MMA Fighting - The MMA Hour - Episode 261

Episode Date: December 25, 2014

This "best of" edition of The MMA Hour (volume 1) features some of our most memorable interviews of 2014 including Mirko Cro Cop, Rory MacDonald, Nick Diaz, Ronda Rousey, Georges St-Pierre, Johny Hendricks, TJ Dillashaw, Frankie Edgar, and Yves Edwards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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I'm Ariel Halwani inside our New York City studio. This is a best-of edition of the M.M.A. Hour. I'm in fact not in New York City today as you are watching this. So we put together a best-of show. We actually haven't done one of these in quite some time. this week's show is going to be a best-up show. Next week's show is going to be a best-up show. And then we'll start the new year off fresh with a brand-new show for you.

So this has been, in my opinion, the best year in the history of the M.A. Hour. You are a big part of that. Thank you so much for your support. And I think we got some really great guests this year, great shows, great conversation. I really am so proud of what we did this year. So I think it's actually kind of exciting to put together best-up shows. Sometimes people don't like that very much. I think it's fun to look back and we haven't done that in quite some time.

So Mr. New York, Rick, I know we've been talking about this for the last few weeks. What are people going to see in Best of Show number one? So this show, as opposed to the next show, is going to be a long time or first time? That's the theme of this episode. So we've got Miracle Crow Cop. Oh, yeah. First time. Only time. Exciting stuff.

You get to talk to Miracle Crow Cop for a land. The lengthy interview. And if you recall, I said that was one of the guests I really wanted to see on the show this year, and we got him. We got it. Yes. Next one. Roy McDonald's studio. First time he's been in the studio.

A favorite of the show, but this one felt different. It felt special. Yes. On the next one. Another first timer. Nick Diaz. Yes. On the show.

First time. Surreal. Another one that people wanted, and we made it happen. Ronda Rousey. That's a long time. Long time. It's been a minute, and we finally got her back. Yes.

Next one, GSP and Hendrix together. Yes, same time. After Hendricks won the belt. Historic. Yes. T.J. Dillishaw, right after he won the belt. Now, this one, it wasn't the first time we've had DJ on. It wasn't a long time, but it felt different because he was finally champion, and he did it in a way that nobody expected.

Next one, Frankie Edgar in studio. Yes. That was the first time for Frankie coming in the studio. And last one, Eve Edwards, retirement. You love this one. It's my favorite. It had to make the cut, even though it just happened recently. Yeah, very emotional stuff from Eve. So that's a lot. A lot of good interviews, a lot of good conversation. I say that good interviews, so I'm kind of patting myself on the back, but I thought

they were fun, just as a fan. Big names, big moments, historic moments for this show. This is the best of the M. May hour. Sit back and joy, and I'll say goodbye to you at the end of all of it. This is a very exciting one for me. As I mentioned on our last show of 2013, this was the one guest that I was hoping, I was praying, that I would finally get an opportunity to talk to, and I'm being told he's joining us right now via the telephone all the way in Croatia, just days away from his glory fight against Remy Bonjaski, a rematch of a fight that happened 12 years ago. I'm talking about the legendary, the one and only the Croatian sensation, Mirko Krokop. Mirko, are you there?

Hey, hi, hi, I'm here. Well, it's great to have you on the show. I'll say this at the top, Mirko. I have been in this sport, covering this sport, of mixed martial arts for over seven years. I've been to many of your fights, and you're the one guy that I've never had a chance to interview. You've always alluded me for some reason. And I said, as I mentioned at the end of last year's show, our last show of the year, that you were the one guy that I wanted, so much to talk to you,

and I'm really honored that you'd come on the show and talk to us today. Thank you. First of all, I'm afraid my battery is going to die. My wife didn't put my phone in the charger. So if the line breaks, please call again. I will pick up on the fixed line, okay? Okay. Is it the same number?

Same number, same number, but I'm sorry, I apologize. I just didn't think about it. No, it's no problem. Thank you again. It's beeping. It's beeping. It's being, we might lose connection in a few minutes. Do you want to hang up now, and then we'll just do it so it doesn't get interrupted?

Okay. I think it's better. Call me back in 10 seconds. Okay. Okay. We'll do that. Bye-bye. All right.

There you have in New York, Rick. Don't mess this up. We spoke to him. He's there. He's actually there, Miracle Kroko. I've been to so many Miracle Krokoff fights. When he was a member of the UFC, I wasn't there when he was in pride and all that. And he never liked to talk to the media.

He was like a cat in the night. I can never reach him. And I'm just so excited that he's on the show. This is a big one for me. And I want to thank the people over at Glory for hooking us up. this would be a good time to let you know that this show is being brought to you by Glory. And they return this Saturday with a show headlined by Mirko Krocop versus Remy Bonjowski. It's a headlining act between two kickboxing icons, and it's a rematch that is 12 years in the making.

It goes down in Zagreb, Croatia, which is where Mirko currently lives. It airs here in the United States at 9 p.m. Eastern, 9 p.m. Pacific and 8 p.m. Central Time. Plus, you get the lightweight world title fight between Andy. Ristee and David Kiria in a one-night four-man middleweight contender tournament. It all goes down this Saturday, March 8th, and it works out perfectly with the UFC on Fight Pass because that show will probably end at around five or six Eastern Time, and then a couple hours later, you get Glory on Spike TV. So there's no counter-programming involved.

There's no decisions be made. I believe he's joining us once again. Mirka, are you there? I'm here. I apologize one more time No problem You sound even better now So this is exciting for me

As I was saying You've always been very elusive With the media At least when you fought in North America Is there a particular reason You just not like talking to the media Is this kind of a nuisance for you? I don't know

I never liked I never liked Talk too much to the media To tell you the truth I don't know I don't know why There isn't some special reason But

You know I was I was just taking that as a waste of time You still feel that way at this stage in your career? No, listen, I'm professional. You know, I will do what, what promoter asked me to do, you know, but if you ask me, you know, just like that,

hey, let's have a talk interview, you know, I don't think I would, I don't think I would do it, you know, I don't see any special reason. Even, you know, I understand that many fans would like to hear some news from me, about me, and et cetera, et cetera, but I was never made about journalists to tell you to that. Well, again... Nothing personally.

No, of course. But, you know, I was just, you know, focused always on the training fight, you know, and so many times, you know, I'm very long in the business, and so many times I'm... How should I say? I burned my fingers with the journalists. Not all the time, of course, but with some of them, you know, and people are searching for a sensation,

and there isn't any sensation with my private life, with this, with that, you know, and they are just digging and digging and digging, you know, and sometimes it's just becoming boring to me, and, you know, I'm trying to worry as much as I can, you know. But some, of course, there are different type of journalist, you know. Some journalists, even in Croatia, they can contact me any time, you know, for any reason,

and, of course, I talk to them, but those are people that I am dealing with almost 20 years. Right. Almost 20 years, you know, and I trust them, you know, they trust me, and we build some relationship and et cetera, et cetera, you know. So, of course, at the beginning of your combat sports career, you were very much known for your kickboxing, and you had a great run, especially with K-1.

And then you left kickboxing, and you did a lot of great things, of course, in Pride, and then the UFC, you had a long run in mixed martial arts, and then you returned to kickboxing in 24. 2012 and now here you are still dabbling a little bit in MMA, but making a run here in kickboxing. Once again, you won the Grand Prix of K-1 last year, and now you're with glory. Why did you come back to kickboxing? Why did you feel the need to come back at this stage of your life? Well, no, it's...

After I left UFC, you know, I really thought that I will quit with fighting, but to tell you the truth, it is just stronger than me, you know, and at the end of the day, every fighter, every fighter on the world, especially in the days before the fight, they hate everything about fighting, you know. It's a huge stress and it's a terrible preparation

to, but I'm talking about myself and most, not most, but every top fighter, I think, feels the same and they're training the best they can, you know, and it's really hard. It's really hard. Sometimes you just say, okay, it's enough, I'm sick,

but when you get cold, you know, you think different. That's my life. Martial art is my life. Martial arts fighting sport gave me everything I have. I secured my life, my family's life, and I owe it so much. At the end of

the day, I like it. I enjoy it. You know, sometimes there are hard moments. There are hard moments in the sport. Most likely in the training, you know, because the trainings are really brutal and especially for this fight. But most likely every fight. But it's injuries,

the time and hard sparrings, you know, and even now my physio came, you know, to fix me, you know, after the training, you know, we are putting some ice on elbows and on the knees and so many small injuries, you know, and but that's the name of the game, you know, and I like it, I like it. And then after I left UFC and there came an offer from my very, very, you know, from my very very good, one of my best friend and actually he helped me at the beginning of my career to come

to Japan and he offered me a fight at his show, you know and he wanted me to fight with some of the K1 legends so he brought Ray Sefo and that's how I started you know with Ray Sefer and then we talked we talked with K1

headquarters and they wanted me to participate K1 Grand Prix and I decided to go And then, you know the story. At the end of the day, I won't that K-1. And after that, I had one MMA fight. And actually, two MMA fights, one in Japan, one in Russia. And now I made a deal with Glory.

And this Saturday I'm fighting for Glory. K-1 rules, kickboxing. And for me, there is no difference. You know, many people ask me, which style do you prefer? Is it MMA or kickboxing? It's like you have the same thing, like you have two kids, you know, which one you like better, you know. I love both.

Kickboxing and MMA too is my love, my true love, you know, and so I cannot say which I like better. And many people ask me, which is more dangerous. Is it MMA because of the small gloves? From one point of you, that's true, you know, but from the... the other hand in the MMA, there is a lot of clinching ground fight. You can finish fight with submission, with choke, with, you know, you can submit the guy. Of course, there are small gloves. If you punch you straight to the face with practically with bare hands, it hurts.

It creates a lot of damage. But there is a lot of opportunity for clinching, you know, for holding an opponent to be on the ground, avoiding punching and kicking, of course. But kickboxing, especially on this high level, is very dangerous. You are fighting three, three-minute round, and you're exchanging punches all the time. There is no clinching. Only one or two-second referee will make you, he'll call break, you know, and then you start exchanging punches with 10-pound gloves, and it is really dangerous, you know.

It is a dangerous, so both of it is dangerous, but you need to be completely prepared, completely fit. You know, then you can compete, you know. How do you look back, Mirko, on your run in the UFC? because you've been so successful throughout your entire time in combat sports but here in the United States if there are fans who don't know what you've been doing since you left the UFC

they might think you don't fight anymore if they just watch the UFC do you look back at your run in UFC with some regret that you weren't able to fight for a title that you weren't able to get a big fight a big contender main event fight well it's a it's a black spot in my career UFC

you know and UFC treated me like a king, UFC fans treated me like a king, I just failed you know. Why? It's hard to say. It's hard to say. New fighters are coming and but I will always believe, believe me,

I will always believe, maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right, who knows, you know? But I always believe that my bad period in UFC started with my injuries, you know. And I tell this, I told that story so many times so sometimes I just feel stupid, you know,

to tell it again and sometimes, you know, some people will take it, won't understand the way I think, you know, but there is old wise, say, you know, winners always find, the winner will always find solution and loser will always find an excuse, you know, so I don't want to sound like a loser who is finding some excuse. No. But the fact is, after I left, after my last fight in Pride, and before my first fight in UFC, I had the first surgery.

It was a broken foot. I had a broken foot after the pride, Grand Prix final. Actually, a piece, fragment of the bone, of the bone, was floating in my foot. So I went to the hospital and I took a head to make surgery. So it took me away. It took me two and a half, maybe three months out of training. You know, I wasn't able, of course, to do any kind of running, jogging. I wasn't able, of course, to do any kind of kicking, you know.

But I was riding a bicycle, you know, and I was riding an arm bicycle as well, some push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, et cetera, you know. But I wasn't actually to do a complete MMA training. And definitely, definitely, it left kind of a scarf, you know. I had a first fight. I had the first fight then and I won it, but I felt really bad. I knew it wasn't me, you know. It wasn't me. I fought.

I can't remember the guy, my opponent's name. And then I fought, after that, I fought with Gonzaga. I lost terrible high kick. I was surprised, you know, and shocked by a cage. And at the end of the day, it was the first time, actually second, but my first opponent didn't have a time. Gonzaga destroyed me with elbows on the ground. So after we stand up, you know, I have a...

I didn't have a double vision. I have a three-times vision. You know, I saw three guys, you know, and he really, he really beat me up badly, you know. And he threw a high kick, which I didn't even notice, you know, and just period, just, and the bad period is just, was just in front of me. And then after that, I broke my leg. I broke my knee, so I had four knee injuries, you know. And then so many, you know, I would say it's a bad luck.

Maybe it's not, you know, maybe I was happy, but because in my previous career, I wasn't, I didn't have any kind of injury, you know, so maybe I can consider myself lucky in the end of the day, but in the UFC days, you know, injury after injury. And then before my last fight, my last fight and in the UFC with Roy Nelson, I broke my arm, not bone, but ligament and biceps broke on the half completely. Pat Barry was there on the training and I was sparring with Pat and I throw a hook right hook I punched him to the head but at the same time I felt a terrible pain

and you know I just saw a hole a hole in my biceps and of course same night I went to the hospital because I knew something was terrible happened and doctor said that

in two days you have to do surgery but it was out of the question in that case I suppose to I suppose to cancel the fight and I was preparing six months for that fight and so many. And I was crazy, but I took my chances, you know, and I risk. Now I know maybe I shouldn't do that and I should do some things different. But at the end of the day, it's me, you know.

I couldn't wait another six months, you know, maybe more. You know, I had to do a surgery, you know, and then three months, not, three months, nothing, and then three months at least or four preparation. I had to return ability in my hand, you know, training, rehabilitation. It was too complicated for me, you know, so I just decided to go for the fight, and later on, right after the fight, to go for the surgery, you know. But that's me, and I don't feel sorrow. That's just, that's the name of the game. It's not shame to go down, shame, not to stand up, you know.

That's what I was always saying, you know, and I'm a fighter, I'm a warrior, that's my job, that's my love, and I enjoy it, you know. I enjoy it. And many people ask me, what motivates me? I'm 39 already. And how long I still think to fight? I don't know. I said many times that any fight could be the last one. It's worth it.

And it's worth for everyone, you know. Just remember what happened to Anderson Silver, you know. The terrible injury, you know, he gets, you know. And unbelievable, unbelievable, you know. bone completely broken, you know, okay, I heard, thanks God, that he's recovering, but, you know, it will always leave a scarf, you know, in his, in his mind, and even physically, you know, he will never be the same fighter. He will never, I really like and I respect and I admire him, you know, but I don't think he will ever be 100% the old, the old, unless of Siva, you know.

It was terrible injury, you know, he was always start thinking, what if it's, happened again, you know. But that's the name of the game. You cannot avoid it, you know. Sometimes it just happened, you know. So health-wise, how are you feeling now? I feel great. I feel great. I feel really great, you know. I feel really great. And two things are important. Many people asking me, when is men too old to compete in a top sport? And let me tell you, you know, It's worth, it worth, it worth, I guess, for every, every sport. But let's stick to the fighting business. First of all, a guy, the guy, person, fighter, he's old.

He's too old. When he cannot recover, between two trainings. So if I have a, if I had a hard training tonight, and by tomorrow, I cannot recover. I feel tired, you know, and I have, I'm not, I cannot explode anymore, you know, I, I feel slow. and my body cannot recover. It means that the end is there. That's one thing. And second thing is when your body is not able to recover between two rounds.

So in one minute when you cannot decrease your pulse, you know, when pulse is too high or too close to the maximum pulse, you know, and you're not able to recover anymore, you know. So the best solution is to retire, no. But I feel really great, you know, and I'm doing training like crazy, you know, and my cardio is great. But I'm professional, you know, I'm living as a professional. That's my way of living. I'm not doing that just because of the sport.

I just like and I appreciate that way of living, you know. I train every day, every day. Even on Sunday, even on Sunday, which is the day off, and Thursday is my day off. I go for massage in that days, but I'm doing easy jogging, good. stretching, et cetera, you know, and the rest of the week I'm training two times a day, hard trainings, you know, it makes me happy, you know. I'm taking the first-class food. I'm taking a rest every day, every afternoon, two, three hours, nap.

So you need to live like professional, like professional, and I like that way of living, you know. It's too deep in my blood, too deep in my bones, you know. Even one day when I retire, I will stick to the same schedule, you know. Of course, I will not train with same intensity, but every morning we'll be jogging, good stretching, you know, maybe some pull-ups, push-ups, etc. In the evening, boxing, kicking, maybe some sparring, jiu-jitsu or whatever, you know, and next day, same thing in the morning. In the afternoon, I will do some weightlifting, you know, some cardio, and I just like it. And I enjoy it. I enjoy it. You know, for a very long time, you were one of the most feared strikers in the entire world.

And now it seems like there are some people who call for you, say it's maybe time to walk away at this age. You know, a few months ago, Fado Armeleinenko said he didn't think that you had the physical condition or the mental attitude. And I know that bothered you to some degree because you responded. Is it a weird transition for you, for people not to just fear you, but now to sort of try to nudge you to walk away from the sport? Well, I think it's not Federer's job. I like Federer and I respect him a lot, but it's not his job, you know. It's not his concern, you know, and to act like my mother, you know, and to give any kind of advice, you know, especially to me.

I think I'm old enough, I'm old enough and I believe I'm wise enough that I will know when it's time to go, you know. And what happened to me in that fight, it could happen to anyone, you know. And I don't know, really, I really don't know why Fedor said it because I wasn't tired at all, but my opponent was dead tired, you know. It was, he submitted me 30 seconds before the fight. But it was such a weird submission, you know, because it was my fault. Because on the training, believe or not, I was doing the same thing always.

I let my opponents, my sparring partners, to grab my neck. And, of course, and I twisted them on another side, you know. I was doing that every training, you know. I let him myself, potentially in that position. And of course, he just turned, he just turned, turned his body in a neck crank, you know, and then it was too late. There is, there is a defend from any kind of submission. But you must start on time.

And it was too late. When he grabbed my neck and then I realized that he went to the, of course, I was naive, you know. I paid the price and that's it. But if, if, if, if, if, if, but so many, so many stupid things happened in that fight. I wanted to submit a guy. I wanted to submit a guy. I had him in a, in a, in a, in a, in a, in a choke. He didn't go.

And then I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I put him on the ground, you know. Yeah, if you saw that fight. I did. I did. I put him in a guillotine choke, and I throw myself on the ground, you know. I can just, I can stand in, I could stand in, stand up position, you know, way at the end of the round. I don't think he would, he would, he would enter the second round. he was dead tired. The guy, he wasn't able to walk himself out of the ring.

Two guys were carrying him out of the ring, you know. He was so much tired, you know, but he was enormously strong, and he just caught me. I paid the price and that's it, you know, and I will never be caught again in a neck crack. In a neck crack, never, you know. And I learned my lesson. I paid the price. And then later on I heard Federer saying this and that, you know, I don't think he should do it. Of course, he has a right to give him.

give his opinion, you know, he is a legend of mixed martial arts, you know, but I didn't like his comment, comment to tell you the truth. I don't say he has no right to give any comment, but I don't think he needed, you know, because especially I never gave a comment on his fight, you know, et cetera, et cetera, you know, and every loss of federal, I was feeling like my oven, you know, and then to tell you the truth, I was disappointed when he was saying, you know, in some bad way, you know. He tried to be polite, but, you know, I didn't like the sound. I didn't like the sound, you know.

Especially, you know, at the end of the day, you know, we used to fight together in the pride ring. So many times we shared a dressing room. And I was fighting in his town, you know, and he didn't show up for the press conference. if Fedder came to my hometown I would find him a few days before I would take him to lunch, dinner, whatever, shake hands

to see her and I saw him only in the ring you know, only in the ring but that's him I think and feel different way but but who cares you know

at the end of the day who cares you know I don't feel sorry and he has the right for his opinion I have my own opinion and that's it you know Have you talked to him? The guy that... Huh?

Have you talked to him since then? No, no. We never contact. We don't have contact. We don't have contact. I don't have his phone number. He doesn't have my phone number. We're not in contact, you know.

But I always like him, you know, as a fighter, you know. And especially we have a good memories from Japan, both of us. And at the end of the day, we were brothers in arms, you know, sharing a few times, the dressing room. and I was sorry, you know, and for every loss he has, you know, and I was shocked, and I was so sad. And at the end of the day, I didn't expect that for him. But enough about Federer, I really wish him all the best. I'm not mad on him.

I just don't, I just think he didn't, he shouldn't give that kind of comments to me. But it's enough about him, you know. You know, in preparing for this interview, I watched some of your old fights, including your fight against Fader, which a lot of people think might be the greatest fight of all time. And some of your great moments in Pride in Japan, do you miss those moments? Do you still think about those moments a lot? Because when you watch them now, with the product that we have in MMA, and you go back and look at some of those crowds and the setups and the entrances and the video.

And it's just, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable what Pride did back then. Do you think about it a lot and do you miss it? Yeah, I miss Japan. I miss that days. and so many things changed since then, but talking about fights, I never watched my fight, you know. Really?

Most of my fights I have never seen, you know? Really? Why not? Never. I don't like it. I don't like to watch it, you know. I remember I watched my fight against Wanderler-Less Silva, semi-final, final fight with George Barrett. I have never seen. You have no interest?

Do you think one day you'll watch it or never? Maybe one day, maybe one day when I've been old men, maybe I watch it all. But so far, I haven't, I haven't seen a K-1 final yet. And I've just... What about the Fedor fight? Have you seen the Fedor fight? I've seen it. I've seen it in Japan because there was a TV crew.

So after the fight, we went through the fight, they asked me to give some comments. But since then, I haven't ever seen it again. So you just feel uncomfortable watching yourself? No, no. I don't think, you know, I don't find it too interesting, you know, to watching myself, you know, fighting, you know. I'm not, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.

Some people like to watch themselves, whatever they're doing, but I don't know. What's your favorite memory from Japan? Oh, there are so many, so many beautiful memories, you know, so many beautiful memories, you know, and I can't pick one, you know, and one of the memories I will never forget is when I was received by a Japanese prime minister, you know, and in his official residency, it was, it was amazing thing, you know, it was amazing thing.

It was amazing thing that it was a second time in Japan history that someone out of the politic, out of the politics was received in official in official residence and everything was official

there was only Tom Cruise was received once and after that it was me Wow Tom Cruise because of that

movie I can't tell the name but Was it the last samurai? Last samurai right that's right that's right

That's right. Because of that movie, he was received in an official audition, and after that, me. And at least by then, nobody was received by an official audience at the prime minister, official residence, but maybe changing in the meantime, but I don't think so. But I don't think so. So it was really something special, you know, and Mr. Koizumi was a really nice guy, and we talked, and I spent maybe one hour there, and he's, son came there, you know, and we took a lot of photos, and then we, there was hundreds of journalists and taking a photo, TV cameras, TV crews. It was nice, you know, it was nice. But, of course, I had, I had a beautiful memories, you know, and from Japan. A few times I stayed there, I stayed there for the longest, my longest stay there was seven weeks, seven weeks. And, you know, I was, I was going to the gym.

They wanted, pride, wanted to organize me some limousin to take me, you know, to the training. It was maybe five, six kilometers from my apartment. They rented me a beautiful apartment. Actually, two apartments. There was a whole team with me. There was six of us in every apartment, three of us. But I refused. I refused the car because in Tokyo's traffic jam, it would take.

take too long. So I asked for the bicycle. The bicycle, it took us only 15, 20 minutes, you know, and it was crazy. You know, and so many memories, we were racing to the gym and from the gym. It was, sometimes it was very dangerous, you know, driving,

driving to the center of Tokyo, you know, between those cars, you know, but it was, it, it, it, it was really special, you know, for me. It was really special, me. Nice, so many nice memories from Japan. Are you surprised that, Sorry, go ahead.

No, no, no, nothing. Are you surprised that essentially the combat sports scene in Japan is relatively non-existent now? I mean, there was a time when millions... Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was surprised. I am surprised, and... Why do you think that is? I don't know. I don't know. I talked with some people that were working for pride,

and that was very close with pride and actually at the end of the day I talked with my Japanese manager and who is very capable and very intelligent guy Mr. Kenny Mai and asked him what happened with Japan and I said after pride died

people just lost interest you know and there was of course I don't want to underestimate anyone but there was four fighters that There was four fighters that create the biggest the biggest attraction you know and etc it was Nogera Fedor Wanderle Silva and myself you know

and at the end of day we all left we all left you know I was the first one I left for for UFC and after me Nogaira and Nogahira and Wonderlaesilva and then UFC bought Pride and it just martial art scene

just disappeared you know because Pride was much stronger you know MMA MMA scene was much more popular than K1 kickboxing scene and I don't know it's hard to say my manager claims that people that the audience that were coming to

to Saitama all the time that they just they just find new heroes new interest in the meantime you know they lost interest because there wasn't attractive fighters like they were used on like no gairo like fedor like wanderlay like me like of course there are many others you know like rampage exon you know and it market just died you know market just died unbelievable but unbelievable true and it makes me it makes me sad you know but that's the fact and then of course ufc made

made a big business good business you know and uh they spread all around the world and they are practically only global MMA organizations today and they're doing a great job and they have they have the best fighters under their contract and UFC is they are the man today. I know we're going a little bit over the time that I'd said this interview will go. Do you have still a few more minutes for us? It's okay. Oh, okay. No problem. It's okay. Great. Well, thank you very much. I've always wanted to ask you this. A few things I've always wanted to ask you. Right leg hospital, left leg

cemetery. Who came up with that? I don't know. I think I think I was talking once with bus return and we were having, I always had a good time with him.

We were always playing some jokes and then I don't know. I said it. I said it, but I said it because there was a TV crew with them and they recorded it. But I was talking to him, and then he asked me which leg I'm going to kick him. And I said, I don't know. I think if he is lucky, it will be my right one.

I said, why? And then I think I said, if I kick him with the right one, right is cemetery, but right one is a hospital, leg one is a left one is a cemetery. I think it was him. I think I was talking to him, and then some TV crew recorded it, and that's how it went out. And it's stuck. It's stuck forever. I was just joking. You know, I was just joking. I really like to play jokes, you know, and I was just joking.

But that sentence follows me all the time since then, you know. Like when you pranked more Rinaloa. Do you remember that? That video still lives on until this day. Do you remember that? Yeah, of course. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was fighting, I was fighting American guy. Oh, Ron Waterman. Ron Waterman, that's right. Ron Waterman, before Ron Waterman was right.

And I think, Bus, Bus came to me and he asked me, can you please do it? And Boss told me to do it. Please, please, please. I said, yeah, come on. I don't want, I don't want to hurt the guy, you know, to hurt his feeling. Maybe he will be mad. No, no, no, please, he's okay. And then I, and then.

Yeah, yeah. I'm sad that he's not doing the commentary for your fight. Excuse me, what? Because you know he works for glory, but he's not going to be there at this fight. He's doing boxing, but it would have been nice to have him call one of your fights again, like old times. Oh, I would like to have him. Because he's really professional, and he's really expert for fighting, and his comments are really great, you know.

You once fought a man by the name of Dos Kares Jr. Do you remember that? Yes, I remember him. Do you know what he does now? Huh? Do you know what he does now, the guy who wore that mask? Do you know who he is? No. He's a very popular professional wrestler here in the U.S. for world wrestling entertainment, you know,

and his name is Alberto del Rio, and people bring it up sometimes. I was wondering what you were thinking when you had to fight a guy who was wearing a luchador mask. I don't know I can't remember my thoughts about that but I didn't care too much I just

I just was wondering is it is it kind of a hard plastic or what you know because I didn't want to hurt my to hurt my hand or my leg but it was just a cut and so I didn't care

you know I didn't care have you have you paid it but I remember I knock him out barely you know I knock him out barely with a high kick and then I think they had to take

off the mask because they wanted him to breathe, but it was just what made pride so special. One of your great moments was when you fought Bob Sapp. That was one of the big fights back in the day. Have you been paying attention to what Bob Sapp has been doing lately? He's a very different fighter than when you fought him. Well, as I can say, he lost last of his 20 fights, you know, and I met him one year ago in Japan, you know, when I fought Japanese pro-lesser. MMA. And I ask him, Bob, why are you doing this?

