Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski join DC & RC ahead of UFC 284 | DC & RC

We just confirmed that The Ultimate Fighter season 31 coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will face off as Ultimate Fighter coaches Team McGregor versus Team Chandler. This season premieres on Tuesday, May 30 and runs through Tuesday, August 15 on ESPN. the network and ESPN plus boom there you have it announced team Chandler versus team McGregor on The Ultimate Fighter and then fight later this year Connor was the fight I wanted Conor has expressed interest in wanting to fight me and now here we are, I want to win this No I just want to beat Connor later this year whenever the fight happens I want to beat Conor with all my might I don't even want him to win a fight I still have a guy in mind Conor McGregor is headed to Vegas baby thanks foreigner what's up guys, welcome to a new episode of DC and RC?

I'm Daniel Cormier, that's my boy Ryan Clark. That news made a lot of people happy, none more so than Ryan Clark, but before we get to that, we have to talk about what we do on the show. We're going to talk about UFC 284. We played it and we played. I also talked to Islam Makashev and Alexander Volkonowski together. We went head to head with those two but Ryan Clark is great news, my friend comes out of the closet. from Las Vegas last weekend as you head into a big Super Bowl weekend, how's it going buddy, this is another Super Bowl DC, what are you talking about?

I've got two Super Bowls in two weeks, bro, Conor's coming back and we've got Philadelphia, Kansas City. You know what happened, the sports gods were looking down on me and they said to themselves, we want to make Ryan happy and he reached out and touched Dana White and said, Dana, do this for Ryan and he did it and you gave me the two number one seeds. at the Super Bowl I just couldn't be happier yeah I'm trying to find a way for Jordan and I to get into the hard house for some of this filming and we'll see if we can make it work hey bro.

I tell you what, you and Jordan are like praying for things to happen in sports and since he got Izzy back last week, he gets caught this week and you all get blessed over and over again, but you're headed to the Super. Bowl, that's why we're here today, Monday. I could have gone to the Super Bowl, but being a kid from Louisiana, I never thought I'd turn it down, but my daughter has a national gymnastics competition in Orlando, so she chose to go with Marquita. right so it's more important for me to go see her compete but big Super Bowl week for you on big NFL week for UFC as we move forward UFC 284 but before we get to that RC before we get to those guys in the main event Later in the show, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are not only fighting, but they are also training The Ultimate Fighter, but this is where he tells you how great Connor is.

Conor is not coaching The Ultimate Fighter only on ESPN, plus they will be running this Ultimate Fighter on ESPN. he goes he goes what's his name uh linear Conor McGregor gets linear TV with the ultimate fighter how great is it for the sport to have that reality show on ESPN and on ESPN Plus brother, you can't you can't put it into words or Measure what Conor McGregor means to the UFC from a publicity sense, but also when you look at the marketing, the actual success and the ratings, and ESPN understands that ESPN is not new to sports broadcasting and understands how Conor McGregor moves the needle and if you Regarding to Dana White, if you're UFC, that's why Conor McGregor seems to have different rules when it comes to fights: he can get the cards he can top based on where he is in his career and win, and when Conor McGregor comes back, the UFC will elevate and we will see not only Elevate in the PPV sense of this fight against Michael Chandler, but also what ESPN is capable of doing with the ultimate fighter and the excitement he generates.

Already around this, I let you know why ESPN made this decision DC, but I want to ask you this question: We watched the video of the guy who basically said: man, I'm training against the UFC Hall of Famer, how the hell do Am I supposed to do it? Win this wrestling match, but when you think about Connor and Michael Chandler as trainers of the best wrestler who you pick as the best trainer, I would probably say in terms of training Michael Chandler because he was in the college wrestling world and he was wrestling with a coach.

I never did those team sports throughout college, but I think as important as Michael Chandler may be to young athletes as a wrestler and a coach, I think it's more important for him to understand and try to prepare yourself to deal with mind games, will be under constant attack from Conor McGregor and Ryan. I tell you that it is not a week, it is not also, it is six weeks with someone with whom you are going to fight and because of those who are annoying. boy, I tried to push Stipe Connor was pushing Uriah Faber the whole time even though they weren't fighting, he managed to cause such dissension on that team that TJ Dillashaw, who wasn't even the coach against him, dumped the alpha male because he was convinced, you're right, he was a traitor, he's just going to be under constant attack from McGregor and can't let McGregor get into his head too much, but we felt like this would be the fight between you and me.

I've talked about it for a while. Chandler is a good combination of styles for McGregor and I think it works and I think Chandler is the right dance partner for DC's return. You know, what I like about this are these two guys. It's going to be an extremely exciting fight, they can't be different humans, it's literally impossible to not like Michael Chandler if you don't like Michael Chandler. I question your character, right? This guy is an incredible fighter, an incredible father, an incredible husband, he loves everyone, there is no hate in his blood. at all and then I don't have to explain to you who Conor McGregor is, so I think that's a cool feature, you know, that this show can have, but let's get away from the trainer matchup and the fighter matchup. and let's just talk from the point of view of MMA UFC, DC, as someone who has been in that octagon calling fights now, who is so intertwined in what the UFC is, how big it is, what a big push or how important it is.

