MMA Fighting - Fighter vs. Writer: Cory Sandhagen Picks Aljamain Sterling to Beat TJ Dillashaw; Stevie Ray Talks PFL Pay and Anthony Pettis Wins

Episode Date: August 30, 2022

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen and PFL lightweight finalist Stevie Ray join the show. With his main event against Song Yadong coming in September, Sandhagen previews his fight while admitting he was surprised when that name was offered to him as an opponent following back-to-back fights with TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan. Sandhagen will address the loss to Yan while also explaining why he’s picking reigning UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling to keep his title when he faces Dillashaw in October. Ray also joins the show to celebrate his second consecutive win over former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and the oddity of facing the same opponent just a few weeks after their first fight. The veteran lightweight discusses his current pay situation in the PFL where he actually made less money for his rematch with Pettis than his first fight while also detailing his plans to claim the championship later this year, which he hopes will complete his comeback after he retired from the sport a few years ago. All this and much more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Enjoy a Coca-Cola for a pause that refreshes. We're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Welcome back to another edition of the Fighter versus the Writer. I'm your host as always Damon Martin, and today we have a great show. We're going to be talking to one of the best bantam weights on the planet. He makes his return to action on September 17th in the main event for the UFC taking on Sonia Dong. I'm going to speak in just a few moments to Corey Sanhagen. A little later in the show, we're going to talk to one of the finalists coming up in the PFL playoffs.

he will battle OAM, Olivier Albine Mercier in the finals of the Lightway Division. Stevie Ray coming off a second consecutive win over Anthony Pettis. And I've interviewed Stevie a few times, but this is actually a really interesting interview when you hear about what he has to say regarding the fights of Pettis and also a little bit about the pay in the PFL, which you've heard a few fighters kind of voice their opinions on when it comes to playoff paying the PFL. PFL does a great job paying guys. you know, tempting people with that million dollar prize,

and we've seen some guys getting paid really, really well over there, some girls as well. Of course, Kayla Harrison, one of the highest paid fighters in our sport, earning what I have been told from several very reliable sources is around a million dollars of fight. But there have been a few fighters complain about what they're getting paid in the actual playoffs. So we're going to talk to Steve Rui about that. And of course, here in just a moment,

we're going to talk to Corey Sandhagen real quick. Coming off a weekend with no fights in the UFC, which is a rare instance going right into this weekend with UFC Paris, of course, Taitouivasa, taking on Seril Gone in the main event, and Marvin Vittori against Robert Whitaker, probably the fight I'm most looking forward to this weekend. Also, we got BKFC coming back this weekend for event over in Thailand.

Lots of stuff going on this weekend. But last weekend, there wasn't as much going on. Of course, we did have BKFC in Albuquerque. John Dodson picked up a big win. Christine Fraria knocked out Taylor Starling in a matter of seconds. And I was tasked with covering the KSI two fights in one-night boxing event. Now, people, so I fully admit I'm out of touch with the whole social influencer thing.

Like, I'm not saying I don't get it or I don't know it. I'm just saying I've never been super entrenched in that side of the world as much as I'm on social media. I, of course, know who KSI is from the two boxing matches he had with Logan Paul. and things like that. And of course, I've become much more familiar with Jake Paul and his box shaker interviewed him before and things like that. But I have never felt older or more out of touch covering an event in my entire 20-year career covering combat sports than I did watching that event because it was all social

influencers fighting. And there were some pretty vicious knockouts in there as well. A dude named Salt Poppy, which was a new one to me, got a knockout. But when it was over and the people buzzing, and talking about KSI and blowing up. I mean, I'm not kidding when I say blowing up, blowing up about KSI. I have never felt older or more out of touch covering an event.

I was so out of my element. It was so bizarre. It's fun to step outside your comfort zone occasionally and, you know, even more so that, you know, I'm not covering MMA, I'm covering boxing or a different form of boxing, let's say. But, man, I'd tell you what, I'm on social media. Yeah, I'm on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, all that kind of stuff. But apparently my pages never run, you know, a foul of these social influencers because, my God, man, it was so crazy.

Seeing the amount of attention and fanfare, so to speak, that KSI got for that fight and those two wins over, let's be honest, completely over-matched opposition. One guy, Luis Panetta, was supposedly a professional boxer with a whopping two-in-fell. record. He did not look, he looked anything but a professional boxer, okay? I've seen, I mean, I'm not, listen, I am not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination, but I think I've thrown better punches than Luis Panetta threw in that fight. I mean, that was embarrassing. But, you know, when KSI lost his original opponent, he tried to find some gimmick to sell the fight. He ended up fighting two guys in one night. It worked. People care. And I'm not fault in him, man. Go out and get your money. Go on get paid.

good for you. But it was just so bizarre seeing the amount of attention people were paying to that. And, you know, it's going to continue building. Of course, Jake Paul's got a fight. He said he's going to announce for October. We got a social gloves event coming up next weekend where a pair of NFL legends are going to duke it out. Levyon Bell and Adrian Peterson. Austin McBroom, who I had not heard of before fairly recently, taken on a guy in Anson

Gibb, who's another guy that I think I've only heard of because I think he got involved in one of the Paul brothers fights, one of those kind of cars, whatever it was. So, yeah, I'm just letting you know that I'm going to be starting to do a lot of research on these people because people really do care about these cards. A lot of people care about these cards, whether it's the freak show element, whether it's just seeing, you know, people who have no business necessarily being in the boxing ring, going in there and duking it out with each other. I don't know what it is.

Whatever it is, I don't care. It's not hurting anybody in terms of, like, you know, exploiting somebody. I don't care how you're doing it. People care. I'll cover it. I got no problem with it. But boy, did I just feel, I mean, I literally felt like the old guy, you know, yelling at his TV and yelling at the old kids to get off his lawn because I was so out of my element covering that event.

And there's going to be more coming because people really care about KSI and really care about these social influences when they go in there and punch each other in the face. So, yeah, we'll see how that goes in the future. For now, we're going to talk about M. And we're going to talk about one of the best guys in the Bantamway Division, Corey Sanhagen, who was coming off a loss in his last fight to Peter Yan. Of course, after he had to fight, very close by with T.J. Dillisaw fight that I truly believe he won. He's now taking on Song Yadong in the main event coming up in September for the UFC. It's an interesting matchup because when you look at all the other possibilities that were out there,

Jose Aldo, Maraud Walsh Vili, all the other potential top five, top six opponents he could have gotten. He got Song Ya Dong. Now, Song Ya Dong is a very good fighter. No doubt about it. But it was still a bit of weird matchmaking, considering where Corey is and established in the division and where Song is currently. So we're going to talk to Corey about that.

We're also going to talk to him about the bantamweight title fight coming up between T.J. Dillishaw and Al J. Stirling, two guys he's very familiar with, and a whole lot more. So right now, let's speak to Corey Sandhagen. He is one of the top bantamweight fighters in the world, and he makes his return to action in a main event in September. I am always happy to speak to,

to Corey Sanhagen. Corey, how are you? Yeah, man. How are you? I'm fantastic, man. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me as always. I appreciate it. Before we get started on all the fight stuff,

let me first say congratulations, because I saw on your Instagram, you are now an engaged man. Oh, yeah, yeah. I've been engaged for about a year now or so. Oh, I saw the thing with your fiancé. I thought it was your announcement. No, no, no, that was just,

I'm just soaking up that word because you don't get to really use it too long. Absolutely. Now, are you involved in the wedding planning? Are you just leaving all that to her? Oh, man, I did my job. I set up like a nice thing to propose to her. I got a ring. I did all of that stuff. So now it's her turn. Now, do you have, like, do you know when you're getting married? Do you guys have a date yet? Yeah, September next year. Oh, okay. So you got a little bit of time. So you're not like, we'll go on like right after the fight or anything crazy like that. Oh, no, no.

