The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Daniel Cormier Show - Ben Askren & Daniel Cormier on Ben's double lung transplant recovery, DC vs. Jon Jones match, Khabib

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

In a much anticipated episode, Ben Askren IS OFFICIALLY BACK on the Daniel Cormier Show with DC in a brand new edition of Funky & The Champ! Askren talks about his long road to recovery since his double lung transplant. Ben also talks to DC about the days leading up to being in the hospital and what that journey has been like for him as well as his friends and family. After, the guys talk Real American Freestyle (RAF), and Cormier says he'd wrestle Jon Jones and BEAT HIM. Plus, the guys talk about Khabib Nurmagomedov's viral comments about the UFC and promoting superstars, Justin Gaethje "wanting to be scared" to fight Ilia Topuria, and Ben's role with the RAF wrestling competitions! #Volume All lines provided by Hard Rock BetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio. Non-stop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight.

When your hardest hit, it's what things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it. For free. Have a great day. IHeart Radio. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us.

From I Heart Podcast, Saigon. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. It's for Vietnam. They're pouring patril all over here. Freedom for Vietnam! There's a fire coming to this country, and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the IHeart Radio ad.

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA.

A listen to the 1021 podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume. Ben, you're like kind of looking like yourself now. Like, you know, for a while, I didn't know if you'd ever like start looking like yourself again. Yeah, it was a man, it's, well, it's been a while now. It's funny when you start looking and feeling normal again, sometimes I forget what happened. Like, I'll just be doing shit around the house and I'll just get all tired. and I'll be like, why am I tired?

It's like, oh, yeah, that lung transplant thing. That's a bitch. That's crazy. You know, it's been a while, guys, welcome back to Funkie and the champ. I know Ben and I have not done this for a real long time, and obviously it's well documented. What Ben went through. Ben, we were on air the week of the issue.

That was the craziest thing. Like you were excited to go to Vegas And then when we go to Vegas, Vegas is a nightmare. You're going to have like bad dreams about going to Vegas for the rest of your life now. Well, who knows? Maybe I'll never go again. I would never go to Vegas. I don't think it's Vegas's fault.

I think it was in the process of happening. I can't remember we podcasted Monday or Tuesday that week. I left Tuesday. Luis has a date on there, but he doesn't have a day. Yeah, May 27. We filmed on like Monday or Tuesday. Normally we used to release. on Wednesdays.

Yeah. And I went to the hospital for the first time on May 28th and I went back in on May 29th is to my recollection. Yeah, I just had that back pain and I didn't think much of it. I thought it was a muscle sprain

or a muscle spasm or something. And then, well, you guys know the rest. Ben, did you go back and look at us on the podcast when you were like kind of in your recovery, like looking at you on those videos to see if you could see anything different? Like maybe like your skin,

or anything looking different? No, you know what made me sad, though? The last guy I worked out with was Rafael Levato. He's a Duke Gruppist affiliate. Jiu-Jitsu guy, yeah. Yeah, he's really good. He's awesome. He just comes in a workout.

He's actually wrestling for OCU for NIA. He's like 42. It's hilarious. Did you see that? Yo, what is going on with that? Like, guys are just opting back in the college. I don't understand how they're doing it. It's so weird.

but no, so I was working out with this dude and he posted it after and I got sad because I'm like, fuck, I might, I may never do that again. Like I literally enjoy wrestling. I really enjoy training and like that might be the last time. And I'm starting to feel like at least I'm going to get the beat up on the little guys.

I might not be wrestling with the big guys again, but I'm going to get to beat up on the little guys at some point. But that one really made me sad that like that could have been the last time I ever did it. That's crazy, man. Yeah. That's so crazy. Hey, Ben, I know, I know you've talked about this at nauseam,

but, like, I have to ask you for the people that come to, uh, to our podcast for, for answers. When did you recognize that it was not just a normal, like, health, never. Health scare. I didn't. You just went out. You just went out.

Yes. There are, so, hey, did you know, they're making a movie about this, but, um. About your, about your, about your, yeah. Yeah. You're making a movie. Not me. Uh, someone contacted me. Um, yeah.

Really? Yeah. It's crazy. It's going to be a longer process. But no, so basically I told you I was having those issues in my back. Finally, my wife bugged me when we were a vaguen. She's like, just go to the hospital with me. Fine.

