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VERBAL TAP (Episode 64) with Tim Kennedy and Brian Cimins

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 64) with Tim Kennedy and Brian Cimins

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Raf's Recollection | Tim Kennedy is never short on soundbites.

Last time he was on our podcast [Episode 42], he let it be known he wants to die fighting a set of bionic sharks underwater.

This time, he leaves us with perhaps the most memorable way we've had any MMA practitioner describe their fighting style.

But it's not all fun and games, Tim Kennedy gets serious with us when he talks about his upcoming fight against Michael Bisping.  And, by serious, I mean he takes the time to pretty much shut down the Count's attempts to insult him before they face each other at next month's TUF Nations Finale (congrats, you have a reason to watch it now!).

We also stage an intervention and confront Tim on his reported status as a "bully" at Jackson's MMA, we get him to talk the rough night at the office that was UFC 171, and we take him to The Danger Zone.

Also, somehow in the conversation, we got around to talking about Rocky IV.

Which somehow lead me to the following working of art on the right hand side here. I don't have much to say about it, other than I think it's important I bring it to your attention so that we can all bask in it's collective beauty.

Obviously, Tim crushes it on this week's installment and makes it worth your time.

For further reading: We highly suggest you take a look at Tim's recent yahoo blog response to Michael Bisping (which is nothing short of epic).

Don't forget to make plans to watch Tim return to the Octagon, April 16th for the TUF Nations Finale.

Grapplers Quest founder Brian Cimins

We don't often get to chat with game-changers on the podcast, but when we do, we make sure to make the most of our time with them.

Brian Cimins has been at the forefront of the grappling community for over fifteen years, but he isn't just resting on the established popularity of the brand he created with Grapplers Quest.

Recently, Cimins launched LiveGrappling.com, a subscription based YouTube page (described as "the Netflix of submission grappling") that gives you full access to the Grapplers Quest library.

In addition to the hours of Grapplers Quest footage, you'll also have the ability to live stream GQ tournaments and exclusive seminars with some of the most recognizable names in the BJJ community. The channel will run you about $5 a month, or the cost of about one DVD instructional set you'd purchase from just one major BJJ player.

And as we discover on the podcast, Brian is more than just a guy behind an impressive grappling brand or a guy with an impressive set of ties to MMA community (his story about Dana White is NOT to be missed), he also serves as a motivational life coach and is a major proponent for Autism research.

During our time with Brian, we got him to share his philosophy about his charitable efforts and offer some words of wisdom to the next generation of BJJ and MMA promoters and entrepreneurs. You can find out more about Brian's charitable efforts and life coaching advice over at his blog right here.

But Wait, There's More Car-shal, the collective brain trust of Artechoke Media's Marshal D. Carper and his lovely wife Caris, return to the show this week to find out who won the UFC 171 installment of Over/Under Kevin.

On the podcast, Marshal talks a little bit about what it was like to be a training dummy for an instructional video set he's putting together with Aseopian's Matt Kirtley. Here, for all of your viewing pleasure, is some of that pain (in captioned pictorial form!)

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Please send your deepest sympathies over to Marshal here and your thanks to Matt here.

In Memory Of Walt Martin

I briefly mentioned this on our shout out section of our podcast (and I don't want to bum anyone out), but one of my favorite high school teachers recently passed away.  In my own life, Coach Martin was instrumental in providing a framework for a playful, educational, and inviting environment within the classroom—which is something I've worked hard to cultivate with the students I've mentored along the way (as well as the very podcast you listen to today).

On this episode, I tell a short story that doesn't even begin to do him justice for the influence he had in my life. The long of the short of it is: Mr. Martin was the only reason I ever remotely considered doing an activity like mock trial (yep, way nerdy, right?). I didn't even know what it was (we basically conducted a trial, as lawyers and witnesses, learning the legal system throughout the process), but Coach Martin didn't bother with the details.  He pitched it to me as a great opportunity to try something new and that I might find I'm pretty good at it.

