Full Transcript for 13: Are Fighters Today Weak? : The Truth In MMA Nobody Wants To Admit With Brian "Goze" MMA Junkies Host Brian "Goze" Garcia

sweet. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:52.400 I I miss that whole dynamic. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:57.519 I mean, people don't realize like opening that brew pub was like the coolest thing ever. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:08.800 And I tell people all the time, because that's all I do is work with founders on businesses now, and it's like when you open up something like that and the culture is so deep, it's like people literally like want to work with for you for free. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:12.000 Like it's just such a cool environment, it's so cool culture. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:20.319 And I think there's also a component of that with MMA, you know, like guys just trying to get come in and give their information and just be around the guys or just fight and train. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:22.560 And it's just it's very family oriented. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:33.360 I had Eric Nixick on here um last season and just talking about that family orientation and also you've been in Vegas long enough to know how small it really is and how connected we really are. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:39.360 But I I really actually, you know, I just want the the founders that that watch the show to to kind of hear a little bit about your story. 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:45.199 I mean, from what I know, I mean you were you felt kind of fell into the whole podcasting thing. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:46.080 Is that correct? 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.120 And this is when I mean was Joe Rogan even around yet? 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:49.759 Podcasting? 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:50.080 I don't know. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:54.080 I mean, you guys wake up Joe Rogan to do interviews. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:56.240 So yeah, he wasn't around then. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.639 Yeah, tell us about how that got going. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.840 So well, my real name is Brian. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:03.439 Okay, a lot of people don't know that. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:11.520 Uh the reason why I go by goes is because when we started our show, podcasting didn't, it didn't even have that name of podcast. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:13.039 There was no name for it. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:20.719 And my family have like a lot of um doctors, lawyers, dentists, things like that, right? 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:29.919 And so I was right around the time where I was going to school and all that, and I just felt weird telling people this is what I'm gonna try out for now. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:31.439 And so I said, you know what? 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:33.120 I don't want to use my real name. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:36.639 Ghose is a nickname that my brother gave me when I was a little kid. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:38.639 I go, let's just use that. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.479 And so I got stuck with that. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:42.960 And so now everybody calls me that. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:51.520 And it's funny because when I run into people that I went to high school with, they'll ask me what I do for a living, and I tell

them, and they'll they'll go, Oh, like that goes guy that graduated with us. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:52.719 And I'm like, that's me. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.560 Like, that's who I am. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:00.560 And so nobody, like half of my life doesn't know who goes is, and then the other half only knows Ghose. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:10.319 But um, we were fans of uh uh radio shows called Sound Off Radio from MMA Weekly, and it was uh hosted by Ryan Bennett and Frank Trig. 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:13.039 And that was our routine every day. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:16.319 Like this is this was a sport that people didn't accept back then. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:18.079 So the community is very, very small. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:23.279 So when you would run into somebody, like when you go to school and you saw somebody with a tap-out shirt, you'd lose your mind, you know. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:25.759 You'd like, oh my God, I can talk to somebody about this. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:34.959 So um, having this group of people that would listen to the show and go in their chat room every day, and you would make friends from all around the world, that was our routine. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:40.800 So before school, I would listen to the show and then I would go to university and my brother, same thing, would go to work. 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:48.079 And they would put this thing out where they'd say, like, we're gonna be in LA for UFC 48 or something like that, right? 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:50.160 And they would invite people to come out. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.240 So we would go out and we met them, and we kind of just became friends with them. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:05:01.680 So every time they would come anywhere near us, growing up in Orange County, and then you know, Vegas is so close, we would try and meet up with them. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:03.439 And so we just became friends. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:10.319 And one show was uh UFC 50, I believe, was at the Staples Center. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:15.759 And after that show, Ryan Bennett, the host of the show, he passed away in a car accident. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:18.240 And so the show just stopped. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:28.560 And um, our routine of going every morning and talking to all these people in the chat room, hearing the show, uh, we'd still show up every day and we would all chat, how's everybody doing? 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:31.439 You know, talk about some of the new latest stuff. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:38.720 But after a while, a group that was like 100 every day turned into like 70 and then 50, and then you know, it started dwindling. 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:45.839 And so one day, um, I was at iHop with my brother, and we were just talking about how sad it was. 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:49.439 You know, we used to love this so much, and it's gone away. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:06:00.959 And at the time, I had been doing this gonna give your audience an idea of how old I am, but I would do

interviews on MySpace and I would uh I'd cover pride using my MySpace credentials. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:05.920 And so I had this blog, and I would interview fighters, and then I would do like rants and stuff like that. 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:11.759 But it got really big and it got to the point where every day when you post a blog, it'd have like the top 10, right? 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:19.199 It's always like Kim Kardashian and uh Paris Hilton, and I was always like number six, you know, in the top 10, number four. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:28.800 And uh so I had this audience, and I told my brother, I go, Well, have you ever thought about like why don't you do a show with Trig, the Frank Trig, the the leftover guy? 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:30.639 And he was like, Well, how would I do it? 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:32.959 And I was like, dude, I'll take care of everything. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:34.639 You guys just talk. 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:38.879 So we called him up and we asked him, Would you be interested in doing this? 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:44.480 And he's like, Well, I kind of I've been asked, but I kind of only want to do it with people I like. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.199 And he goes, I like you guys, so let's do it. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:50.959 So from the moment that we did that, we said, if we're gonna do it, let's do it right. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:55.519 And so we hired all these people that knew about podcasting equipment and stuff like that. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:59.839 And six months later, we did our first show, and it just blew up from there. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:00.959 It would not stop. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:06.879 Like people loved having a show, they loved the fact that a fighter was on, that you could call in and and all that. 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:12.240 And so all the things that we were working towards in our personal lives kind of got put to the shelf a little bit. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:16.480 So, like I have a degree in psychology, and I went to school and I graduated. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:20.879 Never, you know, this was always just gaining traction on that gaining traction. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.720 And this is where my focus was. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:30.480 And before I knew it, now this is uh in a few months, we'll be 19 years of doing our show, and we've never looked back, we've never been able to catch up. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.680 It just keeps growing and keeps growing, and the sport now is huge. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.600 So that's kind of how this got started. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:36.639 Dude, that's crazy. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:41.759 I mean, I guess the the first question I have is what happened to Frank and how'd you slide in there? 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:54.399 So, okay, on day one, when I when we put this all together, I told them, I go, look, I have this audience, I will announce it to them, bring them over, but the one thing I don't want to ever do is talk. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.879 I just want to produce it and screw around. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.439 And that went away in the first episode. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:02.720 Um, we were so nervous that first episode. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:08.319 And so we were picking up Frank Trig from the airport, and he had just fought Robbie Lawler. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:11.279 And so we had this game plan of what we were gonna do. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.519 We made the announcement, this is when we go live. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:18.879 So we pick him up about like 45 minutes before the show started, because the airport was like right next to our house. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:20.639 And we go, okay, this is what we're gonna do. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:22.399 We're gonna talk about the fight, we're gonna do this and that. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:24.720 And Frank goes, the first thing he says is nope. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:26.399 We're like, Nope. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.720 And he's like, We can't talk about the fight. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:33.360 And we're like, that's the whole premise of the first show and why you're here. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:34.879 And he's like, we can't do it. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:35.840 And we're like, why? 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.759 And he's like, I don't remember any of it. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:39.679 And so we're like, oh my god. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:46.879 So we get home, and my brother's like, dude, okay, I have my co-host doesn't want to talk about a fight because he doesn't remember it. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:49.120 And I'm scared, this is my first show. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:52.480 He goes, I need you to help me like talk do some stuff. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:53.840 So then we started. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.840 I think Frank was like, do a tequila shot, you know, we'll take off the edge. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:00.159 We did one and we were like, We don't feel anything. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.320 He's like, do another one, and we did another one. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:10.960 And then uh we started the show, and I think we were just a little bit more tipsy than we thought, and it just everything flowed a little better, I guess. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.320 Maybe it did take the edge off. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:18.240 And I was talking, George was talking, Trig was talking, and we just felt like the dynamic of the three of us was just better. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:22.720 And so that's how I slipped into just being a co-host and actually talking. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:24.000 That's crazy. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:25.919 Just like day one, let's go all in. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:27.679 A couple shots of tequila and I'm all in. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:28.320 I like it. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:29.440 Pretty much. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:32.240 You know, I'm just gonna ask questions selfishly for myself. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:39.279 I'm sure the family, you know, the uh the uh the people want to know, but I'm curious how you

you got I mean, you've been at you were at Mandalay Bay for a very long time. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:40.799 I don't know if you're still there. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:41.919 I think you are. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:43.600 Studio's still there. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:44.159 Okay. 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:53.440 So what happened with that was um this with this show, man, like things were almost ridiculous how easy they would come from time to time. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:58.879 And one day we were just walking by and we saw a guy doing a show, and we were like, wouldn't it be cool to do the show there? 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:00.879 And we asked the guy, like, how'd you get in here? 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:03.200 And he goes, Oh, I could set you up with a meeting or whatever. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:09.360 So we had a meeting, and um, we got there and uh they said, Well, what do you do? 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:19.759 And we told them we have a fighter, and they said, Okay, well, um how about three months do your show and then we'll reconvene and we'll see from there. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:24.159 We were waiting for them to go, and the rent is this, but they never said anything. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:33.440 So we're like, okay, so we took all of our stuff and we started broadcasting from Mandalay Bay, and after three months, we had this meeting again. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:44.639 We came back and they kind of looked at us and they go, Well, we don't know what the hell you guys are doing, but when we get like our reports of like our Google reports and all that, it's littered with you guys. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:46.080 It's like at the very top. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.879 So we don't care what you're doing, just keep doing that. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:52.879 And so we stayed there for just a little bit over 10 years. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:55.919 When the pandemic hit, all the hotels closed down, right? 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:56.799 So yeah. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:06.879 Luckily, George and I, there were some things that we were noticing, we're just going down there to do stuff that takes like 20 minutes, and then uh we have to come all the way back. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:09.120 So we started building a home studio. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.519 So I have like this back here, right? 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:14.559 We were just doing that when the pandemic hit. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:20.000 And so we were on Sirius XM and all of our equipment to connect to them was there. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.039 And so we came home, we started doing things this way. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:28.399 And so after about three months, I think they reopened, but you had to wear a mask. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.120 And so can you imagine what I would sound like if I'm on the radio trying to do it with a mask? 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.200 But that was just the rule that they had. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:42.480 And so three months turned into about eight months, and by then

