The Ariel Helwani Show - Valentina Shevchenko, Oban Elliott, Marc Raimondi on UFC 313 and John Cena heel turn, KSI slaps Dillon Danis

Episode Date: March 4, 2025

Valentina Shevchenko previews her UFC flyweight title defense against Manon Fiorot, discusses the chances of a Zhang Weili superfight next and more (04:08).Oban Elliott talks his new UFC contract, the options for his next fight, Jorge Masvidal, John Cena's heel turn and more (35:47).ESPN's Marc Raimondi previews his new NWO book and discusses how Cena's heel turn compares to Hulk Hogan's, Alex Pereira's chances against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, and more (1:05:19).Ariel and The Boys in the Back react to KSI slapping Dillon Danis with a pancake at their press conference (1:38:28).

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Err-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r- fourth two thousand and 25 hello again everyone. I sure hope you're doing well something felt off something felt different I wasn't holding my pencil my pencil by the way, which is Branded if you can see that can you see that Frank? Can you see that I could see it? What does it say says number two? No it says he'll want me on it. Oh, yeah I mean I'm at a side and so we might be What does it say? What does it say? It says number two. No, it says Hiawani on it. Oh yeah, yeah. I thought you meant aside from... We might be... We might be selling these soon. We might be selling these soon on

arielhiawani.com your official merch store for all things Hiawani. Yeah, there it is. Thumbs up to the chat. Thumbs up to the chat. We got a lot to get to on today's program. It's a busy day in New York City. At 3 o'clock there's a press conference happening in Times Square at the world famous, I think, Palladium.

And what a crew going to be there. Wow, Ryan Garcia is going to be there, Devin Haney is going to be there, Tifima Lopez is going to be there, Arnold Barbosa Jr. is going to be there. Oh boy, Rolly Romero is going to be there, Jose Ramirez is going to be there, and aosa Jr. is going to be there. Oh boy, Rolly Romero is going to be there. Jose Ramirez is going to be there and a whole other cast of characters. So after today's program, I'm headed over to the press conference to do a special on location edition of the Ariel and Adé program, which you can watch live at 430 on the Dzone Boxing Channel. There's been already some comings and goings with these characters in New York city.

We'll talk about those back into the program, but just minutes ago in London, we told you yesterday about this press conference between KSI and Dylan Danis ahead of their March 29th fight on Dzone pay-per-view. Look at what happened during the face-off. Take a look at this in case you've been living under a rock. I mean, not really.

I mean, it just happened literally 25 minutes ago. Do we have the footage? Let's play it. Sound up. By insinuating this paperwork, making him bite, okay. Did you see that coming? I did not see that coming. I did not see that coming. ASI is just slapped. That's pretty loud stuff. That seemed legit.

What's with all these... Look at that shot right there. Five fingers to the face. So they're actually saying it isn't five fingers. They're saying that there might be a pancake oh dear that are you kidding me with this I'm having oh I see it yeah I see it deja vu all over again yeah it feels like just breakfast foods

are hot in the street to use as items to slap these days at boxing press conferences and what's the pancake reference I actually have no idea I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out pancake Pancake, pancake, pancake. Okay. Maybe a crepe? A crepe, I don't know. Maybe we could look. KSI just choosing another

breakfast. KSI did tweet ten minutes ago he said happy pancake day at Dylan Dannis and it looks like the flattened pancake. Alright so he's playing off the the egg thing, a little egg, a little pancake. There's your breakfast over in the UK. Love it. Next up, tea perhaps?

No, probably not. That wouldn't be good. Anyway, we could react to all of that madness. Madness, I tell you, in the world of combat sports. Back end of the show, our old friend, Marundi. Yes, Mark Ramundi himself, author now, gonna join us to talk about John Cena, maybe 313, and what is life like as an NFL beat writer?

Yes, he's gone from a combat sports beat writer to an Atlanta Falcons beat writer for ESPN. What is that like for him? Okay, we'll get into that. Prior to that, we'll be joined by a friend of the program, Oban Elliott, the Welsh gangster, has been in the news as of late. Always great to check in with him. He has some thoughts as well on this weekend's festivities, plus the John Cena heel turn. But before we get to all of that, let us say hello to Mixed Martial Arts royalty. She is one of the most decorated, if not the most decorated champion in UFC women's MMA history. Most wins in UFC women's flyweight division history with 10,

most KO victories in UFC women's flyweight Division history with 10 most KO victories in UFC Women's Flyweight Division history with four longest winning streak in UFC Women's Flyweight Division history with nine most title fight victories in UFC Women's Flyweight Division history with nine as well. She's actually celebrating a birthday this week. She returns to action on the 10th of May in beautiful Montreal, la Belle Provence that's up

north. She is the great Valentina Shevchenko and she is kind enough to join us. Hello, La Belle Provence, that's up north. She is the great Valentina Shevchenko and she is kind enough to join us. Hello, Valentina, thank you so much for the time. It's great to see you again. Hello, Ariel, nice to see you too. Happy early birthday as well. I think it's on Friday, right?

I guess so. Okay, did I break the news to you or did I get it wrong? Is it not on Friday? I've been known to do this. March 7th, is it Friday? I kind of like lost the day count. Yes, it is on Friday. You're not a big birthday person? You don't do like a whole week celebration and all that? Oh, you know, when you're in training camp, it's a little bit different. Yeah. Celebration and everything like that. And when you are like on a road and a training camp, it makes a whole difference. No, I understand that. You've got a lot going on and you just came back from Montreal.

I don't know if you know this. I am from Montreal. That's my hometown. And so I'm just curious, what did you think of it? You have very beautiful city and it's like I loved Montreal and it was first time I've been there so it's a lot of history a lot of we didn't have a lot of time to spend to discover the city but we then definitely to the old port to the marinas to see the river and yeah all the buildings it's it's. I enjoyed it. During the wintertime, so cold, so many snow. Yeah, this is the only challenge I faced. But a little bit like back home, right? Sort of like Kyrgyzstan, right? The weather? Oh, we can have that cold, but not that much cold. We can have snow, but not that big snow. Okay, I understand. And I also saw you at the Montreal Canadiens hockey game. What did you think of that

experience? They're a very famous team in Canada. I'm sure everyone explained to you all about their history. What did you think of the experience there? I loved the game. It's the first game I've been like ever been a hockey game. It's it was in back in Las Vegas, Golden Knights. Yes. And that was my second game. And I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I really enjoyed the fan reaction. And yeah, definitely it's a hockey. It's very strong game. It's very strong sport where more like fighting involved. And you've seen PR PR team they showed me some clips when it was like I think a week ago the game and they were like in first 90 seconds had about like four fights

so yeah it's definitely they have to have knowledge of MMA too. Yes that was Canada US that was a great scene just like a week prior You are right. Could I ask, I heard you say that you don't view your title reigns in separate chapters. It's all one big story for you. But I'm just wondering, since recapturing the belt in September when you beat Alexa Grasso, this time around, now that you are holding the title, you probably always thought of yourself as champion.

You always viewed yourself as a champion. Is there any difference this time around, or does it really just feel like one continuous long reign to you? Oh, you know, I would say a little bit, Ed, I see myself as one person, right? You cannot say like it's something like was then, then you had a break, you don't have any feelings and

now you have different feelings no it's all the same all the preparation what it's it's it's you it's your story what you was creating it's your preparation it's your trainings and definitely it's kind of like I had these yeah I had this stop on my way that kind of like also brought me much power into myself. It's brought me so much knowledge. It's brought me so much good things. And that's why I consider these like second rain as a like, I don't know, it's very hard to say, but I consider it like continuous in me being the best version of myself, like even the best version what I was back like few years ago. Do you have a different kind of appreciation for being the champion?

a different kind of appreciation for being the champion? It's not, not, I'm not that kind of person who's like not appreciating things because when I become a UC champion, it was not just occasionally and I had like six fights or something like that and then suddenly boom, you're a champion. No, let's not forget that I came to the championship, UC championship being 17 times Muay Thai champion. I had so much martial arts story like before gaining UC belt. That's why for me, I really know how to appreciate things. I'm not the person who doesn't know the cost of something. And so yeah, it's not the different appreciation

of the belt, but it's different how you see yourself from inside you. Okay, no, I understand that and I appreciate that. You know, it's interesting, the last time we saw you in action, Valentina, was September 14th. That was the third fight against Alexa Grasso at the Spear Noche UFC. And it seemed like, and to a degree,

I understand the sort of urgency on Mano Fioro's part, but it seemed like immediately afterwards, she was aggressively trying to get you to accept the fight. In November, she was tweeting, stop making people wait. Most champions don't turn around and fight two months later. And this led to this back and forth here, where in November, she's saying, stop making people wait. Most champions don't turn around and fight two months later. And this led to this back and forth here where in November, she's saying, stop making people wait. Let's do it soon enough so I can send you to retirement and move on.

And my impression was that you got a little bit annoyed from this. And I can understand why, if I'm being a hundred percent honest. And then you responded to her and we got this response. You lose, you retire, deal, ill-mannered first grader. And then she responded to you with this deal, I'll take you seriously when you sign the contract, quote, damn teacher's pet. And so is that an accurate assessment of how you were feeling at the time? Because you had just fought less than two months prior.

You know, it's, I've been in a cruise in the Pacific Ocean, in the islands, and that's why nothing can annoy me when I'm in this paradise. And it's different. And you know, if you're speaking about Manon, I know she's claiming to be like karate person and you know it is exactly karate it's about all about respect how you see the world how you approach to martial arts but being like throwing this kind of like dirty tweets and if she's really thinking it's gonna provoke to force the action someone I think it's mistaken it's not like like I mentioned before she is claiming to be karate person about all the respect but acting like a sabbat person and it's kind of like it's funny it's silly and I would understand like when person already did something, defend belts, like being a champion or something like that, but without do a thing starting to go around and assault everyone. It's not how this

thing works. Yeah, maybe she got she wanted some attention, or maybe someone gives this advice to her like some bright mind decided to come up with this strategy. But I don't think that is the like smart thing. Me, especially being martial artists all my life and martial art, it's all about respect. In general, like our life, it's all about respect. Respect to your, to everyone, to the oldest one, respect from a child to their parents, respect to like your person who you speak with, respect you when you are, it's not the thing that because it's essential, it's a base what like humanity over the millions years, what like like thousand years human what is living in the world, it's essential things, it's our base, it's all about respect. And how, for example, you can build your family or something like that if child don't respect their parents,

if some younger people come to the older people and start to speak from the same position. So what is all about that? And it's like in general, it's like this perspective, respect is the most important. And this is what about martial arts, what is teaching of all athletes. But I think it's like in general, right?

