MMA Fighting - Eurobash: Episode 65 (w/ Jai Herbert, Aaron Chalmers)

Episode Date: January 7, 2020

On the latest episode of Eurobash, hosts Peter Carroll and Niall McGrath discuss Conor McGregor's latest pre-fight comments ahead of UFC 246. Featured in this year's "European Prospects to Watch", Cage Warriors champion Jai Herbert joins the show to talk about a breakthrough 2019 and his hopes to claim a UFC contract ahead of March's London card. Aaron Chalmers sheds light on his friendship with James Gallagher and looks forward to his bout with Austin Clem at Bellator Dublin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy New Year is episode 65 of Eurobash. We're back. I'm sure it was a horrendous week for you all last week. Trying to figure out what else we can listen to, but it's okay. Your queries have been brought to an end as the dynamic duo return once again. Noel, how have you been, my friend?

We're very close to this big, big fight on January 18th. I'm great, man. Very quiet Christmas, so I'm not really feeling the blues as much as other people. I wouldn't imagine for once in my life heading into this January. Yeah, but looking, very much looking forward now to a big ear, Mix Marysharts ahead. Obviously starting in two weeks time. And happy new year to everyone.

I love you all. Yeah, of course. We hope you had a great one. It's nearly been like a roll reversal over this Christmas because I drank the face off myself. And Noel's been quite a good boy. But I did my best to keep an eye on the news. I didn't succeed.

But I will give it a go. I have four or five points here to fights I've made over the holidays, which I'll be happy to run through if you'll be happy to listen to me, Noel. Yeah, yeah, why not? Let's do it. This is number one.

Leon Edwards and Tyrum Woodley reportedly targeted for UFC London, even though we told you two weeks before that report came out, it is still targeted once again. Mike Grundy v. Makwan Americani is going to happen on that card according to our good friends of

MMA Viking. Nad Naramani v. Nick Lentz is going down on UFC rally on January 25th. Arnold Allen already on that card, I believe. Loron Murphy v. Gabriel Benitez is on that London card as well. That's a big test for Loran again.

Two really tough test he's had since he came in. Took Hugoff and now Benitez. O'NQ. Delaba against Magomede Ankeloff is on the Norfolk card in late February. And Davey Grant will take on Louis Smoker on March 28 in Columbus. Yeah, that's them all. You know, Leon Woodley, is it going to happen? It feels like a lot of talk still about it. Nothing quite happening.

And of course, Leon Slagging, the rap career of Turin Woodley did not go down too well. Tyrone's saying he won't sign if he keeps on slagging his rap music. Yeah, listen, you don't know what's going on with Tyron, and I know he said before, he doesn't want to fight overseas, etc. Pay the man, let's get it done. Pay the man, get it done. He's fought in Shanghai before, I believe, so I don't see why he wouldn't want a trip to London if he's not going to fight overseas.

But yeah, listen, either get that done, get Darren Hill, Hermanson done, get something done. I think just need to get a date an amsy stage because it is sort of frustrating for the fans that they don't know what the main event is and the tickets are in sale again in, like, I think, 20 days time. Yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely. Of course, the big talking points of the last week or so is the fact that Connor McGregor and John Kavana have finally broken their silence, so to speak,

ahead of this fight camp. Huge interviews with Oscar Willis, our good friend. Number one trending on YouTube, the McGregor interview. And this is, I thought it was quite interesting because I began the year kind of thinking there's nothing about this fight. There was no buzz.

But a few things that have happened there, including them interviews, Connor number one on YouTube. There's also been an ad during the playoffs or the World Card matches. I saw Ariel and Damon tweeting about that. Yeah, on Saturday night it was the great game, actually. I don't really watch it.

Oh, I heard, yeah, the Titans and the... The Titans and the Buffalo Bills. I came in from work and watched it on Saturday night, and it was cool. Yeah, I did. I noticed that, and it was... You know, that's obviously a massive... spot to have that on during that game and you know the americans are glued to

those games as well because they are the wild card playoff games and they're you know there's no simultaneous broadcasts you get to see every single game so it's huge huge spot and i think a lot of people tuned into that game as well when the comeback actually started to happen from uh from the from the texans and that's when the ad came on was it oh brilliant um yeah look that's great that's all huge spots but look i tweet about this if nothing shows the lack of interest in Ireland more so than the Sunday independent writing an article about this fight getting the name, Donald Seroni's name wrong, they call him Michael Seroni, and they also said it was taking place on January 16th instead of January 18th. Like that's the mainstream

sports media in this country. Like, I don't know how else to exemplify how little it's kind of having a reverberation over here at the moment. That all could change. I'm sure the YouTube video has gone some ways into, the YouTube interview has gone some ways into stimulating interest, but still, I mean, across the board, would you say people are now chomping at the bit to see Connemar Gregory Donald Serroney on January 18th? Well, not here as we're talking about. No, it's very quiet and I think, you know,

maybe the fact BT sports as well of obviously going to be shown the fight here in Europe and pay-per-view and the UK and Ireland. They've actually started pumping up the broadcasts during their big games over the festive period as well. It might create a little bit of interest. I've seen that a huge amount over on. You were saying, yeah.

Every soccer match that's been on, it's been on two, three times. times they've mentioned actually on the broadcast as well during the commentary. But yeah, like people here aren't particularly interested. One or two, you know yourself, and people start going, oh, you're looking forward to McGregor, you know, is, you know, who's this guy, Serone? The usual sort of questions we get up to build up to a fight, but you're not really getting that as much as we used in the past.

And I think when anyone sort of mentions Connor's name, as we've said over the last year, they don't really give a shit. Yeah, yeah. It's very much a 180 of what it used to be four or five years ago. I don't feel any Buzzford. I feel it's very, very,

very quiet in Ireland and I'm not sure it's going to go down too well with the Irish public here. Look, you know, we were talking about this

before we, oh, we should say where we are, we are in Dunn and Cresenza in Dunn Drum. Noil's in like of the woods. Noel didn't even know it was a thing.

That's true. Unfortunately recommended Starbucks again. But you, what you were saying there about the media to me on the way up here. Like, I mean,

Paul Kimmage went to, McGregor fights. Ken Erley used to go with the McGregor fights. None of these guys are gone to this fight. None of them, no.

And they're the big, they're the big names in sports writing in this country. Yeah. Yeah, you know, our outlet is neither we're not going to be covering the events.

And my fighting is, our outlet. Yes, this outlet here. Yeah, obviously the outlet I work for hearing the Republic of Ireland. Yeah, and listen,

it's across the board, Pete, and, you know. I'd say, look, I can imagine Pundit Arena will send someone over. I can imagine the MacLife would definitely be there. obviously because Connor.

You know, I don't even know Severe are going to have people there. No, I wouldn't, I wouldn't bet on it. But, like, yeah, it's just, it's just like, what do you say anymore? Because we've pushed so hard, obviously, for, you know, I think we were getting in roads maybe a year and a half ago, two years ago, and it's just sort of falling flat in its face again. But it's not all that surprising for him, McGregor, but, you know? It's not.

It's not. It's not. It's not that surprising for me. But we need to talk about these interviews. Yeah, we do. huge of course huge amount of traction on these interviews

I guess the positive as I took from Connor's interview is he looks in great shape and like you know he sounds very positive like he's saying he wants usman he's saying Habib is scared you know

the negatives are I don't really believe him you know like I mean I used to when I saw him being interviewed it was like it was so off the cuff it felt like there was so much width, charm, charisma. And this, there was no funny lines in these interviews.

It was very, very serious. Did you find a forced at Parks? McGregor, no, I just found him very cautious to what he usually is, you know? I don't, like, I mean, he's saying the right things. Like, he's in the shape, like, he looks in gray shape, all this stuff, but I don't believe it the way I used to believe it. Like, I can remember I interviewed him in 2014 or 2015, and he was telling me he's going to be a three-weight division champion.

the UFC. Like, that sounds crazy now. Back then, I was like, I believed him when he said to me, because you knew he believed it. I don't know. Like, he might believe it himself, but it's the same thing as I got from the aerial interview back in the, um, for ESPN three months ago. The same thing I heard when I listened to that Tony Robbins interview. I was like, he's saying all the right things, but I'm just not buying it. Yeah, I agree. That error of, like, I could be wrong. The error of invincibility is gone. It could be, it could be, like, I mean, my, my opinion could be based on the fact that we had more access to him back then. We saw him. him at the height of his power, but certainly, it's not the same void. It's definitely not the same

vibe. I think that air of real sort of assurance and invincibility and what he's going to do and how he's going to set it out. But I'll tell you, you know, the one interesting thing where I actually did sort of think, you know, he had a little bit of a laugh when he mentioned Justin Gaichi. But he didn't say anything about him. He didn't have a funny line about him. He was like, oh, Justin says a lot or something and then Oscar starts laughing and he laughed. But, but, but, but, But what I think is, right, maybe... He used to say, like, the moment... He just wants to get this fight out of the way and be serious, right?

