Cory Sandhagen | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #324

Today's guest is a one-of-a-kind um. he is a a traveler and a an adventurer. uh in the physical realms and in the. and in the mental realms as well. You. know, this is a man that is uh trying to. um divide himself and conquer uh the. different parts that make us up as. humans. He is the number two ranked. banttomweight.

uh fighter in the world. Uh we are. honored to have Mr. Cory Sanhagen. shine that light on me. I'll sit and tell you my story. Shine. on me. and I will find a song I've been singing. just.

taste. Yeah, it's a good water. It's a good water. Dude is from the. mountains, bro. From the mountains like. you, bro. Dude, great question. Great question. Death Mountain, bro. Yeah, that's a good question. Mordor. Yeah, that's true. Mountain. This could be from a questionable.

mountain, man. I didn't think about. that, man. They don't really tell you. what mountain. This could be from. West Virginia. This could have illiteracy in it. Is that where you're from? Virginia. I'm from Louisiana. Louisiana. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, man. And I'm from down in. Louisiana, man. Uh, got the kid in here today. Right there. Oh, there you go.

Sugar Sean gave me those. Oh, nice. You had him on, too? He came on a while back before he hurt. himself. Yeah. Nice. Before he got. uh hurtened. Hurtened up. man. He's a cool dude. I met him a couple. times. Yeah, he's a super nice dude. He's uh. And now he's a family guy. Mhm. You know, he sprouted that kid out of. nowhere. I think. he's got like a gym in his garage and. everything. Yeah, his house does look cool when you're. kind of watching him. It see it seems.

like he's on like a uh he's either in. witness protection program at a really. nice place. Or he just has like a really cool uh. like doicile, you know? It's like a fantasy factory. Yeah, it seems like he's got some real. space to him. Yeah. Um, Corey Sanhagen, man. Dude, thanks for being here, bro. Yeah, man. Absolutely. Thank you, bro. Crazy, dude. It's crazy to be around uh. because I feel like when I was a kid, I. would be so afraid to be around somebody. that could fight, you know, like unless. they were my friend. Like otherwise, it. was like fighter dudes, you always like.

like if you were like in the hall at. school and somebody could fight, you. always had to like kind of keep a beam. out of the side of your eye. Yeah. Yeah. When you were um in high school, was. there like a fight? Was there like a kid. you remember growing up like, "Oh, that. dude can fight.". Um, not really, man. Like, uh, I would say. that, so I grew up in Aurora, Colorado, which is like a, you know, not like a. rough area cuz it's Colorado or. whatever, but like as far as Colorado. goes, it's maybe like one of the more,

you know, like rougher areas or. whatever. But dude, I had this friend. Thomas Johnson. who he was about my size. I was really. little growing up, too. Like I was I was. supposed to be 5'2, the doctor told me. my whole life. Yeah. And you beat it. I beat it, man. yeah, dog. Thank you. That's awesome. Nick was premature baby, man. He's doing great. Damn nice, Nick. So, we got a lot of comeback kids up in. here, baby. That's what's up. Um, no, bro. But this dude, Thomas. Johnson, I never seen him throw a punch. once in his life cuz anytime he would. get in an altercation with someone, the.

the move he would do, cuz he was little. also, is he would start looking around, bro. like he would start looking around. and it would freak people out because. he'd be like because he'd think that, you know, the other person thought that. he was going to smoke them like because. no teachers were watching or anything. Oh, so it was a bit of a kind of pomp. and circumstance kind of. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. When we're when you're. little, man, you got to have like little. tactics. Like I would look on the ground for. stuff. If I felt someone was going to, you know, go off on me, I'd start to. like look at a stick or look at a cone.

or something, you know? So what you can. do strategize a little bit or something. or just have some like maybe oh he's not. looking at me right now like he must be. thinking something like just something. or like uh or yeah just confuse them bro. it's the art of war you know like. anytime you can create some chaos in the. other person's mind you do it. damn. y. do you use like is that something that. you still kind of go on today like cuz. some guys do a lot of like u peacock you. know Sean's kind of a peacock kind of. guy um Sugar Shawn and uh Connor. actually is one of the more famous ones.

Um, do you that doesn't really seem to. be your vibe as much. Do you feel like there's stuff like that. when you get right into the octagon that. you're doing. or is there subtle things that maybe. that we wouldn't notice unless you told. us? I think that I think that people. carry around energy obviously and like. pretty much the entire time I'm in fight. week or I'm uh or definitely when we're. facing off or anything in my head I'm.

thinking I'm going to kill you know you. know next time next time we see each. other I'm going to try to kill you you. know so I try to car I try to carry that. energy with me all the time because okay. you know I think that while it's subtle. I think like you know. people pick up on that for sure. Oh, I. can feel it right now, dude. Even though. you're just kind of like, you know, putting it in the air just to kind of. show it. It's kind of crazy because I. really can feel like. not that you're trying to kill me, but. just that you're putting that thing out. there like this like this force field. almost, you know, this thing like I'm. going to let this sit in the air.

because it's an ambiance that I built. inside of me and it has arms. that can reach out into the air. That's. crazy, bro. Yep. Yep. It does. Uh, I think one of. the, you know, most interesting things. that one of my buddies said to me one. time is he goes, "Uh, he goes, "Man, like you're a really nice, like quiet. guy, you know, softspoken, but like it. wouldn't surprise me if you were out. there like being a serial killer or. something." I was like, "Thank you, bro. Thank you, man. That's that's what I'm. trying to put out there, you know?". Dang, man. Um, did anybody when you were.

growing up, was there anybody that had. that like a vibe that you didn't. ever know how they were feeling like. they I'm just trying to wonder where. some of that comes from. if that's just. like a. just like a thing you that you choose as. a fighter or were there growing up was. there ever like I never knew how my mom. felt growing up like she was always just. working real hard and but I never knew. when she got home if she was going to be. like in a good m I just never knew. really what was going on with her. Did.

you have like was there anybody in your. life like that growing up where you just. kind of. and there doesn't have to be. I'm just. trying to. I I don't think so. I don't even really. think that, you know, you can definitely. pick up on energy when you're about to. fight someone, you know, like where they. are in their in their head space. I. think that your body goes through some. type of like survival mechanism also. where like it's it's reading the other. person a little bit closer than I think. that, you know, like right now when. we're just having a conversation, I. think when you're about to fight, you're. able to read body language a little bit. easier and I think that they're able to.

read theirs a little bit easier. So, um, as you know, I I think that that's a big. part of the sport though is like Yeah. that like body language reading, you. know, that energy type of reading and uh. but no, growing up I I definitely didn't. have that skill. So, I don't really. growing up. Yeah. So, it wasn't something. So, did you. think of yourself as like a tough kid. growing up? I knew that I was tough. Like, I was a. very like physical kid. Like, I was. really aggressive, but like I said, man, like I had to be humble because I was so. little, you know? I think that the.

people in the smaller weight classes. have to be humble because. Oh, yeah. Look, man. I'm a 135 and like I I notice. that there's a different way that 35ers. act and like the littleler weight. classes act versus like the 170 and up. because like us even though we can be. more skilled than a lot of the other. people uh or the heavier weight classes. like those people you know like the law. of nature is the bigger animal usually. beats the smaller animal so like I think. just growing up smaller you have to be a. little bit more humble in those ways.

right yeah I could see that yeah it's. just kind of like um yeah, even the. wrestlers in school had a different. energy than the foot had to have a. different energy than the football team. Mhm. Like the football team kind of got all. the a lot of the looks and the the the. accolades and like they got to really be. boastful and wear the Letterman jackets, but the wrestlers had to have almost. this more like. quiet uh. be hungry vibe. Yeah. Yeah. Literally a hungry vibe.

Literally. and be more of like a quiet. commander of themselves kind of, you. know. Yeah. Yeah. Did you play anything? You're a big dude, man. I didn't expect. you to be that big, bro. I'm just pretty much regular size, man. I feel like Yeah, I'm dancing. I'm built like a um like a uh. gingerbread man when you pull up a. gingerbread cookie, man. I'm definitely built like a gingerbread. cookie. Uh that hair looks way better in real. person, too. Oh, thanks, bro. Yeah, man. Yeah, I'm probably. I was going to try to grow one out, but. you messaged me too late, bro. You got.

to give me a couple months next time. have a rat tail next time. Dude, I could see you a baby with a rat. tail. That's how I'm built. See that? I. got that body physique like a. gingerbread man without the uh the the. sugar art on it. But uh yeah, I'm really. just close, bro. Not a ton of dexterity. I'm built like a Kosoga wagon right. there. That's exactly how I'm built. Narrow body, dude. Not like, you know, um yeah, like I can go over some bumps, dude, but I'll easily go off a cliff, you know, if I get a little too close to. the edge. What' you play, bro?

I played basketball. Oh, nice. I played basketball growing. up, too. Oh, you did? Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's right. I read that. somewhere. Yep. Yep. Yep. Um, so I got to ask this, man. We'll. we'll show this picture that we show a. lot of me playing some hoops right here. Um, there we go. Right there. That's me on. the squad right there, bottom left. [Laughter]. And a lot of these men, dude, had. children. had a lot of these men had.

jobs. This is like a college dude. Like a D3. No, dog. This is. This is seventh grade, baby. Right now, bro, you were big back then, too. Dude, I was a long guy, bro. I. was doing a good carried a lot of weight. in my ears back then, dude. Ears and. nose, bro. That's what my Yeah, my ears only. got bigger after the cauliflower ear. That's crazy. So, how long does it take. to start that cauliflower ear? How How. long does it take to really sprout? It's. like a you know I it's like cuz it's the. skin and then like your cartilage the. skin gets away from the cartilage by.

getting like banged up or whatever fills. up with blood. and then you know depending on how well. you take care of it depends on like how. much you have. So like some guys you see. have like nice cauliflower ear. This one. bro was like the size of a ping pong. ball in there. And uh I would just drain. it and drain it and drain it because I. didn't want to stop training and I. definitely didn't want to wear head. gear. So, I would just keep draining it. and draining it. And then one day I had. I wasn't able to drain it anymore. because the King Supers I used to go to. get the syringes because you do it with.

the syringe. Oh, quit giving me. syringes. They're like, "No." They're. like, "No, kid." Yeah. They're like, they're like, "No, kid.". Like, you've been here every day for the. last two months. You don't get any more. needles. You know, like this kid's putting heroin into his. ears. Or maybe they were doing it for the drug. addicts. Actually, now that I think. about it, maybe like, "Hey, man. We're. running out of needles, man. Some people. need those.". Yeah, it could have been, man. Maybe. Yeah, maybe people The wire might have. been put back on HBO. Um, I remember. using uh steroids and we'd have to go to. like a place and convince them to give.

