This Past Weekend - E324 Cory Sandhagen

Episode Date: February 26, 2021

Cory Sandhagen is the #2 ranked UFC 135lb-er and in many people's eyes a future champ. Theo and Cory talk about evolving your tools for survival, what it felt like to knock out a legend, and what Cory would be doing if he wasn't fighting. https://bit.ly/theo-von Follow Cory: https://instagram.com/EnterTheSandman135 This episode is brought to you by: Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/theo Fabletics: https://fabletics.com/theo Manscaped: 20% off + free shipping at https://manscaped.com/theo The Zebra: https://TheZebra.com/theo Liquid Death: https://liquiddeath.com Music: “Shine” - Bishop Gunn http://bit.ly/Shine_BishopGunn Hit the Hotline [phone] Video Hotline for Theo Upload here: http://bit.ly/TPW_VideoHotline Find Theo: Website: https://theovon.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/theovonFacebook: https://facebook.com/theovonFacebook Group: https://facebook.com/groups/thispastweekend Twitter: https://twitter.com/theovon YouTube: https://youtube.com/theovon Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiEKV_MOhwZ7OEcgFyLKilw Producer: Nick Davis https://instagram.com/realnickdavis Producer: Sean Dugan https://www.instagram.com/SeanDugan/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's guest is a one-of-a-kind He is a Traveler and a an adventurer in the physical realms and in the And in the mental realms as well You know, this is a man that is trying to Divide himself and conquer the different parts that make us up as humans He is the number two ranked Bantam weight

Fighter in the world We are honored to have mr. Corey Sanhagan Yeah, it's a good water From the mountains like you Great question great Yeah This shit could be my questionable mountain man. I didn't think about that man They'll really tell you

This shit could be from West Virginia This shit could have a literacy in it. Is that where you're from Virginia? I'm from Louisiana, Louisiana. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's right Yeah, man. I'm from down in Louisiana, man Got the kid in here today right there Oh Sugar Sean gave me those oh nice you had him on too. He came on a while back before he hurt himself Before he got Hurtened

Hurtened up man. He's a cool dude. I met him a couple times. Yeah, he's a super nice dude. He's uh, and now he's a family guy Mm-hmm, you know he sprouted that kid out of nowhere. I think he's got like a gym in his garage and everything Yeah, his house does look cool when you're kind of watching him. It seems like he's on like a He's either in witness protection program at a really nice place Or he just has like a really cool like domicile. You know like a fantasy factory. Yeah, it seems like he's got some real space to him Um, Cory Sanhagan man, dude, thanks for being here. Yeah, man. Absolutely. Thank you. That's easy, dude. It's crazy to be around Uh, because I feel like when I was a kid, I would be so afraid to be around somebody that could fight, you know I like unless they were my friend like otherwise it was like fighter dude

You always like like if you were like in the hall at school and somebody could fight you always had to like kind of keep a beam out Of the side of your eye. Yeah. Yeah when you were um in high school, was there like a fight? Was there like a kid you remember growing up? We're like, oh that dude can fight um Not really man like uh, I would say that so I grew up in Aurora, Colorado, which is like uh You know not like a rough area because it's Colorado or whatever but like as far as Colorado goes It's maybe like one of the more, you know, like rougher areas or whatever But dude, I had this friend Thomas Johnson who he was about my size

I was really little growing up too. Like I was I was supposed to be five foot two the doctor told me my whole life Yeah, and you beat it. I beat it man. Fuck it up. Thank you Nick was premature baby, man. He's doing great. Damn nice Nick. So we got a lot of comeback kids up in here. That's what's up um No, bro, but this dude Thomas Johnson I never seen him throw a punch once in his life because anytime he would get an altercation with someone The the move he would do because he was little also is he would start looking around, bro Like he would start looking around and it would freak people out because he'd be like

Oh, because he'd think that you know, the other person thought that he was going to smoke him like because no teachers were watching or anything Oh, so it was a bit of a kind of pump and circumstance kind of yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah when we're when you're a little man, you got to have like little tactics Like I would look on the ground for stuff if I felt someone was going to you know Go off on me. I'd start to like look at a stick or look at a cone or something You know, so what you can do strategize a little bit or something or had just have some like Maybe oh, he's not looking at me right now like he must be thinking something like just something Or like or yeah, just confusing bro. It's the art of war

You know any time you can create some chaos and the other person's mind you do it Damn Yeah, do you use like is that something that you still kind of go on today like because some guys do a lot of like Peacock, you know Sean's kind of a peacock kind of guy Um sugar Sean and uh conner actually was one of the more famous ones Um, do you that doesn't really seem to be your vibe as much Do you feel like there's stuff like that when you get right into the octagon that you're doing? Or is there subtle things that maybe that we wouldn't notice unless you told us

I think that I think that people carry around energy obviously and like pretty much the entire time. I'm in fight week or I'm uh Or definitely when we're facing off or anything in my head. I'm thinking I'm gonna kill you, you know, you know Next time next time we see each other. I'm gonna try to kill you. You know, so I try to care I try to carry that energy with me all the time because you know, I think that while it's subtle I think like, you know People pick up on that for sure. Oh, I can feel it right now, dude Even though you're just kind of like, you know putting in the air just to kind of show it It's kind of crazy because I really can feel like not that you're trying to kill me

But just that you're putting that thing out there like this Like this force field almost, you know this thing like I'm gonna let this sit in the air Because it's an ambiance that I've built inside of me and it has fucking arms that can reach out into the air That's crazy. Yep. Yep. It does I think one of the you know most interesting things that one of my buddies said to me one time is he goes He goes, man, like you're a really nice like quiet guy, you know soft-spoken But like it wouldn't surprise me if you were out there like being a serial killer or something. I was like Thank you

That's that's what I'm trying to put out there, you know Dang man Um, did anybody when you were growing up was there anybody that had that like a vibe that you didn't Ever know how they were feeling like they I'm just trying to wonder where some of that comes from if that's just like a Just like a thing you that you choose as a fighter or were there growing up was there ever Like I never knew how my mom felt growing up Like she was always just working real hard and but I never knew when she got home if she was gonna be

Like in a good mood. I just never knew really what was going on with her Did you have like was there anybody in your life like that growing up where you just kind of And there doesn't have to be I'm just kind of I don't think so I don't even really think that You know, you can definitely pick up on energy when you're about to fight someone, you know Like where they are in their in their headspace. I think that your body goes through some type of like survival mechanism Also where like it's it's reading the other person a little bit closer than I think that you know like right now And we're just having a conversation

I think when you're about to fight you're able to read body language a little bit easier and I think that they're able to read there's a little bit easier. So As you know, I think that that's a big part of the sport those like yeah that like body language reading, you know that energy type of reading and But now growing up. I definitely didn't have that skill. So I don't really have grown up. Yeah So it wasn't something so did you think of yourself as like a tough kid growing up? I knew that I was tough like I was a very like physical kid like I was really aggressive But like I said, man, like I had to be humble because I was so little

Right. I think that the people in the smaller weight classes have to be humble because look man I'm a 135er and like I noticed that there's a different way that 35ers act and like the littler weight classes act versus like the 170 and up because like us even though we can be more skilled than a lot of the other people Uh or the heavier weight classes like Those people, you know, like the law of nature is the bigger animal usually beats the smaller animal So like I think just growing up smaller. You have to be a little bit more humble in those ways, right? Yeah, I could see that. Yeah, it's just kind of like

um Yeah, even the wrestlers in school Had a different energy than the foot had to have a different energy than the football team Um, like the football team kind of got all the a lot of the looks and the the the accolades and like They got to really be boastful and wear the letterman jackets, but the wrestlers had to have almost as more like quiet Hungry yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, literally a hungry vibe literally And be more like a quiet commander of themselves kind of you know, yeah, did you play anything? You're a big dude, man

I didn't expect you to be that really bro. I'm just pretty much regular size. You look like yeah, I'm fucking dancing. I'm built like, um Like a gingerbread man when you pull up a gingerbread cooking it I'm definitely built like a gingerbread cookie Oh That hair looks way better in real person. Oh, thanks, bro. Yeah, man Yeah, I'm probably gonna try to grow on out, but you message me too late, bro You gotta give me a couple months next time Have a rat tail next time dude. I could see you maybe with a rat tail. That's how I'm built

See that I got that body physique like a gingerbread man without the uh the the sugar art on it, but uh Yeah, I'm really just close knit, bro. Not a ton of dexterity. I'm built like a conestoga wagon Right there, right? It's exactly how I'm built narrow body, dude. Not like you know, um Yeah, like I can go over some bumps, dude, but I'll easily go off a cliff, you know, if I get a little too close to the edge What'd you play bro? I'll play basketball. Oh nice. I played basketball growing up too. You did. Yeah. Yeah Oh, yeah, that's right. I read that somewhere. Yeah. Yeah. Um So I gotta ask this man. We'll bring it. We'll show this picture that we show a lot of me playing some hoops right here Um

So we go right there. That's me on the squad right there bottom left And a lot of these men dude had children had a lot of these men had jobs Like a college Middle this is seventh grade baby right there You were big back then too, dude. I was a fucking long guy Bro, I was doing a good carried a lot of weight in my ears back in Ears and nose, bro. That's what my yeah, my ears only got bigger after the cauliflower ear That's crazy. So how long did it take to start that cauliflower ear? How do you take to really sprout? It's like, uh, you know

It's like because it's the skin and then like your cartilage The skin gets away from the cartilage by getting like banged up or whatever fills up with blood And then, you know, depending on how well you take care of it depends on like how much you have So like some guys you see have like nice cauliflower ear This one bro was like the size of a ping pong ball in there And uh, I would just drain it and drain it and drain it because I didn't want to stop training And I definitely didn't want to wear a headgear So I would just keep draining it and draining it and then one day I had I wasn't able to drain it anymore

