VERBAL TAP [Episode 59] with Kristian Woodmansee

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Raf's Recollection | Kristian Woodmansee is a funny guy.  Aside from being a dude who's doing great things on the mat, he also happens to be killing it on the Twitter.

If you aren't following him already, rectify that mistake immediately and start following him immediately.  We get Kristian to play a game of Rep That Tweet that, frankly, I wish could have gone on longer.

Not only does the Robert Drysdale protege get great millage out of inspirational BJJ quotes and training perspectives, but he also happens to have a great sense of comedic syntax and character.

For example:

Let me fight Rhonda Rousey. She won't arm bar me, hell I will arm bar her. Winner takes loser on a date. #WearSomethingNice

— Kristian Woodmansee (@K_Woodmansee) February 16, 2014

Best way to make a fight entertaining is to take away the sub and KO of the night bonuses. Said no one ever.

— Kristian Woodmansee (@K_Woodmansee) February 16, 2014

In grade school I use to make it rain with all the valentines day cards I got, now im texting my mom saying I love you.

— Kristian Woodmansee (@K_Woodmansee) February 14, 2014

We learn a little bit about his jiu-jitsu journey, his BJJ arch-nemesis (and if said nemesis is aware they are such a rival), and we even hear a great story about one of his coolest moments training out in Vegas.

Our time with Kristian just flew by, but we will definitely be checking back in with the guy as he continues to progress in jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts.  Next time I'm out in Vegas, I will definitely be looking to take one of his classes!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

It's been a crazy week in my life.  Absolutely crazy.

As some of you know, I've had the pleasure of working at The Tonight Show for the past five years.  When we recorded this episode, I had just finished up my final week with the show (in fact, I'm only just now getting around to writing a proper recap of this podcast).

In many ways, it's hard to believe that my tenure with the show has come to a close, but I leave with no regrets or hardships.  It's been an exhilarating ride that has given me some of the best experiences of my personal and professional career—and, as a student of the genre, I've considered it an honor to work for the most prestigious franchise in television.

Along the way, I've had the good fortune of working with a set of individuals who were exceptionally creative, diligent, and who taught me so much about production value and efficiency.

If you're a fan of our podcast (and the format and style we do), you can thank the good people I've worked with in Late Night for inspiring a great deal of the practices we have carried over into our podcast.  It's one of the reasons I take such great pride when guests on our show tell us about the wonderful experience they had on our show (especially when they compliment our production value and note how it sets us a part from any other show).  It's my hope to continue taking all of the lessons I learned during my time at The Tonight Show and continue to put them on display on this podcast.  I hope we do them proud.

And while it's a slightly frightening thought of no longer having a regular work routine to wake up to Monday morning, I welcome the change.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a workaholic, so not having a set routine will definitely mess with me for a while.  But this also means I get a chance to do some fun new ventures and to train a little bit more.

Moreover, I feel the end of the show came at the right time for me professionally; for the first time in a really long time, I don't know what comes next... and I'm actually not afraid.  I welcome whatever new challenges and experiences that lie ahead.

But, for now, thank you to all of those I had the pleasure of working with.  I will absolutely treasure the experience and will truly miss you all.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 53) with Travis Conley

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Raf's Recollection | UFC 168 is upon folks.  I'm currently in Vegas helping the good folks over at MMANYTT with their coverage and things. are. going. fast.

Because of Christmas, all the normal fight week proceedings seem to be happening at a rapid pace.  We've only been in Vegas for a little over 28 hours and we've already done the press conference and weigh ins.  And by this time tomorrow we'll know the answer to who won two of the most heavily anticipated rematches in UFC history.

Ronda vs. Miesha 2.  Anderson and Chris 2.

But the real rivalry we want to know the answer to is: who will win the latest installment of Over/Under Kevin?

With so many crazy betting lines for UFC 168 to choose from, we thought it might be best to consult the idiot savant (emphasis on idiot) Kev Phillips on his picks for this extra special "let's charge you an additional $5" UFC card.  Now, unlike other shows that tout the expertise of their betting advisers, we pride ourselves on being the only podcast to feature an analyst whose opinion carries absolutely no weight on the proceedings.

In fact, just to make things interesting, we thought we'd bring in someone to challenge Kevin at his own game who is equally as unqualified to make fight predictions.  His name is Sebastian Vendel-Martinez.  He writes for MMANytt.  On the right, you can see a photo of him.  He told me he thinks this picture best shows off his "false professional facade" (I'm inclined to agree).

He's equally offensive and twice as funny as Kevin (which isn't saying much, I know).  Please welcome him to the podcast.

The good news: what these two lack in sound judgment, they more than make up with their delightfully stupid UFC 168 banter.

On a serious note, if you're looking for a guy who does legit UFC betting line breakdowns, show some love to our pal, Daniel Patinkin over at Grappler Media.

And don't forget to keep it locked down here at VerbalTapCast.com and on our Twitter at @VerbalTapCast all day long on Saturday, December 28th for all the best UFC 168 coverage.

But Wait There's More

Turns out, Kevin knows good people.

This week, Kev convinced Underground Gym owner and BJJ badass, Travis Conley to make a stop on our podcast.

