The Ariel Helwani Show - LIVE FROM NEWARK! Daniel Cormier, Alex Pereira w/ Plino Cruz, Kayla Harrison, Arman Tsarukyan, Al laquinta, Aljamain Sterling

Episode Date: June 1, 2024

A special one night only show in Newark, New Jersey--live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 31st 2024! Featuring interviews with Daniel Cormier, Alex Pereira w/ Plino Cruz, Kayla Harrison, Arman Tsarukyan, Al laquinta, Aljamain Sterling.

The Mixed Martial Art Tower is back in your life. And this is a special one, my friends. This is a very special one. This is a recording of a live show that we did on Friday, May 31st at the beautiful NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey. Yes, the fifth Helwani Roadshow has come and gone. And while we didn't stream it, and I know some of you were upset about that, we did want to provide this audio for all of you, especially heading into UFC 302. It was a magical night. A lot of special guests joined us. A lot of famous fighters joined us. We had all of our friends in attendance as well. It was great. It was the best and biggest one that we've done so far. I love doing these, and hopefully that comes across in this recording. And so, you'll hear from a lot

of familiar voices and names, and it will be the last stop, if you will, as we prepare for UFC 302 on Saturday night. So, again, sit back, relax, enjoy this. It's our fifth Helwani Roadshow. Many more to come, but for now, here's the one from May 31st, Friday night, Newark, New Jersey, Brick City, and J-PAC. A great time was had. Enjoy. This is amazing. This feels great. I've been sweating my tuchus off for the last three weeks when we decided to do this just three weeks ago. I appreciate everyone for coming here. By the way, I'm Ariel. Hello. Thank you so much. Yeah. This is freaking nuts. This is by far the biggest venue that we've ever done one of these in. And they told me three weeks ago, let's do it. It's the night before 302. It's the night before Dustin Poirier finishes the story.

Yeah. And I said, you know what? This feels good. This feels right. Lafayette Street, Lafayette. We'll have fighters up here. We'll talk to them. We'll do a live version of the show.

We're not going to stream it because we want to give to you all. We want to give to you up there. You know, the entitled brats that want to stream this. No, this is one night only, one night stand, like old school ECW style. You know what I mean? Hammerstein Ballroom. If Cena wins, we riot. You know what I'm talking about.

That's right. And so I said, all right, let's do this. We've done four of these before. This is the fifth one. We did one in New York City back in November prior to the MSG show. And I said, you know what? We're going to do it in Newark, and we're going to quadruple it. So we have four times the amount of people here coming tonight who, or at least bought tickets.

So thank you very much if you bought and didn't come. But I hope you all did come if you bought tickets. I don't know who I'm talking to, because obviously you guys are here, but you get the point. I said we'll do four times in Newark on a Friday night in May, May 31st, National Smile Day today, so I'm smiling in a very big way. And we're going to donate all the net proceeds, every single penny that was supposed to come

to me or the team is going to the Good Fight Foundation. Every single penny. I am leaving here with nothing, nothing but smiles and gratitude and appreciation. I can't thank you guys enough. It's a crazy, crazy career. It's a crazy, crazy journey. The fact that one person wants to come out and listen to me, and I know you're really not here for me. I know you're here for the fighters. But the fact that you're even here on a Friday night in Newark blows my mind. In 2011, when I was just starting out, there was a guy named Joe Rogan who was doing, you know, comedy shows before all the pay-per-views. And he would do it after the weigh-ins.

And don't get it twisted. I freaking love Joe Rogan. Don't get it twisted. Don't listen to the people online and all that stuff. What Joe Rogan has done is incredible. What he continues to do, he's a testament to the sport. Sure, he did me dirty after 199, but it's all good. We're all good, Joe.

The point is, I saw what he did, and I said, one day I want to do something like that. I want to do shows after the weigh-ins. I want to give people something to do after the weigh-ins, before the pay-per-view. And so, you know, he's selling out Radio City. We're doing NJPAC. And we're working our way up. And so thank you to NJPAC for this. This is an incredible venue.

I've never gotten more street cred from parents at my kids's school, from parents on my kid's soccer team. They're like, wow, I just saw you on the NJPAC website. What do you do for a living? They had no idea. I'm like, oh, yeah, the luchador mask. What's up with that? It's a long story. El nariz for life.

So this is just amazing. I am filled with such appreciation and gratitude. It's been a tough few months for me, and I don't talk about it a lot. And sometimes you start to doubt yourself, and sometimes you start to have imposter syndrome, and sometimes you start to wonder if you still got it, if you still have your fastball. And so just seeing you guys here, seeing the faces, seeing people take time out of their day means more to me than you'll ever know. And thank you. And I just want to be honest with you guys. And the fighters who take time out of their day to come hang with all of us, holy smokes. I always go home after the show and I get emotional. I start tearing. You don't even want to know what I'm

going to be feeling after tonight's show. And so before we get into it, quickly, thank you very much to NJPAC. Thank you very much to New York freaking Rick for everything he's done. Thank you very much to GC, Connor Burks. Thank you so much to Mysterious Frank back there. Thank you to Jerry and Brian at UTA. Thank you to everyone who have really been subjected to some

complaining and some anxiety from me over the last couple weeks. We got it done. We're here. We're going to have an incredible night. It's going to be a live version of the greatest combat sports show known to man, which is going to expand in a very big way

come this summer. Stay tuned. More to come. Shout out to Alex and Joe here as well. More to come on that front. But for now, we sit back, we relax, and we talk to some of the greatest fighters in the world. Some of the best freaking fighters in the world. And you know what I was thinking after we announced the lineup?

Holy shit, four of these people actually won at UFC 300. The best card of all time. The card that Dana White wants you to think that I didn't like, but I was the one backing him. Enough of that crap. We won't get into that. Let's get into the guests. Let's get into it. Let's have some fun, all right? By the way, shout out to Celsius and Nero for hooking everyone up. I hope you guys got your stuff. Everyone's being kind today. All right. First guest, what's the big story this weekend? The lightweight

title. Dustin, will he finish the story, or is it Islam? Is he going to retain the pound-for-pound grade? Can Dustin pull it off? Can he jump the ghillie? All that and more. Well, there's a man sitting in the shadows, a man who was offered this fight on this date first, but he said, you know what? I just won at 300. I beat Charles Dubronks.

I beat him rather convincingly. I'm going to sit back on my throne, let them fight it out, and I got next. He is the pride of Armenia. He is the number one contender in the UFC's lightweight division. He is the pride of Armenia. He is the number one contender in the UFC's lightweight division. He is the one and only Armin Sarukyan. Yeah. Armin Sarukyan, my man. Thank you so much. Please have a seat, Armin. This is great. Yes. How are are you my friend?

I'm good thank you I'm so excited thank you guys for coming show some love one more time to Armin Tsurukian I think I'm going to have the best interview in my life so I'm so excited by the way can I just say you smell fantastic thank you

you smell unbelievable what is that? can you give him a shout out? no I don't want to tell well you smell great thank you for You smell unbelievable. What is that? Can you give him a shout out? No, I don't want to tell. Okay, fine, fine, fine. This is a secret. Well, you smell great. Thank you for coming. I really do appreciate it.

You were supposed to be fighting tomorrow night. Initially, you were offered that. It was your decision. I'm just curious, here we are 24 hours away from the title fight. You see Islam there. You see all this stuff. Is there any part of you that's like, you know what? Damn, I should have taken it.

No, because I know I'm young. I'm number one contender i'm number one so why because i want to have a time i want to have a full training camp and be there like when i when i train i train so hard and then when i go to fight i say i said to okay, I did all my work. I gave my best for my training camp, nutrition, all these things. And if I even lose, I'm going to say I did my maximum. But if you have short time, you're going to say, oh, excuses.

You can fight excuses because you had a short notice. I don't want to have that. I want to have full training camp and fight for the title. And I know I'm going to get that fight all this year. I'm the kind of guy... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm the kind of guy who like... I'm a very anxious person. So I'm always thinking, ah, should I have done this? Should I have not done that? Was there any part of you that was like, come on, man, title shot.

Why you give it to me less than two months away? Why couldn't it have been July? Why couldn't it have been August? We do it right now. You know, I'm so confident you know I know like I just didn't understand why you see just wanted to make this fight in June first because they can make it like July yeah I was or any any different days because like gave me at least like 10 weeks because two weeks rest and eight weeks to get ready and but it is what it is

like people say you should even Islam they say you know like you can get a title fight once in your life maybe he thinks like that but I know like I'm gonna have a lot of chance I'm young and I'm still getting better every day I'm like doing

like I think it's the best it's the right decision that I did okay and I think most people would agree that you should be next in fact I don't know if you guys know this but on the ringer MMA show back in January in our yearly preview show I predicted that on December 31st 2024 the lightweight champion of the UFC will be this man that's on the record go to that episode and I said this man will be the lightweight champion the 155 pound champion of the UFC will be this man. That's on the record. Go to that episode. And I said, this man will be the lightweight champion, the 155-pound champion of the UFC. So you're on your way, and you will get this.

I'm just wondering if you've seen Islam this week, not in person, but the photos of him, because there's some talk of something on his foot or on his leg. Have you seen any of this, and what do you think of it? Yeah, I thought he had a staph infection. But right now, I think, I saw the picture and now the staph is already gone, so he's good to go. And I believe if you're ready, it doesn't matter, staph or like, like every fight is when we go to fight, we always have some problem, but we never tell about that. But I feel like Islam ready, Dustin ready, so

tomorrow is going to be a good fight, and I'm so, so excited who is going to win and who I'm going to fight with. Okay, I want to ask you about that in a moment, but just curious, I saw from him earlier this week, he said that you should thank him. That was the word that he used. Thank me

for your career. Without him, there's no you in the UFC now. Did you see those comments? Did you read those comments? Did you hear them? And if so, what's your response? Yeah, of course. I follow UFC.

I follow all, like, your tweets, everybody, like. And, of course, it was short notice, but, like, why I got to say thank you to him. I got to thank, first of all, my my managers, second the UFC who signed me because it's They decided to sign me, not him. He doesn't pick the fighter so it no make sense to say him thank you. I gotta say thank you UFC and my managers and but he gotta say say thank you to me because he got first time in his life 50G when I fought with me. That's right.

That's right. How many days notice was that? That fight that you fought? Around 20 days. 20 days notice. You went the distance with him. Yeah, I was 86 kilos and my manager called me,

you're going to fight in April 20. I said, yes. You don't want to hear with who you're going to fight. I said, doesn't matter. Just it's Islam. I said, even better. Let's go. What do you think happens in that fight with a full training camp?

Back then, you of six years ago. Never know, you know. Of course, I'm like, oh, if I had like a full training camp, I could be ready, like, more, like, but, like, the bad thing, I, it was my first fight in UFC, I was super excited, you know, like, and it's, like, different emotion, I felt that moment, and nervous, yeah, during the fight, I felt I'm not that Armand that I used to in the last fights because it's the UFC, maybe a lot of pressure.

But still, I lost. People say, oh, you showed good fight. But I'm here not just to show good fights. I'm here to win. And now, after him, I didn't lose, in my opinion, I didn't lose any fights. And I won 10 fights right after him, and now I have 10 win streaks. Who's better, in your opinion, Islam or Khabib? It's a difficult question.

Like, personally, I like Khabib more. I don't know why, because when I was maybe young, he already fought in UFC, and I followed him so much. And like on the ground, ground and pound, Habib, freestyle wrestling, Habib, conditional Habib, but like a striker, Islam, like clinch, Islam, and that's it. So it's so difficult to say but I feel like Habib is a different. Seems pretty 50-50 with those. Yeah but a little bit 60-40.

Okay fair enough. Do you think based on what you're seeing and feeling do you think Islam is looking past Dustin? Do you think he respects Dustin? No I don't think they respect him. They very confident and I think they underestimate him. They are very confident. And I think they underestimate him so much.

And maybe it's going to be bad for him. We spoke to Dustin right after the fight was announced. And he told me that he saw you in the gym at some point. And you guys had a conversation. What was that like? Because for those that don't know, they both train at the same gym. They both train in Coconut Creek at American Top Team. So what was that like? Because for those that don't know, they both train at the same gym. They both train in Coconut Creek at American Top Team. So what was that like?

I think he said you did the right decision. Of course. Yeah, you did the right decision. And I believe he said, like, if I'm going to win, we're going to fight. Would that be awkward? Say again? Would that be awkward in the gym if you're both? Yeah, yeah.

I mean, it's okay. It's a big gym. We never train together. We trained like four years ago. We did a couple rounds sparring. Since that day, when I came to the gym, 155 of fighters, they tried not to train with me because everybody knew I can't be real.

