Kamaru Usman will fight Israel "Izzy" Adesanya for $100M | CLUB SHAY SHAY

They want to offer us a hundred million. dollars. Me and Izzy going to have to go. in the back room and talk about this. Hey, hey, hey, what do we want What do we want to. do with a hundred million dollars? You. know, you got mom and dad now they they. living up there right in the upper room. and they they living somewhere nice now, you know, so you know, that's the. conversation me and him would have to. have, but right now it it it don't make. no sense for me because I I and I've. said it before. two Nigerians having belts is more. important to me.

Hello, welcome to another edition of. Club Shay Shay. I am your host Shannon. Sharpe. I'm also the proprietor of Club. Shay Shay. The guy that's stopping by. for conversation and a drink today. is one of the UFC's best. He's the. reigning and defending welterweight. champ. He's the pound-for-pound best.

fighter in the UFC, 2021 fighter of the. year, king of the octagon, the Nigerian. Nightmare, Kamaru Usman. How you doing, bro? I'm good. I'm good. I'm. happy to finally be here. I got to ask you something. That name. Nigerian Nightmare. Now, you know. Christian Okoye had that name. Yeah. Yeah, Have you ever met Yeah. I. actually met him. It's a crazy story. I. I I do a I did a little bit of research. on it. Okay. because it's a. when you growing up a a Nigerian athlete.

growing up, you hear that name a lot. Right. not the first to have the name. Oh, he's not? No, we we've had a plenty. of famous soccer players that have had. the name. Okay. So, it was just a name that that. just signifies excellent. Right. So, it. was if it was any Nigerian at the top of. their game in their respective sport. that was the name. You had to carry on. that torch. And so growing up, I was. like, man I wish I ever was. you know, in a sport where I could carry. on that name. So, when I got into MMA, I.

was like, there's no one in this space. with that name. Right. I. a while. So, you know, you building the. buzz, you building the buzz. And then. once I got to that level where I was. about to challenge for the title. Right. I had uh the UFC do the research. to reach out to him. And he was actually. there. He watched me become the. champion. Okay. He was there. Also, the other. Nigerian Nightmare was Samuel Peter, heavy WBC heavyweight champion of the. world. He was there as well that night. in Vegas when I won the title. Okay. Yeah. I'mma share a little little. secret with you. I haven't told anybody.

this. I did my ancestry. I'm 90% Nigerian. Of course. I see it. I see it. The way. you talk, the way you you you Nigerian, clearly own Nigerian. 90%. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So, I I Okay. We've been claiming you out here. So, what what Okay. What do I Okay. What. foods do I need to eat? What do I Is Is. there a certain Is there a certain food. that I need to eat that's. uh exclusively for you for the Nigerian. c- I can I can tell you like chicken. I. do. I can tell you like rice. I do.

Right there. We good. We like chicken, we like rice. Right. You know, we mix in other things. in there, you know, but. that's. That's the staple. That's the. foundation. That's That's the foundation. Once you. eat those, you got your size, you got. your strength. You good. What about gear? See, I know I see you. came in here, you got a nice little. jacket on, you got your jeans, you got. the the. uh the double jeans on. So, obviously, you know, Nigerians are. fashionable. We are very fashionable. We. we. and this is a thing, too, is.

I think culturally. you know, in this culture that where we. a lot of people they see some of these. guys with these jewelry, there's there. is such thing as being sensible with. with especially with all these athletes. and when you get money you got to be. sensible. You got to do the right things. first. You got to make sure you have. your money in places to where, you know, you don't never run out of money. Right. But of course, having the jewelry. and the thing, we we come from kings. Right. We come from gold and diamonds. So, yeah, we like those things. They're. those are in us.

Right. But there's nothing wrong with. that. So, yeah, Nigerians we we. fashionable, we like to shine. Oh, you. fashionable. So, we like Okay. So, now. that explains it. I'm going to let you. be flashing, have my drip on. If you don't work for it and you don't. earned it, why not? You got You got to. show a little bit. Exactly. Ex- Exactly. How important is it for you to represent. the Nigerian culture and represent it. appropriately? It's very important. Because. and and it sounds cliché and cheesy, but. it it I it was something in this for me.

Mhm. Is Is that famous line in that. Spider-Man movie, with great power comes. great responsibility. Okay. You don't choose to be in a. certain position. Right. Sometimes you're placed there to be able. to touch and affect change in certain. ways. And that's something that I. learned and I I understood early because. growing up, I didn't really see somebody. in the sport to show me that oh, that. can be done. Right. That That's something that you. can get one day once you go down this. path. I didn't really see it. Right. Through you know, the the the positions.

that I was put in and and the doors that. I was blessed to be able to walk through. I found myself in this place to where. it's very rare nowadays to be the first. ever do anything. Right. And to say that. I was the first ever Nigerian-born. mixed martial arts UFC champion Okay. it. it it's something that I. I don't take for granted. And so, it's. extremely important for me to show the. next generations, everybody else, all. the kids coming up that hey. you do have somebody that represents you.

Right. you can get to that point one day. You. was born and raised in Nigeria. What was. it like and what did as a kid you. mentioned soccer players, obviously the. the soccer is big. So, as a kid growing. up in Nigeria, what were your. aspirations? What did Kamaru Usman want. to be as a kid? Of course, in sports you we boys, you. know, I was growing up, it was three of. us, three brothers until my sister came. later on, but it was three boys. So, if it was problems out there, we fought.

together. So, you know, and then if it was if it. was sports, we was going to play. together. So, Right. football, what we called it, which is soccer here, is what we all. played. Of course, everybody wanted to. be the best at it. You saw some of the. stars, Jay-Jay Okocha, some of those. guys. Right. So, we all wanted to be. like them. So, then eventually when we immigrated. here. it was like, now you got to assimilate. Right. to what what's going on and the sport. wasn't so big and I I was in Texas. Right. And so. Football is king in Texas. It was. football or you was playing basketball. Right. I didn't have a height for.

basketball. So, it was football. Middle. school, I was okay. Right. And then you. got to high school and them boys look. like college players now and. and I wasn't I wasn't messing with them. So, I was kind of caught in a space to. where I didn't really know where I I. could fit in. Okay. Cuz I was freshman year, I was. 5'2", 103 lbs. Yeah, that that's not a football player. It wasn't Yeah, it wasn't. So, I didn't. know in my in my mind I was like, I'm. not going to grow. Right. And. and I'm watching all these guys and and. I I I just can't find out where I fit.

in. And the assistant. football coach was the assistant. wrestling coach. Right. And he kept wanting you to come. in and try wrestling. And I remember the wrestling I was. watching with my dad, Stone Cold Steve. Austin. Right. So, I told him, I said, man, I don't. want to get hit with chairs. I ain't. trying to do that. And he laughed at me. He said, why don't you come on in there. and try it one day? And uh I was walking by the gym. and I peeked my head in there one day. And it was it was a older It was a smell. It was I just I was like, nah, that's.

not for me. Right. And. and I but I was I was a little shook on. the inside. I just seen he was about 60, 70 kids in there slamming each other. down and and I was like, yeah, that's. not for me. for you. That's not for me. And that was. the thing as football players cuz. football is king here in this country. Mhm. Football players, we like to we tough. You You're the toughest guy, you big bad. football player. we don't like to admit that it's. something else that's more difficult out. there that we can't do. Right. So, I was. like, nah, I'm a big bad football player. even though I was 103 lbs, 5'2". Nah,

I'm a football player. Nah, we don't we. don't do that. Right. But I was shook on the inside. So, he kept the coach kept making fun of. me, making fun of me. I was like, man, you know, I'mma shut. him up one day. I'm going in there and. show him up. And I went in there one day. And they put me in a group with. two other two other guys and a girl. And um. yeah, it was a all-out assault. You know, this girl beat on me so bad. took me down, slammed me.

