MMA Fighting - We Got Next | Cheyanne Vlismas & Brandon Royval

Episode Date: January 6, 2022

Cheyanne Vlismas would love to get back inside the octagon before the summer, but she can't say for sure if that will be a reality. Vlismas (4:41) kicks off this week's episode of We Got Next to recap her impressive unanimous decision win over Mallory Martin in December at UFC Vegas 44, discusses spending the new year in an undisclosed location, a rollercoaster ride throughout 2021 that included a loss in her UFC debut, a horrible bout of COVID-19, a divorce, and consecutive octagon wins that led to bonuses, why the win over Martin stuck out more than her finish of Gloria de Paula, her UFC future being unclear, and much more. Finally, UFC flyweight Brandon Royval (24:46) previews his UFC Vegas 46 matchup with Rogerio Bontorin on Jan. 15, talks how he's approaching his first fight of 2022 in the heels of two straight stoppage losses, learning how to fine some focus in his chaotic style, watching a ton of Sean O'Malley footage and getting motivation from it, feeling like he could fight for the flyweight title by the end of the year, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. And welcome to a brand new edition of We Got Next Here on M.AFighting.com, the very first edition of the show in 2022. Thanks for having us on. I am Mike Heck. Hope you're all having a great start to this new year. And We have quite the show for you this week. We have two great interviews. We also have two great interviews for next week as well, which I will let you know about at the end of the program. But I'm going to make this open very short

because my eight-year-old son decided to have a friend over today after school, which is great. But they decided, you know what, we're not going to actually converse like normal people. We're just going to scream at each other, back and forth, different sides of the house. So I'm just going to record this very quickly. And then we'll get to the conversations. But it's just been a wild day since my kid went back to school.

We're recording this on Wednesday. So let's get to this. Later on, we're going to talk to Brandon Royval. He is getting ready to return to the Octagon next Saturday, January 15th, the promotion's first card of 2022. He's taken on Rogerio Bonzarin. What a start he had to is UFC. career. Jumps in to face Tim Elliott on super short notice back in May of 2020, wins via submission

and just an absolutely bananas fight. Then four months later, he fights Kai Kara France at UFC 253 on Fight Island. That was the card headline by Israel Adasanya and Powell Costa. Another insane, wild crazy fight and submits Kai Karra France in the second round. of that fight. Two months later, he's back again, and he fights Brandon Moreno at UFC 255, which turned out to be a fight that had he won, he probably would have fought Davidson Figurato for the UFC Flyway title the next month. Unfortunately, he did not win that fight.

Brandon Moreno won that fight. He became the champion. Came back, had some surgery, returned in August of last year, and was submitted by Alexander Pantosia. So very unfamiliar territory for Brandon Roy Val entering a fight on not just a loss, but a losing streak. This is the first time this has ever happened in this career. And the different sort of psychological and mental approach to this fight is really fascinating. And I feel like conversations with Brandon Royval when it comes to the actual psychology of being a professional fighter, it comes out in big ways. It's almost like he just,

We get on this little trend and he just, I don't know, just kind of like empties the vault. Empties his soul when it comes to like the psychology of being a fight. It's really fascinating stuff. You'll hear that conversation coming up in just a little bit. But speaking of fascinating, Cheyenne Velizmus, what a year she had in 2021. It is a new year. She has a lot of momentum right now. She lost her octagon debut.

She won her last two fights after earning a contract on Dana White's contend. series is a lot of hype around her. Obviously, there's some, there's the name change. A lot of questions about that. I mean, it's nobody's business really. But it's just, this conversation is really interesting because I was happy that she ended the year the way that she did. But I feel really bad for her.

And you're going to hear why. Because there are a lot of unanswered questions. questions here and I've honestly when this is over I just kind of sat and thought to myself like man imagine going through what she's going through and we don't even really know exactly what she's going through so it's it's just crazy I'm not going to talk about it anymore we're going to take a short break when we come back you'll hear that conversation in its entirety it's about 20 minutes with shy and volismis from a location that is unknown and it's it's just really interesting so you'll hear that conversation coming up next on We Got Next.

Let us say hello to Cheyenne Belismiss, one of the exciting prospects in the UFC Strailweight Division ended 2021 with back-to-back wins, including a dominant unanimous decision win over Mallory Martin at UFC Vegas 44 in December. Cheyenne, happy New Year. How are you? Happy year to you and Merry Christmas, a little late, but I'm doing good. Thank you. So when we were chatting yesterday, you were telling me you were out of the country. I'm curious, where are you at right now? Where are you beginning this new year? So no one knows where I'm at. I'm actually keeping it that way.

A lot of things happened before my fight and even after my fight. And I decided, you know, what's best than to just escape, you know? And I've been gone now for two weeks and I love it. I'm overseas and I'm just living my life. Mystery location. I dig it. What a way to start off the year. And you sort of, you sort of touched on it because 2021 was a roller coaster for you to say the least. And I think that's fair to say from what you experienced in the octagon, out of the octagon, some raw motions showed when you got that performance of the night bonus, when you got the finish in July. Can you even put 2021 into words? Because when people talk about growing as fighters and his people, I feel like you grew about as much as anybody in the fight game. Would you agree with that? Yeah, for sure. And you know, only thing I hated was the first time you guys saw me in 2021 for my for my debut was March 20th, which that was a terrible camp as, well, it was a great camp, but got injured right before the fight, 10 days out, got very badly

injured, needed surgery, took the fight still, had a quick opponent change, got embarrassed in my debut, you know, I couldn't do anything, got the surgery, got back into fight camp, got a good fight, getting a divorce. It's been a roller coaster, say the least, but in a way, 2021 was a blessing. And for me, I just, as much as raw emotion as you guys saw, you guys saw a lot of growth for me as not just a fighter, but also as a woman. So I enjoyed 2021, even though it was a roller coaster of emotions. What would you attribute that growth too? Because there's probably a lot of pressure on you coming off the contender series.

The hopes were quite high for you. You lost, like you said, a tough one in your debut. And you've been quite vocal about, you know, having struggles financially, trying to make this dream a reality. Not to mention the things going on in your personal life. Like you just mentioned the divorce and everything. I mean, at 26 years of age, you went through about a career's worth of adversity.

So, like, how would you explain this growth? Can you even do that? Yeah, it's all about how you handle it, you know? After my debut, it was like the most embarrassing debut anyone could really have. And since that debut, you know, when you perform at the worst, the worst that you know for yourself, it depends on like how you want to go from there. I can either have gone home and cried about it or I could have gone home and done something about it. I went home and I was like, listen, I cannot let the world see me as this type of person.

