Full Transcript for Brandon Royval & Johnny Eblen with Anik & Florian + Ray Longo on UFC Vegas 87 & UFC 299

tank, and I think the answer is maybe not a great one. That Shamil Gazebe at this stage of his career is not a bona fide UFC heavyweight title contender, and I know you sort of illustrated some of the things he needs to improve upon, but with total respect, some really bad visuals on the side of the guy who was favored to beat a guy in Jarzino Rosenstrike who's fought them all. 00:06:01 Speaker 4: No, absolutely, listen, you can't peek your face out there with your hands down and expect to have a whole lot of success at the highest levels of mixed martial arts. He was eating a lot of shots. John just seemed like he didn't really know how to enter properly or how to defensively deal with the strikes of rosen Strike. You know, it just seemed like he was confused out there, didn't really know how to approach it. Seemed to get very frustrated when he wasn't hitting those takedowns after round two, and yeah, not a great look, not the most technical fight because of that. But once rosen Strike realized that Gazefe was essentially dead in the water and just dead tired, that's where he turned it up. And that's what you got to do as a fighter. You have to be patient, but at the same time, you need that killer instinct and let your strikes flow at the right time, and that's what he did in round four and that's where he really took over. But for Gazevee, yeah, he's got a lot of work to do. Man, there's a lot of tough heavyweights out there. Everyone's getting better all the time. He's going to have to catch. 00:07:06 Speaker 6: Up and Chargino rosen Trek is getting better and he deserves credit as such. We congratulate Biggie Boy moving as UFC record two eight and five. All right, So when the light Heavyweight Comain event began, canfl I'm not sure if you were watching on mute or if you were watching live, but when v Tor Patrino and Tyson Pedro were in that small, tiny, twenty five foot octagon at the Apex, I said on the broadcast, like, I don't know if it's because little guys have been fighting all night, but these guys look huge, and I think maybe part of the reason why a lot of the fight was contested at a pedestrian, methodical, conservative pace was because of the respect that each man had for the potentially concussive blows coming back their way. So it is v Tor Patrino the Brazilian over Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision thirty twenty seven times two twenty nine to twenty eight from the dissenting judge. Tyson Pedro classy as ever, retires after the fact, but v Tor Petrino did what he needed to do. Winning has to be priority number one, and even though maybe it wasn't the fight I build as premium on Letted only, still a nice win for Vitor Patrino over the credential Tyson Pedro. 00:08:09 Speaker 4: I agree, Listen, I think Petrino fought smart and had to fight smart. I think he showed a healthy respect to Tyson Pedro for a reason. I think that Tyson wasn't able to counter like I thought he would have been able to. Patrino didn't throw himself out of

position like I've seen him do in the past, and I think he realized that that challenge that was in front of him. And I think that if this Petreno fights like that, or at least maybe he could be a little bit more aggressive, but fights with that same positioning and with those same fundamentals, I really think he can mess up a lot of guys in that division. Listen, Tyson Pedro's big. Petreno is massive, Like this dude just I mean, he looks like he can go and do a bodybuilding contest tomorrow. You know, he just has those genetics in that size, which is just a head scratcher, Like, how does this guy make that weight? How did he fit into those shorts in that shirt? Like he's a big dude, and boy, he's got power as well. Sometimes you see these guys that are built up like that and you go, well, that's cool. He looks big, but he's slow. He looks lethargic out there. Not the case for Petrino. He also carries that explosiveness as well and conditioning as well. Right, It's like there's that other thing called conditioning. He has that as well, So I think he really is an interesting guy to watch in that division. So I saw some improvements in his game, and Tyson Pedro just really wasn't able to get things going enough. It was just the power, the volume really was what God had done for Petrino. 00:09:45 Speaker 6: Tyson Pedro is a real gentleman. He sent me a message after the fight and just really heartwarming to get that from a retiring Tyson Pedro. You do feel bad for a guy, at least in terms of the injuries taking away a decent chunk of his fighting prime. But when he came back, he realized success. I think won three of five fights since he came back from what was a three plus year layoff. But I think the big issue for him obviously is parenthood, right and wanting to spend as much time with his daughter as humanly possible, and also the fact that he lives in Australia, but City Kickboxing is now his home gym, and just when the City Kickboxing striking system is starting to seep into his subconscious, he's at a point in his life where for financial and other reasons he isn't able to spend that much time away. But we congratulate Tyson Pedro on the way out, and we look forward to Vitor Patrino's next fight, presumably against somebody in the light heavyweight top fifteen. Kenny Brandon roy Vaal scheduled to join us here in about five to ten minutes. I want to get to the flyweights. This night was built as moving night for the flyweight division and moving on up to number seven in the world at the very least will be Mouhamed Mokayev. He stays undefeated with a unanimous decision win over Alex Perez twenty nine to twenty eight times three. Your thoughts on Mokayev stand perfect here in the UFC. 00:10:56 Speaker 4: You know, it's the guys who find a way to win that are going to be a problem, either as champions in the future or as guys that are gonna give those champions a really tough fight. And you know, makaia is My understanding was it was sick heading

into that fight, or was sick during that fight, and the fact that he was still able to get it done, even if it wasn't so pretty still makes it impressive, especially given the challenge that he had in front of him. Very experienced guy comes from that wrestling background, is good everywhere, Yet he was still able to get it done. Now, let's talk about the lack of beauty in some of the technique or execution. I think that he needs to be able to integrate that striking into his entries a little bit better. I think because he realizes he's such a good wrestler, and because he's able to get in on that leg that sometimes he was kind of just dropping down and looking for that leg a little bit. And he was able to do that against Perez. But can he do that against other guys, namely someone like Pantosia without paying for it? I don't think so at this stage of the game. And from a striking perspective, I saw a lot of arm punches. He really wasn't generating power off the floor. Now, I think some of that could definitely be chalked up to him not feeling well, right. I mean, we've all been there. We don't feel terrible. I have trouble walking sometimes, right, So I think that's a part of it. However, I think there is a lack of technique or a lack of understanding there and Mokaive being the student and martial artist that he is. I think we will see those improvements, but we do need to see those improvements if he does want to be a champion in that division, because right now Pantosia is sitting pretty. He is dangerous everywhere. He's a guy that continues to improve. Mochives wrestling is tremendous. It is very good. It might be good enough to maybe still get it done, but good enough is not good enough in the UFC. You have to be dangerous everywhere. There's just too many killers out there. So I hope to see him improvements on Mochive's part, but yeah, there was certain instances where you're like, ah, I kind of felt like Perez could have stepped his foot on the gas a little bit more and taken advantage of some of those positions, but mokay have found a way to get it done. 00:13:11 Speaker 6: I think if you ask Mohammed Mokayev, he wouldn't mind having another fighter too before he fights for the title. But there are no guarantees in MMA, and when you think about him maybe fighting Steve Erseg in a five round UFC fight, night main event, or fighting one of these guys in the top ten like a Manel Cop, you just don't know what could happen. So when the champion a Leachandre Pantosia injects your name into the conversation and says before you fight Alex Perez that I think Mohammed Mokaya is going to be next, and you know he wants to defend in Rio Dijonnaio May fourth at UFC three to Zho one. You get on a microphone and you call for the title fight, because even if you lose that title fight at twenty three years of age and your training camp is suboptimal, then at least you have history with Pantosia and potentially you work your way back. But none of these fighters are in the position to turn down title fights. But I would agree with you, I would like to see a little bit more developmental time for Mohammed Makayev on the heels of what we saw this week. 00:14:05 Speaker 4: So yeah, and listen, sometimes you don't know certain things until you get out there and you fight some higher level competition. And perhaps that was something that MOKAIV already knew he needed to work on, or perhaps it wasn't. But either way, it's always going to be good intel for yourself for your team to know what you need to work on and improve, and I think we will see those improvements from Okaive in the future. 00:14:26 Speaker 6: I thought Alex Prez looked pretty good just given how his career has played out. I thought there were some definite moments for him in this fight, and hopefully he can stay in an active competition cycle because he's one of the good guys as well. But this one goes to Mohammed Mokaia and it remains to be seen as to whether or not he in fact will be next for Alechandre Pantosia. The number one contender at flyweight right now is Brandon Royvall after his win over Brandon Moreno about ten days ago. We're going to save the you Martin Romago medoff stuff just for a little bit. I do want to talk to Ray Longo extensively about that. So staying with the Flyways, Kenny Steve Arth one of two Performance of the Night Bonus winners flush knockout of Matt Schnell. It came at the twenty six second mark of round two and uh, I'm not sure if you saw the footage out there of Chris Toanyoni coming up to Matt Schnell after the fight and saying, uh, I'm not sure what was worse, the punch or you hitting your head on the canvas, And then Tanyoni said, bro, he was like, yeah, you'll see it on the film, and Eve Edwards and Matt Schnell are standing there as if to say, Bro, I don't know what's gonna hurt you more right now, my left hand are going down and hitting your head on the fucking canvas. And I say that with respect to Toanyoni, but could you be more tone deaf coming up to a concussed athlete and sort of saying, hey, I'm not sure if it was the punch or you hitting your head that was worse, Like no tact in that moment from a usually tactful guy. But I guess that's neither here nor there. Ken Flow Steve ver Sega got a Perth, Western Australia. It's pretty fucking good flyweight man, Dude. 00:15:56 Speaker 4: I would say he is a very good flyweight. You know. I think that Schnell is a very skilled fighter, but you know, certainly has struggled in the past. Uh, with his chin, and you kind kind of dumb to say, right, because anytime you get hitting the chin, it's never a good thing. But you know, this is more of an insurance policy, and I guess I should say that Schnell hasn't necessarily had the best insurance policy with that chin, but he does have a lot of skills. I just think that he was throwing himself into a position where Erseg was able to land very cleanly. And Ersek actually got caught in an exchange in