And I was upset about it. And I got there and I came out. I got a muscle spasm. I've had this muscle spasm before. My, all my vitals, I did all the vitals, blood pressure, temperature, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, everything's fine, right? Yeah. I was like, okay, I'll give you the, I'll give you the medicine for the muscle spasm.

It's like a muscle relaxer. And I said, okay, cool. And I went home and I took it. But that night, I couldn't sleep. It was terrible. It didn't work at all. I was up all the time. And then it's funny, I don't really remember this, but my wife has videos, I woke up

and I was kind of like messed up looking. Like I got in a fight or something. Like kind of had like swollen face, stuff on my house. Really? Yeah. And she had taped me sleeping and sent to a few of our doctor friends. And they're like, you need to get him to the hospital. And Danny, you know how stubborn I am.

I'm almost as stubborn as you are, almost. You're more stubborn than me by far. You're way more stubborn than I am. And I'm sure. I'm sure these videos will come up. But I'm like, dude, I'm fine. Just I give me some coffee. Let me get my energy up.

I want to go to the Bitcoin conference. I'm not going to the hospital again. And I'm like, but if you like, I couldn't see myself at that point. But when you watch the video, you're like, oh, what's wrong with that guy, you know? Yeah. So she convinced me to go to the hospital. And it's funny, we, I had a friend and his wife with us. And she said she was worried I was going to bolt and go to the Bitcoin conference.

So she had them trail us to the Uber. Really? Yes. Yes. He's a big strong wrestler. Oh, you guys actually wrestled, I think. Who? My buddy Rye.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we talked about that. Yeah, and then, dude, I went to the hospital and I don't remember. I remember walking in the door. It was the same one I walked in the day before, and then I don't remember anything. For two months? No, it's like 40, 42 days or something like that. Yeah, a long time.

That's so crazy, man. That whole thing was so scary that I thought we'd never do this again. Yeah. So, like, I'm talking to Amy. I got to be honest. Like, I've met your wife. Obviously, you and I have been friends for a long time. Yeah.

I've met your wife at the Olympics. I met her many, many times. I don't know if I'd had more than two conversations with her in my entire life. Yeah. Bro, I bugged her so much. It must have been so annoying. It must have been, like, I don't even really know this guy. Yeah.

He's like calling me and shit. like texting me right like i just everybody was so worried um if you're gonna be okay so hey you can i tell you can i tell you i knew first off normal people would not have made it through that uh i mean i i almost didn't make it ben i don't think normal people would have made it like they would have died because they don't have that thing that makes like elite athletes elite in most cases right like there's a fight inside of you that's much different than most most people. Yeah.

And that's, you know, you start going down like that, man. You see people just kind of close their eyes and give up. And I'm pretty sure, you know, in those moments, obviously, even if you don't have control over it, your body's responding to the fight, like you responded to so many fights over the course of your life. Yes. And I bet that probably helped. But over those 40-something days, I remember you and I sitting on your porch talking about,

you're like, dude, I don't remember anything. Like, where there are moments where you just kind of came out of it. and then just kind of went back into like that. No, I don't, I literally don't remember. I don't remember anything. But it's funny actually probably the, I will say a while after I woke up.

I think when I woke up, I was conscious and I was talking. And, but now when I reflect on that time period, like I can't remember much of it. You know, like when I actually woke up and I was actually, you know,

I remember I was conscious and I thought I knew what I was doing and talking about. I would say it's a wild shit. Like the, my favorite one, like, I'm totally out of my mind, of course,

you know, is, um, Kagan and Jacob, two my old wrestlers, came to visit me at the hospital one time. And I don't know why. I was so mad that morning. They had me on drugs.

I was so mad. I kept flipping off the nurses. And I kept telling them. They had me in jail. And every time they leave the room, I'd be like, guys, you got to get me out of here. You get me out of here. And they're like, dude, no.

You're connected to so many wires. We can't get you out of here. I started calling names. I was like, you guys are pussy. Get me out of here right now. You need to get me out of here right now. out of here. Crazy.

Yes, I was acting totally nice. And so, like, I, like, kind of remember that. And then, like, Keegan reminded me of it and made me laugh. And, yeah, so there's a lot of stuff like that. But, no, from the time where I was out, I don't, I don't remember anything. I've seen videos and a few other things. So, like, I kind of know some of the things, but I don't really know anything. Does it make you, like, super sad to see?

