- vor 13 Minuten
u
Kategorie
😹
SpaßTranskript
00:00:00Yesterday at the presser, extra security was in the building, didn't make a difference though because Hamzat still managed to
00:00:07get that kick in, then they were separated and that was that, we will see them face off again today,
00:00:13the USC 328 ceremonial weigh in starts right now.
00:00:37The USC 328 ceremonial weigh-ins are presented by Mountain Dew, an American original tasting great since 48.
00:00:47Hey everybody, very warm welcome inside the Prudential Center, so good to have you with us, I'm Kate Scott and
00:00:52I'm with three of the sports elite, former middleweight belt holder Chris Weidman, former interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier and
00:00:59the former
00:00:59division king Daniel Cormier and Megan Olivi is also reporting for us today, we're going to catch up with her
00:01:04in just a few, let's talk about the main event first though because Chris there are regular grudge matches and
00:01:10then there's this one, there's Jamiah vs. Strickland, it's different.
00:01:12Oh my gosh, I don't think we've had bad blood like this since the Khabib-Connor fight, I mean they
00:01:17truly hate each other, they're crossing every line that you're not supposed to cross while they're talking trash and the
00:01:23fight, the matchup is going to be so good, very interesting to see what happens.
00:01:26I know it's very hard to talk about anything but the main event on this card, but we do have
00:01:30a really good flyweight title fight too, Dustin.
00:01:32Yeah, Tetsuo, Tyra, Joshua Van, got a big puncher versus a very well-rounded fighter, it's going to be a
00:01:40fast-paced fight, I'm excited for this one.
00:01:42Your boy Derek Lewis was just doing the White House press conference, he was very quiet, is he going to
00:01:46talk to us more when he comes up here?
00:01:48Kate, he's going to talk to us more because he was mad, he was real mad up there listening to
00:01:52Josh Hogan go off the entire time, but you know it's a party when Derek Lewis shows up and I'm
00:01:57sure that he's going to be ready to talk to us when he comes up here and talk about what
00:02:01he wants to do to Josh Hogan, we got a mad black beast.
00:02:05I wanted to see the face-off man, I wanted to see the face-off.
00:02:09I'm sure there's enough security here to do a face-off.
00:02:12The problem is Derek Lewis hits you, it's over.
00:02:14You got to mess that one.
00:02:15The fight's off, yeah.
00:02:16Well, the ceremonial weigh-ins are going to get underway in just a few hits.
00:02:20First, though, here's a quick look for you at the five-fight main card.
00:02:23We're going to start with a match-up of 64 combined UFC appearances between King Green and Jeremy Stephens.
00:02:29There are welterweight and heavyweight title implications hanging in the balance in Brady versus Buckley and Volkov versus Cortez Acosta,
00:02:36respectively.
00:02:37And Joshua Van defends his flyweight reign against Tatsuro Taira.
00:02:42DC, it is, of course, the main event that everybody is talking about.
00:02:46Why has this one really captured everybody's imagination?
00:02:48You know, I'm from Lafayette, Louisiana, and we love Messi.
00:02:52We like to sit on our porch, and we like to hear people talk about each other and go at
00:02:56each other.
00:02:56And that's exactly what we got in this fight.
00:02:58We got two dudes that genuinely dislike each other.
00:03:01It's not manufactured.
00:03:03They were trading partners at one point, but now there's hate.
00:03:05But at the end of it, all the words lead to a fight inside of an octagon.
00:03:10And when they get inside of the octagon, you have two of the best middleweights in the world.
00:03:13The champion Hamzat Jumayev, who has been dominant, and a former champion.
00:03:17It's Sean Strickland, who has shown that he has an ability to fight anyone inside the octagon.
00:03:22It's going to be good buildup, but I think the fight's going to be even better.
00:03:26In a fight like this, what matters more?
00:03:28Is it the belt, or is it actually just the personal rivalry?
00:03:30I think it's the personal rivalry at this point.
00:03:32We were talking earlier on the weigh-in show, like there was a chance Jumayev might not make weight.
00:03:36He was a little bit late.
00:03:37And we're like, does the belt really matter?
00:03:39It's this fight.
00:03:40People just want to see this fight, and that's what they're here for.
00:03:42There's such a personal rivalry.
00:03:44They've trained together before.
00:03:45There's been bad blood.
00:03:46They're both just alphas, you know, and they just can't be around each other without some type of competition going
00:03:52on.
00:03:52And it just means so much to both of these guys.
00:03:54It's a fun matchup, and with the bad blood, it makes it must-watch.
00:03:58I want to see what's going to happen before, during, after.
00:04:01You know, it just comes down, can Strickland solve the puzzle of getting back to his feet, staying off the
00:04:05fence, making it an ugly fight?
00:04:07Because we know what Jumayev's going to do.
00:04:08He's been on a domination tour at 185.
00:04:12Can Strickland stop that?
00:04:13We've got to wait until tomorrow night.
00:04:14Okay, I'll tell you what, let's quickly welcome in the other member of our broadcast crew.
00:04:18Megan Levy has more for us on the main event.
00:04:20Is there now extra security for the extra security, Megan?
00:04:24Essentially, yes, that's exactly right.
00:04:26Emmy-nominated Kate Scott.
00:04:27But as you just mentioned, there is extra security.
00:04:29As we saw yesterday, there are a lot of heightened emotions.
00:04:32There's a lot of bad blood that's involved in this main event.
00:04:35I talked to some of the UFC security officials this week, and they told me there's about an additional two
00:04:40dozen, give or take a couple of guys, on site this week.
00:04:43Then they would normally have for UFC event, about 12 additional security officers, as well as 12 police officers, as
00:04:49well.
00:04:49There's usually a very small and limited police presence here, but they just wanted to make sure things were safe.
00:04:55Both Sean Strickland and Hamzak Shumayev are staying at separate hotels, and they also have 24-hour security.
00:05:01Multiple people surrounding them and their crews at all times to ensure that they both make it to the octagon,
00:05:07and no real fights break out until the main event on Saturday night.
00:05:11Right now, Sean Strickland is actually behind me in a room in this tunnel, all the way across the arena
00:05:16here at the Prudential Center.
00:05:17That's where Hamzak Shumayev and his team are staying.
00:05:19I spoke with our off-team, who are the best of the best in the business.
00:05:22They said the way they're going to keep them separated as they prepare for this face-off is once Sean
00:05:27goes through that curtain with his crew,
00:05:29they'll bring Hamzak from the very back of the arena to start making his way to the official scale.
00:05:33So I guess I post this question to you guys.
00:05:36After what we saw yesterday, do you think the UFC lets them have a face-off tonight?
00:05:41Good question, Megan.
00:05:43What do you think?
00:05:43You got to face them off.
00:05:44I mean, you have to.
00:05:46It's a build to a championship fight.
00:05:48These guys have to get in each other's face, and they have to be professional.
00:05:52You know that there's going to be bad blood.
00:05:55But ultimately, you get to fight.
00:05:56That's why this job is so awesome.
00:05:58I can hate you for eight weeks.
00:06:01On that Saturday, they're going to put us inside of an octagon and say, go fight each other.
00:06:05You guys better make sure you go fight each other.
00:06:07I'm with you.
00:06:08There has to be a face-off.
00:06:09The fans want to see it.
00:06:11I want to see it.
00:06:12It's going to sell the fight even more.
00:06:15Look, like I said, there's enough security here.
00:06:18These guys have to face-off.
00:06:19Let's see what happens.
00:06:20I agree.
00:06:21We need a face-off.
00:06:22But yesterday when I watched, I didn't realize that when he kicked him, he hit him in the holos.
00:06:27You know, the man parts.
00:06:29But what if it's a knee stop?
00:06:30What if he take out the knee?
00:06:32Shamiah has to realize that he cannot ruin this fight.
00:06:35And also, does Strickland want revenge after getting kicked in the nuts yesterday?
00:06:38But that's what we were going to say, right?
00:06:39You've got to be smart enough to keep the fight together.
00:06:41It doesn't matter how bad you hate each other.
00:06:43You've got to make sure you get to go and fight him tomorrow night in a sanctioned fight
00:06:48where you can do whatever you want to him.
00:06:50So I think we get to see a face-off.
00:06:52And I think it's more measured than it was yesterday
00:06:54because now those Lions are about to get fed.
00:06:56You can't trust them.
00:06:57They get fed tomorrow.
00:06:57Yeah, 100%.
00:06:58You cannot trust them.
00:07:00I guess if we're talking about the combing, it hasn't been as ugly.
00:07:03It hasn't been as heated as the main event, right?
00:07:05But stylistically, it's still a really interesting matchup between Joshua Vann and Tatsuro Taira.
00:07:10Oh, man.
00:07:10It's super interesting.
00:07:11If you watch Josh in his last six fights that he has on Boss, he's looked so dominant.
00:07:16His boxing is so amazing.
00:07:18He's got great balance, throws in combinations, always in great position.
00:07:22But Tatsuro Taira, if you watch him, he's finished Brandon Moreno in his last fight.
00:07:26He's so good on the ground, but also on his feet.
00:07:29He's very fast.
00:07:30He's heavy-handed.
00:07:31He drops a lot of guys.
00:07:32So it's going to be a super interesting fight.
00:07:34Like, who could dominate?
00:07:35Right now, Vann is the favorite, even as a champion, coming off a win over Pantoja
00:07:41because I think people aren't giving him the credit that he deserves
00:07:43because of the injury that Pantoja had during that fight.
