It is Monday, October seventh, twenty nineteen, and it is time for Morning Combat. Hi, donks, how are you doing? My name is Luke Thomas. I'm the host of this program, and do my eyes deceive me? The iceman is here, Chuck Lindenhall, Hot, Chuck.

It is Monday, October seventh, twenty nineteen, and it is time for Morning Combat. Hi, donks, how are you doing? My name is Luke Thomas. I'm the host of this program, and do my eyes deceive me? The iceman is here, Chuck Lindenhall, Hot, Chuck.

What's up man? The old team back together?

What's up man? The old team back together?

The old team, well to the only part of the team that matters, that's right, slapstick. Brian Campbell is on vacation, probably some all inclusive resorts, sneezing on the buffet, which is what his favorite thing to do is. But you are here, my friend. You did not go to Australia.

The old team, well to the only part of the team that matters, that's right, slapstick. Brian Campbell is on vacation, probably some all inclusive resorts, sneezing on the buffet, which is what his favorite thing to do is. But you are here, my friend. You did not go to Australia.

Album imagine not No, thank god?

Album imagine not No, thank god?

I think I just before the show, I saw a tweet from Ben Folks being like I just landed in America.

I think I just before the show, I saw a tweet from Ben Folks being like I just landed in America.

Saw the same thing from John Anick Man. I'm like, no, thanks.

Saw the same thing from John Anick Man. I'm like, no, thanks.

I don't know how Anik does it.

I don't know how Anik does it.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know how he does it, but you know I know how we do it the best way possible. We got a lot to get to it on today's show, so obviously YOUFC two forty three, Triple dre Triple G, Chip, Triple G, Deavin Chenko and a little pot pourri of other combat sports. Top is ready to get going.

I don't know how he does it, but you know I know how we do it the best way possible. We got a lot to get to it on today's show, so obviously YOUFC two forty three, Triple dre Triple G, Chip, Triple G, Deavin Chenko and a little pot pourri of other combat sports. Top is ready to get going.

Let's go.

Let's go.

All right, let's do it. So first order of business, We're gonna break this down into different pieces. Let's go piece by piece. The first one is this, we have a new middleweight champion, ladies and gentlemen. Israel Atasanya defeats via Ko Robert Whitaker in the second round of UFC two forty three in front of their putitive largest crowd ever fifty seven thousand. Jock how they announced that. It's like, yeah, here's a specific number and a specific number, and a specific number, and then just a little bit bigger non specific number in any of it they did. It was fifty seven thousand and some change. And it was an unbelievable performance by Israel Attasania. He look. I said this on Twitter, Chuck. It was one of his easier fights. Which isn't to say that Whittaker is an easy fight, but in terms of like losing around or getting hurt, it was. It was not one of those things. In fact, this is where I want to start the show. Biggest takeaway from the fight for me, it is merely that is we'll talk about his ascendancy and comparisons to other greats who have made their way through the ranks. But just as someone who watches this guy, it's just you just have to marvel his athleticism and his body control. You know, he's not Anderson Silva, but he feels like the prototype of what Anderson Silva meant to us. Remember when Anderson Silva fought Forced Griffin and he was ducking and dodge and everyone called it the matrix. Where here he is leaning and throwing hooks and they're putting away, not some chump Robert Whittaker who was the champion. It was remarkable to watch a guy like this, and then he had his whole dance routine. It is just nice to see a young athlete in their prime with this kind of physicality who can be not not a new Anderson Silva, but again to our new generation, a new version of what that meant to me.

All right, let's do it. So first order of business, We're gonna break this down into different pieces. Let's go piece by piece. The first one is this, we have a new middleweight champion, ladies and gentlemen. Israel Atasanya defeats via Ko Robert Whitaker in the second round of UFC two forty three in front of their putitive largest crowd ever fifty seven thousand. Jock how they announced that. It's like, yeah, here's a specific number and a specific number, and a specific number, and then just a little bit bigger non specific number in any of it they did. It was fifty seven thousand and some change. And it was an unbelievable performance by Israel Attasania. He look. I said this on Twitter, Chuck. It was one of his easier fights. Which isn't to say that Whittaker is an easy fight, but in terms of like losing around or getting hurt, it was. It was not one of those things. In fact, this is where I want to start the show. Biggest takeaway from the fight for me, it is merely that is we'll talk about his ascendancy and comparisons to other greats who have made their way through the ranks. But just as someone who watches this guy, it's just you just have to marvel his athleticism and his body control. You know, he's not Anderson Silva, but he feels like the prototype of what Anderson Silva meant to us. Remember when Anderson Silva fought Forced Griffin and he was ducking and dodge and everyone called it the matrix. Where here he is leaning and throwing hooks and they're putting away, not some chump Robert Whittaker who was the champion. It was remarkable to watch a guy like this, and then he had his whole dance routine. It is just nice to see a young athlete in their prime with this kind of physicality who can be not not a new Anderson Silva, but again to our new generation, a new version of what that meant to me.

Man, it was almost it was like a coming of age in a strange sense, Like here's a guy who plans, first of all, to even plan that kind of dance routine in a situation where you're going out in the biggest fight of your career like that, and you know, you could you could be roundly mocked if that goes hey wire right off the bat, But he goes and does that. He was great all week. I think he met every media obligation. You know, he was doing all that. So he's very good up front of a fight. But he gets in there and I feel like he's one of those guys who in the escalation of the moment, he raises the bar for himself in each instance, knowing that he's going to clear it, and it's him showing the world when he goes in there and he does something like this. I think there was a lot more doubt on this fight, obviously because of Robert Whitaker. There was a lot of talk about hey man, both those guys in their previous fights were willing to die. That means they're going to be willing to die as they collide into this fight, and that seemed like it could be you're watching the most brute It could turn into a very brutal affair.

Man, it was almost it was like a coming of age in a strange sense, Like here's a guy who plans, first of all, to even plan that kind of dance routine in a situation where you're going out in the biggest fight of your career like that, and you know, you could you could be roundly mocked if that goes hey wire right off the bat, But he goes and does that. He was great all week. I think he met every media obligation. You know, he was doing all that. So he's very good up front of a fight. But he gets in there and I feel like he's one of those guys who in the escalation of the moment, he raises the bar for himself in each instance, knowing that he's going to clear it, and it's him showing the world when he goes in there and he does something like this. I think there was a lot more doubt on this fight, obviously because of Robert Whitaker. There was a lot of talk about hey man, both those guys in their previous fights were willing to die. That means they're going to be willing to die as they collide into this fight, and that seemed like it could be you're watching the most brute It could turn into a very brutal affair.

He didn't make it that way.

He didn't make it that way.

He made it a showcase for himself against a guy who nobody showcases on or hasn't traditionally done that. And to me, Man, I was like I'm in a very strange way. I've never seen a more meteoric rise to that kind of ascendency in this sport. I've never seen it. Including all the guys that you know, all the comparisons you want to make to me, that was that big of a performance.

He made it a showcase for himself against a guy who nobody showcases on or hasn't traditionally done that. And to me, Man, I was like I'm in a very strange way. I've never seen a more meteoric rise to that kind of ascendency in this sport. I've never seen it. Including all the guys that you know, all the comparisons you want to make to me, that was that big of a performance.