Yeah, well, Corey, of course, big fight coming up in September. I do want to backtrack because I didn't realize, like, we talk pretty often. We do a lot of interviews, but I didn't realize, like, September will basically be 11 months since your last fight when you had the fight with Peter Yan. Was there any particular reason for the time off? Was it just a matter of timing with the UFC getting a fight? Like, what was it? Because I know you like to stay active, but when I saw that, it was like, oh, yeah, 11 months. Like, it didn't seem right in my head when I saw the dates.

Yeah, yeah, that's a little bit of an unfamiliar feeling for me too. It's mostly because I just had like a really busy last year. I had like, I only had three fights, but it was kind of four camps because TJ had pulled out of it like a couple weeks before we were scheduled for the first one. Then we had to reschedule. So I was kind of in like a really long training camp. But yeah, it was just a really long last year. It's really hard to get like, make. actual solid improvements and like adding in tools into your game when you're constantly thinking

about and doing stuff for just one new opponent. So it was mostly just because I just wanted like a little bit of time to develop as a fighter and then also to just, you know, like rest my nervous system a little bit as far as competition goes. Sometimes competition can get a little bit exhausting. So it was also a little bit of that too. So I feel good now. I've worked really hard in the last 11 months to like really improve and add some new tools into my game. And I think that I've made like really big leaps and bounds since I have been able to have like a clear free mind without the stress of a fight to add those things. So yeah, so I'm really excited that I got to have that time. Yeah. So rarely in this sport do you get that kind of a break unless it's something

unfortunate like an injury that's what we're used to hearing like oh i had a knee injury had a shoulder injury whatever it is knowing you consciously made that decision do you feel refreshed do you feel you know rejuvenated do you feel better like again i you know because i everyone's got their own timetable about taking time off so how are you feeling now you know obviously about a month out from your fight yeah i'm ready to make another run man like uh i i know that that's kind of how this sport works a little bit too is uh you know you don't want like big gaps sometimes like something like to, you know, people forget about you really quickly. So I kind of know that that's the way that this system is set up too.

So, yeah, I just wanted to completely refresh. I wanted to add a lot more tools. I wanted to, like, really improve on the areas that I really feel like I needed to improve in. And then I knew when I was ready, I would be able to take another run at it where we can line up, like, three, four fights after this. And I think that I'll be ready for that because I just feel so rested. I feel rejuvenated. I feel really ready. ready to compete again without it feeling as exhausting as it maybe did before.

Yeah, absolutely. Let me ask you this, Corey, because going back to the last fight, you know, we talked beforehand right after the fight got made and it was, you know, short notice, you took the opportunity and you battled it out. It was a great fight. I mean, fight of the night, of course, it was an incredible battle. Can you give me, like, now that you've had time to reflect on it and move beyond it, you know, I'm sure you've, you know, again, you're now four weeks out from your next fight, but

in a bit of reflection, like, can you give me a. your thoughts on how that fight played out? Were you ultimately happy with the decision to still step in there, even though it ended up being a loss? Because I know hindsight's 2020, right? You can look back and say, maybe I shouldn't have taken on short notice, or some people say, hey, it was a great opportunity.

You had a battle, you know, credit to Peter Yan getting the job done. But how do you feel about it now that you're a little further removed from the fight? Yeah, sure. So, okay, so I guess I think as far as the opportunity goes, I'm glad that I took the opportunity. you definitely say yes to a title fight,

almost always, like, nine times out of ten. So I don't regret taking the opportunity. I guess it kind of put me at the end of the line with all of these matches that have been being made recently. You know, like the fights are happening now, but a couple months ago, I feel like it put me at the bottom of the line as far as, like, choice for the fight, you know?

Like, I thought I was going to get Aldo, Mara, Cheeto or Cruz, you know, and I didn't get any of those guys, which is what I wanted. And, you know, I think that the reason is likely because those guys are all coming off a wins and I'm coming off a loss, even though the loss is a short notice title fight. But, and then the one before that, you know, was a razor close fight with TJ that a lot of people think that I won. So, no, I'm not too upset about the opportunity. I think it made me a lot better of a fighter.

So I'm okay with that in that aspect. As far as the fight goes, I thought I was doing really awesome, man. Like it was just getting dropped in that third round, late in that third round, that kind of like messed up my fourth round because I was honestly on wobbly legs for the entire fourth. And then once my heart rate got a little bit lower going into the fifth round, I was able to kind of fight a little bit more like myself, but had to fight a little bit more reserved just because I knew that I couldn't take the damage that I was taking in the fourth round.

So strategically I had to make like some changes, which kind of, kind of led to me not being able to completely open up. And for me to completely focus on winning, it became a little bit more about not taking too much more damage. But, you know, good on yawn. He landed a good punch late in the third. It kind of changed the fight big time. And good for him, you know, but before that,

I think that I was really, really outfighting them. You know, like I think that I was just showing that I was a better fighter. and then all of our bodies are susceptible to getting punched and hurt and all of that. And he landed a really tough shot. And like I said, it put me on wobbly legs in the fourth. Couldn't get my shit together by the fifth. And then that's what lost me to fight. So.

Yeah. I don't know a fighter I've ever spoken to who wouldn't love the chance to avenge a loss. So I know it's such a generic question asked. But because this one happened under such weird circumstances, five round title fights, short notice. It's like the best and worst of circumstances, right? Like, it's the best because you get a title shot, but it's also the worst. You got to fly halfway around the world, five-round fight, you know, short notice against, you know, a super dangerous opponent.

Like, again, it's like the best and worst-case scenario. So is there a part of you that says, like, one day I hope I get to see Yon again, five-round main event, whether titles on the line or not, but actually giving you a full camp and you're not flying halfway around the world to do it. And again, I know you're not making excuses. I'm just saying, like, you did have a weird set of circumstances going into that fight. Yeah, definitely. And, you know, I'm not one to, like, uh,

you know, harp on those things, just, you know, because I don't want to sound like a little bitch, pretty much. Yeah, but those things matter, man. All of the details, when you really think about it, you know, the beauty is in the details. And so all of those little things, they do make a difference. But, yeah, definitely want a rematch with all my three losses in the UFC. I want one with Jan. I want one with TJ, and I want one with Sterling for sure. So, you know, is that realistic?

I don't know, but, you know, if the cards play out right, all three of those I would love for very different reasons. But, yeah, I definitely want those three ones back if I ever get the opportunity. Yeah. Were you surprised or at least let me get your thoughts on how the rematch, you know, after you, of course, Peter Young went out and had the rematch with Al Jameen Sterling. Al Jamein got a bit of redemption. You know, he went through so much dealing with the DQ loss. And I legitimately felt bad for him because he was the guy who got wrong. got, you know, he got knocked with an illegal knee, and somehow he became out looking

like the bad guy, which I really did feel bad for him, but for him to come back and get a win. Very close fight, he, you know, especially in that second round, he dominated, you know, Peter came back in the late part, but I'm curious because you fought both guys. Were you surprised or were you impressed? Or, like, what was your thought on how that fight played out? Yeah, I was actually surprised, you know, when people were asking me, I was saying that Yon was going to win. And good for Sterling, man.

like there's so many different types of fighters in the sport and there's so many different paths to victory. And I think Sterling has just done such a good job of finding his path to victory. And it's just like it's pretty great, you know, and honestly, like mildly inspiring, you know, just to see a person who has just like figured it out, even though, you know, like he might not be the most technical,

he might not be the most this, the most that. The guy has figured out a way to, like, make himself win over and over again against, like, the really best guys in the world. So, like, good on him, man. And honestly, I was a little bit inspired by the way that Al Jermain, like, figured out a way to win that because even after the first round, I was like, this is not going good for Al Jameen. You know, like, this is not, you know, like, he was having issues, like finding the range,

this and that. And then he figured it out, you know? And, like, good on him. And that takes like a really high level of experience in fighter. So good on him, man. But yeah, major surprise by that one. Yeah. Now, that being said, you already kind of segueed into my next question, Corey, earlier.

