MMA Fighting - The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani - Episode 301

Episode Date: October 12, 2015

Ariel Helwani speaks to TJ Dillashaw, Duane Ludwig, Sage Northcutt, Johny Hendricks, Travis Browne, Joseph Duffy, Cody Garbrandt, and Jon Fitch in studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the downloaded two, ghosts in the machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cudulian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible Original Blockbuster. The Downloaded, it's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love?

The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Support for the show comes from Odu. Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other. Introducing O-DU. It's the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all-in-one fully integrated platform that makes your work easier,

CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, and more. And the best part, O-DU replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. That's why over thousands of businesses have made the switch. So why not you? Try O-D-O-4-3 at O-D-O-D-com. That's O-D-O-O-O-O-O-com. It's the Mixed Martial Arts Hour with... The Mixed Martial Arts Hour back in your life.

On this Monday, October 12, 2015, Hogan, everyone. I'm Ariel Halwani inside our New York City studio. If you're watching us live in the United States, happy Columbus Day to you. I have no idea what Columbus Day is all about. Of course, I'm sure it has something to do with Christopher Columbus, but really, what does it all mean? And why are people not working?

part today in America. I don't know. I'm working. I'm here. I'm happy to be here. I can't wait for today's show. Also, happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians out there enjoying Thanksgiving. Truth be told, I never celebrated Thanksgiving as a youngster. It wasn't really a big deal in Quebec. I'm not sure why either. I got a lot of questions that have been unanswered at this point in my life. And I'd like to know why in Quebec we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Regardless, it's Thanksgiving in Canada. So happy Thanksgiving. off, I hope you're watching our show with your family while eating turkey. That's what you do in Canada. But most importantly, happy seven-year wedding anniversary to my lovely wife, who you saw

on this show last week. What a ride has been from the beginning. And I love her very much. And I can think of no better way than spending our seven-year wedding anniversary than me doing this show right here and her alone at home. All right, what are we talking about? By the way, I first have to say, speaking of last week, I feel like I'm still coming down from that emotional roller coaster. I can't thank you all enough for the kind words and that video. I mean, Monday night, Tuesday even, I was still very, very, very worked up over it. It was something that I'll always cherish. So again, thank you to Andy Mayer and New York Rick for that. By the way, big week for New York Rick. He's getting married on Saturday. How about that?

Actually, no. Incorrect. His wedding is Saturday. He already got married. That's how weird a guy is. He got married on one day and a year later, it's his wedding. Very strange. We will dig into that a little deeper later on in the show, but we got a lot to discuss on this show. Once again, thank you very much for all the kind words, about 300. And like I said, I try to make every episode 300-esque, 400-esque. I try to raise the bar each and every week, and I think this week we have proven that. Very interesting cast of characters joining us this week. What's going on?

All right. around 305, John Fitch, who is facing Yushin Okami in a welterweight fight at WSOF 24 this Saturday at Foxwoods in Connecticut will be joining us in studio. John Fitch returning, he liked it so much the first time, he's back for more a second time around. So I look forward to that. Cody Garbrandt of Team Alpha Male will stop by. Big week for them. He'll stop by at 245. 225 Joseph Duffy, who of course headlines UFC Fight Night Dublin in a little less than two weeks. We'll stop by at 225 Joseph Duffy currently in my hometown of Montreal right now, training at TriStar.

205 Sage Northcut, Super Sage Northcut, the rising star that is the 19-year-old Sage Northcut. He'll stop by to talk about his whirlwind of a week. UFC 192, that whole fight, we could experience, his amazing debut, all that, and then some looking forward to talking to him for the first time. 145, we'll talk to Travis Brown in his first interview since his suspension and then his suspension being lifted. Lots going on with Travis Brown. Of course, he has a fight coming up in January against Matt Matrione, looking forward to

him. 125, we're going to talk to Johnny Hendricks about what happened to him at 192 and 1 o'clock as I promised last week. Don't doubt me. Dwayne Ludwig will stop by to talk about all that's going on in his life. Of course, as always, we'll take your questions and comments at around 350 this week. So hit us up using the hashtag the MMA hour, leave a question or comment in the comment section below. We are starting earlier this week, 20 minutes early, because we had to accommodate the biggest newsmaker of last week. So very excited that he is joining us, excited that he's leading off the show apropos, if you ask me, we're talking to the UFC Bantamway champion, T.J. Dilleshaw, right off the bat.

He joins us right now via the phone. T.J., how are you? I'm doing good, man. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate it as well. So, wow, what a week it has been for you. From what I understand, it was around this time last week, Monday of last week, that you inform some of the members of Team Alpha Male that you'll be going to Colorado for your next camp, in particular elevation fight team. And of course, once this news came out on Tuesday, spread like wildfire, a lot of takes going back and forth. A week later, given the reaction and what has transpired since, are you still happy with the decision you made?

Oh, absolutely. There's no other way I would have done made the decision. I mean, obviously, it's been really tough, actually a lot tougher than I even imagined. I thought it was going to be going over a little bit easier, but you really find out who people are when you've got to make these kind of decisions. So why tougher than you thought? What? What happened that you weren't expecting? You know, I thought some of the guys on the team would, I mean, actually, most everyone did actually take it that way. But I feel that, you know, Uriah took it a little bit harder and I thought he was going to take it. You know, I thought he was going to understand my position and understand why I'm at.

And, you know, kind of feeling like he almost put me in this position. In what respect? You know, I kind of want to talk about the position I didn't put in. And I've been stuck in between Uriah and Dwayne Ludwig for this last camp going back and forth for my training camp and these guys bickering at each other and making it tough on me. You know, I mean, he brought a coach into team off the male in my last two years in my career that I learned to believe it. I learned to love and I learned to trust with my career. And then he leaves and then a bunch of drama happens.

And, you know, I happen to choose where I want to go and who I want to train with. You know, I'm not supposed to train with a coach that I put all my faith into and help me win a world title. You know, I believe if you go back and look at my fights in the last two years and see how my kickboxing has developed, I mean, I know all that to Dway. You know, I mean, it's a very, very tough situation to be put in. So do you feel almost like your hand was forced, like, given what's happened, especially in the last couple months, that you had to make a decision one way or the other, either you're staying with Alpha Male full time or you're going to Colorado to be closer to Dwayne, but you couldn't keep doing what you were doing for the last couple fights? Yeah, I guess so. you more in this last week I was forced to do a lot of more things than I thought was going to happen, you know. My plan was I told you're, look, man, I got a big fight coming up. I got to do

it, I believe, the best for me getting ready for this fight, and that's being spending my whole camp in Colorado. You know, I split it half and half. My last camping is really tough. It was hard to do, you know, going back and forth. And I just felt, you know, with the team they have out there, with the coaches they had out there, I felt a little more comfortable with spending my camp out there. and, you know, he took it pretty hard, and I was actually forced out of the gym. You know, I'm not allowed to work out at Alpha anymore because of that decision I made.

You know, I live in Sacramento. I've lived in Sacramento the last six years, and I've been putting in a lot of work here and helping the guys out as much as possible. I mean, shoot, I teach kickboxing classes on Mondays and Thursdays, you know, and that's just not really going to fly with me when I get into camp,

and it's tough for someone that I understand that I put my heart and soul into this team as much as I possibly can to kick me out of the gym. gym. You know, like, I'm not allowed to show my face at alpha-mail, which is kind of crazy to me. How have you been handling that? Is that heartbreaking for you? You've been banned from a gym that you've been a part of for your entire career, right? Oh, yeah. So what's that like for you? How do you stomach that? Um, one day at time, and I don't know, that's tough. It's super tough. Um, just know that I'm making the right decision and that I got a big fight coming up and ultimately that's the most important thing. You know, I made this decision to train somewhere else.

You know, like I said, I didn't think he was going to be as blown up and as ridiculous as it is now. But it's real tough, man. I mean, especially when I'm best friends with all these guys. You know, not only the training partners and guys I want to do well in their careers, but guys that I love and care about every single day, you know. So it's a super tough thing going on. How are you with your eye now after that decision? And I don't know if you heard it, but I'm sure you've seen some quotes.

he was on the Stud Show radio podcast, which is an alpha male podcast, talked a lot about this situation. After all of this, the last five days or so, what's your relationship like with him? You know, I'm just trying to look past all this and understand that maybe his feelings are hurt, but they're kind of put me on blast when he went on that podcast. Now, I'm trying to be the bigger man

and not to bring out any negativity in what he's doing here in Sacramento because it would be very easy for me to do so, you know, especially after him putting me on blast on, on such a radio when I went out and just talked about the positives in Sacramento and the positives of me moving chance, you know, and then he's got to get on there and, you know, talk a little crap

and, you know, throw me under the bus. I just don't want to be that guy and I want to keep my relationship going with him and the only way to do that is to just look past it. You know, I understand that his feelings are hurt that I'm going elsewhere, but, yeah, I feel like he should understand it just like everyone else on the team.

You know, I feel it's a little more understandable with some of the guys on the team, and he's, he's, you know, it's still only to hurt, I guess. I want to continue a relationship with him. I want to continue his friends, so I'm just going to be the bigger man. So are you done with Sacramento? Are you moving to Colorado full-time, especially now that you're no longer welcome at Alpha Mail?

I'm actually heading today. I'm catching a flight to out to Colorado to go and find a house to lease out there for the next year. You know, I mean, I've definitely been out there for the next year. I mean, not saying I'm not going to be in Sacramento to all. I mean, my family lives here. You know, there's an hour and a half from Sacramento. created a life through the last six years in Sacramento. So it's like I'm not going to be here.

I'm keeping my house in Sacramento. But I'm not allowed to be in the gym outside of, I'm not allowed to be in the gym in Sacramento. So it's almost kind of premise to come back when getting better is in the off season. You know, I mean, you prepare yourself in camp, you sharpen your tools in camp, you get better out of camp. You know, and so if I'm not allowed to come back here and work out,

then, you know, it's pretty ridiculous. I'm, yeah, I'm full-time Colorado. So, okay, so ever since, this news came out, and I'm sure you've seen it because you look at your Instagram, your Twitter, it's amazing the amount of negativity that has been thrown your way. And a lot of it started with what Connor McGregor said about you. We talked about this on my show. And now you've been viewed as this or painted as this Benedict Arnold, this quote unquote snake in the grass. I mean, a lot of venom thrown your way. Has this blindsided you? Did you expect, when you knew that this

was coming out, did you say, oh, okay, this is going to happen to a degree, but the amount in which it's happened. I mean, did that surprise you or were you fully expecting that? Because it's been pretty amazing to just look at the comments. It's all negative towards you. Yeah, it's pretty crazy. It was just, I guess, I guess, I'm maddened. It all happens at the time of Connor calling this out. You know, it's actually kind of ridiculous for him to call me a snake or a trader, you know, and the fact that I made a business decision. You know, and I feel like that's, you know, like, Connor's thing is making business decisions. It's all about business. The fight business, you You know, and I'm getting told I'm a snake because I made a business decision for my career.

You know, and that's just pretty hypocritical to me, and now we've got all these people believing in what he says. You know, if I'm a trader, then I feel like he's even a bigger trader to his country. You know, he rests Ireland, and he's his big countryman, and then he lives in the United States now. He moved to Las Vegas. Why? It's better for his career, it's business, you know. And so I hope everyone understands it. Like, I'm just trying to stay on top.

I want to become the best in a great fighter possible. and I need coaches to do so. Right now in Sacramento, I'm teaching kickboxing classes. Martin Kampman is moving home. We have a great mittman as a boxing coach, but he's a boxing coach. We have to coach each other at Team Alpha now right now, and that's a big problem for me. When I've noticed what a coach is going to do for you

and how much better it can make you, I need that in my life. So ultimately it's a business decision. I can have these haters out there, but haters are going to hate. Dwayne isn't officially a part of elevation fight team although he lives in the same city and I know he has a good relationship with Leicester Bowling and those guys. If they weren't based in Colorado and Denver in particular, would you have not

even entertained that thought? Does this make it easier because he's there as well? Absolutely. I mean, the only reason why I even know about this great team is because of going to Colorado. So I wouldn't even know about Elevation Fight team and all the great coaches out there if I wouldn't have gone to Colorado. I mean, Lisa Bowling is an awesome wrestling coach, and as well as a head coach, and he leads by example. He makes everyone accountable.

He makes you feel bad for missing practice. They got Ellen Marshall teaching jujitsu, Lauren Mandatel, one of the best training coaching coaches out there. You know, they've got an awesome striking coach out there, Christian, that I'll be hitting myths with, and then Duane. So, yes, Duane is a huge influence on this. I mean, I was going to work out with Duane no matter what. That's why I went to call that for my last camp, you know, not even knowing what was out there. I went out there. You know, I just packed myself up and knew that I need to be around Dwayne.

He makes me more confident, and I know that I'm a better fighter around him. So, yeah, he's a huge influence on this. When Yariah was on this show and spent around 80 minutes or so talking about the whole story between him and Dwayne and the falling out, if you will, was that the breaking point for you? Was that, you know, the final straw, or was it something else? I wouldn't say it was the final straw. You know, I mean, the final straw is just, you know, talking to some of the coaches

out in Colorado and thinking about my career in the long run, you know, that definitely helped. I mean, that wasn't very cool in my eyes, you know, I mean, a lot of it was true, you know, on both ends from what they've been saying about each other, but a lot of it's blown out of proportion, too. And to go on, to go on an 80-minute rant about someone's a little bit ridiculous, and look to those guys going back and forth at each other through the media is a little childish, and so that definitely helped me push me one direction, but ultimately it's about, Me won the best for my next fight in my career, and I think I'm going to grow more as an internet fighter with some coaches around me. When you first came out and talked about this news last Tuesday, you talked about it being a business decision and you getting paid, and who can fault you?

You're a fighter for a very short amount of time. You've got to make that money. We all understand that. Since then, your eye on that show talked about how I think if you dedicated your life to mowing lawn for a year, you'd make the same amount. And even Brian Stan, while... complimenting your decision said maybe in hindsight you shouldn't have talked about the money because that leads to to other issues guys compared. In hindsight, do you regret saying that or are you fine with, you know, putting out the reasons? I think a lot of people appreciate that honesty, but it has brought upon these other comments.

Yeah, I mean, I don't regret it at all. You know, it's just the fact of the minute. If I would have stayed here at Alpha Mail, I'd have to put a lot of money into beat my own coach to where I'm getting sponsored. You know, it's all about it's a sponsorship from the muscle fund that's willing to put some money behind me. I don't only money, but to set up my camp the way I need it, you know, to bring in training partners that I need to figure out the best situation for me to be the best fighter possible. No, I don't regret talking about it. It's a situation I couldn't pass up. It was all my mind. You know, I'm a very honest person, and I'm going to tell you exactly how it is. You know, I can't really hide any details on what's going on. And I'm in a very fortunate

situation, you know, and, you know, muscle farm believes in me, and, you know, I want to believe in what they're going to do for me. Are they paying you big money to go over there? No, I wouldn't say it's definitely not huge money, but it definitely makes a difference. Okay, here's what it does. It's pretty much just going to help me pay for my coaching. I don't have to pay for my coaches. I supposed to do that. It's just helped me do so.

It's pretty much the same thing as getting me a sponsor monthly from someone else. You know, it's helped me figure out my camp and be able to put as much energy into my camp as well. I don't have to go in low long if that makes a difference. Right. You're no dummy. I know you see the comments out there and what people in the media the fans are saying, this is all leading to a fight between T.J. Dillashah and Uriah Fabor, are you open to this fight now based on what's happened over the past week?

You know, I didn't think I would be until Yariah started saying the stuff he did. You know, he's the one saying that he's more than willing to fight me, you know. And I thought we were a lot closer friends than that. You know, I put my heart and soul into this team, and I thought we're a lot closer than that. So, I mean, he's obviously looking for, I think, a big fight in his career, and I don't want to have to do it, but, you know, I'll be the last statement on his career side of the same to be, but that's not the way I really want to do it. But now, you know, he talked about Dana White asking him twice

and him turning it down. If you get that call after Cruz that they want you to fight Faber, you can understand why they would want it. The amount of attention this has received is pretty insane. Do you say yes at this point? Yeah, probably, most likely, yeah. And given your training sessions in the past, how confident are you? Because he knows a lot about you.

I mean, he helped groom you into. the fight you are today to agree. Is this a fight you're comfortable as far as skill versus skill is concerned? Absolutely. Absolutely, yeah. How strange would that be for you and with your relationship to the guys, or do you feel like there is no more relationship with those guys anymore? You're your own? There's definitely a relationship with the guys, even with your eye. I mean, I don't want to have to fight your eye. That's not something I want to do. I love to you. I think both in his quarter. I'm the champion. I have to go. Both in his quarter what he Well, I'm leaving it that way, what he wants to do.

I want to keep relationships with all these guys. I love them all. They're family to me, not only teammates. There's not one guy in that team I don't like. Even the guys coming up, they're going to have a future at Team Alpha with all these young guys come up. They have some studs coming out of that room.

You know, it's a bunch of iron sharpening iron. I just feel that they could benefit from having some coaches there. You know, they could benefit from me being around teaching kickboxing classes, you know, which I've already been doing. But now I'm forced out of the gym, which is very hurtful. You know, it's just I need a coach as well. I can't be coaching everyone else in coach myself, and I just don't understand how Lurai doesn't see that.

You know, the sport is growing, the sport is becoming amazing. Those guys like St. North is coming in at 19 years old and looking good. You know, like these guys are going to catch up to us, and I've got to continue to get better. I understand Joseph Benavides got married on Friday. You were all there. I saw pictures of this photo evidence.

What was that like? I mean, I saw pictures of you sort of next to your eye. Did you guys talk? Did you try to clear the end of your eye? or was it awkward? No, it was good, man. I mean, it's fine. I mean, maybe I guess a little bit of awkwardness, but no, I mean, I'm fine with it.

You know, I mean, I make a decision, I guess, maybe strictly off a business, too. Who knows, you know? I'm going to be the bigger man, like I said, and I want to continue a relationship with you. I don't want this to be a bunch of drama, you know, so I'm trying to continue life as it was. You know, I had a great time at the wedding. It was one of the best weddings you've ever been to. It was amazing. Are you fully expecting in the best wedding?

back your mind, given how big of a fight this would be after Cruz that you're going to be offered this? Oh, yeah, I've definitely talked about it, you know, with my management, with my wife. You know, it's probably something's going to be pushed towards me, I'd imagine. You know, I guess it's just, I'd imagine Zee's was pretty happy about this. Yeah. Do you think that, you know, I mean, you can't foresee the future, but it's amazing. You still have three months, more than three months before the cruise fight.

How are you going to have every single? interview that you do from now to then. I bet, and it's amazing. The cruise fight is a fascinating fight. Like I said, I think to you last year on the show, it's maybe the fight I'm most looking forward to stylistically coming up. And I would imagine, like, 80% of your interviews are going to be about this topic. How are you going to

deal with that distraction? So that's what I'm dealing with it now. I'm getting everything I want out now. I'm coming on your show now and speaking my mind. When my fight gets closer and I get into camp, I'm going to tell them, if you want to ask me a fight about me and Donald Cruz, I'm more than happy to do an interview with you. If you want to talk about me leaving

Team Alpha Mail and we'll not do an interview with you if you have to ask, that question at all, I will stop the interview. That's just why I'm going to have to play it. I mean, this isn't about me and leaving Team Alpha Mail. It's like, what about all these other fighters that lead camps to go to different camps to become a better fighter? Like, this is being blown out of the water. And if you want to ask me about Donald Cruz, the biggest fight of my life coming up, you all mean. So I'll talk about it and how I'm going to win this fight.

But anything else, I will just stop the interview. Why do you think it's being made into such a big deal? Um, you know, maybe just because of the fact of how close team Alpha is, you know, we haven't had anybody. Yeah. I mean, we've had guys leave and no one that's been, like, some prime group. The prime group for the last six, seven years, you know? I mean, we've all stuck through.

We've worked through some problems and trying to figure some things out. That's why we brought Dwayne in, you know. I mean, that's the only reason why Dwayne became in is because a bunch of the guys met up with your eye and told him to be your coach. Yorai did a great job and research on who we should bring in, and it's a fantastic thing, you know, and then it turned into it. So it's just because I think I'm the first one of the big name that's leading from the team. Just throwing it out there, do you think part of it has to do with the fact that you're the first champion?

Did you ever feel afterwards that there was any resentment towards you? Oh, I didn't. They've done a great job backing me. Every guy in my weight class, every guy of the team has done a great job supporting me. And, you know, I actually never felt me resentment. You know, maybe there is. I don't know, but I definitely did not feel it. You know, they've done a great job staying as a family. You know, I mean, I think he's just, I don't know. I don't know what this is all about.

Yeah, and of course I should clarify first UFC champion. Of course, you're I favor, decorated WC. But, I mean, it's a big deal. It's a much bigger stage, and you were the first. That will always be the case. So right now, you know, you're going to Colorado. Is that it? I mean, are you all packed up, or you're just going to check it out?

You're coming back to Sacramento. I would imagine Sacramento are not a very big place. You're going to run into these guys. it's going to linger until you leave probably, right? Yeah, I mean, I hope I learned to these guys. Okay. I'm family. I want to continue to be friends of these guys.

Yeah, I leave today to go find a house. You know, I'm not on my stuff packed up yet. I need to figure out where I'm living and figure out that whole situation. We go out there and get some practicing right now because I can't practice here, you know, other than Shadowbuck through my back there or do whatever. But go out there, practice, find a house, hang out with the team. You know, it's one thing that I feel bad about as well is that. The guys that are targeted the elevation fight team,

the guys are out there that are already really good. I feel like getting overlooked by this. You know, you got the Neo Magnus, the Brandon Fatchez, the Tony Stens, you know, the guys that aren't in the U.C. that are amazing. One of the sparring partners for my last three or four camps, Corey out there. You know, there's so many talented fighters out there

that I don't want them to be overshadowed by this drama that's going on. You know, I'm moving into an established three teams, and I'm excited about it, and I'm glad they're letting me come. You know, they're letting me join their team. In the back of your mind, can you understand why Yariah said to you, you can't come to the gym anymore, or do you feel like that's completely off-based and unfair? I do think it's unfair. I mean, I can understand where he's coming from.

Him thinking that I have to lead to you if I can because it's not good enough there, you know, that's a hard truth. You know, hopefully it lights a fire under his ass and he fixes some things out and off the rest of the guys, you know. But I do think it's unfair because I've given back, I feel more to this, you know, than he has in the last few years. You know, I'm in there teaching practice when he's not even in the gym. You know, it's funny. He said, since his whole announcement and he's saying I was leaving,

he's seen me more at the gym. The reason why he's seen me walk to the gym is because he's been around more. You know, I'm the one of the hard time there in teaching classes and being there. You know, I'm one of the guys that's in the gym here round. So, yeah, I do feel like it's okay. I feel like I put in a lot of effort to make the team better. What about this reputation that you have this temper and that you hurt guys and things like that.

Is that unfair? I definitely have something I've had to work on. It's just my competitive edge, you know, in practice. I definitely don't do it maliciously. It's something that I'm just an aggressive. Like when I get into sparring, I spar a little bit, a little bit aggressive. I'd say I got blown out of the water. You know, it's definitely a fault of mine that I have,

but I think it's hard to have a little bit too much, you know? I mean, I'm aggressive. I feel like that's what's forming my whole title as well, you know? But I have had to control it, and I mean, I have to continue to try to control it, because I need controlled aggression, you know, to bring it out when I need it. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. The two last quick things, and then we'll let you go,

and I really appreciate the time. You know, he used this term family, and actually I do really believe that the Alpha Mal team is a family. Like, when you won the belt, it was amazing to look at your teammates, react to the win, because you can tell there was no jealousy there.

I mean, they were so happy for you. Do you feel like that's salvage, at all to still remain a part of that family, just so, you know, like, you're part of the sister camp, if you will, and you're still viewed as, you know, one of those guys? Or do you think as time goes on, because it's all well and good a week later to say you want to be a part of it, but you know how this thing will blow up? Do you think as time goes on, it's just going to be impossible to remain that way? I don't think so. I think if time goes on, it will make it easier. Okay. At least I hope so. I'm feeling to get lesser from it, but I would, I mean, I'm definitely

going to put my effort in and try to continue to be a part of this family because it told me in so many ways with just life in my career. You know, there's no way of around it. You know, I love these guys. So, yeah, I think we'll see that it'll be a little bit easier here in the near future, actually, even, too. And like I said, you know, this situation has been brewing for quite some time, and I think anyone leaves another camp and we don't see this coming.