Jill Sono made a point, had a great video over the weekend saying, you know, this guy killed all three things. He had the intro which you alluded to, then the fight itself, and then he gets on the microphone already setting up the fight against Boheshinmia, and now we'll talk about that a little bit later. I'd actually say, chill the while that's completely correct, I would use your argument a little bit and expand that in every phase of what a fighter is supposed to do on media day, calling into radio shows, doing fan q and as, signing autographs, whatever, bringing his own team to make a show about him for a YouTube series, in every different version of what a fighter is supposed to do to contribute to their own well being, to their own popularity, to their own ability to fight, as well as the UFC's needs. He kills it every time. Every time he kills it. And you also noted not merely did he kill it, but some of this he brought on himself. You know, they announced his name, he got booed. Yeah. Now again he had poked the bear a little bit with the Australian fans by making this like in sort of a New Zealand versus Australia kind of scenario in an amplified way. But at the same time, to have the presence of mind to perform like that quite literally in the dance, to have the presence of mind to say what you want to say after the fight, then to fight that way after that big, long week, doing all those obligations. It's Anderson Silva never did that. He was always kind of quiet and didn't say anything in the media. This guy handles every single phase of the entire fight week better than anyone I've ever seen.

Jill Sono made a point, had a great video over the weekend saying, you know, this guy killed all three things. He had the intro which you alluded to, then the fight itself, and then he gets on the microphone already setting up the fight against Boheshinmia, and now we'll talk about that a little bit later. I'd actually say, chill the while that's completely correct, I would use your argument a little bit and expand that in every phase of what a fighter is supposed to do on media day, calling into radio shows, doing fan q and as, signing autographs, whatever, bringing his own team to make a show about him for a YouTube series, in every different version of what a fighter is supposed to do to contribute to their own well being, to their own popularity, to their own ability to fight, as well as the UFC's needs. He kills it every time. Every time he kills it. And you also noted not merely did he kill it, but some of this he brought on himself. You know, they announced his name, he got booed. Yeah. Now again he had poked the bear a little bit with the Australian fans by making this like in sort of a New Zealand versus Australia kind of scenario in an amplified way. But at the same time, to have the presence of mind to perform like that quite literally in the dance, to have the presence of mind to say what you want to say after the fight, then to fight that way after that big, long week, doing all those obligations. It's Anderson Silva never did that. He was always kind of quiet and didn't say anything in the media. This guy handles every single phase of the entire fight week better than anyone I've ever seen.

Do you get the sense he's living something he's already thought through, Like he's already imagined every scenario and therefore he's only enacting exactly what he envisioned would happen. I get the sense that he does that. He's that kind of guy, like he brings whatever he conjures to his mind and starts to work over. He brings that into fruition. That's what it seems like he does to me.

Do you get the sense he's living something he's already thought through, Like he's already imagined every scenario and therefore he's only enacting exactly what he envisioned would happen. I get the sense that he does that. He's that kind of guy, like he brings whatever he conjures to his mind and starts to work over. He brings that into fruition. That's what it seems like he does to me.

Man.

Man.

You know, you go back to his first fight, the first UFC fight, when he goes in there and he's lifting his leg and he's had his leg and he's pretending to mark the yard exactly, And it was almost that to me spoke volumes for the way that the guy felt about himself. There was a lot of hype about him coming in to the UFC hit from his kick bossing career. It told me that this guy already had an idea of what he wanted to do, right, and then here we are, what twenty months later, and he's accomplished this. I feel like he's one of those guys he thinks through is every move, but the only thing left for him to do is to go out there and execute it, and he does that brilliantly.

You know, you go back to his first fight, the first UFC fight, when he goes in there and he's lifting his leg and he's had his leg and he's pretending to mark the yard exactly, And it was almost that to me spoke volumes for the way that the guy felt about himself. There was a lot of hype about him coming in to the UFC hit from his kick bossing career. It told me that this guy already had an idea of what he wanted to do, right, and then here we are, what twenty months later, and he's accomplished this. I feel like he's one of those guys he thinks through is every move, but the only thing left for him to do is to go out there and execute it, and he does that brilliantly.

That's that IT factor.

That's that IT factor.

I feel like that's where the it factor comes in, is when people can't relate to the magnetism of somebody who can do that.

I feel like that's where the it factor comes in, is when people can't relate to the magnetism of somebody who can do that.

And going back to the haters will see what happens after this one. I think some people will say quite rightly that Bohaschen is a real challenge for him. But this fight was also about a coronation, not merely as the guy who could beat Robert Whiker and then hold the belt, but a coronation of his own argument that he has said I am this person, and there has been this pervasive skepticism. I allude to a last week's show the entire way through. I don't know what quarter a doubter might have at this point, where do you retreat to to say you can that this guy is not who he says he is. He is everything that he says he isn't probably actually a little bit more. To be quite honest with you, I don't know if you've been a pavaiing skeptic this of this guy, this is a bad day for you.

And going back to the haters will see what happens after this one. I think some people will say quite rightly that Bohaschen is a real challenge for him. But this fight was also about a coronation, not merely as the guy who could beat Robert Whiker and then hold the belt, but a coronation of his own argument that he has said I am this person, and there has been this pervasive skepticism. I allude to a last week's show the entire way through. I don't know what quarter a doubter might have at this point, where do you retreat to to say you can that this guy is not who he says he is. He is everything that he says he isn't probably actually a little bit more. To be quite honest with you, I don't know if you've been a pavaiing skeptic this of this guy, this is a bad day for you.

Yes, And I mean there have been there are similar There have been guys with similar trajectories in terms of there's a doubt, there's new doubt because they haven't faced this style.

Yes, And I mean there have been there are similar There have been guys with similar trajectories in terms of there's a doubt, there's new doubt because they haven't faced this style.

They faced this.

They faced this.

Kind of guys they do it every time, right, But uh, this is what I thought. The way at of Sonya handled it was almost workman like like he went he went about his business of saying like when he got I remember when he got the uh who was his third fight. He was fighting brad to Arrs and it seemed like a huge step up. It seemed like people, oh, too much, too soon for a guy like this, and he handles himself. He goes and fights at Madison Square Garden that because you know, he's fighting Derek Bruns and there's a lot of there are a lot of people's like it's feaster fan Runs is going to try to take his head off. And there was a little bit of bad blood in that. Remember if you call that fight, and it's like he just punished his aggressiator. That was one of his first real good showcases, right Like, as he gets a finish in that fight, I just feel like, whenever there's a doubt he hates, he takes that doubt, you know, puts it in his pocket and then just you know, dispels it, turns it into confetti. That's what he does. And uh, he did that brilliantly in this last fight. I just can't imagine a scenario where he could have come off better, and not just in the finish itself, and not just in like how he finished him, but dropping him right before the bell, you know, right before the horn in the in the in the first round. So, in other words, almost two knockouts against Robert Whitaker in one fight. I mean, I just don't think he could have done better in that fight.

Kind of guys they do it every time, right, But uh, this is what I thought. The way at of Sonya handled it was almost workman like like he went he went about his business of saying like when he got I remember when he got the uh who was his third fight. He was fighting brad to Arrs and it seemed like a huge step up. It seemed like people, oh, too much, too soon for a guy like this, and he handles himself. He goes and fights at Madison Square Garden that because you know, he's fighting Derek Bruns and there's a lot of there are a lot of people's like it's feaster fan Runs is going to try to take his head off. And there was a little bit of bad blood in that. Remember if you call that fight, and it's like he just punished his aggressiator. That was one of his first real good showcases, right Like, as he gets a finish in that fight, I just feel like, whenever there's a doubt he hates, he takes that doubt, you know, puts it in his pocket and then just you know, dispels it, turns it into confetti. That's what he does. And uh, he did that brilliantly in this last fight. I just can't imagine a scenario where he could have come off better, and not just in the finish itself, and not just in like how he finished him, but dropping him right before the bell, you know, right before the horn in the in the in the first round. So, in other words, almost two knockouts against Robert Whitaker in one fight. I mean, I just don't think he could have done better in that fight.

