MMA Fighting - What the Heck: Episode 7 | Calvin Kattar, Shane Burgos & Diego Ferreira

Episode Date: May 14, 2020

This week on What the Heck, Mike Heck speaks with no. 10 UFC featherweight Shane Burgos (9:10) to give a fighter's perspective on a memorable UFC 249 event and when he'd like to return, Calvin Kattar (26:56) recaps his huge TKO win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249, along with a crazy fight week in general, and top-10 UFC lightweight Diego Ferreira (46:06) gives his thoughts on a loaded 155-pound division.  Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Instacart, you get groceries that over-deliver, like when you get groceries that are the same prices in-store. With no markups at select retailers, you get in-store products for in-store prices, and the only thing that isn't in-store is you. That means you could order in-store products at in-store prices while you're in sweatpants, in spin class, in stuffy work meeting, in anywhere but in store. So download the app today and get $0 delivery fees on your first three orders. Instacart, groceries that over-deliver. Service fees exclusions in terms apply. That's annoying. What? You're a muffler.

You don't hear it? Oh, I don't even notice it. I usually drown it out with the radio. How's this? Oh, yeah. Way better. Save on insurance by switching to Bel Air Direct and use the money to fix your car.

Bell Air Direct, insurance, simplified. Conditions apply. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. What the Heck with Mike Heck on MMAfighting.com. Now, here is your host, Mike Heck. What the heck? Well, hello there, everybody. Welcome to a brand new edition of What the Heck on MMAfighting.com.

My name is Mike Keck. Thank you all so much for checking out the show this week. Wherever it is that you are doing so. And this was a very interesting show to put together because, of course, UFC 249 happened on Saturday night and the event was great. And I'm going to explain why it was so great in a moment. But by the time this show drops, UFC Jacksonville will have come and gone as well. and there will be like no reaction to it since the show will be in the can and in post-production

by the time it even begins. By the time Anthony Smith and Glover to share his fight ends, we'll be putting this all together. So I hope you enjoyed the event nonetheless. But between 249 and the UFC Jacksonville Virtual Media Day on Monday and the way ends on Tuesday and the preview shows and all that stuff, we're still able to make this thing happen and have it make sense in some way with now three guests. We did have four a little while ago, but a quick scheduling change went down. I'll explain it in a little bit.

But real quick on UFC 249, we're going to talk quite a bit about that card on the show this week, and I'm sorry if I'm about to go off on a tangent here. But, man, this thing delivered in a big way. And the biggest reason is, at least in my opinion, storylines are everything in sports in terms of how an event ages. Like, perfect example. when everyone was basically on lockdown a month or so ago, casual fans or fans just getting into MMA would ask me,

what events should I go back and watch? And there's a lot of good ones, but UFC 199 to me is always the first one that's on the top of my list. Why? Storylines galore. I mean, the first fight of the night between Dong Hyamah and Marco Pol Reyes was one of the best fights, not just on the card, but of the entire year of the Indian.

entire year. That fight was ridiculous. If you haven't seen that event, I mean, the prelims alone for UFC 199 had Jessica Andrage, had Brian Ortega versus Clay Guida, had Benile Darius versus James Vic. Dustin Poirier was the main card opener. There was this incredibly ridiculous fight, and I mean ridiculous, between Dan Henderson and Hector Lombard, with Dan Henderson just mounting this incredible comeback and finishing the fight with that head kick and elbows. You had Max Hawleyson. Holloway versus Ricardo Lamas with the infamous, you know, point to the canvas moment with 10 seconds left in the fight from Holloway. What in a performance that was for him? Dominic Cruz versus Uri of favor had their rematch.

And then Michael Bisbing became the UFC middleweight champion. And that was just the action in the cage. Because throughout the night we had, we found a Connor McGregor versus Nate Diaz 2 was happening over the summer at UFC 202. And then the return of Brock Lesner was happening at UFC 200. I mean, this card, UFC 199, excuse me. was so full of storylines and that's why it was so memorable. It was one of those events that if you watched it, you were happy you did and if you didn't, you regretted it.

And I feel like UFC 249 is the same way because that one had lots of storylines, lots of things you're going to remember about that card. Of course, it was the return of sports. We had lots of conversations about COVID-19 testing and then we found out Jaceret and members of his team tested positive on Friday night. So things got a little bit dicey. You know, and we're going to find out a little bit later on in the show as well that there was another near problem as it relates to this card.

But that was something we had our eye on the entire week. And we're trying to stay positive and hope for the best. But that news came out and it could have been worse, but the event still went on as scheduled. And it started with the fun fight between Ryan Spann and just a gritty as hell, Sam Alvey. And then we had back-to-back fights that were just off the charts in their own ways. Like Bryce Mitchell put on a long. Patching pad type performance against Charles Rosa, got his camo shorts to boot from Dana White and Reebok. I mean, Vicente Lucay versus Nico Price?

Come on now. What a ridiculous fight that was. Then we had a couple of decision wins for Carla Sparza and Alexi Olinic. And then a great fight to cap off the prelims between Anthony Pettus and Donald Soroni. Pettis gets the win. And then the main card starts. And you have Greg Hardy getting a win over Yorg and DeCastro. And clearly to Castro had a foot injury in the second round, changed the entire complexion of the fight.

I'm not trying to discredit Greg Hardy at all because he fought a smart fight. But you have to bring that up when it comes to how the fight went down. I reached out to York and to Castro. It seems like his foot was indeed broken. Ivan, 100% confirmed that, but he pretty much confirmed that himself on Facebook. I think he was just waiting for, you know, just the x-ray to show that 100%. But, I mean, you could watch it on Saturday night. You could tell that there was something wrong and that his foot was probably broken.

And then Calvin Cater with an incredible finish over Jeremy Stevens, who missed weight by four and a half pounds. Francis Ngano gets a 20-second knockout over Jarzina-Rosensrike. So with storylines, now we wonder what is next for Francis and Gano in the heavyweight division in general, with Steepai and Daniel Cormier looking to have their trilogy fight. And then he had Sehudo and Cruz for the Bannabwe title. You have Cruz coming back from a four-year layoff, and he looked pretty good. Sehudal look great. of the stoppage. Was it too early? Then you have Dominic Cruz's accusations towards Keith Peterson

and Henry Sohudo retiring? Like, now this creates a whole new conversation potentially at 135 pounds. That is, of course, if he does, in fact, stay retired. But then the top of the card, Justin Gaecie, that phenomenal performance against Tony Ferguson. That was a star-making performance. Fifth round, TKO win over, in my opinion, the toughest man on planet Earth and Tony Ferguson. It was just so impressive from Gachi offensively and then Ferguson's ability to just take punishment and keep fighting. Like it was so ridiculous to watch. And now Gachi seems to have a date with Habib Naramauga-Madoff, maybe on Fight Island. They're talking about this summer, but there's been some reports coming out that Habib's dad is now in a coma.

And that's really scary stuff. So thoughts and prayers go out to all of those guys, to Habib and his family and everything. That's really just a scary thing, especially this time in the world. But we also wondered when Connor McGregor would speak about what happened on Saturday night. When would he react to everything? And it was Monday. And I'm sure you guys all saw that rant on Twitter to, I guess, insert himself into the conversation. But I don't think anything changes here.

