The Ariel Helwani Show - More UFC breaking news, Yair Rodriguez, Song Yadong, Patricio Pitbull, Aiemann Zahabi

Episode Date: February 25, 2025

Ariel Helwani and the gang react to breaking news of Dan Hooker's injury withdrawal from the Justin Gaethje fight at UFC 313 (04:39).Patricio Pitbull discusses his much-anticipated UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez, DMs he sent to Rodriguez, his challenge to Aljamain Sterling, whether he would've retired if UFC said no, plus more (31:30).Song Yadong discusses his UFC Seattle main event win over Henry Cejudo, the fight-ending eye-poke, Cejudo's comments since and more (57:51).Yair Rodriguez previews the other side of UFC 314's bout against Pitbull and responds to Pitbull revealing their DMs (1:31:58).Aiemann Zahabi looks ahead to his UFC 315 bout against Jose Aldo and discusses how the fight came together (2:09:15).

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Err-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r- And 25. Hello again, everyone. I just realized it's 022525. I mean, that's pretty darn close. That's pretty darn close. What is that called? A palillogram or something? 02... Palillogram. Is that what it is? A palindrome. A palindrome.

Palindrome. But no, this doesn't... Yeah, except this isn? A palindrome? A palindrome. But no this doesn't... Yeah, except this isn't a palindrome. It's close. Nah, backwards would be 525220. It's close. It's a great start. It's close. Anyway, just hit me. 022525 is pretty darn cool, my friends. It's great to be here on a lovely Tuesday in New York City. And we've got some, dare I say, breaking news my friends. We've got a lot to discuss on

this Tuesday afternoon, evening, morning, wherever you may be. I love it when a lot has happened in between shows and that's why, that's why I listened to Action Bronson when he said, you need to be on every day. Whether it's you or someone else, it needs to be every day because there are things to be discussed in the world of combat sports. We had a phenomenal show yesterday. We're still all very emotional,

forclempt after Jim Lapley came in here and just, I mean, it was the floodgates. Just waterworks. Went home, was thinking about some of the stories, cried even more. In fact, now we have, right to my left, a box of Kleenex that is not going anywhere. So if this happens again,

because I didn't realize that so many people actually cry in the studio. We were recounting before the show, Oban Elliott cried, Michael Chandler cried, Jim Lampley cried, Chael P? I think I saw him tearing up a little bit. Cried. Was there another one? Hmm. Joe Hendry? Feldman?

You already said that. Feldman. Didn't say that. I mean, some have called me the Oprah of combat sports. You said it, not me, Frankie, all right? Now, today on the program, a lot more to discuss and it's a beautiful, tremendous four pack of guests back into the show. I'm gonna be talking about the show You said it, not me Frankie, all right? Now, today on the program, a lot more to discuss

and it's a beautiful, tremendous four pack of guests. Back into the show, we'll be joined by the pride of Montreal, arguably the best male fighter competing out of Canada these days, Eman Zahabi. Why, why? Well, I'll get to him in a moment, but he's part of the breaking news. Prior to that, we'll be joined by Yair Rodriguez.

Yair Rodriguez, we found out last week, he's going to be fighting Patricio Pipple at UFC 314 on April 12th. You see, I got it. I'm learning. Yair, legend of the game, El Pantera. Great to have him on the show. As always, he'll join us at 2.30 at two o'clock. Yedong Song. It's no longer, we're not going with Song Yedong, we're going with Yedong Song, right? It's one of those.

Some people call her Zhang Weili, other call her Weili Zhang, but I do believe the correct way to say his name is Yedong Song, because in his culture, they go last name first right like Yao Ming Yao was his last name Young Min stop it Frank you can't do that does it so sorry First of all, no one understands the context. But it made me laugh. Anyway, Yedong Song will join us at 2 Eastern and at 1.30, Patricia Pitbull is going to join us to talk about his upcoming fight against Yaya Rodriguez. Yedong Song obviously is going to be on to talk about what happened Saturday in Seattle against Henry Sohuto. All right, so that's the four pack and as you know on Tuesdays we like to play too and so at 5 Eastern over on the Dizone Boxing YouTube channel myself, Adi Oladipo, who has a very busy

day in Manchester because later today they're going to have the press conference for Ben Eubank or is it Eubank Ben? Who the hell knows? And Josh Padley, the electrician who went toe-to-toe with Shakur Stevenson on four days notice and has now become an overnight sensation if you will. He will join us to talk about what transpired this past weekend in Riyadh. So a very busy day here at Uncrowned HQ, but we do have to get to the breaking news. I do have to get to the breaking news. And so I went to bed last night at around, you know, I'm trying to go to bed 10 30. 10 30 is a nice spot for me.

Don't always get there. 10 30, 11, feel good about myself when I'm in there. Pre 11, post 11 11 it just gets it gets uncomfortable it gets wacky it's hard to wake up anyway went to bed I think at around 10 35 10 40 wake up this morning to a litany of tweets rumors innuendo that one of the most anticipated fights of the first quarter of 2025, Dan Hooker against Justin Gaethje, you'll recall on this program, Dan Hooker, when I asked him five round fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313, March 8th, Las Vegas? Why? He

said, because I think the UFC wants someone to die. Anyway, everyone loved this fight. It was a great co-main event for the main eventer which is Alex Pereira versus Magomed Ankaleyev and then we find out actually as first reported by the critically acclaimed YouTube channel Zoe Hooker TV that unfortunately Dan Hooker has broken his left hand and he is out in case you missed it. Here's the news. We did have a little break we have been busy dad had a fight or we're supposed to have a fight but I've busted me poor great channel it's I mean on a scale of one to ten and in terms of like whole simity not a word but it just feels right it's like a 25

that channel so you know good on him for breaking it on his own. Not the hand of course, the news. We then got a tweet from Benny P. I believe out in Australia. How do I know this? Well I see the flag emoji right over there. Unfortunate news but per sources Dan Hooker is out of his fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313. Unknown if Gaethje will get a replacement. All right then the next domino to fall, well, all of a sudden there's Dan Hooker

on Sky Sport New Zealand, really, actually, literally confirming the news. Co-host Dan Hooker. How are we, how are we? I was gonna ask you the same question, mate. One of the... One of these hands don't look like the other. One of the paws, one of the paws is not doing so well. What has happened in training?

I was just spying last night as I do, just letting some hooks go, just throwing some bombs down range and just caught one of the boys on the top of the dome with my knuckle and yeah. And then I don't think too much of it but they sent me off to get a CT scan, had a little CT scan and they told me that my hand is fractured so yeah as of now obviously still would fight with like the medicals they like squeeze it like they squeeze your hands like they're like Ow! D'ah! So now we'll see how it all plays out.

I don't even know if you'll be able to fit the glove by the time you get over there. Yeah, I'll be like, I'll be sitting up back and I'll be like, hey, can I have one large glove and one 3XL please? They'll be like, what? We'll see if we can kick this fight down the road or yeah, yeah. We'll see if we can kick this fight down the road or... Yeah, yeah. We'll just wait and see, baby. It's just unfortunate that it was this close.

Obviously gutted for all the fans that I know that were excited for this fight. That's probably the main thing. That's probably the main thing. I think just the lords of war were not happy and they took it away from you. What a bummer. There it is.

Dan Hooker officially out some 11 or so days before UFC 313. Very unfortunate because a lot of people are looking forward to the fight. And interestingly enough, Dan seemed to have done a whole bunch of media yesterday. Our friend Benoit Baudoin of Montreal, who does a tremendous job covering all kinds of sports

out in Quebec, actually spoke to him yesterday. And what I thought was super interesting about this, remember yesterday on the show, we were talking about, is this now a three round fight after it was very clearly promoted as a five round fight? Well, take a look at what Dan Hooker had to say. And also, by the way, take a look at the left hand as he's speaking to Benoit.

Streamer. So that changed, right? I think originally, well, originally it got announced as a five round fight. But yeah, then I got my contract and it did three. So I said, I said, if you're gonna, I said, well, it looks like we're doing three. God knows what it is. If they're gonna pay me the same amount of money for, for, uh, to do three rounds and

then I'll do three rounds. So there you have it. You see the left hand over there. It looks a little swollen if you look ever so closely at the very end of the clip. But what's so interesting about it it all of a sudden it became a three-round fight why is that is it because perhaps he said that they were going to fight to the death or something like that probably not but a bit weird usually get paid a little extra when you go 25 minutes who the hell knows point

is it's a moot point and so since all this out, we've had several people raise their hand and say, tag me in, I want in. The notables, Rafael Fiziev, who we haven't seen in quite some time. Last time we actually saw him was September of 2023, a year and a half or so. In addition to that, Money Moicano raising his hands. Two weeks is good.

I have enough time for two or three sparring sessions. I will be ready if they call. In addition to that, Mateus Gamra. Hooker out, I'm ready to go, Justin Gaethje. Two weeks, no matter. My fight with Hooker was very close and he got lucky with the judges. Time to fix it and prove it.

I'm not really sure if fighting Gaethje proves that Hooker got lucky with the judges time to fix it and prove it I'm not really sure if fighting Gaiety proves that hooker got lucky but I get the I get the sentiment in any event these are all possibilities what I'm hearing right now is the plan is to keep Justin Gaiety on the card they would like to do so and these are some of the names that are in the mix. Vizier definitely in the mix. I've also heard that Benyil Daryush in the mix as well. By the way, Justin Gaetje on his Snapchat confirming the news and saying that he would like to stay on the card and is waiting for more information.

Y'all didn't know I was on that Snapchat grind, huh? Yeah. That's where you get all the good news on Snapchat, I'm told. information y'all didn't know I was on that snapchat grind huh yeah that's where you get all the good news on snapchat I'm told why would someone choose to go to snapchat these days to like get the message out is that for the kids what is that what's going on I'm talking to you GC why do people go on snapchat I don't know you've always been a snapchat hater yeah I don't get posted on his snapchat story yeah what's up with that guy G like what why do you why do you go to the? It's like news or anything

It's just a picture of him smarting being with a cap. Not an opponent. Yeah, why not do that on IG? Isn't there a bigger audience there? Oh He wanted it on snap for the real ones. Yeah. Come on. All right Well, there you have it We're gonna weigh in on all this in a moment But in addition to all of that right before the program we found out that a massive fight has been added to UFC 315. The UFC cooking right now, a litany of news, an avalanche of news, and the avalanche continues from last week. Massive fight added to UFC 315 at Le Centre Belle in Montreal on the, well, how should we say it? Le 10 May.

Yeah, that's right. May 10th. It's Montreal's own. He's one of our own. He's one of our own. Amen, Zahabi, he's one of our own. Going up against the King of Rio, José Aldo. Shades go back in Canada, actually to know in Canada, going up against a hobby who in my opinion is arguably the best male fighter to come out of Canada right now. Him and Mike Malott, a lot also on the card. I love this fight. If you're a Montreal fan, if you're a Canadian fan to see one of your own go up against Jose Aldo, brilliant stuff.

And what an opportunity for the hobby, uh, you know a Montreal fan, if you're a Canadian fan, to see one of your own go up against Jose Aldo, brilliant stuff. And what an opportunity for Zahabi, you know, Montreal born and bred, getting his first fight in his hometown of his UFC career. He's on this run. I love it. In addition to that, we found out last night

that also one of our own, Jasmine, Jazz... Sorry, I'm sorry, Frank, I screwed that up. Who says Jazz-divicious? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Frank. I screwed that up. Who says jazzed a vicious. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I screwed that up. Uh, fighting the former champ, just gone drudge in a very important flyweight bout. And so how about this? It's a little Canada versus Brazil on this card. I like this. I like this very much.

I like these two fights. You know, I saw some people complaining about it, but look better than the Toronto card, in my opinion, from January of last year, better than the Toronto card, in my opinion, from January of last year, better than the Vancouver card as well. You're not getting international fight week in Montreal in May. You're not, but you're getting two title fights.

You're getting arguably the greatest female fighter of all time. Arguably Valentina Shevchenko against the, the rising Mano Fioro. You're getting JDM, the, the very popular Don Giacomo, Jack Delamattalena going up against Valentina Shevchenko against the the rising Mano Furo. You're getting JDM, the the very popular Don Giacomo, Jack Delamattalena going up against the human highlight reel that is Bilal Muhammad. You're getting Jose Aldo against one of your own, Eamon Zahabi. You're getting Jasmine

against Jessica Andrade, Mike Mulat as well. I mean, it's not bad. I like it. And if that wasn't enough, the one we were waiting for, the big one, Guram is back. We found out that Guram is back. Yeah, there it is. Guram and Zahabi fighting in his back-to-back days.

Yeah, that's crazy. By the way, in that photo, he doesn't look very much like you. Also, his beard is massive. Yeah, it's too long. It's when it's shorter, it looks better. Gentlemen, what do you think of this Justin Gaethje conundrum? Where do they go? Oh, it's a bummer.

What do you guys think? I don't mind the physio fight. Yeah. It was super close. I'm down for that. What do you think, Pizzi? Is there any way we can sort out some of the problems that we're talking about yesterday? You know, I couldn't help but think that yesterday we were talking about the lightweight situation

and Charles Olivera, Ilya Toporia, Dana Noncomittal on whether that kind of super fight of sorts is going to happen. Is there any way we can sort out that situation by mending this situation? Can we put someone in there? Maybe Armand comes back. Armand versus Justin? Yeah. Armand is in a situation where he can win back all the brownie points, right? That's a good point. He needs a way to get in there and get the UFC going. You know what? That's a rookie

in lads. All right. Look what he did for us there. That's fantastic. So it's an opportunity in that way. I'm just wondering, can we resolve anything else while also resolving this? Okay, you know, I didn't really think of that. And I understand that that can was kicked, but I don't know if there's anything there. If you're Justin Gaethje though, are you down with that?

Going from Dan Hooker to Armin? And I'm not suggesting Armin's that much better than Dan Hooker, but I am suggesting they're completely different fighters, right? With a completely different skillset. I would also, I totally agree with that line of thinking. I would also ask it the other way. If you're Armand, do you want to pin your comeback hopes

to get back to the title shot on a short notice fight against a guy who's going to give you three rounds of hell, I assume, because there seems to be some- I think that's a winnable fight for Armin. And by the way, we don't know how hurt he is, if he's feeling better, has he done PT? The back is a serious thing, but that's a, that's a, that's a favorable fight. I would say for Armin.

Winnable, but, but it's dangerous still. It's dangerous. And then to do it on 11 days notice makes it even more dangerous. Yeah, that feels risky to me. The one, the one. Bigger scalp for Gagey, right? Like if he beats Armand, if I'm Armand, I'm not sure. The one to make in my opinion is Fiziev.

He's raising his hand. He wants it. He hasn't fought in a year and a half. He's been ready to go for months. They they've had some trouble getting him booked. Uh, there's a great story there. They, they fought to a very, very close, um, majority decision.

Uh, that was a win for, uh, for Fiziev, right? Was it my crazy? No, sorry. I went for Ghechi. I'm thinking of this because I remember, I said that I thought Fiziev won. You're not alone. That, that was a very prevalent opinion at that

time. No better way to do it. I actually heard from Justin Gaethje recently. Oh. And, uh, how much I get it. I mean, I say too many things. Well, was it a snap? Did you guys train snaps?

Oh, yeah. Did he snap you? I saw you scored it for physics. All I'll say is that he claimed that whatever issue exists between us and him coming to the show and not coming to the show, manager of the stat, stems from my commentary on that fight. Oh.

Okay. That's why I was thinking that the, because in my opinion, he didn't win the fight, but I thought it was a very close fight and I don't remember saying anything. That's when Gates, you got his first take down. Yes, but it wasn't, I don't think it was a disrespectful take on the fight.

It was a very, very close fight. It was, so that's why you have that story. It happened two years ago. It was a great fight. I remember us all saying in the fight, but very, very close. So it was, so that's why you have that story. Um, it happened two years ago. It was a great fight. I remember us all saying in the aftermath, wish it was five rounds. I doubt this is going to be five rounds on short notice, but I think we all wanted a little bit more of the options.

Like if I'm managing Moicano, I don't know if I want to do this. We just took a short notice fight. We've got one. Take another dangerous one. Right. No hard no foul. Nah, you got dice. Nah.

You gotta be calculated. You lose again, then you're just so far from the title. You went from being maybe a win away to then getting a title shot on short notice, to now, by the way, a potential scenario where Islam is leaving the division. So you want to be on a roll. You will not get back to the title without facing somebody like Justin Gaethje. This is leaving the division. So you wanna be on a roll. You will not get back to the title

without facing somebody like Justin Gaethje. This is actually the shortcut. On 11 days notice? Take the risk. I support Money Moikano's efforts here. This is the way to do it. I mean, I love the fact that he's raising his hand. Hell yeah.

He's not considering it the way in which we are. That's what I'm saying. If I'm managing Moikano, I'm saying- But if you take it slow, right? Let's say you do take it slow. Who's the next opponent? I mean- And then what?

Then you're facing Justin Gaethje the fight after that. What's taking it slow? Just going on a normal fight schedule? Yeah. This is Justin Gaethje on 11 days notice. Nah, take it. In a full camp. Take it.

What about Gamrot? He sparks you out. You guys like Gamrot? Yeah, Gamrot's fine. It's fine, but it's the least exciting of the options. Gamrot is one of the best in the division, but his appeal, his star power just is not there. Well, forget the star power, just stylistically.

