The Ariel Helwani Show - Jose Aldo explains retirement, Mateusz Gamrot calls out every lightweight, Ryan Bader on new deal, Angela Lee Pucci on teaming with UFC

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

Angela Lee Pucci, former ONE atomweight champion, joins Ariel Helwani to discuss her nonprofit organization, Fightstory, which provides mental health support for combat sports athletes. She discusses her late sister's influence, partnering with the UFC, new initiatives, misconceptions about fighters seeking help, the negative impacts of social media, getting back into training, and more (07:43).Mateusz Gamrot calls in to break down his upcoming fight against Ludovit Klein, his loss to Dan Hooker, his back and forth with Arman Tsarukyan, Paddy Pimblett’s rise through the rankings, living at American Top Team, Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira, potential matchups with other fighters in the stacked lightweight division, and more (28:36).Jose Aldo stops by after his recent retirement announcement to discuss his legendary career as champion in the WEC and the UFC, his decision to end his fighting journey in Montréal, his tough weight cuts, post-fighting plans, his recent matchups, the controversial Aiemann Zahabi loss, and his favorite memories from his 21-year professional career (1:02:50).Ryan Bader joins the program to talk about signing with RIZIN, the opportunity to fight in Japan, playing Mark Coleman in 'The Smashing Machine,' his next matchup, fighting all over the world early in his career, and more (1:47:20).Ariel and the Boys in the Back come together to answer your Super Chats (2:02:21).

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. Hi, I hope you're doing well. It's great to be here on a lovely Tuesday in New York City, the greatest city in the world. And we play two on Tuesdays. We have our Dazon show at 5 o'clock. We'll be talking to the white rhino Dave Allen. We scored that incredible knockout of Johnny Fischer on Saturday at the Copper Bosch. Stay tuned for that here on today's program. We've got a beautiful four-pack of guests which I can't wait to speak to all of them. We've got some new additions to the desk as you can see right over here. Shout out to my friend

actually family member my wife's cousin Lee who works for McFarland Toys. Got a nice little Sugashan right over here. Got a nice little Vladimir Guerrero Jr. right over there. Got a nice little Josh. The Josh Allen is tough. I mean, look at that one on the side. Look at that Bart Star in 1967. Now look at that, Josh. And we've got some other ones back there as well from their new UFC line. So shout out to them. Shout out to Mark Trinidad of Geeky Jerseys. Did you guys know about Geeky Jerseys?

Well you do now. Sent me this beautiful card. I mean, as heartfelt as it gets. Sometimes just sort of blown away by how nice people are even refer to me as uncle Ariel which you know is the gateway to my heart did you guys know what he got me does anyone know what he got me anyone back there is anyone alive is anyone even in the studio no okay look at this look at this Josh Allen is tough though. It is tough. Look at this, look at this. Look at this jersey.

Is that Happy Gilmore? Yo, tough. That's pretty sweet. Geeky Jerseys. I'm not familiar with the brand, but shout out to them. We got to get Sandler and Studio to sign it. Just in time for the sequel coming out in July. So thank you to everyone who is so nice to us. We appreciate you all very much

Shout out to Nick who's repited. I forgot to mention Nick last last show on Monday He is replacing Frank who I guess is just gallivanting all over the is he ever coming back? He did text us grits, which was the secret word. So apparently he's paying attention or maybe someone told him You never know I did not tell him he did not tell him it's confirmed there are still some skeptics back there but nevertheless Nick filling in very very well it's great to have the rest of the crew here and like I said great to have this four pack of guests back into the show we'll talk to the newest member of the Ryzen crew, Ryan Bader.

We had him on when it was announced that he was leaving Piafella Tour, but since then he has signed with Ryzen. He was at their last show. I want to get a sense. We're living vicariously through all these excursions, and I want to get a sense of what it's all like. He, of course, is a part of that Dwayne the Rock Johnson film coming out in October I do believe entitled The Smashing Machine based on one of the greatest combat sports documentaries of all time entitled The Smashing Machine about the life and times of one Mark Kerr. So he plays Mark Coleman, Ryan Bader does, and he got to hang out with Coleman at the event. Lots to talk to him about.

Prior to that, he'll be joined by the King of Rio himself, Jose Aldo Jr., the man who just fought in Montreal a little less than two weeks ago. Hard fought battle against Eamon Zahabi. I did say that I thought he won the fight. Zahabi was kind enough to come on. He sort of kind of retired after the fight and this past weekend he held a press conference at Novo Niao in Rio and pretty much said adios. Now adios is not the way to say goodbye in Portuguese. It is more Spanish but it's sort of like universally recognized, right? I would say. Anyway, we'll talk to José Aldo at 2 o'clock. At 1.30, we were debating, is Mateus Gamerot the most ducked fighter, since that's the word of the week, the word of the month, in MMA, in the UFC in particular? I don't know. He is fighting next weekend against Ludovic Klein. That's May 31st at the world famous Apex.

But he, I mean if you go through his social media as GC did so very well, you could go back to, I don't know, December, January of him just looking for a fight. TM. Well, he got his fight, but you know, he was talking about the likes of Benoit Saint-Denis and Armand Tsaroukian has a win over Armand a few years ago. In the end, he's fighting Ludovic Klein. Tough fight, maybe not as glamorous as he would have hoped. We're going to talk to him about what the hell is going on. What the hell is going on with his career and why can't he get a big time fight?

In a matter of seconds, though, we're going to be joined by Angela Lee, inaugural one championship Adam weight champion, five title defenses, two-time strawweight title contender. 11-3 in MMA, 11-3 in one, she started her career with one championship. She ended her career with one championship. She retired at the end of 2023 and since then has become a very strong and vocal, hard-working mental health advocate. May, by the way, is Mental Health Awareness Month. I've talked about this topic. It is definitely one that is near and dear to my heart and I think we all have our stories. It's like mental health is no longer a thing where it's like, oh, do you struggle mentally? No, it's the same thing as physical health. We're all trying to be in the best shape. We're all trying to be healthy. We're all trying to eat right. All these things, same with our mind.

And it's become less of a taboo topic in athletics. We've seen some very big names in the world of basketball and football and soccer talk about mental health. And as far as combat sports is concerned, and MMA in particular, Angela Lee is leading the charge. She launched a nonprofit organization entitled Fight Story. FightStory.org is where you can learn more about it. It's inspired by the life of her younger sister, Victoria, who unfortunately passed away who unfortunately passed away back in December of 2022 at the age of 18, May 17th was supposed to be her 21st birthday and Angela and her team over at Fight Story

have done an incredible job of keeping her legacy alive, sharing her story and also trying their best to help others. Jared Gordon, who just fought on the last card for the UFC at the Apex in Las Vegas, a big part of what they're doing at Fight Story. And they announced some pretty exciting news regarding a partnership with the UFC just a couple of days ago. And so without further ado, let us say hello to the aforementioned Angela Lee, who is joining us from all the way in Hawaii. It's very early in the morning over there, but she's kind enough

to join us here now. Hello, Angela, how are you? It's good to talk to you again. Uh-oh. Hi, Ariel. Oh, hey. Oh. Hey. It's Oh, hey. Oh. Hey. It's good to see you again. Sorry, they said that the internet connection was a bit spotty, so doing our best over here.

Okay. We will work through it. Yes, it was stalling out of the gate, but I think it's okay now, so we'll work through it. Nothing out of the ordinary for us. How are you doing? I know this weekend you posted about it being your sister's 21st birthday. I'm sure a lot of emotions come with that date and that anniversary. What has it been like for you and how are you doing

over the last few days? I'm doing alright. Yeah, this week, this past week was a little bit difficult. There's a lot of different emotions, happy and of course sad at the same time. But we're doing our best to move forward and it's just a reminder for me to keep on what we're doing here at Fight Story. And yeah, just allowing myself to kind of feel every emotion and trying hard not to block it out. I feel like it's easier to do that sometimes and sometimes it's necessary. But this year, just trying to allow myself to take it slow and Just process the emotions as they come. I remember You joined the program when you launched fight story a couple years ago. How how are things going now?

How how's the the the organization going? Are you happy with the progression? Yeah, I know it has been a little while I feel like we have Are you happy with the progression? Yeah. I know it has been a little while. I feel like we have gotten a lot of. Okay, we lost your audio now. Do you still hear me? I can still hear you. Okay, for some reason we lost your

audio there at the start, but now you're back. So, okay, so if you could just re-answer that because I didn't hear anything you said. Okay, yeah, no, I feel like we've been making great progress with White Story and of course with our big announcement that just came in the month of May, partnership with the UFC, and we're taking all the right steps in the right direction, getting to where we want to be. Okay, so this is a very exciting news, the news that you guys are partnering with the UFC. Can you tell us what is the partnership and what does it all mean for Fight Story?

You know, we're super excited and very grateful. Of course with the UFC being the organization that it is, largest organization right now, and the influence it has over people for them to come behind Fight Story and back us and partner with us means a great deal. and partner with us means a great deal. It shows their commitment to athlete wellbeing and safety and prioritizing mental health. And we are working on a program right now called the Mental Fight Kit. And that is gonna be a huge step

in the right direction for athletes in combat sports. The mental fight kit essentially is a digital toolkit that will help fighters strengthen their mindset, build resilience and grow in and out of the cage. So we're very excited to work on that and with the UFC's support, you know, hopefully get this kit out to as many people as possible. I love that and I was reading on your website that the the mental fight kit features four key sections pre-fight kit, self-assessment, the warrior's self-concept, mindset of a champion, and core mental performance topics and And on the website, fightstory.org,

there's a breakdown of what's included in all of those. Is your hope that every single UFC fighter will be given this? Because I don't need to tell you, there are some who kind of suffer and battle in silence. They don't wanna talk about it. They don't wanna tell everyone. So just like you're given your free pair of shoes,

your uniform for fight week, they just give you this. You can open it if you want. You can look at it if you don't want, if you do want, whatever. It's just part of the process of being a UFC fighter. It's part of everything that you get. Is that the hope as opposed to someone having to volunteer to get access to these documents and to this information?

Yeah, definitely. You know, my hope is to make this tool free for all athletes, you know, coaches and teams. My hope is that the organizations will see that this is, you know, a priority just like the fighters have access to the UFC Performance Institute facility for their physical training, that they also get access to mental fight kit for their mental preparation. And I think that, you know, I think that the UFC is leading the way for other organizations to also prioritize this for the fighters. As far as what is included in this kit, who is working with you on this information?

This is pretty, you know, I would imagine tough for one person to do all of this. Do you have a whole team of people working with you? Do you have professionals who are, you know, well-versed in this particular topic working on this as well? Yeah. know, well-versed in this particular topic working on this as well? Yeah, besides myself and Jared who are the two main fighters that are giving our input, we are going to be having two or three other sports psychologists being on developing the program right now and they all have their extensive backgrounds and also two of them working specifically with combat sports athletes for the past years.

We have Daria who's on the team, who has been working with multiple UFC fighters and champions and one championship fighters as well. So definitely we have a solid team who understands, you know, exactly what fighters need. So it's really built by the fighters for the fighters. Since you launched Fight Story, have you heard from a lot of fighters who were maybe too, I don't know, too afraid, too shy to speak up or to seek help?

Have you heard from people privately who are interested in what you're doing, who are thankful for what you're doing, who have shared their stories with you? Yeah, we've had a lot of people, you know, whether they're messaging us on Instagram and social media or through the website, a lot of people have come forward and shared their stories, but a lot of them also are not quite there yet and that's totally okay everyone's in their own unique journey of where of where they feel comfortable with and I think that the main thing is that when they see fight story and they see you know our mission and they hear other people's stories is that they feel less alone. They feel that

they're not the only ones who are going through these struggles. What would you say is perhaps the biggest misconception or maybe I should say like something that fans don't think of when they think of fighters and their struggles with mental health. Like for example, I can't imagine being a fighter in the year 2025 as opposed to 2000 or 2001 where you know you lose a fight, it's devastating, perhaps you're injured, you're embarrassed, who knows you are winning the fight, there's a lot at stake, there's a lot of money involved, your career progression is involved and all that stuff and now you have to go on social media which is addicting and you know you want that affirmation or you want to know how people feel about you and you have people saying

that you suck, I bet on you, you ruined my parlay, like I can't even imagine and I see this stuff and I don't understand how people can bring themselves to write this to a professional athlete who lays it all on the line and so I'm wondering if that's a big thing that you hear of, if that affects them more than we even consider or are there other things that come to mind? Yeah, it's a huge factor, I think, especially because for fighters a lot of times we need that presence on social media that impacts our sponsorships and brand deals and so forth. And usually how relevant you are on social media, you know, affects other things.

So we kind of need to be on social media. But then social media, as we know, is not very good for your mental health, you know, so it's really hard to keep that balance, I think. And, um, I think for fighters having that layer of separation of viewing it solely as I'm on here for my work, for my job, and kind of detaching the, um, emotional value that comes with it. It's hard. It's very hard to do. I've been affected by it too, especially being so young. In the sport, I started out when I was like 18 and so it does have a huge toll on you. You kind of like, why? I don't even know these people. Why are they saying these things? So needing

that layer of separation and viewing it solely as I'm doing this for my work and that's it. But yeah, it does get intertwined. It is tricky. You know, you hear a guy like Sean O'Malley who says like he takes it off his phone and he hasn't looked at it in six, seven months and he's one of the most popular fighters in the UFC. And so when you hear something like that, you begin to understand how much it can affect you and then you hear how happy they are, how much happier they are as a result of not being on social media. it just shows how impactful it is. Are there other things that we don't consider?

You know, the, I don't know, with the diet, with the weight cut, with the training that, you know, you guys are battling that we just don't see, that we just don't talk about enough leading up to fights. There's so many different factors, you know, the physical training is one of them, but then of course in fight camps if there's injuries coming up if there's outside stressors financial wise or you know family problems or

all these other things that You know, we kind of have to deal with that Nobody really sees or knows There's so much that goes into it and and that's a lot of weight to carry. So that's what we're hoping with the mental fight kit that we're able to give the fighters these tools to help sort out each of the things they have to deal with because it's not just the fight, it's not just the preparation, it's not just the preparation,

it's so much more life outside of it that really affects your preparation for the fight. And then even after the fight is done, post fight, you're going to need that support of like how to cope with everything that you just went through because everyone knows the life of a fighter is like a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs, highs and lows. And once you reach that peak of fight night, then you usually come down, have a let down. And how do you process those, you know, those emotions, those feelings, just having that overall support of like pre-fight and then when you're in the fight camp and then post-fight as well that's something that I wish I had and that's something I think everyone should have. So a couple years ago we spoke to you when you retired somewhat somewhat surprisingly we didn't see it coming you

were so so young in the sport have you ever considered coming back at any point? The thoughts have crossed my mind, but it wouldn't be for the right reasons. It wouldn't be because I have that love and fire for the sport. It would be solely like for financial reasons. And that's, for me, I don't think that's you know the right reason to come back to the sport and so you know trying to figure out other

ways how to do that. You know right now besides Fight Story we have, me and my husband have our own jiu-jitsu gym here in Hawaii And then I'm also looking to get into hosting women's retreats, which has been fun actually. So yeah, a lot of other things and just trying to find myself outside of being just a fighter. Okay, so I was gonna ask, are you still training? Because obviously that helps when it comes to mental health, right?

