MMA Fighting - The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani - Episode 344

Episode Date: August 22, 2016

Ariel Helwani speaks to Peter Carroll (00:07:44), Leslie Smith (00:27:56), Tony Ferguson (01:05:17), Cody Garbrandt (01:24:50), Mike Perry (01:46:57), Dillon Danis (02:01:09), NewYorkRic to take your questions (02:28:42 & 03:43:37), Andre Pederneiras (02:47:11), and John Kavanagh (03:02:59). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the Downloaded 2, 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 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-U for free at O-D-O-D-com. That's O-D-O-O-O-O-O-com. It's the Mixed Martial Arts Hour with a mixed martial arts hour back in your life. On this Monday, August 22nd, 2016.

Hello good, everyone. I'm Mario Hawani back inside our New York City studio, a mere 36 hours removed from one of the most riveting, one of the most captivating fights in UFC history. Wow. What a night. Saturday night, Connor McGregor and Nathan Diaz fought for the second. time. By now you know, Connor McGregor defeated Nathan Diaz via majority decision. Two judges had it 48 to 47,

three rounds to two. One judge had it 47, 47, thus a majority decision. And you know what really struck me after that fight? The big takeaway for me, on top of it being such a great fight, memorable fight, one of the best fights of the year, et cetera, et cetera. To me, what I kept thinking about was from the get-go, from the moment this feud started, these two have exceeded our expectations. It's really amazing. Every step of the way they have been able to exceed our expectations. Think back to December.

Who expected Nate Diaz to look the way he did against Michael Johnson? Who expected him to sound the way he did in that post-fight interview to really kickstart this feud? Who expected Nate Diaz to step up on 11 days' notice after Hafeo dos Santos, who's really the big loser this year, losing out on that fight against Connor, then losing the belt. I mean, that's just a whole different topic for a different day. But who expected Diaz to step up on 11 days' notice to fight Connor McGregor at 196? Who expected that first press conference seen by millions of people literally to turn out the way it did, the back and forth between him?

Who expected Connor McGregor to punch Nate Diaz's hand the second time they faced off? in Las Vegas back in March. Who expected Connor McGregor to win the first round in their first fight and then get submitted in the second round? Who expected the UFC to book the rematch at UFC 200? Everyone bemoaned that idea. Who expected Connor to get pulled from UFC 200? Who expected Nate Diaz to sit up there next to an empty chair and side with Connor

McGregor and not the UFC refused to take a fight at UFC 200 and say, no, no, no, I'm going to wait for him to come back. Right? And then here we were last week, this time last week, wondering out loud if they can recreate the magic, if they can surpass the magic of the first fight. Who expected bottles to be thrown, cans to be thrown? Who expected the press conference to start without Connor McGregor on Wednesday? And then we were wondering, we were afraid, are the Irish going to show up?

Is it going to feel like a big deal? they did, it was a bigger deal. Who expected that five-round fight on Saturday? And then the best part about the whole thing is the aftermath continually. Look, historically, when it comes to movies, the sequel is never better than the original. And then if you do pull off a great sequel, I think of, you know, back to the future too. The third, the third installment is a total dud, and it feels like now you're just on borrowed time. you're trying to squeeze one out there just to make money.

The third fight now feels like it's way more anticipated than the first two. The cliffhangers that were left. Connor coming out saying surprise, surprise, mother Fers, the king is back. I mean, what a line that is. And then Nate coming on the mic and saying, I'm too real for this sport and I'm not doing anything until I get a third crack. Connor saying we can do it at 155. And then his final statement at the press conferences, I have a feeling that,

that shit is about to hit the fan. And then he walks off. What is he talking about? I mean, you talk about a cliffhanger and keeping us engaged, keeping us on our toes, Nate Diaz smoking weed or cannabinous, soil, whatever the heck it's called, at the press conference. This stuff is just, this is on a whole other level. And I've talked often on this program and other programs, how this is a feud that we will be talking about for years and years to come, decades to come, how they can write a book

on the last few months between these two. who expected this? Who expected it? We thought that we'd be sort of, you know, moving on after Saturday night. Yeah, it was a nice little feud. Now it's time to get back to, you know, the serious real business. And now here we are salivating at the idea of these two fighting each other again. It's unbelievable stuff. It really is. The feud of the year, the rivalry of the year, the fights of the year, I mean, what more can be said about these two? And if we want to continue to compare 202 to 200, is there any argument? in at this point, is there any discussion, which was the better card? 200 felt like they were trying to shoehorn greatness.

202, while it took some hits, especially on the main card, was authentic, was real, was everything that we love about MMA, was people recognizing that they're fighting on a very big stage and rising to that occasion. Rumble Johnson knocking out Glover Tashara and his tooth in 13 seconds. Cowboy Soroni, putting together one of the best combos I've ever seen. finishing the durable Rick story, Mike Perry, on very short notice, defeating Hengu Lim in the first round. Tim Means with a much-needed victory over Saba Homasi.

How about Cody Garbrand finishing Tkemi Zugaki in a shorter amount of time than his now rival, Dominic Cruz. And on and on we go, what a night in Las Vegas. Can't wait to talk about it. Break it all down on this show. This is one of those shows that you look forward to. That was one of those nights that you look forward to as a fan, as a journalist, as an MMA enthusiast.

Amazing stuff. Okay, let me run down this week's show, and then let's get to our first guest. Of course, tradition has always been pre-fight chat with John Kavanaugh, post-fight chat with John Kavanaugh. In March, he stuck to his word. He came on post-fight despite the loss.

He told us, win or learn. We're either winning or we're learning. They lost that night, but they ended up learning because what a great game plan they put together for Nick Diaz. Excuse me, Nate Diaz. those like kicks, unbelievable. And how about Nick Diaz, a story in his own right on

the weekend? I mean, this is a guy who was barred from the building, who shows up at the press, I mean, it was just unbelievable stuff. So John Cavanel joined us at around 4 o'clock. 345, Andre Pettanaris, head coach over at Novunia. Of course, a very interested observer on Saturday. His guy, Jose Aldo wants another crack at Connor McGregor. 305 will take your questions and comments. 245, the aforementioned, Mike Perry will stop by to talk about his debut win. 225, Cody Garbrandt will stop by to talk about his big win over to Kay Muzugaki. What's next for him?

Tony Ferguson will stop by at 205 to talk about his fight against RDA in November, lightweight division. We'll talk a little Connor, Nate, all that stuff and more. 145. Dylan Danis, the Marcello Garcia, BJJ Black Belt, who was in Connor's Corner on Saturday night, who I think played a big part in the victory. Did you see that takedown defense? impressive stuff.

Dylan Dennis will stop by at 145. 125, Leslie Smith will stop by. She had a very busy week. Of course, we'll talk to her also about her guy, Nate Diaz, unions, all that good stuff and more. Can't wait for this lineup. But first, let us go to the Skype Machine and welcome in one of the most prolific writers

to come out of Ireland. And this guy, I mean, you talk about prolific, he works for 48 outlets. It's unbelievable. He is omnipresent. SevereMMA.com. news talk Irish mirror Fightland

Flow combat Daily Mail Talking Brawl's podcast What the heck What's the crack Peter Carroll How are you my friend How's it going on man

What's up I just got off that plane I'm telling you It was like a film Trying to get back To this place To get under this thing I'm telling you

How are you feeling You dad had to pick me up I'm telling you It was like the transporter Are you sweating? Are you tired? I am sweating I literally just just

jumped out of the shower and jumped on the Skype, so I smelled atrocious. That was like 24 hours of travel. I appreciate you taking a shower. You didn't have to, by the way. We can't smell you, but I appreciate the idea. Yeah, I know. You see, I'm not that technically advanced, so, you know what I mean? I just figured I better do it in case. Okay, so you came back from Las Vegas. You're safe and sound. You're finally back home. What a weekend, what a night. Let me ask you, you know, I said at the top, it exceeded my expectations. Did that fight exceed your expectations? did you ever think that they'd be able to top the first fight and put on a classic like they did on Saturday? No, I really didn't.

And I mean, the whole week kind of went far beyond my expectations. I can remember just on Wednesday before the press conference started, I was talking to Sean Al-Shady, and it was like, it just doesn't feel right. And then all hell breaks loose. I'm like, oh, yeah. So that was like the footnote of every preview then up until Saturday was this crazy scene at the press conference. But the fight itself was absolutely brilliant. It was absolutely amazing.

It was so dizzying that at the end of the fight, when it finished, I had to start looking back to my notes to figure out who I thought had won the fight. You know what I mean? It was that crazy. So who'd you scored for? I'd scored it for Connor. One, round one, round two, and round four for Connor. And I think two is the one that's really causing a lot of the debate.

I think it's because the two big moments for each fight I came. at the opposite ends of the round. So Connor knocked down Nate twice in the first minute of that round. And then at the end, Nate pulls off this massive surge. And that was a real momentum shift at the end of that round. Because Nate then went through the tour and it nearly felt like he was going to finish that fight. We saw John McCarthy kind of just zeroing in them. There was Irish fans holding their hands in their heads, their heads in their hands.

It was just, it was crazy. And then, you know, I think the big thing that I want, the fans of the Conor and the Irish people wanted to see was could he come back from adversity

because in the last fight that was the first time I've ever seen him hurt and I mean six years watching him fight six or seven years I've never even seen him hurt slightly

and then back in March as soon he was hurt he was taken down and he was finished so for this for him to come out in the fourth and back Diaz up just when he looked

like he was on the brink of being finished absolutely unbelievable he can come back from adversity you know we learn so much I mean, he can go five rounds. A lot of people didn't think he was going to be able to go five rounds.

And the composure he showed was massive because Diaz was trying to get into his head. He was slapping him. He was talking to him. And this is the first time he saw Connor not get involved. Even at the stair down, you could tell this is, he's not going to get, he's trying his best not to get involved in this. And I think at one stage I heard John Kavana saying to him just before he went back in, Diaz is overshaping in the corner trying to get a raise out. And he's like, don't, don't, don't.

Look at me. You know, like, just, like, don't point into this because, we know, Connor, Connor is a good talker as well. So, I mean, I think they thought if he got bought into that kind of stuff and just their thrown hands, it could go bad for him. And the leg kicks, obviously, were unbelievable as well. I was just about to ask you about those kicks. It was funny hearing him talk about the kicks in the press conference.

He was like, these bloody, like it. Because he said, and you would know better than anyone, you've been watching him for so long, he said he may be through three or four or five in his entire career. first two rounds, big part of his success, was the leg kicks. Were you surprised at the adjustments that they made? Because it really felt in the past like they were always just preparing to fight. You know, they'd always say that the opponent was just a blank face. This time, they prepared for Diaz, and I thought they had the perfect game plan.

Yeah, it was very good. And obviously, when you look at Diaz's career, especially, you know, the Dazanosuo's really sticks out when it comes to the leg kicks. And Connor had King Cowley over. He's an Irish Muay Thai champion. he was over and Artim credited him for the leg kicks we saw in the Aveal about. I think Keane had a big job in Conner's camp as well for them leg kicks. Because usually when Connor throws leg kicks, they're always oblique kicks.

Like we see John Jones kicks, the knee. They're horrible, horrible stories to look at. We've never seen them chopping toy kicks. So, I mean, it was huge in the opening two rounds. And them two rounds I had for Connor, especially them leg kicks were just, you know, they were unbelievable. and they really stifled Diaz as he tried to come in. So they were a huge part of it when you consider how close the fight was

and he utilized them so well in the first two rounds. One judge, Glenn Trowbridge, scored at 47 to 47, gave Nate the third round. He gave him a 10-8. What do you make of that scorecard? I think if you're going to, like, I think Connor made a good point in that the first round for him was very dominant as well.

Yeah. But I just don't think it had the same swell of emotion in the crowd. You know, and these things matter. Like these things, they factor into these decisions. And at the end of the third round, it just felt so dramatic. You know, everything, like John McCarty closing in.

As I said, the fans freaking out everywhere. And Connor, like, really, Connor was just covering up and Diaz was hammering him. Like, he was throwing crazy combinations. Do I agree with the 10-8? I don't think so if it wasn't given in the first. But, you know, I suppose we're going to see a lot more liberal 10-8s now in January, so he may as well get used to it.

I'm going to talk to John Kavana about this later, but does Connor, in your opinion, have a cardio problem? Not after that fight. You know, he looked like he was done at the start-round tree, and then he somehow managed to keep going for 15 minutes. I think the main thing I think about it is he shouldn't be fighting at Welterweight. Yeah. You know, that's the real thing.

I mean, his body is not big enough to be sparring that mass through five rounds, but somehow he managed to do it. He did do it, but he obviously looked tired, in the later rounds. But, you know, I'd hope to see him going back down to 155, as he said, even if it is Diaz, just get away from Welterweight altogether because, to be honest, them last two fights, he's taking more damage than I've seen him taking his whole career. And as much as it was brilliant, as much as the two fights were absolutely brilliant,

if you're thinking about the future with Connor, you kind of want to see him down a 55 or 45. He's proven that he can win a welterweight, but really, I don't think he wants to spend any more time. wants to see his abs again. He told him. Yeah, yeah, that's right. Fat Belly. He's talking to the media about fat bellies. It's unbelievable. Look, I think that it's important to know just how good Nate Diaz fought as well. He was losing those first two rounds and came back in the third. I thought he won the fifth. I thought it was interesting that he said in the post-fight press conference that he was focusing too much on his wrestling. I thought he should have focused more on his wrestling. the one place where of the two fighters, one of them has a clear advantage.

It's nade on the ground. And I thought while Conner's take down defense was very impressive, he should have tried to take the fight to the ground more. Do you agree? Yeah, well, I mean, that was the real moment that shun drew in the force fight was how quickly he managed to transition to the back and finish the fight. You know, so quickly when it actually hit the ground and he managed to get into the, like, got the back, got mount. you know like that's that's really impressive when it when a grappler can just transition that quickly um you know he was trying very hard but connor's take down the fence was absolutely brilliant yeah against the fence you know Diaz isn't the type of guy just going to be shooting a double

yeah he's always going to toy up as a opponent trying to look for a judo trip look for look to throw his opponents and um Connor Connor was really good up against the fence like I mean that's I mean this was a question that we've been hearing since he really got to the UFC on the handpicking opponents for him. He can't block takedowns. Like, he was pretty good at it there. You don't know, you know, and I was surprised that in the later rounds, he could continue to do that. I know he probably lost the fifth round. Like, that was the big part when Nate threw him down in the last 10 seconds or so. But, I mean, he'd already done the job then, like, as far as 1-2 and 4 were already secured from, I thought. So he did a brilliant job at the takedown defense.

The D.S supporters and D.S. himself are complaining that he was running too much. And I saw you tweeted something to that effect that there's a lot of running going on in the middle of the fight. You know, in the third round, which is the round that he lost, I don't think he won a round based off his running. But what do you make of this complaint? Was Connor not engaging enough for your liking? Well, I think that's where, you know, Diaz is going to have the most amount of success when someone stands in front of them and throws punches with him, you know, when they trade. so, you know, there's no rule against moving away from opponents to stop them punching in the head.

But what I was worried about was, I'm very skeptical of these judges, would you believe? And every time he walked away, there was a massive boo. So I was like, even though this is not, this is not really a technical aspect of the sport, I was wondering, would the fact that the crowd were so against it, would they sway the judges? And I mean, even in rounds he was winning, he was constantly doing this. And towards the end of the fight, especially when we saw him in the fifth round, like, I mean, this was hissing going around the arena. It was crazy. But yeah, that's what I just, that was my own feeling.

It was just will this cost him around nearly just because of how disgusted the fans were at it was. Yeah, the first two rounds, he certainly wasn't doing it. I thought he was doing it more, obviously, towards the end of the fight. Fifth round, it was very noticeable that he kept looking up at the clock, which suggested that he was, you know, maybe somewhat tired and hoping that the clock moved a little quicker. What did you make of the aftermath? Because to me, and I love this stuff. I mean, it was just so fascinating to hear him speak. And Nate, to that extent as well.

I mean, the last thing he said at the press conference was shit is about to hit the fan. I mean, what a cliffhanger that is. What do you make of just what's going on and the little clues that he was dropping about his future? Yeah, you know, it's classic Connor, really. He restores his winning momentum and then just has us all guessing immediately, like, what's going on. So Conner's in there telling us like, oh, I don't know, I don't like Al though, I don't like the sound of that. Then meanwhile, Dana White is on TV saying, no, he's definitely doing it. So, and then Connor leaves the room saying, shit's going to hit the fan.

Listen, this is just, I noticed this is there, a lot of people have said this already. But when he had that rift with the WWE guys, I'm not a WWE fan, right? So every guy on the roster suddenly attacks him, gives them this free publicity. Now, look, the one thing I know about it is they kind of, they predetermined these fights in professional wrestling, right? So is this somehow just a build-up to a Connor appearance? If all the biggest names are given on publicity, just a couple of weeks before his fight, that doesn't have a lot of traction at the time. You know what I mean? Like, I mean, let's be honest, we arrived on Fight Week and nobody was that excited.

It turned out to be a great success. You know, he's getting all this traction. I mean, he's telling the McMahon's our dons. everybody else everybody else is a terrible terrible athlete but the mcmans are dons look up that's the way i'm looking at i think maybe he can use that as kind of leverage if if dana says like oh no you you have to fight all he'd say no well i'm going to go and you know jump off the top rope a few times here and then um then maybe go back but i think it could be we're into the kind of a public standoff situation here again i think um i didn't subscribe to that whole wwee theory before

the fight, but, and I know you notice it as well because you tweeted about it, when he walked into the cage, he did the McMahon billionaire strut. If that wasn't, you know, a sign of perhaps things to come foreshadowing, he's never done that before. I've seen him do that, you know, outside the cage, but never walking into the cage doing that, I found that to be very telling. Yeah, well, I thought it was interesting that he didn't, he wasn't kind of playing to the cameras at all this time, but he did that. Yeah. You know, like, he wasn't doing the big face off. He wasn't. shouting back at night, but here's one of these for you. Why would he do that?

Like, why else do you do that? But isn't it? He always just has us thinking. Oh, it's amazing. It's amazing. Also interesting, he said backstage that he was disappointed that the Fertitas didn't show up and now I have to talk to new people and I don't know what's going on.

I mean, he's just amazing at blurring the lines between the business side of things, the backstage politics and the actual fighting. So, okay, what do you think happens? I mean, we all don't know. You're guessing, I'm guessing. no one has any clue what's next. But if you're the UFC, if you're the matchmakers, if you're trying to do what's best for business,

what are you doing? What are you booking for both him and Nate? I don't know. We come to you for answers. We come to you for answers. I've just been on like a 26-hour flight. What should he do, Peter? Oh, nice one, Ariel.

I think the outlook, the thing about this week was, the immediate rematch didn't seem to really, you know, get us going until all the stuff popped up. right right so the Aldo rematch you know he's he knocked them out in 14 seconds yeah you know I mean so are people going to be really interested to see that and where is it going to be like I can I can guarantee if they put them in New York it will be absolutely mental with the Irish people you know what I mean like everybody goes Christmas shopping with their misses in November anyway so it's a perfect excuse it's not even Las Vegas your girlfriend can't give out let's go shopping

yeah I'll go and watch the fight you go shopping like I mean I think the New York show would be massive. It's just who is he going to go against? I kind of liked the Eddie Alvarez idea because it was 55 and I think Connor would like to fight for another belt. But I mean, why aren't they making their Magamadoff fight? Like I mean, they've done Dosaynos and Tony Ferguson. Why isn't that being made? Why isn't the Maga Madoff and Alvarez being made if Ferdson isn't getting the fight? That's what I was, I expected that to be announced a day later. You know, I just think the fact that Alvarez is a match there, I think it leaves him at play. But, you know, now it's like losing face if Dana White doesn't get Allo versus McGregor.

So that's why I think it's a kind of a standoff situation. Like, where are we going to see him go? I know you just, oh, go ahead. And I had a feeling when he, did you see the interview where he said, maybe it will be in a different sport? Yeah, yeah. I had a feeling the whole Floyd May when I think would say it's circling it again. Of course. But I think he could use that to his advantage now.

I think we might hear Connor saying, if it's a strange, if it's a weird situation where he's saying, or Floyd Allo, maybe we'll hear Connor saying, well, let's have a look at this Floyd, Floyd-Waider option, you know what I mean? Just as a tool to kind of get what he needs to get. Very important, I think, that Ari Emanuel of the WMEIMG group was in attendance. He was at the Wayans because one theory that has been thrown my way is, you know, a lot of these guys were very loyal to Lorenzo and Dana.

They have no relationship with Ari Emanuel. So if he comes to them through Dana and says, we want you to do this and that. Connor, as he sort of alluded to backstage, like, no, you know, like you're going to have to pay me if you want me to do something that I don't really want to do. I'm not going to stick my neck out for you guys. So this is going to be a really interesting transition period from the old ownership to the new ownership, in my opinion. Now, I know you just got back home, but you have friends back home. I know a lot of your friends were watching. No, we don't have any friends.

Yeah, that's true. So maybe this is a stupid question. I'll ask it anyway. What's the temperature back home? Can you compare what they were saying about Connor leading up to this fight? and a lot of Irish fans saying to me that they're not coming because they don't have the money, they've been going too many times, blah, blah, blah. And what they're saying now, has faith been restored in Connor?

Is he more popular than ever? Like, what do you think? And also how it plays into this constant battle that you Irish MMA journalists have to face back home between the mainstream press and you guys where they're always criticizing the sport. It's like 1999 all over again back here in the U.S. So what's the mood like towards Connor and the sport after Saturday? I think after, like say at the press comments on Wednesday, that kind of open up the whole, is this a sport debate, is this staged, all that kind of stuff was coming out.

They were talking about on the radios and then Saturday's fight just really, it kind of endeared both Diaz and McGregor to all of the Irish people, you know what I mean? Because we're depressing, we're depressing a bunch of people, to be honest with you. You know, we don't want to win easy. We want it to, you know, to be this big drawn-out, dramatic. situation. I honestly think Irish people want to see him just about win. It's

more in their characters to see that rather than they go, just come in and hit someone and they go over, you know? I think that endeared them to people to see him war to see him in that battle, to see them rally. Like, it was like the amount of people I was just reading on social

media saying they were shaking as the decision was read out. You know, these are people that aren't massive MMA fans but watching that, You know, they felt they started feeling patriotic seeing him kind of stay in there, stay in there, stay in there, and eventually come out with the win. And I think they really like the fact that, you know, Connor and Nate embraced each other at the end. Yeah. That stuff, I think, universally goes over very well.

You know, he seems to have restored the faith of the nation, even though a lot of people didn't doubt him. Certainly quite a few people did. And I think it was that adversity issue. like this is the first time we've seen him in Hort and then he gets choked out after it and now we saw him come true with that and rally and win and that means a lot of the Irish people as well.

Yeah, what more can be said about Connor at this point? Major credit to the Irish fans that were in attendance. I know you told me some of them were just students who didn't attend the fight but were just looking for a good time. Not only did they really bring it and you're seeing a picture on our screen right now

but the atmosphere that they produced at the Wayans and also the good behavior that was on display as well. Between both sides, I mean, there could have been a really ugly situation there. The security at the MGM Conference Center, I mean, it was like a bunch of 65-year-old ladies,

and these guys were literally nose-to-nose, no punches thrown, no incidents, no drama, no nothing. And I think sometimes we take for granted those scenes that we're now accustomed to, like we're spoiled. Where are the Irish fans? Where are the Irish friends? We rely on you guys to up the ante, as far as the atmosphere is concerned,

and they really, they really ended up showing up. So I apologize. A lot of them wanted an apology. They were, Ariel, Ariel, you're going to apologize now? That's my very bad Irish accent. They wanted an apology. So here's my apology to you. Great job on Friday and Saturday.

PT, a pleasure, as always. Great stuff over the weekend. And throughout the week in Las Vegas again, Severe MMA.com, news talk, Irish mirror, Fightland, Flow Combat, Daily Mail. A jack of many trades is PTC Carroll. Always appreciate your insight. Yes.

Thank you for coming on. Sorry. Thank you for coming on, my friend. Oh, thank you. Thanks very much, Eric. All right, we'll talk to you soon. I got some sleep. Yes, enjoy.

Good night to you. There he is. Peter Carroll of all those outlets that I just mentioned. Great insight coming from Ireland. Okay. So, that is part of the Connor story. Let us move along now to our, whoops, our next guest. Our next guest was very visible in Las Vegas last week.

I'm not sure if she actually attended the event, but I did see her a couple times on Thursday. We will ask her that. She is UFC women's bantamweight fighter Leslie Smith and she is joining us via the magical Skype right now. There she is. At least half her face. Leslie, how are you? Oh, there it is. Oh, can you move the, I want to see your, no, wrong way. There we go. Were you at the fight on Saturday? Just put the fight on Saturday. Okay, the audio is acting up. It's like all muffled. Is there a reason why it's all muffled. It took us a second to get the audio right last time.