Like, God, man, I've been asking in. You're strong. And then to see yourself, that's, that fragile. Because I got to be honest, that probably was the hardest thing for me when you, for, dude, those first couple videos back oh and thirty-some pounds holy shit uh it was crazy i don't think so i mean obviously i'm gaining a lot of size and strength back um no i mean you know honestly that the thing i think about that's the hardest is helping your family cry on here no no uh well actually i mean yes and no but the fact that i didn't have to really go through it i went to the hospital

and then i woke up and that's it i didn't know i almost died a whole bunch of times or I didn't have to make any decisions. I was out, you know, versus like I think about my wife having to come to hospital every day, not knowing her kids are going to have their dad or, you know, I was thinking, one thing I was funny reflecting. I was like coach Messamerink and my brother are coaching the junior duels five miles away in Milwaukee. Well, I'm here dying and like they don't know if I'm going to like at that point,

they didn't know if I was going to make it or not. You know, so like all these people had to kind of go through life for a while with this on their mind. It's heavy. Oh my God. It's so hard. It's very heavy. Just not knowing if you, yeah, it was crazy.

But I tell you, I'm not going to sit on this too long because I know you've done it time and time again. But I might make them interview you for the movie. You never know. I heard you got a few fans. You know I would do it. But hey, when I knew you'd be okay when you cheated me in disc golf at your house. And Amy's like, Ben, you know you're cheating. Why did I cheat?

When you were rolling it down the hill, you're not supposed to do that. I didn't know that until. What do you mean? Disc golf courses of hills? No, but you were like, you were, instead of, listen, the hill helped me out quite a bit. That's a legal throw, though. No, it isn't.

The roller is a legal throw. You can't throw it down the hill to get it further than me, Ben. Yes, you can. Dude, I'm telling you, you're a liar and a cheater. And I knew, I said, well, this dude is going to be fine after that. All right, Ben, I'm going to get off of this because obviously, you know, we're on this podcast because we love to do this podcast. We love to talk sports.

MMA, right? Mixed martial arts is the sport that you and I, maybe we didn't make our trade. It was our trade to make more money. We wrestled, but once we did MMA, it's a worldwide sport massive. It is growing and growing and growing. Kabeem Nareematov may be one of the biggest stars

this sport has ever produced. The other day, he was doing one of his sit downs, and Kabeeb said the UFC prefers fighters who talk trash and sell fights. that hurts the guys that just want to compete, specifically Russian fighters who don't do that. Do you agree with Khabibb that the UFC does kind of is more drawn to the person that is more loud and more look at me?

Granted, Ben, the biggest example we have seen of this is Connor McGregor. It has not been replicated. People have tried. But outside of Connor, not many. have really became big stars by just running their mouth. Well, I mean, I don't. Well, Connor could fight also. He can really think he did cocaine and stop training, but he did find Jesus.

Amen, Connor. I hope you mean it. I hope he means. You'll see. I did call him not fighting, but now it looks like he might, he found Jesus and Jesus is going to lead him back to the octagon. He's fighting in the White House. Allegedly.

So hopefully that happens. So listen, this one happened to me. I mean, I can't say for certain why. Dana kept me out of the UFC when I should have been in in 2013, but this is the most likely reason. And it's not just trash talk, right? It's a myriad of things. It's your fighting style.

He prefers strikers over wrestlers, for sure. That's been the case. It's your personality and charisma. It's not just trash talk. It's how someone carries themselves the way they dress, the way to act, all these things. And at the end of the day, it is a business. And, you know, I've had a strong issue with that for,

many years where the best fighters should be the best fighters. And that's what I was going to try to prove I was the best. So yes, I think there's a lot of merit to what could be saying. But then the other tough part of here is, I don't know how he's going to change it. Like, I don't see Dana changing anytime soon. So what do you do about it?

You know, I think he does have a point because the fans really do dictate who receives that push in most instances. Yeah, 100%. Because for as good as, those guys are, like certain guys, Sean O'Malley was such a lightning ride, and people were so drawn to him that he got that push.

Patty Pimlet. Now, Patty Pimlet. People are just drawn. It really, there's no rhyme or reason as to why people are, like, drawn to certain people. Because Patty does a dance on the way to the cage, and he's got funny hair. He's got funny hair.

