MMA Fighting - Fighter vs. Writer: Paige VanZant Reveals Details Behind AEW Signing; Chris Daukaus On What Went Wrong Against Derrick Lewis

Episode Date: March 22, 2022

On episode 28 of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Paige VanZant joins the show to detail how she ended up signing with All Elite Wrestling and her plans for a long career in professional wrestling. VanZant will also discuss her plans to continue fighting in bare-knuckle competition for BKFC and how leaving the UFC was ultimately one of the best moves she could have possibly made for her career. Also on the show, UFC Columbus headliner Chris Daukaus drops in to preview his upcoming main event showdown with Curtis Blaydes while also explaining what exactly went wrong in his loss to Derrick Lewis including underestimating just how much of a difference it makes fighting in the smaller octagon that’s housed in the UFC APEX. All this and much more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify Read More: MMA Fighting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Of course, my first guest is all over the headlines these days because she just signed a contract to cross over into All Elite Pro Wrestling, all Elite Wrestling, I should say, to do her pro wrestling debut. She is also, of course, still under contract with BKFC and a former UFC superstar in her own right. We're going to talk to Paige Van Zan in just a moment. We're also going to speak to the man who will headline this weekend's UFC fight night card in my town, Columbus, Ohio. He takes on Curtis Blades on Saturday.

The fight, of course, from the nationwide arena here in Columbus. So I'm looking forward to speaking to Chris Dacus as well. So let's just get things rolling. Let's talk first to Paige Van Zan. Of course, as I said, she's been all over the news lately after she signed a deal to join AEW. So we're going to find out more about that contract. What exactly that intention?

This is long-term deal, short-term deal. Also, what's her future with BKFC? You know, obviously all she's been doing since leaving the UFC, so we're going to touch on all of that as well as her recent, let's say, mishap at the local airport when she was trying to fly out for an appearance, which is rather hilarious as well. So let's talk right now to Page Van Zant. Damon Martin MMA fighting here with BKFC veteran, UFC veteran, and now AEW superstar, Paige Van Zant, How are you? Welcome in. Thank you for doing this today.

Thank you. Of course. I'm doing it really good. I'm in Florida and Miami. So it's always a good day here. Yeah, absolutely. Have you, like, do you have room left on your resume at this point? Because I think you just keep adding on new things like every time we talk. I haven't accomplished yet that are still on my bucket list. So luckily I get to check one more off. I feel like I'll check it off after I have my first pro wrestling match. But, yeah, there's still plenty of things that I want to do that I haven't. done yet. So I'm just going to keep going. Yeah, I love it. I love it. So let's start off, of course, with the big news. You sign with AEW. And for anyone that's out there curious, because of course, you've been making appearances in AEW since last year. But for my understanding from talking to your management team, this is not like a one shot deal. This is not you popping

in for an appearance or one match. Like, this is a long term deal with AEW, correct? Oh, it's a long-term partnership for sure. And this is something that I'm not doing it for I guess just to check it off like the bucket list just to say that I did it. I want to be a part of their show. I truly do. I love what the AEW does. I had gone to a few shows and I was like, wait, this is like, this is cool. This is amazing.

So Dan Lambert had brought me out just to kind of to check it out. And I was like, okay, this is really cool. And then, of course, I had to jump in there and get his back on a few things. And I was like, you know what? I meant to be a part of this. So it didn't take long for us to convince the AW that I should be on their team. Yeah. So how did that conversation go? I mean, has this been in the works for a while in terms of actually inking a deal to join the roster?

Is this something that came together pretty quick? Like, how did it come together? One of the things I want to accomplish this year, and this was on the list. And then after Dan had started bringing me out to kind of have his back on a few things and make a statement for American Talk Team, it was a pretty easy conversation. I think both sides were pretty well aware of where I belonged, and it was on their roster. So the conversation, honestly, was very easy. It was more just, hey, told me manager, go talk to the owner, tell him I want to be on the roster. Yeah, it's funny.

I think we talked years ago about maybe crossing over and doing some WWE at some point and doing per wrestling. But you seem like you're a natural fit. Now, I know it's not easy. You have no idea about this, but I actually went to pro wrestling school for several years. No way. I trained the same gym as John Moxley, who's in AEW, of course. And I know it's not easy, like getting in there. It's nerve-wracking.

It's a different feeling, I imagine, than even when you're in there for a fight. Like, it's just a different kind of attention. So, but you seem to adapt to it really quickly. Like, you went in there and looked like you were having fun. You were doing, you were doing everything great. Like, did you, did you just kind of immediately, like, feel like you were having a blast doing it? Oh, instantly. It was the first moment we showed up to you, the arena.

I could feel the energy from the, like, the fan. just how amazing the fans of pro wrestling are. They're obsessed with it. And I thought that was just the coolest thing to be in front of so much energy, people who are so passionate. And, you know, pro fighting fans are great, but sometimes they can, they love you when you're up and they hate you when you're down, whereas I feel like the pro wrestling fans,

they're in for the long haul. They die hard. And I wanted to be a part of it. And beyond that, I was just, yeah, when I started, you know, started my training and the moves. I picked it up quickly and beyond that, I was having just a lot of fun. Yeah. Now, I say this is an absolute compliment to you, Paige, that, you know, I've known you

for a lot of years and you were, like, one of the nicest people ever. You're always so gracious with your time. Every time we've ever talked in person, I know we did a lot of stuff during dancing with the stars. Like, you were always such a, like, gracious and nice person. But you are playing quite a heel in AEW. And boy, I tell you what, it looks like you were having fun doing it because you have really, like, the stuff you do with Chris Jericho and of course the stuff you're doing

Ty Conti, like, I don't know, do you like being a heel? Because I like heels. Like, I'm a big fan of heels in wrestling. Don't get me wrong, baby faces are great. But you seem like you're loving playing a heel. Well, for me, I don't feel like be Paige Van Zand. And I feel like I'm just there to make a statement. I'm there to make a statement in the division with all the girls and let them know that

I'm, you know, a very high-level athlete. Yeah, I'm new to pro wrestling, but I am going to pick it up quickly. and I think that they should be aware that I'm a part of the show now. Yeah. It's funny because I always hear one thing that I heard early on when I talked about doing pro wrestling is they said, you know, take your personality and kind of amp it up by like 10, you know, whatever you're kind of like, you know, kind of take it, ratchet it up to that next level. Doing the selfies in the ring when the guys are on the ground getting kicked and like

there's a lot of stuff you've done that have been really hilarious. And I imagine like this is just part of the fun of learning pro wrestling doing all that kind of stuff. Well, for me, you know what? I feel like my whole career, I've always been on my best behavior. And I do feel like I'm a really good person. I always have the best intentions. But I've always like turned to the other cheek. I've always kept my mouth shut when it comes to like the negativity from other fighters, from other fans.

And I feel like this is my moment to really become myself and show people my true intentions and my frustrations towards everything. And I get to let my like real emotions out. Whereas I think around especially like fight time fighters where they're just very like, like focused on just getting the job done, whereas now I actually get to show my, my, like, personality. And I think that, I think it'll resonate with a lot of people. I'm excited for, to just be able to show more than one side of me. Yeah, absolutely.