You were talking about coming out of that fight. You got kind of put at the bottom of the line. And listen, I want to be clear. I have nothing against Song Yadong. This is a fun fight. He's on a good win streak, three fights in a row coming off the knockout over Marlon Mariah. So, again, I don't want to make it sound like I'm disparaging him.

But like when this fight got made or, you know, when the fight were getting made, my thought was, oh, Corey and Aldo, that's a great fight. And I know that's a fight you would take. Ooh, Corey and, you know, Marab, that would be a fun fight. I know that's one I'm sure you would take. You know, Dominic Cruz, I know that's the fight you wanted for a long time. You thought you were going to get at one point. That didn't happen.

You know, Cheeto Vera would have been a good one. That's a great striker versus striker kind of matchup. Even the Sean O'Malley fight, I was like, even though Sean O'Malley isn't as established, she is a big name. And I was like, man, Sean and Corey would be a great main event. Like that would be a main event you could sell or put it on pay-per-view. It would be a great fight. Now, again, I don't want to make it sound like I'm saying bad things about Song

or Dong, but were you kind of, were you surprised or I won't say disappoint? I disappointed, I guess, the word I'm going to use, but like, were you like, man, like, can I get one of those guys? And because you're actually one of the few guys fighting down in the rankings. Like, you're actually fighting a guy pretty far back behind you versus someone still relatively close to you. You might fight someone behind you, but like, you know, you're three and there four. You're three and their five.

Now you're fighting a little further down. You kind of ended up with the weirdest matchup, in my opinion. And, again, I don't mean to disparage Song of Dawn, but that's just the way I saw it. Yeah, I mean, definitely. I more or less saw it, I suppose, the same way. I thought all of those other matchups would have been really awesome, especially because they hadn't booked a lot of those guys.

O'Malley was already booked to fight Munoz, or else that probably would have been the fight. Had I known it was going to end the way that it ended, you know, I probably would have waited and maybe just waited to fight O'Malley. But you can't really bank on those things. this sport, you know, like if someone gets hurt, then you're waiting another amount of time. And, you know, so I think it's just then, well, first of all, when I got the name, I was like, very surprised. I was like, that's super left field. But yes, I guess we'll take that because that's

better than just sitting on the bench and waiting for these guys to fight. And then again, like, I don't know what was going on in the whole matchmaking process. You know, I don't know if it was a matter of like they said they weren't going to fight me or if uh or if it was going to you know or yeah or i don't hold enough clout like some of the other guys you know because i even look back to the chito cruise fight that just happened and i mean why did chito fight down in the rankings you know like i thought for sure i was going to get chito uh and then he ended up fighting cruise down in the rankings when he was calling out people that were you know in the top five so that didn't make any sense to me. None of it really made any sense to me. So I just kind of figured that

something weird was going on, whether they were saying yes to other guys because they had bigger names or whatever it is, even though I think I'm a very established name at this point. But, uh, yeah, song's fine though, too, man. Like, uh, I think song is still a very, very good fighter. He has a win over a lot of good guys, you know, like he just knocked out Marlin. He, uh, he beat Casey Kenney, who I think is a very good fighter. He beat Cheeto a long time ago. So, He has, like, a draw fight against Stamen, even though I think Stamen won that fight, even though I, because I've watched it a couple times. But song's a good fighter, man.

So, you know, it's better than sitting on the bench. I'm going to take him just as serious as if he was anyone else, maybe even a little bit more serious because I'm definitely not trying to lose to someone who's that much further behind me in the rankings. So, yeah, I'm still okay with it. It definitely feels a little bit weird, but, But yeah, it is what it is. And like I said, I'm just excited to, like, show everyone that I've gotten way, way better,

even better than I was before, which, you know, not to toot my own horn, but I think that I'm probably one of the most exciting people in the UFC. And because I'm just more of a quiet guy and, you know, I don't talk a lot of shit or I don't get involved in kind of like the political piece of this entire game. You know, like, you can't watch my fights and say that I'm not one of the most exciting guys. the UFC so uh and most technical and most skilled so uh I just get to prove that again to people and I'll just keep proving it to them over and over and over again until I'm the one that isn't at the bottom of the barrel asking for certain fights and and I'm the one that gets to say who

I'm fighting absolutely absolutely and I don't want to play conspiracy theorists Corey but I mean it will say like you step up and you take a short notice fight and a title fight and again credit to Peter yawn for getting the job done but coming out of that like my opinion And again, I'm not the matchmaker. My opinion is, like, you reward a guy like you. Like, you stepped up for us. Now, you are getting a main event. So I want to be clear, that is still a very good opportunity.

But, like, my thought is, like, you should still get a big fight. Like, Aldo would have been a great fight. I think you and Alta is, like, a dream fight of mine. That's what I've been, like, itching to see for the longest time. And I think you and Cheeto would be a great fight as well. Is there any, again, I don't want to play a conspiracy theory, but, like, is there any party that feels maybe a little bit like you got punished for, like, taking a short notice fight and you lose.

and then you get end up like you end up I hate you some bad words like you don't get the shapt a little bit like you don't get the bigger fight like again this is not a knock on song you don't but like the only reason I say that Corey is because there's so many bansomweight fights happening right now you know what I mean like it isn't like

Aldo was injured and Marab was you know stuck out of the country and Cheeto was you know just fought you know what I mean like we all we're literally in like a span of like 10 big bantamweight fights and that's the only reason I bring it up because I'm like man like And again, it's not a knock on Sonia Dong.

I'm just like, okay, everyone else is scheduled. I think Corey and Aldo would have made, and that's not a knock on Mara, but I think you and Aldo would have made more sense. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I agree with you. I'm not really one to play victim, though, so it is what it is. And I know how the sport works, man.

You win, you get what you want, you lose, you don't get what you want. And technically coming off for two losses on paper, you know, even though I, you know, there's reasons for those, I suppose, or whatever, but, nah, man, I'm not one to play victim. Like I said, you win, you get what you want. You lose, you don't get what you want, and that's how it's what it works.

So I just got to, like, get it back in the win column, and then I can start calling the shots a little bit more than I've been able to. Yeah, let me be clear. You have one lost the T.J. Dillishaw fight. I refuse to acknowledge that one. I'm sorry. I've rewatched that fight because when they announced T.J., when they announced T.J. and Al J., for whatever reason, I decided I want to go back and rewatch that fight. And listen, not do you need me to defend you, Corey, but like, I got a little angry when it was over this time. I was like, are you kidding me?

Like, what were they watching? Like, it really bugged me. And I know it bugs you, and I don't want to bring up a bad subject. But like, so you're on one loss. Okay, give credit to Peter Yon. You didn't lose to T.J. Dillishol. I'm sorry. You just didn't lose that fight.

Yeah, I agree with you. Well, the history books are written wrong all throughout history. So I guess another time that that's happening. Yeah. I know you're not a big, like, prediction or picks guy. but I do want to get your opinion because now we are going to see Al Jemaine and T.J. And there's been a, I don't want to say controversy, but there has been a bit of a swirl of people, you know, kind of, I won't say angry, but a little disappointed that T.J. is getting the title shot, considering everything that's happened to him. I mean, you know, coming off to two-year suspension, he comes in and fights you. A lot of people don't believe he won.

