MMA Fighting - Eurobash: Episode 74 (w/ Martin Lewandowski, Jack Shore, Graham Boylan, Joe McColgan)

Episode Date: March 17, 2020

This week on Eurobash, Martin Lewandowski (14:00) discussed the cancellation of KSW 53 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Jack Shore (40:00) gave insight on how he's dealing with his UFC London fight not going ahead. Graham Boylan (1:08:00) underlined his insistence to put on Cage Warriors 113 this Friday night despite the cancellation of multiple events. Joe McColgan (1:28:00) shared his thoughts on going from having no opponent to fighting for a Cage Warriors title in the space of a three-minute phone call. Hosts Petesy Carroll and Niall McGrath discuss the latest news in European MMA.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome. It is episode 74 of Eurobash with yours truly, Peezy Carroll and the one and only Noel McGraw. It has been a tumultuous week in MMA in sport around the world in general as coronavirus gets the grips of the globe. But we are here as always to take you through the latest thrills and spills from the scene. Noel McGra, how have you been, my friend? I'm good, man. I'm good considering the circumstances. Being a, a, A busy day to say the least today. And obviously, you know, just sort of, I don't know. Have I woken up from this dream yet that is the coronavirus and how much it's escalated since we even spoke about it last week? It's pretty fucked up, man. But yeah, just trying to get my head around everything, really. Yes, absolutely.

So much has happened. Indeed, so much has happened that this is the second time we will be recording Eurobash today. because we recorded about four hours ago and everything seems to have turned on its head in that time. So we had to come back on because we were very out of context we discussed what was discussed on the original show. So we had to come back.

I mean, incredible day. I seem every day just feels like there is a month's worth of news in it at the moment with this situation. Something that we've never dealt with before, obviously something that's very serious and something that's changing the way we live day to day, I suppose, now. Oh man, yeah, 100%

like I'm shitting myself going over to the shop, you know what I mean? It's mad. I can actually do it as shit as well, you know, or no better go. That's a personal job between myself and Beattie. But yeah, it's just mad, man. It's crazy.

It's affecting everyone. It's affecting, you know, look at Italy, like it's just horrifying. It's just incredible. People just need to listen to the government, do as they say, quit reading and sending shite on WhatsApp. That's really bugging me.

False information. So go to the Twitter, Facebook, reputable governmental organizations to get your information. It needs to be taken incredibly seriously and it isn't, as we saw here there, you know, last weekend with a huge amount of people flocking at Temple Bar and stuff like that. Yeah, absolutely. And I was saying this to you earlier. The way WhatsApp has reacted to the coronavirus gives a great insight into what it is to be an an MMA journalist from Ireland

with the amount of Connor McGregor's stories one here's I don't know how he managed to be in every corner of Ireland at one time every weekend but that's certainly what it feels like when you're getting pinged out of it on WhatsApp every weekend definitely but am I going to try and run through these headlines again I think I'm going to get lost to be honest because we've been

cutting things out adding things in all day here so let's give it a go anyway here's the headlines UFC London UFC Portland and well all the The U.S. events for the next month have been cancelled due to coronavirus. KSW 53 has been cancelled due to coronavirus. Beltaire 2-4-1 cancelled at the 11th hour last weekend due to the spread of coronavirus. Leon Edwards has withdrawn from the potential makeshift bout with Tyrone Woodley via social media.

Cades Warriors has moved to Manchester after AEG pulled their venues on Monday. David Martinez, who was meant to fly to England to fight Paddy Pimlet on the night, was unable to fly due to the coronavirus curfew in Italy, and Paddy Pimlet now faces Decky Dauldin, a huge fight there. John McCauldgain will now face Mason Jones for the vacant Cage Warriors' title, which is an incredibly interesting fight. Both guys lost their opponents, but I think you'll agree with a far more interesting fight from my point of view.

And John Phillips v. Zuko Todorovich has been, added to Cage Warriors a bout that was supposed to happen on the UFC London card, now happening on Cage Warriors in Manchester, not London, as we have just learned. Wow. Noel, how did I get on there? I got you out right, that is... You did well. The boy done well, as they say.

The boy done well. It's absolutely mental. I just can't get over the amount of developing stories here. And just before we've got on here to re-record the episode, Dana Hoyt's been on to say that Tony Ferguson and Habibner, made off is definitely happening. Is this wild talk at this stage, given the situation, how it's

developing and how we really don't know the scale of things to come down the line here? And I mean, is it a bit too much to be doing this? Or is he doing his job by getting his face out there on sports centers we saw there, the biggest show in sports? Thane is a head case. I think

we just have to, you know, understand that we've seen some of his behavior over the years. And it is. It's probably bad shit crazy. he's done everything in his power to try and put on these fights. The talk was, he said on that interview a few minutes ago as well, he'd Indian Reserve booked in Oklahoma. That's very unlike Dana to do something like that.

So that just says where his mind sets at. That's Bellator territory where he's going with some of those events where he was planning them. So Donald Trump has obviously said that in America, they don't want people in more than groups of 10 hanging out together. So in terms of Tony and Habib, you know, I said it, you know, it's a fight. he's always going to push for man. It's the biggest fight in UFC history.

And I think the way we see the market now at the moment, with no sports being live in television, Dana sees this as marketing 101 and promotion 101, where he can put the UFC in the world spotlight, the only live sporting event that's taking place. And like, listen, I get cravings for sport. Everyone would feck and tune into that. The numbers would be out of control.

And he's still saying it's going to go ahead, possibly out of the United States, as you mentioned there. And, you know, my thought, thought was Russia, but apparently Russia have now a ban until the 1st of May on their borders. So that's going to be interesting to see if that pans out. If the date's going to be changed, anything like that, I'm not so sure. But Dana is a mad sprout, and I think that's probably the bottom line to all of this. And, you know, I do give them credit, you know, in some ways it is sort of genius promotion

to think like that, even regarding the circumstances, I'm very much torn and all this. and probably shouldn't be going ahead but that's in terms of Cage Warriors or any sort of events to the moment but listen, Dana White is Dana White he does what he wants. Yeah, yeah, and we'll talk about how it's been compared to other sports

and the possible impact that we'll have later on the show but just you mentioned it there, Cage Warriors of Manchester, Graeme Boylan's on the show today but we did speak to him earlier on the day before the news of... Oh, it's been moved again, hang on, it's been moved to Limerick.

I'm joking. Oh my God. I thought you were serious there. I was like, what the fuck? Yeah, but look, this is gone, this is crazy. This is, this has gone mad now. You know, initially at the start of the day, we're talking about cage warriors being put behind closed doors,

the addition of Phillips' fight onto the card. It goes to that from Darren Stewart, as he says on the show, we put that out as soon as you got it. And then it's, the event is off. It's no longer in London. And now it's in Manchester.

I mean, that's going to have an impact straight away. Like I can see like some Londoners going like, I'm not doing that. I'm not going to travel to that, you know? I don't know. Like, I just feel like it's such a late change

in the game here. Now, as I said, we did speak to Graham, but that was before this had happened. And look, he's determined to put on this show. the way he sees it like his fighters want to get paid

we should recognize the difference between UFC and Bellator the financial backing they have and Cage Warriors which is very much a grassroots organization which Graham has been at the helm of for a long time if they don't have an event they have no revenue they need to have a they need to get these voters paid get the money to get them paid so that's basically

what he told us when he came on here but is this gone a bit too far now with the Manchester situation though? Yeah, it's going to be interesting, as you mentioned there, you know, if some fighters are even in the UK going to willing to travel up and participate in it because it's just, like, you know, travel restrictions in place, it's going to be very, very difficult. So I think this is going to write down to the wire. I just hope we don't get to a case again where, you know, guys weigh in like we saw at Bellator and, you know, everything being called off at the last minute. That's sort of nightmare scenario. But listen, everything is literally changing to be said.

from minute to minute. It's just been a mental day. It's been a mental week. And I think I'm sort of, I'm at peace with whatever happens at the moment, to be honest you. I just don't really have, I'm just so conflicted is the issue.

I think, yeah, I think the unpredictability of how it's been and how erratic it's been is nearly exhausting. You know what I mean? Like the fact that the, it's on, it's off. It's going here.

It's over there. this person you know it's it's all over the place and it's it's just a very different landscape at the moment it just becomes a comes very confused at some points but um you know is great is graham doing the same thing as dana essentially because you know he's featured on all these sites now like he's he's he's one of the biggest stories in m m mary at the moment because of this event is is that a similar thing you see the boat kind of putting themselves out there as a promoter here 100% they're they're pushing their sport to new audiences and new heights.

That's exactly what they're trying to do here. And listen, all promoters are a little bit bat-shay crazy. And, you know, I think we know Graham is as well. You know, I like Graham. It feels like you get 30 for 30 nearly, right? Like, it feels like it could be a story of one of them, if it goes well. But I think this whole thing is going to be judged on how bad this gets.

Like, if this gets really bad, and we're looking back in time at this and we're going, Jesus, daughter are thinking, you know, it could be a bad one. Yeah, it's one way. But I guess we don't know, right? It's gone one way or the, other, you know, I don't think, you know, if Dan is trying to put on Tony Habib and he gets that

over the line, like, I don't think anything bad is going to come with that if those two throw down. I think, you know, as you mentioned, 30 for 30, that's going to look back in like 50 years time. The night UFC and CWFC collided against all odds. It's, it could be heroic story or it could be a fucking absolute disaster, one of the other. It's one of those ones. But I've just seen a, I have to read this out to you. An unnamed MMA agent has said, rumor has it. UFC is entertaining an option of chartering a megayot to hold Team Kabeb versus Tony Ferguson on international waters. Yes, I started this rumor, but maybe it's crazy enough to pull off.

What the fuck? Well, that's just a random deal with taking the piss, then. Stop you. Stop storing up this nonsense. Not a bad idea. it. Ah, but it's just it's so crazy, right?

It's just insane. Well, would you, I wouldn't, I wouldn't put it past them at this stage, what's gone in the last week. But isn't it like, it's like hard to even think about this stuff. Like,

like this coronavirus thing is real and it's, it's significant. We're all here talking about, with even Tony. It's like, you know, this is crazy. Well,

maybe it's a fact of it hasn't hit home with, with the Americans yet. Like Donald Trump was in total denial until literally the last couple of, days about it. He said it was a hope so a week ago. Before we re-recorded it. Like we had to do it. He seems

to be taking this a lot more seriously now with this 10 in a building in a situation, right? Exactly. Well, that's my point. Like maybe because I noticed that a big shift last week, we seem to be way more panicked about it here. Obviously what was going on in Italy and Spain and the spread of the virus.