us the needles when I was in high school. and that was always awkward. The. lies we would make up. It's for a dog as. we would always say. Dude, like one kid said it was for This is the. worst, dude. My friend was such an. idiot. He said it was for his um voodoo. doll. The lady's like, "Well, just get some regular needles. You don't. need hypodermic syringes unless. your voodoo dolls really going. through some tough you know? Um, dude, you're really becoming like a a.

star in your sport. Have you always felt. uh what are some of the things that. happen with ego and stuff like that that. start to happen that come with. popularity? Because that's a real thing. and it's some it's out of your control. Some of it's out of your control like. that. more eyes start to see you and. more people are curious about you, like. there's nothing you as a person can do. about that. You're just achieving your. goals. Um, what's it been like kind of. like noticing some of that and um and.

responding to it? Yeah. Uh, I mean, I'll answer and then I. would actually like to hear your answer. to the same thing to be honest because I. don't feel like, you know, I'm near the. caliber of something that you're at, you. know, but one day I would like to be. too. Uh I think man like I got you know. really fortunate in uh one the coach. that I'm with right now who uh his. name's Christian Allen um who taught me. a lot about all of that way way from the. beginning uh where I was kind of being.

you know prepped and primed in order to. kind of like not not deal with success. but just to deal with the everyday egos. of life and stuff. So man I I lost my. first fight maybe like 5 years ago now. Um, and uh, when I lost that fight, I had to. do a lot of soulsearching because I had. put a lot of my identity in being a. fighter and and being this like, you. know, prospect and, you know, up and. like I was supposed to win. Every single. fight I went into, I was supposed to win. cuz I was supposed to be the guy and I.

had always come from a really good gym. Like I came from Grudge where like some. really really top level guys came from. Brendan used to train there, all of. those guys. Um, so when I lost my first. fight, I had to really do some. searching, you know. Uh, I spent about six months probably, you know, Thursday to Sunday every day. in the mountains, either camping or. hiking or both. Um, and that's kind of. where I learned to like meditate, learn. to silent my mind. Um, and just kind of, you know, like. listen to that little ego that's inside. your head because it'll chirp off, you.

know, like it still chirps off no matter. how much. I feel like I do still, you know, of. course. Uh, so man, like I I know that it's in. there, right? Like I know that, you. know, uh it's in there like it wants. power. It wants to conquer. It wants to. it wants things, you know, like every. need is a ego to feed. There's, you. know, a Bob Marley from a Bob Marley. song, but uh. it's still in there, man. But I think. it's just more about like how how do you. respond to it best in a way where it. doesn't impact relationships with.

yourself uh and with other people? Because I mean, at the end of the day, man, like we're humans. We're social. animals. Like I think that that's more. or less why we're on the planet is to. interact and to love each other and all. of that jazz. Um, and I think that if. you let your ego get in the way of those. types of things, that's where the ego. really is taking over your life, you. know? So, I just try to keep it right. underneath that, but but right at the. level where it's like, nah, but when I. go in the cage, I'm still trying to, you. know, win and and get all the things I.

want because I want a lot of things in. my life, right? Yep. So still able to like just. kind of almost corral it like at least. have some control over it. Sure. That's interesting. Yeah. I think. meditation is probably really really key. to that kind of stuff, you know? Do you do it? I don't do it as much as I as I should. And I can feel when I'm not doing it. Y. I can feel like. like the uneasiness inside of me, the. uncertainty. Yes. And I can feel it. start to push from the inside of me out. towards onto my like the inside of my.

skin. Y. so it's funny when I know I have more. control over that like um things roll. off my shoulders easier. I don't give. into like a lot of the traps of my brain. and of society. and um I'm a little bit more in control. of myself and then I feel like I can. also do my best work then just as a. human. Yeah. Yeah, not even as like a comedian or. podcaster, but just as a human, as a brother, as a. son, as a friend, as a co-orker, all. that kind of stuff, you know.

What uh how do you make the clutter go. away then? Um I think a lot of times I'll you use. yoga right now and then I just started. getting into doing um jiu-jitsu. You. know, I'm white belt. Hell yeah. So they give it to you when you get. there, but I am uh I'm certified white. belt. So uh yeah. So that's been cool, man. I never realized how much. um anger I had. And this will this goes. back to what you were asking me about. My answer to that question was, man,

when I like about two years ago, I kind. of got into a space where I was just. getting more popular. Mhm. And um. and I think something I had a lot of. anger. I got a lot of anger because I I. I I think I always thought inside of. myself when I got to a certain level of. achievement, whatever we view achievement as or. success, whatever. And it doesn't have. to be monetary success, but it could. just be a platform or finally having. your voice heard or um finally achieving.

your physical potential like just if. when I got to a certain level of success. that I was going to feel. a a level of accomplishment that that. matched it or that I don't know that. that the world was going to be. different. Suddenly the problems, the. uncertainties, the. the low selfworth, all that would. be completely gone. And I think when I. started to arrive at some of those. places, it wasn't. And I realized you're. still just stuck with just just life.

Yeah. That you know, like. it still pisses you off when someone. cuts you off in traffic. Yeah. That's. never going to go away. Yeah. You're still life doesn't come out. and say there's nothing that there's not. like like a magical waterfall that opens. up and a man or woman walks out and. says, "Congratulations, you did it.". There's never that thank you for your. effort. Um, I think there was something inside. of me I think it got so angry because. there wasn't like a you know, you don't. get the golden orb or whatever that.

Quidditch ball. You don't get, you know, there's no big thank you for your. effort. Yeah. And uh, and that made you angry. It made me angry and I didn't know it. was going to. It was just inside of me. And so I think I got so angry. and I was having trouble finding a place. to put it. And then since I started. going to the jiu-jitsu gym, man, I get. it literally has to come out of me. because I'm caged up by some 50. or 60 year old man and I can't. do anything, you know? Or they put me.

against some you know, aderall out 65 guy. The white belts are the most dangerous. guys, bro. I'm fighting a guy that drives a bread. truck, dude, all night. He hasn't even. slept and he's in there. The guy's. jacked up. I've taken caffeine pills before, bro. That's a real thing, man. We got a. couple guys like that, too, at the gym. It is crazy, bro. So, but just my me. wanting wanting something and not having. any control over it. That's those.

moments where I'm just caged up. I can't. move somebody. I can't and I'm trying. with part muscles in my gut. Muscles I. didn't even know were in my body. I'm. trying with and having no ach and and. there's no return from the world. Yeah. And it's like it kind of answered that. that question that I had where I wanted. some return and then it's like jiu-jitsu. shows you that there's just there's no. return, but it's kind of okay. Yeah. And you go back to a place where you. each shake each other's hand and it's. all good and.

and you try and learn a different way. next time. Um. is good for that, man. Jiu-Jitsu is good. because I think that you know like um so. I don't know how closely you followed. all of my fighting and stuff but in the. in the last two fights I've really like. uh come to find you know I don't want to. call it like anger but that place where. like I know that I have to go out and be. a different person than like when I'm. walking dayto day. Oh, your confidence. has changed even from the al the aljos. fight your confidence seems different. when you are.

in there when you're entering as a. viewer it seems different. um yeah what do you attribute that to. kind of. uh I up the meditations I up the. visualizations uh I started feeding my. brain different things uh. because like I said man like um. I like to think that you know a lot of. life is about relationships and loving. each other and this and that you know. And uh you know I've read I've I've done. my fair share of reading on like Eastern. philosophy and you know eliminating the. ego, eliminating desires and you know.

all of that jazz. And I realized that. that's really great to like be able to. like you know conquer conquer like some. peace inside of you, you know, and be. able to like do that. I think after you. do that though, if you're going to be in. the world that I'm in, you need to you. need to also like conquer war, you know, and you need to learn a lot about that. and you need to and you need to know how. to get there, you know. So, um, the. point that I was bringing up, man, is. that like that's inside of everyone, you. know, like the same type of anger and.

like, you know, like let me get this out. type of feeling, I think is inside of. everyone. I don't think everyone gets to. experience it. And I don't think that. everyone gets to see it as a positive. thing. And because I always saw it as not a. positive thing. when when someone would. walk out or after a fight act like a you. know like an arrogant idiot you know. like I would judge that person you know. and then I got to thinking after I lost. I was like man like there is a level of. peacocking happening there is a level of. intimidation like there is a level of.

manipulation like uh there's a reason. that like warriors in the past used to. torture each other it's not because they. liked it it's because if I torture this. person and and I peacock because that. was kind of their version of peacocking. That's going to scare the other side, right? The other guys sitting around the. ring who are fighting me next or who I. might run around the next corner, they're going to see me differently. Yep. They're going to see me. differently. And uh. It's true, man. It's true, man. And I think uh there's a. lot that's like a separate art in itself. is just like the being able to get.

yourself to a state where it's like. nothing else matters except for beating. this person. Nothing else matters. Uh, and that's where I've been going in in. the in the last couple times, you know, and and I attribute it to a lot of. meditations, but I'm doing different. kind of meditations. I know everyone. kind of throws that word around and I'm. not a guru or anything, so I don't know. the terminology or whatever, but in my. experience, there's a lot of different. kinds. So now I'll do some where it's like. instead of making myself really. peaceful, now it's time to go on that. other end of the spectrum and be able.

to, you know, if I can quiet my mind, great. But now let's kind of like wake. it up, you know, or not wake up the. mind, but wake up the body to a point. where it's like when it's go time, like. I can actually go, you know, and uh. so a lot of it is that, man, and and. just figuring that out. Yeah, it's an interesting philosophy really. Um. to create that angst in you cuz there's. one thing about getting ready for. something, getting hype. There's a. there's one thing about getting hype for. something. Yeah. Like you could play basketball in high. school and stuff and get hype for it. That's a different let's go. you know,

you're excited, you got, you know, you've done some warm-ups. There's a. different thing about how do I make. myself. necess like that a victory is a. necessity, you know, how do I get the. part of me that when someone does. something to me and I can't do something. back to them, that vitrol that arises, how do you create that in a moment? Because the power of that is so much.

more tangible and real and vicious than. the power of, okay, let's just get hype. Let me high-five my buddies, you. know? It's just that's a different. world. So to have a meditation. for war. That's kind of fascinating, man. I had I. never even thought about that. It's all survival, man. You know, it's. all survival. Survival, that's a great word. I I think. that all of our lives, man, because um I. I used to work at a trauma facility too.

for like uh for kids that had like. histories of trauma and stuff. And so. and I went to school for psychology uh. at CU Boulder. So, you know, I'm I'm no. expert by any means, you know, I was. just on call. I would just fill in or. whatever like for for the the people. that were actually doing a lot of the. work at at this place called Mount St. Vincent's. But. Wow. It's a pretty powerful place. It's a super powerful place, man. I I. think that I would attribute a lot of. like what I've learned in life to that. facility. Um I used to be there a lot. more, man. Like like I said, it was on. call position, so it was like.

