RAWTALK - Merab on Fighting Suga Sean, Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson & Growing Up in Tbilisi Georgia

Episode Date: June 11, 2024

This podcast is sponsored by Transcend, go to https://www.transcendcompany.com/rawtalk This Podcast is sponsored by Betterhelp. Go to http://www.betterhelp.com/rawtalk and get 10% off your first month! 0:00 Intro 0:29 how merabs life has been 1:34 what was merabs life before all of this 5:19 america is weak compared to other people in other countries 6:56 how merab found fighting 12:38 who inspired merab and how he got here, what growing up was like 18:34 why so many fighters come out of places like where merab is from 21:00 when did merabs fighting change 22:48 merabs endurance 24:04 the hardest part training wise for merab, and not finishing people 26:58 will the suga sean fight be merabs most difficult fight? 29:14 transcend ad 30:45 how does merab thing the fight is going to go? 32:12 merab and brad want to roll around and spar 33:13 merab on social media 35:08 getting dms from people you'd unexpect from popularity, and how its messed up things for a lot of people 38:41 where does merab find his peace oustide of fighting 40:18 does merab believe in intention 41:14 how merab maintains the grind and the heart 45:43 better help ad 46:48 who is the toughest guy in merabs division to beat 49:23 would merab ever go up in weight classes? 52:58 after ufc would merab fight influencers? 54:38 jake paul and mike tyson 56:12 if logan and jake paul fought how would it go 58:48 outside of aljo who has merab created good friendships with 1:02:51 brad is opening a gym in vegas

Holy shit. Here we go. Let's go. How are you doing, bro? I'm doing great. How are you? Good man. Good to see you. So, so how's life overall? Beautiful. I was traveling a lot, but life is good, you know. For me, most important is training, you know. I'm like, when I travel, I have lots of fun, but I'm worried to be, I have to be more disciplined. Now I'm back for a little bit in Las Vegas and I'm trying to be disciplined

and I have to go corner my friend and old teammate Puminikuta this weekend and after in like June 26 I have to go in Germany, support my Georgian soccer team. They are playing European Championship and just like this. But I'm training, waiting, O'Malley. I know you're ready, man. You've been doing some funny shit. I'm not going to lie lately on social media.

Like, this shit's funny. The O'Malley, like, fake characters, like, really entertaining. I'm curious. Actually, before we get into that conversation about social media, on your life and how good your life is now, what was your life before all of this? Before UFC, obviously, you've probably been fighting. I'm assuming your whole life.

But, like, what is your, like, childhood like? What is your life like before all of this stuff? So I would say my life was three different types, you know. So when I was living in Georgia, actually even in Georgia, like first I born in a village, it's a small village. Yeah. It's called Wani. And my family was like family family.

And we was making own food, you know. And when I was nine, over there I had a crazy good life. Like, you know, I was playing all the time outside. I had lots of animals and so much fun. And then we have wildlife, you know, like, you know, like I was eating from the trees, you know, and, you know, all the friends I have was playing outside. and so much fun over there. And when I moved capital city, when I was nine, it's different

because it's still city and school and like normal life over there. Like nothing crazy. But it was that time, you have to be like a bad guy, you know, that that time in Georgia, it wasn't the, she wasn't doing good. You know, it was a lot of criminals. And if you want to, if you want to be top guy, you have to be like a little bit gangster, you know. In that city? In the city, yeah.

So is it just like, because obviously I've never been there and a lot of people probably listen to this, have never been there. You grew up, it sounds like a little more rural, like a little more in the country. And then you go to the city and it's, because now you're in America or you're in Vegas, right? How, like, what are the main differences from that to where you were? So now it's different life in my country, Georgia, because at that time, so it was like, so when I born 1991, we left the Union and Russia attacked us and we left 20% of Georgia. We lost Russia's take us, to occupy Georgia's 20%. And then everybody lost their job and we started.

growing as an indefinitely country and nobody had a job and it was a lot of criminals in my country and you know we always have gangsters and we always was top people and that time if you want to be top men you must be like you must be top guy and you must be some kind of gangster and after 2023 we have a new government and like we have a good police no corruption police and the country growing, start growing up, like, it has a good country. And now it's normal life there. But still, you know, like to what's different between Las Vegas

or any U.S. like state, it's with Georgia, it's a small country and we have a big culture. And we, it's more, it's different because we all know each other and we all respect each other. And it's a man. Mentally different. If we are friends, we are real friends, you know. Yeah.

You know, like we are ready for die for each other. It seems like they make stronger motherfuckers out of places like that. Now, like, as compared to, I hate to say it, but like we got a little bit pussy over here in America. You know, and I hate saying that because I'm from here. Yeah. I mean, everywhere is good people, bad people, but it's different. and everywhere like you strong man and like things

the guys like you there is here in the United States but of course there are more more there is weak friends or like there is not real friends it's hard you know to like the friend who will die for you and who's ready for give you your soul

your money your house and trust you and you know I trust my mates here it's hard you know to trust the people and let them use your house your car and you know Like, you know, I trust your family. Why do you think it's so different in places like that? Because it's a smaller community.

Yeah, exactly. Small community. We all know each other. And it's, it's, it's, it's in, what they are men, it's a lot of respects, man. Because here you can do things that nobody will know about it. You know, like you can hide it. But in my country, no, you cannot.

If they find out, they will, they will, uh, what's the call? Like ostracize you. You have to pay it. Yeah, they will charge you, you know. Like, you know, it's nothing free there. You know, maybe here you can go away with this. It seems like here you could do some shady shit and then move on and do some more shit and go somewhere else and do some shady shit. But if you're there, it seems like the jig is up.