His unwavering confidence in my ability and his persistence in getting me to join was always appreciated, as it underscored the importance of what it felt like to have teachers who believed in and fought for you.

Not only did I have the opportunity to be on the mock trial team with Mr. Martin, but I had the pleasure of being one of his students.  Mr. Martin didn't just teach civics, he had a passion for getting his students to want to learn about their government and contribute back to the community.

I distinctly remember him starting every civics class with an open ended question, directed a specific student, with the intention of making everyone feel welcomed and invited over the semester.  He never told you if you were right or wrong and often punctuated his answers with a whimsical "I don't know, that could be it."

It was around this time that I remember first becoming familiar with the philosophy of Socrates.  Like any student exposed to something new, I found myself making the connections to the world I knew.  And in the world I knew, Mr. Martin facilitated discussions with the same respectful sense of humor that also served as a means of encouraging students to find their own enlightenment.

And while I may have never gotten to meet Socrates in my lifetime, I got the chance to meet and befriend a Mr. Martin.  You may never read about him in a book, but I think that's all the more reason to celebrate his life.

My condolences and thanks to his family, for allowing us the pleasure of getting to know him.

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 63) with Samir Chantre & Zak Maxwell

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Raf's Recollection | Perhaps the coolest thing about this week’s podcast was gaining insight into the two very different paths of Metamoris 3 participants Samir Chantre and Zak Maxwell.

By now, many of us have seen the preview videos, we’ve heard the stories, but few of us actually know

how the Metamoris match-ups come together.  On this installment, Zak tells us the way he was approached to compete at the tournament, while Samir gives us some insight into the training practices and strategies that go into preparing for this unique 20 minute, submission style match up.

Not only that, but Samir also tells us what it’s like training with Caio Terra, what competitive activities jiu-jitsu rock stars do on their days off, and even gives us some insight on how the hell this photo came together.

This photo may also help to explain the sense of humor Samir exhibits when we ask him about the possibility of forming a tag team partnership with Clark Gracie to take on the Mendes Brothers.

Meanwhile, we talk with Zak about the awkward wording on his BJJ Heroes profile, the way he studies tape for upcoming jiu-jitsu matches, and gives us some fantastic detail about his training sessions with Royler Gracie (his wording about Royler should be put on a t-shirt and sold immediately).

And as we get closer to Metamoris 3, it’s listening stories like Samir’s and Zak’s that help us better understand the mentality of two different, but widely respected jiu-jitsu practitioners as they prepare for such a highly anticipated event.

But Wait, There’s More

Not only do we do a summary of last week’s UFC Fight Night in London, we also call upon our friend Marshal D. Carper to participate in our latest installment of Over/Under Kevin: UFC 171 edition.

Normally, I surprise Kevin with the folks he takes on in this segment, but this marks the first time I was ever surprised by one of our guests who brought a guest of their own.

Marshal’s not one to take things lightly, so he definitely put in a lot of time into his picks—which is such a wonderful contrast to Kevin’s CliffNotes preparation.

You can follow Marshal at one of this twenty writing things on the internet.  Try these:

Artechoke Media

His Blog.

His Twitter.

Or you can read his book.

For the observant among you, you may notice that Marshal left a note on my copy of his book with an inscription to me.

And just because I know you're begging for it...

Here is that inscription.

Well played, Marshall.  Well played.

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 62) with Joe Wilk

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Raf’s Recollection | Joe Wilk is not afraid to beat the shit out of John Travolta.

Yeah, he went there.  Let’s hear you get that kind of exclusive out of him on another MMA podcast.

Of course, we already know that when you talk to someone with the sharp wit of Joe “The Nose” Wilk, you will easily walk away from the conversation with at least a dozen killer soundbites.