I pretty much would make my own hours. So uh back before I was in the UFC and. even while I was in the UFC, actually I. just resigned maybe a couple months ago. uh just because I still liked having it. uh be a part of my life. Yeah. Um. but yeah, I was working there for a. while. Uh and and you you know like you. learn a lot about just like how the. brain works obviously, but you learn. that like man, we're all just doing. things in order. for us to be able to survive better. You. know, like the kids that I was working.

with, they developed a certain amount of. behaviors. because in because in their environments. they needed them, you know. And. you're preaching to the choir. is like. we talk about this all the time on this. podcast like I still suffer from. survival skills that I needed from. trauma as a kid that I still use today. that affect me negatively now and that. becomes the problem is when you have a. certain survival set in this environment. but now you're living in this. environment and it's like man I don't. need those anymore but for me man like.

I need a different level of survival. techniques in order for me to go out. into the cage and to be able to perform. at the highest level that I can and. I've I've learned what those survival. techniques are, you know, and and I and. I'm still figuring it out, man. Like. even in the last fight that I had. against Frankie, like I felt way more. like uh powerful, you know, when I was. like I felt way more powerful than even. I did when I was going against Marlin, which was another really good fight of. mine. So, you have Marlin Mores. Yep. People say his last name different.

People should meet before and decide how. they're going to say his last name. You. know what I'm saying? Let's do. that next time. U But no, man. Great. Both I mean both. of them were great fights, but no, it's. interesting to see. So, so starting to. recognize that there's other skills you. can still master outside of and not even. master, but start start to learn and. navigate outside of just the ones that. would seem like the most uh the most. popular for fighters. Yeah, that that's everything to me, man. Like uh everyone's good, bro. Like.

everyone that I'm going to fight for the. rest of my career is going to be good. Is going to be good, bro. I know, bro. I. had that moment. I had that moment. I. forget when it was, dude. I think it was. like, dude, it must have been uh. That sucked. It was like one or two. years ago. I was like, I'm not wrecking. I was like, I'm not wrecking anyone. anymore, bro. I remember I had the. moment. I was sitting there and I was. thinking I was like, man, I need to just. get used to this bro. I was like I. like had an internal battle, bro. I was. like, man, every single dude for the.

next probably 10 years is going to like. be at this level, you know? That's crazy, man. It sucked to come to. that conclusion, but you know, I've. settled into it. Um, it was Let's get that question up of. Nick about the hours, minutes, and. months before. And you're Chris Allen's here. That's. your coach. Yep. Yep. That's awesome, man. Yeah. That's cool of him to come out. Yeah. Yeah. Me and him are best friends, too. He's just my coach. Yeah. Yeah. Dude, I would like to see you guys do a. tag team verse freaking uh Sugar Sea and. Tim Welch one day, dog,

for charity. That'd be fun. Yeah. What kind of match? What? Like a. slap? I don't know. Could be whatever. Look, it could just be video games if. you want. What are those things? What are those. things you take to the pool? It could be noodles. Yeah. Yeah. Noodles. There we go. You know, recently I realized I was. paying $300 for car insurance and then I. did some adjustment. Now, I'm not even. joking. I'm paying $53. Now, is. something wrong? If I get in an.

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That's 20% off with free shipping by. going to manscaped.com/theo. Thanks manscaped for making our winter. wieners look good. Here's a guy right here who sent in a. question. That's all right. Here we go. Theo von. I'm taking a for you. And. this question is coming from the. Corey Sanhagen. What's going on, man? Much love. Um, what's the mindset? Quick. question. What's the mindset going into. a fight? Going into a UFC worldass fight.

against world-class fighters. Um, what's. the steps that you take weeks before the. fight, months before the fight, and. hours or minutes right before you walk. out to prepare your mind, whether that's. meditation or I don't even reading type. of like warrior books or I I don't. really know, learning about. concistadors. I think that's what Mike. Tyson used to do. So, I'm very curious. into what your mental state is and how. you try to keep a uh strong, positive, but motivated, very focused mental state.

going into a fight. So, uh Gang Gang, thank you so much. Cory, what's going. on? Gang, bro, thanks for the question. I. and you answered some of it with the. meditation and some of, you know, the. the per trying to perfect a different. mind like mindset outside of the. fighting exact fist fist body m the body. set and more of a mindset. But yeah, going into like like a mo once you learn. what the fight is, what's kind of the. process from like, okay, this is who I'm fighting now. It's a.

week before and now it's the day of. Yep. Yep. Uh so I usually do 10 week. camps. Okay. Uh and this is actually something that. uh my training partner uh Carrington. Banks helped me a lot with. He's also in. my corner, too. He's my wrestling, you. know, helper. I don't call him a coach. because, you know, he's still fighting. his himself. But it's like a peaking. process, man. like as you get closer to. the fight, it's it's a peaking process. So 10 weeks out, I'm still doing, you. know, meditations every day. I'm still. doing like breathing exercises uh either. before because before sparring, I'll do.

a lot of breathing exercises to to get. to that level of like, you know, body. awareness and stuff. Will you load up on uh on will you do. that? Like will you load up and she can. hold your breath for a long time? No. No. Uh I it's similar to Wimhof type. of breathing where it's like really big. uh or a really big long inhale and then. quick exhale. It's pretty similar to. that. Uh have you ever tried that? Yeah, I have. Man, I held my breath one. time for like three and a half minutes. Yeah. Makes it like all tingly and. stuff. Like I'm a fish. Yeah.

It's pretty much like that though. because it wakes your body up man. It. gets like oxygen all around or whatever. So it's that uh like I said man, it's. feeding your brain the right stuff. That's funny that he brought up Mike. Tyson because I'll watch a lot of Mike. Tyson's interviews too and uh just. because I like seeing how really high. level competitors think uh and he'll. talk about like Napoleon. uh you know like um all all of those. like generals and and back in the day. and that's what I was talking about too. is the feeding the mind like feeding the. mind war stuff is you know part of my.

survival now so so I do a lot of that. Um. did he have something else? Okay so that was kind of like in it. So. that that's early in advance. So then. once you get like you're going through. camp, you're getting close to a few. weeks out. Is there does anything change. or does camp just stay the same up until. like the day of the fight? I would say about 3 weeks out and I. don't know that I really do it on. purpose. I think that when you stay like. connected with like you know your your. your you know uh I think that things. just happen naturally the way that you.

you want it to. So about 3 weeks out, man, I don't for whatever reason, every. single stressor in my life doesn't. matter anymore. But up until then, like. I'll I'll still, you know, cuz I'm. hungry. I'm training hard. So I'll be. like pissed off about like little. you know? Like I'll come home uh I I. have a roommate that lives downstairs. and my girlfriend that lives with me. And I'll get home sometimes, man, and. they'll be in the kitchen like, you. know, going. flirting. Yeah. Flirting with each other, bro. I'll walk in and get so mad because the.

energy is just like too high, you know? Like that's that's where I'm at about. like about like 3 weeks before. I'm just. like I'm going on a walk. I'm walking this like you just got home. Yeah. Like turn this energy down, you know? It's too happy in here. Are you guys happy in here? Okay, we need. I'll knock some over just. put Apocalyptto on or something. This. is too hype right now. I do start. watching a little bit more violent stuff. as it gets closer, too. But yeah, man.

About 3 weeks away, for whatever reason, things stop. mattering to me and it's all just like, let's let's get this done, you know? Let's get this done. So, but I think. that that comes just from, you know, staying checked in, not letting myself. get cluttered, you know? The the more I. feel cluttered, the. the less I just feel connected to. myself. And so, uh. Yeah, man. It's that stuff. Yep. Yep. You know, I can really It's in a weird. way sometimes some of that reminds me. what you're saying like with comedy when.

I'm on stage. If if I if I'm in a space. where I'm not tied to a bunch of other. that day before I get on the stage. or something and I'm really just feeling. like part of the universe a little bit. and like like locked into wanting to. have a good show and make sure these. people have fun. It's not exactly the. same, but it's just on the same like. wavelength of like um I'm not attached. to too many other things. Mhm. Man, then I'm almost I'm almost just. my skills are already there are there, you know? They definitely can always be.

better, but I'm just working off this. energy that's in the world and it's just. a. It's like I'm just juggling this dope. that God put out there. Yeah. Yeah. It's like, you know, like. you're just where you're supposed to be. Yeah. Dude, I saw you in Denver not too long. ago, man. I have to say, just cuz I'm a. fanboy, too, bro. Uh it was probably. like last year, bro. Yeah. Um cuz I hadn't seen your standup. in until probably your comedy centrals. or did you have anything on Netflix too? Yeah, I did a Netflix special about 5. years ago. Yeah. Yeah, I think that was the last. one that I watched and then I watched. you in Denver and it was like way.

different than the standup that you were. doing before. Oh, sweet, man. Dude, it was sick, man. Was it good? Yeah, bro. It was so creative. Oh, thanks, bro. It was like I don't know. I don't Yeah, cuz cuz I'm really interested in comedy. I'm like a big fan of comedy, too. Oh, sweet. I I like like all the different styles. that all of you guys have and stuff and. like Yeah, man. And I was just like, "Wo, that was weird." And it was like so. good, you know? Thanks, bro. Dude, it was super good, man. Yeah. Was that at uh the something north. or whatever that place was? Uh yeah. Uh. the one that's outside of town a little. uh outside of Denver.