It's just a story. A guy leaves a camp. But because of the back and forth and all that, it's turned. into this soap opera, if you will. Is there anything that in hindsight you wish you could have done differently? Or is this the case of a champion somewhat outgrowing his team and looking to, you know, remain as competitive as possible? Keep that edge and go find some, some fresh training elsewhere. Is that all that this is or is there more to it that you wish you could have done differently? That is what it is. That thing you just said. The only thing I would have

done differently is maybe the Chinese. You know, before Connor McGregor decided to talk some crap on the military and then all of his minions are going to follow and talk about you crap. I got a very influential person. He's growing huge. He's, you know, he's smart with his words. I think he saw this coming before your eye. I did.

He knew that, you know, I have a close relationship with a coach. Like, that's something you can't pass up. You know, once you get that relationship, I have a guy that works harder at his job than I do. You know, it's hard to find. So I guess, yeah, just the timing. I would have done it maybe easier. Probably earlier, you know, if I could have.

Okay. I was going to figure out, though. You know, I was trying to salvage what I have as a family. You know, I was trying to figure out, hopefully we're going to switch some things up. We're going to bring in some coaching, and it's going to be a different situation. So I was trying to hold on as long as I possibly could do this. Like I said, it's a very tough situation for me. For me, even just to tell you, Raya, that I wanted to do my full camp in Colorado,

was a really hard thing coming to do, you know. So, yeah, I mean, I wish I was done earlier, but it was hard because I was trying to hold on to something, you know? Last quick thing, was this 100% your decision, or did Dwayne try to get you to go over, Leicester Bowling, anyone else, try to recruit you to leave the team? Oh, 100% behind. Yeah, when you're right, I said that Leicester was recruiting me, that was kind of crazy. Because Leicester was the one that told me, like, you was best for you. If saying that Sacramento was best for you, then you need to do that.

Like, even if he wasn't telling me, it was before anything of being a sponsor came into the question, you know, saying that, you know, I need to figure out what's best for me. and do you think traveling back and forth is the best thing, staying in one spot. And he liked me as a person. I like him as a person. He just won the best for me. He didn't try recruiting me. It was me making a decision all my own.

T.J., really appreciate you coming on, especially before your flight. Good luck with the move and looking for a place and all that. Good luck with this transition. And, of course, good luck in camp. Thanks so much for the time. I appreciate it. Thank you. All right, there he is.

The UFC Bantamway champion, T.J. Dillashaw, joining us a emotional week, a hectic week for him, a lot of news coming his way and from his neck of the woods in Sacramento, what a story this has been. And like I said, I think a lot of people, as much as there are some who feel like, oh, you know, this is all about mono imano and martial arts, everyone's attracted to this kind of soap opera, this kind of drama, and it's one that we've been seeing for quite some time. And when you throw out words like family and the references or the, the, the, uh, some of the, um, some to the godfather and all that. I mean, this is a guy who was brought in by Uriah Faber, and they appeared to have had a great relationship, and he became a champion,

and he was a part of a very tight-knit team. I think he nailed it. Not a lot of guys leave alpha male. And the reason for that is, I mean, they're just a bunch of good guys that everyone seems to get along, and there's no reason for that. They've really developed something amazing from the ground up in a very short amount of time. For one guy to leave and him also being the champion, it, you know, it starts to raise questions, and we saw this coming, a long time ago. I mean, it just turned into this crazy story and it all came to ahead last week and I can imagine it's going to play out for weeks and months to come. Obviously, a part of this story as we were just talking about with T.J. is Dwayne Ludwig. We had your eye on the show a couple

weeks ago and as I talked about last week, really wanted to have him on this week's show. And as promised, here he is. Dwayne Bang Ludwig joining us on the phone right now. Dwayne, how are No good, Ariel. Thanks having me on. I appreciate the time. And again, as I said last week, I apologize for the misunderstanding. I hate that it had to kind of go down like that last week, but I always wanted to have you on and talk to you. You know, I have a lot of respect for you, and you've been on the show many times before, so I'm happy that you were able to give us some time here today. Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate that. There's just a weird, you know, obviously interview, of course, but something with that in the future. you probably have to have the guy on somewhat soon

or have it in your mind to have him on so much soon before some kind of those allegations like it takes place, but either way. Yeah, fair enough. It's your show, things coming on. It was good, too, because I got to calm down and, you know, actually look at this as somewhat of a calm manner. So it was better.

I felt they got blown off, Ariel, but it's cool. And for the record, I did have... You had 200 show or something. 300. I got you. For the record, I did have Mark Remundi call you before I even left the studio it to get your side, but I understand everyone wants to come on the number one podcast. I get that, and this is, this is prime time.

You have a guy, some quotes for me. Yeah. Okay. So, you know, I want to talk about the T.J. coming out here, you know, it's the best thing that's for his career. You know, I think he's going to have dedicated coaches in each field. You know, he's going to have a full-on, you know, space mission coach that's dedicated PJ. You have Leicester Bowling, who's a phenomenal wrestling coach, who is the great wrestling coach for MMA.

You know, that's the difference. you know, not just a good wrestling coach, but it's a great wrestling coach for MMA. And then, Elliot Marshall, he's a great jiu-jitsu coach for MMA. And it's a world-class, top-notch facility, full-on cage, matted area, equipment room, recovery room, therapist on hand. It's the state of the yard. So it's definitely in best interest for T.J. It's super unfortunate that favor kicked them out.

I think that's quite supportive or being a friend. I think we should probably be working together, especially as martial artists. and for anyone to close the door and somebody else just isn't fair. I don't think that's ethical, but it's his decision, but it's not what's best for TJ or the guys. Should I be working together?

When did you find out that he had made this decision was going to leave the team in Sacramento and move to Colorado? I found out the day the day it was released. I was getting hit up by a whole bunch of people asking about him, like, what the hell? So I actually didn't know if that was happening.

but it's definitely the best decision for sure. I would have liked to keep the bridge open for the alpha guys come out here and T.J. to go back and forth, because I think that's the best recipe. We all work together. But, you know, some of the emotions got in the way and I think it'll work out in the end.

Do you think that if you weren't involved in this scenario, Uriah would have kept the door open, but because of your relationship with Uriah, that's why he closed the door? You know, I don't know. I reached out to the guy a little bit before, you know, well, you know, you know, going out in interviews, you know, with you and stuff.

And I reached out to him, like, to figure out what the problem was. And, you know, the hell of us kind of behind the closed doors. But what's the case? And I was just like, man, like, I text him. I was like, I don't try to stare at 5. I don't know why he's blown up, you know, because there's a team being formed out here. And I was thinking maybe he thinks I'm trying to those guys to text. I'm like, look, man, not trying to steer a guy.

Like, let's just talk about this. And he wasn't having it. He was a bit emotional about it all. So I just let it wash him on the bridge. And he kept doing more interviews talking crap. So I'm like, let the guy just do his thing. And, you know, I'm focused on my martial academy here, led with martial arts. I got my affiliate business.

I got my system. And I'm focused on that. And I know I have a limited time to work with fighters. And I only work with specific guys like T.J. Vanney and just a handful guys I'm going to work with a lot I'm going to work with the elevation fight team. So I'm not going to actually going to be a part of the elevation fight team. I'm just going to do my stuff. But they'll send guys to me and we have guys that want to fight. And I'll send them to muscle arm here to go with the elevation fight team.

And, you know, so anyway, short story, TJ isn't going to have dedicated coaches in each show. watching after him, and then we'll do our network on the side. I'll probably pop in there on sparring days and help out, make sure I keep eye on TJ and making sure that I feel we're going to correct direction. So there's not like a team up where I'm coaching all fight team. I'm still going to be there for TJ 100%, but I'm not going to be a part of the actual fight team itself. Are you hoping, or do you know if any other alpha male members are going to follow suit?

I don't know. I wish there was open for policy. you know, elevation fight team has, and I have, and Alphenol has open-door policy to take away except for the champion, which seems a little bit funny. But, and I, you know, I don't want anyone, I think if it would have been like, okay, if you leave, then you can't come back.

If it was one of those scenarios, then, you know, I don't know. I actually wasn't, I wasn't in negotiations when this is all going down, so I'm still kind of figuring pieces out, but, you know, in short, this is the best decision for T.J. for any fighter that wants to have to be at the top of the sport. You know, they have to have dedicated coaches in each field. I mean, why not?

And then obviously, being, you know, close to me, I'm a half-hour drive away. Like, I'm going to be hands-on T.J., because all the games that are made, not all the games, but a lot of the games that are made for an athlete are between camps. We don't have all the stress and everything. We're out with the fight camp. The games are made between camps. So look how well T. T.J. performed a last fight, and that happens with him going back and forth.

Now, if I'm just staying here and getting games in between the fights, it's only going to be better. It's just, I just wish everyone that's working together. And, you know, that's what we need to do as martial arts, just work together and not be caddy. I think it'll work out. When we were setting this up, you told me you wanted to focus on the positive, and I definitely respect that. There's just one question I want to ask you about the Uriya stuff, because I don't need to get into the whole back and forth. To a degree you've already addressed that.

But he did throw out, you know, accusations of sexism and racism. Can you just tell me what's your response to that? I mean, that's a big thing to put on someone. I have a problem with the, you know, when we get punched in the face, you know? Yeah. Like, that's an issue. So, you know, I'm getting more accustomed to that now as I have some female students and I'm seeing it more. But I just, I just still don't really like it.

You know, I don't want to see when you get punched in the face. And I'm definitely not freaking racist, that's for sure. I mean, my wife's Mexican, I, it's, that's just, I mean, those are emotional accusations. And I don't even care to bother. I mean, anyone who knows me knows how I am. Okay. You there? Yeah, I'm here.

Okay. Tell us the students, bye-bye. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to address that if you want. Yeah, I already addressed those two. I'm a fighter and the kids, you know. Fair enough. You know, they reached out to me, which I thought was cool, so it was good. Actually, I had quite a few people not respond to me, and for sure.

Like, you know, we can say what you want, but I think for sure it was, you know, a little bit blackballed on my response to me being so delayed. What do you mean by that? I reached out to quite few people to get a report out and they, I got blown off. Really? Really? Why do you think that is? I don't know.

If that was a request by somebody or not. Say it again, sorry? I don't know if it was requested by somebody or not. Oh. I never had a problem reaching out to people before until that happened. Are you? That's right. The whole fight world is just crazy, man.

I'm focused on the martial arts and stuff back from fighting stuff, but have reserved time for people who, who, are worthy, I guess. Yeah, well, I certainly hope that you don't feel like that's the case here, but any, you know, we could go back. For sure you, for sure you blew me off for a little bit, man. Like, for sure you did that, you know, like, I think I'd just being scheduled and stuff, but next time they can't have someone come on and, you know, come off all the accusations

and then not let go to that talk for two weeks. I mean, if someone's going to do that, you have to have a schedule, okay? I have these weeks scheduled, but for sure I'm about to get them on, just to be fair, and you have to wait two weeks. But, you know, again, and then we go, it was better. I got to calm down and not making me irrational or irrational decisions and comments. I say stupid shit all the time. Fair enough.

Well, no, that doesn't bother me. I read our text message conversation on the year, so I wouldn't consider that a blow-off. Also, because I was very much up front with you. And, you know, you actually came to me after the whole thing that happened in Chicago. And I said, hey, you said, you want to come to show you? I think I've been very open to that. Like I said, the second I left this, actually before I left this studio, I had someone called you to get an article out because I said you'd have to wait a whole week.

You did. That was cool. Yeah, so. I appreciate that. I don't know if it's fair to keep saying I blew you off. It's cool. Yeah. It's not fair to keep saying that, Dwayne. Well, it's not fair to have someone on the show and talk whole bunch of crap and then leave them in the hangar for two weeks, you know? But I understand. You had a chance to tell your side of the story. How many times are we going to... Not on air like this. Like, what don't you understand?

Man, like, this is my career in business. I'm all these accusations coming at me, and then, like, and then you just blow me out for two weeks. So you really want... I know. I know. I know. I still feel I was blown off, but I understand your side of the story. Okay, fair enough. Okay, so I want to know if you were the one, did you have anything to do with recruiting TJ over, or was it 100% his decision? On day one of I started training them, you know, it's one of those things where we are meant to train together,

but I'm not telling him to leave team off-o-and-not-talking to move here, you know. It's the best decision for him, but it's also a good piece of the puzzle to be able to work with the team also, team off-mal guys. But, like, you know, every other top-10 athlete in the UFC, like you're going to get good work, and there's a lot of good guys here in Colorado, but just for the camaraderie and commitment with the guys that he already has,

it's good to keep that because they all know each other and they all work well together. But I didn't tell them, you know, leave there, come over here. That's not what I told them. My door's always open to the guys to come here and train. But I'm not telling anybody to leave any team or to join any team on one. They want to work together.

And the actual lines in the sand, And you've got to be here and there. I think that's just BS. We should be working together as martial artists. From your perspective, how is he handling all this? We haven't been in contact too much. So I think he's handling pretty well. But, you know, having, you know, your supposed friend

closed the door on you so you can't be in here, that's not right. So I don't think he's handling that very well, which I wouldn't handle that very well either. you are you hoping at this point to try to you know squash the beef with your eye or do you think that ship has said like from the beginning you know like i started with that i'm like well make sure we're cool like i don't care whatever i feel was uh whatever you know i thought i was crying about like i'm over that shit man that's want to make sure we're all working together i haven't seen

that from the start and he keeps coming out more interviews talking crap i'm like man so just let him do a thing and you know let him write his drama wave it just he just wrapped up in drama mode from I'm being punked on the show from Connor so much. I mean, Connor really died his head, so he's trying to think out on me, and then it's just overspilling and keeps escalating. It's just time to, you know, pull the brakes on it, man. I think it's not right, and nobody needs this right now. We all need to be working together.

I keep saying that. You know, I'll say it time and time again. We all need to be working together. How are things going at the gym these days? My academy's running smooth. You know, my martial academy. I got a bunch of hard-nosed Brazilians working spinning kicks in the back right now. I got three

Jiu-Jitsu black belts working spin kicks in the corner of my academy right now. And these guys are insane. They're just all about the martial arts. It's awesome.

This is what I love. It's just the development of martial arts. This is fun. And I understand you had someone at glory this past weekend. Mr. Wells,

he's the one who teaches the Brazians the black kicks in now. Yeah, he's a lifelong martial artist kicks in black belt from Chihon Jokan Jokanayama. And it's cool to have

the lineage of the arts and one of a cat. in one academy. I want to ask you the same question I just asked, T.J., do you wish you could have done anything differently throughout this time with Uriah? Or the team in general. The team, no, the team, no.

Like, we all kicked ass together, you know? Uri and I, we had a couple of bumps in the road with our communications. And looking back on it, I would have made sure that what we talked about was on paper was exactly going to come, you know, to reality. And in the end, I'll accept responsibility

and say I wasn't as clear as I should have been, I guess. So I'll accept responsibility and say squash and all. Let's all be friends and work together, man. I love the guys. I really love T.J. And I'm going to do whatever he needs to make sure that he's going to perform at his full potential for the time he chooses to commit to fighting. In hindsight.

Whatever needs help with, man. I love T.J. Do you wish you never did this job? Like, do you wish you never agree to it in hindsight? No, no, no. I wish I would have made sure our agreements that what we talked about, what was on paper. No, no. I wish everything else would have been exactly on paper.

I get that, but I'm just saying, because it just, in high sense, like this is brought up, I mean, whether we want to admit it or not, it has brought upon upon a lot of drama, right? I mean, this thing continues to. It has. It's fucking stupid. Do you wish you just never took this job to begin with and you'd be? No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no. I won 100% glad I took the job.

And I'm not saying that at all. Okay. Where'd you get that from? No, no, I'm asking you. Like, as someone says, you know what, this is... Don't even ask that, man. Like, I love to work with those guys. That's like a drama question.

I know you want to draw up here show. Can you not do that? Like, I 100% have no regrets at all for taking that job. We all keep that together. When we work together, look at the numbers. Like, even their wrestling increased by 151% to knockout. Everything on that team increased. The only thing that went down is them getting hit or taking down.

Those are the only numbers that went down. And those are good numbers to go down. So coaching my understanding of martial arts classically rose. I understand martial arts at a level now that I never would have understood if it wasn't for the opportunity. So I do not regret that at all. I am super thankful for the opportunity and I said it time and time again. That's a tremendous answer, but it's one that I can't find out if I don't ask the question. That's all.

I'm not trying to get drama. The only thing that I regret is not being as clear as I should have been in our negotiations. I read that's my own regret. I don't regret anything that they did. I regret some of the way I handle things because I would have been much more clear in on negotiations. How about that?

I'll say I'll get up. A lesson learned in business, right? We're not all business. Lesson learned in business, yeah, yes, sir. Okay, so where do you go from here as far as your relationship with elevation? Go ahead. With elevation, you know, I'll pop in on, you know,

spawn days and help TJ and do my thing, you know, and help TJ on the side. and do whatever I need to do to make sure TJ's performing as full potential. That's my commitment. That's what I'm here on this earth is to teach martial arts and to teach martial arts for those who want to learn like TJ. Is there any chance you go there full-time since you're so close? No. No way.

You're not interested? Never, nope, not at all. Why? I'm focused on my academy. Because in the fight world, I've given too much of my soul to the fight world. I'm over that. I have limited time, limited hours in the day for the fight world, and those days are going to go to TJ.

But isn't what you're doing the fight world as well? Your gym? It's martial arts. Martial arts and the fight world are two separate things. How so? Can you explain that? There's a lot more honor, respect, discipline, rather than a bunch of combative athletes

and then jump in the cage to their fight each other. You know, people are fighting for different reasons, so I won't put out any allegations of that. But I don't, I feel there's a lot of martial arts in the UFC right now that could be in fight, but there's also a lot of non-martial arts. martial arts in the UFC. Okay.

Do you foresee a time where... They aren't as ethical. They aren't as ethical and, you know, just honest. Do you foresee a time where you're completely done with that side of things and you just stay in the martial arts world? You know, that's interesting. Oh, so you like that question. That's good. Yeah, I like that question because, you know, it always is martial arts, but I'm going to work with people who are martial artists and that's what I'm best at is teaching high-level athletes, right?

but that's not necessarily what makes me the happiest. So I'm still figuring out life as we all are. Things change on a daily basis. Don't you agree, Ariel? 100%. Would you say that T.J. is more of a martial artist at this point than some of the... T.J. is 100%. 100%.

100%. 100% turning into a martial artist more and more each day. Oh, turning into... And I'm working on it as well. Yeah, it's not just one day you're martial arts, one day you're not. Or there's different levels as well, right? Or you can start on this side of the fence and move over to that side of the fence. 100%.

Wow. And vice versa. Right. Did you see that being the case with Faber? You know, he came up from, you know, he's been doing commercials since he was eight years old, so he's been programmed to see what he needs to see when the camera comes on and when Mike gets put in his face since he was eight, you know, he's been doing commercials and he's very good at that, you know, and because of that opportunity that he gave me,

helped me get wearing out today, so I'm very thankful for that. But, you know, he's been programmed to as a child to see what needs to stay on the camera, and came up doing wrestling and business role. So he's very cunning and manipulative, I can't even fucking say it. He can manipulate stories pretty well to paint the picture that he needs to paint. One thing is that he didn't mention out that when I was hustling all my privates and my sponsors and do I need to do, I was directly sponsoring his athletes that his management company was actually handling. I was putting money out of my pocket into their pocket directly doing the job that his management company should have been doing.

But that doesn't get brought up. Last thing, I think what sparked his appearance, or I guess his answers on this show, was when you said to Fox Sports.com, I apologize for anything, like, kind of throwing out this blanket apology. Yeah, like, whatever you think I'm, I did wrong. I'm sorry. I mean, I'm just trying to be cool and help each other out and make sure we're all growing. Could you see why that would rub someone the wrong way? No, like, whatever you think I did wrong, I'm sorry. Okay. But did you understand why some people wouldn't like that? that as opposed to just being like I apologize for this specific thing as opposed to

this blanket apology because it may seem like well I wasn't quite sure what he felt I did wrong and then he's like changing all these stories and then manipulating them and putting them in this bad kind of you know pin trying to pin a bad picture me with the but it worked out for me it's in because everyone who knows me stepped up and you know did their interviews and then their post and and I'm not a freaking bad guy I'm here to help people you know just people it's really unfortunate the way he perceived the events it's traded me but But, you know, we all see things differently.

Fair enough. Is there anything else that you'd like to clear up on this particular show? No, you know, I was thankful for that opportunity to work with those level of athletes. You know, just like anyone in the UFC at the top 10, they're a world-class athletes. And, you know, it was a fun time. You know, that two years of my life was, you know, expedited the martial arts evolution. And I was very, I'm thinking you're very thankful to be a part of that. And, you know, I think, GLC 2000, a supplement company has always to sponsor me on it,

boss Ruin, you're the man. I appreciate you, Scenti Ruden. And, you know, the team's been awesome. And T.J. Man, I love you, buddy. And you'll be seeing him soon. He's going out there today. Yes, sir. Yeah, he's doing what he needs to do, man. He's going to have dedicated coaching staff to help him reach his full potential.

All the best, Wayne. Thank you. I'm happy we got to clear the air, I think, to a degree. Hopefully, no hard feelings on the show today. That's good. Thank you, buddy. Okay. Appreciate it. A not so reassuring response there. not quite sure where the hostility comes from, but look, as I said on the show last week,

it goes on Fox Sports, puts out the apology, that pisses off favor, comes on this show. I get my man, Mark, before I even leave the studio to reply and to get his reply. And in my mind, okay, I tell you in two weeks we're going to have you on because we have our next two shows book, how many times we're going to go back and forth? Sometimes, like I said, I get accused of going back and forward too much. I try to exercise better judgment and look what happened. So hopefully no hard feelings there. A story that if anyone, if anyone thinks is going away anytime soon, I think you're sorely mistaken. This will evolve into something bigger. That's my prediction. I'm not going out on a limb.

Perhaps somewhat unfortunately, it will evolve into something bigger. We'll see where it goes. And if eventually they will fight because as you can see, there is a lot of animosity. There's a lot of animosity building there. I guess I should take it as a compliment wanted to come on this show so badly respect all right let's move along let's go to our next guest Johnny Hendrix is standing by Johnny how are you doing great you

I'm doing very well I want to know right off the top just physically it's been a little over a week a very traumatic event you had to go to the hospital we'll get into the details but physically how are you feeling after what transpired right before UFC 192 I'm feeling a lot better my body's actually starting to respond to everything that I'm doing. So I can't complain on that.

You know, I'm actually able to start running, doing some physical activity without, you know, tiring out or having to sit down for long periods of time. It was weird. So this is the first time we're hearing from you. Can you tell us from, you know, your perspective, your words, what exactly happened before 192? Well, everything was doing good. You know, I was drinking, like, it was weird, like, let's say, I was drinking two and a half gallons a day.

I was walking around, right around 193, which is normal. And then my body just quit, I quit going to the bathroom. It's sort of like my body was holding on to everything, which is sort of weird. And then we started doing the weight cut, which I was, you know, I was still drinking two and a half gallon. day and then all of a sudden I just hit a plateau where I would feel like I'm just you know you're getting lightheaded which is common you know whenever you cut weight which is common so I wouldn't think anything of it and then all of a sudden I woke up on Thursday I'm feeling good like feeling really good I was like you know 184 I was like this can be perfect to lose 10 pounds wake up on

Friday and have to lose an extra three that's going to work out great. Went and sort of went to did my first session and in an hour I only lost like two pounds. I was like, oh boy. And then that's whenever my body started feeling different. And then I tried to push through it, went to did another session. trying to work out. And that's whenever I was like, okay, something's definitely wrong. And didn't know what it was.

I didn't know what it was. I think something was wrong. Both of my left and right side started to hurt at that point. And went to the hospital, and that's when I found out that my intestines were dried up. And I had a kidney stone on my right side. And right then and there were you told you will not be able to fight? Pretty much, yes. They said that, you know, you might be able to continue,

but he said most likely you're not going to be able to lose any more weight. How much did you weigh at that point? I weighed 180. Okay. That's what was weird, is that, and, you know, this is what's even more weird than anything is that even my bad weight cut, like right around 173, That's where my body would, if that's where I really had to push, you know, from 173 to 170, you know, definitely from the title fight.

