MMA Fighting - We Got Next | Adrian Yanez, Loopy Godinez, Sean Woodson & Roman Faraldo

Episode Date: November 18, 2021

With a win this Saturday at UFC Vegas 43, Adrian Yanez could find himself in a matchup with a top-15 opponent — potentially against a former world champion he admires. This week on We Got Next, Yanez (3:00) joins MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck preview his upcoming bantamweight fight with Davey Grant, talks signing a new four-fight deal with the UFC, if he believes a matchup with Frankie Edgar could be next with a win over Grant and why it would be a bittersweet experience for him. Bellator welterweight Roman Faraldo (29:20) recaps his KO of the Year nominee this past Friday — the viral flying knee he landed on Robert Turnquest at Bellator 271 — discusses getting a flying knee KO win on the same day two years in a row, what it felt like, and why he believes his flying knee was better than teammate Jorge Masvidal’s from a technical standpoint. Sean Woodson (54:45) talks his first UFC finish this past Saturday over Colin Anglin at UFC Vegas 42, clarifies his post-fight comments about Max Holloway, what it was like to chat with the former featherweight champion throughout the week, and why he’d like to fight Melsik Baghdasaryan next.  Finally, Lupita Godinez (1:16:24) previews her UFC Vegas 43 fight with Loma Lookboonmee, discusses her record breaking week when she competed twice inside the octagon, what she took away from her loss to Luana Carolina and going up a weight class to do so, and fighting for the third time in 42 days this Saturday. 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

Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the downloaded two. Ghosts in the Machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cudullian 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 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 two, Ghosts in the Machine, available now, only from Audible. The Vox Media Podcast Network. Everybody, welcome to a brand new edition of We Got Next year on MMAfighting.com.

I am Mike Heck, and moly, moly. We have a loaded show this week. We'll get into it in a moment, but first of all, thanks to all of you for listening to the program, downloading the show, helping the show grow. Much appreciated. And on top of that, checking out all of the shows on the network.

So thank you again. And if you haven't, make sure you rate, review, subscribe wherever you find your podcast to the MMA Fighting podcast page as well as the MMA Hour podcast page, two different feeds, subscribe to them both. You'll be a happy camper that you made that decision. Now, let's talk to some of the rising stars of our. great sport because you don't want to hear me go on and on. You want to hear from the fighters. Four of them, as a matter of fact, joining the show this week. Later on, wrapping us up,

we'll speak with Loopy Godinez, who's just such a savage after breaking one record in her last fight, two fights, back-to-back Saturdays. No one ever in the UFC has done that before. She did it, and she's going to break another record this coming Saturday. Three fights in 42 days. She takes on Lomo Lekbunmi, stepping in on short notice. for Cheyenne Bays. Just unbelievable stuff. She'll join us later on to wrap up the show, talk about all of that,

the decision to come back on such short notice again. Could she come back for yet another fight before the year is over? We'll get her thoughts on that and much more. I'll speak with Sean Woodson. Coming off of his first UFC finish this past Saturday, a UFC Vegas 42 stopped Colin England with some nasty body shots,

and he has a sight set on another surging featherweight in the UFC and wants to clear a couple things up as well. So that's coming up a little bit later on. Roman Faraldo delivered one of the years' best knockouts this past Friday night at Bellator 2.71. A massive, nasty flying knee finish of Robert Turnquist on the prelims. You have seen the highlight surely. Now you'll get the ins and outs of the flying knee. And does he think it was better than his teammate Jorge Mazadol's flying knee?

He'll answer that question around 25 minutes or so. But first, a lot of... people have abandoned weight fights circled on their calendars, on their fight cards for this coming Saturday at UFC Vegas 43. And yes, we know the main event is fun at 135 pounds. But the low-key bangor, if you will, the hardcore fans fight of the night is Adrian Yanez versus Davy Grant. Unanimous excitement when this one was announced. A lot to discuss with one of the top 135-pound prospects in our sport. Let's kick things off with Adrian Yanez. I was going, man.

Oh, no, going great, man. Just literally just got home from training. I spent a little bit too much time. I was like, oh, shit, I got to get home. It's all good. We all have exciting things going on. You, of course, getting ready to fight one Davey Grant, which is a hell of a fight.

It's pretty wild to just kind of go from Randy Costa to Davey Grant. And Gustavo Lopez before that, like, what have you made of the matchmaking? You must be, like, thrilled with it in terms of exciting fights and how people are reacting to them. Oh, yeah, absolutely. I've been loving the matchmaking as it late. Like, it was, it's been really, like, they're putting me in really good situations and really good fights because, man, you got someone like Gustavo Lopez, who's just a come forward type of guy. And then another guy, like, Randy Costa, I feel like they're putting the pressure on me a little bit because they're like, yeah, we're going to keep tossing you guy after a guy after guy after. guy because we're going to give you nothing but bangers but also I don't mind that because

those are the type of fights that I love personally because that Randy fight, you know, for myself, there was a lot to learn from it, but also looking back, I was like, man, a lot of people were super excited about how that fight went and everything. So me personally, I always know I can do better, but also with this, this Davy Grant fight, it's just super cool that I get like a really good name. Like he's a really good name in the UFC, like really well established and Like he's actually like a, uh, he was on a three fight win streak right before he lost Cheeto Vera. But even in that Vera, in that Vera lost, he was never out the fight, if that makes sense. He was always, he was in it, but he was never like completely out.

Like he wasn't like dominated. He hit with the 10-8 or anything like that. But it was, it was a really good fight. So like, I'm really, I'm really excited for this matchup. When you talk about the Randy Costa fight and things that you took away from it, things you need to learn from and grow from, what specific? stood out to you. And I needed to get going a little bit more and then also too just being able to adapt quicker

because there was a couple of things. There was like that jab that he was thrown. I didn't know that he had, he even had a jab in that fight. So like, because even fights before, he was coming in, just kick heavy, punch, like, never set anything up. So for him to be able to set something up, like he set the jab up, he set the pace up, quickly. So just me being able to adapt a little bit faster, move around. Don't stay still and like don't not be too flat foot. Move around and use my feet a little bit more because that was also

part of it. I wasn't moving as much as I should have been. And once I got my rhythm, that's when I started moving again. So I need to be moving a lot faster, a lot earlier. And then also move my head a little bit more, you know, of course, but with that Randy fight, the kicks were coming, like the head kicks were going to come. So you, of course, you want to move your head, but at the same time that, like, he was so, like, flexible with his kicks that he just could get, he can get that left head kick up, like, with ease. And it'd feel like, man, he was out of position, no, but he would land it. So there's a, there's a couple adjustments to make, kind of get an earlier start, move around and not just stay in one spot, you know, so move a little bit more.

Do you think it's something that maybe you start like warming up a little bit harder before you go out there? Like, is it like that or is this just something like as soon as the fight starts, you need to, you know, take a couple seconds to see what's going on, but then just just get out there a little bit faster. Is it typical for you to kind of start like that? No, honestly, it was honestly kind of like a preparation type of thing because I was, I was fully, like, I already knew that he was going to come out really strong in that first, in that first round. So, like, a part of me was, like, already going to think of, like, kind of just kind of tank it out, if that makes sense.

Like, I was going to, like, he was going to throw kicks. And what I was really planning on doing was countering off the kicks in that Randy fight. So I was like, I'm going to counter off these kicks. I'm a counter off these kicks. But once he started throwing the punches, I was like, okay, when's this next kick coming? And I was waiting for things. And I was like, oh, crap. Like, he's coming in hands heavy.

I was like, oh, so that's whenever I started, like, being able to move around and start being able to pressure. But once I realized that, oh, wait, he came in with a completely different game plan that I had originally thought, that's whenever I started being more on my feet. But it was honestly, like, a preparation thing. I wasn't, I was kind of like in my sparring sessions and a lot of my, my training sessions, I was just kind of like, I was being the guy that was kind of just, like, I didn't move around as much.

And that was my fault. that was on my end. It wasn't anybody else's fault. Like I should have been moving my feet either way. So this, on this training camp, we focused a lot on movement, a lot on being explosive and a lot of like a punch variety counters and countering everything, not just like certain spot, not just like a certain combination or a certain kick or a certain thing. We're we're countering everything, starting and finishing.

What I mean by that is starting, engage in the fight, counter, and then counter. So we're doing a lot of a lot of things, like mixing it up, working on some wrestling and everything. So being all well-rounded, you know, so it's been great. Yeah, that was a great fight. It lived up to the expectations. You're moving on to fight Davey Grant.

He's moving on to fight relatively soon as well. Is there a part of you that kind of misses Randy a little bit? Because the build to that fight was tremendous. and you guys are both in like such great spirits, great moods and the lead-in to that fight? Is there a part of you that kind of misses them a little bit? Yeah, absolutely. That was fun.

That was like the first time I ever hugged a fighter before we went to go fight. Like literally at the fighter hotel right before we got onto the shuttle to go, like usually the security guards are just like, hey, like y'all, like make sure they go at this time, they go at this time. But they didn't care. They just let us walk to our shuttle whenever we wanted and we just happened across the pass and we like like me and him hugged it out and then me and his

corners hugged out like our corners hugged it out so it was pretty cool it's it's a it's honestly pretty cool but uh you know that that that that i think that's just randy though randy's like just a really great guy and so uh now it's kind of more like hey and now i don't have to punch someone i like you know i can punch someone who i might like but i won't know until after the fight because i haven't talked to them or anything like that there's been no no social media stuff or anything like that. So it's kind of cool, but also it's kind of just like, man, like, ah, it's like, I kind of want to talk to him, but at the same time, I was like, no, I don't know if he'll take it like how Randy did, but it's a, it's fun. It's all fun in games, man, because at the end of day,

we are going to have to go in the cage and punch each other. You talked about how, we talked about the matchmaking and how they're kind of throwing you into the fire. Do you feel like they see something in you? Do you feel like they're just putting you in the test? Like, I'm not saying, like, the guys you fire like gatekeepers or anything, but they're definitely, like litmus tests more than anything, right? Like build you up. All right, if he could beat this guy, he could take that next step. I feel like Davey Grant is just outside of the top 15.

