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Raf's Recollection | I'll give you a full write up later, but all you need to know right now is Garry Tonon returns and gives us an interview for the ages.
Let us know what you guys think of it!
Viewing entries in
UFC
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Raf's Recollection | Hey guys, sorry to leave you with Kevin last week. I promise not to do it all that often.
Now that I'm on deadline constantly, I don't have as much time to write up these episodes. Hopefully that'll change in a few weeks.
But we've got a kick-ass episode for you this week.
Our pal Christos Giagos from Systems Training Center stops in to tell us about his upcoming UFC fight, who the worst person currently is over at Systems, and even give us the insight on what it's like to refuse bottle service when up in the strip club (because you're too busy prepping for your next fight). Also, he tells us why he's crazy enough to pull stunts like this:
And that's not all, we find out the gripping conclusion to the battle between purple belts guessing UFC 187, as comedian Joe Gilpin helps us recap all of of the wonder that was this weekend's fights.
If you get the chance, be sure to check out my articles I'm writing over at First Slice. Turns out, I also make UFC picks on occasion over there.
All right that'll do it for now. Let us know what you guys think of this week's episode!
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[buzzsprout episode='273958' player='true'] Kevin has the keys to the write up.....(apologies to all). Here's the thing, Raf got married, Raf got a job, and Raf needs at least 24 hours to mourn Letterman ending. But Kevin? Kevin has literally nothing going on. So.....
Kev's Recollection: Albert Morales is too skinny to do jiujitsu or fighting, but no one told him that. He stops by just in time for me to announce him winning a different fight. Albert laughs off my moronic behavior because well....he's met me. Then he explains how he put John Yoo down with punches to win at Bellator 137. Humble in victory he also gives us some seriously funny exclusives about his post fight interactions with the doctor. Albert is also a gluten for punishment, and is preparing for the IBJJF World's competition. What a warrior right? Wrong, because he believes when you wear gi pants and a rash guard you SHOULDN'T grab the pants (when Raf reads this he is going to be pissed). Albert was great, and look how attractive he is in this photo I might have added correctly:
Its going okay on this whole episode write-up thing (at least I think so). Next up is Comedian and Jiujtisu Purple Belt Joe Gilpin. I'm going to be honest with you guys, its possible Raf might replace me with Joe. I'm going to be more honest, I get that. Joe joins us for Over / Under Kevin for UFC 187 featuring Rumble vs. DC! Lets all take a second with the original poster to remember why its important not to use drugs while driving:
Joe is awesome, this podcast is awesome, you all should listen to it because that would make you all... really cool. Here is a fun photo of Joe I got from his Facebook post so you can imagine the many visual jokes that were made:
Feels like writing this will ensure Raf never lets me do this again. Cheers Verbal Tap Cast community, you all are the best (no seriously, fans of this show are unlike any other!)
-Kevin T Phillips
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Raf's Recollection | We'll get to Jon Jones in a second. But first, let's talk about what you can expect on this jam-packed episode of the podcast.
Our good friend—and certified killer— Joe Schilling (16:30) drops back into the podcast to talk a little bit about the following.
- Bellator 136
- Phil Baroni
- Shilling for Spike TV (see what I did there?)
- Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather (even taking the time to thoroughly address some of your craziest fan-submitted scenarios for the fight)
- Talking about when we can expect to see him fight next (and maybe even a clue as to what organization will be lucky enough to get him to fight next)
Let's take a moment to address that Phil Baroni thing. The background on this one is as follows. Joe Schilling goes to fight at Bellator 136. Joe Schilling gets mad after he loses a close fight at Bellator 136. Shortly after Bellator 136, Phil Baroni takes a jab at Schilling with the following tweet.
[embed]https://twitter.com/philbaroni/status/586951391177940992[/embed]
What takes place afterward is a glorious conversation for the MMA twitter ages, as Joe went on to respond to Baroni's tweets in glorious fashion, ultimately ending with this:
. @GLORY_WS confirms @PhilBaroni turned down fight vs. @Joeschilling187http://t.co/ZXHuYlTwZKpic.twitter.com/8DcSR6Wviv
— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) April 15, 2015
Leading us to this following meme.
Our thanks to Joe and to all of you who submitted scenarios for what was gonna happen at Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. It made for quite a lively discussion.
UFC 186 Recap
You may remember this from last week, when Dan Hubler came on the show to take on Kevin's UFC 186 predictions.
You know, the episode where Kevin and Dan outlined a set of fights that only a handful of you ended up watching.
[embed]https://instagram.com/p/16mc2KD6mw/[/embed]
On this episode we not only find out the results, but sort out some of the aftermath.
About that Jon Jones thing...
So naturally, right after we finish recording this episode, the UFC decided to take action on the Jon Jones situation. We start off this weeks episode talking about how we both came to find out about it and the potential implications for the (now) former light heavyweight champ.
Listen in and let us know what you thinks, folks!
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[buzzsprout episode='222389' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | I'll never forget the time I discovered Mac Danzig and I had a mutual set of friends. Years ago I discovered that Mac and I were only a couple degrees of separation away from each other all thanks to my best friend Bobby.
