MMA Fighting - UFC's Jordan Williams Explains How He Stopped Viral Carjacking, Talks Fanny Packs

Episode Date: August 14, 2021

UFC welterweight Jordan Williams joined MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and reacts to the viral video of him stopping a carjacker from attempting to steal his car, what he learned from it, how his yellow fanny pack has gotten a lot of attention, takeaways from his recent loss to Mickey Gall, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This Black Friday, you've got a whole month to catch all the exclusive offers waiting for you. See your local Nissan dealer or nison.ca for details. Conditions apply. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. All right, let us welcome back. UFC fighter, Jordan Williams, because as you may have seen over the last few days, this man walked into what appeared to be a store and someone waiting in the wings, said, you know what, I'm going to try to steal this man's car.

And he became aware of what happened. And well, the rest is history. Jordan, life never slows down, does it, man? How are you? No, man, like us fighters, we choose roller coasters as our ride, man. And I'm doing good. Doing good. I'm doing good.

Happy that I still got the whip, man. Shoot. Yeah. I mean, so many questions I have for you. First of all, I think the most important thing that people want to know about is the yellow fanny pack. Because that thing was absolute fired. I mean, I swear, it's probably a... like a costume or something like, you know, a disguise. You know, all we got was a penny pack, oh, he ain't, he ain't about it. It's like the Batman utility belt, right?

Ooh, there you go. I like what you did there. I like that. You're going to sell a million of these for this company, so hopefully you called Jordan and make this thing happen. So let's talk about what happened. Where were you when this incident occurred? Like, what were you doing?

Like, where were you exactly? I was on my way to work. And I stop at this convenience store, like a lot. Like, I know the guy by name and everything that works behind the counter. We're all friends and, you know, when we go on vacation. So it's like a stop that I go by all the time. And, you know, my blood sugar goes low. So sometimes I'll run into the store real quick.

I leave the car running because I was under the impression that the car won't drive if Kizzo was in 5 feet. Well, that's wrong. I definitely looked that up. And the reason why I couldn't drive is because he had the parking brake on and he couldn't get the parking breakdown. So I was literally seconds away from losing my car. And if he had to figure out how to use a parking break, he would already had it.

So that's, I mean, like, just knowing that, town changes the dynamic of the story and how much of an idiot I am for leaving and running. But anyway, what's going through my mind is, man, there's someone really in my car about to take this for me. Man. So in the video in the post you posted on Instagram, you could see the gentleman just sort of creep his way in

from what looked like the other side of the building. He gingerly just strolls to your car. He gets in and he's getting ready to drive away. Did you see him outside before you went into the store? No, no, I did not. And the funny thing is after that whole altercation happened, they, some people who saw the whole thing go down,

they ran back in the store because I was getting, I was looking at the video of it. Like, hey, the guy, he's coming back. He's running around the corner. So, I mean, obviously the guy's on drugs. He's high off something. I mean, in order to, A, come up with a confidence for that plan, but be like he was running around a block

after crazy. So I didn't, I wouldn't, I didn't see him. If I would, if I saw any character, any specific character, definitely I don't, I don't do that. Only the car running. But yeah, my lesson was learned. Yeah, you won't do that again. So you're in the store, you're getting ready to buy something, and then you just look out and you see, oh, crap, this guy's going to steal my car.

So when you walk up to the car and you open the door, like hot, like what happens? happened there? Like, what did you say to him? What did he say to you? Like, how did that all happen? I didn't even see him when I was in the convenience store. I was just strolling out. And I had my belongings to my hand. And I was, I think I was reaching to pull on a wallet back in my fanny pack. And then I saw this gentleman inside my car. I'm like, and he started to pull back. And I saw look at, we lock eyes as I'm running on to him. And the look that this one gave me, was like, like, I got your car. I'm driving away with your car.

And had no remorse, had no fear. And then once I got the door open and I threw my stuff on the front seat because I still needed the sugar. I laid a couple right hands on him. And after the first right hand, he said he was just screaming. He's sorry, he's sorry. And it was trying to get out of the car.

And so that's why I did some, some knees while he was still, I mean, he was saying, sorry, but, you know, he was still in my car, so I fell like, yeah, it was fair game. And so, but then he turned out, he got away, and I'm just lucky that the parking brake was on because that's what prevented the theft, really, because he couldn't drive away.

And it, it prevented my car from rolling back into the gas pump. And just, this is a whole different, I'm just so lucky that the story played out the way. he did because there's a whole bunch of variables that could have been changed just slightly and like you know could have been a hold of in story yeah i was going to say because i mean not only that but just you know this crazy world we live in right now and all the senseless acts and in some of the like just random violence we see all over the country this probably went as well as it could have gone right like you got the car back like you you threw a couple of punches like

he just took off and sort of accepted his fate like this was probably the best case scenario was it not Yeah, I mean, honestly, a little bit of a scare, but, you know, the best, the best scenario did play out. I don't need this scenario ever to play out again, you know. But, you know, I'm happy that I'm happy that I still have my car. I still go to work today. So we're, like, you said that afterwards there are people who witnessed it and they said he was still running around and being a little crazy. Were the police called? Like, was he arrested to your knowledge?

No, police weren't called and he wasn't arrested. But you know what? I don't mind for my behalf. I feel bad for the next person she tries to do something crazy. But that's like, you know, at that point, like, when the police would have came and everything, he would have been gone. And I don't think it would have been able to catch the guy. But basically, they'll catch him on the next stupid thing he does. Because, you know, this guy, he ain't done with that acting.

left his track, he left his hat and his phone fell out in my car and like, you know, phones unlocked had no contacts,

no messages, no anything, nothing in the track. So this guy was, you know, he had a couple Wi-Fi networks that he was connected to

a couple of grocery stores. So you could just tell he was just like, you know, probably a drug user just, you know, thought he can come up.