And I feel like this is your test to get into the top 15. I think with the win here, you probably get there. Do you feel the same way? Oh, yeah, absolutely. I've always looked at David Grant as like that guy that's, that he's a tough fight for anybody. He's a really, really tough fight. You against David Grant, of course, you have to be on all your peas and cues.

is this guy is just like he's that guy he's he's the guy that like wants to be like in the top 15 he's trying to gain he's trying to get that belt as well just like how I am but man these these last couple fights like they they have been pushing it a little bit they have been like trying to see where we're at and I didn't I honestly didn't think that would they would put somebody like against me and Randy against each other but they did they put a prospect versus prospect fight and they they saw who came out the winner and now they're like okay well prospect versus prospect now let's throw him against a guy who's a hard-nosed veteran like davy grant so yeah i do feel like they see something in me and if i come out and i start skate davy grant

like what what else is there to say about me they're like all right this guy's going to need to be in the top 15 so uh man i i believe i do knock davy grant out is just a matter of when and how i do it but at the end of the day man i know he he's bringing heavy heavy leather and he's not an easy he's definitely not an easy fight. He's going to come in, hard nose, ready to take my head off. So I got to be on my P's and Q's. So with the win over Davy, it should put me right there. If not, if not, like right outside, I should be like 16, 17, right there.

But I wouldn't be surprised if there's a number next to my name right after that fight. Did I see that you signed a new deal before putting pen to paper on this fight? Congratulations on that. I assume you're quite happy. with this new deal. Oh yeah, I'm I'm extremely happy. I feel like I'm doing all the right things and man, I've been performing. I've been really, really performing these last three fights that I've put on. I've gotten another performance bonus on top of these. So I was just kind of just like once we re-up the contract, I saw the numbers and I was like, I'm extremely okay with this. This is,

this is nice. I love this contract. But I am looking for more. So I am I am looking to put on better performances and try to get those numbers a little bit higher. I was like, just like in the Wolf of Wall Street, you know, you got to pump those numbers up. So that's exactly what I want to do. That's exactly what I'm trying to do. And especially right now, I saw one of the doc's brothers, you know, I was, we were tied, we were tied for the most consecutive knockouts.

And like right now, number five is Francis Inganu. And I think it's, I forget which Dawkins brother it is, but he's at number four with his last performance. So I'm number, I'm in number three. Chris, I was like, I'm in number three. So, man, I'm trying to get tied up with number two and then trying to follow it right there after Inganu. And I would be the smallest,

I think I would be the smallest, one of the smaller guys that's actually at that on those, on that list. So I'm trying to be the number, I'm trying to be the leader in that list. So, you know, hey, you know, not just all the heavy weights of getting all the knockouts, you know, small guys can do it too. So, you know, hopefully those will pump my numbers up too.

Are you a guy that gets motivated by your division's fights? Like after watching Yon and Sanhag and then watching Cheetah and Frankie Edgar do the damn thing on this past Saturday? Are you, does that fire you up? Oh, yeah, absolutely. Because it just kind of reminds you like, man, this is this is a division where you have to be on your P's and Q's. You have to be like dialed in at every single second. I can't have that first round like I had against Randy against those guys in the top 15. and they take full advantage of it.

So that's why I have to shift. And it gave me something to work on whenever I fought Randy to try to close out those gaps, make sure I'm getting better at every second, every step. And then going up there and training with Aljo seeing, like, how far I am and everything away from that top. And after realizing it's like, oh, it's those small little mistakes that cost big at the end of the day. So I have to close those up so I can be closer. It's like, I'm not far.

I'm not far off. So it's like right there. I just need to keep, keep at it and keep working and keep closing off all those gaps. So whenever I do get there, it's super easy for me to take it. And even just like those fights like Corey Santa Hagan and that Peter Yon fight, like there was a lot of like whenever outside observing just looking in, I could see the high levelness. And I can also see where like this is what I would do in this situation,

but also these like with what I'm looking at like for myself, Like my skills against stacked up against Corey Sanaghan or Peter Jan. Like I like my chances. Just for the boxing sake, I like my chances against Peter Young. Because I feel like I have some of the best boxing in the 135 division. But man, like it's, it's they're all super, super, super tough fights. They're all super, super tough fights. And even just like just trying to get into the top 15, you're fighting nothing but killers.

So it's like it's, you don't have an easy fight once you get there. So of course, like, they all excite me. Even just seeing Cheeto Vera knock out Frankie Edgar, and I was like, was just kind of just one of those things that's a reminder. Even these guys who are just like who like are, I think, I forget where Cheeto was ranked at, but he just knocked out Frankie Edgar, who is the lightweight champion. So you have to be on your piece of cues at every single moment.

Did you see the picture of Cheetos' foot on Frankie's face? Did you see that zoom in? Oh, man. It's been all over Instagram, Twitter and everything. And I'm just like, man, please, man, I love Frankie. I know. He doesn't deserve this. He's like, man, he's the one guy who I wish it didn't happen to was Frankie and it happened to him, man. That's because he's a, because, man, if it wasn't for a guy like him, you know, he made it possible for guys like, like us, like smaller ways to be noticed and everything, you know.

And also, like people like Jose Alado and Dominic Cruz, you know, it wasn't for them. they wouldn't we wouldn't have a 135, 145 division or a 125 division in the UFC. So those guys like, like I'm just like, man, hey, you know, leave those guys alone. But of course, it's the internet. Everybody's going to take and run with what they can with everything. You could end up fighting all three of those guys in the next two years, man. Like you and Frankie Edgar, it's very possible that if you win this fight, you and Frankie Edgar could be fighting next.

Like, do you think about that? Yeah, no, I really do think about that. And honestly, it's one of those that. that like, man, those are all great fights and those are all fights that I've always kind of like, those are dream matchups for me. And man, like, I would just hate to be the guy that would put Frankie out. I wouldn't want to do that. I would feel like, Corey Santerhagen, after knocking him out, be like, man, like, yeah,

that was a nice knockout, but just knocked out Frankie Edgar, man. Like, I don't want to do that. Like, but it would still be a dream fight. I just would hate doing that. to him. Like, because I, like, I don't know. I just, I'm trying to put him respectfully, but he's, like, kind of getting to the tell end of this road. Now, at least like Jose Aldo and Dominic Cruz, they're still performing at the top levels. And Frankie Edgar, he's kind of gotten finished in his last couple, you know, the, he had the, Brian Ortega lost, then he had the, and then he had the, and then he had

the Korean zombie loss. Then he gets knocked out by Corey Santa Hagan. Then he gets knocked out by Cheeto, you know, I would hate, I would hate, I would, I would, I would hate to fight him. Because I just feel that I would probably, I would more than likely do the same. And it would just wouldn't, I just wouldn't want to do that to Frankie. But. So how would you react if you saw his name on a contract? I would be, I would be stuck in a surreal moment where it would be like, holy crap, I'm fighting Frankie Edgar.

But then I would feel really bad after the fight's over with. And I'm just like, I just knock him out. Damn. I would feel bad. but you'd be you would put pen to paper obviously oh absolutely yeah absolutely yeah absolutely like i'd fight all those guys i would just feel really bad about it because i'd just like man it'd be like i would hope to have like uh israel to sanya uh anderson silver type of send off that's what that's what i would like but i know what type of fighter i am i'm going for the kill

every single time you mentioned training with aljermaine sterling obviously is the bannamway champion of the world right now you went out to sarah longo with all those main out there. Did you enjoy the trip? I'm sure you took a lot away from that. Yeah, absolutely. I enjoyed all. Like, I enjoyed it. Like, it was, it was one of those things that it, like, it just showed me that I'm not far off, but also, like, the, how many high level training partners you get out there is, it's, it's really phenomenal because you get guys who are just really good at wrestling. You get guys who are just really good at judici. You get guys who are just really good at striking. So just the amount, like, it's like, yeah, I have like four or five guys here, but they have like 15 to 20 guys at a night.

So it's just kind of just, it's super cool just to get that, get that every single, every single day. Like, man, going to the, going to the, going to Sarah's for the jihitsu, man, was like, man, like, it was phenomenal. I loved it. Going, going on those days, man, I was just sitting back, just learning, like, learning and seeing, you know, rolling with those guys. Just rolling with those guys and learning, like, the different positional. stuff that they do. And I was like, man, this is super cool. I was enjoying it. I was like, after the rounds, man, usually people are just like, oh, exhausted. But I'm just like, dude, this is so fun. This is so cool. Like, I loved it. Like, I really did love it. It was fun. Did you get to hear

voice raised Matt Sarah, good or bad? Like, did he yell you good or bad? Sarah was, uh, was there on Friday, but it was like after we were done rolling everything. We got to talk with them a little bit. And it was cool. Just being, just being around like, Sarah and everything. He had a lot of great things to say. And then even even he had some good things to say about my coach. And also Ray, man, Ray Longo is such a great guy. He's such a, he's such a fantastic guy. Both those guys, Matt Sarah and Ray Longo are both sweethearts, man. And I can't say anything bad about them. They're great. Like I really, I really enjoyed and appreciated their time. I can't wait to go back. You mentioned your coach, the, the late

great Salsallis, who just recently passed away. And I know it's tough for you to talk about, I'm sure, but this is going to be, I believe, the first time you fight without him in your corner, or at least one of the first time since you've gotten to the UFC, that he hasn't been part of your training camp or right there with you. So what has that been like for you? What has this camp been like without having him there? It's been, it's been tough and it's been hard, but also he's laid the groundwork for us for a very long time. And honestly, the way everything's been going and everything. I kind of knew that he was going to start taking some time. Like me, he would talk to me and my training partner Cameron all the time. And he,

he was only just after like a couple years, like a year or two left before he was actually going to just coach fighters because he was doing both. He was coaching, he was coaching the everyday people that come in and also coaching fighters at the same time. And he was actually like a year process in, he was actually having me and my training partner Cameron kind of start running the fighters camp. And so pretty much, like, he was already setting us ready for, for a moment when he wasn't going to be here. And I, we, we all hoped that it wasn't sooner. It wasn't that soon. But, uh, yeah, it, it, it has been sucking, but like, we've, like, we've had the same regimen that we've always had. We've been able to add a couple of things. And also, too, it, it's a weird

blessing. It's a weird blessing, but we ended up getting another training partner and, uh, Raffion thoughts coming down. So we've, like, it's only nothing but been like grind. It's been grind, a lot more grinding, a lot more. We've been getting a lot back more to our roots of what we usually do and starting to work on a lot of things. So, but it has been kind of, it has been hard, you know, because every, every morning, every, every Monday, Wednesday morning, I'm kind of just like waiting, like to hear like,

hey, guys, come on, let's go, let's get on the mat and all that stuff. I wait to hear that type of stuff and it has sucked but also it's kind of been one of those things that like just I cast myself saying and saying and saying a lot of the and doing a lot of things that he would do. And it's it's weird. It gets emotional too. Like it gets emotional because I'm just like, damn like that like I catch myself doing what he had what he used to do. So it's cool but also it just it does suck. you know, because I was used to seeing him every day, Monday through Friday, and then even on the, on the weekends, like, he was, like, man, he was a, he was a father figure to me, too. So it's just like, it was a lot. It's been, it's been hard. But it, I would, I know, I know he would be pissed off if I was sitting back and just, like, being all gloomy about everything. So, and, like, not following what I, what I love to do. So, yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's like, it's like, it's, it's, it's like, it's, it's a, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's