00:07:47He's the world champion.
00:07:49He beat Pantoja.
00:07:50Maybe it wasn't the result the fans wanted, or even he wanted,
00:07:53but he beat the world champion.
00:07:54He has the belt.
00:07:55So you have to, you know, you look at him as the world champion.
00:07:57So he's coming into this fight against a very tough fighter, a very well-rounded fighter.
00:08:02I personally think Joshua Vann needs to do his work on the feet.
00:08:04I think Tatsura can get it done on the feet or on the ground.
00:08:08I think Vann needs to keep the takedown defense sharp,
00:08:11stay in the middle of the ring, and throw those big punches he's known for.
00:08:13You know, when you look at the betting line and you have a champion
00:08:16that is actually a plus-145 dog to a contender in Tatsura Tyra,
00:08:21it speaks to who Tatsura Tyra actually is
00:08:23and who he has been and what he's put on paper to this point.
00:08:27Here's the thing about Tatsura Tyra.
00:08:28So many people believe that he's grappling, he's grappling, he's grappling.
00:08:32He has shown an ability to fight on the feet.
00:08:35He beat Kaikara France on the feet before he got him on the ground.
00:08:41This guy can fight everywhere inside the octagon.
00:08:44But Joshua Vann, everybody talks about the result of the last fight,
00:08:48and it happened in a way.
00:08:49He caught the kick and threw Pantoja to the ground.
00:08:52Not like Pantoja just fell and hurt himself.
00:08:55He countered him.
00:08:56It was an action from Joshua Vann that caused the injury.
00:08:59So I respect him as the champion, but I do believe that he is up.
00:09:04He's in a tough spot because that is one of the harder matchups for him
00:09:08because we have not had to see him do the wrestling and the grappling
00:09:10yet in his UFC career.
00:09:12So do you consider Tatsura Tyra the most well-rounded contender in the division?
00:09:16Well, I think that Tatsura Tyra is as well-rounded as they come.
00:09:19I still believe that Pantoja is the best 125-pounder in the world
00:09:23because of what he had done to all the contenders
00:09:27over the course of that long title reign.
00:09:29But ultimately, he's hurt because of something Joshua Vann did to him.
00:09:33So when you watch Tyra and Vann, you've got the two best that are out there right now
00:09:37trying to see who's going to stay the champion after this weekend.
00:09:40This is a crazy good fight, and it's very, very even.
00:09:43I'll double down on that.
00:09:45These are the two best that are available right now.
00:09:47But the winner of tomorrow night in their next fight
00:09:50has to be standing across from Tantoja.
00:09:52You know, he lost the belt.
00:09:54He needs to get healthy, get everything back on track.
00:09:57I think his first fight back should be for the belt.
00:10:00The run he was on was amazing.
00:10:02I think it was five title defenses that he had,
00:10:04which is since Demetrius Johnson, that's lightweight.
00:10:07I don't think we've ever seen anything like that.
00:10:08And the way he was doing it against amazing contenders
00:10:11is something that we never really see.
00:10:12It was awesome.
00:10:13But Joshua Vann caught the kick and threw him down,
00:10:17and he hurt his shoulder.
00:10:19It wasn't him.
00:10:20We just fall.
00:10:20Vann did that.
00:10:21We thought that was going to be the fight that we got to see.
00:10:24All right, where's Josh Vann's wrestling at?
00:10:26Where's he jiu-jitsu at?
00:10:27Because that's what Tantoja was going to bring to the table.
00:10:29But now we get to see that tomorrow night with that throwback.
00:10:32You know what Vann told me?
00:10:33Vann goes, he's a black belt.
00:10:35He should know how to fall.
00:10:36Probably without hurting himself.
00:10:38He should know how to fall without hurting himself.
00:10:39He's a black belt.
00:10:41But for Joshua Vann, it's the first title defense, right?
00:10:44How different is it when you make that walk to the octagon
00:10:47for the first time defending the belt?
00:10:48And he's 24 years old.
00:10:50You know, to win the championship so young,
00:10:52the second youngest fighter of all time to win it in the UFC,
00:10:55to be defending his belt,
00:10:57and a big chip on his shoulder,
00:10:58because winning like that against Pantoja,
00:11:01the fans aren't really behind him.
00:11:02Like, the way you imagine winning that championship belt,
00:11:04you just feel like everyone's going to support you,
00:11:06and you're going to have all this fandom.
00:11:07But right now, he is a star in the making.
00:11:10But there's just a lot of people with unanswered questions,
00:11:13and that chip on his shoulder,
00:11:14I think, is going to make a better version of Vann come out tomorrow night.
00:11:16As you spoke, Chris, you said he's 24 years old.
00:11:19He hasn't been here long.
00:11:21Dude didn't start wrestling until he started doing mixed martial arts.
00:11:24And I'm going to leave you with this.
00:11:26The great Teddy Atlas once said that when you become a world champion,
00:11:29you get 30% better.
00:11:31If that is to be believed,
00:11:33we will see a much better Joshua Vann in the Octagon on Saturday.
00:11:37I would have said Joshua Vann in Tatsura's fire was a toss-up before.
00:11:41So what do you make of him being better when he steps into the Octagon again?
00:11:45They've got to put some respect on his name.
00:11:47For sure they do, and I'm with you on that.
00:11:4910% better when you become Undisputed World Champion.
00:11:51It's automatic. It happens.
00:11:53This is a fun matchup.
00:11:56Dude, I'm leaning towards Tatsura. I am.
00:11:59Oh, so you're just going out on the limb and making picks when I'm in the mask?
00:12:02I'm leaning towards Tatsura and I'll say predictions.
00:12:04I just think he's a so-roar.
00:12:05You don't like having friends, boy. That's crazy.
00:12:08You're not willing to make a pick?
00:12:10I'm not making no picks.
00:12:11What about you, Chris?
00:12:12Oh, if I'm doing a pick right now, I'm going with Tatsura and Tyra, too, man.
00:12:15He's just too well-rounded.
00:12:17All right, everybody. That's it from us for right now.
00:12:19It's time to send down to our Master of Ceremonies, Joe Rogan.
00:12:26What's happening, North?
00:12:28Welcome to the weigh-ins.
00:12:30How about a nice round of applause for Chrissy in Brooklyn?
00:12:34Dana White. Without him, none of this would be possible.
00:12:36Hunter Campbell, Sean Shelby, and Mick Maynard, Max Makers extraordinaire.
00:12:42And we got a banging card for you, kids.
00:12:46We kicked things off on Paramount Plus and UFC Fight Pass in the Flyweight Division.
00:12:53Clayton Carpenter versus Jose Ochoa.
00:13:20First up on the scale, Jose Ochoa, official weight, 125.
00:13:30And his opponent, Clayton Carpenter.
00:13:36And his opponent, Clayton Carpenter.
00:13:46Official weight, 126.
00:13:56First fight of the night, ladies and gentlemen, Jose Ochoa and Clayton Carpenter.
00:14:04The next fight takes place in the middleweight division.
00:14:08Weissinger, Susserkayev versus Jordan Santos.
00:14:29First up on the scale, Jordan Santos.
00:14:33And here goes, official weight, 186.
00:14:42And his opponent, Weissinger, Susserkayev.
00:14:48And their opponent, weissinger, Susserkayev.
00:15:02Official weight, 186.
00:15:05One!
00:15:09They're not good!
00:15:10They're not good!
00:15:11They're not bad!
