Recent Episodes & Write-Ups
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Raf's Recollection | Coming Soon, more on our exclusive interview with Clark Gracie.
Plus, we chat about last weekend's UFC Fight Night from Brazil, discuss our Metamoris 3 predictions, and then I talk a little bit about my recent engagement (because Kevin can't stop bringing it up).
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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!)
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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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:
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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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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Raf’s Recollection | Nic Gregoriades is a saint.
Of course, he he’d never say that about himself, but when you put up with Open Mat Radio’s Paul Moran (my BJJ podcast nemesis) on a regular basis and somehow find a way of maintaining that kind of zen-like clarity, you deserve all the accolades that come your way.
Such adulation is nothing new to a guy who famously became Roger Gracie’s first black belt in a four year time span, but Nic’s more than just a dude who happens to be pretty slick at jiu-jitsu. Nic is a ambassador of the sport who travels across the globe helping others become better at the craft—all while finding his own spiritual enlightenment along the way.
Nic just finished writing a new book entitled The Black Belt Blue Print. A couple months back, I got the opportunity read an advance copy of the book and was truly impressed by the way Nic encapsulates the jiu-jitsu process. Here is a guy who not only knows how to provide advice to help the physical aspects of your game (offering tips on how to improve your cardio, describing some cool techniques, and even tips on setting realistic goals), but who also provides fantastic insight on how to get the most out of the mental and philosophical aspects of the sport.
More than anyone I’ve encountered in my short time as a BJJ practitioner, I found Nic’s focus on the philosophy of jiu-jitsu to be the most fascinating. The book does a great job of describing how the practice of jiu-jitsu is more than just sweeps, drilling, and technique, there’s a journey that happens alongside the practice that is worthy of exploration—and Nic is very forthcoming about many aspects of his own personal journey.
On our podcast, we got the chance to ask Nic how the book came into existence, what it was like to train under Roger Gracie, and even get a supremely candid discussion on training partners who sometimes take sparring a little too far (it’s one of my favorite parts of the interview, and I think it’s well worth your time).
When Nic asked me to provide to a blurb review of the book, I felt pretty intimidated. Plenty of other notable folks in the community (with credentials and talent that far exceed my own) have already said fantastic things about The Black Belt Blue Print. But what I can tell you is this: The book doesn’t give playbook to become a black belt. Instead, it gives a map filled with suggested routes and guidance that makes the impossible seem ultimately attainable.
As luck would have it, Nic made his way out to Los Angeles shortly after we recorded this episode. I actually just got done meeting with him this afternoon (an accomplishment, considering that my BJJ podcast nemesis, Paul Moran, has yet to meet his very own Journey Podcast co-host in person) and was glad to share a few laughs and exchange some BJJ insight.
And I can affirm, the funny, easy going, and quotable dude you hear on this week’s podcast is every bit of the guy you meet in person. Hell, Nic even let out a huge laugh when I told him there may be an impression of his trademark accent on an upcoming episode of Open Mat Radio performed by yours truly.
Which is why I want this article to serve as the last living will and testament should he decide to kill me when he drops by to train with us sometime later next week.
I'll definitely be sure to tell you all about that experience sometime next week. Until then, be sure to check out The Black Belt Blue Print right here.
Over/Under Kevin: UFC 170 Edition
It wouldn't be a major UFC PPV without a game of Over/Under Kevin. Although this time we decided to bring in a big gun. That's right, we brought back the man, Bubba McDaniel. The two of them do battle making their picks over who will win UFC 170 and make a bet that's so odd,
I'm not sure who I actually want to win.
Allow me to apologize now if the audio during Bubba's segment cuts in and out a lot.
This was the biggest audio problem we've encountered on the podcast yet. But Bubba powered through all of our technical difficulties and gave us a truly entertaining segment. That's how you know this guy is family on our podcast.
Also, props to Kevin. He did a fantastic montage of the struggle that was trying to get that segment together. I'm now far enough removed from the episode that I can laugh at it.
My Girlfriend is Awesome
When my girlfriend handed me a gift box with this ridiculously amazing Datsusara MMA gear bag, she won Valentine's Day.
I had no clue I was getting this (let alone a Valentine's Day gift), but man was this the best gift I could have possibly asked for.
