The Ariel Helwani Show - UFC 314 Preview, Gunther in studio, Brandon Moreno, Chase Hooper, On The Nose, more

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

Ariel and the crew answer all your latest On The Nose questions and preview UFC 314 (07:09).WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther joins us in-studio ahead of WrestleMania 41 to discuss his program with Jey Uso, his path through professional wrestling, working under Vince McMahon, re-signing with WWE and more (1:00:00).Brandon Moreno discusses his big win over Steve Erceg, the state of the UFC flyweight division, his Pokemon cards, plans for Noche UFC, Joe Pyfer's comments about Mexico and more (2:02:23).Chase Hooper discusses his UFC 314 showdown against Jim Miller, fatherhood, criticism of the UFC APEX, why he doesn't want his daughter to become an MMA fighter and more (2:27:45).File with TurboTax before the tax deadline, April 15th! https://intuit.me/3GbvNM2

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- Two thousand and 25. Hello again, everyone. I sure hope you're doing well. It is great to be here on a lovely Wednesday in New York City. I am so happy as you can see. It's a beautiful day in New York, getting over a tough loss to the Boston Celtics Tuesday night at the Garden, but that's in the rear view mirror.

Actually later today, I'll be heading over to the garden the world's most famous arena the Mecca The most famous arena in all the world the most prestigious most iconic venue in all of sports Well actually right next door at the theater I'll be hosting a press conference for the highly anticipated June 11th, no, July 11th, Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano 3 fight that is going to be airing live and somewhat free if you're a subscriber on Netflix. Kind of a big deal. I was thinking about this. I was having another one of those moments earlier today as I was running around getting my stuff ready. Had to break out the suit, had to get here on time, get ready for a big show,

massive show today, a lot going on. And I was saying, if you would have told 1995 me that I'd be hosting a show in New York City that had my name on it, where I get to pretty much talk about whatever I want with incredible guests a WWE champion a huge name a former UFC champion and a current superstar an up-and-comer who's fighting on pay-per-view this weekend get to interact with all of you get to work with my dear friends and colleagues get to come to a nice beautiful studio and then after that go host a press conference in in in New York City at Madison Square Garden for an Historic boxing card that's gonna air on some platform called Netflix, which didn't exist in 1995. I never would have believed you

I never would have believed you and the reason why I feel like I have to say this especially as of late is if I'm being honest and I'm sure a lot of people can sympathize with this and I'm sure a lot of people can sympathize with this, and I'm sure a lot of people can understand where I'm coming from, I have felt, especially in the last few months, while everything is going great, and we're building this thing,

I have felt some kind of like brain fog. And I've, you know, you come on the show, you do the thing, you talk, you crack jokes, this and that, but I can't get rid of the thing in my brain, the fogginess in my brain, the cloudiness in my brain. And I do feel like it is opening up, but I've talked about the ups and downs, I've talked about feeling down, I've talked about talking to people and all that stuff. And I don't know exactly where I'm at right now, but when I have these days and when I

have these moments, I do feel like it is very, very important to recognize them, to not necessarily smell the flowers, but it's, you know, I think I speak for all of us, like this has been a grind over the last few months, and I don't think that that's necessarily the reason for the fogginess. I just think part of it is life, part of it is stuff going on, part of it is just growing up, and I want to be appreciative and grateful for all these things.

And I have a lot to be grateful for, and today is one of those days. And I don't bring them up to kind of like spike the football or to boast about them. I bring them up because I want whomever is out there listening or watching who's a fan of what we do to feel like they're a part of it as well, to revel in it as well with all of us,

and to highlight and to celebrate the good moments. And so I feel like I'm in that state at the moment, and I'm looking forward to what should be a great day. It really should be a great day, a great show we have planned for all of you as we inch closer to UFC 314. It goes down this Saturday in beautiful Miami, the 305 hosting another big event headline, of course, by Alex Volkonosky versus Diego Lopez

for the vacant featherweight title. At least it will be vacant by the time Saturday night rolls around. We'll talk a lot about that. I know there's a lot of questions regarding 314 when we get to on the nose. So we'll do that. I know there's a lot of questions regarding 314 when we get to on the nose. So we'll do that.

Prior to that, we'll be joined by Chase Hooper, who is fighting a man who is 16 years older than him on Saturday, one of the most beloved and decorated veterans on the roster. Of course, Jim Miller is a guy who is maybe now gunning for UFC 400, a spot on that card. He fought on 100, 200, recently last year, 300. And so it's Jim Miller against Chase Hooper. Chase coming off a win over Clay Guida.

Is he on a tour now of fighting the elder statesman? We'll talk to Chase. Always appreciate talking to him. Sneaky great, maybe not even that sneaky, but just a damn good Twitter feed. He's a good tweeter. He's got a lot of bangers. We'll talk to Chase.

He's in Miami gearing up for Saturday 314. Prior to that, Brandon Moreno, the assassin baby, coming off that huge win just about two weeks or so ago over Steve Erceg, finally winning in Mexico City as a member of the UFC roster. Where does he fit in the flyweight division? What is his, what are his thoughts on Kyoji Horiguchi rejoining the UFC? An apparent Kaikai France versus Alex Pantoja title fight coming up. Maybe as soon as June 28th, all that and more. We shall talk with one of the good guys in the game, Brandon Moreno. Prior to that, it's a great honor, a privilege, a pleasure to have one of the best pro wrestlers in the world today.

The ring general himself, Walter aka Gunther, who is the World Heavyweight Champ, who is the longest reigning IC Champ, 666 days, believe it or not, consecutive, who will be defending his title next weekend at WrestleMania against main event, Jey Uso. Love this guy. Huge fan of his huge fan of the way in which he conducts himself. Huge fan of the way in which he talks about the business, treats the business is an old school throwback. Just an amazing type of talent.

talks about the business, treats the business, is an old school throwback, just an amazing type of talent. A guy who I feel like would be successful in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, he is just, he is one of one. And he's the pride of Austria now living, of course, in the United States. He'll join us in studio, Gunther in studio at two o'clock. And so this is very exciting. Look at this.

We are so back, baby. We are so back. Diego Lopez looks like the undertaker in that picture on the right. It's like old school undertaker when he was wearing the leather jacket and he was like part bike rider, part dead man. Anyway, much to discuss with these gentlemen. We'll get into it and then some and can't wait for the press conference later today. That's

going to be a lot of fun as well. But you know we like to shoot on Wednesday so time now for everyone's favorite segment of the week. It is Tone. It's time for On The Night. Yeah. ArielHawani.substack.com is the place to send the questions and there are a ton, I see 146 comments and so I love the fact that this community continues to thrive and we appreciate everyone in the chat. We'll get to the super chats as well. Thumbs up to the chat, we love you, we love you. Now we move along to the first question and you you know, it's so crazy about this first question. This first question was a topic that I wanted to get to yesterday, but we ran out of time and so I love the fact that Lex is stepping up first with

an old fashioned hot tag. This is the question. Hi, Ariel. Quick one. What do you think are the chances Volk retires if he loses a brutal one? Now I posed this question to the boys in the back yesterday as we were preparing. I didn't say brutal one but I said I do feel like there is a chance, I do feel like there is a chance that if Volk loses or Volk, I know you guys get upset,

that Volk loses on on on Saturday, I do feel like there is a chance that he retires. Now, before we get to all of that, I do want to make mention of this. This is very exciting stuff. Today's On The Nose is presented by our good friends over at Intuit Turbo Tax. We love these guys. I did a nice little skit for them on, when was it? Two Fridays ago, April 15th, rapidly approaching.

Get those taxes in, very easy to use. Submit your taxes. two Fridays ago, April 15th, rapidly approaching. Get those taxes in, very easy to use. Submit your taxes, knock out your taxes, ground and pound your taxes. There they are, right there. Thank you for the support. TurboTax, we love you guys. So they are presenting this edition of On the Nose.

Back to Old Man Volk, is this in fact going to be do or die for him in the sense that if he loses, do we think he is going to hang it up? I think this is a fair question to ask guys. Why do I think this is a fair question to ask? Because he told us about a month and a half or so ago that he was toying with the idea of like, should I even come back?

Now I don't think he got to the point of like, but it seemed like for the first time, perhaps in his career, this was a thing. Life is good. I'm comfortable. Why go through all of this? I climbed the mountain. I beat them all. What's the point?

Now he's not getting a chance to run it back with Ilya. He's getting a chance to fight someone he's never fought before. If in fact he loses, I would not be surprised, shocked. He says, no, Maz. I also wouldn't be surprised if he continues, but I do think it's a fair question to ask. I think it is a very real thing. I'm not really quite sure where I stand. I don't think anyone knows.

Perhaps someone will ask him today or tomorrow, but I do think it's a very fair question to ponder and I think. And I think it's a major storyline heading into Saturday. What do you think, PT? I think it's a very fair question to ponder. And I think it's a very fair question to ponder. And I think it's a major storyline heading into Saturday. What do you think, PT? I think he's accomplished everything that any fighter would set out to in their career. So it gets to the point where you're kind of like, well, why, why are you still doing

this? Obviously you still a great fighter. Like I'd be, I would not be surprised one bit. I wake up on Sunday morning, Volkanovsky's got the title back, but at that point, it's like, what else can you do? What else can you do? What else can you do? What else can you do? What else can you do? What else can you do? What else can you do? What else can you do? What else can you do? still doing this. Obviously he's still a great fighter. Like I would not be surprised one bit. I wake up on Sunday morning, Volkanovsky's got the title back. But at that point it's like, what else can you do here, mate? As you said, he's climbed to the top of the mountain.

He is unanimously considered one of the greatest featherweights, by some the greatest featherweight whoever lived. At this point, how can you add to that legacy? Even if he goes out and wins, right? And it's the start of a new title reign, you can't best what he's already done. And I think that's always a reasonable time to start having conversations like this. We've seen him knocked out twice and he's back in this spot, but you don't want to get to the stage where we are considering what happens beyond another knockout. I think he's a very sensible guy. I think he's a guy who has, he has branched his career way further than the fight game.

I think we've seen through his fantastic advertisements, his personality, his acting skills. We know about his amazing cooking skills. We know he's a person that can mix with the likes of Action Bronson and people like this. Like he has a lot of value outside of the cage as well as inside it. So I think it's a very reasonable question to ask. And honestly, what else is there for this guy to do? That's where he's at. Not a lot of people get to this kind of rarefied air in the sport.

He turns 37 in September. This will be his 31st pro fight. Also was a rugby player to some degree. You know, it's so interesting. You mentioned the commercials, a new one just dropped. It's fantastic. Highly recommend you watching it. Uh, we have some clips of it that we can play. I don't want to get dinged, uh, playing some of the music or whatever, but look at this guy.

He's fantastic. And what's so interesting is the knock on him early on was that he had no personality, that he was vanilla, that he was boring. Now here he is doing this type of stuff, doing the cooking with Volk. He's, he's become one of the most popular him early on was that he had no personality, that he was vanilla, that he was boring. Now here he is doing this type of stuff, doing the cooking with Volk.

He's become one of the most charismatic fighters in his later years and perhaps that's just because he's comfortable in front of the camera, he's comfortable in his own skin. Does anyone back there think that it is definitive, a loss and he's done based on what he told us in late February? Now I don't think it's definitive but I just echo everything that Pizzi said. He's accomplished everything that you possibly can. You're

getting older. This would be three straight losses. If he loses Diego Lopez, I'd be surprised if he's losing them by a decision so that probably means he got finished. Three straight finishes isn't something you want to have at his age. At that point how far are you away from a title shot? I don't think it's definitive just because we've also heard the struggles he's had when he isn't fighting. I know he says he's in a much better place now, but I absolutely think it would be something

he's considering if he loses this one. Rick? Oh, he had to step out. He's dealing with car service. Okay, amazing. There he is. That's great stuff, Rick. That's great stuff.

I mean, that's really some of your best work, I think. Well, you just gotta put it in the bucket you know yeah what do you think Frankie retire enough yeah no no retire no retire the guy has said that his mental health depends on fighting it I don't think he's gonna give up anytime soon by the way that's a great point Mike drop from big big Frank it's also that's a great point so it's an issue though at this stage of people's career I'm not for a second am I saying it's an issue with Volkonosky, but there is an issue and I don't think this will pertain to him where you have guys and they're on big streaks, but they their whole lives they've identified as fighters.

It's important to them. It's central characteristic of who they are. I think the fact that we've seen Volkonosky move off into these different paths and have such success in them, that's a great sign. It's showing him that you can do a lot of things here. You are a very talented man. You can put your hand to anything and people will enjoy it. His fan base are there. You don't reach the status in the sport and just leave and everyone goes, Oh, remember that guy. Like people are going to be interested in what this guy is do. I think, you know, you've seen it. Like I don't mind saying, I said it for a long time about Tony Ferguson. I know he has this fight with Dylan Dannis coming

up, but you just got the feeling that outside of fighting this guy, he sees this as the driving force of his life. And I think that's when it becomes problematic. I'm not saying that Falcon Oscar is in a problematic situation, but if he was to continue on a run like this, that would certainly be an issue as far as I'm concerned. Yesterday we told you about fighters on two fight losing streaks trying to win a title. Historically doesn't bode well.

Over 35 doesn't bode well. And this being a talking point, and it's just amazing how quickly things can change. He wins that fight in dominant fashion over Yair Rodriguez. He jumps back in there, takes a short notice fight against Islam, which by the way, prior to Yair,

he's that close to beating Islam. And really it feels like in retrospect, the apex of his career, at least for now, who knows what happens come Saturday and beyond, but it felt like he was the people's champ. Some people, including myself, had him as number one pound for pound.

And then you come back maybe a little too soon against Ilya and we know what happens and he's out for a year. It's just amazing how quickly things can change and how quickly fighters can be viewed as, you know, vulnerable or, or, you know, beatable or anything like that. And so I'm really curious to see how he looks. By all accounts, he appears to be in tremendous shape.

I saw another photo of him and Tiofema Lopez yesterday. I mean, I don't recall him being this. It's not even jacked. Yeah. It's like he's chiseled and it looks like he has like 1% body fat. It's, it's, it's unbelievable.

This is him a couple of days ago. There's another photo of him that emerged with Tiafema Lopez outside a gym and he looks to be absolutely shredded. Absolutely shredded. Now, is that an indication? Look, that has nothing to do with your chin. That has nothing to do with your ability

to take a punch and Diego Lopez can freaking hit. He can freaking hit. And so, I mean, I am really excited to see how he looks. I am really excited to see how he responds to the year off. I'm excited to see how he fares against Diego Lopez. And if it doesn't go his way, I'm very curious to see if he continues. Because what is he going to do at that point? Does he want to be a gatekeeper?

Does he want to be the guy that is fighting the guys who are trying to get to the top? I don't know. And, and to the point that you guys made, I don't think he's all that interested in. I don't think he should be in that position. So let's see. Um, always, always an interesting topic going into a title fight. Uh, Lex also asks DC set on a broadcast recently. Buckley was close to getting the ball fight before JDM. How close was he as far as you know? I did not hear that that was terribly close. Uh, Lex also asks, DC said on a broadcast recently, Buckley was close to getting the Bilal fight before JDM.

How close was he as far as you know? I did not hear that that was terribly close. I heard that, uh, Buckley was, was a name discussed potentially for Pratchett's. Maybe for Leon. Uh, but it, but it, it didn't materialize obviously, but I did not hear as far as title fights are concerned. Uh, Doreenio Gla, it didn't materialize obviously, but I did not hear as far as title fights are concerned, uh, Doreenio Glaze, Ariel and BITB. How much longer can Usman sit on the sidelines

before he's dropped from the rankings? Bro just yaps on his podcast now. I'm assuming he's referring to Kamar Usman. I don't think Usman Nurmagomedov has a podcast, but maybe he does. Uh, I mean, how much longer, Nehru, Magomedov has a podcast, but maybe he does. Uh, I mean, how much, how much longer, what does that even mean? Like he can, he's Kamar Usman.

He's a former champion. He's done the thing. I don't think he has that many left, but I don't think anyone's like putting a gun to his head and saying, you've got to come back ASAP. Right. I mean, I think there are fights that are, it's kind of like what we were talking about

with Vogue, does Kamar Usman want to be that guy? Taking a short notice fight at 185 against Hamzat is different than being the guy to fight Gary Buckley, JDM, those types of guys who are trying to build themselves off your name. Maybe he just doesn't want to be that guy. Maybe he is done. I don't know. I'm not a frequent viewer, listener of the pod. I don't know, I'm not a frequent viewer, listener of the pod. I don't know if he's talked about this, but I don't think anyone really wants to be that guy, especially if you were once UFC champion.

But I also don't think there's a clock. I don't think anyone's saying. I have always believed that my rule has been if you don't have a fight booked within a year, and I'm not talking about like you had a fight booked and then you got injured, something like if you do not have anything booked within 365 days, then you are removed from the rankings.

His last fight was when? October of 23, right? And I don't think he's been booked. So if I were doing divisional rankings, I wouldn't put them in there, not because I'm trying to hate on him, but I just feel like you have to have some kind of rule and otherwise people just sit there forever. Okay.

You got to move the division on. Yeah. Absolutely. Keefe, uh, three quick ones. Has PT or the crew seen the show, bad sisters based in Ireland, all film there, a phenomenal show, highly recommend. I've never heard of it. Brilliant. It's a great show. It's on the news. It's on the news. or the crew seen the show Bad Sisters, based in Ireland, all filmed there, a phenomenal

show, highly recommend. I've never heard of it. Brilliant. It's a great show. It's on Apple TV. What's it about? It's about sisters. It's very bad, believe it or not. But no, it's really good. It's kind of a murder mystery. Really, really good. Guy who writes famous books over here, kind of a piss take of Irish culture. They're Russell Carroll Kelly his name is Paul Howard he's wrote a few episodes and they're absolutely fantastic a top recommend from Peter Carroll I can't get fired up over this I quite like the show by the way it doesn't

have to be this this song does not represent being fired up you know what I mean yeah you don't want that association yeah it's just like it's when you cook basically good bad ugly cooking them yeah I just played all the food when it leans heavily Irish as well yeah I like that yeah okay I have an honorable mention he continues for the BITB fantasy fight

locations that was left off the Dubai tennis court at the top of the Berge Al Arab, probably the coolest location possible. Lastly. You did say that one by the way. Yeah, that's why. I guess he wasn't watching.

That's why I just built it right by it. Lastly, I ended fifth in the March Madness bracket, despite picking all final four teams correct, the championship game correct and the winner correct with the exact predicted score, any consolation prize. No. By the way, you got all of that right and

you still ended up fifth. If you're not fourth, you're last. Seems a little sussy. You win or learn. Yeah. I don't think it's sussy. I think a lot of people just had that, that final four.