He does a dance on the way to the cage as a very catchy song, and he just goes in fights. He talks a little bit, but he's not over the top and talks as much as some of these other guys talk. No. But people are drawn to him. And look, now he's fighting for the belt.

When, honestly, I don't know if there's ever been a more clear, clear, number one contendant in Armin Sarukian. Like, I mean, Armid Sarukian is so clearly the number one contender, but he isn't like that. People aren't drawn to him in that way. So, I mean, that's a real example of it right in your face.

Yeah. And then I want to say he missed weight or something. And Dana was. He did. He did this weight, though. He had that injury pulled out in a fight the night before the event in Los Angeles. Yeah. So people, you know, people were debating that.

So I think there's some merit to that also. Yeah. And, you know, it's what's funny because you're talking about, now you're talking about building stars. I think this is the most fascinating thing because there is no great formula. The guy who I was traded from for, the Mitya Johnson. Mitcher Johnson,

listen, he was, if you like watching fights, he was an elite fighter, he had a fun style, he had fun moves, but for whatever reason he couldn't catch on. I don't know why.

He was always fighting and defend his championship on TV. Yeah, she wasn't even on paper views. That's what I'm saying. Like, I don't know why. So like, okay, he's smart,

he's funny, he's got a big YouTube following. He has a dynamic fighting style. He couldn't catch on. So Building Stars is kind of, one of those things that it's like it's almost mysterious like how does certain people catch on to your point petty pimble and there have been other guys who've been pushed you know mcgregor's the biggest omelies a really big one um you know someone like uh even like a kevin holland like he's caught on and

he's pretty popular is he a superstar no but he's pretty popular and why just i guess because he says funny things and he goes in fights like you never derrick lewis derrick lewis great great example but he knocks people out too though derrick lewis also knocked people out but he has had some really boring fights too. Yes. He's had some bad ones. Look. Yeah. There's a difference. He said my balls were hot. That was whatever one left.

Yeah. It got him a title fight. Yes. I was so happy. Some of these guys, some of these guys actually, no, we're talking about elite. Patty Pimlet, Charonnell Mallet, Conner, McGregor. Those guys have proven to be elite and they do that. The other two we mentioned Lewis and to, I mean,

Derek was to a less than degree, but Kevin Holland is more. is more popular than his success aside the Octagon, but it's still the Diaz brothers, right? Great one. They weren't necessarily elite, but they were talking. No, listen, Nate, Nate Diaz, he is the most puzzling, he's not,

I don't even think he's that good. I'll go get his record if you want me to. But he has convinced people he is good at fighting somehow, some way. Pretty good. I'm going to go get his damn record, Daniel. It's not. But he won the ultimate fighter.

He won the ultimate fighter. I'm saying he was good for the time that he was fighting. No, he wasn't. He was average. He was, yeah, okay, I'm just trying. Okay, I'm going to go with the record. I'm going to yell at me. I know this.

Okay, let's see. Well, he's, his record is 21 and 13. Oh, my God. Really? Yes, that's not that great. Okay, I take it back. I'm taking it back. And he was, so, yeah, and going into the UFC, he was, I think it was five and one.

So within the UFC, he was 16 and 12. That's not good. That's not good. There, there's really no. way to twist that into good. Yeah. So, but, you know, he made, his personality, that's another one's like, how did his personality catch on? He says funny things sometimes, a little bit different. He, you know, I don't know, yeah. Listen, if you post this clip, please don't pose this clip. Because the Diaz army

will attack me. He has some fans who are rabid. If you say something bad about them, they will come at you. Why? This is like, this is a great clip. You asking not to pull the clip in the best. Don't pose it. They're going to tell me. There's still some fight in Ben Astrid. I hope you ain't got no lungs left. I hope your lungs die. They're going to say mean shit to me.

Can you believe some of the shit people say? Bro, I posted, Daniel, you know what? I post it. No, I don't get to politics, but I posted, I think this is obvious. But I posted young people only like socialism because they're not old enough to figure out how bad the government is at everything. Listen, the socialists, they're like, F you, I can't believe you got lungs. I hate you. believe anyone donated to you.