You know, like when you're in the public eye, you have a people are like not counting on you, but like I had a lot of people thinking I was going to do well. And for me, I took it really tough. I took it where I was like, I just wanted to hide away, train super hard. You know, getting surgery too. I had to get surgery. Actually, about the surgery after my debut. So going into the debut, I said I was interested.

I was injured, very badly injured. I couldn't even do anything. I couldn't train. I couldn't do nothing. All I could do is run. And I knew I needed surgery, went into the debut, got embarrassed, got disrespected. Then after the doctor was like, listen, you need to get full reconstruction surgery. You'll be out for at least a year of just recovery.

And I looked at a doctor and I was like, there is no way I am going to sit on the sidelines after getting embarrassed and ragdolled in front of millions of people. I was like, that's just not happening. And I think that was like my motivation for the rest of the year, you know, when a doctor, and I went to multiple doctors. The UFC sent me to three different doctors because the first one was like, listen, all I'll do is you need reconstruction surgery. I was like, nope, not happening. Second one, reconstruction surgery. Third one was like, okay, listen, you do need reconstruction surgery, but we can do the minor surgery. And if it works out, then it works out.

If it doesn't, then we had to do the reconstruction. took a took a risk with the small surgery and honestly it was the best decision I've ever made I was able to go on a warpath being two and oh well it's going to know the last two and I yeah I would say it's all about this mind you know mind is mine is key because honestly everyone's good in the cage I mean anytime he fights one we're all going to be good we're all going to be tough everyone's going to hit hard everyone wants to hurt you but it's like a chess game in there It's like if you can just win in your mind, you can win in reality. Tupest year of your life to this point.

I know it's a blessing, but overall, toughest year of your life, would you say? Because I know, I mean, in school, you're getting bullied a lot. I mean, yeah, by far. Yeah, that was little kid stuff, though. But this by far, yeah, by far the toughest year of my life. But, you know, you hit a point where all I can do is laugh about it, you know. And I'm living my life and I'm super happy now. Like, you know, I got away.

don't know if I want to come back. But yeah, I'm happy now. I mean, thank goodness I and finish the year. I was just super blessed I've been able to fight, by the way. Like getting COVID right before 10 days out before my fight with Loma got COVID and it attacked my lungs so bad. Couldn't breathe really. And I was just blessed that I was able to pull myself together and fight before the end of the year.

finished off strong. Have you been able to to train in said mystery location? Yes, yes. Oh, I've been training all the time. Like, I just don't post about it. Oh, okay. Fair enough. I'm training and it and it's tough. It's tough. You know, no one understands me here, but I make it work. I make it make it work. I just look at the instructors. I see what they do. And I'm like, ah, yes, okay, got it. You can tell me to kick rocks if you want after I ask this question, but is there a reason why you escape to where you're at? Like, is there, was there like a tipping point where you're like, I got to get the hell out of here?

Are you allowed to talk about that? I lost. Sorry. Sorry. Okay. Yes, there is a reason why I picked this location. I don't really want to talk about why I pick this location, but I'm also traveling to other locations.

I pick this location for a certain reason. I'm on the water, which is my favorite thing to do. I love to see. I love the ocean and I'm from from Florida so anytime there's body of water nearby it's very peaceful for me and uh yeah and where I'm at I'm able to go to other countries and you know it's cheap so you know spend your money wisely but yeah there's a reason why I pick this place but I've been traveling to like nearby areas okay so this is more of an exploration thing than anything else. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Back to like the fighting stuff. I personally thought your

performance against Mallory Martin was the best of your career. I know knockouts and finishes steal the headlines for the most part, but to me, that was the one that sent the message to the division that you're coming and you can go hard for 15 minutes and you're just a tough out right now. Do you feel the same way, or do you feel like the finish of Gloria DePaula stands out more to you? No, I didn't even like to finish the glory to Paula because I wanted people to see me for 15 minutes. And when I fought Mallory, I went in there and I was like, I am just going to beat her up for 15 minutes. And I'm going to show everyone who I am. And I felt like I showed everyone who I was. And I felt like I showed everyone shy and bellissmas. And I don't feel like that fight even gets enough credit, if I'm being honest.

I don't, you know, I feel like even after the fight, Mallory put her hands up as if she won. And I just look at that girl. I was like, put your hands down. I'm like, you did not beat me and I was not going home a loser that night. And I like her. So I didn't, I didn't say it. But in my head, I was like, I was like, put them down. I was like, you did not win this fight. I was actually like so confused as to why she put her hands up because I knew I was like, I knew I was dumb. Like, I knew I was performing at my best. And I even went over to my coach and I was like, this girl thinks she why? Did she win? I even asked him, I was like, did she win?

I was like, no way. And I was like, you know, because like right after a fight, your mind is so like everywhere. And he was like, no, she didn't win at all. And I was like, that's what I thought. And I was like, why is she acting like this? But he's like, don't worry about it. And I was like, I won't. How did you react to getting fight a night on that card?

Because there were some freaking bangers on that card, but the promotion went with you and Mallory. Were you surprised by that? Yeah, I was. I, you know, I was texting one of my first. friends and I was like as soon as the fight was over I was like it's a potential 50k fight. It's a potential. And I think what made it a potential was obviously it was a little bit of back and forth. But when I looked at the numbers, I almost doubled her numbers and strikes. And but I think me speaking helped. I think I don't I don't know because Jose Aldo,

I heard his was a great fight. I know there wasn't many decisions that. that night. I know there was a lot of finishes, but I know Jose Aldo being the main event, I was like, if he goes to a decision and it's a good fight, I was like, he's for sure getting it. And when I saw that he went the distance, him and Rob Font, I was like, oh, for sure they'll get it. No doubt. I was like, they deserve it. They deserve it too, you know? Next day, you know, and I'm sitting down with my friends eating dinner and next thing, you know, and I got a text message from some fan. I don't even know who it was. And he was the first one to tell me, he was like, you got fight of the night and I just I was just like screaming because I mean I was just like

crying because I was just like there's no way I got a fight of the night I was like there's no way I got another 50k bonus and it's it was a blessing and honestly the fight before when I got the bonus that saved me and honestly this fight the bonus saved me for a lot of reasons too so it you know it it's a blessing I'm very grateful because I don't know how I got the bonus I don't know I'm gonna guess maybe because I talked a little bit and it was a good fight like I know it was a good fight but I don't know I still can't get over because I read the comments saying that it was Jose Aldo should have gotten the fight fight of the night but I'm not gonna ask no questions because I'm grateful gotten enough bonuses right I mean that they've gotten bonuses for decades and yeah it was it was good I was I mean I was happy for the both of you because I'm sure Mallory I'm sure that's kind of soft in the blow for Mallory too, because that was a tough fight for her.

