The Ariel Helwani Show - Chael Sonnen, Holly Holm, Sam Alvey, Skye Nicolson, On The Nose, more

Episode Date: December 16, 2025

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll, answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Francis Ngannou’s free agency, booking fighters on the show, corporate jargon, The Beatles, and more (11:29).‘The Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen is back to discuss John Cena’s retirement match, Ilia Topuria stepping away and the UFC lightweight title implications, Alex Pereira saying he won’t be on the White House card, Dana White’s claims about Francis Ngannou putting hands on him, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, memories from the UFC on ESPN era, and more (1:04:51).Holly Holm returns ahead of her title bout against Stephanie Han in January to talk about her boxing career, her interest in a Ronda Rousey rematch, how a fight between Rousey and Katie Taylor would go, her own potential Taylor fight, the story behind her celebratory backflip, and more (2:02:36).Skye Nicolson joins following her win over Yulihan Luna to capture interim WBC super bantamweight gold, discussing how she’s adapted to the new weight class, her 2026 plan, including a quest to become undisputed, Devin Haney’s criticism of her and apology, Jake Paul being in danger against Anthony Joshua, how Ronda Rousey would fare in the ring, and more (2:34:57).Sam Alvey is our final guest of the day, looking back at his loss to Robelis Despaigne at Karate Combat 58, talk about the event being delayed and how it impacted his preparation, being content with the referee’s stoppage, his feelings about Karate Combat as a promotion, how long he plans to continue fighting, and more (3:03:11).Ariel closes with show with your Super Chats (3:22:36).

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Eriya-Hawani Show. Back in your life on this Tuesday, December 16, 2000. And 25, hello again, everyone. I sure hope you're doing well. It's great to be here on a. lovely, lovely Tuesday, our penultimate show in studio for the year 2025. You may recall that some of us have already left to beautiful Miami, the 305, on route as we speak. Our fearless leader, Andy, mysterious Frank, they are not here with us.

We have two fantastic replacements in their spot. So good. Who knows? We may never miss them. I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I'm okay. We've got Sally here, we've got Nick here. They are filling in very, very well. They are already, the aforementioned Frank and Andy, on route, probably landing any moment. Maybe have already landed if their flight was on time. On route for our live show, which takes place just two days away at the Hard Rock Cafe in Miami, a stone's throw away from the Casaya Center, home of the Miami Heat was watching them last night against the Toronto. Raptors, NBD, NBD, and B.D. Later tonight, New York, Rick, and G.C. on route as well tomorrow morning, I will be flying out. Press conference tomorrow at six, Wayans at six, live show at 8.30. Of course, you may be wondering, you may be asking yourself, why aren't you leaving

tonight as well? It's a very simple reason. It's a very simple reason. I have to be home. I have to be in the city that never sleeps. I have to be here to witness the NBA Cup. coming home it's coming home it's coming home tell the world that am i still a lot to sing that song i'm not quite sure anyway massive game tonight as you know the 52 year drought comes to an end our long national nightmare over tonight revenge for 99 first cup win first championship win well in our history and of course first finals victory since 1973 it all happens tonight when your new york Nicobarkers go up against the San Antonio Spurs. Oh my God, I'm so hyped.

So I couldn't miss that. Had to be with the kids to watch that. Then very early tomorrow morning, I am off to Miami. And by now you know, by now you know that it is going down in two days time. By now you know we'll have a live show. Kayla Harrison will be there. Jorge Mazvedal will be there. I put out a link.

And I'm told at this very point, limited seats available. It's a first come first serve. but if you reserve your spot via the link can we pin the link again in the chat guys that would be great if we if you put it in there and put your little time slot do around 8 o'clock it starts at 8.30

you guarantee yourself a spot and at some point that's going to shut down and I'm told we're close to that so don't do one of those like you know I'm too cool for school I'm going to show up late type of thing you want to be there Kayla Jorge

Helwani Rick G. G.C., Frank, Andy, on air, back here at the HQ, Pizzi, in spirit, what a time it's going to be. What a time it's going to be. Now, my question is right off the bat, Rick and G.C., on the same flight, sitting side by side, or do we need a little separation on the flight? Do we need, like, do we want to put the headphones on, hood on, no talking? What are we thinking? What are we doing?

What's the plan, guys? We did not discuss. Okay. So it's possible we're side by side, but we will not know until we get to our gate and compare notes. Are you on the flight as well? What's happening here? Are you joining? No one sent me the details just yet, but, you know.

Pizzi, I was told you wanted to watch the NBA Cup. So that was maybe my mistake. You were staying for the NBA Cup is what I was told. That's exactly what's happening. I'm actually very excited. I really expected you, you know, I'm expecting the back end of the show to be very, emotional for you. Like, this is, this is a big moment with you. I'm out here talking

about the 52-year drought coming to an end. What more do you want? What more do you want? Everyone's mad at me. My only regret is I won't be here tomorrow. I won't be here tomorrow because, of course, I'll be on route. I won't be here tomorrow to celebrate for the first time in my professional life. Can I tell you why I'm not going

to Miami? Tell me. To go to the parade. The parade. There's a freaking parade. It's going to be around Madison Square Garden. I'm going to get a ring myself. Just one lap. Yes, just one let. Settle. It won't be the long Broadway Canyon of Heroes Listen, whoever wants to come

We're getting a ring We're getting a banner We're getting a shirt We're getting the hat You get a ring I'm gonna commission it I'm gonna commission it I'm gonna commission it

I'm gonna commission it GC we missed you earlier What's the plan? You sitting next to Rick on the plane or what? I don't think so I'm in comfort plus Ah yeah Yeah yeah yeah

Can't wait for this flight tonight Can't wait for it Yeah well I feel like there's a little bit of sarcasm there Let's just say BG Burks is back baby. What's B.G. Berks? We've got spurs. No. Yeah, we're going to make it, though. Why? Why? Why?

I don't know. I don't know. Is it the Miami vibes coming back? I'm telling you, it's my fucking curse city. This first thing I said to Jordan when I got in here. Now I'm dying over here. Rearing its ugly head. Eric's like, you ready for the flight tonight? I was like, I'll be good by that. I'll be good by that. You're so healthy, though. This is what I don't get. Not healthy. I don't know what it is. It's the 305, man. The 305, man. It's a curse. Like if anyone's going to have the shits I think people would expect me to have the shits more than anyone

You know You know It's a blessing in a third speech I feel like actually I'd be the No well Hawaiian No no no no Rick is Rick is iron

I'm gonna be over there I've got the weak Jewish stomach Like we are notorious for having the worst kind of stomach Yeah I think me too Very careful Yeah Yeah well It's true

Peace and love peace and love We're good I hope you battle through Almost almost glad we're not sitting next to each other At this point Am I a warrior? yes yes yes you show up and you make that walk when it matters most to the bathroom on the plane is tough

nothing's going on this stomach until we've been there we've all been there we've all been there I'm going to be there at the gate chowing down on some shake shack and GC's just going to be looking at me like anything I'm honest with our fans yeah we appreciate that we appreciate that so gentlemen this is the plan in case you missed it today obviously a live show I'll tell you about the lineup at a moment have to get to many of your questions. Tomorrow, no live show, but we don't leave you hanging. We will have the premiere, 1 p.m. Eastern, so our usual slot right here on the channel,

the premiere of our third uncrowned film. More on that in a second. Thursday, we are having the crack. So one day earlier, to give you a little bit more, working on something for Friday, but I don't want to overpromise, so TBD on that. And then, of course, Monday, our final live show of 20. 2025. We'll have some other content between the break, and then we'll be back on January 5th for the Helwani Nose Awards. Actually, it'll be a full week of awards. So stay tuned for all of that. Now, back to tomorrow. Tomorrow's a big day. Third uncrowned film, what is Fight Circus? Rick Casey and I went to Vegas in October. It was Fight Circus's Las Vegas and USA debut. And so it was a great opportunity to find out what that. heck is this promotion all about this premieres tomorrow at 1 p.m. Eastern very excited

about it we've been working for it we're working on it for two months so you see the TLC that we're putting into these things and I wanted to give you a little taste shall I give them a little taste yes do the people want to let pizza you want a little taste I want to see it okay everyone wants a little taste the pizza people wanted the little taste is that a thing the PT people I don't know but anyway here's a little taste of what is to come tomorrow 1 p.m. Eastern right here on the channel what is Fight Circus, our third on Crown Film.

This is Fight Circus, Zanatown. Cincinnati, got some motherfuckin' motherfucking wild. What the heck is Fight Circus? Fight Circus, oh, dude, crazy. It's freaking wild. Everybody just trying to get drunk. They're kicking each other's asses. In the nuts.

Oh, gee. Fight Circus in my eyes is like if MMA, WWE, and like scary movie had a kid. A mix of WWE, the UFC, and SNL is what I'm getting. Fight Circus is a cutting edge, a mixed card promotion, gimmick MMA, as I call it. It's the UFC, BKFC, WWE, all in the one and had a baby.

It's a little bit of improv comedy. Mixed with a little bit of Vi-KFC. with a little bit of violence. Yeah, let's a kid number one. Yeah. If a lady boy in Thailand had a baby with a little person and then that little person's baby got pregnant by Bob Sapp, that would be Fight Circus.

All I know is somebody's getting knocked out and putting in gloves, that's all I know. Fight Circus, I think, is the best blend of combat and comedy that you could have. It's entertainment. Fight Circus is the lampooning of the combat sports industry. I didn't allow them than that.

This is unbelievable. I've never had more fun in my life. What we have in store for you tonight is nine fights from freakish vines for these fritish tides in these freakish times. So there you have it. There is the teaser, if you will, for our third uncrowned film.

It is called What is Fight Circus? can tell from there, it's a crazy, crazy, crazy promotion that does some wild stuff with some very recognizable names. I'm looking forward to sharing it with you all tomorrow. So stay tuned. Again, 1 p.m. Eastern, it goes live on the channel. Okay, on the program today, back end of the show, Sam Alvey is going to join us. Talk about his shocking knockout loss to rubless the spine. By the way, his first loss since 2022. So that man is going to join us. Now, you can keep it up. Sky Nicholson is going to join us to talk about her big win over the weekend in Stockton, California. by the way. I'm curious what Sky thought

of the 209. Holly Home returns to action on the 3rd of January. She'll be going up against Stephanie Han for the WBA lightweight title. If she wins that fight, she may be next for Katie Taylor in summertime in Eda. Let us see about that. And of course,

Chilpe, I wanted to round out the seven years on ESPN, the year that was in MMA with our good friend Chilpe. Maybe he has some thoughts on the John Sina situation. Always love talking to chel p about all those things and more let us talk to him in about 49 minutes time for now though time not for everyone's favorite segment of the week it is time on the nose

Do we have it? Just for... We saver on the nose, yeah. That's beautiful, that's going to... I just like to... Oh, there it is. Okay. Here we go, here we go, here we go.

So I have asked people on substack and on threads, and I'm going to go back and forth. All right. So no rhyme or reason. I'm going back and forth and I'm going to start with threads. Philip T.O.6. Ariel, at what point

do you admit that Francis is a grifter? Always changing stories. Says he wants peace, but only creates drama, says it's about respect, not money. But disrespects the PFL to openly advocate for leaving to get bigger pay days. PFL Africa was his idea

and you can't bother to show up to their events. Countless more examples. I get you dislike Dana, but he's been, right the last three years. Not sure what Francis needs to do for you to stop cheerleading and admit his hypocrisy. Wow.

Hypocracy. This is a very common and silly take that we hear online quite often these days because it's like, oh, this revisionist history that the UFC didn't want him, that Dana White didn't want him, that they didn't try to break the bank to sign him, that they didn't try

to offer him, which they said it themselves, the most lucrative deal in heavyweight UFC history. And so what's changed? Well, what changed is he went out, he got a better deal, he fought Tyson Fury, he fought Anthony Joshua, he fought once in the PFL and he made a shitload of money and he made more money in that period than the UFC was offering him in their greatest deal of all time.

Now, has everything been perfect since? No, it hasn't. It very rarely is, but it's been a particularly bad stretch him. This idea that I was cheerleading him, that I dislike Dana and that I'm cheerleading for Francis is complete nonsense. All I was trying to do, and I maintained we were on the right side of history and I would do the exact same thing is like, hey, this guy is not the bad person that they're making him out to be just because he wants to secure his future, just because he doesn't like the restrictions on the contract. They want you to think that he's a bad guy

because he's not taking that deal, when in reality, he's just putting himself out there in the open market, seeing what's out there, and he got a better deal. And that's that. And that is that. And then he got the fight that no one thought he was going to get, that everyone laughed at him for even insinuating that he may have a chance of getting, and that's the Tyson Fury fight, and then he got another fight, and he lost that fight. What would have happened if he went the distance with AJ? What would have happened if he beat AJ? Like, what happens today doesn't change the sentiment three years ago. They're trying to change it. They're trying to say, you see, we never wanted him. He's a bad dude. He did this and that. And then they'll change their story

along the way. And people like Philip and other idiots online fall for this shit. No one could have ever predicted the stuff that was going to happen, especially in the last year. And as I said yesterday, that's not how I would have handled that interview last week. He has his reasons. He has to live with them. And that's it. And hopefully we see him fight in 2026, but I disagree that he's a grifter. I disagree that he's always changing stories. Says he wants peace but only creates drama. What does that mean? Like, I don't know if you guys know this, but people in sports and in like, you know, high positions, like public positions, like they negotiate and they go for the better deal. That's not peace or drama. That's just business.

Says it's about respect, not the money, but he disrespects the PFL to openly advocate for leaving to get bigger pay days. Again, he's on the last fight of his deal. He doesn't work for the PFL in the sense that he's an employee. He's not an owner of the PFL. Like, this is business. This is the fight business. In five years, Francis is going to be out. That's it. Get as much money as you can. And so you guys take this so emotionally like, oh, this is the way I would handle it. If I was in his position, you would handle it the exact same way. There's no doubt about it. PFL Africa was his idea and he can't bother to show up. Can't bother to show up. up. He did show up to the last one. And there was an issue the first time around. Again, this happens. But this, you know, this revisionist history or this attempt to spike the football is silly to me because Francis got paid. Francis went out and did his thing and he got paid. And as of late, it hasn't gone his way. And so let me ask you this. Like, because of what Ilya is going through right now, does that mean someone who said a year ago that Ilya shouldn't be

moving up to fight for the 155 belt after beating Max Holloway, oh, this guy wasn't worthy of it, he wasn't worth, no, that's silly. Things happen along the way. But at the time, when he tested the waters, when he went out and got a better deal, it was the right thing to do. And a lot of other people were trying to say that it was the wrong thing to do. And I maintain, because of the three fights that he had, it was 100% the right thing to do. And by the way, there is no guarantee that he would have even gotten the John Jones fight. No guarantee. Just ask Tom Aspenall. Just ask Tom Aspinall. No guarantee whatsoever.

ASAP, OX3, G.C. and Rick. What is the process of removing and replacing everything on Ariel's desk during the watch parties? Who's responsible? How do you always place everything back the way it is supposed to be? Do you use a picture? Do you carefully move the desk itself with everything on it? It seems like such a tedious task I would love to know. Thanks.

It is quite tedious. We take it all off. our studios team then moves the desk into place to where we can set up for the watch party and then when we come back in on Monday morning pictures were taken and we put them back on okay it's an amazing it's an amazing job that you guys do

how about the fact and I know you've gotten better I feel we've gotten better you've gone very good it is tedious back in the day believe it or not Rick will remember this we used to do the MMA hour once a week and there was a gentleman on the team named Joe shout out to Joe

we do the show in a studio and that studio was used for different shows so on Tuesday there was a different show on Wednesday there was a different show on Thursday there was the beat so you see what I mean so he would have to do it every week no matter what every week

at the end of the show he would have to take now I will say there were less things on the desk and I know that's I know what's happening here is a lot of work clips from like 22 of an hour I'm like look at how empty that desk and it feels weird right There's not a thing on that. Doesn't it feel weird?

It feels different. Yeah. I like it. I've unfortunately been responsible for the Chachis at the worst eras to be responsible for the Chachke. Which is what? Which is now for sure. Okay. There is just too much shit on the death.

I love it. When I came in, I'm sorry, Rick. There was a previous era where we would strike the set every single day. Forget the, you know, every single time we would do it. You're talking about Joe doing it in that era. I'm talking the 34th Street Studios era when we had the little closet and there were all kinds of figures and things on the desk. I used to have to strike that every time too because they would use it for other shows.

So, yeah, I've been at the helm for some unfortunate desk striking. You love it, though. Oh, yeah, I love it. Can I tell you what? If you look at the year and change at ESPN, when we were in that sterile, not so great studio, it was just

me in this like sports center light studio on a glass table. Corporate Jake, Jordan might remember this, would bring me a box. It was in like a clock. I'll say all your stuff. And I would have to do it before every show. So, crime you real.

The horrors, the horrors. Jake and I had bigger things to deal with. Yeah, yeah. Like what? Like what? We had to deal with Mike Wontover, you know, keep him in line. When I pulled up to decorate the separate Thanksgiving, I was not expecting the desk to be empty.

And the mic's wrong, and I walked in, and I was like, oh, God, damn it. And everyone was like, yeah, hey, we heard you in the studio. And he saw the desk. Love it though This is from Chosen CG Hey Ariel Big Love from Brampton, Ontario, Canada

How will this Paramount deal affect us Canadians and are viewing through Sportsnet It's staying the same my friends The TNT deal by the way PTC is up in 27 We were talking about that So I found out about that

But as of right now Nothing changes for you guys And nothing changes for Canadians So I understand We're talking about it so much and you're like well how does this affect me it does not affect you yet i think by the time it's all said and done by the time the two years are up the feeling seems to be that they're going to try to make this like the w wd deal with netflix where you know it's it's all on the same platform

that's what they want it's just a lot easier that way but for now paramount just in the u.s australia and uh i believe what did they now it's parts of latin america um This is from Juan Wanchez, Ariel and Crewe. This is a question from my wife, Cynthia, who's always listening and occasionally watching in the background. She found it pretty incredible that you guys are able to transform the studio from the normal layout to the watch parties. How about this? People starting to notice. And even more unbelievable, the network show that is shown in some of the Yahoo ads.

How does this happen? Who's in charge of doing so? And how is everything put? Did I read this already? Or is this a different? No, it's a different question. How is this possible that two people ask the same question in a different kind of way? Anyway, you just found out.

Shout out to your wife, Cynthia, and shout out to Network. They do a nice little job. Yes, sometimes those clips will come up, and it seems like it's in some sort of alternate universe. Rich Klyman interviewing like Michael Strayhan. You guys ever see that? Oh, yeah. So a lot of it, Mitchell, sitting in our studio, you know? And shout out to the studios team as well for all the help.

They do a phenomenal job, a phenomenal job. Yeah, Tyler and the whole crew. Pizzi, this is for you. This individual Takitode See I actually really like the threads Questions a lot these days The problem is the names are just crazy

I'm just gonna call you Trippa This man says that Or a woman says that They think that you are a Beatles fan Is this accurate? Yeah I mean I got Revolver just here There it is They say from the references I always hear you dropping

And the guys always no sell them Wow I don't know about that Anyway, if that's the case Please blind rank these five Beatles songs Okay Do you know what blind ranking is by the way

It's a fun little game though we've seen GECD a few times Eleanor Rigby Fourth I thought you were going to say one because it kind of sounds like a lane No No A Day in the Life Two

Strawberry Fields forever One Wow while my guitar gently weeps four Helter Skelton three

I'm actually very happy with that I know you know none of these songs did let's be honest Strawberry Fields Have you been to

Strawberry Fields Pizee I've been there yeah I haven't did yeah Liverpool fantastic place

walked down the street where John Lennon was a no I'mby Rose in London but yeah been there too fantastic

have you what's the one in New York what do you mean isn't there strawberry fields in new york in central park they have like no they have oh that's the imagine thing where john letting got well that was outside the apartment on central park south

i do believe there's like a little tribute to them but correct me if I'm wrong here gc just by the way you asked that question did you think strawberry fields was in new york yeah in central park but i think they do have

they have strawberry fields written there somewhere or something how they well when you go it's always playing strawberry fields or imagine and everyone's like crying and taking pictures It's a bit mooch, isn't it? Down there. Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Did he get shot in New York? Yes, outside his apartment in Central Park South. I knew that. I knew that. Howard Cocell announced it on Monday Night Football. Yeah. Did you guys know that when he did the lion protest with Yoko Ono that that was in a hotel in a hotel in a hotel? Yeah.

Yeah. Did not know that. That's kind of our claim to be. I do believe it was at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, which is also the same hotel that my parents got married in. Wow. How about that? That's amazing. I feel like that is actually more of the claims.

Yeah, it's some nice bar trivia right there. And like yesterday, what was it? Oh, yeah, Manel Cap, last win on ESPN. How soon before we forget that? Who's the first win on ESPN? Do you know? I forgot already. How soon?

I'm thinking like, I'm thinking April. I could turn to Rick and be like, who on, yeah. Last win on ESPN era. Who was it? This time next year, it'll be a distant memory. Yeah, that's what I thought. It would be like,

wait, so Rick just has, Didn't Van B-Pen-Telio? First win? No, the first-win? First fight of the ESPN era. What was it? You know the headliner. Yes.

But what's the first fight? Well, we just went through the card, and I don't remember anymore. We went through it last week. What was it? It's Chance Reencounter. How do you properly say it? You always give people. Yeah, I'm not trying that.

And Kyle Stewart. Wow, bless you. Well, that was Jordan through the mic. Yeah. Just do it into your own mic. microphone next time. As somebody with a powerful sneeze, I respected, Jordan.

He suppressed that. Chance and Kyle Stewart. Damn. Legends. First fight. First fight of the ESPN era at the Barclays Center. This is for Smudga 03 for G.C.

With your love of space and reading, do you have a love of space? Yeah, this has kind of come out on the show lately. Yeah, I really enjoy space. I was wondering if you ever read the book slash series red rising one of my favorite series i would love to hear your thoughts on it if you

have read it if not i recommend you check it out i have not read it but i will check it out i need doing the book club uh i've found a new one in brooklyn haven't been the last two months need to get back on it neither i've i've switched over to a few self-help books need to get a nice novel in there need to get a nice story maybe it's red rising okay do you ever finish man search for meeting no no no because usually i'm more of a vacation reader guy okay so i will blow through it during vacation on south beach hell that's more work that's more work yeah but it would be nice thought don't tell frank that

don't tell frank that yeah I know how many tequila is he in deep now oh he's still in the plane but he will not remember the plane oh really he was slacking from the plane before no I'm just kidding he definitely ended what a guy what a guy okay here's another one from

Mish F. Kai anyway whatever uh hi a hi Ariel I'm a lifelong fan of yours and I've been watching your show since I got back watching UFC in 2020. I'm from the Philippines, and I've asked a question about Filipino food before. My question is, if I go to New York, can I be

invited for Shabbat dinner? Or if not, I want to hang out with you and the boys. I mean, Shabbat dinners a little... Like, you want me to just... That's pretty personal. You want me to just, like, invite you over, is I? That's what, yes, that's what he said. The only one on the team that has actually been to my house

is Pizzi. He's sort of like invited himself. Respect. Yeah. Frank invited himself and got denied. Yeah, you got that one. Because when Pizzi did, I was like, yeah, you know. Now the kids call them Uncle Pizzi. It won't happen again. They call him Uncle Pizzi.

It's crazy. Uncle Pete. At the time, you did scare the crap out of Claire 100%. Oh, so you traveled all that way. How are you going to sell? Yeah. Save Water, Drink Beer 21. What's up, gang?

