. And there is quite a few of them. John Jones v.

v. Tiago Santos, does the Brazilian have a chance here? Yeah. I do I do feel like I feel like a lot of people I felt this for a while. I felt this for a while. It's going to be very hard for John Jones to slow him down the way he does with other opponents. He actually it's like he lures them into this kind of pace,

hypnotizes them. This guy just comes to take your head off. That's what he's doing here. Straight in, no kissing. Straight in, no kissing. He's going to try and spark him. And I think if this fight goes outside one round, John Jones gets it. I think it's going to be very interesting to see the early parts of this fight. He's going to come to have her leather to close that distance

trying to get in the pocket overhand right. It's one of those fights where you can, you can just, you can feel it, you can sort of see it happening. But, you know, we said about Jones before and it hasn't paned out that way. The guy can take a clock. He's so awkward.

We saw that, obviously, his last fight against Anthony Smith, where he just, you know, he could have gone up 10 paces. Yeah. That's scary when we're saying that. But the one thing I will take from the Anthony Smith fight is, like,

he made Anthony Smith slow down, and Anthony is not a man who takes a back step usually, you know? He did. but another thing as well I don't know if you saw the interview with John Jones from last night said he just has no nerves at all

he just wish he said he said he yeah it's not good he said he wished he actually had more nerves coming into into this fight most fighters like the nerves they like to fail them it's like this is mean something to me and that's where I'm a little bit worried

about this I think if there's an outside bet and like I would pick if you wouldn't go into my head and pick him yeah of course of course yeah but I think maybe if you're a vetting man here I might not throw a few quail on Tiago San for first round knock at it. I don't think if you guys outside, you know, the first,

it's John Jones's fight all day. I think he'd just be too much for him, get his hands on him and wear him down for, for, you know, four, possibly five rounds, get a stoppage. But listen, this Santos is a fucking beast man. He's a man. Anyone with a sledgehammer tattooed in her chest, you need to be afraid of him.

Yeah, he's a scary dude. Can Holly Holm do it again? Can she shock the world? Yeah, I think she can. This is something that, like, this is an opinion that seems to have grown in the last couple of weeks. I didn't see a lot of people kind of getting behind,

because let's be honest Aman has probably cemented herself as the greatest female fighter in MMA and all of a sudden people are kind of saying well she's done it before I think in terms of what Holly has done in her career

and the style she brings here against Amanda Nunes I think her boxing is so good if she's focused if she does the right things strike quick fast with combinations get in and out similar to what she did against Rhonda Rousey

and she's a big big chance as well big big chance in this fight Amanda, you know, really, really good as well, a really good boxer. I think we saw it against Cyborg. If she can just, you know, if Holly can get in and out, not engage, close up,

you know, against the cage, I think that's a big, big problem for Holly. She's going to be a lot bit. Amanda's going to be a lot bigger. Big size discrepancy there. But I do. I think Holly Mann can do this. And, you know,

I think it could be a good thing for the division because, again, I look at this division now, where does Amanda Nunes really go from her? The only other person outside of Holly home. Valentina? is Valentina again the size there you're thinking

straight away that it's going to be too much for Valentina it's just an interesting one a fight I'd love to see again you know but I don't know if the UFC would be interesting that you have obviously Katz in Ghana who hasn't really got any sort of momentum since 178

but it's a fight I really can't wait for I'm probably looking forward to this fight more than any on the card really in terms of a contest and what it means to both ladies both ladies are absolute killers double champ against her former champ set up beautifully I am Peter Carroll

going to go and I think the world is going to be shocked here I think maybe maybe just Amanan Nunes might lack a little bit of motivation because she's beating everyone nearly Ben Askeran be Horheem Asvidal my friend

That is an unbelievable fight That is an unbelievable fight I can't wait for it And I think I'm going to Horge I think so as well I'm not convinced about Ben I love the guy

I think he's fantastic correct, but I'm not convinced, man. What way do you see it going? I'm not convinced, and we haven't been convinced for a long, long time. I think, you know, if you look at the Robbie Lawler fight, we saw that. We saw what Robbie Lauder was able to do to him straight off the bat. Listen, what did Jorge just do in Liverpool? In London, she was that the fucking fight. He absolutely took Darren Till's head off.