Now, from my understanding you, did you start your pro wrestling training last week? Is that right? I actually, so I was supposed to start it last week on Monday, but I got the stomach flu so bad. So I actually had my first practice yesterday. Okay. Now, you're working with David Heath. Is that right? Is that who you're training with?

Dan has me set up with. I have his name written down. But yes, David Heath. Okay. So for people that don't remember, he was Gangrel in WW back in today. One of the coolest entrances in WW history, by the way. He always had such an incredible entry. Now, so you're starting it.

Now, wrestling is a different animal in terms of like, you know, what you put your body through. I mean, you know, when you go in the ring, like, everyone has this misconception that the ring's all bouncy and like all this kind of stuff. Like, it's a hard ring. There's planks of wood underneath there and steel. learning how to take a bump is no joke. Learning how to run the ropes is no joke. I came home with bruises all over my back the first time I had to run ropes. So are you excited?

Are you nervous? Are you kind of like, man, I can't wait to experience this? Because it is a different. Like for people, like, of course you're a natural athlete, but it is still different than fighting. It's definitely different. I think there is a lot of similarities between pro-fighting and pro-wrestling, very similar, a lot of the same movements. but I think it's just adapting to not like not being too aggressive when I don't need to be.

And then also, you know, when I walked into the gym, I feel like it's the same when I walk into any gym at the beginning of my career for pro-MMA. I'm going to like, hey, I'm here to train. And then you get the eye rolls or you get the like, oh, just like, well, they wouldn't take me seriously that. They didn't understand that I was actually like a serious athlete. They just anticipated based on my social media that I was just some diva showing up there to have like, my moment in pro wrestling. So all of a sudden, it took me 10, 15 minutes to prove to them that I'm a pretty freaky athlete.

I can do a lot of stuff. I'm extremely talented and I'm focused and driven and I want to do it the best possible and I want to get it right. And I'm going to take it extremely seriously. So I can feel the tone in the room change 15 minutes into like my first training session. And it was like, okay, this is going to be really good. Yeah. It's exciting too.

because I remember like the first time I did a drop kick, and it was like the coolest moment ever, like when you actually pull it off, when you actually pull off a move. Are you excited for that part? Because, again, you've got to, you know, learn your repertoire. You got to learn your moves. And, of course, you got to come up to a finisher at some point.

So here's the question page. Have you started to think about what the page fans and finishers going to be? But I know it's going to resonate with all my pro-fighting fans. So, yeah, people are going to like it. I got a two or three different options I'm playing with right now. And of course, Dan's been such a great addition to helping me through this journey. He's got some ideas too.

So once we come up with it and we're ready to put the moves on, people are going to love it. Now, are you excited for the top rope stuff, like getting up on the robes and doing like the high-flying stuff? Because, of course, you come from a dancing background. So, of course, you're used to acrobatics and things like that. Like, are you excited for that aspect, like jumping over the robes doing the top rope stuff? Extremely excited. And I think that's the great thing is I do have a gymnastics and a cheerleading and dance background. So a lot of the fight stuff, the coordination for wrestling I have because of pro fighting,

but then the acrobatics of doing the thrilling, like finishing moves come from my dance and gymnastics background. So, of course, my fear is that I am kind of a daredevil. So when it comes to like me and my husband, I want to go skydiving. I want to jump off cliffs. I want to do the crazy stuff. So just my only fear is that I go and like commit to my, I'm just going to do it. And then I like don't actually train it and know what I'm doing.

So I need to like take force myself to do things in baby steps. But you can guarantee you I'm jumping off the ropes. Yeah. The only piece of it and trust me you have far more knowledgeable people around you than me. But the one piece of advice I would give you because I learned this really quickly, just learn how to take a bump. That's the key because when you learn how to take a bump so you don't hurt yourself, like that is like to me. the biggest thing I ever learned in pro wrestling is look because when you don't fall right, like I remember one time I got dropped on my head.

It's not fun. It's not enjoyable. But when you learn actually, you learn how to take a bump, like you'd be surprised like how much of a difference that makes your pro wrestling journey because it is a, it's such a weird thing. Like it's a performance,

but it's so physical. It is so physical. And I think that's the great thing about being like a multi-sport athlete like I was. I grew up running dirt bikes. I grew up like doing the crazy kid things. And when you jump out of a tree, yeah, you want to learn how to land and fall correctly. So me eating it on my motorcycle and all the years of crashing things,

like learning how to fall and hit the ground, I feel like I'm going to prosper in that area. Yeah. How crazy is it? How good is it like Dan Lambert doing what he's doing? Like I've known Dan for a long time, and I know he's always been a pro wrestling fan, but like when he started doing stuff with TNA and then, of course, now with AEW,

like he's so good on the mic. he is so, like, talented. Like, I thought, like, when Bobby Lashley went to WWE, I was like, they should have brought in Dan as his manager because, you know, Dan is so good on the microphone. Dan, I mean, it's crazy. Like, like, it's so funny. Like, he's, like, one of the oldest of old school, like, MMA guys. But he is, like, truly, like, an incredible pro wrestling person. It's insane.

Dan on the microphone, like, you just, like, everybody in the room just shuts up and listens because you never know what he's going to say. and it's always going to be one of those like drop the mic moments he's just so it's those guys like it makes sense and because obviously he's extremely successful in business that somebody that uh you know he's just smart he just can put things together he's extremely intelligent so uh but to have somebody that's so well rounded as far as like a life experience to come out and also be able to like have those power moments in front of huge crowds and be so well spoken it's it's it's it's It's absolutely commendable. I mean, I'm excited.

That's the one thing I need to learn a little bit from him is, you know, how to cut a promo and get people to listen to you. Yeah, I think you got it. I tell you, every time we do an interview, you know how to cut a promo page. I promise you, you do. Like I said, I was so, like I said, when you were, because again, I know how nerve-wracking it is. When you go in there and you were doing the stuff with Jericho and you were in the ring,

I was like, you're natural. Like, it's kind of crazy because I don't think people really understand. Like, it's really hard. It's really not easy to go in there and do that. No, it's not. And I think it's just, you know, also being ready for all the stuff that comes at you. But I'm excited, you know, and especially that we're like the whole kicking it off with our drama with Jericho. That's not over. He said some stuff to me that I'm ready to come at him for. And there's just such a good dynamic of me in the AEW. And I think I'm going to bring a lot to the table.

So I'm excited to see where this all takes me. Yeah. Now, of course, also Austin has been making appearances as well. So now is Austin getting the bug? Is he getting the itch to like want to get in there and do some wrestling as well? I, you know what? I didn't think so at first. But then I told him like, oh, this is my pro wrestling schedule. These are when I'll be training.

He's like, perfect. I'll be there every Monday. So he's showing up like every week. He wants to train to. They're really excited. And then it's like these moments all show up to AEW to, you know, to get out there. And I'm showing up to the appearances. And then you just can't get him out of the ring.