John from Texas here. Shout out John. American needs a champ out of all the American contenders. Who do you think has the best chance at claiming gold? Kayla Harrison's American. He says, I was on the Sean Brady train, but now I'm leaning towards Josh Allen

I mean I I fucks with it I don't get it But I fuck with it What is happening? What's the brain is What the hell is Okay

Kayla Harrison Obviously is a champion Um I'm gonna say O'Malley Is in the mix The names are like Strickland O'Malley

Holloway Oh Does Gaichie winning count Sure Because Gaichie might win that title They're starting to become a thing, by the way, where people are saying that

I'llie is going to vacate. I don't think I would be surprised if I'llia vacates before January 24th and I'd be surprised if he vacates at all. I'm not... Why would he vacate? Maybe because this is going to turn into an ugly thing and keep him on the sidelines. Depends what it gets, yeah.

Yeah. But that's not vacated. It's not off the table. Why would he give it away? Maybe he just says, I don't want to hold it, you know, like here. Oh, God, I hope not. Yeah. I don't think that's off the table, just given the grab of it. I don't either, especially with the post that he made yesterday. The post that he made was not just like your typical

having issues with your wife. Like that, that was, that was... I'm with all that, but again, why willingly give it up? Hold it for as long as you can. He doesn't want to fight anymore, man. I don't know. Who knows? Let them take it from it. Everything is on the table. Vacate, give it up, stripped. It's all the same.

I'm just saying him not being champion and then the winner of Gaichi Pimble becomes the actual champion. Yeah. That's up to the UFC. Yeah. If he stripped, I would never give there's no reason to give up the belt. Do the John Jones, hold on to it for as long as you possibly can. I agree. Aaron Blanchfield?

Sure? Not bad? Yeah. Yeah? Maybe. There's some names, but I think it's very clear that Americans are falling behind in terms of prevalence as UFC top contenders. Like, this is very international.

Yeah, Strickland, Holloway, right? If Holloway could get it on a decent run, he could maybe get back up there, but there's not a lot. There's not a lot of Americans. Oh, wow. Are we saying just tight? title shot or to hold the belt? No, to hold the belt.

How about this? I don't know what the answer is. I was just looking at the top 10 of the UFC's pound for pound. Yeah. There's one American in the top 10, and he's number 10, and he's Max Holloway. And I think you can make a case for him not being in the top 10. Like, he's sort of, you know, like Josh Vand could be in there, um, Armine could be in there, et cetera.

That's wild. I don't know if that's, has there ever been a time where, there's been 10 pound-for-pound fighters, the 10 best pound-for-pound fighters and not a single American? I wonder. I feel like the answer to that is no. Yeah.

Wow. John Jones has always been there. Yeah. And then before that, it was like there was always American champion. Chuck LaDette Ortiz, Randy Couture. I guess technically there still is one with Max Al-Awe. No, I know.

A champion? Yeah, I guess. Oh, no, no, no. I just put an American in the top 10. Yeah, but he's 10. And I feel like you could make a strong case for him not being in the top. So I wonder if he falls out,

if that'll be the first time ever. Yes. If only we had a statistician who can look these things up first. You see stats are like they're kind of like tricky. A lot of the times when I Google stuff it just comes up.

At ESPN we used to have like a Slack channel and there's a guy named Andrew Davis who has a great job. Remember him? Stats of Andrew Davis. And I would ask him a question and like within two hours he would get me

some way somehow. I don't know. Let's go over to subsects. Some good ones over on threads. Here's Dominique Casiel who says, Ariel, I hope you please read this question because it impacts many of your viewers. Why are we now getting, I want a picture of Rick as I'm reading this question.

Why are we now getting live ads that interrupt the show on YouTube? It is ruining the experience for those of us watching live when your interviews abruptly get interrupted and not everyone can afford premium. Can we please go back to how it was before peace and love? Now, I do want to read Aunt Evans chimed in in the replies. So I do think it's important to get his perspective as a, as like a YouTube expert. You know, we love Andrew on here. He wrote, get YouTube premium cheapo.

I agree with Ant there, but this is ruining Rick's life. Look at this poor man. Father of three, he's been hounded, and he's only tried to lessen the ads. Dominic then replies to Ant, by the way, and says, is that a serious response, you inconsiderate douchebag? I do say that. Correct. I don't know how both are correct, but they are.

Yeah, I highly recommend YouTube premium. We have changed my life. We have made efforts, first of all, let it be known. Nothing has changed from our end up until this week. There was nothing different happening. This week, we made efforts to reduce the ads. Today, we made efforts to reduce the ads even more. So we are trying to make this happen.

Can we make a little money, too? I mean, like, you know, are we allowed to have you press the skip button once per hour? Yeah, is it that great? I mean, like, do you want us to live? Do you want our kids to have, you know, food on their table? Like, like... But yes, YouTube, YouTube, I believe, is putting more ads into the live. We are efforting on our end to do what we can to minimize that for you, to create a better experience.

Here's Sander, who says, I am really pissed about Jake Paul because due to him, you guys are going to Miami skipping boys in the back this week. I'm happy for you guys in the live show, but no BITB is ultimately criminal. wow we appreciate the support yeah yeah means a lot yeah but the live show is going to be pretty fantastic it's going to be great I mean we don't do it too often have we talked more excited for the live show

have we talked about people getting the crack on the on Thursday yes I did say that crack on Thursday there you go you're getting a great show on Thursday yes and hopefully something on Friday too here is gabriel who says Ariel I wanted to say thank you for your strong and passionate words

about the tragedy in Sydney this week I lived in Bondi for many years and now live just a few minutes away. My wife, mother, and son had planned to attend the Bondi event, but thankfully decided at the last minute to go to a nearby Hanukkah event. This is a tight-knit community, and almost everyone knows someone who is there, injured, or killed. As a long-time listener, hearing you speak about this so passionately meant a great deal,

will you come and visit Sydney anytime soon? You're always welcome for Shabbat dinner. Well, that means a lot. That means more than you know. And the feedback has been heartwarming, if only because I've heard from so many non-Jewish people this time and you know what has been great is getting so many messages from people saying

please know, please understand that this is not who we are. This is not who Australia is. This is not who Australians are. This is not what this community is about. This is not what Bondi is about. And trust me, I know. You didn't have to tell me. Like I said on the show yesterday, we love Australians. We've always loved Australians on the show. From, you know, like Volk and all those guys and to the up-and-comers coming up, like, to George Sauteropoulos way back in the day. And so Anthony Parash, like, we have always loved the culture, the people.

I love my two trips there, UFC 127 and 195. Was it 195? No, 193, excuse me, Holly versus Rhonda. I know this is not who you are. And the response has been incredible. And to see how many, you know what has also been incredible is that, I'm not seeing people be afraid finally to say, you know what, the Jewish people don't deserve this because what I thought was going to happen was going to be like, you know, I stand with Australia,

I stand with Bondi, which you should say. But I also want you to say these people don't deserve this. They don't deserve the hate that they're receiving in Australia, in the UK, in France, in Ireland, in Canada, in my home country, in my hometown of Montreal, which has been. a cesspool of hatred and anti-Judaism. That to me has been the most heartwarming thing. People speaking up that have no ties to any of this saying enough already. And so that's why I say I'm a little bit

hopeful that this could be a breaking point and a turning point. Let us see. But yeah, I send my love and a big hug to everyone over in Australia. I love Australia. I would love nothing more than to go there. We'd love nothing more. I had an opportunity to maybe go for a day in September. I got a late notice out of the blue query about a small, small, small cameo on the Street Fighter film. I hope I'm allowed to say this. And it would have literally been 24 hours in Sydney. And I couldn't do it. It was right when we were coming back from the summer break. But I was excited about going there and I thought maybe we would do the show out there or something like that. Anyway, we'd love to go back. And yeah, it's summertime over there. So what

a great way to celebrate a winter holiday. I equate Hanukkah with, you know, with snow, with being, you know, really, really cold outside. And so to see people on the beach celebrating and all the stories now coming out of the people who risk their lives, who sacrifice themselves to help others is incredibly, yeah, it's heartwarming, it's inspiring, it's brave. And I'm very proud of not only my people, the Jewish people, but the Australians of well who have stepped up and said, enough is enough. Here's Grant Young who says, Ariel, love your interview on the Click and Tell show.

Yes, I was on a show called Click and Tell. We did the interview when I was in Toronto back in early November when I was there for some CBC stuff. Enjoyed it very much. It was a very unique interview where they had a bunch of pictures on the table, and I had to pick one up and then talk about it. And they went through my social media and found some old pictures. So, Grant says, you shared a story on there that I've never heard you talk about before, about your wife coming over and sleeping in your bed one night before you guys were back together,

but you said you were scared to make a move and never did. Would you give us the PG breakdown of that night? And what has your wife said about it afterwards? Clearly, it all worked out. Thanks, legend. Well, okay, so I was an intern. 2003, summer of 2003, I was an intern at HBO Sports. I was living at the 92nd Street Y.

I did whatever I had to do to get that job and to live in New York City for that summer. So I was high up, communal bathrooms. It's me and a bunch of old dudes. And it wasn't the most glamorous thing. I had a tiny, like when I say tiny, a tiny-ass dorm, a tiny, tiny TV. I remember watching the 2003 NBA finals from my room. It was Spurs against, I believe it was Spurs against Nets, if my memory serves me correct. yes spurs against nets and anyway my wife who wasn't my wife who wasn't even my girlfriend at the time

was visiting new york during the summertime and they were very strict about visitors and so i thought there was one night we were just out doing whatever we were doing as 21 year olds and she said okay look let me come up let me visit and let me see your dorm and they were very strict about it And there was a whole hull blue, no, you can't have visitors, you can't bring someone up, this and then. And I was like, this person's going to have to sleep, you know, on the street, this person is going to, and finally they allowed it to happen. And so we went upstairs, did absolutely nothing, slept in a tiny-ass bed in a tiny-ass dorm room, and I was just like, don't screw this up. You know, because there were, you know, feelings percolating and all this stuff.

We had dated in 10th grade, 11th grade. I was like, don't screw this up. So there's not much else to say about the story. and I don't even remember talking about the story on the podcast but I guess I did because one of the pictures was of us back from that summer I had a fro and all this stuff and we just kind of like I think we might have did we sleep like head to toe I don't think so

because that would be weird I don't want to sleep next to someone's toes but it was just kind of like sleep in the bed and pray to God that you don't screw it up and I guess I didn't nobody's buying this all right on my life nobody's on my life and the bed was so tiny Even more reason I don't buy it

It was crazy You don't hop in a tiny bed And all of a sudden On my life Oh was it Was it toes It had to toe What was it? What was the thing?

On my life Nah I don't buy it Minch That's who I am Hi Ariel This may be an elementary question But I've been curious

Do you find it weird slash hard to maintain relationships With people in the Diaz world Reason I ask is With their friendship With Jake Shields Who's about the biggest Antisemite in the MMA community

Is he even in the MMA community He's in the give out black belts to people who pay him community or at least the most outspoken Love to you in the entire Jewish community with all the atrocities happening around the world Thank you my friend uh no I mean he doesn't represent Nate Nate doesn't represent him there are two people I've joked about him to Nate and he just kind of laughs it off But I'm not gonna like I'm not gonna weed out people just because they have a crazy friend I don't think that's fair Alex says

any chance we could get a last minute addition to the award show of Category's best interview and drop of the year wow he wants a drop of the year who's to check do you think Frank would do that at this point what do you think Frank

what drop do you think Frank would come back with if that was the question wait didn't we talk about this on BITB what was Frank's favorite I forget I think he said it was it's tough. I think it's tough was yeah, we just talked about this. I forget what his was, but... Yeah, I feel like who the fuck is. I mean,

who's to check? Who's to check? My man, like, there's some really great... I think he's just the closest one to him, and so that's why he always presses it. It's also just universal, right? Who's the check can apply to anything? Like, you know, you gotta have the variety available. Yeah. I like drop of the year.

I don't hate that. A Frank only category, Frank gets to select. That's not bad. It's not bad. What was his category? Which... MVP? The Mississippi. The NBA fighter in the year. Yeah. How good was that?

By the way, Ptsey, Connor reminded me of this. I totally forgot. Do you remember your tuxedo reveal last year? Oh, shit, yeah, yeah. Well, I can't do it again. Can't do it again. But that was one of the great moments.

I mean, there I say, the greatest moment of the year. The year flew by. Yes. It's hard to top. That was pretty damn good at the beginning of the year. Drop of the year. I don't like interview of the year or guests of the year because I feel like it's sort of like singling people out.

That's a losing proposition. Let's not do that one. Yeah. Here's a question for New York, Rick, from the Pied Piper of Newark. Of course, do you prefer hummus or pesto? Happy holidays, and I hope Connor finds some nice ass in my Abby so he can stop daydreaming about Frank's mom. That's crazy.

That is actually fucking insane. That's wild. That is crazy. It just, like, it happens, and then I have to slow down because I know it's coming. Frank did ask me, he's like, hey, since I'm not going to be here, can you limit the the questions about my mom's behind and I said I can't probably ask that he said it in a sort of jokey way but I believe there's a lot of ask um he said what he said did he actually ask anyway hummus or pesto are do we feel like hummus and pesto are like in the

same category dip in random two like yeah I like pesto a lot I say I'll put it this way I like pesto more than I like hummus, but I'm pretty good on both. I like both quite a bit. All day hummus for me. I mean, if I had to choose one, it's hummus. Ariel, you a, you're a L-A-N-A- guy? Ah, you're speaking to my soul. It's pronounced Lebne for my people, but I know it's spelled L-A-B-N-E-H.

I believe I've told this before. My mom used to get, my sandwiches at school would be a pita, smeared in Lebne, which is like a sort of like a yogurt, like with a little dill and Zatao, you ever have Zatau with it? I don't know. I had it for the first time on Sunday. It was unbelievable. And olives. And so I would have a rolled-up pita. Like, it's as Middle Eastern as you could get. And I would eat this thing with this, like, white, you know, yogurt-y sauce and olives. And then the worst part was having to take the pits out because I was so embarrassed as a fourth grader.

I'm like, Mom, why could you just give me a peanut butter and jelly like everyone else? It's fantastic. I love it. I went to a place Shupette. Shout out. I wish I could have it now. Yeah. so you had it for the first time in your life yeah man got hummus and i got lebna okay it was fantastic you've never had it i've never heard of that lepna no wow check it out next time we'll get it next time you come here pete on the list that in strawberry field anyone uh watch always sunny in philadelphia

i've seen many episodes okay so years ago tell us if this is accurate this is from pico's bill God bless the Ariel Hawani show. If you were always sunny in Philadelphia characters, Ariel would be Dennis, the man with the plan, and drives the ship occasionally unhinged, and rips a heart out. Frank is Frank.

Lovable, madman, interesting hobbies. Yes. G.C. is Mac? Yes. A gigat, Chad, bro. Everyone's favorite. Totally badass prefers to have roommates and a thinking emoji.

I don't know if that's a perfect description of Mac. Max's like a little... I mean, they're all unhats. hinged every single one of them. I would actually say, I would say, yeah, Rick. There's one more, there's one more. New York Jackman is,

that's how he wrote it. Charlie, A1 since day one of the people's every man holds it down, has occasional rants, and wild takes, insert Pepe Sylvia meme. No, Rick is, Rick is Dennis. Pizzi is Charlie for sure.

I like that. I'm definitely Dennis. Okay. Which would make you D. Nothing for Pizzi. You're D. Yeah, you're D. Ariel. I think I got away.

Remember they did Seinfeld and I was weird on that as well but I didn't know Charlie's lovable man everyone likes love. Here's Dave who says Ariel I've got a question for New York Rick based on his best finale's on the boys in the back last week. Why does Sarah seem to get all the blame for throwing bananas into

elimination on X's 2? Jordan seemed to disagree but didn't put up much of a fight do you think he was secretly happy with the decision also Ariel please tell GC how to pronounce Obafemi put some respect on his name. So there you go

is a future chance. champ. Rick? It's an astute point. I'm glad you're paying attention. I appreciate you diving into the challenge lore. Jordan put up enough of a fight for me to give him some culpable deniability. That was a sour decision.

And she reaped the wrath of her actions. And Johnny Banana has brought the swift acts of justice down on her neck. And I can appreciate it. And it was a great reality TV show moment. Okay. Here's Jimmy. Hello from St. Mary's, Idaho.

So this is a question better suited for the boys in the back, given Ariel is probably too humble to acknowledge his influence on MMA culture. Do you guys think it would be smart for a UFC fighter to attach themselves to Ariel's name, align with him publicly, and play up any animosity between Ariel and Dana, real or fabricated? I think it would catch on, appreciate all that you guys do, much love Jimmy. What does he mean by... So he's saying, like, you are the puppet master to a car. current UFC fighter who is going

against Dana while in the UFC? Like a Hayman style thing? Like you're attached? I don't know if that will work. Yeah. That feels like a quick exit if you try that. I mean also like I'm not going to be like walking around as your mouthpiece. Yeah.

Just come on the show. You would also be like favoriting a fighter. Yeah, it's crazy. But I do appreciate the sentiment. Ryan, hey Ariel, real Australian stand up for anyone no matter what race or religion. While there are obviously some assholes around here, please know that the real ones are absolutely devastated by what happened in Bondi. We want to get around the Jewish community

in Australia and around the world and fix this bullshit rhetoric that has no place in our society, peace and love brother. A live show in Australia would be awesome one day. See, that's what I'm talking about. This is the type of stuff that I'm getting. And I appreciate it more than you know. Bunyak says, Hi, Ariel and Boys in the Back, in light of the recent talk about the ultimately fighting championship in New York Rick's penchant for the word. It got me thinking, what phrase or comment you hear around the workplace that really annoys you? I have two. One is when a colleague responds with, well, the reality of the matter is, and number two is, and I hear this from time to time from you guys on the show, listen.

Who does it listen? Anyway, do any of you have phrases or comments that really grinds your gears? Could someone call Nicole real quick? No, I just can't. She's a big listen. It's not a word, but a corporate thing. And this could happen anywhere, but it happens a lot of work because of the elevator is when you've pressed the button for the elevator, the elevator button is lit up. It is clearly the elevator is on its way. Person walks up, gives it another mash. That annoys you. For some reason, it's just like, you think my push was not enough.

You think the fact that it is lit up and it's on its way is not enough. You think your push is the magic one to get it here faster. Okay, but here at Yahoo, you can't actually tell that they pressed it, which is the, is the, I guess that's fair. I guess that's fair with the screen thing. It's constantly lit, so you don't know, like, if somebody pressed it, you don't actually know, so you have to do that. You know what? It makes it me even angrier because you think I'm standing there like a chump without having pressed the screen. That, like, you start to, you start to, like, rage internally when this happens.

I wouldn't call it raging internally. But, like, you know, the other day it happened to me, and I was just like, I think pizza's asleep. Fuck my butt. We're angry. Peece, everything okay? They have elevators in Ireland, Pizzi. No. We're looking forward to getting our first one next year, I believe.

That's planned for the six-centrus. Psy isn't subjected to these corporate mannerisms, you know? It will circle back. Circle back on this one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Aligned. Upstream. This is from Synergy, Synergy, synergy, authentic.

No, no, what's the word? Organic storytelling. Do you guys mind hopping on a quick call? There's a person. The person who's on the team who uses a lot of, like, what is it, like initials, like PPO and PTO and all this stuff. I'm like, I don't know. Oh, there was a new word that I learned, spots and dots. Spots and dots.

Oh, you know, we could do the traditional spots and dots, spots and dots, but what is this spots and dots? This feels directed at one person. No, no, no, no, no. They are the most corporate person on the team. That's not me then. Efforting. H. Parisius. Hi, Ariol, shout out to the Boys in the B, and the WFB.

That's WFB. WFB? Anyone know what that is? What was it? WFB. Shout out to the, who was before that? Boys in the back. Boys in the B.

Shout to the boys in the B. The Walkfront bench. Oh, front bench. Oh, my God. Let's go. It's actually a one-man army today. It would be the one to know. Wow.

I feel like I'm still joined in my normal. What a pop. You always joke with fighters that when they become stars or champs, they get harder to reach. Do you notice it happening the other way around? Like when they lose their belts or on a losing streak, do they suddenly pop up again? Thanks and love your show. By the way, I was just talking about this with someone. Here's what I do notice.

I do notice that when you're scratching and clawing, I do notice that when you're campaigning, when you need a little bit of a push, very easy. And when you reach the mountain top, very difficult. anyone noticed that i guess i'm on the front lines but yes pttie like you're out there right oh i know a little about that i know all about that scratch and claw you're little you know you do to introduce to helwani that's the end of it oh stop it you know when you lose that belt give me a shout yeah i'll talk to you still i was having lunch with our booker and they were saying a lot of the same thing yeah yeah yeah yeah it's universal yeah yeah um ptt this fighter this is a true or false

this fighter will win back their belt in 2026. True or false? Zhang Wei Li. True. Giuliana Pena. False. PT?

That was your chance. That was your chance. Alex Pantosha. True. Murab. False. JDM. False.

DDP. False Magomed Ancalayev Ooh True Really? What do you think happens?

You think he I think Pereira moves the heavyweight The belt is vacated He fights someone Forer and wins Wow You think he fights the winner of

So he'll fight the winner of Yeri versus Alberg And win the belt Yeah, I think so John Jones No False Speaking of Alex Pereira

Did you see this He wrote on Social media yesterday no White House. Was he hacked again? I don't think so. But there it is. Looks like the White House is a no-go.

That's a bit... How do you feel about that? How do you think the UFC will feel about that? Because there was the hacking incident. No. I think he's fine with it. I think ultimately he wanted to fight John Jones and John isn't on the White House card.

So there you go. I think it's expected. Did you just meet yourself? No. Okay. Here's link one who says, Ariel, how's the hammy doing? Also, how long are your morning runs? What kind of five or 10K times are you pulling?

I mean, that's not get crazy. Hammie's doing much better, thanks for asking. I went to get a massage. They gave me some, like, and the massage, by the way, you ever go for a massage and say to yourself, I should probably do this more often because it feels incredibly good. I mean, it's just amazing how you feel afterwards. The feeling that I had throughout my body was unbelievable. And it felt great after that.

they gave me some sort of like cream and it was sort of like an icy hot type of feeling and now you know we're taking it slow we had a holiday party last week and we were playing a sort of beer pong type of game but it was with garbage cans and basketballs so it was like a

like a like a I don't know what would you say like a like a blown up like a big version yeah and it was who was it me and Rick against Ben Stark and Nicole and it was up to me to saved the day. Final shot, right? Rick missed the last shot.

No big deal, but I had to save the day. Sorry, what? And I did a, I had to shoot it last shot, but I did the one where it was like running, and we were kind of getting screwed. I mean, not to get into the minutiae, but we had less space than them. And I pulled it on the last shot again, re-injured it, just a sign that I'm completely old and pathetic and broken down. I do want to revisit the analysis. Was there not one shot left? No, I think you misunderstood something, though. I hit the shot before you, and it was up to you to hit it.

Was it? And I actually hit every shot in that game, and you actually didn't make even one basket. I also was on the same side, the next game, the one with less room, and I was bawling out of control. Okay. And, I mean, you were doing well. It's not about the game. It's about the injury that I sustained. Yeah, for sure, for sure.

And, uh... Foresty played true. Yeah. He threw ice on it. You threw some ice on it. We're good. Royce. Um...

You know pizza. Okay, so here's a blind rank for mysterious Frank. Let's just do it as if we were Frank. On, like on his behalf? You're dialing him up right now. Oh, you're going to call him? Yeah, I'm going to call him right now. Bro is on South Beach.