And once, when I came first time in LA and I had one or two fights and in the gym was Benil Dariush. He has already like 10 or 15 fights in UFC and his head coach told him, don't train with me. And the coach from the grappling, he said, oh, don't stay with Dariush because his coach said, you're going to fight with him and the the coach from the grappling uh he said oh don't stay with larouche because

his coach said you're gonna fight with him in the future i said how like i'm like uh like i'm in not in top 15 either i just have a two i just have two fights in uc and like in three years i'm like just beat him you know so that's why like people, like, when I was young still that I'm going to be a champion. Amen. Did you give Dustin any tips, anything at all, on Islam? Hey, you know, look for this, look for that. I fought him. Anything at all, or you kept your distance?

No, they're smart, you know. They have good coaches. Oh, he has good coaches, and knows what he's got to do. Yeah, he's got to wrestle. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You think he can get to the 18? This is the worst part. Like, for strikers to learn wrestling is so difficult.

Yeah, he's going to jump for the guillotine, definitely. No, he has actually good guillotine to be honest yeah yeah but like you know to choke good guys is so difficult because everybody knows how to escape and even me like when uh aloe vera like almost choked me but like everybody thought like i'm gonna he's gonna choke me but like i knew how to escape. So the same Islam, if Dustin going to jump on his guillotine, Islam going to escape is just a waste of time and energy. Your escape against Charles Olvera to me was the most impressive one since Volkanovski and Ortega.

I mean, I don't know how you did that, honestly. It's like one of the most superhuman things that I've ever seen. How close was it? This close? How close? How close were you? It looked so tight. No, no, no.

It wasn't close. No? No, no, no. Come on. No, it was super tight, but it wasn't close to tap because I was thinking I could right away to flip and give him mount, you know? I didn't want to give him mount. That's why I stayed there long so but and then I understood I can escape and I flipped and gave him mount so I could do

right away and like escape but I am like it's a bad position for me you know but like and the end of that I understood and the end of that I understood like no way I gotta do that because we are not sweat yet and I gotta give him a mount and try to escape from there. And I gave him mount, escaped and I was on the top like last two, two and a half minutes. And by the way, in case anyone was wondering why we had Armin walk out from this part of the stage and not through the crowd, that was the initial discussion. We didn't want any incidents this time here at the NJPAC. You know, no one doing this to you? None of this. Who's crazy enough to do that to you as you're walking out for a cage fight?

Who's the psychopath? But now it's done, right? No issues. No issues. Did you ever hear from that guy? Did he like at least DM you and say, I'm sorry? No, no, no no so what happened he he he texts dana and he wants to ticket for uc 303 come on this guy yeah because because he gave

you the finger he didn't sue me and uh but like if dana want him give him ticket i'll give him no worries text me oh for real yeah that's nice of you. Did Dana say yes? I don't know about Dana. He didn't respond, I think. But, like, he can text me. I'll give him ticket if Dana wants. But, like, yeah, I got cut, and I got to pay money for that. So I'm not going to do that, even if you say something bad. And what about the commission? Did the commission try to withhold your money, too?

Yeah, they hold my money. What the hell? Yeah. Still? Still, yeah. Boo, boo, Nevada. New Jersey would never do that. They would never dare.

25K. Come on. For what? For that? Yeah. And I didn't even touch it. But it's okay. Will you get it back?

Or they're keeping it? No, no, they're keeping it. Come on. Really? Yeah. You have a great manager. He's a Jew. He could get it back? Or they're keeping it? No, no, they're keeping it. Come on, really? Yeah. You have a great manager. He's a Jew. He could get the money for you.

Come on, Danny. Danny, work on that money. We know how to get money, us Jews. No, for me, money is no problem. But I don't want them to cut me from the fight. No, of course not. Of course not. But what are they going to do with that money in Nevada, 25K?

It doesn't matter. Whatever. If they want to double, 25K more, I can send them. Just don't cut me, please. No, no. They wouldn't do that. They wouldn't do that. Okay, so what is the prediction? What do you think?

Because, you know, I feel like you're a little bit torn. If Dustin wins, there's a chance they do a rematch, no? And then you have to wait? Yeah, it's a... But then you don't want to root against your teammate, but then... So, like, what are the feelings? I feel like there's a lot at play here for you. Yeah, for me, it's better to win Islam

because he's not trying to escape, find something like corner or try to find some easy fights because he's the real deal and he takes all fights that UFC say to him. Right. But for you, he's going to try maybe retire

after title. You really think he'll retire? After he wins? Maybe after he loses, but not after he wins, right? Now you've reached the mountaintop, there's some paydays to be had. He already made a lot of money, so he just needs the title. If I were him, so if I

won title, I would retire. You would? With a win? Yeah, of course. He's like 36 years old and made a lot of money. And even at the end of your career, you won the title fight. Why not? Sure. But if he wins, then he gets real payday as champion.

Yeah, that's true. Fighters like money. Is there any part of you that worries Islam wins, Conor wins, and then all of a sudden they try to do Conor Islam? No, I'm real deal. I'm contender number one. No bullshit fights, guys.

No bullshit. Have they promised you? No problems? They said no problem, but never. You know how it is with these guys. Yeah, they've said a lot to me, too. And then I got to fight to them real. That's right. What about in Abu Dhabi? I feel like it's the Abu Dhabi, they've said a lot to me, too. And then I got to fight to them real. That's right.

What about in Abu Dhabi? I feel like it's the Abu Dhabi pay-per-view if all goes to plan. I want to fight in New York. Yeah. Look at this. Look at these people. My guy's here. Yes.

There are a lot of Armenians. I know a lot of Armenians in California. Yeah, yeah. Hey. Shout out. Yes. I love it. Did you know that?

I see the flag over there. Is there a flag? Wow, look at that. Look at you. You know those guys? Yeah, I know. Okay, all right. Every Armenians know each other.

If they didn't even see each other. It's a bond. Yeah. So what's the prediction? What do you think? Prediction, it's a... Oh, my God. I don't want to say that. Why, why? No, no one's going to... It's not streaming. This is just for's the prediction? What do you think? Prediction, it's a... Oh, my God. I don't want to say that.

Why, why? No, no one's going to... It's not streaming. This is just for us. Everyone keep quiet, all right? I mean, I'm sure. Dustin, he's my teammate, right? Yeah, yeah.

But this is, you know, down the middle. Not your heart, your head. Okay, yeah. Like, I'm going to say like this. Decision by Islam Akachev or Kyo by Dustin. But like 60 on 40. 60% Islam Akachev, 40% Kyo Dustin. So you're giving Dustin a real chance.

Yeah, of course. He has a power. And he is softball, you know. Like Islam never fought with softball. He fought once and he lost in UFC. And he's supposed to fight with Benil Dariush Safba guy but it didn't happen that fight so he just fought once in UFC and I don't know like how he looks like with Safba so but Dustin has a lot of experience with Safba guys

he fought like five six times with Safba and like it could be and last his opponent was softball as well And he already knew what he gotta do but on the striking, you know in the in the wrestling doesn't matter you softball those and They don't care. Do you think Islam is overhyped number one pound for pound? Do you think he has earned that? Yeah, definitely overhyped they think they they think they're unbeatable I don't know why they're like same like us and and I'm gonna show when you say they the whole team no I mean not whole team like

like Islam thinks like no one can beat him but like definitely I can that I can do that do you know a guy you guys probably have never heard of him but maybe Arman has Danny probably has do you know a guy named Ali Abdelaziz yeah okay I don't know you guys probably have never heard of him, but maybe Arman has. Danny probably has. Do you know a guy named Ali Abdelaziz? Yeah. Okay. I don't know.

You guys heard? What was that? What was that? Okay. Anyway, I heard him say that Islam could beat Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua. You heard this. Alex Pereira, he said Islam can knock him out this week.

Ali said this about Islam in the boxing in the boxing he's 155 these guys are 260 pounds no no he does his job so you know

we're talking about him right now he does a good job but like yeah that's a crazy talk yeah yeah that's crazy he never can beat

like someone in boxing even 155 and 145 fighters. If you're going to see his boxing, he's zero on boxing. And if he's going to wrestle, he's zero on wrestling too because MMA is a different sport.

I mean, me too, guys. So if I'm going to wrestle with freestyle wrestlers, they're going to do 10 and 0 and throw you back home. And same boxing. Sometimes I do boxer sparring and like throw you back home and like same boxing sometimes i do is uh boxer sparring and like i said no way like people don't like hurt me please and i wanna i wanna wrestle them right away and the same that's gonna like try to beat him tomorrow and like try to box him and uh

islam gonna right away go to the single leg and then go to the body and from the body take him down. And Islam, he's not good from, he can't shoot from the big distance. He's going to try to push him to the cage and from the clinch or from the single to the body. But, yeah. What was the question? No, it's good. This is great stuff. We're getting a preview

of the fight right now okay last question for you is you fight him later this year maybe October what's tell us

how does it go down? so now we can remember we can watch and say he said it to us at the road show on May 31st in Newark tell us

you know like when Islam today came to the wings like everybody booing. So, and now I think he's not... He wanted to fight in New York. But after this fight, I think he's gonna... He wants to fight and go to Abu Dhabi

because New York doesn't like it. What do you think? How does the fight actually... How do you win? I'm gonna win him by Kyo No doubt So that will be in about 5 months time You may be looking at the next

UFC lightweight champion Everyone Show some love to the pride of Armenia Armin Trukin He could have done anything tonight He came here to hang with all of you Look at up there, all those people Unbelievable Armin Tsurukin. He could have done anything tonight. He came here to hang with all of you. Look at up there, all those people. Unbelievable.

Armin, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. You're the man. Thank you so much, guys. Thank you to Armin Tsurukin. Show some love to Armin Tsurukin. I'll see you soon, guys. The next UFC lightweight champion by the end of the year, the pride of Armenia. Ah, you know yourself, Armin Tsurukin, leading us off the number one contender.

Where else do you get this on a Friday night in Newark? Nowhere else. Certainly not at the NJ Pack. I think there's like a symphony or something. I hope no one made a wrong turn to here because, my friends, it's about to get a little rowdy here. Dare I say, we're going to turn this MF-er into a rager. You know what I'm talking about? We're going to turn this into a rager.

We are in New Jersey, the Garden State. It's a lovely state. I love it here. It's fantastic. Great people. But we need a little New York. We need a little New York in this building. We need a little Long Island. Is there anyone from Long Island here? Now we got a treat. Now we're doubling it up because our next guests are two of my favorite people in the history of mixed martial arts. Two real good people. Two OGs of the game. One man saved the day back at UFC 223. Remember that in Brooklyn when he saved the day? When he fought Khabib Nurmagomedov on literally 20 hours notice.

And he said, yeah, I'll take that fight. And dare I say, he gave him a tougher fight than anyone the rest of the way of his career. On 20 hours notice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you don't boo this man. Just ask the people of Fairfax, Virginia. You don't boo this man. He also is the greatest real estate agent in the history of mixed martial arts.

He is here with his good friend, with his teammate, with the former UFC bantamweight champion, with the future UFC featherweight champion, the man who fought everyone at 135 and now is creating a whole new path at 145. Why? Because he's a loyal friend and teammate, and he said, yeah, my teammate's going to fight for the belt. I'm getting out of the way. I like those kind of people.

Reminds me of a guy who used to fight at an AKA. Let's not waste any time. Let's say hello now to Ragin, Ally, Equinta, and the Funkmaster, Aljamain Sterling! Yeah! Look at this. Look at this guy. Thank you so much.

Is that really Aljo? I can't tell. Guys, thank you so much. Is that really Aljo? I can't tell. Guys, thank you so much. How cool is this, guys? Have a seat, Aljo. Have a seat, Al. Look at this. Man, look at Al.

Look at Al's coming here to sell us a few houses. Yo, what up? Come on, Al. So good to see you, my man. It's been a while. Is this thing on? What's going on? What's up, guys?

Yo. What's up? Look at this. Is this mic working? Yes, sir. Long Island. Strong Island, baby. Let's go. Let's go. Oh, my mic just came off. Okay, we need to talk first about what's going on here on the face. What's going on over here? I had to give the face a fresh little look, you know? Just clean it up a little bit, let the facial hair breathe. It's been like four years since I shaved, so I needed it. What prompted it? You just said, that's it? It's my disguise.

Okay, I like it. He looks like a totally different human. I was like, who is this guy? Yo. Okay, you're a good friend. You keep it real. What do we think? Do we like it?

It looks good, man. I think you look fantastic. Yeah, yeah. This is like when I got signed in 2014. Yeah, it's baby face, Aljo. I like it. Most importantly, what is your fiancé or wife? Fiancé still.

Okay, what does she think? Don't judge me, guys. What does she say? I don't even know. I don't see. I think she likes it. I think. What do we think?

All right. Oh, I heard some boos. Oh, get out of here. Okay, we have so much to discuss. This is great. I can't believe you guys are here. This is amazing. Al, we haven't seen you in a bit.