Being active, working out, all those things. It sounds like the gym is still alive, it's thriving, and I would imagine you partake in activities in the gym. Yeah, very happy to say that I am training regularly now and that has been a little bit of a process. In the beginning, It was really hard for me to come back into the gym and train on the mats but I was able to you know kind of work through some things and now viewing it differently as well like training and exercising for health and and longevity and besides training for you know competition or a fight so my mentality

already around training has changed and I think um yeah it's it's for the better I'm in a good place now. What is your what is your dream what is your goal for Fight Story like ultimately where do you want to take this where do you want to see it end up? For me, my dream for Fight Story is to essentially revolutionize combat sports and the making sure that athlete safety and well-being is prioritized. And I think that, you know, there are so many things that as fighters we do and that we put on the line and it's a high stakes job.

It's such an extreme sport and you're in such an extreme environment. I think that the fighters deserve to have as much support going into this as possible. You know, with all the different factors that we have to deal with when we go out there in the cage, we're not just putting our health on the line. Also financially, a lot of times the decision of the fight, whether we win or lose, has a huge impact on us as well. And so that kind of stress,

we need to make sure that before the fight, during and after the fight, that the athletes have the support and the tools that they need to care for themselves. It's just so much more that goes into it and that people don't even realize. And I wish I knew all of these things now, it's just so much more that goes into it and that people don't even realize and You know, I wish I knew all of these things now

Back when I was fighting I feel like I would have You know a huge a huge edge over the competition, but also I would be able to view You know my life in a different way, at seeing that it's not just about the fights, it's not just about the results, but there's so many other factors that are way more important, and that life is so much more than just

what you do inside of the cage. Or the wins and losses, right? It's about everything that goes into it, the journey, the people that are by your side. And that's not just for fighting, that's for just regular life, for regular Joe Schmoes like myself. And the people that work on this show, and the people watching this show who aren't superstar pro athletes like you guys, You guys are doing great things. I believe if people want to donate they can do so over at givebutter.com slash donate fight story. Fight story org is the website you guys have done some collabs with Fairtex. We showed a few of those shirts as well and very happy to hear that the UFC is on board and I hope that all the organizations will be on board. All the promotions will be on board, that would be tremendous as well. Keep fighting

the good fight Angela, thank you so much for the time, appreciate you joining us and if there's anything we could ever do to spread the message and what you guys are doing we would love to do so. Thank you so much Ariel, appreciate it. Alright there she is, Angela Lee Pucci who is a former now MMA fighter, former one champion, one championship champion who's doing great things and that is really amazing that the UFC is working with them. Shout out to Ian Tsang who is actually New York Ricks brother-in-law who is working with Angela and the Fight Story team who helped set that up and Made us aware of the UFC partnership. I love that and I also love the fact that it is

Mental Health Awareness Month as I said and on Thursday actually on Dzone There is an event That will be a boxing event that will be really boxing event that will be really shedding more light on The the mental health battle that we all deal with it's called championing mental health. It's on Thursday, May 22nd You can watch it on Dazon. It's from Avalon Hollywood and Bardot. I wonder if that's the Avalon theater that I'm always talking about.

And yes, a night of fights with the proceeds going to mental health charities and to most importantly shed light on this struggle that affects everyone from all walks of life, whether you're an athlete or like I said, a regular working class individual. So thank you very much to Angela and congrats her and her team on everything they're doing and wishing them continued success. In a matter of moments, we're going to be joined by Mateus Gamrot. I'm looking forward to this interview for multiple reasons. Number one, he's one of the best fighters in the UFC's lightweight division. Number two, he has been looking for a fight quite actively on social media. It seems like whenever there's an opportunity for a late replacement, a lightweight fighter to step in on super short notice, he is raising his hand

and for whatever reason he hasn't gotten his number called. Now he is fighting on the 31st of May, that's the next UFC card. There is no UFC card this weekend, a rare off week. You know, they used to, like Memorial Day weekend used to be a staple. We've talked about this in the past and Now it's like a super quiet weekend weird how that works. I guess the The Intel told them that People just want to hang out or do other things. I don't know Maybe it's not a busy travel weekend to Las Vegas, but it used to be a Las Vegas Staples Saturday Memorial Day weekend So anyway, they're off this weekend. They're back May 31st, that's the card headline by

Macy Barber versus Aaron Blanchfield, and he's fighting Ludovic Klein, who's a very tough out and maybe not the type of name that he was looking for, but I think he just wants to fight. He is of course representing Poland, but has been living in Florida for the last few months training out of American top team and Just there training without a fight Just hoping that he gets the call so he can jump in relatively quickly. That's how determined he is to get back in there his last fight was several months ago in August I do believe and here we are.

Here we are in May and he's about to fight almost a year later. Craziness. Anyway without further ado let us say hello to the pride of Poland, one of the best lightweights in the world, the one and only Mateusz Gamrod. Kind enough to join us from Florida. There he is. Hello Mateusz. How are you my friend? That's right. How are you? Everything good. I'm doing great.

Invite me to your show. I'm very excited to have you. It looks like you were just in a fight, my friend. What happened? What happened to your face? Bro, just normal day in ATT office. Night sparring with Dustin. Oh my gosh.

Today, today morning, but everything is fine. Just crash, little bit swollen, but I feel great. I feel amazing. Amazing. How is Dustin doing? He's preparing for his final fight. Yeah, he came here this weekend and he start his camp right now. And he helped me in my final sparring today

because I think today was last session, like hard session and then I too find to relax to fight but I am glad that he come here he gave me always good energy and yeah I love work with him. I love it. Hey, Mateusz I want to ask you because it's crazy that you're coming on right now someone on my team just sent me a tweet but I don't know if it's a real tweet or not real tweet. So I'm just going to ask you saying that Ludovic got hurt and the fight is off.

Is that true? Or is that, is that nonsense, fake news? Oh, I don't know, bro. I hear that only from you right now. Okay. I don't know. I didn't check, but they just sent it to me now from one of these Twitter sites. So I didn't know if it was BS or anything so I just wanted to ask you. Oh I don't know bro I don't have any information from

UFC so after interview after talk with you I will call to my manager and I can confirm this but I hope so no bro because I am four months in Florida training really hard every day So I need to fight I want to fight I can't imagine because we went through all your tweets and you know dating back four or five months every time There's a late replacement every time there's an opportunity you say fight me fight me fight and you haven't gotten the fight Why is that? Why has your number not been called at any point? Or maybe it has been called, but the fights haven't been put together. Why has it been so frustrating for you?

I don't know, bro. I don't know. Maybe my style is not good for everybody, but I am sportsman. I am 34 years old in my prime, good shape, body healthy. I wanna keep fighting. I wanna be busy. That's why every time if I, good shape, body healthy. I wanna keep fighting, you know, I wanna be busy. That's why every time if I see good opportunity,

I say, yes, I am ready, no problem, I am ready to go. So I try and find somebody from ranking that to get the good fight, but everybody was booked or nobody want fight with me. So I say UFC doesn't matter, give me someone without drinking because I want to stay busy this year. I want to get fight and show how I improve my MMA skills. Your last fight was in August against Dan Hooker. Why has it been so long between fights? Were you hurt in the middle?

No, no, no, bro. After this fight I was so mad because this was a close fight and after this I said UFC I want to fight in December. Give me next fight because I don't want to wait so long. That's why I came here to January and I hope that I get fights soon. I don't know, UFC working on about my fights. Somebody threw down to offer it from UFC. That's why I waited too long time. How frustrating was it for you to be away from your family? Because I understand you've been in Florida, you said what, four or five months, just hoping that you would get the call and so you could be ready training at ATT, but in the meantime, you're away from your family back in Poland, right?

That's a big sacrifice that you're making. Yeah, that's true. This is huge sacrifice for me because I don't see my kids. Every time when I call to my kids to video message, my kid is different, he's a little bit bigger, different move, different talk. But to be honest, this is different is little bit bigger different move different talk but to be honest this is like good motivation to me you know because I wake up in the morning I see picture my kids and I say that's right

okay I doing everything for my kids for my family for my fans that's I want to prove I am one of the best guys in the world. This is my life. I sacrifice everything to be the best in the world. That's why I am here, training with the best guys. And I am happy from my journey. When's the last time you saw your kids? To be honest, when I came to Florida, I bring my family, but my kids and my wife was here only two months and in March In the middle to March my my family back to Poland and from this day I am I am only here to so is

Half of the March April minor almost two months to mom. Okay. Okay. So I think a lot of this you know got attention when it seemed like They wanted to book you versus Armin Tsurukian. Now you have a win over Armin Tsurukian and he came out and said essentially I wasn't interested in that fight. Is that true? What's your side of this story? This is a tweet from Armin regarding Patty the Batty Pimlet and then you quoted it saying stop looking for easy fights especially with a clown without ambition you will never be a champion you got a chance to revenge so accept it. So what happened?

I don't know I just heard from UFC that UFC wanna make this fight. I was happy because he is number one in the ranking. So for me it was a huge opportunity but he he don't accept this fight and and that's it. You beat him so what why do you want the fight? You would think that he would want the fight to avenge the loss? Yeah yeah maybe he will he say like he deserved better but maybe he's scared like he he he he loses with me again. I don't know, bro. I don't know.

I don't like thinking too much this time. He said, no, okay, I'm looking forward sometimes to the next one. You called Patty a clown. You haven't been impressed with what he's done. Yeah, because I don't like this guy. He talks too much. He's arrogant from England. He talks too much. He is arrogant from England, you know He he talked some things about me many times I love meet with meet him in the octagon because his way to this position

When he he has right now was so easy. I don't think so if he get Good opponent against him. I don't think he will win this fight. And I love fighting with him. He's from Europe, I am from Europe. I think if UFC makes this fight, it's going to be maybe the biggest fight in the lightweight division to Europe. And my opinion, he's great stylistic for me and I beat him for sure.

He's a grappler. I am Grappler. I love scrambling with somebody in the ground, you know, because my previous opponent was only striker, only fire, the ground was fire for everybody and everybody stand up. I love role with somebody in the ground like today. Today I have a few runs with Grappler guy and after this I have a few runs with Dustin. Tobro in the ground was fired. Every time when I had an opportunity I submitted a guy. That's why in my upcoming fight with Ludovic Kley, I hope this news is not true what you say. Because my plan is to make him tired, down and submit him submit him in the ground And this is not I can say this no problem. Yes, by the way when you're at the gym

Do you ever do you ever see Armand Tsurukin because he also trains at ATT. Do you guys ever cross paths? To be honest no because always when I when I have camp, he is not here, but if he trains here, I am in Poland. Maybe one time we see him in the gym, but never train together in the mat. And by the way, regarding Patti Pimblit, his last win over Michael Chandler, I thought he looked very good, I thought he looked very impressive, improved. Did you think the same? No. He looks good, okay, but if you fight with somebody who only stays like backward, so everybody will look really good, you know.

But Chandler was good like 10 years ago, seven years ago. So if Buddy Pimplet meet Chandler from this time, I don't think so that the fight looks like that. So like I say, Buddy fought with the backward in this fight. That's why he looks good. That's why. So, so what happened with Benoit Saint-Denis? Because you said that you were offered to step in

and fight him in Montreal when his opponent, Joel Alvarez, pulled out. But he told me last week that he was never offered you. So what's your side of the story? Ha! Bro, soldiers don't behave like that. Soldiers don't shoot like your fans and friends, you know? Because I have message in my phone that I

I have I have call from UFC that Sean Shelby asked me about can I step to the to the fight? I start package my baggage from my phone from my room, you know, I was ready to go to Montreal I I start cut weight, but but he said no. I don't know why. Especially he called me out like two times before this fight. So I was 100% know that he accept this fight but this was big surprise to me. But bro, if BSD won the smoke, no problem. I heard like in the UFC, when I back to September in France, this is gonna be great opportunity,

mate event, BSD, five rounds. Break him. Were you told that if you win on May 31st that you will fight him next? Is that the fight they wanna make? I like keep my focus too much, this first step, you know? I don't like thinking too much and talking too much about what will be in the future. Because the first step is the most important right now. But sure, if UFC gives me this offer a tour down fight with me. Right now I will fight with a guy without ranking.

So next fight I would like, if I won or if I smart somebody this May 31, I would like someone from top 10. Okay. Just curious, did you watch his fight at UFC 315, his win, and if so, what did you think of how he looked? BSD? Yeah. He got a finish. He got back on track. He got a finish, but his opponent was not super level. I wasn't impressed with his performance. He looks like... of course he's tough, he is strong for sure, but I don't think so his technique is really high level.

We saw how he fought with Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano. Both guys were super high level and if Bezi fight against super high level that we have answer. if Bezzi fight against super high level that we have answer you know. So the both guy was also with ATT. I will be another guy from ATT who will fight with him. So this is gonna be nightmare for him. What do you think happens if you fight him? How does the fight go? I think there's gonna be a lot of scrambles, really good match up.

There's gonna be like non-stop action but this is perfect man who will be submitted. Okay. All right. What about Mauricio Ruffi? Did he turn you down as well? To be honest, I don't know what to... I hear that from podcasts when... from this. I think like UFC... before Ludovic Klain, I think UFC asked Rufy about fight with me. And maybe he said no, that's why UFC started looking for more. And then Ludovic Klein was next. I think this was like that. There was an opening to maybe fight Justin Gaethje on short notice back in March.

Indiana went to Rafael Fazeev. Were you in the mix there for that fight? Again with- For Justin Gaethje. Yeah, in March in Las Vegas, when Hooker had to withdraw. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, this was a great moment to me. This was like 10 days before.

Gaethje, huge name in UFC, favorite fans. This was great if I jump from this guy. But he prepared against striker guy. I am grappler. So I am not surprised that he chose Fiziev because he was a striker. So he chose a guy who prepared. But I was ready to step in. Gaijin is one of my favorite guys in my list who want to fight with him.