So how did you find fighting? Like how was it like a family thing? No, actually. I mean, I have two older brothers and they was doing like judo ensemble. They was wrestling. but like not like a really

primarily and after my brothers they go to army and so me like I had lots of fights in the street like I tell you like

I know you have to be a top of guy and we go all the time hanging out in the street and so you've done lots of fights

yes I did when I was yeah when I was kid lots of street fights yeah

and then even like even like one by one like even every time I feel something I feel like disrespect or somebody did something wrong with me always every time I

used to punch and then I used to I used to cut my like this like with a teeth and a lot of fights but I also had lots of like sometimes my school friend or my from somebody from my hometown or somebody my neighbor has some fights with other home other town guys and we used to go group and group, you know, like fights like that, yeah. And yeah, I know, I'm I, you know, I like always fights and like martial arts and stuff

like this and but but and then I, I start sport when I was 13, like I started training in judo. Yeah. And then, and my mentality change, you know, I wasn't hanging out much in the street. I have a different big goals to

to be professional fighter and my goal was to competed Olympic in judo and i was just yeah i of course i still have a friends like from the what age was that like where did that transition happen when you're like i want to take this serious yeah when i take serious it was like 12 13 oh shit yeah oh shit that's fucking damn is it is it just because like i don't know is there just not there was there nothing else out there like did you have no other options of things you wanted to do or you just felt like you were always called to fighting it seems like i don't know uh no i mean what what do you mean say

like were there like were there other options or like why why fighting just because like you did it as a no no listen no i i don't start fighting when i was 30 i started judo yeah but yeah i started judo but with the intention of like taking it serious oh yeah oh okay let me tell you so want to be like special and I won't I always want to be like uh successful and uh do something in future but when I look my teachers and they they they know they them job like very very good right but they like professors but they they wasn't getting paid and like sometimes they they was getting paid but very little pay like it wasn't even worth it to come at the job job and I'm like, why I have to study this?

I looked my teachers and I'm like, this is bullshit. Like, why I did this? I, you know, if I don't make money with this, like why I have to study. And school, I was a good student beginning, but then I was interesting, you know, because I was thinking maybe I must, you know, I stopped, because of my family, you know, how hard worker was my parents, I stopped thinking about, I stopped. I wasn't dreaming about to come gangster. but I want to be some like physical work or something and then you know I want to be

athlete and and so in the time like judo was very popular in my country and I choose judo you know because and so I tell you like to like to be good student wasn't wasn't making sense for me at that time was it because you saw the teachers you were just kind of like well why why am I listening I guess to you given like where they're at I'm assuming is what you were kind of saying? Like we're around as far as like financial income. Yeah, it was so many,

so many people with the diploma and the doctors, they don't have a job. Yeah. Like, that doesn't make sense. And so, and, but once I started training,

and then I want to be, like, especially I want to be competitive. I want to be number one in my, in my city. You just fell in love with it. Like, it was just like you started doing

you're like, I love this? Yes, I feel love with it. And, like, yeah, after I started, you know, that was my main goal to training and to be number one in judo and to eventually compete in European Championship, World Championship. Okay, so, because I'm just trying to follow this timeline of, like, your life because I'm super interested.

Obviously, there's a lot of stuff to talk about currently with the Shano Mali fight and everything that's going to happen now and kind of what you've done already. But I guess I'm just really interested in, like, your fucking, your childhood, like your family, like where you came from? Because I always find it, yeah, I just find it interesting. Like people who get to this level, you know, you're in America, you're in like the biggest platform for fighting, the UFC, you're crushing it, like you have the potential to fight.

Another one of the biggest fighters, arguably of like ever in the UFC at this point. And like you very much came from somewhere a lot smaller, a lot farther away. And you can inspire a ton of fucking people, whether they're from where you're from where you're from or from small places, small countries, and you're doing like incredible shit now. So I always just find it so interesting to see where, you know, where people come from and then in their mind where they thought like, where was the switch where I was like, oh, I can really do this. Like was someone inspiring you?

Was it your dad? Was there some like outside figure that you saw that you were like, that I can do that? You know what I'm saying? Because like clearly you saw it was possible for yourself. So you put in the work for it. Right. So yeah, let me let me let me let me go deep on this. I'm going to start over.

So, yeah, so I born in a village, it's called Wani, and it's like a very small village. And like all my neighbors was like very humble people, hardworking, people, like farmers, you know, like nobody really have a real job, you know. Like, you know, there is no drivers there, no taxi, you know. It was all farmers. Like people have the chickens, cows, like pigs. And the garden

Yeah, they were garden But like where they bartering Like how did they buy things With just trading things? Oh yeah So like let's say If you have like a lot of apple You know

And then you sell apple And you buy clothes And you go gross and you know Yeah So yeah Some people Yeah like Something like this