Like especially karate being martial arts with a huge story, it's teaching of these things. But I guess it's like, it's teaching everyone except Manon, except their gym. Do you think that's really coming from her? Do you think it's someone on our team? Because as you know, she doesn't speak English. So do you think? Oh, this is Yeah, yeah, this is was my guess that she doesn't speak any English and even know you you kind of like visit visit

translator have to see what she was she meant to say and yeah maybe it's how I say it's some bright had some bright mind in their team came up with this idea. So so when you saw her in Montreal was there any more of this for lack of a better word tension were there any more things said between you two? Did you get to see her at any point other than at the press conference? No, our interaction, it was only at the press conference. And I wish that we would have translator because when media asked her some questions,

she responded in French and we didn't have anyone who could translate to English. So it's basically, I don't know what she was saying during that time. But yeah, that was only the interaction what we had. Okay, was there any talk after the Grasso fight about you fighting anyone else? And I bring this up, of course, because Zhang Weili fought in February,

and it seemed like Dana White was very interested in the idea. He usually doesn't say these things in the press conference but in the post-fight press conference he seemed very interested in the idea of you two fighting each other and then a couple weeks later we found out you're fighting Mano Fioro. Was there any talk prior to that announcement of you not fighting her, fighting Zhang or even fighting someone else not named Mano Fioro in your next fight? Oh no, it actually was some talk about like fighting Manon like even before it was happened with Weili after her victory and yeah it's kind of like in my perspective I knew that I was going to defend my belt against Manon. And when Vaili called me out, I thought it might be a slight change, but when you see the final agreement for the fight,

it was the same as what we had before all this happened. But yeah, I think, Bailey, she's a great fighter and she showed that she can be successful for many years. She has shown so many good fights and I just like wanna congratulate her on her recent victory. Were you impressed with her performance against Tatiana? Oh, you know, every time I very like to watch her fight and Tatiana, she's amazing fighter.

She has these stories that not many people can actually move forward and can come back and do what they love, martial arts, sport and everything. That's why I have huge respect for Tatiana. And fight is fight. It's like both fighters go there to win the fight and they do everything. And yeah, it's just like the fact that

who was like in that night, a better fighter. I think I speak for all MMA fans. We would love to see this fight. It's such an interesting fight. It's the best at 125 against the best at 115. If all goes well, not looking past Manon, but if all goes well for you in May, are you interested in that fight next? I think it would be an amazing fight. I think it would be something that fans would love to see and definitely me being the person, like I focus on my target and my next target

it's Manon that's why for me it's still a little bit like farther to think about and I don't let many thoughts come in my mind and like start to disfocus me from the preparation what I will have for the next two months for Montreal card and that's why I'm really thinking only in one direction right now but since the fight is over yes my switch is gonna work just perfectly just curious has anyone said to you if all goes well in May this is what we want down the line like we're gonna save Zhang for you know you or the winner of this fight has that been said to you or your team?

Oh the only things what you heard like from Dana and like the only things what this is the things what we are all hearing at this moment. But I think making this fight it's going to be a huge fight for the all-female sport and like all the right negotiations that have to be done leading to this fight. I think this is all we have to be focusing on like moving forward but for now let's focus on the fight what they're gonna have in two months in Montreal. My last question on this is would you like for that to be the next one if all goes well in May? Why not? Why not? Who else?

Okay, I'm happy you say this because it's such an amazing fight and and I even heard Demetrius Johnson Suggest that maybe this would be your retirement fight. Is this a crazy statement? Because it doesn't seem like you're you're slowing down anytime soon You know, I feel that this down anytime soon? You know, I feel that this thing about retirement, it's going a little bit crazy around the martial arts community. And the most like silly questions that I have heard, not for me, but in general for all fighters, you know,

the, when the media, they starting to ask a fighter who are on the rise, on a top level. And they already start to ask this curious question about retirement. And I was like, what you are like, you don't enjoy to see their fights, you don't enjoy, like why you want them retired as soon as they just started their career?

That's why I don't really like all these, like, words retirement or something like that. What we have, like, the level what we have in our mind, it's all starting with the idea. Someone throw you to the hat, to your hat, or like you starting to think about or it's like in general, these things in common, but who told that there is certain age to retire? Who told that? The most important is how you feel. The most important what shape you are. If your brain ready for these like all training camps, weight cut, and it's ready to show the best performance of yourself, so there is no limits. Like stop asking this and stop commenting this silly question about retirement. Know the sea, you will see the facts. You see how people fight and you see how a person like uh show desire in the training

this is the measurement the right method a measurement but you have to consider before you throw this word retirement or i think like other persons they say oh i retired they they change their mind or then come back and i don't think that is right the same. No, I don't think so. I agree with you 100%. Personally, I wouldn't like if someone kept asking me when are you going to retire in my job? So I can't imagine how someone who's at the top of their game feels about it. But speaking of that word, it did come up in the back and forth, you know, with with you and Manon. Do you think in fact, if she loses, she will retire? You know, if she, it's very doubtful because coming from the person who, like, respects

martial arts and showing this respect, I would say yes, they will honor their world. But seeing someone who's like that and like changing their mind all the time and Kind of like don't pay anything Don't keep the word on something like that. So this is a doubt She she said at the press conference. She was disappointed that you didn't mention her name after your win over Alexa Grasso What is your reaction to that? Oh I really don't know it, I don't know why she disappointed that. I don't know why she ever like mentioned that because you don't, um, kind of

like you do your things, you don't want this attention or maybe she thinks that much about herself that she's like thinking that all the world is like circling around her only. I don't know. I really it's very hard for me to understand because I met me personally when I was expecting to fight someone. I never was. Oh, they will call me out from the octagon or something like that. No, I just did my things. I just moved every time forward. I was mixed martial arts fighters who doesn't care if someone say the name or no,

I will show everything with the action without waiting from anyone, anything. So I just every time believe on my power in my strength. That's why for me, it's very weird to hear from someone they were upset about that they didn't hear their name. Right. You have you have fought so many legends in the game, you have essentially fought everyone over the last few years, from, you years from 115 champion Ioanna to Amanda Nunes and everyone in between. Where would you put her and her skills?

Do you think she is one of the top fighters that you have faced? Obviously you haven't fought her yet, but when you look at her, when you game plan for her, when you watch her and study her, is she on the level of some of these people in your opinion? You mean about Manon? Yeah.

You know, every time when I fight a person, I consider it's like a dangerous opponent, consider a dangerous person. And no matter who I'm facing, I don't have easy fights. No matter who are going to be my next opponent, I every time getting ready for the fight as best as I can. Because for me, I know exactly there is no easy fights. There is no easy person, especially on this level of competition. And you see when you fight for the belt, when you defend your belt, there won't be easy opponents. That's why, that's why I, every time like put the best of me in the fight. We've seen you train all over the world for your fights.

Like you don't necessarily have like a home base, if you will, for training for this fight. Where will you be training? So we started my training camp already and we are traveling in Pacific Northwest. We are traveling by car, by boat, went to the Seattle area, San Juan Islands and we have so, I am lucky and I'm very honored that we have so many good friends and we can actually like have this opportunity to travel and train the same time. For example, in Washington state, we have, we train every time when we are here in Ivan's MMA gym, peak MMA gym, SBG, Port Townsend, SBG, Portland. So, and everywhere we have so amazing training

partners that it's kind of like, like good training camp, it's already started. And then, like, probably Las Vegas. We also consider some like Texas to go and visit our friends over there, the academics. And yeah, it's my lifestyle because I feel this is what bring me power and not only physical power, but also mental power when you are not in the comfortable position, it's like everything you know, you just like have all like comfortable things around your hands and you just show up in the gym training, but no, you have to deal with mental like uncomfortable things when you have to travel and then you have to still put your mind, get ready for the training and not take anything out. That's I feel what give me the power

and this advantage when I go into the fight. Yes, I saw you on the boat over there in Seattle. I think it's called the Puget Sound. That's where you were. You're always doing all kinds of all kinds of daring things, all kinds of activities. I even saw in a magazine you were showing off your gun collection. How many guns do you own Valentina? Many, many. I'm a huge gun person and for me it's not only just collecting things,

it's use them. I have collection of firearms, I have collection on, and it's not only just collecting things, it's use them. I have collection of firearms, I have collection on, and it's not the right term, like collection. For me, when you say collection, it's something that you put on a wall and never touch it. But my idea is every time what you have, you have to use it. That's why I don't like to hide things in the closet or something like that. I mean, even like for the teacups, you have to see them and use all the teacups what you want, what bring you joy. And the same like firearms, for example, I go to the shooting range, I take one gun one day, another gun another day, And it's every time to seek for the perfection,

to see the force, the best things. It's like, you know, I'm very relating firearms and mixed martial arts, because what is mixed martial arts? It's the best, the greatest modern sport in combat sport, because it's universal sport. Fighter here, it has to be not only good in something, it has to be a good fighter in wrestling, grappling, muay thai, boxing, kicking, like everything, the person has to combine the best qualities of itself.

What is what is it for me? Mixed martial arts and the same, for example, in a gun, in the like shooting sport. It's like you're you're looking something very reliable that, you know, it's going to work all the time and comfortable to use, easy to use. And it's so much relating things between two that I feel when I'm in the range and I do my like tactical shooting exercise I understand and I feel that it's also helping me into my martial

arts training because it's all the same, all the one. Which is your favorite gun? Do you have a favorite one like your go-to? I shoot a lot with, I have like all collection of Glocks, Glock 19, 17, 21, 42. I have, I very like to shoot with 6-hour P360. I like to shoot Smith & Wesson, the recent one, bodyguard. It's like for concealed carry. I love this gun because it's very small. It just fits in your pocket. You can have it with you all the time and it's just so accurate when you shoot it, it's just very precise and it fits like 12 rounds. So for this size it's just amazing. So I have older guns like what I have free wall wearing a gun and it's for I have Mosin rifle from 1935 year and actually when I competed in six hour hunting games and

it was like competitions that for the several days in Wyoming where we had to go with the backpacks all loaded to the mountains elevation and like I get ready for this competition with my Mosin rifle from 1935. And it's like the history from 1935 to a modern cross rifle, where you have like your binoculars like via Bluetooth connecting to the rifle and kind of like setting the range

and the right like precision what you have to shoot. It's unbelievable how like in the short time of years, how the industry and the human power of mind could have all this development. And it's not only in the gun industry, it's everywhere. You see how like mighty person who can like do that things and develop and go with the progress and this is what I like the most and appreciate. We know you as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.

You may be a greater gun shooter than you are MMA fighter Which speaks to just how prolific you are Can I ask you one last question before I let you go and and there's there has to be a direct answer Who is the number one female fighter in the world right now? Is it you or Zhang Wei Li? This is a big debate right now. We have the debate on the men's side, but also on the women's side in your opinion What's the right answer? Who is the number one? There is no one answer because for example, you see pound per pound dragon, they have me as the best female fighter, pound per pound. Your website has Weili as the best pound-per-pound fighter.