Oh, he's shit-faced. Go! I know I would be. Now, what do you think his reaction is when he sees me calling right now? Gets himself. That's something is very wrong. Oh, God. He's telling him.

Hello. Hey, Frank. How are you? live on the air right now. How's how's Miami? It's great. How are you doing? What are you doing? I'm at the venue doing a technical walkthrough with our technical director, Andy.

Okay, well, we miss you terribly. The serious man, Frank, voice is out of control right now. He's going fine on my hands. He's worried. He's worried. Well, we were wondering about two things. Number one, how many drinks in are you? Who's to check? Okay, perfect. I've had a few of my times. And number two, someone wanted to do a blind rank specifically for you. Do you have a moment?

Yeah, what's to make it happen? What's the question? Okay, Frank, please blind rank these five hilarious moments from the A.H. show in 2025. Oh, God. All right. Yeri calls Connor's genuine reaction to his win over the top, basically to his face. Three. Ariel can't or won't stop speaking Italian after his trip to Italy.

Five. New York Rick sweating his balls off while Malcolm Wellmaker is stuck in traffic Ariel coming up on the spot with the following retort to Moneyberg quote I don't get rewarded a black belt for my bathroom activities

Oh man I want to park that at one but I'm going to have to park it at four because I want to hear what the last one of us I think you guys think it's about your mom's behind But it actually isn't Oh it's not? It's not I forgot all about

It's the P.C. Carol Tux Reveal. Ah, that's a good one. That's a good one. There it is. Wow, I was, I was sure that Frank was about to get buried here. As soon as you start laughing, Rick, I was like, oh, yeah, that's... Frank, I just want to let you know that I have self-censored all the questions about your mom's behind just because I felt like it wasn't fair with you. Except for the one.

He forgot about the... Well, I appreciate you doing that, but as we know, it's part of the lore of the show now. So we've got to address it when it comes out. All right, Frankie, back to work. It was nice to hear from you. you and we'll check in later. Thank you so much. Hey, see you tomorrow, Frank.

There he is. Frank, Mysterious Frank fame. He couldn't hear you guys, so I was able to, yeah. Oh man, I was so sure that I was going that way. I really thought that that was coming as well.

Yeah, yeah. I'm glad it didn't. That was a good list. Oh, this was for fun. And to be fair, sounded completely sober to me. He did, he did. PT, this one's for you. Have you seen the Christmas Day football slate?

It's abysmal. I might have no choice but to socialize with my family. Now, when he says football, I do believe he's talking about the NFL. Is it that bad? Who's playing? I think the Vikings are playing. Who's playing? I think chiefs are out of the playoffs or in the night game. No Mahomes either. NFL. By the way, you know, Christmas Day for me has always been about the NBA. Cowboys commanders, Lions, Vikings, Broncos, Chiefs. Okay, Cowboys are still in it. Lions are still in it. Yeah. Broncos Chiefs is tough. Broncos are nasty, though. By the way, who could have predicted? Who could have predicted the Chiefs

would be out at this point? What are you going to do? Yeah. Yeah, you can just spend time with your family, man. Yeah. Oh, here's a good question. Who to Fook? Pau for Pau, Yuanian, Jacek kicks Jamal Hill's ass in under two and a half rounds. What do you guys think?

I don't think so. No. No. No. No. So there's discrepancy there. Yeah. I usually always wear a hat, and I love the Philip Rivers story.

That was unbelievable. That was unbelievable. What a guy. His press conferences were great. Everything he said was great. He played his ass off coming out of retirement 44. I thought he was going to be the backup. I didn't know he's going to go straight to start.

So shout out to him. What a story. James Portland says, Ola Ariel, do you think John Sina tapping looks worse when realizing Pat McAfee didn't in his match with Gunther earlier in the year? Yeah, I didn't mention that. some other people told me that yeah i mean i listen i can't believe it i've seen a lot of i see a lot of the apologists like they think here's the thing this is what you see online right now this is what you see online when it pertains to wrestling you're either pro w w or your anti

w and pro a w and if you're pro a w you're anti w you're anti w w like you can't just be in the middle and think that something is good and something is bad and so if you are a pro WWE person, you loved it, and you will never criticize. And if you are a pro-A-W person, you hated it, even if you deep down loved it, and vice versa. And for me, I feel very strongly, yes, I saw the heat that Gunther got. Yes, it was fantastic. It's great, and he deserves it. And of course that's what's going to happen. But my point was, Gunther should have never been in that spot to begin with. And my other point was anyone who would have beaten John in that spot had nothing to do with Gunther was going to get that reaction. Anyone, because no one wanted to see

it happen. And so let's talk, just like we couldn't fully decide if the John Cena heel turn was good or bad or the same as Hulk Hogan's heel turn back in the 90s, on the night or the day after, let's talk in three, four months, and let's see what they do with this, and let's see how it ages. Because the John Sina heel turn did not age well, regardless of what they may say. I saw John Cena doing an interview with Chris Van Fleet and he was asked, you know, what happened with Travis Scott? What happened with the Rock? Why does it matter? It is what it is. No, it does matter because we want to know. Like, we get emotionally invested in this. And I know people would just be like, stop taking it so seriously. It's like a movie. I saw the great Bill Simmons, who I love and respect

dearly, compare it to the Sopranos finale. Oh, this is going to be talked about forever. This isn't, with all due respect, the Bill, this isn't the Sopranos finale. The surprise, finale will be dissected and debated forever because we're not quite sure what happened, right? We're not quite sure if he got shot, if he got killed. It let us think and imagine and believe and it left us on this cliffhanger. Okay, that's good. That's imaginative. It makes sense. This was the Seinfeld finale, which is one of the worst finalities in the history of TV, and that's my favorite TV show. That was bad. You know why that was bad? Because no one wanted to see the Seinfeld crew get theirs. And that's what happened. They were put in jail.

They were tried. And they did this thing where they brought back all the people to, you know, shove it up there behind. No one wanted to see that. We wanted to celebrate them. And again, you tell me like, oh, well, look at the heat and look what this means. Tell that to the kids who are in attendance at the MCI Center, the Verizon Center, the Capital One Center on Sunday, who begged their parents to take them to see John Sina win to celebrate John Sina. Tell it to them. Oh, yeah, but in a month from now it's going to be great. No, on that night, they paid top dollar to witness John Sina win, to celebrate John Sina.

And they didn't get that. And not only did they not get that, not only did they not get that, they saw him quit. And a lot of you are exposing the fact that you're not fight fans. you're just sports entertainment fans because you know that if you're a true badass you at least go out on your shield and you don't tap I had Daniel Cormier in my comments saying you couldn't get this more wrong and I sent him a voicemail

DC did you want to put over steep A in your retirement fight no you didn't so why should John and if you were being submitted in your retirement fight would you have tapped no you wouldn't have you would have gone out on your shield John did neither so spare me I want to talk to our nexus about this because I have a feeling you'll have

a take or two on it and I really don't know which side of the fence he is on I wanted to have him on to recap the year that was to recap the ESPN era because when I was hired by Glenn Jacobs

to come to ESPN in 2018 the first thing they told me was we are pairing you up with this man with the bad guy with the American gangster with the one and only ChalP Sun you guys are going to do a show

called Ariel and the Bad Guy which trust me on this was a phenomenal show but they put it behind the ESPN Plus paywall. They stopped doing that after a few years. It would have been a lot more popular had it just been on YouTube like all the other shows. But nevertheless, we had a great thing going. We had a special thing going. We were doing pre-shows and post shows at the events. Long may they live forever in some way, shape, or form online. And so I wanted to have him on

to talk about all these things and more. To talk about the year that was, to talk about the upcoming year, to talk about the John Cena situation. To talk about how great he is. Is he there? No, I was just killing time. Okay. He's Chale Sondon. Chale Sondon is going to be joining us in a matter of seconds. After that, we're going to be joined by the one and only Sam Alvey, Sky Nicholson, and Holly Holmes.

So a jam-packed show. I got through a lot of questions, but there's a few others that I can squeeze in on the back end, including your super chat. So stay tuned for that. For now, though, let us go to the bad guy. Let us go to the one-and-only Chale P. son and the pride of Westland, Oregon, my old friend. There he is. Yeah, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. Ah, ooh. Chale, how are you? Happy holidays. What an incredible job you just pulled of TV magic. Thank you,

buddy. I'm sorry. I had a little technical difficulty. Can I get right into it because you brought this up yesterday. Yes. Okay. Can't wait. John Sina. Can't wait. And I, you brought this up yesterday. Now, you are so correct on this. And this is open to interpretation. And I have my own. Thank you. John Sina is not a legit badass, not like in the slightest. He didn't go take martial arts classes, right? He was doing the bodybuilding and this kind of stuff. But it's very relevant to you understand that because I don't believe in my heart that John Sina understands what it means to tap and pass out.

You don't tap. There's very different taps. If your leg is going to snap because you're in Rick Flair's figure four and you sacrifice the evening's festivities for the goodness of your health and your leg. If you tap out due to strikes, if you tap out in a chokehold, John Sina, not being a badass, does not understand the difference in those three. And moreover, an evident of the fact is he then passed out, Ariel. They not only got him to tap and quit, he then fell asleep.

Now, he fell asleep as a way of saying, I hung in there to the bitter end. It's just from a physiological standpoint, not possible. You cannot tap and not have consciousness. It's a double loss from a wrestling standpoint. It's being pinned while being technical fault. And whoever talked him into this in the back is not his friend. Whoever told him this is the way you want to do it, John, and then act like you're unconscious that you fought to the bitter end is not his friend.

And there's only a few true shooters in the back. And one of them set him up. Wow, wow, wow. So am I correct in insinuating from that response to... 100% you're correct. Sorry to cut you off. No, no, no. You hated it too.

Oh, it was awful. It was awful. I couldn't believe that he did it in Arrow. I just can't tell you how in line I am with you. I mean, again, I'm yesterday's clip, but you said, hey, listen, it's a time-honored tradition. No, it's not. It's a time-honored tradition, excuse me, comma, in the main event. It is not a time-honored condition because you're saying, say, LaV, when you're jerking the

curtain and people are still getting their popcorn and sitting down. That's brand new tradition, as a matter of fact. Now, it could not have happened to a better guy in Gunther. I think Gunther is one of the great workers. I'll just share with you, John didn't lose once. He didn't pass the torch. He lost twice. He tapped out, and he passed out, per the rules of professional wrestling. If you are separated from your consciousness, not only do you lose, if it's a title match, the title can change hands. It's not like a countout, for example, or a disqualification where the title can't change hands. It's the same as a one, two, three.

He lost twice. And my problem with it, I don't think he knows. Whoever grabbed him in the back and told him to do this pretended to be his friend. They stabbed him in the back twice. I'm so happy that you say this because I had a lot of hatred come my way and people say like, oh, you're a mark, you don't get it. This was beautiful. It was cinema. Of course the guy whose motto is, never give up.

should give up. Why? Why does he have to give up? This is the one sports entity where you can actually give people the happy ending, right? If you had your retirement fight and you were fighting some guy, we don't know if you're going to win or lose. I said this to DC. You probably wanted to go out with a win over Stepe. You couldn't do that. Don't tell me that if they would have come in the back and been like, hey man, you got to do the job for Stepe, you would have been down for that. No, you wouldn't have. So why does it have to be that way in wrestling? Now, if he had a deal on the table, chill from, let's say, 8. EW, yeah, beat that guy's ass. Do the job because now you're going to another territory. But this, and you know what they'll point to, by the way? You know what they'll point to? They'll say, look at the nuclear heat that Gunther got yesterday. Of course he's going to get heat for that. But in three, four months, no one's going to remember

it. He's going to job to Jay Uso and the whole thing's going to be forgotten. And you just robbed a bunch of people in Washington of a great moment. Do you know what these are, these little white pouches people are sucking on? No, no, no. What is it? Like, uh, what, like a... Dustin Porry, turned me on to the...

It's called a Zen aerial. I am high as a kite, right? I do not know what I just, it comes in certain milligrams. Wow, wow, you're actually high right now? This is incredible. I guess I'm lightheaded. I started giving you that rant and I had to pull back. I've taken one drink of this, which doesn't affect me like it does.

This is a three, well. By the way, the combo of that and the Red Bull, I feel like is a little bit much. What does high mean, by the way? I mean, I think when people say they're high, like everything is great. I'm not like everything's great. I'm a little light. In fact, I don't feel wonderful. I think high is supposed to be a good feeling. Do you need five minutes?

You need five minutes. Okay. Okay. Ariel. I really do think that he got set here. Listen, if I may just back up. Sure. Bill Goldberg. Now, this is a dick moved by me. This is a jerk thing to come out and point out, but Goldberg never picked up on it.

Goldberg had a level of arrogance where he wouldn't come in and pass the torch or help anybody ever. So the entire industry, this isn't Chale's opinion. I got this right from writers at the WWE because when all was said and done, they felt that Goldberg still didn't realize that he got a receipt. That Goldberg, as he's getting his bag and walking out the door, they felt like it was not Montreal with Brett Hart where he understood that he got it stuck to him by the boss. They can't get Goldberg there.

So they throw a show and they hosted as his retirement party. That's the work. That's where they outworked the worker. They got him to show up because he believed. believed it was his great signing moment. And it wasn't. They brought him in to make him look like a fool all the way down to production and cut his mic and did the whole bit. They were trying to let him know, you're not sticking it to us. And then they were upset. This is the whole reason they contacted me to come out and make sure I explain this to the world. He didn't

know. He thought like the mic just went bad and it was just, it was just, it was one of those nights. That actually irritated them. Now, I'm telling you that because I don't believe that John Sina knows that whoever came in and sat down with them until, hey, listen, you're going to tap out, but then what you're going to do, partner, is you're going to pass out. So you're going to signify to the world, I quit while showing the world, I would never give up. I've lost, I mean, they could have rolled him over and counted to one, two, three. He lost in every possible way that wrestling allows.

And then the little prick tried to do it with a smile on his face as like a way of going into business for himself, it's over. You tapped out. You're not a main event. I mean, that's another thing. Like the mere fact, you want to talk about doing the job? Doing the job is being John Cena and sewn up to his show and jerking the curtain for 12 other guys. That's the job. He then taps out. He then loses consciousness. And by the way, I'll remind you, this time-honored tradition, I know I already said it once, but it is exclusively for main events. If I go back to the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin at a WrestleMania against Kevin Owen, Austin went over to remind you.

Yes, great call. When you say main event, I mean, he was the last match of the night. So what do you mean by that? Okay. Here's the problem, Ariel. Okay, okay. My source is a guy named Joseph Dodd who told me that Sina was opening the card. Okay.

He told me that much like Uso at WrestleMania this year, where the championship match opened to the card. He told me Sina opened the card. Do I have that detail wrong? Yes, yes, yes. He actually... I did not know that. I watched, I ordered it on Peacock, I watched it, I'm a subscriber. It was on at like 4 o'clock, 4 or 5 or 6 ago.

I thought it was earlier. I thought there was more show. No, he, there was a rumor that he was going to open the card, but then he ended up being main event. So I was kind of confused by you saying that a couple of times. No, I appreciate you, correct. That's a very big deal. And by the way, this Gunther is great.

You know, Guther got put in a very hard spot. Like, he deserved critical acclaim a couple of years ago, but he's playing like this SOS agent and nobody wants to touch it, including the announcers like, you know, It was left to the audience to understand that he was with the alt-right, but they never actually said it. So then people really couldn't praise him for the character because we're all pretending that we don't fully understand what that character is. Like, it was just really weird time. And I just felt like Gunther really deserves some praise. I feel like he was one of the great workers, and I really couldn't be happier that Cina made a very bad decision twice.

And that's the part I'm here to correct on your show. He made it twice. I just want to make sure that he knows that, unlike Bill Goldberg, that walked out with his bag and never knew that he got set up. And whoever told him to do that is not his friend. Somebody in the back set him up. Can I ask if you had the pen, if you were the head booker on the night, how would you have written it? Well, first off, I would have let him go over. I believe that I would have let him go over.

And again, I would just go back to Austin with Kevin Owen. It didn't hurt Owens a bit. As a matter of fact, it helped him. Kevin Owens was in this great spot It was a great match They go into the audience I mean they take their time They let it breathe

It was a really great match And there's nothing about it Where you look back and think You know that he lost to the Rattlesnake And so I just share with you On one hand I would have considered letting him go over But two I would not have had him lose twice You know

And then if he's gonna try to be cutesy Like all the wrestlers And he's gonna try to give a smile And do some of these things I mean it just shows from an artistic standpoint That there was not an air made This was a thing exactly as he planned. He knew where the camera was where. He knew to smile to look like he's

laying there like he's chale sunning against Craig Jones. He doesn't know when to flop or when to come to so that he sells it to the audience. It was just a terrible spot. And for a guy to go out like that, not to mention this is the fifth retirement match I've watched of John Sina. I happen to believe that this is actually it. And they got very cutesy with the words. I mean, you talk about being a writer. It was the final. It was the last. They called it all sorts of things from final to last to us. I do believe that this is actually it, but somewhere in the back, somebody sat down with them and went over this. And he got advice. He did not just come up with this on his own. Somebody told him, after you tap, lose consciousness to show that you hung into the bitter

end. The problem is, it's not possible. You can't tap while asleep. They could have rolled him over and pinned him from three to 300, it was brutal. He did not need to be buried multiple times. And my hang up with it is that somebody, a real badass, somebody that actually understands mixed martial arts, convinced him to do it. That dude is a scumbag. Wow, wow, wow, and the other thing that I'll just say is, A, a lot of people were saying to me, that's what John wanted. But to your point, I believe John is the ultimate company man. And so if you pitch him on something he'll say, yeah, of course, I think deep down he wanted to be victorious in his final fight. But the last thing that I'll say on this is this idea that, hey, this is what

you do, because this is how it's always been, time-honored tradition, 1975, Portland wrestling, 1976, Memphis wrestling, you leave the territory, you do the job. Well, excuse me, for the past year we've been told, you know, WWU Unreal on Netflix, and, you know, the business has changed, and we show you behind the curtain. It's not 1975 anymore. And so we know that John Cena's going to do some movies. We know that he's done. Let us enjoy. Let us celebrate. Let him go over. Give us all the greatest hits. And we move on with our lives. So it's like pick and choose. Are we doing the time-honored tradition? Or are we doing 2025 wrestling? Because 2025 says John Cena goes over. 1975 says he loses. He does the job for Gunther. But in this day and age,

it's different. And so I don't like the back and forth. It's like we have to pick what we want to be in the year 2025. And I love that too. I love the history of professional wrestling. And in 1975, there was not social media and there was not cameras and there was not channeling Ariel talking about it after the fact. It was designed for a live house audience. I don't hate the idea that Sina went over. There are some mistakes from the past. The undertaker doing the job for Lesner is probably the biggest example. It never should have happened. And you could debate Hulk versus Warrior, but at that time when Hulk was getting ready to go off and do movies, it was, you know, it was also arguable that the Warrior beats him clean. But no, you

are right. There's another rule in professional wrestling, which is you give the audience what they want, but not what they're expecting. That was not what anybody wanted and or expected. Sina did not need to go out twice. There was so many different ways, and I think this is where you and I are aligned against the rest of the world. There was so many ways that he could have passed the torch, that if you cling to that 1975 live house business model, he could have done that. That wasn't the way to go out in such an incredible flop wasn't the way. Che let's move on. I want to get your thoughts on Ilya Teporia. He comes out yesterday with a bit of a shocking statement. This seems a lot more serious and deeper than we had originally

thought. What do you think they should do with the lightweight title? There's been some talk this morning of just making the Patty Pimbled Justin Gaci fight for the actual title. Do you like that idea? Does Ilya deserve six, seven months to figure things out? And if he can't come back, then you move in that direction. What do you think they should do with it? I'm going to dance. I'm going to do a little tiptoe, but I was at the apex a week ago.

I had a conversation, a very meaningful person in this industry, and that was the first person that ever suggested to me that Ilya be stripped. And I was a little surprised by it, and I didn't come, and I listened. Their argument, though, was that the intram belt is for those

that are dealing with an illness or an injury, if we would like to show grace to an undisputed champion, because he's missing matches specifically for illness or injury. And the moment Ilya informs us that he is missing matches for anything outside of the criteria of illness or injury, that's why you strip him, that there is no precedence for an interim championship. And I had never thought of that, and I thought it was very cold. I didn't like it. I got to my car, I went back to my hotel, him, stand by myself. And I thought about it. And I go, there's actually a point to that. If Ili is missing matches, and all he's got to do is make the claim. He doesn't have to be

telling the truth. A lot of guys didn't tell the truth. A lot of guys have missed fights and said they're hurt because they didn't want to make the walk. But if you're making a claim, outside of illness or injury, to my understanding, the person at the UFC is correct. You're not eligible. You've got to be stripped. I think that that is a fair point. I don't want him stripped. I'm on I'm an Ilius side of this. I don't really like what he's going through. I think he shared more with us than he has to. I also think he's innocent. He seems like a good guy.

I really don't think that he would have done these things. However, yeah, they got to strip him. If he's not making the claim that he's injured and has some kind of a doctor report to back it up as bogus as those can be, he's got to be stripped. Prior to the Dan Hooker, Armand Surukian fight, Dana White was asked if they were fighting for the number one contender spot. He said yes. And then, of course, Armin wins. And then we find out that the interim title fight is not. not featuring Armant Surukian, and he said he's ready to go,

and it was going to be a little over two months after his fight. And then Dana White said, I don't care about the ranking next to his name. He's got to earn our trust back, essentially, right? You had the title fight, you screwed it up, you got to work your way back. How do you feel about the way in which they are treating Armant Sirukian? Well, I would have this question because there was a couple of different moving parts. Just by example, when it was stated that Armin and Hooker, the winner of that would fight for the championship, they were referring to the undisputed championship.

just to start with. So now that we find out we've got to do an interim championship, in some ways, right, you're only as good as the information that you have. And secondly, I would just remind you, Armand's next fight may be a championship fight. Armand hasn't been booked again. So sometimes, even when you have a number one contenders match, sometimes the next title fight doesn't involve those guys, but that guy's next fight does involve the title. So we've got to let that play out just a little bit. I talked to to Sarukian and he is not happy about this. I thought perhaps he didn't want to turn it around this quickly. He was booked after all with Hooker for five rounds, even if it didn't go

the entire way to remind you the night that Surukian was suspended. U.S. 300. He's walking to the ring and he punches somebody on the way to fight Charles Oliver. I was there. They were inducted me into the Hall of Fame that night. So they brought me right up to the cage. I witnessed Hunter Campbell, I witnessed the conversation where Hunter met Sarukin at the stairs and offered him to go to Atlantic City and fight Islam. And right there in that moment, Sarukin said, no, it's too fast. And that fight was like a five-week turnaround. Surukin said, no, it's too fast. I want to use my number one contendership another time. They went in the back, called Dustin Porier, go to the press conference and make the announcement. I tell you that whole story to let you know

that I reached out to Saruki and just wondering if perhaps that's what happened here. Perhaps it was too quick of a turnaround. That's not the case. He wanted the title fight, but you're only as good as the information that you have at the time. It's a fair point. I do want to say, you said Atlantic City, and that was coming up. It was actually the newer card, same state, but you're right. They did ask him for the quick turnaround. I just feel like when I hear, you know, I'm reminded of Henan Burrow, part of UFC 177. He was supposed to fight T.J. Dillashaw. Way in day, he slipped, hit his head, you'll recall, and in-entered Joe Soto. And they made Hennon go and fight someone else named Mitch Gagnon, and then he won that

fight and then got another crack at T.J. And so I feel like the guy paid his dues, he beat Hooker, and now let him fight for the belt. You're right, though, if Iliad doesn't come back and who would have known, and maybe they did know and just didn't tell us, he should fight the winner of Gaichi versus Pimblet. I mean, I think it would be shocking if he doesn't. But the problem is, if Ilya does come back, how do you not give the winner of Gaichi versus Pimblit the shot at Ilya, right?