Next thing you know, he's jumping on. top of people. He's getting in people's faces. Like he is so talented too. I don't know that I keep, I don't know that he'll be able to keep himself away from this. Yeah. Now, you just started training. Of course, you're still making regular appearances in AW. I know, as you said, you're a bit of a daredevil, so it's going to be hard to hold you back. But how soon would you like to have, like, your first official match? Of course, I want to train. I want to be well prepared. I definitely want to like honor the sport as much as I can. I know all these people have dedicated their whole lives So I want to give it that proper dedication for the first match.

But I guarantee you it's going to be here in the next few months. Maybe two months. I'm not entirely sure. It's not going to take me long because as far as, as I'm going to work at this and as much skills I already bring to the table, I really see myself getting out there here in a few months. Yeah. So now, of course, I know that with AEW, everyone has asked you the question. What about your fight career?

I know I talked to BKFC right after your deal got signed and they said, We're excited for Paige. We're looking forward to working with her in AEW. I know you're still going to plan on fighting, but, you know, kind of give me a sense of that. Because, again, you do have to put a lot of time into pro wrestling. It's not something you can kind of, for lack of a better word, you can't half ass it. You can't go out there and, you know, I'm going to be a, you know, a 10% pro wrestling. You've got to be full time in it.

And, of course, you're also one to fight. So what is your expectation in terms of BKFC in terms of your bare-knuckle career? Oh, I'm still bare-knuckle boxing. I'm still with BKFC. I'm about to sign a contract extension. Of course, I didn't have the greatest success right off the bat, but that just fueled my fire even more. Training harder.

And I do see a lot of relationship between my training for BKFC and my pro wrestling training. And the great thing is there's 24 hours in a day, and I'm going to use every single hour of that to train for both. The great thing is I do know that I've spoken with AEW and BKFC and they're willing to work together to make me have a successful career and really let me focus. on each individual task at hand.

So I'll probably have my match for pro wrestling, and then I will be bare knuckle boxing this year as well. So a little bit of breaking news there. So you're planning on signing an extension with BKFC. Yes, yeah. I'm not done yet. And I know people saw me going into it as a terrible career move, and there was all the negativity and the shock of me signing with bare knuckle boxing.

But, yeah, you know what? I did go O&2. I need to come out there, and I need to get some wins under my belt. and those losses, even though, yeah, losing is terrible, I still had so much fun. Both of those fights were so much fun, and I never once thought about walking away. So I would love to sign a contract extension with them. I just plan on keep going with it. I feel like it's the most brutal raw form of fighting, and I want to be a part of their show for the long run.

Yeah, I mean, come on, page, let's be honest, neither one was a bad loss. It wasn't like you went out there and got dominated, like both fights you were in and both went to decision. It wasn't like you didn't look like you belonged in there. And I say this all the time. I mean, some of the best fighters in the world have gone over there and it's a whole other animal. So it takes some time to acclimate to it. So again, you know, it's just a learning girl. But it's cool you're sticking with it because, again, I know you've been huge for them. They've been huge for you. So, you know, it sounds like you're, you're committed. Oh, I'm committed 100%. And yeah, you know, I do know is the last two fights that I had for them.

They were extremely close. Both of them. I do know, like, looking at it from an athlete's perspective, I did lose to both of them. I know there was controversy. Some people saying that I won. It was very close. I do see it. I had two losses, but they were extremely close and I can see my boxing scale better

from the first to the second. And what people don't realize is that, like, training my whole career, even at Team Alpha Male, American Top Team Now, my least favorite practice was straight boxing. That was one I had to force myself to go to. I had to force myself to show up to boxing practice because it took away. I felt like was my best weapon was my kicks and my knees, knees, elbows coming from Muay Thai. That was like the one I was the most class I was most excited to go to.

So I felt like me signing of bare knuckle boxing. It forces me to really push through the training sessions and find a new passion for something that I was the hardest for me to really get focused on. So now going to boxing every single day, I know my boxing. is just going to get better and better, and I found this new passion for it. And it's the one I really wanted a challenge. And it has proven to give me a challenge, but I'm still fighting the battle. Yeah.

And I know you've said in various interviews, and I'm not going to rehash it over and over and over again, but you said that, you know, hey, you know, you could go back to MMA. It could happen one day. You're not sure. But how awesome is it to have the options? Like, you're doing bare knuckle. You're doing AEW. I know you've got your website as well.

Like, you can do MMA, but you don't have to do MMA, I guess is what I'm. I'm getting at. No, I don't have to do MMA. At this point in my life, I actually don't have to do anything anymore. But I'm doing all of it because I love it. I've been so fortunate enough that I have one of the best management teams in the world. It took me six months after I moved to Florida for them to make me a millionaire. And since then, it's just fueled my passion to realize that I can just keep training and just keep fighting.

And I can do absolutely anything I want. They made it. So I had the opportunity to just do what I want to do. I don't have to put up with the unfit. fun things along the journey and I'll have to say yes to everybody to scrape by it's they changed my life so I really got to sit down and be like all right page what what do you want to do with your time and with your life and your career and so I'm so fortunate for that with uh having but that management team on my side and so now it's I'm doing exactly what I want to do I want to fight

for AEW I want to fight for BKFC the contract is still open ended I could still do MMA at the same time so I love MMA, and I know my door is definitely not closed on MMA, but in the same time, my passion really is barrenacle boxing and pro wrestling right now. It's so funny. We go back a couple of years ago to when you were coming up to the tail into your U.S. C crew, and we had so many conversations about your contract and the money you were making and just being brutally honest about what you weren't earning as a living as a fighter. Fast forward to two years later, we talked about your website the last time we didn't interview.

Yeah, we talked about your website the last time we didn't interview, and you said how well that's doing for you. You're not going to, but let me just throw this out there, pay if you said tomorrow, I'm going to retire. I'm done. I'm walking away from what you've done on your website, what you've done. Could you do that? Could you retire tomorrow and be financially free?

I could retire tomorrow, be financially free. And my kids would be pretty close to being financially free. So it's like I'm fortunate enough. I did build my name up to the point. I know how hard I worked in the UFC and I know how much dedication I had. I did all the appearances that nobody else wanted. to do. I traveled the world almost every weekend. I was in a different state of doing appearances. And I was fortunate enough. I did have that grind mentality to build my name up. I did the social

media, dancing with the stars, really did what I could to build myself as a business and as a brand. So then, you know, when my contract ended with the UFC, I was able to go out there and be fortunate enough sign a BKFC. They offered me a great contract. I opened to the doors for all these other things that I wasn't really able to do when I was with the UFC. And of course, I love the I love the organization. There's a reason they're as successful as they are. And there's a reason that they were able to get to this level. They have a well-oil machine and they're very, very good at it.

But I know in my heart that I will never fight for them again because they just don't pay enough. And it's, you know, I don't see the benefit of going back to the UFC. Right now, I'm fortunate enough. I built myself up to a specific place and I can take that and use it wherever I go. Yeah, are you still having fun with your site? I know you talked about how much fun you're having with that. And it's been a, I mean, let me be honest, it's been a financial, you know,

it's been a nice financial boost as well, I'm sure. Yeah. Oh, it has. And that's why I was like, oh, great day to the interview. I just came from a photo shoot. So I knew I would like, they would have, like, have my makeup done.

