We specialize in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Entertainment.  Interviews, live pre-fight, pre-event radio broadcasts.   Some of our many guests include Renzo Gracie, Pat Miletich, Randy Couture, Tara LaRosa, Ken Shamrock, Brad Blackburn, Roy “Big Country” Nelson, the Miller Brothers, etc.

LATEST: Brock Lesnar is the UFC heavyweight champion and Joe has a pit in his stomach.

This is a playlist of our latest shows. It will keep growing and evolving, just like the sport does, just like we do.

]]> http://www.joeted.com/2008/10/21/welcome-to-the-rear-naked-choke/feed/ http://www.joeted.com/2008/11/19/lesnar-wins-ufc-heavyweight-title-over-couturejoe-flies-solo-and-gives-the-state-of-the-ufc/ http://www.joeted.com/2008/11/19/lesnar-wins-ufc-heavyweight-title-over-couturejoe-flies-solo-and-gives-the-state-of-the-ufc/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:28:02 +0000 Riz http://www.joeted.com/?p=550 Brock Lesnar is the UFC heavyweight champion and Joe has a pit in his stomach.

Flying solo with Ted under the weather, Joe says this might be the tipping point where the UFC athletes become more removed from the fans and the media, like they are in other major sports.  He goes on to make the comparison to how things work in the NFL and how they could end up looking in MMA.

The lightweight division is brewing with story lines and Joe looks at a few of the angles after Kenny Florian’s rear naked choke submission of Joe Stevenson.

Joe also talked about the next cards for Strikeforce and Affliction.

Emails: Joe@JoeTed.com & Ted@JoeTed.com & Debbie@JoeTed.com & Kitch@JoeTed.com

Sean is the former UFC lightweight champion and sports an astounding 33-3-1 record, with his lone defeats coming to BJ Penn, Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes.

Sean helped put MMA on the map in Minnesota, which also boasts a big cat named Brock Lesnar. Minnesota Martial Arts Academy also has Kelly Kobald and Kaitlyn Young among their female MMA fighters.

Sean has a new figurine coming out to the market with Round5 MMA and we asked him about that, his days as UFC lightweight champion, what makes him tick, and pretty much anything else.

WEC CROWNS NEW CHAMP

Known often as Mike Thomas Brown, he pulled off a stunning first-round TKO of Urijah Faber - who was in everyone’s top five pound-for-pound rankins - to earn the WEC featherweight belt.

Brown’s eighth straight win increased his record to 20-4 and made him the first Zuffa belt-winner (UFC or WEC) for American Top Team.
EMAIL: Hit us up personally at Joe@JoeTed.com or Ted@JoeTed.com

WATCH IT ABOVE!

OR LISTEN BELOW IN THE SMALLER PLAYER!

The Miller Brothers, Dan and Jim, are fresh off wins in the past couple of weeks in their UFC bouts.

Dan is now 2-0 in the UFC after beating Matt Horwich by unanimous decision Oct. 25 in a battle of former IFL middleweight champions in Chicago.

Jim claimed his UFC debut by rear naked choke against Frenchman David Baron the week before in England.

Joe flew solo on this one, with Ted flying back from Florida. Joe also was joined by AMA proprietor Mike Constantino, who manages the Millers and others, and Jamie Cruz, who is a BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie.   Listen for Jamie’s spot-on Renzo impersonation (but don’t tell Renzo!).

Email us: Joe, Ted, Kitch, Debbie

The state of women’s MMA was the central subject on The Rear Naked Choke, Featuring Joe & Ted with debutants Julie Kedzie and Shayna “Queen of Spades” Baszler.

Jules, now signed with the AFL, and Shayna, essentially a free agent with the demise of EliteXC, each gave their take about what ProElite’s folding means to the women’s side of MMA.  They also gave a peek into their uncertain fighting futures.

