MMA Fighting - What the Heck: Episode 10 | Sean O'Malley, Brian Kelleher, Roosevelt Roberts & Brandon Royval

Episode Date: June 4, 2020

Check out episode 10 of What the Heck with Mike Heck on MMA Fighting. This week, Mike chats with UFC flyweight Brandon Royval (7:18) to recap his 'Fight of the Night' winning submission victory over Tim Elliott in his promotional debut at UFC on ESPN 9. UFC bantamweight Brian Kelleher (32:00) previews his short notice 145-pound fight with Cody Stamann this Saturday at UFC 250, being inspired by Jorge Masvidal's 2019 run, and hoping a fight with Sean O'Malley can come next with a win. O'Malley (52:45) then joins the show to discuss his bantamweight fight with Eddie Wineland at UFC 250, his current contract status, and where he stands in one of the deepest divisions in the UFC. Finally, UFC lightweight Roosevelt Roberts (1:06:10) returns to the show to recap his submission win over Brok Weaver at UFC on ESPN 9 and what is next after the best performance of his career this past weekend.  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. What the Heck with Mike Heck on MMAfighting.com. Now here is your host, Mike Heck. What the heck? Hello there, everybody. Welcome to a brand new edition of What the Heck on MAAfighting.com. My name is Mike Heck. Thanks for having us on, especially during such a chaotic week here in the United States and around the world.

And I wanted to give a quick shout out to everyone that's been taking the streets. that have been protesting peacefully, fighting the good fight, standing up for their communities, and also because I do know quite a few of them personally and friends with several as well. Here's to all the police officers out there doing their damn thing,

but more importantly, the ones that are doing it right. That's what that shout out goes for because, and I'm not comparing and contrasting, being a member of the MMA media here in Command Center 1.0, it is nothing. being a police officer, especially right now during these crazy times, not in any way, shape, or form. So if you think I'm trying to compare the two, it's not the case at all.

But sometimes there's a lot of negativity, and sometimes there's things that are done completely wrong, and it's important that not everybody get painted with the same brush, whether it's with MMA media, police officers, firefighters, doctors, lawyers, plumbers, lock, and Smiths, whatever business or industry that people are aligned in. And at the end of the day, at least this is how I feel and I can't put myself in the shoes of some of the victims and their families and all that stuff. But in the end, I hope everybody can grow from this. We can learn about each other. We can all come together, be better, and move forward because that's what life is all about, right? That's what I try to teach my seven-year-old because he has no idea what's

going on. He just hears that there's some bad stuff happening on the streets and around the country and it's kind of hard to have that conversation with him. But all I keep telling him is I throw the MMA cliche out there. And I say, Grayson, you know, just like fighters say in the gym, when they're punching the bag, all you can do is try to get 1% better every day. So I did want to start with that. I know it's tough to transition from everything going on in the world, but I wanted to give a quick shout out to everybody that's doing everything right out there, and please stay safe and try to stay as positive we can. I know it's pretty tough out there. Before we run down the lineup, I wanted to give a big shout out to all of you guys who

checked up the debut episode of Between the Links on Tuesday, and congratulations to Jose Youngs for getting the win over Alex K. Lee. And in regards to the program, I'm the first one to tell you it wasn't perfect. It will get better. We will figure out more pieces to add to it over the next couple of weeks. I make sure I read the comments. I don't read them all the time, but when I debut a show like Between the Length,

I try to read the comments and kind of see what you guys are coming from because it's not perfect. We will get it there, though, and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that we get it there. The logistics are going to change. This room that I'm in right now, that's going to change. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that already. So we're trying to start piecing things together.

And we're going to make everything look and sound and just feel a lot better. But obviously, we've had a crazy year with COVID-19. And, you know, it's not like I can go and drive to a studio and do the show. We're going to try to make the studio happen here at my house here in Western Massachusetts. So we're going to put all that together. I promise you, we're in the midst of working on a whole bunch of different things, including another show that we're going to try to set. up for major fight cards. So stay tuned for that. We're working for you. I promise that.

And with all that, UFC on ESPN-9 is officially in the books. What a fun event that was. But of course, the big star, as you all know by now, Gilbert Burns picks up a big win over Tyron Woodley. He is now the number one ranked welterweight in the UFC. And for those wondering, because people have asked, yes, I did try to get Gilbert back on the show. He agreed to do it for some reason, his team, his manager, they said they wanted to hold off on any interviews or media for the time being. So there you go. I did try. I've been interviewing Gilbert for quite some time now. I'm very happy for him and hopefully we can get him on the show maybe next week or the week after because he deserves to get some shine after that big win on Saturday against Tyron Woodley.

But we do have a full slate of guest this week. Some other winners from UFC Vegas last weekend will be on the show and others who will compete this Saturday at UFC 250. Yes, the UFC is back on pay-per-view headlined by Amanda Nunes, defending her women's featherweight title against the number one contender Felicia Spencer. But let's run down the lineup for this week, closing us out, jumping on for the second week in row. This has never happened in the history of the show. One of the big winners from this past weekend's event, Roosevelt Roberts returns. He picked up an impressive submission win over Brock Weaver, and maybe, just maybe, we will get him to tell us who he actually wanted to call out after that win. He ended up calling on Matt Rivola.

If you listened to his interview last week, he said he was going to call somebody else out. That was not Matt Robola. Didn't happen. So we'll see if we can get some answers with the go-getta later on in the program. Shot O'Malley returns to action this Saturday at UFC 250, taking on Eddie Winland. Sugar Sean's going to join us. It happened very good. quickly getting this interview scheduled. Pretty much last minute, we had been talking back and forth for both three or four days, trying to figure out of time. And finally, Sean hit me up and said, I'm ready to go in like a couple minutes. We made it happen. We were able to get him on for around 10 or 15 minutes or so. Obviously, a very busy man during fight week. You'll hear that interview

with Sean O'Malley coming up a little bit later on in the show. Also, returning on Saturday, Brian Kelleher. He takes on Cody Stamen at UFC 250 in a featherweight boat. I will say this. Cody was also supposed to join the show this week, but we weren't able to make it happen, as you may have heard, or seen by now. Cody lost his little brother late last week, so he'll be fighting with a very heavy heart on Saturday,

and we obviously here at M.A. fighting on the center of condolences to Cody and the entire Stamen family. I cannot imagine what he's going through, having a little brother myself. We're going to talk to his opponent, Brian Kelleher, who is on a roll right now. We'll check in with Boom in around 25 minutes or so. we're going to kick things off with Brandon Roy Val, who had a successful UFC debut. He picked up a second round submission win over Tim Elliott this past Saturday.

It was a hell of a debut for the former LFA champion, although for some reason, Brandon didn't seem to think so. Let's get his thoughts around five or so days later after his big win. Right now, let's check in with the raw dog on what the heck. All right, we have one of the big winners from Saturday nights, UFC on ESPN 9 event in Las Vegas. He picked up a second round submission win over Tim Elliott in the fight of the night, a promotional debut win, a finish, and an extra 50 Gs for Brandon Roy Val, who was kind enough to join us.

Brandon, how are you, sir? I'm doing good, man. You're self? I'm doing great. I have to tell you, man, I know from having conversations with you in the past that you're a guy who's very hard on himself, you're very self-critical, but I didn't really know to what extent that was until after that fight on Saturday night and you were speaking with Daniel Cormier.

So my first question is, have you? you gone back and watched the fight? And if so, do you still, like, have the same disappointment about it? Yeah. Yeah, I haven't went back in. Yeah, I was still a little, like, I don't know. Like, I don't know. Yeah. Yeah, kind of, honestly. Like, I don't like watching it at all. Why? Like, I don't understand. I feel like, I don't know. I'm like, I guess maybe you could feel different. Like, you might feel different about it. But like, I feel like I went out there and got the shit kicked out of me until he got tired, you know, like, I guess we're here is. it sounds like I feel like I went out there, got manhandled for seven minutes straight, and then

like I could feel him getting tired. Like, like, so I think statistically speaking, uh, any fight that I haven't like went like first, just like like any fight that I've went to like my corner, I've lost like almost everyone except for like two. So every time that like I've ever went back to my corner between the first and second round I've lost. That was the first time I went back to my corner between the first and second round. I'm like, there's no way I'm going to lose this fight. I could feel him. Like I could feel him. Like I could feel him. I could hear I hear him breathing heavy. Like, I could hear him getting tired and stuff.

So in my head, like, I wasn't that, I wasn't tired at all, really. So I could feel them getting tired. But, like, even the second round, man, I feel like I started off. I got taken down a bunch of more times. And like, like, eventually, yeah, he did get tired and gas out. But, like, I don't know, man. I feel like they're like, I don't know. Like, Asker Ashcroft wasn't getting taken down like that the whole time.

You know what I'm saying? Like, ask you ask for up when he was fighting Tim Allen, like, he wasn't getting taken down like that the whole entire time. Like, I don't know. So when you compare it to, like, when you're trying to feel like, think about like compare yourself against the best in the vision like that wasn't enough you know that didn't cut it really and like I don't know how I escaped away with the 50,000 I think I got some pity points out there but like I don't know I didn't feel like that was a performance that I was super

proud of or like a performance that made me deserve that like that I deserved that 50,000 that night so I don't know I think I talked straight before that before the fight and my intentions would go out there and win some money man and go out there and make a show like that was like my big intentions. I wanted to go out there and try to change my life, you know, so when that battle wrong, or like when he tapped out, like, I didn't feel like I didn't, you know, I felt like I just got the shit kicked out of me until he gassed out. Here's, here's what's interesting thing about the, the Asker Ascarat fight. I don't know if you caught my interview with Tim Elliott. He told a story about that fight because I asked what he took away from it. And he said that in that first

round, when he got absolutely drilled, he doesn't remember the rest of the fight. So when he actually went back and watched it, like, it was a whole different fight for him. He doesn't remember the second or third round. So, like, as he goes back, as he went back and watched it, he was like, oh, if I actually took him down, I probably would have won the fight, but he doesn't remember any of it. Does that make you feel any better about it? I don't know, man. I guess not really.

