The Ariel Helwani Show - Jake Paul, Ian Machado Garry, Michael Morales, Holly Holm, Claressa Shields in studio

Starting point is 00:00:28 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Err-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r- and 25 hello again everyone I sure hope you're doing well hope you had a lovely lovely weekend I sure did it was a great weekend it was in particular a great Friday night for myself for my kids not sure if you guys saw but decided to go to Madison Square Garden on Friday night and what a time it was. No comps here, paid for the tickets with my hard earned money and perhaps the greatest sporting event I have ever attended, certainly as a fan. Game six, Knicks Celtics, one long party. It was a three hour party as a father with my two kids.

Starting point is 00:01:03 I mean, the stuff that you literally dream of. When I was a youngster, I dreamed of being a dad and I said, please, if I am a dad, please give me kids who love sports as much as I do and who love my teams as much as I do. Now, I don't know if it's as much, that's hard to beat, but they certainly love them. And being there with my kids as the Knicks punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time

Starting point is 00:01:27 since the year 2000 winning a series at home for the first time since 1999 I know exactly where I was when both those things happened was was one of the great thrills of my life being there with my children with my boys was unbelievable I lost my voice and then we were caught in the melee afterwards and all those people online in the aftermath saying oh Congratulations on your second round victory trying to gatekeep fandom. It's such a weird social media thing Let people be happy. Let people celebrate Let people enjoy life Enjoy their team success.

Starting point is 00:02:05 I hate that shit. I hate the, you know, where were you when Lance Thomas was playing? Where were you when Lou Amundsen was playing? Where were you when the Knicks were, you know, winning 17 games? Fuck all that shit. And don't you dare come to me with that shit.

Starting point is 00:02:24 I was there when freaking Machik Lampi was traded for Stefan Marbury in 2004 and thinking that we just blew our future. I was there celebrating drafting Billy Hernan Gomez thinking that he was the future. All right. Look it up. Type my name and Nix on Twitter. I'm there celebrating Mike Miller, interim coach in 2017, saying, oh my god, this is the next Jeff Van Gundy. So let people be happy. Let people celebrate. Sorry Boston fans, and you know who you are in the YouTube chat. I'm not even going to call you all out, but you're very annoying and very confident for a very long time. It's nice to move

Starting point is 00:03:02 on. On to the Indiana Pacers, by the way, who, you know, the boys in the back once said, aren't rivals of the New York Knicks. We played them in 94, beat them, Eastern Conference Finals. Played them in 95, lost to them second round. Heartbreaking Ewing finger roll. Reggie, 8.6 seconds. Y'all know the history. Beat them in 99, Eastern Conference Finals. Lost to them in 2000 Eastern Conference Finals. Lost to them in 2013 second round. Lost to them in 2024 second round. Now playing them once again for the fourth time

Starting point is 00:03:33 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, sure. Not rivals. Yeah, you're 100% right. Not rivals. No, no, no. You're 100% right, guys. Yeah, yeah, that's right.

Starting point is 00:03:40 You're right. No, no, you're 100%. 100%. It's that gap, you know? You're 100%. Oh, yeah, that gap. 2000 and then 13 and then the 10 years after that. Oh, that makes you. You're right. You know, no, you're 100% Yeah, you're 100% Oh, yeah that gap Oh that makes you less of a rival That makes you less of a rival just because your team sucked and that's why this means so much that makes you less of a rival It's it's it's worse than it make it more of a rivalry that worse than Ilya versus Charles

Starting point is 00:03:59 It's worse than the Ilya versus Charles take that it's better than Ilya versus Islam That take is the worst take ever uttered in the history of the show. What did you say? What did you say 20 years? Does it make it more of a robbery that you're playing again? Absolutely, it just it just reminds jabronis like you guys that it is a rivalry and we needed a reminder At home 12 months ago Y'all in the ABA at that point? No, they were in the ABA. They were in the ABA. All right?

Starting point is 00:04:30 They've only made it to the finals once and it was when they beat us at home in 2000 to make it to the finals. Is there even footage of Nick's? Yes, there's a lot of footage. Can I just say, I am happy for you. What a win that was and I'm happy that you and the boys were able to be there. What an incredible victory. It was unbelievable. It really is truly incredible the Knicks run

Starting point is 00:04:47 It's also hilarious that we are actually getting Knicks basers in the Eastern Conference Finals after me and Rick shit on it earlier Let me tell you guys when we were leaving like my boys they're down for a party But they were they were a little rattled in the car. They're like we inhaled secondhand smoke Did you see that guy? He was smoking in our face. Did you see the guy who climbed the billboard? The guy who climbed the billboard is a mad dog. We were literally there. We were there. Have you seen the tech talk of him from it? He's wearing slides sitting on top of the billboard. Icon that guy. Nuts. It looked insane. But everyone was well behaved. I didn't like the wind horse stuff. Yeah, that's a great guy.

Starting point is 00:05:23 There was also a guy walking in the streets with a Pacers jersey and they were like throwing garbage yeah that guy deserved it in my opinion I'm with you you're an enemy territory what'd you think was everything goes in a rivalry yeah yeah oh a hundred percent it was it was an absolute vibe one of my favorite memories of the game I'm sitting up top you know cheap seats actions front row court side and we're talking to each other throughout the game. They have a big moment, he's looking up at me, I'm going, yes, I'm going like this, and he's going like this to me.

Starting point is 00:05:50 Kat gets an N1, he goes like that. High fives action! High fives action! Oh my God, what a moment. What a time. So I'm hyped. I'm hyped. I'm sorry. I'm hyped. I haven't been able to celebrate this in 25 years. Eight more. All we have to do guys is go eight and six. You realize that, right? We just have to go eight and six in our next 14 games.

Starting point is 00:06:09 That's it. And I could finally celebrate a championship. Finally, I could die in peace. They win a championship, I'm not coming back. I'm done. Wow. I'm done. I wish Frank was here to hit the break.

Starting point is 00:06:19 I'm dying in peace. And then I'll just wait till January, February, Bills win, and then I'm really done. Wait, so you're dying and then the Bills win and then you're dying again. Yes, I come back. I'll just wait till January February bills win, and then I'm really done wait So you're dying and then the bills win, and then you're dying I come back. I'll be resurrected like a phoenix These people yo these people are coming up to me and being like where were you when I could you believe this Rick You know me a long time. Where was I? I was fucking living We always turn positive things at the negative?

Starting point is 00:06:45 Why are you always trying to look? For you what are you talking? Oh, there's people say where were you when who what people coming at roles with anonymous? Who cares Happy he doesn't know how to just enjoy You he misses the finger roll my brother takes the My brother takes the tissue box and nails it up my head. I have to go to a French bar mitzvah and I went into my Sports Illustrated. I cut out a Knicks logo and I taped it on my kippa.

Starting point is 00:07:13 That's what I was saying. I was saying, I'm gonna bring them closer to God. That's how irrational I was. Where were you then? And now we're here. And now Chungus87 on Twitter said, where were you then? You're stewing.

Starting point is 00:07:24 30 years later, I've been told, where were you when? You're stewing. 30 years later, I've been told, where were you when? I had to put a second mortgage out of my house to be there on Friday for my boys. Where were you? Right here. Oh, I can't wait. Jalen Branson, thank you so much. Okay.

Starting point is 00:07:37 We have a lot to get to today, guys. There's a lot going on. Jake Paul's going to join us back into the show. Ian Machado-Garry is going to join us. Michael Morales coming off that massive potential, like taking the next step type of win over Gilbert Burns in front of six people at the apex, but his mom was tremendous. Shout out to his mom.

Starting point is 00:07:51 She was unbelievable. I think it was the first time that she ever saw him fight live in the UFC. So very exciting stuff. Holly Holm going to join us, the latest member of the MVP stable. She's returning to boxing for the first time in over a decade, June 28th, and Clarissa Shields in

Starting point is 00:08:10 Studio the quote here for New York Rick Rick. Are you gonna say anything to her? You gotta talk to him I'm a professional. I'm gonna keep it extremely pro. You got the thing right there Listen, my fandom is my fandom is on display Only wearing the one glove Clarissa shield sign globe, uh, no, listen, I got a job to do this is not this is not for me This is not playtime. You think she's gonna come like the bring the smoke Yes, no, well for what I always come. I don't know. She's always fired up about something. No Listen, this is gonna be an interview with the the greatest No, well for what I don't know. She's always fired up about something. No, listen

Starting point is 00:08:45 This is gonna be an interview with the the greatest Female boxer of all time and the one of the greatest living athletes we have. Katie Taylor's gonna be here as well Yeah, you know yourself PT. Maybe maybe we'll have somebody else get mad at pizzi though We might have another woman's champion like Drake Joe Drake with it with the bullet holes I just want to know after this weekend if PT is delighted for me or not. Uh-oh. Delighted. Absolutely delighted. I told you. I always say the same way, mate. You know what I mean? I'm always here delighted for the boys. Texting Chuck a half four in the morning. Unfortunately, it's all over for Chuck. But, you know, always happy for you.

Starting point is 00:09:22 I don't have a Denver Nuggets hat. I have a fucking Nicks hat I'll tell you that much. Yeah, you do and we love you for it guys. Okay a lot to get to We'll talk about this weekend's events, you know UFC apex. It was all about Michael Morales There was a tremendous scene at the Copper Box where Dave Allen knocks out Johnny Fisher shocking stuff there Darren till picked up a win over Darren Stewart and misfits But I do want to start with some news and notes because I have a few things I need to get off my chest. We're all fired up here. I wake up to a series of tweets from the GOAT, the self-proclaimed GOAT, John Jones, greatest

Starting point is 00:09:56 champion, arguably in UFC history, greatest fighter, arguably in MMA history. As we discussed last week, he is currently living his best life over in Thailand and and to me I kind of felt like I don't know if you guys saw but Yanis Antetokounmpo had like a little bit of a tweet storm responding to people on Sunday morning I felt like John was doing his own version of this maybe coincidental but that certainly went viral so you know I think he knew what he was doing he tweets been out here in Thailand enjoying life stuffing my face every day and I swear I'm losing weight somehow. I kind of felt the same when I was in Europe if I'm being honest. There's just something different about the the food over there. You're walking

Starting point is 00:10:34 you're on your feet. Anyway the quality of food here is amazing, so delicious, so clean. That's it. And now here's Randy Brown fan Responding to him saying enjoying your last days as champ before being stripped. I see a John John quote tweets that and says stripped Lol, do I come across as the type of person who cares about things like that? Jedi Goodman had a banger tweet as an aside Noting all the times that Jon has either been stripped or had to vacate. So perhaps there is some truth to that. Anyway, he continues, this was probably the most interesting of the tweets, replying to a tweet from Harris Yeekball

Starting point is 00:11:20 1208, who I think is actually the same guy who asked me, where were you? When? Anyways, he says, yes, otherwise you would have vacated the title a long time ago because you don't plan to fight Tom. Johnny responds, for some reason his name is Johnny Meat. Y'all barking up the wrong tree. I told the UFC my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven't shared them with

Starting point is 00:11:41 you guys yet. And here's one more, which I really don't understand I read it five times from Alfredo. So are you fighting again or not you're the current champion of the division not a bad idea. I don't even know what that response means. What do you mean? You're saying it's not a bad idea to fight I get it. Okay. That's the only one I get. They were talking about finances and all that and he's again not a bad idea to fight. I get it. Okay. That's the only one I get. They were talking about finances and all that. And he was like, yeah, not a bad idea. Make some money off that fight.

Starting point is 00:12:08 Guys, here's the rub. He said it right there. He just gave the Aspenall family a gift on a silver platter. If you go back to the tweet prior to this last one, where he says, hey, I told the UFC my plans. There it is. Y'all barking up the wrong, I told the UFC my plans. There it is. Y'all barking up the wrong tree. I told them my plans.

Starting point is 00:12:29 I have no clue why they haven't shared them with you guys yet. That's it, right there. If I'm Tom, if I'm Andy Aspinall, Mr. Aspinall, his father, his coach, essentially, for all intents and purposes, his manager, I take that tweet and I send it to the UFC. I send it to Hunter Campbell. I send it to Dana White and I say, alright, so share the plans with us.

Starting point is 00:12:56 He told you his plans. He told you his intentions. Now tell us, because either one of you is lying at this point. Either John didn't tell them his plans, or the UFC is not telling their plans to Tom. It's one of the two. Either the UFC doesn't know his plans, or they do. Now I believe, as I've told you guys many months ago, what did I say? I said that the UFC came correct with the money. John asked for top dollar, they offered him top dollar. And then I said that John essentially wasn't interested, that he's out living his best life. And so now what I believe is happening, as we've talked about ad nauseum on this program,

Starting point is 00:13:42 and quite frankly this topic is is is boring at this point if they announced the fight today we would say great now can we all move on or if they announced another fight we would say great can we all move on the shame the travesty the crime here is that one guy's career and life has been derailed so we have to consider that but i believe that the ufc pulls the trigger on things when they have to. And so they told Ilya, we need that belt because we need a main event for April Miami. We're taking that belt. They told Islam, we need that belt because we need a main event for June in Las Vegas Until they are forced

Starting point is 00:14:27 with a predicament Where they need a slot filled they're not going to listen to what John Jones is saying So they look at the schedule. It's not a meritocracy. It's a it's a filling in the holes tocracy if you get what I'm saying June 7th accounted for June 28th accounted for July 19th accounted for. June 28th accounted for. July 19th accounted for. August pay-per-view accounted for. So everything is good till September. What's the September pay-per-view? Nuchie UFC? Could you do John Jones versus Tom Aspinall in Guadalajara? I guess. Would it make sense? Nope. So let's just say that's accounted for. The next one would be early October or late October. They're going to do two in October. Okay, so we're talking October or then Abu Dhabi or then MSG. They really have to make the call for one of those. That's it. And you know they wanted four MSG. They were talking about doing it in August if

Starting point is 00:15:26 John would have signed up. And so the thing is, John is right. He did tell them his plans. But until they really have to make the call, they're not going to pull the trigger. They're not going to force his hand. So what they probably think is, all right, he'll change his mind, he'll change his mind, we'll convince him, we'll buy some time, we'll buy some time. October, November is five, six months away. And so they're just leaving Tom Aspinall waiting in the wings. It's not fair.

Starting point is 00:15:59 And so last week I was on this show and I was saying, look, it's not about you anymore. And I still believe everything that I said. And everything that I said was true. But at this point, the UFC has a duty to its best active heavyweight fighter to do right by him. They're probably telling him, hey, this will change your life. This will be great for you.

Starting point is 00:16:22 You'll get paid, you'll be famous'll be famous all this stuff and they're right But if that fight doesn't come to fruition and there's a chance it might not then what was the point of all this and guess what? Tom Aspinal fights, you know for a minute every time he fights to two to three Tom Aspinal fights against other contenders equals one John Jones So he has to make that call and he has said time and again I don't care ultimately about the Jones fight I just want the belt. Being the first guy to beat John Jones would be great. Obviously the most ideal situation but I just want to be undisputed champion and so now if

Starting point is 00:17:00 I'm them I take this gift I present it to them and I say, okay, you know the plan, tell us. What is the plan? And then when they tell you the plan, which is, hey, John right now doesn't want to fight, you have to make the call. Are you going to wait till MSG? Are you going to wait till the fall and see if he changes his mind? Or are you going to say, F that, we're fighting? But that tweet right there could change all of it. And guess what? I actually I think John is telling the truth. I think John is telling the truth 1000%. And I think right now John Jones doesn't want to take this fight. I think right now John Jones doesn't want to fight period. He keeps telling us living his best life. There's another video of him out there

Starting point is 00:17:43 drinking coconuts, drinking out of coconuts, saying, hey y'all talking about belts, title defenses, I'm out here. Listen. Sipping on coconut. Talk about when you go to fight. Well, we you will find. He's loving it. He's loving all of this. And by the way, he's getting paid right now. He's getting paid to do a reality show. Like he's cleaned things up. His business is doing really well.

Starting point is 00:18:16 So I get it. You can now ride off into the sunset. John Jones not fighting Tom Aspinall will not change anything that he's done over the past 14 years. But you are not being honest, you are not being truthful if when you tell the full story of John Jones, and Lord knows there will be a lot of chapters, some incredible highs and some incredible lows, if you don't end it on, there was one fight left and he didn't take it. And oh, by the way, there was another fight a couple years ago

Starting point is 00:18:48 That's part of the story at this point there's literally one fight left in the UFC for him one fight But I get it you lose that fight and now you just you ended your career on a loss You were the longest reigning champion most successful champion all this stuff. Is it worth it? I understand I understand the the calculus But he asked for a number perhaps Thinking that the UFC wouldn't meet the number they did meet the number you notice none of the talk is about You know, they're not paying I'm worth this I'm worth that No, none of that talk from a couple of years ago.

Starting point is 00:19:25 It's I'm living my best life. They know the answer to the question you guys are wondering. UFC met it. He's not interested. They have to make a decision. Take that belt away. Move on. That's what needs to happen.

Starting point is 00:19:41 They don't want to do that because they're holding out hope that they've got this mega fight in November. Is anyone reading this any differently? No. And can I just say, one of the things I'd be most frustrated about here if I was the Aspenals is the fact that they like, and this is based on media, Tom has done for the last five months. They've been told on several occasions, end of the week, end of the day, like there was

Starting point is 00:20:03 an interview that was released last week and everybody was like, Tom's going to find the week, end of the day. Like there was an interview that was released last week and everybody was like, John, Tom's going to find out at the end of the day that was recorded six weeks ago. So why do they keep putting them in these situations where they're holding on for this hope that it's going to happen so soon. It's going to like, you know, by the end of the day, all this stuff, well, Tom is miserable sitting around. What the fuck am I going to do?

Starting point is 00:20:21 This potentially generational heavywe, just sitting around, no motivation to train probably, you know, you'd assume that it's difficult to get yourself constantly into a camp, constantly into hard rounds when this guy has no intention of fighting you. Why do they keep on telling him like, Oh, we're going to find out soon. Wait another week, wait another day. Like surely that's, that's the most annoying part of this for that whole team. Can't imagine what it must be like to be healthy in your prime and your job is to go to the gym,

Starting point is 00:20:47 train, you were told your whole life when you hit your early thirties, this is when you cash in, this is when it's all worth it and you're just being iced. And meanwhile, the guy you're being iced for is, you know, sipping out of coconuts and laughing at him. He's trolling, yeah, he's trolling him. He's trolling the fan base. The answer is easy and obvious though, which is because they can. Because to Ariel's point, there has been no pressure

Starting point is 00:21:12 or reason for them to make a move, right? Tom is in a position where he has to either wait on this mega opportunity or force their hand and say, I'm gonna fight, I want that belt. But until he does that and that would be now you're taking the John Jones thing and putting it to the side and potentially risking something outside of that the UFC is under no stress or pressure to do it they can sit and wait for John Jones to decide that he wants to uh Tom is the one that needs to push the the envelope

Starting point is 00:21:42 Tom is the one that needs to make them make a move because until he does they're gonna just wait they're just gonna wait and wait and wait on John Jones to do something. It's a very frustrating situation for us I can't imagine what it's like for him. Ultimately though if I were them my best advice take this tweet and and and show it to them and say now tell us now tell us. How about John tells us by the way John John's out here. He's like the UFC has a plan the UFC has a plan I don't know why they haven't told you cuz hey John you tell us I know because you know how it is They want to control the message. They want to make the announcements

Starting point is 00:22:19 He knows what he's doing. He's been around long enough. He's not doing this so his plans could be different than the UFC's what he's doing he's been around long enough he's he's not doing this so his plans could be different than the UFC's no he's saying they know his plan yeah I know plan John let us know they don't want to do something else he's telling you without telling you saying y'all are asking me to defend my

Starting point is 00:22:33 title they know what's up I don't know why they're not telling you so there's nothing to say is that fuck it's over for him not gonna take the fight tomorrow he may have a change of mind but the last the last that I heard which vibes with his sentiment here is like, hey, I'm good. You guys could do what you want. I might come back in three, four months.

Starting point is 00:22:52 Y'all could do what you want. And so they're waiting because they don't have to make the fight now. They don't have to make it in June. They don't have to make it in July. They don't have to make it in September. So there's no rush. Meanwhile, you've got a freaking beast out in Wigan going stir crazy with itchy knuckles.

Starting point is 00:23:10 And so the next time someone tries to have the boxing versus UFC debate, not MMA debate, the UFC debate, remind them of this. Because, you know, when Anthony Joshua wanted to fight at Wembley and the IBF was like, hey, we're going to take this title away from Oleksandr Usyk and we're going to put it up for grabs here because he's not going to defend it in time. These things help the fighters.

Starting point is 00:23:36 I get it as a fan, everything neat, everything nice, proper, is a lot more digestible and easy to follow. But ain't no superstar out there in boxing waiting around for his promoter to tell him when he's fighting. They're telling the promoter, get me on this date. You make the card. Someone at Aspen Hall's level is telling the promoter,

Starting point is 00:23:58 get me on this date, put me here, I'm fighting. Come hell or high water. Is that what Tom has to do? Does Tom just have to go, this John Jones thing, it will come when it comes, I want zero gone and I want the bell. Tom doesn't care about John. He cares about fighting for undisputed gold. So is that, does that mean he is the man?

Starting point is 00:24:18 It's embarrassing for him to continue to fight for interim gold. So he has said it time and again, I only want to fight for undisputed. So the pressure now is on the UFC to either say we're moving on or we're going to make this right by you, Tom, and we're going to pay you to sit out. Or we'll tell you at the end of the week, we think it's going to happen. The end of the day. That's what the focus is happening. Is paying him to sit out even rightful compensation at this point though? No, no.

Starting point is 00:24:44 To me the only move is, because he will only get bigger with each win that he gets from it. I need Cyril Gaunt and I need undisputed gold on the line. That's what I want if I'm Tom. What if they say we can give you Cyril Gaunt, we can't give you undisputed. John Jones has undisputed. Then you have to just sit and wait, and you have to wait and wait and wait for John to- And then by the way, and then if I were them, I would say, well, why did you take the belt from from Islam? And why did you take the belt from Ilya? Right? Why did you do it to them and not to him? We have to, I mean, you're asking rhetorically because we all know what's good for one is not

Starting point is 00:25:18 good for the other. There is no equality when it comes to any of this stuff. The reason was because they had UFC 314 coming up and they needed a belt. There is no actual law that they abide by in any of these cases. And so they can sit and wait because there's nobody else challenging. It's just Tom. It's Tom just sitting there.

Starting point is 00:25:38 I was gonna say, those are the 155 and 145 are stacked divisions with plenty of challengers. Right now you have John Jones, one of your biggest stars is your heavyweight champion and only one guy going after him essentially. Which perfectly dovetails into the lightweight division. Because in the lightweight division, we had a situation which finally came to a head last week

Starting point is 00:25:56 where we were wondering, is this how I'm gonna stay? Is he gonna move on? Ilya, is he fighting for vacant, interim, undisputed? And I told you guys time and again, Ilya Deporia is not leaving 145 To fight for interim or Number one contender status. He's fighting for gold undisputed gold. It's either against Islam or it's against Charles How many times did I say this? I said this a million times I said this essentially from the moment that he

Starting point is 00:26:21 Essentially gave up the belt and they booked that Volkanovsky versus Diego Lopez fight. And we were debating on the show last week, all right, now that it's Charles versus Ilya and Islam has moved up, like whose move was bigger, are they the same, all this stuff and more. But there's my old friend Chael Sonnen, who I get it, I get it. Chael has to make content. I understand he's got the YouTube channel. I understand they have him, you know, parading around New York City doing media, speaking to people who have no idea who DAC and Chael are, what the Ultimate Fighter is, doing podcasts with six listeners. I get it.

Starting point is 00:26:58 You got to keep yourself entertained. And so he's scrolling through social media. He's scrolling through X and he stumbles upon our clip and he decides to make a whole video based on the clip, which I don't even think he understood what we were trying to say. But the video is laughable because the difference between Chael and I, Chael likes to always bring up the difference between him and I is that he fought and I didn't. 100%. He's 100% right.

Starting point is 00:27:22 He fought, I didn't. I think we all know that. But now he's on this side of the fence. He's 100% right. He fought, I didn't. I think we all know that. But now he's on this side of the fence. He's media. I went to school for this. I know what it's like to talk to people. He doesn't. So he's talking about things that I know how to conduct myself. He has no clue and he continues to show that. I mean, we talked about his batting average. He's well below the Mendoza line. He's batting like 125. He's probably batting 100 at this point after this latest video. Take a look.

Starting point is 00:27:54 Ariel acting as though Ilya Tupori had a deal. The reason that that's shameful for Ariel isn't just because factually he's incorrect while trying to be a journalist. Pause it right there. The reason it's shameful... I am a journalist. It ain't shameful. And it's a thousand percent correct.

