JRE MMA Show #146 with Francis Ngannou

[Music]. by night. [Music]. what's up champ how are you I'm good. good to see you good to see you again so. you have uh been on a journey my friend. a lot of things have happened first of. all congratulations on securing this. fight that is a big deal a lot of people. doubted it was going to happen you were. right all right thank you thank you yes.

he was a big deal it wasn't easy. um but we finally get it you know I get. a um. a help of a lot of people and the Saudi. were very were very interesting about. this fight. yeah it was one of those fights where. you had to take a big gamble by. relinquishing your UFC ground. in League I didn't relinquish anything. you didn't relinquish it yeah well fill. me in that tell me what happened. where we didn't come to an agreement it. didn't come to an agreement yeah so you.

decided I'm not signing with the UFC. you're a free agent yes. and then did the negotiations then start. for the Tyson Fury fight how did it how. did it start. um you know it's been like four years. since Tyson Fury and I we've been uh. going back and forth on social media so. there was a little bit of a warm-up. somewhere there and uh. you kind of like take a couple months. before we get to.

to a conversation you know it wasn't. just easy those boxing promotion the. boxing war is a little while yeah yeah. it's completely different it's a. different animal in what way like. explain it to us. the way that they do things you know uh. it's a this guy from this promotion. fighting with this guy against this guy. from this promotion who has a better. position who has what to lose who is. getting what and then how them kind of. like put things.

I will not say manipulate but a little. bit like that everybody trying to adjust. things on his own benefit look what is. good for him which is good but uh yeah a. lot of boxing fights don't get made yeah. they get talked about for a long time. like Tyson Fury and usick for a long. time was Terence Crawford and Earl. Spence they get talked about for a long. time and they almost get made and then. they don't get made and they almost get. made and they don't get mad a lot of.

politics behind yeah a lot of promotion. that will be behind the fight just to. you know push the opposition everybody. is pushing this position is not more. it's not mostly about the fight it's. about like okay what we we control the. game do we have enough control here do. we control everything else yeah yeah so. was it frustrating for you because I. imagine there was a while where you. weren't sure whether or not it was going. to be made. I wasn't frustrating you know.

um before I made my I'm I made my. decision uh when I separated with the. UFC and I knew. I mean long time before like I remember. even when I fought Sharingan. um even before that fight I I was. telling myself and I was even telling. this on interview like okay if this is. the end then he has to end my way you. know so. um not because I was sure that it's.

gonna happen I knew that he could have. not happened right but. I was I was to be in peace with my. decision so that uh that's the thing. about it and I'm very uh happy that it. happens makes it even better but I know. there was a risk that he didn't happen. but. I had to take a chance so what was the. hold up with the UFC like what what what. led you to not sign.

there was a lot of frustration over the. years I think since my fight against uh. Stupid my first fight against tpe my. relation with the USA never been the. same really yeah why in what way I don't. know we try I try everything I wasn't. I I didn't I wasn't uh in there I feel. like I wasn't in the right place and at. after that uh then I get the direct.

Lewis fight who was like the worst fight. and that didn't help me at all you know. so I was so I think from that moment I. was already put in some. position out there because I came back I. won uh I won multiple fight and. they came with a new deal. this was after Junior dos Santos back in. June 2017. and then.

he was a make who call for a new deal. and then. until my team was on the way to the. negotiation who was in Anaheim Wednesday. pay and DC was fighting. the second time and then I'm like no. then I say no no new deal for Francis he. has he used to have three fight on this. contract. and to be honest I was even happy. because I wanted to knock that day out.

by that time I understood a little bit. about the market I just wanted to find. out my contract. and renegotiate Us free you know but. then. a month after we get a call from I think. was Hunter or somebody there yeah they. say oh yeah let's let's talk about a new. deal for Francis. and at that time um like there's not a.

new deal well like we just win a fight. you know it's already September or. yeah we we are in September and uh my. last fight was in June I won a fight. you know so the new dear stuff beholding. me back they didn't give me a fight. because they wanted you to decide. I didn't want to fight your contract. down I want to fight my contract down so. they were slowing things they were.

slowing things down so that if you see. like the interval between my junior Dosa. sentos fight and judging your reasons. through fight was almost a year I mean. right yeah there was a covet in between. but without covet it would have still be. like 10 months right and then from. Junior from rosenstruck to Stipe same. thing then stupid to Syrian almost the. same thing he was mostly about the. contract so then finally you fight out.

the contract and then what happens. we didn't come to a agreement at all. because during this time there was still. a negotiation pushing and staff. and I wanted to fight out that contract. proposal of money obviously they know my. position because I was. pressure financially you know when you. have a fight you expect to fight at. least at that level at that moment I was. expecting to fight at least two or three.

times a year right then I get to the. point that I have a one I have one fight. I have nothing. so I was limited of income stuff like. that then I started borrow money. even before the stupid fight when they. announced that fight I need to call to. ask for events of my purse to finance my. training camp I have no money but I was. I was there training and getting ready. for almost a year.

so I took some advance so that's got to. be very stressful. yeah but. one thing and that's like one thing that. I'm always grateful about my life I used. to this situation and I'll tell myself. like these people they don't know me I. can live out of nothing you know I live. in this world I live in the street bro. like and then I'm here in Las Vegas you. think like okay I don't fight I just. have to change everything I'm able to.

live out of the best bare minimum and I. don't care if I walk around you guys say. oh champ how would I say UFC Contender. whatever it is man I just leave base of. what is in my uh base of my asset I. don't live beyond that that's why like I. don't really trust those credit card. system models loan and stuff that's. America [ __ ] bro I don't trust that. because when he lets you down he lets.

you down yeah for sure I checked my I. check my wallet whatever is in my wallet. I leave based on that I don't go loan. and stuff unless like I'm forced at some. point or I'm it's an investment like. having taken the money borrowing money. for your training camp you know right. that's a different different thing so. you win the zero gone fight then what. happens. where then.

first then I didn't come to the ring to. the Octagon for the belt. yeah and then after that. they get this this dinner invite us to. this dinner trying to smooth things out. again the condition at that time I think. at that time for me it was more than a. contract he was like a lot of. frustration from the past almost three. years you know I'm like okay.

I have no guarantee that sign in this. contract I will not get into what. uh I was I have been to in the past. three years so how about we change. something that will make me feel secure. and what did you want to change. a lot of things I want in my contract. first of all I want a contract without. extension. because I have seen how they can abuse. of those extension can you explain to me.

how the extension works oh. where I mean there's not a way that he. works the extension is that um. because they say if the If you deny a. fight. they can extend you for six months or. something if you're hurt and can fight. they can extend you for six months or. something. but the problem the UFC is the judge and. the party they decide if.

they will extend you you have no say so. when they say oh you fight tomorrow you. say uh no no I'm like okay no problem we. were just checking and then. maybe a week after you will receive a. letter of extension like your contract. has been standing for six months and. that's what happened with me even if. you're injured like say if they propose. a fight for you like here we are in. September if they propose a fight for. you in Madison Square Garden in November.

and you say I can't because I'm injured. oh no that extension then they put up a. six-month extension oh yeah that's. distinction anytime you refuse a fight. is that what it is yeah. and refuse is subjective right depends. you can't fight because you're injured. like when you tore your knee ligaments. oh no that is the extension extension. yeah that's clearly extension for. example my extension for example the. first one when I get when I first DP.

right and. I have been fighting almost once a year. in the past three years I forced debate. on March 27th. and then April 2nd. Mick is calling my team can and I tell. them like oh I want to fight stay active. I want to fight twice this year again. summer which is July or August and. December. and then. April 2nd they are calling to ask me to.

fight and I was getting ready it was a. big moment in my life I'm like I'm. bringing this trophy whom this trophy. home right now right. and this call to ask me if I can fight. in June 12th. uh he was John 12 here John 6 or. something like that where I'm like bro. give me a time I mean. they say no we were just offering in. case because Francis said you want to. fight twice this year I'm like yes I do.

and I said July the earliest on August. and December and I know that I can take. one two weeks two three weeks out maybe. go home do stuff and come back I know. I'm like no no no I've totally. understandable understandable uh he was. just to check. in case is work for you it was it wasn't.

really. a couple months after I received an. extension about that. but you know why because my contract. originally supposed to end in um May May. 20th. of that year so if my Contra and on May. 20th at that year that means the. championship close kicks in which is one. year but. if they extend me I have to go all the.

way to the extension before the. championship close kicks in so. it was more time yeah. so. and when they say no it's okay no. problem we were just checking and I was. in Cameroon in uh on May 19th. so one day before my original contract. which was 14 months. inspired and then the championship kick. in I received an extension letter I was.

in Cameroon suffering of covet at that. time. so. I receive an extension letter. so now I'm extended until November. 20. even though you told them you wanted. to fight in july yeah. so they just tack on so I know they just. tacked on and you have nothing to say. it's effective from the moment that they. send that letter out okay so your new. contract you wanted no extensions that's. one thing yeah that's one thing okay. what was it was one of them the ability.

to box. one of them was the ability to box. they said that wasn't an option boxing. is dead it's not possible this and that. now what does that feel like to you. knowing that Conor McGregor did it and. fought Floyd Mayweather and made 100. million dollars. what is that like for you to be sitting. there being told that you can't box. well uh. I don't used to. I don't used to take what people tell me.