And when you're in good with my long-time best friend (and future best man at my wedding) and his family, in my book, it means you've already been vetted and that you're good people.
Before I had a podcast, or even really knew I'd take up jiu-jitsu, I was just a UFC fan who enjoyed Mac's work in the Octagon. Perhaps it's my knowledge of how reality shows work and get spliced together, but even when I sat at home watching his time on The Ultimate Fighter I always thought he got a bum wrap on the way he was depicted. It's not entirely surprising, it's just the nature of the beast known as reality TV.
But as someone who doesn't tend to get caught up in that sort of thing (even then), I just knew I liked his fighting style and thought he had a promising future (in retrospect, I can see that I have a long history of rooting for the jiu-jitsu guys). Naturally, I was stoked to see him go on to win the show and have a solid run in the UFC.
After years of hearing great things about him and the way he teaches from our mutual friends, I was pleasantly surprised a few months ago when I heard he was holding a Striking for Submissions seminar down here in LA. I packed up the gym bag and made it down.
Before the seminar, I got the chance to meet and exchange pleasantries. We talked about our mutual connections and BS-ed about a number of MMA and BJJ topics, all the while Mac lived up to all of the great qualities our mutual friends had come to say about him.
By the time we got around to the seminar and I saw him demonstrate his first BJJ transition, I realized something I had long since forgotten: Mac was one of the first people I watched and learned how to do jiu-jitsu technique from.
While I had watched a number of fights before his tenure on The Ultimate Fighter, I never really paid attention to the science of it all. For whatever reason, his style just clicked with me and, while I may not have understood the exact reasoning behind every grip or underhook, I remember finding myself interested in the craft and wanting to learn how to break it all down.
And on this day, on these mats, there he was telling me to stop doing the technique so wrong and try to get it right for a change.
He didn't actually say that, but you're all familiar with how I roll by now.
Nonetheless, it was just a cool moment in my training journey and all the more reason his appearance on the show was so cool for me personally.
On the podcast this week, Mac (37:20) drops in to provide a little more insight about the actual production of The Ultimate Fighter, the awesome connection he has to the world of animation, his interest in photography, what its like to transition out of fighting, and even describes what it's like to be on the other side of the cage as a referee.
It's a fantastic first conversation with a guy who's been a friend of podcast long before we even had him on. We look forward to having him back on some time soon.
In the meantime, check out his work at http://www.macdanzigphoto.net/.
As an avid photography fan, I'm not one to put over work if I don't find it really good. But his stuff is awesome and I strong encourage you all to give it a gander.
But Wait, There's More!
Our pal, Alex Perez returns on this week's podcast to find out if he beat Kevin in our UFC 180 edition of Over/Under Kevin.
In addition to finding out the results, Alex helps us recap all of the awesome (that sick main event), the disgusting (Ultimate Fighters taking a #2 in the cage), and the really disgusting (the worst PSA for Cauliflower ears ever) things that made one of the shortest UFC PPV's in recent memory a fun and unpredictable night of fights.
Metamoris 5: The Game Show
Because no Metamoris card is complete without at least three match-up changes, we had to get creative with our latest Around the Mat preview series. We always like to record these things a week out of the show as to try and get you a preview that's the most up-to-date possible, but when the news hit that Kevin "KO" Casey was out of his match-up (prompting the BJJ equivalent of American Idol to take place) as I was editing the latest installment of our Metamoris Preview Series, I had to do something.
This was that something.
The following is a sneak preview of our show that's coming out a little later tonight. Hope you all enjoy it!
EDIT: And here's the entire full length episode for your viewing pleasure:
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[buzzsprout episode='216302' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | Man, oh man, did we pack an episode worth of great content for you this week. We've got interviews with JT Torres (28:52) and Shakib from Submission Fight Co. (1:01:31) and we also recap who won on the UFC 179 installment of Over/Under Kevin with our pal Marcus Kowal.
But let's start with our friend JT Torres.
It's harder to find a nicer more terrifying human being on our guest list.
I had the pleasure of meeting JT back at an Metamoris 2 afterparty and was completely impressed with his polite and friendly demeanor. Despite being a killer on the mats, JT is of of the nicest BJJ competitors I've had the pleasure of running into. That night, he was kind enough to talk with me about his match, exchange some fun jiu-jitsu stories, and even give me some words of encouragement about my own BJJ practices (at one point saying my jiu-jitsu couldn't possibly be as bad as I was describing... that's when you truly know someone is nice).
On the podcast this week, we get JT to talk a little bit about his prep for Metamoris 5, his time training at ATOS, his love of video games, why he decided to attack Andre Galvao on the beach of that one Metamoris preview video thing, and even get him to participate in the very first podcast version of our trademark 2 Minute Drill of rapid fire questions at the end of his interview.
Looking forward to seeing this (polite) killer back on the Metamoris mats in the coming weeks in his upcoming match with UFC fighter Rory MacDonald. This may be one of the few times an American will out-polite a Canadian post-match.
Maybe.
RevGear and Marcus Kowal
One of the things I like about Marcus Kowal is how random he can be. For example, while it's not uncommon to see him at an event like the RevGear BJJ League Tournament, it's another thing to just happen to see him coach and then immediately compete right thereafter.