Because the king supers I used to go to to get the syringes because you do it with the syringe Just quit giving me syringes. They're like, no, they're like no kid. Yeah They're like, they're like no kid like you've been here every day for the last two months You don't get any more needles, you know, like this kid's putting heroin into his ears Or maybe they were doing it for the drug addicts actually now that I think about it Maybe like, hey man, we're running out of needles man. Some people need those. Yeah, it could have been man Maybe yeah, maybe people the wire might have been put back on HBO Um, I remember using uh, steroids and we'd have to go to like a place and convince them to give us the needles when I was in high school

And that shit was always awkward. The lies we would make up. It's for a dog because we would always say dude We like one kid said it was for this is the worst dude. My friend was such an idiot. He said it was for his, um voodoo doll Well, I can just get some regular needles You don't need like in hypodermic syringes Unless you're voodoo dolls. I can't really go through some tough shit, you know um Dude, you're really becoming like a

A star in your sport. Have you always felt uh, what are some of the things that happen with Ego and stuff like that that start to happen that come with popularity because that's a real thing and it's some It's out of your control Some of it's out of your control like that more eyes start to see you and more people are curious about you like There's nothing you as a person can do about that. You're just achieving your goals um What's it been like kind of like noticing some of that and um And responding to it. Yeah, uh, I mean I'll answer and then I would actually like to hear your answer to the same thing

To be honest because I don't feel like you know, I'm near the caliber of something that you're at You know, but one day I would like to be too, but um, I think man like I got You know really fortunate and uh, one the coach that I'm with right now who uh, his name is christian allen um Who taught me a lot about all of that way way from the beginning Uh, where I was kind of being you know prepped and primed in order to kind of like not not deal with success but just to deal with the everyday egos of life and stuff so Man, I lost my first fight maybe like five years ago now. Um

And uh, when I lost that fight I had to do a lot of soul searching because I had put a lot of my identity in being a fighter and and being this like You know prospect and you know up and like I was supposed to win every single fight I went into I was supposed to win because I was supposed to be the guy And I had always come from a really good gym like I came from grudge where like some really really top level guys came from Brennan used to train there all of those guys Um, so when I lost my first fight, I had to really do some searching, you know Uh, I spent about six months probably, you know, thursday to sunday every day in the mountains either camp in or hike in or both

Um, and that's kind of where I learned to like meditate and learn to silent my mind Um, and just kind of you know, like listen to that little ego that's inside your head because it'll chirp off You know, like it still chirps off no matter how much I feel like I do still, you know, of course, uh Uh, so man, like I know that it's in there, right? Like I know that, you know, uh It's in there like it wants power it wants to conquer it wants to it wants things, you know Like every need is an ego to feed. That's the you know, uh, bob marley from a bob marley song but uh

It's still in there, man But I think it's just more about like how how do you respond to it best in a way where it doesn't impact relationships with yourself Uh, and with other people because I mean at the end of the day man Like we're humans we're social animals like I think that that's more or less Why we're on the planet is to interact and to love each other and all of that jazz um And I think that if you let your ego get in the way of those types of things That's where the ego really is taking over your life, you know, so I just try to keep it right underneath that

But but right at the level where it's like now, but when I go in the cage I'm still trying to you know win and and and get all the things I want because I want a lot of things in my life Right. Yeah, so still able to like Just kind of almost corral it like at least have some control over it. Sure. That's interesting. Yeah I think meditation is probably really really key to that kind of stuff. You know, do you do it? I don't do it as much as I as I should and I can feel when I'm not doing it. Yeah. Yeah, I can feel like Like the Uneasiness inside of me. It's uncertainty. Yes, and I can feel it start to push from the inside of me out towards onto my like

The inside of my skin. Yeah. Yeah, so it's funny when I know I have more control over that like Things roll off my shoulders easier. I don't get into like a lot of the traps of my brain and of society And I'm a little bit more in control of myself and then I feel like I can also do my best work then just as a human Yeah, not even as like a comedian or podcast or but just as a human as a brother as a son as a Friend as a co-worker all that kind of stuff, you know, what uh, how do you make the clutter go away then? Um, I think a lot of times I'll you use yoga right now, and then I just started getting into doing. Um, jujitsu

Nice. I'm white belt. Hell. Yeah, so they give it to you when you get there, but I am I'm certified white belt. So Yeah, so that's been cool, man. I never realized how much um Anger I had in this this goes back to which you were asking me about my answer to that question was Man when I like about two years ago, I kind of got into a space where I was just getting more popular and um And I think something

I had a lot of anger. I got a lot of anger because I I I think I always thought inside of myself when I got to a certain level of achievement Whatever we view achievement as or success whatever and it doesn't have to be monetary success, but it could just be a platform or finally having your voice heard or um Finally achieving your physical potential like just different when I got to a certain level of success that I was going to feel A level of accomplishment that that matched it or that I don't know that that the world was going to be different. Yeah, suddenly the problems the uncertainties the

The low self-worth all that shit would be completely gone And I think when I started to arrive at some of those places it wasn't And I realized you're still just Stuck with just ret just life. Yeah that you know, like it still pisses you off when someone cuts you off in traffic Yeah, everything's still never gonna go away. Yeah, you're still life doesn't come out and say there's nothing that there's not like a Magical waterfall that opens up and a man or woman walks out and says congratulations. You did it. Yeah There's never that thank you for your effort um

I think there's something inside of me. I think it got so angry because there wasn't like a You know, you don't get the golden orb or whatever that quidditch ball You don't get you know, there's no big thank you for your effort. Yeah And uh, and that made you angry. It made me angry. I didn't know it was going to it was just inside of me And so I think I got so angry and I was having trouble finding a place to put it and then Since I started going to the jujitsu gym, man, I get It literally has to come out of me because I'm fucking caged up by some 50 or 60 year old man And I can't fucking do anything, you know, or they put me against some fucking

You know spastic Adderall out six five guy the white belts are the most dangerous guys, bro Bro I'm fighting a guy that drives a bread truck all night. He hasn't even slept and he's in there The guy's fucking just taking caffeine pills before bro. That's a real thing man We got a couple guys like that too at the gym. It's crazy, bro. So but just my Me wanting wanting something and not having any control over it. That's those moments where I'm just caged up I can't move somebody I can't and I'm trying with part muscles in my nut The muscles I didn't even know were in my body. I'm trying with and having no

And there's no return from the world And it's like it kind of answered that That question that I had where I wanted some return and then it's like jujitsu shows you that there's just There's no return, but it's kind of okay And you go back to a place where you each shake each other's hand and it's all good and And you try and learn a different way Next time Yeah, jujitsu is good for that man. Jujitsu is good because I think that you know like

So I don't know how closely you followed all of my fighting and stuff but in the in the last two fights I've really like Come to find you know, I don't want to call it like anger But that place where like I know that I have to go out and be a different person than like when I'm walking day to day Oh, your confidence has changed even from the algae the algae fight your confidence seems different when you are In there when you're entering as a viewer. It seems different Um, yeah, what do you attribute that to kind of? Uh, I upped the meditations. I upped the visualizations I started feeding my brain different things

Because like I said man like um I like to think that you know a lot of life is about relationships and loving each other and this and that you know and uh You know, I've read I've done my fair share of reading on like eastern philosophy and you know Eliminating the ego eliminating desires and you know all of that jazz and I realize that that's really great to like be able to like You know conquer Conquer like some peace inside of you, you know and be able to like do that I think after you do that though, if you're gonna be in the world that I'm in You need to you need to also like conquer war, you know

And you need to learn a lot about that and you need to and you need to know how to get there, you know, so um The point that I was bringing up man is that like That's inside of everyone, you know, like the same type of anger and like, you know, like let me get this out type of feeling I think is inside of everyone I don't think everyone gets to experience it and I don't think that everyone gets to see it as a positive thing And because I always thought it's not a positive thing and when someone would walk out or after a fight act like a you know Like an arrogant idiot, you know, like I would judge that person, you know, and then I got to think and after I lost I was like man like

There is a level of peacocking happening. There is a level of intimidation like there is a level of manipulation like There's a reason that like warriors in the past used to torture each other It's not because they liked it It's because if I torture this person and and I peacock because I was kind of their version of peacocking That's going to scare the other side, right the other guys sitting around the ring who are fighting me next or who I might run Around the next corner. They're gonna see me differently. Yep. They're gonna see me differently and uh It's true, man. It's true, man. And I think there's a lot that's like a separate art in itself Is just like the being able to get yourself to a state where it's like nothing else matters

Except for beating this person nothing else matters Uh, and that's where I've been going in in the in the last couple times, you know And I attribute it to a lot of meditations, but I'm doing different kind of meditations I know everyone kind of throws that word around and I'm not a guru or anything So I don't know the terminology or whatever, but in my experience. There's a lot of different kinds. So now I'll do somewhere It's like Instead of making myself really peaceful now it's time to go on that other end of the spectrum and be able to you know If I can quiet my mind great, but now let's kind of like wake it up

You know or not wake up the mind but wake up the body to a point where it's like When it's go time like I can actually go. Yeah, and uh So a lot of it is that man and and just figuring that out. Yeah, it's an interesting philosophy really um To create that angst in you Because there's one thing about getting ready for something getting hyped. There's a there's one thing about getting hyped for something Yeah, like you could play basketball in high school and stuff and get hype for it. That's a different Let's go, you know, you're excited. You got you know, you done some warm-ups. There's a different thing About how do I make myself?