00:15:15Jordan Santos & Weisinger Susserkayev
00:15:22The next fight takes place in the featherweight division
00:15:26Pat Sabatini vs. William Gomez
00:15:54First up on the scale, William Gomez
00:15:58Official weight, 145
00:16:07And his opponent, Pat Sabatini
00:16:37Official weight, 145
00:16:41For Mr. Sabatini
00:16:51William Gomez and Pat Sabatini, ladies and gentlemen
00:16:58The next fight takes place in the middleweight division
00:17:02Roman Popilov vs. Marco Tulio
00:17:32First up on the scale, Marco Tulio
00:17:35Official weight, 186
00:17:42And his opponent, Roman Popilov
00:17:57Official weight, 185
00:18:07Marco Tulio and Roman Popilov, ladies and gentlemen
00:18:14Next we move to the late prelims on Paramount Plus
00:18:19We kick things off in the lightweight division
00:18:22Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon
00:18:47First up on the scale, Jared Gordon
00:18:51Official weight, 156
00:18:58And his opponent, Jim Miller
00:19:17Official weight, 155
00:19:19For New Jersey's Jim Miller
00:19:33Jared Gordon and Jim Miller, ladies and gentlemen
00:19:40The next fight is also in the lightweight division
00:19:44The next fight is also in the lightweight division
00:19:45Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Rombeski
00:20:06First up on the scale, Mattel Skrombeski
00:20:10First up on the scale, Mattel Skrombeski
00:20:19And Grant Dawson
00:20:21And Grant Dawson
00:20:34Official weight, 156
00:20:36Official weight, 156
00:20:47Ladies and gentlemen
00:20:48Ladies and gentlemen
00:20:51The next fight takes place in the welterweight division
00:20:56Yoel Alvarez vs. Jaroslav Amasov
00:21:13First up on the scale, Jaroslav Amasov
00:21:18First up on the scale, Jaroslav Amasov
00:21:19Official weight, 170
00:21:25And his opponent, Yoel Alvarez
00:21:43Official weight, 170
00:21:46Yoroslav Amasov
00:21:48Official weight, 170
00:21:54Yoroslav Amasov
00:21:57And Yoel Alvarez, ladies and gentlemen
00:21:59Yoroslav Amasov
00:22:01Yoroslav Amasov
00:22:02The next fight is the feature bout
00:22:05Of the prelims in the middleweight division
00:22:07Atapa Gautier vs. Ozzy Diaz
00:22:29First up on the scale, Ozzy Diaz
00:22:33Official weight, 186
00:22:42And his opponent
00:22:45Atapa Gautier
00:22:47And his opponent
00:22:482
00:22:493
00:22:512
00:22:534
00:22:544
00:22:555
00:23:06Official weight 185
00:23:19Ozzie Diaz and Atemar Gautier
00:23:30Next we move to the main card Live on Paramount Plus
00:23:35We kick things off in the lightweight division King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens
00:23:55First up on the scale
00:23:56Jeremy Stephens Official weight 160
00:24:01Jeremy has missed weight
00:24:10And his opponent King Green
00:24:31Official weight 155 for Mr. Green
00:24:49Jeremy Stephens and King Green ladies and gentlemen
00:24:53The next fight takes place in the welterweight division
00:24:57Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley
00:25:26First up on the scale
00:25:28Joaquin Buckley Official weight 170
00:25:40And his opponent Sean Brady
00:26:09Official weight 170
00:26:11Official weight 170
00:26:20That's a hell of a fight ladies and gentlemen
00:26:23Joaquin Buckley and Sean Brady
00:26:31The next fight takes place in the heavyweight division
00:26:35Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes Acosta
00:26:59264 for Waldo Cortes Acosta
00:27:04264 for Waldo Cortes Acosta
00:27:06264 for Waldo Cortes Acosta
00:27:35Official weight 257 for Mr. Volkov
00:27:40Official weight 257 for Mr. Volkov
00:27:40Official weight 257 for Mr. Volkov
00:27:50Polo Cortes Acosta
00:27:52And Alexander Volkov, ladies and gentlemen
00:28:03Now let's take a closer look at the two men involved
00:28:07in the co-main event of the evening
00:28:18Das war's für heute.
00:28:40Oh, man.
00:28:41And that is it. Oh, my goodness.
00:28:43We have a new flyweight champion.
00:28:47I knew I was going to win the fight,
00:28:48but I didn't want the fight to end that way.
00:28:51Oh, just watching that hurts.
00:28:52As soon as he's recovered, man, I want to run it back.
00:28:56To be the first world champion from Mielmoor,
00:29:00man, it's just amazing.
00:29:01Even if the injury didn't happen,
00:29:04I'll knock him out inside three rounds.
00:29:06Just absolute dominance from start to finish.
00:29:08This young man is really special.
00:29:11A win over Tatsuru will be the first step
00:29:14of becoming one of the greatest of all time.
00:29:18Tatsuru Taira, the Apex Predator.
00:29:21This young man, Tatsuru Taira, is a real prospect.
00:29:34Oh, that was nasty.
00:29:36Amazing control here by Taira with that body triangle just dropping big bombs.
00:29:40That'll do it. Tatsuru Taira finishes the former two-time champ.
00:29:55He's dynamic on the feet. He's got tremendous grappling, excellent submissions.
00:29:59And this is part of the new breed in mixed martial arts.
00:30:03That is crazy.
00:30:05That was a very tricky, high-level takedown right there.
00:30:15This kid is a monster.
00:30:18I don't think he's going to want to strike with me.
00:30:20But if he do, he's getting knocked out.
00:30:22He's so good at countering.
00:30:24He's so good with volume and his cardio is absolutely insane.
00:30:29My fighting style is fearless and, you know, just pressure.
00:30:34It's only the beginning for Joshua Vann.
00:30:37He's that good.
00:30:38There are no breathers when you face Joshua Vann.
00:30:42Oh, my goodness.
00:30:43When it's done, we won't get the f*** out of him.
00:30:47This match, I'm going to be the striker.
00:30:50Oh, it's getting tight.
00:30:51There's the tab.
00:30:53And another stoppage from Tatsuru Taira.
00:30:57I'm going to be the striker.
00:31:01Oh, it's busted.
00:31:02I want to be the active champion, so beat up Taira and then beat up Pintoja.
00:31:07Joshua Vann, he is all action.
00:31:15Tatsuru Taira is from Pio.
00:31:22Here we go, ladies and gentlemen, for the Flyweight Championship of the World.
00:31:28Introducing the challenger, Tatsuru Taira.
00:31:50Official weight 125 for the challenger.
00:31:59And his opponent, the reigning, defending Flyweight Champion of the World, Joshua Vann.
00:32:24Official weight 125 for the champion.
00:32:48All right, ladies and gentlemen, I am here with the challenger, Tatsuru Taira.
00:32:52This is an amazing opportunity for you.
00:32:54You are fighting for the UFC Flyweight title.
00:32:57This is what you came here for.
00:32:59The moment is tomorrow night.
00:33:01Tell us how you feel and give us a prediction of how it goes down.
00:33:06Yeah, I'm ready.
00:33:08I'm here to prove I'm the best and bring the belt back to Japan.
00:33:16Good luck to you, sir.
00:33:17Thank you.
00:33:21All right, I'm here with the champ, Joshua Vann.
00:33:25First time defending your title.
00:33:27Obviously a huge moment for you.
00:33:29How does it feel?
00:33:30And give us your thoughts on what goes down tomorrow night.
00:33:33Man, I'm ready.
00:33:34No, I can't wait.
00:33:36I can't wait for tomorrow night.
00:33:37Tomorrow, kill or be killed.
00:33:39We stay at that.
00:33:40The champion, ladies and gentlemen, good luck to you, sir.
00:33:45All right, folks, let's take a look at the two men involved in the main event of the evening.
00:33:55Since I started MMA, I always felt I can beat everyone.
00:34:01I know who I am.
00:34:04And I know what I can do.
00:34:07This guy's a monster.
00:34:10A force unlike anything the fight game has ever seen.
00:34:15It's another win for Hamzat.
00:34:17He is a wrecking ball.
00:34:19You can't say much other than wow.
00:34:23Pressure, pace, power.
00:34:25Amazing wrestling.
00:34:27And he's just a psychopath.
00:34:29Oh, he tapped.
00:34:30Still undefeated.
00:34:31And coming to a title fight near you.
00:34:34Give me the belt.
00:34:35A lot of people is confident before they see me.
00:34:38But in real life, it's different.
00:34:41Oh, what a shot by Shemayev.
00:34:43Hamzat is just so smothering.
00:34:45Absolutely incredible to watch the challenger handle the champ in this manner.
00:34:50I mean, he's just getting mauled.
00:34:52Total domination, bell to bell.
00:34:55I accept I'm going to be a champ a long time ago, so it's no surprise.
00:35:00Hamzat, Shemayev has done it.
00:35:03If you feel you're the best, you're going to be a terror.
00:35:06There is no lower human being on this earth than Shemayev.
00:35:10Sean Strickland, your old friend, has been tweeting about you since the fight.
00:35:15You're not a good man.
00:35:16Like, you're not a good person.
00:35:18For a man that calls himself the wolf, he sure knew he'd act like a coward.
00:35:22When he trained with us, every time Shemayev would walk in the gym, he would pick the smallest, lowest level
00:35:28pro and say,
00:35:29but, oh, he looks like my opponent.
00:35:32Shemayev's a bully.
00:35:34If I walk into a gym, I will spar the hardest and best guy because I want to test myself.
00:35:40Shemayev says, like, I want you to be scared of me.
00:35:43It's just weakness.
00:35:45Utter weakness.
00:35:47Oh!
00:35:48But Sean Strickland is on his game.
00:35:50He can beat the best in the world.
00:35:52He's got such a relentless style.
00:35:54He is in your face.
00:35:56You know what you're going to get, but can you deal with it?
00:35:59Sean Strickland has done just about everything you can do to work his way back to a title fight.
00:36:05Oh!
00:36:07Anthony Hernandez on the ropes in round three!
00:36:10He goes down!
00:36:11Sean's all over him!
00:36:12There it is!
00:36:13Sean Strickland!
00:36:15Holds the fluffy winning streak at eight!
00:36:18What do you want next, Sean?
00:36:20I'd like a piece to that little chesty.
00:36:22Give me that title shot.
00:36:24You're going to see the last American in the sport going,
00:36:27that guy up.
00:36:28That's what's going to happen.
00:36:31He didn't, like, train with me,
00:36:33because I beat him up every day.
00:36:35So I meet him every day.
00:36:37He talks a lot,
00:36:39and he has to answer for that.
00:36:42It's bad for him,
00:36:43because I have to smash him.
00:36:46Oh, he's down!
00:36:47He's down!
00:36:48If he's scared, he's good.
00:36:50If not, we'll make it.
00:36:52There's the tip!
00:36:53Go what?
00:36:54No!
00:36:55Say something!
00:36:56Nothing he does, I haven't seen.
00:36:59If we do wrestle, I'm just going to get back up.
00:37:02Sean's not easy to take down,
00:37:03and he's harder to hold down.
00:37:05You're going to see him get frustrated,
00:37:07throw big punches, trying to hit me,
00:37:09and I'm just going to tag him at will.
