MMA History Podcast

Joe “Daddy” Stevenson joins the MMA History Podcast episode 356 for a rare, unfiltered look at his rise from teenage pro to Ultimate Fighter Season 2 welterweight winner and UFC lightweight title challenger. Stevenson breaks down his earliest bouts, including his 1999 pro debut submission of Joe Camacho (triangle choke) at Empire One with Gene LeBell refereeing, his King of the Cage title runs, and coaching days alongside Cub Swanson and Charles “Crazy Horse” Bennett.He details stepping away from competition to chase his black belt under Marc Laimon, Joe Silva’s personal visit that led to The Ultimate Fighter, being Matt Hughes’ first pick, his defining finish of Marcus Davis, the armbar win over Jason Von Flue, and the emotional finals against Luke Cummo while navigating the birth of his son Frankie. Stevenson also covers his post-TUF UFC run, from the near-finish of Josh Neer and the bloody wars with Yves Edwards and Melvin Guillard to the high-stakes Kurt Pellegrino bout that earned him a lightweight title shot against peak BJ Penn, plus training stories with Kevin Randleman, Jeremy Horn, and the Big Bear camp. A must-listen for fans of early 2000s MMA, King of the Cage, The Ultimate Fighter, and the path that shaped one of the sport’s most accomplished grappling technicians.0:00 start0:48 MMA History Podcast intro1:20 Joey Venti’s guest introductions1:43 interview start 1:51 Joe Camacho story4:33 called out by Charles Bennett8:40 conflict with Bobby Hoffman (rumor)12:11 retiring to focus on black belt 14:17 auditioning for TUF season 220:01 getting to the TUF house 20:45 receiving first pick by Matt Hughes 24:34 Matt Hughes vs Frank Grillo on Kingdom 26:21 training with Gene LeBell26:50 Joe Stevenson vs Marcus Davis 28:04 Melvin Guillard vs Josh Burkman 28:51 Jason Von Flue joining TUF 29:49 having to keep TUF results secret 32:30 injury prior to TUF 2 finale 33:29 preparation with Marc Laimon36:02 Joe Stevenson vs Luke Cummo38:54 prank calls 39:46 Joe Stevenson vs Josh Neer 43:26 conversations with Joe Silva after loss 45:57 Joe Stevenson vs Yves Edwards50:24 importance of training 53:11 Cornered for fight by Kevin Randleman 54:08 Mark Coleman stats 56:00 training at the Barn 57:18 having a bloody fight with Yves Edwards58:42 understanding cuts from an officials perspective 1:01:45 interactions with Aaron Brink1:04:19 Joe Stevenson vs Yoshitomi Mishima 1:07:20 Joe Stevenson vs Melvin Guillard 1:09:24 Joe Stevenson vs Kurt Pellegrino1:13:21 receiving phone call to fight BJ Penn for the Title 1:18:42 Melvin Guillard grease accusation 1:19:52 judges for Kurt Pellegrino fight 1:20:53 interview wrap up 1:21:00 outro/ closing thoughtsNEW MMA History Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mmahistorypodclipsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: [email protected] / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank you for your support.#mmahistory #JoeStevenson #UltimateFighter #BJPenn

In episode 355 of the MMA History Podcast, hosts Joey Venti and Mike Davis sit down with Arizona pioneer and former Rage in the Cage light heavyweight champion Edwin “Babyface” Dewees. A UFC veteran, The Ultimate Fighter Season 4 contestant, and 50 Fight Club member, Dewees began his pro career at just 17 years old in the unregulated Wild West of early Arizona MMA, where his mother signed the waiver and he stepped into the cage with almost no formal training.He recounts the surreal atmosphere of Roland Sarria’s Rage in the Cage shows—high school kids fighting multiple times a month, selling tickets, teaching classes for free, and chasing the dream of the UFC while rarely seeing real money. The conversation covers his rapid rise against names like Bill Cameron, David Harris, Antonio McKee, Alan “A-Dog” Sullivan, Joe Stevenson, and Drew Fickett, the intense loyalty and control inside Sarria’s gym, and the complicated relationship with a promoter who doubled as a father figure.Dewees also opens up about training alongside Joe Riggs, the Lions Den years, a brutal post-career attack