I've been using this bag for a little over a week and it's absolutely amazing. I can fit two (maybe even three) gi's in there. I have a compartment for my laptop. I have plenty of compartments for all my training accessories (several compartments for tape). AND it even comes with a detachable bag to separate clean and dirty clothes.
This is miles above my last training bag and I hope all of you who like this will go give our friends at Datsusara some love. It's amazing and they've got some really cool other products that are worth a view.
Where Should I Train?
As many of you know, I am now well into my first days of my indefinite hiatus from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Which now means I have the rare opportunity to go train at new places in my downtime.
Since I don't know how long my hiatus is going to last, I am turning to all of you in the greater Los Angeles area to throw as many places I should go train at me. Simply hit me up at @VerbalTapCast on our Twitter page with your suggested academy, gym or dojo and hashtag #TrainHereRaf. I'm gonna try to do as many as I possibly can!
Who knows, maybe you can tap me out on a mat near you very soon.
All I got for now, talk to you later, folks.
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Raf's Recollection | Kristian Woodmansee is a funny guy. Aside from being a dude who's doing great things on the mat, he also happens to be killing it on the Twitter.
If you aren't following him already, rectify that mistake immediately and start following him immediately. We get Kristian to play a game of Rep That Tweet that, frankly, I wish could have gone on longer.
Not only does the Robert Drysdale protege get great millage out of inspirational BJJ quotes and training perspectives, but he also happens to have a great sense of comedic syntax and character.
For example:
![VERBAL TAP [Episode 59] with Kristian Woodmansee](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55a8ad5fe4b0581b80a3daea/1467715191455-RY4KCG0G35Z3NIKTVL0Q/image-asset.jpeg)
Let me fight Rhonda Rousey. She won't arm bar me, hell I will arm bar her. Winner takes loser on a date. #WearSomethingNice
— Kristian Woodmansee (@K_Woodmansee) February 16, 2014
Best way to make a fight entertaining is to take away the sub and KO of the night bonuses. Said no one ever.
— Kristian Woodmansee (@K_Woodmansee) February 16, 2014
In grade school I use to make it rain with all the valentines day cards I got, now im texting my mom saying I love you.
— Kristian Woodmansee (@K_Woodmansee) February 14, 2014
We learn a little bit about his jiu-jitsu journey, his BJJ arch-nemesis (and if said nemesis is aware they are such a rival), and we even hear a great story about one of his coolest moments training out in Vegas.
Our time with Kristian just flew by, but we will definitely be checking back in with the guy as he continues to progress in jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. Next time I'm out in Vegas, I will definitely be looking to take one of his classes!
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
It's been a crazy week in my life. Absolutely crazy.
As some of you know, I've had the pleasure of working at The Tonight Show for the past five years. When we recorded this episode, I had just finished up my final week with the show (in fact, I'm only just now getting around to writing a proper recap of this podcast).
In many ways, it's hard to believe that my tenure with the show has come to a close, but I leave with no regrets or hardships. It's been an exhilarating ride that has given me some of the best experiences of my personal and professional career—and, as a student of the genre, I've considered it an honor to work for the most prestigious franchise in television.
Along the way, I've had the good fortune of working with a set of individuals who were exceptionally creative, diligent, and who taught me so much about production value and efficiency.
If you're a fan of our podcast (and the format and style we do), you can thank the good people I've worked with in Late Night for inspiring a great deal of the practices we have carried over into our podcast. It's one of the reasons I take such great pride when guests on our show tell us about the wonderful experience they had on our show (especially when they compliment our production value and note how it sets us a part from any other show). It's my hope to continue taking all of the lessons I learned during my time at The Tonight Show and continue to put them on display on this podcast. I hope we do them proud.
And while it's a slightly frightening thought of no longer having a regular work routine to wake up to Monday morning, I welcome the change. Don't get me wrong, I'm a workaholic, so not having a set routine will definitely mess with me for a while. But this also means I get a chance to do some fun new ventures and to train a little bit more.
Moreover, I feel the end of the show came at the right time for me professionally; for the first time in a really long time, I don't know what comes next... and I'm actually not afraid. I welcome whatever new challenges and experiences that lie ahead.
But, for now, thank you to all of those I had the pleasure of working with. I will absolutely treasure the experience and will truly miss you all.
Raf’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.
Over/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!
Our 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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Raf’s Recollection: I get the feeling we will be talking about UFC 168 for some time.