Connor's the biggest star in the world. But not even Connor McGregor can slow down the momentum of Habib Mammagim Adov versus Justin Gachy to unify those titles. But that's what I mean. lines galore, and those are the events that stick out in the annals of the sport and the promotion. These are the types of events like UFC 249 that we're going to watch again and again and talk about for years to come because any one of your friends that comes up to you and say, what events do I need to watch? You're going to mention UFC 249, and then you're probably going to go back and watch it

yourself. So my hat goes off to all of the fighters involved for putting on a hell of a show on Saturday night. And speaking of shows, and I apologize for ranting. I just wanted to get that out there. Let's run down this week's lineup for what the heck. Later on in the program, we're going to be joined by surging UFC lightweight contender, Diego Faheda, the number 10 ranked 55er on the planet.

He's attached to quite a bit of what happened at UFC 249 and the Wednesday night event in Jacksonville, which will be over by the time this show actually drops, but we're going to check in with CDF a little later on and see what is going on with him. We were supposed to speak with Bellator Lightweight in former UFC and WEC champion, Benson Henderson to give an update on his rematch with Michael Chandler and what life has been like for him during the COVID-19 pandemic. But that has been postponed and will actually happen later on today as this drops on

Thursday afternoon. So a little bonus interview coming your way this week. But in around 20 minutes or so, we're going to chat with one of the big winners from UFC 249 on Saturday. Calvin Cater, a huge win for him. We're going to check in with the Boston finisher. Go in depth on that crazy. Fight Week, the finish of Jeremy Stevens, Stephen Bisigweight, and much more.

But to get a fighter's perspective on UFC 249 and all the big stories, let us check in with one of the biggest MMA fans in the UFC. This guy knows the stuff, and frankly, there was nobody else that I wanted on to recap this event with me. Let us kick off the show with the number 10 ranked featherweight in the world, Shane Burgos. All right, so with UFC 249 in the books, I wanted to spend. some time on this week's show, recapping the craziness of the UFC's return to action. So I figured let's bring on one of the most knowledgeable members of the roster, a top 10 fighter and one of the

most fascinating divisions in the UFC. Let us welcome Shane Burgos to the show for the first time. Shane, good to see you, man. How are you? I'm good, man. Thanks to the compliment, by the way. I appreciate it. Absolutely. That quarantine hair and the beard, that is something else, man. I'm envious of it if we're being honest. But how long, how long is the hair taken to flow the way that it's flowing right now. My hair grows super slow. I shaved my head after my first MSD fight. So, I mean, it's been like a year and a half and it's the longest I got it. With Ricky Simone cutting his, this might be the best sort of mullet in the UFC right now. There is no close second. It's not a mullet technically because

the top is still long. I just had the whole thing growing. The only thing I do is cut sides. Mullet-ish. Yeah. Before we get into Saturday and all the chaos, how has quarantine life been treating you, especially being in one of the hot spots for COVID in the country. It's been treating me pretty good, honestly. I'm not going to lie. I've been training. I've been doing a lot of training.

It's probably the best shape I've ever been in without having a fight before. So I'd say it's been treating me pretty good for other people a little bit differently around the area. But for me personally, it's been good. I have, my strength conditioning gym is literally, like, not even a quarter mile down the road for my house. Like, I literally just walked back from the gym to come back to this interview. You look pretty swell right now, man.

And getting those weights in? Yeah, man. My weight's actually going down, too, so I'm ready to go. Even better. Well, we got a nice distraction from everything on Saturday night with UFC 249. Main event, Justin Gachie becomes the UFC interim lightweight champion with the fifth round TKO win over Tony Ferguson. What a performance from Justin Gage. What stuck out to you the most in those 24 minutes or so of action?

A flawless performance, basically. What stuck out to me was, one, his cardio was impact. He looked like he was in phenomenal shape, wasn't really breathing heavy in the school. And the second thing is his condition, not, but not his patience, his patience was on point, man. He usually goes out there like a berserker. He's been fighting a lot more patiently lately, but that one was even like, if he was very methodical, and I could really appreciate that. Hindsight is a big word that that's used in the sport.

And one thing that's been questioned quite a bit, even heading into that fight was, should Tony Ferguson have taken it when the Habee fight was potentially waiting for him later on, year and Ferguson took the fight. Doesn't really surprise anybody. He obviously had his moments, even dropped Gaichi with the beautiful uppercut in the second round. But for the most part, that fight was all Gaichi. But when you found out that Ferguson was going to take this fight with all the April 18th craziness going on, did you have that same question? I 100% knew he was going to take it. Like, it's Tony Ferguson. That's what Tony Ferguson moved. The dude made weight three weeks ago, too. So after that, I was like that.

It's completely him to take the fight. And I respect it. What did you think of him making the weight and then having to cut it again three weeks later? Do you think that was a mistake at the end of the day? No, I think three weeks was long enough to not really affect him, but it was nonsensical. I wouldn't have done it personally. Like, if you gave me

extra three weeks, tell me the fights canceled. I'm like, all right, I'm not doing this anymore. I'm going to eat a little bit more to get my weight back up. But yeah, I think that's another Tony move, though. I'm not even surprised he did. But now it seems like Justin Gachie has a date with Habib Namauga-Maga-Madoff to unify the titles. Dana White coming out earlier

and saying they're shooting for Fight Island this summer. But Connor McGregor went on a Twitter tirade earlier this week trying to insert himself into the conversation. But Habib versus Gachi is a crazy fight on paper right now. How do you think he matches up with Habib after that fight on Saturday? Oh, man. I really, like, if you look at, what is he? I have seven fights in the U.S.A., right?

Gaiji, that was a seventh fight. Not one person has really tried to wrestle with him. So based off that fight, I really can't say how the Khabi fight is going to go because we know what Khabib is going to go. because we know what Khabib's going to do. We know exactly what he's going to do. He's going to try to take Justin down. And I mean, he's going to take him down.

And I'm not saying that to knock on Justin's wrestling. He's a phenomenal wrestler, but Kibib's taking everyone down, like whether you're a phenomenal wrestler or not. Like, his own wrestling is probably the best in the world, period. So I wish that Tony would have shot a little bit more so we could see that take down the fence because we haven't really seen anyone try to take Justin down, especially it was it. We did a matchmaker piece on the site.

And for Tony Ferguson, I said, I don't even want to think about what's next for him right now after that fight? Like 24 minutes of him taking the punishment that he took, taking all those huge shots, and only stopping because his body just wouldn't let him continue. Like, let's let him heal up before talking about his next fight. Do you agree with that? Or do you think there should be something sort of people can eyeball for El Cahoui?

No, one million percent. He needs a break. I saw Aaron Bronsetter. He had a good point. He said he tweeted, Mick Tony versus Connor. If Tony wins, you do. who could be versus Tony

and if he beats Justin and if Tony loses then you do Connor versus the winner of that fight which I was like all right that doesn't make kind of sense but that means Connor's got to be out for a while

like Tony should not be fighting for the next I'd say he should give his body at least six months just to really recover I don't think he will but I think he should. Yeah I think

one of the things I mentioned that post was I think Tony Ferguson's biggest challenge is going to be Tony Ferguson himself you know people are going to be telling him to hang out

but he is he is he is a he's a wild man and men His legs are going to be hurt from that. His head's got to be heard. He's got a broken war bill. He should really take him easy. But I don't know if he will necessarily.

Co-made event, Henry Sehudo goes out and defeats Dominic Cruz via TKO in the second round. It's a fantastic performance from Sehudo. Cruz look pretty good, too, considering the long layout. But before we get into the bigger story from this fight, thoughts on the stoppage from referee Keith Peterson, and then the subsequent comments afterwards from Dominic Cruz. It wasn't my favorite stoppage. I'm watching it. It wasn't the worst stoppage I've ever seen.

