MMA Fighting - Eurobash: Episode 50 (w/ Mark Henry, Molly McCann, Mark Madsen)

Episode Date: August 27, 2019

On the latest episode of Eurobash, Coach Mark Henry (19:00) discusses Conor McGregor's comments on Frankie Edgar, Molly McCann (40:00) gives insights into her resurgence following her UFC debut loss and Mark Madsen (1:09:30) looks forward to his UFC debut in Copenhagen. Hosts Peter Carroll and Niall McGrath discuss the latest European MMA headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the downloaded two, ghosts in the machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cudullian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprise his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible Original Blockbuster. The Downloaded, it's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love?

The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Hello, and welcome to episode 50 of Eurobache. Jesus, I forgot. 50 at them. 50 at them. on the anniversary of Maymac, the greatest sporting spectacular of all time.

I was sweating, man. This time two years ago, I was in Las Vegas, a 49 degree heat, pumping sweat. Yeah, you went, I didn't bother me arse, but, you know, you got to see history. There's no doubt about that in some way or shape or form. Yeah. But, yeah, it's a big one.

A lot happened this weekend. We had a furious Bellator card with 14. 14 finishes and 14 fights. Fantastic stuff. We also had that big Connemar Gregor exclusive with Ariel Hwani that has set the forum threads abuzz. Lots and lots going on, Noel. But before all that, let's take a look at the headlines. This is me just making up the music.

All right, here we go. Sergei Karatanov stops Matt Mitrione in their bell. Lelator 225, 225, main event rematch. Very controversial there with Mitrione's mouthpiece. We'll talk about that a bit later on. He's always known it. Some bookings for y'all. Molly McCann, who joins us this week,

will take on Deanna Belbita, and Darren Stewart will take on Darren Wynn on that Boston card on October 18th. Also announced this week, Stevie Ray v. Michael Johnson, Sergei Pavlovich v. Maurice Green and Cyril Gann against Don May is for Singapore on October 26.

That looks like a really good card. That's with Maya and Ben Ascran at the top of that. We had teased it. It was teased by Bellator, of course, and we found out last week that it is former rugby international James Haskell, who was signing the dotted line for the promotion, and we have the best man in the world to tell us about that. An Irish rugby legend himself, Noel McGrath, of course.

Another booking here from Bellator. A bit confused about this one, and I have talked about this a number of times on the podcast. podcast. It's John Salter versus Costlo Van Stenis, and that's going to headline Bellator 233 on November 8. My situation was there. Van Stenis fought Shipman. Fabian Edwards fought on the same card. The winners should have fought off against each other. It should have had the public absolutely buzzing for it, but unfortunately, the feed went dead in our neck of the woods for those two fights, so no excitement built. I think they're missing a beat by not putting Vincenis against Fabian, but who am I to say? also mason jones his opponent has been announced for that cardiff show 108 he's going to be taking on alexi montaikiwi who i believe is the last man to beat sarin back so that's a very interesting one there for the lightweight division

exactly and finally a huge fight this and i was really blown away by the reaction to this dean truman v morgan shariye um will will take on each other at the birmingham show at 109 but man charieres is mental. Did you see the amount of traction that got? It was, like, I'm still getting notifications in French. There's no idea what the people are saying. Like, I think you had like, like, like, over a thousand interactions, like, from the, from the Twitter, the Twitter post that the K-2 is put out. It's definitely, um, French is buzzing now, isn't it? Buzzing, man. So people don't understand the size, obviously, you know, France is, like Paris alone, man, is a massive, massive city and the amount of nationalities there as well, obviously. Yeah, it really, you know, it's, It's a hotbed and I think I'm really just looking forward to seeing what happens there when the UFC go there especially. It's going to be class.

Yeah, it'll be fantastic. I must admit that. Now, let's get on to our talking points for this weekend. The McGregor interview. Huge, obviously, big interview. Probably one of the most prominent places. An MMA segment has ever been a whole sports center dedicated to one interview, of course, with the most polarizing figure in our sport, Connor McGregor. There has been lots of reaction to this. but I guess how did you feel about it? You watched it, I watched it, I watched it, yeah, stayed up live to watch it,

I won't tell you, I watched it, all right, it doesn't matter. Moving on. But, yeah, it was very interesting. I think I tweeted that I felt, you know, looking at McGregor, that he seemed a little bit confused, a little bit all over the place, but it was,

it was hard to judge, really. I felt, you know, was he sincere, I don't know. You know, he seems to be calling out everyone in that interview, which I found pretty bizarre as well. Frankie Edgar was prominently mentioned as well. Frankie's come out and obviously had a few words to say on Instagram. Well, probably Ali.

But it was very interesting, Pizzi, and I just felt very confused watching it. I thought he was just all over the shop, but he actually looked healthy, looked better. I don't know about that. I thought he looked worn down. I feel like. maybe a lot of pressure though

I agree I agree with everything you're saying but I have never seen him like that before I know Connor 10 years I've never seen him that worried I'd say it's kind of uncomfortable yeah I'd agree

but another thing I'll say on top of what you're saying there is you found it hard to really believe anything he was saying and in past years we would have eaten that shit up everybody would have the whole fan base we've seen this from a long time because we're in

Ireland we've seen the fan base slowly turning but he's nearly completely backed up against the wall at this stage I don't see anybody supporting him you know he just he looked he seemed a bit all over the place and um as you're saying he's saying the right things but the only

way to actually prove it is to do things you know like you can say all the right stuff he wants but until you have a clean run of a year without any of these controversies going down it's going to be very hard to take his take his word seriously. Like, I mean, what I noticed was a huge criticism of his Khabib Kemp.

A massive criticism. But with everything he said, right? He would say something and then slightly retracted. Like, he was... There was no definite statement. Like, I mean, he started off and he was talking about, you know, how it hurt him to see the footage

of the alleged incident in the pub. And then Ariel says to him, so you're admitting it, you admit that you hit that man, he's, oh, it's a bit hazy. And I'm sure that's a legal situation or something like that. with the John Cabinet situation

That was the most interesting thing for me Yeah he kept on saying Like the car It was a half of camp He hit a broken foot He wasn't happy with John saying He hadn't watched a fight He had already watched a thousand of times

And then says later on in the interview I need to rekindle my relationship But John Kevin It's very confusing Yeah You know I think that's where Connor's at the moment I think he is confused himself And that's what I was the words

I would have taken away If you're asked me to sum up the interview I would have said confusion I confused Connor McGregor But also like I mean If his foot was broken and John Kavana is the head coach How is he sending him out?

Like I mean, is he in a situation now where if Connor says he's doing it he has to go with it? And is that a healthy situation? You know, I've said this before, right? I don't see the issue if Connor, you know, went off to the States and did a fight camp.

You know, we see it a lot and I got a little bit of criticism on Twitter. I put it out during the week there after the interview that, you know, sometimes a fresh start is the best thing that will ever happen to a fighter. You know, sometimes it's not. But we're at the point now where I think...

You need to try something. You need to try something because obviously last time it didn't work you know, Connor seemed from what he said in that interview as well that there was a lot, you know, he felt very frustrated with, obviously, with the fight camp.

So, you know, if this is happening, if there's these issues in the fight camp, do something else. Like it's like, you know what I mean? Sometimes you just have to go back on your word sometimes say, oh, I'll never leave, you know, SBG or whatever. And a fresh set of eyes on you.

You know, it's completely rejuvenate. Look, for instance, a guy's fighting in two weeks time. Paul Feller. Yeah. You know, went to a rive of sports, you know, looked fantastic. Numerous fighters. Obviously, some guys, it doesn't work.

out for her but we're at a point now with connor mcgregor it's shit or get off the pot and it is last chance to noon you know if he loses his next fight as you said to me all off air last week i said it tweeted it like you know like people people are jumping down my neck because i compared it to woods and fury i'm not comparing their situations what i'm saying is sport when you win you get people people love you when you're winning it's a winner's game um you know and to be honest you know people people were kind of saying my fair play like i mean i didn't mean this when i was saying it but people we're pointing out, of course, that Toys and Fury, which I've talked about a lot in this podcast, about his becoming an advocate for mental health and saying, like, this is completely different.

Have you, have you been watching, Connor, for the last two years? Are you trying to tell me that you don't believe a slight bit of mental situation is going on here? Like, it's completely erratic behavior. Oh, 100%. You know what I mean? Like, this is the first step on a long road back, as far as I'm concerned. And people that are saying it's a PR thing. Every interview is PR. It's public relations. It's them getting their word out to you. So every interview of all time has been PR. I don't know if that's a shocking revelation to you.

I don't know where that came from. I was like, holy shit. Like, what do you think their agent is employed for? It's like, do you know what I mean? We deal with these guys. Somebody reactions they want to get a message out there. Just crazy stuff. But, yeah, listen, it is shitter.

I got off the pot, as you said there. And I think the next step for him. It's not blowing over. Yeah. And listen, I don't know if he's going to get in there before the end of the year as well. I think by listening to him at the interview the other night, there seems to be a lot of things that are unresolved that should be literally resolved fucking eight months ago this time last year nearly.