I'll look all good for the group. So, yeah, no, I love doing the fan site stuff. And at the end of the day, I grew up modeling, dancing, cheerleading, being extremely feminine and girly. And I was away from that for so long fighting when this opportunity came up. I was like, yeah, like I want to go back to being sexy and being a woman and showing my body.

Because I'm so proud of it. I'm so proud of how I've worked. And I'm just fortunate enough. I have a husband who supports me doing all the fun, exclusive content sites. He loves it. Extra photos for him. No, I'm very fortunate. I love what I do.

And it just pays homage to like the supportive fans that I. have. I do have so many fans and subscribers that are there just encouraging me. And it's nice because on the website I have, I talk with everybody every day. That's the one I go on there and I'm actually messaging people back. I talk to my fans every day because if they're paying for my time, then they're actual fans and they like support me. Whereas on Instagram, you can't go through my comment section without reading like 10 negative comments about me like the worst of the worst comments on Instagram. So it's a way for me to just stay away from the hate and really just soak up the love and support that I get for my fans. Yeah, that's so awesome. And like I said,

it's just, it's so crazy because, again, this is not me taking a shot at the UFC, but it's so crazy, like, all the opportunities that you've gotten because you're not in the UFC, things, like, you couldn't do AEW. Like, they would not, they just don't. And I understand, like, that's their business. It's not a knock on them. But all the things you're doing now, like, these are things that you couldn't have done in the UFC. So now, like, you're a millionaire. You didn't do that in the UFC. You got your own site. Couldn't do that in UFC. You're a BKFC. Couldn't do that do that to UFC. Like all the things you're doing. It's so crazy. Like these are all things that came after the UFC and you found so much success. And it feels like you're just

getting started page. I am just getting started. I know I am. Even as successful, I'm sure people see me as. I still, I just feel like along the road, there's things that I could have been started a lot sooner. There's things that are about to start that I haven't yet. And it's just I'm destined to work hard. I'm destined to be successful. And I just feel like every day is a gift from God to just keep hustling. So you got to use every minute of every day to just be as successful as possible. So yeah, I've been really lucky.

And of course, I don't want to just have to be like this huge negative. Like, oh, me leaving the UFC was the changer for my life. Like, yeah, that was one factor. Another factor is moving to Florida, getting with my management team, first-year-man management, Malki Kawa. It was like all those kind of things. There are so many pieces of the puzzle that all happened at the same time. And, yeah, the UFC doesn't necessarily allow the contracts to benefit the fighters.

It's business. They want to benefit themselves. That's how they become successful. And I get how business works. But I'm in the page fans. They have business. So I'm just trying to make as much money as possible while I can. Yeah.

You're a pro wrestling person. Have you, do you remember the, I don't know if you heard of or ever watched the guy, Rob Van Dam. Do you remember him? Do you remember that name? Okay. I feel like at some point you're gonna have to pull it off and just do the I'm PVZ Like I feel like that's good

Well that's my thing I feel like that who did that first I think it was Chale Sunnan or it was Daniel Corbyn One of the other two they're like it's PVZ So I swear it came from Chale Sunning But I love that Yeah last thing before I get you out of here A funny story you told on on Twitter the other day

About your trip to the airport And I So now here's the funny thing about this page Like we do a lot of interviews and I write a lot of stories on you. So I do like type in your name and I always go to your Wikipedia page, things like that, like looking up records and things like that. I swear to God, everyone's going to not believe me when I say it. I swear to God I had no idea that story was out there.

But when you wrote that, I cracked up laughing. But I did Google it. I was like, where did this story come from? There is a story out there. I had no idea. Right? There's a story out there. It came up on, I was Googling myself.

I think it was on the first page. It may have been the third article down. And of course, I'm sure my parents were like, Paige, like, what in the world is going on? So, but no, okay, where it came from, I was doing just a Q&A with my fans on Instagram. It was like, when I was, you ask me anything. So they're asking questions. And they asked if there was a sex tape of my husband and I on my fan site. And I basically was like, you know, my husband and I, we can film ourselves all we want,

but he doesn't want to be on the fan site. So they took that as page and her husband made a sex tape. And now there's like people, I'm sure trying to find this sex tape everywhere. But truth be told, if I were to ever make a sex tape with my husband, the only place you would find it is on my fan site. I just thought it was so hilarious. And I got to tell you, like, you're so much in the public spotlight. But I'm sure even your face got a little red when they looked that up and there's on Google. That's the thing that pops up.

Oh, my gosh. Especially because I'm like so excited. and my news just broke about signing at the AEW. So I'm like Googling myself. And I'm like, son of a gun. Like, real. Come on. I'm like, come on, guys.

I love that you had fun with it though because I cracked up laughing when I read that the other day. I was like, oh my gosh, that's hilarious. And I said, I did it. I googled it because I can't really be right. That can't be because all the other things you've done. How is that the first thing? It was.

It really was the first thing. Yep. It was for big gold letters. Yeah. Oh, you know, there's times where it's like I want to get frustrated at these journalists that write like, like, fake stories. Like there's just like you, that's not true. That's not real. Come on, do your job.

But then on the other breath, it's like, hey, publicity, baby. Any publicity is good publicity. And you just got to laugh about it. Yeah. See, I don't, I don't do those stories. Those reasons you still return my messages. So that's, you know, I don't do that. Well, that's the thing.

You keep a good rapport with fighters. That's why I'll always answer your text. I have another I just told him Hey, don't abuse you My phone number But don't abuse it I'll block you again

Yeah I don't abuse it I don't do it I don't do it No and the other guy I'm this close To blocking him again Oh man I tell you

Don't abuse it Well Paige Thank you as always for the time Congrats again on the AEW deal Please I've enjoyed I've had so much fun Watch you in AEW

I'm super excited for you To make your debut Whatever else you got coming up BKFC But listen I'm a per wrestling guy. I'm super excited for you being pro wrestling. I love it. I see what you're doing out there. And I cannot wait to see you make your first match, do your first match. Have fun with the training. Please tell Austin. I said hello. And thank you as always for the time. I really do appreciate it.

Of course. Thank you so much. Talk to you soon. Yep. Bye. Bye-bye. A big thank you, of course, to Paige Van Zand for doing the show. We really appreciate it. You can also check out the video of that interview that's over on MMAfighting.com right now. And you can watch the interview with Paige Van Zand as well as listen to it here on the podcast. Right now I'm going to speak to the man who will headline the UFC Fight Night Card in Columbus, Ohio this weekend. It's the first UFC Fight Night card domestically outside of the UFC Apex in two years. Of course, the UFC card in London last weekend was the first one outside of the apex

since the pandemic first started. And this is actually going back to back with two shows that were canceled at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. The UFC was scheduled to go to London. In March, it was going to be Leon Edwards against Tyron Woodley, and then the following week was going to be here in Columbus with Francis Ngano v. Jarzina Rosenstrike. Obviously, that didn't happen.

The pandemic happened instead, but two years later, we're back on track. UFC London was last weekend. It was an incredible card. And, of course, this weekend we've got UFC Columbus here in Columbus, Ohio, at the nationwide arena, the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and now the home, once again, to the UFC for the first time. If I'm not mistaken, in about 10 years or 11 years, since the UFC has actually been here in Columbus.