Okay. This is good. This is good. So you were in attendance on Saturday? I was. Who do you think won? I think Nate won the fight, but I am more than willing to admit that I'm totally biased. Yeah.

Which rounds did you give him? Do you recall? Well, everybody agreed that he had the third and the fifth round. I thought he had the fourth round too. But again, I... Yes. I just see my boy winning. That's all I see when I watch fights. That's right. I mean, of course, you are a member of the scrap pack, and you've known the Diaz brothers, Gilbert Melendez, Jake Shields for a very long time.

So I appreciate your insight. Just curious, what do you make of people saying that Conner was running, things like that? Do you feel like he wasn't engaging enough in the fight? He was clearly running quite a bit in the fight. There were times when he turned his back and he even had his arms at his side doing the running man as he was running away. and there's multiple perspectives on that that it's an intelligent thing to do when you're too tired and you can't fight anymore is that you get your breath. But I don't know, I'm not a fan of that style of fighting. There's a lot of people who have used it very well, but it's not my favorite. It feels like there's a level of respect between Connor and Nate. I don't know if that's the case between the teams as sort of a member of Team Diaz. Do you have more respect for him after seeing?

that fight on Saturday? The fact that he, you know, came back, was losing in the third round and ended up winning the decision, at least as far as the judges are concerned. Like, did your respect go up for him at all after Saturday? I always have respect for anybody who's going in their fighting. I think it's a wonderful thing when they're in their fighting. And I'm not anybody who's ever going to boo after a fight, no matter how much I disagree with anything. I mean, I might throw a tantrum myself if I'm in there, but I'm not going to boo anybody else. However, that doesn't change the fact that for me, and I'm pretty sure for a lot of people, what's said outside of the cage, that's not just hype and it's not just to build up a fight. That's real.

It's not like anything exists in a vacuum. Like, oh, that was just said for the fight. So everything he's ever said is still there and it's still in my mind and it's not going away because of the fight. But yeah, I have a lot of respect for what would happen inside the cage. So you feel like he has said things that have offended you and others, right? Yeah. Like what? Oh, stuff like I'm going to kill you and I'm going to kill your whole team and my whole team could beat your whole team and I mean, basically everything he's ever said to Nate ever.

Okay. Did you talk to Nate after the fight? Briefly, just said hello and good job. and you're a warrior, and I don't even know if those things were heard because it was inside of a club. Oh, okay. Who knows, but I felt them with my heart. Yes, and an inspiration as well. I mean, how do you not leave that fight as a fan, as a fighter inspired?

Do you want to see a third fight right away, or would you rather see them go their separate ways? I'd love to see a third fight. I think it's a great thing. I think it's a wonderful thing, not just for us and our team, because we love seeing Nate fight. It's wonderful to get to rally, and that. But for all of MMA, I think they're doing wonderful things for the sport. They're changing the way that MMA fighters get paid. They're changing the way that they're seen in public media, not just MMA media.

And I think that's wonderful. The more of it, the better. Yes, I couldn't agree more. Rising tide is lifting all boats here. So let's talk about your big week because around, well, I don't know, 10 or so days ago, you were on Access TV on this sort of panel with the MMAFA guys. And then I saw you at the Professional Fighters Association press conference and let it be known if there ever is some kind of association union anything.

Let it be known in the history books that the only active UFC fighter that showed his or her face at this inaugural press conference was Leslie Smith. And I think that you deserve a lot of credit for that. And you seem to have more guts than anyone on the roster. I give you a lot of credit for that. Are you, like, there's this weird battle going on between the two sides. Where do your allegiances lie? I, I, as you mentioned, I was there with the MMAFA on the very first panel, and then I was

there at the fighters, at the other one, the PFA. And I did say there and then that I would sign something, and I'm totally going to be part of anything. It's going to be foreign to, to help the fight. where I stand as far as the two of them and whatever potential animosity or competition they might have is I think that they can work together. I don't think that their goals are necessary in conflict, necessarily in conflict, because the PFA, they want to form a union for UFC fighters, which means that the UFC fighters are going to have to become designated employees and then sign union cards and will work as a body in that way. And then the MMAA is actually an association for all the fighters. And their main focus right now is on the Ali Act, getting the Ali Act passed to MMA,

which the PFA has said that they are willing to support as well. So I think that they can be two arms of a greater body of people looking out for the fighters. I think they can work together. Great answer, by the way. And I couldn't agree with you more. I think the bickering is very silly, and they should be able to work. together. Now, you are obviously very passionate about this subject. When did that happen? When did you start to get interested in this? I've always felt like this. I couldn't tell you exactly the very

first time that I went on the record as far as saying that fighters need more care for their well-being and a larger percentage of the revenue and more respect in general from the company. It's such a funny thing. They get respect from outside of the company, from everyone who watches the fights and then, you know, from the inside, just the way the UFC works. For the record, the UFC has always been wonderful to me. All of the employees, I get so happy to see everyone who works for the UFC and they've taken great care of me outside of the tumor thing. And then they even took care of that. So I am not disgruntled or angry with the UFC. I just think things need to change so that we can all grow and improve. Can you shed some light on the quote unquote

tumor thing that you that you alluded to. What's the story there? It was awesome. I landed in Las Vegas at 11 o'clock and then the USC had made a doctor's appointment for me at one o'clock. I thought I was just going to get looked at, but I walked in and they said we have everything right here to take it out. Would you like it to be gone? And I said, yes, please. And five minutes later they were injecting me with the local anesthesia. Yep. And then a couple minutes later, they were slicing in and cutting it out. Damn.

And how big was it? About the palm of my hand. Whoa. Did it hurt? It was surprisingly large. Wow. When they were cutting it out, no, it didn't hurt because the anesthesia worked out very well. And then for quite a few hours that night, it didn't hurt as well.

but it's been a pretty constant feeling since then, but it's going away right now. What was the tumor? It was just a fatty tumor. It's called a lipoma. They're actually very common. A lot of people get them, and they're not life-threatening. My life was never in danger at any point. But it is a tumor.

It's an unwanted mass of cells inside of my body that serve no purpose, and I was very happy to get rid of it. So, you know, when you're training, fighting, whatever, if someone punches you there, did it hurt? No, it never hurt. Okay. It never heard anything. Some of my teammates and my coaches were like, what the hell? We didn't even know about that. How come you didn't tell us about it? We've been punching you and kicking you and kneeing you in the stomach forever. But it's never anything that caused me considerable pain. I mean, maybe here and there, a twinge, but nothing, nothing significant. So did you ever try to get the UFC or ask the UFC for help in removing it and we're unsuccessful and then you go out in the media and talk about it and then a matter of hours later

there's an appointment made and it's removed? Did you feel like you had to do that to get their attention? You know, it worked out really well. My plan, it's not like I was sitting on this tumor waiting for the right time when we're going to be on camera and then I can mention it because that's absolutely not the way that I was thinking about it. I did bring it up to the UFC a long time ago and asked if they could help me get rid of it and they said no. I don't remember who it was that I talked to, but it was a pretty standard question and the standard response was just that's not covered by the insurance and and I dropped it at the time and then I just accepted that I was going to have to figure out

another way to get it done. It wasn't major invasive surgery or anything. It was merely sitting in between the fat layer, I mean the skin layer and the muscle layer of my skin. So it was just a flesh wound. Go ahead. Sorry. Just that it's going to heal up very fast.

It wasn't major, but it did take talking about it on TV and getting a lot more eyes in order to avoid the standard response if that's not covered by the insurance. And so did they pay for the entire thing? Yes. Wow. Completely. Well done. Totally taken care of. Well done.

It was wonderful. Thank you to the UFC for that. Since you've been so vocal and visible when it comes to this association slash union stuff, have you talked to any other fighters about why they aren't as vocal or perhaps as interested in it because one thing that Jeff Borris said last week on this show was he's surprised at how afraid the fighter seemed to be to join something like this. I have gotten talked to by a lot of the fighters. One of the great things for me about being as visible as I am is that I'm putting it all out there on the line.

So I know, I'm pretty sure, 90-something percent sure that any fighter that I interact with at this point knows where I stand on the issue. So I don't have to be knocking on everyone's heads and saying, hey, I'm for the fighters union. You want to stand with me? Because everyone knows that. I'm putting it out there. And so people do talk to me. A lot of people have come up to me and been like, hey, thank you so much for doing what you're doing.

You know, my teammates are like, we're really proud of you for being so visible and so vocal. And a lot of the other fighters, they tell me why they're not doing it. They're like, look, I have a lot of stuff going on right now, or I'm working on getting a contract right now, or, you know, something happened with my last fight last time, or just for whatever reason, they don't feel 100% secure. And there's even some who aren't apologetic at all. They're just like, I'm doing my own thing. And that's totally fine. We've been using the word scared a lot when trying to talk about why fighters aren't signing up for that. And I've used it as well, the word scared.

But I've done a little bit more reflection over this weekend. And I don't think that scared is the right word for it. I think that as fighters, when we get ready for a camp, we have to devote 100% of everything to getting ready for a camp. And I know that I've been in a camp before, and things have gone on, a sponsor for a T-shirt, or maybe a coach can't show up or a training partner falls out for a sparring day. And I can't get attached to all of those details.

I have to say, okay, I need to delegate someone to take care of those things for me, and then I'm going to keep focusing on what I have to focus on, which is me and doing my best. And I think that that's what we're seeing going on, is that this is a situation where the fighters are like, whoa, this does need to happen, but I'm focused. I'm focused on me. I'm focused on my training. And so is there someone that I can delegate? And at this point, there isn't anyone to delegate. So the easiest thing is just to keep on focusing on our training and then not to pay attention or jump in the fray. Because that's really what it takes at this point,

is you have to be willing to dive head first into the fray. I mean, we don't know if the UFC is going to come down on us. We're still working to get public support, even though it's overwhelmingly been in our favor. There's the two different, there's fighters association and the fighters union going, at it. So it's hardly a swim down the lazy river right now as far as navigating which way to go. But it's 100% worth it. And when people decide that it's the right thing to do to jump into it,

then I'm there to welcome him and tell them everything I know. I hate that I have to or feel like I have to ask you this question, but I will anyway, given the climate that you work in. are you at all worried about any repercussions from the UFC? I get worried every time. I get worried every single phone call, every single tweet that I'm going to put out. I mean, fighting in the UFC has been a goal of mine for so long. It's something that I'm incredibly proud and happy to be here.

I want nothing more than to continue to fight here for the UFC. And so every time I say something, I'm like, oh, my gosh, am I stabbing myself in the head with this? but I know that it's the right thing to do and I haven't had any negative repercussions they've been great Sean Shelby called my management to talk about another fight

a couple days ago they took care of the tumor for me I still got a discretionary bonus I got a $25,000 discretionary being on UFC 198 and that's yeah that was awesome that was just as much as I made for the fight

So I was thrilled to get that. I think it shows a couple things. It shows that they're not so angry at me that they're holding off on discretionary bonuses because it's in the name. It's totally up to them to give that to me or not. I also think, though, that getting a bonus like that is proof that there's money that's being left on the table. Like if we were doing a good job bargaining as fighters

and we were getting everything that we're owed, we're getting our full share of the pie, then the UFC, they wouldn't be coming around afterwards saying, by the way, good job, here's more money. Right. And I'm 100%. I love to get it. I'm super appreciative. If I knew who to say a thank you to, I would.

So thanks USC for the money. I appreciate that. But it's not going to scare me away from talking. It's not going to make me not want to talk. And the idea, I hope that it's not discretionary bonuses that are keeping people from talking. Because the idea that maybe you might get some undisclosed amount that you don't know about if you're lucky, that's not a good reason to not talk about the rights that we need and the defenses that we need for us as employees. You know, this has nothing to do with the media.

We can't vote in anyone. But holy moly, if anyone's listening, I hope they're voting for you to be the, head of any kind of association because your answers are just so intelligent and you break it down very very nicely so kudos to you on that leslie really really impressive stuff um do you think this time next year let's just say will there be some kind of association are you confident in that i am very confident in that so there is currently the fighters the mma fighters association is in existence it's been in existence for years and it has goals that it's working on the main goal is the Ali Act. So it is there and it is working and it is going. The other one, the PFA, that's the

fighters union for the UFC fighters, that's going to take some more steps. But I was able to sit down with Jeff Boris after the press conference and talked to him. And I was really encouraged to hear the timeline that he was laying down and the plans that he had for getting everything started. So I'd say that in a year, a year we should see a totally different climate and actions being taken by the association and the union. Now, what about, you mentioned 198, you fought Cyborg. I know you were frustrated with how that fight played out. Is there any talk? I mean, you said that they reached out, but anything concrete that you can tell us about when you'll be fighting again and perhaps against two? There's nothing concrete. A couple months ago, I had called out Raquel Pennington and she said that

She would love to fight me after her fight in August. And that was before it was even announced this fight. And so congratulations to her on the fight last night. I'd love to get inside the cage with her. I'll be calling my management and asking them if they can reach out and ask about that fight, if that's still available. But no, I haven't gotten any word from the UFC about a potential opponent. And I'm thinking that November would be the time that I would want to fight.

and sounds like the most logical time for me to fight as well. Have you seen that footage of Cyborg cutting weight before your fight? I have not seen the footage. I was told that she was crying before the fight. And I've been friends with Cyborg for a while. So we've been at Invicta fights before. We've been at Invicta fights before, and she's been crying at the Invictive Fights cutting weight

and it's been known, and we've shared Epson salts and ice and hung out in the room to get our IVs together afterwards. So I know it's a very tough thing for her. But to go to 140, because you're saying you've seen her cry going to 145? Yes. Damn. So you don't feel like that's an indication that she should not be cutting to 140? So probably cutting down large percentages of our body weight is not the most intelligent thing to do. There's probably not any doctors that would recommend it from a purely medical perspective,

but we do what it is that we need to do. And I believe that she has a very good team of people who care about her, surrounding her at all times while she's doing this cut. And so how far our mind can go and how far our body can go are two very different things. And it takes outside eyes to make sure that we're not going too far. That's when the biggest problems, I think, from weight cutting happen, is when a fighter is by themselves and they're getting down to those final pounds and they don't have people watching them to say, hey, you look horrible.

I think that your pulse is slowing down and your temperatures are dropping, you might die. Because at a certain point, the fighter's mind isn't going to say that. Now, as her friend, I would never recommend that she cut down to 140 or 135 because I've seen how far it goes and I know how painful it is. But at the same time, I know the human body is capable of all kinds of things. And crying isn't necessarily an indicator that it's the worst situation that we've ever been in. I cry often. I know that we've all seen clips of Rose Navajunas crying, and I don't think that takes away any respect from it. I think that's a way to know that we're giving it our all. All right. Fair enough. Last thing for you, considering it's your division, do you feel like

the division slash the sport needs Rhonda to return to keep up the momentum and interest and things like that, or do you feel like the last, oh, I don't know, 10 months or so has shown that, look, if for whatever reason she doesn't come back, it's all going to be fine, people are going to be interested, there's going to be great fights, champions, et cetera. What do you think? The great Bert Watson used to say, the great Bert Watson.

Amen. I get his voice inside my head all the time, and I still think things. I'm like, that's what Bert would say. Okay. But one of the things that he would say is that no one is bigger than the sport. There is no one individual person who is bigger than the sport of MMA. And I think that the last couple of months have shown that.

I think that a lot of people were very worried that without Rhonda, the women's division would curl up in a ball and ask for chocolate and go away. But it hasn't happened and it's not going to happen because MMA is bigger than any one individual person. And so is our division. And there's a lot more and better fights to come. Amen. Well done, Leslie Smith. Glad to hear that everything's okay with the tumor, that you got that checked out and corrected. Great stuff from you last week in Las Vegas and even prior to that.

Looking forward to your return, I really appreciate your insight. Thank you so much. And even though we disagree on the scorecard on Saturday, I still respect your take as well. Thank you. I respect your take as well. It's always great to see you. Thank you for including me. All right, there she is.

Leslie Smith, amazing stuff from her. What fantastic insight from one of the UFC's Bantz's fantastic. and weight fighters and their women's 135 pound division. That was just amazing stuff. Wow. Speaking intelligently, you know, not coming from any kind of, you know, biased perspective, ulterior motives, no animosity, really impressive stuff. And, you know, not everyone is cut from the same cloth. Not everyone feels comfortable speaking about this stuff. And I respect that. And you know what? I think the best thing that she said was maybe we have to, to stop using that word scared. It is weird to call a fighter scared. I mean, what they do

blows my mind. I do not have that gene in my body that would even allow me to prepare for a battle like that, step into a cage, and fight another human being. So they're not scared. I think they have their reservations and given the climate that they work in, given the history of the sport, they have the reservations and that's fine. You can't expect people who have been working their entire life to reach a certain status, to reach a certain point, just say, hey, I'm going to stick my neck out. Not really sure the repercussions, not really sure what's going to happen to me and as a result, my family, but I'm just going to do this. That's a tough ask right off the bat. And I get it. And some people have less to lose.

Some people view their MMA career differently. Everyone's coming from a different spot. It's not going to happen overnight. It's not going to be easy. it's going to be hard to get these men and women to band together. But hopefully at some point, and she also brings up a great point about educating the fighters. The fighters are very focused on their careers, and who can blame them? They have tunnel vision. They have to prepare for the act of fighting another human being in a cage. That's enough pressure.

That's enough to worry about. That's enough strain on your mind. Again, it really comes down to the managers. let's say there's 500 fighters in the UFC, 600 fighters in the UFC. How many managers are there in the UFC? How many elite managers representing big-name fighters are there out there in MMA? 10, 15, 20 max?

Getting them on board may be an easier task than getting the fighters on board. Because if you get one on board and he represents 10, 15 fighters, Now you're talking. So it really falls on the manager's shoulders to get educated and then educate their fighters, as opposed to trying to educate 600 fighters. But I got to tell you, Jeff Boris, man, this guy has balls of steel, showed up to the press conference, sat there in the front row, wearing his PFA collared shirt, white, big logo, sat there right in the middle,

showed up to Media Day, walked up to all the media and attendance, 30 minutes away from the strip at the Red Rock, then started talking to some of the fighters, then was asked to leave. I think he understood that and his work was largely done. Has the press conference is walking, you know, very visible, walking around the MGM.

I mean, this is a guy who has been in some serious negotiations as far as baseball is concerned, Barry Bonds, Ricky Henderson, Bob Bivnea. He showed a lot of testicular force. to last week, in my opinion, over in Las Vegas. The week started with that press conference and admittedly, I wasn't making up drama. I wasn't making it up. It did feel a little flat. And initially I thought, gosh, they're making a mistake by starting this press conference without Connor McGregor. This is a mistake. He needs to be a part of it. He is one half of the story.

He is the draw. He's the guy. He's the guy. who produces the sound bites. Nate is typically a reactionary interview participant at the press conference. So Connor's not there. I'm like, what is going on? This is bad. We're cutting our nose despite our face here. Yes, we know there's been tension. Yes, we know he's been late. But you can't start the press conference that we talked about on Monday as the most important media thing of the week. That was, it was important to start with that press conference on Wednesday morning, because that was going to set the tone for the entire week. That was really going to light a fire under this promotion.

And I was thinking, gosh, this is a mistake. A few minutes in, I realized, this is brilliant. I don't know if they planned it this way, but this is actually brilliant. It had become a story in itself. Will he show? Will he not show? Where is he? What's he going to do if he shows up?

Why are they starting without him? What's Dana going to say? What's Nate going to say? His absence became a story. And then he shows up. And then he says what he has to say. And then Nate leaves and then the bottles are thrown. And now all of a sudden, we couldn't have imagined them surpassing the excitement, the atmosphere, the hype that their first two or previous two press conferences leading up to 196 generated. The 2021 back in July pre-200, I'm excluding because of the audio issues. It seemed unfathomable that they can recreate it, and they did. And then the tone had been set for the entire week. It was brilliant. And I did a bunch of interviews, radio interviews and things like that. And people were asking,

was it bad for the sport? Was it contrived? Was it a fake? Was it not? No, it was 100% real. And when it's real, to me, it comes across as real. And it's effective. When it is contrived, when it's very easy, at least for me, I don't know why there are so many conspiracy theories out there. It's easy to tell when something's fake. That did not feel fake. Maybe it's because I was there in attendance. that did not feel fake at all. There was nothing fake about that. And I don't think it was bad for the sport at all. Again, sometimes we need to get over ourselves.

Sometimes we forget that these individuals, they're not zoo animals. They're about to fight in 72 hours. The idea of them sitting right next to each other, in particular when there's bad blood, the idea of them sitting next to each other and us watching them, hoping they sing and dance for us,

sometimes is asking much. And I think at this point, it was asking a lot of both of them. Not to say I didn't want to see it, but you have to understand when sometimes tempers flare. Tension boils over. And that's what happened on Wednesday. And so I don't think it was bad at all. Thankfully, no one got hurt.

Yeah, they might get fined. They might have to do some community service, but that's it. It was interesting that the UFC couldn't have promoted it quick enough. And I think they, the word got out, but then they backtracked. Then they got rid of all mentions of that press conference. Everything was erased. Embedded didn't show it. I think part of that came from Nevada and the MGM because MGM ended up banning all of the corners except for the license corners.

So all of the members of the entourage, 15 deep or so, Nate was walking around and Connor sort of the same. They all got banned from the MGM. As you saw, you know, Nick Diaz got banned. and others as well, they weren't allowed to enter the way in. But if you were a license corner, you were allowed in. That was their response to that. And I get it. I mean, this is a hotel. There are people walking around who have no clue what's going on. They don't need to have a bottle thrown at them. But as far as we're concerned, no one got hurt. So it wasn't serious. And sometimes these happen. These things happen. I mean, one of the most famous press conferences of all time,

Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. That was a mess. Tyson bit his leg. nothing like that happened. And so that really set the tone. The next day at the Red Rock, at the open workouts, it was a bizarre scene because the room was really small and there really wasn't any Irish presence at all. I mean, that was shocking to me. And Connor seemed a little bit on edge.

What he was saying on the mic? I mean, I was having a hard time sort of reading the situation at that point. And I didn't know what to expect. The Wayans on Friday weren't at the arena, weren't at T-Mobile, weren't at the MGM. It was in one of those conference rooms that's all level. It's not stadium seating. So I really didn't know what it was going to, what it was going to look like, what was going to happen, how it was going to feel. Will it feel like a counterfeit?

Will it feel like a big deal? And then we get there. And then they start off with the UFC 204 press conference, perhaps forgetting about the longstanding history between Ireland and England, but it seemed like the Irish fans didn't care too much for Michael Bisping. I mean, you could not hear a thing. It was a great atmosphere unless you were trying to hear what Bisping and Henderson were saying. They were singing, they were dancing, they were chanting, and again, I'll reiterate, they were on their best behavior. Peter Carroll told me that this was a lot of students who were just looking for a good time. They weren't looking to fight the Diaz contingency. They weren't looking to throw bottles, weapons, punches.

I mean, they were literally nose to nose. literally nose to nose. Nothing happened. You had 65-year-old, lovely lady security guards trying to get in there. They weren't going to stop anything. If anything happened, nothing happened. It wasn't needed. We had a blast.

We did that preview video. That's the most fun five minutes that I've ever had on this job. Rwandi and Al-Shadi picking against McGregor in front of the Irish fans. And then I come in with the cheap pop. It was amazing. It was perfect. Those fans were so much fun. what a privilege it was to be in their presence as they were trying to root on their guy.

And I think Sean made a great point. I think their presence and their cheers and everything that they were doing for Connor sort of calmed him down to a degree, lifted his spirits to a degree. But I was still wondering how he would act on Saturday, how he would fight, what he would do. And to me, nothing else can be said. A classic fight, he wins the first round, one knockdown, the like kicks were brilliant. they didn't win in March, but they certainly learned. Then he drops him twice in the second round.

He ends the second round in a really, really serious predicament. I mean, Diaz was coming on strong, punches and bunches, had him up against the cage. It looked like, you know, if there were 30 or more seconds, maybe 45 seconds, Diaz could have stole the round, but he did not steal that round. He really didn't. He really did not steal that round. And then I thought, wow, this third round, this could. be this could be real trouble. This could be serious trouble for Connor McGregor. And he weathered

that storm. And it looked like he was in trouble. And it looked like he was on the verge of breaking. And he lost that round, clearly, but it was not a 10-8. There's no way that was a 10-8. How can the first or second round not be a 10-8 and then that third round be a 10-8 for an 8-D-S? There's just no way. Connor wins the fourth. He loses the fifth, 48 to 47. Pretty clear, if you ask me. But again, it exceeded my expectations. I did not expect the classic like that. We learned a lot about Connor McGregor.

I think a lot more people respect Connor McGregor, and we learned a lot about Nate Diaz as well. Nate Diaz came back from some serious trouble. He was able to defend the leg kicks a little better. He was able to withstand some big punches that rocked them and dropped them. And I think he started to figure out how to fight Connor in the third round. He was using his distance to his advantage. He didn't need to be inside as much as he was.