You know, I mean, he's too dangerous, you know. He's so huge guy. Because I saw some of his fights, you know, he was fighting in Europe. 99% of the fights he lost here in Europe. He could kick their asses easily, you know? Yeah.

Why he didn't do that? It looks like, it looked to me, it looks just like he's doing that with some of times. attention, you know, that he just, he just wanted to lose the fight. Unbelievable, unbelievable. Yeah, and what did he say to you?

Actually, I didn't understand. I didn't understand his answer. He was trying to explain me why, but I didn't understand. I didn't understand. Not because I don't understand English, but I didn't understand what he was trying to tell me, I said, uh-huh, okay, but I didn't, but he's a huge guy, enormously strong, you know, and especially in MMAs. Especially in MMA.

Especially in MMA. Yeah. He was losing the fight with some guys with the guys who are 50, 60 kilograms lighter than he is. And he could beat them easily, easily. You know, why he was doing that? I don't know. I don't know. It's not my concern.

I like Bob Sape. You know, he's a good man, you know? You know, I rewatched that fight yesterday, and your reaction was unbelievable. It was almost like you were relieved when you beat him, because he was so much bigger than you. Is that accurate? Was that one of the times when you maybe doubted yourself

going into a fight just because of the size difference? No, I had no doubt, you know, but right before me, Bob Sap knocked out badly and very brutal two times in a row Ernesto Hust. And I remember that,

just like it was yesterday, when I was called by my manager, Kenny Mai, and he said, K-1 wants you to fight him. He said, but I'm in pride now, you know, and said, yeah, we know, but nobody else wants to take the challenge fighting with him. Believe or not, everybody was terrified fighting Bob Sap, you know, especially after he knocked out Ernesto Host's twice in a row. And I said, okay, no problem. No problem.

And, but I was happy, you know, I make my, my, I remember the fight. I remember the expression of my face, you know. He was a huge guy. At that time, you know, he entered the ring. And right before that fight, he knocked out twice. Ernesto Huss, so I had to be very careful, you know. And I beat him very tactically, very good, you know. I kick him first to the liver.

And then I connect my left jab straight, right above the arm. and I broke his bone. Yeah. And I put his bone inside and he had to go to the surgery the same night, you know, to take it out. So it was very, very painful. But I was happy, of course, because of the... And he was a beast, you know. He was a beast.

And he is still a beast, you know, but I think if he changed something in his training or in his mind, he would still be very, very dangerous, you know. especially in M.A. He's just a beast, you know. He's a big, strong guy with a devastating punches, you know, and enormously strong. And I remember his fight, his, his, his, his fight with Nogera, with the Tower of Jesus Christ, you know, Tauru survived the hell, you know, but he, he ran out of stamina, so Nogera submitted him, you know, but until then, I don't, I, I believe you, you saw that fight. Yes. It was, it was the, it was the craziest fight I ever see. It was crazy, and I couldn't believe that that Militar was able to survive all that things that happened to him.

What a time? He almost broke his pawn. Unbelievable. It was crazy fight, you know? Unbelievable. I miss those days. Now, I feel like I wish we could go back. You know, this past weekend, a UFC fighter came out to this song.

I want to play this song for you right now, and I want to ask you, what do you think when you hear this song? When this song plays in your mind, well, what do you think? I think we're going to play for you right now. Do we have it? Yes, this song. You know this song, Mirko? I can't hear it, really. I think you're familiar with it.

Oh, wild voice. That's mine. Yes, that's your song. A fighter in the UFC came out to it this past weekend. And everyone said, wait a second, that's Miracle Krookop's song. You can't use that song. And I've always wanted to ask you, where did this song come from for you? Why do you always come out to this song? Well, it was before I went to Joe. Japan and I have to decide, you know, I knew that, of course, if you are a bad fighter,

image cannot help you, you know, but if you connect image, good image and good fighting abilities, you can make a lot, you know, you can earn more money and everything, you know, you'll be more people will recognize you, et cetera, so I had to pick up the song, you know, and my friend of mine, Orsat, the guy, the guy, the guy who, who, who, who. is my present manager, who is my present manager, who offered me a fight at Ray Seffo after I left UFC. It was actually, we talked about song and he suggested, what do you think about you and your and wild voice? I said, I met about you and the world voice. I knew that song, okay, and then we listened, listen that song again together and said, that's it. Wow.

I approve it and it became my song. That's right. You know, let's talk quickly about Glory here and then we'll let you go and we thank you so much for the time. This has been really great. You're now with Glory and you have this fight. They're coming to your backyard. They're coming to Zagreb and this weekend here in the United States, fans can watch it on Spike TV and it's a rematch for you against Remi Bonjaskia, a fight that you had 12 years ago. What do you think about glory, what they've been doing as of late? Because they really seem to have taken over the spot that K1 once had and here in the United States they're developing a very loyal following. The ratings on Spike are fantastic thus far.

Yeah. Glory is doing good. a great job, a great job, and what is UFC in MMA today? That's glory in the world of kickboxing, you know, only global organization today. K-1 is in the problems at the end of the day K-1 is not

making new tournaments anymore and glory put all top fighters on one place under one flag and they're doing a great job. They're doing great job. They're very professional, you know, they're very professional and I saw it here in Zagabwe, you know,

the way they are paying attention for every possible detail and they are doing a great job they're doing great job and my congratulations and they're making a great shows they have a top fighters and they are very very attractive just like K1 was in the end of 90s

and and practically until the end a few years ago you know and until the last year but they are taking they are taking over now and they took called the fighters, you know, and

they're doing the right job. And I'm really glad that they have so big ratings, you know, among American fans. And that's a great thing. Are you going to just stick with glory for now, or are you still going to fight for other promotions?

Well, I don't have exclusive, exclusive contracted glory. We made a deal for this, only for this one particular fight. And I have a few offers, you know, until the summer, so I will see which one I will

take. Most likely I will fight again for glory. They are making an event in New York. Oh. That'd be great. Most likely, very part. But of course, I need, let's go. I'm experienced guy, you know. Let's go step after step. First, I need to win,

and I need to beat Remi Bignanski again, and then I will take one week rest, and then I will make plans, you know. But most likely, you know, if it happens in New York, as I heard in June, most likely I will come and fight there. And of course, I have some other offers from a legend, from Russian organization, but we will see, you know, let's go step by step.

I think that's the best, you know. And what did you think about this matchup when they offered it to you against Remi because you beat him 12 years ago? Was this a fight that you wanted to do again? No, actually, I didn't want that fight, you know. And originally, I suppose to fight with Peter Artz. and then everything was set up and then Peter said

that he's going to retirement and he doesn't want to fight anymore and then you know we needed a big name especially in Zagreb you cannot bring some unknown name we needed a big name and everybody knows Remy as a three-time K-1 champion true legend of kickboxing you know and that's why at the end of the day it wasn't my option it wasn't my choice

but at the end of the day this is just a sport competition you know and I will do my best friend and will do his best and let a better man I hope that it will be me because I was training hard and fighting in my

in my hometown and it will be a war a lot of fans especially in MMA are very excited about the possibility of seeing Mirro Krookop versus Pat Barry 2

especially since he has signed with Glory are you interested in this fight have they talked to you about it no nobody mentioned me I heard that actually Pat sent me a message that he

signed in glory but we are both professionals you know but after our fight in UFC you know

Pat came two or three times she came in Zagreb in my town and we we spar together you know he helped me

with preparation and he's really extraordinary guy really nice guy and I like him a lot I like him a lot and I don't think

I I will fight with him you know because he spent so many time here, you know, and we have so many dinners and lunches together, you know. He was having a dinner with my family, you know, and his girlfriend was with him here, you know, so I don't know. But because, you know, if this is a tennis or something, you know, that we are throwing a ball through the net, across the net, that's something different. But this is a sport and you have to hurt when you have to hurt your opponent, you know, and

I don't want that I want to hurt I don't say that I will kick his ass You know I don't say that But at the end of the day Both of us will be hurt in that fight I just want to To punch or kick my

My friend you know By the way I've always wanted to ask Sorry that video Of you guys singing California Dreaming in the car Did you know that he was recording you? I knew it But I didn't know it that he's going to

publish it Were you mad? No, I wasn't mad. I wasn't mad. But I thought he was recording it for our... For us, you know, but... That was great. I love that video.

We just played it a couple weeks ago on the show. You were so good. You knew all the words. It was amazing. Yeah, I liked it. I like that. I like that. California dream, of course.

I know, I know the whole song. Do you want to sing it for us right now? I'm a bad singer. Okay. Fair enough. A lot of fans want to know. All the leaves are all the leaves are... brown and the sky is gray

and the sky is gray wow I've been for a walk on a winner's day on a winter day that that was keep going keep going it's great

I'm too shy now oh wow that was amazing I don't know how to top that a lot of people want to know are you on Twitter there are some accounts out there and they want to talk to you you're not on Twitter

I have a Facebook profile but I'm not on Twitter you're not on Twitter okay because there were some out there we wanted to make sure about that and the final thing for you Mirko actually two last things are you going to come back to MMA are you still going to fight in MMA definitely

definitely definitely definitely I have a few offers for for a MMA fight already but I will go first of course I cannot fight glory and MMA in the same time but depends of the schedule

let me let me finish the first fight now and then I will see what is the glory schedule, you know, and then I will see, you know, where I have a hole to put MMA fight. I like both. I'm enjoying it, you know. My final question to you, Mirko, and once again, thank you so much. You're still writing your history right now, but you look back, greatest moment of your career. What's the one moment that sticks out above the rest?

I don't know. It's hard to say, you know. Maybe the fight, I don't know. maybe every fight was the most important fight for me but maybe just maybe because I was I was complete underdog that fight and

everybody expected me to to lose the fight when I had my first MMA fight against Fujita and I caught him with a knee and I made a huge damage to him I made a practically whole his head you know

he had to went to the hospital right away and maybe It was the moment when I was the happiest. Really? Yeah. Why so happy? You've had so many fights since then, so many great moments.

Why was that one? Yeah, but it was my first M.M.A. fight. I came there completely unprepared for the M.M.A. Rules of fighting. I knew nothing about wrestling, about ground, fighting, about Jiu Jitsu. Nothing, nothing, nothing. And I managed to beat a guy who was a huge, huge, huge. favorite in that fight and

I was just underdog and I beat him, you know, in the first round after what less than one minute you know, I caught him with the knee. 39 seconds. I was training, I was training that knee. It wasn't a lucky punch or lucky kick, whatever, you know. I was training that

me. I knew that I won't have too much chance, but I was studying his fight, his previous fights and I knew he will go for a double leg. He would shoot a double leg and my only chance was to kick him straight to the face with my knee. And it happened just like I was preparing. And Marco Ruas, Mark Ruas was preparing me for that fight,

and he made that strategy for me, and I was so happy and proud, you know. But so many good moments, K-1, K-1 belt, pride, Grand Prix, championship, you know. It was an amazing fight with Nogera, amazing fight with Fedor, you know, so many, you know, great fights. I felt great during my UFC days because of UFC fans and they supported me like nobody ever before, you know, and losing or winning, you know, they were treating me like a king there and I felt very proud, you know. Even when I fought against American opponent, the most of the arena was on my side and screaming my name. So I had really good moments in my career and some really unforgettable moments, and I'm very proud of it.

I'm assuming you've watched the Fujita fight again, right, since it's such a great moment for you? Well, in the last 10 years, I haven't seen it. Wow. Maybe it's time to pop it in. Maybe before this fight on Saturday to get those juices flowing, the motivation, you'll watch that fight. Maybe, maybe, but I don't think so. I don't think so. I'm prepared.

and I'm mentally strong now, and I have no injuries. That's most important. And I feel very confident. Well, Mirko, I got to say, I love the fact that Glory is bringing you into the mix. I love the fact that they're in Croatia. This is going to be great.

And I love the fact that we can watch it live here in the United States. I actually won't be live. It'll be slightly taped delay, but we can watch it nonetheless on Spike TV. It's this Saturday, Glory 14 from Zagreb, Croatia. It's a big rematch between Mirko Krokop and Remy Bonjasky, a rematch that is 12 years in the making. two legends and you my friend are a living legend.

What an honor has been for us to give us an hour of your time here. I know it's late over there in Croatia. I can, they say here in the U.S., you have a bucket list of things you want to do in your career. I can cross this one off my list. I got to interview Miracle Krocop. Thank you so much for the time and best of luck to you and continued success to you as long as you want to fight. Don't listen to anyone. Do it for as long as you'd like.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much. And you're welcome. All the best to you. Thank you so much, Mirko. Hope to do it again. Thank you. Bye, bye, bye, bye. There he is. The one and only. Let's play that song as he leaves.

Give me a little wild boys. Not that one. Not that one. The other one. The wild boys. There it is. Let's just bask in it for a second. We just talked to Mr. Koch up, my friends, for almost an hour. 56 minutes. And two months ago, just two months ago, I was on this show sitting in this chair

telling you that my my dream interview of 2014 the one interview, the one guy that has alluded me throughout my career, Mirro Krocop Filipovich. Let us welcome into this studio for the very first time BC Zone, Canada Zone. Now, of course, a member of the TriStar Gym in Montreal, the one and only

the number one contender in the UFC's Walterweight Division, Rory Mac, Roy McDonald, how are you? I'm good, how you? I didn't recognize you. What's this new look? It's a new old look. What happened to the hair? I just woke up one morning. I figured, shaved my head.

When was this? A few days ago. Why? I don't know. It was just... You were tired of it? I just woke up and I was like, I just don't want hair today. You look like the water boy now.

You know what I mean? The old school, Roy McDonald. A lot younger, is there's something... Are you going to let it grow back or are you done with that? I don't know. I'm just going to... I think... I was thinking last night I'm going to shave the sides of my head.

Really? Yeah. I have like a mohawk or something. You don't seem like the... Mohawk type. I know. It's weird. Yeah. I don't know. I'm just, I just go with how I feel. And you're wearing, his first time someone joins us wearing a tank top in studio. And it's very cold out. No, it's not that cold, actually. I was, I'm sweating when I got in here. Oh, that's why you, but I'm intimidated. Look at these guns. I mean, you do not see 170 right now.

No, you seem like 200. Yeah. You're a big guy. I didn't realize you get so big. Yeah, yeah. I balloon up a little bit. That's me know to control. Especially here in New York with all the food. Yeah, and I'm training hard too. Why are you in New York? I'm training at Henzhou Gracie Academy. Because you have the Metamoros match coming up on November 22nd. You'll be competing against J.T. Torres. I got to say, I was very surprised when I heard that you'll be a part of Metamoris,

only because we don't usually think of you as a Jiu-Jitsu guy. Why did you do this? Why did you agree to this? I love Jiu-Jitsu. I mean, I've been doing Jiu-Jitsu since I was 14 years old. It actually was the martial art that really was stapled in my mind that this is what I want to do. You know, I want to do martial arts for the rest of my life.

You know, it was the first thing I fell in love with. Okay. And, you know, I, you know, I haven't really got to show that in a long time. I haven't been able to do a grappling match or a grappling tournament in a long time. I've really focused just on M.A. And, you know, the timing was right after this fight. And, you know, I have kind of a layoff between my next fight. So why not?

I'm no BJJ expert. You know, I watch, I follow, especially when the MMA guys cross over. but I'm told J.T. Torres, your opponent, this guy's legit. Yeah. He's a real, you know, experienced veteran of VJJ. Yeah, he's a world champion. Did you have any say in who you'd be competing against, or did they say, this is the match we want?

You know, they gave me two names, and I texted Fraz. I'm like, oh, these two guys, and Fraz told me J.T., so I just texted them back. Who was the other one? Do you remember? I can't remember. Do you have any idea why he thought that J.T. was the right guy for you? I didn't really ask. I just said, okay.

Did you have to ask him for permission to do this? Not so much permission, but his advice, like, would you do it if... No, I just told him one day I'm going to do it. Really? And what was his reaction? He said it's awesome. Really? Yeah. I'm worried about this. I'll tell you why.

Okay. You're flying high now, right? I mean, you've had such a tremendous year. You're the number one contender in the UFC's Walterweight Division, and I'm afraid that you're going to look human in this match. You know, like, you seem superhuman these days, especially finishing Terak Safedine, which was an amazing feat, and we'll get to that. Are you afraid that maybe, you know, you're going to seem a little too normal in this match,

and it's going to take away some of that luster? Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised. Oh, wow. You're not concerned at all. I'm going to win. You're going to win. You're not going there just to have it. Like, Chale, Chale just kind of went.

You know, he needs. Oh, I'm going to have fun. Don't get me wrong. But I'm going to win. I don't go into something with a loser's mindset. Okay. I'm going to beat this guy. I'm going to take his food.

Have you been watching them a lot? No, I don't ever watch my opponents. Even in this world, because I feel like it's so technical. You know, it's not a fight. Yeah, I take the same mindset, though, in anything. You know, I'm just going to do my thing. You know, he's good, but I know I'm good, too, so I just oppose my will on him.

When's the last time you competed in any kind of BJJ tournament or one-off, something like that? It's been a while, right? Since I was like 15, 16 years old, yeah. Pre-UFC? Yeah. Yeah, how old were you when you got into the UFC? Like 18?

19? 19 was my first fight. Yeah. So, and Meta Morris, have you been watching this? Because it's, it's very interesting what they do. You know, Hanzos in the main event. Yeah. If you want to call it that.

Do you really think that it can take the next step, like, be a household sport? Like, this is going to be on TV? Yeah. Or do you think it'll always be kind of a niche thing? I think it would be huge. I mean, jihitsu is super popular. It's growing in popularity. And, you know, it's a great sport to just, you know, get into, watch and take part in.

So, I mean, I like it. You watch it. Yeah. Like, at home, if. If you see a clip or something or if you know it's online, you'll watch it. Oh, yeah. You don't think it's boring? No.

No. No, not at all. You prefer watching that over MMA? No. You watch MMA? Yeah, good fighters. Like, you know, I don't watch every single fight, but, you know, I like watching skilled fighters, yeah, for sure. Who's a fighter that you like to watch?

Like, who's someone you admire? There's so many, man. There's so many new guys coming up that really excite me. You know, Connor McGregor. I saw you guys tweeting. Yeah, he's, yeah, I'm really impressed by him. Why? He's on the cutting edge of some stuff, I think.

Like what? With his movement and striking, it's got my attention for sure. Really? And I want to emulate some of it for sure. Okay. You know, I think, yeah. You watch him and you study him? Yeah, I wouldn't say study.

I just watch and, you know, I'm like, oh, that's cool. You know, maybe I can try to work that a bit. I was very surprised when I saw you tweet him because he's so different than you are, right? I mean, he's very brash, he's cocky. You guys dress similar, right? I mean, I'm sure you appreciate his attire. What do you think of his whole package? Like, he's really taken the UFC by storm.

He's one of the biggest stars all of a sudden. Do you appreciate that? Yeah, I mean, he's doing the right thing to get notice quick, you know, I mean, but I think he would have done it anyway with his skill set. I'm more of a fan of his skills. You know, the way he talks is the way he talks, but, you know, I'm more of a fan of, like, you know, his work in the cage.

Can you tell us, like, what impresses about his actual fighting? Like, is there something in particular? Wow, this guy does this really well. His movement, his confidence, you know. And there's a lot of little technical things that he does with the striking that, you know, I think I could use and I like it. You know, it's new. You want to train with them?

Yeah, yeah. Would you go to Ireland? Yeah, I would, yeah. Are you considering it? Maybe. I haven't really put too much thought into it. Well, you have a lull, right? After the Mennamoros thing, which?

is in just, you know, three weeks time. Yeah, but I'm going to be busy. What are you going to be doing? I'm going to be going to be going around California, I think, doing some training there too. Where? I don't know, all around as many people as possible. A.k.a. Rhonda's another one I think is really, really good.

Her judo's, you know, really impressive, how she uses it in an M.M.A. And I'm usually not a fan of women's M.A. Why not? I just don't. I just don't watch it. But she's, like, the only one that I'm like, wow, you know, super skilled. I like watching skilled fighters. and I think that she uses her skill super well. Do you want me to set it up?

If you want, sure. You think you can handle it? Yeah, I'll figure it out, I'm sure. But I'm curious, because I've heard, I had fighters, you know, who just said it recently on the show? Oh, Ian McCall last week was talking about women's MMA as well. Do you feel like they're just not up to you guys as far as the talent level, the competition? Why don't you appreciate watching it?

Or did you just not like seeing women get punched? I don't know what it is. I finally, they fight with a lot of emotion, you know, and, uh, Sometimes the technique gets thrown out the back door a lot of the time. Not all the time, but don't get me wrong, I respect them. Right. They fight hard. There's no joke.

But it's not something that I watch a lot. Ronda, would you say there's a big gap between her and the rest, so maybe it's not that interesting? Like, every time she fights, she's such a huge favorite. I watch her fights. Always? Yeah. I wouldn't say, like, I wouldn't say always. I mean, I just, when it's on, I'll watch it, you know?

Right. So you're coming off, as I mentioned, you're coming off this win over Tarek Safedine. And it was such a great moment for you because it was in Canada, your first main event. They were dangling that title shot and everything. And I know you said all this stuff beforehand and usually say this. But after the fact, honestly, did you feel like you needed to finish him to prove a point that you are the number one contender? Because it seems like no one complains about this now that you're the number one contender. But I feel like if it would have gone the distance, they would have said, well, you know, I want to see one more.

You know how this sport is. People want to see finishes. Right? That's the big criticism. Did you feel like you needed that in the back of your mind? I didn't think about it. Really? I was in a really good state of mind for that fight,

and I was just letting things happen. I just wanted to be the best. I could do that night, you know, and whatever happened happened. I really tried to not think about the title shot, what was next. I was just enjoying the moment. Why were you in such a good state of mind?

I don't know. I just was. I was hungry, you know? I'm so hungry this year. You know, after that Robbie Loller fight, I mean, just I feel like on another level. Something changed. Yeah.

Because it was taken away from you. You were so close and you had to work your way back up. I don't know what it was. Maybe it was a wake-up call or something. It was something just triggered me. And, you know, I feel like I'm like a lion this year, you know. No one's going to stop me. Did you change anything in your life, in your personal life, in your training after that?

I mean, did you do anything drastic or was it just a mental thing? Mental, mental adjustment. A few things in my training, but, you know, mental. was a biggie. I've talked about this on this show. I kind of feel bad for you in a sense, and I'll tell you why. I mean, I'm not saying that, you know,

I sympathize, you know. But here's the thing. You were so close to that title shot, right, against Robbie Lawler. Now you're back. You got the title shot. And it was perfect. It was perfect timing because George was leaving.

And now he's coming back and he's raining on your parade. And by the way, I think he's coming back. Okay. Do you think he's coming back? I have no idea. But it's like, you had to work your way back up, and he was gone, and you didn't have to answer the questions.

And now I feel like you have to answer the questions. all the time. It's not fair. Yeah, no. Can you tell him to just take a chill for two years? Let you get the title shot. Secure as... He's not even back to... He's just starting martial arts training,

so he's got a long road ahead of him, I'm sure. I mean, it's not that long. He was just clear. Yeah. The timing... Do you see what's happening here with the timing? It's going to make your life hell. I feel like you're going to go nuts on the media because they keep asking you now.

I'm sure it won't be a problem. You don't think it will. No. Were you there when he came back? Came back to TriStar? Yeah, yeah. I wasn't there that day. I think I came back like the...

the next day or something like that from BC. He told me he felt humiliated because he was so, you know, he had regret. I mean, humiliated. He probably has very high standards, right? But he said it was just, it was like, you know, getting back, you know, trying to ride a bike for the first time after a long time. Like his skills were a little, you know, they were a little rusty. Yeah.

That's natural, though. Of course. Yeah. But you, do you sense that there's like a collision about to happen here? No. No. No. But the timing is so strange, right?

I mean, all of a sudden. get back to that title shot and then he's, oh, guess who's back all of a sudden? We thought we were in the clearing. Now, guess who's back? Neither of us are the champ right now. That's true. And I'm going for the championship. I'm going to take that belt and no one's going to stop me.

You think that he'll let you do your thing? I'm sure. Have you ever had a private conversation with him about all this? Not really. This is kind of an understanding. Is it a bit annoying sometimes when Dana White always says, like, you know, when push comes to shove, they'll do it. I don't pay too much attention about it. I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Okay. It's an annoying thing, right? Yeah. Yeah. So they announced that you're getting the title shot. Yeah. But they haven't said when? Yeah. They have to fight. Right. But have they given you like a tentative so at least you could plan, okay, March, April. That's kind of the... Yeah, a lot of people think it's going to be March in Montreal, which would be really good timing for me. And great for you because you train in Montreal. Yeah. Yeah. It would be awesome. But, I mean, you got to see when these guys, how the fight goes, right? They might get injured. They might need surgeries. Who knows, right? So I hope the winner is healthy and they'll be ready to fight in, you know, ASAP.

That's the worst, right? When they give you the title shot and then the champion, the guy who wins the fight gets injured, and then you have to fight someone else. Like, it's happened to Verdoom. It's happened to a bunch of people, right? Yeah. So you're just praying no serious injuries. I'm not praying for anything.

I'm just going to take it how it goes. Will you watch it? Yeah. Live? Yeah. You're interested in that, right? Yeah, I'll be there. You're going to the fight?

Yeah, UFC's taking me there for it. Oh. Do you think they'll bring you in the cage? I hope not. You don't like that? No. Why? It's part of the promotion.

If they want me to, I'll do it. You're not going to go out there and ask to do it. No. Will you try to ramp things up as far as media and your persona leading up? Because this is the big payday, right? This is the big deal. This is what you've been working for your whole life. Yeah.

You will do that. Oh, like ramp it up? Yeah. No, just be myself, man. I know, but this is where you can cash in, right? The big title fighting. In Canada and Montreal? You cash in when you're the champion and you hold the belt.

Right. That's when you're making your money. But what about like your media? I mean, let's be honest, you told me you were coming to this. I feel like you're starting to warm up to the media. I like talking to you. Just me. I'll take that. You don't want to do any other media.

That's fine by me. I have to do other. You don't really have to. You could tell the UFC. I could be your guy. Anytime you want to get something out there, a message. Okay. I have done that in the past.

You have and it worked out great, right? Yeah, right. Yeah. Everyone loves to talk about your persona and stuff, like, that you're in on this. But I kind of feel like you're, you know, this is the thing. Like we have some people, I was talking about this earlier, like Rhonda, this girl, Bechchkoheya. You know, Bechkoheya? She's a women's fighter, right?

And she's coming up there. And there's the four horsewoman. You know the four horsewoman? I've heard about it, yeah. Yeah, Rhonda, Marina Shafir, Jessamine Duke, and Chana Bezler, right? Okay. The problem is they're all losing and she's winning. Okay.