It's an honor to like keep on fighting because that's what he would want me to do and to keep on training and running everything. Keep everything running as smooth as he was if he was still here. So that's what we're doing. And that's exactly like it. That brings me a sense of pride that I'm able to go out there and keep helping these guys perform. Because after he passed right now, we're on a like our team is on a seven and no run right now. Like we've we've gotten undefeated since he's like since he left, you know, with Liam on winning. and going and having guys fight for Fury and everything,

we've been dominant. So it's pretty cool. Like I want to keep that streak going. And that streak, I want to make an A-N-O whenever I fight David Grant. I thought about you. I mean, obviously I thought about you because you and I have talked so often,

and I just felt horrible about the news. But also just seeing the articles get written and seeing everybody react to it in such a positive light, I'm thinking to myself after past conversations we had that, and correct me if I'm wrong. Saul would hate all this attention that he's getting. Like, it's all good, but he'd probably hate all of this attention that he's getting. Is that accurate?

Like, am I on to something? Like, how do you think he would react to all the, like, all of this getting, being in the spotlight? Because he hated being in the spotlight. Oh, absolutely. He hated whenever I'd be like, I would, after every interview, I'd be like, hey, I just want to say, if it wasn't for Saul Salis, you know, I wouldn't be in the position I am today and all that stuff. Like, I still end every interview like that.

And even just then, like, in the UFC and all those posts. fighting interviews. I'm still giving him credit. He just never wanted it. He just never wanted the credit. He just did it because that's what he loved to do. And he's like, man, I don't know how many times he would, I'd always be like, man, like, you've been in Chris Cybrook's corner. You've been in all these people's corners, but like they don't ever like say your name. Like, oh, like they never give you the credit. He's like, I don't do it for the credit. I do it because I love it. And I was like, yeah, but you know, hey, like you need it. Like, man, like, you know that brings more students. He's like, yeah, I know, but I just love to do this.

doesn't matter to me. It would frustrate me. It would really frustrate me. So that's why that's why I made it a point to tell him like, man, like, no, when I'm there, when I'm there, you're getting all the credit that you deserve. You've spent so much time with me. You spent so much time getting me better. So whenever I'm here, you're getting it all. I don't care if you like it or not. So it's it's been great to give them, like, as they say, like giving them their flowers why they were here and I was able to do that every single step of the way. Well said. And of course he'll be there watching you on November 20th against Davey Grant and a banger, a fight of the night contender on paper already. Of course, you got a lot to live up to

after watching UFC 268 this past Saturday. But how do we get this thing done? You say a finish. What are you sort of envisioning in your head? Man, I've been envisioning a late second round knockout early third because I know he's going to be tough, but probably by them. probably by then I'll have I'll have the timing I'll have like what he does repetitiously and then I know he's gonna go I know he's gonna try to wrestle

I know he's gonna want to shoot so I'll I'll have a little bit of fight off but once I get my timing once everything's set in stone I'll find a way to finish I'll get the finish I know you're not thinking past area but last question before let you go

next Saturday how close do you think you're to the belt like at least a title shot like I know you don't want to think too far ahead but I'm sure that's something in the back of your mind right now, like five more wins, four more wins, a little more, like, what are you thinking right now? How close? It honestly just depends. If I go out there and starts David Grant, then I have two more fights where I starch those guys. It's kind of almost inevitable that they're going to give it to me. But let's just say, I just say I beat

David Grant and then I feel five to six fights would be, would do it. But also it depends on my performances because I can go out there and let's just say I just start knocking everybody out that the way I have been doing it would probably be like yeah within this next year like next year I have two fights they're two spectacular knockouts they're going to be like all right who can't this kid knock out okay let's put him against the champ I'm pretty sure that's that's probably the stuff that would happen so uh in a perfect world where I just knock people out like every single time next year by then next year but me knowing how how how how how crazy easy fighting is, I do say five to six fights. Who wins Max Holloway or Yaya Rodriguez on Saturday?

Oh, man, Max Holloway. Max Holloway. Man, Max Holloway numbers. That's one thing I love saying whenever I'm sparring with people. I just look at it out, I smile like Max Holloway numbers. They already know what that means. I'm pulling numbers today. There you go. Agent, always appreciate catching up with you, my man. All the best to you next week. And in the fight on Saturday, next Saturday, November 20th against Davey Grant. It's a banger, man. I love it. Oh, man. Thank you. I'm super excited. Big thank you to, big thank you to yourself for having me on.

Big, big thank you to my coach, at least if it wasn't for him. I wouldn't be in the position I have him today. Also, I know he kind of gets a little bit, he's like, man, you don't ever throw my name in there. May I have my coach Phil. Coach Phil has been a great addition to our camp. You know, he's running our strength conditioning, but also he fight. He's fought before, so he fights. He's martial artist.

So it's pretty cool to have him in. So it's cool. And also, thank you to a rid of sports agency. You know, they're a great management team. Hack the holidays with the PC Holiday Insiders Report. Try this PC Porchetta. Crackling, craveworthy. You're going to eat that?

Who are you? I'm the voice for the next ad. Car commercial. But I noticed that show-stopping roast and... Help yourself. Mmm. Designed for indulgence. Precision crafted to navigate every corner of my mouth, all for just $18.

Okay, okay. Try the season's hottest flavors from the PC Holiday Insiders report. Please feast responsibly. All right, there were certainly some big finishes this past weekend, but none better than from the knee of this man, Roman Ferraldo, who delivered one of the more cold-blooded flying knees you will ever see viciously knocking out Robert Turnquist this past Friday at Bellator 271, the promotions debut in South Florida. So happy to have Mr. Roman Feraldo join us. Less than a week later. Roman, how are you, man? I am doing great. Doing great, man. I just

enjoying it, man, taking it in. There you go. Look, you've had flying knee finishes in the past. In fact, you did it on the same day last year, which is absolutely ridiculous to think about. But this thing blew up immediately, quickly went viral right away. What has life been like since Friday after one of the best finishes of the year. You know, it's been, it's been very enjoyable. I got to celebrate with my family, celebrating with my coaches, my friends, and just take it in.

I got to, you know, I was back in the gym on Monday, you know, taking it in the gym, everybody congratulating me. And then, but it's been awesome, man. You know, just to, you work really hard and to see it, you know, come full circle. And it's been good. But, you know, another thing, too,

it's right back to it on Monday, getting ready for the next one. So you want to, I mean, obviously you want to stay humble about the whole thing. Like you went in there, you wanted to win a fight. Like this was just cherry on top of the Sunday. But at the same time, like, you got to be thinking this, this was unbelievable. Like this is one of those, this is one of those knockouts that when Bellator is playing like intro promos for all their cards. Like this one's going to be there forever, right? Like when it comes to talking about Bellator, like, do you allow yourself to process that?

Like you don't want to get too deep into it. And like you said before we hit record, you don't want to get too big-headed about it. But you got to at least appreciate what you did on Friday, right? Yeah, you definitely appreciate it. And it's like to see it like, you know, like you said or saying earlier, it was the first billet tour event in South Florida. And, you know, I knew it was going to be a big event. And I knew I was coming out there prepared and ready to like put on a great show and get

and, you know, make an amazing highlight. But then to see the exposure of it like, you know, it's, I think for any, athlete, especially in America, to make Sports Center top 10, you know, top, top four. I think one time it was three. I was like, you know, that's a dream coming true right there. So you're like, you're taking it in. You're like, dude, this is all. I think, I think the funny part is it's like, when I'm around people, I'm like, yeah,

yeah. And then I watched it a couple times by myself. I'm like, I did that shit. How many times have you watched it? I've watched a lot. But like, nah, you know, I always watch my fights a lot. and a lot of it, like, comes back to I try to be like, all right, go see what you did wrong. But, you know, these last couple fights have been pretty short.

But try to pick out what I could have did better. But then, you know, I've watched it a few times. And some people got some pretty cool, pretty cool, like, anime behind it. They did some pretty cool animations and stuff. So, like, that's pretty dope, man. It's cool to see. What could you pick apart about that performance, though? I know you fighters are the heart, your hardest critics.

You always criticize it. Like, even if you knocked them out in 10 seconds, you'd find something wrong with, like, one of those seconds. Like, is there anything you found that you wish you could have done better? You know, coming right out, I noticed that I surfed. So I actually gave him that that one opportunity that he shot. I actually circled back into that shot, which I'm looking at. And I like, I was moving just a little too much. I was a little excited coming out.

