JRE MMA Show #172 with Gable Steveson

Joe Rogan podcast. Check it out. >> The Joe Rogan Experience. >> TRAIN BY DAY. JOE ROGAN PODCAST BY. NIGHT. All day. >> All right. What's happening? Pleasure to. meet you, man. How are you? >> Great. I'm great. When you got a name. like Gable and you're named after Dan. Gable and you go on to win an Olympic. gold medal in wrestling, that's kind of. >> that's crazy, right? >> That's kind of prophetic. Um, my mom. when I was young, she was trying to find. names for me and she liked Kale. Sanderson because Kale was a guy at the.

time, but she was at a tournament in. Iowa with my older brother and she kept. hearing Gable Gable. Gable and it was. Dan Gable at the time and you know Dan. Gable was a huge figure in the Midwest. for wrestling and so she was like, "Why. don't I name you Gable Dan?" And the. rest was history, which is really crazy. because it it his whole timeline is my. timeline which is fantastic. >> Except the MMA part. >> That too. Yeah. >> Which I wish he would have done. >> I think he would have been amazing. I. think he would have been amazing, >> but it wasn't around. I mean, when he. was wrestling, >> bare knuckle maybe, I don't know, do it.

on the street or something. >> He could have he could have found a way. >> It's kind of [ __ ] that there's no real. professional outlet for actual. wrestling. >> It is [ __ ] And uh wrestling needs a. real way to go out there and and be. something big. And I think they have a. really good one now with um RAF. If you. haven't heard about it, it's American. Freestyle. They're trying and I think. they're trying really well. And I think. it's going to come to a point where how. do you make matchups continue because. you know wrestling gets to the point. where and in fighting and and in a lot.

of other sports you can get to the point. where you know maybe you draft a guy in. fighting there's a next big thing. there's a next guy out there that you. can kind of create and with wrestling. they're trying to create an atmosphere. of how can you create that person and I. like it and I think it might work and. hopefully it keeps going the way it. needs to go. It would be interesting if. it would. The problem is MMA is so huge. now and people kind of associate. wrestling with either MMA or pro. wrestling now. Like those are the two. things that they think of. >> and it's one I think it's one of those. things like soccer where soccer should.

be huge in America. It's huge all over. the world, right? >> It's a very exciting sport, but nope. >> You know what's crazy? How how popular. soccer players are. And I feel like in. America, we have so many sports that. like we can't hit that market for. soccer. And I think that might be the. biggest case why. Because if you go. overseas, Ronaldo's paid $500 million. and if he scores a goal, he gets a. million dollars a goal or something. So. he's out here doing bicycle kicks. But.

it's it's like we have so many. professional sports that LeBron James is. our biggest athlete. But even then, I. think it's to the point where some. people see LeBron and, you know, it's. not like the the crazy wow factors. If. you saw a soccer player in Italy or. Spain, it would be like, man, it's him, >> right? Well, they have less sports. though, right? >> I think so. >> Italy, like. >> I think Italy got like basketball, soccer. >> Well, they're not really known for. basketball, though. Soccer's big. Boxing. There's a lot of boxers come out. of Italy, >> but other than that, >> Rome.

>> Yeah. Uh, they got a couple fighters. Um, but. other than that, I think um we're kind. of at a halt with with creating that. that big guy for America. >> Well, it's just it's just strange to me. because it's such a wrestling itself is. such an exciting sport. It it really is. very exciting to watch and everybody. understands it. It's not complicated, you know. >> I think I I really think everyone. understands it to a certain extent, I. think. Um, >> but they could learn points and all the.

other stuff. >> Have you ever wrestled? >> Yeah, wrestled in high school. How how. how did you. >> just one year? I was doing taekwondo at. the same time because I was doing. taekwondo and I couldn't do both of them. at the same time. >> and I was pretty good at taekwondo. >> You know what's crazy? I think since. you've done taekwond do maybe I should. try. >> You are such an athlete. You'd probably. awesome at it. I might be able to to. pull it off. I don't know if I can get. to your level. >> Well, you would figure it out, man. You'd figure it out. Are you flexible? >> It depends how. And what are we doing? >> Well, you would get flexible. The thing.

is like for a guy like you, you'd figure. out how to get flexible. The flexibility. thing drives me nuts cuz like I've tried. to show stuff to guys before, MMA. fighters, and they're like, "I'm not. flexible." I'm like, >> "What does that mean? What does that. mean? This is not like you're not tall.". Like you can get flexible. Like you just. stretch. >> Okay, we can rewind now and I can say, "I am flexible. >> I am flexible.". >> Well, you certainly could get flexible. Like anyone can get flexible, >> but it's it's not can you get f Do you. want to get flexible? >> That's a good question. want to do.

something. >> This is a good question. It's a lot of. work to get flexible. And would it. compromise anything? You know, some. people say it compromises some. stability, you know, like to to have. like completely overflexible hips and. flexible joints that it could possibly. compromise some stability that maybe. But I mean, Yo Romero is pretty [ __ ]. flexible. >> and he's explosive. >> Crazy explo. Super expensive, >> bro. How about that match with Pat. Downey? >> He went out there and made Pat Downey. look like a beginner wrestler. And it. and it's crazy because Pat Downey is. really good, but. >> really good.

>> Yo, what was 48? >> I know. >> 48 shooting blast doubles. Like he just. he like he's back in ' 04 Olympics. >> It doesn't make any sense. He's a freak. He's a real freak, man. And I mean he's. 48 allegedly. We don't even really know. how old he is cuz he's from Cuba. >> How old do you think he is for real? >> Oh, I don't know, man. >> 35 at this point. I mean I mean I He's. obviously at least 48, >> but it's just crazy. >> But you know what the best part about it. is? When when guys get older and they.

kind of get a little bigger, um they. don't look good in a singlet. And this. is crazy to say, but Yoel looks really. solid in that singlet. >> Oh, bro, he looks solid everywhere, man. He's still got a six-pack. >> Still does. >> And you know, now he's doing dirty. boxing and he's still fighting MMA. He's. just He's a freak. I mean, and we really. didn't even get him in MMA until he was. past his athletic prime. >> Yes. >> I mean, he really started fighting in. the UFC. How old was he when he first. fought in the UFC? I want to say he was. like 35. >> I don't know that, but it was it it. seemed really late because when he was.

going through Olympics, he was sound in. every position. And like you said, I. mean, in a couple interviews back, if he. would have started that early, just. imagine. >> Oh my god. >> Just imagine. >> Yeah. The It's But that's the thing that. you have too is athleticism. And the. thing about MMA is the real freak. athletes, they go to football, they go. to basketball, they go where all the. money is, and they go where all the. traditional sports. >> avenues are. And it's just not there's. not a lot of freak athletes that wind up.

making their way to MMA. And when they. do, they really shine, >> you know, and when I first started. seeing you competing, you know, first. obviously in wrestling and you know, if. you can win a gold medal in the Olympics. in wrestling, >> I mean that you have to have everything. You have to have everything. You have to. be a freak athlete. You have to be. unbelievably dedicated, disciplined. Nobody gets there easy. No, that is not. a, you know, like, oh, he's just gifted. It doesn't exist. You got to got have, you got to have everything, man. >> There's got to be a lot of tools. A lot. a lot of tools. >> A lot of tools and a lot of fortitude. The thing about wrestling that I've.

always said is like not only is it the. best base for MMA because if a guy can. dictate where the fight takes place, that is the most important aspect of. fighting and you can learn everything. else, >> but it's also it's like the mental. toughness that wrestlers have, the. ability to grind out those practices, the the conditioning that's involved in. wrestling, >> it's above and beyond, I think, all. other sports. >> Yeah, it's I think it's a next level. thing. And you you see in UFC right now, the guys that are dominating and winning. >> are kind of putting that wrestling base. first, but making it.

>> MMA wrestling, you know. Um I feel like. when a lot of guys, a lot of D1. wrestlers come to MMA, they kind of. don't make the switch of how to take the. right shot and how to finish the right. shot and how to use your feet to trip. their feet out on the cage. And if you. get stuck with the stuck in a. guillotine, how do you move from that. spot? And I think um you see the guys. that are doing it best, the Islams, the. Hamzotss are really going out there and. attacking and making sure that people. can understand that hey, you got to fear. this and then next I'm going to come. with the hands. And so I think that's. the biggest thing that we're working on. now is that I've wrestled my whole life.

and I' I've done great things and won. the Olympics and multiple national. championships. But I think the main. thing is going out there and. understanding that you are that bad. dude, but when you show them hands now, you got to have to respect both. And I. think that's where a lot of this is. going to come into play when I finally. get to that point of of reaching that. that competition. >> Now, how long have you been striking. for? >> I've been going into a little So, I'm. from Minnesota, Apple Valley. I'm. actually from Portage, Indiana. I moved. to Apple Valley, Minnesota when I was 11.

years old. And um in college, I met a. guy named Billy Simon. He's from Prior. Lake. He fought um nothing too big, just. on a regional scene in Minnesota. He has. a house on Prior Lake and he has a place. in his basement that is built out for. for MMA and stuff like that. When I was. maybe 21 years old, I started hitting. the pads and mind you stiff as a board. Don't really know what I'm doing, but. he's kind of started and guided me along. the way. >> How old are you now? >> I'm 25. >> So just four years. >> Just four years. But I think really. really striking seven months. Like.

>> that's so crazy. like really after it so. crazy. >> really time consuming hey this is what I. want to do I'm not going to wrestle I'm. doing MMA I would say seven months. >> but when you watch that your dirty. boxing match I would have never believed. that except I know what an athlete you. are just it's so crazy how someone who. really knows how to use their body can. learn other things I think the main. thing also is I'm all ears you know you. you can't have you can't go out there.

and and think that you can you can do. something without putting that time and. effort in like we talked about with the. Olympics or like you talked about. But I. think the main thing is if I can go out. there and and be all ears and and soak. up game from the people that are trying. to trying to show me the way. I think I. can do a lot of great things and that's. all I do. I'm all ears. I want to show. up twice a day. I want to do the best. thing that I can. If I got to show up. three times a day and I feel like it, I'm going to go do it because it's. >> it's also to be an elite athlete like. yourself, you you have to be coachable. You have to really like the guys who.

like already know things like I'm going. to do it my way like they never get. elite. >> It doesn't work. No. >> And I think um you got to put that guard. down. You got to trust somebody. And if. you don't trust anybody and man, I think. I can do it alone. I think I can kind of. wing it. I think I can maybe not. practice today. You got to trust. somebody. And you got to put your heart. into somebody. And I feel like I have a. group good group of people around me to. kind of put that heart into. And they're. kind of they're not even they're kind of. they're leading me in the right. direction. And I'm man, I'm grateful. So. you were doing a bunch of different. things, right? So you you become an.

elite wrestler and then for a while you. were thinking about playing football. So. you played football for a short amount. of time. >> Buffalo Bills. Yeah. >> Yeah. How long did you play it for? >> I never played football in my life. >> Never played? >> No, that was the first. >> Hey, that was that was the first time I. played football. I promise. >> That's crazy. First time you played. football was professional. >> It was in the NFL. My mom was always. scared. Um the high school coaches at. Apple Valley High School in Minnesota. were like, "Hey, come play football.". They were trying to call my mom and dad. and I'm like, "You're not going to. convince her. She is scared to death of.

football." But whole time I'm wrestling. So what where do we bridge this gap at? >> Right. Right. >> And um I just get done with WWE um and I. go out there and I'm I'm chilling. I get. a call saying, "Hey, you want to try out. for the Bills?" And I I tell Shawn. McDerman and Brandon Bean, I said, "Hey, don't expect much, but I could put on. shoes, but I've never had football cleat. on. I had never had pads on. I don't. even know how to put the tights on. anything. And I went out there and um I. sprinted my ass off though in that try. out. I was sprinting down and back and.

forth. I said, "Hey, if I don't know any. technique for Dline, you're going to see. effort." And McDerm saw effort and. that's all he needed to see. And he gave. me a chance. >> What was that like jumping into a. completely new sport? >> Hard because it's not just football. >> How old were you when you did that? >> 20. I just turned 24. >> Wow. >> I just turned 24. Um, it's. I know you see it. You see that stance? That's the beginner stance. That's the. beginner stance. But I came out there no.

gloves, just winging it. >> And I told them, just just give me a. good chance. But football is not just. football. This the playbook. And the. playbook is crazy because I went from, hey, go out there and wrestle someone. one-on-one to see if the guard is light. on his feet or see if he's leaning. forward to see if the center is is going. to silent count maybe or see if he see. if the guard taps the center to snap the. ball. There's a lot of different things. that you got to know. And I'm out there. with this big ass helmet on. I've never. put a helmet on, Joe. So, I'm out there. with this big ass helmet. My head's like. down and I can't look up. Um, and I.

don't know what I'm doing, but I knew if. I gave effort that someone would give me. a chance. And I I went out there and my. first game I feel like I think I had a. tackle, a QB rush, and that was kind of. unheard of at the time because I've. never played ball before, but um it was. crazy. Once in a lifetime experience, most definitely. >> And when you got cut, did you think. about trying somewhere else? Did you. think about doing it more? >> Yeah, once I got cut from Buffalo, I was. the last one to get cut from the from. the room. I remember going in to see. Bean and um in Mcder and I and they were.

going to do practice squad, but um I. knew they were going to do practice. squad, so I was like, "Yo, just send me. home. I'll figure it out. I'll try. again." So my plan was to go back to. college and wrestle already. But I sat. around for maybe a month. Um Baltimore. Ravens called me and Baltimore was like, "Hey, do you want to come to a try out?". I said, "Okay." Um you know, I never. played football before, just let you. know, like if it's a little shaky. I. went out there and I I dominated the try. out and I had like 10 minutes of work, but it was a great 10 minutes. And. they're like, "Okay, we're going to take. your physicals. You're going to be here. and stay." The injury report comes back.

and injury report says they need um um. what's it kind of they need a DN and a. linebacker. So, you got to compensate. for the spot because you need someone to. play next week. And I probably needed. like six weeks on practice squad to. play. And so, I I get sent home. They. say, "Give me a week. We'll bring you. back." A week comes, they'll bring me. back. And so I'm like, "Okay, I see the. writing on the wall. Let me move on." I. sit for a little bit. Indianapolis Colts. call. They just got ran over by the by a. team. They said, "We need a run. stopper." So I go out there, do the. trial. I think it went well. They said,

"We're not taking anybody today." And. then from there, I was like, "Uh, you. know, maybe maybe this is not it." And. so I went back to wrestle. >> And did you ever think about MMA at that. time? Was it in the back of your head? MMA was in the back of my head since the. Olympics, but I wanted to make sure that. if I was going to go to MMA that let me. try things first before going all in on. something that I need to go all in on. And I did my triyouts, I did my things, and now I want to go in all in on.

something that that is finally here. >> And when your mom was scared of you. doing wrestling, how did she feel about. you doing MMA? >> Oh, you know, she's [ __ ] [ __ ]. all over. Oh my god, she can't even watch. She'd. even watch me wrestle. And so now I'm. like, "Mom, I got a dude about to punch. me in the face. Maybe if he can get to. me. Um, are you sure you want to come. and watch?" And she's like, "Yeah, I'll. come watch." And she comes have has a. good time and has her drinks. And when I. step out, I'm like, "Where were you?". "Oh, I was in the back." "So you ain't. even see me fight.".

>> Like why you why you even come then? So. she out of the three fights I've had, she's sat in the back and and she'll be. like the John will go and get her and. and be like, "Gable's done." And she'll. be like, "Oh, what happened?" And John. will be like, "Good. It's all. >> So did she get nervous? Is that what it. is?". >> Oh my god. She's sweating and she's. nervous. But I'm just like um I I kind. of I'll give her that look of like if. it's if this is one of them ones, I'm. going to tell you. Um but I haven't gave.

her those looks yet. So she'll know. So when you make this to so you decide. football's not going to happen, WWE is. not going to happen. You did like one. televised match with WWE, right? Yeah. What was that like? >> Um honestly I had I had a great from. from me being real and and honestly I. had a great experience. I have no no. nothing wrong with anybody there. Um TKO. was great. Triple H Paul Le was great. Stephanie Vince, everybody was great. Um. I just had a competitive drive that I. needed to get out. And so, you know, when you have that gap is there, you.

can't do both, >> right? >> And I was trying to bridge both. And. >> I wasn't giving my 100% to the business. And if I'm not going to give 100% to the. business, then you might as well ex me. out because it's already over with. So, um, I just that's how that's practically. how it happened. >> Yeah. No slide on pro wrestling, but. it's just like if you really want to. compete, compete. >> You got to get it all out. >> Yeah. >> And so, I I would love to go back in the. future. I would love to to to do a sport. and go out there and dominate. And then, hey, after the UFC heavyweight champ. >> for sure. Maybe after a couple times.

and so I would love to go and if it if. it meant well and I would do it again. most definitely because I have no hard. feelings to them. Um and and that's how. it goes. >> So when you make the decision that. you're going to go into MMA, what is. that like? Like what what are the steps. that you take? >> I got done with NCAA's and I said I I. flew down to Miami. Um I met with um. John and and a couple other people and I. said, "Hey, I want to fight." Um, you. know, you know, John had me in his camp. Um, >> so we're talking about Jon Jones. And. did you did you know John before this?