Conor McGregor. is back, you know it's a big boost for the sport in general. The Ultimate Fighter couldn't have gotten any better because even when Dana announced last year that the Ultimate Fighter would be returning, he was met with a very mild reaction because it was good for the show. It's been working for so many years, what can you do to make it different? How does it work better? And then we had the coaches last year, who were the coaches last year, Jake, someone whispered in my ear who the coaches were last season of uh? The Ultimate Fighter Amanda Nunes Amanda and Juliana, right, it's like that, so it's like even I had the question of who are the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter last year, it was very temperate, but when you get Conor McGregor, you get the biggest star in the game and he says, "I'm going to be in Vegas for six weeks.

I'm coaching these kids against Michael Chandler. It's a big push and I could only imagine the back and forth conversations that had to happen to make this happen, Ryan. I know that very few will understand, like when you go to Coach The Ultimate Fighter, some people at first got cars, you might have a car, maybe you have like an Escalade, Josh Koscheck, like a new Range Rover, you get these things, I got money. I prefer money, you know he's not from Louisiana, but it's like you don't know what you're going to get, but can you imagine what you have to give to Conor McGregor to entice him to do The Ultimate Fighter or do you think?

I just did it. Like, you know what man? I want to make a big statement on my comeback and this is the best way to do it, being in front of everyone for six to eight weeks right before the fight. I think that's the most important thing. With Connor now he has I have to remind everyone again before the fight many times that it's just about the preparation for the fighter, we already know so much about Conor McGregor that we're already drawn in and it's the showdown with Dustin Poirier. in his last two fights, so there was a kind of grudge, there was a revenge going into the fight as well.

Connor was being nice. Connor then became evil Conor again, so you had all these other pieces in those fights that you don't have. I really have that with Michael Chandler, what you have with Michael Chandler is the expected excitement of what will happen in the octagon when these two meet, but Conor has been out for a while and he doesn't get that preparation that we had with Jose Aldo or not is the next thing he built leading up to that fight, so this is different, so for six weeks, like you said, linear TV on the big network we won't even put this on ESPN2 or anything like that, you'll be able to watch Conor McGregor. again you will see him in his fullness, you will see him as a coach, you will see him as a man, we will see certain things when he explains to the guys how to throw that left hand or what the perfect kick is and I'm going to start remembering you and giving you that nostalgia of oh yeah, that's Conor McGregor oh yeah, that's why we fell in love with him and that's why I think it's a smart strategic and marketing move for Connor to say Connor to say no, I.

I'm no longer just whiskey appropriate, like I'm still that guy you all came to love, but talking about a guy we all loved and someone who used to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents in the octagon. Derrick Lewis. I lost again to Sergey Spivak this weekend and I remember last week in DC we were talking about tapping out or tapping out so Derrick Lewis could win this fight and I said, I don't think he can win it. D.C. I think it's over and your The answer for me was: I don't know if Spivak is the right guy to do it and now we see him submitted at the beginning of this fight seeing Derrick Lewis DC.

It was part of you to say you know what this might be the time to stop it, it's hard. right, Ryan, because you and I were talking about this last week and I talked about how you can speak so freely because you don't have relationships that you can continue with in the sport, so it's very refreshing to walk like that, while Derek Lewis and I am friends after we fought even last week when I said I think he is already on top but I don't know if he still can't beat these kind of guys, he got back at me through an insult towards me and just it was he's very sensitive, but I found out that maybe I was giving him too much credit and that's sad, like it's a sad thing that he could.

Maybe I've been giving him too much credit because he was saying he might not be able to beat five to one anymore, but seven to 15 he can still catch those guys, but not only did he lose, he got wiped out, he got wiped out and now he lost. Cyril left while they stopped him, Ty stopped him, two of us stopped him. Pavlovic very early and now he was stopped by Sergey's pivot and stopped in a way that led to the fighters coming out publicly and asking if he tried it or not, to me it is very revealing for Ryan and that is the only moment I question whether he tried or not.

It might be time because it seems like that fire doesn't burn inside of him like it used to because he's being held back a certain way and now he's being subdued by guys that a couple years ago, that guy wouldn't have gotten the Derek. I mean, you have to remember that Derek Lewis knocked out Curtis's swords every time he still cared about this thing as much as he did back then, so yeah, Ryan, at the time I thought, "Wow, maybe it's time for Derek to go away." wow, especially if that fire doesn't." burns hotter in you you can't you can't you can't you can't hide that you can't fake the fire to get into an octagon and fight someone you know what DC every time I think about Derek Lewis now and I hate The fact that I watch so many movies and they show up in my head.

I think about Rocky when he was fighting Ivan Drago and although Derrick Lewis had losses, they were among the best. You know you were the one who found a way to catch Derek Lewis. to the mat and submitting him and that's not how it was, it was never like the guys walked through his punches, you know, we didn't see guys because of Derrick Lewis, what we saw tied to avasa, do it with Derrick Lewis, you didn't see it. guys because of Derrick Lewis, what we saw this weekend with Sergey spivot because there was so much fear, you were just so scared that he would catch you with one of those punches and the night would end right there and then I remember when Rocky finally cut Ivan.

Drago was like he's just a man, he's bleeding, he's just a man once the guys realized that Derrick Lewis had finally aged or gotten to the point where he was just a man, now skill was the max equalizer in all his fights and people were more skilled. than Derrick Lewis and if you were more skilled and no longer afraid of being knocked out, the fights would get faster and faster and faster and he would get upset because he didn't instill that fear and then he didn't have the skill. In another way, to resort to someone who part of this sport had more skill, more fear in MMA or instilled more fear than anyone else, it was Fedor Emilia Lincoln and I became a fan of Fedor and don't say anything crazy DC because Fedor is Troy Polamalu's favorite fighter and I always thought he was Troy's favorite fighter because their bodies looked alike and they were the latest,They were the best in the sport.