Personally, if I'm the ref, I'm not, I've never a ref to fight before. I don't want to step on anyone's toes or anything. I'm the rough to fight, obviously. But personally, I think if I was in his shoes, I would have let it go on a little bit quicker. And how much time was left in the clock before the bell rang? There's less than 10 seconds. It was probably like three or four seconds. I'm like, come on, and kind of like, whether it was a title fight or not, like,

there's three seconds left and he was starting to get up. Like, just let it play out, especially at, like, Maybe that's the fighter and me talking because I know I want to go out on my shield, especially when there's three seconds left and then I'm going to get a nice long minute break. Like, I feel like he would have survived that three seconds. We've seen fighters, you know, kind of talk about the referees and about stoppages. I mean, there's only one Robbie Lawler. Like that Robbie Lawler, Herb Dean thing was legendary after the Ben Askeran fight.

But for the most part, if a fighter feels a fight, a fight was stopped too early, they'll have some things to say about the rep. But Dominic Cruz has made some heavy accusations here saying, that Keith Peterson spelled like cigarettes and booze. Like, what did you make those comments?

I don't think Donna Cruz is a sore loser. I don't think he would have said those things just to say him. So I think she really does feel that way. And he's a reputable guy. Like, you got to,

Cruz, he's got a clean reputation. I don't think anyone can knock that. I think everyone can agree with that. So I think he really felt that way. We got a visitor. You made a mess in the couch? All right,

I'll clean it when I'm done. Right. Just what you want to hear as a dad. So, So, So, So, So, So, So Hooto finishes Cruz. And this guy is just rolling right now. He's, you know, the cringiness aside, the man is becoming a draw in the UFC. And then he retires. Like, I did not see that one coming.

I don't know how well you know Henry Sehudo, but do you believe him when he says he's done? I did a follow-up show with Danes Scura. And we were talking about this too. And he said he, I didn't watch the post-by press conference, but he was telling me about it and saying that Suddo started tear up, his coaches were cheering up talking about it. So, I mean, that right there is, that made it more believable hearing him talk about that. But at first, I didn't, I'll think, oh, I know, this is definitely a negotiation, Floyd. He's going to try to use this to get more money.

We've seen him sort of, like, do this before. Like, Daniel Cormier was talking with area yesterday as we record, and he was saying that Henry Suhudo walked away from wrestling at 21 years of age when he was, like, the best wrestler in the country. So this isn't new for Henry Suhudo to walk out on top. On his own terms, too, in which I have, that's not every. single one of us wants to go out. But he's a competitor. He's been competing since he before he was probably 10, right?

I'm assuming. So I feel like he's definitely going to get that itch and he's going to want to come back and compete soon. Yeah, he said Dana White knows the number. If he hits it, he'll be back. But if he is, in fact, done, we're going to have a vacant title in one of the deepest divisions in the UFC at 135. And Dana White said it's going to be Piotr-Yan versus somebody.

And Jan scheduled to face Marlon Marius on June 13th. It's not happening in Kazakhstan. We don't know what the hell is happening with that. But is that the fight to make for the title? Plus, it looks like Al Jemaine Sterling and Corey Sanhagan's being discussed for June 6. Maybe that gets pushed to the same card or something. Like, how would you play it all out if you had the matchmaking pencil? I mean, I think San Yon is the automatic guy to get the shot.

I think it's a little bit of a knock on Sterling. I think Sterling's been on the hottest streak, I would say. Like, if you look at the names he's beating, I think Sterling should be the lock. I think it should be Sterling versus Yon. That makes the most sense, in my opinion. Yeah, and then Sanhagen versus Marias. Yeah, yes, exactly. four-man tournament like that. And Sehudo called for that too.

Yeah. And then you have Aldo and Cruz. That would be an awesome fight. I also got Frankie Edgar in the mix, too. Yeah, yeah. 35 is just crazy right now. And there you got, before all that happened, Francis and Ganu goes out and Knoxo Jarzini Rosenstrike in 20 seconds. And that man is a man possessed right now. He's also in a really tough spot right now because Steve Amyochic and Daniel Cormier, they're trying to line up their trilogy fight. So after that win, Will Francis and Ghanu, do you think he's going to have to take another fight before getting a title shot?

Or does he just wait it out? Because he's a very active guy. And it could be, you know, end of the year at the earliest. He'd get a fight like that, but likely not until 2021. Yeah, I don't think he has to do anything. I think he can just sit back and definitely relax. And if I'm as management and as coach, I would advise that. Because the dude's heavyweight, he makes heavyweight money.

Everyone knows his name. Everyone knows that he's the next guy in line, like fan-wise, I'm saying. So, I mean, if I'm him and if I'm his managing and coaches, I'm telling him. Good job. I got a call. I'm telling him, just sit back and relax, man. Kick back, let the fights play out, go out there and fight for your title. Because you're fighting a heavyweight, man.

He goes up there and who's he going to fight next? He's sure he's going to fight. If it wasn't for the title, he's going to fight a killer. And he's going to roll the dice in that one. It's like, ah, why? Yeah, I agree. Your former opponent, Calvin Cater, picked up a nice win over Jeremy Stevens.

Just a filthy knockout. He's going to join us later on in the show. But that was a nasty finish. What did you think of that big win and his probable assent into a top five matchup? Oh, the fight was awesome, honestly. And I had Stevens edging that first round out. The first round was really close.

Had Stevens winning in the second round, it completely flipped. I had cater picking it up. As a fan, it was an awesome fight. And, I mean, he has a win over me, so I'm definitely always rooting for him, too. So I'm happy to see him get that win. Greg Hardy gets a win. Pettus got a win. Luke A. and Price was wild.

But another featherweight made some noise on Saturday. Bryce Mitchell, defeating another former opponent of yours and Charles Rosa. And Bryce is not someone that you probably particularly have your eye on. for the immediate future right the second but I know you guys share the same management team and everything but that was an impressive win for Thug Nasty on Saturday, was it not? Yeah, it was. I think there was only

I think Bryce landed 40 strikes in that fight and Rosal landed only five but that was probably the most exciting grappling like zero almost not, like striking wasn't even the thing, Roundupon wasn't even a thing, that fight was exciting just with the grappling alone. It was crazy. It was an absolutely crazy fight. A lot of people are throwing out like

they want to see him with Ryan Hall next And, you know, I'd love to see it. I think that's a future fight that everyone's going to want to see. My choice, Bryce Mitchell versus Andre Feely. I think that's an appropriate step up. That's funny. I saw you post that, and I was talking my brother, and they were like, who's next? Me and my brother were talking about him and Philly would actually be a really good fight.

And then you post that right there. I showed my brother. I was like, didn't I just say this? Thinking the same exact thing. So let's, that was a hell of an event. Obviously, there's two more coming up this week. But let's talk about what's going on with you. you know, a lot has changed since we last spoke.

New management. You and Lyman Good are both with first round management. And I know speaking with Lyman a little while ago, he said you guys were very happy with that decision. And I know it's tough to gauge right now, but when would you like to get back in there in a perfect world and build on this top 10 ranking of yours? Next month, man. I'm trying to lock something down for next month. Next month. Anything come your way yet? Nothing official, but some stuff isn't the works. Can't say anything yet, but some stuff isn't the work. So hopefully it goes through, hopefully I have a fight now because they're in the next week or two.