Do you feel any pressure going into next weekend to be exciting, to try to put on a show to get a stoppage so that the UFC gets behind you a little more as opposed to just a hard fought decision win? Do you feel any kind of pressure to change your style? No, no. I like every time when I am here I improve my skills. I try to fight everywhere, striking, grappling, mixed martial. I try to finish the guy here.

After four months here I really improve everything and I want to show that I'm a new version. After my fight with Hooker he taught me a lot because he was really tough. Every first three minutes, every round, I won with him, but he got scored at the end of the round. This was a huge lesson to me that I need to fight full rounds. For sure, I am a different version than I was the last year. When you were ultimately offered Ludovic Klein, was a part of you a little bit disappointed that he wasn't a ranked opponent but ultimately had to say yes just because you wanted to fight? Yeah, yeah. I say yes because I want to stay busy. I say UFC give me someone with our ranking. If I

I say yes because I want to stay busy. I say UFC give me someone without ranking. If I wait a few months more, probably I get someone from ranking, but I don't want to wait so long. You know, I am good shape. I want to show how I work every day. And that's why I accept everybody. I never say no when I get some offer from UFC.

So, my life, my career is my fantastic journey. I want to show my fans, my kids that be confident in life is the most important thing. Whatever you want in life, or sports, or business, you have to be confident, believe yourself and go forward. Are you living at the gym, at the dorm? Yes. Wow. What's that like? Smaller room, two meters, two meters.

I really love this room because here is no destruction, no nothing. I go to elevator down. After session, like after 10 minutes, I take shower, I drink shake, I go to elevator down after session like after 10 minutes I am I take shower and drink shake. I go to bed like my recovery is really quick I don't lose time and for anything, you know, this is like this is this is great to me to to be camp you know, of course if I need to Live in Florida and stay here long time This is gonna be bad for mine.

But like, if I am here like two, three months, it's great. No distraction, just focus to training, just focus to myself. And yeah, every day I feel getting better. My understanding is at the dorm, it's usually like the younger fighters, the up and coming fighters. Are you one of the older guys there?

Older guys, no, but inside my body, I feel like I have 25 years old, you know. If I see young guys here, so I feel like I am the same age like the guys here. So yeah, I really love this feeling here. This atmosphere, you know, everything is great. By the way, can I ask, it's a very interesting time in the Lightweight Division because Islam has moved up and Ilya has entered the mix and now they're doing the vacant fight with Charles. What do you make of this? Were you surprised that Islam moved up and didn't fight Ilya next month?

No, no, I am not surprised. Islam fought a long time in the lightweight division and he cut a lot of weight to the lightweight division. Two or three times we fought the same card so I saw him in full fight week. I think he looks bad because too much cut weight. Of course, his performance was good, but in the full fight week he tried to cut weight. So I think when he moves up right now, it's going to be better for his performance. I think this is a good idea for him. He needs to do something fresh. Like Ilya goes to the division because he needs to do something fresh. So I don't think that Islam is running

away from him. Fair enough. Who do you think wins? Ilya or Charles? Interesting matchup. The both guys have changed. If Ilya hits Charles Oliveira head, he can knock him down for sure. But I think Oliveira is so big for him and for our underfighter. And I think Oliveira will win this fight. Wow, you think Oliveira is going to win? I haven't heard a lot of people say that. I think so. I think so.

He's big. It depends how his performance will be in the fight because sometimes he looks bad, but sometimes he looks fantastic so i think that in the ground he will be much better for for illya especially like the the gabaret is much different the olivera is big guy illya is is small guy so if olivera catch him in the ground i think this is gonna be big problem but like I say Ilya can knock him out for him also you know so this like 50-50 but I think Olivera will win. You think Ilya made a mistake by going up to 155 do you think he should have stayed at 45? Maybe no mistake because he he tried to find something new but he's small know, like I think if like the both guys

is same level, the body is big, is different to get the win. So if the best who will fight with him like the big guy like Islam or Ibrahim El Adis can be problem. I saw recently that you were training with Bo Nikol who comes to the gym. Were you surprised at what happened a couple of weeks ago against RDR? Yes, a little bit surprised because I thought Bo Nikol will win this fight. Especially the stylistic was great for him because the guy was grappler as well but the guy has really good game plan against Bonica like use the knee, use the clinch. I am not happy that Bonica lost but for sure this this make him getting

stronger for sure. He's smart man, he's sportsman, so this is going to be lesson for him and next fight he will be better fighter for sure. You think he'll bounce back? You think he can still be a major player in the 185 division? Of course, of course, of course. I think so, like that. Okay, you believe in him, that's good. You guys believe him? Believe him, of course. He is my man. He is wrestler. I am wrestler. So we have the same vibe. You know, I love that he's bigger than me, but I love training with him.

He also invited me to Penn State in the wrestling gym. One day, I hope so. I go with him to Pennsylvania and I will train with the best wrestler in the guys. You know, wrestling is my DNA in my heart. I always representing this style in during to fight. So I am happy if I can roll with him in the wrestling in the mat. By the way, I see that you're wearing an Under Armour shirt and I saw that you're selling also a Gamera. Oh, that's the one, that's the shirt. Can you stand up? Yeah, that's a sick shirt. And so are you sponsored by Under Armour? Yes, Under Armour is my sponsor from Poland.

Amazing. Yeah, thank you. And this T-shirt is to the fans, you know, this is like drop, like everybody who is my fan and who wants support to me can buy this t-shirt to my website. And is it true that if you buy it, then a piece of the proceeds go to charity? Is that true?

Yes, yes, of course. Which charity? The small process is for charity for people who need help. I like to help people because this is good. If you are good for different people, then good things are coming to you. If I can sell this t-shirt, so I can give some money for people who need more than me. Okay, so what is your plan for 2025? Because I know you told a member of our team, Alan, you said 2025 most important year of your life, Gamera 2.0. So what is the hope? May 31st you fight and then when do we see you again and then when do we see you after that and where are you at the end of the year? Yeah this is the most important year in my career. This year show me which which way I

will go. I want to stay busy this year of course it depends what's happening during to fight is my 31 you know but if everything will be great if I will be healthy and I will be fresh, I want to stay busy, I want to fight next 2-3 months. Maybe Hooker will be ready to fight, if I wish him a fast recovery, maybe I will run back with him. If not him, maybe BSD in September and then if I submit BSD in the end of the year, like December and somebody will be good to me, I can go again.

I want to stay busy, you know. I want to show that this is the time for me. You're hungry. I am very hungry. 34 years old, but like I said, inside my body I have 25, hungry, good shape, healthy. Let's go! Let's go! And after this fight, are you going to go home for a bit?

Are you going to go see your family? Yeah, of course. After fight, I'm back to home. I miss my home, I miss my kids, I miss my friends. So I have to go to Poland, you know. But if I get next offer to UFC to fight I back to ATT for sure. Okay well I hope everything is good on May 31st what's the prediction how do you win on the 31st of May? Ludovic Klein is tough opponent you know he has six

win streak and I don't estimate him you know because he's good fighter, striker, he's fast, he's dynamic, he has good statistics to attack down the fence but I wanna ruin this statistic and take him down, make him tired and submit him. It depends what he gives me like neck, arms or legs, doesn't matter but I'm really looking for this. By the way one last question, you're a former KSW lightweight and featherweight champion and there's now currently a fighter from France named Saladin Parnas who's also a lightweight and featherweight champion. Have you been watching him? Are you impressed with him?

Yes, Saladin is really good. He's also a double champion in KSW. We have a short story. When I finished my contract with KSW, KSW offered me him that if I want to end my contract with KSW, I need to fight with Saladin Parnas. And I said no problem, but this time Saladin said no, that he didn't want to fight with me so I needed to make two more fights and I did this fight and that's why I finished my contract. But I always watch Saladin Parnas, he is really high level guy, one of the best from KSW and I think if he goes to UFC for example he for sure will be like top 10 top 15 from ranking. It's amazing everyone's saying no to you. What do you say? This is like a theme in your career everyone says no to fighting you it

seems like. Maybe not everybody, maybe not everybody but sometimes this is the time that somebody don't want with me. Everybody knows that my wrestling is super high level and nobody expects that I defend my shoot. Yes, well, I'm looking forward to seeing you back. Keep up the great work. I like that you're a lot more vocal now, that you're going out there trying to get a fight. And like I said, hopefully all good for May 31st and that we see you in a big fight later on this year. Thank you, Mateusz. Really appreciate it. Good luck to you and all the best. Ariel, thank you so much. Appreciate that you invite me again. All the best to you. Have a nice day.

Same to you. Love it. There he is. Let's go. Mateusz Gammert with the Pride of Poland. I love his energy, great energy, he's fired up. Rick sent me a tweet, I don't know, I was, you know, I don't know what to, I figured I'd just ask, but maybe I, I don't know. I've actually seen a couple tweets like that. Oh, you have? From no one reputable though. And there's only like two or three likes on each of them.

What, my heart will break for the guy. I mean mean it's really unbelievable how many times he's raised his hand to fight over the last few months. Ducking allegations will be heavy for Ludovic Klon if that happens. No! Someone could get hurt. Why don't they just sign Saladin Parnas? I didn't realize that. I mean he said it's unsubstantiated. He said he hasn't heard anything. Let's not's not no no no I'm saying out of the horse here Gamera needs a fight guys and fought since August. He's got a fight Ludovic Klein isn't fought since August

Why is he fighting May 31st is the question? They need to go to Poland. I Like I said, he's intense He yeah, yeah, he ramped up the energy today. He was he was bringing it Also, is he the first person that you guys have seen who who is picking Charles Oliver to win? I Mean he's one of them do I have to say what I feel about that fight What that it's a better for that has nothing to do with whether or not Charles is gonna win I might I might also be picking Charles all of it. What if I get out of here?

picking Charles Oliver. What? Get out of here. I'm still mulling it over. I'm still thinking about it. I'm still thinking about it. I'm calling Kat. No look what he described makes perfect sense to me. Sure sure. Iliya Toporia is going to be the smaller man in the cage there. He's picking, he picked a fight with one of the bigger lightweights and then he is now in a fight with one of the other bigger lightweights. Like it is not, you know, stylistically, physicality wise, it's going to be a departure from what he was seeing at 45. Now Max is long, but he's not, you know, Charles Oliveira size, the 55 version of Charles Oliveira. Right. So it, you know, it remains to be seen. But as he he said that power is going to be a difference maker for Ilya. A couple of news and notes before we move along to our next guest,

Jose Aldo. Very excited to have him on the program. Yesterday Red Corner MMA reported that Kyoji Horiguchi, another ATT fighter, is out of his return fight June 21st in Baku, Azerbaijan. That's a huge bummer. Tajir Ulambekov is not going to fight Azat Maksim. So that sucks. I think we were all looking forward to that. Damon Martin reported yesterday that Kevin Lee has signed a new multi-fight contract with the PFL. So perhaps they made a Apache mix versus Kevin Lee trade. I know that doesn't make sense because he wasn't in the UFC but anyway he's now in the PFL and another fighter leaving the the GFL

nest if you will if you still believe that that's a thing. Yesterday on the show, we had Clarissa Shields on, and obviously a wide-ranging discussion. We spoke about a bunch of different topics. Perhaps the, I don't know, the most passionate she was was about the MVP stuff. Got a call from MVP. Two notes, they said that they didn't make her any offer to fight on the July 11th card but would love to do business with her.

She did say that she is going to be a free agent after her next fight on July 26th. And they also said that they were never, neither MVP or Amanda Serrano were ever served any kind of paper cease and desist, anything like that regarding the quote trademark. So Nikkisa Baderian also tweeting MVP unequivocally never made an offer to Clarissa Shields, her promoter, her manager for any fight in 2025, not even verbally, there it is.

So that's that. The drama continues. But I do think that they would want to do business with them, them being Team Shields. PFL announcing that their Cape Town debut, their PFL Africa slash PFL Championship Series event has has changed its date. It's now July 19th. It was July 26th, but now it's the 19th. And the 19th is a very, very busy day in the world of combat sports. There is, of course, the Usyk Dubois II card at Wembley Stadium. There's UFC 318 in New Orleans, the Dustin Poirier retirement fight, trilogy fight against one Max Holloway. There might even be something else as well. There's a lot going on, but anyway, uh, they, they changed that date. so circle July 19th on your calendar.

And it appears as though John Jones is keeping up his... He's enjoying all of this. He's keeping up with his trolling ways. Someone tweeted to him, bro, really wasted Tom's Prime like that. No respect at all. And his reply was, cry more. Loving it. Also see this here from MMAJunkie.com, Ilya Toporya parting ways, both Ilya and his brother

Alexander parting ways with their long time coaches, Jorge and Augustine Clement. Both parties live in different cities and their multiple professional projects prevent them from collaborating in the same way they have always done per marca. So some changes for Iliya Deporia as he gets set for his lightweight debut or I should say return to the lightweight division fighting for the vacant lightweight title on the 28th of June in Las Vegas. The headliner for UFC 317. Back end will be joined. Back end of this hour will be joined by Ryan Bader in a couple of seconds will be joined by the great Jose Aldo 38 years young 32 and 10 as a professional MMA fighter just fought less than two weeks ago in Montreal at UFC 315

two-time UFC featherweight champion UFC Hall of Famer inducted in 2023 in the modern wing UFC Hall of Famer, inducted in 2023 in the modern wing. Most title fight wins in UFC featherweight history. Former WEC featherweight champion. Most consecutive wins in WEC history, that's eight. Career wins over the likes of Uriah Faber, Cubs Swanson, Mike Brown, Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian, Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendendes, Korean Zombie, Hinata Moekano, Chido Vera, and on and on it goes. It is not hyperbole to say

that he is one of the greatest fighters in the history of mixed martial arts. Not just the history of the UFC or WEC, in the history, top ten, all time, in the history of this sport, a pioneer and trailblazerzer and it appears as though he has called it a career wanted to Talk to him after that fight in Montreal about what happened and where he goes from here He is kind enough to join us alongside the greatest of all time the one and only Fabiano there they are Thank you so much Jose Bom dia or boa tarde de boa tarde de. Thank you so much Good afternoon. Yeah. yeah, good afternoon.

And Fabiano, great to have you. José asked specifically for you, and so when one of the greatest of all time says that you need to be here, you got to be here. And so we are very appreciative of your presence and services as well. José, can I ask, I know you just had a press conference over the weekend at Novo União to kind of talk more about the state of things. Can you tell us for those that didn't hear it or weren't there, what was the announcement that you made to the public on Saturday?