the world just changed. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.720 People were used to doing things this way. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:52.240 So fighters would be like, oh man, I gotta drive to Mandalay Bay, I gotta pay for parking, I gotta go in your studio, I'm gonna sit there for an hour. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:57.360 That's like two hours of my day are gone for something that I can just do in 15 minutes from home. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.399 Because now everybody else is starting to use Zoom and stuff like that. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.759 So our show had to adapt. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:04.399 So to answer your question, the studio is still there. 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:06.000 We can use it when we like. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:16.559 It's just to do what we need to do, we would have to take a lot of equipment, set it up, do it, and then bring it all back and for something that like basically you and I are about to do in an hour, right? 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:19.039 It would take three hours over there. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:24.320 So we still have it, we could still use it, but uh right now we do most uh mostly everything from home. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.039 That's awesome. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.240 It's so much more convenient. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:34.399 You know, I think there are some drawbacks to not being in person all the time, you know, but I do think it's made the world much more convenient. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:36.480 So, all right, I have a question for you then. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:52.720 I'm curious because you have a completely different path than me, like all these just doors open, flooding, like like what has been, I mean, you already talked about the pandemic, but has there been anything else that's been really challenging for you as you've gone down this path in from from a business perspective or even personal? 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.559 A little bit of both. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:13:02.799 So a lot of it was at the start with um people just not accepting this to be anything that's gonna stick around. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:06.879 It's a violent sport, and a lot of people were not on board in the beginning. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:11.679 And so people would think I was like crazy when I would tell them what I do for a living. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:16.159 And it and a lot of family members too, like, what are you doing with your life? 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.279 You know, that sort of thing. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:23.759 And I remember when I was in school, I love this sport so much that I would record these fights, right? 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.320 And I would put them all on one VHS. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:32.000 Now I'd take them to school and I'd try and show my friends, and I would eventually like sell tapes, you know, for like 10 bucks. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:37.919 And um, a teacher pulled one out of my backpack one day, and she just said, You're not supposed to have this. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:43.679 And

the next day I came back to school and she told me I watched that tape. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.200 I need you to go to the office today at like 1 p.m. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:47.600 or something. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.559 I'm like, okay. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.840 So I go to the office and I'm in this room with all these people. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:57.360 There's like the district psychologist is there, and the principal, assistant principal, she's there. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.480 And they're asking me, like, are you okay? 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:02.480 Or like, do your parents beat you up? 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.399 Or what you know, are are you all right? 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:08.399 I remember when they like shook my hand, they kind of like one of them raised my shirt a little bit. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:10.720 I think they were looking for like bruising and stuff. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.240 And I was like, What's going on? 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:19.360 They're like, Well, we found we saw what was on your tape, and we want to know why you like so much violence and what's what's going on with you. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.519 And I'm like, Well, I don't know. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.279 I mean, I I love boxing. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.720 I love I do martial arts, I do karate here at the school. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:31.120 You guys have a a class at night, and um, I just like it. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.559 It's I think it's really cool. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:34.159 And the teacher was really mad. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.960 And I remember she told me one thing one time that stuck with me. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:43.600 She said, Um, telling cracking jokes and and watching sports is never gonna get you anywhere in life. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.879 You need to be serious about it. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:47.039 And I always like stuck that with me. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.240 It always stuck with me. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:54.879 And so like throughout my whole life, I I had a lot of people that would always say that, like, what you're doing is just a fad. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.519 You need to invest in the future in your life. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.279 This is never gonna work out. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:05.840 And so part of it you get upset because you're like, this is something I love and I'm not getting support. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:09.600 But at the same time, some of it is like fuel, right? 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.639 It's like, well, okay, wait till I prove you wrong. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:27.600 And so actually to tie that whole story together about this is going on like 15 years now, um, I got asked by that high school to come back and speak to the I thought I was gonna speak to um like a class, you know? 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.080 Yeah. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.360 Yeah, that's no problem. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.840 I'll I'll go and I'll talk to 30 kids. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:35.440 So they bring me in the gym and the the whole class the whole school's there. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.559 And I'm like, what's going on? 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.799 One of the American gladiators was there. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:42.879 I guess he graduated from our school and some like real famous radio DJ. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.320 No shit in Vegas. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.519 Or is this Orange County? 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.960 No, no, this is Orange County. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:51.360 So as I'm up there and I'm like, dude, I'm not expecting this. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:55.440 And so I go up there and I kind of tell a little bit of what I do and what my story is. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:58.399 And um, I saw that teacher in the crowd. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:02.559 And it was like everything I wanted to talk about went completely out the window. 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:05.600 And I was like, I'm gonna tell you guys a story. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.519 And I told the story of what they told me. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:17.440 And I said, you know, in life, a lot of people are gonna try and push you down and keep you down, and and you at the end of the day, what you want to do for a living, you have to like it. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.519 You have to enjoy it, you have to enjoy your life. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.519 And um, and anyways, I told the story of what that teacher. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:34.320 I didn't point her out, but uh, but she she heard and she she remembered, and afterwards she came up to me and she kind of played it off like, Oh, I guess I had a big influence on you. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.919 And she said that. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.919 Yeah, don't mistake what you did as support. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.639 You know, you were just fueled, but you didn't help me. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:50.320 And but yeah, life has been kind of like I think that's like the the hardest part is people just not taking what I do for a living serious. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:54.960 And now I get the chance to tell them, well, look, I've been doing it for 19 years. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:58.240 I work for USA Today, it's the biggest new newspaper in the world. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.080 I'm proud of the things that I've done. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:07.920 Maybe had I gone another route, I could have more things or different things or have lives that's closer to what seems to be normal. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.680 But I don't know that I'd be happy. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:13.119 And at the end of the day, I'm I'm a happy person doing what I'm doing. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:13.519 Bro. 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.759 One, I just want to thank you for such a vulnerable and powerful story. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.640 Like, I just think it's so beautiful, and I think about your life, right? 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:29.039 I mean, like you get an opportunity to be around all the people that like it's like you're the

biggest fan ever, and they're like in your lives, and you're probably friends with them, you know. 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.880 And I think that that's awesome. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.759 It's you know, I'll say, I'll say a couple things. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.599 One is, you know, it is a little crazy, you know, to be a fighter. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:54.799 Yeah, it is really violent, and and you know, I've I've been in the cage, and I think one thing I would say is we were joking earlier that, you know, I spent I I mean I I made$250 to fight top 10 guy in the world at the time, you know, Jason Miller, and your buddy spent$250 at the movie theater the other day, I think is what you said. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:04.319 And it was just interesting to me because back then, you know, you really had to have a love for what you were doing because there was just no money in it. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:07.599 I mean, Dana White, I think, lost money for a decade, they said. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:21.680 And I even remember it being so popular, but so like even when jujitsu, like you go to grapplers quests and there'd be guys in the corner, you know, warming up like they were gonna go box, but they're gonna go grapple because it was just it was all so new and nothing had really developed yet. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:30.960 And I guess what I want to lead that statement into is what is your thoughts on the mindset of the fighters today versus the fighters back then? 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.400 And I'll just give you an easy example. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:35.119 You know, Mike Tyson said he's like, you know, I was a killer. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:37.200 These kids today are just in it for the money. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:43.359 And I'm just curious your thoughts, because I mean, MMA is not boxing money yet, but bro, they're making millions of dollars. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.079 You know what I mean? 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.359 And we we were not. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:51.519 I mean, we were making, I mean, if you were a pro and you were winning, you were making a hundred grand, two hundred grand, that's a big difference. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:56.319 There's a big difference between the old guard and the new guard. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:16.880 And I always tell if a if a fighter for some reason asks me for advice, the number one thing I always tell him is when you come across some of these legends of the sport, pull them aside and shake their hand and thank them for what they did because what they went through compared to what you're going through is completely different. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:21.279 And had they not gone through that, you wouldn't have what you have today. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:28.559 And um I think one of the probably the biggest things that stands out to me is accountability. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:37.440 Back in the day, fighters, they would um they lose, they would beat themselves up, and they would try and figure out what I need to do to be better. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:44.079 Nowadays, a fighter loses, the first thing they do is blame the manager, blame the coach, blame the system. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:47.599 You know, I'm gonna move camps, I'm gonna do this, do that, and they keep doing that. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.680 And every fight there's a different story. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:53.920 And I think they're not as accountable because they've been given everything. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:20:02.160 You know, you just you go to the UFCPI, they didn't even have health insurance when you were doing this, you know, like they didn't have any of these things. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:10.160 I remember being around fighters, like Trig, we'd be doing the show and he'd go, he'd look at his phone and he'd go, Oh, okay, we got training today. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:20.720 And it was just a text message between him, Frank Mir, Randy Couture, uh, Marvin Eastman, and they would just pick like a gym and go, we'll be here today at six. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.799 That's how they got their training in. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.200 And they were so excited when somebody new came in. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:27.279 They're like, dude, I don't know any striking. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.640 I can now I can learn from this guy. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.480 This guy didn't know any jujitsu. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.759 Do you get everything now? 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:36.400 The UFC PI is there, there's coaches everywhere, there's gyms on every corner. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:43.039 You have to be thankful for some of those things that that the old guard had to go through for you to get that. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:47.119 And um, those are probably the the the two biggest things for me, man. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:53.519 Our fighters, I think, today need to be a little bit more accountable for what they have to bring to the table. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:58.640 They're so used to everybody giving things to them that they don't earn it the way your generation did. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:02.400 You know, I was gonna actually ask you that if you think it's generational. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:06.799 And I I'll just express this is that, you know, I I'll give you, I'll give you a couple examples. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:11.279 So we wanted to learn jujitsu, and there was no jujitsu in Las Vegas, literally zero. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.000 Crazy, huh? 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:17.119 So we would drive to Torrance to train with Higan Machado and come back. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:26.319 And then John Lewis comes to town, and I can't train with John because he's Nova Unya and these guys are Machados, but I'm like, damn it, like these guys are like really good at what they do. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:32.880 And then John started bringing in Tito and Chuck and all the guys, and it was just, yeah, it was such a different world back then. 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:45.039 And you know, I