tight in the pocket there, which I was a little concerned about for Erseg, because Schnell can crack. He does. He is dangerous. He can finish you both on the ground and on the feet. But Erseg was just a little cleaner, better fundamentals, little faster putting together the better combinations. Uh. And this is a kid to watch, man, Do not sleep on Erseg. This kid's the true man. And as it is right now, like based on his performance in mokayevs and listen, I totally understand we're fighting two different opponents. Perez Perez is legit, got a ton of expanse He's get everywhere a better opponent in my opinion than probably Schnell. However, Ersag's looking like a guy who may fight for the belt in the future, may even win the belt in the future. This kid's This kid's good, dude. He's very, very clean. 00:17:26 Speaker 6: I brought up a potential title fight in our fighter meeting and he wasn't totally put off nor surprised by the question because I think he looks at the landscape and health is wealth, and Amir al Bosi with a neck injury, is not going to be able to fight against Aleschandre Pantoja. Hopefully Brandon roy Vaal, who says he's healthy, can be the guy if they want to run that fight back, but Steve Verseek said he would say yes to all. Chandre Pantoja may fourth at UFC three to zero one, but obviously it's less than ideal. He goes all the way back home to Perth and again a fighter who's looking for developmental time. I thought the Brandon Moreno call out by d Verseeg was actually pretty appropriate. All right, rod Dog Royval coming up in sixty seconds, But the heat's going to be cracked up in Miami for UFC two ninety nine. The action, though, is going to be even hotter. 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In New York call eight seven seven eight hope end why or text hope en why. In Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven. Visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly. I'll be having boothilk Seine one resort in Kansas twenty one plus age varies by jurisdiction board in Ontario one no sweat bet for new customer issued is one bonus bet based on initial amounts of losing bet. Bonus bets expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. See dkang dot com slash promos for deposit wagering and eligibility restrictions, terms and responsible gaming resources. All right now with us on the guest line, roughly ten days after one of the biggest wins of his career, the number one ranked UFC Flyway contender Brand and Roy vall appreciate the time today, brother, I know it's a busy time in your life. Thank you for joining. 00:19:36 Speaker 5: Us, Thank you for having me bro, I appreciate you guys man so well. 00:19:41 Speaker 6: Congrats on a huge win over Brandon Moreno. I think overwhelmingly those of us watching at home just we're hoping that you got your hand raised after just other worldly volume and output and toughness of course after the early injury, all of which we have come to expect, so most of us thought you won the fight. What was your reaction though, when and they read the scorecards. I know you guys got the same fucking first name, but I was a little bit surprised to see your reaction. In the moment. 00:20:07 Speaker 5: I thought I was getting ripped off. When they said forty nine forty six, I. 00:20:10 Speaker 2: Was like, I got I got ripped off, man. 00:20:12 Speaker 7: And I had it in my head before the fight that I was like, I need to go finish this fight because I'm not winning a decision in Mexico City. And I had that kind of put in my head for some reason. And then when they said the forty nine forty six, I was like, there's no way. And then, honestly, sometimes I forget how MMA scoring is, so I just thought the best I could do after they said forty nine forty six. 00:20:33 Speaker 4: Was a draw. 00:20:34 Speaker 5: So I was like, there goes a draw or something stupid like that. 00:20:37 Speaker 3: So in my. 00:20:38 Speaker 7: Head, I just like, I don't know. I put it as like I lost as a draw. So when they said my name and then my coach was celebrating, I was like, Okay, I want and it was like a nice like re what is it like like a relief, Like it was a nice release. 00:20:53 Speaker 5: Yeah, and then like that was like another thing too. 00:20:56 Speaker 7: It's just like because like you know, you have some people saying that it was a robbery or whatever, but it's just like bro I was in Mexico and you could just feel like like the crowd was like moreno. The first two rounds, we're going moreno. And then it was silence. It was silence in that arena. It was silence in the arena. I got a few booz after they raised my hand, but it wasn't like anything like a real. 00:21:20 Speaker 2: Robbery where you hear people boo. 00:21:22 Speaker 7: Like you hear people that aren't fans of people booing, and it's like this is a marine. I had five people in that crowd, twenty two thousand people in that arena. That's twenty nine and ninety five people going against me in that arena, right, and there wasn't much

booing. There wasn't much booing after that. 00:21:39 Speaker 4: It's not easy to deal with. Not easy to deal with, man, And it's my understanding. You also had a knee injury during that fight. Did you tear your MCL did I hear that correctly during the. 00:21:49 Speaker 7: Fight A very slight tear, thank god, because I was really worried about it. I was really worried about it. And then I want to quick turnaround. You always want to quick turn around. But just finding out that I needed like what is it like two weeks of two or three weeks of just. 00:22:04 Speaker 2: What is the recovery and pt. 00:22:07 Speaker 7: Yeah, so I was pretty relieved when I saw like the doctor's not come back and it wasn't bad and all that stuff. Because midfight, I'm like, something's really wrong, Like something's really wrong, and like stepping on it fought weird, bouncing and I felt we're throwing kicks felt super weird. And it's like anytime I like delivered a kick and then I brought it back. When I step on the ground, I could feel like a little shakiness and got me like really hesitant on Like my whole game plan was throwing a lot of kicks, a lot of teams and just kind of keeping Brandon Raino a little bit at bay and at long range, you know, and they got me really hesitating right. 00:22:39 Speaker 2: Off the bat. 00:22:39 Speaker 4: Yeah. Having had an MCL tear man though those are not fun having one during a fight that's oppressive that you were still able to get it done. I guess I'm curious, how much do that pass five round or it gets pantosia help you in preparation for this fight and during the fight itself. 00:22:56 Speaker 7: Yeah, obviously there wasn't like much preparation time for the fight, and considering that I just had a five round fight. We didn't do anything crazy as far as training, Like normally I'll do like six seven rounds in a row. I think the highest I went was four rounds in a row, and like we just kind of kept it really really calm and relaxed and just more of like a recovery based like training camp than anything. And just knowing that I could go five rounds like already kind of build in. I was a little little nervous about the whole Mexico City thing. It was like two thousand ft isn't really much, but it's something, you know, it is something, and it's like I was telling my coach, I was like, I don't want to be in the fourth round, realizing that I should have came out two weeks earlier, week or whatever it is, and like in my head I was like that the first week we went out there. The first day that we went out there was like that Tuesday, we were working out and. 00:23:48 Speaker 5: I just, I honestly just forgot about the altitude. 00:23:50 Speaker 7: I got in really late and we just had to get a workout, and so I was like I did like an hour and a half workout, and at the very end of it, Alex was like my corner may Alex, it's just like. 00:24:02 Speaker 5: He's like, yeah, he goes it seems like there's not affecting you. 00:24:04 Speaker 7: And I was like I forgot, like I forgot all about it, like I didn't think about it. And then once you started thinking about it, I was like, well, am I tired and. 00:24:11 Speaker 5: I started didn't show. 00:24:14 Speaker 7: Yeah yeah, I started checking it with my body a little bit, and uh yeah. Once I kind of got past that, I was like, this is going to be nothing like if five rounds. I live in Denver, so it's really nothing to me. Anyways, you know, h. 00:24:28 Speaker 4: One more for you. You know, I know that you know, obviously it's possible you could fight Pantosia in the near future again. So I guess when you look back on that fight with him, what do you think the difference was in that fight me. 00:24:43 Speaker 7: I feel like I gain planned for a normal pantosia of like him bringing chaos and being super chaotic, and I feel like if he would have been like going for the kill constantly, we had answers for everything. What I didn't game plan for. And this is also my fault for not making adjustments mid fight, is just him being very hesitant and him being very what is it like, not not just measured, but him just like playing playing the Point game. He was playing the Point game really, and I've never really seen him do that. He's always kind of go for bro go for a kill type of guy, and I think he knows like the cardio aspect that I bring to it, and he was just like, we're gonna play it safe, we're gonna get there, We're. 00:25:25 Speaker 2: Going to control time, control time, control time. 00:25:27 Speaker 5: And I just didn't make any adjustments on the fly. 00:25:30 Speaker 7: That was like one thing that I wanted to show off in the moreno fight is one I'm not getting held down and too It's like I'm not getting taken down loading right, I'm not giving up easy takedowns. And I felt like I did a pretty good job at one not getting held down but not giving up any easy takedowns. 00:25:44 Speaker 2: Marna went for a few body. 00:25:45 Speaker 7: Locks and kind of just gave up on it after like the first times I defended it, but I thought that was. 00:25:51 Speaker 5: Gonna be like pretty heavily. 00:25:52 Speaker 7: His game plan was just wrestling, bodylock control, all that stuff. 00:25:57 Speaker 6: Brandon roy baalt with us here on the Anakin Florian podcast. So you bet on yourself, And if fans don't know the history here, Brandon stepped in for an injured Amir al Bosi on short notice to fight Brandon Moreno at altitude over five rounds in Mexico City to get yourself right back on track for a championship opportunity. And now you're the fucking number one contender again. Right, Obviously you're dealing with an MCL injury. But this past Saturday, right, we got a couple of rank flyweights competing against each other, number eight versus number seven. Mohamed Mochai have taken on Alex Perez and before that fight you probably hear the champion Pantosia talk about Mokayav maybe being next. So a lot of us, even those of us like me