I think he should have relied on his wrestling more and credit to Connor for that takedown defense, but I think he should have gone to that well a little bit more. I know he's not the kind of guy to go for a single or a double, but up against the cage, trip him, get him to the ground, frustrate him on the ground. I think that was potentially there. Maybe not.

And now the big question is, where do they go from here? Do they have them fight at MSG? Does Dana get what he wants? Is that just public negotiation? What the heck is Connor talking about when he's talking about shit hitting the fan? I wouldn't be surprised if they do go elsewhere with Connor, Nate's going to sit out.

He doesn't mind sitting out for a year. He's made a boatload of money. This is the kind of guy who was sitting out, you know, every year fighting once a year when he wasn't making anywhere close to this, when he wasn't even making 100K. You know what I'm saying? So he's going to be fine. And you might have to get used to the idea of not seeing him

sooner rather than later. Now, if they come back with the rematch or the trilogy, then they'll probably, you know, convince him and he'll be up for fighting. But if not, I firmly believe Nate Diaz when he says that he's not moving unless he gets that fight. That was the most real thing said, no doubt about it. But what's going to happen behind the scenes? That talk of, you know, now I'm speaking to new people and I don't know what's going on. He said it even on this show. He was hoping that the Fertitas would be there. They were not there. He seemed a little disappointed about that? What is going to happen behind the scenes? Fascinating times. Okay. Let us move along now to our next guest. In case you were wondering, Dylan Danis will

join us a little later on in the show. Apparently his phone died, so we're not quite ready to ban him. But we'll talk to him at around 3 o'clock for now. Let's move along to one of the very top contenders in the lightweight division. Tony Ferguson has a big fight coming up in November against Hafelde dos Santos in Mexico City, and he is kind enough to join us on line number one. Tony, are you there? Yeah, buddy. How you doing? I'm doing great.

By the way, how's fatherhood? Oh, it's going great, man. It's new stuff for me, so it's pretty interesting. How's the sleep? Oh, the sleep is great, man. It's a lot better than it used to kind of got under control now. It goes hand to handle training, man. He keeps me on my toes.

I know you were looking forward to fatherhood. Has it exceeded your expectations as well? Oh, it's cool, man. It is far, far, far, been past my expectations. I just sit there sometimes just getting lost with them. So it's completely different than fighting inside an octagon, you know, going against someone getting all bloody and forged up. But it's cool.

It's a blessing, and I'm honored to be able to be a part of this. So it's cool. I'm cool about my son. He's dope, man. Blue eyes and everything. That's awesome, man. Congratulations. Do you feel like it has changed you not only as a person,

but the way you view your career and fighting? Do you feel like this will change the way you train, make decisions about your career at all? Oh, serious, for sure, man. You take this a lot more serious, you know, even as far as my last fight camp. It was a little bit difficult. The last two fight camps I've been preparing for a grappler. So as far as Kovib and Michael Chess, it goes to their skill level, you know, and their wrestling, I went back and I wanted to make sure my skill set was a little bit better.

So with that, having a newborn, my focus was strictly on taking care of my skills. my baby boy and slamming some people. So, yeah, I mean, so now we have to take care of business, and we have to make sure that all still sets are put together and not just, you know, a grab thing to type of camp. Okay, so, oh, sorry, go ahead. No, so that's what I'm basically saying, you know, together with management, we all got together

and we were like, look, man, let's kick some ass, and let's do this together, let's get our head, out of our ass, and let's put this stuff together right. You know, we're here for a reason. So. Did you watch UFC 202? Yeah, it was good. It was fun. Not all of it, but I caught most of it Did you watch the main event?

Yeah, it was a great fight Give them both props, man They went in and then they both battled it out Especially having like a long, what do you call it? Like such a long camp You know, and preparing for so much shit talk Give them both props, man, they went in there And they got it both out of us

They just seemed to see what's going to happen to both of them I know you've had your issues with Connor in the past Did you gain any respect for him The way he fought on Saturday? It was good to see him go five rounds Yeah. I like to see people go five rounds just to see what they got in a tank and see what they have in the heart tank too. In that aspect, you know, Connor went in there.

He had a game plan. He stuck with it. Didn't want to go on the ground. I had him trying to submit Nate, you know, like in the third round or something, something completely out of whack. I know he's been preparing for that, but he let his ego go, man. He's like, you know what? I'm going to stick to my game. I'm going to stick to what I know.

I'm going to try to pick him apart. And Nate took his shots, man. He took him like a champ, but he can't push him forward. and he tried to, you know, try to break them with that ability. You know, I do that same kind of thing. Take some shots and pushed forward. And it didn't work. You know, it kind of came out victorious.

Who do you think, won the fight? Like, who did you score it for? Do you recall? I scored for Nade just because I'm just kind of biased. It's because I name one. Okay. I mean, but it's, I mean, it is what it is. We're all fighters in this division.

You know, he can't pick both of those kind of late. You know, but Connor won, you know, you picked them up with some, you know, some knockdowns. And, you know, you're just a better fighter that night. the judges fought, you know, people on Twitter immediately posted up the stats. It was kind of funny, but fuck, fuck, whatever. I was able to go fight. I appreciate that you say your bias.

A lot of people would not, you know, admit that. So props to you there. He's going to California, dude, he's cool, whatever. Yeah, yeah. When you hear them talking 155 and potentially fighting for the belt at 155, does a party you say, whoa, whoa, slow your role. I'm not going to get leapfrogged here. Do you get a little worried?

Either way, man, it's going to be all these fighters in this vision. I have like a lot of talent, man. It's not going to be like it's going to be an easy fight to get there. Oh, you skip me or you skip that? No. I said it before in the press conference. I said I was going to pick everybody apart. I've got three other guys to go,

and next one line is Hoffalo dos aanos. So if they want to have a lottery ticket when I get to that position when I'm fighting for the belt, and that's fine. Good for them. They got there when I'm there. You know, so I'm not really too worried about it. Right now I got a couple things going for me.

I'm flipping my house, which is great. You know, I'm being a father and a husband and just not in that particular order, man. It's just life is good right now. I'm enjoying the process. We're going to Mexico City, which is dope. I always wanted to, and now it's happening, so now I've got to prove myself. Elevation is going to be a trip, dude. I'm going to have to train my ass off for this fight.

RDA is no joke. How are you going to prepare for that elevation? We saw what it did to the likes of Kane Velasquez and many others as well. Yeah, I've seen what happened to them, too. And I was like, no, I'll be fired. I'm just going to train out of home. I know myself, I'm never out of condition. Yeah, we're going to do training masks and blah, blah, blah.

Now, we're going to go, we're going to train, dude. We're already assembled my manage myself. We're going with a game plan. I can't tell you all of it. But it will be elevation training. I'll tell you that. Oh, wow. There is a couple different spots.

We might be traveling in country, out of country. You're going to see a change in me, man. This is a cool little spot for me to be able to present myself different to the world. So this is the opportunity. I wanted when I wasted on Lando. But now it's the opportunity with a good, credible name. Now I can show it. Will you be going to Mexico early to adapt to that, you know, the Mexico City air,

all that stuff, will you go earlier than usual? Oh, probably. Okay. What do you think, Eric? I'm not done. I'm going to go out there. I'm going to kick the masses fight. So I'm going to do everything in my power necessary that I have to.

Okay. It's the small sacrifices that we have to make today that we're going to get to where we've got to get to tomorrow. That is true. I see that rolling gold. I have a spot on my shelf for that belt. And I know I'm building around it, man. It's not going anywhere. I don't know what place is going with me.

I'm going up. Do you literally have a spot already picked out for the belt? Oh, yeah. I have a spot already for my ultimate fighter trophy, and that's the one where I knocked everybody out at 170, if everybody forgot. Yeah. Yeah, the other one's going to be for $155.

Wow. And so then I'm going to have to make another spot for my 170-pound belt. But that's laid at all. Leslie Smith said something interesting before you came on. She said that, you know, Connor and Nate have up to everyone's pay and the spotlight on the sport, and it really has affected all the other fighters in a positive way. Do you agree with that? Oh, of course.

It brings so much a good attention towards the sport. You can't be negative when you're having a lot more eyes watching this. A lot more celebrities, a lot more like NFL, MLB. Professional athletes look to us like we're the royalty, man. That's dope. you know, I'm sitting there and I'm looking at these guys and they're watching me and I get to do what I do best, which is naturally fighting. Yeah. And they're looking at me.

Like, I'm like something incredible. I'm like, shit, that's cool, man. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing. You guys keep doing what you're doing. You know, nothing really changes for me as far as, you know, like how people think or look at you. But as far as the sports concern, it's amazing. I think it's great. And I think it's the sports cleaning up and it's cool.

So an interesting spot for you because, you know, you were supposed to fight, Habib, In April, that didn't materialize. Then you're supposed to fight Mike Kiesa in the main event. That doesn't materialize, and you have to fight Landovinata. And for a second, it was like one of those classic, oh, no, did Tony look past Lando? What is going on in this first round? We've never really seen you in trouble like that before.

In hindsight, what happened? Did you take him lightly? What went wrong in that first round against Lando Vanada? I tried to straight out just boxing, like, right-handed, you know, instead of just the funky Tony Ferguson fight. You know, I went in there. I brought him my reliable jab, and I brought, basically just didn't want to hurt the kid, man.

He was a young kid, went in there and didn't really look at him like an Edson Barbosa or a Khabi fight. I prepared for him like any other UFC fight would, and he was tricky. The kid had good movement. You can't take anything from the kid. He trained hard, and the guys over at Jackson Wing prepared this kid for a very long time, so he was sharp. And, you know, preparing for a short-notice fight is dangerous as a cross-fight. It doesn't even matter who you're preparing for. Show-notice fights.

I've been that guy that always came in a wreck house, so I know that. after a fact. So, like I said, props would land in, but we didn't prepare for a stand-up fighter, man. We prepared as soon as I would grab somebody, I was going to choke him out. Choking necks, catching checks. What were you thinking in between the first and second?

Was a part of you kind of freaking out, like, what is going on here? Why have I not figured this guy out? Fuck, no. I was teaching this kid a lesson the second round. He could touch me the second round. He pissed me up, dude. I went in there the first round. I was going to put him away nice and soft.

And no, boom. Fucking, he hit me. good. I slipped a couple times if you guys go back and watch it. No excuse. That NACCHO. PCS sign sucks. I hate it. Slippery as hell. It's stupid. Take that shit out. I love I love NACCS. I swear, but they need

to fix that sign. Slippery is that. On the mat? Yeah, I slipped a couple times on the mat and you can watch the punches fly by my head. And I actually only take like one solid upper cut shot and I actually grapied out because I knew that shit was coming next which is that right cross and a couple other ones. I shripped out and gained good position.

He hit me, but it wasn't like I was in really, really dangerous positions, man. Like, you guys see me all the time. I went for, like, an arm bar in that other case instead of our arm travel. Preparing for that fight, dude, we won't even throw on any arm bars. As soon as I get to that position, I was like, look, this kid has absolutely

zero jiu-jitsu. I could feel it. I was like, nope. His scramble's good, but no jiu-jitsu. I was like, we need to get back to business. Coach gets me in the second round. He looks at him. He's like, get your shit together, man. I'm like, I know. I'm right. And I'm like, all right, cool. I get my shit together, and I'm like, all right, I start working against some other stuff.

I started being a little bit more fluid, and I started doing more Tony stuff. As soon as I snagged his neck, it was over, man. It was kind of lame, kind of put down. I should have snapped his head down, but as soon as I grabbed his neck, it was over. I was all right, let's go. You need to go to sleep, man. Do you think if you had beaten him in the first round very dominantly, you'd be fighting for the belt next?

No, probably not. Either way. I mean, even if I did, he wasn't a big name. I can't go up against, to be even saying about anything about Nate Orchard because it was in the same case. Yeah.

So I guess you have to go towards rankings and all that other BS, but for me it doesn't really matter. I had a good fight. The fans got a great fight. You know, we saved that whole week in fights, man. I heard the rest of the fights were kind of lame, but I was preparing for mine.

So it was a good fight. The kid got to say for his college education. And me too for my little kid, so it was good. So you're not upset that you're not fighting for the belt next, even though you have this long winning streak, you haven't lost since 2012, you know, unbeatable since then. You're not disappointed that you haven't been given this title shot yet?

No, because I want to test my skills against somebody that had the belt. Okay. I think this is where my skill sets are at. I'm ultimately fired a winner at 170. At 155, I'm always proven myself. I have nothing approved to any of the fans, but to myself, it's my skill set. I want to make sure I'm the shit, the man, the cheese, the heavy deed,

the guy that's the man, you know, at 155 pounds when I'm there. Not leaving. That's not going to be like the belt's going to flop around one or two fights. The belt hasn't been held for, what, three fights in a row or something like that. So, you know, when I get there, I want it to be the hardest fight that you could ever have, you know, or the man that's supposed to be the fight-fight. You know, if RDA is that fighter, then this is considered a title fight. You know, I'm looking at this as a title fight.

So, he better. And I'm not going to rob Khabib of an asshole than either. So if he has the belt, or Eddie Oliver, it doesn't matter, man. These are three great fighters. I'm blessed to be able to be here in this position. And I'm not going to waste it, man. I think it's a great opportunity for the fans to see a little more of my skills. And that's it, man.

That's it. I love this a fight game, and let's just go. Let's go. Did you watch his fight against Eddie Alvarez? Yeah, you look sharp, man. I mean, RDA didn't look too sharp, but as far as Eddie Alvarez, he looked sharp. Yeah. He didn't do too much in his last couple of fights.

You know, like, same as me. You know, like, everybody's like, well, he didn't do too much. You're going to get hated out, man, but it's smart. And we play it smart, and Eddie Smart, he knows what he's doing, and I won't give him too much props because I'm coming after him. But, you know, he got RDA's number that night, and anybody can get one of those shots any given day. but as a guy who's about to fight RDA,

did you learn anything? Like, did you see any, as a short fight, but, I mean, did he help put out the blueprint how to beat RDA, Eddie Alvarez? There's a already blueprints, man. You put the pressure on this, you test this conditioning, you test the cardio,

you test the heart and the will. That's how you beat RDA. Okay. That's how you beat RDA. Anything else, you want to try to knock them all? You try to center your focus on one little thing, it ain't going to happen. It's going to take decision,

and good power it's going to put away this guy, and I have both. Have you been told that Habib is getting the title shot? I don't know I haven't paid attention, dude. That dude's funny. You guys are great together.

It's such a shame that we haven't seen you fight yet because you guys are so entertaining together. Oh, man, yeah, I can't wait. Even if we get the train with each other, it would be cool. I'd like to shake his hand. What? I'm just kidding, man. I'd like to want to do that dude right in the States.

Are you hoping he gets the title shot and wins the belt so that you can finally fight him with the largest prize on the line? There were some rumors I heard that, I don't know, I don't know or thank him much, and say, hey, what you think about Khabib and Barbosa. So I don't know if you know anything about that, but I heard he was going to fight Ed's in Barbosa. No, no, not true. Not true. No, not true.

Not true. I thought it had been interesting. I would like to see him be picked apart by another striker. You think Barbosa beat him? I think Barbosa scrambles too much for Kobebosso's got one of the best scrambles in the UFC, man. Besides that, you know, Kar, I mean, not Karib, he's got no hands. I think Barbosa beats him with the hands.

He doesn't have a straight jab, so he can't beat Barbosa with that. So it's kind of hard. If he gets to his hits, I think Barbosa is just too much, man, beat them with knees and elbows and punches. Wow. Wow. That would be big. But no, it's not happening, so you don't have to worry about that.

Who do you think wins, Habib or Eddie, if they do fight? Honestly, I don't give a shit. I hope they both knock each other up. I mean, if Khabib and Eddie, if Eddie stops to beat shots, he's going to pick him apart. You know, and Eddie's boxing's not that great. He's all right. But it's better than Kibib, so, like I said, but Kabe's a one-trick pony, and if you don't take care of that knee and he takes to eat some leg kicks, he can be out.

True or false. This time next year, Tony Ferguson is the lightweight champion. True. I will be the champion. It would be kind of nice. I hear it's nice around this time of year. It'd be nice to take a vacation. celebrate with my dogs.

So I think next year will be great. I mean, I hope you at least get the title shot. Geez, one more. Have you been told if you fight and beat RDA that it's a guarantee? Have you been at least told that? No, I haven't been told shit, dude. I've been told that if I win, that's it. I really don't talk to the brass too much, man.

I keep it my own. So, you know, I'll send Dana text and see what's up. But I really have, man. I keep to myself. I really don't worry about what's next on the page because I already have an idea. And the title shot's there, I'll take it. But I'm not looking for handouts, man. This is not how I won.

This is not how I got on this game. I've earned everything that I've ever had and fought for. So if it's a title shot, then it's cool. It's not, whatever, dude. I'm not suffering here. I'm getting performance of the night, so I have eight victories in a row. I'm 11 and 1 in the UFC. Yeah.

That's pretty dope, man. Yeah, I know. How many things I got? I got 20, I don't know. I can go on and off for records and darses and all that shit. I don't know if I'm not about. that. But that's the thing.

Step by step, and it's a marathon. I was a friend, dog. Eight in a row, and if you win nine in a row, that's not a handout. That's like actually doing more than I think anyone to ever get a title shot. Oh, I hope so. It would be cool. If I have to get to 10 to get the title shot, I'm going to turn out a resume and bring it back to their office. Look, guys.

Let's talk. You and Dana, you guys are on a texting basis. You text a lot? Yeah, we're sure. About as much as Brock. I mean, when I have to, when I want to do, I'm not going to waste my time trying to just talk to yes. in the training room every day. You know, I don't have to.

They already know what's up with me. They see me on the ultimate fighter. They know what they got, man. They got a champion. I don't have to talk my way into the title. What's your take on this whole Brock's situation? Oh, that's shit, man. That sucks.

I think it just sucks. Are you disappointed? He texted me after the fight saying congratulations and stuff and I don't know what to say to him, but I gave him a, you know, I said congratulations. I was coming back. It was good to see a fight. And, you know, that was about it.

but it sucks you don't have to see like that are you disappointed you can say disappointed but I mean it is what it is is it disappointed in the drug testing

or is it you know disappointed in Brock you know it's kind of like the shit should have been said and he shouldn't have been able to fight yeah so it goes hand to hand but either way

it happens it happens he's gonna get his fine and stuff and so whatever you know it sucks so we try to keep the sport clean you know so I have to say it like that It sucks. You know, they'll have to take just whatever.

But for me, I think it's great. It's that one step closer towards the Olympics and, you know, that. Have you talked to him since all the news came out? Yeah, like right afterwards. Like after I fought. Yeah, but I don't think the news was out yet when you fought, or was it? No, no, no. It was after my fight.

Like, a little bit after. Oh, okay. For a while. Yeah, dude. Like, no, he sent me a text. I was like, oh, that's good. I talked to him a little bit, you know, just like anything else, like my coach. Yeah.

but then you didn't ask him about like the testing and all that no that's kind of weird man I'm like to ask him about that shit just be like yeah what's a scoop man did you do it did you know what's happening that fuck you Tony did you watch summer slam last night he was in the main event no I didn't you don't watch that right no I haven't did I've been so busy I've been remodeling my house I bought a house on Orange County and just been having that

and just putting in like a lap pool and I put in a gym in my garage so my man cave is actually my garage which is huge. He's got like wooden floor, green turf. I got a 12 by 12 ring, mirrors. It's pretty cool. Well, congrats on that. Congrats on the baby.

And congrats on the big fight. November 5th, Mexico City, ultimate fighter finale, Tony Ferguson versus Hafeld de Sanjos. Love the fight. Certainly think you've done enough to warrant the title shot, but I certainly respect your take on the fight

and your attitude when it comes to all of this. It's very commendable. So I wish you the best, Tony. Thank you for the insight. appreciate you coming on today. Well, I appreciate it, man. Don't get it wrong. I'm pissed.

I'm very upset about I'm not getting a title shot. Oh, okay. Taking in a different light, man. I'm just taking a whole different route, saying, you know, I've got to use this energy towards good positive stuff. We'll hit the bags and release that energy and put it towards a good thing. So, you know, you'll see some greatness out of me. And thank you guys for having, man.

All right. Looking forward to it. There he is. El Kakui himself, Tony Ferguson, big fight for him in November. Okay. One of the big stories on Saturday, UFC 202, of course, we talked about Connor, Anthony Johnson, number one contender now in the light heavyweight division.

13 second knockout of Glover Tashira. Cowboy Soroni remains undefeated at 170 pounds, but make no mistake about it, one of the big stories, one of the gigantic stories, this past weekend in Las Vegas. Cody Garbrandt finishing Tcha Muzugaki in a mere 48 seconds, beating Dominicruz's time of 61 seconds, what a performance he continues to impress.

He remains undefeated, and he wants a shot at that belt. And we are talking to Mr. No Love right now on the phone. Cody, are you there? Yes, I'm here. Congratulations on the win. Thank you, brother. What a performance, wow, blown away by it, you continued to blow us away. I'm wondering, at any point in the preparation for this fight,

were you thinking, I need to beat his record, I need to beat this guy in less than 61 seconds? Was that on your mind? You know what? A lot of fans and people brought that up. But it was never in my mind to go out there and beat him faster than Dominic Cruz on my own person. I knew that once I found his chin, I said in every interview once I found the opening, he was going to sleep. He would crumble with the first hard shot that I hit him with.

And that's what happens. How would you describe... It happened to be just 48 seconds into the first round. Amazing. How would you describe your confidence right now? Like, are you just on cloud nine? Are you just riding high? Because it seems like just watching you, media,

just how you handle yourself in the cage, you are oozing confidence. That's what it feels like. Is that accurate? I'm very confident. I'm very confident myself. The thing is that I believe in myself. Not only that I believe myself,

I have coaches that stand behind me and I believe in me and supporters and just so many people that stand behind me and believe myself. So the confidence grows. The comments growing and growing. Like I said, that was my 10th time. that I was out there 10 time, my professional career that I went out there.

And, you know, I've been sharper my skills ever since I moved out to Team Alpha Mail. I went out there at 1-0 and I've been putting in work and grinding and sacrifice and it's all paying off. You know, I'm now 10-0 and my time is now for the title show. I feel like the team sort of owes you a debt of gratitude. I know they've done a lot for you. There's no doubt about that. But you have almost single-handedly squashed any of the Alpha-Mail losing streak, alpha male, state of transition, not finding a coach,

like the chemistry that you, Danny Castillo, Justin Buckholz, Holdsworth, all these guys, like you seem to just be clicking on all cylinders and no one talks about this, you know, alpha male losing streak or anything like that, almost single-handedly because of you. Have you noticed that? You know, I wouldn't say single-handedly

because of me, I just go out there and perform. You know, they're the ones that are in there day-in-day, you know, more times than I am. You know, they're logging up more hours than I am. They're in there. More motivated, more dedicated. So when you have great coaches that are, you know, as dedicated or more dedicated to see you succeed and the team succeed

and, you know, get us back on track. It all falls into place. I just go in there, show up every day in practice, give 110% with their guidance and their techniques that they teach us. I'm a sponge him in there, absorbing everything. I don't know any fighter in the U.S. UFC or any gym in the UFC that has, you know, that's a fighter that fights in the UFC that has three UFC fighters in their corner, not only in their corner, but watching their progress,

watching their training, pushing them to the limits every single day. I don't see any gym out there that has three X UFC fighters that's sharping their skills. It also feels like to me the UFC is really getting behind you. And it's nice to see sometimes they pinpoint a guy you were fighting on the FS1 prelims, but these days being on pay-per-view prelims, it really doesn't mean all that much, but they're sending you out to L.A. to do media. They're booking you on all these shows.

You know, it feels like they're really getting behind you. Have you noticed that as well? Do you notice that extra push that they're giving you? Yeah, and I mean, it's rightfully deserving. Yeah. I'm the most talked about being away in my division. And, you know, I'm the reason why it's being talked about so highly and that's, you know, coming back.

I'm going out there knocking these guys. and ask for title shots. And, you know, Dominic Cruz is the champion for how long. And people, you know, really didn't, it wasn't a draw. Now it's back to being Van der Waite division, you know, talking about as, you know, being one of the most, you know, deep pools, you know, coming back with star power. And then, you know, I'm the cream of the crop in that division. And I'm rightfully so deserving for a title shot.

So Dominic Cruz was on the Dan Lebitard show this morning on ESPN Radio, and I had a chance to listen to it. They asked him about you, of course. And he says that you need to get more practice before fighting him, that you're not even fighting top five guys, and you're not even a top five fighters. And he said, in fact, you've gone backwards in the rankings. You've gone from Almeda to Mizugaki.

What's your response to Dominic's critique? My response to his critiquing is that he's a little bitch, first off, and he's scared. I went up to him before the fight. we walked in, we're getting, you know, security patted down. He was sitting around there. I just went up to him to let him know, hey, I'm going to knock the K out, and then you're next. And you should see how scared that dude was.