But that's Marcus for ya.
My compliments to RevGear for attracting some of the coolest folks I know on the BJJ circuit to compete this week.
It's always a blast running into so many of these awesome BJJ competitors and many of their fights did not disappoint. I'm hoping we'll see them with another tournament here in SoCal soon enough!
We talk a little bit about Marcus' competition at the tournament (as well as what it was like competing against one of Josh Barnett's beastly wrestling students) and then we find out who won this week's installment of Over/Under Kevin: UFC 179.
Submission Fight Co.
We then close out this stacked episode with an interview of the owner of Submission Fight Co.
Over the past few months, a lot has been printed about the brand. And rightfully so.
Earlier this year Submission Fight Co. discovered that products that they believed to be hemp-based were discovered to contain no trace of hemp. Discussion threads were dedicated to it, blog posts written, videos conducted with many customers expressing frustration with the company.
Rather than speculating on the issue, we decided to go straight to the source to ask him what events transpired, how the company discovered the problem, and what practices Submission Fight Co. intends to partake going forward.
We invite you to give the interview a listen and decide for yourself.
More World Jiu-Jitsu Expo Videos This Week
Trying to edit these as fast as possible, but here's a few more interviews for ya to take a look at. Hope you enjoy 'em!
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[buzzsprout episode='214622' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | Considering all of the videos and writing I have to get done this week, I'll keep this short. We had a huge week on the podcast, previewing this weekend's UFC 179 with our pal Marcus Kowal and discussing all things World Jiu-JItsu Expo.
Marcus (pictured here in a new headshot compliments of our good friend Blanca Marisa Garcia) joins us this week to take on Kevin on our latest installment of Over/Under Kevin.
Some of you know Marcus as our pal from Systems Training Center down in Hawthorne, while others of you may somewhat recognize this guy as the host of his own podcast the MMA Roundtable.
Yep, since we last left Marcus, he has now grown up and started a podcast of his own. So we decided to give him some well deserved shit to start the show and then get into our picks for this weekends fights.
I Went to the World Jiu-JItsu Expo!
Let's just say this weekend was another mad capped weekend of insane jiu-jitsu coverage.
Accompanied by my two awesome photogs (Alex Perez and Octavio Villanueva), we hit up the World Jiu-JItsu Expo for a second year of crazy coverage.
On the podcast, Kevin spends the first twenty minutes asking me all about it and I talk a little bit about some of our favorite experiences and observations from an event that is something akin to what we call "Jiu-Jitsu Christmas."
I got to talk with this guy.
And this guy.
And even catch up with this guy.
I'm working to get out a video per day, but right now, here are two of the first videos we've edited from this weekend.
Keep an eye out on our YouTube page as we'll be posting as many videos as we can from this weekend's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.
Hope you enjoy it, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | BJJ friends, we really come through for you on this one. This episode not only features the awesome guys from White Belt BJJ (Todd Shaffer and Tony Peranio), but we also do some of the best investigative journalism we've ever done on this episode of the podcast.
When I saw the headline "Wrestler Challenges Jiu Jitsu Instructor at 10th Planet Decatur AL- Security Cam Footage," it didn't take long for me to realize it would likely somehow involve our pal Brandon McCaghren.
Yes. This goofball.
Yeah, the same guy behind this abomination of a song (and also this one that's pretty ok).
Chances are, you've likely seen the video we're talking about here. If you haven't, take the following five minutes of your time to laugh your ass off as you watch Brandon make short work of a guy who interrupted his jiu-jitsu class and challenged him to a match (mid-way through said class, mind you).
In the time span of a week, the video has gone viral (right now hovering around the neighborhood of 500k views) and attracted the attention of just about every major BJJ publication and Facebook page (and even a few non-BJJ sites), making Brandon a bit of an overnight BJJ celebrity.
So to get to the bottom of this whole ordeal, we decided to reach out to our pal and get him to tell his side of the story. In our EXCLUSIVE interview, Brandon walks us through the match and all of the events that lead up to the challenge.
As usual, Brandon brings his brand of whimsy to the show and we couldn't be happier to see him get so many compliments on his jiu-jitsu skills (I've rolled with the guy, the dude's BJJ is nothing short of awesome). Give it a listen and let Brandon know what you thought on the Twitter at @Brandon_mc.
Here's hoping even more people head to his classes as participants, not mid-class challengers.
White Belt BJJ
Man, are these guys funny.
I can't tell you how many times I've scrolled through my Instagram feed and laughed out loud at the work the very funny guys from White Belt BJJ do.
Instead of talking about it, I'll just let a few of these speak for themselves.
And that's just a small sample of their work. Spend a few minutes going through their memes and you're bound to crack up more than just a few times.
What makes so many of the memes they do work so well is the ability to combine a crazy subversive sense of humor with a series of observations that are grounded in many of the frustrations so many BJJ practitioners experience in their training sessions.
I've been a real fan of the fantastic work ethic these guys have and they were a blast to talk with on the podcast. On our show, they talk about how White Belt BJJ came into existence, what it's felt like to watch so many new BJJ meme artists come out of the woodwork, and we even find out how much Tony and Todd really know about one another.