Ness like that a victory is a necessity. You know, how do I get the part of me? that When someone does something to me and I can't do something back to them that vitral that arises How do you create that in a moment? Because the power of that is so much more tangible and real And vicious than the power of okay, let's just get hype. Let me fucking high-five my buddies, you know, it's just that's a different world So to have a meditation for war

That's kind of fascinating and I I never even thought about that. It's all survival man, you know, it's all survival and survival That's a great word. I think that all of our lives man because um, I used to work at a trauma facility too for like uh for kids that had like histories of trauma and stuff and so and I went to school for psychology at CU Boulder, so You know, I'm no expert by any means, you know, I was just on call I would just fill in or whatever like for for the the people that were actually doing a lot of the work at at this place called Mount St. Vincent's but wow is a pretty powerful place It's a super powerful place, man

I think that I would attribute a lot of like what I've learned in life to that facility Wow, um, I used to be there a lot more man like like I said, it was an on-call position. So it was like I pretty much would make My own hours so uh back before I was in the UFC and even while I was in the UFC Actually, I just resigned maybe a couple months ago. Uh, just because I still liked having it uh be a part of my life Yeah, um But yeah, I was working there for a while, uh, and you you know, like you learn a lot about just like how the brain works Obviously, but you learn that like man, we're all just doing things in order For us to be able to survive better. You know, like the kids that I was working with they developed a certain amount of behaviors

Because in because in their environments, they needed them, you know We were preaching to the choir. This is like we talk about this all the time on this podcast I still suffer from Survival skills that I needed from trauma as a kid that I still use today that affect me negatively now Yeah, and that and that becomes the problem is when you have a certain survival set In this environment, but now you're living in this environment and it's like man, I don't need those anymore but for me man, like I need a different level of survival techniques in order for me to go out into the cage and to be able to perform at the

highest level that I can and like I've I've learned what those survival techniques are, you know, and and I'm still figuring it out man like even in the last fight that I had against Frankie like I felt way more like uh Uh Powerful, you know when I was like I felt way more powerful than even I did when I was going against Marlon Uh, which was another really good fight of mine. So you have Marlon morayas. Yeah. People say his last name different people should meet before And decide how they're gonna say his last name. You know what I'm saying? Let's do that next time Uh, but no man great both. I mean both of them were great fights, but no it's interesting to see so so

So starting to recognize that there's other skills you can still master outside of and not even master but start start to learn and navigate outside of just the ones that would seem like the most uh The most popular for fighters. Yeah, that that's everything to me man. Like uh, Everyone's good, bro Like everyone that I'm gonna fight for the rest of my career is gonna be good It's gonna be good, bro. I know bro. I had that moment. I had that moment I forget when it was dude. I think it was like dude. It must have been uh, that sucked

I was like, I'm not wrecking. Yeah, I'm not wrecking anyone anymore, bro I remember I had the moment I was sitting there and I was thinking I was like, man I need to just get used to this shit, bro. I was like, I like had an internal battle bra. I was like, man Every single dude for the next five 10 years is gonna like be at this level. You know, that's crazy Yeah, it sucked to come to that conclusion. But you know, I've settled into it um It was let's get that question up of nick about the hours minutes and months before And you're christians here. That's your coach. Yep. Yep. That's awesome, man. Yeah, that's cool of him to come out

Yeah, yeah, me and him are best friends too. Oh, just my coach. Yeah. Yeah, dude I would like to see you guys do a tag team verse freaking uh sugar sawn and tim welch one day, uh For charity that'd be fun. Yeah, what kind of match? Look, it could just be video games if you want. What are those things? What are those things you take to the pool? It could be noodles. Yeah noodles You know, recently I realized I was paying $300 for car insurance and then I did some adjustment Now I'm not even joking. I'm paying $53 now is something wrong if I get in an accident Am I actually covered? I have no idea. I need to check more

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Here's the guy right here who's sitting in a question. All right. Here we go The ovawn i'm taking a ship for you and this question is coming from the shitter Cory sanhagan, what's going on man much love Um, what's the mindset quick question? What's the mindset going into a fight going into a ufc world-class fight against world-class fighters Um, what's the steps that you take weeks before the fight months before the fight and hours or minutes right before you walk out To prepare your mind whether that's meditation or I don't even reading type of like warrior books or I don't really know learning about Conquista doors. I think that's what Mike Tyson used to do

So i'm very curious to see what your mental state is and how you try to keep a strong positive But motivated very focused mental state going into a fight. So uh gang gang Thank you so much. Cory. What's going on gang bro? Thanks for the question And you already answered some of it with the meditation and some of you know, the the Trying to perfect a different mind like mindset outside of the fighting exact fist fist body my the body set and more of a mindset But yeah going into like like a month once you learn what the fight is. What's kind of the process from like, okay? This is who i'm fighting now. It's a week before and now it's the day. Yeah. Yeah

So I usually do 10 week camps. Okay, and this is actually something that uh, My training partner uh, Carrington banks helped me a lot with he's also in my corner, too He's my wrestling, you know helper. I don't call him a coach because you know, he's still fighting himself But it's like a peaking process man. Like as you get closer to the fight. It's it's a peaking process. So 10 weeks out. I'm still doing, you know meditations every day. I'm still doing like breathing exercises Either before because before sparring I'll do a lot of breathing exercises to to get to that level of like, you know body awareness and stuff will you load up on uh On will you do that like will you load up and she can hold your breath for a long time? No, no

Uh, it's similar to wim Hof type of breathing where it's like really big, uh, or a really big long inhale and then quick exhale It's pretty similar to that. Uh, have you ever tried that? Yeah, I have man. I held my breath one time for like three and a half minutes Yeah, it makes it like all tingling and stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm a fish. Yeah It's pretty much like that though because it wakes your body up man. It gets like oxygen all around or whatever. So It's that uh, like I said, man, it's feeding your brain the right stuff That's funny that he brought up Mike Tyson because I'll watch a lot of Mike Tyson's interviews too And uh, just because I like seeing how really high level competitors think uh, and he'll talk about like Napoleon Uh, you know, like, um, all of those like generals and back in the day

And that's what I was talking about too is the feed in the mind Like feeding the mind war stuff is you know part of my survival now. So I do a lot of that. Um That's interesting. Did he ask something else? Okay. So that was kind of like in it. So that's early in advance So then once you get like you're going through camp you're getting close to a few weeks out Is there does anything change or does this camp just stay the same up until like the day of the fight? I would say about three weeks out and I don't know that I really do it on purpose I think that when you stay like connected with like, you know, you're you're you're you inside of you, you know I think that things just happen naturally the way that you you want it to so

So about three weeks out, man, I don't for whatever reason every single stressor in my life doesn't matter anymore But up until then like I'll I'll still you know, because I'm hungry. I'm training hard So I'll be like pissed off about like little shit. You know, like I'll come home Uh, I have a roommate that lives downstairs and my girlfriend that lives with me And I'll get home sometimes man, and they'll be in the kitchen like you know going flirting Yeah flirting with each other, bro. I'll walk in and get so mad because the energy is just like too high, you know Oh, like that's that's where I'm mad about like about like three weeks before. I'm just like I'm going on a walk

I'm walking this out like you just got home Like turn this energy down, you know, it's too happy in here. Are you guys fucking happy in here? I'll knock some shit over. Yeah Do we fucking put apocalypto on or something? This shit is too high right now I do start watching a little bit more violent stuff as it gets closer to but yeah, man About three weeks away for whatever reason Things stopped mattering to me and it's all just like Let's let's get this done, you know, let's get this done

So but I think that that comes just from you know staying checked in not letting myself get cluttered, you know the the more I feel cluttered the the less I just feel connected to myself and so uh Uh Yeah, man, it's that stuff. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, you know, I can really it's it's all in a weird way sometimes Some of that reminds me what you're saying like with comedy when I'm on stage if I if I if I'm in a space where I'm not Tied to a bunch of other shit that day before I get on a stage or something and I'm really just feeling like part of the universe a little bit and like

Like locked in wanting to have a good show and make sure these people have fun It's not exactly the same but it's just on the same like wavelength of like, um I'm not attached to too many other things Man, then I'm almost I'm almost just My skills are already they are there, you know, they definitely can always be better But I'm just working off this energy that's in the world and it's just a fucking. Yeah, it's like I'm just juggling this dope Shit the fucking god put out. Yeah. Yeah, it's like, you know, like you're just where you're supposed to be Yeah, dude. I saw you in Denver not too long ago, man. I have to say just because I'm a fanboy too, bro

Uh, it was probably like last year, bro Yeah, um, because I hadn't seen your stand-up until probably your comedy centrals or did you have anything on netflix too? Yeah, I did a netflix first about five years ago Yeah, yeah, I think that was the last one that I watched and then I watched you in denver and it was like way different than The stand-up that you were doing before. Oh sweet. Dude. It was sick. Was it good? Yeah, bro. It was so creative. Oh, thanks It was like, I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, because because I'm really interested in comedy. I'm like a big fan of comedy too Oh, I like like all the different styles that all of you guys have and stuff and like Yeah, man, I was just like, well, that was weird and it was like so good. You know, thanks, bro

Dude is super good, man. Yeah. Was that at uh, the something north or whatever that place was? Yeah, uh, the one that's outside of town a little. Uh, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's a fun That room is really funny. You're almost like in the round kind of yeah, that's what everyone says dude. Thanks for coming out Bro, that's awesome. Yeah, man. Yeah, man. That's cool, man. Uh Yeah, dude, um Yeah, that's awesome, man. I appreciate you. I appreciate you coming up. You know, I got to meet at a show one time too was, uh Anthony Lionheart Smith came out to a show which was pretty cool dude. Is it cool? Do you know? Yeah, this is like three or four years ago

Yeah, such the nicest dude and then poor yeah came and I had a show in New Orleans about three years ago And he came and literally the whole time he was this is back when he was still like He's definitely like it still can be as angry as he wants to be But he was almost like posted up at the edge of the at the edge of he's the only person not in a seat, bro Just ready to go to war Back against the wall Check in bro like like like uh thomas used to do dude. Yeah. Yeah. It was like it was pretty it was pretty It was interesting man. Hey, he's a cool dude too, huh? He's a nice guy. Is this hot sauce good? It is good, bro

I'll see I'll get you I'll get you some of it sent man. How many are there like 10 different flavors? There's a lot. No, he just has one his own one flavor, but it is good. He's cool, man I think uh, he was talking about some anger after his last fight member after seeing him in the cage against connor. He was like He was happy obviously because he'd won, but he was like upset. He's like, I don't love this shit no more Stuff. I think a lot of it was yeah. I think a lot of it was like um I think first I don't know. Um, this is all speculation. I think some of it was like That belt in their

weight division it's kind of become this Ornament and not a real reflection of who is at the top Dude, I've almost always felt like Chasing a belt is kind of It's you know, it's a goal But it's like man, you can only control so much in that world, man Like what if you know, what if Dustin doesn't fight for the belt next, you know, right?