I think the majority of people believe he lost that fight. Goes off on another knee injury, and now he's sliding into a title fight. Now, I'm a big believer in if you want to keep your seat. sanity in this sport, you have to strike the word deserves from your vocabulary because if you think someone deserves a chance of that they're probably not going to get it and you're going to get driven crazy thinking about it. But you're got, you know, you, you said very honestly, like you, you took the TJ fight knowing the allegations, knowing the baggage that came along with that fight, and you had no problem taking it. I thought you won, but it is

what it is. But I, like, I'm just, I'm weird, I'm weird about that. Like, it just feels like he's getting rewarded without really earning it. I know earning it again, I'm kind of complaining about saying deserve, earn, whatever word you want to use. I don't know. How did you feel like, were you surprised? Did you see it coming? You just kind of roll your eyes and just say, I kind of see what's happening here. Because me personally, like, I like the fight. I don't dislike the fight, but I'm just like, yeah, you got two years off. And yeah, he had to go on and fight you. But I don't know. It just, it seems weird to like you get that title shot opportunity

with everything that's kind of surrounding him. Yeah. I'll try to give you my opinion. Most of the time my opinion is typically that, like, Like, I mean, if you really ask me and you want, like, my honest opinion, I really don't give a shit about what other people's... Not like, that's my honest opinion, but, you know, like, I guess on, like, a little bit more of, like, you know, viewing it as, like, a fan, because I view it always as, like, a fighter, which just makes me not really give a shit about what other people are doing, other than the, you know, just watching them and figuring out how to beat them.

but as a fan, yeah, a little weird. I mean, who else would it be, though, I guess, you know, like. I think Aldo, I think Aldo was the other choice. I think Aldo could, you know, you could say Aldo deserved it off the last couple of wins. You had the winner of Richito, had the winner of Rob Fawn. I thought you could argue, Aldo. Yeah, actually, yeah, that's a really great point. Yeah.

I don't know what. Here's what I will say is I know that a lot of things don't have. happen that seem like they make sense because there's a you know 90% of how these matchups happen and a lot of that stuff I think we don't really know how they happen you know like we can kind of just make sense out of like oh well this makes sense because this person won this makes sense because of this and I mean although is definitely the choice that probably from like a logical standpoint makes a lot more sense but I don't you know like it's a business and it's an entertainment business and it is kind of a bummer sometimes to see things like that maybe happen but uh you know

like i said it's i'm a little bit on the spot because like i said i don't really think about these things past the fact of like oh i'm watching these guys how do i beat them you know yeah yeah and i know you're not a big picks and predictions guys so i won't ask you to make a prediction but do you like the matchup with tj and algea and obviously you fought both of them um i think it is a really intriguing match because tj you wonder like i again i thought he lost to you again i'm not gonna keep saying it but i'm gonna keep saying it but like i thought you beat him uh and again the time off like he just come off another knee injury and again i think alger man surging i give her credit to aljamaid beating peter yon like i think a lot of people are once again kind of discounting

aljambine i just think that's a mistake yeah no definitely would not count algeman out at all honestly i have algeman kind of picked in this one um you're making a prediction you must feel strongly this, Corey, because I know you're not a prediction guy. Not a prediction guy, but most of the time it's because I don't think about the fights that I got. But this one I actually thought, I spent some time thinking about because, you know, I have to see Dwayne around at local fights. We're both in Colorado, you know, so I've kind of just been like, oh, how's that fight going to go? I have a lot of respect for Dwayne. You know, on some level, I still have some respect for T.J. He was kind of my friend for a couple

years. So, you know, I've given it some thought. And I actually think that, you know, Sterling's just going to be able to do what he does. I think that he'll be able to take TJ down. And I think that he'll probably be able to submit him if he can get on his back. I don't think TJ has, like, the amount of punching power that he maybe used to have to be able to stop Sterling or hurt him really bad or anything. Like, I don't think that he contains that much power. And just from, like feeling the both of them too. I don't really think that TJ is going to be able to, um,

that like I, I just don't think that he packs the same punch and I don't think that he's going to be as strong as Sterling is. And I think that Sterling's wrestling is really, uh, discredited. And I think that he's an amazing wrestler and I think that he's very strong. And I think that he's just going to kind of be able to outpower T.J.

Yeah. I like the match up, but I, I'm with you. I actually, I, I very much agree. I don't generally give my opinion unless you're giving your opinion, and I do. I actually think Al Jermaine's going to win. I think it's a good matchup. And again, it's one of those things that you talked about, like a little bit of inspiration

from Al Jermaine. Now you go into this fight with your own chance. And again, I've said a lot, you know, talking about other fights, but Song Yidong is a fun opponent. And you know going into your own fight coming up, even though he's lower in the rank, he's like he's a dangerous guy, but you got to know. And I mean, I'm sure you see the writing on the wall. You're the name.

You're the rank guy. You're the more established guy. he's trying to take your spot and there's a certain energy certain you know excitement that you i'm sure you get knowing that this guy's trying to earn his name off of you and i'm sure that's the absolute last thing you intend on happening yeah um yeah i uh you know it's always the same feeling with my opponents you know like there's there's there's always this like uh deep competitive hatred for the person but also like uh uh and then there's also just like the misunderstanding of like them as like a human being too but uh yeah from that you know competitive hatred

for my opponent song has the same amount of competitive hatred that uh everybody else got so you know whether he was ranked two six whatever uh does not matter to me he's going to get the exact same amount of uh seriousness and uh uh uh you know uh i don't even really know he's going to get the same amount of uh the same level of competitive me that, uh, that everybody else got. So, um, it's easy for me to hate my opponents. I don't need to be like, I was trying to take my spot. You know, like, I hate these motherfuckers just because like, they're trying to, they're trying to, they're trying to have my dream, you know, uh, and, uh, yeah, that doesn't fly no matter

who you are. So. Yeah. It reminds me a lot of like Matt Brown who, who does my podcast with me a lot. Like he's not, like, he's not, like, he's not a big trash talk guy. He's not like, you know, I have to, you know, I have to, you. You know, I literally hate my opponent, but, like, he doesn't, like, it was like when he fought Cowboy Soroni and Soroni was trying to shake his hand. He's like, I'm not shaking your hand.

Like, we're about to fight. Like, you're about to try to take what, you know, you're taking food out of my kids' mouths. And, like, afterwards, you can shake hands. You can be friendly, but there's got to be a little bit of that competitiveness, right? Like, it's not saying you're a bad sport, but, you know, this guy's trying to take everything from you in a way. Yeah, no, definitely. I don't see it as being a bad sport. You know, after almost every single fight, everyone shakes hands, gives each other a hug.

You know, but that's for after the fight. And before the fight is, like I said, just like this deep burrowing hatred for the other person. It's kind of hard to, like, beat the shit out of someone and not have that hatred for him. So, you know, that's what it is. And maybe that's why I don't talk shit is because I feel the same way about all of these people. They're just my opposition. And they're just people that I need to figure out how to dismantle and destroy. and whether it's someone that's talking shit,

not talking shit, trying to get under my skin, not trying to get under my skin, polite, not polite, doesn't matter to me. Like, they still get the exact same version of me every single time.

I feel like that's a t-shirt you need to make, competitive hatred. I like that. That's like, I'm going to seal that phrase because it's true. Like, that's a good way to look like,

you don't literally hate your opponent, but like you hate them for what they're trying to take from you. You hate that they're trying to go in there and beat you. Like there is that little bit of, a little bit of fire inside, right? Like, you don't literally hate them,

but that competitive hatred. I dig that. Like I said, make a t-shirt out of that, Corey. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's kind of hard to organize in my body because it's like, how am I feeling two things at one time

where I can see these people as human beings who I, like, actually care about and, like, can relate to them probably more than I can relate to 99% of the other people on the planet. But also how do I, like, hate them so much for, like, being also that to me, you know, like being in opposition to me because they're so similar to me.

Like, that's kind of tough to organize in my brain, but it kind of just comes down to, like, me organizing, like, just different planes or dimensions or levels of living. And when you're fighting, you just have to, like, live on a different level of existence that isn't, you know, super compassionate, and it isn't super, like, you know, buddy, buddy. And it isn't like this, like, this very human loving way

that I try to be most of the time. but not for my opponents, not for them, because then I'll just do as shitty as I did in the Sterling fight. So I'd be away from being friendly or anything like that. Like they're my opposition there, the enemy until the last bell rings. And then that's just it. Yeah, you compartmentalize it. You can be the court.

You can be Corey Sanhagan, the fighter, in the gym. You can be Corey Sanhagan, the fighter, when you're in the fight. And then you can be Corey Sanhagan, the fiancé, when you're home, you can be Corey Sanhagan, the hiker when you're out doing outdoor things. Like, you can compartmentalize it. You're not the same guy all the time. You're not always going to be like, you're not going to be carrying that hatred in your heart when you come home or whatever. So you can compartmentalize it.

