MMA Fighting - Eurobash: London Special (Nathaniel Wood, Craig White, Graham Boylan, Jade Morris, David Green)

Episode Date: November 26, 2019

On a Eurobash London Special, Nathaniel Wood (15:00) talks the golden era of U.K. MMA on the announcement of UFC London. Former UFC fighter Craig White (31:00) and promotional president Graham Boylan (1:00:00) look back at Cage Warriors 111. U.K. MMA media veteran Jade Morris (1:20:00) and Head of Bellator Europe David Green (1:37:00) share thoughts on Bellator London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

really, really show me how thriving this scene is, really being over there for the few days. It was a crazy, crazy week, full of excitement, full of drama, and some massive building blocks there to be utilized by boat promotions, I feel, after that week. We'll talk about that more and more later, but I did manage to keep track of some news while I was over there, so let's do some quick headlines before we move on. This is number one bullshit. UFC have announced the London date on March 21st, a huge date of course with so many UK talents just thriving at the moment. It feels like this could be one of the biggest cards in a long time.

We have Nathaniel Wood on to speak about that later, who graciously met me the other morning, Sunday morning, to chat about this. So we'll talk about that now a little bit later on, but a really, really, really big card. Potentially one of the biggest London cards UFC ever have put on if they play their cards, right? also announced Valentina Showshenko will face Caitlin Chukagan at UFC 247 in February Illylla Latifi will also move up to heavyweight and face Derek Lewis on that card in Texas of course

Brett Johns has been announced for a bout against Tony Gravely at UFC rally Bellator Dublin will also go down on February 22nd we had the James Galaer and Carl Eleanor announcement there a lot of people reacting very positively to that both men joined us in London last week Great to see both of them, two lovely lads.

Also, a number of fights been announced for that by one and only Jake Smith, a fantastic young journalist from Newcastle. He has announced Philip Mulpeter against Daniel Crawford. Very, very big fight that. Carl Moore against Aronis Andrei Kavikoulos. Ryan Roddy v. Chris Duncan as well added that that a really good fight there. So really good stuff there from Jake, Fair Play. to me.

He confirmed them, I believe it was Friday morning on the Bellator. Wayans and he let me know about that so I really appreciate it. Also announced on Friday morning who was Cage Warriors with seven new dates including that first ever trip to Manchester which is huge for Cartwright of course who's just won that Bantamai title. Jack is a fearsome looking dude man I can't wait to speak to him out of that fight.

He looks like a bad motherfucker as me and Noel have said before so that should be a really interesting one. But just let's have a look at these dates. what we know so far for Cage Warriors in 2020, these 10 events. Of course, they are planning 15, but these are the 10th they have locked in so far. March 7th is going to be in Manny, Manchester, March 20th in London, April 18th and Birmingham, May 16th in Belfast, June 13th in Cardiff, June 20th in London, June 25th in Cork, September 26th in Belfast, October 10th in Birmingham, and November 27th in London. So a very packed schedule for Cage Warriors next year, it would seem.

news I got probably a lot of stuff happened but I was very busy very very very busy all week last week crazy amount of hours in but my god what a good time I set it off on um was it yeah it was Wednesday morning and when I get there I get to London I land in London City airport for the first time I've never flown in there I get pulled out of the line like immediately there's police waiting for me it feels like as I walked through the door and into the airport so I get taken out they asked me my business there. I tell them I'm here to cover events. Next of all, they're pointing at my bag on the carousel.

They seem to already know it's mine. Maybe that was just a happy coincidence or whatever. And they're like, that's your bag there, yeah? So pants and everything strewn all over the place. And then I was allowed go on my way. But quite an introduction to the soil. Then, of course, I had to negotiate the underground. And anyone who knows me, you know, when I'm unsure of things,

I'm never afraid to ask people. I hear that's a quality, but not in London. No way. So I'm standing there like a gobshoot. Does this go to wherever I'm going? Does this go to Canning Town, say, for instance? And people are looking at me. Like, what the hell is wrong with you? They're just pointing at the sign with all the stations on it. I'm trying to clarify with a person's mind here. Don't be pointing at a fucking sign. Okay, England? But yeah, there was a lot of that. But I kind of found it funny towards the end of my stay because basically all the UK media guys are telling me, yeah, that's just London. Like, I mean, yeah, they don't really have conversations that much. That's probably why they're looking at you, like you have 50 heads. And of course, they know how to negotiate the underground. But it's a fantastic thing. I actually love going on it. It's just I'm really stupid and I get lost too much.

You know, so just to give you guys an idea of what was going down, Bellator was stationed kind of in Wembley. And Cage Warriors was all the way over the other side of town in Greenwich. So on Wednesday, the first thing I did when I got in, I dropped off my bags and I made the trek during rush hour to Greenwich to interview some Cage Warriors fighters, which was set up for me by the lovely Matt Jones, fair play to him. I was to interview Paddy Pimbley, Joe Gianetti, James Webb and Mads Burnell. Three out of four came through with Gianetti not being available.

He was available later on, but I had already packed up my stuff and everything. And I did see him heading for the gym, but kind of makes sense now in hindsight. knowing that he pulled out of Paddy fight due to his weight issues. But straight away, you know, it took me like 90 minutes to get there, so it was late. But Patty was great. They all waited. They all spoke to me. And, you know, just straight away, I got that feeling that Patty is back. Like the guy who set all those social media for, threads on fire at the height of his power is back. He seemed really fit. He didn't seem to be struggling with the weight whatsoever. He looked in ridiculous shape. And he was as usual with himself. So I, I, I, I, I, I,

I really left that there after speaking to Patty, James, and Mads, I was buzzing. Speaking to Ian, I saw Dolly Clue, I saw Harry and I saw Matt as well. So, you know, I was getting excited, but I felt like every day my excitement just for the whole weekend kept on building. Because on Thursday morning, we had, you know, the media day, which was very good, you know, all the fighters were available. MVP was a bit late. Everything was going very well.

All very good interviews done by the fighters. and then we're setting up our cameras to do the face off as they usually do. So we're kind of standing there getting ready. And then bang! There's a big commotion after the left eye pull around the corner. MVP has James up against a wall with several other people, Bellator people. And over the other story of the room, Mike Kimball's being held back by, I believe it was Dan Kitch. Sorry, Ryan Grabb and maybe Mike Shipman as well.

And there's a lot of commotion going down. after the fact when we're speaking to, spoken to a few people involved, everybody says, from all accounts, everyone says, Gallowar walks into the room, sees Mike Kimble, and Kimball's with the London shoot guys,

you have to remember. So this is like five or six London shoot guys in this small room. Galaher walks in, walks directly up to him and smacks them. Then you can see a video angle. I don't know. I can't remember who actually had this.

It might be Simon Head at M. I didn't get this angle. No, it was Mike Morgan at WoeTV. gets the angle of MVP pushing James away from the situation and then James kind of bodylocking him and spin him up against a wall and you know these are two guys that I've heard say nothing but good things about each other over the year so that was was interesting like from what my angle I was kind of looking at like oh this is just two mates MVP settling them down but um you know based on what shipment said after Bellator it seems like there was a little something to that but um

yeah I mean Caller just walked straight in Max Kimball and then he tells us later it's because of this comment Kimball had made about his mother and we know James and his family how tight they are and um you know as far as galar is concerned Kimball had put up a picture of James and James's mother Doreen and James his arm around her and says something like you know he should have swallowed that or something like that was pretty vulgar anyway so that's what James dealt with he just went in and smacked him and I feel like it was like I mean the reaction to it I feel like is one of the most favorable reactions James ever got you know and look at the numbers on that video.

It's crazy, you know? He got more numbers than anyone at that media day, including MVP, which is insane. Like, just speaks to the star power he has, and we'll speak more about this at the end of the show. But that was very interesting to me, that whole situation. But later that day, the cage warriors way he goes down. And, of course, you've heard now Joe Gianetti misses waste. What a scene. You've got to go on the Paddy's Instagram.

his Twitter pages and watch that interaction between Gianetti and him. And then, of course, Gianetti's coach and Ventre and Patty, unbelievable. Some of the funniest things we've ever seen. Obviously, it's a terrible situation. My heart broke for Patty, but I think anyone involved in MMA can understand why he didn't take that fight in that situation. So much writing on these things for Patty, his comeback fight, I fully understand it. I think it's poor form on Gianetti coming in, saying, make the weight, and then not informing

anyone before he gets on those scales, they possibly could have worked on something. And look, I'm happy to see Paddy taking that advice that, you know, whether it was Ventre or was Paul Rimmer, or whoever it was from Next Generation who suggested it. Like, the old Paddy just used to do this stuff and he'd do, like, anything, you'd just go with the drop of a hat, but it always didn't work out for him a lot of times. Like, a lot of times he's even injured taking those fights. I was happy to see him kind of saying, no, this isn't what I wanted. I've already, you know, I've already kind of changed my position already.

because I'm taking on a new opponent under the week's notice, but now he's this much bigger than me. And you've got to remember, Patty's not been a lightweight for that long, so I fully agree with what he did there. And the hilarity that ensued afterwards. And, you know, I've seen Patty on weight cut days,

it's atrocious. I've seen Chris Fields making middleweight back in the day. That was atrocious. Connor McGregor making featherweight back in the day. These people aren't usually able to speak after that. You know, Gianetti was very vocal, and he seemed quite energized

compared to some other BBC who have struggled. So you've got to understand Paddy's position there. I know people don't like him. I know they're going to go, oh, fuck you, Patty. After everything he does, but I don't think you can argue with that. He's already tried to make the fight happen after losing his opponent. At that stage, it's just one too many moves to the goalpost. What a face-off as well between the tie is Frederick and James Webb that day.

Even though Frederick later says, you know, there's no animosity between us. I just felt like I needed to sell myself. I needed to push the fight out there. And it did. I mean, that was an intense, that was an intense face off, man. Of course, then the kind of last thing that happens is on Friday morning, there's another scuffle. Fabian Edwards and Mike Shipman, you know, they're facing off,

and poor Dave Greens in the middle there. But Fabian seems to throw kind of a hammer fist, a standing hammer fist, and everything busts open. Oh, my God. Aidan Lee is on the set. Michael Venham page is on the he's pushing K, Fabian's manager. They have a bit

of a back and forth. But, you know, all these storylines developing. And it's kind of, there's a big link there between Paradigm Fight Management and all of this because Paradigm manage MVP, Paradine manage Fabian Edwards, and Leon Edwards. And Paradime

also manage Mike Kimball and James Galler. So it's interesting. You hear some of the guys saying they won't talk about it. Like I asked Michael Venom Page about the James situation. wouldn't talk about it. I asked Fabian about the MVP situation at the way-ins and he wouldn't talk about it. It's just interesting to see all this stuff going down. And look, it might not be anything to do with that paradigm link, but that seems to me the only thing it can be, you know? But really, really incredible, incredible kind of build up to the week and

the energy of the week was insane. It was just, well, maybe it was because I didn't get two seconds off. It was just running around all day. I'd get back to my room, upload videos, fall asleep doing that, set an alarm, wake up then and go again. It was fucking wild. It was really, really, really, really busy, man, but it was good busy because

everything seemed to be happening. Like, I mean, this is a great moment for the sport in the UK and Ireland. Sometimes I don't acknowledge it enough because we're too busy trying to explain what are Bellator doing, what a cageware is doing, what they're doing,

is good, I'd say both of them at the moment. But, um, look, we'll talk more about both Bellator and Cage Warriors later on. But first up, you know, it's the, it's a son of London himself and a man who was immediately at the tip of everyone's tongue as soon as that London fight was announced, it's Mr. Nathaniel Wood, who hasn't fought since the last London event in March. We spoke all about that. I met Nathaniel on Sunday morning after all the festivities had gone down. He was kind enough to meet me in Wembley. He's obviously not from that region, but he was coming out there anyway, and he sat down with me, and I really couldn't be more grateful there.

What a fantastic guy he is. And I really hope he gets that Marilyn Vera fight in London. For my money, and for diehard fans, I'd say they'd be looking forward to him and Vera, as much as they'd be looking forward to, and Edwards and Woodley, honestly, or a Till v. Whitaker. just another big US name, and I know Marilyn Berr isn't from the US before someone jumps down my throat, but it's another big name from that neck of the woods coming over here. And I think that would be absolutely huge. So we're going to speak to Nathaniel now, very grateful for his time, and we'll be back to chat more about Cage Warriors and Bellator before the end of the show.

So thank you so much, Nathaniel. What a gentleman. All the best. We couldn't have done a podcast in London without speaking to Nathaniel Wood, a man who everyone is dying to see back in action. It's three wins, three stoppage wins in the UFC so far for the former Cage Warriors' Bantamway title. The UFC have just announced a card in London, and one of the names everybody is saying immediately is Nathaniel Wood. There has been a back and forth with a long-time rival in Marilyn Vera. It seems everything's shaping up pretty nicely for you here, Nathaniel.