calling the fight, are thinking about you as this fight is going on, and I'd imagine this is a pretty good result for you, right that even though mokaiahv wins that he doesn't finish Alex Perez, he doesn't look particularly spectacular as you try to potentially get this title fight on May fourth. Are you not watching this fight play out and thinking like this is a pretty good result for me overall? 00:26:57 Speaker 3: Yeah? 00:26:58 Speaker 7: Yeah, I was all around happy with it because it's like Makaia still gets to the hype that's put. 00:27:03 Speaker 2: Behind him as him winning. 00:27:04 Speaker 7: He's an undefeated fighter, all that stuff, and it's like, eventually I want that fight for sure. So it's like take away that high, takeaway all that stuff, So eventually I want that fight. But more importantly, it was just like I just thought that wasn't impressive at all. Like I wasn't too impressed by anything he did. And maybe I was being biased from him a little bit because I do like Alex Preslot. I thought Alex Perez one, but I could see it going get away in that fight. But in that situation, I just didn't think he looked like a road beater or anything impressive. So I was just like I said, all around, I thought it was it was a good day in the office for like the good potential of me getting that title show. Yeah, yeah, he didn't look like he was trying to finish the fight. He didn't got here doing anything too impressive. And that being said is like Alex Prez, great guy, all the stuff, and I'm not trying to bash anybody, but it's like Alex Fresh doesn't have a current win over any UOC. 00:27:58 Speaker 2: Fighter right now, and it's like, yeah, the. 00:28:01 Speaker 7: Closest thing he has to a win is fighting with Gat right now in my opinion, So it's just like, right, I don't know. 00:28:07 Speaker 2: I just wasn't impressed itself. 00:28:10 Speaker 6: So in terms of May fourth and the possibility of you fighting in Rio de Janeiro at UFC three to Zho one, I hate to put you on the spot, but how realistic is that? And I'll follow it up by just saying, you know, I have tweeted in the past that Brandon roy Valt might be the most electric, exciting fighter in MMA, and look no further than just all the output essentially on one leg just ten days ago in Mexico City. There's no doubt that you have this style. I think to beat Aleschandre Pantosia. Do you feel like the only thing that's working against you is that you just fought him recently. 00:28:43 Speaker 7: Yeah, I think that, And it's like, uh yeah, yeah, I think it's just that I fought him recently. 00:28:49 Speaker 5: I'm his last fight. 00:28:50 Speaker 7: I don't really have a big name necessarily to kind of like steal the show because it's like I don't think that I think it Morano I would have won that fight. I think there's no doubt that he was getting the next title show. I think if I won the fight, even though his last loss was to Alis Shandy Pantoder his lost fact before mine was get to Alshon de Pintosia. The situation changed one you have a whole country back in you and stuff, and it's like I don't necessarily have that star power, and that's what kind of like bucks me over in the situation of like do I get the immediate rematch? 00:29:20 Speaker 2: Do I get this? 00:29:21 Speaker 7: And it's like so, I guess that's what scares me. But it's just like as far as the matchup and all that stuff is like I know I could be Aleshondi Pantosia. I know I know that I have the skill set to beat that guy. I think he's an amazing fighter. Don't get me wrong. I think the world of him for sure. That being said is I know I could win that fight, and even in those like four or five weeks that I had to go train for Moreno, it's like you've seen those little adjustments of. 00:29:46 Speaker 2: Me not getting taken down or giving up easy takedowns. 00:29:48 Speaker 7: It's like the solution that I had where I lost the fight to al Jon Pentoza are easy fixes for me. They're very easy fixes for me, and I just needed to change my mindset a little bit in that fight, and that I wish I would have did it then because. 00:30:02 Speaker 2: We could have a I could be in a whole different scene right now. 00:30:04 Speaker 6: Well, and I do think you're selling yourself a little bit short as far as the star power is concerned. I thought, you maximize your microphone time in Mexico City, and your style always leads the dance like we as commentators can promote the shit out of anything you're doing, bro, So please don't sell yourself short. I want to get you out of here on this because AJ Cunningham is a really interesting story. He made his UFC debut this past weekend on short notice against Ludabit Cline. He shows up at Factory X. He was broke two weeks ago. A sponsor gave him some money that allowed him to go to Factory X. And the one guy that he had the nicest things to say about in our fighter meeting was yourself. So what can you tell us about AJ Cunningham and his future now Factory X. 00:30:42 Speaker 7: So I was gone that whole entire week that he was at. I guess he was only there for a couple of days. I was gone the whole entire time. So it's like I'd actually get to spend time with him at the gym, but I have spent like a like maybe I cut weight or I was out there for a fight and. 00:30:57 Speaker 3: He just bought. 00:30:58 Speaker 7: So I was out at the PI with the fvice hung out them for like a couple of days in a row, and like just one of the nicest people I've ever met. 00:31:04 Speaker 2: Man. 00:31:04 Speaker 7: It was just like nothing but a pleasure to be around him. It's one of those dudes that you're like, this is crazy. He's a fighter, you know, Like you get around these big guys and it's like a lot of these guys, you know, but it's like you take the fact that they're actually fighters away from him and you just talk to him and you're like, dang, this is like a really nice human being. 00:31:19 Speaker 2: Like I can't believe he goes.

00:31:20 Speaker 5: In there and hurts people, and right, this is what he gets paid to do. So it was really cool to see him get that call up. 00:31:26 Speaker 7: And if he comes back to Factory X, it'd be really cool to just start training with him and grow with him and all that stuff, because you know that kid has a lot of heart and it's like, I feel like, what the thirty five division and then myself because we don't have we don't have too many flylights energy in Yeah, we have a killer thirty five division that It's like his growth is going to be amazing in there. 00:31:45 Speaker 6: Yeah No, And I know he's excited to get back there sooner rather than later. But Brandon Royvall could very well find himself back at a championship setting as soon as May fourth and rio on Instagram. You can find him at b Royvall b r O y v A L. My man. Great to see you, very gracious of you to join us today. Wish you all the best and I do hope to see you in South America. Come the first of May, buddy, So have a good week, get healthy, and hope to see us soon. 00:32:10 Speaker 5: Thank you, thank you. 00:32:12 Speaker 6: All right there, he is the number one ranked UFC flyweight contender Brandon Royvall and aj Counningham is a really interesting story. Kenny So he lost a lutedit kleine due to a front kick to the body this weekend. But just a crazy story came off Dana White's Contender series. He was forcibly injected with steroids when he was like five and six years old. He was beaten like hell when he was a kid. You know, at one point they poured spoiled condiments on him and left him to sleep in the pit outside. I mean, just the kid went through hell and to see him now become a UFC fighter is just so inspiring and I think emotional for a lot of us, especially as parents as well. All Right, Ray Longo coming up in sixty seconds. But if you're looking to level up your nicotine routine, Lucy is your answer. One hundred percent pure nicotine, always tobacco free, and not only can you change up the format in which you ingest this stuff. Pouches breakers are gum, but you can choose your strength from as little as two milligrams to as high as twelve. If perhaps you've been underwhelmed by the effects of other nicotine pouches, you can also choose your flavor, such as mint, apple, ice, espresso, or mango. One customer review says best nicotine pouches I've ever found, feel and tastes great. Couldn't be happier with my monthly subscription. Another user acknowledges receiving all day focus from this clean nicotine alternative, and don't forget to check out those afforementioned Lucy Breakers nicotine pouches with a tiny capsule inside the product that really sets Lucy apart. So let us help you level up your nicotine routine with Lucy. Goo to Lucy dot Co slash af pod and use promo code af pod to get twenty percent off your first order. Lucy offers free shipping and has a thirty day refund policy if you change your mind, that's Lucy dot Co and use code afpod to get twenty