You know some people Or some Yeah like this or some guys going in like family from family one guy like a father maybe works like a couple months in city like this construction or something you know yeah i see they're like but more mainly mainly like we all was living one village everybody was working garden and sometimes yeah like some people are selling some oh yeah they if you have lots of cows Let's say you have garden, you have the chickens, you have, you make cheese,

and sometimes you sell your homemade cheese, and then sometimes you sell cows. You know, like when they go, it's called old, they must kill and they must eat it. You must sell as a, what's the call, the beef. Yeah, yeah. And then like this, you know, you sell like this and you buy clothes. Otherwise, you just eat your homemade food. food and that's but but this this style I start I start like working even when I was like five six years so like like in the garden they told me oh bring the water food when my

parents was parents was working bring water to me like you know like things like they a little bit like just small works but I was crazy wild you know I wasn't them and I were listened to my parents and you know like but and I have all the brothers and you know everybody was, you know, I was youngest one in my family, and I was, I was, I was, I was gathered some things that I was, anyway, so, but in, okay, but in our culture, in Georgia, it's, we, we have been different traditions, you know, we respect old people, and it's like more, it's, it's different cultures for sure there, you know, we respect each other, you know we're not we not like a in village we wasn't like a person like we wasn't play with

i don't know how extra this but you know okay so mentality was like this so the guys we was trying to marry with the virgin girl you know the girls old school because of old school You know, the girls, they try to stay region because if they lose virginity, everybody must know and nobody wants to marry with them. And it's like the... Well, it was really like that. Really like that.

It was like that. And then I was me also. I was thinking like that also. Oh, when I'm going to marry a virgin girl, the man is allowed to have sex and date other girls. No problem. But the girls, you know, she will lose her reputation, you know, and nobody want to marry.

with her and she must have to move capital city or go to other country to get married because yeah I mean it's better to marry divorce and after you must

get married again it's better but because everybody know each other nobody wants to like married the girl I know the guy he was yeah I get it

flipping with her you know what I'm saying you understand so it's like every because of everybody knows this kind of I don't know I make this example because I want to know how small it was my village and how what kind of

mentality we was and same time like we wasn't disrespect like some bar some girls like even even even if I don't know her she must have a brother or she must have a father and they come and they will kill you if you disrespect some girl from other village you know what I'm saying yeah yeah yeah man like but not Now it's like now it's life's different. You know, of course, like it's things change in social media and phones. How old are you, by the way? I'm 33.

Okay, that makes sense. All right. Yeah. Okay. So it's now, it's not the same life, but that's how I grow up. But in Georgia, still, it's still, it's small and we all know each other. We all still respectful each other. And, you know, you're not, you're not messing around with the girls.

even if you don't know and you know you must respect and you know it's like a lot of respects there and why do you think so many fighters come out of places like that okay like i would i will talk about my country know my country is a small country and uh uh we have a nice territory good territory we are we are like like we are close to asia and we are you are you are and like everybody before like years ago everybody was trying to come and they tried to take Georgia over like so many times and we was in war all the time we're still in the world because even like I tell you we had war in 1991 when I born with Russia and then last time we have a war with Russia it was 2008 so I was there I was 17 year old and yeah you know like then we always always war and we are just top people you know like we are warriors like i tell you if somebody disrespect your family you must go fight you know and then some you know like uh in the in you have to be also top guy in the street you have to be you know just

top top man you know and then uh and then uh like uh and then most most jordan they used to live in village and there is to hard workers they used to hunting they used to like a, like, you know, like swimming in a real, real man's shape. Real, yeah, yeah, physically. Yeah, exactly. Physically worked and like this, you know, there was always, Georgian people was always top people. And that's, that's who we are.

And so, and when I move, like I tell you, when I moved Capita City when I was nine, and my life was like pretty normal, but, you know, still even in Tbilisi, still capital city still have respects and we are still like we we still all know each other and respect each other and yeah when i when i when i started judo i was 12 13 and i i i have a goal already to become number one and to be competitive olympic champion to olympic game and like things like And then after, I lose interesting to hang it out in the street too much. And I have a goal and I was training. When did you go from judo to striking and to jiu-jitsu and all that other shit?

So, okay, so 2008 in judo, they changed the rules. You cannot grab the leg anymore, but that was my favorite move to grab the leg and take people down from there. And I started thinking to maybe, you know, I wasn't successful anymore like I used to be before. And then I was thinking maybe what should I do now? Maybe I should go army, you know. There's just maybe just go army and just continue my career like that. And when I was walking in the street, I see the banner. There was, it was like I read, they was looking for volunteer fighters.

if you have any martial arts background and it was some tournament and you can just sign and you can just fight there and then I'm like I was so excited and I signed the promotion and I fought without striking

and because I have a I have a judo background and I have a like you know fighters I tell you I was fighting in the street and I have fighters instinct you know yeah of course it's every was the DMA and then and then once I had my first fight, I win, like, because I make him tired, the guy, it was a good fight.

Yeah, you're known for that. Yeah, and then, and after, like, how people was react and how, like, I love the, like, everything about fighting after that, and I realized that was my sport, and I, right away, I give up judo, and I start thinking about to become proportional fighter. Yeah. What do you attribute your fucking crazy endurance to? Because I've seen you do the craziest shit swimming in the pool. Like I saw you swim at that like swimmer underwater.

I saw you swim in like a random pool like across the whole thing underwater. Like what do you attribute it to? You just do shit like that or is it like for example, I was really good and I'm still really good at certain lifting things. And I could just do random shit that I never really trained for. I'm curious if one day you were just like because of all the endurance you do in fighting, did you just jump in a pool and try? his first time or do you train that in the pool no i don't train it yeah exactly like you said yeah sometimes i'm just like that you know and then like i tell you i was growing up in village and you know like sometimes the guys we always competing each other something like something

and then you just you just challenge yourself you just see opportunity something that day when i in the long pool i was at the pool party with my friends and i'm like and then the one guy was recording, I said, okay, I'm going to swim this, like, I'm going to go underwater, and then I just do this, you know. But yeah, I, I, yeah, I, I swim, my training, I work out, I do everything, but when I say opportunity, something, and I do it. Is, what, what is the hardest part for you training-wise, like learning how to, learning how to really, like, finish people? No. I'm trolling you, because you did a really funny bit, uh, with the fake Sean O'Malley. where you were like he was it was you were a fireman and it was smoking and you're like yo i need you to

go five rounds because like i don't finish people i need you all five rounds like what where is it just like is it hard for you to get the finish because you submit you win you you crush him but like what is what is it uh so um i don't know i don't know crazy yeah okay let me tell you this um so my My first fight, UFC, I was sick and like, and I had some virus and I get so tired. And when the fight was over, I lost split decision, but I was happy that I don't die there. And like, I just move on because I know I was sick. But my second fight, I was a very tough guy, like Ricky Simone. And I know he was good everywhere.