Yeah. That's where I had to push. So I was like, so being that heavy, like something being wrong and my body just sort of wouldn't sweat. I was like, okay, something physically is wrong with my body. And so that's whenever I went to the hospital and that's whenever they said, you're depleted. you know the way that you know of course they can't speculate but you know i might have been able lose an extra pound or two you know but how bad it does that hurt my body you know i mean uh there's a part of the sort of grateful that i didn't continue because it took me a week you know

it's taking me a week to get over what happened by the way did you pass the kidney stone No, I have not passed that yet. I've been drinking two gallons of water a day. We have a doctor's appointment on the 18th or 19th to go either get it dealt with or to have them help me push it. Are you in a lot? I've had a kidney stone, so I definitely feel for you, my friend. I'm just wondering if you're in a lot of pain

because it was incredibly painful for me, but you're a much stronger man and tougher man than I am. Well, you know, what it is is that it just, It feels like somebody's just poking you with a knife in the right side. Right. You know, I get used to, you know, I've been through so many training camps where, you know, you've broken hands, broken noses or whatever it might be, you know, where you sort of just deal with the pain and you try to avoid hitting that spot,

if that makes sense. So, like, I've been sleeping a lot on my left side, you know, trying to do everything I can to sort of stay off, keep the pressure off that side so it doesn't feel, you don't feel the pain. as bad. What was your reaction when you had to come to terms with the fact that you weren't going to fight in this big fight in your home state now where, you know, there was a lot of build-up, a lot of, you know, buzz for this fight, a potential title shot on the line? Like, how did you deal with all of that?

You know, whenever you're sitting there and you're in that situation, at first, I'm sitting here thinking my health, if that makes sense. You know, my body, my body was hurting to a point where, you know, like I said, I've heard of many fights and I've always pushed through it. But that one was different, you know, you're saying you're going, okay, yeah, a lot of this built up. And, you know, what people don't understand, too, is that I just threw away. three months of training.

You know what I mean? Like that's what sucks more than anything because the light at the end of the tunnel is my fight. That's what I enjoy. That's what I want to do. You know, some people, you know, they might not like the end result,

but that's my pleasure. That's what gets me through the weight cut and the three months of training is that right there. that sucks. But I also know that you have to take a step back and sit here and say, okay, I'm, I'm, how is my body going to handle it? Because, you know, let's say something, or something crazy, I lose that weight. I make it.

One body shot doesn't bring me down. Yeah. And now you're sitting here going, okay, well, now a body shot brings me down. And then people are going to say, well, okay, Johnny's body's weak, for one. Two, now instead of, you know, instead of being two fights away, like right now I might be two fights away or one fight away still. You know, I might have to do three fights to get back to where I want to be. You know, and those are all the things that are going through your head. And whenever you're in that situation, you know, you want to fight.

And, yeah, I want to fight in front of my fans. front of Texas and do all those things. That's what sucks more than anything is that you work so hard to showcase what you have. And all of a sudden, you know, the diet that we were on backfires, which sucks. But I've learned, you know, after this, we did a lot of research. And I was eating a lot of deer meat, a lot of high protein, animal protein. which that's a leading cause of kidney stones and your intestines selling. I had no idea because I usually eat a lot of fish and a lot of chicken.

But I was like, you know, I wanted to eat more protein, a lot of cleaner protein, and so we focused more on that. And it ended up backfiring. And I think that if I would have eaten more chicken and salmon, I wouldn't have been in this situation. situation. Last week on this show, your former nutritionist Mike Dolce said that there was a comedy of errors based on what he was told leading up to your weight cut, the final days. Is that a fair way to assess this particular weight cut? No.

You know what it was? I think what it was is there's a lot of signs that were telling me that I needed to change up my diet, right? and it wasn't my weight. My weight, like I said, I hit 189 three weeks out of the fight. That's the first time, you know, and I had proof, you know, one of my coaches was sitting there because they were all worried. They're like, oh, we don't know where your weights at.

They're sort of giving me my space. I was like, hey, let's hit 189 then. I can do that. I was walking at 193, hit 189, and then that's whenever everything sort of started to fall apart. I play tennis. I know that sounds weird, but I play tennis. And, you know, even my coach, he was like, you know, we didn't think anything of it at the point, at the time. But now looking back, I understand because I play with, I go, he coached me Monday and Thursdays.

And every Monday and Thursday, I would only be able to do like a 10 or 20-minute workout with him. And then I have to take a break. You know, and, you know, after doing research, I find out that the way I did my, the high protein was absorbing all my water. So, therefore, it was, it was hurting me in the long run, which, again, you know, you're drinking a lot of water, but your muscles hold on to it instead of letting it go because your body is, I don't, I don't know the science. scientific terms of it, but it hurts you in the long run. The amount of venom spewed your way in the, you know, 24-hour stretch between this news coming out and 192 was pretty intense. Do you read any of that stuff? Does it make it worse, or do you ignore it? No. You know, I don't read it because, you know, here's the thing. I know, hey, I know there's going to be venom spit my way.

Yeah, you know, here's the thing. People don't understand. And, you know, again, people don't understand is that, You know, they just, they don't get to watch one fight, right? Well, I don't get paid, okay? And I also did, like I said, I had to give up three months of training camp that I worked very hard and I was very prepared to fight Woodley. You know what I'm saying? And then the next fight, let's say in probably March, March, April, I would be fighting for the title. You know, these people that are spitting venom, they don't look at that. You know, they only look at what's in front of them at that moment.

Yeah, you know, and what I say to them is come and try to lose 20 pounds. You know, I have to lose 30 pounds each training camp, okay? I say, come with me and let's lose 20. Now, I'll give you a week to lose 20, and how many people can actually say that they're, have lost 20 pounds in one week. Now, and I do know that this is my job, and that's what makes me different than everything else, different than everybody else, should I say. But I also know that, you know, whenever I tried to use a diet, you know, somebody's a

dietitianist or a nutritionist, whatever it might be. and I learned a lot of great things and whenever I did it for the Matt Brown fight I made 170. That was the easiest weight cut I have ever had. Considering you make 170, it always sucks. But that was the easiest one I've ever had. So I was like, okay, let's build off of that.

You know, I'm always about building. I don't like staying the same, which on the diet aspect, I should have stayed the same. I should have changed a couple of the things, but on the diet, you know, eating eggs in the morning, I still did that. I should have done chicken, salmon, and what I've learned is now, instead of eating venison maybe twice or three times a day, cut it down once every three days. You know, try to stay away from the animal protein of venison because it's so high in protein. You know, and that's what that's, you know, it's a learning curve. It sucks that I had to learn this way.

You know, I wish I still had a nutritionist. But, you know, it's just one of those things that sometimes you've got to learn the hard way. And, you know, like I said, going from the Matt Brown fight to this one, I was like, dude, this is going to be awesome. Another easy weight cut. I was getting my weight down the way I wanted to. I felt strong. I felt big. I was drinking plenty of fluids.

I was like, this is going to be cakewalk. And in return, the time that I'm the most confident is whenever it goes the worst. So after the fight, Dana White said that he now considers you a middleweight. What's your response to that? You know, hey, there's a parliament that likes that because I wouldn't have to make $170 again, right? But, you know, for me as a competitor, that's a lot harder road, right?

And one day I would like to venture out on that road. But at this time, I still want to consider myself a welterweight. I want 170-pounders because there's so much more I can do. there's so much better I can be. And that's what I really want to focus on right now. Sort of lay off the weights, lay off of everything, just sort of get my body back to where it was sort of for the Matt Brown fight, where it's an easy walk around.

You know, right now I'm walking around. I'm waking up at 197. I'm going to stay right around there, maybe a little bit lower, in the next week. Now that I can actually start running and doing some exercise. that's what I'm going to start focusing on and trying to get back to where I'm right around 195. That's where I was, 197, 197 to 198, where I was for the Matt Brown fight. And that's sort of what I'm going to do.

I'm going to do a mini weight cut here at the end of this month. I hit 180. And if I hit 180 and everything's doing great, then that's whenever, you know, I talked to Dana and Lorenzo. and that's when I call and say, hey, let's go to the fight because I want to get back in there. I want to train. I want to fight. And I just want to make sure that it's going to be healthy on my body. And if I, let's say I hit 180 and I go through the same thing, well, then I understand, okay, now I got to sit here and go, okay, is my body sort of tired of make a 170?

That I don't know just yet until I do this mini-weight cut. and see how my body reacts and hopefully it reacts good because then I can continue my welter weight sort of run. Have you talked to those guys, Dana and Lorenzo in particular?

Because, you know, they said this recently about Kelvin Gaslam and John Lineker and they had to fight away class up. Do you know if they're even going to entertain the idea

of you fighting at 170 in the near future? I have talked to them. I have talked to them. And, you know, like I told you, A lot of it depends on this mini weight cut at the end of this. So they're allowing you to do that.

They're okay with that plan. I hope so. You know, I talk to them. I don't know if they're 100% keen on it. Okay. You know, I know they'd like me to fight, which I would like to fight too. But I want to make sure that I make the smartest decision in this moment, if that makes sense. You know, I believe that, yeah, like I said, I think I could do good at 185.

pounds, but what am I going to do better at? What am I going to be better at? Guys, I'm only given up like two to three inches, and in some cases you might be giving up six or given up six inches every fight of reach. You know, and that's the thing is that's all I want to make sure that I, at this point, you know, yeah, I've had, I've struggled, but I've also made it easy. and that's the downfall is that I made it so easy for the Matt Brown fight. And going off that, that's exactly how I'm going to start running my camps is exactly how I did that fight.

You know, the way I did the chicken and the salmon and alternated with them and all this other stuff, there's a lot of things I try to improve on this weight cut, and it failed. Last question, and it's a two-parter. Appreciate the time and candor greatly. Are you interested in reconnecting with a Mike Dolchan? If not him, maybe someone like a George Lockhart, who Daniel Cormier was glowing about after and before his fight. And if you do fight at 170 next and all goes well, do you want the Woodley fight to finally put that one to bet? You know what? Yeah, I wouldn't mind doing the Woodley fight. I think I was ready for this fight. and I needed And again, that's what sucks I thought that this was going to be a good fight for me and I was going to be able to move forward from this

and said now it's hindering me And you know, it's one of those things that And another dietitianist, yeah, you know If we could re-kennel, hey, that'd be fine You know, it's just one of those things that Now, like I said, now knowing what I know it's only going to make my life easier and whoever I bring in with me. But you're open to that.

That makes sense. You're opening to bringing someone? Oh, yeah. Hey, I'm always, you know, here's the thing. I'm always open for it because I don't know everything, obviously. You know, I thought I improved on that, but I failed. And it's because of my miscalculation. But I want to get back to being the best where I don't have to, you know, I don't.

I don't like worrying about the weight cut. And when you do it yourself, like I said, this one I wasn't worried about, and it backfired huge on me. I want to get back to where I don't have to worry about it. You know, and if that's where staying at 195, eating cleaner, you know, 95% of the time, all the time, then that's what I'm willing to sacrifice to do what I need to do. again Johnny thank you so much for the time really appreciate it happy to hear that you are feeling better good luck with that kidney stone

I know how tricky you can be I'm sure will pass quite easily and of course looking forward to to seeing you back in there sooner rather than later was really looking forward to that fight as was everyone so just happy to hear that you're healthy and okay and hope everything works out from here on out well thank you so much and you have a wonderful day okay same to you there he is Johnny Hendricks the former UFC welterweight champion wish him the best and owning up to his mistakes, we'll see where he goes from here. All right, let's move along.

Let's welcome in our next guest. The train continues to roll along. We now welcome in Big Hoppa, Travis Brown. Of course, he meets Matt Matreone in January. A lot to talk to him about he's on the phone right now waiting for us. Travis, how are you? Good, Ariel. How you doing, man?

Great to talk to you, my friend. Great to have you on the show. Thank you very much for the time. So like I said, you have a big fight coming up. A lot to talk to you about, but I want to kind of move in a chronological order here, Travis, because I do believe, and correct me from wrong, this is your first interview in quite some time. So there's a few things that, you know, I'd just like to address if that's okay with you. Of course, everyone knows back in July, July 8th, to be exact, you were accused by your

wife of domestic violence, and then you were suspended indefinitely. You have since been, you know, released of that suspension. The suspension is no more. Of course, as I said, you're fighting Matt Matrione in January. This is your first interview since, like I said. I wanted to get your reaction to that because we really don't know how you've been dealing with that. And of course, you know, how you've dealt with the news once it came out. What would you like to say about this accusation?

You know, first, I mean, yeah, it's just an unfortunate situation. You know, and the thing about it is it really showed me the support from the support from from the people that I need to have in my life. And it helped me get rid of like fakes and frauds, people that are around me that, you know, would turn on me in a second for false allegations and false accusations. You know, I think people have the wrong idea

about the investigation at the UFC put on. A lot of people feel like it was an investigation to clear me, which that is the far of the same. thing from the truth. The whole point of that investigation was to find the truth, you know, and that's exactly why they hired Campbell and Campbell

and then also they, and then Camble and Caldell hired an ex-FBI agent that was in the field for 25 years doing this kind of stuff constantly. And, you know, they came out and, and, I mean, man, I had them

sitting at my dinner table. I handed over all my information, my phone, I talked with the guys, you know, and that's, that's way more than anything that I'd ever ever have to do legally, you know, but I was willing to because I know what was said was false and was a lie. So, you know, the results of the investigation, the fact that I was cleared, reinstated by the UFC, says enough. You know, I don't want to go into details. I hold my dignity, you know, there's more value to my dignity than to lower myself to talk about somebody that really doesn't have any relevance to my life anymore.

You know, and knowing some of the history, some of the, you know, her and I were, you know, we talked to a counselor for over a year together, knowing, knowing her health history, and knowing, you know, being a part of the counseling who was a psychologist, I mean, you know, the things I would love to feel angry. I love to feel betrayed, but I can't because she has to deal with these situations on a daily basis. And, you know, again, I'm not going to go into, I'm not going to go to the public forum and talk ill about somebody when there's no reason for it. What's it going to do? You know, if I were to throw stones at every dog that barked at me, I would never. get to where I'm going, to wherever I'm headed.

And so, you know, that's why I kept quiet during this whole situation, is I let it play out. I didn't want to get involved. I didn't want to get in the way of anything, of any investigation. Anything they asked me for, I complied with, and I gave it to them, and I gave them more than what they asked for. You know, and so it's just, it's an unfortunate situation, but it's been handled.

And I have a fight coming up January 17th. So, you know, the results speak for themselves. Just a couple more follow-ups, and for the record, I think it's important to ask and appreciate again you coming on to answer them. Have you ever been physical towards your, and by the way, is your ex-wife now, have you separated? I'm not quite sure where you stand. Yeah, we were separated the week after my last fight. You know, I had to go on some PR tours, and she took off to go to her. back to Florida or hang out with friends or something and we just never got back together.

I mean, you know, there was obvious animosity before any of that started. I think anybody that knows that's been, you know, that's had an end of a relationship that doesn't just happen overnight and then one day you guys are just apart. It's been something that's been happening over a period of time. But no. Have I ever gotten physical torture? No, absolutely not. you know, like I said, there's the situation surrounding,

or those conditions surrounding all of this that, you know, that's up to her and her family to deal with. And, you know, I'm back to fighting again. The results speak for themselves. When this came out in early July and your ex-wife posted these photos, I mean, there's, they're pretty jarring. look at. Did you reach, and you're saying you were never a part of any of this, you never laid a hand on her. Did you reach out to her and say, you know, okay, you know, we're in a bad

spot, whatever, we're separating. Where's this coming from? Why are you doing this? What are these photos all about? What's going on here? Did you try to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible? You know, the only thing that I said is that, you know, Jenna, I'm getting, I'm getting text messages from people saying that you had posted something. And she, you know, she's, you know, She said something like, fuck off. And all that and I said, and then from then on out, you know, after, after that, my cousin has sent me the post. And after that, I just have not had any communication with her whatsoever. You know, she's tried to reach out a couple times over some stuff she left at the house or, I don't know, I forget what the other one was.

But, again, I just, I don't have any communication with her. you know, we're obviously since, you know, divorce, all paperwork is, you know, done and turned in and signed. And, you know, it's just, it's, it's been a process that, you know, we're talking about it now here in October, but it's something that I took care of back in July, August, whatever, or June, July, August. And, you know, I've already moved on with my life.

I'm, you know, continuing to progress as an MMA fighter, as a father. And, you know, that's what I took this summer to do is to really focus on my kids and all my career. And, you know, let the investigation work itself out. You didn't respond. I would look at your Instagram. I would see hashtags, little messages here or there, but you didn't do any interviews or anything like that. And domestic violence is obviously a very serious accusation.

It's a very serious label to put on someone. How difficult was it to not respond? and B, to see, because I would look also at your Twitter and your Instagram to see what people are saying to you, and people were saying some pretty nasty comments. How difficult was it to look at all of that? Yeah, man, I mean, it's tough. You know, people are going to be sitting by their computers waiting for something so that they can chime in on. Was it hard to respond to those people, those kind of keyboard warriors, these guys that, you know,

they think they're all tough and this and that. But again, you know, Ariel, I already said it once already, and I'll keep saying it. If I threw rocks at every dog that part, I would not get to where I'm going. You know what I mean? That's part of being in the public eye. Unfortunately, not everybody understands that. You know, so some of these people that want to say demeaning things, either the things towards me and my kids and this and that.

And, you know, again, if people were to ask questions, not necessarily to me. But they would quickly understand that the story just doesn't hold water. I mean, to have a feeling like, you know, I just want to make awareness of this, but I don't want somebody's career or children affected. Man, I'll tell you what, I'm a lot of things. I can be an asshole, right? I can be mean. But putting my hands on a woman is absolutely not in me.

That goes everything against my DNA as a human being. And anybody that, you know, the general public may not have an understanding about me and what I do, how I feel about my children, how I feel about my family, how protective I am over, you know, my family and children. You know, and they just see a big guy in a case that fights that, you know, knocks people out or this or that, you know, it's unfortunate, but we live in a society that doesn't, educate themselves. You know, they don't look, they don't even click on the heading that they're

reading. They just take the, the, the heading or the, um, what am I try to say? Like, uh, the headline. The headline. The headline. They're trying to, they take the headline. They don't even click on it. And then they come up with their own, their own understanding of the story. You know, there was, uh, there was some kind of research done. I think it might have been like New York Times or I don't know, some big, some big publication where they put it out over their media source like a headline like, you know, this generation doesn't read enough or something like that. And when you click on it, what it had was like, this is actually a test just to see that people

will actually click on the thing or not before commenting. Well, people had comments like, oh, I read and da-da-da, this and that and, you know, just comments at the comments, thousands of comments and all this kind of stuff off people that mean to click on the headline, you know. And so for people to not educate themselves on the situation, they come up with their own conclusion is that. And unfortunately, that's what social media provides for a lot of these people that are too lazy to go out there and find their own answers to educate themselves.

After the suspension was lifted, your ex-wife Jenna posted that she is going to press charges after all. Is that still to come here, or is there an update on that situation? That never happened. I don't feel like it's going to. And again, it just confirms what, why I kept quiet. You know, I would have a hashtag. I had a hashtag for a lot of my posts where it's just like, you know,

confidence is silent, insecurities are loud. Because I just don't, I don't feel the need to come out and say anything. I'm sitting there taking care of my children, you know. My kids are asking, asking me questions about it. you know, their friends are bringing it up to them. You want to talk about not, you want to talk about bringing it up in a way that's not going to affect my family or my career. You did,

it was handled the exact opposite way, you know. And for her and for there not to be charges pressed, it just kind of shows the, the motives that went behind it all. And that's, and again, that comes from having a knowledge of the history, of her history of,

of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, of, last three years over, you know, knowing from what she's told me over the last, you know, over her lifetime and seeing patterns and seeing this and that, speaking with a psychologist for over a year about, you know, about her and I. It was just one of those things where, man, you know, I would love to be angry. Again, I'd love to be angry and and be resentful and this and that. But I can't. I can't. And all, in all honesty, I can't. And all honestly, I can't. because there's there are situations that deal with on daily basis but you know the one thing

that I am at this point is indifferent and I know you can't even really call that feeling because that's kind of the definition is the absence of feeling that's that's indifference and so you know it's just I've been moving on with my life over the summer I've been you know focusing on something else I had a hunt this last summer you know I have a fight coming up in January and that's what I've been handling that's what I've been putting my efforts towards or my kids and my career a byproduct of this story coming out has been other stories that you are dating Ronda Rousey what do you want to say about this I remember I remember when when I used to date you know

like back in high school and you know when you'd be cool I have a boyfriend or girlfriend or this or that and dating dating is for children you know I mean, dating for kids. You know, over the summer, through all the, all the shit that I kind of had to shuffle through that, the sift through, you know, Rhonda and I started talking throughout the summer. And, you know, I'll say now that we are together. She's my woman and I'm her man. So there's no boyfriend, girlfriend stuff.

There's no dating. We're together. Well, congratulations on that. she uh she but i mean you know you don't need me to tell you this in case you didn't hear is a megastar what what what is that like for you that must be an interesting experience right i mean she's she's one of the most famous athletes in the world yeah you know and and it's really funny because um you know we've been we've been training out of the same gym for over a year now and not once was a did we ever you know we talked

about it after the past that we started talking It was just like, not once did we ever think about this. You know what I mean? It wasn't even a thought that went through our heads at all. And so I've gotten to know her through the gym, through, you know, just all that kind of stuff. So I fear who she is, you know, the fact that she's out there winning SB's and, you know, just, I mean, like you said, the star that she is, like on the movie screen. and all that kind of stuff. I mean, that's all great,

but that's not really, that's not who I know her as. That makes sense. Like I know her as one of the hardest working athletes that I've ever seen in this gym, butts in her butt on a daily basis, you know, and through our own personal experiences

of how compassionate and really how much of a sweetheart should really is. And that's what a lot of people don't see out of her. You know, or they see that, but they don't really get to experience that. But yeah, I mean, you know, she's a huge star, and that's great for her, and I'm happy for her.

And, you know, I want nothing to do but to support that aspect in her life. Last question on this. Is it a new situation for you? Is it different? Is it something you're getting used to where you're both in the same gym? And I've never actually been there,

but just from, you know, pictures and video, I don't think it's the biggest gym in the world. It's not the smallest, but you're still in the same location and you're both preparing for a fight and you're both super, you know, focused and everything. Is that something that you have to get used to?

Because, I mean, I can't imagine working right next to my wife. I think we would get pretty intense towards each other. You know, you know what I'm getting at right? Yeah, not at all. And that's what I mean. That's why it's, you know, it's not weird. It's not something we have to adjust to

because we've been doing that the entire time that I was here. You know, I mean, she, you know, She was doing her camps. I was doing mine, you know, without that thought process going through our head. And we're both, when we're in the gym, I mean, one of my, my mentality in the gym is that I'm here. I've dedicated, however long stay two hours of my morning to being in the gym and fussing my butt. There isn't a single damn thing unless it has to do with a family member like on their deathbed or something like that that is going to distract me from.

those two hours and being focused in that gym. When my coach talks, I listen. When he's working with somebody else, I'm watching. You know, and the same goes for her. You know, and she's actually been a great example of that, you know, just being ultra-focused and, you know, borderline obsessed with training. And it's not weird at all. Like I said, you know, we started, we didn't start off, say, you know,

interested in each other and then now we have to work together it's like we were working together when we were just acquaintances and next to each other in gym not a problem you know and now it's the same thing we're just we're together now and you know we're both able to um put that aside for for the time being and and focus at the task at hand so you got your next fight it's matt matreone I remember talking to your manager, John Fosco, about this. And the way he put it is like, you know, we'd love to punch Matt Mithrione in the face. Much respect, but that's a fight that we like. And I was like, are you speaking for yourself or Travis?

Like, I'm kind of speaking for both of us here. Why is this something that you wanted? Well, you know, I mean, ever since my last fight or his last fight, I think, which was in June, I mean, he took to Twitter right away and just started trying to call me out, trying to be respectful about it and just not letting off the gas pedal. And, you know, it's one of those things where, man, I was going through a lot of stuff at the time. You know, I didn't respond at all because, again, you know, I'm dealing with a different situation. So, you know, at this point, it looks like he's my next opponent.

