The Ariel Helwani Show - Alex Pereira in studio, Charles Oliveira, Baron Corbin, Norma Dumont, On The Nose, more

Episode Date: March 26, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with more thoughts on Cain Velasquez's sentencing, including a statement from Velasquez's longtime agent Mike Fonseca (05:18).During On The Nose, the gang answers all your latest questions about the coverage of Conor McGregor, fallout from the James Krause betting scandal, Donn Davis' big money offer to Jon Jones, and more (10:50).Longtime WWE star Baron Corbin, aka Thomas Pestock, discusses his WWE departure, being blindsided by the whole experience, signing with MLW, whether the WWE locker room dislikes Logan Paul and more (1:18:25).Charles Oliveira discusses Ilia Topuria's recent attacks, the state of the UFC lightweight division, whether it's title shot or bust next, a target date for his return and more (2:03:22).Norma Dumont discusses her rise to UFC bantamweight title contention, discovering that her husband/coach cheated on her before Noche UFC, wanting Kayla Harrison next and more (2:35:26).Alex Pereira joins in-studio for his first interview since UFC 313, discussing what went wrong in his loss to Magomed Ankalaev, what he wants next, why he contemplated pulling out of the fight, plus much more (3:00:29).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Err-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r- 26,000. 25, hello again everyone. It is great to be back on a lovely Wednesday. I sure hope you are doing well. We got a lot to talk about on this Wednesday. We've got a super stacked Wednesday edition of the program with some luminaries from the world of combat sports. I mean, really, if I'm being honest, if we're being honest, there's no time to waste.

There's a lot to get into. Back into the show, my friends, Poitain, Alex Pereira, he'll be joining us in studio in his first interview since UFC 313, which was what? I don't know, three weeks ago, something like that. Las Vegas, March 8th. So that I don't know three weeks ago something like that Las Vegas March 8th, so that would be less than three weeks ago that would be 18 days ago lost his title to Magomed slash Mohammed big onk

uncle I have hasn't said much short video afterwards vlog appearance a couple social media posts, but that's been it. And so it's a great honor, it's a great privilege to be joined by Alex Pereira and Plinio Cruz in studio. That will be back end of the program. Prior to that we'll be joined by Norma Dumont, who is one of the top bantamweights in the world. She is itching for a fight. She's got a lot to say, a lot to share with all of us. And so we will be joined by her first time, I think, in the history of the program, joined by Norma Dumont.

Prior to that, one of the most popular fighters in the UFC, the former UFC lightweight champion, and perhaps a future one as well. He's been going back and forth with the likes of Ilya Deporya, Issam Akhachev as of late. He's been going back and forth with the likes of Ilya Deporya and some of Hachev as of late. He is Charles Dubranque's Olivera. Yes, he will join us as well.

Looking forward to that. It's always great when we speak to him. It looks like the sky is a painting. Like this looks fake right now, does it not? This looks fake. The sky looks fake. It's beautiful out. Yeah, no, it is beautiful, but it's just like the colors, the clouds, I don't know, it just kind of looks fake. The sky looks fake. It's beautiful out. Yeah, no, it is. It is beautiful, but it's just like the colors,

the clouds, I don't know, it just kind of looks fake. Anyway. Do you normally not look at windows? I'm just saying outside looks fake right now. It's just something about the colors, the clouds. I love it, personally. Looks like a beautiful spring day. Mm.

Komsi, komsi. Soap place I'd rather spend it. Yeah, yeah. Right here. In this dark control room. Tom P. Stock, aka Baron Corbin, you may be familiar with him. He's a longtime professional wrestler, was in WWE from 2012 to essentially 2024. Was, I don't want to say released,

his contract expired and they did not renew it. And now he's on the Indy trail. He's doing a lot of cool things. He's a former NFL player, played for the Colts, played for the Cardinals, had a great run as a King Corbin, Baron Corbin, Happy Corbin, Sad Corbin. Now he is Bishop Dyer and he's been popping up. He was over at the GCW event in January right here in New York

City, went toe-to-toe with the one and only Josh Barnett in a bloodsport match, showed up on Major League, no, Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling earlier this month, which I'm a fan of. Scott D'Amore doing big things over there for MLPW. Anyway, he's going to stop by to talk about what's going on in his career post-WWE, all the big plans and whatnot. I enjoy those interviews. There's the four pack right there. Oh, you wouldn't be able to fill up the shows. Anyways, you know on Wednesdays, we love to shoot. Yesterday we had a couple of great shows as well over on Dazon, Aron, Ade, Sans, Ade,

and prior to that the likes of Roo Rosas, and Steve Ersig, David Taylor, among others stopped by. So do check those out as well. We are rolling along here and some fun things in the pipeline as well. On Wednesdays, you know we like to shoot. We know that we like to answer your questions. And so without further ado, time now for everyone's favorite segment of the week. It is time.

It's time for all that knows Hey, that's not bad. That's not bad, right? I think it was great. That's at zero. No, who does? Let me just see something right here. So as you guys know, yesterday we talked about Cain Velasquez. This is actually technically not a question, but I did want to update something. And so we spoke about Cain Velasquez, we spoke about the sentence, we spoke about his future,

we spoke about how we felt about what had transpired, all those things and more. There are two things that I wanted to add to that conversation. Number one, I received a statement from Kane's long time agent, Mike Fonseca, who has been by his side for quite some time. And I wanted to read it,

because he has not said anything since the sentencing on Monday. And so here it is. Monday was a day full of mixed emotions, but we finally have closure after what has been a challenging, frustrating, and heartbreaking last three years. What Kane and his family have gone through is every family's worst nightmare.

I've sadly learned more than I ever wanted to know about child sexual abuse and the cruel realities of a broken legislative system as well as a complex justice system. I've seen firsthand the stress and the trauma that any of these sequences of events can have not just on our families, but the communities we live in. But above all else, I have learned about what it truly means to be a man of great character, integrity, and conviction.

Cain has always been a gentle giant, one of the kindest and sweetest men I've ever known. What he has been through, and more importantly, how he has handled the consequences of his actions, is a lesson in honor. Cain never once made excuses. To the contrary, he stood up and was immediately accountable for his actions, asking for forgiveness and praying for healing for the victims, his family, friends, and the community at large. None of us will ever know firsthand what Cain has lived through. He started with nothing as a Mexican-American son of farm workers and persevered to become one of the greatest UFC champions of all time.

Along the way, Cain suffered plenty of trauma, both physically and mentally, but never sought the spotlight, nor the fame, nor the money. Love, family, and integrity remained his guiding light. Today he is at peace with life. Nothing makes Cain happier than the ability to help others. My hope is we can find some solace in what Cain regrettably did, the impact that it had on so many lives,

the responsibility he took for those actions, and what he will do to make the world a better place when he returns home. But for today, hug your child or your loved ones just a little longer in honor of our beloved friend Cain." So beautiful words there from Mike Fonseca. I wanted to share that and I appreciate him sharing that with me. In addition to that, before we get to our first question of the day, I received an amazing letter, or an email I should say, from a longtime listener. I always appreciate getting emails from him, and I always look forward to them, and I always feel like they are incredibly thoughtful. And so I wanted to read a part of it, and it's about Cain Velasquez. He said, that thing you talked about with the ache in our hearts to

protect children has a real lasting effect when the walls are breached. I have heard, I can't believe I let this happen from parents in the past. I was angered by the other family saying aloud to media the punishment was not enough, that the accusations were unfounded. Like Kane's kid is going to lie about such things, and Kane himself, one of the most disciplined, thoughtful champions we have ever seen being cast as an out-of-control lunatic. Like the Velasquez family has an upside to such accusations. If ever someone were to take the law into their own hands, we want it to be a man like Kane.

I know the law is there and I do not think it is optional, but I've seen firsthand the lasting devastation, so it's hard not to think free Kane. The story is not just the court cases, it is the scars and recovery that last lifetime. And he had told me that, you know, he has his history in dealing with people who have dealt with what Kane's family has dealt with. And I think it's important because that, look, the accused are going to come out and say, we are innocent and we wanted more time, we did nothing wrong and we'll have our day in court. But again, as this gentleman told me,

and I think as everyone in the MMA community feels, Cain Velasquez isn't doing this. He's not that guy. He is not that guy. And if there is any truth behind any of these allegations, I think we would all feel the same way. And I think we all would agree that there's a very, very special place in hell for people who take advantage of children. And so I see a lot of people trying to do the, well, you know, in society you can't go around, no,

like I said yesterday, fuck that. Cain Velasquez protected his family, well, you know, in society, you can't go around, no, like I said yesterday, fuck that, Cain Velasquez protected his family, he protected his son who couldn't protect himself, and for that, in my opinion, he is a hero. We go now to our first question of the day, and let me just click this, over on arielhawani.substack.com. And we start with Matt Chewewees.

Hello Ariel and crew, especially British speaking GC. GC, a lot of people liked your British accent. I mean, I'm not good at accents. In fact, this gentleman in the PS says, GC, can you say some more phrases like bottle of wawa? Bottle of water. Just drop the T's. They skip the T's, yeah, I noticed that.

Which is funny because they drink a lot of T's. Wow, wow, holy shhh! I'll be here all day. Wow! Anyway, Matt Choweewee says, Happy Purple Day, Epilepsy Awareness Day. Thank you. Ariel, you've interviewed countless fighters and personalities in combat sports and beyond. Who has been the most unexpectedly insightful or surprising interview you've ever conducted and why oh my god What a tough question to start with Man

There have been so many interviews where I was like I gotta tell you I really enjoyed that There was one recently someone that we met for the first time. Who was it? Golly. Met him for the first time and... Gosh, I don't know. There's so many and this is an awful answer, but I would be leaving. And there's obviously like people that come back over and over again. So it feels like you know the people, right? Like I love talking to Demetrius Johnson and Daniel Cormier and guys like that. But I don't know.

Does anyone have anyone that you'd like to help me out with here? Because I'm drawing a blank. There's just so many. Like I said, U Bank was fantastic. Yes. Thank you, PT. Goldberg, you really had a good time with. I had a good time. Thank you. Thank you, guys. Dominic Cruz. Dominic Cruz. you bank was fantastic. Yes. Thank you. PT. Goldberg. You really had a good time with I had a good time. Thank you. Thank you guys. Dominic Cruz, Dominic Cruz. Please keep helping me out

here. I'm struggling. Um, yeah, those guys, I mean, there's, I'll say there's way more great ones, fun ones, rewarding ones, thoughtful ones than there are disappointing ones, empty ones. You know what I mean? Way more. My Chris, you bank doing the Invictus thing, which you know, was wild. That was... Right before...

Yeah, no, it was amazing. From memory too, top of the dome. Even Cain last time, Cain was spitting knowledge in the rear last time. Yes, Cain was amazing. Cain was amazing. There was someone very recently that I remember walking away saying... I'm drawing a blank. There was someone very recently that I remember walking away saying, Josh Vann, I enjoyed learning more about him. There have been some great ones over the last, you know, over the last, ah, godly, almost 20 years now.

And we're very lucky. And those are my favorites when you meet someone for the first time, you're like, that was great. I really enjoyed that. More will come to me, more will come to me. This is from John Doe. Hey Ariel, question for Pizzi. I noticed on last week's show, someone said Pizzi

is unbiased in his coverage of Conor McGregor. I'm sorry, but even as a huge fan of Pizzi myself, it is obvious he is not quote unquote unbiased. You can tell he doesn't like him. So the question is, Pizzi, here's your chance to be upfront. What are your true feelings about Conor McGregor? As a bonus question, if there was a bias either way, have you ever let it sway you from being totally objective about him? Just about three questions there. I'm always trying to say it exactly how it is

no matter what. I'd say, to be fair, if you're a big Conor McGregor fan listening to me speak about Conor McGregor since November has probably been very difficult. But really, the subject matter I'm discussing isn't positive. You know, unfortunately

the news since November has been pretty, pretty much a bad headline here after a bad headline. I think when I spoke about Connor on St. Patrick's day, I was, I was very honest. I said it was great PR for him. A lot of people on one side of the bay got very annoyed with me for saying it was positive for him. I still believe that to be the case. A lot of people were annoyed with me for saying that there will be many

people who will get behind what he said about immigration here. I don't know how I could have reported on him being found liable for sexual assault in November in a positive light. I don't know how I could have talked about the massive reaction to him in the White House in a positive way. I made sure to say that there was definitely people who agree with him. I personally don't agree with what he said about immigration. I don't think immigration in Ireland is a perfect thing. But to be fair, every time Connor was doing anything positive, I was always the loudest

voice in the choir. There was no one who went to bat for Conor McGregor more in Irish media than me since 2011, 2012. I was ringing news editors every day asking them to cover this sport. I was having national debates on the national broadcaster telling people about the sport, telling people why they should be getting behind Conor McGregor. There's a lot of people with buyer's remorse when it comes to McGregor in Ireland, of course,

but I'm always trying to say it straight down the middle. Look, I see a lot of support for Conor online, which I mentioned as well last week. Unfortunately, I do believe even though, as I've said, particularly in the anti-immigration sort of things over here, he has gained a lot of support from what he said on Monday. But honestly, when I look at comments online, a lot of the people aren't from Ireland and a lot of people don't even have real names. It's very hard to quantify how many people there are. What I'll say is, and I've already made this point, in December 2023, they polled

how many people would vote for Conor McGregor in Ireland. 8% said they would, 89% said they wouldn't. I think on the back of what he said here on Monday, that will go up next time around. But I just don't know how many people that is. We had a general election here in December and they elected the guys that are in power now. The guys have been in power ever since I've been alive. Since the free state was established probably, I certainly wouldn't be a supporter of them either. But out of all of the people who voted in that general election, which is the whole

country, 6% of the people in that election said that immigration was their top priority. So I don't know how much has changed in four months, but I assure you, if it does change, I'll let you know. You know, I saw the video that McGregor shared with people, particularly one woman talking about we all made mistakes. Like, that was pretty much the whole argument I was making. It was the messenger in this situation. Conor McGregor's made that point himself. You can't say I've been leading you guys astray when this guy was found liable for

that and his brands were taking off the shelves across thousands of stores across the UK and Ireland. That isn't done to people who are the champion of the public. There wasn't marches through the streets in support of Conor McGregor. There was marches through the streets trying to get the director of public prosecution to reopen the criminal case against Conor McGregor. This is the reality of the situation. I would personally much rather be talking about Conor McGregor fighting. But lads, you tell me, should I have been praising McGregor for something that he did

over the last few months? Did I did I did I miss something? Because I've been trying to tell you guys exactly what I'm hearing here. I live in Dublin. I'm in Dublin city every day of the week. I live in in Blanchard sound here, which is a working class area, which is an incredibly high populous of immigrants. I don't believe that the crime in Dublin is because of immigrants. Like I put a lot of blame on the government myself, but you tell me, should have I been praising Connor on any stage over the course of this show and I haven't? You tell me.

So I'll say two things. Number one, I don't think that this person who's writing is saying that you should praise him. A B if there was any issue with the coverage, if we felt like you were biased, if I felt like you were biased, if Shaheen felt like you were biased, we would have said it long ago. We wouldn't have addressed it on the show here.

I think that your coverage has been stellar. I think it has been extremely unbiased. And here's, you know, here's the thing. Number one, like we're sports journalists and, and you in particular, and I, and I think it has been extremely unbiased. And here's, you know, here's the thing. Number one, like we're sports journalists and you in particular, and I think I said this to you and I definitely said it to the team. Like we have put you in a very tough spot because it just so happens that the biggest

star in the sport has been involved in a lot of non sport news items over the last few months, especially since, you know, all of this launched in October. And we have asked you to, you know, take your sport hat off and, and put your, your, your civil hat on, your, your political hat on, your criminal hat on all these things.

And, um, it's not easy. It's not easy that, you know, we, we are not trained to be those people. Of course we're ready, we're willing, but we are not trained to be those types of journalists. And so you have done in my opinion, a great job. I don't know if there is anyone outside of me who We're willing, but we're not trained to be those types of journalists. And so you have done, in my opinion, a great job. I don't know if there is anyone outside of me who can understand your situation any better,

because let's be honest, you have known Connor for a very long time. You were very close to Connor. You have a lot of stories of being around him, about covering him, having a very strong relationship with him, leading up to the UFC and even as he entered the UFC and the rise ascended. And there are a lot of similarities between that kind of relationship and the relationship that I had with Dana White.

And the similarities I think continue with how the relationships dissolved and how powerful both of them are, right? I would probably argue that you were even closer to Connor than I was to Dana. But in terms of power, that's like one in are, right? I would probably argue that you were even closer to Connor than I was to Dana. But, you know, in terms of power, that's like one in two, right? And it's not easy because you have

to try to cover them objectively. They are extremely important. They are extremely powerful. They are always in the news. You can't ignore. And sometimes, you know, we are human beings. Someone even replies to this gentleman, John. John's O.

Yeah, El Peruano says, being perfectly objective is unattainable, is an unattainable standard, even for the best journalists like Ariel and Pizzi. Pizzi's coverage has been fair and hasn't strayed far into anything outside the bounds from what I've observed. And so we all strive, and I think that's a great point by EP, I think we all strive to be unbiased, I think we all strive to be, you know, that kind of journalist, but as I've said before, we're not robots. Like, we have feelings, we have emotions, and we try our best at the end of the day to be like, I got that one right. And sometimes we don't. And, you know, I hear about it with the Dana White coverage too. And as I've said in the past, I've tried to separate myself

and just kind of view him as an entity as opposed to a person who we've had, you know, personal friction with. And I think you do the same. We can't kid ourselves. They are not the same as other people in the sport, people that we don't have relationships with or a history with, but I think you do a great job and it's okay to acknowledge that it is tricky at times. And we do have to be careful and mind our P's and Q's and try to be aware of that history, try to be aware of their power, try to be aware of who they are, and try to get it as right as possible. And I don't think that you have been on the opposite of that at any point throughout some really tricky times. I mean, you and Ben and Chuck went live

minutes after the civil trial ended. Oh, it was horrific. Minutes, minutes. You couldn't look up anything. I'm not a very political guy either. Like this is like, I have to start getting into all this stuff. Like I'm just not a very conscientious person, I guess. Like this is me trying to understand all of this stuff as it's happening.

So yeah, it has been very difficult, as you said. Yeah, go ahead. I'm just saying without, I don, as you said. Yeah, go ahead. But I'm just saying, without, I don't want you to feel like, you know, the subtext is actually a very positive place. And so while I read that, I also read this comment from Christoph, Gutetag Ariel, like it's literally like a few questions down.

No question in particular, I just wanted to give some props to Pizzi on how he has handled all the sensitive topics kind of related, especially as I saw some comments here questioning his bias as a European myself, I sometimes can't help but notice the differences between perceived opinions over in the US and elsewhere regarding certain topics. Therefore, I appreciate a different perspective very much. I think he did it in the most unbiased way and eventually held back. As always, love the show and thanks for keeping my

work days nicer greetings Christoph so there you have it like you know I will say like I am like I'm driving myself mad trying to ask people about this like everywhere I'm going I've been telling Ariel about this like I'm I'm trying to give it to you as real as I can I promise you that much and if if there's a like if a poll comes out, I'll report on it. I'll write up an article on ground to say like, wow, look at it, his popularity has grown since this way I was thinking, which it, which you probably will. You know what I mean? I'm not ruling that out at all, but I think you have to be, you

have to be fair. Like it's very hard. Like I understand if you're a Conor McGregor fan and I'm on here talking about the civil case. I'm on here talking about this massive reaction in Ireland to him showing up at the White House on a day where it's usually the head of our government showing up there. Like you know, it's very complex. There's so much talks. It's on bulletins all over the news. It's on the cover of every newspaper.

And I get X is full of compliments for him too. Like I'm as confused as everyone else is, but as a guy who lives here, as a guy who speaks with Irish people every day, as a guy who's walking around Dublin every day, I'm only giving you is what I'm telling you is and people genuinely run away from me when they see them now, cause they know I'm about to ask them, what do you think about this whole Conor McGregor thing? I promise. Let's leave it at that. I think we have said enough regarding it. I do try not to, you know, shy away from these questions.

This is your opportunity to ask us. And so if someone feels that way and wants to ask in a respectful manner about any of our coverage, I think it is fair game. By the way, I'm seeing in the chat, thank you to the chat, thumbs up to the chat. Oban Elliott, Matt Mitrione, Chris Eubank, Lok Dog. Lok Dog is the one, Jalen Turner, Jalen Turner, regarding

the guests that have, uh. Oban was great too. Yeah. Even though he calls me a Scotsman yesterday. Lok Dog was amazing. Jalen Turner, there's a lot of Jalen Turner's there. So, uh, yes, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the, uh, the reminders. Okay.

Uh, James Portland, Ola Ariel, I know there's only been two heel Cena promos so far, but no mention of The Rock or any explanation of them joining forces. Weird, right? No mention of The Rock, no mention of Travis Scott. The story Cena is telling is perfect on its own. Sounds like The Rock wants to insert himself in the biggest WrestleMania match just like last year when he thought it would be a good idea to take Cody's place. Not sure about that. this is going to be the norm going forward does the WWE have a rock problem no I suspect there'll be a

payoff I felt like the second one was a lot of the same from the first let's see how the whole like I don't love I think it's okay to judge an angle you know throughout I kind of like last year I remember saying this let's okay to judge an angle, you know, throughout. I kind of, like last year, I remember saying this, let's wait to see how this whole thing plays out before judging the angle. It is a little funky that Rock hasn't been mentioned, that the Travis Scott thing hasn't been mentioned,

but I think it's been fine, and I think the build to this WrestleMania main event has been a lot better than people expected, because no one expected seen it to turn heel. We thought it would be just seen a Cody two faces going toe to toe. So this is definitely better, but so far jury is still out. I'll say that.

Uh, Sean Plant. Hello, Ariel and the boys. He says the boys in the backside. I don't know. That seems like a typo. When are we getting the action Bronson FTD? GC fight fees collab a huge fan of both shows GC's and natural behind the camera. Let's fucking have it hashtag Bosch By the end 2025 that's it statement made

Bronson's in we just got a we just got to choose the right card's it. Statement made. Bronson's in, we just gotta choose the right card for it. Love the jacket by the way. Oh thanks. Brazilian themed show, 80% of the show is gonna be in Portuguese, I figured I might as well represent. Big defeat, yes they GC. 4-1 against Argentina, how do you feel about that? Guilherme Cruz just texted me saying, is this him slagging me wearing this jacket today?

This is a direct shot at the Brazilian beast. There's me supporting the Brazilian fighters coming on. I actually had no idea that Argentina Brazil happened until I woke up this morning. Tough luck. Yeah, it's tough. Sorry, sorry, Guy. It's tough. Matmo.

Sup, Ariel. Poe, can you remind me, what were you saying again? What is that from the It's Tough? Dude, we were talking saying again? What is that from, that it's tough? Dude, we were talking about like Philly cheesesteaks and like. We were? We were talking about something food related. I think I was just kind of zoning out while you and Frank were going on a diatribe about some bullshit.

Like just like American cheese versus pepper cheese. And then for some reason we went to a full screen to me. If you look at the video, I'm like staring off. I have a 10,000 yard stare. I have no idea what I'm saying. So I just say, yeah, it's tough. But when you play the video back, it looks like I'm like highly emotional about something

and that like I am distraught. So yeah, it's great. It is in fact tough. It's tough. It is tough. It's amazing. Um, Matt Mo, sup Ariel. What are your thoughts on Joe Rogan's recent comment that he won't be commentating UFC 315 in Montreal because he quote, refuses to go to Canada and would rather go to Russia. I'm so glad he asked this. I'm so confused about this. I cannot wait. I was gonna text you about this.

What the fuck is this? I don't, like, I don't care. Who cares? Is he afraid of flying? But what's happening in Canada? Why does he not do the international shows again? I think it's just part of his deal. He just loves America too much.

He can't spend any time away from it. No, honestly, I mean, I haven't asked him, but let's say there's a show in Australia. I mean, he's got a show where I think he does a show a day, right, like isn't there a show a day? And so maybe he doesn't wanna miss out. If you go to Australia, if you go to Abu Dhabi, you're missing out.

Maybe he doesn't like to travel, I don't know. I remember, I think it might've been UFC 97 or 113 in Montreal. I remember I was at home on a Thursday night with my very good friend Mo Liebman and I remember Rogan texting me saying that he was playing at like a small bar in Montreal. And we just went and there might have been,

no joke, 150 people there. And then we just hung out with him at the bar afterwards. Like that's, there was no one there. It was crazy. I don't know if it was an impromptu thing or what, but you know, that's when we were boys. And he seemed to like Montreal back then. I don't know, look, Montreal, or excuse me, not much,

well, it is in Montreal, but Canada is going through a bit of a weird time with the politics, the left, the right, the this, the that. I don't get the Russia part of it all because he wouldn't go to Russia either, but I think it was just a commentary on how liberal Canada has become. And you know, the stuff with the truck drivers

and the frozen bank accounts and the vaccine and all that stuff, I think that's playing into it. But like, okay, so yeah, and so what? He doesn't go to any international shows. Like he didn't go to Vancouver last year or Toronto last year. So this idea, I think it was a zinger from a comedian. This idea that it's not a Montreal thing.

It's not a specific thing about Quebec or the current like today's state of Canada. He hasn't gone to one of those in a while So everyone just needs to chill out. I agree that it was probably just as anger. Yeah Kyle Ariel with prayer likely getting the next shot of 205 What would you do if you were Ulberg serve as the backup fighter and then fight the winner risk it all and fight? Yuri thoughts. I mean you asked this question Like, you know Ulberg is in complete control of his? I mean, you asked this question like, you know,

Ulberg is in complete control of his career. Obviously, it's not quite like that. It sort of feels like we may be moving towards a Uri versus Ulberg situation. Of course, there's a big one coming up on April 26, exactly a month from now, and that's Jamal Hill versus Khalil Rowntree. So I feel like those are the top four guys, and he'll have to fight one of them. Yuri's the guy who's, you know, not fighting, who doesn't have a date. Albrecht just fought of course, but I feel like he's going to fight one of those guys, right? I mean, it would have to be.

One of those three. Yeah. Yuri Hill, Rowntree. Juan Sanchez, hello Ariel and crew. I was tuned in on Saturday from the start to watch our very own GC, the first game of the year. So round three. Juan Sanchez, hello Ariel and crew. I was tuned in on Saturday from the start to watch our very own GC Guram Kutelatse take on Kawe Fernandez, which ultimately did not go our way, commiserations.

Nevertheless, to my surprise, GC was back in the Octagon two fights later, not as a fighter, but as a referee to the Sean Abanan Pujatomar fight. What a multifaceted dedication to the sport. All jokes aside there's an obvious resemblance between GC and Guram but I think we are heavily sleeping on his uncanny resemblance to the Polish referee Lukasz Boszak. Look him up. Would love the crew's take on this. Thanks as always from the UFC Baron Wasteland known as Chicago. What do you guys think?