that nearly cost him his life, and the long road that finally landed him in the UFC after more than 30 fights.It’s a raw, unfiltered look at one of the most unique and overlooked chapters in early American MMA. If you love the real stories behind the sport, this is essential listening. Subscribe to the MMA History Podcast for more interviews with the men who built the sport.0:00 start0:35 MMA History Podcast intro1:07 Joey Venti’s guest introduction1:32 interview start 2:15 first pro fight at 17 years old 4:37 high school wrestling career5:21 Richard Hamilton 6:13 Lions Den in Arizona 7:42 meeting Frank Trigg 7:49 experience with Homer Moore8:44 dealings with Rick Roufus9:31 training with Mauricio Zingano9:38 Victor Estrada 10:13 training at Roland Sarria’s gym11:36 meeting Don Frye 12:20 Edwin Dewees vs Bill Cameron 15:58 moms opinion on fight with Bill Cameron 16:39 Roland Sarria fallout with Rickson Gracie 17:30 receiving support from a Marine Corps recruiter 18:35 taking helicopter to hospital after beating 25:30 Edwin Dewees vs Chris Meyers 28:51 Edwin Dewees vs Davis Harris 31:20 Roland Sarria working as a male dancer 32:13 payment for Rage in the Cage32:53 Edwin Dewees vs Antonio McKee 35:24 payment for winning tournament 38:57 Edwin Dewees vs Trinity Boykin 2x in one night 40:11 Roland Sarria running shows simultaneously40:42 goal of making it to the UFC42:00 teaching MMA for free 44:18 being taken advantage of in early career 45:55 dark money entering the sport 46:45 Edwin Dewees vs Sean Williams 47:28 Edwin Dewees vs Allan Sullivan 49:54 unable to cross train at other gyms 51:31 tension from training with Bob Karmel53:55 Ryan Bader and Jamie Varner 56:10 Joe Riggs vs Alex Stiebling57:24 Edwin Dewees vs Christophe Leininger 1:00:30 Roland Sarria receiving help from students1:01:23 Edwin Dewees vs Jeremy Edwards1:03:08 Edwin Dewees vs Joe Stevenson1:05:29 Edwin Dewees vs George Lockhart 1:06:25 altercation with Drew Fickett 1:07:58 Edwin Dewees vs Drew Fickett 1:08:49 Drew Fickett crashing car into restaurant1:09:49 rematch with Drew Fickett 1:12:22 declining any sponsors 1:13:37 Edwin Dewees vs Shannon Ritch1:16:47 Edwin Dewees vs Sam Adkins1:17:28 Edwin Dewees vs Todd Medina 1:19:52 Edwin Dewees vs Homer Moore1:26:29 Edwin Dewees vs Auggie Padeken1:27:06 experience fighting in Hawaii1:29:16 Roland Sarria issues with Santino DeFranco 1:30:42 Dominick Cruz in the training room 1:31:15 Edwin Dewees vs Chappo Montijo1:33:15 getting a call from the UFC1:35:19 Matt Hughes and Joe Riggs training camp 1:36:01 Joe Riggs weight cut story 1:38:09 sneak peak for part 2 1:40:36 outroNEW MMA History Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mmahistorypodclipsThank you for your support. #MMAHistory #RageInTheCage

TJay Thompson, the architect of SuperBrawl and Icon Sport and a foundational figure in early Hawaiian MMA, joins the MMA History Podcast to detail how a Boston native managing female oil wrestling at Gussie L’Amour’s nightclub near Honolulu Airport fell into promoting fights in 1996. With no prior combat sports background, he ran packed monthly no-holds-barred events in the roughly 400-capacity bar using a homemade steel, cable, and plywood ring before partnering with Norwegian strongman and World’s Gym owner Ode Haugen to move the shows to Blaisdell Arena under the SuperBrawl banner. Thompson recounts the early financial losses that nearly ended the promotion, the turnaround to profitability on the road in Guam, and key cards including SuperBrawl 2’s Vitor Belfort versus Jon Hess main event—promoted as Victor Gracie and held under true no-holds-barred rules—that drew Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. He covers Jay R. Palmer’s rapid rise as an untrained street fighter and his notorious head-stomp finish of Maurice Corty, the brutal 30-minute John Lober versus Frank Shamrock war that turned the Blaisdell crowd against the Lion’s Den, Matt Hume’s early influence on matchmaking and rules, Dan Severn’s willingness to take half his purse after a poorly attended El Paso show, and the