So they've been to Cleveland, they've been to Cincinnati, now they're coming back to Columbus. So let's talk to the man who will headline the main event against Curtis Blades on Saturday night. This is Chris Dachas. Damon Martin MMA fighting back here with one of the top heavyweights into UFC, and he is going to be headlining the upcoming card at UFC Columbus here in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Welcome back, Chris Daucus. Chris, how are you? I'm doing good. I'm doing good. Thanks for having me. Absolutely. So are you, I got to be honest. You excited to come to my town?

You excited to come to Columbus for a main event? Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I've never have driven through Ohio. I've never really stopped to say what's up. But I'm definitely down there to see what's all about. One state over and you haven't come to Ohio. What is going on, Chris Dawkins? Nope.

I don't venture out of Philadelphia very much, man. Besides Philadelphia, Vegas and Flight Island, that's pretty much all I do. Yeah, I used to live in Pittsburgh and I used to drive to Philadelphia. So I know how long of a drive that is getting across Pennsylvania, so I really don't blame you for that. Yeah. Yeah, it's definitely a long drive. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah.

So let me ask, because this fight, originally we know it was going to be Jan Blahovic and Alexander Rackich. Of course, that one unfortunately fell apart. And then we got the news it was going to be you and Curtis Blades. How quickly did this fight come together for you in terms of being a main event? Because, again, five rounds, no joke, of course. And it's not really short, short notice, but it is only six weeks away. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was It was kind of sprung on me

I mean, I've been in camp ever since Not really camp, but I've been in training since the Derek Lewis fight I took, obviously I haven't been taking any kind of Head contact of any kind of really sparring or anything like that I'm still doing a lot of ground stuff, a lot of wrestling, a lot of work stuff But yeah, it was kind of like a You know, they wanted a shorter notice I told them to, I asked them to

You know, give me a little bit more time just because of my brother's fight and everything like that. But yeah, they finally settled on a March 26. Yeah. Let me ask you about the head trauma factor because we do hear this a lot. You know, when you deal with a knockout, you know, it's part of the sport and we understand that. But, you know, I've heard. And again, there's no right or wrong answer.

I mean, I'm sure you remember, you know, there's some guys who get clipped in training and we don't see them for years. I mean, it's just everybody's different. But how was it for you coming out of that? because, you know, again, this is technically going to be about a little over three months, you know, past your last fight. Yeah. Yeah. You know, fine.

I got clear, getting cleared by all the doctors that I need to get cleared by to make sure that I'm, of, you know, good mental health and everything like that physically. So, yeah, I mean, it's just a precaution that I take generally. I just don't like, even just sparring, even if, like, before the Derek Lewis fight, there was just our team we only spar one day a week. Everything else is like heavy pad sessions, heavy wrestling based. We take head trauma very seriously.

We think that obviously you should save the number of tickets that you can get punched for the stuff that that really counts, you know, like for the fights and stuff like that. We don't want to be weakening any kind of chin or any kind of anything like that in the room when, you know, we're getting paid to go do that. So it's definitely a. a major factor on just the gym as a whole. Yeah.

I know there's a lot of opinions that I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, but we've heard a lot of changes in terms of how much hard sparring. A lot of guys and girls are doing these days because, you know, you hear about all the time. The amount of damage you're taking in the gym, you know, takes years off your career sometimes. Yeah, yeah. And that's the big thing.

However long my career is going to be, I don't want to take any kind of shortcuts off of that career. Like if I'm going to have a 10-year career in the UFC with the way I'm going on now, I'll be happy with that. But if I start implementing more sparring days, harder sparring sessions, and that slowly starts going from 10 years or 15 years to now eight years or seven years, I'm not okay with that. It's just, you know, I want to be able to have conversations with my kids and my grandkids, hopefully, one day. And I don't want to, you know, any kind of long-lasting effects. Now, granted, I'm not stupid. I'm not a dumb individual things happen in there.

I'm trying to shut people's lights off. They're trying to do the same to me. And there's obviously going to be some consequences that come along with that. I'm the type of person. I'm okay with those consequences. And, you know, I take the necessary precautions, I think, that help will minimize those risks and rewards. So, yeah. Absolutely.

Absolutely. Before we get into anything else, I know you were also in your brother's corner this past weekend, a big win for him. It's funny, every time I talk to Kyle, you've had this conversation several times, and he always says, you haven't really seen the real Kyle DACA shit. I haven't quite lived up to my potential in the Octagon. I feel like we saw that on Saturday night. He lived up to his potential dominant performance, finish it right away. I mean, again, I know you guys are definitely your own, you are your brother's biggest fan,

so it had to be good to see him not only go out there and get that win, but get it so impressively. Absolutely, yeah. It's, uh, and to be quite honest with you, um, the way that his training camp was going and the way that everything was going, uh, leading up to that fight. It honestly didn't matter who was going to be in front of him that night. He, uh, he's really turned a corner in, in his training and his preparation. And, uh, he's really coming into his own. And I'm, I'm really happy to see that and, uh, really excited about how far he can go and, uh, you know, in the next couple flights to see who the UFC decides to give him. Yeah. What do you think about the new nickname, the Darsnight? we've been calling for that for years now. Like he's got he's got six total dark strokes on his record as a whole. And that was the whole thing behind the Tony Ferguson name drop post-flight interview. He's calling Tony out because people call Tony the Darth's night because he has the most darstokes in UFC history, him or DeCente Lucke.

So I think it's definitely something that he can attain. And it's definitely pretty cool. Yeah. Did you see the news from Jamie Pickett afterwards? about when he tapped out. Did you see this? Yeah, he was saying about how he almost bit his tongue off. Yeah, how crazy is that? The pressure you're putting on somebody for something like that.

Yeah. That's insane. Yeah, trust me. I've been in many of his dark strokes. I know what kind of pressure that he can, you know, generate in that small little space. His squeeze is no joke. And it really is something to feel. Yeah. Now, I know when you were out in Vegas, you've also been doing a little bit of work with the PI, right? Oh yeah, yeah, I'm getting a lot of, just a lot of testing done just to like fully, you know, it's kind of weird. I've been a UFC fighter for how long and I really haven't used the full UFCPI's, you know,

like playground of things that they can, that they offer to as a fighter for them. So now I'm actually like dipping my toes into everything, just getting, you know, like, Dexter scan, some blood worked on and just making sure everything's all good. And then, yeah, just going, seeing what. what all those tests are and then just going to, you know, base my career off of that. Yeah. Now, not to in any way, shape, before, like making excuses or saying what went on before, but just to be clear, because we talked about this going to Derek Lewis, by you just recently become a full-time fighter. Like, you just recently left the police force and

became, which I know, by the way, I'm glad to see you kept rocking the beard. I know I told you that was a big thing. Now you're on the police force, you're going to rock the beard. But, uh, 100%. Yeah, but, but I think a lot of people kind of lose track of that is that you've basically been a full-time fighter for what, like five, six months now? like that's literally the first time you've actually just been focused on fighting. Yeah, yeah, it's kind of crazy. Yeah, that's really the first time in my whole career ever since I started fighting, even in the amateur days, since it's been the sole focus of fighting.