It's definitely getting there. You know, it's all fun and games, and you know, I've obviously been off for quite a long time now. So it's nice to see that people are still, you know, excited to see me back in there. Obviously, fighting in London is my, well, it was my dream, I've done it. You know, I've got the win. But it always is, you know, if I could fight anywhere, it's always my hometown. You know, it's great to travel the world. But, you know, I've done that on my travels, like, after my fight, you know, I went traveling.

So for me, if I can fight in my hometown again, you know, that's a dream come true. And again, you know, I get to repeat it twice. I know how active a guy like you wants to stay But I mean it can't be the worst thing in the world For a guy like you was so active To take that year off I mean do you feel like after that year off Your body's been able to recover

You've been able to get back to your best Because you are red-loining yourself there for a while Mate just fight fight fight Definitely you know after Since when was it 2016 or 17 Obviously I was on Cage Warriors Had title fight after title fight And it was literally on a tear

You know of my last eight fights It's all been finishes. And I definitely felt like I needed a break. You know, going into that London fight, I did feel, I wouldn't say physically drained. I was feeling a bit mentally drained. You know, I wasn't enjoying training as much, them sort of things. Yeah, just camp to camp. Obviously, I thought Andre, you'll miss Christmas.

You know, I was in Vegas fighting over Christmas and I was FaceTime with my family. And if I'm honestly, it broke my heart, you know, I am such a Christmas person. I love everything about it. And, you know, that's why I was asking for that career card, because I wanted to fight before Christmas. so I can have Christmas off. I don't think that's happening. You're always in four weeks. So, you know, I'm ready to go.

I stayed. I kept my weight low so that if someone pulled out, yeah, because I just want to fight before Christmas and then get fat for Christmas, you know. But yes, after that March fight, you know, I went travelling, my girlfriend. I've got, obviously, getting paid better money now. So I thought, obviously, it's nice to treat her.

I want to go and, I want to see the world. You know, you've got to have a life as well outside of MMA. So, you know, I went travelling with her. We've done Asia. I went to Australia. came back getting ready for a fight felt great broke my arm you know completely dislocated it torn the ligaments like messed it up completely um so that put me out again so now you know I'm just itching to get back in there you know I've been staying ready the sight of chocolate and cakes I've

had enough of it you know I don't want any of it I just want to get in there do what I do best and you know if I can do that in London amazing we actually spoke to you just before you went off on that holiday remember the week you were going you did it early for us just so we get it on the show and I tasked you with I was like can you try and lose your abs eat so much that you've lost your abs did that actually happen because I saw a few pictures of you when you're away and you were still in pretty good nick it definitely happened mate I can assure you that even my missus was like man you've got fat it's been two weeks and you know the abs disappeared and he actually started to get to me you know I was on the holiday just running up and down the beach and

people were looking at me like I was a madman but yeah I was you know I'd never been I've never not had abs so to not have him you know it was got in so any pictures you know he was got in so any as I was uploading, they were definitely photoshopped or, you know, catfished. Take it for me, it's not so bad after a while, you know, having no abs. But, yeah, I mean, you were speaking with your arm, there, everything back to 100% now as far as you're concerned. Yeah, there was doctors saying about operating and them sort of things, but as far as I'm concerned, they didn't really give me a reason to why I need to operate.

It's been getting a lot better. I've got full range in it now. I'm doing everything that I'm supposed to do. Every now and then it does ache. You know, there are times I'm like, hmm, you know, maybe I went a little bit hard today, just ease back a bit. But I'm ready to go. It's not stopping me from doing anything.

It's just something that I just have to take care of, you know, and not go crazy when I'm training sort of thing. But, you know, definitely I'm ready to fight now. I just get the weight down. As I say, I've been keeping my weight as low as I can without killing myself just to stay ready. And, you know, as soon as they call me up and say, there's a fight, you know, I'll take it.

Yeah, I feel like, you know, as soon as this is announced, you start looking at the cast of UK voters that are available for this and you know, I think you were one of the prominent names, Molly, has picked up a lot of momentum, she's a prominent name, Darren Till, Whitaker, Leon Edwards. Could this be one of the best cards the UFC has ever had in London? With the greatest respect to the previous generations, I always felt as though it was just Brad out there by himself

or Bissping out there by himself with a few guys underneath them, whereas Arnie, everybody seems to be, you know, they seem to be eyeing big, big fights here for this card, And it's all UK people, right? Definitely. I think the UK guys, at a moment, we're on a tear. You know, you've got Arnold Allen, I believe, is 5 and O in the UFC. Obviously, Darren Till just beating Kelvin, you know.

So there's a lot of momentum behind us. You know, we got, as you say, Molly, we got Darren Stewart. We got Leon Edwards, you know. You feel like you're leaving people out because there's so many people, right? Yeah, you know, I feel like I'm going to forget someone. But there's so many people now. And the thing is now as well, with a lot of the UFC fights that used to come to England, and I feel like it was, you know, we didn't do as well.

You know, people would come over and kind of smash up the English guys, that sort of thing. And now it's not, you know, I feel like people coming over now. I feel like people are actually going to be scared to come over and fight us, you know. I don't think they're going to want to, you know, with that crowd we got behind us as well. So, you know, we'll see. But, you know, I definitely know that the rest of the UK guys are going to want to get on that card as well as me. Like, could this be, like, and I mean, I'm speaking our torn to us at a certain extent because I haven't been basing the scene in my whole life, but could this be geared,

up to be a golden era of UK MMA with so many guys in prominent places and so many like big, big fights on the horizon potentially. Could this, could this be an era we look back on for years and years and say, remember when all these guys, Nathaniel Wood, Leon Edwards, Darren Till? I definitely think so. Obviously, I'm going to be biased regardless, but, you know, 100% I think so. And, you know, I've trained in a lot of places. I've trained abroad, you know, I've trained out in the States. And, you know, the team we've got now, I can assure you we're not we're not slacking on anything. The guys we've got up and coming now in our team,

mate, they make me feel old. You know, it's scary to think how good they'll be in a couple more years. The Maryland Vera fight is one that everybody wants to see. And honestly, like, when I think of, like, the diehard M.MA fan base, they'll want this just as much as an Edwards v. Woodley or Attil v. Wittaker because this one's been building

for a long time. And we were eating out of the palm of your hands when, you know, you were making those early appearance when you just signed, you're like, I'm going through Brad's list. The list of guys that Brad has scores to settle with. And it was just an amazing, it was an amazing plot, basically, to launch your UFC tenure.

But it feels as though Maryland is online. He's kind of reacting positively to this. Do you have your doubts that this could happen, or are you going full steam ahead? You think this one's going to happen this time? I'd like to think it's going to happen. But, you know, I don't think that he wants to fight. He's saying, you know, he said, oh, I've got the pen ready and all that.

But he said that about a year and a half ago. you know nothing nothing's happened from it um you know he said to me once on twitter about fighting me i said a date and he said no you know you do nothing for me that that kind of stuff and i was like all mate whatever you know and then he thought the guy that i've just beat you know the guy that i beat last year he's only just gone and fought him so that just leaves me in confusion you know I'm like what do you want to step up or not if he was stepping up and fighting the top 10 i'll be like okay fair enough you know everyone's going to take the fights they're going to get him get him up there but he hasn't so as far as I'm concerned you know the guy he's just beat I beat him last year

and I thought that in the first round he definitely was losing it you know he didn't look like it was a easy wing kind of thing so yeah you know 100% that's a fight I'd like to have it's good fun as well you know it's the story behind it you know he's beat my coach it just yeah mate it just it makes for an exciting fight and for me you know at the end of the day I fight whoever the UFC gives me but that would make me get out of bed a little bit of little bit more in the morning, you know, it has a little bit more something to it. And, you know, I'm all for that. And I think it makes for an exciting fight for the crowd. Brad obviously thinks this is a great matchup as well, because he's putting in a special effort to make this happen as well.

What is it about, Maryland, that you guys see? Like, obviously, from an untrained eye from myself, like I'm looking at and going, like, these are two guys that really like to exchange. You tend to do very well against guys who like to exchange with you. Is that what the allure is? Or can you speak a bit more in-depth on this? I'm sure you can. Definitely, you know, he's a fighter that comes to fight. That's what I like, you know. He's from watching his fighting style, you know, he's not scared to come in and have a fight. You know, he'll come in enemy territory, you know, that's what he did with Brad, obviously, for the first one.

Stylistically, the way I look at him is I beat him in all areas, but, you know, he'll probably say different. But there's only one way to find out, and that's what I'm down to do, you know, I'm up for the fight, let's put it on there. And, you know, we had a bit of back and forth on Twitter. he said he obviously was getting you know he was getting fired up and it was like mate I was just having a bit of banter laughing and you could tell that he was getting angry about it so this happens a lot with UK and American for us I feel like sometimes I kind of know when you guys are having a bit of fun and then the other person flares up they don't get the banter sometimes right I don't think they get the banter um and then he ended up saying something

like about he's gonna put my his balls in my mouth or something that I was like mate yeah it was uh it's a little bit weird that one so after that I was like I'm gonna stop with this little back and forth. It's getting a bit weird. Do you think he could have fought you if he wanted to, at this stage already, because you have kind of made such a big deal about wanting that fight? Yeah, 100%. You know, there's, I've been there saying, I think I said to him, my, let's fight in, I can't remember what date I said. I think I said, I'll fight in August. He said, no, that's too long for me. I'm fighting July. And it's like, what, a month. A month's different.

Mate, if you want the fight, you'd wait a month, you know? So, yeah, you know, he's the only guy that I've ever had a bit of back and forth with him on Twitter. So it makes for a lot. fun fight and if he doesn't want to fight you know me versus Cody I'd love to have that fight that that excites me well he's obviously ranked a lot higher than me at the moment so if you but then to me he's had a free lost he's on a free loss streak I'm on a free win streak you know so to me for the UFC it's a win-win if he beats me call he's back in the win column if he doesn't beat me as far as I'm concerned the UFC have got a new title contender he's stealing all

momentum you've gained as we said people are still talking about you you haven't fought since marriage and people are like where's that Daniel ward come back so he's stealing a lot of momentum from this prospect right a hundred percent and you know as I say it it's up to the USC what they want to do but I don't really see they can match him with a top 10 guy but I don't really see much reason in them doing that you know I'd say give it to someone like myself for him you know it should be a warm-up fight I'm ranked I don't know 17 if I'm not ranked whatever if I beat him you know it skyrockets me up there and I'm all four fights with higher reward you know the best I'm of the fighter, it's a high risk, but it's a high reward.

And, you know, unlike you, Overa, I don't want to just be sitting around fighting this guy after that guy and not really getting noticed, you know, all in the big names, I want to chase for gold and, you know, live the dream. I feel like it's a mutually beneficial fight for both of you guys, so I really feel that happen. I have two more questions, I promise you, I'm keeping you here on a Sunday morning, and thank you so much for meeting me. But just wondering about the banner Brad was carrying this weekend.

Is a British top team now instead of Team Titan, or is it kind of a joint situation like that, an affiliation but still team taint. No, so basically it's, we was almost a team within a team. You know, Team Titan was the hub and that's where myself, Brad and the team used to train. But Brad is now branching out to open his own team. You know, there was a little bit of politics

going on with the gyms and stuff. So at the moment, we're in a way, gymless. You know, we don't actually have a gym. So we're having to use gyms that we're good friends with and our team trains within that gym. So there's about 15 of us, you know, We're all the small guys of the gym at Team Titan. It's all the same team, the same coaches, the same training partners.

But we're having to just basically gym hop. But soon we will have a hub open, and believe me, it's worth the weight. We've been looking at gyms, myself, Brad, and we have the Martin Barrett, who's the investor. We've been looking at gyms, and Brad's at, no, too small, too small. So, you know, when it opens up, it's going to be a state-of-the-art gym. And, you know, I can't wait forward. wait for it. Oh, I've absolutely no doubt. You guys have been phenomenal, phenomenal, phenomenal, Jim. And Brad's an outrageous coach, so

absolutely. Just one final thing, Nathaniel, I feel like you're synonymous with this town. Right back from your Cage Warriors' days when Dolly Clue used to do those great photo shoots with you around London. And I just felt like, as soon as cagewriters used to say London, I was like, Nathaniel would straight away, like I didn't bat an eyelid. And, you know, seeing what you've done in the UFC so far is incredible. And I feel like, you know, It's not going to happen this time, but I feel like we're only a matter of time away from you being the headline guy in London, you being the main attraction. Is that something that you foresee in your future?