He was looking around to see how he was up in his face. He was scared to see him around that security was going to break it up, you know, and he wanted to bring up daddy issues and this and that. He was so scared that his voice was weakening out like a little bitch when he was trying to talk shit back to me. He was, and it was hilarious. I felt the energy of how scared he was. And he's a dead man when I locked horns with him,

just a matter of time. And him critiquing me saying that I'm going back in rankings, it's like, okay, I don't understand it. I could see if I had a horrible performance with Takeda. I knocked that dude out faster than you knocked him out. I beat him faster than you'd be him. You're going to say that critique me. That's why he wants to say, even I heard an interview about he gets hit 30%, 30%, he

have a 30% chance hitting me. Dude, you give me 1% chance of fighting your chin. I'm knocking you the fuck out. That's plain and simple. I got a 90% knockout rate. You want to talk about statistics? That's what he talks about stats. That's numbers, buddy.

He wants to talk about numbers because he's a point fighter, and point fighters go off numbers and points. I'm a knockout artist, and he's going to be on the receiving in a vicious knockout. So what happens there? Saturday, you're in the back getting taped up, and he comes into your locker room, or where are you when you see him? No, we're walking into the arena. I see him just sitting right there, so I went up to him, just let him know, hey.

What did you say? I just walked up Miami. I walked up Miami. He's like, what's up, man, like, I thought we were cool. I'm like, we ain't cool on what's up, man. Me, motherfucker you want to sit there and talk shit in the media about me being fatherless and this and that. Then he like spout off like, F you and all this.

And I was like, that's all right, man. I said, hey, I'm a knock the K out in your neck. Man. I said, just get ready for it. I said, can't run. I said, I just slapped you right now. You're like, I got a fight. You know, and he was just trembling and fear.

I could feel his body radiating fear from me. Wow. I felt bad for the guy. He was looking. He was. He was, he was, had fear. I could see. I could feel it off.

I can feel it off. I can judge someone by, you know, body, language, and eyes. He was scared looking around, looking like, security, we come stop this. You know, we come get this animal out of me, can get this savage away from me, and that's what he's going to be trying to do, run in there. I should just re-box to give him a pair of shoes just to run the whole time in the fight. But it's fine. 30% chance, you give me 1% chance.

I'm knocking them out. It's a five-round fight, even greater. I got five rounds to do it. Did he get physical? Did you get fit? Like were any, you know... He hasn't get physical? He's never gone physical.

When does he ever get physical? That guy is bitch-made. Wow. And then you just walked away, or he walked away first? I think I got grabbed up by... Okay. It was something. I don't know who it was, but yeah, he was...

I think he shook him. I think he gave him a couple hundred bucks and told him, thanks for breaking that up. Did you have... He had gone and look all pretty and talk all the shit. He didn't want to get beat up then. That was actually my next question. question, did you know that he was in the arena? Like, could you, did you, did you have him sort of picked out? Did you know where he was when you fought? I was looking for him after the

fight and I thought he was, I heard he was there, but, you know, for his safety, they had him up in the Fox booth because, you know, I would have probably jumped the cage and, I don't know, his and stuff, but, you know, he got, came on the screen saying, come on, he wanted it. I was like, he can act tough behind the screen, you know, behind a desk and that's, are you still there? Yeah, I'm still here. I'm loving it. I thought I was beeping in the New York call. No, no. But yeah, you know, he's acting like, you know, calling Cruz out.

He was wanting it, you know. That's fine. He's going to get it, you know. Now he's got to get ready, mainly and physically for me. So backstage, you go backstage. At any point, did you talk to the UFC brass? Have they told you that you're going to get Cruz next? Yeah, not yet.

You know, I'm just kind of waiting. You know, we'll see when we sit down and do some numbers. Do some numbers and, you know, they get. paid. Something about, you know, I'm going to get paid in this game. Yeah. The most market was banning the division. So I want to definitely get paid and, you know, go take that title and defend it and be

a champion for a while. So when you say, do some numbers, like, is your contract up? Do you want a new contract? What do you mean by that? Yeah, I mean, I would like a new contract. I'm playing for the world title, hopefully next. You know, and I brought the division back, so I would like to, you know, definitely get paid and, you know, to be the champion.

I'm going to be one of the greatest Bannam weights. I'm going to dethrone, you know, so-called the best pound-for-pound ban on division that he said he wiped out the division once. He's going to do it again. But, you know, I'm very highly confident in myself of knocking Dominic out. Are you confident they'll give you a new contract that you will get paid? Yeah, I'm very confident. Very confident that they will.

I trust in them. Like I said, I bring Star Power. I brought the division back, and I'm the most exciting fighter. I think of one of the most exciting fighters on the roster. I know the new UFC owners were there. Ari Emanuel, did you meet any of them backstage after the fight? I met a few of them on Thursday before the media is scrum. So it was a pleasure to meet them and I went through my media obligations

and just was focused on the fight. But yeah, it's a pleasure to meet them all and hopefully, you know, just keep gaining that relationships with them and bigger things to come. So interestingly enough, Brian Carraway's team told me that they reached out to Sean Shelby and said that they want you next, that Caraway has specifically asked for you. What do you make of this? That's funny, because that dude turned me down twice.

That dude turned me down twice. He's a bigger bitch and dominant Cruz. And, yeah, so he doesn't, he knows because I'm the next in line for a title shot. Now he wants to keep his name relevant. All these fighters want to throw their name with me. You know, they want to throw their name in with the best just to get a chance just to get in there.

And they know I'm the real deal. They know I'm going to be the next champion, so they want to, you know, and now I'm the big fight. You know, I'm the big fight in the division, all the band and weight guys. So obviously all these guys are going to want to be, you know, calling me out to fight me now. But it's funny, Brian, you know, you were supposed to be my last fight, but you said you were hurt. And that's why Takaa stepped up and took the fight.

So he turned me down twice, and that's, yeah, the first time because I wasn't ranked. and then this time, I think, just because I was finally ranked, and then he said I was hurt. And I was before all that. So it's a point that he went to grow some balls and calm me out. So has that train left the station? Are you no longer interested in him? Oh, man, Brian Careway is, you can't, look, you can't force fighters a fight.

That guy isn't a fighter. I don't even know why he's in the division. You know, I really don't. I think he should just go and hang it up and be a coach. You don't want to fight anybody. You know, he doesn't. He doesn't want to fight anybody, you know. He got a win over a very overhyped opponent last fight and thinks that he deserves a title shot about that.

I don't think so. Are you at all worried that they'll go with the Dilleshire rematch first? No, I don't. You know, you put Raphael Sincar in front of me. Layout, I knock Raffa Sincal. I thought DJ was just fighting just a win just to keep his name relevant in the top. You know, I'm going out there and finishing fighters. I'm going out to finish the fighters in our first round.

No matter what the rank is, I'm going up there and rightfully so deserving in a title shot. And like I said, I'm the most entertaining fighter in my division. And I go out there and perform with the pressure, whatever. You know, with everything riding on the line, I go out there perform. I go in there, control what I can control, and that's going out there and knocking them out. Yeah, it is an unbelievable resume that you have developed. Also, you've developed quite the wardrobe.

We're getting a little taste of it in your picture on the screen right now. David August, the legendary David August, is your tailor now? Is this true? Yeah, we did a little bit of business together. He'll get me right for this fight week in the media. So shout out to David August for the suits. They can look good. Well, how did that relationship?

I look good. I feel good. I'm going to fight good. I mean, David August, reserved for the creme de la creme, including Lorenzo Furtita, that's his personal guy. How did this relationship, those are expensive, of suits, right? I mean, those are like 10 Gs. Yeah, I don't know.

Look at you. Just, yeah, look at me. I finally making it. That's awesome. But that comes with it. You know, I just got to go out there and keep performing and lower willingly, you know, stay injuries free and have longevity in this career. And, you know, I feel like I'm a last of a dying breed.

I'm a fighter. I'm a fighter, I'm a purebred. And I want to change a sport. bringing back to those days that, you know, like I said, my lasso dying breed, I'm a fighter, I go out there and fight. You know, everything else that comes with it is fine, but at the end of the day, I'm a fighter, and that's what I enjoy to do.

I enjoy the process of becoming the world champion, process of becoming the best fighter in the world, and that's all I can control. Whatever else is the suits, the cars, the fame, the money, that's all nice, but my passion's fighting. It's the only thing I had when I had nothing. Yeah, I kind of feel like he should be paying you to wear those damn suits. I mean, you look so damn good in those suits with the hair and the beard and the tattoos and everything.

I hope he's paying you. You shouldn't be paying a penny for those, right? Yeah, that's right. Maybe I'll have to get them up and see what's up. They actually just came out with the purses for 202, and it said you got 27 and 27. Is that accurate? Yeah, I got 27 27. Yeah, we need to change that.

Yeah, we need to change that. I want some big money. I feel like I, you know, I'm a good ticket, I enjoy, I enjoy, I enjoy the whole fight week, the fight, the training. Like I said, I'm a fighter, and that's what I enjoy it. So I like to get, you know, paid my worth. And I think that's coming. I trust in the UFC and the people who are the behind it that are going to, you know,

definitely, you know, make that right. And then that's all I can hope for. And then, you know, get back to the gym, get back to the grind and get this world title because it's been a dream of mine since I was a teenager and I'm right there. I truly believe that I'm destined to be the world champion and bring that belt back to my hometown and give it to Maddox Maple. It's something that he's held on to that he fought for his life just for a dream to walk me down and to have that belt.

So it's in my control and I know that I have, I know my responsibilities when I step in there with Dominant Cruz and that's, you know, for however long it is. So I knock him out, I have to go and get that belt. And he's the only man that's one man that stands away from me. You know, in the way, I've had greater things than just a man. I've had greater things of just Dominic Cruz that stand in the way to try to steal a dream for me. So I'm very confident in myself going out there and putting Dominic Cruz on his back and, like I said, breaking his jaw for every word he said about me.

He, it feels to me, like you kind of feel like he's made this personal talking about your father and things like that. Did he cross the line in your opinion? You know what? For me, for many people, I think he has. You know, it's like, I don't know, I don't know anybody that comes from, you know, that American dream, you know, that's a perfect home. It's a lot of broken homes and fans in America and around the world. You know, I let that go while, you know, forever, because I never had daddy issues or nothing. I mean, I've had, you know, maybe I didn't have my father in my life, my biological father, but I had a lot of father figures that helped me out. I had a mother that was, I mean, I couldn't, I couldn't, I could not ask the

Lord for a stronger, more loving, caring mother than I was blessed with. And, you know, I didn't need a father. I had a mom that was my mom and father for a time being in child, I was adopted, and I have a stepdad and adopted father. So for them to go out there and say I had daddy issues, It's definitely crossing the line, you know, because I know a lot of people who do deal with that, you know, use that and you have bad issues. You know, like, why are you going to, you can talk shit about all you want about me and my tattoos, my hair, my fighting. But you're going to bring it into, like, family. My family doesn't need to be brought into this. You're talking about a lot of people in America, like, because they have daddy issues and they come from broken families.

Like, so that I believe that he definitely crossed the line. And for everyone that's out there, that's, you know, fatherless and it comes from broken family. for them. This is for the, you know, this is for the underdogs. I thought after the foot. Yeah, I was going to beat his ass just for those words alone. You know, you can say whatever you want, but he's a dumb, he needs to quit talking because this thing, it just fuels me up, fires me up. I love the banner back and forth and it makes me more hungry. Like, I grew up street fighting, you know, and rather, I grew up in that. I grew up with the talk. That never loses focus. That makes me more focus, more angry, more mad.

And I'm already a savage in there, so you get that, you get more, more, motivated. for me to hurt somebody, I'm going to go in there and do it even, you know, 100 times more. Yeah, he should definitely be scared because you should be thankful that there's going to be a referee in there because I'm going to be raining down vicious strikes over his body. Jeez, Louise, I want to pay $200. They should charge $200 for this pay-per-view. Tremendous stuff, Cody. And your delivery is fantastic as well. I know you're not putting on an act. It's just like you're so even keel that you're like the American psycho, you know what I'm saying? And that's a compliment, by the way.

Man, I'm going to, yeah, for sure. Like Dominic, man, he's definitely, definitely lost a lot of respect for him for the choice words that he has said. Like I said, he can say anything about me, but bringing in about coming from a broken family, man, like you all the thing, I came from the struggle, you know what I mean? So that's nothing to me. Like I said, I've had far greater things than Dominic, dork-ass crew standing in front of me is trying to steal a dream.

And he just had to fuel to the fire, and I'm really going to go out there and break his jaw. and I stay behind everything I say. I back up everything I say 100%. And this is going to be no difference when I step in the cage and I lock horns with him. And belt or no belt, have you ever felt this way about a potential opponent before?

Yeah, I feel like almost every opponent. I'm not there to be your friend, man. I'm really like I'm a down-to-earth dude, you know, humble, and, you know, very thankful for the positions that I'm in and where I'm at in life and when I overcame. But when it's fight week, fight day, I'm no love. I don't shake your hand.

I don't look at you the same. I look through you. I stare straight at you. I see everything. I see everything that you're feeling in your mind. I can just look straight through you and know that. I smell fear. I smell fear, radiant.

I smelled it. I felt it radiant off his body. And he wasn't even fighting me that day. Think about that. When he's fighting me, he's got to know shit. I'm going in there with this psycho for possibly 25 minutes of him just ripped me. just ripping my head off, you know, just going in there and take me out, you know, and he can be on his, you know, run game as much as he wants, but I got world-class cardio,

I got precision, I'm speed, I got power, I'm the total package, I'm the total package to throw in this dork. Last quick thing, just to reiterate what you said after the fight, you want this to be December 30th, you're not looking at that Sacramento card, which seems like a natural for you because you train out of Sacramento, you want this big pay-per-view, New Year's Eve, is that what you're thinking? That's what I'm thinking. I think it's going to be a great, you know, pay-per-view it.

You know, I'm a star on the rise, and I'm bringing, you know, like I said, I'm a last of a dying breed. I think it should be pay-per-view. But I know his little bitch guys says I want to come to Sacramento and get, you know, and get beat up. So I say Vegas neutral. It's neutral. He brings his fans.

I bring my fans. I'm bringing way more fans than him, anyone he's ever fought. So I'd say a neutral city in Las Vegas. I know he does want to come to Sacramento. Unbelievable. Cody, tremendous stuff. Congratulations on another impressive win. Good luck getting the fight, getting paid, all that stuff.

And wow, you have blown us away yet again. Really, really impressive. I appreciate your time on this Monday. Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right, there he is. Cody Garbrandt.

No nonsense Garbrand. No love, no nonsense. Wow. Holy crap. Blown away by that. amazing stuff from Cody Garbrand. Okay, let's move along. Again, one of the big winners on Saturday night,

Mike Perry took this fight on less than two weeks notice. He defeated Heng Yu Lim in his UFC debut and raised a lot of eyebrows. Before the fight, after the fight, during the fight, a memorable debut to say the least. He's joining us on the phone right now. Mike, how are you? I'm great, man.

How are you? I'm doing very well. Thank you for the time. How would you describe your debut week in the UFC? Was this everything that you dreamed? of and more? Absolutely just like that. Everything and more.

Did you feel any pressure going into it considering how big this card was? You were on the pay-per-view main card, fighting a veteran. I mean, you've been in the sport for a little bit now, but nothing quite like this. Did you feel any extra pressure? Surprisingly, no. Are you the type that does feel

pressure? I have before. I remember being extremely nervous before and fights, but it's really just gone away. I've really begun to believe in my abilities more and more, I guess. And, I mean, there was a moment where I felt a little bit of nerves. And when that moment was, was when his big ass walked into the octagon. And I looked at how big he was.

And I was just like, dang. But then it just, I was like, well, fuck it. Happy to be here. Boom. And it went away. What about just the experience, you know, media and all those people at the Wayans and all that stuff? Are you the kind of guy that enjoys that?

It seemed like you were hyped up, especially at the Wayans. Do you enjoy that? Do you feed into that? Yeah, I'd say so. I always, I don't know, I just, I feed into my own energy and the energy around me. And there was a lot of energy in that building that night. You walked on the stage, gave high-fives to the Okgun girls. Were you feeling their energy?

Did you think that they liked the high-fives? I don't care if they liked it or not. Okay. And then you went for the, you know, you extended the handshake and then you pulled it back and some people thought that, you know, that might be a little bit like you're pissing off the MMA gods. Why did you do that? The MMA gods.

There's only one God. I pray to him every day. Which one is he, by the way? Which one are you praying to? Jesus Christ. Okay. I did that because I don't care about any of my opponents. It's like feelings or I have no remorse for you during that time.

Like I came on when Cody was talking. It's fight week. It's fight time. Fuck you. And now, as you probably know, because I've seen you address it, it seemed like one of your cornermen had some, controversial comments about Lim. Can you clear this up? Were those racist comments? Were those offensive comments? I guess I said something about it, which it wasn't my place. I think it needs to

be taken up with him, that individual. Okay. Or my words. I can't speak for another man. I do know that man well. I know he's a kind-hearted individual who loves all people. He comes crossed, and unless he is crossed by those people, but I don't believe there was any harm intended. And that's all I got to say about that. Everything else should be taken up with him. Who was it that said it? Because we couldn't see him, obviously, because it was just the audio. Man, y'all just want me to snitch on the air. No, no, just to clear it up, because you're getting some of the heat, and you didn't say it, which I don't think is very fair to you. But if you don't feel comfortable, I understand.

I appreciate that understanding. Okay. But obviously, I mean, is it fair to say that you don't share those sentiments? Because, you know, people are understandably upset over it. What sediments? What he said... What he said about Limb? What did he say?

People may have taken it wrong. Okay. I think people's opinion on this has been blown way out of proper. abortion and they need to calm down. It seemed like he was talking about, you know, his facial features and if it is what people thought he was saying, I think it's fair to categorize it as insulting. I don't know. I don't think any of my competition can see me.

And when I hit limb, I opened a lot of people's eyes. Okay. But this was before you hit him. Well, we can see the future. What did you think of the stoppage? Did you think it came a little late? No. I was trying my best to just be able to walk away from it,

but he could take a hell of a shot. He wouldn't go to sleep. Were you surprised how long he lasted, given the shots you were landing? A little bit, a little bit, yeah. I watched the fight a couple times, and I see some things I need to work on. in that type of position.

My precision should be a little better. And I was patient enough. I was good enough there. I felt like my speed could have been better. So those are things I'm going to work on. So despite the quick finish, you're not 100% content with your performance, it sounds like. No.

I always have many things to work on. I am young and I do have a long way to go. But they just prove how dangerous I am in this world and this division and fighting in general because I'm a step above and I still have floors to climb. Afterwards, you raised some eyebrows as well because you weren't talking about, you know, the lower end of the division. You were calling out Robbie Lawler and Johnny Hendrix.

You'd like to make that big of a jump? I don't know if I see it as a jump. I feel like those two men, I will destroy them. I feel like there might be a number 20 who's probably better that I'm not seeing. You know, I don't, I'm not the biggest, like, I don't follow the whole top 50. I don't know who's up there. I don't know who's in, you know, everybody in the division. But I will fight any man at 170 pounds.

And I will do it. my best and I'm pretty confident in my best ability to come out victorious. If you had your ideal scenario for your next friend in the UFC, you could pick one opponent, doesn't matter way class, who's that guy? Is there a guy that comes to mine? I think I'm working on, what's his name, Cody Covington or something? Oh. Covington, because he fought that night and he said, nobody in the division can handle his pressure. Well, I'm somebody.

so let's see if he wants to fight somebody not a nobody okay i'm ready to get back in there as soon as possible cut another check and break another neck why do they call you platinum few reasons i like to be like i'm trying to be like iron mike but twice the skills i'm very um the word like i conduct a lot of energy and I can absorb a lot of energy and, you know, they use, they use platinum, like they use gold in some electronic ways, you know, I'm going a little farther with it, but it's like, I don't know, if we wanted to set up a satellite to talk to God, you'd probably make it out of a platinum so it could reach across the universe. the energy would stretch far and beyond anything we've ever known.

And it's a precious object. It's wanted, hard to obtain. There's many reasons. Did you notice that Mike Tyson was in attendance on Saturday? I did. I seen him on the TV when I was in the back warming up, and I shouted him out. I was actually hoping to meet him, but one day I will.

I mean, what are the chances? Your nickname is sort of homage to him, and he's there for your debut, obviously saw you, must have appreciated what you did, given, you know, his history of knocking people out. And, yeah, that would have been a nice way to cap a very memorable week, I would think. I hope so. I have seen Mike Tyson drop a few people with the forearm punch, like that through. So I understand that you have a heart out. You have to be somewhere at 3 o'clock. I do, but I'm sorry about that.

What do you got? What do you got at three? I have a very important meeting that I cannot miss due to courts. Due to courts? Yes, because I'm under probation and I have things that I have to oblige to. What are you under probation for? I was arrested five or six years ago for burglary. Okay.

And I was put on two years, community control, three years probation after being out on bond for a year. and I'm actually sitting outside that building right now waiting to walk in, but I wish I had more time to talk to you guys. So you were in jail for a year? Is that accurate? No, no, no. Oh. I was out on bond for a year. I did violate the community control.

Okay. With a failed drug screen, and I did almost six months in jail. Got out. They reinstated my probation. And I've been working on that ever since. I got less than a year. I should get out in May or July in between there of next year. But you're okay to travel, right?

Yes, they give me permission for work. I was just in Vegas. They gave me permission for that. Okay. So maybe this is, do you feel like this debut in the UFC and how well it went? This is the beginning of turning your life around and getting past this legal stuff? It's going to help you? Absolutely.

Absolutely. I mean, it's not even the beginning. I've been turning my life around. I've just been on probation for so long. I would say it has guided me in a better way, I guess. Okay. You know, I had to learn things the hard way in life. I didn't always have proper guidance, and I guided myself a lot, and probation kind of helped me, I guess. So I'm grateful for whatever God was my path, or I guess there's a plane over the head. I don't know. All right, well, we will leave it. Oh, go ahead. Yeah, please. I do want to say that I took one of my UFC checks, man. I cashed it today, and I'm walking around with $10,000 in my pocket because I never had that before.

I'm just walking around with that. It's in your pocket right now? It's in my pocket right now. I'm about to walk up in the probation building. Holy smokes. Are you going to put it somewhere, though? Like you actually have $10,000 in dollars or a check? $100 bills.

Are you going to put it in the bank, or are you going to just walk around with it? I'm probably about to go spend it. Okay. Maybe you should keep some of them. Okay. Put some money on a car. I bought a new iPhone. I changed my number.

I'm about to, when this phone goes off in a couple of days, I got a new number already. So I'm walking around with two phones right now and 10 grand in my pocket. Wow. And I'm in the hood. I'm in Stanford, Florida. I'm in the hood right now, but I don't care. Did you make 10 ground only, or was it 10 and 10? It was 10 and 10.

Okay, what about the other 10? It's sitting in the bank. Oh, okay. It's 8. I had to pay for MRI, MRI, MRA, physical. I had to pay for planning tickets. You know, I guess it was expensive, but, man, I appreciate you all talking to me. Okay.

I hope you have a great day. I've got to go outside and take care of business. Okay, good luck with that, Mike. And congrats. Thank you very much. See you again. All right. Platinum Mike Perry. How about that for a debut? Holy smokes. I was not expecting that, but that was fascinating on many levels. I hope he put some of that money in the bank. Congrats to him. Wow. All right. Let's move along now to our next guest. about that. A big part of Connor McGregor's training camp, a big part of his win on Saturday night,

in my opinion, is thanks in large part due to one of the newest additions to his team. Dylan Danis, BGJ Black Belt under Marcello Garcia from here in New York City. If you're a fan of BJJ, you have heard the name before. Very well known in those circles. And a lot of people raised a few eyebrows when they found out that he was teaming up with. Connor McGregor. He was in his corner on Saturday, and you saw a direct result from that partnership on Saturday. Connor looked like a different man when it came to take down defense. Never really went to the ground, but I think in large part due to what Dylan Dennis did, and he is joining us on the phone right now. Dylan, are you there? Yeah, I'm here, man. How are you doing? I'm doing great. I thought we lost you there for a second. What happened?

Well, today's my birthday, so I'm in Vegas, so let's. Okay. Happy birthday. It's a little crazy. Happy birthday. What time did you go to bed? I don't know if I slept yet, but it was good. My phone died, though, so I had to just get a charger. I'm good now. How old are you? I just turned 23, actually.

Well, congratulations on that, and happy birthday. Thank you. What a time to celebrate your birthday after the big win. This must be a dream, right? This has to be the best birthday of your life. Yeah, it's a surreal experience. We're having a great time out here. We really worked our asses all for this fight,

so now it's time to reap the reward of what, happened on Saturday night. Okay, so I won't take up too much of your time, but really wanted to talk about you and talk to you because you were one of the big stories going into this fight and, of course, after as well. If we can start at the beginning, how did you link up with Connor McGregor?