percent off and always free shipping. And here comes the fine print. Lucy products are only for adults of legal age and every order is age verified warning the product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical all right. Time now to get to the star of the show. Let us get to the Ray Longo Minute. 00:34:08 Speaker 7: It's now time for the Ray Longo Minutes. 00:34:10 Speaker 3: We're going to punch a hole in this foking trucks. That's what I want with the Ray Longo Minute story. 00:34:17 Speaker 6: The John Nick and Kenny Florian Podcast. 00:34:21 Speaker 3: My guys, how are we doing? Yeah? Kind of got you send it in there. How are we feeling today? Guys? 00:34:32 Speaker 6: Better now? 00:34:33 Speaker 5: No? 00:34:34 Speaker 6: Wow, love you buddy. How are we doing? 00:34:37 Speaker 3: Man? Yeah? Good? Good? Came off a good weekend. Just a couple of shout outs to get the things going. Just a Montalvo back on track. Great win Ring a Combat and uh we had another kid Roman, another Georgian kid, another really nice guy win a forty five title. So hats off to those two guys. I hope I'm not forgetting anybody else. I think I'm good. 00:34:57 Speaker 6: No, So I saw the photos. You were wearing a UFC F into the cage when you're cornering guys a ring of combat? 00:35:03 Speaker 3: Is that right? 00:35:04 Speaker 4: Uh? 00:35:05 Speaker 3: I had the jacket on, Yeah, a jacket? 00:35:07 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, I have to fight kid yeah, I have to fight. So it got me thinking, really you would take the Anakin Florian Podcast just sponsored a couple soccer teams, and we're potentially going to get into the business of sponsoring fighters, right wow. So I mean, I don't know if you want to wear like a long Goo Wideman MMA jumpsuit or an Anakin Florian podcast jumpsuit, But I don't know that you need to be wearing that UFC fight kit top when your corner and your guys regionally, right, I mean we could outfit in some stuff. Hey, you a little side wager all right? 00:35:41 Speaker 4: When we got those sweatpants, right, they're coming out. So one picture of me on your left cheek and a picture of John on the right. 00:35:51 Speaker 3: Yes, just stay away from the midlettos two buttcheets you find exactly. 00:35:57 Speaker 6: So you know you are always of a great disposition. But there was obviously a time last year where you had that hip replacement surgery and you were going through it, and it just seems like you've come out the other side in a really good way. So can you give our listeners and viewers an update on that because it seems like you're moving awfully well now, Raymond. 00:36:15 Speaker 3: Yeah, good. Thank you very much for asking. I appreciate it. Yeah, six months in, I feel good, maybe like five percent little hitch but doesn't affect me at all, but like maybe getting in the car, I feel something that I used to feel anyway. So but everything, Yeah, life changing. I'll be honest with you. Yeah, life changing. So thank you very much. And Glid, I

mean to everybody out there, just stay in shape so in case you have to go through something like this, I think you'll bounce back quick. Right, that's it, and just do the right thing, eat right, hydrate, get a good doctor, and I think you're good to go. 00:36:52 Speaker 4: And ray is the hope or the prognosis that that will eventually go away over time that it's just like kind of rehab. I've been strength and all that stuff. 00:37:01 Speaker 3: I'm going to say, yeah, but I mean they didn't really know. Like the last time I was at PETE it was still maybe only like four months in, so I mean they do cut your bone in half, and you know, I mean it's not a Sometimes when I think about it going, I wish I could have just did anything else but that, but uh, I just ran it to the point where it had to be done and look, they're doing so many today that they have it down to science. This certain approaches to John, I think guys are literally walking out of the hospital the next day or two, like walking without the walker, which is wow. Crazy. But I chose to do the more common approach, the posterior approaches, as opposed to the antery approach, and I just went with this one. I don't want no nerves involved. Just separate the muscle, get in there, get out, and maybe a little extra reheab. But I think it's all going to pay off in the end. But thank you, thank you very much for it is life changing. It's great to walk through an airport. You take walking for granted, you take so much things for granted. And you know, my mindset was almost you know, I probably listened to David Coggan's too much, like so it's pain, I'll just go through it. But it was. I don't know what I'm messed up, but I'm glad people told me into doing it and I got it. 00:38:15 Speaker 6: Oh had to be done. I mean I remember, for a lot of us, as your dear friends, the visuals of seeing you sort of get helped down the octagon stairs. Yes, suck, Yeah, so thankfully those are a thing of the past. But yeah, modern medicine is crazy, right. I had a spiral fracture of my femur in nineteen eighty two. Me and my twin brother thought we would move a TV. It fell off the stand. I go into shock immediately, and in nineteen eighty two I'm in traction for eight weeks taking a shit in a bedpan. Right, Yeah, you have a spiral fracture of your femur. Now as like an eight year old boy. They have you walking on it the next day, even after incredit with titanium innutes. So obviously things have changed a lot credit compared to those of us born in the nineteen seventies. Al right, a lot to get to with Ray. So I did my first show with the ufc Apex in about two years, and I can just say, as a commentator, when I have the cans on, I'm not really thinking about much. So when a fight ends, I mean, I'm still veins popping out of the neck. It doesn't phaze me, right, But there are times when either of these fights begin right at the outset of a fighter, when the coaches are particularly quiet, where you can hear a fucking and I'm just curious Ray what your experience is like coaching in that venue, because it's just different. Man, it's just different. 00:39:29 Speaker 3: Well, I think for the coaches, and I think they'll agree, it's like coaching during the spar incision at your gym, you know what I mean. You have maybe twenty thirty guys around this obviously a little more, but you know, you could hear a pin drop, So I'm kinda I think I'm used to it. You're definitely way more engaged with the athlete because you could hear everything you're saying, and I have absolutely no problem with it. You know, and that place you can hear what the other corner is saying. That's always funny. Well here, So. 00:39:58 Speaker 6: Part of the reason I bring it up. And Kenny, I do want to get your thoughts on this, even if you haven't been in this atmosphere specifically. But I thought Amen Zahabby did enough to beat Job at Basharat. He won by unanimous decision twenty nine to twenty eight times three, and I think our call is reflective of that sentiment. I thought he had the more impactful strikes and he won the fight, right, but it was somehow brought up during the broadcast that the coaches can really lean into a left hook landing and maybe have some sort of sway on the judges. And I do think Farasa Hobby, perhaps in a calculated way, did a really nice job of letting the world fucking know every time his younger brother landed a strike. And I do think there is something to that, even if I believe the right guy won the fight. Kim flow any thoughts. 00:40:42 Speaker 4: On it, one hundred percent, listen, I think it plays a factor, especially if it's a punch that kind of skims, or even if it misses and you go, oh great job, you know, even those little things, because let's face it, you know, the judges aren't always at the best angle on the side of the octagon. So if they hear you go, oh great job, you know they'll they'll just conceited. 00:41:03 Speaker 8: Gol. 00:41:03 Speaker 4: I guess he must have landed that one. He's cheering on his fighter, right, I mean so, I think it's an interesting tactic, and it's one that obviously plays itself much better in a venue like the Apex than say it you know t mobile right. 00:41:19 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll tell you. And conversely, if you're struggling with your fight and the judges know that too, So you got to be very very careful in that environment because it goes both ways, you know what I mean. So that part I definitely don't like about it. But I listen, you know, I had to fights in Atlantic City, so that it was an early call, right John, So I kind of was backtrack and that fight I did look at. But Zahabi one thing he did do like when he made basharat miss. I mean he came back with four or five good punches. He did a fantastic job in that fight. Look either way, one guy was going to be very pissed off. I think it's that type of fight. But a hobby definitely, I think you said the impact strike is he would just get back enough