I didn't know how to get up. It was the first time in my life to. where I felt like. I didn't understand something and there. was nothing I could do about it. Mhm. And I just remember walking home that. day and I was thinking, man. I'mma get her back tomorrow. So, I kept showing up and showing up and. showing up. Next thing you know it, I've. been in there for about a month, two. months. Right. And one day we wrestling, I threw a move. and I landed it. And I was walking home that day, I said, man, I actually learned.

something. Right. Oh, I'm coming back. The next year, I ain't go out for. football. I went straight to wrestling. Wrestling. And the rest is history. Being a Nigerian, you was raised on a. farm. So, what what What did you do? What did you have like pigs? You had. chickens? I mean, what kind of farm were. you on? We We were kind of. it it wasn't a full-bred like here we. full-bred farm and and it wasn't. necessarily full-bred farm like that. We. did it seasonal to where. at the point, my dad had was already. here. My dad was going to school here. Okay. And so, my mom is here with three. boys. So, we we we grew corn, you know,

yams. We had chickens. it Was it for the sale or was it just. for you guys to eat? Sale. Okay. Okay. Sale. Sometimes we of course, you know, we eat it, you know, special occasions. of food. You had corn, you had chickens, you had Yeah, we had but it it's hard. work to get it though. You got I grew up. on a farm in Nigeria. I grew up on a. farm. You got to plant it, watch it grow. Watch it Yeah. Yeah. And so, we had all of that. And my mom. My mom was the ultimate hustler. She was. a teacher, she owned a store, all of the above.

And so, growing up, I got to see every. level of hustle. Right. I got to see it. all. So, coming here and immigrating here, it was. just. I just I I say it's a different level of. hustle in my mind, you know, than most kids that I I I grew. up with. You say you had three three. three boys, then your sister came along. How was the discipline cuz your father's. away? Cuz there's something about a. father's voice and a boy that will. resonate a little bit more than a.

mother. So, your dad is thousands and. thousands of miles away. You and your. brothers get to tussling, somebody gets. the best of one, and all of a sudden, all hell break loose. How did your mama. control that situation? It's my dad always had a voice. Yes. So, even though he wasn't there, his. voice was loud. He had a voice. he he come he coming back now. He had a. voice. And so, and that that was a. a big thing about growing up in in. Nigeria as well as it wasn't just mom. and dad that raised you. The village. The whole village raised you.

You know, you did something up the. street at at their house over there, always coming back to your house. Yeah. Or they might whoop you over. there, then they going to bring you back. to your house. yeah yeah you get a whipping. Yeah. You. you got the whipping over there, came. back to your house, and you got the. whipping again. told on you. Yeah. And so, it was a whole village. So, you knew how. you was growing up. The whole village. knew how you was growing up. And so, even then, my my mom still had a firm. grip on things, even though. you understand the dynamic. A mother's. going to be the loving one. Right. But,

she still she was able to deal with the. three boys. And and at that point, we. were still we were still relatively. young. Right. So, we weren't we weren't running. buckwild yet. Not quite yet. Yeah. When your dad say, "We're going to the States.". Obviously born raised in Nigeria, you. got friends in Nigeria. Now, when you go. to the States, this is not like, "Okay, I'm in California and I'm going to move. to Arizona, or I'm in Georgia I'm going. to move to Florida." You on one. continent, you about to move to another. continent, and there's a very good.

chance you're probably not going to see. these. again. Yeah. What went through your mind? I mean, at that at that point, you're a young man, you don't you're. just going with the flow. You don't. really know what to expect. Right. You know, you don't have that. mental capability to be able to okay, I. I don't like this or I like this. You. just knew that this is what's happening. Right. And you were going along with it. But you had heard about the you had. heard about. Oh, yeah. You don't heard about the US, you heard about McDonald's. Yeah. You know, I didn't even know what. McDonald's was, but I wanted some.

McDonald's. I didn't know what it was. Okay. So, you heard about all these things, you seen them on TV. Right. And so, now. you get up for the first time in an. airplane. Right. Get off the airplane. after hours and hours on a flight, and. crazy thing is, the day we landed was. one of the first times it snowed in. Texas in a long time. Okay. I I I think maybe over 10 years. Right. So, the night we get out was the. first night it started snowing. So, when.

did you arrive here? Like 2009? No, it. was in the I want to say 90. 90 I want to say 98, somewhere around. there. So, we come come out, and we like, "Oh, what?" Uh-oh. We in Nigeria, it's. nothing but sun and rain. Sun and rain. And I'm like, "What what is this white. stuff?" And and we turn out the car, we. trying to. we trying to see what this is. And and. and you know, the car is slipping and. sliding on the. And that was my first experience. So,

it shattered everything that you you. thought. Whatever you thought that you. were going to experience when you came. out, there was no words that could. describe it. How much TV did you watch? How much. because obviously being from another. country. and. the language. obviously, and then so how much. American TV did you watch to figure out, "Okay, this is what I should say when they say. this, this is how I should do this is. what I should do when they do that." A.

lot of it. A lot of it. And that's the. thing, when you're a kid, TV is uh. is is one of the the biggest teachers. Yes. So, that's why obviously the the. parental guidance and the certain things. that you should be able to children. should be able to watch on television is. so important nowadays because. you don't realize how big that is. Right. We watch TV constantly to where. we we learned what you could and you. couldn't say. And I And I learned. quickly. cuz uh. How much English did you speak before. you arrived to We we spoke in I mean,

the the root of the language in Nigeria. is is English. Okay. And so, you you speak a bit of. English, but it's just different. English. So, certain words are. differently, you know, you can tell. obviously the the Europeans colonized. that area. So, you know, our English is. different than American English. Right. Like obviously the the the trash. can, here we call it the trash can, but. that's the dustbin. You know, so you you. you say certain words differently. Right. But, we still we spoke English. But then you come to America, the slang. is what what got us. Right.