for an answer right right I used to do. my own thing right on my in my on my own. way right and it seems to work pretty. good so. but. I wasn't going to force to change. everything I wasn't expecting to go. there and demand this demand that and. just have everything you know is like. it's a big company it's like an. institution right you know so there's a. way that they do things right and that.

can change so I'm like okay. if that's if so. let's take boxing out why because give. me three fights. I was I knew that I can knock a tree. fight contract in a year. and then from that moment I was free. because I want I want a middle ground. like alternative a way to get out by. giving something out you know just to. get something at the end got it you know.

because. it's really hard to get in the. negotiation and just like oh I want this. I want that and want that and stop there. at some point you have to compromise to. push back give something in order to get. something yeah so stuff like that. um was the thing that I was about it. and um. that seems to be attractive to them. so. one tree fight deer no extension.

that seems to be attractive two fight. was supposed to be potentially Jun Jones. fight and rematch and one fight is the. trilogy with steeping that was the. request and. work for both party. then um. we get to. we get to another Point sponsorship deal. why sponsorship there because uh before. that I had a deal after the stupid fight. I have I had a deal on the table.

for over a million dollars for a. cryptocurrency wallet. so I was going to have like I think 1.2. million which is the money that I didn't. I never had. in in the fight. I was going to have that in a. sponsorship and the deal was this close. to sign. and then they announced the crypto.com. deal. and then the party plural form like hey. bro we can do you you understand our.

position you can be carry this in the. Octagon why behind we are trying to push. you know. would you try to make a deal with. crypto.com. no no creep at that momentcrypto.com. they don't care right because they have. a deal with you they have to deal with. the UFC and you're gonna wear it whether. you like it or not right you don't have. a SC. um I think this is messed up I need we. need to solve this I need the.

sponsorship I need a right to have my. own sponsor uh. which Fighters should be able to have. two three sponsorship on their on their. gears I mean I understand that we want. to make this ball grow make it nice but. we can we can also meanwhile you can. have a department who check all the. sponsor like oh no this is not good. because of this reason it doesn't. represent the sportware right right but.

there are a lot of good stuff out there. that will also help fighter to. you know to provide to get a little more. money. and um. that was another discussion I'm like oh. you can't do that. um okay. so what is working exactly they make me. some kind of like a proposal which. I don't know who doesn't even make sense.

but. and the other one was like um. because of the fact that. I was in this position for so long and I. was just so powerless the reason why I. stay in this position where I keep. holding my crown was big only because. in the contract there is what they call. the sunset clause. so meaning like after five years from. the beginning from the day you signed a.

contract. doesn't matter what is in the contract. expire. the extension they can extend you. pass that day. so my end goal from the beginning from. the moment that I know that okay I'm. gonna hold this Crown I know that I have. to face some obstacle so my end goal was. the five years the sunset okay I had the. sunset they did in my mind December 9th.

2022. I had that day in my mind for like. almost three years. so when I was receiving all this. extension later. I mean I couldn't find it either way but. in my mind I was just like. it's okay one thing that I know I just. just focus on December 9. 2022 and then you will be fine. so after that then I'm like okay if I. sign a new deal. I don't know even if there's not.

extension there have been a proof of. like. how could I say in a nice way abuse of. power. right. but. why are we in this position this is the. position that every fighter. get into right I mean be feeling. powerless. we might be many hundreds of us but it's. every individual a time we are very.

separated every cases is separated so. which means you're just weak it's just. you against big monster which is the. company the institution so you can fight. how can we make it make sense. I mean we are not going for Union. but. at least you guys sometime before make. some decision how about you have. somebody in the room who can understand.

things from our perspective because I do. believe that all the positive decision. that you might make will hurt us. is not mean to her but maybe just. because you don't understand our. position maybe if somebody they're. speaking for us which. again I don't know who you could be but. just be mindful that okay this is five. reposition. um. maybe that will help. so you get through all this and then.

where did it break down to the point. where you had to walk away. you break down. um. December 6 I think was December no. December twenty. I don't remember 2019 or 22nd something. like that I had a dinner with Hunter. after we've been going through staff he. said no to this no to that. you know but I have a focus I know that.

okay if I give three fight here. since they are willing to take the three. facts it's gonna make. you know I don't want to break this. relationship like this. I don't want it to be a war right I. can't stand. I can stand in this but. so we can get. trying to fix things up but when we met.

again uh that day was the first time. over all this time that we have to talk. about the financial aspect I mean. he has to propose a financial aspect. right so he proposed it at dinner yeah. he propose a dinner. and then I just like. this guy is making fun on me make it. funny yeah so was disrespectful it was. like not valuable enough for you not at. all in the other champ at the time yeah.

I mean not at all like when you're. talking about. then we are negotiating pay-per-view and. then you see number like 1.25 pay buy. buys and stuff like that and a. pay-per-view is going. from sick from 60 to 80 dollar in the. past five years. and you realize that it took one day two. there was 0.25 that is on top of it it's.

just. out of the 20 that been added on. like come on man it's not my first paper. view contract and. just wasn't enough money. what wasn't even about the the money. even how it was structured even how it. was. I'm like. this doesn't make sense you know I I. went home.

and I was so. I don't know frustrated or disappointed. I don't know how I can describe but one. thing I know I went online I'm like I'm. missing Christmas with my family I'm. here training for a potential Jon Jones. fight which might not happen. what for seems like we are not getting. anywhere close I book a flight that. night to go to Cameroon and I was in. Cameroon in the Christmas and then.

couple days after I receive a text from. Mick mcminna who was you know make. usually some time just send me a. friendly text to check on me and then we. talk a little bit and then. you talk about. [Music]. um. the contract. like he heard that we didn't come to a. time I say yes say like is it anything. that I can do I'm like I don't think so.

we didn't just have it. an agreement. and um. he said how about. I make it we we talk again let's get in. the meeting. with Hunter again and talk. and uh as I said make always be nice and. I couldn't say no I'm like yes let's try. in fact. I wish I could have worked you know.

because to be honest I never like really. before all this I never imagined a life. out of the UFC I thought he would be. like. my filing platform onto my retirement or. something. but clearly things has changed along the. way. so even when they came back a second. time it still was not enough. yeah. because when they came back. and um.

all this time that that we've been. talking they've been talking about the. um. uh how did what is the term back pay. yeah we're gonna back pay you. from because if from all the fight that. I've been refused. I refusing to renegotiate the pay that. they were proposing they said they're. gonna back pay me that. when they come out now and then. make pay. better and I'm like okay the back pay.

and this and that I'm like no no. everything is in this contract this is. it this is it. no no I'm like okay. well then I don't know what to say if. you say this is it because you're. is against your world you say something. and now you say this is it I said don't. have the back pay bro so they proposed. the back pay and then they took them. away yeah they've been proposing the. back pay before. after the certified.

they get to invite us to a dinner and. then keep reminding me how they're gonna. back pay me right everything. because I have a good proposal at the. time but I know that proposal and it was. a good money but I know he was just a. bear to sign a contract it was just to. put depend on the paper it wasn't really. like. a good fade like what how do you want to. make give me a good contract.

and they get to the point that day I'm. like no everything is in this I'm like. okay. I don't see it. and uh. I was we were kind of like silence for a. couple seconds like. what's that mean. I'm like. I don't know then we hang up. okay so at that point you start to talk. to people like the pfl or NFC and no no.

at that point I stopped I didn't do. anything. when we stopped that conversation I. didn't do anything. until like um I started to see all this. thing on social media and then I saw. they didn't uh the Dana press uh press. conference. like oh we get rid of Francis uh yes. he's not getting any younger he's injury. I'm like yes he's not getting any. younger but you were trying to have him. he's injured but you were trying to have.

him now. you didn't come to her agreement you're. batching him. that's when I started to respond because. I never really like won this like to be. something on me and I was expecting like. maybe to go out there and just say oh. unfortunately we didn't come to. agreement and this and that and thank. you good luck right and then we we move. away but.

that's not how they do things over there. so you decide to start talking to other. people that. yeah and who do you talk to First. um people started to reach out I wasn't. even the one uh. talking to people and. you know at that time I just wanna let. this weight drop out of my shoulder for. some reason I feel relieved. I feel relief there was so much pressure. into that process.

you know and I was in Cameroon I'm like. man just live your life you know. whatever. it's yours out there will come to you. like but. I get the uh the first person that. reached out was Pete Mary from pfl. and then. I was just like yes let's. hear him out and it came out. we speak he asked like what I'm looking.

for on stuff we speak and we're like ah. looks good. a couple days after. he made a proposal I look I mean I. didn't even ask for not anything but. when he make a proposal I look at the. structure of that proposal I'm like. this is good. you know everything was being taken. consideration you know obviously there. is always. there's always going to be a way of to.

negotiate in a contract but the way that. they structure it I was already happy. I'm like I think this guy. is trying to. make me happy yeah right they need. someone like you yeah pfl doesn't really. have the big stars yeah. so but we keep that Contra and at that. time I'm like let's wait I'm not rushing. to anything take some times and. everything. and then so you didn't sign that yet no.