Theodore fights this weekend and loses and then announces that he is retiring in your opinion. He is the most dominant MMA fighter of all time. You know, you know why I smile at you in the first place. If I'm still there like you, you've really come a long way, like you're talking about Derrick. Lewis thinks I'm smiling 'cause I'm like, look at my boy, look at my boy, so you know you've come far, bro, seriously, that was cool, like you were actually getting really good. You're getting very, very good. I'm proud of you, thanks Doug, when I think about when I think about Fedor, I think about that scary guy from 2007-89, the Russian who barely spoke, was quiet, was like a mythical monster that would appear and just beat everyone, but I think Unfortunately, I think Fedor is the story of aging fighters who don't come out when they possibly or probably should.

He is 46 years old. He is fighting Ryan Bader. just demolished and then you start to forget about all the great memories he had, because all you remember lately is what you're seeing and what you're seeing is what you saw last weekend. I think the myth of Fedor is bigger than what he is in the history of mixed martial arts it's tradition it's a fantastic tale I don't think he's the best heavyweight of all time I think he belongs to Steve Amiocic but only because Kane Velasquez was injured a lot I think in terms of skill there It's no one that every fight came Velasque as a heavyweight but I think Stipe's lack of title defenses in the long reign he had at the top of the division puts him over the top but Fedor is in the top five and I don't think he's There's nothing to be ashamed of, you know, when I think about Fedor, his career from 2000 or 01 to 2009 2010 was one of those careers that builds that myth, but it was always crazy for me to be that quiet guy who doesn't.

He doesn't necessarily have the body or the bravado of someone you considered a killer, but he just couldn't be defeated and wasn't defeated, and then when it became more common for us, we could now see fate or Amelia Nanko. he wasn't what he was then, to a lot of the masses, if you weren't, if you're an MMA fan who digs into old videos on YouTube or who was around during that time and understood who Fedor was, you never got to understand it. see him at the top and I think that's the big difference between him and astipe miocic who when we saw him at the top when he was part of the consciousness of the MMA world and the UFC and beyond that was when we saw him at his best and I think that changes the perception of a fighter, since it is about the best heavyweights of all time, which Fedor definitely was, but talking about the best fighters in the world and talking about the best of all time , we get a chance to see Alexander Volkonowski and Islam Mahatchev face off this weekend and this is the best thing right now this is pound for pound number one.

You had the opportunity to talk to these two men during the week in DC, what stood out to you about their interactions trust confidence was these two guys are very confident and Alexander Volkanovsky carries a chip on his shoulder that he will try to use to boost him because I understand more than ever, so there are these websites and one of them posted a quote. every week in yesterday's appointment I said that the appointment of the day was I have always had a resentment, it is something that motivates me, it is something that allows me to train harder, train longer and work better, so that advice was something I said . throughout my career and as I talked to them I feel like vulcanovsky has the same chip that they say I'm too small they say I can't go with that guy they say I can't beat this guy he's unbeatable and He's taking that to the fight, but you know, the funny thing about the conversation was that Alex was talking and Alex was explaining why he is who he is the whole time Islam smiled, it's like he was hearing the funniest thing he's ever heard in his entire life.

You can't really tell he takes it seriously, but the things Volkanovsky was saying are something he's heard so much that he's almost immune to it? Oh, this guy will be different from the last one because everyone says it but none of them can do it. It was very interesting, yeah, you know, I think that's what's so crazy about these two guys, is that they should both ultimately be confident, nothing about their recent runs inside the octagon says that they're going to lose or that they've lost. made. I've even been close to losing if you take you know if you go Ortega Max Holloway Korean zombie like you're a volkonowski like it doesn't matter you're always fighting people who are at least taller and then you think about what Islam was able to do to Charles Olivera , who was running among the best of the best at 155 pounds, you say, no one can beat me either, so I think you're looking at two guys who not only have confidence because they need to because of bravery they have confidence because of what they've been able to accomplish in the octagon and that is why I am very excited about this fight.

I want to see how Alexander Volkanowski can find ways to get off the ground with Islam hot chill. he defeats him. I also want to see how Islam handles the movement, the ability to get in and out that we have seen from Alexander Volkanowski in every one of his fights that we have witnessed, so this is a very exciting fight for me. and I think it's big for the UFC after sitting down with these DC guys and knowing everything you know about them, they're ranked within the UFC, what does this fight mean for the UFC as a whole and what does the winner of this fight become? ?

You know, Ryan, the winner gets the biggest bragging chip, or he's going to be the number one power fighter in the world and if Alexander Volkanovsky wins this fight, he'll keep his position, but he beats the guy that people think is like that Ivan analogy. Drago. done before, Islam is like that, the unbeatable, the guy who is supposed to be only human, volkanoski, can prove that he is only human, he is just a man like the rest of us, volkonoski gets maximum bragging rights if he beats makachel because it is already the number one pompom. but for Makachev, he is at the top of those rankings, he sits in the place where he sat and watched many of his teammates arrive before me.