Yeah, sometimes. Now, before I let you go, Corey, you know, you just said earlier that you want to stay busy. Now that you've had this break, you do want to kind of get back on the streak. And again, in no way, shape, or form am I looking past Songia Dong? But I'm going to, I'm going to suggest something to you. Now, anyone listening, why? watching whatever they're doing this interview. I want to be clear. I'm the one saying this. Corey Sanhagan isn't saying this. I'm saying this. But everything goes well in September.

You beat Song you don't know. I'm going to throw out a suggestion because, again, you did miss out on some of the big fights. I thought you should have got. So I'm not going to cry over spilled milk. But everything goes well in September. I want to see Corey Sanhagan welcome Henry Sehuto back to the Bantamway Division. That's a monstrous fight. Henry gets cleared in October to fight again. He's going to be in a weird situation because a lot of of the bantan weights have already fought. We know the title fights in October, Aldo and Morab, all these other fights are happening right now. So a lot of guys probably aren't going to be ready to fight again until later.

Now, I know you're fighting later than them, but I know you're a guy who likes to stay active. Am I wrong? Like, I think that would be a great fight. Like, you want a big fight. I think that would be huge because I was actually shocked. Henry didn't just get a title fight, which, again, it is what it is. But I think that would be a huge fight. Oh, yeah.

I love that. I don't really know. I don't even know really what the hell is going on with Henry because he says a million. and I don't really, you know, last time I saw him was in Vegas, and he looks like he has a lot of weight to lose before he makes $1.35. So, but yeah, if he's back in October or whatever,

that sounds phenomenal to me, man. Like, the bigger the name, the more eyes, the more opportunity. So, you know, that's always the goal. So, yeah, that sounds awesome. I had never even really thought of that because who knows what the hell that guy is doing right. But yeah, that sounds great.

I'm playing Matchmaker. I fully admit it. But like I said, looking at the lay of the land. Again, I thought you deserved a different fight, but that is what it is. Credit to Sonia Dong, go out there and get your win. But that would be huge. I just think that would be a monstrous fight. Great way to close out the year in December.

You know, because they've kind of booked cards all the way up to November already. Like the big fights in November already kind of getting booked. So, you know, you and Suhudo, December. I'm just saying, like I said, I'm just throwing out ideas. I like it. I like the idea. Well, Corey, it is always a pleasure to catch up. You know I appreciate the time.

Have a good rest of your training camp. Of course, safe travels out to the fight. Always good to see you back in the main event. And thank you, as always, for the time. You know I appreciate it. Yeah, cool. Thank you, Damon. I'll talk to you next.

Hey, talk to you soon. Bye. Unwrap holiday magic at Holt Renfrew with gifts that say I know you. From festive and cozy fashion to Lux Beauty and Fragrance sets. Our special selection has something for every style and price point. Visit our Holtz holiday shop and store or online at Holtrenfrew.com. It's hockey season, and you can get anything. you need delivered with Uber Eats.

Well, almost, almost anything. So no, you can't get a nice rank on Uber Eats. But iced tea, ice cream, or just plain old ice? Yes, we deliver those. Goaltenders, no, but chicken tenders, yes. Because those are groceries, and we deliver those too, along with your favorite

restaurant food, alcohol, and other everyday essentials. Order Uber Eats now. For alcohol, you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region. See app for details. A big thank you, of course, to Corey. Manhagen always enjoy talking to him. Always a fun conversation.

And I look forward to his fight coming up in just a matter of weeks against Song Yodong at the UFC Apex. But, you know, I'm kind of like, I'm weird on the UFC Apex shows now because when they first started, I kind of enjoyed them. It was kind of fun to, like, eliminate the crowd noise, hear the corners, you can hear the punches. It was kind of dramatic.

Like, you know, we remember going back all the way to win, you know, Glover to Shera fought Anthony Smith. and it was kind of a crazy, you know, nasty fight. Now, that wasn't in the apex, but like the no crowd events. And, like, we could hear them talking and you can hear Anthony Smith, like, talking to the referee, talking to his corner, things like that. And then the apex is even more intimate because you're not even in an arena. You're in a very small enclosed area.

You know, I've been to the Ultimate Fighter Gym many times, and it's not much there. Like, it's very small, and you can hear everything. You hear a pin drop if no one's talking. And the echo is also there. So I enjoyed it at the beginning. It was kind of fun. You know, it was kind of fun. But then as time passed,

and we started having these really, really big fights at the apex or in Abu Dhabi or other places where there were no fans. And it really got bizarre. Like, it's hard for me to, like, fathom watching, like, Francis and Ghana become heavyweight champion without a crowd there. Things like that. Like, thinking back at some of the big, you know, huge moments that happened without a crowd being there, it's just so bizarre. And, you know, I was back at a U. of the first time in a while when they came here to Columbus for the UFC Columbus show that Curtis Blades headline against Chris Doccas and like the crowd

was going crazy and it was just fun to be there around people and you kind of realize like how much of a difference a live audience makes to a big fight card and you know it does like you just the dramatic shifts in emotion and things like that you just can't get that you know the feeling the buzz you don't get that without a crowd so I understand the UFC is still going to be going and doing apex shows. I don't know that that's ever going to go away because some of these smaller UFC fight night cards that may not sell a ton of tickets, things like that, they're probably going to continue putting on these apex cards.

You know, if they just, they got a spot to fill, travel expenses are a lot. I mean, that's one thing that doesn't get talked about. Like they have like when they do these shows, you know, they're talking about arena fees and things like that. But they're also talking about travel costs because they got to bring the octagon. gone. They got to bring their crew. They got to bring lighting, all these different things when they go to an event. And so it starts to become like, you know, uh, you know, expense in terms of what they want to put into the event versus what they're getting out of it. They already got their money from ESPN. That's already, you know, it's already laid out there. They get that guaranteed. If ticket sales are not going to magnify to the point where they can justify the travel, whatever the case may be, they won. Now, of course, they're going to UFC Paris this weekend. That's going to be a big event. First ever car there. They got a headline by a French fighter and surreal gone. It all makes sense. But sometimes it's not going to make sense. And so they take it to the apex.

But I'm not saying I'm fed up with the apex, but it's just weird now. Like it's gone back to the old way where I'm like, I want the crowd there. I need the audience there. I need people cheering. I want to hear the reactions when you can, you know, when a crazy knockout happens, you hear the cheers or you hear a crazy knockout happen and it all goes deafening silence for a minute because it's shocking. One of my all-time most wild moments covering a live show in the UFC was when I went to

landed to cover Rashad Evans against Chuck Liddell. And that crowd was very lively, very loud. You know, Chuck Liddle, one of the most popular fighters in the history of sport. And when Rashad Evans laid him out, you could have heard a pin drop because the crowd went stunned silence when he got knocked out. Now, again, it's just such a unique feeling because the crowd's going nuts, crowds going nuts. And then boom, happens.

And the crowd just goes silent for, you know, a couple seconds. And then, you know, they go nuts again. That's the kind of, you know, when I was in Montreal, when George St. Pierre fought Matt Sarah for the second time and George St. Pierre came out and the music was so loud that I couldn't even hear, or the crowd was so loud, I couldn't hear GSP's music. Like, that's how loud, if you've ever been to an arena, like, you know the music, the speakers are bumping. Like, you can hear the music. The crowd was so loud in Montreal that night that I could not hear the music. I had no idea what George St. Ampera walked out to that night because the crowd was so

freaking loud. That's an experience you can't take away. And so I'm kind of, I'm not saying I'm over the Apex shows. I get that I get why they're still happening, but it does bum me out a little bit. And I kind of root for guys like Corey and some of these other people to like get these bigger opportunities on these other cards. But a main event is a main event. And that's where you want to be. And Corey Sanagan is in a main event. And I'm sure, you know, like I said, that's what you always take as a fighter. You want that spot. You want the spotlight. And that's where Corey Sanhagan is taking on Song Yadong. Even though I wish, you know, a fight like this was going to be featured on a card with the crowd because I think this is going to be a banger.