Starting point is 00:28:16 You know why? Because when I talk about anything on this show, I talk about it from a place of knowledge, of reporting, of conversation, of discussion. He talks about things on his show with DC from a place of clicks, from a place of making shit up. I love him. I love him like a brother. If I was getting married today, he would be in the wedding. But we are not the same. He will point out in a moment that I have never fought. Yes, we're not talking about fighting. We're talking about the facts. And so yes, he was guaranteed that. 1000%. There was a meeting a few months ago and he was told, you leave, you're fighting for the belt. What happened?

Starting point is 00:28:58 He left and he's fighting for the belt. We continue. And full is inadvertently through not being a competitor. He doesn't understand the insult that he just gave to Ilia. No insult. Ilia did not have a guarantee. He did not have a bird in the hand. He did. He showed the ultimate courage.

Starting point is 00:29:15 Yes. He went up without the promise. He did have a promise. Made it work, was willing to fight anybody. You want to do an interim title? Not sure. You want to do a disputed title? You want to do a number one contendership

Starting point is 00:29:25 not true Ilya made this perfectly clear he had no guarantee you're not spoken to anyone that is absolutely not true by Ariel it is true and Ariel's goal there was to try to boost Ilya no I was just telling the truth Ariel doesn't understand the insult he put on him

Starting point is 00:29:39 no insult there is no courage if you have guarantees there is courage He's moving up. Ilija moving up to chase down the number one fighter in the world. The number one fighter in the world walking away from a belt and a division to chase a guy that was ranked number seven ten days ago. These are not the same thing. I literally said that. So it just proves to me that he didn't watch the full clip that we tweeted out because I said that. I said that what Ilija is doing is a greater challenge than what Islam is doing.

Starting point is 00:30:09 And he's moving up to fight the number one guy and Islam is moving up to fight the guy who just won the belt. So we agree on the last point which just proves that he didn't listen to anything that I was saying. He's right about one thing. Yes, there is no guarantee. There's no guarantee that he's going to win. And that's what makes it courageous. It makes it courageous because he said, to hell with this belt, I'm moving up. Volk didn't do that.

Starting point is 00:30:31 He kept the belt. BJ didn't do that. He kept his 55 belt. So yes, there is courage in that. But to say that he was not promised an undisputed title shot is 1,000% inaccurate. Add it to the list. I don't like, look again, talk shit about me all you want, talk about me being bad at my job, like this hosting stuff or interviewing stuff, that's fine. But please don't say that I'm inaccurate.

Starting point is 00:31:00 That's number one for me. Don't say that I'm making shit up. Don't say that I'm not doing my job. Because Lord knows I spend way too much time on this. Texting, calling, checking in. I may not always say it, Hey, I spoke to so and so. But the one thing you can be sure of when you're listening or watching my show as opposed to others is that I'm talking to people always constantly all day every day I'm not making shit up. I'm not guessing. I'm not hedging I Would think the track record speaks for itself, so he was wrong

Starting point is 00:31:35 He tried to turn this into a you fought did it. It's poor is a brilliant businessman. I think he's proven that at this point He's quite smart. He's savvy. He's shrewd. Again, you think he left his belt in the back? With no promise? That would be idiotic. That would be the worst business decision of his life. And if you don't believe me, if you don't want to take my word for it, please take Islam's word for it. Remember this tweet before 315? He told us what his hope was. He told us what his desires were. This Saturday's main event will define what my next move is. But regardless of outcome of that fight,

Starting point is 00:32:19 I'm not going to vacate my lightweight title. We might get a real contender there. Oh, I'm not going to vacate my lightweight title. If he was not going to vacate his lightweight title, we might get a real contender there. Oh, I'm not going to vacate my lightweight title. If he was not going to vacate his lightweight title, that means Ilya is fighting Charles Olvera for the interim or number one contender spot. What's he fighting for? Oh yeah, the real belt now, the vacant title. That just shows you Islam didn't want to give up the belt. He had no intention. And if that wasn't clear enough for you, what about this? After the fight, time to become double champion. No, that's not at stake anymore.

Starting point is 00:32:53 So if you don't believe me and my reporting, just listen to the particulars involved. They've told you. So again, people can make the videos, Chael can make the videos. I know it's fun to try to pick a fight, all that stuff. I'm not here for that. I'm here to tell you the truth.

Starting point is 00:33:10 I'm here to tell you what's what. After conversations, after asking people, that's how we got to this spot. That's how we got this far. Does that all make sense? Yeah. Thank you, Peter. I'm just wondering, you know what I mean? If we're having fights over little text messages, you and Chael's spoken text must be absolutely insane after shit like this.

Starting point is 00:33:32 It's, I texted him on Thursday morning and I was like, you know, you're a thousand percent inaccurate, right? Like you couldn't be more inaccurate. What did he say? I'm delighted for you. Yes. Oh, you you never fought you never made the walk some bullshit like that again I think he said something to the effect that I'm not gonna talk about it but just something but you know he I was actually a great response it actually made me laugh it was like Valentina seemed nice I don't I don't I don't hate you I was like chill and I used to yell at each other when we did Arion, the bad guy every week, it was exhausting. So this is not a fight.

Starting point is 00:34:08 This is not a fight. I love the, should we fight though? Cause he's a thousand percent wrong. I'm ready to, I'm ready to go against you here, which is regard. Okay. Go ahead. Good.

Starting point is 00:34:16 Oh, that is a better fight. Go ahead. No, that there's exactly the same. Could not disagree more with you and jail that they're exactly the same. You're the point about Ilya having the guarantee you and Chael that they're exactly the same. The point about Ilya having the guarantee to fight for the title means it doesn't matter if it was Islam Makachev, Charles Oliveira, Hanato Maikano, he's after the belt and not, oh I have to fight Islam Makachev. And to me that says they're exactly the same.

Starting point is 00:34:40 I'm chasing the belt and the division up. I appreciate and respect your opinion. I could not disagree more. They are not the same. It's right there. Moving up to fight. No. Chase the number one contender. No. Sorry. The number one pound for pound guy. To fight for the belt in that way, class. That's what he was banking on. A thousand percent. He's fighting Charles, right? Yeah, because they got their out. Balal's gone. They're like, we're out of here. My best friend's gone, I'm out of here. By the way, if you don't believe me,

Starting point is 00:35:10 just listen to Mr. Ilya himself, who held one of his many press conferences over the last few weeks. Here he is, I believe on either Thursday or Friday morning. Take a look. Well, first of all, I want to thank Charles truly for having accepted the challenge, something Islam did not do, and now he has to pay the price for Islam.

Starting point is 00:35:30 I feel very sorry for Charles, but well, at the end of the day, that's my job. I will fulfill another dream that I always had, that was to become a champion of yet another division. So the result will be the same as always. Emerge victorious and continue the undefeated streak. He also said, hey, if Islam wants to come back, he's going to have to wait in line. That obviously won't happen. If Islam decides to come back, that should be the fight. Now we wake up on Friday to the two of them going back and forth on Twitter.

Starting point is 00:35:57 I'm like, guys, you can't do this now. You can't do this now. You're not fighting each other. Like, don't tease us. You can't do this now. You're not fighting. Go in separate directions. You go in that corner, you go in that corner. But he said it right there in that clip. The plan was we're moving up, we're fighting Islam. That's what he was banking on. Now, the UFC and Islam didn't change their mind.

Starting point is 00:36:21 They always said, hey, if Bilal loses, we're gonna go up. But they wanted to take that belt with them. What ended up happening? No belt. Ilya is fighting for the belt. This could end up being one of the biggest fights in UFC history if things work out in a certain way, or it could just be another what if fight that doesn't come to fruition. The point is, moving up after you just beat Max Holloway and Alex Wolkonowski, oh, by the way, didn't just beat them, stop them, moving up to chase the number one pound-for-pound fighter is not the same as moving up to fight the brand new champion. It just isn't. How can you say it's the same? I don't understand. Because he's moving up to fight for the belt

Starting point is 00:37:07 in the weight class up the same as Islam is moving up. The challenges aren't the same. The circumstances aren't the same. The challenges are the same because now he's fighting Charles Olivera. It's exactly the same. You're saying that the challenge of fighting Jack is the same as the challenge of fighting the number one pound-for-pound? No, because the number one pound-for-pound is not in that division anymore. But that's what he was doing. They're both doing the same thing. But one came to fruition and the other one didn't.

Starting point is 00:37:30 By default, because the number one pound for pound fighter held the title in that division up. Come on, you know what he wanted. He didn't move up the fight for the bacon. We'll find out. Cause if they both win, he should go up to 70 and fight Islam. If that's the fight he wants, it's Islam. I need to beat the number one pound for pound guy. His next fight should be at 170 pounds for Islam Makachev. That's crazy.

Starting point is 00:37:49 That's crazy. Come on. It is crazy because he doesn't want Islam. He wants 155 pound gold. That is the goal and that is what he is after. If it's Islam, there's a path there. Go fight Islam. Go fight Islam. What's crazy, P.T.? What's crazy? The idea that, like, you know, Ilya go up to 170. Like, he's a small 50-fiver. Like, he is not big. He is, like, it's already, Rick, you were the guy who made this point about Islam, the size. I don't think it's a good fight. I stand by it. No, and look, I think you made a great point and I agree with you, but like, for him to

Starting point is 00:38:24 go up to 170 is absolutely detrimental to his career. I don't think he's going to do that. No. No. That's crazy. No, should he? Crazy talker. That's what I said!

Starting point is 00:38:36 That's how we started this. I said crazy and here we are again. Crazy is what crazy does. That's right. Well, anyway, bottom line, I'm delighted for all of them. They're all getting to fight for belts. It's just not the fights that we wanted. Yeah. And by the way, what about that stat? Rick wants Charles and Ilya. What about that stat from ESPN MMA, which they no doubt took from like some Reddit thread or something like that and didn't credit the guy, that

Starting point is 00:39:02 the lightweight title, the last time the lightweight title changed hands in the octagon was UFC 205 when Connor beat Eddie Alvarez in 2016. I was there front row. But that's absurd. The thing's been vacated like four times. What's going on here? Yeah, so the way that that was avoided because it was vacant when Charles got it, then he defended, then there was technically no belt against Justin avoided because it was vacant when Charles got it, then he defended, then there was technically no belt against Justin, and then it was vacant again against Islam, and Islam has held its sense. Yeah, but then also like, Connor never defended the title, so then it was vacant for Khabib, and then Khabib retires, and blah blah blah blah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I read through that tweet a couple times,

Starting point is 00:39:41 and at first I was having a hard time understanding It was it was it was weird also because it doesn't seem like it makes any sense whatsoever but it's true. Who knows the next time it will change hands in the octagon. Yeah I guess because Ilya like Ilya Charles winner that doesn't count right? Right. And then it would just have to be the if someone actually beats them so if Rick is right Ilya will then move up to 170. Unless Ilya vacates and goes up to 170. Oh my gosh, what a mess. It's all over the graph, isn't it? Let's be honest. This isn't good. We need continuity. Yeah, there's a lot of drama going on outside the octagon. It's not good. We need lineage.

Starting point is 00:40:18 Also, who's promoting the Crawford versus Canelo fight? What the fuck is going on? What's happening over here? I was looking up Saudi Arabian broadcasts and whatnot, losing my mind trying to figure out what's going on there. Could be nothing, could be absolutely something. It could be a work, could be a work, work, work. Could be absolutely something, though. What do you think?

Starting point is 00:40:38 The dramatic side of me wants it to be something, obviously. I feel like we're being worked to a degree. The only the biggest thing that was going to get in the way of this project is too many cooks in the kitchen, two massive egos together and they know that they know that's what people said so perhaps you're right perhaps they're leading us down the garden path a bit but the shit talk would be absolutely epic if this went awry and I'm here for that. The only thing that gives me pause is the date change.

Starting point is 00:41:07 So Turkey tweeted yesterday that it's being moved to September 13th, the fight. Canelo versus Crawford, which we were told would be promoted by Dana White. He tweeted that at the beginning of all this and now it's going to be promoted by Sela. But Sela is sort of the promotional wing of Riyadh season. Yeah. And TKO. Yeah. They were part of the the big you know announcement. They just they promote things. They're the promotional company. Now if they would have kept we all thought that it was going to be announced at the Netflix upfront last week that didn't happen so that gave us some pause then they changed the date so

Starting point is 00:41:45 wasn't wasn't clear what was really going on there no longer the same data is not your UFC though no it is now oh they moved it to it yes that's the part that's giving me pause oh that's the part that's giving me pause it was originally the 12th Friday Allegiant Stadium and now it's on the same day that's the part

Starting point is 00:42:04 that's giving me pause that's my mistake yeah Stadium, and now it's on the same day. That's the part that's giving me pause. That's my mistake, yeah. Wow. Very exciting though. Yes. Look at him, dramatic as a PC over there. He's giddy, look at him, he's giddy. Oh, I'd love it.

Starting point is 00:42:15 Oh, I'd fucking love it. I mean, it's a fast, they've been talking about this for a long time, and maybe Turkey and his team were like, okay, we're footing the bill. We're not getting an, I don't know, I don't know. Now we're just speculating at this point. But the- That's the best part of the job.

Starting point is 00:42:33 Let's speculate some more. No, no, no. We leave that for the guys in the back of the taxis with the camp quarters. That's who we'll leave it for. No, I mean, that's what he was doing. He was in the back of a taxi. Maybe a car service.

Starting point is 00:42:44 Relax. Black car. No? Guys in a matter of seconds we're gonna be joined by Michael Morales, the pride of Ecuador, just 25 years young, now a perfect 18-0. What'd you think Pizzi? What'd you think of that win? He's fucking savage. Blows through Gilbert Burns, first round TKO. He's amazing he's brilliant I think he's a problem for everyone I don't think he's gonna last long at welterweight because he's absolutely massive and he's calling out Ian Gary I think he's a great he's one of the few guys I'd say that is a that is a like a really tough time for Ian Gary and I think Ian is class I expect him to be champion I said this

Starting point is 00:43:20 when he signed I think he can be champion but Morales is just trying a massive spanner in the works there for all these boys. That judo background, so hard to take him down, hits like a bull. Man, so young, undefeated, handsome. I mean, fuck me. Must be great being Michael Morales. Holy shit. I wish we could vote on a breakout star at 2025. He feels like he has it all. He's coming off an August win over Neil Magni, TKO, part of that, Jake Matthews, part of that Max Griffin, you know, legit tough guys, Adam Fuget, uh, Trevor Giles, Juan Contender series, but blowing through Gilbert Burns. GC told me this beforehand. He was a minus 1000 favorite.

Starting point is 00:43:57 Crazy. Minus 1000. And looked at it too. That's the craziest part. Yeah, that's true. And look, you got Gilbert managed to get them down for a second, but look how quickly he popped back up That's like first round as well That's the worst fucking time for a jiu-jitsu going to have you down

Starting point is 00:44:14 I think he was down for about half a second up became and then ko like that is that that It impressed me more that he actually had to do that that he had to come through a moment like that serious serious going and yeah i'm really excited to see what they do with him he is going to be a problem well let us talk to the man himself he is the pride of ecuador he is the man who uh... just defeated gilbert burns forty eight hours ago in las vegas he is the twenty five-year-old undefeated sensation the one and only

Starting point is 00:44:41 michael morales joining us uh... but i was the s mich How are you? Congratulations on the win. Good morning. Good morning, and thank you very much to your to your translator here your coach who's joining us as well. Wow Michael do you feel like this was a turning point in your life and career? Beating Gilbert Burns in a main event the way in which you did do you now feel like you have entered a new chapter of your career

Starting point is 00:45:26 I think it was a good opportunity to start to bother the guys. It was a tough fight against Lurino. You were a big favorite going into this fight, but I'm wondering, did you think that you would beat him that quickly? Did you feel going into the fight that you would beat him very quickly in the first round like you did on Saturday? We had it planned. I wanted to win the first round. We knew that the final was going to be the first and the last round. But my mind was to finish the fight quickly. And then my grandparents told me to finish told me finish it the first round so I had to do it. Your mom was a superstar on Saturday was that the first time that she watched you live as a member of the UFC? Yes, in a fight, it was the first time I was in a fight. I was in a fight a lot, but it was the first time I saw her. I heard the rumors during the fight.

Starting point is 00:47:01 And I thought, what is this kid going to do? I heard a lot. She was the one who was screaming the most. She was the one who was screaming the most. She was the one who was screaming the most. And everyone was watching her and panicking. But that's her. She's very happy. Yes, I did hurt my mom. I also hurt my corner, but my mom was actually louder than my corner. So I looked back at her and I could hear her a lot. We were told that your mom is a former judo player, that she has a background in judo. Could you tell us how extensive her background in judo is?

Starting point is 00:47:44 How long did she compete for and for and for who did she compete I won the medal in the last Pan-American, which was the South American. I took third and second place, I think. Right now, she's planning to come back here in Mexico. I think it's in September, the next event, which is a Pan-American again. But she doesn't stop. She's 48 years old, she keeps competing, and I think she won't stop until I stop competing too. Okay, my mom still competes.

Starting point is 00:48:23 She got a last year, she got a third place, a second place in South American Championship and Pan American Championship. And she wants to compete in Mexico in September. And she doesn't, she's 48, she's not going to stop competing until I stop competing too. Wow. And what is it like for you when you watch her compete? Oh, my mom is my favorite athlete. She taught me how to behave, how to compete. And she's basically the pillar of the person I am today. Did you compete in Judo as well?

Starting point is 00:49:42 Only at seven years old, not a lot. When I was 13, I started doing competing wrestling. Okay, and who introduced you to mixed martial arts? That's how I started. I started fighting at 14. And I started fighting when I was 16. And when I was 17, I was already a pro. But I was already fighting size when I was 13. And when I turned 16, I started to compete, like, not legally. And when I turned 17, I got my first pro fight. Wow, and did your father compete as well in martial arts? Your father competed in MMA?

Starting point is 00:50:39 No, he trained because he was a kind of agent, something like that, a person who took care of others. But he was a little more than that, he was a little more. He was a class of weapons, he was also naked, because he was also black and nude. And then he had to learn to swim, so he got into the world of swimming,MA got in, it got in me, it tracked me, and I stayed. So my dad, he didn't compete, but my dad used to work in kind of security. So he used to know crap about nothing. So he started doing MMA for his work. And he tracked me into it.

Starting point is 00:51:19 Is it true that your mother wanted you to become either a police officer or a soldier as opposed to being a fighter? Your mom wanted you to become a soldier? No, she wanted me to be a Marine. She wanted me to study for that. She even sent me to a sailing show. But on the last day I said no, I want to be a soldier. And she enjoyed it and left me. Actually, I'm a Marine. We did a bit of work, I had a school set up, and the last day I

Starting point is 00:51:50 told my mom I don't want to do this, I want to become a fighter, and she agreed. Wow. And early in your MMA career, did you work on some sort of like boat factory to make some money to support yourself before you actually made it? Before I started fighting, I worked in a boat factory. A factory, a naval workshop. When I was 17, I fought 100% in the school field. I worked, studied, and fought. I did all that when I was 17. I was like that until I was 20 and then I came to Tijuana to train better. So now you live and train in Tijuana, do you ever get to go back home to Ecuador? Actually today I live in Ecuador.

Starting point is 00:53:07 He came back to edition after every fight. I go to Ecuador with my family. So I have seen the way Chito Vera has been received in Ecuador. The love that he gets from the people. Do you get that same kind of love now? Yes, I realize how people support Chito Vera in Ecuador. When he comes back etc. Do you when you go to the streets, etc. What do you think about this? In my city, there are people who close the streets.

Starting point is 00:53:32 I can't get to my house, everyone is there waiting for me. It's crazy, it's crazy. Wherever you go, everywhere in streets, there's a parade. My hometown goes crazy by the end. I can feel the love. Have you ever met Chito Vera? Yes, I was in his fight in Anaheim when he knocked Dominik. So there I met him it's also my debut.

Starting point is 00:54:21 Has he been supportive towards you? What do you think about the relationship between the fighters? I think the relationship between the fighters is a little different. I have more of a relationship with the fighters than with the coach. So, Conchito is a moral support, just for the message. But that's it. In this world, for me, it's like everyone has their own world, everyone has their own job. And then I'm here and he's here on the other side. Yeah, yes and no. All the support I've been maybe messaging, stuff like that. I rely a lot on my teams, my training partners and my coaches. But I've seen every fighter that they've told it all. Fails, blotters, or a work with.

Starting point is 00:55:09 But yeah, I only supported the end, like from afar. When do you want to return? When do I want to fight? Well, I think they let me fight in Guadalajara, and they give me the opportunity to fight in Mexico. But I have to see if they give me the opportunity or if I'm ready for that fight. I'm going to Ecuadoradalajara and I'll have the opportunity to fight in Mexico. But we'll see. If I have the opportunity, I'll be ready for that fight. I'm going to Ecuador until the end of the month and then I'll go back to training.

Starting point is 00:55:44 If you could fight, who would your next opponent be? I'm not saying that I'm not going to be a fighter, I'm just accepting that I'm going to be a fighter and keep going up in the rankings. I just want to get my name on the top of the list and get a good weight loss. Why do you want to beat up Ian Gary? Because I don't like him. I don't like him. Why? Because he is a fighter that I don't respect. I considered him as Magnus. For me he is one of the best fighters of that time, obviously.

Starting point is 00:56:50 A long time ago, I had a fight with a former teammate I had in Tri-I. And right at that moment, Tri-I was going to enter the ring, so I wanted to face him there, to face him in that category. But apart from that, I don't like him at all, not at all. He was even bothering me in the fight in Canada, in the Bells. I don't know why he got in there. He's very easy, I don't like it very much. If I want to close the fight with him, that's it. He talks a lot. One time he had some problems with his P.I. He's one of my people I know.

Starting point is 00:57:28 And when I found out, I wanted to see him and tell him what he was doing, but he wasn't there. So after that, I just wanted to check him up. Okay. And we just saw a new champion at 170, Jack de la Maddalena. How far away do you think you are from the likes of Jack and now Islam going up? How far away do you think you are from that opportunities. Winning in the same way I won against Uriño and Magdalena is a difference. I think they are considering me as a problem.

Starting point is 00:58:17 I am a problem in the category. But what happens? I think I'm already in a state of suspense. Actually, I believe two more fights. Hopefully the way I beat Durino, with me in the morning, in the station, I believe after this fight, now I consider to be a problem in the division. So yeah, two fights. Okay, and last thing, what's going on with the nails? I like your nails. I said... Spider-Man.

Starting point is 00:58:47 In English, Mike Morales, Peter Parker. I get that, I get that. Oh, like Spider-Man? Wow! Yeah. You do this before the fight? You did this before the fight? Yes, yes. In the previous fight, I did this before the fight.

Starting point is 00:59:02 Yes, before the fight and actually before that fight too. I got my nails done. I love it. Well, I love everything you're doing. Congratulations. Well done, my friend. And salute from New York to Tijuana right now and much respect to Ecuador. I love Ecuador and Ecuadorian people.

Starting point is 00:59:20 So they're all very happy for you and we're happy for you as well. Congratulations. Felicidad. Felicidad. And looking forward to the next one. Okay. All the best. There he is.

Starting point is 00:59:32 Michael Morales. Remember that name. An absolute stud. And dare I say, by the way, if I could just say so myself, a fine looking individual. I mean, what a gent he is. That guy's got superstar written all over him, right? That guy's got superstar written all over him, right? That guy's got superstar written all over him. He is going to be a stud, an absolute stud in that WFD

Starting point is 00:59:51 division. I think he's already there. I mean, he's already there. By the way, just further proof, we didn't really even talk about him last week. Welterweight is by far the best division in the UFC right now, right? It's hot right now. It is. It's the most interesting for sure, especially in that top 10. It's incredible. we talked about it last Thursday of like if he's able to run through Gilbert Burns he's right there in line. The key is the changeover. You see what's happening? Yeah. The old guard is kind of moving down. Yeah. It's happening right in front of our eyes. Jack Dilla champ. That Kamaru versus. Could be like the final one right? Bucky Buckley is gonna be important for that. Yeah. That could be the

Starting point is 01:00:23 final one. By the way remember when Till came on and said that Walter White sucks? It's probably never been this interesting. Even dating back to the GSP days. I have a hard time imagining it ever being more interesting than this. It truly is the amount of contenders that you have, the amount of potential stars that you have in the division is insane.