You've been laying low. On the MMA scene. Yeah, yeah, yeah. On the real estate scene, we're going. You're crushing? We're crushing it. We're crushing it. You just sold something, like a building or something, right?

Just sold a building, commercial property. Yeah. Valley Stream. I love it. Long Island. They just closed yesterday on a house in the Wanto Woods. Wanto Woods, one of the most desirable. Wanto, baby.

Section 8, let's go. Yeah. Do you only do Long Island, or do you venture into Jersey? No, the whole country. The whole country? The whole country. Do you only do Long Island or do you venture into Jersey? No, the whole country. The whole country? The whole country. Do you have to have a license? Well, I have a team across the country.

I have the best team across the country that can help you out anywhere. Where are you looking? No, we can talk after, offline. Actually, funny story, New York Rick bought his house through Mr. Ally Quinta. Legit. It was incredible. Working with New York Rick bought his house through Mr. Ally Quinta. Legit. It was incredible. Working with New York Rick was fun. I wish, he's got to buy

another house. We could hang out more. We were hanging out every weekend, going to look for houses. It was awesome. We had a good time. It was really fun and ended up finding a really nice place in my hometown, which was like the coolest thing. We went to a bunch of nice towns

and then he ended up finding the perfect house in my hometown and I was like, this is sick. Able to show him the cool places, the cool spots. He's got beautiful kids. They're going to go to great schools and it's a good thing. It's amazing.

Have you ever seen him in action doing this? Have you ever gone to like an open house with Al and been like, holy shit, this isn't the same guy that I see in the gym? Yeah, we have and he actually took me house shopping a little bit in the very beginning and then I was able to get my first house. Oh, for real? I actually have my license under his brokerage.

Come on! Aljoa! I didn't know you were in the game too. Yeah, we got in at the same time. Oh really? Yeah. Is this what you're going to do when you're done in like 10, 15 years? I think so. So, if anybody across the world, well, the country, if you guys want to buy a house,

hit us up. We'll get you guys sorted. Amazing. I love it. I love it. Are you officially retired? Uh... I want to look at, honestly, I can't see in the crowd, but there was a dude who resides in some part of the Northeast who was hitting me up today in my DMs.

This guy likes to DM me a lot, and he's like, I'm coming, I'm coming. Oh, the DM guy. You know who I'm talking about, right? Double D? He ain't fighting nobody. He told me he was showing up. Are you here, Dylan? Are you here? Maybe he's not here. Okay, I told him at the door, don't let this guy in. That would be a bad move for that guy. But he was legit DMing me saying, I'm going to pull up.

I welcome it. Yeah? I welcome it. What I was going to say as far as being retired, if they threw me a very easy fight for a lot of money, I might not be able to say no. Okay. So you're never going to actually announce it,

but you just kind of... I don't think, I don't know. I don't think there's, I'm not that kind of, I can never say I'm retired. I don't know. Okay. It's just like a tough thing for me to do. I feel like it's who I am, you know?

So it's just, we'll see. I don't know. I'm getting to the point, I mean, the clock's ticking. You know, so I'm so busy right now. I just opened an office in my hometown. Congratulations. Thank you. Well done, well done.

One year. We had a one-year anniversary last month. Went from zero agents. Now we have 16 agents. Jeez Louise. We got a sick team. Who needs cage fighting? Yeah, I mean, the rush of the cage is nothing like that.

Right. It's addicting, you know? Just the whole build-up. I see when I go to fight week with Aljo, Marab, these guys, Dennis, I'm like, it gets me. I'm like, oh, I want to do it again. And then I go back to the gym. I train a couple days.

I see the way these guys are training. I wake up the next morning. I'm like, oh, maybe not. I mean, you've done so much. You've given us great memories. We miss you. But I'm very, very happy that you're doing your thing. Aljo, we just spoke not that long ago after your win at UFC 300.

The second fighter who was on the 300 card who won. Only winners tonight. Only winners for the fans. Only winners. You were a little bit down on the Monday after. Do you feel better about what you did in your debut? 100%. After I got home and I was able to watch it with my friends and family, it came to me that this was actually a much better performance than I thought. Yeah, it might

not be the most exciting fight on the UFC 300 card when you got Gaethje and Max Holloway, you got Kayla getting the finish, you got Bo Nickel getting the finish. It was a crazy card, so it kind of got lost in the shuffle a little bit, but I think from everything that we trained for, I was able to do everything that we want to work on, and I was happy about that. Calvin is no joke, man. Calvin's no joke.

Absolutely. I mean, he's a tough guy. You went straight in there, and now I'm seeing some rumblings of you against... As you put it, these are your words. I'm not putting words. Correct me if I'm wrong. Was it the most boring guy in the division? Is that how you labeled Moxar Evloev? Was that it? It's a little irony, you know, so I'm just kind of poking some fun at him. And he's a tough competitor, man. He's undefeated. It's just sad because no one really knows who he is. Yeah. And in the States. Right. He's very tough competitor, man. He's undefeated. It's just sad because no one really knows who he is.

Yeah. And in the States, right? He's very popular overseas. It's Moxar Evloev, by the way, in case you aren't up on the news. That's why I wanted the Ortega fight because everyone knows Brian Ortega. He's 4-4 title twice. He's a tough dude. Hey, I like easy money. What's wrong with that?

No, but I get it. He's a bigger name, right? Much bigger name. I want the fights that are going to get people excited to see, you know? So that's what it's all about. I want to fight the biggest names, the biggest names possible that's going to bring in the biggest payday and I don't want to just go back and just fight random people for no reason.

I want to fight people that people know so people are excited to want to watch the fight. Yeah. And is that a done deal? Oh, it's Terrence McKinney. What's up, Terrence? There he is. Say hello to Terrence McKinney.

Shout out. Terrence McKinney heckling you? They're going to oil him up later. Okay. We do that outside in the streets of Newark. Shout out to Terrence McKinney, T-Rex in the house. Aljo, is this a done deal? No, it's not a done deal yet. We're still trying to work out a date.

I would like September, October. I got some personal things I got to take care of right now, this month. I got the release of my Funk Harbor Rum coming out finally July 1st. Ah, yeah. Ah, yeah, you know yourself. Entrepreneur Aljo. Yeah, so I just want to get all my ducks in a row before I put my full attention. I don't want to take any more fights where I'm not fully invested.

The one that I did that for, I got TKO'd. I'm not trying to have that happen again. So, yeah, so I want to make sure I'm dialed, yeah. I want to make sure I'm dialed in. So, I want to make sure I'm ready to go. That's right. It was a lucky shot, he said. Early stoppage! And that too. You know what blows me away?

So, we're about to get Marab versus Sugar, right? Yes. Before I was even covering, I was just a fan. I'm watching Matt Serra, UFC 69, knockout, GSP, right? That was 2000, if my memory serves me correct, 2007. Right? 2007. It's

2024, and Ray Longo has another guy fighting for the belt, right? From Matt, to Chris, to you, to you, to Murab. And I still feel like people don't talk about him. I still feel like people don't talk about the gym. I still feel like people don't talk about

what you guys created, the culture. I still feel like other gyms get more love. What has been the secret to this longevity as far as you're concerned? From... Long Island water! That could be it. Long Island water!

But it's really remarkable, the amount of contenders and champions that he has produced. Him, Matt, of course, later on, and the rest of the crew. It's definitely a tight-knit community, Long Island is. And a lot of guys come from the wrestling background. Section 8! Section 8 wrestling in the house.

That's right. And he runs a tight ship. It's not really like he's scouting for people. He's not bringing people in. It's tough. Not many people from outside of Long Island come to the gym and really fit in and survive there. You've got to have the right mindset. He doesn't waste

time on people that he thinks don't fit the mold. Guys like Merab come in and a guy from Georgia. We just, we didn't even understand what he was saying. Zero. Really, he didn't speak much English at all.

But you can tell about a person just by the way they train and the way Merab trains. And then once you start hearing him and he starts learning English, and now you see what he's on on Instagram the guy is incredible we we knew that a little bit before everybody else but you know he just started getting comfortable speaking English and we're like dude this guy's this guy's awesome you know and he's awesome training and now his personality's starting to shine it's that and and it's it's well deserved because that guy he puts in so much work and he's such a kind person outside of the cage and the exact opposite in the cage.

So, I mean, that's what Ray Longo, the Sarah Longo team has been about and continues to do. Shout out to Al. Al used to tell me all the time, Marab, Marab, get him on the show, get him on the show. People are going to be talking about him. So let me ask you, Aljo, and I know you spend a lot of time, obviously, in Vegas these days, and you're maybe not here on the East Coast as much, but's the next marab who's the next aljo who's who's the name that we need to remember in five or six years out of the gym right now who are you high on i would say pumi nakuta okay undefeated seven and oh right now prospect and uh where's he from he's from south africa okay but uh he trains at the gym been there since

he went to hastra and man he's killing it right now what weight 125 but he's fought at 135 as well his last one was at 135 beat a guy great record and he's got another fight coming up june 8th in texas never been never lost never been taken down never been hit what never been hit. What? Never been hit? Never been hit. Seven pro fights? Never lost never been taken down never been hit.

How is he not signed? I don't know. Nah seriously look him up man. The guy's a prospect and I think for ripe reasons. I think he can fight

for the title right now. That's how good I think he is. Really? I've never even heard of him. Have you guys heard of him? What's his name? Pumi Nakuda.

Pumi Nakuda has never been hit. Pumilele. Pumilele Nakuda. Never been hit. Holy smokes. All right, there you go. In a few years, maybe in a year or so when he's fighting for the belt, I mean, Steve Ersik just fought for the belt after a year in the UFC,

so maybe he can get fast-tracked. You'll say that you heard that name here first. That's incredible stuff. Okay, let's talk about 302 if we can. Dustin Poirier, Issa Makhachev. Does Dustin do it? What do you think? Does he pull it off? Does he finish the story, or is it too much? I'm going to put my analytical hat on.

No bias. I think this is a tough fight for Dustin. I think we all know that. He's got a great wrestler in front of him. He's got the aura of the Dagestanis. But I will say, Dustin, if anyone could do it, I think for some reason the stars feel like they just might align for him this

weekend, and I think he's going to get it done. And I could see him, Southpaw versus Southpaw. Southpaw versus Southpaw, I think he could get it done. I think it's different. I think the one opponent that Islam, I don't want to say struggled with, but I think that was the one he got

knocked out in was... Davi Ramos. Was at Southpaw as well, if I'm not mistaken. So either way, I think this is just a right moment at the right time. I think he's in the right headspace, and for some reason, you just feel someone's aura, and I think he's just about that right now. What do you think, Al? You feel... Yeah.

He's the people's pick, obviously. Everyone loves Dustin. Everybody's pulling think, Al? Yeah. He's the people's pick, obviously. Everyone loves Dustin. Everybody's pulling for him, for sure. Islam's. He's like, not my parlay. Yeah, that's exactly what it is. That's exactly what it is. Islam's got the

Islam's got that Mike Tyson aura, you know? I don't know how to compare the two, but he has that, you know, he's like Islam's got that Mike Tyson aura. I don't know how to compare the two, but he's feared in that division. You know what I mean? But it doesn't seem like Dustin's too phased by it. And Dustin's been around. He's fought everybody.

He's won. He's lost. He's been right there so many times. And I feel something in this one. I don't know. Something feels like it's all coming together I could say that and then he goes out there gets taken that but listen if he stops one takedown now It's like oh this wasn't supposed to happen or if he gets taken down gets back up It's it's happened before and a little doubt gets put in Islam's head and and Dustin gets a little momentum in that fight

I could see I could see it being a good night for him. Yo, imagine he slaps on that guillotine just for a second. Imagine he slaps on the guillotine. That place will explode. The ghillie. Imagine he just has it for a second. The place will go nuts. It's currently 25 to 1, him winning via submission.

Okay. What about the guillotine, though? I don't know if you could get that deep. Maybe GC could tell me later, but 25 to 1 is pretty... You could get it. Yeah, maybe from offshore. That's right. That's right. If he does get... Everyone's talking about that, I feel like, the guillotine.

Dude, that would be... In the corner, they got the mic and he's like, I can get it. You know, in the corner. Yeah, with Mike Brown. Mike Brown. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He says, no more guillotines. I could get it. And Islam's laughing at the guillotine. You start thinking guillotine enough. Guillotine get it. And Islam's saying, laughing at the guillotine, you start thinking guillotine enough, guillotine, guillotine. Then you find yourself in the guillotine.