But, like, I mean, I guess maybe, like, I don't know. I'm glad it ended the second round, but, like, I guess that's all I can really take into it, you know, but I'm glad I got to finish. And I'm glad that I got paid because that was fucking a generous offer from Dana White, like, you know, but I don't know. like I said. Do you take solace in the fact that you, that you took his best and were able to to overcome it all to get the finish? Because like to me, it seemed like that that was part of the game plan. You're going to let him just kind of go after you and exert all that energy. And it

seemed like that's how it seemed to me like watching it that's how the fight was supposed to play out. Like that was the game plan heading in. But you're saying that it wasn't the game plan at all. You just made a look at that way. I did not want to get put on my back. I just wanted to go dominate. You know what I'm saying? And like, yeah, no, definitely not part of the game plan. And, like, it was weird. Like, I feel like, like, as the round-sider came on, like, or, like, later on in the first round, it kind of became more of the game plan. I was like, I kind of felt like he couldn't keep up that. Like, I kind of felt that, like, I could hear him breathing.

And, like, I knew he was exerted a lot of energy. But I didn't know, like, like, I also knew, like, I could also, like, feel like he wasn't being able to sustain it, you know? I could also, like, feel him breathing a little bit heavier and give me little positions that he probably wouldn't give me otherwise, you know? So, I mean, and then, like, I also kind of like the fact that I was in bad situations in the UFC already. So, like, I like that a little bit where it's like I can kind of take that home. Because there's been a lot of fights where I've been touched, really. Like, I went through some fights where, like, I probably didn't even get punched the fight. Like, so I like the fact that, like, he was on top of me throwing, like, 100 punches to my head at a time and, like, throwing a bunch of punches and, like, made me work and made me super uncomfortable in there.

And I had to deal with it. I don't know what's going to be like with the whole entire crowd. But that being said, that being, like, that being alone, like, it wasn't foreign to me. And it wasn't as, like, scary as I thought it was going to be as, like, dealing with the, dealing with, I don't know, adversity in there, you know. Is that almost better, though, like for the long term? Because you could have gone out there and, you know, submitted them in 25 seconds like you did in your last fight, but you wouldn't have learned the lessons that you learned either. So it's almost, like, weigh out a little bit better in your favor that in the long term growth of your career and the evolution of it, that you got to experience. experience a fight like that as opposed to just finishing it really quickly?

Yeah, absolutely. I think that is a good point. Like, I think cage experiences a lot, and it's a lot of things that I'm having to deal with. I've had a lot of numerous fights in under a minute. So, like, I think it just case is something that I really need to, like, get more comfortable with and get more comfortable in there because I have a hard time walking into that cage sometimes.

And, yeah, that was one of those times where I walked in and I did, like, like, I mean, when I walked in, I was comfortable. Once I was, like, circling around and I was, like, it was me and him locked. there I was like all right well like I'm in it now like you know like there's no turning back like that walks that cage is always like a really hard walk for me so uh I don't know I got to get more comfortable with that I think I need to do a lot better at handing my emotions and all that stuff so I don't know I think I'd be like get more comfortable as a fighter and I don't want to learn these lessons in the UFC I want to already pass that in the UFC where I'm coming is like

where I'm comfortable so I don't know I kind of felt like a little bit more like I felt that like cage difference and like that like experience you know he walked around look so comfortable across the cage and like me like i don't know man i felt like i didn't belong there you know what i'm saying like i was like looking around and i'm like i can't believe i'm here like don't fuck this one up man like that was going on my head you know what i'm saying like i don't want to fuck this one up like i don't know so the octagon jitters that jo rogan talks about all the time did you did you feel those once you got into the cage and looked across at tim i mean i don't know if i felt it any like less than I already do.

Like, I already just like, I'm sorry. Like, I already like, right before a fight, man, I swear on my life. I was just like, I hate this fucking sport. Like, I don't know. Like, the whole entire time, like, right before I'm about to walk out. I'm like, I hate everything about this. I don't want anything to do with the sport anymore. Like, you know, like, and then you win and then you're like, give me a fight tomorrow.

Like, but it's like, it's like so stupid. But like, I don't know. Like, at the time, like, when I was walking out there, I like, turn to my coach. I'm like, bro, I hate this sport. Like, I hate doing this so much. Like, I can't believe we do. I can't even if I do this. Like, every time I think that, I'm like, what I should have finished college?

Like, what am I doing? Like, I don't know. The fight was wild. It was like everything I expected it to be. Obviously, it wasn't what you expected to be, but you scrambled, he scrambled. It was what most people who have been familiar with the both of you guys hoped it would be. It was like one of those kinds of fights. Did anything surprise you at all in that fight?

Like, did anything Tim brought to you actually surprise you? I mean, I guess, like, besides, besides him shooting in like the first two seconds, like I thought he'd feel out like striking a little bit. I kind of thought that's how he was going to go. Like he was going to feel out striking a little bit. I didn't know the moment of the Valley Road like run. He was going to be on my ass, you know?

Like that was like, and I don't even know why that would surprise me. Like I had a gym, like I don't know why that would surprise me. But it was a little shocking to me that like, all right, we're like, dance around for four seconds. I go like, Joe something next to you know he's already like, I'm on the ground. I get back up and then I'm on the ground again and I get back up. So it was like, I don't know why I would be surprised by that,

especially with him all yet. but like it shocked me a little bit like that we didn't like have a little bit of like all right we're going to throw a jab back and forth a little bit let me measure my distance he was not having any of that on me and just put me right out of the ground and uh right after that and just kind of made me uncomfortable from the very get-go and uh i think that's kind of probably what he should have did against me i thought it was a smart move right at the bat and if he could just think that pace i don't know if you and i'd be having the same conversation right now you know what was the conversation like between the first and second

rounds because a lot of like you see fighters in the position that you were in that first round that just can can constantly keep getting taken down and take it down they can't really you know take a breath or settle at all and they just they just quit they just give up and they just fold and we see the fight sort of continue like if you fight a guy like marab de wallish willie marab can do that to guys like all day long oh yeah yeah you know what was that what was that conversation like for you that 35er yeah rob yeah holy shit man i would hate to fight that's like serious matchup for me alive for me I think my coach is kind of told me to calm down like like you're like I was throwing away every time I had a chance like throw a punch I was trying to murder him with it you know what I'm saying and so my coach is like calm down you're getting taken down because you're committed to every goddamn punch that that is like in your way like every chance I've tried to name in the face and like I was trying to finish a fight a little bit too much you know and I think it was a little bit evident I think it was a play it to me getting taken down a little bit but also my coach looked at me and like I can actually hear and say it out loud and like I

one of my coaches, I could hear him say it out loud where it's like, he's gas, look at him. Like there's nothing, like, there's nothing left. Like he gave you, you took everything he had is kind of what they're saying. And I think that was right too. It's like I took his worst at that time. Like I took everything you had. We survived it. And now it was like my turn to kind of turn it on.

And I already knew after that first round. After that first round, I knew I was going to win. Like I thought super confident I was going to win. But, yeah. So I was just feeling like the energy turn. You know what I'm saying? Like I get to feel like him getting a little. more tired, him breathing a little deeper.

And like, for some reason, man, I wasn't gassed out at all. So I was super stoked about that situation going into it. But yeah, as far as my coach, it was a lot of just like, calm down. You're trying to kill them when you're on the feet. And that's why you're getting taken down. And I don't know if I listened to it because I think immediately as soon as we started scrapped with like scrapping again, I was trying to fucking throw as hard as I could again. So I don't know.

Even though on Saturday night at the time, you didn't feel all that great about the performance. How did it feel to get the submission, to get the tap in your first UFC fight like that? Would you say, would you describe it as like excited or was it more like relief that you're just like, oh, thank God I won this fight? It's probably a little more relief, honestly. I think honestly, I was a little bit of like, all right, well, at least we're done with this. I'm going to take whatever I like the little I earned because I didn't think I was going to get the bonus at all. So I was like, I'm going to take the check I earned and just go right back to fucking reinvesting it kind of in myself and trying to get better from this situation. because I knew I wasn't happy with my performance right up with that.

And I was happy that I could get the win. And I was happy that I was going to just get cut from the UFC right away, man. I didn't want to just go in and lose a couple of fights and then be out, you know? So getting a win over Tim L. It was a great way. I didn't gain fans, man. So that was like a real cool part about that. It's like I gained fans from this whole experience.

I didn't, I wanted it. I want that. You want to go game fans. You want to go impress people. But like, I don't know, man. I don't think anybody wanted to go to go. work on Monday and they felt that. Now, there's a couple of questions that everybody seemed to be asking on Saturday night before

and even after the flight, one of which was about the nickname, the Rod Dog nickname. Like, social media for some reason loves that nickname and it was a big talking point. And you and I have talked a few times at this point. I don't think we ever got into where the nickname came from, but people want to know, where did it come from? Oh, yeah. So, you know, like, nicknames are earned. No, I'm just kidding.

Oh, God. So one time, one time, like, it's like probably back when I was an amateur, my buddy and his friend were like drunk in the crowd and his roommate was like screaming raw dog. And it just kind of carried over a little bit. And it was like a big joke for years. Like we're like like, yeah, Brandon Raw Dog grow up. And then one time for World Series fighting, they're like, hey, like you might fight on TV. Because the role was like for World Series is it they had one extra slot on the card. And if you could go out there and finish a fight or impress somebody that they're going to let you be on that TV card.

So my whole main goal was to go on that TV card. And they're like, well, go into Rod Dog and see if they say it on TV, if you can do it. So sure enough, I knocked this kid out and they got put on that TV slot. And they said Brent Rod Dog, Royvall, like right before. And I think for me, like, any time they're like the announcer is like, Brandon, Radha, Royvo. I'm like, I'm going chaotic in my head, man. So just any chance I can get to like laugh to myself and not take the moment so serious, I think helps me out.

So it's not only just a roll off the tongue a little bit, but like it's just kind of it's funny it's a good way to calm myself down and uh i don't know yeah i like that it's kind of funny nickname now yeah for sure it caught a lot of people's attention the other thing in regards to our last interview and what you said after the fight on the broadcast for you it's not just about winning fights it's not just about getting to the ufc it's about changing your life it's about being able to say goodbye to being a full-time employee and saying hello to being a full-time fighter you said getting a bonus would do the trick and if you got one you would be able to call your bosses at your job and give your two weeks notice like a professional.