>> I knew John because I knew John from. Instagram. John like wrestling. So I. knew John from IG. He sent me a DM. He. sent me his number. And if you know. John, he don't answer the phone worth. anything. And it's crazy. But um, he. sent me his number. He said, "Call me.". So I called him. And this was before he. got hurt for the first Dip fight. He was. like, "I want you to come practice with. us. You know, I want a wrestling. partner." Um, I left him and played. football. The next year comes, no, I'm. sorry. Um, I was I don't even know where. I was at at the time, but Skip, um, we.

go and he's like, "I want you to come. back for the second camp." He's going. through it. Me and John hit it off like. that. >> Wow. >> We hit it off immediately. >> So, when you guys started training. together in camp, is that when it really. sunk in your head when you're like, "This is what I want to do.". >> Yeah. He really he really I needed. somebody to kind of engrave it in me. Um, with wrestling, I had my father, I. had the University of Minnesota, I had a. lot of good people around me kind of. like say, "Hey, this is how we're going. to do it. This is where you need to go. and this is how you're going to this is. how it's going to happen." And when I. saw John, I saw that drive of like,

damn, you know, this guy's winning and. and people get close, but they can't get. past him. And why is that? So, I really. sat back and like watched his mental and. like how he went about a lot of things. how he talked to people, how he greeted. people, how he walked, how he punched, maybe how he looked when he was in the. in the pocket, um when he needed to get. out, when he rested his hands, and I saw. everything and I was like, "Wow, like, man, this guy's a superstar. Super. superstar." And we all know that. And. and and and people know that for a long.

time now, but I really saw him and I was. like, "Damn, I want to be that." And. that's what kind of that's what flipped. my switch right there. >> What an amazing opportunity. You know, you haven't done any MMA and you get to. go in there and train with the GOAT. It's crazy. It's one, man. You know, it's hard to explain. I tell people, people ask me all the time like, "What. was it like um seeing John for the first. time?" Because I'm 25. So, when John was. like super peak, I was like 12, 13 years. old. And I'm looking at this guy beat. Gus of San Reyes and Thiago Santos and.

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even know, the close fights that Jon. had, they were really only close because. John wasn't training. >> That's really all it is. 100%. John was. partying and he was. >> what I would call playing with his food, >> you know, like he he didn't like to like. the Gustoson fight is a perfect example. Didn't train at all for the Gustoson. fight. I mean, I talked to Greg Jackson. and he was like, I swear to God, he. barely showed up. I'm like, that is so. crazy. And then he gutted it out in the. last rounds. That's what's crazy. It's a.

close decision, but he wins the fight by. gutting it out in the final rounds when. he's done relatively no strength and. conditioning. >> Nothing. >> It's so crazy. >> It's fantastic to see. >> Then really gets motivated for the. second fight with Gustaf. Smokes him. >> Blows him out. >> Which is what you expect, which when. John is in prime form, he's the greatest. of all time. And most definitely for you. to be able to. >> be a young guy who's thinking about MMA. and train with the the greatest of all.

time two now two division world. champion. It's crazy. >> amazing opportunity. >> and it's it's amazing because you don't. see the guy that's um you see the best. of the best right away. >> We're back. So anyway, where were we? >> John Jones. >> Yeah. So you're saying you. >> so you were you talking about like what. it's like to first start training with. them. So, you were you had no MMA. training really before that at all. You. had just been doing a little bit of. striking with this guy, >> Joe. I kid you not. I didn't even know. really how to defend punches.

[Laughter]. >> That's crazy. >> I didn't know how to defend punches. And. you you probably saw the video of him. throwing the knee at me. >> because I'm so hardheaded. I'm like, "Let me shoot on John." But whole time I. forgot he's a national championship. wrestler, >> right? >> So, I didn't know how to defend a punch. I didn't know how to defend a kick. I. didn't know how to do anything. But I. went in there and I said, "Hey, if you. need somebody, it's got to be me." And. that's how hungry I was. And I feel like. that's how kids should be nowadays about. getting that opportunity, man. Just be. hungry because someone's going to. respect you. >> Yeah, for sure. But I mean, not a whole.

lot of people get that opportunity. That's a crazy opportunity. It's also. like John is an elite wrestler as well. And so like learning how to incorporate. elite wrestling into all the other. aspects of MMA and to be able to go. right into camp with John is just. >> this is amazing. Incredible opportunity. >> Super incredible. I'm grateful for it uh. every day and especially he's still here. in my corner to this day. We talked this. morning. Um he's still giving me all the. pointers, all the advice even when we're. not even fighting. um just telling me.

how I should say things, what I should. say, how I need to go about life, how I. need to go about um business and and. meeting people and and greeting people. So, it's it's a true opportunity. >> That's awesome. That's really awesome. So, when you're in camp with him, um. you're you're going through the camp. Were you planning on MMA then or like. how how does it work? Like, what were. you think? Were you just like the moment. you started training with him, is that. when it really started the fire in you? Yes, I had a little bit of burn for it, but um. >> like in the back of your mind. >> Yes. But a little burn. You got to have.

the heart. You got to have the heart. Um. so what what kind of what was the stamp. on it was I went to I went to Madison. Square Garden with him. >> and and John was just doing John things, you know, just being a superstar. Everybody knew who he was and I was. like, man, you know, I got Olympic gold. medal, you know, like maybe I should be. getting some, too. Like, you know, like. John show me the way a little bit. And. so I'm trying to have him show me the. way and he's bringing me to every place, meeting every person, you know, showing. me the opportunities that he has. And he. looks at me and he was like, "You can. have this, too." And that was kind of.

the cherry on the top, but we can put. another cherry on the top and do a. double one when he won the fight. And. then I'm holding the belt with him and. like I see this guy face to face and you. know, he just the the most popular man. on earth for that day. And it's kind of. like wow. Like. >> you don't get you don't really get to. see the backstage moments. you get to. see the guy go out there on TV and. fight, >> but I got to see the backstage of. everyone taking the pictures with him, the superstars. You know, I'm walking. out the Knicks game and I see Queen. Latifah and I'm like, damn, >> that's Queen Latifah. And I'm I'm taking.

a selfie with Queen Latifah. I'm like, yo, can I take can I send this to my. mom? And she's like, yeah, go ahead. And. I see Fat Joe talking to him and. everybody. And I'm like, wow. Like, this. is what it is to be like a real fighting. star. Like, >> and in fighting is one-on-one and people. want to watch someone fight. But I think. in in other sports, like we talked about. earlier, there's a full team with. helmets on, with jerseys on, but in. fighting, people want to meet that. badass dude, and they want to meet the. champ. >> And that's what I want to be. >> Yeah. Um, so what is what is training.

with John like? Like what is the. training camp like? Like when you know, you you obviously haven't gone into. training camp with any other elite. fighters, but. >> one of the more interesting that. separates Jon from everybody else is. like Jon doesn't take no short notice. fights. John game plans for everybody. He studies tendencies. He's his fight. IQ. I mean, it's obviously he has. obviously he has everything. He. obviously has all the skills. Obviously. has all the drive and everything else,

but the fight IQ is the big one. That's. the big one because if you don't have a. good driver, who gives a [ __ ] how fast. your car is? >> True. >> It's really the mind behind it that puts. it all together. He's um he's sitting in. a Ferrari with Ferrari um gas. A lot of. people sit in a Ferrari with 87 gas and. a car don't work. >> Um so when I when I got to see those. tendencies of him watching people and he. does it to me now where he'll send me. videos on Instagram of of the top UFC. guys be like, "Oh, watch how he steps,

you know, watch when he throws a punch. how he comes back and he doesn't reset. this certain way." And he's kind of. already installing installing those um. tendencies in me. And so now. >> when I was wrestling, I never used to. watch people wrestle. Like I I went out. there on a limb and I was just beating. guys. Even in Olympics, I never watched. anyone wrestle. I never watched their. film. >> Really? >> Never. I told coaches, "Don't show me. one video because I don't want to focus. on that one thing he did." And that was. me being hard-headed. Like if if a guy. had a great double leg. >> and I'm like, "Damn, how do I stop this.

double leg?" And I'm worried about. stopping a double leg instead of doing. my offense. And so. >> I never watch anybody. I went to the. Olympics and I said, "Show me show me. the guys I'm wrestling." And I said, "Let's do it. The only guys right here banging their. head against the wall listening to this. going. >> damn he did that to me. >> That's crazy. >> I said let's do it. I said is me or you. is do or die. And this tournament I'm. not dying. Like you can't beat me in any. way possible. And that's when I was at. my best when I had that mindset and he's. kind of putting that back into me and I.

feel really good about it. >> That's amazing. It's amazing. So when. he's sending you videos like do you have. like a do you save all this [ __ ] Do you. have like a folder where you have all. these different fighters and different. moves and different because you're. you're basically brand new at something. But like this, let me just tell you what. I said. You had a a fight, an MMA fight. where you hit that dude with a left hook. and then took him down while he was out. cold. I sent Dana White a text message. I said, "Everyone's fucked.". >> I did. >> Well, I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Because I was like,

>> that kind of speed is crazy. Like that. kind of speed and incorporated with. elite wrestling is crazy. I'm like, what. do you the the heavyweight division is. so shallow right now. >> You got Tom Aspenol, serial gone, Jon. Jones if he chooses to fight again. Francis, if some by some miracle they. can work something out and bring him. back to the UFC. >> Other than that, there's no one. compelling for like a championship. caliber fighter. >> It's there's basically four or five guys.

on Earth that are in this like. championship caliber like Yes. class and. you're already there, which is nuts. And. you haven't even fought in the UFC yet. When I watched you move and I watched. you fight, I was like, "Okay, how do you. stop that?" Like, what what who is who's. got the skills to be able to stop that? And in my mind, there's like only a few. guys where it's going to be a problem. There's like the Francis and Ganos, the. the you know, the Sir Gans and the Tom. Aspenols. That's it. There's like a few.

guys and everybody else on the way up. But the only problem is going to be you. getting fights. like that. That kind of speed is just. bananas for a 250lb man, you know. And. when you have that and you're 25 years. old, it's like this is a you it's a very. rare thing that you see in MMA. And it's. kind of crazy because the heavyweight. division is of course the most. prestigious division in the world. The. heavyweight champion of the UFC is the.

baddest [ __ ] on the planet. And. you know, right now it's it's kind of a. tossup, right? Because Sir Gan had this. fight with Aspenol. Jon is kind of. semi-retired or whatever he decides to. do. It's, you know, it's kind of up in. the air. >> He'll probably have one more fight, right? I I want him to. I think he's got. the juice in him. Um White House. >> Yeah, he would love the White House. He's told me many times he wants he. wants to be main event, and he wants me. to be a couple slots behind him and and. kind of have us both win. And that's.

that's his last leg right there. >> I would love I would love for him to do. one more. If if he really wanted to in. his heart, he should. But if he doesn't, >> John's not going to do it. >> They should do Alex Pereira and him at. the White House. >> I I told people I said Alex Per would be. a great match up for Tom. >> A heavyweight version of the BMF belt. >> It'll be saying it'll be perfect. There's There's nothing else to it. besides two guys going out there. It's. Alex Praer, the baddest light light. heavyweight. And that's Jon Jones. baddest heavyweight right now. >> Yeah. And regardless if someone else has. the belt, Jon Jones is still the baddest.

heavyweight out there. >> It doesn't. The belt doesn't mean jack. [ __ ] when it's Jon Jones. Doesn't mean. jack [ __ ]. >> It doesn't. It's, you know, there's so. many fighters could do that. They could. just step away from the belts, abandon. the belts, and then come back and all. It's really just about the fighter. Everybody knows who Jon is. Everybody. knows what John does. >> It's like people will pay to you don't. need a belt. A belt doesn't mean. anything. >> No, this is a crazy story. I I came my I. had a French bulldog that passed away. So, I like to go out there and uh I. adopt French bulldogs and I kind of give. them a better home and I either ship.

them to a new home or I keep them. And. so, at the time I had a baby French. bulldog. He passed away and I I told. John I was like, "Yo, my dog died. I got. to go home." He let me go home. I came. back and I came back on a Tuesday. I. didn't see John till Thursday. And mind. you, this is a week before he's going to. go out there for Stipe. He's sick. Like. super sick. And I watched this guy do. five rounds on a Thursday and they sent. they shark baited him, five new people. And he's dead tired. And this is when I. knew he was unstoppable. He went out. there, nobody could touch him. And I'm. telling you, high class PFL fighters, ex.

UFC fighters, ex glory kickboxers were. going in there after him. And he was. just mopping them. And I was like, damn, >> this dude is beyond next level. And that. was like, you know, you got to see. greatness. >> And I see it at the fight, but you also. got to see it when how does this guy be. great before the fight? >> And I saw that and I was like, god damn. Um, I said, "Excuse me, John. um you. think I can go in there with you? And he. was like, "No." And I was like, "Why do. you think so?" Um he was like, "You. don't know how to defend." And it was.

kind of a funny joke because the guy. partner got hurt. And I was like, I. raised my hand. I told Greg Jackson. I. said, "Greg, let me in there." And Greg. was like, "Not today, Gable." And this. is when I didn't know how to defend or. anything. He was like, "Gabe, not. today." And I was like, "Man, why? You. know, I can go in there and take him. down." And he was like, "This is. different." And when I saw that, that. was like the epitome of like super. greatness in my eyes because I like hard. workers. I like guys that beat on guys. I don't like guys that go out there and. and and do the little extras that they. to look cool. I mean, just go out there.

and dominate and let's go home. And I. saw that and I was like, "Yeah, it's. over with for Steipe. It's going to be a. long night.". >> Well, unfortunately, they met when Stipe. had already had a lot of miles on the. clock and John was still elite. It's. crazy that John essentially developed a. spinning back kick, a real spinning back. kick when he's 36 years old. >> Crazy. >> It's so nuts because I mean he tried it. earlier in his career, but it was like. he would spin instead of go straight. You know what I mean? But when he hit. stipe, it was perfect. It was per you.

that picture we we we showed a video of. it and then freeze froze the the the. heel. >> It was halfway into his rib cage. It was. crazy. >> I wouldn't have got up either. >> Well, very few people would. very few. human beings can talk. That kick is so. powerful. And when it comes from a big. guy like John with those long ass legs. and all that leverage with perfect. technique and it goes right into the. sweet spot like that, like good luck. But it's such a brilliant think. It's. such brilliant thinking on his side. because he's like, "Okay, I have to.

fight heavyweights and I need something. that can take them out with one shot. Like what is that?" Well, it's the most. powerful kick which is the spinning back. kick. And so he trains it constantly. constantly, >> you know, which is just very few people. have the mindset to be able to do that. Very few guys develop new skills late in. life, you know, late in their career, they start incorporating new skills like. that. >> I think that's a that's a thing where he. was he's always ears, too. And that's. kind of what he's putting into me also.

Um, I watched him do the spinning back. kick the night before at midnight when. we were practicing in the hotel lobby. Um, and. >> so he was just planning on that. >> He was planning on he was planning on. it. >> Showstopper. He told me he wanted to. take Stipe down and then all of a sudden. he does a spinning back kick and I was. like, "You sllo motherfucker.". >> Did he bring in a taekwond do coach? Where did How did he develop that. technique? So. >> he's got a there's a there's a. kickboxing taekwondo coach named um. Alex. He's got a long he's got a long. last name cuz I think he he married a um.