Also, when he was making his statements like he wanted to apparently have his dance routine at UFC two thirty four when he fought Anderson Silva, I would now get the impression that in some kind of way, if you had tasked another fighter where you have to come up with a dance routine, that would have added enormous pressure. I actually get the sense that the dance routine aided Yes himself in that sense, aided it made him be more of who he wanted to be, and so he was just ready to go as a consequence of that, lasting.

Also, when he was making his statements like he wanted to apparently have his dance routine at UFC two thirty four when he fought Anderson Silva, I would now get the impression that in some kind of way, if you had tasked another fighter where you have to come up with a dance routine, that would have added enormous pressure. I actually get the sense that the dance routine aided Yes himself in that sense, aided it made him be more of who he wanted to be, and so he was just ready to go as a consequence of that, lasting.

Tayloring his mood and Taylor to his kind of motivations, a man in full.

Tayloring his mood and Taylor to his kind of motivations, a man in full.

The last thing I say about this is, you know this is not true one hundred percent, but a lot of times there are violent overthrows in these divisions where when some guy takes over, like the real greats, when they take over, they take over with authority. BJ Penn choking out Matt Hughes. Now they've traded. But Daniel Cormier knocking out Steve Bay, Steve Bay knocking out Daniel Cormier, John Jones beating Showgun the way he did, and you can go on and on and on again. Anderson Silva beating Rich Franklin the way he did in this very division. Again, he didn't lose a round. I went through the stats. He numerically outstruck Robert Whittaker, and then of course from a damage standpoint, he outstruck him too. If you guys haven't seen it, you'll see it. Go undissected. That fight was not I'm not gonna say it wasn't competitive and difficult, because obviously Whittaker made everything difficult, but in terms of taking damage, in terms of ever being in danger, this was not even as dangerous as the Marvin Mactwority fight, which was a split decision. In that sense, he on every time it escalates. He seems to have an answer for s delating danger. Dude, That's what the greats do. Yes, now, I'm not saying he's one of the greats, but I'm saying those kinds of traits are ultimately what the greats when you look back on their career what.

The last thing I say about this is, you know this is not true one hundred percent, but a lot of times there are violent overthrows in these divisions where when some guy takes over, like the real greats, when they take over, they take over with authority. BJ Penn choking out Matt Hughes. Now they've traded. But Daniel Cormier knocking out Steve Bay, Steve Bay knocking out Daniel Cormier, John Jones beating Showgun the way he did, and you can go on and on and on again. Anderson Silva beating Rich Franklin the way he did in this very division. Again, he didn't lose a round. I went through the stats. He numerically outstruck Robert Whittaker, and then of course from a damage standpoint, he outstruck him too. If you guys haven't seen it, you'll see it. Go undissected. That fight was not I'm not gonna say it wasn't competitive and difficult, because obviously Whittaker made everything difficult, but in terms of taking damage, in terms of ever being in danger, this was not even as dangerous as the Marvin Mactwority fight, which was a split decision. In that sense, he on every time it escalates. He seems to have an answer for s delating danger. Dude, That's what the greats do. Yes, now, I'm not saying he's one of the greats, but I'm saying those kinds of traits are ultimately what the greats when you look back on their career what.

They did, and when they do that, that's when you have a real commodity in the UFC, right when it becomes compelling to see how they might you know, outdo themselves in their next performance. And obviously when he the way he handled himself in this fight, where I thought the scrutiny was at its absolute biggest for him, it just I want to see, honestly, like if he's still the star that we're projecting in terms of pay per view buys and things like that, Like is he that star? Is the national media going to get behind him and you know, want to and want to talk to him about all the facets of his life? Are we going to see you like Esquire jump in and do a big profile on him, spend a day shopping, you know what I mean? If that's the type of thing we see, I don't know if we will, But the fact that he is doing that, he's handling his work that way, and he hands himself so well out of the cage, it's going I think that the next fight, regardless who it is, I think it'd be cost But like if it's whoever it is, I feel like it's going to seem like an event times ten.

They did, and when they do that, that's when you have a real commodity in the UFC, right when it becomes compelling to see how they might you know, outdo themselves in their next performance. And obviously when he the way he handled himself in this fight, where I thought the scrutiny was at its absolute biggest for him, it just I want to see, honestly, like if he's still the star that we're projecting in terms of pay per view buys and things like that, Like is he that star? Is the national media going to get behind him and you know, want to and want to talk to him about all the facets of his life? Are we going to see you like Esquire jump in and do a big profile on him, spend a day shopping, you know what I mean? If that's the type of thing we see, I don't know if we will, But the fact that he is doing that, he's handling his work that way, and he hands himself so well out of the cage, it's going I think that the next fight, regardless who it is, I think it'd be cost But like if it's whoever it is, I feel like it's going to seem like an event times ten.

I feel like it's going to have that kind of magnitude.

I feel like it's going to have that kind of magnitude.

Now that brings us to the second part, which was when talking about his ascendancy the last twenty months, what would you say is the most noteworthy part of it. We talked about the fight itself and how he looked and how he felt, Chuck. But now let me ask you this. I'll pitch this one to you first. When you think back on his rise that brings us to this day, what stands out to you most about it?

Now that brings us to the second part, which was when talking about his ascendancy the last twenty months, what would you say is the most noteworthy part of it. We talked about the fight itself and how he looked and how he felt, Chuck. But now let me ask you this. I'll pitch this one to you first. When you think back on his rise that brings us to this day, what stands out to you most about it?

I mean, besides just how quickly he was able to accomplish it, you know what I mean. I mean to me, that number is mind boggling. That he's fought seven times and twenty months, and that he was so smart to start his UFC career when he thought he was ready, you know what I mean. So those things stand out. But honestly, man, I think it's just his It's just his poise with his showmanship, like he's very within himself when he gets in there. And I used to always point out when Anderson Silva would get into his mojo a little bit, you would see him it was like an activation button. Somebody would do something whatever and then you'd see him kind of flip out a little bit, and it was almost like you weren't sure if he was psyching himself up or trying to psych the other guy out. I feel like we've kind of distilled that type of showmanship and that kind of anticipation into a guy who executes it, maybe even a little, you know, the new version of that, Like the guy like two point zero who comes in and he knows he's just that much more rounded, He's just that much more daring, you know what I mean, that much more audacious. So I feel like that's really the thing his poison, just him growing into his own skin and now being completely comfortable in there, but not changing, I would say, on hole, not really changing from the guy who came in. I asked him about the D factor when they were talking about it, when I think it was before the Bruns and fight. I asked him about the what is the D factor? Because they keep saying you have the D factor? And he kind of I mean, it was like he thought this through a million times. What the D factor was like, delving into the definition, basically saying that you know it's when you can you know when you can basically make your thoughts everybody's thoughts, Like when you're starting to enact your internal being, like what I feel, what I'm flourishing in my own mind, in my own mind becomes kind of the collective idea of who you are, and that becomes everybody's thoughts.

I mean, besides just how quickly he was able to accomplish it, you know what I mean. I mean to me, that number is mind boggling. That he's fought seven times and twenty months, and that he was so smart to start his UFC career when he thought he was ready, you know what I mean. So those things stand out. But honestly, man, I think it's just his It's just his poise with his showmanship, like he's very within himself when he gets in there. And I used to always point out when Anderson Silva would get into his mojo a little bit, you would see him it was like an activation button. Somebody would do something whatever and then you'd see him kind of flip out a little bit, and it was almost like you weren't sure if he was psyching himself up or trying to psych the other guy out. I feel like we've kind of distilled that type of showmanship and that kind of anticipation into a guy who executes it, maybe even a little, you know, the new version of that, Like the guy like two point zero who comes in and he knows he's just that much more rounded, He's just that much more daring, you know what I mean, that much more audacious. So I feel like that's really the thing his poison, just him growing into his own skin and now being completely comfortable in there, but not changing, I would say, on hole, not really changing from the guy who came in. I asked him about the D factor when they were talking about it, when I think it was before the Bruns and fight. I asked him about the what is the D factor? Because they keep saying you have the D factor? And he kind of I mean, it was like he thought this through a million times. What the D factor was like, delving into the definition, basically saying that you know it's when you can you know when you can basically make your thoughts everybody's thoughts, Like when you're starting to enact your internal being, like what I feel, what I'm flourishing in my own mind, in my own mind becomes kind of the collective idea of who you are, and that becomes everybody's thoughts.