So have you had that conversation yet? Has the notice been officially put in? Yeah, I put my two weeks in today. You did today? Yeah, I've been working until I was 15 years old. I was so uncomfortable with it. And I think they saw it coming anyways because we all like watch the fight. But like, uh, I kind of just like, talk to them on that I can't like, if you guys can go part time,

because like me and my bosses get along really well, like it's a job that I'm not trying to be dushy, but I'm, like, super good at, like, I can relate to some of the kids. I can, I know how to speak to the kids. I know how to, like, kind of mind my manners. And, of course, comes to worse. I know that, like, they're not punking me around, you know what I'm saying? Like, they're all, like, a little bit. There's always that, like, a little bit of, like, all right, he knows how to fight.

Like, you can't just go punch him in the face, you know? So, I have a little bit of that, like, that backdrop. So, like, I play really well into that job, man. That job, like, fits me so perfectly. So, uh, they're trying to work with me a little bit, but all that they wanted me to work was going to interfere with my schedule. And I know that they can't just go out there and make like a special schedule for me or any special request for me. So I kind of knew that it was going to have to lead to me quitting the job long term.

But like I said, you know I work at a juvenile extraction facility. But now I can kind of go back there and do what I really want to do is I'm going to go back there as a mentor. And I can go back there and mentor some of the kids and just go back there and spend some time. Like I said, I got to know a lot of these kids really well. I know a lot of their backstories, a lot of, like, you know, you get to know these kids. And it'd be hard for me to, like, just kind of, like, one day be in there and then turned away. It was weird because, like, when I walked in there, because I went in last night. And when I saw him in last night, they're like, I didn't think you're ever going to come back.

I thought you're just gone. And I was like, I'm not going to not say bye to you guys. Like, we spent, like, years with, some of them I spent years with, you know, I spent two years, like, arguing with them, get along with them, like, having our days. You know what I'm saying? but like I spent years like getting to know them in a sense, you know. So how does it feel now that you, uh, you put that notice in? Is it surreal? Yeah, it's a real, man, but it's a, it's a, you know what, man, I'd be like, to me, like,

I wasn't going to, like, I was hesitant to do it because you owe your manager so much money, you owe your cornerman so much money and like, you end up with a certain amount after taxes, but that would be so dumb not to just reinvest it into myself and into my time. And like, for me, like, for me, like, I don't, I don't know if you had heard like my work schedule, but like, I got off at 8.30 a day of practice, because I didn't go to practice today because I didn't go to practice today because I'd take a little bit of time off this week off. And if there's a normal day of practice, I would be, get off at 8.30, I'd go right back to the gym at 9 o'clock. I get out of the gym at 12 o'clock. The COVID thing's going on.

So I would just left like 15 minutes ago at my gym. And I'd sleep for probably like four hours if I could. I would probably make something to eat somewhere along the process or whatever. and then I have to be right back and leave my house at 4.30 to go back to the gym until 5 to 8 o'clock. So like I said, and then I got to get ready for work because I start working at 10 p.m. that night. So I don't know. It's a hard lifestyle to sustain. And like I love this sport so much. I'm not going to miss any of my practices, you know. And I don't think my coach would let me miss any of practices. But that being said is like I'm not going to sell myself short, especially at this point.

And like now start dogging, especially like when the contender series is coming up. Like I was thinking about it. I'm like, damn, like I just want to sleep in. Like I want to do a couple hours of extra sleep. Like it would be worth it. And like, put in my head, I'm like, why am I going to sell myself short now? Like, I've been busting my ass this whole entire time, hardly sleeping and doing whatever I could get done to like make all these practices. And like, I was like, why could I, why would I sell myself short now, you know? So.

Yeah, you throw all these things out in the universe. And now that they happened, you got to go through with them, right? Yeah, exactly, man. So did you, I know you're disappointed after the fight, but did you go back and watch the rest of of the card at all? A little bit, yeah. I sat back and watched it with my team once we got to the hotel.

So, I mean, there was a lot of debate when we sort of alluded to this on whether your fight with Tim or the Quarantillo versus Carlisle fight should have been fight of the night. Dana White was conflicted when he spoke with the media. He was like, I've never heard him say,

I want to get your opinion on something because he threw out your fight and he thought it was like a much better tactical fight than Carlisle and Quarntilla was, but you're a pretty honest guy. Were you surprised that you guys got the fight of the night after watching Billy Cue?

in Spike fight? Oh, yeah, bro, I wasn't going crazy when Homeboy got up and like walked to his corner and then you got up and fucking socked his ass

I was like, oh shit, like I can't like I didn't even like so, so I didn't even think of myself as like fight a day like the end of the night I wasn't even thinking

they would announce my name for any of that stuff so it wasn't even going through my head so but like that fight was a great one. I thought Gilbert Burns had a great fight I thought Gilbert Burns

looked like Gilbert Burns like so great man. Um, so I don't know. Like, I definitely give them the notch. I feel like I played a little bit on the heartstrings. I didn't want, I don't want it like, like, it to come off that way. For me, it was more like I was more disappointed myself. Like, I didn't earn it.

Like, that's what I felt more like. So it wasn't like I was like begging for $50,000 at all. Like that's not the case. It was more like I just feel like I didn't earn it. And like that I was more than disappointed within myself, you know what I'm saying. So. But that being said, yeah, I thought they did a great job, man. And I was so happy to hear that they're getting a kick back because, like I said, I felt bad.

And I felt like I robbed them a little bit. It was just like a, I don't know, just being an emotional person, you know. It was funny because on social media, especially on Twitter after you spoke with D.C., everyone's like, oh, my God, what does this guy do for a living? Does he work for NASA? Is he part of the FBI? Like, no one really knew. So it was pretty funny to see how they reacted.

But they were all like super pumped when you got the bonus. One thing that is getting overlooked from that card is your teammate, Chris Gutierrez, because it was the first fight of the night. he literally kicked off the card with the TKO, the leg kick TKO. And I was told when you were fighting, he was back speaking with the media and he was going crazy back there as you were putting Tim Elliott away. How much of a boost was Chris's performance heading into your fight? Did you get a chance to watch that before you made your walk? Yeah, I think I was back there with one of my coaches and we said, fuck this warm. Like, I would even warm up really before the fight.

It was like, I'm going to watch Chris fight. Like that's all there is to it, man. And like, it was like, we both kind of just agreed on like, oh, we'll get a little bit of a late warmup. And like, we kind of just canceled the typical warmup that you get before a fight. And I sat back and just watched him fight, man. And I was so happy and just so inspired by him, man, because it was such a great performance. He got hit like two times at home entire fight, man. It was great, man.

And like, from the very get-go, like, the first leg kick, I already knew what's going to happen. As soon as he landed that late kick, it does it to us too, man. You kick so hard. He comes from like a soccer background. he has such a hard leg kick and he like we like as far as cat kicks go in our gym man he's the best at it he's by far the best at it and the moment he landed that leg kick and we kind of had in our head our head that guy's a little bit more of boxing be a little bit heavy on the front foot and the moment it started happening I was like it's over like the second leg kick and we already

knew it's going to be over by leg kicks or at least like that that was going to be a long determining factor like we didn't know how it's going to end but it was all going to be set up from that lake kick yeah the whole the whole second round was like oh one more leg kick and the ref's going to stop it. One more leg kick and the rep's going to stop it. And you almost just felt bad. You wanted the refth to come in there and just put Vince out of his misery. But what a great performance from Chris. When do you want to return after that victory? Like you're already in the top 15. You're ranked number 11 in the flyweight division. And as soon as I saw the rankings, I looked right above you. It's a name that sticks out to you because he had a lot of kind words after

your LFA title when Matt Schnell is ranked one spot above you. It seems like it's almost meant to be since he would love to share the cage with you after watching that LFA fight. And and you had some good things to say about him. Is that what you're looking at opponent-wise, or does someone else stick out to you? I really don't have, like, anybody specific. My man, because, like, I think right off the bat, I was, like, calling way too top people out every chance I got.

But, uh, I don't know. I don't have anyone specific. I really just appreciate everything Matt's now. Like, I feel like Matt Snell gave me a little boost in my career. And, like, I don't know if you know who Chaskall is, but he was tweeted for me to get a bonus, man. I feel like he had a big part of, like, I don't know. Like I said, I don't know.

I just appreciate him as a person. and I wouldn't want to do anything that would impend his career, like push back his career. But like I get it's a fight game and it's all good for both of us. A fight would be good for both of us. And like, I don't know. I really have no way to call out right now. I got to do a little bit more research and just like seeing where I'm at

because I don't know if I'm calling people out and it's above my like pay or it's below like I don't know, above my pay grade and like all that stuff. You know what I'm saying where it's like I don't know if I'm in the right like realm to be calling some of these people out. So I'll slow my roll, pop my brakes a little bit and just kind of see. Let the chips fall where they may, you know what I'm saying? So I'll buy anybody. Looking over the five division, man, I'll literally fight anybody in that division right now.

I'm not, like, too afraid of any of the matchups there. I think some were to be harder than some than others. But that being said, I don't mind any of those matchups for me. Time frame-wise, you know, I know you're going to take this week off. But when are you thinking sometime this summer? You want to take a couple months and smell the rose a little bit and sort of catch up with everything that's happened to you? I'm still like a little bit like where, I don't know,

man, I feel like I just need to get better. Like I feel like I have a couple like a good time to like a good like I don't know. I think the U.S. is going to be pushing fights left and right. So I kind of want to like depending on who I get, I can take him right away. As far as right now, I want to get better, man. I want to get like super good and I want to just be dialed in completely, man. I have an opportunity of a lifetime to go make this my full time job.

And now that this can't be my full time job, I need to start making these big improvements because I'm not, I'm already in the top 11, like top 11. like top 11 you said that's crazy man i'm not going to be fighting any bum like and i'm in the ufc no matter what i'm not fighting any easy fights like i need to go make some drastic improvements to set up right myself from the herd you know brandon congratulations on the win man i know that you were very hard on yourself after the win and even a little bit today but based on the response on social media a place that can be very dark and very negative the uh the fight and the performance was praised pretty much universally so and that's no easy feat in fighting these days uh appreciate the

very much, man. I cannot wait to see what's next for you. I'm very happy for the win, man. Congratulations. Great stuff right there from Brandon Roy Val coming off a big win in his UFC debut and picking up an extra $50,000 to boot. People wanted to hear about the nickname. You got your answer. And now we found out that he's professionally putting in his two weeks notice so he can become a full-time fighter. So that's great stuff for Brandon Roy Val. As we move ahead to someone who has been quite familiar with bonus money in 2020. He's done it twice already, looking to make it three straight. Brian Kelleher is going to take on Cody Stamen this Saturday night at UFC 250.