Man, honestly, it was very random. We kind of knew who each other were. Obviously, I was a big fan of Connor, and he knew about my jihitsu, and we kind of just linked up through friends and online. We got each other's number, and just, like, kind of

destiny kind of brought it together. You know, it was a perfect timing and it just clicked right away the first day I got there we just I don't know we just hit it off perfectly and since then I've been with him training for this fight and it kind of came kind of became personal for me because me and him became so close and I really wanted to help him out with this fight and it was just a great experience and it just happened truthfully like I came and explained how it happened it's his destiny how many weeks were you with him so I was a two weeks in Ireland I went to Ireland to train with him And then I came, I competed, and then I went back to Vegas.

So it was almost, I would say, all together, maybe like two months. Wow. Are you? Maybe a little bit less, yeah. Is it fair to say, like, are you exhausted now? Yeah, man, it was a rough camp. It was like I was going to fight on Saturday because in Vegas, I was living with Connor. We trained together every single day.

And at nighttime, we would do cardio sessions together. I mean, obviously the cardio was for him, but I did it with him, you know? Sure. So it was rough. You know, Conner's a workhorse, so we were grinding every single day, man. There was no rest. It was like I was in fight camp. I know you're relatively young, but have you ever been around someone that intense before an athletic competition?

Because I would imagine it's pretty intense being around him as he's preparing for such a big fight. Yeah, I mean, I train with a lot of great athletes in my time, but Conner's unique. You know, it's like, people ask me about him, and I can't really explain to him. You just got to meet him. He gives up this kind of energy that you can't describe. He's a very motivating person. He's always thinking about fighting. He's always thinking about kind of sequences.

He's just a different kind of fighter. He's not like these other guys, man. These guys do it just for fun. They do it just to make money or something like that. But Connor is just, this is his life, man. This is everything he thinks about. There's everything he breathes. So it's a really cool experience to live with him.

they kind of experienced the way he sees the fight game, you know. Are you going to be a part of all of his camps from here on now? Like, are you going to keep coming back, or was this just for Diaz? From what I'm hearing is that they want to bring me back. I mean, I can't lie. I mean, we close pretty well, you know. I kind of see him as a brother. Now we live together for this whole time.

We ate together. We trained together. We watched movies on night together. Like, it was like a brother and a husband. So I think, like, like, Like, whatever it happens in the future, you know, he's always going to be my good friend and whatever he needs me. I'll be there, you know, so yeah, hopefully it's going to, we're going to stay together and keep training. Was that your first time cornering a UFC fighter?

Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was my first time. What a way to start? What was that like for you? Just the emotions, the walkout, being in there, watching it in full. What was that like? It was super emotional because I know what went into this fight. I know what we did every day.

So I seen what he put in this, so I really, I felt like I was emotionally in it. So I wanted him to win so bad. And like, if you could see it in the corner, I was, I was super emotional, you know, and I was yelling at him just to keep pushing because he worked for that night, you know, and he outworked. He hasn't in the preparation. It wasn't done. What happens in the fight, what happens in the fight, but beforehand, we put in so much work.

So it was super emotional, I mean, but it was a really cool experience. I mean, I don't think anybody can buy something like that to feel. that I had that night. It was a great experience, man, because Connor fights for something bigger than just fighting. You know, he has a country behind him, and you can feel it when he goes into that cage that it's bigger than fighting. What's going through your mind, end of the second, throughout the third, where it looks like he's gassing, looks like he's in trouble, it felt like deja vu of the first fight. What are you thinking? Are you starting to get very worried?

But, you know, in my head, I know it wasn't, I don't think it was fatigue. People don't understand, Connor is a 145 pounder, and Nate is a really big guy. So he fought a bigger guy that probably had 20, 30 pounds on him. Nate Diaz must have been $195 in there. And Connor was not even, he was walking around like 168, 169. That's a hard task. I know, like, a lot of people like to say Connor gas and he was getting tired,

but that's a really hard task that he would did in there. But I kept telling him, Connor, like, you're a champion for a reason. You're the champion. You know, there's a reason that he's not the champion. There's a certain kind of heart that it takes to become a champion. I might say Nate he doesn't have that, but Connor, just because he's not to Jose in 13 seconds,

people like to say things, but it's because he's a champion that he is where he is. And I kept telling him that, did you have the heart of the champion, Connor? Don't worry, you're going to prevail, and you're going to persevere through whatever the hard times are coming right now.

Like, you know, I knew that it was going to pass and Connor was going to come back. I just kept telling him that you have more hard and you work for this, you know, so don't let it go. You work so hard for this, and it's going to pay off. Two things that really impressed me,

on top of everything else that was sort of a new wrinkle to his game. The like kicks, obviously, he talked about that, how that was an important part of the game plan, but also his takedown defense. And I feel like you had a big part in that. How often were you guys working on that, and were you happy with this takedown defense? It was beautiful.

Like, we trained a lot of Taiton defense. Probably, it's probably even with the Jiu jit-to we did. We did so much against the fence, like, Jih Tizu. I mean, we'll take down the floor. It was just, you know, live grappling against the fence every single day. We would do 25 minutes straight sometimes, just a straight grappling against the fence. Me shooting on him, trying to get him down. It was just, like, a lot of work against the fence.

And the way he fought in the fight was beautiful. He did it just like he did in training. He was calm, collected. He was taking the underhooks. He was doing perfect. We worked so much in the situations, and John was teaching him, like, great techniques in there. So it was just perfect, you know, and I was really happy with him. And even in the fifth of the fourth round, Nate got a double, like, hands connected and everything.

and Connor just jacked it up and he was tired, but he still was finding, like, the technique was perfect. I was super happy with the outcome, you know, because he works a lot of hours on that. How would you rate his ground game, you know, after rolling with him for so long? We didn't get to see much of it. How would you rate it?

I mean, I wouldn't say numbers-wise, you know, but he knows that he's doing. He trusts me. People like to say something about his grind game, but he'll say he's in a surprise of people. You know, I was, I really thought, he could catch any ideas. I honestly did. I'm not going to say it with what, but I really

thought he could catch him. Connor is a really good athlete, and he's really good on the ground. He has an amazing coach, Don Kavanaugh. It was a black belt. So, yeah, I knew that the last fight wasn't a case of Jiu-Jitsu, him not having Jiu-Jitsu. It was just, you know, a little bit fatigue, and a lot of things happened in that fight, but Connor has a really good ground game, and he's going to surprise a lot of people

in the future. Not really surprise him, because I know how good he is, but a lot of people like to put him down for that, you know what I mean? But Connor is a, he's good on the ground, He's a really good open, not open learner, but he's willing to go to the ground. Like, you know, like a lot of guys, they like to train with someone that's really good, and then they really don't want to share with him. Conner trains with me.

We go 30, 40 minutes straight. Does it mean he have a train jit-to? So he's only going to get better than he is. So, you know, he's good on the ground. Were you surprised that Nate didn't try to take the fight to the ground more? Yeah, I mean, Nate doesn't really shoot too much, and Connor has a really good tape on the fence. Yeah.

Going in, I knew Nate wasn't going to take him down. I was almost 100% sure. So, yeah, and he kind of has that reputation where, oh, I don't want to, I don't take people down. I just want to strike with him. But then towards the end, you could see when he was starting to shoot on him because he knew he was maybe down on the scorecard or something. But going in, I did kind of think that he was going to take the fight to the ground because he didn't take the path to least resistance, you know, thinking from what happened in the first fight. But I knew he was going to be in for, like, a root of ranking because Connor has a great take down the fence. and he throws so many shots.

And, like, when we're doing the sparring for this, I was getting lit up the shots because he's so good at picking shots and the clinch and picking shot, leaving the clinch. And you can tell that he has a feeling, and he was hitting him to the body with the knees. But the people, like, the people that watch it on TV, you don't feel those, but they hurt. He's pretty precise with all the shots that he hits on those.

I'm sure the week was very memorable as well. You know, after the press conference and the media day, and the open workouts. You guys have to go back home, and I'm sure he's very, it looked like he was very amped up. How were you passing the time? Was that, you know, did you have,

because you seem like a pretty calm, cool, and collected guy, and I know he has others as well. John is very own Roddy. All his teammates and friends seem to be the same. But was he like super amped, and did you guys have to try to bring him down a little bit? Going into the foot or after you, you said.

No, I mean like Wednesday after what happened at the press conference and the open workouts and all that. Conor is he doesn't, that stuff does not phase him and he knows what he's doing. He's, this is his game.

Like, what he's trying to do to him, that's Connor's game. So you can't, you can't do that to Connor. That's his game. So he was, he was ready to go.

If anything, he made him more pumped up. The night before the fight, I was talking to Connor, and I was like, man, I'm kind of nervous for tomorrow. Like, you know,

and he goes, don't worry, dude, I got this, I'm going to play with this man. And then after that, I was like, okay,

I'm not nervous anymore. You know, And he's so, I mean, Connor is one confident dude. I mean, he's not cocky. He's not cocky. He's just confident. He knows the skills. He going in, he knew what was going to happen.

There was not one down in his mind. He knew he was going to beat Nate Diaz. And that was the only thing that was going around. So he was aimed up, but it was good. You know, I mean, the energy was good. His morale was good. And I knew he was going to go in there and take care of it. So after the fight at the post-fight press conference,

Nate Diaz spoke about you. He never actually said your name, but it was clear that he was talking about you. I want to just play this quick clip and get your response, okay? Yeah. Here it is. Here's Nate Diaz talking about Dylan Dennis. That jih-jitsu coach he's got?

I'm going to get that motherfucker, man. That guy is on my head list. This is America, and he's over there represent with them. And then he wants to try to look up at a press conference like he's hard. That's the reason that football got rushed at the press conference, too, is because they brought in making it and seeing like we're the hardest shit in town. But I had too many people, writers with me already. I'm like, you guys aren't coming.

So that's why otherwise we had a good press conference. But they walked in like they were the shit to steal the show. And I don't know. I'm going to get off topic, but fuck them. So you're on the hit list. He's not happy with you. What's your response? I don't know what that means.

I'm on his hit list. But if he wants to do a shit match, you want to do MMA, I'll fight him in MMA if you want. I mean, he could do a T. He can do a T.m. Punk with me and bring me into the U.C. That could be my first fight. I'll fight him in a couple months, whatever he wants to do. I don't know what he means by him on his hit list, but whatever, any kind of combat he wants to do,

I mean, I'm ready to step in there with him whatever he wants. No problem. MMA, BJ. Yeah, MMA, I mean, it doesn't matter to me. I mean, I'll fight him MMA tomorrow. But, you know, I had a lot of respect for Nathias, and I went to shake his hand after the fight, and he wouldn't shake my hand.

He was saying things to me. I mean, this is the fight game after the fight. You know, emotions are high, Come on, man. I did nothing to him. I don't understand, but now he wants to make a personal. If he wants to fight, that's fine. But, yeah, I don't understand where that came from. You know, I'm not repping, I mean, I don't think I'm ripping Ireland. I'm still reppping USA. You know, I don't understand what he's talking about. Of anything, his coach is Brazilian. Caesar Gracie's Brazilian, so it doesn't make any sense what he's saying.

So in the cage after the fight, you actually went up to him? Well, I was over the Kansas. I went to shake this in and said, like, good fight or something, and he was just like cursing me out and saying stuff to me. He did it a couple times. He was just cursing me out and saying during the fight when he was up against the cage, he was saying stuff to us. I mean, I got to give him the man of respect. He's pretty gangster during the fight.

He's talking shit to us in the corner. What's he saying? What's he saying to you? He was just saying, like, I mean, it's pretty obvious with the things he says. It's always the same, but it's saying, like, you know, a couple curse words and saying stuff that's why he was up against the fence. And then after the fight, he was saying, I'm going to get you motherfucker or stuff like that.

You know, it's fine. I mean, if you want to play that game, I can play that game too. You know, I'm not going to back down to him. If you want to fight him in a male, I'll fight him in a major jit-suit, it doesn't matter. I mean, whatever he wants to do, I mean, fuck that. I mean, I don't know what he means on his hit list, but I guess he's on my hit list now. I got to say, re-watching that footage of the press conference, when they were throwing the stuff and Connor was throwing the stuff, you were up there.

I mean, they really had to hold you back. You wanted to get right up in there. You were the most aggressive, I thought. Why? Why were you so willing? to jump in there? All of them were yelling things was. I mean, they were yelling

like come up here, we're going to jump you and, like, all this stuff. And if you're a man and then a person's yelling those things at you and then throws a water bottle at you, if you don't try to go after them, then I wouldn't consider you a man. So, you know, Nate Diaz threw the water bottle

right at me. So whatever he was to say, I was trying to act hard. He threw it at me, and I caught it. I caught it perfectly. It was a weak throw, and I caught it with one hand. I was like, Hodel Beckman out there.

I caught it one hand, and then I threw it right back, and then it just came, it just got crazy. you know, and I mean, I've been living with Connor for a while, and we became really close. He's like my boy, so I knew they were trying to fuck with Connor, and I was like, you know, I'm just not going to go down, and I knew he had my back, so I was ready to go up there, you know. Wow.

Yeah, that was amazing. How would you, given your expertise, given the fact that you're a black belt from Marcelo Garcia, you know, we can go on and on as far as the resume is concerned, how do you rate his ground game, his BJJ? I mean, respectfully, Nate Diaz is really good on the ground. I mean, he's a great, he's a great coach. They all come from a really good jihitsu kind of background. But he used to compete in IBGF, I think. I'm not too sure he did a couple tournaments. But, I mean, I always go with, I mean, like,

I don't understand how he's trying to come at me, you know, because all this is doing is helping jihitsu, of anything, me getting publicity and me getting brought in by Connor, just helping jih Tijuana, and he's a jih Tijuana, so he should be appreciating it instead of trying to put it down, but he wants to go that route, and then I'm fine with that.

Did you get a lot of flack from the jiu-jitsu community about teaming up with Connor and, like, what he's talking about, you know, he's not American or, you know, going against the Caesar Gracie. Did you get any kind of flack? No, the jih Tijuana community loved it.

If anything, we, us jih Tudu guys will get the most of publicity. You know, I mean, this is great for the sport. I mean, it's great for jih Tudu. It's just going to raise Jiu-Too. We're trying to take it to that next level, so it's just going to raise it, You know what I mean?

So everybody was all great about it. I mean, all the messages I got. I mean, obviously you're going to get some haters in there. But, man, like, it was just a good opportunity. And it happened. And then once I met Connor, it just felt right to kind of go and help them. You know what I mean? I don't understand how anybody can see it as, like, training anything.

You know, it doesn't make sense. Everybody in the sport is different nationalities training with each other. I know I'm looking nationalities. Like, I look at the person. And when I meet a person, the way they treat you and the way that they, I don't know, the way that they treat you basically, you kind of, you know they're a good person or not, not their nationality. So I'm always still going to rep USA though, and I don't understand where all this stuff is coming

from, but whatever those guys just like to start dramas, whatever, you know, and I'm not going to back down to it. Being a part of this whole experience, has it made you want to become an MMA fighter? Yeah, I mean. I think soon. I think soon. I mean, I have some goals in jih jitza that I always wanted to accomplish since I was 15, but... What's that? I mean, I want to become a Blackboard world champion. I mean, obviously some other tournaments, but that was always my dreams until I was 15 training. So, you know, that was one of my major goals, and I'm going to try to accomplish that and maybe go in M.MA.

I'm not sure though you don't know how this life works sometimes. You know, some things happen. And this relationship with Connor, you know, it's really going to be. be really going to be interesting going into my MMA career. For this fight, we sported a lot, you know, and I don't really have so much track you, but he was teaching me a lot. We were doing sparring a lot for NAPDIA, so, I mean, my leg was chewed up with the leg kick, so it was a good experience, but yeah, I think I really want to do MMA. I mean, I can fight MMA now, though. I think I have the skill to do it, and I think

a lot of MMA fighters that I train with can back that up, that I could probably just do it now if I wanted to, but we'll see where this takes me. So you think it's inevitable at some point you will make the transatlantic. I think fighting is just in my blood since I was born like I just love to fight I mean even in jihitsu people know me as a guy that just goes out there and just fights like I'm just always in guys's faces and and that's why I respect connor so much because he's just a fighter he just goes out there he just loves a good knock you know he just he just loves to get in there and fight you know so that's the same way I am in jitzu like I'm always pushing forward I'm always trying to make a fight the guys that usually beat me are the guys

just try to hold me. But it doesn't matter. I'm going to get all those guys one day. I swear I'm going to be all those guys. Would you train with SPG if you became an MMA fighter? That's a big question. So, I mean, I don't know. I mean, it's obviously up there in my list of where I would go to train

because of Connor and John and all the guys. There are actually, I click with everybody. I mean, Arden became like a brother to me, Peter, like, it clicked. So, I mean, obviously that would probably be one of my top choices to go to do MMA, but you know, you never know what would happen if it's in Ireland, you know, and stuff, but we'll see, you know, I mean, when I want to meet the choice, obviously, I would talk to my team and stuff and my friends and make the decision where I was going to go, but it doesn't matter where I go in MMA. I mean, I'm going to consider Connor one of my best friends for

the life now because what we went through for this camp, you know, we blitz and tears together, so whatever, whatever happens or wherever I go, I mean, I'm pretty sure Connor always have my back and I always have his back, but, yeah. What's the, you know, I saw when you were walking to the back, I saw you were, you seemed very exhausted, you know, emotionally, mentally after the fight. And you're kind of, correct me from wrong, you're kind of walking and talking with Kanye West. That was happening, right? What were you talking to him about? about that's surreal I mean Connie's like he's an icon for us he was coming

he was saying mad respect for one of his friends in his group actually J-Lo's boyfriend he's been hanging out with us and he was telling him how I was a jitzy coach and Connie was saying how he respects me a lot for doing what I do and we were just talking he was really cool guy

you know I think he gets a little bit of a bad rap but he's super cool and he knows a lot about fighting he was talking to me about jihitsu he said that he knows jiu-tzu and he was just saying big respect to me and then we just talked about a couple of things and just broled it out.

It was amazing. I was happy for you, and I hardly even know you. I was like, this is so cool. Look at Dylan Dan. It's talking to Kanye West. So you hung out with Christiana Ronaldo. I saw you take a picture with Jalo backstage.

Kanye. What was the coolest interaction as a result of being a part of this team? Man, there's so many. There's so many. Even after I was talking to Dwight Howard and I was talking to all these guys,

and they all know me. It was cool. They all knew my jihuzzi. Ronaldo knew who I was. He was like, oh, I follow you on your jitzy career. Wow. Now me or Rinaldo talk basically every day. I'm a joke and we text and we bullshit.

What? Ronaldo's a fucking man. Yeah, we talk every day through what's happened. And I might go visit him in Madrid and stuff. But yeah, so it's just been a crazy experience. I mean, we've met so many people. Everybody loves to be around Connor. So, like, it's cool, man.

But, like, Connie was pretty cool. I can't even name much. I was the best. But it was all surreal experiences, you know. But I've been working my ass off since I was 15. years old in the gym every day. I didn't do anything else in high school since I was a kid. So I'm reaping the benefits now of this life that I chose. And I mean, I'm happy to be kind of here now and make my name for myself. To me, I guess what Connor says is right. You know,

the whole red panty night thing, I guess it is somewhat true. Yeah, I guess. I don't, I have red Tommy though. Oh, okay, fair enough. Two last quick things. Did he suffer a serious injury, his ankle or something? something in training camp? He's fine. He's fine? Okay. And what about after?

Now or you're talking about before? Well, before and after. Before, I mean, everybody has their injuries, but, you know, Connor is the kind of guy that doesn't make no excuses. You know, you see Nate after the press conference is saying all the stuff about his rim and stuff. We can say those same things, but we're the kind of guys that never make excuses, especially Connor. I mean, I'm the kind of guy, too.

I'll never say anything, you know, about that. Well, you step in there. You step in there that night and you get in that cage, you can make no excuses. So I think that Connor's fine and now he's fine too He's perfect No broken foot or shin or anything like that Okay

No no he's 100% I mean trust me he's okay You can see him dancing a little bit at the clubs right now Are you still at the club right now? No no no No I'm lost in time And last thing What is next for you?

Like where do you go from here Where's home and what's your next competition Yeah I'm going back into Jiu-Suzzi probably Nogi Pan Ams and then I fight like Polaris and then I go into Nogi world I mean I would not usually a trainer you know I mean I'm a yeah I'm a jih Tjitsu fighter so this was a this was a kind of like an exception you know because like Connor the kind of I really wanted to do this because you know I really look up to him and fighting in his mental game and I

knew that this would be an amazing opportunity for me so this is this is probably one like exceptions I would go train with someone and maybe in the future you know so yeah I'm just gonna go back and to what I do was training every day, twice a day with my team back home and then competing every kind of, basically every weekend. That's just what we do at Jiu-Gitza. You know, we're work courses. Amazing.

What a partnership. It certainly worked to his benefit on Saturday night. Appreciate you doing this, Dylan. I really appreciate you coming on, especially on your birthday. I didn't know it was your birthday, so happy birthday to you. And I almost feel bad taking you away from the celebration, but it was great to get your insight and to have you on the show for the first time. Again, congratulations on the win.

And good luck to you. Hopefully we'll get to speak again soon. Thank you so much, Ariel, man. Have a great day. Same to you. There he is. Dylan Danis, the BJJ Black Belt under Marcello Garcia, part of Team McGregor, big part of his training camp and going to be interesting to see if they do stick together from here on out

because clearly, I mean, there is a great team there behind Connor, but I feel like we saw some of that training come into play on Saturday. I mean, he talked about just how many times they, drilled, take down defense, and you saw that. I mean, it was impressive. Yes, Nate Diaz isn't the type of fighter to shoot for singles and doubles. But up against the cage, he was trying to take him down a few times. And up until, I don't know, 20, 30 seconds left in the fight,

maybe even less, he was unsuccessful. Again, not taking anything away from Nate. That was a fantastic fight. One of those fights were really no one loses, even the loser doesn't lose. And certainly what Nate said and did afterwards, Upps's profile, showing up with the CBD vape pen and all that stuff. I mean, it's just, it's all gravy, it's all good. There is no loser.

There really isn't. Perhaps you can make the case that the outcome is best for all parties involved because if Connor loses, it's hard to do the third fight. He wins by the slimmest of margins, and now you can do the third fight. And they were both sort of campaigning for it, Nate, a little more than Connor, but you get the point. A very good night for the UFC. by the way, I noted this on Twitter earlier. So refreshing, and I'm not one to pay attention to the mainstream sports hot takes,

but it was impossible to ignore them after 196. Connor is a bust. Connor sucks. He's all hype. The UFC messed up. The UFC is dead. MMA is dead. MMA is dumb.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That was the narrative after 196. And quite frankly, somewhat after 200. and of course we have to get through all the drug testing, so let's cross our fingers that nothing Mars 2.02, but it is so nice, it is so refreshing to hear positive takes on the UFC. Even the troll of all trolls skip Baylis, and I know it's because he just teamed up with FS1, obviously he's going to try to prop up the UFC, but even he is waxing poetic about the great sport that is mixed martial arts. Even he is saying he's all in, and that's not just him.

I mean, Bill Simmons is tweeting this greatest fight he's ever seen. It's just nice. For once, it feels like everyone is celebrating the sport. And everyone is, you know, applauding the athletes and reveling in it and thinking about what's next. It's just, it's nice to not have to deal with the skies falling. You know, it just goes to show, again, losses don't mean as much as some people think they do in MMA. And they're not as catastrophic to one's career as some people like to make it out to be. It's really not.

A loss, you rebound. It depends on how you handle it. And again, goes back to how Connor handled the situation post-196. He put out the blueprint, like we said on that Monday. He handled it like a pro, like a boss, did all the right things, said all the right things, and now look at him. Once again, the king is back. Surprise, surprise. New York, Rick, how are you?

I'm good. How are you? I wish I could talk to you about the fight, but you didn't even watch it. Nice try, buddy. Unbelievable. Nice. try buddy it's it's unbelievable because like there i am you know your boy mike perry who will talk to uh talk to you about in the second um did you have any idea that that's his personality

yeah i knew a little bit you did from what um you're looking more and more like edo partile by the way every time we come to the hair is getting longer back there it's becoming less man bun more ponytail i didn't notice i didn't notice i didn't notice edo around as much i'm trying to he was there No, but, you know, he wasn't as highlighted as prominently. I'm trying to maybe move in on that spot. Maybe I can get in, you know, the Dylan Dennis territory, you know, get into the entourage. So I'm trying to do my best stuff. Oh, you want a piece of T. McGregor, which is quite the shift.

No, don't even try that. Oh, come on. Stop that. You were one of those people, oh, you know, he's all hype. He doesn't have any takedown defense. He has no ground game. It's not like a journalist to misquote somebody. I would think, you know, you would have.