And I was trying to finish him. And then I was going and going and punching him. And I even drop him, knock him out. I tried some submission. Nothing was working, but I was winning the fight, and it was one minute left, and I take him down, I make him decision. I'm going to take him down and finish on top. And when I lived and when I jump, I hit my head to the floor.

I knocked myself out. And at that time, he grabbed my neck and tried to choke me out on top, da-da. But I made it built, you know. I don't top. I don't sleep. I was still fighting, but the referees say, oh, he was in and out. They give him technical TKO or something. And after that, I make decisions, I'm, you know what, I'm going to take people down

and I'm going to have fun with it. And I'm not going to chase the finish and I'm not going to risk, you know. And after that, I came more smart fighter, you know, before I used to be wild, you know, like but now after there i just you know i play i play with my my my my my bonus i mean i i saw you in person the henry suudo fight when you picked him up and like carried him over to like zuckerberg and started like talking shit or what i don't know what you were saying saying something to zuckerberg while you were fucking on top of this guy i was like you're insane bro like it's funny it's just like because i don't think people recognize obviously most people would

never they've never experienced that like that level high level of fighting and what it takes to go that many rounds. But then to do that while fighting is just kind of like, what the fuck is this guy doing? Like it's just crazy. It's like it's like a game to you. So my question is, do you think in regards to this fight, at least the fight coming up with Sean O'Malley, is it going to be your most difficult fight that you've had to date? yes for sure every my next fight is most difficult fight for me because it's a new challenge and hey bradley listen this so once i saw shono mali win contender syria and he signed to ufc i see as a challenge and i see the guy knock people out and then and since this he was doing very good

you know it's very hard to finish somebody and he was knock people out even if you fight somebody from the street and knock out somebody it's very hard and omali knocks UFC fighter out and he wins very very very very dominant ways and he's a really good fight and then i i see big challenge and i always want to fight him since 2018 yeah and uh i see a big challenge and but i was every only one guy that I was calling out, that was Shono Mali, and he never responded. He never answered. Nobody even gave me this fight, even I was above him, I was behind him. We were the same ranking.

Nobody offered me this fight. But I'm glad it's happened, like how it's happened, because now it's the best time to me fight him and find out who's the best. I'm not going to say I'm better than him he is a big challenge for me because he's a great tracker, he has a good footwork

and he knocks people out he has of course he's training jiu-jitsu and he's trained wrestling and everything you know stylistically I should beat him but it's like Aljo was supposed to kill him but we all see

what happened no one of their mistake he's just so he's just so fucking he's so fucking sharp like he's just so he's just and he And I know him personally, like, the guy just like, when he trains, he's so locked in, bro. Like, because I've seen him in situations where he's like, nah, I won't do that. Like, he's, he's so locked in.

And obviously, I know you are as well. All right, guys, quick and orange for the podcast, Transcend. Check this out. All my peptides, all my TRT, everything I get from Transcend, if you guys have ever thought about it, or if you guys just want to get your blood work done, which I fully, fully recommend. Whether or not you're going to take peptides or TRT or anything like that, that getting your blood work done is by far one of the most important things you can be doing as far as like checking on your overall health and kind of like filling in the voids a lot of times

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Let's get back into this podcast. I got to ask the question, obviously. How do you think that fight's going to go? Like what round do you think you can get? Do you think it's going to go all the way? You think it's going to be all five rounds? Yes, possible. Yeah.

Possible. But, hell, so realistically, things like this. So, so he may do same thing what he did against Aljo. He, if I make any mistake, he can cut me and he can drop me or knock me out, like, or written knee or reach a punch or like this. Because he's long. He's longer, like much longer than that. Yeah. Yeah.

He has a big reach for. sure but me we'll know like my cardio my wrestling and and now also I want to prove so bad I want to prove my shiking and I'm going to try

trust me man if you not no no real shit if that would be insane to knock Sean O'Malley out if you knocked him out no one can say shit about finishing people ever again yes but that's dangerous that's dangerous

territory hey but I like I like challenges, you know, I like challenge, you see, you see I wrestling against Henry and I take him down, he's an Olympic champion. Now I want to, I'm fighting strike here and I want to strike with him, you know? I want a challenge, you know? Hey, man. Speaking a challenge.

Remember, when I see you in Vegas at the power slap, when I shoot you, I want a challenge. I want a wrestling with you. I know, I do. I want to. I swear, I'm going to come out to Vegas soon and I really do want to fucking roll. around with you for real okay because i know you're fucking incredible at it i like i'm the same way i like this i like knowing that it's not going to be easy yeah okay let's do it maybe let's let's spawning first let's what with the spawning with the shingards and yeah yeah yeah yeah i'm long i'm pretty

big i'm long brother let's go man maybe it's good uh good uh before sean you know yes yeah exactly Yeah, you even better because you more have a more muscle. I'm probably a lot slower, for sure, a lot slower. But I got, I got more range. I got a little more depth, a little more, you know. You hit show because you're big. You is slow. Who cares?