If you saw him again and it was just like a sit-down thing and there's moderators and stuff, like, What would you say to him? If I got to sit down with him and there was what? But if there's like a, like, you know, there's like moderators in there.

It's just like you two face to face having a conversation. Like I don't know if it would go down like that. It was just the two of you guys. But like, let's just say like, all right, Jordan. Maybe this guy, we're trying to turn his life around. Like he wants to say sorry. Like what you start the conversation? What are you going to say to this man?

What the fuck, bro? The fuck is your problem. And I come that And I say that to some of my close friends You know When we're asking stupid You know something like that He's, well, don't you?

But All he jokes aside I That's a hard question to answer Because The mediator is like I'm trying to be a bigger person I got the car back

You know I'm just like You know Just get this guy some help Whatever Check his Check his system So get get him some help.

I don't like, or if I see you, because if I see you, I'll definitely implement my way that I help people. I'll beat that ass up. Oh my goodness. Like, he's lucky, he's lucky. He's lucky and I'm lucky, the way, the way it played out. So, obviously, you having a friend working in the convenience store,

how long after the incident happened, did you actually get to watch the video? Oh, right after I walked up and he came out and it was like, are you all right, you know, everything? And so I was like, yeah, well, good. But like, yo, let me see that video. Let me check that out. So I went in like right after that the video.

The speed is kind of messed up because he can only play at one speed. But I started to kind of like speed up the video that kind of, kind of balance it, but man, I had to get that footage right away. I was more of the shots, more than not even just the post, but just to be like, sorry, my dog, just to be like, what the hell, I just want to see how this happened, you know? And how did you react like at first, where you're just like, oh, my God, like, this is, this is nuts. This dude, playing this thing out.

well at that time of when I was watching the video I uh at that time like I was still in like like in shock like let my blood and you know quit pumping and everything so and then what so when I watched it I was kind of like still in that state but after it was going down I was looking at the video I was like okay oh my god this I was sort of kind of like hysterically laughed I feel like, man, this guy really tried to get it with my car. And I was comfortable because I thought the car would have drawn away without the keys. But now knowing that, oh, man, like, I was literally like seconds away from losing my car. It would have been like, you know, I would have been a little bit more, like, you know, on edge watching the video.

Yeah. So biggest piece of advice to everybody, don't leave your car running. Don't do it. never leave your flipping car running again. Doesn't matter who you are. People will try it on you. And have a fanny pack, man. Hell yeah.

It's got to be that one, too. Yep. You know what I'm saying? Come on. Sit out of this fanny bag. Well, good for you, man. Well done. While I have you, and I know these aren't like the best of subjects to talk about,

probably not at the top of the to-do list. but we last saw you compete a few weeks ago against Mickey Gall, didn't go your way, first fight in the UFC at 170. I spoke with Mickey. One thing he did say about you, nothing but respect for you. He felt what you have done in the past and the style you brought to the table, it brought out the best in him preparing for the fight. Like he knew he had to be at the top of his game.

What were your biggest takeaways from that fight with Mickey Gall? He has a nice right hand. given that. But yeah, just got the biggest takeaways. Take more time. Let me just be more present. I know I have this style and I have this where I brought just to go forward pressure and I kind of play that game.

But if I play, I'd be more of a forward pressure. There was times where I pressured and I backed off where I should just kept on. I like I'm against the cage. And so if I'm going to be one way, you got to really execute it. And just the biggest takeaway from that is like, yeah, more humbling and more, more respect for other people and what they can do at this level. And I just got to elevate mine higher. Yeah, I mean, people have watched your career for a long time.

I mean, you've been in tough spots in your career before. You've been in tough spots, you know, in your development before. And you know what this all feels like. Maybe not at a UFC level per se. that right now, but I assume these last two fights after the finally getting that Contender Series contract, I assume this is fueled your fire better than ever, has it not?

Oh yeah, you know, there's a little bit, a little bit of dampness at first, you know, but I think that's, it's like damp with gasoline, like it waters you down, or wet you down, but, you know, it explodes at some point, you know, once the, once the temperatures there, it just ignites.

So that's what happened with me. the fire was dampened, but now it's fully ignited again, and you will see me at competing out there one more time for sure. Do you plan on staying at 170, or do you think you'll go back up to 85 or be more of like opportunity by opportunity basis kind of thing? You know, again, we're going to sit down and talk with the manager. I felt great. I felt like I don't think that it was like cardio or like I lost,

like my chin due the weight cut because the way cut was not that bad and I've been way better with my eating habits but what it was is like I have a lot of damage in my face right now

for that punch you know a lot of some fractures I don't want to get too you know undisclosed about or disclose about but I I you know

I I got some damage going on in my face right now, and I got to wait to let that heal. Fair enough. Well, Jordan, hopefully, yeah, I mean, heal up for sure. Hopefully we see you back in there inside that octagon sooner rather than later. And as cool as that was to watch the other day on your Instagram,

stopping that guy from stealing your car, I would much rather see you doing that kind of thing inside the cage. But I appreciate the time, man. Well done, sir. We'll talk soon. And good job, man. Any final pieces of wisdom or advice you'd like to pass on to the viewing audience before you say goodbye? First off, thank you.

I appreciate it, my brother. And another thing is, again, don't leave the car running, even if it's to get a quick drink for your blood sugar. And these fanny packs, man, shoot. Look, check it out. This yellow. I mean, man, I was going to wear a red shirt, make the red and the yellow pop. you know, I didn't want to lay on the style, give away all my secrets too quick. But, you know, Fanny Pax season is on.

It's always Fanny Pax season, right? Always, always, man. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.