And I think that's what we've been waiting to see from Jorge for a long, long time, is that killer instinct, that real stamp of authority in the wealthy weight. he did it against Darren Taylor I think there's momentum there I think there's brashness I think there's cockiness I think there's aggression and I think there's ruthless aggression and I'm not sure Ben Ascran can really cut it at the best in the world when they're in his face swinging for the friends he can lock up a body lock or something it's again like you're not submitting Ben Ascran I don't think that is that is true but you're not out wrestling Ben Asker listen yeah and I don't think Jorge's going to

want to engage there like that's not it's not rocket science Horgakes doesn't want to keep this fight standing. But he's going to crack him early. He's going to crack him good. I think it is one of those ones. I think if Horg gets taken down in the first round once or twice, you know, gets back up, it's going to be a long night for him. It's, it's one of those fights.

The winner to face Colby Covington if he beats Ruth is Robbie? Yeah, I asked Cobby about that, and I spoke to Colby, and you can chat to the interview. I've actually launched a YouTube channel just putting up the interviews here and there all over the shop. So it was interesting to say it because Colby is very open to fighting his best friend in Masbidal. And he sort of sees it, you know, he says he should be next, which I totally agree with him.

He should be getting the next title shot. But he does sort of see this as a semi-final sort of scenario. He's obviously fighting Robbie Lawler and Ben Ascran's fighting Jorge Mazbazvdala. So there were two winners face off, you know, for basically fighting Kamar Usman. So it's going to be very interesting, yeah, it pans out. Diego Sanchez's victory return.

He's two and Owen, he's two and Owen his last two fights, which is it's crazy yeah you obviously got the one over Thundercat and he got the

win over Mickey Gal and a bit of a step up here against Michael Giazza mind yeah it is I don't see that one going well from yeah I don't see this one

going well from I think Keesel have too much Lent he's an awkward guy to fight he's very good in the grounds we've seen how good as chokes are

obviously you know Diego's very very well versed as well but I think if you're going to get into a swing and bottle it's going to be a lot harder to connect on a six foot three

might be a 5 foot 10 guy so I do a fancy case I think he's a very awkward guy to fight against I think this would be the one where it stops Diego's final charge in that wealth weight division good day the Ving Marcos is a good fight we've also got Alejandro Perez against Yadong song the man whose age is disputed every time he fights but geez I'm a big fan of Yadong song man he is an animal he is savage what's he riding now a six-fight win streak a six-fight win streak he's got three wins in the UFC 21 this is a big fan of you guys is a big fan of step up, you know. This is a big step up for him. I feel it. But I think he's well capable of it. And yeah, that's pretty much everyone on the card. But we've got all our interviews out of

away, Noel. How many pay-per-views will this sell? 12. I can't, I don't know anyone. Have you seen anyone say they're going to buy it? No. No, no, no one. Like no one. Like no one. I haven't heard anyone who's going to buy it. I think people probably will buy in the end. push comes to shove if they're sitting in a Saturday night, something like that. But I think you'll have a lot of hardcore fans just objecting to this and just probably going out in the piss on Saturday night instead of staying in to watch the fights. I can see that happening. I don't think it's going to be a good thing for the UFC on this side of the pond

and more obviously importantly BT sports because I think they might have to really reconsider this pay-per-view thing before we see Habib more maga-made of and Duss and Poria and try down and Ab-Dabee. Is this the last time they'll do this? Like could this be a one-undone? It's trending so badly? No, it's not. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, they've actually, they've actually,

I'm not sure if you're aware of this. No, I'm not. They've W.W.E. and B.T. Sport from next year, which they've also got over from Sky, and they're obviously going to charge, um, for pay-per-views as well. But they don't have the network or something that they can all watch it on over there. Yeah, you can watch the network apparently as well. If you buy, you can watch, it's just weird as the way of the US, but they also charge, Sky, you charge for pay-per-views. So, B.T.

you're taking that mantle. We've seen them. Obviously with the boxing, they've a lot of fighters now and cards. I've seen our good friend Gavin talk, Gavin Casey, talking about this. Like, how are they going to charge us

for Dylan White and stuff like this? Well, that's what they've been doing and they're going to do it with the UFC. So I think they're really trying to push this pay-per-view market, even though it's not really existing over this side of the pond, and it's never been a model that's proven to be very successful. So I think it's a big mistake,

and I think they're going to start outpricing fans and losing parts of the market here, which are, you know, it's a very sort of hostile environment here in mixed martial arts and I think you need to be massaging people's arces instead of

slapping them in so many words because it's just not the right way to do it and I think when things are so tumultuous what's the word I'm looking for fructitious in Irish mixed martial arts circles especially here more so than the UK there's a big surge

at the moment again when it's here it's just not a good thing and I don't think it's going to go down too well. And, you know, I think we've seen a major lack of interest, really from a lot of the casual fans in mixed martial arts. Even the diehard fans, though. I don't even see the diehard fans going, yeah, let's buy this. I just don't.