Yeah. I mean? Yeah. I'm happy. Yeah. I mean, 2021 also. Right. Exactly.

And for yourself as well. Yeah. I mean, one real positive thing I thought that came out of 2021 for you was you surrounded yourself with this like army of badass women at extreme Couture. Like yourself, Casey O'Neill, who was the NBA fighting rookie, of the year for 2021. Obviously, you know, Misha's there and, you know, even the Serena de Jesus of the world is there and many others. There's a ton of them that are at that gym right now. That was one change you made over the last year plus, the move to Vegas full time. How much has that decision

helped you? Not just for like obviously the change of scenery, but being surrounded by some of the fellow women fighters that encompassed that gym. Well, you know, when I left Vegas three years ago, I never really wanted to leave. You know, I was heartbroken. I did it. I made it. But then when I'm back to the states, I wanted to go back to extreme. But unfortunately, I couldn't. And I had to go to Texas and I had to do what I had to do. But finally, after when I was able to, I wasn't even really fine. I wasn't even financially able to move back to Vegas.

But finally, just got up and moved and was like, I don't care what people say. Like, I'm going back to Vegas. Like, that's where I need to be. It was a big game changer, I would say, being back with my old coach, Dennis Davis. That was very nice. But, you know, I don't know what the future lies for me. I cannot lie. I don't know what the future lies ahead of me.

I don't really, I'm kind of unsure things right now. That's why I'm away. But yeah, X-E, the girls there, they're all amazing. I have nothing bad to ever say about those girls. We all push each other super hard. And it's a nice feeling being on the same mat with high-level girls like that. You know, I don't even get to train with guys anymore, which I used to only train with guys. Like, all I knew is training with guys.

And when you train with high level females like that, it's completely different. It's a different body type. It's different strength. It's like I get to experience being in the cage with girls I'm going to fight every single day. So it's awesome. Your last things, I know I don't have a ton of time with you. But I am curious about this because for those who have been following you on Instagram, you have also started a little bit of a side hustle,

but a good one where you're helping others become the healthiest version of themselves. And I feel like you're like, at least right now, concerned in this conversation, you're like the perfect sort of mentor for that due to the excuses that people can come up with because you've had life kick you in the ass. You've come through, you've won fights

and you've stayed motivated and you've done the damn thing. How did this come to be like you, you guiding these folks to find health and some extra happiness along the way as well? Yeah. So my friends actually run this company called Built Athletics, and I teamed up with them. And basically what we do is we coach everything online. They have their own app.

Everything is 24-7. They get personalized programs for them, personalized training programs for them, tips for food, like everything is designed for these people. And that is something I absolutely love because especially since quarantine and this whole COVID thing, I feel like the news and people, they don't realize, like, nobody is posting about health, for one. You know, everyone just says, get your vaccine, get your vaccine. You know, for me, it's like health is the most important thing in this world. And I feel like people don't boost it enough, you know.

And so for me to be able to help people achieve their goals, it's a nice feeling because even for me, I need a coach, you know, and every great has a coach. So to help people and be their coach, it's been awesome. And anyone who's listening, if you guys must sign up for my team, go and check out my Instagram and check out Built Athletics on Instagram. But yeah, it's an awesome company I'm with. And again, we're changing a lot of people's lives with it. And it's only growing too. And I hope I can get more clients because it's great seeing these progress photos that people send.

These people sending me messages every single day just telling me, how much it's helping them and it's nice. So I like it. Has there been like one transformation that stuck out where you're just like, holy smokes. Like this is unbelievable. Yeah. So I've been with the company for since end of August.

So it's been September four months now. And I'm seeing good progress photos right now. Like there hasn't been one that I can like name, but there's been someone. I look at them and I'm like, they're working hard. And there's some where you can see where they're not consistent, but you can see it's slow progress. And honestly, any progress is good progress. So as long as people are making progress, I'll be happy. Absolutely. I don't even know if you can answer this question because everything

just seems like such a mystery right now. But if we're up to you, when would you like to fight again? Like when would you want to get back in the octagon if you had your druthers and you had a say in the matter? So, I mean, unfortunately, I would love to fight again. soon, but because of reasonings on beyond belief, I cannot, I cannot fight and I cannot make any more money until I finalize some things in my life. And I don't know when that will be. I'm trying to make it soon. But again, I don't have an answer. I'm hoping by summer. I'm praying by summer. So that's what I'm going to shoot for. And so, I mean, can you even, how do you even like goal set for 2022 with all this unknown. Can you even do it or like just do like little things? Like how does that work?

Right now I just take it day by day that you know I don't know I have no answers for anything. If it was me, I would love to fight but unfortunately I am told I cannot. I was actually not even supposed to fight my last fight. I was I was asked not to buy some high up people. They told me please do take this fight, you know, and I told everybody I was like, I told even like my family didn't want me to fight, like, well, one for being sick and two for other reasons that I can't speak about. But yeah, no one wanted me to fight at all. So the fact that I got to finish off 20, 21, with a fight and winning and proving to people, you know what I mean, just giving them that little like I did it and more for myself. It was a good feeling. But as far as 2022, you'll see me, but I have no

answers. And honestly, it makes me want to cry. How I have no answers for anything. So, yeah, but I'll be back. I'll be back soon. I hope. I'm hoping summertime. Well, I'm sorry you're going through all of this right now. I mean, you did get a bonus too. So that was a nice little cherry on top. I guess some positive you find with this whole thing. Big cherry, big, big, big, big cherry. Because I don't know when else. Damn. I mean, I really feel terrible for you.

I hope everything turns around for you. I hope we do get to see you fight in the summertime because, I mean, as cool as it is to travel and explore the world, like, I know you want to be in that cage, doing the damn thing. You're, you're shown such great improvement. You want to keep that thing going. So I appreciate you sharing what you could with us. 2021 ended professionally great for you.