Big learn coming your way buddy. We award it to you. Shout out to Cal, our winner. Cal. Shout out to Cal, man. Yeah. Big win for,, our winner. Cal. Shout out to Cal, man. Yeah. Big win for, uh, for all business.

He's not Cal. Hey, by the way, have we connected with him? There was an email sent to, to see if we were. Okay. James Portland, Ola Ariel, about two months ago, I asked if CM Punk finally main eventing WrestleMania in a random triple threat was a good idea and you didn't seem into it. Still don't.

I wasn't a fan of the idea at first, but the build has been insane and can't wait to see what happens. Are you good with this main eventing night one or do you think it should still be Jay Gunther? I think the heavyweight champ should be the main event. It's the bigger match, but I feel like the heavyweight champ. It's weird to me that the two winners of the Royal Rumble

are not headlining either night. I think that's a little bit weird. It kind of deval... The Rumble should be your ticket to main eventing WrestleMania. Hard to obviously ignore Roman, Seth Punk. I'm not a huge fan of Triple Threat. Been a good story, but I'm a traditionalist.

Okay. Sue me, Sue me. Uh, John Doe, Hey Ariel, this is for Pizzi clearing up a question he had. You had mentioned who were my other top five Irishman last week. Here's the order Pizzi, the Ariel Hawhani show version, Liam Nielsen, the gray movie version,

CS Lewis. Great show. Shout out. Is three. Number four is actually PT the crack version. And five is believe it or not, PT the Blanchardstown hero version. Yeah. It's a lot of people's favorites, especially if they're in trouble.

That's when they want that one to kick in. It's just something that, you know, it's like the red mist will say when I turn into Batman and yes, yeah. It's a overall PT is the best looking guy in the show. Glad to clear that up. Ariel Hawani version show PC to be clear. What? Me?

Yeah. I agree with him for what it's worth. No love for a production Twitter. Pizzi who became famous over the weekend. Huh? That's my favorite pizza. That's right. Shout out on the UFC broadcast.

Pretty big deal. That was pretty fucking big. How much has life changed? It's every day. Everything is a hassle now. Going to the supermarket, you know, stopped every two seconds. Are you the guy who was mentioned seconds before Laron Murphy's emphatic victory over Josh Emma?

And I'm like, yeah, it was me. And then a Q-Farms and then, you know, it's pretty big. I'll say the same. I'm still the same man for what it's worth. It hasn't changed me. It hasn't changed me. I would expect nothing less. Sean Plant, hello Ariel. This is for GC.

Will we ever see Fight Feast make its way down to Austin, Texas? We have the occasional fight night here every year or so and there is tons of great food awaiting the lads yeah there's a fight night in Austin Texas what is what is what is Austin Texas food what would we barbecue yeah we would go get some Terry Blacksies, collard greens, collard greens, sure Joe Rogan has a restaurant whatever whatever the number one. Mac and cheese.

You could go to the Mothership Comedy Club. Elk. Taco Cabana. We would just go to the Mothership. What's the spot in Austin? Cherry Blacks. One of the few remaining cities in America that I've never been to. The only other one is Portland, right?

Yeah, I think I've said this a few times. I would love to go to Austin. Austin, Portland. I need another run in New Orleans. I was just there for 48 hours. I was so nervous. I felt like I was, I mean, I felt like Loopy Godinia's on Fight Night. I was so nervous.

Why were you nervous? Did you want to go to Des Moines? This was my first NBA sideline game. Oh, okay. Myself, Mike Green. At the smoothie center. At the smoothie center. Mavs, Pelicans, Porzingis back.

And I was, I mean, I was dealing with the worst imposter syndrome of my life. I was like, what the hell am I doing here? How did I end up here? I did go to Cafe Du Monde. Do you guys know what Cafe Du Monde is? Yeah, Ben. Of course. You want to talk about like moments where you're like, what the fuck? It's Cafe Du Monde is me and Mike Breen sharing beignets. Mike Breen, by the way, for those that don't know, is the voice of the NBA, the voice of the New York Knicks. I'm like, how did I end up here? How? How is this possible?

We're both dipping Benyais at the hot chocolate together. Benyais is a little overrated. Yo, have you ever had Benyais with Mike Breen? Not with Mike Breen. It's, but I've had the Cafe du Monde Benyais. It's divine. All right.

What the fuck is a Benyais? It's a, like a little, like a donut. Like, no, it's just like powdered dough. It's called a dough. Powdered sugar dough., it's just like powdered dough. Powdered dough. Powdered sugar dough. Sounds fantastic. Sounds absolutely fantastic. Get out of Ireland, all right?

You know, learn a thing or two about French cuisine. I'm trying, though. I'm trying, man. I'm trying. If it doesn't bore you, if I'd say it later this year. Oh yeah, that'd be a good one. Smoothie King. Sean Plant, hello Ariel and the Aspen lads.

That's a great question. It was right there, but it's great. It's great. Corey Sanhagan versus Sean O'Malley is the fight. Bantamweight is needed for far too long. Do you think we are close to seeing that fight come to fruition? I mean, a lot of things have to happen.

We've got Corey in Des Moines in a little less than a month. We've got Sugar fighting for the belt. Is there a world where Corey wins, Suga wins? It's tough. Is there a world where Corey wins, Suga loses? It's tough. I can't tell you. Is there a world where Corey loses, Suga loses?

There is. That was the- Oh, you should have said Suga. Yeah, that was tough. Or, and no, that might be the best perm Oh, you should have said. Yeah, that was. Or, I know that might be the best permutation if you want that fight. I think the only permutation that doesn't get us to fight is Corey loses, Sugar wins.

You know what I mean? For sure. Yeah. But why is that, you know, I think that's a great fight, but is that the fight that like bandom weight has needed? I don't feel like that's that for me. Yon O'Malley, five rounds.

Jan and O'Malley is the one I want. I, yes, but we saw it. I would love to see it again, but I would love to see Sanhagen versus O'Malley at some point. No pushback from me. Love that fight. Jan versus O'Malley does a lot more for me.

I'm with Rick. I'm with Rick. All right. Hut, Ariel, Sugar Sean stated that he doesn't really have a choice when it comes to showing up for media days and whatnot. Any idea fighters pay for their own travel when it comes to these obligations? No, absolutely not.

And it's not like any random media day. This is the kickoff press conference. He's gonna be there, Marab's gonna be there, Juliana, Kayla, I do have a bit of breaking news. I can tell you not, I don't have too much. Thank you. I do, I do, I don't want to give away too much, but I do feel like, like the, uh, the ice is

thinning between myself and, and our dear Venezuelan Vixen, uh, there, there maybe was a, a phone call yesterday that really advanced things in a very, very positive manner. So stay tuned. Anyway, he says, secondly, how in the hell are fighters considered independent contractors when there's clearly no independence of what they do? Yeah, I mean, they're not.

Let's not get into this all, no channel. They're uniform, they have a boss, they have to drug test 365, they have to tell the organization where they are, they are not. They are absolutely not. They have to tell the organization where they are. They are not, they are absolutely not. They may fight three times a year, but anyone that has to tell anyone where they are literally 365 days a year,

and if you don't, you get a strike against you, is not an independent contractor. When I call, as the example I always say, when I call someone to fix my garage, I don't say, hey, you have to dress this way. I don't say, hey, let me know about all your jobs in the next two, three, four, five, six months. I don't say, you know, hey, I need to know where you live and all this stuff.

It's crazy. Matt from BC, probably a long shot for the BITB to run a pound for pound shit stories, but can't believe Ariel is the only one with some real stinkers. Pete C and Frank, the Florida Bits, Matt from BC, probably a long shot for the BITB to run a pound for pound shit stories, but can't believe Ariel is the only one with some real stinkers. Pete C and Frank, the floor is yours. What?

No, I'm not doing this. Why Pete C and Frank? Do they look like they have shit stories? Does he actually literally mean like bad? Yeah, yeah. I tried to read these very quickly before I actually read them, and I thought he meant just bad life stories.

No, no, no, it means shit stories like the one you told last week about. No, I'm good. Oh, about, yes. Running into the place and exploding tires. A lot of people mentioned how much enjoyment you got out of that story. Dude, it's hilarious.

The fact that I was the only one laughing, you're telling us about how your bowels are about to implode and then you turn into the gas station so hard, your tire actually explodes, and then you're like, I'll deal with that in a second. Run inside and just, I knew about this story at the time that had happened. I'm telling this, I'm dying laughing. And then pizza and record just like, do you see what I was doing?

I had a thousand yard stare because I too have been in that situation. We've all been in it and it's hilarious. It's hilarious after the fact, GC. Is this not after the fact? Are we not years removed from it? It's had a lasting impact on my life. The worst part was the car part because like it's just like it's one thing like you know. I would have shot in the car if you had asked me. Yeah. Winner learn. I mean I had one this weekend where I like, I was at a restaurant and I was just like, all right, time to go home.

And I was like, how long is it gonna take to go home? And the person I was with was like, how about 20 minutes? We get in the car, it says 35. I was like, turn the car back around. Gabe, drive me back off at the restaurant. I ain't making it 35 minutes. That is something.

Wow, I hope no one's eating. What's up, Ariel and them boys? Zach Thompson asks. Them boys. Them boys. We and them boys. Zach Thompson asks. Them boys. Uh, we them boys. Yeah. Uh, considering what happened this week with Ovechkin's goal record, what are some

of the UFC records that you feel may never be broken? For example, I think Max Holloway's significant strike record may never be touched. He's like 1500 strikes ahead of second place. Didn't we talk about this? Yeah, we did. Yeah. Um, it's like there's a mic in there.

It's fortuitous. It's, it's just like, uh. I don't know. I think you mentioned... No, did we talk about Anderson Silva, but then we were like Islam's one behind. Anderson Silva consecutive wins. But Islam could... Islam's gonna break that. Marab's takedowns? Yesterday I was talking about how far ahead he is. By the end of his career, it might be a number that just like isn't gonna get broken. Yeah, I'm saying like the guy ain't slowing down anytime soon. I don't mind the Max Holloway significant strike shout.

He just got in so early and he just has so many strikes accumulated. Demetrius Johnson, 11 title defenses. That feels like the hardest one so far. Honestly, that might be it. Today's day and age, that's tough to break. It's not a record, but I don't think anybody will leave with the, be a UFC champion and leave with no losses

like Habib. I don't know how you, that's not quite a record because it's not a counting stat, it's not cumulative, but I don't foresee anybody being an undefeated UFC champion. Okay, retire undefeated UFC champion. Retire undefeated UFC champion. There's too much money on the other side. Habib gave up hundreds of millions of dollars.

I don't foresee anybody else that comes along being in that position. But I do understand it's not exactly Ovechkin-like. No. That's not a stat. Yeah. Yeah. What is considered, like every sport has its stat, right?

What is considered the gold standard? What is considered like gold standard? Title defense one is probably it at the moment. Yeah. Although, it's a good shot on the Holloway one, because you have to really start, you have to start when Rosas started. Didn't Frankie Edgar have the record for most time?

That one I don't think is. That, because he just. Yeah, like that can be achieved. So right now actually, total fight time is RDA with eight hours, 43 minutes, and 19 seconds. And Max Holloway is at eight hours, two seconds, two minutes, and 43 seconds. So it seems like Holloway has the chance to surpass that. But after that...

But still, that's not something that you celebrate. Like Ovechkin is something you celebrate. It's really the title defenses. Eight hours in a UFC octagon of active fight time. Where's Frankie Edgar? Is Frankie Edgar up there? Number three. Oh yeah.

So technically they're only doing one full day's work. You know what I mean? Yeah, it's kind of. Maybe they are getting paid too much. You know what I'm saying? Chris asks, I'm in the process of listening to the MMA hour episodes of the past. Jesus.

People could play that we put on too many shows now. You're listening to old episodes? Dan. Not enough. In 2021, you and Anthony Smith twice mentioned on air that something happened in Houston, but said it was a story for later. Have you told the story of what happened in Houston

with Anthony Smith or is this one going to be saved for a highway to Helwani? PT, correct me if I'm wrong. I think I told it on the Ringer show, right? Refresh my memory. Me, Anthony Smith, Chael Sonnen, a certain manager. Oh yeah, shit, yeah. It's a fantastic story.

Yeah, brilliant. I've told this story. Chael Sonnen, yeah, legend. So the homework assignment is going to all the old Ringer episodes as well. I mean, it's a short story. We're in Houston. Things aren't going great. It's February of 2020.

What happened right before that? I don't really think anything happened, but I'm in the bowels of the arena, the Toyota Center. This is John Jones versus Dominic Reyes. We go to eat. I'm working for ESPN. We go to eat, so we go down. They're doing the backstage interviews and whatnot.

I'm here. Ali Abdelaz for ESPN. We go to eat, so we go down. They're doing the backstage interviews and whatnot. I'm here, Ali Abdelaziz is here. We get closer, we get closer. Oh, I'm walking with Chail, I'm walking with Anthony Smith. They were the other two analysts and some other ESPN employees. We get closer, we get closer, we get closer. We get to this close and he says,

keep my fighter's name out of your fucking mouth. And I think it was because Ousmane was in the news of Frank, nothing bad, but that's what he says, like, right here. And so I stop and I say, and what? What are you gonna do? And I'm holding my backpack and I drop the backpack and I turn to him and I say, and what? Tell me what you're going to do.

Come back. He continues to walk. I say, come back. And now I'm like kinda yelling. I say, come back right here. Tell me to my face what you're going to do. And he just get my fighter's name. And it just walks off, walks off, walks off. So Smith and, and chill were like, damn, that was, that was impressive.

You know, cause there's this, this thought out there that I'm some sort of like weakling like, wow, didn't think you had that in that. In you. And so then we get to the back and I think it was actually Chale who told me if, if, if my memory serves me correct, someone said you should get ahead of this because he's probably going to try to spin this into something else. So I called my boss and told him what happened. And sure enough, Ali then went to the UFC and said that this thing happened, which he 1000% started. And as a result of it, the next event, which was March of 2020,

which was Izzy Romero, the UFC said that I couldn't go downstairs anymore because of this. Now, he also told the UFC, because as we were walking, I called him a rat, and I said, what are you gonna do, you rat? Because he is a rat, and he told the UFC that I was, what did he say? I think he said that I was, what did he say? That I was, I think he said that I was anti-Semitic,

believe it or not, in the great irony of ironies. And then they were doing the Tony Ferguson versus Khabib press conference that day for the ill-fated fight in April of 2020. And Ali called the UFC with Khabib and told them that if I was in the building for the Tony Khabib press conference on the Friday before that Izzy Romero fight

that they would not show up to the press conference. That's how ridiculous it got towards the end. Now you kind of understand why by the end I was like, fuck this shit, this is not fun. Who needs to deal with this shit? And so my guy, my boss's boss, said to me, I don't care if you want to sit in the front row with a megaphone, all right?

No one's gonna tell us where you can sit. I chose to sit up top on the set because I'm like, I don't need any of this crap. Like, I'm just gonna sit there. I'm not asking a question. Who cares where I sit? That comes and goes. Next day, we get to the event.

I'm told I can't go through with everyone else. I have to go through the fucking, um, freight entrance. Everyone gets out of the car. Chail says, I go where he goes. Chail walks with me through the freight entrance. And, uh, that ends up being the last event that I go to just to give you a taste of how ridiculous all this shit was. And I ain't walking through no freight entrance or being treated like I'm some

second tier substandard human because fucking Ali Abdulaziz is, is on the UFC payroll and they're going to listen to him because he has big time fighters. Fuck that shit. So anyway, thanks for bringing it up. I appreciate it, but there it is in short, um, here I am trying to like be all like peace and love, peace and love. And you guys. So full of gratitude. Fuck me.

Uh, okay. Not a good question there. Now you're starting to scrutinize. I mean, golly, no, if you guys only knew what that one is. You handled it well. No, no, no. There's another one. Um, Hey, Ariel, I was watching the Lakers game last night.

This is Gary, where Luca got ejected for trash talking a fan. The ejection was nonsense. I couldn't agree more. The ref thought that he was talking to him. How do you get that? How do you get that wrong? People pay top dollar to go to these games and you're throwing out the guy because you got it wrong.

That's crazy. But it got me wondering what BS referee moment got you most enraged in any sport? I mean, I get pretty enraged when it comes to the refs. Well, I'll tell you what, Charles Smith got, got hacked in 1993 game five. He a thousand percent got hacked by the bulls. But you know, we did get, we got the four point play later on,

and the Hubert Davis three in 1994, so I don't know if you're referring. He's saying for me it was when Vince Carter as a Brooklyn Nets slapped Maurice Peterson of the Raptors in the face, and Peterson flicks his arm forward to slap Carter back, and Peterson got ejected.

My blood boiled that day when I was 12 or 13, and it's boiling right now just thinking about it. Even worse is, aren't they like super friendly and they were like playing around? That was the big thing. Yeah, yeah, that's right. They were playing around and it wasn't even serious. Former teammates, Mo Pete.

How's it Ariel? Bots in the basement and Pete C. I love how every single greeting is different. I plan on going to my first UFC event in June at the Prue, and I'm excited to cop some merch at the arena What's some of the best merch you have bought at a UFC event or another live fighting event? I mean golly if you're looking for great merch. I was scared for a second. Don't go to UFC events Yeah, or just like get your merch. The merch is ass.

WWE has great merch one of my favorite shirts that I ever got at a WWE event was WrestleMania 18 Hogan rock icon versus icon. I rocked the shit out of that shirt back in the a WWE event was WrestleMania 18, Hogan Rock, Icon versus Icon. I rocked the shit out of that shirt back in the day. I was fucking cool. Also, I had another one from No Way Out. But you, I mean, GC, you would know better than anyone. He's gonna get a UFC 316 shirt and then the shitty poster screen printed on the back.

Couple washes, it'll be too small for you, 40 bucks. Thanks, have a good day. Isn't the move in 2025 to Buy the merch ahead of time and then come to the event with the merch Yeah, not like yeah, but I feel shit who buys the matter at the arena anymore Well, if you want to get a poster, they might only be selling the signed edition That's what I got a yeah, that's signed edition of Atlantic City. Oh that would age well Do they have those do they have those at the merch stand, the signed ones?

Or do you have to like- They only had the signed ones. They only had the signed ones. Yeah, he only had one, yeah. And you didn't want it? Hell no, it was like 250 bucks for Blanchfield and Quiro. Did they still have the programs? The programs used to be nice.

Nah, no program. Did you buy it? Did you buy it, GC? What? The 250. Fuckin' hell. What am I gonna do with that? Any bangers on there?

Wasn't Buckers on there? Was it Buckley on there? No. Yeah, Buckley versus Lukey? Nersalton. Oh yeah, it was the Lukey fight. It was the horrible Lukey performance.