And it was interesting to note I think it was last Wednesday or Thursday. something happened. I think what was it with the announcement the USC London car being pulled and then just the Americans just went, boom,

something's going on here, something's happened. And, yeah, it's just, it's just really escalated in the States since then. There's a lot more talk about it. They were sort of later to,

to the party. I shouldn't really say the party, but you know what I mean? Later to really realizing how serious it was, probably because of their president, Donald Trump. That's not going to do political now, okay?

Fair enough, Pete. Um, but, um, Look, let's get on with the first interview today. It's Martin Lewandowski, a man who pulled KSW 53 the day after we record Eurobache. Sorry, the day after we released Eurobash.

It was on Wednesday of last week. He basically talked us through what led to the decision to do that. And we talked a bit about the UFC's delay in canceling his events. At the time of the recording, USC had yet to cancel those events for the next month. So I got his take on that up to that point. Great to speak to Martin. obviously very personal concerns on his mind as well as his business concerns

but great to get the perspective of the promoter in this situation and Frank and honest as always was Mr. Lewandowski. We are now joined with one of the kings of European MMA the great Martin Lewandowski of KSW fame of course and this was one of the first

major promotions across Europe to call an event off in light of the coronavirus happened last Wednesday and of course we were all looking forward very much to KSW W53, but in the interest of the public safety and his athletes and his staff, Mr. Lewandowski and co, decided to cancel the event. But maybe, Martin, you can tell us what led to the cancellation of the event.

There was a lot of talk that it might happen behind closed doors. What was the straw that broke the camels back to make you guys cancel the event? Yeah, hello, everyone. Yeah, it's been like nearly a very nervous month. We've been looking at the news and trying to figure out and trying to have a plan B in case we have to cancel, unfortunately. We were forced to do it because of the situation and also in Poland. It's been everybody right now on the isolation and all the massive events were canceled. We thought and we had like an alternative option.

if, for example, the massive event will be cancelled, so we do the show without the public. But then another circumstances were known that in different countries, the coronavirus were so strong. So also that it comes to the kind of option that we can't mix fighters from different countries. But all our main events were exactly like, you know, mixture of. of different part of the world. So it was useless to do it and it was pointless and it was too risky

in terms of putting even the fighters and the team close to each other. So we decided to cancel the KSW 53. The KSW 54 is already

cancel and we are waiting if the May show will be on or we have to postponed or we have to counsel so we'll see but that's you know i'm watching news every every day couple times a day and trying to figure out what to do next but of course you have to be prepared i mean every businessman every every person who runs any kind of business has to monitor this and have in the back of the head some alternative options how bad is this for a business

I mean you guys famously have built KSW from the ground up you guys are famous in MMA circles for your business minds and how you put on these huge huge events that means so much to the Polish people and greater European fan base now at the moment but how much of a blow is this to KSW having to cancel these two events of course it's like

I can't even tell right now because it depends how long we need to isolate ourselves from doing the business. If it's going to last a month or two, you know, so there will be, it won't be a huge impact. But if it's going to stay like, I don't know, a half a year or a year, of course you need to change your business model or you need to find a different field to gather some income. So it's a kind of a good kind of exercise for the brain, you know, to find a way with so many obstacles. I'm not saying that I'm happy because of that, but I'm saying that this is kind of challenging. But so right now there is no huge impact beside the sorrow, beside of, you know, being sad, beside of, you know, paying the bills for nothing and beside, you know,

disappointing fighters because you had to counsel, you had to postpone it. So people who were involved, they need to wait, what next, and I can't tell them right now. Because in Poland, it's like two weeks, you know, isolation, quarantine, so it might be longer than that. So really, of course, you know, you need to, that's what I said before. You need to find the different options, but it's hard to take. what and how the world will look like within weeks. Absolutely.

You mentioned the challenge of this situation. Would you say this is one of the more challenging things you've encountered as a businessman and as a promoter? Yeah, I think yes. You know, I've been in the business for more than, I mean, 16 years already. So I think that's the most challenging because, to be honest, not much depends on us. You know, it's more, it's like usually where you, when the problems I'm facing as a promoter was something I could handle better, worse, but it was in my hands the solution.

Here, it's just like you can't control this virus. I mean, of course you can because of what the governments are doing, but still you depend on what the global situation, how the virus will grow will develop or how the economy, global, economy. We are living in the world when everything is connected. So, you know, problem in China will affect all countries around the globe, you know, the isolation of UK or, you know, so there are so many businesses which are linked. So it's really, it will be, that's what I say, a new world. And I think that people will come with that a bit stronger and a bit more with

a different with a different point of view. Yeah, point of view and let maybe, you know, we will change this some, some, our habits

in the better way. That's what I'm counting. Maybe I'm thinking too positive, but come back to your question. It's a good way to think. Yeah, but that's the way I'm thinking about maybe it's sometimes it's naive, you know, that you are expecting that people

are going to wake up and, you know, I mean, we are talking about the MMA, but just global, you know, the global problems, you know, are more important than our small, you know, piece of job we are doing, you know what I mean? So it's like we need to look in the bigger picture in many ways, and we forget about it. So, yeah, but come back to your question, this is the most challenging because actually, you know, you have very little options to do. or you are completely all in like more than 50% depends on what's going to happen in the world globally or what the government is going to tell you so it's like you know it's like it's hard it's tough you know what has the reaction been like to you guys obviously you guys mean so much to so many people and this event was going to be huge i mean you know obviously you know you had the return of gamrott materla as well as these title fights were Alberto Saldic, one of my favorite prospects in international sport. What was the reaction when you guys had to cancel this? What did the Polish people say?

I mean, there were kind of two steps. First, we tried to renegotiate with the fighters, you know, trying to save the event. When there was the time when we thought the events or any kind of gathering will be allowed in Poland. And some of the fires, to be honest, like kind of reacted, oh, why should I, you know, give something back? You know, it's not my fault. I spend so much, so many times a week, you know, in preparation. But I said, listen, but, you know, it affects me also.

Why should I pay by myself? I think in this case, you know, the circumstances, everyone should feel that it has to pay, like, you know. So it's not only the promoter. I know that everybody expecting that promoters are going to cover all the costs and will be the most noble man in the world and everything. But sometimes you need to stay on the ground

and make your mat. So that was the first impression I had and I was shocked with some fighters that they didn't understand how serious the thing is. Was that an attempt to where maybe because you couldn't take at this stage I'm thinking you're probably thinking you can't bring the public to this event so you were asking them to maybe take a smaller wage is that what was happening yeah of course we said listen because this is not the situation which is not going to happen only for this event because

if that would be this event no problem we postponed it or we pay you full price or something you know but this is the word we're going to face for another two or three or maybe even longer you know so we need to find a bit different business model so it can't be that I'm paying the full price to everyone if I don't get my full price back. You know, if my income is like, you know, it's like silly, you know, or now is zero. And to be honest, I'm preparing that half a year, I'm going to have a zero income. And I'm prepared for that to survive, you know, but still, you know, if the time will be, you know, close the borders, the borders will be closed and the basic events will be canceled.

and people can't move, can fight, can close, can touch. You know, so then we need to find a different model. I don't know, maybe the will organize show in England only when the English are going to be fighting. I don't know, in Ireland where Irish and Polish and Croatia are only Croatian, you know. So maybe that would be the crazy one. That would be insane. It will be.

Yeah, and the second, but when we cancel and people realize after it was, I don't know, it went so fast. I think it was like two or three days. And when we came back with the fighters and the teams and the managers that we have to counsel everybody. But really literally everybody understood and said, oh yes, shit, I know,

I'm sorry. You know, I understand. So everybody knew. I think sometimes you just need to give a little bit more time people to understand the situation and how serious it was. We've been dealing

with it maybe a bit closer and longer that's why we understood you know and people were kind of oh no i can i can deal with it no problem you know we'll find a way but unfortunately you know we couldn't and nobody can right now in the world everybody is counseling and it's like something which is what it's called major force no uh like uh what it's called there is a special word for for for for that. It's more like a... Yeah? You caught me off guard now.

You have nearly got better English than me, for God's sake, Martin. I can't even think of the word. It's kind of higher power, you know what I mean? It's like something which is just bigger than all of us. Absolutely, absolutely. And I'm guessing, like, because as you've mentioned, you know, there is no income coming in at the moment. I wonder, like, did any of the fighters get compensated

that were set to compete at KSW 53, or were you able to do that? No, no, no, no. It wasn't for the show what we've been thinking about, you know, some program for the fighters, but not, you know, it was too fast to, you know, it just counts. Absolutely. You know, pay everybody, because that's what I said, you know, it just, you have to, I mean, that's from my point of view,

that everybody has to face it and everybody has to pay the price. That's what I say. I'm not using this situation for anything else. It's just like, you know, you need to be realistic. Of course, you can stay and tell, you know, everybody that you're going to cover all the cost. But this is, you know, it shouldn't be the way, that way. I wanted to ask you, like, I mean, I think a lot of people commended you guys for pulling the event and light of how everything has developed since then.

I mean, this is a global pandemic, of course. But UFC have come into a lot of criticism for, you know, Dana White's comments that, you know, they're going to keep the show going as long as they can. They're not going to let the coronavirus stop them. A lot of people feel when you compare this to other sporting entities around the world, like NFN, NFL, NBA, Premier League Soccer, all of these events have been pulled. But UFC, who are the flagship brand of the soccer, sport are continuing.

How do you feel about that? Do you feel as though with such a situation as we've talked about here that they should be pulling the events in the interest of their athletes and their staff? For sure. But I think when Dana was saying that I think it was the time when we all thought that we can handle this problem somehow, that we can do it. Without the public, we can bring some, I don't know, additional medical staff or make some precautions to do it.

to run these events and that was also our thinking that we are going to live somehow we are going to modify our events, we are going to modify our logistics. We are not going to, for example, bring the fighters from countries where already the coronavirus

was, you know, in a bigger scale. But I think of course, it's hard for me to tell because I wasn't following you know, this conversation. when and what exactly Dana said.

But I think, you know, when he approached the problem, so every businessman tried to find a way. It's just like a river. You see the obstacles and you avoid going, you're finding just a new entry. But then he realized that it's like, that's what I said, it's bigger. And some problems you need to face and you need to just accept it.

So I don't know. I still know that they are looking for some new. location, but I don't know if that would be possible or if it would be. So it would be like I said, that only English are going to fight with English guys. So maybe that would be the only option, especially at the UK, is trying to implement some new solution, trying to infect as many people as possible and see how it goes, you know. And just like, you know, these are crazy. Yeah, yeah.