And I hope the rest of the stuff kind of turns around for you. you in 2022. So thank you for being as open as you can with this whole thing. Congratulations on the Bingwood over Mallory Martin and enjoy your world exploration right now. You deserve some some U-time for sure. Thank you. Thank you. It's been a fun ride being away and training from different instructors and learning from others in the world. And it's been refreshing. It's been very refreshing. So thank you. 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 say hello once again to Brandon Royval.

He is back inside the Octagon, January 15th, the UFC's first event of 2022 taking on Rogirio, Boncharine. What a fight that's going to be. Brandon, it has been a minute, man. How are you? I'm doing good, man. How are you? I'm doing great. So we were talking a little bit before we hit record about what life is like when you take a fight right around the holiday season.

And you're in the middle of that right now. So explain to me what it is like to be preparing for a fight in the middle of Christmas and New Year's and all those other holidays. I have a pretty big family, so like I'm always like running around. I always have to be like buy a bunch of Christmas presents, but I'm like last minute about everything. So I just put a lot of, I don't know, I put it on myself. But just now I was thinking the doctors. I was in there for like two hours, two and a half hours,

just waiting inside the doctors. But everybody, everybody's sick from COVID from the holidays too is people get together. And I think, you know, spread around a little bit. And I just feel like the doctor's office was just slammed shut today, man. So sorry about being a little bit late. But yeah, it's been a little chaotic. The holidays times is also just like the food, man.

There's such an emphasis on food during every holiday season that's like, oh, man, I'm going to have to murder bonturing because of it. Figure to be speaking. Take the feeding frenzy out on him or the lack of their own. Mexican food, like a Mexican family. And I'm just now in chili, tamales for, oh, my God, damn. I'm mad. So what's so outside of that like what's it what's it?

I don't want to like put these thoughts in your head right now when you're getting ready to cut some weight in a week and a half. Like what is a typical like Christmas dinner look like in the and the Royval family household? Um, well, it's like it's pretty much like a poll. So you get like ham and crap that other people get. But like they bring a lot of like chili. We had a, um, chrippianos, um, tamales. Oh man, I was just missing it all. beans, rice, all the above, you know? And like, I mean, I could have some of the stuff. And like, I ate a lot of like just like the meats and stuff. But I don't know. I miss that on a lot too. I was pissed. And everybody's like here, Heatho, just late in my face. And I'm just like, I can't right now. She said, hey, I made your cookie. Oh, my, my auntie next cookies.

I made your favorite cookies. And like, I can't eat that at all right now. But I, oh, man, I'm going to have to hit them all up for it afterwards. You go. Tell them to remake it. just do a second Christmas dinner. Oh yeah, second Christmas. Christmas dinner, honestly, is all I really want. There you go. I think I think that's a fair compromise right there. So I think the new year probably came at the right time for you. You know, 2020 was kind of a rough year for you. I know you had to deal with the surgery. You were out for quite some time. And then the loss of Pantosia after the lost of Moreno. I feel like the last time we spoke, it was right before the Moreno fight. It was on Fight Island. Like, I felt like

that fight came together very quickly after the win over Kai Kar, France. But I feel like 2021 couldn't end fast enough for you. Is that accurate? Yeah, a little bit. I wanted to, like, I wanted to get like a quick comeback fight. And, uh, I mean, being in the, the division that we're in, McMainer, it's super organized by everything. So it's a little bit further out than I ever wanted to. I wanted to end 20, uh, 2020 strong, but, uh, our 2021 strong, but, you know, this is actually a good year to just make my year. And like, uh, yeah, but you're right. Yeah, since 2021 was over. I was like, kiss this one goodbye.

2020 was awesome. 2021, definitely a lot of waiting around and a lot of a lot of just kind of growing the mind state more than anything. And then right now, just kind of picking back up where I left off, you know. So what about the mindset have you grown the most with? Like what changes have you made? You see me fine. I'm just a little bit of ball of stress.

I'm a little bit of chaotic. I'm a little bit all over the place. I'll give myself one thing is I'm a real. I work really hard. But I feel like I feel like I don't have as much focus work, you know. And I think that was just kind of the emphasis on this camp is just being focused, you know, and just not being focused in a sense of like parting and stuff going on around me, but being focused on like when I show up to the gym, I don't need to go or like on a Sunday

or Saturday. I don't need to go run 12 miles or whatever it is to just ease my anxiety. Like working on very specific things and little detailed things and making that a point to work on throughout the day, I think was like a little bit of it. And I think that's how growth happens throughout me too. It's like, I think I deal with like, oh, I have a fight. I better do a million things. It's like, no, I just got to do one thing. You know, I've got to work on one thing and stay focused on that one thing. And like, it's a lot easier on my body, honestly. But it's also just like a lot easier on my mind. I'm learning a lot better. And I don't know. I don't know.

And like, that's a little bit that happens in my fight too is I'm like, oh, I need to get busy. you know i need to get busy like we're fighting i need to go out there and be busy and i'm doing a lot more busy work than i need to do you know i could dial that back way more and just be a little bit more focused and land i don't know the better shots compared to just landing a hundred shots you know are just trying to land as many shots as possible so it's weird it was weird coach mark uh i'll credit coach mark to this yeah it was like a weird day i was like i want to work on my balance for this fight and i really do i want to work on like just being more balanced of a fighter not just like mentally which i do but like literally balanced and he was telling me

he's like, all right, cool. And then he had me walk around the edge of the gym. I'm going to butcher all what he said. It was like this cool, like metaphoric moment. We had me walk around the edge of the gym and like the gym perimeter. And I'm walking around the perimeter the whole entire time. And I reached the end. And like, right when I'm reaching door at the end, I'm staying kind of focused, you know.

And then like I'm getting towards the end. And then I'm like, we're almost there. And I'm just like rushing the end, you know, and kind of falling off. And that's what I'd mess up the most. And like, I'd mess up in just like little parts where I would get unfocused. but then always at the end I rush and he goes, he goes, yeah, he goes, you need to stay focused one step out of time, especially when we're getting close to the finish because he goes the same thing in the pantosia fight is you're close to the end. You almost have this guy out of here.