Boardwalk Hall, how would you rate it? I always wanted to go there. It wasn't horrible. It was pretty cool, I thought. It wasn't horrible. Yeah. Not great. Everywhere there that night was like,

this is a cool venue. It was fine. Did it feel classic? It felt old school. Yeah, it did feel old school. Classic's not the word I cool venue. It was fine. Did it feel classic? It felt old school. Yeah, it did feel old school. Classic's not the word I would use. It is classic. Old.

It felt like a dump. It felt like an old dump. All of Atlantic City's a dump. I think it was Atlantic City's trash. Bootstein Jonas there this weekend. Yeah, not a great venue. Enjoy. Thomas, UFC Des Moines question.

Thank you, BITB, for the invite. I know you don't know me too, but it was greatly appreciated. Ah, yes. I'm actually originally from Iowa, but now work in VT. I believe that's short for Vermont. One thing I wanted to mention was that GC said he's going to wear Iowa state gear to the event.

You can't do this. A hundred percent. Iowa is a Hawkeye state. Whoever told you not to wear the Hawkeye gear is trying to mislead you. Don't fall for what these people say. It's University of Iowa all day long. Iowa state fans wish and pretend it's a cyclone state.

They're all wrong. Another quick thing, if you pick up or wear some of the Smokey Row coffee merch to the event, people are going to love it. Keep up the great work and thank you for the invite. All right. We'll get some Smokey Row coffee merch to the event. People are going to love it. Keep up the great work and thank you for the invite. All right. We'll get some Smokey Row coffee merch, but I did not realize the, the war we were walking into between Iowa and Iowa state.

Good news is Rick will have. I'll be representing Iowa Hawkeyes. Let's go representing Iowa state. I got my Caitlin Clark ordered. It's in my house. I'm ready. TST will be representing Drake. I forgot TST is wait, Drake, like the school. Yeah, it's in my house, I'm ready. TST will be representing Drake. I forgot TST is.

Wait, Drake? Like the school? Yeah. It's in Iowa. It's in Des Moines. Oh wow, I didn't know that. Quad Cities, baby. And Drake Riggs as well.

He will be also representing Drake. And Aubrey Graham. And Aubrey. Emil, as someone who enjoys the BTS stuff, my question is this. What does the studio look like from your point of view? Are you able to see the boys in the back, or is it just a does the studio look like from your point of view? Are you able to see the boys in the back or is it

just a wall, some cameras and a bunch of lights? Yeah. I mean, I could, I could call my on the zoom machine here, but it's, it's, it's just a wall. It's just a wall. They're actually, if I can say one thing I miss from our old studio is that if you open the door to the studio, the control room was right next door,

so we could talk to each other. Now, it's a bit of a trek. It's like a one to two minute walk all around. I know I keep doing this and none of you know what I'm doing, but it's a bit of a walk. And so I don't feel that connective tissue that I once did. You know, we talk.

It's a safe distance. Miss it. We're far away. Remember, we're far away. There's a lot that I like, there's a lot that I miss. What do you want me to say? Remember the original, original 34th Street Studio where you could see us through the plexiglass. We were in the same space.

Original, original, original, pre-UMA hour. The producer was sitting right there. It was me and him at the same table. Video village idea. It was literally right, he was like, I was staring at Josh, he was right there. It was me and him at the same table. Video village idea. It was literally right. He was like, I was staring at Josh. He was right there. Shout out, Josh.

Crazy, crazy. Islam's phlebitomatist? I don't know what that is. Ariel and crew, we unfortunately maybe. Phlebotomist? Yeah, something like that. We unfortunately may be faced. Because of the IV.

With some tough conversations about some of our favorite UFC personalities after Saturday. What? What do you think the future holds for the man down under, Muscle Milk Mike, should they come in second? Is there a demand, I thought he was gonna add Jim Miller too,

is there a demand for fun fights involving Volk moving to 55? I saw a lot of people in the chat talking about 55. No, that's not it. Chandler at 70? No. Why does Chandler need to leave 55? Yeah. Chandler's career is not like this meteoric like rise of wind like he's a wins and loss guy like Chandler's gonna fight as long as he wants to fight. Iron Mike and Volker both winning on Saturday so we're not even worried. Wow

declaration. I'm not concerned about Chandler's. Like, Chandler's going to be in fun fights no matter what weight class he's at. Volk, I know you guys were discussing this. I had to run out of the room earlier. I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised to see him walk away.

When you planted that seed in my brain, it kind of took root. He seems like a guy who's going to be around the sport forever so maybe it's not in a fighting capacity. Maybe he becomes a coach or maybe he becomes some kind of analyst or something. I think it would be a shame if we lost Volk from the sport because I think he's so good for it. As we've seen with those sport bet promos like he's funny and hilarious. He's also obviously super knowledgeable about the X's and O's of the game. I think he'll be around, I have to imagine, because just how much he loves it and how good he is at it. We continue. And we will be joined in about 15, 20 minutes time

by the great Gunther of WWE fame, the World Heavyweight Champion. Also, we shall be joined by Brandon Moreno and Chase Hooper on this very exciting Wednesday around these parts. Hello, Ariel and crew. Given you've had Natalya, Tom Pestock, and Bret Hart, does this mean your relationship with WWE has improved?

Well, Gunther is on today, so I'd say so. Although I will say that Tom and Bret are not really, well, Bret was a route of fight, Tom is outside of WWE, but we're working through the kinks. We're... Hutt, Ariel, Conor McGregor's crypto coin failure. What does it mean? Honestly, I'd love to know.

Does anyone understand any of this? I don't understand. Is it real, Is it not? What's going on? Does anyone know? No clue. Um, no idea. All right.

That'd be a good thing. Side note GC keeps waiting for Brady for the bike challenge, the Avron bike challenge. I say GC needs to go for anyone and everyone. Let's see some challenges here. Aljos and far I'm an Aljo-holic. I bet he would do it. Issue the open challenge. GC. Thank you for anyone and everyone. Let's see some challenges here. Aljos and far. I'm an Aljo-holic. I bet he would do it. Issue the open challenge.

GC. Thank you. Love the show. We're waiting on Brady. Matt Mo says I acquainted GC. I'm down for I acquainted. What am I going to do? Be the real estate agent?

Wow. Wow. For Brady. Yeah. Damn. Uh, Victor, good morning, Ariel and team. I'm attending fight week in Miami. I remember a couple of years ago, you were

saying Miami has very good acai bowls. Any recommendation as to where the best one is in Miami, also any other recommendations? Now, Laurel Lee adds not an acai recommendation, but miss crispy rice has good omakase. Uh, yeah, that's our good friend, Andy Mayer. He owns that spot. Miss Crispy Rice, Poke OG and Mr. Omakase.

He's like the king of Miami sushi. Now I go to a place called Pura Vida. They have great acai, but our very own Andy is a connoisseur of all things Miami. Do you know of any good acai spots? Not really, not acai, but Venezuelan food out there. but our very own Andy is a connoisseur of all things Miami. Do you know of any good acai spots? Not really, not acai, but Venezuelan food out there. No. Top.

What do we got? Any spot? Any name? Anywhere in Doral, honestly. Is that in Miami? Close enough. Close enough, all right, there you go. Just wanted to throw in a good Gorgonzola steak down at Smith and Walensky's if you're interested. No, but you know what? A very unfortunate camera cut there.

Did you guys see that bird fly through the window right there? Not through the window, but like in the, like the, the, the window. Did you see that just now? No, no, no. Uh. Or was it a hawk?

I don't know what it was, but it was a massive bird and I don't mean like a good looking girl. I mean like an actual bird. I was just thinking, how'd you get up there? Yeah. I don't think massive bird would make people believe flying by a window would make people believe. It wouldn't Arlen. It wouldn't Arlen.

If someone said there's a massive bird over there, that's such a good thing. Kyle, Ariel, if Endeavor got rid of Dana White and offered you his job, would you take it? Become a pirate in a machine? What? Sit out there for everything? Are you serious? What's going on? Ever got rid of Dana White and offered you his job. Would you take it? Become a part of the machine. For everything. Are you serious? What's going on everyone? Who's got the first question? I could do that job.

As long as I got Hunter there doing the actual work, I'll be okay. Who would, what media guy would you take on? Which, which are like, who would be, like, who would your Ari O'Waddy be? I'm gone. No, no, no, not you. I was just doing the, um, controversial enough. I love Dana.

I don't know. I was going to say Mark Ramundi, but he doesn't go anymore. 20 names. There's so many names, right? You know, there's so many names that I actually would be like, yeah, you're gone. You're gone. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck fuck you, Mac. There's so many names, right? You know there's so many names that I actually would be like, yeah, you're gone. You're gone.

Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. You're sort of cool. You know what these media guys do? Yeah. Fucking assholes. Anyway, we continue.

Nose, Mr. Hawani, would it be possible to post the on the nose segments in a separate video on YouTube? Your interviews are great, but would appreciate We continue. Nose, Mr. Hawani, would it be possible to post the on-the-nose segments in a separate video on YouTube? Your interviews are great, but would appreciate if the on-the-nose segments can be separate videos each week. Let me ask you guys, why can't you just go

to the actual video? Do people not wanna watch the full, I don't get it. And we also put chapters in there. What's the problem here? Laziness is the problem. We're trying to be select, I don't know. Algorithm this, thumbnails that. Just let us cook, just let us cook, can you just let us cook? I don't know, I honestly don't know. We've got to focus on cooking. Yeah, maybe we need a

cooking show. Let's do it. Levi, Ariel, serious question, as you know 314 is Pesach night, I do know this, so as a Shomer Shabbos, Yom Tov fellow, do I try and will it be a hard effort to not get the event spoiled till Monday night? No chance. And even then try to rewatch the whole event or is it not worth the headache? Well, listen, if you turn your phone off, like my brother does, yeah, just don't turn it on again until you actually finish watching it, Because if you're a fan, I think something's going to pop up.

Also, how do you navigate to the replay on ESPN plus without seeing what happened? You mean like when you go on the, okay. So, so Friday night to Saturday night, you, you cannot use electricity. You cannot use money. You cannot go in a car. It's supposed to be very stripped down pure.

Right. Saturday night and Sunday are the equivalent of that because it's the first two nights of Passover and we do satyrs. It's an awful time for a pay per view, if I'm being honest. So if you are. And the masters.

And the masters as well. Yeah. So if you are observant, uh, you cannot watch the pay per view. In fact, I know of people who live in Miami that have gone to all the UFC events and this time they can't go because it falls on this Saturday. They're devastated. I wish Mark Ratner would have spoke up when they were scheduling in any event. I think if you could get to Plus, the key is how do you get around ESPN.com because the front page will give it away?

But if you get the plus they've done a good job Really because of Steve Oh Steve Oh was the one that changed the whole format Steve Oh was very upset that the thumbnail would give away the result and he mentioned it way back in the day on my ESPN show And they changed it in the early days of plus as a result Shout out to the whole team over there Dan Riccio and company They actually listened and changed it So if you could get by all the dot com stuff and get straight to the plus platform,

I think you'll be okay. That's what kids are for. You just have your kids navigate over there for you. Sometimes they'll press on the wrong thing, screw everything up. Those tax credits. Yeah. Hi Ariel and crew,

what are your thoughts on the WrestleMania card? And are the BITB boys going to do a parlay for it? Side note, it's great. It's over Easter weekend in the UK so I can stay up on Sunday to watch it. This brings up a good point. I do want to let you know that next week our schedule is a little different. It's Monday, a show live from parts unknown, Tuesday, boys in the back. Wednesday, the crack. What?

Thursday, Ariel Hawhani looks back at Classic Interviews, volume two. Friday, WrestleMania round table with our incredible, uncrowned WrestleMania team. Any of that's about it. So it's going to be a bit of a different week. with our incredible uncrowned WrestleMania team. Any of that's about it. So it's going to be a bit of a different week. Also I do want to let you know that Monday's program,

post-Paperview Monday, post-314, Paperview Monday, by the way, it has come to my attention that the area code of Missouri is the 314. Who hails from Missouri? Michael Chandler! Anyway, that's going gonna start at 12 Eastern. So please make note of that. 12 Eastern, Monday, special start time. Am I missing anything else?

Are the boys gonna do any kind of betting regarding WrestleMania? GC would know better than I. I don't think you can do parlays, but I do have some odds. Jey Uuso minus 600. Minus 600? Don't tell Gunther that.

Minus 600? He's Kayla Harrison. He's Kayla Harrison levels. Yeah, the challenger. The biggest favorite challenger in WWE history. Wow. There's some interesting ones here. John Cena minus 210 to Cody Rose.

I'm going to ask Gunther about this. Is he in the building, by the way? I think so, because Rick left. Okay. Rick manages to left work, period, though. Jack, what's the crack, lads? Quick one for Father Carol. P.T., what do you think is the worst county?

Personally, I think it's Monaghan. It's the biggest waste of space. Nothing there except bog and cultures better off being flattened and turned into a big centra PS hearing Sean abandoned, say yup. Talit in the old two, a few weeks ago was pure magic. Did I get all of those names?

Right. Talit. No, the T is sorry. I'm just taller. Teller. Okay. That's a very tough question. I like everywhere in Ireland, to be honest.

I think it's the greatest place in the world. I like every place I go to. I genuinely do have a county I hate. I don't. I genuinely love every inch and every centimeter of this beautiful island. OK, sorry. But I get I get where you're coming from, Manantiu. No, no, not 100 percent hundred percent. Um, Coleman T hear me out.

Ariel, I'm sorry, but your weekly anime post has arrived. I have two recommendations for you to watch with your kids that even you will enjoy. First up blue lock. It's a soccer anime about a program that locks all the best high school strikers in a facility. Put them through challenges to find the best in the world.

Battle Royal, Last Man Standing, if you will. Anyone know about this? Sounds pretty fun. No. No. Yes. Second up, Haiku. It's a volleyball anime.

Undersized kid, wants to be the best spiker in the world. Again, no superpowers, amazing storyline, awesome art, insanely hyped games. I promise you will find true joy watching these with your kids. Where do I watch them is the question crunchy roll I think is the anime shout out is that true absolutely yeah what I watch Dragon Ball Z what the hell's crunchy roll

anime sounds like an item on a sushi well I mean that's what it's named after oh very very astute of you to put those two together. Yeah, yeah. You're the first one to notice that. Hey, Frank, Matt has a question. Oh, no, Matt, so? What are the chances we get the video up on? Yeah, Matt.

Spotify. Hey, actually, update on that. I'd love to pop in and see reactions instead of having to swap to YouTube to scrub to the moment. Yeah, it's not a bad shot. There is an update. Oh, go, go. He has a great point, he has a great point there.

Matt, go ahead and hold your breath. Okay, that's the update? That's the update. I don't appreciate you having that patronizing. Have the faith. Oh, okay, oh, so you're saying things are happening. Yeah, it's coming for sure. Is that true?

Yeah, no doubt. Big breath in, hold it tight, and we'll get there. All right. Brand, excuse me, Brad Ninja Dragon, us members of Gator Nation appreciate your congratulations and I should say our beloved coach, Todd Golden is a fellow Jew, yeah! What a name, Todd fucking Golden?

Jesus Christ. Sean Klein asks. His middle name is fucking? Did I say that? I said that, drop that fucking in there hello Ariel who do you think is the biggest gooner in the UFC hashtag J the peen hashtag Bosch do you know what I thought he meant arsenal what is good or big one yeah yeah is it a bad is it a bad thing I thought it was like an arsenal thing. It is. It is.

It's also, yeah, a general thing. Oh, is that what that is? A wanker? Oh my god. Wanker, yeah. This reminds me when I did a show with Adé in London. Someone did it too much. And I said Bollocks and I thought Bollocks was just like my butt and he's like no no no. Adé's reaction was out of control. Out of control.

Made it seem like I dropped like a slur, right? A seaward. It was pretty bad, yeah. Bollocks His reaction was out of control. Out of control. Made it seem like I dropped like a slur, right? I mean like- A C-word. It was pretty bad, yeah. I didn't think it was that bad. Bollocks is just a pair of balls. Yeah, I didn't think- But get over it.

Like, yeah. This is a load of bollocks. Yeah. You say it on Star Trek, you can say it anywhere. You know what I'm saying? You say it on Star Trek. Callum Meany. I mean, Star Trek is notoriously no longer on air because of-

Callum Meany said it on Star Trek. Is Star Trek Irish? They said, what would an Irish man- Are you talking about Star Trek or Star Wars? I never know what- They said, what would an Irish man say in this situation? And he said, you'd probably say bollocks. Thank you. It's a beautiful word. It can mean anything. It can mean, what are you doing? You know what I mean? This is a lot of bollocks. I don't like it. He's talking bollocks. He is talking absolute shit. That fella's a bit

of a bollocks. He's a big fucking hairy ball bike. It's so dynamic. We like to apologize for the language. It's just the body guys. By the way, imagine someone like open the Yahoo Sports app right now. Imagine the people in the kitchen right now. Nah, they can't hear it. They can't hear it. They just see an impassioned Irishman. What they think speaking about fighting. Um, hey, one last one, guys. It's good to end on this note. Number 28, I do believe, Puddingboy asks,

I'm genuinely curious why you like Juliana Pena so much. And you know what? He goes into a long thing and I say, we love Juliana Pena because she is the very definition of a fighter. She scratched her way to the top. She had many setbacks. She almost died in a car accident. She had a broken back.

She faced adversity head on. She built herself up. She beat the goat in a shocker and one of the greatest upsets and performances by a challenger in the history of the sport. She stumbled. She was out. She was injured. She regained her belt and she's history of the sport. She stumbled, she was out, she was injured,

she regained her belt, and she's one of the great shit-talkers in the sport, and one of the great representatives of women's MMA. And so she will always have a home here, whether she likes it or not, whether she believes it or not. And we appreciate her very much. We also appreciate our good friends over at TurboTax. Damn it. right there.

Shout out to TurboTax. Much love to them. We do appreciate them very much. Anyone that wants to be on this team and invest in what we're doing here, I appreciate them more than you can possibly know. The app is easy to use. Tax season is upon us.

Six days away, April 15th. Submit, ground and pound, knockout. You know all those fun puns. Get it done in the next six days away, April 15th. Submit, ground and pound, knockout, you know all those fun puns. Get it done in the next six days. So, you know, Erwin R. Scheister doesn't come after you. You know what I'm saying? That's the IRS. All right, thank you very much for all your questions.

Back into the show, we shall answer some super chats. All right? So I look forward to those as well. But my friends, great honor, great privilege. You know how so I look forward to those as well. But my friends great honor great privilege You know how much I admire and appreciate this man and the fact with you know Just some ten or so days away from WrestleMania The fact that he would come in to our studio to chop it up to talk with all of us I don't mean actual chops because he's very good at those

Means a whole lot. So without further ado, let us say hello to the longest reigning intercontinental champion, the reigning defending world heavyweight champion, the pride of Austria, formerly known as Walter, now known as Gunther, the ring general. How are you, sir? I'm very good. It's a great pleasure to have you here.