So there is no right answer. But like all of us, we do our thing. We show a lot of love to martial arts and how we show it with our dedication, because we are not only just like spending one year, two years, three years, like considering, oh, we will like gain some money and then do whatever we want, like, because it's not our main things. No, we show this love through our dedication that we are here through the years because martial arts, mixed martial arts is our life, our philosophy, our everything what we are doing and I will not put any name like just like throwing because someone wants to hear it from me. I respect everyone who show in this dedication and definitely I think that it should be more than just one person because so many

Fighters who do martial arts. It's just not fair Just to throw one name on the top and forget about all other names. Okay, that is fair. That is fair By the way, thank you for checking out the website. You know, I I don't vote on the rankings just for the right the website. I don't vote on the rankings just for the rankings. I follow you. I didn't have to check it. Well, thank you. Thank you for following and thank you for coming on. It's always great to have you and I hope after the fight in Montreal you have some poutine. You try the Montreal delights. Did you hear about poutine, what they eat in Montreal?

Oh yes, it's the most famous dish and I was like, okay maybe fight week I can try this but like no it has to be after the fight yes it has to be after thank you as always for the time appreciate you taking out some some time out of the busy day good luck in training and bon chance as they say in Montreal bon chance bon courage as well on the 10th of May can't wait to see you back in there thank Thank you, Ariel. Thank you so much.

Have a good day. Same to you. There she is. The great Valentina Shevchenko, the, uh, I mean, the greatest by far flyway champion of all time, uh, that goes without saying. And without a doubt, one of the greatest female fighters in the history of the sport. Once again, most KO victories in flyway division history, most wins, 10 KO's, 4 longest winning streak, 9.

Mino at 7 by the way. Most total strikes and takedowns in flyweight division history, most total victories in women's flyweight division history, with 9. Joint 6 alongside Matt Hughes for most title fight victories. Nunes, Anderson Silva, Mighty Mouse, GSP, and John Jones are the only ones ahead of her. Career wins over the likes of Holly Holm, Joana J. Cech, Juliana Pena, Alexa Grasso, Jessica Andrade, Liz Carmus, Jessica I.

From 115 all the way to 135, it's pretty remarkable. She returns to action at UFC 315. Now, we were hoping to perhaps see our next guest at 315, maybe even 314. We last saw him here in New York City when he proclaimed that he was going to be the first Now, we were hoping to perhaps see our next guest at 315, maybe even 314. We last saw him here in New York City when he proclaimed that he was the baddest man in New York. And since then, we've been waiting with bated breath for his return.

It has been three long months, and as of right this second, we don't know when we will catch a glimpse of the Welsh gangster, at least in the cage. And so I thought it would be good to have him back on the program, our old friend, Oban Elliott, to talk about what the heck is going on and a whole host of other things. And I do believe, my good friend, Oban Elliott, that this is the first time you actually join us from Wales. I was going through it. The first time was in Anaheim.

The second time was post-Anaheim. Then we were away, but I think we had youAnaheim, then we were away but I think we had you before the London fight, certainly here in New York this might be the first time emanating from Wales unless I'm forgetting one, this is a big deal. It was just before Manchester I did one at home. Okay, you remember that? I ruined it. Yeah, but I'm sorry at the minute I'm training with Ian Garry this week. Oh wow. And he asked how you were, hope you're well. He sends his best as usual.

Yeah, so obviously I'm in sorry, yeah, you got it wrong. Okay, I did get it, there you are with the- That's right, yeah, yeah. I saw you with Ian, I saw you with Roberto Soldich, I saw you with Paulo Costa, you're making the rounds. Yeah, man, I'm not like, I can't skim over the camp with Soldic at UFD Gym. What an amazing camp they put together for him. And yeah, it was such good training.

It was an honour to be on the mats with guys like Roberto. I feel just the level up in terms of mentally testing my level against guys like that and he's one of the best in our weight class in the world without a doubt. So to be in that camp environment I learnt a lot with the coaches there and yeah, like you said, Paolo was there, Ian Serdu, the octagon champion was there, Daron Wynne, he sends his best as well. I spoke to him yesterday, Daron Wynne. And when I was there, Ian called me and said, do I want to train when I'm back? And I said, yeah, of course, let's do it. So yeah, I'm getting the rounds in, I'm staying ready. I thought I would have had a bit of fight news by now.

I don't know what's going on. They must be cooking something big. I don't know what's going on, Ariel. What's going on? What's going on? Well, I'd like to know that. I'd like to know that as well because I figured, okay, maybe London, that would make a lot of sense.

If not, you see- Yeah, off the bat, yeah, sorry to put you off, but like, yeah, if you go all the times we thought I should have fought, we said straight away after my battle fight I had to go to hospital that night with my leg so yeah my leg was all chewed up. Same injury I had pretty much all of last year and it's good now but I needed to get that right so I said it would be good to go in March, London would be perfect. They said that's looking full so I thought maybe it would be the one, is it this weekend with Pereira? Yeah. Is it this week?

Yeah, I thought maybe it would be that card and I'm still waiting, still waiting but I'm staying ready and it's good because I'm in a better place. I'm in a very good place, very dangerous place now. So as soon as I get that fight news. This is it. Hey Sean Shelby, I'm seeing all these guys get fights booked, but still no news for the biggest, the baddest, the meanest and the maddest of them all, brother. Let me see it. What's going on? You even threatened to fly over to Las Vegas I do believe here it is I've decided if no news by the end of this week I'll be flying to Vegas and

finding out for myself brother have you booked the plane ticket I'm getting this work done this week Ariel and he froze just a little just a little 10-minute journey from here so I'll be straight on the plane if they don't give me something soon. I don't know what's going on. What is going on? I was sorry to see Carlos Prates got booked to fight, because I would have loved to fight him next.

Who are they going to give me? There's this talk online, me and Mads Vidal, it's a fan thing, nobody knows what's going on with him. Maybe they're figuring that out, who knows? There's a lot of guys I could get in there with and I think I'll beat them all. Do you think they're saving you for International Fight Week? That seems to be the showcase of the immortals. You would fit perfectly on that one. If they are doing that, then just let me know.

You know what I mean? But I was thinking that earlier, actually. Maybe that would make sense. But yeah, we're just nagging them, basically. When is the fight, when is the fight? But I'm not just sitting around, I'm getting working with the best guys in the world. I'm improving and I'm finally injury free, finally. And now I can just, this next fight now, whenever that is, if it's a couple of weeks, if it's

a couple of months, I'll be so ready and I can really get into that top 15 now, no problem. Was the Masvidal thing a real thing? Well, no, did you not see Chil? He went on Twitter and said, just out of nowhere, he didn't text me or anything. He just said, I nominate Masvidal to whip, no, I nominate Auban Elliott to whip Masvidal's ass in my place. So, okay. So chill creative. You got it. You gotta go. You gotta go where the boss said that would be tremendous. He's not on the Miami card either. So, so maybe they are sitting.

But then is he coming back? Surely you're in the know. Uh, I, I heard there was some talk of Miami and, uh, and now he's not on the Miami card. And so his return is a little bit up in the know. I heard there was some talk of Miami and now he's not on the Miami card and so his return is a little bit up in the air. Yeah, well, you know, who cares? Who cares really? Yeah. As of that, you know, he's on the skid, is he coming back, who knows?

But like, like, Chayo created that, so, and I'm all for that, that would be great. I mean, who else can you really get in there with in this position? Why not give it to, you know, the stories there with Che, why not give it to a guy on the up? Who knows? Who knows?

Like Aldo just got booked with, who's the guy's name? Eamon Zahabi. You see, a guy on the up and coming, right? I mean, he's been in the game for a long time. You know, he's Faraz's younger brother, Faraz Zahabi, head coach of TriStar. and he's a Montreal boy. He's really like the only local product on that card. So, he had to be.

And so are you bummed you're not on the London card? It's so close to Wales. Was that the one that you were hoping for? Yeah, but yeah, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not. It just wasn't meant to be, you know? So, whatever, I'm not like upset'm not, I'm not, it just, if it just wasn't meant to be, you know, so whatever. I'm not like upset about it. It would have been good. But then I don't know if it's just a pay-per-view thing now. I don't know if that was just a coincidence before.

Miami would have been good. Dallas is full, I'm sure now. So maybe Montreal. You know that's my hometown. I mean, it would be a great honor for you to fight in my hometown. Like I said I do that for you Ariel, I do that for you. I make Montreal great again and yeah I can I can there's it's I'm just open to all options there's there's guys ahead of me um I want the, Ariel. I want to get in the top 15 this year,

no problem. I feel like I can do this, no problem. Well, there was once a time where Rob Van Dam was Mr. Monday Night. You're Mr. Pay-Per-View, so we need to save you for the pay-per-views. If it was up to you, book the scenario, book the matchup for us. Who are you fighting in your next fight, if it was up to you? If you had the pencil, as they say. Um well there's two I guess. I think Maz Vidal, International Fight Week, come on that would be that would be out of this world but I think someone like Luque. He's just done that he's just at the bottom of the of the top 15. I think someone like Luké will be good. Maybe Luké. Because Prates is buff. I kind of wanted that one. I wanted that one because that's

like somebody who everybody is scared of in the sense that we joined the UFC at the same time so it would make sense to get us in there together, I think. So, but he's booked. So, but they offered me Jake Matthews in Australia, but I was injured. That I'm, I'll be told him there's no problem with the matchup there, but I do that timeframe. I can't, I can't fight injured anymore. This is no way. So, well, you're now a full timetime fighter so you know these are the liberties

that you have you can go travel the world you can not fight fights when you're injured so does that mean what does that mean full-time fighter now i saw you tweet about this does that mean no more nandos no more uh i'm just kidding i just there it is right well congratulations by the way congratulations i mean many congratulations to you you So much has happened, by the way, since we last spoke. And don't think I didn't notice the T-shirt that you wore for the occasion. I mean, that really meant a lot to me. I'm being 100% serious.

That was a great, great honor. So thank you for that. Now, thank you, Ariel. You've done, you don't have to give me, you don't have to give your platform to people and boost them the way you do. You've done a lot for me, so of course. The full time fighter, I can just go all in and not have to worry about anything else

and just lock in with the training, get the best bar I I can, you know, freeze a bird in that sense, you know. Happy with the new deal? Oh yeah, of course, of course. Yeah, okay. I wanna be a lifer, as they say, in the UFC. So yeah, you know, the future's secure for now. Congratulations as well, Brown Belt now, I saw that. Yeah.

And I also happen to see that you want some kind of award and you noted in the caption, the most prestigious award ceremony on the planet. We took that here very personally. We took that as a subtle shot, but I said, there's no way that's a shot at us. You would never do that. No, of course not.