And it's like you're rushing it to get him out of there instead of taking one step out of time and then you mess everything, like you're dropping the ball at the very end right here. And it's like it was a weird thing. And I don't think he meant for it to be all this, this metaphorical thing or maybe he did have this foresight. And he had a, some of the Yoda mindset going into that day, but it was one of those weird things that he could kind of metaphorically break down like a physical problem that I was having and mental problem I was having and all that stuff. And it was a cool moment, but it was also just like an eye-opening moment on like, damn, like, this has kind of been a continuous problem, not only my career,

but in my life, you know, it's just I'm kind of rushing things and I don't need to rush things. I can just enjoy the moment. If you sit back and watch Adasania fight, that guy's not worried about finishing the fight the whole entire time, you know what I'm saying? He's sitting back and just enjoying like I have car like I've really good cardio and I think part of like having good cardio I felt like I needed the I needed to push it you know where it's like marinate a fight fight 20 minutes fight 50 minutes I mean fight the whole entire fight you know I don't need to go out there and rush a finish you know I don't need to go out there and do all this panic busy work because I'm a skilled enough fighter that I can get the job done other in other ways you know

than just making it ugly you're like you've always been And I mean this as a compliment. You've always been a maniac in there, like in the cage. And you've always like prided yourself on being a maniac, like being chaotic and being like like, almost like car accident and like you're just ready for everything. Like that's how you always fought and you always prided yourself on that. Like what is it like has it been difficult to really get to this place you're at right now? I mean, it's the foresight that you and your coach have obviously is great. And I feel like it's come at the right time.

but this just seems for you, it's just different. You know what I mean? Like it's probably a little freeing for you to realize that and kind of focus on that. But you know, what does that been like to realize that and work on that? Has it been kind of stressful at all like for you? It's been really stressful. Like for me, man, I'm such a busy work type of person that like I feel like, I don't know, like having focus works like so different.

But yeah, man, I'm not going to change. what makes me great and what makes me great is just like being in the chaos i'm one of the better people in the mix of the chaos i believe that uh to the fullest and it's like i need to create chaotic moments but it's also it's like my whole fight doesn't need to be a chaotic moment i don't my whole fight doesn't need be me and pantosia crashing into each other left left and right and uh and just being a being chaotic where it's like i can i can be a little bit more methodical than that you know and like i don't need to be much more methodical than that because what makes me great is being a a psychopath, you know, but also is just like, have a little bit more control than that,

you know, have a little bit control the moment. I can make this more chaotic when I need it to be chaotic. And when it is chaotic, I'll thrive there. I know I'll do good there. And it's like, but also what's going to make me great is just dialing it back every once in a while. And like, okay, let's pick, let's pick, let's pick, let's pick. Okay, chaos. Pick, pick, chaos. Okay, yeah. So it's just, I don't know, just being well around it all together. And yeah, it's hard for me. It's hard for me. And like, I feel like I'm a little bit of a vengeful person. So it's like as soon as I get punched in the face, I'm like, oh, you son of a bitch. And it's like, it's good go time, you know? So changing that mind state. And like I actually

have really good corners that are like cornering me too is like yesterday. Yesterday I got punched. I started to walk someone down and are we being smart right now? Are we being smart right now? And I'm like, oh, yeah, good call. Good call. Like I should dial it back and just think methodically, you know, it's like I don't need to give up around or do something crazy because I got hit one time or whatever it is, you know? So just trying to be better all around. You know, and like, it's so funny how fighting translates. And like, this is, I think, something that's always resonate with me is just how fighting translates to life, you know, and it's like slowing everything down in life and just being more focused on a daily basis on what I need to do on a specific

goal. And, you know, that'll help me be a better man in the long run in life after fighting, right? Mark Montoya told you, like, if Mark Montoya called you tonight and said, Brandon, here's the lesson for tomorrow. Do nothing. Like sit around and do nothing and just like relax and just keep your mind free. Like stay at home, just chill out. Could you do that? Yeah. I mean, I don't know if I could do that. Like, I don't know, man. That'd be hard. But for a coach, Mark, like, I'm trained to run through walls no matter what, you know, whatever he says is work, you know? So yeah, I would do that. I would assume that he sees something that I have probably had messed up practice today and he's like this guy needs to chill a little bit and uh yeah so yeah i would do

that for sure and just try to but i would definitely not just do nothing you know i wouldn't i would be watching fights and doing a bunch of shit i guess i don't know yeah i do it i do it yes i do it i think you would try i think you would do the best you could i think you would just i think you'd pace around a lot i think you'd watch fights and just walk around the room like that thing that's how you would do it yeah yeah i like i like to think i'm a soldier i just take i just take commands you know but who knows it's tough man so who's gonna be corner like obviously mark's gonna be there uh who else could be is yusuf going to be in your corner screaming so everybody can hear no no but i need to bring you stuff one of these days i'm bringing one of my one of my main

training partners play matzah and uh you know it's i think i talk to you about like pretty much every time we do it do the thing is just he's my main training partner as far as like he gives me a great look man he's been bontorine he's been pantosia he was doing the merino like the whole entire look you know i'm saying you know how he does that when he fights he's like Yeah, he was doing the whole entire thing, man. It was great. I don't know. He just does a rate real like not only a great light.

He's just a great IQ-wise, but impersonation-wise, good look-wise, all that stuff. He knows the game plan from A to B to C, you know. So it's perfect, man. And then I have a boxing coach coming out with me named Kenny Hill. I'm working with the boxing coach this camp. So we'll see how that goes, man. See if I can show off the best boxer in the UFC. Look at all these changes you're making.

Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah. And then it's just something I've always wanted to do, too, is I want to work with specialists. You know, I want to work with a specialist jiu-jitsu person. And I got to do a lot of that this camp, too, is just work with like a real-class juts guy. And that was cool. And then work with the world-class boxing person. And just, you know, now that I have, like, a chance to be an MMA fighter, I can do it to the fullest, you know, and geek out over this stuff.

So it's been awesome. I was just going to say, because it was such a big deal when you made your UFC debut and you put in your notice. Like it was that was such a big story, right? And I feel like sometimes it's just like, okay, I'm just going to keep do what I'm doing, but do it more than I was doing it before, like spend more time doing it. But it's almost like, and I know you're not alone on this. Some fighters just kind of take that for granted, like not meaning to, but you just do more of what you were doing. But now you're realizing like, listen, I'm, I'm a full time fighter. I could work with a jujitsu specialist. I can work with a boxing special. I can work with the kickboxing

specialist. You could integrate into so many different ways. So I mean, how How has that been heading into this camp? Like knowing that now knowing that, you know, you don't have to take this for granted anymore. You could do whatever the hell you want essentially because you could be a fighter all the time. Yeah, man. And that was like my number one goal,

my number one dream is just to train full time. And that's what I wanted to. I was like, I want to try some real class black belts. I want to train some like boxing people. I want to train. I want to go do some kickboxing and some amazing people. You know, all of that. But yeah, man, it's just like, it really is just the dream come true.

