MORNING KOMBAT WITH LUKE THOMAS AND BRIAN CAMPBELL - Demetrious Johnson on Adriano Moraes Rematch, Who's the GOAT and Henry Cejudo | Morning Kombat RSD

Episode Date: August 23, 2022

Brian Campbell and Chuck Mindenhall sit down with Demetrious Johnson ahead of his rematch with Adriano Moraes. Mighty Mouse Previews his rematch with Adriano Moraes, Breaks down the GOAT conversation and talks working with Henry Cejudo. Morning Kombat’ is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Bullhorn and wherever else you listen to podcasts.    For more Combat Sports coverage subscribe here: youtube.com/MorningKombat   Follow our hosts on Twitter: @BCampbellCBS, @lthomasnews, @MorningKombat    For Morning Kombat gear visit:morning kombat.store   Follow our hosts on Instagram: @BrianCampbell, @lukethomasnews, @MorningKombat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TD Direct Investing offers live support, so whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, you can make your investing steps count. And if you're like me and think a TFSA stands for Total Fund Savings Adventure, maybe reach out to TD Direct Investing. What's going on guys, Demetri Johnson here, the Jersey City. This is my second time on the show. First time live in the studio. I worked with Luke Thomas before, Chuck Mendenhall before. The other, what's the other gentleman's name? Brian Campbell. Brian Campbell. I don't know if I spent a lot of time with Brian Campbell in the past when I was fighting in the UFC. Luke Thomas, he's been around forever. Chuck Mendenhall, been around here forever.

Yeah, and Brian's. He's here. He's got here. He's got here. Demetrius, how are you doing, buddy? Good to see you, man. Chuck. What's up, man?

You know Chuck Mendenhall? Yeah, yeah. What's up, man? Good to see you. Been a long time, yeah. A true veteran of the game here, dude. Yeah. Yeah.

You aren't, but I'll be- Oh, no. I'm not, yeah. I'm the boxing guy. This chair, too, has, like, a loose spring, so you get, like... You can get your oil checked. That's one of the good things about these couches in the 70s, man.

The smile I got here, that was good. There you go. Hello, we're back at it on the couch. Room Service Diaries, Morning Combat. You know me, BC Brian Campbell, Chuck Mendenhall. But how about this? One of the greatest fighters to ever step foot inside the cage. And I know you don't want to talk about that.

We talk about whatever we want. Okay? But when you're great. Coming out hot. Okay? That's what people talk about. No, Demetrius Johnson, Mighty Mouse himself, back at it with one championship. We've got a lot to get into that.

But, man, for you to show up. We've had a few of these, and they've been wild. There's been various substances. But this is like 8 a.m. that we're filming this. So it's dads, it's coffees, it's, you know. How are you doing, brother? I'm doing good, man. I'm loving the couch, loving the setup, loving the vibes.

So I'm just here to chill out and vibe out. Now, when I see this couch, I think of my teenage years in somebody's basement. You know, like, you know, you know what I'm saying. I'd like to believe, you know, I was chasing the muff around. But really, I was chasing these couch cushions around. Have you had time on stuff like this? Couch like this? Yeah, my mother-in-law, she kind of likes this old vintage stuff

because the cushions kind of, like, give away. So you kind of fall into it. I mean, you go to what's called brushless and hardware and get the cloud. It's like nine grand. I'm like, that thing is the most uncomfortable. Yeah. Give me the old shit. You say you found this in the back of the alley.

This is well lived in couch, by the way. I believe that there's stories to tell from this. You know what I mean? You know, definitely. The man in the hat, Chuck Mendenhall. Thank you for joining us on here. You said Demetrius. I was here. Hey, you know, I mean? You know, definitely. The man in the hat, Chuck Mendenhall, thank you for joining us on here. You said Demetrius, I was here. Hey, you know, if Luke Thomas was here,

we'd be talking about tattoos, but Luke Thomas isn't here. We always, each time Luke Thomas had like interactions, we're always arguing with each other. It's always like, I think that's the natural default for everybody, you know?

Wait, wait, wait, wait. We've been sitting here playing. About what? What's the differences here? I don't know. It's been a long time. It's been a long time since we've, wait. We've been sitting here playing questions. What's the differences here? I don't know. It's been a long time. It's been a long time since we've been together.

I always feel like we always have like some internal beef with each other, but I don't know. That's what Luke's always like. BC, why can't you hang out with me more on the road?

I'm like, because me not liking you is the basis of the show. It's the foundation. I don't want to cross over. Now, hanging out with them wouldn't change that. Yeah, no, no.

It wouldn't change that at all. DJ, you're going to be back at it Friday, August 26th, Singapore. Big deal, one championship, making that debut on the Amazon Prime. Big U.S. deal, which is putting you guys prime time and eventually going to lead to the U.S. debut for the promotion. But, you know, you've kind of been the face of this brand, whether you've wanted to take that or not since coming over from the UFC.

This is a pretty big damn fight in your arc, but what do you think about the overall feeling of like, man, we're kicking this off in the States, and I'm in the main event. I mean, that's what it's all about. First off, being an anime fan and all that stuff, you said the arc, my arc, the story of my career. You felt that.

I felt that. That's pretty legit. I like that. It's an arc of my career um it's amazing you know like i said i never uh wanted i don't want to say i never wanted to be the face of it but i just see myself as another athlete under the roster um it's a huge deal a huge deal for them to sign with amazon right like because i heard rumors like hey we got a us us broadcasting deal right we had the tnt i feel like tnt was more focused on aew right like focus on the wrestling um which is which is cool but with amazon prime being the next broadcaster that's a huge deal and everybody's super excited about it all my friends like dude

you know how dope it is like just to go on and click amazon prime and have a prime video like and who doesn't have Amazon Prime? Everyone wants that next day shipping, right? And it's almost like, that's the biggest thing, right? Like everybody, like when I sit here and I always get analytical, I'm like, okay, so Amazon Prime, who has Prime video? Everybody who has Amazon Prime, who wants the second day or same day shipping.

So it's not like, it's like an actual, extra icing on the cake, right? Like it's something. People don't have to chase it. People don't have to chase it. They can run into it now. Yeah. And Amazon's going to do a good job of actually promoting it.

Now, when you started this career, man, did you think at some point you'd be talking about a fight and a streaming service and talking about mail delivery as being a connection to this? Like, isn't that what I'm saying? From where you started to now, that's like a hell of a trajectory right there. I mean, when I first started, my first pro fight was in Candy Cage, Everett, Key Arena. I think it was Key Arena. I'm not sure if it was Key Arena. No, it was Comcast Event Center. Well, at least you're in an event center. You could be in a tent on a parking lot for most of the main venues.

That is true. Yeah, yeah. Some guys have been, yeah. I mean, that was my pro debut. I mean, my very first one, I mean, I fought in Alaska. I fought in, I fought not everywhere, but in Washington, I kind of fought where you need to fight, as you can say, right?