creative workaround of staging SuperBrawl 7 as an ancient pankration-style “Pain Creation Tournament” to navigate Hawaii’s ban on extreme and ultimate fighting.The conversation also touches the tense Relson Gracie–Egan and Enson Inoue rivalry that dominated the local scene in the late 1990s. This episode captures the chaotic, high-risk origins of one of MMA’s most influential regional promotions and the characters who built Hawaiian MMA from the ground up.0:00 start0:48 MMA History Podcast Intro 1:19 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 1:35 interview start 1:52 start in MMA promoting 6:55 Foxy oil wrestling tapes 8:30 Jay R Palmer9:16 hosting events at the Blaisdell Arena 10:55 mistakes made by promoters 14:34 Hosting Superbrawl 115:56 Jay R Palmer career highlights 18:15 SuperBrawl 1 card19:23 attendance for SuperBrawl 121:32 Vitor Belfort vs Jon Hess (last NHB fight) 26:40 video rights for SuperBrawl 2 28:55 dealings with Carlson Gracie 29:05 Lakers in attendance at SuperBrawl 230:50 Maurice Corty vs Jay R Palmer 34:27 relationship with John Perretti36:37 Zane Frazier 37:26 Pete Williams vs Mark Coleman controversy 40:09 John Lober vs Frank Shamrock44:56 Pat Miletich vs Jason Nicholsen46:38 Danny Bennett vs Jay R Palmer 47:50 connecting with Matt Hume 52:10 Danny Bennett vs Jay R Palmer (rematch) 53:25 SuperBrawl 4 fight card 53:49 SuperBrawl 5 success 54:46 experience with Dan Severn 58:32 SuperBrawl 61:00:04 brawl at the Pan Ams1:04:19 aftermath from the Pan Ams 1:06:54 Baret Yoshida leaving Relson Gracie 1:09:56 SuperBrawl 71:10:23 SuperBrawl 8 fight card 1:13:02 Ronald Jhun1:14:39 SuperBrawl 9 in El Paso 1:16:01 teaser for part 21:16:57 interview wrap up 1:18:00 outro/ closing thoughtsNEW MMA History Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mmahistorypodclipsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: [email protected] / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank you for your support.#SuperBrawl #TJayThompson #MMAHistory #HawaiianMMA

Joe Brammer, known as The South Side Strangler, joins the MMA History Podcast to recount his journey from a chubby son of a preacher man in Des Moines, Iowa, to a Midwest submission specialist who ground out a path to the UFC. He details the raw early 2000s Iowa scene built around Toad Holler bar fights and promotions like Midwest Cage Championships, sharing stories of training and fighting alongside Josh Neer, Houston Alexander, and Jeremy Stevens in an era of minimal oversight, high fight volume, and wild characters. Brammer walks through his early pro bouts, including a lights-out moment during an XKK Trials fight, his guillotine choke win over Michael Johnson that helped launch his UFC run, and his Octagon appearances against Mark Bocek and Aaron Riley after short-notice call-ups and brutal weight cuts. He also covers training stints with Ivan Salaverry in Seattle, time at Throwdown Training Center in San Diego around fighters like Dean Lister and Jocko Willink, plus the injuries and close calls that shaped his career before he returned home to run gyms in Waukee and Ankeny, Iowa. This episode captures the unique, under-the-radar Midwest pipeline that produced far more UFC talent than its size suggested.0:00 start0:27 MMA History Podcast intro 0:59 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 1:19 interview start 1:24 staying off of social media 3:19 plugs/ promotions 3:52 fighters coming out of Iowa 7:00 starting off with Jeet Kune Do8:34 fighting at Toad Hollar 11:53 experience with promoter Chad Mason 14:40 becoming friends with Josh Neer19:45 UFC mismatching fighters 21:16 experience with XKK promoters Nick and Jeff 22:22 lights shut off during fight with Joe Germain 26:09 the end of XKK 26:49 XKK Trials fight card 28:40 Joe Brammer vs Cody Geertz29:31 MCC creating an app 32:40 thoughts on Jeremy Stephens35:55 moving out of Iowa 37:44 reason for fighting once a year 38:34 breaking Jaw cutting weight 42:54 Chad Masons reputation 44:10 Josh Neer vs Houston Alexander 46:22 Joe Brammer vs Allen Hernandez 47:07 