Starting point is 01:00:40 What a stud. Pink hair, fire. Oh the hair. Purple shirts. Wait is the hair pink? Pinkish, light red. Oh wow. I didn't realize that. 18 and 0. 18 and 0, 25, cool nails, cool jewelry. Yeah I was gonna say the watch was fire. The watch, the ring. I'm trying to get some of those chilaquiles down in Tijuana. What's that? What's that? Oh in the back? Yeah they had a menu behind them, chilaquiles on it. Yeah it's great, it's great. You know they're gonna love him in Ecuador. Chito got so much love. Chito set the table for all of this. He blazed the trail, blazed the path, unfortunately not fighting June 7th. We

Starting point is 01:01:24 officially found out over the weekend Chito's out. patchy mixes in, believe it or not, against Mario Bautista. But that appears to be part of the new guard. There is a changing of a guard, of the guard, I should say, at 170 pounds. We saw it come to fruition on Saturday last week in Montreal at UFC 315 and it continues to happen. We saw it now this past weekend with Michael Morales. The next one up is as Rick just said Joaquin Buckley against Kamar Usman. The man leading the charge is Ian Machado. Gary takes the fight on short notice against Shavkat Rachmanov, comes oh-so-close to pulling off that upset, takes the fight on short notice against Carlos Prochez, wins that one, comes back two weeks later, backup fighter in Montreal,

Starting point is 01:02:13 services weren't needed and now we all wonder what is next for him. He is kind enough to join us to let us say hello once again to Ian Machado-Garry. There he is. Hello Ian, how are you? I'm established in the chat every time you have to mention it. Conquers both. Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm sorry. Not anything personal. Just me. It wrecks my head when I hear it like that.

Starting point is 01:02:34 I know and I appreciate after the last time we spoke, you showed us in your room the picture. It is in fact there of you coming that close. The whole truth is, I'm sure you'll notice, I have a lot of fun. That's the main thing, and I prove to the world that I'm better than everyone thinks me. So, that's what matters to me right now. How are you? I'm doing great. It's great to see you. We spoke, you were in the airport leaving Kansas City. You were getting ready to go to Las Vegas, and then you were going to Montreal. Now that you've done all of that, and obviously we'll talk about what happened in Montreal,

Starting point is 01:03:05 but just the body having to go through another weight cut, and I know it was a shorting camp and you're preparing for two guys, how was just the experience of going through that two weeks after the protest fight? So as soon as I went to Vegas, I went there to just recover and focus on giving my body the best opportunity to be ready.

Starting point is 01:03:27 And it was perfect. Everything went perfect. My weight, I kept my weight nice and low. It was actually the weight cut for the backup was actually easier than the weight cut for practice. Hmm. Why is that? Just because I think I, so I took the fight in three weeks, noticed against practice, but I took the fight in three weeks notice against Bratches,

Starting point is 01:03:45 but I hadn't been training. I'd just been on holidays in my old man, and then I went and cornered a friend of mine in Madrid. So I wasn't as active as I normally am. But I think the weight just flew off me mentally because I was just so ready for something to happen. I needed to be there and I'd be the one to step up because I loved that storyline of they needed me like on the night.

Starting point is 01:04:11 Like Jack turned his ankle or twisted his ankle and couldn't stand up or something. They're like, come and get me from the crowds. I just had that pain in my mind. I was like, come on, something can happen. Were you ultimately disappointed that something did not happen or, you know, you fight for the belt for the first time, you want it to be under the best of circumstances, full camp, how did you feel once you came to the realization this ain't happening in Montreal? I just had to sit back and watch the boys go at it at the end of the day, like I'm gonna

Starting point is 01:04:40 fight for that belt whenever it's right. You know, I said that week to myself, I said, if God wants it to happen this week on Saturday night and make it happen, if not, it's gonna happen. It's inevitable. I'm gonna keep doing what I do, which is win, get my hand raised in that belt and I'll never be strapped around my waist

Starting point is 01:04:58 and no one will stop me. You going through that process and having to sit there and go through it all, obviously gives you, you know, you probably put a couple dollars in your bank. It wasn't all for naught. Would you do that again or was that like a one and done for you? You'll never be the backup again. I think I'd do it again for sure.

Starting point is 01:05:18 I think mentally preparing for a fight is something that I enjoy. Being given the opportunity to go in and fight, I enjoy even more. So, it would obviously have to make sense for me in regards to get ready, prepare for a fight, and then have something, whether it be I have a fight after that, or I have a fight before that, and then I back up again. So I would wanna be preparing for something that's locked in, and make sure that I'm mentally getting in there, and I'm going,

Starting point is 01:05:52 right, I'm getting to the end of this, not just I fly back home and I go, oh, that could have happened. The practice example is perfect. I fight practice two weeks later, three weeks later, a month later, ready to weigh in again in case I'm needed. I would do that again in a heartbeat, absolutely.

Starting point is 01:06:08 Side note, how did my hometown treat you? Dude, unbelievable. It was beautiful, it was a lot of fun. It felt very, very similar to Boston, actually. I don't know if you would agree with that, but I felt it felt very similar to Boston, actually. I don't know if you would agree with that, but I felt it felt very similar to Boston. I had an amazing time, very, very kid-friendly. The park was lovely.

Starting point is 01:06:34 There was some really, really cool abandoned buildings and just the streets were so, like, I often walked to and from the hotels for, like, media and stuff like that. It was just, it was an absolute honor and a joy to just walk around. So lovely, I'd definitely, definitely go back. Okay, I love to hear that.

Starting point is 01:06:49 That warms my heart. Ultimately the fight happens, your services aren't required. By the way, just curious, at some point, do they tell you like, all right, you're good? Like you can have a beer if you want or something like that? Or are you literally on the edge of your seat until you see them in the cage? I had a little bag because we brought Leo with us.

Starting point is 01:07:07 So I had like nappies and a bottle for him in case he got tired and like a dodie. I also had my drop strap and my gum shield. I was so ready, dude. I had that with me. I was like, please, I just want someone to come running out and go, we're hunting her down. If mom will come in, we need to have a conversation with you.

Starting point is 01:07:26 And then just call me back and go, right, you're in. Someone's rolled an ankle, someone's done, like something, strange things have happened. Like this is like, we've had Danny get way in on the day. And like, you know what I mean? Like there's been mad occasions and the UFC will make crazy possible, if that makes sense. They will take something that's not,

Starting point is 01:07:44 people will consider not possible. They'll it possible so I was like until I see the two of them walk into that octagon I'm gonna be ready and now I think the funniest part was I went and took Leo to the toilet before the main event and I seen Steve one of the heads of security and he just looked at me and he goes, listen here, no jumping that cage no matter what. I was like, all right, I'm good. I was like, I'm not gonna do anything to cause any trouble. He's like, listen, I've said it once. And I was like, I'm not causing trouble, dude.

Starting point is 01:08:15 I'm not causing trouble. But if one of them calls me out, I'm jumping at them. He can't stop me. And he was like, on the no circumstance. That was funny. So that was fine in my life. They're both in there, the recognition of like, all right, I'll just sit back and watch it as a fan.

Starting point is 01:08:29 And you were wise to listen to him. Steve is a gangster. You don't want to upset that man. He's awesome. He's awesome. All right. So the fight happens. You had the best seat in the house. What did you think of the fight and in particular how Jack and Balal fight? There was a lot of talk afterwards, oh, Balal didn't shoot enough. I think not giving Jack enough credit for how he fought. What do you think? I definitely think you have to give Jack credit for that. But just on that point, you have to give Jack credit for footwork,

Starting point is 01:09:00 head movement, controlling the distance and making it awkward for Balal to enter. But at some point point you have to realize you need to do something different you need to change it up you need to mix it up because like you're not gonna out box a boxer I don't I don't I don't know if Balal just got his ego in the wrong direction which I'm not saying he did, but I don't know if mentally he went, I'm going to shock the world and beat him on the feet. And he had that dead set in his mind. And inevitably he's now not the champion because of that. I don't know if he was injured and couldn't shoot as much. Who knows? But at the end of the

Starting point is 01:09:38 day, the balal that showed up against Leon wasn't there against Jack Dalamadalena. I know I give a lot of that to Jack and his boxing and his footwork, but as a champion you have to be able to change that up and mix it up and push and drive and not kind of accept it to be in your opponent's world. You have to be able to make it happen. So definitely give Jack a lot of credit for stopping Balal. But when Balal went, Balal was having success to a certain extent. I feel like he needed to maybe just keep going for it and kind of bite down on the gum shield and eat a shot.

Starting point is 01:10:18 Michael Johnson said to me a long time ago, he said, if you're hitting me, I know you're open somewhere and I have to find that somewhere. So it's that thing of if I'm being hit, then there's something I can do to have success in my end. And I feel like Balal just needed to be a bit more aggressive and maybe eat a shot to kind of get in on the single, grapple a little bit, try to get the take down, try to get the higher, whatever it is. But yeah, I think Jack did what he needed to do and did what was expected of him, which was win on the feet. Did you think that Jack looked sloppy in there? No, I watched. I watched it live, right? Which means I'm watching it through my eyes, which I know how fast I am. I know real time. And I thought both of them looked slow from watching it with my own eyes

Starting point is 01:11:09 and then I watched it back on TV and it was a completely different look. Jack looked a hell of a lot cleaner than he did in person and he looked a lot faster when you're just watching him versus Bilal when you're sat front row you're watching it I'm watching it as if I'm in there that's my mentality. But yeah I think there was a lot of things Jack did that I thought were quite sloppy but technically he was a better striker so he was gonna win that regardless. Bilal has never been known for his striking. Was there anything that Jack did that impressed you truly? That you didn't expect?

Starting point is 01:11:46 The high crotch single defense? Yeah. On the money. Because every time Jack, every time Blau grabbed it and went to lift, Jack just dropped to his knees and I thought, beautiful. Give him the back, stand back up, break the grip, get away, go back to what you were doing, which is beautiful, simple and easy. So that I found really, really beautiful. Pete The last time we spoke, you laid out your three fight plan and item one was, you know,

Starting point is 01:12:10 fight Bilal, win that title, and then Islam, and then Shafkat. Now, the first line has changed because Bilal is no longer the champion and Islam is fighting Jack. So, curious, were you surprised that Islam ended up moving up and didn't take the Ilya fight that was going to happen in a month and a half time? Instead, he's moving on, leaving the belt behind and fighting for the 170 belt. Did that domino falling after the Bilal loss surprise you? No, I obviously, I stayed all week, like knowing that Islam has wanted to move up and Bilal has been the barrier for him wanting to move up, that if that happens, he should be next. And there's me saying, you know, I'm next in line, I'm all this. I've said that everybody

Starting point is 01:12:57 should take a step back for the number one pound for pound fighter in the world. And I believe everyone should. And if he wants to come up and try achieve that Double champ status or come up and try to be jacked and off you go. I think that's that's well well earned and where does it well deserved? Okay, so Dana White announced that that is going to be the next fight Jack versus Islam date TBD. What does that mean for Ian Gary? I Think they're gonna fight probably Octoberish it would make more sense that they'd fight kind of the Middle East way or down there.

Starting point is 01:13:30 So I couldn't imagine they'll do a card there until around what, September, October, I guess. Yeah, it's October, back end of October. That would make a lot of sense, right? You've got Islam and Russia and all of the love that he gets from that area of the world and Jack. It makes sense that they do it there. So yeah, that would probably be the day. When it comes to me, it's an area I can tell you I'm gonna continue to be active.

Starting point is 01:13:53 Do you know what I mean? I'm never gonna stop. I'm a fighter. I want to be active. I want to beat everyone up. I want to prove that I'm the best and I don't need a belt wrapped around my waist to prove that I'm the best. I need to keep beating the best fighters in the world and that belt will come in time. Pete So, I think that is great to hear and I think everyone respects that mentality. I think the one that everyone wants to see is you versus Sean Brady. He was on the show last week saying like, hey, Islam's fighting for the belt, great. Let me and Ian fight for the number one contender spot. Winner gets to fight the winner of Jack vs. Islam. Do you share that sentiment?

Starting point is 01:14:29 Well, firstly, I don't think, this is where my brain has been kind of going over timings and what's next. I don't think that is the case. And you had Jack on recently. And he told you what he thought. He thinks that if he beats Islam, he's going to wait and get Shavkat next. So see, there's a whole lot of what I don't want to be as a political fighter.

Starting point is 01:14:53 I don't want to sit around. I mean, we've been trying to look, the welterweight division is in a phenomenal, phenomenal point right now. Like it's crazy and it's awesome to see and it's exciting for me. But we've still got people like Kamau Usman, Leon Edwards and Kobe trying to hold on to that rank, right? They should just leave. They should be gone by this point, right? And I don't want to be that political person who sits there and goes, I'm not going to fight. I'm just going to wait. No, I'll never do that. I want to be active, I want to be one of the best, and I want to prove that I'm the best in the world.

Starting point is 01:15:29 We've also got this scenario where I fight Sean Brady, right? For example, like you're saying, I fight Sean Brady, I beat Sean Brady, and I'm still not next. Because that's how the world works sometimes. And they do give it to Shaft Cat, who's coming off a year layoff, just like they did to Jack. You know, Jack was off for a year injured, they give him a world title shot. So there is no guarantees. So for me, when you say something like that, you gotta put that into perspective.

Starting point is 01:15:54 I think Jack wants to go Islam, if he wins, or if he loses, I think next is probably gonna be Shavkat. And I think that'll be March, potentially even after Ramadan, if Islam, I don't know if Shavkat goes, does Ramadan, so, but I know Islam does. So if Islam wins, it's definitely not going to be defended until probably after Ramadan. And then, yeah, so that could be a long time until we see two title defenses in the division. So what does that mean for you though? Like if it was up to you, now that all these-

Starting point is 01:16:29 It means the UFC are going to call, they're going to say, hey, we want you to fight. I'm going to go, all right, sweet, who, when and where? I'm going to say yes, probably. Okay. Right? And I want to be active. I want to be, I believe I've done enough to earn a title shot. I've shown up back to back occasions, I've helped the UFC out of the hole, I've dug him out of the hole, I've shown up against

Starting point is 01:16:48 two of the most dangerous fighters in the world and I've proved that I'm one of the best in the world. I go out and I dominate someone like Carlos Paxos in three weeks notice, I show the world how good I am. But I am absolutely someone who wants to keep this momentum going and I want to put fear into the rest of the division So so just to be clear if they called you and said we want you to fight Brady do you say yes to that? Ariel I Think I think we're past the point of where that needs to be a question I'll tell you why I brought that up. I brought that up because when you made the video post 315, you laid out all the scenarios.

Starting point is 01:17:28 What's that? I didn't have Sean in that video. That's right, yes. Yeah, I thought Sean would sit and wait. I thought Sean would be that type of person. He just beat Leon, a former champion, just submitted him. He just got the finish. I thought he would be the type of person

Starting point is 01:17:43 that you could absolutely sit there and go, well, if something happens, this or that, you're looking at me and Sean as the options. I believe I'm the biggest fight they can make when you talk about genuine welterweight contenders. Sean's not that interesting. Whereas when you look at me and look at what I do and look at the audience that I bring in, you wanna sell a main event, you wanna sell a pay-per-view card and put a main event for the world title,

Starting point is 01:18:12 me and Jack is far bigger than Sean and Jack. That's a fact. That's not a dig at anyone, that's just a fact. I think that I agree with everything that you're saying regarding like how this could delay everything with Shavkat and all that. And this sucks, but sometimes it works this way. You'll recall your good friend Charles Olvera suffered a cut, didn't get his title shot, had to fight Armin, work his way back up, fight Chandler. I think we are past the point of Shavkat just regaining that slot without without fighting, regaining that among cadet squad.

Starting point is 01:18:47 Yeah, I do hear you on that and I do agree with you on that to a certain extent. I think, you know, when you look at the welterweight division right now and the way the welterweight division has evolved, I'd argue it's the most exciting it's ever been right now. 100%. Couldn't agree more. When you look at sheer depth of talent and youth and the kind of the passing of the torch from the young to the old, like from the old to the young in the division, it's arguably the most exciting the divisions ever been. And you look at the names, like you look at people under 30 in that division that are

Starting point is 01:19:22 just on a tear, you've got Shabcat, you've got Jack, you've got me, you've got Marais, you've got loads of us that are just young and hungry and have stuff to prove. And that's exciting. When you've got that energy mixed with sheer talent, that's impressive. So the division is at a very good place. And I feel like when you've got guys fighting, you know, I think Bucky's gonna run through Kamaru Usman.

Starting point is 01:19:50 There's another guy. I believe, I've already shown on the drop of a dime that I'm one of the best in the world against anyone. And I was there for the backup and then do you actually know how game I am? Do you know what I mean? And then you've got Sean Brady who just come off a win against Leon. All of us are right there on that cusp, right? I don't believe Shavkatt should just come back and get that,

Starting point is 01:20:13 especially if all of us fight again. Yes, multiple times. But that's not how it works sometimes, unfortunately. Sometimes, yeah, but I think you and Ian, excuse me, you and Sean have an all-out classic, which I think it works sometimes, unfortunately. Sometimes, yeah, but I think you and Ian, excuse me, you and Sean have an all out classic, which I think it would be, I think it should be a five round fight if you do fight. I feel like that's a number one contender fight.

Starting point is 01:20:33 I really do. I mean, with the wins you guys have had, how could anyone deny it? Again, I'm not disagreeing with you whatsoever. I hear you, I hear what you're saying, but politics gets involved and the UFC as a business do whatever they decide and that's it to a certain extent sometimes. So, you know, that's why I'm in this mentality of I'm going to beat anyone anywhere

Starting point is 01:20:57 anytime and I'm going to show up and I'm going to fight and I'm going to keep this ball rolling. I'm going to keep this motivation going, this momentum going, because it's inevitable I'm going to be the champion. I don't see any world where I don't get that belt wrapped around my waist. And I know for a fact, had I fought in Canada, I would have won the belt. Who do you think wins Jack or Islam? It's such a tough one to talk about, you know, obviously Islam is phenomenal and he's good everywhere, but size matters, right?

Starting point is 01:21:28 It's not the first time that saying's been said, right? But size matters, and when you're talking about an extra 15 pounds, and you look at, and this is an example, when you look at the size of Volkanovsky versus Jack Delamadalena, there's a big size discrepancy. Jack's a much bigger human. And Volk gave him a good fight. Do you know what I mean? Volk gave him a very good fight. And then stylistically, when you look at someone like Dustin Poirier and the fight that he gave Islam, that was a very good fight. Like it wasn't absolutely completely dominant by Islam. It was a very good fight like it wasn't absolutely completely dominant by Islam it was a tough fight then you had an extra kind of 15 pounds

Starting point is 01:22:12 the Jack and naturally not like he's not cutting weight type of vibes I know Islam will have to cut weight but I just think that size is gonna play a huge part even on the ground. I know how strong people have said Islam is but I feel like Jack could get it done. There's a world where I can see both. I can absolutely see Islam coming in and doing what Islam does and going out there and just looks like the phenomenal mixed martial artist he is but I can also see Jack get it done with just some clean boxing and good take on defense. And you know, I couldn't agree more.

Starting point is 01:22:48 I freaking love the welterweight division. There's a real changing of the guard right now happening. I mean, right before you came on, we had a young man named Michael Morales on of Ecuador, 18 and oh, 25 years young. Not sure if you were paying attention. I don't think a fight versus Michael Morales makes sense for you right now But he did say he would like to fight you next Apparently he said there was some issue between the two of you at the PI that he was trying to sort out that he wasn't

Starting point is 01:23:12 happy with He's a tremendous fighter and seems like he has some sort of star quality to him Do you have any idea what he's talking about? Do you know this this this issue that he has with you? Do you know this this this issue that he has with you? Aaron, I don't believe I've ever met the bloke let alone walk by the bloke Okay, but if he has a problem, then let him keep the problem. It doesn't bother me I've never I don't believe I've ever met him said a word to him or anything. Um At all so to be clear He said he was looking to talk to you about it because I think it's something that happened with one of his team

Starting point is 01:23:41 Whatever it is. I was just curious what you thought of him Do you think that he is someone who you could meet maybe down the line? Does he have that type of potential in your opinion? Did you watch his fight against Gilbert on Saturday? I watched the fight against Gilbert. Gilbert's a good friend of mine, so I had to watch it. And yeah, he did what he needed to do.

Starting point is 01:23:59 Do you know what I mean? I thought Gilbert looked good early on. I thought Gilbert looked a lot more energetic than we've seen him in the past. And against the bigger guy, he looked good early on. I thought Gilbert looked a lot more energetic than we've seen him in the past and against a bigger guy he looked good earlier on, but Maraisman did what he needed to do and that's the fighter in him. Just another one of those guys.

Starting point is 01:24:13 Like if Buckley wins on June 14th, like I think the whole guard will have been changed. Like it will be a whole new crop of guys. And who knows? I don't know if Bilal is gonna get, we didn't mention him, but I don't know if he's gonna get another crack at the belt anytime soon. It just seems like...

Starting point is 01:24:26 No, I think he needs it. I look, I still think there's a world where like, it could be Bilal next again as well. It all depends. You know what I mean? There's a whole new rake of talent. You know what I mean? It's all exciting. They're all bodies that I'm going to eventually and eventually be beat up because I'm going to have the belt. I'm going to fight all of these guys at some point. I've told you, I want to win that belt, I want to be active, I want to destroy the division, I want to go through the division, completely prove against everyone and anyone that I'm the best. And then I can say I'm one of the greatest of all time, do you know what I mean? So that's the mentality I have. So when you

Starting point is 01:24:59 sit here and say, would you fight Marais, would you fight this guy, would you fight that guy, you already know the answer to that. The answer is always going to be yes. And I'm going to fight them at some point in time because when I'm the champion I'm going to be beating up everyone that's the next contender, the next best guy. I would love to see you versus Jack two big welterweights. I think it would be phenomenal. I would be remiss, his coach Ben Vickers was was speaking to submission radio and he had some things to say about you. Can I just read you a quote and get your response?

Starting point is 01:25:28 Go ahead. He said about you he needs to stop flying around the world trying to be a celebrity and get in the gym and get some power and figure out how to finish fights. He's he was talking about the stuff with your son and the M&Ms. Jack doesn't really care. He's the most chilled out dude in the world. So yeah, it's all a bit silly. I don't think Ian Gary will ever own a UFC championship to answer your question. What do you make of that response from Ben Vickers?

Starting point is 01:25:53 So, let's go off this basis, right? In his last four fights, Jack has had one finish. So he's telling me I need to get into the gym and I need to start finding some power, right? He got beat up pretty bad. I seen his face, you seen him in the studio. He looked pretty bad, right? Balaline nowhere near the striker that I am, Aaron. I think we can both agree with that, right? Mm-hmm, yes.

Starting point is 01:26:23 So Balaline ain't nothing compared to me on the feet, but he looked rough when he was in with that, right? Mm-hmm, yes. So Balalane ain't nothing compared to me on the feet, but he looked rough when he was in your studio, right? There were some bruises, yes. Yeah, I'll bend his nose backwards the way it should be, right, and his coach should stay out of this, right? My son giving him M&Ms is a playful, handful joke about having a laugh about him missing weight. It was all good, it was all a bit of banter.

Starting point is 01:26:46 I'm not flying around the world trying to be a superstar, trying to be someone famous. I'm flying around the world ready to fight. And if I'm needed, I'll show up and I'll do what I need to do to fight. And if he's the champion, I'll take the belt from his hands. In your opinion, did he cross the line with his comment at the press conference? What do you think? I would imagine. I would imagine.

Starting point is 01:27:14 No, no, no. I'll be honest. What do you think? Yes. Yes. I would imagine you were not happy. I would imagine you would be offended. I would also.

Starting point is 01:27:22 No, I'm asking what do you think about the comments? I'm asking what you think I was offended. I'm asking what do you think about the comments? I'm asking what do you think I was offended? I'm saying what do you think as a father and as... 100% ...a reporter and a presenter of MMA, what do you think about it? As a father first and foremost, I don't like when family gets involved. I don't like when kids, we've talked about this. But then I...

Starting point is 01:27:40 And that's the period, that's it. I do... And I didn't even ask him about it because I didn't want to bring up the can of worms. I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I- Like if you're going to put them out there to have playful banter, guys are going to take it in different directions. Do you understand what I'm saying? I'm not, I'm not defending it. I just want you to know. Of course I know you're not. I never would, I never would assume that you are. I never would assume that you are.