Yes. We were expecting two guys to separate each other for consciousness, and then you get Gamrot diving at his legs. Maybe not diving at his legs. Remember Hooker and Gamrot was a potential fight of the year last year it was a great fight I don't expect it's gonna deliver hooker and and gate you what we expected from that one am i crazy it was announced as

a five-round fight right yeah definitely was I wonder if I even you asked and hooker about the five-round fight no oh 100% but when he was just like to die you know they put out let me see you, they put out, let me see here. You know, they put out the, no. Ariel, if you were Ironman's manager, what would you recommend them do?

Big Danny Rube? So, yeah, shout out to Danny Rube. You brought up a good point that I wasn't thinking about. You really do earn back some of that goodwill. Clearly they're mad, right? They're annoyed. But look at someone like DDP, who also, by the way, is managed by Danny Rube. Remember when Dana was mad that he didn't take

the, the Izzy fight after the Whitaker fight. Yes. And they went with Strickland. It all worked out. He. Timing. Don't, don't a hundred percent, but don't take a fight on 11 days notice, especially if you have

a bad back just to get in their good graces at some point. It all usually kind of figures is out, figures itself out, especially if you're a tremendous athlete and fighter like he is. I'm not a huge fan of short notice fights. If you don't need to take them. If you have all the up like Moicano taking the short notice fighting against Issam made all the sense in the world. In this case, you were the number one contender. You can't be more than one win away. You don't need to do this now. Now again, I do think it's a favorable matchup for him, but it's still, you're

going up against a guy who hasn't fought in a year who was getting ready for, you know, a five round fight, we presume. And, and you haven't been getting ready for one. So don't love it. I like the Fiziyev one. And by the you haven't been getting ready for one. So don't love it. I like the Fiziev one. And by the way, it Fiziev from a promotional standpoint is probably the closest of all the

options that you get to the hooker fight in terms of excitement and entertainment. Right? Yeah. Somebody who will stand there and trade with him. In fact, we saw it the first fight. It was a great fight. It was a fantastic fight.

It's the best option for me, unless there's a, another one that comes out of the woodwork, you know? It is weird that Fiziev hasn't fought in so long. Like I know he was, he was injured after his last fight, but that was 2023. Um, it would be good to see him back. You don't love again, ideally it's like the Bacoli situation in the moment you're like, ah,

this is great. But then you're like, fuck, I wish these guys were fighting on, on equal footing. Um, you're like, fuck, I wish these guys were fighting on equal footing. Um, but I liked that one the best. The overall sentiment is damn, that fight was just so fun. Like everyone, it was one of those fights somewhat like Pimlet versus Chandler, but this one is, is really like times 10 where it's just like, who doesn't like this fight?

Who isn't excited for this fight? You're not a fight fan, you're not excited for it. It was the light version of Max and Justin. It was guaranteed. We knew exactly what we were gonna get in this one. And they were both gonna deliver. There was no way, like they want to deliver that type of fight.

And it was like barely the light version. It was like just hold the sauce. Exactly. Like that's it. All right, well let's see what happens. I did wanna bring up this Jose Aldo versus Eman Zahabi fight because I think some of us like it, but some of us maybe don't.

Well, you like it because you're getting a big, big shot in your hometown against the, against the legend in Jose Aldo. Nah, listen, I like it because it's a great story. I like it from the Eman Zahabi. I was going to say, who do you like it for? That's important. Yeah.

I like it from the Zahabi and for, for, was going to say, who do you like it for? That's important. Yeah, yeah. I like it from the Zahabi and for the Montreal fans. You're getting to see a legend. Some of these Canadian cards are a little bit shallow. And here's, you know, here's the freaking greatest, arguably, featherweight champion of all time coming in and fighting one of your own. Like, that's a fun scene and good for Zahabi. And he's the best fighter out of Montreal and maybe out of Canada right now.

It's all great. But I have seen some people, our boy Kaposa mentioning this, I believe New York Rick shares the sentiment as well. When Aldo had his last fight in the UFC, this is prior to the little boxing sejourn prior to the Marab fight. He, we thought maybe he would go and have these fun fights, whatever boxing, Mayweather, this, that, and the other, he comes back and he fights Jonathan Martinez, wins that fight. Mario Bautista loses that fight, frustrating fight. And then this Sahabi fight. I don't know if it was the path that we all thought he would be on upon resigning with the UFC. Is that accurate, Neerkrik? Yeah, I just don't, why do these fights make sense for Jose Aldo? Like what is this doing for either his legacy

or for the fan excite, like, I don't know. I just, these are not the fights that I imagined for Jose Aldo. Maybe this is me just being selfish and wanting something different than he wants, but what does a win over Eamon Zahabi do for him? Can I say this? I actually think that this improves his legacy.

How? He's giving back. How many guys, how many guys say, you know, what, it's just contenders here. It's just names here. It's just champions here. No Aldo says, screw all that. I'm here.

Yeah. Beat me if you can survive. If I let you. I respect your, I respect your position there in terms of like, yeah, he's taking on all commerce. Not interested. Like this is not the end of the career for Jose. Can we at least agree that Zahabi in Montreal is more intriguing than

Martinez and Bautista? Sure. I think the crowd will be hot for it. And Zahabi is on a good run, but I mean, so, so we're Bautista. Yeah, so we're Batista. Yeah. So we're there. Yeah, but there was no, there was no juice there. There was no, there was no edge to those fights.

This is my point though. Well, the Martinez was great because Jose performed so well and everyone was like, he's back, let's go. This is sick. The, I mean, I've never seen a slander campaign put out anyone like the Mario Batista slander campaign put out anyone like the Mario Batista campaign. So, uh, let's, let's hope that, uh, as a hobby, if he wins, he does it in emphatic fashion. How do you feel about this PT? This matchup, this booking?

Oh, he really liked the Jonathan Martinez fight and GC is writing what he's saying about the Bautista fight, but this is, this is why Jose Aldo is a legend. Like he is trying to systematically work his way back to a bad title shot and he's facing off against these prospects or how we, we envisage prospects. Um, not for nothing. Zahabi is 37. You know, he's not, he's not that, he's not that much. He's not that far away from Aldo.

What's Aldo? 38, 39. Um, I don't think it's a bad fight. I think it's an opportunity for Aldo to steal some momentum. I was a hobby who's been flying. And unfortunately, when you get to this, this side of the championship run, when you're a UFC fighter and you're in your late thirties, this is, this is what it is. You are constantly fighting against the up and coming guy and winds are really big at that stage. Now, of course, New York Rick's right. And what he's saying that we obviously saw him do that against Martinez and

thinking, wow, this is going to project them right up into this title mix. And then he gets another prospect and now he's getting another one. So I understand the concern, but at the same time, I fucking love both Martinez and the Bautista fight. So give me one more. I like it. By the way, you bring up a great point. Zabhi is 37. He took such a big break there when he was coaching and whatnot. He's, he's somewhat new to the scene

cause he's on this, this, this run. And, uh, he was in his brother's shadows and all this stuff for so long. You do forget that he is 37. By the way, he's also not for nothing, ranked 13th and Aldo is ranked 11th. Yeah, I was just, I was just going to say like from a ranking standpoint, this, I mean,

this matchup makes complete and total sense. It's a nice step up for Raymond Zahavi. It's just the fact that one side is Jose Aldo, who's a legend in the sport. Great. It's a little juice for the bunch of- We had Dominic Cruz on the table and all of a sudden- Hey, well, Dominic Cruz-

Hey, hey, the Montreal card is shaping up and you got the two title fights, Shevchenko, Fioro and Balal versus JDM. You got Grasso, Natalia Silva. You got Gilbert Burns, Michael Morales. You got Jose Otto, Eamonn Zahabi. You got Jescon Andrade, Jasmine, Jess Daviches, Mike Malat, Charles Radke.

I like it. Chuck Buffalo on there. It's not bad. It's not bad, man. By the way, were you doing a Hawani impression there? I'm not sure. I'm just saying, It's not bad. Not bad, man. By the way, were you doing a Hawani impression there? I'm just saying it's not bad. It is not bad. O'Malley probably booked.

Jan age fighting Aldo. Umar age fighting Aldo. We're just not doing this with Aldo. Why do we pretend that we're doing this with Aldo? Yeah, we're not doing Aldo-Umar. Okay, Sanhagen, would have hated it. Figgy, Song. Yeah, all these sound great.

Marlon, Rob. All these sound, Henry Cejudo versus- Henry would have been cool. Henry Cejudo versus Jose Aldo would be sick. No, that would have been so good. That would have been so good. Let's build a new star. Let's build a new star. Henry doesn't need to build a new star.

I hate the 37 year old guy. I like this for the laundry list of people on the way up that we can give shots at Aldo. But what about for Aldo? I think they nailed it. Listen. I like the fight. I do like it. This is the way the fight game goes.

You got to do the job on your way out of the territory. All right? This is how it works. Actually, more fighters need to do this. I like it. And, and, and he walks in there as the bad guy. Now the question is, does he, does he walk in to the bell center with run this town playing?

Yes. Yeah. Coming in. Yeah. And, and, and does, does, does Amon Zahabi take a page out of Mark Hominick's book and come out to I'm coming home, I'm coming home, or is that now a faux pas because?

Bit of Brian Adams. No, because of Diddy. You can't do that, right? Bit of Brian Adams, huh? What's Brian Adams? What do you suggest? Is he not Canadian, no? Oh, geez.

That's what you're going with. Wow. Imagine if I made a joke like that. I think Aldous, look, it's a decent pas. That's so disrespectful. I can't believe you said Brian Adams. His name is Brian Adams, isn't it? Very disrespectful.

What's next? That's the guy, isn't it? Number 69? Celine Dion? Yes, that's who I'm thinking of. Is his name Brian Adams? Yes, summer 69 is a good shout. I like that song.

That's Brian Adams? Back in the summer of 69. Yeah. All time. Should we talk about what's next for Aldo? Yeah, what's next for Aldo? Is it Peyton Talbot? What's next for, what's next for Aldo?

Who said Peyton Talbot? What's he got? Kyler Phillips is right 12. He's right in between them. No, let's just go even further down. Just let somebody else climb on. I don't hate the Peyton Talbot shot. Maybe if he wins, he gets the Mario Bautista rematch?

This is horrible, guys. This is horrible. I can't watch paint all the shots. Maybe if he wins he gets the Mario Bautista rematch? This is horrible guys, this is horrible. I can't watch anymore of this. I like it and I'm also very happy for our good friend Jasmine getting this opportunity against a former champion in Just Got Injured. So I think it's shaping up to be a great card and tomorrow by the way, if you're in Montreal, there's a press conference here.

I don't think it's open to the public, but it is one of those old school on sale press conferences. So some content will come out there and I believe Jasmine is going to be there. I believe Eamon's going to be there and I believe the four fighters at the top including Jack Daly who's coming from all the way down under over there and to the left Perth to Montreal. But most importantly, Eamon Zahabi will join us at about 3.15 to talk about this breaking news fight story. Now, let's get to our first guest of the day. We found out last Wednesday a litany of news as we've discussed for the last few days.

And one of those fun little nuggets in the midst of all of it was Yair Rodriguez against the newly signed Patricia Pipple, the Bellator legend, the former champ, the face of Bellator. We have spoken to him over the past few months over this saga with Piafellator. He finally got his release and then he finally signed with the UFC. He's kind enough to join us right now to talk about this fight going down in Miami on April 12th. He's joined by his guy Mateusz who's kind enough to join us once again. Thank you guys for joining us. Parabéns. Congratulations on the deal.

Patricio, can I ask? Dana said on Saturday all it took was a phone call to get this done. Can you tell us your side of the story? What was the process in terms of getting this fight with Yair done? I was just calling to say how it happened. Well, there were some offers for fights, for me, I was accepting everything, but they were being refused by the other fighters. Then the fight with Edson Barbosa fell, and offered me a Gatsby. And I said I accepted, but it was like it was now, at the end of the week, I couldn't even take off my shirt.

So, Edson Aros, talking to the Gala at the UFC, asked if I would face another Bandaida. And the answer was, I would have been stuck in the car. But I always had to answer to them. I was stuck in the car for a long time. a couple names and I said yes to them but they said no to me and so I'll say to you for the new at Seattle car they call us if I would replace at some bar buzz and I said yes and then they went to look at the visa and they're only in our time during this conversation they asked about find someone else and then another date and my management told him why they every time yes, I'll fight even the devil just give me the dates

and I think that was what turned everything around because They were seen there was a status fighting run at any time in any condition for all those guys Thursday no, so After that they offered me the EI5 for the second time. We had a red stand low before for another date and this time they offered for a control but I said yes and now we're here. In the midst of all of this, when did you know that you were in with the UFC? Like obviously they're trying to find you an opponent but did you agree to join the UFC several weeks ago or did that only happen, you know, signing your deal with the UFC several weeks ago or did that only happen?

You know signing your deal with UFC not the not the bout agreement, but signing the deal to join the UFC Last week when this was in the gym. I was texting to the coach, he was calling me to talk about the official match, I thought that was the question, but I saw that they were interested in it, and when they started, they offered me fighters. The first time they offered me was at the gym, but they took the fight. I also talked to the open public, I tweeted and they answered the public, it doesn't have to be a secret. They just saw that they were sending me to the arena. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm. And I said yes. He said no. I tweeted at him and he tweeted back saying he wouldn't want me fighting in April. That's the check that's weak. After that there were a series of other offers and nothing of the contract coming to me. And material next last week, that time it happened. Can you tell us all the names that were discussed?

You said Al Jamey Sterling. The first one that they offered me for my change was Sgt. Sterling. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy.

He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy.

He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. He was a very good guy. The first one that they offered me for my change was Surya Mishurli, and he said no. Then they offered me EI for March 29 in Mexico. He didn't say anything to them for almost a week. I sent him a message on Instagram and he will be back saying that it would be an honor for him to fight me

and let's do it all that but then he told the FC no. So after that there was this deep question but they offered me but there wasn't time for the visa we had only two opportunities and there were a few other names that came to me from press people and some other people came to me said hey I heard you're going to fight this guy so the FC might have offered me to those guys came to me from press people and some other people came to me and said, hey, I heard you're gonna fight this guy. So the UFC might have offered me to those guys and admitted in Beijing, but they never offered them to me. So I prefer not to say their names

because I don't know if that's true or not. After all this happened, they came to me two days before the announcement asking me again for a fight here. And I said yes, and that's how our thing got done. Is it true in the midst of all this stuff that when you DM'd Yair about the March 29th date that you said, where is your Mexican pride, is that true?

That's what I was supposed to say, I said, oh, good mention, I'm sorry. I did it wrong, but I'll show it to you in one sec. Oh man, Pippo's a gangster man. This guy, he don't give a fuck. I love it. There it is, there's the phone. A little bit to the other side.

No, other way, other way, other way. I heard you're having second thoughts about fighting me on March 29th. I hope that's not true. Show me that Mexican pride, tell the UFC it's on on I'll love to welcome you. Let's make it happen I was told the UFC has yet to receive your answer. Are we gonna fight? Why are you so desperate? UFC has my answer Not desperate. I don't play it. Wow. Look at you. You're going straight at him, huh? Oh, it goes well not desperate I don't play games it's either yes or no, and I always say yes, no bullshit.

And then he did, ooh, just got, wow. And then it says February 19th, or sorry, February 14th, just got your answer, pussy. What? Because he wouldn't, because you said he wasn't available on March 29th? Yeah, he said he was in the Mahogany, and he said he wanted to run a game fight, terms of rumo, he was trying to arm a guy.

Wow, okay, well now you got him. And so does this give you a little more motivation, this interaction now going into the fight? Yeah, and now you're going to fight him, right? It gives you a little more able to fight in this fight. For sure, even I think that the Brazilian from the lower level lost in the fight too. So I'm very motivated, I think I'll be able to win today. Now, here in the... a lot of the guys were turning me down, and all this anxiety of waiting if the country is coming or not, but they're still offering me fights and I didn't know what's going on. It gives me an extra motivation that they wanted to sign me with a big fight behind that, and now I'm in a big card. There were some guys that actually called me out, Dunlege and Brazilian draw and response Brito, but aside from that

no one called me out, everyone was just running away. So kudos to those guys. But now I'm just excited to be in the UFC and do what I want to do. What was your reaction when you found out that you're on the same card as your old friend Michael Chandler? I remember when I was in the UFC, I was in the UFC, and I was in the UFC, and I was in as your old friend Michael Chandler? I laugh a lot. It's good. But I think the guy who is the most spectacular know, my question is, I got always works on a show, and I'm doing that same thing. And I believe it's on a show, then at the highest level of the world.

Do you think if you guys cross paths, given your history, your brother's history with him, that there might be issues if you see him press conference, hotel, et cetera? So I think that they should like, if they say more groups, if you see him in the hotel, in the conference, if you can give him a little bit of advice. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no problem. We are all professionals. The only problem we may have is inside the opera. Right. And they put you on the same card as the vacant featherweight title fight,

Volkanovsky against Volkanovsky going up against Diego Lopez, now that Ilya Toporia has vacated the title. Are you surprised that Toporia vacated the title and is now seemingly moving up to 155 and right now we don't have a guarantee that he's fighting for the belt, we presume he will, but I'm just curious if you're surprised that he vacated the title of the champion. I think that Bonzóis will win the challenge, but he will be back in his the lightweight request and he has opportunity to correct and batting on his help. But I hope he comes back to our division later because now things are going in interest. Who do you think wins, Volkonovsky or Lopez?

