MMA Fighting - What the Heck: Episode 20 | Colby Covington, Michael Chandler, Valerie Loureda, Youssef Zalal & Brian Hayes

Episode Date: August 13, 2020

On this week's episode of What the Heck, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck speaks with Michael Chandler (11:50) to recap his first-round finish of Benson Henderson in the main event of Bellator 243 this past Friday night, and becoming a free agent. Bellator women's flyweight Valerie Loureda (43:38) discusses her second-round TKO win over Tara Graff at Bellator 243, the viral dance celebration, and the difficult road to get to the fight. UFC featherweight Youssef Zalal (1:05:24) talks his unanimous decision win over Peter Barrett at UFC Vegas 6 this past Saturday and becoming the first fighter on the roster to win three fights in 2020. EA UFC 4 creative director Brian Hayes (1:31:25) gives you an inside look at the video game's worldwide release on Friday, changes made compared to EA UFC 3, and answers some FAQ from social media about the game. Finally, we replay our exclusive interview with former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington (1:53:58) as he gives an update on the targeted Sept. 19 matchup with rival Tyron Woodley.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. This is What the Heck with Mike Heck on MMAFighting.com. Now here is your host, Mike Heck. What the heck? Well, hello there, everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of What the Heck on MMAFighting.com. I am Mike Heck. Hope you're all getting jacked up and excited for UFC 252 this Saturday night in Las Vegas, Stipei versus DC3 headlines that card for the heavyweight title it's DC's final fight

great co-made event great main card I am excited for it I am excited for this show and on top of that a lot has happened since we last spoke I all this facial hair just grew on my face it's been that kind of a day that kind of a week but let's kind of run through what's been going on UFC Vegas six is in the books Derek Lewis finishes Alex Elyneux and the second round. It was everything that you kind of come to expect from a Derek Lewis fight. He looks good early, gets in danger, gets a break, comes out guns blazing, finishes Alexio Lennox in the slim, trim, Blackbeast, who is aiming to, I guess, be even more slim and even more trim. It's a bad man. Three wins in a row now. He's going to have his eye on Saturday night's title fight for sure,

as will Curtis Blades, as will Francis and Gondon. who more than likely will get the next title shot regardless of what happens at the UFC Apex. I'm curious to see what happens if Daniel Cormier wins the title and goes off into retirement. Will they give Steepay the next shot? Will they do Inganu Blades? Will they do Ingano versus Lewis 2 to try to make up for that first fight? I don't know. Lots of fascinating storylines to come about after Saturday night.

We also had Bellator 243. go down the night before this past Friday night. And it was a huge night for Michael Chandler, Knox L Benson Henderson in the first round of the main event. And he is now a free agent. And he has a ton of momentum and has a lot of options ahead of him in a big way. I am very intrigued by this story. And as a matter of fact, we're going to talk about that in great detail in a matter of moments on the program as well as another big moment that happened on Friday night. at Mohegan Sun that got a lot of attention as well. But to add to this crazy news cycle earlier today as we record this open,

it is Wednesday night, way later than I normally record these, H. Van Zantzance signs a multi-fight, multi-million dollar deal, not with Bellator, not resigning with the UFC, not won, not Ryzen. She signed it with bare-knuckle fighting championship. And I have to say, this was surprising for a number of, reasons. And let me just get this out of the way because I've seen some things on social media because people have been talking about it. And then I'm going to get a little more into the reaction of the signing itself. But as far as the timeline goes for the signing, this is what I've

been told. This is what I know. A couple of weeks ago, there were a couple of reports on Twitter that said that Paige Van Zant going to BKFC was a done deal or very, very, very close to being a done deal. Now, trust me when I tell you this, when I or any of my colleagues see something like that, we do what all journalists do or are supposed to do. You don't go ahead and write it up as fact. You check it out with sources. And not just one source, you check it out with multiple sources. And a couple of weeks ago, as these reports are coming out, it caught my eye, caught everybody on the site's eye. So I spoke personally with multiple people, probably five, and I'd be willing to guess that 80% of those people, probably all five of them,

would have confirmed this information to me had it been done. I was told consistently by everybody that a preliminary discussion had taken place between David Feldman, BKFC, Paige Van Zant, and her team. No offer was made and that this was far, far away from being anywhere close to done. Today or Wednesday as we record, but it'll be Thursday as you hear this, Ariel Hawani of ESPN reported it as a done deal. We did what we normally do. We checked with the folks close to the situation. A lot of the same people that we asked before, they confirmed it was a done deal at that point. That's how it works with the news cycle.

But it is a done deal now, and I am surprised that this happened. I'll also add that while I'm surprised, and I'll be honest, I'm laying my cars on the table here, well, I don't love it. I'm not a huge fan of it. I get it. Big money like that, multi-million dollar deal to compete, go get it. So I guess all I'll say is I hope it works out. I thought for sure Bellator would be the destination.

I think most people thought that with Page's husband, Austin Van der Fuert, being there, being a rising star at 185 pounds. for the company, I thought Paige was a no-brainer. Because not just, you know, not just to compete at 125 pounds, a fight between her and a Leone-McFarlane would do great numbers. But she's got, she's very good on the microphone. When it comes to commentary, she'd be great on the, on the broadcast booth, doing the, you know, kind of what Chale Sunnan does. You know, if Chale can't make it, slot Paige in there.

I thought she'd have been great at that. But in the end, it was a two-horse race. Paige went with the money and good on her. And I want to see fighters have as much success as possible. And hopefully Paige has as much success as possible in the sport with BKFC. That's all I'll say. I have no idea what the negotiations were actually like behind the scenes. I don't know specific numbers.

I don't know what Bellator offered her. I don't know what her BKFC deal is. I'm told that it's pretty damn good. And most would probably do what Paige did. But here we are. I mean, in the year of our Lord 2020, with everything that has happened this year, Hage Van Zant is a member of the BKFC roster. If you told me that at this time last year, if I came in, if I was part of my fighting back then,

I came on this microphone, I said, guess what? Hage Van Zant, by this time next year, is going to be a member of bare-knuckle fighting championships? You would never believe me. You probably would have thought it was nuts. You would have torched me. But here we are. This is as 20-20 of a story as this gets. So I wish BKFC, good luck with this deal,

which Paige Van Zand, all the best of this deal, and huge news story. So there you go. Anyways, we have a fun show. Absolutely stacked lineup. So let's run down the guest list and then we'll get right to the first fighter that's going to join me. And on Tuesday, you may have seen this already, maybe not,

but I spoke with Colby Covington. It was scheduled to be released on this program. which drops every Thursday at 10 a.m. Eastern time. But he did offer some insight on the targeted booking with Tyron Woodley, which is being slated for September 19th. There's still some things up in the air. As you probably know by now, September 19th, that sticks out to you when it comes to the UFC

because that's the date that Israel Adesania is supposed to fight Paulo Costa for the middleweight title. As you're probably seen with reports, I can confirm this as well. there is talks that the UFC might move UFC 253, which was set for September 19th, back a week to September 26th in Abu Dhabi, which means the September 19th card in Vegas would be a fight night card probably on ESPN, and that the plan would be, if that is the case, that Covington versus Woodley would headline that card in a five-round main event. and after getting Colby's take on the negotiations where the fight is at compared to some of the reports that came out, Colby said some things. We ended up releasing it early.

So if you miss that conversation, we will re-air it on the back end of the program. Okay, it's going to be the very last thing you hear. So if you watched it, you can watch it again. If you don't want to watch it again, you don't have to. But if you haven't seen it, you can watch it as we wrap things up later on. It talks about Woodley, talks about the Walterweight Division, Usman versus Mazadol, how that all played out. Steep A versus DC3 and much more.

And then my kid showed up in a Spider-Man costume. And I think Colby turned baby face, at least for a couple of minutes there. But good stuff. That'll happen at the very end. On Friday, the brand new EA UFC 4 video game is going to be released worldwide. And social media has been buzzing about it, the early looks, the changes that have been made compared to UFC 3 and, you know, anybody that's on MMA Twitter right now, you've seen this topic.

One of the big ones has been the roster, who's on the roster, who is not on the roster. So I had the chance to speak with the creative director for the game for EA UFC 4, Brian Hayes, who is a big MMA fan. He's been in the combat sports world in terms of developing video games for a long time, Fight Night Champions, which is one of the coolest fighting video games that came on in like 2010, 2010, 2011. He was a big part of that game. So we're going to have a little conversation about the brand new UFC 4 game and a whole bunch of other stuff.

I don't know jack crap about video games, but this is an educational one, at least for me anyway. So hope you guys enjoy that. Yusuf Salal will join us after becoming the first fighter on the UFC roster to pick up three wins in 2020, defeated Peter Barrett via unanimous decision. He landed one of the most ferocious spinning back kicks that you will ever see in the first round of that fight. But Peter Barrett showing that New England grit and toughness. Always enjoy catching up with the Moroccan devil. We'll do so at the halfway point of the program.

Speaking of Bellator 243, a young woman whose stock may have risen more than anybody else's. Whether it be Bellator or the UFC roster, maybe Michael Chandler is up there as well. Compared to where she started to where she is now, I think Valerie Laredes stock rose just as much as anybody else as she returns to the program. She was actually one of the very first guests to ever appear on what the heck here on MMA fighting. She's back to recap her finish of Tara Graf, the dance, the crazy road to get to Connecticut for the fight. You'll hear that in around 30 minutes or so. But to kick things off, there probably hasn't been a name said more times over the last five or six days in the sport than Michael Chandler. Knoxo Benson Henderson on Friday

Comes a free agent There's a lot on the line here He gambled on himself And the speculation has been absolutely rampant Since that finish Of Benson Henderson at Mohegan Sun Every show you have listened to this week When it comes to MMA

More than likely discussed Michael Chandler's win Michael Chandler's next move Where will he go? Will he go to the UFC? Will he stay with Bellator? Is he going to one? With that said, let's see where the man himself is at. This came together pretty quickly, but glad we're doing it.

kicking us off this week on what the heck, the man himself, Iron Michael Chandler. All right, Michael Chandler is here. One of the biggest names in the sport right now after a huge knockout of Benson Henderson in the first round of the main event of Bellator 243, the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion of the world, about to dip his toes into free agency. And he's kind enough to join me right now from Arizona. Michael, how are you? Yeah, I'm good, man.

I am, as you said, in Arizona, I am not in my home. I am, we rented a little, a big home out here with a bunch of bedrooms because I got my family coming out, my wife's family coming out. We are on a 12-day hang out by the pool, sip some adult beverages, like blow off some steam. I haven't seen my family in 12 weeks. So the last, you know, the least I could do is giving them 12 straight days. So, man, like you said, man, excited about life, excited to see what happens next. Yeah, congratulations.

on the win. It was a big one for you. You gambled on yourself, paid off in a big way with a beautiful finish over a guy who hasn't been put away in a long, long time. After the win, you wanted to sort of savor the flavor a little bit, but then all the chatter began and you became probably the biggest new story in MMA since then. What have these last five or so days been like for you? It's been crazy, man. Yeah, I mean, you know, number one, as you said, you know, you talk about the pressure gambling on myself. I mean, there was such an immense amount of pressure, you know, You know, you understand it because you're endowed in the sport, but you don't quite understand it from the fighter's perspective.

And then the fans, there's no way the fans could ever expect how much pressure is on you. You know, I mean, if I go out there and lose the Benson Henderson, my stock goes way down. If I go out there and even have a lackluster performance, beat them by decision or split decision, which Benson Henderson is really good at making you not look that good. It's hard to be a dominant fighter against a guy like, Vincent Henderson. He's just too good. He's too solid everywhere. So I knew it was a huge gamble,

and it all worked out really, really well because, as you said, Benson Henderson hasn't been finished in a very long time and finishing him from a South Paul stance that nobody has ever seen me do in about in two minutes and nine seconds was definitely the right way to end the contract. And then just post-fights beats, making sure every single heartbeat, every single person over the last 11 years at Bellator, from the Mike Sarnovsky's to Ian to Dean, to these people that you have no idea who they are, but they have impacted my lives from checking to front of the house,

back of the house, production, music, lights, the people who set up the cages, these people who I have built a relationship, who I have all their numbers in my phone and we speak and we talk, you know, to let them know that if this is the last time that I stepped into that Bellator cage, you guys were part of this journey,

that you guys impacted me more than I ever thought I could be impacted by kind of the people who weren't the high high ups of an organization. And, you know, here we are, man. And now the sky is the limit. I didn't sleep for 36 hours almost because my phone was just blowing up and blowing up and blowing up. People calling. And like if I opened up my social media, it was like a thousand plus. Like there was just so many mentions. It didn't even have the actual number on there because it maxed out so you can't get through them all and you're just like holy cow man i'm just uh you know well michael chandler over here man what's going on why why is everybody talking about me so much so i think it's just been the culmination of this 10 years of people wanted to see me fight

in the ufc or in 2011 whenever i beat eddie alvarez and every single time my contract gets up everybody wants to be fighting the ufc now one fc is a huge player eddie alvarez is over there PFL is a huge player because they have, they have an emerging organization, and they're paying people really well with those million dollar tournament. So tons of options and just couldn't be happier. Yeah, you mentioned the options because, you know, every outlet, every podcast, every video show, they're all talking about you. They're all speculating. Where's Michael Chandler going to go? And I know you're on vacation right now.

You're spending time with your family, but is there a part of you? Are you listening? Is your finger on the proverbial? pulse right now? Are you paying attention to what everyone's saying? It is, man. And my son doesn't understand it yet, but he will someday understand that men work. You know, I've taught him a couple things so far. Every young man falls, but every young man gets back up. And every man has to work. You know, those are a couple things that I just like speak over him and I'll say, every young man falls and he'll say, but every young man gets back up. And you're just like, you know, you're teaching him these things,

right? And so he'll understand that daddy's got to work. My wife is the most supportive, most loving, most amazingly perfect person in the world for me. She is my human being. She is my better half. She is the reason I do what I do. And she understands that you ain't going to get me away from the computer. Of course, I was going to take this interview. Of course, I'm going to be on my phone a little bit.

Of course, we're excited about the future, man. Like, this is, I've worked so hard. And I can honestly say, if I was training for Dave Rickles, Brandon Gertz, I was training for Eddie Alvarez, Will Brooks, Benson, Henderson, Patrickie Pitbull. It didn't matter who I was training for. I was training as if I was about to step in the cage with Khabib, as if I was about to step into the cage with Eddie again, as if I was about to step into the cage with any of the top lightweight in the world. No stone unturned in my preparation, complete discipline, complete excitement about doing everything right so I can go out there and get my hand raised.