So everyone's picking on them. So this girl keeps winning and she's putting down the number. numbers. People are getting very excited about this. It was four, three, two, one. She wants to go after Rhonda. Okay. And Rhonda loves this because she's a big pro wrestling fan and she's talking about how, oh, this is a good storyline. I'm going to now go after her after she beat my teammates and things like that. But I feel like that's, that's breaking down the fourth wall. You get what I'm saying? You can't talk about the storyline. You just have to let the storyline play out. And that's where I think you're brilliant. Because everyone likes to talk about you like, oh, Canadian

Psycho, this and that. But you never acknowledge it. You always kind of like say, like, I don't know what you guys are talking about. And I feel like you know, but you never actually acknowledge it. You know what I'm saying? Like this is all, you all, you planned all this. You know what? Everything else outside of those walls in the cage is just a big illusion. And I try to separate myself as much as possible from it. Why an illusion? Because I, for me, my personality, I need to separate myself from those, that social thing for me to concentrate completely on what I'm doing to be that, in that focus, in that mind state of, you know, of hurting someone or taking something from someone. So, yeah, I just, I separate all that in my head, you know, and that's maybe why the look comes

out or the personality is. But I, yeah, I don't know. Even when you say hurt someone, it's kind of scary. You know what I mean? Like, you use certain words that other people don't use. Is that on purpose? I'm just talking. Does it annoy you when people compare you

And say you're the Canadian Psycho and all that? I don't like Psycho You don't like that word? No Do you see the similarities? Have you ever seen that movie? Yeah, but I mean, it's just because Maybe my hair was the same or something

I don't know One time you were, I think it was prior to the BJ Penciled He was very charismatic Yeah, but you don't have to be exactly him Are you trying to say you're not? I don't think so No, I think you are I think, but it's a different kind of charisma

Okay, all right You were getting your hands wrapped while wearing a suit. Yeah. That was unbelievable. You should do that every time, by the way. I think I did it like once or twice. It gets BJ.

It was just the timing of the situation. Who gets their hands wrapped while wearing a nice suit? I've never seen this before. It just worked out that way. It wasn't a planned thing. But you understood how it came across. Right, yeah. This is like, this is a guy, you know,

like you come dressed up for the funeral almost. I like it. Yeah. But you don't plan any of that. No. Wow. Just go with the flow, man. Do you study things like that?

I mean, you study characters. You don't pay attention to any of that stuff. I just want to be me. Really. But you have to acknowledge that marketing and things of that nature. That helps, right? You have something. You're not just a guy.

You're not just a fighter who goes into the cage. Because if you were, I don't think people would be fan of yours. Okay. You get what I'm saying? Yeah. Like George has this thing. George's guy. Connor has this thing.

That's part of the sport as well. Yeah. Do you just let it happen? I let it happen. Really? Yeah. Do you feel like you've evolved? I've grown more confident with experience, I think.

I feel like you are conscious of it in a way because you even changed your nickname. Yeah. You're Ari's now. Yeah, I didn't really like people call me Waterboy. Why is that? Because it was more of like it was a name given to me in a gym. And it was kind of like, you know, like poking fun at me a little bit. It was fine, like on the inner circle.

Where did it come from? You know the movie The Waterboy? Sure, sure. Okay, well, I used to like, in there, fight training, I used to like remind people of that, that guy, Adam Sandler. Because you had like superhuman strength? No, I would just like flip out. What do you mean? When someone pissed you off? Yeah. Really? And I would just like flip a switch and they would say, oh, the water boy, you know? You have a bad temper? Yeah. Really? Yeah. Always still?

No, it's getting better. So what, what pisses you off? I don't know. Oh, you know. Is there something like when a guy goes too hard in practice or tries to injury? You like that I think that is just instinct to win, you know, right? You know, yeah, it just flips the switch, I guess. But I try to tame that because I think if I keep that on the side till I really need it, you know, I let my skill do the work for me. I have a really bad temper too. I've worked on it as well. Like I play basketball and I'm a total lunatic.

So I'm curious how you kind of, you keep it down. Or do you feel like you've been able to conquer that or at least martial arts helps me. Really? I mean, yeah. finding that at 14 really helped me. I really find it's like an outlet for me and I don't need to be aggressive in my everyday life. But they still called you the water boy when you were doing martial arts. Yeah. So it took some time. Yeah, I'm still working on it. Right. It is a good nickname though, I must admit. It's funny, I guess, yeah. I just got annoyed by it when like strangers would come up to me

and call me that. Don't look at my Twitter after. Okay. I said the water boys here. Just because you look, You look like, you look like, you look like the old Rory again. That's why I was a little shocked when I saw you. Yeah, I just felt like it changed. Yeah. Maybe I'll change it again. And where'd you come up with the Aries? I don't know.

I was just, I was desperate for it. I was getting like, I just wanted to stop, you know? What does that mean, Aries? It's a, the God of War. God of War. Jesus. That's scary stuff. I guess.

It's just like, it's like where I, like the, like the persona or like the mind frame I want to be in when I'm in the cage, you know? Mm-hmm. Yeah. And you gave it to yourself or? Yeah. That's a, you can't give yourself a nickname. Probably.

Waterboy was given to me, but I hated people calling me. Right. So I had to change it. And I wasn't willing to wait around for it. Right. Do you miss home? Yeah. Yeah.

Would you prefer to be living there? Like, do you have to live in Montreal and then when it's done, you're going to go back? Yeah, pretty much. You don't want to be there? Well, I want to be there for the training in the martial arts and, you know, the guys there but when I retire from this sport I'll be living in B.C.

Why do you feel like you need to be in Montreal? Why can't you get the same close to it in B.C.? Do you know what? It's the coaching. It's the setup that they have at TriStar and in Montreal that I really like. The guys are really professional.

A high level, a skill level. And working with Ferales is priceless. What do you mean by that? Yeah, you know, he's super skilled and really, we've got a good bond now and he's been able to really teach me and help me evolve as a martial artist. We were talking about this earlier and I think you've helped change this as of late,

but I'm concerned about Canadian MMA. I don't feel like there are enough Rory McDonald's coming up these days. And my theory is that there aren't any good local shows cultivating this talent. What do you think? Yeah, it's hard for guys to get fights in Canada. And it's hard for guys to get brought up to the states to fight because the local shows aren't really making as much money, right? So to pay like a thousand bucks for this guy's airline ticket and whatnot,

it's a little much for these smaller shows, for these less experienced guys. There's not enough shows in Canada for them to fight on. But there's a lot of guys that I think are going to make it big, you know? Fraz's brother, Aiman, super skilled. He's trying to make a career out of it. He's really good, man. Really?

I haven't talked about his goals with him, but I think he's very good. What's his record? I don't know. I always thought that he was just being groomed to be a coach. Because he corners you guys as well. Yeah, yeah, he was in my corner against Tyrone. Well, wait. I think he's 45.

Yeah, he's smaller, right? Yeah. So he's one guy that comes to my... That was going to be my next question. Who are some guys that we should look out for? Yeah, him. There's so many guys there, man. It's kind of hard.

Do you feel like people treat you differently now that you're the number one contender in the gym? I don't think so I'd like to think not Right Because when you came in What was after the Carlos fight Right? Yeah

So it's been a while Yeah And also guys have You know Adjusted to me Right Over the years So I think the bond is still the same

What about the way they treat you Like when they train with you Because you know There's this epidemic going on in MMA Everyone's getting injured Right You know So you know you're holding on to the lottery ticket now

You got the title shot You got what everyone wants Right you tell them to this you're like let's not go too hard let's not you know like no it's a problem though right i mean guys are getting so close to their dreams right look at came belasquez i mean he's champion he can't fight he's getting injured all the time right and you think it's from sparring partners going too hard or something i think well i have many theories but one of them is i i almost feel like the mma gym setup is not ideal for you guys for the pros okay they're banging into each other

people are you know getting knocked over they're they're they're rolling into you know like You guys are all training and saying it's, it's not like that in boxing. You don't have like eight guys in a ring and bumping into each other. That's the first problem, right? Yeah. The second problem, I feel like, is that there's just so much at stake. And especially when you become champion, you can't really. Look what happened when Kane, you know, he fought with a bum knee got knocked out in 61 seconds or something like that.

There's just so much at stake. And, you know, you guys have this thing in the back of your mind or hanging in the out scene. It's like two fights are gone from the UFC. No professional athlete, in my opinion, has the pressure that you guys have. You know, you know, like to make it to the NFL, I know, I know that 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, the, the, the, the life of an NFL player is, is, is, is pretty short compared to other sports, but when you're there, you make a lot of the money. You never think about it. Oh, I do think about it. But, like, when I'm training in the gym or when I'm fighting, money is so far away from my, well, I'm my mind is. Right. You know, it's, that's, that's for another time when I'm at home thinking about that

specifically, you know, and I have to manage that. But, yeah, when I'm at martial arts or I'm in a fight, it's strictly focus on that. In this day and age, I commend and I look up and without you guys, I wouldn't have a job, right? But I wonder sometimes, what's the incentive to become an MMA fighter? Because it's so hard to actually make it, right? It is. It's getting harder and harder. The more popular.

it gets, the more people want to be a part of it. Right. You know, they notice it, right? My incentive, I just love it. I love martial arts and I love competing. At what point did you say this is what I want to do? 14, my first day of Jiu Jitsu. Really? Yeah. You said you wanted to be

an MMA fighter? Yeah. When you first did Jiu Jitsu, you didn't even do any striking or anything. Yeah, I was like hitting the bag, did some kickboxing after too. It was an MMA gym. Right. DeShito. So, yeah, I pretty much told my dad when I got in the car at this is what I wanted to do and I wanted to quit hockey and like what what year was this uh I don't know what year it was I was 14 so how old are you now 25 when were you born July no no what here oh 89 89 so if you were 14 that was 2003 yeah right so right before the big 2002 2003 right before the boom of the ultimate fight the UFC wasn't as popular as it is today but you still was that the goal I want to be a UFC fighter was it just an MMA fighter I pretty much knew right away that I was going to do something great. Really?

It was just like a feeling I had inside. Great in MMA or great in life? In MMA. Hmm. After one day? Yeah. I pretty much just had a feeling inside of the day. I was going to do this.

An epiphany? Yeah, exactly. Before going to the gym, did you have this feeling or was it only after leaving the gym? No, after leaving the gym. Before I was just talking with my dad and my brother. We always talked about UFC and like Tito Ortiz and how awesome these guys were because I'd been watching this since I was like five years old, right? Okay.

And who introduced you to it? My dad. He was a fan. Yeah, and he did martial arts. Okay, what do you do? Like, kung fu and boxing. Okay? Yeah.

So he said, son, I want you to watch this stuff? Yeah. Okay, so you're watching it from five years old? Yeah, five or six years old. Okay. Yeah. And then when you decide that, okay, this is actually something I want to do because it's eight, nine years later.

Well, like, I never really thought I would be able to do it, you know? I was always, like, focused on it. hockey and you know i was like where do you would you even train for this i had no education that people like trained and i thought it was like you know guys just fought or whatever but uh my brother did a p-e class at toshito uh when he was in high school and he told me and my dad about it i went to this m-ma gym they do ufc type stuff yeah older brother yeah and then i was like i want to do that where's that and my dad basically turned the car around and my brother told him where it was. We went to train, and they told us all about it.

I came back an hour later for class and never left. Wow. So it's all thanks to your brother. Yep. And my dad. Are you still close to your brother? Yeah. Oh, yeah. So your dad, you said he trained in kung fu and things of that nature. So how didn't he not know, okay, you have to go to a gym? He's been around this before. So why didn't he lead you down that road earlier than 14?

He got caught up with work. You know, he had me and my brother. an early age and you know he had to support support us with work and i think he got he's a very hard working guy so he he drilled that into our heads more okay you know but school work and things yeah but he also you know kind of on the side you know told us you know follow our passions things like that and you know work hard at those things and you know he once he seen my my my love for my passion for martial arts he you know he was he was like my first believer you know really that believed in me, you know, that I could do this. And he was a big supporter.

Did he watch? Everyone else was like, you're skinny kids, you're an idiot, stop doing martial arts. Really? Who's saying this? Everyone. Everyone. Even your brother? Oh, yeah.

Really? He's like, I remember one thing we were fighting, and he was grabbing me above my throat, and he was like, no matter how long you do martial arts and never be able to beat me. Wow. I beat him. You beat him. Then, or it took a while? It took a while.

How many years older? Three? What's he doing now? He's, he is, what would I say? Like a carpenter and, yeah. In D.C.? Yeah.

So when you grew up, was your father a single dad? Yeah. Okay, so it was just you three? Yeah, my mom lived with my stepdad in another city at the time. But you lived with your dad? Yeah, at that time. Was that your choice? Yeah.

So he's the guy who's supported you from day one. What did your mom say? Was she one of those who said? She was mad. She was mad. Yeah. Why? Because she knew that she couldn't stop me.

But did she think that you were going to get hurt or you didn't have it in you? Yeah, she was worried, you know. She's a mom, right? But I met her, she goes to all your fights now. Yeah. And at the time, you know, I was her youngest son. Right. Well, I guess not youngest.

But yeah, I was her baby, you know, so it was hard for her to get into it at first. But then she's seen the passion as well. It's all good now. So in that, you walk out. You walk out the day and you say, I'm not only going to do this for a living, I'm going to be something special. I'm going to do something special. You envision being Tito Ortiz, champion, all that stuff. Wow. And then when did you make your UFC debut, you said? 19. Did you think it would be that quick? That's not very common. Yeah. My goal was to be in there before it was 20. Really? Yeah. And did that come on the first day as well? Did you already live up? No, it was more like time to think about it. I just had like a feeling that I would do something good, you know?

What were your friends saying about this? Were they laughing at you as well? Yeah, a lot of them thought I was lying, especially when I started actually fighting until I got on TV. Really? Yeah, and then they believe me. How old were you in your debut? 16. So, wow, so you're still in high school. Yeah, did you graduate high school?

Yeah. So you must have been the coolest kid by that point, right? You weren't? No. You're fighting in a cage in high school. What grade is 16? 16 is probably... was it like 10th grade 10th or 9th or something and you and people wait were you kind of an outlaw

by doing that I don't know I didn't pay attention to high school life I just kind of got through it I didn't I didn't were you bullied as much as anyone else like yes you know I wasn't like I wasn't bullied bullied you know like I wasn't tormented too badly but everyone goes through it right sure well I was kind of a cool yeah I was a big deal I sympathize, but believe it or not. So you're 16 years old and you remember the first fight? Like, you remember the moments before? Like, were you saying like, holy crap?

The first fight? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was so weird. Why? The lights and the people watching me. It was like I was paying attention to all the things I shouldn't have been paying attention to. The exact thing we were talking about earlier. Yes, yes.

You know, I was so like, this isn't so foreign to me, you know? Overwhelmed? Yeah. And then I got in there and the lights were hot. Oh, man. It was just like, everything's crazy. And then it went ding, ding, and the guy came out. And I stood there.

I didn't even move my feet at all. Wow. And he just went, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And after that, I never looked back. I ended up beating him like a couple minutes later. Really? Yeah. So you almost had to be, like, like the switch had to be turned on, right?

Yeah. Wow. Is that fight online? I don't think so. You never found it? I think my mom has all my fights. What promotion was that? Was that King of the Cage?

XFC, Prince George. In BC? Who was the guy that you fought? Terry Tierra. Were you nervous before the fight? Yeah, big time. Most nervous you've ever been? Yeah.

Like, have you ever had that feeling since then where you're noticing all the stuff getting overwhelmed? Or did you get it out of your system? No, that one was the worst. Really? Yeah. I still got nervous from my other fights,

you know, my second fight. It still get that somewhat that nerves, but not that bad. Did you think before what the hell am I doing? Why am I doing this? Like, did you even doubt yourself? No, I knew what I was doing for sure. It's just I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know the lead up. I didn't know what it was going to feel to walk out and all that experience, you know. So it's pretty intense for a 16 year old. Yeah. In hindsight, would you say you were too young? No, I was ready. Really? Yeah. Is that a special thing though? Like, would you not recommend that for all 16 year olds? No, yeah. It's, it's, it was, you know, I had a, I think I probably had a different mindset. I was. I was, you know, I was, you know, I was. I was.

I was training with men, you know, and they weren't going easy on me. How much did you weigh? 160. That was the fight? No, I fought at 155. 155. I died it a little bit. Right.

Did you feel like it was so good for you because you had this sort of, you know, we're talking about your temper and all that. It was a way for you to release that and not take it out in day-to-day life, not, you know, like this was your outlet? Did it help you in that sense? Yeah. And just the martialist training, too. we trained pretty hard at that time.

And this was back in BC and you're no longer training with those guys. I still do. You do? Yeah, when I go back to Colorado. Okay. And do they come to in your corner? At first. Yeah, Dave.

He's still in your corner. Yeah, he was in my last corner. Probably me and my next fight corner too. Why probably? And not for sure. Well, you never know if he's busy. Sure, sure. I mean, that's a big deal.

Yeah, I'm sure it'll happen. The same guy who was there on that first day. Was he at the gym? Yeah, Dave. Yeah. What's his last name? Lee. So he was there the first day you came in at 14 years old.

Yeah, he's the gym owner and the coach. And now he sees you fighting for the UFC belt. I'm pretty sure he's going to be free that night. Yeah. I mean, he hasn't had a champion, right, coming out of the gym? Not UFC, no. Right. Was it a weird conversation when you told him that you wanted to go to Montreal?

Yeah, for sure. It's tough. Tough on both of us, for sure. Well, like, how do he handle it? You know, as good as anyone could handle it. You know, it's tough. You know, I was his guy. you know, we're best friends too, you know, so it was a tough...

Still best friends? Yeah. Really? Oh, yeah, very close. Did he take it personally? I would have taken it personally. I'm sure he did, you know, but I think he understands now in the long run, but it's, it was a tough choice. Does he ever come to Montreal to go to the gym?

Yeah, he has, yeah. Are there guys coming up from that gym? From Tashito, yeah. Matt Dwyer was on the same card as me. Sarah Morris, who was a little ultimate fighter. Right. And then there's other guys too coming out So how was it like a bit awkward afterwards when you were telling him you needed to go

Or did you get over it pretty quickly? It was a it was a long period of adjustment time right? Okay Did you ever think when you got to TriStar that this was a mistake? No You knew right away Yeah I had to do it

You had to Yeah And why was it TriStar? Did you go around shopping around and talk to other people? No not really I mean I kind of I poked around a bit but like I've been to TriStar a handful of times, train there,

and I kind of had a feeling. You know that feeling I was telling you? Yeah. I just kind of go with my gut. You have these feelings a lot. Yeah, I just kind of go with the flow. You know, if I want to do something, I'm going to do it. Right then, like the first day you knew was the right place for you?

Yeah. Was George there? Yeah. He was a big help for me too. Mike Ritchie. I brought me out once. George brought me out a few times. I can't.

The first time I went there, it was on my own, though. I met the guys. Yeah. When did you first meet George? The first time I was up there on my training, just to go up there and see what it was all about. And he's champion at the time, right? Yeah. So it's like this is the king of the sport.

Yeah, yeah. That's got to be a big part of the cell as well, right? You can actually train every day with the best guy in the sport. Yeah, but there was so many guys. I mean, David Lozzo, Dennis King. I mean, there was so many guys in the gym and so many guys coming out from other places to train with George and all the guys and Faraz. So, I mean, I had, there was so many real professionals there to work with and what I wanted to be and who I wanted to work with. It was a pretty clear-cut decision that I had to go here.

If you beat Carlos Condit at 115, do you think you don't move? Probably not. Really? Yeah. That's amazing. Yeah, but maybe. I don't know. It's hard to say.

You were like, what, eight seconds away or something, 10 seconds away? Well, yeah, I don't know. I don't know how that decision would have done it. I was still, even if I wanted. on that decision, I probably still would have been bitter with myself. You know, like I would have been upset with myself. Why? About your performance?

Yeah. So I don't know. I don't know how that would go. Where my mind would be in that case, I haven't thought about it. Did the idea to go to TriStar only come into your mind after the fight? No, it was a little bit before, because I'd trained there before. What was the first? Twice.

When did you start thinking I need to get out of BC? Around the second training trip when I was, I came up. with Mike, because Mike was actually, we were talking on Facebook at the time, and he's like, you should come up. We're fighting on like the same day, basically in June, you know. He was fighting Pat Kern, I was fighting Conda. Yeah. So he's like, stay with my house, my family. And, you know, after that, the whole experience is like, you know, probably start thinking about something here, you know. I know we were talking about this, I know we were talking about this off camera before, but since you guys are so closely linked, have you had a chance to talk

Like it's not, it hasn't been a great weekend for him. Yeah. Wade didn't get the fight and all that. Yeah, I texted him. It's an unfortunate thing, you know. Yeah. His opponent dropped out the day of the fight. And, yeah, it sucks because he probably would have got back in the UFC after that.

You think so? I would assume so because of, you know, what, what he's done to the last two UFC veterans he fought since he got cut. But, you know, he's on the right track. I'm sure he'll bounce back in a positive way. I feel like you're officially over the context. thing. Like for a while it was you would bring it up in interviews, you call them out. But I mean, of course you got the title shots. So what do you have to worry about?

But I feel like it does it's not as big a deal in your mind anymore. No. Yeah. I think I grew up a little bit about, you know, losing in mixed martial arts. Right. But you know, obviously I want to fight him again. I think me and him are like one and two, you know. Sure. So I'm, I'm sure our paths are going to cross again in a title fight. How did you get over it? Was it just a progression and maturation or do you remember just Yeah, just growing, you know, changing my views on a few things, you know. At first I was like, okay, I'm going to, I was undefeated at the time. Sure.

So I was like, I'm going to go my whole career without losing. You know, that's a goal I have. And then the more fights I had and the more experience in martial arts, you know, I've learned that, you know, it's, losing isn't the worst thing possible for martial arts. It's sometimes an eye-opener in a positive way. And both my losses in my career have been very positive in the long run. me and things that I've needed to grow as a person and a martial artist. But I feel like, you know, you, like, you don't care if it's Hendricks or Lala, right?

No. We've talked about that. But the old Rory would want Loller so you could avenge that loss. For sure. It's interesting. Yeah. You have no desire to pay him back. No.

It'd be a whole new experience if I fought him again. Right. Have you started thinking about that, title fight? Potentially in Canada, I'm much like, it's a fight. I mean, uh, yeah, like, sometimes I sit back. I'm like, wow, I'm here. right where, you know, it's like, I can't believe it happened so fast, you know? Sometimes I have moments like that, but most of the time, and I know the time, when it's time to fight, it's just a fight.

I've been there many times, and, you know, sure there'll be maybe a piece of goal waiting for me at the end of the road, but, you know, when those cage door closed, I'm just going to go in there and I'm going to fight. And you were legit concern you might not get the time. I mean, you put out this tweet, you're holding a sign, you're saying, like, were you worried? Like, did you say, I have to do something to try to, you know? We and Farahs were goofing around a little bit. bit. Okay. Sent out some stuff on social media, but I was pretty confident I was going to get it.

But yeah. How does that work? Do they call you up and say, Roy, you're getting or you just find out online? I heard my manager texted me. I think Dana made it official on an interview with the Canadian press. Right. So I think that's how I found out. That was a big thing because I almost feel like you had to almost convince him,

because remember the Ellenberger fight, he was very critical of you. He didn't like that fight. Did that bother you? A little bit. I felt that I did pretty good, you know. Like, why are you so critical? I think a lot of people expected bloodbath because of the Twitter thing that went on. He was talking so much.

Right. So some people were like, you know, and especially Ellenberger's style, usually, you know, he's like a train. Sure, sure. Just burns through people. So a lot of people expected this is going to be just like a Carlos, like when I fought Carlos Condit, just a, you know, crazy fight. But, you know, I did the right techniques. and I, you know, completely dominated it. Did you, did you take it personally when you was so critical of it?

No, it's just his opinion. That's your boss, right? You have to, there's a sense of you, like, I need to impress this guy to a degree, right? Yeah, for sure, for sure. You know, you don't want to, you don't want to, you know. You want to be in the doghouse. For sure, yeah. But I knew it would come in time.

You would see that, you know, the good things. What was that feeling like when you finished Tarek Safedin in front of the crowd there? Great crowd. Yeah, I was pumped out. That was a great feeling. Yeah. Because the last time you finished someone was at Shea Mills? Yeah, probably.

So it had been a while. Yeah, yeah. It's different than winning a decision. Way different. Way better. Of course. Were you expecting that? Yeah, every fight I expect it.

You know, you expect later on, like, later on, like, did you expect the fight to play out that way? Yeah, I guess. I mean, that's where I'm always going for, right? Right. It's hard to say you have to just kind of go with it and see what your opponent brings, you know. You could change in a second, right? You could just start throwing punches like crazy, so you have to adapt. And what was the feeling like when you got the text that you got that title shot?

I was happy. How did you celebrate? I didn't. You just sat on your couch and took a nap. Yeah, pretty much. Have you envisioned November 22nd? You know, I'm always thinking about fighting, yeah. So sometimes when I'm daydreaming, yeah.

Do you think about anything else? For sure, yeah. Like what's the main thing that occupies your mind? mind other than fighting? You know, I don't know, family, hunting. Ladies? Yeah. Sometimes.

My girlfriend. Your girlfriend, of course. Yeah. You guys live together? No, not right now. Really? Yeah, she's back in BC at the moment. She's a beat, you knew her from back then?

High school. Oh my gosh. Yeah. How many years? I was about 15 when I met up? I've known my wife since we were 12. So I respect that. Wow.

Nice. Congratulations. Well, thank you. Do you think you'll get married? probably it's good because she knew you before you were rora macdonald ufc star yeah so she's not a johnny come lately you know yeah she's not jumping on the bandwage she's all good she's going to move to can it's in montreal she she did for a bit but it was hard for me with training camps and stuff you send her back yeah wow yeah i'm a bit cut through like that look at you so i feel like before your fight like

it's not good to be friends with you right like in the week before it's it's tough yeah it's i'm a little but I'm a hard guy to be around. Cut your hand, cutting avocados, like you're intense. Yeah. Are you afraid you're going to have to pull out? Yeah, I was worried that the commission was going to make me pull. Like, they were going to cut me or whatever. You just didn't tell them?

Yeah. Good job. But eventually you want to get married, right? Yeah. How are you going to balance that? I don't know. Maybe I'll be done fighting. Who knows?

Oh, okay. Do you know when you'll be done? Mm-mm. You don't have it in your mind. Do you know what you want to do when you're done? Somewhat, kind of. What? You know, have a family.

But as far as a job? Yeah, I don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe I'll have an MMA school or something. I'm just going to go with what I'm feeling, you know, my passion at the moment. And how about your brother saying you couldn't beat him up? Yeah. Look at you now. I know.

Guns out. Number one contender. Has he ever fought? No. He's like a blue belt and jiu-situ, though. What a wuss? He's tough. He could probably.

dig you. He probably could be, yeah, yeah. But I mean, I feel it's a great story. He didn't even think that you could beat him and now look at you, beating everyone in the UFC. Yeah, yeah. And does your dad go to all your fights? Not all of them. He works pretty hard. So it's hard for him to get tell you. Will your family be there in March or April? I'm sure. That's a big one. Yeah, it is. Okay, we ran out of time, but I enjoyed this greatly. Went by really fast. Yeah. What'd you think? Yeah, went by quick. Did you enjoy it? Yeah, man. All right. Uh, there he is, Rory McDonnell. November 22nd, he'll be competing against J. T. Torres at Meta Morse at Meta Morse, in Los Angeles.

You can get tickets now at Metamoros.com. And then the big one for us, he'll be getting a title shot. He'll be facing the winner of Johnny Hendricks versus Robbie Lawler. That's number two for those guys. The rematch, December 6th,

UFC 181 in Las Vegas. Official pick, who are you picking? I know you don't care, but who do you think is going to win the fight? I don't know. I was asking about Henzow versus Sakrabba, by the way. I don't care about the title shot.

Hensow. Of course. You're going there in a minute. But you don't have a gut about Hendrix and the Moller? That one no. No. You're just going to be sitting there enjoying it. Yeah.

All right. There he is. Rory McDonald. Also, follow him on Twitter. Rory underscore McDonald. He loves social media. This is a big one for us. A lot of you didn't think it was going to happen, but it is happening.

Right now, let's go to the phone line and welcome in the one and only, the man who will be facing Anderson Silva on January 31st in Las Vegas. Our good friend Nick Diaz joins us right now, which seems somewhat surreal to even say. Nick, are you there? Hey, how you doing? Hey, Nick, it's been a while since we've talked, and, you know, I've got to say a lot of people, this, you know, we've been doing this show for over four years, and you're the number one most requested guests. You've never been on the show before, so I can't thank you enough for stopping by. I really appreciate it. Oh, no problem.