In the States, are we going to fight Island, Shane? What's happening? That I literally don't even have a clue about. I don't even give a fuck. I just need to fight at this point. I don't care where it's that. Sort of, I mean, I know you have some stuff in the works, but sort of looking at the rankings right now.

I think Josh Emmett would make some sense, and I know he's looking for a higher-rank guy and usually don't care who you fight anyways. But now that you have that number 10 next to your name, do you feel like you're in an interesting spot trying to get up those rankings? because, you know, now getting a guy ranked ahead of you, like in Emmett, he's probably going to want somebody higher ranked than you or...

Yeah. We all do at this point. And it's like, but my last fight, I just earned my ranking. Then I fought, I beat Cub and then I fought Macon who wasn't ranked. And I was like, you know what? I just got my ranking. I'm not going to sit here and be like, yeah, I want to fight him, fight him. That's the guy I got.

Fine. I'll defend my rank. Now I'm at the point where I'm like, let me fight somebody ahead of me now. Give me an opportunity to fight somebody ahead. I'm number 10. I want to fight one of these top. Thank you guys. Do you feel like you're going to have some difficulty getting those types of fights,

unless, you know, maybe run off another win or two? I, maybe, but I don't know exactly how to say just because this whole COVID shit going on. I don't know what, I don't know who's really exactly available to fight. Like, if you look at the top 10, like Stevens and Cater just fought, and the rest of the guys, none of them are booked. They're all in the works, but nobody's book. So I don't know if they can fight. I don't know if they want to fight.

I don't know. From a competitive standpoint, you have to be excited. being in this division right now because as interesting as it's ever been, so much talent from 1 to 15 and beyond, there's a lot of really good fights in your future, right? 100%. I'm biased aside.

If you look at 1 to 15, this is really, I think, the most stacked division. Like every single fighter in the top 15. Who do you think wins that rematch between Volkanowski and Hollow? Do you think things go any differently there? I think Max is really, really good at making adjustments. He didn't do it in the first fight.

but I mean it's hard to say I think he'll be able to make the adjustments and switch them things up and go in the rematch but I don't know it it'll be enough to get the win it's a close fight it's a close fight how is how is lyman doing right now like he was the first UFC fighter to come out and share that he had COVID and you know kind of laying my cards on the table I had heard that that was the case and I had reached out to him prior and he said he was just injured and that's why he wasn't fighting turns out that you know the rumors are true but you know, it seems like he's on the other side of it right now,

but what was that time like for him, for you and your whole team? I mean, for me, I was like, I found out he had it. And I was like, oh, damn, man. I was like, I've been training with him so much. Like I was grappling with him, sporing with him, pads with him, pads with him, strength addition with him. We just got back from Vegas. I was like, fuck.

I was like, if he had, I definitely have it. Never had any symptoms. Another one of my teammates, he didn't have any symptoms either, but there was three of us training. So he went and got tested for the antibodies and he didn't have it. So it was like, oh, shit we completely dodged the bullet there we didn't get it at all so we we luckily have been fine but um he said it was bad two two weeks that were really bad and then after that he's back

to normal i was trained with him yesterday wow so did you get did you end up getting tested i didn't get tested because i haven't felt any symptoms whatsoever i felt fine this entire time but like i said my other teammate who third one of us went and got tested for the antibodies because he had the doctor that was going to do it real quick so it's like all right cool so because if my other if he had it then i definitely had that had it but we didn't Yeah, it's crazy. I don't know if I had it or not, but I was, I never really get sick, but in February I got so sick for like a week. And this is before it really started a hit in the U.S. And my kid got sick too. He never really gets sick. So we're kind of wondering if we ended up getting it or not. But Shane, I know you got your hands full right now. I appreciate the time for coming on and breaking down UFC 249. Hopefully we can get you back in there sooner or rather than later. Anything else you want to get off your chest with the folks before we let you go. Oh, man. I'm excited to be back though, man. I can't wait. Hopefully in the week or two, I have them to announce for all you guys. but I appreciate you having me on now.

Hurricane Shane Burgos, everybody. Great insight on UFC 249. And looks like some fight news. We'll be coming down the pipe for Shane Burgos. I kind of like that Josh Emmett matchup. That makes all the sense in the world. But we'll see if Emmett will take that step back. I know he wants a big fight.

He's got a couple of big wins. But Burgos versus Emmett, I'd be down for that one. But Burgos definitely got to keep your eye on in a very interesting featherweight division. And speaking of the featherweight division, Saturday night was a big night for that division, including Calvin Cater, who picked up the biggest win of his career

against Jeremy Stevens via second round TKO. What a nasty elbow that he landed on the feet and another nasty one on the ground. An incredible finish for the Boston finisher, and I had the chance to catch up with him on Monday afternoon, less than 48 hours removed from his big win in Jacksonville. Here it is. All right, we have one of the big winners from UFC 249 back on the show,

Calvin Cater, who picked up a huge finish of Jeremy Stevens on Saturday night. And might I add, there should have been another bonus added to the mix for the Boston finisher. Calvin, you look like a million bucks. How are you, man? Feeling great. Yeah, so I want you to have told me not to get on a Tony Ferguson, uh, Tony Ferguson just engaged in the undercard if you want any bonus money.

That's a good way to look at it. But, uh, you got the win. Yeah, take it. Take it. Hey, I just noticed that a Boston Redstock shirt you got on? Guilty. Guilty, guilty. I respect that.

I respect that. My producer Casey gave me a bunch of crabbies like, oh, you're such a homer. And I didn't realize that I put it on at like 9 o'clock this morning. And then now I'm here talking to you. So it looks like I'm kind of kissing your ass. But I would wear this. Anyways.

I like it. I like it. And the Tiger Red, too. I like it. For sure. Well, congratulations on the wind, man. I mean, less than 48 hours removed as we record this. How does it all feel after having a full day, day and a half to sort of soak it all in?

Oh, it's great. Like I said to you before, just I feel better with a broken nose than healthy with a loss. You know, broken nose in a win than a feeling healthy with a loss. It's just, especially the last one that was November and I deal with the fight camp three times over. I was just, I'm glad I'm on the other side where we finally got another rep in and you feel to get that last one that it tastes out of the lot, you know? Yeah, how are you feeling like physically, though? I mean, obviously you're happy with the wind, so it kind of negates any physical pain. But, you know, how are you feeling talking to me right now?

Is it sucked even talking to me? Honestly, I'll tell what it matters, man. I feel fucking great. I won. I don't give a shit. You know, especially with, you know, the way it worked. Oh, yeah, it sucks, man. It is what it is.

But, you know, I trade the rook for the queen any day. So I was glad because that's when he landed the big charge when I landed the elbow. I'll take that trade any day in the week, man. It sucks. It is what it is. But if you tell me that you get the W bone through it, I take the same shot, you know. So we're on this side with the W and, you know, hopefully another big moment of opportunity in the future.

How does it feel being back in New England? I was speaking with your manager and head coach Tyson Charity. While you guys are in Fight Week, he said it was extremely hot in Jacksonville. I said it was almost 90 degrees and it was just kind of gross out there. But now we're back in the 40s. It snowed on Friday night, Massachusetts Calv. You didn't get to see that. But are you happy to be back in the inconsistency of New England?