So I don't think it's a good idea. Listen, you know, I'm not going to go on any longer. There's going to be a lot of viruses on computers come Sunday morning. There will be here. Hopefully the only thing there's viruses. Yeah, speaking of viruses and the potential of getting viruses, how is Tinder going? That's all right. Have you any success?

No, I've got rid of my Tinder Plus and stuff like that, so. You've calmed it down. You've taken a back step. I think I'm just getting rid of it. It's not working out. Wow. Just going to go to more fights in the States, and the American girls will find her a lot easier to chat to.

Look, I think you're discriminated against yours, girls. I think we can find... Hit me up, like, they can tweet me and shit if they won't like. DEMs are open, girls. Slide up in my DMs. There we go. And I'm so sorry. I've been very low energy today, and I must say that,

Noil. You look knackard, man. You look knackard. Noel has been working all goddamn day as well. So, sorry if we aren't upbeat, our usual upbeat cells. I've been fucking upbeat. Speak for yourself. I've got about six cups of coffee, that's why I'm closing on it. But, yeah, listen, I've been here as well. It's tough, tough game in the Jersey. I like your new runners today?

No, they're just, no, just clean them and then got them dirty in London again. You look for a camp. I'm saying, I don't know. Something I'm working on. But listen, yeah, great peace as well on ESPN. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I know you had a, you know, a lot of effort went into the piece and put it together. You reached out.

You've got, with Graham, you went backstage with all the lads. Yeah, I can't thank Cage Warriors enough for everything they did. You know, I really wanted to get a lot over the platform they create the people. I think I think I definitely did, yeah. Got that out there. And look, I wouldn't have been able to do it unless the likes of Matt, Harry and Graham, Ian, all those guys. Marsha, they all started me. with access and stuff like that

and honestly the interviews I did with Ross and Nicholas there they'll stick with me for the rest of my life it's a very intense situation and they're both great representatives of the sport and I just really hope whatever they're looking for they get but as we know

in this game there are no guarantees there are no guarantees but I'd love to see them I'd love to see them get rewarded for what they did here totally agree all my microphone from just slipped out a little bit there.

But yeah, no, totally agree. I think it's one of those nights, I think, where it'll live long in the memory, possibly because the way the fights ended, but we know the stories, we know what these guys put into it. I think, you know, a large percentage of the fans will do

after reading your piece as well, you know, just fascinating stuff, fascinating stories. We have a very exciting one wound up for my next DSPN, one might have. All right, cool. Don't give away too much. No, no, no, no. It might have.

Might have. Might have. Not guaranteed. Looking forward to it, man. It was a great read. I really enjoyed reading there this morning. Ah yeah, it's great. It's great to be on it, like, you know,

featuring an ESPN, unbelievable, you know. It's, um, hook me up, I heard they need a new interview. Yeah, they're trying to get rid of me now, so they're trying to replace me. Put my name in there. I need to go to bed because I have to wake up and do a desk shift tomorrow.

We're right in the middle of the city center here in a beautiful Dublin, and overlooking, wonderful Dublin. It's going to be a bit of a track home for you. You live out in the Stakes, right? I know, yeah. Nearly in Mead now, for sake. Fucking hell, man.

But, look, these things happen. And, uh, thanks, very much. Thanks for listening as always. Our numbers are fantastic. We look beautiful. We're both going to facelifts next week, so we hope another will improve by another about 50% by the end of the year. You know, if they gave us a video podcast and we got fake abs and facelifts, I think we could do a bit.

I'm on Love Island next year. That's the plan. That's the word. That is the plan. There's vicious rumors. But right, that's the end of it. Love you's loads. It's long.

Yeah, love you.