And I thought that was interesting.

And I thought that was interesting.

So the way I would think about this is the most obvious comparison to what he has done, and there's a lot of differences, but there's a lot of similarities. I just mentioned the violent overthrow every time there's a new king of the division. Well, one guy who did that was Connor McGregor. Yeah, Connor McGregor overthrowing Joseialdo. And what was it?

So the way I would think about this is the most obvious comparison to what he has done, and there's a lot of differences, but there's a lot of similarities. I just mentioned the violent overthrow every time there's a new king of the division. Well, one guy who did that was Connor McGregor. Yeah, Connor McGregor overthrowing Joseialdo. And what was it?

Collective grown from the crowd, It's it's it's.

Collective grown from the crowd, It's it's it's.

The parallels are so interesting on this one, right, because I would say that McGregor had more interest right away from the regional bill. He had because by his second fight, when he was fighting in Boston against Holloway, he will call this. That was on the UFC's first show in the FS one era and they dimmed the lights for him on the premium guard. Here's this, here's the similarities like fighters, if you want the UFC to dim the lights for you or allow you to do a dance routine. They have to see something special, right, that's just basically the whole idea.

The parallels are so interesting on this one, right, because I would say that McGregor had more interest right away from the regional bill. He had because by his second fight, when he was fighting in Boston against Holloway, he will call this. That was on the UFC's first show in the FS one era and they dimmed the lights for him on the premium guard. Here's this, here's the similarities like fighters, if you want the UFC to dim the lights for you or allow you to do a dance routine. They have to see something special, right, that's just basically the whole idea.

Or let Cnado Connor sing you out.

Or let Cnado Connor sing you out.

Or or or the dog from Stained the hell his name is. But there's also here's some other parallels for you. Right. So he fought Connor McGregor, did Brimage, Holloway, Brandau, Poortier, sever Mendez and May beat Aldo to proclaim the undisputed title in his seventh fight. He had the interim championship in his sixth fight. It's identical. Now, there was the injury to the ACL that McGregor had, which, of course somehow can you there's another part about this, Anesteini's ability to stay injury free in the last twenty months. Yes, is that is some iron man shity, honest with you. But I wonder when you make of the Connor McGregor comparison, I would say it's a little bit different in the sense. Oh and by the way, they both were headlining cards in their third fight. In the headline that fight with Savrias he had the UFC Doublin card. There's a lot of similarities. I would say that Connorkan came in a little bit more intrigue, had a little bit more time off as a consequence of the injury. But in so many ways, flashy, daring, willing to be disliked, willing to be polarizing, willing to be loved, origin story with national pride, violent overthrow of the king. There are ominous parallels between.

Or or or the dog from Stained the hell his name is. But there's also here's some other parallels for you. Right. So he fought Connor McGregor, did Brimage, Holloway, Brandau, Poortier, sever Mendez and May beat Aldo to proclaim the undisputed title in his seventh fight. He had the interim championship in his sixth fight. It's identical. Now, there was the injury to the ACL that McGregor had, which, of course somehow can you there's another part about this, Anesteini's ability to stay injury free in the last twenty months. Yes, is that is some iron man shity, honest with you. But I wonder when you make of the Connor McGregor comparison, I would say it's a little bit different in the sense. Oh and by the way, they both were headlining cards in their third fight. In the headline that fight with Savrias he had the UFC Doublin card. There's a lot of similarities. I would say that Connorkan came in a little bit more intrigue, had a little bit more time off as a consequence of the injury. But in so many ways, flashy, daring, willing to be disliked, willing to be polarizing, willing to be loved, origin story with national pride, violent overthrow of the king. There are ominous parallels between.

Them, I agree with.

Them, I agree with.

I think when Connor came up, there was a feeling of almost Messiah, right, like almost like this fight game Messiah in the UFC.

I think when Connor came up, there was a feeling of almost Messiah, right, like almost like this fight game Messiah in the UFC.

Finally who was big enough.

Finally who was big enough.

He was a bustled you know, he's breaking into every kind of national media. There was the you know, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, the Irish, you know, we have this idea of the fighting Irish. There was some kind of parallel to like, hey, we've actually found this irishman who fits a basic caricature that we've had in our mind forever, you know. And he was brash, he was doing crazy things. It was like he showed up in different forms every press conference, every time there's a new fight, either he had a shaved head or he's shown up in some kind of like you know, overlord Garb, you know what I mean, Like he was always doing snatching belts, he was insulting countries. I felt like he was just doing everything within his power to you know, but it was very it seemed very natural to him to accept all the attention and just absorb it. And I feel like there's a little bit of a parallel there. I feel like you can't give Adisnia enough attention. I feel like he will just be able to absorb it and grow bigger. And I remember, I think it was this coach Berriman who was Yeah, he was talking about there's a little bit of a question mark if we get once we unified these belts, what does he become?

He was a bustled you know, he's breaking into every kind of national media. There was the you know, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, the Irish, you know, we have this idea of the fighting Irish. There was some kind of parallel to like, hey, we've actually found this irishman who fits a basic caricature that we've had in our mind forever, you know. And he was brash, he was doing crazy things. It was like he showed up in different forms every press conference, every time there's a new fight, either he had a shaved head or he's shown up in some kind of like you know, overlord Garb, you know what I mean, Like he was always doing snatching belts, he was insulting countries. I felt like he was just doing everything within his power to you know, but it was very it seemed very natural to him to accept all the attention and just absorb it. And I feel like there's a little bit of a parallel there. I feel like you can't give Adisnia enough attention. I feel like he will just be able to absorb it and grow bigger. And I remember, I think it was this coach Berriman who was Yeah, he was talking about there's a little bit of a question mark if we get once we unified these belts, what does he become?

Does he you know, who does he become?

Does he you know, who does he become?

Is he going to be the same guy he said, he's been the same guy the whole way, or does he start to evolve into something else? And we've seen that happen where money changes you, fame changes you, situations change you, you feel like a god everywhere you go. I feel like that's kind of the space now. So far, he's handled himself very admirably, but I think there's a little bit of potential there where you could start to see Autasnya evolve in the in the bigger sense of vanity and you know, feeling invincible.

Is he going to be the same guy he said, he's been the same guy the whole way, or does he start to evolve into something else? And we've seen that happen where money changes you, fame changes you, situations change you, you feel like a god everywhere you go. I feel like that's kind of the space now. So far, he's handled himself very admirably, but I think there's a little bit of potential there where you could start to see Autasnya evolve in the in the bigger sense of vanity and you know, feeling invincible.