But now, fast forward, I mean, we're just talking about my fight against Dom. That was 11 years ago to this day. And Dom just fought. Time flies. That is crazy. It's been 11 years. You know, and then who just retired?

Warren McDonald just retired. Uriah Hall just retired. This is your class. This is crazy. It's been 11 years. You know, and then who just retired? Warren McDonald just retired. Uriah Hall just retired. This is your class. This is your era. Cowboy Cerrone just retired. Like all those guys, man. Yeah. So yeah, like you said, this is my era.

So... Betch Gohea, put some respect on her name, please. Betch Gohea. Jessica I. Jessica I. So it's, you know, now being on Amazon Prime, still going after a world title. I mean, I can't complain. I've been blessed.

Yeah, Friday, August 26th, 10 p.m. Eastern, the main card. Adriano Moraes, rematch for the Flyweight Championship. And you came out following the trade. You arrive at one. You look to be the prime DJ of ever. But this was a, we've never seen you stopped. And, you know, I think for a lot of us

with the change in the rule sets, it's like, oh, he got, dude, he got me when he was down. That's what occurred to me. I was like, oh, he's not used to that. This is what a Muslim man does. Yeah, fair. Man, I'll tell you what,

after that fight, I had to come home and explain to so many damn people what the hell happened. They were like, that was illegal, wasn't it? They were like, why is that man disqualified?

I'm like, guys, you know, I'm a chill pill. I a chill pill i'm like guys guys like over there you can get me in the fucking face on the ground like and he's a big ass flyweight too with the with the weight rules and the rehydration see the funny thing is that i weigh bigger than all the guys i fought this is the thing people misconstrue right i don't know how big they are like eight weeks out from the fight. Yeah. 12 weeks out, right? Like I saw an email to myself back in 2012, me weighing 141 pounds. This is back in 2012. I was still fighting at 125. I think I just came out the last six times on a cruise. So I remember when I was fighting Dom, I came home weighing 138 pounds during training camp.

So I'm the exact same size as I was back in 2012. I just carry it differently, right? You carry it now in the abs. My abs are fucking broken. Look at those abs. We're not used to that. So now when I go out and I compete, they weigh you after the fight.

And from what I've heard is that i've been bigger than all my opponents after the fight so uh but he is taller i mean he's 5 10 5 11 so there is a range uh advantage he has and even in my previous my fights i've always had a hard time with taller guys you look at domino cruz you look at tim elliott uh you look at miguel torres uh he isn't the first tall guy I've fought. True, yeah. But yeah, when I came back home, I don't know how many times I had to explain to everybody, like, dude, it's legal there.

I got blasted in the face. I'm good. I mean, did that ending surprise you in terms of what was possible? I mean, I know it was possible because it was a rule set. Did I ever think it would happen to me? In the back of my mind, I knew that day would come, you know? It's almost like getting cancer. Like you, it's a possibility that can happen to all of us,

but you don't want it to happen. You want to bring the mood down, Demetrius. I'm being fucking real. Sorry, guys. I'm being straight up real, right? Like, you know, now when I fill out my paperwork, how you ever been knocked out? Fuck yeah, I've been knocked out before, right?

So, I mean. Yeah, you never had to check that until now, right? I never had to check that until now. But, you know, I've been knocked out before when I've been snowboarding and, you know, pushed off a roof, so it wasn't nothing new. Jesus. The time we got that eight ball in Cleveland,

I mean, we've been there. Yeah, I mean, he's blacked out one, so he's blacked out. Look, it's like, okay, I don't know if this comes off as a backhanded compliment, but I always say I'll know somebody's a winner by how I watch them lose. Dude, you're a great loser, as weird as that is to say. You can't be going, I mean.

I mean, you're a really good loser. You didn't complain after the Cejudo rematch. I thought you had huge grounds to complain. You didn't. Elevation. Oh, you've always been elevated though. It's like you've always dealt with everything. I feel like you handle losses

way back in the day too. Like, you've handled losses well. Yeah, I think when you come... Like, so my upbringing in mixed martial arts, training with Matt Hume, I mean, he still beats me up to this day. And like, I always strive for perfection, right? Like, there's training... Like, even in this training camp, there's a... Those days I'll come in there and I'll have a great sparring session.

I was like, if I fight like that, I'm winning this. I was like, there's no hands. There's nothing to go to change. But, you know, then there's days I'll go in there and I just have a horrible sparring session, right? And I'm not necessarily losing the sparring session. It's just not perfection, right? So I think when you had that in the gym and then

uh i lose like i just started training at a brand new uh jujitsu place with professor john and he just tears me a new one it's like what enough so i still get humbled so i think when you get humbled in the gym and then you go out there in a bigger stage and you try to give it your all and then you lose, it's like – Let me ask you this, man, because you've had rematches before. I feel like you're a student of the game. Like you're able to kind of see from the first time, right, and kind of do it again. This was a little different. Yeah.

This one's a little different. But how does this one compare to some of your other rematches? You know, it's different because, because you know obviously i lost this one right but it's just the approach like the approach has got to be different you know like you watch film on somebody you're like okay that's what he does then you get there about okay wow that's what he really does and then you watch him again live and it's like fuck that is what he does so it's like yeah i know what you mean though what you're saying yeah like knowing that it's like how do you approach it right and at the end of the day you go in there

you approach it i've done everything right right diet's right we're doing the media is right uh training's right so now you say go out there and give it hell and see if it works i don't just i've always been amazed at your ability to transition from like like to be at this level you've got to be hyper competitive and you've got to be perfectionist ability to transition from – like to be at this level, you've got to be hyper-competitive and you've got to be perfectionist as you mentioned and you've got to be – but then to just be able to say, okay, I lost. I'm going to learn from this. I'm going to take this L, absorb it, and come back without that ego

and arrogance of being like, man, that motherfucker. You know what I mean? I think – Like you're human at the end of the day too. You're not a robot. Yeah, I think in America, in America's culture and with UFC, with trying to be a big persona, right? And I think what personality and persona drives an ego.

And I think there's too many people in this sport who had egos, right? It's like we're all athletes. We're all human. Let's just go out there and put on a great show. Give it your best. Don't get me wrong. I'm super hyper-competitive. I plan on going out there and blowing the bricks off.