I didn't say we also get to a chatri. even chatri reach out we talk same thing. and then cover this. they send their own contract. but when I was putting that contract. next to the pfa1. it was day and night. the pfl was much better yeah okay. and the pfl uh put a clause in to allow. you to box yeah no boxing was was first.

to me right would the pfl be involved in. the boxing promotion that was up to me. okay that was up to me but they didn't. really like want to it's not their. expertise but if they can help in some. way or be involved in some way against. it's up to me right so. very independent contract. so. but I was more looking about like boxing.

that's the first time that I have to I. started to have dialogue about boxing. and stuff. you know and I know there were some. conversations with you fighting there. was Deontay Wilder they talked about I. think they talked about dillian white. he was he was the only world that we. definitely we had a conversation with. Deontay Wilder team even with him I. personally like was under of uh. meeting with him conference with him.

that we were talking about. a potential to fight there so and that. was that was going well and I think even. to this day we we are kind of like open. about it it's just along the way he has. the he has a potential opportunity right. away that they say okay we had like to. pursue the conversation about uh what we. have here and he was for us he was.

understandable where I'm like okay. then let's explore maybe after and then. right after that I have my own I started. a conversation with um. with the. for the fury fight. yeah. because I get a call I was dry I was. driving to. yeah I was driving to the airport and. then I get a call to meet in New York.

for. for some conversation about the fury. fight. and then when I get in New York. next week we schedule that on next week. I get in New York we get to the room and. meet the people. he was the right people we spoke I heard. that I hear them out and I'm like I knew. them right and now I'm like okay. this is legit I think with these people. behind this fight is going to happen.

that's where I now put them in contact. with my team. to negotiate because they wanted me do. everything let's negotiate let's I'm. like I don't do negotiation. I listen. I talk about like how I would like. things to go back. I don't like to negotiate personally. right because I want this I deserve this. I'm that you know I'd rather have.

somebody do that on my behalf right. somebody do that on your behalf and you. want to respond to a good deal good deal. brought to you yeah okay I want somebody. it's always good to have somebody in the. mirror that would take their temper of. both body right because a deal can fall. off just off because uh somebody's mad. at this and I'm like his ego takeover. and the days off right right but when. there's somebody in between and you.

always come to like okay. is is not him right and there's to think. about it and that's what happened. because sometimes with my team. there was that there was frustrated and. I'm like oh no this is not working and. then they will come to you and then you. will talk nice you know be a nice cop. have no problem I'm like no but my team. is saying this because of they didn't. mean to offend you you know but I think. you know God frustrating right yeah I.

mean no not frustrating I mean yeah oh. but over the time you learn you. understand how it works and it's pretty. easy okay it's pretty easy. so you're in the driver's seat now. because you've left the UFC you have all. these opportunities on the table. possibly Deontay Wilder then it becomes. Tyson Fury. so when do you know that that fight is. actually going to take place because I. know there was on June June that was in. June that was in June we loved that.

fight it was concluded everything was. set. so for all those months from December to. June you're essentially just trying to. find where you're going to land yeah but. before that I have. um I agree to deal with the pfl I think. he was in. in March but I made the request I say. let's just figure out what would be next. my next uh boxing fight before we signed.

the deal so you haven't signed the deal. with the people I haven't signed a deal. is it possible let me ask you this okay. is it possible that you go and fight. Tyson Fury and then the UFC comes back. to you and says listen. let's make this right and let's fight. Jon Jones. is that possible. it's possible but no. is is possible that they have to go to. the PFA now oh because the pfl have a. contract signed yeah you did sign a. contract I did sign I say in March I was.

it wasn't signed right I signed in May. do you think the pfl would allow that oh. the pfl is down for that really yeah. it's down for that wow. wow the PFA is down efl would let you. fight in the UFC but what happens if you. beat Jon Jones you become the UFC. heavyweight champion again. uh. uh that's a problem I don't know.

maybe he'll be a special fight a special. bird or something yeah maybe not like. you UFC bird I don't know yeah probably. I can't be down for that yeah you win. the title and then go fight in the pfl. no no no no the title but you know to be. honest I don't worry about the title the. title is not what I worry about I worry. about that fight that challenge yes uh. and uh I wouldn't care if he was a fight. without a title. you know so right in my I don't need it.

a UFC title especially with that fight. like what difference does it make it's. Jon Jones and you no that fight is. bigger than the title yes. no doubt so deep inside me I still have. a little bit of Hope even though I know. he's gonna be hard but you never know. boy that would be a big gamble for them. because if you win then you're the champ. but you're signed with the pfl yeah oh.

okay so so June you get the Tyson Fury. bout negotiated did you get everything. you want was it easy. um again you don't walk in a room for a. contract to get everything that you want. right and at that moment I was just so. happy happy to get that fight happen. because from that fight a lot of things. will be open. that file will open a lot of dough you. know sometimes.

even in the negotiation sometime you. have to see long term like what it comes. with. now I get this fight I think. is it should have been it should have. been the Focus right after this fight. imagine hypothetically I go out there. knock ties and fury out. what do you think will happen for me now. where does that leave me if you knock. Tyson Fury out you're the biggest Combat. Sports star in the world okay that's.

what I think so is that everything that. you want. well if you're not Dyson Fury out the. real money's in a rematch exactly that's. the real money that's crazy buddy. are they giving you crazy money for the. Tyson Fury fight yeah they're giving me. a good money yeah and very great. condition I I like.

I like a lot of component and again a. lot like a lot of component of this. contract who was like uh. the the thing the treatment that they. were giving me the access how easy they. make stuff for me you know like it's. gonna be the first time that my family. gonna attend to my fight and I don't. even have to think about that they're. gonna work on it they're going to figure. out how to bring my mom my sister my. brother out to Saudi to watch that fight. oh okay so they're gonna take care of.

everything they're going to take care. and I think somebody's knowing to throw. that money around boy and I think that's. that's some that's something that for me. was very very important I think you know. I could have half more money but he. wouldn't make me more happier than stuff. like that and you know you kind of like. work with people that you feel like okay. they are trying. their best their very best to make you. feel comfortable feel happy right I.

think that's it's also it's also a. partnership you know it's not like one. shot okay take everything that I can. take and go how can we build something. like is it like somebody that I can. trust can we view something for the. future and then when you feel like yes. you invest into that relationship okay. so June they negotiate the fight uh is. it 12 rounds. 10 rounds and they've created a new belt.

right and. um you're happy with the money you're. happy with the conditions you're happy. with everything. so then in June is when you go hardcore. boxing training like when did you start. like hardcore boxing training I was. turning uh boxing already. um no. no like I was in a camp but you're. recovering from your knee surgery first. of all right yes so yes you can't kick. and you can't wrestle I can kick I can. wrestle I mean obviously be careful I.

have to be careful but how was the knee. now 100 I don't have to worry about like. kick wrestling right just me uh my knees. probably 90 I mean when you get a knee. surgery did you get any stem cells or. anything. not yet how long are you in town for I. had a um. uh PRP I'm leaving tonight you're. leaving tonight yeah there's a company. in Austin weighs too well that I wanted. to hook you up ways to wear yes I get in.

contact with them I even do uh get them. doing my exam and I think uh Eric uh. nixik put me in contact with um would. probably send me a contact uh I can tell. yeah we bring him yeah I can take care. of that too about the same sir if we. have a time and I think you should do. that yeah I think I'm gonna it'll help. you this shirt yeah for sure you know. it'll help you it definitely will it's. very important to take care of. to men to maintain the vehicle yes.

obviously yeah yeah and what a vehicle. it is yeah basically when you're gonna. put it in a big crash like this so yeah. right. that's a good way to put it yeah because. Tyson Fury is a big is a monster I stand. next to him I'm like damn this guy is. Big. I'm like you really need to go full. force yeah he's a big fellow and he's. very good very skillful oh man you jump. into the top of the Heap and then I was.

there at the press conference next to. him and I'm like yes look my fat belly. I'm uh I'm a fat pig I'm this I'm like. don't you fool me I have seen you yeah. it tricks people with that belly I'm. like don't you fool me don't you trick. me Tyson I've seen your box and you does. a box as a fat anything at all. if you just focus on his body and then. you'll be like easy job no man when the.

guy is in the ring moving you I'm like. okay is it like something that they are. remoting or something. I'm like no don't you fool me I have. very very skillful yeah very skillful. but you know you have probably the most. Sensational punching power I've ever. seen in the heavyweight division in the. UFC. um it's you and Derek Lewis you're the. biggest knockout artist ever maybe but. again uh I think in the heavyweight.

division everybody can knock yes. everybody out the problem is to connect. yes that's the most problem yeah when. you worked everybody hit somebody in the. shin right it's going down but can you. how to connect the delivery system and. uh it's something that I'll uh I heard. once from Teddy Atlas. and uh is taking my mind like the. delivery system. you can have the biggest missile but if.

you can hit your target right. useless so when do you get involved with. Mike Tyson when did that start happening. in which in training. because I've seen videos of you training. with Tyson how much have you trained. with them uh not so much you come time. to time not always he's not always with. me but if you look like four years ago. exactly four years ago uh and that's. when uh Tyson and I we started hit each.

other on social media and four years ago. was the first time that I met Mike Tyson. I was on his uh podcast the hot boxing. and one request that I uh initiated at. that time was like whenever I fight. Tyson Fury would you be in my corner and. he said yes that is it that's even on my. Instagram it's still on my Instagram. like the next day I put that as a. caption like he said uh I asked him if. he can he'll be in my corner whenever I.

fight Tyson Fury and nobody believed. that this could have happened like okay. cool then what. and uh when I get the fight I'm like bro. that thing is happening. that thing is manifesting himself why. and so Tyson agrees to be in your corner. and did who are you training with mostly. for boxing I'm training. um I'm training with Dewey I also get. Dewey Cooper yeah. um I also get this uh this guy from.