No, no. They're aligned, of course. No, no, no. They're aligned. Of course. I like the tickets. Speaking of shots, I like the way Valentina just done you for the, for the rankings on your website. Yeah. I was creasing a lot. Yeah. She's class. She's a, she's an absolute legend. Um, oh man, there's a lot to talk to you about. Um, I wanted to ask you about the world of professional wrestling. That's how this all kind of kicked off. And I was told that, logged on to the Zoom and your name is in fact the final boss.

Is it still the final boss? I can't remember when I did that, but yeah, the final boss. I love in the work of the final boss. But before we get into all of that. But CM Punk isn't loving the work of the final boss. Did you see him tear the house down last night? I saw the promo, I saw the promo. But before we get into all of that,

I do have to ask, because there's a lot of Congratulations that are in order with the the new contract and the brown belt and the awards and everything that's coming your way I think you you moved into a new house. You told us you were you were getting set to do that the last time we see but I was perusing oh when I was perusing the the internet the The rags as they say and is there is there. And is there a new love interest in the, I mean, I'm seeing you now in the celebrity. Are we allowed to talk? I just saw your name there.

I was like, that's my boy, fair play to Oba, but I'm not, what's going on? Can you talk about this? Is this taboo? What is this? Arrow, no. You bastard. It was there, it was in the papers.

I saw it Next okay, well fair play fair play. I've never seen I've never seen you quiet. I've never seen you say no comment next question I've never seen this yeah Never never trust the, as they say. Is that, is that what I mean? Is this a Hulwani turn on you? Did I just- No, you just flipped on me there, Ariel. You just flipped on me.

No. Okay. Yeah, I had some bullshit. Okay, all right, all right. Next question, next question. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, all right. Wow, things got awkward. Let's talk about wrestling. Nah, it's not awkward. question, next question. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, all right. Wow, things got awkward.

Let's talk about wrestling. Nah, it's not awkward. Okay, not awkward. Yeah, wrestling, of course, of course. Oh, the wrestling, my God, can you believe, can you believe we've got John Cena as a bad guy now? I can't believe it. It's unbelievable.

So there you are tweeting about it, reacting. John Cena sold his soul to the final boss. What a scene this Saturday in Toronto, equating it to the NWO. My take on it is great, but it pales in comparison to what Hulk Hogan did in 1996 that was seismic. Now I do concede that we have the benefit of knowing how that whole story played out with with Hogan in the NWO and this story is just 48 hours, 72 hours old, but I don't think it is as big as Hulk Hogan in the NWO and this story is just 48 hours 72 hours old but I don't think it is as big as Hulk Hogan. Am I right or am I wrong?

I don't know. I don't know. I think I think it could be on a level of I really do because you got John Cena he's been he's been a good guy for like an in your face good guy for 20 years and you've got Hogan and that was what 10 years after the Hulkamania run is that right? Something like that yeah and Hogan was a bad guy before before in the AWA he was he wasn't... Oh but no one remembered that no one remembered that I mean that was very low level. I guess, but I think the John Cena one is, I do think it's a bit more, like I still can't quite believe it. I think it's a bit more, I think there's a bit more to the John Cena one. He joined with the Rock, like come on.

It was great. I think the John Cena one's bigger. Are you surprised that he didn't show up yesterday? I was a little disappointed that there was no sort of a continuation. They said he's gonna show up on Friday, but I feel like Monday Night Raw after the pay-per-view, that's the one where you gotta show up

to continue the angle, no? Yeah, but they don't do that anymore, do they really? Yeah. They can't, he's got his film, he's filming his movie or whatever he's doing. No, I didn't expect to see him there. Like The Rock will probably next come on screen now. I don't know, months probably, you know what I mean?

Oh, you're such a company guy defending all the creative for TKO. No, he 100% should have been there. John Cena should have been there, don't get me wrong. But like, I think Punk did, don't get me wrong. I think Punk blew whatever. I don't know, maybe the delay of John and The Rock coming back on the screen makes it a little bit bigger. They're not going to top anything they just did, so why not just let that settle down. I think the way Punk went out last night and cut that promo was as good as a response to

what happened as anything that they could have done. Yes, it was vintage. I think so anyway. Yes, it was vintage, I would say. Who do you want to see Punk? It seems like it's going to be him versus Seth, right? Are you happy with this? Yeah.

Yeah, I would have liked to see him in a big... I think they might, as they say, pivot. They might get him in the main event. I don't know, maybe next year. But I would like to see Punk selfishly, I guess, as a friend, get in the main event. But yeah, probably Seth. That's the way to go, probably, with Seth.

And that's box office. The probably with Seth. And that's a box office. The whole thing they're doing is amazing. And I'm actually gonna be at the, and I think this might have something to do with me not being on London because I'm gonna be at SmackDown the week after London. Oh, to do what? Yeah, we, you will find out.

What? He-O-Wan-E. Wow, wow. You'll find out He-O-Wan-E. I'll whine. Wow, wow. You'll find out, he'll whine. I'll flip on you too, brother. You're working in angle? Nah, we don't. We'll see, you'll see, you'll see.

You're gonna be one, you're gonna join NWO Hollywood. That's what they're calling them now, The Rock and Christina and Travis Scott. Yeah, that's what, yeah. Everybody giving the Travis Scott, like, why was he there? I kind of liked it. I don't know why. Why did you like it? It's like a Denise Robb because he's like Denise Robbman. Yeah, Dennis, Denise, you know, tomato, tomato. What do you call him? Dennis? Dennis. Dennis. I thought it was Denise. I swear on the WCW they said it is a woman's name

Yeah, I don't know I don't know I thought yeah Whatever it close enough. Okay. Yeah, that's enough Rodzilla they used to call him Rodzilla. Yeah. Yeah, I've got a t-shirt on my friend. Give me a t-shirt Yeah, I got a t-shirt Rodzilla. But yeah, I like the whole thing. They're doing that Oh my god, you know if I could get involved but then I'd never leave punk side. And if punk's against, if punk's against the NWO Hollywood, then so am I. I love it. Did you hear that Travis may have busted Cody Rhodes' eardrum? Yeah, I just saw that. I just saw that. Yeah. It was a slap. It was a severe slap.

I know, I know, but you'll get a receipt for that, I'm sure. Yeah, that's why you can't bring these celebs into the squared circle, the hallowed ground. They have to know how to work the match. They can't be so stiff, potato shots. Yeah, yeah, he did slap. But it looked good on the TV, but then if he has injured Cody, that's like,

that's bad, you know, they'll have to rethink what they're doing there. Sure. Are you a big Sina guy? I never, that's the thing, I was, I was, I was as a kid, but then you get to a little bit like, oh my God, you know, I saw loyalty and respect, you know, and even the kids, like, that's what I mean, that's why I think it was, because it was like, it's a bigger, I don't know, how do you say it, it was harder to see coming. He was this guy all for the kids and the make-a-wish and all that, and they just file a trademark

for break-a-wish. Did you see that? Yeah, I don't know if that's real or not. I think that might be a fake tweet. Oh, I see. But yeah, you know, I just think, yeah, Cena seen a super super goody two shoes and all that but Yeah, not not for me. I love that. I love the NWO. I love I love like CM Punk the way like just kind of like the Anti kind of

Hero, what's the antihero bad? Is that what it is? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, but I mean chill son I'm not so much. Yeah, of course. Yeah. Yeah. It makes sense. It does make sense. Yeah. I was thinking that the act was getting very stale. You know, the same. Yeah, we've seen her. Yeah. It's enough for her. We all wanted the same thing. The same thing. Yes. The same thing. Enough. Enough already. Enough. Yeah. No, enough. Yeah. But I think they've done it in the best way.

I can't I can't believe I can't believe that that that shot with the when he's hugging him he looks at him. So good. That's kind of that's kind of what he did to me. Yeah, well, you know what? Can I can I just be honest? I feel like everything has changed. I feel like everything is. I feel like everything is. I'm heartbroken. I feel like the mood has changed. I feel like you want to shut this in. Yeah. I feel like you want to go. I feel like I ruined a good thing.

Really? Yeah. You were my guy. Did I stab you in the back? I was happy for you. I was happy. He didn't stab me in the back. No, this is just some bullshit going around.

I sent that to PizT. and I was like, P.T., look at our boy, all grown up, fair play. We were celebrating. Yeah. Let's just move on from that. Okay, sorry, you brought it back up. I know, I turned the front back up. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

We love you, we love you, you know that. No, I love you too, I love you too. Yes, of course. How would you book the main event now? Does Cena go over? Yeah, he's got him. Really? Yeah, he's got him.

What, are we gonna do the Cody Rose thing again? And nah, he's gotta go over, I think. Wow. Cena. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And what do you do with Roman? It's gonna be big. Yeah, but he's just kind of gone now.

But you know what I mean? Like he's just kind of gone now. You know what I mean? Like he's kind of become like a scene. Like where'd you put him in? Unless they all join together, maybe that'll be it. But then Roman's just been a bad guy for so long. So I don't know. I don't know what you do with Roman. Do you think we get Roman versus Rock? That's the one we've always wanted.

I don't think you get it this year though. No. No, there's not enough build now. What are we in March? Yeah, I don't think. Maybe next year, but then is the Rock getting a little bit too old? Chael saying he's an old leather boot and all that. I don't know. Wow, jeez. That's not respect No, you did say it though. Are you going to mania? Ardh I did I'm just kind of taking think I've been so busy But yeah, I think I probably could I'll probably I'll probably get a you're mr. TKO now. Yeah

If I yeah, I'll go. Yeah, you know wouldn't be the same without you that Yeah, no, I think Vegas. And it wouldn't be the same without you? Yeah, no, I think Vegas, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah, I could do some training around the same time. Maybe I'm fighting soon so I can slot in there for the weekend, do some training, decide, do a bit more traveling. Yeah, it'd be good. A fellow Welshman back in the UFC, Mason Jones. Yeah, yeah, well done, well done.

Love that. Yeah, we've never really had much to do with each other. Yeah, you don't seem thrilled about the news. We never trained together. I thought maybe you didn't. I thought you'd be a little... Ah! Golly, what happened?

What, you just shit-starred today? I just, I just, I'm here. No, no, no, perfect. We just rewind the tape, I mean, go'm here. No, no, no. Can you just rewind the tape? I mean, go. No, no, no. You gotta learn to deal with things on the live broadcast, Aaron.

No. Yeah, well done to him. I feel like he should have been in, for what, you know, he beaten everybody in the European level, for sure. Well done. Congratulations. I saw a beautiful painting of you.