José, how are you? We would like to know a little bit about the press conference you had at Novo União this weekend, for those who didn't hear it, for those who weren't there, to understand the general idea, to pass on to everyone now, on the other platform, everything you said, just so that all the fans know what you want to communicate to everyone. So, yes, last Saturday we did the collective, making our official farewell. We tried to make a tribute to us, to me, talking about how my career was,

to my friends, to some reporters who were there too, but without a tribute to our official farewell. So, we made it very clear about everything we planned, everything we achieved and reached, and the end has come. plan a celebration made by Day Day actually by under a better there is and it was in there outlined our career everything we've done all the plans that we had for my career and also the accomplishment we did for all the great things that we did so when you were in the cage in Montreal Jose it sounded like you were sort of announcing that you were retiring but didn't officially announce it.

Can you say with certainty now, definitively, that you are done, that you will no longer compete in any combat sport, whether it's MMA, in the UFC, it doesn't matter, you don't compete in in the gym? Yes, yes. I think I made the decision there. Regardless of any opponent, the result, the fight, victory or defeat, it didn't matter. I had already made my decision, so I was already convinced of what I wanted. So yes, I think that as I did in the past, because in fact I stopped competing in boxing, and I was doing my career, after that it touched my heart to fight again in the team, and I came back, so it was not a small matter of money, even because if I fought for money I had signed with another organization that offered me a lot more, and I preferred to

continue the team, continue my story in there, but it came to an end. So there, last Saturday in Montreal when I fought, so definitely if I had won, my decision would be that, it would be that of literally stopping with everything. I think now for me it's even difficult for me to put on a gloves, on a gloves or train, or even kimono, where I came from, from Jiu Jitsu. So I don't even want to do Jiu Jitsu anymore. I want to do other things in my life. Well, yeah, I'm sure. I made the decision right then and there. When I lose, independent of the result, I was sure it was going to happen. As you know, I stopped her boxing for a brief period of time and there was something in my heart that touched me go back to the UFC and I didn't do it for the money. I did it to continue my story and my history because if it was for the money, I wouldn't

have gone to another organization and got more money for it. But win or lose, the decision was made. I made the decision to stop. And it's hard even for me to put on gloves or a G, where I'm coming from. So right now, I made the decision to stop. I'm not fighting. And I have other things

going on for me. So on Friday or even Saturday morning, going into the fight, you didn't make that decision. It was really just in the moment that you decided to be done and if that is in fact true, what about that moment, why did you make that announcement, why did you feel that way?

you had made this decision, you made this decision right there, in the So I was already talking to my wife about it, that this could be the last fight, where we would talk and she kind of didn't believe it, she stopped and thought, as Deda also played, that this was already in my head to stop, literally. So it's not a question of Saturday itself or Friday, this was already in my head, in my mind, all the time I had to be fighting with myself to continue, to execute everything I had to do, but it was not a moment's lesson. So when I left Brazil, I had this in my head, even in the locker room, I said, no, man, I'm not going to do this anymore.

Let's talk, I don't know, from now on I don't feel like doing this anymore. So I'm not going to sell myself for wanting to make money or do anything and stain everything I built. So the decision was being made in Brazil, that I was going throughout camp. I was going hard, going to the max on my camp because I knew that was the thought in my last fight. I was talking it over with my wife that was going to be on the spot. She couldn't believe it when I was saying it, but that's what I had in my head. I informed Adede as well and Dr. Donaris and it was on my head all the time just it was it was hard it was hard for me to actually train to act like I couldn't see myself doing it and then we're we've gone to the locker room I just said well

no this is that that's not it I'm I can't I don't have it anymore I don't want to do is anymore I don't feel the pleasure of putting on gloves and doing this anymore. I have other things in my life. So we're just going to reconnect very quickly. We're just having some connection issues. Don't go anywhere guys, but we're just going to reconnect super fast and get back because if you're listening you may be hearing some choppiness there. So just stand by. Great stuff from Jose. Great stuff as always from Fabiano. Stick with us here for a moment. This is live television as

they say in the business and this is how you have to work through things. But as you as you heard just there, he did in fact say he is done as far as MMA in the UFC, out of the UFC. He is done as far as boxing as well, done competing. We did hear a couple years ago that he was going to walk away, then reemerge in the world of boxing, and then reemerge back in the UFC. But at this point, there is absolutely nothing left for Jose to prove and all the weight cuts, all the fights. Remember, 45 and then 35.

His last chapter was at 35 35 and a lot of people thought that he wouldn't last at 35 because of how he looked in the the initial fights it's it's really truly one of the most remarkable careers in the history of the sport okay let's go back to Jose and Fabiano and and and and here they are thank you gentlemen Jose can I ask obviously we know that on the Friday before the fight you had a tough weight cut did that factor into and here they are thank you gentlemen uh... jose can i ask uh... obviously we know that on the friday uh... before the fight you had a tough weight cut did that factor into things like after that weight cut

did you say to yourself okay this is a sign that my time is done yeah for the future david will walk away from the party a serious decision the political process the weight cut was difficult, did something in the weight cut that accelerated this decision? After the weight cut begins, the addition is done?

No. So no, I think it didn't affect me, actually I've been doing this for a long time, so I think the only bad thing is the weight cut, but not literally in this fight, it was always very difficult for me. I think for all my childhood, for everything I've been through, I was doing the weight cut, but I was doing the part of the work. This time the weight cut was great, I was much more prepared to do the weight cut, so it was all in there, we were hitting the weight down, so it wasn't the weight cut issue that affected me, that made me think, make the decision. No, nothing like that, I think I've already come here in Brazil, to the reason I have, that I can tell you why I made this decision.

So, I always gave everything of myself, I always gave everything I had, I always did everything in the best way possible to always try to demonstrate great fights, both for UFC, for fans, for journalists, for everyone. But I left home to train. So, I left, I was playing with my son, and when I left he was crying. That bothered me,

that I could lose some things from my daughter, that I couldn't go to school, pick her up, go to her presentation and do some things because I was always training, I was doing something, even if it was for the family, for the future of the two of us. But no, that was bothering me, so I think I made a good career, I made a good savings, let's say, I made a good money that this can support us, keep our lives and so guarantee their future. So it was a matter of weight, it was much more about that, the family side, I was able to follow their growth, to be closer to them, make their career happen, than mine. I know that no, I know effects. You know, I've been doing this for a long time. I've had the hard life, so that's not a problem.

There was this childhood of that. I've done this for quite some time. It's part of the job. I keep doing it, but the way was good every day for the work. I've been doing this for a long time. I've been doing this for a long time. I've been doing this for a long time. I I've done this for quite some time it was it's part of the job I will keep doing it but the weight was good every day for the week too everything that we were actually going through steps and weights seemed to be good when we were on track to actually

cut the weight but it was this is back going to Brazil that's the reason that's the decision that was made and I think I have always been it all. I've always just delivered to the fans, everyone. And it just that every time I got out of the house, you need to train, right? So I was getting to camp and I was fighting with my cell phones. I was just, I would do, I would be crying and just thinking of my son and daughter and taking to school. And I just thought about how much I was missing from their lives. I mean we've got to get savings. We've made some good money to you know just to set up a good future for everybody and now it's more to be

present, being present in their lives, their careers, to elevate them in their lives. Had you ever felt that way before? these emotions that you're talking about, these experiences? Is this the first time in your career that you've ever felt that? I was very young, I think I was 25 years old, so I had to be through my career, but I was losing some things, I always had more family side, because I always fought for my family, for the basis of what I had built to give the best for them. It was always my dream to build a family, to have and be able to give something that I didn't have when I was a child.

So now to see my son, being three years old, and him playing soccer with me, and sometimes I get tired, I couldn't play with him, for him to play, or when I go to train and he wants to play with his father, I can go out, he cries, I saw behind the door, you know, that touched my heart. It was like I was being selfish. I think I got to a certain point, I was able to make a lot of money for them. And I was able to do something else in my life that takes less time. That takes less time for me because I can't do anything bad. I dedicate myself to everything I have to always do my best. So at a certain point I said, man, no, I need to take advantage of this family side.

I'm strange to everyone, for my career, for the way I fight. Everyone says, man, you fight very well, you maintain speed, you are an exclusive guy, you are a guy who can be champion, but man but he doesn't touch my heart, my mind. So I needed that moment. That's why I tell you today, I can't wear a kimono anymore, I can't put on a glove anymore, to do nothing, because it's their moment. I think I have to take advantage of it, I have to try to make him the best person possible. there, right? That was always fighting for my family. It was fighting to make money to give my family all the conditions and all the luxuries I didn't have when I was young. Now with my

son being three now, so I'm I felt that I felt missing myself missing stuff with him. So it's he wants to play and we're playing I have to leave that. And then I just started to feel selfish about just not doing it. This is another time. Listen, I got home and I could afford them. It's time to do other things in my life. And I don't do anything half-assed. I give I do, I try to be the best that I can, and I deliver everything I've done in my life. So, that's what I'm going to dedicate myself to. It sounds weird to many people because I think you still got it. You're still explosive. You still could be a

champion. So why you stop? It's just, it's not there. That's why I say I can't see myself putting on gloves. I can't see myself putting on a, he's just not there. It's time for other things. When you came back to the UFC, Jose, a lot of people were excited about this last chapter and you having maybe these legend fights. And some of the fans and some of the journalists, including myself, felt like the fights weren't

what we had anticipated. They weren't these mega fights against other legends, names like Dominic Cruz and whatnot. It just sort of felt like we were wondering what there was for you to gain from these matchups. With all due respect to the opponents, they just weren't on your level name-wise. And obviously some of the fights played out as they did. Do you understand that sentiment and do you have any regrets about some of the matchups that you were booked in when you came back for this last run in the UFC? We wanted to see you making history. And the fight marriage ended up not being this.

First of all, the fights themselves, the names weren't the ones you expected. You expected a name like you fought against Dominic Cruz, it didn't happen. The names were different, young people, people who were rising up. And it ended up not materializing this desire that many people had that the fights were going that way. So, is there a little remorse against the fight marriage, because of the fights that ended up happening, that did not meet the expectations that many had for your return? It's not a question of feeling remorse I don't feel any emotion, I just want to thank Xon for the fight, regardless of who it is, it will always be a great fight, regardless

if it's against a guy who is starting, a new guy, it doesn't matter. Because it matters in my heart, in my head, because I am the best, I am always very well prepared and I want to fight the best. I always said that to Dedé, if one day I'm doing a super fight with a guy who's already passed, it's time to stop. Because if not, for the fans it's a great fight, two great names, but I feel like I'm already a guy who's already passed, you know? I'm not doing it. And that's why it's very difficult for me to have done things like that. So if someone offered me, I don't know, everyone dreamed he was with Dominic Cruz. But where would that take me if I was with Dominic Cruz?

It seems that they are two old guys who are putting there to do something. And not for me, I was born to be a champion. I just wanted to be the champion. So for me to be a champion, I had to fight with young guys, I had to go after them. Today, thinking about it, man, in training or in the fights, everyone says, you're very good, you're fast, you know what? But if I don't win from these guys, who have a very low level than mine, that's why I see that there's no way I can get there and keep competing, you know? So no, I didn't pass on memory, I don't feel remorse, I just have to thank the strong, right? Sean Shelby, for all the fights he's done, it's always been what we asked for,

if no one wants to fight with a guy, I'll see myself fighting because I have a possibility, I have a game to win from everyone, so no, I have no remorse, I have nothing, I'm just grateful. A little bit of the last question, yes, the last answer I gave, I wanted to put a little more, sorry Fabiano, it's because for the first time I was able to get here at home and I was able to have a calm environment, you know, not think about anything else. I was free, light, I didn't have to fight anymore, nothing else. For the first time I felt a relief, let's say, a relief, a tranquility,

to have done my best and I was satisfied with everything I can do. I know I can deliver and I was always prepared for fights. And I always told the dad about this. If I'm getting super fights against older dudes, that means that that means I'm not there. That means the dream of being a champion. I trained and dreamed and worked and wanted to be a champion. So that means if I fought like a guy like, you know, Cruz, maybe people would just see it as like, these are these older dudes that are just, what are they putting the fight on for? It's just for the people to watch. Look, that's outside of that dream of wanting to be a champion and training for that. And when training and fighting, everybody just looked at me as like, you look great. And basically I would tell people, if I don't beat the other guys, if I don't

get through those challenges, then why am I here? Why come here? Because I want to be a champion and I'm going to be a champion and I have to be there. So I'm very thankful for Shaan Shelby from the matchmaking everything myself and the day I asked for it, I mean, he got it. So I just, I always saw myself fighting already with the guy. Just like his style, I was there. Fight was scheduled with us. I was already seeing myself fighting because that's what I worry about. My performance, actually just going back

to the answer from before. For the first time in my life, I got back home and I had like a clean slate and a clean mind and relief, just calmness, just tranquility. I just came back home and everything was okay this time by coming back afterwards. I love to hear that. It's sort of irrelevant now, but just curious,

in the moment, I think you thought you won the fight against Eman Zahabi. I thought you won the fight as well. Have you rewatched the fight and if so, do you still feel the same way? You won the fight against Mizrahi, I think particularly, I think you won the fight, what did you think of the fight against Mizrahi? Have you seen the fight against Mizrahi again to see what happened? And if you really think you won? I have in my memory, I have that I won the fight,

I think I had won well in the first round, even the second too, I thought I took the best, the best time was mine, and in the third round I think I gave two knockdowns to round, even the second one too, I thought I took the best 9 times, and in the third round I think I gave him 2 knockdowns, if I'm not mistaken. And for him to take advantage, I could have, I don't know, I had to give him 2 knockdowns, or anything, and when I tried to look at the time I couldn't, and I tried to make a fall, to see more or less how it was, because in my head it was less than a minute to fight, for everything that had been going been around for a long time. So I tried, where I pulled the guard, I kept holding the fight thinking that I had already won the fight.

So in my head I have the fight, but not about watching, as I just told you. So I didn't watch the fight, I don't even intend to watch it. Everyone, both in Montreal and on the internet, everywhere, everyone said that I won the fight, clearly. I don't know how the judges saw that. I think Dana herself, everyone came and spoke to me, that I had won, so no, I think it's over for me, you know? So it's over, depending on the result, it would be my decision today, so I'm very happy.