Thai lady. So I think he changed his. last name. Okay. >> But he's from New Mexico. He works out. of Jackson. He's got a lot of tattoos on. him and nobody you would if you saw him. you would never know. But the dude can. kick hard as [ __ ] and it's crazy. >> And so he he worked with John on that. >> Yes. >> Yeah. The only other guy that I would. say developed a a crazy new technique. late in his career was Vtor. When Vtor. was like 35 or 36, he developed a wheel. kick. It was crazy. Out of nowhere when. he fought Luke Rockold, all a sudden.

he's throwing wheel kicks. Like Vtor. never. >> crazy. >> Crazy. Vtor never threw wheel kicks. >> Crazy. But I think it's honestly got to. be cool from cuz you sit right next to. the cage. So it's got to be cool to like. see people grow up through their career. and then all of a sudden at the end you. see like a guy does a spinning wheel. kick or or a guy does a spinning. spinning back kick and you're like damn. like where'd that come from? And I feel. like I feel like does it give you a high. to kind of see like a person grow. through a new stage of like seeing a new. move from them? >> I just love excellence. That's what I.

love. I love when someone. shines, when they just figure a way to. eclipse everyone else. When they figure. a way to when they just like the Poran. Morab Dwavish Willie fight, when you see. a guy like Pioran who loses the first. fight to Morab and comes back and. dominates in the second fight, like I. love that [ __ ] I love it. I love. watching someone put in an insane amount. of work and dedication and then shining. on fight night. I love it.

>> It's It's f It's cool, too, because you. see Peter Jan is the new like blueprint. for. >> guys that are coaching kids to do moves. >> I mean, he went out there and threw a. fake hook and liver kicked. >> Morab. >> and then he goes out there and he hits a. stood and trips guys. I mean, what other. what other film tape blueprint can you. use from someone else? I mean, he's done. everything in all his fights. His flow. state is amazing. His flow state's. incredible and he's so good at mixing up. trips along with like inside fighting.

His stand up is so good. He's so hard to. hit clean, too. >> I think the only guy who really hit him. clean was Sugar Shawn. Shawn hit him. with a knee, like a really good knee. Timed it perfectly in their fight and. dropped him. But other than that, he. very rarely gets hit. And when you do. hit him, you you're you're hitting him. and he's kind of rolling with it. You. know, he keeps that super high guard. He. doesn't. >> Uhhuh. Yeah. He keeps his hands straight. in front of you. >> He's He's something special, man. And.

you know, that dude's still only 32. years old. >> He's only 32. >> Yeah. >> I know. It's crazy. >> Just What do you think if if he doesn't. lose? >> 32 or 34. How old is Pod Yon? He's. either 32 or 34. But, you know, we've. seen him in I think he's 32. >> 32. Yeah. I mean, we've seen him in the. UFC since he was like in his mid20s. Yeah, >> if if he doesn't lose to Morab that. first time, >> where do you think his path goes? >> It's a good question. You know, I mean, because he did lose to other guys as.

well. He lost to Shawn and he lost to. the Almaine fight was [ __ ]. >> The first fight was [ __ ] but the. second fight, Al Jain dominated him, but. I think he probably overestimated. himself in the second Almaine fight. It. doesn't seem like he was as prepared. And the thing about Almaine is like his. wrestling is very good and his back. control is the [ __ ] best in the. business. When Al Jane gets your back, you're in deep [ __ ] He's so good at. back control. He's so good at rear naked. chokes. >> and you know Al just Al Jane just really.

struggled to make that 135. >> It's got to be hard. >> Oh, but if he got it right and he got it. right in that second fight, you know, and he just. >> he just did what he does at at his best. It was one of his finest performances. So he lost that fight, but it didn't. mean that he was done. It just mean like. he realized like, okay, he had to have a. camp like he had for Morab in order to. beat Aljine. Yes. You know, and I just. don't think everybody's willing to go. through that kind of camp every. >> every fight. Morab went through four.

>> Yeah, >> I think so. >> Four in a year. Yeah. >> Do you do um for blueprint, how do you. like that? Because I know guys kind of. take the two fight the two fight a year. approach. Maybe three if you're doing. well. I think that's more more. sustainable. Alex Pereira did the same. thing. Like he's he's fought a lot of. fights and he's fight fought fights. short notice. You got to admire that. mindset of a guy who's like, I don't. give a [ __ ] Let's fight. You know, and. but Alex has fought with broken toes and. everything. >> He fought with a neuroirus and, you. know, he had a [ __ ] up hand the first.

time he fought Ankolia. >> But then, you know, the same thing like. he comes in for the second fight with. Ankoliah fully healthy and just smokes. him. Smokes him in the first round. If. you if you um what do you think about if. you gave Alex Per like a a solid great. wrestler like an Islam of light. heavyweight heavyweight? How do you. think that he does? >> It'll be a problem. Yeah. I mean I think. less of a problem certainly now than. early in his career. Mhm. >> Like if you see his first fight with uh. in the UFC with Nikolitis, he gets taken. down the first round. >> Uh that's not going to happen now. And.

if it does, he gets up, you know, it's. different. But it gets up against who? Does he get up against guy like you? You. know, it's it's a different there's. different levels, right? You really saw. that with Jack Dela Matalena in Islam, right? There's levels. And when you got. a guy that's at Islam's level that's. just an a super elite grappler, unless. you've faced that before, you don't know. what to prepare yourself for. >> I tell people all the time, >> that's the thing with Por Yan. He had. been in there with Morab for the first.

fight and so he knew what to expect and. he he'd seen all those crazy fights. He. saw the fight with San Hagen. He saw the. fight where the rematch with Sugan where. he submitted him. He's like, "Okay, this. guy's a [ __ ] monster. He's a monster. now. you got to prepare for a monster. and he was ready. But unless you've. experienced that before, and there's. really no one like that in the light. heavyweight division, unfortunately. There's not some like super elite. grappler in the light heavyweight. division. And I think that's one of the. reasons why Hamzot is thinking about.

going up the light heavyweight. >> And I think he should. I'm a big fan of. Hamzot. I love his style. I love his. intensity. His intensity is the best. thing ever. >> Oh, he's an animal. >> It's the best thing ever to watch. because I when I was wrestling, I like. to go out there and just, you know, put. the hammer down and dominate. Um, and. he's got it. >> He's got that touch. >> Oh, yeah. He's an animal. And you know. that that animal part of him almost. killed him because he refused to stop. training when he had CO. >> When he had COVID, he was just showing. up at the gym and putting in two and a. half hour sessions and vomiting blood. Like he's a nut.

>> That's crazy. >> Yeah. They said the real problem with. Hamzot was that you you couldn't get him. out of the gym and he was always. overtrained. M. >> So then he brings in Sam Calvita and Sam. Calvita monitor training lab. Right. Right. Yes. So he's monitoring his heart. rate. He's monitoring his recovery and. he's working on him with his strength. and conditioning and they're doing it. scientifically. >> And then you seen the driers dupacif. fight. I mean he's just didn't gas at. all. >> It's that was the same thing as Islam. and Metalena. Very similar. >> They they try to do the the you know. maybe what if what if he can outbox him.

But it it's hard when you got to worry. about so many things. And I think Islam. did a great job of showing the leg. kicks, making Jack switch. Jack didn't. really push forward and Islam when he. did shot the double or he shot an. outside single. >> And that's hard. It's hard when you got. to think about so many things. >> Yeah. Well, you know, Kabib is without. doubt one of the all-time greats. One of. the greatest to ever do it. >> But the difference between Kabib and. Islam is Islam is elite standupwise. Like Kabib was very good standup, but.

Islam knocked out Vulcanowski with a. headkick. You know that that's not in. >> Kabib's repertoire. Islam is on another. level. It's like one more level above. He can knock you out standing. He can. knock you out on the ground. He could. submit you. He could take you down. He's. [ __ ] huge for the weight class, especially 155. >> It's like there's so many aspects and. you're always thinking about that. grappling when you're striking. So when. you say like, oh, you know who's better. striker, Islam or Jack Dela Matalena? Well, it depends because if you got to.

worry about that takedown, your striking. is not going to be the same. It's just. not going to be the same cuz you're. everything he does, you're always. looking for that takedown. And that. factor leads to guys getting hit all the. time. >> Yeah. >> Like if you go back and watch old fights. like Kevin Randleman versus Crowop. Kevin Miranda knocked out Crocop because. Crowop was worried about the takedown. He was worried about the takedown. All a. sudden Randleman comes with a big left. hook. >> And Kevin Randleman was a NCAA champ. where? Ohio State, I believe. Was it. Ohio State?

>> I believe he was Ohio. >> 184 or 197. >> Was heavyweight? I don't know. >> Three time Big 10 wrestling champ at. Ohio State. >> What uh you never won the tournament? >> Uh. heavyweight. >> Wow. Who do you lose to in the. tournament? >> Oh, it says heavyweight. I'll look that up real quick. >> Okay. But but that was the thing about. Randleman is like the speed and the. takedown was always this big threat and. so because of that you're thinking about.

one thing and boom you get hit with a. big shot. >> I've seen Kevin Randleman wear shoes in. his matches. What's what's the. difference? >> Um what's the difference of wearing I've. seen a guy wear shoes now. I was on. Instagram and I saw maybe a kickboxing. match um or something like that. Why. can't they wear shoes now? Is there a. rule that you can't. >> It's not now. All those things are old. Those are old. >> Yeah, those are all old. Pride used to. allow you to wear shoes. Okay. Okay. Uh, early UFC you used to be able to wear. shoes. >> I saw that. I remember the first the. first like UFC video I seen was that big. Hughes dude and that little dude that. knocked him out.

>> Was he the big black dude? >> Which guy? >> It was like an old video. Super old. >> That's not descriptive enough. >> Okay, give me a second. >> Big huge dude. >> Little black dude. Bob Sat maybe. >> No, that wasn't. >> Who was the big video? And then the. white dude came out there and he was. just whooping him and the big dude tried. to grab him. I might be tripping, but I. saw the video. M well I don't think. you're tripping. I mean there's been so. many fights it's so hard to like figure. out what fight you're talking about. But. >> there's there's an advantage to. wrestling shoes for sure without a.

doubt. I mean the grip on the ground. I. mean how many times you seen guys. >> Yeah. This one. >> Oh Keith Hackne. Yeah. And Keith Hackne. had like a very strange style. It was. like uh I think he was a Kempo guy and. he he hit him with like a [ __ ] slap. You know what I'm saying? Like you ever. see how he he knocked him down? Like. look at the difference in the size. Emanuel Yarro who is a sumo wrestler. >> but Emanuel was probably like look at. that. See he overhand [ __ ] slapped him. >> This is crazy.

>> He basically stepped in and and palm. stripped him to the head. >> You think he looks if he's if he's still. alive you think he looks back at this. video and like damn I got slapped. >> Uh probably. >> Damn. >> I mean Emanuel fought a bunch of. different things. He fought I think he. fought uh in pride as well if I'm. I'm. >> Oh, they forgot to lock the cage. He got. flew out the cage. >> Look at thin big John McCarthy. >> He lost to Mark Ryland. >> Mark Ryland of Iowa. >> Okay, there you go.

>> That's random, but we're talking about. >> Yes. >> Um yeah, the old days were wild, man. It's wild. It's It's wild to go back and. watch those fights. It's like. >> since you um since you've been kind of. like um like a huge figure your whole. life, have you gone back and like. watched Fear Factor? >> Uh I watched it because my kids were. watching it. My kids were watching Fear. Factor because there was like a whole. Fear Factor channel. Was it True TV or. one of those? >> True or Spike TV? >> One of those things. They had Fear. Factor on like all day long and my kids.

were watching. I thought it was. hilarious. >> Man, I was watching it too. I'm just. going to tell you right now. And all the. [ __ ] they was doing. Hell no. Yeah, a lot of it is in your head. Like. a lot of the stuff that they had to eat. is not that bad. Some of it was [ __ ]. disgusting. >> Was were you trying some while they were. trying? >> I I ate a bunch of things. >> What was the worst thing? >> None of the things I ate were that bad, you know? Like I ate a Madagascar. hissing cockroach. It's like a a. cockroach the size of like this lighter. >> Damn.

>> Yeah. Yeah. >> That wasn't bad. What? It was just. crunchy. >> It doesn't have much Yeah. It doesn't. have much flavor to it. >> Yeah. What was the more in your head. than anything? >> I'm I'm sure. What was being being on. that show? What was the worst thing you. saw like someone. >> tense up about? >> The worst thing was what they had to. eat. You know, and watching people throw. up like people I I watched people throw. up every day. You know how like the. smell of throw up makes you want to. throw up. >> That went away after a while. >> It was that bad? >> Yeah. Yeah. I I saw people throw up.

every week. Every week I was watching. four or five people throw up. This is. like totally normal to be around. cuz they were throwing up in front of me. and I was telling them that they keep. going. >> I'm like, "Don't worry. You can keep. going. You can keep going. Don't put. that out of your head. This is a task. >> Just you you want to win. Okay, you can. do this. >> Mhm. >> I can help you. I'll talk you through. this. But you just got to just you you. are in control of your body. Force. yourself to eat it. Chew it. Swallow it. Get it down. Let's go.". >> But that was the worst is the eating.

[ __ ] Holding your breath under water. was hard. There's a lot of things they. had to do that was hard. It's a crazy. [ __ ] show. >> They um there was one where they had to. jump out a helicopter and like swim and. grab some while the helicopter. propellers were like blowing the water. so they couldn't. >> Yeah, we did a few of the things like. that. Yeah. >> Were you ever scared? >> Um. >> for some of them I was worried when they. had to ride bulls. That one scared the. [ __ ] out of me cuz I was like, you know, the the stunt stunt men are animals. If. you ever meet stunt men, they are some. of the the bravest, toughest dudes.

alive. And uh the stunt guys had this. attitude about the bull like they're. like, "Oh, that's a stunt bull. That's a. practice bull." And I go, "Does a. [ __ ] bull know he's a practice bull?". I bet he doesn't. I bet he didn't get. that memo. >> He don't know that. >> He's just a bull. That's a [ __ ] huge. animal. And you're going to get a 100. pound lady to ride this huge animal. That's crazy. >> It's over with. >> And they got launched and almost got. kicked. And we they rolled the dice a. lot and got lucky that no one got. seriously injured, I think. And the bull.

one was the big one for me. It was like. you can't predict that. Like you can if. you got a car stunt, you got to jump a. car off a building into like this big. cushion. Like, okay, cool. >> You kind of know what's going to happen. You, you know, this is the thing. This. could go wrong and this is how we're. going to prepare against it going wrong. or prepare for it, but you can't prepare. for a bull. Like, there's not much you. could do. If the bull decides to stomp. this person, that person could die. like. that. That's a real possibility, especially people that have no business.

riding bulls. >> Yeah, >> bull riding is hard for bull riders. >> Bull riding is tough. >> And they got a good seven seconds on. that bull if they're great. >> If they're great. >> If they're great. >> And when you're watching it, you're. like, "Oh my god." You watch the bull. kicking and jumping up in the air. >> Crazy. I know their lower back kills. after that. >> Oh, the We had one guy on Fear Factor. who was a professional bull rider and. his shoulder was so destroyed. He uh he. took his shirt off to show me. He had. scars all around his shoulder. He's. like, "My shoulder pops out all the. time. It just will pop out of socket.".

He'd go reach for something, his. shoulder would pop out of socket. It was. just destroyed. It was hanging on by a. thread. >> Jeez, that's disgusting. Gh. >> How do you live like that, though? >> I don't know, man. I guess you just deal. with it. I guess you just That's the. price you pay for greatness, you know? >> Got to pay something. >> Yeah. Well, they all pay. Every bull. rider pays. You see those guys later in. their career, they're all stiff cuz they. got fused discs and [ __ ] bolts in. their back and [ __ ] They're all [ __ ]. up. >> The spines rubbing. Oh yeah, it's a. terrible messed up. >> Terrible way to live. >> I can't I can't believe that um bull.

riding is a real thing. >> I know. It's nuts. >> It's fascinating though because you. could really see guys go out there and. be like, "You're facing the devil.". >> Literally, >> the bull is going to win all the time. >> Every time. The best you can do is hang. on for seven seconds. There's no goat. who could just hang on the the bull as. long as possible. I'll hang on that bull. for 30 minutes. Keep going, [ __ ] He's. going to get you off. Everybody goes. flying eventually. >> Everybody. >> Everybody. It's going to happen one way. or another. Yeah. There's no human being. that could just stay on a bucking bull.