I don't think people are sleeping on this. I get tagged 80 million times every time the dude reps a fight. Oh yeah. Shout out to Sean Ovando. What a fight, what a fight. Shout out. Shout out to her.

Shout out to Bhoja Dalmar. Alexi, hey Ariel, why are fight cards so freaking long? In almost any other sport or entertainment event, you're looking at a max two to four hours but in combat sports these cards sometimes run for seven hours and it's tough to watch it all. Would it be beneficial for the UFC for example to have smaller cards with better quality and around four to five hours of fights? Why does combat sports culture favor such long events? I mean a lot of fighters need fights they have to get them three a year haven't you heard this? I think honestly, I mean, yes,

you are right about other sports, but there are 43 events, the average fighter is fighting two to three times a year, as opposed to an NBA player who's able to play 82 times, or NHL 82, or baseball 162, or NFL 17, et cetera, et cetera. So there's just less opportunities. I mean, it's not an MMA specific thing. Boxing cards are pretty damn long too. And they have less fights usually, obviously,

longer rounds. Why that is, I think it's just because they got to get them fights, big rosters. Puddingboy, hey, I'll question regarding the James Krause, Derek Minner, Jeff Molina situation. I understand why Molina received a three year suspension for essentially the sports betting equivalent Hey y'all, question regarding the James Krause, Derek Minner, Jeff Molina situation. I understand why Molina received a three year suspension for essentially the sports betting

equivalent of insider trading. By the way, Jeff Molina on Twitter yesterday addressing the suspension, we have some of his tweets. My words were twisted here. I wagered on the entire card, not specifically that midter fight. It's how I made extra money on the side when I wasn't fighting and all I do is watch fights. I had wagers on both sides of the fight and my quote-unquote significant bet, you'll recall that was referenced yesterday, was less than $500. The only thing I'm guilty of was continuing

I think there was another part of that tweet um let me just finish that thought before we get to that one no because I I read uh he actually made a comparison to, the only thing I'm guilty of was continuing to wager on fights after the UFC emailed us telling us to stop. Getting a three year suspension for continuing to bet two weeks after getting an email that said to stop is insane.

McGregor can post his million dollar bet slip every month on a main event as a fighter on the roster and no one blinks an eye. Definitely a double standard there. And then later he responded to our good friend Jason Hagholm who said, wagering on both sides of the fight doesn't make it look that much better Jeff, but Gregor's posts were most likely sponsored posts. It's not about, he says, making it look better Jason. I'm saying what I did. What I completely disagree with is saying I deserve a lifetime ban for my $350 wagers I had on the entire cart. I made a mistake by continuing to wager no doubt

and a three year suspension is beyond suffice, but acting like a 23 year old me was this fight fixing mastermind making millions of dollars is comical. The fact is a fighter fought injured, which happens literally all the time and obviously word got out. GC you had a good take on all this yesterday now hearing from Jeff what do you think? A fighter didn't get injured and word got out it was your teammate. Also sportsbooks aren't going to stop taking wagers

and move the line that significantly for something under $500. I'm not saying Jeff was the one that placed it, but information was given out and I've never seen anything like that before or since. So I don't know. I don't know everything that took place, but and maybe Jeff's

involvement was as simple as this but someone put in a monster wager on Nordenbeck Finnish, Nordenbeck a money line, Nordenbeck around one like people had to have been dumping money on this random apex fight for the sportsbooks to get alerted. They're not gonna change the way they're operating because of a $500 bet. Not suggesting this is what happened, but like you can also put the big bet here, put a couple of dollars there to say,

look, I bet on both sides. The fact that they- Why would you bet on both sides? Yeah, I don't know. To hedge, do people do that? I don't even know what that means. Unless he bet on Minner because he was teammate at first and then found out he was injured. I

don't know. Well like interesting you say like GC about information getting out. Isn't that whole element to this? The fact that James Crouse had a group that were paying for betting advice? Yeah. You know, not saying that's what happened. I'm just saying, know. Word, more than word got out it wasn't a couple of people. For major major sports books in Las Vegas this stopped taking action on a fight. It affected the line tremendously right? It was like minus 250 quid. It was like minus 205 to like a minus 420 in a matter of 30 minutes. I remember when that happened I was over at your place and you're like

holy crap like somebody knows something. Like it was just like a meeting. After Minner was sitting at minus 200 the entire week and then just hours before the fight it plummeted to the point where people in the MMA betting community noticed beforehand was like man this is weird I don't know what is going on and then we watched the fight take place and we're like, something happened. Something happened there. And then we find out all of this stuff subsequently afterward. And then James Crowder is completely cut from any UFC ties. And then obviously this happens with with Minner and Molina. Maybe this was all Molina's involvement in it, but I think it goes deeper than that. And the other thing is, look, like you said, maybe this was all his involvement, but it is somewhat of a simplistic way of looking at things because, let's be honest, you could

call someone up and say, hey, X, Y, and Z put it, like, you may not have done it, but you could have been a part of something bigger. If I were to find out, guaranteed winner, I'm not placing it from my account. I'm calling my friend and saying, call one of your friends that has nothing to do with me and place this wager for me. That's just what I would do if I. And by the way.

And by the way. If I just went in, bye. And if that's the case, it kind of is. Someone in the locker room tells me. Lifetime bandworthy, is it not? Someone in the locker room tells me and they're just like yeah this guy is about to go out there and lose in 60 seconds. And so if that's the case does the punishment fit the crime or should it be greater? I mean it's corruption I mean is it not? Is like you're using insider trading to get

financial gain off of like a guaranteed guaranteed winner. It feels like it's corruption. Can you do me a favor? Let's say you found out about something. I'm just saying, someone dials me up from the locker room. I feel like you need the cigarette. Can you give us the whole thing where you tell us? Look, I'm just saying. Like, tell the bookie.

I'm sitting there on a Saturday night. I get a call Maybe Sean Brady calls me up. It's just like how's the bike going? Yeah, he's like by the way I'm with my teeth right now He's losing for sure he fights in 45 minutes makes the walk in 45 minutes He's dying back here. I'm talking 60 seconds back Getting on the getting on the horn. I'm saying, hey brother, any one of your friends that has a Trafficking's account,

has a FanDuel account, whatever it may be, no ties to me at all. Put down X money, I'm wiring it to you right now. Don't ask any questions. This phone call never happened. Take the SIM card out of my phone, throw it in the ocean. That's how you use the inside of a phone. There it is. Frank, you're so right. Holding in the smoke. It's that little touch, right?

Oh my God. They're making an ashtray. One of our great actors. Can I ask all of the great actors of our generation? Marlon Brando is in the studio. Incredible. Fantastic. Another one from Sean.

Greetings, Ariel and the Ladship. What are the odds that you think just to spite Tom, John entertains a fight with Francis at this point with the recent news of Don Davis throwing his offer in the mix? Come on. I mean, this is akin this is akin to chill son and being like, yeah, I'll fight that guy on 24 hours notice. Like you do that for the, uh, hey, well done. I personally believe there it is a $50 million

offer. What does that, what does that even mean? Is it in Bitcoin? Is it in Sheckles? What is it? What is the 50 million? I don't know. Um, I personally

believe John's pettiness knows no end and we inevitably will hear him mention this prior to the top fight, even if just to make it a more difficult process. By the way, if the UFC called their bluff and said, all right, we'll do it 50 million, you got to pay John Jones. Do you think he does it? Like, do you actually think he is ready and willing to do it or do you think it's just, as the kids say, for the clout? You're saying if John Jones got the lion's share of that 50 million? I mean, if the UFC said, all right, 50 million, pay up.

We'll make the fight. Do you think he is ready? Does John do it? No, does the UFC. Oh, oh, no. So the UFC give him 50 million, will he fight? He can't offer John Jones 50 million to fight. John can't just take 50 million. He would have to give that money to the UFC. Yeah, I'm asking you, what does John Jones get of this number? He gets his 30. Yeah,

it's irrelevant. I'm just saying the question is, do you believe Don Davis is actually prepared to pay 50 million to have John Jones fight Francis. Well the way he phrased it Can we put that back up? the way he phrased it is I know one way John Jones earns 50 million that is very different language to me That's that screams of like we're gonna leverage this and market this and on the back end You're gonna get this and that and ultimately he's not sitting on a liquid 50 million I just don't see how that be possible yeah so no this whole thing is a farce like the whole idea of

this is a farce in general but do I think that if if they offered the UFC 50 million and John Jones got the lion's share of that that John would do it yeah certainly John would do it I'm just of course John would do it I just want to know if he is actually telling the truth that he is truly prepared to pay for oh don't know they don't have 50 million they just I mean maybe they do maybe he has it personally I don't know you know what's what's dawn's worth yeah well if look if Don's coming out of pocket now it's a different game but I don't think PFL is 50 million to spare on John Jones.

Jamrock. Hey Ariel, I love the Sean Brady interview from Monday. Another one who I enjoy talking to very much. He's really coming into his own. Couldn't agree more and I can see him winning the title very very soon. Question regarding something that was brought up yesterday. It seems like you guys have been giving on-air Jordan a hard time for his quote-unquote vacation. How are vacation days distributed there? I kind of get the vibe that PTO is heavily frowned upon and that there really are no vacation days the team are supposed to take

without being given grief for it. Work-life balance is essential in any job. So I was curious about this. Uh-oh. Finally, finally someone's not talking about essential in this one. Is Jamrock on-air Jordan's? It's Jordan. Yeah, all right. Even the tone and how you read that, I think they can interpret how you feel about it. Is Jamrock on Air Jordan's?

Even the tone and how you read that, I think they can interpret how you should run on vacation days. What is a burner account, by the way? I've never heard of that. What is a burner? Yeah, you know, Jamrock, Juddy, that doesn't sound like something I'd make.

Oh yeah, it actually kind of does sound like something. It's too perfect. Well, we have a bit of a break coming up for Passover. We've got our annual Passover break. Everyone loves that. Of course, in addition to the Passover break, there are other vacations being planned surrounding the break. I believe there's a trip to Portugal.

There's a May trip for Frank coming up. We have our annual summer break. I said, I may go on a trip. And you were like, what? Get back to work. What's the annual summer break? I said I may go on a trip. Oh, okay. And you were like, what? Get back to work. What's the annual summer break? Hang on, you guys get holidays? We always have a summer break.

We've always had like a couple weeks off in the summer. A couple weeks off? You've always had a break. When? What are you talking about? And then we try to take our time off while you're off. Oh, wow. But you look at it and.

Do tell, Frank. Do tell. No, I'm trying to rack my brain. I know we had the Olympics last year. Yeah. But it was years before that. The August break. Yeah, I was in Israel for two weeks. No off-season, bros.

Remember that? No off-season. Alright, I mean, listen. I do remember now. I do remember the August break. We've always had a couple weeks off. The hashtag August break. Yeah, the hashtag August break. Does the hashtag August break?

Yeah, you'll see it in the Slack, CT. Everybody enjoy their hashtag August break. Does the hashtag August break? Yeah, you'll see it in the Slack. Everybody enjoy their hashtag August break. If you guys have things that you're upset about that are bothering you, please. It's the perfect time to slow things down. Are you guys overworked? Last year, what was it, April, we went on a break and then I took on another gig. And you were like, I'm so quick to start new dating. No, no, no, no, no. We were on a break and then I took on another gig and you were like, I mean that was quick to say no no no no

That was oh We had a we had time off and then upon returning Frank was like hey, I'm not gonna be available I'm like what because of the before that but I know we're nah, nah, we know what it was It was the paramount thing you were not gonna be That's where I met Jordan. Yeah, bro, you brought it up, all right? Can I also say me and Frank. You were gonna miss a Wednesday show. You were gonna miss a Wednesday show for another gig.

Here I am, literally. We only had two shows a week at that point. Here I am at that point. I'm like, saying to people, listen, if you don't bring Frank Lenz and company over, I ain't coming, all right? I'm literally sticking my neck out. I'm walking away from multi-billion dollar deals on your behalf and this is the thanks I get. No, no,

please continue. Can I get some of that billion? People are asking why Rick is so quiet right now. Why are you so quiet? Rick, what's up? He's too tired because he's so overworked. He can't speak. He gets naps in when he can. He gets naps in when he can. If we're, no, if we're being honest, I'm probably not the best one to be like. Yeah, vacation. He doesn't get sick and he doesn't take vacations. I don't date sick and I don't take vacations. Rick hates vacations.

I'm not the one. Rick, you usually go away in August. I don't plan a vacation. If you're off, I'll take a day off. If you're not, then I'm not. Remember when he went on a cruise? Someone sent me these August dates, please. That's what I texted you about, P.T. Me coming to Ireland in August.

And all you did was respond with a picture of you and Shane Gillis. I was like, alright, well fuck me. I forgot what you even wrote to me I was so senseless I was like hey man I'm actually really considering a trip to Ireland in August you down? picture of you and Shane Gillis just a picture of you no text I was like alright man listen everyone is free to go away everyone is replaceable uh there's no I just mean like no uh oh I just mean like. No, no.

I just mean like. Who brought your coffee into the studio today, huh? That was very nice of you, Frank. Jordan from Perth. Salam alaikum, Ariel on team. Walaikum salam. With all the rumors in the Lightweight division surrounding who's fighting who, is there any possibility we see Islam waits out until the outcome of JDM versus Bilal?

Or maybe one more fight for him before he moves up. If not, how many more fights do you think Islam will have before eventually moving up? I think it depends on what happens in that Bilal fight, to be honest. I think if Bilal is there for a long time, he's probably not moving up. There are fights to be had at 155. The biggest fight for Islam right now is the Ilya fight. I know for his career, for his legacy, he wants a second title, but in terms of like money making fights, there's no bigger fight than the Ilya fight. PS, shout out to JDM, Perth boys on top. PS, can I get a shout out from the goats, the boys in the back? Shout out. Shout out. Let's go. Do you not agree? If, if, if, let's go do not agree if if let's say let's say JDM beats Bilal Islam versus

JDM even if it's for a second title isn't it nearly as big as Islam versus Ilya there is no permutation at 170 that is bigger than that fight and there's no permutation at 155 that is bigger than that fight and then if you want to go to the second biggest fight it would probably be Charles versus Islam so yeah if I were, obviously you have to wait to see what happens, but you know, there's big fights to be had. There's big fights to be had. Here's Chris. Ariel, in March of 2020, I was the first caller to the first episode of DC and Helwani on ESPN radio. Wow, I remember that. I showed up wearing blue gloves My question is this was GC the call screener that night in retrospect It seems the screener had the same voice and accent as Connor

I'm wondering if I was able to speak to two legends one future legend all in one call Thanks, Chris in ND, perhaps that's North Dakota from the tractor. Shout out. No, that was not GC it was Troy. It was TST, yeah. Wait, this is when we did ESPN Radio? This is the first ever episode. The only time we ever did it in person. It was March of 2020. It was right before the pandemic.

They rented a studio for us at a Vegas radio station. It was Izzy Romero Fight Week. So I think that was 246 or 47. And DC and I did it together. I was very far away from him. I was wearing gloves because we all thought it was Izzy Romero Fight Week, so I think that was 246 or 47, and DC and I did it together. I was very far away from him. I was wearing gloves, because we all thought it was touching.

It was, anyway. And that was the last one. But then, due to the success of the show, we kept doing it as a pre-show for pay-per-views, and then I think you got involved, right? Because you were radio only. Yeah, there were a couple ones where you all did it on radio.

And you were the guy? Yeah, I had to screen call. Did you screen calls, or did you do other stuff as well? Yeah, they had me producing it, and in the ESPN radio days, the producers had to book all the guests, and they'd be like, Connor, we're gonna have you produce in El Juani this weekend.

I'm like, sweet, means I don't have to book any guests. Makes this shit easy. And then you'd come in and be like, yeah, I got Carlos Correa and bang and bang and this person, that person. I'd be like, wow, this is quite easy. It was a big talk of the town around the department though. Everyone hated having to be a board op

because this is obviously ESPN national radio. Oh, the swearing? So much swearing. Callers would call in and be like, I can't wait for the fucking fights. We'd have to hit the dump button and we'd use out the timing on the dump button and then we'd have a big thing Yeah, yeah, there's this there's this one board up boys had to do it who hated her life Oh, wow, Troy Troy warned me about that after I was on your show once as well about what dropped a few

Oh, yeah, fucks and Yeah, like FCC regulated radio, national radio. You got the 10 second delay and each time you hit it, you lose a little bit of delay. And so like we'd burn through all the delay and it was just like, please don't cuss. Wow. I don't remember any of this. Good times, yeah.

You know, you don't want to make the talent nervous. Sure, sure. I mean, I'm showing up with Steve, Steve-O and Action Bronson. So, you know, things are gonna happen. the names to which the game nights had never seen. Yeah. Oh my God. Are you kidding me?

Uh, Kenny, hello, Ariel and crew. I'm curious, how do you handle post-fight communications with fighters who are friends of the program, such as last weekend's main event? Whoops. I just lost it. Uh, do you reach out to both the winner and the loser of the fight? Do you message them immediately or wait a day or two, especially in the case of the fighter who lost. So generally I will never, I mean, I don't know if I'll say never, but I will more often than not ask a fighter who lost to come on the Monday after.

Obviously it has happened, but it's usually happened in an organic way. They'll reach out to me, we'll talk to them, we'll talk to them, we'll talk to them. ask a fighter who lost to come on the Monday after. Obviously it has happened, but it's usually happened in an organic way. They'll reach out to me, we'll talk. There are times, obviously, especially when I'm close to the fighter, I'll reach out just being like, hey, sorry about that, keep your head up,

you'll be back, this and that, not ask of anything. There's one time in particular where I reached out to Ben Askren after he got knocked out by Jorge Masvidal and he replied very quickly and he was very Communicative and so I just kind of threw it out there. I was like, hey by the way do you want to talk about this on Monday and he said yeah sure and That was incredible. I remember that that interview in like 24 hours got 2.5 million views or something nuts like that. So million views or something nuts like that. So it just kind of depends, but I will generally

not ask a fighter who just lost to come on the Monday. As far as the fighter who won, you know, I'm depending on the time zone. I'm either asking that night. I'm not usually asking them. I'll ask a manager if it's that night. If it's the next day, I'll ask them. But again, we can play the game all day long. I mean, you throw out a fighter like what's the best way to get in touch with this person?

I could tell you X, Y, and Z. And when, how, where, WhatsApp, text, iMessage, green, blue, DM, coach, manager, agent, whatever. Brother, sister, mom, wife, dad, husband. There's all different permutations. I have it on lock. Now there are obviously there's new fighters that you know you have to try to get in touch with for the first time so that's a little different but in terms of the repeats yeah but anyway you just have to be sensitive and you have to be empathetic and even when you're asking a winner to come on like you can't hit them up an hour later. Think of their phone, think of their reaction. Like you gotta wait for your time to make the ask.

It's a science, it's a science. Connor from Canada. Hi Ariel, although it's more than a fair assumption to make, you guys have been talking about Hamzat versus DDP as though it's a done deal. And my question is, what would happen if hums let's travel issues prove to be too troublesome and he can't be booked for a title fight that probably or they'd probably just put someone else in but

it's clearly obvious he needs to fight for a title and anyone else would be basically unacceptable this is such a unique situation that seemingly no one is talking about right now by the way I feel like we've been talking about this for a very long time. And they seem... Yeah, I think they all seem very confident that it's going to be okay. And if it's not okay, they've got some international shows, and in particular a show in October.

And if it has to be that far away, it's got to be that far away. Now, the question is, can you have a champion who can't travel to any part of the world? That's a little bit restrictive and unique. but they seem confident that it's being sorted. I noticed that when, you know, like on the broadcast on Saturday, and I don't think this is new, new, but I think it's relatively new when they were showing the winning streaks, the longest winning streaks in the organization, and they showed Hamza, it's a UAE flag next to him now.

It's not Swedish or Russian. I don't know if that's like brand new, but relatively new. Kitts Corner, what's up Ariel and the BITB. One question, have you ever seen or heard a man have another man's name come out of his mouth more than Tom Aspinall talk about John Jones? I don't know if that's fair. I mean, come on, man. He is this close to getting the biggest fight of his life and feels very confident that he could be the guy that has never been beaten. What do you want him to do? Just sit around? And I don't think-

He literally can't work. He can't work unless he fights the fucking guy. What do you want him to do? Also that. Also that. But also, like, he- Tom does a ton of media. He has his channel. He'll come here. I saw he was on Logan Paul, but he's not like out there banging. I don't, I don't think he's been obnoxious about it at all. And, and I think he's every, like we just talked about the stat where he's like literally 30 days away from breaking the record for longest

interim champ ever. Come on. He was very cagey on Monday though. To me, it's getting borderline Chandler McGregor desperation vibes. Not even close, Not even close. Not even close. What are you talking about?

It was two years or something. Yeah. Best part of it to a hardcore fan is nothing from John Jones. John is acting like a complete boss in this situation. That's fair. I think that's a fair assessment as well. John doesn't really address him. We haven't had like a classic John Jones tweet-a-thon.

And I, and I do think John knows he has the leverage. John knows that he has the power here and they want him to fight and Tom wants to fight him. He's not begging to fight anyone. Now, if the UFC is offering 20 million and John wants 30, it's still a lot of money. If the UFC is offering 10 and John wants 30, it's still a lot of money, but he's sticking to his guns. The Connor Chandler comparison too, like Chandler is chasing a money fight, like a gigantic fight that's gonna earn him a ton of money

and get him in front of a lot of eyes. Tom Aspinall is the interim champion just trying to fight for the undisputed belt. Who else do you want him to call out? Yeah. But beyond that, like this is, and I don't know why this continues to come up and nobody can address this, the elephant in the room. It is the UFC. The UFC is the obstacle. Tom can't go, hey, UFC, give me John Jones. UFC, give me John Jones. He doesn't want to appear as combative with the UFC, but they hold the keys to all this. It is not John Jones and it is not Tom Aspinall. And so John saying Tom's name or

Tom saying John's name is just a substitute for the fact that the UFC is not willing to make this fight yet. And we have to stop, like there is no Tom versus John thing. There is no Tom versus John thing. They are, they are much closer to collaborators than they are to enemies. Tom does not dislike John Jones. John thing. They are much closer to collaborators than they are to enemies. Tom does not dislike John Jones. Maybe John's probably been turned off by some of the things Tom said, but he probably doesn't dislike him either. John wants his money and Tom wants his fight, and the UFC is the one with the keys to all

this. There is no Tom vs. John. There has never been a Tom vs. John, just as there was no Francis vs. John. They'll take a picture next to each other, just fine, it's no problem. The UFC is the obstacle in all these scenarios. And so if Tom's gonna come out and be like, UFC, I really need this fight to be made in public, that's probably not the best look to ask from your employer,

even though he's quote unquote an independent contractor. There is, like, who cares? Who cares what Tom is saying? Who cares what John is saying? This does not move unless the UFC changes their tune. It's very true. And the other thing is like, what do you want? Like, the Tommy gonna sit there and be like,

shame on the UFC for not making this happen. He's not gonna say that. We have to know better. They hold all the power. Yes. If they cut the check and trust me, they can afford it. And trust me, John is worth it.

And trust me, they won't be in the red if they pay him 30 million. We need to be able to be smart enough to decipher who's holding up the fight. I think it's Tom's been very clear on the record on what he feels about John Jones. Like he is the goat of the sport. I want to fight him because I think I can beat him. Like there isn't like Tom does not disrespect John nor care about anything other than fighting John Jones and this idea that he's like Chasing him like the way Michael Chandler was chasing Conor McGregor. It's just not true Yeah, he just wants to fight

He just wants to fight and he wants to fight for the undisputed title He has also said if it ain't John holding the belt that's cool with me to just make it for undisputed So he's not saying I'm not fighting unless it's John Jones He just wants to be the champ because he deserves to be the champ because he's good enough and he's done enough to be the champ. And for the record, nor do I think John Jones should lower himself to taking a price tag that he doesn't believe is the right price tag. He should get every single dollar that he believes is worth. John ain't the bad guy here in my opinion. Neither side is doing anything wrong.

But to this man's point, Kid's Corner, John is acting like a boss. Fair play to him. He is not engaging, he is not responding, and he's just showing up, you know, he's now an investor in this dirty boxing. Like, it's all good. I think they're both handling it in their own way, and now we see if the UFC comes to the table and comes correct. Sucker Free. I feel the MMA community is really lucky Kane didn't actually hurt an innocent life outside of the situation the headlines would have harped on the fact that he's an MMA athlete blamed his violent tendency on the sport he acknowledges that as well but guess what you get lucky you get lucky and he did get lucky and and you can't do the what

if game now I understand you're trying to tell people hey you can't take the law into your own hands you can't go around shooting people and and he's paying the price for that he is paying the price for that. He is paying the price for that. But he did get lucky and that's the point. He didn't kill anyone. Any kind of violence or abuse is immediately blamed on CT and emotional control issues. Could you imagine if an athlete or promoter publicly hurt someone during a holiday or something? Guaranteed long jail sentence plus terrible publicity I imagine. Thanks for letting me sit at the cool kids table, by the way, if there was a

different judge up there, I could see a different judge saying you're a fighter, you're dangerous. You had a gun, you did X, Y, and Z see you in 30 years. He did get lucky. He really did get lucky. If it was a judge that hated MMA or hated what he represented or whatever, he would not be getting

out in whatever it is, a year, a year and a half. So yeah, he did get lucky and we sympathize with him because he probably lost his mind in that moment, as we all probably would and it's scary to think what any of us would do in that moment. And I think that's why parents in particular sympathize with him.

NJ Pack, Ryder, are we doing NJPAC before 316? I don't know man. Here's the thing, June 7th the UFC is expected to go back to Newark. I gotta be honest with you guys, June 7th the the UFC is expected to go back to Newark. Last year around that time was a week before we did the NJPAC show. We did the NJPAC show in three weeks, we put that together and we sold over 400 tickets. It was pretty much a sell-up by the time it actually happened. I was super, super proud of it.

And we did it very tight crews, myself, Rick, GC, Frank, P.T. came in and no one- I didn't do anything though, to be fair. I know you were there for moral support, but like the way we pulled that together and obviously we had, um, Brian Vestano, who was helping us and, uh, Jerry, my agent was helping us as well. And that was pretty much it.

Am I forgetting anyone? Choke was there. That was it. Yeah. And, and, and it was very, it was very fun. It was also very stressful. Now here's the problem. I would like to do another one of those very soon.