Verbal Tap devotees might recall, Joe stopped by last year to talk about his fight team, his gym, and how he guided Kevin to the promise land of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

And after taking a year off to recover from injury, we are stoked to hear he will be fighting on March 15th over at Ralston Arena in Kansas (https://www.cagetix.com/).  If you’re in the area, you have no choice, you must go.  Joe Wilk is a fighter who makes sure you get your money’s worth.  From the promos to the walk out to the crazy fight style, Joe makes sure you are entertained from start to finish.

On the podcast, we got the chance to ask Joe what it was like to train with just one hand (also, Joe wants to make sure that I write that he tapped out all of his purple belts with said one hand), reveals his Victory Fighting 42 game plan, and tells us how he would beat up famous celebrities (and Kevin!).

And if you continue listening to the podcast after Joe gets off the line, I think you’ll be entertained by the way we outline Kevin's strategy to beating Joe Wilk in a jiu-jitsu match-up.

But Wait, There’s More

In the spirit of the Oscars, Kev and I decide to hand out a handful of awards to some of the most notable MMA Headlines for your entertainment.  Such awards include: Best Use of TRT, Best KO Everyone Read About (Because No One Saw It), and Best Dicktease (just listen to it, we’re a grown up talk show, I promise).

And, I don’t want to give anything away here, but there may be a special guest appearance from a recently retired UFC Welterweight Champion.

What I’m saying is, “GSP” makes an appearance.  So listen in for that.

And Don’t Forget

Throw places at me to train out here in Los Angeles.  Hit me up at @VerbalTapCast on the Twitter and hashtag #TrainHereRaf.

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VERBAL TAP [Episode 59] with Kristian Woodmansee

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VERBAL TAP [Episode 59] with Kristian Woodmansee

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K Woodmansee1Raf'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:

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

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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.

Wrap Party

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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VERBAL TAP (Episode 58) with James Puopolo

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 58) with James Puopolo

James PuopoloRaf’s Recollection | Here's the good news: I didn't scare James Puopolo away back at FIVE Grappling.

Last November, I got the chance to conduct a quick interview with James about his participation in the extremely cool five man round robin the good folks over at FIVE Grappling put together.

Not only was James gracious with his time, but he provided us with some cool insight about his recent decision to quit his former day job as a math teacher and devote himself entirely to competitive (and teaching) jiu-jitsu.

Additionally, James gives us some insight into his training, studying under Rafael Lovato Jr., his travels all around the word, what it's like to compete at ADCC (the smog conditions in Beijing are apparently to die for... literally), and even his competitive goals for 2014.

And for those who feel like they'll never quite reach the heights James has in both competitive and recreational jiu-jitsu, you definitely should listen to the story he tells about wanting to get his blue belt to help put things in perspective.

And if you find yourself in the Oregon area and want to train BJJ, definitely hit up Salem Keizer Brazilian Jiu-JItsu Academy.

John EvansOver/Under Kevin UFC 169: The Results Show

I surprise Kevin with the return of John Evans to find out who won our latest installment of Over/Under Kevin.

On the podcast we discover who lost and (by proxy) will be forced to put up a picture on their Facebook of their best impression of Urijah Faber.

Yes, those were the stakes.  No, I'm not even really sure what that means.  But we're always up for this kind of nonsense, so keep an eye on the Verbal Tap Podcast Facebook Fan Page.

But Wait There's More!

bjj training journal logo-mainOur pal, BJJ Training Journal's Amechi Akpom, returns to check in on my training regimen.

Which is nothing to write home about lately.

Sure, I've been training, I just haven't had the time to write the follow up to the training journal blog I started a couple weeks ago.  It's been a chaotic time at work (you might have heard a thing or two about it in the news).

But, rest assured, as I wrap up my final week at NBC, there's going to be plenty of time to give you a worthy follow up.  I'm quite excited to start working on what promises to be a mildly amusing set of narratives about my struggles in BJJ.

As always, hit us up with any questions, comments, concerns, hints or allegations.  @VerbalTapCast.  Until next time, fight fans.

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 53) with Travis Conley

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

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

Ronda vs. Miesha 2.  Anderson and Chris 2.