France named uh John bumba that uh I. used to work with him work my train my. boxing with him he's a young very young. guy you know but I like his style the. way that he his approach and stuff and I. really have a good connection with him. so what's up uh I reach out I mean even. before the fight I was working with him. taking me taking him in Cameroon get.

some training already and then when the. fight get announced I talk with him then. I brought him out so he's in Vegas with. me. and so you started your journey in. martial arts you initially wanted to be. a boxer yes and then when you went to an. MMA gym they convinced when I went to. France right yeah no he was even in the. boxing gym that they convinced me to be. a MMA fighter a guy from a boxing gym. named. the first boxing gym that I get into but.

he was also a martial artist itself. himself. I know he said bro. I think you have a very good potential. uh I think your best outcome now. regarding your situation because I was. still homeless at the time I think your. best outcome would be MMA if you that's. I'm like what's MMA. he started to explain to me like you. know I'm like ah okay that sport that.

they do in the cage say yes I'm like I. have seen it he said if you. train some rest take down defense and. Jujutsu what is Jujutsu started to. explain the thing you're going to be a. UFC champion one day what is UFC and how. old. 27 that was in 2013. it's so crazy June. 2013. people don't understand that you. started this journey as an MMA fighter. so late in your life and compared to.

most like a lot of these guys they're. training when they're 14 15 years old. they're in MMA gyms and having amateur. fights yeah and I forced I forced my way. into a MMA and that's why like there was. a lot of things that I didn't understand. properly I didn't learn as a uh at least. growing up. and uh until I get to a stupid fight the. first EP fight man that's stupid if I. taught me a lot about cover sport yeah. after that fight I was at the press.

conference and telling people like I. think I have learned more in this fight. because. here I've been what almost just four. years four years and half since I've. been doing but not even four years and a. half since I've been doing MMA when I. first debated first time yeah and I said. I I learned this night tonight I learned. more than I have learned in the past. four years in this game and I think. people didn't understand but I meant it.

Well you certainly showed it in a. rematch. certainly showed it yeah and Daniel. Cormier pointed it out he said patient. Francis you were patient in the second. fight you didn't just rush out and try. to take him out in the first round. much more dangerous yeah because my oh. my previous fight before Stipe I wasn't. rushing rushing on anybody what about. rosenstrike he kind of rushed down that. was after yeah I mean before the first. before before the first fight I wasn't.

rushing off on anybody I was knocking. people out without rushing the mistake. the thing that I did is like I get to. the point that I really started thinking. about The Knockout which is something. that I never thought about it it just. happened right then I started to think. about it so that's where I was trying to. make it happen I'm trying to make it. happen and obviously at that time there. was a lot of pressure on me and. everything yeah so I was I sure like I. have to. give a resort so that's why I was.

rushing so I understand that night I I. went back and watched that fight and I. saw me fight I'm like who is that guy he. just looked like me but I don't. recognize why he's rushing why he's. doing this. so. then I understand now I'm like okay. maybe you just have to go back to your. previous the previous way the previous. you and then thing will be fine then I. went back to my in the rematch not only. were you the previous you but you were a. way better version of you.

you were very calculated very technical. it was it was four years uh what three. years after yeah. so of course I have learned I'm in the. sport to learn I know that I have a. deficiency so I pay a lot of attention. than those people that grew up as a. athlete you know doing different sport. um I always take that very seriously the. fact that. I mean maybe sometimes my power hurt me.

to get away with stuff but I knew that I. have a deficiency you know as a as far. as experience and everything even. techniques. because sometimes I hear people say oh. yeah he didn't train wrestling in the. training camp I'm like bro come on you. think two three month training wrestling. in the training camp will out wrestle. somebody that been wrestling his entire. life. no you can't you can't just find a way.

to go around but. you know. so that's how that's how I process. things I think about the advantage I. always think on myself as an underdog so. what did you change in your training. after the first eBay fight did you. change anything. first of all I understand how to train. properly. I understand how to train properly and. again I just think about everything as a.

deficiency I used to think that uh. sometimes I'm like oh yes he has a good. striking he's a boxer he knocked people. out I'm like no I have no Goods right. everything has to uh. involve you know whether it's my. striking my wrestling my Jujutsu that's. why people keep training the day that. you think like oh I'm good at this. that's the day that you start to go down. because. you can you can stay in same place like. this right you're gonna permanently.

trying to go up and even if you are not. going up. that's how you can maintain your. position but if you stay comfortable. with something that's the day that you. start to lose it so I changed everything. I focus on everything like. all the assets like you know he read. that fight really helped me a lot I. think about my diet I think about like.

the discipline stuff I mean usually I'm. I'm pretty I'm I'm good with discipline. but I still think about everything put. everything in Prospect like okay it's my. diet okay. by the way after the stupid fight I. decided to cut soda out for Kobo Kobo y. before and since then I never to insult. you were drinking a lot before oh it. turned it turned even in training camp.

in training camp I was eating croissant. everything I was like no I'm heavyweight. I was just focusing about my weight and. not about my uh condition and all those. aspects I didn't know you know the night. before the stupid fight. I was in the foco de Chao eating all. those stick. that's good. really yeah that's good for you before. the fight me oh no it's not good at all. not good not at all I was heavy as [ __ ].

oh yeah gosh did you eat stuff with the. meat like potatoes and rice and of. course yeah that's what I'm talking. about that's where it is. the night before the couple like maybe. two two hours or maybe one hour before. worked in the arena. how was that Focus an hour before you. went to the Marine yeah wow no in the. arena yeah because I I went to the arena. like maybe two hours before the fight. but three hours is not enough to digest.

those all those meat and stuff yeah. and so in that fight you learn all these. lessons and then you change your diet. you enhance your discipline and you keep. working on all your skills yeah. then you know how we are talking out we. were talking about patient that's how I. walk into this stupid directly with. fight with like constantly tell myself. be patient and I was there just like. telling myself I think I wasn't even in.

that fight I was there but I was still. fighting stupid I was like no be patient. be patient you're still thinking about. getting tired in that first fight. getting taken down getting control no. really I was just thinking about like. patience patience just patience but I. over I overdo you're over there you know. oh they did it and it was too much. that's how it turned out that I was like. impatient you get this you get this yeah. that's why at the end of the fight.

I'm like is it over or we still I was. confused I didn't know that he was even. the third round really oh yeah I was. really messed up uh mentally I didn't. know I thought it was I still have it. around. so what was that feeling like and my. corner was telling me I mean they was. telling me everything's good like okay I. think you get one round at the second. round. maybe you get this I don't know.

and so I feel like everything was right. so my mind was playing me really bad. so what was it like when you went back. and watched that fight. I didn't watch you didn't watch it yeah. I feel bad you know I feel like I waste. a bullet. important bullet yeah and then that sets. you back yeah I feel very bad and then. the reaction about it.

by the way people react about it you. know he get to the point that I kind of. like tell myself like okay. screw this [ __ ] everything man you know. [Music]. um. the reason why I get into combat sport. basically MMA was because he was fun I. was never going to do MMA I was I just. kept training like oh it's fun I like it. let's keep going. then I realized that that phone wasn't. there anymore and that's why I was.

falling down because I start focus on. about what people think people reaction. people feelings and then I forget the. reason why I started the sport so now I. get the second fight again Kurt is. played in China. I'm like okay this might be the end I. don't think if I lost this fight it's. gonna be good for me right but at least. I earned it I ended how I started. just. by phone just go there enjoy yourself.

have fun. and don't worry about what's next. and then 45 seconds the guy was down. and then Ken Velasquez 25 seconds the. car was down I was just there to have. fun. Junior dos Santos the guy was down I'm. like seems like having fun. yeah like. having fun is exactly why I'm doing this. and it's why I'm good at it let's just. do it you know so I don't I try not to.

put pressure on me on me I'm like every. fight I'm like I'm gonna go there do my. best make sure that I. everything that should have been done is. done on my end and the rest I don't. control it have you ever worked with a. sports psychologist. man I don't believe in that I try and no. but no I don't believe I think. everything is in our mind what you you. can go out there trying to find.

all those stuff that you have it in your. mind right you can speak to yourself. right you can't question to yourself I. mean. I don't need a sports psychology to tell. me why I'm doing this. it's out of passion I do this because I. love it it's it's not a job you. understand yeah I question myself. like why did I get here. how come did I came from where I came. from and get here. then I find all those reasons and then.

therefore I put my my staff together. right. maybe some people do some people clearly. need people to like uh. heard them to control their self I see. that in a lot of fighter basically they. need like a coach or something somebody. to tell them what to do like they don't. know like to tell them what time to. train like you know you have a fight. you're gonna you schedule your training.

at this time you have this and this to. work on you can schedule that and get. there every day. at the same time uh do your thing go. home get ready for another day but some. people do need somebody to. get them that so do you schedule all. your training yeah everything let's give. you everything really yeah and my team I. organize all my team you know mostly. about people that I share the good. energy about because.

again I don't believe in so many things. I don't believe in like oh this guy is. the great uh he's a great trainer he can. do this now I believe that. everything comes from a fighter and the. energy that people around him can bring. can help you win so when I in my team I. favor people energy people like. how the energy that it brings around you. know I favor them and that's how I judge. if somebody is best or not is by his.

energy and that's how I get along with. the. pretty much everybody of my team we I. judge everybody based on this energy if. I feel like this I'd rather have a good. person next to me. and then. not to say my team my team is great they. are all great everybody's very. professional. um commit but. if I feel like somebody has this energy.

and not even great as great I prefer. that person than somebody that is a. great trainer and don't bring that. energy because the energy is very. important yeah you know when you start. to get tired when you're in the tough. situation the voice that you can listen. and to trust is more important than the. technique that you can learn you can. know all the techniques in the world and. you should get there your mind is not. right you are not doing [ __ ] yeah yeah.

yeah so the energy of the people you got. that's all down you got a great trainer. Dewey Cooper He's fantastic I get I. still get. um I get Dory Cooper even Eric Eric. here because. um I remember even how we get together. he wasn't most like a coach I was in a. fighting Junior dos Santos and I have. only Dewey Cooper or. with Michael on my team and I reach out.