Is that something that motivates you thinking about being in that spot one day? Because I truly believe me and a lot of other people believe that you will be in that spot one day. 100%. Obviously, the plan in my head before I broke my arm was to get two fights before this London one and then potentially co-main main event. it you know if i um if i take out of top 10 getting that top 10 rankings why not be the main event obviously where i haven't thought since march last year you know i can't imagine they're going to give me that slot i would have thought they'd give it someone like darren till um but you know why not if they want to give me someone like cody garbrand to me that's a main event that's a main event

fight um but you know as i say i'm not i'm not bothered you know to me it doesn't change my paycheck i still get paid the same amount whether i'm the first fight or the last fight of the night but that would definitely be a tick off the bucket list, the dream, you know, to become the main event and obviously get a win in London. That was when I first started, that was my dream. But, you know, after the last one, I'll just be happy to get on that card again. You know, that crowd, mate, it's amazing. And if I'm honest, the weighing's on that last one, that was probably the best moment of my career today. Yeah, the wayans done it more for me than after the fight.

I think that's because in the fight, you know, I'm in that adrenaline rush. I'm tunnel vision, that kind of thing. But when I went out to them wayans and just saw everyone cheering, you know, it put the hairs in the back of my neck up, you know, it was a good feeling. So if I can do that again next year, then, you know, I'm a happy man. And I forgot to mention earlier. Congratulations on the engagement. I was meant to say that earlier.

I'm so rude. But thanks so much, Nathaniel. Absolutely pleasure to speak for you. You're looking great, and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us on March, my friend. Thank you very much. And thanks for having me, as always. Thank you so much, Nathaniel Wood. What a gentleman.

Now we're going to go through, and this is a Cage Warriors recap I did with The Thundercat himself, a man who knows all too well about that road from Cage Warriors to UFC, Mr. Craig White. Obviously, Big Knight, Paddy Not there being one of the key lines and the whole situation that developed between them. We also speak about the crowning of a new champion in Atos Frederick, who stopped James Webb in their rematch. also about Mads Bernel's fantastic, fantastic performance and Modestis Bukakis defending that title again. We also spoke about Alex Lahore's knockout at the hand as Joel and Santos, a man who the Thundercat has faced in the past.

So really, really good insights on that stuff. We'll be back in a little bit. This is about 20 minutes or so with the Thundercat. So I'll speak to you again after that. I have been joined by a Cage Warriors Legend and a UFC veteran, Craig White to discuss what happened in Cage Warriors 1-1-1 last night, but I got to disclose straight off the bat.

I came here, my memory card didn't work. I had to leave him here in the Hilton with all my gear and run back home. But he's been very kind, as usual. A man known for being gracious, but Craig, so happy to be joined by you again, my friend. That's good to you, too, mate. It's been far too long. It really has, yeah. I mean, it's been way too long.

And a lot's happened since the last time we spoke to you on the show. but I felt with the Cage Warriors event happening last night, I feel there's no one better to tell us what the overall feeling coming out of that event was. First of all, just with Bellator and Cage Warriors happening this weekend, I think a lot of us get distracted by the online little beefs and tiffs that go on, but it really is a great time for the sport here, isn't it? It's incredible that two of these big shows are here in London this weekend.

Yeah, I think people need to take away from kind of the challenge, childish bickering and less of that are you get paid more here paid more there like who's the better fighter where's the better show like i mean we're trying to develop a sport across like the nation and you've got big shows on our doorstep i mean ufc come to the UK belator and i come to the UK i mean more and more as well as cadre is established in europe i mean as well as the other shows it's just it's a good time to be involved in the sport and there's no reason for everyone to be like getting arse to each other and just causing what these things i mean it's good to build profile on that, but why Ben Bridges, why create all these hostilities when you don't

need to? And we can all just live together happily and have some fun. And I mean, promotions could hopefully work well together one day. I mean, there's always going to be the rivalries and that. But I mean, beyond that, there's no need for everyone to just basically slate a show, slate a brand, especially if they don't know anything about it. Yeah. I feel like all the little animosity things, I think it helps casual fans get into it. Like, what's going on here? What did grain boiling just saying it? You know what I mean? It's going to go it in that way. And I think they kind of know that too. Like I kind of get the feeling that they're taking with a pinch of saltless in the promoters.

They know like they're kind of the rising toy lifts all ships here, I think. I mean, if someone's talking about your show, they talk about your show, whether it's good or bad. It's the same as a fighter. Like whether you're in the public spotlight for good reasons or bad reasons. You're still in the spotlight. People are still talk about. You're still relevant. I mean, ideally you want to be there for good reasons and not in the press for the bad ones.

But I mean, we're just trying to publicize a sport and build a reputation. make it credible and although say the casual fan might see people slate in it and getting involved like picking a side like which side of the war do you want to be on like but it used to yeah it used to be like cage rows and bam oh do you want to be one or the other but i mean why can't you be both why can't you just sit on the fence appreciate both what they are they both have phenomenal athletes in them i mean obviously those guys are potentially never going to fight each other which i mean as the casual fan like the harker fan you'd want to match these guys against each other you want to see how they're fair but we're never going to get a chance to but it's when people do that and then they go yeah they're

not going to fight there because that shows crap and but it shouldn't be that way it should we need to just people just need to grow up essentially and I mean we're getting there it's just a slow process and something that probably won't ever go but I mean maybe we'll see some cross formations as the fights everyone wants to see if not just go down to a gym and just settle it that way yes I couldn't agree with you more it's it was a big event last night but I feel like this is the first time I've been on the ground for a Patty show, a Patty Pimlet show. And I really can't get over the attraction that guy produced. Like, I know, obviously, he's a huge deal.

You know, I've been praising the guy for years, how much attention he brings to the sport. But he was really shown us out of being away for 15 months, even though he didn't get to fight, and there was that hilarious incident that the way in. But even though he didn't get the fight, he is shown us again how much attention he garners, right? Like, I mean, he just has something about him. He's so polarizing. People are either tuning in to give him shit or else.

else to tune in to, you know, celebrate him. It's a really interesting dynamic he brings to the table. I mean, with Paddy, you're either team Paddy or you're not. So you're one or other. I've never had the pleasure of, like, sharing a cage show, like, with him, sharing the show with him to see quite that dynamic he brings. But, I mean, just looking on social media, everyone going, oh, it's a shame, Paddy and I'll change him, and have brought the buzz and that.

I mean, he's just a character on himself. Like, he has all this traction behind him because of how he is. I mean, whether you love and I hate him, like, he's great for the sport. He doesn't do any of these dickish things that other people do. Like, he lives for the sport. Like he had a bit of time out. He's recessed. He's grown up.

And I was really looking forward to seeing him fight. Like, I met him once properly, and that was at St Joseph's Hospital last year when I was getting some MRI done. And literally had a good chat with him. He was like, he's going, Craig, Craig, can you get a fete with Paddy?

And I was just like completely rinsed him and embarrassing. But, I mean, even then he's there, midway through getting medical's done. He'll take the time out for people. Like, I mean, he's in Wales as well. like from Liverpool. He's not exactly close to home. But I mean, Paddy's a lovely guide. It's a shame that he didn't get to fight for something as silly as what happened. I mean, if you're going to take a fight. You know what weight you've got to be. You're someone who knows quite a bit about this

Craig. I mean, your USC debut was an astronomical court, right? But that's how you feel, right? If you sign on the dotted line, you've got to make that weight. Yeah, I mean, you have two jobs, two responsibilities when you're fighting. Well, once you take in a fight, you make weight, you turn up and produce the fight. You can't do the second without the first. I mean, yeah, if you're slightly off and then people take the fight, they take a bit your purse, it's a bit different. But, I mean, you're almost a whole weight class above. I know we haven't got the catch weights and stuff. But I mean, it's almost 165 pounds. Like that's what would be what? The light weight division, whatever people want introduce. And that's a big amount of weight difference. Like,

if we're going to boxing divisions, what, that's three or four divisions higher? And I just, it's unprofessional. And it just, it makes a mockery of the sport as well. Like, I've seen Paddy say basically come over for free holiday. Well, that's how it seems. It's a shame on the side of Paddy. I mean, as a opponent as well, I mean, if he's turned up with that attitude, well, it's bad anyway.

But, I mean, he didn't get to fight because of it when even though she'll notice he was geared up for that. You've got all the fans that come down to see Paddy and, like, everyone wants to see Paddy fight. Like, whether it's a flying triangle, fly a knee, his hair bottom along, he looks like Jay from the in between. There's all that stuff. Like, everyone wants to see Paddy fight.

And he's all this, he's got this character. And it's just, it lets everyone down. down, it's cage where it's down. It just kind of like saying, it just maybe puts the sport back a tiny bit because everyone just sees it as, well, now there's a load of bickering online. And I mean, it's how it goes, but there's no reason not to make weight. You should always make sure you do. Yeah. And I feel like one thing I thought you was very important for on this card is like, you know, you have guys like Webb, Frederick there in the main event. You have Medesas Bacoukakis, all these guys in the main card. And if Paddy's on that main card, it brings so many eyes to it that they again get a chance to show. You know, you have Medesasas Bacoucas. You have Medes in the main card. That they, again, get a chance to show. You know, showcase themselves and put themselves on the radar. But, you know, a huge performance from the Toyas Frederick there against James Webb last night. Amazing to see him come to life in the third round like that, because I felt like it was going the same way as the first fight. I mean, James was kind of holding him down, controlling position, I'd say, from top and landing a lot more shots than he did in the first fight I felt. But out of nowhere in the third round, he just comes out

like a lunatic. He's landing digs all over the place. I suppose James stayed in there for as long as he did. Were you getting the same impression? Yeah. I mean, the first fight was obviously a bit controversial because of the spike. And yeah, I mean, you don't really get a chance to kind of, once something like that happens to the fight, it just upsets the flow. Like, there's always a, well, what if that didn't happen, how would this have gone? And I mean, yeah, it's the first thing I've said now. And I mean, seeing, like, getting a chance to see them again. I mean, it was the right call to have a rematch.

It was a well-deserved rematch. And it was a great fight to watch. Again, you've got two guys from two well-respected gyms. again great athletes it's good it's good to have these opportunities to see guys that aren't say as well known on like the European scene

like Frederick was at first like when he first got matched up against him I hadn't really heard of him and that but I look out of interest I looked up and you see he's accomplished a lot and obviously since then he's accomplished a lot more but when you're with these gyms that have the experience guys

like obviously Renegade they've got countless UFC stars and Belletal stars when you've got Chris Fields of him like to Kea? Yeah, you've got Team KF and you've got the likes of there coming over. You've got Pender, Field, Tom King,

all of them. You've got all this experience coming in. I mean, people only get better with that. And, I mean, Web's been on the Kedra scene since I basically had my revitalised part of my career. And even watching that, you've seen him to develop as it goes along. And it's great to see.

And just having a fight like that, like, it's anyone's game. Anyone can come to life at any point. That's what we trained for. But it was a phenomenal fight to watch, and it's just a shame with one second to go. that it got cut short, but some of the things I've seen with people

give him Rich Mitchell a bit of stick. He's going to watch the foyerers, right? He doesn't need to watch the clock. Well, he hasn't got a stop watch on his wrist. He hasn't got a massive vision in front of him that says there's one second to go. He's got an earpiece. His key job there is fight a safety.

And if you're not effectively defending, it doesn't matter whether you've got minutes or a second to go, your rest going to stop it, especially rich. It's called no nonsense for a reason. He's one of the best rests out there. And I don't even get enough praise as it is. And that's coming from someone who,

in my last fight people said he thought he stopped it for no reason well i had an arm got caught an arm bar for what i was going to break and i basically verbally tapped and he stopped it it's a right cool like never once criticized him for it and that's what people need to see it as he's a very experienced ref and it was the right call to make yeah i agree with jennan and just just to say it james as you said he's not been around for don't he's years you know he's done a lot in the short around the time and i think graham was saying afterwards they were going to do a rematch there i think don't quote me on that i can't actually remember but um in the callmate event

Bukakis, he, Graham is saying straight after that foot, he's like he's ready for the UFC. Like he feels as though the brackets there at Lloyd heavyweight. There's not enough kind of talent out there to keep him fighting,

to keep it interesting. Do you agree with that? Do you think when a guy reaches 10 and 2 and he's got that belt with cage warriors, it's probably time? I'd say so. Again, I've seen Bacchus

throughout, again, the same tenure of the cage roars and he's come up and the downside with the heavyweight and heavyweight bracket at that level, in Europe there. There aren't as many people, so it's a bit more shallow. But, like, you see him against someone like Martin Hamlet of that standard, and

that wasn't the way I saw that fight going. Like, I saw some of Hamlet's training videos. I mean, he's fucking throwing, like, his medicine balls, like, 100 yards, and it's like, like, they're nothing. But again, that was his biggest downfall. He tried to use his wrestling too much, but, I mean, McCalachers is, like, he's got finishes. He's got good finishes. Like, he does some moves that he's so athletic at, like, heavyweight, that some guys could even dream of doing it that way, even lighter. I'd say he's definitely at a point where if there's no other opposition for him within Europe that Kedra is going to offer him, then he's ready for that next step. And having the gold strap,

defending it more so, is definitely cool enough to do that. I mean, everyone says it's a golden ticket to UFC. It's not the only way in from Kajor is being on the promotion, getting the finishes, putting on to performances is. But if you've got that kind of on your CV as well, like on your resume, well, you're laughing because you've got that established, like you've defended it as well. You definitely are the champ then. It's not like you're, just had it once and that's it like but again he's developed as a fighter of the years and it's good to see and it'd be great to see him develop further within a bigger promotion absolutely yeah yeah and i feel like uh the preparation for hamlet really served them well because as soon as uh the siglii

went in for that take down them elbows just went bombs away when it was game over but i was fucking blown away by madsburn elman like i mean i always saw him as a grappler and then he comes out bobbing and weaving the way he was like he told me he's always been able to box like that but I've never seen it before, so I was really, really impressed. And he's looked so good since he's come back, right? Like, I think he's got four wins with Cage Warriors now. Beating a guy like Dean Truman, his last fight. Incredible guy, incredible fighter.