So I'm listening. I'm excited. I am taking interviews. Phone is on. Phone is on. And it's blowing up and big things are going to be happening in the next seven days, I would say. What was the buildup for this one like for you? Because you talked about the pressure.

And, you know, as you know, I interview fighters all the time. You and I have chatted multiple times over the years. If there is one person, Michael, one fighter that I've chatted with throughout my career, that I would think would thrive with this pressure. that came with this fight, free agency looming, you know, people questioning the decision from the judges in the first meeting with Benson, Benson talking a little bit of trash along the way, trying to get under your skin. This seemed like it was right up your alley in a strange way, Michael, was it not?

Yeah, you know, the crazy thing, Mike, to tell you the truth is, uh, is I wasn't taught to be like this, man. It was, I was a small guy from a small town who had small ambitions and I was taught to do very small things because venturing out across those county lines meant that you were going to put yourself out there and the chances you fall in a flat in your face were very high. So don't take a chance on yourself. Don't strive too high because if you strive too high, then there's just that that greater likelihood, that greater chance that you're going to fall flat in your face. Somewhere along the way, I duct tape to that little guy from a little town to the to the to the basement of my mind and I was able to to beat him down and put him and corral him into a corner

and turn into this man that God has called me to be because, you know, Michael Chandler was still supposed to be flipping tires at Dobbs tires back in Jefferson County, Missouri or flipping pizza back at Emos Pizza in Jefferson County, Missouri. You know, those are the things that, those are been just fine. I would have been just happy, but those are the things that were kind of put in my future. And to be where I'm at, today on the cusp of something, I don't even know how big this is going to be. I don't know what's going to happen next is really, really, really humbling. So for you to say that, I appreciate that because I really have turned into, I've built this, I've built this, this,

this vessel into a guy who can thrive under pressure, a guy who loves, loves to be in hand-to-hand combat, loves and thrives in that, the blood, in the, the sweat. And I mean, I passed out after the fourth round in my, in that last Benson Henderson fight, woke back up and finished the fight, like just crazy amount of stories, pee in blood and broken ribs and the messed up leg and just like all these different things throughout this career that has turned me into the man that I am. And yeah, I thrived in it. It was scared to death. You heard me in my post-fite speech. In my post-fite speech, I was scared to death because everything rode on those 15 minutes. If I go out there and have lackluster performance, my wife has less food on her table,

My son has less money in his bank account for everything he wants to do for the rest of his life. But it was time to go out there and perform. And man, by God's grace, it worked out perfectly. And here we are. And my spirits couldn't be higher. My heart is full. And I can honestly say I'm in the best place mentally, physically, spiritually that I've ever been in my entire life. And it's a good time to become a free agent.

And it's a good time for all these different organizations to want to get a crack at this opportunity. Was that the most nervous you've ever been for a fight? I won't say nervous because luckily, as I said, you know, like, I'll go back to the sport of wrestling. You know, every young fighter who's listening to this right now, please, I implore you, get in the wrestling room, put on those wrestling shoes. If you are young enough to join the middle school wrestling team, the high school wrestling team, do yourself a favor because you will never be in my shoes in the sport of mixed martial arts and be able to compete. at the highest level you possibly can without the sport of wrestling. It will 100% make you a better human being. I competed thousands of times in wrestling.

Big, big states. Jordan Burroughs, Gregor Gillespie, Jordan Lean, Mike Poetta, these big, big, big names in the sport of wrestling. And every single time the pressure was on, and now every single time that I've fought, what is Eddie Alvarez twice, Will Brooks after losing to him, Brent Premis after getting injured,

um, Benson Henderson twice now. I won't say I was nervous because I was ready to embrace. I always say God just, my prayer is always, I'm not praying for the victory. I'm praying for the opportunity to perform at the level of which I deserve to perform at.

And then after that, secondly, not for the victory, but that all bets will be off. And that I will just go out there and be okay with the uncertainty that's about to happen because you're about to get tied onto a tornado for 15 minutes, 25 minutes,

and I was okay with it. Benson Henderson went out there, came out strong, and stood toe to toe with me and came at me, which was a huge mistake. And for him, it was a huge mistake. And it worked out in my favor.

I was able to go out there and get to finish in the first two minutes. Onward and upward and upward, here we go, man. Obviously, I'm not a fighter, and I respect you guys do. But I like to live vicariously through you guys every once. a while. Did you know when that left hand landed? Because Benson is super tough to put away,

as you know, but were you like, ooh, that was clean. This is a wrap. Like, did you just feel it? Did you know? That's funny, man. Like, Mike, I will tell you right now, I didn't even know that I hit him with the left hand. I'm telling you right now, listen, first of all, when I go back and watch a fight, let's unpack it a little bit. When I go back and watch a fight, I am extremely happy with my progression. Number one, my poison and my composure after getting hit with some big shots by Benson and him almost confusing me

because I thought he was going to run the whole fight. The whole fight. I trained with a training partner of mine, good friend of mine, Evan Elder, and he ran from me for 25 minutes every single sparring session so I could get a beat on him, cut him off, hit his body, hit his head,

go high, go low, hit him with combination. Benson Henderson was coming at me. So first of all, he confused me. second of all after the fight I'm screaming I'm pumped up Greg Jones comes in Henry Hoof comes in and and I was like hey

what did I hit him with and Greg Jones my my coach wrestling coach said you hit him with a left hand and I go no I didn't I don't knock people out with left hands like I get like I'm an orthodox fighter maybe I hit him with a hook but he's like no you hit him with a straight left hand

I'm like what do you mean I hit him a straight left hand and then I go back and watch the fight and I switched stances. I kind of got in there and realized that switching stances was going to work really well against them because I stung them two or three different times, switching stances,

keeping my combinations long, switching up, keep going high and low, touching the leg, touching the body, touching the head. And then when I threw that kick, Landis off ball,

hit him with the one, too. He went down. And then obviously he was on his hands and knees and I threw that uppercut. They hit him right on top of the head and kind of jarred his head back, you know, did something with the spine.

and that's what put them out, and then it was a couple of punches there. But Mike, I did not even know I hit him with a South Paul straight left one, too. I had no idea. If you said, Mike, I bet you a million dollars you did it. I would have taken that bet right in there in that case. Is this common for you? Like, is this the first time that you've landed and finished a fight like that where you had no idea how it started?

No, it is. It is because even you're just, you're in the zone. And it's funny, too, because you know you're thinking. You know your brain is working. You know, you know, you know, as an athlete, you are cognitively thinking about zig, zag, move, footwork, you know, picking up faints, picking up his fanks, picking up his tendencies, picking up his habits, you're downloading everything. So you're thinking, but when something happens that fast, and then it's just elation,

because you got to remember, we were just talking about the pressure. I felt like I had a 1,200-pound gorilla on my chest and on my shoulders for the last five months, knowing that I had to win this fight. So when Benson-Henderson goes down, his eyes roll in the back of his head, and I land down a couple in Dan Merrill out of jumps on me. I'm not thinking about what I hit him with. I'm thinking about thank you. God, that this thing is over.

Thank you that nothing bad can happen. Thank you that I can't fail one of these coronavirus tests that we were, I mean, that was the other thing. We're worried about passing a coronavirus test. If I don't pass or he doesn't pass, we don't get a paycheck.

We don't get the fight. My contract and free agency gets extended another six months. Who knows? So it is very common that you don't really know what happens in these exchanges, whether it's, Maybe it's just me, but I hear about it a lot.

You're just, you're in the zone. You're thinking, but you're not, you're not thinking with enough memory to be able to remember what the heck just happen. All you know is your habit, the fight is over, collect your paycheck, kiss your wife, and go just freaking chill out. Yeah. That's, that's actually super fascinating that, uh, I do hear that. I've heard that like once or twice, but to hear you say that after a finish like that

is, is pretty fascinating and surprising to me. But what was interesting about Friday night is like, you know, you knew the questions would be coming about free agency. you didn't want to touch on it too too much on Friday. But one question I did have was how it worked with Bellator. Like we see with the UFC sometimes when fighters get into free agency. It's usually like a 90-day window before they could sign elsewhere. There's options to match and so forth.

How does it work in your particular case? Like are you officially free to negotiate with other promotions right now or is there a waiting period involved? Yeah, so there's a waiting period. There's a waiting period involved. There's these certain boilerplate things that's in every country. from UFC to pride back in the day, Strike Force back in the day, Bellator now, OneFC.

You know, there's an exclusive negotiation period. Hours is short, and you can also get it waived. I mean, at this point, you know, not that I'm not here to negotiate with Bellator, as I've said before, I love the idea of going to OneFC finishing the trilogy with Eddie fighting across the world. I love the idea of fighting all the top ten guys in the UFC. I love the idea of staying with Bellator for the next 10 fights,

getting a job on the mic behind the dead. desk sailing off into the sunset being the most decorated bellator fighter of all time i love all of those different options but scott cocker had the opportunity to sign me five months ago six months ago four months ago before this fight happened and it didn't happen so there's really not a huge reason a huge time that we need to sit here and negotiate scott you had a you had the opportunity you let me go into free agency you said i'm not 21 years old anymore and i just finished your best lightweight and I finish your best lightweight that you have on the roster besides me. So I don't really understand, you know, why it needs to be any longer than right now, you know,

like I think, let me go see what I'm worth, you know. I got phenomenal management. Dave Martin, Randall Allibon, had been with me since day one. I've never once wavered that they are the best managers in the world. My manager is an attorney. He bulletproofs my contracts. He negotiates the best money, the best, the best pay, the best, um, outside the cage. things outside of the cage deals. So let's go see what I'm worse. What will one FC offer me? What will the UFC offer me?

Maybe Dana says I suck. You know, maybe Chachari's like, yeah, that, you know, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, uh, that, uh, trilogy with Eddie is sounds cool, but yeah, we don't really want to pay you that much. Maybe that's, maybe that's the case. I doubt it. But let me go see what I'm worth, you know? I think on top of that, too, is, you know, Belcher's, you know, Belch. has been your home for over a decade, and you've accomplished so much of them, you've won

world title, you've become the face of the organization for a long time in a lot of people's opinions. And I'll say, which you probably heard at this point after keeping your finger on the pulse, the most common thing people have said when it comes to your free agency is that, yeah, they wouldn't be surprised to see you back in Bellator, but it doesn't seem like there's much else for you to do there. Like, you know, outside of maybe the Petrcio Pitbull rematch, maybe the trilogy fight with Brent Primus, but other than that, like, you've kind of slayed all the dragons here, is that how you feel in a way or do you feel that there's some more meat on the bellator bone I think there's a ton of meat on the bellator bone number one I love fighting for scott

cocker rich chew mottogan I love I love fighting for Viacom I love fighting um for those the people there at viacom that's number one and number two number three we they just signed a deal with CBS CBS sports and showtime so there's all kinds of stuff that could be happening there I wouldn't be afraid to throw on some boxing gloves and go get in a Showtime boxing fight. I wouldn't be afraid to, you know, they're going to be doing co-promotions, just like we did Bellator kickboxing, Belator Cage in the same arena in one night. Don't be surprised if you see Canelo Showtime boxing, actually, Ardezone boxing, I'm sure it can happen. Michael Chandler co-headlining two different cars.

I mean, there's all kinds of different things that could be happening there when it comes to co-promotion. Speaking of co-promotion, I would love to go to Risen. I would love to win that Risen Belt. Represent Belator, win the Risen Belt against Tafiq, whoever the lightweight champion is there, Mustafa, or whatever his name is. Everybody wants to see that fight, especially in Asia, especially in the Eastern European, those Russian countries. I would love the revenge against Pitbull. I would love the revenge against Patricio. Do I think I beat them nine times out of ten?

Absolutely. Do I think I zigged when I should have zagged? Absolutely. Did he catch me and the fight got ended? Absolutely. Do I love, do I love, or do I, do I have enough faith in Eleanor to know that Mike Cogan and Rich Schuett and Scott Coker are trying their hardest to continue to try to sign more lightweights? I do think they are.

It just, it just guys need to become free agents. Guys need to bet on themselves. I mean, a lot of guys don't, a lot of guys don't bet on themselves and they actually become free agents. I don't think there's been one free agent. in the, and coming from the UFC or one FC in a while, you know, everybody just keeps resigning. And that's fine. Everybody can just keep, they can do what they want to do.

But, you know, you can't necessarily put that on onus on Belator. Guys have to actually become free agents like I have now, have an exclusive period with Belator. And now I'm going to be able to field office from every other organization. So, yes, I think there's still a lot of more meat up, a lot more meat on the bone. Not to mention the emotional factor of the fact that I hold almost every single record in the organization. There is a sentimental connection to me knowing that I am who I am because of what Bellator has done for me. And also the feather on my cap knowing that Bellator is who they are because of the blood, sweat, tears, and fights that I put on for them. So all I know is it sounds like it's going to be such a hard decision, but I always make the best decision possible with the information that I have when the opportunity presents itself.

And it's going to be no different this time. And I think in the next couple months, we're going to know exactly where I'm going to land. And I want to fight by the end of 2020. Yeah, I think from a business sense, I knew there would be some meat on the bone, the competitive nature, because I know how much you love to compete and you want the biggest challenge as possible. And if you feel like it's there for Bellator great, there's going to be some things out there else with the rising idea is a good one. But you don't have to say specifically, but are you leaning one way or another based on your gut right now? Like you still have to hear offers and see your worth and all that stuff, the business stuff and all those other things behind the scenes.

But right now, is there a favorite in your eyes? There isn't. And the only reason there isn't is because I actually haven't spoken to any organization. You know, I'm still under, when I'm under an exclusive negotiation period with Bellator, that means we are not talking to anybody. That means all these other organizations can reach out to my manager all they want. But my manager is a man of integrity. He's a man of principal. And as long as we are under this exclusive negotiation period, there's no talks of money.

How many days or months are on my exclusive period. How long this? What's Bellator offering? There is none of that because my manager, Dave Martin, is a man of integrity. And we want to operate with integrity now so that, number one, everybody understands who we are and how we operate, moving forward in good faith. And secondly, the cream always rises at the top. never grow weary and doing right. You know, maybe it takes a little bit longer to get a deal done because we're not over here,

sending messages to 1FC and UFC and UFC to like to look at and scratch below the surface and try to find out what the numbers are going to be. Yeah, okay, that's cool. Like I said, I'm here in Arizona, hanging out with my wife. My family's on their way here in a day or so. All I have is time. I don't need to do anything shady or against the grain or break any kind of contract, finding contracts to get through the delayed gratification period.