And, you know, I'm not one to ever try to choose fights, you know. When Joe calls said, hey, I have this guy on this date. It's like, Joe, let's do it. Whatever you feel is best, you know, I feel like I have the champion's mindset and that I'm going to fight everybody someday anyways when I'm holding that strap. It doesn't matter when or where. You know, you just get me there and tell me I'm fighting this guy on this day

and I'm going to go out there and we'll smash. Have you watched the Arlowski fight a lot? I mean, that will go down as one of the greatest rounds in UFC history, period. have you watched it a lot and do you have any idea now around five months later why you couldn't finish him you had him and he had you it was back and forth it was just it was mind-blowing to actually witness that in person but but have you figured out why you couldn't actually finish him um um errol i tried my damn bit i know you did so you know i didn't really i didn't really i haven't actually watched that fight yet i've seen clips so there some people on the internet and

And honestly, I refuse to watch that fight. And the reason why is I'm so disappointed in my performance in that fight that I refuse to watch it. I know the mistake that I made. I know that, you know, Andre did a great job and capitalized on my mistake. And, you know, he won that fight. And, you know, we're in the gym now every single day just about fixing that problem. growing as an athlete, you know, and continuing, trying to get out there and continuing my success. You know, a lot of people, they don't realize that I was thrown in, not thrown, I'm sorry,

I chose to be a part of the UFC one year into my MMA career, which is about 18 months into doing any kind of martial arts. I signed with the UFC and I've been on the biggest stage in front of the most people for five out of my six five years out of my six year career so far and so at this point I'm trying to not make amateur mistakes

like I did in that fight you know I made a mistake and again he did a great job capitalizing on it and he won the fight what's the mistake by the way just just in my stance my footwork and how I threw a punch you know, is where I made the mistake.

Okay. And then not being in the sport for long enough to know when to, you know, gather myself again or to, you know, get on my instincts and just fight back, sit down, you know, bite down hard, and, you know, just start swinging. And that's what I did, which, you know, that's born and prided me. You know, I'm not running from anybody. and that's part of what makes me an exciting fighter. In hindsight, was it tough?

I mean, that moment afterwards where you guys embraced and he said sorry and you said, don't ever apologize, it was beautiful. It actually got me a little bit emotional. It just kind of encompassed why I love the sport so much. You can go through that and then have that moment. But in hindsight, was it just really tough to fight a friend? No. It wasn't.

Okay. All right. No, not all. And that's the thing. You know, some of these guys are like, man, you know, it's like, you know, we, you know, this and that and whatsoever. To me, it's like, man, I have a goal in my life. You know, Andre, to me, is still a good friend of my.

I still care about the guy. You know, I've had love for him and his family for a long time now, and it hasn't stopped. It didn't stop that night, you know? And if I would have won, it wouldn't have stopped. And now that I lost, it hasn't stopped. You know what I mean? Like, that's the thing is like, man, this is what we do for a living. These guys need to start realizing that.

That it's not about, you know, it's not about personal feelings or, or egos or this or that. You know, I know Andre is a good man, and I know why he does this sport. I know that he does provide for his family to be the best athlete that he can be, and there's nothing that there's no, you cannot, like, all you have to do is respect that from him. So I respect him as a man. I respect him as a fighter, you know, and for him to come out and put on the show that he did, you know, was good for him. On my side of it, I will say that it was very disappointing in the fight that I put on,

the performance that I put on. You know, I showed hard, I showed this and that, but I didn't show what I made of. I didn't show what I'm capable of. And, you know, that's where I stand with it. And, I mean, congratulations to him. People always say that was the greatest, you know, one of the greatest rounds and stuff. I tell them that they're full of shit because it wasn't one of my greatest rounds. If you want to see one of my greatest

rounds, you know, keep watching my fight. And I'm gonna, you know, I'm putting it together. And it's gonna be, it can be a good time. Well, you wouldn't be the first person today to say that I'm full of shit, so I take that back. It was not the greatest round. I look forward to better rounds from you,

to victorious rounds from you, to greater performances. Anything in- Good sport, Ariel. In closing, and by the way, don't forget, I saw that you called me out on the basketball court. I have not forgotten this. So if you think that, you know, this is just something that will slide under the rug is not happening.

I don't care how tall you are. I don't care of your background. I will take you down, my friend. Don't tempt me with a good time. You can put me on a team with anybody. I call, first of all, I don't think I called you out. I think somebody called me out. Yes, I think it was John Anick.

Yeah, so John Adick called me out. And then knowing my name, you're, I think John even brought you into it. Did you not? He may have. I think he got a little bit afraid. I think so, too. But then, I think that he's, you know, he was talking about Ben Henderson and me and that.

And, man, you know, like I just told you, my instincts tell me not to run from a flight. So I'm ready. I'm ready when you guys are, you know. Don't tell me it was a good time. He can give me any teammate you want, no matter, you know, size, shape, it doesn't matter. I will, you know, I think, I think,

John will be asking the switch on defense here after a little bit once I put it on them. Well, first thing's first. You're going to have to cover me. You're going to have to cover me. Oh, bring it, baby. Just say, that's the top task.

All right, fair enough. Before I let you go on again, thank you so much for the time. Is there anything you'd like to add to what we talked about? I know this was, you know, it was a very trying few months for you and you kept your quiet and everything,

but now that you're talking here, is there anything that I didn't ask you that you'd like to address her ad before we say goodbye. No, man, you know, the thing about it is you know, I'm moving out and upward and, you know, it was a bump in the road

and it's a very unfortunate situation, but you know, the truth has come to light and you know, it's, you know, in a sense the truth will set you free. You know what I mean? even though it's in the court of public opinion, which, you know, again, people are just headline hunting and instead of doing their own, you know, educating themselves. And that's just where we're at. But, you know, I just wanted to appreciate you, you know, tell you that I appreciate you and taking a time to talk with me and, you know, get me on here and, you know, continuing our relationship and looking forward to our basketball.

game endeavor yes absolutely thank you so much Travis i i truly appreciate you coming on i wish you the best looking forward to this fight january 17th what a great card that will be in boston on fs one dominic cruz versus t j dillisha great heavyweight fight added to it matrione brown that should be a lot of fun good luck in training and we'll talk to you very soon my man thanks sir appreciate that we go on there is Travis brown stopping by uh interesting stuff from him we like i said appreciate his time greatly all right let's move move along. Let's go to the Skype machine. Let's talk to the talk of the MMA world. There he is. A man who now needs no introduction. Perhaps two weeks ago, you had no idea who this man was. Now he is a mega star. He is

super Sage Northcutt just 19 years young. And this kitchen, by the way, has become somewhat famous because I see you do all your interviews from there, Sage. Yes, sir. It has good lighting. It's beautiful, by the way. Do you still live with your parents? Am I what? Do you still live with your folks? Yes, yes, sir. That's going to end very soon now that you're this MMA megastar, right? Thank you.

I guess we'll see. Okay, well, you're very nice. Thank you for the time. I want to ask you something right off the bat that I wasn't planning on starting the interview with, but it's somewhat new news, if you will. A veteran journalist by the name of Showdown, Joe Ferraro reported a couple days ago that you're going to go train at TriStar now. Is that accurate?

Yes, sir, that's true. I leave tomorrow morning, actually, to go to Canada. Wow. Now, are you going to move there or are you going to come back and forth? What are you doing in Montreal? Well, really? I'm just going up there to check it out and see how it goes and see if it's fit for me. But like my jistu coaches right now, Chris Mango and Ted Stickwell, Gracie Baja and Katie, they're awesome. But I also have school too. So I can't actually go up there and live there, but I'll get to go up there for about a week or so and check it out and see how it goes. Well, you know, I'm from Montreal, so I can give you the tips. It's one of the greatest cities, if not the greatest city in the world, by the way. Oh, really? Yes.

That's going to be awesome. Did they recruit you, or did you reach out to them? How did this come about? Well, actually, they mentioned, they said that they mentioned something that they've heard about my fights. And obviously, I always talk about how George St. Pierre is my favorite fighter. Oh, wow. And I look up to him. So I think it's just like perfect timing that I get to go down there and get to train with them.

and get to meet them and it's going to be incredible. Have you ever met George? No, I haven't. Oh, my Lord. No, sir, I'm looking forward to it. Are you nervous? How are you feeling before this big meeting? Oh, no way.

I'm not nervous. I just, I'm pumped up. I'm super excited. Now, he goes all over the world. He's traveling. He's training. Is he going to be there? Do you know for sure that he's actually going to be at the gym?

Yes, sir. I heard he's going to be there a few days within the week. So it might be three days. It could be four. I guess we'll get to see. And I'm just excited to see him, even if it's one day. I got to tell you, I've had a lot of MMA managers reach out to me and say, tell me about this Sage Northcutt kid. Is he being represented? Does he have a manager? I feel like you're the biggest recruit in the sport right now. So all these managers who are probably watching this right now, tell them, give them the good news or the bad news. Do you have a manager? Well, right now, actually, my dad is like my manager because he has my best interest. So I guess I would say my dad's my manager. But I guess he always has been because he's always looking out for me. So he's also my coach too.

Of course. Yes, he was in your corner for your debut. Are you fielding offers right now? Are a lot of people coming at you? Yes, sir, they are. So ever since UFC 192 on the fight and from there, everything's blown up, including Instagram, my Twitter. just all the media, everything, and people coming at you. So I think it's fun. I like hearing everybody

and just get to hear and talk to everybody. I think it's a blast. How are you handling it? Is it overwhelming two degrees or is it all positive? Well, it's definitely different. And sure, it's not overwhelming. I enjoy it personally. So any of the negative stuff that I'm on here, or I try not to ever look at that and I try to block it out. So really, I'm only hearing the positive aspect, the positive side of everything. So it's great. Why do you think your debut was such a big story and more importantly so well received? As I talked about on my show last week, I mean, your videos on our website compared to even the champion, Daniel Kormier, you are tripling everyone, if not more.

Why do you think so many people are interested in you? Thank you. I would say probably because it could be the fact that I'm so young and I'm the youngest current fighter in the UFC right now, 19, so that could have a part in it. And then maybe also because I could be slightly different from most fighters in the fact that I'm always smiling. And I'm having fun.

So like when I walked out there in the octagon, I was actually smiling right before they said, okay, ready and like to go out there and fight, I was actually sitting there smiling against a cage and just like soaking it all in because I'm having fun out there. So that could be a little bit different too. And maybe the fact that also not only I'm young, but I'm in school at the same time. So I'm not getting to train full time.

And if I did get to train full time, I might be a complete, like totally different animal for a lot of fighters that I might go against my opponents. So maybe that could be the possibility also. Are you taking any classes this semester at Texas A&M? I am, yes, sir. I actually cut back to classes a little bit. So before I had, I believe, the minimum amount. amount of hours to be a full-time student was 13, 12 or 13, I believe, and I actually cut back a few classes so I could train. And like my fight for UFC 192, that was the first time I

truly got to train for a fight. So that was incredible. And then my next fight, I'll have even more experience, more training. So I can just keep seeing myself go up and up with the more training and technique I learned. What's it like when you walk around campus these days? A lot of people recognize you, more people recognizing you? Yes, sir. You're right about that. It's pretty cool. I like it. It's awesome. And okay, so when you signed your UFC contract and you found out that you're going to fight in your home state of Texas, did you have any idea that it would turn into this? Or did you think, all right, I'll make my debut, I'll get some local attention, and then I'll build my way up. Did you think of the back of your mind,

all right? Once these people see me, see what I'm all about, see my look, see my fighting style, it's going to explode. Did you think that in the back of your mind? Oh, thank you very much. Well, actually, I've always known that the UFC is incredible at a bring up all their fighters. They're just amazing and getting the fighters out there known. But not this much. I had no idea it was going to blow up this much. This is incredible.

I'm sure every fighter would like it. And that's what I look forward to. So I've always looked forward to it myself. And I'm sure I've wanted this to happen. So I visualize it. It's perfect. It's happening just like I pretty much thought it would and even more than I thought, even better.

So it all starts when Dana White and his buddies, show up to your fight at Legacy for his reality show. And of course, prior, as you've probably seen, they were kind of joking about you, and then you knock their socks off. Did you have any idea while you were fighting that he was in attendance? Actually, believe it or not,

good thing you mentioned that. So when I actually was back there warming up before the fight, I had no idea whatsoever he was there or he was even coming, and I know he hasn't scouted or gone to any other MMA leagues or smaller events

in like a whole entire year. So when I was actually walking out there, I heard some news, like some people were going, like I thought it was a rumor possibly, but they go, hey, Dana White's here. He's watching people fighting me, watching you fight Sage. And I was like, man, this is incredible.

I hope that's true. I had no idea that he was really there. And then once I actually stepped foot in the cage for that event in Lake Charles, the Golden Lake Casino, I actually saw him through the cage and saw him right there. So here's what Matt Serra and Nick the Tooth.

So that was just super cool. So I put on a great show and I finished my guy in the first round and choked him out. And it happened – I don't think it could have happened any better. It was perfect. And I thought it was just so amazing that he happened to be there at that time and the odds of that. And what did he say to you afterwards? Afterwards, he said – he knew I was 19 years old and he knew the amount of fights I had. So he thought it was funny that I had my hair spiked up and that he said, look like I just walked out of a tanning booth, all tanned up.

didn't think I could fight, and then he said, I pretty much blew his mind that he took back his words from what he thought before the fight and then what he thought after the fight. So within a few weeks afterwards, I got the call from Dana White, and Mr. White said that he liked me to fight on the UFC 192 card, and that was just the best opportunity that's ever happened so far. And, of course, took advantage of that, and I'm so glad that I got that opportunity, and so glad he picked me and saw the talent him meet a fight. How did you react to that news and how did you celebrate that all of a sudden you were on the UFC roster, just like that overnight? Well, you know what? When he actually gave me the call, I had already had another fight playing with the league that I was fighting in called Legacy. Yeah. So I noticed people didn't want me to actually fight, but Mr. White had the confidence to me that I could fight.

But obviously, if I would have lost the fight or gotten injured, then I wanted to fought for UFC 192. So I knew that going into my fight, and I finished my guy, and that was actually finished him in the second round, made sure there's no injuries, no possibility of injuries, and try to minimize those risks. And it was just such a huge opportunity, so it was awesome. Considering how everything blew up in the week leading up to 192, and you were putting the media workouts and all that, and there was a ton of attention and talk about you leading up to that fight, did you feel nervous at all?

like in the locker room, right before you were about to walk out, did it finally hit you? Oh my gosh, I'm about to fight in the octagon in front of my people, a lot of buzz. You don't seem like the kind of kid that gets nervous, but I'm wondering if right before it sort of hit you in sort of an action kind of way. Well, thank you very much. Well, actually, when I walked out there and I was warming up in the back of the locker room, I was actually watching everybody fight. So I saw the first two fights before me up on the screen. And, Sergio Pett is, Indy Pess's brother, and I was just watching them fight.

So I warmed up a little bit and got ready, but I was just sitting there real calm. And then after the second fight was done, they go, hey, Sage, you're about to go up there and fight. So I was just ready. I hopped up, and I had no jitters whatsoever. And actually, when I actually walked out in there, I just kind of, I love the feeling of everybody watching.

So when I walked out there, I was looking at the whole entire audience, just soaking it all in. I personally, it might be different with other fighters, but it doesn't really get me nervous or really even the butterflies too much. Like sure, you kind of get the butterflies in your stomach before you go out there because you just pumped up to fight, but not the feeling of being nervous, but it just kind of gives me more energy, more to go out there and do my best.

So the answer would be, no, I wasn't nervous. I was loving it. Did the commission tell you no gel in the hair? They did. Yes, sir. They did. I wasn't used to seeing you with that poofy hair. It was poofy. Did that bother you? Maybe I was some different. I was mix it up. Did that bother you that you couldn't wear a gel for your UFC debut? No, that didn't bother me. I just figured maybe my opponent would fill my hair and be like, man, his hair is really soft.

Speaking of that opponent, he came in overweight. He complained about the stoppage. He pushed. Herb Dean, Francisco Trevino, I'm talking about. What did you make of the way he handled himself? well you know first off speaking of francisco trevino he's i would say that anybody and i'm sure anybody else would say also that anybody in the ufc is in the ufc for a reason so there are no sloshes in the ufc if you look at his record he was 12 and one and the only loss he lost he lost to was johnny case and he happened to go all three rounds of johnny case johnny case couldn't finish him and francisco trevino and so he fought me hasn't been finished uh hasn't been submitted hasn't been knocked out and he only had that one loss and i would i mean i'm sure anybody would say that

johnny case also isn't any slouch he's he's 24 i believe so there are no slouches in the ufc and the stoppage by uh mr dean out there he knows how to stop the fights he's been the ufc so long and been around so long that that he's the best he's one of the best referees out there so uh i believe i believe that uh it wasn't me stopping the fight it was him so he knows what he was doing this new nickname, Sage Van Zent, and people comparing you to Paige and her rise, your rise. What do you make of all this? I think it's great. That's super funny.

I like it. You don't mind it. I don't mind it. Paige Van Zent, she's very pretty and she's very outgoing and always smiling. So that's a huge compliment. I mean, we both kind of look alike. Sure. Smiling.

Yes, it's a bizarre thing. You're like the Ken and Barbie of the UFC. Are you okay with that? Oh, thank you, my gosh, thank you. You're fine. Some people are saying that as an insult, but you take it as a compliment. That's what I love about you. Definitely a compliment.

Absolutely. Unbelievable. What an amazing thing. And your sister is also a fighter. She fights for legacy kickboxing, right? Colby, I believe her name is? Colby, yes, sir. She actually hasn't fought him recently.

She's been focusing on the school, but it's been a few years since she's fought a little bit. your success is that going to get her to to pick it up again? Very possibly because I think she's getting to see me have so much fun and just she's getting to see everything and how amazing the UFC is and everybody how nice they are. So everybody, UFC fight past. You yourself are incredibly nice and awesome everybody is. So I'm having a blast and I'm sure she's seen that too. What weight does she fight at or did she fight at? 135.

135. Very interesting. She's six foot tall and she's lean and ripped up. So she is a pretty big 135, I would say. Your dad said that you never really watched the UFC fights when they would watch for whatever reason you didn't like to watch. Is that going to change now? Sure, absolutely.

It changes. I'm watched as much as I possibly can. Okay. And I do watch when I get the chance to. He just might have thought that maybe I was not getting to because I was doing schoolwork or have to study for project. or stuff like that. So ever since I was in junior high, I've made straight A's.

All throughout high school, I had a 4.0 straight A's my whole entire time in high school while traveling about every single other weekend in tournaments. And then at Texas A&M, I'm in patrol and engineering, which engineering for A&M is the number one school of the nation for engineering. Wow. So that alone is a huge accomplishment. And that takes a lot of time away from getting to watch maybe all the fights. But I love watching the fights.

it's very fun to watch them. Is it important for you to get your degree, you know, in the straight, you know, four years time or is there a chance you might take a break now? Well, since you mentioned that, I actually might take a break. Oh. So right now from the first semester, I'm now in my second semester. So first semester, I was taking full-time classes. And now that I'm getting a fight for the UFC.

So having full-time classes, it doesn't really work out because there's so much. workload and so much studying that you really don't have time to train. So I would stay up until two or three in the morning just studying and then I'd have to go get a mile or so on a few miles run and work out the gym super late and try to get my working out in like that late at night. So now I've cut back on the workload. And in the future, too, the more fights I go, you could possibly see me taking a break from school for a year, maybe two years, and we'll see how that goes. And then I think I'd be totally different because getting trained full time. it's just going to be completely different.

It will change everything about me. I would be a totally different animal out there in the ring, and it could be pretty scary for some opponents, knowing that I'm getting trained. I'm so young, so I have so much to learn. Have they told you what's next yet? No, sir, they haven't. I don't know the opponent yet,

but I'm hopefully hoping to fight within the next month or two, and I'm ready to fight any day. So I know there's a superfight weekend coming up in December, and even than that, that would be amazing to fight on. Yeah. Just, I'm, it's such an honor to be able to fight for the UFC. So pretty much, anytime I get to fight for the UFC, I'm going out there and put my best show on, put on a show for the crowd and get everybody's money words and just make everybody have a blast out there, just getting to see something different. Do you have a dream scenario if they say, okay, what do you want, which card, which opponent pick?

Do you have an answer? Well, right now, no, I actually don't have any opponent in mind right now, only because, you know, I would like to work my way up the ladder and I'm only 19 so I do have a lot of technique to learn and a lot of thanks to drill and positions and situations so I don't want to just go straight into the fights with with the number one top guys top 10 guys yet I mean I rather work my way up there and then the number I'm happy fighting anywhere so if it were to be Australia if it were to be in Las Vegas being a super fight weekend any of that's great for me and I'm not I'm just very happy that I get a chance to fight.

Here's the big question. It's around 140 in Texas right now. How many push-ups and sit-ups have you done today? So this morning I went to Jit-Sat, and then pushes and sit-ups, under 500, but I've got to mix in the weights later. I notice every time you speak, like your pecs are going up and down. It's mesmerizing. There it is. There it is.

What a guy. You must get tons of people reaching out to you. I can't imagine what your Twitter is like right now in your Instagram. this is like a dream, right? Have you woken up from this dream or do you still feel like you're on cloud nine here? No, it still is cloud nine pretty much because it's totally different. So I'm enjoying every minute of it, every second. It's awesome.

I hope my Twitter and my Instagram and everything out there just keeps going up because I want the most people to be able to see what I can do and my future fights too. You are a breath of fresh air, my friend. Congratulations on all your success thus far. I love the smile on your face. your positive attitude, your father as well, had the pleasure of meeting him. Just a great story, and I wish you nothing but the best.

Good luck in Montreal, enjoy that. Good luck meeting George. Great guy as well, and the whole team over there is great. And I'm very much looking forward to not only your next fight, but watching your ride in the UFC. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Great to have you on the show for the first time as well. Thank you very much.

Thanks for having me too. All right, there he is. Super Sage Northcut. Great stuff from him, a fresh face, just 19 years old. And all of a sudden, bang, a gigantic star in the UFC. New York Rick writing me a bunch of stuff, but I think he's got it. He's a big boy. New York Rick getting married.

I keep saying that. His wedding is this Saturday. I still don't understand the wedding. We'll get that later. I'm happy. Someone just asked me if I'm happy outside. I'm happy. I just spoke to Sage Northcutt, for God's sakes.

The new face of the UFC. I love that kid. What a great attitude. Calling me, sir, and Mr. Halwani. I think I said it on the beat. He came up to me after his win. And he was like, hello, sir, Mr. Helwani. I just want to introduce myself. My name is Sage, Sage Northcott. I'm like, man, you just kick some ass in the Octagon. You don't think I know who you are? What a great kid. People love him. Speaking of TriStar, one of TriStar's own, Joseph Duffy is going to be joining us

right now. He joins us for the magic of Skype. He is headlining The UFC's return to Dublin in less than two weeks against Dustin Poyer. What a big show that's going to be sold out in just a matter of moments. There he is. Irish Joe himself. Joe, how are you? I'm good, thanks, Ariel. How are you?

I'm doing great. How's my hometown doing? You're in beautiful Montreal, right? I was looking good. The sun's shining. Yes, that is a good thing. By the way, happy Thanksgiving to you. You know it's Thanksgiving over there?

I do know. I've seen plenty of pictures of grub that I can't eat. Oh, that's right. Okay, we won't talk about that. By the way, I was just talking to Sage Northcutt. You know, he's coming to Montreal to train at TriStar. What do you make of this kid? I heard.

I've seen his debut. He looked awesome, so it'd be great to have him up here. Okay, I have a lot to talk to you about, Joseph. And right off the bat, I want to address this, because I've been talking about you leading up to your fight, and in particular, what happened at the Go Big Press conference. So I feel like, you know, I have to be an honest man, and let's talk about it right off the top.

I talked about how when Connor was at that press conference, he was firing off at everyone. And I thought the only guy who had a place to step up and say something was you because you beat him. Not that long ago, five years ago, but still you beat him in rather quick fashion. You could have said, hey, pipe down over there. I beat you. You can't say anything about me. But you chose not to. And I felt like that was a missed opportunity because if you would have done that, people would have jumped on your bandwagon and it would have just made that rematch that much bigger.

and I think it could be the biggest fight in in Irish MMA history. Why did you choose to say nothing when he was calling you a journeyman and all this stuff? Tell you the truth, you know, Conner's opinion doesn't really mean a lot.