I mean, it's tough, right? Because Copenhagen has come and gone, and I felt if he was going to go back, he was going to get on that card. And then he said, like, you know, Sorinbach has said he was offered a fight for that. Nicholas obviously went back. Marco Madsen got signed from Cage Warriors, and Mads is kind of sitting there with no offer on the table. I'd say that really hurts him.

But for my money, he's been... nearly the most impressive guy that, you know, on the roster of late, I think, he's incredible. Yeah, I mean, Matt's is a weird one, because was it only, like, one fight he lost in the UFC and he got cut, or? He had the, I don't know if he lost two, but I know he had the Arnold Allen fight, and Arnold's

six and O, like, in the UFC, and he's pushed him, Matt's probably pushed him forward on anyone, he got cut straight after that fight. I just think, he probably got tried a bit harsh by the UFC getting cut right off, and I mean, he's clearly established himself as levels above the other competition in Europe, I mean, Gellot was saying,

like cross-promotion stuff like good he could maybe hang with some of the bellator featherweight so we went there but i mean someone of maddis caliber like ufc's where he needs to be and getting cut as he did like i think he got cut short like he probably had a bit more to give especially with the copenhagen car like why wouldn't you have him on there i mean it's just it just seems like an atrocity not to have him on there like it's seeing him off because he's just going to keep going through these european feather weights and like like they're nothing like and yeah he's a submission wizard like everyone knows that but because he's known for that. It takes from the skill set he probably has

outside of that and he's like a nice guy, he's chilled, he comes to, again, a nice reputable gym and, I mean, we now get to see more of his showcase and more of his skill set and I think that just further the case for why is he still kind of sitting on the fence, why isn't he getting that chance back on the bigger stage? Why can't

he go hang with like the best in the world against? I think he's more than proves himself that he can do that. I mean, like you saying, four fight win streak, got the belt, defended it, I mean, and he's not really had much trouble in any of his life either. He's like one of them quite comfortably. You're showing a lot of character, a lot of maturity, and that's what you'd expect of someone of that experience in calibre in a fighter. Yeah, I think they really only have that Sharié fight there

for him off the top of my head. I know Perry Goodwin has looked great since he moved down to Fetterweight, but I feel Morgan Shariere, the amount of attention he brings to the backer, which I know was true to Trim for. I had no idea. I think that Dean knows now as well how popular Morgan is, but I feel like if it's not the UFC, it's got to be him, but I really wanted to ask you about the welterway fight, right? Because you've got skinning the game there to us. You know what I mean? It's Jolton Santos. I can remember when he came over.

Nobody in Europe really knew about him, but my colleague from Brazil he was like, this guy's really good, you know? I know he's a mixed record or whatever, but he's really, really good. And, you know, he got the win against you that night, but we saw a completely different version of him against Alex Lohore last night. Like, that is the last way I imagined that fight to finish, right?

Like, I'm so surprised by that still. I mean, you've been in there with Sandus, Is he that good? Yeah, he's a very good wrestling grapple. I mean, my hindsight on it is I picked a guy that I watched the last few fights back and I thought he was the type of guy wanted to file late. Basically, what he did to Lahore was what I saw in his last few fights. Now, those last few fights was one was a few months before, the others were a few years apart.

I couldn't find much about him online. So I didn't know who he was a back about in Jets. Didn't know as a blackout in Judo. And no matter how much I tried to find it, I couldn't. Whereas all my mates somehow managed to find it, but none of them told me because they assumed I knew. So my game plan of, oh, I'm just going to try and use my strength and size to smother him a bit. Well, that plays right into the hands of a judo guy because I dispute my weight wrong. But he's got such a relentless, like, top game that he's just in tight enough, like, couldn't create the space.

It's quite similar to when I thought Sanchez, like, just relentless on top, not giving you the space, so you're getting smothered, getting enough space to keep active. Yeah, they're just grinding out of that win. I mean, yeah, it might not be an entertaining fight, and you're not going there to fight, you're going there to win. but that's the sport and I mean with someone like Lahore that meant that would work as well

but I mean you want to make a statement for someone against someone like Lahore I mean he chats a little shit all the time

he jumps on and like if they put something up at any other well away he'll just go on there gob off a bit so I mean

everyone's saying about the unsportsman like stuff at the end when he's like going mack mac nah well I thought it's quite

fucking funny I mean like I really wanted to get that from a foyer's point of view because I'm looking at it like I didn't really see much

to pre-foy amble between those guys and now that they're just saying that that's an interesting point but when I was just watching it is like I was like oh this is bad this is very bad this looks very bad but I mean from your point of view if someone is talking that much beforehand do you think you're going to have to bite the bullet if they do something shocking like that I think you go into it like if you're going to try build up a fight build up yourself like to be fair I never saw anything if anything got said before I've like I've basically been a bit of a social media call myself like I've been focusing on trying to do life and stuff just having a break but I've not

not seen anything, but from what I know of Lahore, and if you've seen anything, he jumps on everyone. So it doesn't matter, like, whether he's done it to you or to his opponent, like, anyone who's kind of been on receiving end of that will just be like, well, so do you write the flat. And that's the reality of it. I mean, yeah, it might be a bit more on sports like the people see, and people are going to see it and be like, well, he didn't he say it might have gone a bit too far, but Lahore would have done the same. And if you're going to build up that animosity before a fight, well, you've got to expect it. I mean, I've never known someone to get knocked out quite like he did against Dalby and not be humbled slightly.

I mean, you should get humbled with a loss anyway, but, I mean, if you do a free fucking 60 in the cage after getting knocked out, well, come on, sort it out and just start respecting people as fighters. I've never once really gone in and chat shit before a fight. Like, there's no need. You can do stuff like that might be out of character slightly to help build a fight, and everyone does that. But if you're constantly relentlessly being that guy that people know that you're just going

immaturely talk some crap, which you might have been told or not told you can say by some other people, because, you know, that's what it is, then that's it. But you've got to know that calm is going to happen. And like, if you chat shit, get banged. It's genuinely that. A lot of Irish fans were hoping that they'd make the McKee-Lahari fight. They assumed La Jollauree would be able to get through this. I think Santos is a tougher matchup for McKee.

If they were going to look towards that match, because, you know, I just imagine that La Jolla fight would play. inside Reese's wheelhouse. He's a knockout artist, so was Alex. This is a different one now. We've got a bit of an enigma on our hands here with Santos, I feel. I spoke to Reese after we beat Hack and Foss. And before I spoke to him, because I thought Hacking and I basically said, look, this is what you need to do.

So he's going out aggressive and he won't be able to stand it. And then, research for a fight back and he saw what I meant. And again, you watch Foss against Richardson, against Khalid and stuff. And you can see that he just fades if you give him the pressure. so that fight worked perfectly and I think it'd be the same fight for Lahore I think McKee's just too much he's a very unorthodox

and explosive striker especially coming up a weight like I met Reese first a few years ago on a golden tick proportion when he was still fighting a featherweight and he looked like shit he was so gone and now he's grown into a lot more now and like he suits the physique like his weight cut didn't seem as bad last time

he probably still cuts quite a lot because he's the tall guys like same height as me but he was a lot better at that way find and I think Lahore match wouldn't be the fight he needs like you want to go up when you beat someone

and I think Lahore would have been too much of a step down even if he had gone through this one um the person I want to see Mickey if he'd be Procter

but I know he's got he's out of his hand at the moment it looks like that'd be outrageous yeah it'd be it's a great fight I mean you've got two great fighters

and I mean they're clearly next in line for a shot of the belt if not I don't know what's going on with the belt um with Houston and that um but I mean if

they put an interim title on for Dalby and Lahore so it's why they wouldn't do it for them if he's going to sit out again or for whatever reason but Santos in the mix as well I mean he's a very difficult fight to deal with like he's stronger than he looks he's literally built like a middleweight like he doesn't look at he's heavy and he's got such a wide skill set and he just goes around trains he's quite like Solick I was talking to Lou Long about earlier just saying like you've got these guys where they come in you don't know a lot about them like on the European scene but and you can only find out so much about him but you don't

actually realize until after who they train with like Soldick at one point it made Hector Lombard look tiny in a photo. It's a huge, strong guy. Yeah, and I mean, you get all these guys over. And again, you don't know much about them, so you can only go of what you can get, but they train with good guys. And not that we don't have good guys in the UK,

but we don't have them as easily accessible. Like, I'm down in Devon, and I'm two hours away from anyone, and most of the closest ones are in Wales. And that's like, can do that trip, but you can't do it every day, which is what you need. Unless you move there and uproot your life and go there, you don't have on your doorstep, whereas these gyms are like London,

you can go from like shoot to team titan or um which where is now like uk top team and i'm from ireland yeah yeah and for him personally but you just got all these teams in like a local in a big city where you can work like whereas a say exit which is where my gym's based we've got loads of different guys i mean we've got some really well-known jits guys um but they just they do just do jits or they just do boxing and no one really mixes it up um it's just it's a shame that we don't necessarily have that availability the same, but it's a difference in where you're positioned in the UK. Like, I mean, my teammate Joseph is like on a bellister tonight.

And locally really has an idea. She's had all this massive last minute interest from the media, like local news, local... The donkey wrangler. I mean, I'm very excited about this since you've told me. Donkey Ranch, she works at Donkey Town. She has one of the best jobs ever. Like, she mucks out don't want to do that.

I mean, who doesn't want to do that? That's amazing, man. I can't actually wait for a fight now. I just got a couple of more things for you before we go. And thank you so much for all your time, man. Great hearing your takes and all this. Brad Wharton, your Vimtoe brother, six years on the call for Cage Warriors yesterday. The man is a legend in this part of the world.

It's great to see people kind of big in them up now. I feel like it's always happened, but I feel like now more than ever, people are big in the likes of him and Ian up, Ian Dean. These guys are getting the credit they deserve, right? Like, I mean, there's so many key components there in cageways, and Brad is without a doubt one of them, right? Brand's basically a bit of the furniture, and, I mean, he's, Brad's great.

Like, as a character who's great, as a commentary is great, he brings, like, that oomph that you want. Like, he gets really into it, like, when he shouts, unbelievable, he gets mental. I mean, him and Ian especially, if there isn't a cage warrior's pension, they should be in line for it. And, you know, obviously with my other job,

if they want some help, I can give him some pointers. But, I mean, brand's just someone who I think people commentators get a lot of stick they're like they're similar to rafs and judges they're they're quick to get criticized but they don't get enough praise so it's very slayed for the praise and like brand's great like

he loves the sport he lives for it and if you don't know him as a person like chat to him I'm sure if you ever get a chance to meet him like anyone that's listening he'll give you all the time give him some vimto especially and he's anyone's for a vimto but yeah he's just he's a key part of the current kager's team and has

been for years and it's now he's people are starting to realize that, I think, as the brand grows, like, over time, which it has done, it's gone from strength to strength, especially since, like, Graham took over and reintroduced it after the little hiatus a few years ago. It's just good to see that these guys that are in the background are starting to get the kudos they deserve. Like, Ian as well, he's one of the nicest guys ever, like, he's fucking hilarious. Like, if you ever get a chance to be, like, for a guy who sees so many shriveled dicks, he'd think he'd be a bit more traumatized, but he loves his job. Maybe, maybe that's the thing. No, I couldn't agree more. It was also weird.

Donald Dolleries last show last night, one of the great rigors there. I know his son Paul very well. He's a legend, man. Everybody loves that guy. I mean, do you interact with Donald a lot when you're at the show? It seems like a lot of the fighters really love that guy. I fucking love Don. He, genuinely, I met him when I thought in Jordan against John Redmond. I never met him. I heard that was the amount of stories that came out at that show that will never be allowed to be told, but amazing by the sounds of it. That show is like, it's brilliant. I mean, I never met Don and him and Dave had a little raciot ship from a few shows before and he just treated me as like he knew me completely like him and Russ looked after me and

like I love those guys like they're a great team and it almost feels like for my K-Droyo's journey a little bit of that sound died like I didn't know it was John Don's last one until I got told by Russ a few days ago I was like what I'm not even there and like I've literally messaged Don today's said I hope I still see you at shows if I'm there like even even just there to watch like he's a legend of guy like when I do my three hour breakfast it in so I can fight day, I'll end up having breakfast with Dom for about an hour of it. Honestly, I'm, I won't be a champion at Cage Roy's, but I'm the breakfast champion, and I won't have a challenge anyone to that, and everyone can back me up.