So here's what I'm looking for in the next chapter. And you know, another not ominous but another parallel between McGregor and Autasnya. I don't think it was exactly the same. There's always some minute differences, but there was pervasive skepticism about McGregor every time, and Dustin Pari is gonna struct to this, and Mende is going to put a stop to this, and then Aldo is going to put a stop to this, and no one put a stop to it, not until NDS, of course. So there's that too. In answering the critics, I would actually be interested to see what happens. I don't think that ata Sonya's I never got the sense that Adasanya was the bad guy. Ever. I know some people disagree. He did go a little bit poking the bear with the offsis, but Connor McGregor seeing kinda yeah, not much. Connor McGregor always seem a little bit braddy, a little bit like a little bit meaner. I never got that sensem out of Signy at Signia seemed a little bit like I'm gonna I'm a I'm a performer of one. You know, you can watch but you can't touch kind of thing. So here's what I'm going to see now that you have proven all the skeptics wrong, right, and not that he was a perfect fighter, but the well, he can't beat this guy and he can't be this guy. I mean, you got the title, and that that needs to go away. I wonder if he'll keep that chip on his shoulder. Dominic Cruz was asking him, like, do you need hate to be who you are? He said, no, that good or bad, it's all energy, right. But at the same time, it's like, Okay, I'm not saying you've got to all the skeptics all of a sudden, all of your fans, but you can't. You can't feast off of skepticism when you disprove it, you need to pivot to something else, right, And so I want to see how he I want to see how he acts in the next chapter of his career.

So here's what I'm looking for in the next chapter. And you know, another not ominous but another parallel between McGregor and Autasnya. I don't think it was exactly the same. There's always some minute differences, but there was pervasive skepticism about McGregor every time, and Dustin Pari is gonna struct to this, and Mende is going to put a stop to this, and then Aldo is going to put a stop to this, and no one put a stop to it, not until NDS, of course. So there's that too. In answering the critics, I would actually be interested to see what happens. I don't think that ata Sonya's I never got the sense that Adasanya was the bad guy. Ever. I know some people disagree. He did go a little bit poking the bear with the offsis, but Connor McGregor seeing kinda yeah, not much. Connor McGregor always seem a little bit braddy, a little bit like a little bit meaner. I never got that sensem out of Signy at Signia seemed a little bit like I'm gonna I'm a I'm a performer of one. You know, you can watch but you can't touch kind of thing. So here's what I'm going to see now that you have proven all the skeptics wrong, right, and not that he was a perfect fighter, but the well, he can't beat this guy and he can't be this guy. I mean, you got the title, and that that needs to go away. I wonder if he'll keep that chip on his shoulder. Dominic Cruz was asking him, like, do you need hate to be who you are? He said, no, that good or bad, it's all energy, right. But at the same time, it's like, Okay, I'm not saying you've got to all the skeptics all of a sudden, all of your fans, but you can't. You can't feast off of skepticism when you disprove it, you need to pivot to something else, right, And so I want to see how he I want to see how he acts in the next chapter of his career.

Yeah, it will be interesting. I felt like with Connor mc just going back to that one second, there was a vicarious joy ride that his country was on right, Like they're all living through his experience, and I felt like that extended to the globe. I felt like everybody was just like, we'll have as fun as long as this fund will last. And obviously it lasted as long as it did, it was a long time. There are a lot of people who still want to keep going with the fun. I think that it's over on that scale. But Atasanya is a little different. He almost feels like a throwback to something too, Like he doesn't seem like he's a firebrand in that sense. He feels like he's a throwback to He's more rooted to something more essential to the fight game. And you know, and I feel like that that's his things. We can't understand him just yet. I don't think anybody has the idea of who he is. Nobody's going to peg who he is just yet. There's a lot to be discovered him in him through seven fights. I think he flew under the radar just enough, honestly for him to go into now his boom period with a lot of people not knowing who he is. And I feel like that's to his benefit. I think that that part will be fascinating.

Yeah, it will be interesting. I felt like with Connor mc just going back to that one second, there was a vicarious joy ride that his country was on right, Like they're all living through his experience, and I felt like that extended to the globe. I felt like everybody was just like, we'll have as fun as long as this fund will last. And obviously it lasted as long as it did, it was a long time. There are a lot of people who still want to keep going with the fun. I think that it's over on that scale. But Atasanya is a little different. He almost feels like a throwback to something too, Like he doesn't seem like he's a firebrand in that sense. He feels like he's a throwback to He's more rooted to something more essential to the fight game. And you know, and I feel like that that's his things. We can't understand him just yet. I don't think anybody has the idea of who he is. Nobody's going to peg who he is just yet. There's a lot to be discovered him in him through seven fights. I think he flew under the radar just enough, honestly for him to go into now his boom period with a lot of people not knowing who he is. And I feel like that's to his benefit. I think that that part will be fascinating.

Folks said, is he now as popular as Connor McGregor know the metrics. They don't. They don't even Connor was by the time he beat Aldo, no that that pay per view did huge numbers. Adasagnya has Autasignya also hasn't. I mean, I don't know what's happening in Nigeria or New Zealand, but I don't necessarily get the sense from Afar that he's captured his country's imagination in the same way.

Folks said, is he now as popular as Connor McGregor know the metrics. They don't. They don't even Connor was by the time he beat Aldo, no that that pay per view did huge numbers. Adasagnya has Autasignya also hasn't. I mean, I don't know what's happening in Nigeria or New Zealand, but I don't necessarily get the sense from Afar that he's captured his country's imagination in the same way.

You don't see them traveling to Vegas in like one thousands.

You don't see them traveling to Vegas in like one thousands.

Of Yeah, you'll see what happens. But again, by the point, by the point Connor was fighting for the title, they were already there. So it's a little bit different in that regard. Now it takes us to the man who lost, Chuck, Robert Whittaker. What do we say about his legacy? Unfortunately, well, look that's the question. Robert Whitaker loses. So the question is what do you say about his title reign and what's next. There're two different questions. On the one hand, I want to make some comparisons. On the other hand, I have a little bit of trepidation about it. Chuck because he's twenty eight. Yeah, he's twenty eight. He's fought in three times now in about thirty months. It's not a lot of activity, it's a lot of time off, and he still has some growing to do. Atasignya was twenty eight when this whole journey got started and now he's thirty. Here's what we can say. I know this is a loaded term, so I'm not using it in the way in which it is loaded. But I was looking at all of the various middleweight champions from Dave Manete to Evan Tanner, Rich Franklin, Anderson Silva to Chris Widman to Luke rock Hole to you had well it got stripped in Saint Pierre and then you know, went on and on on. You know, it's a little bit of Rich Franklin territory. By that, I mean, I don't mean he's stuck forever. He could come back in two years and win. You just never really know. But what I'm saying is you had this reign where typically has zero defenses. No, that's not his fault because the one you were Marylyn based weight, so it's not his fault. But okay, so he's got one sort of I think Franklin had like two or so. But it's in a scenario where you lose this dynamic upstart who came in like a whirlwind and then just tore through everything, and he would have to reclaim it again, and that would make him a bit of a different story where you could go and get a title twice like Avelasquez, right, that kind of a thing, or even a mirror and a different way. But to me, it's like what you say when it's middleweight title reign. Here's what I'm going to say. One, it's a little it's a little Rich Franklin esque.