But as far as leaning somewhere, I would say I'm not leaning any direction because we haven't looked at elsewhere or spoken to anybody. However, I will say there is a ton, and I mean a ton of fan pressure to go to the UFC, you know, or, and there's quite a bit out there, actually, a lot more than you would think to go do that trilogy fight with Eddie Alvarez. So I've never once listened to the fans. Number one, the fans will, the fans will, you know, give you a thumbs up here, but a nice little, you know, flipping the bird behind the back, you know, it happens.

There's also a ton of people out there who, you know, whenever posed the question, who should Michael Chandler fight the UFC first? They say, well, Michael Chandler would lose the USADA by first round knockout, you know, like, so there's a ton of people out there still who think I'm not clean. They think I'm using drugs. You think I'm using PEDs. They think I wouldn't pass USADA. it's almost as if I want to just sign with the UFC

just so I could shut those people up because I want people to see, I want them to look, I want the lens at which they look at the human spirit through to be optimized, to realize that the human body, the human spirit, the human condition was created for so much more

than we give it credit for. And I've done nothing but beat this body down and build it back up for the last 20 years. So when you got Joe who works a 9 to 5 and he trades stocks, and he hits the gym twice a week, and he doesn't like his gains in the gym, so he accuses me of using steroids.

You can't compare the two, Joe, you train twice a week. I train 26 times a week. You know, I'm training two, three times a day, six days a week, and I've been doing it for two decades, you know. It's just, it's one of those things where it's comical, and it's also exciting because if I did sign with the UFC, six months, one year, two years into the Usada testing pool, people are finally going to be like,

dang, man, that dude was clean this whole time. Maybe I am able to accomplish a little bit more than I thought I could. That's hilarious. You really do see everything, which is pretty hilarious because most fighters don't see everything. Listen, Mike, here's the thing, and I said this. I have had the luxury. I'm not the smartest guy, you know, but I'm not, I'm not dumb.

And I've had the luxury for the last 11 years to be the guy, somewhat on the outside, somewhat on the outside fringes, you know, not in the UFC, not in the organization that's been around for 25 years. I've somewhat been on the outside being able to study and see and look at and plot and plan and download all of this information of all of the stuff that works, you know, from the Connor McGregor who comes in and makes hundreds of millions of dollars to the guy like a guy who I fought years years ago will Brooks who I lost to had a ton of talent who came into the UFC kind of mismanaged his career and now he's gone to everybody in

between I've had that luxury to be able to just sit back and plan and I'm over here I'm stacking my wins stack of my chips I'm chilling I'm hanging I'm enjoying I'm employing extreme patience and I'm employing extreme delayed gratification and I just been watching, you know? So as you said, yeah, I see it all. I don't let a lot of it get to me because if I did, trust me, this phone right here would make me go insane. I don't let it get to me, but I am using it as a tool to plot and plan and see what happens next. So you're still performing at a very high level. You are like still kind of in the prime of your career, despite the age. How long you got, man? I hate asking this question, but like do you get like a

four fight deal in you, a six fight deal? Like, do you think you'll be fighting beyond that? Because if there's anybody you could, it's probably you because you're such a maniac like that. But, you know, where are we thinking right now? Honestly, man. I mean, I easily have eight to ten fights left in me. I really do. And I really think that.

And if I just, if I just look at myself and think about myself how I feel and don't think about my actual age, and I think, okay, eight-fight deal, ten-fight deal. I'm pushing 37-38 years old. My 37-38 is a little different than a lot. lot of people's. I have very little miles on me compared to a lot of guys. I mean, you look at some of these guys in these other organizations. You look at the top five, top six in the UFC.

Look at the last couple of fights. Porre has been in. Look at the last, look at the last fight Hooker was in. Look at the last fight Tony Ferguson has been in. I'm not even going to mention Justin Gachie. Like, look at these, look at the miles of these guys that have put in. I didn't even get hit my last fight, didn't get hit the fight before that. Obviously, I got dropped by pit bull and got punched in the back of the head illegally a bunch of times, which is unfortunate. But before that, didn't get hit in the fight before. I have taken very little damage in the last couple years. When I say I live a clean lifestyle and I was training every single day as if I was fighting the number one lightweight in the world, that's nutrition, that's supplementation, that's sleep,

That's things like cryotherapy, sauna therapy, hyperbaric chambers. That's things like NormaTech boots. That's things like making sure that this body lasts as long as it possibly can. Because the more paychecks I can make, one extra paycheck is X amount of dollars to be able to provide for my wife and son. So I think I've got an eight-fight deal left to me, a 10-fight deal left to me. And I wouldn't be surprised if you see me fight until I'm 40 because now you're starting to see how I can evolve and change. I used to just be a guy who ran forward a thousand miles an hour. Now I'm switching stances.

Now my defense is a little bit better. Now I'm blocking punches. Now I'm going highs and lows. Now I'm gauging and governing the fight rather than just getting into a fist fight. And trust me, I just said this earlier, like, I can't wait to get into a fist fight. Like, the thing that excites me most about fighting in the UFC in the top five, if that's possibility, is the dog fights I'm going to get in. I want sets of stitches. I want my lips to be turned inside out.

I want both my, both my, I want my nose and both my eyes to be to be. swollen shut because I want to give the fans exactly what they want. You're becoming like the Tom Brady of MMA like right now. I love it. Getting better with age, man. I love it, man. It really is. And it's also not just me. It's a testament to the hard work that my coach has put into me. My striking is a direct result of Henry hoofed and not just his technique, not just his footwork, not just his combination, not just his system, but the man, the leader and the person that he is. He makes me believe that I can go out there and strike with anybody in the entire world.

Greg Jones with the wrestling, Tommy Barzini with the NMA wrestling, Corey Peacock with the strength and conditioning. I got phenomenal people around me who are going to prolong this career and we're going to keep on, we're going to keep on stacking titles, man. I'm only three titles in and this is just the beginning. Well, I'm excited to see what is next for you. I don't want to take up any more time. Just realize it's been about 30 minutes and you're on vacation with your family, man. I don't want to hold you up any longer, but I appreciate you. Give me so much time, is always being so open and honest about everything. And I think I know I'm not speaking by myself here.

We are all very excited for Decision Day. I hope you like make a big thing out of it, Michael. Kind of like, do it better than LeBron. They get a hat. They get a hat. Like pull a hat and just be like, all right, I'm going. I'm taking my talents too. I thought about it.

I thought about it, but I'm not exactly. I'm thought about it, but I'm not trying to. The fans will turn on you real quick, but like, who does this guy think he is? Man, I just want to be like, hey, listen, I signed with X and, I'm going. Here's my fight. Trust me. Tune in because you're going to be on the edge of your seat. You're about to see if you didn't know me. If you didn't know me. I'm not here for a long time, but trust me, by God, I'm here

for a good time. Let's go, you know? It's been a few years since I've had the chance to chat with Michael Chandler and what better time than now to reunite. He said he expects some movement to be made in the next seven days or so. I cannot wait honestly to see how this turns out. my gut is telling me that he's going to stick around with Bellator. And if he does, good for him. It's probably the best thing for his family.

I would understand that. But selfishly, and just for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone on this, I want to see him in the UFC. I want to see him in the UFC. Like, I think it would be kind of a miss overall on his career if we looked back at the resume of Michael Chandler and we never saw him fight in the UFC. see, man, that would be rough.

I would love to. I just, I just want to see how he stacks up at 155. Wanted to see it for years. And now we have the chance to make it happen. Probably the best chance we've ever had. I want to see it. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. But I hope it does.

Speaking of Bellator 243, let us chat with Master Valerie Lareda. She had the MA World buzzing on Friday night. And throughout the weekend, she's now 3 and O for Bellator and as a professional fighter. And it was great catching up with her back home in Miami. so let's get to that chat coming out for big win this past Friday night right now. All right, we have one of the big winners from this past weekend back on the show as I kind of faded out there, but she finished Tara Grapp with a buzzer-beater, T-KO at the end of the second round at Bellator 243. She's now 3-0 in the Bellator cage.

Happy to be joined by Valerie Loretta, who was on the very first episode of this program back in the day. Valerie, how are you? Be to be back. There you go. Well, congratulations. First off, I remember we talked about the emotion. that came over you after your first Bellator win last year of a Colby Fletcher, and then, you know, what you felt fighting at MSG, but I'm curious, was this the most

gratifying and satisfying win of your fighting career to date? I think it was just more satisfying for me because there was so much negative talk before my fight. And so I hadn't fought in a long time, so it was looking more of like a social media thing that I was training so hard and it was just really, it was really frustrating for me, but just hearing what people would say, you know, Twitter beef I had and about my TikToks and the way I am, you know, it just made it that much more satisfying

and I had to be that much more petty after my fight. Your first, the first two fights you had for Bellator, you were very aggressive. Like the Lark and Dash fight, especially early on, that was just like an all-out fist fight battle between the two of you. This time, the aggression was definitely still there, but this was a more like reserved aggression than we had seen from you. A lot of movement, a lot of patience shown.

How important was that for you to kind of show that side of your game that, I guess, more calculated approach, so to speak, that you showed on Friday? Well, I'm very hard-headed, so it goes up to me. I would have just gone in and broad with her, but, you know, I stuck to the game plan that my coaches had for me, and we knew she was going to be extremely aggressive and try to take me down the whole time. So it was just a mental battle with myself, stick to this game plan, you know, circle, piece her up and knock her out with a big punch. the buildup to the fight as you sort of alluded to it took off very quickly especially in the days leading up to the fight like during the virtual media day you seem to have a bit of a chip on your shoulder because of that and i know you're dealing with a lot of stuff heading in which we'll get into in a moment but is that accurate that you felt like you had a little more to prove a little more of a chip on your shoulder this time around I was really nervous, like really, really nervous because I had faced a lot of adversity that week before that fight and I was about to pull out. You know, so I had a chip on my shoulder and on top of that, I felt like I had so much to prove.

And I also felt like if I could go through what I went through and come out winning and come out doing something spectacular, this will prove to me that I could go through anything in my life and still be successful in my career. So I had a chip on my shoulder and, you know, I'm petty and I don't say anything. And I stay very quiet until the opportunity I have to just show her face in the cage and that's what I did. Tara obviously had some things to say about you heading into the fight about the marketing and the social media. We're not going to talk social media here specifically, but I know you addressed that a little bit after the win. But was there something specifically that she said that got you a little more fired up than usual? Yes, because she said that the way I promote myself was. demoralizing to the sport.

And then when I heard that, it was over for me. Like, I'm crazy. And I was going to go in there to kill her, not to just hit herself just to kill her because I don't take that. And I didn't want to do anything over social media first. I just wanted to make it seem like it wasn't get to me because I'm an emotional person and I could be an emotional fighter.

So I wasn't letting that get to me until the cage, you know. And then in the cage, I proved my point and I shut her up and I showed a lot of people up. Has that happened to you before when you took on an opponent that talked trash like that, that took shots of you personally to try to get under your skin? Is this the first time that happened or does that happen before? No, this has happened to me a lot before my life. But the thing is that this girl was harassing me literally every day since January, since I had to back out of the fight piece of a torn MCL. Every day she was harassing me.

Every day I would open Twitter and see her stupid name. And every day I would see her post stuff and at me and stuff. And it was just annoying. She was so annoying. I was just so excited to just break her face. So I just, I kept that in my head. I didn't let it get to me because I could get very emotional. And every single day she would harass me.

I'm so happy I don't have to see her name come up anymore. But I just, I let it out into cage. I'm crazy. You can't mess with me like that. So as you mentioned on Twitter after the fight, your manager, Abe Kao, I'll also mention it. You were dealing with a lot heading in to Friday night, one of which was you got into a pretty gnarly car accident

the day before you made the trip to Connecticut. What happened there on the expressway because the photos of the car were pretty gnarly looking? Yeah. That's not even the hardest thing I went through that week, but I don't want to talk about that now. But the day before I left, I had finished training on American Top Team.

I was close to my weight already, like the weight that I leave at. And I finished training, I showered American Top Team. I showered American Top Team. I blow dried my hair. Okay. And I was on the way back from Coconut Creek. And I was driving on the highway and it was a merge. And I was in front of the guy and it was a huge, huge, huge, huge toll truck, like huge.

And he was driving super, super fast. So he tried to pass me on the merge. Okay. And I freaked out because I had no more space and I tried to break that he didn't realize that my car was there. and his whole, the whole back thing of his truck hit me, and I went spinning into the side of the rail, and I broke as hard as I could,

and I braced as hard as I could, and I stopped right before, like, the metal, and I swear to God, if I would have hit that, I would have flipped or something. But I got hit on the whole side of the car, super strong impact, and as soon as I just raced, like, if I was getting punched or something,

I just as hard as I could, and, like, the only thing I thought about was, like, getting my hand raised and this can't be happening, to me and it was just really bad. So on top of that, I had to wait there for three hours for the cops and the ambulances and everything and I'm like, there's no way I could win this fight when something like this just happened to me. Literally, I leave at 8 a.m. and it's it's 9 o'clock at night. I'm like, I can't be dealing with this right now. I can't be thinking about this right now.

There's a girl who's about to go into the cage to break my face and I'm dealing with a problem like this. I'm like, I didn't, I didn't think I would be able to pull through because it was just so much and my call, it was just, it was bad, but then I spoke to a sports psychologist and my manager's sister and they talked since to into me and, you know, they're like, Valerie, things like this happened to everybody. Because I thought it was like a sign from God, like telling me not to fight or something, because that has never happened to me like that, so bad. And I was like, you know, Valer, if you could overcome something like this and go into the cage, nobody has to know anything.

Pretend it didn't happen. Put those emotions aside. and use those emotions in the cage. Transfer that energy into the cage, and that's exactly what I did. It was a tow truck that hit you? Yes, it's a huge. I got pictures.

Oh, my God. Was there anybody else in the car with you? No, it was just me. I was coming from ATT. I was happy. My hair was done. I'm like, okay, it's fight week. You know, I'm leaving in the morning.

I have to go home. I'm back. How close were you to actually pulling out of the fight? Wednesday, so I left Sunday. Wednesday, I love Sunday. I had a huge problem happen, which I can't talk about yet, but really, really bad. And that's when I was about to pull out of the fight. And then two minutes after I got home, Bellator posted my fight.

And I was like, oh, my God, what do I do? Either I let this get to me and I let this what happened in my life, control my future or I face adversity. I'm not a victim. I overcome it. And, you know, people don't like victims. People like people who overcome certain situations in their life. And they're still successful.