Joe Brammer vs Alonzo Martinez 47:55 Alonzo Martinez travel story 50:01 100 fight club members 51:40 Brandon Quigley taking 2 KOs in 2 nights 53:48 MMA organizations not following rules57:11 dealings with Travis Fulton 58:18 training with Chris David 59:16 training with Ted Worthington 1:00:28 Bryan Bresler 1:01:16 experience with a Combat Doctor 1:03:08 Joe Brammer vs Michael Johnson 1:05:38 manager Monty Cox 1:06:11 Manager Ivan Salaverry1:07:38 sparring with Josh Barnett 1:08:25 Terra LaRosa1:08:58 Matt Hume 1:09:34 Maurice Smith career highlights 1:11:03 Joe Brammer vs Chris Mickle 1:18:46 receiving a call from the UFC1:20:06 training at Throwdown 1:20:58 working with Rudy Silva 1:23:43 Rudy Silva stories 1:24:44 experience with Brandon Vera 1:27:31 Jocko Willink 1:29:08 Timmy Ford1:29:25 training partners in San Diego 1:30:44 not joining Miletich fighting systems 1:31:28 Drew McFedries 1:34:11 Joe Brammer vs Mark Bocek1:38:23 Houston Alexander vs Kimbo Slice 1:39:07 Eric Paulson 1:39:18 cornering Jeremy Stephens 1:41:56 Joe Brammer vs Aaron Riley 1:42:53 going 0-2 in the UFC1:43:04 dealing with injuries 1:45:06 Tomasz Drwal1:45:36 Victor Moreno 1:46:05 Interview wrap up/ outroNEW MMA History Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mmahistorypodclipsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: [email protected] / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank you for your support.#MMAHistory #JoeBrammer #IowaMMA #UFCLightweight

The MMA History Podcast welcomes Ant Evans for his third appearance in episode 352. The former head of UFC media relations for the UK and continental Europe revisits 2010 as Zuffa’s international expansion accelerated. Evans covers the UK fighter wave led by Michael Bisping and Dan Hardy, the “cursed” UFC 108 card with multiple major pullouts including Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, and the office culture of the early Las Vegas years. He details Chael Sonnen’s Ric Flair-inspired belt stunt, press access battles of the era, and landmark shows such as the sold-out UFC 110 Australian debut with Cain Velasquez, Jon Jones’ first main event against Brandon Vera, Georges St-Pierre vs. Dan Hardy at UFC 111 (including Hardy’s storage-unit training camp), UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi with Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia and Frankie Edgar’s upset of B.J. Penn, Randy Couture’s submission of James Toney at UFC 118, and Brock Lesnar’s comeback win over Shane Carwin at UFC 116.The conversation contrasts the lean, record-breaking Zuffa period with the later corporate era while teasing a Cro Cop Canada story for the next instalment.0:00 start0:37 MMA History Podcast Intro 1:08 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 1:21 interview start 1:24 head of PR in the UK for the UFC3:48 UFC 108 disaster 6:43 Joe Silva issues with Gerald Harris 7:27 UFC 109 helping Chael Sonnen with bad guy image12:17 interactions with Doug Crosby13:34 Chael Sonnen Dark side of the cage 15:24 Joey Venti’s studio set up 16:59 camaraderie in the UFC19:18 the UFC original US office 20:36 2 UFC employees fighting 30:14 UFC hiring Karen Bell 31:45 UFC limiting access to the press34:43 Sherdogs relationship with pride FC37:10 getting media coverage for the UFC40:13 issues with modern coverage on UFC 44:07 reporters receiving bad seating 46:33 importance of having reporters at events 47:59 Teddy Atlas and Max Kellerman 50:54 UFC 110 Australia 55:10 Mark Hunt legal issue with the UFC 58:41 Jon Jones vs Brandon Vera 1:03:04 UFC 111 GSP vs Dan Hardy 1:11:16 UFC 112 Ariel Helwani reporting 1:16:49 Ariel Helwani refusing pay from the UFC1:21:13 Anderson Silva vs Damian Maia controversy 1:26:13 UFC 112 card 1:26:27 Frankie Edgar fight shorts controversy 1:29:55 UFC 113 card 1:30:22 Paul Daley sucker punching Josh Koscheck 1:31:10 Mike Russow vs Todd Duffee 1:32:12 Chuck Liddell condom story 1:35:05 UFC 116 1:39:36 Kendall Grove comments about TUF 1:41:04 UFC 1171:41:25 James Toney vs Randy Couture1:45:52 IRS issues with James Toney 1:47:55 Dana Whites personality behind the scenes 1:50:59 UFC in 20101:54:03 interview wrap up 1:55:19 outro/ closing thoughtsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: [email protected] / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank you for your support.#MMAHistory #UFC2010 #AntEvans #MichaelBisping