Someone made a painting of you from the MSG show. That's a nice thing. That's something we can talk about. I know Jordan Hall, his name is. Yeah. Look at that. I know some to take the time into doing something like that. It's crazy. It's crazy. Very surreal. Where's that? Where's that hanging? I am because I'm still in my flat at the minute

and I'm still waiting for my house to go through. So it's just kind of there. Okay, okay. But yeah, when I move, I do all the decorations. I'm neither there at the minute. I'm just here, there and everywhere. So I'll wait until I'm in the house before I do all of that. But then I don't know, I never really liked the idea

of having like shrines of yourself. Sure, sure. Of myself, you know? Is that, it's never really been something I wanted to do, but I've gotta do it. He took the time. It's a beautiful thing. Maybe in the basement or something,

maybe in the office. Like the back room. Yeah, yeah, yeah, office. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, for sure, man. And how's Jack Shore? A bit of a sudden retirement. Is he coaching, is he doing well? Yeah, he's coaching, he's doing great.

When you're done with the game, I guess it's sudden to us, but it's not sudden to him. He was done with the fighting side of it, but he's still involved. He's in the gym every day, he's coaching the boys on the come up now, so he's got a new way of making a living I guess. He's all good. A lot of people have said that to him, said that to me, sorry. Like he'd be in some sort of, I don't know, bad place or whatever, but he's good. He's great. He's as good as he's ever been, I think. I have to text him now. No, I mean, it was just a bit sudden, so yeah.

Well, hopefully we're in a good place too. Nah, we're always good, Errol, come on, man, come on. Well, you gotta toughen that Canadian skin up, man. Well, you know, I'm very sensitive. I'm very sensitive, I worry about how people feel about me and I'm very self-conscious about these things. I guess the word I'm trying to think of here is neurotic. Neurotic is the word.

I don't know what that means. Yeah, I know it's better. You shouldn't be that guy. You shouldn't be that guy. Well, hopefully we have an actual fight to discuss. If you need me to put in a word to, you know, Shelby and the boys Shelby McMaynard uh Hunter Dana happy to do so and uh mate i'm flying there myself you can come on

you can you can meet me there we'll do it we'll do we'll do it no it'll be something soon it'll be uh i don't when i don't know am i really gonna wait until until June for the fight week? Like that's crazy. I just fought in November. You know what I mean? But then if I'm fighting in May, like I would if it's for the International Fight Week, that's worth waiting for. It's like six weeks after. So of course, but yeah, we'll just wait and see. I'm ready to, I'm just ready'm ready to keep this going, keep training, keep getting better, keep improving. You get a chance to really improve when you're not just in camp. And yeah, I'm just eager for the call. I've got to kind of switch off now and then because I'm just looking at the rankings and overthinking it and I'm like, what are you doing? You know what I mean? Especially when you see people get

booked, I'm like he literally just thought how? Have you just forgot? I don't know. But of course they haven't. They got something up their sleeve so it'll be good when it comes. Well the one that we're skipping over is the June, there's a June 7th pay-per-view and strong rumors seem to suggest that it's going to be happening around these parts in Newark to be exact. Oh yeah. It leads you to Brick City and so perhaps if that happens you can come back and visit your old frontier. It's just a stone's throw away. It would be nice if you want to of course. I don't know if we're still... Of course. Ah, shut up! No, of course, of course. Yeah, well, just after weighting, see, I'm not against...

I don't know. Yeah, well, after weighting, see. Newark, New Jersey, the Prudential Center, would that be the right one? That is it, yeah, nailed it, the Rock. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Prudential Center, yeah. The Rock, it's called The Rock. Is it called The Rock? Yes.

Oh, maybe, maybe. and the rock member called the rock is it called the rock yes oh maybe maybe but then i wouldn't i'd like to fight before then that's ages way you know i mean but then between now and then that's like a camp i guess three months um yeah yeah all right well whatever it'll all work out i'm ready to go i'm ready to go for sure uh much love, congratulations on all the great things, the contract most importantly. Thank you for checking in. Good luck out there in Surrey. I'm not really quite sure where Surrey is.

Is that in England? It's London, just outside of London. Okay, sounds very posh. But yeah, we'll get some more good work. We're doing some Jiu Jitsu tomorrow, Sparring the next day. We're getting some good work in. Okay, be safe out there. Yeah, stay out of trouble. I will, thank you. day. We're getting some good work in. You know? Yeah.

Stay out of trouble. I will, thank you. Okay, you're the man, Oben. Talk to you very soon. Thank you for coming on. Much love. Thank you, bro. Much love.

All right, there he is. The great Oban Elliott, the Welsh gangster, looking for a fight, and hopefully he gets one in the near future. Did I scream that out I don't know. Nah, man, it's all good. What did I do? You did right.

You said that you saw it on the tabloids. You were asking him about it, and he said he didn't wanna talk about it. It's all good. Did I just? No. Oh, wait. I think we should keep harping on it.

I think that's the way to save this. You should call him back right now. Is he still there? Yeah, he's fuming. He says, I'm gonna wait for Ariel to get get off. Oh, no, I've ruined it. I've burned another bridge I love that slurp. Everything okay back? Everything's great. All right, we uh We're fully behind you on this. You just asked he said he wanted to talk about it. We moved on. Oh you asked again Yeah, well as I was telling him goodbye, I was like, but can you give me the skinny on the, no, no,

I didn't ask him again. I read the room. Okay, all right, all right, all right. Well, hopefully you didn't get too uncomfortable back there with all of that. No, it's fine. I think it's time to turn the page. That turned, okay, sorry.

You know, it's funny you say that because I remember one time Paige suggested that I burnt a bridge with her because I asked her about, uh, Macy Barber who she didn't want to talk about and then she sent me a gift of, uh, Homer Simpson burning a bridge. And so you said Paige and then it reminded me of the- This should be like an Ariel Hovani like Mad Libs where you just make word associations to like, I say Paige, you bring up Paige. Oh my God. Any, anyway, anyway, I tell you, I tell you one world

that is a lot less dramatic and sensitive as the one that we reside in. And maybe I'm wrong about this, is the wonderful world of the National Football League. And so at this time we wanted to do a wonderful world of the National Football League. And so at this time we wanted to do a deep dive into the NFL offseason. I know that's what all of you come here to listen to and and to hear us dissect. And so without further ado, let us say hello for the very first time to the ESPN.com

NFL Atlanta Falcons. I botch that, B-writer, my old friend and yours, the great Mark Ramundi. There he is, Marundi. He's back here to talk to us. And so what is it? Are they gonna go with Jamal Anderson or is it gonna be, what are we doing with Michael Vick as the offseason turns into the, what is it, the OTAs what are we doing well I just got back from the NFL Combine look at you in Indianapolis yes and next week free agency begins yes yes and that is that is gonna be very big potentially for your Buffalo Bills oh yes yes tell us tell us sure I cover the

Atlanta Falcons Ariel I don't cover the Falcons. We miss you. We miss you around these parts. How much do you not miss us? I don't mean me specifically, but the wild and wacky world of combat sports. Is your life infinitely less stressful and better? I'd say it's less chaotic. The NFL is much more structured than the world of mixed martial arts, the world of the UFC and boxing. But I miss it from time to time. I pop in once in a while and I check out the fights and I have it all.

It's still on my social media. It's just constantly flooding my social media. I haven't gotten rid of... I don't think I've unfollowed anyone. It's still pretty much the same people that I'm following. And there are definitely times where I see things on social media and I'm like, woo, thank goodness I don't gotta cover that.

Thank goodness I'm done with that for now. But shout out to you guys, shout out to Uncrowned. I'm a big fan of the new products. And I'm a fan of the new show and our pals that work there. Anytime that I can read, I'm just happy to the, uh, the new show and, uh, you know, our, our pals that, uh, that worked there, you know, anytime that I can, I can read, you know, I'm just happy to have a Ben Foulkes and Chuck Mindenhall writing about MMA again. Oh yeah. That you know, a lot and shout out Cam Hawkins too, you know, a great

wrestling writer for Uncrowned. Uh, yeah, I mean, uh, I, I still, I'm still very much in tune with everything going on in, in MMA if I'm, if I'm being honest. By the way, what's it like having an off season? I mean, you haven't done any work since what, like early January? Two month vacation over there? Well, it put it this way, it's not again, it's not as 24-7 as MMA is. And what, you know, was for me, it is, there is a little bit of a, an ebb and flow

to the process, to the structure of the NFL. The season is an absolute grind. It's like, if I had to compare it, it's like every week is fight week. And you know, you're just getting up and you're going to practice every single day, pretty much, you know, four days out of the week. And then, you know, you're traveling on Saturday for a Sunday game if they're on the road, which is half the season. So it is a grind. I can't really compare that to anything else. So I was exhausted during the season.

By week 10, I'm talking to Chris Lindstrom, who's a Pro Bowl right guard for Atlanta. And I'm like, man, you see it's week 10. It's like, man, I feel like I've been, you know, I've been here for a long time. There's still eight weeks to go. We're only like almost halfway through. It's a heck of a grind and it takes a toll. I mean, I'm not playing obviously, Ariel, but you know.

Sure, sure, no, I understand. Every day being on planes, you know, planes every week almost, it's a lot. Overall though, are you happy? In all seriousness, this is a big move for you. Are you happy with the Switch? Absolutely happy. I can't say enough about the team at ESPN

and how they've embraced me, the other NFL Nation reporters. It's been, honestly, and I also want to shout out the local Atlanta media, They are just so nice. I mean, they have really welcomed me with open arms and you never know when you go into a new place, a new market. I completely uprooted my life. I lived in Los Angeles for 10 years, moved to Atlanta and I'm going to a new sport covering a new team.

Everything is different and I don't know any of these people in Atlanta And I show up and you know, they really embraced me from day one and they really could not be nicer people I've even taken some of them to MMA shows here in Atlanta. Shout out in Victor FC and wrestling shows Independent process of processing shows and Monday Night Raw I took my dear friend Taryn walk who is an Atlanta Falcons comm reporter to Monday Night Raw and I took my dear friend Taryn Wok, who is an AtlantaFalcons.com reporter, to Monday Night Raw. And she watched the Netflix premiere here with me and my wife Wendy. Wow, wow. On that airplay.

So I mean, and now I think she's a full fledged, she's gonna hate me saying this, but I think she's a full-fledged fan now. By the way, any closet MMA or wrestling fans on the team that you get to talk to about all this? I mean, I can talk fights with almost, I feel like almost everyone on the roster to a degree, like a lot of guys on the Falcons follow fights. Um, Chris Lindstrom, as I mentioned, who was one of the best

offensive lineman in the NFL. He's a big fight fan and you know, um, Jesse Bates, who's one of the best safety in the NFL, he's a UFC fan, big boxing fan. Shout out to, uh, my guy, a rookie rook, a Rororo who is. Absolutely the biggest fight fan, probably in the locker room where, you know, I can go there and talk to him for the entire locker room period, just about fights, about boxing, especially there's one time actually, um, I was in the locker room. We were talking about a fury Usyk, right?