You know what I mean? Like, you know, when it was a fight October, was it okay? So maybe, you know, before Christmas they should have sat down and ironed this all out and, you know. Yeah. I think it's going to be a longer time. Yeah, I think we can see 2020 easily. I do. And I think the opponent is going to be very important because, as you said, once,

those eyes come off you, which they have quite considerably over the last one months. And listen, you know, you know, living here. And I don't think anyone really, you know, all the journalists can talk what they want in the world that are living in the US. In terms of Connor here, it's, like, you know, obviously the States is a lot bigger. It's the worst it's ever been. It's the worst it's ever been. Hands down, I said it in the radio or a day when I was on, I was chatting about it. You know, anyone who talks here brings up McGregor, you know, to me or you, especially because we're involved in this game for so long that, you know, it's always negative these days.

there's nothing ever, ever thrown to you that's positive about Connor, very, very rarely. But, like, I will say, and something, a point that I've always made about Connor is, like, at a certain time, he could only go down. He was being held up as this St. Patrick. Like, he was the patron saint of Ireland. There's only, it was. You can only go down. Of course it was.

But you can only plummet after that. There is no, like, when you've taken on a mythological stance. But the fall has been so drastic in the last year. It's been, look, when we're, we don't even recognize the guy that we see in some of these clips that are coming out. I mean, it's not great and it's not great for the sport in Ireland. It's not great for the sport in Europe. In general, yeah. But one thing I also, it's just his revision of what happened in the Khabib fight.

Like, you know, it's the anniversary, it's the two-year anniversary of Maymac. And all the way through that build up to that fight, he was talking about if this was a full fight, if this was a full fight and not just the hands. And then he's given out because Khabib noted for his wrestling skills is taking him down. I mean, which one is it? Yeah, well, you know... Is that not a full fight? Yeah, no, you're right.

You're right. I don't know where he's getting that from. It's bizarre. I just hope, like, I mean... You know, look at the tactics of that fight. Weird. Very strange. He...

He... He admits that. ...again against a guy who's going to put you on your ass in the first round. Odd, odd stuff, in my opinion. But, you know, in terms of opponents, you know, the names have been thrown out there. I don't even think we're close to thinking about opponents. I don't think we are, but is he setting... something up there, but what he's saying, I think that was another interesting thing.

Well, which of the eight people do you think he's going to fight that he mentioned? Well, and this is no disrespect to Frankie, but, you know, Frankie, a smaller guy, you know, they were obviously supposed to throw down before. It was, it was rumoured after the Mendez fight when Frankie was up by the cage and all that never materializedment. Well, listen, Frankie's a very different fighter. He's not near a good of fighter as he was. And back then, whatever, that was four years ago. Is Connor anywhere near the player was? No, well, not from what we saw against the Bebeb. So, you know, maybe he's pitching for something that might put him over. And that's exactly what he said in Frankie.

He was like he fights similar to Chabee. That's what he said to Ariel. But a wild, a wild situation. And, you know, it's not going away. He needs to start seriously making amends here. Like,

I mean, it's, I've never seen such a backlash. Yeah, I think it's going to be very tough in Ireland to stop. To get, I don't think he will win back to fans in this country. Well,

definitely not to where they will. that was never going to be recovered. But Roy, I think we've talked that, the wheels off that. Have we? Do you have any more points to me? Yeah, look, I don't know. It's just, I would like to see something different. That's

something I've taken away. And there seems to be a little bit of resentment as well. You know, confusion and resentment. I think we're sort of, we're trying to figure out what he was actually saying there. But if you're still going on about that eight months later, about your coach, not watch back to fight, he was asked about

it though. Yeah, I know, but like, you know, he's changing his mind to him to him and it's later. Listen, I wouldn't mind seeing him getting out of the country and doing something and starting fresh just to see if it can rejuvenate the guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I agree. Now, we're going to have to put you back in the spot to talk about James Haskell. Mixed reaction to this. I talked to a lot of fighters who are saying, like, you know, fighters who have been lifelong voters saying, like this, it's not the first time it's happening, CM Punk, Greg Hardy, all these guys, Jack Swagger, of course, you know, they think it cheapens a sport

to just see an athlete from a different sport come in, like I saw Patty Hewlin conversing with Carl Pendrett in your tread. You were kind of talking to call about and call had great, you know, things to say about James. And then I saw Patty and it is a point. Like, I mean... Alan Phillip was in there as well.

Yeah, but who's to say, like, one of these lads can't run out on the pitch for Ireland? Like, the rugby community would be lambast MMA for it if that was the case, you know? No, yeah, I get that point, but, you know, in terms of promotion and things like that, Bellator need talking points. Sky Sports especially, Channel 5 especially. Exactly.

And I think the link you have with James Haskell is, he's worked on Sky quite a lot in the past, being, you know, a pundit, he's obviously 77 caps for England. Send me a good video of him there. I did, drunk after beating South Africa a number of years ago. Listen, the guy is a talking point, and we said this last week on the show, that we were concerned that Bellator don't have many promotional tools at the moment or anything that's pulling them in to get eyes on them.

And listen, this guy, for example, compared to a lot of other sort of guys that have walked in or come into the sport, there seems to be a real sort of logic or talk behind it for the last number of years, not just now. Like, he's been training five or six years, mate. And I think it's a little bit different towards other guys.

But I understand the frustrations from guys like Alan Philpott and, you know, Alan's had a hard road. He's been all over, you know, shows all over around the world. And yeah, it is frustrating for these guys. But at the end of the day, if there's no eyes on the sport, how, you know, how are these promotions

going to succeed on, you know, mainstream television? And I think you have to understand as well that you need guys like this to put eyes in the sport to pay your wages and for you to get exposure. You know, ultimately, you should be accepting it and embracing it, really, because mixed martial arts is, as generally, generally had sort of elements like that. Okay.

Since the foundation of the sport. But if people are tuning in to MMA for the first time ever, and they tune into a Bellator card, and it's James Haskell and it's Aaron Chalmers, people who don't have the same level of MMA that should be reflected at the pinnacle of the sport, which is Bellator. Is that not a bad look for MMA when it's like, you know,

and look, Aaron has won me over. He has continued to fight. He's continued down this road. Yeah, he's impressed me. I stayed at them at the start, and I've definitely done a year. them in the interview myself. Look, I gave you a hard time. But is that not a bad thing for European audience to be seen? Like, they're getting familiar with Bellator for the first time

ever. Yes, they're tuning in to see James Haskell, the former international rugby player. Is it not a bad thing for them to tune in and see low-level MMA and possibly Haskell fighting, you know, a can for want of a better word? Yeah, it is. It is. It is to a certain extent. But, you know... The positives outweigh the negatives? I think it's a little bit of both, really. I think you have to have guys like this in order to get a larger audience sometimes on it. And Bellator, as we've criticised them, for they haven't done a great job with getting this European market to where it should be. And I think this could be a desperation tactic maybe to get James Haskell on board. And yeah, listen, someone could tune in and James could surprise us and he might

be bloody good. He might go in and knock someone out. And then they might stick around and watch the other fights. You know, it's risk and reward. It depends what way you look at it. But, you know, I think it's a good thing. I'm not too disconcerned about that, but very much looking forward to it. It's going to be something interesting. We can look forward in the future. Right. We spoke about it at the top of the show.

Maybe it would be good for you to call in a word with your good friend Mark Henry, who is, of course, the coach of Frankie Edgar. Yeah, Mark's going to join us in a few minutes to talk about, obviously, there are rumours that are going around, and Frankie's come out and spoke this evening, so we'll get Mark's funeral. Absolutely. We will see you very, very soon. Thank you very much. It's been a while. It's actually his first time on this show on the new Eurobos show on MMAFighting.com. Well, it's not new. We're 50 episodes in. A good old friend of mine, and he's just turned 21 this weekend. It is Coach Mark Henry. Mark, how are you, my friend? Great to speak to you. Happy belated birthday. Thanks so much, my friend. Like I said, I don't know how you found out my age, but he must have somebody close to me. Frank he must have told you my age.

What is the real age? on, tell me. Let our listeners now, Mark. 21. 21. 21. That's 30. They're off by 10 years. It's 31. Some good celebrations.

You just tell me they're all fair that you're extending the restaurant, Pino's pizza. Yeah, well, um, just, uh, a place close to my, a place that I've been for 24 years that, you know, building, we bought and, uh, you know, we're upset about that. We should be open in November. So, you know, it's going to be bought like three, four times bigger. so real excited.

Brilliant. Brilliant. I still haven't got over to try out the legendary pizza, so I'm going to have to get over. Hopefully the MSG card and I might pop out to New Jersey

and grab a slice. There you go. I think it's going to be having people, so I'll go ahead over on your own. Brilliant stuff. All right, Mark, I wanted to get you on, obviously,

to talk about Connor McGregor's interview last week with Ariel Harani on ESPN. And he mentioned Frankie Edgar. He said that that's a fight. did very much as interest him on his return. First of all, I want to get your thoughts on what Connor McGregor said in that interview.

You know, I don't know people, the things are, but I thought he was pretty genuine. And, you know, I think, you know, he's older. You know, he's now father, too. You know, I think really, he's going to turn things around. I pray he is, you know, for him.