Very nice introduction. Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. Please have a seat. There he is, my old Frank Gregg. Please have a seat and you've brought some gold. How about this? Yes, very nice, right?

This is a nice title. Dare I say? It's right there. The nicest title of them all. Because you know, it's perfect for you because it's a throwback title. It looks like the old WCW World Heavyweight title, right? I agree, I guess that's the inspiration of it.

So I like that too. Yes, it fits you perfectly. Thank you so much for coming in. I really appreciate it. Thank you. It's a huge, huge deal for us and we're big fans of yours. And I understand actually yesterday you were at your very first hockey game. How's that possible? A guy who grew up in Austria. I know it's not huge over there. No, it's not. Austria, Germany, but you know, it's getting a little bit more. You never went to a hockey

game of any kind? No. Really? We have a team in Vienna, I think the Vienna capitals, but it's, I guess they did well for a while and then it disappeared out of the public eye, like to me at least. Um, Switzerland is kind of quite big in hockey.

But yeah, it was my, Slovakia, Czech Republic, those places. What did you think? Uh, I liked it. It was very in and out cause I had a, I just came back from Europe. Okay. Yes. And then I flew in from raw and went there. I liked it. It was very in and out because I had a I just came back from Europe. Okay, yes And then I flew in from raw and went there. So I left soon as I could because okay, I needed to sleep

I passed out on my couch last night One of those VIPs you show up for the appearance and then you you head out the back door No, usually I try to take it in whenever I get a chance to do a appearance like that, right? Oh, but yeah, I think I'm gonna go again in the future when the time allows it. It's a nice thing to take your parents when they visit and stuff, I guess. For sure. You know, I like to look at what people who are coming on the show, what they are doing,

who they are talking to, recent appearances, because A, I don't want to ask the same things, and I just want to know what's going on. This is an observation, correct me if I'm wrong, I feel like you don't do a lot of interviews. I feel like I see a ton of the, you know, I feel like you don't do a lot of interviews. I feel like I see a ton with Cody, but I couldn't find a lot of recent,

long form Gunther interviews. Is there a reason for that? Yeah, I don't know if there's a reason for it. I've done more when I started out, when I was IT champion and then it calmed down again. It's maybe something I should put more pressure on to. Inside to get more. But maybe that gives you some mystique.

I actually kind of liked it. Yeah. Because it makes it feel special. I don't feel like you're oversaturated, overexposed. Yeah, I always liked it. I always thought to be overexposed all the time, at least in my case, doesn't help me. I think to do appearances here and there

and then talk about certain things is interesting but I don't know always my gut feeling was always like just be less out there and then it means more. I wondered because it's often been said that you're old school that you're a throwback if perhaps you don't like doing it because you don't want to be one of those guys who pulls back the curtain too much you respect the business so much that you don't want to be one of those guys who pulls back the curtain too much. You respect the business so much that you don't want to break K-Fabe as they say. It's not even about that. I think everything very much progressed and stuff,

but I think the persona that I am on TV, it helps if there's mystique about it, if people can't really tell what I'm up to or what I'm not up to. And yeah, in the Indies, I could kind of like self-manage that, right, because there's no way that was definitely something with WWE because they're so out there that both sides had to get used to when we started working together. I guess they

just balanced it out by now. Are you happy with what you're doing now? I am, yes. How can I? I'm living the dream. Like quite objectively when I look at my career it's like the the last few years have been, yeah, everything I always worked for in, yeah, a business sense, but also like in what I wanted to be as a wrestler. And yeah, I can't complain. You say you're living the dream, but I've also heard you say multiple times, you didn't grow up dreaming of being a WrestleMania main eventer. Yeah. You dreamed of New Japan, you dreamed of...

So why do you say you're living the dream if, you know, quite literally maybe this wasn't the dream early on? I mean, it still is. I always wanted to be a wrestler and wrestle on a high level and have great matches and make my money with it. And that's what I'm doing. So I was fortunate enough. I lived my dream before I joined WB because I could make a living off this and I was quite happy when it comes to that. But also I guess as a person you develop and things change and I have a family now that I have to or want to provide for. So there's goals change when that happens too, for example. And yeah, where I'm right now, I feel very privileged,

but also very proud of that. It's like a position with a lot of responsibility and a lot of trust that is given. And to be able to fulfill that and carry that, I think that it's a big achievement for myself. Like the standards I set for myself, what I want I want to be and yeah it's like a dream. How's fatherhood by the way? Great. How old is your child? He's 15 months now. 15 months okay. But he's already up and running and everything very active. It's easier for me and for my wife obviously

because I dip in and out. I travel a lot so when I come home I'm the superstar. But yeah, overall, as you know, it's a big learning experience. It's humbling, it's very exciting, but it's also, yeah, it's a challenge, a positive one I would say. Someone was making fun of me before the show saying that, and I think we're about to reach that point saying

that he was gonna set the line at six minutes of me mentioning to you that my son's name is Walter but I've already mentioned this to you in the past so I don't need to mention it again I am wondering though if perhaps you you called your son Walter jr. His second name is Walter okay yes not bad because my father is named Walter and you can't give down three times in a row. Why not? I mean, you can, I think there's like, somebody once told me it's kind of like bad luck

if you do it, I don't know. Really? Is that an Austrian thing? It might be, I never investigated even more, but then I thought it's a nice touch to, Sure. Like do the second name. Because here in America, there's second, third,

there's, you know, you could go all the way down to fourth. Yeah. I've seen, but you wanted to give him his own identity if you will. Yeah. Do you want him to be a wrestler? Do you, do you even think about that or are

you too, would you like for him to fall in your footsteps? That's a bit early. Yeah. One and a half years old now. I'm focused on him. It happens fast, my friend. It does, but now I'm focused on, I really hope

he starts using the fork soon And stuff like that go to the bathroom on his own. Yeah, baby steps. Okay, and then whatever I was once in those shoes now My oldest son is about to turn 13 so it happens it happens very quickly But yes, you are a little bit of ways away from all that I asked you if you were happy and and part of the reason why I asked you that was because this is WrestleMania season as they say right? And so it's a very busy time I would imagine and it's all culminating to your version of the Super Bowl. It all comes and when I ask if you're happy

it's on multiple fronts. Happy with what you're doing but also what you are doing on television, what you are doing with Jey Uso. Are you happy with the program, the rivalry that you have? I am, yes. I think especially the last two weeks were very important and that's, yeah. Why did you hesitate there for a moment? What do you mean?

When you said, like, I feel like you hesitated for a minute when you said that you're happy. No, no, no, I am happy, but it was a challenge because it was like 10 week build. Yeah. And to really find something that, no, no. I am happy, but it was a challenge because it was like 10 week built and to really find something that like excites you for 10 weeks in a row is hard and special with all the other stuff going on. Uh, but I think we managed it very well.

Like I said, the last two weeks, I think we got it on route where it's supposed to be and it's always a little bit like what I want myself, like what I would see the best idea or something, like that doesn't always happen. That's not the nature of how the business works and then you gotta be mature enough to realize that we do that stuff every week. It's, there's always a better idea for something

and it's not, at the end of the day, it's not about my personal taste often, what I would like, it's not about my personal taste often, what I would like. It's about what's best for the product at that point, overall. In that regard, I think we manage it very well. And going into Mania, I think we set the tone very well. The last couple weeks have been great.

The blood, the stuff with Jimmy, it feels very intense. Yeah. Very personal, which is what you always want. Here you are saying welcome to hell as you're standing over a bloody Jimmy Uso. It's great stuff. In fact, I think you upset their father. Rikishi is not too happy with you. That could be, but I will, well, I don't blame him.

I have to look at that. He can get it too, right? Ah, if he wants to. I think he's done. So, but you know, I know a lot of people, including myself, were very surprised when Jay won the Royal Rumble. And obviously we didn't know, you know, which direction he would go, your belt or Cody's belt. Were you surprised that he won? Yes, I was actually. Because obviously at the end, in with Cena but looking back at it it's in Cena's on his last run here

now and that's what that's how you want to use them put them in the ring with somebody that is like on his way up or is like red hot in the moment and benefit of that so I was surprised yeah and there was, yeah, I was surprised. And I didn't think J would be the ideal opponent for WrestleMania because we are very different. But then rethinking, and I think it makes a lot of sense because I think in WWE right now, I'm the perfect counterpart to everybody who is on his way up, who's like red hot, wants to achieve a certain something and I think I'm a good party pooper when it comes to that.

At the end I was happy that he won and he deserved it I think. I'm glad we started that program now. Could I ask who was your ideal opponent? I didn't really nail that down to be honest because there's we have so many guys that are like when it just comes to in ring that are like super exciting to have a match with and so I didn't really as a wrestler yourself we obviously want to make the next step so my hopes were like can I mix it up with somebody like punk, maybe with Seth or maybe

with Roman, is there a chance for that? Or even Sina. Um, but yeah, that didn't work out yet, but also I think we're in a situation right now in a company where so many things changed in a very short time and there's a whole new excitement about the company. And that's a big opportunity for guys that are newer to the place like me or somebody like Jay that is around forever and now have finally has the

chance to do something on his own and that's what a lot of guys I had matches with it's like it's the perfect breeding ground for us to have all the attention on us and yeah, leave a mark because at the end of the day I feel like everybody can stand out when in the ring with somebody that is like super established already. There's like a made figure, somebody like Roman. But if we can make a difference like together and yeah, a new standard for us what's to expect from us going forward and when it comes to a lot of different things I think that's the perfect opportunity for that and it's a challenge somewhat too and it's a high pressure situation but I feel

like that's when I thrive I think that's where people in general thrive. The high pressure situations are the ones where you sink or swim. And yeah, I'm glad with how everything worked out. You mentioned Roman, Punk Seth. They are the main event of night one. Obviously, Cena is main eventing against Cody in night two. Are you disappointed you're not main eventing? As World Heavyweight champ well

No, I'm not it's There's too many men spots some people argue. There's only one. It's the night two At the end of the day those are like there are big achievements But that's nothing I want to get I don't want to stress about because in the long term later on when I finished my career and I was able to be financially set up, took care of my family and I had, I did all of this doing the thing that I always wanted to do. I don't think, I don't know, if I never made it in WrestleMania, that's going to make a

difference about how proud or happy I'll be about my career so I think it's a mental challenge for the for us the wrestlers is like You want to do all those things naturally? That's like the first reactions like you want to achieve this and you want to do that and it's like often important to you know put things into perspective and Ground yourself a little bit. Because if you always look for what's next, like one more, one more, one more,

it's like an endless game. It's like where's the end? And I rather try to be very focused on what I'm doing at the moment and put all my effort in there, put my full focus on that, and try to make the best thing possible. And yeah, I think that's when really good stuff happens. Can I say I'm one of those who feels like the main event of Sunday is the main event? Yeah, I mean. I'm old school like that.

Well, I don't wanna challenge you on that. That's like, it's not that important to be honest. You don't care about any of this stuff. We get all caught up on who's main event day where they are on the card You don't pay attention to any of this of course I see stuff and stuff, but I actively try to stop myself from worrying about because it does no good You know I can't control it anyway, right? I can do my best and I will do my best anyway it doesn't matter where I would be on the card, I would give my best and the week leading up front that we give my best and

Doesn't change anything. So it's, yeah. Can I ask your perspective on the Cena heel turn? Yeah. This new John Cena that we're seeing, what are your thoughts? Yeah, that's, I mean, if he goes against Cody, who's like DEI right now, Yeah.

Yeah, that's, I feel like that had to happen. That was a natural reaction. And At the end of the day I feel like that's always funny where perception of a person like how it ends up because always like now when Sina came back like everybody loved him and even like years before but when I was younger I only knew Sina as the guy that the company wanted to be loved by everyone but nobody did. Everybody booed him and everybody was kind of like, ah, not that guy again. So in reality, yeah, that's the Cena I always remember.

Obviously in wrestling it's always funny when you go away for a little bit, you come back, everybody's just falls in love with you again. Yes, of course. This is life. A new reality, a new memory is created. Right. But yeah, it was the right thing to do, I think. Again, great opportunity for Cody. Having seen her back is fantastic. Like one of the, like, also people about that, who's the greatest star. Sure, sure. One of them.

Yeah. Who makes a decision that is like, hey, I want to do this for another year. And I think it's a very, a lot of class about the way he wants to go out. Where it's not like one more, one more. It's like a definitive period of time. He's still in fantastic shape. where it's not like one more, one more. It's like a definitive period of time. He's still in fantastic shape. He's still, yeah, top guy right away.

I think it's a very good way to go out, to have that much control about it, so, quite easier. One thing I'm curious about, early in his career, he was a heel type character, but when you wrestle as a heel, especially like someone who's mad like him, your style changes too, right? So I'm curious to see how this version of him, wearing the stuff that he wears

and being the guy that he is, wrestles as a heel. Because it won't be the same, you can't be the same. It can't be the same as the one that we saw two months ago, right? Everything has to change. You have to do different things. Your demeanor has to be different, your tactics have to be different.

That will be interesting, right? It's like, obviously there's a different rhythm to being a babyface or a heel and we'll see how he manages that. But at the end also I think it's the typical babyface heel thing is kind of like something that's important at the early stages when you work your way up and as soon as you have a certain attention on you, then you're just you. I don't think you will have to change too much to be okay. But I'm very interested to see how he handles it, like how his take on this, so looking forward to it.

Are you the kind of person that pays attention to what everyone else is doing? In other words, because this is the culmination of the year, you look at this feud, that rivalry, and say, I like this, I don't like this, I'm locked into this, this is the best one in my opinion, this is the hottest. Or are you so focused on what you're doing, you don't pay attention, you don't watch the show, you don't do anything?

No, honest answer, maybe I'm a bad example then, but I hardly watch anything else. This is why I asked the question, because I had a feeling you were going to say that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Why is that? But it's not like because I'm not interested, it's kind of like.

You're locked in. Yeah, so when I'm at TV, I watch what I can see of the show. Sure. So I kind of like always see it live, but I also miss stuff. But then it's again, we're at the point where it's like, it doesn't matter what the other people do. it's like it doesn't matter what the

other people do. It's like it doesn't change what I do. It's like it's it's kind of like I almost don't want to know because I don't want to be like oh they did this so I have to step up to this. Like no it's not I don't know I don't think it's beneficial. Okay. But there's also like times and it fluctuates where there's times I watch more wrestling again and Pretty much depends on how much goes on in my private life to be honest We've been very busy recently the last month. We set up a new a few new homes and stuff like that It was very stressful. So there was little time

Investments and things like that pardon Pardon? You mean like investments or? No, no, we got two new places to live in. Okay, wow. We had to set them up, one in Europe, one here. This is a lot, this is a lot. So and with the baby it was a big challenge. Yes, yes, yes. There was little energy.

You don't have time to sit down for nine straight hours to watch everything else going on. No. I understand. Not really. It makes sense. I feel like your timing is fortuitous though, because, um, I do wonder if this version of

you, I don't know, five, six years ago in a different regime would be as successful as you have been. Do you feel the same way? Do you feel like you coming to WD, you're a little bit older, right? You're, you're, you're not your typical, you've been, I think there for three years, uh, on the

main roster, something to that effect, but you are 37. Yeah. Correct. You are the main roster, something to that effect, but you are 37, correct? You are the perfect guy for the Triple H era, if you will, and I don't know if in the tail end of the Vince McMahon era you could have had the same success that you are having. Do you agree with that? Yeah, I would agree with that, actually. I was under Vince for four months or something. A brief period, yeah.

And yeah, it was a strange work experience. Can I ask why? I would say, it was kind of like the direction was very confusing. Like it was hard to figure out what was expected of me, which usually is never an issue with that. I was always, but at the end of the day, everything came around for me.

I was lucky often in my career in terms of timing. I was at the right place at the right time very often. And, but yeah, overall I'm one to present the Hunter guy. Like that's been my whole career in WB. Was like my directions came from Hunter. Do you think that, given those four months, do you think that maybe you wouldn't still be here? Were you very unhappy at the time?

I was kind of like, I'm a person, I struggle to just go along with things if I can't logically get them. There's no objective reason for things, then I struggle to just, I don't know, I give up quickly where I go like okay. I don't want to bother with this then But yeah overall I don't think it got them that far yet It was just a little bit of a confusing time. I would say I think

I had two conversations with Vince or something very briefly so it was in two months in four months Yeah, it was very hard to get to Anything really so it was just a yeah strange work experience I think also like might be a background thing culturally because NXT's run a little bit different you get a lot of instruction because developmental obviously and all the jobs I had before like the regular jobs like I worked in Germany most of the time that's as straightforward as it gets you get told what to do all the time and if it's not done to the highest, to the highest grade, then you get told right away too. So it's

very different in work culture over here than back home that had something to do with that as well maybe. So how would you describe working for Paul? How would you describe working for him as the leader, his vision, the way he does things differently than the previous regime? Well, I would say to a degree, and obviously he's my boss, and I'm in a very good position at the company right now, but I think to a certain degree that he saved professional wrestling

to a big degree I think. Wow. Because, yeah, when I remember when I started, 2005 I started, and all the Europeans that kind of like tried to get into WWE, it was such a mystery about it, like who to talk to and what to do. It seemed so far away, such an unrealistic point to achieve. And yeah, Hanna was the one that pushed for opening that world to WWE and created so many jobs and opportunities back then for so many of the guys, like for us, for all the European

guys. But then in general, it's just... Yeah, he opened the floodgates for the wrestling world outside of WWE and I think that's a very... Since then, the change has been very positive. And I think that was a big achievement, to be honest, because the business changed since then, and it changed to the better.

I think it's the honest that it is right now. And that all started back then when we started NXT and started working more with guys that worked on the Indies before and stuff like that. And yeah, I always had a really good relationship with him. When WWE got in touch with me first, I wanted to go to New Japan. It was my thing. I always wanted to be a wrestler in Japan, but they didn't really move or

say anything. And then WWE got in touch with me and I kind of like waited it out a little bit because it's always me I don't know when there's like something there's an opportunity and everybody chumps at it at the same time I get a little bit I don't know it gives me a weird feeling I was like man maybe I sit this out first and see how see how it goes. Yeah, it worked out at the end. But Hunter was always the guy that said, hey man, I see a big future here for you,

and if you wanna do it, then I'm on board. Just let us know, more or less. Was he the first person to reach out? No, Mr. Regal called me first. Wow, can you tell me about that? Do you remember where you were? I don't even know. I must have been at home. Did you know him?

Did you have any relationship with Mr. William Regal? I met him at a PDBG before. He would always come to PDBG and think for a battle of Los Angeles, like a tournament once a year. And does he call you on the phone? Yeah. And he says, we're interested.

Yeah, he just said, man, come over, you can make money here. Like, I was still kind of like stubborn, it's like no, I don't want to go. You said no initially. Yeah, like I said no two times today. Why, why? Because I never saw myself there, it's like.