I asked my care like we should bring. somebody in the corner or something I. need to talk about Eric then I'm like I. always meet Eric around and it's nice. and I'm like yes let's try him and then. he we get to the locker suddenly I feel. the energy was great you know I'm like. man this is good I like this Vibe yeah. in my team that's for me is enough you. know that's why like sometimes I.

understand once I saw Mike Perry he went. to a fight with only his wife in his. corner and then people was criticizing. him I'm like I understand him he's doing. the right thing he understands how the. games work he just won a voice that can. speak to him when he's tired somebody. that he trusts right and all those stuff. and everything he already knows how to. fight yeah he knows how to fight yeah. because nobody is going to raise your. hand and pinch on somebody's hair or. like nobody is gonna Dodge pen for you.

nobody gonna say oh knock him out now. you know it's just it's fighting game is. mental more mental and improvisation um. so you schedule everything you schedule. your strength and conditioning you. schedule your sparring you schedule. everything you just do it all based on. how you feel and what you need to get. done. um no like I schedule I mean I get a. strength on conditioning for example uh. for this cam I get the tree power is out.

here with me so. we we talk about the gun what is the. goal what is the deficiency what do we. want where do we want to get by the. fight we we are 12 weeks out okay what. is what we want to work on and what is. would be the good space. then we get that a schedule then with. the boxing team we speak around but I. always try to uh get my team together so.

sometimes they can just work together. they don't always need to come to me on. staff you know they can my team can. communicate together on the also on my. schedule but yes. so when you train you do strength. conditioning are you using a heart rate. monitor are you paying attention to your. resting heart rate what it's like when. you wake up your heart rate variability. do you get involved in any of those. things uh sometime no always sometimes I.

even do the test to see where I am at. VO2 max yeah yeah the um yeah even the. VO2 Mac but. we focus on. um I think like the most important thing. for me. right now. my endurance it's all about my endurance. you know do you have other injuries. other than your knee. uh injury no I mean. you get sore you get you if you get to a.

training camp to the end without Fair. pain somewhere then you better worry. you probably didn't do enough yeah you. probably didn't do it right yeah so that. that's that's the thing that's the. reality that's the reality of the sport. you can like train hard food three. months and feel great every day and. don't feel like something's wrong no. that's mean yeah you're not doing. something right is it easier to train. for boxing because you don't have to do.

the wrestling you don't have to do the. kicking is it like less likely that you. get injured uh sometimes you think so. but when you get there he's different. you know like in the first two weeks uh. in the it wasn't even a training come it. was a pre-cam my first two week in. boxing straight boxing. I felt that I felt a different of course. you get excited excited because oh. you're not going to kick or take down or.

this is just boxing uh oh you're not. going to you don't risk injury for your. knee and that because now I always think. about my knee. then you get there you start a kid made. hit parts do all those stuff always your. hands up and then your shoulders start. to hurt then you throw more punch in two. weeks than you have ever thrown in the. training camp in the two months two. three month training camp then I'm like. ah there is a different you know your. shoulder feels different like it's not.

the same thing in MMA you throw one two. kick one two three kick one take down uh. daily boxing wrestling cash wrestling. all those stuff now in boxing your hands. it has to go all the time and when he's. not going he has to be on your face. protecting your face otherwise you're. gonna eat that punch. yeah. so when you prepare for a fight like. this you've never had a big professional.

boxing fight before and this is the. biggest of all time I mean you're. literally fighting the greatest. heavyweight of all time yeah. how do you know when to Peak how do you. know like when you're ready because you. haven't done this kind of training. before. uh you will never be ready even at the. finite you will always think like oh if. I have this maybe I should have done. this instead maybe I this would have. hurt me you know.

when is the good time you have to go so. you just have to make sure to get there. in your best you know the best you can. do the best you can do without burnout. because there is also a balance in. between because if you overdo then you. burn out by the time you get to a fight. that's why I was asking about heart rate. monitors yeah and checking your resting. heart rate and heart heart rate. variability because one of the best ways. to find out if you are over trained is. to check your resting heart rate when. you wake up first thing in the morning. and if it's up eight beats a minute ten.

beats a minute most likely you went too. hard and then they they suggest like an. active recovery day a lighter Training. Day where you're you're still moving. you're still working on technique but. you're not pushing you're not really. pushing and you uh even when your. hardware monitor indicate that I used to. use the aura watch and when he almost. indicate how you feel you feel it right. you know there is a and then when you.

have a good team they can also measure. the the mass of your training and they. can also walk around it they know okay. Monday and Tuesday we went hard on days. Wednesday has to be slow and this you. know maybe work on technique or like on. this train on this and that all those. aspects and that's why a team is very. good about because you can like buy. yourself think about everything no no.

you need other people yeah yeah you need. other people to help you because things. get so big you need other people to help. you and everybody is kind of like a have. his own Department to worry about. and um so when you're training how much. sparring are you doing how many days a. week. um. three or two sometimes it depends again. how you feel and how the recovery been.

how it was inspiring you know sometimes. you get sparring and you feel like yeah. even though you did the amount of run. around that you you're supposed to do. but it wasn't that intense and this then. the next day no maybe you keep you push. again you know and sometimes you just go. to aspiring and uh that one is hard the. guy gives you a hard time you push the. pace is high and this then next day.

maybe you need to recovery not like. recovery but slow it down give your. shoulder some rest because you'll always. end up on maybe heavy bags like it's all. about that balance but it's like two. trees two three a week and are you. sparring with any world-class. heavyweights. um. world-class sofa no the only guy that I. used to spar with which is a world-class.

heavyweight it's Carlos stockam and he's. now just coming in the training camp. because he's also going to fight in a. on the on the card yeah which is a world. class and um we're gonna get the we were. talking about some guy that will bring. in like experienced Fighters uh boxer to. Spa what is it like for you to spar. boxers and not be able to kick not be. able to take them down does it create.

any adjustment for you. I wasn't an expert of kicking either way. so you kick hard. again I was in the expert of kicking. when I was an expert of taking down. that's true but you did defend your. heavyweight title A lot of it with. wrestling because of your knee yeah. because I couldn't do that was the only. option that I had you know I couldn't I. wasn't comfortable moving right I was. paying we should tell people you went in. to that fight to defend your heavyweight.

title with torn knee ligaments yeah your. knee was [ __ ] up going this year MCA. uh that's crazy. um meniscus and you're fighting Cyril. gone who's the most agile light-footed. heavyweight it moves everywhere like I'm. like okay you need I need to figure a. way nobody moves like that guy yeah but. one thing uh that hurt me into that. fight a lot I believe in myself I know. that I'm gonna get him. I wasn't looking for knockout once again.

I wasn't looking for a knockout but I. know that I'm gonna have my opportunity. at some moment in the fight that's where. like the first two rounds I was. literally like worried about how to move. and this and that like oh my knee all. these you know but I was so confident. and after the first two round I'm like. man I'm losing. it can end like this no not like this. we need to to do something switch it up.