What what if I don't control right or what if I don't you know, like That doesn't that doesn't feel like as in control as maybe it used to be or maybe it was an illusion and now that I'm here It's like, oh no, there's like a lot of other factors that go into winning a belt other than just me beating people Right, so it's kind of weird man. And it's just a weird place in the sport too where it's like You know, uh It's kind of the fame game a little bit, you know Like you got to be a little bit Up in like your social media account and all of that jazz in order to kind of get what you want

Yeah, or at least to be able to call a little bit of the shots, right, which is fine. That's the world that we live in now So yeah, it's a business. I think and you guys is business too and you guys is I think the longer you're in it. It's longer you're in anything It's more of a business like I used to go to the comedy clubs and I was just excited if people were there And then you do it doing it for 15 years. You're like, well, did we sell tickets? You know, it's like some of that gets in your head somewhere, you know, like is Is the audience happy like you just you're just you start to have more concerns. I think some of that's just life But yeah, I mean you guys are in a business that was like

Everything's a business. It's a society. It's just kind of like this structure Yeah of Of things that were put together by people, you know Um, when you we we got a question right here from a young fella What's up Theo, what's up, Cory? Dallas, I'm statin out in New York here huge fan of both of you guys Theo me and my wife got to see you about a year ago out in red bank, New Jersey

The show was crazy hoping that we can get to see you again real soon. Well, thanks, brother Cory my question for you is how well do you really know brennan shop because he's always talking about he's texting you He's talking to you after you fights besides food truck diary. I know you guys are from aurora, Colorado Let them know people are down. I'm not a doubter. I know you guys know each other. Let the world know gang gang Say Are people down there? What is there to doubt people down? Brendan gets doubted a lot. I think but so I think people want to know. Yeah, he has that look, bro

Yeah, I think Brendan just has that. Yeah, he has and he has nine different shows. I think people just start to doubt him You know, he's a chef. He runs a food. He says something different on each one just to accommodate to each different audience So I think people are like, what is the truth here, Brendan? You guys never fought each other, right? No, no, no, hell no I would have no when I was uh when I was 17 or 18 years old We were all training at this gym called grudge And it's like where all the really good guys trained like Shaw was there Ludwig was there Mark Wart was there

Gsp would stop in or shot Evans like all of those really really big names um And so I used to train there when I was like, you know, like 140 pounds like soak and wet, you know And probably, you know, maybe shouldn't have been in that room at that time, but uh Yeah, I mean, we were all in that room together and I think that you know While me and Brendan were never like, you know, I was 17 years old. He was fighting in the UFC It's not like we were hanging out, right? That would be a little weird actually, but Yeah, because he would be an adult

Be illegal also probably uh But I mean not man, we share that like those same Aurora roots, you know, like it's just like I said, man It's like a community Aurora feels like a community. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Was he the kind of guy if you went and asked him for a suggestion He would like advice or something. He would share it. He was definitely I think so. Yeah Uh, everyone was pretty cool like at grudge. Uh Yeah, Brennan was definitely like one of the superstars there for sure during that time It's so funny because I don't know like to me. I don't know him at that is as that at all

Like I don't I don't ever even see that look in his eyes anymore Like, you know, what it takes to be a fight like not that he doesn't have it I'm not saying that but he doesn't ever turn that on in any environment that he and I are ever in no longer part of his survival Yeah, it's probably true. Yeah It's probably no longer part of his survival, man um Dude, this was heartbreaking man I even I remember I put a comment on your ig after your last fight and I was barely even like I was like way to go

Good Bro, that's how I was so I was trying to be supportive But also it was like Frankie Eggers just like beloved by humanity and I know by you as well How hard is that man like is Because no other like I guess there's other sports where that kind of stuff happens but how hard is it to go out there and fight like A guy will hear is he asking him right here? We'll let this guy ask it. So because he sent it in

Hey Cory Being a fighter, you know, you're going to every fight trying to win of course But as a human as a human being how did it feel? Knocking a legend like Frankie Eggert out Uh That should shook me for sure A lot of people are still shook Gang gang

gang, bro Yeah, man, there's like I said, man, there's two different people for me man Like there's you know, I got I got to be a type of way when I go in the cage And I can be a different type of way when I'm out, but uh, you know what the the Craziest part of and I'm trying to put you on the spot. No, no, no, it's okay. No, no, I don't I don't mind at all Bro, I'm not curious about like you heard. I'm just generally curious about the the the sides of it. Yeah Yeah, so once I'm done, you know without adrenaline dump that happens I mean, I almost felt like crying when I was in there not not well one because yeah, man like Frankie's a legend

I know he's a good dude You know and I and I know that he's trying to provide for his family and stuff and so that sucks What what trips me out the most about something like that is that Not because I'm worried about Frankie because I know that we're all really tough dudes, you know, like we can handle it um But just like knowing that he has loved ones that are watching Oh, yeah, and that I was a part of that and that I probably created, you know Like some definite sadness and in that

That's what like, you know makes you want to cry. Yeah, because we're all tough dudes, man But like I remember having that thought when they were raising my hand where it's like man like his his kids saw it You know, like these kids are probably worried about him His wife is probably worried about him and like that that part really sucks. Yeah that part really really sucks You know, there's no getting around how much that sucks. Yeah But you know what sucks worse, huh? Is that happening to me? Right? Damn, that's what sucks worse

And that's some of the truth of it. That's the truth and that's I mean that's kind of like You know poor he always talks about that's like the beautiful thing about it. He's like there's this it's just this It's just inescapable like It's almost like how the world started like this big bang theory like You know things broke apart for something to be made like it's just I don't know. It's just It's sad man. It's sad when you lose. I know what it feels like man. Like I was choked out by Sterling like I know

I know what it feels like man to open your eyes See the person running around the cage excited like, you know Pump that he won and to have the doctor lift you up and sit you on the stool Oh, like I know how that feels man like it sucks and who was y'all's rough no nonsense. Keep Peterson for last one. Yeah I think I think so. Yeah. Why you like him the most I would fight him You're a lot bigger than him I'll fucking lose weight. I'll cut a leg. What would you do bro? What would be the strategy if you had to fight someone if I went in against no nonsense in nkp

First I would probably I would try I'll probably try to wear him down, dude Yeah, I probably try to wear him down. How would you do that? I get him up against the cage First I'd run him. I'd run him till I got tired. Oh, okay. Yeah I run chase you a little run him until I got tired And then I would get him up against the cage, bro And I'd probably would you foot stomp or knee or I'd do a little bit of that kamaru fucking method Stomp on his feet hold him against the cage and stomp on his feet until he can barely move his feet And then I'd fucking hard scarf him, dude. I'd sneak up behind him

I get him distracted and I'd sneak up behind him. Have somebody wave a cigarette or something in the distance Sneak up behind him And put him in the hard scarf, bro. What's a hard scarf, bro. It's that fucking oh, yeah until you finish them out. Yeah Um, but anyway, and look I'm just joking Keith Peterson Unless we're like raising money for charity. I'm a big I'm a Keith Peterson fan. Yeah, me too. So uh He's a good ref man. I like the refs that don't say anything the refs that talk man I can't stand the refs that talk really. Yeah. Oh, I can't stand it man. Just because it's like man No one came to watch you bro. It's nonsense

No, you know, that's nonsense, man. Yeah, I like to think about zero nonsense, bro. Zero nonsense. Oh zilch Um Just do bigger fights get bigger. Is there like a ref order that feels like I think that there is there definitely is Um because Herb Dean gets a lot of the big ones, right? Yeah, he gets a lot of big ones No nonsense gets a lot of the big ones Uh, I like most of the refs, but there's a couple refs where I'll be watching on the tv and I'm just like just shut up Like he's not he's not doing what you're saying because I've been on the other end of that where A ref has been like quick grabbing his shorts and it's like in my head. I got to be like, I'm not grabbing his shorts

What's he talking about and then that just distracts you and when it's like a game of inches. It's like dude shut up Right. Yeah, yeah, shut up dude. Nobody. Yeah, no one came to watch you Yeah, you weren't there training with this. You weren't you don't know anything about it. Yeah, I could see that that's interesting Yeah, um Yeah, so that's yeah, that's interesting, man. It's it's kind of a it's it's a I think it's definitely a different and comforting thought Though to know that there's some level of that within the fighters that there's all like Yes, that could also be me and we both came into this knowing that that kind of thing can happen

and that there's some sense of like res like, um Care a concern for the person's family, you know, or for the people that are caring about them watching him, you know I think you have to be a little bit on the other side or at least Have had to experience it to kind of like fully understand that yeah, because like if you look at ancient samurais like ancient samurais You know, they're known for like, you know, obviously being like badass fighters But they're also known for like the way that they used to live and the way that they used to live is like very honorable Very respectful to to everyone else and like it got me thinking it's like man Like how can these really brutal soldiers who slash people up with swords?