I mean, it may not last more than two rounds, but I think it's going to be a banger. It's going to be a great fight. Right now, I'm going to shift gears into my interview with Stevie Ray. Of course, he's coming off back-to-back wins over Anthony Pettis that got him into the finals of the PFL. He is now poised to take on OAM, Olivier, Aubin, Mercierge in the finals with a million dollars in the line. Of course, Stevie is a veteran. He retired briefly, came back, went to the PFL, had some ups and downs there. But now riding a win streak into the finals, we're going to talk about that.

As I mentioned at the top of the show, talk about the pay situation and the PFL, which has been raised by a few guys and girls, so we're going to talk about that as well. So enjoy this chat with PFL finalist, Stevie Ray. Well, I appreciate the time. Of course, congratulations on another amazing win. It's got to be bizarre to go out and have back-to-back fights

against the same guy. It's got to be bizarre to pull off one of the craziest submissions ever and then have to go out there and do it again, go out there and fight the same guy again, but brilliant performance, you've got to be happy. Yeah, man, like you said, it's a bit weird to go out and fight someday so short notice, never mind it being the former world champion

and Anthony Pettis and such a big name. Yeah, I think it worked out well for me, you know, having the famous guy, the kind of the one that was maybe, looking to go and win it. So, yeah. Let me ask you this, and this is not me trying to get you to take a shot at the UFC,

so I don't want to make it seem like that. But, you know, you were in the UFC for a long time. Now, you had big fights in the UFC. You fought good opponents, so I'm not knocking anyone you fought. But you know how it works sometimes in the UFC and other promotions that, you know, yes, you put together a great win streak,

you'll get opportunities. But a lot of times it comes down to popularity. it comes down to who's saying the craziest things, who's getting the most press, that kind of stuff. In PFL, you got to fight against a legit, you know,

former lightweight champion in Anthony Pettis because that's just the way this tournament works. That's how the PFL format works. You win, you get these kind of fights and it plays out that way. Like, is there some kind of, like, do you like the way the PFL does it?

Because, like, being honest, like, you may have ever gotten a fight with Anthony Pett in the UFC just because how politics work. You know what I mean, how popularity works, things like that.

Now you have two wins over Anthony Perez. Like, that's an amazing thing. Yeah, I mean, I really like the platform that PFL do. I mean, it's a bit of a weird one because obviously, you know, I beat Pettas, but then he got a second chance, and I technically lost to Alexander Martinez, and I got another chance. And then, you know, even watching Martinez fight,

was it, who was it, he fought again? Collard, you know, it was a very close. fight where it could have went to Collard. But yeah, I like the platform, the whole point system for the first two fights. It's like being smart and kind of pushing

you to go out for the finish as well. And then like you said, I managed to get back to back fights with the most famous guy in the PFL kind of roster, if you like. And yeah, the factor, you know, I got quite a unique submission against them the first time

and then beat him again now I'm in the final like it couldn't have went any better really you know this whole UFC sorry PFL tournament yeah and especially coming off like you said

from the UFC and having a big break because it was two and a half years since I had fought when I fought Martinez but yeah I got the ring rust and stuff off at the way now. Yeah. Let me ask you this, Stevie, because, you know, when you beat Pettus the first time, it was such a shocking, cool, you know, submission. I love great submissions. I love seeing pull,

like when A.J. McKee pulled out that crazy submission of Bellator, you know, I love, I love submissions, and I love unique submissions. But, you know, at the time, you know, Anthony Pettis, he is a big name. And rightfully so, former champion who's done all these things. Do you feel like you're, you're getting the credit you deserve now because you beat him twice? No one can say it was a fluke. You pulled off this crazy submission. You caught him, you know, those kind of things. Like, you did it back to back.

You know what I mean? Anthony Pettis has only had a couple of rematches as an entire life. You know what I mean? And you went out there and beat him twice in a row. Like, do you feel like you are now getting the credit you deserve for how big of a win this is? A little bit. I mean, I'm getting more recognition and stuff now.

And I'm getting that. But at the same time, it's almost like, you know, some people are like, oh, there's a lot of hate in the world. There's a lot of, you know, people that talk, especially on social media because they know that they're safe at their home with their keyboard or whatever. But, you know, a lot of them are saying, oh, Pettis is done. He needs to retire and stuff. But, I mean, before I thought him, the first time,

he was coming off a big submission win against Miles Price. And, yeah, he did not do the best last year. He had a close fight with Rous Mampfiel, the champion, and I actually thought he won that fight, and then he got beat off-collared. But people just need to realize, like, you know, these guys are really good fighters as well, you know, just because it's PFL and it's no the UFC,

it doesn't it mean like you're stepping down in terms of, like, opponent level. Like, Clay Collard is a beast as well, and the same way of as Manfieler that won it. I mean, you can go and fight in a lot of places, there's always going to be a lot of tough fighters and tough fights. It's not just like, you know, the UFC is where the tough fights are.

No. But yeah, I mean, I'm hoping that people are going to start giving me the recognition and stuff that I deserve, and I'm hoping to get a pair of eyes now as well. just to beat him twice because, you know, I've seen what he made losing to me the first time. And quite rightly so, I understand why he's getting paid more,

you know, why he got 750K. But now that I've beat him twice, I mean, the second fight, I got paid less than the first fight because the way the system works, the way the, the way like the PFL playoffs work, because when I first got sent the contract, I was like, wait a minute, there's been a mistake here in what I was told I was getting paid

and I actually went to Ali and I said, they made a mistake. He was like, no man, the PFL, the playoffs are different. Everybody gets the same. And yeah, it was about a wage cut from even the first fight. Yeah, I'm feeling like, you know, I've just beat Pettus twice. He was the top dog.

He was the top draw. and now it's time for me to get that Anthony Pettis money. That's so crazy. So you actually made less money in the rematch with Anthony Pettis, in the playoffs, which, you know, you think playoffs, you know, you've made it further in the tournament, so you'd be more money. You actually made less money for that than the first fights.

Yeah, and I was obviously main event of Madison Square Garden, a huge arena. Yeah, I mean, I'm no one. wanting to like, you know, bitch at PFL or, you know, any of those guys, because I can't understand, that was part of the deal. That at the playoffs,

you get that money. And it's obviously because you're getting the opportunity to win a million dollars. But at the same time, it was a little bit, it was a little bit gutting to, you know, to hear about the wage drop. And the fact, you know, the facts that I know how much he got paid.

the first fight. I mean, that is life-changing money, 750K. Whereas, yeah, I'm being paid good, or I thought I was being paid good, but then when I seen how much money some of the other fighters are making, like, I believe, you know, I accepted the first contract that I done with PFL, because I was, you know, I had a long layoff and they gave me an opportunity to come and fight and state-marking a thing now but now that I'm in the final and like I said I've got two wins over Piss I feel like now there's there should be a some talks and a new contract and yeah for the for the next fight and even maybe next season or whatever yeah yeah and listen to be clear like I think you work with the best manager in the sport I made no secret how much

I like Ali. He's an incredible manager. He goes out there in battles for his guys. But you're not the first person to say this. You had a similar conversation with Chris Wade, who's in a very similar position as you, where he's, and he actually has been with the BFL for like three seasons now. Maybe you saw it. He talked about it. He's like, I don't know why I'm making less money now in the playoffs than I was the regular. So it's kind of crazy that now I'm hearing it twice in a row. And I'm sure you're not alone. I'm sure there's other people going through something similar. That is so wild at me because you would think, I don't like I'm just like if you made if you made $50,000 in in the in the regular season then you should make like 75 or 100K like it just makes sense you've made it to the playoffs that's when you get paid more like that's how sports work right like the closer you get to the title the more money you make like that's kind of how it works yeah I mean digging me wrong I kind of do get like the system that he's done because like there's not a lot of companies out there paying a million dollars and. you know, giving a million dollars to the winner.