How's everything? How's life? Um, it's, you know, I'm getting through. You're surviving. Oh, yeah. You're in Las Vegas for this big press conference. All the stars are out. Are you, I know typically this isn't the most fun part of the job for you,

but do you recognize what a big deal this is? We're very close to the fight now. Are you happy to be there and take part in something like this? Yeah, sure. I don't really know what's going on yet. I mean, as far as today, that's what you mean. But, yeah, I think, yeah, I mean, things seem to be going well. I feel good about everything.

Has training camp for, I kind of even regret starting it this way because I feel like you're always training, but has it officially started for Anderson Silva, even though we're still around three months away? Sure, yeah. I'm up here in Vegas right now, so, I mean, I was going to be out this way, so I did, you know, I did a, I did a hard couple of, a couple of weeks, pretty much this whole last month. It did a good. you know just getting in shape and stuff and yeah now you know i got a few little small injuries not no real injuries but just like you know just a little banged up from um training so having a nice easy week um on counting me being out here and uh good timing i think too so you know the last time i last time i did an interview with you know on camera or like this was after the George St. Pierre fight, and you know, you said you were done, and you truly stayed true to your word, except you said, if I could get a George fight again, or Anderson.

And that was almost, you know, two years ago now. Would you have been content, just never fighting again if you couldn't get one of those fights where you had peace with that decision? Yeah. Well, you know, the thing is, these are big fights. And, you know, it's hard to look back and think, oh, wow, I could have done this part of that fight. I just do it.

I look back and I'm thinking about why did I take one of these, you know, mediocre level opponents or fights or something like that, and I can see myself going, you know, why, you know, I didn't need to do that. I didn't need to go there. It was, you know, it was just, you know, I'm not, I'm not fanatical or in love with being. an enemy fighter. Sure. I just,

you know, I'm the right guy after the job nowadays. You know, pretty much after my first couple of pro fights, I wound up

being the right guy for the job, so that's why I'm still here. And, you know, I'll fight the right fights if I have the right opportunity. I've heard you say,

I've heard you say countless times that you don't get excited about fighting. This is not something that, you know, that you truly, you know, wake up and say, ooh, I get to be in a cage fight.

But is there anything about MMA fighting that you missed in your time off? Anything at all? Yeah, no, I get excited about a lot of things, you know, getting in good shape. And for the host part, I'm excited to, you know, be done and go back and sign to my check. Really, but, like, that's exciting to me. but as far as getting out there and fighting, there's a few things that, you know,

not so much now, but come closer to the fight. I usually you get down to this, you get down to this, like, level of curiosity where you're wondering, what the, you know, what did I, what did I, you know, what did I not cover, what it or not do? Do you all figure it out or something? So you're just, you know, you're like, what is, you know, what,

I pretty much go through every scenario in my head, so I'm going like, what is it exactly that it's going to happen out there? So now I'm really, you know, I want to know, but I don't really call that an exciting thing. I don't know. I like that. Exciting is more, for me, I'm more like, okay, you know, tomorrow's Christmas, what's, you know,

what am I getting for Christmas in the morning? Right. So, that's, that's an exciting thing. That's, like, you know, kind of a happy thing. I'm not, it's more of like, okay, we're going to see what's what. And, you know, speaking of being happy, are you happy with the deal that you got from the UFC to take this fight? Yes, I mean, sure.

You know, that's what I found the deal. I mean, I wasn't going to walk out of there, you know, with something I wasn't happy with, so I just, you know, It just, you know, pretty much I was able to score a deal. I can't refuse. It's just, it's how to look at it. Anderson hasn't fought for a while

coming off a devastating injury. Do you think he will look the same, or do you think this will change him as a fighter? Are you expecting someone different than the one we've seen so many times before? I don't know. I always expect the worst. The worst, meaning the best, Anderson? Worse for me and the best for him.

Right. So, yeah. or best for my opponent. You know, she's pretty much really, uh, estimistic, I guess. Say, like, some, my outlook on how things are going to go. I don't like to, I don't like surprises and, um,

I don't like to, um, yeah, I just don't like to be, uh, I don't, you know, it's not my thing to let myself down, so I don't really work myself up too much, you know. Just do what I have to do to win. And I'll not try to put myself into believing, and I'm something that I'm not out there. So, you know, just a hard feel, I guess. I don't know if you heard this recently.

George St. Pierre told Chale Sondon in his podcast that he was surprised you took the fight at 185, that that might be a disadvantage. You know what? The thing is about old George, he's not doing the fight, okay? So he didn't take the fight. He barely said two things, and he'd get the fight, just like that. But he don't want to.

fight. He's scared to do the fight, and he's scared to do the fight at 185 pounds, and he thinks we have so much of gone in that. Maybe I don't want to do the fight 100. How does he knows? Who knows? Maybe I have a hard time making a wake than all George does. I come in there skinny and shit.

George packs on, like, you know, extra 20 pounds of muscle. I'm like, that's why I have to do the fight at 185 pounds. So you can look at it like however you want. But the thing is, the fact is, I'm like, you didn't really take into consideration what's what, when it comes to what's really going to. You know, not that he's not going to, but he don't have to show up on way. It doesn't mean that I'm not going to fight. But the fact is the Wimble's going to walk out there, and I'll be a lot smaller if I try

to make the catch-weight, and my opponent decides he just doesn't want to make weight. Now, then I actually have a real issue to deal with, and that's, That's, you know, that's a real physical possibility. That's, you know, I'm not concerned about who gets fine, little small little 10% or whatever, oh, because you didn't make weight or something. You know, as far as I know, Amazon's and stuff, but he's always made weight.

What's one time you don't make weight? You know, it's just the fact there is that, you know, you don't know what the fuck you're talking about until you're actually the guy in the driver's suit. So, you know, you can fucking run your mouth or, you know, you can beat the ball and, you know, and do what you got to do. So that's me. That's why I'm not. But I don't know.

I think, you know, I don't go ahead and get in my opinion on what I think fighters should have done or would have done. I'm like, because I'm not them. I don't know. You don't know what's what. You don't know what's what. But, you know, he's going to have things to say. He can say what he wants to say. Did you ask for it to be closer to 170 or did you not care at all?

Nope. I didn't say a word. I said, hey, look, you know, it's not like I'm not going to have to lose weight to make 185 down. It's not, you know, it's not going to be, it's not something I'm overly concerned about, especially in this fight, I think, because, you know, my opponent is not, you know, one of these big strong guys. who like to, you know, get through a fight by being strong, you know, so it's not, that really doesn't really come into play.

You know, you know, you can say, okay, reach may come into play, but neither of us are getting any taller or shorter. So it's kind of, there's nothing I can really do about size when it comes to fire other than, you know, just coming strong and healthy as I can. So, you know, I mean, I feel good, though. You know, speaking of GSP, a lot has happened since both of you last fought, as far as drug testing is concerned. You've been one of those guys who's talked about this at length. Are you happy... Did they find again in him for steroids? No, no.

He actually... He's actually... He said that he wouldn't return unless there were changes in the steroid policy, the drug testing policy. So I'll ask you a two-parter. Are you surprised, considering what you've said about in the past, or are you surprised that he has taken that stance? And are you happy with some of the changes? Yeah, it was like, oh, Lance Armstrong.

I don't know. I don't really put too much thought into it. I don't really understand your question. Well, are you happy with some of the changes? They're doing a lot more random drug testing these days. A lot has changed since you fought, dude. Yeah, no, I like that. That's good.

I think, you know, maybe we should be doing some drug testing like that. That's, you know, that's kind of just fun. A lot of people who like to... I mean, most fighters for those. the most part that I like to do steroids, but, you know, so that's your dad for them. But, you know, either way, it's fun. I look at it like there's ups and downs for fighters who are doing about steroids, you know, I think it's a, I think in my career like a long-term, a long-term sort of, you know,

I just, martial arts why I do martial arts. It's more of a, you know, it's more of a, you know, it's more of, um, you know, a life type of training, you know, martial arts. I do that for myself in general, so I'm not, you know, I'm not trying to go there with the, I need an extra help and doing all that. You know, I just, I just try to be healthy as I can. You know, I'm just, not my thing really to be on steroids.

So you have different types of fighters, I guess you say. As I said at the top, go ahead. Types of athletes. I think some air listening to, you know, these guys, they just throw a different crew, you know, a lot of time. You know, Nick, as I said at the top, you were the most requested guest by far we've ever had in the show. And when I announced that you were coming on the show,

people lost their minds. And I'm wondering, I wanted to ask you about this because following you on Instagram, for example, you get to see a much different side of you, your sense of humor, you know, things that you post. It's a lot different than, the Nick Diaz that we may know from promotional videos or pre-fight interviews and whatnot. At this stage in your career, and you've been fighting for so long and been in the limelight for so long,

do you still feel like people don't really know who Nick Diaz is, that they don't really understand what you're all about and, you know, your mindset and just the kind of person that you are? Do you still get that impression? Well, yeah, sure. I mean, for the most part, I'm not always going to sit down and watch every time. I'm looking at every interview. And they do, you know, a majority of my stuff is pretty much, you know, a lot of

stuff from a long time ago. There's a different outlook on a lot of things. So, you know, people are going to make their case or whatever, you know, this scumbag. But just the way it is, something I just have to deal with nowadays. But I think that, you know, real fans, they're, they're very friends. they're pretty down to earth so a lot of these guys

a lot of anime fans are pretty down to earth and open-minded how they got into the sport in the first place so you know

things working themselves out why do you think they like you so much why do you feel like you're still one of the most popular guys in the UFC and a lot of us

in the media said the UFC almost needed you more than you needed them at this point because some of those stars were moving on and you're still one of those big draws even now in your career?

I think a lot of times stylistically, you know, when it comes to like maybe it comes to like boxing and jihitsu, I'm a black throat and jitzy. And I have been, before a lot of American,

before a lot of Americans in general and then a lot of American in the main fighters as well. And you guys don't have to find I black belt from a pretty legitimate source. So I just think, like, siloically, that people can relate to what they see out there. And initially, I started finding, like, way back 2002s and threes.

And so I'm still in it because I've had to work to evolve and make changes. and then get better. And a lot of people don't have the time in life to put themselves through that. So, you know, I just end up, I mean, I mean, you just, we just, we get what we get now. After 15, 16 years of fighting, it's just people like what they see.

And, yeah, I mean, I mean, I've never had a year off, I've got a year off now, so it's been a good learning experience. But ever since then, you know, it is a learn. It's just like, you know, when you've never had a year off of fighting, somebody every three months, then you don't really know what that's like. So it's, you know, it's been a good experience. But I think that, you know, up to that many fights in them, you know, I thought all the best guys.

I was supposed to lose every fight that I fought. So, what do you mean by that? Well, I mean, for the most part, except for maybe some of the time I was in a lead ex-ski fighting, maybe one or two fines here in that. But, for the most part, I've walked out as like an underdog or, you know, oh, I'm not a kickboxer, so I'm a loser kickboxer, I'm not a wrestler, I'm a wrestling. I'm a wrestling sucks. I'm a loser wrestler. You know, so I always have a, or, you know, I'm fighting somebody twice my age. A long time ago.

So, you know, I've always been kind of... But I'm not favored to win. But, you know, I wound up with a good... I mean, a decent performance out there, or, you know, pulled it off. You know, so people like to see real, real fight, you know, real fight to win. You know, Nick, I believe, and correct me from wrong, this is one of your first interviews in a while, and I can't thank you enough for coming on.

And we'll let you go in just a couple minutes. but I was wondering if you can comment at all on the DUI stuff that happened just a few weeks back. Is there anything that you can share, shed some light on it at all? No, you know, it's pretty much... There's really a lot to me, so I really not talk about it right now. Okay, but it won't stop you from fighting on January 31st, right? Oh, no, no, yeah.

It's honestly really not... You know, it's just really not something that... I feel like it's important to talk about. Fair enough. What about your boy Joe Schilling on Saturday? Did you see that? Yeah, I sure did. He looked great.

Yeah, that was real good. You know, we're working with him a little bit when he's going to make stuff. But I've been doing a lot of sparring with that guy for a few years now. From my last couple fights, I had him out doing a lot of hard sparring with that guy. So he's a good friend of mine. You know, it's great, too. be able to, you know, trying to help him out a little bit. He ran in, so, you know, he was out for training,

he was going to spend a lot of time training out with me before this fight. And then, you know, he went on a, with a few family issues he had to take care of. So I was a little worried, but he went out there real good. So I was, you know, we're happy for him. Some might say, Nick, and we'll end on this, some might say that the Anderson Silva fight is one of the biggest in your career, which obviously says a lot. Would you consider a win over him,

considering his resume? Would you consider that the greatest moment of your fighting career? I'm sorry, Tim again? Would you consider beating Anderson Silva the greatest moment

of your fighting career? No, maybe if I saw, when I get back, signed for the biggest check I was signed for, that's, maybe that'd be a great thing,

you know? You know, too bad for him, too bad for me if we don't do well. But, yeah, I'll be happy to it.

I'll be happy Hardbook Pays off in whatever way it does Well, it's great to have you back, Nick. Did you miss me? Oh, you know it?

I was like, I thought we were going to get a glide this morning. Yeah, why? You know, that way, I was going to get any crazy questions for me out of left field But I didn't glide for you this morning. What do you mean? You didn't glide me?

I've been... Yes, I did. Check your glide. Check your glide. I got nothing. I got you last night. You've... I lied you last night.

Really? Because we had a good thing going with the glides, and then I felt like you kind of left me hanging there for a second. Oh, I felt like you avoided my glide this morning. No. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That must be the new phone that I got.

Was it anything? Should I play right now, or should I leave it alone? No, it's fine. It's over. If you have seen it already, then... Right, no, we're good. It's fine. I understand.

If you're not going to check my glides. No, look, when I see that notification that Nick Diaz has glided me, it's like Christmas. You talk about getting excited. It's like Christmas. And then when your brother comes in, I mean, it's... These are exciting things, right. These are exciting things. Yeah, this is where things become exciting for me. Don't be a stranger, you know. You can come back. Did you enjoy the experience on the show? Will you come back? Right. Okay. You will come back. Thanks for having me on.

Okay. Nick, appreciate it. All the best. Okay. There he is. Nick Diaz stopping by. I didn't get his glide. I'll have to check. Is it there? I'll see anything. Maybe I'm not looking at it correctly. In any event, thank you very much to him. He'll be at the press conference later today. It's UFC 183, January 31st, Las Vegas, Nevada, Anderson, Silver v. Nick Diaz. One of the biggest fights in UFC history. That is not an overstatement, in my opinion. joining us for the first time in a very long time is the UFC's women's bantamway champion

the one and only Ronda Rousey on the phone right now Rhonda, how are you? I'm good, how you do I am? Is that really you? Wow,

I can't believe you're actually on the show. I feel like it was almost easier to get Barack Obama on this show than Ronda Rousey herself. Yeah, you know,

it kind of sucks to weight, doesn't it? You're still, you know, it's amazing. And on this show, We have a segment called Inside the Vault. Every week I play old clips, and I'm playing that clip this week because I feel like you're still holding onto this grudge.

No, no, you're out of the penalty box, and I was holding onto it. I wouldn't be on the show. Wow. But, yeah, I have a grudge-holding problem, definitely. Could we air it out right now? Could we fix this problem right here and now? Okay, so for everybody listening, this is what happened. Back in my strike-first days before I even, I think it was a first time.

for the Julia Bud fight. I was being brought downstairs to, it was one of the UFC events I was at, I was being brought down to the media room where they have catering and stuff like that for the media. And now I'm kind of nervous, and I feel a little out of place, and I'm just starting, getting to do media

and stuff like that, and it's easy to feel like, you know, a little embarrassed, like the new kids, the cafeteria doesn't have anywhere to sit. And so Ryan Grabb was one of the, he was handling the Strike Force CR at the time, brings me over into the press room, and I already feel awkward.

and I'm right behind him, and he goes in his post-Ariel, who's in the media room, and, you know, buy the catering and all that. And he was like, hey, you know, Rhonda's here. Ronner is one of our strike force fighters. She's going to take some kind of talk to her. And then area goes, yeah, yeah, have her wait, five, ten minutes until I'm done eating this. And I'll see if I can give her some time. I did say that.

I did not say that. Oh, wait, wait a minute, okay? It's not like we're at an immediate lunch. where the purpose is for everyone to sit down and eat today, and I suddenly interrupted your lunch. No, you're at a youth event or you're there to cover fighters, and it happens to be catering. You make me go and wait for 10 minutes while you finish nibbling on your catering

before you'd give me any of your time. So I'm like, all right, do you want me to wait five to 10 minutes? There will come a day, or I will make you wait six to 12 months. Wow. This is what just happened. Even more than that. I think it's been two years since you've been on the show, so I really paid the price.

but by the way, I just want to make it clear I mean, A, I've never done that since because you've made me feel very bad and B, I don't think I ever did that before I had done interviews all that and I don't think I said it quite like that to be fair to myself. I remember having a Caesar salad, I'll never forget it

I remember it was UFC 137 it was BJ versus Nick Diaz it was in the Manila Bay Oh yeah, my first UFC event ever There you go Yeah, my first one ever I met you I don't forget these things and you were a big star.

I mean, I remember the first time I heard about you, all that stuff. And I just wanted to just get something in so that, you know, I'd have something in my belly. That was it. I don't think I was that rude. Oh, so you remember your salad, but you don't remember what you said to me? No. That's how a little importance of the dialogue between me and you was below your salad in your book? Did you say, Ariel?

It's not helping your case. Do you recall saying yourself, F this guy and I will make him pay? Like, do you actually remember that? Yeah, I remember feeling embarrassed. Wow. I'm sorry. That I was made to wait. What an asshole.

I just did wait one day. Wow. So I've approached, I mean, you have, in my opinion, one of the greatest agents in sports. Brad Slater, kudos to him and his team over there for doing such a great job with your career and others as well, the Rock, et cetera, Chris Wyven with him. But I've approached him so many times to have you on the show, and I keep getting turned down. So now I know it's you. You're the one who was saying, screw that guy. I'm not going to do a show for X amount of months because of what he did to me.

in November of 2011, October of 2011, because he wanted to have a couple of strands of lettuce. Yeah, exactly that. Okay, fair enough. You would imagine how well I remember the people that really genuinely flighted me. You know, that was just unintentional. Wow. I told you, I have a grudge problem. That's my mother.

Yeah, but I feel like that fuels you into the person you are today, right? I mean, I feel like you keep thinking about this. Oh, yes, yes. Let's give you credit for everything, Ariel. No, no, no. Not me. I'm saying your quote-unquote problem. holding on to grudges.

You remind me of, you know, those basketball players who get invited to New York and the NBA draft and they don't get picked in the top ten and they say, screw all those teams. When I play them, I'm going to kick their ass, I'm going to prove them wrong. They should have picked me. You know what I mean? I feel like you're that kind of person. It's a good attitude to have, you know?

It's not always popular, but it's always extremely productive. Well, again, one more time, I'm sorry, and I'm glad. And by the way, how did I get out of the penalty box? It was just my time was up. We expired here and we're good? Yeah, yeah, I was over it. It's not good to hold... I was like, okay, I'm over it.

I've become over it. And why didn't you ever say something in person? I mean, it's not the first time I talked to you since. Were you just going to leave it hanging? Were you being passive-aggressive? I mean, why not just confronted face-to-face? I think I did tell you before. Yeah, you did.

You were aware. I make sure you were aware. All right. Well, I'm happy that you're on the show. I don't want to spend too much time on that because the interview will be over and we'll just be talking about Caesar's salad. Thank you very much for coming back.

And there's so much going on your life. First things first. Just last week it was announced that you signed a deal. You're the new women's face of Buffalo, David Bitole, Buffalo Pro, for the active person out there, the athletes. They've done stuff with Chandler Parsons of the Mavs and other athletes as well, Eric Decker. How did this come about? Because this is not your typical MMA sponsorship deal. No, no. And it was very intentionally different. I've been getting first from an A person for a lot. But I felt like apparel is so important that I really wanted to try and get outside of the MMA space for it. And I held out for a lot of when I turned down some very deals that a lot of people doubted me for a lot of decision.

It ended up really paying off. I wanted to where I finally signed with an apparel deal. It would be something different and unprecedented. And this is the first ever fashion deal that any MMA fighters ever had. We're looking at some of the images from your photo shoot and whatnot, courtesy of Buffalo. By the way, that's a Canadian company. I believe they're actually based in Montreal. So kudos for me.

Cool. I love Montreal. One of my favorite all-time cities. I used to live there, you know? You used to live in Montreal? Yeah, there was a time with USA Judo. Then I was like, I just hated all of the U.S.A. Judo and all of their team and all their coaches. So I went and trained in Montreal, and I lived at the dorms of, like, Van Nu

college. Wow. Yeah, I was in Steylor-on, and I was to take the bus, sitting the bus stop and the blizzard to go to the gym and all that stuff. I lived out there for about, like, four months or something like that? Now, was that part of USA Judo, or is that your own thing? No, that was my own thing. I wouldn't go trade the Shido Khan, which is, like, the Olympic training center for the Canadian

judoka there, and the Canadian team was always so cool and awesome to me. And, you know, they brought me in the Lentenetra. They couldn't coach me because I was taught the girls, but because I always beat their girls, they weren't. against having me there so their girls would get used to fighting me and they could like, you know what I mean? So that was like my runaway place. I ran away to Canada at one point.

That was actually amazing. I love it in Montreal. I wish I had a car. Yeah. But Montreal is a special place, especially, you know what I mean? The people there are so nice, Cainz are so nice. So I'm not surprised to hear you say that. But back to the Buffalo thing.

I mean, we're looking at these images and, and, you know, you've talked about, you know, issues with your self-image and weight and things of that nature. How big of a deal is it just for you to show people that you know, you don't have to look a certain way? Because, you mean, the stuff is pretty provocative. And I would imagine at some point in your life, you never, you know, you never, ever in your wildest dreams, thought you'd have a photo shoe like that with another guy and you're wearing all this stuff. I mean, that has to be a pretty amazing sort of thing to cross off your list, right? You actually conquered this thing.

You're from beginning to end, you officially conquered whatever fear, whatever issue that you had with your body, right? There's definitely a lot of fears, yeah, coming into that. I didn't even know there was a male model. we landed. And then when I actually saw the concept of the shoot, I was like, well, this is like a love scene 101. I'm like, I'm going to have to, like, do something like this in a movie at some point, right? So it's kind of a setting where I don't have dialogue and it's just still pictures

and stuff like that. But, yeah, I remember when we first got in that, I felt so awkward and out of place. And I sat down on the bed with the photographer guy was there, and Arthur was the model made. He had no ass name. He was just awesome. I was the holistic Taylor

and so I just sort of sat down and that it was like so, Arthur, what do you do? Like,

it was so awkward you had to go from like just meeting this person to like, okay, and broad time. Like,

oh shit. It was, it was, I don't know if I'm allowed to swear on this at all, but,

how did you get over it? Um, I just tried to not let it show like, um, I felt pretty out of place and awkward and dumb. And a lot of times

I was just, like people think I look super confident what I'm doing, and I'm actually just trying to stifle my own embarrassment. Because I'm willing to embarrass myself over and over and over again. As many times it takes in order for me to get that one good shot, and it doesn't matter. I'm willing to be embarrassed. So that's kind of how I got over it,

was I just embraced being embarrassed for a whole day, and at the end of the day, we end up with some pretty cool stuff. Yeah, so when you watch it now, is it mind-blowing to you? That's me. I conquered this. I was able to, you know, not feel. feel awkward, at least not portray that I'm awkward? What's it like watching it?

I just, I thought the results to be good, and I wanted to do a good job, and I wanted it to be, like, you know, to be very, obviously, a fashion shoot and something very classy and stuff like that, and I think it really came across really well and that it looked more like one of those, like a perfume ad than if you just, buddy, like, in the maximum shoot, you know? I really did look very high fashion to me. when I saw it. And the whole production was just way more than anything that I'd ever dealt with before.

I mean, these people were very, very professional, and they're very serious about what they do. They did everything possible and made me comfortable the whole time. I mean, they brought in everybody that does the hair and makeup and styling for the Victoria Secret Shoots for that. So I felt like very well taken care of. You know, we just had Roy McDonald's in studio, who, by the way, he's a big fan of yours, and he'd like to train with you in L.A. What do you think of that? Yeah. Yeah.

Oh, my coach is right here. It sounds cool to me. Well, I'll have to ask him. He's the boss. All right. Well, I told him I put in a good word. He's going to be there after November 22nd when he does MetaMorris. But he was telling us about how the first time he trained, the very first time.

When he's 14 years old, he knew he'd be special. He knew he'd be some kind of UFC champion. He just like he walked out of the gym as a 14-year-old and said, I'm going to be special. Did you have the same kind of epiphany or did it take you some time to even think about UFC champion, an MMA champion? Was it other things in between? And even when it was judo and Olympics, did it take you some time to believe

that you would be special? No, it was always just kind of ingrained in me. Like, when I was a little kid, I started swimming, my dad just said, okay, you're going to win the Olympics and swimming. And I just figured he was right about everything. I was like, yeah, I'm going to win the Olympics and swimming. And then when I switched him to some into judo,

I was like, okay, well, I guess I'm still win the Olympics from this now. And then when I pushed down to me, I'm like, okay, well, there's an Olympics, so I'll be the best of the world number one in a title of and in my family, there's no doing something just to do it. My mom always said, you can do anything in the world you guys want to do. You just have to be the best in the world of that. When you thought about all that stuff, did you, like, the idea of movies and these kind

of sponsorships and all the other ancillary stuff that you've received early in your career, did that, you know, was that part of the equation? Was that part of the thought process as well, or is this all, you know, very much gravy to you? You know what? I had some pretty ridiculous high aspirations. started. The fact that I'm starting to top them is I never could have seen that coming because

when standing at the base of the mountain, how high I imagine the peak to be was pretty damn high, but as soon as I got there, it was like, I realized I'm on the edge of this whole mountain range where there's a bunch of peaks all around and even higher than one I'm standing on. But the thing is, I have to be willing to dip down into the valley in between and go down and start over again and come back up.

You know, so when I started doing judo, I was like, oh, the Olympics, and I got to one and I saw it up on there and they're like, oh, okay. So, you know, he'd go and he took at it for a little while, and then he climbed up to the next week. And then I got that one. I was like, oh, my God, there's all the fraction and all that stuff. And I'm willing to go back into the valley and be in the office again and suck all over again

and come right back up to the next peak. And I think a lot of people get straight at their first peak because they're not willing to start over again and be a student all over again. It's hard. It's hard process. What's the one thing that you thought about, I recall thinking about that you still haven't accomplished? I want to have a franchise.

A franchise? Yes, I want to have a movie franchise. A movie franchise? Like a sequel, a trilogy, something like that? Yeah. I want to find, like, the Indiana Jones to my Harrison Ford, or the Rocky to Must Alone, or the Terminator to My Fort Svanger,

or the, you know, the Resident Evil to Marmingo Jolovich. I'm surprised to hear you say that. It has nothing to do with athletics. Do you feel like you've accomplished everything athletic-wise? You said something that I haven't done yet. I mean, I still want to retire undefeated, but I don't want to retire now. Right. And, you know, the main goal that I have more than anything else is the 11-0,

and I'm going to beat Katzenegano, and that is next thing on my plate. But, you know, something that I haven't done, like entirely unique that I haven't done yet, then I would probably say more towards outside the sports thing. I mean, what would you suggest to be a new goal for me? Well, I don't know. Who am I to tell you what your goals should be? I mean, I'm just a lowly MMA reporter here. I mean, look at –

Well, I mean, let's be honest. From that day, I mean, I'm pretty much in the same spot when we met back at UFC 137. Look at you now. I mean, one person has gone all the way here, and I'm pretty much staying here, so I shouldn't be the one to tell you by your goals, but let's talk about Katzengano,

because you wanted to fight on January 3rd. That's what we were originally told. But now you're fighting February 28th. Are you annoyed that it got pushed back almost two months? Well, I wasn't happy about it, but there's really nothing I can do about it. I just show up and fight and when they tell me to show up and fight and I show up and win, and that's it. And who it is or what it is, it's outside of my control, so I can't really invest too much of my happiness in it. But, yeah, I was planning on doing other things at that time, but,

Now that the fight's pushed back, you know, I could take some more meetings and really try to figure out more of what I want to do after that fight and what the new schedule is. And that's the thing with having dual career is I just have to be able to roll with whatever comes by way and find a way for everything to work together. Is the silver lining that you get to fight essentially home? You've never had that experience as an MMA fighter, certainly not the point you are now.