Also live in a way where it's like, okay I have a I have honor and I have respect for fellow human beings and and I'll and I'll do this this and this to show that or Or I'll or I'll even like go as far as to stab myself to keep honor of whatever, you know, like I think it takes a level of like Having to go through all of those brutal feelings and understand that like, you know, this is not always fun and games like Poirier said In order to kind of like fully respect the other side of it, which is like life and you know and like when you actually win like How to be a winner because you know what it's like to be the loser and I think that that's important, you know But that's interesting that Poirier said that it's not fun to him anymore He actually says a lot of interesting stuff. Dude. That's a funny thing and that's one thing

I always liked about Dustin since I met him was that there's so much more to him than a fighter, you know And I think for a lot of guys, it's interesting to see them get to Come into whatever else they are as humans and I think the world has really gotten a witness that of Dustin over the past few years You know, like just through his charity and through You know, through his journey to get paid through the organization like just You know, like I know when he and Tony let that fight go, it was because of money. I believe I think he said that I don't want to be talking out of school. But So yeah to try and stand on some sense of honor and still, you know, grow up and

Yeah, I just think it's interesting. I think it's interesting why people fight You know, I was always like afraid to fight as a kid. So I'm like, like and then but then we're all fighting for something in some way You know, we're all trying to like find some way to express ourselves. So I guess sometimes I wonder if fighting is just A way that you guys express yourself. I always does it feel like that? I always wonder this I always wonder like, okay? Am I working harder than other people in other professions? And it always feels like that Harder than other people in other professions and or is me winning feel better Because of you know, it's fighting or does it does it feel worse to lose because it's fighting or whatever

And I think that anything that you try to do At like your best if you don't reach that like it's still gonna suck for everyone, you know So I I think that it's like, yeah, it's like this expression of yourself or whatever But I think that yeah, man, it's just like I don't know why people want to play the piano all day Yeah, but there's some people out there that want to play the piano all day And then there's like some people that want to like do math equations all day And like to me that seems like hell

But like I don't you know, I don't I don't know what that is in different people or what but like that crosses my mind all the time It's like man, you couldn't have chosen something different Podcasts can I done drywall? Have you ever drywalled bro? That's just worse than fighting bro. It's a gateway drug Dude, there's no way you start drywall and don't end up doing drugs That's true Um, here's a question right here. Wait, is this my uh, is this What's this guy's name?

Yo, Theo Nick Corrie. What's going on guys? It's your boy. Sheko from st. Louis, Missouri here Sheko got a couple quick questions for the same man Corrie first off congrats on this huge knockout of frankie the answer Edgar had to have felt fucking crazy knocking out a legend like that Um, but congrats again. I'd love to know what you think of the matchup between aldermaine sterling and peter yon I know you lost to aldermaine, you know a couple months ago and that was your first loss since 2017 So what do you think of that matchup and also are you itching to get a rematch to aldermaine? So who do you think's gonna win that fight and who do you want to win that fight? Must love you guys gang gang. Take care

Yeah, how do you feel like that? Aldermaine's such a nice guy too, man. Yeah, how do you feel about uh, their fight coming up? Are you excited to watch it? Yeah, I'm super pumped to watch it Uh, I think it's gonna go like the entire five rounds. So like from a strategic standpoint I like to like, you know, I think that I'll get like a lot of in knowledge. Yeah, uh But I don't know man. I flip a coin every single time like every time I get asked I just changed my answer depending on the day. So I think stylistically And like technically better. I think yon's probably that maybe the better, uh, technical fighter But being a being a technical fighter doesn't mean that you're the better fighter

I you know, I've been in the cage with aldermaine and he has a level of intensity like we were talking about before with the energy Uh, that's a lot different than everyone else that I fought. Um So, you know, I think that he really has that going for him And I think, you know, aldermaine's been really open about his strategy about this Like he keeps talking about how he's gonna wrestle the guy for five rounds. I don't know how smart it is to reveal your strategy like that But, uh, he must be really confident in it So, you know, and I do think that his grappling and just him in general is really underrated like I think he's He's definitely way up there as far as fighters go in the UFC and uh

I don't know man. If you had to ask me for whatever reason I kind of I just like I like aldermaine a little bit. So like I always, you know, I root for people not for fighters. He's fun to cheer for Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's something there's something about him. That's very fun to cheer for. Um Um, yeah, that's gonna be interesting man. Y'all's division is getting so interesting. They're good too, man Everyone's really like we were talking about man. Everyone's good, bro. Yeah, everyone's good It's crazy. Is it start to get scary to think that you might have to fight for like the next 10 years Does that start to ever get spooky? It was spooky, bro. It was pretty spooky until I like until I accepted it man

Like I told you it was just like this moment where I was like, I think it was after uh, I fought this guy Do you know who John Linnaker is? He don't fight in the UFC anymore, bro, but he's like five foot two Built like a brick and like his head is you know, like this big Uh, any like cracks, bro. Like he cracks. It was it was my third fight in the UFC I was so scared to fight that dude and then after I beat John Linnaker I was like damn man like every single fight. Yeah. Yeah, that's John. Oh, yeah, dude I've definitely seen him at Panama city spring break He was not happy with that song. He's running sprints in the sand, bro. Yeah, dude

He's doing fucking sprints at the bar. There's always that guy, man. I'm just doing push-ups in the bathroom, bro I'm just joking, dude Wow, yeah, he's yeah So after I fought him because he was he was in the top 10 for my third UFC fight and uh After I fought John, that's when it kind of hit me where I was like, yep This is gonna be hard for the next 10 years of my life, you know It's kind of like playing punch out after you beat or like a boxing after you beat a hard guy You have to pause it and then like you kind of go get some water

So when you come back you're like fuck, man, they're all gonna be really hard for now Yeah, and dude, you know what else too is like, uh Everyone will be like, ah like cool You get to like take a little break after your win blah blah blah. It's like no, I don't You know, like I kind of do just from like the the warrior Part of me like I can be a lot less competitive now But as far as like me getting better man, like this this shit only gets harder, bro Like it only gets harder the better people I beat the harder I got to work

It's like I thought it'd be the opposite. I thought I'd get into the ufc I'd start, you know, I'd start winning and like I'd get into a groove and shit would be Easier and more routine, but like man, like it's just harder every every time I win I'm just like, all right. Well, that was the last easiest fight of your life. Yeah, that's crazy. That sucks But that's not that I just said it that sucks, but that's but but hearing that to me It makes perfect sense because that's the thing inside of you that makes you what you are anyway It's that thing. It's like The next uh

There's always something else. Yeah, you know, I'm always gonna have to learn. There's always More to learn or more to do. It's always. Yeah, it's the challenge, bro It's all like uh, when This is why I'm interested me when poor ye said, uh, this isn't even fun for me anymore Like I I almost feel the same way depending on how you define fun, right? If fun means like, oh, I'm enjoying myself It's not fun I'm not enjoying any part of that process. Like I see people even the week of the fight It's like, oh like, okay, this is my taper week

Like I can I can kick back and like I can enjoy my fight week and I'll go like jet ski or You know visit this or visit that or whatever and it's like, dude during fight week I lay in bed And I just think about the the fight and what I'm supposed to do And that's all I do like I watch maybe one or two hours of tv I maybe if I'm getting a little overwhelmed in my head We'll go like hang out with my coaches and stuff but other than that man I'm laying in bed resting my mind and like getting myself ready to like do this. It's like not enjoyable, bro Yeah, even camp camp isn't even that enjoyable

I would say the most enjoyable part for me in this whole thing is just Coming up with my own shit and me and christian working together and me and carrington working together and me and some of the jiu-jitsu guys that I work with like Inventing or like at least like trying to get really good at like the things that we're doing like that's enjoyable for me But like and like the winning part is enjoyable, but man like everything else is just challenge. It's not like fun, right? Yeah I think there's something that happens with in success man Where some things kind of become like that and that starts to become the next battle in some ways is uh any more water No, I'm good. That starts to become the next battle in some ways is like how do I?

Make where I'm at now As enjoyable As an experience as possible um Did you go through that? Yeah, man. I think it's is still enjoyable It's there's moments that are enjoyable, but it was I had a lot more like I remember dude when we were so when we were getting Dustin 4a on dude, we were so excited. You remember that? Dude, we were so excited. He had a salon quality hairstyle was his nickname

and he was again we were so fired up dude and um And I still get wakes. It's not that things aren't exciting. It's like I think some of it is you just get used to some stuff and there's nothing you can do That's just experience. There's nothing you can do to kind of go back to that level of excitement you had Like when you were probably first training and doing well against a guy at grudge Yeah, I mean my scariest fight was my first fight Yeah, my scariest like fight was my first fight. Really? Yeah, probably, you know, because you know, you know, it's like your first one

Was was your white belt Uh Or what was it? Or is it not even like that? Dude, uh, the white belt's just jujitsu. Yeah. Yeah, so I don't yeah So I don't consider jujitsu matches fights I take him for a while There goes another seven years of my life But no respect, bro. Yeah for real, bro. I'm just fucking around, bro But no, no, no totally. I feel you but so

Dude, I I thought uh in this place, um Bro, I'm pretty sure it was like a house, dude Like like a gutted house, bro. I'm almost positive. It was like a gutted house. It was in a neighborhood, bro That's bad when you pull up to the fight and the driveways full So, dude, uh, it was this uh more sanctioned No, it was a it was a more tight tournament. I was I think I was 18 years old Dude, I'm not kidding you, bro. The ring was probably much Actually, the ring was probably about this size, bro. It's probably like an eight by eight, dude

in like this gutted house and like It was matted eight by eight ring Everyone was warming up. You like you sat on the floor if you wanted to watch the fights you just crowded around you watch the fights and uh, yeah, that was my first fight Or first tournament and so that was one of the scariest moments Yeah, that was one of the scariest moments because it's just like, you know, I I'd never Never really been in a fight against, you know, like like a actual real fight. I had never been in before so

How real is this stuff they talk about ring rust? Is that a real thing? I don't know I don't think I've ever been out long enough to like have experienced that but I do think though that like when I fight You know Four months apart three months apart. I can kind of I feel a little bit different Like I feel a lot more comfortable than I than I do if I'm like on a eight eight month break So with the with the upcoming match you have to wait to see what happens with one of these guys If that's the guy you choose to fight or that's the guy that they want to match you with I hope so

um But there's not somebody else from would they try and offer you somebody from That's that is in the rankings. That's beneath you currently. I think that uh, me and dillishaw if they don't do Yeah, fucking dillishaw. Yeah, I forgot about him They're bringing him back. They got a cheat code or something Uh Wow, that would be crazy, huh? Yeah, I mean, I I think if it's not the winner of their fight Then it's I mean, it's got to be dillishaw because I mean garbrand's going down

uh I I don't know what all those doing Font's really good, but he's kind of in the same position. I was in maybe like three fights ago where Uh, you know, I think that he font's really good But I think he needs to string like, you know, some top five wins together before I think they start considering him for a title shot too um Is there somebody from the past that you wish was like

Somebody you would like to have fought or fought not even out of anger just out of like pierce like It would be awesome like somebody from the past that you grew up watching or anything like that. Oh, yeah Yeah, uh Well cruise cruise was definitely in that conversation for a long time Uh, he might fight he looks like you climb over the cage and fight any day Hey, most of the time Who cruise dominant cruise. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he's always pretty did he retire? What happened? I think he might actually have something scheduled. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He's fighting kasey. Kenny. When is that one in march?