Who do you think wins, Volkonovsky or Diego Lopez? I think Diego Lopez is going to die now, but I can't take care of Diego Lopez. I think that the momentum is all on Diego Lopez's side, but I can't drop López. He's a very tough guy. Has the UFC told you that you guys are the backup fight? Like if something happens to one of them on fight week that one of you, either you or would get the opportunity to fight for the belt. They haven't said anything, but I see this as a good thing that they put me on the same card, the title five, same card as Micro Chamber. It seems like I'm in a good position in their eyes and I feel comfortable with that.

Have they told you what happens if you win this fight? Is it possible this is a number one contender fight for you? I don't know how I can compare to the other fighters. They haven't, but I saw Daniel's interview after the show this week. And he said no matter the moment that I'm in my career, he is impressive. So I think I'm right on the track for that. You mentioned them talking to Aljomain Sterling

and he said he was only available in April. Which fight interested you more, Aljomain or Yair? So I mentioned the next thing about in April, which fight interested you more, Al Jamein or Yair? I expected to fight all those guys, but for the audience, I think that the fighters are interested more in ZIE because that's for the guys that come to strike and come to main, not guys that come to strike to hold you down. Down the line, maybe in the next fight later this year, are you still interested in fighting Al Jermain? Because I've seen you guys go back and forth a little bit recently. Uh, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. At any moment. Okay. You know, we talked to you when you wanted to get out of your deal with PFL, then finally when you got out of the deal and now here you are in the UFC.

I'm just curious, did you or your team talk to anyone but the UFC? Did you look around and see what else was out there, or was it just the UFC when you got the release from PFL? I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager,

I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, I told my manager, If you didn't get a deal from the UFC for whatever reason, you were gonna hang up the gloves. If you didn't select a contract with the UFC, would you really represent yourself? Would you be able to play for the UFC? Yes, I'll just train my sign and that's it. Wow, that's unbelievable. Could I also ask, without getting into specifics,

based on what you were making in Bellator slash PFL and now is it comparable? Is it a better deal? How would you describe, how would you compare the two? How would you compare the two? How much you are winning now with the PFL? Is it more? Is it closer?

Or is it a little bit more? It was a fair game, but the main thing was the PFL. The value was not that much. It was a good amount, it was a fair offer, but it wasn't the most important thing to me. What was important more was my legacy, so I wasn't really worried about what I would pay for. It's not the first concert, it's the last concert I'm going to sign with them. Okay, so you're 37 now. How long do you want to go for? I can't tell you regarding my age, I can only tell you through my performance. As far as what we're doing in the gym, we have the data of power, cardio, conditioning,

all that, and I've been breaking my own records. So as far as the data state, I'm still pretty much in my prime and I have a lot to offer. But my performance in my five-term I'm gonna measure how much longer I have to explore. Is there any part of you that wishes this happened two years ago, three years ago,

just when you were a little bit younger? I want to practice for the next two years. I want to practice for the next two years. just when you were a little bit younger. I'm not really, I mean, I think at the moment the reference is perfect. As far as my age goes, there are a lot of guys in division that are close to the same age as I am. Our journey is 35, both of us are 36. So there are some younger guys in division, but they don't have anything out of this world that they say, hey, another guy can't pick us up.

So that doesn't worry me at all. I think that I'm in the perfect moment, the experience that I've been backed up. I think it was a time for me to come here. By the way, just curious, now we're starting to see more fighters come out and complain about the situation in PFL Aaron Pico Johnny Eblen when you see this how does it make you feel how do you react I'm sad because I wanted the PFL to be this one, because they wanted to add a new player. But if, as you said, now they are going to need it, the UFC can't sign everyone. And they could face people well. So it really makes me sad the way that things are turning around over that. But guys, you mentioned that you're just a big win. I think you should be in the UFC.

And I don't think it was supposed to be my next fight in the past. So I'd love to fight in the UFC in the future. How do you think you beat him on April 12th? How do you beat him a year? in my next title defense, so I'd love to fight in your team in the future. How do you think you beat him on April 12th? How do you beat Yair? He faced some guys with style and high-seam air to mind. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. to say to him? He's coming on the show in 30 minutes. I want to say something to him. Why didn't you accept the fight from Ash to N9? Why didn't you say to me that you would want the fight and you told not to do it?

Why didn't you say yes to told me not to do it. So I'm going to be just being the person who's going to be the fight. He asked me not to do it. Were you afraid? Well, if you were, you're going to see what fear really is when we face each other and I get drunk. All right, I can't wait.

By the way, are you wearing a UFC shirt, Patricia? Old school shirt. Look at that, old school. Thank you for taking me very strong. Hold on. At that time, when I started being a fan of the UFC, I bought this shirt for the interview. Wow, I love it. So this is like a dream for you, right?

This is a dream come true. Yes, fuck yeah. Amazing. Well, I'm very happy for you. Parabens, nice to see your smile after the last couple of interviews. Good luck to you and thank you for coming on. I appreciate both of you very much. Obrigado. Thank you. Obrigado. There he is. Patricio Pitbull. How about that? He buys the t-shirt for the interview,

the old school Ultiman t-shirt and here he is, well on his way. You know, there's only a few of these guys left really, as crazy as it sounds, because there aren only a few of these guys left really as crazy as it sounds because there aren't a lot of organizations and lifers from these other organizations Chandler was one of them Patricia was one of them There's only a few of them left where it's like wow they're coming over this used to be the norm with pride With strike force with the lead XC You had IFL Yet all this stuff, but we're not getting as much of that these days

So this is fun and and seeing him and Chandler on the same card in Miami is really fun. What about Patricia Pitbull? What about Pitbull showing us the DMs between him? The guy, I mean, I have to give him credit. He doesn't hold back. He, uh, he fights fire with fire. He's not afraid. He talks some good stuff.

Yeah. He's not afraid to share his opinion. If we could only just get him in a, in a room that has a lot of fire, He's not afraid to share his opinion. If we could only just get him in a room that has better acoustics, I think that would be the final. Yeah, I'm not sure where that was. Yeah. When we bring him in, does Frank not say like,

hey, what's the process there? Go easy on Frank. He's feeling under the weather. Yeah, I'll let Frank explain that. You know, just. Okay, so what happens? There's only so much you can do, man. What do you say, hey guys, is there... Can you go somewhere else? They're like, no, no, no.

Do they say... they don't seem like the type that says no. Oh, we got the two chairs right here. They don't say it. They don't say, hey guys, could we go like... Hey guys! Could we go somewhere other than the bathroom? That was in the bathroom. Do you think it was? You didn't hear it flush? No, it did it flushed that's

Here my two camper chairs set up in the shower. You're such a liar. Is that true? No, they were not Office they were using the best that they could Thanks for persevering Hey guys, like can you go to know it's just the acoustics then they feign like they don't understand what you're saying Come on guys for the record I did offer to ask them to move rooms and what happened executive producer was like now we got to persevere why I don't get that we

don't have to air all this out right now I actually think this is good to air out I think it's it's healthy what's the thought process behind not moving rooms it's a couple minutes, you just- The interview had already started. Oh, well, that, I mean, yes. There's only so much that we can establish

how bad it is through our short little talk. Well, it makes the talk longer. Right? Frank just let out the biggest sigh, he almost blew me over. No, that was me flushing the toilet. Ah. Ah.

What? What? What's the problem? There's no problems here. All right. Frank, are you's the problem? There's no problems here. Alright. Frank, are you under the weather? Now that we're really divulging in this, I have a little bit of brain fog right now. I need to grab some water, take some Tylenol.

You need to take five. I mean, I tried to. He was just in a day. Right as he was getting up it was you know this audio Right as he's like cover me for a second By the way, what are you even supposed to do? That is actually the best time to leave the room because nothing's gonna happen just complaining for me. Oh, yeah, it's all good He's attentive. He's attentive. Do you think the the brain fog is as a result of what just transpired or were you feeling it? It was beforehand, so, but it didn't help. It didn't help.

He did have shrimp for lunch. No. Uh-oh. Ice coffee? Before that. No ice coffee. We were doing all this. We care about you, Frank. This is a whole- This is caring about me asking me-

This is diagnosing everything on WebMD. I think I, to be honest, I think it's the gout. I can't do this. He's trying to deflect. He's trying to deflect at this point. Listen, we still love you all the same. It's just, you know, sometimes you hit a single, sometimes you hit a triple.

That was a foul tip. Never home. I'm not liking it. That was a, no, home run, are you kidding? No, we wouldn't even be here if we were hitting home runs. We'd be doing something else. We'd be winning a Webby Awards, never nominated. Could you believe such a thing?

This is the year, baby. You think so? Fighters only. Wow, Frank laughed a little too soon. Frank's laugh came a little too quick. I was filling out the application earlier. Uh-huh, uh-huh. Were you really?

No. Oh, damn. I actually got excited. Who's the favorite in that one? Did we talk about this yesterday? The Webbies? No. The Pitbull-Yayir fight.

Oh, Yayir was like minus 160 or something. Interesting. You agree with that? I think it always, the UFC guy is always going to have that advantage on the odds there. Younger too. Because you've seen them, you know? What is the age difference? Let's see here.

Yeah, you're like sneaky older than you expect. Right, sort of like Sahabi? Yeah. Yeah, you're 32, actually, all right. I'm much older than I was expecting. It's kind of crazy, because it feels like that year has been around for so long. But in reality-

Like a decade now. Boy, I put on the EP voice there first yeah I heard that he gets low gets the credit low gets low gets low uh Latin America winner tough Latin America winner 2014 were 11 years removed from him winning tough latam yeah minus 180air, plus 155 Patricia. Yair, joint third with the Korean Zombie for most fight night bonuses in UFC featherweight history with nine in total, Holloway 10, Cubs Swanson, 11.

Almost half a million. But it has been a while since he's won. Almost half a million. Almost what? Almost half a million. But it has been a while since he's won. Almost half a million. Two dozen. Almost half a million. Almost what? Almost half a million in bonuses for him. Oh yeah, I thought you meant followers. No. He's way past that, right?

Yeah, I think so. Yeah, no, he's been around the block. We'll talk to him in about 30 minutes time, and then after that we'll check in with Eamon Zahabi about his new fight for UFC 315 in Montreal. But let's go back to Seattle this weekend. The main event ended somewhat unceremoniously. We were looking forward to the Henry Sahudo versus Yadong Song fight.

And it was looking good for the first, I don't know, two rounds and three quarters. But then unfortunately there was the accidental eye poke which then led to them going to the scorecards which led to Yedong Song getting the nod. He is kind enough to join us to talk about all this and more. Let us say hello to the man himself. There he is. Hello, hello Yedong. How are you? Hi, I'm good. Oh look at this. The English is better than last week. Already? Already getting better.

I got a lot of interview. Okay, I appreciate you coming on. By the way, can I ask you a side? What is the correct way? Is it Yodong song or song Yodong? Song Yodong. Song Yodong is the right way? Yep.

Oh my gosh, I've been saying it right this whole time, but then I saw last week they were calling you Yedong Song, so I changed it, but it doesn't feel natural. Yeah, because Song is my last name, but you know Chinese usually call last name first. Yes, yes. That's why Song Yedong. Okay, I like it. Okay, thank you. It has been two days since the fight, well, really three days almost since the fight.

And obviously a lot happened in the fight. Can I ask, how do you feel about how it all went down? How do you feel about it now three days later? You know, I've been prepared to fight for a long time. So right now I just want to rest and I feel a little bit tired. How is your body feeling after the fight? My body feeling good, but just my life, life cough, a little swollen right now, I should be fine. little swollen right now, but should be fine. Okay.

As far as the way the fight was going for the first three rounds, essentially, was that how you were expecting it to go or were there any surprises? So my strategy was finish him, you know, in the fourth and the fifth round, but I knew he would be more exhausted than me and I'm and he knew he was going to be finished in the fourth and fifth round okay so so but that was my fault I got an eye poke.

I don't want to judge him. But the result wasn't a one. I wanted to finish the five rounds and see what happened. But I believe I can finish him. I won the four three rounds. Yeah, even the second round I landed some punch in the last minute but they can't ignore the damage before I did to him. So regarding the eye poke when it happened, did you think that it was severe enough to the point where he wouldn't be able to fight?

So I have no idea what happened. But I feel it right for five minutes when he come back, I feel he can see me very clearly. He can avoid any attack. I see his eyes, I watch his eyes. I knew he can see me very clearly, but I don't know. Maybe not, maybe not. I part him, he can slice left, slice right. But when I got a wife, Kerry Sandhagen,

I had a broken orbital bone in one eye and the other eye was covered by blood. I still fight, I still fight, three to four rounds until the doctor stopped the fight. I didn't want to comment on Henry, but you know, it is what it is. Right. You said earlier that you thought that you were gonna finish him in the fourth or fifth, and you think that he knew that as well. So are you saying that, and I wanna make sure

that I understand what you're saying, are you saying that you think that he knew this, and so that's why he said, I don't wanna fight anymore? He was looking for a way out? Yeah, he knew that I got to beat him up. I got to finish him on the fourth round, you know, he's getting tired. He's more exhausted than mine.

Yeah. Hmm. You probably, have you rewatched the fight? Yes, sure. I rewatched the fight. I definitely won the first three rounds. When you saw his interaction with the corner and the referee after the third round, when he said he couldn't see, because you probably couldn't hear this when you were on your side, what are you thinking? So I thought there was no contact,

contact because I don't know what the rule is. I don't know. I never been this way. Right. So if it would, if the fight would have ended when the foul happened, it would have been a no contest because it was accidental. But because the fight resumed and went to the end of the third round, which is more than half of the fight being completed, they went to the scorecards and because you were up, you got the win. Oh, yeah. I told you, I don't know the rule. Yeah, but I just wanna fight. I don't know the rule.

But that was my fault, yeah. Yeah. Do you think it's fair to suggest, because I said this yesterday, I will be honest with you, Song. I said this yesterday that I thought the most fair thing would be because of an eye poke that a point a point get taken away because there's a foul in the fight and it was it was damaging is that fair do you think that's unfair for a point to

be taken away uh... so it's different on the the charges if they take my points I'm okay with that. I'm not like, who say I'm okay? I just wanna fight, whatever.

I just wanna continue the fight and face him. Everybody know I win him. I win the fight. I have the ability to knock him out. He knows. I don't care. I have the ability to knock him out, you know, he knows. No, I don't care, you know, like it take my one point, it take me one point or not, yeah. Yeah.

We saw you were very upset when the fight was called off. Do you now view the fight as a win? Do you look at it as a win or do you feel like it's incomplete? Are you more disappointed? Are you more upset about it all? Yeah, I feel I won the fight, but I uh uh uh I I followed my uh pipeline my pipeline was to you know stay calm and uh um I knew he gonna do some things and uh feint and punch so I avoided all the all what he did. So yeah, I'm happy with that. Okay. Afterwards Dana White said that he doesn't want to see the fight again. Does this surprise you?

So all the time I want to rematch with him, but after the interview, my coach, my teammates, they told me, don't look back, you should go forward. And I heard that down the line, they don't want to fight. They don't want to rematch, so yeah. You know what, if UFC don't set it up, I can go to his gym and spar with him. You know, see what it is, who is better. Wow, you're interested in that, seriously?

Yeah, seriously. Yeah Why because because you don't like the things that he's saying now Yeah, so he want to rematch rematch you know Yeah, i'm done with that. So I would like to match you know, I You know, I can beat him. Why you know easy money for me So if you guys you guys don't sell. I can go his team. Let's go spar You know

That is that is something I've never quite heard that before but I can understand you're frustrated And and if the UFC asks you would you like to just do the rematch? Would that be the best case scenario or are you moving on from it being an official fight? Yes for sure. Let's go China, you know, to the main event again. Yes. You know, the fans gonna be happy. Did you guys say anything to each other after the fight in the cage or in the back? Did you see him? No, I just saw him in the cage after that. I didn't see him. Did you say anything or did he say anything to you in the cage after the... Oh, he just said, we should do rematch. I said, yes, that's it. Okay. Then he said, I couldn't say, I couldn't say. So I that's why I thought after five minutes wrong. No, I didn't. Didn't do anything.

Can I ask you bluntly song? do you think he was faking? No, that was actually, I'm not him. I don't want to judge him, I don't want to comment him. But if he beats me up for three rounds yeah I do think he will give up I think he will continue because in my mind I think he knows he knows that he can gonna be a lot in the fourth round so that's why he he don't want to continue. Okay. That's my thought, but you know, I don't know. I don't know. Yeah. Can I ask you about the Wans?

At the Wans, he had a fortune cookie and he opened it and he had a thing. How did you feel about that? Did that bother you? No, no, I feel good. I like it, you know. It's a good promoter, you know I like it but the

Fourth round TKO is me. Yes. Yes. I'm going to take care of him. Yes But he's smart. He stopped at the TKO him. Yes. But he's smart. He stopped at the, the just of the final. I liked the necklace that you were wearing at the weigh-ins, S-Y-D, this one.

Oh yeah. That's my name, Song Yadong. I liked it. Very nice. Thank you. That's my friend, my best friend gave me the gift. Amazing. Yeah.

And I also saw, you know, last week when we spoke, I asked you about Bruce Lee's grave and I saw you were able to go and visit before the fight. What was that experience like for you? Oh, I was so excited. And so I have someone, some media follow with me and they asked me some questions, but I don't know what I don't know how to answer it because It's very

It's it's hard to answer. I was thinking too much you know and Yeah, sorry, I don't know how to say but I was so excited to to to be there. And my coaching coach is a very crazy fan of Bruce Lee. But I think they gave me some luck in the fight. Bruce Lee gave me some luck in the fight. Was it emotional for you to go for the first time to visit? Oh, yes. Yes, sure. Amazing. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good.