I'm lying? The accurate quotes there. I'm lying? No, maybe you're stretching the truth a little bit. No, no, no, no. Did you watch the fight? Okay. Come on, stop.

I go on your Twitter, Mike Perry's about the fight. I'm like, oh, surely New York Rick is going to say something about Mike Perry. Lo and behold, you're at a pro wrestling event, not even a WWE event. The pro wrestling event. What do you mean? It was a minor league pro wrestling event. It was the event of the weekend. You're not even at SummerSlam.

You're at like the B League. It's like going to the World Series of Fighting Show The same weekend, no, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. What is going on? Why didn't you watch UFC 202? Next to NXT is the best. That's your take?

So you went to NXT instead of watching 202. You didn't watch it live. See, you don't understand. No, first of all, I did see the last two fights live, and then I watched the rest. But yeah, live, I will go on. on record, live wrestling is better than live MMA. Wait, wait.

Live wrestling in person is better than in-person MMA or television? Live meaning in the arena. Not live timing-wise. I know for a fact that while you were there, reveling in Shinske Nakamura, if that's really his name. Is that his name? Yeah, that is. And refreshing Twitter, because deep down inside, you really cared more about the

202 results. You wanted to know if Cody Garbrandt won. You wanted to know if Mike Perry won. Am I wrong or am I right? I was on Twitter. I did want to know. Yeah. But I would not have traded places.

That was where I wanted to be and needed to be. And it was awesome. You were even wearing a tank top, I saw. Yeah, it was a basketball jersey. Who goes to a sporting event wearing a tank top? It's, first off, very cold in the arena. Like everybody who goes to a sporting event. It's very cold in the arena.

You're uncomfortable. The AC is... I was perfectly comfortable. And they pack them in there. So actually, I ended up being the smartest one in the... the room. So then you ran home and you watched it on replay? Well, no, I drove to a bar in Williamsburg.

So what did you see? The last two fights? Last two fights. The ones that I needed. So you missed Seroni. Brandon Gibson, no love for him. Stop it. What?

You missed it. I went back and watched it. Where? What do you mean? What? What would I mean? How did you watch it? Tell me?

You know, I caught the replay. You caught the replay. Yeah, that's right. Okay, how'd you score the main event? I scored it for Connor. Okay. And I had it first and second round 10-9 for Connor. Yeah.

Third round, I was toying with the possibility of a 10-8, but ultimately 10-9. How? He didn't even drop him. You don't need to be dropped to have a 10-8. I know, but that's not a 10-8. If Connor McGregor doesn't mount any offense, then it's... Mounted enough.

Enough. Ultimately, I side with you. But I don't think that... I don't think you can say he didn't drop him, so it's not a 10-8. I disagree with that completely. Yeah, I know, but what I'm saying is... We don't have boxing scoring where, like, if you get dropped, it's an automatic.

No, I know, but if the first round wasn't a 10-8, how can the third round be a 10-8? Well, because the first round wasn't as dominant. That was pretty dominant. It was nice. It was a good round for him, but I'd say Nate did more in round three than Connor did in round one. clearly and I don't think you could argue with that but I do ultimately think it was a 10-9 fourth round clearly Connor McGregor 10-9 and fifth round 10-9 8-Ds I think it's pretty straightforward there's really no controversy here the only thing is people saying 10-8 and I

think they should have the avenue for that I don't think it's it's clearly a 10-9 I think you could make the argument for it but ultimately I say 10-9 and therefore 48-47 McGregor. The running. Do you have a problem with the running? Well, I don't think he was running. I mean, the idea that he, you know, we're not dealing with a Caleb Stern situation. He didn't turn around and start running around the cage. He was going to reset himself and stopped and reset himself. It's, it's a fun narrative to be able to say that Connor McGregor was running. It's, you know, it's, it's, it also plays into the idea that Diaz is, you know, this badass. He's giving him the finger as he's, you know, as he's running away. But no, he reset himself, set his feet, and then went right back into an attack. The majority of that fight was actually played out in the pocket. Sure. I mean, there was not.

I mean, they were engaging, for the most part, 95% of that fight? The first two rounds initially were much more on the outside. McGregor, you know, using his kicks, which he seemed to go away from at some point. Maybe because he hurt himself. But there wasn't a lot of backing up. Everyone was advancing, everyone was aggressive. And Connor was responsible for the majority of that in the rounds that he won. So the whole running thing just bothers me.

It's so silly. I mean... You know what's interesting, too? They talk about the running, and they also talk, you know, Nate after, I have the utmost respect. You know I love Nate? Yeah. Again, I said that, and I think you would agree, like, no one really lost in that fight. No one's stock went down.

But he talked about injuring his knee. injuring his ribs before the fight. Could you imagine if Connor did that after the loss? Oh, he'd be killed. Yeah, of course. Double standard. But I also, yeah, I think Connor's not the type. He hasn't set up that kind of expectation where he's the guy who's not going to talk about his injuries.

And that almost plays better in his favor. But I think, yeah, the running narrative is crazy. The score was pretty clear, in my opinion. If anything, it was a draw. I don't see, you know, I've seen the case made that Diaz may have one, round two, don't agree. I think there's a tendency to overlook what happened early in the first round. I'm sorry, in the beginning of a round, not in the first round, in the second round, the beginning of it, and think about what happened, you know, more recently. But I think Connor won that round.

And yeah, that's my thought. What was your score? Oh, it was easy. Same as mine. Yeah, one, two, four. One, two, four. A tremendous third. second round I will admit

I thought about it for a second but then I ultimately decided you know what what was it three minutes and 40 seconds yeah Connor did his work early Nate finished the round tremendously and I was really thinking holy smokes I mean third round this could be it it started to feel like deja vu

and third round was all Nate I don't think it was 10 8 Connor did a really good job of coming back in the fourth and then I thought Nate sealed it in the fifth with the takedown I mean I thought it was a pretty clear cut and look the judges agreed except for Trowbridge giving it a 10-8. But otherwise, they picked the right winner in every round.

They were in unison. So very impressive. Now, what do you do next? That's an interesting question. I don't think you go back to the well this soon after. Let this have a little bit of time to breathe. And to be honest, I don't think they would have gone back to the well this soon after the first fight unless Connor forced their hand.

And this seemed to be the only fight he wanted was to redeem himself at one. 70 with Nate. I don't think anybody's going to lose interest in this fight if you push it off a little bit. So you do Aldo, Connor? I would like to see that. Or do you do lightweight title Connor? I think it, you know, to be

completely frank, I think it's up to Connor. I don't think they can tell him what to do at this point. Don't tell the UFC that. Isn't it fascinating though that Dana comes out right away and says this is what he's doing and he comes out and he's like, look, I got options, maybe a different sport, shit's about to hit the fan. That power struggle is a real thing. I don't care what anyone says.

It is a real thing. It's Connor's world, and it's time to realize that. I don't think anybody, you know, that doesn't work for the UFC is under the assumption that they're going to tell him what's the next fight.

Yeah. I'd like to see Aldo McGregor New York? Rather than, oh, I mean, if Connor can, you know, let's assume that Connor is completely healthy. He looked pretty banged up. Yeah. And that's a tough fight to go through for anybody.

buddy. I agree with him though. Hard to get up for it. He did knock him out in 13 seconds and we're going to hear from Andre Pettaneris. Nate Diaz choked, choke Connor out in the second round. It was a lot of money to be made there. So I think, you know, all's fair and it turn about his fair play for that one. Sure.

If Connor got his next shot, I think Aldo certainly made a case to get his. And that's good promotion for Connor to say that, even if he does truly feel like Aldo could have another shot. That's great promotion for him to say, no, he doesn't deserve it. How did you feel about the bottle throwing? Were you offended? I thought it was, no, of course not. I thought it was silliness. You don't think it was fake? Who knows, but no, I mean, I have no reason to believe it's fake. It didn't hype you up a little more? Oh, it did.

Okay, but also there was, I thought you were going to go hipster on me again. There was a level, yeah, but I mean, that's only you pushing that narrative. I think, I think it was silly. For me, bottle throwing doesn't get me like, like John Jones and Daniel Cormier that greatly boosted my interest in that fight. That was something that nearly came to blows. This was, you know. It was real.

If you were there, you felt the tension. No, it's not that it wasn't real. It's just like, okay, they threw bottles at each other. Like, certainly it got me, as Pete was saying and I was saying, and I took a ton of heat for it. this fight wasn't that interesting come Wednesday. They needed something. They needed something.

Like we said on Monday. Now everybody's after the fact coming back and saying, oh, you're an idiot. You weren't excited for this fight? Well, it's easy to say that now after it was a fantastic fight and after the press conference and the open workouts and everything that led up to it developed. But early in the week, this was not that exciting an endeavor.

And they hadn't built it to the point where I was excited. This took me a little further in that direction. but, you know, bottle throwing is not, you know, is not fisticuffs. Of course not. But it just, I thought it was. It needed that. It needed that. I was watching ESPN the next morning, and that was on the scroll.

Like, the scroll wasn't Connor McGregor says this or that or the fights. Like the press conference antics. Yeah. Where was a story in its own right. Well, it was also just, you know, a masterstroke by Diaz. Like, I'm not going to play on Connor's terms and I'm going to leave. Yeah. And what he said, I thought was so prescient.

what he said was, you know, he came in like he was the show, and when I left, the show was over. And that was awesome. That was great. It was so great. It is so much fun to cover those events. And if you've ever been a fan and wanted to go to a UFC event, go to a Connor McGregor fight. That's got to be the first one, because those fans just make it so special. And then when you see, the differences this time, Connor in the past has fought great fighters,

but they don't bring the same kind of passionate fan base to the events, like a Diaz fight. So those two factions together and they couldn't be more different. But again, nothing bad happened, no fights, no nothing. Still makes for a very, very, very fun scene, a very unique scene. I also saw that on Twitter you said that you're not interested in Rumble Johnson versus D.C. Is that accurate? No, not. What's not accurate?

You're not interested. I've seen this. Rumble, and this is what I said on Monday, last Monday as well, Rumble Johnson versus Tashara is not compelling to me because, I'm not going to learn anything new. Rumble Johnson knocked them out quickly. Was that like, that was probably the likeliest possible expectation for that fight. We never seen that fight before.

But were you surprised by that outcome? I'd say that outcome was literally the most. No, you didn't think it was going to happen in 13 seconds. So if it happens in 30 seconds or 50 seconds? I didn't think it would be that quick. Glover's taking some shots. Yeah, it's not. The last time Glover Tashara was finished via strikes was

2000 in his debut. Did you learn? anything new about either competitor in that fight. Well, certainly I learned that Glover to Cher, I can't take a Rumble Johnson uppercut. Yeah, and there's not a human on this earth other than Daniel Cormier somehow. So how do you know what is he's going to see the fight?

After the role that he's been on. Because I don't think Daniel Cormier is going to give him that shot again. Smashing Ryan Bader, right? Smashing Jimmy Maddoin. I learned nothing new. You're not telling me anything new. If you're telling me, if you're, if you're a headline for this is rumble Johnson is very, very powerful and can knock somebody out by touching them. I'm not, I'm not, uh, reading that story. Look, that division is so

lacking as far as storylines. That's what I'm saying. And, and at least now, it's like, okay, you know, you got the shot of him. Now Rumble can knock him out. No, no, no, no, no, but he had to do something spectacular to get us interested. Because the fight we've already seen it was only like a year. That division is, is old news. It's stale to me. And it, it, this didn't change anything. It's fine. I mean, it would have rather seen, would you rather seen Glover versus DC? Yeah, it's new at least. Yeah, but he hits... And it's also...

Man, DC has taken some shots over the last, you know, two fights since the... Sure. I don't want to see either of them. It doesn't compel... It's not compelling. So you're just totally down on DC, it sounds like. No, nothing to do with D.C.

You are anti-Daniel Gormier. No, and the opposite. I think he's too good that this doesn't... This doesn't get me up. John Jones versus Daniel Cormier is the only fight I care about in that division. No way. I couldn't agree more with Rumble.

You disqualified yourself. You can't just come right. And also, the population is just, they are fatigued. They're tired of that, of that rivalry and that story. I'm not. I care about it. No. There needs, John Jones is the best fighter on the planet.

Even if he ingested something, you know, by mistake, right? That seems to be what they're claiming. Oh, you know, whatever. He didn't mean to do it. That's what Dana is saying. There has to be repercussions. There has to be. You can't just come right back in.

And they have already set the precedent. Yo-Ramaro's not getting his title shot, right? Tim Me is not fighting in the main event. I'm not making the argument that John Jones should be free and clear and in this fight. I'm saying that, to me, that's the only compelling fight. Whenever it happens, I don't, nothing else in this division really excites me. And that's not. That is crazy.

Not. Rumble Johnson hanging that hard, you don't think that he can catch D.C.? Sure. But so should we run it back 20 times? Maybe 30 until- You're the guy who always talks about rematch. You're always talking about rematches. And I'm the one who always says,

I don't like a rematch after a loss. I mean, how many shots should he get if he doesn't knock him out this time? Like, yes, he has that power. And that's, and look, you're not going to have me say, Rumble Johnson is not an exciting fighter. Never in a million years would I say that. Sounds like you're saying that.

I love to see it, but it's not a compelling storyline for this title fight. It just doesn't do it for me. All right. All right. The last question. Mike Perry, epic or epically epic? Look, you know, it's easy.

to kind of take pot shots, but... No pot shots. No, I know. Like people on Twitter are, you know, like, oh, that Perry interview. Look, he's a character. I think he's an interesting dude. Jesus. By the way, I said Jesus, not Moses.

Yeah. I respect his God. Okay. Andre Pettaner is coming up. Mike Perry. Fantastic stuff out of him. Ooh. That was fun.

By the way, less we forget, the train is moving along as far as the UFC is concerned. They have a show this Saturday. Vancouver, UFC on Fox 21, pretty darn good main card. Carlos Condon versus Damien Maya. Paige Van Zand versus Beck Rawlings. Jim Miller against Joe Lozon. And Anthony Pettis making his featherweight debut against Charles Olivera.

It's really a four-fight card, if we're being honest, but it's a very good one. It's going to be the fifth Fox card of the year. They actually rolled out the entire schedule on Friday. Some interesting ones. going back to Belfast. Where else are they going? They're going to Toronto. They're going to Albany and I'm kind of bummed about this because the Albany card is the day before the Toronto card, December 9th and 10th, I believe. They're going to the new arena in Sacramento for the final Fox card of the year. The last

pay-per-view, the last show of the year is December 30th and that's a Friday, much like UFC 141, Lesnar Overeem. It's going to be a Friday show because December 31st is is Saturday. So mark that on your calendar. They're going back to the two shows in one day thing. So we have all those up on our website, but they pretty much rolled out the entire schedule for the entire year for the rest of the year. And, you know, it's interesting because between now and December 30th, there's only three weekends without a UFC. October 22nd, 29th, and December 24th Christmas Eve. How about that? that is insane. All right, let's move along. Very excited to welcome in our next guest. He is the head coach

of Novo Niao, one of the very best gyms in the entire world. He is Andre Petanaris, and he is joining us on the phone right now. Andre, how are you? I'm doing great. Thank you for joining us. All right, well, I have to ask you right off the bat. Did you watch the Cona McGregor and Nate Diaz fight on Saturday? I love it. Okay, what did you think? Who do you think Juan? I think I want to have a little I want to have a hard from their home

well that's kind of so close if you need to trade but I can say hold I think that's a

time Andre we're having a hard time hearing you the the connection seems a little bit off it it sounds like it's

cutting out a little bit maybe we call you you back or if you can go somewhere else? Oh. No, I hear a good book. No, this is difficult. No. Okay, we're going to call you back, Andre.

Sorry about that. Sounds like he's in a place with bad cell reception. But we'll get him on. I think he said that he thought Connor won the fight. And of course, UFC President Dana White saying afterwards that Jose Aldo is going to fight Connor next. if Connor doesn't defend his title, he's going to be stripped of the featherweight title. And I didn't mention this, but I'm sure you know if you're watching this show,

Andre Pettanaris is Jose Aldo's head coach. Novo Niao, Rio de Janeiro. Olympics just wrapped up, by the way, Canada killing it over there. The other big story this weekend, I mean, what did we get? 48 medals? Golds? I think so. All seriousness, though, it is going to be very interesting to see what they do with Aldo.

he is the interim champion. He beat Frankie Edgar at UFC 200. I thought it was a very impressive performance on his part. And at some point you have to unify the belts. And at some point, you'd think that, you know, Connor has to defend that title if he wants to hold on to it. The belt and being champion gets you a lot of things is important as far as your pay is concerned.

So I think that he does want to defend the title, but does he want to do it next? Is now the time to do it? Okay. Here's another number coming your way. Sorry about that. Here we go. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da.

Da-da-da. Da-da. Da-da. There it is. Let me just make sure I got it right. The joys of live radio, live television, live streaming, if you will. So hopefully we will connect with. with Andre Pettenarison.

How about this treat? Our final guest, saving the best for last this week, John Kavanaugh, head coach, SBG Ireland, head coach, Connor McGregor, will be joining us in around 10 to 15 minutes time from Las Vegas, from the McMansion, to look back at the big win on Saturday night, UFC 202. Also, by the way, Belator is back on Friday night

from Orange County. Some bad news for them. Kimbo Slices Jr. Kevin Ferguson, injured. He will not be fighting. On Friday, his Belator debut has been delayed. But the good news is our man, Butterfly Bubba Jenkins. What's his name again? I'm a bad man. He is bumped up to the main card. Mr. New York, Rick, what is our number? He's asking me what our number is. Did you connect with him? Did you guys connect? he wants to call us well that's bizarre uh what's the number can someone uh message me the number so that he can call in okay we've got him is he there Andre yeah all right that's much better

yeah for me too okay great thank you for doing it um so i couldn't hear you the first time You think Connor won? I think Connor won. It's a so close fight, but I give it to Connor. Okay. I give it to Connor. Were you hoping that he won to make the, you know, the Aldo fight that you want a bigger fight? Were you rooting for him?

For sure, for sure. I pray for he won. But now he needs to go back to his division and give him a match for Aldo. I don't understand because you want to give one more time, fight with his mate, but not give him to out another opportunity to fight. I can't understand him. Understand? He said after...

He said, no, maybe maybe go to 155. No, he need to go down and drop his way to 145 and give it a match for Aldo. He deserves that. So after the fight, you know, he said, He doesn't know if he can get excited for it because he beat him in 13 seconds. But Dana White is saying he has to go down to fight Aldo at 145 or he's going to get stripped. Do you think, are you confident that he's going to come down and fight Aldo? First of all, I will always believe in Dana.

If he does say, he needs to go. But I'm not thinking he's confident to fight Alda again. He knows, one punch, don't say anything to anybody. I'm better or the other guy better. Have a look. It's not a look, but his punches grow direct in the his shin.

Sometimes it happens one time and I don't know when it's happening again. He knows that. Have you reached out to the UFC since the fight to get a sense for if this fight is going to happen when it's going to happen?

I start to talk with Sean Sheld. But I start to talk talk to him a little after the Connors' fight, and they asked me to call him next week. I probably call him and Dunner next week to see what it happens in the future, in the future. Is it fair to say at this point that Jose doesn't want to fight anyone else, that he will not take in any other fight if it's not Connor? Yeah, yeah, for sure. Okay. What do you think? Do you think it's going to happen, or do you think it's going to be

difficult? Yeah, for sure. Yeah? Need to happen. Need to happen, man. Yeah. Need to happen. Do you have it, you know, looking back at that fight, and of course he's won since then, was it just the punch, or was there more going on?

Was there more going on in Jose's head, all the talk, all that stuff? Because we've never seen him like that before. Why do you think it ended up the way it did back in December? No, I think Jose did the chance to finish the fight and put everything in it was just a moment. more moment, and the lot really after

the start the fight, I think the biggest mistake for him is that. But sometimes it happens.

How can I say to the champion, you make a wrong decision? Yeah. The guys are that champion

are so long have a lot of victories and how can I say to the guy I think nobody can say to Aldo,

you make a mistake, you're doing a wrong thing because if his punch going first before

the corner now he's two champion and the corner in the floor but corners to go first have a look that's good for him

was it hard to get Jose back on track mentally for the Edgar fight after what he experienced against Connor no no for sure no I would have a good man they do good head man Nobody knows how good he's mentally about the fights, man. So you weren't worried at all.

Everything in his life. You weren't worried how he would respond at UFC 200. Because sometimes when someone gets knocked out, they get a little gunshot. You know what I mean? But you weren't concerned. I don't think so. Okay. I think he got a chance.

Were you happy with his performance against Edgar last month? Yeah. Yeah, for the guys after his loss, I think he's doing really good. I think everybody saw him much better than Frank in that fight. Yeah. This whole story that he was like sending in a spy getting some, can you clear it up for us? What was he talking about?

Is that true? No, not true. Okay. I never, never, never do that. Nobody from my can't go on me doing that. I show my guys These guys These kids train with me a long, long time

Like a kid, Start to train with me like a kid's Jiu-jitsu guys Yeah And I never Teaching these guys Do a dirty game To win

You know that He just, he just told this thing Because the corner And his last fight with him They put a spy in his camp And they just say the same to tell Cornel, if you don't want to put

in my camp, I can put in your camp too. But he put his name, Frank's name, but never knew that, man. Okay. Because that turned into a big story. Yeah, yeah, but sometimes I'll talk a lot of good things

and nobody talking about that. Right. And just one time talking a bad thing, everybody talks about shit. Yeah, I understand. Sometimes, like he told me, sometimes I need to say bad things to people look at me. I don't understand that because I do every good things every day and nobody talk about me. I mean, Chandra, so long time, but the people talk about me after my loss, then all my wins.

I don't understand sometimes that. They got so border of the orders between corner and Nate, and everybody like that, everybody, pay the paper will go to the arena because the guys are doing a wrong thing. I mean, I've been doing bad, good things, and the people not buy my payperville. Nobody can understand that. I think sometimes the people like more the bad guy than the good guy. I don't understand.

Have you talked to him since the fight on Saturday? Yeah, yeah, yeah. What do he say about it? Because now he takes a vacation in the United States, go to Jim and his daughter. Oh, nice. And he stayed for one week. What do he say about the fight? Not like the fight.

He said the fight after the second round, the people's, his guess is out and then just punch a punch, but not a hardly punch, just soft the punch because it's so tired of the both. In your opinion, as Aldo's coach, what's the key to beating Connor McGregor? I think it's Aldo has a good strategy. Standing can beating, corner standing on the ground and everything. The safety game, put the corner on the ground. For sure.

Okay. And at this point, are you going to start preparing for kind of, like, do you think New York is a possibility? Because if it is New York, as Jose tweeted about, that's not that far away. That's in, you know, a little less than three months. When will you start preparing? He's coming back from his vacation.

Okay. By the way, Henne Barrow, is there an update on when he's going to return? Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's coming back to my gym like two weeks because he lived in Natal. Okay. The last camp he's doing everything in Natal because he has some problems with his family and stay in Natal, a friend director in Natal. But this time he's coming back, he stayed with his first like three weeks and doing all his camping here. Okay. And they'll be very prepared for this fight.

Yeah, and of course he's fighting in September again. against Philippe Nover, so an important fight for him. And by the way, not that long ago, you said that you were going to stop traveling and cornering fighters, but it doesn't seem like that's the case. Have you decided what you're going to do as far as your future cornering fighters? The true? No. I still come with this guy.

Maybe I need to put my team on the same way, the winner ways. And after that, I'm here for sure. Okay, so you feel like you need to get them back on track? I need to stop, man. Yeah, you're tired? You're tired? Yeah, yeah. I'm doing this a long time.

And then people's thinking about it. The UFC 9, I have a fighter in UFC 9. Wow. If you see a long, long time, like, oh, I travel too much. I traveling outside Brazil, 1002 times. Wow. 40 times to Japan. It's too much, man.

so much. So perhaps, I mean, if Aldo gets the McGregor fight, you will corner Aldo, right? Yeah, for sure. And maybe that will be your last one? Maybe, maybe, maybe. Okay. So for now, you're going to wait and talk to the UFC and see what they say, but that's what you want, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay. All right, well, great to hear from you, Andre. Thank you very much for the time and good luck getting the fight. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right, there he is, head coach over at Novo, Unia. Now, Andre Petaneris, that's what he wants. He made it pretty clear.

One guy who will have a say in the matter is our next guest. It is a tradition, and he stuck to it as far as the aftermath is concerned, post-196, which, again, said a lot about him and his team. He said back then that they will win or they will learn. And boy, did they learn. Saturday night, Connor McGregor won via majority decision. 4847 on two scorecards 47 47 on one

They learned in a big way They got the victory back And the king is now back He is the author Of this book right here Win or Learn John Kavana Argo Pall

Joining us Be the Magic of Skype From the Mac Mansion himself The tradition continues John How are you my friend? What's up Barry I'm nice to speak to you

It is a pleasure So now we have traded in the white robe for a rocking chair. My voice has gone a little bit. Yes, where did it go? Can you hear me? I can hear you now. Okay.