and he would fire back with combos where the other guy was was going forward. He was making a fight. But you know, either way, but a Hobby did a great job. It was a good fight and I think the right guy wanted. But it was one of those fights you knew somebody was going to be pissed off. And yeah, I mean as a coach, that's an old you know tactic. You just start screaming at anything just to trite influence the judges. But then when your guy's not doing good and you're like, dude, come on, man, we got to do more, you're basically telling the judges you think your guys losing it at that part sucks. I don't like it because you want to motivate your guy, even if that's not even what you feel. 00:42:42 Speaker 9: Sometimes, right, that is an amazing point about coming down too hard on your fighter in that type of atmosphere, It is fucking insane that these judges don't have noise canceled though. 00:42:54 Speaker 6: To begin with right, I mean, don't even get us started. There's no reason that I like more than open scoring. Yeah, we can talk about open scoring, time permitting, but we have too many things to get into, so I can't open that can. And Kenny, I just have to say it is a little a little bit nostalgic for me. If you don't know, Faras a hobby was the chief corner of Kenny Florian towards the end of his career, So for me seeing far Us coaching is a little bit nostalgic to me. But Ken Fel, how about your former fucking training partner, Amon's a hobby? Four straight wins in the UFC. 00:43:23 Speaker 4: Right now, dude, it was great to see because you Aiman was one of the guys that I would bring out to Boston to help me train and just a great soldier man. He was down for whatever whenever, great training partner, great kid, great human being. And to see him do that well against a very tough opponent was awesome because the first round wasn't going great and the fact that he was able to make those adjustments and in my opinion, really win that fight. And when those last two rounds I think shows a level of great and intelligence that is going to serve him well moving forward. So getting that momentum, now, that's got a great man. It's a hobby both for us and Aiman are two great people that I really enjoy being. 00:44:06 Speaker 6: Grit is a good word, all right, Ray, A lot of things we want to get to with you today. I wouldn't mind starting with Umar and rmago Metov. He is still undefeated, but he did suffer a flash knockout early in this fight against the newcomer Besat Almacan, and I think Almacon is going to be heard from. But there are just a lot of public opinions about Umar and let me just start by saying, he is such an elite human being, one of my favorite humans on the roster. His ability to learn and communicate in English and say exactly what's on his mind and his second or third language is so impressive. I do think he has a great chance to be a future world champion, but there are some people who aren't necessarily sold. I like that he took on this little known kid making his UFC debut, but maybe not the dominant Umar and Normagometov effort that a lot of people expected, even though one of the scorecards said thirty to twenty five. So you've spent a lot of time studying the elite bandam weights the world in your mind. What are your thoughts on umar and or Magamettav and how he stacks up. 00:45:03 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, I mean, first off, exactly what you said. The way they articulate themselves is something I think because it's their second language, it just comes across as simple but so intelligent and so like common sense oriented that it's it's a pleasure to listen to either, because I always love listening to Kabeb. But I always thought you got just a just a man. Why couldn't I think of that. It's just a nice, honest approach. I mean the fight, I mean, look, he got clipped. I mean there was you know, he went back to the wrestling. My problem is, like you know, and I hate that. I don't want to throw us back to like Pumie, but everybody like they bitch about his wrestling, But as soon as this kid got clipped, he went to his wrestling, which he should do. That's his that's his strength. But we're not going to criticize the guy for that. You know, I think Michael Johnson clipped Kabeb that time, but you know, all right, everybody gets clipped. So I think it was a great fight for Umar and magamet Off. I think he's right where he wants to be. We got up the competition a little bit. But I think, who do you call Corey santeg And I think that would be a great challenge for him and we'd have to see how he does in like a five round fight, which I'm assuming that would one hundred percent be And that's it. Yeah, I mean, he got caught, but he made the adjustments and he did what he had to do to win. So I like watching him fight, and I think he, like you said, I think if he said he had problems before that camp, he's the type of guy I are one hundred percent believe because everybody has problems. You know, that's not an uncommon thing to you know. I get a guy two weeks away and he tweaks his wrist. It's just so upsetting. So anything could happen leading up to a fight, And when a guy is able to articulate like that, I buy it. So I think it was a great win for him. 00:46:52 Speaker 6: Kenny, one of the biggest challenges as an elite MMA athlete is staying healthy, right, and then once you get there, like Sean O'Malley, the one question I have is can his durability last with two or three title defenses in a calendar year. I don't think Sean amalley will ever defend the title three times in a year. But Ken Fla, what are your thoughts on on Umar and Armago metof what we saw this weekend and a potential main event now moving forward against Corey san Haagen or somebody else. 00:47:17 Speaker 4: Yeah, Listen, staying healthy is very difficult in mixed martial arts, right that there's an element where you need to train hard to prepare for that fight. But yeah, no, listen, I thought Nirmaga

Madoff looked great. I think he did it the Nirmalga met Off way, which was the safest path to victory here. First of all, it showed that he knows how to just and deal with a little bit of adversity. There he faced a very tough striker. You know, for those that didn't do their homework and didn't follow this fighter from Kazakhstan, the kids a killer. I mean, he's extremely dangerous. So he found a way to win, and his kicking game looked great, as always thought. He did a great job of being the longer, larger man when they were on the feet, and then he just dominated on the floor man, just continue to outposition them and just like we talked about on the last podcast, he ended up drowning them. 00:48:11 Speaker 3: Right. 00:48:12 Speaker 4: It's like first round does okay, second round, starting to pull away from third round, you're just like, please get the hell off of me, and just outpositioned them and really didn't really do it with submissions, but he did it with this striking, and that at the end of the day is what you should do. You get better positioned on someone. You got to integrate your strikes, and that many times is a way more powerful indicator of you winning those rounds than it is sometimes with these judges where you get them in a bunch of submissions. You know, it's more impressive in my opinion, when you dominate with positioning and striking. And that's what the Nirmaga Medoffs do better than anyone of the game, them and their whole camp. They have this system, man, and it works. You get these great wrestlers, you get better position, then you integrate the striking. Rinse Wash repeats, Yeah. 00:49:03 Speaker 3: Hey, go ahead, yeah, John, I mean I got interrupt. You just popped into my head. I want to also shout out young Marcus from the Sarah Jiu Jitsu Academy had the win back and forth, Kenny, you would have loved it. Jiu jitsu. A lot of you know, a couple of mistakes here and there, but young Marcus is a nice kid and I just want to give him a shadow. I forgot all about that talking. I'm it was a long week. It was a long weekend. But young Marcus, everybody's with you, buddy, great great win for him. He had to come back deal with adversity was good night. Apologize for the interruption, but that thought would have left my head in the two seconds if I don't jump in there. 00:49:38 Speaker 6: Now went to the star of the show. 00:49:41 Speaker 3: Never forget that, okay, And I got a good Morob story. 00:49:44 Speaker 6: For you, all right, Well take can you table the Morob story for one second so I could just say, let's fucking go, let's go, let's go behind you, Marcus so Umarnin Mango Matov had a main event schedule with Corey Sandhagen. He had to pull out due to injury. Corey Sandhagen is relatively warm to making that fight again if he is not next to challenge for the world title. So it's a big time in the bantamweight division. We'll get raised thoughts on UFC two ninety nine and some of the bandamweight ramifications later. But you've got a great Morob story right now. 00:50:13 Speaker 3: So the floor is yours. You know. So yesterday a guy, this guy's name is Boris. I want to shout out to Boris. Boris was the guy that brought Morabo. But Morob lived with him and you all heard the story before, but it was interesting talking to him that it's got to be a one in like twenty million chance. I even got to meet Morob at the gym because the story like he told like I was trained, I was with Widman. Wideman was I think preparing for Anderson Silva. We were at Henzo Gracie Academy and he said he was there with Morob and this other guy, David, and they were supposed to be there the following week, but the guy changed his mind said meet me there this week. And I was walking out the door. We were done, and David, another one of the Georgian guys, tells Boris, that's the trainer of Eddie Gordon who fought at the Ring of Combey, said, man, I like to say hello to him, and I was. I was literally leaving out the door and they caught me at that's what he's saying. I don't I have no I remember meeting him, but not like when it was. But he said it was just a chance thing that the guy just came over and said, uh, you know, you remember me, and I said, oh, yeah, of course. And then you know, I said, you guys live in the city. He goes, no, we live in Garden City. I just opened up the school in Garden City was like just weird. The way he told the story was like that could have never happened, you know what I mean when I look back on it, So shout out to Boris. He got those guys over here. He's a great guy. And uh, it just it just got me yesterday like that, like the way he said you were you were leaving like you know, we weren't even going to say alone, and the guy said, no, I really like to say hello. And the rest is history, My man. 00:51:57 Speaker 6: Don't you think would have happened if thatsance meeting had not happened? That Al Jamaine Sterling and Rob dwallasch Willy would never have connected and you would have never connected with him. Is that what you're telling us? 00:52:06 Speaker 3: Yeah? Never, never would have connected. 00:52:10 Speaker 4: All right. 00:52:10 Speaker 6: You know what else is crazy? 00:52:12 Speaker 3: Yeah? Baby? 00:52:13 Speaker 6: How about Venisius Olivera's knockout? Oh my, Bernardo Sopie can flow if you don't know, a little flying switch knee, while his opponent, however tough, was sort of retreating towards the fence. That might be the knockout of the year. Can flow. It's March fourth, But how about fucking that shit? 00:52:32 Speaker 4: Nasty nasty, nasty, and it's crazy because if you saw the first round, you're like, well, yeah, like so Pie one, right, I mean he's the guy who won. But if you didn't, you know, then you see round two started to shift over and once he got that momentum and once he started to start winning that fight, he never allowed so Pie back into the fight. And dude, finishing a fight in that manner. I mean, there's not a