And that fight had just ended, the most recent one. And he's like, man, I gotta go back and I gotta watch it again to score it. Cause we were kind of debating about who was scoring and Michael Pennings Jr, the quarterback walks by and he's like, man, you better be watching film. Not that, hey, you better be watching film. So that was a funny little moment.

But yeah, there's a lot of guys in the locker room that are really into fights. I don't know if you know this but we have a gentleman on our team here known as George O'Connor, lifelong Falcons fan, still talks about 28 to three till this day. How about this GC? How about this?

I mean, this guy's rubbing elbows with Penics in the boys. I mean, this is an honor. I mean, I read this guy's stuff all day, every day. He's the source of all my Falcons news. Any questions? Any hot bun questions? Yeah, how do we move on from Kirk Cousins

without losing too much money? I mean, there's really no good answer to that question. There's going to be dead money. There's going to be a serious salary cap hit. Whether he's on the team next year, whether he gets cut, whether he's traded, it's going to saddle the team for a year or two. And that's just the nature of the beast. You know, things don't work out in the NFL and

people were criticizing that number eight overall pick, Michael Pennings Jr., right? People were killing the Falcons and I'm there, it's my first week on the beat and people are killing the Falcons. I'm like, what am I, what have I gotten myself into? Well, it turns out that was actually an excellent pick because Pennings is a stud and and I think he's gonna be a really, really good quarterback in the NFL moving forward. The problem is that the Kirk Cousins situation did not work out the way anyone wanted. So yeah, so they have to kind of figure that out.

But look, if you told me last off season, if you're a Falcons fan, you got Michael Pennex Jr. who could be a franchise quarterback for the next X amount of years, you gotta be happy with that. Well. Well Mark we do know who you are and and we do know why you're here. How about that? How about that? Pretty good? Yes, yes. Which I have my toothpick. That cover behind you, say hello to the bad guys. It comes out on a tremendous date June 24th. That is beautiful.

June 24th is in fact my mother's birthday and it is also Quebec's birthday, Saint-Jean Baptiste's day. So you pick the phenomenal day to come out with your first book. It's currently number one as far as new releases are concerned in sports journalism at Amazon. That's true. I mean, I'm looking at it right now,

number one new release, whatever that means. You can pre-order it right now, Amazon and wherever you get your books. I'm very excited about this. And when it comes out, right before it comes out, we'd love to have you on to talk about the book and putting it all together and the work that you did, the actual journalism that you did into the book. It's not just, you know, kind of recounting history. You did tremendous work.

But I thought of you this week because of course, what transpired Saturday at Elimination Chamber with John Cena because it has led to this debate which one was bigger, Hogan in 96, Bash at the Beach or Cena in 25, Elimination Chamber. And so I thought, who better than our old friend Morandi to talk about this all? I weighed in yesterday, my general thesis in 60 seconds or so was that it was amazing. We'll never see anything like it again, because we'll never see a babyface stay a babyface for this long. People go in and out. There's a gray area.

There's people going in and out of characters as well. Um, you know, with, with these press conferences and all that stuff, it will never be like seeing attorney heel. That being said, it isn't bigger than Hulk Hogan because Hulk Hogan was seismic, it changed an industry, it changed WCW, it allowed for them to overtake WWF and on and on it goes. Now I do concede kind of unfair to compare a 72 hour angle to a story that is 30 years old but I don't think it will have the same lasting impact as Hogan in 96. Your thoughts. Well, let me tell you why I think it's actually bigger. Oh, wow, wow.

And look, I definitely see both sides of it. And the one thing that I will say is that what you just said is that we don't know what the effects of this will be. We don't know if this leads to a giant gigantic boom period for wrestling. It's already kind of in a boom period, right? It's already, it's very hot.

WWE's business is extremely hot right now. And they're making more money probably, not probably, they're making more money than they were in, you know, when the Attitude Era hit after the NWO and, you know, 98, 99, 2000, etc. But I think this is bigger, Ariel, because look, Hogan turned heel. And Hogan was a big star, right? He did movies, he did television shows. None of them were really super highly acclaimed. None of them were huge box office hits, except for, I guess, Rocky III, where he was a supporting character.

But The Rock is one of the most recognizable people on the face of the earth. John Cena, I mean, he's a household name I would say as well at this point, right? And then you have Travis Scott, who kind of a random addition to this, you know, this triumvirate, but Travis Scott, for Gen Z, for the younger audience, just a massive name, massive name. All of them are bigger names, household names, mainstream crossover names than Hulk Hogan, Kevin Addison, Scott Hall. So from that point of view, from just the sheer

popularity point of view, I think this is actually bigger. I think it penetrates the mainstream more than the Hulk Hogan turn did in 96. Now again, we don't know what's going to happen after this, but just that one angle, I think, is actually bigger from a mainstream perspective. Are you surprised they pulled the trigger finally? Years and years of asking, wondering, debating in his supposed final year, we'll see if it remains that way because as I said yesterday, heels tend to lie, and so who knows, maybe he's got another three years. Now he is about four years older than Hogan was when he turned. That being said, are you surprised they finally pulled the trigger? Oh yeah, very surprised. to Laiad, so who knows, maybe he's got another three years. Now he is about four years older than Hogan was when he turned. That being said, are you surprised

they finally pulled the trigger? Oh yeah, very surprised. And look, because if you don't want to think about pro wrestling, this is the farewell tour, right? This is where everyone, you know, this is your chance to give John Cena your flowers. You know, he has all the merch made for his final few months in WWE.

This is like, this is the babyface role. It is the babyface role where you're kind of saying your goodbyes, you know, you're kissing babies and then shaking hands on the way out. And you don't foresee the last ten months or so of his career of him being a heel. So who knows what the next, you know, until December has, you know, has in store for us as far as the story goes, but you just don't think that he's gonna turn heel at this moment.

You know, there were times where it made sense, where it was, it kind of fit more of what you'd, you know, you'd call like the wrestling storytelling. This is kind of a deviation from wrestling storytelling because the farewell tour is a babyface tour almost always. And were you in favor of this? In other words, I have long felt like the act was getting stale, it was the same old, same old.

Do you like this idea? I love it. I mean, I think the way they executed it was perfect because it was a huge surprise. And the one thing that 96 had going for it is it was a lot easier to surprise the audience in 1996 because there really was no internet at that point. There were certainly no social media at that point.

And there were the quote unquote dirt sheets. I don't really like that term, but there were the newsletters, the torches, and the observers that were passing along inner inside news along inner, you know, inside news about wrestling, you know, business news and whatnot. But for the vast majority of the audience, no one saw that coming, right? Hulk Hogan turning heel, like that was a major shock. And in this era, in 2025, to be able to have that level of a shock where no one really knew it was coming, that's a really big deal. So I think that execution and the way they were able to pull it off without anything leaking. And that's a real thing.

I mean, in 2025 it's, it's, uh, it's hard to keep, you know, these things out of the media and out of like, you know, the online discourse, but they did. I was very surprised that he didn't show up yesterday that they didn't advance the angle. They said they will do so on, on Friday, but to me, old school, massive thing happens on the weekend at a pay-per-view slash PLE. There's the continuation on Monday.

And I know there's a long game and I know Punk did his thing. But you know, Hulk Hogan was not on the next Nitro after Bachelorette Vigil either. Look at you, yeah, yeah. I did a lot of research in this book, Eric. No, I know, okay. So when did he show up? How long after?

It was the week after. It was the week after he showed up because he was still he was still filming Santa with muscles in in Los Angeles California and in Calabasas so he was still doing that and it was it was a complete like it was a it was a rush job it was like not anything that anyone had planned long term it was like he saw what was going on with Hall and Nash and he was like I want to be a part of that and it was never really planned out more than just a few weeks. You get the feeling this was like do you think this was the same type of thing? I don't know I mean people are pointing to when when Rock came out at Bad Blood at the end of the show and he and he kind of put up his

you know three fingers and and did the you know did the the slice of the neck and they're saying that it makes sense because you know Cena does this and he kind of put up his three fingers and did the slice of the neck. And they're saying that it makes sense because Sina does this and The Rock did that. I'm not sure if that was just kind of a vague thing that The Rock did in October or if it was actually leading to this, but it's possible they had this plan. We don't know. And honestly, I'm okay with not knowing. I think that's a good thing. I think if he had done that in October

and there were rumors swirling that that could be what he meant then, that's not good for anyone. Like, don't you wanna be surprised? Like, don't you want that shock? That was shocking. I mean, I jumped up out of my couch. I actually got up to my couch when Cody said the F word

on WWF, I was surprised by that. But that got me out of the couch. I was stunned. Yeah, the way he slit his throat was very weird. Forget about the two, it was just like, kinda like went up like that. I don't know if that was on purpose or not. I think it's, I think like the whole final boss character

is very like, not quite disturbing, but kind of unnerving. And I think that kind of, that goes right into what he's trying to do with this character. And he's going to be playing a mob boss in a Scorsese film. So I feel like this is kind of like his character acting in Ruth of that. Do you think there'll be new members of this squad? Like, is it going to be just the three of them? Bring out Stevie Ray, Scott Norton, I mean I hope not, you know I hope not. That's one of the big flaws of the NWO right? It's like they

just got so bloated so soon with people that did not really fit what that... Back then like people didn't really know what they had in the NWO, right? They didn't know what it was or what it was going to be, how it was going to be viewed in the future. At the time, it seemed to make sense because they were actually trying to build like an entirely new roster of a whole wrestling roster. They were gonna have a whole show of just NWO. So you need your mid-carters, you need your, you know, you need your jabrons, right? Yes, yes. So you need your mid carders. You need your you know, you need your jabrons, right? Yes guys But in with this it's like keep it, you know learn learn from the past and keep it, you know, keep it elite Not not not all elite but uh, look at you. They're gonna come after you now. They don't like these comments

They're gonna come after you the freak azoids do not make those jokes Oh, I love a W revolution's coming up this weekend, Crypto Arena, tremendous card. I love, you know me, I watch everything. Drama-free. Can I ask, I love that your caption, you wrote NWO Hollywood, it does seem like there's a connection there with the superstars and obviously seeing a lot of movies and whatnot. Do you think, do you think the move is give Cena the belt, have him win at WrestleMania,

and then give him a lot more legs? Or do you think, like, is it just all to make Cody, Cody's the guy sticking around, right? So typically the guy leaving the territory isn't the one who goes over at WrestleMania and wins the belt, but I kind of feel like Oban was right. We were talking about him prior to you. Like you kind of have to make Cena go over because then the whole thing kind of feel like Oban was right. We were talking about him prior to you. Like you kind of have to make Cena go over it

because then the whole thing kind of dies. 100%. I think that Cena has to win at WrestleMania because look, I mean, Cody has been a very good champion business wise for nearly a year, right? I mean, and it'll be a year when WrestleMania happens, but the money is always in the chase, in the baby face chase.