Starting point is 01:28:12 Let's make that abundantly clear. That's why I asked you, what do you think? There's a playful joke about a child giving a fighter M&Hems with the, giving a fighter M&M's with the kind of baseline comedy of, take these, eat these, mis-weight, my daddy will step in and win a world title. That's just a laugh, right? It's low level, right? Then going out and saying the comments that he said is just immature. And it shows that he's very sensitive because if he says something like that which is net that's out of his character which means that what I was

Starting point is 01:28:50 doing on fight week irritated him enough to trigger him to say something like that which means when I do fight him Ariel I'm gonna open up a whole can of irritation because I reckon he's mentally weak. I can get in his head, right? But I'll never stoop so low as to mention his child and his children and his wife, because they don't need to. I'll walk in there in the octagon, I'll prompt him out, Dolphin, I'll take his belt,

Starting point is 01:29:18 and then I don't need to say anything. Man, I would love to see the fight. Just from the athletic standpoint alone, if we could- But what his coaches saying, his coaches, I don't give a fuck about his coach, sorry, he's used the language. But him saying I need to get in the gym and do some power. You had two split decisions in your last fight,

Starting point is 01:29:35 you got a lucky knockout over Gilbert Burns, and then you had a great performance against Bilal Mohammed, you won a world title. Great job, lucky you. Go do that against Islam, go do that against Shafkat and if there's any war where you beat the two of them, I'm going to thump them out of you. That's a fact. You're doing everything to work. And I'll beat him where he's best and I'll beat him just boxing. And look, I've said

Starting point is 01:30:01 this, I outgrappled Shafkat, I outstruck Carlos Praxis wherever he's best, I will and I can absolutely buck the ears off Jack Delamerele. That's just factual. Make this part of the hype video. It's being sold right now. It's happening right now. We'll take 1%. Your one win away from tying the amount of wins that Conor McGregor has had in the UFC you have the longest winning streak

Starting point is 01:30:27 What's that? Mental I actually thought that ahead of this last question. How many wins is it gonna have in the UFC? Am I close? You're one win away. You have the longest winning streak of any Irish fighter obviously in UFC history. You're doing everything right So life is good Hopefully we see you again at some point. What do you think? Fall time? I'll be ready right now. I'm at home. I'm enjoying the house. I'm going to Legoland tomorrow. Yeah. I'm enjoying the time as a dad. Yeah, I'll be ready whenever they need me, whenever they want me against whoever they want me to fight. I'm gonna be ready. I'm excited by the division

Starting point is 01:31:06 I'm excited by where I'm at in my career and mentally I Walked out that building on Saturday night in Montreal May 10 thinking I'm the best in the world Last one on a positive note. What about our boy Oban Elliott fighting next weekend? How's he looking? What's it like being with the the, in the presence of the Welsh gangster? Oh dude, I love him. He's such a good energy. He's great with Leo. He has such a good laugh, but he's also just, he's a dog, man. The guy is so good at what he does. He's just, he brings good energy. He trains hard. He fights good. And I can't wait to see him. I messaged him the other day, I need to mess

Starting point is 01:31:45 him again so that's a good reminder. But yeah, he's such an awesome energy. And I just, again, I want to see him reach the top as well. I think he's an awesome human and I can't wait to see him fight. Love it. Uh, looking forward to that.

Starting point is 01:31:58 That's next weekend for now. Thank you. Tremendous stuff. I want to see you do a whole interview. Yes. And not talk about Charleston in it. Oh, okay. Well, sorry, there's a lot going on Charles is fighting Ilia for the belt There was a lot happening in your particular weight class

Starting point is 01:32:20 Are you gonna be there? If we're talking about the wealth division for 20 minutes, I'm not mentioning one of the best fights we've got on in this year. That's a good place to be in. It's a tremendous place. Are you going to be there? Absolutely, I'm going to be there. 100%.

Starting point is 01:32:37 I love it. I think it's a phenomenal fight. I'm excited by it. I think Ilya is a very, very dangerous opponent. Make no mistake, I said this to Diego. I'll say it to Charles when I see him. I think this is a fight where Charles needs to be switched on. I do see a world where Charles can absolutely get the win but a guy coming up and getting an extra 10 pounds and not having to cut weight, that's a dangerous person and he was dangerous

Starting point is 01:33:05 already at featherweight. But God, when Charles goes out there and does trials, it's just the most entertaining fighter we've seen. There's never a dull fight. Will you be going to Brazil to help him prepare? That, I have not figured out yet. I would absolutely love to and I will always be there if he wants me. I will be there, but I will definitely be there for a week

Starting point is 01:33:26 to bring the energy and bring the good vibes and have a laugh and just watch the greatness. Love it, love it. Okay, I apologize, I apologize. But to your point. There's no apologies, I just can't believe you did that. There's a lot, there's a lot, yeah. I hope you missed that.

Starting point is 01:33:37 Vomit last week out box, hey! You're the man, Ian, thank you so much. Great stuff over the last few weeks and love that you loved the great city of Montreal. That was tremendous news. I'm happy they treated you and the family well over there. Got a special jersey from the Canadian team. I got the Pag-A-Day jersey. That's legendary. That's legendary right there. Frame that. Exactly. I was going to wear it but I was like, I don't want to come on here and show off. Thank you I don't. Thank you, Ian. Tremendous stuff. Appreciate it.

Starting point is 01:34:07 Appreciate you. Have a great day, dude. There he is. The great Ian Machado-Garry. The future and maybe, I thought that was one of our best ones. I mean, he was fired up there. I love it. What a time. What a freaking time in the welterweight division. It's unbelievable.

Starting point is 01:34:22 And we've got the big one coming up between Joaquin Buckley and Kamara Usman on June 14th. They're telling me that there's a new video in which John Jones is telling someone that he's done. I haven't seen this, but Drake Riggs sent it to me, and then I just sent it to the team. Do we have this video? Or can we not play now? Oh, here it is. I'm excited to see you.

Starting point is 01:34:47 You got 10 years left but you're still active. I'm looking forward to seeing you again Camille. You look great. Let's do some business. Okay, so did he say, I'm done there? He was talking to Camille Gatsiev. That is what he snuck in there, yeah. He snuck in, I'm done. This guy, cheeky. What do you think? Do you think he's telling the truth? I actually think he is. This is what I've been saying the whole time. They, you know, they presented the money and he said, yeah, I'm good, which, God bless, it's a lot of money. I wish we could all be in that position. Anyway, that is an interesting development, so we will continue to monitor that one. Let us move

Starting point is 01:35:39 along now. Some big news. At the very end of Wednesday's program, they were wrapping up the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. press conference in California, and then all of a sudden there was the Boxing Hall of Famer Holly Holm showing up, a part of the announcement that she is going to be competing on the 28th of June in Anaheim returning to the Sweet Science. Her last fight in the squared circle, not the cage or octagon, May 11th 2013. So by the time this fight happens it will have been over 12 years. Her debut January of 2002, a future UFC Hall of Famer, obviously a boxing Hall of Famer. This is a huge addition to this growing women's stable that Most Valuable Promotions is putting together. So she'll be on that card on the 28th of June in Anaheim. And she is kind enough to join us to talk about it all.

Starting point is 01:36:44 There she is. Hello, Holly. How are you? I'm good. How are you doing? I'm doing well. Congratulations. I remember when, and we'll just get right into it. I remember when you came on the show post leaving the UFC. I kind of feel like I was sort of like trying to tell you, like, I feel like that this story needs to be completed in boxing. And I feel like you listened to me. So I'm going to take credit for this. Can I? I mean, whatever you want to tell yourself. Okay, no.

Starting point is 01:37:12 I will say this. I appreciate that you're with it. I'm with it. I know what's up. Yeah. No, I'm excited for it. I'm excited. It's, you know, when I first came to MMA, I was so excited about it that I, I didn't really miss boxing, but then over time it started to kind of just, you know, if I had teammates that might have, even, even if we were just sparring boxing in practice, cause they might have, not that a lot of teammates are just strict boxers, but we've had a lot of teammates that are even doing bare knuckles, I'm like, yeah, I'll box with you for a little bit. Or if somebody does have a boxing fight coming up and when I do it

Starting point is 01:37:47 I'm like man, I kind of miss it, you know So I'm excited to be able to get back in there and just just get back to just dialing in on just the boxing You know, it's um, just get real detailed on it So I would be remiss if I don't mention it seems like we took a bit of a detour here because you did initially Sign up with GFL, right? I Did and It's one of those things You know, I think a lot of people I I was hopeful and I I put my

Starting point is 01:38:20 you know My work in thinking okay, we've got a fight coming up, but I also don't throw all my eggs in one basket. I wanted to make sure to always just be training and be ready. And one thing about training my whole life and just being dedicated is that I've been able to have options. So GFL, you know, that whole fight got cancelled and unknown of if it's even going to ever happen. So I'm thankful that I have the options to be able to go back

Starting point is 01:38:54 and pursue boxing and be able to be on a big card out in California. I'm excited for it. Was the goal always to do both or once GFL kind of hit a snag then you pivoted? I wanted to do both regardless. I did. I wanted to do both if I could and so there was already some days I was just boxing anyway when it was kind of questionable on the fence. And so I've actually just kind of been training boxing, focusing on boxing for, I guess, the last couple of months, I guess. So it is something that I already wanted to do, is to come back and box at 135.

Starting point is 01:39:43 I never got to fight at 135 before, over 10 years of boxing, and never fought at 35, but my majority, excuse me, my majority of my MMA has been at 35. I never boxed at 35, so just feel like it's like unfinished business. Come back. So I know that co-founder of MVP Nikisa Baderian obviously used to work for the

Starting point is 01:40:10 UFC with CFO, speaks very highly of you, was part of the company when you fought Rhonda during your rise, has done business with Lenny, your agent, and so I know this has been a you know a big point of pride for him. Ultimately for you, and here's a quote from Nikisa on signing you, I remember when Holly shocked the world by knocking out Ronda Rousey and I have no doubt she has the ability to shock the world again in her quest to become a boxing world champion once more. Her accomplishments in both boxing and MMA are unmatched and we're honored to welcome her to most valuable promotions. Ultimately for you, why did you, you could have boxed for any promotion I would imagine,

Starting point is 01:40:47 and other promoters have talked about you. Ultimately, why did you decide to sign with Nekisa and Jake? You know, I think that, I mean, you see a lot of what they've done for Serrano and Taylor and promoting fights like that. That's a huge thing. But not only

Starting point is 01:41:05 that, I like to be somewhere where there's also an equal amount of excitement and their excitement of wanting me to be with them. I just feel like it was just something that it just made sense. I don't know why there was really no reason for me to go somewhere else. You know, this just made sense. I'm excited to get back. They're excited to put the fight on and they've obviously done a you know put their efforts to get females on these, you know on these cards and televised and You know there when I was fighting before in boxing I did I did fight on televised bouts a handful of times,

Starting point is 01:41:46 but not all the time. So I'm thankful for the efforts that they have put forth for women's boxing. Yeah, they've done a lot of big moves. They've got this big card coming up on July 11th on Netflix, the all-women's card. For you, was this a one-fight deal, or is there a plan for you to win a couple here and then fight some of those big names that they have on their roster?

Starting point is 01:42:14 I signed for more than one fight. Okay. So I'm just focusing on boxing right now. Is there a roadmap for you? Like, is Amanda the big fight at the end? She's fighting at 140, but she's 126 I'd love to be able to you know Yeah, this I don't ever look past who I'm facing right now and

Starting point is 01:42:34 You know, she's undefeated. She doesn't have maybe quite the experience, but she's undefeated coming in. She's tough I want to be able to fight and do well there and that's as far as my real immediate goal is. But yeah, I would like to then fight for a title and then be able to like fight you know Serrano or Taylor after that. That would be the dream. Is there a chance that you now you know ride off onto the sunset and just finish off boxing? Like has the MMA door now closed as a result of the enthusiasm that you have about this deal Now I still I still love MMA as well I Don't know if I'll I mean I would love to fight again in MMA, but that's just I like to let life kind of Unfold I

Starting point is 01:43:31 Have goals and things that I like and things. I know I'm passionate about but I also like to take a day at a time a fight at a time, you know and just Ride the wave. Yes. Can you do both with this MVP deal? Like could you do an MMA deal with someone else as well? I think right now it's just boxing. Okay. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:43:59 I couldn't help but notice the face-off on Wednesday. Did you happen to notice how big her platform shoes were? I don't know if those are called heels, but they were gigantic. Do you think that was done on purpose? Maybe. And also that was a day I forgot my heels. I mean, look at those things. Those things were huge. I feel like she was trying to get some sort of like, you know, mental advantage. Look at that. Look at that.

Starting point is 01:44:26 Yeah, we had a face off earlier during a photo shoot where she was in her boxing shoes. So did you notice at the moment in the moment or were you like, wait a second, why is she so so tall? I saw him before we were in the back. I saw her on the hills and then uh I was just thinking she's not we're still I mean she's not even that much taller even with those on yeah that is true so it doesn't bother uh she is undefeated Yolanda Vega uh have you been able to look up any footage on her if so you mentioned she obviously doesn't have as much experience as you do Based on what you've seen heard of her. What's your assessment? Yeah, we've watched a couple fights with her actually already

Starting point is 01:45:16 You know, she's got some clean punches. She's tough. She's not and and and I get she's confident I'm not putting anything past her, you know, and I I honestly think that this fight for her is her She's gonna be more prepared for this fight than she ever has been and I expect to get the toughest version of her So I'm training as if this is it. I'm training as if this is for a title, you know I know she's gonna be tough, but I've been having a lot of fun getting back to boxing and I think I'm I'm I'm I Think my boxing this time around is gonna be a little different than my boxing before, you know

Starting point is 01:45:57 I've had ten years of fighting or more since my last boxing fight till now and or more since my last boxing fight till now. And I feel like my style of boxing will be slightly different than when I just boxed before. Ooh, that's an interesting tease there. So what do you think? Like, obviously the style is different, it's a completely different fighting style, stances change and all that. Can you tell us a little bit more? What will have changed about you? I just feel like there's other things I learned through MMA that when I come back to boxing, I find myself like not always doing the same thing that I used to do in boxing before.

Starting point is 01:46:38 And there are things that I remember from boxing like, man, this worked all the time back then. I'm just going to keep doing this this too But I just feel like it's gonna be like a mix Because I have been fighting This whole time even though I haven't boxed in years, right? But I just feel like it's gonna be like a little hybrid and this will be ten two-minute rounds, right? Yes MVP has really been trying to push three-minute rounds for women.

Starting point is 01:47:06 What's your stance on that? Do you prefer two-minute for the women's fights or do you want it to be equal to the men? I'm fine either way. I think sometimes, I really am, I'm fine either way. I know that a lot of girls are like, if we're going to get paid the same, we need to fight the same. And for me, I think the entertainment just needs to be the same. as long as you have people tuning in I mean you look at like the first time that Katie Taylor and Serrano fought you know they sell out Madison

Starting point is 01:47:32 Square Gardens and they and it's a huge fight and they did well it was super entertaining so they should get paid I'm not really like for me it's like if they have it sanctioned at 10-2 is great if. If it's a fight at 10-3s, fine or 12, whatever. I think sometimes fighters can pace themselves more if it's three minutes instead of two minutes. Sometimes they still go hard. I just think for me, it's not one of those things that I like put this stance in. We need to do the three minutes whatever the fight isn't ready

Starting point is 01:48:06 for it. Your career is so unique and legendary in that we always talk about hey the MMA guys go to boxing and don't do well. The boxing people don't ever come to MMA. You're the one who did and that gets overlooked because we think of the one-offs like James Tony. You had a hall of fame like a legitimate hall of fame. You are in the hall of fame, 33, 2 and 3 records. So if my math is correct, that's like 38 pro fights, not to mention all the amateur fights. And then you come have a legendary MMA career as well. Does it, does it excite you?

Starting point is 01:48:35 Does it make you laugh that there's probably a whole sector of fans who have no idea that you were once a boxer, who only know you as Holly Holm, the MMA fighter, and now you can kind of show them who you who you once were? Yeah, there's a lot of things that are intriguing about it. I think some time, well, two things, a lot of boxers don't come into the MMA world because that's a harder jump to make. It's harder to go boxing to MMA than it is MMA to boxing because MMA to boxing you already have striking knowledge you go boxing to MMA you like you're like diving headfirst

Starting point is 01:49:13 into a pool of water that's just like I don't know how to grapple I don't know how to you know nothing so that is a harder transition to make is going boxing to MMA but you know I've been able to still practice all these things during my MMA training. I'm still striking So going back to boxing and I also I want to go back not just to be I Mean, I've said this before I'm not here for like participation, right? I want to go like make make waves I want to I want to make an impact and I want to do big things so I want to come back into boxing after being gone a long time and be like, make a statement. By the way, do you care about being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame so that

Starting point is 01:49:54 you can say that you're in both? Does that matter to you? Yeah, I think that's awesome. I mean, who's going to be able to do that? No one. I honestly don't see that really. I don't even think there's anybody out there right now that's gonna be able to do that. I really don't. And I love to accomplish something that's never been accomplished before. So yes, I would love to be in the UFC Hall of Fame and I would take a lot of pride in that. Absolutely.

Starting point is 01:50:22 Do you think you get enough credit for what you did in boxing and then the success you had in MMA for being a two sport athlete? I don't feel like you get enough credit. Do you think so? I've always been one of those that works in silence. There's a lot of things sometimes I see and I'm like, I think things to myself or I might say to my team or it's just, you know,

Starting point is 01:50:44 if they talk about how quickly somebody like rose to fight for a title or, you know, a two sport champion or this or that, I'm like, well, I did that. Or it's like multiple division belts in boxing. Like, well, I did that. And then, you know, even like when I first went to MMA, when I got in the UFC, it's like I had three fights within like nine months and that third fight was for the belt You know, it was one of the fastest Progressions to the belts and you know, you hear like oh this many months since somebody's been and it's like I did that

Starting point is 01:51:14 I don't really have to say it though because I know it in my heart, you know I know what I've done and I like I like I kind of like it because it still makes me kind of hungry to always Do something or prove something in a good way. I use it as like positive motivation. I think my true fans are the ones that actually are so prideful on it and that's all I really I don't really care like a lot of like the credit doesn't need to be there in order for me to be motivated. Do you know what I mean? It's like, whether it's there or not, I still want to do what I want to do

Starting point is 01:51:49 and I want to make statements on my own. It is nice to get credit though, recognition, right? I know you don't strive for it or seek it, but it is nice when it comes. It is. And maybe when I'm completely done, I'll look back and be like, I did all these things. I don't know. Yeah, I'm completely done I look back and be like I did all these things I don't know. Yeah, I get it. I get it. I get it

Starting point is 01:52:09 Could I ask Kayla Harrison is fighting Juliana Peña for the belt You're obviously, you know someone who knows them and and has been in the weight class for so long. Who do you think wins that fight? Think Kayla is very strong I think Kayla is very strong. Um, Penya is a dog and she'll, she'll always fight through whatever. I think it's going to come down to some of the scrambles, you know? Um, I think they both, I think both, I mean, Penya might want to make it a little more of a dog fight on her feet. I'm not sure, but I feel like that fight might come down to scrambles.

Starting point is 01:52:46 I think so. And I do think that Kayla is stronger. I think that Pena is also fairly crafty. So I don't know. I'm excited to watch it. But I think, um. I don't know. I'm I'm I'm definitely excited to watch it. And if I could maybe put you on the spot, we've been talking about for weeks, just before you came on, is John gonna fight again?

Starting point is 01:53:10 Can you break some news for us? Can you let us know? Can you tell us if he's gonna fight? Do you have any intel? I don't know, I think that's gonna be all him. I think he's gonna do it if he wants and not if he doesn't. And one of the things too, I think that a lot of... wants and not if he doesn't and one of the things too, I think that a lot of

Starting point is 01:53:29 John's Never his whole whole career. He's fought the top Yeah, so I don't think anybody can really be like, oh you're running you're dodging I think he's just he's in a spot where it's like He feels like it'll do it. And if he't he does it. I mean that's gonna be It's not like he's ever died. I think that his left Well Coming back Working on it. I think she was going to say that his legacy is intact, which I

Starting point is 01:54:05 100% agree with. The big question is just if he's going to fight him or not. He has long been a staple of the New Mexico Albuquerque fight scene. We'll finish that. Why does this keep happening right at the end? This keeps happening. It's happened like three times in the last two or so weeks. But what a career, what a record. Former UFC Bantamweight champion, she won that belt back at UFC 193 November of 2015. Fought for the featherweight title. Eight time UFC headliner. Like I said, 33-2-3 boxing record. 2022 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. Has won the IBF and WBF titles, Ring Magazine, Female Fighter of the Year in 2005 and 2006. Made her debut in January of 2002.

Starting point is 01:55:09 Her last fight May 11, 2013 a unanimous decision win over Mary McGee to retain her IBF and WBF female welterweight titles. So she was winning when she decided to make the switch. Obviously the money involved in women's boxing back in 2013, nowhere near what it is today. Thanks in large part to the Amanda Serranos and Katie Taylor's of the world, the Clarissa Shields' of the world, the Savannah Marshall's of the world. So the scene has changed dramatically and she is coming back on June 28th in Anaheim. Yes, if that date sounds familiar it is in fact the same

Starting point is 01:55:54 day as UFC 317. I don't really think those two cards will be competing against each other in terms of eyeballs Jake Paul versus Julio Cesar Chavez jr. Very much a boxing fight Zora Ramirez on that card as well. We do have her back Holly are you there? Oh Yes, yeah, sorry my phone got hot. Oh no. Oh no, okay I will let you go in a moment, but I just wanted you to finish your thought there I think you were saying his legacy is intact regardless of what he decides, right? Yeah, I mean it's he's John's one of those that gets in there and He

Starting point is 01:56:33 He knows how to win and I don't think it's not one of those that I think he's just gonna do it if he feels Like it if you were him, what would you choose? Like you can retire now undefeated. He's that close. Is that worth more than taking one more? What would you do for him? Or he can fight again and still be undefeated. I mean, a lot of people, I think, are putting this, like, energy on, like, if he fights, he's not, you know, it's like...

Starting point is 01:56:57 Like, I think that, like, that's what I think the energy behind it is, like, so... Like... It's, um... the energy behind it is like so like it's um I don't know I think it's just gonna be if he feels like it he'll do it if he doesn't he doesn't and just just cuz he's not doing it I don't like people are just like if he doesn't they automatically are like well he would lose if he did it I don't know like what that energy is you you know, fair enough

Starting point is 01:57:26 What would that like a lot to say about someone who has? won They're a whole career against the toughest and then they're like, oh if you don't want to fight this one That's because you would have lost like that's just kind of you know, I think that I haven't talked to him about it, but I think that he's gonna, he's gonna be one of those that if he's passionate about it and wants to do it, he'll do it, and if he doesn't, he doesn't. And, but, I mean, I think that if, one thing about John, when he does, he shows up. All right. Well, you'll be showing up on June 28th. Anaheim. Can't wait. The Honda Center.

Starting point is 01:58:08 What a time. What a time. The return of Holly at home to the sweet science. This is tremendous stuff. Looking forward to it very much and it will be on its own. Thank you so much. Congrats on the deal, Holly. And good luck in training for this fight. Thank you. There she is. The preacher's daughter. The one and only, the two-sport Hall of Famer. How many people can say that? But there she is, the one and only Holly Holm. All right, in a matter of moments, we'll be talking to someone who is 100% heading into

Starting point is 01:58:37 the Boxing Hall of Fame. When her career is all said and done, that is not happening anytime soon. She is 16 and 0. She is just 30 years young. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, 2012-2016. She's boxing's first ever undisputed women's heavyweight champion. Undefeated obviously in the sport of boxing. Two and one in the PFL. That's mixed martial arts. Kudos to her for doing that. She's coming off a win over Danielle Perkins. She won via unanimous decision back in Michigan, Flint,

Starting point is 01:59:13 Michigan, her hometown on February 2nd. In doing so, she became the undisputed champion at heavyweight. She's the only three division undisputed Champion at heavyweight. She's the only three-division Undisputed Champion for either male or female of the Four Belt Era, three-division Undisputed Champion. And she is returning to action on July 26th. Back in Michigan, this time at Little Caesars Arena,

Starting point is 01:59:49 she'll be defending her IBF light heavyweight title against Lanny Daniels, who's 11'2 and 2', 36-year-old from New Zealand. She's won her last seven fights and undefeated in her last nine. She's of course the self-proclaimed quote. She is Clarissa Shields. She'll be joining us in studio in a matter of seconds. New York, Rick is over the moon about this development. And as far as guests are concerned, we will round out the day with Jake Paul following Clarissa Shields. So, much more to come here on the program. It's been a great day so far with Michael Morales stopping by, Ian Gary and Holly Holm. By the way, I can tell you that tomorrow

Starting point is 02:00:40 on the program, Jose Aldo will join us, among others. I'll tell you about them later in the show but very excited to talk about him because Jose has pretty much all but said that he is officially done. Remember in Montreal he said I'm more than likely done but he held a press conference this weekend in Brazil where he said, yeah, I don't think I'll be fighting in MMA. Is he leaving the door open for boxing? We will ask him about that tomorrow on the program. I always love talking to Jose, so I'm looking forward to that.

Starting point is 02:01:24 I always love talking to Jose, so I'm looking forward to that. Clarissa Shields, last time she fought was a great performance in which the fight probably should have ended a little bit earlier. Her opponent, Ms. Perkins, fought valiantly. Here's the third round. Watch here. Just swinging away, clubbing blows, stick and move. Here's the third round, third round. Bang! I thought that was it. Honestly, I thought that was it. And here's the ref helping her up. What the hell was that?