Yeah, the slang will get you. And and I. remember that's what going back to the. the TV and the things that you should. watch, there was uh. Obviously we might remember some Married. with Children. Yes. With Al Bundy. Yeah, Al Bundy, yeah. And so, that was. that was a that was a show we I used to. love to watch that show. So, we watched the show, and there were. certain words, you know, Kelly was the. blonde, and. so she was. you know, you can't say those words nowadays, you. know. And. and there was a word that that was said. to her,

and I went to school, I was like, "Ah, I. guess that you call girls that.". Right. And uh. and I said it. to a girl, and I think it was I was in. the fourth grade at that point. Said it. to a girl. Yeah, I was in the principal's office. Yeah, they they they called my dad. I. got a whipping that day. Okay. So, you you you start to learn very. quickly there are certain things you can. and certain things you can't say. Well, if you moved to Texas, you moved to. Arlington. You in Texas, football is king. Pro sports. Cowboys.

Tell me tell tell me about the tell me. about how the key at the key the Cowboys. is the key. Skip, I was with you back in. the day, Skip. I was with you. I I Of. course you by default I'm a Cowboys fan. Okay. Got you. By default. Right. But uh. you know, now in my position, I have so. many friends that play for so many. different teams. I I support my friends. And so, if my friends play for the. Saints, I I got to support them. If they. play for the. Ravens, I got to support them. So, that's mainly what I support, but by.

default, in my heart, if the Cowboys are succeeding, I have to. I have to support them. Well, you ain't seen them but they ain't. did much in a very long time. You came. here in 98. You ain't seen a lot of. success. I'm going to I'm going to give I'm going. to give you opportunity before we end. this interview to to get on another team. that could possibly that's possibly. winning, if you like. I I See, that's the thing though. I I. watched the game, Okay. and and they. they they. I'm I'm being tired I of being. disappointed. Tired of being They they.

told me this was the year. You know, Skip said this was the year. Yeah yeah he was going to do it. They. was going to do it. And so, I watched. the game, and I was just like, man, so many opportunities, and we just we just couldn't get over. it. But but we, you know, I I y'all in my heart. Cowboys, y'all in. my heart. You come here, you says, "Well, I'm too small to play football.". You start wrestling. Did you view wrestling as your. opportunity to get out, to do. go places? No.

I didn't I didn't uh. It's one thing about when you're coming. from an immigrant family, especially an. African family. There's certain career. fields that you were going to be able to. go into. You're going to be a doctor. Doctor. Going to be an engineer. Going to be a pharmacist. And maybe a lawyer. Right. You know, nothing else. That's it. Those are the accepted fields. that you were always going to get a job. Right. So, that's where you wanted to. be. Okay. Not an athlete. That wasn't in there. Right. And so,

for the first 2 years of me wrestling, I. actually lied to my parents about it. Right. So, I I. They once they they they said, "The. grades, you got to keep the grades up.". So, I said, "Okay, once the grades are. up, can I practice? Can I go to. football?" And they said, "Yeah, of. course you could you could do that. That's on the side though." Right. I. said, "Okay." So, they ain't know I had. I was done with football after. I was wise in knowing that I ain't I. didn't have the size, it's time to move. on. Okay. So, I was done with it after freshman. year. Right. So, now I was in the wrestling. Right.

So, I was going to practice, and of. course, same thing I thought when I. first was introduced to wrestling. If. they would have heard wrestling, they. would have said, "No, we we just watched. SummerSlam with Stone Cold Steve Austin, we don't want you in that.". Right. So, I didn't say nothing for the. first 2 years. Mhm. So, I was wrestling, and I started to kind of get better and. better and better at it. And then. the junior year, I had actually was in the city city. championships, and took third place. Okay. And my my. mother was flipping through We had a.

course the the channel. in the city the city channel. My mom was. flipping through the television, and she. saw me wrestling on there. Oh. So, you. got to watch it on the local TV. yeah. So, I got home by by that point. now, it was already too late. Right. I. was I found something. And so, it it. you know, at that point, she was able to. talk my dad down and say, "Okay, let's. let him keep doing this." Right. And so, the next year, I think that summer I made the decision. in my mind that I wanted to be good at. something. Okay. Because you I I had ups.

and downs, I would win some, I would. lose some, and then I I got sick of it. I said, "No, in order for me to ensure. that I continue to win, I need to do something that I haven't. been doing." And so, I dedicated myself. fully to it, and and it was just. the trajectory that I saw in my career. at that point was astronomical. So, I. said, "I'm not turning back." Did your. mom. understand that this could be an. opportunity that could help you get an. education that they wouldn't have to. finance, that you could get a.

scholarship, go to school, get a get an. engineering degree or towards a lawyer. or. pharmacy pharmacist? That's why they let. me stay in it. Unless we discovered that, "Hey, there's. scholarships for these things.". Yeah. All right, you could keep doing. that then. You could keep doing that cuz. now you don't have to cost us so much. Right. I mean, and all and all my. brothers, we all had scholarships. We. were all athletes. My whole family was. was athletes. So, we all had athletes. My my oldest brother, Cash, who is a pharmacist, he uh.

Dr. Cash, I should say. He's a. But, he was a semi-pro soccer player. He. played at the University of South. Carolina Aiken and got done and uh. played semi-pro. My little brother, football player, played at the University of Arizona, Okay. big boy. Um. So, I got my chance on on Uh So, after. So, athletics running your family. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So, your mom your mom and dad had to be. athletes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Even though. they weren't willing to They didn't. really want you guys to be athletes. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we we had the athletic.

genes. We got my uncles, you know, look. like you. They they got the size. And. so, we had those genes in our family. But, once I got to that point, I was. getting ready to graduate and now we. found out that, "Hey, there's schools do. offer scholarships for this." And at. that point, I didn't even know there was. more than five schools. Right. it was Texas, University of Texas, Texas. Tech, Texas A&M, Right. and SMU. And. that that was it for football. And then. I'm starting to get all these letters.

from these small schools or different. schools all across the country. I'm. like, "Oh, they got wrestling out. there." Okay. Okay. Now, we can do that. Right. And you know, thankfully I was. able to get a scholarship to go out. there and and compete. And it just. built that fire. Who was your favorite wrestler growing. up? Favorite wrestler growing up. See, I. gravitate towards. the ones that I I I respect all the. wrestlers. You like the outgoing you like the. Kenny Monday. Okay. Are you talking about pro wrestling?

Yeah, pro wrestling. Pro wrestling, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Okay. Undertaker. Yeah. Of course, you. Harlem Heat. Yeah. You're talking Booker. T. You're talking So, these was the guys. that I grew up watching and I loved. So, you know, growing up and and seeing them. dudes is I was like, "Oh, yeah, that's. fun to watch." Me and my brothers, we. played that in the living room. Right. But, we can't we can't do that. Right. So, like the actual competition, the. freestyle, which which you were a. freestyle wrestler, did you know any. great freestyle wrestlers? Yeah, of.

course. When you start to progress in. something, this was something that I I. even tell kids now when they ask me. about certain things is about my career. is. when you want to get to a place, you. want to find out who's been there. Right. And then once you find out who's been. there, it's like, "Who look like me that's been there?". Right. "Who possess some of the athletic. abilities that I possess has been. there?". So, I start researching that. Then you. realize, "Oh, there's a Kenny Monday out. there.". Right. There's a Kevin Jackson out. there. There's a Lee Kemp out there.