Uh, I think it's sometime in march. I like him man. I like watching. Yeah when he when he's because you always you kind of never know What he's gonna say sometimes he'll get a little bit angsty with the other Sportscasters He's you know, like he has some about him. That's you know, intimidating. Yeah, you know, I like that. It's cool. Yeah Yeah, he's on 259. Nice. Wow. That's the 13th. Uh, six. Oh, oh, he's on that one. Yeah, he's on that card Yeah, that card is that card is insane Yeah, my teammate dober's fighting on that card too. Um, yeah, who's on that card man? That's bananas Um three title fights

Santos rockage. Oh Yeah, this this fight is What do you think about that, uh block of itch fight and autosanya I'm gonna go with autosanya just because I mean, I think honestly, I mean block of itch definitely has power bro Like that's different and autosanya is going up a weight class. He's going up a weight class to 205 So what can happen when you go up a weight class?

What what are some things that can happen not even specifically to them? But what are some things that could be good or bad? uh, I mean The bigger animal It's like the law of nature the bigger animal usually beats the the littler animal. Um, but I think uh, So that's kind of a a little bit of a natural kind of pitfall. Yeah, I mean, there's weight classes for a reason like, uh If someone has 30 pounds on me and they're you know, not nearly as good as me You know, they have a better chance against someone who's my weight for sure, you know, just because they're bigger

You know, right they can lay on you and hold you down Yeah, and it's harder to move them like I think that there's two types of strength in jiu-jitsu This might help you a little bit too, but there's the type of strength where I can move you really easy And then there's the type of strength where I make it so that you can't move me very easy There's those two types of strength and um At my weight I can move people, you know, but if someone's 30 pounds heavier than me like it's You know, I can't move them as easy and like that makes things a little bit harder. So yeah, so that's one thing

but uh, I think I think that that dude has different level of power that I think israel's not dumb enough to Overlook, you know, I think that israel's like a super smart dude And I don't think he I don't think he's gonna leave any stone unturned or like lie to himself in his head Like I see people do that all the time and fighting just because I like going back to the ego stuff Like I'll see them say some stuff where I'm just like you're only saying that because it helps you sleep at night You know like oh this guy's slow or oh this guy can't grapple It's like man, you're only saying that so that you can feel a little bit better about yourself, right? And I noticed that right away, you know, uh

Israel I don't notice that in you know where israel doesn't he's not like oh, this guy's slow It's like or no, he doesn't have power He like acknowledges the strengths and the other person and I think that that's a really obvious sign that like the person Is intelligent, you know, I think it's really unintelligent to just overlook everything That your that your opponent has that they do well and just create an excuse for it Yeah, but I think israel smart enough man And I think he has enough experience and I'm sure that he's had plenty of fights In kickboxing where he's fought really big dudes too that like we have never even heard of because the dude has like a million kickboxing fights

Especially in New Zealand. Yeah, everybody there. Yeah, pretty big dude. Yeah, bro. Hooker used to fight at like heavyweight or something Really? Yeah. Oh, I used to train with hooker, bro. He like demoralized me. Did you yeah when he was funny, isn't he? Yeah, he's funny. He used to uh, like humorous. I'm not saying then hooker that you're is anything wrong with you I just mean he's an entertaining guy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He used to uh, he's actually a really quiet guy I think in person. Yeah. Yeah, he's I'm a fan. I'm a fan. Yeah. Yeah when he used to train with us or whatever, uh Dude, he would whoop me bro. Really? Whoop me? Why are we guys sparring for fun? No, he was like on he was like training with our team and stuff back in the day. Oh, but not at the same weight

I was a 45er back then and he was a 45er back then, bro. What? Yeah And I was like that's why it demoralized me is because I was like dude I'm never gonna be fucking able to fight these guys dude. What are you kidding me? It's like I gotta be a 25er to beat these guys if they're gonna be this size wearing you like a backpack He's putting pencils and pens in your pants Yeah, I can put in his school books in there. They used to tell me though like hooker was never used to break his diet I don't I mean, I'm sure at 55. It's maybe a little bit different But yeah, some guys on the team that like knew him a little bit better would be like yeah, man

Like he never breaks his diet and I was like Fuck man. He needs to go up so I feel a little better about myself, man. And so that's when you were at 145 Yeah, I used to my my debut is at 45 because I didn't want to I know how the UFC works Like you get a short notice call and that's how you get into the UFC like very rarely do guys ever get into the UFC by You know like hey, here's an eight-week camp and here's your first date in the UFC That's not how it works, bro Like someone pulls out and then and then so actually I fought in Phoenix a week before my UFC debut So I fought on a Friday and then I won that fight as I'm taking off my hand wraps

Uh, someone from the commission is like hey, man, like UFC is on the phone They're like, hey, can you fight next week? And I'm like, I guess I'm not partying tonight But yeah, I mean, I'll definitely you know, I'll definitely do that. Was that an exciting call to get oh, dude It was so exciting, man. So exciting like uh, was that like the best was that like the call? It was the call, bro. It was the call and like uh For what yeah, bro for whatever reason, man, like uh, I get really pumped like knowing that I made my loved ones Like really proud. Yeah, you know, uh, and I remember like it's one of my favorite parts like when I do the visualizations I do a lot of visualizations of like what happens after the fight too because it really motivates me

You know and it makes me feel nice like I'll I'll imagine like FaceTime in my family And my girlfriend and you know and like, you know, they're super pumped for me and stuff. So That's what that was for me is it was I remember I was on the phone with my sister and for what for whatever reason Like it was my sister, but I was I like called my sister and I was like hey like I did it like they want me You know next week and then I was like, yeah And then I remember talking to christian and I was like I was like watching this film because I was like fuck it if I get a contract I don't care how tough the guy is I don't care if he beats my ass as long as I get a contract and I watch the guy

This is when you know, my confidence wasn't like where it is now And I was like, oh shit. I think I'm really gonna beat this guy like it was like some surprise, you know, christian was like Yeah, dude, what like they're calling you for a reason dumbass like oh, so you think they called they you think they thought you would beat the guy I don't know if they did or not, but that dude fought on the contender series Uh, and they just needed like a replacement fight like they have to put a certain amount of fights to fill their tv slot or whatever And yeah, that's how you get signed to the ufc pretty much is like something short notice like that. Yeah, it was cool Dude, I remember I remember the time I got a text from joe rogan to come be on his podcast And that was that was that for me. Nice. It was like the best thing like out of sure me. I'm like

What am I gonna do? I brought him a bag of oranges, dude. I didn't know what to do People said he likes like diet or something. So I fucking got like what diet So I bought him like a um bag of clementines and brought him over there I thought I was retarded, bro. I fucking showed up with a bag of oranges. How'd it go? It went fine. It was scary. It was so scary, bro It was like, dude, honestly, I think going and that would almost be like going and being enough in a fight, man Yeah, it was so scary. Were you like were you more like, uh, were you like don't fuck this up type of I was just scared. It was like um

I knew other people that had been on it like famous people educators I don't know Joe doesn't care if you like say that you're gonna be on his show either, right? Uh-huh. Yeah, I'm going on his show this week. Yeah bro, bro, so I got a text from him and uh Instagram message. I know bro, and it was it just came randomly from him. Yeah. Yeah, and I was like talking about Yeah, dude, I like I was like guess you taxed me, you know, like I was super pumped, but I was like uh

In my head though, I'm just like, yeah, man. There's fucking like real legit people, you know, yeah Like smart, you know, like legit people that are like foes on there Alien on there last week. Yeah, they're like changing the world and shit. Yeah I'll be honest. I just had a sip of diet coke and I'll also be honest that I have mental health issues and You know, it's we're all fighting something and sometimes we're fighting demons from the past Better help That's right

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That's awesome, man Yeah, dude, it was so much fun And then also I think for you to be able to go in there and talk to a guy like that just knows so much about like what you guys do and Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I think I was just I'm intimidated by Joe Mm-hmm as a person and it's nothing he does. It's just who kind of who I am and where I kind of come into Hue like relationships at it. Sometimes I think but um, so I think I was probably kind of nervous about that. Maybe What else do you still feel that way like even if I went back on you I would feel that way

Yeah, yeah, I think some things make me feel a little bit. It was live then also Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah, I feel very nervous, you know, like I wish you guys at least that's what I feel bad for you guys Like damn, this is live like if you can't fucking hit you can't ask them to edit it Like hey, can you just edit this so it just looks like a square dance between two people? That's but uh, that's awesome, man I feel like in like being alive That's like the call to get like getting to go there and you get to go to Austin to yeah see the new place That's fucking yeah. Yeah. Yeah, dude. That's so cool. Yeah, man