I had to switch it up man like. yeah was that a a satisfying victory for. you though knowing that you could beat. one of the best heavyweights in the. world with only one leg. he was the I satisfying yes by far the. best. because there was I was it wasn't one. fight at that night that night I was. fighting like four open I was fighting. my demons uh my knees everything the.

contract I was fighting the contract I. was fighting The Narrative I was. fighting everything that can go wrong. and uh and I couldn't strip this fight. better than this if you had asked me. like how would you like to win I would. say knockout I've just which is the. easiest way but everybody predicted me. to be like okay. he has a chance in the two first round. to knock Syria out after that his power. is going down then his cardio is going. down he has nothing he was the.

completely opposite way to say oh. Sharingan has a cardio after two rounds. after a fight he can fight two fight. tonight I'm like bro come on depends you. know one at the end of the fight I'm. like I'm not sure that he's ready to. fight another fight to take another. fight on tonight you know and uh. unlike what they predicted I lost the. two first round and I started to win. from the third round which is like the. contrary of what they predicted yeah so.

but nobody knew that your knee was that. [ __ ] up either though. the UFC the UFC note was injured they. let you rap no I don't know they know. everything they knew everything yeah. when I did the MRI he went to Dr. Davidson and then when he was explaining. it to me he said only four people know. about this by now Dana Hunter you and I. that's when he was how he was his place. did you consider pulling out of the.

fight. I thought yeah in you know in the. perfect scenario I would have pulled out. if I you know but I I didn't want to. give them an opportunity another. extension. it wasn't about the extension. he was just to bury me I don't want to. give the opportunity to bury me yeah you. know how you know how in this world they. say okay I'm gonna die with my saw in my. hand yes yeah it was about it was like.

okay I'm dying with my soul in my hand. yeah. that's a lot of pressure yeah but when I. heard about when they explained me what. was going on in my knee I was very. um. I was very worried. then for somehow I call I I caught I. call Camaro or he called me. anyway we were in the phone and we were. talking and you were explaining me like.

uh what he had and this and I remember. once I saw him in Vegas when he fought I. think it was Kobe Covington the first. time and the guy was messed up man he. was working like this in five week. getting caught his own shot here and. there I'm like damn this guy is going to. fight no maybe it was Tyron Woodland. said so this guy is going to fight. on Saturday I was so worried.

I feel bad about it man at that night he. was sharp. this is the guy that I saw him on. Wednesday he was barely able to work he. was sharp and I know exactly what was. wrong with him so that's kind of like. hurt me to believe that man when comes. the moment. you know fighting your fighting instant. would take off Camaro is so strong. mentally oh man people knew how bad his.

knees are his knees are so bad he has to. go backwards downstairs sometimes. sometimes yeah and then you'll be like. oh his hips is her this I'm like bro you. can't pull out the fight now he's going. to fight and then he show up to the. fight looks perfect looks perfect. there's no way that he's you know so I. kind of like that's kind of like. inspiring me feel better about myself.

I'm like man I can't do this you know. like it's not over yet right I still. have something left so I keep even. though I couldn't train anymore I. couldn't rest so I couldn't do anything. and I was three weeks away from three. weeks and half away from the fight so I. started to focus on my air bike you know. cardio cardio upwork you know body work. yeah but wasn't. is it easy but I think my airbag hurt me.

a lot because from not being trained for. over three weeks before the fight and. get there like that wasn't too bad that. airbags [ __ ] the airbike yeah. hey Airsoft I use the Echo Bike the. Rogue Echo Bike no I always use that. sword I like the assault one you know I. like the grind like you feel the. monsters yes you feel the monster like. you're pushing to your knee such a good. workout yeah I I have it in my living. room I sat in the room and put the TV in.

front and I will ride that thing like. for hour. yeah to work on my cardio yeah it's. amazing for cardio my favorite machine. and for heavy weight you better it's not. great for you being out there running in. the concrete or putting all those way on. your joint right with with the uh us. with the airbag you do the same thing. without putting all those stress into. your joint and I'm like man I think this. is like probably the best device for me.

yeah no it's the best device for a lot. of people it's a phenomenal piece yeah. of equipment so what else were you doing. for Recovery do you get massages do you. use the sauna do you use the cold plunge. what else do you do physical therapy I. just get a cop launch from Blanche um. and then uh I started I set that up I. was able to make it work this week. um I used that I do the Hyperbaric uh. how nice yeah I do the happyberry.

chamber I have a friend in Vegas who has. a um. a happyberry uh star so. she's even part we partnered with me. shot it okay I know Janelle they have a. so I go there sometime they have this. hardcore one I used to like get. someone in my house but he will be the. soft one yes that's good yeah he's not. no you want a real one yeah you can also.

I think that can only go to 1.3 or. something yeah you want two yeah yeah. with with the hard one you go you say. you always explained I mean the two. environments two two uh twice the normal. oxygen the environment yeah so I go to. the I go there time to time dive into. that thing yeah no that's phenomenal for. Recovery yeah that's great so you're. using all most sophisticated materials. and equipments and what about. supplements do you do you have someone. who monitors your supplements and your.

nutrition I try yes for nutrition always. uh yeah when I have a fight I have a. chef yes yeah I have a chef I always do. do that when I have a fight. um. but for supplement I don't know I never. able to like connect with to like get. along with supplement I always like I. don't know take them don't take them. forget it yeah take him dog take him I. used to be at the pi and then uh Glenn. that will always like get those back.

ready for me and with all the. um the vitamins the vitamins and how to. take it every day and I would take it. like two three four days and after just. quit yeah did you notice the difference. taking it or not taking it I don't know. it's all hard right I don't know it's. hard it's really hard. one thing that you don't have to think. about with this fight is your weight. like you don't have to make the 265. pound weight limit. it's still different because like the.

way limit uh when even when I fight MMA. sometimes I get there at 260 below 260. I don't it's not because I'm cutting. weight yeah I'm not thinking about it I. mean I do work in order to like get my. way down but I don't cut weight I don't. like have a big process of diet you know. no I just trained properly and eat. properly with the chef and sometimes I. myself to get there but.

um even now I still have to think about. it because I've got based to the game. plan you know I don't want to have a. extra 10 pound unnecessary 10 pound on. me right but at the same time I don't. also want to lose a strain because as I. said this guy is a big dude yeah and uh. he has his skills to like like to like. to lean on people people wear them down. stuff like that you know one I think.

they're gonna be a little bit of a. wrestling there I need to get my string. right so he has to be a balance and um. I walk around like 275 to 80. my normal. weight work around weight. but I think might get in the fight at 2. 65. I don't know it depends on how we. decide to this to go. so without giving away too much of your. strategy.

how do you envision this fight taking. place like. what you've never boxed a heavyweight. like him before you obviously have. tremendous skills and power what how do. you envision this fight taking place. where. it's very hard to Envision you know. sometimes I just visualize to fight me. day in the ring I suppose I'm gonna be. the blue Corner being there waiting for. him. to get in the ring he know all this he.

knows all the sides of the Ring he's. been there. how to move how to cut everything and. I'm gonna be there figure out. how to cut. ring you know. it's really hard I think I just gonna. focus on like. being composed you know don't think. about so much stuff and again I would. like to knock out but you know Tyson is.

very slicky and uh yeah you can go like. you want to knock him out so I'm. preparing in the way that this fight can. go all the way to turn around yeah which. is uh a disadvantage for me. I never fight boxing at that level you. know so. managing my energy how I gonna be. feeling with all depression the. adrenaline how are they gonna be.

like in the 10 Rounds you know so how. can I maximize it the most. is. about that it's a lot of I visualize it. a lot I think about it trying to be. there that night waiting for him see him. come do his show you know get there. trying to do his Sleek stuff. you know weigh me down. slick daddy boxing come close.

trying to lean on my head because. taller than me. but I think. yeah. but I think I can I'm gonna handle that. dirty dirty boxing properly because. usually like boxing guy I have seen a. lot inspiring and since everybody wanna. do the same thing like Tyson like trying. to make prepare you for that.

this to those wrestling tricks that you. can get into sometime I like I'm like go. under the shoulder and step in your back. right yeah which is something that buck. said they don't do they don't know so. yeah indeed I don't have to worry about. that still. are you going to have like I know that. when Sugar Ray Leonard made his comeback. one of the things that he did was he had. actual fights like to prepare himself so. he didn't have any ring rust he would. have actual fights in the gym with like.

regulation sized gloves no headgear 10. Rounds 12 rounds whatever it was he. would have actual fights. I think we had that a lot of time I mean. we fight MMA with four ounce gloves. right right and we don't fight with. headgear right right. with kicks and everything so. I'm not worried about that and we used. to spar when your MMA fighter they don't. Spa boxing with the protection right the.

headgear and stuff they just go in the. gym they don't worry the size of their. gloves right that boxing guys they come. to the gym everything is checked like. what's the size of the gloves to check. the head gears the this the cup and all. the stuff I mean now I do that to. protect myself I have a fight in less. than six weeks so I take all those. precautions uh but I'm not I don't think.

I'm gonna do that by now you know if I. was six months out yes I can do. something like that but now I have no. interest of doing that I know I can deal. with that I have getting I have got hit. with four ounce gloves uh you know in. the fight I've been there I haven't done. boxing yet but I've been in a fighting. yes more than once so I'm gonna be okay. and one thing that um and we are gonna. we are going to talk about this. um.