Let's check in with Boom right now on What the Heck. All right. We move ahead to our next guest. He's been on the A-side live chat. We did some bonus interview content here on the website, but he's making his what the heck debut ahead of his big fight with Cody Stamen this Saturday night at UFC 250. It's boom o'clock once again with Brexie. Brian Kelleher. Brian, how are you, sir?

What the heck took you so long? Boom, baby. What's going on? I'll stop booking stuff last minute. We'll get you on here. You know, we'll schedule things out normal, but you just keep jumping into these fights, man. I know, I know. It's crazy, quick turnarounds these days. I know. It's just that chaotic time they were in. So we're just days away from this fight in Las Vegas. Huge opportunity for you against the top 15 Bannamway back up in the quarantine division. Does it just feel like one long fight camp right now? Like, does it even feel like you've had a fight in between? No, yeah, it exactly feels like that because, like, you know, I just kept things rolling after that last fight.

You know, everything, you know, with the weight and the momentum and coming off a big victory. Like, I feel amazing. I love staying active and keeping momentum. And, you know, I had a vision this year. Like, I wanted to fight at least like three, four times. And now it's looking like it might even be more than that. So I'm happy. You're going to have to sign a new contract by like July at this point.

Yeah, pretty much. I just signed one, too. And I'm already on my way to sign another one. Well, that's good. We're keeping you nice and active and busy. But your last fight, you had a fight of a night winning finish of a very tough Hunter Azure in Jacksonville a couple weeks ago. It was a very fun fight to watch. It was back and forth. Hunter spent a lot of time on the feet with you, which was a little bit surprising to me. Were you surprised that was how the fight played out with the guy that's known for mostly his strong wrestling game?

You know, I wasn't too surprised because I noticed in his last couple of fights he was kind of falling in love with the striking a little bit. you know, his fight before with Brad Catona. It seemed like Catona was enforcing wrestling more than he was. So I kind of went off of that. And I think he tried to kind of bring that Lindaker effect to me. I think that was kind of his plan to come forward, put a lot of pressure on me, throw heavy hooks and try to take me out.

So I kind of expected that, but I knew his wrestling was in his back pocket. I just wasn't sure if he was going to try to shoot from the outside. I haven't seen him do it much in the Octagon. Did you feel like that first round was going to be just more of a process for you to see what his game plan was going to be. I mean, I know a lot of times that's how fight sort of play out, but, you know, it seemed to me like he was landing with some volume quite a bit. You were landing as well picking your shots, but, you know, I would think that the way that the fight played out, you just take kind of, kind of take those first five minutes to sort of figure

out what his game plan was going to be. Is that accurate? Yeah. I mean, that's just, that's how I fight. You know, first round is a little bit of a feeling out process for me, which I actually like, you know, it's not like, oh, I don't want to let things go. It's just like, all right, let's see what this guy's bringing to me. Let's kind of get some reads on him. Let's see his speed, his power, what his tendencies are. And yeah, I expected that. I feel like a lot of those shots I blocked, you know, a couple landed in the first round, but he let out so much energy in that first round. When I came out in the second, I saw it on his face. I'm like, this guy's starting to fade already. And it's only the second round. And I go up. So I was like, I'm going to take this guy out.

Was that sort of the big talking point between the first and second rounds with your team that, he exerted a lot of energy, or did you guys see an opening as well with the way he was, you know, approaching the striking game and stuff that you guys could take advantage of once that second round began? Yeah, we saw openings, but we didn't really discuss in between rounds. You know, we weren't, you know, the energy thing's kind of all on me. That's like how I feel in there and how I, you know, sense my opponent's energy and stuff like that, which I'm good at being a veteran having so many fights.

I can kind of feel it out like that. But with the actual technical aspect, you know, we knew counters were going to to be there. We knew he was going to leave his hands down after those one-off kicks and that he threw those hooks. He doesn't throw a lot of straight punches. So we knew a lot of his attacks were going to come from the outside, round off hooks and overhands. And on his kicks, we were going to try to time a counter. And that's exactly what happened. Yeah, you floored him with that close to fight-ending shot, which in my opinion should have been the fight-ending shot. But, you know, what did that shot feel like once you drop him? Because most of us, we're not going to be able to experience anything like that. So we have

to sort of live vicariously through you. So once that's a lot of you, so once you're going to be able to you. So once that punch landed, did you know immediately that this one's a wrap? Yeah, I felt it like through my fist, just where it landed. And then like when he fell and I'm looking down at him, you could see like, this guy's not there, you know? And like when I put my hands out, that was kind of me like, hey, ref, like, let's stop it now. I don't want to do more damage to this guy. You know, I am a human being, but I had to follow up. You know, he wasn't in there right away. So I had to put the finishing touches on. I don't know if you follow Hunter on social media, but, you know, that whole fight and that whole scenario, like it worked out great for you.

You got a win, you got 50 G's, you got to finish. He didn't get the win, but he got 50 G's, and then he got engaged like three days later. Did you happen to see that on social media? So it almost worked out for him as well. I didn't see that, but I was happy for him, you know, because I know he just had a newborn baby. I saw some interviews, and I know, you know, financially you definitely want to step up and pay when that's coming into your life. So I was happy that, you know, they gave us fight of the night, which I would agree with

most people. I don't think we were fighting the night. I think I was performance of the night, but I'm glad that he got that money. You know, let's just leave it at that. Oh, there you go. So let's get into Saturday night. You're going to take on Cody Stamen, another featherweight fight. You wanted to turn around quickly after that win, but it was a tough fight for as long as it lasted. We saw the back and forth you guys had on Twitter between you and Cody that helps set the stage here. But how did this all come together from your perspective? From your perspective? Yeah, I'm like, call me boom Shelby, because I'm like, I'm matchmaking over here on Twitter.

And it's all coming to fruition. It's kind of crazy. Like the Hunter fight, me and him, DM, Instagram. We made it 1.45. We agreed. We told our managers, they made it happen.

Cody was coming at me before the fight actually happened. He thought that I was still open to fight. And I told him, hey, I'm fighting Hunter. The fights in the works right now. I can't take another fight, but I'll fight you next.

Like, you're next. Don't worry. And for me, I was like, this is beautiful because now I'm about to go on a two-fight winning streak and get a guy in the top 15 and put myself, you know, right up there amongst the best guys. And within, you know, three fights quick this year is amazing for me. So I was like, after my fight ended with Hunter, I was like, I'm jumping on this.

I got to say something to Cody and see if he's still out there trying to fight. And I said, hey, Cody, where are you? And like, he was like, oh, you know, you did say I was next. And I said, yeah. And we kind of made that fight happen ourselves too on Twitter. Like literally, I think it was like an hour later, my manager was like, hey, He facetimes me. He's like, yeah, Cody Stamman in three weeks.

I'm like, oh, my God, this is crazy, how fast this is happening. If this wasn't a top 15 guy in your actual division, do you think you would have taken this opportunity to turn around so quickly? Yeah, 100% because I love momentum. I love staying active. If I'm healthy enough to keep it going like this, like, I'm going to do it, you know. I stay in shape all year round. I mean, I had stitches from my last fight, but I was immediately like,

I'm getting a pair of wrestling shoes and I'm going to start hitting myths. and I'll tape my toes and I'm working around it in any way that I can possible. So I stayed in shape and honestly the weight cut should be even easier this time because I maintained my weight all the way through. I never really got too heavy again. Originally I fought at 145 because, you know, I was taking a fight on short notice and I was a lot heavier because of the quarantine and I wasn't getting partners and all that. Now I'm breaking a little rules still, a little couple partners here and there, but I kept

the consistency after this fight, and so my weight kind of stayed within range. So I'm loving this, man. I don't have to stress any, like, crazy weight cuts, and I'm going in there, feeling strong and healthy and just fully focused on the fight. You're always a very energetic guy, Brian, but it seems to me that your energy is on another level right now. Like, you're just, you're just in a different place right now. Is that accurate? Do you feel like different than you felt maybe three or four months ago? It's the boomer chito right here, baby. We got, we got full espresso in here. Well, there you go. That makes a lot of sense.

No, yeah, that definitely helps. But no, I'm very energetic. You know, I'm in a positive mindset right now. I just feel like, really, it's that. Like, the psychology of everything with MMA, like, I feel so reinvigorated, you know, from January with my job on the line, all that pressure to where I am now. And I had this vision, you know, before that fight. And it's all, like, coming to fruition.

And it's crazy because I'm 33. So I'm no, you know, I'm not this young buck that's 25 that's coming in the UFC that wants to take his time and pick matchups. I'm like, give me the hardest guys right now because if I'm going to make a run, it's got to be now. Like, I'm going to make this run now. So I put myself in a beautiful position. And I've just brought these ingredients mentally to these fights lately that now I know what I need. And it's just calm, enjoy the process, and execute. And I just keep telling myself that.

And I feel like I'm having fun more than ever again. And I'm bringing it into these fights. I perform best when I'm really enjoying it. This story sounds a little bit familiar, does it not? Maybe, you know, 2019, we saw a man coming off back-to-back losses who didn't fight the year before. We were talking about a guy named Jorge Mazadol who turned opportunity into superstardom. And what he did last year can never be ignored. But as a fighter, yourself, looking to take that next step, how much did it?

Jorge maybe inspire you to take these chances and maybe be the next guy that comes out of nowhere to do huge things. I mean, I do have street Jesus on my chest essentially. So, you know, it is something. There is something to that. There's omens everywhere right now in my life. It's kind of crazy. But I love Jorge and I love that story, man. That's, you know, a guy who's paid his dues, who's been through the ups and downs who, you know, you could have very well fell off. But you kept yourself, you know, in the right mindset to rebound and keep winning. and change things in your career. I know he did that reality show.