Yep. Yep. Yep. That's a fun That room is really funny. You're almost like in the round kind of. Yeah, that's what everyone said. Dude, thanks for coming out, bro. That's. awesome. Yeah, man. Yeah, man. That's cool, man. Uh. yeah, dude. Um. Yeah, that's awesome, man. I appreciate. you. I appreciate you coming out. You. know who I got to meet at a show one. time too was uh Anthony Lionheart Smith. came out to a show which was pretty cool. dude. He's a cool dude. Yeah. This is like three or four years. ago. Yeah. Such the nicest dude. And. then Porier came and I had a show in New. Orleans about three years ago and he.

came and literally the whole time he was. this is back when he was still like he's. definitely like still can be as angry as. he wants to be but he was almost like. posted up at the edge of the at the edge. of he's the only person not in a seat, bro. Just ready to go to war. back against the wall. Totally back. against the wall checking, bro. Like. like uh Thomas used to do, dude. Yeah. Yeah, it was It was pretty. It was It was interesting, man. Hey, he's a cool dude, too, huh? He's a nice guy, man. Is his hot sauce good? It is good, bro. I'll see I'll get you.

some I'll get you some of his scent, man. How many are there? Like 10 different. flavors. There's a lot. No, he just has one his. own one flavor. But it is good. He's. cool, man. I think uh he was talking. about some anger after his last fight. remember after seeing him in the cage. against Connor, he was like. he was happy obviously because he'd won, but he was like upset. He's like, I don't love this no. more stuff. I think a lot of it was Yeah, I think a. lot of it was like um I think for I. don't know. Um this is all speculation. I think some of it was like that belt in.

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

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

call a little bit of the shots, right? Which is fine. That's the world that we. live in now. So, yeah, it's a business. I think in you. guys' business too, in you guys'es, I think the longer you're in it, you. it's the longer you're in anything, it. re it's more of a business. Like, I used. to go to the comedy clubs and I was just. excited if people were there. And then. you do doing it for 15 years, you're. like, well, did we sell tickets? You. know, it's like some of that gets in. your head somewhere, you know, like is. is the audience happy? like you just.

you're just you start to have more. concerns. I think some of that's just. life. Um. but yeah, I mean you guys are in a. business that was bu like everything's a. business. It's society is just kind of. like this structure. Yeah. Of of things that were put together by. people, you know. Um. when you we we got a question right here. from a young fellow. What's up Theo? What's up Corey? Dallas. from Staten Island, New York here. Huge. fan of both of you guys. Theo, me and my.

wife got to see you about a year ago out. in Redbank, New Jersey. The show was. crazy. Hoping we can get see you again. real soon. Oh, thanks, brother. Cory, my question for you is, how well. do you really know Brendan Shaw? Cuz. he's always talking about he's texting. you. He's talking to you after your. fights. Besides Food Truck Diary, I know. you guys are from Aurora, Colorado. Let. them know. People are doubting. I'm not. a doubter. I know you guys know each. other. Let the world know. Gang gang. Sandman. There you go, dog. Are people doubting. that? What is there to doubt? People doubt Brendan gets doubted a lot,

I think. But so I think people want to. know. Yeah, he has that look, bro. Yeah, I think Brendon just has that. Yeah, he has and he has nine different. shows. I think people just start to. doubt him. You know, he's a chef. He. runs a food. He says something different on each one. just to accommodate to each different. audience. So, I think people are like, "What is. the truth here, Brendan?" You guys never. fought each other, right? No, no, no. Hell no. Uh, I would No, when I was uh when I was 17 or 18 years. old,

we were all training at this gym called. Grudge. and uh it's like where all the really. good guys train like uh Sha was there, Lwig was there, Markwart was there, uh. GSP would stop in, Rashad Evans, like. all of those really, really big names. Um, and so I used to train there when I. was like, you know, like a 140 lbs, like. soaking wet, you know, uh, and probably, you know, maybe shouldn't have been in. that room at that time, but, uh, yeah, I. mean, we were all in that room together. And I think that, you know, while me and.

Brendan were never like, you know, I was. 17 years old, he was fighting in the. UFC. It's not like we were hanging out, right? That would be a little weird, actually. But. yeah, because he would be an adult. That. would be illegal also, probably. Uh, but I mean, no, man. We share that. like those same Aurora roots, you know, like it's just like I said, man, it's. like a community. Aurora feels like a. community. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Was he the kind of guy if you went and. asked him for a suggestion, he would. like advice or something, he would share. it. He was definitely. I think so. Yeah. Uh, everyone was.

pretty cool at at Grudge. Uh, yeah, Brennan was definitely like one of the. superstars there for sure during that. time. It's so funny cuz I don't know, like to. me, I don't know that that is as that at. all. Like I don't I don't ever even see. that look in his eyes anymore. Like you. know what it takes to be a like not that. he doesn't have it. I'm not saying that. But he doesn't ever turn that on in in. any environment that he and I are ever. in. It's no longer part of his survival. Yeah. It's probably true. Yeah. Yeah. It's probably no longer part of. his survival, man. Um. dude, this was heartbreaking, man. I.

even I remember I put a comment on your. IG after your last fight and it was. barely even like I was like, "Way to go. Good job." It was so like. I know, bro. That's how I felt. so I was. trying to be supportive, but also it was. like Frank Edgar is just like beloved by. humanity and I know by you as well. How hard is that, man? Like. is Cuz no other like I guess there's. other sports where that kind of stuff. happens, but how hard is it to go out. there and fight like a guy? Well, here.

is he asking it right here. We'll we'll. let this guy ask it. So because he sent. it in. Hey Cory, being a fighter, you know, you. go into every fight trying to win, of. course, but as a human, as a human. being, how did it feel. knocking a legend like Frankie Edgar. out? Uh, that shook me for sure. A lot of people still shook. gang gang gang, bro.

Uh, yeah, man. There's, like I said, man, there's two different people for. me, man. Like, there's, you know, I got. I got to be a type of way when I go in. the cage, and I can be a different type. of way when I'm out. But, uh, you know. what the the craziest part of. I'm not trying to put you on the spot. No, no, it's okay. No, no. I don't I. don't mind at all, bro. I'm not curious about like you hurt. I. I'm I'm just generally curious about the. the sides of it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, once I'm done, you know, with that adrenaline dump that happens, I mean, I almost felt like crying when I. was in there. Not Not Well, one because.

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

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

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

know what it feels like, man, to open. your eyes, see the person running around. the cage excited, like, you know, pumped. that he won and to have the doctor lift. you up and sit you on the stool. Like I. know how that feels, man. Like it sucks. And who was y'all's refence? Keith. Peterson. Uh for the last one. Yeah, I think I think so. Yeah. Why you like. him the most? I would fight him. You're a lot bigger than him, bro. I'll lose weight. I'll cut a. leg. What would you do, bro? What What would. be the strategy if you had to fight.

someone? If I went in against Noonsense NKP. first, I would probably I would try I'll. probably try to wear him down, dude. I'd. probably try to wear him down. How would you do that? I get him up against the cage. Huh? First, I'd run him. I'd run him until I. got tired. Oh, okay. Yeah. I' chase you a little. Yeah. run him until I got tired and then. I would get him up against the cage, bro. And I'd probably. would you foot stomp or knee or. I'd do a little bit of that Kamaru. method, stomp on his feet, hold.

him against the cage and stomp on his. feet. until he can barely move his feet. and then I'd hard scarf him, dude. I'd sneak up behind him. I'd get him distracted and I'd sneak up. behind him, have somebody wave a. cigarette or something in the distance, sneak up behind him and put him in the. hard scarf. Bro, what's a hard scarf, bro? That. Oh, yeah. That's how you finish them out, bro. Um, but anyway, and look, I'm just. joking. Keith Peterson, Unless we're. like raising money for charity, I'm a. big I'm I'm a Keith Peterson fan.

Yeah, me too. So, uh, he's a good ref, man. I like the refs. that don't say anything. The refs that. talk, man. I can't stand the refs that. talk. Really? Yeah. Oh, I can't stand it, man. Just. because it's like, man, no one came to. watch you, bro. It's nonsense. No one, you know, that's nonsense, man. I like the thing about zero nonsense, bro. Zero non assist. Oh, zilch. Um, does do. bigger fights get bigger? Is there like. a ref order that feels like out there? I. I think that there is. There definitely. is. Um,

cuz Herb Dean gets a lot of the big. ones, right? Yeah, he gets a lot of big ones. Uh, Noonsense gets a lot of the big ones. Uh, I like most of the refs, but there's. a couple refs where I'll be watching on. the TV and I'm just like, just shut up. Like, he's not he's not doing what. you're saying. Because I've been on the. other end of that where a ref has been. like, "Quit grabbing his shorts." And. it's like in my head I got to be like, "I'm not grabbing his shorts. What's he. talking about?" And then that just. distracts you. And when it's like a game. of inches, it's like, "Dude, shut up.". Right. Yeah. Yeah. Shut up, dude. Nobody Yeah. No one came to watch it. Yeah. You weren't there training with. this. You weren't You don't know.

anything about it. Yeah, I could see. that. That's interesting. Yeah. Um Yeah. So, that's Yeah, that's. interesting, man. It's an it's kind of a. it's it's a I think it's definitely a. different and comforting thought though. to know that there's some level of that. within the fighters that there's all. like yes that could also be me and we. both came into this knowing that that. kind of thing can happen and that. there's some sense of like res like um. care or concern for the person's family, you know, or for the people that are. caring about them watching him, you.

know. I I think you have to be a little. bit on the other side or at least have. had to experience it to kind of like. fully understand that because like if. you look at ancient samurai like ancient. samuris, you know, they're known for like, you. know, obviously being like badass. fighters, but they're also known for. like the way that they used to live. And. the way that they used to live is like. very honorable, very respectful to to. everyone else. And like it got me. thinking. And it's like, man, like, how. can these really brutal soldiers who. slash people up with swords also live in.

a way where it's like, oh, okay, I have. a I have honor and I have respect for. fellow human beings and and I'll and. I'll do this, this, and this to show. that or or I'll or I'll even like go as. far as to stab myself to keep honor of. whatever, you know, like I think it. takes a level of like having to go. through all of those brutal feelings and. understand that like, you know, this is. not always fun in games like Porier said. uh. in order to kind of like fully respect. the other side of it which is like life.

and you know and like when you actually. win like. how to be a winner because you know what. it's like to be the loser and u I think. that that's important you know but. that's interesting that Porier said that. uh it's not fun to him anymore. He. actually says a lot of interesting. stuff. Dude, that's a funny thing. And that's. one thing I always liked about Dustin. since I met him was that there's so much. more to him than a fighter, you know? And I think for a lot of guys, it's. interesting to see them get to.

come into whatever else they are as. humans. M. and I think the world has really gotten. to witness that of Dustin over the past. few years, you know, like just through. his charity and through um you know, through his journey to get paid through. the organization, like just um you know, like I know when he and Tony let that. fight go, it was because of money, I. believe. I think he said that. I I I. don't want to be talking out of school, but um so yeah, to try and stand on some. sense of honor and still, you know, grow.