You win that interim belt. That should mean that's your lottery ticket to fight the champion. And now Armin is SOL, as they say. He's on the sidelines looking in. That's a really great. I hadn't thought it through in that regard, but yes, you're right. And we saw a little bit of that with the heavyweight division

where Aspinol actually defended the championship. And yeah, it gets a little bit weird. I hadn't thought of it like that. Listen, I'm not making a push for Iliad to get stripped. My push to Ilya, and if he sees this, is get well soon. Whatever's going on, I'm pulling for Ilya. There is a very legitimate point, though. Like, if we don't strip a guy for missing matches, even if he's got a heartache,

why do we strip a guy? I mean, is that like Jack Tunney days, and you've got to miss 365 days? You've got to set up an escrow account, like the Ultimate Warrior when he used to no-show. Like, why do we strip a guy? And just to remind you back to Prohaska, they misdiagnosed him and took the belt off him in seven days. on a misdiagnosis. They called it the worst shoulder injury they'd ever seen, which was false, said his career was over, none of which was true.

And when he returned, they didn't even put him in for a title fight for the belt that they took off of him. So I'm just sharing if we're going to use history as a trajectory to the future, the person at the UFC who suggests to me that you must have illness or injury to be eligible to hold on to your belt for refusing to defend makes a good point. I'm wondering if we missed a huge story in the last 24 hours. Alex Pereira, you may have seen, posted White House as a no-go. And we know that Alex has said he wanted to move up to heavyweight

and fight on the White House card against who, John Jones. We know that John Jones came out and said, I want to be on the White House card and I want to fight Alex Perra. We also know that Dana White said, no, John Jones isn't fighting on the White House card because I can't trust him in that spot. He let me down. I offered him $30 million. He said yes.

Then he said no. And we screwed up the whole Tom Aspenal. situation. Do you think, if this is in fact true, and I don't see why Alex would lie, if they are saying no to Alex fighting on the White House card, which means they're also standing by their claim that they don't want John to fight on that card, is it possible that that's it for John Jones? Because everything that he said was, I'm coming back for the White House card. He never said, hey, I'm coming back to fight Alex, and I'd love to fight on the White House card, but if they don't give me the White House card, I'll fight on another date. It seemed to be all hinged and attached to

the White House card. Do we just finally get to see the end of John Jones? Is this it in your opinion? Yeah, well, but which it lies the problem. I forgive John Jones. And John Jones is going through a lot right now, and he's kind of like Ely aware. I like to give him

a hand up and wish him well. But he's missing the point. What's he going through right now? The company coming out and saying that they can't trust him and then him making a demand that he will only fight on one. That is what they're saying. Then we can't trust you.

Nobody gets to pick what card they come back, and they only come back for this. John's doing his best. He's just not very bright. He doesn't understand that that's what he's doing. He's trying to be a team player and go, man, I'll fight anybody. I'll fight Asimol. I'll fight Surreal. I'll fight Pierre.

He's missing the point that he's making a demand, and he doesn't get to be dyslective. The real controversy going on with John Errol, in my opinion, he's not ranked. And he's not only not ranked on the pound-for-pound list. He's not ranked at heavyweight. There's only a couple of reasons why your name would not be submitted to the rankings committee 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning. And one is you're not under contract with the company, which we know not to be true. And two is you're in violation of a drug test, which I do not suggest for you is true.

I'm suggesting there's a third unprecedented reason. But the rankings committee is not ranking John Jones, and nobody's asking about it. Nobody's brought this up on your show. That's a conspiracy to the highest level. How do you bring him into a main event? How do you bring him into a title fight? If he's not even ranked in the top 15, by the way, how do you have a guy that's never been beat, not ranked in the top 15?

Somebody owes an answer for why John's name is not being submitted to the rankings committee. Do you still think the rankings committee is a real thing? Yeah. Really? And by the way, by the way, I really expected that note I just hit to go over a little harder. Because I don't believe it's not a real thing. I don't understand why they don't care. The rankings committee is not a real thing.

It's not a real thing. I actually think that a lot of those people aren't actual human beings. I think they're just names. I don't blame you for that. We go into detail. I think that you're attempting to be funny. But it doesn't matter to a degree. Like, we'll have a guy that's ranked number six.

I mean, they're doing it with Patty the Batty right now. Right now they're saying, how is Patty fighting for a bell? Armin is ranked number one. And Patty's ranked number six. They did it with Strickland when he got a title shot against Adasanya. I mean, I'm just sharing for you. Like, we usually don't go outside of the. top five. If we go outside of the top five, it makes a headline, and there's like this

the Khalil Roundtree was ranked number eight, and it was just like front page news when he got a shot with Pierre. So to a degree, the rankings do matter. And more importantly, if you're going to publish them, and you're telling me there's 15 heavyweights that you believe can beat John Jones, I think you owe an explanation. True or false, John Jones fights in the year 2026? Well, he'll certainly try to fight. John Jones does not have enough money to walk away from the sport. He will certainly try to fight. I think that he's playing his cards the wrong way. The White House card is, it's turned into like a reward. I don't know that that was ever the intent, but everybody wants on that card. It has turned into a reward. So there is some

issues from a morale standpoint, if you bring a guy in that walked away from the belt, did X, Y, and Z, went to the media and made a few bags, and he takes a spot that somebody else that traveled the road. I mean, it's largely the conversation we're having about John Cena and passing the torch to Gunther in such an incredible way. That happens in our industry as well, and to keep morale within locker, I mean, you could say, well, it's the biggest fight, but come on, that's not true. There's lots of biggest fights. By the way, speaking of time-honored traditions. Surely you agree that an interim title fight that doesn't feature the number contender or even the champion. Surely you agree that shouldn't end the night above an undisputed

title fight involving the greatest female fighter of all time and a two-time Olympic gold medal. Surely you agree with that, right? And I'm not as bullish on that. Really? I realize that historically, we were told that it wouldn't finish the night. We've been told that the undisputed title takes presidents over the interim championship, which, by the way, does beg a little bit of question. I mean, it's better for the company, if that is for the undisputed championship, and the fact, and they could have made it that. They could have taken that belt off of Ilya, and it would be better for them if they had, but they didn't.

I think they should get credit in that regard. I think they should be looked at and gone, hey, you guys are making an effort to do the right thing by whatever understanding you're coming to that conclusion, but you're at least making a sincere effort to do the right thing. Aaron, I don't really know about that. I think the biggest fight should close out the night. I've always thought that. I got put in this spot, though.

I fought Rampage Jackson, and they closed us out with the main event. And we'd sold out the arena, but there was a title fight, and it created a problem. There was a problem at the press conference. It was a five-round title fight. This was Bellator, so we didn't do five-round non-title fight. So we were clearly not as significant of a match, not even in the amount of rounds. And we still closed out the night, and Scott Coker said, what do you want me to do? These guys are on the marquee.

These guys are the reason you're coming. These guys are going last. I think Coker was correct to do that. I don't think just because there's a belt up that it changed things too much. But I will admit that I was in the spot, so maybe I'm just defending myself. I'll just say I consider myself somewhat of an MMA historian. I remember your fight against Rampage. I do not remember the fight that you headlined over.

I think Kayla Harrison versus Amanda Nunes isn't any other fight. It's not just some throwaway a Bellator title fight. It's the greatest of all time coming back against a two-time Olympic gold medalist, PFL champion, UFC champion. It's a big deal. It's a historic fight, dare I say. Yeah. Yeah, I'm rather excited for it as well.

Do you remember which fight? I don't know why they're fighting at 135, Errol. I mean, that part's just, I mean, I get it that that's where the belt is. Neither one of them weighs 135. Neither one of them wants to make 135. I don't know. You could have brought the 45-pound belt back. At the end of the day, what difference does it make?

But I will tell you this. They had the opportunity to do that fight when it was a little bit hard. hotter and they didn't do it. I mean, what do you want, you want to come in and reward them? Because one gal walked away and now she's walking back into it. So, well, why are you back? You're not better now than you were then. You don't have new training partners now than you do then. It doesn't pay more now than it did then. Like, why are you coming back? I think that that's a reasonable question. I've never been satisfied with that answer. I think it's a big fight. I'm happy that it's happening. But it's going to be a one-off. Neither one of those

gals is going to continue to beat the scale at 135. Neither one of those gals would even pretend to you that they're going to be. Whoever loses that fight will never weigh 135 again. The whole thing's a little bit weird. I'll play along, but it's a little weird. Chair, the last time we spoke to you,

you were in studio, and we were talking about Francis Aguano. This is right after he said thanks, but no thanks to the Jake Paul fight. Of course, Jake Paul's fighting Anthony Joshua this Friday. Since then, I have spoken to Francis, not only about that decision, but also about the story that Dana White said about things getting a little physical in his office.

It seems as though the public sentiment is turning against Francis over the past month or so. It really feels like there's been a groundswell of, I don't know, some negativity coming his way. How do you feel about the way in which he's handling this from a PR standpoint? Well, it's so interesting. I guess I like bad guys because I do not like Francis, but I've liked him more in the last month. I liked his appearance on your show. One thing I got to give Francis credit for is he will face the hard questions. He doesn't run away from them.

I don't understand in the least how a dumb dumb can say what makes sense. Like if you get a call from most valuable promotions that's offering you a multi-million dollar main event, how you can then say that doesn't make sense to me is laughable, but that's his life. Like I can't be upset with Francis for harming Francis. If I'm a Francis naysayer, which I largely am, Francis's decision hurt Francis. It didn't help him, so I don't have to understand it, but then to have a real professional like Anthony Joshua step in and go, a dumb, dump, move aside, let me show you what makes sense. And now he gets to go make the money and have all the fun.

That part of it brought me an evil pleasure, but I did see your breakdown of Francis in the physicality in the office, and you are correct to know. noticed that that has changed slightly. And that story had been around for years. I heard that story for years that Francis made contact. Not that he did with Dana, but I knew that he did with Hunter. I didn't believe the story. I never talked about it because I never believed it, but our industry had heard it.

And I didn't believe it just because I thought they would have fired him right on the spot. But at any rate. It is a little funny, though, to say, like, hey, I never wanted this guy. He's a bad guy. Now you see the real him. Now you see why we didn't want him here. When they cut ties with him three years ago, they did come out and say, we offered him the biggest deal. We offered him a fight against John Jones.

Like, which is it? Did you not want? And by the way, that incident happened, if my memory serves me correct, around like 20, what was it? It was UFC 220. That was like 2018 or so. Like that was seven years ago. He left in 2023. So it feels like there's like a revisionist history thing going on.

Like, this guy was never a team player. he was a nightmare to deal with, when in reality, they offered him a lot of money to fight John Jones to stick around and he didn't want to. Yeah, I think there's a truth to that. And I told you about my altercation with Francis. I told you about that in the park. Dallas, right? Yeah, but I only bring that up because Francis didn't really do anything.

I mean, he turned around and he raised his voice, but that was the same thing I was doing. I'm just not as frightening looking as Francis. I don't think we can hold against Francis that he happens to be a really frightening looking person. I think that Francis's actions for the most part are probably in line with what a lot of other people would do, but maybe he gets a little bit harsher criticism because he is a individual that would go into the category of terrifying. I don't know that that's his fault. I think Francis gets a little bit of a bad rap in that regard. Chelle, here's my take. My take is if Jake Paul beats Anthony Joshua this Friday,

it's the greatest upset in the history of sports. It's, it's USA, USSR 1980 Miracle on Ice It's not like We're not talking Like combat sports or boxing It's bigger than Buster Douglas I can't believe the odds

Are like that small In Anthony Joshua's favorite Like he should be a minus 20,000 Given his resume And given what he's done Do you agree with me Or do you feel like You know

All right it'll just be a win over A guy who just got knocked out No big deal Oh no no Those odds are a hundred percent representative That the public does not believe that this is a shoot. This is the most obvious sporting event of my lifetime. That I have never, not in a local little league game, there has never been a sporting event in my time

on this earth that has more obvious of an outcome. But you are right. The odds aren't totally reflecting that. And I've even seen some fighters. You know, Shakur came out. I think it was only your show Wilder came out and was talking about, well, you know, Jake Paul could win. And it's such an insult to boxing. It truly is an insult. What happened with Francis and Tyson Fury shouldn't have happened. What happened with Francis and Joshua should have happened. That's exactly what should have happened.

And that's exactly what should happen with Joshua and Paul. And I think that that is fully the public's perception. Just this match is so peculiar that the odds are a little tighter because people aren't convinced that this is a shoot. It is a shoot. I believe it's a shoe, but I'm just telling you, there is nobody, including Jake Paul's brother, that believe Jake Paul can beat Joshua in boxing. Do you think they made a big mistake here? Like, on Saturday morning, will they say that was a bridge too far? Yeah, yeah.

I mean, it's a really interesting one. Sean O'Malley's very good friends with Jake, and Sean said I am concerned for him. And that is a real thing. Like, you know, all I can do is put myself in somebody else's shoes. but like if I if I picture in my head and I got my gloves on and Anthony Joshua's coming at me and I have nothing I can do with him except right and left's hands that that is a a legitimately dangerous uh situation that is a a legitimately dangerous where the the Florida commission could owe explanation um type situation so you think Anthony wins oh yeah yes I mean it is it is

truly the biggest mismatch in sport of my lifetime. And I respect Paul for doing it. By the way, I don't have any problem with him going out and showing this courage. But yes, of course I think Anthony's going to win. But I believe in boxing. I think boxing is real. McGregor came out with no experience against the best ever and showed that boxing isn't real. Francis came out with no experience ever against the World Heavyweight Champion. And according to one licensed judge should have been awarded the belt that night. So perhaps I hold boxing to a higher standard than it, than it deserves. What is your level of interest, Tyrone Woodley

Anderson, Silva? I will tell you in wrestling, in my sport of wrestling, there is nobody stepping in in their adult life that's going to get the jump on Sanderson or Burroughs or Cormier of any of our great. I mean, it would truly never happen.

Woodley Anderson, your level of interest? I'm into it. I'm into it. I think, you know, it's, I'm not going to be able to sleep the night before, you know, but I'm into it. There's something there. I know that both of those guys would like to win. That's enough for me.

I wish they shorten the rounds. Those guys need to be out there for three to four rounds. Okay. You know, it's always the problem in boxing. The worst part of a boxing event is the boxing. Like, if you can just turn and burn and get us to the next package, boxing would be a lot better as a sport. Okay, fair enough. How are you

feeling, by the way? I feel good. Am I little talkative? I gotta tell you. You know what I like? Whatever that does, you know, it's supposed to be like an energy boost. I feel like you're comfortable right now. Like your leg is up. I feel like you're having a great time. Like this isn't, you're not, basically, you're not being saddled with a partner who doesn't

give and take. You know, I know you say goodbye to your partner yesterday on your other program. You're being saddled with a partner who knows how to play ball and knows how to make you look good. You know what I'm saying? I most certainly am. I've had a great time. By the way, I know you've got a whole array of guests.

I'm not trying to say goodbye, by the way. Are you trying to say goodbye to me? I just wanted to check in. Oh, but I appreciate that. I'm doing great. How do you feel? It's the end of the ESPN era. You have been at ESPN longer than any of us.

You were there prior to the deal. And I would imagine, by the way, are they going to keep you around? Are you just going to show up for big fights? Like, what is the status of your deal with ESPN? I don't know. Well, my ESPN deal will expire on January 1st. I've worked my last date. Wow.

But unfairly, I believe they have to pay me until the first of the year. If you just weren't like the ins and outs of the deal, and then as far as the paramount goes. Yes, tell us. I don't know. I don't know how that works. I don't know if Paramount is even bringing in a crew or if the UFC and that's all going to happen at the apex,

I don't quite know from a production standpoint how that all works or what that means for me. Okay, but do you feel sad about the end of ESPN? It was a great run. It was a great platform for you. We had a good time, right? Yes. Do you remember that?

ESPN was awesome. It was great. And the people were awesome and yes. Yes, I believe that I've been at everything. at us chale look at us we look great look at us well we look young yeah we do look young we do look young younger I guess but uh the um ESPN really really really was a great bunch of people as you as you know Jake and Elizabeth and won't even start the the name game but yeah I will I will miss on a personal level I believe I've been I believe I've had the

good fortune of being at every pay-per-view for the last seven years which is which is pretty cool I'm a fight fan right I don't think of myself as an announcer or a sports announcer, I'm a fight fan. So, yeah, if I can go to those things, man, it was, I consider myself fortunate. Yeah, no, it was an incredible run. I keep asking you this because I'm curious, have you decided

about the political thing, or you were still kind of waiting on seeing how things play out? I'm waiting to see how things play out. Okay. My position is not changed. We're waiting. Okay. I either get picked up on the Paramount deal or I run this

great state. Then I basically, have been running anyway. Not from an authoritative standpoint, but nothing happens in these streets without my approval. That is a true statement. I always felt, by the way, at the beginning of us being

like this sort of arranged marriage, we had a great relationship, I always felt at the beginning that you were sort of like refuting it because historically you felt like the relationship here is, I'm the guy, I'm the dweeb, I ask you questions,

superstar fighter, and then I ask the new answer and then I ask another, But the way the show was, was like, we both had our turn. And I think that grinded your gears. I think you hated that. And I think at the very beginning, you were sort of pushing back. Am I right on that?

That could be. I want to deny it. I don't completely remember that. I do remember sitting at the Barclay Center with you. And you were zoned out on your phone for like the second or third day in a row, not giving me company. And I said to you, why is it you think that you don't have to provide me with company? And you put your phone down and you said, let me. tell you something. If you ask me anything about this phone again, I'm going to shove it up your

ass. I remember you saying that clearly, and I remember you and you're different. And then you said to me, you go, you know, you think I'm a bit of a dweeb, but I'm not. And there was something about that moment. Like, I've told other people about that. I've told Tyrone Woodley and Chris Wyman, I've told people about the time you threaten to shove the phone at my ass for thinking that you were a dweep. And you were wearing like this stocking hat that was only partly like it was just balancing on the top of your head. You could not have looked like more of a dork while insisting to me that you were a cool guy. Yeah. And I really appreciated that moment. That was a bit of a turning point. I appreciate that. You know what I also remember

from that night? It was a big night for the company. And the president of ESPN came to say hello to us, Jimmy Pitaro. He was wearing a very cool leather jacket. I think he may have brought his his son as well, brought some other important people, and I'm like, oh, I got a chance to meet the president of ESPN. I'm excited about this. And you're kind of like, hey, bud, cool jacket. And you're talking, you're very casual, nonchalant. He leaves. You turn to me and say, who was that? And I tell you, Jimmy Vittar, president of ESPN. You remember that? Jimmy Bittar was a very handsome guy, and I do remember that jacket. And it turned, I said, where'd you get the jacket? And it turned out that it was a holiday gift from his wife. Yes, that black

Jacket. Yes. Wow, you even remember the source of the... He actually said that. He goes, oh, thank you. I got it for Christmas. Yeah, yeah, he was really nice. That was my one and only interaction with Jimmy Padra. Then I saw him years later and I go, hey, I'm the guy that complimented your jacket. He had no idea, but he pertained. Oh, yeah, yeah, I remember that. We had a great run doing the pre and post shows. I thought it was going to be a great thing. I thought we were going to be the Ron McLean and Don Cherry of ESPN. It only lasted about six months. One of the great memories I had was when John fought Alex for the second time and you tried to ask him a question. And he said, I'm not going to answer your question. And he said, I'm not going to answer your question. Do you remember that? As fate would have it, he now hates the two of us. So he wouldn't have answered any of our questions at this point. But that was a little bit awkward, I thought. But you were a pro. You sat there. You took his wishes to heart.

You didn't ask any more questions. But I didn't think that that was very kind on his part. You know, I appreciate that. I just had that happened to me from Islam. That just happened at this Madison Square Garden car. Really? I got brought out a day early or two days early. The whole team comes up from Bristol.

I mean, there's six or seven of us. We're going to sit down, we're going to make this piece, and I'm going to interview Islam. And I get to the event, and I had a bit of a weird feeling. Call it a six-sets. And pretty soon, he's not on time. And pretty soon an hour's gone by. And pretty soon a couple of hours has gone by. And I had heat with Islam that was very unwarranted on Twitter earlier this year.

When Islam was leaving the division and Iliate Tepori was coming up, and there was, Islam was wrong. He actually thought I said something about him that I did not say. It was a cultural misunderstanding, but he came at me on Twitter. And it's like, Islam, this is my gimmick. I have no choice. I have no choice but to come back and bonk you on the head like the hammer with the nail. So I do.

And then surprisingly, he fired back. And so it turned into like this back and forth on Twitter. And all of a sudden I'm in this fight with Islam. and I'm ridiculing him beyond belief, but I really don't want to. Like, it was really based on a misunderstanding. At any rate, I have this stored away as the hours are going by, and Islam's not showing up to this interview. So I finally get the notice from Charlie. He looks at me, goes, Chale, you're clear.

Wow. And, yeah, he didn't say Islam has refused to interview with you. He didn't say to say, you just said, Chale, you're clear. And, you know, I'm there with my father-in-law, and it's like, hey, Islam, this is my job. If you don't interview with me, they don't need me. And one thing we don't ever do was mess with the other dude's livelihood. So, Charlie says you're clear. Now, when he clears me, I notice that Brett has entered the room.

So I'm thinking, all right, they're trying to get me in a car, get me the hell out, bring Islam in another door so we never see each other, put bread in, make the spot, get it over to Bristol. Which I'm completely fine with. But it turned out that Islam refused to interview with Brett as well. He refused the entire segment, which, by the way, was better for me. It was better for me than if he just denied me. But I did try to explain that to him after the fact. I'm like, hey, whatever this is on Twitter, this is my job.

Don't come after my job. Don't play that. You don't want to play that game with me. You may be the champion of the world. Don't play that game with me. I've been here 19 years. Let's not use positioning. You're not necessarily going to like how that goes, champ.

Wow, wow, what do you say? Well, this is all through Ali. And I really was trying to make amends. I was standing my ground through strength, but I was really trying, hey, we don't come after, you know, think of it from this perspective, Islam. Because I don't think Islam understands, I came in two days early. I got Cowboy Steve, this entire team here, and these cameras is here for this one interview. Yeah.

I don't think he understood those things. I think he was just doing his media tour. He goes, that guy said something about me. I don't like him. Kind of like the John Jones thing. Like, hey, Islam, this is actually a little bit different. You're stepping in, you know. they don't need me. If you're not going to talk to me, they don't need me. And that's, I don't, I don't think that as mad as he is at me, he would like me to be fired from my job. I don't think. So, I think after explaining that, that, we're likely cool in the gang.

Okay. But it was a little bit of a weird thing. I must tell you, because I never had heat with Islam. I really like, I really like Islam, and I really like that, that team. And he, he, there is historically, though, I am correct. Islam was the champion of the world at 155. Islam had not made an agreement with the UFC at that point that he was going to go to 170. When Iliot-Torriot enters the portal, if you will, at 155 and tried to fight Islam. Islam left without fighting him. That is historically an accurate timeline, which, by the way, is the only thing I pointed out, and Islam had a big problem with that. Okay. By the way, speaking of someone who you may have heat with, what's up with you in Locke-Dog,

Venisius Olaver, I see you guys going back and forth all the time. Okay. So I don't know where that started exactly, but that was also a Twitter beef. And definitely me. I definitely threw the first punch at that, but I can't quite remember where that. It was like you were critiquing his like his weightlifting skills.