It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good.

It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good.

It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. in Beijing, the same Olympics that he competed in. That's amazing, did you know that? Did you make the connection? No, no, no, I didn't know that. I didn't know that. What was your job there?

Who were you working for in 2008? No, just family. My parents were working there, I was there for helping. Amazing. Yeah. Did you go to any of the events in 2008 Olympics? Did you watch any of them? No, the ticket is hard to buy.

It's so many people. But I was enjoy the wipe, you know, a lot of people walking on the street every day. The atmosphere. From different country. Yeah. Yes, it's amazing. So if they don't do a rematch with Henry,

who would be your choice to fight? So right now, I don't know who has time, but I will fight anyone like Frank De La Ronde, not just above me, but I wanna, because I wanna fight more in this year. I don't want to like just one fight like my last year. So how soon would you like to return? So like after tomorrow,

I'm going to back China with my families and and like No, did we lose them before stay in China for weeks and the one that I will talk you guys say I will fight Okay, uh what that oh, sorry. I thought we lost you for a second, but it seems like you're back. Oh Okay. What that? Oh, sorry. I thought we lost you for a second, but it seems like you're back. Oh, oh yeah.

So I mean, I will stay in China for three or four weeks. And when I come back, I will call you guys and say I won't fight again. Yes, okay. What is your final message to Henry? What do you want to say to Henry? He does his podcast. He talks a lot about, what do you want to say to Henry? He does his podcast, he talks a lot about it. What do you want to say?

Because he's very upset. So, yeah, I knew that he was upset. I'm upset too. So, stop complaining. If you want to fight, let's fight. If you don't set up the fight, let's spar. Let's do sparring in your gym or in my gym, you know, I'm willing to do that.

And by the way, did it surprise you that he didn't try to wrestle as much? Yeah, actually he should do more wrestling, But I will definitely defend that because I've been training wrestling defense for long. Oh, right there, right on the last time. So, and I'm in battle. Okay, you're back? Do we see you you hear me let's reconnect with oh yeah yeah yeah no we're good okay well thank you thank you very much for coming on song I really appreciate it safe travels back home and and great fight up until that point so I appreciate the way you fought and you

coming on and answering these questions. Thank you so much. Thank you, Ariel. Thank you. Okay, there he is. Thank you so much. Song Yedong joining us. You know, I give him a lot of credit, not saying, oh, you know, I'm the man, I'm moving on, saying I would fight him, saying if they don't want to make it, I'll spar him. Can't say that he's ducking, can't say that he's avoiding the fight,

can't say that he's avoiding the heat, the tough questions. So much respect to Song Yedong, and we did confirm it's Song Yedong, it's not Yedong's song, all right? You saw on his chain, it says S-Y-D. Yeah. Well, you know, just wanted to make sure, because some people were just, it says S Y D. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, just wanted to make sure.

Cause some people were just, you know, they were doing it. I don't appreciate that Frank. Oh, come on. We got Yair Rodriguez coming up in 15 minutes. We've got Eman Zahabi coming up after that. But as I said at the top of the program, there is a press conference going on right now in Manchester for the upcoming super clash.

Tell me. Yes. Chris Eubank and Connor Ben. Now is it Ben Eubank or is it Ben Eubank? I think they're going with Eubank Ben. Yeah, I think it's Eubank Ben. In any event, I'm getting updates from your crew. I've never gotten so many updates in real time. Listen, you know, I mean. I mean, I can't get a good microphone on Patricio, but I could get updates on a press conference. That's a Frank thing, skill issue. I have not seen this but I'm told some shit's gone down. Oh let's just watch the face-off.

Let's watch it together. Here we go courtesy of our good friends at Dazon. There's Eubank on the left. Ooh there's Ben on the right. Is that the Fatal Fury belt in between them? Shout out. Look at the intensity here. Look at this setup.

We got Michael Buffer in the house. Look at this. April 26, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They're going back and forth. They're jive. Eddie's back there. Ben Chalons back there. What's he saying?

What's he saying? The limit 160 pounds. 160. Rehydration? 170. The feud goes on. The feud goes on. It was once. 160 pounds. 160. Rehydration? 170. The feud goes on. It was once.

Ooh! Yo! Yo! That went wrong, didn't it? Yo! Yo, look at, look at Ben's face. Connor wants to kill him. Yo!

I will accept all apologies now from everybody yeah wait yo sit down boy yo look at that man's face yo that was intense we have some sound from the presser before that man this is no can I see can I see can I see the slap again because the slap is like a club. Can we go to the slap again? We're going to, we're going to roll it back. Yo, the, the slap is like, is like a club to the side of the head. Here it is, here it is. What does he say? What does he say? Yo, now can I ask you something? Does he, does he, does he pull the slap and make it more like a sweeping hit as opposed to a slap?

You see what I'm saying? Like a push. It's almost like he's trying to drag him down. Either way, Connor Ben didn't like it. Work or shoot? We'd be work or shoot. Shoot. Yeah, shoot.

One more time, one more time. Shoot's the fake one? Cause it feels, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. Work is the fake one. Work's the fake one, shoot's the real one. Yeah, yeah. No, I think this is a shoe. This is a shoe brother. Okay. Here it is. Here it is. One more time.

What does the chat say? Is it more of a push than a slap now upon third? Tempers flaring. Yeah. Yo, he's pissed. He screams, get off me. Those lines. That's a, that's a work that Connor Ben has a future in pro wrestling. Yo, where's Pay Jack? Where's Pay Jack? Get the slap fighter out there. Um, that's, okay, what else?

So this is how it ended. This was the face off at the end, yeah. And lucky for us, we'll have Ade who was hosting the press conference. Uh, well I was going to say on our show, but it's really his show too, the Ireland and Ade show coming up at five o'clock. Okay, what else?

Things got contentious between Chris Eubank and Eddie Hearn. Ooh, let's hear it, let's hear it. And then we have a little bit of a uh... was gonna say on our show but it's really a show to the other show coming up at five o'clock okay what else what i can tell just between uh... chris you bank and eddie hern or let's hear it let's hear it and you know we got to a stage the fight was announced that it was the young you know i don't like you right uh... i don't know so

if you know that one of the other sweet i don't know. conference. At AU may proceed. So as I was saying at AU. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, to Ben personally, directly, or you can be quiet and we can move on with the press conference. I don't want to hear anything you have to say. I mean, you can do whatever you want. We can be here all day. I've been addressed. We can be here all day. I've been addressed.

I don't want to hear what you have to say. So to be honest with you, many people do. I think I'm more popular than you. If you want to control the situation and move forward, you can. I'm enjoying this. This is almost like a mini Facebook. How would you run the press conference, Chris? Because you're such an unbelievable promoter. I'm not running it, but I'm enjoying this this is almost like a mini how would you run the press conference Chris Because you're such an unbelievable promoter. I'm not running it, but I'm just not how what happens now we move on

Well, you talk I'd love to talk but if somebody else do Connor Ben How we feeling about smashing this geezer to pieces about smashing these geese into pieces. Let's hear it from Connor. Oh, oh, oh, oh. It felt like some real heat there. That was contentious. I love it.

Any sign of Eubanks senior or Ben senior, Nigel Ben? Nigel was there. He was to what, to his right or left? Yeah, I don't know. Sitting next to his son, like on the dais? Yes, yes, he was up on the dais and he spoke. What about senior? No.

But speaking of Nigel, we have a super chat from Jason. Frank, we're vibing here. up on the dance and he spoke what about senior no but speaking in Nigel yet we have a super chat from Frank Frank we're vibing here what the fuck with this super chat right now this is relevant this is relevant this is relevant Frank what is it is about what would okay I like Jason I'm sorry I take it back Jason I love you you bank smash an egg in a face Eddie Hearn confirmed. What? Oh, wait. Is that true? I haven't seen this part.

My question. Could be. Is that why it's like that? He was holding onto an egg? No. Oh, he was holding an egg and maybe the egg hit Nigel as he was. Wait, Nigel's? Wait, let me read this. No, no, no. You bank smashed an egg into Nigel Ben's face?

His name is Connor Nigel Ben. Maybe he's, maybe he's. Yeah, I don't think, you think he threw it at the dad's face? No, he must mean Connor. He must mean Connor. Let's go back, let's go back to the, can we go back to the slap for a second?

Is there an egg there? Oh, that's even better. Is there any yolk? No wonder he, no wonder he pushed him instead of, wait, let's see. Slow mo, slow mo. All right, there's, no, there's no egg in his hand. Is there?

Yo! I just saw something! I just saw something! Wooo! Oh yes! And now look at his face! It's running down his face! What? Where did he come up with the egg? Oh, you know why? Because the egg... Because he says the egg was contaminated.

We have a clip. Of course, of course. Let's go to the press conference clip, please. The eggs, all of that. Yo. There's a clip here. I'm watching this in duper serious, mama. Here we go. Where is it, where is it, where is it?

Let's play this clip. Are you guys watching it or am I watching it? No, we're all watching it together. Here we go, ready? I've been meaning to ask you for a long time. It's interested me. How many eggs did you have to eat to fail those two's drugs tests?

Yeah. The reality is. Please drugs tests? The reality is. Please tell me. The reality is. It's been whacking my brains for a long time. My problem. Everyone wants to know. The reality is, the reality is, I've been cleared three times by the NADP,

by the WBC, by UCAD, by the way, which people are a lot smarter than you. Number one, I've been cleared. Two, you will never be cleared of being a wanker. Wow. Period. That's it. So when you say you've been cleared, what does that mean?

I'm clear to people by not. What does it mean? You have the IQ of a five-year-old child. Does that mean that the drugs weren't in your system? Oh, this is magic. What more can I mean? I love the look on Rick's face, like he's like, validation.

This is validation for me. Like I told you all this is the best part about that. I told the world. I tried to- Yeah, like we always think that they were magic and that they hate each other. I was Paul Revere. No one refuted me.

Paul Revere. No, I'm Paul Revere riding into town telling you- We haven't even seen the fight yet. We haven't even seen the fight yet. We don't need the fight. This is better. This is real animosity. No one refuted that the buildup,

that the press conferences would be great. Every time I said it, you guys acted like I was a schmuck. No, no, no. Stop it. Stop it. Better than what? Better than what? You keep saying better.

Better than what? Anything else we're seeing right now. When's the last time you remember a good press conference? This is of a fight that has been made though. Our question was always, what is the fight you want to see the most? This. For this reason. They hate each other.

He smashed the goddamn egg in his face. What else? What else? We have other stuff? We have Turkey Al Sheik calling into the press conference. What is it? FaceTime? He's always ready to dial in.

Yes, it is, actually. Was it FaceTime? Yeah. Let's see. Let's see. Let's see. You can speak now. You're on.

Ades. Hello. This is his excellency, Turkey Al-Sheikh, on the phone, wanting to speak to everyone. Oh, Aden's so happy, he finally got a call from him. Aden also showing the number off there. Yo, Aden, what the hell? You and Landa from the conference in 2017. You swept the rock.

Feels like he heard me. What was I think when I do this fight? I don't know. The wait for reason. Let's see. And usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually,

usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, usually, fight I don't know the wait for reason let's see and usually usually I hope that Eddie Camp can do something usually Eddie Camp usually lose and Ben Shalom I don't hear your voice I only only hear Eddie, why? What is the reason? Oh, that's normal, your excellency. I hope that Ben Cornel can have a chance to revenge for the family. Wow, Turkey. See you in 27.

I think this is the biggest fight in England will be. Wow, Turkey. I agree with you, Turkey. He's stirring the pot. I like that, he's like, Ben. I think this is the biggest fight in England will be wow He's stirring the pot Like that he's like Ben. Why aren't you speaking up aren't you speaking? What else? What else anything else? We got one more We got a we've got Chris Eubank Talking about Connor Ben like pissing away as goodwill there, right? Chris speak on behalf of yourself of being you speak on behalf of a good guy of being off being the golden boy That's what I believe no no no speak on behalf of yourself. Of being... You speak on behalf of yourself. The good guy. Of being the golden boy. That's what I believe. No, no, no. Speak on behalf of yourself. I know. I'm just saying what I believe your mindset is at the stage. This whole time, this whole 10 minutes you've been talking has been rubbish.

And no one's even lit like, what do you want, a violin? The second thing about this situation is, Connor, you had it. I have it. You don't have it. You had it. No I have it. You had it. Your career is done. You had a welterweight at the end. That sums up your career. You had the whole public behind you. Everyone wanted you to win. Everyone wanted you to be the next big thing in boxing. I never had that. No one cares. You know what I would have given to be in that situation that you were in? But still nobody cares. You had it. But nobody cares still Chris, you're still going on.

Pissed it all away. You literally pissed it all away. Now you're here. We're at this press conference. We're going to fight and you're going to try and use me to get back into the public's good graces. It's just not going to happen for you kid. Wow. This is this.

Hit him with the kid. We got to get, we got to get senior. We have photographic evidence. Oh, what else? What else? Got an egg. There's the egg. There it is. Got an egg.

Wow. By the way, hard boiled? No, no, no. Yolk can't come out of a hard boiled egg area. Hard boiled. Oh my God. Definitely a shoot. Oh yeah, they hate each other, there's no doubt.

By the way, I mean, while we're patting ourselves on the back. Just me, just me. No, I said, did the slap, it looked like he was he was like clubbing it. A slap would just be like that. He didn't want to drop the egg. He was, yes, he didn't want to drop the egg. And he also wanted. Then we watched the replay like eight times

and none of us saw the egg. He also wanted the egg to crack. On him, yeah. Yeah, that would have been, that would have been a little bit awkward. Rick, you're gonna be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? I'll see you guys there. I feel like I have to.

But also, when they were talking to each other, it looked like he said something that set him off and now we know this was planned all along. Yeah, he was gonna egg him no matter what You know it what about me what the Sorry, we're busy Connor been tweeting. That's the only shot. You'll land on me you fucking prick Two rounds you are finished. Oh man

This is it We just got to get senior involved. Honestly, it would take it to level, you know, a million, but it's pretty good on its own. Like I'm not feeling like anything's missing here. This is the first official, this is not a Riyadh season card, by the way. It's a Ring Magazine card. So this card and then the following week, May 2nd here in New York, Ryan Garcia really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really here in New York, Ryan Garcia, Rolly Romero, Devin Haney, apparently Martin Bacoli as well. So they're doing two cards, London, New York

in the span of six days. But this is a big one. It's a main event. Yeah, man. Not a bad card too. Can't wait to get into it later in the day with one Audi or a Depo. Yeah, Audi's gonna have a great perspective on that. He was right there. That Eddie Hearn and Eubank back and forth made me a little bit uncomfortable. You think so? Why?

They were just going at it. I love it. Oh amazing. Uncomfortable in a good way. No, no, I know. I mean Eubank has gone off on these guys. He, he went off on Frank Warren and then Frank Warren. Yeah, he went off on every promoter. He threatened to sue him as a result. He went off on, on Eddie too. Um, he likes Turkey. He seems to like Ben Chalome, but this is big time stuff.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I think. Jordan's got to come with us too. 60 something thousand. Jordan's a Tottenham fan. Yeah,. I think Jordan's got to come with us to 60 something thousand Jordan's a Tottenham fan. Yeah, I know. Is it something thousand? I think so.

If there's a title on the line, it'll be the only title ever won in that stadium. Wow. Coming from a Hotspur fan. Oh, no love. Rough. No love for Tottenham. You can see.

And while I'm on the air here, I just got to Frank the George wall here, you know. My guy Frank over here is doing his job contributing with facts and you know, you just ream him out Wow gotta have his back here so uh you know we're waiting for the honor apology from one mr. Ariel thanks to wow wow that check till Friday for what exactly yeah what am I for fiasco well that too but Frank is is chiming in saying you know with the super chat about smashing Yeah, okay, really reaming them out. I'm not really giving but like we're reacting and then he's like let's go find out

Conversation he's doing no What is your favorite color? Would you rather fight six or under? Wait, hold on, hold on, hold on. Shout out to Slito though. Thank you for the chat. And while we're at it, by the way, could we fix Jordan's microphone there too? Jesus, now we're- that's actually a personal attack on Frank.

We're eating lunch, Frank's just like sitting there stewing, he's just like now I gotta change the fucking microphones for Jordan. Like, alright, gotta change the fucking microphones for Jordan. Like, all right, prank, easy, man. Hey, man. Just eat the shrimp. I'm gonna be here after the second show,

and he's gonna walk in, he's gonna close the door behind him. And. We need to talk about this microphone. That's the best. Hey, man, you know, I know you guys joke about the microphones, but like, do you really want them fixed?

No, no, no, we only just like mention it every day on the show, but we don't really want it fixed. Like we just kind of like mentioning it. All right, cool. Well, see you tomorrow. No, it's okay. Frank, I'm sorry about that. You know what?

That's MB. That's my bad. My bad on the super chat, Not on the Jordan Mike situation. But the super chat, I was I was out of line. Do you accept my apology? We're trying to bring in the next guest. What are you doing to me? Oh, why can't you assess their audio a little bit more? Maybe it's because I'm chatting in your other ear the whole fucking time. All right, do we do we have him or should I wait a second? One second. All right. All right, all right, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. All right, do we have him or should I wait a second?

