Ric Flair, Jiri Prochazka, Petr Yan, Lerone Murphy, Steven Nguyen, Weekend Recap | July 28, 2025

The Ariel Helwani Show is BACK … IN … YOUR … LIFE!

Join Ariel and the Boys In The Back as they react to another busy weekend in combat. Monday’s lineup can be seen below:

0:00 – INTRO

1:50 – Ariel and the gang react to anything and everything from the weekend in combat sports.

49:20 – Wrestling legend Ric Flair joins the program.

1:32:40 – Jiri Prochazka previews his UFC 320 showdown against Khalil Rountree Jr.

2:03:25 – Petr Yan stops by following his big win over Marcus McGhee.

2:33:30 – Lerone Murphy looks ahead to his short-notice return against Aaron Pico.

2:59:55 – Steven Nguyen calls in following his viral win over Mohammad Yahya.

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>> PLEASE. AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE. SHOW. >> BEGGING YOUR LIFE ON THIS MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025. HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE. I SURE HOPE YOU’RE DOING WELL. IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE ON A SCORCHER OF A MONDAY IN NEW YORK CITY. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND SO I DON’T MIND IT ONE BIT, BUT SOME PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. I THINK IT’S FANTASTIC. GIVE ME THIS. OVER THE DEAD OF WINTER, ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. SO HAPPY TO BE INSIDE THOUGH. FOR TODAY’S PROGRAM WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS. A VERY, VERY GOOD LINEUP COMING OFF A BUSY WEEKEND ONCE AGAIN IN THE WORLD OF COMBAT SPORTS, FROM MMA TO BOXING TO PRO WRESTLING, THERE WAS A LOT TO DISCUSS, A LOT THAT HAPPENED, AND SO I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTO IT ALL. HAD A LOVELY WEEKEND MYSELF. THANK YOU FOR ASKING. WENT TO THE MAN UNITED WEST HAM MATCH AT METLIFE STADIUM. ALSO WENT TO THE EVERTON BOURNEMOUTH MATCH. THEY HAD A BACK TO BACK AT METLIFE, HAD A GRAND OLD TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MY GOOD FRIENDS OVER AT THE PREMIER LEAGUE FOR INVITING MY FAMILY AND I. WE WERE ACTUALLY SITTING IN FRONT OF AGUERO IN THE IN THE SECTION THAT WE WERE IN. SO MY SON, THE MAN CITY FAN, WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THEN WE WERE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO SHEAMUS OF WWE FAME AND I WAS TALKING TO SHEAMUS. WE WERE HAVING A NICE LITTLE CHAT, AND I HAPPENED TO MENTION TO HIM THAT MY GOOD FRIEND PETESY CARROLL IS FROM BLANCHE. AND THEN HE LIT UP AND HE’S LIKE, OH, MY GOD, BLANCHE! LIKE THAT’S WHERE I’M FROM. AND THEN SO I CALLED RTE AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE 1:00 A.M. OVER IN BLANCHE AND THEY HAD A NICE CHAT TOGETHER, LIKE TWO OLD FRIENDS TALKING ABOUT THE TEXACO DOWN THE ROAD NEXT TO THE THE FOOTBALL FIELD. IT WAS AMAZING TO JUST SEE THEM IN THEIR ELEMENT. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS VERY FUN. THAT WAS VERY MEMORABLE. IT WAS A GREAT CROWD, GREAT TURNOUT AND GOT TO WATCH ALL THE ACTION. SO I AM UP TO SPEED TODAY ON THE PROGRAM, BACK INTO THE SHOW. WE’RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY STEVEN NGUYEN, WHO YOU MAY HAVE EITHER SEEN HIM IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND OR CERTAINLY HEARD ABOUT HIS FIGHT. PROBABLY THE MOST TALKED ABOUT FIGHT OF THE WEEKEND BECAUSE HIS FIGHT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE. I WAS ACTUALLY SITTING AND WATCHING HIS FIGHT WITH MY SON WALTER. IT WAS AN AFTERNOON CARD. ABU DHABI CARD, AND WE WERE WAITING TO GO SOMEWHERE. SO I WAS LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, COME, COME SEE. YOU KNOW, THE AFTERNOON CARDS ARE TOUGH WHEN YOU’RE A PARENT BECAUSE YOU KIND OF HAVE TO WATCH THEM IN THE MIDST OF THE DAY WHILE YOU’RE DOING A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARENTAL THINGS. BUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CARD, THIS WAS LIKE THE FIRST OR SECOND FIGHT OF THE NIGHT. OR MAYBE THE THIRD. WE WERE AT HOME. I DON’T USUALLY ASK THE KIDS TO COME WATCH WITH ME, BUT, YOU KNOW, I SAID, COME, COME, LET’S, LET’S WATCH THIS FIGHT. THIS SHOULD BE FUN. HE WENT UP AGAINST MOHAMMAD YAHYA AND VERY QUICKLY INTO THE FIGHT. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT’S A ONE SIDED AFFAIR. IT’S A VERY DOMINANT, DOMINANT PERFORMANCE FOR WHEN. AND HE’S HE’S EN ROUTE TO JUST LANDING. KNOCKDOWN AFTER KNOCKDOWN AFTER KNOCKDOWN AFTER KNOCKDOWN. IN TOTAL SIX. I THOUGHT IT WAS SEVEN. AND IT STARTS TO BECOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE POINT WHERE MY SON IS LIKE, WHY AREN’T THEY STOPPING THIS? BECAUSE YAYA’S EYE LOOKS LIKE IT’S ABOUT TO EXPLODE. FINALLY THEY STOP IT. THERE IT IS BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT REFEREE JASON HERZOG WAS THINKING. WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH EVERYONE, BUT STEVEN NGUYEN IS GOING TO STOP BY TO TALK ABOUT PICKING UP HIS FIRST OFFICIAL UFC VICTORY. HE HAD TWO VICTORIES ON THE CONTENDER SERIES CIRCUIT. LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING HIM ON LERONE MURPHY IS GOING TO STOP BY AS WELL. ANOTHER MANCHESTER TOP TEAM PRODUCT. WE HAD A TEAMMATE OF HIS ATEBA GAUTIER LAST WEEK ON THE PROGRAM. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OVER THE WEEKEND THEY ANNOUNCED EVERYONE WAS GOING CRAZY OVER WHAT THE CO-MAIN EVENT WAS GOING TO BE IN CHICAGO. WELL, NOW YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE LERONE MURPHY THE RED HOT FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHTING OUT OF MANCHESTER, GOING UP AGAINST AARON PICO, THE RELATIVELY NEW SIGNEE FORMERLY OF BELLATOR FL COMING OVER. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO FIGHT THIS PAST WEEKEND AGAINST MOVSAR EVLOEV. THAT FIGHT CANCELED, OF COURSE, BECAUSE EVLOEV GOT HURT. AND SO IT’S GOING TO BE PICO VERSUS MURPHY. A BIG TEST FOR PICO AND A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR MURPHY FIGHTING IN FRONT OF A U.S. CROWD FOR THE FIRST TIME. I DON’T CONSIDER THE APEX EVENTS AS A CROWD. EVENTS LIKE HE’S FIGHTING IN FRONT OF THE UNITED CENTER CROWD. IT’S GOING TO BE SOLD OUT. CLOSE TO SOLD OUT. IT’S A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR MURPHY TO PROVE THAT HE’S ONE OF THE BEST FEATHERWEIGHTS IN THE WORLD. THERE’S ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE GUYS IN THESE DIVISIONS WHO JUST HAS TO WIN AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF FIGHTS IN A ROW TO GET THAT RECOGNITION. MURPHY IS THAT GUY RIGHT NOW AT 145, AS IS MOZAH, BY THE WAY. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO MURPHY ABOUT THIS, THIS OPPORTUNITY COMING ON JUST THREE WEEKS NOTICE. PRIOR TO THAT, WE’RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY PYOTR YAN, WHO HAD THE VERY DOMINANT WIN OVER MARCUS MCGHEE, POTENTIALLY STAMPING HIS TICKET AS THE NEXT IN LINE AFTER MERAB DVALISHVILI AND CORY SANDHAGEN DO THEIR THING ON ON THE OCTOBER 4 CARD IN LAS VEGAS, PYOTR YAN WITH ANOTHER GREAT PERFORMANCE. LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING HIM ON. HE’LL JOIN US AT 3:00 AT 2:30 . JI÷Í PROCHÁZKA IS GOING TO JOIN US. B.J. PENN HIMSELF LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING HIM ON. OF COURSE, WE KNOW BY NOW OCTOBER 4, THAT SAME CARD HE WILL BE GOING UP AGAINST KHALIL ROUNTREE IN A FIGHT. AS FAR AS LIKE THE FOURTH QUARTER, THAT’S ONE OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED FIGHTS. LOVE THAT FIGHT. LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. LOVE THE STAKES, LOVE WHAT ROUNTREE HAS BEEN DOING AS OF LATE. LOVE WHAT PROCHAZKA HAS BEEN DOING, THEM BEEN DOING AS WELL. BOTH OF THEM. WITH WITH WINS OVER JAMAL HILL RECENTLY. ROUNTREE WITH THE WIN BACK IN JUNE. PROCHAZKA WITH THE WIN BACK IN JANUARY AT THE INTUIT DOME. ALWAYS LOVE TALKING TO PROCHAZKA. HE’LL JOIN US AT 2:30 AND AT 1:45. MY FRIENDS, WE’LL HAVE THE GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE JOINED BY ARGUABLY THE GREATEST PRO WRESTLER OF ALL TIME, THE ONE AND ONLY THE NATURE BOY. RIC FLAIR, 16 TIME CHAMPION. NO, I MEAN, THERE’S NO WORDS THAT CAN DESCRIBE WHAT HE HAS MEANT. AND HE WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF THE LATE, GREAT HULK HOGAN. AND SO RIC IS KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US, AND I CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE A CHAT WITH HIM ABOUT HIS GOOD FRIEND HULK HOGAN, AND ABOUT EVERYTHING GOING ON IN HIS LIFE. SO THERE IT IS, AN INCREDIBLE FIVE PACK OF GUESTS LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTO IT. I DID WANT TO START WITH SENDING MY BEST TO THE FAMILY OF SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV. THERE WAS A REPORT THAT I SAW ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY, WRITTEN BY A GENTLEMAN WITH THE HANDLE MATT HARMON MIOCIC 88. THE. THE SOURCE IS FROM AN OUTLET CALLED SHOT S H O T AND HE WROTE THAT SHORTCUTS WIFE AND I BELIEVE HIS SON WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THERE WERE TWO CASUALTIES. NOT HIS WIFE AND SON. THIS I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH SHORTCUTS TEAM AND SHORTCUTS WIFE AND SON WERE HOSPITALIZED BUT ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. AND AS OF THIS MORNING RELEASED. SO VERY VERY SCARY STUFF. THERE WAS A PHOTO OF A CAR OVERTURNED. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THOSE WERE TWO OF HIS. I BELIEVE HIS WIFE’S FRIENDS , WHO UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARS AS THOUGH, ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT, LOST THEIR LIFE. SO THAT IS HORRIFIC STUFF AND WISH THE BEST FOR HIS WIFE AND SON AND FOR SHORTCUT OF COURSE. AND HOPE THAT THE THE FAMILY MAKES A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND SEND SEND OUR BEST TO THE THE LOVED ONES OF THOSE WHO WHO LOST FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL. SO I WANTED TO START OFF ON THAT NOTE AND WANTED TO ALSO TALK TODAY ABOUT THE LATE, GREAT HULK HOGAN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WAS ON THE BOYS IN THE BACK ON THURSDAY. I FOUND OUT ABOUT HULK HOGAN’S PASSING, LIKE ALL OF YOU, VIA TMZ THURSDAY MORNING. I THINK IT WAS AROUND 11 30 AND I WAS AT THE GYM. I WENT HOME, I TOOK A SHOWER. I HAD TO HAVE A ZOOM CALL MEETING, AND THEN I JUMPED ON THE BOYS IN THE BACK, AND I. AND I FEEL LIKE IT ONLY REALLY HIT ME. ONCE I WAS OFF THE SHOW, AND ONCE I WAS ABLE TO JUST KIND OF SIT DOWN AND REFLECT AND SEE SOME OF THE STUFF OUT THERE, I SAW RICK ON TMZ. I SAW OTHER INTERVIEWS AS WELL, AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, I MEAN, I WAS REALLY, REALLY SAD. I WAS REALLY, REALLY SAD. AND AS I SAID ON THE BOYS IN THE BACK AND I AND I DON’T TAKE IT BACK AND AS MANY OTHERS SAID AS WELL, I THINK THE WORD COMPLICATED WAS THE MOST USED WORD OVER THE COURSE OF THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. WHEN TALKING ABOUT HULK HOGAN’S LEGACY AND HIS CAREER IN LIFE. I STAND BY THAT. BUT I ALSO KIND OF FEEL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING, EVEN WITH PEOPLE SAYING, IT’S NOT COMPLICATED, IT’S BLACK AND WHITE, THEY DON’T REALIZE THAT THE REASON WHY THEY’RE SAYING THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS COMPLICATED AND IT’S COMPLICATED BECAUSE YOU COULD ALSO MAKE THE CASE THAT YOU CAN SEPARATE HULK HOGAN. HIS LEGACY AND CAREER , AND TERRY BOLLEA HIS LEGACY AND CAREER. BUT THE ISSUE IS VERY RARELY DID YOU EVER GET TO SEE TERRY BOLLEA, EVEN WHEN HE WAS ON THIS SHOW A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, IN MAY, HE LOOKS LIKE HULK HOGAN 24/7. IT’S NOT LIKE SAYING, OH, THIS GUY PLAYS DEADPOOL OR THIS GUY PLAYS SUPERMAN, OR THIS GUY PLAYS SPIDER-MAN. AND THEN WHEN THEY’RE DOING LIKE WHEN ADAM SANDLER’S DOING MEDIA, HE’S TALKING ABOUT HAPPY GILMORE. HE IS NOT HAPPY GILMORE. HULK HOGAN AND TERRY BOLLEA BECAME ONE. AND SO I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WOULD JUST TREAT THEM AS ONE. THAT’S WHERE PRO WRESTLING IS DIFFERENT. RIC FLAIR ON TV IS THE SAME AS RIC FLAIR IN REAL LIFE. BRET HART ON TV IS THE SAME AS BRET HART IN REAL LIFE, HULK HOGAN ON TV FEELS LIKE THE SAME IN REAL LIFE. SO ALL TO SAY, I UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO SEPARATE THE TWO, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE REFUSE TO SEPARATE THE TWO. AND I UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO LET HIS FINAL ACT OR THE FINAL DECADE OF HIS LIFE CHANGE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST. 60 YEARS OF HIS LIFE. AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOME WOULD NOT. IT’S VERY COMPLICATED. IT’S EXTREMELY COMPLICATED. BUT WHERE I LANDED WAS . I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID IN HIS IN TEN YEARS AGO. AND IT’S CRAZY THAT THIS TAPE CAME OUT TEN YEARS AGO. THIS TAPE THAT REVEALED THAT HE WAS USING MULTIPLE RACIAL SLURS, THE N WORD REFERRING TO HIMSELF AS SOMEWHAT OF A RACIST. LIKE ALL THESE THINGS. SHOCKING. AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT AFTERMATH WHERE WWE TOOK HIM OUT OF THE HALL OF FAME AND PRETTY MUCH MADE HIM INTO PERSONA NON GRATA, AND HE WAS ABLE TO WORK HIS WAY BACK INTO IT. AND YOU KNOW, YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THE APPEARANCE AT THE NETFLIX SHOW AND ALL THAT STUFF. I DON’T THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS SHOULD TAKE AWAY WHAT THIS MAN DID AND. WHAT WHAT HE WAS FOR PRO WRESTLING, BECAUSE MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, HE WAS PRO WRESTLING’S BABE RUTH . I’VE ALWAYS SAID THAT BRET THE HITMAN HART WAS MY FAVORITE , FIRST FAVORITE ATHLETE GROWING. UP. THE FIRST PERSON I LOOKED UP TO, THE FIRST PERSON I TRIED TO EMULATE, THE FIRST PERSON THAT I SAW ON TV AND SAID LIKE, OH, MY GOD, THAT’S MY GUY. BUT I DON’T GET TO BRET HART WITHOUT HULK HOGAN. I’M NOT INTRODUCED TO PRO-WRESTLING WITHOUT HULK HOGAN. HULK HOGAN DREW US ALL IN, AND THEN WE ALL PICKED OUR FAVORITES. AND THE FAVORITE MIGHT HAVE BEEN HULK. AND OF COURSE I WAS. I WAS, LIKE, CAPTIVATED BY THE GUY LIKE EVERY OTHER KID BACK THEN BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE LOOKED, BECAUSE OF THE MUSCLES, BECAUSE OF THE HAIR. HE WAS LARGER THAN LIFE, TRULY LARGER THAN LIFE. I DON’T THINK THAT KIDS TODAY OR KIDS THAT DIDN’T GROW UP IN THE 80s, UNDERSTAND JUST HOW BIG OF A DEAL HE WAS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT SUPERSTARS AND OUTLETS TO FIND YOUR SUPERSTARS. YOU MAY BE A YOUTUBE GUY, YOU MAY BE A NETFLIX GUY, YOU MAY BE A VIDEO. LIKE THERE’S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS OUT THERE. THERE WEREN’T AS MANY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD LIKE SIX CHANNELS, TEN CHANNELS. THERE WAS NO INTERNET. THERE WAS NO. THERE’S LIKE HULK HOGAN STOOD OUT IN A TIME WHERE AT THE VERY BEGINNING, WE WEREN’T QUITE SURE IF THIS WAS REAL OR NOT. HE WAS LARGER THAN LIFE AND SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT HE SAID AND DID WAS ABOUT LIFE. SO MUCH ABOUT HIS MESSAGE WAS HULKAMANIA WILL LIVE FOREVER. THE IMMORTAL HULK HOGAN IF YOU TRAIN, IF YOU TAKE YOUR VITAMINS, IF YOU SAY YOUR PRAYERS, IF YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS, YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER. THOSE ARE THE COMMANDMENTS. AND SO THE IDEA THAT THAT GUY IS NOT LIVING. OF COURSE, I KNOW NO ONE LIVES FOREVER IS JUST A STARK CONTRAST TO EVERYTHING THAT HE WAS ABOUT. HE WAS SUPERHUMAN. HE DID NOT LOOK LIKE YOU OR I, AND HE TALKED ABOUT LIVING THE IMMORTAL HULK HOGAN. THAT WAS HIS NAME. HULKAMANIA WILL LIVE FOREVER. HE HAD THE HE HAD THE SIGN. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT. >> IT, CONTROVERSIAL. >> COMPLICATED. YES, BUT THE GUY DID DO A LOT OF. >> GOOD. >> AND WE CAN’T ERASE. THAT LONG BEFORE JOHN CENA, HE WAS THE MAKE-A-WISH. >> GUY. >> SOLD MORE. >> TICKETS. >> SOLD MORE. >> MERCH. >> BROKE THROUGH. AND AND WHEN HE’S. >> ON. >> ROCKY THREE, BEFORE HE EVEN GETS TO WWF, THAT’S A HUGE DEAL. IF YOU’RE IF YOU’RE A TERRITORY WRESTLING. FAN WHO’S WATCHING HULK HOGAN IN THE AWA IN ROCKY THREE, WHICH BY NOW IS AN INSTITUTION, THIS IS A BIG FREAKING DEAL. THIS IS 1982. THERE’S NOTHING BIGGER THAN SYLVESTER STALLONE. THERE’S NOTHING BIGGER. THAN ROCKY. AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE STORY, THIS IS LIKE SORT OF ALI INOKI ESQUE. THE HE PLAYS A WRESTLER NAMED THUNDERLIPS GOING UP AGAINST THE BOXER, AND THEN THE WHOLE THING TURNS INTO A MELEE AND HE THROWS HIM OUT OF THE RING AND ALL THIS. STUFF. AS THE STORY GOES, THAT’S WHERE THE MCMAHONS KIND OF LIKE, SEE, LIKE, OH, THIS GUY COULD BE. >> THE GUY. >> THEN THEY BRING HIM. >> OVER. >> TO WWF AND THEY SAY, OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR GUY. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE GUY THAT WE’RE GOING TO STRAP THE THE ROCKET TO. THEY PUT HIM IN THERE IN A TIME WHERE EVERYONE’S VERY PRO-AMERICAN AMERICA IS BATTLING IRAN, AMERICA IS BATTLING, BATTLING THE THE RUSSIANS. THEY PUT HIM IN THERE AGAINST IRON SHEIK, AND HE ANNIHILATES IRON SHEIK AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, WWF TERRITORY, THEIR HOME BASE, IF YOU WILL, AND WHEN HE BEATS IRON SHEIK IN 1984, JANUARY OF 1984, THE WHOLE THING KICKS OFF UNLIKE ANYTHING WRESTLING HAS EVER SEEN ON A NATIONAL STAGE, BECAUSE VINCE MCMAHON SAYS THIS IS THE GUY. AT THE TIME, WWF WAS A WAS A TERRITORY. IT WAS THE NORTHEAST. IT WAS. IT WAS NEW YORK. IT WAS IT WAS CONNECTICUT. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STATES UP HERE, NEW JERSEY, LIKE THEY CONTROLLED THIS AREA. BUT THEN THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN AREA IN THE MID-SOUTH AND THE SOUTH AND THE WEST COAST. LIKE, THAT’S HOW WRESTLING WAS. BUT THEY SAID, THIS IS THE GUY THAT’S GOING TO HELP US CONQUER EVERYONE. AND IT WORKED AND IT WORKED. WE TAKE A LOT OF THE MAINSTREAM WRESTLING STUFF FOR GRANTED, SEEING WHERE IT IS NOW. IT’S ON NETFLIX AND TRAVIS SCOTT AND THE ROCK, THIS AND THAT. THAT WASN’T THE CASE BACK THEN. SO WHEN YOU SAW HULK HOGAN ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IN THE 80s, IT WAS A BIG FREAKING DEAL. IT WAS A BIG FREAKING DEAL. EVERYONE KNOWS THIS COVER MAT MANIA, A COVER STORY ON HULK HOGAN. WHEN YOU SAW HULK HOGAN HOST SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH MR. T THE NIGHT BEFORE WRESTLEMANIA ONE. HUGE FREAKING DEAL. MR. T WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARS IN THE WORLD. A-TEAM. I PITY THE FOOL. I PITY THE FOOL. CLUBBER LANG, ROCKY FAME AS WELL. LOVE MR. T, LOVE THE A-TEAM. I’VE TOLD THIS STORY BEFORE. WHEN I SAW THAT THAT BOX IN MY VIDEO STORE, I WAS LIKE, WHAT? MR. WHO’S MR. C? WHO’S THAT GUY? WHO’S THAT TAN, BLEACH BLOND HAIR GUY? AND SIDE NOTE, HOGAN’S HAIR ALWAYS USED TO BE, LIKE, PERFECT. AND THEN MIDWAY THROUGH THE MATCH, HE WOULD GET ALL SWEATY AND IT WOULD BECOME, LIKE, STRINGY. AND YOU ALWAYS KIND OF KNEW, OKAY, NOW, NOW THIS IS WHEN THE GOOD STUFF STARTS. THE HULKING UP AND ALL THAT STUFF. WRESTLEMANIA ONE WAS INCREDIBLE. MR. T, HE TAGS WITH MR. T AGAINST PIPER AND MR. WONDERFUL, PAUL ORNDORFF. ALI IS INVOLVED. BILLY MARTIN IS INVOLVED. LIBERACE IS INVOLVED. YOU KNOW THE STORY. I DON’T HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL THE STORY ABOUT VINCE MCMAHON AND THE MORTGAGE AND ALL THAT STUFF. HE BETS HIS HOUSE, HULKAMANIA, WRESTLEMANIA, HULKAMANIA, WRESTLEMANIA. GIGANTIC. LARGER THAN LIFE, ICONIC BABE RUTH, JORDAN, TYSON HOGAN. LIKE YOU KNOW HOW BIG OF A DEAL THIS GUY WAS CAN MAKE A STRONG CASE. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF LIKE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. THEN THEY GO WRESTLEMANIA TWO. THEY HAVE THE THREE, THE THREE LOCATIONS WASN’T A HUGE SUCCESS. THEY HAD ONE IN CHICAGO, ONE IN L.A. AND ONE IN NEW YORK. NASSAU COLISEUM. HOGAN, IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT, IS IN L.A. AGAINST KING KONG BUNDY FOR THE BELT. BLUE STEEL CAGE AND ALL. YOU SEE HIS RIBS TAPED. >> UP. >> BUNDY SPLASHED HIM AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A SHOOT. THIS IS 1986. I 1,000% THOUGHT THAT WAS A. >> SHOOT. >> I USED TO SPLASH MY MOM, WHO WOULD BE DOING THE DISHES, AND I WOULD RUN FROM THE BACK OF THE KITCHEN, AND I WOULD SPLASH. HER UP AGAINST THE THE. >> THE SINK. >> COPYING THE GREAT KING KONG. >> BUNDY. TERRIFYING GUY. >> ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING. WITH BOBBY HEENAN IN HIS. >> CORNER. >> HOGAN PREVAILS. OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT WRESTLEMANIA THREE. ANDRE THE. >> GIANT. >> 93,000. THAT’S THE NUMBER THAT. THEY THAT THEY USED. WHO KNOWS? 78 84 WHO GIVES A CRAP? PONTIAC SILVERDOME WAS FREAKING PACKED TO THE RAFTERS . HOGAN, ANDRE. INCREDIBLE YEAR LONG BUILD . HOGAN SLAMS ANDRE THE TORCH IS PASSED. OH MY GOD, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. LARGER THAN LIFE, MAN. NO ONE BIGGER THAN HIM. AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS, IT’S NOT JUST HIM ON TV. IT’S IT’S THE LJN TOY WHICH I HAD ALL OF THEM, LIKE I HAD THAT THING I PLAYED WITH THAT I WISH MY MOM KEPT IT. I HAD ALL OF THEM, ALL THE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS. SATURDAY MORNING, IT WASN’T JUST ABOUT MAPLE LEAF WRESTLING, IT WAS ABOUT HULK HOGAN’S ROCK N WRESTLING TO A SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON SHOW. WITH HOGAN AND ANDRE AND IRON SHEIK AND MR. FUJI AND NIKOLAI VOLKOV. BIG JOHN STUDD, SUPERFLY JIMMY SNUKA, THE JUNKYARD DOG, HAKU, HILLBILLY JIM, RODDY PIPER, OH, MY GOD, YOU KNOW YOURSELF. JUST UNBELIEVABLE . TAKING A STEP BACK. I MEAN, AGAIN, MTV IS PRETTY MUCH NOTHING THESE DAYS. BUT AT THE TIME, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MUSICAL ARTISTS IN THE WORLD IS CYNDI LAUPER. CYNDI LAUPER NOW GETS INVOLVED IN WRESTLING, AND HULK HOGAN IS THERE BY HER SIDE. HULK HOGAN, I MEAN THE ROCK AND WRESTLING CONNECTION ON MTV. CYNDI LAUPER, GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN. THE MUSIC VIDEO HAS CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO IN IT. THERE SHE IS WINNING A GRAMMY WITH HOGAN. UNBELIEVABLE. WHAT A TIME. THERE’S NOTHING THAT COMPARES TO HIS HIS SUPERSTARDOM. NOW LEGIT. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ATHLETES, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ENTERTAINERS IN THE WORLD. AND FROM WRESTLEMANIA ONE TO, I WOULD SAY, WRESTLEMANIA SIX, HE IS THE GUY. HE IS THE THE, THE, THE FACE OF IT. >> ALL. >> WRESTLEMANIA FIVE. YOU HAVE THE THE MEGA POWERS EXPLODING. UNBELIEVABLE FEUD. MISS ELIZABETH IN BETWEEN. >> THEM. >> RANDY SAVAGE ON ONE SIDE, THE JEALOUSY CONSUMING HIM, THEY ARE FRIENDS. AT WRESTLEMANIA FOUR. HE HELPS RANDY BECOME CHAMPION AT WRESTLEMANIA FOUR, AND THEN IT BECOMES A YEAR LONG FEUD WHERE THEY’RE TOGETHER AND THEN THEY EXPLODE. HOGAN, RANDY TRUMP, TAJ MAHAL OH, MY GOD, WHAT A. >> TIME. >> WRESTLEMANIA SIX IS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE PASSING OF THE TORCH TO THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR AT THE SKYDOME, 1990 APRIL 1. CHAMPION VERSUS CHAMPION INTERCONTINENTAL VERSUS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. I TRIED TO FIGURE. >> OUT. >> HOW TO HOW TO BUY THIS PAY-PER-VIEW. I COULDN’T FIGURE. >> IT OUT. >> THEY DIDN’T HAVE IT. VIEWERS CHOICE IN CANADA COULDN’T FIGURE. >> IT OUT. >> AT THIS POINT. HE’S NOW BRANCHING OFF INTO FILM. NO HOLDS BARRED COMES. >> OUT. >> HIM AGAINST ZEUS. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. LIKE I SAID ON THURSDAY, OUR GUY HULK HOGAN IS NOW STARRING IN MOVIES. NO LONGER HAS LIKE A BIT. >> PLAYER. >> OH THAT POSTER. I REMEMBER THAT POSTER SO WELL. AND THEN THEY HAD A FEUD AT SUMMERSLAM. I REMEMBER THAT POSTER SO. WELL BECAUSE AND THIS MOVIE SO WELL BECAUSE LIKE WHEN HE WAS IN ROCKY, HE. >> WAS. >> YOU KNOW, HE WAS NOT A BIT PLAYER, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS HE WAS NOT THE MAIN GUY IN THIS FILM. HE’S THE MAIN GUY IN SUBURBAN COMMANDO. HE’S THE MAIN GUY IN MR. NANNY. HE’S THE MAIN. >> GUY. >> I KNOW HE’S NOT WINNING OSCARS FOR THESE, BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW JUST HOW BIG OF A CULTURAL PHENOMENON HE WAS. CULTURAL ICON. >> HE WAS. >> AND THEN LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, 91, IT STARTS TO GET A LITTLE BIT WEIRD. THE FEUD AGAINST SERGEANT SLAUGHTER, DESERT STORM FALLS. >> FLAT . >> THAT’S WRESTLEMANIA SEVEN, WRESTLEMANIA EIGHT. HE’S SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE FEUD AGAINST RIC FLAIR. THEY GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. THEY GO WITH FLAIR VERSUS SAVAGE, AND THEN AND THEN HOGAN VERSUS. >> SID 93. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE I HATE 93. THEY HATE, YOU KNOW, WRESTLEMANIA. NINE BECAUSE IT’S IT’S BRET HART VERSUS YOKOZUNA, AND HE ENDS UP BEATING YOKOZUNA AFTER HART LOSES TO YOKOZUNA IN JUST LIKE 10 SECONDS. AND THEY FELT LIKE HE KIND OF USURPED IT ALL. AND THEN HE LEAVES SHORTLY THEREAFTER. IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THAT, THERE’S THE TRIAL, THE STEROID TRIAL. HE SAYS THAT HE DOESN’T TAKE STEROIDS ON THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW. AND THEN IT’S REVEALED LATER THAT HE DID, IN FACT, TAKE STEROIDS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT KIND OF RUINED THE THE AURA OF, YOU KNOW, TAKE YOUR VITAMINS, SAY YOUR PRAYERS. OH, YOU’RE ALSO TAKING STEROIDS. THIS IS WEIRD. AND WHEN HE GOES OVER TO WCW IN 94, LIKE THE WHOLE GIMMICK IS PLAYED OUT, PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF IT. PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING ELSE. WE’VE ALL GROWN UP A LITTLE BIT. IT REMINDS US OF OUR YOUTH. WE NEED SOMETHING ELSE AND WHO KNOWS? IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, IF THIS GUY DOESN’T AGREE TO SHIFT, AGREE TO TURN HEEL, YOU KNOW THE WHOLE HULKAMANIA THING MAYBE DIES IN LIKE 96, 97, 98. WHO KNOWS, HE MAYBE GOES AND DOES SOMETHING ELSE, BUT BASH AT THE BEACH 1996. HE AGREES TO TURN HEEL. HE TEAMS UP WITH KEVIN NASH AND SCOTT HALL. NWO ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE BUSINESS, AND SOME MIGHT SAY, SOME ENJOYED THIS ERA MORE THAN THE 80s ERA. YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE NEW WORLD ORDER OF WRESTLING, BROTHER. HE TOOK TO BEING A HEEL SO PERFECTLY. IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO DO IT. IT WAS EVERYTHING THAT THE JOHN CENA TURNER WANTED TO BE, BUT COULDN’T BE . IT WAS PHENOMENAL. HOLLYWOOD HULK HOGAN WITH THE BLACK BEARD WITH THE FREAKING JIMI HENDRIX WITH THE BLACK TIGHTS. I MEAN, HE BOUGHT INTO IT AND IT MADE SENSE. THE CROWD TURNED ON HIM. HE TURNS ON THEM, AND HE TEAMS UP WITH THESE TWO GUYS TO RUIN WCW AND AND YES, IN THE MIDST OF THAT, THERE HAVE BEEN STORIES, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE. THIS IS WHERE YOU COULD START POKING LIKE, OH, HE DIDN’T WANT TO PUT THIS GUY OVER. OH, HE HAD CREATIVE CONTROL. OH, YOU KNOW, HE DIDN’T. BUT LIKE WHEN YOU’RE THAT BIG, YOU COULD SAY THAT ABOUT EVERYONE. YOU COULD SAY YOU COULD SAY MICHAEL JORDAN WASN’T THE BEST TEAMMATE. HE WANTED TO WIN. HOGAN WANTED TO WIN. AND I’M NOT TRYING TO DO REVISIONIST HISTORY HERE. BUT WHEN YOU’RE THE BABE RUTH, YOU GET SOME PERKS. THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT IS. IT’S JUST THE WAY IT. >> IS. >> BUT THROUGHOUT ALL THIS TIME, LIKE, THERE’S NO ARRESTS, THERE’S NO CONTROVERSY. THERE’S UPS AND DOWNS, OF COURSE, BUT NOTHING TO WHERE, LIKE YOU COULD SAY, LIKE THIS GUY, LIKE THAT PERIOD. THERE FROM 81, 82 ALL THE WAY TO THE LATE 90s IS A PRETTY INCREDIBLE RUN FOR SOMEONE AT THAT LEVEL. THE WCW RUN ENDS, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY THEY SELL THE COMPANY, HE COMES BACK, HE HAS THE INCREDIBLE MATCH AGAINST THE ROCK. WHICH AT THIS, LIKE SITTING HERE NOW, LOOKING. >> BACK. >> WRESTLEMANIA 18 X8, TORONTO SKYDOME. IF YOU TOLD ME RIGHT NOW THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS TO BE THE GREATEST MATCH OF ALL TIME , I HAVE A HARD TIME ARGUING AGAINST THAT BECAUSE OF THE STORY THAT THEY TOLD. HERE’S THE ROCK, THE FACE OF WWE. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAHMA BULL, THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION GOING UP AGAINST THE PREVIOUS FACE OF WWE ICON VERSUS ICON. HOGAN GOES INTO THE MATCH AS THE BAD GUY. HE’S PART OF THE NWO. HE’S COMING IN AS THE ALBATROSS , TORONTO AND EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE SAID. WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING THIS AND I WAS ONE OF THEM CHEERING, STANDING TOP OF MY LUNGS, GOING CRAZY FOR THE HULKSTER. WE WANT IT ALL. WE WANTED THIS, WE WANTED THIS, WE WANTED THE WHOLE THING, THE WHOLE REPERTOIRE. AND BY THE END, HE TURNS GOOD GUY WE I DON’T WHO KNOWS WHAT THE REAL STORY IS. IF THAT WAS THE PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING, WHO THE HELL KNOWS? BUT HE TURNS GOOD GUY BY THE END. AND THEN I GO TO THAT RAW ON THE MONDAY AFTER, AND IT’S ONE OF THE LOUDEST OVATIONS THAT I’VE EVER HEARD. SIX, SEVEN MINUTE OVATION. I HAD HEARD MONTREAL GO CRAZY FOR MAURICE RICHARD ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE MONTREAL FORUM IN 1995, AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I’LL NEVER HEAR ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I’LL NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AND THEN I EXPERIENCED IT SOME SEVEN YEARS LATER WHEN HOGAN CAME BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER. AND MONTREAL ALWAYS LOVED HULK HOGAN, ALWAYS LOVED HULK HOGAN. AND SO WHEN HE CAME BACK THAT MONDAY NIGHT RAW, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. AND THEN HE CAME BACK A YEAR LATER AND GOT. OR MAYBE IT WAS THAT SUMMER, THIS TIME IN THE RED AND YELLOW. YEAH, IT WAS THAT SUMMER, AUGUST OF 20 OF 2002 AND GOT A SIMILAR OVATION. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. WINS THE BELT AT BACKLASH, MR. AMERICA, ALL THAT STUFF. BUT AGAIN, LIKE AT THIS POINT IT’S HE’S STILL THE FREAKING HULKSTER. AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, IT’S IT’S THE SEX TAPE. IT’S THE GAWKER TRIAL. AND THEN THREE YEARS AFTER THE SEX TAPE, SOME WAY, SOMEHOW NATIONAL ENQUIRER GETS THIS TRANSCRIPT. AND, AND THEN IT’S THE RACIAL SLURS BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE SEX TAPE, YOU KNOW. YEAH, HE HAD THE REALITY SHOW WITH HIS FAMILY AS WELL. HIS KIDS GOT IN SOME TROUBLE. HIS SON IN PARTICULAR, THERE WAS FOOTAGE ONE TIME OF HIS SON GETTING ARRESTED FOR A DUI. AND I ALWAYS KIND OF FELT LIKE THAT WAS LIKE THE CLOSEST VERSION OF OF TERRY BOLLEA THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE, BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME THERE WAS SOME SOME FOOTAGE THAT WAS RELEASED FROM THE THE DASH CAM AND IT WAS IT WAS TERRY BOLLEA COMING TO CHECK ON HIS SON AND HE WAS WALKING WITH A NOT LIKE A STAFF, ALMOST NOT NOT A CANE. HE WAS WALKING AND HE WAS JUST CHECKING ON A HIS SON. IF HE HAD DONE ANYTHING THAT HURT ANYONE AND THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WHERE IN WHICH HE DID. AND THAT WAS HORRIFIC AS WELL. BUT IN THAT FOOTAGE, YOU NEVER HEARD HULK SAY LIKE, OH, HEY, I’M HULK LIKE, CAN YOU GIVE US A SECOND CHANCE? CAN YOU HELP US OUT, BRO? CAN YOU HELP? YOU KNOW, IT’S MY SON, PLEASE. LIKE HE WAS JUST COMING TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND WHAT HE WAS FACING. NEVER TRIED TO PLAY THE HULK HOGAN BRO CARD. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS HONORABLE IN THE MOMENT. I REMEMBER WATCHING THAT AND I REWATCHED IT LAST NIGHT AND I WAS LIKE, I REMEMBER THIS VIVIDLY, BUT THERE’S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN SAY TO DEFEND WHAT HE WAS CAUGHT SAYING IN THAT MOMENT. NOW, IF THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE AND LOOK, I’M PRESENTING EVERYTHING HERE BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS IN TERMS OF HOW TO, LIKE, TALK ABOUT THE ENTIRE LEGACY . BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOULD LIKE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO KANYE WEST. NOW, I LOVED KANYE WEST, BUT KANYE WEST COMES OUT NOW AND HAS A SONG CALLED HEIL HITLER. I’M GOING TO FEEL SOME SORT OF WAY ABOUT THAT AS A JEWISH PERSON, AND SO I CAN’T TELL ANYONE IN PARTICULAR, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERSON. I CAN’T TELL THEM HOW TO FEEL ABOUT HULK HOGAN. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO, AS I SAID ON THURSDAY, SAID, LIKE, THIS GUY WAS DEAD TO ME IN 2015 AND I’LL NEVER SUPPORT HIM. I’LL NEVER WATCH HIM. I’LL NEVER WANT TO REWATCH. I’LL NEVER WANT TO CELEBRATE OR ANYTHING. AND I COULD NOT ARGUE WITH. THAT. I TOTALLY GET IT. AND THEN THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT WAS IN THE PRIVACY OF HIS HOME. AND HE WAS HE WAS BETRAYED. AND SOMEONE PUT OUT THIS TAPE AND HE DIDN’T COME OUT LIKE KANYE WEST AND PUT OUT, LIKE, CONTENT SURROUNDING THESE FEELINGS. SO IS IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT? OKAY, FINE, I CAN ACCEPT THAT. BUT HE SAID. IT AND HE DID APOLOGIZE. THAT WAS A STATEMENT THAT HE PUT OUT. HE DID A BUNCH OF INTERVIEWS, BUT WHAT REALLY SCREWED IT UP WAS WHEN HE FINALLY GOT BACK TO WWE, SOME THREE YEARS LATER. HE APOLOGIZED TO THE LOCKER ROOM. THAT WAS KIND OF PART OF THE DEAL. AND APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE, HE DIDN’T REALLY APOLOGIZE. IT WAS MORE OF A DON’T GET CAUGHT TYPE OF MESSAGE, AND THAT RUBBED A LOT OF PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY, AS IT SHOULD HAVE. WHO KNOWS ULTIMATELY, WHY HE WAS BOOED. WHO KNOWS ULTIMATELY WHY HE WAS BOOED ON ON JANUARY. I THINK IT WAS THE SIXTH BACK AT THE INTUIT DOME. WAS IT BECAUSE OF THAT? WAS IT BECAUSE OF HIS POLITICS? WAS IT A MIX OF BOTH? BUT HE WAS. AND HE TOLD US ON THIS SHOW TWO MONTHS AGO, IT WAS BECAUSE HE CAME OUT DOING THE HOLLYWOOD HOGAN DEAL. YOU SEE HERE. IT WASN’T THE HOLLYWOOD HOGAN. >> DEAL. >> AND IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT WAS HIS LAST APPEARANCE ON WWE TELEVISION PROGRAMING. I’M OKAY WITH ULTIMATELY SAYING COMPLICATED LEGACY. THE FINAL. ACT WAS VERY HARD TO STOMACH FOR. >> SOME. >> AND IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT WAS HIS FINAL. >> ACT. >> MIKE TYSON’S WORST MOMENT CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS OF HIS STORY. AND SO HE’S HAD 20, 30 YEARS TO RECTIFY. AND NOW HE’S UNCLE MIKE. AND LET’S BE HONEST, WHAT HE. >> DID. >> I MEAN, HE WENT TO HE WENT TO PRISON. HE’S A CONVICTED. >> RAPIST. >> HARD TO COMPARE. >> THE TWO. >> AND SO THE FEELINGS, THE EMOTIONS ARE COMPLICATED. VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN THAN MOST CELEBRITY PASSINGS. BUT I DON’T THINK IT’S FAIR TO ALLOW THE FINAL ACT TO ERASE EVERYTHING THAT HE DID. I’M HAPPY THAT THEY BROUGHT HIM BACK. I’M HAPPY THAT THEY DIDN’T SCRUB HIM FROM THE HALL OF FAME, SCRUB HIM FROM THE HISTORY. >> BOOKS. >> BECAUSE. THAT RUN FROM 80 TO 2005 IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE’LL EVER SEE. AND WHAT HE DID FOR WRESTLING, ANY SINGLE PERSON WHO IS A PRO WRESTLING FAN FROM THAT GENERATION, 70s, 80s, 90s IS A WRESTLING FAN. BECAUSE OF HULK, BECAUSE HE MADE THE INDUSTRY INTO WHAT IT IS. HE MADE IT MAINSTREAM. HE MADE YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A HULK GUY. YOU MAY HAVE ROOTED FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR AT WRESTLEMANIA SIX. >> BUT. >> WITHOUT HIM, IT DOESN’T GET TO THAT POINT. IT DOESN’T GET TO THE PONTIAC SILVERDOME. IT DOESN’T GET TO 93,000 OR THE SKYDOME. HE WAS THE GUY. HE WAS THE RIGHT GUY, AND MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND SOMEONE ELSE. AND LORD KNOWS, THEY TRIED. THEY TRIED TO STRAP THE ROCKET TO WARRIOR TO MR. WONDERFUL, TO LEX LUGER, TO MANY OTHERS. >> DIDN’T WORK. >> HE WAS DIFFERENT. EVEN IN NWO WITH RODMAN AND LENO. KARL MALONE, LIKE THE N.W.O, RUN FROM 96, I WOULD SAY LIKE 99. LEGENDARY STUFF. WHO SAW THIS COMING? HIM ON THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH DENNIS RODMAN, RODMAN MALONE GOING TOE TO TOE DURING THE NBA FINALS. OUR FRIEND MARC RAIMONDI WRITING BRILLIANTLY ABOUT THIS. THEY WERE AS HOT AS COULD BE. THERE WAS 1.10 MILLION PEOPLE ARE WATCHING WRESTLING ON A MONDAY NIGHT. WHETHER IT’S RAW OR NITRO, MILLION PEOPLE. INCREDIBLE . SO REST IN PEACE, HULK HOGAN. REST IN PEACE. TERRY BOLLEA. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A CHAT WITH RIC FLAIR . IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TIME, ABOUT HIS HISTORY. AND IF YOU EVER HEARD. HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH HULK, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD HULK? IN AN INTERVIEW, HE WOULD HAVE SAID RIC WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. AND THEN IF YOU EVER HEAR RIC IN AN INTERVIEW, HE’LL SAY, HULK IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. AND THERE WAS A PERIOD WHERE THEY WERE RIVALS, ESSENTIALLY. ONE WAS THE THE FACE OF WCW AND NWA AND THE OTHER THE FACE OF WWF. AND AND THEN RIC GOES OVER TO WWF AND THEY END UP MAKING A LOT OF MONEY TOGETHER. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY DIDN’T WORK A WRESTLEMANIA MATCH, BUT BY BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HOGAN DIDN’T SAY LIKE, NO, I’M NOT WORKING WITH YOU. YOU STAY OVER THERE LIKE THERE’S LIKE, OH, THERE’S MONEY TO BE MADE HERE. LET’S, LET’S MAKE SOME MONEY. AND EVEN IN THEIR LATER YEARS, TNA DOING OVERSEAS TOURS AND ALL THAT, LIKE THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN THE BEST OF FRIENDS. AND YOU COULD HAVE, YOU COULD HAVE BELIEVED IF YOU WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN JEALOUS OF EACH OTHER OR FRICTION. TWO LARGER THAN LIFE MASSIVE EGOS COMING TOGETHER DIDN’T APPEAR TO BE THE CASE. RICK WAS TALKING TO TMZ, RIC FLAIR WAS TALKING TO TMZ ON THURSDAY. AND WAS VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL AND OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO TALK TO HIM AND, AND AND HOPEFULLY NOW HE’S HAD SOME TIME TO, TO PROCESS EVERYTHING. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HIM, HIM COMING ON. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT WHICH WILL BE COMING UP IN ABOUT 10:00 TIME. THIS PAST WEEKEND WAS A VERY BUSY ONE IN THE WORLD OF COMBAT SPORTS. YOU HAD THE FINAL TOP RANK CARD ON ESPN. YOU HAD CLARESSA SHIELDS WINNING IN HER HOME STATE OF MICHIGAN. DETROIT, TO BE EXACT. LITTLE CESARS ARENA DEFEATING LANI DANIELS IN ANOTHER DOMINANT PERFORMANCE. LANI DANIELS PUTTING ON A SHOW HERE, BUT WAS NEVER REALLY IN IT. I MEAN, SHE MADE IT ENTERTAINING, BUT THERE WAS SOME RUNNING, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. MAIN EVENT OF THE UFC CARD IN ABU DHABI WAS REINIER DE RIDDER DEFEATING ROBERT WHITTAKER IN A FIVE ROUND AFFAIR, NOW 4-0 SINCE COMING TO THE UFC IN LESS THAN 365 DAYS, HE HAS NOW WON FOUR FIGHTS IN THE UFC AND VERY MUCH IN THE MIX AFTERWARDS, SAYING I AM NEXT, BUT I DON’T KNOW IF HE’S NEXT. GUYS. IS RDR, NEXT IS RDR NEXT. I DON’T KNOW IF HE’S NEXT. >> I DON’T KNOW, I THINK IT’S STILL GOT TO BE THE WINNER OF IMAVOV AND. >> IT’S GOT TO BE RIGHT. >> YEAH. >> IT’S IT’S GOTTA BE UNLESS IT’S GOT TO BE WITH AN ASTERISK. BECAUSE IF THAT FIGHT IS A DUD, COULD YOU NOT SEE THE UFC JUST BEING LIKE, NAH, RDR IS HOTTER, WE’LL PUT HIM IN THERE. I COULD, I COULD TOTALLY SEE THAT. I GET THAT, DON’T THIS CONVERSATION INEVITABLY DEVOLVES INTO LIKE THIS LIKE DESERVES DESERVES DOESN’T EXIST ANYMORE. CAIO AND IMAVOV HAVE PUT IN MORE WORK AND QUOTE, UNQUOTE DESERVE IT. BUT I’M OKAY WITH A GUY WHO IF IF A WIN OVER ROBERT WHITTAKER GETS HIM A TITLE SHOT. SO I COULD SEE A WORLD WHERE HE’S ABLE TO JUMP THAT LINE, I WOULDN’T EXPECT IT. BUT I ALSO WOULD NOT BE COMPLETELY SHOCKED IF THEY HAVE A DUD FIGHT. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN RDR FINDS HIMSELF IN THE TITLE SHOT. >> OH MY GOSH. I MEAN, HE’S. >> I THINK HE HAS THE JUICE LIKE LIKE AFTER THE WIN, AFTER YOU THINK HE HAS THE JUICE. >> I DO. WELL, YOU DON’T THINK. >> SO. >> NO I DO, I JUST DON’T KNOW IF IT’S. LIKE IT’S IT’S GONNA DESTROY ANYTHING THAT IMAVOV AND CAIO WOULD DO. YOU KNOW, I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S LIKE AN INSURMOUNTABLE SITUATION THAT HE THAT HE’S PUT HIMSELF THROUGH. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT FIGHT, BUT A VERY INTERESTING FIGHT. BUT I DON’T KNOW IF HE’S IF HE’S THE FAN SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE, TO THE POINT WHERE HE SKIPS THE QUEUE. >> THE LAST TIME CAIO FOUGHT. AUGUST 24, 2024. >> YEAH. SINCE THEN. >> RDR HAS BEEN BUSY. HE’S BEEN BUSY PUTTING IN WORK AND GETTING IN FRONT OF FANS. I’M NOT. AGAIN, I AM NOT SUGGESTING I THINK THE WINNER OF CAIO AND IMAVOV SHOULD FIGHT FOR THE TITLE. >> NO DOUBT. >> BUT I WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED IF THE MOMENTUM THAT RDR HAS BUILT IN THE TIME THAT THEY’VE BEEN SITTING. AND BY THE WAY, THAT’S NO FAULT OF CARLOS. HE’S BEEN LOOKING FOR A FIGHT. HE’S BEEN CALLING OUT IMAVOV FOR MONTHS, BUT THE REALITY IS THE REALITY, AND HE’S BEEN ON THE SIDELINES. SO IT’S GOING TO BE A LONG TIME SINCE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN HIM SINCE HIS LAST PERFORMANCE. I WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED IF THAT’S IF THAT’S NOT A SUPER EXCITING FIGHT. IF RDR IS THE ONE THAT HAS THE ROCKET STRAPPED. >> TO HIM. >> I THINK IF IMAVOV WINS, THEN IT’S IT’S TRULY UNDENIABLE. NO MATTER HOW HE WINS. I THINK IF HE GETS IT DONE, HE’LL BE ON A FIVE FIGHT WIN STREAK IN ALL , FIVE GUYS. WILL WILL HAVE BEEN TOP TEN DUDES. THE LEADS SAY BRENDAN ALLEN ISRAEL ADESANYA AND THEN YOU ADD IN BORRALHO TO THAT. I THINK IF HE WINS, NO MATTER HOW HE DOES IT, HE’S HE’S UNDENIABLE. >> FOR IT. >> HERE’S THE ONE LITTLE DETAIL THAT WE DIDN’T BRING UP. THAT FIGHT IS IN PARIS. IF, IF IF IMAVOV WINS IN PARIS, HE’S GOING TO COME ACROSS AS A SUPERSTAR. AND IF AND IF KAIO WINS IN PARIS, THE CROWD IS GOING TO. >> GO. >> YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO, LIKE, THIS IS GOING TO FEEL LIKE A DISTANT MEMORY BY THE TIME THAT FIGHT HAPPENS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. >> WHAT IF THE PERFORMANCE, THOUGH, IS. THEM TRYING TO COUNTER EACH OTHER FOR FIVE ROUNDS AND. JUST LOOKING LIKE THEY’RE. >> THE FRENCH FANS PUT HIM OVER. I THINK THE FRENCH FANS PUT HIM OVER THAT GOOD. I THINK. I THINK IT’S THE BEST. I THINK IT’S THE BEST FAN BASE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IRELAND IN 2014, THE UK 2022, LIKE FRANCE, FRANCE HAS IT AT THE MOMENT. LIKE NO MATTER WHO’S SHOWING UP THERE, EVEN THE ARIES EVENTS ARE INSANE AND I THINK THE WAY THEY GET BEHIND THEIR GUYS, IT’S A GREAT POINT, ARIEL, BECAUSE I THINK, I THINK THAT WILL PUSH HIM LIKE IT WILL GIVE HIM SO MUCH MORE. IT WILL BOLSTER HIS STOCK SO MUCH MORE, REGARDLESS OF HOW HE GETS IT DONE, BECAUSE THAT CROWD IS BEHIND HIM, I FEEL. >> SO WHAT DO YOU DO WITH RDR THEN? LET’S SAY THE WINNER OF THAT FIGHT IS NEXT, BECAUSE THE TIMING IS ACTUALLY PERFECT, RIGHT? IT’S JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE TITLE FIGHT, AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THE WINNER HAS DONE ENOUGH. IS IT PAULO COSTA WHO DID TWEET ABOUT RDR? A PRETTY FUNNY TWEET. THERE IS JARED CANNONIER HERE. HERE’S PAULA, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, ALL DUE RESPECT TO WHO I WOULD KNOCK. >> OUT. >> DE RIDDER THREE TIMES EACH ROUND. ALL THAT SAID, CONGRATS FOR YOUR WIN TODAY. DESPITE BAD FIGHT. >> IT’S PAULO, IT’S GOT TO BE PAULO. >> THERE’S ALSO JARED CANNONIER AGAINST ROMAN DOLIDZE COMING. >> UP. >> IT’S NOT. >> GONNA HAVE A GUY IN RDR WHO’S GOING TO BE TOP FIVE AT THIS POINT. DOES HE WANT TO FIGHT DOWN LIKE IN THE RANKINGS? CANNONIER WILL BE SEVENTH. PAULO IS SITTING AT 11th. >> ROB JUST ROB. >> ROB JUST GAVE HIM A BIG OPPORTUNITY. >> TO HIM. YEAH. >> YOU DO IT BECAUSE. >> I DON’T THINK I DON’T THINK ANYONE DID IT FOR ME. SO I’LL DO IT FOR ANYONE. >> THINK ROB WON THAT. >> FIGHT? >> THAT WAS CLOSE. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY, VERY CLOSE. I THOUGHT IT WAS 48, 47 EITHER WAY. YEAH. I THINK IT REALLY JUST CAME DOWN TO HOW YOU SCORED THAT FIFTH ROUND. WHETHER WHETHER YOU YOU FAVORED THE STRIKING OF, OF ROB OR THE OR THE CLINCH WORK OF RDR. >> I SCORED IT FOR ROB, BUT ALL THE JUDGES GAVE ROUND FIVE TO RDR. SO I’M PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT. I’VE GOT NO ISSUES. >> WITH IT. IT WAS IT WAS COOL EITHER WAY FOR ME. NO DEFINITELY NOT. >> DID YOU GUYS SEE THIS CLIP? THERE WAS A CLIP THAT THE THE UFC AUSTRALIA ACCOUNT OR THE AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND ACCOUNT POSTED. WHERE, WHEN WHEN ROB DROPPED HIM IN THE THIRD. I BELIEVE RDR IS VERY CLEARLY HOLDING ON TO HIS GLOVES. HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THIS? >> YEAH, THE REF HAD TO STEP IN. >> YEAH. BUT LIKE MULTIPLE TIMES THERE. >> YEAH. AND THEY SAID IT ON THE BROADCAST TOO. I MEAN IT DOES MAKE YOU THINK LIKE HE DROPPED HIM BAD. YES. THERE WAS A CHANCE HE WAS GONNA FINISH THAT FIGHT THERE. YEAH. HE GRABS THE GLOVES TO THE POINT WHERE ROBERT WHITTAKER IS LOOKING AT THE REF AND HE’S LIKE, YO, WHAT THE, MAN? >> YEAH. >> YOU GOT TO STOP. >> THAT FOOTAGE IS SHOT ON AN IPHONE AND IT’S SO CLEAR THAT HE’S HOLDING ON TO THE GLOVES MULTIPLE TIMES. >> THE COMMENTARY EVEN MENTIONED. >> YEAH. >> IT’S. >> A LOT THOUGH. YEAH. MAGOMEDOV TOES IN THE CAGE 85 TIMES OR SOMETHING DURING THE BRYCE MITCHELL FIGHT AS WELL. IT WAS. >> YEAH. >> I DON’T. >> I DON’T THINK ANYBODY WOULD CLAIM LIKE THAT WAS THE TURNING POINT OF THE FIGHT OR THAT. >> IT. >> LOOKED CLOSE IN THE MOMENT. IT LOOKED IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ON THE VERGE OF STOPPING HIM. YOU DIDN’T THINK SO? >> HE WAS LANDING SOME BIG SHOTS, MAN. >> HE WAS LANDING BIG SHOTS. >> BUT LIKE. >> BEFORE THAT HE. >> HAD. >> YOU KNOW, RDR HAD LANDED SOME SHOTS AS WELL. >> SO LIKE., LOOK, I’M NOT GOING TO PRETEND THAT IT’S NOT A FACTOR, BUT I DON’T THINK ANYBODY’S GOING LIKE HE DIDN’T WIN THAT FIGHT. >> HE HE WON. >> THE FIGHT. >> AND AS I SAID, I SCORED THE FIFTH ROUND FOR ROB. SO I’M OKAY WITH THE OUTCOME HERE. THAT’S ULTIMATELY WHERE I LAND. I’M I’M OKAY WITH THE OUTCOME HERE. AND I THINK PAULO COSTA HAS TO BE THE FIGHT BECAUSE YOU ALSO WANT TO PUSH PAULO COSTA IF HE WINS THAT FIGHT AGAINST RDR, IT CAN’T JUST BE LIKE, WHO DOES RDR FIGHT? AND THEN RDR LOSES TO JARED CANNONIER AND THEN WHAT? SO YOU NEED PAULO COSTA BECAUSE HE WOULD BE SOMEBODY THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THAT TALK HE’S BEEN DOING ABOUT HAMZAT, ALL THAT DRAMA THAT HE COULD BUILD UP WITH DDP WOULD BE WORTH IT. SO PAULO VERSUS RDR MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO. >> ME, IS THERE? >> I GUESS THERE’S ALSO AN ARGUMENT TO MAKE IS WHO WINS THE TITLE FIGHT? IF IT’S HAMZAT, WHO KNOWS WHEN HE’S GONNA FIGHT. >> AGAIN IS, BY THE WAY, IS THERE A WORLD? IF IT’S HAMZAT THEY RUN IT BACK? >> NO. >> BECAUSE DDP EARNED THAT. >> NO, NO. >> I DOUBT IT. >> IT’S BEEN PRETTY POPULAR. >> HE COULD GET BACK. . >> THE IMMEDIATE THING DOESN’T HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEBODY LOSES. DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A WIN. TWO FIGHTS AND GET BACK TO THE TITLE. NO PROBLEM. DDP IS PERFECTLY. >> CAPABLE. >> IT’S NICE TO SEE RDR GETTING HIS FLOWERS THOUGH, BECAUSE I DID FEEL THAT THE THE BO NICKAL FIGHT WAS AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE AND ALL ANYONE TALKED ABOUT WAS LIKE, WELL, YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND YOU’RE LIKE. LIKE HE HAD A BRILLIANT FIGHT OR YOU LOOKED EXCEPTIONAL IN THAT FIGHT. AND THE LIKE MADE, MADE BO NICKAL FIGHT IN A WAY THAT HE JUST COULDN’T FORCED HIM INTO STRIKING EXCHANGES WHERE HE JUST WASN’T EQUAL TO RDR AT ALL. AND I DO FEEL AS THOUGH, LIKE EVEN THIS CONVERSATION STARTED OFF, IS HE NEXT IN LINE? LIKE, THAT’S A HELL OF A LOT BETTER SITUATION HE’S IN THAN HE WAS COMING OFF THE NICKAL FIGHT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE. >> THOSE KNEES ARE NASTY, MAN, AND I THINK THOSE CRAZY DUDE, LIKE, I THINK THOSE KNEES THAT HE WAS LANDING ON WHITTAKER KIND OF SAPPED HIS ENERGY BECAUSE YOU SAY LIKE AFTER HE ALMOST FINISHED HIM, IT FELT LIKE WHITTAKER WAS JUST KIND OF DONE AT THAT POINT AND BEING ABLE TO GO LIKE 100% ON THE GAS PEDAL, IT FELT LIKE HE WAS REALLY TIRED AND LABORED FROM THERE ON OUT. >> IS THERE ANY WORLD? IS THERE ANY WORLD WHERE BORRALHO IMAVOV IS A STINKER? CHIMAEV WINS AND THEY DO. CHIMAEV COSTA. >> WHY NOT? YES. >> YEAH, THERE’S. >> DEFINITELY A WORLD. >> THERE’S 100%. >> A WORLD. >> I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THAT. >> I THINK RDR WOULD GET A CALL FIRST IF I’M BEING HONEST. >> I DON’T THINK SO. BUT I DON’T THINK. >> MAN, THIS IS OUR WORLD. IT’S THE UFC IN 2020. YES. >> COULD IT POTENTIALLY HAPPEN? I’M NOT GOING TO SAY NO. BUT LIKE A GUY OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN WHAT IS HE IN HIS LAST LIKE THREE OR FOUR. LIKE ONE IN THREE OR SOMETHING. >> GUYS WE’RE LIKE. >> HOW LONG REMOVED ARE WE FROM CHEETO VERA VERSUS SEAN O’MALLEY? JUST ON THE BASIS OF A RIVALRY. LIKE IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE IN 2025, NO DOUBT. >> I THINK THE. FANS WOULD LOVE IT. >> THEY’D AT LEAST FOUGHT AND HAD LIKE KIND OF A FUNKY ENDING TO THAT FIGHT. THIS IS SORT OF JUST PAOLO TALKING A BUNCH OF TO HIM AND LIKE, THEY HAD A RUN. >> DOING A REALLY. >> GOOD JOB. HE’S DOING A GREAT. >> JOB, BABY. COME ON, UFC. >> ALSO LET’S WE I THINK WE SHOULD STOP, LIKE PRETENDING LIKE WE DON’T WANT TO SEE THAT TOO. I WANT TO SEE THAT I DON’T LIKE IT’S FINE. I WANT TO SEE IT. >> THAT FIGHT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT FIGHT. >> I WANT TO. >> SEE IT. >> I MEAN, IT’S BEEN LIKE. >> TWO YEARS OF IT , A MERITOCRACY. WE’RE JUST LIKE, IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LET’S HAVE A GOOD TIME HERE. >> OH, YEAH. WE’RE THE PARISIAN FANS ARE REALLY GONNA PUT HIM ALL OVER. UNLESS . COSTA. >> WHAT IF HE PUTS IN A FUNNY TWEET ON THE SAME DAY? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHAT COULD HAPPEN? >> COSTA IS GOING TO GO THERE. HE’S GOING TO BE SITTING IN THE CROWD. >> PLAY BY COSTA. GREAT PLAY BY COSTA. >> THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE SHOULD BE DOING. HE’S GOING TO BE SITTING IN THE CROWD. THEY’RE GOING TO CUT TO HIM. IF I’M RDR, BY THE WAY, I GET TO CHICAGO FOR AUGUST 16. I DON’T LET HIM HAVE THAT MOMENT. MAYBE IT’S IT’S ALL, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTARY AT THAT POINT. BUT THIS STUFF MATTERS. LOOK AT WHAT IT DID FOR JOSHUA VAN. I MEAN, HE FOUGHT ON. >> THE CARD VIBRATING IN THE FRONT ROW. HE’S GOING TO BE DOING THIS IF HE JUST GO SHIRTLESS AND OIL YOURSELF UP. COSTA LIKE, LET’S DO IT 100%. >> REMEMBER, REMEMBER THAT FAMOUS CLIP OF WAS IT MCGREGOR WHO STOOD UP DURING THE FRANKIE EDGAR ALDO FIGHT? THIS WILL BE HIS VERSION OF IT WHERE HE’S JUST. >> SITTING. ALDO MENDES. >> WAS IT? ALDO? >> IT’S THE PICTURE OF HIM IN THE BACKGROUND. YEAH, YEAH. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS ALDO VERSUS FRANKIE EDGAR AT UFC. >> YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. I THOUGHT IT WAS ALDO MENDES IN BRAZIL THAT HE WENT. >> HE DID THAT ONE TOO. IN ANY EVENT, YOU GET THE POINT. HE MAKE YOURSELF. >> HE’S DEFINITELY DOING THE RIGHT THING. YES HE’S YOU SEE ALDO GET A WIN. YOU START CALLING HIM OUT SAYING DOWNPLAYING HIS VICTORY, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. KEEP GOING. AFTER HAMZAT, WHO MIGHT WIN THE TITLE HERE IN THREE WEEKS TIME. HE’S DEFINITELY DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. >> WELL, WE’LL TALK TO PETER YAN. WHO WHO WON IN THE CO-MAIN EVENT AGAINST MARKUS MCGHEE. AS I SAID, SHARA MAGOMEDOV AND MARK MARC-ANDRÉ BARRIAULT. THEY FOUGHT AN INCREDIBLE FIGHT. FIGHT OF THE NIGHT. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE REST OF THIS CARD BACK INTO THE SHOW, BECAUSE I WANT TO ASK THE GUY THEIR OPINIONS ON THESE STEVEN NGUYEN FIGHT AND THE DECISION TO NOT STOP IT. I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR JASON HERZOG, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD, BAD, BAD NIGHT AT THE OFFICE FOR HIM. ONE OF THE VERY BEST REFEREES IN THE GAME. ALSO, A SHOUT OUT TO BELLEMARE, WHO WON LAST NIGHT AS WELL VIA CHICKEN WING, OLD SCHOOL. SHE IS INCREDIBLE AND IT’S AMAZING TO SEE HER DO HER THING AND I HOPE TO SEE HER IN THE OLYMPICS 2028. THAT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE FRANK MIR’S DAUGHTER REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES. SO ALL THAT STILL TO COME. BUT FOR NOW, IT IS A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SAY HELLO TO OUR NEXT GUEST, A MAN WHO, LIKE I SAID AT THE TOP, REALLY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION IN MANY PEOPLE’S ESTIMATION, THE GREATEST PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER OF ALL TIME. I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL. AND THE LATE, GREAT HULK HOGAN, AT EVERY CHANCE HE COULD, WOULD SAY THAT HE IS THE GREATEST WRESTLER OF ALL TIME. WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE INIMITABLE THE LIMOUSINE RIDING JET PLANE FLYING, KISS STEALING, WILLIAM DEALING, SON OF A GUN, ONE SON OF A GUN, ONE OF A KIND. THE ONE AND ONLY RIC FLAIR KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US RIGHT HERE. NOW ON THE PROGRAM. >> HOW ARE YOU? >> TO JOIN. TO HAVE HIM JOIN US. HELLO, RIC. IT’S SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. I’M DOING GREAT YOURSELF. >> THANK YOU. I’M HONORED. THANK YOU. >> IT’S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. IT’S GREAT TO TALK TO YOU. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SAYING YES TO US , BECAUSE I KNOW IT’S BEEN A TOUGH FEW DAYS FOR YOU AND EVERYONE IN THE WRESTLING COMMUNITY, IN THE FRATERNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US SOME TIME. >> NO, THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME. AND I DO ANYTHING FOR YOU. YOU’RE A GREAT GUY. >> THANK YOU RIC. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAPPEN TO SEE THAT VIDEO OF YOU ON TMZ ON THURSDAY. I THINK YOU HAD JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE NEWS. SO OBVIOUSLY YOU WERE DEALING WITH THE EMOTIONS, BUT CAN I ASK, HOW ARE YOU DOING A FEW DAYS LATER AS AS THE REALITY HAS SUNK. >> IN, I’M DOING MUCH BETTER. BUT IT’S I HAD JUST TALKED TO JIMMY HART THE DAY BEFORE AND I DIDN’T ACTUALLY SPEAK WITH HULK, BUT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I KNEW THAT HE HAD HEALTH ISSUES, BUT I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE BEING EMBELLISHED BY THAT RADIO DISC JOCKEY, BUBBA AND SO I TALKED TO JIMMY. I TALKED TO HIS FRIEND BO, AND HE SEEMED TO BE FINE, BUT I, I THINK THAT. I THINK HE JUST HE JUST GOT TIRED. I MEAN, 11 BACK OPERATIONS, HIP REPLACEMENTS NOW, NECK SURGERY. I MEAN , HOW MUCH CAN YOUR BODY TAKE? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE’VE ALL PUT OURSELVES IN, YOU KNOW, IN A RIDICULOUS POSITION IN THE BUSINESS, BUT I MEAN, I HERE I AM, I’M FIVE YEARS OLDER THAN HULK AND I DON’T HURT AT ALL. I’VE HAD SOME SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES, BUT I DON’T HAVE I DON’T HAVE AN ACHE OR PAIN IN MY BODY. AND IT BOTHERS ME. AND OF COURSE IT GIVES ME ANXIETY THAT I COULD BE NEXT . SO I’M GLAD ANYTIME I CAN TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT HULK IS AND SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT HIS LIFE, HIS LEGACY WITH YOU GUYS, I’M I’M HONORED. THANK YOU. >> AMAZING. CAN I ASK, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SPOKE TO. >> HIM ? >> WELL, I CALLED HIM. I’M NOT GOING TO MENTION ANY NAMES. I CALLED HIM THREE TIMES AND TALKED TO HIM IN THE LAST MONTH BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS GETTING INVOLVED IN A IN A SITUATION THAT WOULD NOT IS NOT RIGHT FOR HIM. BUSINESS WISE, BECAUSE I KNEW WHO HE WAS GETTING IN BUSINESS WITH AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ONCE, HE DIDN’T HEED MY WARNING. AND THEN HE GOT HIT WITH THAT $10,000,000 LAWSUIT. I MEAN, THAT’S A LOT, YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING ABOUT HULK, HE’S ALWAYS BEEN REPRESENTED AND SMARTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE BUSINESS. AND YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT TO BE DENIED. HE’S BEEN A TREMENDOUS BUSINESSMAN. BUT THIS GUY THAT JERKED HIM AROUND THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO BELIEVE SO MUCH. AND THEN YOU TRY SO HARD. AND HE HE’S SUCH A GIVING GUY. I MEAN, I KNOW PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE HOGAN WAS DOING MAKE-A-WISH BEFORE MAKE-A-WISH WAS MAKE-A-WISH. THAT MAKES SENSE. EVERY NIGHT. I WAS WITH HIM FOR TWO YEARS. EVERY NIGHT HE WOULD TAKE TIME. I’D SAY TO JAY STRONGWATER JAY WAS HULK. HE’S DOING MAKE-A-WISH. I MEAN, SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS NOW BECAUSE IT’S MORE APPRECIATED BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. >> AND . >> BUT HE WAS THE MODERN DAY. HE WAS HE WAS FIRST BEFORE JOHN CENA AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN THE MAKE-A-WISH COMMUNITY GOT SOMETHING SPECIAL, WHICH HE. >> WAS. >> WHEN YOU HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, WAS HE WAS HE HURTING? YOU SAID WHEN YOU CALLED HIM, YOU KNOW, YOU SPOKE TO HIM A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO? >> NO, NOT AT ALL. HE NEVER MENTIONED IT AT ALL. >> OH. >> WOW. >> THE GUY THAT THE GUY THAT BROUGHT ME. A A GUY THAT BROUGHT ME AWARENESS TO IT WAS JIMMY. JIMMY HART, BECAUSE JIMMY AND I HAVE BEEN CLOSE FOREVER AND YOU KNOW, HE’S I’M SURE HE’S DEVASTATED RIGHT NOW. >> YEAH. >> BUT I, I LITERALLY TALKED TO JIMMY THE DAY BEFORE HE PASSED. AND HE SAID HULK WAS FINE. AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WE ALL GOT THE. >> NEWS. >> WE ALL KNOW ABOUT YOUR TIME IN WWF WHEN YOU CAME OVER 91, 92 AND WORKED. >> WITH THEM PRIOR TO THAT, WERE THERE ANY OTHER INTERACTIONS? >> WERE THERE LIKE THAT? WE DON’T KNOW. ABOUT IN A TERRITORY OR WHEN YOU WORKED WITH HIM IN WWE? WAS THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU EVER WORKED WITH. >> HIM? >> YES, I KNEW HIM WHEN HE CAME INTO THE BUSINESS. STERLING GOLDMAN ON HIS WAY TO MEMPHIS. I SAW HIM IN ATLANTA ON TV AND AND THEN OF COURSE, HE BECAME HULK HOGAN, BIGGER THAN LIFE. AND EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, WAS NWA AGAINST THE WWE OR WWF BACK THEN. >> BUT. >> WWE SO BUT WHAT I, I WOULD WE WOULD CROSS PATHS ON THE ROAD. >> AND. >> ALWAYS YOU KNOW, HAVE FUN, HAVE DRINKS, LAUGH AND TALK ABOUT OUR JOURNEYS AND. >> LIKE. >> THOSE GUYS WERE OUT THERE WITH THE WWE BACK THEN. THEY WERE OUT THERE ON 70, 80 DAY RUNS WITH ALL GOING HOME VERY SIMILAR TO MY SCHEDULE. NOT AS MUCH INTERNATIONALLY. >> BUT. >> WE, YOU KNOW, BEING A WRESTLER BACK IN THE 80s WAS WAS WAS. >> TOUGH. >> WHEN YOU WERE SEEING. >> HIM. >> YOU KNOW, SELL OUT THE GARDEN AND WRESTLEMANIA ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE SNL SPORTS ILLUSTRATED . EVERYONE WHO WAS IN THE BUSINESS IS SAYING YOU’RE THE BEST WRESTLER, BUT MAYBE HE’S, AT THE TIME, THE MOST KNOWN BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF EXPOSURE. HOW WOULD HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW YOU FELT ABOUT HIM? >> I HAVE NO, I HAVE NO PROBLEM GIVING THAT UP. HE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A DISCUSSION THAT I WOULD HAVE WITH ANYBODY. THE TWO BIGGEST STARS AND HULK CAME FIRST. BUT STEVE CAME SECOND. WERE HULK HOGAN AND STEVE AUSTIN. AND RIGHT NOW WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HULK HOGAN. SO THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE BUSINESS IS HULK HOGAN. >> HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE YOU’RE DOING YOUR THING AND YOU’RE COMPETING AGAINST HIM. RIGHT. SO WOULD YOU SAY IT’S A FRIENDLY RIVALRY LIKE EIGHT EARLY 80s RIC FLAIR PRIME OF YOUR LIFE? HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT ALL THE ATTENTION THAT HE’S. >> GETTING? >> I’M HAPPY FOR. >> HIM. >> BUT I, I TOOK SO MUCH PRIDE IN BEING THE NWA CHAMPION BECAUSE THAT WAS A SPECIAL DEAL. I MEAN, I NEVER MADE A MISTAKE OF KNOCKING THE WWE, AND THAT’S WHY I’VE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH VINCE AND ALL. >> THAT. >> A LOT OF GUYS DID, BUT I WASN’T JEALOUS AT ALL BECAUSE. >> I. >> I WAS NWA WORLD CHAMPION AND AT ONE TIME, NWA WAS WE’RE TALKING BUDDY ROGERS, LOU THESZ, GENE KINISKI, DORY FUNK JR., TERRY. >> FUNK. >> HARLEY RACE. I MEAN, THAT’S A VERY SLICK CREW OF PEOPLE. AND RIC FLAIR WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE. >> OF IT. >> BEFORE COMING IN IN 91. WAS THERE EVER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO COME EARLIER TO WWF? >> YEAH, YEAH, THEY WANTED ME TO COME. VINCE WANTED ME TO COME START IN THE 86-0 WOW. I WAS SO CLOSE. I WAS SO CLOSE TO THE FOUR HORSEMEN AND WE WERE SELLING OUT EVERYWHERE AND HAVING A GREAT TIME. AND VERY LOYAL TO MY TO MY FRIENDS. AND I. JUST THE FIRST TIME YOU WANTED ME TO COME IN WAS TO WRESTLE SAVAGE AT SUMMERSLAM. AND 86 AND. >> I. >> I JUST COULDN’T GET MYSELF TO LEAVE. >> I JUST. >> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LIVE WITH LITERALLY TRAVEL WITH PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND YOU BECOME ATTACHED TO YOUR LIFESTYLE. >> AND. >> AND THE ENJOYMENT OF WORKING FOR ME, THE ONLY TIME I WAS EVER MISERABLE WAS BECAUSE OF PROMOTERS, NOT BECAUSE OF THE GUYS I WAS. >> WRESTLING. >> AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SAID I WAS GETTING TOO OLD OR I WAS GETTING TOO SLOW. >> OR. >> YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE. I JUST, I LIVED IT, YOU HEARD ABOUT. IT FROM JIM HEARN AND BISCHOFF DID EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD TO TRY TO KILL ME, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT’S. >> AND THAT’S. >> I DON’T DWELL ON IT ANYMORE. I’M NOT EVEN MAD ABOUT IT. IT’S JUST WAS WHAT MY LIFE WAS. AND WHEN I GOT BACK, EVERY TIME I WAS AROUND VINCE AND HUNTER AND SHAWN AND TAKER AND. >> THAT. >> THEY JUST RENEWED AND HELPED ME REALIZE WHO I WAS. >> AND THAT’S. >> AND AS DID. >> HULK. >> HULK PUT ME OVER ALL THE. >> TIME. >> DID HE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS, LIKE WHEN YOU CAME OVER IN SEPTEMBER OF 91? WHAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THE RECEPTION LIKE FROM HIM? >> HE SAID. >> TO ME. >> IF YOU’RE REALLY COMING, I’LL COME UP AND SEE YOU. IF YOU’RE VINCE AGAIN, I’M NOT COMING. I SAID, I’M HERE AND I GOT THE BELT WITH ME. >> OH MY GOD, THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. THE TWO. THERE’S A PHOTO OF YOU TWO FACING OFF AGAINST EACH OTHER. AND ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET, THEY SAY IT’S RIGHT BEFORE YOUR FIRST MATCH EVER. THIS IS YOU WITH THE THE REAL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. AND THERE HE IS. I MEAN AND BOBBY HEENAN BY YOUR SIDE. YOU ALSO HAD CURT HENNIG WITH YOU AS WELL. WHAT WERE THOSE EARLY MATCHES LIKE? FINALLY YOU TWO GOING TOE TO TOE. >> OH, THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. LET ME DO SOMETHING. >> HERE. OH. >> OH, WE’LL GET. >> HIM BACK. >> I THINK HE MIGHT HAVE TRIED TO TO END THE CALL. SOMEONE WAS CALLING HIM. WHAT A WHAT WHAT I MEAN, WHAT A TREAT THIS IS. I HOPE YOU ARE ALL ENJOYING THIS AS MUCH AS I AM. OBVIOUSLY, THE THE TOPIC IS A SAD ONE, BUT WE WERE TRYING TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ONE HULK HOGAN. AND MAN, I MEAN, IN THE 80s IT WAS HOGAN AND RIC. >> FLAIR. >> IF YOU WERE A NORTHEAST FAN, IT WAS HULK HOGAN. IF YOU WERE A A SOUTHERN FAN, IT WAS RIC FLAIR, LARGER THAN LIFE. THE TWO OF. >> THEM. THERE WE ARE. >> OH. >> HE’S BACK. >> SO YOU WERE SAYING. SO I ASKED YOU THOSE THOSE EARLY FIRST. LIKE, DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER THE FIRST MATCH, WHAT IT WAS LIKE YOU’RE IN THERE. AND THIS WAS LIKE A DREAM MATCH. >> YEAH. IT WAS THE FIRST MATCH WE HAD WAS IN WE DID A WEST COAST TOUR , AND I’M GOING TO ADD SOME HUMOR TO. >> THIS. >> BOBBY WAS MY MANAGER AND WE WENT TO OAKLAND, L.A. FRISCO AND OAKLAND. FRISCO, RATHER L.A. PHOENIX AND HOLM ON THE REDEYE. AND I LOVE BOBBY HEENAN LIKE NO OTHER. RIGHT? >> YEAH. >> BOBBY SAID TO ME ON THE WAY HOME ON THE RED EYE FROM PHOENIX. I HOPE THAT. THAT YOU GO BALD. YOUR HAIR GROWS BACK RED. HE HE WALKED INTO THE OFFICE. AND HE WALKED HIM TO HIS OFFICE AND SAID, HE DIDN’T TELL ME I WAS GOING TO BE TRAVELING WITH LARRY FLYNT. >> THAT’S INCREDIBLE. WAS THE CHEMISTRY THERE RIGHT AWAY BETWEEN YOU 2-0, YEAH. >> HE YOU KNOW, I SAID, I CAN DO ANYTHING WE. >> DO. >> BUT, YOU. >> KNOW. >> BACK THEN AND IT’S REALLY HARD TO EXPLAIN TO A FAN, IT WAS REALLY. >> TOUGH. >> TO STAY ON. TOP BECAUSE EVERYBODY WOULD STAB YOU IN THE BACK, GO TO THE PROMOTER. >> I MEAN, EVERYBODY. >> AND HE HE. JUST I’M PROUD OF HIM. HE FOUGHT FOR WHAT HE WANTED. I MEAN IT’S LIKE RODDY PIPER WAS MY BEST FRIEND. BUT PIPER WOULD NOT PUT HUNG OVER. AND THEY HATED EACH. >> OTHER. >> BUT THEY DIDN’T HATE EACH OTHER PERSONALLY. EVERYBODY WANTED THAT SPOT. YOU KNOW? >> WHY DID YOU NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH. >> THAT? >> HOW COME YOU DIDN’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? YOU NEVER HAD A PROBLEM PUTTING ANYONE OVER, INCLUDING HIM. WHY WAS THAT? NEVER PART OF. >> YOUR PROBLEM WAS WITH THE PROMOTERS THAT WEREN’T PAYING ME. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IF. BUT IF I’M WORKING WITH HULK. >> HOGAN. >> I’M IN THE MAIN. >> EVENT. YEAH. >> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> YEAH. >> I MEAN, IF I’M WORKING WITH HULK HOGAN, I WANT TO MAIN EVENT. AND THAT’S ALL YOU CAN ASK FOR AS A WRESTLER. HE’S NOT IN CONTROL OF MY PAYCHECK. HE’S JUST JUST A GREAT GUY THAT , YOU KNOW, HE DIDN’T TRUST ANYBODY. AND I TOOK PRIDE IN THAT. HE DIDN’T HE DIDN’T TRUST VADER. HE DIDN’T TRUST RICK RUDE. HE JUST WANTED TO WORK WITH ME WHEN HE FIRST CAME. I’M THE ONE THAT WENT AND GOT. >> HIM. >> I TOOK. >> THE. >> ERIC DOWN TO DISNEY TO SEE HIM. WHEN HE IS FILMING ADVENTURES AND. WHAT WAS THAT SHOW? >> THUNDER IN PARADISE. >> THUNDER IN PARADISE? YEAH. >> AND THEN. >> THEY LEFT ME IN THE CAR. THEY WENT IN THE TRAILER. >> AND. >> ALL CAME OUT WITH THE $25,000,000 DEAL. AND I WAS STUCK WITH MY 500,000 DEAL. BUT HE I DIDN’T CARE. I WAS IN THE MAIN. >> EVENT. >> I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT. BUT COULD I ASK YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALL THOUGHT BACK THEN, IN 91, 92 WAS WRESTLEMANIA EIGHT. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A MATCH. OF COURSE, THE TWO ICONS. WHY DID IT NEVER HAPPEN? >> I DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT REALLY. >> ALL THESE YEARS LATER. >> I’D BE. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I THINK. >> OKAY. >> I DON’T THINK THAT HULK WANTED TO LEAVE ON A LOSING. >> NOTE. >> WHICH I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WHO AM. >> I. >> AFTER WHAT HE’S DONE FOR THE COMPANY? AND NUMBER 2. I MEAN, I DON’T KNOW, I MAYBE THEY MAYBE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULDN’T DRAW LIKE IT SHOULD I HAVE I HAVE NO IDEA. SEE. THE ONE THING THAT I KNOW FOR. >> SURE IS THAT . >> I NEVER, EVER . CAN YOU GUYS SEE ME? OKAY. >> YEAH, WE SEE YOU JUST FINE. >> PERFECT. >> YEAH. I NEVER, EVER GOT OVER IN NEW. >> YORK. >> BECAUSE I WAS ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT PLATFORM. DOES THAT MAKE. >> SENSE? >> YES. AND BY THE WAY, CAN YOU TURN YOUR. >> I MEAN, THE PBS DIDN’T HIT IT A LOT OF SPOTS. WE DREW BIG MONEY EVERYWHERE. BUT I NEVER LIKE BRUCE FISHER SAID MY DOCUMENTARY, I NEVER, EVER REALLY GOT OVER IN NEW. >> YORK. >> I DON’T THINK I EVER SOLD OUT THE GARDEN. WE SOLD OUT A LOT OF PLACES, BUT I WAS NEVER REALLY THE ONLY BECAUSE OF TV. SO I DON’T. >> KNOW. >> THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN, THOUGH. >> RIGHT? WHAT’S THAT? >> YOU VERSUS HIM AT WRESTLEMANIA ADE WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN. >> YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW WHAT VINCE. >> DID? >> HE SAID, I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A GUARANTEE. I’LL SHAKE YOUR HAND AND MAKE YOU MORE MONEY. I NEVER ASKED HIM FOR ANYTHING. I JUST WAS SO ANXIOUS TO GET AWAY. I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS GOING TO WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE. I WALKED IN THAT DAY AND VINCE SAID, YOU’RE WINNING. I SAID. >> WHAT.? >> I MEAN, I DIDN’T I DIDN’T EXPECT THAT. I JUST WANTED FREEDOM FROM BEING BELITTLED BY JIM HERD AND. >> THAT. >> I MEAN A COMPANY I BUILT, WCW. I’M NOT ASHAMED TO SAY. >> THAT YOU DID. >> NWA, AND I JUST WISH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN. A HUGE, HUGE COUP IS WHY DIDN’T TURNER JUST BUY THE NWA? WHY CHANGE THE. >> NAME? >> WE WE’D STILL BE IN BUSINESS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> YES. >> YOU KNOW. SO I. >> DON’T KNOW. >> STILL TO THIS DAY, THE GREATEST POST-MATCH INTERVIEW OF ALL TIME. I SAY THIS WITH A TEAR. >> IN MY. >> THAT WAS REAL BECAUSE THEY HAD BEAT ME, BEAT ME DOWN SO BAD. THAT. , I MEAN, IT GAVE ME ANXIETY. >> WOW. >> I STARTED TAKING XANAX WHEN I WAS THERE. >> CHRIST . >> HOW COULD. >> THEY HAVE DONE THAT? HEARD MADE ME CUT MY HAIR. WANTED TO PUT A EARRING ON. ME AND CALL ME SPARTACUS. ARE YOU KIDDING. >> ME? I MEAN. >> AND THEN WHEN I WENT BACK, THE SAME THING, I JUST, YOU. >> KNOW. >> BISCHOFF. JUST OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND. DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO KILL. >> ME. >> OH, AND AND VINCE RUSSO. OH MY GOD. >> RIGHT. >> BURY ME IN THE DESERT. LET ME SEE. SHAVE MY HEAD. ONLY 16 TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS. YOU KNOW THAT. I’VE HAD THAT. >> DONE. >> WHY DID YOU LEAVE WWF TO GO BACK AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE? WHY DID. >> YOU GO? >> YOU LEFT WWF TO GO BACK IN THE MID 90s. WHY DID YOU. WHY DID YOU LEAVE? >> VINCE CAME TO ME AND SAID, I’M GOING TO GO YOUNGER AND YOU. >> CAN. >> START, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR TO GO. >> BACK. >> WATCH, WATCH YOUR. >> BACK. >> AND THEN OF COURSE, THE DAY I GOT. >> BACK. >> WATCH GOT FIRED FOR. >> THE. >> THE REMARK HE MADE ABOUT. HANK AARON AND THERE WAS ONLY ANDERSON AND OLE ANDERSON SAID TO. >> ME. >> WHAT ARE YOU WORTH TO US NOW AFTER DOING A LOSER LEAVE TOWN JOB FOR FOR. >> HEADING. >> AND I SAID, I DON’T KNOW. I WALKED OVER TO HIS BOSS’S OFFICE AND SAID, TELL OLE ANDERSON IT’S ME OR HIM, AND THEY FIRED ME. >> SO WOW. >> YEAH, I MEAN, WHAT A STUPID THING TO SAY. I’VE BEEN ON NEW YORK TV FOR A. >> YEAR. >> WCW HAS DIED. THEY CAN’T DRAW FLIES. >> I MEAN. >> WHO. >> KNOWS? >> AND SO. AND YOU JUST MENTIONED. SO YOU’RE THE ONE THAT TELLS ERIC BISCHOFF YOU NEED TO GO GET HULK HOGAN. IT WAS YOUR IDEA. >> I HE SAID, YOU KNOW, HOGAN, I SAID, YEAH, HE. >> SAID. >> CAN YOU CAN YOU BE A CAN YOU INTRODUCE ME? AND I SAID, YEAH, OF COURSE. SO I TOOK I TOOK HIM DOWN TO ORLANDO. HE WAS FILMING THUNDER IN PARADISE. AND LIKE I SAID, ERIC WALKED. IN AND IT WORKED OUT WELL. >> AND HULK. >> WAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH VERY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE LIKE PETER YOUNG AND HENRY HOLMES AND ALL. >> THAT . >> THEY CUT A HELL OF A DEAL AND. >> THEN. >> I JUST ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS WORK. >> WITH THEM. >> BUT. >> YOU KNOW. >> HE WOULDN’T WORK. HE DIDN’T. IT’S A COMPLIMENT TO ME. HE DIDN’T TRUST ANYBODY ELSE. >> SO. >> THAT THAT THAT’S HOW I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY WOULDN’T GET PAID A LOT. >> IN TERMS OF BEING IN THE RING WITH HIM. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HIM AS AS AN OPPONENT, AS A DANCE PARTNER? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE. >> HULK? >> OH, GOD. WE HAD GREAT CHEMISTRY. IT WASN’T RICKY STEAMBOAT, WASN’T RICKY STEAMBOAT CHEMISTRY. BUT I KNOW HOW TO MAKE BIG GUYS LOOK GOOD. >> YEAH. >> I’VE ALWAYS DONE. >> THAT. I MEAN. >> NOT THE CASE OF BRUISER BRODY. IT WAS JUST SURVIVING WITH BRODY. BUT WITH HULK. I MEAN, WITH THAT. I MEAN. >> LIKE. >> I DIDN’T EVEN GIVE HIM A FLYING MARE. >> SO GOOD. >> WE LOVED. >> THAT. >> WHEN YOU. >> YOU KNOW WHAT? YES. >> HE WASN’T SHY ABOUT USING THE SWORD, WHICH IS SOMETHING I LIVE BY EVERY DAY. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE SWORD? >> THE BLADE HIMSELF? IN A MINUTE. >> YES, YES. YOU TWO WERE TWO OF THE BEST. BECAUSE THE BLEACH BLOND HAIR WOULD TURN. WOULD TURN RED INSTANTLY. >> EXACTLY , EXACTLY. >> DOCTOR FLAIR. >> YES . >> WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS TURNING HEEL AND THE NWO AND ALL THAT, DID YOU THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD IDEA? DID YOU THINK IT WAS GOING TO. >> WORK? >> OH, I KNEW IT WAS BECAUSE ANYTHING, ANYTHING HULK TOUCH WORKS. I MEAN, IT IS WHAT IT IS. >> HULK. >> YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO CALL A GUY FORMER WRESTLER, AGENT JOHN WILL CALL HIM THE GOLDEN GOOSE. AND ANYTHING THAT HULK TOUCHED WORKED. >> OUT. >> I MEAN, HE. WAS OVER THAT. >> MUCH. IT’S A. >> IT’S FASCINATING BECAUSE HIS TURN WAS COMPARED TO CENA’S TURN RECENTLY, BUT AS IT HAS COME TO BE, WE SEE THERE WAS A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? HOGAN REALLY LEANED IN AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE FANS REALLY BOUGHT HIM AS THE BAD GUY WAS CENA. IT’S A LOT DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND. I DON’T THINK THEY’RE ANYWHERE NEAR THE SAME. THE THE TWO TURNS. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> I THINK THAT. WELL, IT’S HARD TO MEASURE THE. >> TWO, BUT. >> I LOVE THE THING WITH JOHN. BUT THE THING ABOUT JOHN JOHN. IS RICKY STEAMBOAT. THERE’S NOTHING BAD ABOUT. >> JOHN. >> YOU KNOW, SOME GUYS LIKE JACK BRISCO. >> AND THAT. >> AND RICKY STEAMBOAT, STING AND ALL THAT. THEY JUST CAN’T BE A. HEEL. AND JOHN IS AS GREAT AS HE IS AND ALL. >> THAT. >> HE’S JUST NOT. HE’S JUST NOT A BAD GUY BECAUSE HE’S SUCH A GOOD GUY. DOES THAT MAKE RIGHT? >> YEAH. >> YEAH. HULK. >> HULK COULD BE A. BUT IT’S FROM ALL THOSE YEARS OF BATTLING FOR HIS SPOT. >> YEAH. >> YOU DON’T THINK RODDY PIPER WENT? I MEAN, I KNOW FOR A. >> FACT. >> I MEAN, EVERYBODY WANTED HULK. >> SPOT, BUT. >> HEY. >> MAN. >> IT’S A TESTAMENT TO WHO HE. >> IS. >> THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH. >> IT. >> IS IT TRUE AFTER YOUR MATCH AGAINST VADER, STARRCADE 1993, THAT HE CALLED YOU UP AND SAID THAT WAS THE BEST MATCH? >> IS IT. >> WHAT NOW? >> I HAD READ THAT AFTER YOUR MATCH AGAINST VADER, STARRCADE 1993, THAT HE CALLED YOU UP AND SAID THAT THAT WAS YOUR BEST MATCH EVER? >> YES. >> WHAT DID THAT MEAN TO. >> YOU? >> IT MEANT A LOT COMING FROM. >> HIM. >> BUT IT’S LIKE I’M SAYING, WE NEVER HAD ANY DIFFERENCES THAT THE DIFFERENCES. >> WERE WERE. >> I WAS DRUG SEX AND ROCK AND ROLL AND HE WAS VITAMINS AND. >> MILK. >> BUT BUT HE DID. I DID HEAR HIM SAY THAT SOMETIMES, LIKE YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO GO ALL NIGHT AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PUT YOU TO BED, THAT HE COULD GO WAY LONGER THAN. >> YOU. >> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW. >> WHAT ? >> THAT FANTASY. >> COME ON. >> ARIEL, LET’S GO OUT ONE NIGHT. >> I DON’T KNOW, I KNOW I WOULDN’T, I WOULDN’T LAST. >> I’M 76. I’M STILL READY TO GO. >> I KNOW I’M TALKING ABOUT YOU GUYS. IN YOUR HEYDAY, I HEARD HIM SAY IN AN INTERVIEW THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PUT YOU TO BED, BUT SOMETIMES YOU WOULD SAY YOU WERE GOING TO BED AND DO THE OLD IRISH GOODBYE. YOU WOULD LEAVE. YOU WOULD. YOU WOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> I’VE NEVER DONE THE IRISH GOODBYE. >> OH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU SAY GOODBYE WHEN IT’S TIME TO LEAVE. >> I’M NOT GOING TO GET INTO PERSONAL STORIES. BUT I NEVER SAID GOODBYE. >> OKAY? FAIR ENOUGH, FAIR ENOUGH . >> I WAS ONE OF THE FEW GUYS. THAT WAS ALLOWED TO ENTERTAIN THEM. >> I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU GUYS WERE IN. >> WCW, I LOST A ROLEX WATCH HANGING OUT WITH HIM ONE NIGHT. HOW SO? HOW SO? >> YES. >> I HID IT FROM THE HOOTER GIRLS AND I STILL CAN’T GET IT BACK. I STILL CAN’T. >> FIND. >> DID YOU TRAVEL TOGETHER WHEN YOU WERE IN WCW? >> OH YEAH. HE HE HE WOULD ALWAYS. SAY., WE DO THESE DOUBLE SHOTS, RIGHT? AND HE’D. >> SAY . >> WELL, HE’D HAVE THE PLANE AND ALL THAT. THE PRIVATE PLANE. AND HE. >> I’D SAY. >> YOU’RE NOT GOING IN THE SECOND SHOT. >> HE SAID, I. >> CAN’T MAKE THAT ONE. >> BROTHER. >> THAT’S THE GREATEST. >> LINE. >> IT’S TWO GREATEST LINES ARE. >> TO ME. >> I CAN’T MAKE THAT ONE, BROTHER. AND IT’S NOT WHO IS THE BEST WORKER. IT’S ABOUT WHO MAKES THE MOST MONEY. >> YES. >> AND SO SOME WOULD SAY, AND I THINK THE FACTS WOULD BACK IT UP. HE, HE DID MAKE THE MOST MONEY. >> RIGHT. >> I’M SURE OF IT . >> YEAH, YEAH. >> HE HAD A $24,000,000 HOUSE TEN YEARS. >> AGO. >> NOW THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE HE JUST PASSED AWAY AND WAS 11 MILLION. >> WOW. >> THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOME I’VE EVER OWNED IS 2 MILLION. IT’S A VAST DIFFERENCE. >> WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU SAW HIM? >> OH, YEAH. >> FACE TIME. TWO WEEKS AGO. >> OH. >> WOW. >> AND HE WAS OKAY. >> YEAH, I. WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP. HIM MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ON A. >> ON A. >> FINANCIAL DEAL. AND BECAUSE I DIDN’T LIKE THE PEOPLE HE WAS IN BED WITH AND IT’S ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT HE DIDN’T LISTEN TO ME. >> AND. >> I THINK THAT PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIM. HE HAD A LOT ON HIS. >> PLATE. >> NOT TO MENTION THE. >> THE. >> UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF HEALTH ISSUES HE. >> HAD. >> I MEAN, IT. >> JUST . >> INSURMOUNTABLE. AND I THINK HE. JUST CAME HOME AND LAY DOWN AND SAID, YOU. >> KNOW . >> I’M TIRED OF ALL. >> THIS. >> BECAUSE EVEN NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED, HE REMAINED THE BIGGEST STAR. >> EVER. >> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> 100%, 100%. THE BABE RUTH OF PRO WRESTLING. IN MANY PEOPLE’S. >> ESTIMATION, YOU THINK YOU THEY SAID ANDRE THE GIANT COULDN’T WALK THROUGH AN AIRPORT. YEAH. YOU THINK, HOW GOOD WOULD THAT BANDANA. >> MAN. >> THAT. BUT HE TOOK TIME TO SIGN EVERY AUTOGRAPH . LIKE I SAID, IN THE 90s, HE WAS. DOING MAKE-A-WISH LONG BEFORE IT GOT THE RECOGNITION. >> AND NOW. >> AND HE WAS A GOLDEN GOOSE. AND I TOLD EVERYBODY THE TWO MOST OLDER GUYS I’VE EVER WORKED. >> WITH. >> AND WILL RESPECTIVELY, IN TEXAS, KERRY VON ERICH, COMING OUT THE DOOR TO ROCK MUSIC WAS UNBELIEVABLE. >> OKAY. >> BUT WITH HOGAN, IT WAS EVERY. TOWN. AND THE FIRST TIME I WORKED WITH HIM IN CHICAGO AT THE ROSEMONT, IT WAS SOLD. >> OUT. >> BIG SHOW. THAT WAS THE FIRST NIGHT WE MET THE BIG. SHOW WHEN HE CAME OUT THAT DOOR, MAN. I MEAN, I THOUGHT, HOLY. AND I USED TO SAY TO. >> HIM. >> JUST TELL. YOUR SELL YOUR EYES AND YOUR NUTS, MAN. JUST GO DOWN ON YOUR KNEES. WE DON’T NEED NOTHING BIG. NO SUPLEXES, NOTHING. AND I. >> MEAN. >> WE JUST TORE IT. >> DOWN. >> THAT YOU DID. I’VE ALSO HEARD HIM SAY. AND I BELIEVE YOU AS WELL. WHEN YOU WERE HAVING YOUR HEALTH ISSUES IN 2017, HE WAS ONE OF, IF NOT THE FIRST PEOPLE. >> TO ONE. >> IT WAS THE SECOND ONE. THERE. MICHAEL HAYES WAS FIRST. >> WOW. >> AND IS IT TRUE? SO I HEARD HIM TELL A STORY ON A ON A PODCAST. I WAS LISTENING TO AN OLD ONE TODAY WHERE THEY PULLED HIM AND JIMMY HART ASIDE THE DOCTOR BEFORE THE SURGERY AND SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A 5%, 2% CHANCE OF SURVIVING. >> AND TRUE DOCTOR. >> AND WHEN YOU WOKE UP, DID YOU SAY TO HIM, GET ME A SIX PACK ? >> NO, I SAID THAT TO HIM BEFORE SURGERY . HE I. SAID HE. >> SAID. >> FLAIR, I’M HERE, I’M HERE, I’M. >> HERE. >> AND I GUESS I SAID TO HIM, I WOULDN’T REMEMBER. >> I JUST SURE. >> I NEED A SIX PACK BECAUSE ONE OF THE WORST THINGS ABOUT MY SURGERY IS. >> WHAT. >> I WAS VIBRATING COMING OFF , I WOULD CALL IT A LOT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AS WELL AS THE OTHER. >> ISSUES. >> AND SO YOU ASKED HIM FOR A SIX? THAT’S UNBELIEVABLE. OH, TRUE. TO FORM. AND JUST TO AGAIN , TO EXEMPLIFY THE KIND OF PERSON THAT HE WAS TO YOU AS A FRIEND, AND I HOPE YOU DON’T MIND ME MENTIONING THIS, I BELIEVE WHEN YOUR SON WAS IN REHAB, HE HELPED YOU OUT. >> I KNOW MY SON WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT, OKAY? >> AND I. >> AND HIS MOTHER HAD NEVER LET HIM SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH WWE BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, BUT. >> WHICH. >> WOULD WOULD THEIR INSURANCE EVEN THOUGH. HE HAD THE HEALTH ISSUES THAT WOULDN’T ALLOW HIM TO PARTICIPATE . HIS MOTHER DIDN’T LET HIM SIGN THE CONTRACT, WHICH WOULD HAVE COVERED ALL THE REHABS THAT HE. WENT TO. SIX REHABS AT 40 GRAND. >> APIECE. >> AND I HAD TO PAY CASH FOR ALL. >> OF THEM. >> AND HE WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT, AND I WALKED OUT IN THE HALLWAY AND I SAID, HULK, I NEED 15 GRAND. HE SAID, IT’LL BE IN YOUR BANK IN 10 MINUTES. >> WOW. >> TRUE STORY. WOW. >> AND THEN HE NEVER ASKED FOR. >> IT BACK. >> EVEN WHEN YOU TRIED, RIGHT? EVEN WHEN YOU BROUGHT IT UP, HE SAID, FORGET ABOUT IT. >> YEAH. HE SAID, BETTER BROTHER. YOU KNOW HE IS. >> HE JUST. >> HE WANTED TO BE GOOD. HE WANTED ME TO COME TO HIS KARAOKE RESTAURANT. AND I WENT. >> AND. >> I MEAN, WE HAD SOME GREAT TIMES AND. WE WE LIVED DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES BECAUSE HE WASN’T RUNNING AROUND LIKE ME. >> BUT. >> YOU KNOW, WE JUST. >> WE. >> HAD A MUTUAL RESPECT AND A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WE. >> WERE. >> AND I NEVER WAS JEALOUS OF HIS. >> SUCCESS. >> I WAS ABOUT MY GRADE. >> PAY. >> THAT MAKES SENSE. >> YES. >> BUT THAT WASN’T. HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. HE CAN’T CONTROL. >> THAT. >> I LOVE THIS PHOTO RIGHT HERE. I MEAN, THIS IS THIS IS THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD. I MEAN, LOOK AT THESE LEGENDS HERE. >> THIS IS THAT’S WHAT. THAT’S WHAT I SAID. I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU, BIG MAN. >> ARE. >> INCREDIBLE. INCREDIBLE. AND I SO APPRECIATE THIS. I’LL LET YOU GO IN A MOMENT. BUT, BUT BUT CAN I ASK RICK? YOU KNOW, WE’RE CELEBRATING HIM HERE. WHEN HE PASSED. AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS A COMPLICATED LEGACY AT THE END. AND SOME PEOPLE WANTED TO TO REALLY HARP ON THAT. HOW HOW DO YOU DO YOU THINK IT’S BEEN FAIR THE COVERAGE OF HIM, OR ARE YOU UPSET ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING. >> SAID? >> WELL, I’LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I, I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME THIS QUESTION. I HOPED YOU. WOULD BECAUSE I KEPT TRACK. >> OF IT. >> IF 128 PEOPLE TEXTED. >> ME. >> AND NOT ONE NEGATIVE WORD, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? EVERYBODY HAS THEIR PITFALLS. WHEN THINGS HAPPEN AND WE DON’T HAVE CONTROL OF. >> BUT HE MAN . >> WHATEVER WAS GOING ON THAT MADE SOMEBODY UNCOMFORTABLE, IT BLEW RIGHT. >> BY HIM . >> I HATE THAT THEY HAVE TO ALWAYS MENTION THAT. >> BUT THAT’S THAT’S. >> JUST THE WAY SOCIAL MEDIA WORKS. >> BUT. >> TRUST ME, HE WAS ANYTHING BUT THAT. AND HE PAID THE. >> PRICE . >> ANYTHING BAD? >> EXCUSE ME? >> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. CAN I ASK, HOW ARE YOU DOING, RICK? I SAW A TWEET RECENTLY WHERE YOU SAID CANCER FREE, RIGHT? >> YEAH. HE MEANT FOR RANDY. >> YES. >> YES, I’M FINALLY GETTING THERE, BABE. >> I LOVE IT. SO NO, NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> I FEEL GREAT. WANT ME TO? I’M GOING TO PLANK AGAIN FOR 4 MINUTES TOMORROW. >> OH MY GOSH. YOU GO 4 MINUTES STRAIGHT. >> I DID THREE THE OTHER DAY AND I WAS. >> DRINKING. >> YOU’RE STILL DRINKING? >> OF COURSE. >> I AM. >> OH MY. >> GOD. >> NO BREAK. OH MY DEAR, I LOVE IT. WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE? >> KETEL ONE SODA. CRANBERRY AND LIME. >> OKAY. IS THAT THE ONE OF CHOICE? >> HEY, I CAN STILL DO 500 FREE SQUATS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. >> OH, MY GOSH, THAT IS SO WITH THE BODY’S FEELING GOOD. YOU’RE FEELING LIKE THAT? >> THAT’S IT. I DON’T I MEAN, I’M SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. ANGELO MOSCA TOLD ME WHEN I WAS 24. IF I LIVED TO BE 30, I’D BE OVERSTAYED MY WELCOME. >> WELL. >> 76 AND GOING STRONG. >> ARE YOU. >> ARE YOU STILL WATCHING THE THE PRODUCT? ARE YOU WATCHING WRESTLING THESE DAYS? >> OH, YEAH. WELL. >> I. , I ALWAYS WATCH MY DAUGHTER. >> I DON’T WATCH THE PRODUCT AS MUCH AS I USED. >> TO. >> BUT I, I STAY CURRENT WITH IT BECAUSE. I SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE GUYS. IT’S A TOUGH BUSINESS. >> AND. >> EVEN THOUGH. IT’S A TOTAL DIFFERENT BUSINESS FROM WHEN I. LIVED., IT’S STILL A VERY TOUGH BUSINESS. AND I READ WHERE SOMEBODY GETS INJURED EVERY DAY AND. >> IT’S. >> YOU KNOW, THE GUYS, THEY’VE RAISED THE LEVEL OF THE BAR. >> OF. >> OF MOVES OFF THE TOP ROPE AND YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT NECESSARY. >> BUT . I MEAN. >> I TO THIS DAY, I’LL NEVER FORGET WHAT MY SON SAID TO ME, THE ONE THAT PASSED AWAY. HE SAID, DAD, CAN YOU DO A MOONSAULT LIKE SHAWN MICHAELS? I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING. >> ME? >> IT BROKE MY HEART. >> OH MY GOSH, HE WAS RIBBING. >> YOU. >> BEG YOUR PARDON? >> HE WAS RIBBING. >> YOU. >> NO HE WASN’T. HE WAS. HE WAS SERIOUS. >> OH MY GOSH. >> AND THE ANSWER WAS I COULDN’T DO A MOONSAULT. >> HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE STUFF THAT THAT YOUR DAUGHTER’S BEEN DOING LATELY? ARE YOU HAPPY? >> MY DAUGHTER IS THE GREATEST WRESTLER IN THE HISTORY OF THE. >> BUSINESS. LOVE IT. >> I MEAN, THERE’S WHO CAN DO A CORKSCREW MOONSAULT OFF THE TOP. ROPE AT 5:11 AND A BUCK 55. AND THAT’S THE STUFF THAT SHE’S DOING RIGHT NOW. ARE YOU THERE? >> YEAH, YEAH. I’M HERE. I’M JUST LISTENING. YEAH. >> YEAH. >> THE STUFF THAT SHE’S DOING RIGHT NOW WITH ALEXA BLISS, I THINK IS THE BEST PART OF THE. >> SHOW. YEAH. >> I DIDN’T , I DIDN’T LIKE WHEN THE, THE PERSONAL STUFF CAME. >> OUT. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH. >> THE. >> WITH TIFFANY. >> YEAH. YOU KNOW. >> WHAT? I’M. >> I’M EMBARRASSED FOR. >> HER. >> AND I’M NOT GOING TO SAY ANY MORE. I DON’T I DON’T I DON’T WANT IT TO AFFECT ANYTHING. >> I GET IT, I GET IT. >> I. >> GET IT THAT THAT THAT WAS THE CHEAPEST I’VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. >> I WASN’T SURE IF IT WAS A WORK OR A. >> SHOOT. WHAT’S THAT? >> I WASN’T SURE IF IT WAS A WORK OR A. >> SHOOT. WELL. >> WHATEVER IT WAS, IT WAS HURTFUL. YEAH. AND IF IT WAS A. >> SHOOT. >> THAT’S EVEN. >> WORSE, RIGHT? RIGHT. >> BECAUSE THAT’S NOTHING TO JOKE. >> ABOUT. >> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> 100%? AND CAN I ASK , A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE HAD BILL GOLDBERG ON THE SHOW. HE HAD HIS RETIREMENT MATCH. DID YOU WATCH. >> THAT? I DID. >> DID YOU LIKE. >> IT? >> NO. NOT REALLY. >> WHY NOT? >> I MEAN, I. JUST I ALWAYS TOLD BILL, I MEAN, BILL’S GOT ENOUGH MONEY. I DON’T THINK HE NEEDED TO DO THAT . I MEAN, THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. >> I JUST. >> I JUST I HOPE BILL IN HIGH ESTEEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH HE’S BEEN RIDICULED JUST FROM JEALOUSY. >> I MEAN. >> AND I’M GLAD HE HAD IT. I KNOW HE WANTED HIS SON TO SEE. >> IT. >> HIS SON’S PLAYING FOOTBALL IN COLORADO AND ALL. >> THAT. >> I JUST HATE TO SEE ANYBODY THAT WHEN YOU CAN’T GIVE YOUR BEST, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I WAS LUCKY WITH. >> SEAN. >> I MEAN, I, I WAS SO FAR FROM BEING THE BEST BACK. >> THEN. >> BUT I HAD SHAWN MICHAELS LEAD ME. THAT MAKES SENSE. >> YES. >> SO. AND SHAWN CARRIED ME. >> TRUST ME. >> BECAUSE I WAS VERY INSECURE AND WORRIED ABOUT IT. AND SHAWN. SHAWN MADE ME A. >> HERO. SO. >> THERE’S ONLY A FEW SPECIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. YOU KNOW WHAT I. >> MEAN? >> THE TAKER, THE SHAWN, THE HBK’S , TRIPLE H’S. >> I MEAN. >> I MEAN, I COULD GO DOWN THE LIST. RANDY ORTON I MEAN, THERE’S A LONG LIST OF GREAT PEOPLE. THAT SHAWN MICHAELS GAVE ME THAT MATCH, AND, MAN, I DIDN’T DESERVE. >> IT. >> I WAS IN SHAPE FOR. >> BUT. >> I WAS A COSMETIC NIGHTMARE AT 50:09, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO I’M LUCKY. KEVIN DUNN CALLED IT THE GREATEST WRESTLEMANIA MOMENT OF ALL TIME. I’LL TAKE THAT. >> I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT. I’LL ASK YOU TWO LAST ONES AND THEN I’LL LET YOU GO AND ENJOY YOUR DAY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. REALLY APPRECIATE IT, RIC. >> NO I’M HONORED. THANK YOU. >> IT’S A HUGE, HUGE HONOR FOR US. AN HONOR BEYOND WORDS. IF SOMEONE WANTED TO GO AND REMINISCE A BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MICHAEL JORDAN AGAINST LEBRON JAMES, RIC FLAIR AGAINST HULK HOGAN, WHAT’S THE MATCH THAT YOU WOULD SUGGEST THEY WATCH TODAY TO TO TO REMEMBER THE THE DYNAMIC THAT YOU TWO HAD. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HULK HOGAN MATCH. >> OH THE ONE THE BACHELOR THE. >> BEACH. >> WHICH FINANCED NITRO. YES THE ONE WITH O’NEAL WITH SHERRI MARTEL . >> THAT WAS BEFORE. BEFORE HE TURNED HEEL. >> RIGHT? >> YEAH, YEAH. WHEN HE JUST GOT THERE. >> YEAH. >> SO I. >> GUESS WE WENT WE WENT TO ORLANDO FOR BASH AT THE BEACH AND SHERRI MARTEL. YEAH, WE HAD. >> A. >> YOU KNOW, WE JUST YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEVER EVEN TALKED. >> ABOUT IT. >> WE JUST WENT OUT THERE AND DID OUR THING. YOU KNOW. >> YEAH. YOU ALSO HAD IN 94 MR. T AND MUHAMMAD ALI INVOLVED IN YOUR HALLOWEEN HAVOC MATCH. >> REMEMBER THAT. YEAH. >> YEAH I. DO MY RETIREMENT. MATCH WHERE AFTER I LOST, I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OFF FOR A YEAR. AND OF COURSE, THEY CALLED ME BACK IN A MONTH. >> YEAH. INCREDIBLE . >> GOOD OLD, GOOD OLD ERIC. >> YES. >> THOSE WERE THE DAYS. DO YOU KNOW THAT TO OUR RESEARCH, SIX OF HIS LAST NINE MATCHES WERE AGAINST YOU. YOU WERE INVOLVED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. >> WELL, I’M. I’M THANKFUL BECAUSE I SURE HAD FUN DOING IT. >> HOW DO YOU WANT. >> I TOLD YOU THE STORY YOU USED TO THROW ME. >> IN . >> WE’D ALWAYS BE THE DARK MATCH AFTER TV, RIGHT? >> YEAH. >> HE’D SAY TO ME, HEY, BROTHER, LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAY ROOM SERVICE, BIG BOOT LEG. WE’RE GOING TO THE HOTEL. >> INCREDIBLE. >> YEAH, WE HAD SO MUCH. I JUST SAID, OKAY, MAN, IF THAT WORKS. FOR WORKED FOR VINCE, IT WORKED FOR. >> ME. >> HOW WOULD YOU LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER YOUR FRIEND TERRY BOLLEA ? >> WELL, RIGHT NOW, I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT ANY MORE THAN, SAY HE’S THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE HISTORY OF THE. >> BUSINESS. >> AND I CONSIDER HIM AND STEVE AUSTIN TO BE THE TWO BIGGEST STARS THAT I’VE EVER SEEN IN ANY IN ALL PARTS OF THIS INDUSTRY. AND YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT I WRESTLED BUDDY RODGERS AND PAT O’CONNOR AND THE FUNKS AND HARLEY AND THE BRISCOES. >> I MEAN. >> BUT IF YOU LOOK AT STEVE. AND WHAT THEY DREW. AND LOOK AT HULK AND WHAT HE DID DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT ERAS, BUT THE TWO BIGGEST OF ALL TIME AND AND AND. >> BOTH . >> EQUALLY GENEROUS WHEN I’VE HAD TOUGH TIMES. AUSTIN CALLED. ME AND, YOU KNOW, TRIED TO CHEER ME UP. >> AND WHEN. >> HULK OF I HAD A TOUGH TIME. HULK WAS THERE TOO. SO WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR IN THAT? AND HOW MANY PEOPLE GET. THAT KIND OF SUPPORT AND THAT FRIENDSHIP FROM PEOPLE THAT DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ? >> GOD BLESS YOU, RICK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON, MAN. >> YOU’RE THE MAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS MEANS THE WORLD. ENJOY YOUR DAY AND SO HAPPY TO HEAR AND SEE THAT YOU ARE DOING WELL AND YOU’VE GOT 30 40 MORE IN YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO PACE YOURSELF OUT THERE, OKAY. >> I HOPE SO. I HOPE. >> SO. >> ALL THE BEST RICK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SIR. BYE. >> THERE HE IS, THE GREAT RIC FLAIR. THE ONE AND ONLY THE LIMOUSINE RIDING JET PLANE FLYING, KISS STEALING, WHEELIN DEALIN, SON OF A GUN. OH MY GOD RIC FLAIR RIC FLAIR NAITCH THE NATURE BOY. WHAT A TREAT THAT WAS. WHAT A. >> TREAT . >> GC YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM RIC FLAIR COUNTRY. >> RIGHT? >> DO YOU KNOW THIS RIGHT? >> YEAH. THE SOUTH. YEP. >> ATLANTA. >> YEAH. >> YOU KNOW ABOUT. >> ALSO BORN IN GEORGIA? NO. >> AUGUSTA. YEAH BUT NEVER REALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AUGUSTA. >> YEAH. >> MORE OF A VENICE BEACH , CALIFORNIA FLORIDA. GUY ACTUALLY NEVER REALLY WAS FROM VENICE BEACH. BUT THEY BUILD THEM FROM VENICE BEACH. THAT’S, THAT’S THAT’S WCW COUNTRY RIGHT THERE. THAT’S NWA. SHOUT OUT LIKE WHERE YOU WHERE YOU GREW UP. HE WAS BABE RUTH. >> OH YEAH. YEAH THAT’S WHAT THEY SAID WALKING AROUND. >> OH MY GOD RIC FLAIR WHAT A GUY. WHAT AN HONOR THAT. WAS I LOVE THAT GUY. >> LEGEND PUTTING BACK VODKA CRANBERRIES. OH MY. >> OH MY GOD. STILL GOT IT. STILL GOT IT. THE NATURE BOY. AND I’M SO HAPPY TO HEAR AND SEE THAT HE IS DOING WELL, THAT HE IS DOING WELL. GOLLY. WELL, WE CAN TALK MORE . AND TOMORROW ON THE PROGRAM WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE GREAT TERRY BOLLEA HULK HOGAN AND YEAH, TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO REMEMBER HIM IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL WAY POSSIBLE. BUT APPRECIATE RICK COMING ON. WHO BETTER THAN HIM IN MY OPINION. I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF THE PERFECT GUEST, AND THAT WAS MORE OF A HAIL MARY LONG SHOT. SO THANKFUL THAT HE CAME ON TRULY. ALL RIGHT, LET’S MOVE ALONG. LAST TUESDAY, WE FOUND OUT THAT OCTOBER 4. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, A VERY IMPORTANT FIGHT IN THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION GOING DOWN. OBVIOUSLY, WE’RE GETTING THE TITLE FIGHT, THE REMATCH BETWEEN MAGOMED ANKALAEV AND ALEX PEREIRA. BUT ON THERE, LIKE I SAID, MAYBE AS FAR AS THE BACK END OF THE YEAR IS CONCERNED, THE FIGHT THAT I AM MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IS THIS ONE JI÷Í PROCHÁZKA AGAINST KHALIL ROUNTREE TWO OF THE VERY BEST AT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT. NUMBER 2 VERSUS NUMBER 4 WITH, IN MY OPINION, A TITLE SHOT ON THE LINE. THE PRIDE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US? THE ONE AND ONLY JIRI PROCHAZKA. ALWAYS LOVE HAVING HIM ON. THERE HE IS. HELLO, YURI. HOW ARE YOU, MY FRIEND? >> HELLO. HELLO, ARIEL. I’M GREAT. HOW ARE YOU? >> CAN I JUST SAY THE HAIR IS LOOKING FANTASTIC? THIS IS A NEW. IS THIS A BIT OFF TO THE SIDE HERE? >> YEAH. RIGHT NOW. YEAH. I WANT YOU TO BE. I WANT TO BE. I WANT TO LOOK GOOD ON YOUR SHOW AND. AND RIGHT NOW, I’M LETTING GROW MY MY HAIR A LITTLE BIT AGAIN. AFTER, AFTER THE FIGHT. >> SO YOU LOOK LIKE A GENTLEMAN. IT’S VERY, LIKE, CLASSY. I LIKE IT, MAN. >> I AM. >> YOU ARE. YOU ARE. EVENTUALLY, THOUGH, WE’RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE THE PONYTAIL. >> RIGHT? YEAH. >> YEAH. >> THAT’S THE PLAN. >> THAT’S IT. >> OKAY, SO I LOVE THIS FIGHT. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE FIGHT? WERE YOU LOOKING FOR THIS FIGHT? WAS THIS THE ONE THAT YOU WANTED? >> MAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIGHT THAT I WANTED TO TO HAVE. BECAUSE THE KHALIL IS ONE OF THE. HE SEEMS LIKE THAT. OR OR WHEN I. WHEN I MET HIM IN VEGAS, HE HE LOOKED LIKE. LIKE IDEAL OPPONENT. YEAH. BECAUSE HE’S. A NORMAL GUY. TECHNICAL , STRATEGIC. VERY DYNAMIC. SO THIS IS THE OPPONENT WHO I LIKE TO. WHO I LIKE TO FACE. I WANTED TO I WANTED TO FIGHT ANKALAEV BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF TRASH TALKING AFTER MY FIGHT. AND FROM HIS SIDE, THERE WAS A LOT OF A LOT OF . NOT, NOT NOT GOOD WORDS. >> YEAH. >> BUT DOESN’T MATTER. THIS THIS FIGHT. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT. IT’S ABOUT TO TO GET THE TITLE. SURE. BUT RIGHT NOW I’M REALLY LOOKING TO, TO SHOW THE BEST PERFORMANCE. AND THIS IS THE FOR ME THE NUMBER 1 IN IN IN THIS GAME TO SHOW THE BEST PERFORMANCES AND AND I, I BELIEVE WITH KHALIL WE CAN MAKE A GREAT FIGHT. >> REGARDING THOSE MESSAGES FROM ANKALAEV. DO YOU THINK THAT’S COMING FROM HIM OR DO YOU THINK IT’S FROM HIS MANAGER.? >> WHO KNOWS. WHO KNOWS? LIKE LIKE I SAID MANY TIMES, I DIDN’T I, I START TO, I START TO. LIKE I STOPPED SORRY NOT START. I STOPPED TO TO TO TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY BECAUSE AFTER THIS, THESE WORDS AND THESE TWEETS, WHAT HE WROTE OR HIS MANAGER OR WHOEVER. THIS IS FOR ME. NOT A PROFESSIONAL. AND NOT CHAMPION, LIKE STAND. SO, SO THAT’S IT? >> YEAH. AND SO ULTIMATELY THEY’RE DOING THE THE REMATCH WITH PEREIRA. AND HE WAS SAYING SOME STUFF ABOUT HIM TOO. I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOUR FIGHT IS ON THE SAME CARD AS THEIRS. HAS THERE BEEN ANY INDICATION IF FOR WHATEVER REASON, IF PEREIRA CAN’T FIGHT, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP FIGHTER? I WOULD IMAGINE EITHER YOU OR ROUNTREE GET THE CALL. IS IT YOU? >> YEAH. THAT’S RIGHT. >> OKAY, SO YOU’LL BE THE BACKUP? >> YEAH. >> OKAY. AND SO THAT. >> THAT’S THE. >> THAT’S THE THAT’S THE. THAT WAS THE DEAL WITH UFC. >> YEAH. OKAY. >> AND FURTHERMORE, THE WINNER OF YOUR FIGHT AGAINST ROUNTREE. DO THEY FIGHT FOR THE BELT ? >> YES. >> THAT’S WHAT THEY. >> SAID. YEAH. >> OKAY. >> IT’S NOT YET LIKE ON THE PAPER. >> SURE, SURE. >> WE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. THAT WAS THAT WAS THEIR WORD. >> SO THAT MAKES ALL THE SENSE. WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE? RIGHT? >> SURE. >> YEAH. >> BECAUSE OF THE WORDS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, ARE YOU HOPING THAT IT’S ANKALAEV WHO KEEPS THE BELT SO THAT YOU GET A CHANCE TO FIGHT HIM? YOU WIN. HE WINS. THAT YOUR. >> HOPE? >> MY HOPE IS LET THE BETTER WIN. REALLY? REALLY. BECAUSE WITH ALEX PEREIRA, THERE IS. >> A HISTORY. >> THERE IS A STORY. THERE IS A STORY. YEAH, THERE IS A STORY. AND THIRD FIGHT. IN A THIRD FIGHT, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO. TO WHAT? TO WHAT, WHAT TO DO. JUST TO SHOW THE VICTORY. AND WITH HIM IN THE THIRD FIGHT, THAT WILL BE THAT WILL BE GREAT. AND SECOND, SECOND, SECOND LINE TO FIGHT ANKALAEV FIGHT ANKALAEV IT WILL BE NOT JUST FOR ME. IT WILL BE NOT NOT JUST HONOR, BUT TO BUT I WILL. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT. ANKALAEV. >> YEAH. >> CAN I ASK WHO DO YOU THINK WINS THAT FIGHT? ANKALAEV OR PEREIRA MAN. >> RIGHT NOW . AND IN THE FIRST FIGHT, IT WAS THE SAME, SAME THING. HOW GOOD WILL BE ALEX PEREIRA, RIGHT? BECAUSE IN FIRST FIGHT, HE DIDN’T ATTACK TOO MUCH. HE WAS LITTLE. HE. HE KEPT HIMSELF A LITTLE BIT BACK. SO I THINK EVEN IN HIS BEST SHAPE, HE WILL WIN FOR FOR SURE. BUT. LET’S SEE. ANKALAEV DID A GREAT WORK WITH, WITH THE CATCHING HANDS UP AND DOWN CHANGING LEVELS. YEAH, HE HE DID A GREAT WORK WITH WITH ALEX. >> YEAH. >> IS IT TRUE THAT THEY, THEY TALKED TO YOU ABOUT FIGHTING ANKALAEV, BUT YOU WANTED TO FINISH YOUR YOUR EXAMS AND ALL THAT AND SAID, I’M NOT INTERESTED. >> YEAH. THAT’S RIGHT, THAT’S RIGHT. AFTER THE FIGHT WITH JAMAL IN JANUARY, I SAID LIKE TO TO TO EVERYONE. I WANT TO FINISH THE FIRST UNIVERSITY AND THEN I WANT TO BE FOCUSED FOR, FOR FOR THE FIGHTS AND FOR WHATEVER WILL BE BEFORE ME. SO RIGHT NOW I EVERYTHING IS DONE. YOU NEED UNIVERSITY IS DONE. AND. YEAH. AND RIGHT NOW I CAN BE FULLY FOCUSED FOR FOR MY MAIN JOB, WHICH IS THE FIGHTING. >> SO INCREDIBLE. >> SO I’M REALLY, REALLY. YEAH. THANK YOU. I’M REALLY. I’M REALLY, REALLY HAPPY THAT THAT I FINISHED THAT AND MAN IT’S IT’S LIKE LONG, LONG, LONG PART OF OF MY LIFE BEHIND ME. AND RIGHT NOW I CAN BE FOCUSED JUST FOR ONE THING. WHAT I LIKE MOST . >> CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT HERE ON THIS, ON THIS TWEET, YOU SAID THIS IS JUNE 10. YOU SAID THAT THE THESIS IS DONE. FINAL EXAM IN TWO WEEKS. SO NOW THE EXAMS ARE OVER TWO. >> ONE MORE TIME. >> IN THAT TWEET YOU WROTE THESIS DONE AND NOW FINAL EXAMS IN TWO WEEKS. BUT THAT WAS JUNE 10. SO I’M ASSUMING YOU FINISHED THE FINAL EXAMS. >> YES. YES, 23rd OF JUNE IT WAS. >> YEAH. >> HOW DID YOU. >> DO. >> EVERYTHING ? EVERYTHING SUCCESSFUL. SO THERE WAS A THREE PARTS OF OF THE LIKE QUESTIONS LIKE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. SO EVERYTHING WAS SUCCESSFUL FOR, FOR I THINK FOR MY OPINION. I’M REALLY HAPPY THAT I WAS PREPARED. I TOOK THAT REALLY SERIOUSLY. MAYBE, MAYBE SAME SERIES LIKE, LIKE FOR A FIGHT PREPARATION. SO ONE MONTH FOR ME, IT WAS JUST I, I TOOK I TOOK ONE OFFICE FOR JUST FOR TO BE THERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, WITH MY STUDENTS , AND WE WE DID. WE JUST LEARNED TOGETHER BECAUSE I WAS NOT LAZY TO TO STUDY ALONE. BUT MAYBE I’M TOO OLD FOR JUST STUDYING BY MYSELF TO READ THE BOOK AND STUDY. JUST JUST ALONE AT HOME. SO I DID THIS. SO. AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. AND I’M HAPPY THAT I FOUND A NEW WAY HOW TO HOW TO LEARN THE LIKE A LOT OF LOT OF PAPERS, A LOT OF INFORMATIONS. BY BY THIS WAY. >> YEAH. >> IT’S AMAZING TO SEE HOW DEDICATED YOU WERE ULTIMATELY. NOW WHAT DOES THIS GET LIKE WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO. >> WITH. >> WITH WHAT? WITH THE DIPLOMA THAT YOU THAT YOU EARNED HERE. WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR. >> YOU, MAN? >> THIS IS THE THIS IS THE MOST FUNNY, FUNNIEST PART BECAUSE I DID THAT JUST BECAUSE . I WANTED. >> OH WOW. >> I JUST WANT, I JUST WANTED TO TO STAY SHARP HERE AND BE BE BE IN THE SHAPE LIKE IN THE, IN THE, IN MY BRAIN AND STAY FOCUSED. JUST IN, IN THE, IN THE FIELD WHERE, WHERE I’M, WHERE I’M FOCUSED TO BECAUSE IT’S THE STUDYING WAS ABOUT LIKE THE EDUCATION OF THE OF THE EDUCATION OF, I WOULD SAY DEPARTMENTS AND LIKE SECURITIES AND ALL THESE THINGS LIKE SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MARTIAL ARTS, BIOCHEMISTRY , PHYSIOLOGY AND ALL THESE THINGS. >> WOW. >> I MEAN, THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU WERE JUST DOING IT TO STAY SHARP UP HERE, DOING IT BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO. INCREDIBLE. BUT NOW NOW THAT IT’S DONE, THERE’S NO MORE STUDY. LIKE YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GO FOR ANOTHER ONE. YOU’RE DONE WITH THE EDUCATION. IT’S OVER. >> YEAH, MAN, I LIKE TO. >> I LIKE TO STAY JUST BY MY WITH MY BOOKS AND WITH MY INFORMATIONS. AND MAYBE TO TO MAYBE I WANT TO WRITE SOME, SOME SOME BOOKS BY MYSELF. BUT BUT IT TOOK A TIME. >> YEAH. >> DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WATCH ROUNTREE LAST FIGHT AGAINST JAMAL. >> HILL? >> SURE. YEAH, YES, I SURE, I WATCHED THAT. >> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE. >> WIN? >> VERY , VERY CAREFUL PERFORMANCE. PATIENT AND. OH, MY OPINION. I DON’T LIKE THAT. I DON’T LIKE THAT PERFORMANCE BECAUSE HE HE GAVE JAMAL A TOO MUCH OF CHANCES TO BE BACK IN THE FIGHT TO GIVE HIM AGAIN THE CHANCE AND AGAIN THE CHANCE TO TO WIN THE FIGHT OR TO TO DO SOMETHING, WHATEVER. BECAUSE HE HAD MANY CHANCES TO TO FINISH HIM. YEAH. DECISIVELY. SO THAT WAS NOT GOOD. THAT WAS THAT WAS REALLY NOT GOOD FROM HIM. AND. BUT WITH THE PATIENT HE WAS VERY PATIENT. PATIENT AND WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS I JAMAHAL HILL PERFORMANCE. I THOUGHT LIKE ABOUT AFTER AFTER HIS. AFTER HIS LIKE A LOT OF TRASH TALKING AND HIS WORDS. HE HE HE HE REALLY SHOWED LIKE MUCH BETTER FIGHT THAN HE SHOWED. >> YEAH. >> EVEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIGHT, LIKE HE THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER AFTER 25 MINUTES AND IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD BECAUSE THEY HE HAD 25 MINUTES TO FIGHT HIM. AND THEN HE’S LIKE IN HIS FACE. BUT IT WAS IT WAS STRANGE, YOU KNOW, TO DO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A WHOLE FIGHT AND NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS IN THE FIGHT AND THEN IN THE AFTERMATH, YOU’RE DOING THE TALKING THING. >> THAT’S THAT’S RIGHT, THAT’S RIGHT. YEAH, MAN. THAT’S, THAT’S THAT’S WHY I WHY WHY I SAID LIKE IT WAS A STRANGE FROM, FROM THE KHALIL THAT, THAT HE, HE HE, HE LET LEFT HIM LIKE TO, TO DO TO RECOVER AND STILL SURVIVE THE FIGHT AND JAMAL DIDN’T SHOW ANYTHING AND HE STILL HE WAS STILL LIKE LIKE TO I WOULD SAY TOO SELF-CONFIDENT AFTER THE FIGHT. SO, SO MAN SHOW GO IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT ON THE TOP LEVEL, GO THERE AND SHOW YOUR BEST. TOTALLY. NO REGRETS. TOTALLY SHOW YOUR BEST. AND THAT WAS THE FIGHT. >> JAMAL SAID AFTERWARDS. HE’S GOING TO TAKE A BREAK NOW , PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THESE PERFORMANCES. DO YOU THINK THAT’S A GOOD IDEA? >> I THINK LET HIM LET LET HIM DO WHATEVER HE WANTS. WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT HE KNOWS WHAT’S THE BEST FOR HIM. MAYBE I THINK HE HE MAYBE WHATEVER HE CAN CHANGE SOME TRAINING METHODS OR TAKE SOME FRESH, FRESH ATTITUDE TO SEE THE HIS TRAINING OR WHATEVER. SO, SO, MAN, REALLY UNDERSTAND LIKE HE NEEDS HE NEEDS TO HE NEEDS TO TO CHANGE SOMETHING. >> YEAH. >> WHEN ROUNTREE FOR PEREIRA. YOU KNOW PEREIRA VERY WELL, ESPECIALLY THOSE FIRST COUPLE ROUNDS. I THOUGHT HE DID REALLY WELL IN HIS FIRST BIG FIGHT. TITLE FIGHT? MAIN EVENT. WERE YOU IMPRESSED BY WHAT HE DID AND IF SO, WHAT IMPRESSED YOU IN TERMS OF THE WAY HE FOUGHT? PEREIRA. >> MAN, THAT WAS A LIKE THIS A LITTLE BIT SAME LIKE WHEN JAMAL HILL HE WAS WAS GIVEN LIKE THE CHANCE WAS GIVEN TO TO THE JAMAL HILL TO FIGHT THE GLOVER BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT WAS THE POSITION, WHAT WAS THE NUMBER OF POSITION WHEN THE, WHEN THE ROUNTREE FOUGHT THE FOUGHT PEREIRA DO YOU KNOW. >> LIKE HIS RANKING? >> YEAH. >> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON’T REMEMBER, BUT HE WAS LOW. HE WAS LIKE EIGHT OR SOMETHING. >> SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YEAH. AND AND THIS IS, THIS IS IT. WHEN SOME OF THESE GUYS FROM THE NOT TOP FIVE, BUT ABOVE THE TOP FIVE, EIGHT, NINE, LIKE AROUND THE TENTH POSITION, WHEN YOU GAVE THEM THE CHANCE TO FIGHT A CHAMPION MAN, THIS IS THE CHANCE. THIS IS THE JUST. THIS IS LIKE THE THE LUCKY CARD. YEAH. YOU HAVE YOU HAVE THIS CHANCE AND YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO SHOW. THE BEST PERFORMANCE IN YOUR LIFE. SO. SO I WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT KHALIL SHOWED A REALLY GREAT PERFORMANCE IN, IN THE IN THE FIGHT WITH PEREIRA. SO, SO YEAH, IT WAS IT WAS A GREAT PERFORMANCE. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD PERFORMANCE. REALLY, REALLY DYNAMIC, REALLY PATIENT, GREAT DEFENSE AND . >> YEAH. >> YEAH THAT WAS THAT WAS A THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL FIGHT. >> YEAH. >> AND FROM THE FROM THE SIDE OF PEREIRA TOO BECAUSE IN HIS LONG STREAK WINNING STREAK TO SHOW THE LIKE REALLY GOOD PERFORMANCE ESPECIALLY WITH REALLY HUNGRY GUY LIKE KHALIL WAS. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. >> I SAID WHEN THIS FIGHT WAS ANNOUNCED I LOVE THIS FIGHT SO MUCH. I’M A BIG FAN OF BOTH OF YOU. YOU AND ROUNTREE. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS I KIND OF WISH IT WAS FIVE ROUND MAIN EVENT, BUT MAYBE I’M WRONG. MAYBE THERE’S NO NEED FOR FIVE ROUNDS. >> YEAH, THAT THAT WAS THAT WAS THAT WAS MY THAT WAS SOMETHING. WHAT I WANTED FROM UFC TO TO HAVE FIVE ROUNDS WITH KHALIL. TWO WITH KHALIL, WITH WHEN, WHEN WE WILL WHEN WE HAVE FIGHTS. I WANTED TO HAVE A FIVE ROUNDS WITH HIM, BUT THEY GAVE US LIKE JUST RERUNS BECAUSE THERE IS A, THERE’S. >> YEAH. >> AND. YES. AND AND THE LAST FIGHT. >> YEAH. >> A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ARGUABLY THE GREATEST CHAMPION OF ALL TIME, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION JON JONES RETIRED. I SAW YOU TWEET TO HIM A CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK HIS LEGACY IS A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF THE THE PEDS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? IS THAT FAIR OR IS THAT UNFAIR? >> WHATEVER. WHATEVER, WHATEVER HAS HAPPENED, HAPPENED. BUT I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THE THE THE GREAT CAGE CAREER BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF A LOT OF FIGHTS WHERE HE SHOWED LIKE REALLY, REALLY GOOD PERFORMANCE, GREAT PERFORMANCE. AND THIS IS THE MAIN PORT MAIN LIKE THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. YEAH. WHAT NOT JUST. I DON’T LIKE TO SAY THAT LIKE IT’S THE, THE PERFORMANCE IN THE CAGE IS THE MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW YOU ARE. HOW YOU HOW YOU TALKING BEFORE THE FIGHT, HOW YOU TALKING AFTER THE FIGHT AND ALL THESE THINGS. BECAUSE FOR ME, RIGHT NOW, IT’S THE EVERYTHING THE SAME IMPORTANCE. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT . HE SHOWED A GREAT PERFORMANCES IN THE FIGHTS AND A LOT OF INSPIRATION. I, I, TOOK FROM THAT, FROM THESE FIGHTS. A LOT OF INSPIRATIONS, LIKE FROM THESE OLD SCHOOL GUYS LIKE FEDOR EMELIANENKO, GEORGE ANDERSON, SILVA. YEAH, VITOR BELFORT AND ALL THE ALL THESE, LIKE, GUYS. SO. >> MUCH RESPECT. AND I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY WHERE YOU’RE COMING FROM. I HAVE TO SAY, YURI, I LOVE YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, BUT I WAS WATCHING A VIDEO. IT GAVE ME SO MUCH ANXIETY. THIS VIDEO, LIKE I FELT IT IN MY CHEST WHEN YOU WERE SWIMMING UNDER THE ICE. YURI, THIS IS THIS IS I MEAN, YOU DO SOME CRAZY STUFF, BUT THIS TO ME IS MY NIGHTMARE. YOU WANT TO SWIM 30 METERS UNDER WATER? UNDER THE ICE? HOW DID YOU DO THIS, YURI? THIS GAVE ME SO MUCH ANXIETY WATCHING. >> THIS. >> MAN. I DIDN’T, I DIDN’T BELIEVE THAT I, I CAN, I CAN DO, I CAN DO THIS BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST WHEN THE IDEA CAME UP. I THOUGHT, LIKE, MAN, THIS IS LIKE, THIS IS REAL CHALLENGE. YEAH. THIS IS NOT LIKE SOMETHING WHAT? YOU KNOW, LIKE IN A CAGE OR. OR WHATEVER. OR SOME, SOME SOME CAGE FIGHTING OR SOME LIFTING OR WHATEVER. THIS IS SOMETHING. WHAT WILL PROVE MY CALM ? WHAT MY CALM MIND AND ALL THESE ABILITIES. WHAT I’M SPEAKING ABOUT, HOW TO HOW TO BE CALM IN THE DANGEROUS SITUATION, HOW TO FACE A REAL DANGER, HOW TO HOW TO FACE. >> A. >> DEATH AND THAT WAS THE CHANCE TO TO PROVE MYSELF. THAT I KNOW HOW TO CONTROL MYSELF IN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. AND SO I TOOK A A TEAM IN, IN SWITZERLAND. AND THERE WE THERE WE HAVE ONE DAY FOR PREPARATION, FOR PREPARING, FOR PREPARING LIKE PREPARATION FOR THIS, FOR THIS DIVE AND YEAH, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. I’M HAPPY THAT I’M HERE. >> WERE YOU NERVOUS? >> SURE. LIKE EVERY TIME WHEN YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING, WHAT’S WHAT? YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL WHAT’S WHAT’S HAPPENED? YOU ARE EVERY TIME NERVOUS. BUT YOUR BELIEF HAVE TO BE STRONGER. >> AND COULD I ASK, WHAT WERE THEY DOING? LIKE, IT LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD A THING TO GUIDE YOU. IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE A BROOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT SO? YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO AND THEN WHERE TO COME. >> UP? >> YEAH, YEAH. >> WOW. >> YEAH. IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS. YEAH. THEY, THEY JUST SHOW ME THE WAY WHERE TO GO. WHICH WAY TO. YEAH. BECAUSE THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT DARK. >> YEAH. >> THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT DARK. SO I WANTED TO, I WANT, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT I’M GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO THAT THAT WAS IT. AND. YEAH. AND, AND THERE WAS A ONE CAMERA GUY. YEAH. >> SO THAT WAS JUST YOU AND A CAMERA GUY DOWN THERE. >> YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. >> AND IS THE CAMERA GUY LIKE SOME KIND OF EXPERT, OR IS HE JUST LIKE, A FRIEND OF YOURS? >> YEAH, HE WAS. THAT WAS THAT WAS. HE WAS AN EXPERT, OKAY. AND HE WAITED. HE HE WAITED FOR ME AFTER THE FIRST 20 METERS. AFTER FIRST 20 METERS. HE WAITED. WAITED FOR ME. LIKE TO TO SEE WHERE I’M SWIMMING. I’M SWIMMING RIGHT DIRECTION AND TO TO CAMP THAT. >> YEAH. >> AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF OXYGEN OR IS IT. JUST NOTHING. >> JUST, JUST. JUST JUST FOR BREATH. YEAH. >> YEAH. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT STRUCK ME? EVERYONE’S WEARING LIKE A FULL BODY SUIT. EXCEPT FOR YOU. >> YEAH. >> HOW COLD IS THAT? >> WATER? NO, IT IS COLD. SO, MAN. AND THAT’S SOMETHING. THAT’S SOMETHING REALLY FUN. BECAUSE I KNOW THE ICE COLD WATER. I KNOW HOW TO SWIM UNDER THE WATER, BUT IN A IN A NORMAL POOL. BUT WHEN YOU GIVE IT TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IN, IN A FROZEN LAKE UNDER THE ICE AND, AND THE DARKNESS AROUND YOU, THAT’S SOMETHING. THAT’S ANOTHER GAME. YEAH. THAT’S SOMETHING. SOMETHING ANOTHER. >> WILL YOU DO IT. >> AGAIN? >> WHY NOT MAN? >> WHY NOT? >> OKAY I, I, I WOULDN’T DO IT ONCE, LET ALONE AGAIN. I FELT SO MUCH STRESS JUST WATCHING YOU DO THAT. I WAS I WAS YEAH, I MORE POWER TO YOU. >> YOU CAN. >> YOU CAN IMAGINE WHATEVER YOU WANT. BUT ONCE YOU STEP UNDER THAT ICE AND YOU START TO SWIM, THIS IS SOMETHING . UNEXPECTABLE LIKE FOR, FOR FOR LIKE FOR THE BRAIN. SO THE SO THE TO BE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE TO KEEP THE CALM UNDER UNDER IN THIS SITUATION IS, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT . AND THEN YOU THEN YOU REALIZE THAT THE POWER TO KEEP THE CALM IN EVERY SITUATION IS SOMETHING. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN IN THE LIFE? >> DID YOU RECENTLY OPEN UP A NEW GYM? THE BJP INSTITUTE ? >> YEAH, YEAH. RIGHT NOW WE ARE WE ARE LIKE NOT NOT YET, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE IN THE FINISHING THE WORK THERE AND AND ME AND THE TWO OF MY COACHES. WE WE LIKE WE CONNECT TOGETHER TO TO. TO LET THE RISE. I BELIEVE THE BEST GYM IN CZECH REPUBLIC AND WE ARE IN. WORK AND IN NOVEMBER NOVEMBER, OCTOBER. YEAH. NOVEMBER, IN NOVEMBER. 11 NOVEMBER. WE WILL OPEN THAT. RIGHT NOW I WILL I WILL JUST PREPARE JUST BY MYSELF THERE. >> SO IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, TO REGULAR PEOPLE. >> YEAH. WOW. >> AND BUT YOU’LL TRAIN THERE AS. >> WELL. >> SURE. YES. YEAH. OH MY GOD IT WILL BE, IT WILL BE MAINLY FOCUSED FOR, FOR THE LIKE YOUNG YOUNG PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AND AND LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO JUST WHO JUST THINK WHO. >> JUST . >> THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE MARTIAL ARTS AND ABOUT THEIR WAY IN THE ATHLETE’S LIFE. >> OKAY, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. GOOD LUCK WITH THE FIGHT. THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT VERY MUCH. OCTOBER 4. IT’S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK. IT’S BEEN A LONG STRETCH HERE BECAUSE YOUR LAST ONE WAS IN JANUARY. SO ALMOST A YEAR BETWEEN FIGHTS. BUT I KNOW YOU WERE BUSY. >> MAN. FOR FOR YOU, IT’S IT’S A LONG TIME. BUT FOR ME, IT WAS UNDER UNDER UNDER I SWIMMING. YEAH. AND FINISHING UNIVERSITY, CLIMBING THE MOUNTAINS. SO. SO THERE IS. A EVERY MONTH THERE IS A NEW CHALLENGE FOR ME AND I’M HAPPY TO BE BACK IN PREPARATION AND SEE YOU OCTOBER 4. >> OH YEAH. AND I SAW EVEN YESTERDAY YOU WERE WITH THE THE TIGERS I THINK YESTERDAY. RIGHT. >> I SAW YEAH. >> YES. >> YEAH. >> OH MY. >> GOSH THIS IS THE LIONS AND AND YEAH I WAS IN IN ZOO IN, IN IN THE CITY LIKE NEAR NEAR HERE AND. YEAH. >> LOOK AT. >> THESE GUYS. >> WATCH. >> YES. WATCH THE TIGERS BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEIR THEIR FOUNDATION IS WORKING LIKE THEY TRYING TO GET BACK TO, TO TIGERS FROM THE FROM THE CAGES TO, TO TO GIVE THEM BACK TO BACK TO THE NATURE. >> OKAY. >> INCREDIBLE. INCREDIBLE. WHAT A GUY YOU ARE. YURI, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ALL THE BEST TO YOU. GOOD LUCK IN TRAINING FOR THIS FIGHT. AND WE CAN’T WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK IN THERE. OCTOBER 4 AGAINST KHALIL ROUNTREE. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FIGHT THAT IS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. TALK TO YOU SOON. THERE HE IS. THE ONE AND ONLY JIRI PROCHAZKA. LET’S GO FOR THAT. THE MAN, THE PRIDE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. WHAT A. FIGHT THAT IS. AND WHAT A CARD. SO FAR, THREE FIGHTS. ANKALAEV PEREIRA. TWO. MERAB SANDHAGEN ONE. JIRI AGAINST ROUNTREE . AND AS HE JUST. >> SAID. >> THEY’RE GOING TO BE THE THE NUMBER 1 CONTENDER FIGHT. AND ALSO, HE WAS TOLD THAT HE’LL BE THE BACKUP FIGHTER IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS. NOW WE HOPE NOTHING HAPPENS, OF COURSE, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL WANT TO. SEE THAT REMATCH. SOME KIND OF FINALITY TO THEIR RIVALRY. BUT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT NOT TOO BAD THESE DAYS. CERTAINLY BETTER THAN HEAVYWEIGHT. DON’T FORGET THERE’S CARLOS ULBERG OUT. >> THERE. >> JAN B÷ACHOWICZ ALWAYS OUT. >> THERE. >> RAKI÷ I SAW JUST SIGNED A NEW DEAL WITH UFC DOMINICK REYES MAKING A COMEBACK . ZHANG MINGYANG EVERYONE EXCITED ABOUT HIM. HE’S RETURNING IN AUGUST. AUGUST 23, SO THERE’S THINGS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT. 205. SLOWLY BUT SURELY, COMING OUT OF THE DARKNESS. NO JOKE. NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE WORLD FOR ME TO DO THAT. THAT ICE DIVING THING THAT HE DID. I THINK LIKE SKYDIVING TO ME IS INSANE. I THINK I WOULD RATHER DO SKYDIVING THAN ICE DIVING. >> FOR REAL 100%. OH, I’M DOING THE ICE DIVING THAT I CAN’T DO SKYDIVING. >> THE IDEA OF LIKE BEING UNDER AND PRESSING UP AND YOU CAN’T GET OUT, YOU CAN’T FIGURE IT OUT. YOU CAN’T FIND THE HOLE. IT FEELS LIKE THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF ONE’S LIFE. >> HE’S WEARING GOGGLES. >> YEAH. >> CLEAR BLUE WATER. >> BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN’T FIND THE HOLE? >> GUYS UNDER THERE WITH THEM? >> YEAH, I KNOW, BUT BOTH OF THEM CAN’T FIND. >> THE HOLE. HE GRABS THE WRIST. THAT’S WHAT THE BROOMS THERE FOR. >> THE BROOM IS GONNA GUIDE YOU IN THAT PITCH BLACK WATER. >> IT’S NOT PITCH BLACK. >> ALSO FREEZING COLD. >> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IS HOW COLD IT IS. >> THAT’S NOT THE MOST DIFFICULT PART. THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IS BEING IN THERE AND. >> YOU’RE LIKE. >> ACTUALLY, THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IS THE 30 METERS. >> ONE BREATH. >> IMAGINE YOU’RE LIKE. >> THIS. >> NO, I’M NOT GONNA IMAGINE THAT, MAN, BECAUSE I’M JUST GONNA GO FIND THE HOLE. >> OH, MY GOD. >> I WOULDN’T STOP AND BE LIKE, OH GOD. I WOULD BE LIKE, WHERE THE IS. >> YOU EVER SEE THE MOVIES? THERE’S A MOVIE. I THINK IT’S IS IT THE GOOD SON? MACAULAY CULKIN, CIRCA 1993, WHERE HE CAN’T. >> OH, FRANK. THE DULCET TONES TODAY. >> CHILL OUT , FRANK. MY WIFE’S WATCHING, FOR GOODNESS SAKES. I MEAN, GOLLY, IS THAT BARRY WHITE? ANYWAY? TERRIFYING STUFF. TERRIFYING STUFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JI÷Í PROCHÁZKA APPRECIATE HIM VERY MUCH. LET’S MOVE ALONG TO OUR NEXT GUEST. HE WAS IN ACTION THIS PAST WEEKEND IN ABU DHABI, A NICE, SOLID, I WOULD SAY. A Y’ALL MUST HAVE FORGOT TYPE OF WIN FOR PEREIRA YAN DID HE NECESSARILY HAVE TO TAKE THIS FIGHT? NO, BUT HE KEEPS HIM ACTIVE AND PUTS HIM RIGHT IN LINE FOR A TITLE SHOT. FIGHTING THE WINNER OF MERAB DVALISHVILI VERSUS CORY SANDHAGEN. HE IS KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US. LET US SAY HELLO TO THE ONE AND ONLY PYOTR YAN. THERE HE IS . SPASIBA. PYOTR, HOW ARE YOU? >> HELLO, BROTHER. NICE TO. >> NICE TO SEE YOU, MY FRIEND. THANK YOU FOR COMING ON. AND I BELIEVE SAEED IS HERE AS WELL TO HELP US OUT RIGHT, CIA? >> YEAH, I’M HERE. >> YES, BUT YOU DON’T NEED. YOU DON’T NEED HELP ANYMORE, PYOTR. RIGHT? YOUR ENGLISH IS GREAT. YOU NEED. >> I LIKE, I LIKE WHEN MY TRANSLATOR WORKS TOO. >> OKAY. IF YOU’RE UP, HE’S UP. I UNDERSTAND. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE? >> WAS IT? ROBERTSON. >> YES. I’M HAPPY FOR MY WIN. AND. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. I BEAT MY OPPONENT AND WE’LL SEE WHAT WILL. >> NEXT. >> YES. THERE WAS THERE WAS SOME TALK, AND I KNOW YOU ADDRESSED IT AS WELL, BECAUSE HE WAS LOWER THAN YOU IN THE RANKINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE FIGHT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE FROM A MATCHUP STANDPOINT OR THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD BE LACKING MOTIVATION. WAS IT HARD FOR YOU AT ALL BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN FIGHTING SUCH, YOU KNOW, BIG NAMES, TOP RANKED GUYS TO BE MOTIVATED FOR THIS. >> FIGHT. >> YOUR RATING ? TOP CHAMPION IN THE. >> THE MORE. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> IT WASN’T TOO HARD FOR ME TO FOCUS AND BE MOTIVATED. YES. I DIDN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM BEFORE AND THAT’S WHY I HAD TO. YOU KNOW, IN THE FIRST ROUND I HAD TO GET MY READS AND TO FIND THE KEYS TO WIN HIM. >> BY THE WAY, CAN I ASK YOU, PETER, WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE IN A NIGHTCLUB . >> YES, BROTHER. IT’S NIGHTCLUB. >> OH, REALLY? IS THAT. >> TRUE? >> REALLY? REALLY. NOW I’M GONNA DO. THE PARTY DISCO. >> OH, WOW. >> OKAY. >> MY ONLY. >> OH, OKAY. SORRY. >> NO PROBLEM BROTHER, EVERYTHING FOR YOU. >> I APPRECIATE THAT, SPASIBA SPASIBA. THANK YOU. DID YOU HURT YOUR LEG IN THE BEGINNING OF THE. >> FIGHT? >> OH. >> WOW . >> IT’S IT’S VERY. IT’S VERY SWOLLEN. >> YEAH, IT HURTS A LITTLE BIT. >> IS IT BROKEN? >> I DON’T KNOW, I DON’T. >> KNOW. >> I DON’T KNOW. AFTER TODAY, I GO TO HOME AND THERE I WILL DO X RAY. >> YEAH. >> X RAY. YEAH. WAS THAT IN THE FIRST ROUND. >> YEAH. IT WASN’T FIRST ROUND WHEN MY OPPONENT CHANGED A SAMPLE. >> NUMBER CHANGE STANCE. >> YEAH. >> YEAH I. >> HE CHECKED THE KICK. >> HE. >> YEAH. MY MY HOMEWORK WAS I HAVE TO PUNCH RIGHT LEG PUNCH HIS LEG LOW KICK AND PUNCH HIGH KICK PUNCH LEG. BODY KICK KICK BODY KICK. YEAH. AND WHEN I FIRST TIME PUNCH MY RIGHT LEG, I FELT ITS . MY LEG WAS BAD. WAS PROBLEM. >> DID IT BOTHER YOU A LOT IN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS? OR WERE YOU ABLE TO IGNORE. >> IT? >> SIMILARLY ? >> NO , NO, I. >> YEAH, I WAS TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT I COULDN’T KICK WITH IT. YOU KNOW, I COULDN’T REALLY USE MY GAME PLAN, YOU KNOW, AGAINST HIM. >> RIGHT. WELL, IN THE END IT WAS STILL A VERY GOOD WIN, A DOMINANT WIN. AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU ESPECIALLY WE SAW THIS EVEN IN YOUR LAST FIGHT, BRINGING YOUR FAMILY INTO THE CAGE. WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO TO BRING YOUR FAMILY AFTER YOUR WINS? I SAW YOU CALL FOR THEM AFTERWARDS. WHY DO YOU MAKE A POINT NOW OF DOING THIS? >> TO. WONDERBOY NO . >> I . >> YOU KNOW, I HAVE BOYS, AND I BELIEVE IT’S A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THEM TO SHOW MY WORK. BUT ALSO IT’S THEIR DESIRE. YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS ASK ME, CAN WE BE THERE? CAN WE GO? AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS HESITANT TO BRING THEM, BUT THEY REALLY INSISTED TO BE THERE AND TO SUPPORT. >> ME. >> DO THEY TELL YOU, DO THEY GET VERY NERVOUS WATCHING YOU FIGHT? YOU’RE THEIR FATHER. THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH. WHAT DO THEY FEEL WHEN THEY’RE WATCHING YOU IN THE CAGE? >> YEAH. >> NO, I NEED. TO . KNOW . >> YEAH. IT’S MY WIFE. TELL ME. THEY TRY TO SHOUT INSTRUCTIONS AT ME. THEY TRY TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO. BASICALLY BEING MY EXTRA CORNERMAN. SO PROBABLY THEY’RE WORRIED. BUT YEAH, THAT’S HOW THEY BEING INVOLVED. >> AND YOU SEEM TO FIGHT WELL WHEN THEY’RE IN ATTENDANCE. DO THEY SHOW INTEREST IN FOLLOWING IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS. DO YOU THINK THEY WILL BE FIGHTERS. >> TO. >> THE. >> NO. OR. >> YEAH. I DON’T REALLY THINK THAT WAY. DEFINITELY. THERE IS MENTAL ASPECT TO IT WHEN THEY’RE IN ATTENDANCE AND YOU KNOW, IF THEY DECIDE TO FOLLOW MY FOOTSTEPS IN MARTIAL ARTS, OF COURSE I WILL SUPPORT THEM. BUT IT’S HAVE TO BE THEIR CHOICE. >> HAVE YOU HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD OR WERE YOU TOLD BEFORE THIS FIGHT? YOU WIN THIS FIGHT, YOU ARE NEXT. YOU ARE GETTING A TITLE. >> SHOT . >> THIS IS THE SITUATION. YES, YES. >> NO. NO ONE PROMISED ME ANYTHING. BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE SITUATION IN THE DIVISION, I BELIEVE NO ONE ELSE DESERVE IT MORE THAN ME. >> WHAT IF THEY SAY TO YOU, OKAY, GREAT. YOU’RE DOING GREAT. THREE IN A ROW, ALL THIS STUFF. ONE MORE. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT UMAR, AND THEN YOU GET A TITLE SHOT. WHAT DO YOU SAY IN RESPONSE? >> TO . THAT. YEAH . >> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL BE DISRESPECTFUL. YOU KNOW, SINCE MY LAST DEFEAT, I WON THREE FIGHTS IN A ROW. AND I BELIEVE UMAR ALSO HAVE TO DO SOME WORK. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO WIN COUPLE TIMES TO BE ABLE TO , TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE MIX FOR A TITLE SHOT. >> DID THEY TRY TO BOOK YOU GUYS ON THIS CARD ORIGINALLY OR LAST MONTH? WAS THERE TALK? I SAW SOME REPORTS THAT THERE WAS SOME TALK OF YOU GUYS FIGHTING. WAS THAT A REAL THING? >> PROBABLY . >> NOT AZERBAIJAN. WAS THE. WHITTAKER TYBURA? >> YES. I WAS OFFERED A FIVE ROUND FIGHT AGAINST UMAR IN AZERBAIJAN, WHICH I ACCEPTED. BUT THEN FROM HIS TEAM, THE INFORMATION CAME THAT THEY’RE NOT READY AND THEY WILL BE READY IN OCTOBER. >> OKAY. AND SO THAT’S WHY I WAS ASKING LIKE, BECAUSE THE TITLE IS ON THE LINE IN OCTOBER, I WAS WONDERING IF THEY WOULD TRY TO BOOK YOU GUYS FOR THAT CARD BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO HAVE LIKE A BIG FIGHT ON THE SAME CARD AS A TITLE FIGHT, BUT YOU’RE SAYING YOU’RE NOT INTERESTED. IS THAT ACCURATE? >> NO . >> NOT. >> THE YOU KNOW. >> WHAT? >> YEAH, I’M ONLY INTERESTED IN A TITLE FIGHT. I’M INTERESTED IN THE WINNER OF MERAB VERSUS. >> COREY. >> BECAUSE OF YOUR HISTORY, YOU HAVE A HISTORY WITH BOTH GUYS. A WIN OVER COREY, A LOSS AGAINST MERAB. ARE YOU HOPING IT’S MERAB TO GET THAT ONE BACK? IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE HOPING. >> FOR? >> IS THE STORY? YEAH, FOR ME, IT WILL BE BETTER IF IT’S GOING TO BE. I WANT TO COME TO THE NEXT FIGHT IN A DIFFERENT CONDITION AND SHOW MUCH DIFFERENT FIGHT THAN THE. >> LAST TIME. >> WHAT KIND OF A CHANCE DO YOU GIVE COREY AGAINST MERAB? DO YOU THINK HE HAS A CHANCE TO BEAT. >> HIM ? >> YES . >> YEAH. ANYBODY HAS A CHANCE AND COREY IS IN UNIVERSAL. WELL-ROUNDED FIGHTER. BUT I BELIEVE HE’S NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH GAS TANK FOR IT. >> DO YOU WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE IMPRESSED WITH MERAB? HAS HE IMPRESSED YOU WITH WHAT HE’S DONE, ESPECIALLY HIS LAST WIN OVER SEAN? >> OR. >> I WASN’T IMPRESSED ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS EXPECTED. YOU KNOW, AFTER THE FIRST FIGHT, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST FIGHT. SO I WAS EXPECTING THE SAME. YOU KNOW, IF SEAN NOT GONNA LAND HIS PUNCH IN THE FIRST ROUND, EVERYBODY KNEW HOW IT’S GOING TO. >> END. >> I SAW A NICE TWEET FROM MERAB TO YOU, AND THEN YOU RESPONDED BACK. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP NOW AFTER WE SAW THIS HERE? GREAT FIGHT. PETR YAN. CONGRATULATIONS. AND THEN YOU WROTE. THANKS, MERAB. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEXT FIGHT. HOPEFULLY IT’S ME AND YOU FOR THE BELT AFTER. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MERAB. >> NOW? >> FOR HIS PICTURE? HIS PICTURE FROZE. I DON’T KNOW IF WE LOST HIM HERE. >> YEAH, I THINK SO. >> OH, NO. HE’S BACK, HE’S BACK. >> OKAY. >> HEY, ARE YOU. >> THERE? YEAH , YEAH. >> YES. >> HE’S BACK. >> NO . NO. NICE. NO . >> I THINK OUR RELATIONSHIP NOW YOU CAN DESCRIBE AS LIKE, WE’RE BOTH EXCITED. >> FOR. SECOND FIGHT. >> BUT NO BAD BLOOD. >> RIGHT? >> NO, NO. >> NO , NO. NO. SO , ROSA HE. WAS . >> YEAH. I DON’T HAVE ANY BAD BLOOD TOWARDS HIM. I BELIEVE HE ALSO DOESN’T HAVE ANY ILL WILL TOWARDS ME. YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY FOUGHT ALSO LIKE, ONLY MOTIVATES ME. YOU KNOW, JUST PERFORM BETTER IN OUR NEXT FIGHT. IT’S JUST LIKE SPORT INTEREST, YOU KNOW, TO FIND OUT WHO’S REALLY. >> BETTER. >> AND I SAW YOU GUYS. YOU DID A REALITY SHOW WITH ALJAMAIN. YOU GUYS ARE BUDDIES NOW. YOU AND ALJAMAIN. NO PROBLEM. >> NO. STERLING . >> I CAN’T SAY WE’RE BUDDIES, YOU KNOW? IT HAS TO. IT HAS TO BE UP IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT HE CHANGED HIS MIND IN THE LAST MINUTE. SO STERLING STEP UP AND REPLACE HIM. YOU KNOW, I HAD TO DO THIS JOB FOR HIM. >> YEAH, I SAW YOU GUYS DO SOME NICE VIDEOS WRESTLING THE THE OSCAR. IT JUST SEEMED LIKE YOU WERE FRIENDLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. MAYBE YOU’RE NOT FRIENDLY LIKE. >> THAT. >> MOMENT OF THE SHOW THAT . >> HE . >> YEAH. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WERE. >> RIVALS. >> A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WERE RIVALS. AND IT WAS PRETTY HEATED. RIVALRY. BUT THIS TIME WE HAD TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER FOR ALMOST A MONTH. YOU KNOW, ‘ HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIP NOW. >> AND CAN I ASK YOU BEFORE I LET YOU GO? BRYCE MITCHELL MADE HIS DEBUT AT 135. DID YOU SEE HIS FIGHT AND WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HIS PERFORMANCE AGAINST NURMAGOMEDOV? SAID. >> BRYCE MITCHELL SAID. >> THAT BOY. YOU. SAID. BANTAMWEIGHT. >> YEAH. I WAS IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND I SAW A COUPLE ROUNDS OF THIS. >> FIGHT. >> HE’S AN INTERESTING FIGHTER, YOU KNOW? GREAT DEBUT IN BANTAMWEIGHT. HE WAS KIND OF FORCED HIS WAY, FORCED HIS FIGHT. STYLE ON SAEED AND MAYBE SAEED GOT TIRED OR COULDN’T REALLY PUSH HIS OWN. PACE AND PRETTY, PRETTY GREAT DEBUT FOR BRYCE, WHICH I CONGRATULATE. CONGRATULATE HIM WITH. >> DID YOU SEE WHEN A REPORTER ASKED HIM A QUESTION IN RUSSIAN AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS ARABIC? >> THE JOURNALIST. JOURNALIST . >> NO. >> I THINK THAT WAS A NO. RIGHT? >> NYET. >> YEAH. SHE DIDN’T SEE. >> SHE DIDN’T SEE. OH IT’S GOOD. IT’S A GOOD ONE. WHAT KIND OF CLUB IS THIS, BY THE WAY? WHAT KIND OF NIGHTCLUB? >> ROSA CLUB. GET TO THE. >> HORSE, RATHER, ITS HOTEL. >> IT’S HOTEL. OH, AND WHEN I. WHEN I LIVE NOW. >> IT LOOKS LIKE A NIGHTCLUB WITH THE LIGHTS AND ALL THAT. THAT’S A HOTEL. >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. >> OKAY. I THOUGHT. >> YOU WERE SAME. SAME NIGHTCLUB. >> YES. >> OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE REALLY AT THE DISCO. I WAS REALLY HONORED THAT YOU WOULD DO THE INTERVIEW WITH. >> ME. >> OUTSIDE. >> I DON’T REALLY GO TO THE CLUBS. >> I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND YOUR FAMILY, MAN, I UNDERSTAND. OKAY, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR COMING ON. CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT PERFORMANCE, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. HOPEFULLY FOR A TITLE. >> SHOT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BROTHER. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MY TRANSLATOR, SAEED. >> SPASIBA TO BOTH OF. >> YOU. GREAT JOB. >> WE’LL TALK TO YOU SOON. SAFE TRAVELS HOME. BYE BYE. THERE HE IS. YEAH. WOW. LOOK AT THOSE MUSCLES. PETR YAN. THE FREAKING MAN. YEAH. THE MAN AT 1:35. HE IS. HE IS BACK. HE’S ON A ROLL NOW. THREE IN A ROW. I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME THAT HE IS NEXT. YOU LOOK AT THE RANKINGS. MURAD. ONE. WELL, TECHNICALLY, SHAWN ONE I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THE CHAMP SHOULD BE ONE, BUT I GET IT. UMAR TWO. YAN THREE. SANDHAGEN FOUR. SONG FIVE. WHY DO I GET THE FEELING THAT THEY’RE GOING TO TRY TO DO UMAR VERSUS YAN IN OCTOBER? DOES ANYONE ELSE GET THAT FEELING? AM I CRAZY? >> I SURE DO. >> YEAH. >> I WOULDN’T MIND IT BE A THAT’D BE A BANGER. >> I KIND OF FEEL LIKE HE’S DONE ENOUGH AT THIS POINT THOUGH. >> NO. >> I MEAN, HE FIGHTS ONLY THE BEST OF THE BEST. >> YEAH. >> MCGHEE NOT EVEN IN THE TOP TEN. DID I MISS HIM THERE? >> NO, NO, NO, HE WASN’T IN THE TOP TEN. 12, RIGHT. >> YEAH. >> THAT WAS A SOLID WIN. DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO. HURT HIS FOOT. SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THE WAY IN WHICH HE FOUGHT. I FEEL LIKE THEY’RE GOING TO OFFER IT TO HIM. THE QUESTION IS DOES HE TAKE IT? I FEEL LIKE HE’S GOING TO. >> BE. >> HE’S GOING TO BE BACKED INTO A CORNER. >> HERE. >> THE FACT THAT HE TOOK THE MCGHEE FIGHT MAKES ME THINK HE’LL EVENTUALLY COME AROUND TO IT. >> WHAT’S GOING ON? >> WAS, WAS THAT FRANK? WHAT WAS THAT? >> NO, NO, THAT WASN’T EVEN FRANK. >> HE’S DOWN BAD, BRO. >> NO, THAT’S SOMETHING ELSE. >> WHAT HAPPENED? FRANK? THAT’S. >> IF THIS IF THIS THING GOES, GOES VIRAL IN THE CONTROL ROOM, IT’S. >> OH, GOD. >> SHOW FOR A FEW WEEKS. >> HAS HE BEEN JUST YAKKING OVER THERE? WHAT’S HAPPENING? >> OH, I. >> DON’T KNOW. >> A COUPLE EXTENDED BATHROOM BREAKS, A LOT OF HACKING, VERY LITTLE TALKING. WHICH IS. WHICH IS NOT LIKE FRANK. >> YEAH. >> NO COMMENTARY, NO RUNNING COMMENTARY. >> NO, NO, NO NO COMMENTARY. >> HE COULD JUST HE COULD SPEAK THROUGH THE THE DROPS. WELL, PETR YAN WITH THE BIG WIN. DID YOU GUYS WATCH THE SHARA MAGOMEDOV VERSUS MARC-ANDRÉ BARRIAULT FIGHT? WHAT A. >> FIGHT. >> SURE. FANTASTIC FIGHT. FANTASTIC FIGHT. I THOUGHT I THOUGHT MAB WAS GONNA HAVE THAT INSANE COMEBACK IN THE SECOND ROUND. >> FIRST OF ALL. SO I WATCHED THIS FIGHT AS WELL WITH MY SON. HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS IRISH. HE THOUGHT THAT. >> WAS IRISH. THE RED BEARD. >> YEAH. AND THEN THE. >> CUT. >> SO THE TWO FIGHTS THAT I SHOWED HIM WERE THE STEVE WYNN FIGHT AND THIS ONE, THE CUT AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD. HE’S LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON? AND THEN THERE’S A PERIOD THERE WHERE MAB HAS HIM UP AGAINST THE CAGE LIKE HE IS JUST RUBBING HIS HEAD. I ALMOST FEEL LIKE THIS WAS PART OF THE THE GAME PLAN. LIKE, LET ME JUST RUB MY MY BLOOD ALL OVER THIS GUY’S FACE. SHARA BULLET WAS HE WAS UNFLAPPABLE THROUGHOUT ALL OF IT. THEN THE BEARD STARTED TURNING EVEN REDDER. IT WAS IT WAS. >> THAT PICTURE GOING INTO THE SECOND ROUND WHERE HE’S. >> LIKE. >> YOU SEE THE EYE AND HE’S COVERED IN BLOOD, AND THE BEARD IS JUST DRENCHED WITH BLOOD . THIS INTENSE, GNARLY. IT’S A SICK FIGHT, THOUGH. IT WAS A SICK FIGHT. YEAH. >> IT WAS A. >> FUN FIGHT. >> HE GOT BACK ON TRACK. >> YEAH. I MEAN, CHARLIE LOOKED LOOKED GREAT THROUGH LIKE THE FIRST, LIKE, ROUND AND A HALF AND THEN BOUNCED BACK REALLY NICELY IN THE THIRD ROUND AS WELL. >> YEAH. GOOD WIN FOR HIM. FOLLOWING THE LOSS TO MICHAEL “VENOM” PAGE BACK IN FEBRUARY, ASU ALMABAYEV BEAT JOSE OCHOA VIA DECISION BOGDAN GUSKOV WITH THE FIRST ROUND WIN OVER NIKITA KRYLOV. VERY NICE TKO. WIN. BRYCE MITCHELL AGAINST SAID NURMAGOMEDOV. WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK OF BRYCE AT 1:35? I THOUGHT. >> HE WAS WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED FOR HIM. >> YEAH, I GOT I GOT A. LITTLE GOT A LITTLE DICEY THERE AT THE BEGINNING. >> YEAH. >> BUT BIG. >> KNEE JUST TO GET THIS ONE UNDER YOUR BELT. AND TO BE HONEST, LIKE HE DIDN’T LOOK LIKE HE STRUGGLED THAT MUCH ON THE SCALE. LIKE HE LOOKED SOLID I THINK WAS MAYBE HE COULD HAVE MADE A WHILE AGO. I’M INTERESTED TO SEE IT BECAUSE I THINK THERE’S A LOT OF FUN MATCHUPS FOR HIM. AT 30:05. SO I WAS HAPPY TO SEE IT. I THINK IT’S A IT’S A IT’S A NICE MOVE FOR HIM. IT’S IT’S JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED AFTER. I THINK HE’S GONE AS FAR AS HE CAN. KIND OF AT 45. >> THE STATS FROM THE THIRD ROUND ARE KIND OF CRAZY. >> OH YEAH. >> NO SIGNIFICANT STRIKES LANDED BY BRYCE MITCHELL. 4 MINUTES AND 11 SECONDS OF CONTROL TIME, THOUGH. >> WOW. >> INCREDIBLE. HE PROBABLY LOST THE FIRST ROUND RIGHT. BUT THEN ONE, 2-3 I BELIEVE THAT’S HOW IT WAS SCORED ON THE ON THE JUDGES SCORECARDS. >> YEAH. >> LET ME SEE THIS HERE. UFC STATS PER ROUND. >> ZERO OF ONE. >> WOW. 0%. THAT’S CRAZY. >> YEAH. EIGHT OF 11 STRIKES. 27 OF 31%. NOT A LOT OF STRIKES IN THAT FIGHT PERIOD. >> AND SO YOU THINK I WONDER, IS THERE A SCORECARD HERE? WHO WHO WHO DID THEY HAVE WINNING THE. FIRST I THOUGHT SAID WON THE FIRST. >> THEY SCORED IT FOR BRYCE. THEY DID. OH YEAH. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE UP IN ARMS ABOUT IT. THIS I CAN’T LIE. THIS WAS A FIGHT THAT I ONLY HAD ONE EYE. >> ON. >> INTERESTING. >> YEAH. >> WOW. 0%. I DON’T KNOW IF I’VE EVER SEEN THAT IN A UFC. >> FIGHT. >> GOLLY. ZERO OF ONE. YEAH. THEY THEY. >> SCORED A NURMAGOMEDOV. >> OH, THEY DID. SO WAIT THEY GAVE THEY GAVE BRYCE THE THIRD. >> YEAH. >> DESPITE THAT. >> HE DID. HE HAD 4 MINUTES. >> HE CONTROLLED HIM THE ENTIRE TIME. >> NO DAMAGE NOTHING. >> NO IT DOESN’T LIKE IT CAN’T. >> YES I KNOW. >> I KNOW. DID HE GET ANY DAMAGE DONE BACK TO HIM. >> YEAH. >> YEAH. THEY GAVE HIM THE FIRST. THEY THEY GAVE SAEED THE FIRST. >> YOU GUYS SAW THAT THAT CLIP OF THE GUY ASKING HIM A QUESTION IN RUSSIAN. >> YEAH. YEAH. >> I SAW IT. >> ASSALAM ALAIKUM. MY BROTHER. >> YEAH. >> SHUKRAN. MY BROTHER. >> HE MEMORIZED A FEW THINGS. >> I MEAN, HE WAS SO EXCITED TO BUST IT OUT. >> NO RESPECT. >> YEAH. >> HE WAS THAT. THAT’S ME. WHENEVER I GO TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY. >> WHAT’S WORSE , THAT’S WHEN I ORDER TACOS AT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT. >> WHAT’S WORSE? THAT, LIKE, I CAN’T LAUGH. WHAT’S WORSE? THAT, OR ME THINKING THAT ARMAN WAS WAS MUSLIM. REMEMBER THAT ONE? I GOT ROASTED FOR THAT ONE. >> I DON’T REMEMBER THAT. >> I SAID. I SAID ASSALAM ALAIKUM. AND HE’S LIKE, OH, I’M CHRISTIAN BRO. >> OH. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> YOU COULD STILL SPEAK, BY THE WAY. YOU STILL SPEAK IN, IN, IN IN LEBANON. MY, MY PARENTS SPOKE ARABIC. >> I WAS JUST THINKING THE SAME THING. YOU CAN STILL SPEAK ARABIC. YEAH. YEAH, I DID SEE THAT ONE. BUT MY FAVORITE BRYCE MITCHELL OF THE WEEK WAS TWO OR THREE YEARS. SEND HIM TO ARKANSAS, FORGET. OH YEAH. AFTER THE FIGHT. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. >> LEGENDARY MUSLIM SALIKHOV THE AGELESS WONDER 41. >> 42 41 . MAN WONDER IS RIGHT. >> I GOTTA SAY, PETE WAS ALL OVER THIS ONE. >> PETE NAILED IT. OH. >> HE WAS LIKE, WHAT THE IS UP WITH THIS LINE? IT’S INSANE. MUSLIMS GONNA WIN. >> HE ACTUALLY DID A MUSLIM SALIKHOV DAVEY GRANT PARLAY AND OH, WOW. LIKE, GASSED IT UP ON THE CRACK THE DAY BEFORE. >> YEP. >> NAILED IT, NAILED IT. >> THE HUGE DOG. AND TT WAS LIKE, SO SURE. >> HE WAS SO SURE. I WAS LIKE, I THINK OF CARLOS LEAL. HE’S LIKE, YOU IDIOT. YOU’RE WRONG. IT’S SALIKHOV. THIS IS THIS WAS FRANK PICKING BOBBY GREEN ESQUE. YEAH. >> NO, HE, HE HE WAS VERY CONFIDENT. AND THEN AFTERWARDS SAYING HE WANTED TO FIGHT WONDERBOY THOMPSON., WHICH I MEAN, THEY’RE KIND OF THE GUYS. >> THAT KARATE KID. >> YEAH. >> TWO KARATE KIDS IN THEIR EARLY 40s. MR. RUSSIA VERSUS MR. AMERICA. >> WHY NOT? >> THAT’S HOW THEY’RE BRANDING IT. >> DAVEY GRANT GOT THE WIN OVER DA’MON BLACKSHEAR . TABATHA RICCI BEAT AMANDA RIBAS, AND AFTERWARDS HE WAS SAYING THAT SHE NEEDED TO HAVE FACIAL SURGERY, THAT SHE HAD A PLATE IN HER FACE AND IT GOT , LIKE, MOVED. >> YEAH. >> GNARLY STUFF. >> YEAH. BECAUSE LIKE, THE FINISH WAS LIKE, IT WAS LIKE A DELAYED REACTION. >> YEAH. >> YEAH. >> THAT IS NASTY STUFF. BY RICCI. >> YEAH. RICCI IMPROVES TO 12-3 BILLY BILLY ELKANA WITH THE UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER IBO ASLAN STEVE NGUYEN WHO WILL TALK TO YOU WHEN I SHOULD SAY BEAT MOHAMMAD YAHYA. WE’RE GOING TO SAVE THAT DISCUSSION FOR AFTER HE COMES ON. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT YOUR BOY MARCUS BUCHECHA? >> HE LOOKED GOOD. >> YEAH. MARTIN BUDAY WHAT HAPPENED? TOM ASPINALL A FAVOR AND ENDED THE POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE AT AT HEAVYWEIGHT. I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE. >> THE CORONATION OF BUCHECHA. >> DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME BACK IN THE DAY WHERE. LIKE ANY JIU JITSU PLAYER, ANY, LIKE, HIGH LEVEL JIU JITSU GUY COULD COME IN AND WIN THEIR FIRST TEN FIGHTS, JUST LIKE ON THE BASIS THAT THEY COULD COME IN AND SUBMIT ANYBODY. AND NOW IT’S JUST LIKE, NAH, YOU GOT YOU GOT TO KIND OF BE GOOD AT MMA. AND BUCHECHA IS NOT. NO, YOU GOT YOU GOT HIS. >> GOTTA BE ABLE TO GET TAKEDOWNS. YOU’RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO JIU JITSU. AND HE I THINK HE ONLY GOT ONE. >> AND ALSO BE ABLE TO FIGHT FOR LIKE MORE THAN 2 MINUTES, YOU KNOW. LIKE HE GOT A BIT OF A GAS TANK. >> YEAH. >> IT WAS ALSO FUNNY. >> BISPING ONE OF 11. >> REMEMBER HE’S GOT A FANTASTIC GAS TANK. AND THEN LIKE 30s LATER HE’S JUST LIKE LIKE HE IS OUT BAD. >> ONE OF 11 IS NOT. >> GOOD DUDE. >> AND LIKE ALMOST NONE OF THEM WERE CLOSE. THE ONE THAT HE GOT, HE COMPLETELY COMMITTED AND LIKE TACKLED HIM. THE OTHER ONES WERE JUST LIKE WEAK ATTEMPTS AT GRABBING A SINGLE LEG AND IMMEDIATELY LETTING GO. >> SO A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF OVER FROM THE ASPINALL CAMP. >> HONESTLY, HIS BOY BUDAY. >> YEAH, THAT’S HIS GUY. >> THEY TRAINED TOGETHER. THEY THEY DEFINITELY MADE UP WHEN HE CAME TO THE GYM. YEAH, IT WAS LIKE A CHAMPION COMING BACK TO AT IT WAS. >> LIKE. >> THANKS FOR DOING THE JOB FOR ME, BRO. THANKS FOR GETTING RID OF THE THREAT. >> THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER. >> OH MY GOSH. >> YEAH. TOM ASPINALL VERSUS BUCHECHA WOULD NOT BE A. >> MAYBE ONE DAY. BY THE WAY. COULD COME BACK. THAT WAS JUST HIS DEBUT. AND BY THE WAY, TOOK THE FIGHT ON SHORT NOTICE. LEST WE FORGET. >> SO BLESSED. >> BY THE WAY UFC BACK THIS WEEKEND. BACK AT THE APEX. BACK TO BACK. APEX SHOWS. >> BANGER CARD. >> YEAH, SURE. >> IT’S GONNA BE SICK. >> IT WAS. IT WAS A GOOD RUN OF NO APEX SHOWS. BUT NOW WE’RE BACK TO THE APEX AND TATSURO TAIRA IS IN THE MAIN EVENT. BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM GETTING IT BACK ON TRACK. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO FIGHT AMIR ALBAZI ALBAZI OUT AND IT HAS SINCE BEEN. I DON’T KNOW IF IT WAS IT OFFICIALLY. I THINK THEY OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED IT. >> IT’S BEEN ANNOUNCED. >> YEAH. HYUN SEUNG PARK, UNDEFEATED SOUTH KOREAN GOING UP AGAINST THE 16-1 JAPANESE FIGHTER. SO THAT IS THE NEW MAIN. >> EVENT. >> CHRIS DUNCAN ON THERE. ESTEBAN RYBOVICH KAROL ROSA NEIL MAGNY. WHAT TIME DOES THIS ONE START? >> PROBABLY 4:00 P.M. EASTERN, I’M GONNA GUESS. SAYS SIX. >> WHICH IS. >> THAT THAT MEANS A 10:00 P.M. MAIN CARD. >> RIGHT? >> THAT IS THAT IS THAT’S THAT’S CRIMINAL. YEAH, THAT IS TOUGH AS THEY SAY. THAT IS TOUGH. YEAH. TATSURO TAIRA HYUNSEUNG PARK AT 12:47 EASTERN STANDARD IS. YEAH. IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR. >> THE SOUL. >> I LISTEN TO THAT ONE. YEAH. PULLING IT OUT. >> THANK YOU FRANK. WELL DONE. STILL GOT IT. DURING THE CARD ON SATURDAY. THE ABU DHABI CARD, IT WAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE PAY-PER-VIEW COMING UP ON AUGUST 16. UNITED CENTER. WHAT IS THAT? UFC 319. I DO BELIEVE. YEAH. 319. THE CO-MAIN EVENT. WE WERE ALL WONDERING WHAT’S THE CO-MAIN EVENT GOING TO BE? WELL, NOW WE KNOW IT’S THE DEBUTANT. THE RECENTLY ADDED AARON PICO EVERYONE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS DEBUT AGAINST MOVSAR EVLOEV THIS PAST WEEKEND. OF COURSE FIGHT GOT CANCELED SO THEY MOVED HIM. HE WILL BE GOING UP AGAINST THE STREAKING, THE RED HOT LERONE MURPHY MASSIVE FIGHT AT 145 POUNDS. WE WANTED TO HAVE LAUREN ON TO TALK ABOUT THIS FIGHT. HE’S KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US RIGHT HERE NOW. HELLO, LAUREN. HOW ARE YOU, MY FRIEND? >> I’M GOOD, THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU? >> I’M DOING GREAT. SO AN INTERESTING THIS ONE. I DIDN’T REALLY SEE IT COMING. WE HAD A FEELING PICO WOULD WOULD BE ON THIS CARD BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY HIGH ON HIM. THEY WANTED HIM TO DEBUT. WHEN DID THIS COME ACROSS YOUR RADAR? THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT AGAINST HIM ON THIS PAY-PER-VIEW CARD NEXT. >> MONTH? >> JUST THE OTHER DAY, A FEW DAYS AGO, YOU KNOW, IT’S A BIG OPPORTUNITY. LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN IT, PICO’S A HOT PROSPECT FROM THE STATES. EVERYBODY’S RAVING AROUND HIM. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO FIGHT HIM. BUT I’M NOT. I’VE GOT NO BALLS. >> LET’S GO. >> AND SO THIS WAS JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, WAS OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE, BUT ANY CONCERN ON THE SHORT TIME PERIOD, IT’S ONLY ABOUT THREE OR SO WEEKS. >> LISTEN, I’M IN THE GYM ALL YEAR ROUND, MAN. I’M IN THE GYM ALL YEAR ROUND. I’M THAT TYPE OF ATHLETE AND I’VE DONE IT BEFORE. I MADE MY UFC DEBUT ON 33 WEEKS NOTICE AND THAT WAS THAT WAS A TOUGH FIGHT. AGAIN, HIGH LEVEL FIGHTER. SO IT’S LIKE WHEN THESE OPPORTUNITIES COME AROUND, YOU JUST GRAB THEM WITH BOTH HANDS AND I’LL BE FIT AND READY ON THE DAY. SIMPLE. >> YOU’VE HAD A COUPLE FIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT BOTH OF THEM AT THE APEX. THIS IS YOUR FIRST BIG ARENA SHOW PAY-PER-VIEW CO-MAIN EVENT, BIG TIME TITLE FIGHT. DID ANY OF THAT APPEAL TO. >> YOU? >> OF COURSE. FIGHTING ON A PAY-PER-VIEW CO-MAIN EVENT IS IS BIG. IT’S SOMETHING I’VE NOT DONE BEFORE AND IT’S SOMETHING I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO. YOU GOT CHIMAEV AND DU PLESSIS MAIN EVENT, WHICH ALL EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON. EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE HAMZA IN A IN A TITLE FIGHT, SO IT’S GOING TO BRING GOOD EYES TO ME AND IT’S A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR ME NOW IN THE POSITION I’M. >> IN. >> TO MAKE SOME NOISE AND TRY AND GET THAT NUMBER ONE SPOT, BECAUSE A FIGHTER LIKE ME, WHO’S QUIET AND AND WHATNOT, I’VE GOT TO TAKE THESE CHANCES. LIKE, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME NOTHING FOR FREE. >> SO LIKE I SAID, YOU’RE RED HOT. YOU’VE WON EIGHT IN A ROW. GREAT DIVISION. YOU’VE LOOKED VERY GOOD. IS THERE ANY PART OF YOU THAT IS BOTHERED BY THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT A GUY WHO’S COMING OVER FROM BELLATOR, WHO DOESN’T HAVE THE RESUME THAT YOU, THAT YOU’VE HAD, WHO’S MAKING HIS DEBUT. >> NOW AS FAR AS A FIGHT AND FOR ME, FOR ME, I’M GOING IN THERE WITH NO PRESSURE IN IT. THIS DON’T GET IT TWISTED. HE’S COMING FROM ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. BUT THIS KID’S GOOD. THIS KID’S HIGH LEVEL. AND I BELIEVE IT’S LIKE, THIS IS LIKE A CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL FIGHT. HE’S HE’S GOOD ENOUGH TO COMPETE WITH ANYONE IN THAT DIVISION, ESPECIALLY IN THE TOP TEN. SO YEAH, I THINK IT’S A BIG FIGHT AND IT’S A BIG NAME. IT’S A BIG SCALP TO TAKE. >> WERE YOU FAMILIAR WITH HIM? DID YOU WATCH HIM WHEN HE WAS FIGHTING IN BELLATOR? >> YEAH I’VE WATCHED IF YOU WATCH MMA YOU KNOW WHO AARON PICO IS, RIGHT? LIKE LIKE YOU SAID, HE’S ONE OF THE HOTTEST PROSPECTS FROM FROM THE U.S. AND I’VE WATCHED A LOT OF HIS FIGHTS, TO BE FAIR. SO I KNOW WHAT IT BRINGS. I KNOW IT BRINGS TO THE TABLE IS A QUALIFIER DANGEROUS FIRE. AND I THINK HE’LL BRING THE BEST OUT OF ME. I LOVE PRESSURE FIGHTERS. >> BASED ON WHO HE’S FOUGHT, THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION, WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY HE’S NEVER FOUGHT ANYONE QUITE LIKE. >> YOU? >> NAH, HE’S. YEAH, HE’S FOUGHT SOME GOOD GUYS, TO BE FAIR, BUT DEFINITELY NOT THE LEVEL OF GUYS I FOUGHT. I’VE COME. I’VE FOUGHT BETTER FIGHTERS THAN HE HAS. SO I THINK I’VE GOT THE EDGE IN EXPERIENCE. BUT YEAH, LIKE YOU SAID, HE’S WRESTLED FROM A KID AS WELL. SO LISTEN, THE FIGHT IS A FIGHT. I’VE BEEN IN THERE WITH THE BEST OF THE GUYS AND I’LL BE READY FOR AARON PICO. SIMPLE. >> SO. SO I RESPECT THE MINDSET. THERE WAS NO PART OF YOU THAT SAID, NAH, I’VE BEEN HERE FOR A MINUTE. I’VE DONE X, Y AND Z AS A DEBUTANT SHOULD BE FIGHTING SOMEONE ELSE, NOT ME WHO’S WHO’S WON EIGHT IN A. >> ROW. >> BRO, THE GAME’S THE GAME. LISTEN, LIKE FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY ASSERT YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE. YOU SHOULDN’T TAKE THE FIGHT, SIT OUT AND WAIT FOR A FOR A BIG OPPORTNITY. BUT IT’S LIKE, FOR ME, I THINK I THINK THIS IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY. I JUST WANT TO FIGHT AS WELL, BRO. I’M NOT GETTING NO YOUNGER. I JUST WANT TO STAY ACTIVE. I WANT TO FIGHT. WHO SAYS TO WHEN ANYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO BE READY TO FIGHT? EVERYBODY ELSE SEEMS TO GET SURGERY AND WHATNOT. SO I WANT TO BE SAT OUT WAITING UNTIL DECEMBER. NOVEMBER. NO I DON’T I’M READY TO GO NOW. SO WHOEVER, WHENEVER, IF A BELIEVER CAN BE CHAMPION, I’VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT ANYBODY IN ANY GIVEN MOMENT. AND AND THAT’S IT FOR ME. SO WE TOOK THE FIGHT. I KNOW IT’S A TOUGH FIGHT. I KNOW IT’S A DANGEROUS FIGHT. BIG RISK, BIG REWARD IN IT. SIMPLE. AND I’M I’M HAPPY AND I’M EXCITED. >> I LOVE IT. YOU KNOW, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, MAYBE LIKE THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO, YOU, YOU, YOU YOU TWEETED THIS NINE FIGHTS IN AND THE PENNY HAS JUST DROPPED. THIS ISN’T ABOUT WHO IS THE BEST FIGHTER, IS IT? IT IS ABOUT WHO IS THE FAN FAVORITE, WHICH I GET IT’S BUSINESS, BUT I KNOW I BEAT ALL THESE GUYS. WHAT WAS THIS IN REFERENCE TO? WHAT WERE YOU WATCHING? WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU TWEETED. >> THIS? >> THIS JUST FLOORED, BRO. DO YOU KNOW WHAT? I’VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE IN, THEY SAY, AND THEY’RE JUST LIKE, WHY ARE YOU NOT IN THIS POSITION? AND WHY ARE YOU NOT GETTING THESE TYPES OF FIGHTS? WHY PEOPLE, NOT WHY PEOPLE NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU LIKE THEY SHOULD. BUT BRO, IT’S LIKE, I FEEL LIKE MMA NOWADAYS IS LIKE THE WWE. YOU GOT TO HAVE IT. OH, YOU GOTTA HAVE THE ACTING SKILLS. YOU GOTTA HAVE THE LIKE. THERE’S A LOT THERE’S A LOT THAT COMES WITH THE GAME. SO YEAH, THAT’S WHAT I’M WHAT I’M REFERENCING THERE WHEN I’M SAYING THE PENNY JUST DROPPED. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT WHO’S THE BEST FIGHTER. IF IT WAS, THERE’S A LOT OF GUYS THAT WOULD HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE TITLE A LOT A LONG TIME AGO. IT’S NOT. IT’S ABOUT WHO’S THE FAN FAVORITE. AND YOU SEE OTHER GUYS IN DIVISION GETTING BIG, FAST PUSHES. I THOUGHT TWO MAIN EVENTS BEAT TWO GUYS IN MAIN EVENTS, 25 ROUNDERS. I BEAT THREE GUYS IN THE TOP 15 AND I STILL GOT TO WORK. I’VE STILL GOT TO FIGHT THESE PEOPLE. SO THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW IF YOU’RE A FAN FAVORITE, YOU GET, YOU GET FAST TRACKED IN IT AND AND IT’S BUSINESS, I GET IT. IT’S BUSINESS. >> TO THAT POINT, A GUY WHO’S A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF YOU. MOVSAR EVLOEV WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO FIGHT PICO. WHAT DID YOU WERE YOU SURPRISED? I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THAT FIGHT WAS ANNOUNCED. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EVLOEV VERSUS VOLKANOVSKI BECAUSE VOLKANOVSKI HIMSELF, THE CHAMPION, SAID, LET ME FIGHT HIM. I’LL FIGHT THIS GUY. I HAVE NO PROBLEM FIGHTING. AND THEN THEY DIDN’T BOOK HIM AGAINST HIM. DID THAT SURPRISE. >> YOU ? >> LIKE I JUST SAID, I JUST EXPLAINED THE GAME. I JUST EXPLAINED THE GAME, THE GAMES, THE GAME. LISTEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THE UFC’S PERSPECTIVE, IT’S LIKE, WHO’S GOING TO SELL THE PAY PER VIEWS? IT’S A BUSINESS IN IT. SO WHO’S GOING TO SELL? WHO’S GOING TO PAY TO SEE VOLKANOVSKI VOLKANOVSKI THIS EVLOEV, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, BUT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WON’T, AND THEY PROBABLY WANT TO SEE THE DIEGO LOPEZ’S, THE JEAN SILVA AND THE DID YOU GET WHAT I’M SAYING? LIKE THESE, THESE THESE GUYS THAT HAVE GOT A BIT OF HYPE. SO THE GAMES THE GAME IN IT AND LIKE I SAID, IF IT’S IF IT GOES OFF, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE, MAYBE EVLOEV SHOULD HAVE GOT THE TITLE, BUT HE’S JUST HE’S JUST PULLED OUT OF THIS FIGHT HERE. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. SO IT’S GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD FOR HIM. >> I ALSO DID SEE THAT IT SEEMED LIKE YOU WERE HINTING AT A POTENTIAL UK VERSUS UK MATCHUP RECENTLY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT’S NOT HAPPENING. WHAT WERE YOU REFERRING TO THERE? THERE IT IS. THAT’S THE FOLLOWING DAY. LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE UK VERSUS UK. BUT WHERE WHAT WERE YOU REFERRING TO. >> THAT’S BRO. THAT’S THAT’S JUST ME LOSING MY HEAD WHEN I’VE NOT GOT A FIGHT IN MY HEAD. JUST MY HEAD’S JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT I. YEAH THAT’S JUST ME. BUT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO FIGHT ARNOLD ALLEN IT WHEN, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT, I WAS LOOKING AT THE OBVIOUSLY THE RANKINGS AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS MATCHED UP. BUT ARNOLD ALLEN. BUT ME AND ARNIE ARE COOL, MAN. AND I ALWAYS ROOT FOR ARNIE TO TO WIN, OBVIOUSLY. BUT. WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME DIVISION IN IT. AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS THE MATCHUP THE UFC WAS GOING TO MAKE. >> OKAY. SO I WOULD IMAGINE THERE’S A PART OF YOU THAT’S PROBABLY HAPPY YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT A FELLOW COUNTRYMAN. >> YEAH, OF COURSE I’D RATHER FIGHT EVERYBODY ELSE BUT HIM. BUT HE UNDERSTANDS THE GAME. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE GAME. A FIGHTER. WE’RE ALL AFTER THE SAME THING IN IT. AND THAT’S THAT’S A BETTER LIFE FOR OURSELVES. THAT’S THE CHAMPIONSHIP. SO IT’S WHAT IT IS. IF WE GET MATCHED UP, WE FIGHT AND WE’RE COOL AFTER IT. IT IS WHAT IT IS. >> OKAY, SO THIS NOW EXPLAINS LIKE BECAUSE I SAW YOU SAYING STUFF ABOUT THE ABU DHABI CARD, THE PARIS CARD, YOU’RE JUST ITCHING TO GET BACK IN THERE. SO THIS THREE WEEKS THING IS A BLESSING FOR. >> YOU. >> EXACTLY. EXACTLY THAT. I, TO BE HONEST, GOING INTO A 12 WEEK CAMP NOW FOR ME, I’VE BEEN TRAINING, MAN. I’M READY, I’M READY. I’VE BEEN TRAINING. SO GOING INTO A 12 WEEK CAMP FOR ME NOW PROBABLY BE VERY HARD ON THE BODY. SO I’M HAPPY TO GET THREE WEEK CAMP. I GET FIT VERY QUICKLY ANYWAY, AND IT’S PROBABLY A BLESSING BECAUSE I OVERTRAIN I TEND TO OVERTRAIN. SO TWO WEEKS OF TRAINING I’LL BE IN PEAK FITNESS, I THINK. >> SPEAKING OF PEAK FITNESS, RIGHT BEFORE THE EVLOEV FIGHT FELL THROUGH, PICO POSTED THIS PICTURE OF HIM. DID YOU SEE THIS PICTURE OF. >> HIM? >> YEAH, HE’S A BEAST, MAN. HE’S. YEAH. >> WHAT IN THE WORLD? WHAT IS THIS? >> HE LOOKS IN GOOD SHAPE. HE LOOKS IN GOOD SHAPE. >> I’D SAY SO, YEAH. YOU IMPRESSED BY. >> THIS ? >> LOOK, I’M NOT GAY, BRO. >> NO, NO, BUT I MEAN, COME ON, MAN, THAT THAT’S THAT’S IMPRESSIVE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT’S THAT, THAT’S THAT’S PRETTY RIPPED LIKE, NOT EVEN ON FIGHT WEEK. >> YEAH I THINK HE’S IN GOOD NICK. NOT ALL FIGHTERS ARE OR ALL FIGHTERS AT THIS ELITE LEVEL ARE IN GOOD NICK, MAN. HE’S IN GOOD NICK. OF COURSE. >> AS ARE YOU ALWAYS. SO I KNOW I WOULDN’T IMAGINE A JOE SCHMO LIKE ME WOULD BE IMPRESSED BY THAT. YOU’RE JUST LIKE, OKAY, THIS. YOU KNOW, I COULD DO THE SAME THING, RIGHT? EYES LOSED. >> YEAH, THAT’S. >> THAT’S HARD WORK, MAN. THAT’S HARD WORK. WE DO THIS EVERY DAY, BUT IT’S NOT A BODYBUILDING CONTEST. IT’S A IT’S A FIGHT GAME. >> SURE. YOU KNOW WHAT’S INTERESTING? YOU’RE FIGHTING A GUY WHO’S COMING OVER FROM BELLATOR, FL. YOU WERE THE ONE WHO PREDICTED A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT ALL THE TOP NFL GUYS WOULD COME OVER. AND NOW HERE YOU ARE FIGHTING. YOU REMEMBER THAT. >> ONE? >> I DO. >> A LITTLE NOSTRADAMUS. >> HERE. >> I D I’D AND . YEAH, YEAH. DO YOU KNOW WHAT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT? TO BE HONEST ABOUT THIS, I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD COME AGAINST AARON. I’VE LIKE WATCHED HIM COMING UP. AND I ALWAYS KNEW THAT ALL THE BEST FIGHTERS. THE CREAM RISES TO THE TOP AND ALL THE BEST FIGHTERS WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO THE UFC. RIGHT? THE UFC, THE BIG ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD AND EVERYBODY THAT FIGHTS OUT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEMSELVES UNTIL THEY’VE FOUGHT IN THE UFC. RIGHT? SO I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY’S GOING TO EVENTUALLY COME OVER AT SOME POINT. HOPEFULLY IT’S NOT TOO LATE IN THE CAREER. PICO’S STILL YOUNG, SO IT’S A GOOD TIME FOR HIM TO COME OVER AND GOOD TIME TO TEST HIMSELF OVER HERE WITH THE BEST OF THE. >> BEST. >> BECAUSE THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BOOK PICO VERSUS EVLOEV. DO YOU THINK THERE’S A CHANCE YOU DO SOMETHING SPECTACULAR? ON AUGUST 16 THAT YOU GET A TITLE SHOT? VOLKANOVSKI HAS NO ONE RIGHT NOW, NO DANCE PARTNER. DO YOU THINK THERE’S A CHANCE. ? >> 100%, I LISTEN, I THINK THIS FIGHT IS GOING TO BE A FIRE FIGHT. I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE. I THINK WE’RE BOTH GOING TO SHOW OUR WEIGHT IN GOLD. AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE NUMBER 1 CONTENDER FIGHT. THAT WAS THE NUMBER 1 CONTENDER FIGHT. EVERY OVEN. YEAH, 100%. AND OBVIOUSLY THE UFC WANT MORE MORE U.S. CHAMPIONS I BELIEVE I THINK THEY’VE GOT ONE U.S. CHAMPION NOW AT THE MINUTE. YEAH . >> BUT NO MALE CHAMPIONS FROM THE U.S. >> YEAH THAT’S CRAZY. THAT’S CRAZY. SO AND IT’S A U.S. ORGANIZATION SO THEY WANT THEY WANT A U.S. CHAMPION. SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A NUMBER 1 CONTENDER FIGHT. >> HAVE THEY TOLD YOU THAT AT. >> ALL. >> I’VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT I KNOW IN IT I KNOW IF I GO OUT THERE AND DO WHAT I NEED TO DO, DO WHAT I KNOW I CAN DO, EVERYBODY’S GOING TO BE SCREAMING FOR MY SHOT. >> YEAH. ALSO, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY WE SAW PATCHY MIX COME OVER FROM BELLATOR AND HE LOOKED NOTHING LIKE HIMSELF. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THAT SORT OF THING? LIKE, DO YOU CHALK THAT UP TO THE THE LIGHTS? AND DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE A FACTOR IN THIS? I KNOW YOU’RE NOT BANKING ON THAT, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT COULD COME INTO. >> PLAY.? >> SOMETIMES IT’S A FACTOR, BUT I DON’T THINK PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GOES GOES INTO THIS GAME. AND AND THERE’S SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT THAT CAN AND THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN LEADING UP TO A FIGHT CAMP TO A FIGHT THAT CAN MAKE YOU NOT PERFORM ON THE NIGHT. AND I BELIEVE PATCHY MIX IS A HIGH LEVEL FIGHTER, AN ELITE FIGHTER, AND I BELIEVE THAT HE’S JUST GOT A BIT, I THINK THE OTHER KID, FOR A GREAT FIGHT, TO BE FAIR AND IT’S JUST ONE OF THEM, MAN. IT’S A ONE V ONE SPORT AND YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP ON THE NIGHT. YOU CAN’T HAVE NO DAYS OFF. IT’S NOT. IT’S NOT NFL WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A BAD GAME AND THE REST OF THE TEAM WILL CARRY. YOU GOTTA SHOW UP ON THE NIGHT AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE BAD DAYS YOU HAD. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE BAD SPARRING SESSIONS, BUT ON THE NIGHT YOU HAVE TO TURN UP AND THAT’S THAT WAS IT. >> THAT I SAW YOU PLAYING A LITTLE PADDLE. HOW’S YOUR PADDLE GAME THESE DAYS? >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT I’M GETTING? GOOD. YOU KNOW I’M GETTING GOOD. ANYTHING, ANYTHING I DO, I WANT TO BE THE BEST AT IT. YEAH. SO I’VE ACTUALLY PUT MY RACKET IN THE CUPBOARD UNTIL I FINISHED THE FIGHT. BECAUSE I NEED TO BE. I NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THIS FIGHT. BUT I’M DYING TO GET BACK TO IT. >> WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE SWIMMING, THOUGH? IS IT TRUE YOU CAN’T SWIM, BRO? >> YOU CAN’T BE TALKING ABOUT SWIMMING ONLINE, BRO. >> COME ON. I SAW YOU DO AN INTERVIEW. I SAW YOU DO AN INTERVIEW WHERE YOU SAID IT ON YOUR INSTAGRAM . >> YEAH, I CAN SWIM, BUT LISTEN. DROP ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN. I’M DEAD IN 5 MINUTES. 100%. >> WOW, WOW. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TO IMPROVE. >> AT? >> YEAH, BUT I DON’T. I THINK IT’S IMPOSSIBLE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO. YEAH. >> WHY IS IT. >> IMPOSSIBLE? I DON’T KNOW, I HEARD IT’S A GENETIC THING, BUT I DON’T KNOW. >> YEAH. WE, WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF GREAT FIGHTERS USE SWIMMING TO, TO HELP THEIR CARDIO. RIGHT. THEIR ENDURANCE. WE HAD A FIGHTER, A BOXER ON LAST WEEK WHO DOES THESE THINGS WHERE HE PICKS UP WEIGHTS UNDERWATER AND HE RUNS WITH THEM. >> HE. >> SEE, NOW THAT’S NOT FOR ME. THAT ALL THAT UNDERWATER FITNESS CRUZ DOMINICK CRUZ DOES IT. >> YEAH, YEAH. SAN DIEGO. >> SO NOT YOUR. >> THING . >> NO, NO, NO. >> ALL RIGHT. >> I WASN’T TRYING TO CALL YOU OUT. I JUST SAW YOU TALK ABOUT IT. >> I WASN’T. >> I WASN’T SURE IF YOU WERE A MESS. AND WHAT ABOUT THIS ATEBA GAUTIER? WE HAD HIM ON LAST WEEK TO ANOTHER MAN. THIS GUY IS A FREAKING BEAST. HE HITS LIKE. LIKE HIS PUNCHES. LIKE, JUST LOOK AND FEEL LIKE THEY HURT JUST WATCHING HIM ON TV. WHAT DOES HE LIKE IN THE GYM? >> HE’S NEXT LEVEL. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WITH THAT KID THERE, WHAT? I’M SO NOT SURPRISED. BUT WHAT I’M PROUD OF. HE’S STAYING GROUNDED LIKE HE. HE. IF HE SEE ANY OTHER 22, 23-YEAR-OLD GUY GO OUT AND GET TWO BONUSES. >> YEAH. >> AND STILL BE IN THE GYM ON THE MONDAY. STILL BE BRO. ALL THE GUY ALL THE GUY DOES IS WATCH CARTOONS AND TRAIN AND THAT THAT THAT’S THE KIND OF ATHLETE YOU WANT IN THE GYM THAT THAT JUST WANTS TO LEARN AND WANTS TO GET BETTER. AND I BELIEVE HIM IN, IN A FEW YEARS TIME, HE’S JUST GOING TO BE LIKE LIKE NEXT LEVEL. I FEEL SORRY FOR EVERYBODY THAT FIGHTS HIM. >> HE SEEMS LIKE HE HAS ALL THE THE TOOLS. HE JUST NEEDS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE AND IT FEELS LIKE WE CAN BE LOOKING AT SOMEONE WHO’S VERY SPECIAL 100%. >> I YOU SEE THEM PEOPLE AT THEM, THEM ONE IN 1 MILLION PEOPLE THAT COME ACROSS COMING TO THE GAME EVERY NOW AND THEN. I BELIEVE THAT HE CAN BE HE HE IS ONE OF THEM. AND WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING, I THINK HE’LL BE UNSTOPPABLE. >> AMAZING. ALSO NICE TO SEE YOUR TEAM. MANCHESTER TOP TEAM HEAD COACH CARL PRINCE GETTING A LOT OF LOVE. I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GAINING SOME MOMENTUM. I’M SURE THAT MAKES THE GYM. EVERYONE FEEL VERY. >> GOOD. >> YEAH FOR SURE. AND LOOK LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE DOING MAN AND DESERVES DESERVES EVERYTHING. LOOK LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE DOING AS A TEAM. AND WE’VE GOT GUYS ALL OVER THE SHOW IN THE NFL KILLING GUYS. WE’VE GOT ME. I COULD SIT HERE AND NAME 20 FIGHTERS EASILY THAT ARE DOING BIG THINGS. AND EVEN THE CONTENDER SERIES GOT LOUIS LEE, SCOTT COMING ON THE CONTENDER SERIES. ANOTHER GUY YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR. BANTAMWEIGHT BANTAMWEIGHT KID. VERY SPECIAL AND HE’LL BE ON THE CONTENDER SERIES THE THREE DAYS AFTER ME. SO WE’RE GONNA HAVE WE’RE GONNA HAVE LIKE THREE, FOUR GUYS IN THE UFC AND ABOUT FOUR, FOUR GUYS IN THE PFL AT THE MINUTE. SO WE’RE DOING GOOD, MAN. >> BY THE WAY, THIS PAST SATURDAY I WENT TO SEE UNITED PLAY HERE IN NEW JERSEY. YOU KNOW THEY’RE HERE IN THE UNITED. STATES LOOKING PRETTY. >> GOOD. >> I DON’T WATCH FOOTBALL ANYMORE. >> YOU’RE DONE. >> IT DEPRESSES ME. I’M DONE WITH FOOTBALL. >> WHY? WHY? >> BECAUSE THEY WERE SO. >> BAD. >> YES. SINCE. YEAH, SINCE ALEX FERGUSON LEFT. IT’S JUST BEEN GOING LIKE THAT. AND LIKE, I CAN’T. >> FOLLOW ANYTHING. >> I CAN’T REALLY. OBVIOUSLY I LOOK AT THE SCORES, BUT I CAN’T REALLY SPEND 90 MINUTES ON MY DAY WATCHING, JUST GETTING JUST GETTING BEAT EVERY TIME AND PLAYING BORING FOOTBALL. I CAN’T, I CAN’T, I JUST CAN’T. >> DO IT. >> I GET THAT. BUT HERE’S THE THING. IF THEY IF THEY GET BACK ON TRACK, YOU JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON OR. >> WHAT? >> THEN I’LL SUPPORT YOU KNOW WHAT? TO BE HONEST, I’M NOT. I’M NOT REALLY INTO FOOTBALL. THAT MUCH ANYMORE. I JUST LIKE COMBAT SPORTS AND BATTLE AND CHESS. >> CHESS PLAYING? >> YEAH. >> CHESS. >> YES, I LOVE CHESS. >> LOVE THAT. DO YOU LIKE TO WATCH PEOPLE PLAY CHESS AS WELL, OR DO YOU LIKE TO. >> PLAY? >> I PLAY, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I HAVE BEEN WATCHING A FEW GAMES JUST OFF, LIKE THE THE ELITE. >> ELITE GUYS? YEAH. >> JUST LIKE THE WAY THEY THINK IS JUST. IT’S JUST NEXT LEVEL. I CAN’T GET MY HEAD AROUND IT. >> IT’S IT’S GOOD. >> IT’S GOOD FOR THE BRAIN. >> YES IT IS, IT IS. >> WHO GOT YOU INTO. >> THAT? >> YEAH. MY FRIEND JORDAN, ACTUALLY ONE OF MY ONE OF MY TRAINING PARTNERS. A GUY THAT CORNERS ME A LOT. I STARTED PLAYING IN THE BARBOZA CUP. WAS IT THE BARBOZA CUP? YEAH, THE BARBER WHEN I WAS IN AMERICA, IN THE STATES FOR BARBOZA STARTED PLAYING THEN WITH HIM, AND HE PROBABLY WENT ABOUT 30, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I STARTED WINNING. BUT NOW I PICKED IT UP AND WE’RE EVEN NOW WE GET EVEN NOW. >> HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO CHICAGO? >> I’VE NOT, I’VE NEVER. I’VE ONLY BEEN TO VEGAS AND L.A. IN THE STATES, IN SAN DIEGO. >> GREAT CITY. GREAT. HOW, HOW HOW FAR IN ADVANCE WILL YOU BE GOING? >> I WILL GO FIGHT WEEK THIS TIME. IT’S A SHORT CAMP, SO I’LL DO TWO WEEKS HERE. OF HARD TRAINING. THEN I’LL GET OUT THERE FOR THE LAST WEEK. FOR THE WEEK. >> YOU WON’T NEED MORE TIME TO GET ACCLIMATED TO THE TIME. >> ZONE. >> 6 HOURS WOULD BE NICE. >> IT WOULD BE NICE TO DO THAT. BUT WE HAVEN’T GOT WE HAVEN’T GOT. WE CAN’T DO THAT THIS THIS TIME. SO WE’LL WE’LL MAKE IT WORK. WE’VE DONE IT BEFORE. WE’LL MAKE IT WORK. >> WILL YOU GET THE DEEP DISH AFTER THE FIGHT? YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE VERY FAMOUS PIZZA THERE. YOU HEARD ABOUT. >> THIS? >> I’M GETTING TEN. I LOVE PIZZA PIZZAS. >> OH, REALLY. >> I LOVE PIZZA. I’LL BE SPENDING. WHAT I’LL BE SPENDING AS MUCH AS I CAN ON PIZZA AFTER THE FIGHT, I CAN’T WAIT. >> OKAY. >> SO I’M CURIOUS. I’M CURIOUS TO TO GET YOUR TAKE AFTERWARDS BECAUSE THERE’S SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE BIG. I LOVE PIZZA TOO, BUT THE DEEP DISH IS LIKE REALLY THICK. IT’S LIKE A PIECE OF CAKE. >> YOU KNOW. >> I PREFER NEW YORK. TO BE HONEST. I’VE NEVER HAD THE DEEP DISH, BUT I LOVE NEW YORK PIZZA, SO WE’LL SEE. >> ALL RIGHT. >> WE’LL WAIT FOR YOUR REVIEW. GOOD LUCK IN TRAINING. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. CAN’T WAIT FR THE FIGHT. LOVELY THAT YOU GOT IT. VERY, VERY EXCITED FOR YOU AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FIGHT AS. >> WELL. >> LOOK FORWARD TO IT. IT’S GOING TO BE FIREWORKS. TRUST ME 100%. >> ALL THE BEST LAUREN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE HE. >> IS. >> THE MAN LERONE MURPHY THE PRIDE OF MANCHESTER. RETURNING TO ACTION ON AUGUST 16. THAT’S UFC 319. IT’S THE CO-MAIN EVENT. EVERYONE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND NOW THEY KNOW THAT THE CO-MAIN EVENT IS GOING TO BE AARON PICO VERSUS LERONE MURPHY. AND IF I’M BEING HONEST, I KIND OF THINK THIS MAKES A HELL OF A LOT MORE SENSE THAN THE THE EVLOEV FIGHT. THE QUESTION IS, THOUGH, IS EVLOEV NEXT? OR IS THE WINNER OF THIS FIGHT NEXT? AND THERE’S ALSO THE JOHN SILVA FIGHT COMING. UP ON SEPTEMBER 13. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO DO. THERE’S A BIT OF. A THERE’S A BIT OF A TOURNAMENT BREWING AT THE MOMENT, BUT I LIKE THIS FIGHT. >> A LOT. >> SO THE LINEUP IS THIS IS THE NEXT PAY PER VIEW. THERE’S TWO, THERE’S TWO APEX CARDS AND THEN IT’S THIS ONE AND THEN IT’S THE CARD IN CHINA. AND THEN THERE’S A BREAK. THEY RETURN POST-LABOR DAY DDP VERSUS HAMZA, LERONE MURPHY VERSUS AARON PICO, TIM ELLIOTT VERSUS KAI ASAKURA LOVE THAT ONE. SOLID JARED CANNONIER AGAINST MICHAEL “VENOM” PAGE. THAT ONE’S REALLY FLYING UNDER THE RADAR. I FEEL. LIKE GEOFF NEAL VERSUS CARLOS PRATES. THAT’S A SOLID FIVE FIGHTS. WAIT, IS THAT SIX FIGHTS? ONE, 23. THAT’S FIVE FIGHTS. I LIKE THAT PAY-PER-VIEW. THEN WE’VE GOT KARINE SILVA AGAINST JJ ALDRICH, ANTHONY HERNANDEZ AGAINST CHASE HOOPER. >> DIG IT. >> NURSULTAN ROH AGAINST BRYAN BATTLE LIKE THAT ONE. JÉSSICA ANDRADE BACK. DOES ANYONE FIGHT MORE THAN JÉSSICA ANDRADE IGE? I FEEL LIKE SHE FIGHTS EVERY TWO MONTHS AGAINST LOOPY GODINEZ. GERALD MEERSCHAERT AGAINST MICHA÷ OLEKSIEJCZUK. KING GREEN AGAINST DIEGO FERREIRA. EDSON BARBOZA VERSUS DRAKKAR KLOSE. THERE’S NO I MEAN LIKE EDSON BARBOZA VERSUS DRAKKAR KLOSE OPENING UP THE SHOW SOLID . >> GARBRANDT FIG ESQUE. >> YEAH, START START FROM THE TOP. READ THE READ THE TOP FIGHT ONE MORE TIME. >> DDP VERSUS. >> ALL RIGHT WE’RE GOOD. YEAH. DON’T CARE I DON’T CARE WHAT THE REST OF IT SAYS. >> I SAW SOMEONE TWEET THAT THE OTHER DAY ABOUT UFC 300. THEY WERE LIKE FFS, FIGGY GARBRANDT OPEN THE CARD AND I JUST WAS DYING TO MYSELF. >> BY THE WAY. >> ENTOURAGE WAS ON THAT ONE. >> TOO. >> LIKE LEGIT IS JUST LIKE SHE HAS BECOME THE KEVIN HOLLAND OF WOMEN’S MMA. IT’S UNBELIEVABLE. LET ME JUST GRAB A CHECK. I’M NOT GETTING GETTING BACK INTO TITLE CONTENTION. 115125 WHEREVER YOU NEED ME, LET ME JUST CUT A CHECK RIGHT QUICK. >> SO YOU KNOW WHAT’S CRAZY? SHE FOUGHT IN MEGAN’S JASMINE PRIOR TO THAT. HER LAST FIGHT WAS IN SEPTEMBER. WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE SHE FIGHTS EVERY TWO MONTHS? >> NO, BECAUSE WHAT WAS HER FIGHT BEFORE. >> THAT? >> APRIL. >> AND THEN NOVEMBER? >> YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK? >> AUGUST? >> I THINK WE’RE JUST IN OUR HEADS BECAUSE OF HER FIVE FIGHT. 2023. >> 2023 IS NUTS. JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MAY, AUGUST. NOVEMBER. >> YEAH, SHE WAS MOVING BACK IN. >> APRIL. >> NOT A TON OF WINS THERE. SHE’S LOST TWO IN A ROW. BUT GOLLY, HOW MANY FIGHTS TOTAL? 26-14 THAT’S 40. >> THIS IS A SOLID CARD. MAN 319 IS GREAT. >> 319 IS REALLY GOOD. I’M NOT . >> KIDDING. >> I LIKE IT. >> I DON’T THINK YOU ARE, MAN. >> I MEAN. >> IT’S A GREAT IT’S A GREAT MAIN CARD MAN. >> PEOPLE WERE UPSET ABOUT THE TBA VERSUS TBA. I’M LIKE FIRST OF ALL, TBA OR NO TBA. IT WAS STILL A GREAT CARD. >> AND THE TBA IS A AMAZING, GREAT FIGHT. I CAN’T WAIT FOR. >> I SAW SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINING, BUT LIKE IT’S FINE. >> WHAT DID WE WANT? >> BY THE. >> WAY? CHICAGO FANS. THEY’VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT GETTING A CARD FOR YEARS NOW. THEY’RE GETTING AN INCREDIBLE TITLE FIGHT AND A VERY SOLID UNDERCARD AGAIN. BARBOZA VERSUS DRAKKAR KLOSE IS YOUR CURRENT JERKER. COME ON. OKAY, WHICH IS THE PREDICTION. WHO IS VOLKANOVSKI FIGHTING. >> NEXT? MOVSAR YEAH. >> I THINK SO TOO. >> YOU THINK THEY JUST RIGHT THE WRONG AND SAY, OKAY. >> I THINK IT WILL COME DOWN TO VOLKANOVSKI WANTS TO BE ACTIVE AND AT A CERTAIN POINT THEY CAN’T HOLD IT UP. YOU KNOW, LIKE VOLK IS GOING TO IS GONNA FORCE THE ISSUE, WHICH IS I NEED TO FIGHT. GIVE ME WHO’S AVAILABLE. AND MOVSAR WILL BE THE ONE THAT’S AVAILABLE . >> DO YOU THINK LAUREN WASN’T TOO IMPRESSED WITH THE AARON PICO PICTURE? I WAS LIKE, BUT LOOK AT THE FACE. >> I MEAN, TO BE FAIR THOUGH. >> CHILL OUT BRO, CHILL OUT. >> TO BE FAIR, LAUREN IS IN. >> HE’S IN INCREDIBLE SHAPE. >> YEAH, LIKE INSANE. LAUREN. >> LOOK AT HOW HE’S LIKE. THAT’S ALL VASCULAR AND STUFF. >> YEAH, HE’S VASCULAR. I MEAN, HE’S RIDICULOUSLY JACKED. WHO AM I TO JUDGE? LOOK AT. LOOK AT THE SHORTS. IT’S SO MICHAEL CHANDLER ESQUE. IT’S UNREAL. >> THEY’RE ROLLED. >> UP. >> YEAH. >> EVERY TIME I SEE IT, I’M LIKE, OH, MIKEY C LOOKING GOOD. >> OH WAIT. >> THAT. >> IS IT’S THE MONSTER. IT’S IT’S. >> YEAH, IT IS THE WHOLE THING. YEAH YEAH YEAH. THE CRAZY THING ABOUT IT, IT WAS, IT WAS A MONTH BEFORE THE. >> FIGHT. >> YEAH. >> LIKE IT WASN’T WEEK OF. >> I WANT TO KNOW THE PERCENT BODY FAT IN THAT PICTURE. >> THAT’S LIKE. >> TWO. >> THAT REALLY IT’S SINGLE DIGITS FOR SURE. IT’S JUST WHAT IS IT. BECAUSE THAT’S. THAT IS CRAZY. >> HE WASN’T FEELING IT. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY, BRO? >> WHAT DO YOU WANT HIM TO SAY? HE’S FIGHTING HIM IN, LIKE, THREE WEEKS. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW. >> WHAT HE THOUGHT. >> YOU WANT HIM TO GO D1 GLAZER ON HIM? LIKE, COME ON. >> THIS GUY’S A D1. GLAZER, BRO. >> ARE. >> THERE? IT IS, THERE IT IS. I WAS WONDERING WHEN IT WOULD COME UP. >> THIS IS MY FAVORITE SEGMENT. >> I WAS D1 GLAZING HIM. >> OH MAN. RIGHT. >> YEAH I MEAN CREDIT WHERE IT’S. >> DUE. >> I DON’T KNOW. >> I WAS IMPRESSED. >> I’M NOT TRYING TO BE HATER HERE. >> WE’RE ALL IMPRESSED. BUT HE HAS TO GET INTO A CAGE FIGHT WITH HIM IN SHORT ORDER. >> I KNOW, I KNOW. , WHAT ABOUT BELLEMARE? >> DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT? >> I DID. >> SEE BELLEMARE IS A BEAST. >> I’M NOT EVEN GONNA LIE. THIS IS HOW NEW OF A FAN I AM. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW CHICKEN WING WAS A SUBMISSION. >> OH, YEAH. LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT THIS. SHE’S LIKE BOB BACKLUND OUT. >> THERE. >> FURY FC. SHE SHE IMPROVES NOW TO FOUR. >> AND OH. >> TALK ABOUT JACK. SHE’S. YES SHE’S IN GOOD. >> SHAPE. >> FRANK WHAT A JOURNEY THESE. TWO HAVE BEEN ON AND WILL BE ON TOGETHER. GOD BLESS I LOVE IT I LOVE SEEING FRANK IN. THIS IN THIS CHAPTER OF HIS LIFE NOW. >> MATCHING PURPLE WITH HER. >> OH IT’S GREAT NOW. NOW SHE GOES BACK TO SCHOOL. I LOVE THIS. LIKE THIS IS LIKE HER SUMMER SIDE QUEST. LET ME GET A UFC BJJ MATCH. LET ME GET AN MMA FIGHT AND I’LL GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND DO MY. >> THING. >> COULD YOU IMAGINE IF SHE REPRESENTS THE STATES IN 2028? STILL GOT THREE MORE YEARS, BUT WHAT A FREAKING STORY THAT WOULD BE. LOVE IT. CONGRATULATIONS TO HER. CONGRATULATIONS TO TO FRANK, TO THE WHOLE FAMILY. GREAT GREAT STORY. AND SHE’S GOT SOME SOME TALENTED BROTHERS AS WELL. OKAY. FINAL GUEST OF THE DAY. AND HE WAS A PART OF PERHAPS THE MOST TALKED ABOUT. I DON’T EVEN THINK IT’S PERHAPS THE MOST TALKED ABOUT STORY OF THIS PAST WEEKEND. MOST TALKED ABOUT. FIGHT SPECIFICALLY AND OF COURSE BY NOW, YOU KNOW STEVEN NGUYEN MOHAMMAD YAHYA BACK AND FORTH THEY WENT. BUT REALLY, IT WAS A LOT OF IT WAS A LOT OF ACTION COMING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE EQUATION. OFFICIALLY, THEY SAY SIX KNOCKDOWNS. I THOUGHT IT WAS SEVEN. NEVERTHELESS, MOST EVER IN UFC HISTORY, A VERY DOMINANT, VERY ONE SIDED PERFORMANCE. YOU’VE SEEN THE PICTURES BY NOW OF YAYA’S FACE. THEY SAY NO FACIAL FRACTURES. I DON’T KNOW HOW THAT’S POSSIBLE. I THINK THE FIGHT WENT ON WAY TOO LONG, BUT THAT TAKES NOTHING AWAY FROM FROM WHAT STEVEN DID. HE HE FOUGHT UNTIL THEY TOLD HIM TO STOP FIGHTING. HE DID EXACTLY WHAT HE IS TOLD TO DO. WHAT EVERY FIGHTER IS TOLD TO DO. A VERY, VERY SOLID AND IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE FOR STEVEN NGUYEN, WHO IS KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US. NOW, LET US SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT WHAT TRANSPIRED IN ABU DHABI. THERE HE IS. HELLO, STEVEN, HOW ARE YOU? >> I’M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? >> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN. WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT. >> NOW? >> I’M ACTUALLY IN DUBAI RIGHT NOW. IT’S 12:00 A.M. RIGHT HERE. >> OH, MY. >> GOD, I JUST GOT BACK FROM. FROM DOING A DESERT SAFARI AND CAME STRAIGHT BACK TO THIS INTERVIEW. SO HERE I AM. >> WELL, THANKS FOR DOING IT SO LATE OVER THERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN. WHAT HAS LIFE BEEN LIKE FOR YOU SINCE THIS FIGHT? BECAUSE AS I SAID, EVERYONE HAS HAD AN OPINION. EVERYONE’S BEEN TALKING, SHARING PICTURES, ALL THAT. >> STUFF. >> YEAH, IT’S BEEN IT’S BEEN A LITTLE CRAZY THESE LAST 48 HOURS. OBVIOUSLY, I’VE GAINED A LOT OF NEW FANS, A LOT OF ATTENTION. I’M DOING INTERVIEWS WITH YOU, SO IT’S COOL. IT’S BEEN COOL. BUT YEAH, IT’S IT’S BEEN A CRAZY LAST 48 HOURS ESPECIALLY FOR ME. LIKE, I’VE, I’VE WORKED SO HARD AND I’VE KIND OF LIKE BECAME SOMEBODY THAT, LIKE, NO ONE REALLY KNEW TO LIKE, NOW EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT IT. SO LIKE, IT’S KIND OF LIKE AN OVERNIGHT TYPE OF FEELING. BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW, I’M JUST TRYING TO I’M JUST TRYING TO KEEP MY HEAD ON STRAIGHT AND NOT, NOT GET TOO SUCKED INTO ALL OF THIS. >> SURE. AND OBVIOUSLY I KNOW YOUR JOURNEY DIDN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. YOU KNOW, YOU’VE WORKED VERY HARD, YOU’VE HAD HIGHS, YOU’VE HAD LOWS, BUT ALL VERY WELL DESERVED AND WELL EARNED. YOU’RE IN THE FLOW OF THE FIGHT, SO YOU’RE NOT WATCHING IT LIKE WE ARE. WE’RE SITTING ON OUR COUCHES WATCHING IT ARE AT ANY POINT ARE YOU THINKING LIKE, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO THIS GUY TO PUT HIM AWAY? WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO WIN THIS FIGHT? >> YEAH, HONESTLY, LIKE I REMEMBER HIM KNOCKING DOWN, KNOCKING HIM DOWN A FEW TIMES. I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER THAT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE LIKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES, BUT I GUESS I KNOCKED THEM DOWN A. >> LOT. >> BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIGHT, LIKE I WAS JUST TRYING TO FINISH HIM IN AND LIKE, I THINK I GASSED MYSELF OUT, LIKE TOWARDS THE END OF THE SECOND ROUND, I WAS LIKE, MAN, I DON’T EVEN WANT TO PUNCH THIS GUY ANYMORE. LIKE, EVERY SINGLE TIME I KNOCKED HIM DOWN, I TRIED TO FINISH HIM. HE WAS JUST STILL THERE. SO. SO YEAH, I MEAN, AT THE I WAS JUST TRYING TO FINISH HIM THE WHOLE FIGHT, MAN. I WASN’T EVEN THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES I KNOCKED HIM DOWN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT AT ANY POINT. DID IT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE LOOKING AT HIS FACE. YOU’RE KNOCKING HIM DOWN REPEATEDLY. ARE YOU THINKING LIKE, THIS IS NOT FUN ANYMORE? >> WELL, I MEAN, FOR ME, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO FINISH HIM. SO, LIKE, WHEN I KNOCKED HIM DOWN, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS MY CHANCE. THIS IS MY CHANCE. BUT IT KEPT HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AND OVER. AND I THINK THE ELBOW I WAS IN MOUNT AND I WAS KIND OF REWATCHING THE FIGHT. I ELBOWED HIM WHILE I WAS IN MOUNT, AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT CAUSED THAT CUT OR THAT BIG HEMATOMA RIGHT UNDER HIS EYE THAT SWELLED HIS EYE SHUT. AND THEN THAT WAS LIKE THE SECOND ROUND END OF THE SECOND ROUND. I THINK THAT’S WHAT. >> HAPPENED. >> THERE WAS A PERIOD, AS I THINK YOU ALLUDED TO IN THE SECOND ROUND WHERE HE DROPPED YOU. AND PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THE FIGHT, YOU KNOW, DIDN’T GO ON TOO LONG WILL POINT TO THAT MOMENT. IT JUST SEEMED TO ME LIKE MAYBE YOU WERE A LITTLE BIT TIRED. LET YOUR GUARD DOWN. WHAT HAPPENED. >> THERE? >> WELL, REWATCHING THE FIGHT, LIKE I HAD MY HANDS UP. HE WAS ABLE TO JUST SPLIT MY GUARD RIGHT THROUGH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE MMA GLOVES, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GET THROUGH YOUR GUARD QUITE EASILY. SO HE WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH MY GUARD SOMEHOW, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY HANDS UP AND WOBBLED ME, YOU KNOW, LIKE HE FOUGHT HIS OFF, YOU KNOW, LIKE HE HE WAS THERE. HE WANTED TO WIN IN HIS HOMETOWN AND LIKE, HE, LIKE, FOUGHT LIKE A WILD DOG IN THERE. THAT’S PROBABLY THE MOST HE’S THROWN IN ANY OF HIS FIGHTS. AND IT WAS A DOGFIGHT. >> SO WHEN DO YOU THINK THE FIGHT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. >> STOPPED? >> AFTER WATCHING. >> IT? >> AFTER ALL, I HONESTLY THOUGHT, I MEAN, THE THING IS, EVERY SINGLE TIME I WENT TO GO FINISH HIM, LIKE HE WAS STILL LIKE LOOKING AT ME, HE HE ACTUALLY TALKED TO ME AT ONE POINT LIKE, HEY, MAN, JUST LET ME UP. WHAT? WHISPERED IN MY EAR, YEAH, I WAS ON TOP OF HIM. AND LIKE, WE WERE KIND OF. I WAS JUST LAYING ON HIM, ELBOWING HIM, AND HE WAS LIKE, JUST LET ME UP. JUST LET ME UP. SO HE WAS STILL CONSCIOUS. I DON’T THINK HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR A LITTLE BIT WHEN I KNOCKED HIM DOWN, BUT LIKE, HE WAS STILL DEFENDING HIMSELF. BUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, LIKE, THAT’S NOT UP TO ME. LIKE ALL I WAS THINKING ABOUT, I WAS JUST IN KILL MODE, MAN. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING? >> YEAH. WHEN HE SAID THAT TO YOU, DID YOU SAY ANYTHING. >> BACK? >> NO. I WAS ACTUALLY JUST SURPRISED THAT HE SAID THAT. I WAS LIKE. AND THEN HE SHOT A TAKEDOWN ON ME, LIKE, TWO OR THREE TIMES. I NEVER SHOT ONE TAKEDOWN. YOU KNOW, I’M A STAND UP GUY. I LIKE TO STAND UP AND BANG. AND THEN HE GOES AND SHOOTS A TAKEDOWN ON ME. SO I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED. BUT, YOU KNOW, I TRY NOT TO LET ANY OF THAT MENTAL WARFARE GET TO ME DURING THE FIGHT. SO I JUST DIDN’T EVEN THINK ABOUT. >> IT AT ANY POINT IN BETWEEN ROUNDS. DID THE DID YOU HEAR THE REFEREE, JASON HERZOG, SAY ANYTHING TO HIM? LIKE, I’M GOING TO STOP IT OR SAY ANYTHING TO YOU? WAS THERE ANY SORT OF EXPLANATION. >> WELL BEFORE IN THE LOCKER ROOM, LIKE JASON WAS JUST TELLING ME, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE, THE RULES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND HE DIDN’T REALLY TELL ME ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT, LIKE, FINISHES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. LIKE HE WAS JUST TELLING ME, IF YOU JUST KEEP, YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE, IF I JUST KEEP PUNCHING THIS GUY, KEEP PUNCHING THIS GUY, JASON WILL HAVE TO STOP IT AT SOME POINT. RIGHT? BUT I GUESS HE DIDN’T. I MEAN, EVERY SINGLE TIME, LIKE THE FIRST FEW KNOCKDOWNS, LIKE I SWARMED HIM. I WAS PUNCHING HIM NONSTOP. AND AT SOME POINT, AT ONE POINT, I WAS LIKE. I WAS LIKE, I GOT THIS. >> YES. >> YES. >> IT WAS SO. >> STRANGE. YEAH. AND THEN HE STILL DIDN’T STOP IT. LIKE I REALLY WANTED TO WALK OFF KO, BUT HE DIDN’T STOP IT. SO I WAS SURPRISED. LIKE I WAS LIKE, I’M I GUESS I’M JUST GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK IN THERE AND ELBOW THIS GUY A FEW MORE TIMES. MAN. >> I THINK JASON IS ONE OF THE VERY BEST REFEREES IN THE GAME. I JUST THINK HE HAD A REALLY, REALLY BAD NIGHT AT THE OFFICE THERE, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY HARD TO WATCH. DO YOU THINK THAT’S UNFAIR? YOU WERE IN THERE. DO YOU THINK IT WAS UNFAIR? DO YOU THINK THE CRITICISM THAT HE’S RECEIVED HAS BEEN UNFAIR? >> YEAH. YOU KNOW, LIKE AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE, I THINK HE’S JUST DOING HIS JOB AS FAR AS LIKE I SAID, LIKE WHEN I WAS FIGHTING MUHAMMAD LIKE HE WAS STILL CONSCIOUS AS FAR AS, LIKE HAVING HIS GUARD UP. HE WASN’T COMPLETELY LIKE LAID OUT HOLY CROSS STYLE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY LAID OUT. HE WAS STILL CONSCIOUS. I WAS PUNCHING HIM, BUT HE WAS STILL THERE, LIKE, AND I THINK EVEN AFTER THE EYE INJURY, LIKE HE WAS TELLING ME LIKE BEFORE I GOT MY HAND RAISED, HE WAS. >> LIKE. >> YOU KNOW, I STILL WANTED TO FIGHT. I STILL WANTED TO GO. SO, YOU KNOW, PROPS TO HIM FOR HAVING THAT HEART. >> YOU KNOW? NOW YOU, YOU’VE YOU’VE TIED CONOR MCGREGOR SEVENTH PLACE FOR MOST KNOCKDOWNS IN THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION BECAUSE YOU GOT SIX IN ONE NIGHT. I THINK YOU ACTUALLY GOT SEVEN. BUT THEY SCORED IT AS SIX. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU VAULTED UP THE THE KNOCKDOWN RANKINGS IN THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION. AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR STORY WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS WELL DESERVED, WELL EARNED FOR YOU. BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT HAS BEEN A BIT OF AN UP AND DOWN JOURNEY. THREE FIGHTS ON THE CONTENDER SERIES LOSE THE FIRST ONE, WIN THE SECOND ONE. DON’T GET THE CONTRACT AND WIN THE THIRD ONE. WAS THERE ANY POINT THAT YOU THOUGHT MAYBE YOU WOULDN’T GET THIS MOMENT A UFC WIN? THIS WAS YOUR FIRST. WAS THERE ANY POINT WHERE YOU STARTED TO DOUBT YOURSELF? >> NO, NO, NEVER. YOU KNOW, LIKE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN MY LIFE, LIKE, THIS IS JUST IN MY LIFE IN GENERAL. LIKE I’M ALWAYS GOING TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD, LIKE JUST LIKE YOU SAID, THE CONTENDER SERIES, LIKE I WANT MY SECOND FIGHT . AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DOMINANT AND DOMINANT FASHION. I STILL DIDN’T GET THE CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, AND I LOST MY UFC DEBUT, YOU KNOW, SO I KNEW THIS MOMENT WAS GOING TO COME AT SOME POINT. AND IT’S JUST ALL THROUGH JUST TRAINING AND GETTING GETTING BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY AND PUTTING THAT HARD WORK IN, YOU KNOW, AND AND NOW ESPECIALLY NOW, LIKE I’M GOING TO WORK DOUBLE AS HARD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE NOW YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED. LIKE I’M ONLY JUST MORE MOTIVATED. I’M JUST SO READY TO GET BACK TO THE GYM AND TRAIN EVEN HARDER. >> NOW. >> I BELIEVE YOUR FAMILY IS IS A COLLECTION OF VERY SMART, EDUCATED PEOPLE, RIGHT? DOCTORS? WHAT ARE YOUR WHAT ARE YOUR SIBLINGS? YOUR PARENTS? WHAT DO THEY DO? >> SO I JUST HAVE I HAVE ONE SISTER. SHE’S A DOCTOR. >> OKAY. OH, WOW. >> MY DAD’S. YEAH. MY. MAYBE. MAYBE I CAN SEND HER TO MUHAMMAD. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> YEAH, BUT MY DAD’S A PHARMACIST. AND MY MOM, LIKE, SHE OWNS, LIKE, PROPERTIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND, I MEAN, EVERY EVERYBODY ON MY DAD’S SIDE IS LIKE, DENTISTS AND DOCTORS AND LAWYERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I’M THE. I’M THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY. I’D LIKE TO SAY I’M THE ONLY ONE THAT. DOES FIGHT PROFESSIONALLY. YES. >> SO WHAT DID YOUR SISTER SEE? >> THE FIGHT? >> OH, YEAH. SHE DEFINITELY SAW THE FIGHT. >> WHAT DID SHE SAY ABOUT IT? >> THE WHOLE FAMILY HAD A WATCH PARTY. SHE. SHE WAS VERY EXCITED. YOU KNOW, THEY MY SISTER AND EVERYBODY, LIKE, BACK HOME. THEY SUPPORT ME A LOT. SO THEY. IT WAS NOT I MEAN THE, THE, THE HUMAN TOE ON HIS EYE WAS REAL NASTY THOUGH. LIKE, I, I FELT BAD DEFINITELY JUST SEEING IT ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ESPECIALLY WHEN DANA WHITE POSTED IT, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS LIKE, OH, MAN. BUT I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, THAT THERE WAS NO FRACTURES OR, YOU KNOW, HIS CT SCAN CAME BACK CLEAN. >> SO, YES. >> WHICH IS LIKE THE BIGGEST MIRACLE OF ALL. I DON’T KNOW HOW THAT’S POSSIBLE. YES. AND THAT’S CRAZY THAT YOUR SISTERS AND I, DID SHE HAVE ANY SORT OF DIAGNOSIS? WHAT DID SHE WHAT DID SHE THINK HAPPENED TO HIM? >> I HAVE NO IDEA. SHE NEVER. SHE NEVER SHE NEVER MENTIONED IT. OKAY. EXACTLY WHAT SHE THOUGHT. I’LL HAVE TO ASK HER. >> ACTUALLY. >> EARLY ON, WHEN YOU DECIDED TO DO ALL THIS, WHAT DID YOUR FAMILY SAY ABOUT YOU? AS YOU SAID, YOU CALLED YOURSELF THE BLACK SHEEP. WERE THEY SUPPORTIVE OR THINKING YOU WERE CRAZY? >> THEY DEFINITELY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY. MAN. I HAVE LIKE, TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE ASIAN PARENTS. LIKE, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GREW UP. LIKE DOING, YOU KNOW, OR LIKE THEY PROMOTE DOING. THEY WANTED ME TO GO TO SCHOOL, GO TO COLLEGE, BECOME A DOCTOR, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT I DID, FINISH COLLEGE, THOUGH, JUST FOR THEM. >> WHICH SAW STATE RIGHT. SHOCKERS. >> WICHITA STATE YEAH, YEAH WSU. SO I GOT MY DEGREE THERE AND YEAH YOU. KNOW SO THEY DEFINITELY DID SUPPORT ME IN THE VERY BEGINNING YOU KNOW. BUT I WENT UNDEFEATED. >> AND. >> AND IN MY AMATEUR CAREER AND STARTED DOING YOU KNOW THEY STARTED SEEING THE SUCCESS, YOU KNOW, AND THEY STARTED SEEING LIKE THE GRIND BEHIND IT, LIKE THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD A MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT MMA WAS. YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT TATTOOED UP BIG, YOU KNOW, JUICE HEADS FIGHTING EACH OTHER. BUT MAN, THERE’S SO MUCH THAT GOES BEHIND THE TRAINING AND THE MENTAL WARFARE AND ALL THAT. AND NOW MY MY FAMILY, THEY’RE MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS. >> DID YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST FIGHT WHEN YOU WERE 15? >> YEAH, I HAD MY FIRST. I HAD MY FIRST FIGHT. THAT’S MY FIRST FIGHT. WHEN I WAS 15, I FOUGHT I FOUGHT A 21-YEAR-OLD KID. I REMEMBER MY FIRST TIME FIGHTING. I FOUGHT IN MY OLD TAEKWONDO SHIN GUARDS, SWIM TRUNKS AND A T-SHIRT BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT MY. I WAS ASHAMED OF MY BODY. I DIDN’T WANT MY. I WAS A LITTLE BIT CHUBBY BACK THEN, SO I FOUGHT IN A T SHIRT THAT WAS OUT. THAT WAS INSIDE OUT. OH MY GOD, LONG JUSTIN. I HAD LONG JUSTIN BIEBER HAIR AND I HAD THE OLD CENTURY BOXING GLOVES ON AND IT WAS MMA. WE FOUGHT MMA WITH BOXING GLOVES ON, I REMEMBER THAT. >> DID YOU TELL YOUR PARENTS YOU WERE DOING. >> THAT? >> NO, I ACTUALLY I ACTUALLY FORGED THEIR SIGNATURE ON THE THING. >> WHEN DID YOU REVEAL THIS. >> TO THEM? YEAH, I TOLD HIM THAT A FEW YEARS LATER. AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE, IT WAS IT WAS KIND OF A JOKE AFTER THAT, BUT, LIKE, THEY HAD NO IDEA, LIKE, I WOULD, I WOULD GO AFTER SCHOOL TO GO TRAIN AT THIS MMA GYM AND I WOULD TELL THEM I WOULD JUST BE AT A FRIEND’S HOUSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THEN AFTER A WHILE I’D COME BACK WITH LIKE LITTLE BLACK EYES AND, YOU KNOW, LITTLE BUMPS AND BRUISES HERE AND THERE. AND THEY WOULD THEY ENDED UP FINDING OUT. AND I TOLD THEM THAT THEY THEY WENT TO MY VERY FIRST FIGHT WHEN I WAS 18, WHEN I COULD LEGALLY FIGHT AS AN AMATEUR. >> SO INCREDIBLE. AND WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION LIKE? WHY DID YOU GO DOWN THIS PATH? WERE YOU A BIG MMA FAN? >> I MEAN, I’M A HUGE MMA FAN, SO I WAS BORN IN 1993 , AND I THINK THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT THE UFC STARTED. >> YEP. >> AND MY DAD USED TO WATCH IT ON LIKE THE OLD TV, TV, CASSETTES, YOU KNOW, AND I REMEMBER WATCHING IT WITH HIM AS A KID, YOU KNOW, LIKE ALL THE, LIKE THE OLD ROYCE GRACIE SHAMROCK, LIKE ALL THOSE GUYS. AND LIKE, I LITERALLY JUST KIND OF GREW UP INTO JUST WATCHING IT MY WHOLE LIFE, YOU KNOW, SINCE UFC ONE. SO I JUST BEEN A FAN SINCE DAY ONE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY LIKE MY HERO ANDERSON SILVA. I’VE BEEN WATCHING HIM FOREVER. OH, AMAZING. AND, YOU KNOW, HE’S LIKE MY BIGGEST HERO. >> SO HAVE YOU EVER MET HIM? >> I HAVEN’T MET HIM YET, BUT I HAVE A FEELING ONE OF THESE DAYS I WILL. >> YES. FOR SURE. WE FOUND AN OLD, LIKE, TV NEWS REPORT FROM WICHITA IN 2019 . WHEN THE UFC CAME TO WICHITA IN 2019. AND THEY DID A STORY ON YOU, LIKE THE LOCAL KID WHO WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT BIG. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. >> HERE. >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, A LONG TIME AGO. YEAH YEAH. YEAH YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT. YEAH I REMEMBER THAT. YES. >> LOOK AT YOU. KW 12. >> THE OLD LOCAL. YEAH. OLD LOCAL NEWS STATION. YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT. I WAS LIKE THIS IS MY DREAM. LIKE TO BE IN THE UFC. I THINK I WAS LIKE FOUR OR 5-0 AT THAT POINT. AND LIKE I WAS JUST THAT WAS I MEAN, THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN MY DREAM SINCE I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, SINCE I HAD MY VERY, YOU KNOW, FIRST FIGHT, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT’S IT’S CRAZY TO KIND OF LOOK BACK ON IT AND SEE THIS FOOTAGE BECAUSE I HAVEN’T SEEN THIS FOOTAGE IN YEARS. AND LIKE, THIS IS MY OLD GYM. THIS OLD GYM WAS INSIDE OF A, LIKE A BOX GYM. IT’S CRAZY MAN. WOW. YEAH. >> WHAT A JOURNEY . THAT CARD. >> GYM. >> THAT CARD WAS DERRICK LEWIS VERSUS JB’S IN WICHITA. DID YOU GO TO. >> THAT? >> YES, I DID GO TO THAT. THAT WAS MY FIRST UFC EVENT EVER, MAN. YEAH, I DID GO. >> TO THAT. THERE IT IS. >> YES. MAN. >> THAT WAS A LONG TIME. >> YES. >> AND NOW NOW HERE YOU ARE IN THERE MAKING HISTORY IN A UFC CAGE IN ABU. >> DHABI. MAN. >> YES. IT’S A CRAZY FEELING FOR SURE. >> AND ARE YOU TRAINING WITH FORTIS MMA? >> YEAH, I’M TRAINING WITH FORTIS MMA RIGHT NOW. YES, YES. >> SO YOU MOVED OUT THERE. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE. >> THEM.? >> SO I LIVED I LIVED IN WICHITA, KANSAS FOR A WHILE, AND I KIND OF OUTGREW THE AREA. NOT NOT NOT NOTHING BAD. I HAVE NOTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT ANY OF THE THE TEAMS OUT THERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. LIKE I JUST GOT TO THE POINT TO WHERE I WANTED TO EXCEL MYSELF INTO THE UFC, AND I NEEDED MORE HIGH LEVEL TRAINING PARTNERS AND JUST JUST A BIGGER, A BIGGER REALM FOR FOR MY FIGHT CAREER. AND I MET COACH SAFF AND MY TEAMMATE AT THE TIME, MILES JOHNS, WAS ALSO TRAINING THERE, AND HE TOLD ME, HEY MAN, JUST COME DOWN FOR A WEEK, COME GET SOME TRAINING IN. SO I WENT DOWN THERE FOR A WEEK, GOT SOME TRAINING IN AND LIKE COACH SAY, YOU KNOW, ME AND COACH SAFE MADE A REALLY GOOD CONNECTION AND WE KIND OF CLICKED THERE AND I WOULD SLOWLY COME BACK THERE FOR ONE OR TWO WEEKS AT A TIME. HE’S LIKE, LOOK, MAN, IF YOU WANT TO BE IN THE UFC, LIKE YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO GIVE EVERYTHING UP. YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE DOWN HERE AND JUST JUST DO IT FULL TIME. AND JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, I’LL HELP YOU OUT WITH ANYTHING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE THEN, I’VE BEEN THERE LIKE, WE’VE I’VE BEEN NOTHING. I’VE BEEN DONE NOTHING BUT GROW. SO IT’S IT’S A BLESSING FOR SURE. >> YOUR LAST FIGHT WAS ABOUT 16 MONTHS AGO. WHY SO LONG IN BETWEEN FIGHTS ? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT, THAT THAT FIRST FIGHT, LIKE, FIRST OF ALL, LIKE, THAT WAS A WAR OF A FIGHT. LIKE MY LIFE IS SPLIT. LIKE I HAVE A SCAR RIGHT HERE. I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR A FEW DAYS. LIKE THAT WAS A WAR. SO I WAS INJURED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. LIKE MY CALF KIND OF TOOK. I’M NOT GONNA LIE. MY LEG TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO, LIKE, KIND OF FULLY RECOVER. LIKE, EVEN AFTER A FEW MONTHS. LIKE, IF SOMEONE EVEN TAPPED ME THERE, I WOULD FEEL THE NERVES JUST KIND OF SHOOT UP. SO THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I WAS OUT AND THEN AFTER THAT, LIKE, I DIDN’T REALLY HEAR TOO MUCH FROM THE UFC. I’M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED. LIKE, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO FIGHT A LITTLE BIT SOONER, BUT YOU KNOW, I HAVE A GREAT MANAGER, I HAVE A GREAT TEAM. BUT WE WERE NEVER REALLY OFFERED ANYTHING AFTER LIKE A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE FIGHT. I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK. SO IT WAS KIND OF JUST A WAITING GAME AND I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT. I’M A FIGHTER. I WAS LIKE, IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT. SO AT THAT POINT IT WAS FRUSTRATING. BUT I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? IF I JUST STAY? IF I JUST STAY READY, KEEP GETTING BETTER, LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY WILL COME AT SOME POINT . AND THEN THIS FIGHT CAME. >> OUT. >> IT WAS A IT WAS I ONLY HAD A SHORT CAMP. IT WAS A SIX WEEK CAMP. SO BUT I WAS MY BODY WAS ALREADY READY SINCE I WAS TRAINING. SO . AND MY PLAN WORKED OUT. >> I MENTIONED THE, THE I DON’T KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE THE MOST CONTENDER SERIES FIGHTS. I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S A RECORD AS WELL, BUT THREE IS UNIQUE. SO YEAH. AND IN 2-3 YOU WIN NUMBER TWO. THAT WAS LIKE A TWO YEAR GAP IN BETWEEN. WHAT DID YOU DO IN BETWEEN THAT TIME . >> IN BETWEEN THAT TIME, LIKE I’M TRYING TO REMEMBER THAT WAS A WHILE AGO. IN BETWEEN I HAD LIKE ONE FIGHT I THINK, OR NO, THAT WAS AFTER I DON’T REALLY REMEMBER. >> ACCORDING TO YOUR RECORD, YOU HAD NO. >> FIGHTS. >> OKAY. YEAH. AT THAT, AT THAT POINT, YEAH. I DON’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THAT. I THINK AT THAT POINT, LIKE MY MANAGER OR COACH, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU’LL YOU’LL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK ON THE CONTENDERS. JUST WAIT . THAT AND WE ACTUALLY I REMEMBER WE HAD A LOT OF FIGHTS FELL THROUGH AND I WAS I KEPT GETTING INJURED. I KEPT GETTING INJURED. >> OKAY. >> BUT A LOT OF INJURIES AND A FEW FIGHTS FELL THROUGH. AND THEN ALSO LIKE, OH, HEY, MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST WAIT FOR THE CONTENDER SERIES. IT’LL HAPPEN AGAIN. OR IT WAS IT WAS JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS. BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY WANT TO BE MORE ACTIVE. YOU KNOW, I’M NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER. AND ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THIS MOMENTUM, LIKE I’M EVEN MORE MOTIVATED TO TRAIN. I DON’T HAVE ANY BIG INJURIES THIS TIME. AND I JUST KIND OF WANT TO GET RIGHT WHEN I GET BACK TO DALLAS. I KIND OF WANT TO GET RIGHT BACK ON THE GAS. >> MAN. >> WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GOT THAT THIRD CRACK AT CONTENDERS, DID YOU FEEL LIKE THAT WAS DO OR DIE FOR YOU IN THE UFC? >> OH, ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT WAS LIKE. A THAT’S LIKE MY NEW SLOGAN, NOW KILL OR BE KILLED LIKE THAT. I WENT INTO THAT FIGHT LIKE DEMON MODE, BRO. LIKE LIKE THIS IS IF I DON’T GET SIGNED HERE OR IF I DON’T WIN THIS FIGHT, LIKE MY HOPES OF BEING IN THE UFC, LIKE THEY’RE NOT GOING TO CALL ME BACK FOR A FOURTH TIME. THERE’S NO WAY. SO I WAS LIKE, THIS IS THIS IS DEFINITELY DO OR DIE. AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT, THAT TRAINING CAMP, THAT FIGHT, LIKE I’LL REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. LIKE I WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HUMAN BEING. LIKE, THAT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE, THIS IS THAT FIGHT WAS FOR MY DREAMS. >> SO YEAH, I CAN’T IMAGINE WHAT THAT FEELING WAS LIKE WHEN WHEN YOU FOUND OUT YOU GOT THE CONTRACT. >> YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS IT WAS A BIG RELIEF. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE, WELL, I’M JUST NOW GETTING IN. I’M STILL A ROOKIE. LIKE, I HAVE SO MUCH, I HAVE SO MUCH THAT I HAVE LEFT TO DO IN THE SPORT. LIKE THERE’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT I’M GOING TO REACH FOR, YOU KNOW, EVEN NOW. SO I’M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE. >> DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO MUHAMMAD AFTER THE. >> FIGHT? >> SO LIKE RIGHT AFTER I, YOU KNOW, I, I SHOOK HIS HAND. I TALKED TO HIM A LITTLE BIT, I COMMENT. HE MADE A POST ON INSTAGRAM AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON IT. I WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO LET HIM KNOW. IT WAS AN HONOR TO SHARE THE CAGE WITH HIM AND LIKE, I WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK IN HIS IN HIS CAREER AND HIS FAMILY AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. >> SO GREAT. >> YOU KNOW, NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR HIM, YOU KNOW, AND AND I LOVE I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE HERE AND THE HOSPITALITY HERE. LIKE THE HOTEL STAFF, LIKE JUST THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN AMAZING. AND I KNOW IT’S HIS HOMETOWN. SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE, NO, NO DISRESPECT TO HIM. IT WAS JUST BUSINESS IN THE CAGE. >> AND YEAH. >> THE THE MARKS ON YOUR FACE. IS THAT FROM THE THE THE DESERT SAFARI OR IS THAT FROM THE FIGHT. >> MAN. THAT’S THAT’S FROM THE FIGHT. >> OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. SO HE GOT SOME SHOTS IN TWO. WASN’T ALL ONE SIDED. >> GOT A FEW SHOTS. YEAH. HE GOT A FEW SHOTS. AND YOU KNOW LIKE I SAID THAT’S PROBABLY THE MOST AGGRESSIVE I’VE SEEN. HIS FIGHTS. THE TWO OTHER FIGHTS THAT HE’S HAD HE’S KIND OF JUST BEEN HE MOVES BACKWARDS A LOT AND HE’S KIND OF MORE OF A PASSIVE STRIKER. BUT THIS FIGHT HE REALLY THREW DOWN MAN. HE HE SURPRISED ME AS FAR AS WANTING TO BRAWL AND WAS READY TO JUST THROW DOWN BECAUSE THAT’S MY STYLE. LIKE, YOU KNOW, I GO IN THERE AND I WANT TO BE EXCITING RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND I LOOK FOR THE KNOCKOUT RIGHT AWAY. AND HE MATCHED THAT ENERGY. YOU KNOW? >> SO WHO DO YOU WANT. >> NEXT? >> THERE’S NOBODY THAT I REALLY WANT NEXT. WHAT I WANT NEXT IS JUST JUST TO KEEP GETTING BETTER. AND YOU KNOW, I’M GOING TO TALK TO MY MANAGER, JASON HOUSE, WHEN I GET BACK TO THE STATES, AND WE’LL FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT MOVE IS. BUT THERE’S ONLY ONE THING IN MY MIND, LIKE, I WANT TO KEEP MOVING UP, AND I DO WANT TO STAY MORE ACTIVE. AND YEAH, THIS IS I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY TIME. >> NOW. >> WELL, INCREDIBLE STUFF MAN. CONGRATULATIONS. IT WAS ENTERTAINING. IT WAS MEMORABLE. I WAS WATCHING THE FIGHT WITH MY 11-YEAR-OLD SON AND HE’S LIKE, ARE ALL THE FIGHTS LIKE THIS? WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? WHY ISN’T THIS GUY OUT OF THE FIGHT YET? BUT VERY IMPRESSIVE. VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE STUFF. AND YEAH, KEEP BUILDING ON THIS AND I WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK IN THERE. THANKS FOR DOING THIS SO LATE. I WASN’T AWARE THAT YOU WERE STILL OVER THERE, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS SO LATE. >> YEAH, I’M HEADED BACK TOMORROW, BUT YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH MAN. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING AND THANK YOU. >> OKAY. TAKE CARE. SAFE TRAVELS. >> HOME. >> ALL. >> APPRECIATE YOU. >> THERE HE IS. STEVEN NGUYEN WITH THE BIG WIN ON SATURDAY. THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT WIN I WANTED TO PULL UP. THE STATS HERE. LET’S GO. IT WAS THE SECOND. >> FIGHT. >> I SAID SECOND OR. >> THIRD. >> FIRST ROUND. STEVEN NGUYEN 59 OF 112. >> SIGNIFICANT STRIKES. >> MOHAMMAD YAHYA 33 OF 86. TOTAL STRIKES FOR STEPHEN, 65 OF 120. MUHAMMAD 33 OF 86. >> SECOND ROUND. >> 33 OF 62 FOR WIN 30-3 OF 62, 24 OF 65. YEAH. THREW THREE MORE STRIKES THAN HIM IN THE SECOND ROUND. AND THEN AS FAR AS TOTAL STRIKES 43 OF 74, 27 OF 68-0 FOR FOUR. AS FAR AS TAKEDOWNS FOR MUHAMMAD, 040 FOR STEVEN NGUYEN LUQUE. LIKE I SAID, I THINK THAT JASON HERZOG IS ONE OF THE VERY BEST REFEREES IN THE BUSINESS. >> LIKE TOP ONE GLAZER BRO. >> NO NO NO. STOP IT, STOP IT. WITH THAT TOP TWO. TOP THREE. MAX. MAX, THAT WAS AWFUL REFEREEING. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THAT FIGHT TO HAVE CONTINUED. AND IF YOU WANT TO POINT TO THE OH, THE KNOCKDOWN IN THE SECOND ROUND, LIKE, YEAH, THE GUY WAS FIGHTING FOR HIS. >> LIFE. >> THERE’S NO WAY. AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE INJURY IS LIKE. YOU CAN’T JUST TELL ME LIKE, OH NO FACIAL FRACTURES. LIKE NO, LIKE EYES DON’T TURN THAT WAY. THEY DON’T BECOME THAT. THEY DON’T LIKE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN. I’M SORRY. I THOUGHT THAT THAT. >> WAS HORRIFIC. >> AND AND AND SOME PEOPLE BROUGHT UP. THE DERRICK LEWIS VERSUS TEIXEIRA FIGHT JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. HOW DO YOU STOP THAT. >> FIGHT. >> CAGE? GRAB OR. >> NOT. >> WHEN FIGHTER SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND LET THIS ONE GO. >> ON. >> HOW DOES THAT. >> HAPPEN? >> IT WAS IT WAS REALLY BAD. LIKE THE MULTIPLE KNOCKDOWNS ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. >> THE I. >> THE GUY. IS A WARRIOR. THIS IS THE POST BY THE WAY. HE MENTIONED THE POST HE JUST WROTE. I THINK HE WROTE ALHAMDULILLAH AND STEPHEN WROTE TO HIM, YOU’RE A WARRIOR. IT WAS AN HONOR TO SHARE THE OCTAGON WITH YOU, MY BROTHER. NOTHING BUT THE BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. VERY RESPECTFUL, BOTH OF THEM. >> INCREDIBLE HEART. >> BUT THAT FIGHT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED IN THE FIRST ROUND. >> I THOUGHT. >> AND IN THE SECOND ROUND, THANK GOD IT WAS STOPPED GOING INTO THE THIRD ROUND. IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO WATCH AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS UNNECESSARY. AND YOU. >> KNOW. >> HERE’S THE THING. HERZOG’S GETTING A LOT OF. HEAT AND AND I THINK IT’S JUSTIFIED. BUT WHAT ABOUT MOHAMMAD YAHYA CORNER? WHY DIDN’T THEY STEP IN? WHY DIDN’T THEY SAY NO. >> MAS? >> WE KNOW WHY. WE KNOW WHY. IT HAPPENS MORE IN BOXING AS OPPOSED TO MMA, BECAUSE THERE’S THIS SHOW WIN PAY SCALE AND THEY DON’T WANT TO SCREW IT UP. AND YOU KNOW, THERE’S ALWAYS THAT CHANCE. PAT BARRY, CHEICK KONGO, THERE’S ALWAYS THAT CHANCE. IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME AND HE’LL BE. >> BACK. >> AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS HE’LL BE FINE. BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS DISTURBING. AM I OFF BASE HERE, GUYS? DID YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY WATCHING THIS? >> I DEFINITELY THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED. >> YEAH, 100%. >> I WAS LIVID WATCHING. >> THAT. >> I THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED. YOU KNOW, A HANDFUL OF TIMES, LIKE, HONESTLY, IT’S IT’S THE KNOCKDOWNS. AND THEN THE A.I. BECOMES A PROBLEM. AND I’M KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WATCH A LOT OF FIGHTS, LADS. I THINK THAT’S FAIR TO SAY. I HAVEN’T BEEN THAT ANIMATED WATCHING A FIGHT IN A VERY LONG TIME. AND I ECHO EVERYTHING YOU’RE SAYING ABOUT JASON HERZOG. I THINK HE’S A GREAT REFEREE, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE. LIKE, I WAS I WAS TRYING TO LIKE, CAN HE NOT SEE THIS GUY’S EYE LIKE HE, HE HAS SEEN THE KNOCKDOWNS. HE’S OBVIOUSLY LETTING THIS GO. AND YEAH, I KNOW HE SCORED THAT KNOCKDOWN AT ONE POINT. BUT THAT WAS A BRIEF MOMENT IN IN AN ONSLAUGHT REALLY FOR FOR AS LONG AS THE FIGHT LASTED. YOU KNOW YOU’RE SAYING ARIEL AT THE END OF THAT LIKE BY ALL ACCOUNTS HE WILL BE FINE. BUT LIKE THAT’S NOT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. THE REALITY THE FIGHT GAME IS WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE’S CAREERS, SOMETIMES YOU’LL SEE A MATCH UP LIKE, SAY, YAN AND MCGHEE. LAST WEEKEND, AND ONE OF THEM IS 35. THAT’S MCGHEE. ONE OF THEM IS 32. THAT’S YAN. BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT YOUR AGE. IT’S ABOUT MILES ON THE CLOCK. AND YAYA WENT AND PUT MILES AND MILES AND MILES ON HIS CLOCK THAT DAY. LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS GUY IS TOYING CONOR MCGREGOR FOR THE MOST KNOCKDOWNS. AFTER ONE FIGHT. >> YEAH. >> LIKE THIS IS THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF. A FIGHTER CAN ONLY BE HIT SO MANY TIMES. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS EGREGIOUS. AND AGAIN, HERZOG IS QUALITY. IT’S A VERY TOUGH SPOT TO BE IN. IT’S THE HARDEST JOB IN THE SPORT. BUT I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE. AND AS I SAID, WE WATCH A LOT OF FIGHTS. I CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I WAS SCREAMING AT AT AT MY TV FOR TO GO TO 5 MINUTES WATCHING A FIGHT. AND IT WAS, IT WAS VERY, VERY TOUGH TO WATCH AS FAR AS I’M. >> CONCERNED. >> NOT, NOT MEANT AS A AS LIKE, YOU KNOW, AN APOLOGY OR A DEFENSE OF JASON HERZOG. BUT I DO CONSIDER THE KNOCKDOWNS IN THE EYE. TWO SEPARATE THINGS, RIGHT? THE REFEREE ISN’T STOPPING THE FIGHT FOR THE EYE. THAT WOULD BE THE DOCTOR’S PREROGATIVE, RIGHT? IF THE EYE IS COMPROMISED AND THE FIGHTER CANNOT CONTINUE BASED ON THAT, THAT’S GOING TO BE THE DOCTOR’S DECISION TO MAKE, NOT NECESSARILY THE REFEREES. AS FAR AS THE KNOCKDOWNS THEMSELVES, I, I THAT IS THE PART THAT I, I DON’T HAVE A DEFENSE FOR. AND I DIDN’T AGREE WITH THE FIGHT CONTINUING. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT IN YAHYA TO TO DO THERE. HE HE HAD LOST THAT FIGHT THAT WAS OVER AND ALL. >> I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE EVER GOTTEN TO THE EYE. RIGHT. LIKE I THINK THE FIGHT COULD HAVE ENDED AT SOME POINT IN THE FIRST DUE TO THE MULTIPLE KNOCKDOWNS. >> IT COULD HAVE. I DON’T THINK ANYBODY WOULD HAVE BEEN UP IN ARMS IF THAT FIGHT WAS OVER. AFTER THE FIRST. >> I THINK. I THINK ONCE THAT THIRD KNOCKDOWN LANDED, IT WAS JUST LIKE, ALL RIGHT, MAN. >> YEAH. >> BECAUSE THE. FIRST. THE FIRST COUPLE, LIKE HE WASN’T COMPLETELY OUT. ACTUALLY, HE WASN’T OUT ON ANY OF THEM. BUT LIKE, IT DOES GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU’RE KNOCKING HIM DOWN SO MANY TIMES WHERE IT’S LIKE, ALL RIGHT, DUDE, STOP THE FIGHT. THIS IS A ONE SIDED AFFAIR. >> FIVE IN THE FIRST. >> ROUND, FIVE. >> AND THERE’S ONE THAT THEY’RE NOT SCORING FOR SOME REASON. >> BECAUSE IT WAS A SLIP. >> THEY SAID IT WAS A SLIP. >> YEAH. I MEAN IT WAS SLIP BECAUSE HE WAS LIKE HE WAS ALL OVER THE GAFF. >> YEAH. YEAH. DID HAVE THAT MOMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND. YEAH. >> HE HEARD HIM. >> THE MOMENT WAS RIDICULOUS. >> I MEAN LOOK WE ALSO DO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT STEVEN JUST SAID TO YOU, LIKE HE WAS CONSCIOUS HE WAS THERE WHEN I WAS FIGHTING WITH HIM. HE WAS TALKING BACK TO HIM. >> COME ON, MAN. >> LET ME. AND SO THERE HAS LIKE I IMAGINE IF JASON HERZOG COULD SPEAK, HE WOULD SAY SOMETHING SIMILAR. WE OBVIOUSLY WILL NOT HEAR FROM HIM. I IMAGINE ON THIS, BUT IF HE WERE TO SPEAK, HE WOULD BE SAYING THAT HE DIDN’T WANT TO STOP THE FIGHT PREMATURELY BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE THE FIGHTER WAS STILL HAD SOME FIGHT IN HIM. I, YOU YOU MADE A VERY GOOD POINT, WHICH IS THAT THE CORNER PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING FIRST, EVEN IF THE I THINK THE REFEREE DID NOT DO AS GREAT A JOB AS THEY SHOULD. BUT THE CORNER, I THINK, IS THE ONE WHO WAS THE MOST NEGLIGENT. IF WE’RE IF WE’RE ASSIGNING BLAME HERE, YOU STOP THAT FIGHT. YOUR FIGHTER HAS NOTHING LEFT. THIS IS JUST FOR HIM TO TAKE MORE DAMAGE. I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. THE YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE EYE AS AS WE’VE HEARD, BUT TO PETE’S POINT, THOSE MILES DON’T COME BACK. THE MILES THAT HE GOT PUT ON HIM IN THAT FIGHT, THEY DON’T COME BACK. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU KNOW STRUCTURE LIKE HE’S NOT IN THE SAME PLACE THAT AMANDA RIBAS IS IN TODAY, RIGHT? LIKE HIS EYE IS NOT COMPROMISED IN THAT WAY. BUT THE DAMAGE THAT HE TOOK OVER THE OVER THE COURSE OF THAT FIGHT IS NOT TIME. AND SPIRIT THAT YOU CAN GET BACK. >> DAVE SHAW, UFC EXECUTIVE, WAS AT THE POST-FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE. DANA WHITE WASN’T THERE. HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS. THE QUOTE WAS, WE TALKED TO HERZOG AFTER, AND HE WAS COMMENTING THAT THERE WAS CERTAIN MOMENTS IN THE FIGHT WHERE YAHYA LOOKED LIKE HE WAS RIGHT BACK IN IT, SO HE’D GET KNOCKED DOWN. HE GOT KNOCKED DOWN QUICKLY. I THINK THERE WERE FIVE IN THE FIRST ROUND AND MAYBE TWO MORE IN THE SECOND. I THINK HOW RAPIDLY HIS EYE CHANGED AND GOT SWOLLEN AND BULGED UP. WHAT DO I THINK? DEFINITELY THERE WAS A SOLID ARGUMENT FOR THAT FIGHT. COULD HAVE BEEN CALLED EARLIER, BUT HE PROVIDED HIS JUSTIFICATION AND IT SEEMED FINE TO ME. THE OTHER SIDE OF IT NOW, TOO, IS POST MEDICAL EVALUATION GOING TO THE HOSPITAL JUST ALL SWELLING. SO THERE’S NO DAMAGE, NO PERMANENT DAMAGE THAT REQUIRES SURGERY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. AND AND THEN HE WAS ASKED BY A REPORTER, AND THIS IS ALL COURTESY OF MMA JUNKIE. BY THE. >> WAY. >> IF THIS COULD LEAD TO A THREE KNOCKDOWN RULE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. AND HE SAID, NO, I DON’T THINK SO. THE RECORD WAS FIVE. I DON’T WANT TO MAKE A JUDGMENT LIKE HE’S NOT. HE’S NOT THE ONE THAT’S GOING TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT FIVE IN THE FIRST ROUND IS PRETTY ABSURD. >> OH NO, IT’S IT’S UNPRECEDENTED. AND THAT JUSTIFICATION I UNDERSTAND LIKE, LOOK, I DON’T AGREE WITH IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT. WHEREAS WHAT’S THE CORNER’S JUSTIFICATION. WHAT. THEY DON’T HAVE SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON THERE. WHEREAS LIKE MY JASON HERZOG COULD, COULD COMFORTABLY DEFEND THE IDEA OF LUQUE, THIS FIGHTER SEEMED COMPOSED AT THAT POINT, AND I, I DECIDED NOT TO STOP THE FIGHT. BUT IF YOU’RE THE CORNER, WHAT JUSTIFICATION COULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE ? THAT TO ME, FALLS MORE ON THE CORNER. ALTHOUGH THERE IS THERE IS BLAME TO GO AROUND IN THIS. >> I REALLY WISH, I REALLY, REALLY WISH THAT WE COULD HEAR FROM JASON HERZOG. I REALLY WISH THAT HE COULD PUT OUT A STATEMENT. JUST GIVE US SOME SORT OF EXPLANATION. WHY DID YOU FEEL LIKE HE COULD KEEP GOING? WHY DIDN’T YOU STOP AT FIVE KNOCKDOWNS? WHY WASN’T THAT ENOUGH? WHAT WAS GOING ON? YOU’RE ONE OF THE VERY BEST IN THE GAME. YOU ARE, IN SOME PEOPLE’S EYES, THE GOLD STANDARD. WHO ARE THE BEST? HIM. MARK GODDARD. AT THIS POINT I WOULD TOP OF MIND. I WOULD SAY IT’S HIM AND GODDARD WHO WHO MAKE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MISTAKES. LIKE THE FACT THAT WE NEVER TALK ABOUT THEM IN ANY SORT OF CONTROVERSY. YOU KNOW, HERB IS OBVIOUSLY UP THERE AS WELL. I WOULD SAY THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF QUESTIONABLE ONES, BUT THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. THEY’RE IT’S A VERY TOUGH SPORT TO TO OFFICIATE. IT’S VERY SUBJECTIVE. I MEAN, THIS IS SUBJECTIVE, RIGHT? WE DON’T KNOW IF IT’S A 107 OR 108. I MEAN IF THIS WAS BOXING IT WOULD BE LIKE A 104. I’M KIDDING, OF COURSE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU DON’T SEE FIVE KNOCKDOWNS IN A FIGHT IN BOXING. SO I UNDER I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT AND APPRECIATE HOW TOUGH IT IS. I WOULD JUST LOVE SOME SORT. OF EXPLANATION, SOME SORT OF ANSWER. EDUCATE US. WHY WERE WE UP IN ARMS AND YOU WEREN’T? >> AND WHAT DID YOU SEE IN THIS ONE TO LET IT KEEP GOING FOR THIS LONG THAT YOU DIDN’T SEE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN NASHVILLE? YEAH, IN THE TALLISON TEIXEIRA FIGHT. >> YEAH. >> COULD IT BE A HANG UP FROM THAT? LIKE, THAT’S WHAT I WAS STARTING THINKING. LIKE, HE’S GETTING SO MUCH LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT IT LIKE THESE GUYS, THEY GET A LOT OF ONLINE AND I’M SURE I’M ADDING TO THAT NOW WITH MY BREAKDOWN OF HOW I SAW THAT FIGHT. BUT IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THESE GUYS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE MORTALS, THEY ARE FALLIBLE LIKE ANY OF US, AND THEY’RE ONLINE LOOKING AT PEOPLE GOING LIKE, HOW THE DO YOU STOP THAT FIGHT? BLAH BLAH, BLAH. YOU DON’T KNOW, LIKE SUBCONSCIOUSLY THEY’RE WATCHING THIS FIGHT AND THEY’RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAID LAST TIME? LIKE, YOU JUST DON’T KNOW. AND IT AGAIN, THIS LIKE IT’S THE TOUGHEST JOB. IT REALLY IS. LIKE I DOUBT ANY REFEREE GOES THROUGH A MONTH OF FIGHTS WITHOUT CATCHING SOME KIND OF STRAY ONLINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT HONESTLY, LIKE, I DON’T. I’D LOVE TO BE WHERE YOU’RE AT RAKI÷ AND BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND TO SOME DEGREE. I DON’T I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT LIKE, I LIKE I’VE, I’VE WATCHED SO MANY FIGHTS AND I JUST CAN’T REMEMBER FEELING LIKE THAT, WATCHING A FIGHT, BEING LIKE, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. LIKE, HOW IS THIS FIGHT GOING ON? AND AT SOME POINT I WAS JUST LIKE, WELL, HE’S NOT GOING TO STOP IT. LIKE, THEY’RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT TILL HE GOES BACK TO THE CORNER AND THEY HAVE A LOOK AT THAT EYE. YEAH. AND IN TERMS IN TERMS OF THE EYE, MY POINT WAS LIKE WE’VE SEEN REFEREES STOP THE FIGHT TO ALLOW A DOCTOR TO COME IN AND LOOK AT THE EYE. LIKE, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN EYE LIKE THAT? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL LOOKING INJURIES EVER. YOU KNOW. >> WE HAVE SEEN EYES LIKE THAT. WE’VE SEEN BAD HEMATOMAS BEFORE, AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY LEAD TO THE TO THE STOPPAGE LIKE IT DID. >> BUT I. >> YEAH, I WILL JUST HAVE TO DISAGREE THERE BECAUSE I, I AGAIN I DON’T AGREE WITH THE JUSTIFICATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE JUSTIFICATION IS. I JUST DON’T AGREE WITH IT. I WAS WATCHING, I WOULD HAVE STOPPED IT SOONER. >> I WAS WATCHING WITH THREE DUDES THAT NEVER WATCHED UFC, AND IT WAS THE FIRST FIGHT WE WATCHED TO THE NIGHT AND THEY WERE LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? DOES THIS HAPPEN? EVERY FIGHT? I WAS LIKE, NO, THEY LITERALLY JUST SET A RECORD FOR THE MOST KNOCKDOWNS IN A SINGLE FIGHT. >> OH MY GOD. >> THEY WERE LIKE, THIS IS THIS IS BRUTAL. >> I WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET WATCHING THAT BE LIKE. HEY. SON, COME HERE, LET’S WATCH SOME UFC. IT’S 11:00 IN THE MORNING AND HE’S LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? WHAT IS HAPPENING? >> I WANT TO SEE WHAT DADDY DOES FOR A LIVING. >> YEAH, I ACTUALLY WAS BUMMED. I WANTED TO SHOW HIM BUCHECHA, BUT WE MISSED IT. >> THANK GOD. OH YEAH. I ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. >> OH, BOY. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> OH, YEAH. AND THEN WHAT WAS THE NEXT ONE? WHAT WAS THE ONE RIGHT AFTER THAT ONE? THERE WAS WHAT WAS THE ONE RIGHT AFTER. AND IT WAS HISTORICALLY BAD. >> GOD. OH IT WAS THE THEY THREW NO STRIKES. IT WAS. >> YEAH. >> YES , YES, YES. I WAS. LIKE PICK THE WRONG ONE. >> YEAH. >> PICK THE. >> WRONG ONE. >> NO. OR THE RIGHT ONE. >> NO. YES. NO. HE ACTUALLY. >> WOULD. >> YOU PREFER. >> IF YOU COULD TRADE. >> THE TWO THAT I SHOWED HIM WAS THAT ONE AND THE SHARA BULLET ONE. >> YEAH. THOSE ARE SICK. >> YEAH. >> SHARA BULLET WAS SICK. >> WELL, I DON’T THINK WE’LL HEAR FROM JASON FROM TIME TO TIME. HE SHOWS UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S HIS ACTUAL, LIKE. >> I SEE HIM, LIKE, QUOTE, TWEETING SOME PEOPLE. >> IS THAT HIS ACTUAL ACCOUNT, THOUGH? >> OH, I CAN’T CONFIRM. YOU KNOW, I CANNOT CONFIRM. >> LET ME ASK YOU A SERIOUS QUESTION, THOUGH. YES. WHATEVER HE IS TO SAY, IS THAT GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO PEOPLE? DOES HE DO HIMSELF ANY FAVORS BY SPEAKING? IS WHAT I’M ASKING. >> YEAH, I THINK SO. >> I DO, I DO. >> IN WHOSE EYES? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING. >> THINGS LIKE. >> SAY, IF HE COMES ON AND HE SAID, LIKE, I COULD HEAR THIS GUY TALKING THROUGHOUT THE THING, LIKE, LIKE I’M GOING TO STOP IT. I CAN HEAR HIM SHOUTING AT THIS GUY SAYING, JUST LET ME UP. JUST LET ME UP. I’M LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE’S LEVELS OF WHAT WE’RE SEEING VERSUS WHAT HE’S SEEING. OBVIOUSLY, SHORES TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT. LIKE, I DON’T THINK IT WILL CHANGE, LIKE WHERE I’M AT WITH IT, BUT I DO THINK IT’S BETTER TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY TO SOME DEGREE. LIKE, YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK I REMEMBER GODARD IN SOME SITUATIONS. HE CAME ON AND TALKED TO YOU AND IT KIND OF IT AT LEAST GAVE EVERYONE A FULL DECK OF CARDS. RIGHT? WE ALL KNEW WHAT WE WERE PLAYING WITH THEN. MAYBE MAYBE IT DIDN’T ABSOLVE HIM OF ANYTHING, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF LIKE, JOURNALISM AND REPORTING ON THE SPORT, THE MORE THE MORE VOICES, THE MORE PEOPLE’S ANGLES ARE THE THING, THE BETTER. I THINK FOR EVERYONE. >> FOR THE TRANSPARENCY. STEVEN SAID THAT AND IT DIDN’T CHANGE YOUR POSITION, SO I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH HE HAS WON. >> AT THE END OF THE FIRST ROUND, HE DEFINITELY WASN’T SAYING LET ME BACK UP WHERE HIS LIKE LEG BENT BACK AND HE FELT LIKE THE ONE AT THE END OF THE FIRST ROUND I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A WALK OFF KO. THAT WAS LIKE THE MOST HORRENDOUS ONE. >> I THINK HE HE EVEN PUT HIS HANDS UP. >> YEAH. >> LIKE HE’S. >> LIKE, DO YOU NOT LOOK AT THE REF AND BE LIKE, YEAH, WHAT’S GOING ON HERE AT ONE STAGE AS WELL? I THOUGHT. >> BUT YEAH. >> ANYWAY, THAT’S, THAT’S THIS PAST WEEKEND. >> PERHAPS. I MEAN. >> WOULD YOU QUALIFY THAT AS AN EXCITING. >> FIGHT. >> IS THAT EXCITING. >> YEAH. OH YEAH. IT WAS EXCITING. >> OKAY. >> SO SCREAMING AT MY TV. >> YOU WERE. >> YEAH. YEAH. >> I MEAN, BUT. >> IS. >> THAT EXCITING OR IS THAT, LIKE, MADDENING? >> COULD BE BOTH. >> IT WAS EXCITING. >> YEAH. >> I WOULD SAY THE SECOND MOST EXCITING THING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND. >> OH DO TELL. >> I WOULD SAY THE THE. FIRST MOST EXCITING THING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND HAPPENED OVER AT THE DARTS. DID YOU SEE THIS? PETESY CARROLL. OH MY GOD, DID YOU SEE THIS? >> HIS FIRST LEG COMING BACK AND DOING THAT. >> HERE’S LUKE LITTLER. >> NO PANIC. >> WHAT ABOUT JOSH ROCK THOUGH? GIVE HIM SOME CREDIT ALLEN. FANTASTIC. >> COME ON PC, TALK. >> US THROUGH IT. WHAT ARE WE WATCHING? >> THESE BOTH BOTH BOYS ARE UNKNOWNS HERE. AND THEY ARE BOTH RIPPING THE OUT OF THAT LIPSTICK ALL. >> NIGHT. >> LIKE ABSOLUTELY SAVAGE. LOOK AT LITTLER’S SCORE HERE, BY THE WAY, HOW MANY TIMES I TEXT YOU GUYS THIS WEEK SAYING HE’S OUT? HE’S OUT THREE TIMES DURING THIS TOURNAMENT. I THOUGHT HE WAS COMPLETELY OUT. LOOK AT THESE BOYS. >> HERE. >> HIT THE SIX. HERE’S JOSH TRYING TO HIT THE SIX. >> THEY’RE BOTH ON SIX. NOW WHAT HAPPENS HERE. TALK US THROUGH IT. >> AND LITTLER SAYS NO NO MATE YOU’RE NOT GONNA HAVE A TOURNAMENT. IT’S OVER. OVER PAL. THEN HE COMES BACK, WINS THE THING, GETS UP THE NEXT NIGHT, WINS THE. WINS THE WHOLE TOURNAMENT. HE IS UNBELIEVABLE. >> I THOUGHT HE WAS OUT OF THIS TOURNAMENT THREE TIMES THIS WEEK. AND ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE. I THINK HE HAD SOMETHING LIKE 17 ONE 80s LAST NIGHT IN THE FINAL AGAINST JAMES WADE. INCREDIBLE MAN. >> HE IS SECOND BEST LEG. >> YOU’LL EVER SEE IN YOUR LIFE. SHOUT OUT TO THE THE BULLY BOY ONE RIGHT. >> YEAH ABSOLUTELY. BUT HE IS I MEAN I’VE NEVER SEEN AS I TOLD YOU FOR YEARS, ARIEL, THAT DARTS IS A CHRISTMAS THING. HE’S CHANGED THAT COMPLETELY. EVERYBODY’S WATCHING EVERY TOURNAMENT NOW BECAUSE OF LUKE LITTLER. HE’S HE’S SINGLE HANDEDLY MAY HAVE MADE IT A YEAR ROUND SPORT FOR THE PEOPLE IN IRELAND AND THE UK. ANYWAY. >> THE NINE DARTER IS INCREDIBLE. BUT THE MICHAEL JORDAN ESQUE SHRUG SHADES OF JORDAN VERSUS THE PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS . 1992 NBA FINALS GAME ONE WHERE HE’S. >> JUST LIKE. >> YEAH. >> GOLLY, THE GUY. THE GUY’S A SHOWMAN. HE REALLY IS. UNBELIEVABLE . >> DON’T LIKE. >> LIKE I’D SAY LIKE I’VE HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT BOXING AND DARTS AT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN EVERYTHING’S GOING WRONG, IT’S THE LONELIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD. AND AS I SAID TO YOU THREE TIMES THIS WEEK, HE WAS LIKE 5-0 DOWN OR LIKE DOWN BY FIVE LEGS. AND THAT’S ANYONE ELSE IS COMPLETELY FINISHED AT THAT STAGE. LIKE THERE IS NO WAY OF GETTING THIS BACK. YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT BREAKING THE GUY’S THROAT THREE TIMES, MAYBE TO GET THE WIN, AND HE’D GO FIVE DOWN. AND IF YOU LOOKED AT THE ODDS, HE WAS STILL THE FAVORITE. LIKE, HE’S THAT GOOD. HE’S HE’S HE’S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. AND HE’S EVERYBODY’S WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT. RIGHT. LIKE BECAUSE HE’S SO YOUNG, THEY’RE LIKE, HE JUST DOESN’T REALIZE LIKE IT’S GOING TO AFFECT HIM AT SOME POINT. LIKE HE’S JUST GOING TO HAVE A MENTAL COLLAPSE AT SOME STAGE. AND EVERY TIME HE GOES TO THESE LIKE 5-0 IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND HE JUST PULLS IT OUT OF NOWHERE. I THINK HE’S ONE OF THE MOST MENTALLY RESILIENT SPORTS PEOPLE AROUND AT THE MOMENT. I THINK HE’S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. HE DOESN’T EVEN WARM UP. >> NO, HE’S HE’S UNBELIEVABLE. HE’S MUST SEE TV. HE REALLY IS. AND SOME ARE COMPARING HIM. TO TIGER WOODS IN, IN, IN IN THE SENSE THAT LIKE TIGER WOODS HELPED PUT GOLF ON THE MAP ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUTH. AND HE’S DOING THAT WITH DARTS. AND I KNOW THE UNEDUCATED WILL SCOFF AT THAT REFERENCE OR THAT THAT ANALOGY, BUT I THINK IT’S ACTUALLY VERY APROPOS, ESPECIALLY FOR WHAT HE’S DOING OVER IN THE UK. ONE OF THE BIG STORIES THAT WE’RE FOLLOWING, AS FAR AS MMA IS CONCERNED, IS WHERE THE UFC WILL SIGN AS FAR AS THEIR BROADCAST DEAL IS CONCERNED, ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES RIGHT NOW IN BOXING IS TOP RANKED. TOP RANK JUST HAD THEIR LAST SHOW ON ESPN THIS PAST SATURDAY AT THE THEATER XANDER ZAYAS, WINNING THE WBO TITLE. OUR BRUCE “SHU SHU” CARRINGTON WINNING AS WELL, BUT THAT’S IT. THE TOP RANKED DEAL IS DONE, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SUSPECTED THAT WE WILL KNOW, OR THAT WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHERE THEY WILL BE GOING . BY THE TIME THAT SHOW ROLLED AROUND JULY 26. WELL, HERE WE ARE, JULY 28, AND WE DON’T KNOW. SO I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING AS OF RIGHT THIS MOMENT. NO LINEAR TV CHANNEL IN AMERICA AIRS. >> BOXING. THAT’S CRAZY. >> THAT IS CRAZY. THERE’S NO HBO, THERE’S NO SHOWTIME, THERE’S NO ESPN PAY CHANNEL, NO PAY CHANNEL. IT’S IT’S THE ZONE AND AMAZON. >> PRIME. >> OVER IN THE UK, YOU GUYS HAVE SKY, AND I KNOW SKY AND BOXER HAVE I GUESS PARTED WAYS. BUT WE SUSPECT THAT SKY IS GOING TO STAY IN THE BOXING BUSINESS IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. TNT WAS IN THE BOXING BUSINESS, NOW THEY’RE NOT IN THE BOXING BUSINESS. AM I MISSING ONE OVER THERE OR IS IT JUST THE ZONE AND SKY? YEAH. >> IT’S JUST. >> YEAH, SKY LIKE SKY IS. I HEARD YOU ON I TALKING ABOUT THIS RECENTLY. LIKE IN TERMS OF ALL THESE LIKE, YOU KNOW, BANNER SPORTS OUTLETS NOT REALLY CARRYING BOXING LIKE I MIGHT LIKE. I THINK BOXING IS IN A GREAT PLACE IN TERMS OF THE TRACTION IT HAS AND IN TERMS OF THE EYEBALLS, IN TERMS OF THE FIGHTS THAT THEY’RE MAKING. ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THIS, LIKE IN TERMS OF ESPN, SKY SPORTS BEING THE THE UK EQUIVALENT TO THAT ALWAYS WAS THE HOME OF BOXING CAME UP WITH LIKE CHRIS EUBANK SENIOR. YEAH. HE MADE SKY THE PLACE TO BE. AND IT KIND OF REMAINED THAT WAY UP UNTIL ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO WHEN, YOU KNOW, BT AT THE TIME NOW TNT GOT INVOLVED AND NOW THE ZONE JUST SEEMS TO HAVE COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER. IS IT WORRYING FOR YOU AS, AS A GUY WITH HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF BOXING? MORE SO THAN I. >> HAVE? >> NO, THAT WAS HBO. >> WHAT? >> WHICH WHAT. >> YOU’RE REFERRING TO REGARDING SKY, THAT WAS HBO. SO WE ALREADY LOST THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? OKAY, I WOULD SAY ESPN WAS MORE BT. SO LIKE BT BEING OUT OF THE ESPN, EXCUSE ME, BT BEING OUT OF THE BOXING BUSINESS BT, TNT FEELS A LOT MORE LIKE ESPN BEING OUT OF IT WHERE IT’S LIKE THEY WERE IN, THEY WERE OUT. THEY WEREN’T REALLY IN THE PAY-PER-VIEW BUSINESS. I THINK THEY DID AN OKAY JOB OF BUILDING STARS, BUT LIKE THEY I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT ESPN PAID TOO MUCH AS FAR AS LIKE WHAT THEY GOT BACK FROM THE TOP RANK DEAL AND THE AMOUNT OF STARS AND BIG SHOWS THAT THEY GOT. YOU KNOW, IT ALWAYS KIND OF FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IT WAS A FRIDAY SHOW HERE. IT WAS A SATURDAY BEFORE UFC OR AFTER UFC. NOW IN THE EARLY DAYS AND AND HERE AND THERE TOWARDS THE END, LIKE THEY WOULD PUT TOP RANK IN A POSITION TO SUCCEED LIKE THEY WOULD PUT THEM ON AFTER THE HEISMAN TROPHY TELECAST. THEY WOULD PUT THEM ON STRATEGICALLY AFTER BIG EVENTS TO TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW, A CARRY, A CARRY OVER AUDIENCE. BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT NEVER REALLY LIKE HOW MANY STARS YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THE TYSON FURY FIGHTS, THEY WOULD HAVE THE INOUE FIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BUT THEY. HAVEN’T BUILT ENOUGH. THE HANEY FIGHTS OVERSEAS, BUT EVEN LIKE ESPN, A LOT OF THOSE FIGHTS, ESPECIALLY POST PANDEMIC, THEY WOULD DO THEM REMOTELY. AND SO IT NEVER REALLY FELT LIKE THEY WOULD GIVE IT. CERTAINLY NOT THE KIND OF LOVE AND ATTENTION THAT THEY GAVE THE UFC, FOR WHATEVER REASON. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS STILL ESPN AND I THINK IT WAS STILL VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE INVOLVED. FOX WAS INVOLVED AS OF A FEW YEARS AGO. THEY GOT OUT OF IT. THEY HAD A PBC DEAL. THERE WAS A POINT WHERE PBC WAS ON NBC, IT WAS ON SPIKE, IT WAS ON FOX. THEY HAD MULTIPLE OUTLETS. SO BETWEEN TOP RANK LOSING ESPN AND AMAZON, IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THE PBC DEAL IS REALLY WORKING RIGHT NOW. I DON’T THINK IT’S PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR EVERY SINGLE BOXING ENTITY TO BE UNDER ONE. ROOF. I THINK IT’S GOOD IF THERE’S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF. A OF A DIVERSITY AS FAR AS WHO’S AIRING WHAT. SO THERE AREN’T THAT MANY OPTIONS. THE OBVIOUS ONE IS WBD, WHICH IS TNT, TBS, HBO MAX . THEY JUST GOT OUT OF THAT BUSINESS OVER IN THE UK. MAYBE THEY GET BACK INTO IT WITH THE LIKES OF TOP RANK, MAYBE PBC, OR MAYBE ZUFFA BOXING BECAUSE THEY NEED A HOME AS WELL. SO LET’S SEE. LET’S SEE HOW IT. ALL PANS OUT. RICK’S GIRL, CLARISSA SHIELDS VICTORIOUS. SHE’S THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. RICK. RIGHT. >> SHOUT OUT TO THE. >> GOAT. >> THIS IS. >> I MEAN, LIKE, LANI DANIELS WAS CRAZY. >> YEAH. LANI DANIELS WAS ESPECIALLY THE FIRST HALF OF THE FIGHT WHERE SHE WAS JUST RUNNING. >> I THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO GET HER HEAD KNOCKED OFF INTO THE FIFTH ROW JUST FOR THESE ANTICS. I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR CLARISSA SHIELDS, FOR WHAT SHE REPRESENTS, FOR WHAT SHE’S DONE, BOTH IN HER AMATEUR CAREER, HER OLYMPIC CAREER. PRO CAREER. BUT IT’S JUST HARD. SHE IS DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON RIGHT? IT’S JUST HARD BECAUSE SHE’S NOT FACING THE TYPE OF TALENT THAT KATY’S FACING. LIKE, YOU CAN’T COMPARE AMANDA SERRANO. >> INCOMPARABLE, RIGHT? >> CHANTELLE CAMERON, YOU CAN’T COMPARE IT TO THE THE WOMEN THAT SHE’S FIGHTING. NOW. THE BIG QUESTION IS SHE’S A FREE AGENT. HER DEAL WITH SALITA PROMOTIONS HAS COME TO AN END. IT’S A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD THERE. IN THE POST-FIGHT INTERVIEW BECAUSE SHE WAS THANKING THEM. AND YOU KNOW, THEY’RE ALL IN THE RING TOGETHER. SELENA MARK TAFFET, HER MANAGER, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE BIG FIGHTS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED. KHADIJAH GREEN, WHO JUST BEAT SAVANNAH MARSHALL, THE LAILA ALI THING. LET’S SEE WHAT THAT TURNS INTO . AND BY THE WAY, SHE COULD RESIGN WITH SALITA AND STILL DO PROMOTIONS. NOT EVERY ONE OF THOSE FIGHTERS WHO FOUGHT ON THE NETFLIX CARD ARE UNDER THE MVP UMBRELLA, BUT I’M VERY CURIOUS TO SEE WHERE SHE GOES, AND I WOULD HAVE TO THINK THAT THERE’S A PART OF HER THAT SAW ALL OF THAT AND SAID EVEN THOUGH SHE SOLD THAT PLACE OUT, OR AT LEAST CAME PRETTY CLOSE, IT WAS PACKED. RICK ROSS IS WALKING HER OUT LIKE IT LOOKED LIKE A SCENE. IT FELT LIKE A REALLY BIG DEAL. THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE AT THAT FIGHT THAN MANNY’S FIGHT IN LAS VEGAS. >> YES. >> THE WEEK BEFORE, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THERE’S A PART OF HER THAT WATCHES. I WOULD IMAGINE WATCHES THAT NETFLIX CARD AND SAYS, LIKE, I WANT SOME OF THAT. I WANT A BIG TIME FIGHT THAT EVERYONE’S. >> TALKING JEOPARDY! SHE NEEDS JEOPARDY! >> YEAH, EXACTLY. >> SHE NEEDS US TO BE LIKE, I WONDER IF CLARISSA CAN DO THAT. AND 47-YEAR-OLD LAILA ALI IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT. WHO HASN’T FOUGHT IN 18 YEARS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, LIKE LIKE IT’S A, YOU KNOW, THE LUQUE THAT’S ACTUALLY DISRESPECTFUL TO CLARISSA SHIELDS. AND I KNOW LAILA DID GREAT THINGS, BUT LIKE IF THAT’S THE BEST OPTION THEY HAVE AT THIS STAGE, THAT’S NOT VERY GOOD. AND YOU THINK TODAY’S REPORT IS PROBABLY THE BEST SHE. >> CAN DO. >> A REMATCH IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE BECAUSE KHADIJA, YOU KNOW, JUST BEATS. >> HAVANA VEGAS. IN WHAT REGARD? LEILA IS THE BIGGEST. >> OKAY OKAY. I’M TALKING ABOUT LIKE WHO’S ACTIVE RIGHT NOW. I’M TALKING ABOUT WHO’S ACTIVE. >> IS IT THAT BIG? MAYBE I’M LOST ON THAT. LIKE I’LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. >> HOLY NAME. >> YEAH. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> HIS DAUGHTER. >> BUT I DON’T KNOW. I MEAN, HER LAST FIGHT WAS. >> WHAT? WHAT IS SHE IN THAT. >> FIGHT? >> IT’S LIKE. >> 2000. >> YEAH. PLUS. PLUS 5,000. >> YEAH. >> THAT’S WHAT SHE WAS ON SATURDAY. >> YEAH. SHE’S LIKE A -10,000 EVERY SINGLE FIGHT. >> I KNOW. >> THAT’S LIKE. AND THAT’S NOT HER FAULT. RIGHT. LIKE THAT’S. >> OF COURSE IT’S NOT. >> SHE’S SAVANNAH MARSHALL IS. SHE’S CAPABLE. BOXXER. >> AND THAT’S IT. >> THAT’S BASICALLY IT. LIKE THAT’S NOT THAT’S NOT CLARISSA’S FAULT. SHE’S IN WEIGHT CLASS. AND BY THE WAY, SHE’S MOVING UP WEIGHT CLASSES AND CAPTURING THOSE TITLES AS WELL. IT’S NOT LIKE SHE’S JUST KIND OF SHE’S NOT DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON FROM THAT SENSE. RIGHT? SHE’S NOT JUST SITTING IN HER DIVISION. SHE IS GOING UP AND CHALLENGING HERSELF AGAINST SUPPOSEDLY LIKE THE, THE THE HIGHER WEIGHT, HIGHER LEVEL COMPETITION. >> BUT THE COMPETITION. >> IS JUST NOT IT IS NOT. THERE IT IS. ARE THESE WEIGHT DIVISIONS ARE SHALLOW? BUT SHE IS DOING EVERYTHING SHE POSSIBLY CAN TO CEMENT HER LEGACY. IT’S IT’S NOT REALLY HER. >> SHE NEEDS A DANCE PARTNER, THOUGH. >> SHE NEEDS A DANCE. >> I’M NOT SAYING IT’S HER FAULT. SHE’S NOT DUCKING ANY OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES. I’M JUST SAYING THAT’S WHY IT REMINDS ME OF DJ. >> KATIE . TAYLOR HAS HAD SO MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVE HER GREATNESS IN THE RING