Imagine this guy. Tyson, they're complaining about 80, 90-degree weather. Like, this guy, he's just, you can't please them. You can't please them. But, no, I enjoyed myself. You know, a lot of times fight weak, it either leaves a good taste or a bad taste, depending on how well you do that fight sometimes, you know, off a win, everything. Let me and Joe, me and Rob talk about it.

And after a win, like even the water, oh, this is the best water and everything, you know, whatever you do, and it's just normal. It's just, everything's a little bit better off of a win. So pumped with how I remember at Jacksonville, you know, it was right next to a river walk. The venue was a three-minute drive. Everything was kind of simplistic in that sense. And yeah, so great time. Honestly, the weather was a lot better than it is here.

But take it. So let's go back to Fight Week and everything. So you arrived to Jacksonville. You get the swab up the nose. You're tested daily. It seemed like the UFC really did go above him. beyond like advertised with the health and safety aspect. What was that all like from your perspective?

Was it what you expected it to be or was it even more so? I just expected to not really have a fool how shit it was going to go down, you know, and be okay with that. So that's pretty much what happened. And it all worked out even down to the like kind of bus ride over. You get there and then try to take care of any of you sought obligations or get your hands wrapped and have 45 minutes before you get out there. It was all kind of just no doubt.

time, you know? So you just kind of got to just be focused through all that and not let it distract you from the 15 minutes that you're going to be spending on time because that's the most important time where you're going to be locked in. Friday was obviously a really interesting day for you and actually for everybody else, but you specifically because Jeremy misses weight by four and a half pounds. So I'm curious, when were you made aware that he wasn't going to make weight? Did you know before he stepped on the scale? I don't know. I was like the last one to find out.

I thought people were like looking at me and like, yeah. damn, I was in react. Like, I hadn't even found out yet. I was just focused on making a weight myself being one of the first ones on the scale at 9 a.m. And Jeremy had already made his way through. So I'm like, and he's hydrate. I'm like, oh, well, must have been easier a cup of end two maybe to my surprise.

Because I don't know if I mentioned you before, but yeah, I don't, I think a lot of these guys were, I'm surprised it was only one party that came a little heavy. Sometimes people break, you know, under the circumstances. But now everyone, everyone did their part except for Jeremy and go figure. and, you know, five pounds was a little much, I think. And I'm pretty sure he knew what he was doing going in. But it is what it is, man. I'm just glad it panned out the way he did.

But it'd be the first one on the scale after missing weight by so much. Taking off your boxers and things, I'm like, kind of already step on the scale before you make it to the scale up front, you know, so you already knew you were at five. And then I'm saying taking off your boxers and for what, you know? It's like, whatever. But worked out long run, you know, is what it is.

You said at the post-fight press conference, and you're a pretty composed guy for the most part, but you said it's, I think it's because of the New England Patriots mindset that you bring to the table, but you said you were pissed about everything that happened with the weight missed, but then everything was cool once you guys fought

and shook hands up. But on a scale 1 to 10, how pissed were you actually around 9.45 in the morning on Friday? Oh, yeah, listen, I try to, it's a trained mentality, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the Patriots mindset, you know, but I still got a little fucking in my sister. them too. And so you got to have that when you step in there in the cage, man.

So I try to keep those things. I try to keep the locker room material to myself, not give it, try to keep that energy and not give it out to anybody else and let it out. I save it off the fight night. But I was pretty pissed. But when he came up to me and shook my hand after a tough fight, I had, you know, I kind of just chopped it up and just mentioned the weight thing. But, you know, ultimately after you throw it out and they come up to you and they shake your hand. He had all respect from there. And he did give me a hell of a fight.

First round, I give it to him. And second round, I felt like we started sitting down on our shots a little bit more. And we weren't going to get edged out in another round, you know, and got a big shot to get to finish. Once Tyson confirmed that this fight was a go, and it was no surprise to anybody. But was this fight in any jeopardy at all? Like, what was that 90 minutes or so like with the negotiation process between you weighing in and, you know, squaring off face to face with each other about an hour and a half later? It was just a whole bunch of them saying 30%, us saying 40% and trying to meet in the middle,

which didn't happen. So ultimately, if I wanted to fight, it was at 30. And it is what it is, man, at the end of the day, you know, the difference of the percent. We knew we were taking the fight. It's a, you know, through everything that happened, the last thing I was going to do was, I wasn't looking for a way out of that fight, you know, since January. I'm not going to start now come fight night and we're wearing a day. So we made it happen on our end and just, you know,

just did everything we could that was our obligation. You know, we did everything we said and delivered at the end of it. So I'm just excited for hopefully the opportunity next. Hopefully it's a big one. And I just want to capitalize. I want to keep capitalizing on big moment opportunities and see how many I can snowball make. Let's get a streak together.

There you go. Last thing on Friday is if all of that wasn't enough, we had to Friday night, we found out that Jokore had tested positive for COVID-19, and everything sort of shifted online when it came to the event. There was almost like the savings account of positivity that had been building up, and then all of a sudden, this Jokuree news drained a lot of that account out. So, like, how did you react to the news outside of hoping for the best for Jokore and his coaches, I'm sure? Yeah, and then I felt also, of course, for them.

And then, Ryan, you're out of all for losing his fight. hopefully they can get him reschedule. I'm not sure what's going to even come with that. But of course, Chagray and his family healthy. But my coach, Carlos Netto, he actually tested positive to the antibody too in the beginning. So they don't know if you actively have it, but it says you've had it. And he held with us for like three days. We didn't even know until like fight day or Wayne Day, I believe Wayne Day,

that he was going to actually be able to corner with us. So that was a quick scare. And it all worked out. And yeah, we were nervous. And especially if the fight he was even going to happen. And who knows how the last time it got shut down by ESPN, you never know when just they're going to pull the plug in. When you see one, you just don't want to multiply, you know. So glad we were the first show.

Some of these other shows, Wednesday and Saturday, maybe they're a little bit more nervous than us, you know. But I think we kicked off the first one pretty smooth. Let's get into the fight itself. You mentioned that you felt like you lost the first round. I think that was kind of the way a lot of people felt about it. But the whole fight was crazy, man. I mean, Jeremy was going to the leg. He was throwing heavy, heavy shots.

I thought you actually landed the most impactful strike of the round that echoed across every television around the world. I mean, it was a crazy right hand that you landed, and that sort of changed the momentum of the fight. But did anything surprise you from Jeremy's end in that first round? I felt like he was – I felt like he did a good job. But he got the dog fight a little bit more on me, which – like I said, I got some of that in my system. So he did a good job bringing it out of me. And I felt like I kind of was looking for too much of a big one as much as I would expect him to do that in the first round. He was able to kind of let's get that on me a little bit more.

And then I just had to, I was downloading that first round, though, you know, downloaded what I was seeing and trying to stay safe in the process. And by the second round, I was able to tighten up on that timing, the distance. And I just landed a big shot that you don't really feel. And then until you see him, you know, on the canvas and I just followed up. But really happy to get the job done on that long campus. you know because you didn't seem at least from what i saw and i talked to you a few times at this point you didn't seem very happy heading back to the stool after that first round is that accurate were you were you upset about something yeah i was pissed i took a long deep breath i was pissed

because i you know you you want to study and download and stuff but at the same time uh you only get three rounds at mb so you kind of got to get busy right away and uh we'll something we're going to obviously continue to work on whatever but uh yeah i was a little bit of a little bit second one of that first round, little pressure, I wasn't at my timing right the way I wanted to, but I was still downloading.