even remember a Lovato, Rafael Lovato Jr., saying that his father and him would go from Oklahoma City or Oklahoma somewhere down to Texas for the weekend. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.799 I think to train with Carlos Gracie. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.680 I can't remember who it was. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:49.519 No, to train with uh Shonde. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:58.960 And Shonde, like, imagine just like having to travel like to another state and spend the night for two nights once a month just to get some information so you could train. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:03.759 And then you go to a Place like like I'm in Colombia in Medellin, and like we have an awesome school. 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:07.279 The black belts at Cobrina Black Belt teaching is a great guy, Gijo. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:08.559 It's wild. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:10.880 And I guess the real question to you is do you think it's just fighters? 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.400 You think it's just this generation in general? 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:22.000 I think it's a little a lot of it is generation, you know, and like I think uh even I think every generation is responsible for something. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:30.960 Like we're probably the same generation, and I'm sure our parents kind of looked at them, looked at us and went, look at these dorks running around on their bikes and their skateboards. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.680 I wish I had that, you know, like things like that. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:50.079 But you have to be able to be thankful for what you have, but also not to forget to constantly help out other people, you know, because you never know what situation people are in and what they have to do to get like I'm dude, think about all the distance that you're traveling, right? 00:22:50.240 --> 00:23:01.039 Like I'm sure there's somebody that could always say, hey man, crash at my place, wake up the next morning, do another session, then go home, you know, try and try and help as many people as you can. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:04.079 But we spoke to a guy, Santiago Luna. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.400 He's new, he's 7-0, and he's already had one fight in the UFC. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:10.000 And his nickname is Border Boy. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:13.200 And the reason it's Border Boy is because he he grew up in San Diego. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:17.039 But when he was like three or four, his family moved to Mexico. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:22.480 And so um his last two years of high school, he went to school in the United States. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:24.720 So he would wake up at 4 a.m. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:29.119 to cross the border, go to the United States just to go to school. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.960 And then he fell in love with like wrestling and jujitsu and all this stuff. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:37.200 So then he would drive all the way to LA to train with Armin Sarukian. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:42.400 Then he got to one point where he was back living in Mexico, would wake up at 3 a.m. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:47.839 to drive to Los Angeles to train and then drive back to Mexico. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:54.480 I mean, you have to love something a lot to be able to put yourself through something like that. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:57.680 At that young age, you know, I think this kid's like 21 or something like that. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:02.400 But you look at that mindset is so important for what fighters do. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:05.839 And so people always ask, like, why are these wrestlers so dominant? 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:09.920 A lot of it is because that's what wrestling does for you from an early age. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.680 You can't take a day off. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:13.200 You'll feel it in the gym. 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:17.200 You'll feel that people are getting better because they were there yesterday and you weren't. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:25.759 And so you see people with that type of mindset, and you think not only is this guy probably going to become a great fighter, he's just gonna be a great human being overall. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:31.519 Because that same mentality transfers over into everything in your life business, relationships. 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:38.319 You really when you when you take time off, you do, but you really don't appear, you know. 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:43.680 And that type of mentality, that type of person, you can just tell that that guy's gonna be something. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:50.720 Yeah, I was just thinking about that, and I was thinking about uh, you know, just the difference in mentality. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:25:03.119 Like, you know, I got a family member, he's probably gonna listen to this and be pissed off, but um and he loves jujitsu, but like it's like, oh, I can't get up early and train, or oh, I can't, and I'm just like, dude, like you gotta, you gotta, and he and he works his ass off. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:08.400 But my point is like you've gotta make it a priority, and it doesn't fit into your life all the time. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.039 That's the point. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.400 It's that it's not supposed to. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:18.880 I remember I was living in Green Valley, it was right before high school, and right before I got into reality-based martial arts, before I got into um combat sports. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.079 It was 12. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:22.400 I actually don't think this is okay, by the way. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:27.759 I was taking two buses, one all the way up sunset to do remember Vacation Village? 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.640 Yeah. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:34.400 And I would get off of Vacation Village at 12 years old and I'd jump on the strip bus and take that all the way down to Fashion Show Mall. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:39.839 And then I had to wait 45 minutes for a bus to take me up Spring Mountain to Barry's Boxing. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.920 But I was like, I was like, fuck that.

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:47.039 So I would walk from Fashion Show to Barry's boxing every day because I didn't want to wait the 45. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:49.920 Because by the time I waited, I could have been there in 30. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.960 So I'm like, I'll just walk. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.160 It's a 30-minute walk. 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:55.759 And I was doing that at 12 years old because that's what I wanted to do, you know. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:59.680 And I think that what I've learned is when you want something, you do it, you know. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:12.000 And it's um, and just to uh give you like a little bit of um just about that culture piece, I agree that I think every generation looks down at the other generation, like, yeah, these guys are kind of wimps or whatever, you know. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:23.039 But I think it's so different now because I asked a buddy of mine, I was 40 at the time, I'm 47 now, and my buddy Dave Ledbetter, awesome guy, and he was like 55-ish at the time, 52-ish. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.759 I was like, hey man, am I just getting old? 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:28.079 Because you know, I'm approaching 40 or I was 40 right there. 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.400 Is it is this generation just like, I don't get it? 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.599 And he's like, nah, bro. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.160 He's like, because I said, Did you think that way about us? 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:34.880 He goes, nah. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.920 He goes, You guys were fine. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:40.880 He goes, You guys, you know, a little whatever, you know, but he goes, You goes, this generation, he goes, I just do not understand. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:42.240 He goes, they're just softer. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:44.720 He's like, and I was like, okay. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:54.079 So I I I really do think it is a bit of an interesting switch between, you know, Gen X, like I am in millennials, to the, you know, that that kind of millennial Gen Z. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:58.960 This, yeah, this new generation is is very, very different, I would say. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:11.279 Um thing that I don't know how I would have handled that their generation has to put up with is, you know, I'm sure at some point in life somebody had like a bully or somebody that teased them. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:17.200 But when you would go to school, that lasted through whatever recess or lunch when you would see that person. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:20.720 But when you went home, it was over until the next day. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:24.960 But now with these things, it continues all day long, right? 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:26.559 Through social media, all that. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:30.480 Like you have to keep up this persona all day long. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:32.880 I don't know how they do that part of it. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.480 That part's very different. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:40.640 And then the other thing I don't understand to kind of piggyback off what you were saying, is it just me as the music kind of suck? 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:50.640 And I have to imagine, like, if I'm in my room and I'm playing Nirvana, which is probably pretty popular when I was in high school, my dad's probably going, What the fuck is what is going on? 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.079 Like, why is that guy screaming? 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:56.799 But he could at least probably go, but hey man, that guy's playing the shit out of the drums. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.720 That guy's getting his guitar. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:02.559 Okay, it's not my cup of tea, but I kind of get it. 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:05.200 I don't understand mumble rap one bit. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:10.880 I don't get what I just feel like you have to be talented if you're a musician. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:20.480 And a mumble rapper to me is like, if the mumble rapper didn't show up and they go, We have no concert, and somebody said, Hey, could you do it? 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:24.640 I think if you gave me like 20 minutes and I just wrote something down, I think I could do it. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.480 And tequila goes. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:31.200 And people just like say that this is little bastard or whatever, and I go up there and I do it. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:34.720 It just sounds like they're reading like their target shopping list or something, you know. 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:36.720 It's like it doesn't really, I don't get it. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:40.640 And then most of them they don't sing live anymore, they don't play instruments. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:45.680 And so I always ask myself, like, am I just being an old guy, or is there something to that? 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.119 And I think there's something to it. 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.079 I think so too. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.839 And and just you want to talk about mumble rap. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:55.599 I mean, I live in Colombia in Medellin, it's the it's the mecca of reggaeton, which it can be very mumble, okay? 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.000 You know, like it's like, what? 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.279 What did you just do? 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:04.160 So I think that, yeah, I think that it's things have gotten easier and easier. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:11.839 And so then it's become more diluted and more diluted, and thus, you know, that is the the repercussions or the fallout. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:20.240 You know, just to rewind a touch, though, what I will say is social media is such a challenging thing for me. 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:22.720 And I'm 47 years old. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:34.559 I have a lot of wisdom, and I've done, I can't imagine being 70 and having that pressure and the algorithm just feeding whatever garbage is in your mind and just making it more and more and more. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.680 And hopefully it's good. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:38.319 Like hopefully it's puppies and joy and and and

success. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:42.240 And because if it's anything dark, the algorithm is just going to take you down the darkness. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:46.720 And so it's I will give the young men and women a lot of credit there. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:53.519 It's a it's a very challenging thing to step out of that, what I would call its own separate matrix and kind of come back to reality. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:30:04.720 So I think I'd like to see, I do think we will see in the future a swing of the pendulum and more third spaces, more connection, more one-to-one. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:09.200 And I don't think it'll be a choice because I think that, you know, I consider us like a human animal, right? 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:16.079 Like we need a certain amount of sunlight, we need some hugs, we need sex, we need food, we need water, we need connection. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:21.039 And I think that I don't think the screen can provide that sustainably. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:22.000 Right. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.839 But bro, I don't know. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.519 They got AI girlfriends now. 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.039 They got like, can you imagine? 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:32.960 Have you like anyone have you ever been with uh do you have like uh nephews or cousins? 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:37.519 And you'll see like a pretty girl and they'll go, like, man, she's she's cute, and you go, go talk to her. 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.119 I'm like, I don't know how. 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:46.000 Because they're so used to the communication through their phone that they don't know how to walk up to somebody and go, hey, you know, what's your name? 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:47.359 Or you like this band? 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.799 Yeah, they don't have that. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.839 They can't do that. 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:54.960 That's so crazy because these phones and computers were supposed to help us, right? 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.599 And so Mark and I are the same age. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:08.480 So you probably remember back in the day, your list of chores and things you had to do, like if you had to go pay the water bill, you had to either write a check and put it in the mail, or you had to go there and pay it. 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:12.640 And that whole process is 30 minutes to an hour, depending on where you live. 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:18.160 But then you get your smartphone, you get your laptop, and that now you now that only takes two minutes. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:32.000 So instead of using that extra 28 minutes to go outside with your friends and play or or have fun or go out with with family or whatever, instead of using that extra time for that, you think, what else can I do? 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:34.240 I can pay that, I can do this, I can do that. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:39.200 And now all of a sudden, something that was supposed to make our lives easier has actually made it more difficult. 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:42.319 And now our bosses are giving us more and more work. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:44.960 And I don't think our brains are wired that way. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:46.880 And I think a lot of people are suffering. 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:50.160 They don't know what to do with their lives and how. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:56.559 Like, I'm telling you, especially here in Vegas, when you're in a social setting, holy crap, it's like going to the zoo. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:32:00.400 You're watching people and like nobody knows what to say or do. 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:02.400 It's really, really weird, man. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.680 You got to be around people. 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.720 I couldn't agree more. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:06.240 I think it's so interesting to see. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:09.039 Like, I'll call my I'll call my nephew and he'll text me back. 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.000 Hey, what's up? 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:12.720 He'll push me to like, I'm like, bro, I just called you. 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:18.319 You know, so I think, and and he's in his early 30s, and it's I mean, I can imagine the kids even younger. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.240 You know, I have a funny story I gotta tell. 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:22.319 So I'm like 28, 29 at the time. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:23.599 I'm dating a girl who's younger than me. 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.799 She's like 20. 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:28.720 And she comes in the house and she's like, What are you doing? 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:31.759 And I'm like, I'm paying my bills. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.599 She's like, What do you mean you're paying your bills? 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.400 Like, what is all that? 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:37.039 Those envelopes and those stamps, and I'm like, the checkbook. 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:38.319 And I'm like, what do you mean? 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:47.279 I got like the water bill, the gas bill, the electric bill, the cell phone bill, the the cable bill, the the mortgage, the second mortgage, because you know everything was an 80-20 back then. 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:50.240 And um, she's like, Why don't you just pay that shit online? 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.599 I'm like, what do you mean? 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.799 Like, what is that? 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:54.720 I had no dude, I had no idea. 00:32:54.880 --> 00:33:02.400 I would sit down once a week or once a month, depending on, and it would take me like an hour, and I'd get out the checkbook and I'd like to write everything out and I'd like lick a stamp. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:04.559 I actually think they had sticker stamps by that time. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:06.079 I was, you know, I'm not that old. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:08.880 But um, but yeah, I just think it's funny. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:11.200 So it took discipline, right? 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:16.640 To do that every month to know this is do this, this is a yet your little calendar or whatever. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:18.240 And it

took discipline to get it done. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:22.319 If you didn't, you get thrown out on the street, your water gets shut off, or whatever. 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:27.759 Now that's been taken care of for taken care of for us, and everything's on auto pay. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:30.160 Yeah, it's life is weird, man. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:42.000 It's funny, I'll talk about something personal is um, you know, there's just an ambiguous nature to the average, I think, person today growing up, where it there's just not a lot of commitment and it's kind of just like one toe in. 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:46.720 And so I'm single and you know, trying to date, and it doesn't even matter. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.880 They could be 25, they could be 45. 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:52.240 There's just this kind of like nobody really commits. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:58.000 Oh, yeah, I'll meet you here an hour later, they cancel or they just don't show up, or there's just this lack of accountability. 00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:07.839 And by the way, I am in Latin America, it's not the most accountable of all the countries in the world, but but it's still like I experienced the same thing when I was back in Vegas. 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:13.920 I really think it's made everybody just kind of be like, you know, whatever. 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:20.320 And I think that greatness of any sort comes from discipline and integrity and doing what you say you're gonna do. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:32.880 And I think that's a really big challenge for me because I'm looking for people to partner with, whether that be intimately or business or friendships in this life to build the things I'm building that are fucking accountable. 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.719 Like, be more accountable. 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.679 Just do what you see. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:37.840 Like I got on here, I opened my screen and you're there. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.039 I'm like, whoa, what's going on? 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:40.159 What's this guy doing here? 00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:43.199 And it's like five minutes early, and you're like, well, I got a prep just in case. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:45.199 I'm used to everybody being five minutes late, you know? 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:51.599 Well, and I don't want you to think, like, I'm sure uh, because I have to go through this when I'm when I'm doing interviews. 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:57.119 I wish a fighter would tell me like 20 minutes before or something, see in a little bit or something, right? 00:34:57.199 --> 00:35:00.800 Because it puts me at ease because I know they're going through a lot in their day and they might forget. 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.360 And I built my whole schedule around this interview. 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:09.599 So I'm trying to like relieve you from having to feel like, oh, he's been here for I mean, I think I was there for like 30 minutes. 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.880 I was just chilling out. 00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.000 See, that's amazing. 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:12.719 I appreciate you. 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:15.360 I want you to know I'm good to go. 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.119 I told you I would be here at this time. 00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:21.280 I'm I'm here early in case you need anything or you, you know, whatever. 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:26.000 Don't you think that's a bit of empathy too that the cult the generation and the culture is missing a little bit? 00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:28.639 Just genuinely like, let me put that other person at ease. 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:30.320 Let me make sure they're comfortable. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:32.960 Let me make sure that I can, you know, I'm a service industry guy. 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:37.920 I was a Somalier in Vegas and all the way down to a glass polisher busboy, win Bellagio. 00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:40.320 I mean, it was all about five-star, five diamond. 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:46.880 And I think just the the ability to just serve others is what I really think our our purpose are is as humans. 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:53.119 So to me, it's just such a big deal to be like, how can I just make your life easier, better, and more comfortable, you know? 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.000 Yeah, dude. 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:57.760 The culture now is everybody's all about what can you do for me? 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.119 What can you do for me? 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:01.519 And especially living in Vegas. 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:08.800 Um I know growing up in Orange County, it's a three and a half hour drive and it's like a 45 minute flight. 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:11.039 So there's constantly people in town. 00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:15.360 And you would be shocked at how many people, like people I haven't talked to in years. 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.719 Hey, I'm coming to Vegas. 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:22.000 And like the first thing out of their mouth is like, can you hook it up like at the club or a room or something? 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:25.760 And I'm like, dude, I haven't heard from you in like six years. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:30.800 If I had that power, what on earth makes you think I would use it on you? 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:32.239 I haven't even heard from you. 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:38.000 And you didn't even like grease me up, like how you've been, or like you just get straight into it. 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:38.880 Let's go. 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:40.880 People are like delusional, man. 00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:54.800 And sometimes I think I'm weird because I like I get a kick out of making people happy and helping them out and seeing maybe a piece of advice that I'm giving somebody, work for them, and then taking in what they have to say and see how I can apply it to my life. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:58.719 And I get happy when my friends are successful, when good things happen. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.440 I'm happy. 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:04.880 And sometimes I'll see like a really good friend