whole lot of knockouts that are better than a flying knee and the way that he hit it, I mean he landed all of that, all of that just a nasty, nasty knockout and it's one of those Also that was concerning because I don't know if Sappie is going to be the same after that one. Dude. I mean, that was a net for a young fighter to take a shot like that, right, dude, I mean on a physical level, on a spiritual level, like you know, that's where you start to question, do I want to be in here anymore? Because that was about as nasty as a ko that you will see, dude, just fantastic, unbelievable. 00:53:34 Speaker 3: Yeah, and Kenny, what you said, I mean, Steve Lee goes to me did you see the knockout? I go what and what not? Guy goes, what do you talk about? It's crazy? It was nuts, and I had to go back and look at the fight. So I just go back, I pick up, pick it up. In the third round, I never saw the first two week Yeah, yeah, so I'm going west because he said it was a good fight. It was, you know, starting to shift, and I'm like, what I saw in the third round was not looking good for the other guy. So then I sort of not gonna go holy crap, man, that was crazy. But I missed the first two rounds, so. 00:54:06 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean stiff as a board, sort of arms crouched like underneath him. Yeah, some scary visuals. And I watched a lot of film on this Bernardo Sopi leading up to this fight. I loved this matchup Right and Vnetius Oliver, by the way, getting a hundred thousand dollars in bonus money, Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night with Soapi. I'm watching this film of him when he's nineteen. Right made his pro debut when he was fifteen, had an amateur fight and his pro debut on the same night. Kam Zat Chimaya was in his corner actually for his previous last fight, a win last December. But I just was really impressed with this young kid. I was impressed with Venisius as well, But I do really feel for Bernardo's sapie can flow to your point, right, just absorbing this type of damage and then his coach being like, come on, dude, like stay in it, Like I know you got the heart and the determination to stay in the fight, and he did. But that's a really concussive blow, it really is. 00:55:01 Speaker 4: And listen, you know, Ray, I would go back and watch it because this kid's actually a good fighter. He's got some serious skills. And when we when he was a hammer man, he was looking great. 00:55:11 Speaker 3: Wow. 00:55:11 Speaker 4: I think there was a certain shift that happened. He got hurt, he got a little tired, he started to doubt himself, and that's where that youth and inexperience may have taken over. I don't think it was necessarily a lack of heart and may have been that. I don't want to accuse him of that. But once that shift happened, it was like two different fights, two different fighters, just wild stuff. So if he can come back from that I do think he could be a very good fighter, but certainly looked outsized by oli of Era in that

fight too. Oliver just looked massive for that. 00:55:45 Speaker 3: Way, and I think that's what made the knee worse. He had the long, lanky legs and thud. It just probably added an extra one hundred pounds of force, you know what I mean? It was bad, but I am going to go back and look at it because I heard good things. But what I saw it in the third round, and even know what anybody was talking about, I go, this guy looks like he's clearly losing the fight. But I will go back and look because I heard the kids an outstanding fighter. 00:56:09 Speaker 6: And Vanisi's OLIVERA is an outstanding fighter and finisher, and I think he showed you a lot of heart to come back from some compromising moments in that fight. What a fight that was, and that's going to put a bow on UFC Fight night Rosenstrike versus Gazive. I would like to spend a remaining time with Raymond Peter Longo on UFC two ninety nine if I could, a lot of bandon weights in action, including Sean O'Malley versus Marlon cheto Vera. O'Malley inching up as far as the betting price is concerned. Not quite a three to one favorite, but he is a decided favorite this weekend against Marlon Cheeto Vera. What are your thoughts on the Bandon White title fight? 00:56:43 Speaker 3: Right? Yeah, I mean I think the uh, I mean, look, O'Malley's a show up shoot, a great footwork. Cheetos sometimes starts a little slow but finishes strong. The five rounds will definitely play into this fight. If Cheeto's gonna get him, it's probably going to get him towards the end. But uh, we'll see how Uh this is o'mellley's first five round fight, right. 00:57:05 Speaker 6: Well, it's his first title defense. Yeah, so he was scheduled for five against your guy. Didn't need five? Didn't need five? 00:57:13 Speaker 3: Wow, all right, we'll go with it. 00:57:14 Speaker 6: Fucking around, fucking around. 00:57:19 Speaker 3: When you're on top, Kenny, everybody loves you and you're not. That is a perfect example. But it's a crawl. Yeah, you gotta gotta have muddy evens. But uh so he did. Uh So I think you know, I'm gonna say O'Malley probably gets the job done, but I'm kind of curious to see the durability and if Cheeto comes in as the Cheeto we know because he's he was off. I thought in the Sandaga fight was that he was a little was starting slow and he never really got going. But uh, if Cheeto could start chopping his legs right from the beginning and putting some pressure on him making them work, I think he could set up for a victory in the later rounds. 00:57:58 Speaker 6: You know what moves betting line when people like al Jamayin and Sterling say things like the only thing I'm concerned about is I heard that I'm hearing through the grape vine that Cheeto didn't really have a great camp. Oh, I got a lot of guys that have trained with Cheeto. Sterling divulge. Where am I reading this? By the way, Cody, if you could get me the credit. I don't know how true that is. I'd imagine it's Aljo's podcast, but I want the weekly scraps, all right. So with that said, I'm leaning towards O'Malley to get it done. I'm going to say I don't think he finished whatever, all right. So yeah, so Aljo suggestive of the fact that maybe Cheto didn't have a great camp. That is the type of thing that legitimately could move a betting line. But we'll see what happens. You know, I think he's going to have to separate cheeto from consciousness if he's going to get that job done. Long game might be might be another thing also on tap in your division, pyodr Yan taking on Song You Dong and the bandam weight division, Right, I mean, isn't it isn't amazing that pyodr Yan with his skills is staring at four straight losses if he loses to Song You Don't. 00:58:51 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's amazing. It's amazing. And I'll tell you what's even more amazing. It's almost like the story I told you one in twenty million. He made that decision and the Aljoe in the head and his life was never the same. Yeah, you know, one shot he was on his way. It's just you gotta you gotta stay true to yourself and just do the right thing. I guess. But that uh, yeah, the fact that he's looking at four four in a row is for a guy that was coming up that was really unstoppable, is amazing. Yeah, So I think I think Young gets the job done, though, Kenny. 00:59:25 Speaker 4: Yeah, and that you know that illegal need. It feels like it was eight years ago. It's easy to forget about things like that. And I don't know, maybe for me just because the sport moves so fast. But that's crazy, you're you're I mean, I think it's insane. 00:59:39 Speaker 3: One guy's life was changed for the better, room one guy's life was just changed for the worst. So, uh, I guess the guards have spoken. 00:59:48 Speaker 6: You know, indeed, that really is interesting. 00:59:51 Speaker 3: Well, we are we by pissing the heavyweight fight. 00:59:54 Speaker 6: No, you can talk about the heavyweights at the Apex, of course. 00:59:57 Speaker 3: I mean, how was it being there? I mean, you were you We're in an environment where everybody could hear everything. That guy looked like you just I mean, what the hell was I looking at? 01:00:07 Speaker 6: Well? I mean I could compare some of my visuals during my strength of conditioning workouts to Shamil Gavie mouth open. I don't even think he needs a new mouthpiece. I just think he needs to get on a versa climber or something. But no, I mean I really enjoyed, I really enjoy getting to know Shamil Gazevee and we do in our fighter meetings, right and I'm in my myself. That's not gonna work, sorry, Cody. So I'm doing my fighter meeting. I just went to the three wide shop. But I'm doing my fighter meeting with Gazebe And he sees this studio and he sees Max Holloway and Kabeeb, and so the first thing he says in our fighter meeting, He's like, when am I going to get my picture on the wall? 01:00:41 Speaker 4: You know? 01:00:41 Speaker 6: So I love this guy right away. But yeah, it didn't have much much in him necessarily,