So, you know, it was a little scary, a little, you know, anxiety-driven in certain aspects, but I'm definitely comfortable now, and I'm finding my footing with everything. How has it been in terms of because when you're, you know, of course you're also a husband and father, you know, I know balancing time is the difficult thing. And I know we talked about, you know, in past interviews about like you'd do your, you know, you'd schedule your training around work and all these different things you'd have to do. How has it been like adapting to where now your focus is your family and fighting? Like you don't have that other, you know, 40 hour a week, 50 hour a week job. It's awesome. It's really great. I'm not going to lie.

It's, uh, it's really cool. Um, I, I have my set times for my training and then it's out outside of those times, it's all family. It's literally just, if I'm not at the gym, it's spending time with my family. And I didn't think I was going to be able to live this type of lifestyle this early in my life. So it's really cool. I'm really grateful for everything that I was able to accomplish and get here. But I'm not done yet. And I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of my career blossom.

Yeah. Now, this may sound like an obvious question, but the reality is, you know, this is the first time you're really doing it. Do you feel like you become a better, better fighter, better martial artist now that you just have that to focus on now that you're not getting drawn in like four different directions? Yeah, absolutely. My sole focus is on that. It's not what I have to do, you know, later that night going into work and all the quote-unquote bullshit I got to deal with at work. It was work was a good release as far as the grind of a training game of, you know, I got to go to the wrestling practice or I got to go to striking

practice or I got to go to the striking conditioning. I got to do whatever. But, you know, it was a good, you know, like distraction. You know, I, I could talk to my partner, my partner Jay at the time about his kids and stuff going on in the police department, stuff going on in the neighborhood. And it was a good little escape. But now I'm all in and I'm okay with being all in. Yeah, absolutely. Let me go ahead and address the last fight, Chris. Of course, know there's no shame whatsoever and losing to a guy like Derek Lewis. We know what a monster that guy is. But I heard another interview you talked about, and again, not making issues, but you

talked about like the reality of when you actually dealt with the smaller cage being with Derek Lewis. And I know Dana White has kind of downplayed the smaller cage. I disagree, especially when you talk about heavy weights, because when heavy weights are in there, and we saw it with Francis and Steepa, we've seen a lot of guys. When that smaller cage is in there, you don't have a lot of room to move around and work. How much, like, how much it was surprised was that when you get to? in there, especially when you're dealing with a guy like Derek Lewis, kind of chase you around the cage.

It was definitely eye-opening. Like you said, Dana White had, he downplays the side of the cage. I was on that side for a while, obviously, until the Derek Lewis fight. Yeah, just, I definitely think that us's heavyweights were we, you know, there's a reason why they put a lot of heavyweight fights in the smaller cage. They want to see more action. I don't now looking back at it, I shouldn't have fought Derek in a small cage. You know, he was able to cut off the cage extremely well. I kind of took like two types of backs and I like fell against the cage and I was like,

I thought I was going to have a little bit more room to work with. I didn't have enough room to work with. And Derek knocked my ass out. So it happens. But if I was to fight Derek again, I would try and fight him in a larger cage, give myself a little bit more real estate to work with. But yeah, it definitely plays a factor. And like my brother was, my brother was telling me before the Derek Lewis fight,

he was a big proponent of how the smaller cage is a totally different thing. But I just, it was all I knew until the Shemil fight when I was in the bigger cage. And then, you know, I didn't think it played as much of a factor until I fought Derek close. And then once I seen how Derek was able to back me up and cut off the cage, little, little steps, little steps, and me not being comfortable enough in the big. bigger cage and I was like, oh, I guess this is all the real estate I have. And he capitalized and hats all to Derek. I mean, he's, he's Derek Lewis for a reason. So, yeah. What can I say? I know this fight is actually, again, going to be here in Columbus and nationwide where you guys

are fighting out. That's a big arena. Have you found out like, I assume it's going to be the bigger cage? Uh, no, I haven't found out. I'm assuming that it's going to be the bigger cage strictly because that's generally what they do. It's the smaller cages for the apex. And then any kind of events outside, they generally have the bigger gauge there for those events. That's what I'm under the assumption that it's a bigger gauge. If it doesn't, it doesn't. It's not going to be a bigger

gauge. So, you know, there's nothing I can do. It's not like I could be like, hey, I want it bigger. I'm going to tell me you're going to go, all right, you know what? Don't worry about it. We'll find somebody else to fight. So nothing I can do. With that being said, you know, when we talked coming off the Shamil fight and then when you got the Derek

Lewis News, you know, I know it was a bit of a surprise at that time. You're like, well, I didn't really see that coming. in, but okay. And I've had this conversation with a lot of fighters coming up, and I say, you know, do you want to take the slow and steady approach to your career, or do you want to jump right in the deep end? Now, you know, you went from Shameel, who's a legit top 10 guy, and jumped in with Derek Lewis, who's a legit top three guy. Again, no shame in that. But do you feel like, even though it was a loss, you still learn something from that?

And now, because once again, you're getting another top five guy in Curtis Blades, like, do you feel like your career trajectory is where you want it to be? Again, I know you don't want a loss, but do you still feel like, hey, I'm ready to swim with those sharks? Yeah, absolutely. I think that you have to have that confidence as an MMA fighter, as a fighter in general. There shouldn't be a reason why I don't think I can compete with the top guys in the division. You know, it's the way that my career has gone by whatever powers have decided to push me in those directions.

That's the direction I'm going. I'm fine with main eventing. I'm fine with all eyes on me. That's what I want. That's what, you know, that's what you get into the UFC to fight the best guys in the world, to fight the best guys in your division on the biggest stage. And what's the biggest stage in main eventing a UFC card? You know, absolutely.

Absolutely. You know, it's funny with Derek Lewis, you know, going in, you know, you kind of have an idea what that guy is going to do. He's going to sledgehammer's at. He's going to try to knock out. Now I'm not going to discount that guy, you know, somewhere pulling out like a flying Gogah plata. But chances are, you know what Derek's going to do. It's not happening.

Yeah. This time with Curtis Blades. Now, Curtis, to be, to his credit, and I like Curtis very much, he's got knockout power. We saw him with Junior Dos Santos. He couldn't get a take down, knocked him out, big win. But we also know Curtis's bread and butter is his wrestling, and he's called himself the best wrestler in the division.

I don't know that'd argue with him about that. I mean, you could put Steepa in that category as too. Of course, Steve A was a Division I wrestler, but Curtis is a nasty wrestler. Now, this is going to be that kind of matchup where you have to imagine in a five-round fight, at some point, Curtis Blades, is going to be going for your legs. Now, knowing that going in, easier or harder to fight a guy like that when you kind of know at some point he's going to be going for your legs? I have fully accepted the fact that Curtis Wade is going to take me down. I fully accepted the fact that once we step in there, that I'm going to take it down.