Mhm. There's There's all these guys, Bobby Douglas, out there that that that. look like me Right. that have. accomplished heights greater than than. where I'm trying to go to. So, being able to research those guys, I started to say, "Okay, they've done. it, so I could I could get there.". You Am I reading this correct? You. wrestled alongside Jon Jones? No, see, me and Jon Jones actually met. It's. crazy. Right. how this this intertwines. We met. senior year cuz there's this tournament. called Senior National.

Right. And it's a tournament just for. the the best seniors all across the the. country. Okay. From different states get. to meet in a a location and we wrestle. to see who's the best. Okay. And. Jon Jones and Arthur Jones were were in. the tournament as well. So, like I said, it's not a lot of. brothers that look like me in wrestling. And and my brother my my buddy Aaron at. the time. So, we were the two. from. our area in Texas that were in the. tournament. Right. So, we in Cleveland, Ohio and.

in the hotel we're staying at, she sees. two big, tall brothers. eat breakfast in the in the cafeteria. where we were eating breakfast in the. hotel. So, of course, naturally you gravitate. towards them. You got to say, "What's up. to them?". So, then we start talking and it was, "What's y'all name?" Arthur Jones, Jon. Jones. "Oh, y'all wrestle, too?" "Yeah, we wrestle. We're from New York, Endicott." "New York, okay.". So, we. we get acquainted and and and then we. watch them. Of course, now you got to. follow them and see how they do in the. tournament. And they they do well. I'm. like, "Oh, these these are bad dudes.".

Right. And then Arthur said, "Oh, I'm. I'm going to go play football at. Syracuse." Right. I'm like, "Okay." Then. Jon said, "I'm going to go wrestle at a. small school in Iowa." Right. I said, "Oh, well, I've been getting calls from. a small school in Iowa, too.". So, I'm like, "Okay, what school?" And. he tells me his school and I tell him my. school, which they were about a hour and. a half apart. So, I said, "Okay, well, we'll exchange. numbers. We'll link up next year if we. we end up in Iowa." All right, cool. Then the following year we end up in. Iowa. So, we we stay in touch. and my fall break was which is a week.

off of school was a week before their. fall break. So, we talk. I said, "Hey, I'm going to come. see you and come hang out with you for. our fall break cuz I didn't want to go. all the way back to Texas.". Right. So, I drove up there, hung out with them. all fall break. And while I was hanging. out with him that week, we had got. invited to a I guess to a friend of the. wrestling team's Mhm. house to watch some fights. Never seen a. MMA fight ever in my life. Never seen. anything like. So, we go to the to the house.

It's the first time Jon and myself. actually watched. uh MMA fight. So, we watched the fight and and and and. the dude the guy was saying, "Hey, y'all. should get into this. Y'all should try. this." Yeah, I think we looked at each. other like, "Nah, we're not doing that.". Uh-huh. We That's crazy right there. These dudes hitting each other, kneeing. each other. We're not doing that. And we left and it was just. the next year I transferred out and and. Jon went on his path. I think he moved. back to New York. And then a couple.

years later I'm wrestling at Nebraska, University of Nebraska Kearney, and. I see him on television. I'm like, "Oh, that's my guy.". He's wrestling He He's fighting now for. the UFC. Right. And he's doing well. And 2000 I believe 2000 and. 11, 2011 I watched him win the title. Mhm. And I'm like, "If he can do it, all right, I'm doing. it." Right. I made the decision right. there. I wrote it down in my journal. I. said, "I'm going to. I'm going to go be champion in this.".

And. fast forward to 2019, me and him end up. fighting same night. He defend his title. and I become the welterweight champion. Wow. So, crazy how. Crazy. you know, I'm just a small small. kid from Auchi, Nigeria end up, you know, being on this on this platform. and on this stage. Well, here's the. thing. Obviously, you got to have a. background in something if you're going. to do the MMA. UFC. And the more. disciplines that you're good at, the.

better you're going to be. Absolutely. Wrestling background, obviously, so. you're good at the takedown. So, how. difficult was it for you to transition? Because it's just not about getting. somebody on on the ground. No. It It was difficult, but. a thing that helped me is being able to. deal with competition. Right. I've been. just trained in dealing with. competition, dealing with wins No, you're dealing with your brothers. That. was the competition. That, too. That, too. So, dealing with wins and losses, Right. I was accustomed to that. Right. Learning knowing how to bounce back from.

a loss and and getting back on the horse. and continuing. And so, the biggest thing that wrestling teaches. you is how to be able to deal with. adversity and and overcome it, which is a big part of what people don't. really understand. And. now the thing with wrestling, too, is is. you got the leg up. If you already. mastered the wrestling, you got the leg. up. Cuz you think about it, you go you. go out there and you see a street fight. happening right now. It's only three positions you can end up.

in in a street fight. Right. You guys could both be standing. punching each other or vice versa, the. other guy's on top of the other guy. punching each Right. So, two-thirds of. that fight is on the ground. Right. Now, as a wrestler, I have the. ability to control Right. the real estate where that fight takes. place. So, six I already have a 67% advantage. Right. of a fight. Mhm. And so, it takes. some years to get used to getting hit. Right. Now, that was a tough one. It is It is, you know, you don't cuz you.

know, you somebody come in here right. now and and and whale off on you, you going to get mad and it's it's it's. Right. So, you got to be able to control. that. able to control the mind, being able to. to control enough to where you can see. these shots coming to where you can. defend yourself intelligently and plan. and put them and set them up for. something. Right. That took years to come, but it. was all a mixture of learning how to. compete, learning the wrestling because, you know, you get lit up too much now. standing up, I can take them down.

Right. So, when you're getting ready for a. fight, Floyd Mayweather says, "I don't. watch other fighters. I If I'm going to. fight a fight a fight a fighter, I don't. watch him fight. My corner handles that." When you're. getting ready to fight someone, do you. watch them or you just trust your corner. is like, "Okay, this is what we need to. do. This is what he's good at. This is. where we're going to try to stay away. from." Or do you sit down and actually. watch him and and try to break him down? Because when I play football, I'm. watching my opponent. Okay, I'm trying. to pick up any tendencies. Okay, he got.

a stagger, probably going to blitz. Okay, he's square, probably going to. buzz the flat. So, I'm trying to just. the slightest thing he doesn't know he's. doing it. He's just playing football, but I'm just trying to pick up the. slightest tendency to give me an. advantage because it's not about yards, it's about inches. It's about seconds. I. agree. Um. I think different things work for. different people. Okay. There's there's there's certain things. that make certain people great. Like. Floyd is great. You know, that that's a special. individual to be able to do what he.

does. And and we are great in our our right. own right. And so what makes us great. is your ability to be able to just see. study a little bit into where you know. For me. at the end of the day my coaches ain't. going to get in there and fight for me. I have to be able to fight for me. So. whatever can make that easier for me I'm. willing to do. So if I can see a little. bit of tapes to where I know overview. Like I can tell just by watching I know. overview okay you don't breathe well.