I hope you die. Like literally, the most comments I've ever seen about anything ever. And the next is Nate Diaz. Dude, it's crazy. Okay. So now it's pretty clear, right? We agree.

It does help. But here's the deal. Kabib, was he, did he succeed despite the system? Like, I mean, he was insanely popular. Very popular. But he, but he did.

did kind of have that personality, right? Yeah, he's funny. You helped him, of course. He would say stuff, him in Islam, but he would say stuff like, I will smash your chicken in the middle of the octagon about Connie McGregor. Or, Khabib just being Russian, right?

When he was telling Michael Johnson, you need to submit, brother. Yeah, that was awesome. I deserve the title fight in the cage. Then there's an interview with him in Ariel Hawani and Madison Square Garden. It is the funniest interview I have ever heard. And Luis, I want you to clip some of the stuff

this man said in that interview. But he's not talking trash. He's literally just being himself and it was drawing people into him. But I don't think anything is more of an attraction than dominance. Dominance is what may be the... Hold on. What about Demetri's Johnson though?

I get it. But Anderson Silva did not talk. He was... I mean, he still is like such a unique... I love Tyrant, but that movie did the Tyron where he did the fake knee to the upper cut. Like, Tyrant totally bit on the knee,

but you can't need someone in boxing. You can't knee him in boxing. But it's like, holy shit, Anderson. Where'd you think of that one? John Jones doesn't talk trash. Yeah, but he didn't catch on for a while. I mean, he was dynamic and he won a lot.

Honestly, you were kind of what made him catch on because there was, and it was funny. I always get mad because you're, no offense, I don't make your head too big here. Like, you're just a good dude, right? people hated you and they took john's side on it and i have no idea i have no idea why it was like

the wildest thing ever but you two going against each other and actually on this topic uh specific topic front of brian and i did a show a long time ago we're talking about best personalities and it was funny most of people on the best personality list had a rival on the list also right yeah you always have that applied them so kibib and connor right the amplification of the you and John. And they were all these ones where people would amplify each other. I thought that was,

I didn't plan for that to happen. But once we did it, I was like, oh my God, that's really interesting. Yeah. You kind of need a dance partner in those instances.

I agree with Khabib to a point. But I think that overall dominance, I think that if you're dominant and you just have a few breaks, you can do pretty much anything in this game. I don't know that they go, this guy can talk, let's push him.

I think the fans choose more than the, the UFC actually chooses who they get behind. All right, guys, today's show is brought to you by our new sponsor, Hard Rock Bet. Hard Rock Bet is a top-rated sportsbook app. It might just take the belt from any other sportsbook app that you use once you open it up and you see it for yourself. And, guys, if you haven't tried your first bet on Hard Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get $150 and bonus bets if you win. So place a $5 bet.

If that bet hits, you not only get your winnings, but you get $150 in bonus bets right away. Guys, today is a great day to try the Hard Rock Bet Sports app. So it's not just the welcome offer. You can get bonus bets, you can get parlay insurance, and other rewards. The rewards and the promos are nonstop. So download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit today. Payable and bonus bets is not a cash offer.

Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. You must be 21 or older and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call 1-88-A-D-M-M-I-T-M-E-M-T, IT. In Indiana, if you are someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it. And if you have a gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news,

huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But, This one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band.

Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, hey Jonas. and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast.

But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please!

But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man.

If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream, cream a chicken suit. This is help from a hypocrisy. the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Pulpura podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected.

We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying drag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a perimenopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with the Adameneira Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate

midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard, you know?

Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of my Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, Justin Gage is fighting for the interim title against Patty Pimbled. Justin Gaichi, when talking about the Paddy Pimbley fight, very excited. Obviously, he's one of my friends.

He's a great dude. But looking forward, Justin said he loves how scared he would be if he got to fight Ilya and he hopes that that fight happens. How different is that mindset, though, Ben? That's something that fears you so much. Also is the same thing that ultimately excites you. How do you tell people that how do you explain that to people? Man, I just read a great quote about this today.