Of Yeah, you'll see what happens. But again, by the point, by the point Connor was fighting for the title, they were already there. So it's a little bit different in that regard. Now it takes us to the man who lost, Chuck, Robert Whittaker. What do we say about his legacy? Unfortunately, well, look that's the question. Robert Whitaker loses. So the question is what do you say about his title reign and what's next. There're two different questions. On the one hand, I want to make some comparisons. On the other hand, I have a little bit of trepidation about it. Chuck because he's twenty eight. Yeah, he's twenty eight. He's fought in three times now in about thirty months. It's not a lot of activity, it's a lot of time off, and he still has some growing to do. Atasignya was twenty eight when this whole journey got started and now he's thirty. Here's what we can say. I know this is a loaded term, so I'm not using it in the way in which it is loaded. But I was looking at all of the various middleweight champions from Dave Manete to Evan Tanner, Rich Franklin, Anderson Silva to Chris Widman to Luke rock Hole to you had well it got stripped in Saint Pierre and then you know, went on and on on. You know, it's a little bit of Rich Franklin territory. By that, I mean, I don't mean he's stuck forever. He could come back in two years and win. You just never really know. But what I'm saying is you had this reign where typically has zero defenses. No, that's not his fault because the one you were Marylyn based weight, so it's not his fault. But okay, so he's got one sort of I think Franklin had like two or so. But it's in a scenario where you lose this dynamic upstart who came in like a whirlwind and then just tore through everything, and he would have to reclaim it again, and that would make him a bit of a different story where you could go and get a title twice like Avelasquez, right, that kind of a thing, or even a mirror and a different way. But to me, it's like what you say when it's middleweight title reign. Here's what I'm going to say. One, it's a little it's a little Rich Franklin esque.

Yeah, completely see that esque.

Yeah, completely see that esque.

The second part is, and I wonder how you feel about this. Folks were saying, oh, those those Romero wars, they destroyed them. I'm not ready to say that that's true. I'm not ready to say that that's false. To me, it's really undetermined because if you go back and again, this isn't dissected. If you watch when he gets hit, he's never prepared for it, so it's always going to have their most impact. At the same time, man, the guy has been injury prone. He had the hernia surgery, those Romero wars, he told your own I from the athletic sean El Shotty took him a year and a half to get over it. I'm not saying it's true. I am saying something to pay attention to.

The second part is, and I wonder how you feel about this. Folks were saying, oh, those those Romero wars, they destroyed them. I'm not ready to say that that's true. I'm not ready to say that that's false. To me, it's really undetermined because if you go back and again, this isn't dissected. If you watch when he gets hit, he's never prepared for it, so it's always going to have their most impact. At the same time, man, the guy has been injury prone. He had the hernia surgery, those Romero wars, he told your own I from the athletic sean El Shotty took him a year and a half to get over it. I'm not saying it's true. I am saying something to pay attention to.

Yeah, No, I agree with everything you just said.

Yeah, No, I agree with everything you just said.

Watching him this particular fight too, I felt like the way he hammed himself after, you know, he gets he gets beat, is almost like he'd prepared for this eventuality, like he'd already thought, you know, if I lose to this guy, it's like losing to a Maelstrom that will move on without me. I'm now at the you know, at the uh, you know, at the whims of a guy who's basically on the verge of a meg being a megastar in the UC.

Watching him this particular fight too, I felt like the way he hammed himself after, you know, he gets he gets beat, is almost like he'd prepared for this eventuality, like he'd already thought, you know, if I lose to this guy, it's like losing to a Maelstrom that will move on without me. I'm now at the you know, at the uh, you know, at the whims of a guy who's basically on the verge of a meg being a megastar in the UC.

I'm now on a maniacal whim.

I'm now on a maniacal whim.

I don't you know, if he wants to fight me again, that's probably how you get back to it.

I don't you know, if he wants to fight me again, that's probably how you get back to it.

If not, I probably have to move on.

If not, I probably have to move on.

At this point, I felt like he came to that understanding even in his po right away, like he understood, like, you know, man, I'm on the market. I want to keep fighting. He's just got to move on now. Is he diminished? And that's I think that that's what probably the next fight will be about. Whoever's going to be I'm guessing it's going to be a guy in the top five space, and uh, if that's the case, I think we find out a lot a lot about that, and I think, but it's premature, I think to say that the Romero fights did this to him, because he's just that kind of guy, man like, he's always had a kind of war mentality in his fight.

At this point, I felt like he came to that understanding even in his po right away, like he understood, like, you know, man, I'm on the market. I want to keep fighting. He's just got to move on now. Is he diminished? And that's I think that that's what probably the next fight will be about. Whoever's going to be I'm guessing it's going to be a guy in the top five space, and uh, if that's the case, I think we find out a lot a lot about that, and I think, but it's premature, I think to say that the Romero fights did this to him, because he's just that kind of guy, man like, he's always had a kind of war mentality in his fight.

So I feel like you got to see a little more.

So I feel like you got to see a little more.

Evidence before you really say that those fights specifically took it out of him.

Evidence before you really say that those fights specifically took it out of him.

Did he look how did he look to you in that fight from from your from your bird's eye view.

Did he look how did he look to you in that fight from from your from your bird's eye view.

I thought he looked frail. I didn't think he looked frail. I thought he looked like he was headhunting. You looked at a couple of those those shots. I know you broke this fight down, but like a couple of those shots, man, they breeze right by. If he connects on one of those, we having a whole different conversation. I mean, he was trying to take us out of he was loading up to me, he looked like he was trying to He was trying for something spectacular himself. I think he really believed in that his striking was going to be elite in this situation, which was an act of defiance. Let's put it that way. A lot of people really thought that Ottosania. They believe he's one of the elite strikers in the game. I think he wanted to prove something and that standpoint, I don't think like he wanted to use like the wrestling and stuff. I don't feel like he wanted to go there to his own jutriment. So to me, maybe you're seeing more of a stubbornness than a frailty.

I thought he looked frail. I didn't think he looked frail. I thought he looked like he was headhunting. You looked at a couple of those those shots. I know you broke this fight down, but like a couple of those shots, man, they breeze right by. If he connects on one of those, we having a whole different conversation. I mean, he was trying to take us out of he was loading up to me, he looked like he was trying to He was trying for something spectacular himself. I think he really believed in that his striking was going to be elite in this situation, which was an act of defiance. Let's put it that way. A lot of people really thought that Ottosania. They believe he's one of the elite strikers in the game. I think he wanted to prove something and that standpoint, I don't think like he wanted to use like the wrestling and stuff. I don't feel like he wanted to go there to his own jutriment. So to me, maybe you're seeing more of a stubbornness than a frailty.

What about the ring Russ where are you on that one?

What about the ring Russ where are you on that one?

I mean, man, I watched them.

I mean, man, I watched them.

He didn't look rusty.

He didn't look rusty.

Yeah, I didn't really see that either. And and honestly, like sometimes people in the lead up, you'll get a sense that maybe they have, you know, a feeling like that, because you'll hear them mentioning things they're doing to kind of replicate the situation. Again, I didn't really feel like he was having any trouble that way. And that guy man he is. We seen him go five rounds twice with Romero. I just feel like his cardio and who he is and his kind of mentality, I just.

Yeah, I didn't really see that either. And and honestly, like sometimes people in the lead up, you'll get a sense that maybe they have, you know, a feeling like that, because you'll hear them mentioning things they're doing to kind of replicate the situation. Again, I didn't really feel like he was having any trouble that way. And that guy man he is. We seen him go five rounds twice with Romero. I just feel like his cardio and who he is and his kind of mentality, I just.

Don't believe it's more like a war.

Don't believe it's more like a war.

He goes in there and he expects a war, and I think that that's just as mentality.

He goes in there and he expects a war, and I think that that's just as mentality.

So I didn't see any of that.

So I didn't see any of that.

Yeah, I didn't see a ton of evidence of that. But you know I was talking. I mentioned this before I got his permission to say this. I was talking to Brandon Gibson, Yeah, striking coach at Jackson Wink and for John Jones, and uh, you know it's interesting I tell you this. I don't know what's gonna happen, Whether is Raeldis Sign's gonna fight John Jones. I could tell you this, John Jones's coaching staff is paying attention. They are paying attention. They they they're they're out there looking, they're scouting.