I'm going to get in this face. I'm going to use my footwork. I'm going to use my angles. I'm going to use my wrestling, jiu-jitsu, my Muay Thai, and I'm going to give everything I got. And if I come out victorious as a victor, boom, GG, we got him. If I come out as a loser, God fucking damn it, we lost again. That was gamer speak. He was like, good game it we lost again well that was gamer speak yeah good game gamer yeah it's gamer speak right and so i'm gonna go home

and relax to where everybody's like oh i'm the fucking best man it's like there's too many of that i think sometimes it's a breath of fresh air it's like yeah i lost you know you don't seem like a guy who deludes yourself like there are certain guys in the fight game right they get to it they believe the invincibility that's kind of being put down. You're always reluctant with goat talk and things like that. I don't feel like you're fully cherishing, but maybe it's just, you don't want to delude yourself

into believing it or any of that stuff. Like, how does your mindset work on that? Why aren't you willing to just, you know, walk around with a crown on your head and be like, you're damn right I'm a goat, all right? Because it's always subjected to the person's opinion, right? Like, my greatest of all time

are going to be different than Chuck's and he's going to be different than yours, right? Yeah, mine are going to all involve the women's opinion right like my my greatest of all time are going to be different than chuck's and he's going to be different than yours right yeah mine are going to all involve the women's strawweight division which is the way i roll yeah he's always plugging that division every time we talk about it which is fine you know so i try to keep that i try to stay away from that talk right i'll let you guys out the the community yeah decide that and i think when that happened is i was doing a video i was working on a game. It was called For Honor. And it was a fighting game. And I was like, man, this game is probably esports ready.

And the creator was like, no, it's not. He goes, I don't get to decide that. The community does, right? So I think it's the community who decides who the greatest of all time is. Don't get me wrong. When my time was done, it said, and to this day, I was like, I'm one of the greatest flyweights to ever do it. I was like,

nobody, like, 11 consecutive title defenses, never missed weight, never had a problem, never missed a use out of check-in, name another flyweight. Never really make excuses.

Never make excuses, right? Like, like when I lost to Remy Sudo, I was like, I lost. Like, he beat me, and it is what it is.

Yeah, but you got, you got screwed on the cards, and you were injured in like two places. I feel like if anybody ever deserved an immediate trilogy in that amount of respect, it should have been you got you got screwed on the cards and you were injured in like two places I feel like if anybody ever deserved an immediate trilogy

in that amount of respect it should have been you I mean we could have done our trilogy but I didn't there was other things we needed to explore right you think about

the time where the state of the flyweight division was in the UFC it just wasn't where it is today yeah right like I

I beat everybody in my era in that time just twice Joseph John Dodson that's the thing I was talking to somebody about it the other day

you look at basketball in Michael Jordan's era, you have Scottie Pippen, Gary Payne all those guys and if Michael Jordan was playing basketball today he would be close to LeBron James that's the thing it's called his fucking time there's some subtle

goat talk. He's getting to it. It's going to come out around the fire in like eight years when he's cracking a cold one. I'll tell you what,

boys. I'll tell you what, John Jones ain't shit. Are you like Sardines or something? No, no, no. That was a beer. I was like,

you know, John Jones. Speaking of drinks, bartender, can I get a coffee refill from somebody? Filthy Phil, thank you.

Oh, I wish we had a full spread of, you know, donuts free, but you wouldn't touch you know you know what man i had donuts on the plane over here wow well you know what we do have is this incredible bag of brazilian nuts because our producer matt ryle who you know you wouldn't when you look at him you wouldn't think testosterone he found out that these raise your tea all right so there's brazilian nuts if you'd like to this tea is's good. I'm good. If you eat that whole container,

you'll come out looking like 2013 Belfort. All right? Hey, man. When the flyweight division started in the UFC, I always had this theory that it was basically created because of Joseph Benavidez. It was like, all right, let's create this division. He has nowhere to go.

He's already lost to Dom twice behind the eight ball. I feel like you were the ultimate, like the ultimate interception was you coming in there and running that division because it never, ever went that direction yeah did it feel that way to you because i felt like it was set up one way and people weren't talking about you at that moment like i remember joseph benavides yeah uncle creepy yeah and who was it was uh the japanese guy right or uh you you wish you the time yes that was the the original yeah. Yeah, you know, I never felt that way. Yeah. Just because, you know, I'm a big fan of Joseph Benavides.

I mean, we've spent a lot of time with each other. Saw Cole play together in Toronto. Oh, wow. One of my cherished good memory. So I think, look at me, like, coffee! Where's my coffee? I'm getting a refill. Can you put in a little Irish and Chuck's coffee, please? Thank you.

So I never felt that, but I can understand where you can get that, you know, that viewpoint. I think it was just that he was kind of the talking point at that moment. And especially being from Team Alpha Male, great, great athlete. So it's like. He married up. Let's just be honest. Oh, my God. So, yeah, I can see that.

But, you know, for me, I just went in there and did my thing and became the world champion at that time in 2012 in Toronto. And I was grateful for the opportunity, and it's given me the light that, you know, I couldn't imagine having. And I was successful. I was a very successful champion. Okay, because during your run, and you're getting title defense after title defense,

whenever there was something bad to potentially say about you, I felt like you responded in the cage. It was like, oh, he's too boring. He goes to decisions. All right, here's a first-run knockout. You know what I mean? Or he doesn't do this. Oh, here's a ridiculous highlight reel submission.

Were you like picking up on those wavelengths and going, okay, I'll show you guys? Or was that just the natural progression? I think it was a natural progression because I remember when I had my first finish in UFC. It was 2013 after I came back from shoulder surgery. I fought John Dotson, signed a contract to fight. This is another thing a champion doesn't do nowadays, right?

Fought John Dotson in Chicago and signed a contract to fight John Moraga, was training, and I remember I was doing strength and conditioning, and I couldn't do something. Matt was like, what's wrong with your shoulder? I was like, I don't know, it fucking hurts. And's wrong with your shoulder I was like I don't know it fucking hurts and I was like but I'm not pulling out of this fight he goes you need to get an MRI

got an MRI tore my labrum got surgery fought in July against John Moraga I remember submitting him in front of Key Arena in front of a hometown crowd then after I submitted him turned around and knocked out Joseph Benavidez

the first fight they were like I'm not really sure if Joe won that well he didn't win the rematch I'll tell you that exactly but like imagine that work schedule for a champion getting surgery fighting three times in a year it's like you're not going to see that nowadays you might see that but now it's like

we got to make sure the build up is good we got to make sure the pay per view point is good we got to make sure we sell out so it's just different how much do you the build-up's good. We got to make sure the pay-per-view point's good. We got to make sure we sell out. So it's just different. How much do you pay attention now to the flyweight division in UFC? You watch a lot of those guys still? I pay attention more to the 135-pound division because I weigh in at 135. Like even though I fight at the flyweight division or the championship,

I'm not weighing 125. It ain't. I'm sure I can do it but i don't want to do it like what's crazy about that is 135 worldwide is insane right now oh yeah really i mean i can name i can name a bunch of guys at bellator who are world-class guys i can name a bunch of every organization across the board right now yeah so he's ridiculous i mean what what do you think when you i mean there's people that are saying right now 135 is the deepest any division has been in the history of this sport.