So you going to have a problem once I. push that heart rate. Okay. Your striking ain't the greatest. So I. can stand with you as long as I want. Or. your wrestling ain't the greatest. So if. you trying to get the best of me with. the striking I can take you down if I. want. And I I'll have the advantage. there. So I like to be able to see a. little bit of film so I'll have a. overview. When you watching film are you. listening to the TV copy? Because see I. couldn't listen to the TV copy because. the commentators because you get a false.

sense. They're talking about oh he's so. good. You just see that play. So I need. to listen to it on silent. So when you. watch tape are you watching a TV copy or. you just watching in silent just. watching him see what he does. Okay. Circling okay. I can set him up. I can I. can you know I can take him down and do. That's that's a that's a very very good. assessment. But I watch every aspect. I. watch it with and I watch it without. And the reason I do it is. A lot of people don't understand and if.

you have you ever been to a UFC. I have. As a matter of fact I went to. the first two UFC fights in Denver. Colorado in 1993. So way before way way. before there was no Dana White about I'm. talking about Dan Severn and all those. guys. Ken Shamrock. Royce Gracie. Have you been to one. recently? No. The last one the last one. I've been to is that Jon Jones beat uh. Sugar Sugar. Rashad Rashad Evans in Atlanta. Yeah. Okay. I need to I need to go to one. I. can't When you fight again I'm coming. Yeah. You got to come to one now. It's.

different. It's different. Yeah. So it's one thing. about a UFC event it's infectious. I don't care where you been at football. game basketball game and it's. infectious. You know, the sound of a kick landing. yeah and the crowd go from quiet to. erupt like that. It's it's infectious. There's nothing like it. And. you have to be able to understand what. that does to a fighter. when you're fighting. So when I watch. film I'm not just watching okay he's.

doing these moves he's doing that. I'm watching how he reacts. I'm watching. his heart. That's what I call it. I'm. watching his heart how he's affected by. what's going on. So I like to hear the. crowd cuz I like to put myself in there. with that fighter. How I would react. when I hear this crowd. Okay he's the. fan favorite. So the crowd's going to. chant for him. How does he react when. they chant for him? Does he turn up a. little bit more or is he able to deal. with that? So I I like to watch it that. way and then I I can watch this for the. moves. I can turn the sound off and.

watch him. Okay he's he's a good. striker. He set you up with this this. and this. But I watch all of them. But what about him being a fan favorite. and the least little thing the crowd is. going to erupt. They're trying to sway. the judges. Does that So how do you like. okay man he didn't even hit me. What. y'all yelling and screaming for? He. didn't touch me. That's that's my job. That's my job to. control the outcome. That's why I do. everything outside. to make sure by the time I step in there. there's no question. There's not a fight that I've been in to.

where I don't understand if I won a. round or not. There's not there's no question. If I. even had remotely feel like I lost that. round okay you're not going to make it. out of this fight. You know, I'm not. going to let it go to the judges. I. don't want to go let it go to the judges. and then I'm wondering did I win did I. not win? No. If it goes to the judges I. know I won. You have one loss in the UFC. Do you. remember why you lost? One loss in my. career. career? Yeah. Yes I know exactly why I lost. What happened?

And it was it was ignorance. I got into the sport when I got in I I. was. I was just high level wrestler. I mean I could control. I don't care. whether you were 20. lightweight flyweight or you were. heavyweight. If I got a hold of you you. going to end up on the ground. I could. control all of that. So it was a a certain ignorance that. came with that. that I didn't that yeah that I didn't. even realize at the time. I'm a team. player. I'm going to help everybody. I'm. not cocky with it. I'm not none of that.

But when you spent so many years and you. get to a certain level of controlling um. the engagements. there's a certain level of ignorance. that comes with it that you don't really. realize. And I had that. So I would I you know MMA practice we. were practicing. I hated the striking. days cuz I knew I was going to get beat. up. Right. You know, I had to train with. Sugar Rashad Evans and and Tyrone. Tyrone Spong and and Vitor Belfort was.

in there certain times and some of these. Cosmo Alexan. some of these guys that were Muay Thai. world champions they knew what they were. doing. So. I knew I was going to get beat up on. kickboxing day. MMA day I knew I I was going to get beat. up too but I could still kind of control. what's going on. Wrestling day was my. favorite day. I knew. that was my that's my day. Everybody. knew they they better stay away from me. cuz I'm I'm going to put it on you.

And with that being said it was just. I I you you develop this I didn't I felt. like okay jiu-jitsu. you know, I didn't need to study what. what was on the ground because I control. if the fight goes there or not. So if I. want to take somebody down I'm going to. take him down. That's it. You know, I dominate there. But my. ignorance was understanding that there's. tricks from being down there. And. jiu-jitsu is kind of like the counter. for wrestling. You can take him down but.

They want to be a lot of them want to be. on the ground. They want to be on the. ground. Yeah. I saw Royce Gracie he. would lay on the ground. Jump down on. him if you want to. No. That's. exactly what what happened. And so when. then you got teammates cuz my teammates. knew what I was capable of. They were. like oh man you about to fight this guy. Oh we know this guy around here. Oh you. going to get him. You won't get him. He's nothing. So. I was one to I never want to believe. that. Because I still got to do my. homework. I still got to do my research. But for the first time I started to. believe that a little bit. I'm like oh. I'm a oh it's.

You know, that's that's a former champ. He said I'm going to get him. I'm going. to get him. I know I'm going to get him. So I get in the fight. and I didn't really train jiu-jitsu like. that. So I get in the fight and of. course I threw a one-two boom shot took. him down. He was ease. Took him down. mounted him. Now in your mind you're. like okay you see Yeah. Yeah. This is So. I'm punching and this dude was about six. I want to say 6'3 6'4 tall. skinny for the weight class but tall. with long and flexible. And come from a family they they do.

this. They've been training for a while. And he did something that I I never seen. because I don't really do jiu-jitsu like. that. So he threw his legs around my waist. while I'm I'm in a full mount and I was. like I never felt that before what was. going on. So I panicked. And I try to turn up and get try to turn. and get up. He just crawled up my back. This was a minute and a half into the. fight. We're not sweating yet. I'm dry. He's on. my back. I'm carrying a backpack for.

about another minute and a half. I don't know the defenses to what's. going on here because I haven't spent. time learning this. because of my ignorance of thinking that. just because I'm a wrestler I control. everything. And I learned a hard lesson that day. I just remember before I. I had to tap because and I and there's a. story behind this cuz. in the back the commission they have a a. talk with you and they tell you okay if.

you're choked unconscious or if you're. knocked unconscious you're it's. automatic six month six months. suspension. Now I'm fighting for. 1,000 and 1,000. So I'm out here struggling. Right. I'm. staying with my big bro Sugar Rashad. Evans. Right. I ain't got no money. So I got about $17 in the bank account. And I'm like okay. if I can't fight for six months I can't. make no money. Right. So now I'm in this. compromising position.