And, you know, I spoke to a psychologist and got my mind right. My mind wasn't there. And I said, no, I texted Abraham Nana and go, no, I'm going to fight. Everything better now, at least. We don't have to get into specific, but everything's better now. Everything is good now and you know I feel so much peace after this fight. I proved a lot to myself, which is most important. After this fight I know I could face anything in my life and get through it.

You know, my mom was a leukemia survivor and that's what I kept telling myself. Valier, your mom survived, leukemia, bone marrow, transcendent, and to beat it for you and your sisters, you know, these things that happen to you are bad, that there's people who their family members have passed away and have had major problems before the fight and they still fight. You know, so I just kept in my mind, and I know I'm young, that I had to really, really mature in that moment, take control of my life and my career and say, I'm going to do it,

and I'm going to win, and I'm in control of my fight, and I'm going to win, and there's no plan B. There must have been, like, a giant weight lifted off your shoulders when the fight was waved off on Friday night, because, you know, we saw the emotion after the Colby Fletcher win, but with everything you had to deal with, that must have felt incredible, did it not? It's not fighting for a year and four months or six months, whatever it was. Going through the reality show, losing so much weight, you know, having that problem I had, having my car crash.

You know, my family went through a huge, my parents were through a huge divorce last year, and people don't know that my dad's always been my instructor, and by the cage, my parents wanted a huge divorce. My family completely separate, like just so many life changes at a very young age when I'm trying to be someone in my career. and I could have lost myself and I could have gone the bad route that, you know, I'm just so proud of the way that I was able to just keep one thing in focus. And it's what I really want for myself and it's to prove the world that I'm a high class martial artists. And I'm a competitor. And every day during quarantine, I trained as much as I could. I lost the weight close to when Bellasor calls me, I could make weight.

I did everything right that I did face a lot before this fight. And people were talking so bad to me before and stuff. but if they only knew what I've been through on my age and how hard it's been for me to get here, my family is rich, you know. I've done this on myself, and it's all been for my family and my legacy, and here I am, but this fight was just emotions.

People who don't know the background don't understand why I dance like that, but I just like that because I'm petty, you know, you talk shit about my dancing, and I'm going to dance and do 30 TikToks after because that's the way I am, you know. So, I don't know, it was just the most satisfying. I'm feeling that this just asserted to myself about your competitor, what you do in the gym,

the people you train with, you know who you are. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise you know who you're going to be in the sport and you know you're going to be champ. Yeah, it's funny you mentioned the dance because that's kind of one of the big things that stuck out about the night because I host, I was hosting a live post-fight show after the UFC event on Saturday and we take like viewer questions and stuff. And one of the viewers asked whose dance was better, Valerie Lauretas or Valentina Shepchenko's. And personally, it was hard for me to say

because I'm not like a dance judge or anything. But one thing I did notice was the respective dances come from two different places. Like Valentina's is just like a pure dance of joy. I mean, your show showed some joy too. But it seemed like to me, this was just more of a dedicated to the haters kind of a dance. It was sort of a message to the critics.

It was like a deal with that kind of thing. It was like, you wanted to talk shit about my dancing? Now I'm going to dance for five minutes and I'm going to dance salsa. I'm on a tour. I'm going to do everything. I'm not well. This is how I'm in my life, though, with everything.

And it's just funny that in the cage, that just came out. I didn't plan that bit. I knocked her out. I had to scream at her because I really didn't like her. Generally, I really didn't like her. And I'm always so respectful and polite, but just the ratchiness came out of me and I couldn't control it.

I loved it because you were talking some smack afterwards, but then you still went over the martial arts and you came out. You went over, and you bowed before her. You have to be professional. You're a master, but at the same time, like, I don't disrespect anybody.

She disrespected me. I didn't give her one word, so that was my time. I had to. I couldn't control myself. I feel out of all the fighters who competed over the weekend between Bellator and the UFC,

in terms of, like, stocks rising, I feel like yours rose as much, if not more, than anybody else on either card. Have you sort of felt a bit of a momentum switch since Friday night? No, definitely. You know, I, okay, the thing I didn't, I'm very good at capitalizing on moments, right?

So when I found out it would be the first go to fight on the Bellator card since the quarantine, you know, everybody's at home, they have nothing to do, they do little watch parties, you know, everybody's going to be watching these fights, right? We're live sports right now, and people don't have that at home, and Belletoy is giving me this opportunity.

But I knew that, if I did something impressive, you know, my stock would go up. And not like this. This is another level of just, it went viral everywhere, you know? Everybody in Miami is going crazy. I've been here, I got to the airport. Everybody was clapping. I'm like, oh, my God, everybody watched my fight.

It makes me so happy because this is what I do it for. I'm an entertainer. I'm a performer. I have a message to send to the world, and people are starting to get it. Was it almost better just for this kind of a fight to have it in the empty arena? Like obviously you feed out the noise and the energy and stuff, but because this got so personal, there was sort of like a raw, gritty quality to it that sort of enhanced it even more.

What did you think of like the empty arena field of this fight? Oh my God, it was so much fun. Because I don't know, I felt like it was just so personal and so close. And, you know, in Tequona, I'm used to fighting. We're not a lot of fans either way. So that didn't even make a difference for me. But it was fun because I had my sister right there. I felt like if we were my dad's tefondo school,

we were at ATT, just, I was about to do a sparring. It made me a lot more, like, comfortable in that moment, especially because I was going through so much, just my emotions, I was able to control it better. And, you know, my sister was there with me, my coaches. I heard them perfectly. It was just so much fun. And then after we were dancing, it just,

The Littance Tour is amazing. The production's amazing, and I'm just so grateful to them. Is your sister usually in your corner? She's always on my fights, but this is the first time she's in my MMA corner, but she's been in my Tijuana corner since we were babies. Like, this is what we do. My sister knows me better than anybody else, and my sister is also a high-level Ticondo fighter. My sister's better than me in Ticcundo. I could say that she can lift her leg up and do 50 million kicks.

And my sister's gorgeous. So, and she does Collegiate Ticombo. And my sister knows me as a fighter. And this whole fight week, we were chilling. She was ordering room service. We were watching shows. We were watching Netflix. Like if we were in a beauty pageant,

like if we were in a cheerleading competition, and then Friday we're like, well, NAPI is time to fight. Let's get Friday. We just got cute. We put on our matching, because she was wearing my matching top to my fight clothes. And I did my little makeup before the fight,

and we just, this is what we do. We just go. We fight. We win. We come back. I know Jorge Mazadol shouted your praises on Twitter, but I know you've built a really strong relationship with Yawani and Jacek. You helped her train for the Zhang Wei-Lei fight,

which was an epic battle, one of the greatest fights of all time. Did Yohanna reach out to you to congratulate you on the victory? Yes, of course, Joanna's so proud of me, because Joanna told me that I'm going to be champ. I just need to stay focused and not listen to what anybody says to me. And she knows I was nervous coming into this fight, but yes, she reached out to me. And I showed her Tara before the fight. I sent her Tara's videos, Joanna, what do you think, whatever?

Joanna's been a huge role model to me in the sport. You know, I respect and I admire her so much. So you're 3 in 0 now. You mentioned it. You love building upon momentum. You do it very well. How do we build upon this? Have you thought about when you maybe want to get back in there and do it again?

Yeah, November, December, I'll be back. As you know, there are always people out there who are going to downplay what you do in the sport, whether it's you or anybody else. And one of the primary things that I've heard is, you know, when does she get to get a step up and take on a real fighter? I mean, you're 3 and 0. You're 22. You're like just getting started here. So people need to slow their role a little bit.

But I think Bellator does a really good job of developing talent. So what is your sort of idea, your plan when it comes to your progression and building your way back up there? Well, I trust Velator and I trust my manager. And I feel people don't realize and they don't understand I am 22 years old. I'm one of the youngest in this sport. Okay, I'm only three and all. And amateur, I had three fights, but I've been fighting Tequonos until the baby. So I've been doing this my whole life.

It feels the same to me. So, yes, I do have my Tecono background. And yes, I'm fighting for Bellator, one of the biggest MMA platforms in the world. But I'm 22 and I'm 3 and all. And if it were up to me, I would rush and stuff. But I just need to trust my management. I'm Belator. They make the right decisions for me.

American top team has developed me into the MMA fighter. I'm showing in the cage right now. And we're going to continue going the right way, the right journey. And everything comes at its time and its moment. And when it's time, I'll have that belt. to be 22 again you're 15 years younger than me it's so wild to even say out loud

I forget my age I feel like if I'm 30 I feel like if I'm super old as a fighter in the sport because I've just been getting hit for so many years you got that life experience that's for sure well now that you're back home in Miami where days removed from the big win

you know you've let it kind of sink in a little bit what's the message to your fans the people that support you and even the haters and the ones who doubt you, what do you want to say to everybody? Okay, there's people, either you understand me or you don't. I feel like there's people that understand me

and there's people that they don't get me. But I understand myself and sometimes I think I'm a genius and sometimes I think I've just been hit too many times in the head hard, but I know what I'm doing, I know what I'm capable of, I know I'm going to be the champion.

I know that no matter everything else I do in my life, what I always prioritize is training harder than any other girl out there. So yes, I'm only 3 and O, but I have huge potential. You know, I don't listen to what anybody says. I'm extremely confident in myself, my skills, and who I could be in this world, and no one is going to change that. Well said. Amazing performance, Valerie, especially with everything you had to deal with.

I appreciate you giving me so much time today. Congratulations again. You have great momentum right now. And I think I speak for a lot of people. We look forward to seeing what is next for you. So all the best do you, Valerie, enjoy some fun in the sun and enjoy the victory. Thank you so much for having me. Bye.

On to the next one. Thanks, Valerie. Great stuff right there from Valerie Loretta. Listen, she's young. She's getting her feet wet in this crazy sport of ours. Of course, she's easy on the eyes. I mean, I'm married. So, I mean, whatever.

She's got a little sassiness to her, as you heard in that conversation, that's for sure. She's got that attitude, right, that people can kind of understand, especially now in 2020. But she's getting it done. She's making a name for herself. Whether you like her, whether you don't, there's not a lot of gray area with Valerie Lareda. And I think that's what's going to make her very successful in this business. And if you're Bellator MMA, you're not going to take the WWE approach and listen to the fans. There's no need to rush her.

These are the kinds of fights that she needs to continue to have. Four and O, five, and O, six, and O, no. Let's keep building up, build that confidence, and then, you know, start testing her a little bit more. Keep her progressing, and then we'll see what she's got. But big night, big weekend for Valerie Loretta this past weekend, excited to see what is next for her. Same can be said for Yusuf Salah,

one of the most infectious personalities in our great sport. He's now 3 in the UFC. All of those came in 2020. And guess what? A little trivia question. Yousaf Zalal is the only fighter on the UFC roster who can say that. The only guy with three wins in 2020 coming off his big win over Peter Barrett at UFC Vegas 6 on Saturday night.

Here he is the Moroccan devil Yusuf Zalalal. All right. Yusuf Zal is back on the show after becoming the first UFC fighter to pick up three wins in 2020. Short notice, no problem for the Moroccan devil as he defeated the super game. Peter Barrett this past Saturday night at UFC Vegas 6. Yousef, you rookie of the year contender you. How's it going? Pretty good, man.

Thank you for that. I appreciate it. Absolutely. This has been such a crazy year in the sport and around the world, and you've been super active. You're winning fights left and right. Does it even feel like you've had three fights this year, or is it like one giant fight that's lasted six months? Man, it is very weird. You know, you fight the first fight, and you're like, oh, it's UFC debut.

you're going to start the John Jones Reyes cards, you know. It was like, you know, it's unbelievable feeling, you know? Like you feel so much like, oh my gosh, like this is finally here. And then all the pandemics happened and you're like, well, what the hell, man? There's two, I had two fights in six months, I mean, in six weeks, six weeks total. And you're like, you look at it like, are you kidding? You like, almost like can't believe it, you know, and almost like can't believe it. But I was like, hey, man, if they give me the opportunity,

I won't say no, like I said before, man. I'm just happy and blessed and grateful for all the opportunities that I have. This fight in particular with Parra was one that I had circled. I actually said on our preview show that this was my under-the-radar fight of the night. And in the first round,

you land this gnarly spinning back kick to the face and it was as clean as could be. And we thought you were on your way to your first finish, your first bonus, a nominee for knockout of the year. What the hell is going through your mind when you land that kick and then the fact that Barrett was, I guess, as slippery as his nickname suggests to survive that whole thing. So I was like, I was like in the

fight and during the fight, I was like, you know, I'm just about to feel myself like moves. And then I moved to the middle. And I was like, you know what? I'm just going to throw this. I usually don't throw this because I get like I get so terrified about people who think about back or something like that. I was like, no, let me just move around. And then as soon as I turned around landed it, I literally looked at him for like a second. I don't know if you guys seen in the, like the fight. I looked at him. I was so shocked. I was like, are you kidding me? Did actually land? And then I was like, okay. Like you said, I was like, oh my God, this is going to be my first finish ever in the UFC while I'm hitting him. This is while I'm hitting him in the ground.

And I was like, oh, as soon as he got up, I was like, this son of God just got up. I was like, are you kidding me? And I was like, I had to stay control. I had to stay professional. I was like, come on, come on, keep up, keep up, stay at it. But he was a tough guy, man. He was definitely tough guy. There were some, some big strikes and big finishes throughout the prelims, and yours was still the strike of the night despite not getting the finished. But then Vaniel Darius had to come in and upend you.

So he even took the, he didn't even have the strike of the night after landing that kick. It's nuts. Oh, God. Yeah, he's a dangerous guy, man. He can fight. I'll tell you that. Yes, win this far in the UFC? I mean, the debut was great.

It was a dominant decision win. The Jordan Griffin fight was super gritty. You had overcome a lot to get your hand raised against a wily veteran. Saturday night you got to show a lot more of your arsenal, I think. Do you think this is the best overall Octagon performance in your opinion? It's better than the last fight. That's how I feel about it. You know, that's my goal was to come in and that fight.

It was like, all I wanted to do is perform better than the last fight. and during anything, during the fight week, during the wake up, during everything, that was the best from last fight. And that's what all I cared about was from my mentality going to that fight. I was like, I got to listen to the coaches. I didn't listen to the coaches the last fight. And I got to just like, just be, you know, just be me, but still be out there, you know, have fun. You know, don't get too like into like my head, you know, like, no, just have fun. And that's, that's the main focus.

And yeah. And I don't think I still have my best fight yet, you know, and we'll see that in the future. So the Griffin fight meant a lot to you not just because of the win, but you took a lot away from that fight, it looks like. Exactly. And that's what exactly meant to me. You know, I was like, I walked in there. I was like, man, that's not, that's not, that's not like completely me, you know? And I was like, I wanted to really, it was weird.