I have breakfast about 10 different people every time. It sounds like, boy, what Paddy's saying, it sounds like Joe Gianetti and Eddie give you a run for your money, but the sounds of things. But finally, when are we going to see you back in there? I mean, when are we going to see the Tundercat back in the Cage Warriors cage? like do you have any immediate plans? It sounds like, you know, Alex Lahore doesn't sound bad at the moment.

I'm looking to get back in next year. I mean, I'm taking a bit of time out this Christmas. I need to sort my shit out, basically. The last two fights I've had, I've not been happy with it. I wouldn't say that's been me in there. Like, everyone says it makes excuses. I turned up, I did the fight camp, but just didn't go my way.

And whether that's done to my poor decision-making, wasn't quite ready, any facts can be in. in mind but i mean the next time i get back in there i tend to be back on form be the way i should be like and just put on those entertaining fights and i think the last two just i've not been happy with so it's almost like i'm finished business in my head but at the moment i'm just chilling out i'm not putting any stress on anything um i get back in there as soon as something comes up that interests me and that kind of that spark reignites um but for now i'm just going to get fat over christmas i'm on my donut diet which is helping and you look fantastic thank you you don't look so bad yourself

I hate you because you eat all this stuff and you still keep a fantastic physique. It's very annoying for the common man like myself. Well, if you trained quite as much, I do, I do. I don't know you say it's that if you've put your body through as many torturous weight cuts as I have and you've screwed your body up to a point where you're not sure if when you have your water retention after a weight cut, whether it's all the extra sugar in your body or whether you're having rapid kidney and liver failure and you can joke about it.

Well, you know, that's what it is. My body just doesn't know where it's coming or going. think it just puts the weight in different places. I think my ass is quite big at the minute, so maybe it's there. Great. Thank you so much, man. I love speaking to you. It's always great to see you on the road, and we can't wait to see you back in there, man.

Thanks, mate. It was good to see you, too. And what a lovely guy he is, that Craig White, always a gentleman, ever since the first day I ever spoke to him. But now, after you heard us breaking it down, let's go and have a listen to some of the things, Graham Boyland had to say here. You know, really good insights there in the Paddy situation with G&E and Eddie from Boylan. He also hints at something there that his fighters are going to be excited about.

He mentions the mothership. And then he says, oh yeah, I ask him. I said, are you talking with the UFC and he's just like next question? I thought that was very interesting. There's a few good bits in there. He also speaks about the situation where Ross Houston. So yeah, we'll be back after Graham has had a few words with y'all. He's in a fine vein of form these days, Graham Boylan. He is playing the evil promoter fantastically well. He has a lot of attitude and I I really think he is doing the Cage Warriors brand wonders at the moment. I think it's all of this Bellator stuff has made everyone on the Cage Warriors team step their game up. And it's really interesting to see.

And the same on the other side. But here's Graham Boylan. Graham, first of all, big, big night for the company, a new champion crown tonight. How do you feel the event went? Big success for us. Sold out arena. the fights were for us

I thought it was spectacular fights very entertaining fights and they sucked the crowd in on everything that happened I think the crowd were cheering every kick punch elbow submission attempt so it was a good night for us

good finish to the year it's always a big loss when someone like Paddy gets taken off a card obviously a huge star and even you could feel how much his comeback how much it was stimulating interest in Europe and UK particularly in Ireland. How much of a loss is it when a guy like that, a superstar there, gets taken off

the card for a company like Cage Warriors? It's a big loss depending on where he is on the card. I don't think a lot of people realize. I think Patty was a late addition to London because we didn't know whether he was going to be fit to fight or not. So we kind of had the card built and we had one spot left open if we got the green light that Patty was good to go. So he was a a confirmed late edition. So we sell this place out every time we come, it's our home. So to lose, Patty, is devastating on a content and energy

and eyes on the show, but the show was sold out prior to that anyway. Unfortunate circumstances with how it happened, you know. But Patty would be probably on the first show of the year. We're going to Manchester. It's not far from his hometown. So probably answering your next question is that's where he'll be. Just one more on that air.

How do you feel about the Gianetti situation? I mean, you did very well to get him in at the last minute, a really high-calibre opponent, an opponent that's known to international audience as well. How disappointing is that when you guys extend yourselves and you get the fighter over and then he doesn't come in on the weight? Like, I mean, is that, is that disappointing for Cage Warriors? It's disappointing with Cage Warriors.

It's disappointing for the fans, and it's disappointing for Patty. You know? And if we just remove Patty's name from this for a second, it's disappointing for any fighter. You know, he's trained, and any fighter would train their ass off for eight weeks to get a fight on such a prestigious show

to finish the year. So for Genetti to come in, seven and a half pounds over, I think it's disrespectful to Cage Warriors to have given him the opportunity to take a chance on his word that he said he would make the wait to come in and not do it. had he made some attempt and reached out to us the morning of the way in

I believe there could have been some kind of middle ground catchweight fight put together but he didn't he stepped on the scales seven and a half pounds over stepped off the scales went straight back to his seat and started hydrating so it kind of says it for itself really yeah you can understand patty's logic basically then is pretty much what you're saying there Yeah, I understand Paddy's logic. I said on air tonight, we were the ones that told Patty's head was all over the place. You know, he's a fighter.

The first words out of Paddy's mouth in those minutes were my head's fucked. You know, I've got all these people who come to see me to fight this and would be come back. So I personally pulled Patty aside and said, you cannot fight because of external pressure. you know this show is done it's a big show there's world title fights in this card you cannot step in there just because people have come to see you you you've got a long career ahead of you going in there against a guy who's seven and a half pounds over when you've just bust your ass to make weight it's not a wise thing to do but the decision is yours we're telling you not to do it um he listened to experience words we know what we're doing um he took it on board and it broke his heart it literally broke his heart to have to walk walk away from that fight. He's a fighter. He doesn't want to walk away from fights. But it was a sensible thing for him to do. Like I said, he's got a long career ahead of him. So, you know, even in there lost, you know, where does he go from there? So he's got a career to think about. He made a good decision based on feedback that he was given.

Great. We saw a title change in tonight's main event. Natalius Frederick knocked out James Webb in their second encounter the year. You know, how nice was it to see that this fight didn't go to a contentious draw at the last one? and we actually got a defined winner here tonight. It's nice that they kind of finished off old business to say. Nathias was strong, man. He was super strong in the feet. Whether it was a gas thing, a cardio team towards the end,

the Thias just wore James down. But on the feet, I just didn't see that James had any answers for Nathias striking and his aggression and the power on those shots towards the end. maybe a rubber match, we don't know, we'll see. Now we've got a champion. He's in Birmingham, so we'll be going to Birmingham in April. Maybe he'll defend there, and we'll see what's what. Is there any other names floating around for the tight as his first defense,

or is it maybe just the rubber match that you're looking to book? It's not something we've even thought about or looked at. We'll figure that out. Maybe next week we'll take a few days off, and myself in Ian will sit down and start looking at the first four or five shows of the year and see who's going to fit him where. We've also seen Manchester The first ever Cade Road show in Manchester

Not tempted to go across to Pennines to the noisy neighbours in Leeds? There's only so many shows in cities we can fit in So we'll test the water with Manchester Jack Cartwright Bantamweight Champion needs a runout So we'll come and bring the cameras And the platform to him and see what kind of reception he gets in Manchester

What Mr Seen this year has been You've turned the dial up to 10 next year already 10 events announced how do you beat this year after a bantan weight tournament a night of champions card and so many thrilling fights throughout the year? We've got some strong stuff up

our sleeves that we've been announced on pretty soon there's a few little eyes and teas and dots and crosses to happen but we've got I believe we'll have some good news to spread for the fighters and what's going to be available to them in the new year which will

I believe up the game again within the industry. So we're working on that with the mothership. Great. We saw Ian Gary here tonight. Thoughts in his career and any plans for his, any future opponents for him? No future opponents as such. Ian is another one of these guys

that will probably step in and fight a world title fight tomorrow. But it's baby steps. He'll get developed and he'll be a huge star and a huge name in Cage Warriors. I believe Ian in Ireland Reese up in Belfast

Joe Hughes we're starting to build that Irish scene again so we've got strong plans 2020 You mentioned Jack Cartwright earlier Any opponent in mind for his first title defence We had eyes on a fight tonight

that could have been something there but no we're back to the drawing board so we'll see what's there we'll see what comes up and that Yeah What did you mean when you said the mothership there Yeah. Any other questions? You're talking about UFC?

Any other questions? Finally. Yeah. What were the other standout performances for you this evening? Mads Brunel. Mads stood off me tonight. We got to see a striking, you know? Everybody talks about Mads as the submission king of Europe and he's this and he's that, but I think tonight we got to see a different side of Mads.

The Liam Gettings, I'm a single fight. I've yet to see the second two rounds, but the first round looked absolutely crazy. I didn't get to see the second two and three, but I'm looking forward to watching that back because I'll talk about it. So, yeah, but tomorrow in general, I watch the show back. I've been scrambling everywhere tonight. It's been a busy night for me. Would the USC speak to us about mads? No, it's not a conversation that we would have with them, no. Just a word on Modestis Prakowskis, retained his belt's night in emphatic fashion. He's brought his profile up a little bit recently, what was going into the Isla Fernando's

whatever is that show is. Do you reckon with the London card fast approach in the UFC could come knocking or are there any specific plans you have for him that you might think that he might be better suited staying with me? I'd like to see Medescus go. You know?

There was a time, it was maybe questionable where Medeskis would end up, but he turned a corner in his career. He took on some big names, beat them. He's a champion, he just defended it. The light heavyweight division in Europe, there's not a lot. to choose from or pick or so I'd like to see him go if he doesn't we'll find someone for him in London

but I believe he does deserve a shot based on his last three or four performances in regards to Eugenetti on Twitter he was stating that he was 30 pounds over a week ago was that something cage worries were aware of was that discussed before he took the fight I was told about that yesterday when people said to mention that that that was on Twitter and That's what he was saying. If guys, managers or coaches, and we talk to them, and they say they can make the weight, we've only got to take them for the word.

We can't judge and say, no way you're making that. We ask them what the weight is. They'll tell us you get, we're season pros. We have no problem making that weight. We can only take them for the word. If they turn up and it's not what they said, you know, that's one spitting twice shy for us. You know, but we've got to take him for a word

when they tell us this, but we did not know at that point that that was the weight he was walking at. But I've seen guys cut that type of weight in two weeks, so even if he did say that, it's not something we would have gone, holy shit, you know, we've seen guys cut that type of weight. Does the two? Is there not the temptation to, I know you said Manchester,

it's the not a temptation to take him back to the Liverpool and go back to the echo? arena and sell that out of? Manchester is someone we've not been. It's been asked for for years and years. We'll test it out. We'll see where it goes.

Paddy will be on that card. We'll see how Jack does what kind of crowd he draws. Maybe we step into a bigger arena in Manchester. We've got ten shows scheduled released. There's more to come. So maybe Liverpool slips on at the end of the year there. We also saw when these announcements were

about the events. A lot of Scottish fans getting a little bit riled up. There's no return to Glasgow or going up past the border. Is that something we might see in the future announcements? Maybe towards the end of the year. Definitely not within the first half of the year. We're kind of stacked out. It's hard for us to step into cities where the brand hasn't done well previously. We have a lot to calculate both financially and arenas and dates and slot and everything in. So we'll see where it's at the end of the year. We've got a few Scottish guys on the roster, some of coming off losses. It's something that is on our radar,

but we need to fit in towards the end of the year if it is going to happen. We also saw tonight a lot of batch. He knocked our Alex Lahore, who was the top prospect in the Worldweight Division. What's his future whole flight division now? We've got Ian Gary come up the ranks. Ross Houston is defending champion. You know, where would we see that division go this year? Well, we're finished for this year.

So next year, I don't know, maybe there's a fight there for Ross, see what Ross wants to do. You got Reese McKee there as well. Lahore probably would have been in that mix, but after tonight, no. Santos may be back in the mix. It's starting to brew in that division. Yeah. Look, we're all behind Ross. When Ross is ready, we're happy to put him on the character.

He's got some issues about where he wants to fight. I think he's a little bit upset because the year. EFSI haven't signed him for Copenhagen, he thought he might get in there. I know the UFC will take him at some point. Maybe there's some clock ticking in Ross's head where he wants to give up that dream and go somewhere else. But what was Ross? I'd sit tight, defend his belt and it's there for him.