Is that – and I don't consider Anaheim, I mean, I feel like you're more of an L.A. girl. Well, it always has been in dream of mind to be able to fight at the Stable Center. And so that is a silver lining. It definitely is. I've always wanted to be in Stable Center. I make you think of the days about cocktail waitressing, and I was watching the Lakers play on TV, being like, man, I wonder if things would be different.

If Luke Walton walk in here and ask me out and I would never at the cocktail waitress again, you know, and I was, like, sitting there in, like, a shady bar and crudely. Shaw thinking like, oh, like the third string player on the Lakers team asked me out, my life would be different. No. I'm like, I'm going to be one of the headliners at the Stable Center. It's pretty ridiculous. And now look at you, yeah.

It's more special. It really does because, yeah, I remember sitting in that bar and watching plenty of Lakers games with the Stable Center and being like, dang, that seems like a lot of cool and we're on that right now. Are you a little annoyed, though, that you're not. the main event, I mean, I feel like you've earned that opportunity, especially in your hometown. Does it bother you at all? Oh, no, not at all. If I could be the co-mains for the rest of my life, I love that.

You know how much less work I have to do with the co-main event? And me and Chris, we have great luck together. That's true. Whenever we fight hard, we kill it. And so, no, I'm happy to be out of car with Chris, always. Even we said after the last fight, we've got to try and stick together because we've got a good string of luck going. They just came out with the line for the fight.

You're a gigantic favorite. Does that surprise you? I don't know I don't know I don't really I don't really put that much thought into it what is it well right now I'm looking at a few of the lines

I see a minus 1050 and she's a plus 600 minus 750 I mean I didn't think I mean this earlier what's that I mean it's better than Alexis well sure yeah

but are you a little disappointed that it's not Gina Crono next it seems like that's what you really want it seems like that's kind of dead at this point I mean, I think Gina's off making some movies or something right now, and it's one of those fights that I always will want, and I'll always understand whether she wants to do it or not. And Gina's already done so much for the sport and done so much to change my life for the better that I can't expect more out of her or demand more out of her, but I would like more out of her, but that's entirely her decision. Can I tell you my theory on that? I mean, I have the utmost respect for Gina,

and she was very kind to me, or I've talked about her many times on this show, but I feel like it was just all kind of a PR ploy to get in the news and sell that movie and all that. I mean, it took so damn long for the whole thing to materialize and finally die that I just didn't really believe at the end of the day that they wanted that fight.

What do you think? I don't know. Yeah, I don't particularly know Gina that well. I mean, we're on good terms, but I don't like that. call her up and fire over my house on Saturday and I don't know it like that so I don't I can't really say anything about her motivations

for anything I would like to think that they weren't disingenuous and wasn't just getting jerked around I don't think she would do that I think that she did want to fight or does I don't know but I don't think it was just the public seat now it was just announced on Saturday that Chris Cyborg suffered a serious injury and she's not going to be making her

bantamway debut next month speaking of you know superfighting that might not ever happen. At this point, do you even think about her? Do you feel like this is just never going to happen, and there's no point of even entertaining the idea? I mean, I just wait for fights. I really am not.

Oh, my God, my mom. My mom actually wrote me something really, really cool about that. What she said? Oh, man, I'm looking through my text messages right now. I'm trying to find what my mom said to me about her injury. Oh, I love your mom. She's been on the show. She actually comes on the show more than you.

Yeah. I think she does, right? I can't find it. Damn. Oh. But she said something like, if injured is another word for Royed out and can't make weight, then she puts it to be pretty fucking injured.

Wow. Your mom's cool. I know. I'm like, I love you, mom. This is where I get it from. This is why I don't care to say all the crazy stuff that I want,

because I know my mom would say something 10 times more nuts. I'm like, wow, my mom's cool of it. Through you guys. I got impressed me, random guy on the internet. My mom loves me.

But when you found out that news, were you a little disappointed? Because that is going to be such a big fight. I mean, there's so much, there's so much buzz and interest in that fight, and this just delays it, and who knows if it ever happens. A part of you just like, you know, I know you appreciate that, because I see the way you talk about Bech-Goh-Haya and storylines and things of that nature. This is a great storyline. So does a part of you just want to see it happen so that we can all, you know, actually enjoy the making of this fight, you know, coming together, the build-up all that stuff?

Well, in my eyes, Betch-Coheia is a real athlete and an honorable fighter, and Byborg is just a fraud, and she, if that fight ever happens or not, if she ever has the courage to actually step in front of me, I'll be happy to give her the ass-lip and that she deserves the whole time. But, I mean, honestly, I don't know the thing

she deserves that much. If it's happened or not, whatever. I'll do it, I'll beat her, I'll prove it to everybody, but it's just... I mean, that girl in my eyes should be charged with, like, attempted negligent homicide. Stuff like that.

Coming into the cage with, performance enhancing drugs is the equivalent of locking in them with a weapon. It's not about who hits the ball farther or something like that. The only reason why we're allowed to do MMA is because the human potential of how it is right now we can say that it's safe.

But if you keep putting PEDs and people, it's going to become less and less safe. And the day that somebody dies in that opfagon and the other person tests positive for steroids, they're going to have your first murder case involved in MMA. And that is the kind of thing. that's going to destroy the sport.

It could destroy the sport forever. And one fucking headline, whatever, that does extremely well isn't worth it. And I'm happy to put her out of her misery and put her out of the sport, and so no one else will have a deal with her ever again because it's something that needs to be done. But do I think that having a big pay-per-view card

is worth risking that kind of fate for the sport that I've worked so hard to develop? Then no, I don't think it's worth it. If they're going to put it in front of me, I'll put her out. but do I think she deserves to be there? No. You mentioned something before I let you go. I have to commend you on something because you said, you know, I don't need to listen to what these people say.

You said something a few months back that you never read your mentions on Twitter. And I've thought about that. I've gone on a few rants on Twitter these days because it can be overwhelming and it can literally depress you if you let it. Is that true? Do you really not look at your Twitter mentions? Because it's right there in front of you. How do you avoid that?

Yeah, I haven't looked at my Twitter mentions since we still know. my quieter. So, yeah, it's been over a year. I haven't looked at them once. And I'm much happier for it, to be honest. I mean, the thing is, I just realize that I can put the information out there. I can put as much as I want out there for the fans, but receiving the feedback is not anything that I need to do. I don't need to take that. And a lot of people, they have lives that they're very, very unhappy with. And the only time of day that they really get to let any time of aggression out or to let anything verbally out. You know, they have to sit in traffic all day and they have to let people honk at them

and cut them off and then they have a job that they hate and their bosses mean to them. Their coworkers are jerks and they can't speak up. At the end of the day, the only outlet they have is to go online and be mean to people. And that does something good for that. It makes them feel better, but I don't have to absorb that negativity from them. They can go and blow it off all they want, but absorbing it is not my responsibility. So I'm sorry that for the good fans, I can't read what they have to say so much. But, you know, for my own self-preservation, I just can't allow myself to be the, you know, the sanitation department for other people's shitty lives.

And was there a moment where you said, like, was there a tweet? Was there something said to you or you were like, screw this? Never again. I'm never looking at this? No, it was after we filmed the Ultimate Fighter and I knew how they were going to edit it together and how it was received. And I was like, look, I know what happened. I was there, and I don't need to spend any of my time or energy worrying about people's misconceptions about the version they were shown. So I'm done with this yet.

And I never looked again. And you're never tempted to check it. Let's just see what people are saying. Never. Never crossed you. No, it's just become not a habit. Wow. I stopped looking.

I'm, like, on Instagram, I'll look because it's easier to, like, I think people are as much more positive on Instagram. I get a lot more positive feedback on there. And Twitter, it's just like, people just go on, and I feel like people go on Instagram because they want to show you what they have to lunch. That is true. Okay, last thing, what's it like having Travis Brown at the gym, and what's it like having your gym,

which at one point wasn't, you know, on the map as far as a destination? It feels like, you know, I have Rory saying it. You see other guys coming through now, big names. It feels like it's all of a sudden become one of these TriStar, you know, Greg Jackson-type gyms where guys are coming, guys and women as well, coming from all over, to come train with you and your coach and the other people there. What's that like? It's actually hilarious.

Because when I started coming there, it was like an all-Iromanian men box in gym. Yeah. And everyone's like, it's your fault, Rhonda. I'm like, wow, I'm sorry. Like, everyone gives me like my secret weapon. And then he has this thing where if he sees someone doing something wrong, he, like, has to correct it. Like, it has to be done. And he correct something on someone once.

and they're just hooked. And I think that's what happened with, like, with, um, with, when we were just training Jiu-Sui and, um,

Edmund did a shadow box of the Jiu-Soo, so my hands, they loose. And, um, and then Jake was like, well, in a shadow box,

and then, um, Edmund just is compelled to correct people. So he just jumped up and correct something. And then Jake was, like, hooked from that moment on. And,

um, I don't know, it's just, it's funny that it's become, uh, MMA gym and a women's gym when Edmund hated MMA and he didn't have any women in the gym

when I got there. It's good that he is kind of coming out and getting more respect, but we have more speaker weapons in there. I mean, my wrestling coach, Martin, is a freaking genius. He's an absolute, he's the only person that I can grapple with

like standing and he can actually outsmart me. There's people that can be stronger as me or can be quicker than me or more exposed with me than me, but he is the only one that actually pushes me intellectually when I'm grappling and makes me so much better. And he's just, you know, one of the many people. Our straight conditioning guy, Jesse, is unbelievable. But we keep a lot of these things.

We lay low a lot and we don't do too much press for the gym and people just find out through word of mouth. That's the only reason why we've had so many people come and some recommendation from fighter to fighter. Well, Rhonda, I'm so happy that we buried the hatchet. I'm so happy our beef is over. Thank you so much for forgiving me. and congratulations on everything

congratulations on the Buffalo deal and all the success and I know you have two movies coming out at least two next year and you got the big title fight on February 28 so I really want to appreciate or I really want to thank you for your time and appreciate it very much

and don't be a stranger you know remember we had you and Mishan at the same time that was a great moment you know we we can have some moments here so don't forget about the little people all right I didn't forget I came back didn't I?

Yes you did Ariel really I appreciate you how respectful you've been in your position, so that's the only reason why I'm here. All right. Well, I appreciate it. Thank you very much. All the best to you and continued success. Thank you. That's a good one. Bye. There she is. Ronda Rousey, the UFC's Women's Bantamweight Champion stopping by. Great stuff from her, and she's got that fight coming up on February the 28th in Los Angeles, the Staples Center dual title fight. A legit co-main event.

Chris Wyman versus Vitor Belfort and Rhonda Rousey. versus Ketsingano. George, are you there? Yeah, I'm there, yeah. Great to have you on the show, George. How are you? Doing very well, thank you. Well, I appreciate it.

Are you running or something? What's going on? In the gym, just finished training now. I'm still sweaty. I haven't changed. Oh, okay. Well, I appreciate it very much. Thank you so much, George.

You watch... Because I'll do my training, otherwise I wouldn't, you know? Sure. I need to get my training done. So it was perfect. I just finished now. Perfect.

So you're still training as hard as ever? Yeah, I train for fun, not for competition, which makes it way more enjoyable, and it's, I don't know, it's so much fun. I got a lot better like this, too. I try new things, and it's a lot of fun. I saw that you tweeted this morning that you watched UFC 171 with Arnold Schwarzenegger. How did that happen? When I had my cancer of surgery, the chief therapist at Cullen job was Edel McElland. She used to take care of me for my physiotherapy.

And she's an old show as a girlfriend. So I was in La Sanjolette for business things. And I didn't know where to watch the fight, you know. And it was a perfect timing because Edward called me and said, Hey, by the way, I heard you in LA for Captain America premiere. And if you want to come watch a fight at the house, we're going to be happy to have you. so I was very happy, you know, to meet my idol.

I know, Northwazonegger, my biggest idol of all time. I remember when you met him after UFC 167, you asked him for a photo, even though you were all, you know, bruised and beat up. What was it like for you? Was it somewhat surreal to be watching a UFC welterweight title fight in Arnold Schwarzenegger's home, watching it with him? Yeah, yeah, but the thing is, the thing is, yeah, when I did the show with him, I was pretty messed up, you know,

and it was a lot of things. the fight, you know, like, the way everything ended up and everything. So it was an happy picture for me. I wanted to take a better picture when I'm good. So I'm very happy, you know. What was it like for you to watch a UFC welterweight title fight without you and see a new Welterway champion the first time we've seen that since 2007, a very long time ago?

Was it strange for you to watch that? Well, you know, because it's my choice, I give away the title. I did want this. I never nobody ever forced me to fight and at the same thing nobody ever forced me to stop and I wanted to stop I remember when I even talk about this with Arnold and it makes me feel very good because

there's only a few people that could understand what I live and Arnold is one of them you know he's got a lot more experience and life experience than me so he gives me a very nice advice and Arnold used to compete remember as a bodybuilder very like Mr. Universe bodybuilder so he knows what it is to compete at the highest level.

And I told him, like, when I fought Carlos Cundit, I was very angry, really hungry. When I fought Diaz, I was not as much hungry. When I fought rigs, my training camp, I was not as much. I was even less hungry. And I felt like I needed to step out to get some time to feel, you know, to see if I want to do this or not again. When you say angry, what do you mean?

Why do you need to be angry in the training camp? I'm not angry. Hungry. Oh, hungry. Okay. Fan. In French, we call it fan, right? I didn't want it. I didn't have as much fun.

Right. And I used to. Too much pressure, too much critic, a lot of problems. You know, when I was young, I was like 20 years old. I even talk about this with Arnold. I didn't give at them about anything. Don't think it was in my mind it was fighting. I didn't care about anything else.

I didn't have nothing else on my mind. The more you grow up, the more problem you have, the more expectation, the more bullshit you have in your life, too. The more things going on, and the more you're thinking, the more important thing you have in your life. And sometimes, you know, it's hard to keep the priority, the priority. And I need a lot of stuff happening, too. So I need to step out, you know. Right. And when you were watching, did the itch come back?

Did you feel like, man, I want to get, I missed that. That's my belt. Did any of those thoughts go through your mind? No, no. I mean, just watch it as a fan and it was a lot of fun, you know. I think personally, I think the fight, I think the fight went to Johnny and Drix. Yeah. I believe you had the round, you had the round one, two, and five.

Most people I know, they think it was Lordor that won the fight. So it was a very tight fight, they could have gone either way. I think he came down to the first round. I believe Loner won, the round that he won, it was more decisively, and he did more on the face, he did more damage on the face. But, you know, sometimes it doesn't mean anything, you know. Damage on the face, you know, it's the angle that you hit with the glavicle and you cause a crack, you know, it doesn't mean anything, you know.

A lot of damage, too, but you couldn't see the damage on the legs. You know, damage is on the face sometimes it's superficial. So that's one of the reason I think Hendricks won the fight, but like Ferris, a couple of guys, they believe it was Lawler, that won. And, you know, it's a very tight fight. It was a very good fight. Right now, the Walter Raid Division is wide open. It's very interesting because of the fact that you left.

After the fight, though, Johnny Hendricks said he'd love a chance to fight you again. He thinks it would be a lot of fun and he'd want to prove that he could beat you. Is there any chance that his next fight will be against you? I don't know. That's the reason why I take a break of this, because I don't want to be on the radar. And now people is calling me. And if I come back, he's going to have a lot of things to change. You know, I talk about this.

I didn't want to make a problem of the UFC, but I talk about what I wanted to. I want it, you know, it's a big problem in the sport, and I want this thing to be done. Otherwise, I will not come back fighting. I don't care for the other guys if they want to fight to do it like they do. But if I come back, I need to do my... I have to change some things in the way the fight is done.

Are you doing anything behind the scenes to change things, or do you just feel like you need to say it, say your piece, and that's it. I'm doing stuck, but it's not stuck. stuff that are something to do with the steroid testing and stuff for myself, you know. I'm building myself a better life right now. Okay. And we'll see what's got to happen. I don't say I'm going to come back.

It's not sure. It's no certainty. But I'm building something, and I cannot tell you everything. Why not? Why can't you tell at least me? We're from Montreal. We're friends. I can I pray to you because everybody will know, you know, your reporter, you know?

That's true. So that's a thing. You guys will find out. But right now, it's a process. And if I decide to be back one day, it's going to make me much better. And if I don't decide to be back, no problem. It will make my life better. So it's going to be good.

And when you say the process and all this stuff, does this have to just do with you or the sport itself? Like, are you doing stuff to change the sport? This is another thing. No, what I talk about is I told that before. And I never wanted to do something negative for UFC. I didn't want, what the only thing I want, I really, is to elevate the sport. I never, I've always been one of the guys that fight for the legitimacy of my sport.

And I just, I was in a for Andorama promotion this week. I was with Chris McCormack, their champion, world champion triathlon. And I talked to some of the guys in Brazil is a judo-alempsic guy champion, you know, Olympian champion. And all these guys, they all get tested. They can be tested randomly every time, you know? And, you know, we talk about. about they just banned TRT.

But the thing is, seriously, TRIT, MMI was the only sport they allowed TIRD. There's no other sport in the world they allowed TIRT. It's a normal thing. It should have been done a long time ago. The problem is the only TART is the way they do the test. They can ban anything. They won't, but if they don't test for it, is the problem, you know?

I can say, oh, I'm bending, I don't know, orange juice, but if I don't test for it, it has a thing to do, you know? So you have to make the test for this, you know? How's your relationship these days with the UFC? Because when you said this, Dana White and Lorenzo, were very surprised by your comments. I said it even before.

When I meet them, this I swear. I met them at my fight with Johnny and I went in the back. I said that. I said to them. I said it to them. I swear on myself, on my family. I said to this is not true.

I said that when I went in the back, when they took me over to talk to me, I said the first thing I said it was that, you know? That's one of the things. I said that we talk about other things, but that's one of the thing I said. I met that player before. So when I say I never said it,

I said in public before I said, to them, I said to them first. And yeah, I never did that to hurt the UFC. It's my goal to her the UFC. And I talked to Lorenzo, after a Noreno and I were a friend. Lorenzo, he wants to do something about it. When I came publicly with this, you have no idea how many text message I received of fighters and also reporters like reporters who cover the UFC who are afraid to lose their job.

They say, oh, thank you for doing this. I think you're right. It's a lot of people that. about that because you have the power to say it. A lot of guys they don't want, they cannot say it because they're going to lose their job and they're afraid. But you know, Laurento is a good person. Larento understands

that is true, you know, like I believe the problem is not the UFC is the system. It's a new sport and the last thing I want is toward the UFC. I just want to elevate the sport. I think it's the next step for elevating the sport

it should be done. I think it's a normal thing. You cannot be against a virtue. Dana White said on Thursday that he knows for a fact. That was his quote that you're going to come back and he still doesn't understand it, which is interesting what you say right now. He said when you met with him, you told him about some other stuff, but not this at all. So does he really know for a fact? Does he know something that we don't know about your return?

Because he says he knows for a fact that you're coming back and your time away has nothing to do with drug testing. It's about personal issues. That's what he says. They have personal issues and also the drug testing has something to do. I said it. This is the truth. I said it first. And I cannot use that kind of language I would like to use in the way that I tell them.

Because I didn't use a right, a very good, a very nice language when I said that. When I said that to them, I make reference to very bad things. And I cannot tell you the way I said it because I don't want to, you know, it's, I never want to accuse one individual. And it's not only, I didn't talk only about my last fight. I talk about, in general, I talk about the sport. If you attack one individual, 20 other will arrive and do the same thing. I don't want to...

It's not the UFC the problem. Like I said, the problem is the system. It's a new sport. The system is not in place. There is no guideline. You know, the way they test, now, it's not good, you know. It's not good the way they test. If you get cut on steroids right now, it's because you're very, like, very disorganized, you know.

It's so easy to beat the test. You know, it's ridiculous. it's not a real test. When you test, it has to be put in a, the sample has to be put in a certain temperature to not lose the thing inside. Otherwise, it's not good.

It has, like, some guideline that need to be done, and it's not done right now. What did they say when you told this to them? They were not surprised. I don't believe they were surprised. I tell them, and they're like, oh, yeah, you think so.

Yeah, I know for a fact. And I, you know, I kind of tell you the nature of the conversation, but I assure you that I say it. And like I said, I say it in bad word because I was a little bit frustrating about a lot of things. Just stuff happening in my life. But, you know, it's not against the U.S.I always want to elevate the sport. I talk to them because I'm part of the family of the U.S.D. And I want to elevate the sport. I think it's a thing that should be done. And Lorenzo, I believe Lorenzo always agree with me, you know, he wants to meet with me, he said to say what should be done. But me, personally, I'm not interesting of coming back.

if it's nothing done in that regard, you know. I don't care about the other one. If the other one, they happy to fight like this, it's okay. But me, I'm not happy to fight like this. You know, I've been accused in the past of using steroids. And the only thing I regret now is this thing I should have done it better. I should have done it before. I should have done before this.

Because it's been bothering me for a long time. And I never said anything, but I should have done this for a long before. Because I had money. I could have done it. I could have paid for the VADA test earlier. I should have done that before. Freddie Roach said that you told him you were having headaches, and you said you wanted to walk away for two years.

He said, no, one year. Did you have that conversation with him about the headaches? The headache? Yeah, Freddie Roach said in an interview recently that you told them you were having headaches and you were kind of concerned about your health, so you wanted to walk away for two years, and he said two years is a little too much, maybe just one year.

Now, what I say maybe about, I don't have a headache at all, and maybe it's a misunderstanding. Sometimes when I say headache, it could have mean headache about things going on in the sport about this, the steroid stuff, you know. Maybe it's a headache. Like you say in French, sometimes you're a malde-type that means it's bothering you, you know? Maybe I made a mistake referring that something that bothers me, but I don't have a headache. And my health, I've never been more healthy than I am now.

I never have a problem with my health. The reason it's all mental, you know? You mentioned that people are afraid sometimes to speak up, and you also use the word monopoly. Do you really believe the UFC is a monopoly? The way I see, listen, the UFC, the UFC made me who I am. I'm rich and wealthy and have a lot of sponsors. And, you know, they cast me for movies. And I would never have happened if the UFC would not have been there.

UFC has been there to support me. And I want the UFC to be bigger, even be more well-known, recognized as a sport. I want the brand to grow and I will never go somewhere else to fight, you know. I'm part of the family in UFC, but I won't world the UFC, you know what I mean? I think it's something I should do. Because a lot of guys I've seen that were not, a lot of other athletes were not interested in my sport.

The first thing they say when they look at mixed martial art is the big cliche, the stereotype, oh, this guy all have tattoos, and they take steroids and they bow, you know. That's a big cliche. It's not true, you know. But I would take out this cliche. One thing they need to do is they need to do like any other sport.

Why are we going to do any, like any other sport? And the UFC, if the UFC change something, it's going to change everything. Because the UFC, it's like the Vaseline or petrol jelly. It's like the Q-Tips. It's like the, you know, now people think about mixed martial. They don't even say Mixed Marshall. They say UFC, because the UFC is the biggest and the most prestigious organization, you know. Would you ever consider starting a union to help this out?

No, I don't want to, like, I don't want to do anything bad for the UFC. See, I'm proud to be UFSA. I'm support the UFC, and this has been really misunderstood. The reason why that was came out, I think, is for the UFSI. I said it to the UFC and it's a truth. I'm saying the truth.

I'm a very, I'm a very authentic person. I'm telling you the truth, you know, like about this, you know? Like, that's what I believe, you know. Things in my life, you know, like I have a personal life, I can have issues in my personal life. Personal life, in my life to stay to stay anonymous because these people, they're not public people.

But me, I'm a public person. So when they ask me my opinion on something, I said it, and I'm not afraid to say the truth about what I believe. Has it been tough now? You know, there's report TMZ comes and bothers you in the airport. You're such a private person, and because you said it's a private issue, it kind of leads to some people wanting to dig and find out. Do you...

Yeah, if someone is someone that tells stuff, you know. someone says stuff about the rumors they said people if someone in Matarraal that is saying stuff you know but I don't know who they is I don't know who there's some people

start the rumors too and then you know what can I do you know they try people I love people speculate about different things and it is what it is but I need to be careful sometimes

has it brought more stress to you because you said you know you used to walk down the street and people would ask you know about your upcoming fight and now I feel like people ask you, when are you coming back? What's up with this with the UFC? What's up with the drug testing?

Do you still feel like you're stress free now, or do you feel like you've brought different kind of stress upon yourself? No, it's not stressed because I don't have to fight. I'm not stressed at all. I don't tell about this, you know? And I'm happy for John Hendrix, you know. You know, it's a tough fight, you know. I'm very happy.

I don't have any regrets. And, you know, if I come back, you know, I would like to do this, you know, like the one of the things I would like to be done is like I told you is the test you know they need to be testing random testing by an independent and independent

organization that has no interest in the money for the fight that's how you should be done that's how it is in any other sport and why why it's not like that in mixed martial art I don't understand you're one of the few guys who can actually you know be a leader and people would follow you did you ever think

about doing more you know going to talk to the commissions going to talk to the different organizations trying to get them to do more. It's on the commission, the problem. It's not the commission. You don't think so? The commission do their job. The commission, they have money from the fight. When they raise a fight, they have money, so they have a financial interest in the fight.

The UFC is not the problem. It's not the UFC. It's the system. They need to change a system, you know? How do you change the system, though, if it's not the commissions? Because don't the commissions decide who gets tested when and where? This is, listen to me. This is something that's not a very.

everybody that is agree with me. I agree with you, by the way. Some guys they take drugs, they don't want to stop their thing what they're doing. They don't want to stop that. If they stop that, they're going to lose confidence in themselves.

You know, if they're taking something and then tomorrow they're not allowed to take it. It's going to affect their mantle, you know? So it's not everybody that is, I agree with me on this thing, you know? And some people, they just don't get bothered by this. You know, it's a lot of different reasons. That's what I believe.

I don't care about what people do, But if I come back to fight, I would like this thing. It has to be done for my fight. That's for sure it needs to be done for my fight. I don't want to put more pressure as far as coming back and fighting, but I just have to ask you this one question about a particular fight because you know forever people were talking about you versus Anderson Silva. And now it would seem like the perfect time if he came back

because you're not champions anymore. You can fight at a catchweight, something like that. Do you think that maybe now is the best time if he comes back healthy to do that fight? Maybe even in a year. Obviously, now he's going to be out for a lot. while, but do you think maybe the stars are aligning that will finally see you versus Anderson? Listen, this one thing, the same thing as before.

Anderson now, you need to need to do a special therapy for his need. That's what you need to think about me. The thing I need to do to stop thinking about is about fighting who I'm going to fight. The reason why I stop is because I didn't want to talk. I want it to be under the radar and parts of the

competition. Of course, in terms of my sponsor and things like that, things I need to be done. I'm fine. about this, but in terms of competition, me fighting, someone, I don't, that's the reason why I take a break, I don't want to be, I want to be out of the radar. And I'm going to a sudden, he's very big guy, you know.