Give it a view and go support them on all of their channels.
WhiteBeltBrazilianJiuJitsu.com
But Wait, There's More
Oh and while you're checking out social media pages, be sure to add us and check out while you're at it.
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
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And then also check out the latest installment of our BJJ talk show panel, Around the Mat. In our latest episode, we break down the match between Saulo Ribeiro and Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros. Let us know what you think about it with the hashtag #AroundTheMat!
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Raf's Recollection | I first met Steven Briggs when I was working for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
Steve had a goofball sense of humor even back then. But whenever there was some down time while working the show, we'd shoot the shit about MMA and wrestling.
At the time I had no idea Steve had any stand-up comic aspirations (but to be completely fair I'm not even sure he was aware that I was a comedy performer myself).
In the years since, Steve has blown up and has made a great name for himself touring across the country doing a truly unique brand of stand-up comedy.
He's even been on my talk show (Early Late Night) multiple times and remains a crowd favorite for the really funny stories he shares during our sit down interviews (for the record, he is the only person who I actually tolerate who beat boxes, it's quite impressive).
Steve has always been quick with an opinion on all things MMA which is why I thought he'd make a great opponent for Kevin on this week's installment of Over/Under Kevin.
This week we preview the stacked card that is UFC 178 and go over all the major scenarios. And from the tremble you hear in Kevin's voice, he is truly scared that we brought someone who is not only knowledgeable about MMA, but can actually spit out funnier jokes than Kev.
It makes for a fantastic segment and I think y'all will dig it this week.
But beyond giving Kev a run for his money on the podcast and being and all-around funny guy, Briggs also happens to have a pretty solid wrestling background and has trained with me a few times over the past five years.
As one of the guys who was there for my humble beginnings in jiu-jitsu years ago, Steve's always been a great guy to train with.
I like to refer to him as a pace-setting training partner: a partner who you don't train with all that often, but who will push you to get even better each time. He's one of the few people I allow myself to talk shit to about BJJ because I know he'll bring it on the mats the next time we train (and that he'll talk shit right back at me).
And every time we've rolled, Steve's always been helpful identifying a cool wrestling trick or complimenting any improvements in my game. He recently came up to train with us at Valley Martial Arts Center a couple months ago and he hasn't lost a step.
Not to say I haven't taught him a thing or two myself.
Steve has one Achilles heel. He's literally defenseless against a sharpshooter.
But I felt bad for him and decided to teach him a finisher he could use to defend himself. It still needs work.
When we took the picture he wanted to make sure everyone knew he was not only applying a Boston Crab, but that he was also flipping off the camera with two middle fingers.
Layers this kid has.
Nonetheless, give it a listen and let us know what you think of this one folks and hit us up on our social media to let us know what you think!
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Oh, and also, don't forget to check out our Metamoris 4 recap here. On our latest, we review Keenan vs. Vinny. Let us know what you think, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | We always seem to catch Rafael Lovato Jr. [28:06] at incredible junctures in his career.
Our first conversation with Lovato took place a little over a year ago (Episode 24; yeesh, time really flies), just shortly after he became the first non-Brazilian to win the Absolute division at the Brasileiro. Since then, we've had the good fortune of running into him several times around the jiu-jitsu circuit and were even granted the opportunity to cover one of his awesome seminars out in Vegas a couple of months ago.
Always polite, willing to give us a few moments of his time, and extremely supportive of our crazy dog and pony show we call a podcast, Lovato has been one of the biggest champions of our show (and a good friend to us both on-and-off air).
Which is why when we heard a rumor that our pal would be making his way into the world of Mixed Martial Arts, we knew we needed to hear directly from the source about this new major milestone in his fighting career.
On September 26th, we get the opportunity to see Rafael compete in the Legacy FC cage (alongside his supremely talented BJJ phenom, Justin Rader, who will also be fighting at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma that night). For some, this is a chance to see how a storied BJJ competitor, known for his aggression and exciting finishes, fares in the world of MMA.
But for Rafael this fight isn't just the culmination of a six week training camp. It's the chance to test a lifetime's worth of work as a martial artist in an entirely different way.
Just because Rafael is best known for his incredible work as a BJJ competitor, doesn't mean he's ignored other fighting disciplines all these years. Unlike other BJJ practitioners who make the transition to MMA, the integration of other disciplines is something that was instilled into him at an early age (and has been maintained in-between BJJ sessions at his own gym for some time). Now Lovato has an avenue to show us another dimension or two of his MMA game.
And it's a challenge that is reinvigorating him.
On this week's podcast, Rafael speaks candidly about his training regimen, his expectations, and the difficulty of putting away the gi to concentrate on his stand up game. We hear more about the impressive array of talent coming to help him get ready for his fight and even get to hear Rafael's thoughts about the most recent Metamoris card.
Two weeks out from fight night, there are certainly more questions than there are certainties on how it will all go down (how will Lovato transition to the cage? what kind of game will he bring to the table on fight night? what if the fight never goes to the ground?). And yet, despite the uncertainty, there is one thing you can take to the bank:
Win or lose, we got his back.