But no, I don't know. I'm sure. Yeah, I'm sure people hear a lot of our commentary. It's a weird setting in which to be callin fights. 01:00:53 Speaker 3: Well, sure, like it was interesting. I think we got to give god It some credit. No, I mean, yeah, something was wrong, which I agree with one hundred percent, and he corrected, and you know he's there to make every you know, to make sure everything's fair and protect the fight. I thought he did a great job with that, you know. But uh, yeah, weird. We'd never seen that before, right, you know, you're demanding like an interpreter. Yeah, I mean body language. I think anybody could tell watching the TV that, Yeah, the guy definitely didn't want to be there, Like I just wasn't sure if he couldn't see, or he said the guy's gyp was so fast he couldn't see. You know, two different. 01:01:35 Speaker 6: I mean, I wasn't necessarily catching an early flight. I was on a red eye, but I didn't need to necessarily another five minutes. I was good after the first night. By the way, it was so indy in Las Vegas that a lot of people had their flights canceled. Daniel Cormier ended up driving home, actually the seven hours to northern California. 01:01:54 Speaker 4: Uh. 01:01:55 Speaker 6: But I was staying at the brand new Durango, which is just an unbelievable establishment. One of the doors in the main lobby shattered from the wind, and that's a brand new building, so which just gives you some idea of just how windy it was in Las Vegas. Sorry, one final thing for you, Raymond on UFC two ninety nine, if I could so, Ben was Antony got your guy Matt Fravola. He incidentally also didn't need the full time. If we're really digging in, he was also able to finish one of your guys. 01:02:22 Speaker 3: Let's dig in. 01:02:23 Speaker 6: I'm just messing around South Provola, The Bulldoze, one of my favorite people listens and watches the Anakin Florian podcast. Guy probably fucking hates me. Now, I love it for Bolas. But you and I, Raymond, both knew the extent to which Ben was Antony was a problem back then, and now we're seeing money continuously pour in on him against Austin Pourier this weekend. Right now, Dustin Pourier is the plus one eighty underdog against Benstony. Can't tell you where it's gonna close, but please give us everything you can. Having prepared for Ben was Antony on how you think this co main event will go. 01:02:56 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, Dustin better of putting a real serious camp because this guy is coming guns blazing, and you know, look it seems like the timing is right. This guy's coming up. Dustin's been there, done that to take on a guy like this. I give Dustin credit, and I don't see the upside of this fight for him except the paycheck. So we'll see how it plays out. But I think it's going to be a really, really tough challenge for Dustin because I think it's gonna be one of those grinding fights that normally I think he's always up for I just don't know if he's still up for it. He's definitely the more skillful of the of the two, but you know, we've seen it. We're heart and desire and pressure just can eliminate that. So I think they got it right. I think, you know, he's coming off of that knockout with gay Chee. Yep, everything's leaning not in his favor. 01:03:50 Speaker 6: I think, yeah, Well, don't discount the skin fade in all of this, because even though I've had this weird obsession shave in my head since I was like twelve years old, all you guys who throw out your hair and go to Turkey for hair transplants, I've been trying to get dustin Poorier. 01:04:07 Speaker 3: I'm going, oh. 01:04:09 Speaker 6: Gosh, I've been trying to I'm a little underslapt pimple. I've been trying to get dustin Poier to go back to the skin fade, you know, since we were in like Hidalgo, Texas in twenty sixteen. Not that I don't think he looks good with like the boys regular haircut right or whatever the Drew Dober with all the gel and stuff, but skin fade dustin Poorier is a different animal, and he has brought the skin fad o for this training. 01:04:34 Speaker 3: Kiss you. 01:04:34 Speaker 6: I don't think that can be lost in all this. 01:04:36 Speaker 3: That's huge. 01:04:38 Speaker 6: Hey, ray we appreciate you tweaking your schedule a little bit, would you if you don't know? 01:04:42 Speaker 3: Normally? 01:04:42 Speaker 6: Raymond joins us at about eleven thirty am Eastern, we went like twelve forty five pm today. How does that affect your schedule? Be honest with us. 01:04:50 Speaker 3: Why we're making this a definite? 01:04:52 Speaker 6: No? No, No, I'm just curious. 01:04:53 Speaker 3: No, I'm good either way. I try to good either way, planning my Monday's around you guys. 01:04:57 Speaker 6: You're amazing. Well, it'll probably be closer to the AM slot next week when we recap UFC two ninety nine, but I will leave you with this. How are you liking the new setup? Was it easy? I mean the whole goal is that you're not messing with headgear and things that you can just get in there and it should get easier every week. So how was it today? 01:05:17 Speaker 3: Good? Yeah? Really good? 01:05:19 Speaker 4: Yeah? 01:05:20 Speaker 6: You sound great. You look great. 01:05:22 Speaker 3: I don't know if I look great, but I hopefully sound good. 01:05:25 Speaker 6: You sound amazing, Tanning. 01:05:28 Speaker 3: Now, I mean you got white eath your tanning white. I get Venia's get back in the sun. 01:05:35 Speaker 6: My teeth aren't that white there, certainly not that straight. But no, I mean I live in South Florida and I have a naturally dark complexion. I don't know what Ken Flier has to say about darker than you look. 01:05:47 Speaker 3: I look white as a ghost. It's got to be the lighting. 01:05:50 Speaker 6: No, well, Petrie makes you look black. So but you do sound and look great, and we appreciate the commitment to the show. I know there's a segment of our viewership that's upset that you're not in a toilet stall or having technical

issues. But I am not among those listeners. 01:06:06 Speaker 3: So I think John, I see stand up in the horizon for you. After today, you will he was on. 01:06:12 Speaker 4: Fight he was, he was, Yeah, I'm trying to be a little spice. It's like, yeah, perfect, Yeah. 01:06:18 Speaker 6: I'm actually trying to be a rapper. Next, I've been writing. I've been writing a track called One More Sleep, but we might have to pivot and call it Greatest of All Time. I'm only going to have one verse too. I'm not the star rapper in this track whatsoever. I'm only going to have one verse. But Leona Lewis has a song called One More Sleep Wow, And so I just you know, I don't know, I don't want to. I got to tread lightly with Leona Lewis. I'm that's all. But you're saying if I if I open up for somebody and do stand up comedy, you'd come and you'd come and support that in the show. 01:06:51 Speaker 3: I'd come and ship at you God, But that's supportive, like supportive heckling, you know, part of the show. 01:06:58 Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm here to be roasted, all right, Raymond. Well, if you don't have anything else, I would suggest to you that you have a great day in a better evening and we'll talk to you next Monday to recap UFC two ninety nine. 01:07:07 Speaker 3: My guys, take it easy, guys. 01:07:11 Speaker 6: Thank you buddy. The ray Long go minute every week here on the Anakin Florian Podcast. Yeah, we tweaked the schedule a little bit, had a couple of fighters joining us. But when I hear that ray sort of revolves his Monday around us, that doesn't sit great with me. So we'll try to get Raymond back to his regular time slot next week. Raise the band all right now with us? A man? I am absolutely thrilled to get the chance to talk to one of the best middleweights in the world, the PFL Belatur super belt winner, the Belatoor Middleweight world champion, one of American Top Team's finest. Johnny Evelyn is with us. Johnny, appreciate your time today, sir. How are we doing, Yeah, no problem, bro doing well. 01:07:46 Speaker 8: Just boxed and wrestled and you know, just going about my day and you know, and enjoying the. 01:07:52 Speaker 6: Plin, enjoying the fruits of the labor. Are those prescription glasses? I like your glasses, Yes, sir, they sure are. 01:08:00 Speaker 8: I ran out of contacts a while back, so I just been supporting these glasses every ever since, you know, And I think I need to go back to the eye doctor and get some more contacts. And I need another pair of lenses like this, you know, some a little different. 01:08:13 Speaker 6: I think, Well, it's good to see you in any capacity. I do want to go backwards before we spin it forward, if I could so. Twenty fifteen, after a decorated, if injury played career wrestling for the University of Missouri, moved to Florida. You're working at a paving company, coaching wrestling on the side. And forget my ignorance, But to what extent is MMA and MMA fighting on your radar at that point in time in your life. 01:08:38 Speaker 8: Literally nothing I was like looking to do. I was more so I just knew what MMA was. My brother had done it as an amateur when I was growing up, and he ended up, you know, getting a normal job. I went on to wrestling college and then I moved down to Florida for a job, and you know, I ended up kind of dumbled into att nothing nothing like nothing that I personally like seek to do, if that makes any sense. I more so just made connections through the restling world by meeting Steve Manco. 01:09:18 Speaker 6: All right, so you meet Steve Maco, and i'd imagine you sort of recognized that you might be good at this pretty quickly. I think you were fighting in the amateur ranks maybe about a year or so later, is that right, not even a year. 01:09:29 Speaker 8: I trained for a few months, and then I took an amateur fight in a bar, and I mean from there on it was just history. You know. I ended up, you know, fighting a couple more times amateur. I ended up fighting like pretty tough guys. They were pretty much pro fights and Mike was like, you should just go pro man get paid, and then it ended up linking up with Shamrock FC Jesse Finney, and he hooked me up with some good fights to get my feet wet, and it was a hometown thing, so I got to sell some tickets, see my family, and it was a good way to kind of start my career. 01:10:05 Speaker 6: Excuse me, all right, then we're going to fast forward to twenty twenty two Onncasville, Connecticut. You're facing the legend Gagard Musasi for the belts or middleweight title. Pretty big underdog if I recall in that fight, but i'd imagine confident as ever, How confident were you fighting Musase back then? 01:10:21 Speaker 8: I mean I was confident in my ability to fight him. More so, I was just anxious because I had never fought a guy to his level, So I wasn't sure. You know, you never know until you're actually in there. It's a little nervous going in. But I knew, you know, from my training partners, from you know, just all the people that I that I go with. I know what level I'm at, and it was just a matter of doing it on a big stage and doing it for a belt, and you know, when when that occasion came up, I had to rise to that occasion and fight like I do when I trained, you know, And I sure did rise to the occasion and I put it on mussat seeing. You know, at the end of it, I was like, hell, yeah, this is this is what I trained for, this is what I worked hard for. 01:11:07 Speaker 4: And Johnny, on your last fight, you were a favorite heading into that one, and I think, you know, I had the opportunity to see it. But in all the improvements that he made over the last year, Uh, definitely vast improvements. Were you surprised by I U during that fight at all? 01:11:22 Speaker 8: I was a little surprised. I'm more so I think I fought more at his level. I was being I was being trying to be more exciting. I was trying to stay in the pocket more and trade more and you know, kind of like fight him at his