That's, you know, he's had one fight in the octagon in three years, right? He needs this win. We know how much he needs this win. Maybe he'll loosen up a little bit after this, because there is a lot of pressure on him going into this. You know, he talked about, you know, Gaci as well. As I mentioned there, he mentions, you know, oh, Gachys, you know, Bushons are being pushed by what I'm saying.

He thinks on line and stuff. He's hitting the heart. And he saw a little grin on his face when he said that. But where was the funny lines? Where's about, like, why don't we give Yoraya's chin a round car to make it walk around the octagon? Like, it's not, that's, that's hilarious. Where is the comedy? Where is the quick mind?

I think he's feeling the pressure. You know, I've said that. And I think that's what a lot of the interview was. It was as if as though he's a massive, massive chip on his shoulder more so the normal, he's a point to prove. I found, you know, points of it, very frustrated, maybe, is probably the word to use. Yeah, okay, yeah, that's a good point. And, you know, I think he's real out the Masval fight if we want to go down that line. I think he's, as you said, there, three-weight world champion.

You know, he got very, very sort of excited when Oscar asked him about the gold and the Usman. And I think it's more, I actually think it's probably maybe a more winnable fight for him. Usman? Yeah. The Mazbara, I'm not sure. I think he's a mile away from that title conversation, to be honest. Yeah, no, I think he is. And I think, you know, I don't want to see him go to weld the way, as I tweeted earlier on.

I think there's too much to do with 55. Yeah, then invite Leon, that'd be a good one. But, yeah, I just found... What did you find? Like, what, like, I mean, the positives that you took... But at least he took... At least he took responsibility, you know. And, you know, he was very much sort of contradicted himself

from what he said in the RLA interview. He said, Ariel, you know, there was resentment towards the camp. So, listen, let's hope that's been washed away from Conner's point of view. He said that it was his own lack of commitment that made him feel. that way, down fairness when he talked to Ariel, he was saying, like,

you know, it's, it's, he felt slyided, you know, by Kavana's saying that he, that he,

that he hadn't watched a fight, and by Kavana saying that, I can't remember what else it was, but we have, we have, we have, we have,

we have, the interview to talk about it as well. But that's the one that, like, I mean, I've talked about this before to Habib fight and everybody was jumping down my neck

and then he, yeah, the silence from the camp doesn't fill me with confidence. Like, we got one of two interviews before these two interviews. One was

Roddy with us. The other one was King Cowley with Severe before his fight with Brave. And that silence was never a staple of a McGregorham. In fact, he was in so many publications. It felt like he couldn't get away from him. You know what I mean? Like you'd be

trying to get away. It was all over the internet, yeah. Look, I understand that maybe this is a different process. That is his website. He is obviously making money off putting his interviews out there and not doing them for anyone else like that. big power match sponsor there at the front says to me that they're a big sponsor ahead of this camp

that also carried on the John Kavana interview so you know he's monetizing the media from his camp that's fair enough but I do agree so I think I just want to finish the point um like I have great respect for Oscar I said it before he's one of the the bright young stars in this media game but it's not the same McGregor talking to the Maclife as it is him talking to everyone else there you know like there's even cuts in the McGregor interview that we can see. There's visible cuts at the end of answers. And I'm like, I'd love to see what's happening there. You know, like, did he get a bit more passionate about something there?

It's just not the same. And has he lost that level of comfort that we saw that where he's speaking off the cuff, where he's joking, where he's effortlessly making these one-liners, these puns? Like, has he lost that level of comfort that he used to have with the media? No, I think so. I think so. You know, the Habib lost. That's where it comes from.

and things got so dark so quickly with that fight and the whole bill up to that fight. Then afterwards. Yeah, and afterwards. And obviously, you know, him being in the spotlight here in Ireland and being, you know, obviously in the US as well. So that's where I think the serious element has come in here. He's realised that he has to go out here and make not just a win, a statement. And, you know, when John's talking, we'll get to John's evening a minute,

but he's talking about four or five rounds, that doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence either, to be honest. So I think you're dead right in what you said there. when we get to speak about John and his interview. But it was just sort of weird. He goes, you know, he also said, here's some direct quotes and kind of, I made the changes. That kind of goes with what John was saying.

Yeah, it sort of links in in back. And then he said, you know, of a strong team behind me that are pushing me, guiding me the right way, and I'm guiding myself, which is the main thing. This is, you know, in a situation like that, you know, from most fighters, I'd speak to it over the years, and I'm sure you're on the same boat,

that they look for a leader, they look for the guidance, it's not that way around. It's usually so much respect. Like, it's nearly like, if you listen to Stoylbender talking about, um,

if you listen to the Stoylbender talking about Eugene Berman, he's like reveres him. Like it's like, you're talking about his dad nearly. I don't think it's, in this case, I think, no,

no, but like Eugene Berman, I can remember, I'm pretty sure he said this on the record, and apologies if he didn't. But I can remember we're speaking to him about John Jones and Stoylebender because obviously they have this beef going.

And I was like, I asked him the question on the interview. Yeah, it's in the interview. And I say to him, do you ever get afraid that you're going to lose control him? He goes, all the time. I worry about it and I think about it all the time. And he goes, but he goes, if it ever happened, a situation like John Jones happened with him where he's acting out like he is, I just have a few lads beat the shit of him down the gym. Trade him, trauma around, beat the shit out of him.

Yeah. Like, that is the type of fear you need to have your coach. Like a healthy respect and a healthy reverence, you know? Yeah, it's like the same with Eddie Alvarez and Frankie Edgar with Mark Henry. They look at him as a father. other figure. He's like his son. He says it to him and I think it's the same with, you know, a lot of the coaches we know. So I found that sort of surprise. That's a huge red flag for me. Here's another one, right? He says to Oscar at one stage, he goes, about a year ago, I started

to take things seriously. In the last year, he smashed a guy's phone in April. He hit a guy in a bar in April. And there's other things we can talk about that's happening in the last year. I mean, do you feel as though he's been in the gym diligently for the last year? I wouldn't say a year, I'd say the last... It's hard to believe, right, with all this shit going on. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'd say since the summer. I'd say six months. Late summer.

From what we'd see here in the Irish media and the allegations and things like that, you would think that maybe he's got his act together since maybe July or July or August. So I don't know where he's getting the year from because it certainly didn't seem to be, seemed to be the case. But we were questioned, this time last year, we were a question if he'd ever fight again, you know? Yeah, yeah, you know, that's it. So, listen, hopefully it's changed. A lot of questions.

A lot of questions. answer's coming from the interview. I think so, yeah. I do. I do. Definitely agree. John Kavanaugh, let's move on to John. Huge, hugely polarizing interview in the sense that,

again, let's start with the positives. He's saying that Connor's the best he's ever seen him. He's confident he can get the finish. He's confident Connor can compete at 154 for that title again. Once again. He's confident it's going to go to championship rounds. Yeah, I mean, that's all positives, I guess. But I'm, like, the negative is I'm left confirmed.

fused as to what John's role is in the camp after that. Because he says that Connor is basically doing this whole thing. He's saying their job is to get out of his way so he can do things. And when Connor has made a point of saying that the lack of regiment and structure led to his downfall in the Habib camp, and Owen Roddy has also said that to us. You're leaving him to organise his whole camp. I feel like that's a very stressful thing to do. Well, it's very contradictory to what Roddy said.