So maybe that's the way, you know. From my point of view, actually, if the real... statistics say that the most endangered are the elder people so we should maybe isolate only them and to prepare their special places I'm not talking about you know but you know like because these guys or these people are going to

be or they are in the most trouble like my example my parents that are over 18 so they are really in isolation staying at home seeing no body and you know they will need to survive like a month or even longer than that yes because you know I think that it is it is especially for me it's like you know the serious problem is the medical problem and this is what we are this is like a phase one but the face two will be the economic you know economy and economical problem because it affects everybody in my country in Asia in US in whenever you know wherever it's just like it affects

Every business, maybe there are few branches who will doing fine because of this coronavirus, but most of them, like 95% will suffer and we have to deal with it. There's no way, you can do something with it. Absolutely. In 100%. You know what I mean? Yes. Martin, I can't thank you enough for getting on and joining us.

I promise you that all of European MMA are behind KSW. we want to see you guys back as soon as possible. And best wishes to your family. I hope you guys stay very safe over there. And again, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you very much for the interest. And yes, this year we were planning to come back to England and Croatia and maybe new country on our MMA, KSW map.

So hopefully we can achieve that. Thank you for your time. Yes, yes. We will hopefully see KSW up running again in two months time, Martin. again. All right. Thank you, Peter. Bye, bye.

All the best to you. Bye, bye. Great to speak to Mr. Lewandowski. A James Bond villain, we always describe. My doesn't know, but a very friendly one. Yeah. No, he does. He always reminds me that that Eastern European or Central European James Bond

gangster villain that ends up getting there. He's a cool. He's a cool, dude. No doubt about it. Slick man. He is, dude. But look, let's talk about it. about it. I asked Martin about it there. UFC has since

canceled the events, but it was a long time between the cancellation of major sports, say, the U.S. in Europe as well, and the UFC's decisions do that. Does that look bad in light of the UFC trying to be accepted as a mainstream sport? Or is this in-between area that they're trying to occupy here

where they will prevail, so to speak? Yeah, it's interesting. Obviously, KSW were the first promotion, really, to cancel their events. Aries maybe before them, then KSW. Yeah, that's right. But as I said there earlier on,

I think America was maybe a little bit behind in realizing how serious this situation was because of what Donald Trump was saying and there was nothing really been done about it. We were sort of maybe... Okay, but the NFL, but the NFL, the NBA, all these guys, you know, they were significantly earlier.

That's just, I mean, that's the whole argument, I guess, like, I guess they see a kind of a social responsibility, right? Like even when we see Wayne Rooney talking about this, he's like, we'll be ready to play again when we know it's safe for the players, for the fans. Whereas it's like the UFC, you know, when we're even talking about the fact that it doesn't look good,

I mean, this event could be cancelled. You can see the nerves and the fighters, you know, and obviously they're dependent on that check. And, you know, that's absolutely understandable. and they're getting nervous about it and there's so much talk and there's already so much fear in the air with this coronavirus

I mean, does it come down to like, you know, if these guys were getting paid enough, they'd have the same kind of view as the likes of Rune who are saying like we're ready to go when it's safe rather than I need to get paid. Yeah, got you and I think, listen,

we know the UFC have never had a good track record of treating their fighters particularly well. I think that goes back as far as the Reebok implementation when they had to wear where the Reebok apparel. And, you know, I mentioned Ian McCall to you earlier on. We were some of me at this off air. Ian McCall was a guy lost out in $60,000 per fight once the Reebok deal came in.

There was other guys probably on Moore. Brennan job seven million or something, he said he lost out. Crazy. The sponsor figures were mental beforehand and they were getting like literally one-tenth of that. So listen, it's not surprising. I'm presuming the fighters are going to get. their show money for the London card. That's yet to be determined.

Dana really hasn't come out and said anything yet about that, but you presume so. It doesn't surprise me, and I think Dana's sort of in the bracket of he just doesn't give a fuck, man. It's all about him and his big fighters and what the UFC and how far the UF can see is, UFC can go is this juggernaut behind WME, IMG,

and that's why I think we're going to see Tony Habe, but I know I'm going back to it again, because of that reason because it's almost like he has a statement to prove to everyone else he's like a man on a mission and it's it is wild and it's upsetting

but from the fighters point of view as well you know I think they should handle that a lot better in terms of actually telling the fighters and you know the fight carb is off like I saw numerous many of fighters posting that they learned off social media that the fight was off like that's not on that's unacceptable it really isn't

yeah I was speaking some fires that didn't really understand what the story is um you know and look we're going to be talking to jack short later he gave you a good idea of what it was like to be in this situation and not that he's at all too critical you know jack is a very easy going guy um but you know belator should be commended right i know it wasn't the right timing um but you know should they be commended for coming out canceling this event um you know for fear of um you know spreading this to staffers or or fighters and and obviously paying the people as well. Do you think that looks

in light of what the UFC have done, only canceling events today, and only when they've really been forced into it, do you think that looks good on their part? It does, but you know, we need to change this mindset. You know, fighters

for that card went in, they made weight. You know, once you know, as far as, once you make weight, you should be paid in my opinion, in mixed martial arts. I know it's not the case, but it's sort of the mindset that everyone has in the approach to it, you know. Why are we constantly talking about these guys getting paid?

Like, they should be paid. It's fucking ridiculous. I know it's not the case. But I think there was a bit of a hullabaloo attitude with a lot of sort of people who are affiliated with Bellator. Oh, look how great we are. Look how great. No, this is what you should be doing.

Yes, commend you all the same, but this is what you should be doing. This is what mixed martial arts should be implemented across the board. So I thought maybe it was a little bit of. of a job, you know, maybe at the UFC from some of the brass there,

because there was a lot of posts, man, it was in your face left and right. I felt like, I mean, the fighters were doing it, the managers were doing it. And I thought they were actually doing that

to prompt UFC into, you know, as if to say, this is the standard. Like, you better do this. Like, and I mean,

it seems like the everyone I've talked to is confident that the UFC will compensate the fighters in some manner. And I definitely hope that's, uh, true of course but um definitely man you know

you're talking and look I agree with you in the fact that we shouldn't be patting people on the back for paying people but paying people is one thing for a belator and um a UFC but it is a different thing for say a cage warriors um which is starting up like I mean it's just so so difficult to unpack each situation isn't it so different unique to

each promotion and what happens to tournament wood in Colby now, by the way. Is that just off the table now? Well, Colby, sorry, Taryn has come out and said that that's going to be his next fight. He wants Colby. Leon Edwards's post. That's good for Leon. Yeah, Leon has posted a few minutes ago saying basically Colby, you're a bitch. We need to run this back. Myself and Torrin need to have this fight. So, you know, Woodley's head has turned again and it took a lot to even try and get him over to London.

I know he didn't get there, but I don't know. I think Leon's just. cursed at this point. Why is he being punished for this? Like this is ridiculous. Like first of all, you know, Dave eventually cancelled this event. So all the other stuff that happened in between this Calby tiring situation

it's ridiculous. We're going to move it to here, blah, blah, blah. It couldn't have happened. So why does it feel like this guy's getting punished for it, but not only by Woodley, but you know, for Leon having to come out and say that and then, what, 12 hours later or something, the UFC come out and cancel the event? I mean, 24 hours probably, but I mean, it seems

like they've let it all kind of sit in him and I see people jumping in the comments idiots like this is this is way more serious than we're kind of giving a credit for right now I believe and like it's better to be cautious probably in these situations you know so I mean if this is an elite athlete top of the food chain welterweight knocking on the door of a title and you know he's kind of left out there by himself to kind of explain that a way which I thought was bad form there's better ways to do that I think as you were saying to me earlier yeah no it's mental you know the UFC, if he was main eventing, you know, if they were going to bring him overseas,

you know, it's a big ask, man, like going over and fighting on a week's notice, jet lag, everything, visas, no guarantee of him getting back to the UK. And they've really just sort of thrown him under the bus. And it's just typical of Dana White and the kind of actions he shows towards his fighters. And it's not acceptable.

But again, you know, what's going to be done about it? Like nothing. It's just a sad reality of the way. way the UFC is at the moment in terms of the relationship between the top brass and the fighters and listen I wouldn't be surprised if they go ahead now and

do Kobe Govington and Taram Woodley ahead of Leon getting that shot at Taram Woodley. I'm sick for him, man. I really am. It's just it's so bad the way that's been handled. It really is. But look let's move

on to our second interview of the day. It's Jack Shore. again same applause to our interview with jack and these were done before the official cancellation of the events jack obviously says he didn't expect to fight anyway but um just to give you some type of context here and so look we'll get on to jack now and we'll be back in about 15 minutes to take a look at what happened in that bizarre backdrop in brazilia over the weekend we're now joined by one of the most talked about prospects fighting out of europe and jack shawks who was set for a huge, huge bout this weekend at UFC London,

where he's set to take on Geraldo DeFritus. Unfortunately, as we're learning, it looks less and less likely that fight will go down. But Jack, first of all, how are you? I can imagine this has been a hugely tumultuous week for you with everything that's happened. Yeah, physically I'm all good. It's obviously been a tough couple of days.

mentally since about sort of Wednesday really just based on looking at them the news and Twitter and stuff like I sort of had an idea that things weren't going to run smoothly and then also yesterday we got the news of everything so it's been a stressful week

but um you know I'm fitting healthy so I can't complain I don't suppose yes yes I was going to say to you we got a email yesterday from the UFC and it basically stated that um you know that it wouldn't be going down but they said it will be relocated

and we were hoping against hope that somehow you guys would still be able to fight because when we were kind of we were putting out that we thought this event would be cancelled it seemed like the fighters really wanted to compete they wanted to be able to earn their money was there any talk of your bout with Geraldo being relocated or do you think that was specifically

just Woodley and Edwards they were talking about there yeah so I think it was probably when the announcement came out I think it was more long of Woodley and Edwards. Obviously, I know the straightaway when I heard about the relocation to the US, straight away, I knew that I wasn't really

going to be a sort of a logistical option just based on the fact with the travel ban and stuff. And obviously, you need a visa to go over there and that can be sometimes a 10-day turn around. So pretty much I would have had to care of visa and then board a plane by sort of last night, early hours

of this morning, for that to happen. But that would never seem like it was really an option. They never sort of they never came to me there and said, look, we're going to try and move your fight to the US. And I can imagine obviously Woodley and Edwards being the main event was probably their priority, so

I'm not salty or anything about not making them a big effort to get me out this sort of thing. It's just one of them things. I mean, what can't you do is sort of out of everyone's hands, I suppose, at the minute. Yeah, I mean, once again in awe of how level-headed you are in this situation. You're so young,

obviously this would have been one of the biggest fights of your life on that main Card in London. Look, there's no secrets about it. Your name has been huge since your major debut. I see it all over the biggest US publications, everything like that. But it seems like to me that you're kind of aware that, you know, this is a global situation here at the moment. And, you know, your fight was a lot smaller in the grander scheme of things in terms of this global pandemic. Is that how you're feeling? Yeah, without a doubt, obviously, I'm just as got it as everyone else on the car,

don't want to be fighting. Obviously, I'm one of them. I live and breathe, the fight life sort of thing. I'm never out of the gym. I've had this fight on my mind now since just before Christmas. So, you know,

three months, four months sort of thing. It's a big part. It's all you're thinking about every minute and every day. So for them to just sort of, that would just be taken from them when it's so close to happening is obviously heartbreaking.