And then the second round, I started putting that frustration out in a little bit more combinations and sitting in the pocket a little bit more, starting to trade a little bit better. And yeah, and it just landed a big shot. Will you surprise the left,

the referee let it continue after the elbow landed? I always, just as soon as I land a big shot, I'd go in for the kill. So I really was even paying attention to the ref other than if he was trying to beat me to him. I try to get on it right away and give him a reason to quit.

And especially when you show five pounds overweight, I think on fight day, I just got to show him the end of the cliff, you know. Just got to make him a reason I want to quit and get out of there. But it was a good fight. He did, he brought a good fight, mixed up pretty well. And he edged me out the first round and was pumped out that started changing in the second, you know. At the post fight, you, you, you, You were kind of upset early.

You had that look in your eyes. You weren't happy with the performance, but you just landed a big shot. That's kind of like how you spoke about it afterwards. Have you gone back and watched it? And maybe do you feel any differently about it? No, I just feel like there's just more to build off beach. I saw more times where I think things suck

and some other things I was happy with, you know, just more in detail now. But more of each, I think it's always good when you can learn off winds, you know? And that's pretty much what I have. happened yesterday. He did a good job of, he did a good job in the first round, but adjusted in the second and got some good takeaways from the fight, was able to stay busy. I think we improved a lot in the camp, more so than the fight. I had a lot of time to prepare for Jeremy, and we

worked on a lot of things, and I feel like it developed a lot as a fighter in the last five months. How did you guys celebrate the win? I mean, you couldn't do too much. It wasn't like you had to Buffalo Wild Wings and watch the rest of the car with a bunch of fans. Like, what did you guys end up doing after the big win? We just went right back. They didn't even let us leave our stuff in the locker room. They put it outside the door for us for when we finished the fight. I ran through a bunch of media obligations.

And then they sent you right back to the hotel. So, yeah, we just went back to the hotel. I stopped a little bit real quick. And then we just stayed in the hotel downstairs for about an hour and went back to the room. Can't really shut off after a fight like that, though. You know, I was up to like seven. I had a leave for my flight at like 8. 30 in the morning for the show.

But it's just kind of you don't expect to get sleep on fight day. You don't expect to get sleep on weight cut night. You know, it just doesn't happen. So you just do it next week. You're pretty run down if you don't catch up. Did you get to watch the rest of the card anyways? I watched, I did. I watched most of them.

Francis, I saw while I was doing the post-fight interviews, and it sounded just like the whole place out back just, you know, scream in my quiet. And I saw it. Oh, shit, what happened. It was crazy. It was a beast. But his and then I saw, I ended up seeing the replay, I think, later on towards the end of the night. When I got back to the room, they had them on in the room. Yeah, it was a great night of fight. To start off early, too, like another featherweight that made some noise like yourself was Bryce Mitchell, had that nice win over Charles Rosa.

He looked great. I know he's not a guy necessarily that you're looking at right now, but he's on the come up in a really interesting division. 145 compared to what was two years ago. It's a completely different landscape. Did you get a chance to watch old Thug Nasty do his thing? This could be a future opponent, maybe a couple of years down the road. Yeah, everybody's a future opponent. Ideally, hopefully, the immediate future is guys that are ranked above me as the goal. But he's a talented kid, man.

He looks solid on the ground. Charles is a beast on the ground and he dominated, you know. So he definitely, and I'm pumped. He finally got his Camo shorts, man. I'm happy for him. What did you think of the main event? That thing was bananas. Main event, yeah, crazy.

Justin Gage is an animal and Tony Ferguson. I mean, Savage. It's just, we knew what we were getting there. It's just, that's why I didn't really have much stock and boasting this fight. I was like, a lot of heavy hit in the championship. I try to just win a fight. And when I got that finish, man, I tell you,

what was that card I was on with the champ, Valentina? She was on it. She was the fight after me. I want to say Cowboy and Lawler were next. And then there's one more big main event. All three of them bonus right after me. It's like... That was Mariah Sehudo, right?

I think it was. Yeah, yeah, it was. The Chicago card? Chicago, right? Yeah, Chicago. So I had the big one with Laughness and then the old figure, man. Head Kick Valentina, crazy, you know, finish. Cowboy and those Lawler, right?

Of course, part of the night. and then the performance was the main event as well. So I always kind of try to keep it low key after, man. You never know when an MMA card. It goes quick. Was that Cowboy Ferguson? That was Coboy Ferguson, right? Actually, it was.

I think you're right. Oh, yeah. You were screwed. Yeah, they're screwed, man. I got to stop getting on these cards. They're going to get me more fight nights. For you moving forward, I mean, it's top five or bust right now. I mean, you're probably going to end up in the top five or just outside of it.

It's a top five opponent for your next fight. Yaya Rodriguez seems to be the popular pick amongst the community here. This is what needs to happen. Top five for Calvin Cater, right? Hey, I want more big moment opportunity. So whoever that adversary is, that's going to give me that on the outside of the cage. I'm looking forward to that matchup. You're excited to just chill out now for a little while after a 19-week training game?

Honestly, I'm excited to get back to work. For real, like, I don't know what to do if I'm not staying moved. moving and all these big opportunities. It's just driving me to want to get more in the gym, more in the gym. Let's take out these guys that call himself the best in the world. When do you want to get back if the world was the best possible place? Sure. I can see how my nose fixes up tomorrow.

But once that's in place, and I'll have a better idea of the exact date. But I want to be busy this year, man. I'm focused. I'm dialed in and I'm ready to go. Calvin Cater, ladies and gentlemen, big win against Jeremy Stevens on Saturday, one of the many highlights of UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida. How did it feel, honestly, to be a part of that event overall? I mean, you go in there with certain expectations, Calvin. You want to be the guy to be a part of the revolution, to bring sports back to the community, do it for Boston,

and to be a part of a card like that that delivered in every way. What does that mean to you now that it's over? Yeah, it's huge. It brings me one step close to the ultimate goal. one day bringing a UFC title champion to the city of Boston. So, you know, I think me and Rob Font, the wrestling and Cartel are working hard at it. And just one step closer enough. There you go.

Congratulations on the win, Calvin. I appreciate the time, as always. Heal up and we'll see you back in there sooner rather than later, man. Congratulations. Yes, sir. Thank you. Looking forward to it. Good talking.

Great stuff right there from Calvin Cater coming out of UFC 249 and his big win on Saturday. night. A top five fight is in his future, it looks like. I'd love to see the fight between Cater and Yayae Rodriguez sometime this year if the UFC can make that one happen. And Cater's knows it's okay. And, you know, the pandemic kind of things start lifting up and we can move ahead. But, you know, the next fight Calvin Cater has, I really hope it's with Yaya Rodriguez. That's a great fight. I think it's a big one for both of those guys. But let's move ahead to our final guest of the show. let's check in with the number 10 lightweight in the UFC Diego Fajara. He was scheduled to face Drew Dober on May 2nd in Oklahoma City.