Where did the voice go? Oh, maybe last night it went. You went, you wilded it out, as the kids said. I went celebrating a little bit. Okay. I was asking, or I noted that you traded in the white robe for the rocking chair, it seems. Yeah, I'm not in there. We're not in the Red Rock, so that's where I get the robe.

So we're in the Mac Mansion. So no robe. Apologies. No problem. It's great to have you on the show. Again, congratulations on the big win. Wow, there's so much to talk about here. Did the fight, you know, we talked about earlier last week about how you were envisioning

it playing out. You had a vision in your mind. You didn't want to share it. Did it play out the way you thought it was going to play out? Very, very similar. The third round, I thought, Nate. did a fantastic job. He rallied back.

He pushed the pace a lot. I don't know why. In my head I had that he would go back after round four and the coroner wouldn't send him back for round five. That's the vision I had because I thought he would have taken so much damage. I knew he wouldn't, Nate would never quit. That's for sure. But I figured that it would be four rounds up

and he would have taken so much damage that the corner would say, you know, there's not really any point to this. By the way, the Dylan Dennis show up. Yes, he did. He did show up, yes. Oh, he did? Because he just followed. His phone died.

Happy birthday to Dylan again. You know it's his birthday. You know what's his birthday? Go, what's up, Dylan? Yeah, good birthday, brother. But in fairness to Nate, he had a great round tree. And so I guess going back after round four was tree one. So they sent him back here for rental five.

But in my head, I thought it would be stopped after round four. Okay. I don't know if there's a plane going over your head now. Yeah, there is. Okay. It sounds like someone's attacking you. He went down with the shops and his jets. So he's just coming back with the groceries.

For the record, how did you score the fight? Initially, when I was in the cage, I told it was three rounds to two. I've talked rounds three and five went to Nate since then I've watched it back and I thought three was arguable sometimes I think we're judging it's

it's hard not to judge the round on the last minute or minute and a half but you shouldn't you should judge it over to five minutes and I thought Connor you know kind of got the first three and a half minutes of of the round but I will be happy with three rounds the two.

Okay, 48-47. It seemed like early on the leg kicks were a big part of the game plan. At what point in this training camp did you say, okay, this is what we need to do because even Connor said afterwards he's never thrown that many leg kicks in his entire career. When did you pinpoint that this was an important part of what you guys needed to do in the rematch? March 6th. Right away. Yeah, I mean, it's, it's, it's, it's,

it has been as um it's been a chink in his armor for all his career you know it didn't take thank you to all the twitter guys by the way the 4 000 million messages i got to chop down the lead leg yeah so it was always going to be part of the game plan um so yeah i mean it's the look at the it's because we game plan for this fight which i'd never really done before it never put together such a strong plan um you know we look back over fights where he suffered the the um The Sanchez's fight is an obvious one. And just that kind of lead, that boxing style, heavy on the lead leg, toes pointed in. We got a, you got a taste of it in the Artham fight.

And then, you know, we went down to the league again for the Nate fight. Was it hard to get him in the right mindset to throw that many leg kicks? Was there a transition period there for a guy who doesn't throw that many? Was it hard to, you know, make him comfortable with that in the fight? not really like we just I mean the technique was always there he has a really really good leg kick he just hasn't he just hasn't thrown it before and he most of the time faces guys who are in opposite stands to him you know being being a south paw and heavy leg kicks are a little bit dangerous on opposite stands because you catch the knee which he did do anyway which we figured he do

but on and when you're facing same stance that that leg kick is a is a great technique especially against a boxing heavy style opponent. Someone else there bothering you? I thought it was Connor showing on me, but it's not. Oh, okay. Why? Did you wake him up? I don't know, maybe. His room is just here, so I'm waiting for a banana and come down and hit me on the head or something. Oh, no. I don't want to piss off the king. That's the last thing I want to do. If you need to move or take a call somewhere, that's fine with me, by the way.

No, it's fine. Okay, okay, great. That's the last thing I want to do, of course. at what point did you catch wind of the fact that he hurt either his shin or his foot, it seemed like he was in pain. And some people were telling me on the broadcast, he was telling you that he may have broken his foot. At what point did you hear about this and were concerned about it? He'd never mentioned it, but I saw, if I remember correctly in the third round, there was one or two where Nate did turn his knee out.

He started checking him. And the range was a little bit wrong, so he was kind of slapping with the foot and cut his, cut in his knee. So I just remember seeing that. But I knew with adrenaline and with his mindset, it wasn't going to make a difference. His shin could be clean snapped

and he wasn't going to stop for the five rounds. So we discussed it as well. He knew he was going to bang it his left leg. That was going to be the sacrifice. It was going to be bruised leg, but victorious.

Did he have an ankle injury going into the fight? No, but when he got an x-ray, he um there was a pre-existing fracture on his ankle which he's been carrying for um i don't know a long time anyway many many months but he never got a cast on it he never got it uh fixed but it yeah so there was there was a fracture that was old it wasn't in the fight okay and um after going to the hospital on saturday is he cleared no no serious injuries no he's not he's not there's a bad bruise and it's very very parental, but there's no damage.

Okay. We're fighting through some connection issues here. It's hard to hear you. So I'm going to keep fighting through it, but maybe we have to reestablish the connection. Yeah, I'll go inside because I try to do it so in the nice area. I think the internet will... Yeah, maybe that's better. Okay, we're going to call you right back, John Kavanaugh, in the palatial estate that is the McMansion. I appreciate the nice scenery. No doubt about that, but I want to hear him.

That's most important. I did hear that he said that Connor had a pre-existing injury, small fracture in his ankle, but he is all good, it seems. Went to the hospital after the press conference on Saturday night, and it seems like he got cleared. The press conferences, by the way, I know there was a lot of hullabaloo over not streaming,

them live and not having the formal press conference. I love the new format. I don't know if it's a new thing or if it's just for this fight or if it's because the freaking T-Mobile arena doesn't have a proper press conference room. That's insane. Brand new arena. State of the art. No press conference room. How is that possible? But I will say it felt like a bigger deal the way they did it. In case you missed it, they brought out Cowboy Soroni, pretty much had his own press conference. Rumble Johnson own press conference, Nate Diaz, own press conference, Kahnemaguerre own press conference.

It felt, if this comparison means anything to you, it felt very much like the NBA finals. When LeBron James is up there by himself, Steph Curry's up there by himself, and guys act differently when others are around them, it just felt different. It felt special.

I hope they stick with that. I really liked it a lot. Okay, let's see if we got John Cavill. Ooh, that's a lot better. Let's see if he sounds better. John, how are you? I'm very good You got me in high definition

Yeah, it's almost high definition It's a big upgrade over what we had So let's see if it gets a little better It's still a little fuzzy for some reason Did you guys not pay the internet bill over there or what Yeah, we're spending out here in a few days So we're just cutting all the bills Okay, so I just want to make it clear

Because we couldn't hear you at the end No serious injury coming out of the fight After going to the hospital No, 100% clear Just a bruise Okay what's going through your mind in the third round it almost felt like it was deja vu a little bit

it seemed like he was in trouble what are you thinking I'm thinking I'm glad we did all that training because I was confident what he could do in the 60 seconds recovery was and that's been the basis of the camp that we've been closely monitoring his heart rate

I can pretty much tell you what beat he's out in part of that fight because We've just been so focused on that for the last couple ones. So, I mean, I think it looked more than it was. If you watch closely that flurrying round three, mostly kind of slaps hitting off the forums. Anything that was kind of heavy was either rolled or slipped. So I could see why the crowd got behind it

and the judges got excited by it. But when I was watching it, I knew that there was a heavy landing, and in the minute of recovery, we were going to be going back out there in a world state and ready to win round four, which is what you did. Is it crazy to you that one judge scored that a 10-8 for Nate Diaz? I really don't understand it at all. I don't know how there's any confusion about the winner of the fight.

and I thought round one was definitely a 10-8 for Connor. You could even argue round two. Like when someone gets hit and falls, they're not, he wasn't off balance. It wasn't he was sitting down for a rest. That's a neurological response to getting a heavy headshot. I'm not sure what people want to see.

You know, that's a clean connection that caused a momentary break in communication from brain to legs and shut them down. Of course, the game plan was to get him back up and his feet rather than pull him down. It's got a great card. So we have to be disciplined and I'll fall into that. But, yeah, I don't know how it scored anything else.

Or a minimum three rounds to two, but arguably four rounds to one. There's a great picture that's out that I apologize. I don't call who took it. But it's you speaking to Connor in the corner. and it seems like, you know, he's trying to dig down deep. His eyes are closed. You actually seem to have a smile on your face. You're enjoying this whole thing.

And it's a classic coach student. You're motivating him. Do you have any idea when that happened? And if so, what are you telling him? Yeah, that's, um, and we've gone to round four. Okay. And I, I, what I was saying was basically, you know, this is what we've trained for it. You can feel your heart rate coming down.

This is going into those last rounds on the roar. like we've been torturing I'm on the on the roar here and he's familiar with that feeling of being completely exhausted because with Connor in the gym it's very hard to get him tired because he's so technical so if I just have him spiring

guys he can kind of do that endlessly but when you get on the roar you're against yourself you've just got to hit a certain number you know whether we're checking his watts or you know timing something and that's a lot tougher and that brought them into into a very

almost you're almost panicked trying to get air when you're doing those hard rounds on the lower and that's what that's what that was simulating so we were confident in the 60 seconds that the power rate would come down and you could see there

he was kind of closing his eyes and just listening and visualising his heart slowing down feeling his breath coming back and knowing that he's got two more fives on them you know, to bring the fight home because I was also saying as well, I mean, that's one of my favorite fights of all time. I think it's an amazing fight. I'm just very honored to play the small part because I think it's going to be a fight. It's going to be looked back on like one of

those old classic boxing fights, you know. And I think it's one of the best MMA fights I've ever seen. Maybe I'm slightly biased. But I just wanted him to know that he was involved in something that's going to be historic. So get the heart right down, get the breath back, and go back out there, stick the game plan, and let's put this guy away. So you're actually telling him in the corner that you're involved in something historic. You're trying to tell him where he is and what's being done here? Yeah, I remember saying you're, I think it's one round away from a legendary fight, you know,

so I'll have to watch it back now and see exactly what I said. But if I remember correctly, I was basically. telling them that you know trust in the training we've done this for almost five months now your heart rate is coming down you are ready you will win the you've won big ones with them you've won big ones with your other guys and girls but would you say that this is the most gratifying victory of your career as a coach because of what was at stake how the last fight went you guys asked for it you said your reputation was at stake. Is it fair to say it's the most gratifying win that you've experienced as a coach?

Without a doubt, I think stylistically, and I knew going into this, I think this is possibly the toughest fight Connor is ever going to have. Wow. There is no, who else can take, who else can walk through shots like NACAM? And the difference, it was a very different shot this fight than the previous fight, because the previous fight, Connor was going forward a lot, and Nate was retreating. and Conner's best shot that left hand was kind of hitting him on the move. So Nate was moving with it.

But this one was the perfect shot. We drew Nate in with the leg kicks. And as Nate moved forward, Connor hit him. So you've got two forces there. You've got Nate coming forward and Connor's shot coming forward. So that's you can't get a heavier shot than that. And what does Nate do? Put his hands out and walks forward.

I'm not going to lie. I was slightly terrified. There was actually, yeah, there was a, funny part in the fight, I don't know whether it was picked up or not, but they were in there corner and Connor had thrown a turning psychic, which wasn't part of the game plan at all. And I kind of shouted that corner and he was like right beside me. And I was like, game plan, game plan, stick to the game plan, discipline. And like in the midst of all that madness, Nate like kind of looks down at me and goes,

F you in your game plan. Which is, it was a crazy moment. It was a crazy moment. I'm having a conversation with him. You know, his eyes all over the place. And I mean, that was deep in the deep in round four. But it was, but for me, like I was looking at them, just taking these heavy, heavy shots and walking forward and smiling.

And my head, I'm going, I'm glad I'm on the outside here. Because this is insane that, you know, Conner has hit him with everything. And, you know, it's an incredible ability. Nate has. And that's why I think it's the toughest fight because who, like a 55 or 45, anyone else that Connor lands those shots on, which he will, over a 25 minute period, some of those shots are going to land. They're all going to go down. Only Nate can take those. So I think this is until maybe the trilogy, the toughest fight, Connor will ever have. What about that takedown defense? Where did that come from? That was supremely impressive.

see we grapple we grapple we're not just boxers it's beautiful that must have really made you proud I mean for a guy who's been criticized your background that was I mean he only got one takedown

in the final seconds I don't know if he gave it up or not I mean I was really upset by that because that takedown as well I was expecting that because he did a very similar one on Josh Thompson and we had a counter to it

but it didn't quite pull off but technically over 25 minutes it's it's a real joy for for me I had to say and of course Connor like we all the shots like I have a WhatsApp message for Connor we we both sent each other a kind of an essay on on the day of a fight you know I kind of sent him what's going to happen and he sent me back what's going to happen and it's funny looking over it wow every shot that spoke about happened every sequence that we drilled happened so it was just really nice for to put so much my life is somewhat being on hold for almost half a year now

and I've thought of nothing else except this and we come up with it formulated a very strong game plan, a very detailed game plan and just technique by technique, move by move, it played out as we drilled endlessly in the gym, you know? So it's just really gratifying to have, you know, hard work rewarded. You know, I've been somewhat fascinated by this reputation on the line storyline that you developed, that you came out and said, because, you know, I asked them about it, I keep bringing it up because it's a crazy thing because there's no way in hell your reputation could have been at stake, but I appreciate you putting that kind of pressure on yourself. Have you ever considering that, considering those emotions, ever felt the way you did going

into this fight like Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon in the locker room, were these different emotions that you were feeling before the fight? You know, I actually didn't really feel like it was kind of nice having, you know, Artemont area. I like doing a few fights on one night. One fight is sometimes, there is a massive buildup, but when I've got a couple of fights on, it sort of breaks it up. But I really felt very relaxed. I really felt that two fights were going to go in a way that I expected.

And, you know, Arthur went out and did what he did, and it was a very one-sided contest. And I just couldn't see it being different than the main event. You know, round one was really, really, really gorgeous. You know, that was one of the best rounds I've ever seen. and there's very few guys who would have come off the stool for round two were being able to go back at the end of round on other than neat because the heavy leg kicks he got dropped,

that left hand landed clean. That was just a really nice round. And, you know, there was a part of me that was somewhat looking forward to seeing 25 minutes. You know, I wanted to play out all the techniques. I wanted him to go into the deep waters. I wanted the cardio training to be rewarded because now he's obsessed with that. Like he said himself that he's a blue belt in that type of training,

but he will be a black belt. And whatever window of opportunity was there for other fighters is gone now because that's his obsession now. And he's taking a few days off. And then we're starting up those cycles again and working our way towards our purple belt. Wow. That is amazing. Was there any point where you lost the faith, where you were getting really worried?

Not like, I mean the crowd. I thought, I was, you know, Big John McCarty is an incredible referee, but I was getting a little bit worried the way he was looking at Connor at the end of three. And of course, that's his job. But I was just terrified he was going to step in, you know, when kind of Nate flurried him against the fence because, like I said, rewatch it, watch it and slow-mo. Look, look how he's, it's a style of boxing that Connor doesn't play often.

He actually played a little bit of you can, some of that boxing footage that got out when he was, sparring the pro in LA, this kind of, you know, leaning back on the ropes and just catching shots with his lead shoulder in his hand. He's very, very good at that. He just, he doesn't play it. He hasn't played it in an M.M.A. fight before. Because who fights like Nate, you know, who steps in and throws six punch combinations, whereas M&A is normally one, one shot or two in a take down. But I knew what he was doing, putting us back on the fence, you know, that kind of rope-a-dope style, if you want to call it. And I knew when the bell went,

he was going to those 60 seconds be recovered for round four. But there was a moment of fear that the crowd or, you know, John would step in. But, you know, John's an incredible referee. He wasn't going to make that mistake. As his head coach, when you see what happens at the press conference with the bottles being thrown and whatnot and just his intensity at the open workouts, dropping the mic, were you ever concerned?

Did you ever sit down and talk to him about not getting too excited? Were you concerned at all about the emotions when you saw these things play out on Fight Week? I was a little bit, but I'll tell you a secret. Okay. That I had a plan to sit down and do this speech room. And after the Wayans, we were backstage on our own. And he just looked at me dead in the eye cold and said, the illusion of insanity is over.

Now is game plan. And I was like, well, okay. My job was done. What am I going to add to that? So he stood up there and he did the screaming and, you know, posturing. And then just come back at a stage and like a serial killer just looked at me and said that. That might be the greatest line of all time. It blew me away because it's funny.

Like with Orla I was saying, like I want to, you know, I had this speech in my mind. And then I just texted her that line, what he did. he said and I said it's over. The fight's done. The illusion of insanity is over? That isn't. Now it's time for the game plan. Oh my gosh. What were you going to say?

Was this going to be a long talk with him? Yeah, I had a boring long speech about discipline, patience, sticking to the game plan, you know, no emotions. I don't know. It was going to be something boring anyway. And then he came out with this line and I went, I'm stealing that for future fights.

Is this before or after he waited? in or officially wait in after after the way so you know I was up on the stage and he was he was doing his thing that he does out way ins which is usually he set himself in the past that's usually when he um is his last kind of emotional outburst you know that screaming um but even even like I saw a cool little video comparing his walkout for the first may fight compared to the second one and you can you can see that level of yeah focus um there's no playing up to the cameras there's no screaming there's no moving around. Even when he stood in the cage there

and he brought the two of them in. And I guess probably Nate was ready for the, you know, the whatever and just we call it pulling in Arden, you know, just stood neutral, looked him dead in the eye. If that didn't make Nate take at least a gulp and realize he's fighting a different guy and the pace that he set in round one, it was, like I said, we could talk all day about this fight.

I love this fight. It is a great fight. Yeah, an all-time classic. He said afterwards he's done at 170. Are you behind this idea? Are you okay with it? Yes, okay. Yeah, the hell with that.

Okay. When Dana came backstage, before seeing he said, weight classes for a reason. So, you know, he's perfect for 55. Right. It's a very, very easy weight cut for 55, and he's, the power is there.

You know, we got to see a little bit of his grappling in that fight. Still haven't seen it all yet. There's still a lot more to come. I would have likened to see him on the ground more in the fight, just for, I guess just for my selfish self. Right. Because we've done a lot, and of course, Dylan was a great help with that.

So I would have liken to see some exchanges there. But, you know, overall, overall, I'll give him a 9.5. So you say 155 is perfect for him, but Dana White is saying he has to fight a 145 next. he has to defend the belt and if he doesn't he's going to get stripped so is his next fight going to be at 145 in your opinion I don't know

I can give you my opinion which I know we'll that's what I want we'll get some headlines ever but it's not Connor like I've said in many interviews he's much much smarter than me at navigating his way

through this I'm about the fight I enjoy individual fights I enjoy preparing for them I don't really focus on belts and which path he's he's he's the black belt at that i'm i'm a white belt for me personally i will be pushing for 55 that's that's just my big brother kind of opinion i like to see him at 55 i remember that bushinger fight he just he looked like a tank to me and um i just think he was he was designed but to be a lightweight so would you like to see him no longer fight at 145

I really don't see the point in it with all due respect to the 45 guys especially after that fight with naked what are they going to do what's anyone going to do to him I just think anyone he faces that that way class is

it's almost like he's cheating with the amount of power he has he could make the way don't get me wrong in that and he might do it just to just despite me but you know with the with the having Lockhart on board I mean the 45 he made last December

was the easiest one he's ever done so it's definitely in him to do it but he's just running through people at that way class and there would have been a nice build-up you know I had a little vision in my head him and Edgar in New York maybe in November but

unfortunately those guys didn't keep up their end of the bargain they had to go out there and prove they deserve to prove that they had improved and go out there and beat Aldo and they didn't. The fight was even more one-sided than their first contest. I guess Aldo had learned from the last time.

So when you say 155, do you want to see him fight Eddie Alvarez the champion? Or would you like to see the Nate trilogy fight at 155 right away? No, I'd like to, I think it would be nice for him to be the champion, get the belt at 55, and then defend it against Nate. I think that would be a pretty amazing fight. Maybe in Crow Park in Dublin. Oh my gosh. A push for that.

How cool would that be, huh? Yeah, now they're going to turn you into the mayor. We went to their enemy territory, so let them come over to us this time. So would you like to see him fight in New York, that big show, or is that too soon? He could definitely do it. Orla's nodding. Oler's nodding in the background. She really wants to go to New York.

Turberte as well on that fight. That fight, wow. And then we could do the pre-and-post-fight chat in this damn studio. How about that? Oh, wow. Okay, I'm going to go upstairs. Wait, come up and get on the road. But from a coaching perspective, is that too soon?

That's only two and a half months away. Yeah, it is soon. I do think there's, he's, Connor has so much going on in his life. There's, you know, with his many, many businesses that he's, running at this stage. And I know he puts a lot of them on hold, you know, for that last, well, everything's being on hold for the last 20 weeks.

So I know he's a lot of catching up to do in his other interests. So it probably is too early. Now, again, he, although he does other businesses, I know what his interest is really in is fighting. So if there was a crazy offer and it made sense, he would again put them on hold and get ready for it, but it probably is a little bit soon. He actually said to me, have you ever seen those, you ever seen the little pigs that swim in the Caribbean? Yeah. Have you ever seen those? Sure, sure. He wants to go swimming with the pigs in the Caribbean. Maybe he's going to do that for a few

weeks. It's good to be the king. It is certainly good to be the king. I would just love to see that video of him splashing around with little pigs. I know one place that would love that video. The maclife.com. That would be a hit over there. kind of insight, John, can you give us into what he was alluding to after the fact? Shit is about to hit the fan. I might look at other sports. I mean, it seemed like he was trying to hint at things, but he left us with the ultimate cliffhanger. What can you tell us about where he's at and what he's talking about? You know, I can tell you that nothing is set in stone. There's no, there's no like black and white. Okay, where this is next and then we'll do this and then

will do this. Like, I think Floyd tweeted, let's do business or something pretty soon after the fight. So there's that, you know, there's, he has a lot going on. He's a busy, busy head on him. So that's why I kind of think the next couple of weeks he probably has to, you know, put some time and effort into, into his other interests. And let, let everything build up because that fight, I swear to God, I have a lot more gray hair from that 25 minutes.

So I think as a community, we all need to take a deep breath and exhale and let everything else carry on for a couple of months. And that's something really interesting build up because that was an incredible buildup. And to go straight from that into getting ready for Alberis or whoever, I don't know, it just seems rushed or something. So let's sit back. Let's let's exhale. You know, I've got some, there's a big announcement coming out this week for one of my. my other fighter. So, you know, there's some big, there's some big things coming up that we, you know, that we're going to focus on right now rather than straight into another

fight. Why wait to make the announcement? The floor is yours. Many people watching? See, I've seen you get in trouble for that in the past. Oh, come on. I'm not scared, homie. You probably, you probably know already anyway. I don't think you'd be surprised. You'd send it to tell me these things. What was the scene post-fight? You mentioned Dana White being back there, what was it like? Because I know Connor was a little disappointed that the Fertitas weren't there for the traditional whiskey shot, right? Yeah, I was looking forward to that.

I like that, Middleton. I had to break into one of the sweets and grab a bottle or something. Good man. It would have been nice to see Uncle Frank there. But yeah, no, we're just in the first thing you do when you go backstage, as you know, is he gets brought in for the post-fight medicals. And so it's only just me and him in there with the doctor. and Dana just kind of burst in and, you know, the way he's kind of a little bit over the top

fucking out. That was amazing, motherfucker, and all of this kind of thing. No, he just was, you know, blown away by the fight like everybody was and said, you know, we've weighed classes for a reason. So the trilogy will be at 55, that's for sure. What did you say to Connor after you found out that he won? Do you recall, like, was there a moment when you guys were alone? Did you have a moment with him at all?

shared anything? No, not really. You saw the arena. You know what it's like when we go backstage. He's pulled 20 different ways. So I didn't really, we haven't really, well, we broke down the fight, but we didn't really kind of, you know, hug it out or anything like that. We just, he's straight away like into, like that night, those guys went out to the after party. I didn't.

Why? Well, I walked in. I don't know what it is about Vegas. They don't know how to like rope off an area or maybe they're just not able for a town and Irish people because as we walked in, I was like, all right, guys, is it going to be like last time? Because last time was like the walking dead. I just got dragged everywhere, you know, like, oh, no, no.

It's a kind of, it's a VIP area. You kind of have away, you know, because after a night like that, you need a little bit of peace, you know? Yeah. And when we walked in, it was absolute bad. just got bounced around the place. I got pulled all over the place. It got battered.