Not only is Travis is one of the few people I know who have made the transition from pro wrestling to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (we nerd out about it, and I assure you his story about tag teaming with former WCW great, Marcus "Buff" Bagwell, is worth the price of admission, folks), but he's also building a quite an impressive resume as a conditioning MMA trainer.

What I like about Travis' story is the fact that he fulfilled a lifelong dream of being a pro wrestler only to find a new love in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Over the years, he's made a mark in the world of BJJ that's allowed him to travel the globe teaching the gentle art and conducting seminars--and, along the way, discovered a more fulfilling line of work as a trainer.

Which is exactly I got Travis to play a game that combines two of his passions (BJJ and Pro Wrestling) on our podcast.  It's a fun one.

If you happen to live in or travel to the Lees Summit, Missouri area, be sure to drop by his gym, as we are truly fans of folks like him who are doing great work for the BJJ and MMA community.

BJJ Shout Outs

We close out the show with a special set of BJJ-themed shout outs.  Because we were filled with the X-mas spirit, we were happy to shout out some of our BJJ friends' favorite BJJ causes, gyms, and individuals.  Listen in, we might have just shouted you out!

And We Want to Hear From You!

Let us know who you think is gonna win at UFC 168.  Hit us up on Twitter @VerbalTapCast and person with the most accurate picks will get an extended shout out on our next podcast!!!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 52) on GSP's Retirement

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Raf's Recollection |If you know me you know I'm willing to speak at great length about the sport of MMA.  But it turns out, not everyone is as fanatical about the sport as we are (shocking, I know).  So while I often cherish opportunities to talk shop with co-workers, I also have to do my best to monitor when I talk about it a little too much (it happens).

Which is why I was more than a little surprised that during a recent lunch with a colleague here at NBC, we somehow got around to the topic of the UFC (I didn't bring it up this time, promise).  More specifically, about the retirement of Georges St. Pierre.

Of course, I was talking to a Canadian.

Did I mention that?  That's apparently a thing over there.

Last week, in one overtly long (and ridiculously clunky) press conference, GSP announced his hiatus from the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.  And only days after that press conference, here I was sharing the same kind of bummed out conversation about potentially never seeing GSP fight in an octagon again with a guy who would describe himself as a casual fan at best.

Perhaps it was just his Canadian-ness or extreme politeness (again, Canadian-ness), but it was very refreshing to see the riptide of the announcement extended further than rabid fans of the sport like you and me.  Obviously, I asked if the flags in his homeland were set to half-mast in honor of the announcement (he didn't exactly say "no" about that).

Still, it was a nice surprise to find a real life extension to the conversation happening all over the MMA social media-sphere (I just made that up).

Gone were the jokes about finishing fights, talks about ducking super fights or even that whole weird multiple drug testing fiasco.

No, for a day, it meant both the casual and rabid UFC fan had to seriously think of what the sport of MMA would look like without GSP.  The same guy oft-criticized for taking matches to a ("boring") decision and who mucked up the Welterweight division was now suddenly missed for some reason.  It's almost as if he was some kind of dominant superstar or something.

Despite a reluctance to explicitly associate the word "retirement" to this particular case (GSP heavily refrained from using it and mentioned the possibility of coming back in the near future), the out pour of support for GSP has been truly been exceptional to read.

We've had (and will continue to have fun) at the expense of GSP  here at the show, but we've always respected the guy.  There are few people who have left the impression that the enigmatic French Canadian has in the UFC.  Over the years, GSP has handled himself as a true professional, gentleman, and, most of all, martial artist, and should be commended accordingly.

I, for one, am not quite convinced we've seen the last of GSP in the octagon, but if UFC 168 was truly the last time, we wish nothing but the best for the champ and thank him for his years of great fights and sportsmanship.

Fans know that championships come and go, but dignified champions who share their love of sport through honor and conduct are all too rare.

Just remember all that when you hear us re-create the whole 45 minute press conference into a digestible 7 minute appetizer on the podcast.

We kid, but it's all outta love GSP.

But Wait There's More

Not only do we talk about UFC on FOX 9 (and how little Kev remembers of it), but I also mention how much I hate being sick when I want to train.

Am I right here, people?

Few things are worse than wanting to go to jiu-jitsu, but not wanting to get everyone sick.  We talk a little bit about how much that pisses me off and then spend the rest of our time discussing what GSP's departure means for the rest of the Welterweight division (note: we recorded this one before they announced what effed up thing they're doing to Carlos Condit, but we're gonna talk about that on next week's podcast).

So give a listen and let us know what you think, pals.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 50) with Carlos Condit

[buzzsprout episode='134707' player='true'] Raf's Reflection | I don’t think you could have scripted a better 50th episode. This may go down as one of our finest shows.

Granted, I’m still equal parts amazed and baffled that we’ve made it to 50 episodes (I’m amazed how the time has flown by; baffled at how I haven’t killed Kevin yet).

But when you consider that this time last year, Kevin and I started this podcast talking about a Carlos Condit fight (where Kevin debuted his now long-documented love affair with all things Carlos Condit), it’s truly remarkable that the man himself would grant us some time to talk with him just days before his upcoming fight against Matt Brown.

And really, our interview is a testament to Carlos Condit’s fearlessness.

While most people tend to keep a distance from their stalkers, Carlos actually indulges Kevin’s love affair. Perhaps it’s because Kevin isn’t exactly a threat to him in the slightest. Perhaps it’s the way one typically carries themself when they are nicknamed a “Natural Born Killer.” Perhaps it’s because he’s a badass muay thai skills that could render the both of us extinct in a single strike.