And I'm kind of bummed we haven't done another one since. Thought about doing it in Montreal, thought about Newark. The God's honest truth is, my son's bar mitzvah is a week later, and it is a beast, and it's a lot of planning, and I don't know if I can handle doing that a week before the bar mitzvah weekend on the 14th of June. So hopefully down the line we could do it very soon, but it just doesn't seem like the timing is great for this. It's a very exciting, fun, joyous time, but man, I can't wait for it.

I'm also going to be very happy that Monday after because it's just a lot. It's just a lot. And, and. Sounds like a lot. Like you've struggled to get the invitations out. Right? Well, the other thing is there's a ton of people

coming from, from out of town, cause you know, we're, we're both from, my wife and I are both from Montreal. And so it feels, if, if this is me kind of breaking the fourth wall, like it feels, this is the first time, no, being honest, this is the first time, like a lot of our friends are, are, you know, we, we grew up with the same kids and

we all have the same type of friends. And like, this is the first time a lot of them are coming to visit us. This is the first kids and we all have the same type of friends. And like, this is the first time a lot of them are coming to visit us. This is the first time and maybe the only time that they'll ever see where we move to. Like this place, what you live, like you don't live in the country anymore. Like, what's this community? Where did you decide to raise your kids? And there's a certain type of pressure involved in that to make it good,

to make it memorable and all this stuff so yeah I know I went a little deep there for a one but hey well Frank will be there supporting you yeah yeah always improve your I hope all you guys will focus on proving oh for sure no doubt no doubt what why do you why do you say like that oh for sure what what I don't understand pts coming to keggan. Yeah. Yeah The invitations coming it's booked and everything it's a text invitation. It's not a physical address You do it. I know you're doing right now. You're doing by the way there no physical invitations. Wow, it's very it's very 2010 yeah, it seems very paperless post. Are you familiar? Have you stuck out yours? No, it's mine Well for you, we had to do a physical one because you're over- Thank you.

Oh sorry boys. What's the date again? What's it? Yeah, yeah. Die. Baked beans, hi Ariel and crew. Some over-unders. Francis and Ghani to fight again in the UFC

versus Tom or John funded by Turkey. Over-under 50 million. What? I don't understand. I'm just saying not happening. What'm just saying. I don't understand. Not happening. What does that mean? I don't know. It's not happening. It's just not happening.

Conor McGregor fights in the UFC before he retires over under two fights. Under. Under. Under. Logan Paul to fight in the UFC as he mentioned in the podcast with Tom, he said that he texted Dana about 300, he got ghosted and that CM Punk

ruined it for all of them. I'll say Yeah, is that even an over on there? I mean it's either a yes or no then Yeah, let's just do some yes or nos. Okay. What do you think? Does Logan Paul ever fight in the U.S.C? Logan Paul 0.5 fights in the UFC. Yeah Yeah, it's got to be a point the age Dana White leaves the UFC How old is he right now? I think he's in his early 50s. I didn't know Joe Rogan was 57. Yeah.

Found that out this morning. It's all the elk meat. 69, so he was born in 69, so he'll turn 56 this year. Number 69. July 28th, you know, another July birthday. We need to bring him down. Yeah, literally he's from the south. Me, you, Jordan, Pete.

But by the way, by the way. Legends. Do you think Dana White, like I think there's a very good chance Dana White ends up being like Bob Ar Me, you, Jordan, Pete. But by the way, by the way. Legends. Do you think Dana White, like I think there's a very good chance Dana White ends up being like Bob Arum, you know, like till his nineties doing his thing. I hope that that is not the case, but I agree that that could be the case.

I just wonder if- Wait, why do you hope it's not the case? Are you biased against Dana White? Wow. Are you anti-Dana? I would prefer that he doesn't stay promoter into his nineties. For what reason?

We're all so biased, man. I don't know, man. I just like, I feel like the promotion is losing its quality across the board and. Okay, okay. Yeah. I just feel like it's good for his health. I mean, I saw a tweet that it was like

the 10 fight nights before the Endeavor era started. Oh, I saw that too from our boy. It's like, here's the first 10 of 2025. And the biggest thing that I noticed, I was like, man, five of these are not like the other five. Yeah. You do the math, it's the first 10 of 2025. And the biggest thing that I noticed, I was like, man, five of these are not like the other five. You do the math, it's the five Apex cards that you're like, oh, those are all shit. Yeah, oh my God, I saw those fights.

Quality fight nights, they're quality fight nights. This weekend, last weekend, it's just like, man, when they don't take place in the Apex, they're just freaking out. No, no, they can't do it, they can't do it. Okay, but to be fair, it's not a- Hey, I can't wait for 106 barber Blanchfield this is not Dana white

Big old circle on the calendar May 31st can't wait Man, I think I'd stick up for Dana wife. Yeah Um, I think we're closer to it than further from it. I think we're closer to him being out than to Bob Arum. Just the body language, every time there's a new opportunity, he's way more passionate about it, right? Him doing interviews about the boxing, he doesn't do interviews for anything anymore except for political stuff and boxing and power slap. He doesn't do any interviews about UFC at this point.

I think the passion will wane and maybe he'll go into something else. There's a lot of questions. These are interesting questions. This is from your mom goes to college. How do you find managing the team, Ariel? Do you feel there's any area you can improve on? And lastly, do you find it hard managing someone like Rick, who has shown you a lot of loyalty, but you are still his boss?

Any awkward PTO requests rejected? And then subsequent question, baked beans. Hi, Ariel and crew. Are we approaching, or as we approach summer, have you and the crew got any vacations planned? Jordan's been busy. That's all I'm saying. Jordan's already been awake. What I understand is we do work in the summer

because I planned a lot of vacations in the summer. Jordan keeps asking about summer Fridays. Right around your birthday, around my birthday, around Connor's birthday, Pizzi's birthday for sure is we're all going to double. Absolutely. Yeah, just don't tell GC, oh, you shouldn't have said it. Oh, yes.

I'm telling you August, who's August Susan to be honest about the vacation I I do have a serious thought about vacation in our past employment somewhere that all Most of us have worked. Yeah. Yeah Frowned upon, you know, you'd be like I gotta take this day off the like The super bowls that week and you can't work that week and I'm like, I've never worked on NFL in my life Though, well, you can't take it off anyway. Kind of got in the mindset of like, you know, got to plan around the work calendar

as opposed to your own calendar. And it took a long time to kind of get out of that mental habit of the work-life balance. So, you know, as much grief as you guys gives me. And I know you guys, just cause you guys want me around. It's all from a good place. ESPN radicalized them, so now he takes it. So now I prioritize me. I'm sorry, where you're going because you guys want me. BSK radicalized them, so now he takes it. So now I prioritize me.

I prioritize me, and then you guys want me. No offense to you guys, but I think everyone should try and do that in their own work. Me and Jordan are planning a, we're planning a NASCAR vacation. We're gonna go to a NASCAR race. Wow. Oh my God. Is this one already booked too?

Not yet, we were gonna send out the invites. Oh, okay. Text invites though. Ariel, do you wanna come? Sorry, did you wanna come to Dover, Delaware? Is that where it is? Yeah. Why there?

It's closest one. And you guys should go to F1. Oh, you don't like F1, right? No, no, no, I like F1. F1 in Montreal is the best. Montreal, Miami. It's not though. Temp trip. Wait, wait, what do you mean? What do you mean? It's not Montreal is not the best track What's all the tracks the vibe the vibe in the city school?

I mean Monica Monica Monica Miami sick talking about the vibes, bro. I'm talking about the city shutting down I'm not talking about the track listen Don't go there. You're not getting me over there You know the name of the track do even know the name of the track. Do you know the name of the track in my head? Villeneuve, probably named after Villeneuve, is it? Oh, by the way, it's not bad. Gilles Villeneuve.

Wow, that is actually... Okay, you got it. Hey, Pizzi knows racing. Gilles Villeneuve, the father of? Jacques Villeneuve. Wow, Pizzi. Wow, you really thought you had him. I thought I had him.

I thought I had him. All right, Pizzi, what F1 race are we going to man? Yeah, whoo. I think we should go a bit to Monaco I don't understand how oh, that'd be great. Whoo in the fall. I got a good one John, I sir by John the I sir by John GP followed by I sir by John fight night doesn't matter how far away they are We'll just stay in Azerbaijan the entire time between. It'll be fantastic. Eight months in Azerbaijan. Air BnB for three months.

Skinny, Unc Ariel, with his recent appearance, how would you feel about a potential Tate versus Jake fight work your magic age? Does he mean, Andrew Tate? I think they were going back and forth at one point. I don't know. I think anybody who cares. I would assume. Yeah, that's who he is.

If he says Tate, he's probably referring to Andrew Tate. Patrick McCrate favorite segment of the week, Ariel, will we ever get Elna Rees back on the Patrick McAfee show? Oh, we had a good run. We had a solid run. Do you guys remember when, when, when there was that whole thing

with Aaron Rodgers and this was like his first time addressing the vaccine stuff and I think there was like 127,000 people watching, no joke, and then the next guest was me wearing the El Narese mask. And I was wondering at the time, like, how did I end up here? Like, why are they following this up with me? And I said something about his comment

that he asked Joe Rogan about the vaccine. I was like, hey, maybe if you're consulting with Dr. Rogan, not the best move. Anyway, that wasn't my last appearance, but I don't know, I don't know. I've seen Pat a couple of times. I have the utmost love and respect for Pat. What he has done is inspiring and credible.

There is no animosity. Why he has not asked me on, I have no idea, but guess what, a lot of people don't ask me back on. I've gone on a bunch of different shows. Those ones were regular at one point, and they're not regular anymore. Would I love to go on? Of course, am I begging to go on?

No, I'm not gonna beg anyone to go on. That's kind of a weird thing to do. But I enjoyed those appearances, and I do wanna give Pat a lot of credit, and I've told him this. I think he helped get me out of my weird thing to do. But I enjoyed those appearances. And I do want to give Pat a lot of credit. And I've told him this. I think he helped get me out of my shell a little bit. Being a guest on his show allowed me to have fun

and joke around and be a lot more comfortable as I was transitioning over from ESPN where I was feeling soulless and then going into the independent Hialwani era. So I actually give him a ton of credit and I'm very, very appreciative for those appearances and love what he's doing. I mean, how could you not be blown away

and impressed by what he's built? Not just, you know, the deals that he has struck and not just the relationships, but I love the team that he's built. I love the camaraderie. I love what they do. It seems like they all have a blast doing it. It's very, very impressive.

It's extremely impressive Ryan Holland Ola Ariel oh wait is there do we have to go there I guess I don't know I didn't see I've been seen here okay I'm late sorry Australia am I right you're right now the question what's the go with Shane Burgos is his PFL deal done? Seems to be a lot of talk about him signing with the UFC. PSGC is a legend, love Ryan. Yeah, I saw that he did an interview with someone, I apologize, I don't remember who it was with,

and he talked about wanting to go back to the UFC, and I'm not sure. I thought he would have been a great choice for Paul Hughes in Belfast if he hadn't been available. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that'd be great. I thought he would have been a great choice for Paul Hughes and Belfast if he had have been available. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that'd be great. It seems like, uh, I don't know.

It seems like he's had enough. Maybe with the tournament structure changing with the prize at the end being different, who knows? Um, Bebin, hello Ariel. Sorry, but this question is exclusively for the crew. We know that you train boxing and as confirmed by Dennis, who never lies, how many boxing has some serious hands. However, the question is for the rest of the crew, do they currently train or have they trained, uh,

any martial arts and to what extent, if not, why not by the way, GC baked beans are the best. Well, I know, I know pizza. Did, uh, jujitsu for many years, right? That's right. Um, first, first Marcelo Garcia, I know, I know Pizzi did a jujitsu for many years, right? That's right. Um, first, first Marcelo Garcia colored belt in Europe. I was back in the day.

Holy shit. And then, then, uh, yeah, just fizzled out for old Pity. Yeah. The lads, I started with our fucking class now though, which I can't take any consolation from whatsoever. But, uh, yeah, I was trying for about eight years in different gyms and things like that. Like the gym we started is still open here. They're quite good. And so yeah, I just, my back is fucked basically. I've been trying to lift weights now to correct the damage done to my back all, all through myself because I was a guard player and I relied completely on flexibility. I was

wildly flexible and I think I damaged myself quite significantly with my training over the years. Are you still flexible? No, no. I used to be able to like be sitting down and I could put my fucking legs behind me. That is insane. That's insane. I do want to clarify. pictures. I just wanna clarify, I also do love baked beans. I just don't love them at 9 a.m. with breakfast. And on toast, right? Yeah, I don't love them on the toast. I love it, man.

You can understand, it'll be a strange thing. Are you doing any boxing or anything? Me? No, GC. I've taken a couple classes. I wanna commit to it more. If I was gonna do anything, I'd probably do boxing for now. I don't wanna fuck my back like pizza.

Yeah. But that was my fault in fairness. My back's already on kind of dicey legs right now. Yeah, it really was. Yeah. Listen, whenever you guys are ready to, you know. I've been getting the box balling right. Been getting the hand-eye coordination.

You mean, how long you boxing? Oh yeah, yeah, I guess. I mean, we- He's an incredible ball boxer, GC. I've seen his work. World class. He's outstanding. World class. That mean, he's incredible ball boxer, JC. I've seen his work, he's outstanding. World class, that's another challenge that I would take anyone on.

In that, you think you can go toe to toe with me? Smoke you, I've seen your film. I've seen your film. He put it on one day and did like 50 out of nowhere. You keep yours at your chest, and you just do a little tap. It's quick. I keep mine at my waist, and I let it rip.

I mean, I did it on the watch party, got like 107 or something. I saw you getting like six or seven. That was early days. You know, that's for- Whenever you're ready! Also, there's footage from 2020. Okay, all right, you don't have to tell me

to prove anything. GC was on a call one day. Let's just go ahead and add. And he just put it on and he banged out 50. Do you remember that? That was wild. Easy work, easy work. Nah, it's easy.

Guys, we'll get to more questions. Also super chats in a moment. We do have Alex Pereira joining us in studio. Uh, he'll be joining us in studio later in the program. Also Norma Dumont is going to join us as well. And Charles Olivera. But I do believe we have our first guest of the day. Did I see that correctly?

Yep, yep, yep. All right. Uh, let us go to our first guest of the day. Very excited to talk to this man. He had a nice run in the NFL, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts. But of course, you know him from WWE. He was there for over 12 years, had an incredible run

from a king to a baron to a happy to a sad to a lone wolf and many, many other different personalities, personas, gimmicks in between. But he is now a free man! He is independent Tom! And he's been doing some big things. He was just in New York in January for GCW and he's got some big plans coming up. He's also a great Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and a former boxer as well. Let us talk now to Tom P-stock who is kind enough to join us about all the things going on

in his life. Hello, Tom, how are you? I'm good, man. How about yourself? I'm doing well. It's great to talk to you. Uh, I hate your hat. I hate the Chiefs.

I hate that you're wearing a Chiefs. Who hates the Chiefs? Oh, well we're Bill's fans here and we're very salty. We're very, very, so I know you're a big, you're a big Chiefs guy. You hang out with Travis and Taylor and company and you, you know, kind of. Jumped on the bandwagon and all this stuff. Oh, okay.

I did see it. I did see an interview where you were like, we're about with, with Chris van Bleed and you're like, we're going to win three in a row. We're going to go three Pete commiserations. That didn't really work out for you guys. I thought we had it, but listen, as far as the bills go, I think Josh Allen, unbelievable quarterback. I wish he was in a different era because obviously he can't

get past my homes and I genuinely feel bad for him because he's such an incredible player. That's nice. I'm glad he got paid. He's super humble. I think appreciates it all, and he does great things. So, I mean, I hope you guys have success when we're done winning Super Bowls.

Okay, well, I appreciate that. That is very kind of you. I see the shiner on the right eye there. Is that from Jiu Jitsu? It is, it is. Marcio Cruz is my head professor, and I trained at his gym, and his son, Hanan, decided to elbow me in the eye.

I think out of anger because I hit the nastiest double leg on him that I've hit in a while and he's a guy who I mean obviously it's in his blood to be an elite level Jiu-Jitsu guy and his guard is impossible to pass. But I didn't think I'd be able to take him down and I smacked him in the forehead and hit a really good blast double and in the scramble to get up, I caught an elbow in the eye. And it's funny cause I was like, man, did you just goose me? And he's like, what? Like looking at me, like I'm crazy. I was like, did you just goose me? He's like, I don't know what that means. You know, and I go, is my eye swollen? And it was like, did you just goose me? He's like, I don't know what that means. And I go, is my eye swollen?

And it was like hanging down swollen. It was pretty nasty. You just competed, right? It was a good one. Yeah, look at this. I did. Look at you. I just one double folded the pants.

Wow. How long have you been training for? So it's funny, man, when I was playing football, I started training out in Philly in like 2009 and then got my blue belt in Arizona training at Alliance Den, one of the o'linemen for the Cardinals on the Alliance Den out there. Got my blue there and then when I stopped playing football, moved to WWE, I stopped doing jiu-jitsu just because I was trying to make a new career, starting from the

bottom, you know, trying to do something special with WWE. And I got back into the gym a little over two years ago, I think. And got my purple and just been moving up doing competitions through IBJJF and some Jiu Jitsu World League. And it's been a lot of fun. I got masters at the end of the year becauseANs put me pretty high up in the rankings for my class. And so I want to be a world champ. And if you want that title, you got to do it at Masters.

When you're in WWE, are you allowed to compete in those tournaments or do they not allow that? You know, I did two of them when I was still with WWE and because I won gold both times, I don't think anything was ever said to me about it, but had I gone and gotten beat up or, you know, wasn't looking good, I'm taking, you know, eighth place out of eight, they're going to be like, Hey, we probably shouldn't do this. Um, but I think when I was with WWE and doing it and winning the gold, it adds legitimacy to what we do.

It's like when Lesnar fought in the UFC, you know, it adds legitimacy to our athletes and our superstars and all of that. The same with Ronda and, you know, Bobby Lashley, like all our elite level fighters and, you know, people who watch wrestling want to say things are, you know, scripted or whatever it is, but we have a lot of really tough dudes that can do some damage. In addition to that, way back in the day, two-time Golden Glove champion? Yeah. Wow. You still box. I do. I mean, I go and hit the bag and I do the gym. It's great for cardio. When you're on television every week, it's not ideal to have bruises or little burns from the gloves on your face or a busted nose.

So I stopped competing in boxing when I got with WWE and NFL wasn't real high on it either just because of the risk of getting hurt, your hands, your nose, your eyes, whatever. So I haven't fought in a long time, but no, I still train, still get in. I've been trying to do a little bit of Muay Thai lately too, just to work on the elbows and knees and flexibility with kicking and all of that. And I'm like, one of those weird dudes, I'm like, I want to go to Thailand for a week

and just train like in a real Thai gym where they just make you run two hours before your training, then run after training. And I think it'd be a cool experience. And so you signed with WWE in 2012, developmental deal, post NFL. Did you consider giving this background at any point going into MMA as opposed to pro wrestling?

I did. Originally that was like, when I was done with football, I think that was the thought process for me. It was like, do I want to go, I've always been a wrestling fan. Do I want to go to wrestle for WWE or do I want to try to fight in UFC? Because originally too, when I was boxing, John Brown was my trainer, trained Tommy Morrison, he owned ringside and he owned combat sports.

And I got to go a lot of UFC fights coming out of high school or college and while I was in the NFL because combat sports sponsored like the first Ultimate Fighter and the second season of Ultimate Fighter. So I would go to a lot of UFC events with my trainer and I was like, maybe I can just try to do the Ultimate Fighter show when they did the heavy weights when it was like Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin and all those guys. And I was like, I could do that. And then when the opportunity came for WWE, they're like, hey, man,

it's a longer career, uh, at the time. And you're looking at 2012, uh, better money for, for WWE. And it was just kind of the safer route for future for me, I guess. Um, but I've always been a massive like fight guy. I like, I like fighting. I like fighting people. I like watching it. And for me, WWE kind of was best of both worlds

in that sense of I can bring my physical ability. I can dominate other people and be a little more vicious than most. And then I have a legitimacy to back it up. So like I said, after a run with the Cardinals and Colts in the NFL, then you go to WWE, you get the developmental deal in 2012. You have an amazing run over there.

Some of the notable items on your resume, 2016, Andre the Giant Battle Royal, winner, NXT Tag Champ with Braun Breaker, 2017, Money in the Bank, winner, 2019, King of the Ring winner, all those different, you know, personalities, gimmicks, personas, an amazing run. And then very beginning of this year, you part ways. What has life been like? It's only been three or so months. What has life been like? What has this reality been like for you post-WW?

You know, I mean, I think it's a little scary sometimes because you don't know. Now nothing is, I mean, in WWE world, nothing's ever set in stone anyway. I can say that for a fact, but that steady paycheck, the consistency of traveling and working and working out and having like a goal in front of you, I need to be in shape for this. I need to work hard so that I'm moving in the right direction to continue to put myself on top in WWE. So leaving that, you kind of lose a little bit of that and

the motivation can be a little bit harder some days. I'm like, I don't have anything for a month. Like do I want to coast and eat junk food for a few days? Do I want to go get my workout in? Do I want to get my steps or my training? So Jiu Jitsu has kind of filled that void of like giving me constant goals. Obviously, we have a really tough list of black belts at our gym. So when you go there, you go there, especially on like tournament nights or sparring nights,

or you're going in there and you better be in shape and ready to go. So that was hard. But then it's also, I guess, the uncertainty of what's next. You know, I have goals. I want to continue to wrestle. Obviously I love wrestling. I want to go to Japan and wrestle. I'm excited for other shows that I'm doing with new talent that I've never been around.

You know, MLW is going to be amazing. What they're doing is amazing and I get to be a part of that. And I'm going to do several shows with them. It's not a one-stop shop. Like I'm going there to really, you know, see what I can do in this scene. So that's crazy. And then like, you know, other goals I have. I want to get in a movie or get on a tv show. All of that now is kind of an option. And it's just a matter of making it happen.

kind of an option and it's just a matter of making it happen. And I want to get to your immediate next steps in a moment, but just kind of building up to it here, I believe your first show post WWE was GCW here in New York, Hammerstein, Josh Barnett, Bloodsport that first night when you're in there and that, you know, you're going from massive arenas now, Hammerstein is a legendary venue, ECW, all that, but it's not, you know, a 60,000 seat stadium. It's not WrestleMania. I wonder if there's any sort of like, I don't know, humble pie moment there where you're like, damn.

Oh, for sure. Cause you never had to work through the Indies, right? Like you went straight from the NFL to WWE. So how did you deal with that? How was the ego? I mean, I don't have an ego at this point. You know, I've been doing all of these things a long time. You know, I lost three national titles in college, for football, and I got cut from the NFL after three years.

Like, I've eaten plenty of humble pie. I've been in the ring with, you know, better fighters than me and have taken a loss. Like, I'm, my ego died a long time ago I have pride have pride in what I do and what I present and what I bring to the table and and a value To my worth but like it doesn't offend me to go. Oh, yeah, like I've wrestled in front of 101 000 people and now we're doing 2 000 people like it it's still

The the art that I love and so that doesn't bother me. And you talk about that, like that Hammerstein ballroom on the corner, I went to get a bottle of water and those are little things you're like, oh man, I'm doing an independent show. I forgot to bring water. Whereas WWE of catering, you have first class travel, you have all of these things

that are just kind of taken care of for you. You pull up to the the building there's security and you drive in through there and you park your car and it's usually valet like Now i'm like, ah, I don't even know what door to go in like to this arena Um, but I was getting a bottle of water and i'm just staring at MSG going I main evented MSG right there across the street and now i'm in this MSG right there across the street. And now I'm in this back road here at Hammerstein. But again, Hammerstein is an iconic arena. The Rockman's have played through there. And the GCW crowds are amazing.

I think for me, I was more nervous, like how's this crowd gonna react to me? Because they have hated me for a very long time when I was with WWE. I was a career bad guy. How are they gonna react? And they were super stoked that I was there. And I think it earned a lot of their respects that like,

oh yo, he's not just a WWE guy. He can come here, he can perform, he can hang. And then, you know, facing Josh Barnett and his blood sport, which is his thing was super awesome. I mean, he's a legend in his own way with the UFC and winning. Uh, I think he won master's no gi without even training jujitsu. Like he's an incredible talent. And he showed me some cool stuff that I use in like a tournament that I won.

I think in January, February, I won Jiu-Jitsu Worlds. And I used one of the things he showed me when we were training and working on the match. So it was awesome. But yeah, it doesn't hurt my ego to do that. Now there's some things that I'm like, when someone reached out, hey, we're going to do a show. It's on a baseball field outside of a high school.

I'm like, well, I apologize, but that one's not for me. You know, it's, I think now I get to be more selective too. I've set myself up with the ability to be selective. Whereas if I was a guy trying to break into WWE, you kind of want to take every show you can get for opportunities to grow and grow your name and grow your fan base to get in the door. But I was in the door for 12, 13 years, now I can go,

I want to do this because I want to work with these people. Or like, you know, I don't want to do it. It's a good place to be, but it still can be nerve wracking, not knowing, you know, what's next completely all the time. We had Daria Baranato in studio a few weeks ago, formerly known as Sonia Deville, and she told us that she was somewhat blindsided by, I don't want to use the word release

because when the contract is up, they're not releasing you, it's just you're going separate ways, a new deal is not offered, you're not re-signed. And she figured that it was done deal, feta complete, that something would happen, and then all of a sudden she got the phone call telling her the opposite.

What was the experience like for you? Did you think that it was a formality? Was, was your mind only thinking, you know, re-signing and you'll, you'll be there for another few more years. You know, it's funny because like, I don't know, I kind of had like that gut feeling that the way they were not using me at the moment, that that's how it was going to go because I'm, you know, again, I've been there 13 years. I'm not the cheapest guy on the roster.

So like, do they have another guy that, for a third of the cost, they can have to fill that void for me? But maybe that's it, or, you know, I just, I don't know. I was a little blindsided, but I also kind of expected it. Like, it was just, I was in a weird place. And I think that it was hard. And it was hard on a lot of people.

Like, I mean, the list of guys that called me, you know, Randy Orton was dead set that I would be a lifer in WWE. And, you know, when that happened, he was like completely shocked because, you know, I've been a guy that never made waves. I always, it was asked of me. I made everything that was given to me really, really good. I never complained about having to give someone else their flowers or put someone

else over. I enjoyed the job of being a bad guy, which is rare. Most people want to be loved and liked or not hear from social media that they're the worst person ever. Never minded that. I was a very like model citizen employee, you know, social media. You can send me anywhere. Like I was excited too with the TKO partnership to maybe do some UFC stuff. You know, I did a Arizona Cardinals football game with Sugar Sean and it was like this is cool and like the social media rep from UFC is like, oh, we got to do some stuff.