And that's exactly what I was thinking too. And what you were saying, it's, exactly what I was doing is I just got really busy. I was like, oh my God, I got this extra time. I better just shadow box more. I better run more. I better put more miles and all that. And it's like, that's not what I need to be doing.

I need to gain skill. I need to gain knowledge, you know? I need to gain all this. And it's like, sure, sure I'm young enough where I can crash my body, but it's like I don't necessarily need to. And I think that's been a good lesson learned from some of these,

some of these greats out here, Max Holloway, Usma and all that stuff. Where it's like they're gaining these knowledge without completely obliterating their body, you know. And I feel like I'm one of those people who are like, let's go 100 miles an hour. I'll do, you know, whatever. And then it's like, I'll crash my body.

But it's like, okay, I got 100 different reps of 100 different things, you know, and it's like, that was dumb. You know, it was pointless of the day, you know. So yeah, yeah, man, just all around, just taking this whole entire life for granted to, or not taking this life for granted, I mean. When people ask me about memorable conversations I've had in my career, obviously there's there's some of the bigger names that come up but I always go back to something

when you and I talked about how I asked you what you felt heading into certain fights it might have been before the debut or maybe after the debut against Tim Elliott and you said something like right before you're about to walk out I hate this effing sport I hate it and it's like you have all this anxiety that kind of like just runs through you before you actually get into the cage so I'm curious you before the Kai Kar-Francer fight, you felt like you told me that you felt like it got a little bit better. It wasn't as bad as it was maybe heading into the other fight. What was that like before the Moreno fight and before the Pantosia fight? Like, what were the feelings like when you were getting ready to walk?

I felt like before the, before the Marino fight, I felt like there was no pressure, you know? The Moreno was nice because I was like, I'm coming in here last minute. I'm fighting the number one contender. I don't think anybody thinks I'm going to win this fight. I knew, I knew and maybe you knew I wasn't really able to train for that camp. So it was just like, fuck, man. I've gotten this far without training in this UFC. So it's like, let's see what the fuck happens, you know? And it's like, I don't know.

It's more of just like, all right, let's see what happens. With the Pantosia fight, I think the Pantosia fight was like almost clearly the opposite of like, I think I went in there. I went in there pretty calm. But I think I put a lot of pressure on myself. And I put a lot of pressure on myself for that fight. And it was like, I worked my house off for that camp. And like, I did a lot to get better at that camp.

And it was like, oh, man, it disappoints me to this day thinking about it. But it's just like, I don't know. I don't know. For that fact, I just felt like maybe just like one of those like, fuck, man. I hate this. Like this is one of those crazy moments that I'm like. And then Pantosia's like, you know, you're going to like it's going to be saying a little bit of the same with Bontorine. I think Bontorin's a little more calm.

But I knew Pantosia is going to be a ball of chaos the first two minutes or two rounds at least, you know, where he's coming at me 100% throwing nothing but bombs. and just, you know, I just knew I was in for a fight. And it's like, once you have that going through your head, you know, like, like when I fight these wrestlers, when I fight some dude, I know he's going to try to grab up me this whole fight. I'm like, good luck. I'm the dangerous one here, you know, like good luck trying to negate my game plan and running into knees, elbows, chokes, and trying to break your arm all the above.

And it's like, good luck. But it's like, when I have another killer across that arena and I'm looking at him, I'm like, this is going to be fucking crazy, you know? And it's like, and then I know my game plan too, especially at that time was like, I want to get fight of the night, you know. I wanted to get fight of the night. I wanted to get bonuses. And that specifically was on my mind with that fight, too.

So I knew what I was about to do. I knew what I'm pretty sure what Pantoja was about to do. So it was like entering that moment was just like fuck. And then also knowing it to be a title contender fight was also scary too. And it was just a lot of pressure. And I felt like is one of those moments where I like, I like it. And I like going into those fights. And I like having these moments in my head and in my,

I'm battling these moments in my mind. But it's like, fuck, man. that's a lot, you know, it's a lot. What are the feelings like so close to this fight? Do you feel like there's because of the two losses that there's extra pressure on you? Is that something you thrive on at this point? Like how are you feeling mentally about it now? Yeah, yeah.

I mean, for me, it's just going in there and prove them to myself, man. I work hard. I love this sport. I put fucking my whole entire heart into the sport. And it's just like, for me, it's like, I know what I earned. I know what I deserve. I know where I stand in this division. I think I'm one of the best in this division.

And I even think, like, looking back at that Pantosia fighter, I think I'm more of the skilled fighter. I just think I made some dumb mistakes that it's like, if I don't fix now, then it's going to continue happening, you know? So, I mean, I don't feel like backed up against a law, really, you know? And it's like, I don't give a shit, man. I really don't give a shit. It's just like I've always been happy. I've always lived a good life. You know, I was happy when I was fucking working overnight's training full time and stuff too.

It's like, this is my last NBA fight or whatever it is. It's like, who gives a fuck, man? Like, this is the next one of my life. the next chapter my life could be fucking dope too, you know. So I don't know. I never, I haven't really thought about it like that much pressure wise. I just want to go in there and steamroll bonturine and just kind of show like where I stand in that division too.

But it's just like, I don't know. I don't really feel that pressure at all, I guess not. I like how you said you're doing this for yourself because I feel like, yeah, you do always did it for yourself. But I feel like the proving to yourself is different this time around. You know what I mean? Like the chaos. It's more of like the controlled chaos. Like if Bonzarin comes after you

chaotically, you're ready for that But you're not ready to start crashing cars into him And that's fine. Like whatever happens this fight I feel like mentally, oh, I lost for a second Sorry, I just think Yeah, it's silly But I feel like I feel like your approach this fight is different than

Maybe even like the last four or five fights Yeah, yeah, for sure. I don't think I've, I don't know, probably most of my fights But I feel like somewhere in my head I got along the lines of just like I could break people with just cardio You know? And it's like,

And it works, like it does work, you know, but it's like, that doesn't necessarily need to be how I fight, you know. I go back and watch some of my old fights and I'm just countering people and being smart and then finding the kill, you know? And it's like, I think I had my head of my head. It's like, I just want to be a killer. I want to get this finish rate. I want to have the highest finish rate in the UFC. I want to have all that. And it's like, how do you do that besides diving head first into it?