But this is not always a serious show, and the light and funny sides of both fighters carried the day.  It’s much more fun to listen, but here are a few tidbits:

Did you know that Jules shared her dressing room with the ring girls when she had her fight with Gina Carano?  It’s true.  She also wants you and us to watch The Foot Fist Way when we have a chance.  Apparently we will die of laughter.

Shayna is certain she can beat Christiane Cyborg Santos despite losing to her.  She explains what happened and makes no excuses: “I sucked so bad I made her look good.”  Then The Queen of Spades called out Tara LaRosa (Joe pushed her, but she still did it), and you have to listen to hear how. Then listen to something by Kings of Leon.

A quick aside to congratulate friend of the show Jim Miller on his successful UFC debut, with MEGA points for winning via RNC against France’s David Baron.

“I think there are a lot of good fights at middleweight for [Anderson Silva] – me being one of them. Anderson is the pound for pound best in the world – an unbelievable fighter. He improves with every fight, shows a different game every time and is a class act. It’d be great for him to leave on a high and think you do have to set out a point when you are going to call it quits…. But that said, I want to get a pop at the guy before he retires….. I don’t want to beat somebody by default to get the belt — I want to beat the best guy out there….. He’s calling it quits too soon. There are a lot of good middleweights out there that he hasn’t fought yet.”

– Count “The Count” among most who have a vested interested in mixed martial arts who do not want to see UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva to retire anytime soon. “The Spider” has mentioned numerous times that his plan is to finish his six-fight contract with the UFC and retire by the age of 35, which would be sometime in 2009. Bisping is heating up the 185-pound division with three consecutive wins, including a unanimous decision win over Chris Leben at UFC 89 last weekend. He will next serve as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and will likely fight the opposing coach (unnamed at this time) for a right to challenge the current champion. And unless Patrick Cote scores the upset of 2008 at UFC 90 this Saturday then that person will more than likely be the feared Brazilian striker.

“The Upgrade” — the youngest fighter to ever compete inside the Octagon and younger brother of top UFC lightweight contender Joe Lauzon — is the winner of six consecutive fights, including a second round technical knockout of Brendan Hoxie back in June under the WCF banner.

His recent streak earned him a step up in competition against former IFL lightweight champion Chris Horodecki at Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” on January 24. Lauzon is taking this fight against Hammerstrom to ensure that ring rust is not a factor when it comes time to clash with the Canadian.

Here’s a snip on the decision:

“I really wanted to stay sharp and keep my momentum. I’ve fought for them [WCF] three times now and they take great care of me, and I love fighting for them in front of their fans and my friends and family. These (Boston) fans really are the best sports fans in the world. Justin is a really tough veteran and a former champion. It would be a huge mistake for me to look past him. He’ll see the best Dan Lauzon on November 14.”

He better not … an injury would spell disaster for a very good opportunity to perform on a major pay-per-view (PPV) event against a top-ranked 155-pound fighter.

To check out the latest WCF 5 fight card and to purchase tickets click here. In addition, check out a cool video of Lauzon prior to his bout with Hoxie that we never passed along until today.

Grow it, don’t blow it.

Bodybuilders, mixed martial artists and other serious athletes know how to put their bodies through the rigors of intense physical exercise.

But do they know how to benefit from it?

Every gym has what I like to call “Lifers.” They spend their life sentenced to working out without ever getting any benefit from it.

They’ll diligently march into the weight room or aerobics class each morning with a dark and dour disposition while robotically going through the motions of a paint-by-numbers routine.

They they’ll leave the gym and throw it all away.

Transforming your body is about more than just how hard (and how often) you train. Maximum gains are made not during but after your training regimen.

Immediately after.

Following an intense workout, the body goes through a process known as catabolism, the breaking down of muscle tissue to supply glutamine and other amino acid compounds to other parts of the body.

As a defense mechanism, your body is designed to cannibalize itself starting with muscle tissue to get the nutrients it needs, effectively reversing everything you’ve worked for in your time at the gym.