You know, I know there's a lot of good he does that you don't know. You know, I know if you think he's done that he keeps quiet about that. And he thinks he's done. So, you know, I'm on a fighter for him. I think he's really going to turn the corner here. And I think he's going to do right. Now, I mean, it's tough to, you know, Jim, you know, the start of that he had.

I mean, he would have told me he was fighting out of Cybers that he's going to make weather one day. Yeah. I would honestly know that I'd see a pig fly before. You know, I would see, and I'm serious about him. So, I mean, what he's accomplished? And when he goes through every day, and he's one-inch of face, I mean, that can't be easy and never had him ever seen, you know, wherever he goes.

So, you know, unless, which I've never done through that, and less than 1% of the world's half, you know, it's hard to judge him for that. But I realize he's done a lot of good. You know, the things that he's put to, I mean, you have to think, he's a fighter you know got that went to Harvard

you know what I'm saying and then now with the CEO he's a fighter you know and he grew up you know he grew up

you know with small memes and um you know it's a different mindset and uh you know I think

you know what he's done with he'll cover for fine well obviously the incident came out Mark with him hitting um the customer in that pub here in Dublin.

What was your thoughts on that incident? Yeah, I think it's wrong. I think it's not cool at all. You know, you get someone who got some senseless and not ready, you know, but I'm kind of throwing it under what I said, man. He just got a lot more on in his life. And definitely, I'm a big mistake. But, you know, thank God the guy to get hurt.

Like you said, it's 100% wrong. and the guy just there enjoyed his time. And, you know. If the beat was on the other foot and it was one of your fighters that got it in an incident like that, how would you reprimand your fighter? You know, that's all.

I've been black. You know, we've kind of can choose the guys that we've had. We've had about other people in our gym too. We said no to them. And, you know, we kind of hit people that, you know, that have here. Most people, most of our fighters are also. family people.

You know, they all have kids. They all, you know, even like, you're Frankie first star. People would egg on or people would say stuff

to him, even fighters. And now he's being mad as much, ignore it. Like, you make him more mad if you ignore it.

You know, that you don't even think two seconds of them. Yeah. You know, and that's kind of, you know, how we,

they're, you know, the other thing on the interview, the excuses with, with, when he loses, the excuses. I mean,

come on, man. I mean, Kadeeb, that's why I love my fighters, Marlin, and Frankie, all the fighters I have,

the girls, corn, they never make excuses, you know. They lose, they give a hundred percent, congratulations to the opponent, and that's it.

You know, Frankie, I mean, I can't understand any stuff for Frankie being heard too badly. Yeah. You know, not to say anything,

you know, especially Frankie. Frankie's never made an excuse his wife, so. Besides that, you know, I really believe the things that they said, and I think he's going to turn it around. And there's something about him. What he says, he loves fighting and he's talking about,

why do you eat? I mean, you know, as a fan or as a person, and the guy really loves to hear some of the issues, I was really blown away by his answers. You know, like, you know, why do you tweet? Because I love it. I'm watching from the pre-list to whatever. I think that's amazing.

A guy, I understand it, you know. And, you know, I believe what he said it. Well, what did you, what did you think about? I think it's going to be great. What did you think about his comments towards Frankie then? He sort of implied in that interview that, in so many words, that he thinks Frankie would be a good sort of warm-up for a rematch with Habib. Was that a little bit disrespectful to Frankie?

Because Frankie's a former UFC lightweight champion? He didn't want to fight Frankie before. He had a match. opportunities too. He didn't want to buy him. Like, you know, his, he had, you know, little chances.

He had, when he knew that Dendes wasn't in a camp and that he was filming a hunting show and that he hadn't trained in a long time. And he knew that Frankie does train all year round.

And this is perfect timing to fight Frankie. Mendez just lost playing in Florida Algo. So, Frankie in that week, too, ahead of Chad too.

And they switched him fast after Chad that fight, the week that Chad did get the fight, Frankie was right ahead of him. So if he was ranked ahead of him, he had more wins than him. At that time, Chad just just lost. You know, I think two fights prior to the title fight.

He had him training, when he had the opportunity to fight right then. He turned it down. And then he made a statement, said, then when Frank and Chad did fight, without Frankie and Chad fool each other, I remember him saying that Frankie's going to lose

and then if Frankie does win that he would fight him he beat out though which that happened too and then he didn't fight Frankie again that time so you know there's been a ton of excuses but yeah I think all in all he's pretty much when he's bashed

a lot of other people he's been pretty respectful to Frankie and Frankie's been pretty respectful to him with Frankie is to everybody have you spoken to Frankie about the potential of this fight because obviously I saw the tweet there and the Instagram post that Frankie said he's willing to put his

1.35 pound division move on hold to fight Connor McGregor. What have your conversations been like with Frankie and what has Frankie said? No, Frankie would love to fight him. He always wanted to fight him. I mean, Frankie always wants to fight the best guys. I mean, that's not unlike him, you know? And yeah, I think Conner's that way too.

You know, I know, I didn't fight Frankie, but Connor's one only guy if he takes fights on last second, he's not afraid of anything. He felt injured. I mean, I give him a lot of credit. So many guys think, you know, they don't want to fight when it's when he gets hurt. I would look at Frankie. Frankie's just the bite, Max, he gets hurt. And he takes, or take it in two seconds, you know.

And that, I believe that Conner is, you know, Conner's just the guy that's a fight. So I think, you know, they're perfect for each other. Two guys that love to fight. And, you know. You have spoken in the past and you think, it's been a long sort of lines that you think maybe Frankie's Connor's kryptonite. Is that fair enough to say? yeah i i always it was you know

and i still think it is good action i think i definitely you know definitely do it how's that it not he'll roll them over anything you know I think it'd be a great fight

what's your relationship now like I know that you had a bit of a frosty relationship with the guys in SBG with john kavan is that something you'd like to rekindle again test your sort of wills against the guy like john no honestly i need to see the guy you know, we're busy.

I don't think of him. You know, I don't feel like to even more I'm busy. Honestly, to, even, I don't seem and I really don't think about it. I didn't really don't think about it until you just brought up first time I thought about it a long,

long time. Would you, would you like to go up against John again? And I want to get your thoughts on what Connor said about maybe. No. Thanks. I'll pass on it. No.

Pass on John. Whatever. I don't know. No, thank you. What did you think of that? That was an interesting part. to concentrate on my thoughts. Yeah.

I thought that was an interesting point of the interview as well, Mark, that, you know, Connor sort of said he hadn't really spoken with John since the fight. You know, how would you perceive that as a coach when your fighter is sort of saying things like that, that he hadn't watched back the video and things like that? What would your thoughts be on what Connor sort of said about the relationship between himself and his coach? I don't know. I just, you know, you only know. it's not fair.

Someone might be to judge on the outside. I wasn't there and involved in every camp. It's so different. And I know Connor is being pulled from main directions. You know, he could be hard to get in touch with. It could be hard for Kavanaugh even set up, you know, scheduling that even, you know, regular fighter does. I'm sure, you know, there's two stories to read everything.

I'm sure John Kavanaugh has, you know, some things about that he tried to maybe it's tough because it's popular and being pulled from really directions so I'm sure there were things also that

yeah fair enough has there been any talks with the promotion have they reached out about the potential of this fight happening and I think

Madison Square Garden if this fight was to go ahead and happen will be an ideal place it would be perfect you know I know I know her loves

in New York I know he loved the fight there Frankie's we love to fight there so it would be perfect for both have the UFC

reached out to you guys I mean you make it happen right now. You'll stop for Connor and I'll sign for Frankie. Have the UFC been in touch about any of that potential or is it too early at this stage? Don't worry about them. Let's just about me and you signed it. We'll have it. We'll have it.

We'll have it. It'd be a great fight, I think. You know, I'd love to see it. I think it would be one for the fans. I think it's long overdue, Mark, as we've said many, many a time about Frankie and Conner's fighting styles. I think it'd be a fantastic match for the fans. and media and everyone around the world to see. All right, Mark, just before we let it go,

you know, do you honestly think we're going to see Connor McGregor and Frankie Eggers by the end of the year? I said, and you send over the document. I'll sign, you sign. It's all right. Perfect. You and I said. We've said this for years, Mark.

I'm totally talking about it for a long. You know, I think it's like when you're those fights, too, that you talk about it so long, you know, that it should happen, you know what I'm saying? I think that would definitely happen or not be always questions. Yeah, no, I totally agree, man. I like the counter state.

I know a lot of people quiet. You know, especially that's when he had to pick between Mendez and Frankie. Yeah. And he knew that man had been trained for a while. Yeah. If he was trained, it would have been bad for him.

Yeah. No, I agree. I think it's a fight we should have seen, you know, definitely happen a long, long time ago. It was a shame, so I'd love to see it happen. now. Just a couple more, Mark. What weight class does this fight have to happen

on? Do you still think Connor is going to be able to get down to 45, and would that be the ideal way class for you guys? Yeah, I think 55 would be great. You know, even 50, 45, like that. You know, that's cool. But, you know, I think Connor is a professional,

man. I mean, you lose it in two when he cuts weight. I mean, I remember his last when he cut with out, the half a few bucks. Yeah. But, I mean, he is a true professional, man. And the guy's never missed him. You got to give him credit. Yeah.