So I found myself moving a lot more. And you notice I kind of settle in right as right before I really start the sequence. I settled in a little bit and I threw a good jab. And I was like, okay, now we're going to work. And then I was able to find my footing. But I would say the initial maybe like 30 seconds, I was just kind of like super, super wire, you know. The fans back, it was the first,

I haven't fought in front of fans in maybe two years. So it was like, you know, fans screaming, like, try to take it in, be calm, don't let the outside noise affect you, but it does, you know, inevitably gives you energy and especially the hometown, you know, being there. It was like, it was pretty, I was amped up. So I had to settle in,

a little bit right after he shot i was like all right calm down but after that wasn't too bad so allow everybody to live vicariously through you for a moment because most of us aren't going to have the chance to deliver a knee like that like what is that like what did that feel like when the knee landed and he goes out on his feet and crashing to the fence like what what is going through your mind what does that feel like it feels you know familiar like it's been it's kind of crazy but that's something that, you know, my coach, Paulino Hernandez, my striking coach. We, you know, we break down film and we look for certain, you know, habits or things that might happen. And then we drill it. And that's one of the, you know, that was maybe one of five combinations

that we were really working to, like, set up. So I knew once when I had him rattled and if he was backstepping, like the way he was to, that's what was going to be the shot. Either that or our crane kick. I was maybe thinking about doing, you know, some, some Mr. Miyagi stuff. But, you know, it just, it feels familiar. Like, even in the back, we were doing it. We had been drilling it. And it was like, as soon as I cracked him with the left, I even told my coach, I told him, I said, I'm going to hurt him with the left hand. So it's whatever, whatever sequence or distance and placement that I'm at, that's what's going to come next. And as soon as you took that back step, I was like, here it comes. Perfect time. And took a couple steps. I had to close

the distance a little bit. And then once when I realized, as I was in range, he actually settled back in and then I hit the switch. So if you watch, if you break it down as he's backstepping, he stops to settle to gain ground. And right then is when I hit the switch. And it was just, it was beautiful, perfect timing, perfect distance. I think, I think that's the biggest thing for me was just getting the distance right and fully extending my hips through the last, my last knockout.

The guy ducked a little bit too low. And I went too high. So this one, I was trying to really drive it straight up into his chin. and it landed and it was flush and it was like as I hit I can I don't know how to break down as it hit it was just like I knew I felt it I felt his face crush like I've and and the grand like I hate to go there with it but like you know when you knock somebody out when you hit it clean you know it and by all means I hope Robert's you know healing and that was a hard knockout to take but I knew it as soon as I hit him he was out yeah because I mean

you're a fighter and you go in there and finish the fight however you get to do it but i mean there's got to be a part of you i mean you're a family man you get kids and all that stuff like like man i really hurt this guy like the way he fell like i'm thrilled to get the win but that was a i mean that was a nasty knocko like boy he might be in a bad way here yeah there's it's vicious man and you know like the sport man it's brutal it there's there's you know it's extreme that's why people love it there's no it's very small you know the massive reward to really really pitfall. So, you know, you know what you did on there. And then, like, in the moment, you're super excited. And then you just kind of snap back in reality. Like, I just put this fan out.

So, you know, I got my all means, wish the best for him and his healing and recovery. But it's good to go out there and perform because at the end of the day, if the roles were reversed, I think he'd be sitting here with a big smile on his face, too, you know. Yeah. Tush. That's not going to be a career? Yeah, by far. I think, you know, fans, uh, placement, timing, promotion, by far the best knockout. You gave props to Jorge Mazadol. You said this is a birthday present for him. Definitely. I did it for him last year too, man. How does he respond to these birthday brothers? Like most people are like lavish gifts and you're giving him flying knees. Yeah, he responds. He responds to telling me, he's like, all right, time to get back to

wrestling guy. Let's go. Send a new to Pennsylvania to work with with both. I have to ask you this. And look, it's brotherly stuff. It's sports, your teammates. You look up to Jorge. It's your opinion. Mazadol's knee on Ascran is an all-time moment. This is going to live on forever because of everything that I went into it.

The big thing there is best knock on UC history. Right. And then on brushing them, I'm just putting them completely out. Yeah, the build up the stakes, all of that, just breaking the records, et cetera. Yeah. From a technical standpoint, from an X is an OECD, standpoint. Who did it better? You were Mazadol. Yeah.

Who's you? I think what I love about Mazadol and our coach Paulino, he's very, Paulino's very elusive and tricky, you know. He'll say he's like he's all about setups and timing. So I love that. And what I love about the Jorge knockout is that, is that fact. It's like, who was expecting him to circle to the right and then just explode out with nobody? And Ben, Ben reacted. as Ben would duck in duck right into a shot which inevitably he ate of a truck to the face so it's like that was beautiful it was like it was one of those it was one of those moments where like

i know what he's going to do it's you know almost like a premonition type deal i know what he's going to do and i'm just going to be there i'm going to be there to land it so i think in as far as like trickiness and just right place right time doing everything right mazvadol but i think as far as like setups. If you watch that, I was using my job, through the jab, maybe three or four times. I was pulling, I was pulling that parry across. And then I threw the jab. He parried just like I wanted him to. Immediate check left hook. I knew it was coming. And then after I come to the check left hook, I was like, I got you. Here it comes. And bam. So I think as far as setups go, I think mine was better. This is, uh, I appreciate the honesty.

I mean, one of the big things that came out of knockout is like, this is a contender for knockout of the year in 2020. So a lot of people look at the UFC. They look at like some of the bigger fights, main card fights, title fights, et cetera. But is this the knockout of the year in your opinion? Like, is there some, is there a knock, another knockout this year that you've seen that stands out more than what you did on Friday? You know, the best part about getting the knockout when I did, it's at the end of the year. So I think it's going to be fresh in everybody's minds, you know. I'm beginning of the year, there was, look at Dustin.

Dustin's knockout against Connor the beginning of the year. Was that the beginning of this year? You know, you expected that, which was great. And then I know there was a couple of other ones. See, off the top of the head, I can't really think about it right now. But I definitely think it's a contender. And it's cool just to be nominated for, like, the idea that people are talking about being knocking out of the year.

It's like, that's like big props alone. But man, let's see. Let's see, man. I'd be amazing to get an S-Pier or something for a knock out of the year. So after the win, you call for a step-up in competition. You mentioned Jason Jackson. You thought that was a good fight, a guy who, in my opinion, he very well could be next to fight for the belts against Yaroslav Amosop,

the way things have lined up at this point. Interesting, Kala. Why him over some of the other rank guys in the division? You know, I'll be honest with you. I've seen him and his style. And I think, you know, as far as like a fight, like, I've said in the interview, too. I'm an entertainer at the end of the day, too. So I go out there to put on a show.

I want to, I want good fights, you know, I don't want, I don't want fights where it's just going to, you know, somebody just trying to influence. It happens, stalling fights. My man, Kiyoshi, want to fight off of really just an overhook, hanging on a wizard and defending and touching. You know, I don't want boring fights. I don't want people to try to make it boring fights. I want people who are going to come out and fight. Jason Jackson is a fighter, man. He's this crapper.

He's a dog. And I know, I just see the style. And I know him and I would put on a great fight. And, you know, I've been, I had just been thinking about it. And in the moment when he asked, that's what popped in my head. I was like, Jason Jackson, I think me and Jason Jackson would be a great fight. And nothing, you know, nothing personal. It's no vendetta about teams and anything like that.

I just think him and I would have a great matchup and, you know, come out as, again, another highlight. for the history books, you know, like that was people think about it, like, that was a scrap. That was a dog, both, that was two dogs in there fighting. And you got the best out of both guys. So did you see his response? I heard it, which it makes sense to me too. You know, I get it. Number four, why would I, why would I, if I was in his position and this is, you know, just being totally honest, if I was in position, I haven't fought anybody in the top 10, which, you know, So that gives me no, I guess, weight.

And why would you? I'm next in line for the title. Why am I going to waste my time on somebody who hasn't even cracked the top 10 yet? But at the same time, I know who I am. I know my skills. So it was a legitimate call out where I believe I can beat the guy.

It's just I'm going to call people out who I want to put on a show and I know it's going to come out there and fight. Calls Mount Stoke and Fed, man. You know, get fed. What is it? How does I go? The squeaky wheels, the one that gets greased. That's right.

Weel get the grease, man. If it doesn't squeak, you don't get no grease. So let's go. But yeah. Yeah, I think everyone agrees with the step up, whether it's Jason or not. They do want to see what you can do against some of these rank guys. And speaking of the rankings, I didn't see your name on the rankings this week. Were you surprised by that?

Do you care about that? No, I don't care. It will happen in time. You know, I let my work speak for it. and eventually you won't be able to deny it. That was a great part about the knockout. You can't deny that. It was an awesome knockout.

It was perfectly set up. So in time, you won't be able to deny me. They won't be able to deny me. I'll take one out at a time and then work my way up. And then by then, you know, people will start talking. I think it's good that we're having this conversation. And the reason why is, and you've probably done other interviews since, I remember last year, Joachim Buckley had that ridiculous knockout,

that that that that against imbacag and i that spinning i don't even know how to explain it it was just so it was a w w w f knockout it was insane and he talked about very openly and honestly and he was asked about in the build up to the fight like do you have any pressure to try to build upon that because this highlight's going to be everywhere next fight everyone's only going to be talking about the knockout like all of that and he admitted that you know after after he got a knockout in his next fight, that pressure was real. He felt it. He felt the need to try to outdo what he had done before. Yeah. How do you sort of handle that yourself? Because that's probably, you're going to have to deal with that. But again, I feel like you're at the right gym. You have the right mentality around it.

But is there a part of you that thinks that might be something you might have to struggle with heading into your next fight? Um, you know, where I'm at, I can't necessarily even, um, I can't say. But I can only imagine, you know, where it happens. Like, all right, next fight, everybody coming up to you, you're going to do it again, you're going to do it again. And yeah, and there's always pressure for me. There's always pressure on myself just to keep, like, progressing. So it's like, I never want to hit a ceiling and being like cap and cap out. So in my eyes, I'm just trying to figure out ways to become better.

And if I can do that, then I think that will alleviate the pressure as far as like doing another highlight, real knockout or in the sense going that direction. As long as I feel like I'm progressing, I'll be fine. And which I love about my gym, I have great. partners who are always pushing me, you know. And, uh, yeah, I just, just keep, keep moving forward, keep progressing, you know, it's great. It's also humbling to get back in there, like, I was sparring with Johnny Ebblin. He's got a fight, uh, in like two weeks, December 3rd. So I was working with him yesterday. And I had to get rounds with him. And that was a, it was like,

all right, bad guy to A guy. You made you get back in here. That dude's a maniac, too. So Johnny's ready, man. I can't wait to watch this. Johnny's. Johnny's going to come out in the evolved fighter. I think people are going to see levels of Johnny's skills. I'm super excited to watch him fight. But it's a quick snapback. Like, hey, don't get too big-headed. Don't think too much of highlights.

Get back to the basics. Keep grinding. Keep working. Work on the things that you need to work on. And that kind of just centers me back and hummless me. So perfect world. Perfect world. When do you get back in there?

