Raf's Recollection | More to come later.
Viewing entries in
MMA
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 King James 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.
[buzzsprout episode='96046' player='true']
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!
[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!
[buzzsprout episode='92250' player='true']
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!
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.
Kevin's Description: The guys argue about the most exciting moment of UFC 159, talk a little about the new song for GSP, then Mike Jasper stops by to keep the show from completely derailing. Listen in, and leave a comment telling us your thoughts on UFC 159!
Raf’s Recollection : Sometimes it is a small world after all. As we started booking fighters to come appear on the show, I had a friend (the incomparable Melissa Benassi) offer to help us reach out to one of the folks who fought in the premiere episode of this season's Ultimate Fighter.
And even though the multi-talented, Mike Jasper, didn't make it into the TUF house (he lost in the first round to Collin Hart), he hasn't missed a beat in his still undefeated career as a professional fighter (the loss to Hart is tallied as an exhibition).
In addition to being impervious to Raiders jokes, Jasper was very candid about the behind the scenes nature of The Ultimate Fighter production. And, believe us folks, there's a lot of stuff that you don't see on TV. The UFC doesn't just pick 32 guys and then have them magically show up. Jasper tells us his side of the story and, if you've ever wondered how it all comes together, this interview is a must-listen.
But that's not all. If you act now, you'll also get to hear a little bit about the man, the myth, the legend: Bas Rutten.
Yes, this Bas Rutten.
Jasper happens to train out of Rutten's gym (MMA Elite) and talks a little bit about the way Mr. Rutten runs the gym.
So give it a listen to the podcast that we're dedicating to Melissa Benassi for making this very special episode happen. You can check out Jasper's fight right here.
You can download an MP3 of this episode here.
Title says it all folks! Raf Esparza's one minute review of The Ultimate Fighter has Bubba "the Menace" McDaniel and Luke "BIgSlow" Barnatt stopping by for some great perspective on Mike Tyson's most recent visit to the house, the crazy round of quarterfinal fights, and so much more! Tune in, you won't want to miss out on this one!
You can also download this episode right here.