No, that was after the fact. He put out a video. He put out a video of his own Twitter of knocking out sparring partners. He drops like three guys. And I'm going to Hey Man as a professional fighter that's paid to do this on TV. That's a scumbag. move. Like, first off, why are you knocking guys out? Secondly, why would you have a buddy that films it? And then third and finally, why would you show to the world, right? These workout

partners and their only time of getting a glimpse in the world is them falling down to you. I thought it was a weird thing. I thought it was bad form. And he said, well, you know, Alex Pira does this all the time. And Alex Pier is, is praised when he drops sparring partners. Why are they treating me this way? But when he came to me, he then called me a job. Now, he was trying to call me a jerk, but he misspelled jerk, not to mention jerk by American standards, is not a very high level of insult. In fact, it's kind of playful. So when he called me a jerk, in my opinion, that we both basically lowered our guns

and continued on in more of a friendly matter. I don't know if he would agree with that or not, but that's really how I meant that. I do stand, but he should be knocking out training partners. And he damn sure shouldn't have a guy on the mat filming it. That part I'm very correct about. One more sticking with 135. Did Marab make a mistake? Did he make the walk too many times?

He'd still be champion. No? Well, yes. From that regard, would he be the champion? Yeah, sure. Did he slow down or was his performance hindered? Yes. By doing four fights?

No, of course not. I mean, I got to tell you, my only resentment in this sport, and I came in the sport of wrestling, we only got to do it three times a year. I would do wrestling matches four and five times a day. Like every Saturday, you'd get 20 matches in a month if you were a decent wrestler. No, four weigh-ins, four training camp, four walks, no. I used to fight, and I'm not different.

I used to fight two guys in a night, Ariel, multiple times I have been in tournaments where I've had to fight two men in a night. There is no truth that doing something and getting repetitions is a negative. That's just simply not true. It's a lot of weight cuts. It's a lot of, you know, miles on the tires. It's four. It's not a lot. It's four.

I mean, even no one else does that. No one else does 25. But it's still four. It's one more than everybody else does. Everybody gets three fights a year. He got four. And that's the one he lost. He can pretend it's a lot.

It's not a lot. And that's when he lost to the guy that he dominated the first time. Yeah. No, you make a fair point. I'm just telling you that an athlete does not, you know, slow down by doing something. And then we always tend to judge it. You know, like, for some reason, we give Joshua Van absolutely no credit. He's making his fourth walk as well, but they weren't title fight, so that somehow changes things.

Like, that whole thing is just weird. You, or then look at Amanda, and Amanda's going to return after not doing it all, not making weight. I mean, the biggest question mark you should be putting on the Amanda fight is not the placement on the night. The biggest question mark is, do those girls make weight? And that is not a guarantee. The fact that that fight ever goes off as a title fight is probably the riskiest bet you, could currently make. Remember I said that. And my only point, though, she's the one that would have to answer for it for not being in there for a year or a year and a half. Not a guy that's getting

repetitions. Repetitions are good. I promise one more. Did Lorone Murphy Molfsar get shafted? Should they be next for Alex or did they make the right call with Diego? Yes, I thought that Lorone, particularly after what he did to Aaron Pico, I was in the building that night and I was so impressed. And I have a contact to Lerone through Luke Farnot. And I just went to Luke and go, hey, just so, for my own edification, what happened here? Did he get off for the match? And it was too short of notice. And Luke said no. He got, he was straight up overlooked. He said that Lerone made it very clear he will fight him anywhere, anytime at any way class. So I think that that's good for the future. I think that, you know, I love to see both of those guys get an

opportunity at some point. There's only so many. opportunities to go around. You just found out that Hernandez at 185 pounds, that he's got a fight again when he's won nine in a row. The old time record is 10 in a row, and that's held by Marab. But Marab was off for the title fight after eight in a row. It was Aljo and he didn't want it. So I'm just sharing, like sometimes there's not enough titles to go around. There's not enough opportunity to go around. Chale, happy holidays. This was fun. Much love. Let's do more often. You know, if it doesn't work out with DSPN, Paramount, and the politics, you always have a home here, my friend. You know, do you know that the Oregon politicians watch this,

do you understand? They tune into this show to figure out what I'm going to do. And, I have to come on and I have to be, I have to act. It's an act. It's an act. I will walk through that field so incredibly easy and fast. They will spend millions of, when I try to tell them, save your time and money. I'm going to rig this thing. The moment I found out, you could rig, steal, and cheat in election, I knew I was going to be your governor. God bless you. Thank you, Chale. Bye, Ariel. Happy holidays. There he is.

The one and only, Chale Peace, Son, and always a pleasure. It flies by anytime he's on the program. I absolutely love it, and I had a great time with him for those first three years doing Ariel and the Bad Guy, and, of course, we'll still be friends. We're still friends. He comes on the show all the time. I absolutely love it. A great little tour around the world of combat sports. A little wrestling, a little boxing, a little of MMA as well.

Holly Holme is going to join us. She knows about boxing in MMA. Sam Alvey, Sky Nicholson as well. But I do want to tell you about a bit of a breaking story, if you will. It is coming out of Las Vegas. I'm seeing this on MMAFighting.com written by Damon Martin. It's about Isaac Delgarian. A bit of an update.

Isaac Delgarian remained suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission after suspicious betting activities surrounded his recent fight in November, where the former UFC fighter was heavily favored to win, but ultimately suffered a first round submission loss. You guys know, okay, this is the background, this is the background, this is the background. On Tuesday, that is today, the Nevada Athletic Commission extended a temporary suspension first handed down on November 5th while also revealing the accusations against Delgarian. Here's the quote, the respondent, Delgarian, is believed to have engaged in conduct,

which is deemed by the commission to reflect a, the respondent is believed to have engaged in conduct, which is deemed by the commission to reflect a discredit to unarmed combat. Nevada Deputy Attorney General Matthew Feely said during the hearing, an investigation into this matter is ongoing. After revealing the accusations, Fili then read a portion of a letter submitted to the commission by Delgarians' attorney James Hobb. This is from James, who is Dolgarian's attorney, quote,

as you know, it has been alleged in correspondence from the state of Nevada that there are grounds deemed, by the commission supporting the temporary suspension of our client, Isaac Delgarian, while Delgarian or Mr. Delgarian denies any claims of conduct reflecting discredited in the field of unarmed combat, he consents to another extension of the temporary suspension.

After the betting lines. Investigation into the situation is still ongoing. As for Delgarian, he'll remain suspended by the commission until the investigation is completed and a potential education. agreement is reached. So there you have it. Bit of an update.

Nothing groundbreaking, if you will, but he's still suspended. So let us see. By the way, I forgot to mention this at the top. Today is December 16th, 2026. It was, oh boy, no, it's 2025. Gosh, I got ahead of myself.

It was 15 years ago today, my friends, that the final WEC event took place. It was WEC 53. I had the great pleasure of being there. Actually, it was on the broadcast with Molly Karam and Uriah Faber for Verses, which then became NBCSN and the co-main event. A young man named Dominic Cruz beat Scott Jorgensen to become the final WEC Bantamway champion. And by doing that, he also then became the UFC.

bantamway champion. Here are some photos from that fight. It was another great performance by The Dominator. And afterwards, he became the UFC bantamway champion because they were combining the two organizations. It's great to be there, beautiful venue, Glendale, Arizona. Shout out to the Dominator. By the way, Scott Jorgensen's son, I met him. He was doing a bit of a cameo. He's a fighter now. He was at fight circus a couple of months ago. He's, I think, 2 and 0, at least at the time in MMA. Main event, you may recall, that was Anthony Pettis versus Benson Henderson

for the WEC lightweight title. And yeah, a very famous kick happened. Remember that? Now, they weren't fighting for the UFC title because there was a UFC lightweight champion at the time, but it was just an unbelievable fight with an unbelievable finish. In the final minute of the final round,

of the final fight in WEC history, and golly do we miss those blue gloves and that blue canvas. Anthony Pettis and the late great Duke Rufus pulled off the victory becoming the final WEC lightweight champion and that kick right there goes down as one of the greatest of all time,

thus really, you know, propelling Anthony into a whole new stratosphere. And then eventually they rematch in the UFC and Anthony beat Benson to become UFC lightweight champion in Milwaukee. That shot right there. Unbelievable. I'll never forget

Stefan Bonner's call what was it? It was something like he jumped off the cage like a ninja. It was amazing. It really was amazing. Great times. I was working for verses at the time. I was working for verses

and I was writing for verses.com as well and so I got to go to a lot of those events. WEC40 is one of my favorites. Takea Mizugaki in the main event against Miguel Torres. Miguel Angel Torres, What a fight.

It was on the UIC Pavilion. It was on the campus of UIC, and the arena is called the UIC Pavilion. That is the University of Illinois, Chicago. It was great. It was one of the first events that I was ever credentialed to in Zufeland. I remember getting an interview with Reed Harris

at the Media Day and being all excited about that. Our own Ben Folks is going to have a feature on the final WEC event, which again took place 15 years. ago today. It is WEC 53. And by the way, shout out to the Yahoo Sports design team. I love the graphics, the pictures that they come up with for these features. Really, really cool stuff. Really, really cool stuff. So shout out to them and check that out over on uncrown.com. A lot of great content coming up. Don't forget, not just Jake Paul versus Anthony Joshua

and all the fights on that card. We also have the fight before Christmas. The Misfits card taking place in Dubai on December 20th. I saw they had the face-offs earlier today in, where was it, in Dubai and Tony Ferguson versus Warren Spencer. The mechanic, look at this, El Kikoui, and the mechanic going face to face, toe to toe, nose to nose, fist to fist. That's one, ooh, switching stances. oh that's one of the big fights going down this weekend that is December 20th in Dubai all right let's move along to our next guest our next guest returns to action on January 3rd in beautiful Puerto Rico co-main event to the highly anticipated Amanda Serrano versus Erica Cruz rematch and this

is a very important fight for multiple reasons it's for the WBA lightweight title they'll be fighting in 3, 12 minute, no, 12, 3 minute rounds. I always screw that up. 12, 3 minute rounds, not 3, 12 minute rounds. That would be insane. But perhaps the winner of this fight not only becomes a champion, but also gets to punch their ticket to a big fight, maybe against one Katie Taylor. I screwed that up.

It's 10, 3-minute rounds. So I screwed it up twice. So it's not your typical 12 rounds for a title fight, but it is your typical minutes for a men's title fight, which is 3 minutes. You get the point by now. It is at the Coliseo, Roberto Clemente. It's the one and only the preacher's daughter, Holly Holm. It was kind enough to join us right here and now to talk about it.

Hello, Holly. How are you? I'm good. How are you doing? I'm doing great. And I don't feel bad. I thought it was 12-3s for a while, too. Okay, really.

Did you just find out right now like me? No. No, but because when they said we're fighting by men's rules, I'm like, well, men's rules is 12-3s. Yeah. So why is it 10-3s? you don't know i just say okay how do you how do you feel about the three minutes i feel good you know i've fought five minutes two minutes and a lot of my mama fights were five rounds so i was already fighting 25 minutes with only the four minutes rest so i just think everything everything has

its own training so i just i've been sparring for 30 minutes and um i'm i'm ready to either way. Okay. I want to talk to you about this and the journey, but I do also want to mention last month was the 10-year anniversary of your win over Ronda Rousey, and there was a lot of hullabaloo about that. Did you celebrate? Did you throw yourself a little party? Did you sit back and watch? How did you do to commemorate the big moment? I didn't, you know, I forget about the actual date sometimes until I start seeing people tag, tag me and stuff and say, oh, it's been 10 years. it is kind of crazy it was 10 years time flies yes i just don't feel like it was that long ago but really for me i've been in full training for this fight and to me it was almost a reminder

that um there's still greatness like in reach you know there's still dreams to be had i'm still chasing dreams and it just motivated me to train harder for this fight and just to be able to have another big moment can i ask and i know i'm putting you on the spot here but is there a moment an interaction, a scene, something that happened that day in Melbourne or when you got back home to Albuquerque that will always stick with you. It was unbelievable being there. I'll never forget covering it. I'll never forget the reaction. Being in Albuquerque a few days later and seeing how proud everyone of you, it was like the team won the Super Bowl. That's the way you are their team, right? That's the way they celebrated you. There was this big parade. But is there

something that happened that week or that day in Australia that will always stick with you? um i mean there's a lot of things like obviously leading up to the fight that there was a lot of you know just thoughts and feelings with all that but um there's a whole journey like even just in the gym leading up to that fight but i remember as soon as i i dropped her and i knew it was over i was like yes i did it and then like within a split second i like look at my corner and i'm like we did it and then like i see my you know like my family and i'm like oh we did it and then i'm just thinking about like everybody like on the journey on the way like in your your mind does like a lot of thoughts like real quick you know yeah and i just like could feel the love like i can actually

like feel it like i just imagined everybody at home how proud they were because they've been supporting my career since i started and so well i mean i had to earn their love right uh like some of the cross-town rivals that I fought when I first started boxing. But they learned to like learn about me because I didn't have a amateur boxing career, you know. And then their love for me grew and their support for me grew. And then for them to be able to like bring that pride to them and come back home. But I do remember they were talking about a parade. And to be honest with you, I was just like, I don't know. I don't want to do that. I don't want people to feel like they have to go. I just felt like I want people to feel obligated. And I didn't really realize how much people just

wanted to be part of it and i didn't realize but they had a parade and i i didn't know how many people were going to show up or what it is and then as we were driving through and the whole city was just there wow i don't even know how many people were there but it was unreal and just like the feeling of love in that was really overwhelming and it was just like wow i'm so glad i didn't pass up on that because like i said it wasn't for me it was just like this pride for the whole city you know for the whole for everything as of now would you say that's the greatest moment of your career i think that it's um it's definitely that uh hype but there's also other moments that and i know i've mentioned it in some talks before but i got knocked out in boxing a long time ago and it was

bad everybody was thinking i should retire and all these things and then i had to come back and I rematched her and I beat her and that was a very big moment for me as well just in my own having to come back from something so devastating so there are moments and I'm not going to say that but on the world scale

obviously winning the UFC title was definitely the biggest but that doesn't mean that there wasn't moments that were almost that big in other parts of my career so every fight is the most important fight of your life no matter what you know By the way, recently in interviews, Dana White talked about that time, and he said that he wanted you to wait for Ronda for the rematch, but you wanted to fight in March, and it was the Misha Tate fight, and obviously we know how that went, and he was saying that that was a big mistake, and he did not want you to take that fight?

Do you remember that? And did you hear those comments? And is his version of the events how it actually went down? You know, there was never a promise of like, this is the rematch, she will be back. I said, here's what I said. I said yes I'll wait for the rematch if it's not going to like do we know when I didn't know I'm like I don't want to I want to be an active champion and if I wouldn't have taken a fight I think everybody would have been like oh she's just waiting around

you know I definitely would have taken a rematch but there was really no promise of like oh this rematch is now and there was never really any like full um you know I'm I'm super thankful for all of my opportunities I had with the UFC and I don't have any kind of negativity with me with them about my career but I also would have definitely rematched her if I knew she was actually going to come back and the you know we didn't it was kind of like a open-ended kind of question like when is she coming back how long am I going to have to wait to fight I did want to keep active. I'm a fighter. That's what I do. And I've always been open to a rematch with her. I still am. She'd been training. Okay. So what do you make of this? What do you make of this?

I mean, right now I'm just boxing, but it's just one of those things. It's like I, I was, I've always been open to rematch with Rhonda. I just don't know if she ever wanted to have one. And like I said, No, not spend out negativity with Dana, with UFC, nothing. You know, I wound up fighting. It was Misha, Misha Tate and I on the Comain with Connor. And, I mean, that was a big fight. The only thing, the only thing I regret about that is that I lost focus and lost the fight in the last round. That's my only regret.

But I've always been open for a rematch with Ronda. And the offer still stands. I'm definitely, I'm still. I'm still here. Do you think she comes back? Do you actually think she comes back? I don't know. I don't know if she does.

I mean, here's the thing about any athlete. She's been an Olympian. She's been a champion. And you don't get to that point without having that fight in you. So you can't ever count anybody out. Maybe she does. I would never have thought it or seen it. She's got a family.

Nothing wrong with that. You know, maybe she's just enjoying her life that way. maybe she's loving being able to get back into training and things like that maybe she's like you know what i really miss this i want to try it i left boxing and when i did mama full time i thought i would never go back to boxing and here i am back in boxing because i started to miss it so if she actually wanted it too i don't i don't think it but i mean i don't see i also don't count it out any athlete that's been fighting are at the top level, they got there because they had passion, not just by chance.

So if she feels that and wants to come back and do something, then great. How do you think it would go if she fought Katie Taylor? You know, obviously I think anybody can always go out and say, oh my gosh, like in boxing alone, Katie Taylor would just piece her up, her combos and her speed and all this stuff. But I'm always, I'm always like anything can happen. you know ronda still has some power and some heat behind her punches and sometimes a little bit more of an unorthodox style and but sometimes that off timing or sometimes that you know can actually make a fight interesting it can almost be you know sometimes a fighter can almost be

less predictable if they're not super boxing polished or you know she's working on it so it's it's I'm not going to sit here and talk crap when we're the other on it. I mean, if she comes back, great. I'd like to be the one she fights if she comes back, boxing or an MMA. Okay, okay. One last thing on this era, if I can. You just said something that I thought was interesting. Had I not lost focus in the final round of that fight against Misha, I wouldn't have lost.

What did you mean by that? How did you lose focus? You know, it's just one of those things. I just kind of kept, like, not, it's like, I know things that were doing right in the fight to work. and I think just in my head it's like oh last round I just got to finish this round because I knew I was ahead on the scorecards and rather than just being really on my toes for that whole last round you know and I don't take anything away from any opponents that I've ever fought but it's just man I always wanted that rematch I asked for it through my whole career we both asked for it not even too like I would always have taken that fight and I would I mean obviously I want to avenge any loss I have and I'll also I always give someone a rematch if they ever, you know, from a win, if they want to rematch. I feel like it's just the sport is like that sometimes, but I don't regret fighting as a champion. And I definitely would have rematched Rhonda.

I just, I mean, was she going to come back and rematch? I don't know. I said, I don't want to wait forever. I want to fight. So if we have like a date that she's like, yes, I'll be back. like this is how many months I need, this is, you know, when I got knocked down boxing, it's like, yeah, I want to rematch. And I said, let's do it. And I, you know, I rematch just six months later. I felt about a year ago or so, like, you know, you're UFC and the GFL thing and all that,

I really felt like you didn't want to leave MMA and not reluctant, but like you were just kind of like I did the boxing thing. And now I feel like once you got that first fight out of the way in June, I feel like this love and this excitement surround kind of ending your story in boxing has been reinvigorated and not like you're all in. Is that a fair assessment of how you felt? Yeah? But I, and don't get me wrong, I actually, I still miss MMA. I do. I miss MMA. But after being back in the boxing ring, it's like, wow, just maybe a little bit more of a reminder. Like I did, I love this too. And I enjoyed my fight. I enjoyed being back in the ring.

Um, but also there, then with that being said, there's just like, there's things that spark my interest and things that spark with my passion and things like that. And it's like, I never got to fight at 135 in boxing. And that's where some of the biggest fights are right now. So it's like, oh, I can come back and still, there is one thing that no matter what that is in my whole career, boxing or MMA. I've always wanted to be fighting the top girls for big. fights. I don't want to, I never wanted to be a paper champion and just get easy fights to rack up wins. I've never wanted to do that. I've always wanted to fight the tough girls or the big fights. And so coming back and having, you know, 135 is where a lot of the competition is and where, you know, you look at the fights with Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. And it's like, those are huge fights in women's boxing. And how awesome that I can. can come back. I know Amanda Serrano says she's going to stay at 125 so that fight wouldn't happen and all respect for her, you know. But there's these, I get a fight for a championship belt in this

weight class. And I have goals and dreams. I always say goals and dreams. My goal win this fight, a dream, have another big fight with one of the biggest names in women's boxing currently. not from way back then or you know but currently so i don't feel like katy taylor versus ronda rousey's a real thing but i feel like if holly home wins on january third you versus katy in ireland is a very real thing and a massive fight have you been told the same i've not been told the same but definitely i talk about it and it's definitely something that's like this

you know it's not like i i've like talked with katy or or we're talking with our camp or anything like that but it's also like that definitely a real fight. And I think Katie's always, she's always challenged herself with a challenge in her, in her career too. And, you know, I have Irish heritage. I would love to fight in Ireland. I have a lot of Irish fans. Guaranteed she's going to have more Irish fans. But to be able to go fight in Ireland and have a big fight like that is huge. For me, I have to make sure I do my job January 3rd. And like I said, there's goals and dreams. I would love to be able to have that fight after this, but obviously making it happen, it always opens the next door. So I need to make

this happen. I need to win January 3rd. And so I've been training hard for it. So I've had the great pleasure of interviewing you a bunch of times, either here on the show or in person before after events, but never in the ring or in the cage after a win on the broadcast. I got to do that in June. And ever since then, it's been it's been six months, Holly. And I'm still kicking myself. I'm still lamenting. I screwed it up. I forgot that you do the backflip, and I got in your way.

Do you remember this? I screwed up your moment. Here you are getting your hand raised. I'm getting excited to speak to you. And you're like, hey, chump, get the hell out of the way. Get out of the way. Look at this. Get the F out.

We got to do the backflip. How much did you hate me? Look at you in my, you didn't miss a beat. I screwed it up. How much did you hate me in that moment? I didn't. But here's the thing. um there was a fight i did like so i always like okay i knew i won the fight right i felt it

in my heart and all that but still i wait till the actual decision has been announced so that's why i waited until after it was like okay this is the winner then i do the backflip because you don't want to do it like truly right right you don't want to do it like yeah this is i mean i i knew i won but also it's like let's wait till they say i won and then i'll do it and um but then at that moment though is when everybody does come talk so it's not the first time i've had to be like hold on hold on okay all right all right all right because i felt bad i thought i ruined your moment no and you know i don't know do you know the story of the backflip i don't tell me okay so i got knocked out my very first time ever getting knocked out was in kickboxing a long

time ago and after the fight i was just so nervous for the fight and coach wink was like hey everybody does back hands springs which okay in mMA they'll do backflips off the cage and all this. I'm not that fancy. But in boxing, you don't really see that. You don't really see like a lot of that. And people might do this or that, or they jump up on the ropes. And he's like, a lot of people don't do backflips. You think you could do a backflip after I said, ah, if I do it off your hands, then it's easy because I'll be exhausted. And I'm not trying to fall in my head in front of everybody. And he's like, you're going to win this fight. So it's my first time having to come back and he's like, you're going to win this fight and we're going to do a backflip. So we go out of town

and I knocked the girl out in the second round and then like after the decision he's like looking through the rope because we practiced it a couple of times at the gym and he's like so do you do you want to do the back and I was like oh yeah let's do it so then it just started it's like all right

so every time there's a win so it's been forever that was before I mean gosh that was like way way back in like the beginning of my career you know so have you hit it every time what's that have you hit it every time

yeah I've never fallen okay okay that's been good no slipping all right yeah well it looked it looked like you had been doing it

for many many years when you did it on that night and I'm wondering now that you had one under your belt could you tell us honestly what were your thoughts on MVP Nikisa Jake beforehand and how do you feel about what they've been doing

ever since you signed with them all the women that they've signed the big names they just signed Caroline Dubois the Olympian from just a few years ago silver medalists Like they have clearly amassed the best roster of women's boxers in the history of the game. And it's very clear what they're trying to do here. What did you think about them beforehand?