We're in Tampa soon. I was excited for that, the partnership, the Netflix. So I think that maybe I just got lost in the mix there with Hunter dealing with Netflix deal and being a part of that. And I didn't expect it to end like that or right now. But again, it was like there's that weird thing in the back of your mind going, hey man, just prepare yourself.

This could be it because we hadn't really had any conversations about my contract. It was up January 1st. And so it's a new regime and I think, the door's never closed, I'm sure, but we'll just see where life takes me now. And I think it's exciting to have the ability to do anything now and not have that thing

where you have to ask permission for anything and everything for interviews, whatnot. And then I get to be home for a little bit from with my kids and my wife. I got two daughters, they're absolute animals. And I want to get them doing some jujitsu now that I'm home. I can do that a little bit and You know, we'll see where where all of it leads I've heard you say that you believe there's there's one person behind this decision

And you spoke about it with Randy Orton and and he seemed to agree with you I've not heard you say who that person is and so I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask who was that person. I mean I just like when I brought that up I just it's not something I want to put out there just the name but like I do and there's several other people that have kind of confirmed that that that person is part of the issue. They have a good amount of power and I just don't, for some reason, they're not a fan of me or what I do. And they were part of the thing that pushed me to go down to NXT and

do some matches, which I think was kind of like, I will put him down there for a little bit, he'll complain or he'll do something and it won't work. And then that gives us a reason. And then when I went down there and just Killed it and caught on fire and became a baby face for the first time in my career and the audiences were behind me And they loved the wolf dog stuff. They couldn't like deny that it wasn't working so then you know when I got back up to the main roster that person had power again and it just I Think that you know I got shelved and then if you anybody doesn't matter who is, if you have one person that's kind of that guy

that's always like, ah, not for him. Let's not use him for that. He's not working. Then other people are like, oh well, I'm not gonna pitch ideas for that person because this guy's gonna shoot it down, stuff like that. So it's, like I said, I'm not throwing names out there. I'm just, it's, you know.

Fair enough. Did you ever try to clear the air with that person to try to get on good terms with them? Yeah, but I also don't know why or where it went south. I just don't, I never gave a reason for sure. I actually enjoyed this person and thought they were, a lot of people have ulterior motives in this world and they will be fake to your face,

and you have to be able to separate them. And sometimes I will give people the benefit of the doubt. I think I gave it to them a few too many times, and I should have watched myself maybe better around them or whatnot. But I think that the reason they had an issue with me was not me. It was another situation that I think may have caused that, but who knows.

Okay. By the way, when you mentioned Regime, I think of like the Endeavor era and then the Vince era. I don't know if you were referring to that necessarily because this is like a new era with Netflix, but were there palpable differences once Endeavor took over and Vince was out of the picture? Yeah, I mean I

Think everything that was changing was was pretty awesome because everything seemed like it was getting bigger and more global and yeah I love Triple H. I love what he does. I love his mind for The business and keeping guys tough and strong and wanting more badasses, if you will, in WWE and not so many comedic characters or things that were more down my alleyway. He's a rock and roll guy and he's a great family guy and we got along very well. And from day one, I've had success because of Triple H. When he opened NXT and helped me create my persona in NXT and

playing a part of it and I think when he took over, it gave WWE a facelift that I think it needed. It needed to feel fresh for a while, it had become a bit repetitive in certain things and I think they opened the doors for guys like punk to come back, who may never have came back prior to that. Um, you know, he brought, uh, Nia Jax back, which has been a great addition for the women's division. So I think having him come in and endeavor, um, with a new way of filming

things and, um, they're making it more global with sponsorships. Now you're seeing sponsors in the ring like Vince would have never put, you know, a sponsorship on the canvas in the ring. And you know, it's difference of opinions. You love it, you hate it, whatever it is, but they're opening the doors for WWE superstars to find success, not just in the ring, but through sponsorships, commercials, TV, whatever it is. They're creating more opportunities for superstars. So I think it's a great thing that they came in and opened us up to new markets and the

cross promotion between the UFC and WWE is amazing. And I think that guys from the UFC, maybe when their fight time is done, they're going to have an opportunity in WWE. And then you're given guys who are, like I said, I wish I was able to go to like some UFC stuff as a WWE like representative, cause you know, I could get on the mat and roll around with some of these guys have done it before back in like 2009, 10,

somewhere in there, rolling around with Randy and Vitor Belfort before one of their fights. So like, I think it would have been a cool crossover. So they brought in some new great things and not everything's perfect. They're going to adjust to some things. And I think some good talent has been let go because TKO and Endeavor are more of a business mode versus like Vince had relationships with all of his talent.

And, um, that was a little different because now you're dealing with people in an office that don't necessarily have a relationship with, with talent. Um, and maybe guys will get lost in the shuffle because of that, but who knows? Uh, I saw earlier this month, uh, you appeared on Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, which, uh, I'm, I'm a fan of as a Canadian. I think Scott DeMore is tremendous as well. Here you are showing up as a Bishop Dyer.

You're, you're now Bishop Dyer. You're, you're, you're the, uh, you're the Nomad, right? And so there's, there's, there's, um, there's a connection to Baron Corbin and the lone wolf and all that, but you're just leveling up. Uh, what, what's the experience like with Maple Leaf? They're, they're relatively new.

I think this was just their second weekend of shows, but it seems like they've got something great going on and love also that they have Mauro Ronaldo on the call and absolute legend. So what was the experience like? He's the best. Yeah. He is the, I was so, I love hearing his voice for, you know, major fights. And then I got to hear him call in my match again, which he did in WWE before

he left. I had him as an announcer and he was a guy who understood my background and could put that background over when I was competing in the ring. But that, Maybelline Pro was awesome. Like the way they were treating talent and they've got their own like streaming service for the shows and the quality of talent in that building. That's one thing I think I really look at when I'm coming to do some of these shows. I have to protect myself.

Some of these guys are just learning or they haven't been around very long or they want to do crazy stuff. I mean, that's not my game. I got to go home to a family so I can't have someone dumping me on the back of my neck or I've got to know who I'm working with. And his roster of talent are all high quality competitors that I would feel safe in the ring with. And it was just a lot of fun to get back out there. And the crowd enjoyed it.

They were an old school crowd, which you get in Canada a lot. They love the history of wrestling from all different entities. And they're just, they're really fun. They're a part of the show. And I had a great time getting in the ring and competing there. And so coming up next, I understand you did just reference, uh, major league wrestling MLW. Uh, I understand you, you've got some information to share.

Yeah. Oh, I do. I'm so excited to, to be a part of MLW. Um, they are doing some amazing things and you know, they, they just. Want to grow and be a massive entity in this world. And that's the most exciting thing about wrestling right now. It's so hot all over in all levels. And so when you're getting MLW, you know, bring in the talent, they, you know,

they've got major stars with riddles and they know, bring in the talent, they, you know, they've got major stars with Riddle being their champion right now. And I'm going out there and, um, they are going to do some amazing things. And they, like our venue that we're supposed to do next, next month, uh, they already had to upgrade the venue because it sold out. So they're moving to a bigger venue. Um, and so that speaks volumes on what they're doing in terms of putting on a show and bringing stars in. And they got Paul Hauser,

he's a major actor, won Golden Globes, all that stuff. And they're bringing him on to help write the shows and produce. And he's also on the shows as a superstar, which is amazing that a guy shows and produce and he's also on the shows as a superstar, which is amazing that a guy with that ability to be a major success in Hollywood is now stepping in the ring and he loves wrestling and that makes for the best kind of guys to have influence and how the show goes. And you know, for me, I've already committed to a few shows with them, so it's not a one-stop shop.

We're going to do a few and hopefully continue on. I mean, I would love to hold the MLW Championship. I mean, and I want to work, like I said, I want to go to Japan. There's also, you know, you know, Minoru Suzuki. He's there right now. There's so many guys, Kojima, Tom Lawler, ex-UFC guy, you know, fighter, he's there right now. Minoru Suzuki again is somebody that I would love to just step in the ring with and compete with. And I think it would open a lot of eyes seeing me go with those kind of guys. Kenta's there, I worked in NXT with him to go to war with him again would be amazing. So the list of guys I wanna work with at MLW is just, it's absolutely amazing.

And so this is a Battle Riots 7 on Saturday, April 5th in Long Beach. And as you said, not a one-off, but battle riot is a 40 man battle royal match, one person per minute. So it's kind of like a rumble more rumble than battle. Oh, right. One person per minute. Golly. And then the winner typically gets a shot at the champ who currently is

Matt Riddle, who we know very well. Exactly. Yeah. It's going to be awesome. I mean, I did the greatest Royal Rumble in, in Saudi we know very well. Exactly, yeah, it's gonna be awesome. I mean, I did the greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi at one time and it was like, there was like 40, it's crazy. So this is like same level.

It's gonna be just absolute madness. And I mean, if you're gonna load that thing with 40 guys every minute, like that crowd is gonna be out of control in my mind with what kind kind of surprises they're going to bring to the table and superstars they're going to have out there By the way, how did you come up with Bishop? Like what is the process to come up and not just use like your your actual name Tom? Yeah, um, so it took a lot of process because I was like do I want to you know

WWE obviously owns Baron Corbin and they were gonna keep it I asked asked if I could use it and they're like, no, we're gonna keep it. So I then thought, okay, do I wanna run by my real name or do I wanna put something that's close to Baron Corbin and try to hang on to that? And I think it took a lot of reflection and I was like, no, I wanna get as far away from that in a sense that I can. I want people to still recognize me, but I don't want to be trying to do like barren something and like trying to keep it close because I want to separate myself.

I want to continue to grow as a wrestler and as a superstar. And I don't think I can do that if I'm just trying to rely on what I did for the past 12 years. So it was creating something new and evolving. And then I was like, all right, I'm evolving. A bishop, a barren, you know, a bishop is higher than a baron. So I was like, well, for evolving, let's go up the ladder. So that's where bishop came from. And then, you know, paying tribute to the lone wolf, changed the spelling a little bit, but like

dire wolves, like I loved the Game of Thrones, the dire wolves, the Arctic wolves, all those kind of like just badass animals. And I have like giant wolves tattooed on my back. So that's where Dire came from. And then, you know, there's some, there's some horror nods in there too for the Dire, but it was a process, because I'm like, man, when people see it on social, they're gonna be like,

I don't know who this is. Oh wait, it's, you know, Baron Corbin. I remember that guy. And so, and I just didn't feel like Tom Pestock was the greatest like fight name. It didn't have any like oomph to it like I wanted. So that's why we went with a new name and we're building that.

And then the Nomad, like, because now as we talked, I'm not under contract, I can kind of go wherever. Pick and choose where I want to go. And so as a Nomad would, I'm just kind of floating and figuring out, you know, going all over. And I would love to get like four different championships, you know, to travel the world with, you know, I'm doing it with the jujitsu and the gold medals,

but having that ability to just go where I please when I want is awesome. You know, a non-wrestling fan may not know this, but of course, wrestling fans know, and especially as of late, we have seen guys like Cody and Drew and Matt Cardona in the process of this. They leave, they become bigger stars, and then they come back. Obviously, there's an art to the negotiation here,

and I don't expect you to tell me, like, what your 10-year true plan is, if you want to come back if you're not but Is is are you inspired by that is is a part of the the thought process here? Like let me build myself up to become an even bigger star and then they'll want me back Yeah, and I mean it's not necessarily like It's kind of a weird thing whereas yeah I want to go continue to build myself and become a better, a bigger star, whether it's in a movie or a TV show or wrestling, like all of those things.

Like how do I make myself the biggest star in all aspects that I can and, you know, jujitsu in the mix. And like, you know, we say my real name, Tom Pestock, like I want Bishop to be an entity. Baron Corbin is an entity, you know, the jujitsu world, the movie world, whatever it is, those are all entities of me, which is the brand that I'm selling. And so I think creating the biggest brand for me and growing my name. But yeah, you look at Cody, look at what he did. He, you know, he went from a guy where they said, no one will ever pay to see you

to, you know, headlining WrestleMania. It's like that's crazy. And so guys leave and come back. And then also to like, you know, it's good to kind of just go away sometimes. that's crazy. And so guys leave and come back. And then also too, like, you know, it's good to kind of just go away sometimes. And whether it's for a year or two years, you leave, the crowd kind of forgets about you. It's a very quick-minded crowd. I mean, four months later, they forgot. And then when you come back, it's like, oh, yeah, this is the best thing ever. I haven't seen them in forever. So it's good to go away. And like, I also too, like,

it's funny because part of me is angry, I also too, like, it's funny because part of me is angry, you know, if we're being realistic, like part of me is angry that I got let go because again, I've always done everything that's expected to me and done it well. And I was getting great reactions on the shows. You know, when I was on the show,

the reactions were amazing. They were cheering my name. It was funny because like even tagging with Apollo Crews, at times he'd roll over and be like, dude, they just won't stop chanting your name and I'm getting beat up. So I think that's why I was most angry because I'm very self-aware and I was getting fantastic reactions and doing great matches and I reinvented myself and Hunter told me, you know, great job reinventing yourself, but you should really be proud. And I got let go. So I was like, man, like the first thought that comes to mind is like, all right, well,

I'm going to become bigger and better. And then when you call me to come back, I'm going to tell you to stick it. Like, that's kind of the motivation for me at the moment, like the ability to tell the, you know, that company, the world's largest company, like when they call, hey, man, we want you to come back. We're really proud of what you're doing. And I can go, ah, you know what? I'm good.

Like, in reality, saying that is crazy. But like, I think that's the motivation to like, all right, well, I'll show you guys what you missed out on. And you know, you'll be lucky to get me back if you get me back. And granted, six months from now, hopefully all that irritation and anger, you know, goes away. But like, hopefully all that irritation and anger goes away. But I think that's what set Cody off for success. Cody was like, all right, middle fingers, I'll show you what I can do.

And then he did it. His first match with AEW, he smashed his Hunter's chair and then Hunter's the guy that calls him and wants to bring him back. That's the cool thing about the wrestling world is sometimes it just takes time and all things are forgiven. And where I'm going, hey, that person we talked about, maybe they just takes time and all things are forgiven. And, you know, or I'm going, hey, that person we talked about, maybe they're gone. They're no longer there.

They're not a great human being. So maybe they're out. And then now it's like, oh man, we can get him back and let's get him running. You know, you never know. Or, like I said, I want to go to do some Japan stuff, the MLW stuff. Maybe I'm having so much fun with those companies,

Maple Leaf Pro, that I don't look back and I just continue to do those. I wanna go do two weeks in Japan and then come back, do two MLW shows and then a Maple Leaf show. Now we're cranking and I got no worries. I know you're also doing media now, Busted Open, Series XM, Fight Nation, well done.

And so put the media hat on for me if you can. You can get rid of the Chief's hat. Shoot straight, shoot straight with us. The Cena heel turn and the subsequent appearances. What are you grading them? You like it, don't like it? I love it. Love it.

I love it. I love it. And I think the main reason I love it is because, you know, the last time we saw Cena in the ring and going into WrestleMania, he was working with Austin Theory, who I think is tremendous. I think he has all the talent in the world and he's another guy who doesn't complain. I think he's actually a legit tough guy. There's not many legit tough guys on that roster that I would say like, oh yeah,

like I'd pick him to be in a fight. I'm having my back. There's not many of those. I think he's one of those. But you know, oh yeah, like I'd pick him to be in a fight, have him in my back. There's not many of those. I think he's one of those. But, you know, when Cena, you know, put him over at WrestleMania, it was like, cool. But it was like, Cena, he's kind of at the end of his run. Like, I think now having this heel turn, saying the things he's saying, blaming the audience,

telling him how spoiled and rotten they are, telling him he wants to ruin wrestling. I think it has piqued all of the interest for that match. Whereas if he was just the same John Cena, a babyface who people love, and he comes out and tells everybody how great they are, I think the match would be okay. They could still sell the match. People want to see John Cena still.

People love Cody Rhodes. But now with this, I think that it has hijacked everything and all the focuses on that. And it's because no one has ever seen this John Cena before. So I love it. And I love irritating people.

So I love that he's saying, I'm gonna win the title, the 17th title. I'm gonna break Ric Flair's record and I'm gonna take it home and you'll never see it again. Like, what? That's so good. Like, has this really been building up in John for 20 years and now he's finally getting to let it all out?

Like, I think there's some truth to everything we say in those rings and I think, you know, maybe some of this is some truth for John and I love that. Speaking of irritating people in and out of the ring, Logan Paul does that. Does he have the respect of the locker room? Do people accept him now back there? I mean,

sure. I don't know. Sure is not, what is sure? Sure is not a great answer. What is that? Terrible answer. Yes. That doesn't sound like he does, if I'm being honest.

Yeah, I mean, look, he works hard and he wants to go out and perform. I think some of the stuff he says probably has some truth and some is part of the show and some of it irritates me for the way he talks about the business and, you know, guys who, and I know sometimes they're just doing it on social media, but when they're telling me how good they are or whatever, but they're not in These tiny towns doing live events hitting the road like I just don't like those guys that get that super special treatment It's not like he earned it from working his way up through NXT and getting on TV He's he's gets that treatment because of his stardom through social media and through YouTube So I think he's handed a lot of things that I think there are more

deserving talent of it, but he's getting the fuse. And so it's a double edged sword. Like what do you do with a guy like that? And, um, again, you know, he works hard when he has big matches, they take guys out to Puerto Rico for him to train with and, and they, you know, he wants to learn, he wants to get better. Um, I can't stand people who run around with an entourage. He's always got an entourage.

They're nice people, but it just irritates me. So seeing that backstage. But I think people respect the work that he brings to the table and the work he's done to get his name where it is. I just think that I'm protective of this industry. And when outsiders come in like that with a gold spoon, I mean, or platinum spoon,

whatever spoon he's eating off of, I struggle to really buy into it. And so I think, but some guys have, and some guys don't care. Some guys, Seth Rollins is a guy who doesn't care because he's like, I'm at the top. I'm, you know, catch me if you can. But there's 85% of the roster that are fighting for spots. And you know, when they bring guys like that in,

it just takes those spots without any effort. And I think that can be frustrating. So it's probably when I say like, maybe, maybe not, it's probably a 50 50 split. Like I worked and did some segments with him and he was fun. He's a nice guy. You know, he's just celebrating his own way and own right. And, you know, if you asked me to go in the ring and have a match with him, I know we'd tear the house down and we don't have to like each other to do that. I appreciate his love for the fight game.

You know, if he ever wants to throw down, I'm happy to do that as well. We can do it in jujitsu, we can do it in boxing, we can do whatever. There's money to be made with people like him. And so I think that's what WWE sees is the money behind what he can bring to the table and the millions of views he brings. And I'm about tired of seeing him prime bottles, but it is what it is. So yeah, I mean, I don't have like a, yeah, he's everybody loves them. Everybody hates them. It's split. Like I get it. Roman Reigns has time to worry about what Jake Paul's doing. He doesn't, you know, he's on a whole different level in a different stratosphere. If they go, Hey,

Roman, you can make some money with this guy. He's going to go, okay, let's do it. But like I said, I'm a guy who's kind of grounded out his whole career to get what I've gotten. Never really like just handed anything. I had to go through like some rough spots with, you know, being the constable and Shad Corbin and stuff like that. So I like those guys in the middle of the card that are grinding it out to get better and I want them to get more opportunities and I want everybody to be successful and I want everybody to make money

and when you just bring someone in from a different world and put them in front of those guys, I think it's hard for me to give you all my respect. I'll appreciate what you do, but we're not gonna be buddies. I get it and I appreciate that answer very much. Um, I hope you're okay with me saying this. Sad Corbin was my favorite.

And, and I remember, I remember watching it and thinking like, this dude is a freaking incredible actor, like, man, you really, you lived it, letting your hair grow and just looking all disheveled. You were fantastic. And I know it wasn't maybe a bright spot in terms of like wins and losses, but, uh, the way you, you own that, that role and the way you have evolved over the years with so many different, like I said, iterations is really impressive. So I'm looking forward to seeing what you do next. I'm looking forward to you debuting with MLW. Love that you're with Maple Leaf as well.

GCW. Love Josh Barnett. Love Bloodsport. So you got a lot of good things going on and the Jiu-Jitsu stuff is phenomenal and very impressive as well, GCW, love Josh Barnett, love Bloodsport. So you got a lot of good things going on and the Jiu-Jitsu stuff is phenomenal and very impressive as well. So kudos to you, my man, and I'm wishing you the best and very, you know, very, very interested to see what this new chapter, this Bishop Dyer chapter looks like because it seems like you're all in and that's great to see.

100%. And I appreciate what you do. I was excited when I saw your name. Like he wants to talk. I was like, oh man, I've been trying to hang out with him for a few years. Oh yeah. The fight game appreciation and the, you know,

the knowledge of UFC and mixed martial arts and all of those things. It's fun to sit here and kind of chat with you. And I appreciate it, man. Good luck. Good luck. We'll be watching and looking forward to doing it again and good luck doing the radio stuff as well. That's awesome.

I appreciate it. Tell Alex to get his title back when you talk to him. Okay. Yep. He'll come, he'll come up in an hour. I was so angry. I know it was a close one. He'll be back.

He'll be back. Stuffed 11 takedowns. Oh, that's impressive. You know your stuff. Thank you, Tom. I love it. I appreciate it. All the best. There he is. Bishop Dyer, the Nomad, formerly known as Baron Corbin,

happy, sad, lone wolf. Great guy. Legit chops. Legit chops. Jiu-jitsu, just won, the boxing. I feel like he's not a big fan of Logan Paul. What do you guys think? legit chops, jujitsu, just one, the boxing. I feel like he's not a big fan of Logan Paul. What do you guys think? I mean, I think he made that pretty clear. I wonder how many people share that feeling.

I wonder how many people have that same vibe towards him. Wanna read this again. Battle Riot, seven. Saturday, April 5th, Long Beach, the LBC, California. Like you said, not a one-off appearance. It's a 40-man battle royal match, one person per minute. Typically the winner gets a shot at the MLW World Champion. But for the first time ever, the World Champion, Matt Riddle, we know him, we love him.

He will be defending his title during Battle Riot. It's also, by the way, MLW's first West Coast event. And as he said, it was previously planned for a smaller venue, but it got so big, they moved it to a bigger venue, Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach. By the way, Paul Walter Hauser is a very big deal in the world of Hollywood. Are you familiar with him, Mr. Frank?

I am not familiar with him. Oh, he's, as he said, multiple time award winner. He's now their executive producer. He's an Emmy winner, and they're looking for a new TV and streaming distribution deal. So perhaps they should talk to their old friends over at Uncrowned. He's great on social media as Tom he's a big he's a big chef he likes to cook I was gonna ask him about my my my personal favorite way to cook a steak but we ran out of time. What's your have to. What's your favorite way, microwave? Oh yeah, I mean look at this.

Look, he's got the gold, the double gold. What is that, ribs? What do we got there? Ribs. Some butter. Butter on the ribs. Hell yeah. What do we got here?

A little scotch or something. What do we got? I think that's wine. Do you think it's beef or do you think it's? Yeah, it's wine in the bottle, Frank. He was not drinking wine right there. Are those beef ribs or pork ribs? And what's that?

Is that steak? Yeah, it looks like some steak. How do you feel about steak on the cast iron? Hell yeah. There's a little wine for you, Frank. What's he got here? What's he got here? Ooh, look at that.

What is that? What would you say, medium? Yeah, that's it. That's medium. I'm down for that. Hello Charles, this is Eric. Oh. It's like we got old Charlie on the line, eh? Hello Charles, this is Eric. What are the chances Charles even understands what Eric is saying right now? Nah, he just shrugged his shoulders.

He's like, you're not Ariel. You got, you just got to see a behind the scenes look at how, uh, New York, Rick interacts. With the. Hello Charles. This is Eric. Hello Charles. This is Eric. We are very excited.

Stop chatting shit. We couldn't be more excited to have you on the program. Can you tell. Just making sure they can hear you. I feel bad for them. excited to have you on the program can you tell? Just making sure they can hear you. I feel bad for them. In a matter of moments we are going to be joined by

Charles du Bronx. You can't say it any other way. An absolute legend, one of the most popular fighters in the UFC, currently ranked number two, most finishes in UFC history 20, most submissions in UFC history 16, most fight night bonuses in UFC history 20 joint second most wins in UFC history 23 alongside Andre Arlovski and Donald Torni just four behind now the great Jim Miller 89% career finish ratio 10 career wins via knockout, 21 via sub for a via decision. 35 wins overall, 35 years young and of course we last saw him in action right here in New York against Michael Chandler. Remember that fight? Quite one-sided. Michael had a

moment in the fifth round there but it was all she wrote and now it appears as though he is in the mix. Is he next for Issamahachav? What's going on with Ilya Tupouria? Is he ready to go? Or not quite yet? Okay and so without further ado let us say a Boa Tarde to the great Charles Dubranque's Olivera. He's being joined by our interpreter Everton. We say hello to him right here and now. Ah, yes. Good afternoon, Charles. Thank you.

Ariel, how are you doing? How are you doing, Ariel? I'm doing great. I'm doing great, Charles. It's great to have you. And you know, I saw you recently, you were at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey doing some sort of seminar.

Did you see the mall? It's a gigantic mall, right? It's huge. And I saw you with Terrence Crawford. That's unreal. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there.

I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there.

I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be there. I mean, I've never seen a place that huge and it was great to be able to give a seminar there and to be able to win that. What is your environment like? You are now in a trophy room or something like that? Man, actually it actually my new house. And there are some of the trophies of my horses that are running inside the room, outside.

So it's a great place to play. from my horses, you know, just images of them. They're right outside, so I'm in love with this place. Did you win those trophies, or did the horses with someone else riding them win those trophies? You who won the trophies, or the horses with other people? It was them who won the trophies. Some with me, some with other jockeys, right? Both me and the other guys who win.

So, some of the trophies, yes, I won I won, others were other jockeys with my horses. Always with my horses. Either me running or a jockey running. Because when I'm in the time I'm fighting, training, I can't compete. So some with me, some of them are with other jockeys riding them. You know, if I have a fight coming up, I'm normally not riding it. So yeah, sometimes it's with other guys, but it's always my horses. But yeah, some of them with me, some with other guys. Okay. So let us talk about your fighting career, Charles. We last saw you in action in November at Madison Square Garden. You beat Michael Chandler, very convincing win.

And recently we've heard you speak about what you want next and it sounds like you want to fight Issam Mahatche for the lightweight title at International Fight Week. And so can you tell us where you are right now and why all of a sudden you have decided to become very vocal about what you want. So yeah, I mean, we're coming out of a great fight. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title.