Habib, they all became pound number ones throughout our careers, so those things mean something to those guys. It's a massive fight in terms of what's at stake, a massive fight in terms of standing in the world, in a fight of massive mistakes for two of the biggest weight classes we've had for a long time in the UFC. People have long thought about featherweight and lightweight. They are the two deepest weights we have in the UFC this weekend. We have those two champions fighting each other to show who is the best. He's as important as Ryan is.

I totally agree. I love it. Little Daniel is so excited that he is like dad. Let's make sure that on Saturday night, wherever we're doing in Orlando, we're back at the hotel so we can watch the market fight and then get to the Super Bowl the next night. The guy is really excited about this fight weekend and, uh, the football is crazy. Well, first of all, I think it's amazing, man, that you have the opportunity to go watch your daughter compete and also spend that time with little Daniel watching two sports that you guys love. I think in addition to being a Hall of Famer inside the octagon, you're a The father of the Hall of Fame is also a man and that's very important, but you mentioned yourself and Habib uh khabib Memorial being two guys who They reach number one pound for pound.

Another thing that Khabib had become one of the best he ever did was coach leading the Islamic market, um hot. Chef inside the octagon, so I can remember hearing Islam explained or taking Islam step by step through the ways of introducing Dan Hooker, if you remember that and why, and seeing Islam hear those things and finally, get presentation, what is it? Is it going to mean or how it's going to affect Islam not having Khabib or Morgan Madoff in your corner for this fight against like you've already said, the number one pound power in the world, you know, RC it's like Khabib is playing a video game. , it was like he was explaining like he was holding the controller with Islam as the character he was using when he got that submission, but I think he's come to terms with that.

I think Islam has come to terms with that. I haven't had the opportunity to do it. Ask him about it, but everything I see publicly, everything I see him say, uh, he tells me that he's accepted that now I have to go and compete without my guy and even though it sucks, it happens, we've been in situations before where that We've had to fight without each other or you have to fight without this guy or this guy, it just happens and I think Islam has a lot of great coaches, it has a lot of great training partners, people that will be there to support. him and he is going to need it because he will go to enemy territory to try to defeat the powerful number one bomb hunter in the world, but Ryan, as big as this fight is this weekend, it is not the only fight for the championship because Alexander as What goes up goes away.

In its division without a champion to defend the belt, the UFC has now signed Josh Emmett and Yair Rodríguez for the interim title. You have the PowerHouse in Emmett, the guy who has wrestling skills but tends to love The Knockout and you have the dynamic fighter that he That's Rodriguez, what do you think of this matchup and how excited are you for those guys to be the appetizer of the Main Event, the important thing that happens right before the main event hits the Octagon? How do you feel about it? fight and how they combine well.

I think I'm excited because these two guys are so different. If you go back to the Yair Rodriguez vs. Max Holloway fight, he turned Max into a Grappler, which is something we don't normally see and then look at. In Josh Emmett versus Calvin Cater and the way he was able to continue to move forward, he inflicted enough punishment but also controlled the octagon and found a way to make the decision at the end of that fight. I want to see which style of man surpasses the other. yair and his strikes from all different angles, unorthodox kicks and movement overpower Josh Emmett who is straighter, comes down the pipe and tries to inflict his physicality on the opposing fighter, so this will be just as exciting because of how dynamic they both are. these men can be, as it will be strategic to see them feed off each other and figure out the best way to attack.

It's one of those DC things and I can be honest with you about this. I have to look at wrestling singularly instead of holistically because in my mind, right in my mind, I say this because I think that what yeah, yeah, it gets here because Brian, Tate or Brian Ortega gets hurt, uh, while fighting, gets hurt. the arm or whatever the shoulder was. Yes, it's hard for me not to look at this fight and think that Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway are the top two featherweights in the world and even though these two men are fighting for the interim title, they are not the two best fighters. in the division and once I reconciled myself with that I can enjoy it for the explosive stylistic matchup that it is and I am very excited about that yes, I am excited about the fight.

I'm excited for the new guys who will challenge Alexander Volkonowski. That's where my excitement lies tonight. I'm excited about the matchup because I've known Yair since he was in the ultimate Latin American fight in the first season and he wasn't the guy he is today. He's improved tremendously and I'm telling you, Josh Emmett has improved a lot and this is a guy who has done everything necessary to earn a championship opportunity, but he came up short or didn't seem like the sexy challenger. Sometimes you have to be sexy. you gotta be sexy you gotta have sex you're always sexy hey bro I'm trying to tell you I'm fine you know that you know I don't mean we got this face here boy this face here but you gotta have something that attracts people and maybe Minnie didn't feel like Emmett, he finally gets his chance and I'm really excited about it, man, I can't wait for this weekend, it's going to be a fantastic car. from Australia, but Ryan, before we get to everything else on the show, this time we have to tap, you're not going to tap, come on Jake, okay guys, Dana White announced over the weekend that Sean O 'Malley has signed a new contract. eight-fight contract as one of the sport's rising stars and with the number one next to his name RC tap in or tap out O'Malley will be champion within the first three fights of his new contract.

