Raf’s Recollection | Don’t any of you let a word of this get back to Kev, but I might be moderately proud of the guy.
No seriously, not a word to him. Before we know it, the compliment will go to his head and then we’ll all have that to contend with. Fortunately, he never reads these things, so I’m usually at liberty to insult him as I please.
But this week is a little different. On this week’s podcast, we talk a little bit about Kevin’s jiu-jitsu game and discuss his experience at a US Grappling tournament in Virgina last week.
Over the past year and a half, Kev has developed and refined his competition game. And under the fine direction of the folks over at BJJ and MMA Training Center, he has been able to meet and surpass a great deal of his competitive goals in a relatively short time span. It’s a testament to both his team and his own dedication to the craft—and, while I might be speculating here, I think we may just be hearing the beginning of it.
We spend a great deal of time insulting one another on the podcast, but when it comes to competition, I don’t kid around. I’ve never quite been the type that thinks the competition is defined solely by wins and loses, but my overall hope is always that he does well and that he meets and surpasses his own competitive goals.
I will, however, become absolutely get pissed if I don’t get results fast enough.
When I finally got the good news about the tournament, I was momentarily happy to hear how he placed—and then, moments later, really pissed it took so long for me to get a goddamn result (do you not get 4G on the East Coast?!!!)!
Anyway, this week, we rightfully acknowledge his hard work and then get right back to calling him an idiot (that will conclude the one compliment I pay Kevin per year).
But that’s not all we’ve got this week. Our pal, Gilbert Jamal Smith, returns to the podcast to talk about his upcoming fight against Jason Lee for Prize Fighting Championship on Saturday, July 13th.
What we like most about Jamal is not only his ability to respond to a joke (he tends to respond to internet trolls on Twitter with kindness), but also the honest and candid ways that he responds to our questions.
He never ducks a question, he’s honest to a T, and there’s always a memorable sound bite or three that comes out of an interview with him (my personal favorite comes towards the end of the interview with his response to a question about a “game plan”).
Not only that, but he’s willing to be silly and doesn’t take himself that seriously—demonstrates as much by playing not one, but TWO games with us on the Podcast (one of which was an entirely new segment, created just for Jamal).
Nonetheless, we wish Mr. Smith all the best as he gets ready for his fight in two weeks and hope that if you live in Colorado, you go support the guy in action. And if you can’t make it to Colorado, be sure to drop the man a note on the Twitter and let ‘em know what you thought of his appearance on our Podcast.
Until then, we’ll just be waiting for results, Jamal. And, as I’ve denoted earlier, I’m really bad at waiting for results. So I’m gonna want to hear from you how it all goes down. From your pals at Verbal Tap: Best of luck to you, good sir!
Raf's Recollection | Hard to believe, but it's been three months since the podcast has just been a conversation piece between me and Kevin (three months to the day if you want to be precise).
Granted, over the course of the past few months, we've had the good fortune of guest stars dropping in and out of the podcast (not that we're complaining).
And before you ask, no, we are not short on guests. We have some interviews planned over the next few weeks—with maybe a surprise or two thrown in for good measure—and we'll be announcing some big stuff very soon.
On this occasion, however, Kev and I made the decision to take the show back to its roots: him and I yelling belligerently at one another. At the end of the day, this show lives and breathes off the conversation of two idiots who love the shit out of MMA, so we hope you enjoy this throwback episode.
In this installment, we talk about UFC 161 and explain why you didn't see the worst card of the year... but also why you were miles away from the best card the UFC had to offer this year.
Kevin also tries to force his love for the NBA into a PODCAST ABOUT MMA!!! So we find a way to justify it with a ridiculous story (and dramatization) of Chael Sonnen's encounter with KingJames that has to be heard to be believed.
And now if I can take a moment to be so selfish...
Although I got the opportunity to shout out the good folks at Valley Martial Arts Center and Dream BJJ on podcast, I just wanted to take a second to congratulate the good folks at VMAC and Dream BJJ for coming together to put on a superb tournament experience.
Dream BJJ organizer, Sean Maghami, puts together a mean tournament and, as my first BJJ tournament experience (well, second if you count Metamoris), I was thoroughly impressed by his attention-to-detail and the relative ease displayed as tournament director when any problem came up. His organization seems truly committed to giving a great BJJ experience for all and I think he helped to bring a great positive energy to the training facility that we call home. It truly felt good to see so many people in the building competing and having a good time. It's what the sport should be like and I was glad to provide whatever help I could there.
And to the good folks at VMAC: Way to represent the dojo, both on-and-off the mats. Up front, I had the pleasure of interacting with a lot of competitors from other schools who nothing but compliments about VMAC, our staff, and the caliber of our competitors. Watching you all compete was a thrill, my hat's off to the entire team, and I'm pretty proud of the entire gang.
That'll do it for my recap this week. Don't forget to check out my jokes about Fight Master and this week's Bellator fights, as we are definitely talking about that and much, much more next week!