He changed things up. He found this clarity, this mental clarity. And like I feel like the same thing's kind of happening to me, you know, as a veteran in the sport. You get burnt out sometimes along the way. And you got to figure out ways to find change and to feel that same energy that you felt when you were trying to get to the UFC. And I feel like that's where I am right now. And yeah, I love Jorge's style and I love watching a fight. And, you know, I plan to do the same thing, you know, to become a star out of nowhere.

know this year and put some big wins together and make it happen. It was interesting when we spoke before your fight with Ode Osborne, you said you wanted to treat that like your UFC debut. It's almost like you went back in time a little bit. How does it feel now? Does it feel like this is, you know, essentially your third or fourth UFC fight? Or do you still have to try to bring yourself back to that debut so you don't, you don't lose any of that Bumatin juice, if you know what I mean? Yeah, the Bumachino juice. Yeah, I, uh, no, I mean, I would say, I would, I would, I would, I would, I would, lean more towards, I feel like it's, it's my debut again, like I'm starting over, you know,

the reinvigoration, like I was saying, like, I needed to find myself again. You know, I lost touch of, like, why I was doing this and how excited I felt doing this coming up. And I kind of felt like it was more of a job, like, ah, I got to cut weight. I got to go through these nerves and this crazy, you know, fight game again. And I'm like, looking at it differently. And now it's like, man, I can't wait to leave my potential out there. I can't wait to show who, I really am because I feel like I haven't. You know, some fights, you know, you don't see all of my potential. And my excitement comes from leaving it all out there now, you know, having no regrets when

this is all over. So that's my big motivation now going into these fights. So you're looking at it more. I mean, obviously you look ahead of the future. You have certain goals you want to hit. But at the end of the day, we're looking at one fight for that one fight and to do everything for those five, 10 or 15 minutes for that one point to get to the next one, right? Exactly, man.

And that's like a good point because like, I always say this. You know, sometimes you have bad training sessions in the gym. And I've had, you know, a bad run at like overthinking things, you know, just really too much overthinking. It paralyzes you. And it really messes with your game. And now I don't let any bad voices come into my head and take over. I know how to redirect them and change them into positivity.

And that comes with being a veteran. And I'll have, I'll have shitty sessions in the gym, you know, four days before a fight, you know, five days before a fight. And you want to almost be like, oh, no, I'm not feeling good. I got a fight soon. This sucks. Why am I off today? But to me, I'm like, it matters. It doesn't matter at all.

Like, all that matters is that 15 minutes. And that's when I'm going to have my best potential come forward. And I'm going to have fun and enjoy that process and be present. And like, I have that mentality now all set. I have all those ingredients. And I think that's been a key factor in my fights as of late. And now you're going to fight Cody Stamen. He's four, one in one.

in the UFC. The loan loss was to Al Jemaine Sterling back at UFC 228, bounced back with a nice win over Alejandro Perez, and then he had the draw with Song Yadong that most people believed should have gone to Stamen. Some have differing opinions on that, but I'm sure he's a guy that you've had your eye on for a little while, being a top 15 guy at 35. But what have you made of his run in the UFC to this point? Yeah, no, he's a great fighter, man. And that's what I'm here for to fight great guys, you know, guys that are ranked that are going to put me in potential for a title. I thought he beat Songy Dong, you know, I'll be honest.

Once the fight hit the ground, it kind of seemed like both of them froze up a little bit. I know Cody's wrestling background is where he's comfortable. You know, he's an athletic guy, but he's not a finisher like me. You know what I mean? I finish a lot of fights. If you look at my percentages, I choke guys out, I knock guys out, I TKO guys. I have a variety of finishes, and I think that's what makes me dangerous, and it makes me a little bit more unpredictable going into this fight. Do you feel like there's a lot of similarities between?

Hunter and Cody? Like Cody's more established, no doubt. He's a little bit more well-rounded overall. But are the approaches to the fight similar in different ways? Yeah, I could see some similarities there, you know, with that wrestling background and their styles. But I think, you know, Cody's definitely the better athlete altogether all around his game, you know, his wrestling, his shots from the outside are a little more powerful. He's got good double legs and good timing on that. I think his movement is a little bit better too. So there are some similarities, but I think I'm looking at a whole different fight here. I think Cody's going to really underestimate me. And once he starts to feel my punching power,

he's going to start to try to dip and level change and try to take me down and wrestle me a lot. You have fought in this empty arena set up already. You've gone through the medical testing and the fight week stuff in Jacksonville. You've also been the more active guy over the last six months or so. And like you talked about, you have a lot of momentum in your favor. How much does that all factor into things as a fighter heading into a big event like you're going to get into on Saturday night. It's bit, you know, it's all preferential, but for me, I know momentum is powerful and I love it and I carry through with it, you know, with this amazing energy, like, and then going into another fight where I just experienced all those nerves, all that, you know, that, that, that uniqueness to

going into a fight, I just went through it. So my mind and my body is like, oh, like, we just did this. So I'm more comfortable and I did it in front of the no, crowd and that was something different but now I'm like oh I just did that so this is going to be nothing to me nothing new I just went through it so I think all of that plays a factor with me especially like from my mindset I'm excited to do it again I enjoyed it I thought it was great to have uh you know no distractions fight week went smooth we arrive at the arena with not much time and we just kind of get wrapped and get straight to it and I think that was beneficial for me so we've seen a boom a team submission we've seen your hands go to

work with the vicious knockout. How do we add to the list of wins here in 2020 with this huge opportunity against a guy like Cody Stamen? Yeah, like I said, no overthinking. For me, just go in there, be myself, just have fun, let it all hang out, and good things will come. And that's what happened in the hunter fight. You know, I just had fun. I started to flow. I started to swag on them. The second round, I was feeling myself. I was getting better as the fight goes on and something lands, you know, and I know I have the power to finish anybody. My belief is at an all-time high. and I'm just so excited to keep putting on the best performance as possible. You mentioned sort of this kismet going on in your life,

how everything's just sort of falling into place. You're also going to be sharing the card with your good buddy, Sean O'Malley, who's going to fight Eddie Weiland. This is crazy how all this stuff is sort of just like piecing together. You get a top 15 guy in the division you share. If you win and he wins, this makes too much sense, does it not? Like, he might be chasing you now. Hey, that's exactly what it is right there.

He's got to come chase me after. this. And I think it's perfect alignment, man, and it's crazy how it worked out. And you never know the UFC might be plotting a little bit with timing. You know, both of us come off a win on the same night. It builds the fight more. I think anticipation builds. And I'll have a little something for him. You know, I'm a guy with a plan. So I don't look, I don't like to look too far ahead, but I always have a plan. There you go. Well, we're looking forward to this one for sure. We've already had a crazy year with all the COVID-19 stuff going on. Now we're dealing with another issue with the horrible tragedy in regards to George Floyd losing his life and everything that

stem from that. So it's kind of a rough time in the world in this country. So having another fight card doesn't take it all away, but it provides a nice distraction during this crazy time. Brian, I appreciate the time. All the best to you this week in Las Vegas and in the fight on Saturday. And oh, by the way, thoughts on Gilbert Burns and what he did over Tyrone Woodley. You're our sort of guest analyst that likes to jump on here from time to time. What did you think of that performance? Yeah, it was great, man. I was hoping to see a different Tyrone Woodley. I was, I was hoping to see a different Tyrone Woodley, I think the same one kind of showed up, you know. He's kind of had his back against the fence. He was letting Burns dictate the pace in the fight and the octagon control and stuff

like that. But Burns looked amazing. I mean, his wrestling, his power double on a guy like Woodley who has such high-level take-down defense. He took him down really nicely. He's got nasty ground and pound. His grappling is second to none. And his striking is ever-improving. And he showed that a lot in this fight. So I'm really high on Gilbert Burns right now. I think he's going to do big things at 170. What did you think of Casey Kenny? Nice win for him over Lewis Smolka, guy in your division,

a guy you might be seeing someday. What did you think of that performance? Yeah, that was a good performance. Smoka, I feel like he's a guy that's, he shows up sometimes. Sometimes he doesn't. Seems like a lackluster performance on his side. But Casey Kenney looked good.

He's an exciting fighter, definitely. You know, his fight against Marab, you know, it's hard to fight a guy in Marab. I know first-hand because I spar with him, you know, from my last fight. and the guy's an animal man it's hard to explain marab it's like i feel bad for his opponents you know like whoever has to fight maraub like i'm sorry but uh kacey kenny's good man he's an exciting fighter yeah it's got to be tough to be marab because i just don't see anybody in the top 15

jumping at the chance to fight him right now i just don't see it yeah he's very underrated and his style is like you know he'll just maul you for the whole fight and he'll literally break you so it's like guys don't want to have to deal with that and it's not like his strutely is very pretty, but it's very unorthodox and awkward and his movement is jittery. So it's hard to get a gauge on the guy. Do you do boom breakdowns on the fights outside of your own for these coming events? Are we going to see anything for content-wise heading into Saturday? I might do something on my phone.

I'm not going to bring my laptop, my microphone, all that stuff to the event. But I'll do something on my phone. I think I might go live on Instagram and do like fight picks and maybe a couple of betting things that I would do. But yeah, I love doing that. It's just like, you know, I'm passionate about the sport. I follow, you know, I watch every fight, so you might as well, might as well break them down, right? There you go.

Boom breakdowns. Find them all over social media. Thank you, as always, Brian. All the best to you on Saturday, man. It's a very confident and very energetic. Brian Kelleher joining the show. Should be a very fun fight with Cody Stamen on Saturday at UFC 250. And if he wins, maybe he can get the fight he wants with our next guest.

Sugar Sean O'Malley's going to take on Eddie Weil on this Saturday. Like I said, at the top of the show, this came together very quickly within a matter of moments. We didn't get a lot of time with him, but I wanted to have him on the show, whether it is for five, 10, 10, or 15 minutes. We got about 12 minutes out of him. Here he is Sugar Sean O'Malley right now on What the Heck. All right, move ahead to another fighter competing this weekend at UFC 250. He's going to take on Eddie Weinland on the main card in Las Vegas. Let's check in with Sugar Sean O'Malley, who joins What the Heck for the first time.

Sean, how are you, sir? Good. How are you doing? Doing great. How is Vegas right now? I saw you got in on Monday. How's everything going out there? Yeah, just chilling the hotel.