Like when would you like to fight again if it were up to you? Yeah. So, you know, Thanksgiving's this week. And then we got Christmas around the corner. It's the holidays. And, you know, while I'm in camp, I am away from the family. So I'll probably, I'm gonna enjoy the holidays. And we'll see maybe about getting another fight end of January.

Because that'll give me enough time to really get back in there end of January and February. It seems like, you know, I got a few months that I do really well in. So keep it pushing. I'm like three or four in no in February. I'm undefeated in November and I have a few fights. fights in like the middle uh may june area so probably get it i'm trying to i thought perfect world i would like to fight february may maybe august october and push another one november four fights next year yeah that bell's got to do a car november 12 no matter even if it's like a tuesday

they got to do it to keep the street going it's like the undertaker at russomania like you know flying knees november 12th you can't stop them uh but now like you get to transition Right? Because your training partner, but you're also back to being the husband, back to being the dad. You know, you have a little one at home, but to celebrate her first holiday season. I believe this is exciting stuff for Roman Frodo, the dad, the family man. Is it not exciting times? Exciting times, man. It's been great.

And it's just, you know, yeah, I'm just trying to take it all in and really like be present and just be how, you know, I'm extremely happy where I am in my life. And it's good. I'm just excited for what's coming. I know big things are coming. and I could feel it. And glad to see things are paying out and moving in that direction. How old is, how old is your daughter?

She is, she was four months on Sunday. She was four months on Sunday. Wow. Yeah, she's getting big. She literally took a picture of her. She started standing on her own. I'm like, Jesus. She's, slow down, slow down.

She's a day. She can be walking soon. I'm like, man, it's wild. But I'm loving, I'm enjoying it, man. I'm super, super blessed. to have my partner. She's a lifesaver. She's amazing.

She's a real, she's a real trooper. I just, I just go and beat people up. She's the one that handles everything else. What do you say, what do you say life say? What do you mean by that? She's just, you know, she's a great partner, man. She handles like, for me, you know, we have a great understanding of what we do. And a lot of people, you know, this is a sport that we're,

requires and a lot of time and dedication. And, you know, there's times where in every sense, I'm very selfish. I have to be, you know, as far as like, yeah, I got a dude trying to take my head off. So as far as her, she just is supporting me and helping me focus on what I need to do, you know, helping with the baby, taking care of the baby, doing things. And obviously, you know, it goes back and forth from what if I pick up

the slack, but man, she's just a super, she's a super trooper, man. She's, she's awesome. She does, she's an amazing woman. I'm very blessed to have her. Yeah, not easy to find in this crazy sport of ours. That's for sure. And now, listen, you got, now you're compiling this highlight real for your daughter's future boyfriends.

They come over and they act wrong. Just be like, dude, you better hold that door open for. Listen, this is going to be, you know, the, what was that movie? That when he brings a guy into the garage with all the Samoans. I'm like, that's, listen, I'm just going to have, I'm going to bring you to 18. to all the heavy weights and light heavy ways like you fuck up you're gonna deal with these guys on a regular basis i'm gonna give them your address and i'm gonna have them come over monday through sunday all right that's so funny last thing before i get before i let you go i appreciate the time

what's the what's the i made it fight for you like the match of where you know it's not about any trash stock or any of that the sort of like i don't know if a dream fight's the right word but the fight where you know if i get paired off with this guy i've i'm there like i'm not going to settle there, but I know that I am at that next level. I'm right where I need to be. I'm right there in terms of where I want to go. Like, who's that fighter? What's that fight for you? Oh, you know, there's a lot, man. You know, I think about the future. If it's impellator, I think it's me and Lima. I think that would be Lima's a savage, bro. He has crazy knockout power. He's lethal. All his strikes are lethal. And I think me and him would sit there and bang. You know, who knows, I mean,

Not to take it out of Bellatory, but, you know, the best guys in the world also in UFC. I think that man, what's the Kazmat, the Russian? Shemayev, excuse me. He's, I look at him. I'm like, ooh, I'm going to have to fight him in the future for sure. Definitely. I'm like, I'm like, I'm preparing. I'm telling my coach, like, we got to get ready for this guy because I'm going to,

I'm going to see him in the future for sure. And I always wanted to fight Hussman. I've always wanted to fight him. I had a meeting with him. Like, like, I met him a couple of years ago. And I just remember meeting him. And I was like, I think I could beat this guy. Like, but it wasn't just like a cockiness.

I just, you know, as a fighter, as a fighter, you know when you could beat someone. And I just felt like I could beat this guy in a five-round fight for sure. So, um, nothing personal or like not cocky. I just, I know, I know me. I know I can see when like, like, Eurislav gives me work, man. Yerslobs, I think he's the best in the world, for my opinion, his ability to transition from striking to wrestling, his top game. I think he's the best in the world. I see him being up there for a while. So I, like, in a sense, like, put, I rate him, like, where I need my skills to be.

I need to be up there with him. And, but yeah, I think I could be just man. That's a bad. That's a bad, man. I've never, you mentioned Lima and how much of a savage is. I was at the fight where Amosov beat him for the title. I've never seen Douglas Lima look so frustrated in my entire life. Between rounds, he was just like, what the hell am I supposed to do with this? Like, there's nothing I can do. Yeah, and that's what he does. He's, when I work with him, he's usually a step ahead.

He's been doing it for so long, you know? So he's usually just kind of controlling the dance. And so I love about him, I try to, you know, in the sense, emulate or steal from him, copy, is he just leads the dance, man. He's really good at it too. He's best at it. So good. How many, if you don't mind me asking, how many fights do you have left with Bellator?

Right. Under your current deal. Technically, I have one contract. I have one contracted fight left. We're going to renegotiate here soon and see what, see what it plays out to be. I would love to stay with Bellator. I love the promotion. They take care of me.

And, you know, everybody working there is awesome. It's been, it's been in a very enjoyable time. time when I when I've gotten to you know work hand in hand with with the Bellator company association however you want to call it so it's been good man so if we can get another contract with them by all means but you know we don't I really don't know what the future holds right now I'm just kind of taking it in and then we'll see what numbers play out I think I can compete with anybody really so see where it goes from there well you're what 26 uh no I'm a little older than that I'm 28 I'm a little old I got I got I

dude into a late you know i started my pro career when i was i think i was 26 years old so i've been pro for two years now yeah but yeah it's good 28 listen i got i got i got i got a i got a decade on you so i don't i mean you're good to go i got i told myself i told myself i'd be champ by by the time i'm 30 32 so it'll be giving it gives me a couple years to really build i feel next this next year this next coming year i'll really make a statement as far as like who i am and where i belong on the division as far as well to wait people will know who i am by the end of 2020 22 23 i will have fought some like top five guys and and then um you're talking about me fighting for a title for sure but then with i think within two years for sure i like it you get your your

mind in the right place very very good to see in this crazy sport of ours you're not even in your athletic prime yet so yeah you're good to go man you got a very bright future ahead of you i think everyone got to see that on friday and have seen in your previous fights as well but congratulations I appreciate the time very much. Basking this knockoff for a little while longer. You know, cheers to it at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I think you deserve that. And all the best to you, the rest of the holiday season throughout the new year. And we'll see you back there, January, February, perhaps. Thank you so much, brother. I appreciate your time.

Black Friday is here at IKEA and the clock is ticking on savings you won't want to miss. Join IKEA family for free today and unlock deals on everything from holiday must-haves to cozy at-home essentials. all the little and big things you need to make this season shine. But don't wait, like leftovers at midnight, our Black Friday offers won't last. Shop now at IKEA.ca.ca.combe, bring home to life. We know you love the thought of a vacation to Europe, but this time, why not look a little further? To Dubai, a city that everyone talks about

and has absolutely everything you could want from a vacation destination. from world-class hotels, record-breaking skyscrapers, and epic desert adventures, to museums that showcase the future, not just the past. Choose from 14 flights per week between Canada and Dubai. Book on emirates.ca. today. Let us speak to one of the big winners of this past weekend. Sean Woodson stops Colin Anglin with some nasty body shots at UFC Vegas 42 this past Saturday. Second straight win, three and one inside the octagon.

He was indeed. the sniper at the UFC Apex. Sean, how are you, man? Doing great, man. Like I just said, on cloud nine, still on a high from the fight, ain't came down yet. Yeah, I mean, great performance. Congratulations on the victory.

Because you and I, we've talked after dominant decision wins, after tough losses, close split decision wins. You're trying to make a case for the judge getting the, the rulings correctly in your fight over Yusuf Zal. But now we're talking about a finish, a first round finish at that, first stoppage win in over two years. This has got to be a much better interview to do, right? Dude, yes.

Yeah, like I really, I mean, I'm going to do my best, but yeah, I can't. It's hard to put into words like how good it feels, how happy I am to get that first round finish. And my first finish in the, first official finish in the UFC, I had that Contemptor series finished. But like you said, it's been two years. And yeah, man, it feels great. One thing I noticed immediately when you were being introduced.

I actually messaged Ed about this at the time. not that you didn't look in great shape for your fights before, but it seemed like this fight, you looked in the best shape of your career. You looked big, you looked really physical, you looked like this was the best camp of your career from a physical sense, strength and conditioning, what have you.

Was there a big difference this time around? Did you feel like you were in prime form physically heading into this thing? Because I noticed it. Yeah, man, I mean, that's thanks to this place where I'm at now. My strength conditioning coach is gym right now. And yeah, we've been getting better every fight. My last fight against Yusuf, you know, even though I wasn't, you know,

happy with his performance or whatnot, but I still felt like watching that fight back. That's something I noticed as well. I'm like, man, I look a lot more thicker, more muscular. You know, I've never been the guy, the muscular guy or whatever, never had muscles. I think that used to fight was the first fight I went into with some actual muscles. And yeah, we just keep getting better with every fight. My strength conditioning coach is learning me more. You know, he's told me, you know, I'm different than anybody he's ever worked with.

everybody is aware that I'm built different. And yeah, he's got my body down to a T and we just keep adding and getting better every fight camp. I definitely, yeah, and going into that fight, I felt even better than the last fight. And I felt stronger than ever and more durable than ever. And, yeah, it was in my best physical form yet. You never really notice it yourself, right? You sit there and you work out and you change regiments and, like, other people tell you, oh, you look great, you look great.