You only need one punch and power. That's it. So I'm curious about your social media stuff because like, you know, I want to, I don't know at what point did you like really kind of turn it on. And I'm wondering, because I was watching a lot of your. stuff and I was like is this all are these your skit ideas or do you have someone helping you because a lot of them are so good like and they're they're really well edited like your content's really like it's gone from like really normal basic fighter stuff to like very

entertaining thank you do you have you have you had help with that so you know but me I always was same guy and I am I am still same guy and but you know I was always um Yeah, like I'm not going to say funny, but I always was looking for positive things. You know, I was catching some positive and funny, funny stuff. And I don't like drama. No, your content's really good now, bro. It's like solid. It's funny.

Thank you. So, and then, yeah, I really pay attention. I give out. I used to date a lot of girls. Now I date only a few girls. I all my energy. I'm just trying to I put this by

my social media now So you said Wait wait wait So you shifted the focus from From girls to like Okay let me focus on this shit Yeah yeah yeah That's funny bro

Hey women will fucking They will take your time Your energy They'll take everything from you bro If you let them man That's real Especially here Especially in the States dude

Fuck Yeah I wonder Did you have a Did I've seen you with that francy chick like is that was that did you ever do you ever get that kill or can you

not talk about that I don't know hey I'm not talking about because other girls other girls will be jealousy you know you know I don't you know I'm curious on on that note you don't have to say any

names at all but obviously fighter successful popularity growing do you get DMs from people that like you were like you're ever like what the fuck and it doesn't have to be girls just people in general.

Yeah, for sure. Like now, how easy now there is like some like the people like really successful or good looking or like popular or like and like the people I used to like I used to be like for me, it was like crazy to me talk to that person and now how like now like now I'm at this level now and how easy it is to contact and communication with them and all like just

get respect from them it's yeah it's crazy but you know but you know yeah it's of course to be different and if I want of course it's it's easy like it's not like girls texting me

like you don't throw themselves like that but it's so much easier now to be if I want to get some girl's intention it's so much easier for sure it's so crazy man it's crazy how the internet has created that like like it's just the god i don't know if it's the follower i think it's obviously it's the fighter thing as well in combination with the following thing and it's the popularity it's definitely like really it's fucked up the whole scene for a lot of people who don't have that though i feel like it's a weird space for people you know but but yeah but listen i'm sorry bradley

I think it's easier for like everyone, you know. Of course, like for us, it's more easy because we do something like we are, we, they see us in YouTube or internet. And for us, it's more easy. But also like people, not even no more people, you know, they can text three, four people and one of them will answer, you know. Yeah. And then even you, you and you alone in the home, you can. to like, you know, have a conversation with some other people. Yeah, I spent a lot of time reading my DMs and shit too.

So I, I talk to fucking random people all the time. That makes sense. Yeah. What, like, yeah. So a lot of, like, like, I know from, like, from the facts, like, because of internet and of the smartphone, lots of, there is lots of new couple and like new, like, new, like, they married, like, because they get know each other from. internet and then lots of people they break their family you know because they was like married

and then they get no somebody they leave the family and they go somewhere but that's what's crazy that's the crazy part of it's like the grass is greener has become like a very common thought for a lot of people because of the internet because you just you also just see the good side of something or someone that you because you don't see everything right you only see oh maybe this might be better over here it's kind of fucked things up a little bit though my opinion you know because like you fuck up yes basic loyalty and shit that should just already be there and yeah it's kind of sad yeah it's for sure like before it was easy like you know so I'm talking about like but today like it's different like

too much traveling too much internet so it's why it's very hard to be like old school yeah do you what do you do outside of fighting um and just in just in general in your life to find of kind of find like peace because obviously i'm assuming fighting is a part of your piece obviously it's very active it's not you still got that fight or flight going on but like what do you do that's like that people maybe wouldn't know about you doing or things that you just do that are not fighting that help you kind of like ground yourself um i'm pretty normal person i like to hang out with my friends sometimes i do barbecue here at my house because i have a i have a swimming pool i have a jacuzzi it's getting hot and you know i

now i i i let my friends stay in my house you know good friends you know positive people who i'm not renting rooms anymore you know they're not yeah i'm not renting rooms i have good people around me and uh i was looking for some positive people good positive energies and i always just hang out like do, like, outdoor things and, yeah, let's send some podcasts. Just, like, the first thing is I go training

and after training, just internet, friends, yeah, relax and do some good outdoor things, you know, healthy things. And then always, always, like, you gotta support somebody. Like, somebody always have a fight.

somebody always have something like let's say even birthday you gotta go show up you know have a good time do you do you believe in

like intention do you believe in like focusing or thinking of something before it can become real no I mean no like

no like I mean maybe maybe but I don't think about it much and now like I just yeah you're just more like I mean

do do do do like work work work yes Yes, yes, yes. I mean, if you only focus, then if you don't do nothing, I don't think it's going to come. Yeah, yeah. Obviously, you can't sit somewhere and do nothing and just think about it happening. Yes, for sure.