Who can say?

Nonetheless, Carlos proved to be a great sport, answered a series of questions from our very own obsessed fan-boy, and managed to give us one of our best interviews ever in the process.

But That’s Not All...

What better way to end our coverage of all things Ultimate Fighter than to bring on BOTH newly crowned winners from Season 18? That’s right, we’ve got both Chris Holdsworth and Julianna Pena.

We ask both Chris and Julianna about their fights, their celebrations, and get some great insight into what it actually feels like to win the Ultimate Fighter.

But what’s impressive about Chris and Julianna is the fact that they were both willing to squeeze us in just hours after winning their respective fights.

Holdsworth manages to find the time to talk with us moments before catching a flight at the airport, while Julianna fends off “dying” to call in to the podcast.

As two people whose UFC careers are about to take-off, we couldn’t be more grateful they carved out the time to talk with us (again) during what must be one of the craziest (and most significant) weeks of their lives.

We’re truly honored to share in their celebration and cannot wait for what lies in store next for these two very talented fighters.

He’s Baaaaack

No Verbal Tap milestone would be complete without a visit from our good friend Bubba McDaniel.

Here at Verbal Tap, Bubba is family. Not only is he an engaging UFC fighter with a great sense of humor, but he’s fiercely loyal and has always made time for us.  When the three of us get on a call together, it’s like listening to three longtime friends gather round to drink some beers and shoot the shit.

And while we are now the show that’s lucky enough to book great guests like Carlos, Chris, and Julianna, Bubba was actually the first guest to come on the show. Last season, Bubba caught wind of our Ultimate Fighter mockery, thought it was funny, and actually offered to be on our podcast.

At the time, we weren’t really doing interviews on the show (mostly because we weren’t entirely sure we had the capability of doing so). And really, up until that time, we were complacent having me do impressions of all the fighters. However, a real fighter provided even more comic possibilities—especially if they proved a good sport with being made fun of.

But we did some research, changed some audio settings, and boom, the rest is history.  After Bubba came on, the game changed for us.  Suddenly other fighters became interested in coming on our show as well.

So when you talk "gold standard" here at the show, there’s a reason Bubba is the first person that always comes to mind—and why he’s always welcome on our show.

Messages

While our guest booking for this episode turned out to be pretty spectacular, one of the things that makes this episode so unique is the mix of well-wishes and trash talk we received from some of our favorite guests over the past year.

Kev and I had long been considering the idea of opening up a voice mailbox where we could get some friends of the podcast to leave us messages. When it came time to put the 50th episode together, we figured we’d put out a note to some of our former guests and see what happened.

The result is magical.

It really ties the episode together in a way we couldn’t have expected. When we reached out to folks, we didn’t really provide them with any guidelines; we just asked if they wouldn’t mind leaving us a message for our 50th episode—fully expecting them to go all Comedy Central Roast on us.

And there is plenty of fun at our expense. But there was a surprising amount of sincere congrats and appreciation for the show that we do—which is really awesome to hear.  We’re humbled by our friends’ support and we thank each and every one of the guys who called in to leave us a message.

[Now, don’t get too used to me saying nice things. I’m going back to being the same asshole you’ve all come to know and put up with shortly.]

Although, I will close with this.

I didn’t get to hear this podcast until late Wednesday night (after a marathon weekend of playing host to family guests and writing/producing another installment of my own Late Night talk show) right before going to sleep.

As I put in my headphones to listen to the podcast, I actually found myself getting lost in the very show I had helped to produce and create. Between all of the great interviews, the fantastic messages from our friends, and even a solid performance from both me and Kevin this week, I realized that we truly are making the podcast we always imagined possible.

So thank you to all of you who have been here for these 50 special episodes. Whether you’re a former guest, long time listener or even some random internet troll, thanks for checking us out.

And to those of you who are new: Welcome, we’re just getting started.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 49) with Paul Moran, James Koh, and Davey Grant

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Raf's Recollection | This is a hell of a show.  We've got a little bit of everything on this one.

We begin with my BJJ podcast arch-nemesis, Paul Moran, from Open Mat Radio who helps us with our comprehensive  coverage of last weekend's FIVE GRAPPLING event out in Anaheim.

Paul describes how the event looked on the live stream and we contrast it to the observations I made while watching the event live.

Obviously, Paul does the best he can to match the superb BJJ analysis and commentary that I bring to the table.  But, along the way, we make some solid observations about the production, presentation, and spectacle that was FIVE GRAPPLING (if you haven't done so yet, check out my EXCLUSIVE interview with James Puopolo above)

Also, we get to know more about Paul and his whole life story blah, blah, blah.  Paul's so great, he's beloved in the jiu-jitsu community, go support his critically acclaimed podcast Open Mat Radio or something.  Boring.  Onto the next guest.

On a serious note, tho.  Check out all that FIVE GRAPPLING had to offer.  The entire event is up for view right here:

James Koh

I have such an appreciation for newscasters who bring a positive perspective to the sport of mixed martial arts.  If you aren't lucky enough to catch the kind of solid work James Koh does out here in LA with his show Cage Talk, you are truly missing out on the work of a sports journalist who shares a true passion for MMA.