Roddy said to us or to you that he got the discipline back and it's a more regimented. training regime and then John's come out and said it's up to Connor he's I thought that quote was was absolutely fascinating he doesn't want to train he doesn't have to train or something and the other quote you know all of us getting out of his way yeah you know

I'm just I'm actually a little bit flabbergasted still that I'm listening to that again because I put this out right he makes it very clear in that interview that Connor is at the helm of this camp and I put that out there I'm like well you know last time he said the structure was a problem and then everyone's like I think he's been misinterpreted

That's a video interview. No, no, he hasn't been a missed interview. You listen to the question and listen to him answering. He said on more than one occasion. Oh, yeah, several times. About it. All of us getting out of his way. Then he said, Connor knows more about fighting than all of us put together,

which I think might be a little bit disrespectful to some of the lads. Yeah, of course. Did you hear Faris, a hobby talking about this? He did an interview about that. No, I didn't hear it for us. Faraz said, if it is a case where John is saying that this guy knows more than all of us, it's terrible. He goes, like, even when you're building an aircraft, right, take it away from fighting.

It's about the confidence. The same person that works on the left engine can, work on the right engine because he might have a flaw on that left engine and if he does the same thing in the right engine it'll be a problem he also says that when he's working with gsp he'll come at it in a different way he won't be like um you know it's more of a communication process where he says this is what i'll add in this is what i'll add in but he says at no point does he feel like he's not contributing something like you know he feels as though every time when there's a leader when they walk into the gym he farraz is saying what's happening foraz is telling them what drills we're doing

what we're doing today, this is sparring, blah, blah, blah. It needs to be structured. Fighters, I think, look for that in a coach, is they want that regiment in place, even with Paul and Duke. You know, it's very much, okay, we're doing our pad session at 2pm, then we're going to go off with Daniel

Vonderlae, you're going to do jits for three rounds. Look, look like the best fighters in the world. Israel, Assangellia right now. Horheem Azvedal and Mike Brown. Like, all of these people. But fighters need direction, and I think Connor's that I'm saying, all of them. I think he's, you know,

remember I, I, spoke maybe, you know, last year, a year and a half ago, that I wouldn't have minded seeing Connor maybe go off on a different route and do something else. And, you know, I still sort of think that because... This made me kind of feel that a bit, Martin. It's a good, it's a good fresh start. It's a good guidance. It'd be good discipline.

It'd be something that would, you know, obviously, regiment him in the right way, because he's clearly a guy who needs to be regimented. And I think, you know, he's admitted that in the past. You know, keeping him in the gym, that's when he's at his best, at his most focused. And, you know, I just

were you? I do. I worry you after hearing comments like that. There's a lack of real leadership. Here's the thing as well. This was another quote that was said to be misinterpreted by the greatest sports journalist in Ireland, Paul Kimmage, which, so I definitely doubt that there's any misinterpreted

in here. I believe that Kavanaugh said this and then later regretted it because he says this. Kimmage asked him like, you know, what's next for Connor? He says, I'd have to be convinced to go again. and then Kimmage says, really? And Kavana says, direct quote, yeah, I love him.

I love the whole journey we've had, but I'd need a good why. It might be Diaz again because he promised that fight. It might be a rematch with Habib. But if it was just, well, they want me to fight that guy. I think I'd say, I wish you the best. Here's a quote from the Oscar interview. I think his motivation is even more because the Diaz fight was definitely okay. We're going to train hard for four months.

I want to get that rematch. I shouldn't have got, I shouldn't have lost it the way I lost. I think that was the motivation and the mentality. This one is different because it's not a rematch against Khabib, it's just a fight. So he just said, like, I'm not going to do it if it's just a fight

and now he's doing just a fight. Like this is very mixed messages and we're not doing our job if we don't bring this up because it's very contradictory and there's no complete line. There's no definite thing that we really know about this camp at the moment. It's confusing for the fighter as well which I think is the most sort of

And look, detrimental thing if he starts hearing those things. Connor referenced that in his interview at Ariel. He says that, you know, he felt slighted by that. And I guess that's why it was misinterpreted all of a sudden. But he said similar things. And I think that when he did the true Geordy interview

and admitted he hadn't spouten to Conner since the fight. And that was, I think, sometime in, I don't know, March or April. So that was interesting as well. So again, that would fly in the face of the I've been preparing for a year. That's what I'm saying.

And there's been a lot of obviously making up doing here. And, you know, is that a good thing as well? That's another thing when I go back and look at that. you know all this this resentment that was that was there and it was he felt slighted as you said you know is that a good thing you can you make up a relationship like that you know in a six month period i don't know i think it's tough man i really do and i think they know each other better and we don't know them so you'd hope so like at the end of the day when this fight was announced i was like that's a great fight for connor um i still think it's a great fight for connor in terms of

the matchup the style matchup but these haven't i thought the more adhered from him the more promising it would say. Confidence you get. I don't. I feel the opposite after the weekends, yeah. And I think, I think as we mentioned earlier on, the four and five, you know, John Kavana has never, I don't think, gone outside of two rounds and his predictions. What does that say?

I don't know what it says. I'm really confused. It is confusing. You know, does it say that he wants him to go a few extra rounds to get back into the groove? Does it say that he wants, you know, that he wants, you know, that he wants Conner to show's case more of his skills? I don't know what it says. and I just did

it's all a bit of a cluster fuck at the moment in terms of how you're thinking but I guess that's the intrigue with Connor as well and man he's probably lapping this shit up people going on on Twitter laughing us but you know I think there is no there's definitely more of a serious element this year

and I think maybe everything that's gone on and he's feeling the pressure a little bit and rightly so and he should be feeling the pressure because it's a career defining moment if he loses this fight it's very hard to look at a way back for Conor McGregor.

It really is. Yeah, I mean, the Diaz fight's always going to be there, right? Is it? Yeah.

Well, I think they're going to look at it. I think they're looking at Masvedal next ahead of that. But anyway, listen. No, but if he loses.

Yeah, if he loses, yeah. It's obviously there, yeah. But... I can't see him finish a career without that trilogy fight.

Forget about it. I don't see it. Like, I still feel like, to be honest, like, I still feel as though, it's that much of a good style matchup

for Connor that he should win. I'm still confident. Like, I still think he will win at the moment. But that didn't fill me with confidence. Yeah. No, I agree. I think he should win the fight. Whereas Cowboy, we don't really know where he's at in his career.

See, this is the thing I was also thinking about. Cowboy does this every single one of his camps. Like, he's always the main lad, is he not? Cowboy. Yeah. Like, I mean, he is that bad motherfucker ranch. He just brings a lot of lads out there. That's what he does.

That's what he does, you know. Well, Cowboys, similar enough to that. But then you have, you've Tony, as well. He does the same thing up with Big Bearer and you know he brings but but Tony different minds they Tony does of a head coach he's someone yeah something tell him to do and I think he respects that but um yeah it's it's just odd um you know what man I don't know I think more questions and answered and yeah I'm not filled with confidence especially after hearing John if if we could ask John one question about it it would be why did you let him

fight with a broken foot against Abee yeah if that was the case and if something like that happened again during this camp would you pull him and would he listen to you if you said Connor you can't take this fight yeah I'd probably ask him um you know why did Connor question the you know the tactics potentially in that fight um in that I think Connor's answered that is the defensive thing you know we should have focused on his strengths more I thought it was very all going to kick in a kicking a wrestler in the first round remember look we all can't have Noel McGrane our conference That's it.

You're all kind of me. Tight-town experts. Right. Right. Let's get on with our first interview of the day. The prospect list is back. My European prospect list has proved quite lucrative for people to be named on over the last two years. 60% of the 2018 list went on to sign for major promotions.

50% of the 29th in list so far have gone on to sign for major promotions. This year, the featured fighter, the poster boy, if you will, of the European prospects list is none other than Cage Warriors' lightweight champion. Joy here, but thanks for that, Noel. He seems to be on the verge of signing for the UFC. It seems all very close. So we caught up with the Black Country Banger ahead of a big 2020, and we got his thoughts on whether it will be a possibility

for him to get his UFC debut at UFC London on March 24. So we'll be back in a few minutes to talk about what happened over the Christmas and to have a look at that prospects list. Thank you very much. Finally, we are joined by the man that we can reveal as the featured prospect to watch in 2020

it is the canon the black country banger the cage warrior's lightweight champion Mr Joy Herbert it feels like something big

is coming in 2020 Joy do you feel the same way as we feel? Yeah man I'm feeling very happy still yeah I hope

something big's coming mate but I heard nothing yet I'm still waiting on the phone call, to be honest, yeah. They like to keep you guys waiting. From my experience. That's all thinking, bro.