You didn't want to be a comedy actor. Yeah, I was fond like, hey got what I got to offer is me That's all I got and I'm happy to work on myself and I'm happy to improve on myself But at the core it's always gonna be me and I was never interested in I don't know portraying Somebody else's fantasy sure and then just be a wrestler on the side if that makes sense. Yeah, yeah. I always wanted to do what I think is right for me to do and yeah with NXT and everything they gave me the opportunity to do that and stay based in Europe for a little bit and have a smooth transition because I was running

the wrestling school in Germany before and stuff and yeah it was a smooth transition to that. That blows my mind. This is the top of your profession and they come knocking on your door a couple times and you say thanks but no thanks. I'm happy here. I don't want to change. I don't want to be who you maybe think or I think you want me to be. I don't think anyone would say that. I guess there was some other guys who did that too, but yeah, I don't know. And I've had an issue with that saying no at first and then see what happens.

It's like, so why did you eventually say yes? I mean, I ran my course in NXT UK. Like I held that title for, but this is before you. Cause when you're in NXT UK, UK, you're already in, right? Yeah, yeah, I was already in. So, but like initially, that was the move to America. I mean, signing with the, yeah, I was already in. So, but like initially- That was the move to America. I mean, signing with, I mean, at the end it comes down to like finances too at some point.

Yeah. And it's like also it's like you gotta, as an athlete you always wanna like step up to the next challenge to some degree and I did everything I could for the company in Germany. I worked for it, everything I could on the Indies. It's usually a very small window there. And there was not really, like I said, New Japan didn't really move, and there was nothing else that was really...

I had an offer from Ring of Honor back then too, so it was all kind of like at the same time. And at the end it was, okay, I mean, you're a certain age, you gotta think about your future, like where can you make the most money? And I had a lot of trust in, was, okay, I mean, you're a certain age, you gotta think about your future, like where can you make the most money? And I had a lot of trust in Hunter, in Hunter's vision. At some point did he get involved and say, I believe in you, I want you?

No, I only spoke to him, the first day I was there, I spoke to him, like he was one of the first people I talked to, but I didn't talk to him before. Why didn't New Japan ever move? I don't know. Did that bother you? Because I've heard you say way back in the day, you, Stan Hansen, you wanted to take on all the good guys,

like that was the dream, right? Yeah. That was the ultimate for you. Yeah. You fit the mold, like you seem like the perfect guy that the Japanese crowd would take to, right? Like your big monster, nothing? No conversations? No, not really.

That blows my mind. Yeah, it wasn't. I guess also like in general like the Japanese style of business like they move way slower. Okay. Than in the Western world, especially in the States. That's like I want this, I want it now. They move a bit slower so I guess it would have happened sooner or later but that was just at a point where I was like okay I'm kind of like maxed out what I could do before and also financially maxed out what could I could do there and then it was just like okay I gotta make a move now and yeah we like NXT had a really good feeling that it's a different environment it's not I can be there and exist there and keep growing

there without necessarily having to make a step and go on the main roster. So yeah, I went there. NXT UK was a very special thing. In fact, towards the very end, I was working for BT Sport, who would air NXT UK. I think actually your wife was doing some stuff for them as well. Like some like presenting stuff. And, uh, it just seemed like a very tight knit and like a, a wrestling's fans, a wrestling fans, like ultimate promotion. Right. And I think when they got rid of it, there was some talk of doing like an NXT

Europe, but it never came to fruition. Would you like to see something like that back? Or do you think it's not necessary anymore? Um, so I think NXT UK was great for the time. Would you like to see something like that back or do you think it's not necessary anymore? So I think NXT UK was great for the time But at some point it ran its course too, I think okay, and I'm not necessarily sure There's a big benefit from that because it's very different. There's not like a real athlete pool Over in the in Europe,

how it is in the States. Like everybody wants to be a football player. Yeah. And they make such good money that it's hard to compete with that for like a developmental deal to, if you can play third or fourth league football in any of the bigger countries, you still make very good money. And also like I think American football player and amateur wrestler all those like gymnastics all of those sports that are like really supported in

the States they have way better fundamentals for professional wrestling than football player would be for example so I'm not sure so if there's I guess if there's like really talented guys in Europe which they're always are I guess they can just go to the PC in the States. I think it's interesting to have it it's kind of like a territory to give the wrestlers that just start out in NXT to give them a different experience to get in front of a different crowd and learn a different style. I think that would be the most interesting part about having it, I think.

Instead of just finding people there and making them into wrestlers, Europe has a really good core group of wrestlers all the time. There's always wrestling going on and they know how to work. I think it would be a good experience to send people there to get in the ring with them. Your appearance recently on LFG was phenomenal and it was perfect because it represented you and I think what people think you're about but also some of the criticisms that some people may have about the state of the industry in that the days of a Walter kind of being

this like indie god and then finally graduating don't really happen as much. Now it's someone coming over from gymnastics or pro football in America, et cetera, et cetera. And so I'm wondering how much of that was from the heart what you were saying to those people about, you know. I feel like it's like often with the things as they are mean it to a degree, or it's like an objective analysis I do.

It was fantastic. But I just put a little bit more spice Yeah, I think so I think first of all like that's a big difference often between the athletes and all the people from the indies I mean back then it's like on the indies almost nobody's like in shape. It's like Everybody learns how to wrestle but it oftentimes that's maybe they're only like real Activity they do sure sure it's a side gig yeah because people are more young financially you struggle and stuff like that it's a more it's a less focused environment you just do wrestling on the side and then try to survive somehow but we don't those

athletes coming in they're like athletically it's they're absolutely crazy like the every time I go to the PC now, I walk around and it's like, it's all machines in here. It's crazy. So they, yeah, they're able to learn it a little bit quicker, I would say, than a regular guy from the street that walks into a wrestling school and stuff like that. I think the biggest difference is in the passion of it,

because at the end of it, it's a second career for most of them. And I guess some of them had always had that dream of I want to do this one day but I doubt everybody has that and pro wrestling is so yes it's a weird business because it's it's elements of everything in there and on the one hand you're an athlete on the other hand you, you are an entertainer. And your positioning in entertainment

goes up, down, it goes very quickly. That's something you have to mentally be prepared for and be willing to go through longer periods of times where you're really not happy with it and really not enjoying it a lot, but you still gotta keep doing it. You just gotta stay in there and stick to it. I think going through those times, that's where the test of passion happens. That's where you gotta ask yourself, why am I still doing this?

Because I always wanted to. What else would I do? That's what I wanna do. And if it's just an alley for you that's like, oh, maybe I try this, if it works out, then you can just go, okay, maybe you know what, I tried it. Let's leave it again. I try something else now, you know, I mean and Our business needs people that commit to it there their whole life I think does it bother you when people try to just kind of skip some steps. No, it doesn't bother me Really not it's that's more like just my thought of it when I look at it

How does it work or how, like, I make my opinion about it, but I'm not really, I don't know. There's guys that wrestle half my time and are successful, but I don't, I don't know. Not really towards anyone, I gotta be honest. I have like, I have no problem with people who do better than me. So if that makes sense. It's like I said.

It's impressive. I try to focus on myself. Part of the reason why I asked that is not too long ago we had Baron Corbin on Pestoc. And he had some, I guess some choice words to say about Logan Paul, about the way he conducts himself backstage and the route that he took and whatnot. I mean, you're one of the top guys.

And, and again, I say it one more time, throwback in that, you know, you respect the business and the locker room and whatnot. I don't know if you heard any of those comments, but just that general, you know, summary of his sentiment towards Logan. Yeah. I mean, no, I had no bad experience with Logan. I think he's a great addition for us. Crazy athlete. And he picked it up really quick and

I don't know, I don't think his aspirations are to be the best wrestler in the world and that he doesn't need to. He's very successful on his own but he has a passion for it, an obvious one. Yeah, he committed to being with us and it's a great addition. And I don't know. Well, I say this at least. I get there's some sentiment towards the outsiders. But if you get offered that private jet and private locker room,

none of you would turn it down. Come on, guys. Let's be honest. That's interesting because I actually just saw a clip this morning of Perry Saturn. You know Perry Saturn, the, the old school wrestler talking about Brett Hart's first day or two in WCW and he got there and there was a room with his name on it. And he was with Perry Saturn at the time. And he said, like, what is this?

He said, this is your private locker room. Hogan has one. This guy has one. And he says, I don't do that. I change, you know, in the locker room with all the boys and, and Perry said, you know, that's just speaks to how great Brett was. And he was like, I don't has one, and he says, I don't do that, I change, you know, in the locker room with all the boys. And Perry said, you know, that just speaks to how great Brett was and he was one of us.

And so, there are some people, it seems like, the great Brett Hart, I admire him greatly, who don't feel this way, right, who feel like everyone needs to be together. Do you share that? No. No? I don't, no.

I mean, I just made this- Wow, you're a diva, I didn't know this. I didn't know that, no. I mean, I just made this step. Wow, you're a diva. I didn't know this. No, I just made this step now recently where I... You got your own. Enjoy some favors where I got my tour bus now and... Oh, you got the tour bus too. They started giving me a locker room too and stuff and I enjoyed it a lot.

Congratulations. Thank you. I have to honestly say... How do you get the tour bus, by the way? It seems like a nice, like, everyone, Punk gets one, Cody, like, we hear about the tour bus, and it's like, you've graduated now to super, super duper stardom.

No, I signed a new contract, and I'm part of. Did you throw that in there? Or do they throw it in there? No, I asked for that. Yeah, go ahead. What you don't ask for, you don't get. Yes, yes. But, yeah, tours, but that's also like, at the end of the day, that whole

feeling like we're the boys and stuff like that. I totally get that. Like when I started out and in Germany in WXW, we started to be like, okay, we're gonna run more shows now we want to professionalize, we're gonna stick together. All of us only made like, I don't know, if you were one of the top guys, you made maybe 100 euros per event or something like that. You know, I mean, so it's like It wasn't really big business for anyone so you stick more together you do it for the sake of it We all love it and we all do it together and give everybody a great show But at a certain level and I guess that's with everything. It's just it turns into a

Into a career into a profession and that's how you have to approach it as well it's like it's two different things I think it's especially at that level now it's like we talk about all of that WrestleMania and the big Netflix deal there's a lot of stuff that's at stake and it's a big responsibility and every time you walk out you get the trust from the company to go out on live TV or do something there's a big responsibility to it and we gotta hold each other accountable for that and I don't think there's no room for I don't know

I like the guy so I accept it he's lazy on something for example I've never really encountered it in WWE, but stuff like that where it becomes, it's kind of like a boys club, and it's like, it has a negative effect on the performance. So I always try to have my distance to that, if that makes sense. For me, that always worked. I tried to treat it as purely business for me.

Doesn't matter how much passion I have for it and doesn't matter how much I love it, but I'm in the spotlight now. It's not other people pay to enjoy it and it's my role to provide the service so they can enjoy it. And that's how I was treated and it worked out for me. When did you sign your new deal?

Last year, end of last year. Okay, were you considering options or did you? No, no, no, like I'm set where I am. Yeah. Nothing else is really, no. How could I? Like I think I saw that statistic recently like since I signed in 2019 I've been champion like 85 or 90% of the time or something like that. So obviously they always saw me in a certain way and give me the trust and that's what I enjoy that's like even on the smaller scale and regular jobs before when I could step up and take on responsibility and get the trust or earn the trust of someone and I can fulfill that

and I can make it worth. Those are moments that make me proud and that drive me. It makes sense. Do you want to be one of these guys that wrestles into your 50s and what not? Well, depends how I... How the body is feeling. Yeah, and how I look like with 50 years old.

You look great now. Thank you. I guess, yeah, it depends how I... How the body is feeling. Yeah, and how I look like with 50 years old. You look great now. Thank you. I guess, yeah, we'll see. It's like there's nothing set in stone. You've not put a date or an age, I'm gonna go till 45 or... No, not really. I don't think, the business is changing so much too.

Like our schedule got so much better and also WB is in such a great spot now. We have so many guys that are over, as they say, that are just super popular. But while before it was more structured, there's like one or maybe two top, top guys and everything is catered towards them. Now we have such a big, we have so many guys that are like, oh, he's a top guy, he's a top guy, he's a top guy. And I think it's the, that's my vision at least for the business like going forward that it's gonna be, I don't know, if I want to see Gunther there's like three, four big matches a year and that's it. Almost like a little bit more similar how

UFC is structured. Makes sense. Obviously we have weekly TV. It's a little bit of a different scenario, but I think that's gonna be a natural progression if things keep going like that because the longer people can go and everybody's smarter now too it's like look at some of the guys like punk just came back and he's in his 40s but he fit right in but like 15 years ago 10 years ago somebody in mid 40s would have already been seen like oh he's at he's on his way out you know mean, all the top guys are like in the older age now and I think as a professional wrestler the more mature you become the better your performances become.

Like the maturity for me is always like a big part of the art form of professional wrestling, like the balance of what to do, when to do, and stuff like that. And I would even say with maturity, your promos become better because you're, yeah, you just know more than compared to when you're 25. So, and yeah, schedule is better. So I think that's gonna be a progression going forward,

a natural one. Speaking of UFC, just earlier today, the great Tom Tom Aspin all who's the interim champion of the Heavyweight division of the UFC texted me saying this is a big deal. You got a good there in studio You recently yeah, he said you were an absolute gentleman to him that that you you just made him feel very welcome and comfortable So oh, I like to hear that. Yeah, he was very nice guy. He's one of the nicest guys very very down-to-earth he seems Big boy. Oh, he's big like I didn't only saw a picture before I knew he was a heavyweight very nice guys one of the nicest guys very very down to earth he seems uh... big boy or he's big like i didn't always saw a picture before i knew he was a heavy weight but when he stood there was like oh my god like the

did you know who he was do you watch ufc uh... i watched it more like now i'd i don't really watch anything you know like it's hard to follow up with anything some topics like i hope that fight happens over like a espionage on jones okay so you're aware of this i'm aware of this. That's like the big topic right now. Yes. Yes. I Really hope that happens But yeah, really nice guy we did that one little Yeah, the one little segment in the

Which event was it? I think was in Manchester. Yeah at a live show you guys were in Europe for a while Yeah, we were yeah, Did you go back and forth or did you stay there the whole time? No, no, no, no, no, I stayed there. We have a place in England now. Okay, all right. And we just spent the time there during the week. Did you go to Vienna as well?

Yeah, I went to Vienna as well. Was there an event there? Yeah, yeah. Okay. How do you, so in front of that crowd, they're not booing you. They adore you. No.

So what do you do? How do you conduct yourself in front of that crowd they're not doing you they know are you so what do you do how do you how do you conduct yourself in front of them first of all the and i have to give a shout out like the i think we double the attendance amazing we were there the last time in may uh... we came back like less than a year later and like doubled which is like vienna was had like rich history in professional wrestling with of Otto once and stuff like that So that was cool for me to see that come back and yeah over there It's like I walked out with my Austrian football jersey amazing having a good time

To your full baby face there. Yeah more or less. I still I'm still me but more likeable version and it's a big deal in Austria, I think because version and it's a big deal in Austria I think because there's not many guys that really break out and make it internationally it's like it's a big deal in Austria one of us makes it the support you get from the people there it's like there's a certain pride about that if a person really breaks out makes it out of Austria and especially if it's in the States that's like because for us that's like with Arnold it's like's like the first example you think of.

Do you get recognized? Does everyone come up to you on the street? Is it hard for you to be there? Yeah, a lot. It's not hard to be there, but you get spoken to quite often. It's a homecoming though. It does feel good. It is. It's very good, yes. 100%. Is there a big difference between the European crowds and the American crowds? Not specifically Vienna, but like you guys were there, like I said for, are they different? You know, I always hear about the Japanese crowd, especially in MMA, the Japanese crowd

is completely different than the American crowd. Are European crowds the same or is it all kind of the same? Or is it, you know, are they different? Are there any? No, they are different, I think. In what respect? It's because American and European sports culture is different, so and also all of the games

over here like NHL NFL or something the style of support like the chance and stuff like that is there's different rhythms to it and stuff compared to Europe okay the European fans are more influenced by like football chance from the football stadium and stuff like that and I would say they react a little bit

more fiery it's a little bit more and i would say they react a little bit more fiery it's a little bit more feeling in the state sometime it's a little bit people come in and they join in with me ho whatever goes on but there's no personal here involvement in europe i feel like there's like a little bit more will be more spice and fire into it today in the reaction and just for the moment ago like

if you know a little bit more offended or a little bit more happy When something happens that would be the biggest difference. I would say the Belgium crowd was great. Oh fantastic Yeah, the Leon crowd last May. Yeah for the the PLE. Yeah, although all the places we went to Scotland It's been fantastic. They kill the American crowds to be honest Yeah, but but it's also like that's also another thing again where having even having those PLAs and those TVs in Europe that it's such a big deal. It is like we were before the fans were happy oh there are a few live events and stuff I still remember when I was growing up and watch WWE and stuff like that when can we watch a show and there's maybe one show nearby in Germany

one and a half years apart or something like that Everything seemed so far away and now we had even even in Germany we had a PLE and we had a feeling different many countries and stuff like that and Yeah, it's a big deal. So people come with a lot of excitement and I guess in the over here. It's just There was it's it's part of the sports culture. They always had it. So it's a little spoiled maybe maybe but it comes to that But I feel special it feels I I love that they did it I was worried about you guys though. I was like man are these guys staying over there for three weeks? Yeah, I mean I had a few of the American colleagues. I remember we were sitting in the locker room and We always have a screen there with like we watched the show live and they announced the tour

I go God and it was like guys and me we were, hell yeah, let's go, let's go home. And all the American boys, like their faces was like, oh my God, that's a lot of travel. I don't blame them. It almost felt like its own little thread within the WrestleMania season. Like these events were kind of, I don't know, there was a connective tissue

because it was like one European city after the next. It was something, it was very unique. This hasn't really happened before, like you said European city after the next. It was something, it was very unique. This hasn't really happened before. Like you said, not for the TVs. Um, I was trying to find some, I was trying to find like the earliest footage I could find of you from way back in the day to see, you know, what your memories were.

We found 2006, an event where you were known as, I think, uh, big daddy Walter. Yeah, it could be. Recognize this event here. Let's take a look daddy Walter. Yeah, could be. Do you recognize this event here? Let's take a look at this. Oh, let's see. We got this here for you. This is Rings of Europe.

Oh, I remember that, of course. One of your earliest events. Yes. So, first thing I remember, if it's that one, hell yeah. Here you come. Here I come. The promoter wanted to give me some weird Austrian song as an entrance, but I shoot changed it to Metallica. He was very annoyed about it.