Tyson gloves is. very tricky with his glove I think it's. cheap yeah yeah I've heard a lot of. complain about his gloves which is like. uh his glove has no protection. where have you heard this from even when. he fought uh Deontay Wilder yeah he. complained about that yeah but direct. direct director complain about that and. that's what we are talking about the. team and then I'm like oh yes the UK. commission the gloves I'm like bro we're.

gonna get there. we need every gold gloves to be checked. you don't tell me about this commission. all the gloves had get to be checked I. don't want if you want us to fight bare. hands bare Nichols let's go bad news but. don't give me a 10 ounce gloves and wear. a 8 ounce or six ounce glove because he. has no protection now you really think. he's doing that I think so I mean I have. heard yeah I've seen that yeah all their.

videos but they're not convincing here's. why they're showing those videos in slow. motion and in slow motion it looks like. his glove is flopping all over the place. yeah but that's just because it's in. slow motion when you watch in boxing. he's doing this you know he flicks. flicks flicks he shows you it pop then. he drops a big punch in so in slow. motion it looks like it's all floppy. like it's not connected and you think. that the gloves are really like just. flopping around and where his knuckles.

are is where the wrap is but that's not. the case because if you look at the. length his arm yeah but he's opening but. he's opening complaints about his. clothes yeah I don't know if they're. right I mean there might not be I don't. know right I mean we have to we have to. check that yeah. I think it's legit I think he's legit I. just think he's that good no he's good. he's good and his style of like yeah. keeping that hand loose and flicking so. sometimes that wrist opens way up and it. if you look at it in slow motion people. like look his glove's not even attached.

his gloves attached you don't know what. the [ __ ] you're talking about because. after he does this he does this. there's no way he's doing this if his. glove's not attached it's attached he. just looses his hands because he he a. lot of his punches he's just showing you. things he's showing you things he's. showing you this and then he's doing all. this so a lot of it is loose and he's. just popping you with that like a whip. you know well we I think we have nothing. to lose by double check nothing to lose. but double check yeah because there's a.

there's he's been more than once that. people talk about his gloves right but. not even he's opening even he's opening. yeah I'm sure they talk about it he. kicks their ass. people looking for reasons like Deontay. Wilder thought he got poisoned you know. he thought he thought a lot of things. but you know that's because the guy's. that good he's [ __ ] good man you know. and I just think that style when you. look at it in slow motion it might look. like his gloves are not attached but. they are most certainly attached but in. the boxing world you have to worry about.

everything. you have to worry about everything yeah. I mean if somebody says something in the. boxing you better just double check. double check double check what has Tyson. brought to the table like training with. Mike Tyson like what what did what did. he help you with and what kind of. strategies did he give you and what what. kind of thought process like what is his. approach to you fighting Tyson Fury. I mean. asking that question makes me feel like.

you don't really understand like I grew. up idolizing ties and Mike Tyson yes. right everybody did. and then. I say my as having a dream to become a. world-class boxer my first boxing match. Mike Tyson is in easily dream like oh. nowadays that that. and I'm like come on in moment like this. is real this is how this is where I get. so it's real this literally boxing match. yeah this is in your corner because Mike.

Tyson cheer like even mentally like just. thinking like that like hearing him. cheer you all sometimes I'm like yes. it's him right like I'm not tripping. yeah I like Jack because it's really my. time I was like okay this thing is. serious and not only he's there and he. believes that you can be this guy that's. that's how it is so. like he put his feet on you a guy that. have done everything in boxing that is.

there I'm like so he's seeing me as. somebody that can do this. um. we were talking about like mental stuff. this is some mental stuff that yeah are. heavy right not to mention his technique. Mike Tyson has a unique style that um. I'm not I wish. I had his style but I'm not going to. expect to copy his style because it's. Unique to him but he's also built very.

differently he's built different he was. always short the shortest guy in the. room so with his opening which is the. case in this fight wolves I'm the. shortest his technique if I can get uh. and then one thing that people always. see is how strong he was he was knocking. people out and nobody was impressed of. how he was able to move from left to. right yeah and this how it is footwork. and all those stuff how he was that shot.

and was able to get into the distance. when he wanted to hit and other stuff. right yeah who was which is something. that very interesting with Mike Tyson. one best thing that you can get from. Mike Tyson is the full walk footwork. footwork change from left to right you. know because in boxing everything is. about your food and his food work his. power was based on his base on his. footwork yeah you know like when you.

have a good base your punch is. definitely stronger when you you don't. have a good base how to have that good. base to send your punch when you're. right base right and if you look at Mike. Tyson or his fight in his career he was. all about the base the full work yes I. watch his training sometime on YouTube. still and then you see how he's flipping. I'm like it's not possible that if we.

can do it for a heavy yeah that's okay. so here's you guys working yeah look and. this was this was four years ago this. was the first time that I met Mike Tyson. this was in 2019. uh on his podcast. and he was always about a footwork. hmm. yeah I mean he was so well trained and. when he was young the way he would move. yeah look look. yes and he gets you go on that knee and. I'm like okay everything everything in.

that is in the lake in the time. you do that like twice you know I'm like. okay I think I need some low body. workout I'm not strong enough. yeah he had a lot of footwork and. movement and that's why he's his leg is. like this big like in three trunk right. a lot of bobbing and weaving too yeah. people forget they just think it was a. hard puncher yeah yeah he show you how. he showed me how he was training for his. leg you know go all the way down and do.

like this duct work and stuff. I'm like man come on. and that's what he did all his career. and people that people don't see that. they just see like oh he will he hit. hard he's strong you know no he's. Technical and he's hard worker technical. hard worker tremendous speed perfect. technique everything yeah all the above. any it's hard. yeah you talked everything I mean when. you put all the orders come when you. combine all those stuff there's no way.

you don't hit hot right right. so is does he have an idea like looking. at your frame and Tyson Fury's frame. does he have an idea of the way you. should approach the fight does he give. you pointers like what he thinks that. you would do that would be successful. against Tyson Fury of course. because he his entire career he almost. fight people that like that was like. Tyson Fury right so and that's why I. express explicitly uh went to hell went.

to him about this fight because I felt. like again if I was able to have like a. me let's say. a quarter of what Mike Tyson have this. fight will be easy fight I think so. really. I mean that's not an easy fight but. he'll be. easier fight um. wow. I mean out of all your your day 24 hours. a day how often do you think about the.

fight. every minute. not every minute but um. well now that you're talking about it I. don't even know that I'm thinking about. a fight when I think about the fight. right it's just natural it's just. natural It's My Life yeah you know it's. like the most important thing is what I. do yeah every day even when I don't. fight even when I don't have a fight I. think about fight it's just like my.

thing is. so I can't tell exactly how often I. think about the fact but I know. sometimes I'll go to sleep and then he. will just come in my mind and then you. start think you know start exploring. those stuff and sometimes it's exciting. I mean the most time most of the time is. exciting sometimes it's also nervous. isn't it yes you're also nervous about. like the thought that you have. you know like I'm like hey man. maybe I'm missing this maybe I'm not.

taking this serious maybe it is maybe. that maybe that so which is good because. after you have those feeling. those moment that you you're not too. confident. sometimes you wait you're like uh I. think I shouldn't go to bed I didn't do. enough today. I'm like no I shouldn't do enough today. like I need to do more. so here we are now what is today. September 21st so you're about six weeks.

out is it about five and a half five and. a half weeks out. five weeks and two days so. you ramp up now and then you taper off. the last week. and will you be when will you be in. Saudi Arabia earlier a couple weeks out. yeah a couple weeks out three four weeks. so exciting man yeah you would be dead I. wish I could be there walk around. because think about the fight yeah think.

about everything yeah that single day. that your world gonna change now how. what's gonna happen. What would October 29 looks like what do. you think is going to happen can it be a. celebration. it's gonna be. disappointment what's going to be. October 29 morning. exciting yeah I feel like the king of. the compass sport there it is oh.

look at that look at that poster damn. that's a great poster oh no you haven't. seen anything really anything at all the. production behind this fight. insane we have like five day production. really at some point I'm like hey guys. but the good thing about the production. wherever we are going for the we are. going for production. I have my team with me there I'm like I. still have to train regardless of a.

promotion I have a fight coming up I. have to keep my training schedule and. then they bring all my entire team with. me from the chef to the coach nutrition. everybody is with me so I'm like okay do. you have a prediction for this fight. prediction for this fight. knocking me out. no no I don't want to have a prediction.

because I will. I wanna follow. right that might stick in my mind and I. want to execute my prediction right. maybe just let's train properly let it. flow get there and let what happened. happen just fine focus on fight make. sure you fight make sure you're ready to. give everything in there yeah and some. moment. it must be so exciting for you to have.

made that deal though because everybody. said that wasn't going to happen yeah. yes I read so many commentators saying. Francis is wasting his time they're. never going to give him a fight and then. that was one that that was you were. asking me like. um if this is a money that was a money. too you know once again to prove people. wrong. hey you [ __ ] you were wrong I'm.

right again well for people who don't. know your story how you went from. Cameroon and went to Morocco and got. sent back we tried to make it across to. Europe what seven times seven times. seven times and you were I mean. I fear six times yeah uh succeeded the. seventh time but that kind of resolve. and that kind of discipline and that. kind of Drive. that's very special. and you I think you got something from. that experience and to proved what.

you're capable no I don't think you have. to I know I know you have to know like. sometimes you know sometimes I think. about my life why I was going to uh on. my upcoming going through all this. process I was always pissed upset like. why all those things happen to me and my. cause like what it is that any nothing. can go right for me but when I think. about it today even though I can go back. to that path I think it was a blessing.

because like the life lesson that I have. learned from my journey. seems like my journey was just preparing. me for this moment for the life that I'm. having now like you get to the point. that. you know the moment that. I kind of like. to find out that I'm rich it's not the. moment that I check my bank account and. see money it's not a moment that I own a. house it's not the moment that I had a.

house a car it's the moment that I look. I check myself I'm like okay what can. possibly happen to me that I can handle. that I haven't seen. I say nothing I can handle everything I. can overcome everything. so therefore I wasn't afraid of anything. I can go ahead and let what happened. happen I'm not afraid of falling because. I know that I have the ability to stand.

up and that's what my life taught me. again even though I didn't choose that. part but. it did taught me that way and I think. is like one thing that carries me. where I am now yeah so let's talk about. your pfl deal so how where are they. going to get opponents for you like. who's in the heavyweight division right. now on the pfl.