He weighs his 230 pounds. I know for a fact you walk around 230 pounds. People, so on the scale when he went on the scale, he's obviously, I'm 1,90 pounds, you know? Now I gain weight a little bit, I'm a little bit bigger, I'm like maybe 5'l-pound, you know? And the thing is, I don't care to fight whoever they put, when I was

fighting, I never care, I never afraid of nobody, but it needs to be in the weight. If they respect the weight, no problem. I'll fight whoever I don't care. Who do you think should fight Johnny next? Do you have an opinion on that? Rory McDonald, I believe. Rory is very good. I believe Rory is my friend, and I'm very happy for

Rory. You know, he did an amazing fight against Damien Meyer, and he proved he's the number one contender. So you're enjoying, you're watching, you're having fun. Is it fair to say you've never been happier, at least in the last 10 or so years? Yes, it's true. I've never been happy. I sleep better than ever. Never sleep. I sleep better now. And I'm training with the guy. I'm still training. I'm in shape. I'm helping the guy

for their fight. I know I'm playing with Olivier. Olivier, the guy is putting in the ultimate fight. I train with him today. Mark Bochet and Francisco. I'm going to be shape and everything, you know. And no, I don't if I come back or not for competition, I always going to be training because it's my life. I'm a martial artist. A martial artist, he trained not because he has a fight he trains because it's life. Is there ever a chance that you'll go do some other sport? Because you're an athlete and you love competition like wrestling or track or gymnastics, like you ever think about that?

I was supposed to do a race because Donovan Bailey was in Montreal for a track, a race for a foundation thing. I was supposed to participate into that race, but I had business commitment, unfortunately, so I couldn't do it. But I like a sport general. Not that I'm going to do career in that, but because I'm an athletic person and I like to compete. I love competition. and it's part of my DNA. I like competing and have this competitive spirit in myself, and I really enjoyed it.

Final question for you, George. Will you ever tell us when the door is finally closed or open, so that people would stop ask you, are you going to come back now? Are you going to come back? Will you ever make a decision or an announcement? Okay, I've decided there's no chance, because you have yet to say there's no chance either way.

No, no, I'm going to decide, but now I don't know. Okay. There's a reason why when I stopped, I didn't know. Some people, they say, oh, I retired, and they come back. I'm not like that. If I say retire, I retire, but I don't know if I would retire or not. You know, for now, I didn't want to do it now. I needed to step out.

I'd stay out of the radar. That's one of the thing I said. I didn't know how he's going to be in a six month or in a year or a year and a half. I don't know. But right now, I don't feel like coming back right now. It's not right for me. Fair enough. And appreciate that very much.

And I thought it was very classy of you to go on Twitter. and congratulate Johnny Hendricks. I want to ask you, we actually have Johnny on the phone right now. Would you like to say congratulations to him? Yeah, of course. Johnny, are you there? Yes, I am.

How are you doing, George? Hi, Johnny. Congratulations, a great fight. I believe personally you win the fight and I gave you the first, the second, and the fifth round, you show a lot of champion art, and I believe you're the champion and congratulations.

Well, thank you so much, George. And like I tell everybody, man, you've been a great champion for the sport. And so thank you for everything. And thank you for, you know, like I did tell everybody, too, is that you were very quick with it, you know, not dragging it out. So we're very grateful that you open the door for us. That's very nice. Johnny, you want to make one last pitch to get that rematch or not now?

Yeah, I would like to get the rematch. I would. George, I would like to fight you again. You know, I, you're very tough. Stick around for a bit. And give a tight all, we'll see what's going to happen in the sportive things. As some things change, maybe we'll get together again. Okay.

Sounds like a plan. George, thank you so much for the time, George. Really appreciate it. All the best to you. Bye, bye-bye. There he is. George St. Pierre. All right, Johnny, well, thank you so much for stopping by.

Congratulations to you. I know you said, and how about that, right? I think you might have convinced them. I think we got an answer there. Hey, I hope so. You know what I really do. I hope we can get him back. He's a tough guy.

You know, and I wasn't going to say anything because I knew I had to, I know I needed to make sure that I got that win. So he wasn't on my radar, but now that it's over with, I would like to try to get that one back from George. Well, I'm trying to make it happen for you here, so I'm doing my best. They got you guys around the same time. So in your, okay, I know you said in the press conference and afterwards, it hasn't really sunk in just yet. You know, less than 48 hours later, has it sunk in those pictures with your kids, your daughters?

It makes me melt. It just beautiful stuff. Has it sunk in that you're the UFC Welterway champion? Well, it has, but, you know, the only reason it has is because of that right there. I want to make sure that my kids know what I've done for them and what I'm trying to sacrifice. for them. You know what I mean? It's a tough sport. It is tough. You know, it's a tough fight. But am I kidding. You know, to be able to get everything good and ready to go, I was excited. What was that moment like when you heard Bruce Buffer say your name, the pictures and seeing you on TV, the elation? But for you, when you're

nervous, you're waiting, you've been in that moment before, and this time he says your name, do you recall how it felt? Yeah, I remember. It was sort of relief. You know, you're sitting there, and you've been in that situation before. You're sitting here going, your stomach knotted up,

your heart sort of tries to stop beating, and your mind's going, just announce it already. You know what I mean? And then whenever he does, you sort of take a step back, and, you know, realistically, everything that we've trained for,

because, you know, it's not even so much me. as it is my coaches, everybody that are involved in helping me get to where I am today, that's what puts so much stress on you as well. Have you rewatched the fight yet? No, I have not. Of course, you know, and I agree with George. I think you won the fight three rounds to two.

The fifth round was fascinating because I actually thought you were losing the beginning portion of the fifth round, maybe the first two minutes or so. and then something happened where you turned it on, you started rocking him with big shots, and then you secured it with the takedown. Did you ever think to yourself, I'm losing this? Because it seemed to me like two, two and a half minutes in,

that title was slipping away from you. Yes, and that's it. You know, you're sitting there. He got off strong, the third or fourth round, which was really weird. It sort of caught me for a curveball, and I wasn't able to adapt quick enough. You know what I mean?

and in that fifth round that's whenever I knew I had. You still there, Johnny? I think we may have lost them. Oh, we did lose him. As we were showing some highlights there of the fight on Saturday, and it's amazing to be involved in a fight like that

and actually be aware of the fact that you are losing because think about how many punches he had taken. I mean, both guys were actually in the pocket the whole time there was no chasing in this fight. They were both standing in the center. if you actually watch and look at how long. John, are you still there?

Yes. Okay. So you actually recall telling yourself, I need to pick this up because I'm about to lose this fight? Well, yeah, exactly. You know, I was like, I knew that I had to win that this round. I knew I had to win it, and it didn't matter how. And whenever I was actually hitting him, I knew that I could knock him out, I started wobbling. You know, you see him sort of stagger, stagger, staggered.

And that's whenever my body scores just said, all right, go for the takedown. and secure the win. Third round, it looked like he hit you with some really big shots. How hurt were you? I was pretty hurt. Not going to lie. Yeah.

You know, he hit me pretty good. You know, good enough that where the third round was bad enough that, you know, the fourth round, he was still able to do it. Were you concerned, though, that you may have been, you know, hurt to the point where you couldn't rebound?

No, no, no. That never crossed my mind. there's a couple of punches I was like, okay, I really need to throw back because if I let him get a couple more of these in, yeah, it could be over. But I told myself, hey, just fire back, just fire back.

Calm down. Calm down. Fire back. And once I started telling myself that, I started able to start laying some of my own punches. Did you expect the fight to play out that way? Because it was really amazing to watch both of you just standing in the center of the octagon, in the pocket just going bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.

I mean, there was no chasing, nothing like that. Did you expect it to go down like that? I did in a sense, yes. I thought that I was going to be able to do a lot more takedowns, but on the first round, something happened. I don't know what happened. We're going to find that out before I say anything else, but something kept me from being able to get takedowns, and that's sort of what the deal was. I knew that he had his guard. I know I had to pass his guard. I knew that if I could get him down to the ground, it'd be a lot easier fight for me. But I was able to, I was unable to do that.

And once I was unable to do that, that's why I told myself, okay, now it becomes even a more of a war. In between, I think, the third and fourth, if memory serves me correctly, it was audible on the broadcast that you told your corner that you hurt your shoulder. Is that what you're referring to? No, my, yes, but I did do something else. It wasn't my shoulder. Oh, what'd you do? Yeah. Can you tell us?

Hey. Why, you won the fight. The fight's over. Hey, I know. I know that, but hey, I'll tell, trust me, I will release it realistically. It's my elbow. Oh. You know what I'm going to see what happened with my elbow.

Did this happen in the middle of the fight or before the fight? It happened actually a week and a half before. Wow. And then it happened during the first round. Were you close to pulling out of the fight a week and a half before? before it happened? We thought about it. Really? It was that bad.

Oh, yeah. But that World Championship means that much more. How much pain were you in in the fight? Oh, I don't know. You know, realistically, I don't know, probably, you know, I don't know. Not that bad. Not that bad. I don't think.

Did you have to alter your game plan because of this? Yes. Wow. And how much did the shoulder, bother you? The shoulder didn't bother me. Oh, okay. The shoulder's not an issue. I said shoulder just because of what was going on, just in case it got relayed back. Wow, the shoulder was the keyword. Yeah. Wow. Was it the left or the right? Okay. It was my take down. It was one of my try to take down. Okay. I could not get it. Can you tell us how you heard it? you know what

I threw a hook whenever I throw a hook it just bathed out I don't know what happened it felt like I felt my arm actually popped so we'll see what happens when are you going to get it checked out

I'm actually trying to get it checked out right now so it says we're off the phone I will be back there okay so just a couple minutes left I just had a couple more questions for you did you hear that one of the judges scored the second round 108 for you and then a 1010

it all came down to, it all equal out the same, but do you think that's a little bizarre? You know what? I thought it was a great fight. You know what I mean? I don't know, you know, I don't know how it works out for him. You know, that is... A 10-10 in the fifth is very strange, I find.

Yeah, it is. But, you know, I guess he's just that happy with both performances. You know what I mean? I've seen crazier things, I guess. But, you know, realistically, I don't know. That's why I tell everybody, I'm glad I'm not a judge. Yeah. They have such a hard job.

Can you explain to us what happened with the weight cut? Was it simply just the scale, or did something go wrong before that? It was just a scale. It was just a scale. You know, we went into lifetime that Thursday night. We were out there, and the guy actually came back and said, hey, there's somebody jumping all over your scale. You know, there's some kids.

So we're like, oh, crap. So we went up there, soon as we were back there, we actually put it up, you know, because we're like, okay, we don't want just random kids. We thought, you know, it'd be safe in there, but it would not. And then that the next day is when we had trouble with it. So, you know, it's all our fault. And, you know, once we got to where we thought we were close, we didn't have a chance to go back to the other scale because they already took it at that point.

Were you freaking out when they said, that you were a pound and a half over? Like, what's going through your mind? Hey, yeah. You're sitting there going some of a little bit? You know, I mean? Like, I just thought I made weight. You know what I mean?

And then all of a sudden you don't. And then they're sitting here talking, people are saying, okay, it's not going to be a title of fight if I don't make weight. Yeah, it's going to be a title of fight, but even if I win, I still don't get the belt.

You know what I'm like, wait a minute, I don't want to miss Wade. I'm not a guy. Yeah, you know, there's so many things going through your head, and then, well, you did it let's say, Mark Levin,

bike. We got on the bike for 20, 25 minutes, rode it, broke a sweat, went back, and made weight. When were you happier when that commission guy said you were 170 or when Bruce Buffer said your name? Because you were pretty happy with that. The 170, you look ecstatic, right? Yes, because, you know, here's the thing. If I don't make that, then all this doesn't matter.

You know what I mean? So whenever he said I made it, that's whenever I knew everything else was all in the place. Did you consider shaving the beard? Oh, yeah, we bought clippers. Wow. We actually went to shave the beard and my head if I didn't make weight. Thank God you didn't have to do that. But I did notice it was a bit more trimmed on Saturday.

Is that accurate? Did you trim it before the fight? Yeah, I always trim it. I always trim it the day of the Friday, or I guess that Thursday before the fight. Before the fights or, yeah, full wins. Okay. I try to trim it. Let me ask you two more questions and then I'll let you go.

Let's just say George doesn't come back now. He takes a little more time off. Who do you think deserves the next shot at the title? Who in your opinion? Oh, I don't care. My opinion means nothing. Well, you're the champ now. You get to say your opinion.

Everyone wants to know your opinion. Right. I'm just somebody who just does whatever. I mean, that's between my management and UFC. They get to decide who facing me next. Would you be okay if they said it was Nick Diaz, even though he's 0 in two in his last two fights? again I don't want to be yeah you know I mean I think he should face you know I don't I would say Carlos but you know who knows how long he's going to be back have you heard anything about him not yeah but it could be a meniscus tear ACL I mean I don't expect him to be back you know in short order yeah but you know like then it could be anybody okay and when do you want to come back uh doing good uh when do I want to come back

Yeah. Let's see here. I would say probably right around, you know, September, October, just depends when all this stuff, you know, depends on everything else goes on. And last thing, I saw a kid by the name of Jake Stone King. He was in your corner. He actually walked down to the cage with you, the young man who is battling brain cancer. Yes.

Did you get a chat? I know you were in the zone right there, but it just really warmed my heart. You know, we had been following that story. UFC flew him out, and then I just see all of a sudden him walking down to the cage with you, and it put the biggest smile on my face. It was so nice that you did that. Did you get a chance to actually talk to him? Yeah, I did right after the thought.

I was like, thank you so much for being here. Thank you for her experiencing this with me. I was very grateful that I won for it. You know what I mean? So that way he could stay there and getting the oxygen with us. It was amazing. I am so happy for you. Congratulations, Johnny.

Enjoy it with your family. enjoy being UFC champion. I know you've worked very hard for this. You certainly deserve it. And really appreciate you taking some time out. And good luck with the elbow, of course. All right. Thank you so much. There he is. Johnny Hendricks, the UFC Welterweight Champion, joining us a fantastic performance. One for the highlight reels. And it wasn't just him. It takes two to tango. It takes two to put on a fight like that. And they certainly did that on Saturday night. The big news, of course, this weekend, the man that I am still in awe. I bowed down to the

man. What he did, very few predicted, but I know one man who predicted it was him. He was ultra-confident leading up to the fight when we had him on the show right when it was announced. He was extremely confident. And now there he is. The new UFC bantamway champion, T.J. Dillishaw, it still sounds amazing to say, what does it sound for you? I mean, to say T.J. Dilshaw, the new UFC bantamway champion, how do you digest that? Sounds really good. It just takes a little bit of getting used to you still. I'm still soaking it up every day and it gets more and more real every day. So what has the last two and a half days been like for you?

Is it all a blur? Kind of. It's been a little whirlwind for me. You know, each day, like I said, kicks in a little bit more and becomes more real. Like last night I got home actually from Vegas and was able to watch the fight. I got every quartered at home and it was even better watching it on TV than it was out of my own eyes. That must have been the most enjoyable, you know, 23 minutes of your life, just rewatching that,

knowing the outcome and how much you dominated him, right? Yeah, I mean, I knew the outcome, but I still got nervous from the hype and the walkout and Joe Rogan talking and then talking up him and Boralby before the fight and how badass he was. And, you know, so it was still like I got nervous watching the program even though I knew what happened. I saw on your Instagram, your Twitter, that you were traveling with the belt. Did you get a lot of people stopping you? Like, going to Vegas, was it a much different experience than coming home with the belt? yeah absolutely for sure um what were people saying to you you know i mean i guess just the usual you see all the time

i mean i followed your eye around it's kind of been just a nonstop just kind of taking pictures just having autographs and then other than the other than that just kind of in awe you know just the fact that you know not only i mean like you said i was a huge underdog no one really believed it and just kind of in awe so how's your eye i see it's the the lighting is a little up but it seems like it's it's a A little swollen? Yeah, I still a little swollen. I got a tiny little cut on the side of my head and my right eye swollen. My nose was pretty bruised up too, but that's going down pretty fast.

I've broken that a lot, so the swelling goes down quick on that. But, yeah, my nose and my eye got a little swollen. Were those the only injuries? Yeah, my right hand hurts pretty bad, but I got to get that checked out. I think it's okay, though. At what point did you realize that you got him? Was it from the get-go? Um, you know, after that first round, I just got a huge rush getting back to the corner.

I was like, all right, I got to keep doing that, you know. I don't think I knew I had him until after the second. The end of the second, I just kind of felt it. I knew it, like everything was going smoothly. I saw it in his eyes, just kind of, I just knew that I was going to be too much for him. I was too fast, and I was going to be able to pick him apart. More on your quickness. Where did that T.J. Dillishaw come from?

Because I hope you take this the right way. I don't think we've ever seen you in that kind of form. You look that good, that on point. You were dancing all over the place. You were so accurate. And you look really good against Mike Easton. But, you know, I consider Henna Brow out to be a tougher opponent with all due respect to Mike Easton.

You look like the best pal-fought fighter in the world. I mean, we have never seen such a dominant performance against a top fighter before. Where did that guy come from? You know, from the Eastern fight, I think building the confidence from my movement and how well I did in that fight and the things I did is how relaxed I was. You know, I got the first fight where I really relaxed was Mike Easton. I kind of let things just flow. I didn't go in there with, like, you know, strict, like certain combos I wanted to do and, you know, holes I saw on his game.

I trained a game plan with Dwayne, but never really thought about it too much. I went in there with nothing in my mind except for being fast and moving my feet. And that's when I did. I guess I just start to flow. I don't know. I guess the having fun out there and just relaxing and soaking up the moment. I knew that this was a crazy adventure and that I wanted to enjoy. every second of it, the walkout, the lead up to the fight,

taken over the UFC Instagram, just everything in general, I wanted to enjoy it, and it just made everything so much easier, and no hesitation, it just reacted. How did you feel like an hour before the fight in the locker room? Were you more nervous than usual, or were you in pretty good shape? I was in pretty good shape.

You know, I mean, obviously I was nervous to go out there and fight the bad dude, hit him and brow, you know, but it's normal as I am for fighting anybody else. I feel like I get just as nervous for fighting anybody else to turn into a title fight in my own head. It just, you know, I just hold myself to a high standard. I get nervous for every fight. We've had a chance to learn a lot about you in the buildup to this fight.

And Yerai was on the show last week, and he told us that in the gym, and this is when I started to turn and think that, wow, you know, people are maybe sleeping on this guy a little bit because you were such a huge underdog. In the gym, he said that you're kind of a dick. Like, you know, you rough people up. You're the first to get water at the water fountain. He actually said that you're kind of dirty. Who is this guy? How come that never translates into the fight? I saw that on the broadcast, too, of Goldberg saying that.

It's just in the gym I'm super competitive. I want to win at all times. And like I said, I hold myself to a really high standard. And when I don't have a perfect practice, I get kind of pissed off about it. And not that I'm pissed at someone else, but more myself. And so I get really aggressive just trying to be the best at all times. And I've had to work on it. Duane's a good job of making it a controlled aggression to where if I'm getting aggressive,

I'm not getting wild and whatnot. But still, you know, you got to be good with your partners. And sometimes I'll get a little too rough sometimes. So they got to tell me. I'm good at calming it down after they tell me. But someone else has to notice it before I do because I just kind of flip a switch. So that's something I've been working on that I've got to continue to work on. So do they get pissed at you often?

Um, less, less lately, but when I first got in there, yeah. But see, uh, actually, maybe they don't get pissed less because I can, I can oppose my will a lot more these days compared to when I first got in the gym and I didn't have as much technique and I just had straight anger. Uh, that was, I got more mad back thing because, uh, I wasn't doing as good as I wanted to, but I also couldn't do as much damage because I wasn't as good as I am now. Well, now you're the champ. No one could say anything to you. You're the only guy with a belt over there. That's my excuse for everyone so far I'm the champ I can do whatever I want You know

I'll just do this And then I can do whatever I want I'm sitting right here Oh there it is Wow How heavy is it I'm pretty sure it's 12 pounds Wow

Yeah Do you sleep with it? Yeah I couldn't sleep very well It was taking up all the room It was kicking you and whatnot Yeah digging into my side So I had to eventually take it off You know

It's such an interesting situation between you and Dwayne, you mentioned Dwayne Ludwig. We've never seen a guy evolve so much, win the title, and then his coach leaves the team, knowing going into the fight that his coach is leaving. Is there any chance that you can reconsider this whole situation with Dwayne and get him to stay? I mean, you've looked so good.

It's a shame to see him leave now at this point in your career. Yeah, you know, it sucks, man. I knew it for a while that Dwayne was going to be leaving. He wants to move back home with his family. his wife and his kids are out here and they want to move back to Colorado where they're from where their family's at. So I've known it before even everyone else kind of knew that Duane was going to leave. I mean, him kind of talked about it.

So, yeah, it's definitely tough. I mean, I'm going to have to cross-train with the guy because I'm going to miss out on training with him big time. But going into it, I guess the things I thought instead of him leaving was finish this off on a bang. Let's make this an amazing ending to a great story of him being the coach of the year. And that's just the way I kind of took it. I didn't put the pressure on him leaving after getting the bill.

I just wanted to not only get the bill for him but for myself as well. Did you say that on purpose? Did you say the pun on purpose at the way-ins when you said finish with a bang because of his nickname? Yeah. Okay, okay. Just wanted to make sure. Maybe that's not giving you enough credit. Is there any chance that you leave AlfaMail and just train with him in Colorado full-time?

No. No. Alpha Males got the best training team in the world. I have the best partners when I go into the gym. Not only do I have the best sparring partners, but they really care about me. We care about each other. And when you have that connection,

it's just kind of, it's so easy to help each other out and be there for each other. And, you know, I have a whole team of coaches. Even though Duane's the best coach I've ever worked with, you know,

you can't ever get a team like that. You know, there's no way you can ever get a team like team off of mail and the bond we have. So I have to stay with the guys. They got me to wear them out as well. I'm just going to have to continue to train with Dway.

I'm going to have to fly them out for my fight camps and cross-train when I'm, and I guess you can consider off season, but I don't have a camp lined up and go out there and train for a couple weeks here and there. So if you get a, you know, a fight today and it's in two months, will you bring him out to Sacramento for your entire camp? I doubt he'll probably be able to come off for his entire camp because he's got an academy to run, but, you know, a week here, a week there, come out and work on our techniques and, you know, watch me spar and stuff.

He won't be able to be there the entire time. At least I don't think so. I would love to. Yeah, that's what I would do. But I doubt he'll be able to be able to. Would he be in your corner for your fights? Yes, yeah. And why do you think you guys had such a good connection?

I heard that you used to babysit his kids. It seemed like you guys were friends even more so than coach and student. Why did you get along so well? I don't know. We just had a lot of likely – we got along well just because our personalities were the same. You know, he's OCD about doing what he does and I'm OCD about what I do. You know, we're both addicted to being the best, and he was being the best of the coach, you know, and he just had a niche for it.

So I respected everything he brought to the table, and he respected how much I respected him, I guess. You know what I mean? I actually looked up to him and treated him like a head coach. And then eventually just realized how much of our personalities were super close. And I don't know, man. It was just meant to be. I was talking to your manager today, the great Mike Roberts of MMA Inc.

And he was telling me about, of course, you know, we were just talking about you and your amazing story. And he said the guy who deserves a lot of credit is Mark Munoz. Mark Munoz was the one that helped. helped, you know, the bridge of the gap between your college wrestling days and team Alpha male. That T.J. Dilleshaw back in the day, did you really think at this stage in your career, this young, that you'd be a UFC champion?

I know you're a hardworking guy and you strive and you're very competitive, but honestly, did you think this would happen so soon? No, absolutely not. I mean, you know, I came into a huge stage. I was, like you said, back when Munoz got me into fighting, I was, I was enrolled in grad school going to become a physician's assistant. You know, I went through college and didn't complete the goal. goals I wanted to and kind of followed him around and he realized how tough I was doing it and just

how aggressive I was and he just says, man, you should try this out. You know, he should head up to your eyes gym and try this out. You think you can make something of it. For me, it was kind of like, yeah, I don't know, man. I'm trying to like start a good career for myself and make sure I can get paid. But, you know, in the back of my mind's like, man, that'd be cool. You know, that'd be cool to be able to make it to the UFC and get on TV and make enough money fighting, you know. And so I told myself, I'd give myself a year, see if you'd pan out. You know, if I can get good enough of the sport where I think I can make a decent amount of money to live off of, I'll continue with it and push for higher goals, you know.

After that year, I definitely felt like I could hold my own. I was in there with a great gym and was doing great. So, you know, I went all in. After that, I just kind of had to set the goal being world champ. You know, once I was going to go all in for it, I had to put that up on my wall, put that in my head. Because when you strive to be the best, a lot of other. stuff comes easy. Is it somewhat surreal than in a gym with Yeraya Faber and Chad Mendes, Joseph

Benavides, that you're the first guy to get the UFC belt? You beat them to it. Absolutely surreal. It's unbelievable. I got into the gym looking up to those guys. I still look up to them, you know, just who they are. And I got in there just kind of in awe of who they were as people and getting into their title fights and following their camps.

It's just kind of like, man, this is an amazing road for me just being here with these guys. You know, and for me to be the one that brings home the UFC belt, it's just, it's just crazy what I've been through with them. It's just crazy to see it all unfold and it's really unbelievable, especially the way it went down too. Could you tell, I know you were probably on cloud nine or cloud 18 if that exists, could you tell how happy they were for you? It's a very rare thing to see people who have not, at least on that, I mean, they've succeeded

in their career. There's no doubt about it. They don't have a belt, though. They've had some stumbling blocks. To see genuine happiness, no. jealousy whatsoever. They were emotional. You don't see that often in sports. Could you tell how happy they were for you, how sincerely happy they were for you? Absolutely. It made me want to cry. I mean, Joseph was unbelievably happy for me before the fight even started. He just like told me the

whole week he knew I was going to win was just like in awe of the whole situation. Then afterwards he was just awesome. You know, Uriah. You know, he's just got a great aura, man. That guy's amazing. and he, you know, he fills it from the heart, man. We all care about each other that much like we're brothers, and, you know, I can hear them in the, and I actually can hear them better almost than my own corner while I was fighting some of the time. I heard Danny Castillo throw say out stuff the entire time,

and I just kind of threw it, you know, as soon as he said, he has such a deep voice as well, and just kind of I can hear them cheer me on and feel their energy. Just it fed me throughout the whole fight. There's a great picture on our site right now of you embracing with Dwayne Ludwig, wig and he was very emotional after the fight.

What did you guys say to each other right after? We did it. I told him I was going to get this belt for both of us. I told him that he needs to get a UFC bell before he, you know, I don't know what his kosher career is going to be like, but before he ended with Team Alpha Meli, he needed to get a bell, and this was time to do it. You know, he was announced to leave May 24th with my last fight anyways when I was supposed to fight to game, he was a gawki.

So that was going to be his last fight, you know, and we were fine with that, obviously. I mean, that's what it was. And then I got the call to fight the title, and obviously it was never going to turn that down. I told him, as soon as I got it, I got the phone called Duane first, and I told him, it was like, dude, we're getting a belt before you leave.

It's too perfect not to get a belt before you leave. And this is it. This is the time. And after the fight, I just kind of told him, I told you so, man. He was ridiculously nervous the whole fight camp. I could see it in his eyes. Like I said, he cares so much for me

that he was so nervous. He talked even faster than, and he already tossed. He was just like, sometimes I stuff my combos on the midst because he wanted to do him so hard. He just was, you know, he was a stress ball the whole week of a fight.

And I guess that kind of calmed me down. Yeah, usually you'd want the coach to be, you know, more relaxed than you. But yet that made you more calm? I don't know. I just was, I can't say that that did, but I was just really calm the whole week. You know, I just, it was a big stage for me.