With far and few athletes really carrying the banner of jiu-jitsu in the world of MMA, we root for a guy who has consistently given his all on the mats. Who has inspired others to play an aggressive game and make history every time they go out to compete. And, perhaps most importantly, we root for the guy who has a conviction to represent the jiu-jitsu community when he enters that cage.
For all those reasons (and so much more), we are eagerly anticipating this fight.
Check his appearance out on the podcast and hit us up on our social media to let us know what you think!
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But Wait, There's More!
Oh yeah, in case you haven't been keeping up with us on the YouTube, check out our latest installment of our BJJ panel talk show, Around the Mat. On our latest episode we breakdown the match between Kit Dale and Garry Tonon (complete with exclusive footage from the event). Let us know what you think!
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Also, if for some reason you don't see our Buzzsprout player embedded up above, you can also listen to this week's episode of our podcast right here on Stitcher.
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Raf's Recollection | Not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous of Mik Milman's photography skills.
As an avid photography enthusiast, I spend a great deal of my spare time researching different photographers and trends within the field. Which is why it came as a nice surprise when I found there was a photographer taking the time to capture the essence of everyday jiu-jitsu practitioners.
That's right, not the guys you see standing on podiums or shouting out their twenty thousand sponsors. Nor the guys selling you DVDs, telling you what you need to know about jiu-jitsu. Not even the people trying to make names for themselves showing you a cool move on YouTube.
In fact, Mik (pronounced "Mick") none of that really seems to matter all that much to Mik Milman. For him, there's a way bigger interest in the psychology behind why people step foot on a mat.
Mik's passion project, People Who Train, is a photography-based narrative BJJ endeavor that seeks to find out the psychology behind why ordinary people step on the mats.
And the results, thus far, have been fascinating.
I first caught wind of the projects a couple months ago and was intrigued by the quality of the photos. In each of Mik's still frames you truly get a representation of each interview subject's soul. And while I've never rolled with any of the people in the photos or heard a single word about their story beforehand, the photos give a great peek into the role jiu-jitsu plays in their life.
It's even more awesome when you see the photos juxtaposed with some of the short narratives that give you a little more insight into these folks' everyday lives.
On the podcast [his appearance starts at the 58:30 mark], Mik describes his process (all the way from the photography sessions, the type of people's he's interested in photographing, and the unexpected narratives that have propelled him to do even more for the BJJ community).
If you're interested in being one of the folks featured in this project (seriously, don't be shy. We all have cool stories that deserve to be featured), be sure to check out People Who Train and hit up Info@MikMilman.com.
You can also check out Mik's work on Instagram (@retrograding) and give him a like on Facebook.
But Wait, There's More
We talk about Dana White's latest PR fail, some stupid parents on a dumb reality show force their kids to do jiu-jitsu and are pretty extreme about it, the devastation of UFC 177, and Todd Levin [21:11] returns to find out if he beat Kevin on our last installment of "Over/Under Kevin" (spoiler alert, of course he did).
So take a load off and kick back as we help you unwind and make sense of this crazy week in BJJ and MMA. And don't forget to follow us on our social media stuff as well.
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
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Oh yeah, one more thing. We've got our new Around the Mat episodes coming out (we filmed one episode per Metamoris 4 match). Check our our first installment right here!
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our installment of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 177 with Todd Levin (seen here during happier times with his mohawk)!
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Raf's Recollection | 
Karl Penn is our kind of idiot.
Well, jiu-jidiot to be precise.
In a short amount of time, Karl has made a name for himself as the guy behind some of the funniest jiu-jitsu memes hitting the net.
We've had the pleasure of getting name checked in a couple of his memes as of recently (including the one to the right-hand side here, pronouncing his appearance on this week's show), so we wanted to return the favor by having him on the show.
If you haven't seen some of his work, allow us to share a few of our favorites:
And my current favorite...
On this week's episode, we find a little bit about Karl's jiu-jitsu evolution, what he did before BJJ, and even get him to explain a few of his most recent status updates.
We love supporting folks like Karl who help put a smile on our face in this crazy world of BJJ. For a sport that can sometimes take itself a little too seriously, we love having an ally like Karl Penn who gets that a simple meme can help us make sense of the more ridiculous aspects of BJJ.
Be sure to follow Karl and his facebook page, Jiu Jidiots, and tell 'em your friends at Verbal Tap sent ya.
Where'd I Train This Week?
I made a stop over to train with the guys over at The Warrior's Club this week.
As some of you may recall, our pal Jim Lawson publicly put me on blast on last week's podcast and told me a beating was in in the foreseeable future.
He was certainly right.
A beating did happen, just not at my expense. As the picture on the right demonstrates, Jim may have pushed this white belt a little too far.
That aside, Jim teaches a really cool class, helping me lay a strong foundation for my footlock game (don't worry, I can't do any of it remotely well, so you're all safe for the time being).
What I appreciate was that as I struggled to grasp the proper grips and technique, Jim really made an effort to make sure I understood the concepts (even going as far as to blame himself for me not getting the techniques right). I assured him it's my general stupidity (or jiu-jitsu dyslexia I've diagnosed myself with that renders me incapable of even the simplest of BJJ moves), but I sincerely appreciated his efforts to go above and beyond helping me better understand the techniques of the day.