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

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

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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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VERBAL TAP (Episode 51) with Chris Leben

VERBAL TAP (Episode 51) with Chris Leben

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verbal tapRaf’s Recollection | When I had the chance to interview Chris Leben about a year ago, I was prepared for just about anything.

And I mean, anything.

At the time, I didn’t know where the conversation would organically go or what kinds of topics he would be open to talking about.

As one of the longest tenured employees of the UFC (and one of the last original members of the Ultimate Fighter cast still actively fighting), we’ve been privy to the many ups and downs in Leben’s life. Like any of us, Chris has his demons.  However, unlike most of us, he’s had to battle a great deal of them in the public eye.

We’ve all seen the incredible fights.  We’ve witnessed the confrontations from the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. And we’ve read about the changes in training camps and heard about the struggles in his personal life.  It’s all part of the Chris Leben narrative, and all very well-documented.

verbal tapAnd yet, through it all, Chris has remained a fan favorite all of these years for his ability to walk into an octagon as both a showman and enigmatic fighter.

So when I talked with Chris Leben for the first time last year, I found myself pleasantly surprised by his willingness to talk about his past.  Chris doesn’t hide behind it or cleverly find ways to get around questions revolving around it.  He tells you like it is: good, bad, and all that’s in between.

On our latest podcast, we find that Leben is the same candid speaker who reveals how he could have improved the performance of his last fight and what you can expect in his fight against Uriah Hall at UFC 168.  It’s a refreshing kind of honesty in a sport that can often be filled with excuses disguised as explanations.

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But, like any of our interviews, we get to bring out the funny in the fighter.  Chris gets some opportunities with us to joke about Frank Trigg, missed merchandise opportunities, and even former nicknames.

Aside from getting the chance to joke around more this time with Chris, I found the conversation a strong indication of an individual working to make good in their life.

You can hear how happy he is to be part of a new training team.  You can hear the optimism.  You can hear the hunger he has to be a stronger and smarter fighter.

It’s a story we can get behind here at the podcast, as we will definitely be rooting for him come December 28th.

verbal tapBigfoot Silva vs. Hunt

So who thought this was going to be such a great fight?

Be honest.

On the podcast, we discuss our surprise.  And while Kevin tragically works his limited capacity for metaphorical language (he struggles several times during the podcast to come up with different ways of calling these guys “fat”), I think we do a decent job at capturing our relative surprise at how good this fight  actually ended up being.

We’re not really sure what this means for the division (or, frankly, even if we’d want to ruin what we saw by seeing it again in rematch form), but we elaborate some of our favorite observations from the now classic Heavyweight match-up.

verbal tapPaul Walker

Kev and I take a few moments during the podcast to lament the loss of Paul Walker, specifically on behalf of the BJJ community.

It’s been a story that’s bummed out folks for good reason, and the tributes that have poured in for him from fellow BJJ practitioners and enthusiasts alike have been great to read.  We also slightly discuss the need for there to be new ambassadors of the sport who will pick up where he left off.

VERBAL TAP

But Wait, There’s More…

Also on the podcast, we talk to “GSP” about his upcoming press conference that he’s holding on Friday afternoon.  That’s right, Verbal Tap EXCLUSIVE.  GSP reveals what the hell is going on.

Is it a mall opening?  Is he just signing autographs like Dana White said?  Does he have some kind of marketing scheme up his sleeve?

Tune in to find out!

verbal tapOh… and…

Seriously, don’t forget to leave us a review and rating (5 stars!) on our iTunes page. Just look for Verbal Tap Cast

We’ve really been gaining some momentum the past few months and want to start making an even bigger presence on our iTunes page.

So be a pal, click the link HERE, press find in iTunes and then leave us a cool rating and review.  We love the feedback, as it helps us make an even better Verbal Tap podcast for you all.  Thanks much in advance!

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

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Paul and Me

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.

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 48) goes to UFC 167

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verbaltap on itunesRaf'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.

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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.

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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!

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 42) with Tim Kennedy

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

Yes, you read that correctly.