I needed something more. Look how happy you are. You're completely different. Yeah, I was a baby face at first, like my coach told me. It must have been one of my first. High fiving everyone. 10 matches or something like that. Is this really one of your first 10?

Yeah, look at that Puma shirt. Look at that. And you're wrestling a guy with a Cartman shirt, who I think you wrestled a bunch with this guy. Him, yeah. Do you recognize him? Yeah, of course I do. What's his name? Ziggi the Swiss Tank, he's his name. One of the coaches of Cesaro.

Is that true? Yes. Wow. Look at you. I think like early on. Yeah, yeah. How many people are in attendance here? Maybe like 50? Maybe a little bit more. Maybe a little bit Yeah, yeah. How many people are in attendance here? Maybe like 50? Or maybe a little bit more? Maybe a little bit more, yeah. So what do you like when you when you watch this? Do you remember being in there? What it's like being in a gymnasium, basketball hoop up there? Like this is a far cry from Allegiant Stadium. Oh, yeah, of course I remember that.

But I feel like what I remember most about those times is like the the excitement going into it. Like that felt like WrestleMania, trust me. Of course, that felt like, oh. You were nervous. Yeah, of course. It was like, that's the big one right now. There's your big chance here. What's the psychology here?

Because you're a total good guy here, right? Yeah. What about this outfit? It's a singlet, right? Yeah. Who are you? Like what is your persona right now? There's no persona.

Just total white me baby face. You're just a guy. It's just me, it's just a guy. Who are you? What is your persona right now? There's no persona. You're just a guy. It's just me. It's just a guy. And it was big van, sort of like in honor of... It was big van Volta. Yeah, but in honor of Vader, but not really in honor of Vader. He just called you that, right? The promoter gave me that.

You didn't like it? It was fine. You weren't a Vader guy? That big of a deal. I liked Vader. You're more of a Goldberg guy, right? No, I'm kidding. Oh. Look at this. Isn't this great? Here we go. Shoots me across with ease. Boom. Are you critical of yourself? Is it hard to

watch yourself? No I think it's funny to watch now. You enjoy it? Yeah yeah yeah. Sometimes Kaiser and I when we have a time we just put on old stuff and laugh about it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When did you first meet him? In Germany, in Hamburg, which year was it? 2008 or nine or something like that. Yeah, yeah. You've been the best of friends ever since. Yeah, I mean, it developed over time, obviously, because I used to live in North Germany during that time

and he lived a little bit more North in Germany. So a lot of the shows we would just go together because it would always be on the way either or and then we work for the same places all the time and yeah that's how the friendship grew over time. Look at that finish right there oh it's about to come you're about to splash him. I remember that I wanted to do something else but I refused everything else I wanted to do. I remember that he was like like nah. Not today sir. Is he older than you? Yeah. So you're like super young and green. Yeah, I'm like 18 there or something. Wow, that is crazy. Yeah. Look at that body slam.

Here I think you look at the referee say get out of the way, right? Maybe. Where else should I go? That is the finish right there. Was that your move? The splash? One of them. Yeah. My coach was always like, you're a big guy. You need to do big guy stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do a splash.

Do an elbow drop. That's your biggest. How much did you weigh? Oh, I was really fat at some point. Maybe, what is it in pounds? Like 150 kg. That's like 330 or something. Wow.

And now? Around 250 now. Is your diet really strict? At the moment, no. No? So it's not like you're one of those body types that just... Some body types just want to be bigger. Like you're just built that way. Yeah.

I mean... You don't have to be super... You have to be realistic about it too because we got to maintain it throughout the year, right? So the last WrestleMania I tried to like really die at heart and I look good and stuff and like I had a little bit of apps and everything was lean and but you're miserable yeah but that's the thing is like then the energy is really low the stamina was affected and stuff like that and it's just not it's just not sustainable it's like I think the public sometimes has a wrong

idea of what a natural achievable body is. Yeah. Especially when there's like no offseason or something like that when you have to stay on it the whole year around. And yeah where I'm at right now is like that's where I feel comfortable. I have a lot of energy performance wise it's fantastic so Ludwig's been amazing as well his evolution has been great oh yeah he like sort of unintentionally got involved in a storyline recently about I don't know I don't know if that was part of the plan but he's really did he's he's been amazing and you're I think your entrance is one of the best

in the business the two of you, Imperium, just like with the lights and the music. I'm assuming you're a fan of it as well. Oh yeah. There's something about it that, I don't know, it's not just there. Some of them kind of blend together. When that music hits, you know who's coming out. Yes. Especially I loved the thing we did with the coat where he would pull it. Ah yeah. It looked nice.

Little things, yes. like he's above that now That's the hey, what is it the the Matt is sacred? Yes from his father, right? Yes, yes. How do you say it in in German? The mother is highly. Yes. He came up with that Yes, so it was kind of like his dad was a wrestler already Axel Dita was his name and he did all the tournaments back then in Europe and Yeah, they're very different business back then in Europe and yeah they're very different business back then because it was literally sold as like freestyle wrestling it was only tournament based not really gimmicks obviously changed

over the time more and more so they were like super protective like cave vape and stuff it's like this no gap no question and so he was like till the end he was very passionate about it and he was very yeah very how should I say like conservative okay about everything but back then when we started that whole gimmick like before was called ring camp and stuff was a time ring camp yes like mine camp no no no no no no what does come mean fight struggle struggle okay so that's what I think the ring is yeah ring yeah wait that was the name of the promotion no that was the name of that's that's the name how they marketed professional wrestling in

German countries back that's how they called wrestling yeah income Wow till this day no not to this day now Now it's wrestling. Everything is a match. I never knew that. But that was always like when his father would speak about it, he would never say wrestling, he would always say ringkampf. And we kind of like liked it back then because it was a time where everybody tried to do more, tried to stand out more, tried to be flashy and we were kind of like okay now is the time to do the opposite and eliminate everything fancy and just be to the point, focus on the fundamentals and tried that route to stand out. Do you watch like Frank Gotch and all these guys

from back in the Hackenschmitt? You ever watched that or is it completely different? No, of course I watched it, but it's just, it's a hard watch to be honest. Because it's, I mean, it's, yeah, it's very different. It's like 30 minutes long often and the quality of the video is not good. And it was not made for like, yeah, it's a different perception of the business back then.

It was like treated as like, okay, it's like two sportsmen. The show aspect wasn't that important, or the big storytelling elements or something like that. So, obviously it's a hard watch. But it's kind of like you have to get yourself through that a little bit too. Because if you do this, you want to understand where stuff comes from and how things developed

and stuff like that to fully understand them. I think now people just see certain things that are done and just copy it without questioning what's the reason for it and stuff like that. Now since like, I don't know, since like Japanese wrestling got more popular everybody's firing up all the time or elbowing back and forth but there's a way to get there. You just don't do that. Spotfest as they say. Yes. Who is your favorite of all time?

Because you did tell Brett in Calgary, I think that Goldberg was your favorite. I think you were maybe sticking it to him. I don't know. You know, we're big Brett guys around here. Yeah. He's right over there. That's my guy. I have him there as inspiration.

He was on the show last week. I almost cried. He was my favorite guy as a kid. Who was yours or who is yours? Who's the greatest of all time? I don't know. I don't have a specific one. There's a lot of greats and there's not you're like number one at the top Yeah, no, there's because there's that I like the most. I don't know. I like many guys. It's like especially wrestling is so No, so subjective that it's a taste thing as well. How do you test that? Like a name or two. I just want to know where you're at.

Where I'm at, so one of my all-time favorites is like Kenta Kobashi. Oh wow, okay. You heard of him? Yeah, of course. Fantastic. Stan Hansen. Always liked him a lot. The Lariat. Yes, I liked JBL a lot back then. Also The Lariat.

Um, obviously I liked Kurt. Kurt Angle. angle okay I liked him a lot they're gonna say Henning oh I love I mean yeah fantastic yes but like I said you can name the who is who and I like them okay so you like the big black strong brute guys obviously yeah okay I would say that prefer that you prefer that yes not the flipping around and all that I mean mean, no, of course, like, that's exciting as well, but it's just, yeah. I guess I mostly watched wrestling, like, when I was younger, obviously as a kid it's different,

but I started with 18, and ever since then when I watched it, I watched stuff where it's like, OK, what can I pick up from that? Yeah, yeah. Me watching guys that I have my size doing all of that is cool, it's exciting, It's really entertaining But it doesn't help me much because I can't backflip Is there one guy in the roster that you haven't wrestled yet that you would really like to oh? There's still plenty of guys. I haven't wrestled yet where it's like. I think there's

Yeah, there's an exciting match in it I would say punk right now, obviously. He's on Raw, Seth. You've never wrestled Seth, even? Live events, or like, I think we did a Sixman Tag twice or something on TV, but not like a proper program and built to a big match. Yeah, there's a lot of guys

that I haven't really, really mixed it up with. I think I thought Kevin Owens would be, could have been a really good one one time. We had one match on Raw that was really cool. I enjoyed it a lot. I think it would be a good program going forward. Yeah, there's still plenty. It's such a big roster. Yeah, there's. It is still plenty. This is such a big roster. Yeah, there's but on the other hand is like, I don't know.

I never envisioned miss as by one of my favorite opponents. But the program I did with him for the IC title is like one of my favorite ones. Wow. Because it just. I like that it's similar with the stuff with Jay now. It's like it's complete opposites. Yeah. And it challenges me to do to find a different route to make it work from my side and I always hope I can yeah challenge the other person to yeah take that extra step then they usually need to to to try something new so it's like often on paper what you think like oh I'm gonna enjoy that sometimes doesn't turn out like that and

the stuff where you go into and be like, okay let's see how that goes. It's fantastic. So but also that's the other thing now where it's like from my wrestlers heart there are a lot of guys where I say oh we could do a cool match, but I now it's like you're always gonna think okay, what what will do good business like what makes sense in that aspect and So that changes a little bit. By the way, I don't know if you know this but the guys just told me Jay's a minus 600 favorite going into your match oh really the disrespect

well this is crazy you know what this means right sentiment is against me yes exactly it 600 to one of the most dominant forces in the game? That's crazy. Right? I mean, I would slam you. It's alright. I think everything right now is unpredictable anyway. He's the underdog, he's the baby face, people like to get behind that. But minus 600 is crazy for the challenger going into a heavyweight. That's got to be one of the biggest odds for a challenger.

I don't know those odds. I don't know them either but no I don't know I don't know the odds and like what is minus 600 a lot or? Minus 600 is huge in his favor. Okay. That means that everyone thinks that he's going to... But 600 is a high number for them. Yes. Okay okay okay. Usually it should be like you know like even Cena is like minus 200. Yeah I mean kind of like shows that we've done the job right because people seem to leave yeah they really want to see him win we'll see if that happens right that's the magic thing about it yes nobody knows but us you know which day you're on I know but okay maybe if they haven't announced it okay

fair enough I don't know if I don't know if I missed it or yeah no don, I don't think so. Okay. I didn't miss it. All right. Well, this has been a great pleasure It really has I really appreciate you coming in. I was really looking forward to this and I know there's a lot going on You're probably very tired. You want to be at home. So thank you for making the trek and congratulations on all your success Yeah, you're one of my favorites to watch and you're, you're, it's fun to be a fan of yours. You know what I mean? It's fun to watch you. It's fun to tell people like, this is what wrestling is. This is what it's all about

because of the way you conduct yourself. And one of the things that I hate the most, I'm not trying to like, you know, as the kids say, glaze you here, but I don't like when people play pro wrestling. Yeah. And that's a huge thing for me. As someone who's older now and tries to suspend disbelief,

you can tell when someone's playing pro wrestling and when someone lives and breathes it. And that's a huge thing for me. As someone who's older now and tries to suspend disbelief, you can tell when someone's playing pro wrestling and when someone lives and breathes it. And that's what you do. So kudos to you. Oh, I appreciate it a lot. Thanks a lot. That's what I try to be. That's what I try to do.

And yeah, thanks for having me. It was good fun having a little chat about everything. And one day again, maybe. We shall do it again. You say maybe. Sounds like you didn't have so much fun. No, it was great For granted Thank you so much. We'll take a quick break Brandon Moreno is gonna join us in a matter of moments Here's my conversation with Alex Volkonovsky recently. He headlines UFC 314 do not go anywhere

headlines UFC 314 do not go anywhere. All right there's my conversation with Alex the great Volkanovsky from about a month and a half or so ago. He is back this weekend headlining UFC 314. That was Gunther. I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. What a guy. Thoughtful, articulate, a throwback if you will. And he returns, well, at WrestleMania in about 10 days time, either night one, night two against Jey Uso. Looking forward to that, looking forward to speaking to our next guest. He is the man who was victorious in the main event of UFC Mexico City. Just about two weeks ago, finally got that win in Mexico City,

which I know was huge for him. He was emotional afterwards. Big dominant win over Steve Ersig now two in a row two very dominant and impressive wins for the former champ and Perhaps soon to be future champ as well. He's the assassin baby He's the one and only Brandon Moreno kind enough to join us. There he is. Hello Brandon. How are you? Como estas? Thank you. Muy bien, hermano. Y tu? Let's go, my man. How are you? Very good, Armando. And you? More or less. A little bit... Yes, yes. By the way,

is this new on your right? These cards? Not really, man. Maybe I'm using a bigger screen, but no, that's my card collection. Wow. All Pokémon? This one, yes's my card collection. Wow, all Pokemon? This one, yes, all Pokemon cards. Which is the most expensive, the most special one?

In my collection is this one. Charizard? No, it's this one. What is that? What is it called? The Umbreon. Umbreon. Umbreon. I can say ten.

Approximately how much you say? Like, like, two thousand. Wow. Did you buy it for that much or did you get it in a pack and it was- I don't know. So I bought the single and I sent it to PSA to grade it and we made it. Wow. That's amazing. So is that your favorite one? No, my favorite one is this one.

It's not that crazy expensive, but I love it. This is very cool as well. And what is that one called? It's a Jenga, first generation Pokemon. Is that your favorite evolution of Eevee? This one. I don't know. They told me to ask that I don't even know what that means This one is an evolution from Eevee. No, no, no, no the fire one Flarion is my favorite. Okay. I was trying to sound cool, but I blew it. I blew it. I'm sorry

Flarion. Yeah, I think you sound cool, but I blew it. I blew it. I'm sorry. Flareon, yeah. I love the Flareon. Thanks man. Thank you so much. Yeah. I mean, my collection is growing out the last month. It's beautiful. I'm happy for that. Well, congratulations on the collection. Congratulations on the win.

You finally win in Mexico city. Does it feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders? Thanks God, man. Kind of, you know, like my coaches were saying like, oh, finally you take off the monkey of your back, out of your back. So I mean, I don't know, all the five week, all the five feels so good. Like everything during five weeks feels like right, you know, like I can't even like explain.

But in the middle of the fight, I tried to do my best. I know in some points, the fight was like a chess mat, a little bit, but I think I won very convincingly and that's the most important thing. And so when you say that things were feeling different fight week, would you say, or feeling good, different than maybe years past when you were there? I mean, yeah, I mean, if I compare this five week with the last one, last year, so different, you know,

last year, again, I think it's the same conversation as always, but I mean, I felt so tired this time. I feel full of energy, with a lot of good vibes. The team feels so good during the five week, the training rooms, you know, like everything was so good. And actually for this one, the UFC PI in Mexico City helps a lot. So everything was so smooth now.

And how would you compare the PI in Mexico City to the one in Las Vegas? Huh, I mean, they have obviously less experience because this one for example was the first the first event for them you know to hold all the all the fighters and all that stuff to manage all the situation but out of that like all the people is so prepared they have a lot of knowledge about the game and I mean they have a lot you know thinking about the last training camps you know um we're so hard to find a place to for training where you're going to stay the traffic

in Mexico City but this time everything was so smooth. I saw you with uh the great Julio Cesar Chavez uh senior over there what a legend was that your first time meeting him? Cesar Chavez senior over there. What a legend. Was that your first time meeting him? Man, yes, you know, and I think, and that's my fault because we have contact with his team before to try to meet us in the past, but for one or other reason,

we don't have the opportunity to reach each other. But finally I meet him. So now the goal is me going to Tijuana and get us some nice dinner with him, the feature or something like that. You know what I love so much about that video that we just showed? The way you hugged him.

It showed how much love and admiration you have for him that you were like rubbing his back. It shows how much respect you have for him. Man, like brother, he's a legend. I mean, so my inspiration is to be like him for mixed martial arts, you know, because he's like, like the God in Mexico. Like he's just the best in my country. So my goal is to reach his status as a legend in the sport in Mexico with the mixed martial

arts. And man, I have a lot of respect for him. And so do you feel like now that you got this out of the way, was this a big thing for you? Would you have been upset if in the UFC you never won in Mexico? Do you feel like a sort of relief that now you can check this off the list? Because your last, I don't know if you know this, but your last win in Mexico was like 13 years ago when you were fighting in Tijuana. It had been that long ago. That's crazy. I don't even remember that fight.

That was, maybe it was my second or third fight there. And after that, I never went to Mexico winning. So yeah, I mean, yes, man, I feel kind of relieved, but at the same time, it was a confirmation of what I'm doing right now. Like all the game plans, all the experience, all the, I don't know, all the good stuff. Yeah, by the way, afterwards I saw

you have a great YouTube channel, so kudos to you. I urge everyone to check it out, some really fun behind the scenes stuff. I noticed maybe, and there it is, right over there, you should subscribe. I noticed some- Oh, subscribe right now, please. Yes, please, click that subscribe button.

Any sort of limp afterwards? I saw maybe you were limping, are you okay? Oh yeah, no I'm perfect, so that's crazy. I know that's what happened, right? Like the last moment, the last thing to do. So what's the last kick of the fight? I was kicking his, his legs, you know, the air sex legs.

And the legs, the last kick I throw, he checked very well, perfectly. And that hurts. So, thanks God, was the last round, the fifth round. So, I don't have to throw more kicks with that. But yeah, I was limping a little bit. But I mean, nothing crazy, everything feels in the right place.

Okay. He's a tough guy and he's had a really tough stretch, right? Having to fight, you know, the likes of you and then, uh, obviously Pantoja and Kaikai France. What, what is your impression of Steve now after getting a chance to fight him? I mean, brother, I mean, I knew going to the fight, like he had, he was in a, in a, in a bad moment in his career because he came from two losses.