It wasn’t the most spectacular set of fights we’ve ever seen, but it was a damn good card. That’s not the point.
No, the reason I think we’ll be talking about UFC 168 is the fact that we saw some significant items that will leave some lasting impressions.
We saw old school stalwart Chris Leben throw in the towel after surviving a one round affair with Uriah Hall (as Dana White put it in the press conference, “Chris Leben is a tough guy, it’s gotta take a lot for him to quit in that octagon). We saw Travis Browne capitalize on a major mistake and make Josh Barnett seem almost like an amateur by proxy. And we saw a crowd favorite push an unbeaten champion in a truly spectacular Fight of the Night in Tate vs. Rousey 2.
But what still remains in most people’s minds is the sight of Anderson Silva falling back and holding his leg in agony.
Between that image and the recent departure of Georges St. Pierre, we now have a UFC without two of it’s biggest stars of the past 10 years.
Like any sports organization, the UFC can (and will) survive without these franchise players, but it’s what these two fighters represented that seems especially disconcerting. Aside from their professionalism and exemplary martial artist attitudes, both of these charismatic fighters brought a mystique to the game that could captivate audiences and make them excited for just about any match-up that was conceivable (Silva vs. Cote, anyone? Or how bout St. Pierre vs. Hardy?).
And while the retirement of GSP was a consideration at UFC 167, UFC 168 was the first time we had to seriously consider a world without Anderson Silva and GSP.
At least for a little while.
Certainly, Silva and GSP can come back (I get the impression both will come back), but I believe the untouchable era each of these fighters provided for their respective division is now something of the past. Sure, Jon Jones looks like he can keep a streak going (and, I believe, will still do great things inside of the octagon for years to come), however, I think the era of fighters with this kind of mystique is gone for the time being.
And maybe that’s a good thing?
It’s my hope that we will soon see a new set of fighters step up to fill the incredible void these two fighters left. It’s also my hope we see Silva and GSP back in the ring (as they are both athletes of an incredible caliber). It’s just my own personal opinion, they will return to the cage just a little more mortal and vulnerable.
As part of our extensive UFC 168 coverage, we bring back our pal Sebastian Vendel-Martinez to talk about his observations from the December 28th card and to take his victory lap over guessing one more correct fight in our last installment of Over/Under Kevin.
What the Hell is UFC's Fight Pass?
At the mid-point of the podcast, I do my damnedest to try and educate Kevin about the UFC Fight Pass.
Educating Kevin on most things is a chore, but trying to teach him about Fight Pass is an extra special kind of headache—as I have to point out obvious reasons why people like us (mainly, idiots with podcasts about MMA) need to spend $10 a month on the damned thing.
Without Fight Pass, we can’t do our job of covering all UFC cards or even executing a One Minute Review of The Ultimate Fighter. In short, the service is a tool for us to give you the kind of extensive coverage you all deserve as rapid listeners of our podcast.
Why any of you guys (or the casual fan of the UFC) need to order it, however, is a question worthy of discussion.
Because, believe me, no one is arguing that the current inception of Fight Pass is perfect (especially after the WWE walloped the UFC Fight Pass with the introduction of their own subscriber-based network this week), but the UFC’s intention to embrace the digital age is something that is worthy of a view.
We discuss all of the implications of the current implementation of the UFC’s new on-demand service—and ask you guys what you think about the service. Be sure to hit us up on Twitter to let us know what you think of Fight Pass.
Jiu-Jitsu Rescued My Saturday
There are some days that start off so bad the only remedy is jiu-jitsu. Such was the case for me Saturday, December 28th. Without getting into too much detail, my morning started off in a spectacularly annoying fashion and I felt the need to try and rid any negative energy before embarking upon day-and-a-half marathon that is covering a live UFC event.
I’m not the type to let negative energy drag me down for long, so I texted my friend BJJ podcast arch nemesis, Paul Moran (Open Mat Radio), for a recommendation on a good place to train BJJ for the day. He was nice enough to point me in the direction of his home gym: Sergio Penha’s BJJ Academy.
It didn’t take long for me to grab my gi and make my way over to the gym.