And of course going into a fight I'm. like oh I'm a I'm a warrior. I'm not. willing to tap out. I'm going out on my. shield. I'm going out on my shield. I'm. I'm going to die in here. I'm not. tapping out. And I'm in that position and I realized. for the first time. I didn't have the knowledge to be able. to get out. So either I was going to just try to be. tough. get choked unconscious or tap and live. to fight another day. And for the first time. and the last time in my career I made a.

decision. to give up on myself. But then I you know, I made peace with. it later because I gave up because I. didn't have the knowledge. I didn't give up because I had the. knowledge and I was incapable of doing. it. I gave up because I didn't have the. knowledge. And. I walked out of that cage that night. I. paced in the back for about two hours. just by myself. I was pacing and I made. a decision to myself and I said that I. will never go into a fight without the. knowledge to be able to defend myself. Right. After that day the rest was history.

You're great at freestyles at wrestling. So now how much time do you spend in. your areas of weakness? Okay. Brazilian. jiu-jitsu obviously you know, striking. Uh you're you're most you're probably. most comfortable on the ground. So, you're talking about the Muay Thai, the. kickboxing. So, in a given week, how much time are you. spending in say kickboxing? How much. time are you spending in Jiu-Jitsu? How. much time are you spending in wrestling? How much time are you spending in. striking? I spend a lot a lot of time. I think um.

Where is the Where is the most of your. time spent? Most of my time. is spent was spent on striking because. I gotten so far in wrestling Yeah. To. where. now all I had to do was maintain Right. I gotten to what you would consider an. elite level of wrestling where now all I. had to do was maintain. that because once you stop wrestling. it's a quick rapid decline. Right. So, I just had to slow down that. process. Right. And if I could slow down that process.

and spend a lot more time on my areas of. weakness. I was going to be there. And so. one of the biggest things is. as an athlete. that I think makes the the. the best the best in the world is. being able to be honest with yourself. Yeah. It is not not just drinking your own. Kool-Aid, but being honest with. yourself. Cuz if you weak in that area, you're honest with yourself to say, "Oh, I'm weak there. I need to get better.". Right. And I I I see that's what a lot. of people can't can't do that.

Because they they get to a certain level. and they're good at something they're. like, "Oh, no, I'm not I'm not weak in. nowhere." I know I'm still weak. I'm. still learning to this day. But the fact. that you're willing to still train a. strength cuz a lot of people well, you. train your weakness to just train your. weaknesses, but you're still willing to. work on that strength also. Oh, yeah, because I knew it's the thing. I knew what got me to the dance. Right. And I wasn't just going to give it up. right away. Because there's guys that. have been striking since they were 5. years old right and now they're 30 years. old. They got 25 years experience on me.

You know, it's it's something different. about 25 years compared to 5 years of. experience no matter how good you are. And so knowing what got me to the dance, I have to make sure that I stay polished. on that. Right. But of course I I I'm. honest with myself to know that I'm weak. with the striking and I got to get. better. Yeah, but I watched you and you have. gotten exponentially better at striking. It's now you're sitting down on punches. You're throwing punches with intent. I. ain't just try bro, I ain't trying to. get your attention. I'm trying to get. you out of here. I'm trying to put him in the right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, bro. I I. I see you sit down on the punches. The.

punch. but. you did something to Marv for that. I. don't know if anybody saw it. You block you knocked his hand you. knocked his hand down and caught it with. the overhand. Right. Yeah, he he um. that that sequence and that that's I got. to give it up to my. my coach Trevor Wittman. He. he really we spent a lot of time that. camp committing to punches. And and and just committing all the way. through throwing it even if it lands. throw it. If it doesn't land still throw.

it. Right. So, he going to feel you. He. going to know that you you you almost. put something on him. out there with that intent. You you came. out to get him out of there. No, that that second one because you. know, I I wasn't happy with the first. one. Okay. Because a lot was made of him. taking the fight on 6 days notice, but I. also took the fight on 6 days notice. Right. And I have also had to fly across. the world to go fight him when I. prepared for a whole another. You That's what I'm saying and people. don't realize that. They you had a you. had a decided disadvantage because I'm. prepared for one type of fighter and. then you send me somebody else on a. week's notice. Yeah.

I haven't prepared for him forget who he. is. And that's the that's the big thing is. as a champion all eyes on you. You have. to entertain. You have to go out and you. have to put on that performance each and. every time. Right. So, you give me 6 days notice. with a completely different style a. completely different fighter that I. haven't prepared for. Right. And but you want the fireworks. that you want from a champion. Right. And I couldn't give that that night. So, I was disappointed in myself and I was. dealing with other little you know, injuries and things like that that kind. of hindered it but. I knew that I had to still see Burns.

first and once I got through Burns I. said, "Now we we got to do that one. over." Right. Cuz he's still walking around here. He's. still talking about now I took the I. took the man on 6 days notice. Now I get. a full training camp. Now I get a full. training camp. He going to have to see. me. He going to have to feel me. Yeah. So, I I said, "All right. You want. me to feel you? I'mma feel you." And and. so I asked for that one personally I. said, "Dana, we got to run that one back. over." And then he said, "All right. Let's do it." I said, "Okay.". I was going to go out there. I was going. to put something on him that he was. never going to forget. Okay.

Colby Covington. You hear what he's saying. Um he's a. MAGA guy. Okay, what if that's if that's. if that's what you want to be, okay. I. got no problem with that. That's who you. are. How do you after you hear all the things. he says knowing that you got to fight. him but remain calm and. ooh, I just want to do something so bad. to him but I got to be calm. I got to. stay within myself because the one thing. that you can't do is get outside of. yourself cuz now you play into his. hands. And maybe he says a lot of that.

stuff to get you to play into his hands. He does. He does and and I don't think it was. intentional at first. I think it was. just he was trying to find his own lane. But then he got to a point where he's. like, "Okay, I might be able to use this. to my advantage because of his specific. skill set.". Right. But I got into the sport. I I. I got to where I got to because not. because I I wanted to be rich. I wanted. to be famous or any of that. That came. later. Right. But I got into it because of. competition. Right. I wanted to be the best at it.