Doing my head, mate, I'm telling you. Is it fair to say that 2019 was the best year of your career? Yeah, most definitely. Most definitely, obviously winning the Cage Warriors World Title, you know, top belt, you know, former, it's been held by, you know, Conan McGregor, Fish Gold, you know some top guys we held that belt um so i got my hands on it you know it was one of the best things in my career so far but it's still a lot more to call you know what i mean and like i mean

it feels like like they had so many highlights in that year uh like the jack grack fight was unbelievable steve o'keefe one of the best grapplers going you you you kind of you got through his early storm and then c o't him and then of course carrizozo to sorry not carrizozo was it carrizo with the finish out the year with the first round knockout and then we're like you've done everything you need to do you've knocked off the top contender

you've claimed the belt you've beaten a UFC veteran what was your highlight out of that year my I don't know my best performance I would say my best performance but I like the old key fight I did I felt like you know

I was watching these fights before and he was getting people to the ground in the first round he was just like smashing and bum, getting the sub, quick thing, you know what I mean,

first round, quick ting, and then, Loez, it happened in the, in the fight, he got me on the ground, and,

you know, I weathered the storm, about three different sub attempts. I got out of them, and then I got to my feet and finished the fight. So I felt like, you know,

that showed, you know, my improvements, especially going to team renegade and the improvements I've made in such a short space of time. And like, you know,

That was my favorite moment I wouldn't say it's my favorite But that was my best fight anyway My favorite fight I'd got to say that Yeah, I agree with you Like what was really impressive to me about the O'Keefei fight Was it well I actually I thought the grand fight was unbelievable

The thing that was crazy about the O'Kee fight Was he completely dominated the fight Up until he gave you one opportunity And that's all you needed You took the only opportunity he gave you It's pretty crazy to see a guy Who has that kind of finishing intent Like, you seem to be able to smell blood

better than nearly any other prospect in Europe at the moment. Like you say, yeah, that's how I felt it went. You know, he was dominating the fight on the ground. But you know what? I knew it was going to go that way. But, like, I just stayed safe. And I just waited for my opportunity. And I just, and it was there.

And as soon as we got it, bang, it was over. No missing. Absolutely. Now, I know you said at the top of this interview that you haven't heard anything. It does feel as though everybody is feeling this is going to happen for you. Like even Graeme Boylan has not stopped saying it. This man is ready.

Even Paddy Pimlet, like a former champion with Cage where he's a guy who wants to be in the UFC himself. He was like, Joy's ready to go. He could go tomorrow. Like that there's no doubt about that. And then even Leon Edwards, who we still don't know if he's going to headline it, but it seems like him and Tyron Woodley could headline this card. He's saying it too. Your teammate at Renegade.

Are you confident at that at this? given moment that it will happen or are you kind of getting that sinking feeling? No, I'm not getting a sinking feeling. I feel it will happen, but it might not happen as soon as we're expecting. But then again, I think they might just ring and say, yeah, yeah, you can you win. But the same, obviously they've got to cut a few guys before I can get in and that's what they're saying. I understand it's a business at the end of the day. and, you know, they can't just keep imploring people as such.

Like, so they have got to cut guys and keep their roster a certain amount of people, a fighter, sorry. So I understand that, but I think they'll get me in, to be honest with you. I think, I think, so what I'm doing is where I'm going to get, I'll be ready anyway for when they're called. Yeah. That's what you've got to do. You've got to stay ready, yeah.

So, yeah. I feel like it's just, it would be so. perfect for you to debut on the London card if Leon does get that headline fight with Woodley because then you become so visible just by association because, you know, Leon has talked to you up so much. You've talked Leon up so much about the wrestling classes you've done with him. But I mean, if he's there on Fight Week and he's saying, hey, watch out for my teammate. He's unbelievable. He's a Cage Warriors champion. This is his first fight. He's a knockout artist. I feel like that's the perfect way for you to enter the UFC fray, you know?

Well, definitely, most definitely get my name about. And then I get me big fights, which I want. And then big names, man. Yeah, and it would be the beginning of the Birmingham Revolution, which we talked about the last time. I mean, it does feel like that area, and Renegade in particular, is just producing so much talent. Like, I feel like UFC London's a great jump-off point

to showcase that to the world. Yeah, most definitely. It's coming back to that game, what you were saying about, like, the SVG, like, O'Connor, and then all the other you know he brought all them through the anything like with Leon

and then he's going to start you know bring people through as well and then they'll show it shows how much talent he's in Birmingham on the Midlands at the minute and now like I feel with the best team in Europe

to be fair yeah it's hard to argue with it it's hard to argue with that point man so yeah that's what I'm saying we've got like some really top guys there we've got guys that just joined us at top level

Top of the road guys too. So, you know, we take all the continues. Yes, absolutely. I believe. One thing, one thing I love about you, I think it's fantastic. I love seeing prospects that still have a full-time job. Like, as in you are beating all this ass as well as doing a 9-to-5 job. I think that is unbelievable.

Can you tell me a bit about your job? Yeah, man, it's just that I'm, I was scaffolding. I'm a scaffolding since I was 17. Yeah, man, it's just been a graph light, to be fair. absolute graft but you just get used to it to be honest with you yeah I mean I just um I'll tell you this morning I got up at like

quarter past five I had to leave at six start work at seven in the yard you know unloading loading the lorries going to the job grafting in the job get back to the yard about R4 then bum

got home about R5 and quick to quit little like chill out and that I'm something to eat and that then go I'm gonna fly to the gym about seven I've been a bit of gym at the gym to the right couple to about

9 and that and then get home and repeat it again but it's one of them ones in it any of the day you got it you got it um leave my missy's pregnant now in it so um congratulations

yeah thanks very much uh she's got the baby's due in June so well I got to eat man and uh all the people got me you know I got a feed other people as well I really respect that

but yeah yeah it's all good man I enjoy it, you know what I mean. In a way, I enjoy it. But, like, obviously, I don't enjoy getting up early in the morning and that. Who does? You know, who does, in it? Like, but he says, it's good in it when you're earning it on his living, you know what I mean?

I mean, you know, it's a good thing. Do you, did you ever take, like, I know a lot of guys who are MMA fighters who also work full-time? Did you ever kind of give it a go of making it your full-time occupation, or have you always kept this job throughout your fighting career? Yeah, but I've always kept the job, like, I can't. just, like, yeah, I've always kept the job because I just, I like, I ain't really, I know I could, I could probably start doing PTs and stuff like that, but, um, I don't know what else to do, to be honest, I just got on the scaffold, that's all I know, I'm fighting, basically.

So, um, that's all I know. So, that's what I know. But one day, you know, it'll definitely, it'll pay off and I'll be, um, I'll be doing it full time. But I say that to you, but I do, like, you know, because at this level I fight at, I have to, like, have, like, have, like, have, like, four or five weeks off before the fight. So what I did my last fight with, Kent Carrizoza, five weeks before the fight, I had them completely off.

So a lot was obviously like training twice a day. And, you know, with Dan, Renegade in the morning and noise and stuff. So, you know, I have to still have to have time off. But, like, after it's, like, I flattened him on Saturday. And then I was back on the tools on Monday, you know what I mean?

So it's like, So I'm saying And I was behind my boss He's like, yo Get that job done Like I have I have obviously I'm really for him World Champion

You know That's amazing That's how it is Do you What do you think you're better at Are you better at scaffolding or fighting You tell me you just know how to do your own Oh fighting mate

Fiting Maybe that's where a boss is That one But You know If the UFC Comes along Joy Like

Do you feel like that would be A good time To step away from scaffolding Or do you believe that will be a constant you'll always have that in the background no matter. No, no, no, no. Now, I'll definitely be done full-time with the USC, 100%. You have to, anyway, with them level guys, you know what I mean?

Yeah, you can't have a job on the side really, I don't think, especially not like a full-time manual job like that. I'd definitely be doing it full-time. But more than bonus checks I'll be getting anyway. Not a big flat, I just don't need to work, big man. Yes, yes. Oh yo, the only time I ever see you as a braggadocious person or kind of swagger to you is after you knock someone out. I never see you talking smack that much.