But I'm going to get back up. I 100% believe that I'll be able, in my skill set, to be able to get back up no matter how many times it takes me down. And I think that that's going to be the battle of attrition is how often I can keep him all. for me, how many times he can get in on the legs, and if he's going to be apprehensive about getting in on my legs, the big blast level he's got, if he's going to bully me into the cage, if he's going to go for the single leg, any kind of trips. I think that that's going to be where the fight is won and lost is going to be who breaks first in those exchanges. Yeah. When you talk about it, there's one area that, you know, as great as Curtis has been,

and like I said, I'm a big, big fan of Curtis and what he does, but there's been one little bit of maybe Kryptonite, let's say, in his armor, is setting up his shots. I don't want to get too much into game planning, but we saw it happen against Derek. He ducked his head down, didn't set up his shot. Derek made it pay for it. We saw him in the Volkov fight. He took a little bit of damage in that fight, you know, trying to get Volkov down to the ground. We know you can put damage on people, Chris, and you're also a very fast heavyweight.

That's one compliment I've always paid. You're a very, very fast heavyweight. Do you feel like that's a, you know, that could be a, you know, you're a great wrestler until you get punched to the mouth. Like, that's a great defense is just punching him when he's coming in, because that's been a little bit of a problem when he doesn't set up his shots. Yeah, yeah. It's and, you know, I fully respect Curtis Blades

as a, as a wrestler, as a fighter, and the top, you know, five fighter that he is. He's going to be making those, there's necessary adjustments. He's not a dumb guy. He's not, he's not just thinking, and, you know, I can just play a double everyone in the division. I think he's a truly smart guy and a truly smart

martial artist. And I have to game plan and taking no account that he's definitely you know, worked on those things. He's not a dumb guy. He doesn't come from a dumb team. But, yeah, I think that I'm faster than him. I definitely think my hands are fast than it is. I think that I'll be able to touch him up, you know,

three to four times before he's even close to my legs. And, you know, I just have to, you know, move my legs, move my feet and just make sure that, you know, if he does get on my feet and get on my legs, that it is truly one of the hardest, you know, wrestling exchanges that he's ever experienced. Yeah. You know, when you first come into the UFC, Chris, you get a couple of big wins. Immediately all eyeballs go on you, and you start being like a guy that we all watch and say,

wow, let's see what Chris Dawkins could do. You go into the Derek Lewis fight as a, again, as an underdog, understandably because all the Derek's done. This is a second fight in the row where you're going to probably be a bit of an underdog. Curtis is a guy who's always been, he seems like he's always been one fight, one win away from a title shot, top three, top four guy in the world. You know, a lot of resume there. Do you like that? Like, do you prefer? fur one way. They're like, I don't think it matters in the fight itself,

but like in terms like, do you like being the underdog? I know Philly people. And I'm always saying this because I know Philly people. Like, Philly is like a hard nose blue collar town. You know what I mean? I feel like everyone there in Philadelphia's like,

count us out, count us out. Yeah. Is there a little bit of that like a motivation and fight like this? So you will be a bit of an underdog. Yeah, there's always that kind of motivation.

That's just something that I like to take into fights, no matter even if I'm truly the favorite. You know, I just think that that's just way that my mentality works. That's the way that I'm a fighter. I was saying this, you know, when I was still a cop and I was fighting Alexia Link. I'm not supposed to be in the EOC. You know, I'm just some Philly cop who fights who fights when he can. And I'm just, you know, I'm just here for like a quick thing. But I'm, I'm enjoying this. I'm, I'm the underdog. That's what,

that's what I like. I like proving people wrong. And, you know, my fans, if I can make them a bit of money, I can make them a bit of money. I'm fine with that. So. Yeah. In a way, you know, where we're at in the heavyweight division, and of course, your sole focus is Curtis Blaze. But when you look at that like top five of the division, you know, it's been a lot of the same top five guys for at least a year or two now. When you look at Steepi, you look at, of course, Francis, you look at, you know, Curtis, you look at Derek and things like that. And again, they've all earned their spots there. But now recently we've seen some movement here. Of course, the real gone coming in was a big arrival, you know, yourself, Tom Aspinall. And now we saw it tied to Evas. got a big winner Derek Lewis, credit to him. Do you feel like this is a chance to kind of, you know, shake up the division even more to put yourself in that conversation because we're starting to see some guys who haven't been there yet. And again, I give credit to, you know, guys like Steepa,

who is arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time. But like getting, I think that fresh blood, that new blood, you hear Israel out of Sonia talk about that. Like, I want new blood. I want new fresh blood. Is there a little bit of that for you? Like, you're going to beat Curtis Blaze. You do get to kind of join that group of guys at that top of that division

who haven't been there before. Yeah, and I think that that's what makes kind of the heavyweight division, you know, more exciting than it already is. You know, let's be honest, the UFC heavyweight division historically has been an older division. Guys who've been around long enough, they generally, like you were saying, that they've been there. So if I'm ranked number two, I'm going to be there for a year, year and a half, maybe two years, just because that's the way that the rankings play out. excuse me. And it's really good that we have these new core, you know, batch of guys who are making a splash because now it churns everything up.

It's making, it's making big waves for everyone. And to see the upcoming matchups and to see, you know, who wins what and where they fall and, you know, how the matchmaking plays out. It's going to be really, really fun. Yeah. I'm curious, you know, Chris, because we've talked about the way of land ahead and heavy on the floor.

And again, your focus is Kurdish. You're not really thinking about title shots and things like that. that, but if there's one issue, and I had a conversation with Curtis about this before your fight got announced, if there's been one issue in the heavyweight division, it's been a little bit of stagnation at the top. You know, when Steve was the champion, you know, he wasn't fighting off, and now I don't know that's Steve A's fault. I'm just saying, like, in terms of activity, and then he got locked into the trilogy with D.C., then you had the rematch with Francis. Now Francis is out for probably until next year with the knee surgery. I know there's

a contract situation, not going to get into that, but again, this doesn't necessarily affect you, but in a way it does, because the ultimate goal is to get into title contention. Like, how much do you pay attention when you see, like, I don't know, it's like, it's been like four years now where there's been like three guys to the far from the title. It's kind of weird when you think about it. Yeah. Yeah, it's definitely kind of crazy.

Generally, I don't think about that until after a fight to see where I land and to see where everything is going to, you know, shake up. Because like you said, like Francis is out at least, I think I read a report, he's out at least 10 months. with just the surgery. So you got to think he's out for a full year with, you know, rehab, getting everything back, and then training camp. So he's going to be out for at least a year.

They might do the interim. But then it all goes up in the air as far as, you know, who deserves, who deserves a title shot. You know, and then there's going to be people holding out for fights because they think that they're rightfully earned a title shot from previous fights. And then that just creates more of a bottleneck in the top, you know what I mean? And obviously, I don't have anything to say about that. I just have to fight, you know,

whoever they put in front of me. And I'm going to keep fighting whoever they put in front of me until I can get into that position where I can say, no, I'm not fighting. I want to fight for a title. Or, you know, I would rather fight for an interim title and then I'll go fight for the title. But it just sucks.

Like, you know, it's like you were saying with Izzy, he wants new blood. We people as viewers want more, you know, not really necessarily a changing of hands, but more fights, you know, I mean, people love watching heavyweights. Why can't we, you know, have a heavyweight champ who fights two to three times a year? You know what I mean? That'd be awesome.