Egan Inoue sits down with the MMA History Podcast and opens a Hawaiian career that ran from racquetball world titles straight into the chaos of the early fight scene. Younger brother of Enson Inoue, he talks training with Rickson Gracie before the UFC existed, learning jiu-jitsu from Enson, and a Space Needle street fight that finally pulled him in.His pro debut came at Lumax Cup: Tournament of J ’95 on October 13, 1995. Armbars over Alexander Otsuka and Akihiro Gono put him in the final, where Tsuyoshi Kosaka stopped the run. From there he covers a 1996 Shooto win over Gordon Dehdman, a Lumax Cup loss to Sanae Kikuta, a Rings disqualification against Masayuki Naruse, and a Pride 5 TKO of Minoru Toyonaga.Inoue is widely credited as the first non-Brazilian IBJJF world champion, blue belt in 1996 and purple belt in 1997. He also breaks down the footlock game that got him booed in Brazil.The Relson Gracie feud started on the mats and never really cooled off. Opening Grappling Unlimited in Honolulu, and his ties to kickboxer Dennis Alexio, poured fuel on it. The bad blood spilled into a Hawaii Pan American, a ban from the Florida Pan Ams, and a hired opponent at SuperBrawl 12 on June 1, 1999: Marcelo Dantas, known as Tigre. He also talks weekends at the gym with a young BJ Penn.At ADCC 1999 he submitted Robbie Kilpatrick, outpointed Renzo Gracie, and dropped the bronze match to Ricardo Libório. Mike Davis and Joey Venty keep the tape rolling!0:00 start0:29 MMA History Podcast intro 1:01 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 1:16 interview start 1:40 first time hearing about MMA2:15 meeting Royce Gracie 4:11 joining Enson Inoue in learning Jiu jitsu 5:40 Enson Inoue Jiu jitsu on the street 9:28 learning bjj from brother 10:57 landing triangle choke on Relson Gracie 12:52 training with Rickson Gracie 15:39 Lumax Cup 8 man tournament 17:51 Egan Inoue vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka19:39 pay for 8 man tournament 20:59 pay for racquetball tournaments21:39 first non Brazilian bjj world champion 22:34 learning how to do foot locks 23:26 rule changes due to leg submissions 24:50 dragged out of arena in Brazil 27:16 Egan Inoue vs Gordon Dehdman 27:34 Egan Inoue vs Yasunobu vs Matsuo 29:25 recognizing the Yakuzas involvement 31:49 Egan Inoue vs Masayuki Naruse36:10 training with Dennis Alexio 37:47 Jiu jitsu coaches 38:09 rolling with Rickson Gracie 40:34 getting into fight at bjj tournament43:10 experience at the Pan Ams48:20 receiving restraining order from Relson Gracie 50:05 Carlos Gracie Jr asking for apology 52:01 Egan Inoue vs Mauricio Silva 53:00 challenged by Saulo Ribeiro 54:56 false claims from Relson Gracie 55:57 BJ Penn theory 58:10 connecting with John Lewis and Andre Pederneiras59:20 receiving black belt from John Lewis 1:01:24 falling out with bjj figures 1:03:23 invited to the ADCC 1:04:26 Egan Inoue vs Robbie Kilpatrick1:05:13 Egan Inoue vs Renzo Gracie 1:08:48 Issue with Ryan Gracie 1:10:55 Egan Inoue vs Karimula Barkalaev1:12:36 Egan Inoue vs Ricardo Liborio1:13:18 Ricardo Liborio compared to Rickson Gracie1:14:51 Enson Inoue vs Mario Sperry1:15:53 opening Grappling Unlimited 1:17:04 not having Enson Inoue during fight camps 1:17:39 Enson Inoue vs Mark Kerr (Cancelled Bout)1:18:03 Egan Inoue vs Marcelo Dantas1:21:22 rule meeting for Marcelo Dantas fight 1:23:23 Marcelo Dantas issues with training partners 1:25:02 Egan Inoue vs Marcelo Dantas continued 1:33:14 Career highlights1:34:30 beating Enson Inoue in racquetball 1:35:01 interview wrap up 1:35:31 outro/ closing thoughtsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-power