Not a whole lot. Just hanging out. It's good, though. I know everything's pretty quiet out there from, like, the COVID front. But now we're seeing all the chaos with the protests and the news and all of social media. I know Vegas got pretty scary for a couple of nights. Have you seen or like kind of driven by anything that's been crazy going on out there? What's the atmosphere like?

It literally feels like another fight trip. I haven't noticed anything. Nothing different than before. Because normally, yeah, even during regular fight weeks, there's a lot of people there. I mean, you were on the last card with actual fans on it. Yeah, we're not on the strip at all, so it's just, you know, it's just pretty much chilling the hotel. Nothing. I haven't, everything feels pretty much normal.

That's good. As far as the fighting goes, you're making up for lost time here. After being out for two years due to all the craziness going out with Usada and all that, you're about to make the walk for the second time in a three-month span. How refreshing is it to be able to talk about that as opposed to all the other crap that you had to deal with? Yeah, it's good. My whole career, you know, I've fought three, four, five times a year. So it's just we're back on track.

It's nice. So, you know, I'm planning on going out there getting a similar result and getting back to the, getting back in a couple months. I just had one last question about that other stuff because I remember we spoke heading into UFC 248 and you were just sort of taking it all day by day. and I couldn't get you out of my mind because you weren't fully confident that the fight would even happen. Like, every time the phone rang, you just weren't sure, like, if the fight was going to get taken away. Have you sort of allowed yourself to get out of that box of uncertainty when it comes to you, Sada, or is it still sort of weighing on the back of your mind every time the phone rings? No, now it's, you know, we got tested for COVID this morning, and I'm waiting on those results.

That's the only thing that's kind of making me, you know, hesitant right now. and then Eddie, I think, gets here tomorrow or whatever, and he'll have to get tested. So if we're both in the clear there, we're pretty much good to go. There you go. How good it it feels to actually make that walk again? And I think the common term people use is you went out there and you pitched a perfect game against a pretty tough guy in Jose Canonis.

Yeah, it felt really good. I think, you know, it went as planned. I felt like my skill level was higher than his. And if I show up, which I do every single fight, I show up. that I was going to be able to get him out of there in the first. So it went as planned, and I was so healthy and felt so confident in that fight. It was nice, and I have that same feeling right now. That was less than three months ago, so it felt good.

You talked a lot about how not being able to fight obviously sucked for you, but you used that time so wisely to get a lot better in the gym and to become this sort of more evolved version of the guy we saw off the Contender Series. and fight a couple of times in the UFC. Did it almost have like a UFC debut-type feeling at all? Or did it feel like it was your third or fourth fight in there? A little bit of both. It did feel like it was my debut again, like coming back party,

and then it felt like I'd been there a ton. So it was a mixture between like, damn, this is the first time that I'm ever fighting in the UFC and it was also like I'm a vet here. I know what to do. I know how to perform and I know what I need to do. So it was a little mixture of both. Do you think about the fact that you fought on the last? event with the live audience and it probably will be the last event with a live

audience for quite some time yeah it doesn't really you know if I could pick I'd rather have fans there you know it makes it way more you know entertaining it is it's more fun I guess I don't know that yet because I haven't fought with no crowd but I don't think it'll affect me at all but if I got a pick I'd rather have the fans there I mean you have some experience not completely empty because you were on the contender series so you've kind of seen both sides of the of the coin right Yeah, I think, you know, when I wasn't fighting in the contenders series, I didn't even think, like, oh, there's not going to be a huge crowd. It didn't even cross my mind.

The walkouts are, none of that really matters. You wanted a step up in competition after that fight, and you get Eddie Weiland, just got nearly 40 professional fights. He's fought for a world title before in the UFC. He's coming off a knock-o-win in his last fight as well. Do you feel like this fight sort of checks that box off for you in terms of that step-up? Yeah, I think it's a perfect next match for me. you know i i i'd never really i'd heard his name i knew who he was never really watched him fight um watched him fight and i knew i was like oh that that's a perfect that's a perfect next step

for me so yeah it worked out worked out great why do you think that's a perfect next step is it just because of the record and the in the or is it more style from a stylistic perspective from a competitive standpoint gets you excited both both he's a vet um it's a good matchup for me you know anyone that's going to try to strike with me is a good matchup for me, so it just worked out good. I know you had done an interview with Luke Thomas a couple weeks ago, and you discussed that the way things are coming together with your evolution of the fight game, opponents, etc.

You said something to the effect of, you know, if you want to fight better guys, get into the top 15, you feel like you should be compensated to a certain level to do so. If you don't mind me asking, how many fights do you have left on the deal that you're on right now? After this fight, I'll have two more. So two more. So things could change pretty quickly for you.

You go out there and have another performance like you had the last time against a guy like Eddie Weil. And we might be talking renegotiation before we even get to that last fight, right? We'll see. That's what I was told last fight. And then all of a sudden, no. So I don't know. We'll see. It's hard to say with the UFC.

Bannonweight is super interesting right now because it's just so deep. There's just so much talent from the tippy top to even guys, you know, 15 to 25 and even below that. it's one of those divisions where a lot of people stand out, but one person hasn't really like leapfrogged everybody else. Like when you look at it, most people will say like Al Jemate Sterling and Peotryon are 1A and 1B, but you can make arguments for guys like Marais and Sandhagen. Hell, you guess you can make an argument for even Jose Alder right now.

When you see the division look like it does right now, do you see it as sort of like, oh, man, this is a long road to get to the top five in a title shot because it's so log jammed? Or do you see it as this is an opportunity to start leapfrogged? frog and guys, big chunks of them all at once. Yeah, I think it could be the best division of the UFC right now. I think, like, as far as how deep it goes, the whole top 10 is so stacked. But I think with my style, my performance that I'm going to have, and then I'm going to continue

to have, with my name being big and my following being big, I think a couple of fights, and I can be fighting for that title. Did you notice, like, a big change in your following after the win in March? Did you notice like Instagram and social stuff, things start jumping up a little bit more? Because it had been a while since people had seen you compete. Yeah, it almost, you know, not, it didn't get, I didn't get twice as many followers, but damn near.

So I think that's going to be, yeah, I think it's going to be another good, good night as far as, um, getting more fans and more views and stuff. So, yeah. The hair is, is outstanding. Is there a story behind the hair? It's just something you were feeling that day? How did that all come together?

Yeah, it just kind of happened. I just decided to do it. My girl does hair, so we made it happen. There you go. First things first. Eddie Weinland this Saturday night, UFC 250. How do we keep this momentum moving forward? How do we get this done?

Do we have an official sugar prediction here? Yeah, first round knockout. I just think that his style versus my style, and if we both show up, it's a quick night for us. I think I'm going to put him away fast. What did you think of your former quintet teammate Gilbert Burns the other night dominating Tyron Woodley to see what he's done in the last 18 months or so this is pretty incredible is it not?

Yeah, I'm a huge fan. I was, you know, I gave Tyrone a lot of respect. I'm like, God, it's going to be a hard fight for Gilbert, but he went in there and made it look easy. That was super impressive. I'd love to see Gilbert, you know, fight tomorrow and be champ. That would be fucking sweet. What would you think of a matchup like that?

Because it seems so interesting. Yeah, they're teammates. I almost, I kind of want to see it. I didn't really think about it heading into that fight. I thought if Gilbert would win, it would be like, you know, maybe a Leon Edwards or something like that. But now I kind of want to see it. How do you think that fight would play out?

What would sort of stick out to you? I think Camaro and I think Gilbert matches up best with Camaro out of all those guys. Watching Camaro fight Tyrone, I'm like, God, who's going to be able to beat him? He's a fucking animal. And then watching Gilbert, I'm like, damn, that might be the guy that can put him away. But even still, you know, it's still going to be a tough fight. but if anyone get the job done, I think Gilbert can. Who's performance impress you more over Woodley, Usman's or Burns?

Burns, for sure. Why is that? I don't know. I just fucking, I just thought it did. I do want to bring this up, and I'm sure you're going to roll your eyes, but I know Brian Kelleher has found a lot of creative ways to get your attention, and you've spoken about him before. He's not really on your radar, but he's about to take on a top 15 guy in your division on this same card.

If he goes out and gets a win and does something impressive, Does that fight begin to interest you any more at all? We'll see. It's almost kind of at this point. It's kind of funny. Like, I just kind of brush him off. But if it happened, it happens. I'm glad that you'd go out there and knock him out.

I don't see him as like a threat, really. But yeah, you never know. I don't know what's going to happen. He's got to go out there and beat Cody, which I think he can get the job done. I think it's at 452 and Cody is like 5-3 or something. So he's pretty little. and Brian's a little bit taller, 5-4, 5-5.

I think he's going to have a little bit of advantage. And it's at 45, so he's not going to be cutting as much. So I think you might be able to get the job done, but we'll see. It's hard to, I'm pretty good at keeping my mindset on the fight I have ahead of me. Fair enough. And then last thing since it is in your division, who do you like in the Aljo versus Sandhagen fight on Saturday? Fuck, I said my prediction has been Corey, and I'm kind of sticking with it. that, but it's really just a fucking toss-up between those two. I don't know. But Corey, you know, I think

he's got the level on the feet higher than now, Joe, and I think he'll be able to, I don't know, it's hard to say, but I got Corey. I'm so interested in seeing Cody Garbrandt come back, too, because I think that's a bigger question than that fight, too. I think that's actually a bigger story at the end of day, because it's been so long since you've seen him, and he's been knocked out in three straight fights. It's, it's interesting to see if he can come back. Now he's talking about move to 25 is that's is that a guy that you're looking I know you're focused on the fight but are you intrigued by the returning Cody Garbrand and what he could do against a guy like a sunsail yeah if he wins I'd be you know it'd be like but if you lose it's like he's only

four and last four and it just doesn't I don't know it's he still got a big name um still definitely an opponent that I feel like matches really well with me someone who gets emotional if you fucking say their name they just get angry um so I think that'd be a good matchup for me but we'll see if he goes out there and puts the way of Sonsa. I feel like Assao is going to win that fight, though. Yeah, a very underrated guy despite being so highly ranked in the division. But I know you get a lot going on, man. I appreciate you squeezing me in for 10 or 15 minutes or so.