And so studying all the greats and. learning what it takes to be the best at. it is is your wit and not just. what you got out here and your strength. and all that. And so with him and some. of these guys that I deal with is is. learning how to deal with them. Mhm. You. sign that contract. So, that means as a. date. we're going to get in there right and. it's going to go down. Right. And so that that that was it for. me. Once that's signed. okay, you going to compensate me for. this for do to do this with him? All.

right. That's the date. Okay. So, now. I'mma do everything in my power to. prepare. to make sure that I go out there and I. dish out that discipline the right way. Right. So. when these guys talk and I tell it to. all these guys now. I am the judge. the jury and the executioner when we. step inside that octagon. So, anything. you say outside leading up to the fight, I'mma hear it. Right. Somehow I just somebody going to send. it. My mom now is a big fan. So, my mom. watch everything. So, she going to tell.

me, "You see what he said? You see what. the. So, I'mma see it. Right. And I'mma use it against him when we get. in there. And so Masvidal I there's a. famous a viral clip of him doing an. interview he was sitting down he said, "Yeah, this guy's not. he just don't possess the the macho ness. to be able to stand. you know, this you know, this set a man. apart from his consciousness or. something like that.". Yeah. I seen it. I said, "Okay. All right. I'm. going to give it to him." Right. And. then and then somebody of course later.

on they put the clip together of when he. he's saying that and I'm sending them. over to the. you know, to the rafters. Yeah. And and it was a good feeling. You. know, but at the end of the day for me. it's about competition. Was that the cleanest punch you ever. landed on someone? Yeah. Cuz you hit him. Yeah, that was that was. I mean he was out before he even hit the. floor. Yeah, that that one was. that was the cleanest. in competition. That that flush landed. It was another one that I landed.

a few fights before. on I I fought a Brazilian Sergio Moraes. a few fights before and but this one was. the clean one shot. You know, send all that that sweat. flying and everything. him from his soul. Yeah, you you got to. you got to send them off. So, that that. one was it. Let me um. the Covington two. you won that fight. He's talking about you. I don't know if he really proved yet. that he's the better of the man. Do you want a trilogy?

I wouldn't mind. Now this is the thing now. and these guys realize that. When you. fight for the title the most money you. going to make you going to make when you. fight for the title. Right. So, of course they want to fight. me. Right. Everybody want to fight me. because you fight me you going to get. the big check. Right. So, I have no problem with that. Covington is a guy that he has proven. that he he's one of the best in the. division if if he's not the next best. guy in the division. He has proven that. Yeah, he tough. So, he he's a guy that's. always going to make me.

there's no cutting corners. I don't want. to cut corners anyways when I train but. there's with him especially there's no. cutting corners. And so there's a. certain level of discipline that you. earn that you get from that training. camp when you compete against a guy like. that. So, I I I like it each and every. time. So, being able to to overcome that. level of competition it is you know, as. an athlete it's something that that. really solidifies where you are as as an. elite. What about. I look at you you you welterweight.

champ, Izzy Israel Adesanya and Francis. Ngannou. You got three African champs. UFC needs to take take the show on the. road and go over go go to Africa. They. absolutely. And. You You all three you guys want to fight. on the same card? Of course. Of course. That it it's something that. like I said it is very rare nowadays. yeah. to to be the first to be part of. something that's that's the first never.

been done. Right. And so. to be able to do something like that it. it's it's monumental. Right. And and I. don't know it's whether obviously there. there's a lot there's a lot of details. behind the scenes that we don't. understand. Right. that you know, the partners and. and the deals and the TV contracts that. UFC have that might not permit them to. do it or they might not feel like they. have the landscape to do it which is why. myself I I've started a promotion in. Nigeria right now. Um the AKO show you.

know, face off fight night two we're. about to have the second event March. 18th. And. I want to let them know that. I want I. want to show them that because. this sport is not really that big in. Africa. And you have three champions. Now imagine once we're able to spread. that sport around. I mean we we. I mean it's not even. it's not even fair. You were in Francis. Ngannou's corner against Ciryl Gane. Why. did you decide what what did you bring?

Just a different set of eyes that you. could see some things like Francis, I. think this is what we can do. I think. this is how you can neutralize some of. his strengths. Stay away you know stay away from his. strength. Play to your strength and to. his weaknesses. What what why did you. were you were you in the corner with. Francis? See the thing with Francis is. me and Francis are like brothers. Right. And so I'm always going to have. my brother's back. Right. And so I'm there mainly for that. moral support. Right. Because I understand what it is when I'm.

going to a fight. Right. I like to know that everybody behind me. next to me is ready to ride. Right. So if something broke out in here right. now and I'm going to fight I know that. everybody in my corner is throwing that. We fighting. Yeah. And so it's something. in that solid as a fighter when you. walking when you going to compete. Now as far as game plan Francis has. excellent coaching. Eric Nicksick and. Dewey Dewey Cooper those guys down there. they um. great coaches for Francis.

But Francis is is a competitor. You know some of the greats that there's. a lot of things that you just can't. teach them. They know how to they know. how to win. And that's the thing about Francis. You. know he was dealing with a lot you know. he had a knee injury. Right. And and he still resorted to the. wrestling to get the job done. Right. And so it wasn't much for me. Of. course I'll be there I'm going to tell. him my okay I think this is where we. should go. But at the end of the day. Francis is the one that's going to step. in there he's going to make the. decisions that's going to win or lose. him the fight.

Right. And that's exactly what he did. You know alongside with with his. coaches. I mean they do a good job with. him and he's proven that he's the. baddest man on the planet. Yeah. I mean. when Francis walk in the room you know. Francis Ngannou in the room. What what what transpired? Dana wasn't. in the. ring to put the belt on him. You wasn't there in the press. conference. And I don't know if I've. ever seen him not put the belt on the. champion. Not go to the the the the. after fight press conference. Obviously there's a lot going on. His.

contract was up after that fight. But. since he won he gets has to resign for. another two three fights whatever. however that goes. How do how do you guys bridge the gap? Because the pay scale we're going to. talk about Jake Paul saying you know. come on over here fight your boy make a. big pay day you make triple quadruple. what you making in the UFC. How do you guys. get the money that you believe you. deserve? Cuz there's a big piece of the. pie out there. I'm not trying to start. no you know trying to get you in trouble. with your boss. No no no. there's a big piece of the pie out there. and I know you want a bigger slice of. it. Absolutely.

I don't care what it is. You give me a. hundred million today that's fine. I'll. fight for a hundred million but the next. fight. I'm trying to get two fifty. I'm I'm. going to need two fifty. So. I understand that as an athlete as a man. it doesn't matter what it is. That's. competitor. I'm always going to want more. Absolutely. Right. Um could we have a bigger slice. of the pie? Absolutely. Right. You could. argue that with any and everybody in. every sport. 100%. Now there's there's. things that of course Francis and and. his coach and the camp that they need to.

you know work out with the UFC. That's. absolutely everybody knows that. Right. the situation the way it got. it doesn't look like. yeah it didn't it didn't have to get. that way. to get like that. Absolutely. You know. there's things that they need to sit. down and they need to talk about 100%. You know Francis Ngannou that's my. brother. I believe Francis is always. going to be worth more than he's. getting. Mhm. Absolutely. If he can go to boxing. tomorrow and they pay him fifty million. I think he's worth more than that. Right. You know so that's something that. they need to sit down with the company. because I you know.

there's plenty and plenty of athletes. that weren't happy. that will eventually sat down and and. something was done. You know that's. that's business. Right. No one side is always going to. get more than that. You know you you're. going to come to a compromise. Right. And I think they need to come to. a compromise. You know can he get more? Absolutely. Right. Should we get more? Um absolutely. Should football players. get more? Absolutely. Yes. Would you be willing to go fight a. Jake Paul or Logan Paul?