Yeah, I didn't see a ton of evidence of that. But you know I was talking. I mentioned this before I got his permission to say this. I was talking to Brandon Gibson, Yeah, striking coach at Jackson Wink and for John Jones, and uh, you know it's interesting I tell you this. I don't know what's gonna happen, Whether is Raeldis Sign's gonna fight John Jones. I could tell you this, John Jones's coaching staff is paying attention. They are paying attention. They they they're they're out there looking, they're scouting.

The fight could be huge at some point, not right now, not right now, though. Man, it's gotta it's gotta make sure you got to you got to maximize on out of Sonya's you know, star power within his own division.

The fight could be huge at some point, not right now, not right now, though. Man, it's gotta it's gotta make sure you got to you got to maximize on out of Sonya's you know, star power within his own division.

Would a pin in that for a second again, I want to revisit, Okay, sticking with Whittaker if I can, for just a moment, I didn't think he looked rusty. But what the point that Brandy Gibson made to me was Okay, Let's say Saint Pierre fights that fight the exact same way, different weapons, but more or less goes how this one went, landing about the same, miss about the same, and then you get dropped by Audasignia in the first round in the second round, Dude, Saint Pierre's coming out wrestling, man. He is coming out wrestling. And the reason I thought he would too, And this is why I bring that up. It's because his own coach was saying Whittaker is a better version of GSP. Well, this is why people are not better versions of GSP and why these compared. Well, it's like you're comparing yourself to like the best ever man. That's a tall order. That's a really and for someone even as good as Robber Whittaker, that's a tall order. He did not wrestle on that SECO, which, by the way, to me, maybe wrestling wouldn't have made a difference. Maybe it would have. There's no way to know. I think it would have been. I think it would have made a difference, if not in the outcome, certainly in the fight's complexion. But I think it will give Whittaker a chance to hang his hat on something, to say, you know what, the things can be different next time. I do other things. And also I would just like to see him fight somebody new, like get back out there, get stay healthy, get some activity. And dude, he's twenty eight years old.

Would a pin in that for a second again, I want to revisit, Okay, sticking with Whittaker if I can, for just a moment, I didn't think he looked rusty. But what the point that Brandy Gibson made to me was Okay, Let's say Saint Pierre fights that fight the exact same way, different weapons, but more or less goes how this one went, landing about the same, miss about the same, and then you get dropped by Audasignia in the first round in the second round, Dude, Saint Pierre's coming out wrestling, man. He is coming out wrestling. And the reason I thought he would too, And this is why I bring that up. It's because his own coach was saying Whittaker is a better version of GSP. Well, this is why people are not better versions of GSP and why these compared. Well, it's like you're comparing yourself to like the best ever man. That's a tall order. That's a really and for someone even as good as Robber Whittaker, that's a tall order. He did not wrestle on that SECO, which, by the way, to me, maybe wrestling wouldn't have made a difference. Maybe it would have. There's no way to know. I think it would have been. I think it would have made a difference, if not in the outcome, certainly in the fight's complexion. But I think it will give Whittaker a chance to hang his hat on something, to say, you know what, the things can be different next time. I do other things. And also I would just like to see him fight somebody new, like get back out there, get stay healthy, get some activity. And dude, he's twenty eight years old.

Which this seems crazy.

Which this seems crazy.

Do you really think that Saturday was the last time you'll see him in a title fight? I find that hard to believe.

Do you really think that Saturday was the last time you'll see him in a title fight? I find that hard to believe.

Yeah, and he kept I mean that was basically his message the whole time was like, Hey, you haven't seen the last of me.

Yeah, and he kept I mean that was basically his message the whole time was like, Hey, you haven't seen the last of me.

I'll be back. I'll be back. He will be back, right, it's just a matter of now.

I'll be back. I'll be back. He will be back, right, it's just a matter of now.

Like you mentioned, it's like in the Rich Franklin since there's a guy who's the megastar in division at the UFC has been trying to tailor not Taylor, but just they've been rolling out the red carpet for this moment. Right, So for him to get back to Attasanya, it may be a little bit tricky, he may have.

Like you mentioned, it's like in the Rich Franklin since there's a guy who's the megastar in division at the UFC has been trying to tailor not Taylor, but just they've been rolling out the red carpet for this moment. Right, So for him to get back to Attasanya, it may be a little bit tricky, he may have.

To go a couple of fights. But just because it's that situation.

To go a couple of fights. But just because it's that situation.

Let's se if I can get the champions. I don't have it in front of me. It's not not the champions. Let me see if I can get all UFC Champions. I don't forget where Marilla Bustamante fits. It's in there so to be Boosta Monte Dave Manet, Evan Tanner, Rich Franklin, Anderson Silva. Then you would have he got beat by Chris wi Wideman. It'll be by Luke rock ol Be, by Michael Bisping. Yeah, who got beat by Saint Pierre who dropped it, and then that made Riker who was an interim undisputed, and then he loses Tota Sonya right, those are all that's pretty good champions. Yeah, clap, Yeah, there you go. In my homework, huh. In any event, though, I would I would say this, I think this chapter maybe not for Atisania, but I feel like this chapter of layoff injury because remember he never got to Kelvin Gastolin fight then and then lay off again then back. I think it's been exhausting for Robert Whitaker, and I'm looking to see him start fresh. Yeah, and then let's see what he's got by age thirty. I bet you we're gonna see him in another toit of fight, maybe with the gold around his waist again. I think again, you know, I don't think you come out of those Romero Wars completely unscathed. But I'm just not ready to bury the kid yet.

Let's se if I can get the champions. I don't have it in front of me. It's not not the champions. Let me see if I can get all UFC Champions. I don't forget where Marilla Bustamante fits. It's in there so to be Boosta Monte Dave Manet, Evan Tanner, Rich Franklin, Anderson Silva. Then you would have he got beat by Chris wi Wideman. It'll be by Luke rock ol Be, by Michael Bisping. Yeah, who got beat by Saint Pierre who dropped it, and then that made Riker who was an interim undisputed, and then he loses Tota Sonya right, those are all that's pretty good champions. Yeah, clap, Yeah, there you go. In my homework, huh. In any event, though, I would I would say this, I think this chapter maybe not for Atisania, but I feel like this chapter of layoff injury because remember he never got to Kelvin Gastolin fight then and then lay off again then back. I think it's been exhausting for Robert Whitaker, and I'm looking to see him start fresh. Yeah, and then let's see what he's got by age thirty. I bet you we're gonna see him in another toit of fight, maybe with the gold around his waist again. I think again, you know, I don't think you come out of those Romero Wars completely unscathed. But I'm just not ready to bury the kid yet.

I'm with him on I think you use the word brooding and a tweet you sent out that his walkout. Yeah, I mean, he's just that's who he is, man. He's an internal fighter, Like he's a guy who whatever's going on, you know, he swallows a bomb and explodes, and he's just he's ready to He's just ready to go. So I feel like he is going to put the pieces back to I felt like that's what you're seeing right away. He's a guy who doesn't dwell. I think he puts it back together. So it maybe even sooner than that, But I would guess by the time he is, you know, another year, year and a half, I think we'll probably see him at his best form, you know.

I'm with him on I think you use the word brooding and a tweet you sent out that his walkout. Yeah, I mean, he's just that's who he is, man. He's an internal fighter, Like he's a guy who whatever's going on, you know, he swallows a bomb and explodes, and he's just he's ready to He's just ready to go. So I feel like he is going to put the pieces back to I felt like that's what you're seeing right away. He's a guy who doesn't dwell. I think he puts it back together. So it maybe even sooner than that, But I would guess by the time he is, you know, another year, year and a half, I think we'll probably see him at his best form, you know.