I mean, what got Cody to this point was that two year chase of Roman Reigns. And they can very easily go back to that with Cena. Cena wins at WrestleMania. They do the rematch at SummerSlam. Who knows? Down the road, they do the rematch. There's still some unfinished business for Cena. And I think there's some compelling stories to be told, like Keele Cena versus Babyface CM Punk, you know, with the title online is a big story.

There's the, you know, Babyface Randy Orton and Heel Cena. There's a lot of things they could do, but ultimately I think Cody has to win the title back from Cena because that further makes Cody because Cody is the, he is the Babyface, you know, leader of this generation where Roman Reigns is kind of like the baby face you know leader of this generation where Roman Reigns is kind of like the heel leader but maybe you know Roman Reigns is still kind of the bigger star I guess so he could be thrown into this equation as well whatever they whatever happens there's a lot to work with now after this turn a ton to work with what do you do with Roman it's a good question I

mean it seems like he's heading towards some kind of a match with Seth Rollins, CM Punk, maybe a triple threat at WrestleMania. We're not sure. Although next week, maybe he comes back during that cage match at MSG. You're going to go, you're going to go to the. Probably not. No, probably not. You're going to miss, you're going to miss the MSG show.

Punk, your, your, your buddy. I prefer watching, I prefer watching from prefer watching from home. I'm boring. I mean, there's nothing quite like being there, but I understand. But I think maybe he shows up during that cage match and they set something up. I'm not a big fan of triple threat, especially when it's like a grudge. You know, it's like you want to see like, if it's a grudge match, like you want to see the two guys go at it, right?'t want this like third that's very gimmicky to me but they're in a position and it's a good position ultimately where they have too many stars for the amount of available matches at WrestleMania in years past

that wasn't a problem they kind of knew who the stars were and they were and they were there but now it's like you know you have you know guys who were everyone is over everyone has compelling compelling stories. Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Cody, Cena, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre. I mean, the list goes on and on and on of guys that are like, are right there. Kevin Oh and Sami Zayn, you know, your fellow Canadians. I mean, it's a great problem to have. The booking has been so much better over the last few years than it was, you know, go back to 2018, you know, it's night and day where all these guys are over. It's not people trying to get over all that.

The stories are over. Stories make sense. You know, details matter. The product has advanced so much under Paul Levesque. It's pretty impressive. By the way, what do you make of my statement that we'll never see anything like this again? We'll obviously see people turn heel, baby face, etc. And people brought up Cody. We've seen Cody as a heel. And I know that Sina way back in the day was a heel and I know

Hulk Hogan way, way in the AWA days was a heel. But for this long to have this type of impact, I don't think the business is constructed this way anymore. What do you think? You know, I think people probably said that about Hulk Hogan until Saturday night. I think that wrestling is a very cyclical business and I think that there could be one day another John Cena or another Hulk Hogan or someone like that,

that is the white meat baby face for an extended period of time It's probably not gonna be Cody, but who knows you know it's hard It's hard though because in order to have that big turn Like a Hulk Hogan and a John Cena you have to establish yourself as like the guy in the industry as a baby face For like two decades you know or at least a decade right and that's a freaking hard thing to do Especially like you said in today's day and age, but will it ever happen again?

I mean, who knows? I mean, the coolest thing about wrestling for me is that it's like, it's just like the longest running episodic, thing in like in the world. It's like if your favorite show just ran forever, going back to like the 1920s, right? It's like all the lore is the same and it's like we're talking about things and they can

reference things from 20 years ago, from 30 years ago. The NWO was almost 35 years ago now, which is, by the way, insane. We're kind of old. But yeah, but I mean, you know what I mean? It's like you can reference things from several decades ago and people who, people who were not following doesn't really, you know, it could matter to them, but people who are watching back then, it's like, this is so incredible because like they're referencing part of like, part of us, you know, part of our past, part of the nostalgia.

We talked about legacy and what this could turn into on on that cover right there You see the guys wearing that t-shirt that t-shirt is a part of the legacy And these things it may sound silly to the non wrestling fan out there But the merch and all that stuff these things that stand the test of time where there have been so many different iterations of them over the years I mean heck even we had one the nwo the nose world order when we came to over the years, I mean, heck, even we had one, the NWO, the Nose World Order when we came to ESPN way back when. These things matter in terms of how you judge the angle and the storyline and all that stuff, and so they need to have their merch too if they want to be in the conversation. Right now,

NWO is the gold standard to me as far, DX is up there as well. I'm curious to see how far they take this. The awesome 316 shirts, of course, right? The awesome 316 shirts are big, but... I'm talking factions see how far they take this. The awesome 316 shirts are big. I'm talking factions, but yes. Yeah, right. The NWO shirt though has transcended culture almost. Kevin Durant comes to the Brooklyn Nets and he's wearing an NWO jacket with the custom made NWO logo on it.

It's transcended what it means. As soon as a group of people come together and like in one place like from from outside That it gets compared to the nwo. It's like and that's kind of what this book is about right? It's about it's about uh How how it's transcended culture how it's how it's changed america as as the uh, as the subtitle says, right? Because it did transcend so much and uh, first of all the group needs a name, right? What is the name of this new group if it is a says, right? Because it did transcend so much. And first of all, the group needs a name, right? What is the name of this new group, if it is a group, right? I saw it somewhere and maybe it's BS.

I saw it, I think on Reddit, but they, I think WWE trademark Break-A-Wish. Yeah, but I think that might've been BS. I think that might've been BS. It might've been BS, I don't know. I mean, most things, yes, it's like, I can't have, I struggle even as a journalist, when I see stuff on social media now, it's like, I don't know. I mean, most things, yes, it's like I can't have, I struggle even as a journalist when I see stuff on social media now. It's like, I don't know if it's real or fake, if it's AI, if it's like,

Right. Give us a look, what are our appetites, just a little like fun nugget from the book, just something to chew on till we speak really about it in June, a little fun thing. I'm putting you on the spot here. There's so much. I mean, so what this book really is, and you kind of alluded to it a few minutes ago about the non-wrestling fan, and I really want this book to be kind of a tribute to,

in some ways, the wrestling fan who went through their lives, whether they watched as kids or if they watch now or if they've been watching all along, and they heard, you know it's fake, right? You know it's fake, right? And this book is kind of like, my goal for this book is to kind of explain wrestling to people that maybe didn't watch or felt that way,

who kind of put that unfair stigma upon wrestling, because it is so much more than just, fake fights, right? It is something that can transcend culture. It is storytelling that is incredibly relatable and also kind of runs parallel to society. I know that I'm not giving you like a little, like an antidote, but I'm- No, no, this works, this works.

I think that's really what, you know, the people that watch wrestling, it means a lot to them and it helps kind of shape who they are as people and that's how it shapes culture because how do you shape culture? You shape the people that aren't in the culture, right? You shape the people that are in society and that's what it did for so many people.

I mean, I interviewed people that you could not I interviewed, I don't know if I told you this, I interviewed Andrew Yang, who ran for president, wow, about the NWO and about pro wrestling as a whole, and how that helped him as a presidential candidate. And how not to get too political, how it helped him understand Donald Trump, because Donald Trump has been involved in wrestling since the 80s. hosting WrestleMania is he was involved in an angle, right? WrestleMania.

He shaved into a man's head. You know, there's that video of him clothes lining Vince McMahon. I mean, he has studied pro wrestling and you can't tell me that some of what he has done, if not a lot of what he's done in front of crowds does not come directly from wrestling. It's a, it's a, it's a wrestling promo. You's done in front of crowds does not come directly from wrestling. It's a wrestling promo. The crowd is chanting, they're bringing signs, they have the red hat, that's like the NWO

shirt, right? They have their branding, the merch. It's like, tell me that's not pro wrestling. So it's like, in order to understand American society, I feel, you need to at least know a little bit about pro wrestling, what it it is the sociological aspects of it because You know these men and women get up there multiple times a week and they go out in front of crowds and they get this real-time feedback of What works and what does not work?

You know what what is compelling and what's not who becomes a star and who does not? It's it's an incredible, I feel like every Raw and Smackdown is like a sociological experiment of what we as a society are feeling. And then, the fans give their feelings and then the storyline kind of goes in line with that. And that's kind of like, there's just nothing like that. It's an art form that there's nothing quite like it because it's like capitalism and an art form at the same time. Because it's all about business, right?

But what does the business say? Well, I'm gonna pay my ticket because they're doing something that I like that is worth me paying for. And that says something about who you are as a person and what they're doing. It's like a symbiotic relationship. I tell you what, anytime anyone questions

why I'm a pro wrestling fan, I'm gonna clip this off and just show to them. You can't be looked at as a dumb person if you speak about pro wrestling in this way, the way you just did. So thank you for that. That was great. I mean, it's just true. I mean, it's like, I don't think there's any entertainment property that gets like more misunderstood than pro wrestling, right? Like I brought a bunch of new friends that I met here in Atlanta to an independent wrestling show in my neighborhood, you know, people that live in my building and I actually brought Mike Rosteen, our old pal, and there was like nine of us and it's like none of them had ever been to wrestling before in their lives and you know this independent show was it was it was fun it was a dynamic wrestling association in Atlanta small promotion AR Fox's school is a great school here in Atlanta and they

put on an incredible show and everyone came away you know no one no one like like wrestling had been there and they came away like so interested. And then I asked every single person that I came with, which character or which thing that happened in the show compelled you the most? And I got a lot of different answers, some of the same answers, but I find that so fascinating

because like that's really what wrestling is. It's like a live action, you know, it's like live action Shakespeare, you know, with with real time feedback. And it's just a fact I think it's just a fascinating study. And it's just a fascinating thing. When you look at it on that level, right. And there's probably people watching right now, especially MMA fans. Oh, yeah, I guess I off like the numbers are probably plummeting. That's fine. You have to approach wrestling in that way. If you, if you, what, if you go and put on raw or you go to your local independent show

and you say, uh, okay, well, this is, this is fake fighting, you know, that's not the way to look at it. This is theater. You know, this is an art form that it's a, it's a simulated fight, but it's, it's a, it's a morality play. It's so much more than just two guys or women fighting in their spandex. And MMA fans can't turn their nose on it anymore. I mean, the freaking UFC is now under the same umbrella.