00:37:12He's going to fall down.
00:37:13I'm going to keep hitting him.
00:37:15It's going to be a fourth, fifth round TKO.
00:37:17Grab him, kind of finish.
00:37:19Strickland said,
00:37:19I want to turn him into a punching bag,
00:37:21and that's exactly what he did.
00:37:24You're not going to beat me.
00:37:25I'm going to beat you up.
00:37:27You have only one thing.
00:37:28Just hope.
00:37:30That's it.
00:37:31You think you're tough, man.
00:37:33We'll see who handles Deepwater better.
00:37:35You're going to drown.
00:37:40Here we go, ladies and gentlemen,
00:37:42for all the marbles!
00:37:44Introducing the challenger,
00:37:47the former UFC middleweight champion of the world,
00:37:51Sean Strickland!
00:38:07Official weight!
00:38:10185 for the challenger!
00:38:22And his opponent!
00:38:25The reigning, defending, undisputed middleweight champion of the world,
00:38:31Hatsang Chimayev!
00:38:39Official weight!
00:38:41185 for the champion!
00:39:09All right, I'm here with Sean Strickland,
00:39:12the challenger, Sean.
00:39:14First of all, Sean, you make things very fun.
00:39:16You've done a lot of that.
00:39:18All the talk is done.
00:39:19Tomorrow, it comes down to an opportunity for you to regain your title.
00:39:22Give us your thoughts on this matchup,
00:39:24and what happens tomorrow night.
00:39:26I'll be fucking quick, you guys.
00:39:29This fucking coward tries to fucking kick me in the nuts like a fucking pussy.
00:39:35You're a fucking punk bitch.
00:39:38This fucking bitch didn't even make way, you cheating fuck.
00:39:43Fuck you, you son of a whore.
00:39:45Bitch!
00:39:47Ladies and gentlemen, Sean Strickland!
00:39:59All right, I'm with the champion, Hamzat Shumayev.
00:40:02Good to see you, sir.
00:40:06Hamzat, you've been involved in fights where there's been trash-talking before,
00:40:09but never like this.
00:40:11What is it about you and Sean Strickland that brings out this?
00:40:16I love this bullshit boy.
00:40:18I'm going to show you tomorrow night.
00:40:21Well, we can't wait for the fight.
00:40:23Good luck to you, sir.
00:40:24The champion, ladies and gentlemen.
00:40:27We'll see you all tomorrow night.
00:40:29Thank you for coming.
00:40:36Yes, everybody, very warm welcome back.
00:40:39You can just see us from the behind here.
00:40:41We're at the Paramount Plus desk.
00:40:42Good to have you with us.
00:40:43I'm Kate, Chris, Dustin, and DC.
00:40:45We've also got the UFC flyweight title holder, Joshua Vam, with us.
00:40:50You look like you've been enjoying the whole fight week.
00:40:52Has it been fun to be part of a crazy fight week like this?
00:40:57How much have you enjoyed being part of a crazy fight week like this,
00:41:01with all the bad blood, all the hostilities?
00:41:03It was great.
00:41:04It was great, especially the press conference.
00:41:06I didn't expect all that, but it was dope.
00:41:09Do you feel like it's taken the pressure off you somewhat?
00:41:12Yeah, look, in a way, in a way, yes.
00:41:15Oh, my gosh.
00:41:16And backstage, do you feel like it's real bad blood,
00:41:19or do you think they're playing around?
00:41:20I think it is real bad blood, you know,
00:41:23but I think they're not dumb enough to, you know, fight outside of the cage either.
00:41:27So I, because they're grown-ass men, man.
00:41:30I think they are dumb enough to fight outside the cage.
00:41:33I think, bro, they're keeping them at separate hotels.
00:41:36This fight week, it feels like a big fight week.
00:41:38This is a big match.
00:41:39It's a great position for you to be in.
00:41:41Defending your belt here, man.
00:41:42I'm excited for you.
00:41:43So I'm very, very excited, too.
00:41:45Yeah, I know you.
00:41:46Yes.
00:41:46Josh, when you think about the opportunity to help build your brand on this stage,
00:41:51have you allowed for yourself to think about that,
00:41:53what a great performance could do for you not only inside the octagon,
00:41:57keeping your championship belt, but ultimately raise your profile,
00:42:01and you become an even bigger star after this?
00:42:03Yeah, that's the main thing is to be myself in there.
00:42:07You know, I'm never in a boring fight anyway,
00:42:10so just go out, just go out there and have fun.
00:42:13Josh, do you think that when people look at this matchup,
00:42:17because they have not been able to see your grappling and your wrestling,
00:42:20that they worry?
00:42:21Because right now, he's a minus 175 favorite to your plus 140.
00:42:26First off, does that piss you off, being that you're the champion,
00:42:28you're the underdog?
00:42:29And secondly, are people overlooking the idea
00:42:32and the grappling skills that you have in possessing there?
00:42:35I think the world, they're going to find out soon enough, you know,
00:42:39so I don't really mind being the underdog, man.
00:42:42And what about the grappling and the wrestling?
00:42:44You haven't had to show it because you've been so good with your hands.
00:42:47Yeah, that's the thing, you know.
00:42:50Tomorrow, they're going to find out.
00:42:52What do you think you need to do to get your job done tomorrow night?
00:42:56Probably submit it, you know.
00:42:57You're going to submit it.
00:42:59Josh, could you imagine if you submitted this, man?
00:43:01Oh, my God.
00:43:02That would shut everybody up.
00:43:03Yeah, I might.
00:43:04Is there a chip on your shoulder?
00:43:07Because the way the fight happened with Pento is you became a champion,
00:43:09one of the youngest champions ever.
00:43:11But because of the injury and stuff,
00:43:13you haven't got the true love and the crowning of a champion like you deserve.
00:43:17Does it put a chip on your shoulder,
00:43:19and you want to show the world how good you are?
00:43:21Nah, man.
00:43:21I feel like everything happened for a reason, you know.
00:43:23And even with this matchup, man, you know,
00:43:25I did everything I can to this point.
00:43:28And, you know, whatever happened, happened.
00:43:30But I know for a fact I'm going to finish an inside three round.
00:43:35Like, when I was reading stuff about this fight card and your matchup,
00:43:38it's like the fans, people want you to legitimize the belt.
00:43:42But to me, obviously, you are the world and this beautiful world champion.
00:43:45I don't think, like, a win tomorrow night legitimizes the belt.
00:43:48It's already legitimate.
00:43:50You beat the champion to be the champion, you know.
00:43:52So this is a fun matchup.
00:43:53And I think he's well-rounded.
00:43:56And I'm with these guys, with the fans.
00:43:58Like, I want to see your grappling tested.
00:44:00I want to see your jiu-jitsu tested.
00:44:02Yeah, for sure.
00:44:03And, you know, Tesu is the guy that's going to test my ground game.
00:44:07And that's why I'm very, very excited for this fight.
00:44:09Yeah, we're all excited.
00:44:10Josh, when you stand in front of him, what do you feel, right?
00:44:13At 24, there's a youthful ignorance that you guys both have.
00:44:16You don't see the danger that is in front of you.
00:44:19But what do you feel when you step in front of him?
00:44:21He kind of got a little swagger to him a little bit.
00:44:23Be honest.
00:44:23He got that nice Chinese-style, Japanese-style, Japanese-style.
00:44:27He got a little swag, but you got swag.
00:44:30What do you see when you look at him?
00:44:31I don't know.
00:44:32It's just like a little brother, big brother thing, you know.
00:44:35He the little brother, Josh?
00:44:36Yeah, he the little brother.
00:44:37Josh, he 24 years old, though?
00:44:39It don't matter.
00:44:40I don't care.
00:44:41I believe I saw a stat earlier this week.
00:44:43This is the youngest, your ages combined, the youngest title fight ever.
00:44:48That's crazy.
00:44:48Yeah, man.
00:44:49Josh said, that's little bro.
00:44:50Little bro, yes.
00:44:51Wow, that's crazy.
00:44:52I like Joshua Vann.
00:44:52It does look young.
00:44:54Joshua Vann, 24 years old, man.
00:44:56No, no, no.
00:44:57Tetsuro Tyra looks young.
00:44:58He does.
00:44:58I know he's 26.
00:44:59Joshua Vann is the world champ.
00:45:00He can't even rent a car.
00:45:02Yeah, you can't get the insurance on the rental car.
00:45:04You got to be 25 years old.
00:45:05You can't rent a car, Josh.
00:45:06Joshua Vann can't even rent a car.
00:45:08That's a good point.
00:45:09DC will sign for you.
00:45:10DC will sign for you.
00:45:11I ain't signing for you either.
00:45:12I like my money.
00:45:14He might crash.
00:45:15He's always with his mom.
00:45:15His mom will sign for him.
00:45:16Bring the belt.
00:45:17Bring the belt with you.
00:45:18They'll let you get it.
00:45:21All the best for tomorrow.
00:45:22Have a good one.
00:45:23Thank you so much.
00:45:24We'll be back in just a second as well
00:45:25after this quick word from Mountain Dew.
00:45:27Bad boy.
00:45:29Mountain Dew was established in 1948.
00:45:32It's been a good time for a long time.
00:45:36Mountain Dew.
00:45:59The UFC 328 ceremonial weigh-ins are presented by Mountain Dew, an American original, tasting
00:46:06great since 48.
00:46:10Okay, everybody.