No. And just like when I decide I'll get. off. >> Have you rode? >> No. >> Okay. I haven't either. >> [ __ ] that. >> I don't think black people do that. >> I think there are. I think Is there a. couple? >> Oh, it's got to be. pictures. I have Mitchell. >> Oh, look at that dude right there. Bam. Ezekiel Mitchell. >> Look at the size of that thing. I mean, and look at his angle. You know what I'm. saying? He is so the the bull is so. athletic that he's damn near doing a. handspring with the dude on his back. >> Right. And he weighs 2,000 lbs. He's.

just throwing his body up and through. the air. That is [ __ ] all that. Like. right there. Like you easily could get. stomped to death right there. You fall, he lands on your face and that is a. wrap. Your [ __ ] head is pulverized. >> I wonder what the. >> size of that thing. God. I wonder what. the numbers are on like if a bull stomps. like the velocity of and the mass of it. like what is the the generated force. from it? >> Oh, it's got to be insane how many guys.

have died. >> None that I know hopefully. >> None that I know, but I mean there has. to be like an enormous number of guys. that have died bull riding. >> What's the what's like the um since. since like we're on a crazy topic, what. is what is the like the craziest thing. outside of like maybe fighting Taekwond. do that you've done that you're like. damn like that [ __ ] felt good? I never. did anything other than I I had three. kickboxing fights, but other than. fighting, that was the the scariest [ __ ]. that I ever did. Yeah. I mean, I've. never done I'm not like a I don't No,

I'm not a bungee jumper. I mean, I've. done bungee jumping on vacation. I did. ziplining. I was like, "What am I doing? This is stupid." I don't like doing. stuff like that. I don't like dumb. risks. >> No, I'm big. So, I went on a ziplining. one time. You know, you got to jump off. the thing, right? >> You got to jump off the platform. Uh-huh. >> I thought I was going to Joe, I'm kid. you not. That might have been my last. day on Earth if that that line didn't. hold me, >> right? Because what do you weigh about. 250? >> Like 255. And it bounces, you know, like. I was in Thailand and I went to do this. thing. It was a bungee comp thing. And.

they said I couldn't do it cuz I was. only 200 lb. And I was like, that's. crazy. Like what happens if you get a. guy that lies about his weight? >> It's over with. >> Yeah. Because people lie about their. [ __ ] weight all the time. I've seen. the ones where the guys they got the the. the squirrel suit on. >> and they jump off the building or they. jump off the rocks and they they go down. and they come up. >> Uhhuh. >> And sometimes they don't. >> Sometimes they don't come up. >> My friend Andy did that. Jumping out of. a [ __ ] plane. >> He made it. >> Oh yeah. He's He was He held the world. record at one point in time for the.

longest uh squirrel suit flight. What. are they called? What do they call those. things? >> Wingsuit. >> Wing suit. >> Wingsuit. >> He he held the record for it. It's. ridiculous. It's But Andy's nuts. He's a. Navy Seal. >> 18 miles. >> 18 miles 18 miles. >> One flight. >> What do you think he's thinking at like. mile nine? Maybe I drop. >> He's a psycho. I don't know. >> 18 miles is crazy. >> Yeah, that's crazy. >> I would never do nothing like that ever. >> Uh-uh. No, I'm not interested in. parachuting. I'm not interested in any. of that [ __ ]. >> I might get on a wake boat and surf.

That's about all. >> You fall in the water. Not that big a. deal. >> With a life jacket. >> Yeah. Yeah, that sounds reasonable. It's. a reasonable thrill. Falling up. Hey, falling out the sky is crazy. >> Fall out of the sky is crazy. But at. least falling out the sky, you have. equipment. You check the equipment. You. make sure you double check. You've done. it before. It's done. You know when to. do it. With a bull. There's no there's. no safeguards, you know? Yeah. I mean, you have like some sort of a chest. protector on some people. You have a. helmet.

>> You're not There's no safeguards. He. could land on your hip. You're never. going to walk again. >> It's over with. >> [ __ ] that. >> It's game over. I couldn't I can't. fathom riding a bull. Yeah. Doesn't. Donald do it? Doesn't Donald Cerrone? He. He rides bulls. See, >> he got the name cowboy. He better do. something. He's out of his [ __ ] mind. >> You got to do something with the name. cowboy. >> That's a dude that has a real adrenaline. problem. He's got a He's. >> rightfully so. He He looks crazy. >> He's got a real adrenaline problem. He. told the story about getting trapped in. a a water. He He was diving and he got. trapped in a cave and they the guy he.

was with panicked because his cords got. tangled up and the the water was cloudy. and he couldn't figure out how to get. out. That was one of the most ter I knew. he was okay because he was right here. telling me the story, but it was one of. the most terrifying stories anybody's. ever told me. But that dude loves that. kind of [ __ ] He loves like thrills. >> I can't I don't think I can get behind. thrills. I can't. >> No, >> it's it's too much. And especially your. heart be like. >> Mhm. >> It's just not is today my day and it. can't be my day.

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Brewing Company fit for all times. Was. fighting for the first time? Was that. what What was the different in the the. difference in the way it felt the first. time you fought versus wrestling? >> My when I when I wrestle, I'm not really. nervous. I'm more anxious to like. perform and put on a good show. When. when I went out there for my first. fight, my heart was beating on my chest. because that pin drops and it's like. it's me or you. And I always had the. mentality of like it's me or you. It's. do or die. Today's not my day. You got. to go. But um that first time you're.

like, I kid you not, my heart was like. jumping and and John had to like look at. me in the eyes and be like, "Yo, you're. good. Rely on what you know. We've been. here before. You've done this before. Um. there's 2,000 people here. You you've. wrestled in front of 20. Um just think. about it like that." And when I thought. about it like that, my heart rate calmed. down. You know, you kind of get like. shaky a little bit. Your you kind of. feel like your legs are not there. And. that was kind of my first time fighting. after that at Dirty Boxing. I wanted to. kill that dude, >> which is crazy because you couldn't even.

rely really on your wrestling in that, >> which is what I wanted, >> right? >> I wanted to I wanted to go out there and. show you that that I can throw punches. without having to look down at that leg. And that's exactly what we did. >> Was that a calculated decision to try to. do that as well as just like to just. have a pure striking fight? >> Mhm. just just so you can show that you. could do it and then in your own mind. not have your your main skill set to. rely on. >> Yes. I really wanted to handicap myself. because I wanted to show the people to. and I and I kind of hopefully I did show.

them a great show and we. >> definitely did. I want to show the. people. I want to show the the people at. home that are a casual viewer that who. doesn't know Gable like, "Hey, can I. turn on Dirty Boxing?" And the mom and. dad and kids are sitting there watching. saying, "Hey, what is about Gable. Stevenson that's special?" And he's a. wrestler. So, what can be special. besides wrestling? And then I go out. there and I get this knockout and I jump. over the ring and and I'm doing the. Arthur Jones um sack dance. >> The the crazy thing was the way you. leapt over the ring like it was nothing.

That was banana. What does it feel like to not have Oh, there it is. Boom. But this is the the nuttiest part right. here. The big jump. >> Like it was nothing. Like it was. nothing. >> I mean, that is that is crazy. athleticism. >> But it's it's what's wild about that is. you look like a like a really good boxer. and you have only been boxing for a very. small amount of time. just I just I'.

always had um very good confidence in. myself. I've always spoke about myself. highly. I've always like wanted to be. over the top, you know, like um like a. WWE, you know, when he gets on the. microphone and John Cena's like, "You. can't see me.". >> Or Roman Reigns like acknowledge me, you. know, when I go out there, I don't want. to have to say those things. I wanted to. when you see me, that's him. And and. I've always tried to be this the the. bigger than Gable person, but also like. if we had like a routine convo, you can. see like, man, he's a real human. you. know, you can talk to him. He does real.

things. We put on the we put on shoes. the same way. We put on pants the same. way. And I feel like a lot of superstars. don't really show people that side of. them. And if it's up to them if they. want to or they not, but I've always. really like showing the families and the. kids that like, >> man, look at Gable, you know? >> But when you compete, they're special. >> It's different. >> But it's just crazy to be able to do. that in a sport that you're relatively. new at. >> I mean, just man, just think big about. yourself. I tell every kid I tell. everybody. What's crazy about that. honestly is like I know you're just.

going to get better at it. That's what's. crazy when you watch someone strike that. well early in their striking career. Like your striking journey is so new. >> that the sky's is the limit as far as. your your potential. >> Joe, in the nicest way possible, I. really want to say this. That's the. worst I'll ever be. >> The worst I'll ever be. And and and for. whoever who's going to watch this, that's the worst I'll ever be. Just. think about it. um 14 seconds and then. now think about if I you're going to put. some time into me, some effort into me.

and I'm putting effort into myself that. that dirty boxing is probably the the. weakest I'll ever be in the sport of. MMA. >> I believe you. I believe you. I mean, it. only makes sense if you've been training. that short amount of time in striking. Now, when you training striking, are you. training boxing? Are you doing Muay. Thai? Like, what what kind of striking. training are you doing? Are you. incorporating it all together in MMA? >> I do it all. Um, so a lot of days I go. in, so I kind of have like a really good. schedule right now since I'm I'm not. going to go into a fight. So I do every. day besides Sunday. Some days are two a.

days like cuz I go to Lifetime and play. basketball. I go to Lifetime and sit in. a cold tub and and and sauna and stuff. Um, but when I strike, I go in there. One round's maybe boxing. Next round is. kicks, tapes, knees, everything, elbows. The next round is what um the blueprint. I have of what moves I need to really do. to get in to kind of get to my shots or. I'm going to fake shoot and punch. Um. and and then the I probably go 10. rounds, 12 rounds of that, five minutes. each. >> So you do you always incorporate all the.

MMA skills together in a workout? >> I try to. >> What's interesting when I was talking to. Ilia Taporia um when he's particularly. when he's not training for a fight, he. doesn't do that. He is very rare in that. like when he goes and he works on his. boxing, he he'll just box. He just. boxes. When he works on his jiu-jitsu, he just does jiu-jitsu. When he works on. his wrestling, he just does wrestling. Then he puts them all together with MMA. training. But he spends an exorbitant. amount of time on each individual skill.

by itself to really like hone and. tighten those things up, >> which is it's an interesting choice. And. obviously for him it's worked out. spectacularly. But there's no real like. >> I guess. >> if you want to be like an elite soccer. player, I'm sure there's a program that. they've kind of devised like this is the. very best way to become a good soccer. player. They have, you know, coaches and. they game plan. They know what to do. With MMA, there's all these different.

approaches. Everyone, Alex Pereira's. approach is different than Morab's. approach, which will be different than. your approach. Everybody's got a. different thing. >> Yeah, it's just like you said, it. depends a person and it also depends the. team that you have. Um, I'm just really. big on I'm just still very new. So, I'm. really big on just trying to make sure I. can absorb all the information possible. and kind of when I go into these fights, these these first few fights, kind of. showcase what I can. Um, and sadly, they. have ended early. Not sadly, but and in. a good way. You know what I'm saying?

Um, but just go out there and showcase. who I am. And and when I go train, man, I don't mind sitting in there all day. Sometimes me and me and John will. practice for hours just sitting there. repeating repeating and then all of a. sudden we go at 8 o'clock it's midnight. Um but I like that though because it. makes me feel good. It makes me feel. like there's someone invested in me that. makes me feel like I'm here for a. purpose and it makes me feel like this. is what I'm there's there's someone out. of the country. There's someone in. Russia when I'm sleep. He's up. >> and I don't like that. He's up working. So, when I can get all the time.

possible, I'm making sure I get all that. time because I don't want that dude to. show up one day and he's got a little. inch on me. >> And I just can't I can't think about. that happening. I always have that. thought in my head with in terms of like. UFC fighters. Like, >> there's such a shallow division. The. heavyweight division is so shallow. I'm. like, there's got to be some elite. Russian wrestlers that are thinking. about you going the Fedor Ameiliono. route. like they're thinking about. I. know Nemco who just won the PFL title. He's a very high level guy,

>> but there's there has to be some like. really highlevel wrestlers that are. considering going into MMA. >> right now. Russian heavyweights are. really um not as good as people think in. wrestling. Um really they got a guy name. Abdul Aisad alive. I don't know if you. heard of him. >> I have. Man, he is crazy. If he came to. fighting, it's over with. Not for. heavyweights, for the other groups. because he's got to go through me if he. comes if he comes heavyweight. But I. Iranians heavyweights are really good. I.

think that's where the heavyweight field. should start coming from is Iran. They. got a lot of good they got two good guys. that are one's my age. I'm 25 and. another one is I think 22. They're they. battle for the Olympic spot every year, but the older one wins just by a little. But. >> the time is going to pass where that guy. steps up and he's going to take the. spot. >> So I I would watch out for him. You know what's interesting with uh MMA. is some guys have a background in. wrestling and then they learn how to. strike and then they fall in love with. striking and then they hardly ever.

wrestle when they fight. >> you know. >> Mhm. >> It's it's kind of weird like you would. see that a lot in the early like Josh. Koschek is a good example who's a very. good amateur wrestler and then when he. fought in MMA very rarely wrestled. It. was mostly striking. You know he can. knock guys outstanding and I think guys. kind of fall in love with that. And then. there's also the amount of effort. It's. so tiring to wrestle along with all the. other things that sometimes guys just. put that aside and they just decide to. stand and bang with people. >> I I really like wrestling. I grew up.

wrestling. Um and if I had a chance, I. would love to go to 2028 Olympics and. and win a win a gold medal. Um that's. how much I still love wrestling, but. right now my path is MMA. And I knew the. first couple times that I would get. those knockouts like like you look at. your hands and it's like you you. Spider-Man, you got superpowers. Like I. got I got lightning in my hands. Like I. would have never thought in my 25 years. of life that I would go out there and I. would left hook somebody and he would be. out cold and I would double egg and flip. them. >> Who would have ever thought that would. ever happen? And so like you're right,

you get obsessed with knocking people. out. But I still think my base is. wrestling. I just haven't used the best. base yet. And that's just I just want to. show people that my best base doesn't. need to be used because the second best. one is just as good as the first. >> Yeah. Well, and the second best one is. getting better all the time. That's the. thing. >> So, and again, I keep going back to. this, but if you can get that good at. wrestling, you can get that good at. anything. It's just a matter of putting. in the time and and dedicating yourself. to that thing. But it's the mindset that. allows someone to become an Olympic gold.

medalist in wrestling. Boy, if that. person that that's a scary person, that. person decides to focus on whatever the. [ __ ] it is, [ __ ] pickle ball, who. gives a [ __ ] They'll be elite at it. They just have to. >> you will. >> put their mind on it. >> It's a 100% a mindset thing. It ain't. nothing else. >> You can have a athletic ability. You can. hard work all day. You can be so. disciplined in the world, but if your. mind doesn't think it, >> that's why I feel like that's why I beat. a lot of people before I even walked out. there is I knew it. I just you just got. to know. And some people.