I'm thinking to myself that Sean O'Malley will have to face when he returns to that yawn fight in Kyoto, he showed that he belonged, he showed that he was a top five fighter, and Al Jermaine Sterling is there now, uh, Henry Cejudo, possibly being an opponent in his experience. his ability to fight his ability to fight and negate some of the things that Sean does well. I think it's going to be hard for him to beat those guys, so that's the only reason I'm tapping, but I can say this if he makes it. Out with that dynamic punch, I won't be surprised because of the time frame, it's very fast, likethree more fights, that's not that long to elevate you to a championship, no, he's number one, I get it, that's why we imagined it could happen. but he's number one because he beat Peoria and went from ten to one and many thought he lost the yawn fight, so I'm going to stop doing it for those reasons, but I wouldn't be surprised if at some point Sean O'Malley gets becomes UFC champion, but Sean O'Malley gets a new contract every time he fights, it's the most surprising thing I've seen recently.

RC was a guest on the brilliantly silly Show podcast and had this version of ice cream, yeah I'm a spicy desserts guy so I don't know, you're saying ice cream can't stand alone. Ryan's ice cream, ice cream can't stand alone. I don't think that's fair, so think about this. I got the brownie cake with ice cream, oh that's a great play, the alamode is a great play, so DC taps or scoops that ice cream as a side for dessert. Being completely honest with you, I don't disagree that much with Ryan. Like people are trying to make it out to be, because you get the cake with ice cream, you get the hot brownie with ice cream, all that, all those desserts that are hot, they stick the ice cream on top so I don't agree with them as much as most people, but you can have good ice cream on its own, you can't have a bowl of ice cream.

I mean, dude, even on the plane they give you ice cream, this is a dessert rhyme, see here. Why do I tap? Think about this now if your ice cream is a snack. I agree that ice cream is a snack, but I tap on the fact that ice cream is a dessert. Because of this, you often eat dessert after eating. If you go to your refrigerator to buy ice cream, you're just sitting on your couch and you might be watching the fights like I want a bowl of ice cream, you're right, but if I'm at a restaurant and I'm eating food and I just finished my entree .

Normally I don't say hey, you have a cup of ice cream, it's give me the bananas, Foster, give me the bread pudding, give me the brownie and with that they bring out the ice cream because it's a The complement is an accompaniment and many times you could say no, you You put ice cream on the side because I don't want it on top of my hot cookie. I'm just saying that DC makes a strong case, makes a very strong case. garbage, he makes a very strong case, okay guys, latest with UFC 284 in the Super Bowl one day apart this weekend, if you put a hundred dollars on a parlay with the two underdogs, volkanovsky and the Chiefs, to win, they could go close. at 850 RC in or out risking a big payout for both underdogs next weekend all the way.

I'm glad you told me what this is, oh here it is, that blew my mind. Corp for Jake think about this, the people who We're calling the loser and you'd have to bet money to win big are already champions. Jake and DC, who acted like KC didn't have a ring with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, we acted like Alexander Volkanowski didn't just run. through everyone at featherweight Jake oh yeah someone except I tap man I tap I get it I get what you're saying but the fact is no matter how good they are they would beat the 99 ,9 in the world, they are simply facing two, a team and a fighter that most believed they couldn't beat, so I tap on I'm not wasting my money on that because they're not both going to win if one wins, okay, but not both, it is both. not win, sorry Ryan, you know why you say DC you say it because you don't believe the vote can defeat Islam, hot chef.

I know that in your mind you can already choose why it can't happen, and that's why it will happen. It happens and when it happens DC, I'll go to FaceTime your octagon side and when he answers, pick it up DC, I want you to pick it up and show them that. Me and you are on FaceTime, so you know what I could do. I don't do it on FaceTime, you win in Kansas City, but I think the interesting part about this Super Bowl that I mentioned on Monday after the games and after the teams were set was that in Black History Month, for the first time we have two Africans.

American quarterbacks who are starting this game and also pointed out their parents. I pointed out Patrick Mahomes senior and also Avrion Hurts and the reason I did that was because so often black parents are not singled out for helping their children succeed. They are not singled out for being in the house and continuing to help a young man become a man. It is often important when that black man is not in the house. A story is also often made when we could say that this child overcame adversity. from coming from a single parent home, well, none of these quarterbacks have had to, none of these quarterbacks have had to live without seeing their dad every day and I talked to Doug Williams over the weekend, who was the first African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the kind of pride he has in being able to always be associated with that, but now, watching the game progress to the point where we have two quarterbacks, I think that's a testimony for these young people, a testimony for their mothers and fathers and their support systems that have helped them get to this point.

I also think it's a testament that the NFL, the coaches and the executives are finally starting to recognize the leadership skills that these young men can have and also the right talent and brain because it was "I always said I didn't have the intelligence to play the game." position giving these young guys opportunities to prove it and that's what for me you know I'm not an Insider, right? And I just completely flip every time we start talking about football because you." You're the guy who lived it, you're the guy who still lives it today, but it wasn't hidden to me that intelligence was always the factor in why most of those black quarterbacks didn't get the position they always had the athletics. they always had the ability, but could they handle the Playbook?

I'm not even a guy who lived in Ryan world, but I heard that, so that tells me I was hearing that in public places they can handle the Playbook, can they handle everything? Those things that come with leading a team to a championship, now we have two young black men doing that right now, heading into the Super Bowl, they come from families with strong role models, strong parents who cared about someone like us, Ryan, we want be there as parents for our children to give them the opportunity. They took the initiative to live the life that they want to give their children and it shows and I am very proud to see these two men lead the way they do as a black man because it gives me more hope that I am doing what right for my son to give him the opportunity to do something, whether it's sports or something completely different.