But, like, you never really see it in yourself. Like, are you starting to see it in yourself? like the definition, all that stuff? Yeah. So, yeah, like even, you know, a while ago, people were telling me, you know, oh, you look so much better. But, yeah, to be honest, I didn't really see it myself. Other people were saying they saw it, but I didn't see it myself.

But yeah, these last two fights, my fight before the last one and this fight, I've seen major differences and felt major differences for sure. It seems like in the fight you took the right path, the path of least resistance because your size, the length, the reach, very tough to navigate. Colin is a scrapper man. He's a guy that likes to getting close, turned it into a hockey fight, and you didn't allow that to happen. And when he tried, you thwarted all those attempts. Is that the kind of fight you were preparing for? Just keep at range and avoid all the hockey brawls. Yeah, I was convinced that it was going to be a dog fight. I was convinced that and ready to,

I thought I was going to, it was going to, all my skills are going to be on display. I was, I knew, you know, my last fight with Yusufi shot for almost 20 takedowns. I knew I was in, anticipating Colin on doing the same thing. I knew I would be able to defend. I was confident I'd be able to defend most of them. But, you know, in my mind, I'm like, he'll probably get one or two. So, you know, there's going to be some, some ground work going on. And yeah, I just, I just anticipated a dog fight.

I, I was confident I was going to get the finish, but I just thought it was going to take. It was going to be a process. I thought I was going to have to break them down. I thought I was going to have to, you know, weather a storm and get it like, you know, late in the second or maybe third. but yeah, I was definitely anticipating a different fight. The body shots were landing, but there is one in particular that got his attention. He could keep his poker face no more, and you noticed it.

You gave him the old point, the Dekhembe Matumbo almost, and the sniper set up, you know, where you knew it would be a matter of time before this thing was going to end, especially in the apex. Did you hear a grimace? Like what went through your mind when you landed that big shot that seemingly turned the whole course of the fight 100% in your favor? So right off the bat, like I think it might have been like maybe 30 seconds into the fight. I hit him with a quick snappy teap kick to the solarplex area.

And he had kind of grimaced and made like a little grunt noise. But he did a good job of keeping his composure. And I wasn't really sure if it had hurt him. Thought it did. But like I said, wasn't sure. I threw a couple more and noticed he was, you know, really making it a point to protect his body. So I'm like, yeah, that might. And it was just questionable.

But then like you said, it got to a point where he couldn't keep his poker. face anymore and I knew that he was hurt to the body. And yeah, there was a, there were several punches before that, uh, that sequence up against the cage where I hit him in his body and he grimaced hard and heavy to where I knew I had hurt him. And then, uh, yeah, he was really making it a point to protect that body. So I went up top and started, uh, busting him up to the face pretty good. And then he started protecting his head more. And then that's when I was, okay, yeah, it's time to go back downstairs. And that's when I put together the shots to finish the fight.

There's a lot of new fans in this sport, Sean, with this new ESPN era, some of the bigger stars that have come in. And a lot of these fans are, you know, they're not overly familiar with MMA. They're looking for headshot knockouts, flying knees,

all that crazy stuff. And I know you talked about a little bit at your post fight interview at the scrum with all the media. The body shot is such an underrated move in this sport. And it's so nasty. And the more you watch the sport, I feel like the more you appreciate it.

So for those newer fans, like, how would you put into words or describe the brutality of a clean body shot? Like one of those liver shots, like what does that feel like in your words? Yeah, if you ain't felt it, you just don't understand. You know, I felt it a ton of times. It cripples you. It paralyzes you, you know. Yeah, you can't breathe.

You know, your body is just shutting down. And like you said, it's very underutilized in MMA. You know, in boxing, you see it all the time. time guys it up body head body head but in mMA a lot of guys just head hunt you know and when do guys do go to the bodies a lot of time you know they're ripping hard tie kicks to the body and uh yeah just if if the body is attacking m m m ms nine times out of 10 it's going to be from some heavy kicks but it because guys don't uh they don't go to the body with their hands a lot in m m ms so yeah uh that's my that comes that's my boxing background just uh mixing it up body head body head and yeah if you haven't

you just don't know. When you get hit with a clean body shot placed the right way, there's nothing you can do. You get the finish. You do it on a card, headlined by Max Holloway and Yayae Rodriguez. I saw a photo with you and Max after the event. Pretty cool.

What was that like speaking to Max? And even if you got to talk to Yair during the week, what was that like? They were both really cool. Like super cool. Like, you know, I've met a ton of guys. Since I've been in the UFC, I met a ton of guys.

about whatever and you know unfortunately a lot a good amount of these fighters aren't as cool as they may seem when they're doing their interviews and the cameras on them you know they kind of they kind of fake it and uh but but neither one of them were like that at all yair and max are both solid dudes super cool great vibes great energy uh yeah just cool to be around easy to talk to max was super cool yire was too i i seen them both uh a lot in the at the whole hotel and, you know, at the apex and stuff. And yeah, I'm a huge fan of the, huge fan of both of those guys, more so Max than I, yeah, I hear just because, you know, Max has been around longer and, you know, done more, you know what I'm saying? But, yeah, they were both super cool.

Who is, who is a phony bologna that you've talked to? Who is a phony bologna? Give me, give me one name. I can't even do that. Yeah, I don't even want to do that because it's a good amount. I'll say this, it's too many to count, too many to count. And, yeah, like, that was kind of just, I don't even know. I explained it, like, not upsetting. I was just like, damn, I didn't think it was like that.

It's a good amount of them. All right. Some surprises, though? Yeah, for sure, for sure, for sure. Some guys on the, yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure. I mean, you don't know. Listen, I get it. I get it. And I, and here's, here's why I asked you this. And here's why I'm not surprised that you answered it that way, because in this sport, Sean, as you know, and you're learning the more time you spend in the UFC. When you say things, sometimes it can get taken out of context.

Yes. Some fear what they want to hear, right? And you were asked about Max Holloway saying he's the best boxer in the UFC in the back. You said you disagree with that. Yeah. So, yeah. So. Let me just, let me just build this up for you. And I'm going to let you wax poetically on this because you said something to the effect of, I'm not sitting here saying I'd beat him, but I disagree with that sentiment. He wouldn't do me like he's done everybody else. And of course, people see the headline and they just, they see the clip and they're like, oh, look at the Sean Woodson dude, four fights of the UFC, say he's going to go out there and beat Max Holloway, even though you said otherwise.

So put this to rest, Sean, dive a little deeper into what you were trying to say. So there's no more questions. I've been ready to clear this up. Yes, man, not only fans, but. like the media boy y'all yeah not you but when i say yeah i'm saying y'all but yes y'all will take some shit and run with it boy it's crazy uh yeah i got asked about max a couple a couple times and i feel like people totally took that out of context in no way at all was i disrespecting that dude or uh you know saying i will beat him or talking down on him i have so much respect for max and like

that dude inspired me a lot uh i was just answering the question you know what i'm saying and uh yeah I wasn't going to, you know, hold my tongue, so to say. But was I going to say? Yeah, I just, yeah, no way, you know, I, you know, I just, I got asked the question. I was on the same part as them. And for some reason, a few people felt need to, you know, ask me about that. But yeah, all I was saying is, you know, like guys, like, you know, you've seen Max, you know, Max and Brian Ortega, Max and Calvin Cater. Those are the two fights, really I was had in mind when I said what I said.

But, yeah, by no means of my senior saying that, you know, I'll beat Max. Holly. That dude was a former champ, vet 10 times over or whatever. But I have to like, you know, speak on how I feel and I will 100% feel like he would not do me the way he did them. You know what I'm saying? That's no disrespect at all, you know, I just, I just, you know, I mean, being at this, this top level, you know, you got to have that self-belief. You got to believe yourself. And I do believe that I'm one of the best, if not the best in the world, it's just going to take time to prove that. But yeah, people, they heard that, man.

I've seen some headlines. You know, that's all they wanted to talk about with me saying that about Max. And that's so goofy. I'm learning as I'm going on. Like, I'm learning. I got to, like, when the dudes ask me this question, I'm going to have to, like, one, one check them on it right off the bat. Like, you know, I'm going to start calling these guys out.

Like, whenever media or somebody asks me a question and I feel like they're trying to stir up some shit and start some shit, I'm definitely going to call them out on it, just like they want to, you know, call us out on stuff. Well said. Yeah, and I didn't think you handled it wrong at all. I don't think it could have been taken out of context because you literally said those things. Like, I'm not saying I can beat Max,

but, you know, if we were to fight and like it was straight boxing, I don't feel like he would do to me what he did to some of these other guys. I didn't think there was anything wrong with it. But still, like, some fans just see the clip or they see the headline and they didn't even listen to you. They just respond to it. And then I hated that, like, you know, that came out right after I sat, and like spent fight week around this dude and like was talking to him and like we were he was

super friendly and cool with me took a picture with me and then it turns around and get spin off in these interviews like I'm talking shit on them it's like that's that's so fake and like that's not my mo at all like yeah that wasn't that wasn't that wasn't that's I wasn't on that at all what did you think of the fight itself between max and yeah yeah did you get a chance to watch it after your fight yeah we uh my coach had it up on his phone while we were uh at this pizza place eating some pizza and yeah man those dudes got after it that was a exciting fight. It was a great fight. Oh, my Lord. Are you there? We lost you. There he is. He's back. I'm going to have to figure out how to like stop people from calling me while I do these.

Like do I go on airplane mode or something? I don't even know. I think so. It's all right. Great. Yeah. It was a great fight. Yaira really surprised me after a two year left off. You know, like he came out there and performed. I seen it was banged up real bad. Max, you know, Max showed so much hardened and toughness like he always does. His leg was We're pretty bad early on, but he ended up going the full five, and it was a great back and forth fight. So you were asked about who you might want to fight next, and you usually have a name in mind.

The post fight, you had like 14 names in mind. It was hilarious, but the one that seems to be the most consistent name of this laundry list of guys you want to fight, Nelson-Bagdazarian seems to be at the top of your list, seems to be the most consistent one. Why is that? That's the one. That's the one I want. just because, well, one, I don't, first off, it doesn't seem like there's a lot of guys raising

their hand to fight that dude. And, yeah, it's just, it's a tough fight. By no means am I calling that dude out because I think it's an easy fight. I think that's some chump shit when guys call guys out that, you know, they, when the guys call for easy fights, you know, and I think calling out Meltzik, I feel like that's, you know, not the case at all. Like, that dude is tough. He's a striker, you know, I'm a striker.