up and yeah, I just think it's. interesting. I think it's interesting. why people fight, you know? I was always like afraid to. fight as a kid. So I'm like like and. then but then we're all fighting for. something in some way, you know? We're. all trying to like find some way to. express ourselves. So I guess sometimes. I wonder if fighting is just. a way that you guys express yourself. I. I always wonder. does it feel like that? I always wonder this. I always wonder. like okay am I working harder than other.

people in other professions and or or is. me winning feel better because of you. know it's fighting or does it does it. feel worse to lose because it's fighting. or whatever. And I think that anything. that you try to do at like your best, if. you don't reach that, like it's still. going to suck for everyone, you know? So, I I think that it's like, yeah, it's. like this expression of yourself or. whatever, but I think that Yeah, man. It's just like. I don't know why people want to play the. piano all day, but there's some people. out there that want to play the piano.

all day, and then there's like some. people that want to like do math. equations all day. And like to me that. seems like hell, but like I don't, you. know, I don't I don't know what that is. in different people or what, but like I. that crosses my mind all the time. It's. like, man, you couldn't have chosen. something different for me, bro. Like. podcasting or something? I done drywall. Have you ever drywalled, bro? That. shit's worse than fighting, bro. That's true. It's a gateway drug, too, dude. There's no way you start drywall. and don't end up doing drugs, bro. That's true. Um, here's a question right.

here. Wait, is this my uh is this what's. this guy's name? Uh does he say it? Yo, Theo, Nick, Corey, what's going on, guys? It's your boy Chico from St. Louis, Missouri here. Got a couple quick. questions for the Sandman. Cory, first. off, congrats on the huge knockout of. Frankie Deans Answer Edgar. Had to have. felt crazy knocking out a legend. like that. Um, but congrats again. I'd. love to know what you think of the. matchup between Algerain Sterling and. Peter Jan. I know you lost to Almaine,

you know, a couple months ago, and that. was your first loss since 2017. So, what. do you think of that matchup? And also, are you itching to get a rematch to. Algerain, so who do you think's going to. win that fight? And who do you want to. win that fight? Uh, much love to you. guys. Gang gang, take care. Yeah. How do you feel like that? Almaine's such a nice guy, too, man. How. do you feel about uh their fight coming. up? Are you excited to watch it? Yeah, I'm super pumped to watch it. Uh I. I think it's going to go like the entire. five rounds. So, like from a strategic. standpoint, I like to like, you know, I. think that I'll get like a lot of intel.

Yep. Uh, wow. But I don't know, man. I flip a coin. every single time. Like, every time I. get asked, I just change my answer. depending on the day. So, I think. stylistically. and like technically better. I think. Jan's probably the maybe the better uh. technical fighter, but being a being a. technical fighter doesn't mean that. you're the better fighter. I, you know, I've been in the cage with Al Jane and. he has a level of intensity like we were. talking about before with the energy uh. that's a lot different than everyone. else that I fought. Um,

so, you know, I think that he really has. that going for him. And I think, you. know, Alain's been really open about his. strategy about this. Like, he keeps. talking about how he's going to wrestle. the guy for five rounds. I don't know. how smart it is to reveal your strategy. like that, but uh, he must be really. confident in it. So, you know, and I do. think that his grappling and just him in. general is really underrated. Like, I. think he's he's definitely way up there. as far as fighters go in the UFC. And uh. I don't know, man. If if you had to ask. me for whatever reason, I I kind of I.

just like I like Al Jane a little bit. So, like I always, you know, I root for. people, not. He's fun to cheer for. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's something that's really There's. something about him that's very fun to. cheer for. Um. Yeah. That's going to be interesting, man. Y'all's division is getting so. interesting. They're good, too, man. Everyone's really like we were talking. about, man, everyone's good, bro. Yeah, everyone's good. It's crazy. Does it start to get scary to think that. you might have to fight for like the. next 10 years? Does that start to ever. get spooky? It was It was spooky, bro. It was pretty. spooky until I like until I accepted it,

man. Like I told you, it was just like. this moment where I was like, I think it. was after uh I fought this guy. Do you. know who John Lker is? He don't fight in. the UFC anymore, bro. But he's like 5. foot2, built like a brick, and like his. head is, you know, like this big. Uh, and he like cracks, bro. Like he. cracks. It was It was my third fight in. the UFC. I was so scared to fight that. dude. And then after I beat John Lker, I. was like, "Damn, man." Like every single. fight. Yeah. Yeah, that's John.

Oh, yeah, dude. I've definitely seen him. at Panama City Spring Break before, dude. And he was not happy. He's the one he's running sprints in the. sand, bro. Yeah, dude. He's doing sprints. at the bar. There's always that guy, man. Man, I'm just. He's doing push-ups in the bathroom, bro. I'm just joking, dude. Uh, wow. Yeah. So, after I fought him, cuz he was. ran he was in the top 10 for my third. UFC fight. And, uh, after I fought John, that's when it kind of hit me where I. was like, "Yep, this is going to be hard. for the next 10 years of my life." You.

know, it's kind of like playing Punch Out. after you beat or like a boxing after. you beat a hard guy. You have to pause. it and then like you kind of go get some. water or something. You come back, you're like, "Fuck, man. They're all. going to be really hard from now on.". Yeah. And dude, you know what else too. is like uh everyone will be like ah like. cool you get to like take a little break. after your win blah blah blah. It's like. no I don't you know like I kind of do. just from like the the warrior part of. me like I can be a lot less competitive. now but as far as like me getting better. man like the this only gets harder.

bro like it only gets harder. The better. people I beat the harder I got to work. It's like I thought it'd be the. opposite. I thought I'd get into the. UFC, I'd start, you know, I'd start. winning and like I'd get into a groove. and would be. easier and more routine. But like, man, like it's just harder. Every every time. I win, I'm just like, "All right, well, that was the last easiest fight of your. life.". Yeah, that's crazy. That sucks. Now that I just said it, that sucks. But that's but but hearing that, to me, it makes perfect sense because that's. the thing inside of you that makes you. what you are anyway. It's that thing.

It's like the next uh there's always. something else. Yeah. You know, I'm. always going to have to learn. There's. always more to learn or more to do. It's always Yeah. It's the challenge, bro. It's all like uh when this is why. it interested me when Porier said, uh. this isn't even fun for me anymore. Like. I I almost feel the same way. Depending. on how you define fun, right? If if fun. means like, oh, I'm enjoying myself, it's not fun to me. I'm not enjoying any part of that.

process. Like I see people even the week. of the fight it's like oh like okay this. is my taper week like I can I can kick. back and like I can enjoy my fight week. and I'll go like jet ski or you know. visit this or visit that or whatever. And it's like dude during fight week I. lay in bed and I just think about the. the fight and what I'm supposed to do. and that's all I do. Like I watch maybe. one or two hours of TV. I maybe if I'm. getting a little overwhelmed in my head,

we'll go like hang out with my coaches. and stuff, but other than that, man, I'm. laying in bed resting my mind and like. getting myself ready to like do this. It's like not enjoyable, bro. Yeah, even camp. Camp camp isn't even that. enjoyable. I would say the most. enjoyable part for me in this whole. thing is just uh coming up with my own. and me and Christian working. together and me and Carrington working. together and me and uh some of the. jiu-jitsu guys that I work with like. inventing or like at least like trying. to get really good at like the things.

that we're doing like that's enjoyable. for me but like and like the winning. part is enjoyable but man like. everything else is just challenge. It's. not like fun you know. Yeah. I think. there's something that happens with in. success, man, where some things kind of. become like that and that starts to. become the next battle in some ways. Is. uh You need more water? No, I'm good. That starts to become the next battle in. some ways is like how do I make where. I'm at now as enjoyable.

as an experience as possible? Um. did you go through that? Yeah, man. I think it's. Is it still enjoyable? It's there's. moments that are enjoyable, but it was I. had a lot more like I remember dude when. we were so when we were getting Dustin. Porier on, dude, we were so excited. You. remember. Nick? Dude, we were so excited. He had salon. quality hairstyle was his nickname and. he was we were so fired up, dude. And um. and I still get way it's not that things.

aren't exciting. It's like I think some. of it is you just get used to some stuff. and there's nothing you can do that's. just experience. There's nothing you can. do to kind of go back to that level of. excitement you had. like when you were probably first. training and doing well against a guy at. Grudge. Yeah. I mean my scariest fight was my. first fight. Yeah. My scariest like fight was my first. fight. Really? Yeah. Probably. You know because you. know you know it's like your first one.

Was was your. was it white belt? Uh. or what was it? Or is it not even like. that, dude? Uh. that the white belt's just jiu-jitsu. Yeah. Yeah. So I don't Yeah. So I don't. consider jiu-jitsu matches fights. Uh. god damn, bro. Seven years of my life, bro. But no respect, bro. Yeah, for real, bro. I'm just around, bro. You. know, but no, no, no. Totally. I feel. you. So, dude, I I fought uh in this. place. Um, bro, I'm pretty sure it was.

like a house, dude. Like. like a gutted house, bro. I'm almost. positive it was like a gutted house. It. was in a neighborhood, bro. Oh, dude, that's bad. When you pull up. to the fight and the driveway's full. So, dude, uh, it was this uh. sanctioned. No. Okay. It was a It was a Muay Thai. tournament. I was I think I was 18 years. old. Dude, I'm not kidding you, bro. The. ring was probably much Actually, the. ring was probably about this size, bro.

It was probably like a 8 by8, dude. In. like this gutted house and like uh it. was matted 8 by8 ring. Everyone was. warming up. You like you sat on the. floor if you wanted to watch the fights. You just crowded around. You watched the. fights. And uh yeah, that was my first. fight uh or first tournament. And so. that was one of the scariest moments. Yeah, that was one of the scariest. moments because it's just like, you. know, I I had never really been in a. fight against, you know, like like an. actual real fight I had never been in.