You know, I think there's so many things. I mean, he's an amazing fighter, and what he's done, unimaginable. And, you know, it's, I don't think, there's Ali, and I think there's him. And nobody's ever going to be, like, conned again. And it's the way that he's accomplished. And, you know, it's almost a miracle. You know, and I really, really hope that. It sounds, I mean, he's a different dude to me.

I really believe he is. He's a dad who do his sound. Yeah. He's tough when you're that young. It's really tough when you're that young. Not only tough when you're that young, you come from a fighting background, you know, so I think he's definitely going to turn around. Like he, I thought what he did the last time was so great, but it's not like he, you know,

everything he's been in that fighting realm. you know that fighting mindset whether good or bad he has stuff like you know something that it's totally horrific you know I won't in the bass

of the family I believe he's he's gonna kill it you know and everything yeah hopefully you can turn things around and listen I think we've both set it for

for long enough I think this fight's long over to you and listen Mark enjoy this birthday celebrations it's always a pleasure to catch up with my friends I hope you're keeping well and I do appreciate you coming on

taking the time out from you again today. You got on, brother. I'm talking to you again, buddy. Beautiful conversation there between Noel McGrath and Mark Henry, two of my favorite people in the whole world. Interesting stuff there, for sure. But let's take a look at what happened last weekend at Bellator 224. What are you laughing for Noel?

I'm not laughing on, aren't pizza. I'm deadly serious. I'm starving. I'm hungry. I'll eat a horse right now. You do the horse is ours through a tennis record. There you go. But, right, Sergei Karat, Tom. Donoff and Matt Mitrione.

Very interesting for Matt Mitrione. He comes out and says, it was nothing to do with my mouthpiece and then describes why it was probably something to do with his mouthpiece. Matt's one of these guys. He always makes excuses. He just loves me.

But I mean, it was blatantly affecting him. The mouthpiece kind of five, six times. I mean, probably four. But, you know, and then just before the finishing sequence, the mouthpiece hits the ground, the referee goes off after the mouthpiece looking for it, and he eats that upper cut and it's game over.

that's going to be a tough one for Mitriot to take but serious finish from Karatanov like a dangerous dangerous European man as we all are savage Vitaly Minnakov really impressed me in the combine event he had that late notice change of opponent Timothy Johnson who we know is the best hash in the game Minnakov manhandled him and then just finished him

beautiful shots against the fence there to finish that up also Asimov against David But Rickles, he looked tremendous. That's 22 and O now for the Ukrainian. Is that 22-0-0? Holy mother God. That is a serious, serious record. And Rickles has had more fights in Bellator than anyone.

So, I mean, fair play to him. Did you see Nick Newell's finish of Corey Ramon? Yeah, it was Savage. Savage. That was really impressive, wasn't it? Savage. What a guy, and he's not even guaranteed that he's going to be back with Bellator. It's only a one-fight deal.

They're going to have to get him back on shortly. They definitely have to sign him, man. They definitely have to sign him after that. And moving down throughout the rest of the card, Ricky Bandejas got back to winning ways. Roy Hook finish of Ammet Caretley. Austin Vanderford, Mr. Van Zandt got off to a good start. I think that's going to stick with him after Ariel's interview today. Yeah, back in your box.

Yeah, big time. But Austin Vanderford, obviously, going up to a middleweight this time and got the second round finish via doctor stoppage due to a cut. and did you see Salib Hamasi's heel hook finish It was like 11 seconds 17 seconds Was it 11? It's topology are telling me 17

Okay But like a young Peter Carroll there Just ran across It was I was gonna tweet out Did he get it from This flying seals jiu jitsu I'm actually known as the cobbler When I'm working the legs

I'll soise you up for a pair of shoes Handy But yeah it was it was a really It was unreal I'm watching it here again On Twitter Flew across the ring Let me, get me, let me have a look at that shoe me.

It's unreal. But I mean, that was a... That's a really good card for Bellator at a, like, a weekend where there's no UFC. Come back, it's a record, isn't it? 14. Coposa's saying, like, he doesn't think... Like, Composer watches a fierce amount of time of A man. So he's going to look, I'm pretty sure ACB had a few cards like this.

Well, ACB had about 600 fights, probably on the card. So some of our cards are deep, man. Yeah, it's true. It's true. But, yeah, a very, very good card. I don't know if Ryan Bader will be jumping up and down at the thoughts of Karatanoff. But, you know, like, what do you think of? I was only thinking about this today, right? September 14th is that KSW card.

If Phil DeFries gets rid of Grabowski, he's effectively cleared out that division. Why not do heavyweight? Because they've been flirting with that idea for a while, KSW and Bellator. What about Phil DeFries versus Ryan Bader? Be savage. Like, I think that's a serious fight. Yeah, I really would like it. Phil looks a different guy with him.

You just don't know what Bellasor's Mansar. That's, you know, it really is as simple as that. And we talked, obviously, last week about the Haraguchi situation, the way the belt mess up there, it sort of devalues their titles a bit. So if they're not willing to really make a commitment, these promotions and do something, you know, not just for one, you know, fight card,

for a number of fight cards, it's probably pretty pointless, down it. Yeah, but it did stimulate a lot of interest that rising crossover. No, no, I totally agree with that. But you just want a continuance. You need to, you need a continuance. You need to continue to know where this is at. if it's going to continue or not.

There's no use sort of doing it for a once off. It's, you know, what's the point? Yeah. You know, do two or three of them, do a series. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, like, if, if they did it with KSW, I think it would be a huge thing in terms of marketing in Eastern Europe too.

Well, I think KSW jumping out as well because we, you know, because they need it wings in here. Like, they need to spread in here. They're going to do a card in the US in 2020. They did say that, yeah. As far as what Martin Lewandowski was saying. So, you know, it makes sense for them. I don't understand why I wouldn't know.

make sense for Scott Coker and those guys and you know they could even do something in Europe yeah why not KSW versus Bellator in Europe be amazing it would actually a whole car yeah champ well they rented on a champion V champion I wouldn't say but that would be fucking unbelievable yeah yeah savage

I put the KSW belts on the line against you know Dave a big show coming up and maybe do it after that I just think something like that would be really cool it would it would get Roberto Solich in the mix over there that would be fucking mentally definitely um yeah we'll move on to our second interview of the day, it's Miss Molly McCann, a fan favorite on Eurobash. She brought

the heat as usual. Yeah, I love her dog. Have you seen her dog? No, I haven't seen it. Beautiful little French bulldog, man. You know I'm a bit dog obsessed at the moment. She's in New York. I'm going to New York in a few weeks. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. You were, oh, you were telling me. I texted me that either day. We're going to have to record earlier at the end of September, but you don't have to worry about that. We'll sort of. Yeah. So we'll be back in about 15. Great chatting to Molly. As always, the fighting pride of Liverpool. And now we are finally rejoined by the fighting pride of Liverpool, Miss Molly McCann,

who takes on Diana Belbita on October 18th in Boston. Molly, before we go anywhere near that fight, please tell me everything about your new dog because he is absolutely beautiful. That French bulldog is gorgeous. Right, so when I won in Greenville, sorry about that train guy. No hassle. sorry I won a fight and I came

home and I just felt like there was something missing and then my mum got a chihuahua called Elvis and then I just said I live with my nando and I was just like oh non I think we need the dog and she's like yeah that's fine

so one of my mates Tabby is like a French bulldog breeder and I was literally I was like I was in Ireland I think it was like two and a half weeks ago and I was training in Dublin and I just seen

there was four puppies and I just went I want that one and then that was there Frank Frank is a great name on my God that's brilliant And do know what? Do you know he's got little scowse bras as well His eyebrows

He's got little blondies So I just, it was a match made in heaven really made And do know All I do is go to gym either comes with me or my nana look after him come home have a rest watch fighting go back to gym come home give him a walk watch watch fighting so my life is literally just complete and um i really understand my people like go to shit when it comes to dogs yeah i'm one of them people as well so absolutely yeah i've got a i've got a cockapoo he is um very emotional dog yeah but i love him to

bits, but I got to ask you, right? What I was going to say was, like, I was just looking at your career trajectory in 2019, and I was thinking about the first time you were on this podcast, and it was after your first loss in the UFC, and look at what has happened since. I mean, that last win over Ariane Lipski is absolutely unbelievable. That is a European title fight as far as I'm concerned, given your Kage Warriors lineage and her KSW lineage.

But it's amazing, right? What a turnaround this has been. So me as a human being, I am happy. I am so positive. And I just live free to stay, love you today, and I'm thankful for each day. And when we first spoke, you could tell, like, the grey cloud that was over me.

And I just wasn't happy and settled within myself because of where my career was. So, like, what you do, would you sit there in a roth and just allow every day to pass your by without trying to. and better yourself. Or do you fucking go and grab it by the balls and go and get it? The loss was my fault. It was me.

The last few wins has been my best friends, my coaches, my family, my partner. Everyone has pushed me through. And ultimately it's me who's getting in their training. And ultimately is me who's in the cage who's winning. But all these people have given me so much positivity. And you just can't keep a good person down. and I am so thankful and lucky to be doing what I'm doing. Honestly, I was in Santa Rini last week for my two best friends' wedding.