I wish I would have memorized it. I'll give you the gist of it, but essentially said having courage or being fearless, isn't about not actually having the fear. It's about being able to do the thing you want to do anyways. Right? Yeah. So I think that's what a lot of us fighters or combat athletes

that figure out how to do is like, where there's danger, there's opportunity, right? So where there's a chance for me to get beat up or lose or get humiliated, there's also an opportunity. And so I always tell my wrestlers, like, if you want to go wrestle someone who sucks,

there's zero danger in you losing. Like, they're not as good as you. You're not going to lose ever. But where's the opportunity? If you just wrestle guys who suck all the time, you're never going to better, you got to be willing to put it on the line. You got to kind of enjoy putting on the line.

So I love the Justin Gagey mindset. I like his mindset. I think Justin Gage is an absolute savage. I think that the fight between him and Patty Pimbleyt is very, very tough. I thought the way that Pimlet fought against Michael Chandler was, I don't think I've ever seen him better. I don't think I've ever seen him more aggressive, more nasty. But I do understand what he's saying about Ilya to pour you.

Because Ilya has shown an ability to put people out that don't get put out. The way he knocked out Max Holloway was crazy, bro. The way that he knocked out Charles O'Levara was crazy. Charles was down and out before he even hit the ground after Ilya hit him with the right hand. I love that because I remember, as I think back on my career, I don't know if I've ever been more nervous in my life than the NCAA finals, right? But I think I was so nervous because I was like, man, if I get this done, I can create history. Kenny Monday walked up and goes, you look kind of scared.

I was like, I am so nervous. I said, but honestly, I live for those nerves. You know, then when you get to fighting, it's like if those nerves didn't show themselves, I would get scared that I wasn't prepared to compete at the level that I needed to compete at.

Because I realized as I got older that those nerves I felt as a 21-year-old kid about to wrestle the NCAA final, I didn't quite understand them. I didn't understand that they weren't fear nerves. They were all competitive nerves. And there's a difference. There's a difference in handling those nerves.

Whereas I told Kenny, I go, if I can get this done, I make history. So yes, I am nervous. But I wasn't quite, I didn't understand as much as I did as I went through my fights. And so some days when I was fighting and I felt so ready and I'm in the back and I'm just too, too relaxed, I would find ways to make sure I drew those emotions out of me. Because to me, that was my indicator that, boy, you're ready to go and kill someone. Yes. Yeah, I love it.

And I miss it. I don't get to compete anymore. I mean, I have a compete in a bunch of years. Yeah, but, yeah, I mean, you don't want. competitor. I always said the thing I missed most when I retired, um, it's just that feeling like if you could, if I could get that feeling of walking to the cage or walking to the mat, if I get that feeling every day when I woke up in the morning, my life would be so great.

You know, you don't get it. You have to earn those feelings. And once they're gone, Oh, that's great, man. That's great, Ben. Yeah. That's great.

You have to earn that feeling. Yeah. If you pay, you have to earn that, you have to earn that, you have to earn that ability to feel those nerves for something that's so damn important. To stand on the version. I always say, dude, like Josh Thompson asked me, he goes, how good does it feel to watch those guys achieve greatness? I go, dude, when I sit next to the octagon

to watch people just chase down something that's so big is insane. I think Justin understands that. Justin understands that, man, if I go get this dude that hasn't been beat that is supposed to be unstoppable, who has shown so many things. It's like it's motivation for guys like Justin, like myself, like you.

But it also brings me to this one. Like, do you think like Ilya brings about a fear that some other fighters don't? Well, I think when there's that idea that you can get put out right away and it's one shot, I think you have to have that. But that's, you know,

kind of along those lines of, if you really let that, if you fear that too much, that's going to be super negative to your performance. You have to accept that that's the case, then go do it anyways. And then, you know, that he's not the only fighter like that.

There's, you know, like one guy you fought, Anthony Johnson, rest and peace. I mean, he hit people hard. And it's,

you know, so there's like that fear of like, it's a fear of such a balance of recognition. Like, hey, this guy can put me out. So I got to be a little more careful. Honestly,

I'll tell you, I didn't really think George could hurt me that much. And I think, you know, kind of you said your nerves get done. I'd at that point I'd been in the octagon so many times um I'd been in practice so many times I had never really got rocked or hurt in practice or anything you know so it was like I was almost dull to it and um so maybe I should have been a little more nervous you know I'm my

probably should have been um so I do think that's that's important to kind of like recognize and have that balance to not disregard the threat but um kind of keep it in your mind You know, we're turning the corner here. We're going to end here in a little bit. But last thing before we go. Back in the day, before we done, we said we wanted to do like Funky's Corner, where you got a chance to talk about stuff that matter to you. I'm changing it.