Raf's Recollection | Allow me to be entirely forthcoming: Metamoris II was the first time I’ve ever attended a grappling tournament.
Over the years, I’ve covered and attended dozens of UFC’s, Mixed Martial Arts competitions, and boxing matches, but last Sunday marked the first time I’ve ever attended a grappling-only tournament.
Yes, I, too, have no idea how I’ve never been to a single grappling-only tournament; No, I don’t get out much.
Now that’s not to say I’m completely oblivious to the competitive world of competitive jiu-jitsu. I’m familiar with the athletes, I regularly watch the matches, and have an above average recollection of the trends in the sport. But it’s also why I thought it best to bring along a strong jiu-jitsu technician (and all around good guy), John Evans, to properly contextualize the event for all of our dedicated grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu fans (you can read his excellent summary of the event right here).
Having said all that, I came to Metamoris with high expectations. This is, after all, an event that prides itself on being the alternative to the oft-criticized world of elite jiu-jitsu. The format, the rules, and the first-rate caliber athletes involved display a thoughtful and measured response to the “point” and “advantage” system that some argue ruin the essence of modern jiu-jitsu competition.
And with just that concept and design, the event gave us plenty to talk about this week: On our podcast here, we touch upon all of the individual matches (good and bad) and have a thoughtful discussion about type athleticism that was displayed on the Metamoris mats.
But I’d like to take a moment to talk specifically about my own experience and the concept of “spectacle.”
To begin, you could tell there were a few looming ghosts from inaugural event. After the event started over an hour late last year, everything seemed rushed at the pace of a runaway freight train. I’m a stickler to keeping things prompt, but I can also understand the difficulty of keeping things on time for a PPV, when you have matches that can go anywhere from one to twenty minutes (especially when five of the six matches go the distance). However, from a production standpoint, if the audience feels like you’re rushing, chances are it’s because you’re rushing. There is a certain effortlessness the event has yet to find that can easily make the production value of the event come off as more assured.
Second, in what was perhaps the biggest conversation piece after the event: Match-ups are key. When they work (Galvao v. Lovato Jr., Dern v. Nicolini), they produce fascinating displays of jiu-jitsu between two equally matched opponents that, even if they don’t end in a finish, do more to advance the art. But when you get match ups that are a hard sell to begin with, you sometimes get what you pay for. My sincere congrats for Brendan Schaub for volunteering to be a participant in the event. Seriously. It’s a level of competition that is truly difficult and I don’t think anyone would fault him for wanting to be involved. Would I have like to see him engage more with Cyborg? Of course. Would I have like to have seen Cyborg calculate a new game plan when there was an opponent who was “running away?” Sure. But the fault isn’t so black and white. Did Schaub have an obligation to “fall into Cyborg’s guard?” Should a seasoned jiu-jitsu guy like Cyborg—who doesn’t typically have the problem of an opponent who is constantly backpedaling—be forced to dictate the pace and abandon his own game plan just because he “knows better?” Again, a tricky conundrum. It seemed both performers were implementing a game plan to “win,” which sadly came at the expense of anything remotely worth watching. So let’s take it a step further: With the very prevalent disparity between the participants, what was the expectation in this match? I’ve run this scenario a hundred times in my brain and have still yet to produce an answer, except to say that maybe next year we give Cyborg an opponent that’s at least on his level. I think there are few people who would question Cyborg’s placement on a Metamoris card, why not give him the type of opponent he deserves? Who knows, could produce something that’s fascinating for all the right reasons.
And I’m sure I can spend a lot of time discussing how the event would have been better served with more than a week after the Worlds (we can play this set of “what if” scenarios for days). But I take Metamoris President Ralek Gracie and team at their word when they say they plan to work around other jiu-jitsu competitions in the future.
Blemishes aside, Metamoris has more in its win column than it does in its needs improvement file.
The stage. The programs. The invitations. The promos. All things this tournament gets right. But it’s more than just all the small things, for me the thing that makes Metamoris so uniquely special is “the feel.”
The majority of the audience (when they’re not heckling Schaub) is quiet and respects the athletes. The mood is tense and ooh’s and aww’s come with every sweep and take down attempt almost instinctively, with the tempered politeness a reflection of an educated audience who understands how difficult many of these moves are to pull off. In some ways, despite the band, the big lights, and the large cheering crowd, the competition gives off a kind of “exclusive” vibe. At one point, the intimacy of the venue and quietness made it feel like we were given the opportunity to watch a match between two high level practitioners at a local academy that would otherwise be closed off to the lower belts and spectators. The kind of thing that in years past would have just been the subject of lore and storytelling. Pulling off that kind of thing isn’t easy and is certainly worthy of recognition.
So depending on what it is you consider ideal, I think when it comes to format, even the most impassioned jiu-jitsu fan would have to admit that the concept of a perfect system seems somewhat out of reach.
There will always be Brendan Schaub’s. Time limit draws. Audiences who may not “get it” or resist these kinds of events from time to time.