And there's 46 of us, and every single fucking day, I just realized, oh, my God, how lucky am I in my life? And then I said to the girls, when I was on the Hindu, he was in Budapest. And I was like, oh, girls, I think I'm going to get a fight. And then the Lipski call came. And then I was literally in this villa on a cliff top sitting on a, on an infinity pool with me mate. And it was the day before the wedding.

So we're all talking about our pits and falls. Like, what's the best part of the week so far? And what's the worst part? And then I just get a text off grey and boil and go and yo, yo, yo, yo, meatball. And I literally just went, girls, take the phone and just fucking tell me where it is. And they went, I said I wanted to fight in Madison Square Garden ball. I also said, if it's not MSG, just give me boss.

just give me Boston and they give me Boston so I'm like I am just I'm like a kid at Christmas eating cake every day like oh you love Boston as well the TD Gardens an amazing arena as well oh my God I know and then when I seen that there's Boston Celtics what is it the Boston Celtics yeah and the Bruins yeah I was like I was like I was like fuck off and everyone's like well you know you're Irish I think you should come out with your Irish flag and just like get and all this that in the oven I was like look I'm Irish heritage I I fucking love Ireland, but I can't be like... I'm going to swerve England just because I'm going to fight somewhere that's Irish-based. And everyone's like, no, but the crowd to get you behind yet, I said, the second Ireland's one punch, they'll be fucking behind me, you know what I mean?

I was like, I don't have to go sway of allegiance. Everyone knows how much I love Ireland and how much I love the fact my heritage is Irish. But I'm not fucking tink out of my own country. I get enough. I get enough of that as it is anyway. Yeah, yeah.

People go, oh, well, you're English. You just say that he's a Scouse and you're on English. It's like you can just never please the masses, but I'm just, I'm staying to what's true and I'm English at the end of the family's Irish. Absolutely, yes. And we are happy to have you as one of our own, of course. But this is, this fight could lead you into a situation

where you're on a three-fight win streak. And that's huge in this division, right? Are you aware of that? Like, I mean, you're getting close. Like, just that trajectory, though, that kind of consecutive winning. That does a lot in this division, right? Are you aware of that going into this fight?

So, all's Molly before the loss would have absolutely etter up, absolutely fed me ego and fed me to be like, yeah, I'm going to fucking get it by this time, this time and this time. And you know what? As I've gained more experience at the higher level, I am just enjoying every fight camp as it comes I am getting life lessons from everything that I'm going through and when it's going to come it's going to come

and I'm not going to force it and I'm not going to push it because you know I turned down a fight I got a short notice fight a week before I was going to Greece and it's the only fight really I've ever turned down and I just went to car I cannot miss this wedding and it was a foot it was it was for China August 31st

and I just thought I'm not rushing it now I'm only doing what feels right do you know what I mean and then they come back with the Boston fight

and I just thought in my eyes I was tested with the first fight when I lost and it tested everything about me like my strength of character my resilience

my mental fortitude and then the UFC London fight was more willingness to win and proven, like, you're going to have to put me to sleep ever to beat me. And then that last fight just proved I'm not a fighter.

Now, this is the one. This is the fight that I've got. I feel no pressure. I know how good I am now. I know that I'm meant to be there. And I know I'm going to fucking finish it. Like, I look out and out to say my game plan is to finish this girl in the first round.

And I'm not going to, I'm not going to force it by saying, by punches, by this, by that, by the other. How it's going to come, it's going to come. I'm just going to apply that much pressure. She's not going to be able to fucking deal with it. And then what comes from that will come from that. But I'm not, I'm not going to start forcing. And I'm not, and it's very exciting.

It's very exciting. But I've seen how quick, how quick this game changes and it can spin on its head, do you know what I mean? So I'm just enjoying the moment and every fight, and I just want to keep fighting all over the world, and meet new people, like every time you go to UFC events,

you meet a fighter who ends up being your new best mate. I've been on free cards with Ferrick Spicely now and I'm just absolutely loving it Is he your new bestie? Yeah, so me and him we're at Liverpool, Greenville and now we've got Boston I was like, how boss is that?

Gillian Robertson, the girl who beat me is on the same car and we've been like liaisal like I can't wait to see here you know, like I said to me said I want you to batter this Macy Barber and then let me get here after you because I just

I'm like is that what I was like before I got meat? Is that? Because I don't think it was. Well, I was just so positive and I knew what I wanted. And this is what this girl wants. But she's fucking doing my head and go. Macy Barbara, is she just too much for you?

Like as in too kind of prone towards kind of greatness and stuff like that. I don't think you were ever like that. I don't think you ever touched on, like, you know, insulting your opponents or anything. You were just confident, you know? Yeah. I mean, I never tried to be disrespectful. I just feel like she can have like that. without offending anyone

but you know the Americans and how they have to win everything to do in sports and they're the best that everything like I get that from when I used to play football the soccer players were like that a lot and I kind of get that in here and I messaged Gillian Roberts

and I said you're the fucking humbly you girl I said and you've got that going into people's hometown and putting them out so can you just go and shut here up please is that a fight you would like in the future or are you just kind of having phone with Jillian? Yeah, like, hey, I'm happy for Gillian. I'd like to win this one and not look beyond it. But after this, I'd like a top 15 or the top 10. I believe I'm waivey.

And I believe, I don't know how Macy Barber's like top 10 in the Wales when she's had one win in our weight division. I just, like, I don't get it. Do you know what I mean? So, yeah. I was going to ask you, right, because I find it like, I mean, so many people are, and I'm not trying to ask you to call out Valentina, anything like this, but the idea that Valentina is on this pedestal that the rest of the division can't touch. You know, this has become a narrative.

Every time she fights, everyone's like, you know, nobody in the Floydweight division is going to be able to challenge her. And I'm like, I can't imagine that sits well with Malia McCann, you know, not that you're putting your finger on her chest or anything, but... No. So I think if it came down to me and here, it's like, I know how good. one of a young J Chek is and she got like done, right? She got done. But I feel like I'm a bit stronger. I'm smaller and more compact.

She won't take me down and it'll be a stand up fight most definitely. But she hasn't fought anyone with footwork like me. Right, she can kick me in the head and try and knock me out. I'll let the floor and bounce straight back up to come again. Like there'll be no quit. I just think it would be an unreal fight but as I'm ascending I feel like by the time I get to her

she might be on the descent a little bit I just can't see the UFC rushing me or just throwing me in because I'm four fights deep and I'm still not fighting top 15 so I don't know what they're planners I don't know I don't know but

I think the division short though when they're kind of saying like she's invincible essentially, you know what I mean? Or do you think that she deserves it? Look, she's an unreal mixed martial artist but it's always going to do propaganda at the end of the day. What I learned in my last fight against Ariane Ripski was the internet said all this and all that about me,

like I'd be out of my depth, like, I only just scraped it against Catiochua. And I just went in and exceeded anyone's expectations. It's unbelievable. And I stuck to a game plan. And I was five in. of her reaching hands and I was four inches off here reaching height so I should never have been able to get in on this scale and still did do you know what I mean so I'm um I'm always going to give the best that I can give and the best version of myself that I can and scoutses don't turn down fight or arm put off we think that we're the best in the world and we can beat anyone and why not I'm not in this just to have a go we'll just make top five I'm in this to make history do you know what I mean I'm yeah absolutely i've got to ask you about lea mccourt because i know as you said when you're over here

training in ireland you spend a lot of time with lea i've asked lea about this friendship you guys have i love it and i just wanted to know about you know your what do you think of lea as a fighter like how far can she go because you're still very early on in her career of course i said to after you win this you start throwing title shot out there like you you you start asking for title eliminators i've never met someone in my life uh another female who has work ethic like myself and I think Leah can sometimes surpass mine

she's just someone that I look up to so much and we just, we're selfless for each other like if it's my camp she'll pay to come over for me if it's in the camp help me to go free like when I go over I stay in her daughter's bed and her daughter

like stays in with her and we're there's like I have like a little group called Irish Gratitude and it's got Ryan Curtis's his girlfriend, Emma in it. I hope Ryan isn't in it. It's got our mate too and her hearing me and it's just all about being positive

and we all have the same outlook on life. We all want the best for each other. And there's now there really is like if she got a weird title and I never did, I'd be so, I'd be more happy for her than I would be for myself. And she,

she will change Bellator Fevereweight division when she believes in herself she has when she's on it I mean

she's a weird level and she didn't win the IMAF and all that for nothing you know what I mean and

and I think her last fight she I'm not even sure if she publicised what she went through but she literally

her body went through a lot and she was at it she was broken for that fight. And to fight in Dublin with the atmosphere, like what it was, was just like she'd never, ever experienced.