>> ship mindset. >> Some people just don't feel it and you. just got to feel it. >> I know. You know, it's like I was. talking to a friend of mine. I don't. want to mention any names because then. you'll connect it to the fighter. But he. he said, "Man," he goes, "I don't want. to [ __ ] with anybody anymore that needs. a mental coach.". >> And I said, "Really? Why?" He goes, "It's just like this just too much." He. goes, "I want a dude who don't need that. [ __ ]. >> You don't need it." It's interesting. because some guys do and some guys that. mental coach takes them over the top and. then they find a way to win where you.

know maybe they'd have mental hiccups in. the past, you know, but his his. mentality was. I I want a guy who has no problems. Like. if I'm going to coach a guy, I don't. want a guy who's a headcase. I want a. guy who goes in there and already has. this. I'm going to [ __ ] dominate. And. if I don't, I'm going to learn why I. didn't dominate and I'm going to come. back. I'm going to get him next time. >> Yeah. And I feel like that's the person. I am. I just want to go in there and. dominate. And I also think that a lot of. people kind of rely too much on a lot of. outside things to kind of make them feel.

good about themselves to go out there. and perform instead of just just putting. that switch on and just saying, "Hey, we. here." I mean, >> outside things like what like we mean. >> just you know mental coaches, you know, someone you got to get someone else to. be a maybe a. >> a breath working coach or some another. coach, another coach. There's so many. labels for coaches out there that you. don't need. And when I was wrestling at. Minnesota, I had Brandon Eggum, Luke. Becker, who's the assistant and head. coach. Um, and Trevor Brambble. That's. all I had. I didn't have nobody else. I. didn't because I didn't want anybody to. interfere with the connection that we.

had. And I feel like when you get a. great bond with somebody, and then you. bring in more people, the bonds get. mixed up. People are paying attention to. too many different things. Instead of. practicing, maybe I got to work on my. mind. Instead of working on my mind, maybe I got I got to go do something. else. Maybe I got to take care of. something else. So, >> sort of like when you were talking about. not watching video and your opponents. cuz you're thinking about his double, how am I going to stop his double. instead of thinking about what am I. going to do? >> Yeah. I would rather be productive for. the team instead of. >> productive for eight different people.

and maybe three of them don't care about. you as much. You know, they're there. just to get a little something from you. >> Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Where. are you training now? >> Right now, I'm still in Minneapolis. Um. I'm having a baby girl this Sunday. >> Oh, congratulations. >> This Sunday, my my little girl's coming. out. I appreciate it. Thank you. Um, she's going to pop out. Um, my lady's. going to hopefully get induced that day. Um, if it comes early, it comes early. So, that'll be really nice. Um, so I'm. in Minneapolis right now, but my when I. do all the main training, um, New. Mexico, Jackson Wink. >> Okay. So, uh, in Minneapolis, where are. you training? >> Uh, that guy with that guy Billy Simon.

in part. >> Same guy. Really? >> I've been with him forever. >> So, you're in this little tiny gym? >> I'm in that little gym. Nobody sees us. We we we got partners that need to come. in. But rather than that, I would I. don't want the big lights. You know, when I was growing up. >> um in Portage, Indiana, I had a. wrestling mat in the garage and me and. my two brothers would wrestle and that's. where we got the most work in. My dad. said, "Go in there and hand fight and. whoever comes out comes out." And it was. definitely not me at the time, but but. maybe right now is me. Um but he would.

we would go in there and hand fighting. If you get My dad's philosophy was we. had Iowa style wrestling and Iowa style. wrestling was was brutal. If you run if. his face needs to be run into the wall, run his face into the wall. And that's. how we grew up. And if you don't want. your face ran into the wall, you better. put his in first, >> right? >> And so when you're training with this. guy, are you training like are you. training like I could get a call in a. week to fight and I'm ready to do that. or are you training like just like. developing skills constantly? >> I just religiously train to develop.

skills constantly. Um I try not to never. stop. I don't like stopping because I'm. kind of a this is this is crazy. Um, I'm. a thicker body, so if I sit for a little. bit, I feel like I'm getting fat, >> and I want to feel that way. So, I just. try to always keep myself in shape and. try to keep the best look possible. So, if you need me on one week, which I. don't want to do any short notice, um, just how just how me and John do it. No. short notice. Like, if you need me in a. week, I look good. I'm ready. But, um, we just take our time. >> So, did John coach you about that? Like, give you some thoughts about that? Because I think that's a giant mistake.

that guys make, you know, and like the. Alexander Vulcganowski fight is a good. example. the Islam Makachev fight. He. took that fight on 11 days notice. He's. just been hanging around, drinking, partying, just being himself, just. chilling. >> And then he all a sudden he gets this. opportunity for a rematch. First fight. was razor thin decision. He lost and. he's like, I could do better. But you. can't do better without a camp. >> You got to you got to have time to be. yourself. >> Yeah, you have to have time to peak. And. one of the things I really always.

admired about John is like even a fight. like like the Chail Son and fight. They. offered him Chail Sonnen on short. notice. He was like, "Nope, nope." And. they were like, "What do you we need you. to do this?" He's like, "Nope. I'm a. professional world champion. I prepare. for my opponents and I I don't want to. fight unless I'm prepared for my. opponent. >> Period. >> It's the smartest way. >> Look at him. He's the goat.". >> I mean, it's just so many guys they get. And I like I do appreciate that Alex. does take those short notice fights and.

he wins some of those short notice. fights, but how many times he's fought. injured, like really injured like the. first Yuri Prohaskca fight, he had a. [ __ ] up knee, man. And when he when he. stopped Yuri, there's a a moment when. he's on top of Yuri and he's beating on. him and the referee stops it and he goes. to step up and he rolls off of him. The. reason he rolled off of him, he couldn't. support himself on his knee. >> That's how [ __ ] up his knee was. and. he was in a world title fight. >> It's bad. >> Crazy. >> Well, I feel like this is the only sport. where they would let that happen just.

because football you sitting on you. sitting on IR. Yes. We don't have no IR, right? >> It's either you you do it or you say no, >> right? >> And if you say no, they get upset at. you. >> A lot of people get timid. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And I mean, once you get past that. barrier of I think right now, since I'm. since I'm going to have this daughter, I. think my my tone and mindset has changed. to kind of really be more of a a father. figure for her, but also for like if if. kids want to look at me and be like, "Wow, you know, Gable's normal also.". But I think just you got to say no to a. lot of people. You got to be you got to.

be generous in a lot of ways, but you. also got to be able to go out there and. say, >> I don't like this. >> I don't feel this way about this, and. this is why. And be cool on both sides. But some people get scared about that. moment. >> Are you doing What kind of strength and. conditioning are you doing? >> So I still I still lift with the college. team. So everything they do with. wrestling college wrestling team. everything they do at m the University. of Minnesota I still do. I still got the. same strength coach with them. Um. >> bike sprints, aerodine sprints, um wike,

versa climbers, everything. We we try to. mix it in all rowers, everything just to. just to stay active. And if it's not. where we're getting close to a fight, just maybe just take longer breaks in. between just to keep the heart rate up. But I don't like when my heart rate. takes a takes a break. I like to kind of. keep it consistent. So when I ramp up, >> it's already ready to rock and roll. >> You already have a very high baseline. Yeah. And like when you're doing. strength and conditioning as far as like. weightlifting and stuff like that, like. are you trying to put on weight at all? >> No. >> No. I like that.

>> You like 250? >> I like to stay where I'm at. I do a lot. of band band work, a lot of explosive. work, a lot of jumps. um a lot of light. weights with high reps just to kind of. keep the body moving and kind of keep. the the the cutness and the strength. there, but not also put too much where. you're stiff. >> And you're you're naturally a large guy. anyway. It's not like you have to put on. a ton of weight, but like when you see a. guy like Francis who's 265 natural, you. know, and he used to have to cut a. little bit of weight to make two which. is kind of crazy, isn't it?

>> Isn't it crazy? But it's also crazy that. the UFC has a weight limit that you have. to make at heavyweight. You have to cut. weight to make heavy weight. >> How different you think it would be if. they didn't have 265 and it was just. >> I think it should it should be no. weight. It's heavyweight. It should be. what they really need is more weight. classes. >> The UFC. there's gaps that are just enormous. Like the gap between 85 and 205 is. crazy. 20 pound weight gap in between. categories is that doesn't make any.

sense to me. 10 lbs is 10 pounds is. still a lot, but at least it's. reasonable. How many weight classes. boxing have like 30? >> A shitload. They have so many. Boxing. has so many weight classes. >> Boxing got like eight champions for each. weight, too. >> That's a problem. That's a problem. MMA. does as well, right? If you think about. it, there's the one champion. There's. the PFL champion. But the difference is. there's really only the UFC champion in. terms of the public perception. Like we. talked about Nemco who's an excellent. fighter. Nobody knows who the [ __ ] he. is. Not in America. You go to a regular.

kid, you know, some kid on the street. and you know, you say, "Who is Vadim. Nemkov?" And they're like, "What?". >> But I bet you that kid knows I show. Speed. >> I bet they do, right? I bet they do, right? >> They do, >> right? They They know Aisha Speed. They. probably know who Alex Pereira is. They. probably know who Islam Makachev is. They know who the UFC guys are. The UFC. that that title is worth so much. It's. so it's, you know, it's a it's the name. It's the. It is the combat sports leader. And if.

you're not in the UFC, I don't care. I. mean, you look, you can go to the PFL. and you can win that million-dollar. tournament and you can make and I'm I'm. all for that. And I'm very happy for. those guys. They get to feed their. family and they they provide and they. they make a great living and they can. retire with some money in the bank. But. the reality is part of what you're doing. is you're trying to be the best. And if. you're going to be the best, you kind of. have to be in the UFC. Agreed. >> I mean, that's just what it is. That's.

just what it is. >> There's there's so many great leagues, but like the most prestigious people, you can say PFL, you can say anything. And um you can go to any place and make. a [ __ ] ton of money. But once you get. that stamp of he's a UFC champ, people. like, "Damn, man, that's him. >> That's it. >> That's him.". >> Yeah, that's it. They put that UFC belt. on you and it's on ESPN and everybody. sees it. That's it. The PFL is just. another belt. It's like, you know, boxing has so they have the IBF, the. WBA, the WBO, the WBC. It's like, it's.

just like so many [ __ ] organizations. It just gets so crazy. It's like. >> then they try to make Terence Crawford. pay for his belt. >> Ridiculous. How crazy is that? >> Terence Crawford's like, "Fuck you. I'm. the champ." I just wanted 300,000. >> Everybody saw it. Is that what they. wanted from him? 300 grand. >> Am I Can we get a look on this? Because. I might be tripping, but I'm. >> They stripped him. I know they stripped. him. It's like percentage of purse and I. think it was like 3% of his whatever he. made. So it was. >> that's so nuts. That is so nuts. That is.

so nuts that they get paid that much. just be a sanctioning body and what are. they doing? They're not doing anything. Like it doesn't mean anything. >> Well, they just get the best looking guy. and maybe throw a belt on you. >> That's about all. They don't really get. nothing else. >> You get nothing. You get a belt. But the. the everybody knows he beat can they. beat the brakes off Canelo Alvarez. That's it. He's the champion. I love. Canelo as well. >> But you know, I love what Terrence did. cuz what Terrence did was crazy.

>> He goes all the way up from 47 to 68. He. had one fight at 54, you know, wins the. title at 54 and then goes all the way up. to 68. And everybody's like, "Canel is. going to be too big. Canel is going to. be too big." No way. >> Nope. Skill. He's next. >> Kill his king. Yep. >> He's 38. >> He's 38. He could do a couple more if he. wanted to. >> I don't think he does, >> but he don't want to. I think he's done. >> He's done. And I love it. I love that. he's done. >> 300,000. >> Dethroned over $300,000 fee. Wow.

That's crazy. >> Do you think that's right? >> No. >> No. >> No. Unpaid fees and brief reign as. undisputed champion. It doesn't matter. He's the [ __ ] champion. You can't. take the guy's belt because he's not. willing to give you money. [ __ ] you. He. won. He won. [ __ ] off. >> [ __ ] off. He won. >> Well, now I see there. Is there going to. be a new boxing promotion? Um, Zea Zufa, sorry. >> Yeah. Um, so the UFC is doing something. with the Saudis and they are I think.

they're launching their first event in. January. I think they're launching their. first event the night before the big UFC. on Paramount event. >> So, it'll be 23rd. >> Yes. I don't think they've announced. anything in terms of the card, who's. going to be on it. I mean, that's not a. lot of time, you know, that's only not. even a month from now. So, I don't even. even understand how they're doing that. Um, but they're probably going to do the. same thing that Riad season's doing, you. know, >> which is really smart. Riad season's.

great. >> I mean, it's putting guys into that next. level category of, hey, you are a star. >> Mhm. >> Turkey all shake is throwing crazy money. for a lot of these guys. >> Oh, yeah. They deserve it. >> Oh, they definitely do. But it's, you. know, if you you do that, you're gonna get. people to fight that would avoid each. other or ordinarily, you know, and, you. know, we we've seen that already. The. Saudis have already been able to do. that. Get guys to fight. And, you know, you're going to put on the most exciting.

fights. You're going to put on the best. matchups. >> And so, I think the UFC is trying to do. that same kind of model. And now that. the Saudis own Ring Magazine, so they. have the Ring Magazine belt, which has. always been the most prestigious belt, you know, like there's always a bunch of. different uh champions in different. weight classes, but if you're a fan of. Ring Magazine like I am, when you would. get Ring Magazine and they would have. the Ring Champion, you know, with Marvin. Haggler, like, well, that's the [ __ ]. champion. >> That's him. >> Yeah, that's it. There might be a WBO. guy out there, a WBA guy out there, but.

the reality is that's the guy. That's. the guy. And the boxing needs like a. unified champion thing like that. So. like when you see Terrence in there with. like five belts, like it's great that. he's got all those belts, but why it. should be one belt. Like this is the. super middleweight champion of the. [ __ ] planet. Period. [ __ ] all your. sanctioning bodies. That's the guy. >> That's it. One belt is all he needs. >> And they're all different colors, too. >> Crazy. They're all They're all cool.

looking. >> They're all cool looking, man. He's got. them all. I mean, you go over his living. room was probably dope. >> The Instagram picture look cool. >> Yeah, it looks great. I mean, it looked. great when he was in the ring and he's, you know, got him on his shoulders and. [ __ ] one on his waist. And I wonder if. they fight over who gets to be on the. waist, you know, like I'll give you an. extra 100 grand if you put it on your. waist, you know? >> But the reality is it's like the belt. doesn't mean anything. The fighter means. something. And when we all know who the. champ is, we all know it's Terrence. If. this other guy gets the belt, it's like, okay, you didn't beat Terence Crawford,

so you're not really the 168 pound. champion. But isn't that a hard do you. think for a boxer like that? Is that a. hard shadow to to live in or do you. think it's a shadow to to or is that. labeled as a shadow? You know, because. Terrence leaves and then. >> you step up. >> Well, that's different. When Terrence. leaves, if he if he gives up all the. belts and he really does decide to. totally leave, which I'm not totally. convinced because I think he want they. wanted to him to have a rematch with. Canelo and they I think he threw a big. number at them. This is all I'm reading.

rumors online. I don't know what's see. if you find out what if that's true. Did. they offer Did Terence Crawford demand. like a certain amount for a Canelo. Alvarez rematch? Cuz this is he's coming. in soon. I I'll ask him in person, but. >> I I feel like. you could probably entice him for one. more big fight. >> Probably could, >> you know, one more big fight at 68 or. maybe even at 54. >> I mean, really, he could fight at 47. I. mean, >> when do you when do you think there. comes a point where people need to just.

stop and like, you know, there there's. always going to be money thrown at you, but when you come up when do you think. there's a point that like. >> um it's different for every person, you. know? >> Yeah. So, here it is right here. >> Um so, Bernie Davis revealed that. Terence Crawford's price for a Canelo. rematch, and it's massive. According to. Davis, Crawford won't return to the ring. with Canelo Alvarez unless he's paid. $100 million, and he deserves it. Rightfully so. Crawford earned $50. million for the first fight in. September, but after a tactical. lowaction bout that disappointed many. fans. [ __ ] off. Who the [ __ ] did that.

disappoint? Who the who did that. disappoint? You got to be a casual if. that disappointed you. Tactical. lowaction bout. Who wrote this? Who? I don't know. [ __ ]. off. >> I think I could write a better one than. this. >> I think boxing has some very. disrespectful journalists. I see some. disrespectful [ __ ] they write about. boxers. Um, go back to that little thing. what it said there. So anyway, pressure. now on Turkey Alshik to to to decide. whether the rematch is worth that kind. of money. Fans already calling for other. opponents. Benvitz, better.

fighters they believe uh bring real. action. Oh, so this is a kind of a. disrespectful. >> It's kind of messed up. Why is he. dissing? Why are they dissing him like. this? >> Oh, they do that a lot. There's a lot of. [ __ ] talking in boxing, which I guess is. fine. I like that there's not that much. of that in MMA. MMA is much more. respectful. >> Really standard and respectful. >> Yeah. And that guy deserves everything. He's one of the greatest to ever do it. And one of the best switch hitters in. the the history of the sport. >> Are you putting him above Floyd?

>> It's hard. It's you know, it's hard. You. know, they they never fought each other, which I think would have been amazing if. they were both in their prime at the. same time. That would have been. fantastic to watch. >> Is Ain't Floyd supposed to fight Mike? >> Am I tripping? Yes, >> I think I'm tripping. But I mean, I feel. like that's going to be like Floyd. versus or excuse me, like Mike versus. Roy or like Mike versus Logan. It kind. of looks more like a sparring. >> more like sparring really than a fight. fight. How is How is Floyd going to.

fight Mike Tyson? >> Have you ever Have you ever spoke to. Mike Tyson? >> Yeah, I've had him on a couple times. Yeah. >> Yeah, man. He's my favorite. >> He's. >> He's my favorite, >> bro. He's when in when he was in his. prime, there was nobody like him. There. was nobody like him cuz he had that. speed. that speed and that's something. that you have the the speed of a he of a. a lighter person in the frame of a. heavyweight is an extraordinary gift. >> because it so many of these heavyweights. man they got big power but like Francis. big power but they don't move like a.

lightweight guy they don't move like a. 170lb guy when Mike was in his prime he. was so fast you could see guys trying to. calculate and calibrate because it was. different. They were used to fighting. heavyweights and all a sudden you got. this guy bobbing and weaving and moving. TOWARDS YOU AND LIKE. >> IT'S CRAZY. >> YOUR BRAIN is being overloaded with all. the possibilities. It was just it was a. totally different thing, man. >> He's by far my favorite. >> Oh yeah. In his prime, he's the most.

extraordinary heavyweight that ever. existed cuz and it was every show was an. execution. It wasn't like, you know, oh. my god, is Mike going to lose this one? No, in his prime it was just all. executions. And I think the best thing. about that, like being popular back in. the day, like he was such a big- time. fighter. I was watching a lot of videos. like Will Smith and Magic Johnson were. showing up and and Jordan and stuff, but. you know how crazy it is nowadays that. we have social media that you don't have. to go and and watch someone live. But. back then, like when you see the videos. of Michael Jackson in in this hotel and.

you look out and it's like, "Wow, it's. Michael Jackson." Like. >> that wow factor is like super cool. And. he had that Oh, yeah. >> to a the highest degree. >> Yeah. Everybody dressed up in the best. clothes. They all showed up. >> Chains on, watches on, >> everything. Everybody. It was a It was. an event to be seen at. And if you were. one of the people that was ringside, like you were, you know, you were an. elite celebrity. >> And that was, you know, the Mike Tyson. era, that was I mean, it was different. It was different than.