Cage Talk is a panel sports talk show that airs immediately after every UFC on FOX telecast.  Not only is it fun and full of energy, but James finds great ways to get UFC Fighters to help break down fights.  It's unlike any other local programming put on by our Los Angeles, FOX 11 affiliate—and it's the perfect show for those who are looking for a lively discussion right after a major UFC card.

I was so glad we were able to get James on to talk about a variety of topics, including last week's Pacquiao fight, comparisons between the UFC and the NBA (don't get Kevin started), and even bring on the UFC Middleweight Champ, "GSP," to respond to criticism James makes about his fighting style.

For more of James Koh, give his work a look right here.

Davey Grant

And, of course, it wouldn't be a true installment of Verbal Tap without another spectacular "1 Minute Review" with yours truly.  This week, we brought in Davey Grant to help us make sense of what the hell went down the week of his semi-final match-up against Anthony Gutierrez.

We learn a little bit more about DJ Davey G and even get a chance to have him try to talk shit to "Chris Holdsworth" on our show.

Truth be told, now that we've had both cast members on the show, Kev and I are going Switzerland on this one and staying out of making any predictions.

We're just looking for a great match between our friends Holdsworth and Grant—and we have no doubt we're in for a great fight.  Truly, may the best man win.

Next Week on Verbal Tap

Don't forget, next week is our big 50th Podcast.  You're definitely gonna want to tune in for that one.  Tell a friend and get excited.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 48) goes to UFC 167

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Raf's Recollection | It's hard to believe, but It was exactly one year ago that we posted the very first installment of Verbal Tap on the interwebs.

I'd love to say that Kev and I had some grand scheme we had mapped out about how this whole podcasting thing would all play out.  But the rationale behind the creation of this show was pretty simple: We like talking about fights, we thought it might be fun to record a conversation about it.

When we started this thing, we honestly didn't have a website or t-shirts in mind.  We never thought we'd get the opportunity to interact with some of our favorite athletes—let alone cover events or have them tell us they're fans of our work.

Hell, we weren't even sure people would even want to listen to what we had to say.  But, we've consistently been floored the number of you tune in week in and week out to our show—and who, by extension, have become a part of the Verbal Tap family.

And I'm happy to tell you all that one year later that making the podcast is every bit as fun to me and Kev as it was on day one (you could even say we're more excited to make these episodes now).

That's why we decided to do a throwback episode.  No guests, me doing some shitty impressions, and having a spirited debate about yet another Georges St. Pierre decision win (hint, he appears on the show around the 40 minute mark).

Before we go on to the important things, we just want to thank all of you for tuning in over the past year and for giving us a forum that allows us to combine two of our biggest passions: comedy and MMA.  Without question, our lives have greatly benefited as a result of this podcast.

So thank you to all who have listened in, helped us out, come on as a guest or even just told your friends about our stupid little show.  It's been a blast and we have no intention of slowing down any time soon.

It's your support that allows me to say (without hyperbole) that the best of Verbal Tap has truly yet to come.

Enough of that Crap, I Went to UFC 167

Turns out, we weren't the only people celebrating an anniversary.  While we turned one, the UFC turned 20 this weekend.   And I was lucky enough to see it all.

On the podcast, I present a Top 10 List of the Most Memorable Things from UFC 167 and give you all the exclusive behind the scenes details from the event.

I also describe what it was like to watch the GSP/Hendricks fight live and then talk about the weirdest press conference I have ever seen in person.

Don't Worry, We Haven't Forgotten About "The Ultimate Fighter"

On this jam-packed episode, we still find the time to review the last two episodes of TUF.  I do two "1 Minute Reviews" and then we talk about the finer parts of Cain Velasquez: Harley Davidson Spokesman, Ronda Rousey: Ultimate Slumber Party Host, and Miesha Tate: The Person Ronda Rousey Still Hates No Matter How Many People She Sends to the Finale.

All this and much more on this week's podcast!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 47) goes to the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo

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Raf's Recollection | If there’s one thing you’ve come to know about me, it’s that I am a perfectionist.

I’ll spend hours revising and polishing drafts because I truly loathe turning in a sub-par product.  It’s part of my overall commitment to an audience and readers: these things may not always be pretty, but we always try to give you 110% here at Verbal Tap (that’s right, we go the extra 10%—even if it means stealing another 10% of energy from other podcasts).

Which is why it pains me to inform you that YES there is a slight audio glitch in the podcast around the 50 minute mark.

There’s a distorted vocal effect that makes us sound like we’re transformers (good news is: if you’re tripping on acid, we sound perfect).  For whatever reason, the podcast Gods overheard me and Kevin having a blast while recording the podcast in the same room (for the very first time) and thought it’d be a perfect time to mess with us.

Nonetheless, the glitch only runs for about a minute or two and I’d hate for that to deter any of you from listening to the awesome shout outs we have to close the show (who knows, one of them might even be YOU!).

Because this was a big weekend, folks.  Probably the biggest weekend in the history of the podcast.

Not only was it the first time Kev and I have been in the same room together in over four years, but it was the first time that we got to cover an event as a united Verbal Tap front.  And let me tell you, the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo was an absolutely amazing experience for us.