One second. All right, all right, fine, fine, fine. In a matter of moments, we are going to be joined by El Pantera himself, Yaya Rodriguez, and I'm looking forward to speaking to him. It's been a minute since we spoke to him, been a minute since we had him on the program. Like I said, 2014 Ultimate Fighter Latin America winner,

ranked fifth currently in the UFC featherweight division former interim UFC featherweight champion joint third with the Korean Zombie for most fight night bonuses in UFC featherweight history nine total max Holloway is 10 Cubs Swanson has 11 you know about this man he's returning to action on the 12th of April against the FR mention, Patricia Pitbull. He's kind enough to join us right now. Yair Rodriguez. There he is.

Hello, Yair. How are you? Good, man. How are you? I'm doing great. It's great to see you too. Welcome back. It's been so long since we've seen you.

Where have you been? I've been just wandering around, training, and just focusing on myself. How come such a long break? I mean, I was trying to fight before I got here. I was trying to fight before I got here. I was trying to fight before I got here. I was trying to fight before I got here. I was trying to fight before I got here. I was trying to fight before I got here. I was trying to fight before I got here. I was trying to fight before I got here. just wandering around training and just focusing on myself. How come such a long break? I mean I was trying to fight before.

I guess the UFC had other plans and you know I finally find out no longer go while they wanted to do one. That's what I'm fighting people April. Yes, April 12th. Now this is happening like two weeks after the the Mexico card. Were you hoping to be on the Mexico card? Yeah, I was actually in conversations with the UFC and they were mentioning something about maybe fighting Diego Lopez in the Mexico card. And then I guess everything had to do because T Bori and move out of the weight class. So hand moving up takes Bokanowski out of the conversation for the title fight. So the developers is going from winning and they're making that that fight,

that title fight, the title fight. And, you know, I have to welcome one of the legends to the big leagues. Yes. So a couple of questions there. Your last fight was, actually, your last fight was almost exactly a year ago, February 24th, so a year ago yesterday was your last fight. Were there any sort of injuries or anything

after that fight or is it just a matter of finding the right date? Injuries after the fight, no, I just had something going on with my lungs and I had to be taking medication for like a month after the fight. But that's it, no injuries in my body. Nothing, you know.

Are the lungs okay now? Yeah, they're okay. Okay, no problem. No problems. And then when you found out that Ilya was moving up and vacating the title, were you surprised? Not really. No, no, I wasn't surprised.

Just the timing, you know, I was waiting for the timing. I thought he was going to move up in weight class but still hold the title. I don't know what happened. They had to just like leave it, I guess. I don't know what happened. They had to just like leave it, I guess. I don't know what was this conversation with the UFC or whatever, but you know, it doesn't make any difference anyway.

Yeah. And so, okay, and so then you get Patricio in April. He told us he was on the show previously, just an hour or so ago, and he said he was willing to fight you in Mexico, and so how come they didn't, because you're such a big star in Mexico, why didn't they do this fight in Mexico just two weeks prior?

I don't know, I actually, I was like asking the UFC and they say they're rather having me in April. I was getting ready, my diet, everything, I had like, everything, my meal plan, my preparation, everything was towards fighting on March 29th in Mexico City. That's what I thought was going to happen. And the UFC just called me and offered me the fight and I said yes. Did you like the idea of fighting Pitbull in his UFC debut, like you said, a legend of the Bellator scene, or were you hoping to fight legend of the Bellator scene, or were you hoping to

fight one of the established UFC fighters? I was hoping to fight one of the established UFC fighters, but I think like some of them there won't be able to fight for one or other reason. And they say, okay, the fight to do is Patricia Pitbull. What do you think about that one? I was like, okay, let's do it. I, the fight to do is Patricia Pitbull. What do you think about that one? I was like, okay, let's, let's do it. I like the fight, you know, the guy is a legend. He's dangerous and, uh, I think it's going to be a great fight.

Um, what, what, you know, what did you know about him? How much did you know about him? He's been fighting in belt or for so long. Was he someone that you watched that you admired that you thought about maybe fighting somebody that I knew for sure. I knew who he was and I know who like the toughness of the guy. He fight against Sergio Perez, Chandler and he has some other like impressive fights on his record. I know he's a double champ. He was a double champ on his legacy on Bellator and stuff

like that and I've been watching some of his fights. Okay. You know, but I, it's never, it never was somebody that I told like, I was going to fight. Here we are. When you watch his fight, you know, there's some, there are some people out there who say like,

oh, you know, there's a difference in terms of the talent, in terms of the caliber between Bellator and UFC. When you watch him, do you think he is UFC caliber? When you watch him, do you think he is UFC caliber? I think all of these guys fighting at the big leagues, they have the talent to be fighting or competing at the maximum level. Sometimes it's just contracts, sometimes it's opportunities, sometimes it's many, many things, right? But I just think all of these guys are like really dangerous and talented and they just like probably

just need an opportunity to prove it. He was telling us that he was DMing you and telling you to fight him in Mexico and all this stuff and questioning your Mexican pride. What did you make of this? Is this something that happens a lot or was this unique for a fighter trying to get a fight with you through Instagram DM?

No, I think the guy was just like really excited about fighting in the UFC and I think that probably like the only way that he was going to make that happen if he was like if I accept the fight fight and whenever he DM me I said yeah man like sure let's do it and he was just like just you know like trying to get me to react to him but you know I'm over that fucking shit you know I'm here to fight now that for me is like a mad girlfriend movement and you know That for me is like a mad girlfriend movement. You're too old for this stuff. You've been there, done that. Yeah, like I used to don't fall for that shit that easily. I guess he was trying to maybe insinuate that you didn't want to fight him, but that doesn't seem to be the case you were open to it regardless yeah I mean we're in the fighting business you know and the UFC wanted this fight to happen why not that's it has anyone told you you know

usually when there's a top fight like like yours on the same card as a title fight in the same weight class one of the fighters involved in the other fight is the backup fighter in case something happens in the main event have you or your team been told that if something happens to Volkanovsky or Lopez that you would move up to the main event no we haven't talked about that I think it's a possibility. It's just happened with Islam. Yeah, and Moicano. And Moicano. I never think that that's gonna happen. I like to keep the plan.

Obviously it's just like an idea that is just like on the side, right? But my main focus is on Patricia Pitbull. And regardless of what happens, I have to be ready to anything that happens. So if that's the case and the UFC decides to for some reason make the champions five because some of the guys didn't make wake or injury or whatever, of course, 100% I'll take it. Do you think that you would get the call or that

Pitbull would get the call? Who do you think is the first one to get that call? Pitbull would get the call. Who do you think is is the first one to get that call? No, I mean, I think there is no question about that I'll get the call, you know patricia patricia is just getting signed to the ufc. I don't think that it's like Even a conversation about it. Okay, and uh, who do you think wins that fight if they do fight if if all goes well We hope all goes well. Um, alex volkanovsky or diego lopez Wow, man, that's a that's a tough one. Both guys are really good and really talented. I think one of the things that's going to play a big role in this one is going to be the experience. Volkonovsky has a lot of experience. On the other hand, Diego Lopez has the age. He's

younger, he's hungrier. He wants to get it. Aleksandr Volkanovsky's already been holding the title for however long and that I think is gonna play a big role. Who wants it more? Do you think Ilya comes back to 145 or do you think that's it? I was watching him, that's a pretty big weight drop. I don't know if he's gonna be able to come back to the category or whatever. I think he can still make weight.

I don't think he wants to. Okay. It's very too hard for him. Yeah. Do you think he'll have success at 55? Like if he fights Islam, do you think he has success? Well, the guy has proven his words. You know, he has done what he said he was going to do. And I'll be wrong by not giving him his respect, right?

But in a different weight class, different category, things can change a little bit. It will be interesting. I'm really interested about seeing him perform on the 155 pound division and see what he can do against bigger guys. Why not? I think he can do pretty well. You know, it's interesting, you know, dating back the last few years, 2021, 22, 23, 24, you're averaging one fight a year. Would you like to try to fight more than once this year? You're fighting in April, so perhaps end of the year you could fight again.

Is that a hope for you or do you like just fighting once a year? No, I hope fighting again before the year ends, 100%. Yeah, just to be more active. Do you think there's, yeah, it's just been bad circumstances, right? Maybe some bad luck, some scheduling that has made you just fight once a year.

Yeah, maybe use that, you know? And now with like all the things like moving around the division, you know, I think a good performance again, people can put me right there in a tight of conversation. So I'm like staying active, you know? I'm gonna stay active and, you know, just pushing, uh, conversation. So I'm like staying active, you know, I'm going to stay active and, uh, you know, you're just pushing forward, pushing forward.

And of course, already thinking that I'm winning this fight, you know, like putting it out there to the universe. And, uh, yeah, I think, I think it's something that it can happen a hundred percent. Did you realize he's 37? I find out that no long ago. Um, somebody used to tell me, oh, he's 37? I find out that no long ago somebody told me, oh he's 37. I was like, well you know I think that's, I mean you're getting there

you know like in the end. To be honest you know it's like the age is a very big factor on the MMA sport. I'm 32 you, and I can feel differences in my body and my performance and stuff, so you have to be a little bit more smart about injuries and training and all this, you know, always pushing yourself, but being smart about it, and yeah, I can imagine for him. It's amazing.

Last month, in late January, you celebrated 15 years since your MMA debut, your pro debut. And you're only 32, so if my math is correct, you were 17 or so when you made your debut, right? 18, yeah. 18, okay, if your birthday and all that. But the point is, did you think it would be this long of a career back then?

Did you think it would be 10, 15 years that you'd be fighting? No, I was just hoping to get one more, you know, back then. I was hoping to get one more and I was like, literally asking like, amen, to my now friend, Ramon, the guy that I first fighting for. I told him, amen, regardless of what happens on this, my first fight, I would like you to give me

another opportunity, you know, I really wanna fight. And happens on this, my first fight, I would like you to give me another opportunity. You know, I really want to fight. And he was like, don't worry about it. I'll like think of you and stuff like that. And here we are fucking 15 years later. Crazy. How much longer you want to go for? I mean, I feel like still like really young, you know, my

athleticism is in there. My performance in the gym is there. I just like feel great, honestly, like strong. I react super quick to supplements and good meals and limitation and all that. And I think just my body will tell me when is like a good time to like start thinking of like leaving the sport or whatever. But for now, I think I still have more than a couple of years left.

I saw recently, you were, I think you were with Alex Pantoja and you had a massive snake around your neck, gigantic snake. This thing, I mean, this might end your, look at this thing, this is terrifying, this thing. Where are you, is this in Sydney? No, this is in California, and the reptiles, so.

This is crazy. Man, I grew up around rattlesnakes and all that stuff in the ranch, but I used to kill those fuckers. What? Never hold them, and like I used to kill those fuckers. What? Like never hold them, you know, and it's easy to kill a snake, you know, like you need a stick or a rock or something like that. Not a big deal.

Like holding this thing was just like fucking something different. How much that weigh? I don't know. It was like really, really heavy. It was really heavy. And- Old muscle. And who was that kid?

The kid is my girlfriend's good friend. They lost a home, you know, now in the LA fires. Yes. And the kid just wanted like, you know, like a way out or something. So we told him, hey, do you want to come? But like more than happy, he lost his like snake. He had a snake, so he lost it on the fire as well.

So he was like really happy. Okay. And so when you were a kid, you used to kill snakes, rattlesnakes? Like growing up, you know, like in the ranch, you know, I grew up like in a ranch, riding horses, taking care of ships and all that. Right. So sometimes you, you get to see them like around, you know, and they have to be like aware of that all the time where you're stepping and, you know, be aware of the sun and stuff. And normally if like they're close of your property and stuff, you don't, you don't like

just want to let it go because they can still be around and can be really dangerous, especially when it's like a lot of people, kids. So you gotta like put them down. Did you ever get bit? No, never. Never, wow. And what's the best way you say to stick or rock?

Yeah, like a stick, you can just like stick it on their head because they can still bite. If you like, let's say. Cause they can, they can still buy a bite. If you like, let's say you shop there, the head, they can like still bite and it's like, can still bite after their head is shopped. So the best thing is the story there. Oh my God. Wait, they could still bite after their head is chopped. Like if you, if you chop the head off, the head could still bite you.

Yeah. And they, they still like move for a while. Crazy. The bodies and stuff, yeah. So you go for the head. Go for the head, okay, good to know. But with a snake like that, it wouldn't really work, right? That big?

That fucking thing will kill you. That thing will kill you. And you had no problem putting it around your neck? Oh, I had a lot of problems putting it around my neck. So why did you do it for the kid? Just like, I don't know, like they were like really pushing me to do it. Yeah. And I was like, OK, I have I just have to do it, you know, and I'm going to put it

around my neck. And I was just like trying to defend me, you know, like, yeah, like a shock. It's like a different rear naked joke, right? That thing could go around your neck in a second and choke you out. Yeah, and then the face was right here. You know, and those things, I have seen videos you know, all the time where like they can just go and get you.

So I'm just like being really aware of the face. Wow. I wonder how they train it not to attack the people. You know what I mean? I think that's like, she grew up indoor and stuff. Okay. So she's been growing, so she used to be handled by the handlers and stuff. So she does pretty well.

Okay. You're a mild manner guy, like we said, you've been there, done that in the sport, but Patricio, he's making his debut and he has fire. He's talking smack about everyone, he's calling people out, he's DMing you and he has fire. He's talking smack about everyone. He's calling people out. He's DMing you. Are you expecting in the buildup to the fight,

and in particular on Fight Week, him trying to get in your face, be intense? And if so, how do you feel about all of that? Great. I feel great. Okay. You welcome. Yeah, of course. Alright. Just making sure. Just checking. How mean, yeah, of course. All right. Just making sure, just checking.

How do you foresee the fight playing out? The way I see the fight playing out, I think I can take it out like in the distance. The guy has power, he's explosive, he's experienced and all that, but his five-five, I think he will find a lot of trouble getting into range, especially with all my speed and mobility,

I don't think he's gonna be that easy for him to get in close contact with me. Okay, there was a fighter who won a couple weeks ago named Yousef Salal who said he was interested in fighting you. Are you familiar with him? Are you impressed with him? He's relatively new to the scene,

but I'm wondering if you heard that? Yusef, yeah, I think, um, didn't he fight Danique not long ago? He fought Calvin Cater just two weeks ago. Oh, Calvin Cater. Okay, yeah, I know who he is. Yeah, the guy is good. He's good, okay, yes. But you were talking, you know, before all this, you were talking about Max, you were talking about some of the top, Diego Lopez, the top dogs,. He's good. Okay. Yes. But you were talking, you know, before all of this, you were talking about Max, you were talking about some of the the the top Diego Lopez, the top dogs. That's who you're looking after right now. Yeah, of course. You know, like, I don't I don't blame anybody. You know, everybody's

just trying to climb the ladder, the ladder, you know, and that's okay. Everybody's gonna like, try and call my name or somebody that is like, in front of in front of them in the division. And that's part of the game, you know, like people that is like in front of them in the division. And that's part of the game, you know? Like people that is like behind you, they will like try and come for your head. Yes, yes, yes. That's the- That's part of the game.

Right, it's like the circle of life. Everyone's trying to eat each other. And will you train in Mexico for this fight or are you training in America? No, I've been in Chicago now for, since November, maybe before that, but I've been like, you know, staying concentrated here in Chicago, getting, because I was, like, as I told you,

I didn't fight in this year, and I was hoping to fight November, and then, because they say, UFC say something about November, and then they say, no, maybe December when Bellao supposed to fight, and then he got injured, and then they say, no, maybe December when Belal supposed to fight. And then he got injured and then they say, no, maybe, and the UFC is going to go to Mexico in the first three months of 2025.

So maybe not going to get you to fight in there. And then I was waiting, you know, for me it's been training and waiting, training and waiting, training and waiting until like now the fight is done. Is that frustrating? It's just like, um, not frustrating. You know, there is like good, good things about it. You know, if you asked me on the past, on my past fights, I have been able to like fully commit to a training camp. You know, I have only been doing like 10 week training camps, you know, but right now I've been like training for months and I can see my skills develop and I, you know, I'm getting just better and better, you know, which one thing is frustrating that you don't, you don't have like the right answer of when we're going to fight, but the other

thing good about it is there I've been training for months now and I just I'm in shape I feel great. I look great My condition is there. I'm just like basically Dropping my way now and getting ready for this fight and just put it out there by the way before let you go Why didn't you fight on the sphere card? Was there any because you seem like you would have been perfect for that card yeah, I was offered I was offered to fight Diego Lopez and I honestly I was coming from like losing the championship and against Ryan Ortega. They say oh maybe Diego Lopez will be a good fit for you and we were just talking about it. You

look to fight somebody that is just like as close as you in front of you or whatever. So I say, Diego Lopez looks like he's in the number 14 and looking to get somebody that is in the top 10 at least. And the UFC say, okay, we want to act to get to Brian Ortega and then he won against Brian Ortega. And now he's in the situation he is, you know? That's the name of the game. It is what it is.

Was it hard for you to watch that? Because it was such a celebration of your home country and you have been one of the most famous fighters to come out of there. You helped put Mexican MMA on the map. Was it hard to watch it? No, it was awesome to watch it. It's awesome to see other people, like new up and commerce fighters that are doing great as well. You know, I was super happy to be there and to, to see it from now from the fun aspect

of it. And it was a great event. You know, I'm still going to be a representative in Mexico, no matter where I am or who I'm fighting against or no matter the venue, I'm always going to be representing Mexico. So it doesn't matter. Were you there? Yeah, I was there. I was in this field.