>> it was different than any other. heavyweight. be like since Ali. So you had Ali and. then Larry Holmes who doesn't get the. credit that he deserves. >> He was fantastic too. I watch all videos. too. >> Amazing fighter, but he lived in the. shadow of Ali, you know, and a lot of. people hated him too because he beat up. Ali when Ali was already done. >> Yeah, >> that was tough to watch. >> And you know, he had been Ali's sparring. partner when Ali was younger, you know, and so and everybody knew how good Larry. Holmes was and everybody knew that. Muhammad Ali was, you know, older and.

>> what's that? Would you do that if you. was a sparring partner for your homie? And that's that's got to be a difficult. combo because you burn you burn a. bridge. >> Yeah, >> you burn a bridge with the whole. society. But part of it is like you kind. of have to, right? Because if you are. the heavyweight champion of the world. and they want to set up a fight with. Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali wants to. fight you and they want to give you $10. million and it's going to be on TV and. everybody's hyped up about it. Like, what are you going to do? Say, "No, I. won't fight him. I'm going to relinquish.

my crown. What are you going to do? Like. I don't I don't know if he had any. opportunity to do anything other than. fight him. >> But it's just like. >> he was Muhammad Ali was so beloved not. just as one of the greatest fighters of. all time, but also as a cultural figure. that watching that man beat him up like. that just beat the [ __ ] out of Ali. And. then seeing Ali afterwards when he was. he had the shakes and he had Parkinson's. and everybody knew that that was trauma. related Parkinson's and knowing that.

Larry Holmes dished out a lot of that. I. think in a lot of people's mind that. always that so and I think that to this. day is why Larry Holmes does not get the. credit that he deserves. He had one of. the greatest jabs in the history of the. sport. >> Crazy. I just saw a video of you. He was. flicking it. >> Even when he fought Mike, when he fought. Mike, he was way past his prime. You. know, he had been out for a long time. >> Mike did his thing. >> and but you know, there was a round in. that fight where Larry Holmes was. popping that jab where it made you think. like, man, what would this fight have.

been like if Larry was in his prime, >> you know? It would have been very. interesting. I think I think Mike was on. another level though. >> He was He was When I Man, when I see. him, he just had the veins, you know, like that was that's my like wow tank. He was just he was a a speedy tank and. just the skill too and also that style. that peekab-boo style was just so. different than anything else anybody was. doing. So it was so hard to prepare for. >> You got most of most of these. heavyweight boxers were standing.

straight up you know they throwing jabs. and moving moving like Foreman or moving. like Ken Norton or whoever they were but. Muhammad Ali you know was the only guy. that moved like a lighter guy. He was he. was different. But Mike Tyson was. crouching and bobbing and weaving and. coming at you. It was a totally. different thing to prepare for. >> You can't prepare for something like. that. That's like when someone is too. athletic. That's like preparing for. Miles Garrett right now. You just can't. He's going to have 25 sacks this year. And it's like, how do you prepare for.

something like that besides try to psych. yourself into maybe I can do it, but. it's just not going to happen. >> There's always going to be freaks. There's always going to be these. athletic freaks that can just do things. that no one else can do. Now there's. more than Now there's even more because. you see high school football guy 65 280. going to Ohio State. I'm like. >> damn what they got. >> People are bigger. Also people are doing. things for their kids at an early age to. optimize their growth and making sure. that they come out bigger and stronger. and faster and getting them training.

younger strength and conditioning and. you know plyometrics and [ __ ] when. they're real young to get them prepared. for things. >> I mean look you know Vasil Lomachenko. >> Yes. So that. >> guy man, he was that dude's dad took him. out of boxing for two years to have him. learn Ukrainian dance so that he have. better footwork. >> And he was dancing on people. I seen I. watch his highlights on Instagram. >> Footwork was insane. >> Usyk's the same. >> Mhm. Same coach. >> Usyk's the same person. >> Same coach. >> I really like. >> Yeah. Oh my god. Crazy.

>> Again, one of the greatest heavyweights. of all time and not a big guy either, you know. >> He just knows where to go and when to go. >> which is nice. What's also he's. constantly moving. He's he's never right. in front of you. He's constantly. stepping and stepping and stepping and. step and you know he's setting you up. and he's always like downloading and. calculating your movements and your. reactions to things. >> It's so skillful. That to me is the the. most beautiful thing about boxing is. that someone could stand in the fire and. be so skillful that like Crawford that I.

mean standing right in front of Canelo. there was one point in the fight where. he was pity patting him here's here's. Lomachenko when he's in his prime like. the movement was bananas and it was just. his ease of footwork and it wasn't. footwork like trying to get away from. you. It was footwork standing right in. front of you and stepping off to the. side and cracking like that kind of. [ __ ] Like these angles is just unless. you have tried to do that, you don't. know how ridiculously difficult that is. >> The conditioning all that is crazy.

>> Mhm. Oh yeah. Yeah. Your your legs have. to be in peak form. >> Super peak form. >> It's just there's so many guys out there. that you could learn from by watching. and they set the bar so high. And that. is the difference between watching like. Keith Hackne versus Emanuel Yaro way. back in 1993 versus watching, you know, Jon Jones in 2025. It's like we get to. see now these guys that have seen it. all. The Pod Jans, the Iliotas, the. Islam Makachevs. You get to see the.

elite of the elite today. And these. young kids that are coming up now, they. get to see that and learn from that and. incorporate all these things. And you're. seeing these guys that are fighting on. Dana White's Contender Series that are. they look like World Championship. caliber fighters and they're not even in. the UFC yet. >> Most most definitely the lighter guys. >> Most definitely the latter guys. >> Yeah, there's so many good guys now. But. in the heavyweight division, it's still. fairly shallow. >> I know. >> Which is where Gable comes in.

>> Yo, it's funny. I I I think I heard you. say shallow about three times and you. know. >> Joe in in the most nicest way because I. like to be I like to be humble with the. words and I like to like like to talk. with the confidence. I really think I. can go out there and and and do do right. by uh this this big promotion and go out. there and just be fantastic. I think you. can too and I think you can do what Mike. Tyson did which is revitalize the. heavyweight division because uh I mean. other than John who's of course a. superstar but he's kind of semi-retired.

the Tom Aspenol serial gone thing was a. [ __ ] disaster. I mean that's a. disaster to I mean Tom Aspenol still. can't see. He's got a [ __ ] up right. eyeball still. >> It's really bad right? >> I mean the reality is he might not ever. fight again. Like who knows? Like if he. has surgery on his eye and it doesn't go. well and he can't see out of the eye, apparently he's still [ __ ] up in his. right eye. >> There's some some tendon damage or. something. And you know, eyes are so. tricky. You never know. Well, like. unless you're a [ __ ] complete.

psychopath like Michael Bisping who. fought 11 fights in the UFC blind in one. eye, which is so crazy that he did that. Do you know what he did? That crazy. [ __ ]. >> What did he do? >> He memorized the eye chart. like. >> he memorized it so that he could put a. they could cover his left eye. Oh my. god. >> And he could just. >> so whenever he went to to do an eye. exam, he knew the letters. >> They would say, "All right, read the. third chart." And he would say, "Uh, A, B, C, D, E." He He knew what the letters. were. >> Oh, he's smart. >> He's crazy. He couldn't [ __ ] see out.

of one of his eyes and still fought. world class fighters. I think 11 fights. he had only been able to see out of one. eye. >> Yeah. I'm not really sure how to how to. um engage with the the eye talk on Tom. Aspenol, but um I think he's a I think. he's a fantastic fighter. I think Gan. >> What do you mean by engage with the eye. talk? >> You know, I feel like um getting poked. in the eye sucks and I I just don't know. how he feels that he got you know what. I'm saying. So, I'm not. >> we don't know what he was experiencing. and nobody and nobody ever knows. But,

you know, critics going to go online and. say say X Y and Z, but I'm just going to. stay in the middle ground. I say I think. Tom Tom's a fantastic fighter. Um, a. serial is great also, and I think a lot. of them are also great also. You're. gonna you're gonna always say it's. really shallow, and I believe it's. shallow, too, and I believe I can go out. there and and do the best I can and. really dominate um when I need to, but. um just just when when I see Tom. Aspenol, you know, Tom Aspenol reminds. me of a guy from Turkey that I wrestled. in the Olympics. He was a 2016 Olympic. champ. His name's Taha Agul. He was 6'4,

same size as um same size as Tom. Same. build, same everything. And I went out. there and I beat him eight to zero. and. I was in his face for that six minutes. and I let him know that that I was here. And I feel like in that instance, that's. when the tides changed. And I feel like. with a guy like Tom, I think um I look. at him as like a guy like Taha Aku. You. know, he's on top. He's the leader. You. know, he's still fresh, but I think. there's a there's another hungry guy. that's going to come and and hopefully. it's me that's going to come and go out. there and and do what I need to do.

>> Well, listen, I hope Tom gets back in. because again, we don't know really. what's going on with his eye. And for. all the critics, you need to know this. The right eye, that's the problem. But. if you look at when he fought, his left. eye, the finger went deeper in his left. eye than it did his right eye. So if you. think he's faking it, the he was. knuckled deep in that [ __ ] left eye. >> He was all up in that eye. >> Yeah. I mean, it's horrible to see to. undergo multiple eye surgeries. Multiple. eye surgeries. >> And And that's horrible. By the time a.

statement goes out, I'll probably have. surgery on one eye already. neck surgery. is coming mid January. Neck surgery. So, he's having surgery on. both eyes. You know, it's it's really. messed up. But I think the way the the. postfight interview went um cuz I like. the I like to look at how how people. approach the world also too. And he was. just just upset how the people were. reacting, you know, saying, "Why the. [ __ ] are you booing? Why are you doing. this?" I mean, there could have been a. there could have been a great approach. to that of him saying, "Man, you know, I. got my eye poked, but I but I'm going to. come back stronger from this." Right.

>> Well, the problem is people are always. going to doubt you when you get poked in. the eye. You know, there's always going. to be a bunch of people like, "Oh, you're fine." Because people have gotten. poked in the eye and they have continued. fighting. >> But is that smart? It's a foul. First of. all, I think every time a guy gets poked. in the eye, one point deduction. immediately, instantly, maybe even two. points. You should never do that to a. person. Never. One thing you notice. about Peoran's fight with Morab, >> he fights like this. His hand is in a.

fist. So when he's got his hand up like. this and the the front hand's extended, he's not doing that. >> He's kind of guiding you. >> Yeah. Honestly, >> well, he's letting you know this. motherfucker's coming, you know, and. he's also like in a shell. Very well. protected by having that one hand up. like that and have that shoulder. He's. got the chin blocked and then he's doing. this with this hand. It's a very good. defensive position. also very skillful. because he's so good defensively in. terms of his movement and the way he's. able to roll with punches and get out of. the way in time, but he never pokes in.

the eye. He's not doing that. Sir Gan. has a habit of doing that. >> Why do you think that is? >> You could speculate. You could speculate. all day long. You could say he wants to. do it, you know? I mean, ask John. John's poked people in the eyes. >> He does it all the time. Yeah. I mean, even if you would have took the points. from him, we still would have won. >> Yeah. I know. It's just It's one of. those things. It's like, here's the. problem. Why is why are the fingers out. in the first place? Like, why don't they. cover that [ __ ] up? Like, why don't they.

have it like one of those Everlast bag. gloves, like a mitten. >> where it's like a mitt? Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, have the thumb out because. you don't grapple with these anyway. You. don't do this. You never do this. So, why do why do the fingers have to be. loose? If you grapple, you're grappling. like this or like this. Like, if you're. clenching your hands together, you're. you're never clenching your hands. together like this. You never interlace. your fingers together. So, why the [ __ ]. are they open in the first place when it. only causes problems? If they developed. an MMA glove that covered the tips of. the fingers like like a mitten, we would.

have way less problems with this [ __ ]. You'd occasionally probably have a thumb. in the eye every now and again, >> but you would have at least. >> eight less possibilities for each fight. of things going into your eye. >> True. >> This it just makes sense and it wouldn't. hinder grappling. You just have a a thin. piece of leather leather that you know. the padding goes over the knuckles, the. piece of leather goes over the tip of. the fingers and have it come down like. this, like a mitten. But it's not hard. to find. >> If it was a mit and I'm and I'm on top.

and I grab wrist control, do you think. the the leather of the mitt sticks. harder? >> Probably. Yeah, probably aid grappling. It probably make fights better. It. probably do stuff like you'd probably be. able to get more takedowns. Uh maybe. I. don't know, man. Maybe when the leather. gets wet, maybe it becomes slippery like. a finger. We would We'd have to find. out. But at least we would have less eye. pokes and it's not going to hinder the. striking at all. >> There's no need to have these fingers.

exposed like this. >> No, there's no need. But two great. fighters. I mean, accidents happen. >> Accidents happen. And also purposeful. fouls happen, you know, when And I'm not. saying that Sir Gone did it on purpose, but he's he did it like five times in. that fight. Mhm. >> I rewatched that fight a couple of times. and every time Aspenol came towards him, he was doing this every time. Fingers. outstretched, pointed towards the face. >> It's just it's illegal. You're not. supposed to ever do that. Your your fist. should always be baldled up when it's.

moving towards your fight, the your. opponent's face. But we don't have to. have these goddamn fingers covered like. that or open like that. They should be. covered. >> It's it's not. >> impossible to do. It's It could be. really easy to design a glove like that. I don't understand for the life of me. how the sport's been around since 1993. and no one has introduce gloves like. that. >> True. No, you're right. Um, a really. good thing I wanted to ask you is how. for someone new coming in to a sport.

that a lot of people know, how do you. think they should bridge the the. popularity of the sport and also the. real life of who the person is? Um, I. might be saying this in a hard way for. me. what you're saying. >> like how do how do you think they should. because you know I I've been around a. lot of people. >> um but you know like it always gets. bigger and always gets bigger and how do. you how do you bridge that gap of. keeping that same mind frame of like man. you know I'm the guy but. >> I need to reset I always need to reset I. need to make sure.

>> yeah well it's going to be dependent. upon you right and it's going to be a. rocket ride that you're on and the. pressure and just the overall like not. being able to go to the mall is going to. be weird You know, it's going to get. weird. It's it'll get weird. You know, you're going to get mobbed at the. airport. It's going to get weird. >> And you know, you're going to have to. you're going to have to figure out a way. to have your own private time. That's. very important. When guys never have. private time, they're always surrounded. by people and they're always you could. lose yourself. You could lose your way.