Those are the kinds of instructors you want in your corner, the people who make it their mission to make you better (and feel like they're letting you down if you don't quite get it). I can assure Jim that his help is greatly appreciated and will one day pay off.
Great rolls and fun times. I look forward to giving Jim his well-deserved rematch any time he likes, but let this be a lesson to all: it's not polite to call out your podcast host.
They might get angry.
You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
... or hungry. Now that I think about it, that's probably worse: hangry.
Nonetheless, my thanks to all the good people at The Warrior's Club and I look forward to getting beat up by you all again sometime soon.
Oh and BTW
If you haven't watched it yet, please go check out the first technique video from your pals here at Verbal Tap. That's right. Our pal Travis Conley identifies a problem in my current game. Please feel free to like and share, and let us know if you want to see more of these in the future!
Let us know what you thought about this week's episode on our social media:
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
Vine: @VerbalTapCast
Until next time, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | Following in the lead of our most popular episode ever (our Metamoris 3 recap, Episode 66), we enlisted the services of a host of guests who know far more about the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu than we do to help us review all things Metamoris 4.
That's right, we cover it all: the shocks, the surprises, the missing championship belts, the streaks that came to a halting end, the "secret match" that was hardly a secret to anyone, the fashion, the beards, the Nevada Athletic Commission, the drum circles critiques. It's ALL here!
Also, how have we not discussed the official promo poster to the right here looking like the worst direct-to-Redbox movie cover to ever hit the scene (are they athletes or aliens)?
But I digress, let's carry on:
Allow me to introduce you to our all-star panel for this episode:
Amechi Akpom - Our brotha from the mighty BJJ Training Journal ap (now available for droid users!) kicks things off for us with his review of the high caliber match between Garry Lee Tonon and Kit Dale. Not only was Amechi there to see the event live, but he also got the chance to run into Kit and Garry later that evening post-match (because that's the kind of in-depth reporting Amechi brings to this podcast). Amechi tells us a little bit about the behind-the-scenes action and breaks down how he saw this fast paced match.
Jim Lawson - Now I hear you asking, "Hey Raf, why would you put a rival BJJ podcast host on your show?" And I'd tell you the answer is simple: he threatened me. Yep, literally called me out to come train with him and I've yet to do so (I've been busy, lay off). Nonetheless, Jim from the amazing The Warrior's Club podcast brings a true black belt perspective in helping us break down the match between Saulo Ribeiro and Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros. And although he's a "rival" podcaster in this crazy saturated world of BJJ chat shows, we here couldn't be happier The Warrior's Club is back on air.
Brandon Mccaghren - Since the day we stumbled upon the guy behind the hilarious "I Dominated Eddie (The Gracie Filter)" show, Brandon has become a beloved staple here at the podcast. His giant goofball nature has fit in perfectly with us and we were stoked when he agreed to talk about the epic encounter between Keenan Cornelius and Vinny Magalhaes. But that's not all, Brandon pulled double duty for the podcast this week when he premiered the very first song written about our show (that's right, we have a song written about us!). Not since the days of Eagle Eye Cherry have I heard lyrics and guitar work that poignant. Thank you, Brandon. Thank. You.
Eric Medina - Eric made his Verbal Tap debut on our last Metamoris recap show and gave us some great insight into Eddie Bravo's training regimen. This time he ups the ante as he gives us a play-by-play account of how he figured out the highly guarded Metamoris 4 "secret match (well, most of it)," then talks about the crazy exhibition put on by Baret Yoshida and Jeff Glover. We are also stoked to hear that Eric will be participating at the next Eddie Bravo Invitational and look forward to seeing him do his thing on that stage again.
Brent Burniston - 
If you've been listening to the podcast lately, you've likely heard me speak about the excellent experiences I've had training with Brent and his crew over at SubconsciousBJJ. With the historic result of the match between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister, we needed the kind of expertise and analysis that only a Jean Jacques Machado black belt can provide. Brent not only does a great job breaking down the match, but also gives us some much-needed perspective on what's next for bothBarnett and Lister. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Brent's instruction is top notch. There's a reason why everyone at my viewing party turned to him to help make sense of this match. Lucky for us, he was happy to give that same analysis and insight for the podcast.
John Evans - It's not a true Metamoris review show without John Evans. There's a reason why John Evans is one of the most popular guests on our podcast. His love of jiu-jitsu is infectious. One only needs to watch a few minutes of his detailed insight on his BJJ Breakdown youtube page to really see how much jiu-jitsu and the practice of teaching the art are in his soul. Which is why we asked John to help us break down the final match between Andre Galvao and Chael Sonnen. We talk about what surprised him in the match, the drama leading up to it all, and even break down the hilarious promo that left many of us cheering for Chael (even if we didn't really understand what the hell any of it actually meant).
Metamoris cards always bring the best out of us here on the podcast and that is due in great part to our panel. I want to thank these guys for taking their time to walk us through a great event and can't wait to hear what you all think about it.
Hit us up folks. You know the places to give us feedback.