I just really hope that the division clears out, not necessarily clears out, but kind of streamlines itself into where we can start getting new people in the title contention and people are earning those spots rightfully. You know what I mean? Yeah. It just feels like a long time since we've had that. You know what I mean? When you think about like, you look at like, again, Adasanya is a good example of that.

Like, he likes to stay busy. you look at Kamar Usman three fights last year. Like, you know, you like to say it. And a big part of your fast rise into heavyweight division was how active you were. You know, you were able to book fights every couple of three months and stay active and you made that quick rise. Now, you're in a little different position now because you're in main events, five rounds, a little tough. I understand that. But even now, fought in December, you're fighting in March.

Like, you're getting that quick turnaround. And unfortunately, we just haven't seen. And again, Francis getting injured. That's, of course, out of his ability. And I know talking to Francis, like, he was frustrated, too. after he beat Jarsigno, he's like, I want to fight. I want to stay active and they just weren't. But I imagine that's like you want everyone.

Like, come on. Like get two title defenses in a year. Like get the division moving. Yeah, yeah. And that's my thing. Like I, I, this is my career now. This is what I want to do. I want to work.

I want to fight. I want to put on shows for people. I want to win. And obviously I want to get paid. So that's why I want to stay active. You know, I don't want to take these long breaks. I think it plays a major factor. as far as your comfortability inside that octagon, you know,

you know, the whole thing about ring rust. I don't think ring rust is a thing, but those, you know, just the nerves of Fight Week and when you can do things, you know, every three months as opposed to every eight months, I think that that's definitely a major factor that, you know, if you're, you know, performing every three months, that it'll definitely be in your favor as opposed to you performing every eight months. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely.

Before I get you out of here, Chris, I mentioned at the top, you have officially got the non-policeman's beard kick. And how's the wife digging the beard? Oh, yeah. Is she liking it? She loves a beard. She said, as long as I'm alive, there's going to be no more clean shave. So, yeah, it's going to be really good. It's weird. I grew a beard years ago, and I don't have quite the epic beard that you have.

But when I grew a beer years ago, like, it's so, like, if you ever, like, now if you ever shave, you're going to not recognize yourself because it looks so, like, once you get used to it, it looks so weird, not to have a beard. I know, and it's really cool because my son has known me for like a little bit of like clean shave face, but my wife's doing June. So I'm going to have a daughter. So it's going to be interesting to see like when she comes and when she gets little, I might shave it and film their reactions to see if they recognize me or if they're like not about it.

So it's definitely going to be something that I definitely want to do later. Oh, there you. Congratulations, man. That's awesome. Thank you. Thank you. You got to be happy booking a fight in March then so you're not getting too close to the due date or anything. Well, that's it. That's the thing. That's what we were trying to figure out.

We're like, what's the next flight coming in March? And if everything goes to plan, I don't come out with any, you know, major injuries. I'm going to try and squeeze one in right before the baby's born. So, yeah, so if I get the win in March, bearing no, like, major injuries or anything that keeps me out for a while, I'm going to get a look to be back in there before June. And then, you know, baby comes, take some time and just enjoy the rest of the year. Yeah. Now, I know when you fight, you know, you're always in your brother's corner,

your brother's in your corner, get all that. This one's a little closer to home. I know, like I said, Philly's not next door to Columbus, but do you like, do your family come to the fights, or do you not, do you not want that distraction during fight week? How do you deal? Because this one's a little closer to-hour. Yeah, yeah, it's definitely a little closer to home.

To me, I'm kind of a, you know, like isolated during a fight week. I don't like to be around my family and stuff. I'd rather just be around my brother and my teammates and stuff like that, my coach. But they can show up to the fight. It's fine with me, and then we'll go hang out after the fight. But as far as, like, seeing family members and everything before the fight, I don't do that. I think that's a distraction. A distraction for me.

That's just how it is. I know some fighters, they see their family right up until, you know, right before they go to the arena. I know some people have wives, girlfriends, whatever, spouses in their corner, that's whatever they're comfortable with. I just, I can't do that. But if they want to make the trip, they can make the trip. So big deal. Yeah.

Would that ever, because I've been to a couple, I've been to, I think I've been to every UFC card in Philadelphia. I love Philadelphia. Great arena, great fans out there. Would that ever prevent you for wanting to fight in Philly? Because I know some people, like I remember talking to Rich Franklin when he had a fight in Cincinnati and he's like, It's great on the surface, but when you start looking at all the other things,

like family, friends, people ask for tickets. He's like, I don't like it. He's like, I'd rather fight in like Vegas or somewhere else. Again, I, you know, I'm sure the UFC came calling and say, hey, do you want a headlining card in Philadelphia? It'd be a great honor. But would that make you, like, hesitate a little bit just because you, I mean, it's affordable at that point.

Yeah, yeah. It's definitely, it's definitely something that, I mean, even if I wasn't headlining the card, people would still be hitting you out for tickets and all. I love that crazy stuff. It's something that I would definitely do. I really look forward to the next time the UFC comes back to Philly, especially since we have a bunch of Philly guys who are now in the UFC and they definitely can pack a main guard.

But I generally like fighting away from home. I think that that plays into a factor of my mentality as far as going into a fight. It's being I'm so focused on the task at hand, which is the fight. I'm not I'm not being dad, you know what I mean? Like for that week, I'm not, I'm not dad. I'm not husband. Now, granted, I'm face time of my wife. I'm face time of my son.

I'm, you know, in their lives and everything like that. But I'm not, you know, doing the other things that I think would necessarily take my mind away from the actual flight. Yeah, absolutely. Well, Chris, I'm excited to see you back in action. I say this to you because you're a heavyweight. You're coming to Columbus. You need a device on where to eat, anything like that in Columbus. Please, yes.

Let me know because where you guys are going to be. to be at there's a lot of good places and I say this because you're not going to be cutting weight so I'll be good anybody else in the car I'm like I can't tell you about this kind of stuff so it's just going to make you angry because you're going to be going to our weight cut so you need advice if you need anything like that please let me know but uh absolutely thank you so much as always for the time of course have a good training camp man safe travels on here to columbus and look forward to see you on march 26 thanks man I appreciate it appreciate the time thanks man I talk to you soon all right brother I'll talk to you

Bye-bye. Later. A big thank you again to Chris Dawkins for stopping by the show. We really appreciate it. Of course, he will be taking on Curtis Blaze this Saturday night at UFC Columbus in Nationwide Arena. I'm excited to be at this show. It's actually my first UFC live event in about three years.

I haven't been to a UFC show in a long time. I don't really travel that much anymore. Back in my old job, I traveled all the time. I was on the road about two weeks out of every month. And so I've been to hundreds of U.S. UFC shows over the year, so it's actually been a little while since I've been traveling, but this one I technically won't be traveling, because this is a home show. It's about 10 minutes from my house to go to UFC, to go to UFC Columbus at nationwide arena. So look forward to that

this week, and of course, we'll be back next Monday, or to me next Tuesday with another addition to the fighter versus the writer, so make sure you're here for that. You can check us out on all of your favorite podcast platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, all the different podcast platforms. And of course, you can always find us over on MMAfighting.com. A big thank you as always for tuning in. We'll see you guys next week for another edition of the Fighter versus the Writer.

See you then. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.