We make no secret of the fact that Kevin and I are two huge BJJ enthusiasts and nerds, but this… this was another level all together.  We got to connect with so many individuals who share our passion for our favorite sport and even discovered fans we didn’t know existed (when Keenen Cornelius tells you he likes your stuff, you’re doing ok in the jiu-jitsu community).

Not only did we record a slew of interviews with some of your favorite jiu-jitsu fighters and personalities, but we also recorded a series of video shorts that we are going to be working overtime to try and get up for you guys.  As it stands, we have over 5 hours of content that need to be processed and edited—so I hope you’ll all understand if it takes a little while to sort through all of it.

In the podcast, we talk about our experience at the Expo (including run ins with Renzo Gracie, Big John McCarthy, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, MacKenzie Dern, and, hold your breath, Kevin’s man crush Carlos Condit.  We’ve got a Top 10 list of our favorite parts of the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo and we do our best to try and describe the overall experience to those who didn’t (or couldn’t) make it on out.

So please keep a watchful eye on the website.  There are gonna be some great videos from the WJJE (and some other really, really fun stuff as well).

Don’t Worry…

Next week on the podcast we will return with not one, but TWO One-Minute reviews of The Ultimate Fighter.  Plus, I’ll be reporting live from UFC 167 in Vegas this weekend.  So be sure to keep all eyes on VerbalTapCast.com and @VerbalTapCast on Twitter.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 44) with Mike Wootten and Roxanne Modafferi

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Raf's Recollection | Mike Wootten is the kind of guy who gets up at 6 AM just so that he can record a podcast with us.

Right off the back, that should let you know the kind of awesome this guy is (I mean, personally I wake up early for no one-- let alone to talk to two idiots like me and Kev).

When we talked about the possibility of having Mike coming to listen in on the "1 Minute Review" of his The Ultimate Fighter episode, Mike didn't complain or even ask us to re-arrange our podcasting schedule, he just laughed and warned us he might sound a little sluggish in the morning.

Fortunately for all of us, Wootten was anything but sluggish.

In fact, we learn more about Mike than anything we've found out about on episodes of The Ultimate Fighter (here's hoping his big win over Josh Hill gets him some more screen time going forward).  After our "1 Minute Review," Mike gives a great recap of his fight with Hill, tells us about the crazy stuff he and his other cast members requested from the show's producers, and even touches on what some have called the quote of the season when he describes the very real medical condition known as "weight cut penis."

Yes, you read that right.  And, for whatever reason, he's an expert at it.

Then, right after we finish talking with Mike, we've got the delightful Roxanne Modafferi dropping by to chat with us.

I knew early on in the season that Roxanne was going to be high on our Ultimate Fighter booking wish list.

It wasn't just the breath of fresh air her personality has brought to the show (name another TUF cast member who openly declared their love for all things Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Dragon Ball Z in their first talking head), or the fact that she's universally beloved by her fellow cast members or even that she describes herself as a jiu-jitsu fighter (which is automatically good in Kev and I's book).

Our want to get her on the podcast had more to do with the fact that her warrior spirit and positive attitude perfectly exemplify the essence of martial arts.  And not only has she put in the work to help put women's MMA on the map, but she's also the kind of person who treats her opponents with respect and the reverence that's so often lost in the sport.  With such pure joy in her voice when she talks about being a mixed martial artist, it's no wonder she has earned the nickname "The Happy Warrior."

It's that very joy that has endeared her to so many fans on this season of TUF and makes for some great (and very different) conversational points on the podcast.  We chat about her recent move from Japan to Vegas, the state of mind she was in when she created a person made entirely out of toilet paper rolls, and we even wax poetic on the finer points of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

But Wait, There's More:

As two major BJJ enthusiasts, you didn't think Kev and I would just let the Abu Dahbi Combat Club (better known as ADCC) just go by without making fun of it, right? Don't worry, we've got you covered with a Top 10 List that points out the Worst Parts about the tournament.  We hope that we accurately capture the frustrations that so many of you BJJ nerds feel as well.

And Don't Think We Forgot About:

UFC 166 happened.  Kev and I share our different takes behind the fight that was the conclusion (we hope) to Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos.  Listen in and tell us what you think folks.

We can't wait to hear what you all have to say!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 42) with Tim Kennedy

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Raf's Recollection | Tim Kennedy wants to die fighting a set of bionic sharks underwater.

Yes, you read that correctly.

That’s really all you need to know about the guy to understand the man (the myth, the legend) that is Tim Kennedy.

Few people truly embrace their inner-crazy the way that Tim Kennedy does. He knows he’s crazy and doesn’t care. In fact, he wants you to embrace the crazy. Should you need further proof, please see Exhibit A below:

Or Exhibit B:

Or Exhibit C:

That last one proves he’s crazy (who re-does a scene from Anchorman? What brave soul would dare do that!?). But recently we’ve seen a different side of Tim Kennedy in that of a UFC roaster.

For those not in the know: Kennedy was originally supposed to fight Lyoto Machida at next month’s UFC Fight for the Troops 3. Then Michael Bisping had to go and ruin everything by “injuring his eye” (likely story Cyborg Bisping)—forcing the UFC to give Mark Munoz a new opponent for UFC Fight Night 30. That’s when the UFC said, “hey, why don’t we give Machida to Munoz instead?”

So when the Munoz straight up stole Machida, Tim Kennedy did what any unreasonably crazy guy would do: he took to Twitter and called out practically everyone in his division (and even Alistair Overeem for shits and giggles).