I was sad because I expected to have won the fight and stopped with the victory, but that didn't happen, so it wasn't my fault. I think I did my role there, I tried to give my best, I tried to change, I tried to do everything I could, but I don't see myself fighting, but it's over, I want to do my best, I want to use my anger, I have a giant heart, I deserve to be in the Ultimate, so I did my role, I gave my best, I got there, I did my best,

for me I won the fight, as for you too, but I don't intend to look, I don't intend to do anything else, nothing of that will change the feeling I feel today, so I'm happy for the presentation, for the fight, which was exciting, and for my career in general. So, you know, in my memory, yeah, I won the first round well, second too, I got that one as well, and then I had two knockdowns and I was taken in the third round. And I was thinking, what could he have done to actually win that round? I started looking at the time, I thought, really, when I looked, because of everything

that had happened in that third round, I thought that the fight was just a minute to go. That's what I thought that the fight was about to end. When the takedown happened and it went to the ground, I just sat back and held back from the guard and just thought I won. I thought there was nothing that could have happened. I lost that. But I did not want to fight. I don't plan on it.

Messages came pouring from people saying that I won clearly. Dana came to me and said you won that fight. Yourself said that you think that fight. But I think now is in the past. I think independently of the result of the decision was made. And I wanted to win, I trained to win, I did everything that I could to win. I think I had a great performance. It wasn't my fault. I tried it all.

I really wanted this. But I don't see myself watching the fight. I don't see myself watching fights. I mean, all listen to the hobby. He's a guy with a great heart. He deserves to be in the UFC. I had a great fight. But nothing listen to the hobby. It's a guy with a great heart. He deserves to be in the UFC. Had a great fight, but nothing will change the future. That's it, so everything is in the past.

Obviously you just said earlier that you wanna spend time with your family. Totally understand that. Have you thought about what you will do now post-fighting in terms of how you will spend your days? You're just 38, obviously. Andre Pedenares and Ovu Niao a big part of your life will you be a coach will you be at the gym are you gonna completely remove yourself from all things fighting? try different things, you get younger, you train, you will basically do whatever you want, you have the idea, you have the name, you always have the perspective of working or continuing as a technician, what do you intend to do?

Will you remove yourself from the fight, from the fight now. I think I'm already helping him in training. Yes, I think I'm busy with Kethlin Vieira these days. So I do her boxing part, so I train her twice a week. And I'm trying to help her. But no, man, I'm running away from the fight. I have other things, other business to do, other goals, like a lecture too, like working here in Brazil as a lecture, not too deep, because I want to have a more free time with the family, I have other business, other business that I intend to do, that have been my dreams, so I intend to do other things, but totally out of the fight. But I'm closed to the fight with Ketan Vieira,

I'm helping her, but as soon as this is over, I'll give myself up, as I'm doing right now, I wake up at 8 a.m., study until 11 a.m., then I do a workout, but good morning, then I come back to study in the afternoon, another 3 hours, study another 3 hours at night, so I'm committed in my life. I have other things that I have other goals, other businesses and other fronts that I'm

working on. Like, you know, also workshops and being a speaker. Not, you know, too needy because I want to have my own time as well. But those are things that I want to get involved in. I just, as you know, like I put my heart and soul into it. So I'm studying from eight to 11. Then I get a workout in and then in the afternoon I study for three more hours and then I go back and I sleep through Mars at night.

So I've just been pouring a lot into this and still obviously evolve with Kaplan. So and I'll be involved with that and up until then after that just it's a really fighting for it. Okay there's a great Twitter account called MMA history today which notified us that on May 20th this day back in 2006. So that's exactly 19 years I do believe. Yes, 19 years ago today you fought and won and thus began your undefeated streak for 10 years. It was a fight against someone named Tiago Meller at gold fighters championship one and you went undefeated I believe 17 in a row after that. Do you remember any of this on this day, May 20th, 2006, so 19 years ago today, pretty incredible that is, 19 years ago, you won a fight against Thiago Miller

in the Gold Fighter Championship. And then you spent 10 years thinking. Do you remember this fight? So, a very cool thing was precisely today, 19 years ago, in 2006, against Thiago Miller in the Gold Fighter Championship. Do you remember that fight? Yes, just missing a little bit of the last answer,

I forgot, but if ultimately you need anything from me, I always have to be open, my house, my family, I'm a very big guy for the ultimate in general. Yes, I remember the fight, I remember that hair, that's when I asked my wife to get married too, she was proud to say that every time she was giving an interview. So I remember that date very well. I fought until I was 70kg, I was coming back, I had fought from 63 or 62 and went up to fight 70kg.

And I remember very well there in Teresópolis, very cold, and I remember just that right after I won, I's always been for the U of C, they mean me for anything. So I remember that. I remember that very well. I remember because I actually asked my wife to marry me. So that's the date that we remember a lot. I'll always remember. So actually, that was the date that we're always going to remember because of that reason. So and I remember it was the date that we're always gonna remember because of that reason. So, and I remember it was very, very cold because it was back in, in Tarazopolis. It's a lot of cold there a lot of times. So I remember the cold and also just like, you know, I actually moved up to 155. So that's, I come back, but I remember that day.

Yes. Great memories and happy anniversary. Well, and with this, Jose, what a great honor it has been covering your career. I remember the Mike Brown fight and I remember the day after the Mike Brown fight when you met with us in Las Vegas and you were the new champion in WEC and we had no idea what was to come, but the incredible performances and the memories that you gave us and you're always so great to talk to, always so great with the media.

It's one of the great joys of my career to be able to cover your career but I will most certainly number one never forget Auburn Hills UFC 123. You were given the UFC featherweight championship and that video that came out of you getting your first suit with Ed Soares and Derek you were in one of the stores in Michigan buying your first suit and you were laughing you couldn't you couldn't control yourself that to me when I think of Jose Aldo and the you know the the the spirit that you had how happy you were this this video I always talk about it I and the we every time you were trying it out, you couldn't stop laughing.

This to me is my favorite Jose Aldo moment. I love everything about this. And so in conclusion, I just wanted to ask what you would say if you could pick one of the many, many great moments you gave us, what you would say is your happiest moment of your MMA career. There are many memories. I remember a lot of the fights against Mike Brown, your happiest moment of your MMA career. You are always very, very attentive to all the press, it has always been very cool with everyone,

it is a pleasure to have covered all this trajectory, your career, your life. I will always remember the moment, we are showing there that it was in Auburn Hills, you are the three of us, you went there, Tito, Tito, you with Ed and Derek, you seeing your first term. Your joy, the way you were reacting, I will always remember how you were laughing,

happy, and this for me is one of the great moments of Jose Aldo, I will ask then, concluding for Jose Aldo himself, what is your most important moment, or the moment you remember the most, that you would like to share with us. Yes, there are several moments, you know, Ariel, that I had, I think that for me it was always a great pleasure,

not to talk to you, but to all journalists, to be able to help them also do your work, which was to be there covering the events and talking a little about us. So it was a very nice exchange, a very big affection that I tried for everything. Sometimes I always apologize during my training, I could never pay much attention, but outside of the fight, I didn't see the problem, I was talking to all of you. So I will always keep this in my heart.

I have had many good moments in the fight. When I won Mike Brown, I never dreamed of being a world champion. I had a dream of being a soccer player. But I am from the north of Brazil, so from a humble family where in my head I didn't exist, you know, on the other side, and it was something to be seen. And the day I could leave Manaus, come to Cape Janeiro, after that, become a fighter, after that, be a champion, which is a very big emotion, you know, of crying. Especially on this day, a moment that brings happiness.

I think that everyone, when they watch this video, feels something good, you know, a happiness. Because I didn't dream of getting where I dreamed of and experiencing it for the first time, you know, man, where I felt a lot of tickling here on my neck. I felt very funny wearing that clothes here. I always wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. So at that moment I was experiencing a sweet, a tern, to go to a special occasion, man, like, different, you know? But, you know, Mike Brown is a very important moment.

When Dan gave me the belt from the Ultimate, I'll get long, you know? When I started dreaming of being a fighter and being the Ultimate Champion, Rodrigo Ruas, Marco Ruas' nephew, legendary Marco Ruas, was the ultimate champion. In his house I saw a video game, we were playing UFC and I said I was going to be UFC champion at that time.

So I was very young, I was starting to train, I was in Jiu Jitsu, starting to train kickboxing and dreaming of being champion and it was the lowest category at the time, 70kg, then it ended at 70kg and then started the 77kg category. But that's how I saw myself being champion, I saw myself being everything, and I became it. But there's a detail that I always talk about with Laipe Solário. It was a day we sat down, I always liked to eat hamburgers. So I was sitting on the sidewalk with him and he asked me a question that was marked, he himself can tell this story, he asked how he saw me when I stopped fighting,

how much would be the ideal money for me? And at that moment I answered that five reais, when I stopped, if I earned five thousand reais, it would be great for me, you know? I would be very well financially, I would be happy, I could support my family, so 5 thousand reais, and he said, you have no idea of all that you're going to win, of how much money you're going to make in here. Another moment, Scott, at the time, was the president of the WCA, he went to the locker room after my first fight and said that I was going to be a big star. So everyone who has been through my life telling me these things

that I couldn't see, nothing of what I am today, it's a special moment for me to remember and be marked by my memory. Well, there are various moments. It's been a pleasure. And not just speaking to you, but speaking to journalists in general to help you do your job, to cover the events, cover the sport and cover us. And sorry, I couldn't give you the proper attention

to all the journalists during training, because obviously that's already focused by whatever and whenever I could, whenever I was there, I was there for you. Yeah, you talk a lot like Mike Brown. I never dreamed of being a champion, a fighter, a champion back in the day. I wanted to be a soccer player. I came from humble beginnings of an honorable family.

I moved from Manaus to Rio, and you know, became a fighter, became champion. It fills me with a lot of emotion. And these are moments of that moment. My brother, it's, it fills me with joy. And I think it loses joy to people and it makes people very happy when they watch it. So trying people, trying to suit for the first time in my life. Things like tickling my neck. Like I would never wear anything like that.

I was always walking around in flip flops and shorts and stuff, so to me, just to wear that for a special occasion was, it's called, you know, inside myself. And yeah, when Dana wrapped the Give Me the Belt, that's, I mean, I remember the beginning. I was with Rodrigo Ruiz, who was Marco Ruiz's nephew, and we were playing video games. We were playing the UFC.

I was like, oh, this is pretty cool. And I started to go, hey, I'm going to be a champion. And then I think that the Lions division was lightweight back in the day, and Lions divisions were lightweight back in the day. And the divisions were not there. And I still tell them they're the champions playing the OCB game. And there's a moment with Ed Suarez, like you can ask him to. I've always liked burgers.

So I was sitting in the sidewalk with them, just eating burgers, and they said, hey, what would be, like at the end of your fighting career, an amount of money that you think that you would make, that would make you happy? And I said at that point, that if F for fighting through all my career, if I got 5,000 reais, I would be set.

Like I would be really, really happy. I would be able to provide for my career, if I got 5,000 reais, I would be so, like, I would be really, really happy. I would be able to provide for my family and I would be just happy. And he said, you have no idea how much success and how much money you're going to make and the things you're going to accomplish here. And another thing is, like, Scott, back in WC, came to the locker room and said, you'll be a star. So to hear from people that they believed in me, and they saw potential in me,

and they just saw great things in me when I was coming up. Those are moments of hoisturage. I love that. You have done all of that and then some parabéns Congratulations on an unbelievable Hall of Fame career. You're one of the greatest of all time Jose really truly We will miss you but you have nothing left to prove and I'm so happy that you walk away with a big smile on your Face and and just happy and content. So well done. Thank you for coming on the show Thank you, Fabiano as always as well and hopefully Sometime down the line we can still speak and and have you on the program because Thank you, Fabiano, as always, as well. And hopefully sometime down the line, we can still speak and have you on the program

because it's always great to talk to you. Obrigado. Obrigado por tudo, José. Obrigado por tudo que você fez. Obrigado pela travertaria, é um prazer ter você aqui. Você fez de tudo possível. E a gente espera que você possa estar com a gente no futuro e no momento. Obrigado por tudo que você fez. Por toda a travertaria, por tudo que você proporcionou. I hope you can spend time with us in the future. Thank you for everything you've done,

for the trajectory and for everything you've done. I think I have to thank everyone. Ariel, thank you very much. I think you too. You don't remember, but even you too. You could have been part of my story. I think I just have to thank you. When Negu told me to use the U-turn, I said,

no, I'll do it like Oriol, I'll use the U-turn, but I'll put a tennis shoe on. So you said, no, I use Nike with U-turn, so that shoe with the end doesn't know where I was most used to. So even you influenced me, so I have to thank you for all this too. I think a lot of people have been part of my career, I'm so grateful to all the fans, to everyone who has been part of it, like you too. Fabiano, congratulations Fabiano, you are phenomenal too, man. You are a sinister, I just have to thank everyone.

Thank you. I just have to thank everyone, I have to thank everyone. Even you, Ariel, back in the day, we talked about suits, and then, so well, suit people wear a suit with shoes and like, well, I like today, I wear Nikes with mine. So, hey, why not? So, everybody's giving me pointers and just helping me out.

So, thank you for everything. Thanks for being a part of this as well. Thanks. Thank you guys. Take care. We'll talk to you soon. Jose Aldo, the one and only, the King of Rio and the great Fabiano Busque,

who is the greatest at what he does as well. That was tremendous stuff and happy that we had the opportunity to speak to Jose, who like I said, when the story of MMA is written and in particular the lighter weight divisions, 55 and under, like he's one of the first names that will forever come to mind. And I know how this works in two, in three, in four, in five years. There's a whole new crop of fighters and we tend to forget. So I always talk about BJ Penn at 155 and others. As long as I'm doing a show that speaks about MMA I will remind all of you about how good this guy was.