So the opportunity is there and it's there to go and get the taken. I mean, the playoffs were, I didn't know if it's the same for everyone. I'm pretty sure it was, but it was 25 and 25. So $25,000 to fight, $25,000 to win. And, yeah, like I said, I was to be the main event and beat Anthony Piss. It's a bit gutton, but now, obviously, I'm in the final. And, you know, it's a million dollars for the winner. so I win my next fight, I get a million dollars.

I won't, that is a good payday. But I feel like I'm at the stage now where I need, I deserve to get a pay rise in the regular fights and stuff. Like, you know, just more security. Like, I've got four kids and stuff and I've worked hard. And like I said, I, you know, I accepted the contract that I'm on the now coming after a two and a half year layoff. and it was a new opportunity for me.

And yeah, I feel like just, you know, that, like, Ali explained it to me as well. He's like, you know, in football, you know, if you go and take out the good guy or whatever, then improve your worth, then they then get paid more. So, aye. Yeah. Well, and to be clear, like,

And I think everyone, you know, and I'm certainly on that list as well, I praise the PFL for the million dollar paydays because that's huge. You know what I mean? That's life-changing money. I talked to Haush Manfio last season, you know, he was talking about how he was cleaning office buildings and borrowing money from Natanz Schult just to live. Like he had, he couldn't afford rent. You know, he had to borrow money from Natanz Schult just to make rent, basically. And then he won the million dollars and it was completely life-changing money. Allowed him to become a full-time fighter, you know, train all the time.

time of those kind of thing. So it's life-changing money. But you're still not doing it for free. You know, you're not, you didn't, you know, when you beat Anthony Pettis, freaking legend of the sport, former UFC champion, you should still get compensated for that, like properly. That's kind of my point. Like the million dollars is great.

And if you beat Olivier Albert Mercier, you win the million dollars. Great. That's awesome. And I root for you to do that. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't get paid, you know, well for this last fight. You know what I mean? Like that's not a knock on the PFL. That's just the reality.

yeah maybe i mean especially seeing that peters got 750k the first fight it's like i get it's like you know what he's bringing more to the table than me probably he's selling more tickets he's he's the you know he's the name and even at being in new york

like uh you know I heard it when I walked out I got booed a bit he got cheered like they're there they're paying to see him um and even the you know MSG we're really happy that Pettis was finally fighting there

but yeah I'm kind of like you know what beat them once and then beat them twice now I'm like right yeah I could even if it's no 750K

if it's a bit more than what I'm getting then I'll be happy with that yeah I don't want to turn because again I want to be clear I know you're happy, you're about to fight for a million dollars, you're about to fight for a championship. So I don't want to turn it all negative or anything.

But one thing I want to ask you on this, on this pay thing real quick, you know, unfortunately where we're at now, and I'm sure you've seen this because you've been around Steve, you've been around the sport. You know, there was a time when commissions always reported what fighters made, Nevada, California, all the we saw. Now, we know that's not the full story. We understand there's bonuses and things like that to get paid out that we don't ever see. And I understand that.

But just like what we saw with when Georgia released. payday for your Pettus fight. Like, I had no idea how much Anthony Pettus was making. Zero idea. They don't tell us. Commissions aren't releasing it. Like, would you wish there was more transparency like that, like, where we would actually see that?

Because how are you, like, how would you ever know, right? Like, if you left that fight, you'd have no idea. If that wasn't made public, you would have no idea how much you made. You know what I mean? Yeah, that's sad. I feel like it is good for other fighters as well, because, like, you know, no disrespect to any of the other fighters but I've seen Brendan

Lockman is on, I think he was on 85 and 85 like that's more than double mind and I feel like for what I've done in my career you know I beat the likes of Michael Johnson Joel Loz on, Ross Pearson had

multiple fights in the UFC and stuff so I've kind of proven that you know I'm a good fighter and I'm and now especially that I'm in the final. First season with PFL just beating Pettus twice. It's good to see that because

it's like I now know that I'm worth more, like I feel like I'm worth more than what. I was happy with what I was getting paid, but to see that, you know, some of the other stuff and Pettis getting 750K is crazy. Like I know he maybe deserves it. You know, he's worked his ass off his whole career

and former champ and stuff. But yeah, there's a lot of guys. I think I remember, as I think it said, Rory McDonald's got 250K. So I'm not sure if that was like, if he would have got another 250 to win as well. Kayla Harrison's getting like around a million a fight. Yeah, just, I could be doing with some of that. Yeah, no, absolutely, absolutely. Can I ask, and I know the answer, but I'm going to ask it anyways,

how much would a million-dollar prize mean to you, Stevie, in this next fight? I mean, how much life-change? Because you've been around. You fought your ass off. I don't know a better way to say. You fought. I mean, everyone remembers the Luzon fight. What you just went out there and did with Pattis?

Like, you've had a career. How much would that million-dollar prize mean to you? Oh, it'd be, like you said, it would be completely life-changing. Like, I mean, to be able to possibly pay off your home, like, to not have a mortgage, you know, to be able to just invest in the business. Like I've got my own gym as well, Braveheart to MMA, that I started after, in 2017, after one of my losses, lost to Paul Felder.

There was a little gap where I wasn't sure if I was going to be resigned to the UFC and I started coaching and basically built it up. And, you know, I just started coaching for something to do, really, to stay busy while I was waiting to hear what was going to happen with the contract. and it took off. I got really busy and now I've got a pretty successful gym.

I pay guys obviously to run it and I've got guys that look after it while I'm taking care of fighting and stuff again. I'm living in a separate gym, focusing on my training. But yeah, just be good to like, because at that gym we've no got showers, you know, the toilets, a little bit of a trek.

So it'd be good to get like, a place where there's shower facilities, there's heating, it's freezing in the winter. So just to be able to do that and have a good place to build on, you know, the post-retirement kind of coaching. And yeah, just everything, like, you know, a good family holiday.

I've got four kids, so they didn't come cheap. But I just, I didn't even know what I'd, I'd do that, but it would be life-changing, no. Yeah. And you've had your last couple of performances, you mentioned, you know, coming back after such a long layoff, kind of knocking the rust out in that first fight, and then coming on beating Anthony Pettus twice, you know,

OAM, Olivier Abin-Mercier, he's looked great. You know, we know what he's good at. He's a really strong wrestler. That's what he does best. He comes from that Montreal camp, that George St. Pierre style of, you know, going out there and taking you down and grinding on you. He's a very good fighter.

He's a guy you could have fought in the UFC at one point. I mean, you guys are both in the UFC. How do you like this matchup? And knowing, you know, knowing going in, and again, I don't want to, you know, just say he's not, he's a one-trick pony because he's not. He's a mixed martial artist. But you got to imagine he's probably going to try to get, you know,

wrestling and things like that. So how do you like this matchup with him? Yeah, like the matchup, I mean, the same way everybody, he's got strengths, he's got weaknesses. I've actually trained with Olivia. We've trained and sparred together as well. We've done rounds. So, I mean, I can't remember all of them,

but I know there's enough to know, you know, what he's good at and stuff like that. But even if we had to train together, I mean, you see it in the fights anyway. It's pretty much the same. You know, he's strong. He's a big guy. He cuts a decent amount of weight.

And, yeah, and he's got power because he's a big guy as well. I wouldn't say his striking's too great but he has got power in his left hand. He dropped Martinez I think twice and yeah he's just looked he looks pretty fundamentally solid but like I said

everybody's got some weaknesses and holes in their game and I've got a great coach that's good at seeing these wee kind of details and I'm sure we're going to get a good wee plan together to get the win.

Yeah, absolutely. And how long ago did you train with him? When was that? So my last fight camp I did at TriStar, I had done six weeks. That was when I fought in Canada. What was the guy's name again that I fought? It was UFC Moncton. I can't even remember the guy's name.