Starting point is 02:02:10 She was done. Now, credit to her, she lasted seven more rounds. This is the tenth. And that was all she wrote. That's when she won that title again. Or excuse me, I should say, became undisputed champion at heavyweight. She had owned a couple of a couple of belts and it's a fascinating time like we were just talking to Holly Holm about. It's a fascinating time in the world of boxing. We have this card on July 11th and specifically women's boxing and so I'm very much looking forward to speaking to Carissa about it because she is arguably the most famous of the

Starting point is 02:02:47 entire bunch and she is not a part of this growing MVP stable. She seems very happy. She seems extremely happy where she is right now. Salida promotions, they seem to be treating her very well. They bring her home. They have her fight in Michigan. We were talking about her potentially fighting on this MVP card myself, but I'm not sure if she's going to be treating her very well. They bring her home. They have her fight in Michigan we were talking about her potentially fighting on this MVP card myself and Ade Oladipo on the Arrel and Ade program Which you can watch every Tuesday at 5 p.m

Starting point is 02:03:14 Eastern 10 in the UK over on Dazon and she actually quote tweeted one of our tweets When we were talking about all this This was a quote from Ade. I think Clarissa Shields pound for pound is the best female fighter there is. I don't mean to be disrespectful to her opponent, but these are not the fights that Clarissa wants to be in. If we're brutally honest, she wants to be in high level fights, big name fights. Clarissa then responded with, man, don't start no shit, man. I already whooped on Marshall and the best at five different weight classes. Yes, I'm pound for pound number one. When I was at 154, 160, 168, these girls would not fight me. Very hard to get a fight. I'm making my millions. I'm not kissing MVP ass. I'm cool. The smoke is always available. July 26, expect fireworks against Lanny Daniels is a champ and a better

Starting point is 02:04:06 fighter than Shadayja Green in my opinion. Shadayja Green would probably be the one that they offer up they being MVP if in fact they did do some kind of deal with Clarissa 168. But if you follow Clarissa on social media, you will know that she doesn't hold back. So I'm looking forward to this very much. And she did have those two fights over in MMA, excuse me, three fights over in MMA, and went two and one. She's coming off a win.

Starting point is 02:04:41 Her last fight was in February of 2024. You gotta give her a lot of credit. He had no business worrying about any of that MMA stuff and she did it. So much respect to her. One of the all-time greats and she is joining us in studio right now. So let us say hello to the two-time Olympic gold medalist, the three division undisputed champion that has never been done in male or female boxing first ever undisputed heavyweight women's champion 16 and 0 three knockouts just turned 30 not that long ago. Coming back home on July 26 at Little Caesars Arena, home of the Detroit Pistons who the Knicks beat in six.

Starting point is 02:05:32 At Little Caesars, it was a great, great six game. Jalen Brunson with the three, top of the three point line. It was unbelievable. Did you guys see that? I mean, it was just amazing. Crossed them up. It was incredible. What's happening, Corissa? mean, it was just amazing. Crossed them up. It's incredible. What's happening to Chris?

Starting point is 02:05:48 So they told me she's ready. She's not ready. She's ready. She's not ready. Is she ready? Usually when I do the headphone thing, that's a sign that things are happening. She was ready. And then she said, she's not ready.

Starting point is 02:06:00 She psyched me out. I think that also might've been the first time you weren't like, is she ready? Is she ready? And then in the intro. And there's nothing. Well, cause I was told he's at the door. Is he not at the door? He was at the door.

Starting point is 02:06:13 And then what happened? Okay, now they're ready. Oh, now they're ready? I'm not going to take off the headphones just yet. That's what I'm being told. Are you ready? Is she ready? Oh, here she is.

Starting point is 02:06:24 Okay, here she is. The one and only Clarissa Shields. Oh, here she is. Okay, here she is. The one and only Clarissa Shields. Oh, hello. We've got royalty. You made us wait there. You were making me sweat. Hello, Clarissa, how are you? I'm fine.

Starting point is 02:06:35 It's good to see you. Good to see you again. Please, please have a seat. Do you need any help? Nah. Holy smokes, look at this. I had only rocks. Which belts are these?

Starting point is 02:06:43 These are my heavyweight champion shoes. these golly but these aren't on the line right on July 26 it's light heavyweight I'm fine I'm still defending my heavyweight championship let's do it well why'd you only bring two I got two more in my suitcase okay hello I couldn't carry all of me here yeah there's a lot is it true you show up like with with like the belts in a in a suitcase uh-huh that's what you do out there how many belts you actually have you know 17 17 well have 20 physical but 17 world titles, right? 20 20 is the amount but like the actual in your house 17. What about those other three? No, like the 20 I have like physical belts. Oh, but I have on paper

Starting point is 02:07:24 I have got it. I have seven Have you ever done like a photo shoot with all of them? Um, yeah in my in my red picture. Okay, that I got with the red dress on yeah I think I had Nope, I had on my belt except the heavyweight world championship So I actually have to redo it because of the last one. Mm-hmm. By the way, we were just watching the highlights Your your win against Perkins in the third round, can we show it again? I actually thought the fight should have been stopped

Starting point is 02:07:47 in the third round. I agree. Do you know what I'm talking about? What happens here? Like you're just, you're clobbering her, right? And then. Clobbering, clobbering. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:07:55 It's just like, boof, boof. Somehow the ref got in the way and he pushed her. Not only that, then he helps her up. Yeah, I've never seen nothing like it in my life. That was a weird card. That was the other card where the two dudes fell out of the ring and then the cameraman got involved. Do you remember that one? Yeah, that was the fight before mine I think, right in the heavyweight. Look, right here. He doesn't really, like, what?

Starting point is 02:08:15 And now he's like, oh my bad, my bad. Like, she's out right here. It was crazy. I don't think the fight should have been stopped, but... That's a knockdown though. I definitely, yeah, maybe. But it was like, why did he... Help her up. up push her anyway? Did you think you know that this was 10th round she was done at this point? Well also to looking when he did the count here. She turned her back He should have waved it off. Yeah, I'm in 10 from like oh, but hey, I

Starting point is 02:08:38 Take my wins and just were you shocked that she lasted Ten rounds like that. The first thing was in the third round, that was seven rounds later. Well I had a twin labrum in my left arm. So technically I shouldn't have, I mean I should have been fighting but my arm was not anywhere near 100%. I just didn't want to call the fight off because we had did so good with ticket sales, Pat Pouss was walking me out, it was like a lot riding on that fight. It was for the heavyweight under-throw championship.

Starting point is 02:09:08 And I don't think those type of opportunities come around a lot for me. So I was like, I need to solidify this history and then move on to the next one. Did you need surgery? No. Okay, just rehab? A lot of rehab, yeah.

Starting point is 02:09:21 Okay, were you in pain in the fight? Yeah. Didn't look like it. I mean, because, I mean, I'm just great at what I do. But it was definitely hard, it was hard to do. And when I got done, I felt that I couldn't lift my arm for about two weeks. How did it happen?

Starting point is 02:09:36 I was sparring. I was sparring and I went to throw a hook and the guy caught me with a right hand at the same time I was throwing my hook and it went back in the tour. You said guy. I only sparred a man when I'm getting ready for fights. Only? Yeah only. Golly. I barely if I spar against a woman is because of because she acts but I only spar against the men. And what weight? He was 178.

Starting point is 02:09:58 Golly. But I'm also fighting at heavyweight so I can't be in there sparring with guys who 130 140 like Danielle was strong. I mean people say oh she only had five fights and all this stuff But Danielle is high was still is highly avoided and that's why she only had five fights Nobody wants to fight Danielle Perkins. I don't even know I don't even know if I would consider doing it again really seriously like she was that strong, that big and I'm just great at what I do, but I had to really bite down to win in the fashion that I won at. At this point, is it hard for you to find sparring partners?

Starting point is 02:10:37 Are there any men out there who's like, I don't want to spar you. You're gonna make me look bad or... Everybody's really respectful of my craft. Okay. I kind of let my sparring partners know, like, listen, I'm very, I mean, you don't ever really see me post sparring clips and stuff like that. Like, or if I do, I don't chop them up to where it's only showing me beating up my sparring partners.

Starting point is 02:10:58 Like I let whole rounds play out or at least 30 seconds you can see us going back and forth. Like I put up the parts where it's me and my sparring partner going back and forth instead of a part where it's me beating them up. And these guys, every guy I spar with is very, very, very respectful of my skills. They take me very serious. And I've been in a swinging hard and if I catch them, they know to take it serious, keep your hands up,

Starting point is 02:11:26 be on your defense and just like I'm helping them get ready, like they're helping me get ready too. Is it not true, like back when you were 15, you were sparring 25 year olds? Absolutely true. That's wild and beating them up. Absolutely, but you know, I'm born and raised in Flint, Michigan,

Starting point is 02:11:42 so I was boxing at the age of 11 and then I only was sparring against the boys I think I can count on my hand like how many girls I spar coming up Wow I about ten of them total and that's from a lot of the girls being on the US Olympic team But other than that before then before 17 I really didn't spar a lot of girls when you were younger. Did they give you a hard time? The guys being like, nah, I'm not going to spar a teenage girl? Nah. Really? No.

Starting point is 02:12:10 I was mean. I was rugged. You can come in here and say, oh, I'm not. It was one guy. I remember he was the one that was 25. I was 15. He said, yeah, man, I don't hit girls or whatever. And my coach was like, glove up.

Starting point is 02:12:24 You sparring. You know, you sparring Claresta today. And he looks across the room like man. That's a girl y'all and um I Remember he came out there, and he jabbed me and he hit me he like man. I don't want to do this And then we got the name he started doing this up again. He jabbed me again He hit me I sell it he like man. This is the girl I want to do it and then he went to jab the third time I slipped and I hit him with right hand and he flew into the corner eyes got real big and I was like

Starting point is 02:12:51 Uh-huh, and then I ran up on him and I mean I'm I Would probably like Mike Tyson for four or five rounds on him and when we got done. He was like yo great sparring like Thank you for that work. He was like, how old are you? I was like, I'm 15. He started yelling around the gym, screaming, I just got my ass about, girl, I was 15, bro.

Starting point is 02:13:11 This shit is unbelievable, bro. This is crazy. She going to the Olympics, bro, I swear to God, he just was going crazy. He was like, you 15 for real? I'm like, I'm 15. Do you know where that guy is? Because everything he said came true.

Starting point is 02:13:23 I don't know where he's, but I've been told that I was going to go to the Olympics way before Okay, way before that guy? Andre Darrell when he first met me when I was 11 years old I was sparring against his cousin Darion He told me he said if there's ever a girl Olympics She's gonna go Wow and because we weren't allowed in the Olympics year 2012 was the first time you came in 2016, right? No 2012.. I came in 2012 and 2016. Yes that's two time. Two time. That's something that these girls don't got. They can say they got knockouts and they got votes and they undisputed but ain't nobody got two Olympic gold medals but me. Do you are you more proud about that than any of

Starting point is 02:13:59 these belts? I know it's hard to pick like which accomplishment means the most but that does separate you. The Olympic gold medals mean the most to me, especially my first one because that was the hardest one to win. When in my second Olympic gold medal, I was so confident and so dominant, I knew I would win already. Like it was, I don't know, it was like destined or ordained. It's like when God tell you that you're going to do something, it's like if you believe it, it's going to happen. If you doubt, you'd be kind of getting in the way

Starting point is 02:14:29 and God was like, you're going to win another Olympic gold medal and then what you do after that is on you. But I'm letting you know, like it's set up for you to win again. I was like, yeah, right. What did you like better London or Rio? I like Rio better. Why is that? I had more freedom I was 21. Okay. Oh, that's right. Seventeen. Earl, Spence and Marcus Brown to real good shade. They had to walk around with me everywhere. I went holding my hand. I couldn't go to the bathroom by myself. I couldn't go to a restaurant by myself to the restaurant. Um, I had to basically I was everybody's little sister, you know, Jamel Heron like everybody just kind of had to take care of me and I couldn't do anything.

Starting point is 02:15:10 Did you consider coming back for a third? I know the the next one was all screwed up because of Tokyo and all that and then it got delayed but initially did you think maybe you'd go for three? Absolutely. Why didn't you? USA boxing didn't want to offer me enough money to stay amateur. Oh really? Yeah, I Told them that my first pro fight. I said listen I'm only getting paid five thousand a month from you guys But from my book from our protein and that's 60k for the year I said, but I have an offer for my pro debut if I for 50k and they're like

Starting point is 02:15:42 There's no way that anybody offered you 50k for pro debut I swear to God. Wow they called you a liar essentially. Well women's boxing wasn't making that kind of money even world even world champions so 50k was unheard of for a woman fighter if you wasn't Leila Ali or Christy Martin so I'm like I'm telling you they offered me 50k for my pro debut they were like yeah right I'm telling you all the truth and I'm like listen I'm telling you, they offered me 50k for my pro debut. They were like, yeah, right. I'm like, I'm telling you all the truth. And I'm like, listen, this is the deal that I want. And we, I told them what I would, you know, that I would stay at the Olympic training center and how much money I wanted.

Starting point is 02:16:15 And they were like, Clarissa, you're not going to be getting paid 50k for your pro debut. And we're not even going to give you the money that you're not going to be getting paid 50k for your pro debut and we're not even going to give you the money that you're asking for like no I'm like well I guess you guys won't win another Olympic gold medal for America till I guess you find another Clareston Shields because you guys have been struggling forever and so um

Starting point is 02:16:39 they just like that they didn't want to do it and I just signed a contract to turn pro now you can actually be a pro and come back to the Olympics right? They changed the rules. I have no idea. I have no idea. If they would allow me to go to the Olympics again, I would do it. I think they would. I mean it's up to you ultimately but I don't think there's a rule in place before it was like if you turn pro you can't be an amateur, you can't compete, but now they changed that rule. I haven't heard that yet. You consider it though? Yeah.

Starting point is 02:17:08 How much time would you have to like, put your career, your pro career on hold to really... For the Olympics? Yeah. Probably about a year. Okay, is that worth it? It's the Olympics, why not? But you did it twice, like you climbed that mountain.

Starting point is 02:17:20 Shit, three times you're just as good. Yeah. I mean, I don't know, I'm more of... But the money isn't the same, right? It may be good. Yeah, I mean, I don't know I'm money is the same, right? It may be different for me it may it might open up more More ways to get endorsements and sponsorship like I have a better brand now than what I had back in the day Maybe that will help but I mean I would just want to do it just for the fighting purposes Like these are who you guys are considered the best girls in the world now. Well, maybe I should, let's see if they're better than me.

Starting point is 02:17:49 I'll be in LA. That would be great for you. Yeah. Ah, 2028 in LA. Oh, I would literally cry tears because didn't Floyd Mayweather fight the Olympics there? Yes. 1984. Uh huh. I would love to do that.

Starting point is 02:18:01 Honestly, like. We need to make this happen. Hey, they offered me the opportunity to fight at 165 for the Olympics I will be fighting at 165 for the Olympics represent my country defending my two Olympic gold medals I would definitely do it if the opportunity presented by the first one to bring this up in other words Do I get credit if you go to the Olympics and win gold there? Like will you shout me out or something? I I could have went to the Olympics 2020 20 well nope this last 21 oh 24 in Paris Will you shout me out or something? I could have went to the Olympics 2020.

Starting point is 02:18:25 Nope, this last Olympics. 21? Oh, 24? In Paris? Yeah, I could have went and I could have represented Azerbaijan. Why them? That's who reached out to me for the opportunity.

Starting point is 02:18:36 Serious? Yeah. What, they give you citizenship? Something like that. Really? It was something crazy and I was looking at it like, what? But it was like, if I go to the US,

Starting point is 02:18:48 I want to represent America, so. Did you consider it? I considered it, but I also want to represent America. That would have been nuts. Crazy money? I bet they were offering. It wasn't crazy, but it wasn't bad either. Really?

Starting point is 02:19:01 Yeah. Azerbaijan? Mm-hmm. Why them? They reached out. I know, but it's so random, no? It was random to me. I was like, what? When I received the text, but I also too was like, you know what? I wouldn't represent America in the Olympics. I understand that. Have you ever even been to Azerbaijan? I don't think so. Yeah. I don't think so. By the way, this isn't complete, but since we're on that path, what did you think of

Starting point is 02:19:26 that whole Iman Khalif thing? Did you think that she was treated unfairly or do you think that? Is it so-so she's a she? What's that? She's a she? I think that was proven, right? And she won gold. I don't know.

Starting point is 02:19:40 Okay. I mean, it was Olympic boxing. I was there. I was covering the Olympics in Paris. It was a gigantic story. I think they were wrong on how... I hate when people put out information without artifacts. Mm. And so, to hear that... and then to see the Russian girl crying and then she just quit and then... I think Italian.

Starting point is 02:19:59 Was it? Okay. Yeah. And it was just more of like, okay... without any of his more like okay if if a woman did you be by a transgender which is a woman a uh... man who is now on me that will be absolutely wrong even in my eyes

Starting point is 02:20:17 they will that is what would put out there now if that wasn't true issue and put out there from what i thought that's what they put out there. And then they backtracked and said something about XY chromosomes when they was born. I really don't know what the answer is and what the answer is not, to be honest with you. I understand. All right, so you're coming back July 26th.

Starting point is 02:20:40 Little Caesars. By the way, are you Pistons fan? Of course. I'm from... Oh, wow. Do by the way, are you Pistons fan? Of course. I'm from oh well I do like you follow them or just like you were like Honestly, that's the type person that I am. I don't know if you know or not, but I'm like loyal to the bone Yeah, no, I appreciate that everything Michigan. I support well I'm a big Knicks fan because we just beat the Pistons at Little Caesars. So it was great. I was really happy about it

Starting point is 02:21:02 So that but I'm actually Knicks fan too. Oh what how good how could you be both? You can't be both You just said you're loyal to the bone. My boyfriend is from New York. Okay. All right, so I jumped on our bandwagon There you go. Wait, he's from Brooklyn. He put them on a gold bandwagon all the time. That's true But he should be a Nets fan if he's from Brooklyn Not at my Howard. Okay, so do you live here now? I'm here all the time Okay, because you're also in Atlanta too. Yes, the people get like because you were so proud to be repping Flint That's a big source of pride for you. Did anyone give you crap for leaving? No, no, everybody been doing I wanted to move to Atlanta so many years ago. Why Atlanta?

Starting point is 02:21:44 Black excellence, they got so many black ago. Why Atlanta? Black excellence. They got so many black entrepreneurs. It's easy to network, easy to do collabs. Atlanta loved me and I love Atlanta and its food. They got really nice people and great hospitality. Okay, yeah, no, it's a beautiful city. One of the guys on our team is from Atlanta. Speaks very highly of it.

Starting point is 02:22:04 I love it there. Would you like to fight there? I would like to, you know what, so July 26th I fight up in Detroit, tickets on Ticketmaster. But now my goal is to sell out Little Ceasers and then I can go fight anywhere in the world. So my main thing is I would love to fight at State Prime in Atlanta. I would love to fight in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. I don't think a woman has ever headlined there a woman fighter. I would love to fight at State Farm in Atlanta. I would love to fight in Las Vegas at T-Mobile arena I don't think a woman has ever headlined there a woman fighter. I would love to be the first Yeah, I got I got some big dreams and stuff We do a boxing show here as well and you recently like quote tweeted one of the videos that we tweeted I think it was last week. You know what I'm talking about, but I didn't see maybe it wasn't you Maybe there's someone running your account. was this one it was Adé talking about

Starting point is 02:22:47 how you know you need big fights you want big fights he always talking bullshit sometimes what's up with Adé man he's talking bullshit about you I think he likes you I think he's a huge huge fan and supporter of yours he do but it's like kind of like a you think he's backhanded yeah to me sometimes I don't think so. He's like Make that big again. Okay. Sorry make it big. So he so so I think at Clarissa Shields pound for pound is the best female fighter there is. See, you're absolutely right. Okay. Right? I don't mean to be disrespectful to her opponent Yeah, but these are not the fights that Clarissa wants to be in. One, he spoke Clarissa wrong. No, that was the guy who tweeted for me That's that's not me. Yeah, you gotta get that right. Yeah, that's right, you're 100%.

Starting point is 02:23:25 Claressa wants to be in. If we're brutally honest, she wants to be in a high level fight, big name fights. And then the thing is longer. But you get the point. And then you quote tweeted and said, man, don't start no shit, man. I already whooped on Marshall.

Starting point is 02:23:38 Cause he wants to see that rematch. I beat her up though. Yeah. Let's be real. She was a knockout artist. 12-0, 10 knockoutsout artist. 12-0, 10 knockouts. I was 12-0, two knockouts and I kicked her ass. Yes. You know all the girls on MVP I can beat all of them. Can we talk about this? This is great. I love

Starting point is 02:23:55 I love so so so so MVP is doing this July 11th card right? Madison Square Garden, Netflix, a lot of big names. Amanda, Katie, they also just signed Holly Holm but she's fighting June 20th. I'm so happy for her, Holly. I was like, what the heck? Alicia Baumgartner on there, of course. There's literally one massive name from the world of women's boxing who's not a part of it and it's you. And you mentioned that on the tweet, I'm not going to kiss their ass. Why does it have to be kissing their ass? Why can't it just be like, do a deal to get you

Starting point is 02:24:26 on the biggest platform? There's no bigger platform than Netflix, right? They're disrespectful. Tell me how, tell me how. As an entire brand. One, I had, I hate to say had, because I still have, but I had a lot of respect for Amanda Serrano way before anybody came along,

Starting point is 02:24:44 and I've been in her fights I've supported her I showed up on my own dime my own my own time and I've given support when MVP came out the gate they just came out the gate like oh forget Claresta Shields Amanda Serrano is the real deal quote she's the real quote and it was like I shared the shared the title with her like listen you're the quote of the smaller divisions. I'm the quote of the bigger division and we never because because we're never going to be able to fight and with her record and her knockouts I was giving her props and she's seven division time champion.

Starting point is 02:25:19 How can you not give props to that? And I know that at women's boxing it's hard to get your just do even though I feel like Amanda Serrano is not as skilled as me but she's still a good fighter you know she's great in her own way but for MVP to come out the gate and just oh forget Claresta the G.W.O.A.T. I built the G.W.O.A.T. brand and it doesn't come from anything professional it comes from I got two Olympic gold medals not one one, but two. And then I turned pro and I'm undisputed, undisputed, undisputed, undisputed, like, come on, man, like, let's be real.

Starting point is 02:25:52 And also how I fight, but it was like, they came out the gate just, oh, she not nothing. We about to just, we about to promote Amanda Serrano and we're gonna call her to quote, and now Claretha Shields' quote will disappear. And I was like, this is crazy because one quote is trademarked, that's mine. They've actually used that term?

Starting point is 02:26:15 Come on, man, do you want me, oh, you got it. No, no, I'm just asking. 100% they have. Okay. And before I said anything to her, I let them use it a lot, a a lot a lot and then I finally like You know what? This is like the this the disrespect right here because now she's tweeting and saying she's the world

Starting point is 02:26:34 she's the greatest woman of all time and it was like I Literally built that brand myself like nobody ever even thought people like oh, you know sense a saying quote is weird It's so it just sounds weird, but now everybody want to be a quote now and I just felt like I reached out to Amanda first and said something to her because we were friends and She kind of was like kind of blew it off. Haha, you know and I was like listen Tell your team to stop like I don't want to have to people know I'm like that I would blast you on social media they they know that I will expose you so I'm telling her like tell her to stop you know and I don't know just the disrespect from Jake Paul just kept being

Starting point is 02:27:16 more and more and I'm like you know all right so yeah they got sent paperwork oh wow and have they stopped yeah was it like a cease and desist she's the real deal okay you're the quote And I'm the quote. When you say that, you know, like she's been disrespectful, do you mean just from that standpoint or do you mean have they tried to do a deal with you and the offer was disrespectful in your opinion? Did they? Well, they offered me some money to fight on the on the delightight card. Yep. I think it was Khomein. Okay. Against Shadasha. Shadasha Green. Yeah but but their money was not nowhere near what I make. So did you view that as disrespectful as well? That's

Starting point is 02:27:56 disrespectful and then also too how you want to work how you want to work with somebody and you want to be cool with somebody but y'all don't even be respectful of who they are. Like I'm not saying first of all some stuff is facts but then some things are opinions and it was like when it like come to how I box being a woman fighter all my accomplishments how I continue to get better my defense my offense I am pound for pound number one. That's just period. If anybody comes close, it's Katie. But still Katie struggles with fighters who are very, very aggressive.

Starting point is 02:28:34 I don't struggle with nobody. You very, very aggressive. You tall. You big. You fast. You slick. I find a way to make you look amateur. That's the art in what I do. It's like a blessing and a curse So now that I've said that They don't even respect me as that. They just try to always try to pay me out to be like I'm jealous or envious of girls who I've

Starting point is 02:28:58 Had open arms to like hey, let's all be friends. Let's all work together Let's like let's all unite and make women's boxing be big They come up with this narrative that I'm jealous of them. I want to be them Don't even make as much money as me. I want to be them. I'm jealous of them They're not they're they're not undefeated But it's so many reasons why I don't want to be them and they're saying I want to be them And it was like that Alicia said it.

Starting point is 02:29:25 Okay. Jake, Jake Paul said that I'm jealous of Amanda Serrano, which, why? For what? They're saying that she's going to be the highest paid female fighter, female athlete, come July 11th. You know how many female athletes it is in the world? I don't want to speak on that. Do you know?

