Recent Episodes & Write-Ups
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our STACKED episode with Dhiego Lima, Eric Jackman, and LC Davis.
And also I explain why a series of wasps outside of my place ruined a day of BJJ.
Yep, you'll want to come back for all that and more folks.
Until then, give the podcast above a listen!
[buzzsprout episode='184662' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Coming soon!
[buzzsprout episode='182765' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | Kevin, bless his heart, has no idea how the World Cup even remotely works. And for whatever reason, he thought it'd be a great idea to open up this episode of Verbal Tap by asking what MMA fighters would make for a great World Cup team.
Even worse, he gave me this prompt seconds before we started recording.
You can't do that to a lifelong soccer fan. It's just outright cruel.
Nonetheless, that's not the entire episode. We catch you up on (most) of the events from UFC 174 and find out who won this week's installment of "Over/Under Kevin."
Give a listen here and let us know what you think of it, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | What do you do when your co-host is unavailable during a week when you have an interview with Stuart Cooper and need to review what took place at this year's Worlds?
Well, naturally you carry on without the guy and replace him.
J/Ks everyone.
Don't worry, Kev isn't going anywhere. He just was out of town for the week (and will be back with us next week).
In the meantime: We landed a whale of an interview with Stu (We've been truly anxious to hear about his legendary filmmaking process for some time now).
If for some reason you're unfamiliar with Stuart Cooper, you would be well served to check out the documentary about him below.
And if that's not enough to help you understand the the man behind the camera, why not take a look at a few samples of his work.
We've had the pleasure of being in contact with Stuart Cooper for some time now, but we've long been fans of his work.
His documentaries do a superb job of filling in the metaphorical and narrative ellipses for the avid BJJ enthusiast. The stories behind many of our favorite BJJ athletes often extend further than what we see on the mats during tournaments. When you watch a Stuart Cooper film, you get more than just why a match or a tournament is important. We get a rare insight into the philosophy, the psyche, and even the small nuances of the fighter's personal lives (try telling me any two Stuart Cooper documentaries are alike).
For me, his films aren't just comparable to quality found on the big budget, fight countdown shows (similar to the ones produced for the UFC and Bellator), the creativity exhibited in many of these vignettes stand up against a number of documentaries period. They strive for uniqueness in an industry where narratives are often uniform and bland.
On the podcast, we talk about his filmmaking process, some of the crazier experiences he's faced, and his new Indiegogo campaign he's mounted (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films) to help off-set the costs of making these films.
While the notion of traveling around the world, training BJJ, and making films sounds like a dream, the cost of making multiple, high quality videos on a regular basis basis is anything but glamorous. As a man who's portfolio has been a free and open book for the past several years (and who's films have often showcased the sport in an entirely different light), we highly implore you to donate to his Indiegogo.
Believe us, we know no one likes taking out their wallet when they don't have to. But the breakdown of his production costs is a mere fraction of what other places would charge for a comparable product-- and a loss of films like his would be a huge setback for a sport we all love.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films
Verbal Tap Goes to Worlds
This was my first time attending a Worlds competition. While I've been a number of tournaments over the past year and a half, I learned a lot from my experience down in Long Beach last week.
For example, Worlds is loud (http://instagram.com/p/oorT9Wj6rD/).
And there's a lot of matches that happen all at once.
(#TwoEyesTwelveMats was a personal favorite hashtag to use).
And it's a lot to take in all at once.
But it was a great experience and I got to see a ton of great matches and friends.
(I didn't get the chance to mention it on the podcast, but I really do believe this: Much in the same way they have warm up mats for the competitors, they should also have mats designated just for spectators who want to start drilling something they learned and thought was cool during the competition.
Hell, I should get some perk for my spectator fee, right?).
But, I did go at it alone. I had back up at the event to help me better understand all of the action taking place.
Yep, that's right. Our good pal, BJJ Breakdown's John Evans (seen in the accompanying picture looking more bad ass than ever thanks to me, #streetcred) was there to help explain all of the moves that blew my mind.
John not only covered the event with me, but he also shows up on this podcast to walk us through some of the highlights.
All this plus we get in a One Minute Review of The Ultimate Fighter (!!!).
What are you waiting for, listen in now!
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon: More on this awesome episode with TUF 19 cast member Dhiego Lima (who sits in for our "One Minute Review," our awesome conversation with MMA Roasted's Adam Hunter, and we play a game of Over/Under Kevin for UFC 173 with one of our favorite guests.