You know, I'm a striker. I just feel like it's a fight. will, that'll be super exciting. It's a fight that, you know, that I, you know, your fighters say all the time, you know, they want fights that excite them and fights that they'll get up for. That's a fight, you know, I love that, that danger factor, you know what I'm saying? I love feeling.

And that's a fight that I'm pretty sure I'll be the underdog. And that's, you know, if I can have it my way, I want to be the underdog every time. It's just a fight that really excites me. That threat and that danger really excites me. And I just know I can beat him. And he's, he has like a lot of, striking credentials and I feel like, you know, outstriking that dude and beating him will put a lot of respect on my striking. And also because he fought recently, you know, the time, the timeline just

matches up. He just fought recently. You know, I just talked with my callouts, I try to make them if the realistic as possible. He fought like a week or two prior to me. And, you know, I just fought. So I turned around time should be around the same. And yeah, that's just a fight that I really want. And the Josh Kulabal fight never came together. I'm surprised by that. It seemed it was the most respectful call it ever. Yeah, I'm tired of hearing that dude. Yeah, he didn't want to fight. He didn't want the fight. Yeah, that's another thing. Like, whenever I, you know, whenever I, with a fight,

I want to be confident that the dude is going to show up. If you give me the vibe at all that you don't want the fight, I don't want no parts of it. Because, you know, I've seen too many times guys, like, you know, accept fights when I feel like they already have it playing. Like, they're just accepting the fight so that they don't look like a punk. And then they already have it from the get-go playing in their head that two, three weeks out, they're going to get injured or whatever. And like, yeah, I ain't got time for that. I want to, I want to be matched up with guys who I'm confident are going to show up.

I will say this. We host a, we host a matchmaking show the day after these events. And after Melzick fought at 268, we had one listener reach out and said they wanted to see, if you beat Colin, that's the fight they want to see. And the reason why is this fight writes itself, like just picture it. out to whoever came up with the suggestion because he followed up with it on Sunday. Imagine the fight poster, right, Sean, there's you, Sean Woodson, there's Melisick Bagdasarian, there's the writing on the poster. What is more dangerous? The gun or the sniper?

I mean, this thing, full circle, it writes itself. I mean, come on, man, I wasn't completely sold on the fight at first, but after like the hashtags and how this thing could be built, Sean, I am all in on this fight. That's the fight to make. That's the fight to make. Yeah, the sniper versus the gun, who, you know, danger strikers were similar in experience. I think he's seven and one. I'm nine and one. We both fought Colin. We both finished him. Yeah, that's the fight to make, man. I really, you know, like I said,

and we both fought around the same time. I can't think of a reason why they, you know, matchmakers wouldn't want to make that fight. Other than him not wanted it, you know, I want it. So, yeah, I can't think of a reason why the fight shouldn't get made. Didn't you, I thought I saw this. Maybe I was dreaming, but didn't you leave like a little social media challenge being like you have like an expiring clock you have like one day to respond to this did he respond

no he's uh he's watching me though but he hasn't said anything and uh yeah a couple like coaches were saying that he think he doesn't speak very well english so in my post i tried to be you know as clear as possible and uh yeah i mean he he knows i want to fight him uh i don't i don't i don't really know what the hold up is i don't i'm you know i'm not one of these guys think oh everybody scared to me he scared to me i don't I don't think that, but yeah, I did, yeah, I posted some on Instagram about I left it up. I said I was going to delete it after 24 hours because like I said a minute ago, I'm not trying to fight. I'm not trying to go pursue fights that guys don't want to fight me.

You know what I'm saying? If he doesn't want to fight, that's fine. If he's banged up and injured right now, you know, and want some time off or once some do some family time or March doesn't work for him, cool, so be it. Just let me know and I will set my sights on somebody else, best believe. So who's on deck if he doesn't respond? I got a couple. I got a couple. But I really want that fight bad, so I'm just going to, I'm still going to just focus on him.

I said I was going to believe it after 24 hours. I know where he's at. There's like a time difference, but not much of it. I think he's in California or something, but there's no, there's not much of a time difference. But I'm going to give him one more day. By the end of the day, if he still ain't said nothing or responded or, you know, my manager doesn't let me know something, then I'll, uh, you'll see it. You pay attention to my anybody else. See, look at this. Look at this. Just selling people on the social media,

well done. And if this fight happens, can we do it in front of a crowd? Like, you fought in Boston. And I think that's the only time you fought in front of a crowd being in the UFC. Like, no more Apex. Let's let Nelson just fought at MSG. Where's where's Sean's love getting in front of a crowd? I mean, yeah, I'm glad. I'm, I'm so thankful that I got that one in in Boston with the crowd right before, you know, everything, you know, shut down and stuff. But, uh, I mean, I ain't going to lie. I love the apex. Like, X is my second home.

That's where I made it happen. That's where that field, you know, I, I, I enjoy fighting at the apex. And this last, this past fight, there was a, there was a semi crowd. It was, it was some people there. I don't remember. I don't even know how they're doing. Aren't they doing like partial crowd or they only let a certain amount of people in or something like that?

Yeah, they're doing like VIP packages for like certain fans who want to come in. and this one, I guess, was the price was raised a little higher because Max is the main event. Okay, yeah. Yeah, there was a decent amount of people. I remember when I turned the corner right before my music played to walk out, being kind of like, it didn't bother me. But I just was like, oh, I didn't expect all these people to be here. I'm like, this is pretty cool.

And I heard, you know, more people than I did for my last one. But, yeah, I don't mind fighting at the apex. Don't even mind the no crowd. But I do definitely feel like one of those fighters that benefits more off of the crowd. I remember the feeling I got in Boston, and it's just a totally different vibe, a totally different feeling. So, yeah, that would be sweet if me and Melsa could throw down with a full crowd. March, April, right around there, right? Yeah, I'm down for either or.

And I asked to, I asked them if you were down for March, which is when I would really, you know, that's picture perfect world. That's when I want to return because, you know, I'm going to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas. And then January and February would be fight camp for me because I need at least eight weeks. to make the wait. So March would be like, you know, the earliest I could do. But yeah, I don't want to really, I really don't want to wait past March. But for Melwick, I'd be willing to wait until April. But past that, no, I don't want to. So yeah, March or April, me and Melcic, that's, that's what I want. Let's make this happen. I mean, it's right there. No disrespect. Just a fun fight. Oh, call you people. If the USC is tell them, let's go. I know.

So you pull some strings for me, man. There we go. Make it happen. That was a, listen, man, great performance. The kind of performance that you've been calling for for a while, it happened. And now we move on to the next one. Maybe Melzik-Bagh-Badzarian in 2022. But great stuff, man.

Enjoy the holidays. Well-deserved. Enjoy the new year. And looking forward to see you back there, March, maybe April at the latest. Hell yeah. Thank you, man. I appreciate you having me on. Always fun.

One of my most enjoyable guys to interview with. I appreciate it, man. Looking forward to the next one. Happy to be joined once again by Lupi Godinez, who is building a reputation for herself for, well, just being a savage at this point. After breaking a UFC record for the least amount of days between fights this past month, she's getting back in there again this Saturday, stepping in on short notice to face a very tough opponent in Loma, Lekbunmi. Lupi, good to see you again. How are you? Good to see you, too. I'm really good. How are you?

I'm great. And many have celebrated what you've done since coming into the. UFC, you've been staying active. The two fights on consecutive Saturday is now three fights in 42 days. We've been doing these interviews for a while now, Lopi, since the regional days. Short notice fights, something you're very used to. But after what you just did in October, what are we doing here? Why come back a month later? Why not just kind of take the rest of the year off, maybe go on vacation? Smell the roses a little bit. Why fight again? You know, I just love this so much. And like, if I could fight every weekend, I'll do it. And I have always said and I actually mean it.

I mean it, it's crazy. Was there like, was there any hesitation here? Like the fight's up or was there any discussion like, eh, I mean, listen, I just fought twice in a week. This is like five weeks ago. Do we really want to do this again? Was there any hesitation at all? No at all. So after I came back from, so after my last fight with the one I went to Georgia.

I was there. Then I went back to Vancouver for two weeks. Then I went to Mexico. I was in Mexico for about three days. And then I woke up the next morning and I see a text. I was going to stay in Mexico for a full month straight. And I woke up the morning. And then I see my management, Jason, and like, hey, this is you want to fight. This is blah, blah, blah. I was like, okay, okay. I was like, give you one second let me talk to my team i'm down just give me one second everyone has to be in the same page here right but i know my team is so good that they are always gonna you know whatever pretty much whatever uh then they say if you want to do it let's do it and i say okay then then in in a couple days later i'm in begas man so you didn't get the full month in mexico like you were hoping for

yeah no but i'm going back after after here i'm going back to mexico so i was like i'll be back guys. Is this your last fight this year? Like I don't know. I mean, can you even say that? Like, is there even 50% of you who even thinks that way at this point? No, I'm open, you know, if I'm healthy and yeah, I mean, if I'm healthy, that's all it matters because everything right now in my life is really good. So, you know, I'm good. It's just if my body is healthy, then I can do it. There you go. So I want to talk about the, most recent fight against Luana Carolina. Hell of a showing up a weight class the week after your submission win the week before. Had the rounds been five minutes and 30 seconds loop, we would be

talking about another win probably. You might have gotten her out of there in the first round, but just going up everything you went through, what were your biggest takeaways from that fight, the experience, and just those eight days in general? Yeah. I mean, I love fighting and just stepping in like I never I didn't know it was going to be like the fastest comeback you know seven days like when it happened I was like oh that's pretty cool you know but uh I'm here to fight so it doesn't matter you know what you know I'm just there to fight and um yeah I mean going up away class I love fighting and it's another challenge for me you know so I'm just gonna do it was there anything like in the fight in particular you took away

like things you wish you had done better. I know hindsight is kind of a fickle thing in MMA. You could go if you could go back in time, but we can't, obviously. So it turns like the fight itself, what did you take away from it? Yeah, I don't digret anything because that's a went down. And, you know, I accepted and I'm just learning from it. And I'm still growing and learning. But if I could change something, I'll probably will box a little bit more.