We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the title. We're going to be fighting for the UFC, so it's a lot of history. So, if you missed a fight, when, where, that's it. What happened to your arm nothing okay i thought i thought he said that he had an issue with his knee in the last fight, but I'm training and how that went. But no, no, nothing since then. Were you told when you took the Michael Chandler fight that if you win this

fight, you'll be next for, for Islam, that you will be the the opportunity to fight for the belt? No, they didn't say that, but everyone knew that. Who wins that fight would go straight to the title. That's what I'm doing. I deserve this opportunity. The fight against Michael Chandler was a great fight. I won all the rounds. So I showed that even if I'm injured, the champion is called Charles Oliveira.

So there's no way to change it. I would have to say that even though he's injured, the champion is called Charles Oliveira,, it's gonna have to be me, it's Charles Oliveira. And I think everyone agreed with you right after the fight, but of course something new has happened since then and that is Ilya Toporya vacating his title and moving up. And since you made those remarks about wanting to be next, very convincingly, he responded via Twitter and he said this, Charles, it's better if you stay quiet.

You have 10 losses, five by knockout, four by submission and one by decision. You are the contender while I am the champion, the father of the entire division. I haven't come here to ask anything. Here I am the one in charge. What was your reaction when you heard this from Ilya? When you said after the fight that Porrer got promoted and there was all that thing he posted on Twitter saying you should stay quiet, that you've already lost a lot, that you're really the one say it again, I'll do 15 years of UFC, I respect everyone, I don't care about what they say, let them talk, about history, my history is written,

I'm a bonus record, a finalization record, he was champion of the category of the lower weight, of the penalties, so he's going up to the category, trying to bring this hype, wanting to do something giant. I know the power of fire that I have in my hands, I know how much of this I have ready, but I'm not focused on him, yes, on the belt. I'm in pursuit of a title, not a fight against Jeytupuria, and yes, not's not much I can say about that. It's been 15 years again, you know, at the UFC, respecting everybody, you know, I've have a, I've said it already. My story is written there. Everybody can see it. He's coming from a champion in the feather division and now just, you know, trying to

come up and show all this. But I have firepower on my wrists and I'm really focused on the belt itself. It's not about who's gonna be on my way, but getting the belt. And so after he said that, Charles, it didn't seem like you responded to him in any kind of way, but since then, Ilya has done more media and someone asked him if he wanted to go for

A walk with you. This is when he was at a ceremony to Unveil a new street in his honor in Spain and he said yes to give him a bit of culture and to teach him something I'm sure I would because it's obvious that kid hasn't even read a single page of a newspaper So another question, please because this isn't a good time to talk about someone like him You know that very strong statement there, insulting statement about you. Did you hear this comment from Ilian? What was your reaction to it? naming a street after him, and he said he wanted to be with you there to teach you some things about culture and such, that you never read any newspaper in your life and such, and so there were very strong statements, very incisive about you, what do you have to say about that? I think he's trying to dig a fight, anyway, talking a lot of bullshit. I'm not going to fall for his trap, what he thinks, stop thinking, it doesn't matter to me, you know?

As I said, I respect him for what he's been doing, for the fights, the way he's been fighting, but he's been very disrespectful lately with me, in what he's been saying, dig out a fight, you know, like he's saying a lot of crap and it's just, I really respect his fights, the way he's come up and everything, but he's being very disrespectful now. And he's saying a lot of things that he shouldn't. Would you be upset? Would you be disappointed Charles if he fights for the belt next, uh, he and his team have said we didn't drop the 45 belt to just fight a contender fight. We fought at, at, at 45 as champion, we're going to fight for the belt at 55 for the championship. Would you be disappointed if that's the way it ends up?

You, how would you feel if they gave him the fight, right, because he left as the champion at 45, now he wants to fight as the champion at 55. How would you feel if things were actually in that sense, that things were really going in that direction? Man, in reality I don't have anything to say, in reality the division champion is Markashev, I'm a Zufa employee, wherever they put me to fight I'll be fighting, so if he's the one who's close to fighting for the title I'll just keep working on the title, I don't have

anything to do, in reality people have to understand that we are all blue employees, so I'm only for the title. So if it's him next, to fight him, then so be it. I'm just an employee here, you know what? If he's given the chance and not me, I'm going to keep fighting, I'm going to keep preparing, and I'm going to keep waiting for my turn to come around. But it is what it is. I don't think much about it.

I'm just an employee here. I'll fight whoever comes to fight me, and that's about it. If it's not a title fight against Islam Next, who would make you happy? Which fight would be of greatest interest to you if it's not a championship fight? Prova say this moment no send us a little bit do do some So again, to me it all comes down to seeking the title. If it's not Islam, maybe BMF, you know, there's a lot of talk about poor year, fighting somebody else, Islam going up. I don't know, I can't concern myself with all these things. All I got to do is prepare myself and be ready when it comes to time.

One other name I wanted to ask you about, because it seemed like some people thought maybe it would be you and Armin, Armin Tsurukian in a rematch. You fought at UFC 300. Is that a fight that interests you? Would you like to get that one back? Uh, You fought in UFC 300, would you be interested in revisiting that fight? No, not at this moment. It was like I told you, I respect him a lot, he's a great fighter, but I'm

fighting for a title, so it's no use wanting to fight for a title. Right. Um, I understand that, but not at this time. Like I said, you know, I respect him. I respect his, his style, his fighting, but right now I'm, I'm seeking the title. That's, that's the fight that I want. I want I'm seeking the title. That's the fight that I want. I want to fight for the title. That's it. Were you surprised, Charles, that he didn't end up fighting Islam,

that he withdrew from the fight 24 hours before, back in January? Were you surprised when you heard this? with Islam 24 hours before in January? Man, we're talking about Mimian, it's all very unpredictable. I think he did everything he could to fight for the title. Unfortunately, because of the injury, he ended up leaving. So we're sad about that. I'm sure he did everything that he could to be there and fight for the title. But, you know, you get injured, you can't do it. That's all there is. In October of 2023, you were getting ready to fight for the belt and then you suffered that cut.

And then Volkanovsky stepped in and had to replace you and then he eventually lost. Were you always expecting, you know, because you were supposed to fight for the belt and it was so close to the fight that your next fight would be for the belt. We bring this up a lot now when talking about Armin, because it doesn't sound like he's going to get a title shot next and you didn't as well. At the time though, when you had to withdraw due to the cut, were you expecting that your next fight would be for the belt. When that happened, I really, you know, I'm going to. I think that the title will be in my hands once again. By the way, I had heard that in January of 2024, so just a few months later,

there was a plan for you to fight Islam in Toronto, so a little over a year ago, but then obviously that fight never happened and you ended up fighting at 300 and he fought Dustin Poirier. Was that ever close to being done? So you fighting in January after his win over Volkanovsky? I'm sorry. the question again. Okay, yeah. So in October, he suffered a cut and then the fight didn't happen and Islam fought Volkanovsky. I had heard that there was a plan for him to fight next against Islam a few months later in January of 2024, so a little over a year ago, but then the fight never materialized and he had to fight in April against

Armin and and Islam went to fight in June against Dustin and so I was wondering if that was in fact true and if so Why that fight didn't materialize back happening in January last year, everything happened that you ended up fighting with Armand and he with Poirier, but this fight that was supposed to happen in January 2024 ended up not happening, do you know why? I can't tell you why that happened. Again, we're just employees here, so whatever they put us to fight is where we fight and we can't really question much who's fighting who. But, uh, you know, the only time that I'm not ready is if I have some type of, uh, some type of injury. But other than that, you know, I'm always here. Understood.

Uh, can I ask you when, when we said that you were coming on the show, a lot of the fans were asking us about this photo of you at UFC 312 in Sydney, just a month and a half or so ago. You and Alex Falkanofsky and Uriah Faber, and there's Ilya right next to you. So it seemed like you guys have always had a pretty good relationship, right? Does that make the recent comments a bit surprising to you?

Does that make the recent comments different about the comments he's making? Man, actually the guy saw me there, treated me super well, as I always have treated him well. And now he's saying these things, I don't know why. From my part, it's the same thing, I'll continue treating him like any other guy. I'll never disrespect anyone, I'll never talk nonsense to try to end a fight. Everyone sells their fights in one way or another. fight I don't think that's the way to do it but everybody's got a different way of doing things so that's just not my way I'm here respectful of everyone really. In a couple of weeks your old foe Michael Chandler fights Patty Pimblitt I'm curious who do you think wins that fight how do you feel about that fight? In a few weeks Michael Chandler will fight Patty Pimblitt. Who do you think will be the best in this fight? I think Pebly has been doing very well, he's been coming up very well, but I think this

is going to be the really testifier here against Michael Chandler. He's a very aggressive, very fast guy. So I think it's going to be a great fight. Awesome. How many kids do you have now, Charles? Two. I repeat the names. Tyler and Dominique. Tyler and Dominique, Bowen and Girl.

And I saw recently, here you guys are at Disney, and I saw recently you were carrying, I think, your daughter in like a Bjorn, which I used to love as a father when my kids were, look at this, this is amazing. You like doing this? I used to love it. And maybe that's your your son Is that your son in in in the Bjorn? That's Dominic that's my son. Yes. Do you enjoy walking with him in that in that thing?

I used to love it when my children were younger. Yes, for sure. Because he can do things together, right? Walk together. He's always close, so that's important. Is he with you now, Dominic? No, he's in Rio Grande do Sul with his mom. He's arriving tomorrow. Okay. And do you want your kids to follow in your footsteps and do Jiu-Jitsu and maybe fight as well or would you prefer they don to do Jiu Jitsu, fight or do you have a different project for them? Man, actually, that would be magical, but I leave it to them. What they want to do, if the path is right, we will be trying to help. But it would be very bad, it would be very crazy. really magical if that happened, but honestly, I leave it up to them, whatever they want

to pursue, I'll be supporting them 100%. But if that was the way that it happened, it would be magical, really. Okay. Final thing. So you have said you want to fight International Fight Week. We don't know who is headlining International Fight Week. Since you have said this over the last few days, have you or your team heard from the UFC about their interest in you fighting on that card do you have any sort of idea We've been working on this for a long time. We're working on it. Who knows, maybe we'll fight in the fight week.

Do you have confidence that your next fight will be for the belt? For sure. For sure? Okay. Well, we look forward to that. Thank you, Charles. Obrigado. Appreciate it very much and we'll talk to you very soon.

Thank you so much for coming on. Obrigado, Charles. All the best and great job, Everton. All right. So Charles, not mincing words, not happy with Ilya Tupouria's words but not necessarily shooting back if you ask me, not trying to go lower saying actually that he was you know a fan, is a fan, enjoys his fighting style and as you can see in that photo that we showed they were quite chummy not that long ago. UFC 312 was what? February

like 11th or something? February 8th, 9th? Not that long ago, a month and a half or so ago. And so let's see what happens. But an absolute legend of the game. Everyone loves Charles and what a room that is. I mean you got the horses, you got the trophies, you got the medals, you got all kinds of things. In a matter of moments, we're going to be joined by one of Charles's relatively new teammates, Norma Dumont, making her show debut. And in about 30 minutes time, the great Alex Pereira, Poitada,

will join us in studio, his first interview since the fight against Magomed Ankhalyev about 18 or so days ago. Her last win was that win against Irina Aldana with the gnarly cut. Do you remember that cut? I mean, that was something. That was an incredible fight, an incredible win. That was at the Sphere in Las Vegas. And then, you know, the first round of the tournament, the first round of the tournament,

the first round of the tournament, the first round of the tournament, the first round of the tournament, the first round of the tournament, the first round of the tournament, the first round of the tournament, the first round of the tournament, the first round. That was at the Sphere in Las Vegas. And lately she seems to be getting a little itchy here.

She wants to get back in there. She wants some activity. She wants some big fights. She was in the women's featherweight division, and she actually holds the record for most wins in UFC women's featherweight history, five. So she's been doing work. She's a personal favorite of one Chuck Mendenhall as well. She recently left her old team CT

Rules in Belo Horizonte and is now training in Sao Paulo with Shooter Box. Led by the great Diego Lima. You saw Diego Lima on Charles's shirt, of course, Ian Gary and many others speaking very highly of that team and speaking very highly of Diego as well. And so it seems like she has the team around her. It seems like she's revved and ready to go. She has suggested an interim title fight against one Kayla Harrison although

I don't know if that's going to be necessary because you know by all accounts it seems like we are moving towards a Kayla Harrison versus Juliana Pena fight for the Bantamweight title sometime in the near future. Will it be in Newark on June 7th? They haven't officially announced that card just yet so you may be confused as to why I keep saying it, but it seems like we're moving towards that. It seems like we're moving in that direction. There's the rankings by the way. 135 pounds, Norma Dumont sitting at number four, Kaitlyn Vieira number three, Kayla Tu, Raquel one, Number three, Kayla two, Raquel one. Five, Macy Shayshaw, another former featherweight. Irene Aldana, who she just beat.

Six, Mayra Buenasilva, seven. Aileen Perez, eight. Carol Hosa, nine. Yana Santos, 10. Seems like she's got a chance. Maybe next? The winner of the Pena Harrison fight that is of course if Amanda Nunes doesn't come back That's the big the big question mark right now, but it seems like that's kind of quieted down

I would imagine that talk will will really heat up once again When that title fight happens because she has a built-in storyline a built-in relationship a history And she's a great player, and she's a great player, and she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player.

And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. And she's a great player, and she's a great player. I guess it has been two years, two years in June. That's crazy. Time is flying. Uh, the current winning streak for Norma Dumont

includes wins over Danielle Wolf at UFC 279, Carol Hossa, the aforementioned Chelsea Chandler. Didn't someone get a Chelsea Chandler, like super rare card? Someone tell us about that recently. Uh, Jermaine Durandamy, the, uh, the, uh, Chelsea Chandler. Didn't someone get a Chelsea Chandler like super rare card? Someone tell us about that recently? Jermaine Durandami. The Chelsea Chandler glitter green. Yes, that one. Shut up.

And Yirin Aldana, back in. Can we get, you know, I didn't ask for this, I just thought of it, but can we grab that photo of Aldana's cut, the before and after? Would love to get her reaction to that. Yeah, man, we're on it. Thank you, appreciate it. Efforting? Who the fuck is we?

I don't know, someone back there. It seems like everyone's pretty chill. Efforting. Some of us are on vacation. Oh wow, already? Yes, sir. Wow, who's that? I don't name any names, but-

Is that shots fired? No, not at all. Sorry, just one second. Jordan, we miss you. Jordan's gone? No, what are you doing here, just one second. Jordan, we miss you. Jordan's gone? Uh, no. What are you doing here? Chapstick time? Chapstick 30?

Uh, do you ever see the movie Billy Madison? Absolutely. Do you know the part where he's like... Slow down. The part where he's like, uh, hey, is, uh, is that Billy? Billy Madison? The Billy Madison who went to such-and-such school? Right, right.

Yeah, you know, I was a bit of a jerk to you back in the... No, no, no. Sorry, it's Billy calling you. Oh, the way you're putting your cups in. Yeah, yeah. No, I get what you're saying. But it's funny that you mentioned that because when Charles was talking so fast... Yeah, he was. I was thinking of the Billy Madison part where he was trying to learn Spanish.

Slow down. And then he just repeats it. He's like, okay, I got it Yeah, I actually don't think it was Spanish was French and the guys telling him in It's like a certain like it's not pretty sure with Spanish. I'm pretty sure was like Kale and he calls him a an NBC Lee calls him an idiot He's an NBC. Do you remember did it did it in da ba da ba da da da da da da da da He's like, huh?

Da da ba da da da da da da da da. That part? Are you talking about? Yeah, that part. Yeah, I remember. I was pretty sure it wasn't his bad. You know, I'll find out. I speak French myself, you know.

Oh, that's right. I forgot. I'm big in, in Haichi. I speak Creole. I speak Patois. I don't know if you know this about me. I did not. Yeah.

Anyway, I don't know how we go. Oh yes, my, what was the name of that actor? Oh, what's his name? Steve Buscemi. Steve Buscemi. Buscemi. Gosh, sometimes I think you're so knowledgeable when it comes to movies and then sometimes

you let me down. I have a speech impediment. Oh, Steve Buscemi, absolute legend of the game. Buscemi. And then he has the list of the people. Can I tell you, in the in the eighth grade, a classmate of mine told me that she had a list and that I was at the top of it. And I was actually quite nervous about this because I felt like she had it in her to kill me. Good God. Yeah. Did you reconnected with her and make sure you're all in the clear? No, but she actually lived pretty close to me too. and so I thought legit. She told me she had a list and I was in the top three and

Sure wasn't like a crush list It might have been her way of expressing it as we determined with with Dahlia way back in the day in the first grade I think there was a little bit That's definitely something there, but eighth grade. It's weird to say I want to kill you and in fact you like the person Well, I mean, that's that's eighth grade behavior. That's banter. I think so yeah There's a certain point where it's like it's gross to be friends with the oh yeah, and it's weird right? Yeah, I hate you, but in reality She probably you run the top of the crush list you think so absolutely

Maybe I should call her up and ask her sitting right now like Buscemi I should call her up and be like by the's listening right now. Like Buscemi. I should call her up and be like, by the way, when you had me in your top three. My favorite is he pretends like he's like, oh yeah, don't worry about it. Yeah. He's like been fixating on it. Maybe we could go for coffee sometime. Yeah, I'd like that. I'd like that.

And he crosses off the name with a lipstick thingy. I think he uses a marker for that and then he puts the lipstick on. Ah, you got it right. It's been a while actually since I watched Billy Madison. I was actually talking about this recently. When is it appropriate to show your kids Billy Madison? I mean, I was like 11 when I saw it.

I think I was in seventh grade and my oldest is in seventh grade. Now's the time. You think so? Look, they've probably seen- There's some questionable stuff in there. Questionable and then like, you know, you resolve it for him. No, I just mean there's some adult-like conversations.

It's pretty light. Yeah, I guess it is. Now, the Adam Sandler special. Oh yeah, that's right. I wanna show that to them. That's a good one. Are you excited about Happy Gilmore 2? I don't think we could talk about them until you've seen the special.

You're doing the guy dirty. I wanna see your new feature, but I'm not bothered with your special. Top five Billy Madison movies, and if you can't tell, we're just trying to kill time here as we connect with Norma. We're almost done. Top five Billy Madison movies.

Did I say that? Top five Adam Sandler movies. Starting at number one, Billy Madison. Yes, number two? Happy Gilmore. Yes. Three, actually is Wedding Singer for me. I don't know, I don't mind that at all.

Click in there for anyone? Is a... Wait, what was that, what was that? Click. I love Click. No Click. What happened, what happened back there? Rick just took a tumble.

Now something's caught. He's on vacation. Hello. Rick is really struggling. Norma, this is Eric. We're struggling back here. Hey Norma, this is Eric. We're having some difficulties. Wait, is Norma here?

Oh, there she is. Hola Norma, how are you? Hola, papai. Tudo bom. Bom dia, bom dia. Bom dia. Boa tarde. Boa tarde. I screwed that up, sorry. I screwed that up. Good morning. Good morning. Actually, good afternoon. I screwed that up. Sorry. I screwed that up.

It's nice to have you on the show for the first time. Thank you very much for the time. I'm getting the impression from talking to your team and from talking to your manager, Alex Davis, you are getting antsy. You would like to fight. You want to get back in there, is that accurate? I need to fight. I think the fighter has to fight. That's what I've been hitting on this keyboard with the organization for some time. I find myself in a complicated situation up there in the category,

because I come from five victories. I come in search of the belt, but I can't fight any of the five that are there with me in the top five in the gals category. So, yeah, I mean, a fighter needs to fight, right? So we've been talking about this point with the organization for a while now. I'm coming from a complicated situation with five victories, but it's tough to get a belt fight here. I mean, we're trying to get something, but it's just the way the whole thing is set up.

It's really tough to get a fight there. You're coming off a huge win over Iran Aldana at the Sphere in September. Like you said, you've won five in a row. Why do you think it has been so long between fights for you and still till this moment, you don't have a a row. Why do you think it has been so long between fights for you and still till this moment, you don't have a fight both. Why do you think that is? Why do you think it's taking so long to get into the next fight?

The truth is that I'm not the first option of any of them. I understand. I think that, among the options we have from the top 5, I would be the hardest athlete to face, because I have a foot game, a ground game, I'm a strong athlete, I have gas. So I believe that by the degree of difficulty they tend to deviate and try to get some fights a little more peaceful. And that's a very bad thing, because I understand them,

that I wouldn't like to face them either, but they have to do their job. Including many of them come from defeat, and still manage to deviate from a fight with me, which would actually be almost an obligation to fight now. That's the reality. So the truth is, I'm really not the top option for any of them, really. If you look at all top five, you know, there's nobody really that wants to fight me.

They know I have a good standing game. I have a good ground game. You know, but the degree of difficulty to fight against me, they just don't want to face it. They're looking for the easiest, the easier fights. And to a certain extent, I understand that, you know, they have to do their work. Some of them are coming out of defeats even, but I'm here for whenever they want. So to the best of your knowledge, have fighters said no to fighting you because of that? sports? I'm in the Before she was waiting for the vacancy for Taito Schottis and Casual Juliana and that it didn't happen.

I believe she was there in the bar waiting and then it didn't happen, so now it's me and her and now no. Now she's hurt. And I'm in this situation because I say, OK, but and when will it be then? When will the chance of me being in the title? I need to win one of the top three there. And when will it be? When will the chance of me fighting for the title be? I need to win one of the top three. And when will that happen?

They don't answer me. Kyla used to post on social media asking for opponents. And I used to say that I was fighting with her. She would visualize and not answer. Juliana doesn't even talk or touch my name. So it's a very complicated situation. I couldn't get into Bentham. Uh, then they said, you know, the ranking wasn't good enough. And now that I got all of that out of, you know, I got all that squared away and I'm on a top four now, everybody seems to be injured.

You know, Raquel was supposed to be the next one, but, uh, she's saying that she's injured and she's not going to fight until the end of the year. And, uh, before that, you know, she was, she was really waiting for a title shot, but now that that's not there. So she was just saying she's injured. As for me, you know, I'm saying, when is this going to happen then? You know, just give me a title fight already. I know Kyla you supposed a lot online, uh, you know, asking for, for fights.

And I used to answer reply to that, you know, no nobody will take it forward and You know not even you can't even mention Juliana anymore. I mean, so I'm just waiting So I I've seen you say that you'd like to fight Kayla for an interim title. Is that because you're hearing? Juliana isn't fighting anytime soon Is that because you're hearing Juliana isn't fighting anytime soon? is happening. The forecast was that they would face on June 7th. If it happens, great, at least the category is already a step forward. But if it doesn't happen, I'm asking to enter as a reserve of the fight, because I believe that something may happen there. I believe that Juliana can leave the fight, she

knows it's a bad fight against Kyla and I think she will try to hold on to the belt as much as possible so I believe this fight can fall and I present you to this fight reserve without any problem but if the fight actually happens, which is positive for the category I don't know if Mace and Ketlin have been confirmed a new marriage, because it's their third time fighting. If they haven't confirmed it yet, they could fight either of them,

since Raquel said they'll only be back at the end of the year. June 7th. And if that happens, I think that would be really great for the category for things to move along. And what I've done is for my part, I've actually asked to be a backup for that fight if any one of them drops out. I think the fight between Juliana and Kyla would be a hard fight. That's why maybe Julianna is pushing it, you know, just to keep holding on to the belt for a little bit longer. And I think there's Macy and Kathleen as well, that they're out there.

There's been talks of different fights and, but you know, if any of that drops out, I'm here. I'm willing to fight. When you volunteered to be the backup, did you get a response? Do you think you will be the backup for the title fight if between them in June? Have you had any answer? No, we haven't had an answer yet. We don't know what the fight's course is. There was a fight that had already been announced a few months ago, and then it was silent,

and everyone didn't know if the fight had been confirmed or not. It seems that the fight is confirmed, but we're not sure. I don't know if it's something, a verbal agreement, if the fight is already scheduled for June 7th. And nobody knows. Juliana was gone for a while, she didn't post anything about the fight,

she didn't touch the subject. I think she came back, it seems like she came back to train these days. So it was a bit vague. Nobody knows exactly what's going on. And I haven't had the answer yet confirmed just Verbally or if it was a you know a contract and everything else But the bottom line is Juliana was MIA for a while, but now I hear that she's just training again But up until now I haven't really heard or

Gotten a response to say that I would be confirmed as a backup for that Okay, by the way, are you are you feeling sick today? What happened to your voice? or gotten a response to say that I would be confirmed as a backup for that. Okay, by the way, are you feeling sick today? What happened to your voice? Are you feeling sick today? Your voice is a little hoarse. No, no, my voice is thicker. No, that's my voice, really.

Okay, well, this is our first time speaking to each other, so I just wanted to make sure all is okay. You recently joined Diego Lima's team, Shoe to Box. Why did you make? Sam Danza. And Tom, if Sam Danza, because me or Morave in Belorusson, which train have come, me was married.

He had to go to the Lutta Dairien, and I'll do it. I'm talking to me. I'm a straight. Semanas Prolutto Dairien, and I'll do it. I'm a big kid.

I'm trying. Yeah, I'll tell me you can't I mean, I'm a TV professional. I'm in a total no. They know how to say. I'm saying, if we the professional, I entered the octagon, I fought normally, what I needed to do, he was the corner too. But then I really prefer to close the professional part, because it would be a very good atmosphere, no? And then I ended up, and consequently, right after that I met Marco Turlio, who is the athlete of FC too, who is from Shootbox,

and then I came here to São Paulo and ended up entering Shootbox, already his indication there. I was working out of Belo Horizonte with my ex-husband then, but what happened is I actually found out just before, a little before the fight that he was cheating on me. So we went through the whole thing, got a divorce, uh, work through it because obviously he was still my corner at the last fight. Uh, but after that, I just decided that the professional aspect of it had to. Had to go away too. I mean, there's no's no climate for that anymore. And shortly after I met Mark Tulio from Shootbox

and he just brought me in. Wow. Well, I'm very sorry to hear that. And I hope that you are doing okay. That's not fun. That's very traumatic. Did you know about this before the fight against Aldana or you found out afterwards? and he was always my coach. So I was in a complicated situation there.

I had to keep him, I couldn't change the corner, because he trained me all my life, so I wouldn't have time to adapt to another corner. And we did the last fight there, and then he already finished the professional part, and then also... It's strange, I hadn't disclosed this to anyone at the time time because I didn't want my fight week to become this subject. So it wasn't told at the time because of that. 13 year marriage. He was always my coach the entire time. But what happened is, you know,

the fight was there and there was no time to change corners. There would be no time to really adapt to somebody new. And I know it's a strange thing, but we didn't want to speak about it really before the fight because we didn't want that fight to become the subject to overshadow really the fight. The fight was really what was important there. So we didn't even wanna mention it then. That makes the win and the performance that much more impressive.

So much respect to you. I can't imagine what you were going through. How difficult was it to go through that whole process? I can't imagine it was easy to compartmentalize all your feelings. I really, victory and the whole process are becoming even more impressive now, knowing that you were going through this.