Starting point is 02:29:46 In the world. It's a lot of female athletes in the world. And the highest paid female athlete that I can think of right now that comes to my mind is Serena Williams. You're telling me she's going to get paid more than Serena Williams? I think the point that they're trying to say is for one night. Let's not trick the fans with that foolery. Yeah. Because once again, Serena Williams, from my knowledge, is the highest paid female

Starting point is 02:30:13 athlete in history. I don't even know how much she got paid, but when you talk about when she's played for the Wimbledon and all that, she's made a lot of money. Now I'm not, I like they're the history that history that they're that they're creating with the women fighters what do you think of that it seems to be like they're going all-in right that's that that's good that's good my hope is a genuine thing and that they continue to do that with whoever they sign and they actually make the best fights but hey it's it's all good listen I don't I don't have nothing against them except for what they have against me I don't know why Nikkisa be talking like he know how to fight or

Starting point is 02:30:56 something that dude got all that lip and and probably I never liked to prepare a glove the disrespect from him be outrageous. That man said I weighed 190 pounds standing next to Alicia Baumgartner and I looked at like first of all what fighter don't fluctuate in between camps. That's one and then two he's never done a fight, a camp, a win, a nothing with me to even talk about how much I weigh. So they continue to be disrespectful and then when I disrespect them back everybody like, oh Clarissa you're wrong, you're wrong. It was like no, I'm right and they should be respectful. Did they invite you to attend? Oh my god Ariel please stop. I saw this. What? Ariel. What? Tell me, tell me.

Starting point is 02:31:41 Do not piss me off on this. No I'm not trying to piss you off. I saw the back and forth of the tweets and I saw she invited you and then you didn't want to come you said How much? I? What happened what she invited me and I didn't want to come no no no she invited me yes, I First of all I want to go anyway But I was gonna go anyway yes, yes And I saw you say yes all the fights on my own dime, my own time.

Starting point is 02:32:05 I was there up in Texas. I paid for my own hotel, my own flight, my own fight. You don't need no handout. I don't need no handout from them. I know. But now that we're talking about when Terrence Crawford come to the gold fight, Terrence Crawford got VIP pass and he got a front row ticket seat. That's how you treat your world champions.

Starting point is 02:32:24 I agree. Period. Now being pound for pound number one woman fighter in the world, that's how I should be treated when I reach out to get comp tickets from any of these girl fights that's fighting. I get them from ESPN when I go to Michaela fights. Whoever else is fighting I can go anywhere in the world and they're gonna be happy that I'm there. Amanda to say oh yeah what did she say oh yeah I got you I'm yeah I'm have my team reach out of a block and then for her to for the different Nick for Nick for Nikisa to get on the MVP page to say oh no here's the pierce the package you can buy the package ah ah ah and then you

Starting point is 02:33:06 he tweeted it and then tag me and then like he's such a girl no so so so then he does that after she invites me so basically he tells her hey you're a you're doing too much you need to go back to your corner and shut up and let me do the talking and then he's doing a talking telling me that they're not going to give me any tickets I can go buy it VIP packages here goes the link and tag me and then he does a stupid interview and he says oh yeah it's a conflict of interest she's being walked out by this celebrity and that celebrity and first of all I can go in first of all I ain't got no type of beef with no celebrity so where I can't be in the same building as them

Starting point is 02:33:51 I can go to any boxing event that I want to go to no matter who or what or why is there and even if I did have beef Claresta don't switch her mood or tune or her walk for nobody. So it just was weird that he's trying to do everything in his power to make sure that I don't come to the fight. And that's weird on their behalf and that and that and that shine lights on them and their whole community up at MVP. Like you guys are blatantly being disrespectful toward me and trying to make it seem like I got cuz cuz one Makes my I got something against the girls on y'all card because one I've been to all the girls fights way before y'all came along

Starting point is 02:34:36 but now if I Let's say if I if I don't go to the fight. Oh, I was oh, I'm a I'm a hater That's why I go to the fight, oh I was oh I'm a I'm a hater That's why I can go to the fight sure but then I Do go and then they gonna oh, yeah She paid for tickets blah blah blah blah as if I haven't paid for my own ticket before It's just it's just a nutty situation. But anyway, July 26. Yeah, it's a ticket to the To the greatest woman of all time fightin'.

Starting point is 02:35:06 I'll be defending my Undisputed Championship against Lonnie Daniels, who is to me a better fighter than Shadasha Green. The pride of New Zealand. Yes. There it is. There's the poster. Salida Promotions, they put out great posters. Are you happy with Demetri?

Starting point is 02:35:21 Yeah, sure. He's a good promoter. Okay. Oh yeah, except. great posters are you happy with Demetri? Yeah sure. He's a good promoter. Okay. Oh yeah, except. I mean we were just talking about promotions so and I just mentioned Demetri so the natural follow-up is do you feel like you're being respected by your current promoter? Do you feel like you're being... I know that we have worked very very hard together to get to where we at now. Yeah. And he has believed in me

Starting point is 02:35:42 since day one and we won shit 17 world titles together in undisputed championships and but after my next fight I will be a free agent after this one or the one I like 26 oh wow free agent you could sign with whomever we ever come with the biggest bag and with the best opportunities Wow maybe Demetri who knows because the offer that they sent for me to fight against Yadeisha on the co-main event was ridiculous. I was like, who they talking to?

Starting point is 02:36:11 In a bad way, ridiculous. Yeah, it's not even. Is there any chance you just promote yourself? That's possible. That's possible, but you want to work with guys that's been in the game. I want to do less work as possible. I just want to fight, make the biggest person show up, come to the weigh-in, make the weight

Starting point is 02:36:28 fight. I don't want to have to put together a card and look at expenses. That's the promoter's job. But you are open to resigning with him? You are open to resigning with Demetri if he gives you a good deal after this fight? I'll be a free agent. It has to be whoever come with the best deal. Listen, as great as I am, I can't box forever. I have to get the biggest paydays. I want to start me a

Starting point is 02:36:53 family. I want to have me some kids. So it's like, I mean, I got millions now, but it takes, I need some more. Have you thought about how much longer you want to fight for? You know one man now like I want to fight town 38 the next man. I want fights on 52. I really don't know That's a big difference. Yeah, it's as long as I can still beat these girls up I mean, I'll just fight till whenever there are some female fighters who have said like once I have kids I don't want to go back and there are others who are like no I'll have kids and I'll go back We've seen both. What do you prefer or what have you thought of that? I? Don't know what being pregnant is gonna do to my body. So of course I would like to come back. Yeah

Starting point is 02:37:33 But I also to know it that it won't be easy Especially with my body type like my like my legs are already very big my butt is big And I'm probably gonna give fat in my face and stuff. So I don't know. I mean, I would like to, I'm going to try, when I'm thinking about it like ahead of time, I want to try to like make sure that when I'm pregnant that I'm working out, that I heard that it's easier to come back and lose the weight if you're still working out. But I really have no idea. I've never been, I've never carried a kid before.

Starting point is 02:38:06 There's a lot of, especially in MMA, a lot of women's fighters who have had kids and come back. They do it. And they've returned better. They've- I heard about, it's like a mom strength or something like that I've heard about. Yes, Misha Tate, Michelle Waterson, McKenzie Duren,

Starting point is 02:38:21 like there's, I don't know if it's more common in MMA or just there's more of a spotlight on them in the UFC, but several of them have returned. I feel like it's more common in UFC because I'm thinking about women boxers who have been pregnant and came back to box. Not a lot, right? Who can you think of? If any of, no, yeah, I can't really.

Starting point is 02:38:39 Did Christy Martin have kids? Not, I don't think in her prime. Mia St. John? I mean, I think maybe eventually, but like in their prime, you know Martin have kids? Not, I don't think in her prime. Me and St. John? I mean I think maybe eventually, but like in their prime. You know what I mean? And Katie don't have no kids, and Manna don't have no kids, Frenchy don't have no kids, I don't have no kids, and Michaela don't have no kids.

Starting point is 02:38:56 Manna's so many of us that don't got no kids! The Boxers, we don't have no kids. Nah, that's funny. The champion at 135 in the UFC, Julianna Pena, had a kid, came're my happy kids. No, that's funny. There's like the champion at 135 in the UFC, Julianna Pena had a kid came back and became champ. And wasn't champ before that. And there's several examples like that. Yeah, I mean, maybe it will be hard to do.

Starting point is 02:39:16 Wow. No, I'm saying maybe it's going to be actually better than you think is my point. It's just no one's really done it in boxing. Dang, that's crazy. You said that. That's a lot to think about. Yeah, there's a lot to think about. Can I ask, there was once a time you and Alicia were like cool, right? You were Michigan, you know, together, and now it seems like that's not the case. In fact, there was once a time where it seemed like you guys were maybe going to fight each other.

Starting point is 02:39:40 Where do you think stand now? She got me out to a fight. No, I know, but where do you think stand now? We don't have to revisit all of it, but is it better now? Is it... I don't know what... You pondering? We had a talk in Orlando, Florida at one of the conventions. And Franchine was a mediator. And I won't say what was all said in the, in the meeting, but it was like a, kind of like a, hey, my bad for disrespecting you, my bad for disrespecting you.

Starting point is 02:40:18 Let's, let's squash the beef. Well, you know, we're good. And then she signed with MVP and then they got back to the same shit that she was doing before same the same fake being like You know to face the acting like she don't know what's going on She shared something didn't say she didn't know that the picture in the back was me that they edited It was a whole bunch of bull crap. But honestly, I think

Starting point is 02:40:42 It was a whole bunch of bull crap, but honestly I think Some people you just some people you just don't You just don't match with you know and like I say I try to take her under my wing to Give you know and give her some Give her some information and give her a blueprint to her to make more money in women's boxing and make my fans embrace her Because it wasn't it wasn't like that you know I'm saying they were only like just embracing me But she's from I think Ohio or something like that, but she was repping Detroit and so I Made sure that my family knew that she had my blessing and them to also you know

Starting point is 02:41:21 Rock her too and my family and my friends came to her fight up in Detroit when she fought there. I went to her fight in New York when she fought there. Once again, my own dime, my own time. And I don't know, just, I don't know, one day she just wakes up and she, I don't know. Calling me out. I was talking to her.

Starting point is 02:41:39 That makes no sense, that fight. She fights 126? Yeah, I think it's 130. Okay, 130? Still little. Yeah. Don't get me think it's 130. Okay. 130. It's still little. Yeah. Don't get me wrong. It's gigantic.

Starting point is 02:41:47 It's small. Yes. But, um, Hey, like I said, people always say I'm the one that's jealous and I'm, I'm hating on everybody and all that. I didn't call her out. I've never wanted to go to 35, 40. I was, I was pondering on 47 and I was going to try to make my body go there, but I went down to 154 and I fought there and after every fight my body cramped up really, really bad.

Starting point is 02:42:12 But I still went down there and I won and I became undisputed, but it wasn't easy to do. What's your ideal weight? Me? Yeah. 175 probably. Oh wow, okay. 175, but I can fight as low as 160 and 154. Right. Cause I've done it before but to go to 147 I will only go there to become

Starting point is 02:42:34 six time division world champion. I think we talked about this in the past like unfortunately there's a fighter named Demetrius Johnson in the UFC. Are you okay? Do you want something? Were you looking for something? Oh, there's a fighter named Demetrius Johnson in the UFC Mighty Are you okay? Do you want something? Were you looking for something? Oh, there's a fighter named Demetrius Johnson in the UFC, Mighty Mouse. Yeah, I know Mighty Mouse. He's one of the greatest fighters of all time, but when he was reigning supreme, he didn't have any good challenges. He was like running out.

Starting point is 02:42:54 He was having to fight the same guys over and over again. And I feel like that's part of the problem here. You're so much better than everyone in these weight classes that you don't get the respect that you deserve because you're- Yeah, I'm better than all of them at any weight class sure but you can't fight them you can't fight the 126 or 130 pounders or 35 or 40s a fight is a fight if those girls really want to make a fight happen do you see what Terrence Crawford is doing with Canelo he's coming up in weight class yeah he believes in his skill he believes in his power he believes

Starting point is 02:43:22 in his accomplishments. Everyone knows that no matter what if these girls was to come and meet me at a weight class that we can both fight at and be comfortable at which is way easier to come up than me to go down. But if I can go down to 54 or even ponder on fighting there 47, if these girls would even come to 47 or 54 I will fight any of them. 47 you think? 47? 47 would be very very hard, but I would do it just because. That might be dangerous to you now, to your health?

Starting point is 02:43:50 100%. So why? I think 54 is dangerous. 54 is dangerous too, and that's 14 pounds above where they're fighting, Taylor and Toronto. So it's still like dangerous for you and way above where they're. Terrence is going from 54 to 68, right? And he was only really 54 in his last fight he's historically 47 so now so that's really three-way classes is that what you're saying I'm just talking about the amount

Starting point is 02:44:11 the amount is so drastic unfortunately by the way I'm giving you props here I'm just saying do you ever get frustrated that you don't have the dance partner because you know how it is because I beat all the dance partners nobody want to talk about how I beat Christina Hammer when I only had six fights Nobody wants talk about when I beat Hannah Gabriel's the girl who knocked me down up in the first round when I only had seven fights They don't want to talk about how I beat Savannah Marshall who everybody was saying was a knockout artist She's the next best thing. She's the UK's white hope all this nobody want to talk about that Why they give you credit for that? No, they don't because you just said um

Starting point is 02:44:49 You saw awesome. Oh talk about that. Why? They give you credit for that. No they don't because you just said um you said oh they won't give me credit cuz I'm fighting against the bigger girls. It's like look I'm a bigger girl. I fought the Olympics at 165 and when I went down to 54 to fight against the Cecilia Brackes and the Jessica McCaskill and to make those fights those girls would not fight me. I really had no choice but to go up and when I went to 60 those girls would not fight me I I really had no choice but to go up and when I went to 60 those girls would fight me 68 those girls would fight me heavyweight these big girls will fight me there is no reason to be at 147 or 154 and break my I agree you know bust my ass to get there and these girls are not going to fight me only only two girls right now have said that they'll fight me at 54.

Starting point is 02:45:25 That's Mikaela Mayer and I think Lauren Price. And Lauren Price is like, maybe I'll fight her. Maybe, maybe. The only one who's been like, if she can make 154 and I'm undisputed at 54, me and her can make a fight. And that has been, wait, I I think 47 she said she would come up Michaela mayor but you're just sending that It's a good it's a good fight because you both Olympians. Yeah, we're teaming together, but I

Starting point is 02:45:57 I know that I was smashed Michaela to them. Are you friends? Yes. Yes my sister. Okay That's my little sister. I'm just being you like it's the same answer for all these girls I'm gonna smash all of them sure all of them. It don't matter if you had it your way all goes well July 26 Who's the next one? Um So so is your nation in Savannah fighting on that card? July They they did they announce it yet?

Starting point is 02:46:23 I saw a poster or something, but I don't know if it was the date. They announced that Savannah's signed and they announced that Chantel is signed and I think they announced that that's the fight that they want to make. Top of my head, I don't know if they announced that it's officially on the card. I think I saw it. But let's just assume it is. I think, yeah. I mean, you can give me the win out of that.

Starting point is 02:46:40 Okay. But would you be interested in doing business with them? You'd have to, right? In some way, shape, or form. Well, that's the thing. They would do business with my team. All I'm going to do is show up and fight. No, I know.

Starting point is 02:46:50 But you know there's press conferences. There's all this stuff. Yeah, listen. I'm with all the antics and all the bullshit. Y'all want to come to the press conference and Jake want to sit up there. He want to talk trash. Hell, I'll face off with him. It doesn't matter.

Starting point is 02:47:04 Wow. It don't make me know. I think this would be great theater if I'm being honest, I think that I am very inner Entertaining you are yes just outside the ring. So I think you put You know MVP versus Salida promotions or whoever I'm working with to make those big fights They're gonna back the girls and of course, but like here they they're you know they've got Katie Katie's matchroom fighter like they'll do the deal it seems like right you just make the right just make the right offer make the money and you know once again it's some things that gotta be talked about too like as

Starting point is 02:47:35 far as in what content y'all put out there because you can't let people control your brand of what they put out there on you. Especially knowing that they think so low of me. Can I ask, your name was cleared with the marijuana stuff, right? Yeah. So, you know, that gets a lot of attention, but sometimes the clearance doesn't get the same type of attention, right? Is there anything that you could say about like how you were wrongfully accused of this? How did it damage you did it Damage your your brand your reputation. Here's the

Starting point is 02:48:09 This is the tweet that you had right where you said you were unsuspended officially Is there anything you want to say about it? Hmm I was very disappointed with that the just just the whole thing I was very disappointed with that. The, just the whole thing. And it was a stressful time. I bet. You know, I think it was like a month I was suspended. And it went from, at first it was a rumor that it was a PED.

Starting point is 02:48:37 Before I even knew anything and I got online and it was like, oh it's been rumored by, was that dude named Rick? Whatever the fuck his name is, he a weirdo. Oh yes. Do you want me to say his last name or not? I don't give a damn. Okay. But anyways, he was saying that it was a PED, you know, I was like, man, he don't get up out of here. And then everybody started retweeting that and then it was kind of catching some steam. And then I got the phone call that something came back in my system and I was like, what is it? You know, and they were like, I had had even my team didn't know

Starting point is 02:49:06 You know, so they gave me a number to call because I guess like the HIPAA law or whatever. So I called and I had my phone speaker and I had my nutritionist right there because I'm like What is it? You know, I wanted them to be to be able to listen in and then when I and then when I caught You know, I was like hey, this is Clarissa Shields, like here goes my number. What is the substance that you guys found, right? And they're like, oh, it was marijuana.

Starting point is 02:49:34 I bust out laughing. I'm sorry, I'm like, what'd you say? And they were like, marijuana, so I bust out laughing. My nutritionist bust out laughing. We just were laughing probably for like three minutes And I was like, you know, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like all right now like for real like what was it? Y'all crazy It was crazy, but I was actually like, you know, all right cool

Starting point is 02:50:03 Marijuana is legal in in Michigan and I know that I don you know, all right, cool, marijuana is legal in Michigan, and I know that I don't smoke at all, and I've never ate marijuana, I don't use creams and stuff like that, so I was like, how the heck did this happen? And the next day I went and took a urine test because it goes back 30 days, and the urine test came back negative for marijuana.

Starting point is 02:50:22 So I was like, how do we test positive with the mouth swab, but we test negative with the urine test, which is a more accurate test. What do you think it was? I mean, they said it was just a faulty test. Wow. And that's all I can- But that's damaging, no? No, it was very damaging. It was everywhere that I smoke weed in you know and like I said where I'm trying to go in my career

Starting point is 02:50:47 Is be on level of like a serenade was sure Beyonce It's like I can't have those things attached to my name and um I think I've been pretty clean so far like I'm against my Arguments here and there, but I've never been in jail no domestic violence. No driving drunk You can't find a mug shot of me. You know I'm saying. I stay out of trouble, you know I'm saying. So it was, I don't know, it was, it was disappointing and I had to keep fighting myself to not get depressed, to not get sad about it, but I was frustrated every day. But it was this, it was a picture, somebody they made a they made a uh... a i picture of me sitting there

Starting point is 02:51:26 smoking a blunt and i just laughed i really don't look that out like this is ridiculous may be the one crazy you know this is a row i think like you know i like that was like they were trolling me it was funny like that was but to see that people had to be waiting on waiting on something that happens to me that people had just been waiting on something bad to happen to me, that was kind of like, that was the part to me that was like, y'all wrong for that because, y'all

Starting point is 02:51:53 mad because none of y'all favorite fighters beat me in boxing. And so now y'all celebrating me being falsely accused of smoking marijuana. And it was everywhere. People who don't even share my victories or share my history were sharing stuff about this marijuana case. And I had talked to the Michigan Commission and me and my team did want to follow up with paperwork

Starting point is 02:52:15 and sue for defamation and all this stuff. But I more of just said, you know what, I want to work hand in hand with the Michigan Commission to have them do the right, take the right steps first and foremost. I don't think anybody who gets caught with PDs, marijuana or whatever should be put out there publicly until they go to trial and they have a chance to defend themselves. Then when you come back guilty, then you can let the world know, hey, I tested positive for this. I went to trial. This is my fact. This is how I try to defend myself. I came back guilty. I had

Starting point is 02:52:52 PDs in my system. I'm sorry. Well, whatever. This is my punishment. But to just put those type of things out there without giving me a fair chance to even prove my innocence and just having it out there like, yeah, positive for marijuana she smokes weed you know and then said I'm a danger to the sport of boxing and all this stuff I was truly disgusted and I feel like it was people behind the scenes we had a lot to do with that too because that was never even supposed to get leaked either who do you think did it? Hmm, never know. Maybe it's some people who think that they just,

Starting point is 02:53:28 so most valuable. Okay, why you think they did it? Who's they? I said people who think they're so most valuable. The play on words maybe. Okay, can we end on this? MMA, are we ever gonna go back? Oh no, MMA is done sweetheart.

Starting point is 02:53:42 We're done? That's it? Two in one. Winning record is done sweetheart. We're done? That's it? Two in one? It was fun. Winning record. It was fun. Why done? I don't have enough time to train for it.

Starting point is 02:53:50 It takes six months, eight months to just get ready to defend takedowns. And even though I got a lot better. You did. I got a lot better. I put in time. I give you credit for even doing it, to be honest. I'm going to get my arm broken twice. Oh my gosh.

Starting point is 02:54:04 Hey, it was fun and I enjoyed every fight you know I did but I was talking to one my family never wanted me to do it. Okay. So it was I did it because I wanted to prove a point I I proved that point to me three times but you can say twice because I won twice but I but but I proved that point and I was offered one more fight with the PFL it would have been against a girl who was like you know probably on my own was in Savannah right no I don't I don't think so okay no but um it was just like for I got my new relationship and he can't even handle me boxing.

Starting point is 02:54:47 Like please, he's like going crazy when I'm fighting, even though I'm dominating. So we had a talk and he was like, I cannot handle MMA. He was like, if you don't do anything else for me, could you please just not do that anymore? And I was like, okay. You must really be in love. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:55:03 You're like, you know what, all right. And also too, like I say, it just takes a lot of time to train for MMA. That time that I don't, I don't have, I did have aspirations of being like PFL, MMA world champion and, you know, having a fight with Kayla Harrison one day or, you know, or Pacheco, Larissa Pacheco. Like I did have those dreams and I did have those aspirations, but it's just not enough time. You know, I'm, I'm great already in boxing and to be great like that MMA, I would have to train at least three, four years consistently. You were like Michael Jordan going to baseball. Yeah, listen, I did really good in MMA. It was fun. It was fun, but it's, it was It was fun, but it was too hard.

Starting point is 02:55:48 Like, you know, I see that Chris Cyborg is fighting against Bums in MMA. Yeah, she's trying to pick a fight with you too. She's fighting Bums in boxing, and she's yelling out, oh my God, more nuggets than Clarissa. Yeah, fighting against Bums. But she'll never be able to get inside the ring with the world champion and and beat them She seems to want to fight you. She seems to be on drugs. Okay Do you are you interested up in sparring? You know that right? When was that? 20 2019 2018 and I did it get getting jet lag off a plane. I flew from Michigan I had just had a fight a eight-round fight against um, Cindy LeBlanc I have fought for WBC silver belt. I had just had a fight an eight-round fight against Cindy LeBlanc I have fought for WBC silver belt

Starting point is 02:56:26 I had just got that I put a hurt on her for eight rounds and then I flew to LA Sparred against Chris I but we supposed to go six rounds I only kicked her ass before and she's about to cry so we didn't do the last two Oh, and that's the real deal and we never sparred or trained together again after that Chris I was saying oh you come to MMA. I'm gonna help you train. I'm gonna help you this. She was jealous She was envious and she was plotting from then but she's really upset that she couldn't beat me in the fight Golly. Yeah, she couldn't beat and I didn't even have a mouthpiece. Now she's asking for a fight. Do you think it's legit? Chris Iberg can shut up. Okay. I really punch her in the mouth.

Starting point is 02:57:05 You know I ran down on her in person too, right? No, I don't know. Come on, man. Where was this? I ran down on her at the, um, it was radio row up in Vegas. She talking all this crap, like all these girls do, online. And then when they see me, they all want to be, oh, hey, Cluista, can I get a picture? Hey, Clu, no, get the hell out of my face. I'm tired of y'all being fake, bro. I'm sick of it. And so I ran down on her

Starting point is 02:57:28 She's like Clarissa. Why do you want to fight me for I'm um, I don't have enough experience to fight you I said, so why do you keep why are you online talking shit man? She's like You know, maybe we can fight at 47 when I get some more experience and I'm like just a punk. She's a punk. That's what she is. All these girls talk trash online and then they see you face to face and then they don't know what to say. Punks. They switch up. Switch up because that's the thing. I don't like that I'm about that action. I've been trying to be chill. I'm trying to be cute. You know I got my makeup on, got my little earrings on, I came here

Starting point is 02:58:05 really, really calm. These girls continue to do stuff and try to pick with me and think that, one, you're not gonna bully me because if you think you're gonna bully me online, when I see you in person, I'm gonna bully you. Like, I'm gonna pick a fight with you. I'm gonna try to fight you. Like, why do you mess with me? You might as well just leave me alone. Well, here on this program, a fight with you. I'm going to try to fight you. Like, why do you mess with me? You might as well just leave me alone. Well, here on this program, we respect you greatly. You know, my guy in the back, every time we go to him, there's a Clarissa Shields signed glove behind him.