I never see you trying to roll people up. And sometimes I feel as though, like I see I see guys with much less plot. It's way worse records acting like that. And I feel like sometimes when someone has a full-time job, when someone has, you know, as you have a child on the way at home, it makes them just a lot more mature. Do you feel as though, like having a job and having things going on outside the cage itself? Does that make you kind of a more grounded person? Because I sometimes feel that about you when I watch you. Yeah, I think you've probably hit the down on the head there.

You know, like you said, it's more, I'm just like, I don't have to explain now, but what you said is right, yeah, you know what I mean? It's like, I think people have probably got too much time in the hands. Whereas I ain't got the time, not much of me. I miss you to start posting. You need to post on Instagram, you know. You can go, I'm like, well, just giving that work. I'm going to have a quick coffee, a little piece of toast and that

before I've got to go to the gym. I'll be off putting this stuff on Instagram or saying all these shit people. I don't know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, he's just, he's one of them ones in it. But like, like I'm 31 as well, you've got to think as well, like, and a lot of these people are younger than me. You look so young.

You look so young, I know, mate. You know what I say black don't crack, you know what I mean? I wish I got freckles, man. I don't get it. Nah, but yeah, like, yeah, it's one of them ones, man. Obviously, I just can't, whatever, in it? Like, in the doubt, I just need let my fighting do the talking, really. Yes.

And I feel like a lot of people are normally when they're just, like you said, like people, like less, less, what do you say? Less applaudies, is that what you said? Yeah, they have less more, they aren't. Achievements and stuff. Exactly, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Like, I feel like, it just minds. as well so that's what i don't i don't even get into it with people on instagram and suckler just

wind up because i don't know what they're talking about basically and you don't you don't fuck all you've fought no one so i just he's exactly you can't argue be stupid can you so i just don't get into with people basically so i feel even if you're not on instagram joe i gotta tell you you're an amazing interview you're cracking me up here everyone's yeah absolutely but um just a final just a final question um you know we talked about like how much would this change change your life if that contract does come with a child on the way as you said you have a full-time job now that you'd be able to quit and focus fully on fighting like how much of a life-changing situation would that be um trust me it'd be amazing absolutely it'd be amazing

my son but the buddies as well i'll be have to i'll be have to concentrate on the m ms so much more as well it just be like it just be like my job so i'll be like doing it i'll just be doing it like as i'm going to my job in the morning. It just said it improved me like 10-fold as well. So it just changed my life, you know, and people around it as well. So I just go for the day, which is coming very soon. I'm still believing it. I believe it too, my friend, and I hope it comes very quickly.

A pleasure to speak to you, as always, my friend, and all the best this year, okay? Okay, brother. Thanks for the phone call, bro. Appreciate you. No, hassle. I'll talk to you soon when you have that UFC London fight booked, right? and what a pleasure it was to speak to Joy I feel like he will have a really big year

we're all pushing for him to get that debut on the London card it's been an amazing resurgence for him under the cage wire his banner hasn't it? Unbelievable man and I think the one thing you can take from Joy is just the improvements he's made since Leuze and Theresa McKee we've seen a little bit of Everton from him

and that resolve and that striking has come on 10-fold big big year for Joy in my opinion one of the top prospects in the promotion in Europe in Europe. I think it would also help him. If Leon does get that fight with Woodley, him being on the card and them being together all fight week

would push it to a new strategy. It always does, I think, when guys, teammates and guys in Oshut are on the same training camp going into a fight, it creates obviously a field good factor and there's a lot of momentum going in. They're working towards the same goal effectively and to have Leon's experience as well and making his debut under him with him

on the same car would be invaluable. I'm just going to go through this list very quickly. I know all of you have already seen this, so... Well, I don't know if all of you is that, but it's certainly out there if you want to. Joy Herbert, obviously, the featured fighter on this year's list. Next is Spetlana Gotzik from the Ukraine. She's fantastic.

She's only 23, 13 and 4. Won the WWFC title in September, I believe it was. Another guy I'm really, really excited about, and this recommendation came from Asha, from Eminie Nutt, and I kind of went into a bit of a rabbi. hole with this guy after he sent him me. Shamzat, Chimmyff. Unbelievable, fights at 170 and middleweight. He's sitting for the brave title as reported by Mn Mnayette. I think it's in February. So huge guy. Just watch out for him. He's got a beautiful upper cut knockout last year.

Really, really good. I put Morgan Sherrye on the list, even though I feel as though it's a really tough ass to see him beating Mads Bernal. He's got the following. He's from France. It's a big, It's a big area. It's a big neck of the woods. And really, if he does manage to somehow beat the unbelievable Maz Barnell, he will. Yeah, of course. He'll be knocking right in the door for the UFC. And I feel like he's a big commodity as well.

Cesarie Kessich, who got onto our radar through KSW. You know, Alan Murphy speaks very highly of this. He had four wins in 2019 after a two-year layoff, 11-0. Really, really good middleweight there. And look, with the last. We'd ask him cutting through the division the way he is. Kessie could be a guy who's fighting for that title next year. The heaviest record on the whole list is a fellow called Cusian Ask Haboff,

who is the WWFC Bantamway champion. He used to be the Fedoway champion. His twin brother is now the Fedoway champion. He's 20 and O, still lacking some really big tests. I think his best win is probably against Donovan Desme. He needs a big marquee win, I'd say, before the big international banners come after him. Mandy Baum, an SPG Ireland for it. I didn't actually realize this.

She is 6-0, and she won the TKO Flyweight Championship earlier in 2019. The last TKO champion that we featured on this list was Northern Cyril Gan, so maybe the German will have a similar trajectory into the main league, the big leagues next year. Modestis Bukakis, I felt like lowy heavyweight was a tough one, but, you know, taking out Martin Hamlet at night of champions, Martin Hamlet, I thought he was a given for this list this year, but Medesas has Catoed him and then

Betting the Siglia before the end of the year and Graham Boylan's calling him for the UFC usually Graeme Boylan is telling you you already the contract ever is coming pretty

swiftly afterwards Mansour shoot the F from ACA he's fighting for the flyway title in February as well I believe against another unbeaten prospect he's really really good

very very young and finally Stephanie Eger he might remember her from defeating King Raina earlier this year at Roy's and she also won the best Trow Award at this year's ADCC 2019 when she got a

Coneg on Gabby Garcia so no mean feet she was meant to fight on Ares fighting championship on their debut show earlier in 2019 but it didn't happen so I think with a promotion like that they are kind of positioning themselves as a feeder league for the UFC between Africa and and maybe France and Europe so I feel like that's a good place for the Swiss fire to be in rug rug it's quite yeah we wish he was

European, unfortunately he's not. No heavyweight's on this year's list. I didn't feel like there was a definite heavyweight in Europe that I was like, oh, he's brilliant. Yeah, well, I think the ones even in the UFC, you're sort of gone, you know, are they there, there about. It's tough to gauge. Last year's heavyweight prospect was Cyril Gan.

He was 2 and 0. That was show you to lack of town. That's my whole point in the UFC now. So it's tough to really gauge where UFC, sorry, European mixed martial arts, heavy weights are so um yeah don't blame me for that one it's it's it's a tough for divisions to to sort of nail out i'd say like this is this could be one of a lower percentage sign this is a bit of a diehard absolute hipster kind of look at the the prospects i feel like joy will be signed yeah i feel like that guy sham's at chimie f if he is able to be signed they should absolutely

sign him um but brave i'd say have him have a good contract on him if he's fighting for that title. Morgan Sherry, it's a very tough ass with Mads Bernel there at the top of the division. Yeah.

Mandy Baum, maybe because he's 6 and 0. That's a big record for a flyweight, right? Like for a UFC flyweight? Yeah, definitely it is.

And, no, I agree with you though in terms of Joy. Like when Graham's coming out saying, you know, and I think... That was Modestus you know,

he said that to us when we spoke to him in Dublin about Joy after that, you know, it mightn't be now but it'll be in the next couple of months where something has been resolved.