You know, he's, he went on a lot of the fighters, but none of that stuff bothers me. You know, it's not my style, I'm not going to, I'm not going to talk and back and forth. You know, that's not me. So I just felt that I'll do and say whatever, you know, whatever comes natural.

You're kind of breaking up on us, and I really want to hear what you have to say. Can we call you on your phone? Is that okay? No problem prior way. Okay. Eric, give him a call on his phone because I want to, I want to obviously hear what he had to say. I want to give him that opportunity to talk about it. I just want to hear from him, period. So let's call him on phone. We don't have to do Skype.

Just call him on his son. We'll connect with Joseph. I can kind of tell where he was going. And you have to respect that. I mean, who the hell, you know, who the hell cares what I think? At the end of the day, you have to be happy with yourself and comfortable with yourself and conduct yourself as you feel like you should conduct yourself as a professional. And if you don't want to go down that road, you can't.

I was just saying that I felt like the Aldo fight is gigantic. But in Ireland, if there's a rivalry there and you could see that there's a major difference in the way one guy handles himself, that could be just a super gigantic. fight. I mean, that fight alone could probably sell out Croke Park, in my opinion. Croke Park, in case you don't know about it, is the big soccer stadium over there in Dublin, which Connor has talked about wanting to fight there. They've had some issues with what's it, what's called, the curfew and all that, but, you know, that's a road that they'd like to travel down. Joseph, are you there?

I know. I said a little bit with it. I just said, hello. Hello. Joseph, can you hear me? It's Ariel. I do, yeah. Okay, cool. Can you repeat that answer? Because I couldn't really hear what you had to say, and I want to give you the opportunity to respond.

It was breaking up a little bit. In short, why did you choose not to respond to Connor at that press conference? I know. I said a little bit weird. I just said, hello. What's that? Is this Joseph? I know.

I said a little bit weird. I just said hello. Okay, maybe this is not Joseph. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Eric, what's going on? Call him back. We're going to call back, Joe. I don't know if that was a recording.

That felt like something out of the Howard Stern show when they take those clips and they replay them over and over again. Maybe, you know what's funny? Anyway, I won't go into that. That was a weird thing. I actually got a prank call from someone in Ireland over the weekend.

I was wondering, they were pretending to be Connor. And I was wondering, how did you get my phone number? It's a very strange thing. Who in Ireland is sharing my phone number? It was very silly. They were talking about red panty night and trying to get me to talk to Connor, but it was one of the worst.

The number was from Ireland. Maybe you can fake that. But the accent clearly wasn't from Ireland. It was very strange. And that sounded kind of like what they were doing all over again. Maybe they've hacked Joseph Duffy's phone. Anyway, that Dublin show is coming up

in what, 10 days, 12 days, and they sold it out in minutes. I believe it's now called the 3-E Arena. Is that what it's called? It was the O2 part of that. It was something else to keep changing the name. And it's a great card headline by Dustin Pori versus Joseph Duffy. Patty Houlihan is on the card. An amazing heavyweight fight between Ben Rothwell and Steepame Eochich.

Ashling Daly is on the card as well. Cahal Pendred, the regular. cast of characters that you would expect from a card in Dublin. But I'm very curious to see how the fans react to Duffy. It's not Kana McGregor. Kahnemegger is not fighting on that card. He tried, as he said on the show last week to fight on the card. But you can understand why the UFC wouldn't make that happen. This is a card that is on fight pass. It's exclusively on fight pass. So those shows are back. We get to hear from our friends, John Gooden and Dan Hardy. And you can understand with that gigantic Jose Aldo fight coming up in less than two months at this point or exactly

two months from today, they're not going to risk that. Where's Joseph? Is he having trouble finding him? Okay. I really want to know why he kept saying that over and over again. He's claiming, okay, that the number I gave him was wrong. Well, after Joseph, we still got a few. Okay, thank you to Sean.

Cheyenne for telling me that Crook Park is not a soccer stadium. It is a GAA stadium. Whatever that means. After Joseph Duffy, we're going to be joined by Cody Garbrandt, one of the rising stars at Team Alpha Male. And then after that, we're going to be joined by John Fitch in studio. He is in town because he's fighting at Foxwoods this Saturday against Yushinokami. Some other familiar names fighting on that card, Colton Smith and Matt Hammond. Fini Magaliyash, notorious Nick Newell. Speaking of prank calls Rampage Jackson.

I told him this. I actually called him. Some people were on his Twitch thing last week. And I said, man, you got to come out with one of these videos once every two, three days. Because he has definitely stumbled upon something here. Something real special. If you didn't hear Rampage a day after our interview, he prank called me. He didn't prank call me. He just woke me up at 6 a.m.

He was on his Twitch. He kept calling it to Switch. He was on his Twitch. And I wake up and you look at your phone and you see Rampage Jackson on the phone. And it's a bit of a jarring thing right off the bat. But I didn't send it to voicemail. I did not do that. I just kind of looked at it and thought that maybe he was.

but dialing me or something, so I put it away. Left me that message that you can hear on the clip, and then he called me right back. And so this time I felt like I had to pick it up. I went to the other room because my family was sleeping, and it was a fun conversation. I think he was drinking a little bit, had been drinking at least, and then someone took it and posted it on the internet. And then he apparently did the same thing with Rashad Evans, and that one was even funnier. When he asked Rashad if he likes, what do you ask?

Dragons. When he asked him if you like dragons, that whole exchange, I was literally laughing for three to five minutes. It was unbelievable. If you've missed that, I mean, there's like 40, 50,000 views. And so I told him, you got to put this out there every two, three days because this is a real show that I think you can actually make money off of. But I haven't seen any other clips after that. What's going on over here? I'm not really quite sure what's going on with the whole rampage.

Geez. The whole rampage situation with his contract. It seems to be unclear. Basically, I think what he said to, he said the UFC won't stand in his way if he wants to go back to Belator. But I don't think that's the green light for him to go back to Belator. At least not in the near future. I think he does want to fight in the UFC, but obviously wants to make money as well. and fight while he can.

There was some talk of him wanting to fight in Japan, but that's not going to happen. I mean, it's going to be the UFC or Beltor. There's no doubt about that. The Japan thing is interesting because they held that press conference last week, and I reported on Tuesday that, all right, what I reported was Sakuraba versus Aoki,

that ended up being true. Fuji TV, that ended up being true. I reported they didn't have the name, yet that ended up being true. I remember there being one of the thing, but I can't remember what it was now off top of my head. And then there was the Fador news. And I know a lot of people want me to be wrong. I know they're all dying for me to be wrong. But what I have been told, I was told that you know, from multiple very good sources that they were targeting, as I said, J. Deep Singh. And what I was told was

um Sakakibara found out that the news leaked and maybe this ended up being a good thing decided that they're going to kind of stretch out the way they announced the news because well the fight's in two and a half months and you know why not why put everything out there in one shot?

I don't think that's the worst idea in the world to be honest with you. So, uh, they announced Fedor on the card. They also announced Gabby Garcia on the card. They announced her opponent as well. They announced a lot. of the things. There's going to be a tournament. I mean, it's a three-day event. That's the other thing that I, that I reported, a three-day event that ended up being true as well, 29, 30, 31. And then

apparently there was some Facebook page that said that, you know, they're talking to other people, and it's not true, even though this Facebook page kind of acknowledged the JD thing. Well, apparently that Facebook page is not even real. And then I saw some other people saying that it's not true as well. What I was told from multiple people was when I reported on Tuesday, that's the fight they were targeting. and J.D. even had a contract. And you know how these things go. As I said on the B, contracts made to be broken. Look, they could have seen the reaction to the news and got cold feeder. I said, oh, look, people don't like this. What I know is that they don't want to pay a lot of money for Fader's opponent. They're paying for a lot right off the bat, and they feel like Fador is to draw in his own right, good or bad. That's the line of thinking. and well, J-deep is Indian-Japanese, somewhat of a draw, competed in K-1, that's the line of thinking.

As much as, you know, the North American fans aren't really feeling it, that's the line of thinking right now. By Risen, Risen, I really don't know yet how to properly pronounce the name of the organization. But anyhow, when I report it, 100% fact, I check in every day, and I'm told that's still the case. It's just they're deciding to spread it. Crazy things happen all over the place in this sport, and especially in a new promotion. Who knows? But make no mistake about it. When that was reported last week, that was 100% fact.

And you notice, Jerry Millen's on Twitter, other people associated on Twitter. None of them are refuting this. None of them are saying it's crazy. It's all these other people who are saying it. So just trust me. Trust me. All right. I think we have Joe now.

Joe, are you there? How's it going, Ariel? Oh, yes. I can hear you loud and clear, my friend. Sorry about that. Okay. So you were given prank calls, sir. Yes, who was that?

God only know. I don't even know what they were saying. It was very bizarre. They kept saying something over and over again. And someone from Ireland prank called me this weekend. But anyway, that's a different story for a different day. I want to ask you because I didn't hear what you said the first time. Why did you?

I think you heard my question. why did you choose not to respond to Connor at that press conference? Yeah, um, let me tell you the truth. It's just not really my style. Um, you know, I'm not too bothered what Connor's thoughts are on things. And, um, you know, I just said to myself the day before. I'll just do whatever feels natural. And, um, you know, I just felt like, you know, I didn't really, I wasn't really going to get

a lot at a, you know, having a trash talk and battle there. So, um, you know, I'm just concentrating on my. fight and I'm forgetting about all that stuff. So the competitor in you, you're sitting there, you hear him saying these things about you, you weren't getting riled up, you weren't tempted at all to say anything in the mic? No, none the least. In the day, my job isn't to talk, my job's to fight. So, you know, he can talk all he wants, but, you know, if it came to the two of us meeting

in the octagon, then, you know, that's another story. How close do you think you are to that fight? I'm not sure Whether there's something The UFC and Connor Are interested in Or You know, even myself, really

I suppose I'm just taking it one fight at a time You know, at the minute I got a tough opponent And Dustin in front of me So, you know, my full attention So on that And I suppose after this fight's done We'll go back to the drone board

And I 100% understand and respect that But for the record That is something that is of interest, right? I mean, you can recognize that that's a very big fight, right? You probably make a lot of money taking that fight. Without a doubt, you know, at the end of the day, this is a business. You know, I feel it's a fact that Phil Kroopak, you know, is two Irish fighters, both at the top of the game.

Obviously, this history is there as well, so I feel it's definitely exciting fight for the fans. How do they receive you over there in Ireland? And in particular, Dublin, because I know you did a lot of meetings. media when this news came out, they're pushing you, they're putting you in the main event, that's a big deal, that's a spot that Connor was in last year for the return to Dublin. Do you feel like, okay, there are two factions? Is there like the Connor faction, the Joseph faction? Because you guys couldn't be more different.

I mean, it's amazing. You're a complete 180 from him. Do you feel like that's what's developing over here? I suppose, you know, when I was over in Dublin, you know, the people received me well, and, you know, I was traveling about it down in the cork. So, you know, all the fans have been good as gold to me, Ariel. You know, I'm not sure how they feel, and maybe that's been the most here in Montreal. But I don't feel it's that way.

I just feel the general Irish public here behind their fighters, and, you know, whether it's getting behind Connor or getting behind me, I don't see there's a reason they can't be getting behind us both. What do you think it's going to be like in the arena that night, because weirdly enough, Dustin, I feel like, is getting some support as well for the way he's handled the fight. He was linked to Connor to a degree, of course, because they fought around a year or so ago. Do you think it's going to be 100% pure, you know, in favor of you? The support will be all, you know, Joseph Duffy's way, and do you think it will be like the scene that it was last year when Connor fought in the main event?

I believe the fans will be behind me. I think they'll respect Dustin and they'll give him a warm welcome like you said because obviously the links with him and Connor but I definitely 100% feel the fans are all behind me on the night

Do you make a conscious effort to be as different as possible from Connor? No, well I let out. I just go about my day-to-day life just the way I'm Ariel you know I feel that if I tried to be any

different, then you know, people would just see see through it. You know, so I just I try to be myself and I feel that seems to be to be working so far. Is it a blessing to not be in Ireland,

training, not even be in Europe, training for this fight to be all the way in Canada so that you don't get caught up in all the hoopla of your first UFC main event? I suppose, yeah, I quite like that idea. I like to be a, away from the bubble.

When you're surrounded by a day and day, I feel you can get caught up and they're pretty easy and your attention is drawn elsewhere. But when I'm out here in Montreal, I walk in the gym, you know, it's a gym full of UFC fighters who's all big names.

You know, there's no egos. We get to work and we turn up five weeks and then it's business time. We're all in the group. ready for the fight. When do you head over to Ireland? I'm leaving a week today. A week today, Ariel. So arrive Tuesday morning. What do you think it's going to be like and are you preparing yourself for that?

It's going to be unlike your other two fights, you know that. I mean, that's no secret. Are you preparing for the intensity of what that fight week is going to be like for you? No, really. I'm one of the people who just likes to take things as it comes. You know, I'm quite excited, obviously, to see the difference between this and the other UFC shows I've done so far. So, yeah, I don't look too much into it. Obviously, I know I'm going to have a few more media obligations and a few things are going to be different. But, you know, I've got an experienced team behind me and they'll guide me through. In your wildest dreams, did you ever imagine your first two fights going the way they have?

I mean, it's been nothing short of amazing. Is this what you predicted, or has this exceeded your expectations? That's a good question. I definitely didn't expect it to go as well as it has. Obviously, I'm 100% confident in my abilities, and I know I got the tools to pull off the wins the way I have. But every fight I go into, I'm expecting it to be the toughest fight I've had to date. so I definitely wouldn't say I expected them to go the way it has

but touchwood will continue to go this way And I don't know how much you've been looking at Dustin But if you have been studying him Do you have any idea why he's looked so good at 155 Since moving back up from 145? I can't say I can't say Maybe Maybe everything's just a little bit

A little bit better Maybe he's a little bit happier He's walking around with more natural weight and, you know, I don't know. It's hard to say. And tell you the truth, I don't really think too much about, you know, them kind of things. Obviously, you know, he's looked better at 155,

but there's no part of my game and what I intend to do on the evening. So, you know, I put them things out of my head and concentrate on what I'm doing and what I feel I do well. And, you know, I feel that's, you know, I feel like I feel like I can beat anyone on 155. So when you were offered this fight, were you expecting this progression?

Or was Dustin a bigger name than you expected for your third fight? A lesser name? Where did he fall in with your expectations? I suppose, yeah, it definitely came a little bit sooner than some... I realized. I thought being just below the Co-main in Glasgow,

that maybe this time I'll be there. the Co-main, you know, especially with it being in Ireland. But, you know, when I got offered, you know, a big name, a ranked opponent, the jump at the opportunity. You know, these are the opportunities we dream well-fied in, you know, main event that in Ireland, you know, against a ranked opponent. And it's a big opportunity for me to progress in my career. And it's an opportunity I feel is right for me.

not the right time. You know, it's funny. I'm wondering, you know, the connections are always there with Connor because you beat him last. But even with Dustin, there's a major connection there. Did you chuckle a little bit? You're like, oh, here we go. Because if you were a fighting guy who hadn't fought Connor, there, I don't think would be

as many questions. But because he sort of set a standard against him, now people are going to wonder if you can top him or look as good as him. Did you chuck a little bit? Like, oh, great. Now another reason to bring up Connor in all the buildup, all the media leading up to the fight. Yeah, I suppose

Yeah, that's the way They're looking at it You know, people always like to Link me and Connor And obviously with the Dustin link as well I suppose it raises a few eyebrows And I guess people talking So yeah, I suppose that was the case

But again, you know Styles make fights and And I feel You know, the Connor and Dustin Fatt There's no You know It is no no place in this fight.

He's gone up to 155 and obviously he's feeling good. He's confident he's coming off a couple of good wins. So, you know, all them, all them things, they're not linked the way they kind of seem there. At this point, is it fair to say that you are comfortable in all facets of MMA? Or do you feel like there's one part that you really need to improve as opposed to the other parts of the game? Honestly, I'm a bit of perfectionist.

I feel like I would like to improve everything. Okay. You know, and obviously being here in TriStar, there's so many great guys. Individuals are very good at different areas. You know, I feel like I can learn something of all the fighters here. So I wouldn't say there's a particular area that, you know, need to address them more than the others. I just feel like I would like to move my whole game to the next level.

And I'm assuming you're happy at TriStar, you feel like that's the place in which you can do that. Yeah. Yeah. Since I've been out here in TriStar, for the first time I feel like I'll reach my full potential. You know, I know how far I can go deep down. And I know with all the guys around me here at TriStar that I can go to the top. And, you know, for the first time my life, I feel very settled in my training. I know you are a proud Irishman.

Your nickname is Irish Joe. I get that. I respect that. I have a Canadian flag right in back of me. I'm proud of where I come from as well. When people question your loyalty to Ireland and say, you know, with Connor says, and then people jump on that bandwagon, English Joe, Welsh Joe, Canadian Joe. Does that get under your skin?

Nothing Connor says can get under my skin. Like I said, you know, if it was somebody who I cared about, you know, my family or something, saying something like this, then, yeah, maybe. be, but, you know, Conner's opinion doesn't matter to me. You know, you can say what he wants, but it doesn't change the way it's fighting him. It doesn't change the fact that I still feel I would beat him. You know, none of that stuff changes. Obviously, you know, it draws a bit of attention media-wise,

and, you know, it starts to get the ball rolling, everything. But, you know, none of that stuff will ever get under my skin. Do you think if you fight him again, it goes just as quickly? I believe I can take Connor just as quickly. You know, everyone knows that Connor has greatly improved and so my, you know, everything everything Connor does, I feel like I can beat him at. You know, now he uses more kicks. I've been doing Taekwana since I was five.

You know, there's not an area that I feel he can beat me. How do you foresee the fight against Dustin going? I never make predictions. Anyone who knows me, I never make predictions. But I feel good. I feel very good. I'm happy with the way training is gone. I'm feeling very sharp, and I know that's going to carry over now in the fight week.

So, you know what, I go out and I'm ready for five rounds of war. By the way, who's going to be in your corner? So we go Farez. He's making the first trip over to Europe. group. Wow. First time. First time. That's going to be quite exciting. Coach O'Keefe as well, Eric O'Keefe, he was my head cornerman over in Glasgow.

You know, I do a lot of work with Eric as well, especially in my stand-up stuff. So it's great to have Eric over again. And I got Tom Breeze, you know, as long as, you know, there's no injuries or no complications in this fight here, he'd be there, and also my wrestling coach Matt Miller. And Rory McDonald's going to be there, but obviously not in your corner, right? Yeah, yeah, Rory's going to be there as one of the guest fighters. So, you know, again, it's great to have someone like Rory, you know, just fought for the title, you know, that kind of experience. I feel it's very, very important to have these kind of people around who's been there and done and all.

last question for you if all goes well next saturday not this coming saturday the following saturday october 24th live on ufc fight pass in front of your fellow countrymen in ireland if all goes well against dustin porier and dan hardy walks up to you in the cage with that microphone and of course he's going to try to ask you about what's next and all that are you going to go the connor route because man oh man i'll be sitting at home just wondering how they're going to react to this a fellow archman calling out another i mean just my mind is going to explode. I want to see this fight. I want to see the rematch.

I want to see it at Croke Park. I think it will be fantastic stuff. Will you go that route, or is that just not your style? We'll just have to see what happens. We'll wait for the night. Okay. See how things go, see how I feel, and I'm going from there. Fair enough.

I'll leave people in suspense for that. That's good. That's good. That's probably the best answer, because then they have to watch, right? Exactly. tune in. Exactly. October 24th

from Dublin, Ireland on UFC Fight Pass. Joseph, I really appreciate the time. Sorry about the delay and also the

tech issues is trying to reach you. Thanks for being a good sport. Thank you for joining us from my hometown. I feel like we have a bit of a connection now that you're joining me from Montreal

and most importantly, good luck in this fight. I can't wait for it. Less than two weeks away, you versus Dustin Porier, a fantastic matchmaking. Really looking forward to it. So thank you very much.

Thanks, Ariel. All the best. Take care. There he is. What a class act. a great guy Joseph Duffy is. Really appreciate his time. Again, a fantastic car and an amazing main event, an intriguing main event.

I saw some fans complaining about it when it's announced. Are you kidding me? That's the perfect kind of fight past show and a perfect show for that market as well. I think it's going to be really interesting to see just where Joseph Duffy is at. If he can beat Dustin Poree, he's there. I'm curious to see what the line is. Is the line out there for that one? That'll be interesting as well.

All right, let's move along. Let's go to our next guest. also has been very patient. We've been backed up a little bit today, but I appreciate him standing by. We're going to Skype once again. Cody Garbrandt is joining us in Sacramento, right? You're in Sacramento right now?

Yep, Sacktown. Get down. Yes. Cody, thank you for the time. So this has been an interesting show for us, and I'm happy that you're coming on because I don't know if you know TJ was on at the very beginning. Then we had Dwayne, and now we have you, who of course is a very proud member of the team.

T.J. said that he was told he's longer welcome. It's been a lot of drama. He's upset with the way it's gone. And Dwayne, kind of echoing that. What's your perspective on what's happened in the last week or so? First and foremost, you know, I wish T.J. Nothing but the best. You know, it was his decision to leave, just like it was his, you know, he could have stayed, you know, him trying to play the victim and this and that. It's not how it is. It was a, you know, it was a grown man decision for him to leave. You know, it's, if we're not good enough for you and why are you going to come in the gym and train with us and go out to Colorado and do your training there.

Like, I think you're just playing the victim and it's like, you know what I mean? Like we're all tight with them. It's all cool. It's like I think it's just making it harder. Like, do you want to stay with us or you want to go out there? Like you can't be in between, you know, in between. So I mean, that's where I stand on it. You know, I mean, like I said, I talked to TJ before.

I said, you know, I wish you nothing but the best. But, you know, when and if it's when we come down to fight, like I'm going to look forward to it. I said you're the world champion and that you have what we all want, you know? So, as I said, the best of love to him. And, you know, he's out in Colorado now and whatever, you know. So for the record, you support this decision to say, you know what? You can't come to the gym anymore.

You've left. That's what I'm saying. Like, if we're not good enough, if you don't feel like that, we're not good enough for you to train with us and be here, then why are you going to just pop in? You're going to train here and there? Like, I don't understand it really. But I'm not against his decision for leaving. You know what I mean?

If he feels like that's the best thing that he has to do for his school, career right now. Hey, best of luck to you, TJ. You know, it's like, that's, that's what I told him, you know, but it's playing the victim thing that they, oh, we don't want them in here and this and that. We're going to be fighting each other, you know, there's possible matchups. Like, why would you be in here, watching, working with each other when you already have announced that you were leaving and going to Denver and you have your coach out there? And, you know, for me, it's like, it opens a lot of doors for me, a lot of, you know, his decision to leave, you know, he's a champion. It's like, it's, I'm on my own, I'm on my own journey, you know,

I want to get a title run, you know, get a title run going, whoever's next for me, and get in that spot. You know, that's why I got into the sport, and I wanted to be a world champion since I was 13, long before I knew T.J. Dillashaw was. Is this a blessing in disguise for you now that path is open to the belt, maybe before when he was a part of the team, it would get a little dicey? Man, it's not like a blessing in disguise because, I mean, I like T.J. I mean, we're friends, but at the end of the day, it's a business.

and, you know, holding the title is what we're all in it for. If you're not having to be the champion, you need to get out and do something else, go get a 9 to 5 or whatever. I'm here to be a champion, and it just makes it easier to make a title run. Now I'm more motivated. I'm driven, my vision is clear to go after the belt, you know what I mean? Like, now that he, I would have fought him here, you know what I mean? Like, it would have been, we would have to split the gyms up.

So, yeah, it's kind of cool I can focus on, really, you know. My vision is, like I said, my vision is clear when I, I'm holding a title. So it's just a matter of time, you know, get these fights and make a title run. How big of a distraction has this been for both you and the team this past week? Man, the most of the distraction was that lady shit and puking in favor's bathroom. You know, that was that all that? You know what I mean?

Jesus. We couldn't quit laughing today about at practice. I mean, that girl, I heard that she knocked on the door, shouldered favor, tackled him down, ran into the bathroom, shit and puked into his bathroom. So that was like the biggest distraction, you know what I mean? It's business at the end of the day, man. We have fun training.