Obviously, I got smashed the entire time (what else is new), but the healing power of jiu-jitsu extends beyond how good you are at it. Mostly, it’s just the practice of it that can sometimes cure the roughest of days. The good people at Sergio Penha’s were not only welcoming, but patient and very helpful in trying to correct some of the terrible jiu-jitsu habits I’ve developed over the years. Within an hour’s worth of time rolling on the mats, I felt a great sense of calm restored in my life.
The people and the environment gave me exactly what I needed that Saturday morning: A sense of feeling like I was at my home gym. In fact, my only complaint was that I didn’t have the time to stay there longer and roll with everyone.
I just want to send a big shout out to the good folks over there (including the man, Sergio Penha himself) for making a major difference in my Vegas weekend. I literally could not have done the job I needed to do at the UFC that day without a visit to your gym. When I get back to Vegas, I will definitely be back to train with you guys again.
But, Paul, just know. This changes nothing. You are still my BJJ Podcast Nemesis.
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Raf's Recollection | UFC 168 is upon folks. I'm currently in Vegas helping the good folks over at MMANYTT with their coverage and things. are. going. fast.
Because of Christmas, all the normal fight week proceedings seem to be happening at a rapid pace. We've only been in Vegas for a little over 28 hours and we've already done the press conference and weigh ins. And by this time tomorrow we'll know the answer to who won two of the most heavily anticipated rematches in UFC history.
Ronda vs. Miesha 2. Anderson and Chris 2.
But the real rivalry we want to know the answer to is: who will win the latest installment of Over/Under Kevin?
With so many crazy betting lines for UFC 168 to choose from, we thought it might be best to consult the idiot savant (emphasis on idiot) Kev Phillips on his picks for this extra special "let's charge you an additional $5" UFC card. Now, unlike other shows that tout the expertise of their betting advisers, we pride ourselves on being the only podcast to feature an analyst whose opinion carries absolutely no weight on the proceedings.
In fact, just to make things interesting, we thought we'd bring in someone to challenge Kevin at his own game who is equally as unqualified to make fight predictions. His name is Sebastian Vendel-Martinez. He writes for MMANytt. On the right, you can see a photo of him. He told me he thinks this picture best shows off his "false professional facade" (I'm inclined to agree).
He's equally offensive and twice as funny as Kevin (which isn't saying much, I know). Please welcome him to the podcast.
The good news: what these two lack in sound judgment, they more than make up with their delightfully stupid UFC 168 banter.
On a serious note, if you're looking for a guy who does legit UFC betting line breakdowns, show some love to our pal, Daniel Patinkin over at Grappler Media.
And don't forget to keep it locked down here at VerbalTapCast.com and on our Twitter at @VerbalTapCast all day long on Saturday, December 28th for all the best UFC 168 coverage.
But Wait There's More
Turns out, Kevin knows good people.
This week, Kev convinced Underground Gym owner and BJJ badass, Travis Conley to make a stop on our podcast.
Not only is Travis is one of the few people I know who have made the transition from pro wrestling to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (we nerd out about it, and I assure you his story about tag teaming with former WCW great, Marcus "Buff" Bagwell, is worth the price of admission, folks), but he's also building a quite an impressive resume as a conditioning MMA trainer.
What I like about Travis' story is the fact that he fulfilled a lifelong dream of being a pro wrestler only to find a new love in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Over the years, he's made a mark in the world of BJJ that's allowed him to travel the globe teaching the gentle art and conducting seminars--and, along the way, discovered a more fulfilling line of work as a trainer.
Which is exactly I got Travis to play a game that combines two of his passions (BJJ and Pro Wrestling) on our podcast. It's a fun one.
If you happen to live in or travel to the Lees Summit, Missouri area, be sure to drop by his gym, as we are truly fans of folks like him who are doing great work for the BJJ and MMA community.
BJJ Shout Outs
We close out the show with a special set of BJJ-themed shout outs. Because we were filled with the X-mas spirit, we were happy to shout out some of our BJJ friends' favorite BJJ causes, gyms, and individuals. Listen in, we might have just shouted you out!
And We Want to Hear From You!
Let us know who you think is gonna win at UFC 168. Hit us up on Twitter @VerbalTapCast and person with the most accurate picks will get an extended shout out on our next podcast!!!
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Raf’s Recollection | 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.
And 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.
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.
Bigfoot 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.
Paul 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.
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!
Oh… 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!