You start, oh, shit, I'm actually here. You know what I mean? I don't know. It's out there. It's in the universe. There's something to be said about that. What does he have to do, Aljo? As someone who's gone a lot of, you know,

you're unconventional with your grab, what does he need to do to secure it? In my opinion, I think Dustin sets his feet a lot to land those big, heavy shots. I think he has to keep his feet moving because it's very hard to take somebody down that's not setting their feet. So once you try to shoot on someone who's a moving target, the head gets off center. It's easier to sprawl. It's easier to pick your shots. And I think that's the key to victory for him.

He's got to touch them up early. Not look for heavy combinations, but touch and go, touch and go. And I think if he could frustrate Islam and force him to take a bad shot, you never know. You might see him just jump the ghillie just because. Crazy. Yo, the Friday night before the Khabib fight, like right now, weigh-ins

are done. I remember they did that press conference, the impromptu press conference at the Barclays. What are you doing at 846 on the Friday before that insane day where you woke up that day thinking you were going to fight someone else. Conor's in the courtroom. By far the craziest fight week in the history of fight weeks.

You guys know the one, right? With the dolly and the bus and all that. This dude steps in on 20 hours notice. What are you doing at night? How did you pass the time? We went to an Italian restaurant we all hung out we were we were uh it was like a I was very calm I think I was probably the most calm out of any fight in in in a way because I didn't really have time to like build up to it

it was just kind of like thrown at me and I was like let's roll the dice here let's we got nothing to lose. Like, let's do this. So we walked around Brooklyn. We were just hanging out until like 2 in the morning. You know, I wanted to stay up late because I wanted to fall asleep late, wake up late. So when I was fighting at like 1 a.m., I would be awake. You know, I wanted to get like on the clock. I went from being the first fight to the last fight. So we were just walking around with Justin the Kid. I went from being the first fight to the last fight.

So we were walking around with Justin the Kid, a fighter from the gym. And he was just busting people's balls like he does. And we were just having a fight week. It was like every other fight week, man. But a sense of calm. It was kind of like, let's just do this. I still maintain, of everyone from that period on, you fought him the toughest.

You went the distance with him. You gave him some trouble. That was one punch away. Yeah, one freaking punch away. If you had two days to prepare for the fight, you would have knocked him out. You know? Crazy.

That was probably the craziest weekend I'll ever have in my life. If I have a crazier weekend than that, I don't know what the heck's going to happen, but that was freaking... The bus what the heck's going to happen. The bus thing, we were on the bus. The dolly gets thrown to the bus. I thought it was like a terrorist attack at first. I was like, what the hell? The freaking, something comes flying through the window.

Reed Harris is like, one of the guys got into the plane position. Oh my gosh. Yo. I was like, we're looking around. We're like, what the hell is going on? I see Connor run around. I was like, oh, this is great. I pulled out my gosh. Yo. I was like, we're looking around. We're like, what the hell is going on? I see Connor run around. I was like, oh, this is great. I pulled out my phone. You were the one that told me.

You texted me while on the bus. Now I remember. You sent me the video of him going nuts. Freaking hell. That was crazy, man. You are a mensch. And you know what? Speaking of that, after that insane weekend, after that insane weekend, I mean, all the stuff that went on and then he fights for the belt and he goes to distance with Khabib. And this is from a selfish standpoint, but these are the guys

that I truly love and will never forget when I'm on my deathbed and they're talking to me about my career. This freaking guy shows up on the show in his bathrobe. You remember that? I did. In the bathrobe on the Monday after. Literally 48 hours later. And Aljo has done it every single time. After 300, they're always there. They never say no. And that's so that we can get their story out to you. And they got podcasts. He's got the weekly scraps. He's

got his thing. But they come on the show to get their story out to all of you. And they've been doing it since I started in 2007. So I'm eternally grateful. Thank you so much, guys. Really, I appreciate it. Thank you so much for coming. Much love. Can we show some love to the boys from Long Island?

Ally Aquinta and the great Aljamain Sterling. Oh, we got a shirt, too. Yeah. Thank you so much. So good to see you, my man. You're the man. Thank you. Thank you so much, Aljo. Appreciate it.

Thank you. Babyface Aljo, everyone. Babyface Aljo, show some love to these two young men. Thank you, guys. Really appreciate it. Appreciate it very much. How much fun are we having? Are we having the best time?

I sure am. This night is flying by. This night is flying by. I am having a great time. By the way, you may have heard of some of the guests that we've announced for the show. There is a mystery guest, and I am told that the mystery guest is in the building. I am told the mystery guest is in the building. So, you know, strap on your seatbelt, hold your butts, all that stuff. It's going to get wild here in a second. And I am so, so, so, so excited for our next guest. You talk about having respect for someone. You talk about admiring someone. You talk about, man, just like being in awe of someone. That's how I feel about our next guest. Truly one of the best fighters

on the planet. but in my opinion, one of the best role models that we have, not only in this sport, but in all of sports. Back on April 13th, she made her UFC debut against the former champion Holly Holm, and it was elementary. Everyone was worried about the weight. I'll be honest, I was a little bit worried about the weight, but she knocked that out of the park. She beat Holly Holm, and now she's on her way to becoming UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. She's a two-time, two-time Olympic gold medalist, a two-freaking-time Olympic gold medalist. You know how hard that is? She's a multiple-time PFL champion. Can we show some love? Can we make some noise for the great Kayla Harrison, everyone?

Kayla Harrison is here. Come on. Oh, yes. Hello, Kayla. Oh, thank you so much. I wasn't sure if we were going for a hug there or like, oh, let's do it again. It's always awkward with me. Oh, yes.

Okay. Have we ever actually met in person? I've been to your studio several times. Oh, yes, that's right. It's always awkward with me. Oh, yes. Okay. Have we ever actually met in person? I've been to your studio several times. Oh, yes, that's right, that's right, that's right. It's just because... Am I that easy to forget? You're so distant now because you're such a big star. You're a UFC superstar.

You don't text back. You're there training with Alex Pereira today. Am I here? She's here, everyone. Am I here? She's here. I was bothering her so much with the text. At one point, you did say, you're being annoying.

You did say that. No. No. Yeah, she said, you're being annoying right now. He said, am I being annoying? And I said, yes. I'm annoying. But that's how I get the people.

By the way, you smell fantastic, too. Oh, thank you. What is going on? What is this? Can you tell us? My perfume? Yeah. It's tobacco flower.

Okay. We love it. She does smell fantastic. I'll be honest. I noticed something. What is going on over here? My accessory. Yeah.

Yeah, I just had hand surgery. Wow. Yeah, so I tore my... Is this breaking news, by the way? Is this out? No one tweet it. I swear to God. T-Rex, I know you steal content all day on your social media.

Don't steal this, all right? You fucking guy over there, all right? Pipe down, too, all right? I'll kick you out of here. Caleb, back to you. Did you take their phones before they came in here? Yeah, yeah. Did we take their phones?

No, we didn't. Sorry. Frank, don't tweet this. What happened? What happened? Before the fight with Holly, I was sparring and I tore the ligament. Before the fight? Yeah.

Come on. Yeah. Who knew about this? Nobody. I didn't know about this. Nobody. How much in advance? Three weeks.

Wow. Yeah. You tore a ligament? Yeah. In your left hand? Yeah. I just had to do the... My good finger.

Wow. Were you close to pulling out? No a torn ligament no wow so this is this is the opportunity of a lifetime you know to fight on UFC 300 make my debut against a fighter like Holly Holm this is like the Olympics of MMA and come hell or high water I was gonna make it there. Did it hurt? Well done. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Did it hurt? It's my job. It's my job. No. What? I mean, it hurt, but you don't feel it.

There wasn't a brief moment where you thought this might get postponed? I mean, I stopped throwing my left hand in sparring, and I just saved it for the fight. If that would have happened to the right, would you have had to pull out? No. Okay, wow.

I'm a southpaw. I'm just saying, I don't know if there's one hand or... That's crazy, that's your dominant hand. Come hell or high water, I'm coming for UFC gold. I love it. Probably was the first step. So now in retrospect, not only are you battling 135 for the first time, UFC 300, UFC debut, octagon jitters, torn ligament in your left hand.

That just makes the performance. I know you're such a competitor. I remember when you cried walking out of the cage on Long Island when you wanted to be a dominant decision. Was there a part of you that was like, if I didn't have the torn ligament, this performance would have been better. I would have finished her earlier. I would have done this, that.

No, honestly, like, everything came together perfectly. I feel like fight week was so, it was really magical, you know? Like, you always wonder, like, am I who I say I am? Do I have what it takes? Am I really the person that I think I am? But, like, the lead up to the fight, the discipline I had to have to make 135, the people I had around me, the team, the support, like, showing up at fight week, weighing in, like, walking out to the octagon, hearing Bruce Buffer say, like, it was just, like, everything happened exactly the way

it was supposed to happen, and now I'm right where I'm supposed to be doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. Wow, amazing. I know there was some talk, yeah. There was some talk of maybe you fighting June 29th. Obviously, that's not happening. Wait, what? June 29th, right?

Yeah, no, I'm not going to fight on June 29th. So what is the timetable here? I mean, this will be on for another week and a half. Then I'll take this off. I'll do some PT. I'll be back in the... I mean, I'm still in the gym throwing kicks and stuff and throwing around Alex Bejeda. But other than that. Yeah, I saw that. Unbelievable. By the way, is there a scar or something? I don't see. Oh, there it is.

Okay. My kids were calling, when I had the stitches and my kids were calling me Frankenhand. Yeah. I was like, all right, maybe that's my nickname. So, so what do they say in terms of like when you could potentially fight? I mean, the rumor mill says October. Oh, okay. I didn't know that. You didn't hear it from me. Yeah, yeah. This is not streaming. You guys are trustworthy, right? Yeah, yeah. I can trust y'all. One night stand. One night stand. October, would that be the

Abu Dhabi pay-per-view? I don't think so. Oh, like a fight night? No. Oh. I don't think so. Wait, so what would it be? I don't know. All right, all right, all right. And who would the opponent be, more importantly? Rocky.

Rocky, we're going to... Who do you guys want me to fight? Peña. Peña? I hear some Peña. I mean, I'm going to be honest with you. I really don't give a shit who I fight. Yeah.

It doesn't matter. You know yourself. So is it possible your next fight is for the belt? Or is it one more? I think that they promised the title fight to someone else next. That's what I heard. That's what I heard. Yeah.

Crazier things have happened. You never know. Yeah. How do you think it would go, you versus Rocky, right now? What? Hey, listen, there's a reason we have fights. Everyone's tough until you beat them, but I like all of my matchups in the UFC.

At 135? At any, yeah. Right, of course. I was on the internet like a week or so ago. No, you were on the internet? Yes, I was scrolling through X, and are you familiar with Don Davis of the PFL? I've heard of him.

And I like Don. I like Don. But I saw him. You do? I do like Don. We get along, yes. But I have to keep it real. I'm going to remember that next time you ask me to come on the show.

Oh, damn. But I also like Ali. And so, anyway. We love Ali, don't we? Yeah. Show some love to Ali. Ali makes me a lot of money. He does.

He does. He tries to take money away from me. Anyway. Have I ever said no to coming on your show? She is the only one of the entire stable, I want to let you know, who has the balls, the actual cojones to say, no, I'm in charge, okay? I'm the client. And that's why I always...

I drive the bus. And that's why when I see stupid quotes from people I respect like Don Davis comparing you to Kevin Durant who left OKC to chase a ring and some people want to be LeBron, I still don't even understand what the analogy was. When you saw that analogy,

what did you think? That might be the only explanation. I mean, honestly, Ariel, like, I'm living my best life, you know, like, I spend, I take great pride in what I built at the PFL, you know, like, I carried that company on my back for quite a while. You did. I've got big shoulders, so I could handle it. Yeah. But, you know, I just don't have time for that bullshit. Like, I'm doing what I want to do.

I'm like, every day I wake up, I get to go to the gym. I get to train with the people that I really respect and admire and look up to. And I'm chasing a dream. I'm chasing. When I started MMA, the goal wasn't to make a shit ton of money. The goal wasn't to be wicked famous. The goal was to be UFC champion. And that's why I'm here. and that's what I want to do.

And if anyone has a problem with it, they can go fuck themselves. Yeah. It's really an insane thing, considering what you did for the company, and there was nothing else to do. And if they want to plant their flag in the Cyborg fight, Cyborg hasn't shown any indication of wanting to fight. Listen, I tried to fight Cyborg several times. You signed an offer sheet.