We enjoy each other, you know what I mean? Like, it is like a family out here. It's like you walked away from the family. You know what I mean? I'm from a family that's broken that we try to. We fight and we try to stay together. You know what I mean? I just don't know.

You just don't walk away from family like that. But like I said, best wishes to him. And we're all on our own journey out here. But it's business as usual. You know, we're training. We're having fun. We're going to keep being successful. We just have Rick Rufus in here right now.

He's hitting pads, you know, coming in. We're just, you know, trial, trial and air with coaches, you know what I mean? Like, we're always going to be here. We're always, you know what I mean? So we're bringing the coaches that is going to adapt to us. And he's got a good mindset. He spoke to us after practice and what his goals were and his personal goals with everyone and the team goals. So it was nice.

We'll see what, you know, how it goes. That's interesting. Is this his first day there? Yeah, first day here, yeah. Okay. And in case people, go ahead. Sorry. All right, go ahead.

I was going to say, in case people don't know what you were talking about with the favor thing. Check out your eye on Snapchat. Also, I think some people posted the video on YouTube. Someone apparently broke into his new home and had an accident and the police had to come just so a wild scene. He handled it. He handled it very well. So in case they don't know, I might have gone over their head what the heck you were talking about. Yeah. Yeah. If TJ goes over, and you say you're still friends, he goes over to Denver. He's like, this is amazing muslin. It's a great facility. I've been there and says, man, you'll be a better fighter if you come here. Would you entertain that idea?

No, I, like, you know, I told the teacher that I would go out and train with him. You know what I mean? Help him out. You know, we just, you know, hopefully have a flight coming up soon and maybe in the same time frame that we could have used camps together now. But now he's left, you know what I mean? Now it was like him coming back, like you did before. Like he was going to go there for two weeks of Dwayns and come back here and there. You left, man.

Like, it's, you know, it's either you're with us or you're against us, you know. That's how it's got to be. Has this divided the camp at all? or are you guys pretty much on the same, you know, the same wavelength now? No, I mean, like, like Favors said, like, we're all going to have our own personal, you know, relationships with T.J. and how it goes about it. Favor is not, you know, pushing away from a friendship with T.J.

It's just, why, you know, if he believes that our gym's not the best for him, why would we let him in the gym and train with us and that? You can't have the best of both worlds, you know what I mean? It was your decision to leave. You're excited either with us or against us. So, I mean, yeah, they're all, you know, we're all going to be cool. And, like, I mean, after whatever, however this plays out, I'm just sitting back and waiting for my next fight and focusing on that. And letting everything, it's a domino effect, let everything fall into place, you know.

And I believe everything happens for a reason. And like I said, my vision is clear. You know, I'm just, I'm dedicated. I mean, I'm motivated. This motivates me to some motivation, you know. It's a very big motivation. So speaking of that next fight, when is it? I don't know yet.

hopefully in January we talked so just waiting on the opponent a few in mind what do you got I just saw I saw an article that John Linderker said

that he can knock out TJ and Cruz so I say hey you know if you think you knock those guys out you know let's us scrapp and go for there you know what I mean I think that's a good fight for my career

a fan favorite you know yeah he likes a fight I mean it makes sense caraway he's ducking and dodging everyone. I just want to beat his ass and, you know, getting him out of the rank. He's in the top ten for what reason, you know. You know, whoever, though, I'm ready

to fight. I'm hungry. You know, I'm very motivated. I like to fight before Christmas, but Christmas, December, January, whatever. I'm in the gym. I'm ready whenever. Did you specifically ask for Carraway? I asked for Linnaker. Okay. I asked for Linnaker.

And, uh... Are they open to it? I don't know if Carraway is. I don't know if he... No, I mean, Linnecker. I've never heard back from Linneker or anything about Lenker. I mean, I just trying to push for it. You know, I think that's a great fight, a great win for my career right now,

and it sets me up for that tighter run. You know, T.J. Levin, I think it's a perfect time. Like I said, I believe everything out for a sure reason. But, like I said, you know, whoever Sean has in mind for me, I'm ready for, and I'm ready to fight. You know, I want to get back in there. I know a lot of the guys that are in the top ten right now have fights lined up. So two-week notice, three-week notice.

two days, the day of, I'm ready to go. I'm always in shape, and I'm just staying ready for a call. How's my man Maddox? Max, he's doing great. He just, we actually, uh, FaceTime yesterday. He's doing great. He's in school. He's, you know, he's learning. He's getting big. You know, he's about to be 10, so he's doing great. He's ready. He wanted to get on the Orlando car. He was like, Cody asked to get on the Atlanta car. We can take him to Disney World after. I'm sorry, Disney, yeah, Disney World. Yeah.

After. But we push for that one, but, I mean, that had been cool to go beat someone up and be able to take him to Disney World after, and it would have been nice. But, yeah, whenever he's excited, it's to watch me fight, you know, he enjoys it. He really enjoys it. You know, he gets the, you know, be a part of that fight week with me and whatnot. You know, it's awesome week with him, and he's doing great family. Everything is high spirits, healthy.

Is he going to walk you out every time now, or is that just a one-time thing? I don't know, I kind of, you know, put a lot of, uh, it was very emotional, you know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. I think it was that emotional. I really control my emotions in there and just, like I said, watching that kid for four and a half years fight for his life and almost give up. And, and virtually it was a phone call and then at FaceTime that saved it, you know, basically saved his life and took, you know, let him take his medicine and just, I think that an impact had that much. I mean, I had somebody like walking down in that cage, I want to be mad, I want to be pissed off.

I wanted to be happy. I wanted to cry, I wanted to hug him, and just tell him that I love him and everything's going to be fine, and just to fur all to unravel. So now it's like I got in my mind. He's going to walk me down when I'm playing for the title. You know what I mean? That's the goal of now. He's walking down the title, and he's going to be there.

I told him I was going to give him that royal title. He's going to put in his man cave. So that's a good one out. And that's what I'm running for right now is that world of title within, you know, whenever. So just keep grinding every day, getting better, and just enjoying life, enjoying the journey. What a story that would be. Here's the big question I've been wanting to ask you for quite some time. What was the like when Paige knocked you out in training?

Oh, yeah, I saw that in the interview. You don't want these hands. Yeah, she's funny. That was a good one. All is good there, right? I was a laugh about that one. Oh, yeah. I'm actually using her iPad right now.

She probably takes some selfies on it. Okay. In the background. Well, I don't want to get in trouble or anything between you two. Yeah. By the way, just curious, since you were talking about title find, of course, the champion is T.J. Did you guys ever spar trained together? Like, do you feel like you got some intimate knowledge on this guy that you can use if you ever did fight him in the near future?

100% constant. 100% constant that comes down to it. That's what I told my text to them, you know, about that. When it comes down to flooding when it's time, it's going to be a fun flight. I really believe that's going to be just a scrap that I'm looking forward to. That's a scrap, these scrap clinics are these guys are scraps that I look forward to that like keep me up at night. I wake up in the middle of night, like this is the fight I want, you know what I mean,

I got fighting for the ones that bring out where you're spirit, you dig down and just scrap and you learn a lot about yourself from these tough fights and that's what I want. You know, I'm hungry from one of those that you feel like you're just, you know, just modern-day warrior and that's the fight that I'm looking for. Yeah, all of a sudden, Bantamweight has become super interesting. Last thing before I let you go, and again, thank you for the time. I've been seeing on these clips for the Ultimate Fighter, there's a bit of a dust-up between you and Connam McGregor, and I know you can't really talk about it because we're about

to see, I don't think it's air just yet, but when I say the name, Connor McGregor, what comes to mine? Did it air yet? No, I haven't air yet. Okay. No, I mean, it's cool. Hey, Connor, like I said, what happened with me and Connor went down. I think if this went down, I've really been watching, but I mean, it's a great show.

You know, I've been, sort of busy traveling and stuff. But, yeah, really just Conner was talking shit, man. It's like, I don't know. I'm not at one to, like, just talk shit. Not like, if you're going to ask, like, do something about it, I'm going to do something about it. And it was just like, it was all the TJ situation, but it wasn't more so about the TJ situation. It was more about, like, heaven's neighbor and Philly, like, we're maled in. And it just is like, what do you twirps going to do about it?

What are you twirps going to do about? I'm like, man, this guy wants, you know, this guy wants, you know, this guy. asking he didn't ask it you know he's asking for a fight I'm like man so I was like I was like I'm physical so I said I'm and that was that was it you know what I mean okay and then the next week it was like cool like yes I mean next week whatever it was cool like I went up to him and I was like you're not so bad when they're you know we had the pool party and everything and you're not so bad when there's you know girls and alcohol involved you're not a bad person I was joking he's actually

not a bad guy it's like the tension of being in there and and the teams and having the hooting and hollering and running his mouth all the time just you know And then they ask, hey, what are you going to do about it? Like, if someone asked me, if I'm going to ask something they're going to do about it, I expect, you know, it's time to quit talking. Right. And, you know, but, you know, you forgot we're on TV and I kind of lost a little control right there. But, yeah, I mean, that's what happens.

You know, nothing against me. I think it's a good guy. I mean, it's with cameras and everything. It's entertainment. You know, he's an entertainer. And he used his mouth to get to where he's at. And I think it's great for the sport, you know, it's really good. But it's enough.

I think sometimes you don't know when this needs to stop and these needs to stop and knees need to go up, you know what I mean? I think that's where he was kind of shocked about it. Oh, and I thought a bad guy. Well, Cody, keep doing your thing, my man. I'm looking forward to that next fight. I really hope it's against John Linear. What a great fight that would be,

and I look forward to seeing your performance in that fight. That would be fantastic. Like I said, Bantamweight's super interesting these days. So great stuff, as always, my friend, and good luck in training, and good luck in that next fight. I'm sure I'll talk to you whenever that happens. You want to say something?

I appreciate it, Beth. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me on. Man, it was awesome. Hopefully get that Leonard for a fight. All right. Good luck to you, my friend. There he is. No love. Cody Garbrandt joining us via Sacramento. Okay.

We got to take a quick break. We're a little late to John Fitch, but he is here. He is joining us in studio. So this is what we're going to do. I know I told the guys in the back. Yeah. Let's go inside the vault. Let's go to November of 2008.

Let's go to A.K.A. Let's go to John Fitch and myself when I was a part of MMArated.com. This is right after that whole thing happened with him and Dana White. Super interesting to look back on. That's our clip inside the vault. And then we're going to be joined by the man himself live and in living color right here in studio. Here we go. For MMA rated.com at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose with the most talked about man in MMA in the last 24 hours, John Fitch. So, John, I'll start off.

I hear there's a new breaking development in this story. Give it to me. Yeah, communication kind of broke down with Dana. So we talked to Lorenzo, just got out of the phone with him a little bit ago, straightening some things out and came to an agreement. So we're going to move ahead, and I believe I'm going to be back in the UFC. You're back. After all that, you are back in the UFC.

That's the case. We're going to sign off on the video, and I'm back. Yeah, so. So what was the sticking point? I mean, what changed between yesterday and today? Like we said before, it was never even about the agreement or the contract. It was nothing, we had a problem with that. It was the approach that we felt that Dana was a little hot-headed

and was threatening us right off the bat. And, you know, it didn't seem like a professional way to do things. So that was the big reason why we didn't sign off. Have the terms of the agreement changed between yesterday and today? No, and we never had a problem with terms of the agreement. We were asking to renegotiate, but after talking to Lorenzo, it's not a big deal. More or less, it's just getting a phone call there. No problem.

That was the question again. The question was, have the terms of the agreement change? Because obviously, a lot of people were saying that maybe you didn't want to sign your life away, so to speak. So now just trying to figure out why things are different 24 hours later. The reason for that is it was never really about the agreement. It was about the way Dana approached us with the agreement. It didn't seem professional. We didn't want to, you know, sign off on being treated that way.

But we talked to Lorenzo. He explained the agreement further. The video game, it's not a big deal. It's not like I've got video game companies knocking down my door to do video game deals with me. So a lifetime exclusive, it's not a big deal. And Dana gave us his word, Lorenzo gave us his word, that it's not a permanent thing. If we ever did want to leave, there's a possibility that they would allow us to leave and do something else.

So, yeah, I mean, it was never about the agreement. It was about the way it was brought to us. And in the last 24 hours, Dana has actually echoed those sentiments that it wasn't about the agreement and that he's had some issues with the gym itself and that it's been more of a management issue. So does this mean that everything's cleared up between the UFC and AKA? Well, I mean, that's the thing is, like, Dana can't really blame the management. for all this because they had been telling me from the beginning to sign off. But we, the fighters, felt that it was inappropriate the way they were talking to us.

There might be miscommunication, whatever. But yeah, that was the whole principle, the whole thing. It was just we didn't want to be talked to in that way. Now everything's done. You look back on the last 24 hours. Do you wish things could have been handled a little differently? And really ultimately, does this change your relationship with Dana White? I mean, I never had that much of a relationship with Dana in the first place.

You know, we've spoken briefly throughout my career, but I've actually spoken more with Lorenzo, especially lately. So, you know, as long as we have someone to go through and somebody to decipher what's going on, it'll be a big help. All right, and so let's talk some good news. UFC 94, is it official you'll be fighting at Giro Gono? Hopefully, yeah, we haven't worked out all the details, like the dust is still settling, but, Hopefully that should be the fight. When you think back now, the last 24 hours, now we're talking about you fighting, were you worried there for a second, ultimately, that maybe your MMA career could have been over

because not a lot of welter rates outside of the UFC, not a lot of options outside of the UFC, and now things have changed on a dime here in the last 24 hours. I've had to fight up in weight class before just to find fights, because early in my career I couldn't find anybody to fight me at 170. So, I mean, if I would have to put on some weight and fight other places, go to Japan, And, you know, I'm a good fighter. I sell tickets. I was not worried in one bit.

But, I mean, UFC's my home. It's where I want to fight. All right, back on the mixed martial arts hours. So that interview was November of 2008 at AKA a crazy time for our next guest who joins us in studio. Also, a crazy time for me professionally. I don't know if I ever told you this, John. And by the way, welcome to the show once again. Great to have you back in studio.

I got fired that morning for my job. And that was my last day. I remember you did tell me. Oh, I did tell you, okay. So it was a very strange time. But when you look at that clip, I don't know when's last time you saw it, what goes through your mind? Probably when it happened. A day or two after we shot it.

Yeah. What goes through your mind? Just the fear and the disbelief of the situation that just happened on my face in that time. Yeah, wasn't really free to speak at all with what was going on at that time. It felt like you were a little rattled, right? Yeah, and being careful with what I said because I didn't want to, you know, get fired again. saying the wrong thing. In hindsight, do you wish you didn't do what you did? In hindsight, I wish I would have not signed and left and went to Strike Force. Right. Was that on the table? Yeah, definitely.

Be leaving them and, you know, I had a good relationship with Scott Cover. It was definitely something I could have done. But I stayed to save my team and my management and everybody under my management's team. Do you feel like you were pressured? Yes, absolutely. Really? Really? By them? By them? By your managers? No, by Zufa. No, I mean, do you feel like you were pressured like, okay, guys? No, I took it upon myself. Okay. My team was threatened and my management and everybody they represented was threatened. And I felt that I needed to bite the bullet, take one for the team, and save them.

That's what I felt. But the decision to ultimately, you know, come back to the table. It came to me. It was all you. All me. It was all you. Do you think about that a lot? A little bit.

I mean, that's one of the reasons why I've been doing the things I've been doing lately is because I don't think that anybody should ever be put into that situation. where they're threatened into a contract. Let's kind of work backwards here, of course, because you are in New York because you're fighting in Connecticut. Yep, you should know Kami. Ushino Kami. World Series 24. 24 on NBCSN, Saturday night, main event,

solid card. Nick Newell, as I mentioned, I went through the card a little bit earlier. There's a bit, to me, a little bit of an irony involved in that matchup because both of you were top 10 UFC guys, and when you were let go, it became this huge story. But you were in different weight classes, never in a million years that I think John Fitch would fly up. what you should know kami. Did you think of that as well when you were offered the fight?

Well, I actually had thought that it was a possible fight on the horizon when he got released from UFC also because in order to stay busy, I was considering fighting summit at 185, and it's still kind of on the table. Okay. You know, I understand it's hard to, you know, when you're one of the big names in the company, it's hard to get you a fight every, you know, every few months so that you're fighting three times a year or four times a year. Right. Because the amount of time. they put into promoting. So I was hoping that I could be a little bit more of a gatekeeper at 185 and then be a contender, a possible champion at 170

and then still try to fight three, four times a year. What do you think of him going down to 170? He's a big guy. Yeah, it's going to be interesting to see him. Are you concerned? That he might not make way, you know. I try not to think about those things. I try to think everybody's going to be professional and do their job.

So, you know, prepare for the best Ushundal Khomey there is and take everything Saturday night. Considering what happened in his last fight, where do you think he's at in his career right now? Still think he's tough. He's been tough. I mean, guys that fight the way Eushan fights and even the way I fight, we don't generally take that much damage. He has had some knockouts and taken some shots to the head more than I have in, you know, the most recent part of his career. But, you know, he's a durable guy and I still think he's just as powerful and his, as dangerous as he has been.

Are you thinking about that a little more these days as you get older and what we know about concussions and head trauma all that? I mean a little bit, but I'm not a, I'm not somebody who's taking a lot of head trauma. Not too worried about it. I mean, it's, it kind of, it makes me mad sometimes when people are talking about brain trauma and what we got to do to protect the guys. And ultimately, if we're getting paid of value for value exchange, if we're being paid

correctly, it shouldn't matter. We know the risk. We know what's going to happen. If I want to fight until I'm slurred in speech and can't remember where I put my keys, it's my decision. If I want to do that, I should be allowed to do that. I could go climb a mountain with no ropes. I could ride a motorcycle with no helmet. I can do those things, but I can't go out and earn money if I want to. I don't think that's correct. If I sign all... off on it. If I know the dangers, if I'm educated correctly about what the dangers are and what the outcomes will be, I should be allowed to do what I want to do. The thing that should happen, though, is that I get paid a fair amount, a fair percentage of what's going down, because then, you know,

I'll trade some brain cells for some money for my children so they don't have to work when they're when they're older. That's fine with me. Are you happy with what you're getting paid at World Series of Fighting? I feel that they're doing, doing a fair job, you know, with what they're putting into the shows and what they're making, you know. But again, you know, one company does drastically control the market. Well, by the way, before we get into all that, what's going on here? You're on. That's just makeup. That's just makeup? All right. Who gave you that? I gave it to myself. Okay. Fair enough. Where did you train for this fight? I was in Vegas at One Kix Gym and then I went up to D. D. Throte on base camp and trained with Kostek. Okay. So no more A.K.K.A. for you?

No, I haven't. I haven't been there since I trained some. for the Holman fight. Okay. Yeah. How come? You were in the area? Well, I moved last August to... No, I know, but like if you're in Fresno, that's relatively close.

Relatively close, but Josh had some bigger wrestlers and I wanted to work with. There's Josh and then Chris Honeycutt is there also. So I wanted to work with big, strong, top game guys. And then, at AKA there's Rock Hole to DC and Kane, but there's not as, you know, the wrestlers. aren't there the same type of type game. It's amazing how it's evolved that gym, right, in a short amount of time. Yeah. From when you guys were there and now with these new faces, are you on good terms of those guys?

Yeah, it's still family. Okay. Yeah. They don't have as much of a presence at Welterweight as they did back in the day with me Swick and Koshchek and everybody. Like even like Rockhold's too big to mess around with that anymore. Right. And he's a 185er.

Yeah. He's gigantic. It's huge. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Are you still a zincing guy? Yeah. Okay, so they still manage your career.

Yeah, still manage my sponsors and fight career stuff. So you know, you probably know this unless you changed your number on me. I've reached out to you a few times in the last few months. I wanted to try to get you to clear the air on what happened after your fight, your last fight in December. Can you clear the air? According to California, you tested positive, right? Mm-hmm. But they didn't say why.

According to California. I've been restricted by my legal team, not to speak of it. Okay. You've been very open about PDs in the past. So, I mean, is that tough for you? It's something I want to talk about, but I can't. Can't even touch you. Not this moment.

You don't want to even clear the air? There's nothing to clear right now. But do you feel like it kind of tainted your career at all, that people were saying, oh, you were talking about it, and now California is accusing you? Again, I'm limited. Okay. Are you appealing? I'm limited with, yeah.

I've said what I can say. Okay, fair enough. So you're staying in Vegas. you're happy there? Happy in Vegas, really happy at one kicks. I'm coaching the MMA team there. We have Chidi and Jigawani and Mark Dickerman are fighting in Bellator coming up in November. Cheaty's a young guy and I'm working with him a lot. I'm going to turn him into the Anderson Silva 170. Really? That's high praise. If he gives me, if he gives me the work that I'm asking of him, I'm going to turn him into that guy. Is it not there yet? Like, do you feel like he's not 100% invested?

Trying to get these, yeah, I mean, making people kind of. to believe in themselves and believe in the system and the madness that I'm teaching them. It can be hard. But, you know, there's money to be made in the sport. And that's the biggest thing I'm trying to get across to these guys, getting them to show up every day, whether you got to fight or not, just show up. Chitty, of course, the younger brother of Anthony and Jokwani. Better than him, you think? He's a monster.

He's like 6'3. He's a scary dude when he comes forward. So you'll be cornering him? I don't know if I'm going to make it out to corner that fight. I'm going to try. Okay. Are you going to eventually? But we're sparring and working every day. Really? Wow. Are you eventually going to be the head coach over there?

I'm the head coach of the MMA. You are? But it's Nick's gym and he's the stand-up. We have Nick and then Luke Chang is our Muay Thai coach, and then I'm doing the MMA. How many more years do you actually want to fight for? There's really no end in sight. Do you still enjoy it? Yeah. I like what I do them. I'm like I like fighting. I like training.

I like come up with new systems and new strategies. It's just like Phil Broni. always says till the, right it till the wheels fall off. Right. Well, sometimes that's not the best way to go about it, right? But why not? Why not? And if you can, again, like I said, if you're making appropriate amount of money, why not? You know, if I can afford somebody to push me around in a wheelchair later, that's fine. So, I'm okay with it. You've been a part of this lawsuit against the UFC. I saw that you were in Vegas not that long ago with Vandalei Silva. I believe Stitch Duran was there in Juanito Ibarra, right? I saw on the video blog. Maybe other

fighters were there as well that was the uh well kingsbury they were at the uh the actual hearing oh that was a that was an older motion yeah i was with uh yeah vandal those guys that was the abc conference in san diego okay my apologies my apologies um i saw that in the vandreley blog but he came out after so i tied the two together how did you get involved in this um just uh talking with the lawyers the class action suit lawyers and the uh and rob macy he's actually reached to me a number of times in the past. He reached out to me with that video clip. He was around at that time. Okay. He's been working on this in the fighters association for a decade now. But I kind of went along with things because I knew that they were operating in a non-competitive

type of environment. So I was supportive of going into the lawsuit. And then once I got into the lawsuit, I started talking with Rob about the fighters association stuff. didn't really, really didn't get it, really didn't think it was a possibility. And then I went to the NFL Players Association meeting they had a year, over a little over a year ago about something like a merry-go. But anyways, sitting through their meeting and their talks and everything that they were doing, it really let me know that it's possible. It's within our future.

It's within our grasp. And we need it. We definitely need it. How does one actually show up to an NFLPA meeting? Do you? You need a special invite. You do. Do you ask them?

Rob, I think, had connections with Demarius Johnson. Okay. Who's the president, yeah, who runs, thanks, yeah. And when you saw that, that's what clicked. Yeah, he did like a history of basically, because it was a rep training. Okay. I can't go into details about what they talked about. But it was the little history of where the association came from and why they were there and what they were doing it for.

Sox and Jocks was the original. They wanted clean equipment and clean their clothes. That's all they cared about. That was the first thing, clean socks and jocks. Because they're getting infections and sicknesses and whatever, and they couldn't play. So that was stage one. And, you know, the health and safety and the treatment of fighters after their career was like one of the first things that I was motivated in getting involved with about. Do you feel like this above all, and I'm wondering if this is what motivates you at this point, could be your legacy?