I mean, when you said, like, in the world, like, when you said, like, I thought about Kyojo Haraguchi. I thought about the drummer who just beat him. I don't know his name. Oh, was it Patchy Mix? Patchy Mix. Yeah, Patchy Mix. That's a funny name because it reminds me of, like – when I think of Patchy Mix, I think of fucking Trail Mix. Yes. Patchy Mix. That Trail Mix will fucky mix, I think of fucking trail mix. Yes.

Patchy mix. That trail mix will fuck you up, all right? I'll tell you that. I mean, you got me. Like I said, I consider us 135ers, right? This is my personal opinion. No, you're flyweight, in my opinion. Yeah, yeah.

You got me, Adriano. You got Ajme. You got TJ. You got Sugar Sean O'Malley. You got Peter Yan. I mean, the list just goes on, right? That's ridiculous, man. Because the guys who fight at 125 in one championship,

they're truly smaller. I've been next to Jared Brooks. He fought in the UFC. But when I got next to him, I was like, wow, there is, you know, we're the same height, but I can just tell, like, my thighs are way bigger than his. So, yeah, I would probably say 135 right now is probably the now it's probably you've been training with henry suhudo though i mean what's up with this my man you and the king of cringe get hooked up as buddies

so once again no ego right i reached out to will harris i say yo man i was like i got a house here in arizona i was like you mind if i get henry suhudo's um he goes yeah called henry he goes yo demetrius man he goes i was kind I was kind of skeptical you called me, bro. I can actually hear it. I can hear it. I didn't think you called me. You must be thinking about a trilogy. No, no, no.

He goes, what's up, Demetrius? You got a place out here? I said, yeah. And I was like, you know, I just want to know if you want to, you cool with me just coming to mix it up and vibing out. And just, he goes, absolutely, man. I will love, I got some things I want to go over with you. So what's coming to the house?

Beyond having the history with him, have you been watching where fighters are starting to pick him out? Whether it was Zhongwei Li, whether it was Figueredo, they're starting to seek him out and adding his, but also the Captain Eric Albarracin. Let's put respect on his name. I ain't worried about Captain. I mean, he's flashy.

It's hard to look at him. Flamboyant fellow right there. Yeah. You know, I see that,. I mean, he's flashy. It's hard to look at him. Flamboyant fellow right there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I see that, but for me, whether those guys would have seeked him out, I mean, I've always respected him as judo even as we fought each other both times. And he's done something in his sport,

in mixed martial arts, I've never done. And also wrestling. I mean, two-division champion. He defended both belts. I mean, he's achieved a lot in mixed martial arts so it was a no-brainer for me like hey dude let's work out together because even when we trained together

like we did one full week and then he went on vacation but we trained a lot he goes I understand why you were successful and now I understand why he's successful. So it was a good. I imagine that Rocky and Apollo thing, right? They're one, one.

They're training together. It was kind of like that. But like, we're just so like, he's so chill and like just going over things. And I'm like, because I think the best friendship or training partners is we have disagreements. Because if I go there, I'm like, oh, yeah, you're right, Henry, you're right. And I'm like, Henry, you're going to break your fucking foot. I was like, so I'm going to check that shit. He goes,

maybe, maybe you might, maybe you won't. Like, we have our disagreements, and I'm like, dude, do this. He goes, why would you do that? I'm like, why not? Go for the finish. Like, go to your back and slap on the triangle. He goes, nah, I wouldn't do that. I'm like, that's your best. So he's just as cringy

when the cameras are off. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, women love this man, okay? He's a ladies man. I know, I know. I've seen him out. I've seen him out. Yeah.

But it was a great time. Like, I have nothing but respect. I mean, if we see them in half shirts running on the beach, then we'll know a real squashing moment. And rocking moment happened right there.

Okay, you don't get nostalgic. You're not worrying about this goat shit. We'll save that till you're retired. But do you look back at your UFC run like completely happy with how it all went? Yeah. I mean, because like you spoke your mind and I always respected that about you.

Yeah. But you don't seem like somebody who's holding grudges for any public disputes. There's no point to me. The only thing, if I could change anything about my UFC career is just make more money in the paper you buy. It's like throwing me on a Connor card. Cause I've always,

I've always delivered right. Like the Ray Borg. I mean, even Dolly Bogatino fight, even when I fought him, they didn't go to a finish, but I beat the bricks off him. John Dox in the second one,

you know, beat him up. So I just wish I had the opportunity Dox in the second one, you know, beat him up. So I just wish I had the opportunity to be on one of those, you know, $2.1 million pay-per-view highs in half a view point. Yeah, but I didn't like that narrative of like, well, he's not a pay-per-view fighter and he's killed this division and it almost closed and maybe Prince Cejudo saved it by coming in with the cape on.

I didn't believe that. That might have been coming from the top, not even from the – I feel like that was fed to the media somehow. Yeah, I mean, like I said, man, like I don't hold any grudges. I hold no resentment. I hold no wish I would have, could have, anything like that, right? Man, you're solid as shit. You're being honest.

You kind of did the opposite thing. I mean, back in the day, there were a lot of guys who started in Japan. You know what I mean? I did the opposite. Yeah, you did the opposite, which is kind of cool. opposite thing. I mean, back in the day, there were a lot of guys who started in Japan. You know what I mean? I did the opposite. Yeah, you did the opposite, which is kind of cool. It's against the grain. Yeah. I mean, you look at Shogun, Rampage, Vanilla, Cro Cop.

They all started in Japan. And I think, you know, with Cro Cop doing K-1, all those guys have an opportunity to fight over there. And it was just a Wild Wild West over there, right? Like, it wasn't what the UFC was back in the day, or Strikeforce. But now doing, you know, obviously going to Asia now,

I'm loving it. You know, I get to see Singapore, Japan, got to fight in Japan, and, you know, I can't complain. How is it? Yeah, how's Singapore? What's this like? Seems interesting over there.

Singapore is different. It's beautiful. I'll tell you that right now. It's beautiful. It's clean. It's very strict. I like that that uh i mean they took homeboy's license away not mine one guy got an accident because he was drinking and driving like all right you're not driving anymore you're getting caned yeah you know what i mean that's what happens you're an adult you're 35 years old you're you're you're you had a dui you're done so i kind of like that right

sometimes they're a little strict on too many things. Like you can't eat poppy seed muffins over there. And it's like, come on, guys. Come on. Why not? Because of the opioids. The opiums or whatever it is. Or like CBD. So, you know, countries have their things.

But it's a beautiful country. The Lion City is absolutely beautiful. You fought in Australia when they were doing the flyweight tour. But, like, you really hadn't been, you went to Alaska. You hadn't really been traveling, but now you're doing these. I feel like you're constantly on that. Yeah, Japan, Manila, Singapore. I love Japan.

Japan's my favorite spot in Asia. Yeah. Just because I like going there. I love hearing the language. I love the anime. I love the districts. I love. Oh, yeah, that's true, man.