00:46:11Let's talk about the main event a little bit now that we've seen everybody weigh in.
00:46:15Of course, I guess, throughout the years, we've seen plenty of dominant wrestlers, haven't
00:46:19we?
00:46:19How has Chimayev, though, been able to overwhelm everybody at 185?
00:46:23Oh, my gosh.
00:46:24And at 170.
00:46:25I mean, since the beginning of his UFC career, he has done things in the UFC that I haven't
00:46:30seen before.
00:46:31One, like, on his feet, with the Gerald Mearshaw fight, we thought he was just a wrestler.
00:46:35Then he walks across the cage and knocks out Gerald Mearshaw, and I think I'm under, like,
00:46:3930 seconds.
00:46:40Immediate.
00:46:41So now he's showing that he's dangerous on the feet.
00:46:43You've got a guy like that who's staring you down before a fight.
00:46:46It's a nightmare.
00:46:46There was another fight.
00:46:47He was sitting on the top of the octagon before this Gilbert Burns fight.
00:46:51He's just super comfortable in the chaos.
00:46:53He brings the wrestling.
00:46:55He has the submission ability, and he can knock you out.
00:46:58In his last two fights, he has looked completely dominant.
00:47:01He chokes out Whitaker, completely crushes DDP.
00:47:04He was a multiple-time world champion in middleweight.
00:47:06Huge for the weight class.
00:47:07And there was always a question, is he as small as a welterweight going up to middleweight?
00:47:12To beat one of the biggest middleweights that we have seen is crazy.
00:47:17So what you have to do to make this seem like it could be a competitive fight, you have to
00:47:22go back a few years ago when he was fighting Gilbert Burns, when he was fighting Usman, because
00:47:27those fights, you saw a human side of him.
00:47:29You saw a little chink in the armor.
00:47:30He slowed down a little bit.
00:47:32There was takedowns that were stuffed.
00:47:33He was struggling on the feet against Gilbert Burns.
00:47:35So those are the fights, if we want to get excited about this fight, if we want to put
00:47:39money on Strickland, those are the fights you've got to go watch, because if you're
00:47:42looking at his last two fights with Whitaker and DDP, there's no shot.
00:47:46But also, you have to ask yourself, did the weight cuts take a little bit from his performances
00:47:51going into those fights that you talked about with Usman, with Gilbert Burns?
00:47:55You know, that's the only fights he's really had resistance in.
00:47:57He's been one-way trafficked the rest of his fights.
00:47:59I wonder if the weight cuts, you know, because he's a huge guy.
00:48:01He's having trouble.
00:48:02It looks like, you know, he's not making 185 easy.
00:48:05He talked about recently that this is going to be his last fight at middleweight.
00:48:09You know, like, regardless of what happens, he wants to go up to 205.
00:48:13I mean, you didn't leave any meat on the bone, and you came back?
00:48:16You want to say more?
00:48:18I mean, Jesus, Chris, we all work together.
00:48:20We got nothing to go.
00:48:22You want to go again?
00:48:23Bro, there's nobody that likes you.
00:48:26Back to you, Chris.
00:48:27Guys, let me talk about this, though.
00:48:30Hamza Chumayev, right?
00:48:31I always tell people, I go, hey, don't let a guy tell you a story about himself that is
00:48:36so great that you start to believe it and everybody else starts to believe it.
00:48:40But you know whose fault this is?
00:48:42The ability to control people.
00:48:44It's Gerald Mearshart.
00:48:45It's Lee Jing Li-ing.
00:48:46Then Robert Whitaker.
00:48:47Kevin Holland.
00:48:48All those guys that just allowed him to throw him down and submit him.
00:48:51It allowed for him to not only believe the story that he's telling, he started to implement
00:48:55and into the octagon, so now he's telling himself he's great.
00:48:58He can take anybody down.
00:49:00And then he's finding no resistance inside the octagon when he's trying.
00:49:03So now it's like people don't believe.
00:49:07They buy the story.
00:49:08He believes the story.
00:49:09So when he starts taking them down, that's just expected.
00:49:12You got to change the narrative.
00:49:14If you're Sean Strickland and you want a chance, but Hamza has been tremendous.
00:49:18He found some meat.
00:49:19See, there you go.
00:49:20That was good.
00:49:21I left some meat on that bone, huh?
00:49:23That was good.
00:49:25I tell you what, let's go downstairs because Megan Olivi is down there with Hamzat Shumayev.
00:49:29Megan.
00:49:30Well, thank you so much, guys.
00:49:31Hamzat, you just were so heated on stage with Sean Strickland, but you came over here
00:49:36and it was like nothing had really happened.
00:49:38Your ability to control your emotions really seems like a superpower right now
00:49:43because I would have no idea that that just happened on stage.
00:49:47What is that like for you?
00:49:48How do you manage that?
00:49:49They love me.
00:49:50Are you sure of them love back?
00:49:52Were you surprised the UFC didn't let you face off today?
00:49:54Were you hoping to get one final face off, or was it because of yesterday they kept you back?
00:49:59I don't know.
00:50:00I don't care about it.
00:50:01They actually think, you know, so tomorrow he has to fight.
00:50:04All shit he's talking about, like he's done now.
00:50:07So he has to be in the cage with me, you know?
00:50:10Yep.
00:50:10And you've done so much preparation in California.
00:50:12Hamzat, what did they bring out of you?
00:50:14Where do you feel like you'll be your best because of that camp?
00:50:18I don't care about anything, care camp, no camp.
00:50:21I just want to be in the cage and smash this guy.
00:50:23How do you spend the next 24 hours or so before you're able to get in the cage and smash
00:50:28that guy?
00:50:29Yeah, probably go back and eat some nice food and play some games.
00:50:35Fair enough.
00:50:36If you have to give me your prediction for what this looks like, Hamzat, what is it?
00:50:39They should accept Hamzat Chumayo in the cage.
00:50:41Excellent.
00:50:42We can't wait for it.
00:50:43Thank you so much, champ.
00:50:43We appreciate it.
00:50:44Guys?
00:50:45Kind of hard to read for me.
00:50:47Who is more emotional right now?
00:50:48Is it Hamzat Chumayo or Sean Strickland?
00:50:50Strickland.
00:50:50Strickland for sure.
00:50:51Strickland.
00:50:52But Chumayo is, he's an emotional guy.
00:50:54I think he's just holding it down.
00:50:57He's trying to stay calm and cool and collected before that fight actually happens.
00:51:00Because, like you see in that interview, he really, truly cannot wait to get into octagon.
00:51:04He loves to fight.
00:51:05There's a lot of guys who are very nervous before fights, me included.
00:51:08You know, you're stressing out the whole day.
00:51:09I think Shumayo is one of those guys who, he really, truly cannot wait to get in that octagon.
00:51:14Yeah.
00:51:15Some stuff is fabricated.
00:51:16Like, some guys are talking the talk.
00:51:20Shumayo is the real deal.
00:51:21Like, he really wants to fight.
00:51:22He can't wait.
00:51:23And Strickland wants to get it.
00:51:25You know, he wants to prove his point.
00:51:26He wants to represent for America.
00:51:28He wants to.
00:51:29This is real bad blood.
00:51:30That's what makes this fight so exciting.
00:51:32You know, Sean Strickland was mad, though.
00:51:33You could see that he was mad.
00:51:35He was mad that Hamzat tried to kick him.
00:51:38He was mad that they can't get close.
00:51:42He's mad about the whole build, honestly.
00:51:43So, when you look at emotional, at least on the outside, it's Sean Strickland.
00:51:48He's pissed.
00:51:49And, again, that's the beauty of MMA.
00:51:52You get to fight.
00:51:53These guys train together.
00:51:54Tonight, one of these guys is going to sleep knowing the truth of what happened in the training room.
00:51:58And that is one thing I think so many people are actually forgetting.
00:52:02They know what happened in that training room.
00:52:04One of these guys knows who got the better.
00:52:06But I think we could kind of read between the lines on what really happened.
00:52:09It sounds like that Strickland got submitted a couple times in some positional jiu-jitsu situations.
00:52:15But in, like, some light sparring that they did, it was kind of back and forth.
00:52:19And apparently, Chemaev got pissed off.
00:52:21And then Strickland asked him to go in the cage and do five rounds.
00:52:24And Chemaev didn't want to do a hard five rounds.
00:52:26So, they released a video of them sparring.
00:52:29And when I watched the video, I was like, well, what was the point of that?
00:52:32I didn't see anything.
00:52:33It was touch sparring.
00:52:34It was touch sparring, and nobody was dominating the other.
00:52:36But I think that they're so mad at each other, and they want to prove that I'm the better guy,
00:52:41that it's like, well, look, I hit him twice, and he only hit me once.
00:52:45But it's like, there was nothing to take from that.
00:52:47So, I still don't know what happened.
00:52:48I asked Sean.
00:52:49I go, Sean, what happened?
00:52:50How did it get so ugly?
00:52:52And he goes, he's always been him, and I've always disliked him.
00:52:55Even when we were training, because he's always trying to go hard when you weren't supposed to go hard.
00:53:00I can't wait, man.
00:53:02They're two very different types of fighters, aren't they, right?
00:53:05What Chemaev is to control, Strickland is to volume.
00:53:08He's looking for his 11th UFC fight now with 100-plus significant strikes.
00:53:12Is striking the only route for him to victory in this fight?