But at the same time, it's out of my control. It's out of the UFC's control. I mean, what can you do? It's no point crying over spilt milk like you sit here and bitch and moan and and see how pissed off i am and start slacking people off but that's not that's that's not going to get the fight back you know that doesn't mean it's not going to change things it's not going to make me fight saturday so it's just one of them

things was it were you in the kind of situation where you were hoping against hope that it would happen or was it one of those things that when you realized how how big this was and how contagious the situation was where you were like okay if this doesn't happen it's not the end of the world obviously I was praying and open that that somehow we came off I think it was sort of Wednesday time when they were new started dropping about this this coronavirus

getting serious and everything so I sort of added in the back of my head that there might be some issues but especially after the Brazil event going on I still had that little bit of faith that they might be able to pull it off even if it was blind closed doors I even trained yesterday morning Sunday morning to um you know it was still still in the in the mindset

of bringing the weight down with we're fighting winning Friday, we're fighting Saturday, but then obviously there was a couple of hours after the session then I spoke to Graham he said they were trying to sort a few things but it just obviously it never came off and I think there's a lot of people on the card who were in the same boat so again

it's just one of them things there's no point me sitting here and moaning about it's not going to change anything yes it seems like you know and look you can understand the UFC are scrambling to make things happen not only and you know for the likes of Leon and Tyron, but for the next few weeks, I'd say it's just wild there in HQ.

But have you guys had any communication? Like, do you feel disgrunt at all? I feel as though some people haven't had any more from the UFC, and it's annoying them, are you kind of, you know, based on the situation, you're going to understand what's going on? Yes, I mean, I haven't spoke to the UFC direct. Obviously, great, Graham sorts of laughing, me being my manager. I just, you know, that's why I pay him for,

I let him sort of kick on all the stress and just relayed the message back to me. I know he's spoken to them. Again, it's a tough one because I suppose they can't set nothing in stone. You know, they can't say, look, we'll get them a fight in four weeks, six weeks, because we don't know what's going to happen. I mean, I keep up the date online and stuff. I know the Vegas Commission have got a meeting on the 25th, and the way things are going on.

It wouldn't surprise me to see that they obviously cancel all the big events out there as well. So, I mean, it could be a matter if they say, look, you're fighting in four weeks. But worst case, I suppose it could be a couple of months before I get out again. but I just got to stay in the gym and I'll stay mentally positive and just keep my fingers crossed so we can get a show back on the road sooner or rather than later.

I guess, you know, it's been announced today that Graham, who seems to not be sleeping at the moment, has also got John Phillips, his fight from the UFC card, onto the Cage Warriors card, which is a really interesting move. And I can imagine that some of the fighters

that, you know, UK v UK, they're going to be able to make that happen course, Giraldo doesn't live in the UK. Like, I mean, is that beyond the realms of possibility having you fight a return to Cage Warriors and imprompt you return? Yeah, well, obviously, they said to, they said Graham sort of give,

he didn't go into details of who was fighting on a card or whatever. He said to me yesterday, early in the morning or he was trying to make some fights happen on Cage Warriors, or he had pulled an idea for the UFC, I don't even think it had got to the stage that they gave him the all clear on it. but he obviously it's his job to be realistic with me

and I knew straight away obviously my guy being from Brazil I know he was over here then maybe we could have we could have made it happen but obviously I know they don't sort of come over until the Monday Tuesday so I had a good idea

you know that that that fight wouldn't that they wouldn't get out on the Cades Warriors card I mean if they come to me with that option it wouldn't have been you know mentally it wouldn't have been ideal because I'm in the mindset now of you know I'm in the UFC

I want to fight in the UFC cage in front of the UFC fans but I mean I would have done it just to get a fight, you know, get your chance to get our win bonus and everything. But at the end of day, you know, Alv comes first. And I can't, I keep saying, I can't whinge over something that's out of my control. If they could have gone me on a cage or his car, great,

but it wouldn't be. So there's no point me complaining and, you know, it's not Graham's fault. It's no one's fault, really, the logistics. So it just didn't work, obviously, with me fighting a Brazilian opponent who's still in Brazil. Yes, yes. Are you confident you'll be compensated in some way for this, Jack? Because, as you said, you know, this is three months preparing for this fight. Obviously, you know, you're such a well-known quantity. A lot of people very vested in what happens to you next, your next fight. Do you feel as though the UFC will compensate you in some way for the camp? Yeah, I think they will. I had a little chat with Graham about it. I mean, I don't think anything's set in stone, but he's fairly confident that they will compensate. I mean,

it would make a massive difference to all us fighters, when I mean, not just me, I know everyone on the card for us, there's a lot of time and money into these camps.

And, you know, I'm fortunate that, you know, I haven't got no kids or nothing like that I got worried about, but there's obviously people on the card

who've got families, they got a feed, and this is, you know, fighting is the way that they feed their families. So, fingers crossed,

those guys get, even if they get compensated a little bit more than I do, I mean, it wouldn't bother me at all. It's, it's a tough situation for everyone to be,

especially with, you know, the, what's going on. I mean, we don't even know if we're going to be fighting within the next sort of six, eight weeks. It could even be longer than I suppose. So it would be nice to see, you know, the guys who've got families to feed them, get our money and just to take care and give them a bit of security, I suppose. But I'm confident the UFC will do the right thing. I know Bellato did it.

And, you know, I can't see why they wouldn't. You know, they're always good. They look after the fight as, you know, during fight week and outside of fight week. So, I mean, it's not our problem. that you know it's not our problem that the show being cancelled and it's not the problem either so fingers crossed they got enough money they'll look after us you're so nice jack i can't believe that you're literally saying pay these people more than me here this is incredible what's it like though in wales i mean how has it affected the family i mean is your dad's gym the gym still up and running

what's what's going on over there like i mean is it the state of panic that i find dublin in on this monday i think it's getting it's definitely getting worse. I mean, last week, the only real thing you were noticing was the toilet roll going from the shop. But obviously, now there's people starting, there's talk of the schools being closed and my dad works in a school, so there's talk of his school being closed. We have a message. I mean, at the minute the gym is still up and running, we're working closely, obviously, with the schools and the council and the government and everything to see, you know, if they say we got a shut, then I suppose it's, we got a shut. But it's definitely getting worse people to start

panic. I can, you get that sense. You know what I mean? My sister was saying yesterday, how stressed she was and she couldn't believe how I'm not unstressed I was, but that doesn't surprise me at all, Jackie. But, you know, I mean, it's not something, I think people are overreacting to it a little bit, but then

what the fuck do I know? I mean, if it's a global crisis, like they're saying, I mean, it's affecting everyone. It seems to be affecting everyone in every country, like you see, Dublin's on lockdown. So, I mean, it's obviously something that we should be concerned about and we need to keep a close eye on. So it's just a matter of a staying alert, keeping up the date and just doing what we can for the time being. I want to ask you about something that's, you know, maybe even more important than all of this stuff. I saw a picture

of a haircut you had when you were about 17. It blew my mind and I actually didn't believe it was you. I text you to ask you was this true. You said yes, it was true and I still didn't believe you. So I went and I contacted full full reptile Jamie and James and I was like is this real and like that's we have we have been led to believe that this is true. And the room was it true? This is a this haircut. I can't really describe it as anything else or than say peak Rod Stewart in the 70s on Jack Shore. And talk to me about this please. How did this come about?

It just seems so far removed from the man that I've got to know over the last couple of years. Well, listen, right, people always rip me because every. year my birthday comes and every year the boys are posting fucking shit on my face, but resurfacing the picture and obviously now now I've got a bit of a following and there more and more people are seeing the picture but

back in the day back when I was 16 in school that was the deal like everyone had the air cut, every one of us in the school year looked the same so they can rip me all I want but deep down all the boys know that they were deep in it with me as well so

how long did it take to get your hair in such a manner, it's beautiful. Don't get me wrong. I mean, it's manicured to perfection. I'm looking at, like, I've got, I've got terrible hair. I've got curly hair. It would never do that shit. I just want to know how long it took you to get it in that precision, beautiful and picturesque manner that you had it. It was a, it was a complex process.

Let me tell you. That was the picture of me in the suit. That was the prom photos. So it was, it was a big one. Yeah, that was the big one. That was a good hour job to get up in that condition for that. It looked amazing. Don't get me. I thought it looked beautiful.

But you've got a new haircut again, Jack. I mean, I was used to the hair cut that you've had all the way through Cage warriors. And then you've gone and you've shaved it off now. And I like it. I think it's a very, very new look, a bit more hardcore look, if you will, for Jack Shore. How, how has that been taken to buy the masses in Wales? Are they enjoying the new look? I think they're used to it now.

Obviously, everyone's used to see my sweaty friend jang and in my eyes. but I think they're all over it now. They're used to the skinhead. And I've even had a couple of the kids at the gym caught me me and going on the same route. So as soon as I had it, Marshman and Des and all, they're all the same. They're like, oh, I don't know.

I quite like it. I might go and get that done. So I think I might have set a trend. We'll give it a couple of weeks now. I think I was relying, to be honest, on the appearance on Beatty sport, to get more and more people to embrace the skinhead. But I think, obviously, we're going to have to wait a little bit on that one.

There's vicious rumors going around that you and, fact have copied that hair code from your father and you're trying to steal his story. Well, I'm just embracing the inevitable. I think he's been bold since he was about my age, so I thought, you know what? I've still gone full head of it, but it's just going to come soon or late. It's just going to go, so I'm just going to get rid of it whilst I'm ahead of the curve. Right, right. Well, Jack.

Whilst I got a choice. Yes, yes. Jack, an absolute pleasure. You, of course, hold more appearances on Eurobach than anyone else. You're the reigning champion of guests on your bus. The reigning defending co-guests. Yeah, and Noel fears for his job, I promise you, every day. Every time we have you on, he gets very worried.

Look, man, I can't thank you enough for coming on. I hope everyone in your family and your friends is safe. And I think your attitude is fantastic, as usual. Exemptly as usual, Jack. Thank you so much. No problem, Pete. Thanks for having me. Great to hear from Jack Shore. Have you ever seen the picture of Jack Shore's hair when it was like Rod Stewart?

in 1970s, you know, England or whatever. He's never had a good haircut. Rod Stewart. Both of them. How dare you? I'm going to get that picture and show you as I need to get it somehow.