Go back to those fights in 09, in 10, in 11, in 12. He was unbelievable. The takedown defense, the kicks, the punches, the speed. He had the entire package. He really did. So, really appreciate his time. Appreciate the time of our next guest. We are so incredibly late. This is what happens sometimes when you have translator interviews, so let's not waste any time. He is Ryan Bader, who just announced that he will be joining the Ryzen team and will be debuting in Japan New Year's Eve so sorry that we're so late Ryan we were talking to Jose Aldo and I know

you're going to the airport and you're in your car the translator interviews tend to go a little long so I apologize for that but I couldn't cut him short so sorry about that. Yeah you're fine I got time. Okay I was stressing there because I know that you have a busy day so we spoke to you right after it was announced that you were leaving PFL in Bellator and then there you were at the Ryzen event at the Tokyo Dome announcing that you've joined the team. Be honest with us did you know already at that point that like basically did you leave PFL because of this Ryzen deal or did it all kind of happen quickly? It kind of happened like really quickly after you know is one of those deals where hey, you know If the money's not right, we might not fight again. Wow, you know, and so

They came pretty quick after and we went out there and met with the matchmaker and Saki Kibara and had a good talk and For me, you know fighting for a chance at another belt and kind of just legacy and maybe going out my last one like that would be amazing. What was the experience like? I am so, I so want to go to one of those events. I've only been to one event in Japan and it was a UFC. It wasn't one of those. Tokyo Dome site, Tomasup Arena. Was that your first time at one of those? And if so, what did you think of the whole show? Yeah, I fought in UFC. I fought rampage in 2012 in Tokyo. That's the one I went to that's the one I went to

Yeah, it was nothing like The rise in event, you know, we walked in it's a show, you know, it's uh, man. It's like half WWE ish You know the that you know the opening ceremony you know, the, uh, the, you know, the opening ceremony, the guys playing the drums, the whole, whole deal out there, the pyro stuff. And then the walkouts are amazing. And it was just a good energy. And we were actually there for like 15 fights and it went by pretty quick and there's something about watching fights in a ring besides a cage. You know, you can really see, uh, through that ring and, and hear everything. And it was, yeah, it got me excited. And we were pretty much in at that moment,

but you being there really sealed the deal. Obviously there's great synergy because you're playing Mark Coleman, Smashing Machine. He made a name for himself over in Japan in Pride with the likes of Saki Kabara. Do you think if you are not cast for that role in that movie this doesn't happen? Like do you think that this is part of the appeal? I don't know. There was a time when we went back and you know when I was in Bellator and I was potentially gonna fight on the New Year's Eve card.

You know maybe Mary, maybe Jerry I think. Didn't work out and so there there was talks beforehand and maybe it would have come about, but playing Mark Coleman in the Smashing Machine and being able to, you know, we dissected their fights, we rehearsed their fights, tried to make them look true to form. And then I was thinking, man,

it would be cool to use this rule set, you know, being a wrestler coming from a wrestling background, you know, with Coleman kneeing guys in the head and ground of opponent. And then, uh, yeah, the storyline was just too good to be true there. And then they come and I get to do it for real. You know, I get to play Coleman and, you know, go through his fights and his legacy and, and pride, and then turn around and New Year's Eve and do it, do it for real. Um, are you going to be a part of a tournament there? So I'm a part of a tournament there? So I'm not part of the tournament.

They're doing a tournament right now. They had the opening rounds and they'll have semis coming up. And so I'm gonna fight the winner of the tournament. So those guys are gonna fight. Wow. Probably, you know, four or five times like right in a row. Okay, this is a good deal for you.

Yeah, I get to sit on the sidelines and get the winner. You get the prize, you're the prize at the end basically. Yeah, basically. So it, I mean to sit on the sidelines and get the winner you get the pro you're the prize at the end basically Yeah, basically, so it I mean like I said storyline too good to be true I always wanted to fight and rise in with that rule set and To go out if this my last one go out with a bang You know in that promotion and and have the potential to win another belt and another major promotion I mean why not and is this that heavyweight or light heavyweight? It's a heavyweight. Okay. Yeah, I'm about 250 right now Those light heavyweight days are no more

This is a grant Grand Prix title or their heavyweight title that's on the line believe it's the first ever heavyweight title Wow, they have one so wait, so if you win that belt, you can't retire. Now you have to defend it, right? I know, that's what they're saying. Who knows? I might have a blast out there and you know, right after you're in there, you get a win, you get another belt, you're like, I got one more in me.

So I'm not, there's nothing definitive right now. I always keep my options open. So yeah, we'll see what happens. Well, on top of my head, I can't recall, but I'll always keep my options open. So yeah, we'll see what happens. Well, off the top of my head, I can't recall, but I think I might be on something. Is this the first time that you'll be fighting in a ring in your MMA career? I fought in a ring probably like my third fight way back in the day.

Me, Kane Velasquez, CB Dalloway, we had to walk across the border to Mexico. We fought in this like three roped bullfighting ring. Wow. Yeah, Yeah I mean it was like plywood painted plywood. So I won by slamming my guy knocked him out and then this guy was watching Kane hit tie pads in the back and he he backed out. No way. Yeah they tried to get another guy to fight him that already fought on that card earlier and he's like who's the guy you want me to fight and they took him back and showed him Kane. He was like, hell no.

So you actually walked there? You walked across the border? Yeah, so for some reason we had to walk like a mile in across the border, then a bus came and picked us up. It was easier than whatever getting across, I don't know. We were at a hotel right across the border on the US side. And then for some reason we had to walk across. Oh, I see this

Ulysses Cortez on October 27th 2007 you won via suplex and punches at SE Valley Tuto It just says Mexico on there, but where was that in Mexico? Do you remember? It was somewhere on the Arizona border a small little town. We knew the guy that was kind of trying to run a promotion there There was like four people there in attendance. Wow, that's it? Four people? Yeah. What? How did you get booked on this? We have no idea. We kind of knew the guy and they got Cain and CB too. You know, we were warming up. There's like literally like hay in the back of like the bull stalls. We're warming up in there and then went out and like I said,

that ring was so hard, it was like concrete. I just picked my guy up and slammed him on his shoulder and got knocked out. Do you remember how much you got paid for that? If anything? Yeah, probably like 300 bucks. Wow. At any point in that, as you're warming up,

are you like, what the hell am I doing here? What is going on? In my earlier career, when you weren't making money, I fought for free one time. Every single fight, I'm like, I fought for free one time every single fight I'm like, I have a college degree. I can be doing I was about to go to law school a lot of times I'm in there thinking like what the hell am I doing it and it really didn't Go away until I started making real money where I'm like, oh, this is a career and I'm making way more money to make anywhere else

You know, but I thought that shit, like 12 fights in. Wow, were you ever close to being like, all right, I've had enough of this, let me just go back to the real world? You know, not really, because I got my fights, like when I'm talking about going to Mexico, I fought in a equestrian center in Globe, Arizona. I fought on Indian reservation,

I fought on a card that Tommy Morrison fought on Wow HIV positive boxer Wow, I was allowed to fight You know, so I these were back in the day in the MMA heydays, you know and anything goes And then I got those done and then I got on the ultimate fighter and then from there just kind of took off So I never had the chance to think like hey, you know, maybe I should do something else I think the closest would be when I lost a Tito and had two losses a row My only time in my career and that was a time where I was like I was already in it, you know So it wasn't no going back. You also fought on the Cayman Islands very early on the hotbed but on a pier outside

Started raining and they had a middle of our fight They had to bring in towels and wipe it down because it was all wet people were sliding around so I mean thinking back it was a good time, you know and Got out there with all winds but you know makes the story good I feel like a lot of guys now don't have these experiences because they're like one and oh two and oh they get signed to contender Series or PFL like that kind of shapes you as a fighter, right? Going through those hard times. 100%, you know, and we kind of came in with a chip

on our shoulder. We're, you know, division one, all Americans. We had a great wrestling pedigree and then we're fighting in, you know, a barn and we're fighting in Mexico in a bullfighting ring, you know, but for me, I was always looking at those fights like, you know, get these done and I I'm gonna get to where I'm gonna go, but I have to be four and a five and O

to get on the ultimate fighter or getting the UFC or whatnot. And so those were always just something I knew I just had to do and get done with them and I could move on. By the way, we showed the photos earlier of you as Mark Coleman from the movie. And when we were looking at them before the show, I was like, what looks different about Ryan here? And then two things hit me.

Number one, no beard, which is rare for you these days. And then the tattoos. It took me a minute, but I was like, oh my God, you look so different without the tattoos. How long did it take to cover those up? Yeah, so that was about an hour and we got it down to about hour and a half hour and 45 minutes every day. Every day. Any time I went in. So there's a couple times I had like a long sleeve shirt and they just did a little bit on my chest. Make sure my have something on my finger. But if I mainly have my shirt off in the whole movie. I'm in that chair, out in 45 minutes at least.

Then you go do your thing. Then at the end, like you can try to keep it on for the, it's like a shower won't take it off. You gotta use alcohol and all that. Oh wow. But it'd start looking flaky the next day and you pretty much had to do it all over again. So then we'd have to take it off,

which took another 45 minutes every day. Oh my God. And so how many days in a row were you doing that? I was working Monday through Friday every week. For how many weeks? Probably I got there May 12th but that was a stunt training for two weeks so probably from late May to about end of July, August. Every day? Late May, oh my God, that's two and a half months,

three months. Yeah. How'd you pass the time? Throw out a few days where I wasn't on set, but that was pretty rare. And then, yeah, I mean, I just went in that whole deal. It's new to me, low guy on the totem pole. Show up early early get it done

It's just part of the routine. You know, I I would be like man on set. I'm like man I wish I was back in my little apartment then it was in my apartment. I was bored And i'm like man, I wish I was on set so I just kind of gave in to the whole process. Obviously you've been around You know this whole deal and it takes a long time to set up stuff and all that. So it was a lot of waiting, but end of the day though, I had a blast. Did you do all your own stunts? Yes. Wow. Yep.

And when you're sitting there and they have to do like multiple takes, did that drive you insane, having to do the same thing over and over and over again? I've heard that it could be a little bit, you know, crazy. So our director, Benny Safdie, he was awesome. He kind of wanted to make it documentary style, so everything is real.

And if you mess up or say, Dwayne's mouthpiece comes out and he stops and grabs it, puts it in, he likes that authenticity. When he has it, he has it. So we never sat there especially dialogue and did a did like Ten takes is I think everything was under five takes. Oh, wow. Okay. Yeah, so once he sees it he has it and you're done Any chance mark is gonna be a part of your your rise in fight I mean, I feel like there's a beautiful story there any any shot of that yeah, so I we're kind of talking to him where He was out there when we were out there in rising and

You know, he was asking hey bring me in for a little bit of the camp and I was like, that's a great idea You know Kind of get the ins and outs of the you know, I've never trained like hey, you can eat this guy on the ground This is how you do it. This is how we did it back in the day, you know, and and we're obviously very similar You know if I get a front headlock, you know, I'm looking to do that and control and need the head. So I think we'll have to definitely get him out there. Maybe they give us an extra corner man

and kind of complete that story. Oh, that'd be amazing. Oh my God, that would be beautiful. Just curious, you know, we were talking about how I think Ryzen has incredible momentum right now and that scene there and they had Yuri involved and they had Coleman involved and they just signed you and I feel like PFL it's it's a bit of a weird time one isn't

signing guys I feel like they have a real opportunity to to get to that number two spot are you sensing that that same vibe from them they don't just seem to be like that little small Asian promotion that is trying to do a thing. Like it's there was like 40 or 45,000 people there at that event, right? Yeah, that's what I didn't realize. I walked in and it was the first fight at 1 p.m. You know, it went to like 9 p.m. and it was packed. There was 40,000 people there at first fight. Yeah, like we were talking last time, you know, I feel like the state of MMA right now for the opportunity for fighters is, is not good. You know, there's not a ton of

promotions that are, you know, belt or is gone and belt or was a place we can go and get paid, you know? And as fewer and fewer promotions, you know, are paying that kind of money, you're not picking up fighters, you know, it's, it's you get pigeonholed, you know, are paying that kind of money, you're not picking up fighters, you know, it's, you get pigeonholed, you know, you're going to the UFC or, you know, they got to pick from there. So, Ryzen definitely has opportunity, you know, it's obviously huge out there,

the Japanese people and culture in there, pretty picky about what foreigners they bring over, you know, but I definitely see them kind of rise to that number two spot. Love it. Well, love that they signed you. I think this makes a lot of sense and I'm looking forward to seeing you inside that ring. Thank you for doing this, Ryan. And again, sorry for keeping you waiting. I appreciate it. You're a gent. Always appreciate your time. Appreciate you coming on. Congrats on the deal and looking forward to the debut. Thanks, buddy. Appreciate having me on.

All right, there he is. Ryan Bader, newest member of the Ryzen roster and the synergy there once this movie comes out in October coupled with his debut, a couple of Coleman in his corner helping him out. It's going to be great. It's going to be great for the film. I wonder if Dwayne put in a call and said, come on, sign Ryan, makes sense. Usyk involved as well. Ton of famous people involved. The photo of him without the tattoos, wild.

Did you guys see the trailer? Oh yeah. Trailer's amazing. It looked good. I think a lot of people were saying, uh, oh, you know, it's not going to be good. The rocks fell off. Now I feel like people are hyped again. There were skeptics out there. The people involved in it are high level people. Like the Safdies, like this is going gonna be a good movie. I'm fairly certain Look at Dwayne with the Nautica shirt. I can't wait for it The only bummer is that it doesn't come out till October. Yeah, I almost feel like though like these characters are such

Knowledge like it's like if you're if you're a historian watching a movie about history that you kind of lived through or saw Like it I don't know it feels a bit weird because I know sometimes like winning time You know that show yeah exactly exactly and they're like playing magic John like I know magic I'm yes, but but if the movie is good enough, it will take you out of that And so let's see, you know how they can create the drama, but the people involved in this I expect this to be a Fantastic movie. Will you get that movie in Ireland, Pete Seed? Yeah, of course. What do you think it is?

I don't know. Sometimes it's like two months later. I don't know. Do you want to have to go on a horse-drawn carriage to see the fucking thing? No, but sometimes you guys get like the North American films a few months later, no? The shows and whatnot? It's a new world with Netflix and whatnot. Films are only in the theaters for like two days, then they're on the old streaming service.

One thing, one concern, right? Just to level this out with me. One concern I have. Smash the Machine documentary is legendary. MMA fans, we've all watched it a million times. Ben Foulkes, he did put out a thought after the trailer came out. I'm just saying, I hope there's a few bits of treasure in there for us because

from what he was saying, which is accurate is, everything that's depicted in the trailer is a scene that is in the documentary. So is it just a remaster of the documentary? Oh, is it just one to one with no additional dramatization? I would like something in there for us, you know what I mean? Something new, maybe a new aspect of Kara's life explored or something new. I'm sure they will. It just would be a bit of a bummer for all the fans. Like, I mean, it was such a cold documentary, like an iconic thing within the sport. I would hope they just developed it a bit out further than

just a retelling of the documentary. So let's see. So let's see. Because the fact that he said, oh, you know, if Dwayne's mouthpiece fell out, like they kept it, they wanted a documentary style, would lead me to believe that they weren't going to try to copy it. You know what I mean? One for one. I like that. If it's shot documentary style,

which is sort of the way the film is shot, but if it's shot that way, I think it'll be very interesting. Now, GC did reveal that he's never seen the documentary, which is totally fine. I think he was like six when it came out, if not younger. The question is, do you see the doc first at this point? You see the movie first? Really? Would have waited out. Yeah. Cause he don't want to, he gets the, we get to then experience the true his fresh eyes.