I tried to fight Cyborg several times, and I'm not going to bet my career on Cyborg saying yes to me. I don't need Cyborg anymore. I'm going to go on. I'm going to be great. I'm going to go win the UFC title. I'm going to lure Amanda back. I'm going to beat the shit out of Amanda, and then I'm going to be great. I'm going to go win the UFC title. I'm going to lure Amanda back. I'm going to beat the shit out of Amanda, and then I'm going to be

the greatest of all time. Wow. And legit, that is super attainable. This time next year, the Amanda fight could have already happened. You never know, but I'm betting on myself. I'm all in. I'm all in. How could you not love

Kayla Harrison? I feel like I want to run through a brick wall right now. This is unbelievable. Since we last spoke, any more rumblings about the Amanda thing? You're both in the same neck of the woods. I haven't heard anything. I think that... I don't believe you. I feel like you've heard stuff. No, I really

haven't. Really? I just had surgery. I just thought... I'm not pushing for it right now, but she, why are you a nurse? Oh, geez. Settle down, champ. Settle down. Settle down. Much love. Much love. Oh my goodness. I love this crowd. What about this crowd? Yeah. I mean, it's a little bit dark. Yes. Yes. Were you expecting this? No, this is amazing. I love it. This is good.

I love it. This is way better than when you were on the stage for the UFC thingy. No, this is, yes. Yes. I don't want to talk shit about it. No, no. The hand that feeds me. We're a little bit more classy.

This is intimate, classy. Yeah, yeah. Thank you. Class. So anyway, going back to that, Amanda, you think you win. How many more fights do you think before that becomes a reality? Do you have to win the 35 belt for her? In my mind, by the beginning, by early next year, I'll be UFC champion,

and then there's one person left for me to fight. Oh, my. Do you retire after that fight? What else is there to do? I don't know. Maybe there's some young hungry killer who wants a piece of this, but I don't see that happening.

You don't see anyone coming up right now that's really... Maybe Henry Cejudo. Yeah. I might. I might. Maybe Henry. I think you'd win that fight right now, right?

With Henry? With the thing on your hand over there. Yeah. I mean, you don't need both arms to take out a midget oh my god kayla talking mad shit kayla talking mad shit here good thing this isn't streaming we don't want to get in trouble um now what about you can't handle a woman like me oh my dear god uh what about what about the man who is fighting tomorrow for the belt? Is there any more? Yes.

Are there DP fans in the house with me? Oh, look at this. Yes. Are you guys part of the Gilly Goose gang? Yeah. Yeah? Okay. Tell us what he's like.

No, it's going to happen. I'm telling you right now. I feel it in my bones. I feel it in my bones. I feel it in my bones. Dustin Poirier is going to be UFC champion tomorrow night, undisputed. That is sick. What is he like as a teammate? I remember the picture.

He's amazing. Isn't he? No, no, he's amazing. He's like, he's your favorite fighter's favorite fighter. You know, like he's just such an amazing... Oh, that's right. That's right. Well done. Well done, sir. No, as a human being, I respect him. I admire him.

I look up to him. As a fighter, yes. Like, who doesn't love a Dustin Poirier fight? He fucking goes in there. He leaves with the shield or on it. But as a human being, who he is, what he represents, how he carries himself, a family man, gives back to his community, focuses on himself,

spends time becoming the best version of himself. That's what I aspire to be. So I'm a huge Dustin Poirier fan. I will be until the day I die. I'm rooting for him. I'm in his corner. I love him. I'm not rooting for anyone.

I have to be down the middle. Yeah, yeah, we know. But I have to be down. You're not rooting for all these boys. No, no, listen. We know that. I love everyone. Peace and love, peace and love.

But holy shit, what a moment it would be. No, it's going to happen. I'm telling you. Oh, my God. On Lafayette Street. On Lafayette Street. No, it's going to happen. I feel it. Wow.

Yes, yes, yes. Do you think that he retires with a win? I think no chance. No, he's done. You think so? Yeah, yeah. Really? Well, I mean, I don't know how the contract... Yeah, he's done. He doesn't need money. Like, what does he need? You got a payday there. Like, you could do a fourth

Conor fight and make it his... He doesn't need anything. I know, but it's like. He has such a beautiful life. I know. He has a beautiful wife, a beautiful child. He's got, like, he makes so much money. He's so set. He wants that title. He's here for one reason.

Right. And that's why I love him. Oh, my gosh. You're giving me chills right now. Have you been at the gym as he's preparing, or are you laying low because of the hand? No, well, I've been in a little bit, but. Have you seen him? Mike Brown's his guy? Your guy? I mean, he's got

the best team in the world behind him. American Top Team. Fucking ATT Army. Don't fuck with us. Mike Brown told me on Wednesday's show. I love that you had Mike Brown on, by the way. He's the best. Let me tell you something. I love this era. I love all the

fighters now. I wouldn't be doing this anymore if I didn't love the fighters. But that era of like 2009, 2010, the dudes who spoke to me when no one knew that, like Mike Brown, Aldo, Faber, I adore those people.

Like I will do anything for them. Yeah. And so I love the fact that he still gets his love. You grew up with them. Yes. I grew up and they gave me the time of day. And there's actually a part of me that feels like survivor's guilt when they have to retire and I just get to keep doing the job.

I mean, you sit in a chair. I know. Trust me. Trust me. I'm just, wow. I'm trying to get like deep with you here, Kayla. I'm trying to be emotional. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

But why do I get to continue? I thought this was like a fun show. Okay. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Okay. Mike Brown said 238 round one. What's your official prediction? He actually gave me the time.

He gave me the minute. He gave me the freaking seconds. He said 238 round one. Yeah. Well, I'm going to back my coach, Mike Brown. If MTB says it, it's what's happening. Let's fucking go. 238 round one.

Destin Poirier. Via? Via? I'm not saying guillotine. Come on, why? At that point, you might as well just go with it. No, he's going to knock him out. Oh, my God.

Insanity. What was it like training with Alex Pereira? Was this the first time? Yeah. Shama. Yeah. Shama. Are we got Shama fans in the house?

Oh, my God. Well, then you're in for a treat. What was that like? What was it like? It was awesome. It was amazing. Plenio opened the doors for you to the gym. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. So we have done like a couple events together now on the UFC circuit. like it was awesome it was amazing honestly can you open the doors for you to the gym yeah so

we have done like a couple events together now on the ufc circuit and i made a joke and i was like i want to learn i want to knock somebody out and he was like i want to learn how to throw somebody and then you know it just came together and that's what's so beautiful about martial arts right like we're from two totally different worlds i don't't know shit about him. He doesn't know shit about me, but we can get on the mat and we can share ideas and share knowledge and become better fighters as a result. So it was an honor

for me and I'm really grateful that he gave me the time today. Could you throw him? I mean, I did throw him. Did you? I didn't see all the footage. You actually threw him with the messed up... He's a big boy, y'all. I'm not going to lie to you, but... With the messed up. Big trees fall hard. Yeah. Wow.

That is incredible. Quickly, I'm curious. Olympics this summer. I don't know if you guys know this, but I'm covering the Olympics for the CBC. Yeah! The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Shout out to them. Do you watch the Olympics or is it like such a thing?

I do. I do. I remember being six years old on my grandma's couch watching the 96 Olympics in Atlanta. And like I had just started judo. And I watched the Olympics that year and I was like, holy shit, that's what I want to do. I don't want to be a doctor. I don't want to be a lawyer. I want to be the best in the world at something.

And it happened to be judo that I was doing at the time, so I said I want to throw people and be the best in the world at it. And that dream, that six-year-old girl on that couch, it took me really far in life. Like, look where I'm at tonight. I'm living my best life. Two times, by the way, two times. And I'll never forget the press conference after the second one. Oh, look where I'm at tonight. I'm living my best life. Two times, by the way. Two times. And I'll never forget the

press conference after the second one. Someone said, oh, what about MMA next? And you're like, uh, too much drama, too much entertainment. It's a big drama show. Yeah. And now you're the best at it. You're the best at the drama. I don't know if I'm the best at it. And then I see you, oh, you know what? You'd be good at pro wrestling. Nah, that's

fake stuff. And then I see you in the freaking AEW ring. The problem was you went to AEW. You went to the B leagues. You didn't go to the A leagues. That was the problem. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

Okay. And don't take offense to this, but like I grew up kind of in a trailer park. And so when you grow up in the trailer park, you don't want to become the entertainment for the trailer park. Oh, my God. So why would I do WWE when I can just do the real fucking thing? Right. No, I hear you. I hear you.

There wasn't any part of you when you were there that was like, I could do this once. Being fake is fun? No, like the performance, you know. Paige did it. Paige Van Zandt. It's not for me. Rhonda did it. It's not for me.

Are you familiar with Rhonda? I've heard of her. I heard she won an Olympic bronze medal. Oh, that's right. She has very negative feelings towards MMA and the Olympics. Ronda has negative feelings towards a lot of things. You too? Do I have negative feelings?

No, no, no. Does she have negative feelings? I don't know. I haven't asked her. It doesn't matter to me. Did she send you a message after your debut and say, congrats? No, no, no. Does she have negative feelings? I don't know. I haven't asked her. Did she send you a message after your debut? It doesn't matter to me. Did she send you a message after your debut and say, congrats? No. I'm rooting for you. No. I want you to win the belt. No. You are the better version of me. Okay, let me...

No. She should have fucking said thank you. That was for you, Rhonda. That's right. That's right for you Rhonda that's right good point had to fucking stick up for judo yeah by the way why aren't there more judokas who are coming over to MMA and having success because some people would

say that's a better skill set than jiu jitsu because you know personally I do think that judo is a great base for MMA because let's go Fuji this crowd's funny um in judo like not only do you take them down but you learn how to submit them in wrestling you can take them down but you don't really learn submissions and in jujitsu you don't focus on takedowns that much so and

I think that judo is a really really good base base for MMA. But I really don't know why there aren't more judoka. I think they're knuckleheads. Maybe that's why. They might be a little soft. Okay, so tomorrow you're going to 302? Yeah. You're going to be sitting there? Yeah. Are you going? Maybe. What's up

with Kayla? I invite her on the show and she's trying to talk shit to me. To me. He started it! Did he not? Did he not? He said, oh, you said you'd never do MMA. No, I mean, but that's a running joke. I will not be there only because I have to do my show afterwards. Otherwise, I was invited to sit

between Dana and Ari. One day, when I get a plus one to an event, who do you think I'm going to bring as my plus one? Yeah. I don't know. Maybe. Bring Rhonda! Rhonda? It's going to be the KH and AH show. Yeah. That's what it's going to be.

I thought you were going to say when you fight for the belt, I need to be there. Honestly, once I have some pool, I'm bringing you back in. Don't worry about it. I may say no, but I appreciate the sentiment. I appreciate the sentiment. Which is your right. No is a full sentence. Guys, can we show some love to Kayla Harrison? Thank you, guys.

Oh, my God. God bless you. Kayla Harrison, the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Show her some love. Look at this. God bless. Standing room only. Wait, wait. You didn't even say goodbye to me. You're just walking off. Thank you so much, Kayla. I really appreciate you. Thank you always for giving me the time of day. Kayla Harrison, the future

UFC women's Bantamweight Champion. Who's having a great time? Pizzi Carol is here. The Pride of Blanche. Chuck Mininal is here. The Man in the Hat. Show some love. New York Rick is here. Everyone's here. I don't know who that is up there, but shout out to you.

Rail Madrid. Yes. GC is here. Mysterious Frank is in the building as well, but let's get serious, my friends. So we had one champion join us, a former champion, obviously, Aljamain Sterling. He won at UFC 300. He had a big win over Calvin Cater. We started the night with Armin Sarukian, who also won at UFC 300. We just had Kayla Harrison here. She won at UFC 300 against Holly Holm. But did you guys stick around for the main event? Did you stick around for the man who closed the show? Did you stick around for that finish? And what was it? Like he was going, he was going, he was going.

And then Herb Dean tried to step in and he's like, yo, Herb, step out of the way. Step out of the way. What a freaking knockout. And what a story he has become. What a story this man has become. Just a couple of years ago, he's the glory kickboxing champion. He's a two division glory kickboxing champion. He's like, you know what?

I'm going to come to MMA and I'm going to do my thing over here. And I'm going to go after that Izzy guy. And then he comes to New York and he wins the belt. And then, you know, some things happen in between. And then he comes back to New York as a 205-er and he wins the belt again. Two-division champion. He's a Hall of Famer already. And he closed the show at UFC 300, and he knocked out Jamal Hill. Newark, he trains like a stone's throw away from this building with the great Plinio Cruz. Can we show some love for Poatan? Alex! There he is!

Yeah! The freaking champ! The two-division king! Obrigado! Obrigado! My man! Chama! Chama! Chama! Chama! Chama!

Ah, what can you say about this, man? This is incredible. Chama! Amazing! Alex, thank you so much. Have is incredible. Chama. Amazing. Alex, thank you so much. Have a seat. Obrigado. Thank you for the time. Hey, show some love to Plinio Cruz. Freaking legend.

Chama. Yeah. When I tweeted that Alex was going to be here, someone wrote to me, but here's the most important question. Is Plinio vai estar aqui? Alguém perguntou, não sei se o Alex vai estar aí, mas falou que o Plinio vai estar aí também. O Plinio está em todas, não pode faltar. Você tem que ser um everything.