Can you tell us a little bit about this process? How did you manage to put it in a single behavior and really not let it affect the rest? Man, it was very difficult, I'm not going to say it was easy, no. The first week I discovered there were three left for the fight, I was sleepless, I was a little in shock, because it was really a surprise for me. I didn't expect that. But then two weeks left to fight. I traveled to Las Vegas and I needed to put my head in place.

And I needed to fight because that's what I did my whole life. So I wouldn't let that blow me up in that final moment. Which was the most important fight of my career, it was what I needed. So I didn't tell many people, only my family and my team knew. And my team only knew the people who were with me in my corner.

So I closed it between us, I talked to my ex-husband, I said, look, let's do the professional part, okay? I don't take it very seriously, I think it was his choice, you know? And I just said, man, I just don't want to get in my way professionally, I'm going to do my last job and then we each follow our own path. And it was done that way. As incredible as it may seem, it was my best fight week.

My fight week. It was the lightest week I was in. And it was the fight where I entered more relaxed of everyone. Lighter, looser inside the octagon. So I think it was a positive push. Today I see it was a positive push because I feel much better today was easy to do this. You know, it was two weeks out, uh, three weeks out the first week. I really didn't even eat anything. Really.

I was completely in shock. And then, uh, the following week I had to travel to Las Vegas and I, I had to fight. I mean, this is, this is what my life is. This was, uh, up to this point, the most important fight of my life is. This was up to this point, the most important fight in my life. And so at that point, it was only my family and my team or people closest in my team who really knew about this whole thing. I had a conversation with my ex-husband and I said, let's do the professional thing here. Let's do the professional side of this. And, uh, you know, the bottom line is he, he made a choice. And I said, that's fine. You know, we make your choice.

We each follow our own paths. And, uh, honestly, you know, that fight week was the best fight week for me ever. I mean, I felt very light. I've ever felt very positive going in. I thought it was, I took it as a very positive push for me to go into that fight. And I feel better now. I'm not saying anything bad about the marriage. It was a good marriage while we lasted, but it got to the point where it was causing more damage,

so more harm. So you know what? It's time to go, it's time to go. And it wasn't easy, but we got through it. Wow. Much respect to you. And what a performance and what a cut you inflicted on Irene Aldana. When you see that cut, when you see this,

when you see the work that you did, does this make you proud? Are you proud of this? Are you happy with this? Once again, congratulations for everything and congratulations for your performance. And now, talking a little bit about this cut Are you happy with this? I wouldn't even say it's a pride, because we don't go in there, no matter how incredible it seems, we don't go in there to literally tear the face of the whole person, but we want to win, even in the knockout, it's weird to say that, but we don't want to injure anyone seriously. But it happens, so it's a consequence of the fight, right?

I really, when I. We... I really... When I saw it, I really thought the judge was going to stop. At some point I looked at him to see if he was going to stop or not. He kept going. And I said, man, the strategy of the fight, she's fine, she's active, she's coming up. I need to keep hitting in the same place. And that's where the cut was opening up more,

because I was really repeatedly hitting the same side. So it's not exactly pride, but it's a consequence of don't, you want to win when you go in, you don't want to necessarily cause any injuries. Uh, it does happen. It's a consequence of the, of the fight. I really thought at some point of the ref would stop the fight, but she was, she was good. She was active. She was responding. And, uh, then it became kind of like some, somewhat of a strategy for my fight to keep hitting the same place and kept opening and getting bigger.

But it became a strategy and that's what we use but you know can't say I'm I'm proud of that. Okay fair enough. Could I ask are you comfortable making 135 now you obviously had a great run at featherweight do you feel 100% comfortable cutting down to 35? Yeah, no, that was, that's good. I feel faster, lighter and stronger than in the 66. UFC, they gave me, you know, they were very patient and they gave me different fights in between to, you know, make sure that I was acclimating to the weight. But now I feel light, I feel agile, I feel great. And so if it is in fact Kayla Harrison versus Julian Opinion next, hopefully in June, call your shot right now. Who does Norma Dumont want to fight next?

Who's the next opponent? Who's going to be number six on the on the resume in the winning streak? this fight and how do you think you will face later? Who will be number 6 on this list? So, well, I believe there are two scenarios for this fight. I believe that Kyla, with her post-physical, vigor physical and the fall techniques, can knock Juliana down and put a lot of pressure on the first two rounds, maybe finish or even end in the Grand Empoude. But if the fight is extended, everyone knows that Kayla Hallyson doesn't have a very strong

lung. I don't think she's good at passing three rounds. And Juliana, despite having a lot of technical failure, Juliana's greatest quality is being an extremely resilient athlete. So if the fight is extended, third, fourth, fifth round, Juliana can bring some difficult questions to Kyla, because she is a very persistent athlete, very gas, and Kyla really gets to the middle of the second round,

she already falls a lot, in the third round, survival, I don't even know how she survive in the fourth and fifth rounds, we haven't seen her yet, and I don't know how she will get to the fourth and fifth rounds. If I think Kyla is a very strong opponent, I think she she's very well prepared. And with her technique and everything else, I could see her taking down Juliana in the first two rounds. And that would be a, that would be a good thing, but if it really goes to, you know, ground and pound and Kayla Harrison has to continue fighting for, you know, three, four, maybe five rounds.

I know that Kyla doesn't have the lungs for that. I know that Juliana is a very resilient fighter and if it goes long, she's going to make it a really hard fight for Kyla to remain there. I really don't see how Kyla could stay there and keep exchanging for that many rounds. So I'd be impressed if that happened. Norma, great to have you on the show. Good luck. Hopefully you get a fight very soon

and we get to see you back in there. Appreciate you very much. And hopefully the first of many appearances here on the program. Thank you so much. Obrigado and of many appearances here on the program. Thank you so much. Obrigado and parabéns on all your success. Thank you Norma, congratulations on all your success. I hope we see you again here on the show.

We are really excited about you and it's good to know a little bit about your story. All the best to you. Thank you, we are together. All good. Thank you, thank you, and thank you Everton. Great job. We appreciate you very much. All right. What a great interpreter. Move aside. Step aside Fabiano. There's a new king in town. That was great stuff. Great stuff with Charles. Great stuff with Norma as well. And yeah, I think we're all looking forward to the next one. It's a bit of a Brazilian theme on the show today. He's one of the most popular fighters in the sport. Many would say, still the face of the UFC. We just saw him in action 18 or so days ago in Las Vegas at UFC 313. And I do believe this is his first extended conversation since then.

And so without further ado, let us say hello to the man himself, former middleweight and light heavyweight champion of the UFC, the great Alex Poitain Pereira. There he is. Are we doing it with Plino Cruz? Alex, how are we doing? We still do it.

We still do it no matter what, right? No matter what, Alex. There it is. That's better. That's better, my friend. You're the man. You can see it coming. Come here, Plinyo. You're the guy. Oh, yes, my guy. Thank you so much, Plinyo, in there. Thank you. Thank you. I wanted to make sure you still had it in you, that it's still the same old Alex. I want to make sure it's still in you, that it's the same old Alex. Absolutely.

Yes. Thank you both for coming, we appreciate you. I want to, as they say, break the fourth wall for a second, Plinio. Usually, when I want Alex to come on the show, I text you. But on Sunday you texted me. And I was very surprised, I was very happy obviously, because I always love talking to you guys. Can I ask, why did you text me about coming on the show? He said, let's break this wall. Normally, I send a message to you, for you to come. But this Sunday, I sent a message to him,

telling him to come. Why? Because we know that there's a show that everyone is watching. There are a lot of interviews that people want to do, but it's a bit complicated too. So we go through the channels that are the biggest ones that people will know. because your show is a show that everybody likes to watch, it's a very famous show, you are our friend. You know what I mean? We gotta do an interview and there's many channels, many people that ask for interviews, but of course we're gonna give preference to you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. What has life been like since UFC 313? How would you describe the last almost three weeks? How has your life been after UFC 313? How do you describe the last three weeks? Well, for me, it's been great. A lot of opportunities, sponsorship, partnerships.

The same thing, without a belt. But nothing has changed. partnerships, even without the belt, so it didn't change too much. Is there any sort of aftermath, for lack of a better word, a depression, a down moment because he was the champion, he was the champ at 205 for a while now and now no longer. Emotionally, how is he dealing with it? After you've been champion, now you're not champion anymore, you're feeling down. How are you feel emotionally? In my head, it's very good. Everything I've been through in my life

is something I never imagined I'd achieve. Everything I've achieved. So I can say that I've achieved what I never imagined. So what comes next is profit, but even so, I'm very motivated to be looking for my belt again. And nothing has changed. From where I come to where I got here,

I was able to conquer things that I never imagined I could conquer. Right? Great things. I think right now, I achieved so much that I should just be happy and whatever comes after, you know what I mean, is extra, but I'm still very motivated to win the bell back. Okay. It has come out recently, actually, Joe Rogan said that you had a hand injury and you were dealing with the norovirus before the fight. Is any of this true? You were in a Jorogan fight, now that you're injured, and you're wearing that Noravirus,

it's like COVID, during this fight. Is that true? Yeah, as I always say, I don't like to apologize, I don't want to take advantage of my opponent, even if I don't agree with the decision, but I don't want to take advantage of him.

Everyone has their problems, I had my problems, maybe he also had problems. But what I can say is, my hand is fine, but it did happen a lot of things, but I don't wanna use that as an excuse. Okay, so can I ask about them, what he was dealing with, or would he prefer not to talk about it at all? He can ask what happened,

what happened, or you'd rather not talk about it? There are a lot of things, I don't wanna apologize. I've always said that, maybe if I had won, I would have said everything that happened, like I to use this as leverage for anything. My moment is going to come to win the belt and then I can disclose everything for you guys. Okay, could I just ask were any of the issues big enough to where he considered not fighting?

Some of the problems were big enough for you to consider not fighting. Oh, yes. Yes. Wow, how close? Close. Close? To have been knocked out of the fight.

Oh, man. This was one of the most complicated fights in everything that happened. One of the more complicated fights in everything that happened. Wow. Does he regret fighting? Do you regret fighting? No. Why not? Why not?

Because I won everything I won. I've been motivating a lot of people. I tried to do something that was difficult for me. I've done a lot of things similar to the difficulties, injuries, something like that. And it worked. There was a moment when it didn't work, but I still don't regret it. I've been motivating a lot of people. Many times I pushed through things I was able to overcome until I start. Some many times work this time was not my moment, but I do not regret.

I am obviously asking you questions. So I don't want anyone to think that you're offering any excuses or you told me to ask this. That's not the case. Before the fight, I remember seeing Daniel Cormier and Chelsun and say, you're traveling too much. Maybe you're not taking it serious enough. Was there anything to that?

In retrospect, do you think that you did not take the fight seriously enough? and you weren't that focused. Do you think that the trips have hurt you and you think you weren't that focused as you were before? No, I think that the trip... Of course, if I don't travel, maybe that will make some difference, but I don't think it's something exaggerated.

I've done this my whole life. People are seeing this now because I'm in evidence and people are following me. But I've done this my whole life. So, since the amateur until now, I've always done things like that that you can't really believe. It's hard for someone else to have done what I did, in the conditions I had, and do all these blame it on the trip. Okay, it's not good to be traveling that much But I did this all my entire career people being seen this now because I'm on the spotlight now But since the amateur days have been doing things that people will not believe they know

So I'm not gonna say that there was a breaking factor. Have you rewatched the fight? It has your loot. I'll assist you In the immediate aftermath, it seemed like you and your team thought that you had won three rounds to two. Do you still feel that way? Logically terminal para que vosse o time a show que se te pega a tres a dos você não sente isso And so you guys just for the record think you won one three and five Oces a gente acha que você ganhou um três cinco me too. Okay, you both agree when you watch the fight though And and anyone who even thinks that you won, obviously it was a, a different version of you. You didn't, you weren't as active. You didn't throw as many strikes, but we saw the takedown defense. Uh, he was 0 for 12, I believe. And so when you see yourself fighting against them in that fight, what do you see? Is it, are you, are you happy with the body of work? Are you frustrated by what you see? What is your assessment of your performance?

Everyone saw that the people think, for example, that I lost, but you seemed to be not being yourself on that day, right? But at the same time, you fought in a different way, but stopped 12 of 12 falls. When you see everything that happened there, what do you have to say about that night?

Well, I think I wasn't in my best performance compared to all the ones I had, at least in the UFC, but I think I did a good job with all the conditions I had. I didn't agree with some things, with the decision there, right? That fall that I gave, I think it was in the third round, if I'm not mistaken. I don't know if it counted, I don't know until now. I didn't go after it, I'm actually trying to rest a little bit and not think about it too much. But I don't know if it was counted. And maybe if I had hit a knockoutout, would they disqualify me? If they didn't count that drop?

Do you understand? If you had hit him, he would have fallen. feel like, right? But still, I think, like, comes and goes, like, I still evaluate the fight. Sometimes I watch because, at the same time, these few weeks, I try to stay out of it for a little bit so I can rest and absorb everything. But I saw things that I agreed, things that I don't disagree.

For example, the decision I don't disagree. I don't remember which round was the takedown, but I took him down and then people say they didn't count so instead of the foot sweep was a knock was a knockout they will have this qualify Alcs so things they're like agree and disagree but and in the aftermath of the fight I saw his coach accuse you of greasing this is his coach Sukhrab Magomedov. This is the quote. We have it there as well. When Magomed pushed him to the fence near our corner,

it seemed to me that Pereira was greased with something. Uncle I have said afterwards that he smelled like he had ointment and was sticky. The sweat didn't flow off his body. It gelled up. That's what it looks like on his body too. And then he also, the interviewer says that Glorot- Teixeira is really experienced in this kind of stuff Which is a crazy accusation in its own right and so have you seen this and if so What is your response to this accusation? because it seemed like he was in a bad mood, he was with oil. He said that Brazilians are very experienced in doing this,

in passing before and then leaving during the fight. And he said that Glover is very experienced in doing these things too. Did you see these accusations? What did you say about these accusations? I saw the comments, but what I can say is that I didn't pass anything on my body. I think that's a way of... His coach is making up excuses. Maybe he didn't do a good job, because he tried to make me defend 12 times. And even though people talk about my tight fight, that I would pull easily,

so I think that frustrated them and especially his coach. So this is an excuse to be trying to guarantee his work. Or, I don't know, when you do something wrong, you don't have a good result, you're like, I'm not making any profit for the company, let's just send him away. I think it's something like that. Because, honestly, I didn't do anything to my body.

Absolute didn't put nothing on my body. The way that his coach is putting all this sound through me, that he's trying to make an excuse, looking for an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed 12 of his takedown attempts. He's talking like you're in a company, you mess up, you didn't do what you're supposed to do,

and then you're trying to make excuses to justify that. Absolutely not put nothing in my body. Does that piss you off? Sorry. You also gotta ask his coach if we put oil, you put Vaseline on the mats too, because that's why Ankala had fell on his back. He got taken down like that. Does that piss you off, that accusation?

Does it bother him? I never had a fault. The referee wanted to give me a warning saying that I was grabbing, but I wasn't. In my whole life, a lot of amateur fights, a lot of professional fights, kickboxing, MMA. I've never been called attention, I've never had a fault. I never had one, you know? I don't like that I was not supposed to. Like, if you watch one time that I got a point token on me, I think it was my last fight because the referee wasn't on some points saying there was so much clinch, which was not. But I always do everything by the book,

and that's why everything works so good in my career. I know the fight didn't go your way, you didn't get the decision, but the fact that you stuffed all of his takedownss when everyone thought he'd be able to take you down so serious So easily was that a point of pride for you? Are you at least? You know happy is is a weird word But do you take pride in the fact that you did what everyone didn't think you could do? I'm sorry, but what you't want to say you're happy, but I'm proud and satisfied with the fact that you managed to do

what no one else did, which was to stop all of his falls, especially 12. I was happy because everyone knows about my story. A lot of people say, it's a rickie box, it's a very short time to get an experienced car. I showed my evolution, the amount I dedicated to I put into this fight. I was always satisfied to me, to show my evolution on the game. You don't often show emotion, even in your interviews and in your victories, but I remember seeing the face-offs,

like it looked like there was intensity there, and obviously there was a bit of a back and forth between you and Mago Med. Was it personal for you? Did you feel emotional going into that fight? You normally don't show emotions in anything, but it seems like there was a little more emotion in that fight with Kalaheve, in the faces, it seems like there was a little more emotion in that fight with Kalahev, in the faces,

it seems like there was a little more tension on both sides. Did you feel a little more emotion than normal? No, I felt normal. Oh, just normal. Just normal, okay. You didn't feel any differently about him? No. Okay, and so, in the fight itself, obviously the second round seemed significant,

it seemed like he may have rocked you. How much did that bother you? Because you think that you won the third round, so clearly not enough for it to affect you, The second round seemed significant. It seemed like he may have rocked you. How much did that bother you? Because you think that you won the third round, so clearly not enough for it to affect you, but in between rounds, did you feel like you needed a moment to gather yourself? Second round, we saw what happened.

It was in the round that his hand got in. How much did that bother you? Because I think you won the third round, so you recovered well, right? But how long did it take for you to recover from that second to third second to the third? From his punch? No, it was something that...

I felt his hands there, but I was very conscious. Nothing like... In my mind, it was like... Far from falling for his punches. It wasn't something that shook me there. It was... To get out of yourself. You take a strong punch, you kind of erase it there, and come back. That was far beyond to be knocked down. The hand got in, yes, but was not even close to be something that I needed time to recover,

extra round, anything like that. I was just fine. Okay. Was he tougher at all in any facet of the game? Was he more talented than you expected? No, I think he was what I expected. For someone watching, like I said, you weren't as active as far as your strikes are concerned. Why is that? I was being very careful, so this makes you be at a different distance.

So of course it's a problem, but I think it was still a good fight. It created awareness and you got to fight on a different distance to adapt. So, things that I had to adapt, there was not to one point, but I still think there was a good fight. Do you think in retrospect you were too concerned about the takedown and that's why you weren't as aggressive? Yeah, is that a regret for you? Like, the next time around, do you think that you will be more aggressive against him? Do you think it's a regret? Do you think next time you will be more aggressive with him?

No, I don't think it's a regret. I did what I could do at that moment. It's not a regret because I did what I could at that moment. Okay. In the immediate aftermath, in the cage, you said something to the effect of, you know, like, the judges are awarding him for stalling for pressing me up against the cage do you think this is a problem in judging that that they're they're kind of getting it wrong that they're not seeing or awarding the right tactics in a fight

long before the police was in a TV so far lonely key was a pop up will have a couple of months are shut you had a cool shit who's you is this incentive on the point to a car that that's all can I see what I'm not glad I was worried, but it's annoying how judges encourage a guy who just wants to hold the bar. Do you think that has to change? I think it should change. If a person puts the person on the stand, they have to be there hurting, showing, but he didn't do anything.

Sometimes the organization doesn't like this style of fight, they criticize. So I think we should change it for them to train to put it on the grid and at the same time to hurt. It has to be effective. you know what I mean, becomes boring. So I think it's something that should be evaluated and start doing, taking points on a way that when the guy puts somebody against the cage, he gotta make damage, otherwise it doesn't count. I saw a video of you in the hotel room with your family after and your perspective seemed very good.

You were very happy to be there with your boys, with your team, and your perspective now seems great as well. Do you think maybe the Alex Pereira of five, six years ago would have handled all of this differently, but now because you're older, because you've had success, the losses don't hit you the same way? We saw you later, the video of you with your kids,

with your team at the hotel, you were looking good, you were a good guy, right? The vibe wasn't so bad. Do you think that the day you're more mature today, with all your successes, you can see and accept defeat in a better way than five years ago? For sure. I think we've been learning.

I've been through this a few times. I think it was harder, in the condition I had, in the condition I have today. I think it was harder, in the condition I had, in the condition I have today. I think it was a financial issue, it changes a lot. Because when you're there, you're starting and you have some losses, and that worries you a lot, because it can stop you from getting somewhere. So even so, I didn't give up, I worked hard and I won my things.

I had this loss again, but as I said, today, thank God, I'm fine, but I haven't given up yet. I have more fights to do, I have more training to evolve, more time to motivate people, people know more about my story. It hasn't stopped there. My career there is better now, right? But still, the more fights to win, I got more training for me to evolve, and I got more people to motivate still. And so he has said that he has been offered the rematch against Alex in August.

Has Alex been offered that same fight, a rematch against Magomed in August? It was said today that he was offered to Pro Anka Laev a rematch in August. Was he really offered to you? No, I don't know anything yet. When did he say that? That was today, I think.

So, right, something like that. What's that? When was that? He said August. He said August. Was that today that he said? I think we have the tweet. We could show it here in a second. Yes, no, maybe. Anyway, he tweeted, I saw, there it is, I have a date. He said this seven days ago.

I have a date and I accept it already. I hope my opponent will accept too. This time will be no five rounds. I don't get paid by the hour. He didn't say Alex, but we assume that he was talking about Alex. Is he not talking about Alex? I have one day, I've accepted it. I hope my opponent accepts it too. This time it won't be five rounds, because I'm not paid per hour. It hasn't reached me yet,

but August is a very good date. It's just the contract to arrive that I'm signing. Nothing got to me yet, but August is a good date. Soon the contract gets in, I'll sign. Do you want your next fight to be against Ankaleyev? Yes. Do you expect that your next fight will be against Ankaleyev? 100%. Have they told you any other time frame?

Earlier, later, anything at all? Did they tell you any other date? Earlier,, later, anything at all? You're talking about another date? Earlier, later? No, we haven't talked yet. I said I wanted to rest. I know this is going to happen. It's not now, but I'll be ready. If it's August, it's a very good date for me too.

Well, I did not talk to them too much because I wanted to take a little break. A lot of fights in one year for this guy, right? Yes, yes, yes. So I'm just waiting. But if they come out with a date and be August, I'm going to be prepared and I'm going to be ready for it. If it was up to you, when would be the ideal month for the fight? If it was up to you, what would be the ideal month for the fight?

The ideal month? August. August. Okay, that is good. I saw the video blog right after the fight when you were on the plane, What would be the ideal month for this fight? The ideal month? August. August. Ok, that is good. I saw the video blog right after the fight when you were on the plane and you had said the day after that already talks had begun about the rematch. And so what were those talks and where do they currently stand? In the video of us returning from the plane, we saw all of us talking about a rematch. What was discussed and what do you have to say?

I said I want a rematch with him. I don't accept everything, another fight. I think I have this right for all the work I've done. So that's it. That's what we talked about. But we didn't talk about anything. Actually, with the organization. We were talking about it there, and with the morale that my businessmen have, with the organization of all the work they've been doing for a long time, we have a good relationship. so they guarantee that for me. Yeah, if he did I don't know but I believe that our managers have a very good relationship with the UFC They are always in good terms with each other. I know they can make it happen

I need a rematch can ask you Plinio as his coach When would you like to see him back considering all the fights over the past year August against the Calais you like that? How the person that's enough time I want them to fight tomorrow, but you want that you don't want him to have a break Oh, why not? Oh, I want him to have a break like he's having right now Yeah, right the guy for four times in one year, but I don't want to let it sit one year two years six months Alex lost in the eyes of the judges and he was on an off day, right? Somebody some people sometimes can go to work to build the best day Sometimes you're not but it's not that he got a revenge at the wheel Alex is ready

He was a champ and he's got to reinvent the wheel. Alex is ready, he was a champ, and he's ready to become the champion again tomorrow. When, when, yeah, go ahead. He asked me, I said, that for me, this fight could be tomorrow. Of course I want you to take a break, so you can rest and stuff, but I said, there's no need to reinvent the wheel.

You were the champion, and you're ready to be the champion again tomorrow. Because it's the judges' decision, and sometimes people go to work on a good day and on a bad day. It was off their work. The way I did it there, man, I don't have to change anything. The way that he was ready for the fight, there's nothing that really gotta change. Okay. Besides tactics, of course.

When you watch the fight, what do you think? Are you frustrated? I got me frustrated because honestly, when me and Glover got up on that fifth round, you got to understand one thing. When you watch a fight, cage side, and no commentators talking about the fight, because sometimes the comments can lead you to, you know what I mean?

Some guys go towards more the grappling, some guys go towards more the... So they can lead your opinion sometimes. For what I saw, five feet from my eyesight Alex won three rounds I I think there's the taste even for significant strikes with third round was Alex so if was a real takedowns on that round how come they can score to the guy but I don't want to go back and forth on this because we cannot cry over spilled milk right now is move on and just get this guy in front of Ivanka live again

and let him finish the job that he started. Okay, there were a lot of big plans being discussed leading up to the fight. Usyk was discussed, John Jones was discussed. Could you tell us, had you won that fight a couple of weeks ago, who do you think you would have fought next? There were a lot of plans if you had won that fight. Usyk in the boxing ring, John Jones, Peso Pesado. Who do you think you would have fought next? I think the decision wouldn't be in my category. It would be heavyweight or boxing.

Probably maybe defend the belts, but if I could go in after that choose, now my weight class would be either five for the heavyweight in the UFC or five UFC on the boxing. Were there any discussions about that? Did anyone say, you know, we won't talk about it now, but if this all goes well, we have this and this planned for you.

Something you mentioned, like, well, we're not going to talk about it now, you have this fight, but if it works out, it's going to be more or less this and this. No. Nothing. Usyk? No.

John Jones? Aspen Hall? No, no, I understood that. That's what I'm saying, right? In my category. The next step I would be sure of was in my category. But if I had the power to choose, I would do either of the two,

except for my category. Like you say, the reasonable following step would be his weight class to defend. But if he was on his choice, he would not have defended Bell after this fight. He would have went to the heavyweight, the UFC, or for the boxing. He wanted to move up. Heavyweight title or just any heavyweight fight?

But if I had won that fight, it would have been The UFC or for the boxing he wanted to move up heavyweight title or just any heavyweight fight nice okay, look not so I'll just get a lot of area Tito de peso pesado no no no no FC or cocker cocker pesados No, I see all the garage. You had to be a big fire like a super for like a belt sure sure And is that still a plan is that still a hope inside the plan? Yes, and boxing as well you box. Okay, so this is just a detour. Yes. Does this, in any way, shape or form, change how you feel about your longevity in the sport?

How many more years left in the sport? Because his age is argue a lot about the fact that you're 37. Did that make you see it differently or not? A little bit. I think we always have something to learn. My loss with this area of ​​desandia, it changed a few things, that I had to change in my personal life. Not too much in training, but the attitude I had to change

made me improve my whole life. And the same thing now, it was another loss, even after I had won a lot of things. I corrected some things and I'm going to be better. Anyway, see what you can get better from there. Not too much in training, but overall in life. Does he think he'll fight past 40? Does he think he'll fight after 40? I don't know. Don't know.