Absolutely. But these guys don't make. these guys don't they they they making a. lot of noise. That's good. They they got. the they got the the YouTubers and they. got the the new generation and these new. kids involved in watching them. That's. fine. But they don't equate to dollars. And then so they so all the money they. talking about they making they not. making. No it's not them. You know like like. what's the what's the other one? Logan. Paul fought Floyd but that's Floyd. Floyd been making a hundred million. dollar paydays. Right. So that that money came because. of Floyd. You know but Jake Paul he says. oh we doing these numbers we doing these.

numbers. You can add up every fight Jake Paul has. had. and they pay-per-view numbers weren't. more than what I did in my last fight. So they can say whatever they want to. say. He can say this or I'll say that. Or you you write me a check for a. hundred million dollars Jake Paul and. I'll be there to kick your ass next. week. Do you blame Conor. for UFC fighters wanting to box because. he got a hundred million dollar payday? He got a hundred million dollar payday. No. Why why would blame no you don't. blame him. You got a hundred million. dollars that's a hundred Conor don't.

have to work no more. Right. That you Is is that why he's been. unsuccessful? He hasn't been the same. fighter. It's hard it's hard now when. you when there's a difference when I got. on the Gucci when I got on Louis Vuitton. robe. I got on mink slippers. I got. somebody bringing me all three of my. meals in bed if I need that. I got a. yacht. I got a Rolls. I got a Ferrari. It's a it's a it's a good one it's a. good one. It's a good one. You're right. you're absolutely right. It's a it's a. difference. But I think it also depends on the on.

the individual. Yeah. Cuz you mentioned. Floyd. Floyd had all that and he's still. going out there putting in the work and. giving folks the business. Exactly. It depends on the individual. because. some guys they they they that's what. they aspire to get. Right. So that's. everything that they do they do it for. that. And then once they get it. once they get it it's oh I got it. Right. You know and I I think it was. back in the day whether it's Sugar Ray. or maybe Hagler and they said that it it. it's. things is different when you start. sleeping on silk sheets. Marvin Hagler.

said that. Because yeah. So when you when you. sleeping on that now you know the the. hustle is not the same. And. now. sleeping on silk sheets. I I have to say. I still want I still have that hustle. Right. I still I still want to get up and go. get it. Right. So I I I think it's it's. on the individual. So with him I don't. know why he he's not that successful. You know maybe maybe he got a lot of. different things going on. He's got his. demons that he's battling. Right. You know I'm not here to kick.

yeah. But I'm not I'm not here to kick a man. while he's down but You know that's the. best time to kick a man. I can't think. of a better time to kick a man. He right. It's the easiest he close it's the. easiest to get him. But he won three. He he never evolved. The same thing. happened to Ronda Rousey. She didn't. evolve. He didn't evolve. He's striking. Take him to the ground he never gets up. He spends if you take him down to the. mat thirty seconds into the round he. down the rest of the round. He down the. you see that. They take him out in the deep water and. they drown him. Khabib told him what he. was going to do. Said I'm going to drag.

you to the deep and I'm going to drown. you. Yeah. No I mean I mean it's that's the. thing about this sport is you have to be. honest with yourself. Right. You have to be able to understand. that I'm weak in these areas. I need to. make sure that I'm bringing those up to. par. So by the time I step out there. like that's what people don't realize. It's not just oh I won this fight. Right. It's I want to be the best mixed. martial artist in the planet. Right. And and that's being able to mix it all. up together. You got to be good at.

everything when you step in there. And. that's what I think I do better than. everybody right now. Right. Would you fight Conor? Would you fight. Khabib? I would not fight Khabib. You know. Khabib is like my brother. You know I. see no interest in that. Conor. absolutely. I gave him a chance. He got. scared huh? Yeah. I gave him a chance. He was he was barking. He was because he. that's what he do now. He tweet a lot. We call him Twitter fingers now. He he. tweeting a lot. And so he one time I. before I fought Masvidal Right. he was.

he was he was tweeting a lot and I said. here's your chance. If you picked up the phone right now and. called the UFC they are not going to say. no to you. Right. To challenge for the. belt. Right. And he was quiet. He didn't want to And then the next week. he start calling out Anderson Silva. retired fighters and things like that. So would I fight Conor? The offer is. there. But you know the fight But you. know it don't make no sense. The fight people want to see they they. they want to see you step up and see him. step down Izzy. Are you interested in. that? Of course they like to see that. No I've.

said it before. I'm not interested in that because right. now I'm a part of something that's. bigger than me. Right. And. at some at some at certain points you. kind of have to. you know you have to stand your ground. on certain things. Now. you know they want to offer us a hundred. million dollars. Me and Izzy going to. have to go in the back room and talk. about this. Hey but we what we want to do with a. hundred million dollars you know you got. mom and dad now they they living up. there in the upper room and they they. living somewhere nice now you know so.

you know that's a conversation me and. him would have to have but right now it. don't make no sense for me because and. I've said it before. two Nigerians having belts is more. important to me. Two. Three Africans all three of us having. belts is more important to me than one. African without belts. Jon Jones Francis. Ngannou. That's. I'm going to tell you right now. Where am I? I'm I'm over here I'm going. to tell you right now. Francis Ngannou. is a is is a tall.

a full glass of milk for anybody to. drink. Now, you know John when they come. out with the rankings, you know who the. greatest they they say the number one. ranked the number one UFC fighter of all. time, it always is JJ. Oh, yeah. I'm I'm. going to give it to Jon Jones. You look at what Jon Jones has done in. his career. and the way he's done it. I put him up there. Of course, I put him. up there. But, time to change. Okay. And it's always like come on now. We we know how this goes. We we you.

can't be the best forever. Okay, what. about what about Jon and Izzy? That's a tough one. I want to see that one. You. I want to see that. Izzy called him out. Jon said I want to. see that one. I I mean they want to. fight each other. I know that. But, Jon. moved up now to heavyweight. So, but I. that's a fight that I was really. intrigued by. You know, I think Izzy is. a is a ninja right now. He's a sniper. But, Jon I mean mixing it up Jon has has. proven that he's been the best for a.

long, long time. So, that was a fight that I was very. intrigued about. And that's one thing. about MMA is there's no math about this. Right. Right. It's not okay Floyd. fighting Maidana, you know who going to. win. There's no, this anything can. happen. But, when you fight Francis Ngannou. though, I want to see it. I want to see it, of. course. I want to see it July. Dana, let's make it happen. International fight. Didn't ask you about the hand, but I see. you got the hand bandage. I saw it on. Dana's page. You had surgery on the.

hand. You looking for a fight in. mid-July. July. You going to be ready? Who do you want to fight? It don't. matter. Throw them in there. It don't. matter. You go find them and you throw them in. there. I'm just in a place now to where. I'm having fun with this. I'm having. fun. Like I said, it was we was we was. running a race early on. You know, I. don't pass them all up. Now, I'm coming. back around and I like like like you. saying both, I'm looking back and I'm. I'm smiling. So, it don't matter who you. throw in there. Throw them all in there. Thank you for your time, bro. Thank you, my brother. Kamaru Usman, ladies and. gentlemen.

All my life, been grinding all my life. Sacrifice, hustle paid the price. Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life. All my life, been grinding all my life. Sacrifice, hustle paid the price. Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life.