Until then, download the episode and let us know what you think!
[buzzsprout episode='171680' player='true'] Raf's Recollection | ... is on hiatus this week. Been a busy week, but you definitely want to tune into this week's MMA Summer Preview Extravaganza, as we not only review all the major cards going down this summer, but also give you another thrilling installment of the 1 Minute Review.
Be back next week with a HUGE new guest folks :-)
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Raf's Reflection | Coming soon more about our time with one of our favorite guests, James Koh.
Not only does take on Kevin in another thrilling installment of Over/Under Kevin: UFC 172 edition, but we also hear a little more about his new gig at the NFL Network.
So, come for the UFC analysis and stay for the repeated shots at Kev's ineptitude.
Also, be sure to follow James on his twitter over at @JamesDKoh
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Raf's Recollection | It's a busy week for the UFC. Coming right off an event out in Abu Dhabi, the organization has not one, but two big events happening this week (including tomorrow night's TUF Nations Finale and Saturday's UFC on FOX 11). It's a busy week for MMA that prompted us to take some time to answer some pressing questions in the world of MMA.
Let's start with the TUF Nations. I know a lot of you have wondered why we haven't done any 1 Minute Reviews of the current season of TUF that (occasionally) airs on Fox Sports Juan. To answer your question, I give you the following chart I like to call Exhibit A:
These are the ratings. MMA Payout has done us all a favor of breaking down what all of this really means. But you may notice that a couple episodes actually dipped below the 100k viewer count. Those episodes aired on Fox Sports 2. In the podcast, we address our full response to this season of TUF and let you know what the future holds in store for the 1 Minute Review.
It seems the UFC was keenly aware of how few people were watching this season and decided to enlist the talents of Tim Kennedy and Michael Bisping to carry the weight of promoting this fight.
Some might argue there's more hype surrounding this match than any of the other rivalries going down on Saturday's UFC on FOX 11 card. But it's clear, these two gents do not like each other. In fact, a couple weeks ago, Tim was nice enough to stop by our podcast to talk about this fight (Verbal Tap, Episode 64), and even then he seemed baffled by "The Count's" unstable form of trash talk.
In retrospect, all of that seems like child's play compared to the nonsense Bisping spewed in his general direction at yesterday's weigh-ins. Look here for more evidence.
Where else can you get this type of drama, folks?
My personal favorite: After walking up and telling him, "it all ends for you tomorrow," Bisping then follows up that gold by asking Tim "you wanna go right now?"
Tim shrugs and says "I'm always ready."
Bisping: You are such a fucking pussy!
Because, as we all know, the biggest pussies are notorious for stepping up to the plate when being called out by a bully.
Bar Rescue
Enjoy watching UFC PPV's at your favorite bars? Well, that may soon start to change.
A new article from the LA Times was brought to my attention (thanks Dad) that talks about how the UFC and Boxing are going after bars that don't pay a hefty fee to show a PPV. And just to make things more interesting, there are people who are being sent to bars on the down low to find out if the bars are adhering to the proper fines.
Kev and I spend a few minutes talking about this very issue and discuss why this paranoid shakedown has a set of serious implications for watching PPVs at your local bars--especially if they are unaware such fines exist.
We hope you'll help us spread the word to your favorite bars so that they don't get these assholes coming after them.
Verbal Tap Responds to Viewer Fan Mail
We opened up a new segment tentatively titled, Viewer Mail, where (you guessed it) we'll be taking your questions and answering them on the podcast.
But wait, we're now opening up our voicemail for you to leave messages. That's right, feel free to call us with your questions--and if we like 'em, we may just play your call and answer it on our next podcast.
So feel free to hit us up with a message at (703) 635-2168!
But Wait, There's More
In addition to your viewer mail, we also share our takes on Royler Gracie saying he wasn't impressed with Eddie Bravo's performance at Metamoris, this so called organization called Bellator (sp?) trying to produce a fight PPV, and review Roy "Big Country" Nelson's huge KO win at UFC Fight Night 39.[buzzsprout episode='164589' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | Without a doubt, Scott Nelson is single-handedly the best pre I've ever conducted.
In the world of entertainment, the pre (or pre interview) is typically where agents and publicists tell a producer what their clients will or will not talk about with the host. When people ask why most talk show interviews come off so phony, it's because of this very concept.
However, when you conduct a pre-interview with Scotty, you're in for a treat.