But I mean, he lost with the best, you know, obviously with the champ with Pantoja, he was so close to win that title. That's insane if you think about it because he had just three wins in a row when he fought for the title. So that's very impressive. Then you know, a really fast knockout against Kikara Franco. I knew He will be very Motivated to get this victory against me and more, you know to in Mexico City

So I prepared myself a lot. I had a really good training camp One of the best and plus what I was talking before All the the training camp was very smooth with the PI in Mexico. So I prepared myself very good and I had the victory, man. I had to be very smart because I knew Steve Erskine is very good with the counters and he was just trying to wait. He was just waiting for me to cross the line and then go for the counter and try the hooks,

try the cross. So I tried to be very smart. It's weird to me because normally I have these crazy wires on the out there, but it was fine to me as well, tried to use all my experience and put some calm in the middle of the fight. You didn't want to engage in a war. You thought that would be a mistake for you if you got into like a firefight with him. Yes, actually. I mean, I remember the first round, I crossed the line just a little bit against

him trying to put, to put pressure against him. And he got me with one cross. I think that was the only point I really feel in the middle of the fight. And he got me right machine and I was like, Oh, this guy is dangerous. I have to be very smart. I was trying to keep the got me right in the chin, and I was like, oh, this guy is dangerous, so I have to be very smart. I was trying to keep the pressure, but at the same time, peak the right punches.

But yeah, he's very dangerous. Afterwards, your post-fight interviews are always great because they're so passionate. There's so much emotion involved, and you talked about wanting to be on that card in Guadalajara. Did I say that right? Guadalajara. Guadal that right? Guadalajara.

Guadalajara, nice name, your Spanish is. Thank you, thank you. You're really supporting today. Thank you, I appreciate it. That's in September. Do you want to just wait? I mean, that's in five months. So does it make more sense to just wait?

I mean, if I think about it, it's not too much time. Yeah. Like just five months, I can just rest a little bit, recover my body. Again, for example, my left foot feels fine. It's still a little bit swelling, just a little bit. So I can recover that part, keep recovering myself, and be ready for September.

Again, it's not too many times. So that's a perfect time to recover and then go back to the training camp. What would be your ideal scenario for that card? Who are you fighting? My ideal scenario, man, that's crazy because right now the division is so weird. But I would love to fight for the title,

in front of my people. I think those kind of moments are those kind of moments where you can be a legend in one moment, you know, win the title in front of my people in Mexico. That will be awesome to me for my legacy, for my career. And that's it. You know, obviously, again, I go again, like the division is very weird right now. Manel Cap is going to fight against Royval and Frank, let's see what happens if he's going to fight against Pantoja in the future.

So brother, I'll be just ready for whatever. It seems like, yeah, we found out about Royval and Manel Cap and Kaikai France has been hinting at potentially fighting on June 28th, International Fight Week. Let's just say it is Pantoja Kai Car France. Who do you like in that fight? Who do you think wins? Man, I mean, it's hard to go against Pantoja because he's doing a really good job, right?

He has, and I say this before, like he has this really crazy ability to survive. You know, he finds a way, sometimes he looks tired, he has his body, his face, but he finds a way to survive and with the fight and that's why he's the champion right now. Obviously the possibility Kai Carapaz has right now is like, he has more experience than when he fought against him in the Dolphins fighter, and man, the guy has a lot of power. We side with Kai Kara France, and sorry,

against Ersik, and we side against other fighters. I remember my last fight against him, he hit me hard in the tier one. But yeah, it's hard to go against Pantoja at this point. And what about the reintroduction of Kyoji Horiguchi coming back 10 years later? That's an interesting- Wow. What about Moreno Horiguchi in Guadalajara?

In Guadalajara? Well, if they fight- Very cool. If Pantoja's fighting in June, he's probably not coming back in September, right? And maybe give Hor, give a nice, uh, how you say it in English? Um, do you understand? No, right. Like you, you welcome him.

Yeah, exactly. That would you be interested in this? Uh, man, brother, like I just want to fight for the title. Yeah. I, I, so I gonna fight and do whatever I have to do to get that fight for the title. So I'm gonna fight and do whatever I have to do to get that fight for the title next. But if that can happen, obviously I want to fight for Hara for sure, so I'm dead.

He's a possibility for sure. Is he some, he has been around for a while. He fought for the belt way back when. Is he someone that interests you? Is this a name that you're like, oh, one day, I would like to test myself against him. Did you think of him or because he was fighting in Japan or other promotions, you didn't really think of him in that way? No, not really. No. I mean, I, so I remember.

Yeah, we may have lost them there. Why do I sit like that? I need to work on my posture if I'm being honest. I'm not going to be able to do that. I remember. Nope. We may have lost them there. Why do I sit like that? I need to work on my posture. If I'm being honest. Work on your posture.

Yeah. Well, we work on Brandon. Okay. Uh, we're going to reconnect with Brandon here for, uh, just a quick second. Oh, we lost them. What an incredible resume this young man has. And I stress young man still just 31 years old, 23 wins, 11, five and two at the UFC. Sorry guys.

Oh, Hey, there you are. Okay. Hello. Yeah. I was just reading your resume. Uh, we, we lost you there when you were talking about Kyoji. Yeah. I mean, I remember the last fight, the last fight he had, uh, uh, in the UFC, you know.

What have you done Frank? Back to the resume. You blow act! What movie is that from? Billy Madison, I almost put the gif in the thing earlier. Why? Why the gif? Because you blew it when you were trying to ask about the Pokemon cards. Oh, yeah Oh, I thought you meant when you were trying to get me to move Gunther's microphone and you were telling me to do this via slack. I was trying I tried all the options Why did you just walk in? You know what? No, I don't know what I mean. Someone else could have walked in on your behalf

We considered all the options Wow was it bad? Yeah, no, it was good. It was fine. Oh, geez. Oh, there you are. Hey, Brandon. Sorry, guys. I don't know what's happening. I don't know if that's my internet or, oh, goddammit. Is it choppy for you?

Yeah, I don't know if this is my internet or... Huh? Is it choppy? Can you not hear me? Damn. I can hear you. Okay. You were, you were answering my question about Horiguchi. Yes. Like, yeah, I remember the last fight he had at the UFC,

but after that, when he went to Japan, I don't, I don't, I don't saw other fights in Ryerson. I don't remember the last fight. I don't remember the last fight. I don't remember the last fight. I don't remember the last fight. I don't remember the last fight. I don't remember the last fight. at the UFC, but after that, when he went to Japan, I don't see other fights in rising, for example. But I mean, I know he has now more experience, you know, he fought for the title against Demetrius. And that's it, I mean, I know he's... I'm so blaming Frank for this.

This is such a. I take full responsibility. So what happened? You know, usually his. We're going to make him disconnect and reconnect. Okay, all right, let's do that. It's been a while. Remember this used to be a staple on the show back in the day, but it was usually our fault.

Anyway, back to the resume, take a listen to this. 11 wins at flyweight puts him behind Benavides, Manny Maas, and Pantoja all with 13 for most in UFC flyweight history. So he could very well end up, uh, number one. Uh, we were talking about total flight time in the cage, five hours, eight minutes, 28 seconds, most in UFC flyweight history, total significant strikes landed 1220, most in flyweight history. First Mexican born champion in the UFC. Obviously we remember that very well. One of the great moments in UFC history.

And it is worth noting that this will be the third Noche UFC. It's the first that will take place in Mexico. The first one of course was in Vegas, T-Mobile, second one, Sphere, Vegas, and never before has a Mexican won in the main event. Grasso didn't win first time around, didn't win in the co-main event, second time around, and of course, neither Marab nor Sean O'Malley, although Sean O'Malley had some ties, didn't win. And so hopefully, and I'm sure he would agree, would like to buck that trend.

Let's go back to Brandon. Oh yeah, hello Brandon, you look good. I don't know what's happening, but we're here, we're back. We're back, we're back. All right, so you're not someone who watches other organizations or other fights, maybe not even a lot of UFC, right? I mean, I watch a lot of UFC, but I don't watch other organizations, to be honest. But I mean, I know the Horiuchi's are really,

it's a fighter with a lot of experience now. And that's it, man. I'm, for him being in the UFC again. Um, rival cap. Who do you think wins that? Oh, my goodness. That's a good one for the styles, you know, because cop is very, uh, how you say in English, like elusive. Yeah.

I understand that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. It's very elusive. It's very dynamic. He changed the stance. He can be artisans. He can be sofa and Roybal, you know, again, really good distance, very explosive, a lot of feints. So it's very interesting the fight. I don't even know. I mean, I think I can go We roll about because I fuck it's human. I know

What can what can what can he do it in the middle of the fight? But I mean copies is very dangerous as well. You got you got your big into shoes. I love shoes as well I saw did you get like Ninja Turtle Pumas recently? Yes, man. What is this? This is a collection. Look at this box right here. This looks like a pizza box. Yes, actually it's like a pizza box. Actually it's like a bundle, like a special bundle. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I've been working with Puma years ago and yeah they always show me a lot of love. Yeah, that's the Rezins collection they have and it's really cool. Can you buy those in stores?

So they have different collections between Mexico and United States. So I don't know if that collection is in United States as well, but I think yes. And if it is like, yeah, you can do it. And you did something with like Puma F1. Is it for the F1 in Mexico? Did you do something with Puma F1? Is it for the F1 in Mexico? Yeah, I mean I was just promoting that line of the brand, you know, of Puma with F1. Because that was last year, I was very strong with Checo Perez. So yeah, I was doing some promos, some photoshoots. Did you tape any episodes of The Ultimate Fighter

with Team DC? Oh, I restarted. I appear in one episode. I don't remember which one. Were you a coach? I like assistant coach, something like that. He brought you in? Daniel Cormier brought you in?

Yes. Wow. Did you enjoy it? Yeah, I'm actually, there is the picture. Yeah, I mean, it's very cool That bring me a lot of memories, you know, I Came from that so watching all the other fighters like very young trying to get the opportunity. That's me Yeah, a few years ago Bring me a lot of memories

Man, the ultimate fighters the ultimate fighters isn't a huge experience as an, as an athlete, you know, because that build some character and some personality. So it's a good opportunity for all these guys. Like full circle for you, as they say. Yes, exactly. I mean, you never know. I mean, I would love to be a coach that does the ultimate fighter in the future. That will be like the full circle now. Yes, yes. Who would you want to coach against? Against? Yeah. Man, man, I don't know.

I mean, maybe for the title. Pantoja. Yeah. Let's go. Yeah. Pantoja, right? That will be very cool. I don't even think about it. Okay. We put that into the ether. Can I ask about your, I saw that you were, you were sleeping in the hyperbaric chamber, the tent and all that stuff. Uh, Joe Pfeiffer got sick over there in Mexico.

Uh, Lupe got sick, you know, but did you get any problems? Did you get sick before your fight? Brother? No. Tell me, tell me. No, I mean, I don't have nothing to say. Like my stomach is very strong. I'm Mexican.

You have a Mexican stomach. Exactly. You know, I don't have, I don't have a Mexican stomach. I don't have nothing to say. Like my stomach is very strong. I'm Mexican. You have a Mexican stomach. Exactly. You know, I don't have, I don't have any, any problems at all. Um, I don't know. I don't know what happened, what happened with loopy. I don't know what happened with Joe Piper, but I don't have like any problems.

I'm talking about the, the, the pay. Do you, do you mention it? Um, yeah, I mean that have like any problems. I'm talking about the, the, the tech. You, you, you mentioned it. Um, yeah, I mean that, I think, so, I think it was three things. I was running in Las Tracy, starting in Vegas. I was using the hyperbaric chamber of the apex, and I was doing the, the, the hyperbaric 10 in the home, you know, taking naps and everything.

So that helped me a lot, a lot going to the fight. And I mean, first week in Mexico City, I was expecting, you know, the, the first punch from the altitude. Um, never came, you know, first week I was, I was doing the sparring. I was doing my regular training sessions. Uh, and I feel amazing. That gave me a lot of confidence. Some people, uh, I saw were a little bit upset with what Joe had

to say about being in Mexico. Did you see his comments and did you feel the same way? That's a great. Oh, I saw his comment. The only thing I can, I can, the only thing I can say is like, it's fine. We don't need him as well. So it's mutual. Okay.

Fair enough. We'll, we'll leave it at that. Brandon, great, great performance. Well done. Two great performances in a row now. You're on a roll and it's great to see. Thanks so much brother. And I hope you get to fight on that

Noche UFC card in September, hopefully for the belt as well. So let's see what happens. Let's see how it plays out. Man, let's see what happens man. At the end I'm just enjoying this again. And that's when he feels very happy, you know? That's giving me much better performances.

And that's it. I'm gonna push a lot for the title fight. If not, let's see what happens. But Brandon is coming. He's coming back and he's ready. I love it. Thank you, Brandon. All the best to you.

Let's go, man. Have a nice day. You too. There he is. The great Brandon Moreno, the assassin baby. And what he said at the very end there is 100% the most important. You'll recall that at one time he didn't really seem to be,

I don't know, in love with the sport or in a great place as far as the sport is concerned. He appears to be in a great place. And I do believe a lot of credit should go to Saif Saoud, who's done a fantastic job with him since he moved over to his team, Fortis MMA in Dallas. And I do believe that Brandon's win two weeks ago was Saif's 101st win in the UFC, as far as cornering coaching UFC fighters, which I think is very significant as well.

UFC 314, just days away now, three days, is that possible? Three days to be exact, yeah. I guess that is possible. Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday. One of the interesting fights on the card, pits Chase Hooper and Jim Miller.

Now take a listen to Saturday. One of the interesting fights on the card pits Chase Hooper and Jim Miller. Now take a listen to this. Chase Hooper, 15-3-1, is fighting 56-fight veteran Jim Miller. There's a 16-year age gap between the two of them. When Miller made his MMA debut that was back in 2005, Hooper was five years old. When Miller made his UFC debut back in 2008, Hooper was nine years old. Could you believe that? Miller has 21 career wins via submission. That's more than all of Hooper's fights combined. And of course Hooper has never been submitted in his pro career. Only three people, by the way, have submitted Jim Miller. That's Charles Olvera, Mike Kiesa and Nathan Diaz. This the second legend that Hooper faces in a row.

He just fought and beat quite convincingly, Clay Guida. He hopes to do the same this Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. He's kind enough to join us after a busy media day. There same this Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. He's kind enough to join us after a busy media day. There he is. Hello, Chase. How are you? Hey, good. Yeah. Like you were saying, just got done with all the media day stuff, trying to enjoy a little bit of time outside. It's nice weather. So I ruined it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for bringing you back inside.

But I do. I see that you're very local. Is that is that a Marlins Jersey? Yeah, actually, uh, I threw out the first pitch in a Marlins game a couple years ago for fight pass And so you brought it back? Yeah, I was like when when else am I gonna be able to wear a Marlins Jersey? It's sad my garage for a couple years and then hey, it found a time. By the way, off the top of my dome, I don't recall how you did. We've seen some horrible first pitches. McGregor didn't have a good one.

How did you do? Did you get it over the plate? Yeah, for sure. I maybe threw it a little high. Like it wasn't in the box or whatever they made for it, but it made it. It made it to the catcher. And did you go from the top of the mound?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh wow, okay, because some people say, okay, wow, you didn't take any shortcuts, respect. Yeah. Because some people say go on the bottom of the mound because at least you're like eye level with the catcher. You know, you're a pro athlete, so I would expect nothing less. I don't know if we connected with you when I was reading all that stuff about like the age difference. I'm sure you're aware of it, 16 years, all that stuff, but it age difference. I I'm sure you're aware of it. 16 years, all that stuff, but it's kind of wild. Like he made his MMA debut when you were five, his UFC debut when you were nine.

This is insanity. Hey, I mean, clay was probably similar. It's one of these things where like, yeah, I don't know. Like I have to kind of shed that respect in that sort of way. I'd be like, okay, well, I've fought a guy that's also been in the game that long. The flip side being just how many miles is that? Jim fights not the most conservatively. He's not like a wonder boy where he's pointing guys.

He's in there. He's in the mix, brawling a lot. Um, so I imagine that's not great for your body. So that's, I guess, not counting on him, you know, breaking down in the cage, but, uh, you know, he definitely has some injuries and that, uh, that's not going to be a benefit for his side. Is this a fight that you've thought of? Oh, it would be nice to mix it up with this guy. Uh, yeah, it's, it's funny.

Like, uh, the lead up to this fight, we were like, oh, he called him out after the last fight where it's like, I didn't actually even call him out. It was somebody in the, the post fight press conference that was like, Oh, Hey, what do you think about fighting Jim Miller? And I was just like, yeah, I mean, whatever, you know, and then it's like, Oh, chase Hooper calls out Jim Miller. And then it's like, Hey a UFC makes the fight. So I Mean, I'll take it. I mean, yeah, it's I feel like a good step up from Clay

Left-handed which is fun good grappler And I've been saying this like I feel that it's true is that he's the best overall guy that I've ever fought as far as like grace, you know on the feet pretty good wrestling good jujitsu like Just a guy that can take the fight anywhere and be dangerous still like Yeah, I feel like he's the most well-rounded guy that I fought so yeah, I mean, we'll see how that goes but uh I'm looking forward to mixing it up with him and yeah

I mean it's another feather in the cap. If I get this win, it's a huge deal. Do you like this gimmick being the, for lack of a better term, legend killer? In the third Paul brother, I guess I'll have to go blonde. I mean, I don't know if it's quite that dramatic, but Randy Orton in WWE was once known as the legend killer. Do you want to be this guy just sort of like knocking off all these guys? Cause Clay has since left the UFC. Yeah, I don't know. was once known as the legend killer. Do you want to be this guy just sort of like knocking off all these guys?

Because Clay has since left the UFC. Yeah, I don't know. It's one of those things where like, that's the harsh reality of the sport, I guess, is that my success and my family are provided for off of me hurting other people physically, which kind of sucks in some ways. Because I like Clay.

He's a nice guy. We were chatting it up all week and that type of thing. So it's one of these things where it's just business. And whoever they put in front of me, I'll take the matchup. I do hope to hopefully get some younger guys maybe after this. Maybe get this win and then get another one of these, because there's so many young guys on hot streaks right now. You know, get one of those car crashes going and see what happens.

Start getting my way up into the rankings. Yes. Do you feel like you don't get, in retrospect, the respect that you deserve when you beat someone who is that much older than you, if you beat them? I think maybe to an extent. But that's just, I don't know. You can only care so much about what the fans have to say. The real people that are paying me are UFC. And the thing about the Clay matchup specifically is,

and my coach was telling me this before the fight, which it can either add pressure or not. He's like, just so you know, Clay's 42 42 and you have to make it look like he's 42. You can't go in there and have a competitive fight with this guy. You need to have it be definitive or else it's going to drive your stock down, that type of thing. I'm not expecting an easy fight from Clay. Yeah, it's not like

I fought just old guys. Like the last guy I fought that was my age was my debut at 55 and I put up, you know, one of the most strikes in lightweight history in a non-five round fight, you know? So it's like even against the younger guys, at least at this point, I'm still doing the work and still putting it in. But yeah, I mean, I would think it's more just the name factor and the nostalgia factor for people. They're like, ah, damn, this guy's gonna, you know,

potentially beat this guy that I grew up watching, which, you know, I did the same. I also watched these guys growing up, but you can't have that reverence in this sport, not for guys in your same weight class. I hope you don't mind me breaking the fourth wall here, but for a moment there I was like, to his left, is that a crib?