But unlike you, me or the thousands of people who take to Twitter to harass their favorite MMA Fighters, Tim Kennedy can actually back up his threats. And while it’s fairly difficult to take a threat from a Green Beret lightly, Kennedy sent out challenges that were filled with irony and self-deprecation.

@TimKennedyMMA how dare you talk about my hair!!! That's crossing the line bro! I'm always available — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) September 28, 2013

You need to know Mr. @wandfc that one of my secret agents poised your food yesterday. You have to fight me if you want the antidote. #life — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013

All @ufc fighters, This is the dude that you are all too scared to fight. pic.twitter.com/iIYwqcY09D — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013

And, for a while, the internet was truly being used to its full potential. Finally, the UFC relented and handed Kennedy a fighter worthy of his time: Rafael Natal, a fighter who may or may not understand the hilarious design behind Kennedy’s Twitter attacks.

On the podcast, we get to know the real Tim Kennedy: he figures out how to solve the government shutdown, talks faulty Wikipedia page entries, and even discusses the music he wishes he could walk out to in a fight.

But that’s not all. Turns out, Tim isn’t done attacking prominent figures in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. He continues his roasting of some of the more well-known personalities (no one is safe from this man’s relentless hilarity. No one!). So download the podcast above to listen in for all the fun.

Live from New York...

Also on the podcast, I give you all the full scoop behind my trip to New York for NBC Late Night Writer’s Workshop and even tell you how great it was to train at Vitor Shaloin’s (let’s just say I have a lot of work to do with my BJJ game, friends).

Give us a listen and let us know what you think, folks!

BTW

If you're looking for a new gi (and who isn't?), you definitely want to give a look to our pals over at VeryHardToSubmit.com.

As someone who got to see a version of this up close, I absolutely love the look of it and actually got to talk with the guy who made it while training at Shaloin's.

I can't recommend it enough, folks.  Give the website a look and give some love to our friends at VHTS!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 41) Goes to GLORY Kickboxing

[buzzsprout episode='118482' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Hey gang, I'm on assignment in New York, but first chance I get, I'll tell you more about the things we talk about in the podcast, such as: the tournament I helped out last weekend (and what it's like to get yelled at by competitors and coaches alike as a scorekeeper), my experience watching the fights at Glory Kickboxing (Glory 10), and I'll even tell you a little bit more about the interview interview I conducted with Joe Schilling below.  Plus, Kev talks about watching his teammate take double gold at Pans in NYC.

But, for now, just download the podcast above and check out the interview with our man, Joe Schilling.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 38) with Joe Williams

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Raf's Recollection |Have you, like I, been counting down the days until the return of The Ultimate Fighter? I know it's only been five months, but it's felt like an eternity.

For those new to our program (welcome), we here at Verbal Tap live for making fun of The Ultimate Fighter.  We even have a signature portion of our podcast where we review each episode of the telecast in one minute's time (coincidentally named our World Famous "One Minute Review").

What's that?  It's impossible to make fun of all things Ultimate Fighter related in just one minute's time?  Well, I'd invite you to listen to our podcast and try and tell me differently ;-)

Now before any of you TUF purists who are new to the show start trying to troll our comment boards, allow me to say this: Kev and I love the show.  We're huge fight fans and we're rooting for new talent to work it's way through the ranks (one need only to look at the roster of guests we've had come on the show to know how much we support it).

Nonetheless, it's probably important to mention we're going to tell a lot of jokes at the show's expense.  We're gonna make fun of the fighters.  And we're gonna have a blast doing it, so don't take it too seriously folks. So sit back and check out our first Ultimate Fighter review, we're gonna make it a blast for you all this season.

But that's not all we've got for you this week.  In addition to discussing last week's UFC Fight Night 28, we also talk to Fight Master's Joe Williams.

What you may know about Joe "Mongo" Williams from the show is that he's a strong competitor with a fantastic wrestling background.  What you might not know is that he is secretly a comic at heart.

You read that right.

Additionally, we talk about Joe's next fight, some pranks that happened between Team Shamrock and Team Warren that never made it to air, and we even get Joe to play a game of Rep that Tweet with us.

So download the podcast and let us know what you think, folks!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 35) with Bubba McDaniel

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Raf's Recollection | More to come later about Bubba McDaniel and Fox Sports 1.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 33): UFC 163 and Bellator 97 Review

Raf's Recollection | Stuff about UFC 163 and Bellator 97 Coming Soon!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 32): UFC on FOX 8 Review

Raf's Recollection | I don't think Kev and I have laughed more than we did on this episode.  Our new friend, TRAVIS, from HowToFightNow.com, had us in stitches the entire episode.

For those unfamiliar, Travis is the guy behind this MMA/boxing viral sensation.

Yep.  That guy.  And he's awesome!  In our EXCLUSIVE interview, we find out what makes Travis tick.  He talks about how the video came together, if people continue to ask if they can punch him in the face, and talks a little bit about the types of fun (and FREE!) instructional videos that can be found on his website.

And while the video that introduced us all to the magic that is @FightSmartTrav is hilarious (and now stands at a cool 2.2 million views online), it doesn't even come close to capturing the essence of the MMA perfectionist who wants to find new and entertaining ways to educate folks about the essence of mixed martial arts and self defense.