00:53:16Yeah, I don't see him submitting Chemaev on the ground.
00:53:19I think he's got to stop takedowns.
00:53:21He's got to, you know, stay on his feet as long as possible, start walking down Chemaev, and test the
00:53:25cardio.
00:53:25Bring him into deep water, like the Deep Water podcast.
00:53:28Just like the podcast.
00:53:29Yes, absolutely.
00:53:30Every Monday, we talk about all these things.
00:53:32Yes, you've got to love that.
00:53:33He does the more shameless plugs than anybody I know, so I'm joining the party.
00:53:37But listen, Strickland is the type of guy where this might be the worst matchup you could give a wrestler.
00:53:44He's very experienced.
00:53:45He's very tough.
00:53:46He's very hard to hit on the feet.
00:53:47And he is known for being able to stop takedowns after takedowns, being able to get up to his feet
00:53:52and not getting tired.
00:53:53And if you had to draw up a guy who's a tough matchup for Chemaev, it is Sean Strickland.
00:53:57So, you know, for the odds where they're at, like, this is the toughest matchup that the UFC in the
00:54:02middleweight division could give to Chemaev.
00:54:04And he's still such a huge favorite.
00:54:05The question going into this, for me, man, is, like, it's not if he's going to be taken down.
00:54:10He's going to be taken down.
00:54:11Can he build back up, get to the feet, use the fence, keep the fight standing, and do the work?
00:54:17Because if he can make Kamzat struggle to hold him down for five rounds, I do believe Kamzat's going to
00:54:22slow down.
00:54:23Yeah.
00:54:23Hang on.
00:54:23You have some inside information because one of your boys trains with Strickland every day.
00:54:28My boy Johnny Eblen, who's a legitimate wrestler, legitimate high-level middleweight, says he's tough to keep down.
00:54:34And this is coming from a guy who's wrestled his whole life and has a lot of experience.
00:54:37He said it's true.
00:54:38Because he's not a believer.
00:54:40His gas tank is good, and his get-ups are good.
00:54:43He's hard to keep down.
00:54:44You can get him down, but can you keep him down?
00:54:46But, see, that is where the problem is.
00:54:49That, for me, is where the problem is.
00:54:51It's not about you can get him down.
00:54:54He has to make it hard to get taken down.
00:54:57It doesn't matter if you get up if the takedowns are easy.
00:55:00The energy is spent whenever you're trying to put the effort to get somebody to the ground.
00:55:05Every time you hit somebody with a double leg and they just fall, that's easy.
00:55:08If they get back up, sure, I can take them back down.
00:55:11It's about making him grab a single leg, making him try to move you around.
00:55:14You stuff his head.
00:55:15You sprawl.
00:55:16You defend.
00:55:17And he has to do this.
00:55:19And reset.
00:55:20Yeah.
00:55:20That's where you get somebody tired in the wrestling.
00:55:22It's not them take you down and you get back up.
00:55:24It's you making it hard for him to even secure the takedown.
00:55:28And I hope that's where Sean Strickland has been spending his time to make this hard Bahamas at Shemaya.
00:55:32But I think he even said it was hard to take down Strickland and sparring, but he could get him
00:55:36down.
00:55:36But the problem is when you do get him down, he's getting back up to his feet.
00:55:39So that's the thing.
00:55:41The hard is what's going to be key for him staying in this fight.
00:55:45Because everybody says, well, he's going to get tired because he got tired against Usman.
00:55:48He did get tired.
00:55:49He got tired against Gilbert Burns.
00:55:50But in the third round against Gilbert Burns, I think he might have fought one of his best rounds of
00:55:54the entire season.
00:55:55It's about pushing him to a point that in the third and fourth, he isn't willing to attempt the takedowns.
00:56:02That is when Sean Strickland has a chance to become the world champion.
00:56:06Go ahead.
00:56:07No, I just think Sean needs to get it done, I think, later rounds.
00:56:11Like you said, give the resistance.
00:56:13Make him have trouble.
00:56:14Make him have to chain wrestle.
00:56:15Go to a single.
00:56:16Back to a double.
00:56:17Make him work.
00:56:17And then the thing with Kamzai, when he gets you down, it's almost like he puts it on cruise control.
00:56:22His body lock, his riding is so high level.
00:56:25The guys just can't get away.
00:56:26But if you can get away, I think the first round, the first takedown is going to tell the story
00:56:30of the whole fight.
00:56:31I agree.
00:56:31I want to ask you guys a question.
00:56:35So, Drake's duplessis didn't get damaged in that last fight.
00:56:38There was a lot of control, but not much damage.
00:56:39Do you think Sean Strickland takes confidence in that?
00:56:42Knowing, like, hey, it's a tough fight, but there's not that much danger unless he submits me.
00:56:46I mean, you also could look at the Whitaker fight and be like, oh, that looks pretty painful.
00:56:51But again, it was from a submission.
00:56:52He's not landing brutal ground.
00:56:54I think that's the biggest problem is his submissions.
00:56:56We know pretty surely that he did get submitted in training.
00:57:00He knows about his Darce chokes and his rear naked chokes.
00:57:02These different things are probably the things that Strickland is thinking about late at night.
00:57:06But to Dustin's point, right, it's the control.
00:57:08And you even said it.
00:57:10Hamzat doesn't get good ground and pound off because he wants control so he doesn't posture up and give space.
00:57:15Because when he gives space, he loses his opponent.
00:57:17So he'd rather hold you down.
00:57:19I wonder if Strickland's not taking the comfort in knowing I'm not going to get my face beat in when
00:57:25I'm on my back,
00:57:26so I'm okay being there.
00:57:27Are you saying that's how you would feel?
00:57:29I would not be as worried about the ground and pound.
00:57:32I would be worried about getting submitted.
00:57:34So stay safe there and then work my way back to my feet if I was fighting Chimaia.
00:57:38I want to talk to you guys about the co-main as well.
00:57:40A really interesting flyweight title bout.
00:57:42We had Joshua Vann sit up here with us.
00:57:44Tatsuro Tyra is his first title defense.
00:57:48Joshua Vann is so busy in there.
00:57:49He holds the highest significant strike rate in any division in UFC history.
00:57:53Can you kind of paint that picture for us of how it took him to UFC gold?
00:57:56Well, he's tremendous.
00:57:57I mean, he started this thing really young.
00:57:59He's an amazing boxer.
00:58:00Kate, this is from your world.
00:58:01Andre Ward came to watch a fight and said to me,
00:58:04this kid has the best boxing in the UFC across any division, any weight class, men or women.
00:58:10I don't see anyone that boxes at the level of a Joshua Vann.
00:58:14His footwork is amazing.
00:58:16The reason he has not had to show his takedown defense and his grappling
00:58:19is because he moves so well on his feet.
00:58:21If you get a high-level boxer that comes into the octagon and the way that they move,
00:58:26if they can stay out of the traps that we said as wrestlers, you can't take them down.
00:58:30So we have not had to see him do much off of his back.
00:58:33But when you talk about the striking, the skills, the power at 125 pounds,
00:58:38Joshua Vann is second to none.
00:58:40I'm with you on that.
00:58:40His footwork's great.
00:58:41His combinations are tight, crisp.
00:58:43He keeps himself safe, high shoulders, high hands.
00:58:45He does a great job of being on offense and still having a little bit of defense there.
00:58:50That's hard to do.
00:58:50That's a balance guys have trouble finding, to be able to do the damage
00:58:53but also dodge the damage.
00:58:55It's a fine art that he's mastered.
00:58:58He reminds me of an Ilya Tepori of the flyweight division,
00:59:01just how balanced he is, the way he moves his head on his feet,
00:59:04how he can knock out anybody at any time in the flyweight division,
00:59:07which you don't see those smaller guys being able to put people away,
00:59:09and that's what he brings to the table.
00:59:11It's all going to come down to how is his takedown defense,
00:59:14how is his grappling matchup against a guy like Tetsuro Taira?
00:59:17Can Taira actually just spam takedowns, though?
00:59:19Can he just randomly throw takedowns, or he has to strike in there to set Vann up.
00:59:23And he's got fast hands.
00:59:25But that's the danger.
00:59:26You know who else has great boxing?
00:59:27Brandon Moreno, and he passed that test.
00:59:30Yes, he did.
00:59:30And great grappling.
00:59:32And great jiu-jitsu.
00:59:33Exactly.
00:59:33You're right.
00:59:34Wow.
00:59:35All right, so if we're talking about Tetsuro Taira,
00:59:36this would be the first, or he could potentially become the first UFC champion from Japan
00:59:41if he gets that win tomorrow.
00:59:42That is just huge, obviously, for his nation,
00:59:44knowing that he's carrying kind of all of that responsibility.
00:59:47How did he get to that position, such a historic position at such a young age?
00:59:51Matching expectation, right?
00:59:52From the moment that Tetsuro Taira showed up,
00:59:54we saw him and started saying,
00:59:55this kid has potential to be a world champion.
00:59:57You saw in his skill set.
00:59:59You saw in his striking.
01:00:01And then when he would get the fight to the ground,
01:00:02you saw a tremendous grappler.
01:00:04But a young kid that came here with expectation from the very start,
01:00:08and then the ability to rebuild.
01:00:10Because in the midst of all this, right, going 18-1,
01:00:13he lost the fight, and it looked like people may have figured him out.
01:00:16He went back to the drawing board.