Ah. Rather than having the, you know what I mean? But then you see the movie first and then the doc to see how it matches up. Makes sense, so then I A, don't know what happens. Yeah. Like in the end and everything. And then B, if the documentary is this legendary

and the movie doesn't live up to it, then I would be disappointed if I had already seen the doc where I can go see the movie and be like, ah, this is actually, it's pretty good. Well, his opinion probably matters more than ours if he if he's going in with no boy is whatsoever You know what I mean? He's going yeah, I can see that movie. I could see that. Oh, is that a King of Rio shirt? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I forgot to take it off. I've got my hoodie off. That's a sick one Who made that one full-blown oh, yeah, that's a nice one old school. That's really nice

Is that old? Nah couple years old. Okay Is that the uncrowned crown there where bottom bottom, right? Yeah, that's it. That's it right there after before we even started a hell two years before I think I ordered this in like May of 2023 or something guys yesterday I forgot to go to the super chats this is what happens when books say Frank isn't here right Frank and a lot of out you value adds this week yeah what else you know just just the vibes we just talk about this I mean I can't stop looking this is a classic right here you see this PT look at this this is sideline this is sideline Josh from our friend the one McFarland toys this is like this is January playoff game against the Ravens saying like give me the ball you know

it's fourth quarter I'll show you the MVP is yeah that's what this is with the big coat like how does the coat stay on I don't know where do you get these big coats I'm not sure but that's who this is right here this like they've got heaters in those bad boys and everything, don't they, those jackets? In the coats! They have heaters! I believe so. How do you get heaters in there? I like the sugar too. The sugar one's nice, we're sure. Desk is getting crowded, man. Yeah, I like that. The crowd-er, the better, that's a word. The crowd-er, the better. The problem is they have these bases on them, so there's this little thing here that doesn't allow it to stand up. You see?

Bit of a blue tack. Yeah. Stick it down. Yeah, yeah, yeah. One of them things. Well, then the problem is then, you know, other people use the desk and everything gets all messy, you know? That's shared. I feel that's shared.

Do we have any super chats? And also, who's reading said super chats? I think Jordan should read them. All right. Well, 24inchdubs says, Congrats congrats ariel of bleed green forever. This one warms my heart This one warms my heart 24 inch dubs for months. Oh celtics. We're gonna whoop you guys. It's just like the constant annoying trash talk. I have a friend who uh Who's a pacer fan from way back in the day. I knew him when I was a kid in Montreal.

My cousin dated his sister and he was like DMing me, oh, we're gonna beat you. I'm like, you know what, I'm not a trash talker. Just let me enjoy. I don't wanna partake in any of this. And it never goes well. I just want my team to win and I wanna be left alone and die in peace.

What about all the videos coming out about this game? I mean, do you guys feel it? I feel it. I actually, I put out my definitive top 12 moments of the rivalry and I could still come up with like another five to six. That's how rich this history is. I actually haven't seen a single video.

Yeah. Top 17 if you will. Oh my God. The videos have been amazing. To the My Way song, WrestleMania 17 inspired. That one was pretty good. Oh, there was a new, now they're making like,

what do you mean you didn't see it? You're just, you're refusing to click? What do you mean refusing to click? I scroll my feed, I don't see a single thing about it. I put them in the chat so you guys could educate yourselves. There's incredible. Educate ourselves?

I was there. What are you talking about? He was six years old. ourselves, I was there. What are you talking about? He was six years old. I was watching all this, what are you talking about? I'm watching the same shit you were. Don't even think. The problem is I haven't thought about it in two decades because that's how long it's been.

No, you would have a better alibi if you said you weren't around, you weren't watching, you weren't born. The fact that you are actually alive, living in the state of New York, living in New York City,, and you still say I know you guys are trying to rob me up It's fine. It's fine In the pantheon of NBA Raviris It's not even number one for the next five top five top five yes come on. Okay, the Knicks have three rivals, right? Pacers, Heats, Bulls. Oh those are the rivals. No. Those are their greatest rivals.

Pacers, Heats, Bulls. Now you could talk about the Celtics, but the Celtics history isn't that extensive. The Nets is just like, it's a thing, but like they've only played them I think once or twice in the playoffs. Pacers, Heats, Bulls, dating back to the 90s. The thing is, the Bulls rivalry was very one sided and it ended in 96. The Heat one was very very heated, but the team that we played the most is the Pacers. It ended in 96. When did this, I mean. No no no. Keep going, keep going. 99, 2000, 2013, 2024. 2013 was like a five game series

Talking about how much he hates Roy Herbert and Paul George played them six total games in the playoffs It's so crazy I hate you for for for the MMA fans out there because this basketball talk. Let's just encapsulate this Let's just put a bow on this thing. Let's put a bow. This rivalry, it's tough. It's the ultimate fighter. It was once something and now it's not anymore.

And that's okay. That's okay, Ariel. It was once something and it's not. How can you say it's not something anymore when they've now played? Can you not concede now? If they go seven games, will you now say, okay, it's a rivalry again?

Last year, the Knicks crawled into the series with nobody healthy and the Pacers just walked to the next round. When we walked they beat us in seven games what are you talking about? Yeah because the Knicks were hurt if the Knicks were unhurt they were winning the East which as you know I had a ticket on because I really believed in that. Yeah I forgot about that, USC 300. The Pacers got by default because the Knicks Rosmer went into the more. And they were frauds and they got swept in the next round. Exactly! So that's not like a rivalry. They're just frauds who got lucky.

And the Knicks will pound them out this year. You hear the way Jalen talks about it. Tyrese Halberton that... I don't like him. Yeah, he shows up with the Reggie t-shirt and beats us at home. He wasn't even alive when Reggie did that. Yes, but the point is he stuck it to him. He stuck it to him. And so now revenge must be exacted. Revenge for 35 years ago, okay. So, what annoys me so much is that I know

you're just trying to wind me up. It's the Ultimate Fighter. I know you're trying to wind me up, and it's still annoying me. This is the best group all day. This has been the best group all day. Just started going, you're not gonna get me. You're not gonna get me.

It's so- Season 33 of The Ultimate Fighter, here we go. Are the Celtics and Lakers rivals? Yeah. Oh, but they haven't played in 15 years in the playoffs. How can they be rivals? How can they be rivals? They haven't played in 15 years.

Is there any recent history we're talking about? Should we talk about the Pacers and the Celtics? That's it, I rest my case. I mean, the Lakers and Celtics rivalries. I rest my case. Should we talk about that rivalry? What other chats? Let's go break down a bit.

By the way, on crown.com, we do have an article from a good writer, Anthony Sollhefinger, about Tyrese Halliburton Yes, Brunton unique crossover relationship between the NBA and pro wrestling Rivalry can we can we talk about how this WWE storyline is like tying into it? It's been fantastic So they're really leaning all the way in yesterday like they like they made it happen I know like they scripted this yesterday they did a thing where McAfee and Michael Cole made a bet on on raw and

I guess the terms of the bet are if the Pacers win because McAfee's an indie guy if the Pacers win Cole has to do an entire episode of raw while wearing a tank top which is a staple of McAfee's wardrobe and if the Knicks win Cole a New Yorker, a longtime Knicks fan, he said he was at the last championship I mean game five they won game five in 1973 in LA so I don't know if he was there but he went to an NBA Finals game back in the day he McAfee will have to do raw in a suit which is something that he doesn't often do but then they teased that Halliburton was gonna be on and then he announced that he's going

to be in the new WWE game 2k25 or maybe he's a downloadable character that comes out. He's content in the game. Right. But to your point they are very much saying like oh we scripted this. Remember the reason why they had them there was because they had just played that spring. I think it was in August that played that spring. I think it was in August that they showed up. I remember it was great. So it made sense but Halliburton does say as he's walking to the back like I'll be back I'll be back

so it's it's it's all very it's all great it's all brilliant. The one thing I'll say though. Brunson vs Halliburton at WrestleMania? Brunson. Next year? Notice Brunson when they're asking him questions about it yesterday if you saw it media availability's love it listen to it all watch it all he's like he's not he's not playing around yeah not showing up on Raw doing this stuff the guy's locked in you're seeing Halliburton is his eyes not on the prize He's a little like he's new vorish all right look at look he's more worried about getting in a 2k game than like he's new vorish all right look at look he's more worried about getting in the 2k game then the next round hard hat this is me right off yeah look at brunson you really don't like Halliburton huh pizza but no it just

pissed me I was watching that I only star watching the NBA like what a year ago and was that the series with the Knicks was the last year yeah it was last year so memorable yeah yeah it at moment number nine in my top 12 list. Oh, for sure. When TJ McConnell had a three to cut the lead to 17. No, no, no. Andrew Nemhart hit an insane three pointer. McConnell was on fire in the pocket series.

You don't even know anything. This is like we're talking about College Football. The average is eight points again. Oh, like when Vince Young ran at the Rose Bowl. Like I don't know anything. Yeah, we were talking about that still in 2025. I don't know anything about this. Pascal Siakam. Just like you guys. Remember him? I liked him on the Raptors, but now you know anything. Yeah, we were talking about that still in 2025. I don't know anything about this. Pascals, yeah.

Just like you guys. Remember him? I liked him on the Raptors, but now you know he's not as good as me. Okay, what else, what else? Spider Monkey says, is Jones V. Aspiral being held up by the UFC for negotiation with a new streaming partner? Jones seems to be playing with the media for fun.

Okay, so that has been brought to my attention, but look, I think that, I think you could throw out that theory if they were saving it for 26, right, because the new partner would benefit from this. But I don't think they want this in 26, they want it in 25. So I think you can make that theory maybe with Connor, although I don't even think they're playing that game with Connor from being honest I

Think I think I think we might get maybe get some sort of Intel on the state of things as far as the negotiations and where they may end up in the next couple months So I don't think that it's Yeah, I don't I don't think that they are... Yeah, I don't think that they are coinciding. I don't think that this is dragging out because of any TV negotiations or streaming negotiations or broadcast negotiations. Again, I'll reiterate, I think John gave them a number. I think they met the number and I think John quite simply said, I'm not interested. And I think that's where we are now.

And I think that his behavior would back that up. Now, I think they're hoping that today he calls them or tomorrow he calls them and says, I'm back in. And again, as I said yesterday, there is no rush to make the fight now. I feel like the deadline is MSG. Does anyone disagree? I wouldn't be surprised if this drags out to MSG

or if they need a big fight. Again, I don't see where that fight makes total sense. They then are forced to pull the trigger. But to me, don't be surprised if they just allow this to drag out until MSG. If Tom is unable to force their hand, then they have all the time until MSG. And when I say MSG. If Tom is unable to force their hand then they have all the time until MSG. And when I say I'm also with you like if it does not happen by MSG I

don't think it's ever gonna happen. That feels like it. But by the way when I say you know December you know I think last card of the year they might they might put it together. Okay fine maybe December max but by the way I don't mean like it's gonna drag till November till the time they have to make that. Yeah when they announce that fight. Because if it's not that fight for MSG and you look at who's out there I guess maybe to poor you could come back if he wins you know what I mean like there isn't a that's the perfect MSG fight Tom would rather fight tomorrow I would imagine that's the problem they're running up against

the how long can we keep Tom Aspinal on the sidelines six months by the way? What would you say in six months MSG's in six months? Yeah? Like we're just getting into the spring. We're just getting into the summer. We're talking about a winter fight It's crazy. It's crazy. What else what else? Paul Cassidy says serious question can PFL afford Francis if not UFC brings him back to fight Tom for a vacant heavyweight title. Wow, Paul Cassidy. Whoa, whoa, hold on. What is this giving you props like this is an original idea? I literally said this on our prediction show.

Never heard it, never heard it. I said this. What did you say? I said that my bold prediction was Francis is going to come back to the UFC and fight Tom Aspinall. Okay, George, can you check that please? Yeah, let's check this Now this is bullshit because this Knicks fan over here is mad that I'm shitting on this non-existent rivalry this ultimate fighter ass

Cry over here Can I throw this out there? Yeah, Okay. I think PFL can afford France. It's a two fight deal by the way. There's only one fight left. Yeah. I mean, who knows how it's structured. Point is, if Aspinall Jones doesn't come to fruition and everyone's disappointed, but we'll all just kind of be relieved.

If they couple that with like, hey, we're stripping John and it's going to be now now new champion Tom Aspinall defending his belt against Francis we've done a deal with massive do you think the the fans will be like hell yeah yes yeah yeah does that does that soften the wall we are so desperate for a real challenge for Tom Aspinall that this becomes something and Francis never lost his belt like the sport moved on very quickly from Francis Ngannou being the undisputed heavyweight champion because John Jones then got the belt

and they were able to kind of move on from that. But the reality is Francis Ngannou has not been defeated in MMA since capturing the belt and becoming champion. And so I would really like to see that fight. I think that's as good a fight as you can get on par with the John Jones fight in my opinion. And so I think that's as good a fight as you can get on par with the John Jones fight, in my opinion. And so I think that's a great thing, so much so that I predicted it in December and January.

Wow, wow, wow. Fair play to Paul Acasity for this one. Out of nowhere. Wow, Pete C. I like that. Me too? Me too. Now, do I think it's a massive long shot?

Yes, but that might be their only hope. But to go back to the first part of the question can PFL afford Francis Kanu yes PFL could afford Francis and gunner but the question becomes what value does Francis and gun who have to the PFL and what value does the PFL have to Francis and gunner if as long as that equation continues to make sense for both sides then you'd continue to do business but like Francis has one left. What's his value beyond that to the PFL? Is he guaranteed to resign?