And like I said, I wanted to soak it up and have some fun with it. The only way I was going to be able to have fun is if I relaxed. And that's the way I've got to go into every fight. You know, I can't put any added pressure onto myself now that I'm the champion either. I got to go in there and feel the exact same way every camp. Now that I know what greatness I can prove to myself by being relaxed and having fun,

I've got to do it every fight. You know, my last two fights I've especially trying to do it. You know, Justin Buckles told me something on the way out of the Mike Easton fight. And he told me to enjoy what I'm doing. He's like, you know many people would pay to be in your situation right now to do this walk out to stand in the middle of the octagon and just have everyone even chanting their name or cheering for them? You know, like people would pay so much money to do that

and you get to do it just because how badass you are. He's like, enjoy this, you know? And from then on, it was just kind of like, he's right, man. I mean, this is a crazy ride, man. I mean, not very many people get to do this and I just got to soak it all up. You know, my eastern fight, I was so relaxed. I was talking to Shaq in the corner. You know, I told when I hit a double leg that it was for him.

You know, I locked up a double leg and I yelled out to Shaq that I hit this double leg for him. And then he was coaching me to throw elbows. You know, I was talking to Joe Silva. And I felt exactly the same way in this fight. You know, I said, what's up to Joe Rogan while I was fighting? I had him against the cage. I, you know, I smiled at him when I felt like he was going to throw a spinning back kick. I saw it before he's even going to do it.

And, like, obviously, he didn't understand it. because he didn't speak English, but I smiled at him. I was like, oh, you're going to throw a spinning back kick, huh? And just kind of like nod on my head, like I knew what he was going to do because I could see him setting it up. And, you know, just like that kind of intensity of not being intense, actually, just relaxing. It seemed like you were having the time of your life all week long. You're hitting mitts on the conveyor belts, you know, in the aisles of the plane. Did you get any crap for that?

No, actually. Well, I mean, obviously there's some people online that they think I'm joking around having too much fun that I was going to get beat up because of it, that I was just there to have some eyes on me for a little bit. But, you know, the UFC loved it. I was showing my personality, you know, and just having fun with it, man. Like you said, you saw me having fun.

You know, any opportunity me and Bockels got to joke around and have some fun, we did it. I got to go out and play golf. The week of my fight, you know, I was out at the Taylor-Made golf course hitting golf balls, hitting out their brand-new clubs and trying them out because they knew I liked to play golf, you know. and things like that, just to get your mind off the fight. You know, when you have a fight to that magnitude or a fight at all in the UFC,

that's all you think about. It consumes you every day. And to get my mind off it, I have a great team. You know, they joke off the entire time. I got to go play some golf, like I said, and just have fun. Two last quick things. Yesterday, Dwayne Ludwig told MMA junkie that if the situation would arise, he would corner you against Yariah Faber.

Now that you're the king and he's still very much a player, would you fight Yariah? I don't want to. I don't want to fight you, Raya. He's the one that's got me into the sport. He's, you know, like I said, he's one of my best friends, dude. I mean, he's an amazing person. But I'm not saying that's not going to happen.

I'm not saying that the boss man won't come to us with a ridiculous amount of money saying, let's do this, you know, and that's something we probably wouldn't be able to turn down, and we'd have to go do what we do in the gym every day and slap each other around and have a smile on her face, you know, and, you know, ultimately that's a great, that's a great situation to be. because Emmys were both doing awesome and we're going to get paid really well. But I don't want to have to fight your eye, obviously. Where would you train in that scenario? Because now it's starting to become a real thing.

If I trained, you know, obviously this is his place. Sacramento is his, so I'd probably have to pick up and go to Duane, I guess. I don't really know. But you're hoping it doesn't come to that? Yeah, I'm hoping it doesn't. I mean, even if it was, even if it is about the money, I really don't want to fight the guy. but, you know, I mean, we are in the business.

You know, that is the business that we are doing. And we have a great camp, and we're taking over the world, man. What about who is actually next for you? Do you think it makes sense to fight a Sunsau? Is that the fight you want because we know that you were so annoyed by losing that fight? Yeah, probably. I mean, he's on the longest win streak. He should be the next one in line, probably.

And I'd like to get that fight back. You know, either him, DeGueh Muzigaki, rematch with Browell. I mean, any of those fights make good sense. But, I mean, other than the fact that everyone, people are saying about rematch the braille, the one problem I do have with that is that I dominated. You know what I mean? It wasn't like I knocked him out in the first round

with that right hand and it was a flute. You know, I went out there and proved that what I know how to do against him is going to work. And I'm just too fast for him, man. He's too slow. If you were Sean Shelby, would you do a Sun Sal Dillashaw, too? Uh, probably. I would think so.

Most likely, I think. All right. We actually have bang on the phone right now. Duane, are you there? Yes, sir, yes, sir. Anything you want to say to the champ? I love this guy, man. It's a freaking ninja.

Hey, let me ask you one question, Duane, before we let TJ go. He said that you were more nervous than him going into the fight. Why were you so nervous? Your man got it. Yeah, it's just one thing. I kept my guys.

It's like watching a kid cross-exam. the street for the first time. You know, it's just one of those things. Yeah. It happens when it's not business for me. Did you put any money on him? Go ahead. Sorry, TJ.

I feel like I was just crossing the street, Coach. That's all we were doing was just crossing the street. You're holding my hand. I know. I know, man. Hey, Dwayne, what did you say to TJ between the fourth and fifth rounds? It sounded like you were so excited, but you were trying to calm him down a little bit, but you knew the victory was in sight.

What did you say to him? I just asked him. And, you know, in the way I speak, we're just, you know, go give them a seminar when I'm going to charge them. Just a fun way that we communicate. We just communicate in jokes and stuff. I have a good time. It's kind of lighting the mood up. What is it like a secret language?

Yeah, we have a serious, like with our system and the way we talk, we have a whole list of commands. Like, you know, like I told him keep us twin is clean. It just means to stay tight and make sure everything's technically sound. And we know what we speak. We all, every other team, we all speak a secret code. It's kind of cool. Love it. TJ, any final words for Dwayne?

Yeah, man. That was the first time I realized that Duane wasn't nervous in the fifth round, the fourth and fifth round in that quarter of that minute. I saw it in his eyes. He came in with a giant smile

on his face. He's like, let's do his baby. He was giving him a seminar. We won't even charge him. To me, that was just kind of like, dude, that's amazing. That's perfect.

You know, I had a giant smile on his face and it was just kind of, you finally was like, dude, this is fucking amazing you're doing it. You know, that's what I knew in his head was going on,

you know? Love you, Coach. appreciate everything, man. Oh, yeah, man. I love you, T.J., man. Well, TJ, thank you so much for the time. Again, congratulations. Enjoy everything that comes with being the champion.

And, again, one of the truly greatest performances we've ever seen, and you certainly deserve it. So I tip my cap to you, my friend. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me on again. I look forward to talking to you next time. Very excited to have the former UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar, joining us in studio,

and he has a very busy night coming up on July 6. It is the finale of the ultimate fighter. He fights BJ Penn for the third time. He's 2 and 0 against BJ, and yet they're doing it one more time. Here he is, Frankie Edgar, in studio. Frankie, how are you? Good, man, how you doing? You know, you look good, and I say that because you just had a kid.

Yeah. Congratulations. Yeah, yeah, thank you. Your third? Third. A girl? A girl. What was it?

Two weeks ago? About three weeks, yep. How's the sleep before? A fight like that? I have two kids in my own. You don't get a lot of sleep, but you look okay. Yeah, well, you know, my wife's a trooper. I told her July 7th, I'm your guy.

until them you're kind of on your own. So where are you sleeping? I'm sleeping in my room. She's sleeping in a different room. So you just said, have fun with the two older kids, which are a handful of eyes. Yeah, yeah. And the new one? She's doing it all in her own.

At nighttime. At nighttime she is. Some kind of father, you are. Yeah. I'm going to get paybacks after the fight for sure. All right. So she's cool with this. Yeah, she, I'm surprised.

Every time I call her midday, I'm like, hello? See how she's doing? Because I'm waiting for her to be like, all right, I'm done. Yeah, yeah. Do you feel guilty? A little bit, a little bit. But, you know, this sport, you've got to be selfish, man. People want to punch me in the face in the morning.

That's true. And you got to provide. This is the way you provide, right? Exactly. What's this year been like for you? Because you're in the prime of your career. And, you know, for a second, it's like, when's the last time I saw Frank Yeager fight? It feels like it's been ages ago.

And it was last July 4th weekend. Yeah. But you weren't injured. You were fine. They put you on the shelf because of the show. We've known about this fight for so long, it seems. Has that been frustrating? For sure.

It has been. You know, I just staying in a gym trying to stay busy that way. but I'm at you, man. You know, I like to stay. I like to, I mean, I enjoy what I do. And not be able to fight. It is tough. But, you know, I kind of knew that going in.

Are you, are you regretful that you did it? Like, do you feel like it wasn't worth it? Because you've been out for a year? I don't want to say it wasn't worth it. You know, I mean, it's done. What's done is done? But I don't know if I'd do it again. Why is that?

Because of the time off or because of other reasons? The cameras, all that stuff? Because of the time off. The show was, it was smooth. You know, doing the show was okay. It was six weeks out there. Once in bed. my family on everything, but the time away from fighting for that long, I wouldn't want to do again.

Did they hook you up? As in. I mean, you're not earning any income for a year. That's the way you fight. That's the way you're in a living. You fight. Yeah, yeah. What's up with that?

Yeah, we'll see. We'll take care of you. Yeah, I think they will. Lorenzo likes you. Yeah, Lorenzo, Dana, they like me. Well, because you're an Italian guy. I feel like he really likes you. You play that card a little bit.

Yeah, yeah. But you're not actually, your dad is from Italy? No, no. My grandmother, my mom's the first one born in America from the family. Okay. Yeah. So you play it up around Lorenzo. No, I mean, you have the accent.

You make it a little more. I forget it about it. Yeah, yeah. No, no, not at all. You know, it's just, you know, I grew up as Italian kid, I guess, in Jersey, you know. Have you been watching the season? Yeah, I have been. What do you think about watching yourself?

Because, you know, sometimes you're a little camera shy. You've kind of, you know, you've grown up a lot as far as being in front of the camera and all that. But do you like watching yourself? the team and all that stuff i mean i like watching seeing you know how they edit it and everything but yeah i don't like watch it it it's it's uncomfortable watching yourself it is yeah you get you get you get pretty used i don't like it i hate it yeah it's it's a little it's a little awkward you know so i'm uh you know it's it's great for my career and i'm glad i did it um you know but i'll be i be kind of happy when i'll have to turn in every wednesday yeah you mentioned the editing

how has the edit because sometimes it's been good it's kind of crazy for me it's like no liberties as in i mean are they changing things up a little bit no so far seems pretty good you know You know, there really wasn't, let's be honest, it wasn't much drama between me and BJ, so they focused on the fighters, and that's the storylines that they went with each week. And it seems like it's holding true to what it was. It's just, you know, these cameras were in your face every day, all day,

and I'm like, damn, that's all they showed, you know? Oh, really? Were they ever annoying, like, all up in your grill? They were good, you know? I mean, you just, you know, you signed on that paper, you know, that's what's going to be. Being in the house, I couldn't imagine having to go back home. And, like, these guys said literally at 5 in the morning

You wake up to piss, they're in your face with the cameras, and that's got to be a little much. Yeah, because you got to go home and take the brain. I get home and get away. You know, when I walk in the tough training facility, yeah, cameras are on. But other than that, you're good to go. Dana White said recently that he thought this was the worst year ever. He didn't say it was because of the coaches, so because of the fighters.

What do you make of that? Yeah, that's just Dana being Danny. Yeah. He says things when he's emotional a little bit. But, I mean, yeah, the fights, you know, I was saying this before. When I'm coaching the fights, I'm emotional. I'm competitive. I want my guys to win.

I care about the guys. And I thought the fights were a little bit better now. In hindsight, watching them months later, I'm like, these fights weren't as eventful as I thought they were. Did you get a sense from the fighters, at least the ones on your team, that they didn't want it as much? Not at all. Not at all.

They wanted it. Maybe it was the pressure that got to him. I definitely noticed myself saying, you need to listen, you need to listen a little more. But, you know, granted, these guys are in a tough spot, six weeks away from their family. They're locked in a house with no... no contact with the outside world, no TV, no nothing.

And they don't even know me. And I'm telling them to listen to me. They barely know me. So it's tough. What I liked about you being on this show was it was kind of full circle for you. A lot of people might know this, might not. You tried out for the ultimate fighter. I did.

And they said no to you. Yeah. Season five, right? Season five, yeah. Which was a great season. BJ was a coach against Judge Culver. What was that like when you got the word that they didn't want you on that show back then? I was heartbroken.

I thought for sure I was, you know, I made the first two cuts. Me and a kid I went down one at the time. We both made the cuts. Who was that? This kid, Kevin Roddy, actually. And he fights locally. Oh, he does, okay. And, you know, I thought, I was like, I'm getting a call. You know, I'm a pretty, I like to stay positive.

You know, at least think positive. And I was like, I'm getting a call. And he got a call before we landed home, he got a call to go to the next, you know, the physical and all that stuff to go out to Vegas. And I didn't get that call. And I was waiting. I was waiting. I didn't get it.

I was pretty, pretty torn up. Was it? Was it? I mean, because your skills were obviously, was it a personality thing? Probably a personality thing, yeah. Man, you know, I guess they had, maybe they filled the void with Grey Maynard.

I don't know. Wow. Did you, was that just a shot at Grey Maynard? No, no, I'm saying, right over there. Yeah, I'm not saying there's a shot saying maybe, maybe we're lacking a personality department together, you know, they filled that void already, you know what I'm saying?

How about that picture right there? That's a number of one. Yeah, actually, I believe I have that picture hanging in my basement. Oh, really? Yeah. We should probably get you to sign that. Yeah. I love to.

Do you remember where that's... Yeah, Houston. You'll see 136. Greatest moment of your career? I would say so. Better than the first time that you won the title? You know, those two are... That was just much more closure.

Yeah. Emphatic. Emphatic. I'll never forget the way when you finished him, that punch that you landed. I mean, it was just so flush. It was just so perfect the way you landed that. Yeah, definitely career defining. Right. Let's go back to the ultimate fighter for a second.

So you get that call. Did you think, I don't want to do this anymore? I mean, was it that deflaced? No, no, no, I just, you know, whatever. I was still working as a plumber, you know, I was doing that stuff. So I was just like, all right, just back to the drawing board, you know. I felt a lot in my competitive career at wrestling. I've always made it to a certain point and never accomplished what I wanted to.

So I felt like, you know, here we go, just back to work. And then they called you like a month later, right? Yeah, they got to call maybe a month, a half later, and they offer me the Tyson Griffin fight. Right. And then the rest is history. That was a great fight. Do you almost feel like it was better this way that you didn't have to go through

tough and that show the contracts all that stuff for sure really percent yeah and then you know now now knowing especially being a coach and seeing what these guys have to go through i'm so happy they're so happy that you didn't have to go through that process because you don't think you would have fit in well or you would have enjoyed it i'm sure i would have i would have done okay you know what i mean uh but but having you know having to do it the way i did compared to that way and now i would definitely wouldn't want to do it that way you have a young guy at your school or whatever would you tell them not to go try out for tough that's not the way to get into the ufss no never never i still think it's a great opportunity for you guys.

Yeah. Just not for you. I mean, well, yeah. The way, well, yeah. Right. Back then, it would have been, yeah, 100%. Right. Now, not for me.

You mentioned, of course not now. You mentioned the plumbing. How, what was the last time you worked as a plumber? Like the last day? I remember, what was it? It was before I started, when I started my camp

before Spencer Fisher, that's when I stopped plumbing. So still in UFC, you were still doing it? I was still, yeah, I was, why? Just because I had a condo. I had to pay bills. I couldn't, you know, the fight money wasn't enough at the time.

Right. So, and why did you feel at that point that you had to stop before the Fisher fight? Well, I just felt, you know, I think I just renegotiated my contract. I just felt good, positive about, you know, my fight career. I felt secure. That's it, yeah. How, for part of the pun, but how crappy is that job? Yeah, I wasn't a plumber like, you know, going to your house and on the toilet.

No, I was a commercial. You know, my father owned a commercial plumber company. Okay. You know, I dug a lot of holes. You know, I did some degrading stuff, broke up urinals at schools and had to carry them out, you know, some old 60-year-old pipe had to carry out. That's not too nice. But, I mean, it's not as bad as people think, but it's backbreaking. You know, you have to work in elements.

It's not fun. How did your dad get into that? He was a plumber since he was 18. Really? Yeah. And then he started his own business. And he started his own business. So do you think if you don't become a fighter, that's what you do?

Most likely, yeah. I think it would have been my path. You look back, do you say, thank God. I didn't have to go down that path? Oh, man, I drive past job sites now, and I'm like, thank God, that's not me. Really? You know, the whole, you know, I like, you know, in fighting, it's always something different every day. You know, you don't have to go to the same place.

You mean, you're kind of travel, you know, at the, you know, when you're in the union, man, it's 7 o'clock on the job, 9 o'clock break, 12 o'clock break, 3 o'clock, 30, you're going home and it's the same thing every day. It drove me crazy. So fighting in a way, it kind of saved you in that sense because it gave, I mean, you went from the most, it's not glamorous. it's not glamorous fighting, but there's a lot of glamorous things about it. Let's be honest. I mean, you know, do you get to travel the world, you mentioned? No, I mean, I feel like I don't work. I don't tell my wife that, but I feel like I don't work.

There she is slaving away, you know, the third kid and you don't even work. Yeah, yeah. What a selfish guy. I am, I tell you. So is your dad still doing it? Yeah, he is. He's still in. Does he ever try to get you to come back?

No, he knows. He knows the deal. Yeah. And he's supportive of my decision, you know. Your family, I mean, you guys are notorious. You're in-laws. I mean, you travel. What do you travel? Like 30 deep to these fights?

Yeah, yeah. You know, I got a good support staff, that's for sure. What about your wife now for this fight? Is she going to come? She is. She's going to come. We're going to leave the kids home. She's only come probably the day before the fight or day of the fight. Who's going to take care of the little one? My mother-in-law. Okay. You trust her? Yes, I do, actually. Yeah, yeah.

Imagine you would have said no on the air. No, no, I really do, though. So it's not even, I'm not even lying. So, yeah. Your oldest kid is how old? He's five. Five and then four? And then four, and now three weeks. Does the five-year-old, even the four-year-old, do they understand what you do yet?

Yes, like starting to more and more, but not fully, not fully. So what kind of questions are they asking you? Well, like I come home with a black eye. You get punched you a face daddy. You got a punch in the face. Yeah, why? Why do you punch your face? I'm trying to punch them in the face, you know?

It's just what I do. They don't really fully grasp it yet. Right. But how do you separate between, yeah, that I'm doing this for a living? Because I'd imagine they'd want to punch you then or punch their friend. You know, like how do you explain to them that this is what you do for your job and that you shouldn't do it outside in the park or whatever. Yeah, you know, I kind of equated more to, you know, having wrestling and doing jih Tjitsu.

Oh, they do that now? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'm wrestling and doing jih Tzu, or Jitsu at Ricardo Alameda's actually and wrestling. So, yeah, it kind of just equated to that, you know, I think all my friends that are over at house, all the people, even my old friends are old wrestling, but I think they just think everybody wrestles. I don't think they know wrestling is something you choose to do. I think they think it's something everybody does. Oh, really? Yeah.

Your oldest son, like when did he start wrestling? How old is it? A couple summers. I'd bring them just for summer session. you know, here and there. But, you know, it's tough. Wrestling's not a, you know, it's a tough sport to kind of get kids to grasp onto. Sure.

Because it's always hot in the wrestling room, a little tough. Right. But they did jiu-jitsu this whole winter, and they really like that. It's a little slower pace, and then now I have them doing the summer session of wrestling. And they made a big jump from last year this year. So, man, I got a kid. He's, like, a little over two. I feel like I'm kind of slacking.

No, you got time. I got time? I mean, even if, yeah, I didn't start wrestling until I was 13, actually. Who got you into it? My father, my father. My father. Your father. Was he a wrestler?

He was. And he got you into it for what reason? Because 13 is a little late, right? Well, yeah. Well, I wrestled when I was in third grade for probably a month. What happened? My father showed me a wrestling move and broke my collarbone, actually. Really?

Yeah, yeah. Your dad broke your collarbone. What did your mom say about that? She was upset. That's why I didn't go wrestle until I was 13. Wow. What did he do? Showed me an arm drag.

Okay. I kind of hit the mat and busted my arm. After just doing it for a month? Yeah, a month. Were you pissed at him? No, no, I was cool. He wasn't being malicious. Right, right, right. And what happened? Did he fall on you?

Yeah, it kind of fell. I kind of just slammed into the mat, I guess, you know. Man, how much pain? Colorbone, that's painful, man. And it was funny because we were at the wreck, you know, we're at the wreck, and he's like, pick your shoulder up, don't cry, you know, because he felt bad. You know, he didn't want to look like he hurt me. Yeah. I had to walk out of there and not crying, man.

It was painful, though. Did you have surgery? No, no surgery. Is that the injury when you have to keep your arm up? No, they just put like a holster-type brace on you. Okay. So grade three is what, six, seven? No, no, no, a little over.

Nine. So you took a break for a few years. Were you worried when you came back later? Were you apprehensive? No, not at all. When you're a kid, you forget. Short memory. So why did you take so long to get back in?

You know, I don't know. Just my parents weren't pushing me to it, I guess. And it was once I could do it for school is when I started doing it. So when you started, what did you want? Like, did you think that wrestling would lead to anything or was it just a fun thing? It was just a fun thing. I knew when I, I'm a very competitive person. So as soon as I did, I wanted to be the best, you know?

when the goal, state champ is the goal, you know, when you're a kid. So that was my goal at 13. Back then, there wasn't UFC or anything like that? 13 years old, UFC 1, I think. Really? Yeah, I think UFC 1 or 2. Did you watch it? I did.

I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did, actually, at a buddy's house. I was, like, in awe, you know, I think Dan Severin, you know, I said I was the wrestler, so I was like, Dan Severin, and then Hoyce comes out there and does this stuff.

I was like, wow, what is this? And at that point, did you say you wanted to do it? Like, did it kick in at that point? It was still like, you know, it was kind of almost like a, you know. It was just like a fantasy thing, right? Yeah, fantasy thing or just like it was a spectacle. Right, right. So it's like, then you started seeing it more and more.

I felt it kind of went obviously underground for such a long time. Until I was in college is when I, you know, Tito and ran the tour and those guys and then the ultimate fighter show. So that, well, like, what was the moment where you said, I'm actually going to try to do this? There was my senior year in college. Really? And the ultimate fighter show came on. The first one? Yeah, first one.

And then you said, okay, I'm going to give it the same. a shot. Yeah, I, you know, my wife, we went to school together, and I remember watching it. You know, my teammates come over and watch it. And Koshchak, he, he wrestled the same division as I did in college, same conferences as I did in college. So I, you know, our teams wrestled many times, so I knew him, you know, and I was like, this is something people do.

I'm going to give it to try, at least to train, you know. Yeah. I didn't know there's a career in it, you know, but I definitely wanted to do it. And were you married at the time? No, no, no. But you guys were together? Yeah. Was she supportive of that?

Because it's a pretty crazy thing. Yeah, she's pretty easy, believe it or not. Yeah. I think she thought, though, once, you know, it's like, like I said, I'm selfish now. It's pretty selfish in college, too, you know, right? She's been selfish for a long time, is what we're learning here. And, you know, I think she thought it was finally, all right, that's over, now we're going to start a life, and then, you know, here we are.

And what did your dad think? Because he's the one that kind of got your juices flowing here with all this stuff. Yeah. Was he okay with it? Yeah, both my mother and father, they weren't okay. I graduated from college, I had a college degree. You know, and I mean, even though I was going to go in the plumbing, something they don't need a college degree with,

but they were like, what are you doing, you know? And the UFC was nowhere where it was today. Right. I mean, when I first started fighting, UFC didn't have a 55-pound division. That's right. So I thought, you know, in my head, like I said, when I started doing something,

I wanted to be the best at it. And I was like, I'm going to go to Japan and fight. That's what I thought, you know. And then, you know. Well, that's kind of funny because you did fight it in Japan. Right. You didn't end up fighting. Was that the first time you were in Japan?

Yeah, first, yeah. almost. We don't need to talk about that. No, it's not. It's not. It's past that one. You, from what I understand, I don't know if it was your first fight, but early in your career, you competed in the Underground Combat League, right? I did.

Was that your debut? My first fight, yeah, first fight. How did you even get that? So the Underground Combat League, for those that don't know, it's here in New York State, right? Was it in New York City? Yeah, it's in the Bronx. And it's not regulated. It's essentially illegal.

It's illegal. It's illegal. There's no ambulance. There was no way in. There was no, we did no rounds. It was a 15-minute round. Wow. We did. So how did you get the call for that? Like, how do you even find out about that?

You know, I just, I found, the way I found the place, I found the place local to train. That's how I did. I graduated college. I started training. And I literally was trained three weeks when I had that fight. So that's it. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. The guy I was that ran the school at the time was like, do you want to fight? I said, yeah, it's fight. So I ended up going up there. It was on a Sunday. I'll never forget. It was so hot. It was July or something. And drove up there. It was so hot in the gym. You know, I've seen the air conditioning. It's a box in the Bronx. And I ended up being the main event. Wow. Why? Why? I have no, because it's the underground.

Yeah, right. But you were just, you weren't Frankie, Edgar. Yeah, no, yeah. It's because I was the only one that probably would fight. That's why. I was the only one that said, okay, I'll do it. How much did you weigh? I probably weighed 155.

And what about the guy that you fought? I mean, he was probably, he wasn't much bigger, but, you know, he probably won't 160. So it ended up being okay, you know. But what about this coach that brings you in to do this after just training for three weeks? Was that a little questionable? Yeah, now in hindsight, yeah, absolutely. Who's this guy? This guy, this guy Rob, he's no longer a coach, let's say that.

All right. So you go to this event, you have no idea who you're fighting? No, not. Well, no, they told me probably the week before. But what do you do? You can't look the guy up, right? Yeah, you try to look him up, you know. Did you find anything?

I found a little something. You did? Yeah, yeah. I think, believe you or not, this guy's named Eric Goresk. I know he was out of Alliance training, you know. Oh, really? Yeah, I seen him in a corner of one of the guys that fought last weekend. I seen him in a corner of somebody.

Last weekend? From Alliance. I don't even remember where we are. There's some of the damn fights these days. Maybe even Ross's. Oh, okay. Maybe Ross is going to. So he's still competing?

Yeah, I think he still competes, yeah. I'm not sure. So you had some kind of knowledge of him, but you show up. How many people are in attendance? There's probably, I'd say, 50, 50 people. Wow. Yeah. No wayans, nothing.

No wayans, no ambulance there. No rules. No rules? I headbut him in a fight. You did? Yeah, yeah. Dirty. Yeah.

Not only are you selfish or dirty, too. You threw a head butt. I mean, it was, I knew it was legal. It was legal, legal, legal. Any, uh... Yeah, glove, A gloves. But the gloves, I mean, these are the gloves I was wearing for three weeks. Wow.

And did you even wrap your hands? I did. Yeah. So, so, but you can, you can punch him below the belt. Yeah, I don't know. Or is that frowned upon? I don't know. I guess it's frowned upon, you know.

I mean, not that I'm saying I want to go and do dirty stuff. No. But if I wish, if I know what I know now, I probably could have done a lot more dirty stuff. I'm just trying to paint the picture here because that's a pretty intense way to start your career. Yeah, yeah, it was, it was nuts. And he was a New York guy. He's a New York guy. I'm a Jersey guy, so everyone's screaming for my demise.

And why couldn't you find a show in Jersey? Or did you not want to start that way? Because I was just this guy. The coach was the coach, and he was leading me this way. I had no idea. Did you think that, okay, this is MMA? Did you think that this is what you have to do? Like, did you know that this was a little?

No, no, I didn't. I really didn't. I probably didn't want to know. I knew I wanted to fight. Yeah. I wanted to see. Well, let's see if I could really do this. And how did you feel?