All the best to you on Saturday in your fight with Eddie Weiland, Sean. I appreciate it. Sugar Show returns to the UFC this Saturday as he takes on Eddie Wyland. He's hoping for a quick night at the office at UFC 250, which will take place at the UFC apex in Las Vegas. So after that quick night, he's going to hope to head to the negotiating table with the UFC because he'll only have one fight left on his deal. And that's an interesting fight. That's an interesting fight right there.

It's the first of three Banimate fights on that main card. Of course, we got Al Jemann Stirling taking on Corey Sanhagan. That's a fight everyone's looking forward to for this Saturday. But also, as we talked about with Sean as well, a very interesting matchup. The returning Cody Garbrandt is going to take on Hafiel's sunset. out in the co-main event this Saturday. So UFC 250, if you're a casual fan, you know, maybe it's not the sexiest fight card on paper. But if you really dive into these matchups and look at them deeper, this is a really good card. Like, it's a really good card. And a lot of people

were poo-pooing UFC on ESPN 9 heading into this past Saturday. And that card delivered in a big way viewed by over a million people. So it's a huge weekend for the UFC. They're hoping to follow that up this Saturday. And speaking of some who had a huge weekend this past weekend. How about the victorious go-getta? Roosevelt Roberts, coming off his big win against Brock Weaver at UFC Vegas. A lot happened during Fight Week,

especially on Friday, heading into the fight on Saturday. Let's check in with Roosevelt Roberts. Very fun conversation. And you can hear that right now. All right, so we're making history this week. This is the first time in the short history of the show. We've had someone join the program on back-to-back weeks.

Coming off a sensational performance, The second round submission went over Brock Weaver at UFC on ESPN 9 this past weekend. Roosevelt Roberts is back on what the heck. Roosevelt, how are you, man? What's up, man? How are you doing? I'm doing good. I'm doing great myself.

You came on this show last week. You almost laid everything out exactly the way you thought the fight would play out. And that's how it played out. How does it all feel a few days later? Man, it feels great, man, to go in there to do business, man, how to work. It felt great. It felt everything felt smooth. I just felt amazing, man.

I felt like I was doing everything right, you know. Yeah, it feels great. You walked in there like you were like a super heavyweight. Like you were just flowing in there. You looked as confident and as free as I think I've ever seen you look in the octagon. Is that fair to say? Did you feel that way yourself? Yeah, man, I felt great, man.

I mean, I was nervous. Don't get me wrong. My heart was pounding. My hands are sweating. But once the fight started and once we hit each other, man, I was just flowing. I felt like, yeah, I felt like I was just, I was just into it. Like, I was really into this fight.

I was really like down to get it. So I felt like it showed. When you were on here last week and you discussed the matchup, you, because it came together really quickly. You said you prefer like a six week or so training camp to gain as much knowledge as possible on your opponent, but you felt that Brock would be, I think you put it as a basic fight for you in terms of what he brings to the table. He's got really good boxing and anything.

else you sort of had a match for. Did anything surprise you at all during those eight and a half minutes or so? No, I mean, that's what my coach told me he was going to do. He was going to swing big, try to put me on the cage. And that's exactly what he did. He swung big and he put me on the cage. We was ready for it, though. I wasn't trying to reserve myself too much.

And I just made sure every time I got off the cage, I made sure he felt my power and felt my speed. And I let him know, like, hey, you know, we, you know, we're in this like you're in this fight like this is going to be a hard fight for you it's not going to be one of these fights that you think you're going to bully me you know so yeah everything played out the way we thought to do it so let's go back to Friday morning because Brock was one of the first fighters to hit the scales and he missed weight by a pound and a half and a lot of times when a fighter who misses weight hits the scales that early the opposing fighter like yourself and your team would be aware of it and negotiations would be

underway for purse and all of that stuff. Were you made aware that Brock was going to miss weight before he stepped on the scale Friday morning or did you find out when everybody else did? No, I found out when everybody else did. And the crazy part was that, man, like, he, so he missed weight. And I didn't know he missed weight. He knew he missed weight. But he come back there, like, mugging me and shit, like, like, just looking all, like, hard,

like trying to look all hard and shit. And I'm looking at him back. And in my head, I'm just thinking, oh, man. Maybe he's just a little intense, you know. You know, that's how I am too. I like to look at him people. And then he missed weight and he came back there without, oh, you better take the fight.

You about your money, take the fight. And in my head, the first thing I said to when he said that, like, hey, boy, hey, you know, I call him a bitch. And I was like, listen, bro, like, don't tell me to take the fight. I was going to take the fight. If you was 1.5 or fucking five pounds over, I would have took the fight. Like, it don't matter what you was over.

You don't need to come tell me what to do. Like, your ass shit had woke up and fucking. cut that goddamn weight, you know? I mean, I woke up Friday morning, I woke up at 157, probably like 157.5, you know? My coach woke me up at 6 o'clock in the morning. At 157, I had to go cut that fucking weight. Did I want to cut the weight? No, I did not.

That shit was hard as fuck. My fucking stomach was hurt. Like, I was tired, caught him out. And I still had to take my ass in that bath, fucking sit in that hot ass baths, fucking burning my fucking like burning myself away just to cut his weight. And then he wanted to get all dressed up and then come back there and miss the weight. Like, no, man, don't come back there like that. So when he came back and started talking to you about take the fight, you better take the fight.

Is that when you found out that he missed or did you hear before he came back and started talking to you about it? No, well, yeah, before because I heard it. I seen it, I was watching the way in and I heard him say 157.5. Now I looked at my coach and I was like, what the fuck? I was like, hold on, man. I was like, this shit crazy. And then I sat down. I was getting checked out by the doctor.

And then fucking, he just come walking up. And that's when he walking up. I'm looking at him. That's when he said it to me. And then when he said dad, I was already cut away out. My adrenaline already pumping. Like, he was already staring at me. So I'm like, man, fuck him.

Like, you say something again. We're going to fight right now. Like, fuck the bullshit. Did anyone have to come back and separate you guys? Yeah, they came back. Yeah. Because if they didn't, I was definitely going to slap his ass. I was walking.

I was walking close to Zazaz. I was like, I was mad, man. I was like, damn, bro. Like, I felt disrespected. Like, honestly, I feel disrespected now. That's why I had to stand up. I was talking about. I was like, we're getting a full reenactment right now.

This is great. Yeah, you know, like my adrenaline pumping, I was just ready to go. But, yeah, they came back. He said some. I got up when I was going to go up to him and they split us up. I feel like in a weird way, and we don't like when fighters miss Wade, I know sometimes it's a little harder to get to get there sometimes, especially with COVID going on. It's just, it's a crazy time right now. But I feel like Brock missing weight was a huge thing for this fight. Like when you guys went face to face during the stair downs, especially after what you're telling me happened backstage, immediately the interest in the fight shot through the roof. Like, what was that face like for you on Friday? Because you were right in his face letting him know how you felt about everything. man no

that's just I mean once once we got to that argument backstage I was like yeah I was like I'm already now now you already

brought this side out of me we're just gonna be too ignorant motherfucker and I'm not going to stop it now now that now that we get being each other

face I'm not going to change I'm not going to switch it up like you're going to get that same energy that you got and we're the backstage about the fight and that's why as soon as I got up on stage

I shook Sean Shelby's hand was like what's up and I fucking got right back in his face like hey you know I'm here like you're not going to fucking think you're going to scare me or punk me. Like, hey, you know, you're in for a

fight. With everything happening with the guidelines for the event, what did you make of the fight day slash fight night schedule and how that all played out like getting to the arena, getting taped up, fight, all that stuff? Did you sort of prefer it that way? You just didn't even have time to think about it. You just got in there, fought and kind of left right after. Yeah, I didn't really think about it. Honestly, it was more just like, you know, I just got in, got out. I mean, it wasn't that bad. Honestly, it was actually pretty good. It was like really any other fight week.

I mean, yeah, there's nothing really different, but I mean, we get, we get picked up. I mean, the only thing was that, you know, we had to be isolated wearing masks and stuff like that. But we had to wait for them sanitized room. But that's usually how it be when we fight. I mean, they take the first few people and then later on, they take the next few people, and that's just what they did this time. And, you know, it wasn't so many of us in the locker room, though. It was only like two of us in the locker room.

So that's a little difference. So you had like your hotel room, but then did you have like a, you had a separate room, right? To train in and, you know, portable sodas and stuff like that was like right across the hallway or something like that. Yeah, it was literally like right next door. I mean, got out the room who made it right and it was right there. I mean, that was actually really good. I think that's why the weight cut actually went pretty good because we turned it. We had, we was able to control the temperature in the room.

So we had it on 90. like the highs it could go. And then we kept it at 90. And again, as soon as I, as soon as I walk in the room, I'll start sweating and start dripping. So, yeah, everything was pretty smooth. We had to go wait into our room for them to come get us. They had three o'clock became goddess,

and, you know, everything went from there. As the fight was progressing on Saturday, you guys kept the talking going throughout the fight. What did you guys say to each other in there? Like, what was one or two things that stuck out to you the most? None. I mean, he wasn't really. He wasn't really saying nothing.

He was just like, he was disagreeing with me. That, oh, yeah, yeah. And I was like, yeah, man. I was like, you would, um, because I was the one over there. I was talking shit. I was just like, hey, we're in this shit. I was like, we in this shit. Like, let's go.

And he was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I was just saying some dumb shit. I don't know what I was saying. I don't even, I just know why the fuck I was saying most of this shit I was saying. I was just like, I don't know. He brought out the hood in me and I was just talking shit. I was like, why am I, like, I watch the fight now. And then I sit back and I watch the fight.

And I'm all like, damn, why was I saying that? Why was I saying that? Because at one point, I hit him, I hit him. And then I was like, yeah, I was like, we in this shit. What's up? And I hit him again. And I was like, I'm a real street nigga. And then now I'm all like, why the fuck that I even have to say that?

Like, why the fuck was I sitting there telling him? I was like, oh, no. It was just funny. But yeah, we was talking hell of shit. It was cool. And then I rocked him. And in the beginning the second round, he came in with that shirt, and I hit him with a one-two.

And then he was all like, what did he say? He said, oh, he was like, no, you didn't rock me. And I was like, yeah, nigga. I was like, yeah, you're good. Come on then. I was like, let's go. And then we started fighting again. So, yeah, it was pretty fun, man.