So I think it's probably only a matter of time before Joy gets on that and maybe they're even negotiating it now at the moment you don't know but Graham he plays his cards close to his chest in situations like that as we well know so and I listen I hope Joy does deserve it and I hope he does get that call because

you know he's a talent and listen we need we need more European fighters in the UFC and it's it's great to see him kick on and be so successful in the last 12 months will we take a look at what happened over the Christmas now there was only a few key cards it was the Belator Japan card would fade

R. V. Rampage. Dinosaurs. Noel was fucking really looking forward to it. And we also had the Risen 20 car which was absolutely

unbelievable. And there was of course the PFL. Maybe we'll start there because it's only really Brendan we're talking about another decision win. I mean,

you saw the highlights of that, right? Yeah, yeah. This is a problem. They just put it on air sport now. It's less easy for us to watch it.

It's more difficult. So I couldn't watch it to watch the highlights on it. You know, it's not the live stream online anymore since they're on ESPN. It's all the pain

the ass. There's no free prelims. I was scouring around trying to find it. I had to literally watch the highlights on their YouTube channel. They just showed a two-minute package. But Brennan, it was a pretty decisive win. You know, he picked him apart and without getting the finish. And it was, you know, a pretty straightforward run-of-the-mill win for Mr. Lottn Annan.

And good to see him win that. But, you know, it's a big, big year, I think, next year for Brennan. Oh, absolutely, absolutely. You know. He's going to have to enter the tournament kick on and win it. Yeah, like, I mean, I feel like... A lot of pressure on. Like, what's left?

Like, is Lance Palmer going to hang around to? again? Like he's won two million now in two years. I mean, I guess he'd be pretty confident he win three million and three years, but I mean Yeah, I think, you know, Lans Farmer. Are they going to give him a big contract? Do you going to make him that offer? Does he add much to the Federalweight Division? I don't know. It's hard to gauge

with Lance Palmer because, you know, Uriah Fabor talked about him for years. Like I never had any question about Justin Gage. I knew he was going in there and he's going to kill people. Yeah, I think we knew Gage did with the leg kickstop, which is left and right all over the race and the PFL. But you know, it's a difference with Palmer because, you know, Uriya has talked about him

for years and he's an alpha male and I think he trains to blow with Mark Henry and those guys now as well so it is it's going to be interesting to see what happens but you know would he been in the UFC already I don't know it's a hard one to judge it's a hard one to gauge and I think the only you know sort of way we can we can see that is if he wants to

stick around to win another million dollars a PFL or if he wants to really go test himself the highest mixed martial arts elite level feather weights in the world that are in the UFC but don't be stupid arounds make sure you get paid me this is not tiddy winks Fadar and Elyenko back to his best. He is the greatest heavyweight in the world at the moment after knocking out another amazing heavyweight. He was very relevant.

Quinton Rampage Jackson. Your comments, Noel? It was bad. Bernie the Dinosaur, that gift I sent you, man. Nah, listen, it's... That's not the way I want to see Quentin Jackson, man. Yeah, said it for how long, you know, Bellator of all these other young lads, it should be, you know, presenting higher up in their cards,

headlining their cards from a Bill Stairs out of them and they're putting on this garbage to watch. Controversial take for me Fadar looked pretty

fucking good. Oh, come on, he tipped him on the top of the head and he fell over. He tipped him plenty of times on the top of the end.

Yeah. Oh, come on. Look at Rampage. Totally out of shape. Big belly on him. You know, Fadar didn't look much better himself, in my opinion.

And I know he sort of mentioned that it was taken out context by some of the reporters backstage that, you know, he's going to retire. I think he wants one or two more fights to finish off in Russia.

Let's do Brock. Let's do it with Brock. Yeah, let's just do it. Like, you know, just end this misery. That's the heavyweights and the dinosaurs that the Bellator put on these cards. And I don't understand it. Like, Rampage as well. Like, these guys are way over the hill and way over their best.

And I'm not being disrespectful, but, you know. I mean, it's, it kind of speaks to your point when Quentin has to cut weight to make heavy weight, I believe you have to, like that's, it's not a good look. It's not a good look for the sport. And I think Bellator really need to get away, get away, from this in 2020, especially in Europe as well, I really want to, you know, sort of

make any sort of play to be, you know, compete with the UFC because there's just too many stupid fights like this where we're seeing dinosaurs in battle and, you know, you go watch fecking some feckin dinosaur kids program, you probably have... You're running out of staying there

on this point now. I am, yeah, I'm just, basically, the bottom line is I'm pure fed up of this shit and I think it needs to stop. All right, that's good. Did you see Michael Van Page? He absolutely brutalized Shinshow. I did.

Another win over a very good opponent that isn't quite elite, right? I mean, he's very good. The thing you have to say about Michael is, right, since that loss, he took a little bit of time off. He's got back in. And what's that, like three fights in like 50 days or something for MVP? Fair play to him. He's trying to get something to go going together here. I think we really, really need to start him seeing being matched up against the top two or three now at this stage.

people calling out, like Mike Morgan and particularly from Woe TV calling for daily VMPB too. I'm like Mike, but some of his callouts are a bit crazy. Like I mean, I'm not jumping up and down and see that fight. I'll tell you what I would like to see, he was on the same card. Give him Lorenz Larkin. That's a great fight. Larence is a really good fighter. He's a great striker. Great striker.

Totally underrated in his tenure here in the UF when he was in with the UFC as well. And I love that fight. And a great haircut. And a great haircut. And a really good dude as well. I like him. Yeah, he's a lovely guy. Really lovely at. Yeah, I love that. That's a really good call. We better have a look at Rising 20.

Lorenz had a good win on that card as well. Yeah, yeah, very good, but not European, so struck from the record. Is Lorentz not European? We don't play him in my name now. All right, fair enough. Manil Cape, huge win in the main event of Rising 20, which was a fantastic card. I think anyone who watched it from start to finish with Agree beats Koy Asakur, a man who knocked out Horiguchi in his last outing,

shocked the world, a huge name. Japan and Manil Cape now, the bad boy of Risen. I've been shouting now for a long time. Yeah, you have in fairness. I wanted him to fight Gala. I think they're perfect for a matchup, and I still do.

But this has blown open the doors for Roizen. They can now have so many matchups they can possibly make there with Manil Cape at the top of the division. Tension was on the card as well. Absolutely destroyed some lad. Is he 22 yet? 21 or something.

Crazy, y'all. He Hamasaki, great fight there. McCorra Wasakora Another great win Rina back to winning ways Tofik Mosayef wins the Lightway Championship

the Lightway tournament beats Patriki Pitbull Like I mean Jesus Christ That's an impressive impressive win To get there Like that

I mean and of course he's one of ours Which is great Uri Pahaska as well Defends his title Over CB Dalloway With a brutal left hook finish CB not surprised by that

I mean, we said it last we said it out of last show he's going to get knocked out he should have taken that suspension yeah you know a lot of like they're really the main ones from a European perspective

but really really impressed with MusaF beating Johnny Case and then Patrickie Pitbull that's crazy yeah they're two big names man and Patrick will Pitbull soccer kick the face off Luis Castavo

on the first round of that as well yeah I really love that card actually I love that on New Year's Eve, because it's in the mornings and you get it out away and then you're able to go and get about your business if it was just on at 8am instead of 6, I'd like it even more. Did you get drunk on here, is Eve?

Not too bad. We went to, my friend bought a house in City West, so we went over there. It was a great night. Congratulations to Hingo and Emma on their house, but yeah, it was great, great, it was great Christmas. I got really shit-faced for the whole thing, to be honest. I didn't have one drink in here's Eve. Well, like, I mean, that'll probably make up for you drinking every other day over the the course of the year.

I'm going to be bullocks, I wish it is. Fucking, man. Yeah, I guess that's everything that happened over the Christmas. So we're going to go to an interview we did with the great Joker himself, Aaron Chalmers, ahead of the Christmas about Bellator Dublin, which we're gearing up for now in February. It's going to be a big card, one of the biggest card in Ireland to start the year anyway. So we'll have a quick word with Aaron Chalmers.

We've got some great insight on, you know, James Galaar and Kiefer Crosby and guys like those kind of rallying around him. Yeah. when he first came into the sport and basically making him feel part of something rather than everyone going, who is this guy? I hate him. And also, I ask him about Fame MMA, UK, because I feel as though it would not exist if it wasn't for Aaron Chalmers. So we'll be back in about 10 minutes for some showy talk, and we'll talk to you then.