I'd like to, but I don't know. I would like to, but I don't know. Okay, speaking of Adesanya, how would you describe your relationship with him? Because I think a lot of us never thought we'd see the day where you guys were sitting together at a fight in Australia, him watching you, sad that you lost his reaction.

It's amazing to see your friendship forming. How would you describe about his reaction? Describe to us how you feel today. I think it's not friendship. I think it's more about respect. It's all we've built in this sport. I think one thing about the other. Of course we had some misunderstandings there. Promoting the fight. I think that's part of it. But today we have a good relationship

compared to what we had, as a rivalry. But we had even talked that day, maybe we could train together, do something together. So I think we're on a good path. I would not say a friendship yet, right? But definitely a super mutual respect. That day we spoke, like it's like, if we ever had some bad terms,

I think it was because we also promote the fights, right? We had our story together. But even on that day from the, we met this last time, we were even talking about training together and things like that. So let's see if that happens. Did you ever expect to have any kind of relationship

with him given your history? You never expected it, would you expect to have any kind of relationship with him in your history? No, I think I would. Yeah. Yeah, and we saw you guys sitting together, quietly, privately, have you had conversations

about training, about like, not the stuff at the arena, like do you now talk offline, if you will? I started following him and he followed me too. He sent me a message, I think it was just a phone call. I said, I respect you and everything. I said, something related to that. Then he answered, I don't remember what it was. Then we met, we talked about it, we talked about training and stuff. And also, not from there.

But Prínio sometimes talks to his brother. He talks about something about the YouTube channel. He does something together then stay like that Then I think he would say something else or back and forth and then we all met together on that day for the UFC We all talk we Clear everything right and then from there not much But like Alex I still keep contact with David his brother And then from there not much, but like Alex said, I still keep contact with David, his brother,

with Israel sometimes, like things that we're planning for the future, like do some content together. We all in good terms as a team, we have a lot of respect and I have respect them too. Sometimes, I don't know if you've heard people saying, well, Adesina is a bad guy, well, he's not humble and stuff. Maybe people talk about me,

but I've heard people talking about me. But I've never seen that. And today, closer to him, his brother, they're very respectful to us. I see that they are good people. At least I feel that his friends, like Adesanya and his brother, are very close. I saw a very good guy. Like he's a very cool guy. Him and his brother, gentlemen, like I can state that too, they're complete gentlemen with us. And Alex say that his friends are really lucky to have Israel as a friend because he's a very good hearted person. Nice. And I think that's it.

That's great. Speaking of a former opponent of yours, we found out yesterday that Artem Vakitov, who we thought was going to sign with the UFC after Contender Series, is going back to glory to fight Rico Verhoeven. Were you surprised when you heard this? Because you were there when he won Contender Series, we all thought he would go to the UFC. Were you surprised? Speaking of another opponent of yours, we found out yesterday that Vakitov was going

to fight Rico in the Glory 100. This surprised me a little because you were in in the container when he was supposed to be hired, and now he appears in Glory. What did you say about that? So I just saw that, I asked Plinio, I can't even answer because I don't know what happened. For me he was there waiting for a date to be fighting in the UFC, and I still don't understand. I don't know if Plinio already't understand. I don't know if he knows anything. I don't know anything. What was that?

I don't know. I asked you now. Because I actually just told him on the back. He didn't know. I told you back there. He doesn't watch the show. He came on the show yesterday to say it. Yeah, but he came yesterday. I didn't know too. Vakhtov was on the show yesterday to say it. Yeah, but he came yesterday? I didn't know too. Yeah, yeah. Vakhtov was on the show yesterday?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Vakhtov, you know, show aren't followed. I didn't know that. So I just told him on the back, he go, look, I don't know because everything that is going on, so like, I don't know what was the reason. You know what I mean? Say, please don't mind.

No, say, actually, no. We met Pierre Saturday in Monaco. We were in Monaco. Oh, wow. So the owner of Glory was there. And then when I asked, he just said that there were things that worked, because I say, bro, between midnight, who's gonna be Rico's opponent?

He goes, you'll see in the next few days. I asked Pierre, I said, you and me, who's Rico's opponent? He said, in a few days you'll know. So like, this is all new for us. Is he surprised though that he didn't go to the UFC? Are you surprised that he didn't go to the UFC? Yeah, I'm surprised. Surprised?

Yeah, because he looked for that, said my name, to try to... Because we already fought in the past, and then he did all of that and I didn't understand yet. I don't know why. He's surprised because, you know, he used Alex's leverage, mentioned his name, went to the Contenders Series, made that noise. We also, Alex spoke with the guys over there in the back, helped them out to get in. And now for him to see the poster from Glorifying, even Rico, for me it's awesome, but it's also surprising.

Didn't follow Purguero? He didn't say why? Yeah, he said that he didn't like what they offered him basically. That he want, that the way it is in the Contender Series, you win the fight, they offer you a contract, they assume that you're gonna take the contract. He didn't like the terms and Glory offered him a lot more. The Contender contract comes from the way they say it. It comes from a way that is expected to be taken.

He thought that in glory he would do much more. This is what I understand. And so when he found out it was much lower, he was not happy. What was that? What was that? He entered, but he entered in the contender. You entered in the noise, the knockout. He got into the contender series, bro.

Alex got in the match with Square Garden on a fly knee knockout. Yeah. I think what he was saying was he was three and one, Artem and Alex at the time was three and one. So he's like, same thing, glory champion, why don't I get the same deal? He said it was three and one, his record,

you were three and one, and both of you were the glory champions, why don't you have the same contract? Can I talk? No, call him. No. Yeah. Oh, no. Is one day would he like, what'd he say, what'd he say?

What'd he say, what'd he say? Maybe he should hire Alex Mane to do it. Yeah, that's true. Ed and George, right? Joinho. Yeah, Joinho and Ned Suarez. Yeah, the legends, I love those guys. One? Joinho. Yeah, Joinho and Ed Suarez. Yeah, the legends. I love those guys.

One day would he like that fight, a third fight, whether in MMA or kickboxing or? Oh, no. No, that doesn't interest. I was thinking about something bigger. Think about things bigger than that. Ok. Can I ask who does he think wins, Artem or Rico? Who do you think wins, Rico or McTuffin? Rico, his experience, he comes in and does a lot of damage, nobody's winning over him. It's hard to say he wins over Rico, but it's a fight.

You can't tell. You can't, but for me, Rico wins. Rico, all the experience that he has, is very hard to beat, right? But it's a fight. Not to say you can never really tell, but I think Rico wins. Yeah, and he's moving up to heavyweight, too.

Yeah, he's going to be very heavyweight. Yeah, but there's this structure. Rico, man. From the guy's point of view, he's like... But you see, it's a different structure. Me speaking, Rico is massive when it comes to him, bro. Yeah, yeah. It's a different bone and mass structure over there.

But you never know, a fight is a fight. Sure. When he talks about big fights, would Rico be of interest to him? When you think about big fights, would Rico be of interest to him? To be honest, at this break nobody knew about our last glory contract. It was on the contract that if Alex won, the next fight would be Rico Verhoeven, heavyweight super fight, but then he left to the UFC. Wow. Even won and everything.

Now it gets harder. Now we already talked later. We already exchanged some messages, me, Rico, and we talked about training together too. Well, who knows, I went up to the heavyweight, I'll definitely be wanting to train with him too. But then after that, we also spoke, we trade messages, almost like a friendship.

Mutual respect and then we actually spoke about even training with each other so if Alex move up to heavyweight, maybe they can even train together. You know, as a respect. Any truth to the rumor that if he was sick going into the fight that it's Dylan Dennis' fault that Dylan got him sick?

Any truth to the rumor that Dylan got him sick, that it's all his fault? He doesn't like Dylan Dennis. He said, you're crazy because Dylan Dennis made you sick. What does he think of Dylan Dennis training with him? If there's Dylan Dennis training with you at the gym? We don't have much contact there.

Sometimes we talk about something there, the coach does the translation, but we just train. The category is different, I won't change 100% there. We adapt with the training, we fight boxing, we change more boxing. Sometimes we do a ground training, to learn. But we always have light. He's a nice guy. He never did anything bad to me. I think he's a little bit messed up with the crowd. But I don't know why, but...

Igor treats me well. So why would I treat him badly? He's a real nice guy. You know what I mean? I don't know why people don't like him like that. Like people buy him, but he always treat me good. And I like him. I always gonna treat him good.

By the way, will you help him prepare for Tony Ferguson? Yes, I would. Are you going to or? We'll talk, let's see. He's supposed to come to the gym this week. I was talking for the cast, I didn't know the cast side pull out. Yeah, yeah. No, he's a good kid.

You know, he's, he live close to the gym. He's a brother, he helps, he comes in, we help him. The doors of my gym always gonna be open for Little Dennis. I know Little Dennis 15 years. We used to roll back on the Marcelo Garcia days when I was active. So he always gave me utmost respect.

He's always gonna get back utmost respect. I love it. By the way, I loved seeing you kind of spar with Action Bronson. What was that like? Does he have power? Big guy, right? Maybe he doesn't have the reach, but he has the power. He doesn't have the strength, but he has the power.

Yeah, he's strong. He's heavy. His arms are as heavy as his body. He's big. Big boy, no matter what, the punches go all the way from his body, gotta be careful. Do you think he could compete in one of these, like, grappling, influencer boxing? Would you like to see him do something like that? Do you think we could train him to play like grappling, influencer boxing, would you like to see him do something like that?

If you think we would train him, would he learn to play with these boxing influences? Yeah, he would. 100%. You would train him? Absolutely, we would talk about that. Yeah? Yeah, let's see.

Oh my gosh, that would be so, in boxing and striking or in grappling? Well, let's see, me and Bronson are talking, but like who knows in boxing, I think. Boxing is cool, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow. He already told me some names, but I'm not gonna say who, but I think he'll be knows in boxing, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow. He's already told me some names,

but I'm not gonna say who, but I think he'll be cool in boxing. Wow, wow, wow, okay, okay. Roncelino. I like Roncelino, the man. Going back to Magomed, when you see the footage of him going home with the belt, the belt that was yours and all the hoopla and stuff,

how does that make you feel? How did you feel seeing Ancalavid leaving with his belt and all that glamour around him? How does that make you feel? People had doubts. So if you had a draw, you would still be a champion. I'm not saying that you have to prove it, you have to beat the champion to win the belt. No, you have to beat him more. But I didn't see him beating him more. so fast, but later I saw everything and I reflected, because of fights that people say that he won,

people say that he lost, people say that I win, like very contested, right? But when a fight is contested, I'm not saying that he got to go over there and kill the champ, but was very close both ways. Why didn't I give it a draw and I left with the belt? A draw, interesting. So you are very motivated to get the belt back.

You're very motivated to get the belt back. Absolutely. I can't wait for this moment to happen again and it's going to be a very different fight. Wow. Can you tell us about that? How different? How different? How different. Like many people said, it's not the same Alex. If it comes the same, it's different from what I fought. But it can come much better. If people say that that day was not the same Alex Pereira, so if come the regular Alex Pereira, it's already more than that. But imagine now if he's different.

Do you need to knock him out? Do you need to make an exclamation point? It doesn't have to be a knockout, But I have a game, I feel, towards you for the most part, but he's been very active on Twitter. We're not sure if it's really him on Twitter or not, but what do you think of him calling Yuri a fraud? He has been respectful with respect to you, but he called Rascals a fraud.

He said that the Giro is a fraud. What do you have to say about him? We went on Twitter, we don't know if he's someone talking about him, but he was. But did he have a story? I don't know. Again, I don't know who it was, but on his account, calling Yuri a fraud, and then Yuri called him a fraud, and you know, Yuri's someone who's very respected, I think, by a lot of people,

so I was wondering what he thought of that. It was right after the solo, because I know that Pro-Naz is a very respectful guy with everyone, right, bro? And we don't know if it was Anka Live, or whoever's in the account, and then he started calling him a fraud, and then the other one started calling him...

Then Yuri called him a fraud, and then it got kind of disrespectful, what do you think about that? I can't understand, no. I see him looking like this, and then he wants to draw attention to the other side to try to deviate, to say, let's try not to fight Alex again, like that, in a row, try to promote some other fight because the jury is closer too.

It can only be that, because talking badly about the jury, I think he's a guy who doesn't speak badly of anyone. So I think they're trying to deviate again. The only thing I can say is they're deviating to not fight me again because honestly, Jey is a respectful guy that doesn't talk bad about nobody. So I don't know if they like because he's the closest one for the bell, he's already digging something to not fight me again. Do you think he is trying to not fight him again? Do you think he's trying to fight you again?

I think so. Well, now that you say this, maybe yes. Like that tweet where he doesn't mention Alex, he says, I've accepted a fight. Do you think he's not speaking about Alex? That tweet, that he talks about the August fight, do you think he's not talking about you? No, I think he's talking about me. Okay, okay.

I saw when he tweeted... No, he's not talking about me. No, this fight is mine. There's no way. Alex is fighting the next fight, bro. no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no. There's no way. Alex is fighting the next fight, bro. Okay, okay. I saw when, after that tweet, you were on the plane. I think you were going to Monaco and you were sitting there and you had the meal.

And I think in Portuguese you said, let's go Ali. What, what, what? Let's go over there. Let's go over there. Because Ali in Portuguese means over there. Ah. You know, I thought, I thought he was. He interpreted like, let's go Ali, his manager.

Because he's tweeting him. Yes. I thought because everyone thinks that it's Ali only way they have to be seen. Because everyone knows that no one likes to see a guy fight. I don't need to say anything because, as I said, I have a good relationship with the organization, with my businessmen. So we know what we can do, what will happen.

Why would I keep provoking a guy and giving him moral here? Honestly speaking, bro, I don't know. I don organization, with my businessmen. So we know what we can do, what's going to happen. Why would I provoke a guy and give him a moral? Honestly speaking, bro, nobody talks about these guys. I don't have to talk about these guys. I don't have to tease Ali for that. Everybody know nobody likes to see Ancalae fighting. I have a very good relationship with the organization

that I don't have to go through shots at people. Sure. And you would never let someone tweet for you, right? You tweet for yourself. You never let anyone tweet for you, your messages. You tweet for yourself. No, I tweet for myself. Yeah, I do a little shout to people. Sure. And you would never let someone tweet for you, right? You tweet for yourself. You never let anyone tweet for you, your messages, you do it yourself. No, I do it. Yeah, I do. Yeah. Did you see Carlos Alberg this past weekend?

And if so, what do you think of him? Did you see Carlos Alberg winning the Black Ovid at the end of the week? If you watched it, what did you think? I didn't watch it. We were in Monaco. In Monaco, it was different. We actually did not watch it because we were in Monaco doing a bunch of obligations. Okay. So we're in a different time zone. Did you like Monaco? I'm from Monaco. It's a different city. We actually did not watch because we're in Monaco, like, doing a bunch of obligations. So we're different time zones.

Did you like Monaco? I'm from Monaco. Very good. Did you go to the casino? We didn't go to the casino. We were going to the casino, but I didn't have my ID. We didn't want to go back. We had a lot of time, too.

We didn't want to go to the hotel to get the passport to go back. We actually did not go to the casino. We went for the burden from our good friend David over there. And we were going to the casino and then they just allowed with the passport. He did not brought the passport. Ah, you have to have the passport. Yeah. It's good that he saved some money.

Yes, that's true. Did you, I saw you got a new car. I bought a new car. Did you have it over there? Because you would fit in over there in Monaco. If you had this car in Monaco, it would be right. If you didn't have it there. No. Yeah would fit in over there in Monaco. If you had the car in Monaco, it would fit in. You wouldn't be there, right?

No. Wow. It was the same. Perfectly. In Monaco, there was a car. We even took a picture there. I don't think I own it. I don't know.

I said to myself, I took it out of the way. It's the same as mine. I had bought the car before I traveled. But then I hadn't seen the car. Because there was this trip, and I said, I'll see the car on the way back. Then when I got to Monaco, I said to the coach,

just like mine, this one is mine. Funny because, you know what I mean? He had bought this car before we went to Monaco, but he couldn't get it. We knew we were going to get it the day after, the day that we arrive. But we were at the casino, and right in front, the hottest car they had over there,

you know, in Monaco they have Rolls Royce, they have everything, they had the Ferrari, and they were like, I'd say, this is exactly like mine. Wow. So how many cars now? How many cars now? Only three.

Only three? The Corvette, I'm gonna sell. I'm gonna sell, because why too many cars? Only three. Which is his favorite? What's your favorite? My Land Rover. Wow. And is his favorite? What's your favorite? My favorite is the Land Rover. Wow. And you have one.

I have one. Big. Yeah, yeah, big size. What's your dream car? What's your dream car? My dream car? My dream car? To get my first car I bought.

I'm trying to find it, but it but it's hard to find a Fiat Uno. My dream right now, to be honest, is to be able to locate in Brazil, and we are in the process of the first car that I bought. It's a Fiat Uno. It's the first little car that Alex had with a Prozol Trac in the Car and Bike. That's his dream car. Wow. The same one, or just the exact same one or just another one like that? The exact same one. We pull in the title, gonna find where it is,

gonna renovate it and bring it to America. Wow. And you think you have found it? Yeah, I think we're gonna be able to. We're trying. And what does that car represent to you? What does that car represent to you? It represents a lot.

My first car. Where I remember the difficulties, but what made me not give up. And, well, I came to conquer everything. And today, having the opportunity to have these cars, for me, it's something very special. It represents a lot because that's where everything started for me. It was a big achievement back then. So even between all those cars, seeing this one is something really special for me. Yeah. You know, it's my dream car. This one. A Combi.

Volkswagen. We call Combi in Brazil. Why you call it Combi? That's why you call it over there. Volkswagen. Peru. Combi. Combi. We want Combi. That's the car of his dream. Oh, yeah? The old one. Not like from the 70s. The old one. Not like Peru, Combi. Combi, I think it's Combi. It's because of his dream. The old one, not like from the 70s.

The old one, from the 70s. He never went in one. He never went in one. He went to Tiago's place to get one. Tiago was in Combi. You're gonna come to Newark, our friend Tiago, the guy that got us our cars. He has a luxury garage of all these cars from Brazil.

You have one there. You are a guest to come in and drive there. Wow. But the truck is different, his is a body shop. Yeah. The only difference is the one that we have in our team in Newark is half a web and the part is like a little truck on the back.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's the exact same car. Wow, what color? I think it was blue, it wasn't something like that. Yeah, it was blue. I think it was like baby clothes. It was blue. No, it's beautiful.

That's not bad. You come to the garage for us, hang out with us. And what about the gym? You have the gym now in Nutley? I think it's like baby clothes. No, it's beautiful. That's not bad. You come to the garage for it. Thank you. And what about the gym? You have the gym now in Nutley? Yes, the gym in Nutley is amazing. You guys can see I have the gym there.

I have Dillon. I have Bronson. We have everybody coming in. It's my headquarters. Cruiser MMA, go Cruiser MMA official, cruisermaid.com. You can see. And now we're going to expand the empire a little bit. Wow.

So I'm going to open a second location. because not everybody want to cross with the Jersey side. Yeah, yeah. New York have a lot of people that want to do the world-class kickboxing that we deliver. So in the spring, I'm going to open Cruiser M&M in Manhattan. Wow. It's going to be on Midtown between 27, between 6 and 7 Avenue. So I'm going to be announced on the internet soon. You know what I mean? My headquarters is still Jersey, but I'm going to be there a few times a week. So I'm going to have announced on the internet soon. You know what I mean? My headquarters is still Jersey, but I'm going to be there a few times a week.

So I'm going to have a work class staff, a coach, so we can deliver the same level of training that we have everywhere. Incredible. So in Manhattan and later this year, you're opening. In the spring now. In the spring, April and May. Oh, wow.

Okay. So it's already begun. And is it for all ages? All ages. All ages. Kids are going to start later, but right now like adults, beginners, intermediate, we're going to deliver the kickboxing level now, like adults, beginners, intermediate, we're

going to deliver the kickboxing level that brought this guy to be a glory champ, UFC champ, the way that we believe, you know, that you guys come join the show, my crew. You'll announce on your Instagram. What about kids in Jersey? Kids in Jersey, I started already. You started? I want to bring my daughter. Yes, yes.

I have five times a week. Well, what ages? Any age, like six and seven and up. Perfect. Yes. Everything. I have five times a week. Well, what ages any age six and seven and up. Oh perfect Yes, everything everything amazing amazing. What about his his boys? We see them. Are they gonna start fighting? Yeah His kids are doing really good, bro in what in what Everything well, are they gonna become pro fighters too? It was strong professional. So yeah Wow the trainer Glover's gym. Glover's doing fantastic Lovers expanding his gym to in the summer global is fun. You're gonna be a big big gym over there

Now he's really big is gonna be prime time and Alex kids train over there. We were just joking We were even joke as we like one is bad on the ground others better stand up, but they complement other We even joke, because one is better on the ground, the other is better standing, but they complement each other. In general, they're the same. In general, it's very similar. But one thing is better on the ground, the other thing is better striking. It's a little more aggressive. One is more technical.

One more technical, the other more aggressive. They already compete in Jiu Jitsu. They compete at these grappling tournaments, they've been destroying all the kids. Wow. Like winning three, four, five matches in one day what ages? 15 and 14 When does he want them to be pro?

Well, it's gonna depend on what they're doing we We don't know yet, but definitely it's gonna happen. Okay, well, in MMA or kickboxing? MMA or kickboxing. Uh... I'd like them to do Jiu-Jitsu competitions, separate kickboxing and MMA. We'd like first for them to compete separately in GBJJ and kickboxing and eventually merge with MMA.

Okay, okay. One more on the division, Jamal Hill and Khalboxing and eventually merge with him. Okay, okay. One more on the division, Jamal Hill and Khalil Rountree next month. Who does he like? Hard, half and a half, but I think Khalil. How come? Because I think he's more technical. Jamal is stronger.

But I think Kaleu is more technical. He knows how to defend himself better. Because I think he's more technical. Jamal is stronger. But Kaleu, no matter how he defends himself, he's a little more technical than him. Okay. You have come on our show. It's an honor.

You're speaking for the first time. Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you want the world to know? Is there anything that we didn't discuss? You came to our show, it's an honor. Something that wasn't discussed, that we didn't mention that you'd like to mention. No, for me, perfect. Perfect.

One last thing, there's people who love you. They look up to you, they love you. They were so sad when you lost. What is the message to your supporters about what's to come? I think it was a loss, but as I said, I've been doing a lot of things and a lot of people have been supporting me. I've also seen some athletes that were winning and people always praising and sending messages, and when I lost, I forgot. I was like, afraid, like,

will it be the same with me? And many people in the comments said, these people who cheer when the guy loses, it will be the same who will criticize. But today I see that for me it's the same thing, people love me and I really like it. So I just want to thank all my fans for that, in a difficult moment for me, they don't let me go.

And for me, I see the same thing. I'm really thankful for the love from all you guys because back in the days that you see when some people lose, everybody abandon them. The fans abandon them. And some people sometimes go in the comments on my posts and say, yeah, when you lose, everybody's gonna leave you. Like, nobody's gonna... And honestly, I even question myself if everybody let me go. And the love is the same.

So thank you so much for the love. Thank you so much for the loyalty. I saw some journalists in Brazil saying, now that Alex lost, everyone is talking about it. Then I said, damn, man, it's being done, I was kind of afraid.

Then I went to take a look to see, man, I didn't see anything. Like one or the other, you know? But the guys take the negative thing, there are a thousand more people I went to take a look and saw nothing. One or the other. But they take the negative part. There are a thousand messages, one message... From a fan. Yes, from a fan.

There's one here. The guy is there, a fan of Anka Laev or something, he doesn't like me, he's talking about evil. The guy just sees that message and makes a joke out of it. Brazilian journalism. Yes, I understand that. Don't they see the way I see it? There's no article about that. Brazilian journalists. Yeah, I don't understand that. Don't they see the way I see it?

Of course there will be some message there. But don't they say, I'm going to make an article here that Alex is being supported. No, there's no one here. I have to make sure that they have something to say. And say that this is what Ankalaev is, and saying how everybody with Ancala have one thing, Ancala have that. Why they don't just do the

contrary and see and make say look it's amazing to see that we don't lose or draw how much people love and support Alex you know. I agree. It's hard to see how some Brazilian journalists twist and just use that for the bad. Man, I love my fans. They are... I don't even speak Spanish. I love them so much. Bro, I love my fans. Like, I love them a lot.

And here, their support. Look at this. We have this. Here, the support. Here. And even the new edition behind them. You see that? Look at this. This was back here last time. It's new, yeah. It's a new one. We haven't left.

Even my guys, they went to the Brazilian steak house. You saw this? Oh yeah, he actually wanted to do that with me, but I was booked for the fight. Look at them, look at them, my guys. Before the fight. Before the fight. Before the fight, I'm supporting.

That's it, yes, yes. What do you think, what do you think? It's good? Shama or no Shama, these guys? Shama. Yeah, they're good, all right. Okay guys, you did it. Well done. Alex, pleasure, thank you.

Obrigado, looking forward. Plino, you're the man, thank you so much. Congrats on the new gym opening, good luck. Good luck to you and we look forward to the big announcement of the fight. Congratulations to my gym, congratulations to you and we look forward to the big announcement of the fight. Congratulations to you and we're waiting for our big fight announcement. Me too.

We are too. Yes, we'll take a quick break. Classic interview with Brock Lesnar. We'll be back to answer your super chats. Do not go anywhere. That's a classic interview right there with the great Brock Lesnar March of 2011, a few months after his loss to Cain Velasquez.

So I thought it would be fun to look back. And coming up in a couple of weeks, we'll do volume two of our classic interview look back series. We've got some good ones planned. So stay tuned for that right here on the channel. We're just rolling along. You know, the operation is, is fully up and running, exciting things in the works.

Another big week of interviews. Banked, but I mean, we're not done. We've got boys in the back tomorrow and of course the crack on Friday. What, what, what, what validation for the boys in the back to have the man himself say that he liked your dance moves? I mean that is- Yeah, I think the official rating was Shama.

I mean that was amazing. I was expecting you to walk in wearing the jacket, but you shed the jacket. It got a little warm back here. Yeah, here too. Well, I didn't want to be fully tacky, you know, it's just like, you never take that thing off, huh? You're wearing it in the dance video

and then you just pop up in it? By the way, any thoughts, and perhaps you guys will talk about it more tomorrow on the program, but thoughts on Alex, his- He seems adamant, he seems adamant that the next fight is gonna be Magomed Uncle Live and the fight's gonna go much differently for him. So I'm excited to see what happens.