I always have fun in fights, you know? And fights that I don't have fun, they come up to very, like, close. So, like, got to face adversity a little bit and something like that. You know, so for me, it was like that, I hated that feeling, you know. I did not want to do that feeling. I want to have fun even when I'm facing adversity. Like, okay, you take my back, take this and that, but I'm having fun because it's a fight. It's what I love to do.

And that's what I took away from that fight. You had fun on Saturday night. You guys both had fun on Saturday night. You guys were having a blast in there. You were talking to each other. Peter Barrett got kicked in the face on national television. He's on his back. laughing he's laughing I was blown away by that whole thing it was like a little party in the cage

between the two of you guys like what were you guys saying to each other in there was there anything that like stood out that that you remember so in the second round when I took him down uh actually it was a third round I think it was a third round I took him down and he looked at joe lozahn I was going for their head and arm-in-cho and then I don't know what they were saying they said something about like get out like hips up and get out get to arm out And as soon as he got out, he was just laughing. And then, like, you can see in the camera, he's just laughing. And he looked at the, he said, I love you, Joe.

And I was like, I love you, Joe. You're a legend. I said, this is in the middle of a fight. And then I was like, Peter was talking to me in the second round. He was like, before the fight stopped at the second round, I was like, oh, I love this. This is fun. This is fun. And I was like, in my own head, I was like, this fool is crazy.

Like, this is fun? Like, bro, this is like, you get, you get your ass with. that you tell me fun? I was like, but that showed me how much, uh, how much that he loves this sport and really how much he's, is into this sport.

And that's, like you said, it made it a great fight. So I, I thank him for that. I thought your, the performance was great. I thought your post fight interview was phenomenal.

You, you have that like infectious personality. And you and Felder were going back and forth. And then you dedicated the win to Devante Smith, who has really had a tough year with, with his loss to Kamalworthy, the injury, trying to recover and get back and then losing his sister recently.

Just so much has happened over the last year for that guy. His grandfather, too. And his grandfather, too. What do that mean to you to pick up a win for a teammate that has gone through such a rough patch as of late? Man, you know, it means a lot. You know, like you said, there's a lot in this world that's going on. Like, it's not just your teammates, you know. There's a lot of people that's going through a lot, you know, especially COVID.

You know, there's people not working, not having a job. I barely living. And, you know, there's so much. Like, you can, as a person, as a, I can only do so much, you know. That's what I feel like I want to help so much everybody else, but I can't, you know. But I just know how much he was going through, you know. I was like, you lose a fight that was pretty much like he was in the main event in the SPN prelims twice, you know.

They were promoting this kid, you know, and he was in all our eyes. And he's still in my eye. He's still like one of the best guys will be. upcoming, you know, like, this guy is, is amazing, like, when he comes to his talent and just his dedication and all that stuff. So for me to see how his sister got killed and he's, like you said, the injury took like nine months, you know, like that's like, like for me, if that, like, that happens, like, I'm glad that I have the circle that I have because if not, I'm, I'm thinking about quitting. Like, you know, what's going on? Like, I just got, like, I was

out for nine months and I'm still barely training. I can't train, you know, like, you're out for nine months. And then, you're out for nine months. And then, you're, you're out for nine months. your sister dies and then your grandfather dies. Like, what's like, what is it else to do? You know, that's how I feel, you know? But that's why I wanted to have that, I have the circle that I have around me and I want to send it to him, you know, and have that circle around him.

So it kind of feels like not left alone, you know, there's a whole team and there's a whole teammates and family and like brothers are in here supporting him. And that's what I really wanted to do. I know his family going through a lot, especially his mom, you know, and all that. So I just wanted to make, you know, bring a smile to their face. And that was the main thing, you know. And you don't get a lot of smiles lately, so might as well, I give him a little smile.

It's kind of weird because, I mean, I've done a lot of interviews this year. I interviewed Devante, like literally the morning before everything went down with the sister. And we had a great conversation about him trying to get back where his head was at and everything he's gone through since the loss. And then to have this all happen, it just blew me away when I found out the next morning. You know, we had already put the episode out. and I was like, oh my God, we have to like do something. So we've used to the GoFundMe and added all that. But have you spoken with Devante since Saturday?

Yeah, actually, I've spoken to him the same day. I called him. He's the first one I called after the fight. I was like, I told him. I went out to you. I called him. I was like, man, I want to see you soon. I want to see you fight in 2020, man.

I know you're going through a lot and this and this and that. And I'm not saying. And I was like, we just left there and there. He's like, yeah, man, I saw you. I'm proud of you and stuff like that. I was like, I appreciate it. But I can't wait to see you, you know. It's just like a little motivation, man.

You know, like you always need a little motivation sometimes, you know, especially when you're going through a rough time. But what can you do, man? I told them everything happens for a reason, man. This is going to make you better, trust me. Well said. It was, you know, obviously a great win for you. It was a great week for Factory X.

Dustin Jacoby got the ball rolling, getting a contract on the contender series. You followed up with a great performance of your own. Pretty good five days for the squad, was it not? Oh, yeah, man. So I flew to Vegas. Thursday, the week before my fight, just to corner my teammates, Jonathan and Chris Gutier's,

and Dan stayed there for my whole fight week. So I was in Vegas forever, like I since like, there was like 10 days or so. So it was like, it was pretty good to make it worth it. You know, like you stay 10 days, and it's one of the best 10 days you can stay, you know? So that was pretty cool to see. True or false, if there was an award

for the loudest fighter who is also a cornerman, in the UFC, you win hands down, right? Not the loudest fighter, the loudest corner. Loudest corner for sure. Yeah, loudest corner for sure. Man, this is twice. This is twice I get last year when I cornered Jonathan again. It was Jonathan again when I cornered him.

Factory X sent me a tweet that says, congratulations to Factory X, but Factory X has the most loudest, annoying corner. I was like, I was like, man, fuck you, man. I was like, I got to make sure to hear me, bro. I make sure to hear me. And it was twice with Jonathan, twice for Jonathan. So I was like, man, this is, this is.

When we went to the back with the interviews, they were like, okay, Jonathan, because Jonathan was not speaking at all. So like, they were trying to make him talk. And then Jonathan was like, they asked him, they were like, you must have the loudest corner. Like everybody heard you to Zalala. And he was like, yeah, he's very loud. I was like, thanks, bro.

Like, really? I was like, but not the loudest fighter, though. Not the loudest fight it out. Don't put that on me. They're going to come off for me. I'm to that too now. Well, loudest fighter as a,

as a quarterman, I meant. But, uh, and it's funny story about the, the post-fight scrum with Jonathan. That was my colleague who asked that question. And guess who gave him that question? I missed him. I said,

I said, Jonathan's kind of a shy guy. I was like, ask him abuse as a loudest quarterback in the U.S. So it was you guys? Oh my God, bro. I can't believe you guys did that to me. I can't believe you guys did that to me.

I was called, you can hear my voice, by the way. A lot of people said you can hear my voice from the press conference. I was like, man, what that? Am I'm like, are you kidding me? I was like, this is bad. This is bad. But I didn't, it was funny because I didn't really hear you in the Gutierrez fight, but the Martinez fight, I heard you like loud and clear.

I haven't tweeted out. I was like, man, I was like, I didn't even have to see Yusuf Zalala. And I knew he was in Jonathan's corner. Oh, trust me. They say that in practice in here, too. Like, I know Brandon, uh, Brandon told me this like, just like a week ago. So he's like, he's like, I don't, I don't even have to have you in the corner.

Like, because, you know, in LFA, we used to have the corner, like, he has his corner, Mar, busy, and other guys. And then I used to sit, like, in the tables that was by the cage. And this who said, I can hear you the whole time. And he just followed. I was like, damn. I was like, my voice is that loud. Like, do you kidding me?

It was hilarious. And just seeing how this all comes full circle is even funnier. as we mentioned at the top of this thing we sort of we threw out rookie of the year and through that term out three and oh first to get there this year that has to hold a lot of weight in the conversation we've had some guys enter the promotion and make some waves this year I would say Yuri Phrashka is one of those guys

Hamzat Shemayev has emerged in a big way after getting two fight island wins in 10 days honestly like where do you think you're at on that list right now because you have to be in this discussion right? I mean I'm not I'm not I'm not the guy who give the decisions or discussions, you know, and I'm like, whatever, man. That's right for me, I just think about fighting, you know, like, okay, like, this guy fought three times, four times. Cool, man, I want to do me.

I want to fight. Like, I don't know if you guys see me. I was like, I want to bring that regional level, bring it to the high level. Like, I was fighting five times, six times a year. I want to do that at the high level, you know, and I'm like, we just be ready, you know, especially now, you know, these times, like, I want to, I want to, I want to, stay ready and really prove to myself that I am doing what I am doing and I am enjoying what I'm doing and that's that's all matters. I don't we've done nothing else matters to me besides that.

So no post post year awards. We're not worried about that. Not even crossing your mind at all. We'll we'll talk about that after we win the bell. Then we'll be like, okay, let's go back in that conversation now. All right. We can do that. We can do that now. Well, we'll hang on to this one. So I assume your plan to move down to 135 is on hold for the time being, considering how this year is going. Five no more. No, we're done. Never?

It's a done. Never. It's done deal. Really? When did you make that decision? So we went to the PI and then they did the testing on me and they were like 35 is doable. But I weighed it in. I was like 134 pounds just straight muscle, no fat.

So for me to make 35, I have to basically be 0% body fat to make 35. And that was not, that was not, like, just not healthy and not safe, you know? And I was like, I don't know if I want to fight only twice a year, you know. I want to fight more than twice a year, especially me. I don't know if you guys, like I said, like I said, I like short notices, I love short notices. I don't, I just go and I don't have to think about anything. I just go fight, you know. But that was my thing.

And I was like, talk to the coaches, talk to my manager, talk to my shrink conditioning coach, my nutritionist, and everything. And we just decided to stay 45 and just build up more muscle and build up more weight. And that's what we've been doing. And actually, the weight cut was a lot easier this fight than the Jordan Griffin fight because we've been lifting more. And it was a lot easier, actually. I don't know, because I guess like more muscle, hold more water, I guess. So it was pretty easy actually.

So that was, I'm happy about that. And I'm excited about what's what's coming in for the future and how our body going to change. Wait, did you say, so you said that you made the cut at the PI and got to one 34 or is that how they kind of like measured it out for you? No, they measured out like they did my, they scanned my body and see how much muscle I have and how much fat. And it was all that. And they were like, yeah, it's doable.

But 45, you can take fights 80 day. No problem. Like you, you call me today and I'll take a fight this week. You know, that's, that's how good 45 is, you know, but it just makes no sense, man. Everybody's getting so good at MMA. Like, what's the point, you know? Like everybody's like getting so good. Like I don't know if you see like you, you know, like you know how M.A is involved in so

quick. Like you're not just like a one fighter. Like you can't, you can't just be a striker no more. You can't just be a wrestler no more. You got to be, you got to be everything. You got to be like you got to learn how to defend the takedown. You got to do jit too. You got to do that.

So that's why it makes no sense for us to stay at, go at 35. Might as well as to stay at 45 and just get better at 45. And that's, that's, I think the coaches and everybody decided to do. I think that's a smart decision. I like that. If you don't have to cut that extra 10 pounds, don't cut the damn extra 10 pounds. You're 3 and 0 at 45 in the UFC anyway.

So what's the point of putting that stress into your body? I mean, you're probably going to look shredded with 0% body fat, 134 pounds, but you're going to probably feel like crap. I'm going to look like a skeleton. I'm like this, like sucked in. So when up that, showing up the way hands. I'm like, no, man, I'm cool, man. I want to enjoy training.

I don't want to hate training. And that's what the main reason my coach talked to me about it. He was like, listen, man. I don't want you to come in here and focus about your way and like you're sluggish, you're tired because you just cutting weight. You're just being focused on weight for the past six weeks, seven weeks, you know? Like, what's the point? I can't take show notices at 35.

You got to give me at least seven, eight weeks to take 35. So might as well just take the advantage that we have and get better over at 45 that than 35. And that's how I felt. I want to enjoy training. I want to enjoy life. I'm sure there's no set timeline for you to get back when The bat phone rings, you answer and you say yes, that that's what we're looking at here. Oh, man.

I was like, I don't know. My manager said, call me after this weekend and we'll go, we'll try to get a date. But for me, I was like, I don't care, man. It's like, you give me next week, two weeks. I don't care, man. I was like, let's do it. I mean, you're 23, almost 24. You turned 24 in like a few weeks, right?

September 4th, yeah. So you're just, I mean, you're just getting started here. So I know you're not in like any giant rush to get into the top 15. or in a title contention right now. Sure, you want to get there eventually, but you don't need to do so right now. But there's a lot of fun fights, a lot of intriguing matchups at 1.45 right now.

You're not a shock collar, but is there anybody in particular you'd like to get in there and have some fun with again for the next fight? Or you just really don't care? Like you said, man, I really don't care, man. Like, you know, they had three. I mean, I don't even know how many feather weights they had in that card, like three or four fights, right?

I think. I can't remember. But, like, that works. You know, like, I don't care. Like, whoever they give me, I want to, I just want to keep getting better and better, better, man. That's all I focus on for me is me getting better. Like I told you, like, for me, it was like, the last fight was better than the last fight. That's what I want to do.

Like, this fight, Peter, way better than Jordan Griffin. Nah, that's what I want. Like, for me to get involved like that and really just, like, have the time, have the UFC case time. And that's in the experience and go out there and really show the new skills and show everybody else. was what we all about. Can I, can I throw a suggestion your way and get your take on it for your next fight?

Go ahead. Okay, so, a little story here, cheap plug. Myself and my colleague here at M.A. fighting, Alex Kaylee, we host a matchmaking podcast for the website called On to the Next One.

It drops Monday mornings after these events. And we matchmake, like, the main event fighters, the main card winners, maybe the featured prelim winner, and then we each get to select, like, a wild card pick featuring anybody else that we hadn't talked about yet.

So Alex went with that huge dude, Joaquin Buckley, to fight John Phillips because those two powerhouses throwing bombs. That's a lot of fun. But my suggestion, Yusuf, was you. Yusuf, the Moroccan devil's zal. Getting a little bit of a bump. Like, nothing crazy,

but maybe pair you up with another veteran, a guy who has history with one of your former opponents, being teammates, having trained together in the past. So my suggestion was a fight between you and Jared Gordon next. He's coming off a dominant win over Chris Fishgold. You're coming off a dominant win. You're surging 3 in 2020. I don't know, man.