And then now getting to do an event with them back in June in Anaheim, how, you know, how that experience went. You know, even before I fought with them, I saw what they were doing with, I mean, I think the biggest thing was just watching what they're doing with women's boxing. and it's it's real boxers i i know that from the boxing standpoint and i thought it was great that they're actually giving a platform to these women's women boxers that have deserved it and so i've always had respect for that i know you know with jickball coming into things he came in from you know all this social media the youtube type stuff so a lot of people sometimes i think you know mix those two things but Um, they, he's really, him and the Kesa really have opened up doors for women's boxing in a way that others really haven't.

And, um, it's changed women's boxing and hopefully it's changed it forever. Um, and also putting on good women's fights. I think a lot of times women's boxing that was on TV was, you know, like a swing bout that was thrown in because there was an early knockout or something, but it's not necessarily showcasing the best women's boxers. You know, I fought on television a couple of times, a few times, a handful of times when I was boxing, Fox SportsNet, ESPN2, just some, I fought on an undercard of Johnny Tapia way back in the day, and I was a swing bout, you know. But it's just, I feel like there was never really like this platform like, hey, let's get some of the best boxers and put them on there and showcase their actual skills. And I feel like, I don't feel like I know that MVP has done. that for women's boxing so i've had respect for that since before i ever even you know talked with them so talking with them i knew that they've already put their efforts for women's uh boxing and then after working with them it's been nothing but professional and respectful and um it's been

great so i have i have no um everything's been honestly just good and positive Jake Joshua this Friday, what do you think happens? Gosh, and I don't think anybody looking at this can't say, wow, Jake's got some guts to be able to step in like that. And, you know, there's good boxers that won't even take a fight with Joshua. So, I mean, and Jake Paul has proved himself through this, but what I'm saying is, like, there's some that have been doing that their whole life that's still, you know, and Jake going up, fighting a bigger fight and all that, you know, we'll see what, happens but I do think that like I said in my mind I'm always like well we'll see what happens you know you never know but this is a huge fight and um I don't think anybody can doubt the fact that Jake's got guts to get in there and and he's going to go in with every intention of winning

and we'll see what happens in the fight but that's this is a big fight yes yes yours is big as well for other reasons January 3rd in Puerto Rico how much you know about Stephanie Han and what kind of a challenge is she for you? Obviously a lot younger in the game, but she is the champion going into this fight. She is a lot younger. She is a champion. And I definitely have more fights on my record. I've got more fights under my belt. But she also has a lot more of a lengthy amateur career. So she's got still a lot of experience through her life with fighting, kickboxing or boxing, and she's very disciplined. She's a hard worker. She's tough. She believes in herself, and she shows up to fight. Those are the things that I do know, and those are the

things that make her a good opponent and make her, you know, a threat. But I'm definitely ready. I feel like bigger, stronger, tougher, more experience, and a little more gritty. Can't wait. Good luck, Holly. Thanks, as always. Thank you. Appreciate it very much. Thank you. Happy holidays.

Can't wait for the fight. And, of course, good luck on January 3rd. It's going to be great. Thank you. Have a good day. You too. There she is. The preacher's daughter, Holly Home, great stuff there.

Interesting stuff regarding Katie Taylor, regarding Ronda Rousey, Jake Paul, her boxing future. I really did feel when she was sort of trying to figure out what she wanted to do post-UFC. And then there was the GFL stuff. remember it was about a year ago now the draft it was in January of 25 she was like god do I want to do this and then I think she got that fight out of the way in June that was the Jake Paul JCC Jr. card and then she said you know what I like this and I think that MVP won her over and now here she is fighting for the belt and I think the winner could fight Katie Taylor next if it's her if it's Stephanie Hahn I'm not sure if it's going to be Stephanie Hahn versus Katie Taylor but man

Holly Home versus Katie Taylor in Ireland would be a really really really big deal. It would be a really big deal. Speaking of women's fighters, I did see a tweet yesterday. We saw Chris Cyborg, well, I should say Saturday, Chris Cyborg won. She won the inaugural PFL featherweight title. And afterwards, she said, hey, I'd like to fight Dakota Dichiva. I'd like to fight Dakota Dichiva. I'll move down to 135. She can move up from 125 to 135 and let's meet in the middle for a PFL Superfight. Sounds good on paper. Well, I saw from Chris

cyborg on Twitter that it sounds like she's not hearing much from Dakota. I'll say this. 24 hours later, Dakota Dich of us still hasn't responded while Liam McCourt has. She also mentioned fighting Liam McCourt at 135 for the belt. Let it be known. She wants it. I don't want to bully a girl who doesn't want to give the fans a superfight. If Dakota isn't confident in the challenge, crickets, then it should 100% be McCourt. Dakota stands nothing. from taking this fight. I know it's cyborg. I know she's one of the greatest of all time. She is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. You can make a very strong case. She's the greatest female fighter of all time. Truly. And I know she fought Amanda. I know that. But still, given her

resume, the accolades, the belts, all the things that she has won, all the things that she has accomplished, it's incredible. But why would Dakota Dichava, who already has a fight on the books? Why would she move up to 135 to fight someone who historically has had a really hard time making 140 or 135? It doesn't make any sense. Dakota Dichiva is the biggest, arguably the biggest female star in PFL and arguably the biggest star in PFL, arguably, as far as active fighters, she's, I know that there's Usman. I know that there's Francis, but right now not very active. You get my point. She's one of their biggest stars.

Why would she move up to 135 to fight someone who historically hasn't fought? And she's not a 135 pounder. It's a silly thing. It's a very silly thing, in my opinion. It's a very silly thing, in my opinion. And what isn't silly is what Armin Tarukin keeps doing on social media these days. I saw him getting some sort of like cupping action. This has become like a daily thing for us, just taking a look at all the crazy stuff that

Armin Serukin is doing. Here he is getting some kind of treatment. That's a lot of cups. I don't even know if those are cups. What are those things? I've done the cupping thing before. It's phenomenal. It's an incredible feeling.

But I've never seen that many. and I've never seen them with like that type of squishy top. Weird. But he is very fun. Also a little bit weird is Marab Dueli Shvili taking out his own stitches on social media. I don't know if you guys saw this. Here he is.

Just kind of looking into his phone and he's taking out his own stitches. Why? What's the point of that? Why do that? If anything, you'd want to be really careful. Hair looks great. You don't want to leave a scar, right?

Oh, my dear. It's just so painful. Look at that. Oh, he's taking on more. I didn't see this part. Oh, no. The eyebrow stitches. Yikes.

I'm not sure if they recommend this. he's just kind of built different what about that watch what kind of watches that GC you recognize it is that a Richard Millet um uh oh

that's bad news it's not here and uh I don't know much about watches he's coming back he's coming back what is it BGGC BGC

I don't think that was what's at play here but yes he's he's asking who's up Oh you okay yeah I Actually, I'm okay. Okay, because, you know, we're doing this, you know, stuff in Miami, I had to go.

Okay, because I asked Rick a question, the moment I heard his voice and not yours, I got really nervous. No, I've been good. I've been good since the show kicked off. Okay, you've righted the ship. Yeah, I think we're going to be okay. Oh, we were talking about the watch that Marab was wearing in the video of him taking his, and I wanted to know what that watch was. Isn't it the custom Georgian one?

I don't know. They don't have the logo? Can we play it at all? Is this just a picture? Well, that's really the best angle Because, you know, he's taking out the thing All right, so I actually think I know the picture And it has his logo within the watch

How do you know this, by the way? This is why it was perfect that he has to do this Because I don't know it is it But what kind of watch is it? I don't know, I think a jeweler made it for him And then he gave Aljo one recently as well With the Georgian face on it Incredible

When you say Georgian face, you mean like the flag? It's got his like logo Oh, the MD. MD, MD, and the flag on it. I'm going to find this. All right. Well, speaking of gifts, I also saw Peter Yan was gifted a G-wagon. He was gifted a G-wagon by someone for the great accomplishment of defeating Marab Duolishvili to become the UFC bantamweight champion.

Here's the ceremony. A ton of people in there. And here comes Peter Yan. with his boys, or at least one of them. A couple hellos, a couple how are yous. There's a second son, I think. Oh, I think that's the karate combat. By the way, has the karate combat guy still getting all this love.

I mean, it feels like he's really hitched his wagon to Peter there. Look at this young man holding the belt. Didn't Joshua Van say it's too heavy? Young man's rocking it. Here's a little ceremony, and there's the G-Wagon. G-wagon. Is that a 25 or a 26? What do you guys think? Feels like the new one, right? My guess it's 26. You think so? Yeah. It's not, is this face in it or is that just a reflection? I thought the face was on the window. Look at that. It's good to be the king.

I hope he wears his seatbelt. Anyway, shout at the pewter. We'll get him on soon. We'll get him on soon. I did see Habib Nirmagamatov jumping into the cold water over in Dagestan doing a little training over there. He was in a sauna. He jumps out of the sauna. 95, so what is it? 95 Celsius and then Cold River 9. Now we're going Celsius here, right? I think he's going 95 Celsius, so that's almost 100 degrees.

No, wait, can't be 95 cents. Is he going Fahrenheit? What is it? What is plus 95? It can't be 90s. No, no, no. Sona is over 95 cold river, 9 degrees. But what is the 95?

Yeah. Because the river's 9 degrees Celsius, because that's like 50-ish. Yeah, that would make sense. 95 Celsius be like 190 degrees Fahrenheit? No, that would make sense. That would make sense. Yeah, yeah. That would make sense.

Like he's blasting it, right? Yeah, I mean, the sauna I go to gets up to like 185. So yeah, it's not that crazy. So he's going from 95 Celsius to 9. Yeah, it's a crazy man right though The crazy thing is That when he jumps into the water The thing is completely like pushing him

Yeah, the current immediate He takes him away Scary Well, I hope he's everything okay Have we heard from Habib He's fine, right? Yeah, he's okay man I don't think they post the video

If he wasn't You know In this moment Frank would have said Who's to check You hear it sometimes How about the natural Who's to check on the phone call? Yes, he gave it

By the way we should make that Into a drop Frank get on it if you're still listening. Oh, no. I thought he was writing something to me. Okay, still to come, Sam Alvey, we'll talk to him about that scary scene

in which he was knocked out at the karate combat event by Robles Despine. He was knocked down, he was knocked out. It was terrifying stuff, but he appears to be okay because I spoke to him. But for now, let us talk to the interim 125-pound championship

won that belt in beautiful Stockton, California, of all places. This past weekend, on the zone, perhaps punching her ticket to a massive fight in 2026, your friend and mine, Sky Nicholson is here. Let us speak to her. Hello, Sky. How are you? I'm good. Thank you. How are you? It's great to have you. It's great that you're not in a hallway. It's great that you're in a room. It seems like the internet connection is good. Some might say a little bit shadow ban from

the program after that debacle. So it's great to have you in a nice secure spot. I still feel really bad about that. I'm really sorry. I got locked out of my room. It was out of my control. But it all worked out. Ooh, look at that belt behind you over there. There it is. Yeah. Well done. Have a little cheeky background there. Yes. Nice framing. Great stuff. I want to talk to you about that and everything this past weekend, but I would be remiss not to talk about your home country of Australia, your beautiful home country in Sydney in particular and what happened on Sunday. you've represented Australia on the grandest of stages

with such pride and joy with such grace in class. Can I just ask, how are you doing? How is everyone back home and seeing something like that happen in such a beautiful, serene, peaceful part of the world that you feel so proud about? What was it like seeing that on Sunday?

Honestly, unfathomable that it could happen at home like that. I feel like Australians kind of feel a little bit desensitized to the horrible things that are happening around the world because it just is so unfathomable that it would ever happen in our home where we go like just yeah it was really it hit me really hard actually it was a hard one and just awful I feel like it's really dividing the nation as well which is the worst part about these awful attacks that are happening

when we really need to like really come together and be united as a nation. I feel like it's where we see the most divide and yeah, it's really shook up the whole country and I feel very, very saddened by it but also just heartbroken for the families and all of the Jewish community and all of the people that were directly affected by it.

I've been to Bondi Beach once. I absolutely loved it. I wish I could go back. I'm assuming you've been there many at times. For those that haven't had the pleasure, why is it such a special place? Why do Australians and people from all over the world love going there? It's the most beautiful beaches. You can't walk along the... It's like where the cliffs meet the ocean, and it's so stunning. You can't walk along there without walking past so many smiling faces and families. It's such a inclusive place where you... You see so many different people from all different cultures, all different backgrounds. And it's just such a naturally beautiful place to be.

And yeah, it's just so sad that something like this has happened there. I mean, it's awful when it happens anywhere. But when it's somewhere you've known well, you've been too many times and you've grown up there, it definitely hits even harder. I said this at the beginning of the show, but I continue to hear it from people. And I keep hearing from Australian people who aren't Jewish who are telling me, this is not us please know that this is in us and I know that I didn't need them to tell me that I know Australians to be some of the nicest kindest people that have ever come across the fighters

the fans the manager everyone who is of Australian descent we love them here and we know that it's not Australia we know that it's not an Australian who would do this we know that this is an evil cancer that is taking over the world and and warping people's brains but to see it happen in a place like that that for so long has been so proud of the fact that there isn't gun violence that that there isn't these things that we see here in America to happen there on such a beautiful night, summer's night, people celebrating families, young children.

It's, I share your grief. I share your feeling of, it's surreal, it's unfathomable. How could this happen? It's unfathomable. It's like, I don't know what other word you can use to describe, but it was just like such shock.

Like you just would never, ever expect something like that to happen there. Well, I hope that everyone is okay. I hope that everyone that you are, you know, in contact with friends, family weren't affected. And like you, you know, my heart goes out to everyone that has been affected. By the way, the scenes in the aftermath of people lining up to donate blood and to help and support have been amazing. And I think that speaks to who Australians are. So shout out to everyone back home and much respect. Switching to a more

positive topic, it's never easy, but we'll try our best. Congratulations on the big win. could I ask, you know, Stockton, California is a very popular part of the world in the world of MMA because of the Diaz brothers. I don't know if you know this, but everyone knows that Stockton's area code is 209. Like, they are synonymous with that region. They've talked about, like, you say 209 or Stockton, you know exactly what it represents. What was your experience like in Stockton, California, of all places? Yeah, I didn't really know what to expect. I did learn that 209 was the the area code there. And I did also know that the Diaz brothers were from there.

That was kind of all I knew about Stockton. So I didn't really know what to expect. But what I did find were the people were so friendly, so nice, so welcoming. They were so excited to have us there in Stockton. Definitely felt very welcomed. And yeah, it was a good experience. I mean, I will be honest, I didn't go out. like sightseeing or exploring, I was very locked in on the job. But everyone that I met and

came into contact with were like very nice, very warm, welcoming people who was so happy to have us there in their city. So you've made the move to 122. This isn't your first fight. I believe it's your third now that has come and gone at 122. Correct? Am I right about that? Well, I mean, some argue that my first fight wasn't at 122. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, I remember all this. Yes, yes, yes. We don't need to go down that path again. For me, it's the move up, and it's all happening this year. Like, you've been very active this year. It feels like you're really getting comfortable at this way.

Like, you have found your home. Do you feel that way as well? Yeah, I think this fight definitely really established me at 122. I think you can see on the scales. You can see in my performances. I'm in the best condition at this weight. I've seen some comments of me being a weight bully and stuff. I make the weight easy.

I make the weight comfortable. I walk around lighter than girls that make bantam weight naturally. So I just, yeah, I find that quite funny. Like my team have even talked about me potentially fighting at 118. Wow. I'm sure there'll be a lot of weight bully comments if I was to do that. But I feel really, really good at 122. I feel like it's exactly where I'm meant to be.

And I'm going to, yeah, keep focusing on 122 right now. It felt like you were vibing out there on Saturday. you were feeling yourself a little bit. We saw a little showboating from you. Where did that come from? Every time I hit her clean, she kind of just looked at me like, is that all you got?

So then I was like, oh, okay, is that the kind of fight we're having, right? And I was just in my flow. I feel like when I'm my happiest, I'm in my flow like that, I do naturally like smile when I'm fighting. But yeah, it was kind of a little bit of retaliation to her reactions

to some of my shots and stuff, but yeah, I had fun out there. The Tiara Brown fight was in March, and then, you know, July to now, you fight three times, very active. On the night of the Brown fight, in the immediate aftermath of the Brown fight, would you have guessed that you would have been so active back end of 2025? Was that always the plan, or did it just kind of materialize that way? Honestly, like, directly after the fight, in March, I was. wasn't really thinking about what was next or anything like that. I think in my mind we would just go straight into the rematch

and that it would be later in the year. And I didn't really think much more else about how active I was going to be or any other plans, especially didn't have 122 on my mind at all. But I think everything happens for a reason. I think the experience of losing the world title at 126 earlier this year definitely kind of forced me to go to the drawing board and just have a look at the whole the whole thing, like my team, my preparation, and work out how I can be better. What's my next best move? How do I make sure that I'm bringing the best version of myself to the ring every

time so this doesn't happen again? I had a great camp in the lead up to the Teara Brown fight, but there were things missing from my preparation that I think because I was just always winning. I wasn't addressing. So it was just getting on top of lots of little things to ensure that I'm bringing my best self to the ring. And I think that's showed in the rest of this year. I've had a really good year since. And I feel really good at 122. I feel really happy in the changes that I have made to my preparations. And I'm excited for 2026. I think it's going to be the biggest year of my career. How is the way cut? Honestly, easy. Really? Like, yeah, my nutrition Christianist says I'm in his top three freaks that he's worked with when it comes to like body

composition and the way my body adapts and changes when I'm making weight or when I'm and going through camp. But he was saying to me last week he said like people would be so shocked at the amount of carbs and calories you're still like having going into fight week and in fight week right up until the day before the way in. So I was. fed, fueled, hydrated. It was probably the easiest way you could have done. But I think that's also proof of how hard I worked throughout the whole training camp as well to make sure that I was entering Fight Week in great position and in great shape. So yeah, it wasn't anything dramatic or drastic. And even in Fight Week, my nutritionist told me I could make 118 that week.

Wow, that is wild. Yeah, safely. Yes, yes, yes. So you hinted you think 2026 will be your biggest year yet. You've had some big years. Why? Why do you feel that way? And can you lay it out for us? What do you think is going to transpire? So I will be ordered as the mandatory for the full world title for 125 pounds with the WBC. Obviously, the fight hasn't been rescheduled yet for the undisputed fight between Elie. Scotany and Mayeli Mayeli can't think of my last name right now, sorry but they are rumoured to be fighting in the

undisputed fight in January so I think that my mandatory order will be placed following that fight I'm not sure exactly I think if it takes any longer for them to schedule that fight they may order the mandatory beforehand I'm not sure

on the politics side of it but all I know is I am going to be mandatory the fight for undisputed is scheduled or is being scheduled so hopefully my next fight will be an undisputed showdown at 122 pounds which I'm really really hoping is what happens

I know Ellie has hinted at moving up in weight so if she is to win the undisputed fight I hope that she holds on and stays in the 122 division for one more fight and we can have a big undisputed fight, maybe in London. But if not, if she's not making the weight anymore, worst case scenario, I'll be elevated to full champion and can hopefully try and start collecting the belts one by one if we have to, but I believe I will be undisputed world champion in 2026.

So that's why I believe this would be my biggest year of my career so far. Meili Flores was the opponent that she was scheduled to fight. She injured her back. You and Ellie have been going back and forth a little bit. Do you think that if she wins that fight or if she is presented with the opportunity to fight you, do you think she takes that fight? I think as a fighter, she would want to fight me. It just really depends on her and if she wants to continue fighting out 122 pounds.

I would hope that she sees the value in. staying at 122 and having the big fight with me before moving up to 126 but I don't know Ellie well enough to know or I don't know her situation well enough to know if she will or will not stay at 122 after the undisputed fight but my fingers are crossed because obviously that's a huge fight I feel like it's a legacy fight and I want to be fighting champions I want to go in the challenger I want to be the underdive dog. I want to be underestimated by people and then

prove everyone wrong. That's like the ultimate way for me to become undisputed champion. It would be a huge fight and I think with everything that MVP is doing with women's boxing, they could easily put on a UK versus the world women's fight

card from top to bottom with all the names signing Caroline Dubois recently, Chantelle Cameron Savannah Marshall, Ellie Scottney, you know like it could be very easy and I think it would be a huge deal in London as you say, could I ask, is it personal with you and Ellie at this point? Not at all. And honestly, for me, it's not personal with anyone ever. I feel like the rematch with Tiara would probably be the only fight out there that I feel would be a little bit

personal for me. And that's only, that's more with me than with Tiara. But it's never personal. I want to leave a legacy. I want to set out to do the things. things that I've told myself I will achieve, the things that I believe I can achieve. And I just want, I just want to go and do all those things that, um, that I set my mind to. And it's never personal. It's, it's, it's the belts. It's the legacy. It's the titles. It's definitely not personal to who's in my way. I appreciate you saying that. And I believe you when you said, for some reason, I feel like sometimes you get unnecessary shots because I think that it's easy for people to take shots at you for whatever reason. I'm referring among the many examples like

Devin Haney out of nowhere taking a shot at you on Twitter and then to his credit walking it back. Did you see him walk it back by the way? Did you see him say that he felt bad? No, I didn't see that. People ask you about the hate. They don't tell you about the other thing. And I do think he deserves some credit, even though I think that the initial tweet was out of bounds and uncalled for. He did say this. Someone posted the clip of you responding and I thought you responded with grace in class and said that you were a fan of his and that you really didn't care. and don't go on Twitter. I'm summarizing, but that was the general sentiment.

And someone wrote, damn, I feel bad. And he wrote, I do too, I was wrong. And so I wonder if you take that as an apology and if you accept that. Yeah, that's nice. I haven't seen that. Or I hadn't been made aware of that at all. So I do appreciate that. His dad actually approached me at the show and stopped it as well and kind of squashed the

beef a little bit as well. You might have seen a picture of us together. Yeah, it was a little bit random, but like I said in that clip, everyone's going to have their opinions. Not everyone's going to love you, not everyone's going to like you. It doesn't matter what you do. You're never going to be everyone's favourite. So I gave up searching for credit.

I gave up searching for praise. And I very quickly realized in the pro game that, yeah, you're not going to be everyone's cup of tea and it is what it is. I know what I'm good at. I know what I'm doing. I know what I'm capable of. I know what I'm setting myself out to achieve.

And I have amazing supporters. I have so much positive stuff on social media that I hate giving all of the energy to the negative stuff. So I'm very grateful to all of my loyal supporters from all around the world. and yeah look there's always going to be a little bit of negative stuff that comes with that but yeah i just try not to focus on that or give it any energy anymore because i spent a long time doing that it's really not worth it i couldn't agree more can i ask what was the turning point

for you when did you come to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it i think a lot of it was probably around the fight uh with tiara brown um i spent way too much time reading comments, reading people's negative opinions, not even just about me, but about Tiarra as well, about the event, the fight, the face-off, so many different things. And it's just energy sapping. It's draining. And I definitely learned that the hard way.

And you'll notice I did come off Twitter around that time. because I was just wasting energy and draining myself reading negative crap that just actually it shouldn't mean anything to me. I shouldn't even know these people's negative opinions about me. They're not people that I would ask for advice for. So why do I care what they think about me? And yeah, I think around March this year was a big turning point on that stuff for me. Good.