I don't really you know, I was I don't I don't see myself as someone that's like You know, I don't know if this is the advice that I would give every fighter or whatever But like man, I remind myself all the time how much I suck at this You know, like I remind myself that all the time So like when when you messaged me and was like, hey, can I come in here? But I was like pump because like to me in my head Still I think because of the you know, what helps me survive is that like I still don't think I'm like any good Yeah, you know, like I know that I'm good comparatively to everyone else, but I still don't feel like I'm like

Good right because I understand like what good actually means in my brain And so like when I get a text from you or like Joe or whatever and that happens and I was like, oh shit Dude, I don't really think I'm good enough for that right now But yeah, maybe there's probably some of that when I'm thinking back on that well I'm trying to think if I had some of that Yeah, I think well, it's also interesting because a lot of the a Lot of life is bandwagon a lot of people are bandwagon as much as we don't want to think that we are or that other like You know, it's like but also some of it is you have to get it's so hard to get people's attention

Yeah, so it's not like that people didn't care a lot of times It's like people's attention is divided by a million So to get five percent of that for you know for a day or whatever It's like it's just hard to get people to see you in the world because there's so many people. Yeah, yeah But dang that's awesome though, dude, that's really cool just because yeah Joe introduced actually The first fighter I ever met I think was from Joe and it was Al Jemaine Sterling at the comedy store Nice, nice, and I remember thinking that this guy's a fighter. Yeah, not thinking that he wasn't you always think fighters of like You know these big like from 300 or something and then they're just kind of like

In stature from sight. He seemed like a totally normal Nice guy. Yeah, yeah when so I used to go to alpha male a little bit You know team alpha male like we're Garbrandt favor all of those dudes. Oh, I'm a favor Dilla Shaw used to train there. Benevita's used to train there. So like some really good names. So anyways They breathed the heaviest handshake, dude. How to shake his hand. Who favored better work for logging. Yeah The dude has got fucking my god, bro. It's like you had four hands in each hand Dude so I went out to there because for whatever reason on our team is like a bunch of tall lanky guys Like we don't have that build where it's like short stocky strong guys

So I go out. I I wasn't even a professional yet. I had just gone out to help Dilla Shaw train for his fight against borough Mm-hmm. Yeah, I was still an amateur actually back then but I go out to help him, bro And I like get there and everyone's this tall, bro I was like what is going on like because the cage so bro the cage at the cage at most of our gyms are like six feet high You know, but the UFC cage must be like five foot Eight or something. Whatever it is. So like when I walk into the UFC cage I feel like a monster, you know, because I can yeah cuz I got on TV that we see Yeah, yeah, cuz I can kind of like look over the cage a little bit, you know

But the cages that we all use to train in are much higher So like I thought that all of those people were like the size of that cage, you know, so when I got there I was like All these little guys jump and rope like, you know, I was like, what are these guys? Yeah, yeah, yeah That's fun. But yeah, the UFC cage is actually pretty cool. Cuz I like squad right there. Yeah Dude, yeah, manuda. This is like a Latino boy No offense either. Uh, no just everyone's jack It was funny my first time out Dilla Shaw's in y'all's weight division. Yeah, he's a 35 and what about Henry sehudo. He is he's yeah

He won the 35 belt and he's gone. What happened him He went to fight where he went to another planet or somewhere. Is he he might be on another planet? I think he's retired. I think he wants a lot of money, man. Oh really? Yeah. Yeah Well, Dan, it doesn't pay to his man, bro. No, that's the facts dude. Yeah, you got to be you know You got to be a McGregor. I think to get the money that he's asking for Wow, but but at a certain level you got to decide. Yeah, is this is it worth me doing this again? Yeah, but you also know what's cool in MMA too is that like sehudo could come back in a couple years Yeah, that's a real thing. Yeah, like that. What sport is like that, you know, where it's just like yeah, I'm me. I'm back

You know guess what? Yeah, like 48 minutes comes back and put him in a game That's really true. Yeah, there's no other sport like that Yeah, and it's been fascinating that during this pandemic that that they were able you guys were able to get it done I mean, it's really because it's like the sport has progressed so much so many new eyes on the sport I mean the amount of like followers and Supporters that people are getting now. I mean, it's Huge and it's allowing and I feel like this is one of the ways that God even this things out is that a lot of guys Not getting paid fairly via the organization and you don't have to agree with that

That's my own summation of it. I'm just a fan and I don't know very much But now a lot of them are able to do other marketing things and do other things Where they're able to make some extra money because their followings are also getting so big sure sure So that's really like such a blessing for those guys, you know, because to go out there and put your foot I mean a guy comes out of the one eye, you know, it's like yeah, and he's got fucking 11,000 dollars Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right, you know dude, if I wasn't able to fight in the last year because UFC had to shut down I Don't know what I would do man. I would be half crazy, bro

What would you have done? What's a job you would have gone into and we'll pull that question up right now? Is this it Nick? Boom This question is for Corey, but the oh you can answer it too if you want I was wondering what would you do as an occupation if you Weren't an MMA fighter for the UFC. Thanks gang gang gang, bro So that would have been it man. What would you have done you think in this time if shit would have gone away You got to do some more. I mean, I told you I was working at that. Oh, yeah, the residential treatment facility Yeah, so I was working there. I mean, I probably would still be doing that, you know, like

before the UFC when I was actually getting paid like I Was doing that bro like overnights Saturday Sundays Wow I was working 12s, you know, I'm not gonna say it was like I was grinding a 60 hour week You know, like it was probably like 20 to 25 hours a week, but that was on top of maybe like 20-25 hours of training and then like another probably 10 or 15 hours of like holding mitts for people and trying to make money that way too So I'd probably be doing something in social work is my guess, you know, like That like kids bro, I'd much rather have a conversation with a kid than I would like an adult any day of the week

Like I just get along with them better. I think that they have more you know Advice that maybe is a little bit better than a lot of adults advice, you know And I like learning from kids man like that's a that's my second thing in life, you know It's fighting and then it's probably, you know, just hanging out with kids in any type of Setting I think when I was 16 even I used to work at this daycare center I would I would leave high school boom go to there It was at the elementary school that I was with I would work there till six and I was doing that five days a week and

Then and then I went off to college and then right after college I went and got that treatment facility gig and then yeah, so I've been around kids I'm teaching the kids program at high altitude martial arts. Oh really? Yeah, dude. That's dope, bro Yeah, man, I just like hanging with them. They must be so psyched dude They only started giving me respect when I got into the video game, bro. Oh, they don't yeah, bro They don't know yeah, yeah Yeah, that's what that's bro all of them come up to me They don't know it, you know, like they're like they watch my fights now, but before it was just like you find John Cena

When you find John? Shut up and then now and they wouldn't you know like they would listen But they wouldn't really listen and now that I'm in a game and now they all chirp to each other that I'm in a video game Like now it's like, you know, I got some juice. Yeah now. I gotta call it virtual man He's got a hologram, dude that uh it brings you up to those top-notch. Have you seen those basketball cards that are out now? Oh, yeah, yeah, you see this. Oh Let's bring this up top notch. So there's a new so we grew up collecting the regular cards Christian I'm sure you probably did too man collecting some type of a card baseball basketball football

Now the cards are virtual. It's a top shot top shot Oh, bro, I heard of I heard that they're doing like virtual art also where you can earn or buy Virtual art really I think so I I think I sometimes just make stuff up though. I I would believe something like that I mean this is you get a card. Can you show us what one of the cards? Isn't it? Yeah, this is it right here So just an example you can get a Tyler Harrow Stop shot and it's basically just a play you own They have a limited number of these that they make and

If you get that in your pack, then you get that you buy it like a pack of cards for a certain amount of money You open it up as a certain number of these in it and Instead of a just an image of them doing something you have a video Of them doing something so you could eventually some point you could have a top shot. How do you feel about this? You know, I will admit that I set an alarm this morning to get up and buy some and slept through it Well, you got to wake up to get them, but yeah, they only released at 9 a.m. That's what they're doing right now So I think that's where I'm at with it. I'm curious, but I'm also willing to continue to get some rest. Mm-hmm And he's eventually gonna lose 5,000 you still watch basketball. I don't watch basketball anymore

No, I mean it got away from me. I think it was one of the sports I got away from me during the pandemic even before that I wasn't that into it. So what are you buying then? That's a good point. I would just be buying just for the novelty. Oh, yeah, that's what I would do It was just for the novelty. I think yeah during this pandemic. I got a lot more into watching you guys's sport It's weird now, right to not have a fight on a Saturday Like I don't know when that happened, but like for me at least in my life, like it's like, oh, there's no fight this Saturday Like that's like oh, yeah, it's like a weekly thing a little bit. Yeah. Yeah from end of December to like Just January 22nd. Yeah, there's three Saturdays in rows fucking horror. Yeah, it was weird

And there's like little things that are just kind of funny like I'll remember every time he fights I'll remember that it's a glover to share not glover and that always fucking blows my mind Just like little things that kind of keep me excited about the sport, you know But it's fun to like see guys and then go back and watch their old fights And just kind of learn like just some of the history of what goes on. It's fun to go to classes and then like And like kind of get to have a better idea of like why people are kind of doing little things in the inside of y'all's ring The punch and part still kind of really spooks me out, but Yeah, it just makes me a little fucking nervous, you know, yeah

I just don't know if I'm ready for that But I think part of me wants eventually to get out there and really just get beat up, you know, and just fucking go through that You know, yeah, because I think there's something there's a more unique me on the other side of that Yeah, and so, you know, that's yeah, like I think Some of that's kind of intriguing to me and it's funny because Three four or five years ago that never would have been something would come out of my mouth So it's interesting to see an effect like somebody like Joe Rogan has had an effect on so many comedians of wanting to learn about Mixed martial arts and just