Biggot, Jess and Ayari. I fought him. So that would have been 2018, maybe? So not not super long ago, it wasn't that long ago. Yeah, yeah, it wasn't it too long ago.

And, yeah, um, I mean, I can't remember too much. Like, I know that, I know he submitted me and I've submitted him.

I know that. I remember that. Um, and, uh, I know that he's pretty strong. He's a Judo Black Belt, so most of those guys are always pretty strong, good on top.

Try my other else. Yeah, and obviously I know he's a self-ball. Yeah, we're quite similar, actually, I feel. I feel like I've got pretty good grappling. He's got good grappling. We're both kind of big, strong guys, and we're both self-paws. We've both got power on our left hands.

so yeah i mean i've got 15 weeks i think the biggest difference will be is i'm going to train um like like tomorrow's the end of my life like just put everyone in it um you know i'm sure he's wanting a million dollars as well but he's not got four kids to feed so I'm going to make sure I do it everything I can in this training camp

and I'll be the best Stevie Ray that anybody's seen and we'll see if that's obviously going to be good enough. I love it. I love it. I do, I got to say, Stevie, when you're done with training, you know, when you're through this fight and you're celebrating a million dollars, at some point when I run into you again, you got to show me the secret of your Twister. I really, I love that submission. It's my favorite submission of the year so far.

I want to see that in person. to show me sometime. I got to see the, I got to see the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, I put, I put a little clip together explaining it on a YouTube. I posted it on my, my my Instagram, if you wanted to look at that, it's kind of like a, instructional, but, yeah, definitely, man, if, uh, next time I see you, just come and grab me and, uh, just pull me over. I want to see that twister. I love it. I love it. Yeah, man. Yeah, yeah, I appreciate that, though.

You, you know, considering, you know, I remember we talked, it's going back several years when you were, when you were getting your new contract in the UFC and you were kind of living through some uncertainty, you know, where you're going to get resigned, all these kind of things. And then you retired at one point, you left the sport, you know, you walked away, a couple years away. Could you have imagined when that happened, when you left the UFC, you retired, could you have imagined, you know, a couple years later, two and a half, basically less than three years later, you're about to fight for a million dollar prize. like in a championship i mean it's crazy how this world works right like it's crazy how the sport works but could you imagine like looking back three years ago to see where you're are see where you're at right now yeah i mean it's crazy uh i mean i didn't think that i always knew i was going to fight again even like very shortly after i retired i knew that i was going to fight um it was kind of emotional decision it was what it was with

kind of what happens with the UFC like, you know, you know, we went our separate ways after the biggest win of my career and I was a bit depressed, if you like. My knee was bad at the time as well and I remember thinking,

you know, fuck it, me, I'm done with it. I'm pissed. You know, I was, I was angry. I was pissed off and I was just like, you know, I'm done. And then a wee bit later, I was like, well, what else am I going to do in my life? It's all I've done for the past 10 years or whatever.

It's all I know and it's all I'm good at because of how much time I've invested in there. COVID made that break be a bit longer. Obviously there was no shows going to be taking on any new fighters much because the uncensored, you know, shows were even getting cancelled because of COVID

and then the whole fight on thing and stuff. But yeah, I'm just obviously grateful. Thanks to obviously the PFL and Ali for hooking that deal up. And yeah, now, like, I see it as like Stevie Ray 2.0. It's like, because at that time, I did, you know, I did kind of question whether I still had it in me because the knee injuries, like, it can play with your mental health every day waking up

whether my knee's going to be good or not. And then obviously depressed if I can't go on train or if I have a fight and I see videos in my, my guy training and I'm sitting on the couch ice and my knee but yeah thanks to

obviously some rehab and stuff and rest and the Bickram yoga is what's really fixed my knees doing 90 minutes of Bickram hot yoga consistently for I've been doing that

for I think just over a year now or close to a year and that's honestly what's healed not only my knees but my whole body like every time i go and do the 90 minutes of bikrum yoga um it's like going to the the physio uh getting a massage and uh you know just it just fixes my body keeps me keeps my body from breaking down so um i'm thankful to that yeah i am by no means in any way shape or form uh an athlete like yourself stevie but i played football most of my

life so I have terrible knees, terrible ankles from playing football. And when I first started doing yoga years ago, like I didn't realize like how like how much that can like help your body, but also it's like it's a weirdly incredible workout too. Like it is not easy. Like I don't think people will give yoga enough credit for like what it can actually do for you. It's kind of wild. Yeah, especially I mean, especially Bikram yoga because I've done yoga for about seven or eight years. I've only done Bikram yoga for about a year and it's

just a different level. I mean, the heat for one, it's like 40 degrees. And then to do a workout, a 90 minute workout in it and yeah, I just feel like it's just perfect for what I need because I'm

getting a workout, I'm getting like that heat the benefits of like heat like a sauna kind of thing and like blood flow and and yeah like obviously mobility and flexibility and stuff as well but yeah I feel like that has literally saved my career but and gave me the chance to you know come back and I actually feel like I'm you know I'm in my prime

I've went from being a broken man with my body no work and always being injured to I've just done free fights in four months which proves that, you know, how durable my body is now. You know, it's hard to sometimes do free fights in a year, never mind three fights in four months. And I'm literally ready. I could start fight camp again tomorrow.

Like, no injuries, thankfully, from the fight. Yeah, well, Stevie, you have looked fantastic. Your last couple of performances in particular have looked at a phenomenal. Congratulations again. on the second winner of Anthony Pettis, as well as the first winner of Anthony Pettus. Look forward to the fight with OAM coming up in October. Enjoy a little downtime.

I know you don't get a lot because this is a very busy season, but enjoy a little bit of downtime. Get back into training. Can I wait see you go out there and compete for that million dollars? And I really do appreciate the time. And I'm very much excited to see you go out there and compete for that championship later this year. No worries, man. Thank you.

Did you say October? I think it's November. November, sorry, November, yeah. It was October last year is what I was thinking of. It's October last year. They did October last year. That's what I was thinking of. So, you know, it used to be December.

Then it was October. So, yeah, they keep moving it around on me. Yeah, to be honest, I've not been told, like, the cement date yet, but I'm pretty sure, yeah, I've seen 25th in November, whether that's guaranteed or not. No, you're right. It is that. Last year it was October.

I remember it was October last year, and the year before that, it was December. So they've moved it around a lot. I keep forgetting when it's going to be. But I will say this, and you know it better than I do, Piffel's season ain't no joke. You're basically fighting four times in about six, seven months. That's no joke. Yeah, yeah, that's it.

And like I said, I would never have been able to do that two years ago, you know, with the injuries and stuff. But, yeah, I'm just thankful that, you know, I've been, like, my body works again, and I've managed to get through it pretty well. I mean, after the first fight, I was actually pretty sore with Martinez. I was a little bit injured, but, yeah, the last two fights I've came out unscathed.

So, yeah, pretty good. Fresh for starting the fight camp against OAM. Yeah, absolutely. Well, Stevie again, thank you so much for the time. Have a good training camp. Like I said, get a little bit of rest. Get a couple days off in there And look forward to you fight for that championship

And fight for that million dollar prize later this year Thank you man Thanks for your time Hey talk to you soon, okay? Yeah, speak to somebody. Bye-bye. Thanks, man. A big thank you once again to Stevie Ray for coming on the show

Always good to chat with him In a really fascinating interview With him coming out of his big win Big back-to-back wins over Anthony Pettus And of course a big thank you to Corey Sandhagen for joining me on the show this week. Always one of my favorite interviews, one of the most well-spoken and intelligent guys in the sport. I always enjoy talking to Corey. I want to say a big thank you, of course, everyone that tunes into the show each and every week. We appreciate it. Make

sure you check us out on all of your favorite podcast platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and of course you can always find this over on MMAFighting.com. The best website in the world. We'll see you guys next week for another edition of the Fighter versus the Writer. Thanks for tuned in. We'll see you then. Network.