"I'll talk about anything. I don't have a very good filter and I'm not very PC. Ask away and be prepared for honest answers, cuz I don't give a fuck."
So it should be no surprise when we inform you that the owner of On The Mat, Scott Nelson, really came through with a MUST-LISTEN interview this week.
On the podcast, Scotty tells us what it was like to be a last minute replacement ref on the Metamoris card, being a part of the very first instant replay in jiu-jitsu (or, as we've dubbed it, the honorary "Scotty Nelson Instant Replay"), what it was like to live and train in Brazil, his role as a mentor to new businesses (both inside and out of BJJ), and even at some point offered to make a Verbal Tap gi(?).
I'm sorry, I needed to stop for a second. My heart kinda stopped at the very concept of a Verbal Tap gi.
And when Scotty says he isn't afraid to provide honest responses, he truly means it—as he gives us some very direct answers about the problems with modern jiu-jitsu and weighs in on the very controversial issue of producing hemp gi's.
Of course, there are few people better equipped to talk about the trouble of creating and maintaining a brand than Scott Nelson. As a business owner who's seen his own share of highs and lows, Scott doesn't mince words when it comes to crisis communication. He's been there, he's lived it, and he knows what it's like to be the center of attention when something goes awry.
But what I've always like about Scott can be summed up in the following example: Right before Metamoris 3, Scotty could be seen greeting friends and fans alike. About ten minutes before the show, Scotty walked around the perimeter of the waiting area distributing a set of On The Mat sponsored flyers around the tables.
My first thought was: "Couldn't he just get someone to do that for him?" While I was slightly perplexed at first (as I'm pretty sure Scotty could easily get someone else to drop the flyers off for him), it later all made perfect sense. This is a guy who not only understands the value of making yourself accountable to consumers, but who also takes great pleasure in meeting new people and staying connected with the community he loves.
Perhaps that small follow through is just one of the reasons his business continues to flourish?
Jeremy Lafreniere
According to everyone, ever, running a gym is tough.
It certainly helps, however, when you've got a strong acumen for business, a nice personality to get along with customers, and you get your start teaching MMA classes in an elementary school room filled with art supplies.
Yep, you read that right.
Capital MMA and Elite Fitness owner Jeremy Lafreniere tells us how he was able to take his Elementary School teaching degree and parlay that into a journey that took him from teaching friends martial arts in an elementary school classroom to the owner of an MMA school that has branched out to four other locations.
It's a great story that demonstrates how a passion for jiu-jitsu, patience, and some encouragement from Royce can do for you.
Oh, yeah, sorry. That's Royce Gracie who strongly suggested Jeremy open up an academy. No big.
And in my favorite part of the interview, Jeremy tells us a great story about watching one of his former students asked to open up a school under the Capital MMA and Elite Fitness banner.
If you've ever remotely wondered what the experience of opening up your own gym might be like, you'd definitely want to hear Jeremy provide his insight. And if you're in the Alexandria, Virgina area, do yourself a favor and hit up his academy!
But Wait, There's More
We discovered this week that Kev still harbors some resentment the photo right here.
He spent the early part of the podcast calling this maneuver (many of you enlightened individuals would know as a sharpshooter) "illegal."
What part of this completely legit BJJ move is "illegal," I ask you?
Nonetheless, we take the conversation as an opportunity for me to educate Kevin about why the Undertaker's 21-1 streak at Wrestlemania is such a big deal.
And why I can't stop laughing at this guy.
That's all we got for this week.
Be sure to follow us on:
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Raf’s Recollection | Nic Gregoriades is a saint.
Of course, he he’d never say that about himself, but when you put up with Open Mat Radio’s Paul Moran (my BJJ podcast nemesis) on a regular basis and somehow find a way of maintaining that kind of zen-like clarity, you deserve all the accolades that come your way.
Such adulation is nothing new to a guy who famously became Roger Gracie’s first black belt in a four year time span, but Nic’s more than just a dude who happens to be pretty slick at jiu-jitsu. Nic is a ambassador of the sport who travels across the globe helping others become better at the craft—all while finding his own spiritual enlightenment along the way.
Nic just finished writing a new book entitled The Black Belt Blue Print. A couple months back, I got the opportunity read an advance copy of the book and was truly impressed by the way Nic encapsulates the jiu-jitsu process. Here is a guy who not only knows how to provide advice to help the physical aspects of your game (offering tips on how to improve your cardio, describing some cool techniques, and even tips on setting realistic goals), but who also provides fantastic insight on how to get the most out of the mental and philosophical aspects of the sport.