[buzzsprout episode='133320' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | This is a hell of a show. We've got a little bit of everything on this one.
We begin with my BJJ podcast arch-nemesis, Paul Moran, from Open Mat Radio who helps us with our comprehensive coverage of last weekend's FIVE GRAPPLING event out in Anaheim.
Paul describes how the event looked on the live stream and we contrast it to the observations I made while watching the event live.
Obviously, Paul does the best he can to match the superb BJJ analysis and commentary that I bring to the table. But, along the way, we make some solid observations about the production, presentation, and spectacle that was FIVE GRAPPLING (if you haven't done so yet, check out my EXCLUSIVE interview with James Puopolo above)
Also, we get to know more about Paul and his whole life story blah, blah, blah. Paul's so great, he's beloved in the jiu-jitsu community, go support his critically acclaimed podcast Open Mat Radio or something. Boring. Onto the next guest.
On a serious note, tho. Check out all that FIVE GRAPPLING had to offer. The entire event is up for view right here:
James Koh
I have such an appreciation for newscasters who bring a positive perspective to the sport of mixed martial arts. If you aren't lucky enough to catch the kind of solid work James Koh does out here in LA with his show Cage Talk, you are truly missing out on the work of a sports journalist who shares a true passion for MMA.
Cage Talk is a panel sports talk show that airs immediately after every UFC on FOX telecast. Not only is it fun and full of energy, but James finds great ways to get UFC Fighters to help break down fights. It's unlike any other local programming put on by our Los Angeles, FOX 11 affiliate—and it's the perfect show for those who are looking for a lively discussion right after a major UFC card.
I was so glad we were able to get James on to talk about a variety of topics, including last week's Pacquiao fight, comparisons between the UFC and the NBA (don't get Kevin started), and even bring on the UFC Middleweight Champ, "GSP," to respond to criticism James makes about his fighting style.
For more of James Koh, give his work a look right here.
Davey Grant
And, of course, it wouldn't be a true installment of Verbal Tap without another spectacular "1 Minute Review" with yours truly. This week, we brought in Davey Grant to help us make sense of what the hell went down the week of his semi-final match-up against Anthony Gutierrez.
We learn a little bit more about DJ Davey G and even get a chance to have him try to talk shit to "Chris Holdsworth" on our show.
Truth be told, now that we've had both cast members on the show, Kev and I are going Switzerland on this one and staying out of making any predictions.
We're just looking for a great match between our friends Holdsworth and Grant—and we have no doubt we're in for a great fight. Truly, may the best man win.
Next Week on Verbal Tap
Don't forget, next week is our big 50th Podcast. You're definitely gonna want to tune in for that one. Tell a friend and get excited.
[buzzsprout episode='131832' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | It's hard to believe, but It was exactly one year ago that we posted the very first installment of Verbal Tap on the interwebs.
I'd love to say that Kev and I had some grand scheme we had mapped out about how this whole podcasting thing would all play out. But the rationale behind the creation of this show was pretty simple: We like talking about fights, we thought it might be fun to record a conversation about it.
When we started this thing, we honestly didn't have a website or t-shirts in mind. We never thought we'd get the opportunity to interact with some of our favorite athletes—let alone cover events or have them tell us they're fans of our work.
Hell, we weren't even sure people would even want to listen to what we had to say. But, we've consistently been floored the number of you tune in week in and week out to our show—and who, by extension, have become a part of the Verbal Tap family.
And I'm happy to tell you all that one year later that making the podcast is every bit as fun to me and Kev as it was on day one (you could even say we're more excited to make these episodes now).
That's why we decided to do a throwback episode. No guests, me doing some shitty impressions, and having a spirited debate about yet another Georges St. Pierre decision win (hint, he appears on the show around the 40 minute mark).
Before we go on to the important things, we just want to thank all of you for tuning in over the past year and for giving us a forum that allows us to combine two of our biggest passions: comedy and MMA. Without question, our lives have greatly benefited as a result of this podcast.
So thank you to all who have listened in, helped us out, come on as a guest or even just told your friends about our stupid little show. It's been a blast and we have no intention of slowing down any time soon.
It's your support that allows me to say (without hyperbole) that the best of Verbal Tap has truly yet to come.
Enough of that Crap, I Went to UFC 167
Turns out, we weren't the only people celebrating an anniversary. While we turned one, the UFC turned 20 this weekend. And I was lucky enough to see it all.