Yeah, sometimes weird things happening. Like, you was dreaming a couple years ago, this, about this, you was thinking a lot and it's come to you. Can happen. Because your life, right, you just explain this house and you have a pool, you have all this stuff. Like, it must be very different. I mean, after you explain where you. came from like your life is so drastically different now so how do you maintain i'm always curious about this because you know how like rappers will like rap about like the come up and then they're

famous and then it's like they rap about like kind of bullshit and it kind of like doesn't feel the same for example in this situation like how do you maintain the the grind so that you have the kind of the heart to continue to go and get better even though you have like the more niceties the nice shit in life the more money the more care like how do you maintain the grid as a fighter so yeah I understand then let me explain like this uh so when I start even judo I was thinking I was top and in the street I was fighting I was smacking people and I was like I was top guy in my in my school and in the street and I was thinking I was the stronger than you're lucky I wasn't there in the street it would have been a different

story yeah yeah yeah and then sorry I'm sorry with you no no but I was thinking I was the strongest guy, but when I started competitive, I realized, no, I'm not actually, I'm not like something special. I have to work hard for, like, I have to learn all this technique and everything. But then, like, beginning, I was losing lots of competition, you know, and then, but when I win, okay, I lost my point what I was saying. Yeah, so when I win, like, do I come, I come my PhillyC champion. Like, Tbilisi is the main capital city. When I came the Tbilisi champion, like I win my city championship.

Oh, I was so proud and I was so, wow, I did it. I make it. Yes. And when I came Georgian championship, I was even crazy proud and happy and like this. But now, yes, I am Georgian champion. But like, should I stop here? Because I can always say, yeah, I know, you know what? One day I was Georgian champion.

I can say that or I should continue and just improve, improve, improve, and then go even better. Maybe go in European championship, maybe go world championship, maybe challenge something big, you know? And then like this. So after that, I make decision. Like, should I just, it's not for me or should I just, I say, oh, I already did and I was once champion. And then should I just, they continue like normal people and like just have a normal life or should I challenge all the time? And now I decide at that time I decide, yes, I should challenge and I should represent my country to even even big stage and then represent my people and be example how to be, you know, if we have expression in our country, you know, outside of your family, you are like, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you represent your family like you know like but outside of your country you represent your

country and so when i loved my country i tried to be like uh like one of the like no just just i'm myself but i'm i represent georgia and i want to represent even bigger and like people like you to show my country and like my like my culture and we talk about even georgia and i even ask me this is this means a lot for me and it means a lot of my people you know because we are very old country Georgia is a very old country

we are a Christian country and we are known as a wine made country we are one of the maybe like one of the old country who made wine and then they're like

in our in my country they find the oldest dead people like in my country you know it's a very old country. And we have a big history, big culture and a big hard and democratic country. And now it's, thank God, it's like safe there. It's lots of tourists. It's, I mean, it's beautiful. I got a visit. Yes. But it sounds like, it sounds like you just have that mentality built into

you, which is just like challenge yourself. Get better. Yes. Yes. For sure. I, yes. Like the sport and the level there what we've competed yeah you you have to be you have to have this mentality because like i tell you man i beat let's say i i beat some guys and uh all right guys quick interruption this podcast is sponsored by better help better help is a platform a web-based platform basically website where you guys can go and do talk therapy now listen i've talked about this plenty of times in a past i've been talking about for it feels like almost like two years now and i've actually done talk therapy multiple times throughout my life multiple ages throughout my life, so different scenarios in my life that I've sort of

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Now I need to challenge new challenge. I got a question. You are obviously Sean O'Malley toughest fight to date. Who do you think, and obviously that fight's coming up, who do you think is the toughest guy in your division right now to beat? Corey Sanhagen. Yeah. Yeah, he's under they're like a skinny, fast, long, long reach. Why do you think he, why do you think he's not, why do you think O'Malley hasn't fought him yet? Maybe same reason. You know, O'Malley, O'Malley situation was a little different, man. O'Malley is a great fighter, but he, he got gifted some things.

He got way easier than Corey Sanjagan than, way easier than me because so O'Malley was beating people up but he wasn't fighting top 15 guys and then so they give Peter Young like one guy from

I was there yeah yeah they give and then it was very close fight a lot of people actually think that Peter win the fight and once he beat Peter the one guy from top 15 and then they saved him one year for fight for the belt and in the belt he

was right time right to year he used the right opportunity he did what he was supposed to do he he he dropped Aljo and referee stability and then he come champion and then now of course he defend his belt

and now he's his champion but Cori Sagan like he he was fighting ramp guys and he was winning winning and then he had his chance he fought for the belt once

he fought Peter Ian he lost like decision and after this he's fighting but yeah I guess they give the Cori Shingen and they give him chance once already and now why do you think this this division specifically has so many good fighters is it like for some reason

all the guys are just great fighters are just like that weight smaller guys I don't get it yeah I guess like smaller guys it's like maybe there's something to prove I don't know but like that division has some of the best yeah i agree i agree with you uh yeah i guess that like the our size guys you're more technical more because of maybe because of a big a big um what's the called big uh because a big challenge and maybe we just push more you know like we just

would you you know you talk about the challenging and like continuing towards it would you ever go up in weight classes because you know like Islam was just talking about going up. Like, what do you think about that when fighters do that? I understand. Of course, like, if you can, you, you, I mean, it's, it's, it's, it's good to if you go up and you can beat people, but the realistically, me, go up, it's not good idea. I may have a, only special fights there, but it's more realistically, I can go down.