Did you enjoy the experience? Yeah, it was great. It was a full visual experience. So maybe April in Miami and then September, if they do another one, I don't know if they are gonna do another one, but the next Mexican Independence Day card card maybe they do that again and this time with you. I think they'll do like they were trying to do

like no share events yeah yeah like this right so yeah I'll be really happy to be in the next no share event. Well first things first April 12th we're very happy to see you back welcome back back, love this fight. Always a pleasure to speak to you, Yair. Appreciate the time very much. Good luck in the next two months of training and can't wait for this fight. It's a very fun fight. I think we were all very excited when we saw it. So thank you again and good luck. Thank you, man. I really appreciate it. All right. You're the man. There he is. Yair Rodriguez, El Pantera. Great to see him back. What a fight.

What a card that has become. April 12th in Miami, the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat, who absolutely positively suck these days, which is no big deal, no big deal. Hate to see it, hate to see it. But they have been bringing some big time cards to Miami over the last couple years.

And by the way, anyone else noticing a bit of a trend? Who was it? We had Song Yedong on last week who was like, yeah, you know, I was ready to go. I just couldn't get a fight. And then Ye Ye just said the same. And someone else just said it recently too. It's like, yeah, I've been ready to go.

Who was it? There was someone else recently on the show who said, yeah, I was ready and I was waiting. Song definitely said it last week when we had him on last Monday. Yeah, you definitely said it just now. Someone else said it too. It's so hard, so many guests come on the show.

So hard. Anyway, it feels like a bit of a... A trend? a thing. I don't know. So many shows. It is interesting that he's not on the Mexico card. Mexico card happening two weeks prior, but maybe it was already sold.

Maybe they didn't need him. Maybe the tickets were sold. Who knows. All right, well that's the story as far as Miami is concerned and in about 20 minutes time we're going to be joined by Eamon Zahabi to talk about this Montreal card. I can let you know that we found out the members of the PFL Bellator, no not Bellator, well there are a lot of Bellator guys, PFL middleweight tournament. So we've told you about, I think it was 135, 45 and 70. Dare I say so far of the four,

I know we also found out about women's 125, of the four or five that we've found out about and they're gonna debut, I think it's gonna start April 11th, which is the day before this Miami card in Orlando. So a big time to be in Florida. You might wanna do both. Who's doing both?

Road trip, about four hour drive. Let's do it. Connor's definitely in. He's nodding his head. Universal Studios. Universal Studios and then- Make the trip down. I'm there.

PFO. 11 PM Eastern Start. I forgot. I'm there. What time does this one start at? Does it say? I don't know. Well, let's see.

Do we have the graphic? There it is. Does it say? No time on there. No time on there. No. Impeccasangune. Fabian Edwards.

Shut up. Hey. I like that. Sadabusi. Um, in Pekasanginay, Fabian Edwards. I like that. Sadabusi. My boy. That's a great fight. That's a great fight. Wait, which, which one? Felton Rosta?

No. Uh, are they fighting each other in the first round? Are they fighting? Oh, no, no, I'm just saying they're a tournament. They're anything can happen. But yeah, it'd be a great fight. Um, Aaron Jeffrey, Canadian. Like Shipman. Shipman. What Jeffrey, Canadian. Like Shipman.

Shipman. What's that flag under the Shipman? English. England. Is that England? Yeah. Is it really? It's the old Union Jack.

Wow. That's not the Union Jack. No. St. George's Cross. It's not the old Union Jack, that's what I said. All right. Josh Silvera. I think this is the best. I think this is the best.

I think this is the best of the, of the four or five that we've received so far. It's good stuff. There it is. Oh. 7 PM. Oh, this is April 18th, but it's also, it's at Universal Studios.

They're doing a residency there. It's like Drake at Huck, Haka-san in Vegas, you know, speaking of England, by the way, uh, yesterday didn't get a chance to speak about, we didn't even talk about our boy, Sean Brady, getting the Leon Edwards fight. Big. Is this, is this, is this a net positive PT?

You have your finger on the pulse over there. Is this a net positive? Are they excited about it? For who? For the English fans. I think Jack de la Maddalena and Leon was probably a more, had more chance of being a spectacle. I think Brady's a much tougher test for Leon in terms of the style matchup, especially coming off that Bilal fight. Brady looks absolutely unbelievable in top control when he gets there. He's got a brilliant submission game. He has his whole system built around chokes. I think it's a very tough match for Leon to be trying to get back in the win column. And to be honest, I think when Jack Dylan Madalena was announced, I was like, this is going to be a great strike

and bow. I can't wait to see it. Um, I think it was going to be spectacular. I don't know if this is going to be spectacular and I definitely think it's tougher for Leon. So is it good for Sean Brady? It definitely is. Are you, if you're Leon Edwards, are you pissed right now? Yeah. Well, I kind of feel like he's in a situation where he can't obviously when he's

been like they didn't even have a conversation about him getting a total shot after that fight and Dana at the time didn't really speak very positively about the fight is his takeaways weren't all that positive. So I feel like Leon's in a situation where he kind of he can't call the shots and you know, being immediately in this situation after being the guy with the belt around your waist, that must be incredibly frustrating. But if he does do this, he's answering a lot of questions that we thought were gone away. Like Bilal really highlighted something we thought that was put to bed in

the Usman fights, the last two at least where in his first fight with Usman, he just could not match the guy in wrestling. Then he obviously beats him twice, but Bilal kind of brings everything crashing down to Erdwood with his amazing wrestling game plan that we saw in Manchester. So he better be ready for Brady because that is where he shines. So just throwing this out there, Leon Edwards beats Kamara Usman in August of 2022. He then beats him again in March of 2023. He then beats Colby Covington in December of 2023. So that's two title defenses. And then he loses in July of 2024. Sean O'Malley beat Al Jermain Sterling in August of 2023. He beats Cheeto Vera

August of 2023, he beats Chito Vera in March of 2024, and then loses to Murab and is getting an immediate rematch now. And when I say immediate rematch, I mean his first fight since the loss, obviously Murab just fought in January, but his first fight. Why isn't Leon who had one more title defense afforded the same luxury? I just don't think he is the company guy. Like maybe O'Malley is. And it's also like to the UFC credit, like, you know, to talk about it from their perspective, welterweight was going back through the same three guys over and over again, and Leon was in at the tail end that he becomes champion.

But it was a lot of Ousmane. It was a lot of Colby. It was a lot of Masvidal. It was, you know, and then Leon comes in at the tail end that he becomes champion, but it was a lot of Ousmane. It was a lot of Colby. It was a lot of Masvidal. It was, you know, and then Leon comes in. I just think with this many guys that we've been talking about for this long who could potentially have ramifications at the top of the division, Shavkat, Ian, Gary, Sean, Brady, Jack Delamadaline, and now we have Carlos Pratches as well. And there's Joaquin Buckley, so many guys coming through.

I can understand to some degree to wanting to move the division on to get these guys into prominent spots to be vying for contendership as soon as possible. Yeah, I understand it. Ultimately, you know, I'm asking these questions. It's presented with no commentary, but you can't take Leon off the London card, right? I mean, I guess you could, but if you're a fan, and all of a sudden the main event is Brady JDM and you're a fan in London, as much as the English fans will say, and the European fans will say, we don't want our own. Like we want to see the stars of the world.

They really do want their own, in my opinion. Certainly. Absolutely. And really outside of Tom and Leon, I think Patty's probably the only guy that you could be guaranteed that that's a big headline if it goes to the UK at the moment. That's probably the only guy that you could be guaranteed that that's a big headline if it goes to the UK at the moment. That's not to say there's not brilliant fighters there. Laurent Murphy's fantastic, Arnold Allen's fantastic, go on for days now and all the

brilliant fighters in the UK, there's a golden era there. But right now I see those guys as the three people who'll be able to command the top of a card and keep a fan base happy and also attract casual interest and attract the interest of the mainstream media in the UK. Yeah you couldn't it's a tough spot for him if this was a regular fight card in some other location maybe he would have you know a very strong case but I think taking him off the top of that card which is a little bit thin I would say you know you don't have those guys that you mentioned Aspinal you don't have Patti it's missing a big name so he has to kind of carry the load.

And so as a result, JDM gets the shot. JDM against Bilal Mohammed. They'll have a press conference tomorrow. I do wonder, by the way, what are the, let me see here, what are the odds there for that one? Leon? I thought it was interesting, Rick, talking about this on Thursday show with GC about having to take that fight for Jack Dalamadelina against Belal because as much as Brady's a bad matchup for Leon and What Rick was saying like JDM versus Belal that that's a nightmare situation, but when you're offered the champion and you can't have to jump it you know but you know when it go like that at the top of

the division and Jack Dylan Madalena being a striker he's probably gonna have to go through a dude like that anyway so that's just how the cookie crumbles unfortunately. You can't say no it's I mean it's just. But Lala's a bad matchup for everybody like he really is just so well-rounded. He's, and he's so good at stifling everybody else's game. We saw what he did to Sean Brady. We saw what he did to Leon.

Like it's, he's, he's, he's better than advertised. He's better than people give him credit for, in my opinion. Brady is a minus one 40 in that one. Yeah. I'm actually, I'm actually not too surprised. I actually thought it might have been bigger. You talk about nightmare matches below,

minus 235 against JDM. Yeah. That makes sense to me. I thought the line for Brady and Leon would be closer to that. I see some value there on Brady. I'm not mad at fresh matchups either, is what it is. Happy Brady's getting the shot. The only gripe is JDM hasn't fought since

March of last year. Tough to go into a title fight when you haven't fought for over a year. By the time this fight happens, it will have been 14 months in between fights. Not to mention the injuries. Like a guy like Yier is talking about kind of just being on the sidelines.

This guy has been through a hell of a lot. The forearm, the infection, all that stuff. like a year is talking about kind of just being on the sidelines. This guy has been through a hell of a lot. The forearm, the infection, uh, all that stuff, uh, wasn't able to fight in, in, in Sydney, uh, this past, you know, this past month. So not ideal, but you can't say no to the fight regardless of who's in there. And, uh, yeah, you kind of, you kind of have a feeling you see like some fresh blood.

It's just, I'm not, I'm not saying, I'm not saying it, don't, don't, don't come after me. Somebody is kind of. It's kind of. I mean, we were mentioning, uh, like, uh, if JDM wins, Islam potentially going up to 170. Talk about nightmare matchups for JDM. Islam is not a good one.

Yeah, but he's the man then he's the champ. All it takes is one left hook from hell. By the way, we were just reacting to Egg Gate. PT wasn't here. PT, have you seen this? Have you seen this footage? I think we might even have a new angle. Do we have the new angle? Oh my god. We have a new angle. Is Nigel's jacket okay? Is Nigel Ben's jacket okay? Oh, we don't have the new angle. Okay. Okay, well this is the old angle.. The slow mo, I didn't notice the egg until you guys brought it around the second time. Yeah, no, we discovered that. Actually, we discovered it first. Yeah. As first reported by Jason.

Look at this. Look at this, PT. Your thoughts. Oh, look at that. It's it's a classic. I'm going to throw a dig after having a verbal confrontation. Is it soon as his head leans off to the side? I'm thinking something's coming here. Now, I did have the benefit of you guys saying something's coming here before I watched that. So, um, but classic. I mean, I saw, I saw Rick there, like the cat who got the cream watching all this unfold. I mean, well done, Rick. Everyone else said this

fight was going to be shy. Fair play to you. Yeah, no, he called it. He was on an island by himself. He's the only one. It was him and Turkey. That's how I saw it. Rick was convinced me that it's gonna be a good fight. I'm into it because Rick is into it. Don't try and do this revisionist bullshit and pretend that like when I would say this stuff, you were along with me.

I was beating the drum. I was beating it. Don't try that. We were saying fights like, yeah, we really wanna see Tom Aspinall versus John Jones. That's great. We're saying we wanna see these incredible fights. Yeah, good. You keep waiting on that one. so glad to see these incredible fights. Yeah, good.

You keep waiting on that one. Dream fights, Rick. Dream fights. Yeah, guess what? It'll stay in your dreams. You're still lying to yourself. It's gonna stay in your dreams. This is the biggest fight in the world

that you wanna see. It's gonna stay in your dreams. Dream fights. It's gonna stay in your dreams. It's gonna be your nightmare because it's never gonna happen. I hope this fight sucks. I hope it sucks.

Ha ha ha. Imagine, imagine if it's a total. It's just a snoozer. No, there's no way. The Monday after it will be great. No, it's going to be great. The energy with which Connor Ben hates Chris Eubank, he is going to absolutely try to kill him.

Now, I think Eubank is too big for him if I'm really analyzing the fight itself. I just don't think he's going to be able to overcome that size difference. But Connor Ben is going to give every single ounce of himself to kill him and I'm looking forward to it greatly it's incredible can't wait that's it's fantastic it's fantastic come here is is mysterious Frank all right is his brain fog okay yeah because that's what I'm most concerned about Frank hello Frank hello Jake Frank, it's gonna be okay. We're almost there. The good news is we have two shows today. So. Oh, that's. I mean, what a show it's gonna be tonight. What are they here? I mean, what about that phone call, boys? Oh, my God, you

know yourself. PT, we'll talk to you tomorrow. Appreciate you very much. God bless. Let's go to our final guest of the day. We found out this morning in the midst of another flurry of breaking news that Montreal's own Eamonn Zahabi is going to be fighting a legend. José Aldo, the King of Rio, arguably the greatest and most decorated UFC featherweight champion of all time. He is, Eamonn is, right now, you can make a very strong case, the best fighter coming out of Canada, certainly out of Montreal, they couldn't have had this card without him and they made it happen in a massive way. First off, my friend, good to see you. Thank you for doing this. Appreciate it very much. Oh, thank you for having me on the show. I really appreciate you putting me on today.

Okay, very exciting stuff. Oh, did we lose you? One second. Oh, that we lose you? One second. Oh, that's the phone thing. Is that not the phone thing? It's happened to me too. Yeah, I'm on time. You see? I don't know why.

It doesn't. Are we back? We did it. We're back. We're back. Great to see you. Okay, so tell me, when did you find out? Obviously you wanted to be on this card.

And something tells me you would have fought anyone just to fight in Montreal, right? It was such a big deal for you. Aldo is a whole other level of excitement. When did you find out that this was happening? I think I got the message on Wednesday night Wednesday evening while I was in California So I got the message saying that it's possibility. They said okay, okay. And then Faraz said, let's take a look. Let's watch some tape. And then we said, you know what?

This is a great opportunity. Sean Shelby is really hooking us up, especially to do it at home in Montreal. So we said yes, you know? And then I got, I finished signing the contract, I think yesterday, on Monday night. Wait a second, wait a second. You and Faraz, your brother, the great Faraz Ahab,

you guys had to take some time and look at tape before saying yes to this fight? It wasn't a yes immediately? It's never a yes immediately. We're not crazy. It's Jose Aldo! Yeah, it's great. It's a good opportunity. I know for sure, man. But I feel like it's a great matchup. Really good matchup. Were you surprised that it was such a big name?

Yeah, actually, because I didn't think they would give me Aldo. I was actually surprised that they gave me Aldo. I thought they'd give me someone in the ranking. I didn't think they'd give me such a big name. So I was really happy that they gave me Aldo. Yeah. I was really excited. Yeah, I was...

Me, I was like willing to say yes right away. The opportunity. But Frost wanted to watch some tape and see, you know, you know, what's going on with the matchup. So, you can't say no to the master, man. He knows. what's going on with the matchup. You can't say no to the master, man. He knows. He's been to the battlefield a lot.

Of course. By the way, what would have happened if he would have said, for whatever reason, nah, I don't like it. Don't love the matchup. Can you overrule him or does his say? That's why I was nervous about him saying no. But I just feel like there's no risk for me. You know, it's win-win, you know, fighting albums win-win.

Like I would have just said yes, you know, obviously. But also we also want to take an opportunity to renegotiate for money too, right? So you can't just say yes. And so thanks to Sean Shelby, we've got a new contract. Oh, nice. Nice. So we've got a new deal. So that's really, really nice. So a big shout out to UFC and Sean Shelby everything carry me. Okay, great Well, congratulations on that. Were you on the final fight of your deal?

No, they just hooked you up. Oh Yes, okay Doesn't hurt. Yes What is it the squeaky wheel that gets the grease? Yeah, exactly. Exactly. I won five straight. So I got momentum and I thought, you know what, why not ask and see if they're willing to hook it up. And I feel like I've put in work for 20 years. It's not like I just showed up today. Sure, of course. And I feel like, you know, why not get paid when you're fighting one of the greatest of all time?

And I'm happy that they saw that it was a good idea too. By the way, as the fights were getting added to this card, did you always know that you were gonna get a spot on the card or were you starting to get a little bit nervous that this Montreal card would happen, the first show on Montreal in 10 years, and you wouldn't be a part of it? Well, no, you never know because the UFC doesn't really, I don't think they take it

into perspective all the time. Like, Oh, you're from Montreal, you have to fight on the Montreal guard. I think they were going to go based on what they thought was best for them. You know, what's going to sell the most or whatever. And if they had a better, maybe if they wanted me to fight someone higher ranked, but in their hometown, maybe they'd be like, Hey, listen, we know we're coming to Montreal and but we've got this guy who's higher ranked. Would you want to fight someone higher ranked but in their hometown maybe they'd be like hey listen we know we're coming to Montreal and but we've got this guy who's higher ranked would you want to fight him in his town?