No. What does it say about the appetite for MMA in this part of the world with two shows on this weekend, Bellator, obviously at the SSZ, and then you guys here selling out the Indigo? I mean, it must mean good things for a promoter. being in this part of the world and having both these cars generate so much interest. Yeah, it's a big team for the sport. The sport is growing, you know, so to have the crowds, like we have a sold out show tonight, I don't know what the other crowd will do tomorrow, I don't always have a crowd I'll get. But London's a big place, you know, there's 10 or

million people here. You know, if you can't do well, 10 million people in the city, then maybe it's time to pack up and get into something else, chess or something, I don't know. Any words about Donald Dullery? I heard it's his last. night to night and I mean he is a member of the cage warriors family we see him at all these events over the years and he's a well-liked man and what what does he mean to the cage warriors family he's he's been part of the family for a long time I think he brings a lot of ease to the fighters they see that face but you know he's getting his pensioner's bus pass soon so I don't know if we can have him running around the cage

like that you're gonna present the gold watch now or yeah we look for a gold watch he's been he's been after a gold watch for a while so we've got to tie down and pick one up over Christmas. A big thank you to Graham Boylan. Great stuff again with him post-fight there. We're going to go on and talk about Bellator a bit more now. I think they've done a lot of great things with this card. It wasn't the most attended event I've been to in that arena for Bellator. One of the staff guys there who works at the SSE told me it was about half the arena they had opened. So I reckon there's about 4,000 to 5,000 people there. But, I think they've planted a lot of good seeds here.

There's lots of good stories to take from this event. What about Robert Whiteford pouring his heart out backstage? I would have liked if we had a state on that subject a bit more. Some other people asked him some questions about stuff that was happening in the fight. But when a guy is becoming so emotional like that, that's where you need to. It doesn't matter what happened in the fight. Something else is happening here. I would have liked to delve into that a bit more, to be honest.

But an amazing storyline. They need to give that to people more. promote that explain all the things this man has been true exceptional um chris bungard v peter quelley that's another plant that's been seed that's been planted there peter planted that seed a long time ago to be fair but bungard seems interested so let that happen that should be a prominent fight in dublin people are already interested you know peter has as i said he's going to set the fuse for that one so that needs to happened. They also they said also

kind of build up this thing between Fabian Edwards and Mike Shipman like there's no need to do that rematch immediately but put them on a collision course to get back to that rematch. The energy that was in that room that night at Bellator was fantastic. I mean it was really, really

tense. There was fights busting out left right and center. You know it really meant something to people and you know I'm not saying that people fighting each other in the crowd is a good thing but it really shows them which it meant to them and I think that's a really good thing that Bellator need to take from that. One of the things probably most disappointed about the night for me was was MVP not coming back and speaking to us after the fight.

Okay, you've called for Douglas Lima there, a rematch with him, obviously his sole professional defeat. And that's fine, but the first thing everybody saw on social media, what social media were saying was, oh, this is ridiculous. How can he beat this Italian guy we've never heard of and then call for a shot at the champion? and you know if he had to come back and spoke about that and sold it to us then maybe he'd have you know a case there but the fact that he didn't you know it kind of leaves that a loose end and i'd like to say like michael has been nothing but a gentleman to me over the years he's always been so so sound but um that's just something like i mean he's usually an uber professional

but i feel like he missed a beat by not doing it that night like to give you a better idea I think I mentioned this with Jade, Morris, who I'm going to introduce now in a second, who helped me recap Bellator, but I can remember when Gaslam and Till was announced. And I was like, what the fuck? Like, what's going on here, man? This makes no sense.

And then I heard Till talking about it at that media day, the full reptile video I watched. And I was like, actually, you know what? This is great. This makes perfect sense. I actually got to speak to Darren because his teammate, Raf, pulled off a beautiful win there earlier in the cards.

I saw him and Terry Edom and Colin. him herring backstage and actually your man raff chigba he moves a lot like terry edin back in his day and i was saying that to terry but i think terry thought i was talking about like saying darren dill moves like him so he's a bit confused but uh darren looks amazing man he looks so healthy and he's in a great place you know he didn't say anything about the whittaker fight being made you know it seems like that's something he definitely wants but uh really in a great place like big smile in his face talking me about the the ghastelam fight just seems like everyone in that crew is on to great things again and really good to see that. But yeah, me and Jade met the

next morning, just after it spoke to Nathaniel actually, just a few minutes after. We met in the Hilton to have a chat about this. I'm really grateful for Jade for helping me out with this. You'll know Jade from Yahoo Sports, ESPN, many other publications. She also does some work with with KSW now. She was with me all the way back to the cage where he's event on Friday night. and only a handful of us were there that night. Kieran Cobley, Fight IQ were there, the full reptile guys were there,

me and Jade were there, Simon Head was there for a bit, but we had some Wi-Fi issues earlier in the night, so we had the head off. But anyway, I'm babbling. So let's hear from Jade now, who helped me talk about this. Jade was actually struck

when the media area was stormed by London shoot fighters, When they taught Fabian Edwards was starting something about hercation when he left the cage, but he was just celebrating. So all for nothing. But, you know, justice for Jade. We need to start the hashtag. She'll never walk again. There's a lawsuit on the way.

I'm joking. I'm joking. But thank you so much to Jade. We'll be back in a few minutes to introduce Dave Green, who had a few things to say, of course, the head of Bellator Europe. So we'll speak to Jade. I'll introduce Dave. can wrap your faces around that one. And now I am here

with Jade Morris. You will know her from Yahoo Sports from ESPN and many, many other publications. And Jade has been with me all week here. We've done Cage Warriors and we did Bellator London yesterday. A lot to talk about. We're going to really break down the Bellator section of the events

over the weekend. But how are you, Jade? As many people might have known if they were following social media, as Fabian Edwards scales the fence. London shoot jumped into the media yesterday and poor Jay got an awful wall up to the leg. How are you

feeling today? Are we going to put the claim in yet? My leg is not falling off. We're all good. It's still here. A bit of a shock at the time. I think everyone thought I was like, you know, taken off. I was taken away by my ex, but I'm all good. Not that I'm dramatic at all. She's on crutches. There's a lot of blood still leaving the leg.

But no, I'm okay. I'm surviving. We're good. We're good. Nothing else saw me from a fight night. It was just speaking on that, right? I mean, I've been to a fair few Bellator events, but I don't think I've ever been there when there was such a tension in the room, right? Like, I mean, I felt like I was looking behind me all the time because I felt like something could pop off,

and I really feel like that's because of the whole Fabian Edwards-Myke-Shippman thing, right? Whatever about the fight not being the most exciting thing in the world, people really cared about that fight this week, right? It felt really big. When it came time to happen, the tension was palpable, and it really felt like a big atmosphere in the SSE, right? For sure, because that was like the people's event, right? Everyone wanted to see that fight.

And as we saw in the buildup, these guys clearly had, you know, they had some beef. And then obviously, you know, a bit of a controversy in terms of the decision. But it just goes to show no one was really sure which way it was going to go. Some people thought it was Shipman. Some people thought it was Fabian. It's one of those where you do, like what Shipman said when he spoke to us afterwards, he'll have to watch the fight back and kind of see what happened. But yeah, that caused absolute chaos once that decision went.

And then obviously when he then jumped over the cage, we all thought he'd done it. In fairness, we taught something that happened too. Like, I understand why the London shoot goes. Maybe me personally, not that I'm a fantastic fighter anyway, and I would have got involved. Like, I mean, I can understand why they taught something way to happen because the crowd kind of took a big gasp, right?

And then next of all, Jade's getting impaled by a chair. People are all over the ground. And then it's all going to calm down two seconds later, which is very strange. It was the weirdest thing, because I thought it was a brawl. I thought a full-on brawled's broken out. I just heard people around me scream, and I had no idea what was going on. I had chairs flying at me. I was on the table going, oh, my word, what is happening?

And then two seconds later, it was all like, this is chill, nothing's happened. That was just like, what is going on? But the guy who jumped behind me, he faced-planted on the floor, because he got caught on the rail, which is how, to be fair to him, he didn't mean to, you know, attack me with the chair, but he volleyed the chair when he fell, and it just caused a knock-on effect of chaos. But then he walked off awkwardly once he realized,

Fabia just jumped over to hug his teammate. So it was a weird night. Yeah, it was weird. Very strange. Big Narsie and the whole gang were there for the main event, as we saw. I couldn't take a picture of Big Narsity earlier. I don't know if you heard this. I don't know if I told you last night.

I turned around at one point, and I asked MVP if I could take a picture of him and Big Narsie to get on. I was told I couldn't. So then Abby Suban took a picture of us coming over shoulder of Big Narsity. It was pretty funny, but a big win for MVP. And look, MVP showed up, and he had to fight the guy that they could get him, right?

I mean, he was stuck with a late-notice opponent, but it kind of went exactly the way everyone imagined to do. That's what he does. He hoiler real chaos people. I don't know if it's moved him on so much. I mean, he's calling for a rematch with the champion now, Douglas Lehmer. And look, it is in his first. called again that he fought the guy they put in front of him, but it just feels like a big jump from

this guy we haven't really ever heard of to the champion of Bellator, right? After the win. I think he ran is a shame because like I said, he can't control who he gets put in front of him. And yeah, it just really was a walk under the walk-off show wheel highlight. It just shows he, you know, he is one of the best. Yes, he did have that loss. You know, I think I would love to see that fight again, personally. I would really like to see that fight. He's just so. He's just so. good. He's so good. I just feel like there's going to be so many people up in arms because, oh, he fought Richard Coily and this guy and now he fights the champion again. But I do feel as though, people

underrate him greatly. Like, I mean, yes, he did get knocked out by Douglas Lima, but a lot of people got knocked out by Douglas Lima, okay? Like, I mean, it's not, like, it's the one loss in his record. I do feel as though, that's a great fight to make for Lima as well, because MVP brings so many eyes to the fight night. But I do feel as though we're going to have a bit of an issue, like I mean an issue in terms of the fan base reacting to that, but I feel as though it was very important for him to show up after the fight

and make his case and he didn't come and speak to us after the fight and, you know, all the publications are sending us here to hear what MVP has to say. A lot of the time, you know what I mean? So I just felt as though if you had it got the win, we're all sitting there going, is this enough to get Lima? He should have came back and convinced us that it was enough

and then we would have been probably going. Like same with Till when he fought Gaslim, I was like, I don't understand this fight. Then I heard Till talking I was like, oh yeah, okay. And then he went and won it, you know? No, it's true. Funnily enough, I did actually catch Michael Page last night. Exclusive, Eurobash.

Go ahead, Jane. So I did tell him off, I said, oh, you. Why weren't you backstage doing me? And he hid behind Jim Edwards. Like, I'm really sorry. I'll come next time. I was like, you better. So you missed out.

So he did apologize for not. It's funnily enough, I haven't got the text message yet. No, no. But yeah, he knows he's in the bad books. Right, so there's a lot of interesting pieces I play here, right? Because you saw at the way in, there was a big bust up between Shipman and Fabian, and then Michael Venom Page comes in. When there's something that goes off, Paige is there.

Breakfast buffet, here he comes. But it's like, yeah, it's like, Fabian, right? Fabian afterwards says he'd fight MVP at Middleweight. Are you kidding me? That is mental. That would be a wild fight. That will blow my mind. I kind of want to see it.

I mean, Fabian, when I asked them, was their beef day? He moved to the site. Of course, Leon Edwards is on the same management team as Michael Venham Page. So I can understand why he doesn't want to stoke the fire too much there. Also, James Gallowher and MVP are on the same team. And then they had that big bust up of Mike Kimball earlier in the week. And we had heard James story. And I felt a lot of people sided with James in that situation.

I felt a lot of people were like, you know, especially sons, you know, they're like, oh yeah, if someone said something about my mother, I'd do exactly the same thing. But again, him and Michael Venn and Page had a bit of an exchange there. It seemed like they had settled it all down. But then we hear Mike Shipman talking about how he didn't like the way James handled, MVP there. I mean, there's a lot of different little things that have been set off. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know if it's going to come to anything, but it does feel as though there are so much tension

and little beefs breaking out left right and center this week, right? But I actually, I expected them to be a, when Mike Shipman came backstage to speak to us, I expected there to be a lot more, him to be a lot more, you know, I want that rematch. But he seemed to be, you know, really gracious and say, you know, I need to watch the fight back. And he said he did think he won, but he needs to watch the fight back. So, but I don't think we're going to see that rematch for a while. When we asked, obviously, David about it, he said that it's probably not next on the cards either. But they don't need to do it next.

It doesn't need to come next. That's a fight that when you can make that many people in a room feel that way, I think you can do that fight whenever. It's like Nate Diaz and Connor McGregor to a lesser extent, of course. But in the UK, that's always going to sell that fight, I think. Even though it didn't live up the expectation to be in the arena that night and to feel how the promotion made the people feel, it was pretty amazing. So I think they can do that whenever, right?

Yeah, exactly. And there's something they can come back to. But I think Fabian Edwards, he's going to be a big star. I think that was just such an infuriating fight for him because obviously, you know, he was, Mike Schum was landing so many takedowns and ending up in half-garde and he just didn't seem to have any answers for it. So it did seem like quite an infuriating fight. Obviously on the feet, Fabian had the advantage there. It was a really tough back and forth fight and I think he'll learn a lot from that fight.