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

I hope so. Okay. Um. but there's not somebody else from Would. they try and offer you somebody from. that's that is in the rankings that's. beneath you currently? I think that uh me and Dillashaw if they. don't do Yeah. Oo Dillashaw. Dude, I forgot. about him. They're bringing him back. They got a cheat code or something. Uh, so that would be crazy, huh? Yeah. I mean, I I think if it's not the. winner of their fight, then it's I mean, it's got to be Dillashaw because I mean,

Garbrandt's going down. Uh, I I I don't know what Aldo's doing. Font's really good, but he's kind of in. the same position I was in maybe like. three fights ago where uh, you know, I. think that he Font's really good, but I. think he needs to string like, you know, some top five wins together before I. think they start considering him for a. title shot, too. Um, is there somebody from the past that you. wish was like uh somebody you would like. to have fought or fought not even out of. anger, just out of like pure like it.

would be awesome? Like somebody from the. past that you grew up watching or. anything like that? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Uh, well, Cruz. Cruz was. definitely in that conversation for a. long time. Uh, he might fight. He looks like he climb. over the cage and fight any day most of. the time. Who? Cruz. Dominick Cruz. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he's always pretty Did he. retire? What happened? I think he might actually have something. scheduled. Casey Kenny. Yeah, he's fighting Casey Kenny. When is. that? In March. Uh, I think it's sometime in March. I like him, man. I like watching Yeah. When he when he's cuz you always you.

kind of never know what he's going to. say. Sometimes he'll get a little bit. angsty with the other uh sports casters. and. He's, you know, like he has something. about him that's, you know, intimidating. Yeah. You know, I like that. It's cool. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He's on 259. Nice. Wow. That's the 13th. uh six. Oh. Oh, he's on that one. He's on that card. Yeah, that card is that card is insane. Yeah. My teammate Dober's fighting on. that card, too. Um Yeah. Who's on that card, man? That's. bananas.

Um, three title fights. Santos Rockage. Oh, M. Yeah, this this fight is insane. Or card. is insane. What do you think about that uh Blovich. fight and. I'm going to go with just because. I mean I I think honestly I I mean. Blovich definitely has power, bro. Like. that's different. And is going up a weight class. He's going up a weight class to 205, I. think. So what can happen when you go up a. weight class? What what are some things. that can happen? Not even specifically.

to them, but what are some things that. could be good or bad? Uh I mean the bigger animal, it's like. the law of nature. The bigger animal. usually beats the the littleer animal. Um but I think uh. so that's kind of a little bit of a. natural kind of pitfall. Yeah. I mean, dude, there's weight. classes for a reason. like uh if someone. has 30 lbs on me and they're, you know, not nearly as good as me, you know, they. have a better chance against someone.

who's my weight for sure, you know, just. cuz they're bigger, you know, right? They can lay on you and hold you. down. Yeah. And it's harder to move them. Like. I think that there's two types of. strength in jiu-jitsu. This might help. you a little bit, too. But there's the. type of strength where I can move you. really easy. And then there's the type. of strength where I make it so that you. can't move me very easy. There's those. two types of strength. And um at my. weight I can move people, you know, but. if someone's 30 lb heavier than me, like. it's, you know, I can't move them as. easy and like that makes things a little.

bit harder. So yeah, so that's one. thing. But uh I think I think that that. dude has different level of power that I. think Israel is not dumb enough to. overlook, you know? I think that Israel. is like a super smart dude and I don't. think he I don't think he's going to. leave any stone unturned or like lie to. himself in his head. Like I see people. do that all the time in fighting just. because I like going back to the ego. stuff like. I'll see them say some stuff where I'm. just like you're only saying that. because it helps you sleep at night, you.

know, like oh this guy's slow or oh this. guy can't grapple. It's like man you're. only saying that so that you can feel a. little bit better about yourself, right? And I noticed that right away, you know, uh Israel, I don't notice that in, you. know, where Israel doesn't he's not. like, oh, this guy is slow. It's like or. no, he doesn't have power. He like. acknowledges the strengths in the other. person. And I think that that's a really. obvious sign that like the person is. intelligent, you know? I think it's. really unintelligent to just overlook. everything.

that your that your opponent has that. they do well and just create an excuse. for it. Yeah. But I think Israel's smart enough, man. And I think he has enough experience and. I'm sure that he's had plenty of fights. in kickboxing where he's fought really. big dudes too that like we have never. even heard of cuz the dude has like a. million kickboxing fights. especially in New Zealand. Yeah. Everybody there is a pretty big dude. Yeah, bro. Hooker used to fight at like. heavyweight or something. Really? Yeah. I used to train with Hooker, bro. He. like demoralized me when. Did you? Yeah. When. he's just funny, isn't he? Yeah, he's funny. He used to uh.

like humorous. I'm not saying Dan Hooker. that you're there's anything wrong with. you. Funny. I just mean he's an. entertaining guy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He used to uh. he's actually a really quiet guy, I. think, in person. Is he? Yeah. Yeah. He's. I'm a fan of a fan. Yeah. Yeah. When he used to train with. us or whatever. Uh. dude, he would whoop me, bro. Really? Whoop me, dude. Why were you guys Were you guys sparring. for fun? No, he was like on he was like training. with our team and stuff back then. Oh, but not at the same weight. I was a 45 back then. And he was a 45.

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

man. like he never breaks his diet. And. I was like, "Wow, man. He needs to go up so that I. can feel a little better about myself, man.". And so that's when you were at 145? Yeah, I used to. My my debut was at 45. because I didn't want to I I know how. the UFC works. Like you get a short. notice call and that's how you get into. the UFC. Like very rarely do guys ever. get into the UFC by, you know, like, "Hey, here's an 8week camp and here's. your first date in the UFC." That's not. how it works, bro. like someone pulls. out and then and then so actually I.

fought in Phoenix a week before my UFC. debut. So I fought on uh Friday and then. I I won that fight as I'm taking off my. hand wraps. Uh someone from the. commission is like, "Hey man, like UFC. is on the phone." They're like, "Hey, can you fight next week?" And I'm like, "I guess I'm not partying tonight, but. yeah, I mean I'll definitely, you know, I'll definitely do that." And. was that an exciting call to get? Oh, dude, it was so exciting, man. So. exciting. And like uh. was that like the best was that like the. call? It was the call, bro. It was the call.

And like uh for Yeah, bro. For whatever. reason, man. Like uh I get really pumped. like knowing that I made my loved ones. like really proud, you know? Uh and I. remember like it's one of my favorite. parts like when I do the visualizations. I do a lot of visualizations of like. what happens after the fight too because. it really motivates me, you know, and it. makes me feel nice. like I'll I'll. imagine like facetiming my family. and my girlfriend and you know and like. you know they're super pumped for me and. stuff. So. that's what that was for me is it was I.

remember I was on the phone with my. sister and for what for whatever reason. like it was my sister but I was I like. called my sister and I was like hey like. I did it like they want me you know next. week and then I was like yeah and then I. remember talking to Christian and I was. like I was like watching his film cuz I. was like it if I get a contract I. don't care how tough the guy is. cuz I. don't care if he beats my ass as long as. I get a contract. And I watch the guy. This is when, you know, my confidence. wasn't like where it is now. And I was. like, "Oh I think I'm really going. to beat this guy." Like it was like some. surprise. You know, Christian was like,

"Yeah, dude. What? Like they're calling. you for a reason, dumbass?" Like, oh, so you think they called they you. think they thought you would beat the. guy? I don't know if they did or not, but. that dude fought on the Contender. Series. Uh, and they just needed like a. replacement fight. Like they have to put. a certain amount of fights to fill their. TV slot or whatever. And yeah, that's. how you get signed to the UFC pretty. much is like some short notice like. that. Damn. Yeah, it was cool, dude. I remember I remember the time I. got a text from Joe Rogan to come be on. his podcast and that was that was that.

for me. Nice. It was like the best thing like I'd sh. like what what am I going to do? I. brought him a bag of oranges, dude. I. didn't know what to do. People said he likes like diet or. something, so I got a bag of. diet. So, I bought him like a um bag of. clementine and brought them over there. Thought I was bro. I showed up with a bag of. orange. How'd it go? It went fine. Was it scary? It was so scary, bro. It was like, dude,

honestly, I think going and that would. almost be like going and being in a in a. fight, man. Yeah, it was so scary. Were you like Were you more like a Were. you like don't this up type of. I was just scared. It was like um I knew. other people that had been on it like. famous people, educators, like that was a part of it. really. Uh I don't know. I Joe doesn't care if. you like say that you're going to be on. his show either, right? Uhuh.

Yeah. I'm going on a show next week. Yeah. No way, bro. Bro, so I got a text from him and. or a Instagram message. I know, bro. And. it was. It just came randomly from him. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah, dude. I like I was like, "Guess you text. me." You know, like I was super pumped, but I was like, uh, in my head though, I'm just like, "Yeah, man. There's like real legit. people, you know, like smart, you know, like legit people that are like on. there. I think you had a alien. on there last week.".

Yeah. They're like changing the world. and you know? Yeah. I'll be honest. I just had a sip. of Diet Coke. And I'll also be honest. that I have mental health issues and you. know it's we're all fighting something. and sometimes we're fighting demons from. the past. Better Help. That's right. Better Help. is here to help you if something is. interfering with your happiness or is. preventing you from achieving your. goals. Better Help will assess your. needs and match you with a licensed.

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able to go in there and talk to a guy. like that just knows so much about like. what you guys do. and um Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I think I was just I I'm intimidated by. Joe. as a person and it's nothing he does. It's just who kind of who I am and where. where I kind of come into like. relationships at at sometimes I think. But um so I think I was probably kind of. nervous about that maybe. What else? Do you still feel that way? Like even.

if I went back on still I would feel. that way. Yeah. I think some things make. me feel a little bit It was live then. also. Oh yeah, live feels very nervous, you know? Like. I wish you guys at least that's what I. feel bad for you guys. Like damn, this. is live. Like if you get hit, you can't ask them to edit it out. Like, hey, can you just edit this so it. just looks like a square dance between. two people? Um that's But uh that's.

awesome, man. I feel like in like being. alive that's like the call to get like. getting to go there and you get to go to. Austin too and see the new place. That's. cool. Yeah. Yeah, dude. That's so cool. Yeah, man. I don't really you know I was. I don't I don't see myself as someone. that's like. uh you know I I don't know if this is. the advice that I would give every. fighter or whatever. Um but like man I. remind myself all the time how much I. suck at this you know like I remind. myself that all the time. So like when. when you messaged me and was like, "Hey,

can I come on your I was like pumped?". Because like to me in my head still I. think cuz of the you know what helps me. survive is that like I still don't think. I'm like any good, you know? Like I know that I'm good. comparatively to everyone else, but I. still don't feel like I'm like. good because I I understand like what. good actually means in my brain. And so. like when I get a text from you or like. Joe or whatever and that happens and I. was like, "Oh dude. I don't really. think I'm good enough for that." Right?

You know, but yeah, maybe there's probably some of. that when I'm thinking back on that. Well, I'm trying to think if I had some. of that. Yeah. I think Well, it's also. interesting because a lot of the a lot. of life is bandwagon. A lot of people. are bandwagon. as much as we don't want. to think that we are or that other like. you know it's like but also some of it. is you have to get it's so hard to get. people's attention. Yeah. So it's not like that people didn't care. a lot of times it's like people's. attention is divided by a million.