Let's do a block where we talk just real American freestyle wrestling. I love it. Because the job that you guys have done to me is amazing. You have literally created a professional wrestling for, us. The diehard wrestling fan. It's on TV. It's doing insanely well on Fox Nation.

And you guys have put together some really good matches. One match in particular I want to talk about it. Henry Suhudo's back, wrestling your right in the first off. Let me tell you something. Henry Schudo does not know how to retire. I mean, man. He's worse to me. How many times have you retired?

Twice. Twice. Three times. Fighting and wrestling. wrestling, right? Yeah. Well, I know. I didn't leave my

fucking shoes on the mat, Daniel. Hey. Who's that? I retired. I did one time. No, you didn't get that line? That's a Steve Mocko line.

He said, did you see me leave my fucking shoes on the mat? Oh, so that's why he's coming back because he's wrestling. Yeah, he's wrestling. So awesome. Okay. I retired once from wrestling,

once from fighting. How many times did you retire? All right. Well, 2017, I retired with a caveat that would come back. If I got the fighting, I'm better than me. I retired from Newcy in 2019, and then I took that boxing match.

I never ever have retired from wrestling. I took a, what, after I really like retired, I probably had, what, four matches, I think or five matches? Yeah. I was hoping to wrestle on this thing. Yeah, I don't know what's going to work out. I've been telling your ass to stop wrestling. I saw you in the garage wrestling with Kellan.

I'm like, dude, don't wrestle. You can't wrestle. Yeah, I love wrestling. It's the best. So Hudo versus Faber. With your position in the company, can you actually discuss who you thinks in a win? I don't, I'm, I've never been asked that, but I don't see why not. You know, it's, we've brought these MMA guys in and we've made some of them wrestle wrestlers.

And that obviously has. It's bad, bro. It is bad. I mean, only in the case of like, Yol Romero, who was legit world class, he could still compete. But the majority of these guys, if they've only, done MMA and maybe a little bit of wrestling they can't wrestle on the elite wrestlers level um you know that being said someone like uh michael chanler he was a good wrestler but hasn't wrestled a ton in the ufc he's still a good i don't know how much henry wrestles

um have yeah henry was an olympian champion he was literally as good as it gets but that was oh shit we're all the other 17 years ago yeah yeah it was a long time ago so i don't know how well he gets a wrestle um you know his peak was much above yurrias your riot looks like he stays in great shape he competes frequently. Your right still competes. Yeah. So I'm very interested to see. Obviously, I was lean towards Henry because of the credentials.

But I'm curious to see how good your eye looks. I'm excited about this matchup because, dude, I was so scared about who Henry was going to wrestle. Can I be honest with you? After watching the MMA guys compete against the wrestlers, I was like, yo, first off, they got to stop. I mean, Belaw Muhammad wrestling, David Carr is crazy. I don't know if you, they don't need money. So I know what he just want to do because they love wrestling.

But that's a... Dude, you guys are so ridiculous. Like, we should call CPS. I should call CHOPROTECT services. I should call... You guys matching these guys up with David Carr and freaking... Bro, Daryon-Coldwell,

wrestles, Bow, Basson gets bending like 10 seconds. This is the craziest. I just... I can't understand it. But my fear, right? Was that Henry was going to end up wrestling. wrestling Bob Bassett.

No, no way. That's scary. No way. So let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. Does Henry beat Bobasset right now? Bobassett's really, really good at wrestling. I don't know how good Henry is.

Listen, if Henry wants to wrestle more than one match, we'd love to have him wrestle more than one match. Do not put him in that with Bull Bastard, bro. Well, listen, if he wins a few matches, we've got to keep bumping him up, right? I mean, that's the thing, like, you know, you're building stars to UFC. It's like, well, you have to have some type of storyline or, plot. And so, I don't know, maybe Henry does one match. It's in Phoenix in his hometown.

He wants to kind of go out with a bang, something like that. Maybe, I don't know, maybe he likes to wrestle and he wants to wrestle some more. And we give him a couple of matches. And after your riot, maybe wrestles, like, at Dary and Coldwell, right? And then he keeps bumping up a little bit. But Dary and Cole got pinned by bowling, like, I mean, that was crazy. I mean, but how old are he? He did a really stupid move.