It's like, I don't need to be that, you know, I don't need to do that. I just need to go show what I worked on and show that. I put a lot of fucking love and work into this martial art sport. And it's like, I want to show everybody. I don't want to show everybody I'm a fucking brawler, you know? I like that part about me. I do like that part about me, but I also want to show you guys like I'm, I'm a fucking full-on Eminemate fighter, you know.

I look at Sean O'Malley. Like his contender series fight, I watched the other day, he's a madman. He just goes in there. It's chaos. He's getting hit. He's hitting back. It's a freaking firefight until he actually gets the finish. But now you see him like his last few fights.

He just stays at range. He picks his shots. And even when he has a guy hurt, he's not rushing into anything. He just picks. He knows one that's. times right, lands the big shot, and the fight's over. So, I mean, it's a good lesson to learn. Like, other fighters have learned that lesson along the way, too. Yeah, yeah. And that's a great person to point out specifically because, like, he's so smart now, just methodically, picking people

apart, just staying at range. He was probably the main person I've watched as far as this camp just over and over again. I'm just taking notes and taking stuff away from him because that kid's so sophisticated, you know, and what he does is all methodical, and it's just great. It's great to watch And I like how you're saying you're not putting a lot of pressure on yourself because I feel like if there's one division where you can lose two, three, even four in a row and bounce back quickly outside of maybe the heavyweight division. It's this division. It's 125. I mean, look at the last time, but like what does have transpired from our last conversation? Brandon Moreno, who was not in the UFC like three years ago, is the freaking champion of the world, getting ready to fight Davis to Figuerreta again. Kai Kar-France, who you had a just ball of fire fight with, I mean, was slumpin.

Then he goes out, gets two finishes in a row, had no finishes in the UFC. Two finishes a row just knocks out Cody Garbrand. So I feel like things can flow and change very quickly. Yeah, my career. Think about my career. It's just, I was in top five quick, quick, man. So it's just like, yeah, you're right.

And like, that's why I don't put pressure. And I know, I know the bottom of the division is not even close to what, the guys that I'm facing right now too. It's like there's some good guys and I think there's some good guys coming up and there will be some like real threats out there. But I also know some of the bottom of the division. I'm like, okay, well, it's like I could wipe these dudes out, you know? It's like that's no issue at all.

And it's like, but I'm not fighting me. I'm fighting top five. So it's like enjoy this now, but also just know that know you're worth, know that I belong to the UFC and all that shit. And so it's like I don't really put that like comparison because I know no matter what I belong in the UFC. I know my skills belong here and I know, I think I'm one of the most, not only do I think I'm the best flyway, but I think I'm one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC in general, man.

It's like the show that I put on and all that stuff is like I think I think I put on performances and stuff. And that's really what I want to focus on this Bonatrine fight is just thinking this fight as an absolute performance. You know, I don't want to think of that as an actual fight. I want to think that as like performance and a chance to go display something that I've been working on for a long time. For four or five months work for this fight. And it's like I work specific stuff for Bonatrine. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, I want this to be a performance.

want this to be like artistic, you know, I want to be a Sean O'Malley performance, man. Sean O'Malley puts on a performance and it's artistic, you know, it's beautiful almost, you know, so I want something with that. So how do you, when you envision this fight playing out, how does it play out? Is this a fit? Do you even think about it? Like, like how you're going to finish the fight or anything like that? Or it's just, I'm going in there. I'm going to do my thing. Hands getting raised. That's all I see right now. I think about it all day, man. I think about a million. And that's all I think about. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I, I can finish this guy any million different ways man a million different ways i see his fight playing out a million different

ways for sure and it's and it kind of just plays out on how he comes you know if he's coming out super aggressive then he's going to melt himself you know i'm going to look his ass for quick quick then you know but it's like i want to pick him apart i want to be smarter and i want to gain a little bit of knowledge i want to gain time in the ufc uh octagon a little bit too is just gain some knowledge i want these thoughts to go through my head i want to listen to my corner and i want to marinate and change game plans and all the above you know i want to show maturity and i want to gain maturity in there too is i want to be a fighter that grows along fighting you know could we see brandon roeval get to a third round in a ufc fight yeah i get to the third round i'm not gonna fuck out you know

i just thought about that i'm like i don't think he's even see i don't think he's seen a third round yeah i've never once since the can he fight maybe yeah yeah any fight i've ever went to a third round and i've never won so our our uh who's the alfa champion um charles johnson yeah i beat him in a decision that's the only person i went to decision with one so it's like yeah third round if it goes third round I'm going for a fucking finish for sure I'm doing everything so I don't want to I don't vision but I just you know I just want to fill out a fight a little bit I don't want to try to finish a fight in the first 10 seconds you know I I don't know if I've been more fascinated with one of your fights

than this one after having this conversation I can't I'm very intrigued by by how you approach this fight because I yeah me a very technical Brandon Royval like like an O'Malley-esque version of yourself? Like, that's a, that's a bad man. That's a dangerous dude. Yeah, for sure. And I'm very capable of doing shit like that. It's just, like, bro, I get in them,

the bell goes off and then I'm like, oh, motherfucker. Two seconds ago, I have not done anything at all this fight. And then, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, we'll see if I can manage that. And it'll be interesting, man. I think that's all going to come with a little bit of time. Me finishing these fights and all that stuff is good.

But it's like, I need a little bit more time to gain. Like these guys, these top 10 fighters have had that, you know? And it's like, I haven't, though, you know. It's almost good that this fights at the apex. So then, I mean, there's going to be people in there, obviously, like 100 or so. But you get to hear your coaches. So if you get a little crazy, you can hear them be like, yo, yo, yo, is this, is this smart?

Or do you, is that something you're happy about or? I need to fight in front of a crowd because the way that I'm going, the way that I'm planning on going is, I'm going to be fighting in a goddamn championship the first time walking out in front of a crowd. You know what I'm saying? and that's not going to be good. It's like, I want that experience. I want to walk out in front of a crowd as soon as possible. And like, if I go out there and steamroll bontorine,

I think it would be rightfully so that I would earn the loser of the title fight, right? It was like the Moreno versus Figure 8 of whoever loses that fight, I think that would be the next fight to make, in my opinion. And that should be in front of a crowd. And after that, after I whip there, I'll go fight for the dog in front of a crowd. And, you know, we'll get used to it. You know, we'll get used to it. But it's like switching from the apex and then fighting in front of a crowd,

I think it's going to be a huge difference, especially for the last two years. It's like I've never walking from a crowd. And at this point, I'm fighting top five in the road. So it's getting wild. You think it's real? You think if Figgie wins that they'll do it again, have a fourth fight? Fuck, I probably not, man.