That event was postponed, but Drew Dober ended up getting a fight with Alexander Hernandez for UFC Jacksonville, which happened last night as this drops. And honestly, I don't know what happened in that fight as this show drops. But here's my conversation with Diego Fajara. All right, we are being joined right now by the number 10 ranked light. in the world. He was actually supposed to face Drew Dober earlier this month, but that didn't materialize due to everything going on in the world. Dober is now going to face, or at least when this drops, will have already faced Alexander Hernandez in Jacksonville. But let us check in

with the surging Diego Ferreira. Diego, how are you, man? Doing great, doing great, guys. Just here now, stay busy, stay on top and everything, especially how do you say. everything's going on with the coronavirus and the world, but we don't stop grinding, you know, we just keep working and I can't wait to be back soon on the cage. So how has everything gone during this crazy time in the world? With COVID, the quarantine, how have you handled all of this throughout this time? It's been like really like it's been crucial for me, you know,

especially because I have my business, I have my gym, I train myself, you know, I was supposed to get married with my wife, you know, on a church without cancel, you know, a couple things happen, you know, but one of those things I'm happy with is because I finally, I started the construction of my house, you know, on the property I got it, and now you almost, We almost done, but we have to stop a little bit because the money was a little bit short. But, you know, we started. That's one of the most things I'm happy with. But, you know, it's kind of rough to all this things happen in the world. We spend a lot more time with my family and my loved ones. And, you know, it is try be as possible as we can, you know. and that's what we're doing right now.

So did you get married, which is not the big church wedding? Yeah, because one that was supposed to be in the day, that's when we get to the quarantine, like not 10 people out. Like when we started getting, okay, we just got invited the Padinos, you know?

The father-in-laws and everybody, and then the church now can happen because we're not. allow more than five people and then go down. So getting down on people, you know, it started like getting shorter numbers of people inside the church and then we decide we gotta have to battle weight and see what's gonna happen.

Maybe next year we have another chance to get married again because we're married, we're married, but we wanna get married by the church and everything now. But we have to, to wait for the next chance. But, you know, things happy for a reason. And we took a little bit really hard with this. But, you know, we have the way we is right now.

And we're together. That's the most important. There you go. Well said. Like we mentioned earlier, you were supposed to fight Drew Dober on May 2nd at that card in Oklahoma City before it got canceled or postponed, however you want to say it. But then things got sort of switched around and Drew got the fight with Hernandez.

Were you offered a chance to fight Drew on one of these Jacksonville cards at all? What happened there? We have the chance, you know, but like the way I said, we have things happen in my life. It was really hard after that. And I couldn't get the fight. I'm going to say that, like, you know, but I was kind of kind of said. me because I want to fight Duber so, like real bad. And being a wow, I want to fight him, you know.

I always look up to her and say, damn, this guy is good. I think it's going to be good to fight him one day. And I was having the chance and we don't sign the contract in anything, but we would match up to fight. But then I never got the contract and never got anything. But I hope one day we can really get an occasion. Cajun and put our game on because I like his style and I love to get in and the point she tell on the face when it got inside the cage and why not? I don't know what's going to happen

in the future now, but I look up to to to to fight him one day. How did you react to finding out that Drew was going to fight Alexander Hernandez now? I kind of got little like I kind of got a little, like, Willie, how can I say, like, like, surprised. I don't know how to say, Willie, like, surprised. Surprise, sorry. Yeah. Surprise. Because he's not in the rank, you know, exactly.

Alex is in the rank number 15. I thought he going to fight somebody like a little bit above, you know, That was going to be better. But he got to fight Dober. It's still going to be a good fight. You know, I'm looking up for this fight tomorrow. And today, they all make way real awesome. And I think it's going to be a good fight.

I hope Alex win because I really want to smash his face. I don't like that guy. And I hope I can fight a hand, too. I don't know. He talked too much, you know. And I don't like the way he expressed itself sometimes. and he tries, you know, look down on people when he's not even out there, like, that much, and out there that much, I think he's all there.

And I really, you know, I don't like kind of the person like that, you know, and he's from Texas. And I hope we can get in a cage together one day, you know, I really looking for that. I know this is going to be released after the fight actually happens, because it's Tuesday afternoon as we record this, but you could look like a genius right now. Who do you think wins that fight, Dober or Hernandez? I like Dober. I wanted to fight Dober.

But I want to Alex to win because I probably wanted to fight a hand. You know, I'll be a good match out because I really don't like that guy and, you know, I hope he can get this one. So you have a rooting interest, but you're not making an official pick here. Yeah, that's official. I want to hear one, but, you know, it doesn't matter who it wins for me. But just because I don't like Alex and I want to fight Alex, that would be a good chance to root for him and then maybe can have a matchup with him

because I don't like him, you know, it's just going to be like, I want to his step up to him and really get a chance to fight him. This is like the friendliest way someone has ever said they don't like another fighter. This is great. This is very friendly. Yeah. You never have to look down in the person. That's what I'm in my way.

If I want to fight ahead, I don't like it, but still, you know, I still want to get there and, you know, smash his face. With the UFC coming back and they're putting on all these events starting with that crazy UFC 249 event on Saturday. They get the event tomorrow as we record. Another one on Saturday. It looks like the train has officially left the station amidst this global pandemic. Realistically, when would you like to get back in there? there for one of these future events. If they called you right now and said, when would you be ready to fight? What would you tell them? I want to be waiting for next month, you know?

Right now, after I'm not going to say I cannot be waiting in a month, but a month and a half, you know, just getting back. Thank God. My gym I was open right now like a week ago. I was closed. The city closed my gym and I could get in and out, you know, in and out. But now, but now, official is open and I can't get back to my my normal train but give my month and a half I'll be 100% ready and then I have no excuse me a month and a half from here to now I'll I want to get into the cage of Fisher and that's what I'm telling I asked my manager already like give me a month and a half a month of a half just to get you know healthy get my weight down a little bit more you know but I I want to guess as soon as I

I can. I can say as soon as I can, but a month and a half is the proper, proper way to, you know, be a wait for a fight. You're in an interesting position right now because you're now in the top 10 and having a number like that next to your name to the naked eye that holds a lot of weight. But if you talk to different fighters, some look at the rankings differently depending on who you talk to. Some say that the rankings don't matter. Others say that it does. Do you take a lot of stock into the rankings and where you sit right now? I never really know. I'm a fighter.

I like to fight. You know, I love it to fight. I just don't like to cut away, but I like to fight. But for me, sometimes numbers, it really doesn't matter, you know. You know, that's who you're going to fight with. It's going to be more attention. Like, people are going to be like, keep the eye on you, you know. Look, McGregor, getting all this eye attention of who he,

who he fights. with, you know, numbers, it's thing coming, coming with, uh, with the, who you're gonna fight with. You know what I mean? Like, if he fight a guy top 10, he's actually gonna get there. But it's good to have the number, you know, because you put, you put yourself with the bass. You gotta be there with the bass, you know, you're number one, number two, number, whatever. whatever, but it is good to have the number with you just so can get a bad of fighters. Yeah, because to me, just sort of from the outside looking in, you're almost in like a blessing

and a curse type situation being the number 10 guy because you're on a big winning streak right now. You've won six in a row. And then in your last fight, you became the first guy to submit Anthony Pettis at UFC 246. You're in kind of a tough spot in my opinion because I can't imagine there's a lot of guys in the top 10 that are going to do. jump at the chance to fight you right now. Like, not out of fear, but just kind of looking at it from a risk versus reward standpoint.

Do you think that, you know, you might have difficulty booking a fight with somebody inside the top 10 right now? I think so. Like, I was going to want to fight like Kinta, but like Kinta don't want to fight nobody under their hand. And I said, all right. Okay. Whatever.