But now she knows away, and now she is aware of how good she is. I'm like, Leah, I think I didn't start becoming this person that I am now until I was like eight to nine pro fights deep. You're free deep. So just imagine, like, I'm looking up to you now and you're only three fights deep in your career. you know what I mean

so I'm literally going over a fight week four and we'll help her cut ways a corner area and then shoot home the next day I've Keats Rory's Liverpool and then she'll be coming over to my fight it's just it's what you do

it's what you know it reminds me of like Randa Rousey when she had four horse women and the bonds that they are when women are kind of like shunned a little bit or not always welcomed which is very Ray, but we've had the same kind of upbringing where we've had to fight

out of adversity to get to where we are. And I'm not trying to be some big, like, feminist. No, no, you're completely correct. Yeah, but it's just like, that's joins us together, really. Do you work with Owen when you're out there? I know, of course, your next generation, Paul Rimmer, all this stuff, but do you work with on when you're over there

and what's that like? Is it just something different, basically, to keep the mind-guessing kind of idea, is it? I'm a firm believer of I've always travelled and trained and I've always known where my home is and I've never got them too misconstrued I'll never leave next gen

but Paul Rimmer is really happy before us go and get learning and new training partners you've got Jay Harris and Ryan Caithers and Leah there for me to train with and then Owen's brain I've just we work exactly the same

but his combination since the way he coaches is exactly the way that man thinks in the way that I coach or the way that I train. So it's really nice, say, every two months, every three months just to go over for a week and just mix it up. Do you feel like it's helped your struggling? Because you're already such an established boxer, you know what I mean? Like, that's what I was kind of thinking. Yeah.

So what I try and do is I try and take away a bit of a coach's philosophy or what they're really good at. Put it in my game, see if that works. and Owen's really good at basic footwork and drawing stuff on and countering. So I've actually, every one he does is very similar and I've started doing the exact same

when I'm back out. Amazing, amazing. Final one, Molly. Paddy to Baddy is back in action at Polaris against Stevie Ray. Has he been in the gym? Have you seen him? How is he looking? Of course, everybody in Europe is our big fan. fans of the body of course.

Yeah, so I've actually just been with it today. And I'm just going to be going up the stairs. And now so I might get a bit muffled because I've got me left and suitor. I just walked in today. I'm fucking hell, Lodge. You're looking lean, aren't you? Because we keep missing each other because I don't go in on days that easy. And sometimes on converser.

And he's just starting to get a little spark back again because he's competing. he's been cutting his waist he hasn't stopped training and I just really can't wait for him just to be able to get out there silence a few nobeds get that good endorphins again and prove to the way

how fucking good he is like we forget everything that he did when he was like 22 he's only 24 yeah like it's so young he's had a couple years he's had about three operations and he's um

his knuckles's like nearly ready back to sparring now so his knuckle his wrist sorry so um yeah he's he's on his way we're all on our way next gen's really good off the minute brilliant molly thank you so much for giving us so much time um always one of the stars of this show it has to be said the fans love when you're on so thank you so much and we'll all be in your corner on october 18th no problem thanks very much and I'll catch his Lisa. More pictures of the dog, yeah? Frank Mac the French. You get on the Instagram.

Thanks so much, Molly. All the best, boy. No problem, lots. See you, Lisa. Love. Bye. Always a pleasure to speak to Molly McCann. Oh, she's gas.

She is. She's a legend, isn't she? Never get tired of speaking to Molly. And she's one of ours, as we discussed on the podcast. We're also going to claim her. She's related to our own Katie Taylor, would you believe? Yeah, I remember hearing about that. Yeah.

What's the cousins or something? I think it's, yeah, second cousins or something like that. They share an uncle or something like that. I can't remember. Okay. Yeah. The stuff about Leah McCourt was really interesting as well. I enjoy that interview.

It's very good. Thanks very much, Noel. Leah was just the work rate, I thought was fascinating. If Leah's out working Molly McCann, she's going to go. She's a terrifying prospect. That is. That scares me. That does.

But in fairness to Leah, like you, you know, we see her on her Twitter and her Instagram. She's never, never off out of the gym, like in fairness. And she's either just traveling to train or training. That's pretty much it. It's mental. It's mental. Let's have a look at this UFC Shenzhen card. It's a thin card, Peter.

Sorry? It's a thin card, to say the least. It's not stacked. It's definitely not stacked. At the top there, we have Weili Zhang, or Zhang Wei Li. I'm not too sure. I always get that wrong. Yeah, I don't know.

Who I think is a ferocious, ferocious contender there. This is a big deal, right? Because the UFC have just opened the Performance Center in, in, China. What would it mean to the UFC to have a Chinese champion here? Because I mean, this took a lot of people by surprise, right? Like, when this fight was announced. Well, I think, I think that's,

I think that's the tactic here. You know, I think they really do believe that the challenger here, Zhang Wili, I don't know, I really don't know. Is it Wili Zhang? Wili Zhang, yeah. Wili Zhang, yeah,

is the way they, I'm not sure what way they put the name. It doesn't matter. Okay, right, shit. I'm just talking shite now. That's a good 15 seconds. But I think, I think, the UFC generally think she's in with a shot here. And I do as well. And I think we talked about this a few weeks ago. Look at the people she's on,

she's beaten. Like she just smashed it in their last two fights. Jessica Aglar, Tisha Torres, you know, very, very high level opponents. So it's no walk in the park for Jessica Andrage. Anyone thinks it is,

they're sorely mistaken. So, yeah, what she did to Aguilar on the ground was pretty stunning. Like, I was. To submit someone from your guard as experience as Aguilar is pretty incredible. And I believe that it's,

it's nearly helping her going into this because usually when it's a title fight and you're at home, the pressure is huge, whereas Jessica's a far more prominent fighter internationally. And so, I mean, it's not putting the same pressure on Zang the way it usually would say is a hometown title challenge. Like, I mean, I don't know. Like, I feel like it's a very dodgy fight for Andrade.

Like, I mean, Jessica's a savage. Don't get me wrong. But yeah, I really feel like Zang has a skill set that can beat Jessica. She's a toughness about her. as well. She's gritty. She's very methodical. Methodical in there as well. She has a definite game plan, as does Andrade

to be fair, she just marshaled you down and starts swinging hammers at you. Which I love to watch. But I do feel as though people will be underestimating Zhang ahead of this big time. Yeah, I think everyone is and I'm very interesting the way this pans out. I think even in terms of the

UFC what they've done and why they've matched put this match together in China is because I think they even know the matchmaker, Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard know that this lady can really cause an upset here. And I would not be surprised if we did with a Chinese champion come Sunday morning. I really wouldn't. No, I wouldn't be either. I'm not sure I'd be betting on this fight.

Just to say it that way. I don't know any betting the fights. But generally, I am, I'm sitting on the fence here with this one, Pizzi. I don't know what way it's going to go. Yeah, Zelisky de Santos takes on Jilang Lee, Li Jinglang. I'm not too sure which way it goes. But in the Coimain event, the Leach, yeah, one of our faves, a big fan. but you know what? Zaleski

DeSantis doesn't get the credit he deserves man, he's on a seven-fight win streak. We're shouting from the rooftops about Leon Edwards. I mean, this guy is getting the leech in China. That's a rough draw, man. That's a rough draw, but as you said there, you know, lost his UFC debut to Nicholas Dalby and hasn't looked back since.

Taking out some big names as well and, you know, the likes of Lyman Good, former Bellator champ and Sean Strickland, very gritty opponent, and Curtis Melander, O'Mary MacMade of. and that's, there are no good laundry list isn't it?

They're no, there are no pushovers and, you know, they is a good fighting. I think the top two fights are just so much better than most of the car. Look, let's talk about

Kai Kara France. He's one of your favorite fighters. Love to watch him. He's fighting Delarosa. That's going to be a good fight. At flyweight. Yeah, but it's interesting.

What are they doing with the flyweight stuff? Don't even think about it anymore. Like Joe Benavides is online for his 15th flyweight title shot. It's fucking mad. Like, what are they doing?

Release half the roster and then, oh, let's just get it back again. Yeah, that doesn't make sense. It doesn't. It doesn't. But Kikara France is a really fun fighter to watch. Always involved in good fights. And, yeah, that is a good fight as well, in fairness. Martel de Rosa as well, and, you know, coming off a loss to Alex Perez, but, you know, a tough, tough dude as well.

So, interesting. But bar that's now. A couple of, there's a couple of former M1 Challenge champions fighting on here, both undefeated. Mosvar Ivloviev takes on Zen. Hong Lu and who is it is it Abramov takes on Da unjung so I mean

that's interesting enough also one of Peter Jan's stable mates Damir Ismagulov takes on Tiago Moiseseses so that's a decent fight like it's just it's lacking the drawn power for me I just don't see my mates going to me here man where are you watching the UFC

Shenzhen card this weekend that's gonna happen No, I don't I totally agree. It's me and Gailme on this buzz this weekend. To be honest, I'm probably going to record it. I'm not going to like.

How dare you? I don't think I'll be saying up to watch this. How dare you? Listen, we have to be more selective these days. That's my excuse on it. Listen, top of it, love it. Great fight. Top three of them.