There truly is more to Travis than meets the eye.  Sure he's animated, he's got some great MMA training stories, and exudes the perfect type of nonsense that we indulge here at Verbal Tap, but there's a method behind the madness that can be found at his HowToFightSmart.com and I'd highly encourage you all to check out the videos he's providing for Free.99.  So get on it, before he gets the good sense to charge you a-holes for the top notch instruction he's providing.

Additionally, Kev and I take some time to talk about this weekend's UFC on FOX 8 and explain where the hell we've been for the past three weeks.  And before you ask: no, we've missed you more, America.  So stop reading this and download/listen to the podcast already!

Peace!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 30): UFC 162 Preview

Raf's Recollection  |  More to come later.

VERBAL TAP (Episode 26) with Dave "The Caveman" Rickels

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Raf's Recollection | You still can't convince me that Dave "The Caveman" Rickels is not the illegitimate love child of Will Ferrell.  Deny it all you like, but I dare you to look at the accompanying photo over on the right hand side and tell me otherwise.

Aside from the uncanny resemblance to the comic legend, Rickels also shares the same appreciation for bombast and ironic detachment.  I mean, this is the same guy who once walked out to one of his fights like this.

However, let's get one thing straight: Rickels is more than just a court jester.  This is a man who endued not one, but two Bellator tournaments and has memorably finished more than 60% of his fights.

And, as he puts it, he may not have a style that you can really define, but he'll definitely go out there and put on a show in the cage.

Which is why we were beyond stoked to have "The Caveman" join us right as news broke that he would be getting a title shot against Bellator Lightweight Champ, Michael Chandler, on July 31st.

And our EXCLUSIVE chat with the Lightweight contender goes everywhere.  In addition to giving us a preview in his title match against Chandler, The Caveman takes us on a journey that's part-discussion about strippers, part-discussion on the types of foods that the Caveman sneaks in while training for a fight (let's just say the man is a connoisseur of both).

In fact, there's a distinct moment in the podcast where Rickels was *this close* to making us second guess the name of our podcast/website (The name he throws at us in the podcast certainly has a ring to it, especially considering how much Kevin and I bicker).

And, of course, what discussion with a Combat Sports Center member would be complete without some kind of competition attached?  In here, Rickels calls out fellow CSC training partner, Joe "The Nose" Wilk, to a competition that we look forward to hosting on our website sometime later this summer.  For more details, just listen to the podcast.

In other news...

Kevin and I also decided to try out a new thing on the show.  We happened to be recording just as the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (commonly referred to as "Worlds") came to a close. A few minutes after the final results of the competition were posted, I happened to stumble upon a link of the video posted below.  Because Kevin and I are such jiu-jitsu nerds (and suckers for multitasking), we decided to take time watch the final match between Rodolfo Vieira and Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida on-air.  That's right, the beginning of the podcast features play-by-play commentary by yours truly and one K. Phillips.

No, we don't do a service to the good people who teach us jiu-jitsu, but what we lack in general knowledge, we more than make up for in stupidity and pop culture references. Frankly, we both had a blast doing it and you can definitely expect to see more of these in the future.  So go ahead and cue up the match as you listen to the very beginning of the podcast to join in on the fun (Our eternal thanks to JiuJitsuTVPR for being so quick to post this!)

CORRECTION: During the shout outs, I incorrectly gave the location for Captain Derek Herrera's fundraiser (my apologies to our good friend Mr. Phil Sparagna and company, I'm sometimes functionally illiterate).

The fundraiser is actually going down in Coronado Firehouse Bar and Grill in California.  If you're in the So Cal area and are interested in helping a wounded warrior and fellow MMA/BJJ practitioner out, give the following link a view and head on over to the bar on Saturday June 8th!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 25) with Eric Albarracin

Raf's Recollection | Coming soon!

Until then, here are some photos to help the show make sense (they'll help, promise):

VERBAL TAP (Episode 24) with Rafael Lovato Jr.

[buzzsprout episode='93633' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | In martial arts, when a Black Belt is kind enough to give you their time, you take it.  With every demonstration, every suggestion, every sparring session, they provide the kind of insight that can literally change a person’s life.

Which is why we were beyond fortunate to have Rafael Lovato Jr. stop by the podcast to give us more than an hour’s worth of his time.  Not only did the decorated American black belt talk about his own Jiu-Jitsu journey, but he also candidly discussed the struggles he’s faced over the years to achieve his dreams and "make history."

For those unfamiliar, Lovato is arguably the most successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor in America.  Should you need a reference, just watch this:

Honestly, we could have devoted an entire other podcast just to name the laundry list of accomplishments the man has achieved, but somehow Kev and I managed to cage our inner-bjj nerd tendencies to ask him about his competitive drive, how Chuck Norris changed his life (seriously, he did), and the circumstances that prompted him to make this terrifying face.

Already a gi and no gi World Champion, Lovato made history last month when he became the first non-Brazilian to win the Absolute division at the Brasileiro.

Take a moment to let that sink in.

Becoming the first American to win the open weight division in one of the most competitive Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in existence.  To put that in perspective, if the average BJJ enthusiast or practitioner (such as you or myself) won said competition, it’s very likely a majority of us would spend most of our days walking around like this.