Claro, ele é um super-estadão. E, por exemplo, onde está o seu gym em relação a aqui? Quem quiser treinar, na rua de Harrison, na Avenida Harrison, se chama Cruza MMA. Maravilhoso. Muito obrigado, obrigado por fazer isso. Como foi a treinagem com Kayla Harrison hoje? E é verdade que ela te tirou? Cruza, meu amigo! Maravilhoso! Muito obrigado! Obrigado por fazer isso. Como foi treinar com a Kayla Harrison hoje? É verdade que ela te jogou? Ela é uma legenda, ela é uma besta, ela definitivamente me levou para baixo, ela definitivamente me tirou. Eu estou em um momento da minha carreira que eu estou evoluindo e aprendendo, então foi muito bom aprender com ela. Maravilhoso. Essa foto foi louca. E eu nem sabia que ela tinha uma mão injurada.

E ela está com você. Você sabia que ela tinha uma mão machucada? E ela está com você. Você sabia que ela tinha uma mão machucada? Ela é uma guerreira. Mesmo por trás dela, nós falamos que ela faz um pouco demais, suas mãos estão fechadas, mas você sabe? Você pode ver porque ela chegou tão longe, porque ela é muito dedicada. Incrível. Sabe o que me arrepende sobre você, Alex? Pelo menos, você não fala inglês, certo? Você não fala inglês? Não.

Não, ok. Você entende um pouco. Um pouco. É tão raro ver alguém que nunca fala inglês ter esse tipo de popularidade, esse tipo de amor pelas pessoas. É muito raro ver alguém que não fala inglês ter um amor de expressão.

O popular é assim. Bom, eu agradeço a todos. Eu vejo, às vezes, essas críticas, tipo, a pessoa não fala inglês, a gente está aqui no país dessa galera e eles estão me abraçando e estão gostando. Eu acho que também é todo o resultado que eu venho mostrando para eles, eles veem que eu sou uma pessoa que não brinco,

e eles gostam, eles pagam caro para assistir eu lutar, então eu acho que tem que entregar o melhor para eles, e agradeço a eles de coração. Não, é ótimo ver esse país me adotando, não só aqui, mas também recebendo todo esse amor pelos fãs, tudo que eles me trazem, eu também acho, porque a forma como eles lutam, a forma como eles me trazem, ajuda eles um pouco com o amor. Ok, então essa foi a pergunta que eu ia te fazer, por que você acha que eles te amam tanto? Por que você acha? É apenas uma forma de lutar ou é mais alguma coisa? Eu falo inglês, então dá para interagir com a galera. Mas é isso, acho que é o trabalho todo que eu venho fazendo. Eles gostam de ver luta boa.

Eu acho que tudo que eu fiz agora, eu entreguei muito bem feito para eles. Os caras veem a cara de pedra, eu sou um cara tímido, os caras sabem disso. Mas eu acho que uma grande parte disso é a forma como eu estou me entregando, a forma como eu luto, o meu estilo de luta para eles. É incrível ver a conexão, é incrível ver o sucesso que você teve. E aí você está, UFC 300, fechando o show. Eu estou curioso, porque eu não falei com você desde então, mas porque foi um grande evento, porque houve tanta gente assistindo e tanta atenção na carta, você não me atrapalha como uma pessoa que fica nervosa.

Você estava nervoso para essa luta? Houve alguma ansiedade ou talvez mais nervos do que o comum, porque foi UFC 300 e foi o evento principal? Fica nervoso, mas você se sentiu nervoso pelo peso do evento? Não, com certeza. É uma grande responsabilidade. Mas eu acho que o UFC 300 ficou marcado para mim. Porque desde quando eu cheguei na organização, muitas pessoas falavam que não ia dar em nada. E isso me motivou bastante. E eu consigo mostrar para todos vocês que quando as pessoas falam algo para desmotivar,

você tem que acreditar e fazer como eu fiz. E para os que falaram que eu não ia conseguir nada, eu acabei fazendo a luta principal do UFC 300, que é uma coisa histórica. As pessoas se assustaram que o evento não seria um bom evento. Então, eu me motivei para mostrar para as pessoas que, sim, não importa o que as pessoas disserem, você pode fazer isso. Você achou que Jamal estava se assustando com você? Você achou que ele estava dizendo algumas coisas que talvez te fez sentir que ele não te respeitava completamente? Vamos ver, vamos ver. Você acha que o Jamal Hill estava duvidando de você?

Não estava te respeitando? Não, eu acho que, cara, ele sabia do risco que ele corria. Mas todo mundo está ali. Eu acho que tem que acreditar que você está ali para ganhar. Eu acho que ele acreditava, mas... Bom, eu sempre mostrando o meu trabalho, todos os meus resultados. Claro que eu quero dar continuidade e foi o que eu fiz. Mas, com certeza, ele acreditaria que poderia ganhar de mim. Quando você entrou, você o viu na beira do cage, olhando e te esperando ali? a minha entrada, que eu vou ali, atiro a minha flecha. Então ele fez aquela gracinha para tentar me destabilizar.

Mas acho que tudo o que eu fiz, todo o trabalho que eu fiz com a minha equipe, eu acho que nada iria me abalar. Eu estava focado para isso e o resultado foi esse. Desde o momento que eu passei, eu olhei para ele, eu vi que ele estava na cor da caixa, eu vi que ele estava naquela corrente do cajão. Eu vi que ele pegou meu arco, ele quebrou, mas eu fiz um bom trabalho, eu estava focado em dar um bom trabalho para a equipe. Posso perguntar, quando você faz isso, e eu vou fazer isso mal, é tipo assim? Quando você faz isso? Pode mostrar para nós?

Dá para você mostrar aí, Botão? Ele falou, não, dá para você mostrar aí? Você pode nos mostrar? Como foi? Oh, o pé atrás. Vamos ver. O que você faz? Yeah. Yeah. Let's do it, let's do it. Oh. Oh yeah. Yeah. Fucking hell.

How sick is that? That is so sick. Oh my God. Thank you for that. Thank you, thank you. What is going on in your mind when you're doing that, as you're walking out? O que passa na sua cabeça quando você está fazendo isso? Eu coloco tudo isso em um lugar só, que é nessa minha entrada. Então, quando eu faço essa entrada, é onde eu lembro de todas as dificuldades, onde eu lembro de tudo, e onde eu quero chegar e onde eu vou chegar.

Então, essa entrada é um sí, onde eu tenho que ir. E eu uso essa área, esse momento para colocar meu passado e meu futuro nessa zona. Uau, eu adoro isso. Quando você começou a fazer isso? Você se lembra da primeira vez que você fez? como falei para vocês, eu lembro de tudo naquele movimento. É algo curto, demora ali 1, 2, 3 minutos no máximo, porque se eu ficar entrando ali lembrando de tudo, o que eu passei, o que eu tenho que fazer,

vai ser muitas coisas e aí eu posso desfocar ali, ficar mais preocupado com tudo o que aconteceu, pensando no passado, então eu coloco tudo ali na minha entrada para deixar mais focado. Bem, eu acho que a primeira vez foi em 2012, 2013, Então eu coloco tudo ali na minha entrada para deixar mais focado. Bem, eu acho que a primeira vez foi em 2012, 2013, no torneio nacional do Brasil de kickboxing. E o mesmo tempo eu tive que colocar tudo em uma zona. Eu tive que colocar tudo em um lugar, quando eu estava indo, quando eu estava indo, eu tive que colocar tudo em um lugar.

Então eu comecei naquela época. Posso perguntar o que está acontecendo na sua mente, se há alguma coisa, quando o Herb está tentando... Ok, ele está tentando entrar lá e você está tipo, sim, sim, eu consegui isso. Você está pensando, exatamente, me deixe cozinhar, Herb, saia daqui. Eu estou a terminar com esse cara. O que está acontecendo? O que você lembra dessa sequência? Porque é uma das sequências mais frias da história do esporte. Ele está literalmente a entrar, você fica pegado nas bolas,

relaxa, atira ele É uma coisa louca. Uma coisa normal que aconteceu comigo, porque o chute pegou ali, né? Pegou no copinho ali e tal, mas só que, pô, não senti, não senti nada. E eu penso assim, quando eu tô assistindo, pô, quando eu paro a luta, fica lá, pô, dois, três, até cinco minutos, né? Eu acho que isso não é legal, né? Pra quem tá assistindo. E eu quis proporcionar algo bom pra vocês e eu tava focado naquilo, né? E eu sabia onde eu ia chegar ali, tava chegar ali, estava cortando os passos ali, o Jamal já estava se perdendo e não sabia que ia ser aquele momento

que eu ia nocautear ele, acertar aquela mão nele, mas foi o momento certo. Bom, ele me deu uma bola, mas algumas lutas o cara vai e leva 5 minutos para se apressar e tudo. Eu sabia que eu estava bem, eu não queria fazer as pessoas em casa ficar esperando 5 minutos para ver o jogo voltar. Eu também estava me encontrando assim, e começando a ver que o Jamal estava perdendo o seu e perdendo o dele mesmo. Então eu fui lá e acabei de ir. Você acha que você vai lutar contra o Jamal Hill de novo?

Você acha que esse é um cara que você vai encontrar de novo? Você acha que vai lutar comigo, não é eu que decido. E se vai ser ele, pra mim eu acho que ainda é melhor. Bem, você nunca sabe, mas eu acho que por causa de tudo que aconteceu, ele tem que voltar para o fim da linha. Mas se eles virem e dizerem que o Jermall é o próximo, ele vai dizer que ele não é o que vai escolher, então vamos lá. Mas eu acho que ele tem um peixe maior para fritar. Ok, então vamos falar sobre o peixe maior para fritar. Você ainda sabe qual é o seu próximo jogo? Você ainda sabe qual é a sua próxima luta com o Giri, uma revanche. Mas não é 100%, mas estou esperando também como vai ser. Como eu disse, eu quero ser campeão ativo.

Eu quebrei os dois dedos, mas agora estão totalmente curados, eu já estou de volta treinando. Então, eu acho que nós vamos negociar um rematch possível com o Giri Pruhaska. Mas nós nunca sabemos, estamos esperando. Ok, e isso é louco. Você quebrou sua deda antes da luta e você quebrou outra depois da luta, é isso que você quer dizer? Durante a luta. Durante a luta, desculpe. Ele falou, pô, isso que louco, você quebrou o dedo antes da luta e depois quebrou na luta também? Eu quebrei o dedinho do pé direito, foi 13 dias antes da minha luta, e na luta eu quebrei o dedinho do pé esquerdo.

Fiquei com os dois dedos quebrados. Ele quebrou o dedo esquerdo no pé esquerdo 13 dias antes da luta, e durante a luta ele quebrou o dedo esquerdo. E como eles estão agora? Como eles estão agora? Ainda não chutei, mas para os movimentos estão bem, não estão me atrapalhando. É como se eu não tivesse quebrado, mas chutando ainda eu não sei, mas na próxima semana eu já vou saber.

So far they're good, I'm not fully kicking yet, but to do all the other movements for the MMA game they're fine, next week I'm going to start kicking a little bit just to feel, but so far they're very good now. Did you consider pulling out of the fight because of the pinky toe? Maybe a stupid question, but... Você pensou em talvez até sair da luta porque quebrou o dedo do jeito que estava? Não. Ah, ok. Você estava preocupado, como seu treinador? Não, ele perguntou se eu estava preocupado. Eu estava comentando para o LFA quando aconteceu, eles me mandaram e eu vi o fórum, o Pink Toes totalmente do lado.

Oh meu Deus. Nós não somos o tipo de coisa que vai ferir o UFC 300 contra o Pink Toe. Incrível que você quebrou o segundo. E aí, Yuri, isso te excita? Porque você o derrubou há pouco tempo. Isso te excita ou você preferia um oponente novo? Um teste que você nunca passou. Então, claro que eu não vou escolher. Muitas pessoas falam, ah, pô, tá correndo o Dan Calaébi, pô, quer lutar com esse cara, não quer lutar. Cara, eu simplesmente só sou lutador, eu não sou dono do evento, né? E, pô, tô disposto a lutar com qualquer um.

Man, I'm a champion. I'm not the kind of guy who I wanna fight this, I wanna fight Dan Calaébi, I wanna fight this guy, I wanna fight that guy. I'm the fighter, I'm not the owner of the event. I'll fight anybody. Respec, respect. I am hearing some names alguns nomes aqui. Quem vocês querem ver lutar em seguida? Eu estou ouvindo Izzy, Izzy na 205. Eu I'm hearing Jon Jones. I heard Tom Aspinall.