But, you know, it doesn't, and the UFC, you've done a shit job and promoting this as well on this side of the moment. I don't know. Are you in China? No, well, here. I'm talking about, you know, for an American, well, not an American, but, you know, for a general audience, I suppose,

and the United States, there's a lot of people very interested. It is thin. It is thin. That's not, that's not like. It is. We tell that how it is, Pete. For our grappling nerds, our friends,

Polaris 11 is on, on Saturday as well in Manchester. And it does have some MMA fighters of note on there. And my good friend, Munchy Kara is fighting Wagner Rocha, which is very, very good. Munchy would have been known for being Dylan Dennis's close training partner

during the Marcelo Garcia's. They are training elsewhere now. But Chris Fishgold, former Kedore's champion, is taking on Mark Diakase. Who's a fight booked? Former Obama champion in a 170 grappling bout. Also, Paddy Pimble would be taking on Stevie Ray. Who also is a fightbooked. So that's going to be an interesting one.

That's crazy, man. That's a big risk. The UFC, what's the story with that? like is there is there no thing in their contract saying like you think it easy go in there and you know pull a oh yeah pull in it should we saw with bret johns we saw with bret johns when reds are competed there uh around the time of that cardiff cage warriors card it was late i think it was about december he done his knee against tom halpin an irish guy he lives around here um on south side but um no he's actually he's from the country he just trains here but um also just of irish note there

kieran daver and an m m m m mary veteran from orland a great grappler a really great grappler my friend collie him, who's a really good grappler as well. He's from the Royal Grapplin Academy. He was saying to me, he goes, the most I've ever been battered in my life is when you're on Tavern showed up on the mass. He said it was completely helpless for the duration of the round.

So I hope you enjoyed that shout-out, Collie. I'm shining a big light on you there, son. But, yeah, decent card. I will be chown into that. I'm looking forward to seeing Paddy as well because it's been a long time. He's had the hand injury. I think it's his wrist or his...

He's had a lot. It was his knuckle, I think, and his wrist and stuff like that. so the few of them. Ladd was fighting his body was being cellotaped together before he was fighting. And I just, I just, I just wanted a bit bizarre. Like, you know, Marks, obviously, G.K. He's obviously fighting, you know, Lando Fanada and Stevie's fighting.

Michael Johnson. Michael Johnson. That was announced today in Copenhagen, I think it is. No, it's not. Oh, Singapore, sorry. So, at least I have redeemed myself. But, yeah, I just think it's stupid. Unless they're getting, you know, good books for it.

Because we've seen it happen. Yeah, we've seen it happen. I do agree. I think, you know, maybe the UFC need to do something better. If you could see in Noel's face now, it's incredibly skeptical about the whole Polaris thing. But I'm... I just, you know, I've more of a vested interest than seen good mixed martial arts fights than jiu-jitsu competition. Speaking of Grapplers, let's go on to our tourguests of the evening.

You see here, he's pointing at me when he's saying shit and he's going fucking grapplers and all this fucking shite. Let's talk to the Olympian, the latest European that has signed for the UFC. it's Mark O. Madsen, Greco-Roman wrestling legend. Let's have a word with him. We spoke to him. He's over in Vegas at the moment, so we'll see in about 10 minutes. And now, as promised, we are joined by the Olympian himself, the latest European fighter to sign for the UFC. A wrestling legend, Mr. Mark O. Madsen, who joins us from Las Vegas today, Mark. How are you? And why are you in Sin City of all places? Well, first of all, thank you very much.

Very happy to be signed by the UFC. And I'm here in Vegas, you know, I'm here preparing for my upcoming fights. I'll have my UFC debut in 28th of September in Copenhagen. And I'm here in Vegas, doing a camp with, you know, my manager, Ali, Dominance MMA. and I brought my coach, Martin Kampman. He's here for two weeks. So just here preparing, getting ready. So, I mean, the reaction to you being signed, Mark, it was huge.

I've watched you come up through the Cage Warriors ranks, but this seems to mean an awful lot to the people of Denmark and the people of Copenhagen to have you on this first card in Denmark. I mean, have you been blown away by the reaction to the announcement of your signing? Well, I have to be honest and say yes, it has been an amazing reaction from, and I've gotten a lot of support. Yeah, it's amazing. I'm just so happy to be a part of UFC Copenhagen. Yeah, and I mean, I was looking at your career.

Obviously, you are a decorated Olympian. You went to the 2012 Olympics. You went to the 2016 Olympics, taking bronze and silver respectfully. but you were competing in MMA while you were competing in wrestling. This is crazy for an Olympian, a person who is dedicating their whole life to one sport. You are also competing in MMA. Am I correct in thinking this? Yes, I did compete in MMA back in 2013 and 14.

However, I was signed with the National Wrestling Federation, and I was not allowed to do any MMA preparation. whatsoever actually and I think that was I was locked down for six months a year so I had very little time to

to do MMA back in 2013 and 14 so actually in my calculating I retired 18 months ago and decided to move into MMA with 100% focus so it has really been a really

really short time in the sport of MMA and I'm, you know, very happy to be signed by the USC in such a short time. That's amazing. So, I mean, you could, as you were building this undefeated record, you couldn't even give your full time to the sport. That's crazy. That is, that's insane that you could do that. So, I mean, you must feel as though you are taking huge leaps in development now that

you can just focus, as you say, for the last 18 months on MMA by itself. Well, I am. I have to take huge leaps. I just joined the world's toughest MMA league in the world. And, you know, I'll be facing some of the best MMA fighters out there. So I have to take enormous leaps in my development as a mixed martial artist. And that's actually why I'm here in Vegas, you know, to compete with, train with the best in the world. have my coach,

my incumbent flew over, you know, work with the guys at extreme culture, really to do this 100%.

I'll tell you one reason I'm very excited for you to be involved in the UFC for many, many years and the Americans have said

oh, Europeans can't wrestle and now we have a guy coming in with a bronze medal and a silver medal in the Olympics and many medals

in the world championships. You can show all these Americans that the Europeans are in fact very good at wrestling, right? Well, the Americans are great at wrestling, especially freestyle. Right. And they've also had some amazing Greco guys.

I do believe I might be the most decorated Greg Roman wrestler ever to be signed by the UFC when you take a look at my wrestling credentials. But that, I mean, that's one thing. That's looking back. Yeah, very long, impressive Greek Roman wrestling. career. Now I'm in the MMA and I can only aspire to to accomplish the things that some of my colleagues, Randy Gautour, Dan Henderson, Matt Lindlandland have accomplished in MMA because they have done really, really well in the sports and I consider them to be true American heroes and

legends of the sport. Who do you feel as though when you at all across all different kinds of wrestling stores? Who do you believe is the best wrestler in the year? UFC. You've got to be right up there, okay? I know Henry Sehudo is obviously a gold medalist. I know a lot of people say a lot of good things about Ben Ascran who competed in the Olympics and Daniel Kormier, who has a very decorated career too. Who do you think is the best wrestler in the UFC? Because you would know far more than me. Well, I honestly don't know. I think it's important to to view freestyle and Gregoroman as two different aspect of wrestling. What I can tell you is there are a lot of awesome wrestlers signed by the UFC.

You just mentioned a lot of them and they, you know, they are some of the best in the world. I mean, Henry Sohu, the Olympic champion. You have Khomeir, you have Ben Ashken, you know, UFC is just stacked with amazing wrestlers. I know that the Danish people are very proud and you know, you went over and I'm sure it was an amazing experience in 2012 and 2016 in Rio when you came home with a medal. I'm sure it was one of the most amazing feelings you've ever had in your life. But, you know, as you say, you're now in MMA and this Copenhagen card feels special. It feels like something big for the people of Denmark. Do you think this will compare at all in terms of your...

your Olympic journey or do you think you know you you will have bigger nights in terms of mma or is this as big as i feel it is because it certainly feels like when i talk to you when i talk to nicholas dalby that this is a hugely proud moment for you guys to go out and represent your country at the first event in copenhagen yeah well listen you have seen cohenagen it's not only an m m mhm event it's an historic mhm a event it's the first time ufc is ever coming, you know, I've ever been in Denmark. So it will be a historic event. And honestly, I'm just so proud, so happy, grateful to be able to take part of, you know, being

a part of this event. I believe it'll be an amazing night. I can remember the first time the UFC came to my country in Ireland. It changed how people saw the sport because before it came here, a lot of people thought it was a blood sport. They didn't think it was real sport. But after the UFC came, a lot more people begin to realize that, you know, MMA is a real sport. Do you think that's going to help in Denmark? Does Denmark still have some issues with MMA as a sport? Or do you think a lot of people believe it is a sport now? When the UFC is coming to town, we are, as of now, we are hitting mainstream

media. It's not only on ground. We are actually hitting mainstream media. me signing with the UFC, we've gotten attention from all the future, you know, newspapers, online media. So I think it's, you know, it's a very, very interesting development going on right now in Danish MMA. And this is the pinnacle, you know, this is the biggest thing that has ever happened in Denmark when you have, when you have like an event. at this level coming to Denmark. So it is truly it's unique and it will be an amazing night.

Does it feel like you and Dalby are team Denmark that night? Does it feel like you guys are putting on the famous red Danish jersey? Because that's what it seems like to me when I talk to you guys. Well, I think when in time you're representing your family, your coaches,

your club and your country. So this definitely feels like something bigger. It's an opportunity for me, it's an opportunity for Dalby to step into that octagon and represent not only ourselves, but our entire country. So,

it's massive and it's I'm very excited to say the least. Do you know much about your opponent? I know that he has competed in the UFC Danilo Belvoir do. Have you done much homework? Do you like to

study your opponent? What have you found out about this guy? I'll be outworking myself. I have to not work myself for the last, you know, months. And I will definitely work like never before to be, to be ready. And honestly, it's not about who I'm facing. It's about performing at my best. And as we talked about before, I have to take enormous leaps. I have to acquire a lot of technique, a lot of tactic. I have, you know, increased my fight IQ.