Who would have thought, right? All these years, and they're going into boxing too. You know, my good pal Hunter Campbell, I remember telling him several years back that what he does, what the UFC does is pro wrestling. It's pro wrestling, but there's a real fight at the end of it. And I don't think he really understood what I was talking about until I started to kind of explain what I mean. The UFC is building stories, they're building stars and the climax is the fight. I mean. The UFC is building stories, they're building stars,

and the climax is the fight. The same way that WWE is building stories and building stars, the climax is their wrestling matches, WrestleMania, it's the big cage match or what have you. And it's really the same thing, the business model is the same, pay-per-view sales, ticket sales, it's the same thing, and now they're the same company. And I texted Hunter when the deal went down, and I said, see, I told you, it's the same thing and now they're the same company and I texted hunter when that when the deal went down I said see I told you it's the same thing

But before I let you go Pereira on Kalaev. Do you know who that's Alex Pereira? He's the light heavyweight champion and Magomed on Kalaev a guy who had to sort of scratch and claw his way to the title fight any any picks. Yeah. Yeah I'll go Pereira, which I never did that right? I never gave picks, but I'll go I'll go I'll go Pereira, which I never did that, right? I never gave picks, but I'll go, I'll go, I'll go Pereira in this one. I think he, uh, I'll say Decision. I think Uncle Live is pretty durable, but I'll say Decision. I might, I might even watch it. Wow. By the way, East Coast. Yeah, tough. Not fun to watch fights on the East Coast. Yes. West Coast is where it's at. It's hard for me to stay up to watch these things. This has been fantastic. It's been nice to talk. It has been too long. We miss you around these parts and by these parts I mean the world of combat sports. Can't wait for the book again,

June 24th. There it is. You can pre-order it right now. I cannot wait to read this. Wrestling books are my favorite. I have a guilty pleasure when it comes to wrestling books of all kinds and I think you have, I think the Bret Hart one behind you over there and that might be one of my favorites. I read it on my honeymoon many, many years ago. So I can't wait for that. Well, how do you?

I interviewed Bret for this book and just a tremendous guy. I mean, just a class act. I mean, as long as I needed anything that I needed, there was no question he wouldn't answer. And he still has no idea why he was kind of in the NWO. He doesn't even know if he was in the NWO at one point. He wore the shirt at one point, but he's like,

I still have no clue if I was in or not. That's how chaotic things were in, you know, 98, 99. My hero. Can't wait to have you back on. We'll have you back on to talk about it all and to really dig deep, perhaps even in studio, if you're around these parts. But for now, great to compare and contrast.

Keep up the great work. We miss you. We appreciate you and we'll talk to you soon. Thank you, sir. There he is, the great Mark Rumundi or as DC used to call him, Marundi back in the day. Oh, how we miss that guy. And I can't wait for the book. I have not read it just yet.

I don't have it. Perhaps I'll get one of those advanced copies that media guys get. Maybe, maybe I'm, I'm cool enough for that. You can't hear it anymore. Oh, well, yeah. Well, no one, no one can hear me these days. Uh, did you, did you guys see the, uh, the slap earlier today between, uh, Dylan

Dannis and, and KSI? Well, actually it was KSI slapping Dylan Dannis in London. In case you missed it, take a listen and take a look. KSI said, purely by insinuating some paperwork, making him bite his tongue, you know what I mean? It's like... Oh!

Oh, oh, oh, camera's gone, camera's gone, I can't... Did you see that coming? I did not see that coming. I did not see that coming. ASI has just slapped. Has this been confirmed? Is that in fact a crepe, a pancake? What are we working with here? Pancake.

It's a pancake and is there a reason for it? Today is in fact National Pancake Day. Okay, so my only question here is in fact National Pancake Day. Okay, so my only question here It is it is a national pancake day. You could go to IHOP get a free short stack fourth seven a.m. To 8 p.m. My only question is did this press conference took place in the UK? Yeah, yes it international house of pancakes What a national pancake that yeah, is it is it national to how would he have known this England? He tweeted about it wasn't England as well someone but did he tweet about it national to England? How would he have known this? He tweeted about it.

It was in England as well. Someone had posted about it. But did he tweet about it before the fact, after the fact, that's after the fact. So this is actually international pancake day. Well, maybe not everybody, at least England and the United States. That makes it international.

Where did he get it? Where are these guys smuggling this food? Are they sitting in there with just- The bodega outside. That had to have been a very thin pancake to be stuffed in his pocket like that. Let me think about this for a second though. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

This just came to me. Tell me, tell me. Chris Eubank, right? Yeah. Egg? Yeah. But was Dylan Danis actually the originator with the coffee?

Did he start? Mmm. Another breakfast food. That's an egg-cector. Did he start it with the coffee, then Chris Eubank was inspired with the egg and now KSI has furthered the medium with the pancake. I'm just saying, Dylan Dannison innovator, maybe.

Maybe, I'm just saying. Next is the bacon, the orange juice. I mean, it's a whole freaking meal here, the coffee. Eubank had the carrying case, like he had Louis Vuitton put that in so he could carry it. KSI just pulled that straight from the pocket. Straight out of the coffee. Who will take it to the next level. You bank had the carrying case, like he had Louis Vuitton put that in, so he could carry it. KSI just pulled that straight from the pocket. Straight out of the pocket.

He was just walking around with a pancake in his pocket all morning. Great. And who will be the first to throw some shrimp, a shrimp cocktail or two? I will be the first one to do the shrimp cocktail. If you're gonna throw a shrimp cocktail, you're gonna have to throw some iced coffee as well.

Well yeah, I mean, that's what Dylan had. Oh, ice coffee would, is ice coffee worse than hot coffee? No. Cause I feel like the hot coffee, you can kind of like dodge it a little bit, but like the ice coffee, like the cubes are gonna hurt. I don't know if the hot coffee is. Yes.

Scalding. Scalding hot, yeah, it's gonna hurt. I do wonder, have we ever done like a deep dive on the coffee throw? Like how hot was the coffee? Like. No, no, it was cold. Yeah, it was a cold Yeah, it was a cold brew. Yeah, it was cold brew. No foam I think we confirmed all this just a black a black coffee. I don't think he had any intentions of drinking it That's why I went with just that was the thing that was the thing and he went with a big one, right?

Wasn't it like you went with the either the venti? I don't know if overseas they serve the the the tri-enta No, he was in Texas when he did this. Oh, then they definitely serve the 30 ounce there. I think that's maybe what he had and it feels like he just went with the black coffee, no intention of drinking it. Maximum stain capabilities from the dark brew. And then he got into a brawl with Anthony Smith in the parking lot. Anthony Taylor. Yeah, legendary day. It was a legendary day. They're magic. They magic together, these two guys. In about 20 minutes time here in New York City, I don't believe open to the public, I could be wrong, but in boxing they don't love to do this. We will have these six fighters who will be competing in Times Square on the 2nd

of May come together. And these are guys with a history. You know, there's obviously Ryan and Devon. Ryan's fighting Roley. There's a history there. You got all of a sudden Tiafuma Lopez. You got Arnold Barbosa there. I mean, they're all sort of in the same weight class, which is great as well. There's no Barnaby Coley fight because he is now out of action after the loss of Joseph Parker. But earlier today, I saw that there was a spicy interaction

between Tiafuma Lopez and Arnold Barbosa Jr. Take a listen to this. Ta-da, ta-da, ta-da, ta-da. Ta-da, ta-da, ta-da, ta-da. Yeah, yeah. I'm living. It's about time. I'm living.

It's about time that's good. Uh-huh. Yeah. They second coming for you. Oh, this is kinda big. I can smell you. I can smell you. Mm-hmm.

You know that she smell you. You know that smell like baby. Oh, yeah. Medusa. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's butt, pussy, and ass. Yeah, it's you. It's all a bunch of it. Yeah yeah, Medusa. Yeah But pussy and I Is you I can't what is he talking about? I'm saying yeah energy with a camera. You're not like a little bitch Oh, okay, I'm trying to write it like a little bitch. Oh, yeah, the biggest bitch there is yeah, you are

I know you are I know you are we know it. We know what I'm showing my second to I like it. Yeah Keep it good There you go, there we go Have everyone get out let's go what you want to fight here we can do whatever I don't fight here I fight in the ring. All right, then. That's my. All right then shut your fucking mouth. That's my work. Oh, I'm always work. Always. Every day.

All day. All day. All day. I'm gonna keep swallowing your fucking cup. It's hard, motherfucker. You're a little pussy. Big time. I've heard it's hard.

Hey, top rank only here because they have to be, not because they want to be, dog. Trust me. Hey, shit. That's why we just take over. That's right. Yeah, we take over. They ain't taking over shit.

We take over all the time. They ain't taking over shit. Shit, top rank knows what it is. I say, kept your take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over.

We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over.

We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. We take over. All kinds of craziness in the world of combat sports. So that's a table setter for perhaps what is to come. I think this is going to be an electric press conference.

That is my prediction. Ade and I will be on immediately afterwards on the Dizone Boxing YouTube channel to talk about it all. It will be a special edition of the Ariel and Ade program live from Times Square, not outside, but inside the Palladium. Which I think is like a Studio 54 nightclub or something. Oh nice. Something like that.

Did you bring your disco shoes? I did. You got aboard the plane? What plane? It was a disco shoes song. No, okay. Nevermind. No. Elvis? No, I told the crew 245 Hard Out because I had to get to the press conference.

There's no such thing as hard outs in the studio. Here we are, 10 seconds away. Eight. You were very quick with the music yesterday in the midst of Nottingham Forest securing their spot in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. You were very quick on the draw there, Frank. I didn't like that, I have to say. You loved it. We were there to watch it together. Chrissy Wood. Oh yes, thank you. Focus on improving

yourself, not proving yourself. There it is. That's a good one. Who said that? It's funny that the camera is out of focus while it's showing you. Wow, that's deep. That of course was from the Sage That's deep that of course was from the sage Jalen Brunson not to be confused with the supposed sage that Travis Scott was Was playing around and yes today's program is a little shorter I do have to get up there, but come on we went four and a half No, what do we go yesterday three and a half four and a four and a four and a change So more hours than 11. No one's counting. The Lord give, trust me, they're counting.

I can guarantee you, why so short? The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh around these parts, all right? And so we'll make it up to you tomorrow. By the way, tomorrow on the program, Big John Fisher, AKA the Bosch master himself. Bosch. You know this guy, right? This is Johnny Fisher's dad. Of course. Chinese order.

He's just on the Brits doing it. You know what the Brits are? More prestigious than the Oscars, the Grammys, the American Music Awards, the People's Choice Awards, the Nickelodeons. Next you're going to be talking about the Baphdads. Well he was on them and he levels up because he'll be on our show. Adi is actually going to join us in studio because he's in town tomorrow as well. And other bits and bobs, as they say in the business. On the nose, go to arialhawani.sub.se. Anyway, back tomorrow.

Stay tuned for the next episode of The Zenith Peace. I'm Adi.