do something kind of cool, and then people just shit on him. 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:12.639 Yeah, but he's at work all day, or he didn't get to go to the playoffs this weekend with us, or you know, like, and I'm like, just be happy for him. 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:13.840 That's your friend, you know. 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:19.119 Like, I don't know, this this mentality of people is kind of strange to me, dude. 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:20.400 Yeah, it's super strange. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:33.679 What I will tell you though is that, you know, having been nomadic for five, six years, coming back to Colombia, trying to build a community, whether it's going to be here back in the States or in Europe or wherever, I'm really looking for people that are like me. 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:36.480 You know, I mean, I consider just everything we've talked about. 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.840 You have a very similar mentality. 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:43.920 And what I would say is I'd rather have a couple guys like you in my life and that's it, than have a hundred friends that have this mentality. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:50.320 And I think if we just keep showing up and serving and being kind, and of course having boundaries, because motherfuckers will take advantage of us, as we know. 00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:51.760 Trust me, I'm the hookup guy. 00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:56.480 I mean, I worked at the number one restaurant in the city, slinging wine in every nightclub and all these people. 00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:59.440 And it was like, oh, well, can you, you know, can you get me in this club? 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:01.119 Can you get me a comp dinner? 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:02.000 Can you get me a room? 00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:03.679 Can you get me at this day club? 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:06.239 And it's like, bro, you know. 00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:11.840 And then when you do all that, they don't even you barely get a thank you sometimes. 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:16.000 And then also there's no sense of reciprocation. 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:19.760 And you're like, you know, it does definitely leaves a bad taste in your mouth. 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:23.519 But you'll see them like post, I had a great weekend in Vegas, whatever. 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:26.960 And you're like, do you even pick up the phone to say, like, hey, what's up? 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:29.039 Or want to grab a coffee or something? 00:38:29.199 --> 00:38:36.000 Like, that's when you realize, and I always tell all my family members, my younger family members, don't ever be somebody's plan B. 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:46.079 You know, like when you realize like somebody was has been in town for like five days and they're just now hitting you up, it's probably because they had other plans and they fell through. 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:48.159 Don't ever be somebody's plan B. 00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:58.000 And there's gonna be a lot of people in life that are gonna look at you as the guy that they're gonna call when

their other plans don't work out because they know you'll be there and they know that you'll just put up with it. 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:59.119 And you you can't do that. 00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:00.320 Like you're you're right. 00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:05.519 Surround yourself with even if it's a small circle, but let it be a circle. 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:11.440 Don't let that hole have don't let that circle have any holes or any ways out because those people are toxic in life, man. 00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.719 They really, really are. 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:16.960 And sometimes the worst part, Mark, is family can be that way. 00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:22.639 Like one of the things that I I can't stand is when people go, but he's your family, he's your blood. 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:25.039 Bro, family's not defined by blood. 00:39:25.199 --> 00:39:25.760 It's not. 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:31.760 I will show you a bunch of friends that I have that treat me way better than family. 00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:37.840 They're not related to me by blood, but they are there for me and they're they're here in my heart. 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:44.239 And there are some family members that use that excuse of I'm your family member, so I I get a get away with certain things. 00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:45.840 It's not how life works, man. 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.599 Some some of those people can be toxic too. 00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:50.320 Well, I think it's even like, what's your ethnicity? 00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:52.400 So I was born in the States. 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:56.960 My dad was born in the States as well, and his mom, but their family comes from Mexico. 00:39:57.119 --> 00:39:59.039 And then my mother is from Peru. 00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:00.719 She was born and raised in Peru. 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:05.679 So this Latin culture, they have that built-in toxicity. 00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:11.840 You know, I've seen it here in Colombia many times where it's like he's family or she's family, so we'll turn a blind eye. 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:13.280 And I'm like, well, there's boundaries. 00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:16.159 You deserve respect, you deserve kindness, you shouldn't. 00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:24.320 And you see a lot of family members taking advantage of each other because no one's gonna say anything because it's just part of the Latino culture. 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:29.840 And I think that that's very challenging for me down here because I'll push back immediately. 00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:34.239 Like I had an ex-girlfriend here, we were together for a couple years, and I would just be like, what? 00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:35.360 That's that's not okay. 00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:51.760 Yeah, but you know, uh, and and you know, another thing too, people don't know about Latinos is there's one side of them that's very aggressive and that can be like, you know, they're they're gangster, like you know, but there's also a very, very I don't want to rock any boats. 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:55.519 The co when you speak the language, it's you don't want to disrespect anybody. 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:58.000 There's a lot of niceties for lack of better words. 00:40:58.079 --> 00:41:03.360 And so they're very, very it's it's it's in that culture to not offend is what I'm trying to say. 00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:04.079 Yeah. 00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:06.079 So that can be challenging. 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:19.519 It's very challenging because I think that in life, you know, I do a lot of leadership work, and I think what I tell leaders and they're actually surprised, so the number one precursor to all like successful relationships is conflict. 00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:20.480 And they're like, What? 00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:28.239 I'm like, yeah, the more positive conflict you can have and and and solve in a healthy manner, the more successful that relationship will be. 00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:29.360 And they're like, no shit. 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:33.679 I'm like, yeah, it's it's a proven statistical, scientific, studied fact. 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:39.199 And when you know, I can tell already you've got some strong boundaries, and you're probably like, you know what, bro? 00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:40.000 No, fuck you. 00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:41.360 Like, family or not. 00:41:42.159 --> 00:41:43.519 It took a while to get there though. 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:46.079 Well, it's hard, man, because you're going against the grain. 00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:48.400 And then your grandma's like, Mijo, what's wrong? 00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:50.159 Or, you know, like, why are you doing that? 00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:51.039 I can't believe that. 00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:56.480 And you're like, sorry, grandma, but you know, this guy, he he's not, he's not being that cool with me. 00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:57.840 So yeah. 00:41:58.079 --> 00:42:03.840 I want to switch gears a little bit and just kind of drill you on some of your now. 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:11.599 You don't have to answer these questions, but because I know they're kind of like I just call it hard to call favorites, but I'm just curious, like, who's your favorite fighter if you had a pick? 00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:20.079 Changes a lot, but what I do appreciate is somebody who is very well-rounded, is that's not easy. 00:42:20.239 --> 00:42:29.280 You know, if you're really good at one thing, a lot of times it's easy to focus on being really good at that one thing and using that to destroy your opponent. 00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:30.559 Even when you were a kid, right? 00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:41.119 Like if you were just great at pulling up and shooting to three or driving the lane, you kind of just did it over and over, and you never really like push yourself to learn to use your other hand or whatever. 00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:43.280 Like it takes so much discipline to do that. 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:48.960 So when there's a fighter that can kind of do everything, I usually gravitate to

somebody like that. 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:54.239 And so um right now, it would probably be someone like Anilia Tapuria. 00:42:54.719 --> 00:43:07.280 I love the way I grew up on boxing, and I love how he can translate that traditional boxing, but use it for MMA because you can't just be a great boxer and think you're gonna walk into MMA and knock people out. 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:08.559 That's just not how it works. 00:43:08.719 --> 00:43:16.239 But you can use a lot of things that you learn there and apply it in the MMA if you're smart enough and if you dedicate yourself enough. 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:17.920 And I love the way he does that. 00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:21.840 You know, he knows when to use his speed, when to use his power, and he goes to the body. 00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:23.920 And I love people who do that. 00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:25.360 So I like that type of fighter. 00:43:25.440 --> 00:43:28.400 So right now, if I had to pick one, it'd probably be someone like him. 00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:29.679 It's awesome, man. 00:43:29.920 --> 00:43:32.159 You're way more up on the fight game than I am these days. 00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:34.639 Mine has always been GSP for that exact reason. 00:43:34.960 --> 00:43:37.360 Well, he might be my all-time favorite fighter, though. 00:43:37.760 --> 00:43:42.159 He's just so well-rounded and such a classy gentleman, but that was what I loved about him the most. 00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:49.599 I mean, the guy was rolling with you know Olympic wrestlers and he was going down to Donnahurst school, and you know, at the time, you know, can't remember which Gracie right now. 00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:50.559 Enzo. 00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:51.280 Enzo. 00:43:51.519 --> 00:43:52.400 He was with Enzo a lot. 00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:55.440 And just, you know, just all he was down in in New Mexico. 00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:56.559 He was just everywhere. 00:43:56.800 --> 00:43:59.840 But uh I'm curious as well, so I'm just gonna ask a few of these. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:01.519 I got like who do you think is the GOAT? 00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:02.960 Probably GSP. 00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:04.320 Yeah. 00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:06.800 I just I to me over John? 00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:10.000 I think GSP too, but everyone's like John, John, John. 00:44:10.480 --> 00:44:12.639 I get where they're coming from with that. 00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:16.480 You know, John has had his controversies as well, right? 00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:21.519 Which kind of make you think a little bit about what could have been going on. 00:44:21.760 --> 00:44:26.719 And then, you know, John had a lot of close calls, and GSP didn't have very many of those. 00:44:26.880 --> 00:44:30.000 GSP had losses, but he avenged the losses. 00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:35.360 Um, and he did it in a way where, like, you know, the Matt Sarah one, nobody ever says, so when are we doing the third one? 00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:41.199 Like, we didn't need to, you know, we kind of realized that uh he was just better than him. 00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:47.840 And then to kind of go up and challenge yourself and win another belt and another weight class, I think is is awesome. 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:51.920 John Jones did that as well, but um I don't know. 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:54.000 I felt like a much bigger guy. 00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:58.559 Yeah, that's GSP going up, bro, is is a lot compared to something John. 00:44:59.119 --> 00:45:05.280 It's like 10 pounds from every weight class, but when you add those five pounds, it's not just the number, dude. 00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:09.679 Like that's a lot more challenging yourself to go from 170 to 185. 00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:14.559 And Bro's walking out at 220 fighting at 85, you know, and I could have cut to 70. 00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:15.519 People don't realize. 00:45:15.840 --> 00:45:26.480 He he did everything like think about some of the the wrestling the guys with uh wrestling caliber that he was able to put on their backs, you know, and that wasn't his forte. 00:45:26.880 --> 00:45:28.800 Like he learned that he pushed himself. 00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:34.000 There are times where you thought he was gonna take you down and he just jabbed the hell out of you, you know, like the whole fight. 00:45:34.079 --> 00:45:37.199 Like he was just very cerebral and he was a good guy. 00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:45.920 He's like when you're uh when your dad is telling you about people on TV, and my dad would always point to someone on TV and go, I met this guy at this time or whatever. 00:45:46.079 --> 00:45:48.480 GSP, you never really hear a bad story, you know. 00:45:48.559 --> 00:45:52.239 He was just kind of a good person overall, gives back to the sport. 00:45:52.800 --> 00:45:56.880 Uh he didn't get pushed around too by the organization as some of these guys do. 00:45:57.360 --> 00:46:01.199 You know another thing too about him, he was just very what I've noticed, he's very humble. 00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:04.159 Like I've seen on social media, some dude's like, Oh, you should try this. 00:46:04.239 --> 00:46:05.760 He's like, Oh, and he's like literally out on a cruise. 00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:07.599 The dude's showing him, he's like, Oh, I'm gonna do that next time. 00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:09.119 Some wrestler he met on a cruise. 00:46:09.199 --> 00:46:11.599 Like, not like, do you know who I am, but like, oh, that's really cool. 00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:12.320 I'm gonna try that. 00:46:12.559 --> 00:46:13.440 Who's the scariest? 00:46:13.679 --> 00:46:15.599 Like in the cage or just overall? 00:46:15.840 --> 00:46:17.039 I think overall. 00:46:17.840 --> 00:46:19.760 Do you remember a guy named Gilbert Iville? 00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:21.679 Yeah, of course, dude. 00:46:22.079 --> 00:46:30.719 So in Pride Fighting Championships, um, they came to the United States one time and Gilbert Iville was there. 00:46:30.960 --> 00:46:32.960 Actually, no, wait, this was in Orange County. 00:46:33.039 -->