01:00:18He is now training in Colorado with Corey Sanhagen to get better,
01:00:22and he improved.
01:00:23And since he improved, he went out there with Brandon Moreno.
01:00:26Christian, you and I talked about this on the weigh-in show.
01:00:28When Brandon Moreno was giving him trouble submitting him,
01:00:30he locked in a body triangle and put him flat on his face.
01:00:33A former world champion and locked him there until he could finish.
01:00:36And Moreno couldn't move.
01:00:37He could not move.
01:00:38And you want to talk about hard-grounded pounds?
01:00:40Holy smokes.
01:00:41Stopped him there.
01:00:41Stopped him from that position.
01:00:42And the fight before that submitted somebody.
01:00:44So he can do it all.
01:00:45He's well-rounded.
01:00:46I said that at the beginning of the show.
01:00:47He's a complete mixed martial artist.
01:00:49And Joshua Van, we need to see if he's there, if he can do it all.
01:00:52Of course, he can punch.
01:00:53He has good footwork.
01:00:54But can he stop the submissions?
01:00:55Can he stop the takedowns?
01:00:57That's the question.
01:00:58Yeah, we just haven't seen as much out of Van
01:01:00like we have seen out of Tatsuo Taira.
01:01:02Van is one of my favorite guys to watch fight.
01:01:04His stand-up is unbelievable.
01:01:06And then I start watching Tatsuo Taira, and I'm like, oh, my gosh.
01:01:09He's really good.
01:01:09He is so good.
01:01:10He's just so fast.
01:01:12He's young, too.
01:01:13He's got heavy hands.
01:01:14He's dropped a bunch of guys in the UFC already.
01:01:15And then when he takes you down, he's not.
01:01:17He could armbar you.
01:01:18He could rear naked choke you.
01:01:20He could belly you down.
01:01:21He could belly you down and finish you with a TKO.
01:01:24He really has so many weapons in every part of this game.
01:01:29Guys, if we dive into this matchup a little bit deeper,
01:01:32this is brought to you by Mountain Dew, an American original tasting great since 48.
01:01:36So we've got a few topics for you here.
01:01:37First one is, does Josh Van need a dominant victory to validate his flyweight title?
01:01:43Who wants to go first?
01:01:44I'll go first because that's why I brought it up when he was sitting here.
01:01:46That seems like the storyline, everything I hear, everything I read,
01:01:49is he needs to validate the belt.
01:01:50He is the world champion.
01:01:52He's not attempting to become the world champion.
01:01:54He's defending his belt.
01:01:55He's already validated.
01:01:57He's in the history books as an undisputed flyweight world champion.
01:01:59The craziest thing for me is that we are still living by something Ric Flair told us.
01:02:04Guys, Ric Flair said, to be the man, you've got to beat the man.
01:02:07And then Ric Flair said, you're not a champion until you defend the belt.
01:02:11They decided in the back rooms, well, Ric, you're getting the title tonight.
01:02:14You don't have to fight for it.
01:02:15We're deciding it.
01:02:16We've got to stop listening to the nature boy, man.
01:02:18He's the champion.
01:02:19He doesn't need to validate anything.
01:02:21He just needs to go out there and fight.
01:02:22He just needs to win.
01:02:24It's not about dominant.
01:02:25But if we know Joshua Vann, when he does win, it looks very impressive.
01:02:30And if he just does what he does, that's enough.
01:02:32But, man, we've got to stop listening to nature, man.
01:02:35This is crazy.
01:02:36That's where that came from.
01:02:36That's where that came from, bro.
01:02:37You're not a true champion until you defend the belt.
01:02:38Until you defend the belt.
01:02:39And to be the man, you've got to beat the man.
01:02:41This is what Ric Flair started yelling in 1985.
01:02:43Wow.
01:02:44Yeah, I think.
01:02:45Hold this ride.
01:02:45Longest line.
01:02:49Yeah, no, I obviously think he's obviously the champion, you know, and he deserves that.
01:02:54But I don't think he needs to completely dominate this fight.
01:02:57He's coming into this fight as an underdog, you know, for a reason.
01:02:59Because Tatsuu Taira is that good.
01:03:01He needs to get the job done.
01:03:02And to make, put the cherry on top of this sundae, he does need to fight Pantoja again.
01:03:07And he puts that behind him.
01:03:09I mean, we're going to have a long run with this kid at the top.
01:03:13But that's a story for another day.
01:03:14They need to get him and Van and Taira in there tomorrow.
01:03:18Let's see who's the champion of the world.
01:03:19Pantoja we can deal with down the line when he's healthy.
01:03:22But right now, it's about these two young men, young men, and seeing who's the best flyweight in the world
01:03:27available to us right now.
01:03:29And I think that we have a tremendous fight on our hands.
01:03:31It's also kind of a story for right now because topic number two is, regardless of the outcome of this
01:03:36fight, is the number one Pantoja next.
01:03:39No immediate rematch.
01:03:40However good this fight is, we want to see the Pantoja fight next.
01:03:42Yeah, I think he deserves it, man.
01:03:44He's got one of the most defenses in the flyweight division since Demetrius Johnson.
01:03:48He was so dominant.
01:03:50And it just sucks the way that last fight ended.
01:03:52So, yeah, I think he deserves a rematch.
01:03:54He deserves a title shot no matter who wins this fight.
01:03:57I'm with you on that.
01:03:57No matter what happens tomorrow night, whoever leaves with the belt, no matter how crazy the fight is, how close
01:04:02it is, Pantoja has to be next.
01:04:04Pantoja better be sitting there hoping it's not a crazy fight.
01:04:07Because if that fight is amazing, and it's one of those barn burners that everybody's standing and going crazy, they'll
01:04:13be like, yo, we should run this back.
01:04:15Yeah, I don't think so.
01:04:17I'm trying to tell you.
01:04:18That's not happening.
01:04:18You guys don't.
01:04:19Are you crazy?
01:04:20You've never seen it?
01:04:21I've seen it.
01:04:22We've seen it time and time again.
01:04:23But when the fight's so good, you go, we've got to see it again.
01:04:26If there's some controversy in the close fight, if this fight is what we expect it to be tomorrow, yes,
01:04:33Pantoja deserves.
01:04:34But, hell, he wouldn't be the first person that deserves that doesn't get to fight for a championship in the
01:04:39UFC.
01:04:39But you don't get more controversy than the Pantoja injury in the first round.
01:04:43Joshua Van caught the kick, bro.
01:04:45He threw him to the ground, and he hurt himself.
01:04:47He didn't just fall, Chris.
01:04:48He got a defensive action, caused the injury.
01:04:52Look, Pantoja's special.
01:04:53When we started talking about, well, is he the best of all time?
01:04:57When Demetrius Johnson exists, that tells you how good the work he was putting on paper absolutely was.
01:05:03And I'm telling you, bro, he better be out there hoping this ain't an all-time war.
01:05:07Because if it's an all-time war, there'll be some questions.
01:05:10That'd be crazy.
01:05:11An all-time war that goes to a split decision.
01:05:13You don't think they're going to do it again?
01:05:15I'm trying to tell you.
01:05:16Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:05:16I'm trying to tell you.
01:05:17I told you before.
01:05:18I didn't convince Dustin.
01:05:19I didn't convince Dustin.
01:05:20I didn't convince Dustin.
01:05:21He sold me.
01:05:22I bought it.
01:05:23I bought it.
01:05:23I bought it.
01:05:24Oh, my God.
01:05:25We got some interesting heavyweight action on this card as well.
01:05:27Here's a snapshot for you of the top heavyweights in the UFC right now.
01:05:31We've got the champion, Tom Aspinall, still recovering from his eye injury.
01:05:35Cyril Gann welcomes Alex Pereira to the heavyweight division at UFC Freedom 250.
01:05:41Going to be an interesting one.
01:05:42and then another two top heavyweights throwing down tomorrow.
01:05:45So, DC, talk to me.
01:05:47What should we expect when Alexander Volkov meets Uwaldo Cortes Acosta?
01:05:51This is a good one.
01:05:52Look at it.
01:05:52He put his hand on his shoulder to try to sun him.
01:05:54Cortes Acosta gets mad like me.
01:05:56Get your hands off my shoulder.
01:05:58But look at the beautiful hair of Volkov.
01:06:00Wow.
01:06:01It's majestic.
01:06:01Look, it's majestic.
01:06:02Lion's mane.
01:06:04Look, you are talking about two of the best heavyweights in the world.
01:06:06I expect Cortes Acosta to be athletic as he is every time he steps to the octagon.
01:06:11Fight behind a beautiful jab and tremendous boxing.
01:06:13And I expect Volkov to try to use his length to try and secure another victory.
01:06:18The one thing about Volkov is he's been very good for a really long time.
01:06:23The fact that he has not fought for the UFC Championship yet is very surprising.
01:06:26But I believe what they win over Cortes Acosta, it moves him closer.
01:06:31Unfortunately for him, this isn't a new situation.
01:06:34The heavyweight division is in flux.
01:06:36We still have the champ, Tom Aspinall.
01:06:38If he's ready to fight by the end of the year, he will.
01:06:41But if he isn't, that may be the opportunity that he has to fight for the championship belt.
01:06:45Whoever wins, I think if the champ's not ready by the end of the year,
01:06:49they'll finally get their opportunity.
01:06:51By the end of the year, you think?
01:06:52By the end of the year.
01:06:53So typically you have a number two ranked, number four ranked guy.