Like he said afterwards, he's going to, you know, watch it back. He's going to take a lot from it. He said that he did, you know, a lot that he expected him to, but he was still landing those shots, which is why people were so unsure on which way that fight had gone, which is understandable. Yeah, and also I would like to see that fight again in the future. Maybe not next, but I would like to see that fight again in the future. Back on Brazier was a huge fight. It was two double champions, one from Cagewires, one from Bama,

one of the most bizarre entrances of all time. Oh, look, Terry Brazier is a hard motherfucker. He's one of the toughest dudes. you could ask to be in a mixed martial arts fight, but I just plain old did not expect that walkout. I mean, I was, that's how I was trying to do. I was looking around the press area, and I'm looking at Jake Smith,

and his mouth's wide open, like, looking down, I'm looking at Abby, and he's like, what, what's going on? What's going on? Everybody was just going, what's the story here? As, you know, it was just, I don't know what, I don't know Terry well, So, I mean, it just felt really out of character. But, I mean, fair play to him. He's gone out and he's tried to make a big statement.

Look, we're talking about it today, so it's obviously worked. But back at an impressive, dominant three rounds. But can you understand Brage's frustration at the end? He was obviously very frustrated. He called him a boring motherfucker, quote, after the fight. Can you understand where he's coming from there? I guess Terry, like, so well-rounded, I think he wanted to showcase his hands and stuff like that.

He didn't really get the opportunity to. Yeah, no, I do. do get it and I think I'm surprised that fight wasn't for it more because you know they say you have a they're both double champs one in Bama one in Cage Warriors I was so excited like I was excited for that fight more than you know a lot of them because I'm saying I was excited for Fabian but that fight especially I couldn't wait for this um yeah it was it was a bit slow so I do see Terry's frustration that it was just a lot of you know in the clinch and didn't go his way and again it was just one of those infuriant fights because I think Saurin almost took the cage out when he landed that tank down towards the end.

I was like, oh, that's nearly gone. I think he took him the whole way across the air cage, but yeah, I can see why he was frustrated. And the crowd still loved him when he came up the cage. I was still cheering for him. That's a good sign for him. Like, actually, that's a very good point to make. Like, I mean, the crowd was on his side there. When he came out and he was like, ah, borrowed motherf-f-f-ha!

It was like, yeah! No, I thought I thought back was massive. I think, you know, his debut, I think, you know, huge debut. I don't know if, you know, I think a lot of times in Bellator, people want that big exclamation mark. I think he probably is different from a lot of their talent in that regard. But I thought it was fabulous performance. I do really feel for Terry Bridge because he said that he didn't have the start that he

wanted in Bellator and he really wanted to showcase what he's all about. He felt like he had a chance to do that. So I can see that's why he's frustrated at it as well. well because again he's not had that chance to to show what you can do so and see why like he said that at the end he was a bit like oh because it just he didn't get a chance to do it but i think people have to be a bit easier on guys as well um he at a moment you're in the most visceral sport in the world like these guys are literally trying to kill each other seconds before and i'm going to go thank you good sir afterwards you know it's a bit much that has put um just a few quick notes on uh robert

Weiford. You know, you've spent a lot of time interviewing Robert Weiford over the years. You've interviewed him in his night of Glasgow. Incredible backstage. I mean, after an incredible performance where he gets that buzzer-beater, K-O. in the last second after being down in the second round himself, and then just this outpour of emotion. Like, as I said to you, just before, we started recording here, it didn't feel like he was celebrating that win at all. It felt like it was this massive thing he just overcame. And the emotions pouring out of him. And the emotions pouring out of as he describes how his marriage broke down and how he delved into alcoholism in his 18 months away from the sport his retirement as it were after his time of ACB I was blowing away from it and I was honestly that

their hairs were standing up on the back of my neck when he was talking there yesterday he really looked heartbroken and that you know it really hurts to see fighters look because the thing is with fights it's the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows um so it's so tough when you see that happen so when I heard that you got signed to Bellator, I was just so happy for it. I mean, I've interviewed him for, like I said, I've interviewed him for years and years and years, and I've seen his progression. And when I saw him land that nasty upper court, I was just like, wow, this is insane. Like, you can just see, he wanted that win so badly. And then when, obviously, he got the win, the relief in his face and the way he jumped over the cage, he made the point of saying,

he's probably going to find again. He made me laugh. I was like, yeah, you need to stop. But yeah, like I was quite surprised when he came back stage. I really thought he was going to be so excited and happy and he wasn't. He was a joke. He's such a joke where he's every time I've interviewed. He's so, like fun and happy. And like you say, when he came back, he did look really. And for him to open up like that to media and to his fans is a special thing. So, you know, it was heartbreaking for that.

But it was really nice to see him get the win. And, you know, hopefully he has a great career in Bellator. And I think he will. It was one thing I think we should mark about the attendance. It was about half the arena they told me they had opened there yesterday at the SSE. I'd say we're in around the 5,000, 4,000 mark. And that's like, I mean, it's unbelievable to me that it's not unbelievable. Sorry, it's staggering for me that in Ireland we do 9,000, 10,000 for these Bellator shows.

And look, we don't have the UFC coming every year. We don't have a lot of things going on like the UK scene has going on. But it is still interesting. Obviously in Ireland is one of our big, big, big. markets but um i feel after that event something i've been complaining about for a long time with bellator is just not making the fans care enough like the the events just stand alone and then it's like on to the next one we're making this list of fights that have nothing to do with those last list of fights whereas this one was really about with fabian and shipman stapling down who is the best middleweight

in our organization in this european series um so i do think they they did something good here do you think this is a good stepping stone for belator do you feel like there's a lot to build on from this show Yeah, absolutely. They need to carry on with those stories now. So with fate, like you say, with Faye. Lots of plots, they have Robert Weiford, the Revent, like the Him Coming Back plot. That's amazing. You have James Galler and all these plots he just managed to set off in one day of appearances. MVP Lima, you have the European situation with Fabian, Shipman, Van Steenis there. I feel like Bungard, even talking about Queerley afterwards, stuff like this. and you know I feel like they have a lot to build on here right

yeah no absolutely and I hope they do continue to build because it's like I say it's so great that you know we've got the USC, we've got Bellator they're all coming over and putting on shows Kyrs W as well you know there is a fan base here so if they keep building on that

build on the stories I think they're going to have some superstars over here and you know they're signing some great UK talent we've got a lot of great fighters over here so if they just keep on Keep on building on those stories and supporting them. I think we're just, you know, we're going to have some great fights in the future. Jade, it was an absolute pleasure covering all Fight Week with you.

We were some of the very few that were there at all the shows, all the events. So thanks very much. Always great to see you. And thanks so much for helping me with your obash this week. Oh, absolutely. But hopefully we'll make more sense, you know, and we've not done so many back-to-back. I hope we're up now. You know what we're talking about usually.

Yeah, usually. But thanks very much, guys. We'll see you soon. Bye-bye. again, thank you so much to Jade Morris. Get well soon, Jade. What a travesty it is that you'll never walk again, just as for Jade. But on a more serious note, here is Dave Green speaking after the Bellator London show. Some interesting takes here, especially I like his honesty when it comes to James Haskell. Like, I mean, he's basically saying, you know, we didn't sign James

Haskell to come in here and fight Ryan Bader, you know. E. Neerty even says that Haskell going to OIMA Celebrity is a good thing. It's just interesting because that will give you an idea of their plans for him, of their plans for the brand really. Like, you know, the fact that OIMA Celebrity hits so many eyes, you know, and Haskell being brought in to stimulate a new kind of demographic, I'd imagine. So, yeah, it makes sense. And fair play to him for being so honest with that.

So we'll hear a bit from Dave Green now. and I'll be back to finish this marfucker off. So I'll see you guys in about 10, 15, I think. I can't remember it's all blurring into one at this point. But here's Dave Green anyway, very interesting stuff from Dave. Some of the fights we've had this year, everything from, you know, the Ryan scored pit bull fight to the Raymond Daniels knockout to, you know, Dublin

and how brilliant that was in September, right, to tonight. And some really good fights tonight. Nice way to finish the year, in Wemble. I saw a few little bits of a crowd. trouble tonight. Shipman, a lot of shirman's, coaches, jump to barrier, do some fights in the crowd. Does that maybe sadden it a little bit tonight?

Yeah, to be fair, I haven't looked into how the fight started or where they came from in the crowd, but obviously I did hear a bit of that during the Brazier fight. It's very rare in MMA and it's something sad to see really because I think we do a good job with MMA not to have that sort of thing going on

especially in the crowd. I mean, it's not so bad in the cage. But yeah, so I'll have to look into that some more. But you know, did seem some tensions out there. We saw the rival promotion, Cagebury Slaven Arts, a lot of their dates for next year. They're going to New Territory in Manchester. Do you think Belator's going to expand and maybe go in rival them in some other cities?

I don't feel like we need to rival anybody, you know, like that, on the sort of national level. We're looking to build into Europe, into mainland Europe, and we're going to do some big shows. I mean, I think we're treading our own path, really, and we don't need to sort of counterbook against anybody. David, the Sky TV deal, we're coming up to the first year. First of all, from your point of view, just give us a situation report.

How's it gone for you from your perspective? But secondly, are we going to see a renewal of the Sky Deal? Well, as you know, I mean, I think we were looking for a TV deal at the beginning of the year and we needed to facilitate two things. We need to get a broad, big platform for the Beltoe European Series. And we also need to look after all of those amazing international events we had. Getting it on Channel 5 was I think was amazing. We've been on all year, primetime, terrestrial TV, which,

MMA just hasn't had before. We've had a year on the channel, getting out to a huge, broad audience. And then, of course, we had the issue of the internationals and where to put them with all their moving time zones. So Sky Sports came along, and that's the perfect fit. I think, you know, to see us regularly mentioned on the Friday briefings and the news talking about international fights we've got, be it in Texas or Connecticut all over the world, advertised on Sky News, I think it's fantastic. And then the broadcast itself is available to everybody. So for me, it's been a really good partnership. As you say, we're moving into next year,

so there's lots of decisions and discussions to be had. But I'm sure we'll have some news about where we'll be. But one thing's for sure. We'll be out there for everyone to see in the UK and the rest of Europe. And this is a recurring thing when we speak, David. European series, European belt. How likely is it that we're going to see a European belt tied to the European series? At the moment, it's really not on the agenda.

I think for me, as I say, I don't really want the belt or European series to be some sort of second tier. I think what Belator Europe does is it gives all the fighters over here a pathway to fight for the belt and to be seen all over the world. I mean tonight all these guys were available on the

app and on YouTube in America. So they're getting to fight some great guys and they're going to have the opportunity to move up the Bellator ladder and fight in America for the belt. So at the moment for me I think it's all about the belt and how you get there. I mean you look at someone like MVP, you know the first thing he did

after winning tonight was calling out Lima for another fight. He'd love to do that. And I think, you know, at the moment, I wouldn't like to see him having one belt and then going for an international one. I think, you know, there's one top of the mountain. Any war in attendance than I did? I haven't had the final word on that yet.

Dave, who would you say was the biggest winner out of tonight? It's great performances, but who would you say really raise their stock? Well, I think, you know, you've got to say just on balance, Fabian coming out of this. I mean, I think that was a massive battle. You know, it was going to be a big deal for either of those guys who was going to win that fight, I think, because it had been built up to such a grudge match. I think, you know, for various reasons, the winner was going to move on to something.

And I think, you know, Fabian's raised this game tonight against a really quality opponent with Shipman. And I think that was a big win for him. Michael, they had a short-nowice replacement fight tonight. And it was very important to keep on the car. He's such a big name here, obviously. But do you feel as though that will be a good enough win for him to get a second crack at the champion, given that his opponent had never fought in Bellator before tonight? I mean, you're absolutely right.

Look, no one wants a fight to fall away because of an injury. And, you know, Derek Anderson would have been a huge fight tonight for MVP, a real test. He would have come forward, I think, would have been a really interesting fight. I think you've got to give credit to Gianni stepping in against MVP at Lesnarc. I mean, who would want to do that? And, you know, so, of course, you're not going to get the right picture from that, I think. But looking at it, MVP was confident, he was fit.

And, you know, he did the only thing he could do, which was to, you know, deliver another devastating in KEO on the night. As for his fight, it might not be the next fight, but I'd imagine if he wins, Lima wins, that fight's got to happen sooner or later. What's your take on a potential daily rematch? He was on the desk tonight, I understand.

He was talking up the possibility of facing MVP back here in London in 2020. I'm not sure he was overly impressed with the performance tonight, even though it was quite a short one. What should take on that? Is that a fight you'd like to get booked for this arena? Maybe next year? Look, I mean, I think everybody was very excited about that fight before the last one.