I'll ask the full reptile guys because that's who I saw sharing it. It haunts Jack Shore to this day anyway. But a great sport, man. Jack just laughing talking about it. You know, up to an hour, he said it took him to get it done this picture so I definitely will get that for you guys and put it out

there. But he's a legend. He's a great lad. And of course, the reigning champion of Eurobash course now with appearances. We had to give him a break for a while. We thought he was going to start demanding a wage there so we had to cut him loose for a little while.

Great to have him back. But Noel, Brasilia, in the behind closed doors kind of situation, that backdrop. What did you think of? I thought it was actually kind of interesting, to be honest.

Yeah, it was. There was a lot to sort of take away from it. And, you know, I mentioned it earlier on when we recorded it the first time that I was really intrigued with the judges and the scorecards and without the crowd there. I think the scorecards were a lot fairer and a lot more. You wouldn't really argue with them what we've seen in Brazil in the past? And I think that might have got out. Hey, what do you mean? Hey, what the hell are you saying about the prestigious Brazilian judges? How dare you? It was more even and balanced than, you know, maybe previous fight cards we've seen with large, hostile Brazilian crowds. So it's just interesting to see maybe, you know, sometimes the crowds influence the judges in, in what they're scoring on the cards. And I just found it really interesting, bizarre as fuck.

Like, I think we'll talk about that in a sec. Obviously, what was said in the common event, I think it was. It was, no, it was earlier on. It was Demir Hadsabitch and Hanato Moikano. Hanato says to Demir, oh, I wanted a fight longer. Then why did you submit me? I was brilliant.

Like line of the year, man. Absolutely line of the year. And then I don't know what other fight it was. I can't think of what it was now. And the cornered voice was just mental. It was like, God, is on your side or something like that.

I was like, what the fuck? That's no technical advice for your fucking fighter. What the fuck is that all about it? It was just fucking bat-shay crazy people walking out to 15,000 seat or empty arena with fucking tunes blurring mental stuff altogether. But listen, decent card. And not a bad night for the Europeans.

but just before we get to that Charles Olivera well looked very good against Kevin Lee dominated him I felt yeah man it was you know Charles is a guy who's you know so good everywhere brilliant jiu jihitsu

you know really good my thigh he's just he's fought everyone he's fought fucking everyone like he's fought guys at featherweight some of the best guys at lightweight the best he's only 30 years of age Kevin Lee on the other hands looked terrible I think you know the moment he missed Wade I was concerned about

how he is mentally. And I think that is Kevin. I think it's been a very turbulent three or four years for Kevin, obviously, with Robert Follis passing. We saw how close him and Robert Follas were the time he fought in Belfast. That was a tough one for him and he's he just really hasn't sort of found his feet

and he said he might take a couple of years out now. But we don't know, obviously that's directly after the fight. So I think he needs to sit down and think about what he's going to do. He looked very off, but saying that you can't take away, I think from Charles Olivera, because it was a phenomenal performance

and he's just looking better and better and they're going to have to give him someone good now and I'm even thinking if, you know, McGregor and Gagy doesn't happen, which has been talked about, they might even do Gagy and Charles Olivera because he's fucking fucking everyone else, man. Like, bar the sort of top three or four guys.

So you need to give him something big now. You need to give him something big now, definitely. Yeah, and look, yeah, I'm sure he is primed for those big fights now, you know, very young in his career when he got some opportunities. earlier on. But a beautiful left hook knockout from Gilbert Burns in the Comain event. I felt that was coming with two such evenly matched grapplers out there.

Hanata Mikano dealt with Demer very quickly Hadsovic. Deer very entertaining guy. Didn't get to show it off that night. But what about south sides, Johnny Walker, going down to Nikita Kroyloff. Dominated, you might say, by the Ukrainian. Yeah, it was put... Listen, I don't know where Johnny

at. I think, you know, I don't agree with all this gym hopping all over the world, and I think that's never going to give you any real sort of consistency. And I think, as we said, you've debated this. I don't know if you checked it back or not, but Kroylov just had too many tools in the locker

for for Johnny Walker. There's a lot of improvement needed for Johnny Walker, to be honest. I think we've seen the holes in his game, and Krilov exploited them. Shocker,

as Trinaldo beats MacDessie by decision. Moreno v. Farmeaga was a great fight. Rebus, great performance against Randam Marcos. Celeschi de Santos and Alexi Conchenco could have went either way from the

Conchenco proven himself to be right up there with the elite. Zaleski's a guy who probably doesn't get the credit he deserves in my book. I think he was similar to Leon Edwards there with his streak at the Walthaway Division and it went under the radar. The only person I saw talking about it was our own Galaireme Cruz.

He was on a seven-foyt win streak up until he met the leech recently there in August of last year. But, yeah, Kinchenko was right in there with him. And it's, Kinchenko's maybe a second loss ever, is it? It's a second loss ever. So I'm expecting big things from him. I'd say he's going to learn a lot from that. But, yeah, in terms of Europe, going down through the list there, Moreno Moros, with a nice win over Buenos Silva.

and Vorak over Bruno Silva, a great performance and Bay Maliki kicked things off with a decision win over Veronica Macedo. A mad event there.

I got to say, if you want to look more into it and get the perspective from Media Row, go and check out Galeh May Cruises, post-fight show or Fernando Prattice of the Athletic.

Just a bizarre week for the media. And I was really gearing myself up for one this weekend, but it won't be happening, of course, because I'm not traveling to London as the events is cancelled.

You felt that from last week, right? As soon as this kind of kicked up, you were like, that's not going to happen. I remember you saying it to me clearly. You were telling me not to travel. Yeah, no, I was. I just think, sort of everything really sort of kicked in, what, four or five days ago,

maybe Thursday, Friday, when it really started getting serious and just sort of following that and seeing the nature of what goes on with those sort of viruses. You know, it didn't want it to be that case, but obviously it's turned out to be that case. I'm no bloody doctor, as you all well know,

but yeah, I just had that good feeling, and it's just, it's just, listen, it's just disappointing for the fires. Yeah, some do call me Mystic McGradyno, but yeah, it's, it is upsetting, it's upsetting for everyone, but, you know, you've got to think of the bigger picture, and the bigger picture is, obviously, you know,

people's health and safety, and, yeah, I'm just disappointed, but I wouldn't have let you go anyway. I would have ran to the airport and just kidnapped you or something and brought you back to the south side of the hostile territory. Sounds like a love story. And douse me in disinfectant.

And then burned you alive. Jesus Christ. Yeah, I mean, but as you were saying earlier about like Dana and wanting to put on these events having the full focus of the world possibly on Habib and Tony, if that does go down on April 18th.

Did you feel like that Brazilian event had more of an impact globally because of the lack of sport that was on over the weekend? Yeah, definitely. I think I remember looking at the traction and online it was trending. You know, you would sometimes get the odds

fight night trending and it just seemed to be action, the traction on posts and things like that seemed very, very high for a UFC fight night card in Brazil because there was nothing else fucking on. I think you know, I said to you, I had my nephew

ringing me saying, oh, is there any fights on tonight? Bang, he was watching them. Other people text to me doing the same thing on a UFC on tonight, that sort of thing because there was literally nothing else on.

Everything was off. So that's what Dana wants to do, man. He wants to have that space where there's, you know, obviously there's no sports on TV and if the UFC is on TV,

it's a big, big win for Dana White. And that's why I think he's pushing so hard to have all these cards going ahead. And yeah, there was definitely more a big feel to it.

From one man, pushing hard to another, Graham Boylan, it is still full speed ahead for Cage Warriors 113 despite the attempts from the coronavirus. And the AEG venues to shut it down. It's now happening in Manchester. When we spoke to Graham earlier, it was still in a situation

where it was going to be behind closed doors and in London. A lot has developed since this interview. But this is a great insight into Boylan's thinking ahead of this event. which is gaining a lot of steam and a lot of criticism as well, I guess, Noel. Yeah, very similar to the sort of grief Dana White was getting during the week, you know, totally irresponsible. Some people were saying, and then other people are saying, you know, just let the guys go out of it, you know, because they put so much into this.

Yeah, it's just hard to gauge. It's very, very similar to Dana White. And I think Graham is along those lines adding the two UFC fights to the card as well. You know, it boosts his promotion. It puts more eyes on cage warriors around the world. It's very, very similar, obviously on a lesser scale. But, you know, their platform is massive on UFC fight pass. And as I said, having those two fights puts more eyes than ever on this cage warrior's card if it is to go ahead.

It is, like, I mean, he is, as we said, he's featured across all of the major websites in the sport here. you know, do you think this event happens? Like considering even since we talked to Graham earlier how many changes have happened, do you think this goes ahead in Manchester as has been arranged in the last few hours? It's like Graham is stuck in a maze and he's trying to find,

obviously not the exit. He's trying to find the end goal and get to the end there. And I think this is very much what he's doing. Like he's gone from London to Manchester and obviously of Manchester. What an ace have. up his sleeve. I didn't even see that

coming like I mean it was I was on the phone talking to someone about being cancelled next while you're going to me, it's Manchester I was like what the fuck what is going on? I was just you know bamboozled and I don't think Graham as far as as I'm aware had a chance to even tell the fighter so he's that much rabidly on it. He wants

it over the line he needs to get it done within five minutes like you know some of the fighters thought was off then two minutes later he puts out a tweet there was nearly guys gone out the door to get Chinese is from what I've been told so it's just mental it's just one of those situations allegedly, yeah

it's just one of those situations where it's just we don't know what's going to happen next we can't predict what's going to happen next and I'm going to sit in the fence and I'm going to say the you know the sort of the

the aggression and the tenacity Graham Boylan has shown he's going to do this at all cost this happens on a this is more like to happen on a oil rig in the Irish sea with Graham Boylan's fucking tenacity I'll go ahead and say it will happen yet

yeah look graeme boylein um he is a polarizing man in this community but of course uh one of the big big figures in european m m ms he never fails to um bring the heat when he comes on euro bash and today is no different my friends here it is and bear in mind this is before uh the changes were made from london to manchester and before the ufc officially cancelled their events for the next month He is the hardest working man in international MMA at the moment. Mr. Graham Boylan has come out with about 48 hours worth of new revelations for this Cage Warrior's 113 card that will go down despite the coronavirus pandemic this Friday in London. It's behind closed doors now. We have plenty to get through here. But Graham, this must be one of the most insane weeks of your life as a promoter. Yeah, Pete, in the 15 years that I've been involved in this case, game. This is the craziest most out of the ballpark situation we've been in. We've taken

we've taken a hundred people to Chechnya and back for shows and we were advised not to do it. We were told to not go to the Middle East in December. We took shows to the Middle East in Jordan in December and got stuck in a snowstorm in the desert and we're now trying to put a show on with a pandemic on with coronavirus. I mean there is a book. There is one serious book there brother. Oh my God, that absolutely is. And I mean, we have so much to get through here because of the changing landscape of Cage Warriors at 113 in the last week. But just this morning, you've announced that it's going to be behind closed doors. I feel like based on your social media over the last few days, I think that was something you felt would probably be inevitable. Was that a blow at all?