Pete Rodley was co-owner and vice president of Universal Combat Challenge, the Montreal promotion that helped launch sanctioned Canadian MMA and gave early platforms to Georges St-Pierre, David Loiseau, Ivan Menjivar, Mark Hominick and Patrick Côté.In this MMA History Podcast interview he traces his path from a traditional karate family and godson of UFC 3’s Harold Howard through IFC work on the reserves, the Combat List era, and the first UCC cards with Stéphane Patry.Rodley covers the last-minute UCC 1 main-event scramble after Kimo Leopoldo pulled out, Elvis Sinosic versus Dave Beneteau, Wagnney Fabiano, Sean Sherk against Claudionor Fontinelle, the rain-out show, GSP’s debut against Menjivar, Full Contact Fighter ranking UCC among the world’s biggest promotions, and why he walked away before later returning with Freedom Fight.A detailed look at the names and chaos that built MMA north of the border.Subscribe to the MMA History Podcast for interviews and stories from the people who lived the early days of mixed martial arts.0:00 start0:29 MMA History Podcast intro1:01 Joey Venti’s guest introduction1:20 interview start 1:31 beginnings in MMA4:24 meeting Harold Howard 8:00 attending IFC events9:10 Battlecade Extreme Fighting 2 9:47 introduction to promoting 10:43 legalities for Battlecade Extreme Fighting 2 12:54 the Bikers in Canada 15:45 partnership with IVC and Sergio Batarelli17:03 meeting Stephane Patry21:00 issues with Stephane Patry 22:25 dealings during UCC25:22 UCC 1 original main event 28:50 Kimo Leopoldo vs Elvis Sinosic cancelled bout 32:00 negotiations with Tom Erickson 34:28 Dave Beneteau35:33 giving Elvis Sinosic options 42:48 UCC 1 fight card 43:53 experience with Shawn Tompkins 46:16 losing money due to rain48:49 fighter pay at UCC events 50:03 Claudionor Fontenelle crimes 52:47 title bouts on UCC 253:11 UCC 3 fight card54:00 Jay Winger vs Richard Nancoo 55:56 working with other Canadian Promoters 59:14 experience with Angelo Exarhakos1:02:12 Renzo Gracie’s influence on Ottawa1:04:09 Claudionor Fontenelle vs Donald Ouimet 1:06:52 Claudionor Fontenelle vs Sean Sherk1:07:11 UCC 4 highlights 1:08:16 fallout with Stephane Patry 1:15:23 false rumor of Stephane Patry 1:19:01 finding out Stephane Patry was ill 1:20:03 Claudionor Fontenelle vs Sean Sherk continued 1:21:18 Full contact fighter 3rd place ranking 1:22:03 understanding how to market 1:25:45 UCC 7 highlights 1:26:33 Sean Pierson current career1:30:35 Gsp vs Ivan Menjivar 1:32:14 taking a swing at Andy Anderson 1:32:53 Kevin Rosier vs Brad Gabriel 1:37:18 UCC 8 1:38:05 Jason Black vs Ivan Menjivar 1:38:49 Tony Fryklund vs Jonathan Goulet 1:39:51 Michael Depasquale Jr 1:41:46 UFC 3 Harold Howard training 1:43:28 Harold Howard vs Royce Gracie 1:48:35 telling Harold Howard to back of Mark Hall fight1:49:24 John Anderson 1:49:53 wedding video incident 1:51:06 Sean Alvarez vs Mike Radnov 1:51:45 Mark Hominick vs Richard Nancoo 1:52:10 Ivan Menjivar vs Jeff Curran1:52:29 Drew McFredies vs Claude Patrick 1:54:11 calling it quits with UCC 1:58:21 Joe Doerksen vs Denis Kang 2:00:52 reason for fall out with Stephane Patry 2:02:14 dealings with David Lee 2:03:20 Freedom fight vs TUF2:05:25 attempted robbery 2:09:24 regrets from the UCC2:12:48 interview wrap up/outroInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-powerMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: [email protected] / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank you for your support.#MMAHistory #CanadianMMA #GeorgesStPierre #UCC

In this episode of the MMA History Podcast, Cage Rage co-founder Andy Geer returns to cover the promotion’s final chapter. Elite XC and parent company ProElite arrived with cash and television promises, American names poured in, and a run of Wembley Arena cards mixed British regulars with imported stars before the brand collapsed after ProElite failed in 2008.Geer talks through Kimo Leopoldo’s British debut at Cage Rage 18, where the Pride and UFC veteran lost by guillotine to Dave Legeno, and addresses the talk that followed that fight. He also tells the Cage Rage 21 story in full: Bob Sapp was booked, recorded promos and did the usual