Out of all the fights left over, I picked that one. What do you think of that? That would be a good fight. That would actually be a good fight. It's like, I mean, I didn't watch the last fight actually, but you just told me he won. So that's pretty cool. But I mean, like, how many UFC fights is he at? Probably like eight or nine, maybe 10.

He's been around for a little bit. He just got. He came in as a 45er. He took a fight on short notice. He missed Wade. Then he fought at 55 for a while, and he just came back down to 45 and had no corners. All of his corners tested positive for COVID-19. So Paul Felder left the broadcast booth to corner him on Fight Island.

It was an Abu Dhabi. That was an Abu Dhabi, yeah. Oh, I remember that. Oh, yeah. You look great. That was, that was, yeah, that was insane. That was a little insane. No corners.

Oh, God. I don't know what I would do. That would be shocking right there, about. You could just corner yourself. I mean. Just getting the opponent's head with your, with your loud boister's personality. Yeah, he's got to get out of the case, grab water, come back in. I don't know about all that.

Yeah, I don't know about all that. I don't know about all that. No, we go with that. That'll be a good fight. I'll be interested in that fight. I think, like, ranking. wise, all of that, I think you're probably right around the same area. I think that makes all the sense in the world. But, you know, before we let you go, Yusuf, you are a fight fan as well.

UFC 252 is going down on Saturday night. We get Steepa Micheich versus Daniel Kormier for the heavyweight title. Final fight of the illustrious career of Daniel Kormier. Who wins it? Who do you think? Man, I think Kormier is going to win this one because I think the case is a lot smaller, the clinching and the wrestling. And I don't know. He's been saying he's about to use his wrestling in this fight. So we'll see. I just don't.

I mean, the last fight he was winning. Last time he was winning until he got overconfident dropped his hand. But, I mean, he's a vet though, man. I don't, I'm not going to tell him how to fight. You know, that's, that's easy. He's been in the game for so long, world champion and all that. So he knows what he's doing, man. And I feel like he'll be, he'll get this one.

And I got to ask you about this. I mean, these, you're not going to be dropping at 35, but Sean O'Malley versus Marlon Vera. I am so fired up for this one because Cheeto is an absolute monster and O'Malley is becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport right now. This fight's been in the works for so long now.

I cannot wait for this fight. Who do you think wins that one? Bro, that one is a tough fight for me. I don't know. Like, I mean, if he stands on the feet, you got Sean O'Malley and then if he goes on the ground, he got Tito, but Tito got some clinching game.

He's pretty good at the country. clinching game too. So the only, the only difficulties is like if you can find that it closed the range, you know, and that fight, I really, I can't pick. Like, I don't, I just, you just never know what can happen. You know, I was like, like, what the hell? Like, I don't know what to go with. Am I got to go with the striker, wrestler, like crazy guy? I don't know. And that's that fight. I'm excited to watch that fight. Yeah, I'll tell you that. Like, it's fireworks, like you said, and I'm excited to watch that fight. I'm not like a big X's and O's guy. I'm a big, I'm more of a storyline guy and in the interview guy. But, but.

But the thing about that fight that at least sticks out to me is that the longer the fight goes, the more it favors Vera. Like if I think he gets, I mean, once you get past it, if Marlon Vera can get to the midway point of the second round, things are going to get really interesting on Saturday night. I agree. I agree on that one. Like you said, we'll see how they start up, though. That's what I'm saying. You know, like, is a shadow money going to be rushing forward? Is he going to go backwards?

You know, who knows? you know and like and chito vera is a very slow starter too like i don't know if you're seeing he's he's not a crazy uh like first round starter but like you said though second round third round he's he's picking up that pace though he's a scary individual too i interviewed him last week and he tried to be like all humble but he had this like terrifying look in his eye the entire time and i believe him i believe he's coming into hurt shot on my i can't wait for that fight but yusuf you are the man always a pleasure catching up with you congratulations on the win what a year it is has been for you continued success and looking forward to the rest of this rookie of the year

campaign that you don't really care about. Thanks again. No, thank you, man. I appreciate it. Thank you for having me again. How can you not like that guy? I mean, how can you not like him? Great attitude, great young fighter. Again, just getting going. 23, soon to be 24 years old. I like the Jared Gordon fight. I like it. I think it's a good step up. We're not rushing them too fast. I think ranking and meritocracy-wise, they're probably right around the same. So I think that's a good matchup.

The young up-and-comer against the Wiley veteran, give it to me. Give me that fight at 145 pounds. Now, video game fans get excited because the brand new EA UFC game, UFC 4 drops worldwide on Friday. I had the chance to speak with the creative director for the game,

Brian Hayes. We talked about some of the changes that have been made compared to games past. Games Pass, that is. And yes, we do discuss the roster as it stands since it's been quite the topic of discussion on Reddit and on social media. So let's get to that right now with Brian Hayes. All right, happy to be joined by Brian Hayes, the creative director for the brand new EA Sports UFC 4 video game that has created a lot of discussion over the past couple of months. Excited to discuss all the changes to the platform and some other questions people have had as

well. The game is set for a worldwide release on Friday. Brian, good to see you, How are you? I am doing well. Good to see you too. I guess the first question I have is because I don't really know the intricacies of how it all works. I just know that there is a lot that goes into creating these games from, so I guess like from the beginning of, hey, we're going to do this to the time the game was in its final stages before you guys are getting ready to launch on Friday. How long did it take to develop the game and get it ready to rock for everybody? Well, it's been just over two years since the release of UFC 3.

So, I mean, just on the calendar, that's how long it took. Now, obviously, there's some post-launch development and support stuff that we did for UFC 3, like adding roster updates and feature updates and stuff like that. So it wasn't like we got started. The entire team got started on UFC 4 right away the day that UFC 3 shipped. But basically, you know, calendar date-to-date, it's been just over. two years that we've been conceptualizing and iterating and then designing, developing,

fineling, bug fixing, and finally releasing UFC 4. Are you like a fan of the sport? Are you someone who typically watches the UFC and MMA, et cetera? Yeah, I've been watching combat sports, well, for a really long time. I remember renting, you know, UFC 1 from a blockbuster video on a VHS cassette tape, which is just terrifying to think about. But, you know, I remember watching UFC One

and then after watching that, going and renting the other ones that were available. At the time, actually, my brother also used to live in Japan as an English teacher, and he would record pride events and send them back on VHS as well. So I've been watching mixed martial arts since then. Also, you know, along the web, I've been a big boxing fan as well.

So, yeah, I mean, I'm fan of the sport. I've never fought or really trained to any significant degree because it just hurts too much. But watching it is super fun. Are there any fighters that, like, when they compete, you have to watch them, you can't miss them. And then in turn, being able to develop the character and some of the things that they do in the game.

Is there any, like, specific fighters you love to work on and watch while they compete? Well, me myself personally, like in my role, creative director, you know, I don't do any animation. I don't do any character modeling, all that sort of stuff. It's more like my role is more sort of a broader sort of creative direction for the entire title and all that sort of thing. But certainly as a fan, I mean, there's so many fighters out there

that are great to watch these days. One of my biggest favorites has always been the Korean zombie. I just think he's fantastic. but I was really happy to see Chris Wyden get back in the wind column on the weekend. Seeing a Derek Lewis that's watching his diet and is apparently doing a ton of cardio. I have no idea what that means for the heavyweight division. That's just it's bonkers. Obviously, you know, we were talking just before we started recording, you know, Kabib is a monster.

He's just incredible to watch all the time. The list just goes, there are so many fantastic athletes and fantastic martial artists in the UFC that it's rare when I won't make time. to watch a card when it's on, just because there's going to be somebody on there that's got something to offer that will be interesting to see. So, yeah, big fans of the sport all over the team.

There were, I mean, there's obviously a lot of changes made to this game compared to UFC 3. The career mode was one of the big ones. When it came to sort of laying that all out and making it what it is for this particular game, what was your mindset, the team's mindset when it came to making one's own virtual, journey through the fight game as realistic as possible?

That was one of the things on our mind was to try and continue to improve the sense of realism in the career mode experience. But definitely one of the things we focused on was that we could see from UFC 3 in previous iterations of the title that career mode was a really popular mode. And so we didn't want to sort of rest on our lower rolls and just kind of do some minor tweaks and changes and updates. So we really wanted to invest and address some of the core. player feedback that we'd seen.

And one of the, really the, I guess the, the center of it all is we wanted to give players more choice and to make sure that those choices matter. And one of the best examples that we can sort of talk about there was that like in UFC 4, you can actually decline fight offers now. You were never able to do that in our previous situations again. The UFC just said, you're fighting this person next and you have to say, okay, you went to train a camp and on you went. Now there's a system where you can be offered to fight against an opponent that you might

not want to fight right now, so you can decline that fight. That opponent might then chirp at you on social media. You can choose how you respond to that, either to, you know, sort of fan the flames or to, you know, actually be respectful and possibly build a training partnership moving forward. If you decline too many fights, you could get kicked in the UFC altogether and back down to the minor league, so we'll fighting alliance and then have to win some fights there and come back. A whole system of choice and consequence that didn't really exist at all in the previous considerations of the career, but we've added that. And it should make the experience a lot more dynamic, a lot more unscripted, and it's all

based on the decisions you make throughout your career, which is pretty cool. I love the addition of adding the business aspect to the game, because I think that's amazing. And in terms of, like, overall gameplay, and a lot of these fighting games, as I'm sure you're well aware of, there's a lot of emphasis on the striking aspect because people love to virtually punch and kick people in the face. They love knockouts. They just love it.

But with MMA, there's just so much more to the sport, as everybody knows, a takedown and grappling and submissions, wrestling, et cetera. How important was that for you and your team to enhance that part of the sport into this particular game? Huge. It's always a big focus for us is that, like you said, people intuitively understand, you know, at least throwing hands, right? It kicks, you know, if you're not well-trained and you get into a street fight and somebody starts kicking, you're like, whoa, like what happened here? But still, people understand, you know,

striking on almost an instinctual level, just as primates maybe or something like that. Once you get into wrestling and jujitsu and submissions, it's a pretty, it's kind of a black box. It's nebulous for a lot of people. So making that more accessible, making it easier to understand, making it easier to play, not necessarily from a gameplay strategy standpoint, but to find ways that we can get the controller out of the player's way, so to speak, make sure that that's, not the opponent you're fighting, making sure that really you have the sense that you're fighting the other person across the Akkadon from you. So one of the big things was just

completely overhauling the clinch game on USC4 this year. So taking what is called the EA sports real player motion technology, which we used on UFC 3 to overhaul locomotion and striking. We took that same technology and then expanded its influence into the striking game. So I'm sorry, into the clinch game. And so the clinch game is a much more intuitive, a much more fluid experience of the entire gameplay sort of back and forth on UFC 4, where previously it would have been one of the least sort of engaged in phases of the fight if we looked at gameplay telemetry. Now, just from playing the play first trial, you know, when it came out on Friday

and seeing how often people are, you know, grabbing for a clinch, looking to throw some quick uppercuts or land some knees, and then the opponent is able to break out just using locomotion in an intuitive fashion. That's a massive change to the game. that we invest in this year. And it's really based on making sure that one of those elements is kind of tough for people to understand on an instinctual level, clinging and grappling on all this sort of stuff, is much more intuitive and much more user-friendly for all players.

As a kind of an older gentleman and a fan of the movie Bloodsport, finding out that there would be a kumete environment along with the backyard thing as well as options, I thought that was a really, really cool addition to this game, especially when you think of some of the fighters who have come through the backyard scene, such as the late great Kimbo-Slaise, Jorge Mazda, and others. Was that something that you knew you wanted to do right away, or is that something that sort of came to light as the game was being developed?

I mean, I think as fans of fighting, and not necessarily just to say mixed martial arts with the UFC, but fans of fighting sports and fans of, you know, sort of fighting lore, so to speak, it's something that probably deep down a lot of us on the Dillam team always wanted,

it wouldn't be cool if we could do this, but we were almost a little bit timid about asking the UFC how they would think about like, hey, what if we put a, you know, Kumitae venue in the UFC game? But we were focusing on creating a game this year that really stood apart from its predecessors.

And including environments like this was a really great opportunity to create something visually distinct that stands out right away for every player, like the very first time they see an image of the Kumete, they're going to be like, whoa, right? And so when we brought it up, we just, we brought it up with the UFC and they said, hey, that makes sense. They've always been, you know, pretty willing partners to explore pretty creative ideas with us. So when they gave us the okay, we're like, okay, great, let's look at this. And then the two environments that we want with, the Kumita in the

backyard, like you mentioned, the backyard has a legitimate history and the sort of origins of some of the most popular MMA fighters, you know, to date. And then also you have, you know, for a lot of people that you brought up, you know, blood sport, but then you have sort of martial arts cinema, which is also probably for a lot of fighters an origin for their love of martial arts.

Like they saw a movie, you know, a Bruce Louis, a Jean-Claude Dan Dam movie, what have you. You know, like, that is freaking cool. I want to go learn martial arts. And then that began their journey. So it's two environments that take you other side of the, you know, the arena-based sort of UFC Octagon and into two locations that are kind of like origin stories in the lore of martial arts and mixed martial arts combat. So we were

super stoked to be able to include those in the game this year. Is it kind of cool as a guy who is part of the combat sports world, just in video game and as a fan itself, to see Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in a UFC video game? Yeah, it's definitely cool. It's imposing. They're both giant individuals. But it's always a nice little wrinkle to be able to add some some athletes from outside the world of the UFC and just for those mythical matchups, those, you know, fantasy matchups and include them as a nod to what is also still a very compelling and exciting combat sport, the world of boxing and, you know, heavyweight boxing is on a

resurgence recently. So it's nice to be able to tap into that as well. I know that some of the changes that were made for. for this game were based on feedback from the gaming community and people who played UFC 3 and others. You know, feedback criticism. It's a big part of this sport, especially being in, you know, the position I'm in,

people love to critique you and do all these things. But in terms of the development stage and putting these games together, how important is that feedback, that community when it comes to the next stages of a certain concept of a video game or a series of games? I mean, it's huge. It's fan feedback is,

is vitally important in helping us inform our decision making moving forward. It's not always necessarily shared with us in like, you know, the most heartwarming way, but you got to find the way, you know, you've got to find the truth and the core issues and sort of separate emotions from it and your feelings. But yeah, I mean, fan feedback is vitally important. That's what helps us know that, hey, we should look at the clinch game because there's fan feedback. People will tell us, hey, this isn't fun. But then there's also gameplay telemetry

as well, which is just another form of fan feedback. We can look at data from how people are playing the game and say, like, nobody's doing this. And that's probably because they don't think it's fun. So let's look at that and improve upon it, et cetera. So, but yeah, yeah, it's certainly listening to the fans and trying to address their feedback as much as possible. Obviously, there's, there's no pleasing,

100% of the people 100% of the time. But we just do the very best that we can with the time and resources we have. How has the feedback been thus far from those who have gotten the early look at it? Depends on when you look like, you know, it goes up and down, up and down kind of thing. And it depends on who you talk to. But in general, since the play first trial launched just this past weekend, really seeing some really positive feedback, certainly with respect to gameplay. there's a hardcore group of fans that do

sort of virtual events on Twitch they put one on before the fight card this past Saturday so I was just watching Twitch I was watching Twitch UFC fights in UFC 4 before the fight card, real UFC fights just hours and hours of virtual and real fights but yeah I mean super talented players it blows us away every year

within hours of having their hands on the game they're probably all significantly better than almost everybody on the development team. How quick these really competitive players pick it up. But yeah, so far the feedback has been, you know, really positive all things considered. Definitely opportunities for us to improve and things to address. And we take that feedback as much as we can. But yeah, things are going pretty good thus far. I haven't quite even when I get knocked out.