Or were you anticipating that when you announced it on Monday morning? we were always expecting that we were always expecting that keeping it behind closed doors was the way to go but this situation is changing at such pace that everything that we do today

is probably tore apart tomorrow you know we're all gone through it UFC has gone through it and we're all just kind of putting together to make things happen and to make things work for the athletes so you know there needs to be some normal in a time of chaos

you know, and there needs to be some calm and keeping things moving forward for everybody in some way, shape, or form. And we're doing our bit to keep the athletes in a situation where they get to be rewarded for the last two months work they've put in, you know? I train with some of these guys. I roll on the match, just like you do with some guys, you know, I have pads with some of these guys. I know what they go through, and I'm going to fight right till the last minute to get the show on for them. Was that ever, like, I mean, is that what it came down to you? noticed them when you're speaking about this you said i asked my staff i asked the fighters once once they told me they wanted to do this i felt like i needed to make it happen is that as simple as

it was graham look it was as simple as that and like i said those who know me fighters coaches managers clubs those who know me and cage warriors they know we're in this and we help the athletes we are putting the athletes first in every opportunity that we can we're a fighters promotion and there is no way in hell I'm going down without a fight right to the last minute to put the show on Friday night okay let's get to the first of the several

things that I need to speak to you about here Joe McCulligan versus Mason Jones I felt like these two guys wouldn't be put together for a long time because there were two prospects in that division they could have their own individual parts going on but it feels as though as this kind of the virus seems to be trying

to intercept the fights that are being made. Ian Dean and yourself have come up trunks with a fight like this. I mean, absolutely incredible. And would a fight like this, McCauldman v. Jones, happen under normal circumstances? Or is it because of this situation where everything has to come together

so quickly? I mean, that's such a good fight, Graham. Can you tell us how that one came together? Look, it's an amazing fight, and it's a fight that we would probably not have wanted to do right now. We would have liked both to build up a little bit more and then maybe do it. But situations happen and this is a case of we had no idea what to travel and the restrictions

were going to become on the show as the days went by. So we have to go to a point in this event organizational wise that once people started falling off the car, they have to be matched internally. They have to be matched from people in the card or they had to be matched. within the UK because we had no idea if we were going to be spending money on flights and organizing deals with other guys whether they were even going to get to London. So we had to make a decision and work a process of elimination. Both guys lost their opponents. Both guys we can get to the event. So it's a case of we spoke to them and said, look, we understand the situation,

but we're in a pandemic where the world is trying to stop. We understand these are not ideal circumstances. You guys are got to decide what you want to do. And I said to make this more appealing to you, I've spoken to all my board at Cage Warriors. And I've said if we're going to offer them a fight to compete against each other, you have to give them the vacant belt. You have to give it to them as their reward for these circumstances that are upon us.

You know, for all we know, there may not be another proper event where guys are training in gyms and competing for the three or four months. Yes. You know, so these guys need to be rewarded. And the belt is vacant. There's two lightweights there who are, one is a number one contender for the belt. The other one we're looking to develop. And it's the case of, you know, the opportunity is there.

We're in this situation. If you guys want to do it, we're up for it. They said yes. We said yes. The fight's on. I love it. And I'd love to talk about it even more. But I need to get through these things.

There's so many. Paddy Pimlet v. Decky Dalton is another ridiculous fight. It's absolutely ridiculous. I like it more than I like the two previous bouts, even. And of course, Donovan Desmey is an unbelievable fight as well. And you had David Martinez, who was unable to travel due to the curfew that's been put in place in Italy. But Paddy v. Dalton. So say Joe and Mason, whoever wins that fight, is it likely that if Paddy has his hand raised,

he'll be the next in line to fight for that title? no they're down the line we can't answer those questions right now but you know Paddy Patty fight in Decky and Decky stepping up at short notice and both guys agree into the fight you know again it was another situation where this panedemic has caused you know it is it's a case of do you want this fight or do you not want to fight because everyone's back is against the wall right now and if any fights fall off his car in the coming days it's going to be the same thing. They're only going to be matched with who's on the car as we stand right now. Because trying to get guys to compete in this situation when we would normally get guys all over Europe

and they can't travel, you know, it's tough times and it's fight or don't. And the guys, the guys make their decisions based on what they want to do with our coaches. Can you tell me how it came to be that, you know, that you have begun to kind of facilitate these UFC fights. Obviously, the Phillips fight has been announced already. I know you already have another one confirmed, but can you just tell me how that came to be? I know you have a great relationship with the UFC, obviously, and Dana Hoyt, who you were over visiting

during just a couple of months back. How did that come to be, Graham, if you don't want me asking? Look, I woke up Sunday morning like everybody else to see the cancellation. I was surprised as anyone, and I just thought, you know what, fuck this. I've got the venue set up. I've got the broadcast.

Everything is ready to go. we can just put these fights on for the UFC and we can help them out by keeping the car together. So I made some calls. There was some more calls. There was a couple of meetings. There was some more calls and we just said, let's work together and get what we can done.

Is that exciting for you having the likes of Phillips here? And obviously you have another fight there in the back burner that you aren't telling us about yet. But I mean, is that exciting for you or do you even have time to get excited in this crazy situation? Look, it's a situation. Like I said, it's so fast evolving. At the moment,

we have 17 pro fights for Friday night. That's including the two UFC fights. Jesus. Now, we're starting at probably 5 o'clock. It's behind closed doors. It's going to be a very different type of event. Come Friday, that's 17 pro fight. It could very easily be 10.

Absolutely. Because there's border restrictions in some countries, so we just got to find out what's going on. Any way you could tell us what the second fight is? You know, this isn't coming out until tomorrow. so maybe, maybe, you know, it will be okay. You'll already have announced by then. Any chance of letting us know?

Yeah, I could. Ah, please. Well, seen as you said, seeing as you said, ah, please, I'll do it. So, so we have verbally agreed with both sides, and this is all travel dependent, for London's Darren Stewart to compete against Bertos,

Fabrinsky, who is stepping up to middleweight to fight. Wow. So Darren returns to cage warriors here. This is incredible. Well, he's fighting his... I know, I know. He's in his EOC contract, right? But he'll be back in the house. That's pretty cool, right? Yeah, and like I said, look, everything is travel-dependent. Yes, of course. We've locked this in. We've got this going, and this could all fall apart with travel. So at the moment, there's two on, and that could have very easy to become

one. It could become none. But we're working around the club. to try and beat everything against the odds to make this happen. I just wonder, you know, you were talking about UK v UK earlier, and I know obviously Joy was Sefer's debut at USC London. With both Joy and Mark being in the UK, is there a likelihood that that could happen, or do you not know about that at this time? Is that not something you're working on at the moment?

No, both guys that have already stopped cutting weight by the time we actually make green lights on both sides to actually start making things happen. Right, right. I understand. I understand. So that fights off. Okay, okay. How confident are you that this will go down, Graham? Or is that like, I mean, from a guy in your position, you know, with all these moving pieces,

is that the last thing in your mind, are you just putting that to the back of your mind and acting as if it's going ahead and not worrying about maybe government legislation or government getting involved and causing a, calling a stop to this? It will take tanks and trucks and lots of men with guns to stop this event going on. Jesus. What do you say to those who say, like, you know, you're risking the health of your athletes and staff by doing this? Okay, look, there's a very, I'm not a doctor, man, and I'm not going to get into all this. But you know what?

There's 10 fucking million people on the tube every day. The tubes are still running. The buses are still running. Everyone's still in London. Everyone's still working. We're going to make this and go along the precautions and the guidelines that we're being advised by, by the government. We're going to keep it behind closed doors. Everyone's going to get kept up. We're going to be washing hands, keeping distancing.

It's a closed event. We're going to do everything we can within the guidelines. Our medics are going to be all over it. Our medics are going to be testing the fighters for any kind of symptoms. We're going to do what we can to move forward with this event. You know, I think a lot of people don't understand, say, the likes of a Bellator or a UFC to have this huge financial back. like it's not it's these guys can compensate for us they haven't even fought but i mean cage warriors you you started this from grassroots you've built it up to why it is like i mean the event needs to go down for for these people to get paid is that accurate to say do you look we're not we're not the wallet of yacom and we're not the wallet of uc we're a home

grown promotion we're an irish promotion based in london you know i like that um we we we we we've come from the fields and the villages peter and we're we're we're we're in the big apple right now and you know the show has to go on we have to work we have to work this and we have to make this happen you know we'll still make sure everybody is looked after but you know the show goes on not having people in there and all the refunds we've sold our event there isn't a single ticket left it hasn't been for any seven weeks we're going to have to refund all that money you know all that

money's going back to the fans. And like I said, we're not the wallet of Viacom or the UFC. So our backs are against the wall as well as everybody else in an economic downturn like this. We're going to do our best just to keep it all together. I'll ask you to just put on another one of your hats. Just briefly, Graham, will I ask? We're speaking to Jack Shaw earlier as well. I think a lot of the UFC fighters, they are expecting to be compensated. They don't have any doubt that that will happen. and like obviously we don't know what amounts and etc like that.

I know they're up to their eyeballs at the moment trying to make their events happen as well but as a manager, are you confident that the UFC, the fighters that were booked to fight on UFC London will be compensated in some way, shape or form by the organisation when things settle down? Some way shape or form when things settle down,

I'm sure there'll be something there, mate. I don't think they'll do that so not. I think some way shape or form they'll come up and do what they're going to do. Well, Graham, I can only thank you for getting on speaking to us. I know you're up to your eyeballs. You've probably missed about 17 calls just speaking to me for these 10 minutes or so. So I really appreciate it.

And I can't wait to see if it goes down on Friday or not. Like this will be huge, right? If it does happen, I mean, you have the lion's share of the interest in terms of sport, right? Is that how you're seeing it? I would think we would be the only live sporting event broadcasted around the world Friday night. That's a pretty big deal, right? It is a big deal with that. But, you know, our priority right now is to get the game.

guys in. And make sure everyone's okay. Have the medics check everybody for what can he even check them for. And get home with the show. You're a gentleman, Mr. Boyland. Thank you so much. I'll speak to you soon. Take care of my man. Look after you. He knows how to get

the juices flown, doesn't he? Let's be honest. He does. Another international man of mystery, like Martin Lewandowski. They should really start, him and Dana as well and, you know, throw in Victor Quay or Chachry. and you'd have a quite international sort of James Bond, a gangster sort of fielded at the lot of it.