I don't hear a lot of Yuri. If he had his pick, who would be next? o pessoal está falando no Adesanya o Tom Aspinall, o John Jones mas não falaram para o Rasca não se você tivesse o poder com quem você lutaria? sinceramente eu não tenho uma vontade de lutar com um lutador específico como eu tinha falado que eu queria fazer uma luta no peso pesado

mas eu também meio que descartei essa possibilidade porque também não mostraram interesse. Depois que eu falei isso, pô, sei se expõe um pouco e a galera começa a falar, mas não depende de mim. Então assim, eu quero defender o meu cinturão, não importa com quem, possivelmente aí vai ser com o Gilles. E se for qualquer outro, pô, vou ficar feliz também, porque eu vou estar lutando. Bem, eu não vou chamar nomes, porque vou estar lutando. Mas para o momento, G1t é o próximo na linha, e se não for ele, quem quer que eu lute, eu luto. Ele tem uma luta sonora? Antes de tudo serindo, mas não importa o adversário, vou estar lutando.

Honestamente, não agora, eu só quero lutar, treinar e continuar evoluindo. E quando você é campeão de três categorias, é isso um sonho? Não um adversário, mas ser campeão de três categorias seria um sonho? Não, não é um sonho, não estou pensando nisso, não estou focado nisso, mas se vocês verem eu indo para outra categoria, igual eu fiz no meio pesado, se eu estou ali não é para brincar, é para me tornar campeão. Se vocês verem eu indo para o peso pesado, eu tenho os meus planos e com certeza vou se tornar campeão. Você e o John Jones lutaram em novembro, como você acha que vai ser? Acho que todo mundo gostaria de ver. E eu como lutador, seria um grande desafio para mim. E com certeza que eu vou entrar ali e eu vou estar preparado para fazer uma grande luta.

E querendo ganhar essa luta e me tornar campeão, com certeza. Mas não dá para falar 100% aqui como que seria. A gente sabe, John, a experiência que o cara tem, a história que ele tem. Então, com certeza, vai ser uma luta difícil. Vai ser uma guerra, vai ser um grande desafio para mim, mas uma luta que vai ser muito preparada, uma luta que vai ser muito difícil, procurando ser um campeão. John Jones é um grande lutador, para ele, acho que vai ser uma luta grande.

Ok. A última, Poirier ou Islam? Quem você pega? A última, Poirier or Islam? Who's your pick? The last one, Poirier or Islam? Who do you pick? Well, it's going to be a tough fight, but I'm going to support Poirier. It's going to be a hard fight, but I'm rooting for Poirier. Wow, the champ is rooting for Poirier. I can't thank you enough, really.

Thank you. Thank you, thank you so much. Can we show some love to Alice Burr? And Plinio Cruz. My man, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Thank you, guys. Chama.

Oh, what a freaking legend. What a legend. We got Derek here, too. Derek, say hello to everyone. Translator Derek. You know him from the fights. Yay, there's Derek doing the translation. Everyone's here. Derek, you're the man. Thank you so much. Plinio, Alex. Oh my God. Oh my God. What a night. I stress so much. I stress so much for these things. And then when they happen, like the energy that you guys have given me, I really hope you guys are having fun. Are you guys having fun? This is an amazing time. I love doing this stuff.

I'm going to do more of these. We're going to take this show around the world. We've got some massive, massive plans, and I can't wait for those plans to come to fruition. So that's it, guys. I really appreciate it. I appreciate everyone coming in. What's that?

Oh, that's right. We have a mystery guest. We got the mystery guest. Any guesses? And then we got Captain Eric here. Look at Captain Eric. Everyone's here. It's a who's who.

Is Paolo Costa going to win tomorrow night? Bohashina, we've got to work on the pitch. Secret Juice. Secret Juice. Secret Juice. Secret Juice. Secret Juice. Great to see you, Captain.

It's amazing. It's like, where's Waldo here? Just random people popping up. This is unbelievable. Okay, who's the mystery guest? Any guesses? Sean O'Malley, I see there. Connor. Dana White.

I'm hearing all kinds of names. Are you ready for the mystery guest? Do I ever not deliver? Is it who? I can't hear. You're saying too many names. Guys, it took a lot of work. Let me tell you something. I almost had to sacrifice my firstborn son to get this individual here. But golly, was it worth it, my friends? Was it worth it? You know why? Because I don't consider this guy just a great fighter. I don't consider him, I don't know, a legend of the game. I don't consider him just a guy who maybe won a belt in the UFC. I don't consider him a guy who just wrestlers of all time. I don't consider him one of the greatest fighters of all time. I consider him a good friend because in the darkness of the pandemic,

he and I carried ESPN on our fucking shoulders. We had the best fucking show at ESPN. We had the best fucking show and they took it from us. But guess what? We are going to ride again, and that starts tonight. Say hello to Daniel fucking Cormier, everyone. My fucking man. There he is.

The two-division champion. D.C., D.C., D.C., D.C. D.C., D.C. They tried to take it from us. Look at this crowd. This is the shit. I can't believe you're here. You know what I had to do to get this guy to come? He pretends like he doesn't know me.

He pretends like I didn't write his fucking promo at UFC 187. I wrote it. Jon Jones, get your shit together. No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Hey Jones, get your shit together. No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Listen, listen. I'm getting hype.

I'm getting hype. There are certain things that stay behind closed doors. You see that? You see that? You are not supposed to be telling. And also, you hugged me. Yeah. I told you not to.

I love you. I love you so much. You keep your hands to yourself. Dude, you do podcasts with everyone. We've never done a thing together in person. This is the first time. This is the first time. Golly.

Stop hugging me. I'm so happy to see you. You get like, you start sometimes getting a little crazy. I don't even know what to do. You get goofy sometimes. Yeah. This is fun, right? Yeah, it's nice. This is awful.

Yo, well this is a rowdy crowd here. It's unbelievable, they're great. Look at you guys. And what about all the proceeds going to the Good Fight Foundation? You know, you said, I, listen. Yes, yes. I really do care about you. Oh, thank you so much. I do. But, but, but, when you said the Pro Seeds were going to the Good Fight Foundation, I was in. Ah, yes. I was in. Because you are a guy that has a very big heart. And the

things that Dustin Poirier does, especially from my hometown, means a lot to me, so I wanted to make sure I took a part in this. And it's awesome. Look at all these people. This is great. Lafayette Street. Did you realize that? Lafayette.

You know, I told Dustin the other day. I said, Dustin, I said, is it destiny that you're fighting on Lafayette Street at the Prudential Center? He said to me, DC, yeah, it's cool, but you might as well be from Dagestan. He no-sold me, dog. Yo, he thinks you're on the other team. I was actually wondering, because this is a weird one for you, let's be honest, right? You know, what I tell those guys is, I said, you know, I love both of you guys. So these are the fights that I truly enjoy watching, like watching Gaethje and Holloway two guys. I really enjoy

Yeah, I like these types of fights man. It's awesome. Yeah, but like you have relationships with them. I don't hurt Yeah, it's hard to see it's hard to see somebody lose But ultimately I get to watch two guys I care about on the grandest stage of all right How many people can say that two people that you know and care about get to headline? Massive pay-per-views. You know, Islam is a great guy, a guy that I care about tremendously. I've seen him for a really long time, and obviously Dustin's from the same hometown as I am, so it's awesome. When did you first meet Islam?

I met Islam in 2012, I think. Okay. So Khabib came first from New Jersey. They were training here. Oh, that's right. Khabib came to AKA by himself. And then as he continued to move forward in his career, he started to bring guys. It was two Islams, Islam Amerov and Islam Makachev. They wore different color tees.

And that's how we differentiated them, Islam gray and Islam red. They had a red shirt and a gray shirt. That was it? They didn't speak English. Right. And neither did Khabib. And so we would differentiate them by the shirt and then you realize very quickly like man this islam is about as good as anyone and you really thought that off the jump right away bro because when he first came to aka his very first sparring session was in the cage, Leon Edwards. Yo. Really? The very first sparring session he had in the United States off the plane at AKA was Leon Edwards.

I've never heard this. People forget Leon was at AKA for a while. Leon was at AKA for a couple years, coming to work, he's wrestling. And he was there, and Islam got off the plane. They put him in the cage and told him, this guy's a really good striker. So you got to make sure you're aware. What do you remember from the anything? I mean, I do remember quite a bit.

Oh, but you can't talk about it. Nah. Gym stories stay in the gym. Yeah, for real. Remember what happened to Patrick Cummins because he kept saying he made me cry in the restroom? That's right. You got to be careful.

I do remember. Holy shit. Right off the jump. Right off the jump, bro. He fought Leon Edwards. And then right away, you saw that he was really, really good. And if you think back to the time where Islam was on his way, and all you heard out of our gym was, it's only a matter of time. When Khabib's done, Islam's going to be the man, and that's proven to be true. This isn't streaming, so no one's going to record this or anything, so tough question.

Who's better, Islam or Khabib? I mean, boy. In their primes. I will tell you this. I will tell you this. I thought that, and I've said this publicly. I said I think Islam is more refined in the striking. I just don't know if anybody was as tough as Khabib.

I think that's what people miss, right? You see the wrestling. You see the cardio. But I think Habib doesn't get the credit he deserves for his toughness. He would walk through tough guys. Remember all those leg kicks Justin Gaethje landed on him? Never showed any sign that it was bothering him. Conor McGregor hit him with good shots.

Al Iaquinta hit him with good shots. Habib was one of the toughest guys that I've ever met. And I don't know who's better. I've watched those guys spar each other, and it's always been fun to do. But, I mean, man, Khabib was just, dude, I mean, honestly, if he was still fighting, he'd be, what, 40-0 at this point. I just don't know if anybody was going to beat him. Are you surprised he's cornering him?

No, not surprised. I think after the championship, you know, he's such a big personality and he's so big in the sport that he can almost overshadow anything, even Islam becoming champion. And I love that he was there for Islam to give him the belt after he won it. But then I also love how he kind of stepped away for a little bit to let Islam fly on his own for a while. And I think that's helped Islam actually reach a level that I don't know that he would have because we've constantly kept talking about Coach Khabib.

That year that Khabib coached all those guys and he won every fight, it was Coach Khabib, Coach Khabib, Coach Khabib. And he recognizes, I've got to separate myself so that my guys can make their way. Dude, he's a tremendous dude. Like, he really is the best. Do you think this is a one-off for him or he's back in the corner now? It seems like he's training not only Islam but the whole crew. Oh, he's back.

Yeah, it seems. And I don't know that he's going to travel with them all, but it seems like he's training them all. And if he does, the sport's better for it. Yeah. On the flip side, Dustin, when's the first time you heard of him, met him? I met Dustin Poirier after I fought Jeff Munson. I was leaving Texas.

Went down to Lafayette for a vacation and I went into the gym, Tim Crater's gym, who's also from Lafayette, and there was a kid in there, Dustin Poirier, and they told me, they said, this guy's going to be special. And they said, I said, okay. I had fought on Saturday, Tuesday. I was in that gym.

Dustin and I moved around, sparred a little bit. And I thought to myself, this kid's going to be special. And then I remember him in the WEC being fun. And then his UFC debut against Josh Grisby. I was sitting in my apartment in San Jose. I had a 700 square foot apartment.

One bedroom, one bathroom. Carl's Jr. rapper rappers all over the floor? No, that was at Bob and Cassandra's house. That was before. I was off to Carl's Jr. You moved. Okay, okay. I had moved on up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I was watching in my room on a small TV sitting on top of a dresser. And I was like, dang, he's better than I thought. But then I saw him go through his ups and downs. The Korean zombie fight, he's better than I thought. But then I saw him go through his ups and downs, the Korean zombie fight. He got beat up pretty good. I saw him lose to Eddie Alvarez and come back and beat Eddie Alvarez. Just, I mean, just Conor McGregor, right?

The way that he, we were all in Lafayette at a sports party. Entire city watching him fight Conor. That fight ends in the way it did. Comes back and beats McGregor twice. Dustin constantly says, win or lose, I'm good because I've already won being from where I'm from. Being from the same place, there's nothing more true. It's not the easiest place to become something special. And Dustin Poirier did that. Does he finish the story?

By the way, shout out to ESPN. They did the thing with Cody Rhodes. Finish the story. I didn't see that. What a great idea, right? They did a thing with Cody Rhodes. Anyone see that? Finish the story.

He did? Today. He did a cold open. I don't know who thought of that, but that's a great idea. It's really good how they're kind of merging the two products together. I'd love to know who thought of that. Shout out to that person. Here's the deal, you know, and God, I fucking

can't stand you when you do this. Why, why, why? I told you. Don't ask me for predictions. You did. You said, does he finish this story? You just said that. You can't ask that. You can't ask that. That's you sitting on the fence. You can't ask that because I call the fights. That's right. Fair enough.

I call the fights. I can't pick. Fair enough. You know better than that. I know. That's true. Has it been that long since we talked? It's been a freaking long time. I mean, you've gone through two co-hosts since we left.