I'm giving them an opportunity just like those dads gave their guys that are now leading teams in the Super Bowl Ryan, it's absolutely amazing, my brother, and it makes me so happy to see it, yeah man, I think it's so cool and talk of our opportunities to be parents and give our children these Better opportunities, tell us a little about the mayor about your wrestling team over the weekend, DC man. I heard that you all had some obstacles at the beginning and understood the path you had to follow, but when you got to the mat it was total.

Domination, yeah, it was domination, man, once we got going, you know, we had some problems with some things, you know, I watched Sports. Ryan can be an ugly man and we had some anonymous people trying to say that our kids did things wrong and they didn't. I want them to have the opportunity ultimately the right thing was done uh my league uh they voted to let our kids wrestle my commissioner in my conference let the kids compete uh my son my team will get some sanctions for some of the things that I didn't know or recognize what we were going to do, but you know what it is because ultimately kids have the opportunity.

We scored almost 500 team points in that tournament, so wow, Gilroy Mustangs did a fantastic job and showed. Ryan, why are they champions and I'm improvising. I'm proud of them. Ryan and I want to thank you so much for supporting us like you've been doing since day one, maybe day two, because on day one you really didn't. support us so much, you didn't know RC, now you know, although we love you for the support, we appreciate you, you will find us every Tuesday wherever you get your podcast. We're also on ESPN2 at 12 midnight, 9 p.m. Eastern, Pacific, every day.

Tuesday, but obviously we're here today for DC and RC, but before we left, I sat down with Islam at Alexander Volkanovski and those guys were full of confidence and I love being between these two because there's a lot of shared greatness between them. As you head into the main event of UFC 284, listen to the interview in its entirety right now on DC and RC until next time guys peace, we have the main event of UFC 284, we have the market share of Islam, we have Alexander , wait a minute, wait. wait a minute i should actually introduce

volkanovski

first because he is the powerful partner i would fight in the world so we have

alexander

volkanovski

and we have

islam

bahachio jordan are both beautiful australian guys IO mate we're good I'm good , I'm very Well, Islam, you like that, like Volcanovski is the number one pop box, so it should be introduced first, of course, this is my jungle, he jumped into my improvisation, okay, guys, the whole preposition goes, we We are getting very close to Fight Night.

Alexander did great. First, I like it, how? Preparation goes, how did you feel heading into this big opportunity where you are trying to become a double chin? Well, that's exactly what it's a great opportunity, uh, obviously, Kip, uh, it's been a long one. I'm on campus and I've been trying to hide. about bulking and all that kind of stuff, but everything is going well, you know, I mean, now we're getting the weight where we want. Now I'm as ready as I was at Midway but as strong as I could be. The bowls are a welcome weight so I'm very happy with everything now and I can't wait to work around the corner, just a couple of harder sessions, a couple of harder sessions and we're ready Islam what What's wrong with your house? training camp How long have you been in Australia?

I know you did the vast majority of the camping in Dagestan. How long have you been there? How is the training going? The training is going well. I've been here for almost two weeks, but everything is still the same. The weather in Russia and Australia is so different now it's such a hot place, yeah, so I understand, I'm coming into this fight well. I was at the event. Would you do anything if Islam became champion and you voted? You entered the octagon next to him the first thing I did. I thought to myself that Alexander Volcanovski is no small feat, no, no, no, no, when you fell because you think you made it.

I'm not wrong, of course, my brother takes it as a mistake because his teammate gave the other one a job. He shows him a bad example but you don't hear how to make mistakes so when I saw you I said he's short but not small because in the octagon at night you look thick you look like big brother he reads big shoes always what's up ? with this guy you're revealing all my secrets now buddy, but you're right, you're right, you're right, obviously, we're all mad, we all know it and I'm sure I've always paid, it sure is.

It doesn't matter, everyone fights better, he's taller than me, so for that to be a factor, this place is just bullshit. I'm a guy who uses the inside very, very well and we all know when you close the field. It definitely helps you in the wrestling exchange at the beginning, getting back on your feet and all that kind of stuff, so we can talk about these kind of short things that we all know, that's always good in these kinds of circumstances so that people can say. what they want, but obviously you're right when you see me, so obviously I still look big, but I had a lot of time to bulk up a little bit more, so you'll see me looking a little thicker, a little thicker and uh, the weight would be exactly where we want to still be sharp, but uh, they're also a little bit bigger, you know why I got into the same situation, people look at the visual and think, oh, it's too small, but that's not necessarily the case, but When you stood in front of Islam for the first time, what were you thinking looking at it?

It's an explosion of weight in the tall bathroom. Looking at it, it's big. What was your additional thought standing in front of Islam and Islam? I have the same question for you. Oh, maybe he was excited. I loved it again before the flight. I didn't know. I didn't know who I wanted because I wanted to react as soon as they said they wanted me in Australia and oh, you could take my smile away. off my phone, you know what I mean, this is the perfect scenario, not just fighting soon, fighting in Australia and all that, as soon as I heard that, they called me and I said, give me there, please take me back with this brief. boy, take this shotgun, okay, whatever it wants to be, so man, I love it, you know what I mean.