I don't care. You don't care about that stuff? I care about my friends and my children not happening to go through what I went through. In terms of what? I mean, do you want your children to be fighters? No, but if they choose to do so, I don't want them to have to go through

the same type of crap I had to go through. I don't want them to be bullied and enforced into contracts and not given options or opportunities. There should be a free market. Fighters should be allowed to go to the highest bidder, and they should have some health care for their life's after.

their career. Knowing what you know about fighters and the way MMA is structured as opposed to a sport, like boxing, where you can kind of bounce around from promoters a little more. It's not so much like organizations or league. Well, with boxing, they have a great deal more security now because of the Mahan Ali Lack, which is passed like around in 2000. Yeah. You'd like to see that in MMA.

Yes, that's one of the things we're also trying to do is get the Mahan Ali Lack to encompass mixed martial arts. Because that would also afford some level of, some protections against promoters like Don King, or I think what Zufa is doing now. In terms of what? What do you mean? Why connect King to? Unfairly, you know, keeping most of the money to themselves,

but mostly ranking your own fighters, matchmaking your own fighters, holding the belt in your own organization. All those things are very unscrupulous. Those lead to corruption. They lead to manipulation. Again, knowing what you know about the fighters in this sport and the way it's currently structured, are you confident? Absolutely.

Because fighters are smart. Most of us are college educated, quite honestly. I think that's where a lot of the things and tactics that are used against boxers aren't going to work against mixed martial arts fighters. A lot of us have college educations. We know better. Yeah. Why do you think it's taken so long to happen? I mean, maybe I shouldn't say so long.

The sport is pretty young. I mean, let's be honest. Education. Education. I mean, you talk to some guys, they don't even know that the Muhammad Ali Act exists. Really? Fighters? Fighters.

I don't know. Wow. I've talked to boxers who don't know it exists. And, yeah, that's the big thing is education. I think we have a website, MMAFA.tv, and people, fighters can go to that and get all the education they need about what we're doing and the Mahmada Act and what it would do for us as fighters. Have you read a lot about, you know, Marvin Miller and Kurt Flood.

So is this something that's always interested you or only... No, just recently. Okay. You know, I always knew that this kind of environment was unhealthy and not right. It's not professional. I never thought it was professional. I never felt professional. And I didn't like it.

And I started getting the education through Rob and other people and started reading things and started seeing, you know, the clear similarities between what happened in those other sports in what's happening in our sport right now. And it needs to change. Do you have a timeline in your mind how long this could take? I don't know. I mean, it took much longer for like football. It took like 20 years or something like that

and multiple lawsuits and things like that. But I think the way that things move nowadays with social media, it could go much, much faster, much quicker. One big thing that we see in MMA quite often, managers being promoters. Yeah. Would you like that to end as well? Yeah, that would, that's a direct conflict of interest.

Right. If you can manage and promote and give the rankings and belt, well, why wouldn't you just give it to the guy who sells the most tickets rather than the best athlete? To a degree that would affect World Series of fighting as well, right? It would affect a lot of people, yeah. Yeah. Okay, so do you get that a lot? Like these days, do you feel like all you're talking about is, like, I mean, it's kind of funny that you're involved in this and you're fighting because you can almost be like this spokesperson. You feel like you were talking more about this stuff than your actual fighting, and are you comfortable with that?

Yeah, I'm fine with that. People need to be educated. Because a lot of the people aren't fighters. I mentioned Vanderlain stuff. You're one of the guys who's actively... If people aren't talking, then nobody's going to be educated. Nobody's going to learn. Right.

Man, John Fitch all groans up. Look at you, a suit and all in front of us. Not really, though. It's just a T-shirt and jeans. You're wearing a jacket. Yeah. I've learned how to fake it. You've certainly come a long way.

Did you ever get to a point where you were like enough of MMA? Fun went away? No, I'm still having fun doing what I'm doing. I don't watch it as much as anymore, and I don't read as much of the articles, whatever, but I'm still very involved. How come you don't watch? Again, because I know how it operates.

I know. But just for, like, I stopped watching a while ago before, because they're never the matchups I want to see. Okay. You know, when you don't have an independent body doing the rankings, like you're never going to get the right matchups. Not even a World Series of Fighting Card?

No, I mean, they do. They're doing a good job, but at the same time, you know, if we had the Muhammad Ali Act enacted in the M.MA, then they would have the ability to bid on and put on Kane versus Verdum. Right. They would be able to put the money up and have that as their main card on their fight. Chale Sunnan is broadcasting. Yeah. Did you hear this?

How do you feel about that? He's doing a great job. He's great. Yeah. I think that's a huge addition to their broadcast team. Yeah, I think he's doing a good job. I think it would be even greater. It would be watch Shail and Van Gogh.

underlay fight. Yes. I think that would be even better to have them fight on World Series card. And under the Muhammad Ali Act, that would be a possibility. If they want to, I feel like Chale is kind of a UFC guy like you wouldn't, but if they want to. I mean, under those circumstances, money would talk. Sure. By the way, when you think about who's with the heavyweight, the Russian heavyweight champ right now in boxing.

Oh, well, Klichko, right? Ukrainian. Yeah, Ukrainian, I'm sorry. Don't upset any of the Ukrainians. Yes. We have a big fan base in the Ukraine, by the way. Well, him and the last guy he fought, I don't even know his name. Okay.

Right? Somebody, do you even, do you know? Well, I know he's fighting. Oh, God. You have to think about it, right? Yes, yes, yes, yes. Well, that guy, you know, he's not that big of a draw. Tyson Fury, I think he's fighting next.

But go ahead, yes. Well, I meant the last, the last, you beat or whatever. But he's not that big of a draw yet he still won fights, which granted him a title shot because he won him. Yeah. So winning put him in that situation where he could draw. The IPO, the initial purse offering to that fight, to two guys, most people don't even know who they are. And probably if you put a line up on the wall of guys, you couldn't pick him off of it, was $23.3 million. Where did they fight?

Somewhere in Russia, probably, or Ukraine somewhere. He usually draws pretty well. Okay. But still, it was a 75-25% split. So his opponent made $5 million. And those two, in that card, is nowhere near as exciting as King Velazquez and Vribisi Overdome. How was the money divided throughout the card? Somebody did a division of Mayweather's last, a fight, too.

And there was a non-paper-view showtime fight where the fighter made $150,000. The one against Mani Pac-Yau? I don't think it was Pac-Yo. I think it was his last fight. Oh, against Andre Beardo. Yeah. Just recently. Yeah.

Okay, okay. A non-teleview fight, which was put on showtime. Showtime. The guy made $150,000. You ever think about going to boxing or the ship is sale? No, I just think that if we had the Muhammad Ali Act, enacted into MMA, those pay opportunities would be possible for fighters. There are some people who will...

Guys like Connor McGregor could go to Ireland and do his own show. Right. And he could be in Mayweather making $100 million, like... But not for. freely. I mean, he still has a contract. Like, Mayweather couldn't break his, well, he's a different one because he kind of is his own promoter, which. But that would be a possibility under the Muhammad Ali Act. He, McCona McGregor could be his own promoter. George St. Pierre could be, go up in Canada and be his own promoter and put on a show. Once his contracts expire with the UFC, it wouldn't happen overnight. Or if those contracts are found to be illegal.

Right. You think, you think the government will really get involved in MMA? Why do you think they, they don't ever look at it for any reason? I mean, they kind of only care about things that make them money or if it's really sexy and stirs people's attention. If people pay enough attention to it, they'll get involved. Have you seen what's going on in New York here? You like a good conspiracy. Yeah, I love conspiracies. Yeah, you look at your Twitter feed.

It's all a bunch of conspiracies there. The thing about conspiracy theories, though, that they're real. There are... Well, not always. They can't always be real. No, there are things that people conspire to make happen. Fair enough. Who killed JFK?

there's a very strong correlation between George Bush Sr. What? JFK? Yes. George Bush Sr.? Yeah, he's been involved with some very shady things over the years. You think he's the one that pulled the trigger? No, but I think he, no, of course, he wasn't the one pulling the trigger.

They always have other people doing this stuff forward. I've actually never heard of this one. I'm fascinated with the JFK story. Can you tell me the story? I can't remember. He was involved with the CIA, I believe. And you think that they had a hit on him? It's possible.

What? There's a lot of possible. Possibilities. Sure. Our government does a lot of weird, terrible things. How do you feel about the government? I don't really like what they've been doing. Do you vote?

I don't think there's a purpose or a point to it. Why? If everyone said that, then no one would have a say. Because they're all one party. It's all the same party. You think so? Yes. They distract people on little issues like gay rights, which I'm not saying,

trying to diminish gay rights. but people get emotional and worked up about it. But when it comes to your day-to-day life and your taxes, it doesn't affect you at all. What two people are doing with their life, fair enough. It doesn't affect you. But spending $250,000 per bomb you're dropping on some person in the desert

that does affect you because that's your tax money. Right? The millions and millions of dollars they're spending on spying on you and going through your phone and making your technology less secure does affect you. But what did you agree that Donald's, Trump is the savior. He's the one that's going to fix all of this. I have a feeling that he's just a distraction. You think that he's going to pull out?

No, they'll use him as a distraction and then they'll sneak Hillary in where they want her. But I mean, people have to vote. You don't think, you think that's rigged? What about George Bush Jr. Yeah. They're going, the ordeal in Florida. His brother helped rig the election in Florida, supposedly. And then the popular vote didn't matter. Sure. So, I mean, they're all one party.

They're all they want to do is. But really, what do you think about Donald Trump running for president? Okay, yeah. How about this? I like watching the media squirm. Squirm? Squirm. What do you mean?

Because he's not playing the normal role. Sure. But do you think this is good that he's gaining so much attention and he's leading in most of the polls? Like, what does it say about America? He's gaining the attention, but the actual things going on in the world aren't getting the attention. So is it bad that he's distracting? I think.

I think we need somebody. Like, he's taking a lot of attention away. I'm not a full-on Bernie Sanders supporter, but like he's at least bringing up some things that are affecting people. What about Canada? That's a good place to live, right? Free health care. Not if you're an indigenous person. Okay, fair enough.

If you had your way, where would you live? I just, I want to live here. I want to live in America, but free. I want people to use technology and live on their own. I think we can do fine taking care of ourselves. I don't think we need Big Brother looking over our shoulders all the time. I think we should stick to the Constitution and keep government small and focus on our own small communities. Last thing, because we run out of time, unfortunately.

I like to talk to you about all the conspiracy. Screw MMA. I just want to talk to you about conspiracies. UFOs, Bigfoot. We haven't brought it up and I've made a promise to my audience to bring it up every single week. Nick Diaz. Surely you have a take on this. Absolutely.

I think it's just ridiculous. ridiculous of suspension, the scrutiny placed against anybody who's a cannabis user. I'm a cannabis medical marijuana activist and patient myself. Okay. I have been since the shoulder surgery in 2011. It's just nonsense. Read, read something. There's plenty of science out there over the last 20 years from the medical movement in California

and legalization in Colorado and other places. you can't find if you look for it really hard. It's hard to find a negative article that has any substantial scientific evidence saying there's anything bad with marijuana. Did you see that hearing the way they treated him? Yeah, it's a joke. It's ridiculous. This guy says Fifth Amendment and they use that against them.

Passes two of the tests, right? To the test, from Owada, proved... Yeah, it doesn't make any sense. It's unbelievable. It sounds like there's a conspiracy going on. You said it. But going back to... to my earlier point, how come more fighters...

But I'd like to say about Nick Diaz is he is honestly kind of a hero. Coming, anybody else, most people coming from the background in life that he came from to be as successful as he is. Come on. Like, that's applaudable.

Easily applaudable. I love the fact that all the fighters are rallying behind him, but is it enough? Is this a litmus test to what of a bigger picture? Like, everyone will agree that what was done to him was wrong. yet I don't feel like I see people being asked. I hope that it is clear evidence and a push from fighters to join the fighters' association.

Because this is a clear example of where the fighters association would step in and do something. You can look at NFL players association and what they just did with Tom Brady. He did something that the players, other players and coaches would probably be upset about, you know, deflating the ball or whatever. But they still stepped in and said, no, no, no, no, no. not suspending this guy, suspending this guy for four games. Well, the fighters association would be able to do the same thing. They would go to the commission and say, hey, no, but nobody in the fighter association

is going to do business in your state remove this absurd penalty. Will you not fight Nevada until they rectify this? You know what? Should I go on record and say that now? No, I'm not telling you, I'm just asking you. It's not, I'm not pressuring you to do anything. I would, I would consider that, not fighting in Nevada. Yeah.

I feel like you're having an epiphany right now. Yeah. I mean, I think... I mean, I know you live there. Well, because it's one of my things is I don't want to have other fighters just individually coming out and saying things. I want them to come together as a fighter association. No one fighter should have to be put out in front. Henry Sehudo said this.

I don't know if you saw that. Yeah, he did. Yeah, I saw that and there was another female fighter, I think. Yes, Leslie Smith. Leslie Smith, yes. And I support that, but I think it's stronger if they all. come together in the association and we send one representative saying we have 500 guys right here aren't fighting for you hopefully that's being done behind the scenes strength and numbers working on it yes

i wish you the best my friend this saturday from foxwoods in connecticut it's john fitch against yushinokami now one of the interesting fights on that card uh pits vinnie magal yesh versus matt hamill matt hamill and now we're going to have another inside the vault clip like we just did a few minutes ago. This is my interview with Matt Hamill at UFC 121. It was October of 2010. He just defeated Tito Ortiz. Remember that fight? Yeah. Were you there for Kane versus Brock? Yes, I was there. There you go. Lockroom interview with Matt Hamill. Yeah, so it was great. Game of a big scar. Unbelievable. So here it is. Interview with Matt Hamill following the biggest win of his career. And then we'll be back to answer your questions right here on the MMA hour. Thank you very much, Mr. John Fitch. Ariel Hawani post-fight at UFC 121 with Matt

Hamill who defeated Tito Ortiz tonight and Matt congratulations on the victory. A lot of people had sort of predicted that the fight would play out this way. Did you think it would play out this way? I just believe myself no matter what, you know, I love to be the honor's on the door because Tito, I mean he's making his name from himself, the five-time world champion. He's a former world champion but now it helps me boost my Korean. So I'm just happy I'm standing right now. Kind of a surprising since he's from this

area. He was booed heavily by the crowd. The crowd very much in favor of you. Were you surprised at how much they cheered for you and boot him? Oh, I didn't hear what people say booed, but you understand, the deaf community, I have so many people from California in Fremont. So it seems like they're like an equal in Teito's home state and they have a deaf fan. But they gave him all the Hamerstein. I don't know if you see them. Did you see them? Yeah, I started all. That got me more motivated. So I don't want to do. let people down, especially

in my family, especially from Yolika and Loveland in Ohio. So I'm just really happy. All the whole work is pale on. Yeah, there were actually a bunch of those signs all across the arena, so clearly they're very much in favor of you. Talk about just in the first round.

I actually scored it in favor of him. I thought he looked good, but then he seemed to get a little tired as the fight got on, and you really imposed your will. Is that how you saw playing out? I agree. I agree. He won the first round. I agree. Totally. But when my heart starts to warm up, you know. I've always, it's really weird.

I've always doing the second round and trying to finish the fight. But when death came up to my feet and I mean, he felt like I don't want you let them down, but he gave me all that, like, a class tank, man, you got to do you just just about watching.

Every movement when he's saying, I said, no problem. Lock on load, I'll be ready. So I make the movement, I just want to make a mistake. So I found it, broke his wheel. You know, it's like

a second and third round. I'm trying to finish fighting. Finally, I took him down. I haven't been doing a lot of ten down. But now I'm starting to get more comfortable with ten down. And I mean, I've tried to go with some mission, but I never go over

some mission, but I'm still trying. Your game is certainly evolving, and it almost seems as though since the Rich Franklin lost, you've become a lot more confident, and you continue to develop every single time we see you out there. What happened to you, mentally, and perhaps even physically

after that fight that gave you this confidence? Well, it's just not really easy. You know, I'm very friendly, and I'm just too late. And sometimes I have a hard time to get killed or anything, and I can't get a question. There's only two fathers in the world that I'm really close to, and then I'm funny to fight, and I can't be really question. But now I'm starting to learn my lesson,

and I don't want to make the same mistake against West Franklin. I've been filing I would have to worry about West Franklin and Tilo. The other fighters, I'm not really closer. So, I mean, the price is off my shoulder. So I didn't want to, you know, get everything out of the way, you know. So, I mean, it's really an honor to fight with the formal teachers. So I'm the only fighting with the former teachers, you know. And Tito is pretty good.

I mean, there's a lot of kids and trying to go to tang down, you know. But I have a good hit. And I have a good record background. And yeah, I have more tools on the table than Tito, you know, but I want to thank Tito for all the fights. So there's no question. He hasn't won since 2006. Do you think he's done?

Do you think he has a future in the UFC now after this loss? Yeah, but yeah, but you have understand. Tiel fought a lot of fighting is really close in the top 10 fighters. Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin. Machina, Machina, they're all really close fights. really really. We're trying to eat. Shot Evans. Yeah. I don't, I can pronounce it in there. It was a drawer.

It's draw. So I'm more than that, you know. So I'm going to go back home and you know, I can work on my mistake. I have a top-knock training. And just try to improve from my mistake. Of course, I make a lot of mistakes, you know. But I'm just going to more culpable, you know. But the bottom line, I just want to fight, you know, so I just want to, you know, ease my mind. Two final questions.

first, a little satisfying, considering some of the things that he said about you before the fight to beat him this way? Well, I don't know, but it did really bother me out on, you know, but I was hoping, yeah, I told me that it did affect through the deaf community, you know. But, I mean, if a lot of people make him fun of me when I was a kid, you know, it didn't really affect me at all, you know, because I look up to my grandfather, he's, he's done my stage just in Northern. I mean, I would have a temper problem or emotional problems, you know. But I would totally stay more trash to me instead of to the deaf community. But I mean, I understand that's his job. I think basically staying a lot of trash to the deaf community, you know. But the more I'm hearing, the more I'm starting my heart, I'm firing, you know.

You can't stay there. So let's bring on one-on-one, main to men. So I got to the business done. You proved your point tonight. Final question. Is there anyone you want next? Okay. I let the UFC take care of it right now.

I just want the phrase. But I know the next fight is not going to be really easy. So I'm just going to go back home. It's my birthday. So I want to celebrate. Happy birthday. Today? It was October 5th, but I have a celebrate.

But I didn't really training. You deserve it. Congratulations. Thank you. All right. Inside the Vault with Matt Hamill. He returns on Saturday. He is coming out of retirement. Last fought in October of 2013. So that's a familiar face on the World Series of Fighting Card. It airs live on NBCSN. Thank you very much to John Fitch and the WSOF guys for stopping by today. All right. Questions, comments. New York, Rick, are you there? I'm here. I'll start with a question for you. As I've been bringing this up, I'll show you. long. So Mazel Tov to you, you are getting, okay, I keep saying this. Yeah, I don't know what to call on here. Your wedding is this Saturday. That's right. Now, here's my big question. So today's my anniversary. Congratulations. Thank you very much. How many years is this?

Seven. I said at the top of the show, it'd be nice if you paid attention from time to time. Now, listen, what's your anniversary? Is it, is it October 17th or is it when you actually got married? Well, we'd have a few. So, oh, come on. Well, when we first got together Oh my gosh We're still going to celebrate that? Yeah, what do you mean?

Give it five years I've been together with my girl for 10 years No, I understand, but you can't go through all You've got to pick one anniversary and just stick to it Trust me on this It's a bit of piece of advice here, good advice, trust me I guess from this moment on This would probably be the anniversary, right?

This is the big ceremony, this is the big shebang But my wife will for sure have me remembering all three. Are we nervous? Are we excited? How are we feeling? I mean, I'm already married. So what's the nerves, you know? The nerves are gone. It's more just a celebration for friends and family. Now, why not do it in one shot? Why go the unconventional route here? Well, I mean, it was beneficial to get married first for timing reasons because I would get health insurance through my wife.

So that worked out well And I asked her You know, at the time And it just made sense to do it then And then the wedding was something she wanted to plan You know, she didn't know when she wanted to do it So it made sense for that Well, it's all very exciting

I wish you guys the best now Two other things I need to clear up Is it not true that you were in Denver This past weekend for Glory? It is true Well, you know, I left Saturday morning But the end of the week, yeah I mean, I'm

How old are you? I am 28. 28. Missing flights. I mean, what's going on here? What's the skinny? What do you mean missing flights? You missed your flight home?

No, no, no. Yes, that's the rumor. Who told you this? Please address it. Why did you miss your flight home? No, who told you this? I heard you were stranded for six hours. No.

False. Somebody fed you false information. Did you go to Supercuts? No, sports clips. How does someone, a week before their wedding, go, trust super cuts to cut their hair. Sport clips. Sounds even worse.

Don't. Don't you dare question the integrity. Was the barber wearing... Wait a minute. I have a beef here. Yes. Selfie. The word selfie.

That was a selfie. No, you have to take the picture yourself for it to be a selfie. The one of you getting your haircut? Not a selfie. Who took it? Professional photographer took that. B.S. On your Twitter?

Tim Kim, the man. Why is he all up in your face? It was a super close shot. He was taking care of business. You know, if you have the iPhone, the new iOS, which I don't like, it screwed up my phone, but there's actually a selfie album now that they've created. Did you see that? Yes, I did. Now, there are some pictures in there if you look that actually aren't selfies, but they're super close.

So I guess it just thinks that it was super close. Anything taken with the front camera is a selfie. Does it know that? Yeah. Well, it looked like a selfie to me, all right? Dang. Anyway. Dang, Tim.

Anyway, you gotta get at Ariel. He's questioning your photography sales. Was the barber wearing a name tag? Yes. That's a problem. I'm just gonna say before your wedding. I mean, thankfully it looks okay. I was not, uh, it's a bit of a problem.

You know, I was not gung-ho about it. I was a little hesitant when it was proposed. But you gotta look right in tight and the people at sports clips in Glendale took care of me. You know who gets his haircuts there? Who? One, George Carl. George Carl. Yeah.

He still lives. in Denver? Well, I imagine at one time he got his haircuts there. Apparently, he's a frequent patron. Okay, fair enough. Are we going to stick with the bun for the wedding? That's a good question. There we are, asking all the hard questions. I told my wife...

At least you appreciate my questions, unlike other people today. Oh, no, I love it. Okay. Throw the fastballs at me. My wife doesn't want me to, but I let her have the... We did essentially... what's it, what's it called, um,

what's it called when you propose, uh, the, the photos that you take beforehand. Uh, I don't know, the photos you take beforehand. I guess,

whatever the, so we took photos after, you know, we were already married, but we took photos in, in anticipation of the wedding. And, uh,

I didn't have my hair in the, in the, in the, in the top knot at that point. No, no, no, this was, you know,

earlier this year, August maybe. Okay. Um, so the compromises, I told her I'm going to do, I'm going to do, I'm going to have my top knot for the,

for the wedding. Oh, wow. And now she's saying, but our kids are going to see it. Yeah, you're definitely going to regret this in like 10 years. I'm like,

let our kids see all its glory. All right. Good luck to you with that. Thank you. Now let's answer some questions. Okay, let's start with Twitter. We got one question from Twitter today and then we're jumping to the website.

Okay. Should the UFC immediately book favor against Dilleshaw Cruz if he defeats signs in December? Should the UFC? Oh, engagement photos. Thank you, Bill Steinmetz. you go.

Always count on him. Should the U. whoa, I lost it. What was it again? Should the UFC book Dilleshaw Faber right away. Regardless of what happens in the Cruz fight?

Yeah. Yeah, 100%. Oh, yeah, of course. That's the money fight. I mean, look, if, if, if TJ beats Cruz and Faber wins against Frankie Sions, is there anyone, I guess there's the half-fell Sunsouth fight,

but what's going to make them more money? And also Faber versus Cruz is also a fight people would want to see. You're right, Faber, this guy, I love when people tell you. I know you get... I hate it. For Bisping and Faber. Oh, yeah, Josh Donaldson hit a first remaining home run. My man, bringer of rain.

Okay, I'm sorry. Now, I feel like this is the least MMA show we've ever done. What are you talking? By the way, someone keeps calling me from an unknown number. Literally. We went into conspiracy theories at the end with John Fitch. Well, I mean, I had to go down. Talking about my wedding.