game, which was not the smartest thing to do, you know. And thankfully it ended up the way that it did and I ended up with a win. But you know, looking back at it, I should have fought a bit smarter. I should have you know, utilized my range, utilized my footwork and movement and not just hey man, we're going to stand and bang a bit. You know, I could have definitely used my fight IQ a bit more, but not just not to take anything away from impa. He's gotten a lot better. He's he can hit hard, he's a good athlete, and yeah, man, he he kind of surprised me. But like I said, I think I more so fought at his level than anything, if that makes any sense, Like I I gave him a shot at beating me when I shouldn't have. 01:12:29 Speaker 4: And Johnny, why was it the fight five rounds? And do you feel like five rounds would have been to your advantage even more? 01:12:37 Speaker 8: I think the fight wasn't five rounds because I think they were gonna have four Champ verse Champ fights from at the beginning, and then yeah, two of them fell through, and then they could have technically made the last two five rounds. That would have been very beneficial to me. I think because as the fight was going on, I was wearing them out, I was doing more damage I was, I was building my confidence and as go on, I get better. So I think if there was five rounds, I think I finish them, you know, and when we rematch in the future. I hope that they can make it happen. I'm hoping it's a five round fight so I can really showcase, you know, my skills, you know, because as the fight goes on, I open up more. My cardio gets better and I get better just in general. 01:13:22 Speaker 4: Johnny, last one for me. Do you have any idea of what is going to be next? 01:13:27 Speaker 3: Yes? 01:13:27 Speaker 8: So I think this month Fabian Edwards and Aaron Jeffery are fighting for number one contender. If they go out, if they go out there one of them wins unscathed and they're not completely injured. I think they're going to try to match me up with the winner of that fight later on this year. 01:13:46 Speaker 6: Johnny Eblin with us here on the Anak and Florian podcast. It Boo Kasangani is a good friend of the program. But I just want to make it clear you won that fight and it was an absolute thrill to watch that fight from home, just the way you sort of go about your business now. My broadcast part of the Renaissance. Man Joe Rogan did recently say on the Joe Rogan Experience, and I quote no disrespect to the other organizations, there's very good fighters in the other organizations, but I often feel like they're wasting their career because I see these elite fighters that are fighting in Belltorm PFL, and I'm like, hey, guys, no one's watching. I mean, some people are watching. You're getting a little bit of a fan base. I don't want to disrespect, but there's a reality. 01:14:20 Speaker 4: Now. 01:14:21 Speaker 6: I'm a full time UFC employee, Johnny. I bought the PFL bellatour pay per view largely because you were on it. And I know you're just getting started as far as like approaching your fighting prime, but certainly we want that fighting prime to play out in front of as many eyeballs as possible. And you're here too for always going to be asked about the UFC. But when you hear someone like Joe Rogan say that, and you're one of those elite fighters that likely he wants as a bigger combat sportshead than I am. He wants people watching, Johnny Evlin like that's his overriding point. What do you feel when you hear somebody on his level say something like that. 01:14:58 Speaker 8: I think he's right, man, And it's just kind of the cards that I have dealt right now. You know, there's contracts involved, There's only so much I can do. I'm trying to do the most I can to promote myself outside of you know, the PFL, and I'm trying to draw as many eyeballs as possible. But like you said, it's tough to get the majority of eyeballs on me. But like true, fight fans will tune in to watch me because they know how good I am. But yeah, I mean, I'm kind of stuck with what I have right now, and I'm just trying to make the best of it, and I'm going to try to extend my prime as long as possible. I'm being very smart about how I live, how I do everything, how I train, and you know, I'm going to extend my prime as long as possible to where at the end, you know, I'm going to have the most eyeballs on me and I'm going to be at the top of my game. And that's kind of the plan going forward because there's only so much I can do relative to the contracts I'm involved with right now. 01:15:58 Speaker 6: You're doing everything right, man, you really are. But I did want to bring that your way, all right. I got a few more questions before I get to some rapid fire questions on the way out with Johnny Evlin training with Sean Strickland in Las Vegas. Seems like you guys are pretty tight. 01:16:13 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, dude, he's a good training partner. He's an honest book when it comes to starring, and he's a tough, tough son. 01:16:21 Speaker 3: Of a bitch. 01:16:22 Speaker 6: I don't know how yeah, but I'm also I'm also pretty damn tough too. 01:16:29 Speaker 8: So when we when we kind of get together, it's just like we we level each other up. You know, we have a similar mindset when it comes to training. We like to go hard, and he's he's a good dude man, and a lot of people might think otherwise. You know, he likes to state his opinion a lot, and you know that's that's on him. A lot of other people, you know, might hold back, but he's just himself one of the time, and I really respect that. So Yeah, good guy, great training partner. I always enjoy going out to Vegas and getting rounds with him. 01:17:00 Speaker 6: That's cool and I think it's just cool for MMA fans to see that alignment. All right, what was your most satisfying collegiate wrestling win? I mean, national qualifier but what was your some extending see I'm trying to give you time stall time

here, but maybe the most satisfying match for you, and I don't know, it could have been something early on in your career. Oh man, Yeah, this was a tough one. 01:17:27 Speaker 8: Honestly, there was. There was one match I wrestled. We wrestled with Illinois. It was during the the National Duels, and I ended up pinning this guy in like I think the first twenty seconds or something crazy like that. It was a really big win on a big stage, and it was against the ranked opponent, and yeah, that was a really big win. I forgot the guy's name. He actually ended up beating me in the NCAA is that same year. I was on the backside. He ended up beating me out, but I got Technically, that was probably one of the biggest ones I had, you know. That's the only way I can think of. There's a few others, I think, but they're kind of less significant than that one. 01:18:11 Speaker 6: I love asking high level D one college wrestlers that question. Domina Cruz always tells me that to help my MMA play by play, I should watch as much college wrestling as possible, So I'm gonna I'm gonna go find out later today, who exactly that opponent was? All right, rapid fire questions with Johnny Evvelin on the way out. Favorite sports team other than American top Team, Keith, Congratulations, I figure that might be the answer. In sparring or in competition. Who is the hardest hitter you've ever been in there with? 01:18:41 Speaker 5: Oh man, that's a hard one. 01:18:44 Speaker 6: You can pass on any of. 01:18:45 Speaker 8: These terribly hit me pretty hard that one. 01:18:50 Speaker 6: Yeah, that's fair, huge fucking midst That guy t would Jesus for his size my gud all right factor fiction Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will fight each other in twenty twenty five fiction true? Or those Johnny Eblin and Bow Nickel will one day compete against each other in mixed martial arts. 01:19:09 Speaker 8: That might be a fact, man, I don't know, but yeah, that might be a fact. 01:19:12 Speaker 6: Feels like it. Tougher matchup right now for Johnny Evlin Israel out of Sonia or drinks due plus see. 01:19:18 Speaker 8: I think Drick is He's more well rounded. 01:19:21 Speaker 6: And then the best middleweight in the world right now other than yourself is whom. 01:19:27 Speaker 8: I give it to, My boy, John Strickland. 01:19:29 Speaker 6: Yeah, there you go, all right, fifteen to O World Champ Johnny Eblin. You can follow him on Instagram at his name Johnny Evlin. Johnny, congrats on everything, man, appreciate your time, your must see TV. As far as we're concerned, we'll be tracking your career buddy, wherever you're fighting. Thank you, and hope to shake your hand at some point and not too distant future, sir, Yes. 01:19:46 Speaker 8: Sir, Yeah, anytime you guys want to have me on, just hit me up. 01:19:49 Speaker 6: Dude, you're the man. Thank you, buddy, Thank you. Johnny Evlin with us here on the Anakin Florian Podcast. A lot of a Leaf fighters out there can flow, a lot of a Leaf fighters, and I do think that as his career progresses, you may one day see him in some of these dream matchups against somebody like Bo Nickel. But man, that Impu Kasangan and I fight. That was the reason I bought the pay per view. I mean I did text you that that henon FORJDA just a fucking monster. Like if that dude fajita, I'm buying whatever that dude's doing. He's like six nine, three hundred and fifty pounds gone out of two sixty five. But Johnny Evlin's the man and just a really thoughtful guy about his career, and I think big things are hit. 01:20:27 Speaker 4: He really is man. He's a great fighter. I love his demeanor and I think with everything he's accomplished, bigger and better things are on the horizon for sure. 01:20:35 Speaker 6: All Right, that is going to do it for today. Thank you to our guests. UFC number one Flyway contender Brandon roy Vall he recently heard from Johnny Evlin Ray Longo. Don't worry though, We're right back with you on Wednesday. We'll be joined by Matty Betts, sports betting content creator and the CEO of Home of Fight. Also Ken Flow and Brian Petru will place their bets for UFC two ninety nine. They will preview with predictions the eight biggest fights on the car. Don't forget remember the show with Jason Anakin blab Muhammad on the Anakin Florin podcast YouTube channel. John Anna dot com for all of your af merchandise, including our new one More Sleep designs promo code one More Sleep for twenty percent off your entire order, and Kenny Floorianmartial Arts dot com worth a click as well. Our producer is Cody Merrow. We kem F John Anick. Thank you all for watching, for listening, for subscribing. We'll talk to you in about forty eight hours on Wednesday night. Until then, you're fucking lady. 01:21:43 Speaker 4: The bread. 01:21:44 Speaker 8: He's gone red, got, he's gone red. 01:21:48 Speaker 3: God lay miss oppressious to the myth that you can keep your hands on the box in the open. 01:21:57 Speaker 5: He's gone red one red raspe rail h