I'm looking at all the opponents for the same thing, obviously, I have respect for him now, so I prepare accordingly. This is a mistake and brief and all that stuffof things. Hopefully he's training and he's really thinking about it because it's going to be a forward shot. Islam, what did you think when you stood in front of Vulcanovsky the first time because you guys are the size? The differential is very true, that's how it is. They looked a little bigger than him when they were facing each other. What were you thinking when you saw the champion for the first time?

Not only the plane but the powerful will never fight in the world. thing brother I want to be king five for a pound this is my new dream this is my goal you know and I am training very hard for this fight I know that Akanowski is not going to be easy that's why I spent three months in camp and I am training very hard for this fight and I want to be powerful pound king, not just Chen, this expectation, Islam, leave this expectation that you will dominate everyone, right? You are a passive favorite on Vulcanovski, how do you feel about living? up to that every time because at this point you just became champion, it's not like you've defended the belt ten times, but there is a huge expectation that you not only win but dominate and they expect you to dominate one of the best fighters in the world.

I need a lot of prices, a lot of pressure there and I think the little Brits come to my division and I just want you to know how to show people my level. Someone will stay hard, but everyone knows that they can reach my level because in my last five five or six five I show a good performance and finish all my opponents, that's why I will try to finish according to my desire and my goal. I'm sorry but I want to knock you out so bad because that's why you want to stay and you end up on a tripod but we won't have that and again we want you to want to come back yeah but that's so good.

I'm preparing the good. what they said when he said he loves his friend or not, obviously a couple uh, top five for you, you know what I mean, they're not stupid, they're smart, they know what I'm capable of, they'll also prepare in consequence. I can tell that he's obviously been trying to do it. He's got a couple of black guys right now, so I'm sure he's making some rounds and, uh, but we could let it go, bro, so uh, and I salute him, that's cool, that's what I mean, but if he's getting retouched if he's getting dressed in the training room and tells you he'll be with you, I mean, it must feel really good to know, especially after the performance you had against Max Halloween, I mean, you look just as good. . like you've always looked your whole career and astute, you never get tired, you're as good on your feet as it seems looking at Islam with the black and everything I'm telling you, hey, I want to be with you, does that make you smile more, very good boxing, you know, I have good boxing, but I'm different, I'm a very good MMA fighter, so obviously he's calculated and you sit there and say I'll be very excited about the get up, we all know he'll want to shoot, you know, he'll do all that kind of stuff, but he might feel comfortable because he thinks I'm going to be easy to take down, hold him down and all that.

So I think he might be a little comfortable at first, but what if he doesn't? What if he can't hold me? What if he bounces up or I stop or frame or footwork too much? He's not above a wait, that's when you'll really see him start to panic before you can think of everything going smoothly. I don't know if two pieces will have a plan, but I would like us all to be able to talk. we want again for me, I know, I know what to expect, look at all these flights, I know he's a great fighter, the last one we heard Charles Oliveira, I expected him to win, so I expect the same about Islam, that's always.

I've been there so I might be preparing for a guy I know I know what he's capable of but just talking to some women he was saying things or if he really thinks it's going to be that easy. I wonder if it is correct. I'll give you an Absolutely, hey, what are you waiting for for the next fight against Islam, the next flight? In which direction is the one coming? I guarantee you will feel uncomfortable, you will have to be with me and then we will put, we will really want what I love. I hear a lot of people say that you stand up is underrated and all that kind of stuff we'll find out.

Islam. I couldn't stand it, although we can say that there is no problem. Hey, you talk like you can back out. own opportunities, yes, and that's okay, that's around all the time. I don't understand why you're smiling. I mean, what if it's not? I'm so excited, man waiting, you know what it is, and if it's not. Go according to the plan as if Bulk is saying What if when you try to take him down you can't take him down? What happens if you do it three times five times? He will be a brother. I'm going to keep working, follow my plan and all my opponents say I'm going to stop him from fighting, he won't beat me, but Australia doesn't have wrestling.

Australia, yes, they were national champions in the Olympics, like you said, like you said, this is in my mind, but you just don't remember it. I have a, we all know your hope is to try to hold me down and hold me down, but if that doesn't work in your favor, we know our company, you don't think he can be with you for 25 minutes. Okay, the thing is very inspiring, it's very calculable, it's very calculating and he thought he just said, "You think you're Muhammad Ali. I think I'm not having a good time. I'm just happy.

I know where I am." I trust my ability and I know I can attack. I know I put a puzzle on it. I don't care if he needs parts. If I'm going to need more, you know I'm going to keep working. flying, but I have that fight IQ, especially no matter where the flight goes, that's what has made me who I am. You know what I mean, if you look at my career and break it all down, it's fighting IQ, you'll never give it. she never backs down, there are so many layers, there are so many languages ​​and you can say whatever you want, we all know, I know he doesn't have great wrestling, cool, jitsu and all that kind of stuff, but what if she? there's only one game plan, isn't it eventually I've already added years that's what I'm trying to say in honor I don't know I'll find out I'll find out but I know for a while For a long time, it's usually not just one game plan, it's just that he's had to use a game he doesn't need to use, hey, ourselves, that's strange, it's true, it's so different, you can be fat but you can't be big, you can be afraid.