And then I saw a head bobbing up and down, and I'm like, oh, hello, how are you? There's a wife and a baby. Yes, so the baby's sleeping in the same room as you are? Yeah, I figured out that I like having life feel as normal as possible during these times. Like I've done the thing where it's like, you know, the wife only comes out, you know, Thursday, Friday, whatever, you know, kind of after we're done with the cut. But I just enjoy having it feel like normal life, like, you know, my training partners and stuff, they're out exploring Miami, but, you know, I'm here in the room with the wife and the baby and like, it feels normal.

And I feel like that kind of helps bring you back to reality a little bit. Because you can kind of get lost in the, lost in the sauce, so to speak, of all the fight week stuff. Like, especially like the media day stuff. You know, having people follow you around, doing all the pictures, all the interviews, like it makes you feel like, like, oh, this is like something like a big deal. So I feel like it's nice to kind of ground myself

a little bit and not get too worked up over nothing. Like, yeah, I don't know, just how to feel normal still as much as we can. When did you start doing this? Because I know your baby is quite young, but you are on a streak as of late four in a row. So I'm wondering if this coincides. Yeah, I don't remember exactly when she started coming out,

probably close to when I moved up to lightweight. She might've been out for my last one at 45. But yeah, I mean, the past five, six fights, so yeah, probably pretty similar, but I think it makes life easier. And then just having, as much as we want to be tough guys, you do want a little bit of the home comfort type stuff, especially going through the weight cut. You feel terrible. You're not eating anything. You're not drinking anything. So it's nice to have the wife and

the baby here and just, uh, yeah, feel normal for a change, you know? And your wife is no, uh, no slouch as well. I believe she's a purple belt, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. She's back on the mats now after the baby.

Love it. Uh, pro fighter down the line or, or do we stop at Jiu-Jitsu? Uh, hopefully no fighting for either of them. Um, personally, I, I just don't want my daughter to be a stripper or an MMA fighter. That's kind of the same level. Wow, same level, really? I mean, you're dancing around in your underwear

for people's entertainment, are you not? I guess. Both of those gigs. No, I mean, MMA is getting more there for sure, but I just, like if I had a son and he wanted to fight, that'd for sure, but I just, like if I had a son and he wanted to fight, that'd be different, but a daughter, like I guess it's just the natural,

like you wanna protect them. And like, I think anybody in this sport will tell you is like, if I fight for my whole career to provide for my family, and then they turn around and do the same thing, and it's like, you know, you kind of feel like you left a little on the table, I guess. Hopefully, me fighting will mean that they don't have to fight in the future.

I feel like that's kind of the deal. They will have to trade their physical health and their brain health for money, and that's my goal. I appreciate that, and respect that. There's obviously some pressure when you have your family in attendance, you wanna keep winning and succeeding. I'm wondering if there's added pressure to win on Saturday because Tyler wants to name his bird after you

and if you don't win, you don't get that honor. So is that on your mind? Yeah, so that definitely added to the pressure a little bit. You know, you try to keep it cool in here but you get some stuff like that and it's funny like some of the emails you'll get like Yeah, I get some from like there's like an Indian guy that was like I can throw ten punches in one second like look at my video and he definitely didn't throw ten punches in a second, but respect and

It's just funny. Like people will because you have your business email out there, whatever. And then how many couples get a clicker? Definitely more after I posted that screenshot, because I I don't really care to censor out my email because I have it on my social media anyways. But yeah, if you were sending, you know, funny stuff, somebody said they were going to kill Tyler's bird. Oh, God. For me. So, yeah, I don't know.. Somebody said they were gonna kill Tyler's bird. Oh God.

For me. So, yeah, I don't know. I didn't reply to that one. I don't wanna encourage that, but TBD. I would say, low key as the kids like to say, you're quite prolific on social media. Just with the tweets, it's nothing too crazy. It's not memes, this and that, but I just, I enjoy the tweets, I enjoy your commentary.

And I do have to say one of the big talking points on this program is we love the fights, we love watching the fights. The apex has been a bit of a sore subject, and you weighed in on the apex as well, which I thought was super interesting, coming from a fighter who has competed in the apex, out of the apex.

And this was after Mark Shapiro said that, we can't tell if we're watching an event at the Apex or anywhere in the world. And this was coming off the Seattle card. I give you a lot of respect for saying what you did because I feel personally like the Apex events are at times hard to watch. They're a little bit soulless

and that excitement just isn't there. That buzz isn't there. Yeah, I mean, it's wild. During COVID, it was, you know, you had to do it, obviously. And I'm very thankful that that was an option. And I feel like for myself, like, being newer in my career at that point, like my second fight to my, you know, third or fourth fight, we're all in the apex. And I did one in Phoenix and then back to the apex for a little bit. And then we've been out the past two, this will be my third one out of the apex. But the energy is just so much different. Like in the apex, yeah again, it's kind of like a sparring session. Like you get done and you're like, okay, well what now? You know? The high, I guess, fades away a lot quicker.

Whereas in the arena, you got the roar of the crowd. That just pumps the energy up so much more. I feel that the fans can definitely feel it on TV because of the fact that the fighters, I think, fight harder with that type of energy from the crowd. And it? Um, and it's just the way they stack the apex cards. I feel like some, there's some filler fights in there for sure. And, uh, yeah, I mean, I'm happy. Uh, I'm happy that the apex was there, um, for when we needed it. But now I feel like getting on the road has been more than worth it.

And, uh, yeah, hopefully they see the same. This will be now your third fights outside of the Apex, third fight in a row. Are you comfortable enough at this point if they offer you an Apex fight to say I'd rather not? Well, honestly, just like when we were talking with them for this fight, they were like, hey, like what, you know, what kind of

dates or whatever are available and, uh, you know, just figuring that stuff out. And it was just like, hey, like if we could just not have it at the apex, that'd be cool. And it sounds like the matchmakers are like, oh, yeah, we get that for sure. But, uh, I, it really depends on the fight. Um, I love the apex for the comfort of it. It's like, you know exactly like, okay, I know exactly how much space I have to warm up. I know Vegas is so well right now. By this point, you're like we have the entire PI staff, we have the sauna at the PI, everything is so easy with that.

But again, you're sacrificing the comfort for the, you know, excitement and, you know, the hype that comes with being able to be in an arena. And UFC is a sport that's, again, meant to be in arenas. Like, they've been selling out all these cards, just, again, proving that the fans are there. And I think the COVID cards helped, like, being one of the only sports I was on at the time. But yeah, let's get back on the road and keep doing stuff like this. Like, the St. Louis show that I was on last May was the biggest gate at that time, or the biggest attendance for Fight Night. And then the Seattle show back in February, just a couple ago did the same thing like it broke that record like it's

It's crazy all these you know fan records are being broken like it should be Such a big signal for UFC to be like yes Let's get on it like UFC is bigger than ever right now people like to complain about like oh, there's no stars But I mean there's plenty of good fights to be made on stars but I mean there's plenty of good fights to be made. The only issue is Conor's probably not fighting again but just based on my own perception but yeah I mean UFC's in a great spot right now I feel. I agree I agree they're on fire I'm not gonna ask you for a prediction because obviously you're gonna say that you're gonna win and so because you're so thoughtful when it comes to fighting

can I can I get three predictions for the top of the card? Volkanovsky Lopez. So that one, I really, I feel that Volk is obviously one of the best 45ers in history, and his resume shows that. But the two KO losses being a little older, that's the wild card in here. I'm still going to take Volk just because I think he's such a vet that he can maybe

avoid that. I think his defense is good enough to swing with Lopes. And I think his counter wrestling is good enough to not get jit-stuck. I'm taking Volk. Chandler Pimlet. Another one where I think, I think this is the easiest fight they could have given Patty in the top 10, top 5. If we get the Michael Chandler that fought Charles Olivera, the one with, you know, minimal grappling, not using his wrestling at all. I think Patty takes it probably by decision. But yeah, I mean, I think he's just so short. I'm taking Patty over Chandler all day. And what about Pitbull against Rodriguez? Yeah, I think that's a fun matchup too. Like that's one that,

I've been seeing people around all week So I guess I have to pull for him. But honestly the real winner of that fight is gonna be the fans. I Couldn't I can't really pick. Yeah, your style is so crazy, but pitbulls just such a dog, you know, so to speak but Yeah, that's a hell of a fight. I'm so happy for that matchup. I want to watch it Okay, because you sat on the fence Bryce Mitchell John Silva Okay so if you if You watch the card last week. It was a pass a botini and Brito. I

Feel like that this weekend's fight is a very similar fight to that. I don't think Gene Silva is going to maybe respect Bryce's grappling. And Bryce has been in there with a guy like Edson Barbosa. I mean, he obviously got killed by Emmett and he had a rough fight with Topuria. But I think that his grappling is going to be really tough for Gene to deal with. We haven't really seen a ton of grappling out of the fighting nerds guys. And Bryce has just got such a weird style. Yeah, I think I'm taking him on that.

All right, well, can't wait for your fight as well. I appreciate you taking out some time to talk to us after a busy day. Enjoy the time with the family, enjoy everything that Fight Week brings, and of course, good luck on Saturday. Thanks for joining us Chase, really appreciate it. Awesome, thanks so much for talking to you. You're the man. There he is, the great Chase Hooper looking to make it five in a row

against one Jim Miller legend of the game. That's a really fun matchup. The whole card is very fun. A quick look at the card before we wrap things up. It's UFC 314. It goes down this Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Those are the early prelims. Some recognizable names. Then you get to the main prelims, I guess you can say. Elkins, Julian Orosa, there's Miller, Hooper, Yan-Shan An against Verna Jean-Gerbe.

An important fight in the Stradway division. And of course, Dan Ege, Sean Woodson. Main card? Well, you can watch it with the boys. They'll be doing a watch party beginning at 9.45 p.m. Eastern right here on this channel. Nikita Krilov against Dominic Reyes. Reyes has come all the way back. Yaya Rodriguez against Patricia Pitbull. And there's been some spiciness I see at media day between Rodriguez and Lopez, Bryce Mitchell against John Silva, Michael Chandler, Patty Pimlet, five round fight, co-main event, massive implications, of course. And then there's the big one for the vacant featherweight title, Volkanovsky Lopez.

Do you guys think we get some sort of resolution to the toporio situation between now and the time those two fight? What do you say? True or false? featherweight title, Fulkanovsky Lopez. Do you guys think we get some sort of resolution to the toporia situation between now and the time those two fight? What do you say, true or false? False. False, yeah. My official prediction is

International Fight Week main event announced on the broadcast. Okay, I mean, it's getting close. This would be the time to do it, right? False. Yeah. False. And I think it's DDP Hamzat. Oh, wow, okay. That's my official prediction. Oh, really? I think it's a DDP Homsot. Oh wow, okay.

That's my official opinion. Oh really? A Mason's Swerve. Okay so we don't get a toporia resolution. Wow. We do get the International Five Week Man Event. Gosh, okay. You double swerved me.

That happens, clip it off. Yeah. I mean, Mystic Connor over here. And if not, this conversation never happened. All right. Well that was fun stuff. Appreciate him doing that with the baby in the room and respect to him to, you know, like fight week, some fighters would say, this is my chance

to sleep, to, you know, cut everything out, just be focused. Uh, he's just, he's just a really likable guy and a very easy guy to root for. Very, again, I like the thoughtful guys. I like the guys who, you know, care when, when, when speaking to you and try to give you legit answers.

So I appreciate him very, very much. We do have some super chats, I do believe. Damn right we got super chats. All right, what do we got, what do we got? So starting with the first question, now actually this is from Jake from when he said he says happy 20th anniversary Today to bonar versus Griffin. Oh gosh. That is unfortunate honor boner, but I mean golly I mean one of the all-time great fights Stefan Bonner may rest in peace without that fight, maybe we aren't here speaking of

UFC 314 20 years ago today, unbelievably on Spike TV. A lot of people don't remember that the main event that night was Rich Franklin against Ken Shamrock. And a lot of people don't remember that the very first Ultimate Fighter winner was, who was it? Rick, do you remember? The first Ultimate Fighter was Diego,

and it was Bonner, and then Griffin got the contract as well. No, no, no. Yeah, but who did, yeah, like the first finale. The first, oh, between the coaches. Yeah, no, no, no. Like the first Ultimate Fighter finale fight. There were two contracts on the line that night, right? Yeah.

Diego versus? Oh, who was he fighting? Yeah. Oh, shit was he fighting? Yeah. Oh shit. I don't know. Who was he fighting? Ken Flo? Was it Ken Flo?

Almost 100% in turn, but now- Ken Flo was the runner up. Now that you're saying it like that, I'm doubting myself. That does sound right, but I guess so, I believe you. Wait a second, wait a second, did I screw this up? I was gonna fight him. I know. Yeah, I was right, yeah, Kenny Florian.

Yeah, that's what he said. Yeah, I know. Oh, Jordan didn't know Ken Flo was Kenny Florian. Oh yeah, middleweight by the way. Isn't that crazy? They fought for the middleweight contract. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow, I forgot that Ken Flo was the runner up.

But yeah, Diego, and I'm correct, right? Bonner got the contract, and then they gave Griffin the contract as well Just because it was yep. Yep. So crazy moment. There were only three fights on that main card Franklin shamrock main event won by Franklin Griffin Bonner and then Sanchez Florian what else? Nicholas says rewatch the chill interview with my dad needless to say he loved it Thanks for keeping me entertained through tax season Ariel boys in the back Pete C For the win now which chill interview is he talking about there have been so many

I think he might be talking the black and white That okay used as a that's the chill interview clip. Yeah, hopefully not the one that we were fighting like cats and dogs That's a legendary one Black and white yeah, yes, that is a legend. Thank you for watching Please everyone go watch it as well. What else? I'm by the way, please feel free to go check out our friends over at Turbo Tax during this shout out to the Turbo Tax Yeah, I'm not a big anime guy, but Hajime no Ipau is a good one

It's a boxing one that talks about boxers from the older days of the sport. Say that one more time. Hajime no Ippou. You said it differently. Bonner. Yeah. Okay, I'll check.

I mean, there's a lot on the list. I've actually watched a couple episodes of that. It's good? Yeah, it was pretty good. Great? Grand? Eh, not amazing. I've actually watched a couple of episodes of that. It's good. Yeah, it was pretty good great grand Yeah, not amazing What else no lasagna soup blue lock is better than the actual soccer? I guess but there's much better anime attack on Titan will change your perspective on how good a story can be by the way

Is that true? Is there is there something called lasagna soup? Yes. Wow. It's a... Not a life changer, but definitely a... It's a running joke. Me and Frank were walking to Wegmans and I was like, what are you gonna get? And he's like, I'm getting a lasagna soup again.

And I was like, again? He's like, yeah, I had it for dinner last night, gonna have it for lunch again. And I was like, wow, this must be amazing. He's like, eh, it's all right. Wait, so... And then he got it again today for the third time in 32 hours.

Wait, lasagna soup is a real thing? It's a real dish? I also was amazed to find this out. It also looks amazing and Frank keeps getting it and then I'm like, man, that must be good, man. And he's just like, it's all right. I thought lasagna soup was an anime. No.

Crunchy roll. Yeah, lasagna soup is crunchy rolls. Frank brought it up in the anime conversation. What does your lunch have to do with anything? He's making the joke like, oh, it's no lasagna soup is crunchy roast. Frank brought it up in the anime conversation. What does that? What does your lunch have to do with anything? He's making the joke like oh, it's no lasagna soup. By the way, I'm not a part of that joke I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm sorry you wanted to invite it to the joke. This is a lunch table joke. And then cameraman Brad came in and We started talking about NASCAR and Days of Thunder the movie came up and I was just like no

I've never seen it. He's like you've never seen Days of Thunder and I was like nah, is it is it it. And he's like, you've never seen days of thunder? And I was like, nah, is it good? And he's like, it's all right. I'm just like, what the fuck is going on? What else? Ryan Maddux says, is GC now Michael Chandler waiting for a money race of Brady, similar to the McGregor fight? He might be watching his prime go down the drain waiting.

Look, people are talking, man. My back is starting to hurt. I haven't been able to do cardio as much lately. I'm getting worried that the bike ride's just gonna pop up out of nowhere and he's gonna get me at my weakest. I just love how quickly you corrected from fight. You're like, no, no, let's stop. It's a good point.

I mean, we've seen this before. We've seen it before. Let's see, let's see. I have faith, I have faith, I have faith that he's gonna show up. What else, Frank, what else? Sean Platt writes, shout out to Frank for the taco cabana shout out,

hashtag yummy. Just a little shout out. What is that, what is that? That's a basically a fast food restaurant in Texas. Oh, okay, Texas. Texas. 98.7 FM. Actually, it's Tejas.

Oh yes, that's right. What else? Jamik Vassul writes, You can only watch two fights on 314. What will it be? Two fights, two fights. Maine and Coman. Those seem to have the biggest stakes.

Stakes attached to it. I would say, Lopes Bokanovsky. It's gotta be that. Olekseychek, Pesty Dumas, Vierna, Yanjao Nan. I'm taking Pitbull and Yair. And Chandler Pimblit. That's crazy.

Those are my two. How is that crazy? Title fight. What are you talking about crazy? No, no, Bryce Jean. Title fight that you've been spending the whole time talking about, it's not even a real belt. I mean, it's still a title. Get out of here. Don't criticize my taste. No, those are the two what else?

Oh, usually you've been good lately was interrupt me and I'm trying to say lastly and okay now we round the third Guys, I got a press conference to host. All right, so I don't know about all of you I mean you could you could stick around but We got something to plug oh, yes. We got to plug this what? What are you plugging oh there it is Yes, this is how you can ask questions to us leave some message talk shit do whatever you want to watch Whatever you want to do. We got our own hotline Wow 415

sup sup bi tb Dude, we got our own hotline. Wow, 415 SUP BITB. That's 415-787-2482. You can leave the boys a message and they'll be playing the best ones on the program tomorrow, yes? Or the worst ones. We can play whichever ones we want. And hopefully we can.

Bring it, just bring it though. Please bring. None of this soft shit, bring it. If you don't bring it, you won't get on the air. Yeah, bring it just bring it please bring none of this soft shit We bring it if you don't bring it you won't get on the air. Yeah, bring it hard into the paint elbows up Pound for pound best pie this pie. Yeah, you'll see three one four this pie Wow, that's also fight piece we so we're talking like cherry pie Pie 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 New York pies for UFC Miami I see the connection. I see it. 314 not Miami. Yes yes exactly or you could have done best food from St. Louis while we're at it. Anyway looking forward to that that's tomorrow crack on Friday watch party on Saturday. Three Pock post show on Saturday night. Oh, so much to come. But for now, we say peace.

I'm out of here.