So to get 5% of that for you know for a. day or whatever it's like it's just hard. to get people to see you in the world. because there's so many people. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but dang, that's awesome though, dude. That's really cool. Just because Yeah, Joe introduced. Actually, the first fighter I ever met I think was. from Joe and it was Al Jain Sterling at. the comedy store. Nice. Nice. And I remember thinking that this guy's. a fighter. Like not thinking that he. wasn't. You always think fighters of.

like, you know, these big like from 300. or something and then. they're just kind of like um in stature. from sight. M. he seemed like a totally normal nice. guy. Yeah. Yeah. When uh so I used to go to. alpha male a little bit, you know, team. alpha male like where Garbrandt Faber, all of those dudes. Oh, damn. Garbrand Faber uh Dillashaw used to. train there. Uh Benvitas used to train. there. So like some really good names. So anyways, Faber has the heaviest handshake, dude. You try to shake his hand. Who? Favor. You better work for logging. Yeah. The.

dude has got my god, bro. It's. like he had four hands in each hand. Like, how many hands do you have, dude? Uh, dude. So, I went out to there. because for whatever reason on our team, it's like a bunch of tall, lanky guys. Like, we don't have that build where. it's like short, stocky, strong guys. So, I go out, I wasn't even a. professional yet. I had just gone out to. help Dillashaw train for uh his fight. against Barrow. Mhm. Yeah. I was still an amateur actually. back then, but um I go out to help him,

bro. And I like get there and everyone's. this tall, bro. I was like I was like. what is going on? Like because the cage. so bro the cage at the cage at most of. our gyms are like 6 feet high you know. but the UFC cage must be like 5 foot. eight or something whatever it is. So. like when I walk into the UFC cage I. feel like a monster you know because I. can Yeah we see. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz I can kind of like look. over the cage a little bit you know. but the cages that we all use to train. in are much higher. So, like I thought.

that all of those people were like the. size of that cage, you know? So, when I. got there, I was like, all these little. guys jumping rope like, you know, I was. like, what are these guys, you know? Damn. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's funny. But yeah, the UFC cage is actually. pretty cool cuz. that's her squad right there. Yeah. Oh, damn. Yeah, dude. This looks like. Manuda. This looks like a Latino boy. band, bro. No offense either. Uh, no offense. Just everyone's jacked, too, bro. it was funny. It was funny. My.

first time out. I was like, "Oh, so Dillashaw's in y'all's weight. division.". Yep. He's a 35. And what about Henry Cejudo? He is. He's Yeah, he won the 35 belt against. He's gone. What happened to him? He went. to fight where? He He went to another. planet or something. Where is he? He might be on another planet. I think. he's retired. I think he wants a lot of. money, man. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Dana doesn't pay to his man, bro. That's the facts, dude. Yeah. You got to be, you know, you got. to be a McGregor, I think, to get the. money that he's asking for. Wow.

But, but at a certain level, you got to. decide, yeah, is this is it worth me. doing this again, you know? Yeah. But you also know what's cool in. MMA, too, is that like Ceudo could come. back in a couple years. Like that's a. real thing. Like that what sport is like that, you. know, where it's just like, yeah, I'm. I'm back. Yeah. You know, guess what? Yeah. Like Troy Aman just comes back and. put him in a game. no. That's. really true, bro. Yeah. There's no other. sport like that. And it's been. fascinating that during this pandemic. that.

that they were able you guys were able. to get it done. I mean, it's really because it's like. the sport has progressed so much. So. many new eyes on the sport. I mean, the amount of like followers and. um supporters that people are getting. now, I mean, it's huge. And it's. allowing, and I feel like this is one of. the ways that God even things out, is. that a lot of guys not getting paid. fairly via the organization. And you. don't have to agree with that. That's my. own summation of it, and I'm just a fan,

and I don't know very much, but now a. lot of them are able to do other. marketing things and do other things. um where they're able to make some extra. money because their followings are also. getting so big. Sure. Sure. So that's really like such a. blessing for those guys, you know, cuz. to go out there and put your I mean. a guy comes out of there with one eye, you know, and it's like and he's got. $11,000, you know, like Jesus. Christ. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're right. You know, um dude, if I wasn't able to. fight in the last year because the UFC.

had to shut down, I don't know what I. would do, man. I would be half crazy, bro. What would you have done? What's the job. you would have gone into? And we'll pull. that question up right now. Is this it, Nick? Boom. This question is for Corey, but Theo, you can answer it, too, if you want. Um, I was wondering, what would you do as an. occupation if you weren't an MMA fighter. for the UFC? Thanks, gang. Gang. gang, bro. So, that would have been it, man. What would you have done, you. think, in this time if would have.

gone away? You got to do something. I mean, I I told you I was working at. that uh residential treatment facility. Yeah. So, I was working there. I mean, I probably would still be doing. that, you know, like uh before the UFC. when I was actually getting paid like um. I was doing that, bro, like overnights, Saturdays, Sundays. Wow. Uh I was working 12elves, you know. I'm. not going to say it was like I was. grinding a 60 hour week, you know? Like. it was probably like 20 to 25 hours a. week, but that was on top of maybe like.

20 25 hours of training and then like. another probably 10 or 15 hours of like. holding mits for people and trying to. make money that way too. So I'd probably. be doing something in social work is my. guess, you know, like uh that like kids, bro, I'd much rather have a conversation. with a kid than I would like an adult. any day of the week. Like I just get. along with them better. I I think that. they have more, you know, advice that. maybe is a little bit better than a lot. of adults advice, you know, and I I I. like learning from kids, man. Like.

that's uh that's my second thing in. life, you know, it's fighting and then. it's probably, you know, just hanging. out with kids in in any type of setting. I think when I was 16 even, I I used to. work at this daycare center. Um I would. I would leave high school, boom, go to. there. It was at the elementary school. that I was with. I would work there till. 6:00 and I was doing that 5 days a week. and then uh and then I went off to. college and then right after college I. went and got that treatment facility gig. and then uh yeah so I've been around. kids I'm teaching the kids program at.

high altitude martial arts in. Yep. dude that's dope bro. Yeah, man. I just. like they must be so psyched for. dude. They only started giving me. respect when I got into the video game, bro. They don't video game now. Yeah. Damn. Yeah, that's what uh that's bro. All of. them come up to me. They don't know, you. know, like they're like they watch my. fights now, but before it was just like, you fighting John Cena? When you. fighting John Cena? I'm like shut up. And then now and they wouldn't, you. know, like they would listen, but they.

wouldn't really listen. And now that I'm. in a game and now they all chirp to each. other that I'm in a video game. Like now. it's like, you know, I got some juice. Now I get to call. virtual man. Yeah. The guy's He's got a. hologram, dude. That uh it brings you up. to those top notch. Have you seen those. basketball cards that are out now? Oh yeah. Yeah. You see this? Uhuh. Let's bring this up, man. Top notch. So there's a new So we grew up. collecting the regular cards, Christian, I'm sure you probably did, too, man. Collecting some type of a card. Baseball, basketball, football. Now the.

cards are virtual. It's um. Top Shop. Top Shop. Oh, bro. I heard of uh I heard that. they're doing like virtual art also. where you can earn or buy virtual art. Really? I think so. I I sometimes just make stuff up though. I I I would believe something like that. I mean, this is you get a card. Can you. show us what one of the cards is, Nick? Yeah, this is. this is it right here. So, just an. example, you can get a Tyler Harrow Top. Shot and it's basically just a play. you. own. They have a limited number of these that.

they make. And if you get that in your pack, then. you get that. You buy it like a pack of. cards for a certain amount of money. You. open it up, it has a certain number of. these in it. And instead of a just a. image of them doing something, you have. a video. of them doing something. So, you could. eventually some point you could have a. top shot. How do you feel about this? You know, I will admit that I set an. alarm this morning to get up and buy. some and slept through it. uh. where you got to wake up to get them. Well, yeah, they only release it at 9:00.

a.m. That's what they're doing right. now. So, I think that's where I'm at with it. I'm. curious, but I'm also willing to. continue to get some rest. And he's eventually going to lose. $5,000. You still watch basketball? Uh I don't watch basketball anymore. No, me neither. I I it got away from me. I think it was. one of the sports that got away from me. during the pandemic. Even before that, I. wasn't that into it. So, what are you buying then? Um that's a good point. I would just be. buying just for the novelty. Oh yeah, that's what I would do is just for the. novelty. I think yeah, during this pandemic, I.

got a lot more into watching you guys'. sport. And. it's weird now, right, to not have a. fight on a Saturday. Like I don't know when that happened, but like for me at least in my life, like it's like, "Oh, there's no fight. this Saturday." Like that's like a week. It's like a weekly thing a little bit to. me. Yeah. From end of December to like. January 22nd, there was It was three. Saturdays in a row. That was. horrible. Yeah, it was weird, right? And there's like little things that are. just kind of funny. Like I'll remember. every time he fights, I'll remember that. it's uh Glover to share, not Glover. And.

that always blows my mind. Just. like little things that kind of keep me. excited about the sport, you know? Um. but it's fun to like see guys and then. go back and watch their old fights. and just kind of learn like just some of. the history of what goes on. It's fun to. go to classes and then like um and like. kind of get to have a better idea of. like why people are kind of doing little. things in the inside of y'all's ring. Um. the punching part still kind of really.

spooks me out. But the um. yeah, it just makes me a little. nervous, you know? Yeah. I just don't. know if I'm ready for that. But I think. part of me wants eventually to get out. there and really just get beat up, you. know, and just go through that, you know, because I think there's something. there's a more unique me on the other. side of that. Yeah. And so, you know, that's Yeah. Like I. think uh some of that's kind of. intriguing to me. And it's funny cuz. that three, four, five years ago, that.

never would have been something that. would come out of my mouth. So, it's. interesting to see an effect like. somebody like Joe Rogan has had an. effect on so many comedians of wanting. to learn about um mixed martial arts and. just bringing eyeballs to it. And then. also, I think it helps with a lot of. trauma. I think it helps people get rid. of like. just deeprooted like uncomfort and. anger. It makes me realize that I can. interact with another man and be okay. I'm not gonna like I can fight. technically fight but still also be okay.

and there's going to be a level of. respect where I think when I was growing. up nobody was teaching me any kind of. lesson of like. you know you can hit somebody or hit. them they can hit you back and you can. still then be you know there was nobody. was teaching me any level of human. interaction. that had to do with or or how to manage. any kind of anger. So, I just think as. an adult it's like it kind of sucks cuz. I'm having to learn like a lot of like. stuff from childhood late in life. But.