I don't need to do this I want to be sharp I want to be fast I want that move fuck that move over there and like you said don't hit that butterfly yeah what do you think of Alex Andrew Wilson because he's got quite a bit of color. there even a little he is there she is gone he is telling you he is going to tell you that he is going to beat you like me I can feel the confidence coming out of Alexander and why wouldn't he be sure that all he has done is win all his race, you two are talking, he put it in his mind, he'll take some time, I'll give up, but he also has to catch another plane, you know, because it's not the same guys that shoot him down somewhere, this is all other pressure, you know, my style is very different. and it won't be a shame that I have trained sparring partners or all these guys, it's so different, yeah, you just need to remember when I, when we prepare, we prepare properly, we, we, analyze the position, bake on these, defeat specific opponents who don't. we don't just do Jiu Jitsu we don't just do this we study we look we know what you know you're good you're good we know where you're good we know where you're really strong we're I'm going to give, we're going to give you that respect, but at the same time you know I'm going to put and I will do the difficult thing, yes, that's why they tell me yes, you are saying that if this is not arrogance, this is Confidence in my preparation I always prepare women.

I'm always going to do that and it starts with respecting your opponent. He knows where it could go. You get angry if you think I'm in one of the worst positions I've ever been in. I mean, I'm doing 35 minutes straight in bad position late, uh, submissions that you can get with some of the best Grapplers in the world. What we've seen in priority 19 in our Digger fight, we've seen you escape from something that doesn't. a lot of fighters would have escaped and I think that came out in Arden because of the unwillingness to give up, most would have said on the back, then put yourself in that position and you learn a lot from that, so training from there was uh obviously we leveled up to another level after that when it comes to submission and defense and all that kind of stuff just by being in that position and knowing what you're capable of again.

I believe in myself. I know what I'm capable of. Actually, I don't even know what I'm fully capable of, but I want to know. That is why, without a doubt, you accept this challenge. That's why you see me challenging myself. You see me doing these things. I think I can. It's done, I believe it. I'm going to go and try to take it. I guess he is a very tough opponent. I know, but I still want him in the last Halloween fight. So you weren't the first two, but Martin you sure continued. improve, but Alexander's stature as a shorter guy as a guy moving up in weight class, do you anticipate that's going to be a little bit of an issue because it's a little bit harder to move up a guy who's shorter?

Alexander has a wrestling back. Alexander has a championship mentality, how do you do it to Alex? Would you have done that to so many? Because I've seen guys throughout your career mentally check when dealing with you. How do you do that to Alexander Volkanovski? A guy that doesn't look like he's ever willing to give up on himself, how do you break him? How do you crush him? Well, you know everything my opponents say, I'm going to stand for something, but when they feel the power, they get depressed and everyone gives up like it's the last thing I did.

Fight what he says, I'm going to stop him and knock him out, but when he feels something, you know, and after the first round, I give him a hard time and he thinks I didn't complete this fight and he gives up, that's how it is, you know? This is not, I'm not like all fighters, I have a different style, no one has the same style, I have a different power, this is how when my opponents feel this and they always do the same things, they just give up and tap, You know, actually I. I'll go mention you, you think I'm lying, you think you can write to the Volcanovskis, renounce Islam, of course, why not?

That's something I really agree with you about when you talk about his other opponents feeling those things and then complaining, so you have to understand that I'm not going to fall apart like you could bet like you could try to put me to sleep, kill me whatever. , okay, that's probably the only way you can stop me, otherwise I'll just keep doing what I have to do. I'm going to fight. for every millimeter that's what I am, what I am again. I'm nothing special, but I'm not. I get my butt in the gym and do what needs to be done over and over again. and now look where it's got me and that mentality that I have is the reason I'm in this position, that's why you see me having confidence again, there's confidence, you can see the respect of getting it.

Beyond telling you how good it is. but that's why I'm confident, because I know I read what needs to be done to try to take that nice, shiny building, Jim. You are so confident uttering this last word about the mockery of Islam before they get locked up in the Octonaut this weekend. Do you want to say as a guide to the belt holder in the league class above you and the guy who appears to be another Russian machine just writing to dominate the lightweight division, let's do it, let's go out and put on a show? and make a crying sign let's do he's going to try a name also okay I'm going to try the Bible first and that only means it will be a breakthrough for Destiny One thing I really want to get back to having enough respect for Islam, just I want to tell you in your face that it is strong, you know, make me want a promise and that is to gain weight comfortably and healthily and then let's dance Islam, you have something to say to the champion, the number one ranked in the world, hey, you are fighting for something more than events of your title, you went this weekend, you will be ranked number one, follow the world

join

ing many of the guys who have trained and lived and the American kickboxing academy, what will that mean to you and what?

Do you tell Alexander especially when he leaves? Make sure you wait before we get banned from Octonaut this weekend bro. I don't have this big program, the Lord is everything. I'm very excited waiting for that moment and you know later. when I won my belt I just don't want to like, you know, defense like and when Alex jumped to the candy and I understand that it will be new girl, new Target, it is the dream of all MMA fighters to be the number one of the king of football. right, I understand what that means and I'm training very hard for this game, you know, that's right, I'm very close and very excited, ladies and gentlemen, you don't get the power of number one against number two very often, that's our reality when entering the UFC. 284 this weekend as Islam attempts to maintain his lightweight championship from Alexander to Great Vulcanovski Boys.

They both appear to be living in beautiful palatial properties in Australia at the moment. I would like to be there with you, but I will be attentive to the promises. be one of the best fights of the entire year champion, thanks for

join

ingto DC and RC. I appreciate every morning what you do and what you are to this sport, good luck, enjoy the fight and guys, really destroy it. this week thanks