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

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

Or Exhibit B:

Or Exhibit C:

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

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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.

 

 

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.

Seth MeyersLive from New York...

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

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

BTW

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

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

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

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 40) with Joe Schilling

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Raf's Recollection |There's nothing worse than missing a UFC card.  If you know me, you know I absolutely hate missing a UFC card.

I have a set of calenders in my house and at work that meticulously map out UFC cards, Fight Nights, and Ultimate Fighter episodes months in advance.  But, every so often, you hit a weekend where you have a set of plans you just can't get out of.  That was the case for Saturday Night's UFC 165. Not just for me, but also for my co-host.

Of course, it had to be on a night when a potential Fight of the Year took place.

But fear not Verbal Tap Cast fans, because Kev and I are committed to giving you the very best coverage, we wouldn't just talk blindly about a set of fights we didn't get the chance to watch.  That's why we brought in a panel of folks to help us ring in our 40th episode AND piece together exactly what took place during the fight between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson this weekend.

We start with our pal, Ben Unanaowo(a sports enthusiast/couch potato who's never short on opinions about sports) giving us a play-by-play account of the UFC 165 main event. But we wouldn't be doing our job if we just left it at that.  Given the controversial nature of the fight—with a public outcry among MMA fans who were angry with the judge's decision and the multiple interpretations from spectators on how the fight went down—we decided to bring in two experts to give this epic battle the attention it deserves.

Enter our experts:  Making the case for the Jones, training partner and podcast favorite Bubba McDaniel drops by tell us why the judges were right to score the fight for the champ, while Swedish MMA Fighter Marcus Kowal (and owner of SystemsTrainingCenter.com) makes the case for Gustafsson.  Bubba and Marcus walk us through every angle of the fight and even tell us the implications for the Light Heavyweight division.  And our conversation DOES. NOT. DISAPPOINT.

And if you guys are fans of having experts drop by to talk about the fights, we're more than happy to bring it back and (maybe) even hold a full on debate between panelists on the next go-round for controversial fights like this.  Let us know what you think.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE: That's not all fight fans!  In addition to our signature World Famous "One Minute Review" of this week's The Ultimate Fighter, we also talk with Kickboxer Joe Schilling who fights this Saturday at GLORY Kickboxing in Ontario, California.  In our EXCLUSIVE interview Joe, he talks about how he got the name "Stitch 'Em Up," his gym in Los Angeles (The Yard), his clothing line (Can't Stop Crazy), and we discuss if he's really a bad guy or not (spoiler alert: he's not).

So do us a solid, check it out and let us know what you think!

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 39) with Jimmy Quinlan

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Raf's Recollection | Of all the Ultimate Fighter cast members I've done impressions of, perhaps no one has had a better sense of humor about it than  Jimmy "Crash" Quinlan.

On one particular installment of the show (Episode 14), Kev and I spent approximately 10 minutes worth of time discussing the finer points of a Jimmy Quinlan impression.

Which is why it was somewhat refreshing when I ran into Jimmy at the UFC Fan Expo earlier this year, I didn't get punched in the face (he had more than one opportunity to do so).  When you do impressions of folks with such a strong wrestling background, you almost expect to be on the receiving end of one of their patented overhead slam takedowns.  Fortunately for me, Jimmy's always just laughed off the impression and played along.

It also doesn't hurt that Jimmy identifies himself as a bit of a "smart ass."  So not only does that make him exactly the type of person we like talking to on the podcast, but it also makes him the kind of guy who is impervious to comments like "What is happening?" and "wtf am I watching" when he posts videos like this:

Jimmy Quinlan memeWe at Verbal Tap wish nothing but the best to Jimmy as he takes on Luc Bondole at New England Fights' "NEF X" this Saturday at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  For more information about tickets, hit up this website and be sure to follow Jimmy on the Twitter at @JimmyCrashBJJ.