Like after you did it, how did you feel like, oh, wow, I could do this? Yeah, well, I won a TKO. Okay, how early? About probably two and a half minutes, three minutes in. You know, I went out there and obviously I didn't have much stand-up at all. I was only training for three weeks. I was a wrestler, you know. And he came over.

I was always willing to stand, you know, and he came over and put me in a tie clinched and boom, two big knees to the face. I kind of shook it off, and I went after him. I ended up getting a couple takedowns, went back up and down, and I ended up mountaining him and finishing him with strikes. And we went out to dinner with the family. I think like Portuguese in Newark Yeah, yeah

I went to the bathroom. My face looked like I didn't get into a fight at all And I went to go blow my nose And my face blew up with air Wow Sinus pass past it. I broke an oral bottle bone Oh no

And my sinus patch broke up My whole face was like Drooped down It was crazy My parents like Oh my God You know going nuts, yeah So

Do you have to have surgery? No surgery No surgery But I went to the hospital that day You know This gave me antibiotic You know The air seeped out

But literally I could hear the air Between my scalp in my skull. Wow. It was pretty wild. How long after did you fight again? Like how long of a break did you have to take? So that was July and then I fought my first pro fight in October.

So that one doesn't count. It doesn't count. It doesn't count. It broke my face though. Yeah, come on. It got, you know, your feet wet in the business. I made $160. Really?

Look at you. Did you have like a purse to show and a purse to win or was it just? No, no purse. It was I had 16 people come by tickets. So I got $10 for every person that bought it. So if you bought, if you had no one? I would make no money. Wow.

What do you think he made? I have no idea. He was the favorite. He was a favorite. I remember going into it and he was supposedly the kid that was going to the UFC next. Okay. And he never did. True or not.

Right. He never did, right? No. You know, you mentioned that you love to stand and train all that and you have this. People love to call you the Rocky guy, the fights with the gray and all that stuff. Do you ever start to get a little concerned about head injuries and like long-term effects? I mean, you take a lot of damage. Yeah.

I mean, you know, people say I take. a lot of damage. Really just the great fights. You know, I took some damage in those two fights and then, you know, the upkick from Benson. But, you know, I think I just bruise easy. I do. I got a black eye right now. You know, I wanted to mention it, but I didn't want to be. They put a little stuff on before from the earlier show. Oh, the makeup is worse. Yeah, yeah. So.

I didn't want to mention it. I didn't want to put you on the spot. Who gave you that? Probably Marlon, Marlon, right? You know? Yeah, yeah. But, I mean, last week I came in, I had any other stuff. I, I just, you know, I bruised easy. You know, this is what it is. I don't think my head's taking too much damage. But I do think about it, you know, how can you not? Right.

How do you get excited? And we're running out of time here, so let's get to BJ. How do you get excited about this when you beat the guy twice? And the second one was so convincing. How do you, is it just the fact that you get the fight again? Is that enough for you? Yeah, I mean, it's been a year. I mean, that alone is getting me, you know, get juices flowing.

But I just don't want to, I mean, for sure, I don't want to lose the third time out. You know, not now. Now, now I'm supposed to win. Now I'm supposed to win. It's weird, right? You know, and I definitely don't want to lose now. And he looks, I mean, everyone loves to put a lot of stock into the way he looks, but he looks great, right? I mean, when I saw him in Vegas, you weren't there because your wife was about to give birth when they did the press conference.

He said he was walking around at 155. Are you surprised by how he looks? No, no, I mean, he's not a very big guy. I think he puts on weight that he probably shouldn't put on. Now he's just kind of probably staying where he's supposed to be. You know, when we did the show, I think he was only 160, 65 anyway. Anything concern you about him? I mean, you've seen, I mean, you've been in there for what?

50 minutes with him at this point? Anything concerned you about him? Do you think he'll be the exact same guy? Or do you think he can change at this point? I mean, it's tough to change after 50 minutes in there, right? You know this guy? It's tough to change, but I'm sure, you know, I mean, I think he knows this is his last chance, you know?

So I'm sure he's preparing the best he can. And, you know, it's good to have a little concern of your opponent when you're in there. It's going to keep me on my toes. So, yeah, I mean, it's still BJ Penn, you know? I mean, he definitely has something you need to worry about. Have you noticed that he speaks in a bit of a Brazilian accent these days? Is that a Hawaiian accent? Well, it's kind of changing to more.

You haven't noticed that? Next time you see an interview with him, notice that. I mean, it's very bizarre. Are you hoping Chad Mendes wins so that you can get another shot? I mean, these days guys are getting title shots after losing to the champion. It happens. But do you think that's your opening to another title shot? I don't know, man.

I mean, you know, I don't care who wins, really. I would love to be the guy to take it from Al-Lo, though. You want that. I would love to be that guy. But, you know, if Chad beats him, which I think he has a very good shot, I think he'll beat him? That's tough. I mean, if he goes in there and he's not nervous standing up,

like I think the first fight, he was just a little tentative standing up and that hurt him. If he goes in with the confidence that he's been having, his last fights, I think he has a very good shot of beating him. Did they tell, okay, you said they didn't hook you up, but you win this fight. Will you get a title shot? Are you the guy? I don't know. You know, this show has a good way of putting people in that position. Sure.

And I think what I've done in my career, I'm kind of an easy guy to give a title shot to. I mean, I've been there seven times. Right. I think I'm deserving. I'm curious. I'm excited to see you back in there because I feel like it's been so long and you look so great. That was your first win at 145 against Charles Oliver last July, fourth weekend. So it feels like, oh, Frankie's back.

It's like you were taken out of the mix for so long. It's good that you're back in the mix. You know what I'm trying to say? And I bet you would agree with that. Yeah, absolutely, man. I cannot wait. You try not to get too excited this early out, you know. We're getting close.

We're getting close. And, you know, you don't want to get excited really to the day of your fight because they're kind of wasting the whole energy and everything. but it's getting there. All right. Well, I look forward to it. Best of luck to you. Always a pleasure. Frankie Edgar.

How about this? In studio. Love it. You love it? Yeah, man. You could stick around. They're telling me you have to leave. I know, I know.

I would stay. I know, I know. A couple weeks ago, Eve Edwards was on. He was preparing for a fight in Austin. Fortunately for him, things didn't go his way. And last night, via his Facebook page, he announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. 17 years in the sport, at one time considered one of the very best

best at 155 pounds, if not the best. And at some point, you know, all good things come to an end. So we wanted to have him back on the show to talk about this announcement and where he goes from here. Eve Edwards on the line right now. Eve, how are you? I'm good. How are you? I'm doing great. Really appreciate you stopping by. I know there's probably a lot going on and you're a busy man. So thank you very much for the time. As always, why did you decide to make this announcement now? Well, I've been just kind of thinking about it for a bit, especially after last week, and, like, just trying to weigh things out, you know. My training camp felt really good, had good sparring sessions, had everything going well, conditioning, weight cut was easy, everything worked out well, except fight night. And, I mean, the performance that I'm capable of now, I need to, I don't need to be doing this.

It's, um, I still, like, like, I can still do those things in the gym, but I, I, like, I, like, my last cup performances, I just sullying the things that I've done in the past. And I don't, I don't want to, I don't want to continue to, to, you know, to dirty that. more than I already have. Did you know right then and there on November 22nd when the fight was over that that was it for you? If I did know at that point, I was probably in denial or hoping for some reason to not because it took me a while to say anything about it. And I know I still love fighting, man. I still want to, you know, but, like, I have to be smart.

I have to, I mean, I don't want to be the guy. I don't want to be the guy. I feel like I've stuck around longer than I should, but I don't want to be the guy that sticks around too long. You know what I mean? The guy that's fighting for a paycheck or the guy that's risking his health, like seriously, risking his health. I guess I can still have some of the same fun in the gym

but I know it won't be the same as competition but yeah it was just something I like when it was over it was definitely was like as soon as I was fully conscious of what was going on I don't like when I I remember getting like standing up in my butt and like how did I get knocked down what the hell I got it okay and then I don't remember.

I remember my leg being caught in the air. I still haven't really watched it. I remember my leg being caught in the air. And then I remember being in an arm bar, I thinking I was in practice. You know what I mean? So it's one of the... And then as soon as I was like coherent, I was like, I think I'm done. I don't know.

But, like, I don't want that to be the case. So I don't, I don't... Yeah, so it's one of those things. Are you fearful for your health? Like, have you been experiencing anything that makes you feel like, okay, for my health alone, I need to stop fighting? No, no, absolutely not. I haven't had that be an issue ever. Like, that's my problem.

I still feel like I felt when I was 26. You know what I mean? In the gym, I probably still look like the same guy, you know? and like as far as having my faculty I would like to have as long as possible if until the moment I die I honestly thought I was going to die fighting not necessarily in the cage

but I just didn't help I don't be in an old man I don't know how I'm going to deal with having to have help to go to the bathroom or walk up some stairs you know what I mean but so I haven't had I don't have like any any health issues that I'm concerned with but at the same time I want to respond enough to to not wait until oh I'm forgetting things

or I can't seem to grab something tiny you know what I mean um I don't want that to be an issue before I start thinking maybe I should stop doing this you know um So that's kind of where I'm at. When you were on the show a couple weeks ago, we were talking about how you were going to turn things around and your explanation for the recent losing streak, now that, you know, I know it's fresh, but you've finished that last fight

and you're taking a step back, do you have any explanation for this? Or is it just, you know, father time caught up to you and this happens to everyone, every single fighter? You know, at some point has to realize that his time or her time has come, you just think that it's just 17 years of putting your body

through this and this was your time or do you look back and say if it had done this or that differently, I wouldn't have to retire right now. I don't know. I am one of those guys. You get the football game and let's say Tom Brady

or Peyton Manning is a quarterback and Manning gets hurt and his backup has to come in there and play and they lose because the backup throws four interceptions. You know what I mean? I'm the guy that says, I mean, I'm Peyton Manning fan,

but Peyton Manning even throw up four interceptions. Just because the other guy was in there doesn't mean the outcome will be different, you know? But it could also mean the outcome is different. So that's like the arm I can. I can't say that if I did this different, I would still be fighting. Maybe if I'd wrestle with high school,

I would be better at wrestling. my record would be a little different. I would still be fighting. But maybe if I wrestle in high school and I continued to make weight for all those years and put that toll on my body, I wouldn't have been able to do this until I was 38. You know, there's both sides that I coined,

so I don't know. How difficult was it to write that Facebook post? I took through since Tuesday. You started on Tuesday? On Tuesday of last week, I had been thinking about, at that point I made a decision that I can't

I can't do this anymore like I want to but I shouldn't if I'm going to leave behind anything any kind of a legacy all I'm going to do is punish it or or not really add to it at this point

because I don't know if I have I don't know how many more fights I have left in me honestly I don't feel like I can't do it a bunch more times, but my last, my performance, my last performance is

the most disappointing of all of them, you know? I've always, I've always wanted to go into a fight. All I've ever wanted to be able to do is perform, show that I know what I'm doing and sure that I'm capable of doing this

and everything else will work itself out, you know? So I don't I didn't I don't know man It's Oh man It sucks so bad

Because I still love this game But I just I'm Willingly deciding not to play anymore I know that you're Typically Pretty active on social media But I noticed that

As far as Twitter is concerned You haven't said anything Or responded to anyone I'm wondering if you have checked in on your Twitter and seen the outpouring of support and messages. I just saw Matt Sarah write something very nice to you, other fighters as well. Have you seen any of this stuff? Because it's pretty amazing to see how much respect.

I mean, everyone saying positive things about you, how you were a testament to this sport, class act, and the list goes on and on. Have you seen any of this? I haven't really been looked at my Twitter or my Facebook. I looked at my Facebook last night for like five minutes and I saw some of the Steve Montgomery, this kid at ATT who he'll probably be talking too soon. You guys will definitely know who he is pretty soon. A really tough guy, good kid.

And he said something and it's just, I don't even remember what it was. but it was something along the lines of he looks up to me I've talked to Steve a bunch of times with Steve a bunch and like I can't see that from people that I know and respect

like like it made me cry you know what I mean this has been the biggest part of my life besides my family since I was 17 like every like virtually every day since I was 17 years old

probably two months total in the last 21 years, like, I've had a day that has nothing in doing fighting, you know, and so, like, like, it's awkward enough, like,

trying, like, walking away from it. We had a long day yesterday, my wife fell asleep early and I posted that. I didn't want to post that with her awake because I don't want, I don't want her to ask me what I'm doing and worry about, like, what's wrong with me. She's sleeping.

I'm reading these things, and I start, like, it starts fucking with me, man. I don't, I love fighting, man. And I don't want to do that anymore. Did she know that you were going to do this? Like, did you talk to her at least beforehand? Yeah, yeah. She knows. She knows what's going on with me.

I mean, she's my best friend, you know. We talk about everything, but. I'm not like, I'm not big on change very much, you know what I mean? And, like, this is, this is everything, man. Like, all my friends, all, every single one of my friends is through fighting. And all my best friends are guys that I sweat or bled with, you know? And now I'm like, now I'm like, I'm willingly saying, okay, that's it. you know.

Do you feel like you've prepared yourself for this? Like, were you one of those guys that just never wanted to think about life after fighting, so you didn't, you know, get your mind ready for it or anything outside of the gym ready? Like, is this a complete life changer? Do you think you've done enough to at least prepare yourself? I mean, obviously the shock of it all, and it's so fresh right now, and certainly appreciate your time and everything that you're saying and how open you are. But do you feel like you've prepared yourself for this?

I thought I was. it. But, like, I didn't expect it to feel like this. I knew, like, someday it was going to end, but, like, it's like if you're in a good movie, and you're, like, really into it, and then you realize this shit is really good, but it's going to end at some point. And, I think, it's kind of like that. It's like, I mean, an extreme version of that, but it's like, I don't even, I don't, I've watched

a couple fights today. I don't want to watch any of my fight. I don't know when I'm going to be able to watch a fight of mine, you know, because it's like I'm never going to do that again. I love doing this, man. I absolutely loved it. There's a story I tell people about one time training it, and Tebow and I are getting together,

and he's on top of me with little gloves, and he's hitting a little bit too hard. And, like, in the head, And I'm not going to complain. I just think, well, you just got to get up. You're still having a good time. You got to get up and get out of the spot. Like, that's what fighting is for me.

It's like I'm in practice with a friend who's hitting me in the face too hard, but I'm having a good time. I'm not going to do that. I can do that in the gym, but I'm never going to do that in competition anymore. And that like competition enhances like the excitement of it all. Like because everything matters at that point.

There's no, there's no give, there's no, okay, let's try that again. No, like every moment is critical and like that's never going to happen again.

Do you think that you will remain a part of MMA, perhaps a coach with ATT, your own, you know, your own team, something like that. Do you envision that sort of thing happening? Yeah, definitely.

I love technique. I love seeing people use technique. I love showing somebody something and having them pull it off. You know, I've been helping out with the rest of my wife's high school. She's an assistant principal, and I've helped them out a couple times in the past couple of years. And I go to their meets and like just seeing somebody do something that you showed them and have success with it. That's like one of the best feelings in the world. I've known that for a while, and I know that's something that I want to do.

I know I have a lot of information. I don't want to give some guys that so they can refine it and make it better for the next guy. So I know that's definitely a part of the future for me, but yeah, I mean, I don't know what capacity. I don't know if I'm trying and become like a Colorado Boyo or Harvey Mende. or Craig Jackson, but I know I'll definitely be a coach to some to some degree. Do you think that you're going to take a bit of a break from MMA?

Like, you know, obviously, teammate of yours, Robbie Lawler, fighting this weekend. And, I mean, it feels like there's a fight every weekend, to be honest, as far as the UFC is concerned, not to mention the others. Do you think you might, you know, just take a break from it and not watch for a bit? No.

The only... I was like, like, A month ago, I was super excited about Pettus and Melendez, and I'm still excited about it, but, like, it doesn't hold the same meaning. You know, I mean, it's definitely an important fight, and it's a big fight. I'm still excited about it, but it's like, I don't have the opportunity to ever challenge one of those guys ever. You know what I mean? So it doesn't have the same impact.

I'm definitely going to be watching Robbie's fight and it's important. that one, that one, that's probably the only fight that matters to me going forward right now. It's the only fight that's been inked that I really, I'm concerned about. Robbie helped me get ready, you know, for this last fight. And, you know, the outcome's my fault. But, like, like, that guy's amazing. I've never seen that guy even have a bad day, even in the gym. And I think it's going to be a different story.

I'm definitely going to be tuned in. I'm going to be pumped up and excited about it. And I'd be really happy to see, you know, Robbie is a new world champion. But, like, yeah, after that, I don't know. I don't know what's, I don't even know what the next car is after that. And I'm not too concerned right now. I'm sure I'll watch it, but I'm not even thinking about it.

We were talking a bit about this when you were on just two weeks ago, but, you know, now that you have officially retired, is there a moment that sticks out as your favorite or even something that we didn't get to witness as fans of the sport, something that happened behind the scenes, anything that kind of, when you think about your MMA career, this is the moment.

No, I mean, there's tons of little memories, but any time, like, any time that question's asked to me, the first thing that pops into my head is when Mike beat your eye the first time being in the corner and just, all the um how happy that made that made me you know it was that was like my best friend and he just won a world title the guy I trained with all the time you know um I'm probably six seven inches tall as niraya but I try to imitate him as much

as possible we worked at some of some of the things that I do that Mike liked that he thought would help him um for that fight and you know he wanted me in his corner he wanted he wanted um We just did a whole lot of work for it. And, like, he was able to... I mean, that's the best feeling in the world, man. You know, being a part of a world championship. And I don't know. I think, like, whenever...

When you ask that question, that's the first thing to pass to mind. Like, really nothing else does. He recently... I mean, he didn't make it as official as you, but it sounds like there's a chance he may never fight again. Did you talk to him about this? and just kind of starting this new chapter in your career. Yeah.

Like I said, man, Mike is one of my best friends. And of all the guys I know, you know, him and Dinn are the only guys that are a little bit older than me and pretty much in the same situation. I've talked to Mike. He's called and checked in on me. You know, the people that knew. about this. I made this decision basically on Tuesday of last week

and the people that knew about it then were, you know, my manager, Dan Lambert, Joe Silva, Mike Brown and Dustin Poirier, because I talked to Mike and Dustin about it a bunch, you know, and those other guys too, but like, I had really

Mike and I had a little conversation about it and, you know, he's tried to give me some advice and you know, tell me it it's easier not to worry about it. it's just a different part of life but like it's all good here and then I believe

I've never lied to me but at the same time like it's dealing with it is not the easy part what do you think you'll miss most about the actual fight everything man um like I literally will never check in ever check my weight

You know what I mean? I'll never walk into the cage again and feel like canvas under my feet. And that's like a great feeling. And then the best feeling of all is just getting your hand raised when it's over, whether it be a minute and a half or 15 minutes, you know. That's the best feeling the world is success at that point. And I'm going to miss that the most. I have missed that the most.

I think, you know, some people were talking about, you've given us a lot of highlights, but the way-ins were always a lot of fun because you'd always be eating and then you'd give your opponent something, you know, to chew on as well. When did you start that? Wow, I don't know. I don't know. I just like food, I guess. Yeah, I don't know when I started doing that. I noticed, though, I didn't notice. Fortunately, not a lot of people have done, are doing that, but I didn't notice that some people started taking a superhero underwear thing, and they start rocking a superhero

underwear because I feel like that's my thing, but I don't have a thing anymore, so I guess everybody can have it now. Right. But it's certainly memorable. As I said at the beginning, you know, a lot of people once considered you the best at 155, the

Uncrown Champion, all that. is that something that, you know, maybe is a regret that you never got a chance to be that UFC champion even though you were, you know, if there was a belt involved that you probably would have been the champion, does that, does that bother you? Yeah, it does bother me. Because, like I said before, you know, I'm of that train of thought that's like, just because state, man, he wasn't in there, doesn't mean things would be different, you know what I mean? But when it's something like that, when it was a fight that was and should have been, or

originally scheduled it would be a title fight or should have been a title fight, I can't, that's the only regret I have, you know, something that's out of my hands and I can't, I can't do anything about it. That's something that'll never go on my resume, can't put it on my tombstone, can't go anywhere. You know what I mean? I was never a UFC world champion. And, yeah, it was a big part of what I wanted. Initially, I wanted to fight the UFC, and I finally got there.

After having some success, I wanted to fight for the belt. And, you know, through one opportunity, it didn't happen. I was never able to earn the opportunity again. So, yeah, that sucks, man. That's definitely the only thing I regret. Do you have a favorite opponent, someone that you truly loved fighting? My favorite opponent is Mike Brown. I love that guy.

But the person I loved fighting the most. probably Aaron Riley Really? Why? Why? Because he could take it and I like dishing it out Wow and that's pretty far back in your career Yeah, no, I mean I Yeah, I mean those fights were fun You know what I mean? But I think the reason why

by those fights, both those fights actually really started a snowball situation for me in my career both times. The first time was in Texas at a small hook-and-shoots show for the pancreation rules. And that was my first big fight. You know, Aaron had a name. He was the hook-and-shoot guy. They brought him to Texas to fight me. And that kind of started a snowball effect for me of some good things happened.

And then the second time we fought, that was a fight that got me and my first UFC contract. You know, so I was really, really excited about both those fights going in, and then, you know, good things came from both of them. So I think that one, that definitely is probably the most memorable opponent because it meant so much to my career. You know, I know you said that you were kind of worried about tarnishing your legacy, everything. you've done. I get the impression based on how people are reacting to this news that you haven't done that, and you have left a tremendous legacy in this sport, and people remember you with great fondness.

But if you have it your way, how do you want people to remember Eve Edwards of the fighter? Someone that wouldn't back down, you know. One thing, I've never picked and chose opponents. I just wanted to fight I wanted to be a fighter and so if Joe still recalled when I was my own manager

Joe would call me and I would take a fight it didn't matter you know so I can make the weight I would take the fight whether it be on this or not and I guess that's how I'd want to you to remember me just somebody with skills and that you know that represented his skills and who he was

and you know never backed out. I'm, you know, I just, I just, just want to be a fighter. I just, I just want to be a member as a fighter, somebody that was truly the fighter in the core of his being. Well, Eve, I can't thank you enough. I really appreciate the time. I know we're supposed to be emotionless and unbiased, but, you know, I can honestly say, loved covering you, love getting to know you. I really appreciate you. You've always been really kind to me, as I told you, you know, personally. even when I was younger in the sport, you were always so gracious, one of the true class acts that I've ever met in my life, let alone MMA.

So I know that you'll find a new calling. You'll be a part of the sport for a long time if you choose to be or be great and excel at something else. I don't think MMA will be the same without you. And I appreciate it, and I thank you for everything that you've given us as fans of the sport. I know a lot of people feel the same way so I can talk for everyone here. So thank you very much for everything. Congratulations on an amazing career. Nothing to be ashamed of. I don't think you should have any regrets. You've done it all. You've fought them all. And you gave us some great memories. So congratulations. Enjoy retirement. Go get a pinacolada or something. Kick back, relax. And hopefully, you know, some point in the future will cross pass again. I think you'd make a great coach, a great mentor. And I'm excited to see what you do after fighting.

Thank you, Ariel, man. I really appreciate it. Thank you for raising the level of journalism in the game, man. For real, you and guys like Ben and the guys from, you know, Greg and Jeff, thank you very much, man. The sport wouldn't be where it is. Yeah, the fighters and, you know, different promotions, but you guys play a big part in that too, man. I just want to say thank you for all the kindness of all the years. I'm not giving you any BS, man. I really appreciate it, especially you guys, particularly the guys I just mentioned you and Ben and Damon and TJ and Greg.

Those guys, I just want to say thank you, man. Hopefully, this isn't the last time we talk. For sure not. If we never talk again, I just want you to know, I appreciate everything surreal from the beginning until now. Thank you so much. I'll make sure of that. I hope it's not the last time I'm certain of that. and the sport isn't a sport to cover.

It's not worth covering without people like you. So thank you for everything. Really appreciate it. And again, thank you for the time today, and thank you for being so for open. Congratulations on a fantastic career and all the best to you and your family, Eve. Thank you. I appreciate it, man.

All right, there he is. The one and only, the thug Jitsu master himself, Eve Edwards, calling it a career after 17 years, one of the very best, and I'm not even talking about inside the cage, one of the very best in this sport. If you ever met him, the guy has an infinite amount of time. He's always open. He's always honest. He's always gracious with his time. And he was great to watch. He was great to cover. Unfortunately, you know, Father time, it hits us all. But 38 years young,

17 years in the sport, a lot of fights that aren't accounted for. The man had an amazing career and nothing to be ashamed of. And, you know, I do think it's worth celebrating that he's able to to say, you know what, as much as I want to do this, I just can't do it anymore. And a lot of guys don't have that in them. That's a tough thing to do, as you can tell by the emotion, which I definitely appreciate it. And my heart goes out to him because it's got to be a tough thing. You're only 38, and you have to do something different. And you're doing something from, you know, when you're 17 and probably even before that, he knew he wanted to be a fighter. So from a teenager to a grown man, a father, a husband, now you just have to do something different. That can be. You know,

be daunting. That can be scary. But I think that Eve Edwards has left a great enough legacy in this sport to where he'll always have a place in this sport. If he wants it, coach something of that nature. And I think if you're a young fighter who is close to Eve, ATT, or where he lives, I think it would behoove you to lean on this man and to reach out to him because he has an infinite amount of knowledge. And he's been there. He's fought him all. He's done it all. And really one of the great guys. So sad to see him go, but very happy that he is saying, all right, enough is enough. There's no more that I could do. It's not worth it anymore. Tough decision, but it takes a lot of courage, and I respect him doing that.

Thank you very much, Jeeve Edwards, and congratulations on an amazing and memorable career. All right, so there you have it. Best of Show, number one, in the books. Some really fun interviews. The Crowe Cop one for me was such a, was such a, was such a, a huge deal. I never had the chance to interview him. He was like my last guy. He was like that, what is it called when you're searching for something? My holy grail. He was like, he was like a mirage in the middle of the desert, an oasis. That was Miracle Crocop to me. And I finally got him, and we got him to sing. Unbelievable. What a moment that was. And really great to have Rory here. I love the in studio guests, as everyone knows, and Frankie Edgar as well. Great stuff from

Eve Edwards. We wish him the best. GSP and Hendrix on was a lot of fun as well. And then Ronda Rousey and Nick Diaz, I mean, Nick Diaz never thought in a million years he'd be on the show. So that was a lot of fun as well. You can hit my music, Alex. As we say goodbye after this best of show, hope you enjoyed it, relived it. Let us know in the comment section if you felt like there was an interview that you wanted to see on the best of show. And guess what?

Next week, there's another best of show. So if you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, rapidly approaching, I want to wish you and your family's the very best. Happy holidays. Just don't invite John Fitch to your Christmas party because he probably isn't interested in going. Maybe he's interested in going, but he doesn't want to talk about Santa Claus. Now, if you have no idea what I'm talking about, go back a couple weeks, December 8th show. John Fitch was talking about Christmas. Nevertheless, I hope everyone's doing great. I miss you very much. I'm on the beach somewhere, but I'm thinking about you. Next week, another Best Stuff show.

We got some guests. Can we throw out a hint as to who's on the show? I won't give names, but I'll say that it is full of old favorites. Old favorites. How about that? Nice little tease for Mr. New York, Rick. Merry Christmas to you as well. Do you celebrate it?

Yeah, celebrate a bit of both. A bit of both. Well, my mom's a Jew, so. Wow, look at you. I get the Hanukkah in. It's all about getting gifts for me. A little double dipping. I'm not surprised.

Will, Alex, Merry Christmas. I don't know what you guys do. You never talked to me anyway, so I'm not that concerned. In any event, if you missed any portion of the show, it's going to be up. iTunes Stitcher, all that good stuff. So check it out or just go back into the archives. It's all there. Appreciate the time.

Happy holidays. See you next week. Until I say, Bush. Support for this show comes from Odoo. Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other? Introducing Odu.

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