You know, obviously didn't deliver what we all hoped for on the night. Whether there'll be another one, who knows. I think that both guys are on a path. Maybe they'll come across each other again. Of course, if it does happen, I'd love to have it here. I think, you know, I think there is a potentially good fight there between the two of those guys. We just didn't see it the first time round.

How happy you were building that shipment and Fabian for you because it felt like so many people had, you know, We're invested in the fight. It felt really big this week. And you can even feel the tension in the arena there tonight when they were fighting. I think some people might have been let down with the fight watching on TV, but it was amazing tension in the arena tonight. Do you feel like that is on the back of all the promotional work you guys have done to sell that fight and the lead up to it?

Yeah, I would. I mean, I'd hope so. I mean, I think, like you said, the tension was really powerful in the arena. And I had a lot of people I know just coming up to me last night and saying, I've really got to see this fight now. So it was a promotional dream, really, because the fight had been two years in the making, and it seemed to come to a head at the right time.

And for me, combat sport, you know, in the round, never mind just MMIs, all about narrative and the storyline. And that, you know, that was a really true grudge match. And, you know, I think it delivered on the night. I think it was a great fight. Speaking of surprise signings, were you guys aware that James Haskell was going, playing and going into I'm a celebrity before you signed him?

You know, look, you look at someone like James, we didn't sign James Haskell just for, you know, he wasn't the biggest MMA prospect to sign. He's a personality and a big personality of that. So he's had a lot of workbooked. He was DJing in Abitha. He had lots of different things going on. And he's a public person. He's got a perfect profile. As for the jungle, I mean, look, he's going to be there for three weeks.

It's not like he's getting drunk every night. as I say the only thing we were worried about you might come back a middleweight with the food rations out there but you've got to respect James as an athlete he's an elite athlete and I've genuinely never seen anybody take something so seriously as this you know so you've got to respect his

preparation I guarantee when that guy sets foot in a cage he will be 100% prepared I've got no doubt about that so you know he's going to do his public thing this week I mean he's been training right up to the day he went in there and I'm sure he'll be fully prepared when he fights next year. Do you think it helps you guys that he's in there because, as you said, you're bringing him in to raise the profile? I mean, he's going to be on this huge show. A lot of people watch it.

Like, is it a good thing for Bellator that he's on it? Hey, look, I mean, I'd like to think so. I mean, you know, it's not, we don't, as I said, we signed him for lots of reason, let's be honest, you know, there's a PR angle there. And it's all about bringing new eyeballs to the sport. And I think, you know, the fact that James was only 34, he's still got a lot of time. He's really, really excited about fighting. If he brings in a, and he brings in a another few hundred thousand viewers because people now know him in the jungle. I mean, he was already quite big star going into the jungle from his rugby career. If he's brought in some more fans and people who would like to know what he's are doing,

then, you know, it's no bad thing. Dave, do you think those are the, do you think these are the right viewers, though? Because there's kind of two schools of thought, really, isn't there? We've had things like KSI versus Logan Paul. You know, there's a lot of people saying that's going to bring a load more eyeballs to to boxing, but do you think this is a realistic way forward for growing mixed-mars? by bringing people like GENTASCLE in.

It's not the only way, of course. And I think, you know, it's different comparing it to boxing. Boxing's been established for, you know, over 100 years. So, you know about boxing. I genuinely think there's people out there who do not know what MMA is. And there's people who haven't seen it yet. Now, obviously we can't vet everybody who's going to tune in or find us from maybe, you know, James.

But I'm sure if we can take a percentage of that away and show them a sport that maybe they're not aware of, then, you know, everybody's winning. from our side. You're looking to grow the brand over here in Europe. You've got a big slate of events planned for 2020. What can we expect? Besides the regular horns that, you know, Dublin, London, what else can we expect from Bellator? What's the next progression for you guys as you look to grow in Europe in 2020? Well, look, we're really ambitious. We want to grow quickly, but I think we're trying to do it properly. So, you know, obviously we'll revisit places because that's the way you

establish a foothold, you know. I think we've shown that in Dublin. You go back there and You know, you build it and you build the fan base, you build the talent. And there's a lot of fighters out there in Dublin now who are earning a good wage through us. Now, I think we're going to look into mainland Europe. You know, it's no mistake we've said. The Netherlands, Scandinavia, we've already announced today. We're going back to Milan in October. I think it's all about a steady, constant but, you know, ambitious growth into mainland Europe.

Now, great stuff. Thank you so much today for coming out and speaking to us after the event. um yeah so just a few kind of takeaways from this week i guess i'll be repeating myself a bit throughout this because i've recorded my into sections on different days and stuff so i apologize for that um but uh you know one of the big things that i kind of left there was you know how big Galaher and Pimletar. I think we all kind of understand that the legs of Fabian and Shipman were having their coming out parties in London there and I think it worked.

I mean, I know the fight didn't deliver, but it certainly captivated people in the lead up to the fight and even people across the water were talking about. Like Ariel Luany said, this is the biggest fight of the weekend in my opinion. That's a big, big thing. And kudos to Belator for building that. I mean, I think that's amazing. for a regional comment event like that really really good nailed it but um yeah it was just like you know when publications are going here they're going there for MVP because he's a big draw he's

a um you know a highlight real machine he speaks so well a massive professional but go back and like look at the numbers i mean galaher's numbers are through the roof patty's numbers are true to roof post fight and pre-fight um so that's why i kind of feel feel like that as well. It makes it tougher. The fact that MVP didn't show for the media afterwards, I don't know if he's done himself favours, but again, I'll stress he's always been a gentleman to me, always, and this week as well. Perfect gentleman. He could have a perfectly valid reason for that as well, so we should remember that. But Patty is a star, man, Patty Pimbleau. Like, people who doubt that guy, man, he is immediately, like as soon as I interviewed him, I could

see it in him. I know I said that earlier, but I mean, he's got it back. he's got that fire born inside him. His, it's not only just Paddy, like, when he's fighting. When he goes off the card, you're not just missing him. You're missing the star making power he brings to the table. Like, him not being on that card was a bad thing for everyone else on that main card. Because he would have brought so many eyes just to watch the event. It would have been the big thing for the likes of Natoyas Frederick who left would have

won that night, Modestis Bacoucas, and Jolton Santos. Like three guys who could do with. with a lot more attention and Mads Burnell as well. So yeah, I think I'm looking forward to seeing his next move. He's as captivating as ever. And Galaher as well. He's a badass. I mean, he gets so much shit. Both of these guys actually get so much shit. And I actually went from spending a lot of time with Paddy on Wednesday to see James and his father. And I was like, I know these guys have had a bit of history or whatever, but in my head I was going, well, they're so similar. They put up with so much bullshit, so, so young and just shoulder it so well.

and perform, you know, they really do. They've dealt with a lot more than I certainly have in my life, and I've dealt with quite a bit, but, you know, the fact that they were able to shoulder all this expectation and pressure to me is absolutely unbelievable. I would have crumbled them in that easily, no doubt about it. You know, and the thing about Galaher is, like, he's right. He puts up a poster a day, he's like, this is nothing like Dublin.

And it isn't. It wasn't. and he's a big part of selling out those arenas man like this is like 10,000 people like going to see 9,000 to 10,000 people going to see Bellator over here and that is not happening anywhere else so I don't think because it's happening in Dublin they're selling out the SSA arena they're not

not selling out anywhere else I don't think so that's a huge it's a huge thing for Ireland but I know me and Noel have spoke about this before but it's a big thing like we are the most important part to that European series without a doubt like you know that

like if you imagine like maybe there was like four to five thousand at the at the Bellator fight night and Dean couldn't give us numbers at the post fighters you're just listening to but maybe there was like

2,000 I don't know 1,500 to 2,000 at the cage or everything so they're not that far apart you know and I know they both say we're not rivals or whatever but they're on the same turf but it's a mutually beneficial

rivalry because it's two very different products so it's both it's going to bring in the best out of boat worlds and it's just making us have this great time in our hands like as as the thundercat said earlier on there's no need to pick a side here we can just be happy about watching both so i think that's what i that's what i will be doing um but belator are onto good things building these stories because that's what i always i always say about it and look other media members in the u.s agree with me all the time i'm not going to mention

any names but you all know what i'm talking about it there's no connection from an event to vent. So that's why I was saying, you got to do something with Bungard Quilly, you got to do something with Whiteford's story, you got to do something

with, like, you know, Fabian and Mike Shippen to head back on a collision course to get each other. You know, there's lots of things like that. Bungard v. Quirley,

that's a great one to take into Dublin. Like, the last time I felt an arena care so much and it was even more, it was far more palpable, was Miles and Quili.

But the one thing I'll say is it felt more, that night, felt more, on Quealy side, whereas this was kind of, even though it was in London, and certainly there was more people

there for shipment, this was an electric atmosphere there for that. And well-done Bellatory, you nailed that. You know, they just, I'm not, like, it's two very different things,

but I think, you know, they can build a lot from what happened there. I think it's up to them to recognize that the seeds have been planted there at that event, and they need to grow them now. And,

it was fantastic to see, yeah, All the media members this week. I love them all very much. Abby, Sue on, M.A. Junkie and Simon Head, Jerry McCarty.

You know, we had Lee and Louise there from M.M.A. crazy. Jade Morris, of course. Jim Edwards was there. Amazing to see Jim. It's been a long time. The full reptile gang. My boy is James and Jamie. I love those lads.

I didn't get to see them as much as I usually do, but great to see them. You know, Jake Smith. I met that man in Dublin properly. It wasn't the first time I met him, but I've got to know him since Dublin and he's hilarious, man.

He's mint. And as I said earlier, breaking news and the whole lot now, so fair play to him. Foyd IQ, I met them. This week I got the train home from there, home with them after Cage, where he's great guys.

I was speaking to Cuppers' MMA as well. Great interview on Kieran Coveley as well. All these great people dipping their toe for the first time. into, well, not for the first time, but they're dipping their toes now in the media landscape, and it's a great time, you know. I saw Scott there as well from Bloody Elbow,

like, people are getting jobs. You know, it's a good, we are showing the world that what's happening here is big. It is really big, and there's a lot going on, there's a lot of moving pieces. It's very exciting time. I was away for Noel McGrath's birthday, so happy birthday to Noel.

I tweeted that out there. I'm not too sure what age he is But, you know, I'm sure it was Only lemonade served on any festivities he had for that I'm so tired, guys I'm probably not going to get out a day off till Wednesday And probably just take Wednesday, Thursday, Thursday Well, they probably won't let me put up

I'll definitely try to do that But I'm dying for some days off And I'm getting a new car I'm not a brand new car, but you know what I mean But if you guys saw my courage during the week you're going to know that James Galley is open to trading his probably like, you know, $200,000 Mercedes in from my Ford Mondeo I'm getting so. I mean, I've said he's a lovely person on many occasions, but if he doesn't honor that,

he's dead to me. I'm only messing. But thanks so much to everyone who tuned in for the coverage all week. And I'm blown away by the reaction Eurobash got over there. Crazy. Like way more. I'll get more people coming up to me in. England than I do in Ireland. It was crazy. As well as the media people giving us big

props. We're doing something special here. And, um, but something, you know, something special in terms of I've never been involved in that like this that has this kind of, you know, the amount of people that listen to is mental. It's crazy. Like, it's genuinely way beyond anything we could have imagined. Um, so early on here. So I'm really, really grateful for that. I know I'm very uncomfortable that. I apologize to anyone who came up to say something nice to me. I don't react very well to that. I don't know what to do. I often feel like someone's taking the piss out of me,

so I just kind of don't... I'm trying to figure out if someone's trying to laugh at me or not. I'm not very good at that kind of stuff. I was a writer for most of my life, so I've never been really visible, but I'm in my fighting, I become more visible. It's very fun. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy it,

but just that part of it, I'm not very good at. I hope I will get better. We're always trying to improve. But really, really blowing away by that, And it really gave me a lot of motivation to wake up in the morning and get going because there were crazy long days. I'm talking about mostly 15, 16 hour days every day out there. So it really helped you like that.

And it's really appreciated it. Come a long way in just a year. You know, the situation I was in last year compared to now is completely unrecognizable, really. So I'm really grateful for all of you guys for listening to us and, you know, getting this crazy momentum behind it. It's very, very cool. it's uh it's very cool but um that's all i've got for you guys this week i hope you enjoyed this london special i didn't put a number on it because i felt like it was a bit um it's not a it's a

different to the usual eurobash thing but um i really can't thank my guests enough who uh may possible to even get a show out this week and so big thank you to uh nataniel wood to craig white to grain to jade morris to dave green and the man who'll be editing this all um Mr. Noel McGrath. So thank you so much. We want to keep on making this better and better. I try to make this show better every single week. That's what I'm trying to do.

I know sometimes I fall short, but believe me, I am trying every week on putting on a crazy amount of hours just to make this a good show for you guys. So thank you so much again. A great time for the sport and a great time for me in London. So thank you all so much. Bye-bye.