He's some became a poker to watch, wouldn't it? Yeah, oh, Jesus Christ, yeah, but I'll give him one thing. He's, you know, he works as ours off, and listen, you got to admire that. You got admire the sheer determination he's going through to put this fight card on. It's admirable, but maybe a little bit mental as well at the same time.

It's crazy. it's like you said it perfectly earlier on the first time we talked about this, we were talking about the lunacy that kind of coexist with glory in MMI nearly. You know what I mean? It's like it's the sport is nearly

born out of things like this. You know what I mean? You know where that comes from, Pisa? You know where that comes from it comes from the in a lot of areas and maybe more so in Europe. It comes from the disrespect to the mainstream media probably have shown the sport. And you know,

telling you, oh, this sports, that, that, whatever. There's always that sort of resilience, I think, with mixed martial arts promoters and people involving the sport. And rightly so, in my opinion. That's a whole different debate for a different day. But I think that's generally where it comes from. What do you mean?

Like, as in their kind of railing against what the norm is, say, across the sporting terrain in general? Yeah, to a certain extent, yeah. And like, that sort of, it's to, maybe even with Dana, he's doing and trying to get Tony Habib over the line. It's to show that this sport is, you know, it's great. These guys are fighters, battlers.

It's admirable in many ways, but yet just total madness at the same time. And I think maybe that's part of the reason why these guys do this. And like, look, they often say, like, if a promoter is being talked about, he's doing his job, right? But it's just that we don't understand the scale of this, I guess. and only in hindsight we'll be able to look back and really consider if this is a good idea

or a bad idea or what's going on but I mean you know these guys aren't scientists either I guess you know I mean like that's the thing and there's so many mixed messages

but I do feel as though people have yet to grasp the scale of this you know yeah man it's it's it's only just starting and you know that's sort of the worrying thing for me we're seeing so many new cases of it

and so many people have been affected all over the planet. It's, it's fucking scary. And, you know, as we talked about, you know, most people alive have never lived like anything through this. So it's new ground for everyone. It's scary ground. I'm sort of going, fuck, have I woken up yet still?

Are we in a dream? It's all a little bit surreal, you know, being stuck indoors and shit like that. So, you know, maybe forgive them as well for pushing on. Maybe they don't really have not a chance to breathe and assess and, look at how bad this actually is and that sort of says to me this evening that maybe Dana White has sort of realized shit

this is pretty fucking serious because we know these guys they, well it sounded to me like his hand was forced to be honest, you know? Well, listen, like, you know, he's good pals with Donald Trump as well. Like, you know,

don't let that be forgotten. So if Donald's telling him not to do fights, I'm sure there was a good reason behind it, you know what I mean? I think it was just Donald Trump's addressed to the nation now. I probably was, but they are good pals

to pair, so you never know, you never know. Well, if this event goes ahead, it's a big one for John McCulligan. I mean, it feels as though Reese McKee was the only guy that was being talked about in terms of a possible signing before UFC Dublin, and that was mostly based around the fact that he was fighting for the Cage Warriors title on May 16th in Belfast.

However, with everything that's happened, John McCulligan from Northern Ireland's now fighting for the lightweight title against May 6th. and Jones. If he does this and claims the lightweight title, maybe gets the defense in in Belfast, is he level pegging with Reese McKee to be signed by the UFC, do you feel? 100%. I think, you know, we talk about it. Once you get that strap, you're the man, you're the guy in that division in Europe and the UFC's eyes are on you. And I think, you know, if McCaldon goes out and, you know, Joe's never backed away from anyone, look at his record, look at Mason

Jones's record, another guy who's never backed away from anyone. And this is a sensational, fight in paper. Clearly, this is the fight I'm most excited about, I have to say. And if he goes out and does this, does it an impressive fashion. And I think, you know, even just to beat Mason Jones is an incredible achievement because he's being so amazing from what we've seen up to now, of course it does. It puts them right in the shot window, you know, even if, forget Belfast. He mightn't even have to defend the Bell, because they're going to look, they're going

to want, they're going to be aware of he wins of Irish talents. And that's what they want. they want a couple two to three local guys on the card to really sort of get it over the line and I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case. So yeah, definitely, definitely, definitely. Right, let's leave it over to Fat Joe. Fat show, yeah. I tried to say Fat show.

I stuttered because I was very apprehensive about saying it. But did you listen to the interview yet? I did, yeah. I heard the end of a pizza. He's going to, he said he's going to walk out to Fat Show, but. He said that before, but he better do. He better do. He better do it.

He better do it. Not a dry eye insight. But yeah, let's leave it to Joe. One of the favorites of Eurobatcha course, and we'll be back in 15. What's Love? There have been some big pitfalls over the last week due to the coronavirus spread,

but my word, if a man has come away with an even bigger fight than he had initially, it is Joe McCalligan, a friend of the show, a man who has been putting in the work on the Irish scene for many, many years. He now faces Mason Jones for the vacant lightweight title at Cage Warriors 113 in London, which will take place behind closed doors. Joe, this must be absolutely insane. I can only imagine how this feels.

You've had a lot of the goalposts change on you a few times here in terms of opponents. You're now fighting for one of the most valued titles in Europe. how crazy has this been with everything going on around us? It's so crazy. I can't even describe in words how crazy it is. And that's not even a joke. I literally can't. It's been the most mental weekend of my life.

It started on Friday. And already on Friday I was unsure about whether the fight would go ahead. And then I was in work and I got a call from my coach, Shando. And I was just thinking, oh, for flip sake, the fights falling through and then he basically said

Rathamasaos out but they're offering you Mason Jones and I was like right okay and he says but that's not it we're offering it for the world title and I just couldn't believe it

like I still can't believe it and so yeah at that point the fight was made I think contractor signed within 30 minutes after that and then it was announced

it was really really quick and now over the weekend there's this all this uncertainty about whether the fight would go ahead. So I just don't have the opportunity of a lifetime. And then I feel like, well, I felt like it was slipping away over the weekend. And then Graham would add in updates.

And then there'd be updates from the news. And it was just a back and forth. Honestly, I can't describe how mentally stressful it's all been. But I feel like today, when I woke up this morning, I saw the updates that Cage Warriors are going to be behind closed doors. And they're batted on some UFC fights to the card. I feel like feeling a lot more confident that, the fight is actually going to go ahead.

Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely. And I think, you know, to take the public away, to kind of limit the risk there is a good idea on their part. So, I mean, it's just, you know, so you're saying your first opponent was out, and basically you had the news of Mason immediately. Like, I mean, he was out and Mason was in. That was the phone call you got,

or were you kind of left for a long time without an opponent? No, it was a three-minute phone call. Oh, my God, that's amazing. Mason was in, and the one time had it was up with grabs. So that was, like, it was really really good. The response was unbelievable, right? Like, I mean, straight away, when I'm thinking about you two guys in the way his fight, like, this is a ridiculous, ridiculous matchup.

Is that what you were always thinking when you were kind of thinking about Mason as a potential opponent? And what did you make of that outpouring of emotion? It seemed like everybody was really rejoicing in the fact that this fight had come to be. Yeah, no, like, I think that's with all my fights, PT. I think that I can't remember a fight that hasn't been made where everyone said oh shit that's an amazing fight

and I think that's because I bring it every single time I've got an exciting style and I think this is even more so because Mason has also got an exciting style so we're very similar fighters we're both durable we've both got good stand-up we're all rounders

but we like the stand and strike and we can fight with a high pace and a high intensity. So, I mean, you add that all in both fighters, and it's just going to, like, I can't say it not being a war, to be honest with you. Like, it's going to be a great fight. And I think that's why the public have really got behind it. And also, with the added extra of the world titles on the line,

so it's a high risk, high risk, high reward fight. Yeah. Like all of my fight. Yeah, yes, of course. There's so many layers to this. I've literally made a list in front of myself so I can get true. put on. How do you think

Paddy Pimda feels about not getting the opportunity to fight for the total? I mean, he is a guy that we've talked about before, Joe,

a guy synonymous with Cage Warriors, a synonymous champion with Cage Warriors, and here's two guys, you know, rivals in his division that have been paired together

for this title. How do you think that's sitting with him? I don't actually know. I haven't seen or haven't heard anything that he said about the fight. So he's probably,

I would say he's probably pissed off. obviously he wants to fight for the title but he knows he's been out for so long and he's coming off a loss but he also knows that he's probably going to fight the winner of this so I'm sure initially he was probably annoyed but you know after the fight he's going to be getting the title he's no doubt he's going to get into the shot but he has to get through Decky Dalton and actually I don't know if he could do not because Dekey Dalton is an absolute beast I wanted to ask you about Decky because there's a fantastic mythology around Decky right in Ireland I mean I mean, it's been going on for over a decade.

Me and you have had this conversation many times about a decade. He's one of these guys that had, like, you know, was kind of talked about in Northern Ireland and in the South when he started fighting down here is this ridiculous potential. This guy can go all the way. He hits like a hammer. You know, he's just so, he has a fantastic fight IQ. He hears so many things about him from his training partners. and one of the people that's always been

and talking really, really highly about Decky is, of course, you Joe. So I was just wondering, would you be able to explain to the listeners the kind of mythology around Decky and what he means to the fight scene up there? Decky's huge in Ireland, and especially in Belfast, you will hear the chance

Ducky's going to get you when everybody's walking in the cage fighting. But Deky, you kind of touched on a little bit, he hits so hard. I hate him. sparring him. Everybody, anybody from any gym, anyone that has ever sparred him has said the same thing. He hits so hard.

But if you look at Decky's record, he doesn't have knockouts on it. So that's the worst thing. You have a guy that hits you so hard, but it's not hard enough to knock you out. It's just under that knockout level, under the death touch level, where it's so hard. Yeah, and you

just get to feel all that pain, you know, and there's no switch off. It's like, I suppose a bit like Nick Diaz. You know, you look at guys that come out of his fight, and they're just black and blue. So he hits so hard. I know you look at his record, and there's some losses to the good guys there,

so you might think, oh, he doesn't beat the good guys, but those losses came in a period where Decky wasn't with us. He wasn't with the gym. He was travel about in other different gyms. But now he's back with us. He's in a really good headspace, and he looks at an electric in training, and, you know, his record,

since coming back from those other gyms and he's now with us he's unbeaten so he's on a pair he's looking great in training and I just see that this fight is going to go all his way I explained this before to somebody else that Decky

so whenever Paddy Pimlet fights he doesn't like when he's on the feet he doesn't move like really fast in and out or at angles it's kind of like a plodding forward or plotting back or plotting side and that's fine but Decky also has that rhythm and Decky, that is

whenever it's in Decky's arena, whenever in the stand-up, he is in that rhythm and he is better than anybody in that rhythm. So I just feel like as long as the fight stays standing, Decky's just going to light him up with shots and he's

going to hurt Paddy. Patty, Patty's dangerous in other areas of the game. You know, he can throw submissions off from any angle. He's got good take down, just got very good grappling. So it's going to be an amazing fight. and, you know, I think it's two fights on before mine, but I'm going to be glued to the TV watching it. That's amazing.