But I don't, if I go up, I don't think I will come. champion because it's going to be so hard to climb but yeah more more realistically for me it's go down but I don't want to keep myself I'm good I'm very comfortable in my weight class I don't want to focus of weight cut I want to focus of training and enjoy my life you know and yeah so we're good because yeah people Islam macheteer cutting lots of weight and then he wants to of course he wants cut less weight and then he wants be happy and he wants to challenge change new weight class and for some people it's even better and then they will be more happy and more strong in upper wakelars like gilbert burs he used to fight 155 he has a couple lost

and then he moved a 170 and he he he fought for he was the title challenger and like for some people it's even better to change wakeloss and go up you know i'm sure like for comes a chima like he would be better in one you know 185 and the guys like this they who we used to cut a lot of weight. You know, it's just based on how comfortable they feel at the weight, I'm assuming. Like their body is just... Yeah, yeah, because they kill themselves to make weight. They need a strict diet to make weight.

And they make weight, but they technically bigger. Yeah, makes sense. So, all my little co-hosts right here. Come up, come up, come up. Yeah. Come up. I'm curious, like, the... Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, Hayes.

So how are you determining that, like for you, just because you know that you feel more comfortable. You could feel more comfortable if you lost weight, but if you went up, you'd feel sluggish or slow. Like, like your gas tank could be less. So, yeah, yeah. So let's talk about Aljo's, I'll just, I'll just situation. Yeah, because he went up and he's better, more comfortable. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. yeah aljo is always like lately he gained even bigger big and then he is to struggle with make weight and he needs like a strict diet and like killing himself to make weight yeah and then in the fight he wasn't showing up like what he he's able to like he's cable or whatever you know he wasn't able to show the himself but like now when he moved up Like, he, he, he, he, he, he don't have to focus his weight last, like, three months. He only needs to, like, last two weeks. And then this way, he must be focus of training.

And then he's same guys, like same, same size as other guys, you know. He's not like a, you know, he's not as smallest, you know. Yeah, I see. Just actual body. I'm curious, like, obviously this is like a few. future question you can't necessarily say what the future holds, but say you get everything you want out of the UFC, would you ever go into like, you know, this weird space where like you're fighting influencers because you see the Jake Paul, the Mike Tyson fight, I think that had recently fell off. And like, what's your take on that sort of, that sort of arena? Yeah, I, I, I, why not? I read. But, you know, right now I am in UFC. This is the most, like, like here is the like, like, my. Most hard, like most top, top fighters, and then the UFC, we all know, the UFC has a name and respect, and I want to be one of the best fighter.

I want to push my best. And, yeah, after I will do that, and I'm sure the time will come. And why not? Why not make some funny fights and maybe fight you, me and you? Yeah, you know. Yeah, let's do it. I love it, bro. I love how you don't give a fuck.

You're just like, you're just like about it. I love it, dude. Listen, I tell you, man, I'm Georgia and we have a different mentality, man. Listen, I, I, what's going to happen? Listen, like, I was ready when fucking Russia attacked my country in 2008. I was ready for go war and then fight with the guns and fight with... To die, to die, essentially. To die.

And then why I must be scared to fight you? Yeah, no. Because of you have a hundred pounds on me, I don't care. I love it. Because you have a big muscle, I don't care. I have a big heart. Let's go. I want a challenge, you know.

I love it, man. So what do you think about the Jake Paul and the Tyson thing? Obviously, Tyson fell out because recently had the ulcer, but, like, how would that fight go if that happened? I mean, he's older. Yeah, yeah, that's a little bit, that's a little bit different situation. Yeah, like Mike Tyson is a legend And when he was his prime, he was the best Now he's still, you know, he, I mean, he's still maybe training something

But he won't be same, of course, all this time break, all this time off And age, of course, speed and everything Of course, Jake Full now, he's in his best shape, he's taking this one serious He has his own team, he has, you know, everything correct and everything what a real athlete must have to have,

he has everything, you know? And then, of course, like, I mean, this is not pair, like, you know, Jake Full must, I think he will win this fight if they fight because he's like, he's in his prime, he's young and

he's training hard. Mike Tyson, he's old. He's right, but, but at the same time if Mike Tyson wants fight, you know, It's his choice and let him fight. And exactly this is another thing. If medically he's clear, he must fight, you know. Then it's, yeah, it's his choice.

And everybody, it's like, this is free. We are free. And if you want, he must fight. Yeah, I get it. What do you think about the, if Mike was out, they did this announcement, Logan and Jake fought. How do you think that would go in a boxing?

This is crazy. I think if you ask me who's going to win, I think Jake will win. I just, that's what I'll think, but how I think. But, yeah, I guess if they want to fight, let them fight each other. Their brothers. Yeah, but let them beat each other, you know. But listen, let me tell you this. This way, it's not really serious, you know, like, when me and Aljo was in the same way class

and it came the time the Aljah champion and I came number one contender and when I say no because I know we both taking this one serious and then I know how what is a means for Aljo this is like it's not like a joke or whoever wins because this is legacy, you know. We don't care money, we don't care.

This is like another challenge like I tell you before, you know. This is like it's not like I know how what was meaning for Aljo this is big legacy you know and I know how Aljo was dream and training and his sweats and cuts weight and how hard he was training and I knew

if we have to fight that we really have to fight you know because he's taking this sport serious and I don't want like screw my friendship wasn't worth it to the belt

or like me fight for the belt and then make more money. It wasn't make sense for me, but my situation was different because I don't want to lose my friend, you know. But if they don't take this one serious and they don't care who's going to win, let them fight, no problem.

But, you know, me and Aljo, my friend, we are fighting for something big, it's legacy and then the history, and then just we don't want to risk our friendship and we don't want to, it's our career, and we're taking serious, you know, because it's, let's say, behind me, it's my country, and I represent my country and my team also, like the people who are helping me, who are supporting me, who are training with, and the same thing with Aljo, you know.