00:46:34.960 So he must have been cornering somebody else. 00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:40.000 And I would just get so excited at seeing some of these pride guys because we didn't really have access to them. 00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:42.159 Most of them trained overseas. 00:46:42.559 --> 00:46:51.599 So I remember he's had his history, you know, being kind of crazy, but and I wasn't much of an autograph picture guy, but I was like, man, it's Gilbert Ibn. 00:46:51.679 --> 00:46:52.880 When am I gonna get the chance? 00:46:53.199 --> 00:47:00.000 So as I was uh walking up to him, he had just taken off his hoodie and on the back of his neck he had a tattoo. 00:47:00.239 --> 00:47:00.960 I'll never forget this. 00:47:01.039 --> 00:47:02.320 It said, fuck off. 00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:06.480 And I was like, oh my god, is that telling me just go away? 00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:09.199 But I'm like I'm already here. 00:47:09.280 --> 00:47:11.840 And so I kind of introduced myself and said hi. 00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:15.360 And he he was nice, he was nice, and I'm glad I did it. 00:47:15.519 --> 00:47:21.360 But yeah, he looked like uh him and Alexander Emilyanko were very, very scary individuals. 00:47:21.599 --> 00:47:22.719 I could see that. 00:47:23.039 --> 00:47:25.199 You know who's the scariest for me was Boss. 00:47:25.440 --> 00:47:26.480 Boss Ridden? 00:47:26.719 --> 00:47:28.000 Bro, I've trained with him. 00:47:28.159 --> 00:47:30.960 His eyes, like he's just like, you are not normal, dude. 00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:32.480 You are just psycho. 00:47:32.960 --> 00:47:37.599 Like he did a seminar at Sergio Pena's school back in the day when he had Combat Club. 00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:42.400 And bro, he is just there is an evil in that guy. 00:47:42.639 --> 00:47:44.880 Like, I'm just like, you are scary. 00:47:45.199 --> 00:47:47.360 So yeah, that's awesome. 00:47:47.519 --> 00:47:51.760 Um, I was gonna ask, who do you think the most mentally tough fighter is, in your opinion? 00:47:52.159 --> 00:47:55.440 I would probably have to say somebody like Kabib Nirmagometoff. 00:47:55.920 --> 00:48:02.800 Um, if you look at his career overall, you can't really point to people that he like ran away from or anything. 00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:06.239 He fought pretty much everybody that was available at the time. 00:48:06.400 --> 00:48:15.760 And he fought him in conditions that were just look at Connor and the things that he would say to provoke him, you know, uh, about his father, about his family, his religion. 00:48:16.079 --> 00:48:23.519 And he never, he was mentally tough enough to not take that into consideration and let it apply to his game. 00:48:23.679 --> 00:48:34.800 You know, he was that strong that it would probably be the equivalent, like sometimes when people like uh insult you, you know, I always tell people, like, first of all, is it true? 00:48:35.039 --> 00:48:37.440 If it's true, then maybe it should bother you. 00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:39.599 But if it's not, what do you care, right? 00:48:39.840 --> 00:48:46.480 I think maybe he he does a little bit of that where he just looks at fighters and goes, Well, you're not as good as I am, so why should I care? 00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:48.079 Why should I let that bother me? 00:48:48.159 --> 00:48:50.559 I'm I can tell you're trying to get under my skin. 00:48:50.800 --> 00:48:52.239 And a lot of fighters can't do that. 00:48:52.320 --> 00:48:55.360 They lose their mind and they they lose focus. 00:48:55.519 --> 00:48:57.760 And he was one of those guys that never really did that. 00:48:57.920 --> 00:49:00.639 He just found a way to to grind it out every single time. 00:49:00.880 --> 00:49:03.679 Yeah, I I when I think of you, I think of Stone. 00:49:03.760 --> 00:49:04.880 Like he's like Stone. 00:49:05.119 --> 00:49:05.519 Oh, yeah. 00:49:05.679 --> 00:49:07.280 Because he he's just like a stone. 00:49:07.360 --> 00:49:12.239 He's just like he's and there's a stillness to his mind, almost like a piece. 00:49:12.400 --> 00:49:14.159 You know, he's very singular focused. 00:49:14.320 --> 00:49:16.559 Probably not the best guy to hang out and have a few beers with. 00:49:16.800 --> 00:49:20.480 May not be the most exciting, but very, very focused. 00:49:20.559 --> 00:49:28.239 I just two more questions I was gonna say is like what do you know that the audience might not know of what it's really like behind the scenes? 00:49:28.400 --> 00:49:31.440 Because me and you both know it's way different than what people see on TV. 00:49:31.760 --> 00:49:33.119 It's very toxic. 00:49:33.840 --> 00:49:39.599 There are a lot of people that get taken advantage of, and I think part of it is greed. 00:49:39.679 --> 00:49:45.440 And I think there's a good batch of people that just don't realize how important they are in the world. 00:49:45.679 --> 00:49:56.880 They look at it as everything is a gift from a major organization, and they feel like they don't deserve it, they don't realize that they deserve it, and that there's no sport without them. 00:49:57.119 --> 00:49:59.119 Without the fighters, there's no sport. 00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:03.840 And every time they speak up, they get a bone thrown at them. 00:50:04.079 --> 00:50:06.400 But you know, you look at this paramount deal, right? 00:50:06.480 --> 00:50:07.840 Like, look how much money that is. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:10.239 So what was the first thing that the UFC did? 00:50:10.400 --> 00:50:11.519 They raised the bonuses. 00:50:11.840 --> 00:50:16.239 Well, haven't we been saying that for like the last 10 years that they should have been raised? 00:50:16.480 --> 00:50:24.639 So did they really do you a favor or did they kind of do something that they should have done a long time ago and now they they made that right? 00:50:25.119 --> 00:50:27.599 Fighters don't have that mentality sometimes. 00:50:27.760 --> 00:50:33.280 I think uh they get pushed around and they don't realize how important they are in this world.

00:50:33.360 --> 00:50:39.920 And it it sucks, you know, because if you've been around somebody that does this professionally, it's not an easy job. 00:50:40.079 --> 00:50:45.119 It's not like right now when this interview's done, I can go make a sandwich, I can watch TV if I want. 00:50:45.360 --> 00:50:47.920 That's not the fighter life, like you can't turn it off really. 00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:49.039 It's very difficult. 00:50:49.280 --> 00:50:53.599 And so to not be treated well on top of that, that's rough. 00:50:53.760 --> 00:51:01.440 So I think one thing that people don't realize is what fighters have to go through to be able to entertain you as a fan. 00:51:01.599 --> 00:51:01.920 Yeah. 00:51:02.159 --> 00:51:13.840 You know, I was just thinking, like, I know a lot of fighters on a very personal level, um, training beside them, you know, and it's what I've never experienced such interesting paradox of character. 00:51:14.079 --> 00:51:19.039 Because off those mats in real life, there's a lot of self-doubt. 00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:22.880 Yeah, there's a lot of fear, they lack a lot of confidence. 00:51:23.119 --> 00:51:25.840 Just they're like you said, they really don't think they're enough. 00:51:26.239 --> 00:51:31.599 And you throw them a bone and it's like you gave them the world because they're so used to fighting for scraps. 00:51:32.239 --> 00:51:35.920 And I appreciate what they do because their heart's so in it. 00:51:36.239 --> 00:51:42.159 They're literally their heart's so in it that they're willing to take scraps, you know, because they want to do it so bad. 00:51:42.400 --> 00:51:44.960 And I think as we know, it's like anything in life, though. 00:51:45.039 --> 00:51:51.679 If you want something so bad, like say you want a girl so bad, well, she's definitely gonna have the leverage, you know, if you don't have enough self-respect. 00:51:51.920 --> 00:51:55.360 And what I've seen from a lot of fighters is in that space, it's unbelievable. 00:51:55.440 --> 00:51:58.079 But outside of the the mat, they don't have a ton of self-respect. 00:51:58.159 --> 00:51:59.360 And I it makes me sad. 00:51:59.440 --> 00:52:07.039 And I think that's why you see a lot of I mean, we've seen more and more issues with depression and suicide and with just a lot of issues there. 00:52:07.119 --> 00:52:13.599 It's it's uh, and not to mention, I don't think people realize, you know, like I can guarantee you I've had at least a thousand concussions, right? 00:52:13.679 --> 00:52:19.440 When you look at microconcussions and things like that, the stuff that's going on in your brain, too, for those poor guys, you know, all the CTE. 00:52:19.760 --> 00:52:20.559 So yeah. 00:52:21.679 --> 00:52:23.440 Uh older generation now. 00:52:23.760 --> 00:52:25.760 We're starting to see the effects on them. 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:31.280 And if you grew up knowing those people like you and I have, they're not the same people. 00:52:31.440 --> 00:52:45.199 You know,