So there are some questions. to sort of add to that that I've gotten that I wanted to pass along to you and not sure what you can answer what you can't, but one of which has to do with the career mode and I'll lay my cards in the table. I've not had a chance to play the game yet, but I've been told that it is quite difficult to rise up the ranks and earn a title shot in career mode, not saying that it's a good thing or a bad thing, who am I? But that's one thing that I've heard. Can you address that? Is that sort of an accurate piece of feedback that it is difficult to get to that title shot or is just based on the individual division they choose to compete in, etc? How does that all work? Uh, that mean, that's going to vary from, and we've seen this every, every year, um, with the career mode experience, because there are all levels of players. You know, if, if you were to take one of the, you know, competitive players that was fighting on the virtual card on the weekend, they could probably go in a career mode on legendary difficulty and it'll just be a cake walk. They'll just, just slice through every opponent in their path, um, you know, and, and have a title shot faster than, you know, I don't know what. But then, you know, there's other players

with it that certainly around not that level of skill that they're going to meet with more challenges facing the AI and all that sort of stuff. So obviously choosing the right difficulty when you start career mode is very important. Making the right decisions in your training camps, you know, what skills and attributes you choose to train and improve what what promotional activities you choose to interact with in order to drive height for fights. It's kind of all based on the decisions you make that will either make your career potentially a little bit more challenging or a little bit less challenging. But it's definitely, it's a tough one to create an experience like that that's going to be

the perfect amount of difficulty for every single player out there. But the biggest thing I would say that if you're having trouble getting to a title shot, you might want to look at the at the difficulty that you're playing on there's like I play plenty I just want let's be honest I play plenty of games on easy difficulty I'm not trying to I'm not trying to get gold medals you know I mean I'm just trying to have a good time so you're not having a good time change difficulty like you know that there's there's nothing wrong with that I'm not going to come to your house and be like oh you want it on easy loser like that's not enjoy the game do do what do what you know makes you do it makes you do it makes you

happy when it comes to a video game like this. So that's one thing I would look at is difficulty options are there for a reason. And then we talked about the addition of Fury and Joshua to the game. And you've probably seen this and heard the feedback about this by now, but there's been some threads on Reddit and on social media, not just about the fighters who are in the game, but the fighters who are not in the game. And I know it hasn't been fully released yet, but there are some notable names that appear to not be in the game, at least right now. my video game knowledge isn't vast at all, I'll admit, but will some of these guys that haven't been added,

will they be added? Like, how does that all work? So there's definitely weird, like, regulations, and it's related to, like, the SEC, like, because we're a public, you know, so when we, all I can say is that on UFC 3, it was part of our post-launch, you know, support and live service plan that we updated the roster with, you know, you know, more fighters, that is certainly going to be our approach to UFC 4 as well.

But for those weird reasons that are somehow related to being a publicly traded company and the Securities Exchange Commission or something like that, there's the official announcement is like about what fighters and when, I just always avoid saying that until somebody has cleared that sort of stuff. But yes, updating the roster with a, with additional fighters is something we've done consistently on the franchise, and we will be continuing to do so on U.S.C. 4. All right. So there you go, people. Now you know, this is how it all works.

But, you know, to you, what is this week like for you? Like, it's release week for the game on a worldwide basis. It's fight week for the Daniel Cormier's and Stevie Ameich's of the world. I'm not saying they're the same thing here. But how do you sort of approach it? What goes through your mind is the actual release inches closer and closer? Just, we just hope things go well, man. I just hope no weird, you know, technical fire.

Actually, I knock on wood. This is what no weird technical fire pops up and, you know, and things go go swerly and everybody has to jump on and start, you know, addressing some crazy bug. But things have looked really good since we started to play first trial. We had a closed beta for technical sort of verification reasons. So things are going pretty good. It's really just anticipation, you know, like the more people get their hands on the game,

and you know the more we can look forward to positive feedback you know people having a good time obviously the current situation all over the world like anything you can do to possibly bring a little bit of light and joy and and pleasure into into people's lives is a great great opportunity so yeah just anticipation hopefully when people get their hands on the game start playing they enjoy the changes we've made the features we've added and when they have feedback for us that we can address hopefully we can get to it. But yeah, it's really just anticipation.

Well, I know a lot goes into developing these games, Brian, more than I could ever possibly fathom if we're being honest. But I'm very happy for you and everyone over at EA Sports as this game gets, it's worldwide release on Friday. It seems like you've addressed the needs from the community and that's great on you and great on the team. So congratulations on the pending launch on everything else and all the best this week and beyond. Thank you for the time, Brian. Hey, thank you very much, man. Have a good day. As I told Brian, I don't know much about video games. I'm an old school guy.

Like, I was a Madden guy back in the day, and even that was probably like a little newer school than I really liked. I mean, I did enjoy the Tiger Woods games when those were coming out. My favorite video game of all time, and this just kind of shows my throwbacky old school old man ways, it's Mike Tyson's punchout. Greatest video game of all time. I mean, visually compared to some of the games that come out now, it's not as like high depth. It's not as realistic looking. But in terms of gameplay and fun and a challenge too, Mike Tyson's punchout, the real deal. I love that game so much.

I would play that game right now over anything else. It was just so damn good. That's how much I like that game. I remember my freshman year in college, my buddy brought in his old Nintendo and Mike Tyson's punchout. I didn't sleep for a week. I would go to class, go to baseball practice, and then I'd play Mike Tyson's Fun Show. Between that and 24, there were a few weeks there.

I didn't sleep in college, but that's why things didn't work out in the collegiate level. But we're about to get out of here. Throw it to the replay of my chat with Colby Covington. If you miss it on Tuesday night, always appreciate you guys and gals. Check it off the show each and every week. I am working my ass off here,

trying to bring you the good sweating profusely right now. It's been that kind of a day. So I hope you're enjoying. what we're trying to do here. UFC 252 coming up on Saturday night. We will have you covered all week long, live from Las Vegas, Nevada, the fight capital of the universe.

Press conference with Steepa and D.C. later on today, Thursday. Today is Thursday, as you're seeing this for the first time, weigh-ins on Friday, preview show, fights on Saturday, all the coverage there, post-fight show, et cetera. We got you. All right?

We got you covered. MMAfighting.com. Big shout out to Casey Lyon on the production who might be a little. little pissed at me right now that these segments came in. Oh, so late this week. It was just been a long week. So big shout out to him for his patience. Big shout to Esther Lynn on the graphics as always. It's an honor to work with two of the very best, not just an MMA, but in all of sports. Trying to build the dream team here in M.AFunding.com. As always, have a heck of a week, everybody.

Now here's my chat with the one, the only Colby Chaos Covington. We'll see you on Saturday, everybody. Colby Covington back on the show and everyone keeps asking when's Colby coming back on so request granted Colby good to see you as always man how are you sir I'm doing great it's it's so good to be back Mike I always enjoy talking to you one of the real ones one of the one of the last of the dying breed of impartial journalist who are not biased you know so I respect your opinion and and I look forward to chatting today I always look forward to chatting with you as well as always a lot to discuss with you Colby, but let's get right into the main thing people want to know. And as a longtime pro wrestling fan yourself, you may appreciate this comparison, but there was

this old episode of Piper's Pit right before WrestleMania 3, and he straight up asshole Kogan. Are you or are you not going to fight Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3 for the title? And Colby, as you know in the M.MA world, the news cycle is a buzz right now that the long long-awaited grudge match between you and Tyrone Woodley is being targeted for September 19th. No, are you or are you not fighting Tyron Woodley on September 19th? You know, as America's champ, as the people's champ, as Donald Trump's favorite fighter, you know, there's a thing that Donald Trump patented. And that promises made, promises kept.

So I don't want to come on here today, Mike, and lie to you and say that it's going to be a for sure thing because I don't know. I don't know if Tyrone Woodley's going to show up. You know, I was willing to fight him on four days notice last time. so I'm always ready to show up to fight him. It could be a week's notice. You know, I gave a verbal agreement to fight him August 22nd. He didn't want to show up. Apparently, you know, he low-tee testosterone, Woodley, you know,

he has to do some juice. He has to juice up to get ready to go to fight me. And supposedly now he's given his verbal agreement for September 19th. But let's be honest, Mike, there's no way I can give you a guarantee because there's no contract in writing. The ink has not dried. So I hope it happens. I'm ready to go.

But I can't give you a definite answer that it, will happen on September 19th. Do you feel confident that it will happen? Because I feel like we're further along now than we have been in the past. To be honest, no, man, this has been such a, such a runaround to try and fight Tyrone Woodie for the last four or five years. It's just the guy's making excuses. He's getting elective surgeries.

You know, oh, he needs more time for training camp. He's doing this. He's doing that. You would think with all the running and dodging he's done for me, Mike, that he would have this insane cardio. But no, he's getting gassed out by school teachers on some gladiator reality show. I mean, you've wanted this fight for so long now, and there have been times that we've spoken. It was like, I think it was right after the Gilbert Burns went over Woodley that you thought the ship may have sailed at this point.

And then the last time I talked to you, it kind of got reeled back in. And now that there's a targeted date here, it seems like you're allowing yourself to not get too excited for it, kind of a more of a wait-and-see thing. So on a scale of 1 to 10, where are we at right now? We have like a 6 or a 7 or we lower than that? Yeah, I would say we're at a 6 or a 7. You know, I'd say that's an accurate assessment. I'd say, you know, if we were taking football terms, we're, you know, we're at the 40-yard line.

We're coming up on the 30-yard line. So we're getting close. We're not inside the red zone yet. You know, nothing's been signed. You know, there's still some terms that, you know, the UFC told me that they're going to do, but, you know, they haven't sent me anything. And I haven't seen a contract.

So until I see that, you know, I've agreed to fight. I want to fight him. I wanted to fight him August 22nd in main event in Vegas. But, you know, he needed a little bit more time for training camp. You know, I know he wants to make sure he can juice up and be the best he's ever been. It's not going to make a difference, though. So, you know, I'm hoping it gets put together. I hope he shows up, man.

I'm not going to be excited to give you a definite answer until we're locked in that octagon and I see him across the octagon. Fair enough. What kind of terms are we talking about here? I just little terms, you know, some terms that the UFC said that, you know, that they were going to accommodate me with, you know, little things, first class travel, you know, some sweets. You know, I am raw American steel, twist and sex appeal. You know, I got to make sure that my body and mine are living good on fight week. And, you know, I've earned this right to be, you know, in this position as the main event fighter and the fighter that's drawing all the cloud for this fight and selling this fight. So, you know, just some little things, you know, the UFC already agreed to me with, but they haven't sent me over. over contract with those terms on their agreements. So, you know, I'm just waiting for that. But I'm easy.

The UFC knows I'm easy. I love to fight. This is my passion is what I love to do. So, you know, I want to get out there and fight. It doesn't matter if it's on a week's notice. If it's on a day's notice, I'm always ready to go. Tyron has lost his last two back-to-back five rounders to Kamara Usman and then to Gilbert Burns.

And you have to believe that, you know, I'm a positive thinker. I'm reeking of positivity right now that this fight is going to happen on September 19th. So you got to believe his backs against the wall here. And if there's one fight that's going to get him going, it's probably this one. Do you think, you know, on September 19th, let's just say this is if this all happens and goes smoothly, that he's going to come in with a little bit of a different approach, some more aggression, maybe he fights a little more emotional because his rivalry has gotten so personal. There's no doubt about it.

You know, this rivalry is beyond personal. You know, this is for bragging rights for the rest of our lives. You know, there's no doubt that, you know, five. fighting me, he's going to get the biggest adrenaline and the biggest, you know, just motivation and, and his inspiration to come out here and try and knock me out, you know? I mean, this fight sells in so many different ways, you know. We used to be teammates, you know, the Republican liberal angle, you know, the hatred we genuinely have for each other.

So I think we're going to see the best time we'll be we've ever seen in this fight. And, you know, speaking of his last two fights, you know, those guys, yeah, they beat them on the judge of scorecards. This fight ain't going to the judge of scorecards. I'm going to leave no doubt. I am the best world to wait in the world. I'm going to add another world champion to my resume, my long list of amazing resume that I already have,

and I'm going to finish him. It's not going to the judge's decisions. I promise you that he will get left unconscious inside that off the ground. Since you've been preparing for a short notice opportunity, how much advantage do you think that gives you since, you know, you've been getting ready nonstop for the last several months, and you're probably as fresh as I guess a fighter can be ahead of a training camp or a hopeful training camp here?

Yeah, it doesn't. It doesn't, Mike, because, you know, on the same token, you know, I was preparing so hard in training camp to fill in for the Marty Fake Newsman fight in case something went wrong there. And, you know, I put my body through the grind. And so I kind of had to pull back these last couple weeks. You know, hey, Colby, you know, take it easy. You know, you went two, three days every single day for eight weeks training for that world title fight. And it didn't come to fruition. So, you know, now it's time to take a little step back, you know, give your body in mind a little break, a little relax. And then we'll get back to hard training. So, you know, it's just, it's just understanding the process and understanding your body and just being very intelligent with your body. Some guys, they just run into the ground and they don't understand that, you know, you're not going to get a lot out of your body if you just continuously run it into the ground every day. You know, you need to have off days. You need to have days where you just kind of let loose and you just free. So I've just kind of taken a step back the last couple of days and just kind of relaxed. And as soon as this fight gets locked and sealed, you know, I'll be back in training camp again.

obviously the win is first and foremost but with this fight with tyrant you've been hoping it would happen for years now what is the goal on september 19th outside of just getting the win and you know i guess just proving that you're the top welter way in the world is there like a certain kind of finish that you're shooting for like what is the main goal that'll satisfy you walking out of that octagon on september 19th if all goes well and this fight actually happens if tyrone woodley does not lead the octagon on september 19th live on ESPN on a stretch then I didn't do my job, Mike. Fair enough. We saw Gilbert Burns become the number one contender after he beat Woodley. If you're able to do exactly that and send Tyrone out on a stretcher, does that put you in the position to fight the winner of Usman versus Burns? Is there a chance that that would, you would jump the cue here? Is that possible?