More than anyone I’ve encountered in my short time as a BJJ practitioner, I found Nic’s focus on the philosophy of jiu-jitsu to be the most fascinating. The book does a great job of describing how the practice of jiu-jitsu is more than just sweeps, drilling, and technique, there’s a journey that happens alongside the practice that is worthy of exploration—and Nic is very forthcoming about many aspects of his own personal journey.
On our podcast, we got the chance to ask Nic how the book came into existence, what it was like to train under Roger Gracie, and even get a supremely candid discussion on training partners who sometimes take sparring a little too far (it’s one of my favorite parts of the interview, and I think it’s well worth your time).
When Nic asked me to provide to a blurb review of the book, I felt pretty intimidated. Plenty of other notable folks in the community (with credentials and talent that far exceed my own) have already said fantastic things about The Black Belt Blue Print. But what I can tell you is this: The book doesn’t give playbook to become a black belt. Instead, it gives a map filled with suggested routes and guidance that makes the impossible seem ultimately attainable.
As luck would have it, Nic made his way out to Los Angeles shortly after we recorded this episode. I actually just got done meeting with him this afternoon (an accomplishment, considering that my BJJ podcast nemesis, Paul Moran, has yet to meet his very own Journey Podcast co-host in person) and was glad to share a few laughs and exchange some BJJ insight.
And I can affirm, the funny, easy going, and quotable dude you hear on this week’s podcast is every bit of the guy you meet in person. Hell, Nic even let out a huge laugh when I told him there may be an impression of his trademark accent on an upcoming episode of Open Mat Radio performed by yours truly.
Which is why I want this article to serve as the last living will and testament should he decide to kill me when he drops by to train with us sometime later next week.
I'll definitely be sure to tell you all about that experience sometime next week. Until then, be sure to check out The Black Belt Blue Print right here.
Over/Under Kevin: UFC 170 Edition
It wouldn't be a major UFC PPV without a game of Over/Under Kevin. Although this time we decided to bring in a big gun. That's right, we brought back the man, Bubba McDaniel. The two of them do battle making their picks over who will win UFC 170 and make a bet that's so odd,
I'm not sure who I actually want to win.
Allow me to apologize now if the audio during Bubba's segment cuts in and out a lot.
This was the biggest audio problem we've encountered on the podcast yet. But Bubba powered through all of our technical difficulties and gave us a truly entertaining segment. That's how you know this guy is family on our podcast.
Also, props to Kevin. He did a fantastic montage of the struggle that was trying to get that segment together. I'm now far enough removed from the episode that I can laugh at it.
My Girlfriend is Awesome
When my girlfriend handed me a gift box with this ridiculously amazing Datsusara MMA gear bag, she won Valentine's Day.
I had no clue I was getting this (let alone a Valentine's Day gift), but man was this the best gift I could have possibly asked for.
I've been using this bag for a little over a week and it's absolutely amazing. I can fit two (maybe even three) gi's in there. I have a compartment for my laptop. I have plenty of compartments for all my training accessories (several compartments for tape). AND it even comes with a detachable bag to separate clean and dirty clothes.
This is miles above my last training bag and I hope all of you who like this will go give our friends at Datsusara some love. It's amazing and they've got some really cool other products that are worth a view.
Where Should I Train?
As many of you know, I am now well into my first days of my indefinite hiatus from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Which now means I have the rare opportunity to go train at new places in my downtime.
Since I don't know how long my hiatus is going to last, I am turning to all of you in the greater Los Angeles area to throw as many places I should go train at me. Simply hit me up at @VerbalTapCast on our Twitter page with your suggested academy, gym or dojo and hashtag #TrainHereRaf. I'm gonna try to do as many as I possibly can!
Who knows, maybe you can tap me out on a mat near you very soon.
All I got for now, talk to you later, folks.
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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:
![VERBAL TAP [Episode 59] with Kristian Woodmansee](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55a8ad5fe4b0581b80a3daea/1467715191455-RY4KCG0G35Z3NIKTVL0Q/image-asset.jpeg)
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.
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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!!!
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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.
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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.
[buzzsprout episode='133320' player='true']
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.
[buzzsprout episode='131832' player='true']
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!
[buzzsprout episode='129652' player='true']
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.
[buzzsprout episode='124930' player='true']
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!
[buzzsprout episode='120021' player='true']
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!
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!
[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.