Starting point is 02:58:33 Do you know this? You don't even know, look right here. He has cons, that's you. You signed that glove. I know I signed, that's my signature. Yes, so that's the respect that we have for you here. Well, I appreciate that. He's like your number one fan, that guy.

Starting point is 02:58:43 He's always, anytime I bring up Katie or anyone he says Clarissa quote all combat So I just want to let you know listen on your side here. We don't want that smoke. No, this is thing. I I Wish I wish everybody well and I don't and honestly I don't I don't care who's with or against me cuz I'm I'm with myself I get it and I appreciate you guys who give me my support and give my respect if you don't So what it's not gonna stop me from winning belts making millions Making the best friends that I can make you know it's not gonna stop anything, but I know that um I Am what I am and hopefully you know

Starting point is 02:59:24 When boxes when you know boxing is done with this circus we have going on we can get back to making Boxing great again, but this is like this is a circus. I mean Jake Paul from the fighting against Julio sees Well, keep doing your thing that's a whole other kind of worms keep doing your thing God bless July 26th other kind of worms. Keep doing your thing. God bless. July 26th. July 26th, get your tickets. Little Caesars. Live on the zone. 19,000 people. And I'm being walked up by Rick Ross, the boss. For real? Holy crap, that's legit. Legend. Wow. Because I'm a boss, I can't wait. That's incredible. Good for you. There's the poster. Thank you so much for coming in. Really appreciate it.

Starting point is 03:00:06 Good luck to you. And anytime you're in town, this is now your second home, please come in and we'll be watching. We'll take a quick break. Say goodbye to Clarissa. We'll be back. Actually, you know who's our next guest? No. Jake Paul.

Starting point is 03:00:18 Oh, ooh. No, just maybe he's listening. I don't know. Ooh. Good luck on the interview. There she is, Clarissa Shields. We'll be back How are you guys?

Starting point is 03:00:36 Awesome awesome awesome Have any of you guys ever seen me before or heard of me? Ever see raise your hand if you if you have You've never seen me before or heard of me? Never seen, raise your hand if you have. Okay, okay, okay, fair group of people who have seen me before. My name is Jonathan Jones. My fight name is John Bones Jones.

Starting point is 03:00:54 I am a eight time world champion with the UFC. So I am a bona fide bad ass. I beat up people for a living, it's my job and I love it. To become a UFC fighter, I had to first start by having a dream. My dream was to be a fighter. And in order to make that dream come true, I had to figure out how to set goals and how to accomplish goals. So some of my goals were to make sure that I eat really healthy. Some of my goals was making sure that I went to bed early

Starting point is 03:01:32 so that I would have energy to train. My goals were to make sure that I studied as best as I can. I wanna talk to you guys about consequences for your actions. I wanna talk to you guys about overcoming situations, turning negative situations into positive. I had to have a lot of goals to make my dreams come true of being a fighter. Do you guys have any dreams? I became the first fighter sponsored by Nike, I was sponsored by Gatorade, EA Sports, Reebok.

Starting point is 03:02:09 You know, my life was amazing. It was absolutely amazing. What's your dream? I wanna open wildlife reserves in Africa. What's your dream? Professional basketball player. Professional basketball player. Do you have a dream? I do, is to become a radio show host.

Starting point is 03:02:25 Oh, I like it, I like it. Alright, so who all heard about the car accident I got into? Oh, okay. I think it's really cool because my dream was always to be a really good fighter. And that's what I do for work, and I am today a really, really good fighter. So I'm a living proof that whatever you dream, no matter how silly it is, that you can be it, and you can do it.

Starting point is 03:02:52 You put your mind to it, you set goals, and you work really, really hard. But now there's a new guy wearing my belt, a guy named Daniel Kormian, walking around calling himself the champ. Why? Because I beat myself. I lost my belt, I lost my endorsements. I lost respect.

Starting point is 03:03:06 I embarrassed my family. One day my kids are going to grow up and read about this. One thing that I would never ever be is a bully. I would never ever use my awesome fighting skills to hurt anybody else because I hate bullies. I hate watching it. I hate being around it. I think it stinks and I think it really needs to go away forever.

Starting point is 03:03:26 So if you guys are ever faced with a situation where you know you're getting ready to do something that maybe you're not necessarily proud that you're getting ready to do, please do not fool, I'll call it a John Bowles Jones. Don't do what I did. If there's a situation that you know that you can avoid, please think twice. Don't do what I did because right now I am totally regretting what happened that day. Totally regretting it.

Starting point is 03:03:52 I've set myself years back, years backwards, I just went. And it hurts and it really sucks. And if I could save one of you guys from making a dumb decision like I did that day, then this, me talking to you guys from making a dumb decision like I did that day, then this me talking to you guys right now is so worth it. So a lot of times when people are getting bullied, they're too afraid to stand up for themselves.

Starting point is 03:04:13 So I think we owe it to our friends, which I hope all you guys are friends in here, right? We owe it to each other to protect each other. Last thing I want to talk to you guys about is turning around situations. Maybe some of you guys have done some things that you're not too proud of. Maybe you have failed a test or failed in sports or maybe you stole something or maybe you hurt somebody or no matter what you've done to let yourself down,

Starting point is 03:04:43 know that there is always tomorrow. There's always tomorrow and there's always a way to make things better. Raise your hand if you hate bullies. All right. So, can you guys make me a promise? Can you promise that you will always protect your friends when you see them getting bullied?

Starting point is 03:05:00 Yes. Awesome, I guess this place is bully free. Thank you, spare with all you guys. So that's all I have for you guys today. I hope you guys learned something from my story. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. One, two, three.

Starting point is 03:05:16 No bullying. Yee-hoo. Remember that. Yay. All right, guys. Good job. Good job. John Jones. Harriet Hohani.

Starting point is 03:05:26 It is good to see you my friend. It's a pleasure to be here with you. It has been a while. Yes, a long time. Yes. Well thank you for the time today. We're here in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico. Alright, that's classic stuff with John Jones.

Starting point is 03:05:34 You can watch that from about 10 years ago. Classic stuff with Clarissa Shields. Now let's go to our final guest of the day. Let's not keep him waiting any longer. He is El Gaius. He's a great guy. He's a great guy. He's a great guy.

Starting point is 03:05:42 He's a great guy. He's a great guy. He's a great guy. He's a great guy. He's a great guy. He's a great guy. He's a great guy. from about 10 years ago. Classic stuff with Clarissa Shields. Now let's go to our final guest of the day. Let's not keep him waiting any longer. He is El Gaio, the problem child. He returns to action on June 28th in Anaheim, Honda Center. Main event, Dazon pay-per-view, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the one and only Jake Paul. Kind enough to join us on this Monday afternoon. Hello, Jake. How are you? Good. How are you, Ariel? Yo, I didn't plan this out, but you're coming on right after Clarissa Shields, and there was a lot of MVP talk in the interview.

Starting point is 03:06:13 I legit did not plan you two being back-to-back. I don't know if you caught any of it or saw any clips or anything like that, but she was she was a little fired up. No, no, I mean, uh, She was, she was a little fired up. No, no. I mean, uh, she's always got a lot to say, but the numbers and the events that we do speak for themselves and the woman's roster that we have speaks for itself, so we don't really pay attention to her and neither does anyone else. All right.

Starting point is 03:06:41 Well, I'm hopeful that you guys do business somewhere down the line. She's a free agent after her next fight so I think that could be interesting. But if we can, can we start there? This decision is very clear. You guys have gone all in on women's boxing. Last week announcing the signing of Chantel Cameron, Savannah Marshall and then Holly Holm right after your press conference concluded. When did this all start? You and Nekisa coming together and saying like, all right, let's go all in on this. Yeah, I mean I think from day one we just saw how scattered and terrible boxing is ran, operated and managed. These old promoters who aren't good at

Starting point is 03:07:21 business and they're very greedy. They don't put their fighters first. And so we've been able to prove a model that marketing and content and messaging is king working with the biggest platform in the world like Netflix and really just treating fighters the best out of any other promotion and making them the highest paid that they've ever, you know, come across in their whole entire careers.

Starting point is 03:07:48 So this is really the place to be and MVP has just doubled down on the women's side of things and we just have so much expertise there. They're going to make so many super fights happen there but really it's just the the start of the bigger picture which is just taking over the whole entire sport of boxing and it's only been three and a half years and we've already made such an everlasting impact. Are there more women signings to come to be announced? Holly was on Wednesday and then like I said you had the two others and you had Alicia and and on and on it goes Are there more on the radar?

Starting point is 03:08:27 Yeah, yeah, we're working on things behind the scenes, you know, the goal is to have the whole women's roster. So There's definitely some conversations happening and more things to come you know, so just a lot of exciting things going on in MVP and really just starting to expand the company now. The last time we spoke, the last time we saw you in action obviously was November, Netflix, AT&T Stadium. The high of that event, that was insane obviously. It permeated well past the world of boxing, the sports world. I mean, it was crazy. Even for me, just being on the broadcast, unlike anything I've ever experienced,

Starting point is 03:09:09 I can't imagine what it was like for you, who was actually a part of it. How long did it take for you to just kind of come down from all of that, to just sort of get back to some sort of normalcy? Because I don't I would imagine it wasn't exactly normal in the immediate aftermath. Yeah, no, it's definitely been crazy, man. I think I can't go anywhere without getting bombarded by all age groups now. And it's just so many people who watched it and loved it and became a fan. And so my life has definitely changed since that moment.

Starting point is 03:09:44 Any bigger necessarily. But it turns out I was wrong and it definitely been crazy and still coming down from it, honestly. But really just focusing on June 28th, you can get your tickets at Ticketmaster. I'm going to knock out Chavez and just putting a lot of focus on there, but I do Definitely love the the big fight energy and sort of miss it And I'm just sort of like working through the the timeline a clip came out over the weekend of you crying from your reality Show Paul American which is on max soon to be HBO max Which I guess was just a couple of days, 12 or so days before

Starting point is 03:10:25 the Tyson fight. You're very, very emotional when speaking of the fight, saying that you're excited, but also a little bit scared. You had a bum ankle, a sprained ankle. Was that the constant state of emotions leading up to the fight in the days, or did they catch you in a particular mood that day? No, I was definitely in a particular mood. You know, there was so much going on,

Starting point is 03:10:49 the stakes of the fight, the pressure, completely spraining and ripping my ankle, ligament, just a couple of days before that, being scared to have to go in there, you know, fighting them, Mike Tyson with a bum ankle, like you're saying, and also just feeling so much gratitude, knowing how big of a moment this is always going to be. So it was like fear, happiness, you know, all of these emotions mixed into one. And I think in some of my toughest and craziest moments, like always a couple of weeks before I start,

Starting point is 03:11:26 I get emotional sometimes. Okay. So you're okay with that being out, obviously. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I think it's important that you document everything. And I think it's important to share with the world, your true emotions as a man, as a fighter, as an athlete,

Starting point is 03:11:44 and to inspire others to feel those things to share with the world your true emotions as a man, as a fighter, as an athlete, and to inspire others to feel those things and to not be afraid to cry, to let it out. That's what we are as human beings, as feelers. Putting that out there for everyone else, I think, can inspire others to let those emotions come through, be able to process them because if you just Bottle that up and go into the fight with that It's not gonna be good so I love to be a

Starting point is 03:12:14 Example and show my whole entire story to the world so that maybe some people can relate to it How soon after the Tyson fight did you start working on the next one and correct correct me if I'm wrong, it seemed like the next one was Canelo. How soon after did that start? It was like less than 72 hours. We were, you know, talking with Canelo's team. So it started instantly. Was that something where you approached them? Or did they approach you?

Starting point is 03:12:47 I think it was a mutual sort of reach out, but Nikesa had been chatting with his lawyer for years, you know, just always knowing that that fight had to happen at some point. So I think after the fight, it was, they were just messaging each other and like, let's, you know, make this come into something now. Not, not trying to re litigate the whole thing, which kind of played out, but in your mind, like if this was a football field, how close to the end zone was this fight from happening on Cinco de Mayo weekend? We were on the one yard line and we got a pick six,

Starting point is 03:13:28 the interception going the other way, man. In the fourth quarter game winner and we just got intercepted. So, but I understand it, you know, basically they threatened to pull Canelo's $300 million contract if you were to fight me. That's how bad they want me out of boxing. They can't stand that I'm the one doing the biggest events. So they threatened to pull his

Starting point is 03:13:52 $300 million contract if he was going to fight me. So I understand where Canelo was coming from and wanting to secure that bread for his family. Why do you think that was? Because it wasn't like it was conflicting with the Crawford date. So why do you think that was, you know, if your information is correct on the table where, hey, like you, you take this fight against Jake, we're taking away the rest, the three fight deal. Why do you think they cared that much? Because if you are someone spending billions of dollars in the industry and you aren't number one and having the biggest events and meanwhile there's like a little Disney kid running around spending zero dollars and having the biggest events, as a competitor you're going to do anything to stop that person and to be the biggest.

Starting point is 03:14:47 And so that's the nature of this dirty business and boxing and the egos involved and how badly people want to be the king of this sport. And so that's the nature of the beast. How do you think that fight would have gone? I would have beat Canelo for sure. You know, even just watching him, um, against Skull, he's just washed up, inactive, doesn't throw a lot of punches, not very strong. And what's crazy is my, one of my main sparring partners from the last two years

Starting point is 03:15:24 was the one who lost to William Skull. He was the one that should be fighting Canelo and his name is Shishkin, Vladimir Shishkin. He beat Skull way worse than Canelo did. And this is the guy I'm sparring with every day for two and a half years, going toe to toe with. So people say I'm crazy. They've said this the whole journey. They said I wouldn't be Tyson.

Starting point is 03:15:49 They said I wouldn't be Nate Robinson. They said I wouldn't be an idea. They said I wouldn't be Silva and Woodley, Ben Askren, every, every single person. So when it happens, like I'm going to have the last laugh and I know what I'm capable of, and there's a lot more names on the list that I'm going to beat in the next couple of years. And it's going to be the greatest boxing career of all time. Do you think by the time it's all said and done for him, he does fight you?

Starting point is 03:16:16 Yeah, I think so. You know, um, will you still be interested? Like if it's in like three, four fights and let's say he goes two and two in those fights, will you still be interested in that fight? I think so, you know, just because we're we're arguably like I don't I would say just from a third party point of view we're the two biggest names in the sport and because of that it's just going to be fun and exciting. And I like making history and doing big events. Did you watch this fight against Skull?

Starting point is 03:16:48 Yeah. Like if you were to grade it, what would you grade it? An F. I mean, just that whole weekend was probably the worst weekend in boxing forever and all of boxing's existence right like I threw more punches in eight rounds that were two minutes than every single fighter that whole entire weekend so it's just I don't know what I don't know what's going on over there but I come to fight.

Starting point is 03:17:25 I come to make entertaining fights, knock people out, put people on the canvas and I guess other people just don't have that mentality. And for the record, I think you're talking about Friday, Saturday. In a way on Sunday was tremendous. But you're talking about the Friday, Saturday fights, right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Oh, the Inouye fight was great, but I'm mostly speaking to Friday and Saturday, the Times Square and then... Riyad. While we're on the train, you've talked about, you know, so the next fight for Canelo is this Crawford fight, but now we're trying to figure out what's going on with who's promoting it and what's happening because Turkey tweeted yesterday

Starting point is 03:18:06 That Sela is now promoting it and the date changed that was announced Yesterday, excuse me last week that the date was changed. So what do you make of what's happening here? Do you have any sort of insight into this? Is Dana still involved because I think it's I mean if he is it's it's the biggest W on his part because he's not putting up any money he's the promoter he's involved getting a percentage of the cuts his name is attached to it all this stuff so if that's the case it's pretty pretty crazy and a big win for dating on that part but I don't I don't know what's going on over there. I didn't see this news yet.

Starting point is 03:18:46 Okay, alright. People are trying to figure out what is actually happening because you said now that the promoter is Sela, but Sela has obviously promoted his events in the past, so it's a little unclear right now. So I thought maybe you would have some intel. After Cannello obviously tell after after Canelo obviously you know didn't materialize was the next one tank yeah yeah i mean that was on the one yard line as well but he asked to rematch you know Lamont Roach he wants to get that back and then we'll be back in discussions with Mr. Gervonta but man this is the nature of boxing. You have massive fights on the one yard line

Starting point is 03:19:28 and things just fall through. As you're watching, like he was a gigantic favorite and this is on the heels of the Canelo thing. Are you like, what the fuck is going on here? Yeah, I mean, I don't know though, cause I never really thought Tank was that good. It would just take the right fighter to pick him apart, to be honest.

Starting point is 03:19:51 Someone who had high activity and wasn't afraid of his power. So I always saw so many holes in his game. So to me, it wasn't that surprising that someone finally gave him some good work. If you do fight, what weight would it be at? 195. Oh, wow.

Starting point is 03:20:13 So he would go all the way from 40 to 95. Yeah. I mean, it would be an exhibition. Okay. Okay. But so what does that mean? Is that, is that three minute rounds? Yeah. 10, and so what does that mean? Is that, is that three minute rounds? Yeah, 10 three minute rounds. And when you say exhibition, like are, what are the restrictions on that?

Starting point is 03:20:33 No restrictions, just the fact that like we couldn't actually get it professionally sanctioned. Okay. Is that still of interest to you? Like if he wins the rematch and you beat Julio, is that of great interest to you later this year? For sure. For sure. Like I said, big events and you know, when we had announcement videos filmed for Canelo

Starting point is 03:20:53 and for Gervonta, like both filmed and fully edited and my team went into the streets to ask people what they thought of me versus Gervonta. Every single person was like Gervonta would kill Jake. He's going to die. All of this stuff. And so just proving people wrong and changing the narrative and showing people that I'm a better boxer than all these so-called pound for pounds. It's just fun for me. So then ultimately, how did you end up

Starting point is 03:21:23 with Julio and were there other names that were being considered before you did end up with him? Yeah, I mean, I think Julio, that conversation has always been there and fans have always wanted it. And he's a former world champion, super experienced. It's a good chip on my belt to test myself in the ring with a very, very tough opponent. And he has, you know, the name behind him, the Mexican fan base, Puerto Rico versus Mexico. And he was actually somebody that stepped up to the table, right?

Starting point is 03:22:00 The Tommy Fury discussions have always been there. The KSI discussions have always been there, but those guys don't actually want to make a fight happen. Um, so Julio stepped up credit to him and we made June 28th happen. Everyone pull up ticketmaster.com. Get your tickets. Yes. Does own pay-per-view Honda center. Maybe, um, over the last few days, speaking of KSI,

Starting point is 03:22:26 Nikisa, who now is a force on Twitter, all of a sudden, he got his Twitter account and him and Mams are going back and forth, pretty much like negotiating you versus KSI on X, on Twitter. And so are we getting closer to it? I view all of this as some kind of positive because it seems like there's communication, there's talking behind the scenes in front of the cameras or on Twitter. Here's one of Nikis' tweets, we have Mams' as well. Are we getting closer to it?

Starting point is 03:22:56 Is this now becoming a reality? I don't know, man. From our side, we've always been the ones wanting to make it happen. I don't think Mams is actually even involved in KSI's fighting stuff. I think the Wasserman people are the ones running it. So like he's just doing his clout thing on Twitter. And we've always tried to make it happen.

Starting point is 03:23:24 I agreed to go down to 192.5 which is lower than Gervonta, the weight we have agreed for Gervonta, which is lower than me versus Canelo. And so now there's all these new negotiation terms which I didn't even know of. They only want eight rounds, like all this. So they just keep on adding new stuff all the time. And I'm focused on much bigger things, becoming world champion, fighting, you know, guys like Gervonta, guys like Canelo, guys like Anthony Joshua in 2026, Usyk wants to fight me in MMA. These are all the things that I'm looking to do. I'm all KSI has. He's literally nothing without the Paul brothers. Logan brought him Prime and Prime has kept him relevant. And him being able to fight me is the only thing he has left.

Starting point is 03:24:28 And at the end of the day, I'm doing much bigger things and don't need to sit here and be negotiating things on Twitter. If they wanna make the fight happen, they're gonna do it. Do you think it happens at this juncture in your heart? I don't, I don't. I've said since before I fought Gibb,

Starting point is 03:24:45 I said I'm gonna knock out Gibb and he's never gonna wanna fight me. So I've been saying this for five, six years and this is a longer negotiation than Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Someone tweeted that we've been negotiating longer than Floyd and Manny and it's like I'm clearly the one who's an active fighter. I'm clearly fighting everybody. I don't care

Starting point is 03:25:13 so who's the problem it's it's clear as day and They just aren't a serious boxing brand or a serious boxing business Misfits has gone to shit. Their whole entire thing is a joke. Their brand is a joke. Like there's clearly one side of knows what they're doing and there's another side who is just joking around and is it just a circus? Um, they did, they had a Darren till went over the weekend. Did you watch his performance and did it peak your interest?

Starting point is 03:25:51 No, I didn't. I don't even know he's fighting or where or what all right well here's some highlights we could watch them together on to zone nice little knockdown there that was Darren Stewart the the dentist, former UFC fighter. He scored a buzzer beater knockout in the eighth round. Who did? Till did, till won. He kind of threw him there and then boom, there it is. The left hand from hell. What do you think of the high black socks? I don't know. Did you catch Tommy Fury's Friday afternoon fight in Hungary? Yeah, yeah I did watch that and man I just can't wait to get back in there with this guy because

Starting point is 03:26:39 in the past three years right I fought him after two years of being a pro boxer now it's been three years since then and it's just night and day. And he hasn't gotten any better, right? He's been boxing since he's six years old. It's going to be the same stuff, same coach is dumb ass dad. He hasn't gotten any better. So I just can't wait. Seriously.

Starting point is 03:27:01 I can't wait to get, to get in there with them. And whenever we can make that happen, it's gonna be Christmas day for me. Do you think that happens this year? I think that, I think the Fury fight will happen in the next 12 months, yeah. Oh, wow, okay. And you're keen to see it come to fruition.

Starting point is 03:27:17 You want it. Yeah, I mean, he just has to be realistic about what he's worth, right? Like, he just had a free fight on his own that tanked, couldn't sell the tickets in wherever he was, like a thousand person venue. And he just like is negotiating like he's God. So again, I have 10 names waiting to fight me in multiple different sports, MMA, boxing, all this stuff. These people just have to be realistic about what they're wanting to get paid and Tommy

Starting point is 03:27:56 Fury isn't. But I told, I DM'd Tyson Fury because Tyson was like, you guys need to make this happen now. I was like, Tyson, you got to put your brother in check here. He's not going to get this money or this offer anywhere else. He already missed out on the massive opportunity in Netflix.

Starting point is 03:28:13 It's his dad who is his manager who has no idea what the fuck he's doing. And you can't let your dad run your career. And Tommy's not his own boss. He's a fair head as well. So I just feel bad for him because he thinks he's worth more than what he's worth. So you mentioned MMA, one name, and I feel like I'm going through a laundry list of guys here, but there's just, it's been a while and there's so many names attached to you.

Starting point is 03:28:37 Your brother said the only time he would fight you would be in MMA. Was that just like him saying things or is that a real thing? I mean, I'm guessing that's real. I didn't see him say that, but I'm guessing that's very real. For him, that would level the playing field because we both have never done MMA. Right. I still feel like that's one of the biggest fights. I think it's bigger than some of the names we just mentioned. I hate to say it because it's two brothers, but I still feel like that's one of the biggest fights. Like I think it's bigger than some of the names we just mentioned. I hate to say it because it's two brothers, but I still feel it like we go those clips from the podcast. Like there's something there, man. I mean, there's we can't we can't lie. There's there's some sort of sibling rivalry there. Am I crazy?

Starting point is 03:29:18 I mean, I'd be down to do it just for fun like Box? But I don't think it would ever happen now. And when you say just for fun you mean the boxing right? Yeah anything anything MMA boxing however. Okay there's one guy who keeps saying he doesn't want to fight you but I think would actually sell his soul to fight you. He says that he would donate the purse to charity but doesn't actually have the charity in mind. Never says the charity.

Starting point is 03:29:47 He says he'll fight you with one hand behind his back. I think that's how much he wants to fight you. He once sold 80,000 tickets to a fight in Wembley. He's a big deal here in America. He fought at the Avalon Theater in front of, I think, 50 to 60 people. You're familiar with the Cobra? No.