But that's about it, you know. I don't know. I mean, I could have done a lot of things differently, but didn't. So I'm just going to learn from that experience and move on and do better for the next fight. You live life with no regrets, Lupi. I dig that about you. Have you always been like that? Just go for it. And, you know, whatever happens, happens, we accept that. Or is that something you've had to learn along this MMA journey of yours? Well, I think moving to Canada when I was 14 and living my country, Mexico, like, I had, me and my family had to go through so many, like, tough experience. So you kind of like learn to let it go, you know, like, it's really easy to let things go, you know, as long as you're alive, you know, you're here, you're healthy.

then it was a point on holding into things, you know what I mean? Well said. If you don't mind me ask you because I don't think we've ever actually talked about this. What were some of the things that you had to go through when you moved to Canada? Well, just imagine you are a teenager and you come to a new country with no English. You know, you had your family and you had to start from zero. Like I'm talking, scribing bathrooms, you know, like start from zero when you're. you were used to something else in Mexico, you know, that's always stuff, you know,

like my daddy was 40-something. So it's also even harder for him and my mom to start from zero at that point on their lives. For me and my sisters, of course, you know, everything new, like we don't know, you know, we didn't know anyone like nothing. It was just like, you know, for years, just struggling and coming up, you know, And now I can say that my family is doing really good. I'm doing really good. So it's just, you know, matter of always keep working and keep getting better.

And you will see the, you know, the fruit coming out at the end. And it's still, you know, we are still working hard. We are still pushing it because you're never, you know, it's always, it's always something better. So you just keep climbing. How has your family reacted to this year that you've had, signing with the UFC, getting in all these fights, back at it again, like how they reacted to all of this? So they're super excited, super happy for me. You know, they know this is what I love to do.

And, you know, of course, excited for my future, for my life. But at the same time, it's like, oh, like headache because they get so nervous. But now, like, they don't like when I say, I'm fighting next weekend or whatever, right? They were like, okay, like they're not even surprised anymore. even my sisters that are like, okay, there we go again. You know, like if you know me, you won't get surprised of things that I do because that's just who I am. If you don't know me, you're like, oh, this girl is crazy.

But I'm crazy. But if you know me, you're like, okay, we expected that from her, you know? Yeah. And that was what was so interesting because if someone had told me like a year ago that there would be a newcomer coming into the UFC who would fight and back to back, we weekends, I would have said your name in a second. Like, you would have been the top three names I would have said. So, like, is that why? Like, when everyone was making a big deal out of this, you, like, you didn't even think about it because this is, I mean, this has been your pretty much

your entire career. Like, opportunity knocks the phone rings five days from now, two weeks from now. I'm in anyway. So this is like no big deal for you. Yeah, you know, there is opportunities that you cannot let's let's take them and let's say it doesn't go or whatever. Then you'll learn there and then you get better and then you go back right to it right like there is no lose you know you don't you don't lose from this it's just you know i'm doing what i love this is my job i'm healthy i'm happy so why not have you seen an uptick in your popularity social media people giving you kudos again you didn't think this is that big of a deal but a lot of people did have you seen sort of an uptick in people reaching out to you, giving you props, kudos, et cetera?

Yeah, yeah. There's a lot of people, like, you know, messaging me and my followers are growing and all of that stuff. And I'm just happy to do it, you know? It's just I'm doing what I love. Like, oh, that's fine. Like, it's just what I love. You know, I couldn't be doing anything else.

What has that been like just seeing all this? Seeing all this praise that you're getting. It's not easy in this sport. There's only like a few people who get those accolades. It's almost unanimously positive. And you seem to be one of those fighters right now. Yeah. I mean, it's nice.

You know, I try not to lose myself into that stuff because I always say I'm not a Hollywood woman. I'm a fighter. So I try to keep focus on, you know, what is what I am a fighter. So that's what I'm doing, you know. I'm training every day. I'm trying to learn things every day. I'm trying to get better every day. The rest, like social media, interviews, fans, all of that.

That's really cool and I really like it and I really appreciate you guys. But it's just on the outside. You know what I mean? Because if I start putting more attention to that, then my training is going to be lacking. So I don't want that. So this is, you know, first and then that, you know. I mean, I bet a lot of that has to do with, you know, when you move to Canada, just the humbleness of it all. And I feel like that's kind of carried over with you. Do you agree with that?

Yeah, you know, you have to be humbled. You have to, you know, always work hard no matter what. No matter where in your life, what position you are, like you're always had to work hard and be humble because you never know when it's going to cap, you know, someone. And then everything is over. like this. That's true. I'm sure, I'm sure coming into the UFC Loma has been someone that you've been familiar with, probably on your radar at some point, very good striker, elusive, a bit tricky at times. Nice little puzzle to try to solve. Is she someone that you kind of expected to fight sooner rather than later? No, you know, it's really weird. I never see something like, oh, maybe this one is next. Maybe this one is next. I just, you know, whoever they give me, I'm going to take it,

you know, I just want to fight. But I'm happy I'm fighting her, you know. She's amazing fighter. I like her style and I think it's going to be a really good matchup for me. How do you like from the stylistic perspective? It's got to be cool, right? I mean, you're, it's almost like two completely different fighters. Loma, you know, Loma's ground game, her wrestling is getting a little bit better.

Yours is superior on paper than hers. Your striking is getting better. Her striking's really good. So how do you like the matchup from that end? like the improvements you made against sort of the improvements that she's made. I really like the matchup. I think it's going to be a fun fight. So how do we get this thing done?

How does this play out in your mind? Oh, in a lot of different ways. Well, let's just wait for Saturday. All right. I thought one of these times. I ask you this question every single time. And I'm like, maybe this will be the time that she gives me some sort of prediction. But it's always the same answer.

Is it kind of a bummer you got to cut weight? again after being spoiled fighting at 125 last time? Well, I was 121 when I, when I wear myself 125. Right. Or you know what I mean, flyweight. Yeah. Yeah. A time before I caught three pounds, you know, I'm keeping my weight low because I'm

telling you, I'm fighting. How do you like, so I'm curious, how do you top this year? Like, do you try to fight like 12 times? in 2022 at this point? If I could, yeah, I will do it. You know, I mean, there is nothing better out of this, you know, it's just me keep getting better experience,

you know, this experience, I will never leave them again, you know? Like, this is a one thing in my life. So I want to take it. So is your goal at MMA at this point is just fight as often as possible? Like, I know a lot of fighters I talk to it, like one day I'm going to I'm going to be the champion of the world and we're going to have this

parade in my in my hometown and it's going to be great and there are other fighters you're just like I just want to fight like you're in the ladder like you just want to fight as often as possible and if all those other things come along with it that's just sort of cherry on top of the Sunday am I am I on the right track are you thinking about like the the long term championships things like that yeah of course like of course my goal is to be the champion and I'm going to get there. But if you think about it, my career is really small, like really short. I've been training for six years total, six years. And I've been pro for like three and a half, something like that. And I broke my hand and I was out for a year. So I had two surgeries, whatever, in my first

professional five. So I was out for a year. So I'm going to make out from all that time, you know. I, how can I explain? I'm just getting experienced right now for when, you know, I'm, I'm starting fighting the top 10, top five, you know, and then eventually fight for the belt. And I think it's great to do it now, you know, in a big organization, like, it's just, I think I'm doing the right thing. And I'm enjoying myself. And, you know, once we get to the top 10, top five, then we're going to look things differently. Ray and I'm sure my management, you know, like, you know, Jason House is like the man. So like I'm just, I just trust him so much with my career that I'm like, you know,

just keep them coming, you know, and like whatever you say, man, I'll listen to you. And you're in the right division now too because there's fights all the time and the strawweight division never let you down. So are you still cool like going up to it? Because you were booked to fight at 135 at one point this year, which is absolutely insane to me as So are you still open for like opportunities like that? Like maybe fighting at 35 or are we just like 15, 25s as high as we go? Let's say 35. I will look at the opponent.

I'm not going to fight like some monster that I'm going to get hurt and break my face and be out for for a year. Right. Like you have to be smart. If you, you know, but 15 and 25, okay. You know, 15 is my way class. You know, I'm pretty much on weight. right now, like, it's only a couple pounds. So I'm a small, one 15 even, you know, I'm small.

So, yeah, but, you know, whatever, keep them coming. Would you be open to, uh, to an atom weight division? I know that's a very popular discussion these days. Is that something like if the UFC were to do that, is that a way class you'd even entertain to cut those extra 10 or what do you think? Oh, I don't know, because I will have to do a little muscle. Oh, yeah, you can't lose the pythons. And I like my muscles. Yeah, I need my guns.

You got to keep the gun. Lupi, you are amazing. Congratulations. It's been incredible to watch you just progress this year, seeing all the positivity that everyone is throwing your way. And I just remember all those old interviews when you were fighting in regional shows. And I think we all saw something in you then. And now to see it all sort of play out now and you breaking records every week.

And every time you fight, it's just been. great to see. So congratulations on all that success. Excited to see you back in there this Saturday. You are a warrior by definition and all the best to you the rest of this week and in the cage on Saturday. Appreciate your time as always. Thank you so much. Have a good day. Just great stuff right there from Lupi Godinez. What a warrior. Just shattering records left and right. Unbelievable stuff. Incredibly humble about it as well. How can you not be a fan of Lupi Godinez? So big thank you to her. Big thank you to Roman Feraldo. Sean Woodson and Adrian Yannas for their time as well.

As you wrap up another episode of We Got Next, Shining a Light on the next wave of talent in the sport of mixed martial arts. We got UFC Vegas 43. That was easy to say. UFC Vegas 43 coming up this weekend. We'll have your coverage of that, starting with the preview show on Friday, live. As of right now, it's scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific. And we have a special guest for that. Lined up.

At least we hope so. So stay tuned for that. Then we get the pre-fight Q&A on Saturday, 3 p.m. prelims, 6 p.m. main card, Eastern Eastern Eastern time on Saturday. So we'll have the Q&A around 2.30 Eastern if everything stays intact, post-fight show. And then don't forget the next opening round matchup of the BTL championship tournament goes down live. 3 p.m. Eastern on Thursday on the M.M.A. fighting YouTube channel. We get Jed Mishu taking on Alex Wenling.

Should be a lot of fun. So until then, enjoy the rest of your week. Enjoy the fights this weekend, and we'll see you next week on Thanksgiving right here on We Got Next.