So there's a huge task I had, and I really, really need to step it 100% and just give it my max. And, you know, September 28th, I'll be ready. Do the wrestling community, do they support you here? Or is it somewhat controversial that you have decided to go from wrestling to MMA? How do they feel about that, the wrestling community in Denmark? I have been the number one guy in Denmark and you know I've been the guy who's made it possible to do wrestling in Denmark on elite level so it was it was a loss for you know wrestling Denmark but I've gotten a lot of support

a lot of warmth and you know what's really crazy is after the news of me signing with the UFC I see myself on, you know, all the bigger online media is like wrestling Russia, wrestling India. So I feel like the entire wrestling community is actually backing up and supporting me in this new endeavor. That's amazing. When I think of Denmark, of course I think of you, I think of Dalby. I also think of Mads Bernal and other guys that a lot of people want to see added to this card. Do you believe that this will open up the doors for even more, Danish fighters to join the UFC. Is that your hope?

Well, I believe as the attention increases, it will open up for other fighters to do well. And maybe take this chance of actually being able to support themselves by doing MMA. So naturally, whenever something like this happens and whenever we get a lot more attention and the whole community grow not only as a single club, but a community in Denmark grows. I believe it will open up a lot more opportunities for all fighters, not only the top five. Amazing.

Mark, thank you so much for this, man. It's amazing to see your journey and to find out that you've only been able to dedicate really full-time the last 18 months of the sport and to see what you've done in Cage Warriors already and to come to this huge moment now, which a UFC debut, it's going to be fantastic to watch, and thank you again for all of your time. A lot of people have been really excited to hear from you.

Thanks so much, Peter. All the best, sir. I will see you in Copenhagen, hopefully. The return of the three-guests lineup is completed with Mark O. Madsen. Don't get used to it. Yeah, don't get used to. There's a lot on this week. There's a lot on this week.

A lot of typing for Peter tomorrow morning. news, yeah. Whoop, whoop, whoop. How are you feeling, first of all, Ireland? You know how did it got trashed the weekend there? How do you feel about that? I was annoyed. It was a tough one, tough one to take, because I think that I played actually quite well.

But as I said, you know, they didn't sign a midfield or something they badly needed in this window. And you could totally see, you know, a lack of creativity, big time in midfield. I didn't watch it. But from one disaster to another, I noted your silence on Twitter on Sunday as Ireland were being ravaged by England. I turned it off. I did honestly I thought it was pathetic it was bad you know like we haven't been beaten

the only team to beat us this is that here for you now the team to beat us by more points ever was New Zealand or is New Zealand so that is not a good that would be yeah

their crap I beat them not they're very good but it was just embarrassing there's no ideas I think we're very very predictable and it's typical Ireland play so well outside the World Cup

years going to a World Cup it just shits the bed shit the bed listen I'm a little bit worried that we won't get out of the group because Japan are very, very good sides they've been preparing for this World Cup and listen they might target

that came against those lines, I'm worried. They brought me over for a seminar there earlier than you're just to show them how to rook. That's why you were there. I forgot about that. Rucking is a thing, isn't it?

And you can tap people out now on the ground and you're there. Leg locks and shit. Yeah, I thought it was an absolute shit show. I tried to watch that rugby match and I was me and the line. Dude, don't know a lot about rugby.

All we took away from it is Ireland are not very good at rugby. Interesting point. lot of the Lenser lads in preseason, they actually brought them up to Chris Bow. They worked with Chris Bow before, who's Gracie Barrett, Dublin. He's a savage, man. There is the links there, obviously, between Brazilian Jitzu and the main link being I'd beat the shit out of all of them.

It's the grips and the locks and, you know, when you're tackling, they interlink. Seemed to work well for him there on Sunday. Yeah. They won't be doing that anymore, right? Is your man Haskell good at rugby, though? Yeah, listen, the guy, it's 77 caps for England. Is that not common, though? No, that's like a lot of caps, man.

Rugby's treacherous game. Like, I mean, like, 77 is a lot of, like, a lot of... That is a lot of physicality, a lot of brute bloody force hitting your body. Is that not an issue, though? Like, I mean, in terms of, like, I mean, something that's talked about a awful lot in rugby is the concussions and stuff like that. And I tell you, I watched something really interesting on concussion last night. It was actually a Netflix. I'm sure a lot of our American listeners have seen this.

It's called the enforcers in the NHL. Oh, he started watching that day or not. I watched it last night. And it was actually really interesting. you learn a lot from the, I got about 10, 12 concussions when I was trying, Ruby was younger a lot like,

and it's just a little things, you know, even like, it's whiplash effect, it's actually not how, the actually impact on your head. They were saying a low percentage of the concussions were coming from the fights. It was actually the hits up against the,

the boards and your neck whipping around. It's your brain hitting off your skull. So that was really interesting. It was 5% actually, which was crazy from the fights, the enforcers hit in each other. Only 5% were, concussions, then 95% were actually on the ice around the place. So yeah, I think, you know, rugby's a

terrible game for the concussions. You know, you get tackled, especially in the back row, as you said, with James Askell. James plays the back of the scrum. So he would have played, you know, six, seven, and eight, as far as I'm aware during his career. And there's a lot of tackling there, you know, a lot of impact on your body. It's one of the most physically and sort of dominating positions in terms of running with the ball and getting tackle with it straight into guys. So, yeah, listen, it could be a way he'd be fighting if he, thought there was something. Like he his brain would be monitored, right, in that sport.

Well, so they tell us. Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure the guys do a good enough job there to know how their, their, their players' brains are in preseason. Like he seems sharp. Yeah, he is. You know, he is. He's a sharp guy. Sky F. Mann has a pundit a lot of the time. So. Richard and Judy, son. I mean, it goes out with their daughter.

That's right, yeah. Yeah. So, um, you might have seen him on. He was on loose women. And I know, he's been on all these mad sort of daytime programs, talking rugby and stuff. No, very articulic. He's worked for BT Sport as well in the past. With the UFC coverage, he went out to James. He did a little bit training. He's been, I think, boxing for five, six years,

and he's been doing jihitsu for six or seven years. So I think he's going to surprise a lot of people, man, to be honest you. I hope he does. Actually, I genuinely hope he does. Hopefully we'll get a word with James soon. I have reached out. It did not go well. We'll get onto our boy, Corbs.

He can drop him a line. Yeah, Carbs, man. Corbs have come on. Corbs got a bust a rap for us about this interview. That would be the best thing that got. If anyone's ever seen Corby's rap, you have to go on. Alex Corby Sarah, the greatest rugby player who ever lived. And he did a rap about Northampton, when Northampton won the Premier League,

was very funny about Saracons. Haskell played for Northampton, right? He did, yeah. Only last year, though. Oh, really, okay. So, like, he's, that's how, you know, he's only a year. You retired this year? Yeah, he didn't play an awful lot of games last season.

But, yeah, he's, you know, the guy is going to be fit. I think he's going to be a big, big problem for whoever he's going to get his hands on. And listen, they will match him up. A big problem for the guy who's never fought before. That's what I mean. They'll match him up with someone, you know, to his level. But his level could surprise people. But his level is seven years of training.

Surely enough, he should have a pound with a bit of history. Yeah, well, like, maybe he will. Yeah. Call up, Pandard. Are they setting up with Jack Swagger fight down the line? Call of Pandra. Let's get him in there. Let's get the Punisher back.

Yeah, let's do it for Ireland, call. But, yeah, I guess that's all we have for us this week. We've loaded his up with three interviews. So he is, you should thank us for that, to be honest. This is the real, Pete. you. That's what I get. You tank me. It is me. But, yeah, now, it's been an interesting.

And I'm also moving house at the moment. Yeah, that is. So it's a fucking nightmare. Yeah. So, that is, that is, I reckon. My wish I was making country.

I mean, I want to fucking give me a visa, sponsor me. Hit us up. I don't know I'm a graph for. Let's just end this shit before we got ourselves in trouble. I'll probably get

deported from my own country, if that's possible. Fingers crossed. Right. Thanks very much for listening. We love you. It's all. about Abu Dhabi next weekend and that

Fedorway tournament, of course, with Pedro Carvalio and Adam Borix representing the Europeans at the Bellator, Fedorway tournament, whatever is. Just one for you? Are you excited about Abu Dhabi? The fight card? Top two? The top two fights are really good. Like, I mean, Khabib's a genuine superstar to go and watch him fight, which I have done before.

Yeah, it is. It is an honor, definitely. And just to see how he's received in that part of the world, I'm really excited about it. I can't wait to slate Beatty Sport next week. class for the pay-per-view all about it we're gonna be fucking talking about it also i'll just i'll just face time you during the phone we'll be talking about i'm talking about the podcast next week all right yeah yeah that's pay-per-view is it yeah jeez all right well look we'll love you's mhm give them a kiss down on see us later