MMAFighting.com, and I'm with Aaron Chalmers who takes on Austin Clem at Bellator, Dublin on February 22nd. Aaron, a big deal to have you in this neck of the woods. What does it mean to you? I know you spoke about it briefly at the press conference there, and I've seen you at these events in the past. So, I mean, what does it mean for you to finally fight in Dublin at the three arena? Do you want to look at the... It's been a long time coming.

Like I said, I watched my first show in Dublin, and that's kind of what God has hooked. The fans are amazing. And yeah, what better way to start my career outside of the UK than here. I'm just hoping I got a quality reception, which I'm sure I will. Yeah, I feel like you have a great... you have a great kind of kinship with the Irish fighters. I always see you're paling around with James and the likes of Kiefer and stuff like that.

I mean, have you always got on with the Irish guys? Do you know, Fair Pete, all the Irish lads, when I first started, them lads you've just mentioned Kifa, James, Peter, they always give us a good shout, whereas a lot of people, a lot of people writ us off, whereas they just were like, fair pay, you're getting in there and doing it, you know what I mean? So, yeah, I've had a, I've had a relationship with them as friends since then. Me and James getting really well.

I met James. I was in New York party, a party, you know, James. So yeah, we've got a good relationship. So it's nice to share the card with them. And it's nice to be on a main card in Dublin amongst a lot of Dublin fighters. So I feel very privileged for that. I actually do remember that when you say that about James, because at the time, of course, you bring a lot of controversy with you wherever you go. And he did come out and say, we need to respect that guy. Did that mean a lot to you at the time when he did that? Well, especially when he said it, I was getting so much hate. Do you know what I mean?

And I just like, there was seem to be all negative, no positive. So for someone who also gets a lot of here to come out and say that. You understood, do you know what I mean? And like people are criticising this for doing something that I wanted to do. Fair play, I might have jumped the rankings a little bit, but the end of the day, if you've got two fighters, one sells 10 tickets, one sells 5,000, who are you going to

employ, you know what I mean? Do you know anything about Austin Clem, the guy are fighting? I know he's an American, I know he's had a rapid assent as a professional, like he has fought a lot in the last year. Do you know anything about him in particular? Do you prepare for a specific opponent, do you always just worry about yourself? Do you know what is? My coach,

watched him. So my coach is watching, he gives us the game plan. I haven't had a chance to watch him yet. But I feel in the past, the fight that I lost, I was more concentrating on what the opponent was going to do. And I was kind of like, I was more thinking, oh, he does this, he does this. He come to a fight night and he didn't do anything

that I thought he was going to do. So I'm just going to prepare myself in every aspect. Then there's no corner that's cut then. And whatever he comes out and does, I'll be ready for. Who are you trained? Are you still with Renegade now? you with South Shields. I know you're with Alex Unland. Yeah. I mean, Unland's a legend of the UK

MMA scene. And I know that Team Renegade's a fantastic team as well. What forced to move? Was it just for practicality thing? So, when I lost, obviously, it hit us hard. And then when I broke it down, I broke it down, like, the travelling I was doing a week, like, to Birmingham.

Then my girlfriend was in Brighton. I was built, like, I was renovating a house in Newcastle. And I think it was like 25 hours a week just sitting in the car. So I can't. But because I didn't anything other than Renegade, which was amazing. They were amazing. I thought, I'm going to try it at home. I spoke to Alex, and he's like, I love to have you down. It's a great. He said it's a great challenge for him, do you know what I mean? Because obviously I was quite new at MMA. So now

I live 25 minutes from the gym and that was it. It was purely for practicality. And when my girlfriend moved up to Newcastle and her daughter and stuff, it just made sense to be there, you know what I mean? You are a new daddy, I believe. What's that? Not yet. Babies. born May the second so I'm hoping to get two fights in before the fucking madness starts what's that like I mean does that give you a new kind of motivation to you know to obviously earn as much as possible and get an even bigger spotlight although you're quite used to the spotlight at this stage juries it's like you know like I've now got something to fight for I've now got even though my missus has got a daughter and stuff now I've got a baby that we're going to be

relying on me for the next 18 years and it's kind of give us a new lease of life to try and push myself even more whereas I feel like in the past when I first started I would fight and then just go off for a bit. Whereas now the baby's coming, next year's just going to be all about training. Training in family life, that's me now. So long gone of the party days. I have to ask you this, right? Because Jake Smith, you'll know, I'm a fantastic journalist from Newcastle.

He told me that Clems, as in your opponent's second name, he says to get hitting the Clems in Geordie Talk is to get hitting the balls. Did you think about that as soon as you were? match with this guy? Not until you've just said it. And when you said Clems, I was like, ah, that's your ball, that's your ball, that's your balls. But yeah, I mean, he can hit us in the balls, he can hit us in the chin, but at the end of the night, like, I really do, I really do think back at 77, I'll knock him out. How different is that actually, without the, without strain in your body? Did you feel that? Like, when you were trying to get them catch weights in and stuff like that? Not so much the catch weights,

but when I first, um, when I first went down to 70, uh, I lost a lot of muscle. I was more, I was just running no strength of conditioning so when i was hitting pads and stuff when i hit him in the cage it was just like it felt like there was fucking no power do you know i mean so i've went back to what i what i've done at the start well i wait um not much weight a cut and i keep a lot of power so i'm hoping that i can bring that come fight night final question iron and i must say uh from the from the media point of of you have won us over you you came in and you fought many times you've taken on hard challenges but I saw this fame MMA thing pop up to your day. I know you're a big supporter,

but I was like, would this have happened if Aaron Chalmers never went to MMA? I don't know if it would have. I'm going to be honest, I don't think so, because my manager was a big factor in bringing fame over to the Newcastle show.

So yeah, I think I've got the ball rolling, and it's good because it gives other people a chance, people that maybe look on the outset, thinking I can do it, to see how hard it actually is when that cage door shuts. So on Saturday night, kicking off and I think

I might be commentating but if not I'll be in the crowd thoroughly enjoying myself I think it was very funny because I remember when it was just launched there were like and maybe the winner can fight Aaron Chow was like hang on a second lads like do people not understand that you will put yourself through a rigorous few camps now at this stage? This is the thing

like I think you know like people get ahead of themselves do you know what I mean fair play a lot of like Sam's been training at my gym but people do get ahead of themselves thinking oh yeah I'll fight on fame I'm going to be on Bellator. We're going to be in UFC, but it's not that easy. It's a different thing, isn't it?

Totally. It's a, like, I didn't fight. I didn't fight another reality TV person. I thought a kid who had 35 Thai boxing fight to my first fight. So there's a bit of a difference. I wish I thought reality TV store, because I could give them a few of them a fucking smack, but it never come around to it, but you never know. If the offer is in a few years time after Bellator contract, there's a few, I wouldn't mind giving the dig. Just finally, what way do you see this one going, Aaron? Do you have a prediction you were talking about it there. I mean, you've won by submission,

you've won by knockout. What does this one feel like it's going to be? John is, from what I've heard, he's South Pole and he's a wrestler, so it's going to be trying to just avoid takedowns. But then if he takes us on me back, actually, I've been training really hard, you know what I mean? But I'm going to go back to what I'd like doing best

in taking people's heads off. Thank you so much, Aaron. I'm on a pleasure. Thank you very much. Thank you so much, the Joker. Aaron Shalmers, a man who was fantastic banter on Twitter on Twitter.

Referred to you as Steve two weeks ago. I don't know if you saw that. That was brilliant. What did he say? He's gone. I love the podcast, lads. I love that co-host, Steve. Yeah.

Is that his name? I didn't see that. He was staring through my soul there. He's actually livid about this. I'm not happy. Aaron, I'm sorry. I let the cat out of the bag, my friend. Sorry.

But, yeah, we have nothing really to. He was nice to my face. He didn't say it to me and Dundle. Oh, you know, this is a joke? Noel, yeah? I don't like jokes. I'll forgive him it's a new year I'd back chlamas and a fight

I'll let him off this time but yeah we don't really have anything to talk about so tell me like I mean what what what became of you this Christmas that made you so T-told probably lack of fucking money in my bank accounts I'm not gonna lie to you

I spent a lot in presents and stuff and I was pretty much oh I didn't go out I just drank of me house oh no no yeah no I didn't even I didn't even bother man I was just Stevens Day I did now I did have a lot in Stevens Day

you sent us the picture of you on the tracks to respect Yeah, you got that. So I went over in Stevens' day, across to the wonderful Churchtown stores in Church Town. In fairness, the lads, like, the lads in there, they love me. How could they know?