On the podcast, I present a Top 10 List of the Most Memorable Things from UFC 167 and give you all the exclusive behind the scenes details from the event.
I also describe what it was like to watch the GSP/Hendricks fight live and then talk about the weirdest press conference I have ever seen in person.
Don't Worry, We Haven't Forgotten About "The Ultimate Fighter"
On this jam-packed episode, we still find the time to review the last two episodes of TUF. I do two "1 Minute Reviews" and then we talk about the finer parts of Cain Velasquez: Harley Davidson Spokesman, Ronda Rousey: Ultimate Slumber Party Host, and Miesha Tate: The Person Ronda Rousey Still Hates No Matter How Many People She Sends to the Finale.
All this and much more on this week's podcast!
[buzzsprout episode='127907' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | One of my favorite things about watching people tweet during The Ultimate Fighter is the amount of vitriol that’s spewed at a fighters’ direction. Certainly, we are no strangers to having fun at the expense of the cast members, but you won’t often find me or Kevin telling the fighters how much better we are than them.
Or how we, ourselves, would have acted so much better in a given situation.
For the record, these are my favorite kinds of tweets, #Humblebrags at the expense of a fighter’s success or misfortune.
Hindsight is a wonderful gift, and I’m sure only a handful cast members ever really know the pressure that comes with living in a house like that for six weeks.
Which is why when Cody Bollinger agreed to come on the podcast, I thought it might be a good idea to read some of the tweets the internet wrote about him (hope one of them was yours, you might have to listen in!)
If you haven’t seen the episode yet (and are patiently waiting for the “One Minute Review” to catch you up to speed), let’s just say things didn’t go well for Cody on last week’s episode.
In fact, they kind went “Dana Meeting” bad.
To his credit, Cody showed up, listened in on our “One Minute Review,” made some comments about the episode, Coach Miesha Tate, and, yes, even responded to some the interesting tweets written about him.
Right after our interview with Cody, Sarah Moras stops by. Sarah’s been one of my favorites on the TUF because of her awesome talking head segments.
She has a very honest speaking style that never pulls any punches (even when talking about herself).
Sarah describes her history with some of the other TUF cast members, talks a little bit about her trademark arm bar, details where her fighting travels have taken her, the types of guys she trains with and even speaks a little bit about her interactions with the winner of TUF:18’s Best Cameo award, Tim Gorman.
And, in my favorite part of the podcast, Sarah tells us an extended (and much better version) of how she got into MMA and reveals how the very funny "Peggy Morgan is a 'giraffe'" comment happened.
If you get the chance, go support her and our friends over at FightForSomething.ca. You can pick up one of her fighter t-shirts right here!
Gentleman’s Agreement
One thing that amazes me about the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the amount of respect displayed between teammates. It’s one of the reasons I like the sport so much. I’ve always been the type of person who thrives in team environments and I love that while gyms do a great job at refining an individual’s abilities, it's typically done through a strong team dynamic.
Having said that. I’m still really confused about the part where you let a teammate win via gentleman’s agreement.
For those not in the know: There is a practice in competitive BJJ where two members of the same team will settle final matches in a jiu-jitsu tournament through a prearranged agreement (where the two fighters do not have to fight).
Yes, you can win a tournament this way. Yes, it happened at worlds this weekend.
Granted, I recognize what a terrible human being I am. And, believe me, I’m no authority when it comes to any matter competitive BJJ. Additionally, I completely understand not wanting to create a rift between teammates—and I even kind of get that it’s the “right thing” to do—but it’s still kinda weird to me.
However, the gentleman’s agreement thing got me and Kev to wonder how a black belt finals match at Worlds between us would look like (I’ll pause for your laughter). Aside from hilarious and highly improbable, I’d still love to hear what you all think about this BJJ practice.
But Wait, There's More!
We also play another installment of Over/Under Kevin about this week's UFC's Fight for the Troops 3.
Give a listen and let us know what you think of Kevin's picks!
[buzzsprout episode='126277' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | Take it easy on Kev this week, gang. It's been a rough couple of days.
When we finished recording the podcast on Sunday, Kev and I had what we considered to be one of our best episodes. In fact, Kevin was so pleased with the way things were turning out during the editing phase, he actually sent me several texts just to say how awesome the episode was.