I just, like, I mean, I just love it. What do you do? See, my thing is I'm always like, those flights seem very, like, oh. I would be dreading those flights, man. I just chill. Just chill. My little 5'3", little ass. Yeah, maybe he doesn't know the true struggle on that regard.

Yeah, I was going to say. Yeah, no, that is true. We're also coach class, Demetrius. That might be a little different. I've done. Hey, my buddy, he fights in Singapore, James Yank. One flyweight. He's featherweight.

Hey, dog. They're like, oh, sorry. We can't put you in first class. I was like, it's all good. I'm going there. And we sit back there. We're just like, I can't fuck up. We're not doing this.

Oh, my God. Because I love you. But, you know. So, I made the trip. And, you know, so I made the trip. And, you know, when I fight in Australia, shit, that was back in the bus. I remember coming home and I hear me, Ian McCall, Stitches, Black Eyes. I was like, this is great. Take me back to this transition from dominant historic UFC champion.

You're on the GOAT list, basically. You're in the upper room conversation. And then it's like breaking news. You've been traded to one champion we're like we don't we didn't even as media members like we didn't even know that was possible what's that timeline like for you because like were you gonna resign like where were you at mentally so I believe I had so I just lost my fight against Rishu Hudo and I remember Malky came to me he goes you told me what do you want to do bro and I was okay was like, okay. And I made him come back home, and I talked to him. I said, okay, let's sit down and look at the landscape.

I was like, okay, I could go back and fight. And Hiroshi Hudo, that fight was the only fight on my contract that I had Pembe Yu points, right? And then how the contracts worked in the U.S. My contract was basically, you know, you guys know how it is. Flat rate goes up, escalates, and it stops at one point. So for me, I was like, okay, I could go back and fight Henry C. Hudo again. Two things

can happen. One, I could beat him. Then I'm right back where I'm stuck where I was. Right? Or two, I lose to Henry C. Hudo and I'm stuck where I'm at now. I just lost to him. Right? Or I can see if I get out of my contract because they're talking about getting rid of the flyweight division anyways and maybe I can go test free agency, whatever, right?

So let me just pause you there. Was rematching Dom Cruz, who I think was the champion for a moment in there, when he beat TJ during that kind of time, was that ever a thought for you? Because people thought if the flyweight division goes away, now we'll see DJ Dom part two. No, that was never on a table or an option.

Because, yeah, it was just like, that was never an option. Okay. Like, when you mentioned that, I was like. Because the fan in me was like, I was like, only option. I don't want to see that man back at some point. I forgot TJ and Dom were fighting at that time. You know what I mean? So then that's when it came about that they're like hey well once you're just like hey

we'll trade you ben askren who was retired and on ice because when you retire your contract gets freeze right you can't just go out and do whatever you want and they're like hey we'll trade um ben askren for demetri johnson and the u.s is like yeah sure sounds whatever that surprised you that that that it got to that point yeah i'm surprised i surprised. I was happy. I was like, dope. Because it gave me an opportunity to go do something else. Yeah. Right? Like, you know, when I went to one championship,

my goal was to be able to do something different. And I just had to super fight with Ra-Tang, which I never thought would happen, right? That was awesome. If I want the option to do kickboxing, I can do that. Imagine, I was like, oh, Demetri Johnson, he's going to do kickboxing. You know how many people fucking tune into that? Like, whether I get knocked out or if i'm a grunt so for me i had that first round was a pretty high theater there because you're like uh how's it gonna do the crowd was nuts the

crowd loved it and like that was probably like i hear more praises from that fight than the rod tang fight the rod tang fight then which is mixed rules that mixed rule fight was bigger than any of my one championship fights if anyone's watching they're an MMA fan but they have no idea who Rod Tang is

how do you describe how he's received he's huge out there right he's a destroyer he just goes out and he blows the bricks off people

is he like part Elvis Presley part like you know Genghis Khan basically I guess I mean when I watch him see like for me

I watch him and I look at his style and I'm like hey he's taking way too many shots way too many concussions oh he welcomes it he welcomes his style and I'm like, hey, he's taking way too many shots, way too many concussions. Oh, he welcomes it. He welcomes it, right? And I'm like, dude, I'm worried about your CTE because I've gone through it.

I see people go through that. But then as an athlete, I'm like, okay, that is unbelievable. And two, the first round is going to be hell, right? And I was like, second round, you can take all those shots. I'm going to choke you out. I was like, your brain can take all those shots I'm going to choke you out I was like your brain needs oxygen there's no ifs, ands, and buts you can be the toughest

motherfucker in the world you get that brain cut off you're going nobody told him he could tap though no no I don't think well he said

the one thing I love about one championship is that it's almost like we're one big giant college sorority or frat house right because that's how the fights are written back we're all talking right I asked him I was like yeah but not as el college sorority or frat house. Because that's how the fights are written back.

We're all talking. I asked him, I was like – Yeah, but not as elitist as a typical frat. Those people that need others to lift them up and walk this earth. They can't just stand alone. Like Luke Thomas had to be in a frat. Like what an old bitch. Yeah, but we're in the back and I'm like –

I'm talking to my wife and I was like, Officer Zlingersberg, and I was like, hey, I need somebody to translate. Somebody get a translator. I was like, ask Ratay, how hard did I hit him? Because he's a shot. And he goes, oh, so I need somebody to translate. Somebody get a translator. I was like, ask Ratang how hard did I hit him? Because, you know, he's a shot. And he goes, oh, so-so. You know, it's all the same.

But we're on it back to his charm. We're all talking. You got Adrian over there talking to Angel. Stamp Fair Tax. And Stamp Bill's like, I wanted to win so bad. And Adrian was like, it's okay. He goes, this time you have to learn. Like, you didn't win.

You know, it is what it is. Like Utopia over there. Yeah, it's okay. He goes, this time you have to learn. Like you didn't win. You know, it is what it is. Like utopia over there. Yeah, it's like we're just all chilling. Like we all know like for me, I want to see everybody eat. I want to see everybody eat. I want to see everybody make a lot of money. I want to see everybody retire from the sport happy, you know, drive to Bentley's, whatever it may be, whatever your sin is, right? Whether you eat at my table or you're eating with my table

I never want to see anybody walk from the sport be angry or pissed off so over there you can feel that has anybody brought you a big bag of cash after a fight like they used to do like the Nelk boys used to get no they haven't you see those pride stories about the bags of cash

those stories are true I've heard some stories. I remember there was a story where Matt, when he would go over there, he would work and he goes, I got all this cash. And he goes, you get some. You get some. I'm getting that back. I'm getting that back.

I'm getting that back. Wait, that cash doesn't need to be laundered. Is that right? So I don't want to leave the Rod Tank conversation because it was sort of like, what kind of Marvel action movie is this fight going to look like? It was way more entertaining

than I thought it would be in prospect. I was like, this won't work. But as you're watching, no, this totally works. Because you're like, if he gets through the first, now, you know. So was there ever a moment where you were like, oh shit, he's as dangerous as advertised. Like, this is kind of... I think my favorite part about it is

the training camp for it was pretty fun because we worked a lot of Muay Thai clinch, a lot of stand-up and grappling as well. And then being in there, coming out to 1X, live crowd finally.