I got about eight free points. I'm not joking, yeah. Lads are saying they're great guys there. Poor lads getting forward now. I did do a video for them, though, in fairness. So I think it was sort of even an up. But now, they're great guys in there. Full-neuder.

Great place. Full-nude, big. Yeah, shut the fuck up. Did a video for the pub? You can see in their Instagram page. He spread them. He's smiling and blushing. Basically, he went over for one of the lads,

a couple of points before the United match. And Gerr pissed off then and he goes, oh, I have to go home for me dinner, I'll see you after. So I end up staying around watching the United match on my own. Then a few more of my mates came in by accident. Then I went home for a few hours. One of the lads called over, we'd load of beers, kept drinking.

Then I went back over to the church-end stores. Then over to Glenside, then back to Jerr's, stumbled home, like literally stumbled home at about 5am. So in that one night, you were in my night. pubs than I was over the whole Christmas. Probably, yeah, but I didn't, I didn't drink much. I didn't, I didn't actually, that was only the only night. I didn't go out in New Year's.

Yeah, that was at a few points on Christmas Eve. Very, tame it. I didn't have a point at all. I don't feel great. I never feel good because I'm so unhealthy at the moment, but I feel way better than I normally do in January, which is great. Yeah, I'm actually pretty all right. I've been trying to detox myself down because I have to wear a suit at this fight,

and I can't fit into one anymore. Oh, shit. Yeah, put on a good stone there over the Christmas. So down six pounds already, but it's going to be toucher-go. Yeah, but it's, you know, the thing is, you know, over Christmas and stuff. And, you know, people moan, they're going to January on. I'm going to do this. Fuck your New Year's resolutions.

That bollocks quitting stuff. Don't depress yourself at the month. Take it easy. Do what you fucking want to do. If that suit fit me, I'd be doing absolutely nothing. It's ridiculous. They're idiots, all these fucking, you know, plankers going on, man, what's your new. News resolutions.

New Year's resolutions are just fucking for the birds. stop. It's easy for you to say being so perfect and all though, isn't it? Yeah, it probably is. There's no improvements to be made with you, Noel. No, there is not. No, listen, I don't like people getting themselves

and then not about things in January. Fuck it. You know, wait till February to do that or end of January. Well, like, the one thing I take from this is that you're still the same positive guy that you've always been. I'm trying to be positive.

So, yeah, now, listen, it was a quiet one, but, yeah, grants. It is what it was. I got Meldy and me, Gaff. on Christmas Day and I didn't realize how drunk I was. Elaine made me this cocktail kit thing because I always, whenever we were out in town,

we go for dinner and I always get a cocktail in Roberta's before I go home. It's called a boiler maker. And Elaine got me all the makings of it. Jesus. And I had like four of them before I went around to Elaine's Gaff. My brother made every one of them. I didn't.

I was scutted, man. Two glasses of wine on Christmas Day. I was walking around the car into Elaine's Gaff going, you are fucking meldy, mate. Like, you are not going to be able to speak. But I got in, did all right, stayed awake for about two hours and then calmed out obviously but

glad to see everybody getting involved with the Stevens Day track suits, you know, gave us a lot of looks there. I woke up really hung over after all those cocktails and all the beers and I still gave us three different tracksuits to choose from and it was an eventful day even Reggie had a track suit was fantastic but

yeah it was a good one. It was a good one great to have me little niece Lucy she's three so she's buzzing for her. That adds a lot to it doesn't it like when they're kind of so excited and so six or seven of the little fuckers running around and wrecking your head and yeah that's good crack

like but uh yeah I was actually just working a bit as well I was football and there's loads of stuff on during Christmas so

kept me how many shift the job over the week there from hello four or five four yeah yeah I was in a lot

like the last couple of weeks so I was in all the busy sort of days with the football on and rugby so tired as well like working late and the evening

over Christmas as a pound the bollocks but I was good crack good crack good crack sure I wasn't complaining but

but I'm looking forward to the year mixed martial arts Look what we have coming in the first three months Well this is like This is a pivotal pivotal thing

On the 18th of January Massive Against Michael Serroney I mean Donald Soroni Michel Serroney A French waiter That's a sense of rad But I mean it's

It feels like there's a lot hanging In the you know Waiting in the wings For what happens there Is Connor this guy I mean if he is better than ever As John Kavanaugh He's gonna run through

Donald Zerone If that's the case If he's better, if Connemerre is better than he ever has been, this fight won't go one round. That's why I'm, as you said. Were you the four or five? Why would you say that? The best version of Connor McGregor doesn't go five rounds. No.

So, no, I agree with you. I think there's a lot on the line and there's a lot of pressure on Connor as we've talked about in that interview. A lot of pressure on John as well. Yeah, there is a lot of pressure on John. But the UFC are clearly looking at Connor as well. We probably haven't talked about Dana did an interview last week. and you know I think what's he said sorry he was just basically saying

you know it's a big fight for Connor and you know I think a lot will depend obviously on the result of what he's going to do in 2020 and his season and stuff like that you know wins obviously to take it's taking on a new life of its own everyone's talking about it so I think a lad fighting three times in the year is not that strange I think yeah it isn't yeah it's that's it's bonkers but I think there's a lot on the line for the UFC as well

and they want Connor to win to make no bones about if they want. What do you think of the theory that I'm seeing that they actually don't care and they're not pushing this as much as they used it? Just to hear my point for us. They're fucking out. So they're pushing out this and they're not promoting it as much because they're saying to Connor, oh, you want some stock in the company?

Show us how big you are then. Like John's on there, like on Twitter kind of giving out but saying that we're making a big thing of the Irish people aren't interested. This is going to break the pay-per-view record. It's not going to come nearest. sniff that now. That's not going to come near it. Not a chance.

Do you know what I mean? Do they have, in the UFC's mind, do you feel like they're still putting all their apples in the Conor McGregor basketball when they've like Israel Adasania, Jorge Madsvidal, all these emerging stars? I don't think so. Not all of them, but... But it certainly was that for a long time.

It's certainly an area in which they need to... We say this every year at the end, every year. They need to do more with other fighters. And in fairness, they've done a lot this year with certain fighters. But that's an ongoing process. And, you know, Connor, in terms of the company, what they have at the moment, probably is to steal, you know,

the biggest draw. But, you know, Habib's knocking on the door. Mazda is knocking on the door. That's probably pissed off Connor as well to a large extent. But at the end of the day, the UFC do need draws, and they need pay-per-view draws like McGregor. And I think I don't necessarily think they're trying to get away from them, but they're probably just making them hungry.

And I think it adds to the pressure as well, you know, another thing that we probably haven't. Does he remain as one of their big draws, he loses this fight? No. Do you think he's down to like three or four or five? But we see it happen with every fighter. Yeah.

You know, all our sort of... Even Brock Lesnar. That's what I mean. You know, people sort of lose interest when fighters start losing. It's a sad state of affairs. It's a sad state of the way. It's a fickle industry. You know, we talk about it.

You know, a win does a lot in Ireland. It does a lot in America. It does a lot for any sports personality. Look at Ollie Soldier, for example. Oh, brilliant couple of games. You know, and now when he's... Yeah, exactly. That's my point.

That's my point. They don't want to know about him again. you know it can change from a week to week basis but yeah i still think the ufc very much are in conners um you know they want connor too much right in line a bibri match potential narrative with ferguson as well then you have obviously mazvral if these other guys there's way too much money there for the ufc not for them to want connor gregor to lose this fight and on that note we will leave it for this week great to be back with the the man with the earphones I'm scared

I don't know what to fuck up I'm a great The legend The Southside King Yeah Doesn't even know His own neck of the woods Enough to pick a fucking coffee house

Imagine coming to Blanchtown I go on Pizzi Where's good to go on Blanchetown I go to Blanch Center I'm not like all you You posh North Siders Going out drinking fucking coffee every day You drink coffee every day

Yeah at home I don't fucking go out And pay 16 quid for a book You do Starbucks Yeah I don't Every recommendation Starbucks

It's just a fucking Every recommendation You're a tourist in your own city My friend my friend but thank you very much you should move back to gildare you know that like the back your hand i don't know why you're talking about love his loads see us next week look