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
Twitter: @VerbalTapCast
Instagram: @VerbalTapCast
Vine: @VerbalTapCast
And stay on the lookout for a new installment of our Around the Mat YouTube series. Word has it, we've got a Metamoris 4 Review show that's worth your time. Look for it over on our YouTube page right here in the next few days.
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Raf's Recollection | More about our conversation with our pal Mike Jasper coming soon!
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Raf's Recollection | Joey Diaz is a real motherfucker.
There's an old adage that says "never meet your heroes." The saying implies that you'll only set yourself up for disappointment when you finally meet the person you admire.
In entertainment, that saying consistently true. But not with Joey Coco Diaz.
I've always been a fan of his style of comedy and over the past year I've had the pleasure of getting to know Joey as both a stand up comic and a BJJ training partner.
On stage or on his podcast (The Church of What's Happening Now), Joey is ferocious, uncensored. A beast. He has this great old school energy that is severely lacking in this PC sensitive world.
Off stage, Joey is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The dude's selfless and has gone out of his way to do nice things for his friends on numerous occasions. He's offered to do my talk show, he did this podcast, and he even offered to help me out with a new project that I'll be sharing with you all very soon.
On the podcast this week, we ask Joey about his training in BJJ, why MMA audiences gravitate toward his sense of humor, and get some fun stories about his time working with Robert DeNiro in the movie Grudge Match.
It's a great conversation that is truly an extension of the great vibe that Joey brings to my gym, Valley Martial Arts Center. And I can honestly say that our gym is all the better having him there. Our thanks to Joey D. for one of our favorite conversations.
Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu
Last week, I had the chance to train over at Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu over in North Hollywood. Friend of the podcast Brent Burniston teaches a hell of a class.
At the end of the podcast, I talk a little bit about what it was like to watch an instructor teach the counter to one of your go-to's (and love every second of it).
I was stoked to finally get to train there and I look forward to visiting Brent's academy sometime soon again!
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Raf's Recollection | I want everyone to look at the photo of Eric Jackman over on the right hand side of this page.
What look do you see?
Do you see the look of a stone cold killer, here to bring an end to the one win streak of Kevin's Over/Under Kevin miracle win? Or do you see a deer-in-the-headlights realizing he's in way over his head?
Aside from being a phenomenal rorschach test, our pal Eric provides a true challenge to Kevin. As the main prediction guy over at the MMA Hour, the guy knows a thing or two about being accountable when it comes to picking who will win or lose a fight.
Which is why it only made sense to bring him on our podcast to basically crush Kevin's dreams.
But the question is: does Eric go straight for the kill or does he let Kevin think he actually has a chance?
Only time will tell.
We outline the prospects for not only this weekend's huge UFC 175 card, but we also take a look at this weekend's mercy-killing finale to the "season of boring" Ultimate Fighter.
Speaking of, we've got not just one, but TWO "1 Minute Reviews" of the past two episodes of The Ultimate Fighter to bring you up to speed on a show you probably haven't been watching.
So quick, come get your fix of my BJ Penn impression before Dana White likely makes him try to retire this Sunday night!
Until then fight fans!
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Raf's Recollection | On the podcast this week: Amechi Akpom and Dream Jiu-Jitsu’s Baddest Brown winner Brian Carlsen.
But first, let me just start by saying, I’ve ingested a lot of jiu-jitsu this week. And by a lot, I mean, even more than the ridiculous average I normally ingest in a given week.
My weekend started with a fantastic seminar conducted by my pal (and former Verbal Tap guest) Travis Conley last Saturday afternoon. Kev has spoken so highly of his friend Travis for so long that any time I’ve asked what it’s like to train with him, Kev merely lets out an exhausted sigh and mutters “…rough.”
At his own BJJ home base in Virginia (BJJ and MMA Academy), Kev is surrounded by a set of friendly, but competitive killers. And as someone who is no averse to an aggressive style of sparring, his recommendations are highly respected.
So there was little doubt in my mind Travis would bring a certain kind of game to a seminar.
And the man did not disappoint.
Travis’ style is heavy. It’s pressure filled, it’s intense, and controlled all at the same time (kind of the exact opposite of my own style I bring to the table)—which is all the more reason I wanted to see him at work. I like learning from people who challenge me to venture outside of my comfort zone.
But there’s more than just the element of smash that Travis brings to his seminar instruction, it’s an impressive ability to adapt to the needs of his individual students.
We had a wonderful spectrum of folks at the seminar whose skill levels were varied (ranging from experienced BJJ practitioners to my buddy, Ross Ellis, who was there to try out jiu-jitsu for the very first time) and Travis did an excellent job of making sure each student walked out with more than just a choke or a guard pass, but that every person in attendance left with something to improve their individual game.
That’s a tough thing to do.
We want to send a very sincere thank you to Travis for taking the time to stop by The World Famous Gracie Barra Encino to conduct a truly one-of-a-kind seminar. We also want to send a big shout out to the homie, Marcus Kowal, for playing host and being so welcoming with his establishment.
And our biggest thanks go out to the great people who came to join us. Many of the folks in attendance are friends of the podcast and their support was a wonderful reminder of the excellent company we keep here at the podcast. And to our new friends: I look forward to training with you beasts again sometime soon!