Of course, we didn't know this at the time, but that euphoric sentiment would turn out to be the kiss of death.
Just moments after putting the final touches on the podcast (and right as he was uploading it to our site), Kevin happened to notice that his audio went missing. Something happened during the conversation process that eliminated a significant portion of Kevin's vocal track.
Now, while the thought of having a Kevin-less podcast is something that sounds fantastic in theory, just think about how crazy I would have come off. Oh sure, my voice would make it seem like I was in the middle of a conversation with someone else, but the large chunks of radio silence from Kevin would have made me sound downright insane.
Just to give you an idea of how the podcast would have sounded without Kevin, please consider the following visual metaphor on the right hand side here.
Anyway, Kev took the day to get his head together and we (somehow) managed to slab together a podcast for your listening pleasure.
In fact, I don't know if it's a testament to his talent or a slight on the production value we normally carry on this dog and pony show, but you can hardly tell there were any major audio problems in this podcast (and if you do, keep it to yourself, please. No one likes a show-off).
Nonetheless, should you feel so inclined, send Kev a nice message (@PhillipsKevin1 on the Twitter) to let him know his efforts are appreciated. We'll go back to treating him like shit next week.
The Gentleman
While I don't have the kind of extreme beef that Dana White does with "The Gentleman," Josh Hill, I do give him a little bit of grief on the podcast. It has nothing to do with his (ironically stated) struggle of growing up "really, really ridiculously good looking" or even the fact that he has a truly impressive grappling record of 36-1 (North American Grappling Association).
It has more to do with the fact that he's so damn polite.
It's almost upsetting.
While Dana's spared no expense telling us what a "one trick pony" Josh Hill is throughout the season, I wasn't very surprised when the extremely well-mannered Canadian did the extremely well-mannered Canadian thing of not talking shit about Dana White (the nerve of this guy!).
But that doesn't stop me from trying to prod. And I'd even like to think we got him to have a couple moments of (dare I say?) "edge" during our interview, where we also ask about his MMA journey, his family's roots in pro wrestling, and his fight against former-opponent-turned pal, Mike Wootten.
We even issue a challenge for the next time he comes on the podcast. Let's see if he's got the stuff to prove us wrong.
The Vixen
I suppose we could have subtitled this podcast "The Gentleman and The Vixen" (I swear this wasn't by design, I'm only stupidly realizing this now), but we also get the chance to talk with the "Venezuelan Vixen," Julianna Pena.
As one of the first TUF cast members to fight (and therefore share their narrative), we've arguably gotten to know more about Julianna than most of her fellow cast members this season. We certainly touch on topics like the letters she wrote to her teammates, how it felt to be portrayed as the underdog, and even got to ask if she felt her housemate makeovers paid off.
However, I'll put this out there right here and now: One of our questions brings out one of the most unexpected stories Kev and I have ever heard on the podcast. It's a story that not only helps identify what makes Julianna so mentally and physically tough, but also gives you an idea of why she fights. It's an awesome story and, frankly, I'm happy she was willing to share it with us.
Additionally, if you happen to be in the Spokane, Washington area, be sure to support Julianna's team at Northern Quest Resort and Casino's "Conquest of the Cage," as both her brother-in-law and her training partner Elizabeth Phillips will be fighting in the co-main event. Tickets for that fight can be found right here.
Odds and Ends
Among some of the Odds and Ends topics that make it onto the podcast this go round include: Which UFC Fighter would make a great WWE Superstar, how good of a public speaker is Dana White, and why we can't stop talking about Lyoto Machida's scarf.
All this and more on this week's podcast!
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Raf's Recollection | Tim Kennedy wants to die fighting a set of bionic sharks underwater.
Yes, you read that correctly.
That’s really all you need to know about the guy to understand the man (the myth, the legend) that is Tim Kennedy.
Few people truly embrace their inner-crazy the way that Tim Kennedy does. He knows he’s crazy and doesn’t care. In fact, he wants you to embrace the crazy. Should you need further proof, please see Exhibit A below:
Or Exhibit B:
Or Exhibit C:
That last one proves he’s crazy (who re-does a scene from Anchorman? What brave soul would dare do that!?). But recently we’ve seen a different side of Tim Kennedy in that of a UFC roaster.