The win in Brazil was an especially nice feather in Lovato’s cap, as it marked the realization of a dream that started nearly 15 years prior.  In the podcast, Lovato talked about attending the competitions as a kid, idolizing these giants of Jiu-Jitsu, and daring to think, “I can do that.”

There’s so much about Rafael’s journey that you don’t see on the mats.  It is especially true that behind every great accomplishment is a story that is every bit as exceptional—and to get to hear the man (who, himself, grew up without the guidance of a Black Belt during his formative years) describe it is nothing short of a treat.

If you’re even remotely interested in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and don’t find something that connects to your own journey in this interview, I’m gonna suggest that you have someone check your pulse.  In all my years of conducting interviews, I don’t ever think I’ve been able to gain better insight into an athlete’s mindset and drive, let alone a Black Belt’s.

There’s this part toward the end of this interview where Professor Lovato responds to one of our fan questions and drops that kind of knowledge that speaks to the heart of anyone whose ever stepped foot on the mat and thought, “I can be better.”

A day after this interview, I went to train and had a spectacularly awful day of Jiu-Jitsu.  To be specific: I gassed out, I didn’t feel I performed up to my best, and I quit on myself (while I can accept wins and losses, I don’t accept quitting on myself).  When I walked out of my training sessions, I couldn’t help but keep the last part of this interview with me.

Sure, hearing the words of an accomplished Black Belt first-hand didn’t hurt, but it was the tone and conviction of a man whose own experience and hardships in Jiu-Jitsu made it near impossible to allow a sense of negativity linger on my own performances.  In fact, Lovato’s words and/or example might even make you leave a training session thinking, “Not I can be better, I will.”

Suppose that’s why it’s important to know that when a Black Belt gives you their time, you take it.  Otherwise, you might just miss out on making your own history.

EDIT: For those wondering what Lovato's Brazilian Absolute matches looked like, simply head on over to the following link to watch Lovato break down his own matches!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 23) with Gilbert Jamal Smith

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Raf's Recollection |  There are days when I feel that Kevin shouldn't be allowed on the internet.  Sometimes he just gets so excited to post things, he kinda neglects the whole concept of context.

Which is why I'm here to tell you that, yes, there is a reason this video of a 90's slow jam rapper, Shabba Ranks, is posted alongside our interview with one Mr. Gilbert Jamal Smith (no lie, it will completely make sense if you listen to the podcast).

However, would I describe the appearance of Shabba Ranks in the podcast as a "middle school moment" (what does that even mean?) and post it above the photo of the person we actually interviewed?  Probably not, but that's just semantics and layout design people.  Kev does the best that he can with all of the obvious limitations he faces.

But that's not why you're here. You're here to listen to MMA and likely to hear what our friend Jamal has to say.  In this exclusive interview, Mr. Smith holds nothing back as he candidly discusses how he felt about fighting Bubba McDaniel on The Ultimate Fighter Finale, if he felt he and Bubba actually deserved a spot on the main FX card, and how the fight between the two of them came together.

Not only that, but we learn a little more insight into the way Jamal made the transition from grappling to MMA, what affected him the most on his fight at the Ultimate Fighter Finale, and why he is known by Jamal to some and Gilbert to others.

Oh, and don't worry, we get to the bottom of the whole "why is he so against shirts" thing AND learn what's the deal behind that whole six-shooter dance he always does.

That's right, people, we're serious journalists.

So give this fun and very honest conversation about The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC, and Shabba Ranks (?) a listen.  You won't regret it.

#SHABBA!

VERBAL TAP (Episode 22) with Adam Cella

NOTE: For whatever reason the Skype/Podcast Editing Gods were against us this week, so be sure to listen to this Podcast on your headphones.  And be forewarned the transitions may be a little loud. 

Kevin's Description: Raf and Kevin celebrate Cinco De Mayo with Professional Fighter Adam Cella from The Ultimate Fighter Season 17! They also talk a little Jon Jones, UFC 159 Payouts, Tito Ortiz vs. Jon Jones, Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones, and finally end with your questions from twitter! Visit VerbalTapCast.com right now and get daily MMA coverage!

Raf’s Recollection : The first thing that strikes you about Adam Cella (aside from those dashing baby blues) is the fact that the man tells a mean story.

There's an inherent politeness to the timber of his voice that makes the punchlines to his stories both hilarious and friendly at the same time.

That's a rare gift.  So that even when he's having a little bit of fun at the expense of his close friends from the show, it's never mean spirited.  It's similar to that of a little brother playfully ribbing their older brothers—and really makes it easy to see why he was so popular within the house.

On the latest podcast, we get Cella to open up about some of the lighter moments in The Ultimate Fighter—including a few choice gems about roommates, cut scenes from the house, and maybe even an impression of a certain fellow cast member who may or may not have celebrated their 30th birthday this weekend (we apologize in advance Mr. The Menace; Happy Birthday!).

Among some of the other topics we touch upon with Mr. Cella in this interview: which current UFC fighter is afraid of spiders, what the future holds in store for the TUF vet, and what does Cella have to say to all of those who thought Jon Jones let him tap him out with this guillotine.

We hope you'll join us for some fun on the podcast and then drop us a note in our comment section.  And after that shoot our friend Mr. Cella a nice note over on his Twitter at (@AdamCellaMMA) to let him know what you thought!

You can download an MP3 of this episode right here.