And just fame itself, >> fame itself is very complicated. It's. very complicated for people, especially. for fighters. When your entire identity. relies on the way other people perceive. you, that's not good. >> It's It feels good when you're on top. because everybody's like, "Oh, there's. Cable. He's the [ __ ] man. Whoa, you're the man. You're the man." But if. you rely on other people's opinions of. you for your self-esteem and your. self-worth, then the moment you have a. stumble, you know what? If you get eye.

poked, you know what? If you get eye. poked and then all a sudden, Gable's a. [ __ ] Gable [ __ ] And you're like, "What? I'm a what?" and and you're. dealing with the opinions of morons and. they're affecting your own feelings. about yourself. And then there's all the. other pressures that come with money and. people trying to scam you and business. deals and [ __ ] and this and that and. they want you to do movies and that kind. of [ __ ] you know? Like look, that's the. that's the the bane of fighter existence. when Hollywood gets involved. that kind.

of in a lot of ways led to the decline. of Ronda Rousey. In a lot of ways, Conor. McGregor, the people start [ __ ] you. know, throwing everything at you. You're. doing cell phone commercials and all. this different [ __ ] And that stuff gets. in the way. Yeah. It gets in the way of. your training, but it also gets in the. way of your ability to have that. depressure time to be yourself and to be. alone with your thoughts, which I think. is very important just to solidify your.

own your own understanding of who you. are as a human being, you know, and you. you don't want to be defined by other. people's opinions and perceptions. And. then there's also like the UFC does a. fantastic job of uh showing who a. fighter really is. You know, the. Countdown series um you know the UFC. embedded series. So when when they're. doing stuff like that and you get to see. this person. >> interacting with their family, going. through training camp, you going through.

the weight cut and. >> you get to see who they are joking. around with people, hanging out with. their friends, laughing. That's. important, too, because people really. want to relate to you. You know, they. don't want this guy who just appears, you know, every five months, you don't. know [ __ ] about him, and then all a. sudden there he is in the ring again. And, you know, you're putting all these. things on him and and imagining what. he's like. The more they can get to see. behind the curtain, the better it is for. you. Especially if you're a good person. and you're an interesting person and.

they get to see. It's also inspiring for. people. They like I you like to tell. talk about yourself like you're a. regular guy. You put your shoes on one. foot at a time like everybody else. But. like wow look at the greatness this. regular guy can accomplish. Maybe maybe. I can do this. Maybe I can do something. like that. Maybe in in whatever I'm. doing in life whatever if I'm a [ __ ]. skier I'm a whatever whatever your job. is. Maybe I can be great and be a normal. person like this guy is. >> True. No 100%. Well, that's a that's a.

fantastic answer because, you know, I. just feel like at some point I'll get to. that spot, you know, of like, how do I. >> how do I know if someone's not real? How. do I know if someone is in that in that. space of of things change and and. there's leeches, there's there's bad. there's bad people. So, you know, >> it's always a nice thing to have someone. that has surpassed that level that you. can finally see and be like, man, like, how did you. >> how did you a great guy to talk to about. that? Obviously, John's had his stumbles. and which is, you know, when when people.

talk about John and the the things that. Jon's gotten in trouble with, I'm like, listen, do you want a wild [ __ ]. or not? Okay, if you want a guy to be. the greatest of all time in [ __ ] cage. fighting, he's going to be wild. That's. one of the reasons why he's great. When. John was, what is he 22 years old when. he won the title? >> He's fighting 23. Mauricio Shogun Hua. who's an all-time great pride legend. He. opens the fight with a flying knee. >> Who does that? Who does? You gotta be.

wild. You got to be a wild fella. >> That's John. I mean, and you know, obviously there's stuff he shouldn't. have done. There's, you know, a lot of a. lot of extracurricular activities, a lot. of partying. That's not healthy. It's. not good. But that is what comes with. being that kind of a guy. And you know, John could probably tell you more about. this than anybody that's ever lived. Like wh what were the stumbles? What. could I have done differently? And he he.

probably could help prepare you more. than anybody ever. >> Most definitely. He's already kind of. put a big foot into it. And man, he's. he's amazing with a lot of things now. You know, he talks so well now. A lot of. things are are are um in a in a sense of. he's trying to look out for me in in. business opportunities and places that I. need to go. And it's uh it's amazing. You know, a lot of people don't do that, especially when you see the peaks and. valleys of that person and their public. info also. And a lot of people don't. want to give people the chance because. you see something about someone until. you finally meet them and it's like,

man, like this guy's a whole different. person you would have never expected. And so, man, with John, he's just he's. just opened a lot of doors and kind of. he is doing that that guiding um of me. Well, that's great, too, because John is. essentially guiding his replacement, you. know, which is really hard for a lot of. people to to have that kind of. self-awareness, know that there's only a. certain amount of time that I can do. this for. And I see this young great man. who's coming up and I'm going to help. him and I'm going to give him some. advice that maybe it would have been. amazing if someone gave me, >> you know, because John didn't have some.

heavyweight champion training with him. that could teach him those things. No, he said it, >> especially not someone at that level, the level that he's at, you Man, I know. he's honored. >> We're both honored. >> Yeah, >> man. He just uh like I said, he called. me today. Um he was just, man, I really. think you should just let the world know. who you are and just just kind of give. people the real feel of of who you need. to be. Yeah. >> And and I've always I've always loved to. have like like you just talked about the. UMC embedded, you know, you see the real. human being. And I've always liked. people seeing a real human being because. >> we all do [ __ ] the same way. There's. nothing special. There's nothing.

special. Some people just have more. money. Some people just have more. status. >> But at the end of the day, hopefully we. can all sleep in a bed. And I know some. people don't, which is which is sad to. see, but it's it's just some people live. different lives. And I and I want to. live a life where it's happy and healthy. with the people I have and I can meet so. many people. And I feel like I'm doing a. great job right now. So man, any input I. can get on how to be better, how to be. more mature, how to be more sound, especially from John, I'm getting a lot. But from to hear from you, you know, you. get different perspectives of you were. in a different realm than than than John.

also, but you guys are also in the same. place. you like you do the podcast and. John's semi-retired, but you see the you. see the two different lives of of two. different wellrespected people. So, >> well, it's that that mindset that you. have to really want to acquire that. information and really sort it out and. know that these these challenges are. coming your way. The the money and the. fame and all that stuff is the thing. that everybody focuses on, but really. the focus is on excellence.

>> Excellence is what brings you the money. Excellence is what brings you the fame. And the moment you start thinking about. the fame and the money and not thinking. about the excellence, you've lost your. way. >> You've lost your way. And a lot of. people lose their way. A lot of people. that money and that fame that it starts. coming and all a sudden you're just. thinking about numbers. You're thinking. about the house you're going to buy and. the car you're going to drive and all. that stupid [ __ ] and you lose your way. And you know, one of the things that I. always try to tell people, I try to tell. this to young comedians especially is.

that think of the attention that you. have like it has a number value. Like. the attention like let's imagine like if. you had $100, you know, you can only. spend $100. Let's imagine your mind only. has a hundred units of focus. You have a. hundred units of focus. Any focus that. you have on other [ __ ] outside of the. thing that brings you excellence is just. robbing from excellence. It's all it is. If you're concentrating on haters on. social media or if you got a crazy [ __ ].

in your life that's ruining everything. or you got some friend who's a hater and. you think he's like maybe like hoping. you fail, like all that stuff that's. distracting and it's just robbing. attention from excellence, you know? And. some of it's unavoidable and some of it. actually strengthens your resolve to. have a certain amount of like [ __ ] in. your life just to understand how to. maintain and still be excellent despite. of all that. There's probably some. resilience building that comes from.

that. But. protect your focus. It's precious. Protect your time. Protect that energy. that you have to invest in things. It's. so precious. Mhm. >> The the the mind, your focus and your. drive, that is everything in your life. That's everything. And anything that. steals from that, I remember there's. this one fighter and uh he was a very. good fighter that was fighting in pride. and he had this crazy girlfriend and uh. every time he was going to fight like.

the day before the fight, the girl would. start problems and she would start. fights and she'd sc and she left the. hotel at like 1:00 in the morning and. went down to the bar. She wanted him to. fail. She wanted to be more important. than his fighting career. And his. fighting career was so important and so. overwhelming that she felt like she. wasn't getting the attention that she. needed. So, she would go get attention. from him and she would steal from him. and it was crazy. And this guy and he. never wound up being a champion. And he.

was a very talented guy, too. I don't. want to say his name, but it was one of. those things where it's like, man, >> there are people in your life you got to. recognize when you're dealing with that. kind of a person. You got to recognize. that. You got to cut them out. You got. to get rid of them. They're stealing. They're stealing from your focus. They're stealing from your ability to. create excellence. >> And that's what you're in the business. of. >> You know, you're in the business of. excellence. And anybody that's trying to. steal from that, like those are.

liabilities. They're, you know, that's. like you got a hole in the bottom of. your boat. You got to patch that [ __ ]. up. >> Yeah. Well, it's just like Mike Tyson. kind of said, you know, once you're. favored by God, you're also favored by. the devil, too. >> That's so true, too. Yeah. The. temptations will come. Yeah. And then. also, you start believing your own. [ __ ] you know? I mean, look at John. when he wasn't training, you know. But. luckily for John, he was so much better. than everybody in the division that all. it took was like a readjustment. >> Like the Dominic Reyes fight, he almost.

lost that fight, you know. Mhm. >> And Dominic Reyes, as great as he was. that night, should not have been beating. Jon Jones. >> I think Jon Jones with like a a real. focus and a real like real drive towards. destroying Dominic Reyes would be on. another level. >> I think so, too. >> It's like the he could he could he is. the best guy to be in your corner, man, because he's made all the mistakes and. still come out the GOAT. Mhm. >> Like who better to tell you how to do it.

right? >> There's no one better, man. Probably the. the greatest, of course. The greatest by. far. >> Yeah. What do you do for chill time? Like what do you do to to unwind? >> Um, honestly, right now, I like Call of. Duty. I play. I play a lot of War Zone. Um, Ronnie. Ronnie 2K, you know who that is? The. dude that made the basketball game. >> Okay. >> He I So, I got my own player on 2K and. it says like Yeah. So, when I load into. the game, it says my real name and then. you're play people know you're playing. against me. Uh, >> so it's either I'm playing Call of Duty. or 2K. Um, I mentioned before the French.

Bulldogs. I mean, I like to take care of. French Bulldogs. I feel like. >> Jamie's got one. >> You do? >> Yeah. Oh, he's so cute. >> Should have brought him today. >> You should have brought him. What? >> Oh, we didn't know. We didn't know you. were into French Bulldogs. >> So, I had um sadly I had two pass away. I had I just had one pass away. He had. IVD in his neck. >> And that's a bad um it's um it's a disc. disease that happens in French bulldog. because they're they're bred so bad. M. >> Um, and. >> so my my first one had it in his back. Um, he was playing all day and then I.

turned and he was like paralyzed. >> in an instant and I was like, "Oh man, like that's not good." So I had to put. him down. Um, >> oh, that's horrible. >> And then I adopted one after. This is. like I adopted one a year ago. He just. passed away a couple weeks ago. Um, his. name was Archie, my little guy. Um, he. had it in his neck and I had him on. painkillers for like six months. Oh, >> and I and I looked and one day he kind. of rolled wrong and he kind of yelped. again and I was like that's we got to. take him in. >> Oh, that's horrible. >> So, it's bad. You know, I got I got bad.

attachments to Friends of Bulldogs. Like, they're like my. >> Since I'm having a real baby now, that's. like my second baby. >> You're going to be amazed how much you. love your real baby more than you love. your dogs. As much as I love my dogs, it. just is. >> there's just another level. >> Oh, it's beyond doesn't even compare. I. My one of my dogs uh went to surgery. today. He had a hernia. I have a um a. golden retriever and I have a a King. Charles Spaniel. >> He's the the cutest little dog. He's so. [ __ ] cute. He's seven months old.

>> and he was born with a a little hernia. >> It's like some of them get that little. hernia tummy. So, they had to stitch him. up and but it's when I was playing with. him last night, I was so scared. I was. like, "What if something happens to. him?" Like, I I can't I can't take it, you know, because I love him so much. He's so sweet. He just like when he I. pick him up, he like kisses me like. constantly and he makes noise like. and sometimes he barks while he's. kissing you and you're like, "I love you.

too. I love you too." And his little. tail's wagging. He wags his tail with. his whole body like his whole body's wag. wiggling all over. Mine would go after. the ears. >> Yeah, he does. >> And he would like he would like put a. whole nibble on the ear and then he. would switch side and then he would. switch sides. >> Yeah. Let me let me live for a little. bit. But we're I'm the I'm his whole. world. Yeah. >> And I feel like sometimes we forget. that. >> Yeah. Well, they're little love devices. They just they just want love from you. and they want to give you love. They. never have bad days. They're they're. they're never shitty. They're never in a.

bad mood. They're always cool. You know, every day is the same thing. Every day I. see them in the morning like, "Good. morning, crazy.". >> And you just I'd get on the ground with. them on the carpet and roll, >> let them roll all over. >> I love dogs. If you know, if it was up. to me, I'd have 50 dogs. >> I wish we could make them live longer. >> I know. >> Making them live longer would be crazy. Like, like cats are like 20 years. Why. can't a dog be 20 years? >> Well, I think they are working on that. I think there's actual startups right. now that are working on animal longevity.

and they're cool. >> Yeah. They're they're working on. different medical interventions that can. allow dogs to live longer, which is. fascinating. And then sometimes people. they clone their dogs. >> Tom Brady just did that. Yeah. >> I don't know how he did it, but I mean. >> that's weird. >> Hey, have a good time. >> That's pet cemetery [ __ ]. >> That is That might be hereditary. >> Yeah, I don't know if I'm into that. >> I don't know how I feel about that. >> That I feel like every dog has their own. unique personality and as much as I love.

the dogs that I have now. Like look, I. had my dog Marshall. He's almost nine. Uh or he just turned nine rather. Um and. I've had him since he was a puppy. I. love him to death. But then I got this. new dog, Charlie, and I love him to. death, too. He's a totally different. personality. Like, I don't mind new dogs. and new personalities. I don't need the. same dog over and over and over again. You know what I mean? I think that's. weird. >> You should try a French bulldog. They. got like 12 different personalities. >> Oh, I love Carl. Jamie brings Carl in. He's He's a little psycho.

>> He's got too many personalities. >> Oh, he he runs at you and just wants to. play. >> They got that bowling ball head. >> I know. He's He's a little ball of. muscle, too. Carl's jacked. Carl's got. stacked. >> I need to see a picture. >> You got pictures of him? >> Pull up a picture of Carl. He's. adorable. >> He uh he plays at my Golden and uh he. just like throws himself like a meat. missile at my Golden cuz my golden's. like so gentle, which is great because. the you know Charlie is only 15 pounds, my little dog. And so my golden is like.

playing and he he like gently puts a paw. over him when they play. There's car. Look at that in her face. >> Look at that in her face. I just know he does everything extra. >> Oh yeah. >> Oh, look at him sleep. >> He's really He's He's adorable. But when. he plays with Marshall, it's really. crazy. We got a video of him playing. with Marshall. >> Did you get his nose done? >> Nope. >> No, he's just Wow, that's perfect. >> When he had a good nose, >> that's really good. >> Some of them have [ __ ] up noses. >> Well, they come out they come out like. this. >> Oh, no.

>> And then they can't breathe and so they. breathe out their mouth and sometimes. they got to get. >> they like solder. >> Mhm. >> They clean that out like. >> they make like a bigger hole. >> That's awful. But some of them have it. where like you have to go in and kind of. help the the the esophagus because their. face is flat. So you got to help like. the back and kind of cut it to where. >> the it can go down the pipe. >> Oh no. >> Crazy. Crazy. I wish people I wish those. dogs could live forever. Those dogs got. a million different characters. >> I know. Well, I love all kinds of dogs, man. I love working dogs. I love German.

Shepherds and Belgian Malamos. And. >> Kane Corso be cool. >> They're a little dangerous, >> but that's what I'm hearing. They they. only loyal to one person if I'm not. mistaken. >> They don't like to listen. Yeah. Never. mind. >> My my boy Mark Delgrat um from Sityong. Sity Tong Muay Thai. Uh he uh coached a. lot of UFC fighters. Coach Kenny. Florian, great Muay Thai coach. Great. guy. Works for UFC. >> He had a Connie Corso. They had to put. him down. Bit his hand like chomped down.

on him. Yeah. And he had it for years. >> out of nowhere. Well, you know, he's. testing them. Like sometimes those dogs, and not all of them, but some of them, they will test you, >> you know, and you just can't have a dog. that's biting you. >> No, because what else bites your kid? What if it bites your wife? Yeah. Facts. >> What if it bites the mailman? It's like. >> you never know. >> Yeah. When it's just like those and it's. not all of them. Like I've had pit bulls. and I never had a pitbull that wanted. even wanted to bite a person. They were. always like the sweetest with people.

But then you hear stories. You hear. stories, >> which is crazy. >> I know. >> because how can I go online and see a. pit bull just not letting go of. somebody, but all of a sudden the next. video I see a pit bull wearing um a. Christmas sweater with with paw um shoes. on. >> I know. >> So it's weird. >> I know. It's It doesn't make any sense, but it's just like people Some people. are born crazy, >> you know? >> Some people are born crazy. >> Yeah. >> Are you big into anything like um what. what what do you believe in conspiracy. wise? Like, what's your big one, right?