I'm glad. And I hope that you keep that up. I do have to ask this Friday, Jake Joshua, what do you think? How do you feel like this plays out? I mean, I would like to think that it's going to be very one-sided and over early in favor of Anthony Joshua. I can't see it going any other way. But Jake does have this like almost a lulu confidence. but I don't really see it going any other way

than a very one-sided early finish Yeah Do you think he's making a big mistake Like honestly from a health standpoint We saw what Josh was in France I think it's very dangerous I think it's very dangerous Scarly dangerous

I don't even know how it's been approved To be honest But I guess money talks we'll see on Friday but I just I can't I don't see what Jake's seeing well he's talked about the fact that AJ has had trouble with smaller guys and you Ruiz Alexander Usick to name a few do you think that there's something to that I don't know do you think that I mean Ruiz Usick Jake Paul

100% 100% but you know what I mean like there's levels sure It's, I just, yeah, I'm, if it goes past two rounds, I will be shocked. Wow, wow, two rounds. That's the line? You're setting it at two. Wow. And you think it's under? Yes.

Did you see the footage of him hitting the heavy bag recently? And would you say that perhaps he has improved? I think he's improved. I think he works really, really hard. I think he's putting his absolute all into it. Like you can't knock any of the effort, but there is levels. And he's not an Olympic gold medalist

and a former world champion for nothing. And he's naturally huge. And Jake Paul's not. Yeah, I just, if it's. goes past two rounds, I will be very shocked. Do you subscribe to the notion that if it goes past two rounds, that it goes the distance, right? Even if AJ wins a decision, a dominant decision, that it's a stain on his resume, that it's a stain on his legacy, that it's a bad look for him. Yes. Yes. Okay. He needs to go in there and destroy.

Yes, definitely. If he goes the distance with Jake Paul, It's not good for boxing, in my opinion. Why is that? Yeah. I mean, it's good for boxing if he doesn't kill Jake, obviously. Sure, sure. I mean, it's possible. But is it scheduled for 10 or 12?

8. 8. If it goes eight whole rounds and he doesn't knock out Jake, I feel like that will definitely be very tainting to AJ's leg. legacy and his and just like the like he's representing boxing a little bit in this fight I feel okay yeah alicey Baumgartner in the co-main against leila bodouin do you think that she needs to do something spectacular to get people behind her to get that hype going again do you feel like she lost some of that in her last performance um I don't think she has to do something spectacular I think Leela's are really, really good opponent.

I think it'll be a high-quality fight. I don't think there's necessary pressure around the hype of Elysia. I think people have seen how good Elysia is. But I also think that a great opponent, like Leila Bedouin, coming in, I think we'll bring out the best in Elysia as well. So I'm actually really, really excited for that fight. Okay. I just want to ask you about two quick ones, and then I'll let you go.

there is some talk about Ronda Rousey fighting in a boxing match against Katie Taylor. I want to say, I don't believe that this is true, but it's being put out there. What do you think would happen if Ronda fought Katie in a boxing match? I've only seen bits and pieces of Ronda Rousey boxing, and it would be worse than Jake Paul fighting Anthony Joshua. Wow, wow. Okay, that says it all. Yeah.

You just don't think that she can hang with someone of Katie's stature, right? No, I think most half-decent professional women boxers would beat Ronda Rousey. Okay. And what about... In a boxing fight. Sure, sure, sure, of course, of course. And then Serrano Cruz, you were once linked to Serrano for quite some time. You've now moved to another weight class, so at least for now it seems like it's not a thing. Serrano Cruz, too, the first one was incredible.

That's January 3rd. What do you think happens there? Um, I actually heard yesterday that she's failed another drug test, Erica Cruz. Oh, wow. And she's out. Oh, is this breaking news from Sky Nicholson? Yeah, I mean... Oh, there it is, breaking news. You're doing some great reporting for us. Has that been reported?

I was, I was shocked to find this out yesterday. Okay. Yeah, it's been reported, but it's not everywhere, and I feel like it should be. Okay, okay. Because, one, she already failed a drugs test a couple years ago. served her band, came back, got offered the big money fight against someone who'd already beat her, and then popped again. It's like, you should be banned for life. And how is this not being put everywhere? Um, yeah, but I did read an article where, uh, MVP's, um, spokesperson was saying

that they have replaced the opponent or Serrano was looking for a new opponent and then they'd confirmed that the new opponent was... Is it you? It's not me, unfortunately. Did you take it? I did put my hand up. Yes. Really?

Yes. I did ask my representatives to make sure they were aware that I am ready for the challenge. Oh, that would be something. But the article I read, the MVP spokesperson, had said that her new opponent is a better boxer than Erica Cruz younger and has a winning record. which I thought well that's promising um but yeah so I think they've got someone else already but I I did ask to make sure that they were made aware that I'm ready okay so I'm seeing this now I guess I missed it but here's the thing if this falls through for whatever reason can we say definitively you are ready to go you would be ready to fight in in 17 days from now let's go

I'm already over the side of the world come on that's true you're in America this is perfect And I don't have to worry about cutting weight Because I just boxed at 122 Right, right, right, okay So we could put your name in the hat She's just done a whole camp She's just done a whole camp for a Southpour So, I mean, it makes sense

She doesn't even have to like Change our tactics too much I mean, I'm a very different fighter to Erica Cruz But we're both southport This is great I mean, clearly MVP and Matrum Are working together this Friday They've worked together in the past

This should be pretty easy I like this Let's go, San Juan Have you been to Puerto Rico? I can't do any more. I've said I'm ready. Well, I don't know if you did it publicly. So this is different. This is big. Have you been to Puerto Rico? I've not been to Puerto Rico. I'd love to even more reason to go. I feel like this is a big deal. The replacement's not going to be bigger than you. If they're still looking, I am available. Okay. Wow. All right. Well, all kinds of

breaking news from Sky here today. Yes. Tremendous stuff. Well done. Thank you very much. Congratulations on another great win. Congrats on a great year. You showed some toughness, some resolve. You got knocked down, came back up. Three wins in a row. New weight class. Doing your thing. Big 2026 coming up. So all the best. Massive 2026. Thank you. The biggest. The biggest. The biggest. Wish you all the best. Happy holidays to you and your family. And we'll talk to you. Same to you. Pleasure as always. Thank you so much. Thank you. Bye. There she is. The Pride of Australia, the great Sky Nicholson, putting her name up. And yes, putting her hand up, throwing her name in the hat. I am seeing that Erica Cruz is out, so hopefully that event stays intact because you need Amanda Serrano on that card if it's a card happening in Puerto Rico.

Who doesn't want to see that? Let's go. Finally, could you imagine under these circumstances? After all this time, we've been talking about that fight for probably two years now, and now she's in a completely different way class. I said at the beginning of the interview, I said that she moved up, what I meant to say was moved down from 126 to 122, and then there was that little thing where it was like, wasn't exactly 122. Whole big drama.

There's a lot of weight classes in boxing, as you may have figured out by now, but she's one of the biggest stars in women's boxing and was just doing big things

over in Stockton, Diego Pacheco winning in the main event. He's a big star as well. So, we are inching closer to our departure to Miami again. A reminder that tomorrow

1 p.m. Eastern, what is Fight Circus, our third uncrown film, coming your way. The boys have a flight to catch, but before we get to all of that, we do want to speak to our last guest of the day. He was just in action a couple of weekends ago,

fighting actually in that part of the world, in Dade County, to be exact, in Miami, karate combat against Robles to Spine. It was a kind of a wacky event in that it got super delayed. There was some talk of it getting canceled. They figured it out last minute. And then, of course, in the end, it didn't quite work out.

in his favor. He is kind enough to join us to talk about it all. Of course, I'm speaking about Smiling Sam Alvey, who is here, right here and now, to talk about the fight. There he is. Hello, sir. How are you? Hey, I'm doing wonderful. How are you, my friend? I'm doing great. Still smiling. Always, always. Even with the swollen eye, I'm always smiling. How are you feeling? And there's a lot to get to, but just as I see, I see a little bit of a black eye still. You've come a long way because I saw the aftermath. Immediately after the fight, you put out some videos, but how are you feeling? How is your face?

You know what, my face? Some people say it's killing them, but I'm doing all right. Everything's healing up all right. I'm practicing, not getting hit just yet, but I'm in the wait room. And I just love life. I wish I would have come away of the winter, but I'm doing all right with otherwise. Okay, so no serious injuries. Yeah, nothing.

I honestly, I wasn't even concussed. And I would have sworn I could have been, but no, I had everything checked out, looked at X-ray examined and not even a concussion. Wow. Okay. Well, that is great to hear. Can I ask you first about the event? There was all kinds of wackiness as far as the delay of the start of the event, and then it seemed like it wasn't going to happen. From your perspective, you're in the back. What are you hearing? What are you being told about why the event isn't starting? And you're at the end of the card. So now your walk time is getting later and later.

Yeah. So we were supposed to leave the hotel. at like 7.45, and then around 6.45 is, all right, we're not doing that. Everyone's getting pushed back an hour. And then an hour later happened and said, all right, everyone's getting pushed back another hour. It's okay, that's fine. Then they, I said, I better eat something because at this point, I kind of had the feeling like it was going to be a blood night. And they shipped us over there, and then they kept saying, all right, it's going to start an hour, going to start an hour, going to start an hour, going to start an hour. And it never did. I didn't get into the pit until about 3.30 a.m.

Wow. And how did that affect you? Like, what are you doing to pass the time? What are you doing to not get tired, to not get antsy? Yeah, you know, I've never really gotten antsy. I've never had that. I've always been pretty chilling there. I always have a good time fighting, and I try to have a good time, whether it's three in the morning or, you know, seven at night. And I was just backstage hanging out with my crew, hanging out with my wife and my corners and just having as good a time as I could. the hard part was because we didn't have a set time

as to when I was going to fight is we didn't want to warm up too soon and we didn't want to warm up too late so we kind of did some mental math and we winged it and it turned out right I warmed up about what I needed to but it was a strange feeling not knowing when I was going to get out there

sure were you getting lethargic were you getting tired I mean it was getting pretty late you know the adrenaline starts pumping and I don't know if tired is what I would say but I you kind of wish it was earlier you just wanted to be done that last the entire week of training that last week you wish the fight was there you wish you didn't have to train anymore you just wish all right I'm ready and then you get there and it just keeps getting pushed off by an hour by an hour by an hour by an hour and I was ready to get out there so it's not that I was tired I just it was you just wanted it to be you just wanted it to be there okay so you've had a few days now to digest what happened and obviously a lot of the talk centered around the referee and him not stopping the fight earlier. And I contributed to that. I thought that it was egregious on his part.

I thought that the fight should have been stopped earlier for your own health and safety. Now that the time has passed a little bit, how do you feel about the way in which the fight played out? And how do you feel about the referee's decision to not stop the fight earlier? Well, as far as the fight getting played out, I wish I would have zipped and said his act. That was my bad. That reach, I swear to goodness, that 84 inches of reach is just so hard to get a redone. And so that was my bad. As far as the referee stopping or not stopping it, I thought it was the perfect stoppage.

I wish every fight stopped like that. I got hit. It was fine. I got back up. I got back up. I was fine. And I was defending myself as best I couldn't. If you watched the fight, I read his kick and I blocked his kick.

So which means I was still intelligently defending myself. He just kicked through my block, and that's what eventually put me down. I thought it was a clean stoppage. I wish more fights were stopped like that. I wish more fights were, you know, the fighter was given the chance to fight out of the deficit. Okay. Do you mind, I want to be sensitive to you. Do you mind if we play some of the highlights and get your thoughts on it?

Go for it. Go for it. I love watching myself. Okay, all right. Well, okay, so here's the fight from, just a couple of, a couple of weeks ago, can you tell me what's happening here and what you're thinking,

if anything, in these moments? That's the first knock down. Yeah, right there. I was like, oh, that sucked. Because he wasn't supposed to hit me right there. I thought I was, I thought my distance was good. I thought everything was fine. It was a hell of a crack.

Now, right here, you get your feet, you're a little rocked. I honestly, I thought the, I didn't realize the round was still going. I thought the round had stopped because I didn't, I didn't feel like he was on top of me. now here he goes for that kick I blocked it he knocked me over a little bit I'm still paying attention I still remember all of this I still remember

every part of it getting the takedown trying to work myself back up and I mean I'm obviously getting beat up and then he kicks through the block but if you watch it again I did block it it just wasn't good enough block okay and even despite all of that some of those knocks

no concussion nothing of that no damn thing I remember all of it I remember waking up My wife was the first person I saw really when I was getting up. And I remember her, say, you are amazing. That is what you said. That was the first words out of her mouth. Wow.

And if you listen, I gave a post-fight speech. Everything was, you know, ticking. And I don't know if it should have been, but it was. There's no question that, obviously, you've been in this game for a very, very long time. You've seen and done it all. I do wonder, though, does your wife say, like, I don't want to see you get hurt anymore? I don't want to see you, you know, get those shots? Well, nobody wants to see it happen.

I mean, if she doesn't, I don't, nobody wants to see it happen. But I trained so it doesn't. This was a big man, and he's hard to train for it. I understand I understand I was the champion, and he was the number one contender, and I'll never turn on a fight, but I was very aware of how big and powerful he was going into it. And my game plan was, I should have tweaked it. Yeah, so there's no conversations like that, like without beating around the bush. You're going to keep fighting.

Yeah, no, I'm definitely going to let my brain rest for a little bit. I mean, he kicked their stuffing out of me. So I'm not looking to get back in the cage tomorrow. But no, I'm taking all the precautions I can. I'm doing everything I can to heal myself, both, you know, physically and mentally. And I'll get back in there. We're already talking. I mean, I'm definitely not going back to heavyweight.

That big man scared me out of that way, class. Okay. So I'm going back down to 205 where I rightfully belong. Okay. And correct me if I'm wrong, you're the champ there, right? yes I was the double champ I was the greatest cratica that's ever been and now I'm just one of the greatest craticas that have ever been I'm the light heavyweight champion I've defended it twice

and I'm looking forward to defending it for a long time to come so so sometimes with these you know with these promotions of karate combat and the delays and all that people start coming after them and saying you know they're they're crumbling they're doing things wrong you were there you experience you fought for them you've won multiple titles for them What has your experience been like with karate combat? Are they growing? Are they figuring it out?

Is a well-oiled machine? What are you feeling there when you're over there? I feel like they care about the fighters more than anything. They do everything they can to make sure we get to perform in the arena, in the size of event that they promise us. And they do everything they can to do that. And I've been thrilled with that. No, like every budding organization, they're going to, you know, come a game.

And the UFC did. even while I was fighting in the UFC, the UFC has had problems. And this was definitely a problem. They'd be the first to admit it. But they're doing everything they can to make sure that problem doesn't happen again. And that's something a lot of the,

you know, second, third, fourth, biggest promotion in the world don't do. And Cratic Combat is trying to make it. So it never happens again. They're trying to make sure the fighters walk away feeling like they are the greatest in the world. Okay, so you're happy there and you're not looking to go elsewhere.

No, I'm happy there. I really am. They've been very good to me. The resurgence of my career could not be understated or overstated, and I feel blessed with the opportunities they've given me. I've got some big fights potentially on the horizon. I know Uri Hall. He's in the mix now, and I suspect he's going to be one of my next guys.

And I'm excited for that. I'm excited for the roster they've got coming up. I know they've got events planned here. and I want to say February and March, even. I don't know if they're doing one in January. But they've got fights coming up, but I'm looking forward to riding with them for a long time. Okay.

And by the way, I did notice, you know, we've talked in the past how you're prolific on social media, on TikTok, in these places. You did come out very quickly and defend the referee in question. You said, stop blaming this guy. Why did you feel the need to do that? Because everyone was hating on them. Man.

And it was weird for me. So like everyone tells me, now, I've been fighting for a long time. When I started fighting, fights were over when the fight was over. And slowly over time, fights have been over when the referee says it's over. And I've never been a fan of that. I understand, and I know I'm a fighter, and the fighter's always going to want to go out and, you know, fight until the very end. But the fans used to be that way, too.

And now the fans are becoming more of it. They're going to say they're going to be okay whenever the referee stops. And the fans were very much going after a referee, who I thought did an incredible job. And I wish more referees, you know, gave the fighters the chance to fight out of it. How much longer do you want to go, Sam? As long as I can make a living with it. I truly am not injured. I might be the oldest fighter that's ever that can say that.

I don't have any lingering injuries. People tend to remember me being a stand-and-bang guy, but I'm really not. I've always been a one-hitter-quitter kind of fellow where I hit him. and they fall over, or it goes to a decision. So even my head doesn't get hit that much as I'm fighting. I love this. I would do it for nothing. Don't tell Crowdy Combat, I said that.

No, no, no. Yeah. I just enjoy. I get to travel the world. I get to meet people all over from, you know, the elite pros to the beginning amateurs. I get to meet them. And because of what I've done, I mean something to them. And I just love the opportunity that fighting has presented me.

But you do know, you know, it's not just about like the bones, the bruises. It also is the brain. And you did say just before that you're going to give your brain a rest. At any point, you feel like it's too many knocks. No, I don't. And I am very conscious about that because I've always thought myself to be a pretty sharp-witted fella. And I don't want to ever lose that. So I'm very careful with that, especially the last couple of years.

I have fought far less than I used to. I used to have, you know, 13, 14 fights in a year. Now I'm doing one or two a year. Yeah. I'm pulling back because my brain. I have two of everything. I have one of those. And I need to protect it.

I plan on using it for a lot longer. And I'm doing everything I can right now to, you know, keep it as healthy as I can. I see you're in the great outdoors over there, right? I see some, some wood behind you. I heard some great news that you got a couple of new emus. Is that right? Yeah, it was like Christmas present for my wife. I got two emus and we wanted them for a while and she finally, you know, broke down and got me my emus.

Wow. And why are you so excited to have emos? They're such a cool bird. They are. Now, when I was in the UFC, my second oldest Ival, we went over to Australia and so we went and saw a zoo out there and there was a statue of an emu and it terrified my child. just terrible we always call them the ival eaters ivel's my kid and so they've always had a special place in my heart because my wife and i we just remember that moment where the statue of an emo was just interacting with him he had a thing for it and from that moment on it said i have to get him so now

ivel's all grown up he's nine no he's 10 now and he just loves him he was the first one out there he wants to feed him every day when he gets home and he's all about these emus and where does one purchase emus from here i was in sparta Tennessee there were an emu farm wow uh we got their last two it looks like that the owners of the farm they're moving to thailand and so we

had the last two emus and apparently so i've been learning about emu since they got them apparently they mate for life so i've got the two cindy loo is the girl and then i have ned is the boy and i named him on the way home uh why ned by the loo emu instead of Cindy Louville. The mayor

of Whoville is Ned. Ah. And so there's Cindy Lou Who, so now it's Cindy Lou Emu and Ned, the mayor of Huville. I think on the way home. And yeah, I'm just thrilled with them. I'm adding them. I've got pigs. I've got sheep. I've got horses.

Now I've got emus. How many animals total? So we say on our ranch, I've got I think it's 108 heartbeats. Wow. A hundred and eight. That is how many acres? I've got five acres out here in Murphysboro, Tennessee, and just love it. My neighbors are wonderful. Neighbors across the street, they've got like 100 acres that they welcome me to whenever they want or whenever I want.

And it's just, it's a good life out here. Do you grow your own vegetables? Do you do that sort of thing? No. I have too many chickens for that. We tried, and our chickens just thrashed our garden. And we've tried every year, and we keep trying different spots, trying to figure it out. And our chickens thrash it.

What are you looking at right now? Like, is it just all – like, what is it on the other side of the camera? Right. Nothing much. Over here, so they've got about 80 acres that way with. There's a whole lot of nothing. There's a house right over there is my truck, kids trampoline. So it's just – I'm just out here.

I love it. Just loving life. I was smoking a cigar here not too long ago, getting some work done around the farm. And, yeah, just enjoying my time. It is warm here today. It's been cold. nice today. It's like 50 to 60. I hear all kinds of

animals, like the cockledoodle do, do, all kinds of stuff going on. Oh, at all times. You're lucky you don't want to hear my kids. I've got three of them inside right now. I've got to go to an interview with Ariel. Okay, okay, okay. It's got to be long ago for a minute.

How many kids total now you got? I have six, and I like to say my wife and I aren't done. We're taking no precautions. We'll take what the good lords gives us. Oh, my God. You are something else. We adopted, we adopt, we were foster parents out in California, so we adopted one of our kids. And we're trying to get back into the foster system out here, but because we have six, the state doesn't want to give us anymore. Okay, okay. And what are the Alvi family holiday traditions? What are some of the things that you guys do?

We're going to go see Santa Claus tonight. We're going to the Grand Ole Opry. We're going to see Santa Claus tonight. My parents live, they live on Alvey Mountain. It's a mountain about an hour and a half from us. So we're going to go out there after Christmas morning. We're going to have dinner, dinner with them. Let's see, today's Tuesdays. So tomorrow night. We've got church at night. We just do everything we can to be with the community.

All my kids are in wrestling and jiu-jitsu and Muay and baseball and soccer, and they're more athletic than I ever was. And yeah, we're just, I get to coach a lot of it too, which is a lot of fun. Even the baseball and the soccer and all that? Soccer, no, baseball, yes. And I'm not good at baseball, but I'm better than my kids so I can still do it. Okay. By the way, this grand old Opry, I saw a clip of Jelly Roll talking about how, you know, he went to see a concert there, and then Joe Rogan played him a clip of someone, and he started crying because he's now a part of the Opry.

I never even heard of it. Is it some famous venue over there? You've never heard of the Grand Ole Opry? Yeah, my goodness. Crazy, right? No, I believe it's older than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I mean, Randall Opry is, if you are a country music, anyone, you have played the apri, you're in the apri, you're helping run the apri. Okay, so when he said, like, welcome to the opera.

the Opry, that means he's kind of been inducted into the Country Hall of Fame? Is it sort of like that? Something like that. It's a big deal that he's in it. It is a lot of people that's their entire goal. It's not to get that number one song. It's not to be able to travel the world. It's to be able to get into that Opry. But he was in the Opry. That's something special. Okay, last one for you. I remember a time

you wanted to fight Jake Paul. He's fighting on Friday against Anthony Joshua. Who wins and how? I like watching the Jake Paul fights. They're fun. He does a good job at Sondett, but he's going to get slaughtered. And I, oh, man, he's going to get slaughtered. He's fighting a real boxer who is significantly bigger than him. It's going to be a bad night for Jake.

And I don't want to stand pulling for him, but I'm looking forward to watching the fight. All right, well, we'll see what happens. Great to hear that you're in good health, great spirits as well. as always, I expect nothing less from you, Sam. All the best to you and the family. Happy holidays. Thank you for joining us. Appreciate it as always.

Hey, you're very welcome. Hey, I got to give a special shout out to a game planning friend of mine. Sure. Eli McLennan, he's been helping me game plan, and I would have won this last fight head. I listened to him a little bit better. But he's helped me win and hold my title,

and I couldn't give more love to him. Shout out to him. Well done. Appreciate that. Thank you, Sam. All the best to you. And get well soon, and we'll see you soon. Hey, we'll see you soon, my friend.

Take care. There he is. The one and only, the inimitable. Smile and Sam Alvey. What a guy. You know, the way in which he speaks, it actually reminds me a little bit of chale. There's something about his storytelling, his demeanor that reminds me a lot of chale. Two OGs of the fight game and always enjoy speaking to him, getting his perspective. He is very honest. He came on social media right after that fight, which was a little bit shocking, and said, look, lay off the ref. I should have zigged when I zagged. I'll be back. And so he shall be back. I feel like, G.C., have you heard of the grand... I shouldn't assume that he's back there.

No, it was actually perfect. Okay, thank you. Because as you're teeing this up, I was like, how has he not heard of the grand old opera? This is like one of the most historic music venues in the country. Okay, Rick, East Coast guy, Rick. Have you heard of it? Of course.