And I just grabbed all over it and said, we're out of here. So we went home. So I didn't see Connor till the following morning. Okay. And the minute I saw him, he was right away into a 30-minute breakdown on each round. He'd watched the fight 50 times already. And his brain was just going a million miles in there. And I was like, dude, come on.

Relax. It's been in it's only been a few hours But that's him He never stops How many times have you watched it? I've watched it twice now But I'm just about to go watch it again I haven't watched it today

So we're going to stick it up on the cinema And watch it properly What an amazing scene that will be Yeah wow That's going to be amazing to watch it on the big screen Okay two last quick things Do you know a certainty That they will fight again

Do you have a feeling can you say with certainty that this will happen a third time at least? Absolutely. It has to, right? Right. I think I tweeted out a picture of the Joker and Batman. He's like, why do you want to kill me? And he's like, I don't want to kill you.

You complete me. What would I be without you? And so there's something Batman joker-esque about Connor Nate. I think they're destined to do this forever. Yeah, that is a great comparison. If Connor goes over to WWE, will you act as his like, manager guy. You know what I mean? I know he doesn't need a mouthpiece, but will we see you showing up there with like a flashy suit? I remember I used to watch that. Was it Jimmy the Melt? Jimmy the Mouth said. He had the megaphone.

That's going to be you? No. I would absolutely not do that. If he wants to do that, that's fair enough, but I won't be there. Do you know if you will do that? I would very seriously doubt it. It would have to be, it would have to be shockingly ridiculous money. for him to even consider that. So I don't think that's going to happen either. I don't think I'm going to be hitting somebody with a steel chair soon. What a scene that would be? Where do you go from here?

Of course, you're still in Vegas. You go back home in a couple of days. What's next on the schedule for you and the team? Yep. So I get home and straight into heavy training. We've got Bamar in Dublin, which is always a huge show for us. That's kind of the biggest show in Europe. And it's going to be a massive show.

It's in Dublin. It's in my city. Chris Fields is headlining he's fighting for another belt the guy has I don't know many belts he has his age and you know it's a full car John Philip Big John Phillips is on there

he's defending his belt and yeah I'm straight into that and then the following week there's a new show happening up to north of Ireland the following week after that I'm off to Bahrain for Brave 1 Franz Malambo

and who else are having I'm brave Kevin Kovolski, yeah, he stepped in. So he's actually fighting one of them, when it could be training partner, someone like Kibb, anyway, I'm waffling on. But that's what's happening. I hit the ground running and I'm straight into a bunch of big fights. Wow, and what about the turnout on Thursday for the book in Vegas?

Did you have a nice turnout? Because we were worried Wednesday, Thursday, there weren't enough Irish fans that enough people show up. Did you feel the love from the people? You know, it was a smaller crowd, but it was very, It was kind of intimate. It was kind of, it was fun, you know, because you're sitting with 30 or 40, like people who are really knowledgeable and really interested.

And we kind of just, oh, and Roddy came along, which is great. And we sort of just turned it into a conversation. It was like a group of friends just having a chat. And so I actually enjoyed it. It was a fun kind of break from, you know, Fight Week, as you know, is a bit crazy. And I had just come from the press conference. The workout. Oh, no.

The workout. The workout. Sorry. Yeah, it was my first time doing the moving around with Connor in a while. I had a workout and he kind of threw it at me just as we were there, put your shorts on. And I was like, oh shit.

I hope it don't fall over here, you know? So, you know, we did that. And then all the cameras going and the crowd gone crazy. And then from that to kind of sitting with 30 guys and talking about the old days and going to chatting about his fights and me chatting about my fights. and the rise of SBG.

So it was a nice break from the madness of Fight Week. All right, we have taken up way too much of your time. So much to discuss, but I'll let you go. Again, thank you so much, John. These chats are a true pleasure for me. It really is to get your insight right after the fight, and I really appreciate it again. The book is Win or Learn, and, wow,

does it not mean that much more after this big victory? I mean, it's amazing. This fight is not in the book, and it's just amazing how you timed it all. I feel like you had something to do with it. I feel like this was part of your plan to sell more books. Well done. Well done, my friend.

Congratulations. And it also, you know, Connor said, surprise, surprise, the king is back. It also kind of feels like SBG is back a little bit. And I know it's not just about Connor, but you had Gunny win big a couple months ago. You had Ardenham get his first official win on Saturday. And of course, Connor back on track. So you guys seem to be back to your old winning ways. We win or we learn Ariel.

It's not just a catchy phrase. That is very true. Enjoy it. Congratulations. Again, appreciate the time. Thank you to everyone back. there and really take this one and celebrate back home because I know you put a lot of work into it. Thank you so much. Nice job to you again. All right. There he is. What a pleasure it is to talk to

John Kavanaugh after a big Connor McGregor fight this time no different. Tremendous insight, as always, from the head coach of one Connor McGregor. Okay, great stuff. Hope you enjoyed that. What else we got? New York, Rick, you there? I'm here. How about this? Someone texting me now regarding Eddie Alvarez and Conner McGregor. I don't know if he wants me to put him on blast, but I think he wants me to put him on blast. It's Mark Henry, the head coach, 4-1, Eddie Alvarez. Eddie will smash him. He looks like he got worse. Oh, I love it. What a fun starting. It's interesting because Mark was the one who was talking a lot about Connor pertaining to Frankie Edgar, right? And now it's It's now Eddie Lever. Yeah, it's shifting.

We got anything to talk about before we go? What do we got? Maybe a few questions. I mean, you know, people are disappointed that. We haven't done questions in a little bit. Well, it's not my fault. You keep, as the producer of the show, keep booking stacked shows. Yeah, I mean, I'll take the heat on that. Let's go 15 minutes more. Everybody's, you know, I don't know if I want to give the fans these questions. Everybody's on my case, oh, hipster Rick. They're eating up this crap that you're feeding them. and now I'm taking the heat on it.

Is this a heel turn? Yeah, I mean, you know, maybe the people need to show me a little more love instead of buying this crap, hookline and sick. I see the way you respond to them on Twitter. Yeah. Very rudely.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, some of the stuff, I mean, these people, if, the myth. Yes. Let's talk about, let's talk about that fight. What's?

Connor versus Eddie Alvarez, is that the next fight? Like, what do you see happening? Oh, man. Or what do you want to happen? What's next for Connor? So many options. The amazing thing about Connor McGregor is that he continues to have a ton of options.

Aldo option. Eddie, option. Nate, option. I mean, there's just three massive options. Choose one. Oh, God. Look, I don't like him at 145. I really don't.

I feel like he does not look healthy at 145. He looks damn good, though. He looks dominant in his fighting performances. But at what cost? You know what I mean? Like his face looks sunken in. I feel like 155 is his natural weight class. Now, here's a question.

Yeah. Do you think his reluctance to be done with 145 completely is because he wants to hold the two titles at once? And that's pretty much the only thing keeping him hanging on. Look, I still believe that he has wiped out that weight class except for one guy, Frankie Edgar. Now, I think it's tough to book the Frankie Edgar fight coming off a loss. It'd still be a massive deal. There's no doubt about that.

If you did that fight, even if you did that fight in New York, I mean, it would be gigantic. But I think mentally there is something to the fact that he knocked out someone in 13 seconds. And he's saying to himself, you know, it's hard for me to top that. It's hard for me to recreate that. It's hard for me to be better than that. What I hate the Aldo fight? No, Connor is must-cTV. That rivalry is must-c-tTV.

Everything about Connor and opponent X is must-cTV. But I understand what he's saying. And I think on top of all that, it's a tough. asked to go from 170 to 145 for your body. And especially if we're talking New York, I think New York is just a little too close. That's why the 200 thing is so unfortunate because the timing 200 to November would have been perfect, right? July to November. Now I think it's a little bit too close. I mean, he has defied logic in the past, but I think it's a little bit too close now. So I like 155, but I also don't like the idea of leapfrogging Chabib. I think Chabib deserves a title shot.

So does Habib fight Eddie in November and then Connor get the winner? Does he, you know, Does he sit on the sidelines for that long? I mean, I think a lot has to play out. And I think that the most fascinating thing of all of this is this struggle between him and the UFC that he's alluding to that will have to play out. That is drama. And anyone who denies that, you're just lying to yourself. They are tapping into now the whole Vincent McMahon versus Stone Cold Steve Austin angle.

That's what they are tapping into. And everyone loves a struggle between an employer and an employee. And I know he's not technically an employee. You get what I'm saying. So this is going to be fascinating. And then how does Nate play into all of this? Nate is a gigantic star. Is he going to sit on the sidelines for a year and wait?

Is he going to fight for the belt? Is he going to fight? I don't know who else? The winner of Ferguson, R.D.? Who knows? There's so much going on here. And how does Nick Diaz play into all of this? When is he coming back?

Wait a minute. It's just crazy. He is not involved in this scenario at all. Who, Nick? Yeah. There were some people saying, could you imagine Nick Diaz versus Connor. It's never going to happen.

Oh, stop. It would be big. Okay, but who is he fighting next? Call it. Call your shot. Seth Rollins. No, that was just for you and the hipster wrestling fans. Who's he fighting next?

You know what just happened? My mom, you know this thing that's been going on with the Habib fans going on Instagram and spamming Dana White with the alligators? Oh, yes, yes, yes. I kid you not. My mom just texted me Habib time with alligators. I don't know if you could see it at the top there. So is that what you're going with?

I mean, mama knows, right? She is behind the spamming. I'm not going with Chabeev versus Connor there's no way that's happening right off the bat I don't know I really don't know I can't give you an answer

all I know is that I think everything is on the table as John said and I wouldn't put it past them to do the third fight right away is that crazy? I don't know if that's the right move but I mean

who am I to say they're going to sell paper views what's the biggest rivalry in the UFC right now this fight clearly what's the biggest fight they can make right now this fight

there's no bigger stage than the first show at MSG Now, yes, but this fight could be potentially be bigger with more time. Things could happen. Now, you're also risking the chance that you lose some steam. But I think there is a possibility that people will be burnt out at this point with another one right after. It takes a lot of energy.

This is people are invested in this. Yeah, I don't think that we have, because both fights have actually gone off, there's been no delays. So there's no smoke and mirrors, no wolf tickets. Both fights have gone off. both fights have been incredible. Both fights, in my opinion, have exceeded our expectation. So every time you get invested emotionally in these fights, there is a payoff. And it's better than you think, in my opinion.

So I don't think there's any fatigue. And if the UFC sees the kind of stars that Kanye West is showing up to it, this is a big deal. Everyone's talking about it. Everyone was talking about this fight on the last night of the Olympics. You know, like, this is a big deal. So do you run the risk of ruining the trilogy fight? of having a guy get beat or injured, whatever.

I don't know. There's a lot. I think it's fascinating that Dana's putting his foot down on this one. And I know it's an emotional roller coaster for him. It's a pain in the ass to deal with these guys. It really is. But I kind of feel like the payoff is worth it. Don't you think?

I mean, you know, they will be stacking, thanks to Connor McGregor. Stacking, Macon. Okay, how about Connor McGregor? is there any, do you have any, lend any credence to the idea that he would be in WWA? Is that even a possibility? Honestly, I don't think John is the kind of guy to lie to us or kind of throw smoke and mirrors, things like that. I think his answer was pretty telling. I think the reason why he does this is to create options, is to create leverage for negotiations.

You know what I mean? And it does. Amir Khan tweeting about him. I didn't see anything from Floyd Mayweather, but the wrestlers tweeting. Brock, the timing of that Brock interview with Sam Roberts was great for Connor. Came out Saturday morning. I know Brock was competing in SummerSlam, but he just put Connor on more people's radars. So I don't think he has, Connor has turned down a lot of movie deals.

You know what I mean? This is a guy who really is not trying to play. And I'm sure at some point it's going to happen. I'm sure he's gone busier and he's got more options and there's Maclife and all this stuff. But for the most part, from day one, let's be honest. From day one, he has been very consistent. From his demeanor to his trash talk to his goals, he said he wanted two titles. Let's see if he gets it.

No WWE for Connor. I don't think so. I know you'd love to see that. You'd love to see him at the... Yeah, I mean, if I could be there, that'd be amazing. Yeah, it would be great. Yeah, I mean, I'm the hipster with this. This is you and I'm the hipster.

People. That's right. Pay attention. That's right. Pay attention to this. NSAC versus the Diaz brothers. Why does it seem like the NSAC is making a point to aggravate Nate and Nick? Basically, let's sum this up with.

What do you, how do you feel about the fact that Nick was banned from cornering and that the, it seemed that the resolution was over the fine and not rather the suspension length? It's unfortunate. I mean, I know he is, he's on the hook. He has to pay that fine. He still owes them 75K. So officially, as far as we've been told, his assistant. suspension is not over.

The term of his suspension seemed to be up, and everybody was talking about that, but he's actually still suspended at this point. Well, I mean, he could fight. You know what I mean? Like, his suspension is up. It's just an issue now in Nevada. Like, I think if they book him in California,

I don't think... They'd allow him. Yeah, because he served as time. Now, he has a due to pay, I guess you could say. And I think it's kind of crazy. Why does he have to pay... To me, look, they suspended him for five years, and then they backtrack, and they wanted to save face. They didn't want to seem like they were, you know, as crazy as they originally came across as.

And so they said, okay, 18 months. Why does you have to pay a penny? For what? To do what? Completely with you. And now if they try to find, if Nate Diaz took his P test and smoked that stuff, if they try to make us think about that, now I know it's kind of, anti-establishment, counterculture, all that stuff. But come on, enough of this.

That was his way of giving them the FU. You know that. Yeah, it's silly. Now, to play devil's advocate, these were the terms. Like, you know, I understand why he would not be allowed. I think it's ridiculous. Don't get me wrong. It's completely ridiculous.

But these were the terms that were established. I have a feeling, though, just come to some other resolution at some point. it seems like Nick has you know good representation in his corner and you know ultimately it'll all get worked out but I don't think he's in any hurry

because he's kind of just sitting on the sidelines yeah but he wants to he wants to come back and I think it genuinely they're gonna show him that money I think it genuinely heard him to not be there for his brother like now he could be there and I saw him

I saw him right before the fight on Friday and he was like man I don't want to go you know I don't want to go sit in the locker room or sit in the stands that's his brother biggest fight ever, he can't be in his corner, it just sucks. The whole situation sucks. It's ridiculous.

Figure it out. Yeah, just figure it out. Let the, I don't know. It just sucks. It really does. What do you think about showing the weights that people weigh in and then the weights that people show up on fight night? Do you feel like they do that?

No. Oh, I've been asking for that forever. Because weight seems to be a big focus. It would seem like now might be the time for this. We have the earlier weigh-ins. now is the time to kind of put all the cards on the table in terms of weight and fighters you know rehydrating dehydrating all that type of stuff there is something strangely fascinating about those early weigh-ins two hours long they have to get there between that two

hour block like you can't arrive at 1001 or 10.05 whatever that happened to be shitate almost did so it's almost like this race against the clock and i enjoy it i was pissing off uh mark romandi and channel shuddy because the record is 46 minutes thus far in chicago that was the that was the record. So they all weighed in within 46 minutes. So I was trying to see if they were going to break the record. Of course, it didn't happen. Connor and Lorenz Larkin were the last ones. But it's just, it's an interesting vibe. It kind of feels like early MMA, 2001. No fans there. They just show up casually. And then they do the ceremonial way in, which serves a purpose, especially when Connor's fighting and Nate's fighting. There's a great atmosphere. I wish at that one they tell you

what they weighed. I know that might be a little confusing to people, but I'd love to know how much they gain in a span of six hours. And then I wish on the broadcast, they also told us. I like, we're moving towards being more transparent. They're telling us how much they're making. The big money is being talked about all this stuff. What's wrong with this? I feel like that's an interesting part of the fight game. They talk about it on the HBO telecast, Showtime Boxing Telecast. Why can't we do it here? I don't get it. Yeah. I mean, it's, I wouldn't be surprised. I don't think it's far away. Just because, as you said, we seem to be moving toward transparency. so this would just be another step in that.

Cowboy. We're talking about Connor Nate all this time. Cowboy also had a huge performance. Does he face Alvarez? Or, I mean, he's a free agent now. Does he stay with the UFC? Does he leave? He also has a ton of options here.

What's next for him? Yeah, he was saying he's a UFC guy. He wants a UFC contract. He wants to stay in the UFC. They treat him well. Kind of changing his tune from what he said in Ottawa back in June. But yeah, that's a story that emerged last week. He's now a free agent, as is Lorenz Larkin? How about that one? Didn't talk much about him, but

holy, moly, what a big win that was for him over Neil Magni, and he's a free agent as well. I think they'll figure it out with Cowboy. He's very marketable. And as I noted, on Saturday, he's now won 11 of 12. His loan loss to RDA for the belt, a big one, no doubt. But this talk now that, you know, he doesn't get up for the big fight that he's inconsistent is just, it's hogwash at this point. It's not true. He's gotten over the hump. is a very, very good fighter. And the UFC, I mean, this is one of those guys who's not a champion, who hasn't been a UFC champion.

He would move the needle for Bellator. He comes with a very loyal following, and he delivers. To do that to Rick's story, wow. And I was joking with Brandon Gibson, your boy's six gun afterwards. I mean, his new nickname should be the missing ingredient because he has really, since linking up with Seroni and he's done it with other fighters of Jackson's. I mean, he really raises their game. Look at that striking.

And it's not just Brandon Gibson. I mean, Saroni has his own skill set, but that finishing sequence was the thing of beauty. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that team and Brandon, you know, are incredible. But in this particular case, Cowboy had an incredible performance. Rick's story is super durable, super tough. So if you had to predict, he's staying with the UFC as he's as he's, as he's, alluded to. I would keep him around, obviously, try to re-sign him, and I would also keep him at

170. I mean, he has looked fantastic. And I know he's not fighting top five guys yet, but I want to see how far he can go at 170 now, right? Rick Story's right there. If not, I mean, let's see. Yeah, he beat Gunner Nelson. Yeah, the next step is not far, so I agree with you. Why go back down now? Why go through that way cut? It doesn't make any sense to me. Unless there's a fight, you know, last minute and he has to, you know, save a card or whatever the case may be, which he's prone to do and want to do. I think he looks great at 170. Why not stay there?

Lorenz Larkin, also of great performance, also a free agent. Yes. Do you think there's any interest in him outside? Look, he's not a huge needle mover, but that's a massive win. And remember, he's a Strike Force Challenger guy. He's a Scott Coker guy. I'm curious what kind of run they'll make at him. But yeah, that's a big win.

He has looked very good as of late. I mean, he really has turned it around at 170, Andy started off his, his, his, his, his, his, his, his, his, his, his, his, his UFC career kind of slow. Um, coming after the, um, the Robbie Lawler win. I'm looking at some weird picture that, blading weird. Randy Orden. Oh, yeah. What the hell is that? Is that real? Yeah, Brock laid in some elbows on him yesterday. Is he legit? What was wrong with Brock Lesnar? Has he lost it? What's going on here? You know. Was that a shoot, brother? I don't, I don't, I don't, I honestly, I don't know enough about, like, the line between real and fake in wrestling, but I'll tell you this, it look real.

Yeah. That cut, you can't fake that cut. That's for damn sure. Well, that's John Pollock about that. Yeah, shout out to John Pollack. Yeah, so Lorenz Larkin, great win. Certainly bet on himself, loved what he had to say afterwards, so we'll see. But this, this theme, 2016 theme of the free agency, it continues to become more and more interesting and prevalent as well. Okay, we have Condit versus Maya this weekend.

Yes. Does the winner get to fight the winner of Wonderboy and Tyron Woodley? And is that even happening? If that happens, that is not even close to being done. Not even close to being done. So do you think we're going to get a pile up at Walterweight? I think the UFC wants the Wonderboy fight. I'm curious about this.

GSP made it a point to say that he is going to start his testing, his four-month testing on August 10th. And then they come out and announce it to Toronto. Toronto is December 10th. That's a four-month period. So is he going to return in Toronto? Does he fight Tyrone Woodley in Toronto? Is it Wonderboy in New York or, you know, who knows where else? So this is going to be interesting. Certainly if Maya wins, he deserves a title shot and maybe he has to wait. If Condit wins, I think he deserves it to a degree. I mean, he'll only have won one fight, but I think he beat Lawler, to be honest. So it makes it a little different. I know he wants big fights.

regardless, it's a hugely important fight in that division. I mean, it's pretty damn big. And it's too bad it's not getting enough buzz, but this is what happens when you put a card after a Cona McGregor card. Those top four fights are pretty good. All right, this is the last question. Last one. From the Funkmaster.

Alge Master. Aljo? Aljo Sterling. Watching live? Possibly. This was a lot earlier. So when the F, so he's fired up, is Max Holloway getting his title shot. Max Holloway or fighting Aldo. Yeah.

Well, Max Holloway has been talking about Frankie Edgar. So maybe he has come to terms of the fact that he might not be getting it soon. If Connor doesn't fight Aldo next and if he has to relinquish the belt, it has to be Max Holloway versus Aldo. And that's a fantastic fight. What an amazing fight that is. If not, then I would love to see if Connor fights Aldo, I'd love to see Edgar Holloway. Another fantastic fight. a title shot should he win that after?

I mean, Holloway's next fight has to be against either Aldo or Edgar. Yeah. Know that about it. Or McGregor should. No, not next fight. I don't see that. Aldo or McGregor.

I mean, Aldo or Edgar. Correct, correct. Cool, that's it. All right. Did some questions. Hopefully everybody's happy now. Sorry, a lot going on. Big show.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on, people. Come on. Maybe we'll do another show. Maybe we'll do two times a week. It's in the cards. Okay. Take care.

enjoy the hipster parade before I go what's that? I said I hate you Okay Before I go I just want to mention this quickly

Last week was a tough week For a good friend of the show Good friend of mine Chelle Sondon and his family Going through a tough time With the passing of his His newborn daughter Just wanted to

Again extend my condolences To his family Tell him as I have privately, publicly, that we're thinking about him, that we're hoping that they pull through, that our hearts go out to them. I can't imagine the pain that they are suffering, but the great thing about the MMA community is it is a very tight-knit community, and it's one that is able to lift the spirits of some of its important members, as we've done in the past. And I hope that through our thoughts and our prayers and our well-wishes that we can do the same for Chal and his family,

a very important part of this sport and its history and continues to be that an ambassador now working for ESPN and his podcast and always been a great guy and I've seen him behind the scenes. This is a man who loves his family and loves his son and I know he was so happy and excited about being a father of two and I again can't imagine what they're going through but I wanted to close out the show saying that on top of all the fights and the excitement we shouldn't forget about Chale's son and what his family is going through because it is a it is a tragic tragic situation and he's been a great guy in this sport and a great guy to this show. And I wanted to say that we were thinking about Chale and his family and we hope that his wife,

Brittany, gets better soon as well. On that note, you can hit my music. A fun show comes to an end. So much to discuss, so much to pack in. Never a dull moment in this sport. And again, I will echo what I said at the top of the show. It is so, and I see, and I see, said this on Saturday night as well. It is so much fun when sports, and in particular combat sports, exceeds our expectation. When we have thoughts and visions, dreams of big moments, and we build them up, and we talk about them, and we break them down, and we talk about them some more, and then the actual event happens, and it ends up being even better than we thought. And that's what Saturday night was from the main event all the way down. What a fun night. Again, it has been a weird summer.

There have been some highs and lows professionally for me and as a fan for all of us. But Saturday night really reminded us, at least me, why we love the sport so much and why we invest so much in it, why we think about it so much, why we were hooked from the get-go. It was a beautiful, beautiful night. And Connor McGregor, and of course, Nate Diaz have a lot to be proud of. They really do. They reminded the world once again why this is the best sport in the world. Amazing stuff. I want to thank everyone who tuned in today. Really appreciate your time.

Thank you to everyone who called in who joined us. Peter Carroll, Severe MMA, Leslie Smith, tremendous stuff. Tony Ferguson, thank you very much to him. Cody Garbrandt. Really great stuff as well. How about Mike Perry? Thank you for his time. John Kavanaugh, Andre Pettanaris, Dylan Danis, and all of you.

We appreciate your time. back next week, same time and place. Until then, I say, Be somebody. Sacks 5th Avenue makes it easy to holiday your way, whether it's finding the right gift or the right outfit. Zax is where you can find everything.

From the perfect Chloe bag for your hard-to-shop-for-sister, to a Prada jacket for a fancy holiday dinner. And if you don't know where to start, sacks.com is customized to your personal style, so you can save time shopping. Make shopping fun and easy this season, and find gifts

inspiration to suit your holiday style at Sacks Fifth Avenue. Defenders and cybersecurity are always there when we need them. They should get a parade every time they block a novel threat and have streets, sandwiches, and babies named in their honor. But most of all, they deserve AI cybersecurity that can stop novel threats before they become breaches across email, clouds, networks, and more. Dark Trace is the cybersecurity defenders deserve and the one they need to defend beyond. Visit Dark. Trace.com forward slash defenders for more information.