Starting point is 03:30:09 Ooh. Carl Frotch. Oh, this fucking guy, bro. Does he pay, does he pay you guys to like bring them up? No, he hates me. We're, we're involved in a, in a huge feud. Cause he thinks that I don't know. I don't know who like he is really.

Starting point is 03:30:28 I know he used to be a decent fighter, I guess, but I swear he's paying the media or something. He ain't paying me. In fact, he, this is, this is how I get it. I get it both ways. He, he thinks that you're paying me. I get it both ways to do what? To talk about you, to say that you're, you're a fighter, to say all these things. I don't even know what he's saying.

Starting point is 03:30:43 Get out of me, get out of boxing, get out of this. You don't know what you're talking about. You're on the payroll. But he keeps saying that he doesn't want to fight you, but all his videos are about you. And I think he really wants to fight you. I think he's playing hard to get. Um, man, he he's never gonna, he's never gonna fight me. I'll never fight this guy. I don't know. He should just give it up. All right. Well, there you have it. That's a little sad. And then Clarissa Shields can go hang out somewhere. And is Joshua a real thing in 26? Joshua's a real thing in 26? Yeah. Yeah. Has that like, have you actually talked?

Starting point is 03:31:26 Yeah, we talked on the phone for like 10 minutes. Wow. And we're both down and I said 2026. He was like, all right, let's get it and we're going to make it happen. So yeah, I think that's going to be a mega fight next year and something fun to test my skills at heavyweight. But I think his chin is gone. And especially if he fights another time or two in between the end of 2026.

Starting point is 03:31:59 I love Anthony. He's always supported me. I've always supported him, but I just do believe I can beat him in a fight. And Usyk said MMA? Yeah, Usyk wants me in MMA. Look, man, the only thing I can't do in my career is create time. I don't have enough time to do all of these things. I wake up every day pissed off at time. That's the only thing that can get me mad because I just don't have enough time to do all of these things. I wake up every day pissed off at time.

Starting point is 03:32:26 That's the only thing that can get me mad because I just don't have enough of it. Otherwise, I'd be doing all of these things. We're still running like eight different companies at the same time, putting out content, all this stuff. So really just need some more time. And Nate still wants to fight you again. I didn't even know about that one. Okay. Well, June 7th, you've got another most valuable prospect show in Orlando. That is headlined by Beatriz Fajeda, who's a great young fighter out of Brazil.

Starting point is 03:33:00 Then June 28th in Anaheim on Dazon pay-per-view. Jake Paul versus Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. getting to work with Oscar De La Hoya. You like it? Yeah, Oscar's great, man. I've always loved Oscar, been a fan of his growing up. So it's cool to be able to work with Golden Boy and they've done an amazing job and it's been a great partnership so far. And Holly Holm out of nowhere. Incredible. great partnership so far. And Holly Holm out of nowhere. Incredible. Another legendary thing from MVP, man. I watched her growing up in the UFC and a lot of people don't know that she was a boxing champion and so now she's going to return and get the belt back. And then July 11th on Netflix, Madison Square Garden, home of the 2025 NBA champions. I'm not sure if you've been paying attention.

Starting point is 03:33:47 I know you're busy locked in. Knicks doing their thing. So that's going to be quite the scene, like literally two weeks after the parade, New York's going to be on fire. You're saying that like they're going, you're manifesting it. I'm manifesting it. That's my that's my team ever since I was eight years old. That's I'm just trying to put it out there.

Starting point is 03:34:04 Could you imagine what New York City will be like two weeks after the next, the city's gonna be on fire. It's literally gonna burn to the ground. I hope not. Just be careful with what you're saying. I hope, will you return to Netflix? Are you gonna come back and fight on Netflix? Yeah, bro, yes.

Starting point is 03:34:22 That's the move. And we have a great relationship with them and lots of big fights to come on Netflix soon. Alright, well we look forward to that, looking forward to your return in a little over a month. Appreciate it Jake, thank you so much, good luck in training. Thank you, Ariel. And we'll see you on June 28th. Alrighty, I'll see you soon. Alright, there he is, the one and only Jake Paul Elgayo, the problem child, joining us. And we will see him again in a little over a month. That's the June 28th card on The Zone.

Starting point is 03:34:56 The July 11th card is at Madison Square Garden. That's the All Women's card, headlined by Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano, part three. You know, when we have in-studio guests, what happens is we say thank you, we say goodbye. GC comes in, takes a Polaroid. I'll take a picture on the phone. Never has New York Grit come in for a photo. Not once. Literally not once. Until today. He came in for the photo with Clarissa. I wish I had it. I wish I had it on the screen. Did you see that? Sorry, I just peeked over.

Starting point is 03:35:37 I saw him pop in. Oh yeah. Wow, he hit her with the point. He hit her with the point! Come on, Stave. That's the goat right there. He hit her with the point! Come on, that's the quote right there. He hit her with the point. I love the fact that she came in, she was like very like calm, cool collected, and then it just came out. She's just, she's always ready. She's electric, she's electric.

Starting point is 03:35:57 By the way, it only occurred to me mid-interview, I was like, oh shit, Jake is literally after her. We couldn't have scripted that, Yeah. What do you guys say? Good times? Great times. Great times. Any takeaways? The best of times. I'm looking forward to Jake Paul versus Carl Frosch. You think that means it's happening? Yeah. Because of that? Yeah. I think it was happening before this. How about the fact that Frotch thinks Jake, you're aligned with Jake. I know.

Starting point is 03:36:30 Jake thinks you're aligned with Frotch. By the way, I would actually love to see it, just because there's so much. No, I'm good. No? That's a pass for me. I would love to see it. All right, what I want to see is more than-

Starting point is 03:36:42 I'm looking forward to Jake Paul, Jervante Davis, and then following it up with Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua, just going... Wait, wait, wait, when does Carl come in? Carl's after him. Carl! How you doing? Nice to see you.

Starting point is 03:36:53 Yeah. You know what's the crazy thing about the Carl thing? Because I saw IFL clip off Darren and I talking about him. I kind of forgot for a moment that Darren and I were even on air together talking about him. But the crazy thing is, is that you get all these jabroni Twitter guys and boxing Twitter is a funky place, man. Holy smokes. It is a funky, funky place. And they completely have missed my entire thesis. I have never once said that Karl isn't a Hall of Famer or isn't one of the greatest, you know,

Starting point is 03:37:25 British boxers of all time, that he didn't sell out Wembley 80,000 or that he's not a Hall of Famer, that he wasn't in the Super Six and all this stuff. I've never once tried to discredit him, but you could still be, you know, you could still be a Hall of Fame boxer, a championship boxer, and be an Abed. You could still be the, you know, like they're not exclusive. And my only statement on him was that he keeps saying he doesn't want the fight when we all know he wants the fight. He's doing the thing I don't want it when he clearly wants it. And then he says, I'm going to donate to charity

Starting point is 03:37:59 and he never tells us what the charity is. Just tell us one. At this point, just say like the Boys and Girls Club of Nottingham. Just tell us one. And that's it. That's all I've said. Oh, and by the way, he is not a big draw here in America. Like, I understand why Jake is fighting Julio Cesar Chavez in Anaheim, right? There's a huge Mexican population that will either travel there, he's the son of a legend, or that live in that area in the in the Orange County LA area. It makes a lot of sense. Where does it make sense to do Jake Paul versus

Starting point is 03:38:30 Carl Frosch in America? And would Jake Paul fight him in England? If it's in England then it makes total sense. I get that. In America. That's the only point that I'm trying to make. But then you get these IFLs and these guys who I like, they tweet and then everyone, you know, weighs in and says, oh, I know nothing about boxing. Really? Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me what I said is wrong. Or is it just that you don't like that I'm pushing back on the Cobra? The only thing I said, once again, one last time, not a draw in America, and that's why I bring up Avalon and Boardwalk Hall, only times he fought in America. He really does want the fight, even though he doesn't. He continues to say he doesn't.

Starting point is 03:39:12 And then he keeps saying he's going to do it for charity and never says which charity. That's it. Where's the lie? Where's the inaccuracy? That's it. So just like, don't just pop in and say you're, you know, you're a little too sensed and try to discredit me. When I was working for HBO boxing in 2003, when I was going to boxing in Montreal, when you were in your father's nutsack,

Starting point is 03:39:33 some people, it's sort of like the the people we talked about at the beginning of the show who tried to gatekeep fandom or like you're so unhappy in life and you're so jealous of others that you try to put on these restrictions on others that you feel have been put on yourself. So the idea of someone covering MMA for 10 years and now all of a sudden expanding and growing and saying like, hey, you know what? I don't just want to be an MMA guy. I want to do other things. I want to cover bird watching.

Starting point is 03:40:04 I want to cover the Olympics. I want to do some boxing, some NBA, some pro-wrestling. You can't fathom that, and so you try to put those restrictions on me. It doesn't work that way, and it's weird, in my opinion. And then they'll make up things, and then they'll say like, oh, I heard him say X, Y, and Z, which never happened. But they'll just make, and everyone just kind of runs, oh yeah, of course he said that. Of course, of course he said that. He's crazy. Doesn't know anything. Is it Johnny come lately? Anyway, has there been some news since we, wow, look at this picture here. This is the picture of Clarissa with all the belts. That's the one.

Starting point is 03:40:44 Yeah, she was referencing it earlier. Do we have it? Wow. A lot of belts. And an SP. What's in her hand there? Is that a rose? Rose. The other hand has two gold medals. Inspired by Ilias Emporio. Now she mentioned boyfriend a couple times. I saw you write about Papoose. Yes. Oh no. Whoa, whoa, what? You don't know?

Starting point is 03:41:09 Was it familiar with his? Oh, come on. Is that a big deal? This is New York. This is New York royalty. New York royalty? Is Papoose? Yes.

Starting point is 03:41:18 2.7 million? 2.7 million. Why you say that like that? What is this? No, no, no. I'm reading it because clearly he is royalty. Well'm seeing here a post but I can't look at it Did he meet Jalen Brunson was he so I'm sure he's a diehard next day our next well his third post his whole thing was That was her whole thing. That's why she said she's dating

Starting point is 03:41:38 Yeah, where was he in? 2007 fuck when Lance Thomas this was running up and down well. He probably was there. He was born in 1978. He's older than you are. Papoose? Yeah. Where was he in 1984 when Bernard King was shooting? Wait a minute. You're gatekeeping. Hold on one second. Where was he when fucking Jerome James was getting 30 million? Oh boy. Those were some dark times.

Starting point is 03:42:02 Yes. Did he tweet about Mike Miller interim coach? Anyway. All right. Shout out. So that's a big deal. Are they like royalty? Oh yeah. As I said, that is New York royalty.

Starting point is 03:42:12 Truly. So that's a big deal because she's talked about wanting to have a family, wanting to slow down. And him asking her to not fight MMA. That's news. Would you say that's news? Yes. Okay. I'm just going through the list. You guys put a lot of stuff in here.

Starting point is 03:42:30 Here's something from Charles Olvera. Islam didn't chase it like Toporia did. He waited till the last minute to vacate. What's this? What's this? What's this from Charles? Is this vindication? He's saying that it seems as if Double champs are over he waited as long as he could to hold on to the belt and ultimately he had to give it up But is he throwing shade? In the 22nd clip it's unclear. You know I can't I can't be a judge You know as people say as you say don't just look at the short clip and watch the rest Oh, So I don't want to pass judgment. You're 100% right.

Starting point is 03:43:05 You're 100% right. Back to Papoose real quick. I'm actually looking at his most recent post and he is also defending himself against Gabe Keating. He says, I know everybody's on the wave now and we welcome y'all with open arms, but I do this NY thing for real. Put on for my city for real. Not just when we're winning.

Starting point is 03:43:21 A loss is cool too. We call it a lesson. Let's go, Nix. I had John Starks in my video back in the day. Y'all can't tell me nothing I think he's got you beat out. I know on Starks in the video. I feel like is better than some tweets Yo, was he was he a big deal in 1993? No, not 90 wait, by the way, just just to be clear I hate all this gatekeeping shit like if you want to decide that you're a Knicks fan today Welcome unless you're Clarissa Shields and says you go you want to decide that you're a Knicks fan today, welcome.

Starting point is 03:43:45 Well, unless you're Claressa Shields in Sesame and you go, no, you can't be a Knicks fan. No, you have to be there for Alexi Shud. No, I love that guy. John Starks in the videos of Flex though. What does that mean in the video? He made music videos, he's an artist, he's a rapper. In 93, he was 15.

Starting point is 03:44:01 No, not, I mean, maybe 93, I doubt it. I was familiar with him when I was like in junior high. Are you just saying later? Yeah. Why was Fat Joe wearing like a thing around his head? Like he was, did you guys see that? Yeah, he had some kind of head scarf on. A bushka.

Starting point is 03:44:18 He looked like a grandma from Eastern Europe. Yeah. What is it? What is it against New York rappers? What's your beef? Are you trying to get into a beef now? Come on. What is it? What is it against New York rappers? What's your beef? Are you trying to get into a beef now? Come on. What was that?

Starting point is 03:44:29 What was that? I know, Little Red Riding Hood. Did you guys see? Am I wrong? No, I saw it. What was he doing? And then there was a video where Jalen came up and gave Stephen A love, and then he just left him hanging.

Starting point is 03:44:40 Did you see that? All right, so your next beef, I feel like, is going to be with the rap community of New York. No, I want, listen, I want nothing to do with the rap community. Are you kidding me? Who's next? What do we got? Who's next? 50 Cent? I love, listen, I'm one of them. I've been in New York longer than I've been in Canada.

Starting point is 03:44:56 Wow, that is crazy. Crazy, right? I want no beef with no New Yorkers. We have to come together now. We have to, we have to come together come together to take down the Hicks. It's Nicks versus Hicks. Yes! This is it! What is that Versace? Versace. Blue and orange. It's probably more expensive than all of our outfits. One thousand percent. But what's the look here? Am I missing something?

Starting point is 03:45:18 As long as he doesn't rap before a game, we'll be alright. He looks like a grandma in Brooklyn going to buy like a Kroepelach. If Fat Joe was ever a fan of this show and he's watching, he can't anymore. Listen we already talked about World Series. Remember that back-to-back. Yeah. That wasn't a good time for us New Yorkers. You know what I'm saying? Wait what was I saying before that? Anyway, point is everyone's welcome. All right. Enough with this gatekeeping crap and leave Brian Winnhorst alone. You know what I'm saying?

Starting point is 03:45:52 When he responded well, yeah, when he left off that video really got to you though. You, this is the second time it's kind of like, you know, you're doing your job and don't harass the dude as he's leaving. And by the way, he had good fun with it. Someone could have hit him and they were throwing shit at him. That, that, that would be crossing the line. But I thought, I thought it was, it was, you thought it was all, I like Wendy. He has to take a lot of shit. My hot take is that, uh, we need an evolution on the side talk. There just needs to be.

Starting point is 03:46:18 Oh, a lot of, by the way, a lot of that is just people wanting to get on Instagram. And they're doing character they are playing characters that they saw in the first side talk video and then they're just doing it they are portraying that they're trying to match that energy just like it's not it's not it's not authentic anymore I've actually seen side talk happening live and what's it like a predications I saw a million versions of it crowds around and screen the one that they posted was like... That's what I'm saying. It was intense.

Starting point is 03:46:46 It was like a little vulgar, no? I mean a little vulgar? They're just amplifying the characters. The little vulgar? The fuck? Don't get donuts! Yeah. Burn in the bag of donuts.

Starting point is 03:46:54 The editing is funny, but when it gets like, I don't know. The first one was gold and it remained good and now it's just like, it's iteration on iteration. Y'all are talking exclusively Knicks, like they go down to like Coney Island. No, no, I'm talking the Knicks ones. They're incredible. The Bing Bong and all that, they deserve a lot of credit. No, they're incredible.

Starting point is 03:47:12 I do somewhat agree with you though that the Knicks ones have become. Well, it's just everyone wants to do, I've never seen that. I've been to a bunch of Knicks. Oh, you've never seen them gathered outside. I never experienced it myself. Wait, you were at that game where they were doing that.

Starting point is 03:47:26 No, no, until Friday. I never felt it. You know what I mean? And like you walk there and you cannot move. Yeah. I, I, I, I cannot even wrap my head around the thought of them winning the championship, what would happen? I don't want to know. I was at the Yankees game and a bunch of people were like, let's get down to

Starting point is 03:47:40 a round MSG so we can party. I was like, nothing sounds worse. But it's not, it's not a place for, for 11 year olds. I'll tell you that much. Yeah, I agree. Everyone was cool by the way. No one was starting fights.

Starting point is 03:47:51 Second hand smoke. Everyone was happy. There was one dude who was sitting on top of like the, the walk sign. No, like the, no, no, just the, you know, the walk sign and he was like out of it and everyone's like, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. Cause they thought he was going to fall off, but he was just sitting on it and everyone's like whoa whoa whoa cuz they thought he was gonna fall off But he was just sitting on it and like this and then spitting and they're like did you see that guy?

Starting point is 03:48:10 He was foaming at the mouth like they had not been exposed to any of this They've never seen this type of behavior now did they want to go back to it or are they now they were like that was weird I would never want to they said they were actually they actually made me very proud They said that they felt like they were covered in germs and needed to take a bath and hand sanitizer I was like, that's my boys. We can't just take a regular bath No has to be worried about the second hand smoke from the wacky tobacco and hand sanitizer Beth Hey, shout out to the white rhino Dave Allen. Did you guys see his knockout on on Saturday? Gosh, Johnny Fisher Did you guys see his knockout on Saturday? Gosh, Johnny Fisher.

Starting point is 03:48:44 Love Johnny. You guys see that he did amazing videos afterwards with his family. Here's the knockdown in the fifth. I mean, Dave Allen was just supposed to be the opponent back in December. Fisher wins a close one. They run it back at the copper bosh and look at this knockout here as the towel is thrown in. Golly, that changes you. And by the way, look at Alan. No celebration

Starting point is 03:49:07 whatsoever. No celebration. They like each other. They've sold the fight. Cordial. But this was this was the knockout of the weekend. Golly. Left hook. Oof. There was another on the way down as the towel is being thrown in. That's tough for a young fighter, but he said a lot of great things afterwards and there's a video of him in the locker room. Here's one more look. Talking about his dad owing 350,000 pounds and having to work his way out of debt. Man. There's a great story here in that Dave Allen was a essentially a journeyman who's fallen on hard times, had a gambling problem, had had all kinds of issues outside of the ring and now he gets his moment.

Starting point is 03:49:53 Mattrium going to get behind him but yeah that's a tough one. That's a tough one for a young fighter. So there you have it. Did we miss anything else? And yeah, they officially announced Patchy Mix as the newest member of the UFC Bantamweight division. I like the way they announced it. Had a little video, had him sitting in the front row, did a little presser, replacing the injured Chido Vera, fighting Mario Bautista. Not an easy one.

Starting point is 03:50:29 June 7th. Newark, true or false, Patchy Mix will be a UFC bantamweight champion. False. GC? I'm going to say false as well. I don't see anybody beating Marab. You know they've trained together. Also stacked at the top. They've trained together. They know each other quite well and he talked about that a little bit. Al Jame and I saw a

Starting point is 03:50:56 tweet about it as well or maybe he was threading about it. I'm not sure which one it was. You're big on threads now. Yeah, you're still pushing the threads. Yeah, we love the threads. Yeah. When's Zuck coming on and talk. Yeah, we love the threads. Yeah. When's Zuck coming on and talking about it? It's the official social media platform with the UFC. Company man. That's the thing though, they show them sometimes, but then sometimes they go to X too. I think switching over at all to threads.

Starting point is 03:51:16 Wouldn't Patchy Mix talking with a threads mic flag afterward? Hell yeah. All the pressers, it's threads. What about your voice by the way? A lot. A lot of screaming. A lot of partying? Yankees, a couple of my boys were in town from Atlanta.

Starting point is 03:51:30 Where you guys go, clubbing? Nah, no clubbing. Just having a laugh? Having a laugh. What about when GC walked in, I was like, Clarissa, this is the Georgia guy. What did she say? Have you ever been to what?

Starting point is 03:51:42 Breakfast at Bonnie's. And he was like, nah. Breakfast at Barney's. Have you ever heard of it? Yeah, I've heard of it. It's uh, it's like, it's like, no, it's like a party brunch place. A party brunch place? Yeah, like you're gonna go and like drink a bunch of like bottomless mimosas, stuff like that. And not your scene? No, no, no, no. You're like, I hang out at Fulton County, you know? That's, Fulton County what? Jail? Library? Stadium at Fulton County, you know? That's... Fulton County what? Jail? Library?

Starting point is 03:52:08 Stadium. Fulton County Stadium? Yeah. Fulton County is where I grew up. I know, that's what I said. Shout out. That's, you know, that's, they don't have bottomless but most of them.

Starting point is 03:52:16 You named like the one place. I was just like, you know. Where is it? In Atlanta? Oh yeah, yeah. Is it like a tourist trap? No, no, no, no. You have to be like...

Starting point is 03:52:24 It's mostly gonna be local people when you go there. Local fare. Local fare, yeah. Is it like a tourist trap? No, no, no. You have to be like... It's mostly gonna be local people when you go there. Local fare. Local fare. What kind of food? It's like a brunch spot. Omelets. Eggs Benedict. Yeah, stuff like that. Drinking, music. Grits? You probably get grits there. I haven't been so I don't know. Isn't that a big southern thing? Grits? I love grits. Rick loves grits. Love grits. I've had grits, I find it like, it's, there's no taste. What? Am I not putting the right things in it? You add salt, you add pepper, you add cheese, like you make them incredible. I, by the way, cream cheese, sneaky, amazing grits. I didn't realize your voice was

Starting point is 03:53:00 struggling this much all day, or has it gone progressively worse? No, I actually think it's gotten progressively better. Oh wow. Yeah this morning it was rough. Late nights, smokes? Couple smokes. Everywhere's so crowded here you got a scream, loud music. Oh so you were at the club. Secondhand smoke outside. Just like out in New York City. What a time in New York right? Do you feel it right? When I walk around here everyone's wearing their Knicks gear Like you feel the city is but I was at the Yankees game It's the return of Juan Soto subway series complete sellout on Friday afternoon

Starting point is 03:53:33 Like we're sitting in the outfield right in front of Juan Soto. I don't really care about either of these teams But we're we're screaming at Juan Soto. We're booing all that and then like six rows up They have the Knicks game on So you would just occasionally hear fans just going insane and then they would put the score up on the Jumbotron and the whole Place would just erupt go crazy. Love it. So yeah, I feel the energy. They should have canceled the game They should have yeah, it's a big deal. They should have just gave us all tickets to the to the crazy. That would be crazy tomorrow on the program guys, Angela Lee, the aforementioned Jose Aldo, Mateus Gamrott, he's been in the news.

Starting point is 03:54:11 Ryan Bader will also join us to talk about his new deal with Ryzen. Uh, the white where I know, excuse me, Dave Allen, he's going to join us on the Dzone program, so we've got a busy one. Got a very exciting guest coming in on Wednesday. I'll tell you more about him or her tomorrow. But I think, I think for now we're good. You can my music. Nueva York. New York, no place like it. I mean look how beautiful it is outside

Starting point is 03:54:45 Did you guys see bad bunny on SNL? I know Andy did I only saw him at the Knicks game. That's my guy I was like Benito Are you are you cool like that with him I Think he's a big fan of the show. I heard are but Yeah, Andy's life would be made if we can have that he's a big wrestling guy in studio No, I'm a yeah till this day his May 2023 walkout in Puerto Rico might be the greatest walkout in pro wrestling history It was unbelievable. What was that song chum bear? The budgeted about the door that

Starting point is 03:55:23 That's the one. I don't know what he's saying but it freaking bangs. It bangs. It was pretty good. Oh, you saw that right? You remember it right? Yeah, of course. The jib shot, when he's coming out and they have the jib shot of the, for those that don't

Starting point is 03:55:39 know jib shot is sort of like an insider term. It's like the camera goes. It just sort of. It's sort of like an insider term. It's like the camera goes, ffff. It just sort of, ffff. It's kind of like. Is the ffff the technical term for that? Okay, now here's the thing. Elephant in the room, mysterious Frank on vacation, right? Might be the first time he's left this high and dry. We're gonna say a code word right now

Starting point is 03:56:01 and test if he's watching. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you come up with it. Okay, the code word for Frank is grits. Okay, perfect. If he doesn't text us grits, he truly doesn't care about the program and only cares about himself. So let's see if it comes through. This is diabolical. Thank you to everyone who joined us. Michael Morales, Holly Holm, we continued with Ian Machado, Gary, Clarissa Shields, Jake Paul. Back tomorrow, stay tight, please, stay safe, peace, I'm out of here.

The Ariel Helwani Show - Jake Paul, Ian Machado Garry, Michael Morales, Holly Holm, Claressa Shields in studio

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