That's two to one, right? No, it's one to one. One one. One one. If Figgie wins, it'd be two to one, right? No, well, I mean, depending on how you personally looked at it, but it was a draw, the first fight. Oh, yeah, I always forget us a draw, huh? Oh, I just count, I count figures winning, right?

Because there's a draw because the nutshot. And, yeah, I always just count that as a figure and damn. I hope not, but who cares, man? I need to go win a fight anyways. So I'm not, it doesn't matter to me anyways. It matters for probably the winner of that Kai Kar-France fight and whatever. name is Asker Asker Rasker. Yeah. So I'm sure that'll be more important to them. And I got to go win the next fight after that. So I think I got two more wins before we can start talking title shot.

Yeah. In terms of 2022 as a whole, what kind of goals have you sort of set for yourself? Like I know you don't want to look beyond January 15th, but is there three fights, get into the top five again? Or like what's what would ultimately make 2022 a success for you? Yeah, yeah. I think just breaking that top three, man, that would be great. If I can break breaking that top three and then earn a title shot is so by the end of 2020, I want a title shot. I want someone that are like my are like just winning a title, a title contention fighter. One of those two, you know, I prefer a title shot, but you know, it's not a perfect rule. So we'll see. And as far as it goes to more maturity as a man, just more maturity as like not only a man like as a fighter, but like as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, as a, a man in there too and just taking these little life lessons as fighting and these little life lessons as life and just kind of mixing them between each other you know and just growing all together. So I think 2022 is just a year of growth for me. And for me, it's just like a lot of focus.

I think it's a lot of proper focus, I guess. And it's really what I need. Fernandez still hanging out at Factory X? Yeah, me and him are sitting out front of Factory X. We're talking about it because it's like super cold in Colorado. And like even like it's sunny, like it'll be sunny, but it's still freezing outside. It's like we have not been outside on or outside in general. In days, it's just like as soon as you go outside, you're just looking to get inside right off the back, you know, it's just cold.

So we're sitting outside while it's freezing outside today outside the gym, just hanging out doing nothing. But I don't know, he's so interesting, man. That kid is, I'm so glad that he's a part of our team because every time he talks, it's just, we all just shut up and listen, you know. So it's cool to have him around. Yes, he's a very interesting cat, no doubt about that. So I appreciate the time. It's always good catching up with you. I feel like it's almost like an episode of the Joe Rogan experience when you and I talk.

We dive into all these different things about the mental. Because I feel like you bring up the fascinate, like the intrigue and like the mental stability of a fighter better than anybody that I could talk to. Like I feel like you're so open and honest about it. Yeah, yeah. I feel like today, it's a cool thing about to have Alex around. He's another person's very vocal about his thoughts and stuff. And like, at least me and him, but we spend a lot of time to guess

to bounce them around each other. And it's like, I don't know, man. Balancing these thoughts and like sometimes is just so weird. Like, it's just such a weird, like, I don't know. So I'm glad to have you to bounce off too. Yeah, I guess I'm the media therapist here. Whatever. Whatever I get that.

Well, it's always great catch up with you. Excited to see this fight with Marjira Bontorina, especially with everything you've told me about the preparation and trying to kind of slow things down. and the artistry that is Brandon Royval. So I'm very much looking forward to it. Happy New Year, my man, and hopefully you get a victory, and you can enjoy an actual Christmas dinner on January 16th.

Very doubt. Thank you, EAP Glass. My sponsors, man. They made life easy for me, man. The last couple of years has been great. So I can appreciate EAP Glass, the best glass or together. Thank you. Always great.

Catching up with Brennan Royval, the Rod Dog. I know that's A.K's favorite nickname in M.A., my best friend, but what an opportunity he has to get back on track. And I don't know if I've ever been more interested. I mean, Brandon Royval is must-watch TV if you're a fight fan. But seeing him try to calm down the chaos is going to be really, really interesting. I can't wait to see it.

I really can't wait to see it coming up next Saturday, January 15th. Of course, that card is headlined by Calvin Cater, taking on Giga-Chicaze, big fight at 145 pounds. Calvin Cater looking to get back on track. He could earn himself a title shot. If he is victorious over Calvin Cater, that's going to be a really good fight. And then big thank you to Chey and Velismas. I have no idea what 2022 is going to look like.

And I probably know about as much as she does right now. It's just a crazy story. When this is all able to come out, I don't even know if I want to know what's happening. but I mean it's just it's just wild stuff this world was crazy she's basically had to like disappear leave the country

and no one knows where she's at it's life just shouldn't be that way so hopefully everything can turn out better for her hopefully we can see her back in the States everything's cool and hopefully we can see her back doing what she loves to do that is competing inside the Octagon so that's it

thank you for checking out the program we got a lot of going on in the NBA Fighting Podcasting Network now that the holiday season is behind us. If you missed it, the first ranking show of the year is on the network. What a conversation that was had between Sean Al Shadi and A.K. Lee and then myself and Jed Mishu jumped in to give some rankings predictions, talk about some big names that are no longer in the rankings and discuss whether or not they could find themselves back in the NBA fighting rankings.

So really good stuff. between the links finale, which has a little bit of a curveball thrown in, going live 3 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, Jed Mishu taking on A.K. Lee. Not Phoenix Carnivali, but A.K. Lee. And a lot of people felt that A.K. beat Phoenix in the semifinals. She got the nod. But unfortunately, the schedule is just a little too crazy for her right now. So A.K. Lee is going to have the chance to play Daniel Cormier as the alternate. And because, a champion. I mean, this is the stuff that sports dreams are made of right here. So very excited for that. And next week, back at it with preview shows and post-fight shows and all sorts of craziness.

So get excited, MMA fans. But until then, everybody, thank you for checking up the show once again. I am Mike Heck. Have a great rest of the week. We'll see you back here next week on, oh yeah, by the way, I forgot. I teed this in the beginning. Big tunes is going to be on the show next week. Ben Parrish back in the Belotor Cade January 29th. We'll also talk to Syed Yucb, Kokramanoff, getting ready to fight Brian Kelleher next Saturday as well. So the return of big tune on the show.

But that's next week. We'll see you then on We Got Next.