That's, that's solid to me more than anyone else will, Joe. I do love the fight. I think it's an in day and again. It's an amazing job with you and Patty there. But, you know, let's just put this in the context here, Joe. This is kind of come out of nowhere. There's a big talk of this Belfast event in May, of course, with Reese McKee fighting for the World Title there.

You have an opportunity to fight for a World Title on Friday night. As we know, when you get those titles, they're considered golden tickets to the UFC. There happens to be a UFC event schedule for Dublin, excuse me, in August. Do you see the jigsaw, the pieces, the jigsaw pieces falling into place here, or is this just me? Because it seems to me that you could be setting yourself up for an absolutely astronomical 2020. Would you agree with me? Yeah, I could be. But, I'm not really, I'm not thinking, I'm trying not to think about it.

I don't want to look beyond this fight against Mason Jones because it's a massive fight and there's a lot on the line and it's going to be a tough test. So I don't really want to look beyond that, but I can definitely see the potential getting signed of the UFC in a fight's time after this or if not just directly after this fight. Because the UFC, yeah, they're coming to Dublin and obviously there's the Belfast card. I don't know if I'll be able to fight on that Belfast card. This fight goes five rounds.

you know, it might be too quick of a turnaround to show up there. So it could all work out that I beat Mason. I get the title and then the UFC sign me and my next fight is in August. That will be incredible. Is Reese going to be a shame?

I mean, is Reese going to be annoyed with you guys for stealing his thunder like this? Reef, let me tell you something about Reese. There's a lot of people in MMA that will tell you that they're happy for you. and behind your back they might say otherwise Reese is not one of those people Reese is

a supporter of everyone it doesn't matter if you're his competition if you're in the same way class he wants you to do well almost almost more so than he wants to do well for himself so he honestly has been so happy for me and yeah he'll definitely not be annoyed

he doesn't need to be annoyed because he has so much support and he's on such a freak himself that you know we're in two different way of classes he can't be he can't be annoyed he isn't he's just so happy for me mccoggan v mckee belfast may that's what i'm saying that's what they should go yeah no um but just just just just a few quick ones for you here joe because um you know i i got to ask like i mean there has been some criticism i mean is this socially responsible for cage warriors to hold an event now i know obviously since that argument was brought up the

the goalposts have changed this this event is now happening behind closed doors but you know guys like you are going to be flying into this event is that there is there is there is suppose with this uh with the contagious nature of coronavirus and do you have any feelings on that or are you just pretty much focused on your fight at the moment yeah i'm focused on the fight but i do feel like there is an element of worry in my head where i'm weakening my immune system here to kind of a lot of weight and then i'm flying into an airport i'm getting public transport to a hotel. I'm going into the gym sauna.

And then I went in and then then I'll go fight another man. Potentially, you know, we could go to hospital afterwards and then we're back in, public transport and then, you know, all through the airport. I mean, I'm exposing myself to a lot of different places and a lot of different people, all with a very

weak in the immune system. So I feel like there is an increased risk and then also with my coaches flying over. So there is an element of worry, but, you know, we're fighting in a cage you know what I mean this is just part of it

and it's our job and we just get on with it yeah it's not really the trade for the most cautious people in the world you'd imagine I suppose is there any fear is there any fear you won't get home though Joe like I mean that's what I'd be worried about

in terms of like you know you have to get a flight home is there any way that you're kind of like you know what if I'm I need to you know they stop the flights between Northern Ireland and England. I'm sure you've seen the many WhatsApp rumours that are floating around

because I've been inundated with them. Is there any fear of that at all? As in the I haven't heard any rumors or I haven't heard any chat about Flapy and stuff so it wasn't on my mind. But what are these WhatsApp messages saying? Oh, no, I mean everybody's everybody knows

a Garda or a pilot or a doctor. You know these random messages that come through. Don't want to get anyone afraid, but I know God. And he said, you know what I mean? That kind of shit. But no, no, don't worry about that. But I mean, are you confident the fight will happen finally? Like, I mean, have you been able to kind of get rid of that doubt in your head and say, like, this is happening? I'm going there on Wednesday and I'm going to fight this man on Friday. Have you been able to eliminate that doubt from

your head seeing how much cage warriors are working for this behind the scenes? Because it seems like Graham Boylan isn't even sleeping anymore. Yeah. So I'm not looking up the news. not even on Twitter anymore or Instagram but when I should be trying to promote the fight but I just can't let let me see all these different stories about a lot of things shutting down or what the government

are saying or rumors that cage warriors aren't going to go ahead because that gets into my way I'm trying to focus on my fight I'm trying to focus in on having the biggest fight of my life I can't let any of that

shit in and so yeah I just made the decision to not pay attention to any of it and just to get tunnel vision now. And I'm there already. Like I'm in the zone now. And I'm just going to continue to be in the zone until the greener phones me up and says, Joe, it's not on.

So I'm full steam ahead. I think it's going to happen. I'm 100% confident that's going to happen. Just finally, if I don't ask Noel McGrath is going to get very upset with me. Are you going to come out to Fat Joe, what's Love, if this does go down on Friday? of course that's amazing

that's amazing that's amazing there's no better way to end this Joe McCulligan I'm delighted for you everyone in Ireland's very happy with this fight they're jumping through hoops

waiting for it happen on Friday I hope it does go down and a pleasure as always to speak to you my friend no thanks very much for having me on thank you talk to you soon man be safe the great fat Joe

McCulligan who fights for the Cage Warriors, Lloydway, titled this weekend against another fantastic young talent in Mason Jones. When is this madness going to end, Noel? I want you to give me a scale of time as to when this will be over. You predicted that UFC London would be cancelled. You predicted all these wild things. Mystic McGraldino prediction.

Yeah, yes. I'm going to say two months. And I think if that's, you know, everyone needs to pull together, do what the goal. government say and really just start looking after each other, helping each other and helping each other in this unfortunate case is probably staying away from each other. And yeah, listen, people just get your shit together, listen to your government and just fucking do it because otherwise we could be in for a very, very long and painful road and I don't want to see that happen.

So I'm going to be positive, I'm going to say two months and we'll be back to normal. Fingers crossed. Everybody keep washing your hands. keep not touching people yeah don't be in a room with many people

and also like calm down like we're all freaking out thinking we have it all the time if we get like a tickle yeah it's true I have a sore foot I must have coronavirus you know that's happening

an awful lot as well I feel it is yeah and listen I've been the same and I think you know mental oh everyone I've talked to is the same everyone feels like they have it you know

mental health's important as well you need to just anxiety is a big thing and just try and just chill the fuck out and, you know, we will, we'll get through it. I'm positive of that. And Mystic Mac makes that prediction. So, um, hopefully, uh, you know, Eurobache is going to be here every week. So that's all you need to fucking worry about. Sit indoors, listen to yourobash, get a few fucking cans. You're so did. Even if we get the corner, we're going to do it. Yeah.

Of course we are. That's what we always do. We've had worse. Well, I mean, but there's going to be the only thing is that the knock on for this is going to be a lot of Corona babies. You know. Oh my. It is. Tell me about these Corona babies.

Like Tinder's lighting up left and right and people are just stuck in their houses. Like what else are they going to be doing? Like if boyfriend and girlfriend, if they're, they're going to be fornicating. Let's be fucking honest about it. Is it? There's going to be a blast of babies after. Like what month is it now?

All right. So we started. Okay. So say December, right, there's going to be fucking babies left, right, center all over the world.

The population is going to, probably treble and we're all fucked. Is it Armageddon, Broiden? Yeah, oh, 100%. That's what people are thinking,

yeah, 100%. And listen, just lack of fucking things to fucking do, boredom is going to be a massive thing. Have you been on Tinder yourself? Have you connected with many ladies?

I have, but there's no point. I'm not going to go meet anyone, you know? So I've been staying off now, to be honest you, but it's always lighten up. So it sounds like you're teasing yourself.

I am a little bit, but like, what am I going to do? I'm not taking the risk leaving the fucking house. Fuck that shit. What if there's a chance of the cup spoiler? The cup shocker, you fucking heed it.

Get it right. Oh, shit. There's always that chance, Pete. You know, I'm hot shit. Tell me it again. This is the way McGra approaches. He only goes for a worldies. It's his,

it's always been the way he has, ever since I know him. And tell me about the philosophy there. Sometimes it's like an FAA Cup. we've seen, you know, over the years, conference teams be a first division team or a Premier League division team, once in a blue moon, right? That's how I look at it.

Like, I'm probably conference, maybe League 1, 2, maybe league 2, and I go for a Premier League. There's nothing wrong with that. You keep shooting. You keep shooting. You'll fucking score. Get in with it. That's how you fucking roll.

Do you know what I mean? Cup shock. And we all, we all need to think more like Cup shockers in this time. of pessimism, I believe. I think it's a good way to approach it. You know, make sure you send us the hashtag Cup Shocker. We are ready to do this together. And truly embrace the mentality of the Cup Shocker.

Thanks for sharing that with us, Noel. You don't get the credit you deserve as a philosopher, I feel. I don't. You know, I'm full of great theories and shit like that. You know what I mean? So fuck you all. If you ain't down. if you ain't down whatever you know fuck you i'm always right even when i fucking tell the truth i lie um so you know you know what i fucking other way around but yeah

jeez this is gonna be bonkers this is this is you don't understand guys this is like hours of recording today like i mean we tried to we did one episode and we like you i tried to do an introvert and and hopefully that would be like a disclaimer and we like we can't do that everything's changed. Like is this going to be old, but is this going to be way behind by the time it's injected into people's faces in four hours time or whatever?

Of course, because, you know, shit has been changing literally by the fucking every five minutes in the world of mixed martial arts tonight. So everything will be canceled. I started with this morning at 9 a.m.

Yeah. 15 hours in. Yeah. I'm pretty fucking tired myself as well. I was on text you at 9. You've had a long one yourself. Oh, you've had a long long long.

day. I'm not finished. I'll be another two hours yet, so it should be fun. Fucking fuck. I'll tell you what, I tell you what, Pizzi. Tell you what, fuck MMA. Have lots of oranges, eat vitamin C. This is your audio broccoli. So you've already

got one of your five a day. Make sure you're not shaking hands. Use the old elbow toucheruni. Or else just don't talk to people. That's what I'm going to do. I'm just going to stay in here. Elaine's got the dog over and horse. and yeah I'll see you in two months

I'm just going to keep on logging on to this every week and doing this that's going to be my own in communication with the outside world I hope you all stay safe and wash your hands it's very easy and they smell lovely afterwards

you know