I don't know what he was trying to do when he tried pulling it back. That was really a bad idea. insane, insane. Ben, so who's matchmaking this event? Do you matchmaking? Yeah, we have a group of four of us. I believe it's public. It's me, Willie, Lance Palmer, and Izzy.

And we just get on the phone a couple times a week and, you know, kind of look a couple down the line. So we have Miami, January 10th this weekend. We have Tempe, February 28th. We have in March 28th. The venue's not officially locked down. So I can't say that one yet. But we're doing one show a month on Fox Nation. And, yeah, so we kind of try to line them up.

And obviously like April, May, June, we're going to have to be careful with our wrestlers because they're going to have the trials and the open and the final X. So, you know, I'm going to try to do what you're advising here. I want to try to have some of these MMA guys, just MMA guys. So it's more even. Yeah. Like, you know, Balal, he actually wrestled David Carr pretty tough compared to what I thought was going to happen. For real.

He got beat 10-0, didn't he? Listen, I didn't think it was going to last so long. I actually was kind of impressed in a few of his defenses. So we'll match them up against someone else who is, you know, a more similar skill level for wrestling. And, you know, like you said, I think they don't need to do it for the money. They do it because they enjoy wrestling and they enjoy it.

So, yeah. And we just announced Makaya versus Bryce Meredith. And then the other thing that I've been most fascinated by so far to this point was Yul Romero. I like, dude, how good was he? Holy crap. Well, I was, so I thought of him because we were,

thinking about what matchups could we give bow nickel and we wanted a big name and we wanted someone had good credentials because bow's really good at wrestling you know and so i said yole and so we matched them up initially and then bow at like a minor injury had to pull out and i was like damn is yole gonna get beat by pat downy because pat was on the world team only a few years ago yeah it was not long ago wasn't super long ago and yoles 48 years old i know how good he was but yol kicked his ass it was So impressive. Holy moly. Romero was wrestling like the rule set, like he still trains the rule set.

That's what was most impressive to me. I'm like, yo, this dude's wrestling like he's still wrestling. Yes. It's unbelievable. Yeah. My boy Luke Rockholds wrestling this weekend. That's one. You think he could beat Colby or no?

He's been sending me videos. Of his wrestling? He's been sending me. Yes, of him training. So he's been working out. He's been preparing. We got a few. tricks about asleep for Kobe Coveington.

He should have a little size advantage though, right? He's going to be bigger. But I mean, there's a lot of sit. Yeah, I don't know, man. Kobe's a good wrestler. Kobe's a two-time All-American. But that's one where Kobe, I know he, so, like, you know what a great example of this is for ref, the difference between MMA and wrestling.

If you watch Michael Chandler versus Chad Mendez. Chad Mendez. Both good wrestlers. Now, defensively, you can usually maintain your defense. But in Rests and MMA, you generally don't shoot to a knee. Both of those guys couldn't shoot through a knee anymore, so they couldn't get past the other one's defense, really. And so it's like if Colby hasn't been shooting to a knee,

which he hasn't, right? And he's probably a little bit younger than me. I will say 15 years. Like that's a skill that kind of goes away with your timing. So it can make things a lot harder. I told, I'm telling you, Real American Freestyle Wrestling is going to see me and John Jones at some point. And I'm going to kick his ass.

Like you would never believe. Because guess what? I still should. Because I still train wrestlers every single day. You could take him Kobe Merrill. Dude, he was so strong. Why did he get so big? Cody, he's huge.

He's good, don't even a man. So big, son of a bitch. Hey, guys, thank you for watching Funky and the Champ. Hey, this weekend, Real American Freestyle Wrestling is on Fox Nation. That's Saturday, right, January 10th? Saturday, January 10th. Saturday, January 10th, make sure you guys watch it. And make sure you guys always tap in the Funkie and the champ.

for Ben. I'm D.C. Ben is nice to have you back, my brother. Great to see it. Back from the dead. My boy Ben Askron. Until next time, peace. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers.

I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being and ask questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Turn someday into right now with Body by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's what things seem worse, that you must not quit.

Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio. Hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. I'm Joey Dardano. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives,

helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumb. as people you know. Listen to help from

Hypocrite Wednesdays on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real House Wives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They hold

Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed Human.