Superbad
The day after the seminar I got the chance to work Media for Dream Jiu-Jitsu’s Baddest Brown tournament.
For those not in the know, Dream Jiu-Jitsu is leading the charge of alternatives for BJJ junkies who are seeking more just out-advanting-ing or point-ing their opponents. This California-based organization has quickly made a name for itself by providing athletes with a series of tournaments that feature creative and innovative stipulations.
The main attraction of last Saturday’s tournament: a 32 man, brown belt invitational that’s no time-limit and submission-only. The catch? Competitors flip a coin before each round to determine if they will compete in either gi or no gi competition.
Crazy, right?
So it was no surprise when I found out that Travis was contacted to be a part of this group.
I was fortunate enough to interview all 32 participants in the competition and found myself immersed in their backstories (in the coming days, we’ll be posting some of the fun interviews we conducted at the tournament). Each of these killers seemed excited and motivated to be a part of tournament that wouldn’t be left in the hands of a ref or lost by a sweep in the last thirty seconds. And the thrill of shifting gears between gi and no gi proved to be a great catalyst for their excitement.
Among the interviews, I had the pleasure of meeting Brian Carlsen (from http://eastonbjj.com)—a mild mannered, self-described nerd who’s spent the better half of the past year competing at tournaments every other weekend. Carlsen’s upbeat attitude and easy-going attitude made him a breeze to interview (I mean, he shouted out his grandma and grandpa during my pre-interview with him, how can you hate the guy?).
And while I was not surprised to see him win the entire tournament—having had a front row seat to the grueling wars between highly skilled BJJ competitors that were all around—I was keenly aware of the degree of difficulty involved in each of those hard fought wins.
I was thrilled he agreed to come on the podcast to talk about his experience. On here, he talks about the tough mental stamina used to win the tournament, the caliber of his competition, and then Brian describes the hero’s welcome he received when he got back to his training partners back at Easton BJJ.
On a personal note, I was truly inspired by the dedication and resolve demonstrated by each of the guys in the 32 man invitational. In getting to know many of them and their backstories, you really got a sense for their love of sport. It’s my hope to be able to relay their narratives, as thanks from the wonderful technique, heart, and soul they left on those mats.
I learned so many things from them all and can’t wait to butcher all of their technique back at my gym.
But Wait There’s More…
Our pal, BJJ Training Journal’s (BJJTrainingJournal.com), Amechi Akpom, returns to the podcast to take on Kevin on another thrilling installment of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 174. Listen in to find out if Kevin will remain undefeated at losing, or if Amechi will be the first person to lose to my slow-witted co-host.
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Raf's Recollection | More about our interview with Josh Clark and our review of "Over/Under Kevin" with Brandon McCaghren coming soon.
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Raf's Recollection | A day after appearing on our podcast and hearing the show, Brandon McCaghren, sent me a text saying, "don't ever try to sing my song ever again."
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've laughed at that text this evening.
The song Brandon claims we butchered is new hit single, "I Dominated Eddie (The Gracie Filter)"--a gripping acoustic ode to the epic Metamoris 3 match between Royler Gracie and Eddie Bravo. It's a playful tribute to the epic match that took place at Metamoris, as well as some choice words said after the event. Most impressively, the breezy vocals and relaxed vibe could easily slip their way into a Jack Johnson discography.
Fans of our show, however, know from time to time Kev and I like to occasionally leave an Easter egg to close out the podcast. On this go round, we thought it might be fun to try and harmonize Brandon's single over Skype (which is surprisingly hard to do). It left such an impression, Brandon felt the need to channel his inner GSP and let us know he was not impressed with the caliber of our voices.
And he's right, there is no way we could ever do his song justice. I mean, just listen to it (and pay special close attention to the bridge).
The man has some serious pipes. Which is why we were stoked when he agreed to come on the podcast.
In addition to getting some great insight behind the song and the accompanying video that was produced for him, we talk a little bit with Brandon about his experience getting into jiu-jitsu, what Eddie Bravo thinks of the song, and talk about his great 10th Planet affiliate he has out in Decatur, AL.
Give his page a look and like and if you make it to the Alabama area, be sure to visit his gym.
Just don't sing the song to him as bad as we did :-)
Over/Under Kevin: UFC 172: Judgement Day
James D. Koh returns to the podcast to find out who last week's installment of Over/Under Kevin. And while I don't want to give anything away, the following photo might give you an idea of how the end result turned out.
Yep.
It was pretty rough.
But James sticks around to help us recap all the fights that took place at UFC 172 and then Kev and I discuss some of the #TakeAways from last Saturday night's #UFC card.
What's That? You miss the One Minute Review?
A new season of The Ultimate Fighter means it's time for the return of the 1 Minute Review. Yes, we hear you loud and clear folks. And boy do I have some impressions in store for you this season.
Let us know what you think of the review on Twitter (@VerbalTapCast) this week and immediately start following us on our new social media. That's right, bitches, we're on Instagram and Vine now. So feel free to follow along all of our hijinks.
Until next time, fight fans.