there's uh I always tell this story, I I never use the name, but I went on a trip one time from Vegas to California with a fighter, and that fighter told me the exact same story four times one way. 00:52:45.679 --> 00:52:56.239 Same story, didn't realize they were doing it, and it's like, holy crap, man, like this is uh it's not but I think fighters are smartening up and their careers are getting a little bit shorter, you know. 00:52:56.320 --> 00:52:57.519 They're like, I'm not gonna do this forever. 00:52:57.760 --> 00:52:59.840 Their sparring is not the same, yeah. 00:53:00.079 --> 00:53:02.079 And then even more money helps too. 00:53:02.239 --> 00:53:06.320 Do you think about Mike Pyle and Couture and like um Huron? 00:53:06.639 --> 00:53:12.159 Like you'd walk into that room and they would just be beating each other to death, and they thought that was how you were supposed to do it. 00:53:12.480 --> 00:53:20.000 And you see guys like Mighty Mouse, GSP is another example where his coach was like, he shouldn't even be sore, he should not be getting hit in the head that way. 00:53:20.079 --> 00:53:22.960 Like they they really have understood that the science behind it. 00:53:23.199 --> 00:53:28.400 So yeah, it's um and and I think the CT thing is really scary. 00:53:28.480 --> 00:53:37.119 I won't go too much into it, but I had an incident here back in 22 where I got attacked by an NFL player, and it was pretty crazy. 00:53:37.199 --> 00:53:43.519 You know, I basically like locked up, took him down, he popped back up, dude was super strong and spry, and went at it again. 00:53:43.599 --> 00:53:50.320 We ripped the whole table off of the area, and like I was like, and he was a friend of mine, and I was like, what the fuck is going on with this dude? 00:53:50.400 --> 00:53:54.320 And I was like, bro, like, and I had like basically body lock, head under the chin. 00:53:54.480 --> 00:53:55.199 He's like, let me go. 00:53:55.280 --> 00:53:56.159 I'm like, You're my boy, bro. 00:53:56.239 --> 00:53:57.840 He's like, if I'm your boy, let me go. 00:53:58.000 --> 00:54:00.639 And I like let him go, and I'm like ready to throw that elbow. 00:54:00.800 --> 00:54:05.440 And he just his eyes pop wide open, goes, and he just runs away. 00:54:05.599 --> 00:54:14.639 Yeah, and we've and he we found out that he attacked a couple people later that um that uh that night, and then we got him back to the states. 00:54:15.440 --> 00:54:23.519 And basically, I I can't elaborate too much because I don't, but I mean if you could probably look the stuff up, but he wound up six months later killing his mom. 00:54:23.760 --> 00:54:30.800 Damn and this is a guy who was the sweetest guy in the world, had the best relationship with his mom, but he wasn't him anymore. 00:54:31.039 --> 00:54:34.480 Like he just went the guy was only 32 or 34 years old, man. 00:54:34.719 --> 00:54:35.199 You know? 00:54:35.360 --> 00:54:37.679 And it was uh yeah, it was it was a wild time. 00:54:37.760 --> 00:54:43.760 I was kicking back in my chair at a cigar bar and he comes running up, and I thought he forgot something, comes running around. 00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:46.239 Imagine me doing that to you, like we're boys. 00:54:46.480 --> 00:54:51.840 Running start, boom, it just I'm like it like lifts me up out of my chair. 00:54:52.079 --> 00:54:53.519 I'm in the air, my feet down. 00:54:53.599 --> 00:54:54.559 I gotta get my feet to the ground. 00:54:54.639 --> 00:54:57.360 And I remember my buddy telling me later, he's like, I'm so glad it was you. 00:54:57.519 --> 00:55:03.119 He's like, instead of just some random guest, you know, that like would have just had his whole orbital and everything broke. 00:55:03.280 --> 00:55:13.039 And you think about that and you're just like, man, like it's just so sad because we are not paying these fighters well enough. 00:55:13.280 --> 00:55:15.679 We are ruthless as fans. 00:55:15.920 --> 00:55:19.039 They're not being taken care of, I think, the way they should be taken care of sometimes. 00:55:19.199 --> 00:55:27.440 And they are gonna that like, you know, look, I I don't want to bring it up because I don't want to talk about it, but what's gonna really happen in the long term to somebody like BJ Penn, poor guy, you know? 00:55:27.599 --> 00:55:31.760 Like just it's all the the foundation of some of the tragedies we've seen. 00:55:31.840 --> 00:55:35.199 It's it's all unfolding little by little, and it's so hard, you know. 00:55:35.360 --> 00:55:42.719 That he's beyond where you can convince him that all these things are happening, you know, like it's it's very, very difficult. 00:55:42.800 --> 00:55:48.800 And we're gonna see a lot of it in the sport, and that's what's so sad about like we're our bodies aren't meant to do that. 00:55:48.960 --> 00:55:55.280 Like, you've ever had a friend where uh they were like in a car crash and they have like a black eye and their arms in a sling. 00:55:55.679 --> 00:56:02.320 These fighters go through car crashes like once every three months, you know, like that that same sympathy that you're like, oh my god, are you okay? 00:56:02.400 --> 00:56:03.840 Can I can I get you something? 00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:05.119 Can I help you? 00:56:05.360 --> 00:56:08.320 They are going through that over and over and over. 00:56:08.480 --> 00:56:10.480 Your body's just not meant for that. 00:56:10.960 --> 00:56:11.920 You're not designed for that. 00:56:12.000 --> 00:56:18.079 You're not designed to get to be able to sit in front of somebody and completely be composed while they're punching you in the face is not normal. 00:56:18.239 --> 00:56:20.400 I would take guys off the street and bring them into the gym. 00:56:20.559 --> 00:56:24.800 We'd throw gloves on, the moment you started just landing on them, they would turn, cover, and turn away. 00:56:24.880 --> 00:56:30.000 And these are guys that would fight in the street because it's not normal to just sit there