01:06:55This is a number one contender fight.
01:06:57But this heavyweight division is so confusing right now.
01:06:59You got Aspinall who's got his eye injuries that he's dealing with.
01:07:01You got Pereira and Ghan going against each other.
01:07:04And then you got Hoken, this new star coming into the picture with a big win at the White House
01:07:09card.
01:07:10I mean, he's number five already.
01:07:11He's thrown himself into the picture.
01:07:13And the stories are the fights that people want to see.
01:07:16And that guy tells a story.
01:07:18And I wouldn't be surprised if that guy throws a monkey wrench into this fight with these guys getting a
01:07:22title.
01:07:22Wow.
01:07:22I love where the heavyweight division's at right now.
01:07:24It's becoming the division again.
01:07:26You know how we go through, like, phases?
01:07:28Yeah.
01:07:29Where it was the welterweight division for a long time when GSP was around.
01:07:32Then it was the 205 when you and Jones were there.
01:07:34But the heavyweight division is coming back strong.
01:07:36We have new contenders.
01:07:37We have new players.
01:07:38We got people like Hockett who's walking out here with his shirt off.
01:07:42They won't even let him face off.
01:07:43They're about to whip his butt up there.
01:07:45Right.
01:07:46All the vets are about to take him out.
01:07:48Heavyweight is fun again.
01:07:49Yes, it is.
01:07:50Yes, it is.
01:07:50One man who's always made it fun is Derek Lewis.
01:07:52He's with Megan O'Leary.
01:07:55Well, thank you so much, guys.
01:07:56Derek, what do you make of that press conference that just happened?
01:08:01I don't know.
01:08:01It was crazy.
01:08:02It was probably one of the craziest press conference I was a part of.
01:08:06Yeah.
01:08:07Josh saying anything that riled you up in any way?
01:08:11It was hard for us back here to hear anything that was actually going on.
01:08:14Yeah, I really couldn't hear nothing he was saying.
01:08:16I really couldn't.
01:08:17I tried.
01:08:18I couldn't.
01:08:19What do you think the lead-up for the rest of the time as we get to June 14th is
01:08:23going
01:08:23to be like with an opponent like that?
01:08:26Hopefully it's peaceful.
01:08:27You know, I'm a peaceful man.
01:08:29I don't want no trouble with nobody.
01:08:31So hopefully it's all peaceful.
01:08:33You're a peaceful man, and you're the president of the United States, one of his favorite fighters.
01:08:37That's essentially what got you on this card.
01:08:39He wanted you there.
01:08:40Did you ever think that would be a sentence that was said about you?
01:08:44Not at all.
01:08:46My whole life story, somebody needed to write a book or something, a documentary or something
01:08:52about my life.
01:08:53It's just crazy.
01:08:55If you have a movie about you, who's going to play you, Derek?
01:08:58If they have a movie about me, I think Uber Ederich or something like that should play me.
01:09:04That's it.
01:09:05Makes total sense.
01:09:06Makes total sense.
01:09:06Okay, let's go back to the fight.
01:09:08You know, in terms of an opponent in Josh Hokett, what really do you see from him, especially
01:09:13in those last couple of outings?
01:09:15I really never watched none of his fights, so I really don't know.
01:09:18I don't even know nothing about him, but I heard that he's just a clown, that's all.
01:09:22Fair enough.
01:09:23What about your preparation?
01:09:25What's this camp looking like?
01:09:26How are you getting ready for UFC Freedom 250?
01:09:29Yeah, this camp here, I'm just focused on getting my weight down, not really cutting weight,
01:09:34just losing weight.
01:09:35That's like the hardest part for me, because it affects me, especially my last fight, it affects
01:09:41me.
01:09:42What about the setting for this fight?
01:09:44It's really unique.
01:09:45You're going to be fighting outside.
01:09:46It's a unique mixture in the crowd, a limited amount of people actually there on site as
01:09:53well.
01:09:53What are your thoughts about that?
01:09:55It's pretty cool.
01:09:56I started my career fighting outside, so it wouldn't be no stranger to me.
01:10:01I had more fights outside than in the octagon, so it's going to be awesome.
01:10:05I absolutely love that.
01:10:07Derek, we appreciate your time as always.
01:10:09Good luck to you as you prepare for this fight.
01:10:10We can't wait for it.
01:10:12Thank you.
01:10:13Guys, back to you.
01:10:15He said, I really don't know too much about Josh Hokett.
01:10:18Do you buy that?
01:10:19I buy it.
01:10:20You do?
01:10:20I don't think Derek Lewis is the guy who's watching fights, and Josh Hokett's just new
01:10:25on the scene.
01:10:26He's fresh.
01:10:26So I don't think he really knows much about it at all.
01:10:28He made some noise, though.
01:10:29Yeah, he believes.
01:10:30Now he knows him.
01:10:31He knows who he is.
01:10:32Because he just beat Curtis Blades.
01:10:34The only reason he's ranked so high is because he beat the number four ranked guy in the world
01:10:38in his third fight in the UFC.
01:10:40If he doesn't know, that's a huge mistake by Derek Lewis.
01:10:44You've got to know kids like this if you're in the division.
01:10:47Every time.
01:10:48But I think he's a different type of beast.
01:10:50But I'll tell you this much.
01:10:51He just knocks people out.
01:10:51He doesn't care.
01:10:52I'll tell you this much.
01:10:53As the champion, when Volkan Uzdemir got into the UFC and he knocked out Jimmy Manoa,
01:10:59I was like, whoa, he's pretty good.
01:11:01And I was like, who is this?
01:11:03And the next thing you know, two fights later, I'm fighting him.
01:11:06You have to pay attention to those guys like that that make an impact immediately.
01:11:10Can Josh Hulky do anything to disturb him?
01:11:12Or is he just not that kind of guy you can get under his skin?
01:11:15I don't think he's going to get under his skin.
01:11:16I don't think so.
01:11:17Yeah, that, I don't know if he'll get under his skin.
01:11:19But I do know that he's paying attention.
01:11:21But they're not going to let Derek Lewis close to him on a stare down for a reason.
01:11:24You know, who knows?
01:11:26One of those hands start flying.
01:11:28It's a problem.
01:11:29It's not a shot to the nuts.
01:11:31He's strewn over him.
01:11:32Oh, you guys, you can catch every single second of the action tomorrow
01:11:35on Paramount+.
01:11:36So please do make sure that you join me and the guys at 4 Eastern for the pre-show.
01:11:40Early prelims start at 5.
01:11:42Late prelims at 7.
01:11:44The main card is at 9.
01:11:45And we're going to be back with the post-show right after the championship main event.
01:11:49We'll be back in 30 seconds with this message from Mountain Dew.
01:11:54Mountain Dew was established in 1948.
01:11:57It's been a good time for a long time.
01:12:02Mountain Dew!
01:12:26The UFC 328 weigh-ins are presented by Mountain Dew, an American original, tasting great since 48.
01:12:35All right, guys, before we do wrap this up here, I just want to ask you guys about kind
01:12:39of like the next 24 hours for the fighters on this card or for you guys, how you handled
01:12:43it personally when you had 24 hours to go until fight time.
01:12:46What was it like, Chris?
01:12:47You know, so it was always the weight cut I'm thinking about, right?
01:12:50Because that's the first big test and the first fight that you have to deal with.
01:12:53And then it's the ceremonial weigh-ins.
01:12:56And then, so you're still not nervous.
01:12:58Then it's the dinner with all your friends, your teammates.
01:13:01You do that.
01:13:02And it's by the, by like, maybe, like as you're like halfway through that meal starts hitting
01:13:06you.
01:13:06Oh, crap.
01:13:07It's happening.
01:13:08It's tomorrow.
01:13:09And things are going to get real.
01:13:10So as you get back to the room, you try not to think about it too much and try to
01:13:13get a good
01:13:14night's sleep.
01:13:15Yeah, like you said, your main focus is making weight.
01:13:18So it kind of takes all the fight thinking out of it.
01:13:21You just focus on making weight, the struggle of the weight cut, doing all that.
01:13:24But once you get off the scale, get rehydrated, go to the dinner, like Chris said, go back
01:13:27to your hotel, back to your B&B, Airbnb, whatever you're doing, then reality sets in.
01:13:32It's like, I have to fight this guy tomorrow.
01:13:34Yep, absolutely.
01:13:34You just got to separate yourself from, you know what's coming.
01:13:37You know what's about to happen.
01:13:38So you try to distract yourself, deal with other things around you, and keep your mind off of
01:13:43the fight.
01:13:44And eventually, you go out there and you fight.
01:13:45And you step in there and you realize somebody's got to die.
01:13:48It ain't going to be me tonight.
01:13:51You guys, by the way, we're sitting right under the AC, and Dustin is about to develop
01:13:54a mild case of hypothermia.
01:13:55Can we give him a hug?
01:13:56I'm trying to hold it together.
01:13:57Can you give him a hug?
01:13:58We need a blanket.
01:13:59All right, everybody, that is it from us.
01:14:00We do hope that you join us tomorrow for the pre-show at 7 Eastern only on Paramount+.
01:14:05Have a great evening, everybody.
01:14:06We'll see you tomorrow.
01:14:19Mountain Dew was established in 1948.
01:14:22It's been a good time for a long time.
01:14:26Mountain Dew!
01:14:45An American Original. Tasting great since 48.
Kommentare