You know, I think the fight's going to speak for itself. I think that the fans are going to speak up and they're going to realize the way the way I finish Tyrone Woodley and the way I leave him motionless inside that octagon, there will be no doubt who the best fighter in the world is. You know, those guys, yeah, they beat him in decisions but none of them finished Tyrone Woodley.

I go out there and finish Tyrone Woodley. I cement myself as the best walk away in the world. And I cement myself for the next multi-way title shot, no if-ins or busts. Will the beef ever be squashed between the two of you guys? If you guys go in there and have a battle, you finish the man? Is it over?

Is it just going to continue on for, forever and ever here. No, this is a real beef, Mike. This isn't some manufacturer beef like Marty Fake Newsman and Street, Judas Mossadol tried to do, you know, where they're hugging at the end of the fight. Oh, bro, I love you. Good job.

We made some money and we duped the fans and we tricked them all. This ain't that. Me and Tymer Woodley genuinely hate each other and we want to kill each other. And that's what's going to be inside the Octagon. And when the business is finished, I got nothing to say to him. The only thing I'll probably say to him is, you know, I hope your mom's not watching. Mama Woodley, don't watch this fight.

I don't want to see your son go unconscious in that off on September 19th. But let me give you one thing, Tyrone, because I know you're sponsored by that whack other energy drink. Here's my last piece of friendly advice for you. Get some bang energy. Stop putting that boo-doo, that garbage in your body that you're getting. I'm not even going to say the whack-ass sponsor that you do for the energy drink. You need to get with the best.

You need to get with bang energy. What you put in is what you get out. If you want to be the best like me, put in bang energy. Take that sit, man. With the COVID restrictions, international travel is much hard to come by. And so seeing your old friend Mark Goddard as the third man in the cage would be very unlikely, I would guess. Who knows how things will look in a month? But as part of like the perks that you're looking for in this contract, is that Mark not be anywhere near this fight since you've had your issues with him coming out of the Usman fight? Yeah, 100%. You know, the UFC knows that I'm not going to ever be in the same. same room, let alone building it's him ever again. Mark not so bothered is not allowed at any

fight I'm ever at. He can stay home in fucking in England, you know, at that anti-Brexit piece of shit. No more fucking me over, dude, man. And no one can say anything because he's so inconsistent with his calls. He calls the early stoppage on me. The next week he lets Frankie Edgar die. The other week he's taking away three points. The next week, he's letting another guy die. And then the next week, he's just so inconsistent. He's not a real ref. He's an impartial rep. He's a impartial He's a ref that's getting paid off to, you know, take fights, you know, to pretty much, you know, let guys cheat. And it's not right. It's corrupt.

And, you know, if I see that guy, I promise you, Mike, I'm not going to be able to hold back. You know, I'll probably end up in jail. And, you know, it'll be worth it just to put a mark on that dude's face. Speaking of Usman, you came on this show after the fight with Jorge Mazadal was made official. And you said, bet Kamar Usman, bet the house on him. It's the easiest money you'll ever make. was this the easiest money you ever made? Did you make some money off Kamar Usman?

Yeah, I made $10,000. The easiest $10,000 I've ever made, you know. And I tried to tell the people, I gave them the warning. You know, I told them what was going to happen and how it was going to happen. That's exactly what happened. He exposed the journeyman, you know, the street Judas, Jorge Mossfittal. You know, he's all hype. He was this lightning and thunder.

And then, you know, I called exactly what he was going to say. His excuse was already built in. Oh, I only had six days. notice, oh, I had to cut 20 pounds. Dude, you don't cut 20 pounds. You came up from lightweight, dude. You probably weighed 180 soaking wet. Dude, that's an easy cut.

And guess what, George? You didn't come in on a week's notice because Dustin Sorrier, your training partner is the one that exposed you in front of the whole world. Dustin came out and interview the week of the fight said, oh, George was in training camp for knee versus hooker the whole time. He's been training the last three months like he had a crystal ball like he knew the fight was going to happen.

So there's no excuses, man. And that fight plays out 10 times out of 10 the same exact way that it did. It would be an ultimate footsie championship. And that's what the UFC stand for that night in that fight. It'd be an ultimate hugging match. They're kissing each other's yelling sweet, nothing in each other's ears. It was a joke. I feel bad for the people that paid their harder money to watch that.

That's not fighting. Did you actually watch the fight? Because you said you weren't going to, but did you give it and actually give it a look on that night? Nah, I was too busy, you know, working on my bedroom cardio. I had a couple Miami Mamasitas in the building. So, you know, we were doing better things, man. That doesn't entertain me to watch, you know, other guys fight. That's just boring to me, you know, I could care less.

So, you know, I'm out enjoying my life and live in the American dream every single day with all my South Beach momacitas. Regardless of, you know, what you say about Mazadol, that he's, he's thunder and lightning and such, he's still, you know, he's still a star right now. People are paying to watch him compete. So if they give him another title shot, full camp, no short, notice, you know, all that stuff. How would you react if he got another title shot before you got yours? I would just laugh. I would say, you know, okay, you know, you guys want to pay this man for, for what?

He's all hyped, dude, he's got 15 losses. The dude, the only title that Jorge Moswell has ever had is for losing for a guy in every single weight class. He's lost to fly weights. He's lost to Suns out at 135. He's lost to 45ers. He got knocked out by the Rodrigo Dan, knocked out by 55ers, Paulomino. you know, the Russian dude, beat him up. Dude, he's got so many losses on his record.

It's even hard to keep track with him anymore. Yeah, he hit lightning in a bottle, you know, he went on a 50. He finally got the 50-50 in the last couple years on his record. But, you know, he's all hype and he's built off all hype. And, you know, that's just a marketing machine, you know. But if they want to give him the fight, you know, I think the fans are going to know that they're being fooled. They're going to know that the UFC is just trying to cash in on money.

They're not trying to put the two best fighters up against each other and let's watch fireworks go off because that's not going to be fireworks. This is going to be a patty cake and footsie again. If the UFC kind of goes with the plan here and moves forward with Usman versus Burns, how do you see that one playing out? You know, I don't even know who that Dilbert guy is. I've never heard of Dilbert. I don't know what a Dilbert is.

You know, Marty fake newsman, who knows what that guy is doing. Who knows if he ever comes back to fight? You know, he might have just had that cash grab against the Hyatt Machine Street, Judas Mosvedon, and he's sailing for the seas, man. He's got nothing else to do in this sport. So who knows if he comes back? He's already making excuses. Oh, I got to take my daughter.

I'm going to be out for this long. And I don't want a fight. So, you know, I don't know. I could care less what happens to that fight. I'm just focused on my fights and giving the people what they want. They want entertainment. They want action. And they want real fights.

They don't want footsie. So that's why I'm here to save the day and make UFC and the Worldaway Division great again. How's Colby Covington, Inc. going right now? Are we getting closer to unveiling more information on that? Man, Colby Coventon Incorporated is going so smoothly right now. Like everybody thinks I'm just on the streets and, you know, they're entitled to think what they want. You know, I think more will be unveiled when we actually get the fight signed and we're actually talking about the fight. But until then, you know, I had a board meeting

the other day with Donald Trump Jr., you know, and I was just talking to him about things. And, you know, I had another board meeting today with Candace Owens. And, you know, we're just chatting about things, making sure we're on. the same page and making sure CCI, Colby Covington Incorporated, is moving along smoothly. So the best is yet to come for us. You haven't seen anything yet. Oh, yeah. Didn't you do like a live chat thing with one of the Trumps? Was it Donald Jr? Or was it Eric? I wasn't really sure. It's probably like three weeks a month ago maybe. Am I imagining that? No, you're, you know, you're imagining that accurately. We had,

you know, me and Donald Trump Jr. had a little chat about two or two and a half weeks ago on his podcast triggered, you know, got about 5 million views. It's a big platform and, you know, just it's always cool to just catch up with Don and just hear from him and all the, all the, just fake news and all the, just the swamp that he has

to navigate, man. I just, I really feel for him and his family and, you know, I can't thank the Trump family enough for what they do for America. They're fighting, they're fighting back, man. They're fighting for the American people, and people don't realize that, man. China's trying to overtake America and the liberals right now, and nobody's seeing that, man. They're just

reading what they see on the internet and what they see on the news and they just believe it, you know, without thinking for themselves. So I wish people would just wake up and, and have an opinion and think for themselves for once. Have you chatted with Dan Lambert recently at all? No, I haven't had any communication with Dan. You know, still got tons of respect for him, tons of love. You know, he's still a mentor to me. He's still a good friend to me, you know. I'll cherish the memories we had together for the rest of my life. And, you know, I'm sure we'll have a chat again soon and, you know, we'll catch up. You know, who knows? We might be in WWE one day together and, you know, that'll be that. But, you know, there's no hard

feelings. There's no bad blood. It's nothing but love for Dan Lambert. I know you don't watch a ton of fights. You like to bet on some fights, make a couple bucks. You said you have other things to do behind closed doors, but Steep A versus DC3 is coming up on Saturday. Final fight of Daniel Kormey's illustrious career. Does this fight interest you at all on Saturday night? yeah it definitely interests me but interesting me and getting me to watch it are two different things you know i won't be watching it i got i got better things to do you know i'm going to join my weekend my weekend of freedom here in america the the freest country of all because of the brave you know all our servicemen out there thank you to every service member out there that puts their life on the

line you know war there is no there's no you know there's no uh there's no holidays for war war wars year round, man. It's a 24-7 thing. And these guys are protecting our rights, you know, our constitutional rights that we have in America, they're protecting them every day. And, you know, those guys don't get enough credit. But, you know, back to the fight, you know, I got a lot of admiration and respect for Daniel Cormier.

You know, he's a legend of a career, you know. I made an Instagram post about him a year or two ago calling him the Natty Go. And I really do feel like he is the Natty Go. And by that, I mean, Natty as a natural. He's the natural greatest of all time. You see all these other guys. they try and compare the goats. Yeah, these are all guys that did steroids.

So let's talk about natural. And that's what Daniel is. He's the embodiment of just a good person and a good soul. And, you know, I wish him well this weekend. You know, Steve A is another, you know, great person too. You know, he's a firefighter. He's a first responder. So I got to give a lot of love to him

and what he does for the people of his city and around the world. So, you know, I wish those guys the best. You know, it's tough to really pick a fight or pick a winner because they're both pretty good guys. but, you know, if I had to pick a winner, I'd probably go with D.C. Yeah, the smaller octagon, all things involved, last fight. I mean, I'm a storyline guy. You're a pro wrestling guy yourself, so storylines are huge.

So as far as you go, verbles are in place for September 19th. Nothing has been signed yet. We're still awaiting on that. You know me, Colby. I'm a believer that anybody could be watching at any time. What's the message for Tyron Woodley here? Show up, man. We know you're cloud chasing on.

on the internet right now. We know you're looking for a couple of likes, a couple extra followers, because your career is about to be dead after you meet up with me. So show up, man, you were supposed to show up August 22nd. You didn't want to do that.

You needed a little more time. September 19th, you've called your shot. Come get it, boy. It has been long-growing for many, many years. Come see me, motherfucker. We're going to find out who the best is. And after I get done with you, you're not going to be recognizable to your family.

And we know you're just showing up for that paycheck to pay all those mousy, got a feed because we know you got kids with multiple wives and multiple women. So, you know, show up. Last thing for you go, probably like an hour and a half, maybe two hours for we hit record here. Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate to go against Donald Trump. What do you make of this move? And did you see this? You know, of course Joe Biden had to get someone that was black because, you know, he's not going to get the black vote because if, And to quote, this is quoting Joe Biden.

You're not black if you vote for President Trump. That's exactly what he said. So, you know, he killed the black vote. He's not going to get the black vote. And he's racist. He's blatantly racist. He said multiple times interviews, oh, the black. You know, he was talking the other day about, you know,

all the blacks and this and that. They're not anything like the Spanish or something like that. And it's just like, dude, you shoot yourself in the foot every time you talk. Everybody knows Joe Biden's a puppet. He's a puppet for all the big tech companies, all the liberal people in Hollywood, all the, all the people that are controlling him, you know. But, you know, you can control him all you want, but America sees the truth. They sees the truth that Joe Biden stuck in his basement. He won't come out and give an answer or do interviews like with a guy like you or anybody because, you know, he doesn't have a teleprompter.

And they're not going to be answers that, you know, he already has up on the board that he can look at. So, you know, Joe Biden's going to get exposed in the election. And, yeah, they're trying to keep the economy down. down right now and they're trying to do this fake pandemic with this, this BS coronavirus stuff and they're just doing that. It's just a hit at Donald Trump and people don't even see that. They can't

open up their eyes. You know, what's different from coronavirus versus the regular flu? The regular flu kills times six many people. When did we ever shut the country down and have to put masks and take away our freedoms and put masks on our face? No, we never had to do that. So, you know, I wish

people would stop being cheap, wake up, make a decision for yourself, and please do not vote Joe Biden, because if you vote for Joe Biden, America will never be the same. It will be owned by China. There you go, paid for by Colby Covington right there, a little political advice to wrap things up. Always appreciate the time, man. You're always very gracious with it. You know, you've got things to do. All the best to you. Hopefully this fight happens on September 19th, man. I know everyone's looking forward to it. I know you're looking forward to getting back in there, but Colby Covington, Incorporated seems to be alive and well here heading into September 19th hopefully so thank you

for the time as always man my brother thank you michael have a great day and we'll catch up soon really spider-man what's up brother you've been waiting yeah it's my seven-year-old that's awesome you've been waiting you've been waiting how long for this you were sitting at the stairs for the last like 10 minutes just waiting and sneaking around trying to get in you want to say hi to colby covington Yeah. Say hi. Hi. Hey, what's up, buddy?

What's your name? What's your name? Spider-Man. Spider-Man. So you're living that moment right now. That's Grayson, by the way. That's his real name. Nice to meet you, Grayson.

All right, thanks, man. I appreciate it, brother. Take care. Absolutely. Have a great day. Later, man. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.