It was pretty dope. And then Roderick was like know he's all doing his dance I was like this motherfucker gonna dance he's taking his time he gets in the cage I was like when you heard the fuck up I'm trying to get this fight so I can go home man and then you know you ready you ready

fight and to see him not caring not one bit of just crossing that distance first round's Muay Thai second round, the first round was Muay Thai. First round's Muay Thai. Second round's MMA. Third round's Muay Thai. So you're in your head.

You're like, don't take him down. Don't take him down. Don't take him down. Well, I just like, oh, and prior to the fight, it was like. There was a couple times I thought you were about to. Yeah, right? I was like, what? But prior to the fight, you know, in my mindset, it was like, okay.

If he can't get me out, if he can't get me out, if I can't get him down, and then in the third round, if he can't get me out, in the fourth round, it would just be a draw, right? Or it would just go to decision, right? And then they came back. I didn't think of a draw. It was like, it would just go to decision. I don't know how they're going to score it.

They came back and I was like, somebody needs to finish somebody. If nobody wins, it's a draw. And I was like, somebody needs to finish somebody. Like, if nobody wins, it's a draw. And I was like, okay, I'm going to finish him. So, I remember him coming across the cage, just walking across it, just like, and I was like, he don't give two fucks. And he goes, pop, pop, pop. And I was like, and I grabbed him and then I clenched him, natural reaction.

And then the ref was like, stop, stop, stop. And I threw two knees. And I was like, what's up? Andched him, natural reaction. And then the referee was like, stop, stop, stop. And I threw two knees. And I was like, what's up? And he goes, you can't clench like that. And I'm like, oh, that's right. So if you go back and watch that fight, you see me doing this. I'm like this. I'm like.

Go back and watch it. You know what it looks like? It looks like a video game because of the way he comes out. You're like, well, this isn't real. What is this? It's so weird the way that fight starts. Very crazy. And he came out guns blazing.

But I like that because now where I'm at in my career in the sport of mixed martial arts it's about entertainment it's about what the fans want to see and so when me and him went out there and fought and I just said my coach came back and he goes

just go out there and fight don't worry about it just go out there and fight and I'm like enough said and I went out there and I just started... It was very entertaining. And when I watch him, I think he gets by by bullying his opponents. Like, I can take a shot

and you can't take my shot. He beats him up. So for me, he ate a lot of my shots and I ate a lot of his shots. You cracked him too. Yeah, I cracked him and he didn't move. He kept on coming. I was like... And I fought guys like that before. Ali Bagatinov was the one guy I fought in the UFC where I remember kneeing him in the jaw, feeling his jaw shift. And I was like, I can't knock you out.

I'm not going to keep on trying. I'm going to injure myself like that. You sure are a robot. That's awesome, man. But the second round got him down and got the rear naked choke. True greatness is the ability like true special greatness in any sport it's like the ability to be on the grandest by the way i'm an expert on this on the grandest stage yet do something miraculous and make it look so

damn easy and it could be michael jordan hitting the you know walk away jump shot against the jazz i think of you against ray board just like freestyle and the fuck like just miles davis jazz playing oh fuck around and got a flying armbar does it feel like time slows down for you is that like is it does it is that what it feels like when you're at that level you're just flowing that like it's like the matrix you could see everything coming and you're just like i mean because you you made it look like you were like miles ahead mentally from the rest of us in that fight. So I think, one, for me, I don't feel like time was slowing down. I feel like I knew what I was doing, obviously. And I learned, I think what made me successful as an athlete and professional fighter was so much content that was given to me, right?

Because going into that fight, we just learned about how to disturb somebody's weight when they're being a rock, right? And Matt was saying like, you have to disturb their base or get them to disturb their base. So if I was to lift Ray Borg up like this, I did that, like this,

when he's standing there, right? I couldn't do it. It would be a lot harder. But once he went like this and elbowed me I was like you disturbed your weight I can move you now he did that I was like oh you move I can throw him right you fucked up sir yeah so once he did that I learned that I felt that from from taking class learning it it wasn't like we're in a gym and it was like okay introducing the new McSpicy from McDonald's.

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Level up from bill payer to reward slayer. Terms and conditions apply. We're going to do this to him, right? So that's when I realized that's why I became better. And I kind of refound that, I guess you'd call evigoration. Don't know if that's a word, but I feel like it is. That sounds like a good word. It's a combination of probably a few great words. Yeah. When I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,

where it's like I'm getting all this content. I can use it again, right? Because when you're getting ready for a fight, it's the same thing over and over. This is what he does. This is how we do this. Or whatever. We're back in the day.

My title runner was like, okay, guys, we're going to focus on taking somebody's balance. And then when I'm in a fight, I'm like, oh, I can take your balance. I take your balance. So that's where my upbringing was. I feel like, too, you like anime

and you like video games. You like these things that you can distort your own reality to say, I could do something crazy. Yeah. Because that's what, like those guys who do parkour, like that's impossible until you start seeing people do it. Yep.

It's kind of strange. I always wonder that with you. I'm like, do you see things and you're like, you know what, man, I could do this in physical life. I could actually pull this off. I think you just said it right when you say, I try to distort my reality in fighting, right right when you say i try to just distort my reality in fighting right yeah like i try i try to do that like i go to the gym and i train and i learn all

this stuff and then i try to actually put it apply it right um that's where i think i felt me successful so sometimes i'm able to slow it down sometimes i'm not sometimes i'm like no the horiguchi one second left, that was planned, right? Oh, no. Matt was yelling at me. He goes, I burn! I burn! That's still epic.

I was in that fight. I forgot I finished him. But yeah, that was another one. Like I said, I feel like today, let's say we fast forward, right? And let's say 2012 was 2022 and i'm what 24 25 years old and i just won a world title in uh toronto right what today how social media is how the marketing is and i went on that six-year run i think you know i would be in a different place in my life yeah that's a good

point just like you think about it now like because i've never there's some fights where i go out there and i blow the bricks out people but i mean the kyujo hiraguchi last that fight the the chris carriazo fight like how i was going out there to destroy i mean you look at how izzy arasana is doing right now he's had a couple fights where everybody's like oh it's kind of done but for me i'm always i'm always pushing like i've never sat back and like looked and like and played it easy i'm always like if i can't get you out of there i'm gonna beat the hell out of you for 25 minutes so i think my perfect you never bias hopefully would be different now yeah if you know things were different if it was 2012 was 2022 me joseph in toronto fighting for the belt that's such a great point

you think about that sometimes like greatness before before like social media things like that are ready to accept it it's weird yeah that's that's what i think like when you said that i'm like you know i think if it was back then you know now is now because you think of like you look at the champions like i was talking to somebody he goes oh izzy's last fight was horrible i was like i don't think it was they're like yeah man he was talking Izzy's last fight was horrible I was like I don't think it was they're like yeah man he was talking all that shit well Chris Pratt was like he's talking all that shit and then Chris Pratt was like and Izzy was like you're just a fucking dude I was like I was like don't I was like don't go back on your words yo Chris Pratt took the knee quick

though after that he was like I'm not you're right I was wrong but that's his opinion right he's entitled to his opinion like not every fight're going to go out there is going to be a world-class dominance, right? And it takes two to tango, right? I understand that. I understand Izzy's style of fighting. Like, are we ever going to see Izzy go out there, cross distance, and go 1-1-2, high nine, clench knee-knee, oh, double leg takedown, oh, I'm passing your guard, I'm looking for an armbar? We're not. Like, that's just not his style, right?