You know that could I thought maybe they can go that direction too I wasn't sure what they really wanted to do with me but you know me I don't ask for anything I just you know I'm waiting to see what what what they bring to the table a lot of the time so I didn't call out I didn't call out anybody I anybody. I just asked if they can give me somebody ahead of me and then I just deal with whoever they gave me. Do you remember the last time you fought in Montreal? No. You don't remember?

I think I was the main event on a Wednesday night fight or something like that and I won by knockout I think in the second round. Okay, well according to this, what I'm looking at, it was a hybrid pro series four, October 17, 2015, so almost 10 years ago, you fought a man named Jeremy DeCheria. Oh wait, no, that was my last one? No. That's what it says here, and you knocked him out

in 18 seconds. Yeah, that was a crazy story because at the weigh-ins, he came up to the scale, right before the face-off, he came up to the scale wearing a shirt that said, not given, earned, as if everything in my life has been given to me. He doesn't understand that. Frost doesn't do the fights for me. I'm the one in the cage. And then when we did our face off, he was talking mad smack. He's like, I'm going to show you, I earned this. I'm, you know, I fought for this. You know, he was talking trash about it. I was just given every opportunity.

Okay. So I just smiled at him. I put my arm around him. I said, bring that energy tomorrow. And then I KO'd him 18 seconds. That's incredible. Yeah. Uh, it doesn't say here where it was,

but it was in Montreal. What was the venue for that? I think it was Pierre Charbonneau. Okay, so obviously this would be your first time competing at the Bell Center. You weren't in the UFC the last time they were there. But I'm assuming you've been to some of the UFC shows at the Bell Center, right?

Yeah, I've been to almost all the GSB ones, I think. Okay, like the first one, UFC 83 against Matt Serra, were you there? No, I wasn't at that venue. I was at the second one. Wait, no, the rematch was in Montreal. That was the rematch. Yeah, I mean, the first one in Montreal, yeah.

Were you there as a fan? I was the most incredible crowd experience of my life. At one point, when he was kneeing him, when he was in turtle and it got so loud Yeah, hear anymore. Yeah, I think louder and louder and louder and I just I couldn't hear it was incredible And then the fight I was backstage with them and I remember when just he came out and I was like the first guy He saw backstage from the team and I'm like congratulations George. He's like, are you crazy? He's like Carlos was the champion for those 20 seconds

when he dropped me. I'm like, no, man, you did it, you came out of that mess. You know, he was so angry about it. I'm like, don't worry, man, you overcame it. So, but yeah, he was a little upset with his performance, but he did great, I think, in the end. Yeah, I think that famous picture of him with the bag of ice on his head,

looking all upset and beat up afterwards. It's an absolute classic. And now you're the guy. You're the guy flying the flag in Montreal. I think you might be the only Montrealer on the card, at least as of now, unless I'm forgetting about someone. Well, Barrio is on the card. Is he a Montrealer or from Quebec?

It's all the same, but I think you're true blue Montreal. What does that feel like? You're the GSP in this situation. In fact, I would think you're your true blue Montreal. What does that feel like? You're the you're the you're the GSP in this situation. In fact, I would say like you're the people's main event. Like there's two title fights, no doubt. But this is the one that every the media is going to talk about. You know, like you have the French media breaking the news today. Like you're the one that's going to get all the attention in your hometown,

in the venue where the Canadians play. What does that all feel like? Has it sunk in yet? It feels great. You know, I felt like I had some of this, a taste of this when I was fighting in Madison Square Garden, you know, I was the first fight of the night and GSP was coming to fight this thing. And I thought that was going to be my GSP passing the torch moment, but I kind of dropped the ball around three. I ended up getting KOed, spinning elbow. I know, two years after that, right? Yeah. I went out and I've won five in a row.

I've got so much more experience. I've got mindset Mike, you know, he's helping me out. I got a great team around me now. And I think this is going to be the moment now where I carry the torch and I won't choke. There's going to be no hiccups. Incredible. What do you make of the state of Aldo

and his career right now? You know, he comes back to the UFC and he's been fighting, he fights Mario Bautista, he fights Jonathan Martinez. These aren't title contenders and one-on-one. The last fight was a little controversial. Some people thought he won. But where do you think he's at right now in his career? You know, he's passed his prime, I think, a little bit. I don't mean that by age, because we're very similar in age, but the difference is he's got a lot of miles on him, a lot of championship rounds, a lot of hard fought fights.

I have less damage on my body throughout my career. I've been fought as often as him. But he's still dangerous. He's still super dangerous. Jonathan Martinez was a top ranked guy. He beat him pretty decisively I thought. And like you said, you know, he fought Mario Batista and Mario Batista had a lot of momentum going into that fight and arguably Albo won the fight.

Some people thought, you know, I wasn't upset by the decision because really honestly he was so raised or close. He could have won either way. I'm not mad at Batista, you know, like he really could have won either way. Depends who you gave round to, too, you know, like it really could have won either way. Depends who you gave round two to, you know, it was a tough call, but he, you know, he's crafty and he's still got life in him, man. So, but I mean, I'm hoping to send him into retirement in the most respectful way possible. I mean that obviously I'm not talking trash to the guy, but you know, I

think it's a good launch pad for me. Is that a little bit part of the motivation to, to be the last guy that he fights to retire him? Listen, you never know when these guys retire, but it would be nice. You know, I would have liked to be the one to knock out Pedro for the first time. And I thought I heard him with a nice right hand in round three, but that guy is so durable. Uh, it would be nice to get a finish over Jose Alba. I know. I think, uh, Peter Yan got a TKO over Jose Albo. I know I think Peter Yan got a TKO over him as well. He's a hard guy to finish. He's fought some of the best. And

I just want to say I was in Kenny Florian's training camp. Okay. Wow. Over 10 years ago, I was pretending to be Albo for the whole camp. I was going back between Boston and Montreal with Kenny to make sure. So Kenny, this one's for you, baby. We're going to get him this time. That's incredible. I think off the top of my head, I think that was at UFC 136 in Houston. But actually, you know, it's funny because Kenny just messaged me. He's like, get him for me. You got to get him for me.

Now, you know, I'm just doing it now in public. Oh my God. That was a nightmare weight cut for Kenny, right? Oh yeah. It was hell. That was 145 and I think, had he had a fight at 145 before that? He beat his teammate, I think he beat Diego Nunes, but he got dropped at the end of round 3, remember? I was like, oh no! Yes, yes, yes. But I remember talking to him the week of that fight. I'm pretty sure, I just need to see if I still got it.

Do I still have it? They confirmed it. UFC 136 in Houston, to see if I still got it. Do I still have it? They confirmed it UFC 136 in Houston. How about that still got it? Yes I remember talking to him that that week and he was so sunken in he looked like a skeleton and Now here you are great, you know, he still did a good job You know, it's not a lot of people knock on Kenny, but it's very rare for a fighter To get three title shots. Yeah. Yeah. And he fought three different champions. That's unbelievable. Like he had a good run. Kenny did great. He did incredible. No, he's one of the all-time greats. What's wild is that that was 14 years ago and here's Aldo still in the mix.

Yeah, he's a beast. Like, you know, like hats off to him for being able to sustain, you know, and he's still beating like beating Jonathan Martina is still a top 15 guy. Yeah. No, he's not chump, you know, so this is going to be the best preparation of my life. Like I'm pulling out all the stops. Like there's no stone that won't be turned for this training camp. I'm going to try to bring in the best guys that could imitate him as much as possible. You know, like I'm going to take my conditioning to the next level for us. I actually started training pretty seriously already because you know, we had Calvin Kader, we had Rob Fod,

and we had Nazarat Haq Baraz of getting ready for fights. I've been sparring these guys for the last eight weeks, you know, and I've been imitating their opponents for them, but the rounds are hard, man. And I've been putting in the grind. I just spent, you know, two've been imitating their opponents for them but the rounds are hard man and I've been putting in the grind I just spent you know two and a half weeks in California with Nasrath sparring him every week getting him ready for the fight so hopefully how's the album doesn't hit harder than Nasrath. It's also crazy that despite all the time that he's fought you know in the UFC WC he's only a year older than you. Yeah I know man he's a beast you know like I'm a late bloomer Yeah, I know man, he's a beast.

You know, I'm a late bloomer, baby. I know, you are a late bloomer. You are a late bloomer. But you know, I'm all about my team. So like I've sacrificed a lot. You know my career, I started off coaching first. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I convinced my brother at 22 to let me go pro.

And then I was like, if I don't make it to the UFC by 30, I'll just go back to school. And then I signed with the UFC at 29. So I like just made it for my deal. And then, you know, the rest is history. Would you have really stuck to that? Like if they called you when you were 30 and a half, 31, would you have said no?

Yeah, I'd have to start making money by then. I feel like that's kind of like the sticking point for MMA fighters because it's so hard to make money in MMA, you know, and then like by the time you're 27, 28, all your friends who graduated university, you know, they're all starting to make real money and then it's like, man, what am I really doing? So a lot of guys have a lot of potential. If they don't have a good support system around them to help them sustain the high level training and to pay for the things that they have to pay for and travel the world and train with different teams and just get

in the work they need. A lot of times we don't see all the best because they fizzle up because financially it's very hard. It's very hard to make it. I know a lot of people knock my age, but I see it in a totally different way than everyone that makes fun of me for getting into the top 15 now. It's like I never quit on my dream. And no matter how hard it got, I fought once a year after, I lost by KO, I fought only

once a year. Then I lost again. You know how little money I survived on to stick it out, to see my five-five win streak? I suffered, man. I paid my dues. So I've been trading my ass off for 20 years and I'm gonna give everything I have for the next two and a half months

to be able to show out on May 10th. Well, it's such a fascinating story because as you said earlier, you don't have the miles on the tires. You are older, but you know, like you said, late bloomer. And so you're mature, you've been around all these legends. You have one of the greatest coaches of all time as your brother and

And it's all coming together later than most but you don't have the 39 fights that you know that Jose Aldo has on the resume So I think the path is is a great one and it's working out perfectly and it's all coming together It just so happens that the UFC is finally coming back to Montreal for the first time in ten years and here you are as You're peaking on this winning streak. It feels like all the stars are aligning for you. So I think it's great. I love it. It's incredible. You know, I'm grateful that I have the opportunity, grateful to the UFC for giving me out.

I didn't, you know, I didn't ask for it, you know, so it's like, I feel like they're giving me a great opportunity, especially during my hometown and like, you know, obviously all those elbows world were now, you know, so like it's great for me here but it's also great for me globally it's nice really excited about that and this is kind of you know beating Aldo is kind of like my Cinderella man moment you know so it's like could be a great story. Are you surprised he said yes? No you know he's the greatest of all time like he is probably not afraid of anybody. Yeah.

You know, I don't think like, I don't think he's worried about fighting the best of the best. He's been doing it forever. And when you defend the title as many times as he has, you know, everybody's just a human being. And like even to me, like, I mean, no disrespect when I say this, obviously he's a legend, but like he's just a man. He breathes air, he bleeds like we all bleed, he gets tired like we all get tired.

And I'm not going to over-respect him. I'm going to never beat him. You know, when I called GSP, when I said yes to the fight, he told me right away, he's like, look, this is a great opportunity for you to build your name off Jose. But he's like, don't over-respect him. Yes, you respect him as a fighter, but he's just like everybody else who's ever fought. He's just a man, you know?

So just go in there and be yourself and fight the best you can. I love that. Will he be a part of the camp? Will he be a TriStar, GSP? I'm hoping so. Listen, they've had him doing a lot of media for this. I know.

And I told him on the call, I'm like, listen, I would love to have you in my corner. Oh, that'd be incredible. That'd be incredible, right? In Montreal, walk out with the UFC. So he told me they have him doing a lot of promo for the fight. So we're gonna see if we can work that with the UFC,

if they can let him go for 30 minutes so he comes out. Nah, he's gotta be there. I saw him, he was introducing Team Canada, the hockey team on the ice He's got to be there for his boy. If you can you know, he barely knows those guys I know him since I'm 15 years old Come on with the boy come on No, he's got to be there by the way you you've been in in California the last two and a half weeks or so

You said I know this from my parents. They told me the snow over there Montreal is horrific Your poor family's been stuck in the snow over there and you're in California? Yeah, it's been a nightmare. Actually, it's so funny because I've been training there. I missed both snow storms. And my wife was lucky because I flew her out Valentine's Day weekend.

So she missed the second storm. So she was really happy about that. But when my wife got back, I call my daughters every day on FaceTime and to keep in touch, of course. And on the Wednesday after the second snowstorm, I'm saying goodbye to my daughter and my daughter Emila is like, okay, dad, have fun on your UFC relaxing vacation. Like, babe, I'm not on vacation. I'm like, I'm here sparring guys to wake classes up. I'm working my butt off over here.

So like, it just hit me like, I really got to get them in the gym because I need them to like understand like what's going on when I travel with these other guys. They're hitting you with the guilt, huh? Yeah. And they're like, cause you know, it's so funny because, uh, you know, obviously we brought in guys from Nazareth too. Like it's not only me sparring and there's a bunch of other guys. One of the guys was Juan Archuleta.

Oh yeah. And then when Juan came to Montreal and he saw the weather, it was like minus 30, minus 40, he's freezing. I was telling him, listen, in Montreal, we don't only train your body, we train your mindset. Yes, yes. You're too soft out there in California. Then when I got to California, I saw how beautiful it was.

I'm like, man, this is crazy. I hope I don't stay here. I hope I don't get soft for two or three weeks I'm here. I need the cold. And my daughter, when she called me, she's like, how is it not a hope I don't stay here, I hope I don't get soft for two, three weeks out here. I need the cold and my daughter, when she called me, she's like, she, how is it not a vacation? You have beautiful weather, you don't have a snowstorm, it's blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, man, even my daughter's called me soft.

Yeah, it's tough. Montrealers or on another level. Different breed, different breed, 100%. Could I ask you two last things before I let you go? We had Youssef Zalal on the show last week, and I know this is more of a question for your brother, and I understand that, but he was being very, you know, he was being very accusatory towards the team

about greasing and things like that. Did you hear his comments about Calvin, and what is your reaction to them? I think he was looking for a scapegoat. I think a lot of people were hating on him after the fight. You know, it's very rare someone gets booted in the apex. And I think he was trying to throw shade on my brother to take the news attention off

him. You know, but listen, it is what it is, man. He wants to fight for us. Let's do it. I mean, Sean Shelby knows for us his number. We can set that up. If he doesn't want to fight for us, if he wants to come to Bantamweight, I's do it. I mean, Sean Shelby knows for us his number. We can set that up. If he doesn't want to fight for us, if he wants to come to bantamweight, I'll take it. If he wants to fight Arnold Allen, Arnold Allen will defend our honor. You know, whatever it is, we can solve it in so

many ways. But how could he say like, if he knew anything about Calvin, first of all, Calvin would never agree. For us, never agree, GSP, you know, all this stuff has been debunked. I mean, it is, man. If he's looking for a scapegoat, I really stuff has been debunked. I mean, that it is man. If he, if he's looking for a scapegoat, I really don't think it's, uh, something nice to say, especially, you know, we've invited him to come chain with us before this Calvin fight and talk trash about my brother. It's kind of stupid. I find. Yeah.

Um, I appreciate that. By the way, has your brother ever considered having a pro fight? Listen, the money has to be right. Did it, did anyone come to him in the past all these years? Listen, give us a number that we like. You do it? How old is he now, your brother? He's past 40, right? 45 young brother. 45. No, I know he's in phenomenal shape. Him versus Yusuf Salal. Yeah. Put money on for us. You're proposing you're, you're, you're proposing this. I mean, listen, then, or it comes to the gym. We do it at the gym. I don't care.

Or a grappling match. Grabbing match. Let's do it. But even back in the day, like 10, 12 years ago, did anyone ever approach your brother about fighting? Um, I don't know. Maybe he hasn't told me about too many of that, but, uh, I mean, what, what he was the coach at like young, I. I can't remember how young he was when he took over. Right. I was just curious if anyone, you know, any TKO back in the day said, yeah, you're a famous guy. You come fight for us.

Obviously never happened. And you went that route. But that made me think I've never heard. Maybe I asked them many years ago, but I don't remember if it ever happened. Not necessary now. Maybe a fun grappling match. But in the end, you know, I just wanted to hear if I'm sure he heard about it. And I know it's more of a question for him because he was speaking specifically about him. Because there's no evidence of him greasing. If he really thought he was greasing, they should have said something after the fight they would have checked Calvin backstage.

Why not? You know, so I think maybe he was just trying to make a joke. If it's just a joke, you know, he should apologize eventually. He should come out saying, yeah, you know, whatever. I don't know. But it is what it is. All right.

Press conference tomorrow in Montreal. Yeah, I'm gonna be there. Is Jose gonna be there? I don't know. All right we'll find out. You could do a face-off with the screen. Is he gonna come? I don't know. They're making Jack Delamattalena come from Australia so he should be there too. Oh that's great yeah cool why not? All right well we'll find out. Most importantly love this fight. Congratulations well done and I can't wait to hear what the Bell Center sounds like on On May 10th when you come out, it's gonna be incredible. Yeah, enjoy it

I just want to give a shout out to tonore Pat tonore for giving us a place to train while we're in California the whole time It was very gracious host. So thank you very much incredible. What a guy. I love the stuff as well So yes, I echo that. Thank you, Eamon. I appreciate it and good luck to you. Thanks for having me on. All right. There he is.