Bringing eyeballs to it. And then also I think it helps with a lot of trauma. I think it helps you people get rid of like Just deep-rooted like uncomfort and anger. It makes me realize that I can interact with another man and be okay I'm not gonna like I can fight technically fight But still also be okay and there's gonna be a level of respect Which I think when I was growing up nobody was teaching me any kind of lesson of like You know, you can hit somebody or hit them they can hit you back and you can still then be friend You know, there was nobody was teaching me any level of human interaction That had to do with or or how to manage any kind of anger. So I just think as an adult

It's like it kind of sucks. I'm having to learn like a lot of like stuff from childhood late in life but that's that there's nothing I can do about that that's just my life and And but I do think it's fascinating how Going and getting on the mats and like there's a level of camaraderie There's a level of tough guys that accept you whereas when you're growing up the tough guys are always like it's the that that's the bully That's the guy you're afraid to be around or at least you think you are, you know So I think there's so many little levels of like helpful human interaction that go along with it That's fascinating. That's why I think it's fascinating that the childhood trauma

I bet that that kind of stuff can probably be so helpful to those kids. Yeah. Yeah, yeah I mean, I don't do any of that with the kids. But yeah, man I think I mean, it's interesting to listen to you talk because I think everyone does it for like a different reason, you know I think that that's part of like the really cool part is that there could be a number of different things and different paths or whatever and like like you said man, it's like It can help with like a lot of things and like there's a level of camaraderie to it. And yeah, all of that good stuff, man It's good. I think bro and like you watch any animal Like they're all doing it. They're all little when they're puppies, bro

They're all fighting each other like puppies fight each other little baby Anything's are always like wrestling and fighting each other, you know Yeah, we take our kids and fucking let them just sit there and eat cookies fight these motherfuckers Even little kids though even little kids if you put two little kids in a room together and you leave nothing else in there They'll probably start wrestling each other, you know, we need to fucking encourage it It's an it's inside of everyone, bro Like that's a I'm a big believer of like us, bro We're just an animal species that is like this much smarter than all the other

Species bro, but we're still that animal species and like we still do like we still want more Like we still want to take territory just like every other animal. We still want to gather more resources and more food Just like every other animal, you know, and we still want to fight just like every other animal Yeah, dude, it's weird, too. I don't know you you said you haven't started like punching and stuff. No, no, no So yeah, so I heard of it airs a coach that that teaches that so so let me know after you do that How I feel I well, I just want to know if you're able to hit someone. Okay, because I have a lot of people that I coach Where they're like, man, like it's so weird to like it's like I don't want to hit someone You know, it's like weird for me to hit someone and I'm like, yeah, because we're told not to do it our whole lives

You're told not to hit someone your entire life Like it's not gonna feel normal to like throw But have you ever had a dream like that where you go to punch someone in a dream and you like just tell you that you can't do it Yeah, I have that dream. I've had a million dreams where I can't even I can literally get my fist to right here And it won't yeah go anymore. I've had it probably 200 times is weird on and it's weird Yeah, I'll feel like I'm trying it again, and it will not do it It's weird man, and there's some like it's like a wall that's like connected to like my feeling I don't know what it is, but if there's some yeah, that's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah

I think everyone has that dream or at least a lot of people that I've talked to at least at the gym And it's like yeah, because we're told not to do this or Maybe we're like innately really nice creatures, and we don't want to hurt people, but also I think that it's like We were told not to do it our whole lives like it's weird hitting someone man like it's weird. Yeah Yeah, I think it'd be interesting man. I'll have to update you dude But I'm trying to think if we covered everything that yeah, I think so I did actually Did you plan you probably plan the knee because like everybody's saying like Frankie Bob's his head when he's

Oh, you go on. Sorry. Did you did you plan the wheel kick was that something you guys talked about or did you just do that in the Moment against Marais. Yeah, that was just in the moment everything was kind of just in the moment with with Yeah, it's a lot of not thinking and just letting like the the system play out I I think a little bit with Frankie is there's maybe a little bit more Like quick thinking going on where I didn't know how what he was gonna do when we were fighting like I knew that he'd be eager to wrestle because everyone likely thinks that my wrestling is terrible just based off of you know My my fight with Sterling, which is really the only wrestling in exchange that I've had in the UFC so I

Thought he'd be a little bit quick to wrestle and then he threw like a couple combinations and I was like oh this guy You know he he's gonna you know at least throw a few punches and then I threw I threw the kick and I heard his corners say Uh, that's it Frankie. That's it like and he was excited that he got out of the way of something that I threw you know because Not that and I don't mean to sound arrogant, but if I'm Frankie fighting me After I beat Marais that way and just based off of my other performances I'm probably a little bit, you know, maybe not the most confident guy in the world Being that Frankie got knocked out a couple times before his fight with Munoz or whatever so anyways when when I heard his coach praise him for him missing I

Saw like a little bit of spunk in him You know and I was like ah, he's either gonna try to shoot or he's gonna try to attack again And then because that's a reaction when people get a little bit of heightened energy It's one of the first reactions is to then do something. Yeah. Yeah, he's like all I'm doing good And then and then and I noticed every time he got close to me He was he was trying to do something, you know, he was trying to hit I think he kicked me one time too, but there was no like there was no Playing there or seeing what I was gonna do

It was just like hey when we get close enough to this guy try to hit him and like he did that twice And then I was like, okay, he's probably gonna do it a third time and that's when that's when I threw that Because you thrown it against Marais, but it didn't land right? I've thrown it a number of times You know because I mean I fight everyone that's shorter than me. So I could be stupid for me not to oh, yeah You know throw something. It's really just like a uppercut with your leg. Yeah, pretty much. Yeah uppercut with your leg But um damn man. Yeah. Oh, so that's just look dramatic. Yeah Yeah, it was nasty. Fuck Jesus Christ Still fucking makes me sad, bro. I

Mean, I think yeah, maybe that's why I can't punch people. I just like it makes me sad Hey, is it hard for Christian to keep challenging you? I know your coach is here So I'm gonna give you one question about him. Is it hard for him to keep challenging you? like what do you guys do like what is what's kind of different um about as you evolve as a fighter and as you kind of Put some wins together. What is what is coaching look like is it harder for you to learn? Do you feel like less of a pupil any any any of those questions laying with you? Yeah? I think it's a little bit more cooperative in the way that we work together. It's more of like a Interaction opposed to him telling me what to do, but it was never really like that in any ways. I will say like

Christian's really interesting guy, you know, and I think that he lives by his own set of rules He's like a super Don't think just don't think, you know, he's very radical in the idea of like Just be present and don't think and I think that that makes him Super super creative and I think that it makes it so that he doesn't view things in a way that is old or is Damaged by any other way of doing things, you know It'd be like it'd be like if you went out and did a comedy stand-up and hadn't watched any stand-up before and you just tried To make people laugh like I feel like that's how he approaches a lot of things and obviously that's more or less impossible

No, but that's kind of fascinating. Yeah, but that's how he looks at stuff. So like man like I'm totally grateful like like I said, man He's one of my best friends. I you know, like he's taught me how to be the way that I am and to view things in the exact same way And I've worked with like a lot of coaches and I mean, he's you know He's the most creative guy in martial arts that I've ever met. It's interesting and it really fits your style I think in your sense of capabilities, you know Even sugar Sean's kind of that same way. You guys are both such kind of malleable capable Almost like cool to see on a video game type of letters because you have moves that are kind of a little bit unorthodox or unique or rare

Yeah, like when I watch your fights. I'm always like I wonder what If there's gonna be something new that I'll see out of him that I haven't seen before And that's kind of interesting because you don't always think that about different fighters, you know, yeah That's good man. Cuz every time I want to look different, bro Like I was actually really excited in the last one to show off a bunch of the wrestling and grappling stuff that I had been Working because it's really cool. Like it's really really cool. Like some of the stuff that I've I don't know how much he wants me to say his name or whatever, but Ryan Hall. Do you know who Ryan Hall is? I know Kyle Hall, but I

I don't think there this a different this I mean, obviously it's a different guy, but I don't know We so so Ryan also fights in the UFC. He hasn't fought in a couple of years, but Man some of the grappling stuff that I'm doing with him is just so cool, bro. And like I Think it's gonna be super exciting when I actually get to do it against like hopefully for a world title You know like I'm pumped for that Is it kind of disappointing sometimes because you guys have all these plans you go into the fight And it sounds the fight in so quick. You're like fuck never never do that. Never dude really never no, no, no any bro Anytime it can go like how it went last time

Every single time dude every single time Yeah, I guess cuz I would always be bum like damn dude. We didn't get to do any of the frickin headlocks, you know Yeah, maybe you're right, dude, maybe you're right, man Cory Sanagan man, bro. Thank you so much for coming in dude and for just letting somebody who doesn't know much about Fighting just kind of freely talk about you guys's sport, you know and not like, you know, it's just nice to be able to You know, if I get things wrong or not get them right or something to not like feel like I'm you know Being disrespectful to what you guys do, you know, cuz it's hard to learn and talk about things at the same time But it's exciting man. So thank you guys. Congrats on your success, bro. Thanks, man. Yeah excited to keep watching it

Yeah, yeah, cool. Thank you. Yeah, thanks a lot round me on bro. You bet man. Yeah. Yeah, I'm just on the breeze and I feel I'm falling like these leaves I must be cornerstone. Oh, but when I reach that ground, I'll share this piece of mind. I found I can feel it in my bones. But it's gonna take a little time. For me to set that parking brake and let myself on my side I said and tell you Oh, yeah, I will find a song I've been moving way too fast on the runaway train with the heavy load of my And these rills that I've been riding on They want so thin that they're damn they're gone I guess now they just weren't built to last