Quickly before we go to this boxing topic, the topic of John Jones. Yeah, and I was at answer to Silva John Jones and now Israel out of Sonya. I find it so bizarre, by the way, but they're nearly identical in age thirty thirty thirty thirty one. I find it crazy. I find it so bizarre that John Jones, like a lot of Sonia really ticks them off. I don't know exactly why. I can't wipe with my finger on it. Suffice to say, though I think we're both in agreement. I do want to see that fight if both guys keep winning. I do not wish to see that fight right now. Ata Sonya has the right frame. He is much smaller than John Jones, is so much bigger and also just much better at wrestling. Adasanya's true gift is that he is a different fighter fight to fight, deal with different tactics and different development. So you give that guy time. Sky's the limit, But right now, bad idea.

Quickly before we go to this boxing topic, the topic of John Jones. Yeah, and I was at answer to Silva John Jones and now Israel out of Sonya. I find it so bizarre, by the way, but they're nearly identical in age thirty thirty thirty thirty one. I find it crazy. I find it so bizarre that John Jones, like a lot of Sonia really ticks them off. I don't know exactly why. I can't wipe with my finger on it. Suffice to say, though I think we're both in agreement. I do want to see that fight if both guys keep winning. I do not wish to see that fight right now. Ata Sonya has the right frame. He is much smaller than John Jones, is so much bigger and also just much better at wrestling. Adasanya's true gift is that he is a different fighter fight to fight, deal with different tactics and different development. So you give that guy time. Sky's the limit, But right now, bad idea.

I think it's a bad idea too, just for John Jones, because we're sitting for the last what a couple of years, we talked about like is he going to fight so and so, he's going to go to heavyweight.

I think it's a bad idea too, just for John Jones, because we're sitting for the last what a couple of years, we talked about like is he going to fight so and so, he's going to go to heavyweight.

We're putting him home.

We're putting him home.

We're projecting him against heavyweights, we're not projecting against the middleweight. So I feel like it's just from his perspective, it doesn't make sense. But if out of Sonya transcends the way he's trajecting right now, like if he goes and just transcends the sport, wins a couple of big fight, you revisit that idea because I think people then would believe in his invincibility enough to go tackle a guy like Johnson.

We're projecting him against heavyweights, we're not projecting against the middleweight. So I feel like it's just from his perspective, it doesn't make sense. But if out of Sonya transcends the way he's trajecting right now, like if he goes and just transcends the sport, wins a couple of big fight, you revisit that idea because I think people then would believe in his invincibility enough to go tackle a guy like Johnson.

Here's what I think might happen. I think let's say he beats Bohashena, which you know Bulghina might you know, God only knows what's gonna happen there. But let's say he beats him. And let's say Whittaker gets the winner of Till versus Gastolon and then beats that person. I bet you they're gonna put him right back into a rematch after that. Yeah, right, Like, let's do this one over again. They're gonna talk about ring Russ, They're going to talk about time off, whether or not it's real. And then and then if an Asanya wins that, I think they're gonna say, all right, let's let's let's see, let's se what he's got against Jones. But then Jones, God only knows what he'll be doing by that point. Yeah. It's just interesting to me that when you remove Daniel Cormier from the equation, Yes, it narrowed Jones's options a little bit, because he's got maybe we's see if Wyman beats Derek Serie Dominic Rayes. But let's say Wyman loses, I think his options about big fights kind of got a little smaller.

Here's what I think might happen. I think let's say he beats Bohashena, which you know Bulghina might you know, God only knows what's gonna happen there. But let's say he beats him. And let's say Whittaker gets the winner of Till versus Gastolon and then beats that person. I bet you they're gonna put him right back into a rematch after that. Yeah, right, Like, let's do this one over again. They're gonna talk about ring Russ, They're going to talk about time off, whether or not it's real. And then and then if an Asanya wins that, I think they're gonna say, all right, let's let's let's see, let's se what he's got against Jones. But then Jones, God only knows what he'll be doing by that point. Yeah. It's just interesting to me that when you remove Daniel Cormier from the equation, Yes, it narrowed Jones's options a little bit, because he's got maybe we's see if Wyman beats Derek Serie Dominic Rayes. But let's say Wyman loses, I think his options about big fights kind of got a little smaller.

Yeah, I just think that also the OC right now, like you just got this guy to the spot where you know where he's going to be a star. You don't want to make him vulnerable, like you probably want to play him within the rules of you know, the playing field that he knows he can thrive in. But I can tell you right now, as soon as he's reached a level where it's like he can make John Jones feel vulnerable, that's when they'll make that I win it. It seems like a collective idea would be like I think he could put Jones in trouble. When that becomes the case, I could see that fight getting made right, So.

Yeah, I just think that also the OC right now, like you just got this guy to the spot where you know where he's going to be a star. You don't want to make him vulnerable, like you probably want to play him within the rules of you know, the playing field that he knows he can thrive in. But I can tell you right now, as soon as he's reached a level where it's like he can make John Jones feel vulnerable, that's when they'll make that I win it. It seems like a collective idea would be like I think he could put Jones in trouble. When that becomes the case, I could see that fight getting made right, So.

We'll have to see how it goes. So let's move on now to boxing. There was a big boxing fight. Oh yeah, weekend triple G r.

We'll have to see how it goes. So let's move on now to boxing. There was a big boxing fight. Oh yeah, weekend triple G r.

Sean watching both screens and once well, it was a little difficult at.

Sean watching both screens and once well, it was a little difficult at.

Times when we made it work. A triple G taken on Sergei Dervinchenko. Ooh boy, this was interesting. He won the vacant. Let's see IBF and IBO middleweight titles. Triple G did. I did not think he won that bound and I people were like, oh, you say he got robbed. I'm not saying he got robbed. I'm saying I just completely disagree with the judge's scorecards. I had it. I think one fifteen one twelve Drivin Jake or at least one fourteen one thirteen, So I had it. Okay. So here's what happens. He gets knocked down in the very first round. That's kind of what did him in A little bit would have been a little closer, but in the end it would have changed enough scorecards to matter. I will say this, Max Kellerman has a famous test, who would you rather be? At the end of that right, you look at the Kompubox numbers, they tell you the story of that fight, which was not merely that Dery van Chenko had more volume than him and that Triple G had better power punches, but like who was doing the work? Oh yeah, who was pulling the yoke? Who was the guy who said, I'm gonna put on my big boy pants today, clock in for work, and I'm going to do more than you and dry Vanchenko was all over him, body shots, pushing him backwards, pushing him backwards, then cutting an angle and pushing it backwards again.

Times when we made it work. A triple G taken on Sergei Dervinchenko. Ooh boy, this was interesting. He won the vacant. Let's see IBF and IBO middleweight titles. Triple G did. I did not think he won that bound and I people were like, oh, you say he got robbed. I'm not saying he got robbed. I'm saying I just completely disagree with the judge's scorecards. I had it. I think one fifteen one twelve Drivin Jake or at least one fourteen one thirteen, So I had it. Okay. So here's what happens. He gets knocked down in the very first round. That's kind of what did him in A little bit would have been a little closer, but in the end it would have changed enough scorecards to matter. I will say this, Max Kellerman has a famous test, who would you rather be? At the end of that right, you look at the Kompubox numbers, they tell you the story of that fight, which was not merely that Dery van Chenko had more volume than him and that Triple G had better power punches, but like who was doing the work? Oh yeah, who was pulling the yoke? Who was the guy who said, I'm gonna put on my big boy pants today, clock in for work, and I'm going to do more than you and dry Vanchenko was all over him, body shots, pushing him backwards, pushing him backwards, then cutting an angle and pushing it backwards again.

This is beautiful.

This is beautiful.

Tell me this, chuck. Have you ever seen even in the Canelo fights, round over round with Triple G looking that deflated?