[Music]. um. they're going to figure that out so. they'll probably have to hire people. just try to contract people that are. yeah and they are looking for your. option because. um my fight's supposed to be supposed to. fight in the PF beginning of next year. February or March. so after this fight in October you'll. take some time off and then go to MMA. training yeah and then get ready for the. pfl. I have a.

there is some legit people in the. division uh I have this there is this. guy um. Rena Ferrera. I think this guy is legit nobody is. seeing him nobody is like really talking. about him I'm like keep eyes on this guy. you're gonna see it's like six five six. six guys Brazilian guy but the way he. moves. only. the way he Parks the way he does things.

if you check that guy you can tell me. about it yeah. so. there's a. other than that what can they be who is. in the roster right now aren't they the. liar is hunted liar I think. yeah. so they're probably gonna have they're. gonna cry they're gonna have to recruit. some top tier heavyweights they want you. to find them I wish oh yeah.

otherwise they have to make an or a. tournament to get a winner that are. gonna fight but I think they need some. Recruitment and how many fights is your. contract with the pfl. no. [Music]. I can get those you don't want to give. up for details. um but you're happy with everything.

though no I'm happy I'm happy the way. that it goes the way that the structure. how. how. um the freedom that I have inside the. Contra and I'm also more happy and. excited about the pfl Africa because in. the deal we have this PFA Africa that we. have to launch in the beginning of 2025. and that's how we're gonna spend. uh MMA in Africa you know it's something.

that I've been working on trying how to. get this there and. it was hard and now I get a whole. operation that's gonna be dedicated for. that uh I mean the work is in the. process already but uh there we get. they're gonna the first event gonna be. beginning of 2025 so. I'm quite excited about that I want to. see some those monsters that are in. Africa.

get there come over and knock people out. shut their heads up. in the Octagon one of the things you've. done that's very nice is that you've. negotiated a minimum uh purse for your. opponents too right yeah. yeah. um which is I mean I didn't want just to. feel like a guy that goes there and grab. the money okay give me the money I want. this I want that right and then I'm. fighting this guy that probably doesn't.

have a chance because he's struggling he. can have a proper training you know I'm. here having my fancy life my organized. training I can have all the doctor that. I want I can have the team that I want. nutrition nutritionist this coach that. that and then I find a guy that didn't. have a chance and he's in this big fight. because without him the fight without. the opening it the fight is not happen. so he's a part of it and now I'm like.

okay. don't just make me look like they come. they grab and go guy what is my opinion. is having it's gonna be a big moment. it's gonna be in the big fight right. what is it gonna be for him so we said. a minimum of 2 million for him wow. and again that's a minimum if it's if. they get somebody that have a leverage. to negotiate for more.

then you can negotiate for more but if. the the guy is the guy that doesn't have. a leverage they don't just have to. pressure him like oh no you have to. fight this opportunity we are doing this. for you now you are doing this for money. he better have his has his own money so. can we at least guarantee that for this. magnitude of a fight he will have at. least 2 million uh as a purse and that. was something that wasn't even difficult. to have because again pfl was very open.

about that he was like that's our vision. for the sport uh granted we didn't we. have to go back and forth for that yeah. that's amazing oh we didn't that didn't. take three minutes to get done because. how much do you think an average UFC. fighter is paying getting paid in the. heavyweight division for a fight I don't. know I don't check the eye contract bro. but I know how much I was making and. sometimes it wasn't fun. I know what I could have made but I know.

that he was I have to pay another price. for that. what are the price. contract Freedom yes yeah I mean so how. good was the money that they were. offering you to sign for the UFC. he was good. he was good enough but. um it's just the other parts of it the. terms yeah a lot of where's the pfl. getting all this money um.

because they don't have a pay-per-view. model so how are they getting all this. money they said in the paper is super. fight uh if you fight so yeah when I. fight. um and there's also Jake Paul that will. probably fight in yeah in this super. fight who's he gonna fight because I. heard they're talking about him fighting. Nate Diaz if they did that on an. undercard with you that would be a big. draw. you know because the boxing match was. pretty close. yeah that would be massive massive card.

but yeah I like. and I do like the the PFA business model. that structure as a business. so yeah well my hope is that they well. it looks like they're buying Bellator. right yeah yeah I heard that. um nothing has been confirmed I don't. know what why he's taking so long we. should have been hearing some news if. that happens that changes a lot because. then you get some religious heavy.

weights you get some real legit. lightweight welterweights religion. Fighters yeah imagine the the roster. yeah merge The Merchant of the roster. that would be very good. guys like Johnny Albin who's a high. level middleweight one of the best in. the world you get to see some really. good Fighters over there yeah yeah. I like that but you know importantly for. the fighters there needs to be. competition there has to be options they. have to be option they have to be. competition and at the end of the day.

you the the heavyweight champion of the. UFC leaving the UFC and going to the pfl. is good for everybody I believe because. I believe it strengthens that. organization which strengthens the. opportunities for Fighters. yeah and uh maybe yeah maybe open uh a. lot of fighter eyes be because until. some people some Fighters must fight. they have like a one-sided Vision they. don't see it they don't even know that. they have.

other opportunity right which is like. something that uh make things very. complicated for them then. they're just like okay whatever what can. what else can I do I have seen people. that get caught by the USA and then they. go somewhere else whether it's in pfl. and I'm like oh I have a wow I have a. new life I didn't know that I could make. that much money on my credit I remember. once I saw a tweet and that tweet stick.

in my mind he was from Corey Anderson. yes after he left he get I think he get. caught or he left the USA and then had a. deal with bellato and then he went there. he said you make a tweet like USA give. me a career. give me a life I know I love that tweet. yeah he said he made way more money in. Bellator yeah. I wonder why I mean like. I after this fight I'm gonna go out.

there. fight in the pfr and uh for one fight in. the pfl. are gonna be making Maybe. twice or three times what I have made in. my entire career or in my entire life. that's crazy so you understand the. difference between Career and life yeah. that's crazy that's crazy good for you.

man good for you and good for good for. the whole sport. I really believe that I really believe. that all that competition is good for. the sport I I believe that too and I. think the sport is really changing you. know like. now we you get we get all those uh. different organization and uh soon we're. gonna have something in Africa massive. there's already some organization in. Africa that would need to get push. Camaro Usman has his own organization.

name I think African knockout there is. like some organization in South Africa. somewhere else too and then um. yeah but with the PFA the way that. they're going to structure the fund that. they're gonna how they're gonna fund it. this is going to be massive because we. are structuring the pfl Africa as same. as the PFA Euro because BFF is having a. region Regional.

um pfr so every fighter from Europe. Friday from Europe is fighting in the. one pool to get a champion then who can. fight in the pfl global in Africa they. have the same we're gonna have the same. thing which they're gonna have basically. or almost the same paid. and when you think about the currency is. make this in Africa like massive massive. economy uh investment in the economy.

because those guys are gonna have money. and they're gonna start thinking about. like how they train properly where would. they train with they're gonna Finance. they're gonna pay people around them and. business is going to grow around it and. help our infrastructure taking off. another thing those stuff I'm very. excited about it and the reason why is. because like sometimes I want to train. home and then I realize. I can't have even a pardon sparring.

partner. religious power in partner because they. don't even have where to train they. haven't been training properly you know. they don't have a high competition they. don't have staff like that so they can. dedicate their time that much for. training rather than go working to. provide for their family right you know. but if they were able to dedicate all. their time for training how would that. look like you know am I just as well. move home in a couple couple years and.

just chill and have my set my training. come here and you know said something. like what you did here in Africa nice. yeah and just sit there and have my calm. have my training Partners at home you. know yeah enjoying it from there and. what an inspiration that would be for. them so young Fighters that like don't. know am I ever going to have a future. and then someone comes from Cameroon. goes to the UFC becomes a champ goes to. the pfl fights Tyson Fury and then comes.

back to Africa and dreams with everybody. I'm back already it's not like after. five Tyson Fury I'm back I have a. foundation I have a gym there we just. opened the second location beautiful uh. indoora and it is a massive facility. that's awesome you know it's beautiful. yes we were hurt by a a betting company. named premierbet that help us build this. massive in the city bro that's great. yeah in this city and we are about to. build the third one we're trying to do.

like some charity event make them fight. because it's boring to just train and. train and train you know they need. something to move to get motivated by so. we put like some events you know like. the fight they fight people from. different country so they get they get. them excited and yeah focused you know. so well. and I enjoy that part I enjoyed that. process that's beautiful yeah well.

Francis listen congratulations on. getting this deal congratulations on. getting this fight and um I wish you all. the best of luck in the Tyson Fury fight. and your pfl fights and if you're. fighting I'm watching thank you thank. you unfortunately you will not be. calling I can't because. I wish I could I can't see you walking. in the octagon with your mic I think. I'll be looking with Joe around.

I won't be there but I'll be there in. spirit okay all right I love that well. thank you my friend I appreciate you. very much thank you thank you good luck. all right bye everybody bye. [Music]. foreign. [Music].