I mean, I thought it was very interesting that he said, had he beat Magomed, he was going to look to move up to heavyweight or potentially go to boxing. And now the fact that he said had he beat Magomed he was going to look to move up to heavyweight or potentially go to boxing. Yeah. And now the fact that he wants to stay and and get the belt back is very interesting. Small detour. Small detour. But let's see if it is. I'm pretty sure that I saw August somewhere. I thought I did too, but maybe it wasn't on a tweet. Maybe he said that to someone when he was doing his belt celebration or something like that. Another thing I'm very intrigued in, uh, Pleno opening the gym right here in Manhattan.

City. Yeah. Gonna have to be here for, uh, for the big grand opening. This is it. This is it. This is. I told him, I was like, me and Rick are there. We're going to get Ariel there too.

Uh, what'd he say? Six and seven, like midtown, right? He said like 27th and six half. Easy work. I mean, right around the corner. We're there.? So like 27th and sixth half? Easy work. I mean, right around the corner over there. Three stories, he said. It's a hop skip. Is Frank back?

Frank sure is, man. I'm looking right at him. Frank, any super chats? ["Super Chats"] Damn right there are. Okay. And to kick us off, Shibs writes, did you guys notice the referee at UFC London?

Jesus. It looked exactly like GC. Yeah. Help me pronounce. We got it! Back to what I said earlier. I don't think anyone's sleeping on it. I do not think anyone's sleeping on it.

Look at that handsome lad right there. Yo. Looks good. By the way. That is actually quite... KSW rep. Who looks more like you, him or Gorup? I think him because of the beard.

The beard's shorter. I think if I went and got a tan, it'd be pretty indecipherable. Yo. Shout out to him. He actually looks more like you in that photo than he did on Saturday, in my opinion. When they get the picture of him walking to the center

and he's not looking directly at the camera, it looks a lot like me. It looks a lot like me. What else? AAK writes, five time national, Carter Storkochi. Starachi. Starachi. Thank you.

Mid history Saturday. Do you see a place for a dominant wrestler like him in UFC's Walter Wilt Division? Walter. Close enough. Yeah. Walter Wilt. The coming year.

Five national championships for him. And, uh, Bo Nicol shouted him out, Penn State guy. And yeah, I don't think that will ever be, you know, topped because of COVID and whatnot. So he was able to get the extra one in there. Seems like according to Bo, and I think someone else told me this as a DC, someone told me that he's got his sights set eventually

on a potential MMA run. But of course, you know, there's still some things coming up for him, Olympics and all that. Someone told me that he's got his sights set eventually on a potential MMA run, but of course, there's still some things coming up for him, Olympics and whatnot. So yeah, I mean, super impressive. And look, those are the kinds, there was once a time where the Scott Cokers of the world were trying to sign these guys before they got to the UFC.

So the Aaron Picos, these guys who didn't have a Coker for a while there was trying to sign everyone out of college. And so if I'm an up and coming organization and, and, and right now there's really just one with the PFL. I'm trying to get these guys in from now. You know, you, you offer them a contract so that they don't go the contender series route or any other route. And then eventually go to the UFC.

And by the way, what about the future of contender series with, with, with Artim saying yesterday, Hey, I want to fight. They offered me the fight contract and I didn't take it and I'm going to glory now. Does this change the way people look at those contracts? Now I would imagine most of the people who

win on contender series are thrilled to get any kind of contract, but very interesting. I, he interesting he kind of challenged the system and won. Love that uh you asked Alex about it and Alex was like he's coming in through contender series I'm uh me KOing people in Madison Square Garden. Yeah let's you know tomato spy. He also didn't even know uh that he that he was going back to glory. What else? duty writes? Last week someone said sugar Shane and you guys clowned on him reference to Snoop Dogg on contender series

Did you know Merab has split custody of a cat with a dancer June 7th and new shout out Tim Welch gosh? That's a lot. I mean Still can't parse it to be honest What's cool? I mean, there's can't parse it, to be honest. What's going on, I mean, there's gotta be some sort of checks and balances here, I mean, we're talking about split custody of a cat. It is pretty important.

And also, June 7th, oh, I guess he's talking about Suga against Marab? Yep. Yeah, I saw someone say that we missed, who said that, Suga Shane, last week? Who knows? I can't even remember who was on the show yesterday. Who said it? Was it Frank? Was it Frank? that we missed it who said that sugar in DSM soon, Cyclones Gear worn equal beer on me. What's DSM?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. GV, clear typo there, GVX New York Rick. So me and New York Rick collabing in DSM, speaking Des Moines, Iowa, obviously. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Soon. So we'll be going to Des Moines, Iowa soon. If you wear Cyclones Gear, he'll buy a beer,

referring to the Iowa State Cyclones. Well, good news, beer's on you, cause I already got, referring to the Iowa State Cyclones. Well, good news. Beer's on you because I already got a hat in my mouth this week. Shout out a little vintage Iowa State Cyclones. That'll be the hat. Shirt to be revealed. Is that vintage? Oh, vintage. Yeah, that's a that's a 90s Iowa State Cyclones. 90s ain't vintage.

Do you see the sweat? What are you talking about? 90s is vintage? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We'll go to the 21st century. Nah, 90s ain't vintage. We're not there yet. What is is vintage? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Welcome to the 21st century. Nah, 90s ain't vintage. Who, me? We're not there yet. What is your vintage?

When I see that logo, I think of Marcus Fizer. You know Marcus Fizer of the Chicago Bulls, second pick overall. Shout out, I think of Sinica Wallace. Nah, that's later. That might be vintage. No, Marcus. No, no, no, Sinica Wallace is more recent than the guy that you said. Yeah, Mark. No, no, no. I don't think- Fentanyl Wallace is more- Recent.

Recent than the one you said. Yeah, yeah. It makes sense. What is vintage? If someone was driving around a 90s car, you don't think that's vintage? Absolutely not. I drive a 2004 and you want to know what?

Not vintage. I have a classic car license plate. No, get out of here. I swear to God. You cannot- It's sick. I paid an extra $20 for it. There's no chance that anything- Word of God.

Past 2000 is vintage. Oh, no. I drive an extra $20 for it. There's no chance that anything past 2000 is vintage. Oh no, I drive an 04 Acura, classic car license plate wheeling around. This is big red. Oh yeah, big red, got the classic plates now. Acura, isn't it a four by four? Four by four, yeah, it's got four wheel drive too. No, but I didn't know the Acura is a four by four.

They make Acura four by four? Like a SUV? Yeah, SUV. I didn't know that. To is a 4x4. They make Acura 4x4? Like a SUV? Yeah, SUV. I didn't know that. To me, it's 70s. It's anything post like pre-79. That's ancient. Once we get to the 80s, it ain't vintage anymore.

You don't think the 80s is vintage? What? What are you trying to say? The 90s is vintage. Stop. I mean, the 2000s are getting to the point. Stop the cap. Stop the cap, brother. Stop the cap.

If someone pulled up in 80s fashion playing an SCNS, what is this? By the way, everyone wears 80s fashion now. Bell bottoms are in, baggy... it's all cyclical. So what is 80s fashion? Is bell bottom 70s? I feel like that's 70s. 70s, 80s, high waist, low waist. Ludensinger, the vibrant colors. Apple bottoms. Brad, yous high waist low waist singer, you know the Bible bottoms Brad You're saying further back even shout out to the Apple bar. Oh hairspray Oh the shoulder pad 90s is vintage no

So the Fresh Prince of Bel Air is a vintage Ask your kids about the Fresh Prince about I mean I mean, obviously they'll say it's old. Generally an item is considered vintage if it is at least 20 years old. Yo. That was the ruling for my car getting the classic plates. That is. The reason you think the 70s is vintage

is the same reason that people are arguing the 90s are vintage. Well, it depends how old they are, right? Right. Antique is a hundred years or older. You know what's crazy? Antique is a hundred years or older. You know what's crazy?

1980 was 45 years ago. Sure. When I was born in 1982, 45 years prior was like. Yes, ancient times. 1940s. If you would have asked me about the 1940s as a 10 year old, I would have said, that's like history book stuff. 1937.

Now people think about my birth year as history book stuff. That's correct. So when you were growing up, kids born this year, when you were growing up, 1937, how old did that sound? How did this happen? How old did 1937 sound? Because that's what 1982 sounds like. How did all of this happen?

Ariel, do you remember the song 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins? Sing it for me real quick. We're not going to do that. But he's pining for the times in 1978. We are now further away from when that song came out in the 90s than he was referring to. Summer of 69.

No. That's another one. That's ancient times at this point. Oh, sorry. Wait, who do we determine was born? Oh. I know why it's born in the summer of 69, sorry. Wait, who do we determine was born? Oh. Dana White was born in the summer of 69, actually. July 28th, 1969.

Shout out to the summer of 69. What else? Jake from Windy City says, Ariel, we know you're the predominant MMA journalist. Thank you. Curious if you also consider yourself an MMA historian. Who else would fit that term? Like Burt Sugar, the late great? You know, there used to be a classic character,

Burt Sugar, legit boxing historian, would have the hat with like the ticket there, press would be always chewing on a cigar. Have I reached that status? Am I that old? Yes. I don't know if it's... You're gonna be like Lampley in like another three, four years.

What does that even mean? Wait, he would pull up like in modern times with the hat and like the ticket. We're already doing the classic episode. What was his name? Burt Sugar? Burt Sugar, B-E-R-T-S-U-G-A-R and he would always have a cigar. Oh wow, yeah. He was classic. Legit. He was classic. Oh wow, yeah, with shit.

He was classic. Cigar and everything. Legend. Dare I say vintage. This is vintage. I can't, like it's not appropriate for me to call myself a historian, you know? Do I feel like I can hang with anyone

as far as MMA history is concerned? I feel pretty good about my chances. I think I will call you a historian. Tell you what, I, just as much as I can hang as far as MMA history, I think I can hang with basketball history too. In particular, like, you know, the old day stuff, like seventies, eighties, nineties, easy work, easy work. People don't know. People don't know I know ball. Like, like now, if

you talk about, Oh, uh, Jaren Jackson's P E R, they're like, oh, you don't know ball. Yeah, bro. Like let's talk about the, uh, you know, the 1973 NBA finals. Do you want to talk about the Knicks being the Lakers in five games? Oh, you're a Knicks fan. You know about that. All right.

We could talk about 77. We could talk about, you know, the Blazers and the, and the, and the Sonics and the bullets. We could talk about that era. We could talk about Gar-Herd hitting a, uh, a shot to send, uh, the 77, the Blazers and the Sonics and the Bullets. We could talk about that era. We could talk about Gar Herd hitting a shot to send the 77, what was it, game six of the 77 finals to a third overtime. And then John Havlicek wins it, but then Gar Herd scored going to the third overtime when the Celtics

Struggling halfway through that Alright, so you're the perfect person to ask about this earlier today or whatever was recorded tell me Lebron said on the Pat McAfee show that if they sent Giannis to the 70s He would score 250 points in a game. What are your thoughts on that statement? I mean, I don't know if that's, I mean, I think you could say that about a lot of people. I would say that about a lot of people. No, meaning, I don't know what kind of a statement

you're making by saying that, because you could say the same, like, how would Victor Wembenyama with his athleticism do in- Yeah, he scored 300. Yeah, exactly. So, but I think- Imagine Bob Cousy trying to defend Gian Yeah, he scored 300. Yeah, exactly. So what, but I think. Imagine Bob Cousy trying to defend.

Yeah. But I. Start up on Kyrie, bro. I guess my point is, I thought we all knew this already. You know, like I thought we all understood this. Well, Mad Dog didn't seem to get the memo. He said. Oh, he's mad about it?

Is this what everyone's talking about? Yeah, yeah. This is why I'm happy when I get to do the show. This is the scuttlebutt. Because I don't get to see any of this bullshit. Listen, as the basketball historian, I'm just trying to, you know, tell you what's going on. Chime in and say no no no, it's plumbers

Kuzy did play mine. The game is back. Oh, yeah heard that Steve Nash LeBron Nash Yeah, but it was no I think it was on first take when JJ said that He played against plumbers and then mad dog got mad about it and all this stuff Yeah, we've we've re LeBron and Pat McAfee have reinvigorated this conversation. Oh, I forgot to. My koozie dribbles like a middle schooler. Yo, that is, that is blas- As a historian, what do you feel about this?

I hate the Celtics. Koozie, Russell, Havelchik. Now, come on, man. I would love to see these dudes just guarding SGA. I wanna see these dudes guard SGA. It's a different world. But by the way. One of them guard Wendy.

It's like saying like Issam Mahatchev fighting, I don't know, Eve Edwards back in the day. That's exactly right. And that's not even that long ago. Not even that ancient. But yes, 250 is a stretch, but I thought we all agreed that they were infinitely, the players today are infinitely more athletic than they were back then. Yeah.

Yannis is a, but let me tell you something. Let's see. Let's see. Tell us about something. Yeah. L L L let's see, uh, let's see Yannis go up against, Oh, I don't know. Uh, the likes of Earl, the Pearl Monroe, black Jesus.

How's he going to fair? Pretty well. Pretty well. Okay. Okay. Different positions. What about the great, the great, the great, the great, the great,, the likes of Earl, the Pearl Monroe, black Jesus. How's he going to fare? Sure. Probably pretty well.

Pretty well. Okay. Okay. Different, different positions. What about the great Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks? What in the fifties? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Pettit legend. You know about Bob Pettit. Gunking on that man so hard that he's sending him to the hospital. No chance. So that's the St. Louis Hawks.

Well that's the title. Bob Pettit. Legend. 1958. What to the St. Louis Harks, last title. Bob Pettit, 1958. What about the great Dave Bing of the Detroit Pistons? Somebody Photoshop Ariel in the like, the hat. Bob Cousy's move was to be around the world. He would bring the ball all the way around his body. In the 70s, I know this, I'm Unc status, all right? I know this.

This is not Unc. This is like grandpa status, this is not Unc. All right couple. I know this This is like grandpa status Well, Randy Brown told me that I'm not on status. He said I'm og status Yeah, he gave like the levels of it, right? I mean really imagine what what these guys would think if they saw Yannis like explode Martian like break the rim Dunking was yeah, oh Christ what else So Ryan Maddox writes Ariel you mentioned the PFL uniforms a lot. What is going on over there? Why does it say obj? That's like it's like when the emoji can't be like displayed or what is the

Beckham between the PFL uniforms and the UFC kits? Shout out to the boys in the back, especially GC's biggest baby face in the biz. Yeah. Well, first of all- There's not that many boys in the back and then if you're gonna say especially, I mean, it's like kinda slapping the face. Well, here's the thing.

I'll tell you this. I think what this guy's implying is that I have an issue with the PFL uniforms and I don't have an issue with the UFC uniforms. I hate the UFC uniforms. I've said this since day one. I think it's crazy. I think it's blasphemous

that the fighters can't wear whatever they want. That's the beauty of the fight game. We love Chuck Liddell walking out with the ice on the shorts or Tito Ortiz walking out with the fire or Mike Tyson walking out black shorts, black boots, et cetera. Like the individuality is incredible. It's what helps us fall in love with these guys. And so I hate that.

And then I especially hate when the number two promotion tries to emulate this. If I were in charge of the PFL, I would say we're the fun league. We're the place where you can be yourself. We're not the place where we're trying to copy. Like you should be doing everything in your power to be the antithesis of the UFC. If they go corporate, go anti-corporate. Be fun, have elaborate walkouts, have crazy goofy things where the fighters can be themselves.

Bring back the banners. Let them be tattooed with sponsors for God sakes. Don't tell me it looks like NASCAR. Your freaking mat looks like NASCAR. What's the difference between the canvas or an actual NASCAR. That's what they told us. Oh, we don't want to look like NASCAR. The freaking mat is NASCAR. The wrestling ring is NASCAR.

Everything's at the post. It's all NASCAR. And so if I were the PFL, I would say we're not going to do this. We're not going to corporatize our league. We're going to let the fighters be themselves. We're going to let the fighters be themselves. We're going to let the fighters do whatever they want. That's how you gain, you know, good vibes with the fighters.

That's also how you differentiate the product, right? Yes. You just make it. You know, I hate it. Now we have to say, I think they're allowed to these days, one in the middle, one of the shorts, okay, great. It's better than nothing, but I think it's ridiculous. It's ridiculous.

Let the fighters be themselves. They are fighters They are lone wolves. They are by themselves. They're not a part of a team. They're not a part of a league They're not a part of any kind of uniformity. Let them be themselves. I hate it. I hate it with all my These things drive me insane. I'm sorry, but they kill my love Would you ever see boxers? Dress the same No, we love the different trunks and we love how unique it is. If you don't think that this is a part of the game, look at Jim Lampley crying about the sight of George Foreman

wearing the same trunks that he wore 20 years prior in Zaire when he fought Michael Moore. Is anyone gonna watch Alex Pereira, Michael Mann, Uncle Ive 2 and be like, oh those are the venom shorts that he wore against Israel out of Saudi I know no one gives a fuck and then you'll get jabronis online these these new kids that will pop No, no, they'll be like, oh, he's wearing purple today. Oh my god My point you guys push back against it It's so dumb. All this Liguria Toporia fit into the same shorts that he wore for the featherweight

title at light weight. Bro, could you imagine they let him have a dragon on it? Wow, he had a dragon. Hold on, hold on. You guys were not with me when I said this. I'm still not with you. I'm welcoming you to this point. Let me tell you something.

You don't know ball if you get excited about this. You don't understand the game. You don't know what it's like seeing freaking Chuck Liddell the is home and show up in the freaking You don't get it you don't get it what was what was worried look at Rory Look at this first ever bonus for getting Dennis Holman off the TV. Yeah, I was Remember when John Jones showed up with the with the Nike and the Burger King Look at this. First ever bonus for getting Dennis Holman off the TV. Yeah. That was a special moment. Look at these guys. Remember when John Jones showed up with the Nike and the Burger King? The Nike, yeah.

Sick. And no, he didn't have Burger King. He had Gatorade Anderson. Gatorade Nike. Anderson had Burger King. Remember when DJ showed up with the Xbox? Yeah, Xbox was pretty sick. Yo, come on, man.

These things are exciting. Everyone's, oh, actually, I was going to say some bad ones. Look, look, look. Remember, by the way, what do we always talk about with GSP? Oh, wait, no, no, that's hoist Gracie. Where's my GSP? I got GSP somewhere. He's back there. I think yeah He wore the freaking gi like hoist Gracie Guess what this would not be allowed in the UFC or the PFL Crazy, I mean that's just crazy

didn't they argue that that like gave an advantage these dudes the DS brothers in the fight they they they would show up wearing jeans they would walk to the cage wearing jeans with a belt and boots you know how legendary that is that was pretty cool freaking hell that's legendary shit but how do you monetize it?

Actually you probably can monetize it and you could probably actually make a lot of money the same way WWE kind of like does merch. I feel like you could figure it out but that I feel like we lost this one we got to move like the okay what else no matter how long we say this is no we're done This individual wants to know another aerial live for UFC 316 in New York. Yeah, we talked about that. I'm sorry We'll work on it. We'll get it. We'll get it back. Don't worry. We'll do one of these days What else Colby ask Ariel the crew Who would you who would be your celebrity dream eulogy speaker at your funeral? They could be from the past present or the future

even a fictional person James Earl Jones God what a what a mother I shout out to an individual that is born in 36 years from now named Fred That's who I want Yeah, that's the thing like I want I guess I don't know my kids. I don't know You know you told me you want me to be a pallbearer. I can't even speak at your funeral, bro I want you at the very very end. I'm gonna you emerge There's only nice thing. I'm like not all of us have nice gonna. Who's gonna put him in the ground Oh wait, who's that guy that he always let him down? I've already

Who's gonna put him in the ground? Oh wait, who's that guy that he always says let him down? I've already put him down. Frank. I did it myself. And then he pulls up and everyone goes, who is this? Cause no one knows who Frank is. Yeah. Who are you?

That's the unveiling at the ceremony. And then a sound drop from out of nowhere. Breaking news drop. Breaking news drops and it's Frank. If I, like, God forbid, if something did happen to me and this is like gonna happen in the next year, do you guys think you'll laugh about this? Like, be like, you know, isn't it kind of weird that we always joked about this? Not at the moment, not at the moment, like at the ceremony or anything. I was thinking the dinner afterward. Probably the dinner after, so you guys want to do

something? The dinner where we pot it thought there'll be a silence over all the Years the the fork and the knives Clanking and then someone will just start laughing in the wall It will be if you have to do like the funeral arrangements It's making sure the colors are right and then trying to compare it what? Like talk to look a little salmon a little pink Oh that you think you guys will be in charge of all this, not my family.

You won't even be invited. Right. What up, Jacqueline, for details? You're like, it's an E-invite. It's very 2010. You have an opportunity to do one of the funniest things ever, which is to actually write Frank into your will. Oh my god.

Or something. You know what, you're right. You really do have a great opportunity here. Oh, that's good stuff. Frank, what else? Something you're right you have the you really do have a great opportunity here Frank what else we have one from Mark Trinidad. Are we almost done? When is this gonna end? 99 Canadian All right, shut up mark. I wanted to express my gratitude to you Ariel is so patient with Wow for being a comforting voice. Oh my What the hell you could have at least started this with like hey, this is a pop up on the screen

I'm reading this again. Oh, this is incredible. When is this over heartfelt message? This is incredible when is this over heartfelt message from a long time fan Go ahead lovingly sent this put it back up, please. Sorry. Yeah, please let him finish mark Trinidad give him a long time listener first time poster I wanted to express my gratitude to you Ariel for being a comforting voice in the many many of my trials I've mailed you a gift to arrive next week a token of my appreciation And he called me on to Mark I love you. I'm sorry that we read that I Well, I just want to say I apologize on behalf of Frank for being so rude

That does not that does not represent how we feel about you and we appreciate your support and hope that you are doing better in your trials and tribulations. We look forward to the gift. I'm not sure how or where you're sending it to or how you got our address, but hopefully it arrives and we uh, yeah, we I mean 27.99. I wonder why that number in particular, but I love it and we appreciate you and Yeah Save some of that for Danielle Cooper who writes, just wanted to say hey, love your show. Wow.

I was looking at our stats on YouTube, and I think it said, um, I think it said something like 98% males watched the show, and 2% females, so maybe Danielle is one of the 2%. That's definitely part of the 2%. I don't know, I can't tell these days, you know? Oh, wait. No, I don't mean by. They say they love the show and your response is,

thank you for being part of the minority. Yeah, thank you for being the 2%. All right. Shout out to the 2%. Shout out to the 2%, let's go get a couple gallons of 2% milk. Much love, Danielle. 2%?

Oh, by the way, I just looked at the chat Danielle just wrote not gonna lie not gonna lie she says Ariel is my savior at the moment keeping me to routine and a distraction from all the bullshit we're here for you Danielle every weekday at 1 p.m. he speaks for all of us. Much love, yes. What else? Lastly, Oh. Don't sound so excited. It's been four and a half. Shrindaddy writes in, shout out to the boys in the back, especially Frank. Oh. Best list in the biz.

Speaking of which. I feel something here. I don't like how this transpired, but we're gonna let it go for now. What's our list tomorrow? Mexican dishes. I thought it was Mexican movies. Not a 530 Frank. Wow. Not the time. Inappropriate. Oh boy. Oh there's another Super Chad. Is there? No. From Frank. I decide when we're done. By the way I did actually see another one. Did you? there's a cutoff Ariel?

We have to respect. All right. It was one about PFL. I don't even know how to I saw it pop up Oh here it is. It's a Any free agents PFL could sign to fight Dakota. Maybe Justine Kish or Rena Ku Bata that is the last one that's from Jason Carney Gosh, I'm by the way, I'm curious to see what they do with Dakota. She's not a part of the tournament. They haven't announced any fights. Obviously there's the, uh, the champion series sitting in attendance.

You saw that at UFC London. Dicey dicey. Nah, I think she'll be back, but it is, uh, it is going to be very interesting to see a, how they book her, what they do with their, just make her your, your PFL champion, like make her the actual flyway champion. What are we doing? You know, do they have that? I don't, I still don't even know what they do there. Just make her your PFL champion. Like make her the actual flyway champion. What are we doing? Do they have that? I still don't even know what the belt's.

I know, I know. I agree with you. Like Usman should be the lightweight champion. She should be the flyway champion. But is he? I don't know. No, I don't think so. It's bizarre.

C'est bizarre. In any event, what isn't bizarre is the show that we had today, what a day it has been. Two of my kids, by the way, have the Jackman flu right now. So let's just hope that I'm spared. And tomorrow we've got the boys in the back and on Friday we've got the crack with P.C. Carroll. And oh, by the way, some breaking news for all of you before we go. We have heard your comments, your requests, your compliments,

and I can let you know, there was a question in the sub stack about it, the post shows moving forward for the pay-per-views will be three buck, myself, P.T. and Chuck. I had to actually, like Chuck was very easy. P.T., you know, he drove a hard bargain. We had to actually like work this out. It was a little bit tense for a moment,

but we figured it out. So starting with 31414 post shows will be myself pizzi and and and chuck watch parties will still be the same format that you have known and love uh with with with with gc and rick here and the crew over there so uh we're leveling up we're working through the kinks we're constantly updating we're constantly working through things, and we're constantly loving our jobs. At least I speak for myself when I say that. Frankie, you can hear my music. Who the fuck is we?

Oh, sorry. Oh, yeah. No, no, no, no. No, no, no. Speaking of which, my daughter has called me twice in the last six minutes. She is one of the two sick. Damn it, Eric. Look what you've done.

Yeah. Tough enough. Wow. minutes she's one of the two sick damn it Eric look what you've done yeah tough enough Wow clip that off now we know how the clip that off circulates clip that off what a week what a time what a time to be alive Frank I agree by the way I haven't checked the the sign on that I on that? I can barely hear it. No, it's just far away. I haven't checked the standings. In our bracket mayhem pool. Anyone doing well? Any of us?

I've got, I think I've got six of the eight teams in contention for my Elite Eight, but I'm not doing so hot. Who's your winner? Florida. I'm in 259th. My national champion was knocked out in the first half of the first round. Yeah, Georgia. 27-3 out the gate.

You, Hawani? I had St. John's. Oh boy. Alright, so I'm ahead of you guys. Steven is in first right now with 55 points huffed and puffed and below this bracket down That's his name. Yeah, it's a long name Cole. Cole Shelton is in second 54 points Cole Shelton of a BJ pen.com fame sure enough Wow Florida is the national champion Drake Alabama slamma and third with 53 points. Wait Drake's in our pool. I

Don't know what Drake it is or Drake Briggs Alabama slamma and third with 53 points. Wait, Drake's in our pool. I don't know what Drake it is. Or Drake Riggs. Aubrey Graham, Drake Riggs, Drake University. Thank you very much to our guests, Charles Olvera, Norman Dubon, Alex Perra, and the great Baron Corbin. Back on Thursday, same time, but this is a piece. I'm outta here.