and just take blows, you know? 00:56:30.320 --> 00:56:32.079 So yeah, it's uh it's wild. 00:56:32.239 --> 00:56:34.960 Yeah, I think we need to do more for the sport and more for our fighters, though. 00:56:35.039 --> 00:56:35.679 I'll say that. 00:56:35.920 --> 00:56:38.239 I just have one last question for you. 00:56:38.559 --> 00:56:44.960 You are an entrepreneur, you've you've ventured out on your own, and you you were brave. 00:56:45.119 --> 00:56:48.719 You had a lot of courage, you had a lot of discouragement, and you did it anyway. 00:56:48.880 --> 00:56:55.440 And I'm just curious if you have any uh wisdom or advice for the audience, or maybe even the best advice you've ever been given. 00:56:55.760 --> 00:56:56.559 It's a lot, man. 00:56:56.719 --> 00:56:58.159 So I actually have a list. 00:56:58.559 --> 00:57:05.039 So I have this list, I call them the the goal, then rules, and I read them every night. 00:57:05.360 --> 00:57:11.599 And I I kind of made them up because I realized this is what's helped me get to where I am. 00:57:11.840 --> 00:57:23.039 And so the first thing is I take pride in in where I'm at and what I've done, but I always want people to remember that I didn't do this alone. 00:57:23.199 --> 00:57:27.039 And there are times where I didn't even realize that I wasn't doing it alone. 00:57:27.280 --> 00:57:33.039 But the support, to have a great support system around you, there's no price tag on that. 00:57:33.199 --> 00:57:40.400 And sometimes you won't even realize they're there because it's just so normal for certain people to be helpful, to give you their time. 00:57:40.559 --> 00:57:43.039 And if you're a person like me, I try and do that. 00:57:43.199 --> 00:57:45.920 So when people do it back to me, I I feel it. 00:57:46.159 --> 00:57:48.239 So you brought up a guy like Eric Nixick, right? 00:57:48.320 --> 00:57:49.599 You you just interviewed him. 00:57:49.760 --> 00:57:51.519 He's a great example of that. 00:57:51.760 --> 00:57:54.079 That guy will help out anyone. 00:57:54.320 --> 00:57:56.639 Um, he's always there for you. 00:57:56.960 --> 00:58:02.559 Those types of people in your life to help you get to where you are, they're irreplaceable. 00:58:02.800 --> 00:58:04.719 You can't do it all on your own. 00:58:05.039 --> 00:58:14.079 And you do need uh a support system, but there's gonna be times where you do have to do it on your own, and you also have to be prepared for that. 00:58:14.320 --> 00:58:22.000 So it's kind of a little bit of a give and take, but I would say your circle needs to be whatever you're comfortable with. 00:58:22.079 --> 00:58:28.159 Some people like to have a big circle, some people like to have a little circle, but everybody's an individual and everybody's different. 00:58:28.320 --> 00:58:30.559 Do what makes you comfortable. 00:58:30.800 --> 00:58:39.199 There are a lot of people in life that are gonna try and tell you what to do, and I've always noticed the most messed up people are the ones that have the most to say. 00:58:39.280 --> 00:58:44.239 You know, like they're always trying to tell you in your life, family members, you know, you gotta do this, you gotta do that. 00:58:44.320 --> 00:58:49.199 And you're like, well, wait a minute, what weren't you just like in trouble a couple weeks ago? 00:58:49.360 --> 00:58:52.239 Like, they're always gonna want to tell you what to do. 00:58:52.400 --> 00:58:56.559 And a lot of times they'll have some good advice, but it's not all gonna be golden. 00:58:56.639 --> 00:59:02.320 You know, you have to be able to know how to go through all that stuff and figure out what works for you. 00:59:02.559 --> 00:59:10.480 You are an individual in this life, and there's gonna be certain things that work for Mark that don't work for me, certain things that work for me that won't work for Mark. 00:59:10.719 --> 00:59:17.920 But I bet you if we laid out about 20 different things, I'm probably gonna take probably half of those and go, man, that's a good idea. 00:59:18.159 --> 00:59:19.760 Don't be scared to try it. 00:59:19.920 --> 00:59:20.559 Give it a try. 00:59:20.639 --> 00:59:21.599 What's the worst that can happen? 00:59:21.760 --> 00:59:25.519 It didn't work out, at least now you know, and you put it in another pile and you move on. 00:59:25.760 --> 00:59:31.280 But always try and better yourself and look out for everybody along the way as best as you can. 00:59:31.440 --> 00:59:37.760 The people that deserve it, the people that were there for you, reward them with your time because your time is a reward. 00:59:37.840 --> 00:59:40.159 Your time means the world to you. 00:59:40.400 --> 00:59:43.199 Don't waste your time doing stupid shit, man. 00:59:43.280 --> 00:59:45.599 Like time is so important in this life. 00:59:45.760 --> 00:59:49.760 So to me, those are I'll text you that whole list and you can check it out. 00:59:49.920 --> 00:59:50.320 Please dude. 00:59:50.480 --> 01:00:01.039 But I try and read it every night before I go to bed, and I try because I forget a lot, but um, yeah, it's you just gotta stay grounded, man, and be happy at the end of the day. 01:00:01.199 --> 01:00:02.239 Do things that make you happy. 01:00:02.559 --> 01:00:06.960 I just gotta say, I'm just super impressed and blessed for all the wisdom you shared, man. 01:00:07.039 --> 01:00:07.760 It's it's beautiful. 01:00:08.079 --> 01:00:09.360 This is fun. 01:00:09.440 --> 01:00:13.360 This is uh when you do your job, this is our jobs right now, right? 01:00:13.440 --> 01:00:14.000 What we're doing. 01:00:14.559 --> 01:00:18.559 But you forget that you're doing a job, you're just like to me, I'm just talking to my boy. 01:00:18.639 --> 01:00:19.840 I'm just having a conversation. 01:00:20.079 --> 01:00:31.599 We could have very well done this at a bar, we could have done this at a restaurant, but at the end of the day, if it can help people and and service and this is what we get to do for a living, then we're

blessed, man. 01:00:31.679 --> 01:00:33.519 It's it's a good day, right? 01:00:34.000 --> 01:00:37.920 Yeah, I think there's nothing bigger than the blessing of being able to serve. 01:00:38.079 --> 01:00:38.719 I really do. 01:00:39.039 --> 01:00:52.159 Watching people do things that they didn't think was possible is I know that Eric, you know, I remember I remember even, you know, Sean Strickman was saying, you know, I didn't know I could beat Israel, but Eric was like, bro, you can beat this fucking guy. 01:00:52.239 --> 01:00:59.679 So he goes, I knew I he goes, I believed Eric, you know, and and to see somebody, I'm sure Eric had to be like so proud at that moment. 01:00:59.840 --> 01:01:12.320 I know there's been issues since then, but so proud at that moment to to to help somebody do something so emotional, so big, and that they really they knew they could do it, but you know there was a lot of self-doubt, I'm sure. 01:01:12.559 --> 01:01:17.119 I mean that, and then to accomplish it, it's like it's like you're winning too, you know. 01:01:17.360 --> 01:01:24.960 It's so weird that they do this because like when they have a failure, like when if you and I fail, sometimes we're the only ones that know about it. 01:01:25.199 --> 01:01:27.199 They're failing in front of millions of people. 01:01:27.360 --> 01:01:33.119 Think about how hard it would be every time you screw up, millions of people find out about it. 01:01:33.360 --> 01:01:35.280 Like, how do you get back to normal? 01:01:35.440 --> 01:01:38.320 And I always tell people, like, don't be afraid to fail. 01:01:38.400 --> 01:01:39.760 Like, that's it's not bad. 01:01:39.920 --> 01:01:41.760 Like, as long as you learn from it, right? 01:01:41.840 --> 01:01:44.880 So I always tell people, look, going forward is great. 01:01:45.199 --> 01:01:47.840 A lot of people always want to move forward in life, and I get that. 01:01:47.920 --> 01:01:49.920 And there are good things that come from that. 01:01:50.159 --> 01:01:52.719 But don't be afraid to go backwards a little bit. 01:01:52.800 --> 01:01:58.400 Because sometimes when you go backwards, you realize what mistakes you've done, and it'll help you move forward. 01:01:58.639 --> 01:02:00.960 The real enemy is always standing still. 01:02:01.119 --> 01:02:03.119 Nothing gets done standing still. 01:02:03.360 --> 01:02:06.960 If you're not doing nothing, only bad is gonna come from that, you know. 01:02:07.119 --> 01:02:08.559 So don't be scared to fail. 01:02:08.639 --> 01:02:17.119 Like I'm I'm proud of Eric and and some of the things he's done, and there's he'll flat out tell you sometimes I made the wrong call and it didn't work out. 01:02:17.360 --> 01:02:20.880 But he learned from it, you know, and and he adjusted. 01:02:21.039 --> 01:02:22.719 And look at what he's done now. 01:02:22.800 --> 01:02:26.639 Like, you know, even being in Francis and Gano's corner and boxing, right? 01:02:26.719 --> 01:02:30.239 Who would have ever imagined to be in a situation like that? 01:02:30.639 --> 01:02:31.119 Totally. 01:02:31.199 --> 01:02:39.920 Like with him and Dewey, and like it's just a it's crazy because he's he's just such a he really is like one of the most amazing people I know. 01:02:40.239 --> 01:02:41.920 And I've known him since high school. 01:02:42.079 --> 01:02:44.480 And I got to know him way deeper on a level, you know. 01:02:44.559 --> 01:02:47.920 I mean, it literally he first started training martial arts with me and my coach. 01:02:48.000 --> 01:02:52.239 Like he had never trained anything in his life, and now I'm like, look at you, you're this pinnacle. 01:02:52.480 --> 01:02:57.360 And he is literally salt of the earth, he's got this grounded heart. 01:02:57.519 --> 01:03:02.320 And what's really cool about Eric above anything is I never seen anybody so humble. 01:03:02.800 --> 01:03:06.079 Like, there is no ounce of ego in that guy's body whatsoever. 01:03:06.239 --> 01:03:08.000 Come in and do the work and I'll help you. 01:03:08.480 --> 01:03:14.960 We've done a lot of military trips where we've gone to Afghanistan, we've gone back east, a lot of different places. 01:03:15.199 --> 01:03:19.280 But the one guy that we've taken with us more than anyone has been Eric. 01:03:19.599 --> 01:03:25.199 And it's for that the knowledge that he has, the way he delivers his message, which is so important. 01:03:25.360 --> 01:03:30.239 He's said some great things to some of our troops, and I hope it's resonated with them. 01:03:30.400 --> 01:03:34.159 But yeah, that that's uh that's a keeper on your phone contacts. 01:03:34.639 --> 01:03:36.079 And he's a fucking G, man. 01:03:36.159 --> 01:03:37.840 He's a real guy's guy, you know? 01:03:38.239 --> 01:03:39.840 So he's in there every day. 01:03:40.000 --> 01:03:40.480 But yeah. 01:03:40.719 --> 01:03:42.159 Bro, this was awesome. 01:03:42.320 --> 01:03:43.440 I'm super grateful. 01:03:43.840 --> 01:03:48.400 I love that last piece of wisdom of just of course my pleasure, but just allowing yourself to fail. 01:03:48.719 --> 01:03:49.920 Like that is how you learn. 01:03:50.239 --> 01:03:51.440 So it's gonna happen. 01:03:52.000 --> 01:03:52.800 It's inevitable. 01:03:52.960 --> 01:03:54.079 So thank you, brother. 01:03:54.239 --> 01:03:54.880 Appreciating that. 01:03:55.119 --> 01:03:56.000 Appreciate you, thank you.