His style, he's a counterpuncher he he thrives when you make a mistake you look at paul costa that's just going to be a style to to until he is ready to change right so that's this is it is what it is cats these days kind of you know handling media differently like using the media yeah but like do you enjoy media man because i feel like you handle it well because you're very real i don't feel like you're putting on airs but it takes people time to kind of come to you then right yeah to understand who you are that way when i can be honest and just keep it on and give my honest opinion about things and not worry about what the i don't think there should be backlash because I'm being honest.

Right. And everything I say, I'll say behind closed doors, you know, to my wife. So yeah, I don't mind media. Right.

Like I always like to ask like, what's your point in trying to get across. Right. Right. So do you look at when you feel like somebody's framing a question to get a certain headline and whether we subconsciously do that or sometimes subconsciously it's just it's the game right yeah so do you are you able to sort of pick that out have no yeah i know they're trying to get a sound bite and i and i and i try to you know answer it a

little bit but answer it truthfully whether the camera's on or not like how we're talking before the camera scale came on i feel like that's how we're talking now right yeah we were we were wondering if if a hooker had died on this couch. Yeah, and I did a legitimate question. I still think it's 50-50. Yeah, he said, I want to put a hooker dead on the couch. And I said, well, if it was a she or he, you guys should have cleaned up because men can be hookers too.

That's a good point. What a solid man, right? Are you the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the history of this sport? That's up to you guys to decide. Yo, but I'm asking you, okay? I would say, like I said before, when it comes down to it. Don't give me the story. Don't give me the

answer. Give me the real. I'll give you the answer. Like, I tell my judges all the time. They're like, they don't ask me because they don't really care about mixed martial arts, but when they ask me like that, how good were you? I'm like, dude, I was the best ever doing it in my division. Like, there was, I truly believe that. Oh, yeah. That's not even up for dispute. That's not an opinion. Even though I lost or whatever, but the consecutive, dude, I was the best ever doing it in my division. Like, I truly believe that. Oh, yeah.

That's not even up for dispute. That's not an opinion. Even though I lost or whatever, but the consecutive, like, now I sit here. I was sitting here thinking. I was like, man, who has the most consecutive, who has the most world championship wins? Not just in UFC or Pride, Ryzen, Strikeforce, PFL, just all together, right? Yeah, Bodog fights. Bodog fights.

Someone goes, it was Fedor. I was like, was it Fedor? I was like, I remember Fedor fighting. He was a champion, but I don't remember all his fights being title fights, like him being champion, right? So I was like, I want to know what those statistics are. Right now it's Jon Jones with 14, right? I think I'm at 12. I was like, whoa, I got fucking 13.

I won that World Grand Prix. That's a championship, right? I was like, I want to know what – I remember at Man of the Universe, she just got to the club. She's got 10 now. So for me – Interesting. I never really thought it like that.

I will say it like – I was like as one of the best flyweights in the world, I will hands down say, no, I'm one of the best flyweights ever to walk this earth. Do you have – then if someone said who's the GOAT then, do you have an answer? No. I would say for me, I'm like, the best fighters ever to walk this earth. Do you have, then if someone said, who's the GOAT then? Do you have an answer? No. I'll say, for me,

I'm like, dude, he changes all the time. Like I said, I love Jon Jones so much where it's like, I love people who break that stereotype, right?

It's like, Jon Jones, he's at home, he's working out, he's doing his thing. Jon goes, man, DC,

before I had your ass, I was out doing COVID. And I beat you. What you gonna do? And I'm like, you know, man, DC, before I had your ass, I was out doing comedy. And I beat you. What you going to do? And I'm like. That's so true. You know, I'm like. That was actually like one of the best things he could have said right there.

Yeah, and I don't care what anybody says. Like, I truly believe, like, Jon Jones, like, when he. I was sick. I've trained. I've been in a room, and I trained with Jon Jones. The way he understands distance, the way he's able to mix up things. Like, I truly believe, like, when he would fight people. Like, when he pulled guard, I think it was on Rampage Jackson,

he just jumped guard just to do it. I'm like, yeah, he's playing. I truly believe if Jon Jones wanted to finish people more, he could, but he's like, what's the point? I'm beating you. Let's say that you made $10 million in your fifth title defense. Oh, Jesus. What happens, man?

Are you still fighting right now? On my fifth title defense, I made Tim Lee, and then I went off to do another six. Oh, my gosh. I'll play like, I'll tell you what, this makes a whiskey. Because like, yeah, I don't know what I'd be like if I made, I still believe I'll still be humble.

You know, I'll still be chill. It's hard to know though, right? No. Well, like you guard against, I always mention this about George St samperi guarded against complacency you have to maintain that level and to keep defending that title you have to guard against everything like believing what people are saying about you all of that stuff but guarding against complacency but it makes it more difficult though right if you're getting paid shit tons of money yeah but the thing is is that i'm i'm my circle that i hang out with is still the same circle yeah like my my friends they don't even watch fighting right like when i was

like when i was like i was like hey who you fighting uh you walk a much who the fuck is that i was all it's a japanese guy right and then and then they're like oh i'm fighting uh touch me to water like who's that and then i was like i oh, I'm fighting Tetsuya Tsuwara. They're like, who's that? And then I was like, I'm fighting Rod. He's like, you fight him? You fight Rod Tank? Are these the same people who are like,

hey man, he knocked you out. You should have been disqualified. What's going on? No, no, no, no. This is my inner circle. Even when I fought Adrian, I was like, who are you fighting next?