For those not in the know: Kennedy was originally supposed to fight Lyoto Machida at next month’s UFC Fight for the Troops 3. Then Michael Bisping had to go and ruin everything by “injuring his eye” (likely story Cyborg Bisping)—forcing the UFC to give Mark Munoz a new opponent for UFC Fight Night 30. That’s when the UFC said, “hey, why don’t we give Machida to Munoz instead?”
So when the Munoz straight up stole Machida, Tim Kennedy did what any unreasonably crazy guy would do: he took to Twitter and called out practically everyone in his division (and even Alistair Overeem for shits and giggles).
But unlike you, me or the thousands of people who take to Twitter to harass their favorite MMA Fighters, Tim Kennedy can actually back up his threats. And while it’s fairly difficult to take a threat from a Green Beret lightly, Kennedy sent out challenges that were filled with irony and self-deprecation.
@TimKennedyMMA how dare you talk about my hair!!! That's crossing the line bro! I'm always available — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) September 28, 2013
You need to know Mr. @wandfc that one of my secret agents poised your food yesterday. You have to fight me if you want the antidote. #life — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
All @ufc fighters, This is the dude that you are all too scared to fight. pic.twitter.com/iIYwqcY09D — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
And, for a while, the internet was truly being used to its full potential. Finally, the UFC relented and handed Kennedy a fighter worthy of his time: Rafael Natal, a fighter who may or may not understand the hilarious design behind Kennedy’s Twitter attacks.
On the podcast, we get to know the real Tim Kennedy: he figures out how to solve the government shutdown, talks faulty Wikipedia page entries, and even discusses the music he wishes he could walk out to in a fight.
But that’s not all. Turns out, Tim isn’t done attacking prominent figures in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. He continues his roasting of some of the more well-known personalities (no one is safe from this man’s relentless hilarity. No one!). So download the podcast above to listen in for all the fun.
Live from New York...
Also on the podcast, I give you all the full scoop behind my trip to New York for NBC Late Night Writer’s Workshop and even tell you how great it was to train at Vitor Shaloin’s (let’s just say I have a lot of work to do with my BJJ game, friends).
Give us a listen and let us know what you think, folks!
If you're looking for a new gi (and who isn't?), you definitely want to give a look to our pals over at VeryHardToSubmit.com.
As someone who got to see a version of this up close, I absolutely love the look of it and actually got to talk with the guy who made it while training at Shaloin's.
I can't recommend it enough, folks. Give the website a look and give some love to our friends at VHTS!
[buzzsprout episode='117188' player='true']
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!
[buzzsprout episode='115494' player='true']
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:
We 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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Raf's Recollection |Have you, like I, been counting down the days until the return of The Ultimate Fighter? I know it's only been five months, but it's felt like an eternity.
For those new to our program (welcome), we here at Verbal Tap live for making fun of The Ultimate Fighter. We even have a signature portion of our podcast where we review each episode of the telecast in one minute's time (coincidentally named our World Famous "One Minute Review").
What's that? It's impossible to make fun of all things Ultimate Fighter related in just one minute's time? Well, I'd invite you to listen to our podcast and try and tell me differently ;-)
Now before any of you TUF purists who are new to the show start trying to troll our comment boards, allow me to say this: Kev and I love the show. We're huge fight fans and we're rooting for new talent to work it's way through the ranks (one need only to look at the roster of guests we've had come on the show to know how much we support it).
Nonetheless, it's probably important to mention we're going to tell a lot of jokes at the show's expense. We're gonna make fun of the fighters. And we're gonna have a blast doing it, so don't take it too seriously folks. So sit back and check out our first Ultimate Fighter review, we're gonna make it a blast for you all this season.
But that's not all we've got for you this week. In addition to discussing last week's UFC Fight Night 28, we also talk to Fight Master's Joe Williams.
What you may know about Joe "Mongo" Williams from the show is that he's a strong competitor with a fantastic wrestling background. What you might not know is that he is secretly a comic at heart.
You read that right.
Additionally, we talk about Joe's next fight, some pranks that happened between Team Shamrock and Team Warren that never made it to air, and we even get Joe to play a game of Rep that Tweet with us.
So download the podcast and let us know what you think, folks!
[buzzsprout episode='112408' player='true']
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.
All 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.
As 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
Raf's Recollection | Check back later for more with Chris Lozano.