Fuck. And then he goes, you've never heard of the Grand Ole Opry? Yeah, we were dying back here. Okay, okay, okay. So did you see that clip of Jelly Roll on Rogan? It's an unbelievable clip. I have not. Oh, wow.

Jelly Roll, who's lost an incredible amount of weight. Shut up to him. He's looking great. Basically, he told a story that when he was in prison, he was very depressed. There was a guy that was a famous guy who he loved that he would listen to him in prison, and he kind of motivated him to change his life. And one day he's out. He's wearing an ankle bracelet.

He's sitting. He says he knows exactly where. And I guess he won an award one time. It was at the opera and he mentioned it. But basically he's sitting in the stands. He's watching this one guy whose name, I don't recall, because it doesn't really resonate with me, not because I don't like country music or hate on it. It's just not names that I'm familiar with.

And basically he's like, that guy, that's who I want to be. I want to be up there one day. This is my dream. Anyway, he's on Rogan last week, and Rogan plays him a clip from that guy saying, I've heard you tell this story. I love this story, and I want to welcome you to the Opry now. And he starts crying. He starts crying like someone punched him in the stomach, like weeping.

And he says, can I give you a hug to Rogan? Like, it's a beautiful. He's a great guy. Like, I'm a huge fan of his and his soul. And he says, can I give you a hug? And he is just sobbing. And I'm seeing here the gentleman's name is Craig Morgan. Craig Morgan.

Do you know that man? I'm not familiar. The way he talks about him and what he meant, it was beautiful stuff. It really was. And great on Rogan for getting this video of this guy saying, like, I've seen this story, I've heard this story from you. Now I want to welcome you. And he's like, holy crap.

So, but I didn't really realize that it was the whole. I thought it was a venue. Like, I thought it was like playing like, you know, the Beacon, theater. Oh, like, yeah, Beacon Theater, Red Rocks, Radio City, something like that. Yeah, well, then they have the whole Opry land associated with it. It's like gigantic hotel and there's a river in the middle and it's, yeah, it's a whole thing. In Tennessee, right? Yeah, right outside of Nashville, like 20 minutes from downtown Nashville. Have you been? Oh, yeah, I've stayed in the Opry land. No way. Oh, yeah. That's amazing. My grandfather's funeral was actually at the Opry land.

Wait, you can have a funeral there. It was like a ceremony for him and like you ran out this really nice room and it's like this whole thing. Wow. So this is like a like a like a like a campus of sorts. The hotel like area at Opryland is gigantic. Wow, wow, wow. And here I am. East Coast. I'm in Canadian. Yeah. And Nashville's great. You ever been. I've been to Nashville a couple of times. Adored it. Go. Love it. Went for a UFC event one time. Um, WW one time. Yeah, beautiful.

Shout out to. Great, great people there. Great vibe. Love it. So yeah. Shout out to, uh, I guess Sam's going to the Opry tonight, or tomorrow, or later in the week? Jordan's wife's been to the Opry. George's wife's been to the Opry? Sure has. Who'd you see there? She couldn't tell me. She was there during the Stanley Cup run for the Predators.

They were at the tailgate, and then her mom in the middle of it, she's like, they're having a good time. She's like, we've got to go to the Opry. We have tickets, and she said it couldn't have been more boring. I think she fell asleep. Is it sort of like, when I think of Opry, I think of Opera, but it has nothing to do with the opera, right? No, no, no.

it's O-P-R-Y. Yeah, what does O-P-R-I mean? Is that, like, the name of some kind of music? I'm not sure. I've actually never been to the grand old opera itself. Like the actual venue? Correct. And who are the kind of people that play there?

Is it like Elvis Presley types? Who's the most famous country artist in the world right now, or at least in America? Is it Kane Brown? No, definitely not. Who is it? Who is it be? I don't know. Luke Combs is pretty huge.

Luke Combs. Morgan Wallen. is pretty huge there's a lot of big names I'm also not a country music expert love going to country concerts Yeah Who's the one that sings the

In the ordinary I'm when we get in the ground Is that country? Oh is that not country I was in the ground The angels up in the sound Is that not country I don't think so

What about I thought you're going to say the oh shit that's Zach Brown I've seen him and gone to a couple times I gotta say I listen to that song it comes on I'm in a good mood

and a radio time It's a great one from Georgia Oh really? Wait so who's that That's Zach Brown Oh Zach Brown There's a Kane Brown and a Zach Brown And then there's also a Zach Brian

Oh that's way too And a loop Brian as well Yeah yeah Now we're really getting mixed up there There's also Brian Adams and a Ryan That is true Don't forget Yeah that is true

Shall we go to some super chats I know you guys got a plane to catch Why do people say you got a plane to catch It's not like the plane is like flying away And you have to actually catch it Might be tonight Wait so that's your That's your

Friction with the phrase Is like that you're not literally catching You know you know how we learned Earlier in the day that GC doesn't like When people do the double tap That's my thing Plain to catch You don't like the catch part

No no I was gonna say I feel like mine is based in you know Action Like catch a cab you're like, no, but you're not actually, like, hanging off the muffler, so... One trigger for me is when someone calls me, it keeps me on the phone for a long time, and then they say, this is the classic, I'm going to let you go.

I knew you were, I knew. That's another one. I mean, you've kept me on the phone. What do you mean? You're not the bigger person here. You're not the bigger guy. You're not letting me go. You've kept me here.

I didn't want to be here to begin with, hey, I'm going to let you run now. I don't want to take up more of your time. Actually, I'll even take the inverse of that also bothers me when someone clearly wants to get off the phone and they're just like, all, man, don't worry about it. and I'll let you run. Yes. I'll let you run. That's the end of every interview with you in jail now.

Every interview with you in jail? I'm always afraid that he's going to pull the plug for it. He's like, yeah, you're so busy, you know. He's just like, wait, are you leaving? You start saying these things that could be a wrap-up and he's just like, all right, man, I'll see you later. You're like, wait, wait, no, I'm not saying goodbye. I'm not saying goodbye.

I'm not saying goodbye. I wanted to check in. Also, man, I thought he was going to, I thought he was going to have to take a break today off the Zen. I know, I know. Does that make you high? Does that make you high? gives you the buzz similar to smoking a cigarette.

It's nicotine. Okay. Yeah, so he's taking nicotine and drinking a Red Bull, and I wonder if he was also drinking the Red Bull with the pouch in, which can upset people's stomachs and make you... Yeah. Yeah. We need to check in on him.

I'm sure he's doing fine now, but yeah, if you get a Zen a little bit too powerful, it'll have your head spinning. Do you think I should ask him? You good? How are you feeling? It just shows that I care, you know? Yeah, yeah.

I think he's feeling a little. okay because he ignored the five minutes and then when you asked him how he's doing later he he i don't think he even knew what you were talking about yeah yeah he's like am i talking to can i tell you another one that pisses me off um when when like someone like you know someone says something or does something and then you say thank you like um or even if someone writes you like oh man uh you know good luck in your you know in your upcoming test or you got a big show or big week or a big day good luck good luck in the meeting good luck in the interview right and i write back oh thank you appreciate it and then they

hit me with the you're welcome the you're welcome grinds my gears you're like the interaction has to end when you say you're not doing

something so noble right right right right you're welcome yeah you double tap you say my pleasure good luck

that your welcome seems like it's there I say disingenuous you're welcome to anything I I hand you

no I get what you're saying I hand you a paper plate and you're like thanks man it's just like you're welcome sending somebody like a good luck

is a bare minimum, so you shouldn't be like overly like, oh, yes, you should say thank you for this and I should be able to see your ball. And I tell you why I thought of it. Here's the perfect example. Yeah. So someone texted me yesterday and said, oh, really liked what you had to say about Sydney. I said, thank you. That really means a lot to me.

You're welcome. Nah, nah. What are you talking about? That feels unnecessary. Yeah. It's like, no. It's like, no. I did the thing.

Yes. I did the part. Yes. You don't, you didn't contribute that much other than to say, like, I like this or, you know, good luck. I'm with you. I'm with you. All right, super chat time, guys. This is from C-Shank, and he gives me like 800-something.

I don't know what it is. But shout-out to you. What is that? You know, I feel like we need to stop currency shaming. We're not shaming. I just don't know what it is. No, no, no. There's a 800-Boh-Hon-Indian rupee. Okay, what is it?

We love it. What is it? What does it matter? Because, you know, we're global. We don't worry. Thank you for your... I got you, I got you. You don't need a conversion at all. We're very happy to have $8.80.

Yeah. Okay, shout out. Thank you. We appreciate your $0.80. In my honest... $8.80. Man, you thought the rupee was down, bro. Yeah, even better.

In my honest opinion, one of your most influential interviews, if not top three of all time in terms of cultural impact is the punk interview before WrestleMania 40. Any possibility of a repeat, any unpleasantness there because of you interviewing TK. not that I know of and I don't know why that would be I mean we didn't talk too much about it I don't even think that TK

TK being Tony Kahn you know hit him below the belt or made it worse I would love to have them on I've always enjoyed our chats but nothing at the moment lined up TTITL

Unc Ariel thank you do you have the inside scoop on Joshua ditching the first gen single AirPod in favor of the conduct Reduction headset. By the way, I had no idea. It was called a conduction headset.

Capital IF, the unthinkable happens, surely this would be the cause. It's a great shout, by the way. Is it possible, though, that he got rid of the first-gen air pod after the Dubois knockout? Maybe this is part of the new team. He's not with, you know, the old team, Ben Davison, Lee Wiley. He's now with Ussack's team, which I think is not being talked about enough, to be honest. Like, he's training over in Spain with Alexander Usik's team. Now, I haven't seen any footage of Usik and him training together. But that was, I mean, he had great success with Davison. Like, we were talking about this all the time. And then all of a sudden, loses once and switches team.

So let us see. But no, I did ask him at the press conference about it, and he sort of laughed it off. This is from MMA Take Down 46. PTC, I'm from Limerick, and I want to get into interviewing Irish fighters and documenting the events. Do you have any advice to get started? Well, Pizzi's not here, but I don't think it has anything to do with where you're from. Do like we all did. You know, just get out there, reach out to fighters.

I reach out to them via MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Those are all available to you now. Get your work out there. You've got social media now to give yourself a platform, a voice, a megaphone. Just get going. Just keep putting it out there. Keep on grinding. Be consistent.

Be professional. Be gracious. do your research, ask good questions, don't keep them on forever, reach out to people who are in the news, reach out to people who are accessible. Just get started. The moment you get started and then you get into a groove, the ball rolls, and now all of a sudden you're humming out there. So it's very hard to start, but once you've started, it gets a little bit easier.

So I wish you the best. Here's Benjamin Turk, Ariel. Have you seen Gabriel? Gabriel Iglesias car collection. I bet you would love it. Ask to borrow a car. Also have O's Promenon. O's is great.

O's, O's, I don't know. I think it's Oz. I think he goes by O's. O's? Oh, right. Jordan's confirming O's. Yeah. I've only seen it written. Gabriel Iglesias.

Comedian, Fluffy. Yes. He has an insane VW bus collection. What? Yeah, like garage full of like really, really nice one. Oh my God. I didn't know. Yeah.

VW. connection. Wow. Oh my god, he's got like a whole museum. Yes. Whoa. This guy's the man. You need to do the link up. See if you can even buy one. Wow. 80 plus cars. Damn. I didn't know he had it like that. No, Fluffy got it. He's popular. I had no idea. Oh my God. I've seen, okay, I've seen the light here. Look at all these videos. Holy shit. Who knew? Wow. Okay, I need to check that out. Thank you, my friend. Here's Slido Shout out to Mick Foley's

WVey departure He's a real one Does he mean like his retirement match Or did he like End a Legends deal or something What is that about? I'm sorry I saw that Mick Foley has announced

He is leaving the WWE For the way that they have And this fitting coming from This side of the control room He doesn't appreciate the way That they have a relationship with the president of the United States. Yo.

Especially in light of his comments yesterday. WFB. Yo, yo, this is from NBC News, I'm reading this. Wow. Also reading Nick Reiner to be charged with murder and death of parents. Yeah, that's a insane story. Legendary pro wrestler, and shout out to Greg Rosenstein. Works at NBC News, our guy.

Did he write this or? No. I just shouting him out. Legendary pro wrestler Mick Foley announced Tuesday. He's done with World Wrestling Entertainment for at least three years, for at least three years. years. Oh, citing the company's close ties to Donald Trump and the president's incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner's death. I mean, very, very, very insensitive, poor taste.

I mean, just absolutely nuts to say that about someone who had been murdered just because he wasn't a fan of yours or didn't vote for you. Like, just, there has to be a line. There has to be a line. I don't care. Well, I just mean, like, there's no, it's indefensible. It's extremely bad taste. Fully told his 633,000 Instagram followers that he informed the WWE on Monday that he would not be making any appearances for the company as long as

this man remains in office, end quote. I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy. The final straw came on Monday when Trump mocked and belittled the beloved Hollywood director Rob Reiner, who's a legend. My dad

loved Rob Reiner, by the way. He always told me my dad always told me that he learned English via all in the family he moved to Canada from Lebanon his favorite show was all in the family and Archie Bunker was a legend Rob Reiner was on there

and that's really like how he learned English humor American humor favorite show he was very sad to hear about this I mean just a shocking awful story he continued while I have been concerned about WW's close relationship with Donald Trump for several months especially in light of his

administration's ongoing cruel inhumane treatment of immigrants and pretty much anyone who looks like an immigrant, reading the president's incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner's death is the final straw for me. Wow. That is fascinating. Taking like a truly principled stand. Yeah.

Oh, there's a quote from Jim Cornett in here. Okay, let's hear. Well, a representative from the WWE could not. They wrote could, but could not. Hey, I found a typo here, Greg. Could not immediately be reached by NBC News for Comment on Tuesday Quote, I want to state publicly

that while I've always liked him, he has just become my favorite person in the world, legendary WW manager, Jim Cornett, said in a statement about Foley. This thing tells me he didn't really say it in his statement was more of a tweet. Yeah, it is a tweet. I wish all the boys had his backbone

and more importantly, his morals. That was just a tweet from Cornett. Forney. I'm surprised to hear that. Not because I'm surprised that it's like McFoli doing it, but, like, people don't often take principled stands like this in the face of money that he could definitely potentially be making from his relationship with WWB.

Very interesting, and shout out to McFaulhu. Sammy J6Z3S, how long is the show on Christmas break? So, we could lay it out, right? Our last show, our last live show of 2025 will be December 22nd. So December 22nd, we'll be back. So this Monday, this Monday will be in studio to recap Joshua and Paul. Talk about anything else that's gone on. We'll recap our trip to Miami.

We'll talk about the fight before Christmas, anything else. We do have one guest book that I'm very excited about. In studio, one half of the brand new AEW tag team champions, Harley Cameron, is going to be joining us in studio. Are you guys familiar with Harley? I'm not. Reps Australia, but is actually a brilliant ventriloquist, believe it or not. And so part of her gimmick is that she has all these dolls, would it be dolls or, what would you call them? Puppets?

And she does a thing where she like is really very talented at ventriloquy. Ventriloquism. There it is. Wait, that's her gimmick. That's her actual wrestling gimmick. To a degree, yes. Wow. Does she wrestle with the, yeah.

Not with the doll, but she'll be backstage like clown. on people, like, with the doll being, like, a friend. That's pretty cool. And Mercedes Monet, formerly known as Sasha Banks, rival of hers. And so she one time appeared with a Mercedes Monet doll. Wow. Yes. All right.

I'm impressed. Yes. You know what? That is, like, they're in studio guests I'm looking forward to for various reasons or another. To see that in person is going to be my most. She's bringing it a lot. She asked me if I had any pick. If I had a preference, I say, up to you.

Yeah, dealer's choice. Let's see the best show. Sort of hoping that she'd, like, make. one of us and then, you know. That feels like a lot of effort. At least, at least a me, but I didn't want it to say me. Clown makeup on or not for the dummies of us? Oh, yeah. Yeah, for sure.

Anyway, so we'll do that show December 22nd. Then we're off for the rest of the week. Then on December 29th, which is a Monday, at 1 p.m., our usual time slot, we recorded, you know, a lot of you ask me about the studio, about all the chachis, about all the things, where they came from. Some of these things, by the way, like Nate Diaz,

Round 5 has been with me since the beginning, 2009. There's a story about all of these things and how I got them and all the stuff. I shot a sort of MTV Cribs type of tour of the studio, and we'll be dropping that on December the 29th, that Monday. There's a whole side here that you never really see. And so it's like all this stuff here. There's a whole wall. So that is to come.

Unless there's any breaking news, the next time you'll see us, all of us, is January. 5th for the Hawanino's awards. So technically, as far as live shows concern, two weeks in between, we'll go our separate ways. Uncrowned.com will still be humming. The boys doing tremendous work over there. Still a ton of content, still a ton of stuff. There's the in-of-way fight. That weekend, the 27th, there's a ton going on.

So have no fear. And if there's breaking news, I'll pop on. I'll do a video. I'll react. But as far as live shows, 1222, and then 1-5. And then in-between, we'll have the studio tour for all. of you. Learn to wean.

When was the last time you fell down? I feel like not that long ago. I went running one time, not that long ago. And the sidewalk was uneven, and I tripped and fell and it kind of hurt. Shives 2K, hey Ariel, have you read the graphic novel Mouse? The Sydney event reminded me of what can happen

if we aren't careful. It's about the Holocaust. aware of it. I don't think I've read it. I've seen stuff about it. And yes, you know, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I don't think we are getting there. I think we are a lot smarter and the world is much smaller and something like that can't happen, but things like that are happening in other parts of the world. And we have to be, we have to be vigilant, we have to be smart and we have to expend the same type of energy that we expend to everyone. So when there is wrong and evil being committed, we need to do everything

in our power to stop it. And the biggest lesson that we need to learn from at least what happened on Sunday is that words matter. Words matter. And so a couple chants, a couple of graffiti, a couple of tweets, a couple of videos, a couple of slogans, all lead to this. And just ask the people of Australia what they've witnessed over the last two years. It all leads to to this. Just a couple more here. Here's why bank. No, Ariel, have you thought about giving your crew one-on-one interviews on the show?

We've grown to love the whole crew. We'd love to know them better. So is he saying that he wants me to interview you guys? I think so. I feel like we've learned a lot about you guys. I mean, you have your own show. Yeah. Check out the boys in the back every Thursday.

Hey, there you go. One o'clock. Alex, Alexander Hurst, 171. The way DC finished Steepay, Jake could do that. So is he saying DC knocked out Stepe the first time they fought, could you do it? Yeah, sure. By the way.

Nope, he can't. The next time I'm sitting in this chair talking to all of you, we could be living in a world, or Jake Paul knocked out. No, we can't. It's not happening. I'm just saying. Nope. It will not happen.

Spending the week in Dublin, sending a super chat to inquire of sharing a Guinness with Peter Petey as possible also. Why is there, just a giant needle in the middle of the city. Why? Is there a giant needle in the middle of Dublin? Giant.

Never been. I've actually never even seen a picture of Dublin. I'm saving it for when I go. I heard it's very posh. At least for Pizzi's from, Blanchfield. Man, you said a world Monday where Jake Paul beats Anthony, Josh. We could also be in a world where the mechanic has beaten Tony Hervison.

Oh, no. That one I don't have as much confidence in, but we will not be living in a Jake Paul. Okay, there is. The needle in Dublin refers to the spire of Dublin, a tall stainless steel monument on O'Connell Street, known for its sleek, needle-like appearance, and serving as a city landmark meeting point

and replacement for the demolished Nelson's pillar. I bet you right now, P.T. would have given us a whole... I spent a couple of days in Dublin with P.T. He told me about everything. That door over there, that freaking bush over there, that church over there, his knowledge of Dublin. So I'm sure he knows all about the spire. of Dublin.

Unbelievable. He sends me lots of photos of cliffs and they look tremendous. Just you, just you? I was going to say, PT never text me. Yeah, on the side. I just called it Blanchefield instead of Blanchardt Sound. Recently texted him and I was like, oh, it's been a while since we texted them.

Petez sent me chocolates, actually, last night. Wow. His chocolate caramel, some hot chocolate, a little gift for the little kids. What the fuck is this? Wow. I sent this two to you? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

From where? Jill and I and Sabrina. What a guy. Man, I wonder how he got your address. real mensch he's what a guy I mean him Elaine Reg

best they're great at that I did ask you for a registry and you kind of no sold me to my I said to everybody don't get me anything

yeah and somehow he bypassed us he didn't actually ask so he just sent it I like how Jordan frame that is don't get me anything

like it's not for you brother it's for the kid sorry you're right don't get awesome well the chocolate's not for the kid I'm specified and then

no for Pizzi yeah I like that that's good by Pizzi also how do he get your address I assume EP Eric That should have prompted you to do something for all of us You know like hey Here's Mosaid 4867

NBA trivia Tuesday for historian Halwani Who was the New York Knicks first head coach Easy Work, 1946, 1947 season By the way back then it wasn't known as the National Basketball Association It was known as what? The Basketball Association of America The very first game happened on, I believe, November 1st. It was at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens.

The first person to score a basket for the Knicks, Ozzie Shetman, their coach, Neil Colahan. I believe one season, and he didn't last very long, and I don't think the Knicks won that year. Well, I know they didn't win that year because they only won in 1970 and 1973. But you do know what is happening in about six hours time. Well, the game starts at 8.30, so maybe six and a half. the 52 year drought end and it's going to be fantastic

here's one more Hakuzhin Otaku Ariel asks questions like a Brit nowadays Upspeak do I do this now I guess I guess I just did it

maybe it's all the the British media that I consume Upspeak what is that I guess like I inflecting up as you finish I do this now Yeah I mean now you did it on purpose

Is this something that you do By the way, is it a bad thing or is it a good thing? I think it's just a thing. Yeah, I don't know if that's good or bad. Very British of you though. Okay. Gentlemen, we're out of time. You guys have a plane to catch.

See you. Got to go catch it. Wow. Nick's having an awful day because he was quick on the draw with the music. There was no dilly dallying there. Like, he is just done. I'm trying to get better at this. No, no, Nick, you're doing a fantastic job.

Appreciate you. All right, so this is the situation. Half the team already in the 305. Who knows what they're doing down there? Frank, probably a few drinks in. NBD, NBD. Rick, Connor, heading over there. Halwani tomorrow morning.

I have to watch NBA Cup, NBD. Press conference. Tomorrow is 6 o'clock. Please come out. Support your boy. If nothing else. You know, like, forget about seeing the fighters there. Just come support me.

Then, weigh-ins Thursday, 6 o'clock. Same thing, support your boy. But then. 8.30. Hard Rock Cafe. Miami. There's only one. Biscayne Boulevard. Stones throw from the Kasea Center. Come on out. It is free. Entry fee, not required. User name not required. Password. Not required. There is an open table link that I have posted on Instagram, Twitter, reserve your spot, limited seats. We got the numbers looking fantastic. I'm not even sure what the capacity is, but we have to be very, very, very, very close at this point. So if you want to be there, myself, the whole squad, Jorge Masvedal, Kayla Harrison, questions, meeting, greet, a grand old time. It's going to be great. This

Thursday. That's December 18th. And then, of course, the fight, Netflix, 8 p.m. Friday, prelims before Kasea Center, Jake Paul, Anthony, Joshua, and then we'll be back on Monday to talk about it all. What a time. What a time. No show tomorrow. We are giving you Fight Circus. Uncom. crown film debut at 1 o'clock crack on thursdays stay tuned for friday back on monday same time place says i peace i'm out here Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.