A massive fight on the 10th of May, UFC 315. Jose Hildo against Eamon Zahabi in Montreal. That's a big one. I'm excited about this one, guys. I am excited about this one. I do not echo New York Ricks, Debbie Downer, Demeter when it comes to the fight. Yeah. Like the sentiment. You're, you're, you're mischaracterized.

No say to his face. All right. Say to his face. I would say to his face exactly what he said. I'm shocked that he's fighting Jose Aldo. Exactly what he said when you asked him, was he surprised that he's fighting Jose Aldo? Uh, it's going to be great. It's going to be great coming together. Let's see if we have like an actual UFC 315

main card. Do you think maybe, you know, like how they like to do like hall of fame announcements when it's appropriate, you know, like Izzy and you know, I know you like lives close to say, do you think maybe they'll have me in the front and like Dana and Hunter sitting next to me? Every time we bring up Montreal close to say, do you think maybe they'll have me in the front and like Dana and Hunter sitting next to me. Every time we bring up Montreal, you say, ah,

you know, they should, they're so, we keep making all these courses. I'm like, I'm trying to make reservations at the orange jewel up and you're just like, like, they'll maybe do like a compilation for me of all the moments. Yeah. We'll see you there, man.

The good times, the bad times I'll be on. So here's what we got. Uh, Bilal versus JDM, Valentina versus Mano Fioro, Alexa Grasso versus Natalia Silva, Gilbert Burns missing out on Florida, going to Montreal against, uh, Michael Morales and Aldo Zahabi. It feels like that's the, the five pack right there. Let's see what else we got. Uh, Brad Katona on there.

Shout out. Hmm. Marc André. Yeah. Finding out of Quebec. So I do have to mention that, um, a lot on there. shout out. Hmm. Mark Andre. Yeah. Funny guy to Quebec. So I do have to mention that a lot on there. Jasmine might get on the, yeah, that was quick. Jeez.

Jazz, the Vizious. Uh, I can't see any of those five fights, not getting main card treatment. Seems like she might be prelims, but I like it. I'm happy with it. It's a solid card. Yeah. I'm happy I'm happy with it. It's a solid card. Yeah, I'm happy with it. All right? It's a solid card.

Quit your whining. Any... You know what? I'm not going to stand for it. No, I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the greater public. The people who were saying like, yeah, it's not that great. I think it's pretty solid. We have a hard out, guys, so we do need to answer some super chats before we go. Thomas Cruz writes, Yes. Does creating a 165 pound division solve the Islam vs. Baha'u'llah and

Oliveria vs. Toporia problem? Islam fight for the 165 pound belt. They ain't doing it. I appreciate everyone trying to figure out how to introduce the 165 pound division, but they've had many opportunities to do it and they haven't taken those opportunities, so I don't see it happening now. But maybe for Toporia they do it, but I haven't heard anything of the sort.

What else? Jake from Windy City. Congrats team Canada for the win. How good is McDavid? Excited about the Olympics next year? Oh yeah. Ariel, what's your favorite team Canada hockey moment? All right.

Well, first of all, um, incredible win. I was saying this to someone, I think it was over the weekend, the U S and, and notice I was saying this to someone, I think it was over the weekend, the U S and notice I didn't bring it up. You know, I'm not like you guys. I don't show up with the regalia and the flags and all that stuff. You know, we keep it classy.

Four days later, had we all done something together on Friday, you would have, you would have no chance. The U S needed this win just to poke fun at Canada, uh, 51st state, uh, governor of this, uh, we beat you at your sport, yada, yada. Canada needed it for its self-confidence. Canada needed it for its identity.

Canada needed this way more than the US. You acknowledge that, right? Do you see like this, this was a nice thing on the Saturday, uh, there's a nice barstool meme here. There's a nice joke there. Canada was having a crisis of confidence. Canada needed it for a lot more than. You can't lose to the US in hockey? No, but it wasn't just, you know, this was bigger

than just the US. This was, this was, this was the Trump stuff. This was the 51st state stuff. This was all that stuff, the governor, all that, like losing in Montreal to team USA on that Saturday night was embarrassing for the country. Hockey means much more to Canadians than it does to Americans on the whole. Right? I mean, that's the whole point of the game. It's not about the Saturday night was embarrassing for the country. Hockey means much more to Canadians than it does to Americans on the whole, right? I mean,

that is our national sport. I know technically it's lacrosse, but let's be honest, unofficially, it's hockey. Really, it's the national sport is lacrosse. Yeah, believe it or not, which is weird, which is weird because it's not popular at all. I would say it's way more popular here in, um, in the United States, but they needed it for their identity. If Canada would have lost that game, the jokes, the insults, two in a row, like all the rhetoric would have been awful. Here's this country who, you know, often does

feel like the kid brother over the past couple of months, having to hear that they're going to be the 51st state, that the prime minister is going to be the governor, that they're going to be hit with these tariffs and all this stuff. And on top of that, they lose to them in the midst of all this. That's what made it so big. Most watched non-Olympic hockey game in U.S. history. And the numbers in Canada were insane. So I feel like this is a fairly like sane take. Canada needed it for its identity, for their

confidence. US just needed it for the jokes. You know what I mean? They just needed it for the gag. Yeah. I think everyone still would have been all right if Canada had lost. No, Canada, I mean, it would have been code red.

And to answer the, the follow-up. Yeah. I mean, what a, what a table setter for the Olympics, less than 365 days away. Uh, there's a real true blue rivalry there. mean, what a, what a table setter for the Olympics less than 365 days away. Uh, there's a real true blue rivalry there. And by the way, last time four years ago, or three years ago, uh, there, there, you know, there, there, there weren't NHL players at the Olympics

cause of COVID this time around there are in 2026 in Milano. Yeah. I don't think that was a COVID problem. I think that was a collective bargaining problem. I think it was a COVID slash on air. I think, I think, I think the players, I think the players didn't want to have to deal with all that.

Remember it was in China. I think, I think in unison, it felt like a big pain in the butt. No one was raising their hand to go in the middle of the season to deal with all that. You don't think so? No, I mean, like the last time they played was 2014. I'm not mistaken when TJ Oshie, you know, literally carried Team America on his back to be rushing like 12 round shootout. Sure, sure, sure.

No 2018. Don't believe so. Wow. On air coming in with the stats. No, no, no, there's no refuting there. The COVID thing is legit. COVID slash COVID slash COVID slash. Fine, fine, fine.

COVID slash. Um, anyway, it was a big win. And, uh, as far as my favorite moment, I mean, it's hard to go against the golden goal. Sydney Crosby 2010, Casey and I were there. We did a great video. We were watching it with a bunch of Canadians. We were all drinking maple syrup after. It

was incredible and here we are 15 years later almost to the day and it's the heir apparent Connor McDavid with the golden goal. I mean how could you how could you not love that symbolism? And of course who could forget Summit series 1972 Paul Henderson. I mean these are things that you're taught about in school. You were literally taught about these moments in school. Game eight of the Summit Series. Yes, it went to eight games against Russia. Paul Henderson, it's on like coins. It's on the freaking stamp.

All right, Paul Henderson, look it up. 1972 Summit Series. Those are probably the two biggest ones, I would say. What else, Frank, what else? These two make really good state historical facts when Canada becomes 51st state, so I would say. What else Frank? These make really good state historical facts when Canada becomes 51st state so I appreciate it. John Cross writes, I'm way behind but here is where we get Ilya first 155 pound performance if he wins

good recovery during Ramadan for title fight and fall. Is he, it sounds like he's referring to Ilya fighting Justin Gaethje. Are you adding your mind? I think so but I's referring to Ilya fighting Justin Gagee you adding so I don't I also just Ilya Muslim is he no, I think he's saying for her fight while it's Ramadan while it's wrong No, he ain't you think Ilya's fighting in 11 days. No chance. Come on guys What else so lastly we have? Sucker free question for New York Rick match at the gathering question Oh if homicide is aggro, someone like GSP is a

mid-range fighter, which fighter, past or present, is a blue-based Drago deck? Thanks for letting me sit at the cool kids table. Yeah, it's a great question. You handle that one. I thought I was going to toss to you because I know that you know all about blue control decks and things like that.

First of all, let me just say, uh, what was the name, sucker free, uh, Hamzat, aggro red for sure. Great call. GSP mid range, perfect call. I feel like this is how we close this out. Blue control, the master of the control, the one who is drowning his opponents until they

submit and then mounts his offense, Hab namaga made of so Habib mono blue control deck love this question and salute your choices in hams at NGSP can we can we see it one more time I just want to the last sentence thanks for let me sit at the cool kids yeah it's apostrophe s which means there's only one cool kid. Wow. You're sitting at a table by yourself Rick. Sorry bud. I am cool. I mean that is that is what he is implying and I will accept it.

You get a whole table to yourself. No, he's joining me. Sucker free is welcome now. He's sitting here with me. Uh, the rest of you are not invited. What else? You know, that's it. Two pieces of breaking news. We're not getting the Bryce Mitchell, Eli Barzalai

grappling match, pit submission, KC 53 Denver, but apparently we are getting Kyle. Why twice? Why twice? Why twice? You said there's two pieces of breaking news. Well, yeah, I'm going to get to the second one after I read this one for fuck's sake, is everything okay?

Is it the brain fog? I'm trying to tell you. Jeez Louise. The other news that I just said was yesterday's news. Although it is worth noting, this is a bit of a new piece of information. noting this is a bit of a new piece of information. I guess I missed this part of the announcement. Bryce said that he actually pulled out of the fight

because he didn't like what they did to his face in the poster. He didn't like the Photoshop. They made him look feminine quote unquote. So we thought the whole thing of him saying like, I got a fight. I need to focus on that was, was, was cap. This is like cap city. No, because he didn't like the president

awesome came out. It was like, Hey, we're sorry for Photoshopping that poster brother. Like he said he didn't want to take the fight because he didn't like the poster. Yeah. Made him look, and then the no eyebrow and the no cauliflower. Yeah. Anyway, Kyle look feminine. The eyebrow and then the no. Eyebrow and then no cauliflower.

Yeah. Anyway, Caio Bahalio is going to be competing on Friday. Uh, against. This Friday. Yeah. It gets the dread of TBD. Whoa. TBD has.

Look what TBD did to Michael Chiesa, UFC Seattle. TBD has taken out a lot of opponents. That's tough. Chiesa didn't even show up. Didn't even show. Oh, he was there. He was working the desk. Oh, those voice sounded a little bit sort of like mine right now.

Yeah, I was about to say. Another piece of breaking news. Just got this. Through the Wire, Chris Cyborg is returning to action on the 3rd of March. So that's, is that this weekend? Yeah, that is this week. What? Yeah, Sunday. Sunday., Medellin Columbia.

Um, uh, the final domination, number one ranked super middleweight. Oh, she's fight. Wait. Oh, here it is. She's competing a four round boxing bout against Karen Fernandez, the number one ranked super middleweight in the

country of Columbia. Okay. Hold on a second though. Get it together. Hold on, hold on a second. Hold on a second. Is there a comma anywhere there? Is she fighting the number one ranked middle

weight comma in Columbia or is she fighting? Is she fighting the number one middle ranked and they're fighting in Columbia? Or is she fighting the number one middle ranked Colombian? Help me. Oh my gosh. Um, the number one ranked. Well, let me just look her up. Colombian Help me Well, let me just look her up is there a comma

There's no there's no comma there's no comma Oh, she's one and oh. Oh no. Wait, wait, Cappy. This Cappy. No dude. She's been our own ranked in Colombia. Five days before the fight's taking place.

Okay, BoxTrack, BoxTrack. 37 Columbia. Oh, it doesn't let me log in. I can't find it dude. Oh jeez. Yeah, Karen Fernandez. I could just say. Oh no, no, no.

I'm seeing one and two. She is the number one ranked. she's the number one ranked, what did we say this was? Super middleweight. There is actually only three Colombian super middleweights on BoxRecs. For them and they're 0 and 2, 0 and 2, 1 and 2. So by default she's the number one. Karen Fernandez getting a half-star ranking on BoxRec. I can't there, 0-2, 0-2, 1-2. So by default, she's the number one. Karen Fernandez getting a half star ranking on Box Rec. I can't lie, I've actually never seen that before. Yeah, she is 1-2, one loss coming against Josefina. No, the one win coming against Josefina.

Okay, okay. Travis Sato, who was debuting. All three fights have taken place at Coliseo de Pescacito, David Ruiz, Llorecha, Santa Marta. What? Uh, this is a quote from the press release, Columbia has a strong history in the sport of boxing and knowing Karen

Fernandez is the top rated female fighter in the country. I'm expecting a tough fight. Oh boy. Wow. Okay. She lost to an 02 and one fighter and a 14-5 fighter. Well, 14-5. She's also been knocked out in both of her defeats.

Well, I would say the good news is we have our top story for Ariel and Adé coming up in a little over an hour's time because this is a boxing story. I think we also have our pound for pound for boys in the back this week. We're gonna rank the top super middle weights in Colombia. Well, there's only three, so we can't. We need to find one more Karen Fernandez

to have for you here. 37 years old, made her boxing debut in September of 2023. So just about like 18 months ago. Wow, okay. Well, there you have it. There you have it gents. Uh, glad we got that one in, um, and, uh,

looking forward to it. Uh, I guess that's a Sunday watch party or. No, I'm going to pass on that one. Okay. Oh, you're doing a Connor. All right. I'm on it. Um, all right.

Well, who could we get? Maybe Danny Segura, Luke Thomas, you know, they fly the flag for Columbia. Maybe they could, uh, maybe they could weigh in on how big this is. Uh, guys, we gotta go. I mean, we're way past. We have one more super chat.

Oh, Jesus. Okay. Uh... Listen, I'm not the one who has to, you know, Jordan over there is sweating up a storm in between this. He, uh, he wants to get this... Eh, what's a hard out?

Something exists. It can change, right? He redefined hard out for us, so we're just embracing it. Big head MMA, Ariel, long time listener, big fan of the show. I need to know, do you have any insight when the USC is coming to Chicago?

No, actually, I do want to let you know. No, Des Moines is, they're covering it all. So the whole Midwest is getting covered via the Des Moines card. When's that? Early May, I think, right? May 3rd, right? Yeah, May 3rd, thank you, Brian.

Ooh, can't wait for that. Yeah, so that's gonna be a big one. I have not heard, I swear we get a question or two a week on the nose, you can see it tomorrow right here on the show. Great show tomorrow, by the way. We get a question. Karen, can I end? No, I'll work on that one.

Question or two every week about Chicago, but as of right now. I mean, I think at this point, you just have to recognize the UFC is going for site fees. Yep. Chicago could get an event if they paid a high site fee. It seems like they're not interested in at the moment. No.

So UFC is going elsewhere. Tomorrow on the program. Haven't told this to the boys. I like when I get to reveal it to everyone in real time. Uh, we have friend slash foe of the program, Sean Brady joining us. Whoa. About, you know Sean Brady joining us. Whoa. About, you know, ducking allegations.

Yeah. Wow. Is this the day? Do we finally get clarity? Well, we'll get clarity. Oh, dates. No, no, dates. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, let's see, let's see, let's see everything. We've got to get to London. We will also be joined by show debutante, John Silva, who's of course taking the sport by storm. The Big Goose himself, Joseph Parker, will be joining us from Auckland to talk about everything that happened last week

in Riyadh with Daniel Dubois falling out and of course the big win over Martin Bacoli. And he's one of our own, he's one of our own, arguably the greatest featherweight champion of all time, Alex the Great Volkanovsky will be joining us to talk about his fight against Diego Lopez. Is that a banger or what? Oh, the line up, oh, the line ups are getting too weak

cause you're going every day. Fuck you, we continue to hit you with the best line ups each and every day and we ain't stopping. Hit my damn music, Frank, I'm outta here. What do we got, what do we got? That would have been a good way to crescendo, but I have to sit here for two minutes, so I don't got anything else to say, Frank.

John Silva, Volkonovsky, Joseph Parker, and then who's the last one I'm forgetting? Brady, good boy. You would forget that one. No wonder I forgot him, forgettable. Get all your merch over at ariaahawani.com, submit your questions over at ariaah want to dot sub stack calm and about 71 minutes from now thumbs up to the chat. Yeah, hey thumbs up to the chat

71 minutes from now will be live on the zone boxing YouTube channel everyone go over there. Yes at 5 p.m Eastern golly do we have a lot to discuss? I deal a debunk hopefully he's okay Maybe he got hit by a stray egg shell possible Hopefully he's okay. Maybe he got hit by a stray egg shell. Possible? Possible. I hope he has a piece of it to bring me back. I would love it.

I remember a couple weeks ago when I was like, oh, Poxy, I'm all time high right now, killing it. Oh no, you don't know what you're talking about. Oh, stick to MMA. Yeah, who's laughing now? Jabronis. Last week we get Martin Bacoli traveling from Africa to Riyadh on a 14-leg flight.

You can't get that drama anywhere else. Where else do you get that? Cyborg Fernandez. Cyborg Fernandez, booked, signed, sealed and delivered in less than a week? Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? I gotta catch a flight to Colombia. Have you been to Colombia? No.

I heard the weather this time of year is fantastic. I dated a girl for a while from Colombia. Oh wow. Had a flight booked and everything. And then? Through ice chicken. Damn it. Medellin?

Medellin? Yeah. Shout out to, uh, Haunterush. Anyway, a tremendous show. Thank you very much. Amen to hobby. Yair Rodriguez. Song your dog, Patricia Pitbull.

Thanks to you, thanks to them. Back later today, same time, same place, same place. Peace. Right here.