Also on the podcast, we do our World Famous "One Minute Review" of the second episode of The Ultimate Fighter, we play a game of "Over/Under Kevin" to figure out how to bet on this week's UFC 165, and we also chat about this video:

I must have watched this clip over 20 times in the past few days. Maybe it's because it bares a certain resemblance to a Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer's signature move: Rolles Gracie does the best Ric Flair fall I have ever seen in MMA.  Ever.

If you doubt me, simply watch the video above and compare it to the art that is the Ric Flair flop below.  #YoureWelcome

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VERBAL TAP (Episode 37) with Artechoke Media

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Raf's Recollection | If you practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the meme over on the right hand side here pretty much says it all.

As much as we want to go around and spread to the gospel of BJJ to our friends and family, there are some who—despite our best efforts—will never care about the "gentle art."

I know it hurts to hear. I know that it's a lot to take in all at once.  But it's better that it comes from someone who cares.

The realization that some people will never care about a sport that you and I love so much is a fact of life that stings and sometimes causes us great emotional strife (stay with me here, it's going to get better.  Promise).

Our guests on Episode 37 of Verbal Tap know this struggle all-too-well.  Marshal D. Carper and Darryl Cozza are two BJJ practitioners who wrote an uproarious eBook entitled, Don't Wear Your Gi to the Bar, that teaches you how to survive everyday social settings while still preserving your inner BJJ nerd.

And in Verbal Tap first, I'm gonna go ahead and put this as the very first book to receive MUST READ status from our podcast (calm down, we're not starting a book club yet or anything).

Aside from an obvious love of sport, there's a real wit in this eBook that accurately describes the losing battle that is explaining the culture, beauty, and art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to people who just can't get past why you like dressing up in pajamas and choking your friends.

Wanna know the most insane part?

These guys aren't even charging you a single dollar to read it?  Simply follow this link and download it from their website.  All for Free.99.

Don't Wear Your Gi to the BarAll the guys ask in return is that you share the book with your training partners and other BJJ enthusiasts (and maybe even drop a five star review on sites like Amazon if you dig it).  Also, for you non-cheapskates who like to promote authors on the independent circuit (like a real American), there's also an option to buy a version of their book.

While the book is a great display of subversive humor, there's more to Marshal and Darryl than well-written jokes and Game of Thrones/BJJ metaphors.

They're not just funny, their BJJ knowledge is legit.

Artechoke MediaAs we discover in the podcast, the eBook is only the first in a long line of instructional BJJ videos and articles from the pair.  Recently, the duo have launched their own online venture entitled, ArtechokeMedia.com, a website that's designed to promote "the organic growth of jiu-jitsu thought, theory, and technique."  The guys were nice enough to send a preview of their next project to Kev and I during the podcast--and all we can say is that you all are in for a treat when they launch it in the coming months.

It's truly spectacular.

And, for me, that's what made this booking so great.  While we do our fair share of talking with pro fighters and MMA personalities, at our core Kev and I are major BJJ enthusiasts.  When you hear these two explain the rationale behind the website (they want to shine a light on the unsung heroes of BJJ such as coaches, instructors, and mentors who may not necessarily be on the covers of magazines, but who make significant contributions to the sport), it's hard not to do the same and give a voice to two individuals who, themselves, are doing exactly that through their humorous writing and insightful videos.

Maybe that's why we like the sport so much.  There's a camaraderie in jiu-jitsu that extends beyond the walls of a gym or a dojo, independent of affiliation and ranks, that consistently introduces us to people like this.  Even though we have never physically met Marshal or Darryl, our overall hope of growing and sharing the sport is one and the same and Kev and I would be down to roll with them when/if the opportunity presented itself.*

Of course, cool people like us already know the caliber of folks who train BJJ.  Even that smug, appropriately cast "Gatsby" Leo DiCaprio meme knows the deal.

So check 'em out on our podcast and while you wait for the episode to download, enjoy Marshal and Darryl at their finest.

*However, if when I actually meet them they're a couple of d-bags, I reserve the right to take all of this back

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peace!

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