Do you have a long-term plan for him? You've now got this PFL Africa thing, but now the date is moving and it seems like there, you know, there's more things in flux. Like what, what is the, the state of the house is the questions you ask. I, I'm not concerned that they couldn't pay Francis Ngannou, but is it worth paying in Francis Ngannou if you don't have

challenges for him? If you don't have new opponents and challenges that you can present to him? Tom Aspinall is one challenge that I do believe Francis Ngannou could get up for and would be worth his time. You know it's wild as we were sitting here and I'm looking at the date. I remember it was around this time in 2023 that Francis signed with PFL because I remember PT Chuck and I did a breaking news edition of the ringer MMA show on a Tuesday in between two episodes of the MMA hour and I was going to Ireland later that day to cover the Katie Taylor versus Chantel Cameron fight and I just looked it up and it was May 16 2023

So, you know just just days ago, two years ago. And I bring this up only to remind all of us that they had Francis and in two years they did a pretty poor job of finding any type of contender for him. Right? Like you had two years to find someone. Now the Fahedah fight it worked out. He fights you Ryan Bader, but no one really knew who he was. It should be said though that that was good. That one was okay. That made sense. It was fine, but no one really knew who he was. In two years they were unable to get anyone to come over. Remember there was some talk of Derrick Lewis? Yeah. He quickly resigned. Deontay Wilder.

Deontay Wilder. Now someone posted yesterday, it might have been Kaposa, and I don't remember when it was, but it was a period. Oh, because yesterday was the anniversary of Daniel Cormier versus Josh Barnett. Oh, wow. In the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2011. Was that the final Cormier? No, it wasn't Josh Barnett. It was, you know what?

It was Cormier Jeff Munson, I think it was, and Barnett against Derek, not Derek Rogers, Brett Rogers. Anyway, point is, it was some Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix second round, and it was in 2011, and a look at the top 20 heavyweights, like the amount of talent back then in the heavyweight division compared to now 20 across MMA cross MMA altogether oh absurd that's like rockin JBS like oh man for doom fader was still in the mix yeah like

it's just great compared to now there's no one you know what I mean it's not the same what else Jordan what else and lastly charger says Rick doesn't know about bad authority yeah yeah well that's not true Rick doesn't know about bad. Dirty. Yeah, that's not true What do you know about Brad Dirty? You know nothing about tabs number one pick I don't know what year prior to my fandom number one pick what I do know think it was a nasa 89 NASCAR owner like that has become his his thing now like prolific in in the in the auto racing space So what number what? Was he? Yeah, I'm not even looking at this.

Was he 21? 43. Who's 21? Oh, maybe. Maybe I'm thinking of, yeah, I don't know. I'm with you, Pizzi. 43 for his center is terrible. Just swack.

I'm trying to see here. Nah, don't hate on the number. 43? Come on. Yeah, what is that? Who's buying a big 43 Dardie jersey? A lot of cash flows at that time. I've never heard of him. He was the number one pick. Hate him immediately. Yeah, I'm with you, Pizzi. Danny Manning was the number 43 come on yeah what is that who's buying a big 43 dirty jersey a lot of cash at that time he was the number one item immediately yeah I'm with you piece Danny Manning was 88 so he's probably I think he was 87 or 89 86

number right there oh so that's right before you I think those the years right after you eat you a terrible number of P.T. for basketball. He said 87? His nickname was El Gato Grande. Was it really? The big cat? According to Wikipedia. Wow. There's only one big purr. That is big cat.

Wow, Len Bias, number two that year, crazy. Crazy. Yeah, do you guys know about Len Bias? All right, rest in peace. 30 for 30. Wow, wow, P.T, please. 30 for 30. Wow! Wow! PT with the 30 for 30! Come on. I got a text from a friend of mine, a very good friend of mine yesterday.

It actually made me laugh. I was going to tell you. His name is Jason. He's the man. He said, could I tell you, PT is the fourth man who just starts talking randomly or laughing is the best. It's like an emotional hot tag. Like you're just showing up. That's in my description. You're the emotional hot tag. Yeah, I like it. I'm a very emotional man.

Are you nervous about tomorrow? Tomorrow it's PT versus on-air Jordan. Yeah, Jordan won't even talk to me about it. Wow. Just pulling up on me and my dad won't even talk to me about it. It's what I mean? Wow. Just, what's the, what's the- And my dad won't even talk to me about it. It's Man United versus Tottenham. Europa final? What's the stakes though? The stakes are the winner-

Champions League football. Two sad sack franchises get a, get a gift and enter Champions League by winning this game. But how? Why does that work? Do you remember, do you remember? Can we just talk about the get, when, when Alanga scored the goal against, you know, and Ariel was giving it socks like, oh, what are you going to do? We could be in a situation where we're in the Champions League and you are not.

And we're in confidence league. Why is the lower team able to jump as a champion? This is like the NIT tournament and the prize if you win this tournament is that you get Champions League next year. But you guys weren't eligible for that tournament. Just to be clear. No, this is about last year's standings. It's going to be, we will be annihilated in the Champions League next clear. No, just to be clear. This is about last year's standings. Got it, got it.

It's gonna be, we will be annihilating the Champions League next year. Okay, but what about, what are the stakes? Your team versus Jordan's team, what are the stakes? Well, I've actually already, Pizzi told me off the air that his dad won't talk to him this week, but I've been texting Pizzi's dad.

He's coming to watch the game tomorrow. We are actually really close now, and he said. Your dad is a fan of that club? His dad is a friend. Yeah, he talked me out of supporting this team when we were kids, like me and my brother, And he said your dad is a fan of that club Supporting this team when we were kids like me and my brother he was like don't fucking support this team It is which team spurs. Yeah. Yeah, he was like don't do it It was all my life Joe was just watching my friends winning championship Championship don't support this team and they were never on telly anyway, but I'm very united bandwagon

Yeah, but you know that she came to play Shamrock Rovers when we were just kids, like four or five, and we were brought to that. And obviously they went in to win the league down that year, so yes. But was he right? Because every time Jordan talks about that club, it sounds like they suck.

Yeah. They do suck. They do suck. They don't win high seasons. Oh, OK. So he was right to tell you not to. But I honestly wouldn't mind if they won. Like, you know, I have a soft spot for Spurs. I like Jordan too a little bit, so I mean, let he was right. He told you not to But I honestly wouldn't mind if they won like, you know of a sauce buffer spurs I like Jordan to a little bit. So I mean let them do it and I mean like

You know in Champions League too, you know, yeah exactly. What a spurs gonna do What do you know you're gonna do like let's spurs have a choice have a better chance in Champions League than United Bollocks you don't think so either of them have a child I would say this trophy would mean a lot more to the Tottenham fan than it was to Man U. Man U's won everything over the last 20-30 years man Tottenham hasn't won anything in almost 40 so yeah it's like what Ariel, you know what Ariel always says to Chuck when Chuck is like oh I'd like to win a championship and then Chuc then Ariel goes you already had one yes so many oh it's so many and it was great.

So I don't really care. You know, we deserve this shit situation we're in. Have these teams played each other at all recently? Or is this- Yeah, it's a very extensive rivalry. It's one of the best rivalries in the history of the sport. Spurs won every game this year basically. No, I'm kidding.

Who's the last time they played? I'm kidding. 25 years ago? No, so they must be up here probably. I know you were trying to set up there. That's why I jumped kidding. 25 years ago? No, so there must be a- Probably like three. I know you were trying to set up there. Huge. That's why I jumped in. Yeah.

If Spurs wins, PT wears a Spurs jersey. If United wins, Jordan wears a jersey. Is that really a punishment? I don't know. I've got a nice little, I've got a nice little Brendan Johnson at home. Oh yeah? Little being the key word, it's your kids.

Yeah, it's my kids' kid size. Actually, that'd be a funny punishment, seeing PT wear a tiny jersey. Yeah, you gotta squeeze into a kid's jersey. You'd have to put up some of the reviewer discretion before we came on. I looked like a burst-fucking sausage. Well, I just want to tell you guys, I'm delighted for both of you. I'm pulling for both of you. No, you're not. I always saw the part at the end of the show when I smoked you that day,

and you were like, well, after Peter's debacle, definitely sport for me. I'm looking at the end of the show when I smoked you that day and you were like Well after Peters the buckle definitely split In Johnson, I thought what we time up thought Even know what you're saying You've already stated who you're supporting Halloween don't give me this fucking friends my guy. I love the yeah Oh, no, just second ago. You're not the mom we know. No, it all comes out in the wash. It all comes out in the fucking wash Gentlemen, I'm very excited about tomorrow's show. What have we got? Tomorrow on the program we have Hinato Money Moikano. We know that he will be fighting on International Fight Week UFC 317 June 28th against Benil Daryush. That was the fight that was supposed to happen back in January. Armand gets her. Armand, is Armand gonna

fight this year? What's going on with Armand? What's happening? He should jump in. If this thing is true, Bill Klein, Armand needs to jump in, man. He needs to start taking some risks. Yes. I mean, that would probably put him back in the good graces of the company because it feels like right now he's in, he's in a bit of a dog house, if you will. Right? Absolutely. Yeah. Anyway, Henato Moekano, always a good time. Michael Carter Williams, former star from Syracuse University, turned NBA Rookie of the Year, long time NBA veteran, will be competing in his first boxing match next week. Oh shit! He is making the transition over. Big MMA fan, big fight fan. His daughter competes in Jiu Jitsu but has always loved MMA, goes to a bunch of UFCs.

I've seen him there. Is training to fight on May 29th, I think it is. So wanted to have him on to talk about why he's doing this and what his aspirations are. And I am really excited about this one, guys. I am really excited about this one guys. I am really excited about this one of the most interesting People in pro wrestling right now someone that I've talked about on this show and online Someone who I've talked to guests about on this show Recently Karrion cross who has been doing fascinating things

He cut an incredible promo after WrestleMania. He's from Las Vegas He wasn't on WrestleMania. He showed up on the post show look it up. Just cut a freaking pipe bomb esque promo With his wife scarlet by his side He's he's done incredible things on social media these documentaries on his YouTube channel. He's doing it all right They may not be using him as much as he would like on television, but he is garnering incredible support online with the fans, with merch, the fans are behind them. Like, wrestling fans love when they pinpoint a guy that they think that they can get over the hump and they all rally

around this guy and they think that he's being wrong. That's what's happening with Cross right now. And he's a legit tough guy. Trained in Jiu Jitsu, might in fact be a black belt, I have to double check, but has trained with many different guys, the likes of Matt Serra, Josh Barnett, trains back home in Florida as as well like a legit martial artist who has had a great career in NXT and WWE. He'll be joining us in studio tomorrow which I'm very very excited about because there's a lot to get into with Karrion slash Killer Kross so stay tuned for that. Did I get to all the news and notes? Did I get to everything that we needed to get to? I think I got to everything right? Felt bad that we got to Ryan Bader so late there.

Ludovic Klein posted a video. Oh. There we go. He politely waved to you and just just said he's he's all healthy. Did he really? Yeah. Oh Jesus. I'm trying to get it in the system but I don't know if we have enough time. Wait did we did we clip that off? Did we clip what off? Like what he's waving to me he literally tweeted and said at Ariel how on a oh geez with a waving emoji and said hey man I'm healthy I'm all good okay opportunity miss for Armin should I ask his manager whose manager oh here it is it's his face in the video he's literally oh there is video oh it'd be some serious nice it's nice it's nothing like you ain't you ain't calling him see you at the show in two weeks he's saying

he'll be on he runs that dub and he's coming show in two weeks hey not completely listen we learned we did this to teach you all a very valuable lesson. You must confirm. And that's what we did. We did it in front of you. We confirmed with the sources. Now let's ask his manager, Danny. Let's just double check.

Because that could be AI, by the way. Kevin De Bruyne is last game from Man City today at home and he missed the setter from five yards hit the bar. He's one of our own he's one of our own he'll be he'll be a big part of the Chicago fires plans next year in the MIS. Forest if if if MGW leaves. If Wyatt is going yeah De Bruyne the other way. He's a little over the hell. Really? Yeah Well anyway more of this talk on uh on crown's new premier league podcast, which we are not saying hosted by kicking balls By the way, a kick in the balls. That's not bad. Oh kicking balls. I like that kicking the balls. It works too We're all good you uh you down

Yeah, you want to add it to the uh to the plate? Yeah, we do it my time though. do it before kickoff on Saturday morning. So you're gonna have to get a before I know I would just like to listen to it No, you're on the show Before after the yard work. Oh Look at the fucking unit there. That's me. Grandfather's pickaxe. What is that? There is there there's Billy Carol, is that really him? Yeah, that's him man. By the way, why do you have that? I thought this is your grandfather. Wow. There he is there. There's Billy Carol. Is that really him? Yeah, that's him. Yeah, by the way, why do you have that? Why does he have an Apple watch? I wonder I was gonna say it's funny how he's also wearing a white shirt black shorts and a watch

Are they Nike shorts? He's not not they didn't have no like you back then Yeah, how everyone else is in coal my retirement a tire grandfather Billy Carol is just No headlamp nothing this is my pickaxe Looks like you to the hair now lots of carrots. What are we doing back there? What are we doing? Why do that's me excavating the the back there. See that lawn. It's fucked. We need to sort it out, man. No, I thought you fixed it. I thought you sorted it. The lawn's not sorted. No, the garden's nearly there. Um, but it's been a long,

just need a few seeds, some fertilizer, kind of grassland. I just sent you like half the garden as well. The other side of that garden is just piles of fucking muck and shit. So still got to do that. Bermuda? One of those boys. I don't know what it is. pH levels and shit.

Bluegrass? I don't know. Just Irish grass. Gentlemen. I don't know what you mean. Grade A Irish grass. All right, gents, on that note, we do have another show coming up. Hard Out 335. Hit it! Nailed it on the button. Right? Yeah.

You know yourself, B.T. It is great. It is great to be here doing two shows on a Tuesday, Arrow and Adé. 5pm Eastern on the Dazon YouTube channel and also the Dazon app. Please do check it out. We've got the white rhino, one Dave Allen, joining us coming off his big win over Johnny Fisher. What about that George Littered? Pizzi, you're buzzing. Oh, he's fucking class, man. Handsome, handsome, potent. I love him. Yeah. Can't wait to see him again yeah same again you know what's that

well you know something like that yeah well a lot to talk about in the world of boxing what's going on with Canelo and Crawford what days is happening and who's promoting it what's happening there we'll talk about Johnny Fisher we'll talk about this weekend's fights the Dazon debut of one Moses Itama. And by the way, did you guys know that if Moses Itama doesn't fight by tomorrow, he cannot break Mike Tyson's record of being the youngest heavyweight champion of all time. And guess what? His fight is on Saturday and it's not for a heavyweight title. So the talk of him breaking the record is now essentially no more but he is obviously worth

watching and very much the future of the heavyweight division certainly the British heavyweight division all right thank you very much all our guests today thank you very much to Angela Lee go check out fight story thank you to Mateus Gamrod great stuff from him thank you to Jose Aldo and Fabiano. And of course, thank you very much to Ryan Bader. Thanks to you, thanks to them. Back on what is it, let's just say peace right here.