It was pretty fun to do that. Best performance of your UFC career, would you say? Because I feel like most expected that to be a showcase fight opportunity for you. And it seemed like that's what happened. Did you feel that way as well? Yeah, definitely. I definitely felt like that was probably like one of my best performance, man. But I think honestly, it's just because I felt free, man.

I felt like, I don't know, I didn't feel, I felt like it was more, I don't really know, like a street fight than like an MMA fight because I was just so into it. Like, I was just like, man, you know, I really want to fuck this dude up, like so bad. I never felt like that for somebody because, you know, everybody always been respectful, you know, and, you know, I've never really had like that, that, oh, I want to just beat the shit out of this dude. Like, and that's why I felt for him.

I felt like, oh, man, I just want to have heard me put my hands on this guy. So I felt like I just let everything go. He brought out that good side of me. Are you guys cool now? Do you guys talk after the, like, after the fight? Yeah, he hit me up. He hit me up. You know, I ain't going to say what we talked about, but, you know, I got nothing but respect for him.

You know, do he a cool dude, man. I mean, you know, we got, like I told him, we got whatever it was that wins. You know, it is what it is, but I got nothing but respect for him. You know, all that shit on Twitter, that fake Twitter account and all that. You know, that wasn't me. You know, I got a number of respect. He made it. He made it to UFC.

He's here. So, you know, I got to respect him for the journey he was on. So let's get to after the fight because I jump on Twitter after you won and I tell everybody. By the way, if you miss my interview with Roosevelt Roberts this week, he's going to call somebody out. And I left up Matt Frivolta's name from that tweet because you said it wouldn't be Matt Frivola. and then you called him that for Mola. Like what happened there? Like what changed?

No, my manager, man. My manager, man, he wants me, he wants me to hold off a little bit. He wants me to build myself a little more. I mean, like the dude I was going to call out. He was pretty much established in there already. So my manager telling me build myself more, get a little bit more money and then, yeah, do it like that. So, you know, he's the manager.

I'm going to listen to what he say, you know, I just want to fight. So, yeah, I just caught off a vola so I could, so, you know, we get that out the way, you know. That's the guy I really want, I mean, the other guy's going to call out. That's just going to be a really great fight. And I'm going to call him out, man. And I want to so bad, but like my coach is telling me not to him. My manager is telling me to wait on it.

So, you know, I'm just going to wait a little bit. It was hilarious. As one of my jobs on Fight Night is to go through the post-fight scrums. and get everything up there on YouTube and on the website. And my colleague Jose Youngs brought up our conversation. You asked your coaches while you're at the podium if you could say it, and they told you no, which I thought was hilarious. And now, you know, what's funny is because you told me that after the win,

you're like, I'm going to come on this show. You're my first interview. We're going to talk all about this mystery name. I promise you. And I'm just living up to my end of the bargain, Roosevelt. That's how I am, my man. It's just you and I talking right now. Nobody else is around.

Man, I want to I want to And you know, I don't Me personally, I don't really see No harm in me calling Like me saying the guy's name Personally, I think that me saying the guy's name would be great

But I don't know, man I mean, they told me not to So I gotta listen Are they gonna put me through a hell of a workout And I ain't trying to fucking deal with that I'm trying You know, I got I got They're gonna like

Really tear me apart So make sure But I promise you before I promise you I probably got my word before. I say any of his name. I promise it will be you. I promise you.

I won't say it on the mic after a fight. I promise it will be you first. I got it. I got it for you. All right. I don't want you to get smoked at practice. So I don't want that to happen. So is he a rank guy?

Is he a top 15 guy? All right. I'll give you this. He was a top 15 and 145. And he came up to 155. I would tell you he's at. Now, you could, you could. could put that together easily, easily.

There's some math. I'll leave it alone. Say no more, Roosevelt. Say no more. I don't want to get you in trouble. You can't get in trouble. You didn't say any name. So no one, you better not get to make the practice.

I didn't say names. Hey, I get you, hey, you're the first person I told that clue to. You're the first person I told that clue to. So I want you to know that's your special, homie, you're special. You know what I appreciate that. I appreciate that. It's because we have matching hairstyles. That's what's going on here.

But you, you go. You go in there, you finish a fight, you didn't take a lot of damage on Saturday. You said you want to take Dana up on his offer, get three to four fights this year. Your good friend Matt Frivolta is about to fight on June 20th against Frank Camacho. I'm guessing sometime this summer you'd like to get back in there, or if something comes up before that, are you willing to jump on that as well? Yeah, definitely. I'm going to go see my kids for a couple of days right now, so I don't want to jump right back in in June.

But I definitely want to be right back in July or August. I definitely want to be one of the first guys back in. I want to keep my name rolling. want to keep that steam going, when they just stay, stay sharp and keep that money piling up, you know? So yeah, I want to get right back in there. So when did you find out about the Twitter tomfoolery going on at your expense on Friday when, because at first, like, I'm watching these tweets come out and I'm seeing the stare down with you and Brock and this Roosevelt Roberts Twitter account tweeting out all this stuff.

And I'm like, I just literally interviewed this guy and he was like, I don't have Twitter. I don't do any of that stuff. So I was like surprised. I'm like, wow, this guy got 4,000 followers in one day. When did you find out that the thousand? Well, what this guy does is he keeps like switching out to different names and different journalists and different fighters. And he like does it so smart too because he like retweets things that you were mentioned in. Like when the fight got announced, he retweeted like every fight announcement that you were in.

So I'm like, huh, I'm like, maybe it is him. I don't know. So when did you find out that someone like was trolling and created a Twitter account pretending to be you on Friday? man i didn't i didn't find out till the day of the fight i woke up i woke up and people was blowing me up sending me stuff on instagram um m mma junkie and stuff was like reposting it and i'm all like what the fuck i'm like hold on i'm like this isn't me i'm all like first of all i like when do i even talk shit like that like you know what i mean people like i fucking fought already like when do i even say some crazy stuff like that um so i made sure as soon as i as soon as i found out i have uh had my people

send me screenshots, sent it to my manager, and I got that got taken care of. And that's when I went over there on Brock's post, and then I hit him up and was like, hey, bro, you know, all bullshit aside, you know, that wasn't me. You know, like, if I got anything to say, I'm going to say it to his face like I did yesterday, you know, we're going to meet, we're going to meet tonight, you know.

And that's just what it was. But whoever that is, man, ain't really got no life, dog, born, probably just being at home, man. Like, I mean, don't get me wrong. the only thing I really didn't like, I just ain't like how he was just saying, talking about his mom and talking about like, oh, like, just make me look crazy. Like, don't make me look crazy. Man, I spent, I spent most of my life trying to build something for myself and you're going to go out there and make me look crazy these people. Like, don't do that, you know? Well, I mean, it's as sucky as that whole situation was. Maybe it means like you made it in a strange way. But before, before I let you go, I want to get your take on what's going on in the country right now.

because 2020 has just been just the weirdest year ever with COVID and now everything that's going on with the horrible police brutality and the death of George Floyd. We've seen some terrible things happen on the streets, but we've also seen some amazing and peaceful things happen on the streets, something we don't see as much as the other stuff. But if you ask anybody, no matter how they look at things, it's pretty scary out there. What's kind of your thoughts on what's going on in the country and in the world right now? man i just think man i think you know um people people people some people are just tired of it man they're they're tired of uh dealing with not being hurt and they're they're lashing out i mean it's not i mean is it right or is it wrong i don't know i don't think i have to the right knowledge to uh to comment on that part but i think people people just feel some type of way right

now and you know they're letting it be known um you know i'm all i'm all with protesting man people people want to protest because I know how police are. I don't have police at me with me. And black cops, white cops, all different type of cars. I have them treat me bad. I have some black cops put me on hot-ass pavement with no shirt on and like pop a lighter in my face and like beat me up damn there, you know. So I know how it is, but not every,

what I'm trying to get at is not every police officer is bad. Just like not everybody is racist. Not everybody hates black people. Just like not all white people. hate black people. Just like, no, all black people are for black people, you know? Like, I think what we need to understand is that we just got to come together as a group of people, as one people, and stop trying to divide ourselves as, like, colors and, like, just bring ourselves together, man, and understand, you know, we can make change.

We just got to do it the smart way. If we keep looting and breaking all these stores and, you know, doing all this stuff, it's setting the people that's processing the right way. It's setting them back, you know? it's setting them back on what they're trying to accomplish. So, you know, like I said, I'm all with it, man. I hope we see some change. You know, I'm with, like, I hope we see justice with Floyd.

And everybody else who's been murdered by a police officer or who lost their life to some type of racism or whatever it is, you know. I just think that we have to be careful with our community. We don't want to destroy the same community that we live in just to have to rebuild it again, you know. So, yeah, I hope everything's smooth. It slows down, everybody calmed down.

I'm not going to be out there protesting. You know, I'm going to be at the house. But I definitely feel for everybody and want the best for everybody. Yeah, well said. It's tough out there, man. I think we're kind of both on the same wavelength right now in terms of, you know, just want everybody to come together. And, you know, I'm not, clearly I haven't been in your shoes,

clear I haven't been in my shoes. And, you know, I haven't been in a lot of other people's shoes either. But it's just tough times. And hopefully we can get through this all together. and come out on the other side better people than we were going into it. But you're obviously in a better place as a fighter as you were heading into that last fight. And can't wait to see what is next for you. Enjoy the time with your kids.

We won't have to bug you for the next couple of weeks, Roosevelt. I appreciate you jumping on back-to-back weeks. Man, congratulations on the win. Thank you, brother. There he is. Roosevelt Roberts putting a bow on another Thursday here on what the heck on MMAfighting.com. Big thank you to all of our guests this week. Brian Kelleher, Sugar Sean O'Malley, Roosevelt Roberts,

and Brandon Roy Val, of course, with UFC 250 coming up on Saturday, we're going to have all of your fight week coverage, beginning later on today with the UFC 250 virtual media day. A bunch of us, we will be there. Tomorrow we'll have the way-ins, we'll have the stair downs, UFC 250 preview show, all the fight night coverage on Saturday. We will not let you down, my friends. And with that, that's a wrap.

I'm done ranting. We will see you this weekend, everybody, I'm sure. But as always, thank you for watching or listening to the show. And have a heck of a week, everybody. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.