cage walk, then pulled out midweek after claiming threats tied to his earlier walkout in Holland; Tank Abbott took the main event on a few days’ notice, flew in, drank the night before, promised a short burst of chaos, and was stopped by Gary Turner. Also discussed are the UFC dispute over the eight-sided cage and the phrase “ultimate fighting,” the deal Geer says was worth ten million dollars with four million paid in cash, Sky Sports live television, last-minute replacements, and the budget cuts and culture clash that followed the sale.Cage Rage shut its doors but left a lasting mark on European MMA.Subscribe for more first-hand interviews with the people who built the sport.0:00 start0:37 MMA History Podcast Intro1:10 Joey Venti’s guest introductions1:21 interview start 1:34 brawl at the mall 23:12 Dan Hardy trained by the Shaolin monks4:00 Robbie Olivier vs Brad Pickett5:34 Alexandru Lungu vs Mark Buchanan6:23 experience with Kimo Leopoldo9:17 Kimo Leopoldo vs Dave Legeno 10:18 Cabbage Corrreira mugged on the street 15:21 Butterbean in MMA17:23 Jason Barrett 19:27 cage rage 20 fight card 19:53 Mark Kerr hotel story 22:20 Anderson Silva detained at customs 23:13 Bob Sapp at Cage Rage 27:27 Dan Severn vs Dave Legeno28:25 copyright issues with the UFC34:50 broadcasted live on Sky Sports36:08 Cage Rage 21 highlights 36:53 Tom Watson vs Xavier Pokam 38:21 Murilo Rua vs Alex Reid38:38 Cyborg Santos vs James Zikic 40:07 Vitor Belfort mental issues 41:29 choosing Wembley stadium as a home 44:06 Mario Sperry vs Lee Hasdell 46:00 Butterbean helping market Cage Rage 48:03 agreement with EliteXC54:28 $10 million offer to sell Cage Rage 59:47 legal proceedings with the UFC1:03:34 Jeremy Lappin 1:04:18 Chris Brennen affiliation program1:05:09 Gary Turner vs Julius Francis1:06:57 Paul Daley F word controversy 1:08:04 Sky TV dropping Cage Rage 1:12:27 OJ Borg 1:14:16 communications with Jared Shaw 1:15:09 dealing with Phil Baroni 1:17:00 Mark Epstein vs Tom Watson1:18:01 Drew Fickett vs Mark Weir 1:18:24 Robert Berry vs Ken Shamrock 1:23:46 Andy Geer leaving Cage Rage 1:30:42 false rumors about Andy Geer 1:32:54 EliteXC planning events outside of London 1:34:02 Manchester Combat sports market 1:34:52 how swing bouts worked in Cage Rage 1:37:21 finding out Cage Rage was finished 1:42:48 silent partner in Cage Rage 1:43:55 Terry Trebilcock after Cage Rage 1:47:22 having to a judge at a Cage Rage event 1:50:08 interview wrap up 1:52:06 outro/ closing thoughts#MMAHistory #CageRage #EliteXC

This week on the MMA History Podcast we close the book on Friend of the Show Mac Danzig’s UFC career. Title challenger Gray Maynard also joins Mike Davis and Joey Venti to walk through Danzig’s final run against Takanori Gomi, Melvin Guillard and Joe Lauzon, the camps at AKA and Extreme Couture, the grind of training while raising a young daughter, the Joe Silva relationship, the sponsorship machine, and the decision to walk out one last time with “Not For Sale” on his shorts.Gray also talks Primed Combat in Michigan and life after the octagon. Mac looks back on the knockouts in camp, the Rico Chiapparelli chapter, and the six-hour nasal surgery that followed his final fight. Support the Rafiel Torre documentary: a $10 donation gets you the window sticker and yellow card. Link in the description.0:00 start0:34 MMA History Podcast intro1:07 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 1:24 interview start1:26 Gray Maynard current life/ plugs 3:06 Mac Danzig plugs/ promotions5:46 Mac Danzig meeting Gray Maynard 7:16 relationship with Shawn Tompkins9:40 leaving Vegas for California 12:00 reaction to Jim Miller UFC longevity13:29 Mac Danzig’s relationship with Joe Silva15:30 Gray Maynard’s relationship with Joe Silva18:09 Mac Danzig vs Takanori Gomi24:16 Gray Maynard training at AKA32:21 issues with Bob Cook as a coach 34:07 Mac Danzig vs Takanori Gomi (continued) 36:50 wanting to advance training at AKA40:35 destroying nose during fight career 43:08 ADHD and sleep apnea46:42 Mac Danzig vs Melvin Guillard 55:04 training with Rico Chiapparelli56:52 