But that doesn’t mean we stop trying. Aside from all of the superb attention to detail and ethos the Gracie family loans this event, the strongest thing Metamoris may have going for it right now is zeitgeist. It is the right tournament at the right time.
Frankly, as a jiu-jitsu fan, we don’t have many large-scale options. There’s no other event that makes this sport come off like a spectacle. The athletes are treated like rock stars, the selection of venue is just right, and a majority of the players and participants are spot-on. For the time being, why not make this the exclusive home for competitive jiu-jitsu? Care less about giving us match-ups with marquee UFC fighters and care more about filling that spectacle void that so many of us jiu-jitsu fans crave and need.
And, in return, as fans of the sport, we should keep the following grim realities in check before we use our collective wit to troll the internet: we don’t live in an age where Nike sponsorships happen to the elite-level jiu-jitsu practitioner, we don’t have coverage on national prime time television, and the sport that closest resembles this one is currently fighting for its rightful place in the Olympics. At the end of the day, I think we need to ask ourselves: do we want to see something like this on a regular basis? And, if so, is there anything else out there like it? At least here, for better or worse, we have a collection of folks putting this event together who care.
The very figurehead of said organization caring so much he does something like this:
I’m not sure I share the look of grave concern expressed by Ralek here (I think the show was far from a disappointment and has more positives than his face lets on), but it is nice to know that going forward we’ve got someone who wants to give us the best kind of experience possible. But I also feel good in knowing that as long as he and his team are committed to giving us a first-rate event, they merit a strong consideration for an experimental format that puts jiu-jitsu on display for those people who love it.
And that’s why I, for one, was happy to call Metamoris II my first live grappling experience. And hope it’s the first of many to come.
Raf's Recollection | You still can't convince me that Dave "The Caveman" Rickels is notthe 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 Centermember 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!
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.
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.
Raf and Kevin celebrate their 20th episode by brining on Joe "the Nose" Wilk to talk about the midwest and VFC Fight Night in Wichita, KS. Bellator, UFC on Fox from last saturday, and UFC 159 predictions this podcast has it all! Give a listen to the number one comedy podcast in the DC/LA combined region!
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Joe The Nose Wilk
Raf's Recollection: A great deal of our podcast is dedicated to finding out the back story behind each of the fighters we interview. What makes them tick? How'd they get started? Why do they continue to want get punched in the face?
This go-round, we had the pleasure of finding out a little more about the humble beginnings of our very own Kevin Phillips' journey as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. And who better to clue us into that insight than the man who helped Kevin learn to love jiu-jitsu, Joe "The Nose" Wilk (@JoeNoseMMA).
In addition to waxing poetic about all things Kansas with Kevin, Joe was able to talk to us about this awesome documentary filmed about his gym Combative Sports Center. If you've got some free time, I'd highly recommend giving a view. Those who train will easily be able to identify with the camaraderie found in this gym and will also gain some insight into the true appeal of this fantastic training facility (hint: it might have something to do with the caliber of the folks who train there).
As our interview attests, Wilk talks a good game as an entertainer before his fights, but in the gym there is an even greater amount of respect for martial arts instilled into all of their practitioners. One can certainly argue, Joe "Nose" training.
(I apologize for nothing with the use of that pun)
You can also download an MP3 of this episode here.
Kevin's Description: Tune in while Raf and Kevin circle around the fights coming up this weekend and hear opinions about some of the fighters weigh in clothing choices. Raf lays a gauntlet of truth down for Benson Henderson, and Kevin and Raf once again challenge the Diaz brothers to a tag team fight. Please listen to this, like now!
If you have any problems downloading this episode, you can do so right here!
Raf and Kevin digest each of the fights, talk about commercials, saunas, and so much more on their way to an interview with Nate Diaz. Diaz challenges Kevin to a fight, Kevin challenges Raf to an advertising campaign, and hilarity ensues along the way to some fun fight news. Listen up!
If you have any problems downloading this episode, you can do it right here.
This week on their way to previewing the Henderson/Diaz Fight, Raf and Kevin break down the list of fighters ranked by earnings in the UFC, talk about some fun fight questions, and finally guess the fight card winners and losers based on nickname! Listen up, its our best podcast yet.
If you have any problems downloading this week's podcast, you can directly download the episode right here.
A full breakdown of the main event between GSP and Carlos Condit at UFC 154 this podcast has jokes, actual commentary, and a possibly real interview with UFC 154 Champion, GSP, himself. Check it out, you'll enjoy the old take on fresh topics. Raf and Kevin are both Monday morning cage fighters that love to dissect the crazy, intense, wonderful world of UFC events.
If you have any problems downloading the episode, you can download it right HERE.
But that’s not all we’ve got this week. Our pal, Gilbert Jamal Smith, returns to the podcast to talk about his upcoming fight against Jason Lee for Prize Fighting Championship on Saturday, July 13th.
And now if I can take a moment to be so selfish...