I'm fighting Adrian Marais. It's the first time. I was like, I'm fighting for a world title. He goes, who's that? I'm like, oh, he's a badass Brazilian guy. One of the longest,

one of the longest reigning champions in one championship in the flyweight division but then when i fought rata no everybody knew who he was right so my circle is very small right like none of my friends fight none of them watch fighting uh and it's just easier like when i literally when i get on fighting i go home and i'd show and like i'm looking to go play golf like everybody's like i can't wait to go play golf humble but remember it was like, I can't wait to go play golf. You don't want to be talking, fighting humble, but like just regular dude, regular dad is the key to your success. And I, and I respect that. So let's go full circle here to close Friday, August 26th. We're talking about the rematch Adriano Marais, who, by the way,

looking at his resume twice, he lost the flyweight title and came back and avenged that against the guy who beat him. So battle tested his shit you're 36 years old now i know that as you get older you're naturally being more efficient anyway and figuring out you know ways to work smarter and all that but like how much are you still adding to your game heading into this big rematch like do you do you feel you're a little bit slower than in your prime or is that not even a feeling i just don't recover as fast okay that's the biggest thing i notice is that i don't recover as fast um there are drugs for that that people start to take that is true it's

called trt hgh which i nuts if you need resilient nuts but no i don't need i always laugh i remember like uh i think it was uh jones i don't know who it was i think it was jones but somebody was like oh man i like that that stuff to keep me rock hard it's the station. I'm like, you need that. No more dick pills. No more. Yeah, dick pills. You need that. I was like, so for me, I don't need that stuff. I know as I get older, I can't push it like I used to.

So I need more recovery. But as far as adding new content, getting better, 1,000%. Like right now, I have different goals. I jumped back to my gi. I'm working towards my black belt under Professor Yan. And then I want to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Like, I want to compete in the gi. Like, that's something I want to do. Like, that's one thing I will say about the goat talk, right? If people want to put me as the goat talk, I want to embody that, right? Like, when I did goat talk, you can do, that. Yeah. Right? Like, when I think of goat talk, you can do,

it's not about how many times you were successful as a champion. It's about like, if I throw in a gi, I'm like, come here, motherfucker. I'm going to show you something.

Let me show you what I got. You're going to get lost down there. Be careful. Am I? Oh, my God. It's like that commercial. He just. Yeah, I thought.

Like, I want to put it on and I want to like, be legit, right? And if it's like, okay, we're going to do Muay Thai. I want to be sweeping you. I want to be throwing elbows. I want to's like hey we're doing Muay Thai I want to be sweeping I want to be throwing elbows I want to be throwing knees if we do boxing I want to be bop bop bop bop bop

I want to embody that the greatest of all time not just oh he had 11 consecutive title defenses and he did all the stuff it's like if I was to throw a gi on like I think who's the best fighter in the world right now? Kamaru Usman if I throw Kamaru Usman and I was like hey we're going to do straight Muay Thai

and I'm sweeping him, all of a sudden I'm like, your Thai game is fucking weak. Oh, shit. This is, you need to work on this. That's how Matt is with me. Like, Matt's like,

if you're going to be the greatest of all time, everything needs to be good. Not just, you can't just win all these title defenses because you're just better than an athlete. You need to be dominant in certain areas. So that's like my vision. Like, if I'm going to be the greatest of all time, I need to be dominant in certain areas. So that's like my vision.

Like if I'm going to be the greatest of all time, I need to be a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. I need to win IBJJFF. Like I need to – whether it's a master or whatever, like that's my goal. You're still working with Matt though? Oh, yeah. He just can't corner you, right? He can't corner me. Yeah.

But we still train. We still fight. You guys have always been synonymous. I feel like that rise was his too, you know, like through the whole thing. And that's the biggest thing too. It's like i am i'm training with my coach yeah and then when i go after the fight it's basically me right and i can't get cornered right like the other day we're sparring i was sparring and he goes okay you need to do this and this and i'm like fuck man imagine if you can corner me because he can keep you know the horse back in the race yeah he can

keep me of course yeah you know yeah but we look at the race. He can keep me, you know, guided. But we look at some of the geniuses who changed the game. Mike Perry changed the game when he brought in Coach LaTorre because he wanted to pause it. I love when he was like, shit, I mean, I get to keep most of the money

too, shit. I'll give you 25% and 20% and then he goes, this. You're still in the thick of it. The Adriano Moraes rematch for the one flyweight title. It's going to kick off the one on Amazon Prime 1. That's the name of the card. Friday, August 26th, 10 p.m. Eastern, the main card on Prime.

But to close here, what's your role going to be, do you believe, after fighting? Are you just regular local dad and husband or are you ambassador of the sport are you a trainer what do you look like down the road no interest in gym though right you know no interest in a gym it takes a lot of uh work a lot of time and commitment away from your family um for me i want to be i want to focus on being a dad uh a husband that's where my heart is right i? I think there's no greater achievement to raise beautiful humans. And my wife taught me that.

You have three kids? I have three children, yeah. So for me, just the way today's society is, how, you know, I seen it in children, like where they don't have a good stable home, dad's at home, mom's not caring. It just doesn't look very well. And I think our society, my children are the next generation, right?

And so, but as for an ambassador, I'll always be there to support and help out my teammates. And I feel like the best way I can get back to the sport is by just being real with the next athlete. Like, dude, this is a very short time in your career. Save your money. Invest your money. That way you can have is a very short time in your career. Save your money, invest your money. That way you can have something to show for after you're done. And then, you know, one of the greatest thing, one thing I take is that when we used to do our UFC athletes retreat

and when Dana White got up there, he goes, this is a very short time in your career, right? So I'm 37. If I fight till I'm 39, I plan to die when I'm like 97, you know? Yeah, I think he'll get there. I have 50 years of this. The the over under is 96 and a half so it's a very short time

so I feel like for me that's where I feel like I want to give back to the mixed martial arts community save your money, be smart with it and don't get caught up in the limelight just be smart you know you see too many guys.

You see my boy Masha on Lynch, like, ugh! It's like, don't eat in a gas station. Nowadays, Dana, at those resorts, wherever they used to do, like, the retreats, he just holds up bags of money and says, I won, bitches! Or he's like, crypto for NFTs for everybody! Who wants some more digital coin?

Let's go. Yeah, there it is. Mighty Moss, this has been great. Thanks, man. Because I know this side of you, and I like bringing it out more. Yeah. This chill dude's dead. If I talk like this all the time on media, this is how I like to approach media now. Because this is who I am.

It's straightforward. Some of you might like it. Some of you might not. I don't like chocolate cake. It's a character flaw, but that's fine. But, you know, you've got a busy day ahead in New York City. Go on the aerial show and, you know, just don't really answer much. Just be like, you know, I gave my best stuff to Morning Comment.

Yeah, right. So go check out those guys. We're going to check you out Friday, August 26th. Go get it, man. Go get that gold, okay? This is a big deal. This is a big deal. Absolutely. 1,000%. I appreciate you doing it, man. My first one, too. This is fun. Hey, watch. go get it man go get that gold this is a big deal this is a big deal absolutely

1000% appreciate doing it man my first one too this is fun hey watch Luke's like hey

Brian I didn't get my last last week's check he goes yeah about that we got a new co-host I mean just

just look at the camera tell him Luke you can dye your hair it's okay it's okay the different color beard is just not working

DJ we love it we'll see you back thank you so much thanks guys