That's when I mentioned to fight Dober, you know. Just one of those guys. I mentioned Alex, too, you know. and like kinta one of those and you know that's when I I want to fight Dober and don't happen but it's a hard situation it is you know but I'm looking for the bright side like to can I can get a list like somebody to to to fight I really don't care you know and as long as I can get a good match up and and it started getting my my way to the to the big to the big fight I really don't care.

So, best case scenario for you right now, Hernandez beats Dober. You get that call to fight Hernandez, maybe over the summer, give you time adequately to prepare you and Hernandez, July or August. That would be sort of the ideal situation. Oh, sure. That's one that I really want to look for, you know. That's something, I smile in my face. Just thinking about it.

And especially if you're going to, especially if he'd be here. in Texas, you know, like, it'll be good for both fighters, you know, and I'm looking for that one, you know, I just, yeah, I'm really looking for he can't get this fight, you know. And Duber is a good fighter, you know, Duber is not like a guy you're going to get down, like, so easily, but, you know, but, you see, I hope, I hope he can get this one. Yeah, outside of the main event, that's the, that's the fight that, that's the fight that that interests me the most. Did you watch UFC 249 on Saturday?

I did. I watched all the fights on this Saturday. I was impressed. Super impressed. You were attached in some way to a lot of what happened on Saturday. First off, the aforementioned Anthony Pettis, the man you defeated in your last fight, fights Donald Soroni, picks up a decision win.

That fight was a lot of fun to watch. Who did you score that for, by the way? Look, I'm a big fan of Cowboy. I'm a really big fan. I always look up to that guy like, damn. One of those guys, like for me and myself, I don't want to fight with, you know, but I look up for that guy a lot. And one of those guys inspired me to be who I am, and damn, man, he's, I think he got that fight, you know,

like he just missed a little bit on the end, you know. The couple combinations at the end, Anthony got it, you know, under the end. But I was tie and then Anthony took it, you know, I don't, I see like, it's just real close fight, you know. And that's how I scored that one. But I wish a couple could have won. And that's not about the dollar. Just because I like that guy a lot. And I like the way he fought, the way he took care of his career and everything.

But I wish he could have that one. But Anthony got it. What did you think of Anthony's performance overall? Because it's tough to come back. You go through your whole career, winning titles. And yeah, you're going to lose fights from time to time. But the first time getting submitted in your last fight, being able to bounce back the way that he did. What did you think of his performance overall?

His performance did a good. He did the right strategy, you know. He stayed on the pocket with a with a with a cowboy you know counter like every combination cowboy throw and then he tried to look always for the body shot you know but he did he did the right strategy and he took a lot of advantage on the on a count on the counters of a cowboy but he did he did awesome he did what he have to do together to win and he got it. A couple of your Fortis MMA teammates

were scheduled to compete on Saturday. Ryan Span picked up a hard fought win over Sam Albi. That was a crazy fight. But Uriah Hall was scheduled to fight Jacaray Sosa. And then we found out Friday night that Jaceray had tested positive for COVID-19, a couple of his corner men as well, and the fight was off.

And you know, Uriah has been putting it together. And it seems like he's in a really good place right now since the move to Fortis, even moved into the gym to get ready for the fight. So, you know, as someone who knows your Raya and a member of the UFC roster in general, how did you react to the news on Friday night? I was a little sad, you know. Jack Craig, he's the same town I grew up with, like in Manals, you know.

But I really want to see the fight with Rayon Hall because he's my teammate. And I see how much work that guy putting in together, you know, to get a fight like that, that side. But I know I wish I could see the fight, you know, because I don't know how we're going to be like more like, look who's going to win? I really want my teammates to win because I see the sacrifice he put in Jakarta 2. It's a put me in a really weird spot, you know. But I know how much those fighters needed the fight now. And I wish that fight, I wish to have, like, Jacquet get better on, to his, you know, his COVID-19, and then get out of the situation, he can get a fight because he has a family to supply, you know, it's sad to see that. But, you know, I see, like, both fighters in the fight.

But I hope something happened, like, for them both, like, soon, and they can have another shot. shot on the UFC again. Yeah, well said. Dana White did say they were going to take care of both fighters, which is good. That should happen. But, of course, the main event in your division, Justin Gachie becomes the interim champion with a fifth round TKO win over Tony Ferguson. Good Lord.

What a crazy fight that was. What a performance from Justin Gachie? What was your takeaway from that fight between two guys that you're hoping to share the cage with someday? I hope so. you know, I was, it's really good to see this again be so technical like that. You know, like the way he performance, I never seen his performance that,

the mud, like that, that clean, you know, because he, I seen a bunch of his fight. I've been watching a lot of his fight, and he was wild, like he got rocks on time. This time he got one time by the end of the round, But he put it like, like some, like his combinations were incredible. Like I took my head for the hand, you know, and Tony Fergus too, like for be so determined, you know, getting hit and he still moving forward, still putting in the pressure.

But that day just gave was like phenomenal. You know, he put it his right strategy to. fight a fight that side you know like he put his his face on so okay I don't got to be crazy how it used to be I got to be nice technical and I'll be a great fighter and he did he put a great fight and I take I take for just again make who like make the way you know on you know minivan like on on that event like so people all over the world been watching and he did great and I'm really impressed with this. He was impressed with hand too, like the way he put all his combination together.

Yeah, he looked fantastic. How do you think he matches up with Habib? Because Dana White said to an ESPN affiliate in Chicago, he's planning on making that fight for Fight Island sometime this summer, Gaichi versus Habib. How do you think he matches up with Habib? Wow, that's hard. To right now on the UFC, I don't see nobody. taking gaites down, you know.

And I see a lot of people try, but never get it. And I'm a big fan of Kabib, too, you know, good wrestling. But I think Kabib has to put a good strategy to get a fight. But I wish those two fight is the best and, you know, so we're going to get. But I think it's going to be a good fight to watch it. Yeah, I agree with you. last thing before you let you go, I appreciate the time very much. I saw a video on your Instagram the other day.

It was you and your son training together. He was holding a kickpad, I believe, and you guys are getting some working together. That has to be, you know, especially being a dad myself, that has to be a pretty cool experience, having your kid join you in something that you love and that you do for a living, right? Yeah, yeah. All my three kids doing, like the training, they're training. I try being in shape with them, you know. to be, like, playing at the same time, but I have a little workout, and I sport my old one,

like, my old ones can be 18 and 22nd, the May, and my little one always, like, try, like, to be, to be involved. But, you know, it's good to have my kids around, and especially, like, on this time, and having my training, too, you know, my train partners. Yeah, right? that's yeah it's a great video it's amazing stuff and as you know uh it goes by very quickly this fatherhood stuff so continue to enjoy it thank you for coming on Diego great stuff all the best to you and the family and we look forward to seeing you back in the octagon this summer sooner rather than

later at least thank you again for the time thank you thank you guys appreciate it Diego fajeta wrapping up this edition of what the heck on mmafighting dot com it was a little crazy putting this one all together with three fight cards in a week. Hopefully next week will be a little less chaotic, but thank you all for your patience and checking out the show. Wanted to make sure we got something out for you. And I think this one delivered with the guests that we had.

So a big thank you to Diego Fajara, to Calvin Cater, and to Shane Burgos. Make sure you rate, review, and subscribe to wherever you're listening and watching. Plus check out all the other programming that we have for you, like the A-side Live Chat, Eurobash, coffee talks, all the event previews and post shows, and much more. So there you go. That's it. I am done. No more ranting from me. I am Mike Heck. And as always, have a heck of a week, everybody.