Just saying. Just saying. Just saying. At the beginning of the broadcast on 302, they're going to go to him. It's like, watch good guy and the bad guy as we hijinx. That one promo will be more than I got three freaking years at ESPN. That one promo will be more than... No, that's not true. That's a thousand percent true. That's a thousand percent... But I'm so happy for you

guys because I love you both. I asked Chael to come, but he's in freaking Bristol. Chael's been working. He's a busy, busy guy. You like working with him? I do. He's funny. Chael's the working. He's a busy, busy guy. You like working with him? I do. He's funny. Chael's the man. But sometimes he gets on your nerves. We did a thing the other day where I was a reporter, and Chael was Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor.

And it was awesome. What do you mean? What do you mean? I literally got to stand away from my microphone, and I said, hey, Michael Chandler, Michael Chandler, Daniel Cormier from ESPN. Oh, you did like a skit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Chael's all, oh, hey, Michael Chandler, Michael Chandler, Daniel Cormier from ESPN. Oh, you did like a skit. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and Chael's all, oh, yeah, this mom and pop organization out of the United States.

I'm surprised you got all the way to Dublin, considering that company probably couldn't afford a first-class ticket. Yeah, he did the whole thing. He insulted me, kind of treated me like I treat you at times. Yeah, no. That's amazing. And then I asked him questions, and it was called Chael's Masterclass. Make sure you guys go watch it.

ESPN, MMA, YouTube. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I built that freaking channel. Don't forget it, too. Hey, dude, don't do that. I built it. I mean, this is a fact. Don't do that.

Don't do that. I begged them to start their own channel. Don't do that. Don't do that. Yo, can I ask you a serious question? Serious question. Serious question. Why is this Joaquin Buckley tripping?

I haven't. What's up with this guy? Bro, can you believe that? Yeah, what's up with this guy? Yo you believe that? What's up with this guy? You know what's crazy? That happened weeks ago, and this is the first time that anybody's... Has asked? Yeah.

Yo, I saw that tweet, and I was like, get him. Get him, DC, because he came after me, and I was like, what am I going to say? The first time I did, I responded, and then realized that he's trying to use me, right? Because now he's tagging me in Instagram posts. But it is what it is, man. You know, I appreciate the young man trying to elevate himself. He's doing a good job at winning right now. But he's going about it the whole, the wrong way.

And he's rubbing people, you know, the wrong way. But it is what it is, man. You got to, very few are, my friend, but thank you. That's right. That's right. You got to Very few are my friend You got to You got to sustain that If you're going to start coming at guys like myself And George St. Pierre There's a very few people

Even Cubs Watson Cubs Watson is beloved I don't think Joaquin cares if you're beloved He wants you You know when I learned that When he came after me I was like oh you're coming for the biggest baby face in the biz. He doesn't like, well, you're not the biggest baby face in the biz.

You are not the biggest baby face in the biz. What about, a lot of breaking news today. I feel like we're doing the show right now. This is crazy. Gable Steveson signing with my Buffalo Bills. You see that? I got to be honest with you. Yeah.

All right. Why? You guys don't like that? Or you just thought Bills fans maybe? I don't know. All right. Gable Steves don't like that? Or you just thought Bills fans maybe? I don't know. All right. Gable Steveson signing with the Bills. So, if I'm being honest, I celebrated and I was like, man, congrats to Gable.

I hope he makes the team and he starts because he's never played football in his entire life. Yeah. And I hope that he plays for y'all and then y'all lose. Really? Did you send him a text congrats? I sent Gabe a text, congratulations, kill him from the inside. What does that mean? Like, just be horrible.

Play like a guy that's never played football in your life. Are you shocked that this is the route he's taking? A little bit. He seems like a guy that is, like, destined to fight. He could fight any day. MMA, right? Yeah. Like, if I was the PFL or UFC right now, I'd sign him today.

Absolutely. I'd just sign him before, like, Aaron Pico. I'd just sign him right now. Absolutely, but he just, he wants to play football. But you know how it is, man. You start getting approached by these football teams, You're like, wow, this is amazing. The NFL is all we've ever known as kids. He gets an opportunity to do it without ever playing.

New Orleans Saints, dog. Over and over. We're going to the Super Bowl next year. Who's your quarterback? Jameis. Jameis. Jameis Winston? Yeah.

Who's the quarterback now? Derek Carr, bro. Like, come on, dude. Derek Carr threw 27 touchdowns last year. David Carr is a shittier brother. That was a really good season. Okay. I don't know if you guys heard.

Other breaking news. It's actually bad. Mike Tyson out of the Jake Paul fight. Bro, can I tell you? Mike Tyson out of the Jake Paul fight. Are you surprised? No. No? No. No?

No. I wasn't surprised because I wasn't surprised because I don't think that Mike should be fighting him. Yeah. Then I saw the report that Mike had to get a plane emergency landing because he was having a problem, like an ulcer or something like that. I'm like, if this is not enough to tell you that this shouldn't be happening, it's too long for me.

I'm sad that we're not getting the Darren Till, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. dream fight that we've all been asking for. Didn't Julio Cesar Chavez just lose to an MMA fighter? Anderson Silva, he lost to. Anderson beat him. Yeah, MMA fighter. He's kind of a big deal.

He actually is fighting your co-host in like a week and a half. Yeah, I know. Is that a real fight or is it a work fight? No, it's a real fight. For real? You going? To Brazil? Yeah.

No. I just came from Brazil. Oh, that's right. 301. Who do you got? They're asking. Who do you got? Anderson're asking Who do you got? Anderson and Chael?

Yeah in the boxing match Let me Alright guys I'll be honest with you Dude Dude Chael Yes Is on a lot of steroids I mean he says it himself

More juice than Tropicana You think Chael's on steroids? Yes He would say it himself More juice than Tropicana TRT Him Chael's on steroids? Yes. He would say it himself. More juice than Tropicana. T-R-T. Him and Secret Juice. Captain Eric up there. So wait.

So you think Chael's on steroids? Right this second? As Chael lives, you think he's on steroids? Yes. No, he's not on steroids. Why would he not be? He's not on steroids. He's freaking jacked. Doesn't matter. He lifts weights. Okay, fair enough.

But Chael has been training boxing for years secretly. Wow. He's never told anybody. He's going to knock out Anderson Silva. Wow. I'm trying to tell you, though. For real? That's why I love him. He's so loyal.

He showed me some of his footage. For real? He's so good. Wow. Amazing. How much do you miss me, honestly, on a scale of 1 to 10? How much do you miss? I mean, we had good times.

Dahlia. We had some good times. Oh, my God. Dahlia. I watch those clips constantly. Whenever you told me Dahlia. Helvani. Oh.

Vladimir Putin was going to get a plane for Khabib on the West Coast. Oh, the fuck. How did I not know this, bro? That tells you how far removed I was from everything when I was still fighting. I'm like, you were telling me stuff that I was hearing for the first time in most instances. So when you're like telling me that Khabib's going to fight, they threw us out of the gym during the pandemic. So I didn't know that he wasn't fighting. So you're telling me all this stuff.

And I'm like, oh, my God. Then I go to Twitter, and then I see Helvani. I had no idea it was a V. I thought it was a W. And you would just let me. You're just evil. It was so good. You would let me just keep you. Give me rope. And then Dana responded to Helvani.

Yeah, you did. That's the last win I got over him. Dana responds to Helvani. I don't remember what he said, but you're like, oh, you're some big shot now. Those were the best. I thought you were like big tough guy, you know, standing up to him. I wasn't. See, I like that. Thank you.

We did an hour a week. An hour. I would just sit there with my bird chirping the whole time in the background. Oh, it was so good. Those were the best. Didn't have to prepare anything. The views were insane. I didn't have to book a single guest. That was the craziest thing, how many views that this show was getting.

Because, guys, you guys support what Ariel does, and I got to be honest, the amount of support that I get on my YouTube channel stuff, crazy, but it pales in comparison to what... We were getting 25,000 people watching live on these shows. That was nuts. Yeah, RC was good.

Let me tell you something. RC was good. You guys, listen, listen. Hey, listen. All right, let me ask you guys this. Really, really ask you this. We don't want this to be a hater fest. No, no.

It would be like you guys. It would be like you guys. Shh. Oh, you see this guy. You see what I'm saying? But here's the deal. David Taylor, shout out. David Taylor, new coach.

But it would be like a guy, it would be like taking another athlete and saying, go and talk about football constantly. I couldn't do that. No, that's tough, man. I couldn't even do it at the rate that he did. Or basketball. But it was his love for the sport. I mean, this guy, guys, I know people are hard on him because he was replacing

you. But this is a guy that when he was playing for the Steelers, trained MMA. He always trained MMA. And he just, even now, he goes to the fights. It's hard to go. I try to do that, go into basketball, and I know he's a player, but his pivots show like, nah. But even us, think about this, right? Even us, when we do things with other sports, nobody cares.

Well, I mean, I see you doing the wrestling. I saw you talking to Cody Rhodes, who's the biggest star, and, like, nobody watched it. Oh, shit. What the fuck, bro? Just like me. Nobody watched it? Just like me. I did Seth Rollins.

Ariel. Ariel. I did Seth Rollins. Did you see CM Punk on my show? Oh, yeah. He did good. He did good. He did good. He did good. He did Seth Rollins. Ariel. Did you see CM Punk on my show? Some people watched that. But he's an MMA fighter. Okay, sure. CM Punk's an MMA fighter.

No, he's not. That was not an MMA story. Don't hate. I'm so happy for you. I'm so happy that you're here. Isn't this great? It's the best. Talk about Jon Jones. What about him? I don't know. Talk about Jon Jones. Okay.

What about him? I don't know. What do you want to ask him? Ask him right now. What do you want to ask him about Jon Jones? Ask me whatever you guys want. You guys got to go one at a time, though. You can't all yell.

I don't. Who wins in a wrestling match, me or Jon Jones? Right now. Right now? Man, I got to be honest. Like, I don't wrestle all that much. But if. I mean, come on.

I made two Olympic teams. I can't lose to the guy in the wrestling match. Yeah. Do you think he fights? Do you think he fights Aspinall next or Stipe next? He's fighting Stipe next. Really? Yeah, he is.

In November? Does he win? Jones? Yeah. I can't. I mean, I think, honestly, guys, look, I understand. I understand that Tom Aspinall is very good. But, I mean, Jones has been around and seen so many of us come.

And we're supposed to be the guys that beat him. And he always kind of does it. I mean, he has been around and seen so many of us come, and we're supposed to be the guys that beat him, and he always kind of does it. I mean, he's a tremendous fighter, man, and people, you really take for granted how tough he is inside the octagon. His fight IQ is next level, and I don't know, man. I don't know who beats him. Honestly, I really don't. I love this man so much.

Thank you so much for coming. I wish we could do this for an hour. Honestly, it's like, it's such a tease. It's such a tease. I love this man so much. Thank you so much for coming. I wish we could do this for an hour. Honestly, it's like, it's such a tease. It's such a tease. I love you. Can we show some love to Daniel Cormier, one of the greatest fighters of all time? Thank you for coming, my man.

I love you. Thank you for doing this. Thank you guys so much. Hey, my foot fell asleep on me. Hey, congratulations, man. You're doing me. Hey, congratulations, man. You're doing great. Hey, guys, thank you so much. Enjoy UFC 302.

Don't be a stranger. Don't be a stranger, DC. Hey, we're going to ride again, are we? Are we going to ride again? He didn't acknowledge me. He didn't acknowledge me. That son of a gun. That son of a gun.

Cassandra, I love you, too. Thank you, guys. You're the best. I really appreciate it. Captain Eric is here. Guys, this has been an incredible night. This has been an incredible night. I can't thank you guys, you're the best, I really appreciate it Captain Eric is here guys, this has been an incredible night this has been an incredible night I can't thank you all enough who did we have? We had Armin Tsurukian

we had Aljo, we had Al Iaquinta we had Alex Pereira, we had Kayla Harrison we had Daniel Cormier, did the mystery guest live up to the hype? yeah you know yourself now there's a select few people that paid for the meet and greet. I'm going to meet with you guys, but to everyone else who I can have a chance to shake your hand,

from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. Really, thank you. Just seeing all these people here, thank you so much for coming. I appreciate you all more than you know. Thank you for supporting the shows. Thank you for supporting my work. Thank you for supporting the shows thank you for supporting my work thank you for supporting me thank you so much to NJPAC thank you so much to Eric and Connor and Frank and the whole crew of the MMA Hour Joe and Alex and Andy Chuck, Troy, Pizzi Brian, Jerry

everyone who made this happen we're going to do more of these thank you I can't thank you enough. I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Enjoy 302, and we'll talk to you on Monday. Peace.