>> DON'T OPEN UP THAT DOOR, GABLE. Don't. open up that door. >> Oh my god. Yo, I forgot to tell you this. one. >> Conspiracy. >> My dad My dad's die hard conspiracy. If. you and him had a talk. >> Uh-oh. What is his big one? What's the. big one with him? >> I don't even know. But I know he's. really bad. I think the the biggest one. right now um he just said it, but I I. don't even know. I don't even want to. say it wrong, but that's my thing. But. I'm big on conspiracy, too. >> What is the subject? Do you remember the. subject? some about I I don't even want to say.

it. >> Okay. >> I don't even want to say it right now. >> Okay. We'll talk off air. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But I but I believe there's a lot of. things we don't know as people. And I. believe there's a lot of mess. >> A lot of conspiracies are real. That's. the That's the problem. The problem with. conspiracy theories is some of them are. crazy and ridiculous. But the reason why. people entertain crazy and ridiculous. ones is because some of them are real. and they're so nuts that you go they did. what? When you just when you find out. about US history alone, you know, you.

find out that the reason why we got into. Vietnam was. >> I don't know who you got. >> Okay, it's called the Gulf of Tonkan. incident. The Gulf of Tonkan incident. was supposedly the North Vietnamese, the. Vietkong attacked uh one of our ships, but it was fake. They faked it. >> It's not real. It's called a false flag. and they did it just to have a story so. that we would have an excuse to invade. Vietnam. >> So we sent all those people to Vietnam. for nothing. >> A lot of people died for nothing. A lot. of people died for nothing and a lot of. people made a lot of [ __ ] money. And.

it probably had to do with drugs too. because that's they were moving heroin. out of Vietnam. I mean there was it was. control of the heroin trade was a big. part of it. That was also why one of the. reasons why we were in Afghanistan. While we were in Afghanistan, heroin. production in Afghanistan was 94% of the. world's heroin. >> What does And it ramped up after we. invaded Afghanistan. It went up. >> Heroin production. Not only did it go. up, but we were guarding poppy fields. for the Taliban. >> Why do we need to guard the farmers.

rather? >> Why do we need to guard them? >> Well, are we using them for medical here. >> or they're just getting used to people? >> It's money. It's money. There's people, there's dirty money that gets moved. around for sure. When you you're dealing. with something like the drug trade and. billions of dollars are going all over. the like people want a piece of that and. there's highlevel people that are dirty. and they get involved in that and they. make decisions based on that and and.

they put people's lives at risk and. people die because of it. And that. probably happened in Afghanistan. It. definitely happened in Vietnam. And. people don't want to believe that. He. people are hearing this right now. Oh, stop with that nonsense. But it's true. I mean, there's a video of Haraldo. Rivera interviewing these military guys. that were guarding poppy fields in. Afghanistan. >> And the guy who's interviewing is very. reluctant to talk about it, but they it. was on Fox News and he had to talk about.

it because everybody was aware of it. It. was becoming a big conspiracy online and. they were coming up with some sort of. irrational reason why they needed to. guard their heroin production cuz you. know we need them to tell on the Taliban. and like really really so we're letting. the farmers poison young people and and. heroin addicts all over the world. because we want them to give us. information about Is that really what's. going on or are you [ __ ] making. money out of this? >> They got to be making a lot of money.

too. >> A lot of money. >> A lot of money. Well, I just saw the. story about that guy from um he was a. football player from Australia. He was. selling drugs. Um what was that story? He was um he's not from Australia. He. went to USC quarterback. He was selling. drugs. >> He was selling drugs out of um an. apartment in Australia for a cartel that. was from Tijana. Um I forgot his name. It's this it's this quarterback. I feel. like a lot of people know it. And. >> it's a real recent story. >> It's a real story. >> A recent story. >> I from recent from what I've seen it. might be older. It might be like a. couple years um older. But yeah, he got.

caught because someone along the way was. a middleman for a lot of. >> Yeah. >> Wild true story behind cocaine. quarterback, signal caller for the. cartel. Wow. >> And they said he was making like a. million dollars a day and he cash and he. he was trying to move it through Las. Vegas casinos, but the middleman someone. messed up the bet and he lost the money. So, he had to loan money from someone. and that someone was wait was was like a. undercover waiting for him like a year. later and caught him at a McDonald's.

before he went across the road to Tijana. or something. >> It's crazy. Yo, you know how drugs. control a lot of things and it's messed. up. Well, it's the money. When you think. about how much money gets moved around. in the drug game and people get tempted. by that and then, you know, you get a. hold of some legitimate businessman and. say, "Listen, there's a way for you to. get 10x return on your money. You know, you invest in this, we do that. It's. simple. You'll never get dirty. All the. money goes to offshore accounts. No one.

will know about it. You could retire. when you're 45.". >> Crazy. And then people start getting. roped. And it's also it's the excitement. of doing something naughty. That's part. of it too. Some people just get, you. know, like some people like to ride. bulls. Some people like to do some [ __ ]. they're not supposed to do. They get. they get addicted to doing things that. they are not supposed to do. They get. addicted to the the life. DEA agents, a. lot of DEA agents become drug dealers. >> Well, it's just like that show uh Naros. Mexico. >> Yes. >> It's the same thing.

>> Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. or Cocaine. Cowboys. Have you ever watched that. documentary? >> No. What's that about? >> Amazing. Cocaine Cowboys one and then. there's Cocaine Cowboys 2. >> There was so much corruption in Miami. during the 1980s during the cocaine. crime that one graduating class of the. police academy. The entire graduating. class either wound up murdered or in. jail. >> How you do that? Because they were all. corrupt. They were all involved in. cocaine dealing. All of them. Because. there was so much money. Everybody's.

driving a Corvette, everybody's living. large, everybody's doing blow and. wearing diamonds. >> It's crazy. >> It's like you get caught up in that. life. And if you're involved in like if. you're a police officer and everybody. around you is dirty, you know, like it's. more likely you're going to be dirty, too. >> Well, now now aren't they Aren't they. kind of blowing the Ecuadorian ships up. that are coming to here that are having. a lot of drugs on them? >> Yeah. Venezuela, right? >> Venezuelan ships. >> They're just blowing them up. I don't.

even know. I'm not I'm not educated on. stuff like that, but I wonder if it's. for. >> to keep the trade here. >> No, I doubt it. I think more likely what. it is is because uh Trump genuinely. hates that they're bringing drugs into. this country. Is there other things. involved, too? I don't know. I mean, I'm. I'm sure some of it has to do perhaps. with uh politics. I mean, I think that's. a reasonable assumption. But Jamie, I. just sent you something. Here's what's. interesting. One of the things that.

Trump was saying is they're poisoning. our our kids and that a 100,000 people. are dying every year from drug. overdoses. We have to put a stop to. this. From the time Trump's been in office, deaths by overdose have dropped off a. cliff. Look at that. Look at 2024. >> and leading into 2025. These are all deaths from overdoses. I. mean, that's kind of crazy. Like look at. that from all drugs which is the top.

one. Look at that drop. I mean that's. crazy. So you see the peak in um was in. 2022. >> or it looks like actually 202 between. 2023 and 2024. That's the peak where. people are dying. And then from the time. Trump's in office, it's taking a [ __ ]. sharp downturn. >> And why is that? Well, part of it is cuz. they're blowing up these [ __ ] boats. that are bringing in all the drugs. And. not just drugs, but drugs that are.

tainted with fentinyl. >> Fentanyl is terrible. >> Terrible. >> Cuz a little piece can kill you. >> Exactly. It's smaller than a penny and. you're dead. >> And people are snorting lines of it. >> Mhm. And they don't even know what's in. there. And the cartel, they're they're. buying, you know, they're taking shitty. drugs and mixing it with fentinel so it. has an effect. And people are getting it. from what they think is uh a Xanax and. it's not a Xanax. It's fake and it's got. fentanyl in it and they're dying from. that. They're dying from Coke that they. think it's Coke and fentanyl's and that.

it, you know, it's horrible. There's so. much access to things in this world. right now that I feel like is uh there's. there's so many attainable things that. that people don't even think about that. >> a lot of [ __ ] happens in this world that. we just have no clue. And it's kind of. weird and I just don't know like kind of. the the variety that I'm bringing to the. combo. But um I'm just saying it like. out of just to say it, but it it it's. different just like social media. You. can meet so many people and and and just. going to random places and meeting. people and then you can get roped up in.

the wrong things and it's downhill of. >> the downhill starts. >> Yep. You take a bad turn and next thing. you know you're on a bad road and you. keep going. You're like eventually I'm. going to get out of this game and no. Then you're in jail or you're dead. Um, Ed Calderon is a guy who's been on this. podcast many times. He used to work for. the Mexican military. Now he's an. American citizen, but he's a cartel. expert. And you know, the stories that. he's told us about the [ __ ] cartel. and the amount of money they have. I. mean, they essentially they have giant. military operations. It's all cartel.

The the c and they go to war with each. other. It's crazy. >> Who's the is it Pablo Escobar that had. the money in the walls of his house? >> I mean, probably. I don't know. or who. died and he buried it all over in. different places. They all do that. I'm. sure Escobar did that. They I think they. all do that. They probably they have so. much. That was one of the things of. Cooking Cowboys was uh this pilot. They. had millions of dollars buried in his. backyard who just take garbage bags, fill it with millions of dollars of. cash, dig a big hole in the backyard,

and bury it there because you couldn't. bring it into a bank. Why not just give. it away? Oh, [ __ ] giving it away. Because they're doing Coke and they want. more money. they just don't know what to. do with it, you know, and they can't. just have it all laying around their. house and someone will break into their. house and kill them and take their. money. It's like. >> then it's over with. >> It is a crazy game. But, uh, I can't. recommend that documentary enough. Cocaine Cowboys. You You watch it, you. go, "What the [ __ ]. >> Where's the stream at?". >> Uh, it's probably on everywhere. Um, where is Cocaine Cowboys? Can you get. it? >> Sounds like Amazon.

>> I'm sure it's on everything. It might. even be on Netflix. But it it's it's. incredible because you realize like wow. like cocaine built Miami. Miami had more. banks per capita. I don't know if it. still does, but at one point in time. more banks per capita than any other. city in the country. And it's because. those banks were laundering money. >> Damn. >> They were laundering cocaine money. It. was all coming in. >> And Miami never sleeps either. So it was. all night affair. >> Yeah. That is a crazy [ __ ] town. That's That is not a good town if you. want to be a fighter and live like a.

low-key disciplined life. No, >> you can all of a sudden you're here, then you end up here, then all of a. sudden it's 8 a.m., >> right? >> You're at the beach at 12. >> Uhhuh. >> Can't be right. >> No, >> it can't be right. That's a dark hole. that a lot of people should not be in. But how do you get out, though? >> I don't know. Ask John. I mean, he seems to have navigated those. waters better than anybody, you know, because usually it ruins everything in. your life. He's obviously had some. missteps, but still comes out the. greatest,

>> you know, which is not everybody's path, you know, >> but obviously John is smart in that he. spends a lot of time doing the things. that he wants to do. Spends a lot of. time training his dog, doing, you know, tactical stuff. He's always shooting. guns and training. And, >> you know, you got to have things outside. of that life, you know, that you you. enjoy other than just partying. >> Yeah. You got to have fun. You got to. have some type of of gap and some. release. >> Yeah. And he's got a he's got a good. release and he's got a good mentality of. of what the release should be and how it.

should go and and where he needs to go. with it. And then I mean I've been with. him now since we have this close. connection. I've been with him to to. places and he's always he's always kept. me on a straight path and which is. really really nice. You know a lot of. people that that may have you know like. to like to take shots or like to do. something like that. You know there. there's always a little man do you want. one? But but there's never there's never. been a time where he's like, "Man, I. think you should try." And it's great. because as as as an older as a younger. kid that's coming up, he sees the.

potential and that's all that matters. And I just need someone to see it. And. man, he's been great with it. >> For sure. >> Yeah. When you're around a bunch of. people that party and they drag you into. that world, it's so easy for people to. get hooked. It's so easy for people to. just get roped into that lifestyle. because people essentially, for the most. part, imitate their atmosphere. And if. you're around that kind of an. atmosphere, >> those are the type of people that you're. with and those are the type of thrills. that they're seeking. You can get caught. up in that, >> you know, and it's. >> it's the bane of every fighter's. existence is women and partying.

>> Yeah. You know, he's always been like, "Hey, you got to stay you got to stay. clean. Go home.". >> And that's been the best part about it. >> That's great, man. That is [ __ ]. great. So, what is the timeline right. now? Are have you signed a deal with the. UFC? Are they I know they're talking to. you. What's going on? They they've. reached out many times, but I told them. just I'm kind of out of lines of right. now I'm waiting for my my little girl to. to give my my baby girl to give to come. out. >> Um so January is kind of a dead month. for me. Um. >> but are you signed with the UFC? >> No. >> No, I'm not I'm not signed anybody.

>> But have they offered you a fight yet? >> Um yeah, they've reached out about a. couple things, but no one specific. They. just offered dates. >> Do you want to have fights in other. organizations first? The one of the. problems with a guy like you is that. you're so talented that you could have. won two fights in the UFC and all of a. sudden be fighting a top contender, you. know, which I think you would do well, but if I was a manager of like a boxer. and a guy with your potential, I would. do what Customado did with Mike Tyson. You have them fight a bunch of different. guys like you did with Dirty Boxing,

small organization, MMA fights, build up. those skills, get get a lot of. experience while you're constantly. training and growing and getting better. And then once you enter into the UFC, you're essentially already the champion. It's just nobody knows it yet. >> I would really like to debut at the. White House. >> Debut. >> I would like to debut at the White. House. I would like to do. >> I would like to do one or two more. fights before then and then. if I can sign, do a big release. Hey, he. signed. Good job. And then debuted at.

the White House. That's my perfect. world. >> Is it hard to get fights right now? >> Um I maybe a little bit. Maybe a little. bit. I don't ask. I just say yes and. then just keep moving. I kind of leave. it up to to John to kind of watch the. people and and all the coaches to kind. of watch and see see what goes on. But I. mean, if a guy says no, is there's no. hard feelings. I mean, just keep it. pushing and hopefully I can get to the. guy that says yes. >> That's the problem is that when a guy. gets so much hype around them, there's a. lot of guys who want to eventually be a. world champion and go, "Ah, I'm not.

ready for this guy yet." Mhm. >> You know, it's like even good guys are. say like, "Ah, >> this guy's not he's he's on another. level right now.". >> But just just when if they do think that. just whenever you think you are ready, I. will be there waiting. >> That's terrifying. Just the way you said that. >> I will be there waiting. >> The way you said that's terrifying. A. lot of people heard that like I don't. want to wait. [ __ ] this. >> I don't want to wait. [ __ ] this. I'm. out. >> I I 100%. But also the smart move might. be to get a hold of you now before you.

get better. >> You know, >> you can try now, too. >> But you know what I'm saying? >> You know what I'm saying? I mean, like, pick your poison. >> I mean, like I said, dirty boxing and. and that last fight in November with. that double leg. That's the worst I'll. ever be. >> And it's it's kind of neat to to to. repeat that to the world to kind of let. them get a refresher. That is. >> the worst Gable Simpson will be. And the. best is when he'll come back his next. time. But after that, that's the last. worst I'll ever be after that. So, >> do you have a blueprint like a a map of.

where what you'd like to accomplish in. your career? >> Yes. >> Long term? >> Yeah. Long long term, I'd like to be. champion, UFC champion. Um, I think uh. Stipe has with five defenses if I'm not. mistaken. I would like to do I would. like to try to try to beat that record. if I can. Um, and if I can't die trying, you know, um, I would like to I played. in NFL. I won the Olympics. Um, I would. just like to be just a overall good man. You know, a lot of people want to look. at, like we just talked about, you know, a lot of people want to look at the. success, the money. Um, I just want to.

be excellent, man. You know what I'm. saying? I want to look back and be like, damn, like Gable did that. And I I saw. Dana White, he had a picture and he. said, um, let your last name be the. reason that people remember you. And I. want the Stephen last name to be. something that people remember. And I. want them to look at me and be like, damn. Like through the peaks and. valleys, Gable stood up and and he. became someone in his life and he. provided for his family and he went home. healthy. Um, and and that's what I want. Championship is gonna come, but I feel. like a lot of people are so obsessed.

with I got to do this, but I'm obsessed. with being the best version of Gable. because I'm the if I'm the best version. of the Gable, you're not going to be. able to beat me. >> Keep that mindset and you will. accomplish these things, my man. I. appreciate it. I believe it. >> Well, I appreciate it. >> Thank you very much for being here. >> Yes, you already know. Pleasure. Thank. you. Thank you. >> And I can't wait to see you fight in the. UFC, >> man. I can't wait. It's going to be fun. All right. Thank you. Bye, everybody.