Now we're going into baseball, right? I'm sorry. Is that baseball? I don't even know. You don't know about bringing a brain MVP? Come on. I could not care less about baseball. You got, well, you're missing out.

You got to book that fight. I mean, look at it. Look at where it's at now. And just think about where it's going to be in eight months. It's a money fight. And listening to TJ today, you think he doesn't want that fight? What's great is TJ set himself up against a bunch of of people at Team Alpha male.

He could fight all of them. Cody Garbrand, licking his lips. And I will say this about T.J. Dillishaw. I feel like he's handling the situation, at least publicly. Man, should I just answer the phone? I've literally had eight times... Please answer it on air. Let's hear it. Let's do it.

Hello? Hello? I think it's that same guy who... Hello? His number you had for Joe Duffy. Yeah. That's very annoying. Can you stop calling me?

T.J., I think he's handling a very tough situation as well as can be. And look, I'm just having... happy that they're just saying how they feel. It's awkward. It's, it's probably going to get even more awkward. There's no escaping this thing. And you could see the animosity there with Dwayne and obviously, Uriah has his issues. Even Cody, you could tell, is sort of licking his lips again. Stop it. I'm just, I'm just going to, I'm just going to close my phone. It's inevitable. If it doesn't happen in 2050, now, now, if Uriah loses, I think it might be tough, don't you think? You can't make the fight, right? For sure you can. For sure.

Sure you can. All right. Uriah Fahe, I mean, he just lost. Did he lose? Like, I don't feel like Uriah Fabor has any ranking or status to really keep intact. He really just, at this point, it's just fights we want to see Uriah Fabor in, and that's one of them, for sure. Yeah. I don't think, I thought, I think if he goes on a three-fight losing streak, you could still sell this.

The heat will be there. They are most certainly, uh, they are, they are, they are, they are, most certainly, they're happy. They're happy over there at Zufa. It's a red panty night, as one might say. Yes. Oh, gosh.

All right, what else we got? Next question. How important, this is we're moving over to the website, how important is it for an MMA gym to have a UFC champion? With all the talk of T.J. leaving team Alpha Mail, in your opinion, why is it a big deal having a champ train at your gym? Is that an important thing? Um, I don't know.

I mean, does that, does that affect, is that affected by the fact that Alpha Mail had so many guys who couldn't finally make that climb, and now the one who did is gone. You know, that's maybe a question for them. I think this is a very unique situation. I truly feel like those guys are not jealous guys at all. Like, I don't think this had anything to do with TJ getting the UFC belt first. And this, I mean, have you ever spent some time? I just listen to your eye.

He doesn't feel like a jealous guy at eye, and I would try to bring this out in him. Like, really, is it possible that you're not jealous in the slightest? Chad Mendes as well, Joseph Benavides as well. all those guys. I really think this had, you know, had everything to do with two sides. There was the Dwayne's side. There was the Uriah's side. And T.J. felt like Dwayne got him to this point, molded him into the fighter that he is today. And he had to make that decision. Oh, and by the way, I'm also going to get paid to train over there and I'm going to be the top dog over there. I think he wanted to try to continue doing both. And I 100% understand why Uriah said that's just not going to be possible,

especially, especially when, you know, you have these 135ers there. You have at least, you have at least, people send me tweets 3-0 Blue Jays, baby. Yes. You have, you know, you have these guys like Cody Garbrand in your eye favor. It can't happen. You can understand that. Oh, and by the way, a guy who has a reputation of being a bit of a hothead and, oh, Chris Holdsworth as well, you can't, it was never going to happen. It was.

Benavides could go back up. Yeah, it was idealistic. John Dodson, who should welcome him back to the 135-pound division? If Dodson wins whatever fight they do give him in devastating fashion, do you think the USC should throw him in a title match with TJ, assuming TJ gets past Cruz? So what would you rather see, Dodson or Faber? Can I just say one thing right off the bat?

I feel like 135 in the blink of an eye has become so interesting, right? I mean, remember like... Absolutely, we thought Henan Burow had it on lock for quite a while. Dillishaw, Dotson, Faber's still there, Cody's there, Cruz is there, Asunsao's coming back, Al Jermaine Sterling, Caraway is always somewhat of a lightning rod, Johnny Eduardo is coming back, I feel like I'm missing. And let's not forget that Hennebrow has only lost to TJ. He's going up to 145. Oh, that's right.

That's right. Whoops. So I feel like we need to figure out this whole alpha male thing, and then Dotson is there. but let him fight once or twice and build them up. I don't hate Dotson Garbrant. I think they'll probably do Garbrent-Linnaker. I mean, if both guys want it, why not do it? But Dotson... I think Dotson, if he keeps beating the right drum.

Yeah. The bigger story out of Dotson is he recognized that he's in purgatory at 125, so he's not going to get a townshund anytime soon, and he already beat the champ. If he didn't move up after the loss of DJ, it would have been incredibly dumb. This makes all the sense in the world.

A brilliant decision by him and his manager. Brendan Schaub has Big Brown, that's his nickname, quit at the right time. Was he realistically ever going to crack the top 15? Love the show. Keep Up the Great Work, Wes. I don't know about that. And honestly, I don't know if that had anything to do with his reasoning. He said on the Joe Rogan podcast on Friday night that it was about, you know, his, his, his, uh, rising podcast career, entertainment opportunities.

I believe he's filming a pilot, he said, and also the Reebok deal, which he's been quite open about. But I'm happy you brought up my good pal, Brandon Shaw, because it was last week during this show that people kept telling me that him and his co-host, Brian Callan, were talking about me, as the kids say, they were throwing shade on my reputation. And someone, a few days later, actually sent me the little, clip of them talking on the podcast with Dwayne Ludwig. And actually on my way home on Monday,

I sent Brendan a text saying, you know, thanks for the plug today. Thanks for talking about me with the smiley face. And he was like, oh, it was total misunderstanding. You know, people were trying to make it out to be a big deal. And I was like, cool, man, I'm a big fan of you guys, a big fan of what you've been doing as of late, you know, all the best. No, no hard feelings, certainly here. Then someone sent me the clip. And as I texted him, after hearing the clip, I was very disappointed in what both of them had to say. For Brendan to say that the reason I had your eye on and not Dwayne on was because I'm somewhat of a UFC shill, or I favor the UFC is absolutely ludicrous. What does this have to do with the UFC versus anyone?

Dana White has gone on the record multiple times in saying that he is a big fan of Dwayne Ludwig. Dwayne Ludwig was a big part of the UFC and retired as a UFC fighter. Dana White even, I remember, sort of endorsed Dwayne Ludwig as coach of the year before he won it the first time. So I don't really see how this can be a UFC issue. I expect that line of thinking from one of the dummies on Twitter. I don't expect it from two very talented and professional guys on a very popular podcast. And Dwayne coach is a UFC champion who he appears to have a good relationship as well. So why would I favor?

In fact, I feel like he has had a lesser good relationship with Uriah than he's had with those guys. So I don't see where the connection comes from. And then for Brian to keep hammering this point that, you know, I'm not being a good journalist after saying repeatedly that he didn't hear the interview and wasn't quite sure what was going on. I know he's not trying to be a journalist, but it just felt, I don't know, it felt very disappointing to hear two guys on a Fox show, no less, try to, you know, kick me in the balls like that. And I said that to Brendan, you know, I know you're not a journalist. I know this stuff may not mean as much to you, but this is my reputation. this is my livelihood. This is how I make, you know,

if people don't believe me and trust me, I'm in a bad spot. So for you guys to just carelessly throw this round, oh, and by the way, he said that, you know, Dwayne, as he said on the show, that I was big-timing him or brushing him off,

and that's, you know, the side that they were going with. Well, let's practice what we preach and ask me from my side of the story. Again, one last time, and I'll never talk about this again. Dwayne did an interview with Fox. Yariah wanted to respond.

He came on this show. Dwayne didn't like what Yariah said. We called him. them up, did an article about it, and I guess he didn't like that article too. How many times we're going to go back and forth? I said, I'll call you right now. I'll have someone call you right now before we even leave the studio to get your side out. And then we could, you know, move on from this. How many times we're going to go back and forth? He didn't like the article wanted to come on. I said, look, we have 299 and 300 coming up. When this gets out of the way,

when these shows are done, I will have you on 301. You have my word. That's on text. And apparently that was blowing him off. So again, I'll apologize for that again, but I was disappointed. And Brendan, for the record, said that Brian apologized. And I said, apology accepted. It was a slip of the tongue, whatever. But when I heard it, I was hurt by what they said about me. Right time to step away for Shab? Based on the, you know, podcasting stuff that he's doing and all these other things. I think it's a good idea. At this point, I mean, if you're passionate about that stuff more so than fighting and training, I think he expressed himself very well on that podcast with Joe. I think he, it's very, you have this new venture,

this new life, these new opportunities, it's exciting. Why not try to tackle that? And if the MMA stuff is still there and that's still, you know, fire that is burning and all this stuff kind of goes away, then yeah, go for it. But if you can make more money doing that stuff and you're excited about it and more passionate about it rather than getting punched in the head, then yeah, it's the right time. For sure. Oh, part of the pun. Next for Hendrix. What do you think the next move for Johnny Hendricks should be? Do you believe he can resolve his weight issues and reliably make one 70 or would you prefer to see him make a move to middle weight? Again, it's weird for us to say when we want a guy to move or not, but he's putting

his body through a lot of trauma. And I'd like to see him hook up with, if it's not Dolce, if that ended poorly, I'd like to see him hook up with a George Lockhart or one of the trained nutritionists out there because I don't know if I feel comfortable with him doing it on his own. It would be good maybe if he gets like a 185 sort of tune up fight to get back in there and then can go back down sort of like Kelvin Gaslam. He doesn't, I get why he doesn't want to do that, but what's, you know, I don't know, what's worse? Those 185ers are pretty big, though.

They are big. Dolce outlined it pretty well, I think, when we had him on the show. And it seemed like Johnny was open to working with a nutritionist again. So I'd like to see him stay at 170. I just think he has to be a little smarter about his cut, which this is probably a big wake-up call for that. Let's not forget, not that long ago, Johnny Hendricks was on top of the world, and a lot of people, including myself, thought he beat George St. Pierre, the greatest of all time in that weight class and arguably ever. So he's not far off. He just needs to figure it out.

And I think the main thing for him is, don't get so big in the quote-unquote off season. You have to have some discipline. You look at other guys. I see what some of these other guys are eating in. It's commendable, just how discipline they are. He has to be that discipline himself. What are your thoughts on the building feud between Nick Lens and BJ Penn? Did you hear Lentz's poem slash promo on Shale's podcast last week?

Any interest in seeing BJ return, or do you agree he should stay retired? And that covers everything. I don't want to see BJ Penn fight again. You're the biggest BJ Penn fan out there. Do you echo my sentiments? Don't want to see it. Don't want to see him. I don't want to see him in this sort of.

grudge match. And, you know, my colleague, Chuck Mindenhall, wrote a fantastic piece about Douglas Crosby. That's right. It was posted on M.AFundee.com, this really interesting piece about the mind of this man. And I thought he did another incredible job. He touches on, you know, the relationship between Doug and Chale and other people. I think saying that Nick wrote that poem is inaccurate if you catch my drift. but that's the way I feel about the matter. I like... Uh-oh, conspiracy theories.

Let's get John Fitchback. By the way, I like... I'm a fan of build-up. I'm a fan of all that stuff, but it has to feel real. It has to feel authentic. That's not Nick Lentz. When Nick Lentz showed up to that fight

in Sacramento, where the bow-tie and just looked a little different and said a little different things, that was perfect. I don't need to see Nick Lentz doing poems and things of that nature. That's not who you are. And I don't want to see BJ Penn fight again. So count me out of all this.

Well, kudos to whoever wrote it. I thought it was entertaining. It was pretty funny. Was it? I thought it was okay. As a BJ Penn fan, you're going to admit that? Look, I mean, I'm going to be unbiased here. I thought he did a good...

If you were going to take digs at BJ Penn, those were the digs to take, for sure. UFC 193 was... By the way, BJ Penn is a freaking legend. Well, I mean, we're not comparing careers here. No, I know, I'm just saying... At this moment, with that poetry... No, BJ Penn, no one should be digging at BJ Pen as well. No, BJ Penn is nothing to prove.

That's why he shouldn't fight Nicklens. But how about some respect for the legends of yesterday year? You're trying to sell a fight, no respect for anybody. UFC 199. What was your initial reaction to the full UFC193 promo? Better than USC 189's Las Vegas promo. We didn't have a chance to talk about this promo last week. We didn't have a chance to talk about this.

I think I watched this promo every night before I go to bed. This promo is without a doubt if you are one of the unlucky ones who has not seen the UFC 199 promo just yet, you're missing out. It was amazing. It really exemplified why the Ronda Rousey experience has been so special, because when did we ever think we can highlight this kind of journey from two completely different athletes with different backstories for an upcoming UFC mixed martial arts fight?

It was inspiring, it was emotional, it got me even more interested in the fight. I mean, it was just, it was great. It just hit on all the right nerves. The way they released it via Ellen's Twitter was brilliant. And then everyone's belly aching, bitching that there's not, you know, both sides of the story. And then, of course, the next day they come out with the Holly Home version. I thought it was great. Do you not agree?

I do agree. Great promo. Fantastic stuff. And Rhonda's mom was in it and her sister was in it. That's right. Which made it even cooler, in my opinion. I just think they've gotten into kind of a rut with the same style promo. And this was a nice change of pace.

Please, no more yelling. No more same cookie cutter stuff. I know all the events can't have this. sort of, they can't get this tree. I mean, it's very expensive. Can you imagine how much money they put into that particular promo must be incredible. They did it at Eddie had the part where they're in the

octagon with the fake Herb Dean. Very expensive, but it feels cool like the Josealdo one, which was fantastic with Connor, when they up their game and put on something like this. Just so beautiful. Something that I would show to anyone, including, I mean, I showed my

wife, my mom, amazing. Does anyone really care about Nick Diaz or is it just lip service? Is everybody blowing smoke? It's very clear, quote unquote, we the people don't care about Nick Diaz and the problems he brought upon himself. Only two days left and still 22,647 signature short, even Cher tweeting to her millions of followers didn't get it done.

Do people truly care about this? I wonder how many of those followers actually clicked on it because, I mean, it's not the audience. I'd also argue that falling 22,674 short is. you know, disappointing, but alternatively, you know, over 70,000 people have signed this

already for Nick Diaz, which is incredible. Let's focus on the positives here. Okay, point number one. Nick Diaz is one of the most popular fighters in MMA history. The bond that he has with his fan base, as does his brother, Nate, is second to none.

He has an incredibly loyal fan base. These people will watch, support him, stick up for him no matter what, they continue to do so. So, yes, people care about Nick Diaz. That being said, as I've said on this show, this has nothing to do with Nick Diaz at this point. This has everything to do with John Fitch and Henry Sehudo

and Ronda Rousey and Travis Brown and Matt Mitreone and Al Jermaine Sterling. This has to do with a commission abusing its power. And who's the next fighter that they're going to do this to? What's his name? What's her name? This has become much bigger than Nick Diaz. And if anyone, and I see some people still saying like, oh, Nick did this himself, what did he do to himself? A, he has a medical marijuana license.

B, in my opinion, he didn't break any rules because he passed two tests from the wide-out credited labs, failed one from the non-wide out credit labs. So there's a sliver, even more so than a sliver of doubt out there. And C, they can't even prove when he smoked marijuana or anything like that. Maybe it was in California when it was legal for him to do so. So, I mean, just the whole thing with the Fifth Amendment and their behavior and what they were saying in the hearing was just, it still gets me all riled up. It still bothers me. And we won't stop.

So it really has nothing to do with naked. You could have put anyone in there. You could have put, you know, my least favorite fighter. I can't even think of who it is in that seat. And I'd feel the same way. Abuse of power is abuse of power. No due process is no due process. This is wrong.

So I can't speak for everyone, but this is why I feel so strongly about it. Speaking of the fallout and how it might affect other fighters, what do you expect the outcome to be from Vanderle-Solva's rehearing with the NSAC, which is due to take place at the end of the month? Do you think the backlash the NSA has received over the Nick Diaz situation is likely to influence the outcome of the hearing in any way, perhaps resulting in a more lenient punishment for Vanderle? Well, this is a very interesting development because it could give us some insight

into how they're going to deal with this whole situation. You know what I mean? I mean, it really could tell us, is Nevada capable of saying, you know what, upon further judgment, we messed up? And we're willing to admit that. Well, yeah. If they were willing to do that, they'd rescind his suspension and alter it. Who are we talking about? Nick Diaz.

No, I'm talking about the Vanderly thing could be a very interesting litmus test because I believe that will be resolved before the Nick Diaz situation will be resolved. So if they're willing to say, we're willing to look at this again and, you know, maybe we jump to gun. maybe we were too aggressive. I mean, look, Van der Le Silva was given a lifetime ban, and he ran away, yes. But, A, he wasn't a licensed fighter, so he was under no obligation to take that test. And B, he never actually failed a test. Now, the guy who failed to test was Chal Sondon, and he was given a two-year ban, right? So how do you justify the lifetime? You can't. You could justify a punishment, but to take away the man's livelihood, which is essentially what they're doing, doing to Nick Diaz? Yeah, five year, but I mean, by the time he comes back, it's going to be almost

40 years old. So if they relent and they look at the facts and say, all right, we were wrong. You deserve two years or whatever. That could give us some insight into what they're going to do with Nick Diaz if it goes back to them in the near future. Well, what I'm saying is if they actually felt that way, they could do it for Nick Diaz now. Why wait until after the Van der Leyen situation? If that's the way they were leaning now, they could rescind it and then give him a new suspension. Yeah, but they have to have the hearing again. They couldn't call a hearing. They usually go, you know, based on when it's scheduled.

They're not going to get up in the morning just to address this. Okay, last one from the website. We got to promote this on FightPass. We've got to get their airtime. Get the haircuts, some makeup, you know. Sports clips, Glendale, Colorado. Yeah, I believe marijuana is legal over there. And by the way, this coming from a guy who, you know, is no marijuana smoker.

Sure. Far from it. With Ronda's movie about her life coming out, which fighter would you like to see have a biopic movie in the future? Oh, my. Wait, before we go on, do you call it biopic or biopic? I think it's a biopic. I call it biopic, but I've heard it both ways, so I just was curious.

Biopic sounds like some strange disease or like a thing. Or a medical treatment of some sort. Man, putting me on the spot here at the three hour and 45 minute mark or 50 minutes. Whose life story do you want to see in M. I mean, there's so many. I mean, obviously, I mean, the obvious ones, like Connor has a great backstory. a gosh, I mean, Wiedman has a great backstory with Hurricane Sandy. Wouldn't be surprised something happens there.

Nick Lince. Actually, Nick Lentz does have a really great backstory. Chuck Mindenhall. Chuck Mindenhall. Hmm. Sage Northcutt. I feel like Sage Northcutt has accomplished enough in his career to where it's time to... I think they put out that.

It was the clip of him doing a flip. Was it a Vind? vine? Yeah, it was the vine of him doing a flip. That was his... I just love that guy. He's incredible. His energy. His energy is just unbelievable. And the fact that he keeps calling everyone Mr. Dean, Mr. White, I mean, that takes a lot of concentration. Very impressive. Very impressed. All right, wait. Oh, yes. We're going to give you some odds. First of all, you asked about the main event. So I'm going to give you... Actually, let's save it, right? We're still a little ways out. No, no, no, no. You want to do it? Just say, yeah, because I asked about it. Okay, so main event, who's the favorite?

Wait, we're talking about Ireland? Yeah. I thought you were asking about Fitchin Okami. Weren't you asking about... Yes, I'm kidding. That's a good question. Joseph Duffy against Dustin Porey... Porey?

Joseph Duffy is a big favorite. Really? Minus 245, Poree plus 205. Wow. I think essentially what's happening here is they feel like the book is a little bit written on Dustin Poree, which I would tend to disagree with. Wow. But I guess by MMA Math,

Joseph Duffy beat Connor McGregor who beat Dustin Porey, so got to go with Irish Joe Duffy. Wow. That surprises me, no? That surprises me. Yeah. I thought, if not the favorite, he'd be a little bit closer, Dustin Porey.

What about Rothwell Miotich? That's the question for you. Oh, because you saw it already? I've seen them all. Miochich. Yeah, big favorite. Minas 335, Rothwell plus 275. How about the returning Reza Madati versus Norman Park?

Park. Yeah. Minus 280 for Park plus 240 for Reza. Darren Till versus Nicholas Dalby. Till. Slight underdog plus 115, Dalby minus 135. Really close fight. Okay, let's save the rest for next week.

Let's do that. Perfect. We'll leave off with Patty Hulah. Patti. Give me Patty. You want one more? Yeah, yeah. My man, Pahy Hulah.

Luis Smolka. Oh, yes. This is a grudge match. Remember? Remember he asked for him after Scotland? Who is it? I got to go with the hooligan. Another super, super, super razor close one.

Smolka, very minor favorite, minus 120. Oh. Hulahan. Wow. Sadly, I will not be in Dublin. I'm sorry, but I know a lot of people asking me and want to be there. I'd like to be there as well. But you know what?

Can't always get what you want. I don't think the odds for WSOF are out yet, but I imagine they will be sometime this week. Let's get some Rick's picks before. wedding, all right? For what fight? For WSOF? Well, there's no odds.

What am I supposed to... No, when they come out. Oh, on Twitter? Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe we'll watch for my wedding. But your wedding's during the day. Yeah, that's okay.

We can set up the party. I'm not staying there about it. It's not going to crazy. All right, we're done. That's it. Yes. Again, Mazatov to you and your lovely wife on your wedding this Saturday. And again, happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians for

nothing Blue Jays, I was just told, this is going to be a great day, my friends. You can hit my music. What a show, huh? What a show. Yes. You're feeling good. Episode 301. They said we couldn't top 300. We come back with 301 with the one-two. If you don't know, now you know. Often imitated, never duplicated. There is only one mixed martial arts hour. Recognize. Now, at 1240 we spoke to T. J. Dilshaw. That was a very long time ago. By now, he's probably already in Colorado. He's probably already found a house, a mortgage. It's already cut his lawn. But I thank him for coming on. Insightful stuff. Appreciate it greatly. Thank you very much to Dwayne Ludwig. Appreciate his time as well. Hopefully all is well between Mr. Ludwig and I. Thank you very much to Johnny Hendrix.

Always a pleasure talking to him. Thank you for clearing the air. Speaking of which, thank you very much to Travis Brown as well. Best of luck to him in January. Super Sage Northcut. A breath of fresh air. It's just fun saying that name. Super Sage Northcut. Good luck to him in Montreal. I'm sure you'll hear from him again in the very near future. Joseph Duffy, good luck to him as he faces Dustin Poirier in less than two weeks. Can't wait for that. UFC Fight Pass. Should be a lot of fun. Oh, Cody Garbrandt, good luck to him. Thank you very much for his time. And John Fitch gave me these signed gloves. World Series of Fighting the Gloves. I'm going to give it to one of you if you play your cards right. Thank you very much for stopping by.

Good luck on Saturday. I actually have two sign gloves, so you can start begging from now. All right, we're done. If you missed anything, check it out iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, all that good stuff with more SoundCloud. We'll see you next week. Until they, say, peace. Saadia. Support for this show comes from Figma.

Figma is the place where teams turn ideas into the world's best digital products. And now, Figma is introducing a faster way to make those ideas. as real with Figma Make. It's an AI-powered prompt decode tool that turns your ideas or your Figma designs into interactive code-backed prototypes in minutes. And because it's all in Figma, you can use your team's existing design building blocks, making it easy to create outputs that look good, feel real, and represent your brand. Whether you're a designer, product thinker, or founder, Figma Make helps you go from concept

to something real, fast. Figma Make, a prompt to code tool for making ideas real. Try it now at figma.com slash make. That's FIGMA.com slash M-A-K-E. Support for this show comes from Volkswagen. As the U.S. gets ready to host soccer's biggest moment on a worldwide stage, Volkswagen is helping people discover new turfs and new ways to play the beautiful game right here in the U.S. From deaf and power wheelchair soccer to beach and futsal, Volkswagen is actively supporting all the communities and teams within the U.S. soccer ecosystem.

They're supporting talent from across the U.S. soccer extended national teams and are focused on helping to give these less widely known forms of soccer a platform moving forward. From the pitch to the sand and everything in between, welcome to our turf.