He has, like, he's born in U.S., his parents are from Jamaica, and he represents both country, and then he represents his family and his team also, and then we take him this one serious, you know? Yeah, it'd be fucked. So, so on that sort of note, as far as, like, friendship, in the UFC community who outside of Aljo have you like developed a really good friendship with because I know a lot of fighters are out there in Vegas like do you do you have like any other fighters that you've like developed a good relationship with and how is that go like do are people

obviously there's different weight categories so it's like it's almost like you'd be more friends with someone who's not in your category because like it's like a little bit of a you know competition yes of course yeah like you don't choose your friends ships because of way class because it's like it's just connection and just respect and it's just the people who so me and aljo we are just actually similar like this way like we we are very friendly we are very humble but we not come easy friends with like everybody you know we we we're a little bit you know if we are friends then we are really really friends that you really support but you know but yeah I have of course a lot of friends but I don't have a friend like like Aljo the one

going to say I'm not going to, I'm never going to fight him. But Aljo is really one that I'm going to say I'm not going to fight him because I have so much respect for him. Also, the not only reasons that I tell you, like before, I have also the reasons when I moved from Georgia and I was start, I start everything from zero. Aljo already was like a professional fighter and he was already CFFC champion right after he signed for UFC. and then I always have respect and love and I was look up to him, you know.

And then like now me fight like me fight the guy who I was looking, look up and like even even there is some percent of I can beat him. I will never, never do that, you know, or like, you know, Aljo is better than me, but there is still chance that maybe, you know, I can win. You know, it's always. Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. that's why I don't want to like the guy who really helped me with training and his knowledge and he I was look up to him and now we fight him and beat him and be a weird fight me be happy and he be sad that would be fucked up you know and I'm sure he will he will look he will be same you know like if he beats me and he he won't be happy because he he's he he was in my country he saw all my family and he he he he saw how how big for all this for my kanchi and how you know it's like this we are really good friends

but i i have lots of friends and i have like respect for hard worker people and especially fighters and but like not a close friends it's very few people yeah i see i understand um well dude i fucking i'm so excited for this fucking shana molly fight because i's per like because sean's like my boy, I love him. But I've, I've had enough interaction with you in person. I'm like, I fucking like this guy. Like, I like you so much. You're such a cool guy. You know, I just, you could tell that you're like, you're genuinely who you kind of are. Like, if someone sees you on the internet, like that's like really you. You know, you don't, you don't have, you're not like two different people. You're not like a, you're not like a Hollywood

guy where I see you and you're the same fucking guy. And I love that about people. And I, and I, and I, and I think that that kind of speaks to the success that you're having on social media. And I'm glad you started to, like, really, like, let your personality out and, like, just do the skits and the funny shit. It's great, bro. Like, you're crushing it. Thank you. I'm happy for you, man. For real.

And I'm telling you, I got to come to fucking Vegas. I want to fucking, I want to fuck around with you. I want to have fun, man. Let's do it. All right, brother. I thank you so much for stopping by. I mean, allowing me to do this interview with you from your home. And I appreciate you so much, man.

You're fucking, you're dope, man. For real. Do you have any questions for me before we end, or is there anything else you want to say? Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. So you live in California, right? Yeah, yeah, I'm in L.A. But I might be opening a gym, I'm, excuse me, I'm for sure opening a gym in Miami in the next, like, six months. But I might be opening a gym in Vegas even sooner.

And that's the first time I ever said that. Wow. It's a different situation, but it's a gym. You might have even, you probably even been there, but I'll talk to you about it more off, That's good. You opening gym in Las Vegas. That's very good. And I would love to come there whenever you open and I would love to training there and work out there. Hell yeah. Cool. Very good. Yeah. So, oh, bro. Okay. I love you, bro. You're dope.

Yeah. Thank you so much for coming on the show, man. For real. Let me know if you need anything. I'll text you on the side. All right. Sounds good. Thank you. Love you, brother. Thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah. All right. All right, guys. I hope you like the podcast. If you liked it, drop a like, drop a comment, subscribe every Tuesday, 11. Shout out to my co-host, Hazel right here.

But listen, I'm thinking, obviously I have guests in person and I love doing that. I might start doing an extra show every week because it's much easier for me to get people, you know, because of scheduling, obviously, to get people to, like, just pop up here. So let me know if you guys like that, if it feels, you know, because I know it's not the same as someone's sitting here,

but like if I can still have those conversations, people if you guys want to see it, it. I could talk to a lot more people all over the world, you know. Honestly, I'm thinking about, I would love to do one with Tate, to be honest. I think I can get them up here pretty, pretty, I don't want to say easy, but I think can get them up here. And if you guys want to see it, let me know, comment below, drop a thumbs up. But yeah, if I can start doing it more consistently, maybe I might start posting twice a week where Tuesdays, obviously at 11, like normal, and then maybe have like a Zoom show

every Thursday or something like that or Friday or whatever but let me know what you guys think I love you guys subscribe to the channel shout Marabi's dope I've been talking about to do this pop with him for a minute so I'm glad we've got to finally make it happen um the sparring match shit's funny obviously like I love the fact that he's like oh I'm down to do it but if I lose I'm not posting that shit I don't obviously I don't like and I don't blame him to be honest man I feel the same way Loki I even gonna fucking lie um but either way I know I want to go out there fuck with him and learn some stuff because i know the guys got you know a wealth of knowledge so i love you guys subscribe to the channel see you guys next week