that's that there's nothing I can do. about that. That's just my life. And um. but I do think it's fascinating how. going and getting on the mats and like. there's a level of camaraderie. There's. a level of tough guys that accept you. whereas when you're growing up the tough. guys are always like. it's the that that's the bully. that's. the guy you're afraid to be around or at. least you think you are, you know. So, I think there's so many. little levels of like um helpful human. interaction that go along with it. Um.

that's fascinating. That's why I think. it's fascinating that the childhood. trauma I bet that that kind of stuff can. probably be so helpful to those kids, you know? Yep. I mean, I I don't do any of that. with the kids, but yeah, man. I think I. I mean it's interesting to listen to you. talk because I think everyone does it. for like a different reason, you know, and I think that that's part of like the. really cool part is that. there could be a number of different. things and different paths or whatever. and like like you said, man, it's like. uh. it can help with like a lot of things.

and like there's a level of camaraderie. to it and yeah, all of that good stuff, man. It's good. I think, bro, and like. you watch any animal like they're all. little when they're puppies, bro, they're all fighting each other. Like. puppies fight each other. Little baby. anythings are always like wrestling and. fighting each other, you know? Yeah. It's funny. And we take our kids. and let them just sit there and. eat cookies. Fight these. Even little kids though. Even little. kids. If you put two little kids in a. room together and you leave nothing else. in there, they'll probably start. wrestling each other. You know,

we need to encourage. It's in It's inside of everyone, bro. Like that's a I'm a big believer of like. us, bro. We're just an animal species. that is like this much smarter than all. the other animal species, bro. But we're. still that animal species. And like we. still do like we still want more. Like. we still want to take territory just. like every other animal. We still want. to gather more resources and more food. just like every other animal, you know? And we still want to fight just like. every other animal.

Yeah, dude. It's weird, too. I don't know. You You. said you haven't started uh like. punching and stuff. No. No. No. No. So, so you. got to irrve over it there as a coach. that that that that teaches that. So, so let me know after you do that. how I feel. Well, I just want to know if you're able. to hit someone. Okay. Because I have a lot of people that I. coach where they're like, man, like it's. so weird to like hit like I don't want. to hit someone, you know? It's like. weird for me to hit someone. And I'm. like, yeah, because we were told not to. do it our whole lives. You're told not. to hit someone your entire life. It's. like it's not going to feel normal to.

like throw a Have you ever had a dream. like that where you go to punch someone. in a dream and you like to tell you that. you can't do it? Yeah. Everyone has that. dream. I've had a million dreams where I can't. even I can literally get my fist to. right here and it won't. go anymore. I've had it I've had it. probably 200 times. It's weird, huh? And it's weird. Yeah. And I I'll feel. like I'm trying it again and it will not. do it. It's weird, man. And there's some like it's like a wall. that's like connected to like my. feeling. I don't know what it is, but. there's some. That's crazy you said that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think everyone has.

that dream or at least I a lot of people. that I've talked to at least at the gym. and it's like yeah because we're told. not to do this or maybe we're like. innately really nice creatures and we. don't want to hurt people. But also I. think that it's like we we're told not. to do it our whole lives. Like it's. weird hitting someone, man. Like it's. weird. Yeah. Yeah. I think it'll be. interesting, man. I I I'll have to. update you, dude. Um, but I'm trying to think if we covered. everything, Nick. Yeah, I think so. I I did actually. Uh,

did you plan You probably plan the knee. cuz like everybody was saying like. Frankie bobs his head when he's like. Well, Go on. Sorry. Did you Did you plan the wheel kick? Was. that something you guys talked about or. did you just do that in the moment. against Morice? Yeah, that was just in the moment. Uh. everything was kind of just in the. moment. Uh wi with uh yeah, it's a lot. of not thinking and just letting like. the the system play out. I I think a. little bit with Frankie is there was. maybe a little bit more like quick. thinking going on where I I didn't know.

how what he was going to do when we were. fighting. Like I knew that he'd be eager. to wrestle because everyone likely. thinks that my wrestling is terrible. just based off of, you know, my my fight. with Sterling, which is really the only. wrestling in exchange that I've had in. the UFC. So, I I thought he'd be a. little bit quick to wrestle and then he. threw like a couple combinations and I. was like, "Oh, this guy, you know, he. he's going to, you know, at least throw. a few punches." And then I threw I threw. the kick and I heard his corner say, "Uh, that's it, Frankie. That's it.".

like and he was excited that he got out. of the way of something that I threw, you know, because. not that and I don't mean to sound. arrogant, but if I'm Frankie fighting me. after I beat Marice that way and just. based off of my other performances, I'm. probably a little bit, you know, maybe. not the most confident guy in the world, uh, being that Frankie got knocked out a. couple times before his fight with Munoz. or whatever. So anyways, when when I heard his coach praise him. for him missing, I saw like a little bit.

of spunk in him, you know, and I was. like, "Ah, he's either going to try to. shoot or he's going to try to attack. again." And then uh. because that's a reaction when people. get a little bit of heightened energy is. one of the first reactions is to then do. something. Yep. Yep. He's like, "Oh, I'm doing. good." And then and then and I noticed. every time he got close to me, he was he. was trying to do something, you know? He. was trying to hit. I think he kicked me. one time, too. But there was no like. there was no uh playing there or seeing.

what I was going to do. It was just. like, "Hey, when we get close enough to. this guy, try to hit him." And like he. did that twice. And then I was like, "Okay, he's probably going to do it a. third time." And that's when that's when. I threw that. Cuz you'd thrown it against Moras, but. it didn't land. Right. I've thrown it a number of times, you. know, because I mean I fight everyone. that's shorter than me, so like it'd be. stupid for me not to. Oh, yeah. You know, throw something like that. It's really just like an uppercut with. your leg. Yeah, pretty much. Yeah, uppercut with your leg. But um Damn, man. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that's looked dramatic. Yeah, it was vicious. Yeah, it was nasty.

Jesus Christ. Still makes me sad, bro. I mean, I think Yeah, maybe that's why I. can't punch people. I think that just. makes me sad. Is it hard for. Christian to keep challenging you? I. know your coach is here, so I want I. want to give you one question about him. Is it hard for him to keep challenging. you? Like, what do you guys do? like. what is what's kind of different um. about as you evolve as a fighter and as. you kind of put some wins together, what. is what does coaching look like? Is it. harder for you to learn? Do you feel.

like less of a pupil? Any any any of. those questions laying with you? Yeah, I think it's a little bit more. cooperative the way that we work. together. It's more of like a. interaction opposed to him telling me. what to do, but it was never really like. that. Anyways, I will say like uh. Christian's a really interesting guy, you know, and uh I think that uh he. lives by his own set of rules. He's like. a super uh don't think, just don't. think, you know, he's very radical in. the idea of like just be present and.

don't think. And I think that that makes. him. super super creative. Uh, and I think. that it makes it so that he doesn't view. things in a way that is old or is. uh damaged by any other way of doing. things. You know, it'd be like it'd be. like if you went out and did a comedy. standup and hadn't watched any standup. before and you just tried to make people. laugh. Like I feel like that's how he. approaches a lot of things. And. obviously that's more or less. impossible.

No, but that's kind of fascinating. Yeah. But that's how he looks at stuff. So like man, like I'm totally grateful. Like like I said, man, he's one of my. best friends. I you know, like he's. taught me how to be the way that I am. and to view things in the exact same way. and uh I've worked with like a lot of. coaches and I mean he's you know, he's. the most creative guy in martial arts. that I've ever met. It's interesting and it really fits your. style, I think, in your sense of. capabilities, you know. Um even Sugar. Sean's kind of that same way. you guys. are both such kind of malleable,

capable, almost like cool to see on a video game. type of fighters cuz you have moves that. are kind of a little bit unorthodox or. unique or rare. Yeah. Um like when I watch your fights, I'm. always like, I wonder what if there's. going to be something new that I'll see. out of him that I haven't seen before. And that's kind of interesting because. you don't always think that about. different fighters, you know. Y. um. that's good, man. cuz every time I want. to look different, bro. Like I was.

actually really excited in the last one. to show off a bunch of the wrestling and. grappling stuff that I had been working. because it's really cool. Like it's. really really cool. Like some of the. stuff that I've uh I don't know how much. he wants me to say his name or whatever, but Ryan Hall. Do you know who Ryan Hall. is? I know Kyle Hall, but I don't think. there a different this I mean obviously. it's a different guy, but I don't even. know what So Ryan also fights in the. UFC. He hasn't fought in a couple years, but uh. man, some of the grappling stuff that. I'm doing with him is just so cool, bro.

And like uh I think it's going to be. super exciting when I actually get to do. it against like hopefully for a world. title, you know? Like I'm pumped for. that. Is it kind of disappointing sometimes. because you guys have all these plans, you go into the fight and then sometimes. the fight ends so quick, you're like, "Fuck, dude. We didn't even get to do. that.". Never, dude. Never. No, no, no, no. Any. bro, anytime it can go like how it went. last time, dude. Sign me up for that. every single time, dude. Every. single time. Yeah, I guess cuz I would always be bum.

like damn, dude. We didn't get to do any. of the freaking headlocks, you know? That's how I feel like that would be. But yeah, maybe you're right, dude. Maybe you're right, man. Um Corey. Sanhagen, man. Bro, thank you so much. for coming in, dude. and for just. letting somebody who doesn't know much. about fighting just kind of freely talk. about you guys' sport, you know, and not. like uh, you know, it's just nice to be. able to, you know, if I get things wrong. or or not get them right or something to. not like feel like I'm, you know, uh, being disrespectful to what you guys do,

you know, cuz it's hard to learn and. talk about things at the same time. Um, but it's exciting, man. So, thank you. guys. Congrats on all your success, bro. Yeah. Excited to keep watching it, dude. Yep. Cool. Thank you. Yeah. Thanks a lot. for having me on, bro. You bet, man. Y. now I'm just floating on the breeze and. I feel I'm falling like these leaves. I. must be corner stone. Oh, but when I reach that ground, I'll. share this peace of mind I found. I can. feel it in my bones.

But it's going to take. a little time. for me to set that parking brake and let. myself. shine that light on me. I'll sit and tell you my story. Shine. on me.

and I will find a song. I will sing it. just. and now I've been moving way too fast on. the runaway train with a heavy load of. my hand. And these riddles that I've been riding. on, they w so thin that they're damn. near gone. I guess now they just.