struggles going into Melvin Guillard fight 1:02:21 issues with finding a coach 1:05:34 going back to Rico Chiapparelli 1:08:00 hesitation during Melvin Guillard fight 1:11:42 Mevin Guillards conditioning for fight 1:16:26 Hand Speed and placement 1:17:51 Mac Danzig vs Joe Lauzon1:23:16 Joe Lauzon requesting Gray Maynard 1:25:09 choosing not to have sponsors for fight 1:33:38 Cody McKenzie basketball shorts controversy1:36:24 issues with Training mask1:38:28 dealing with injury during Joe Lauzon fight 1:42:29 coaches giving fighter speeches 1:46:34 Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard 21:49:30 receiving nose surgery 1:54:25 interview wrap up 1:54:46 outro/ closing thoughtsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-powerMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: [email protected] / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank You for your support#MMAHistory #MacDanzig #GrayMaynard #UFC

Matt “The Real One” Grice was supposed to be unbreakable. A four-time Oklahoma state wrestling champion at Harrah High School, three-time Outstanding Wrestler, and the most recruited wrestler in his weight class, a car wreck threw him through a windshield and stole the college career everyone saw coming. He clawed his way back, made it to the UFC, earned Fight of the Night honors against Jason Black and Dennis Bermudez, then a second crash in Shawnee shattered his skull and ended his fighting career. Most men would have stayed down. Grice didn’t. He rebuilt his life as an Oklahoma City police officer, coach, and gym owner.On episode 347 of the MMA History Podcast, Matt Grice sits down with Mike Davis and Joey Venti to recount his legendary high school career, the wreck that cost him his years at Oklahoma, the promise he kept to his parents before his first fight, his UFC run, the 2013 accident that put him in a coma, and how he came back to coach the next generation at American Elite MMA.0:00 start 0:44 MMA History Podcast intro1:16 Joey Venti’s guest introductions1:31 interview start 1:47 current life/ career 2:23 4 time state champ in Oklahoma4:12 recruiting process for wrestling 7:30 getting hurt in a car crash 8:54 wrestling while injured 11:47 taking a season off wrestling 13:05 meeting MMA coach Jason Merrill14:46 competing in BJJ after 1 day or practice 17:57 taking first amateur fight19:32 relationship with Ron Tripp20:16 Mikey Burnett20:51 training with Anthony Macias 21:45 Matt Grice vs Matt Grey 23:17 choosing to do MMA over wrestling 24:10 being a ticket seller 24:41 Matt Grice vs Marco Adamballi24:58 Matt Grice vs Rocky Long 26:35 taking 3 fights in 2 months 27:17 Matt Grice vs Shervin Alavi28:31 Matt Grice vs Joe Davis 29:22 Matt Grice vs Lee King 29:43 manager Greg Stewart 30:55 Matt Grice vs Dan Marks 33:46 offered to be on TUF 35:40 Matt Grice vs Clint Kerley36:52 flying out to Manchester for UFC debut 37:54 UFC 70 card38:34 Matt Grice vs Terry Etim 39:20 taking training seriously 41:00 how traveling affects a fighters lungs 42:13 Matt Grice vs Jason Black 45:00 accepted into the police academy 50:22 work day as a police officer 53:51 Matt Grice vs Matt Veach57:00 Matt Grice vs Shannon Gugerty58:42 training at shape fitness 1:00:47 getting cut from the UFC1:02:20 having a supportive wife 1:04:08 current coaches at gym 1:06:03 Matt Grice vs Dave Gardner 1:07:57 earning 3 straight finishes 1:09:09 Matt Grice vs Ricardo Lamas 1:09:51 experience training at Top Notch1:12:05 connecting with Tom Vanghn1:12:55 2 cancelled bouts in the UFC1:13:26 Matt Grice vs Leonard Garcia 1:15:19 Matt Grice vs Dennis Bermudez1:17:06 crashed into at a red light 1:20:59 ending up in a coma after accident 1:28:40 choosing not to take medications1:30:06 Matt Grice day April 4th1:33:32 life after accident 1:35:25 outro/ closing thoughtsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-powerMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: [email protected] / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank You for your support#MMAHistory #UFC #Wrestling #Oklahoma