As far as muscle growth is concerned, you can’t rob Peter to pay Paul.

Now you can either provide your body with the nutrients it needs (like Branch Chain Amino Acids) or just sit back and let it feast on the muscle tissue you’ve worked so hard to grow.

Our goal as athletes in the recovery phase of our training is anabolism, the process where our muscles repair themselves, effectively adding strength and size in response to the stress of training.

The most effective way to accomplish that process (aside from rest) is by consuming post-workout recovery supplements within one hour after training.

Now that we’re heading into November and the cold weather season, a majority of athletes are in the off-season, putting on extra muscle and bulking up in order to lean out for the spring and summer of next year.

That kind of preparation takes special consideration and pounding a protein shake in the gym’s parking lot just isn’t going to cut it.

Fortunately the team at Feel It! Nutrition has once again used the science of sports nutrition to help eliminate the guess work out of training and recovery.

The Feel It! Nutrition Bulk Stack includes:

• Dymatize: 100% Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Chocolate (5 lb tub)
• Optimum Nutrition: 100% Casein Protein, Instantized Chocolate Supreme
• Axis Labs: Hypertrophic Testosterone Complex (120 Capsules)
• Dymatize: Creatine 10.7 oz Micronized (300 g)
• Universal Nutrition: Animal M Stak
• Twin Lab: BCAA Fuel (180 tablets)

This weekend only: The Feel It! Nutrition Bulk Stack is available to MMAmania.com readers for $20 off the listed price! Take advantage of these great savings now by clicking here.

Feel It! Nutrition’s Bulk Stack is the fastest and most effective way to stimulate anabolism and prevent catabolism.

Not only will it help you pack on the muscle, it’s nutrients are designed to help reduce your risk of injury and allow you to improve your conditioning at a faster rate.

Sometimes athletes are forced to compete on very short notice. UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck was given two weeks to prepare for Thiago Alves at UFC 90. Hopefully Kos has been using Feel It! Nutrition’s Bulk Stack!

To check out the low prices and vast selection of these and other great nutritional supplements, click here.

UFC lightweight Gray Maynard knows a thing or two about labels.

Like most amateur fighters who find their way into the UFC spotlight through a stint on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, Maynard has to work twice as hard to prove that skill — not television — is what landed him a spot on the active UFC roster.

So far, so good.

“The Bully” has kept his professional win streak intact inside the Octagon, winning three straight fights since a bizarre simultaneous knockout/tapout against Rob Emerson at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale in June 2007.

In addition, Maynard knows that he’s more than “just a wrestler” — something he intends to prove in his first appearance on a major UFC pay-per-view.

Gray brings us up to speed on everything from his days as a collegiate wrestler, life in the TUF mansion and the surprising phone call he got that would change his life forever.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Gray, first and foremost thank you for taking the time to talk with us at MMAmania.com. Start by giving us an update on how you’re feeling physically. Are you injury free and 100% ready for UFC 90 on Saturday night?

Gray Maynard: Nope, no injuries. I just got done with my eight week training camp. I feel good and ready to go.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): How has the weight cutting process been? Should we assume with your wrestling background that making the cut is a non-issue?

Gray Maynard: No, no issue at all. My weight’s good.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): What weight do you normally walk around at?

Gray Maynard: Usually in training camp I’m walking around at 172. Last couple of weeks probably around 166. The day before I should be around 162.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Tell us about some of your accomplishments in amateur wrestling.

Gray Maynard: I’ve been wrestling since I was three - I got going pretty early! I took state in Nevada my sophomore year in high school. Then I moved to an all-boys school called St. Edwards in Ohio. There I placed runner-up in the Ohio state championships my junior year. My senior year I was champ at 152 in Ohio then I was national champion as well. Our team was national champions.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): So college wrestling was a foregone conclusion.

Gray Maynard: Yeah, I went to Michigan State where I was a three time All-American.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): After graduating college did you say “Okay, now I have to go out and get a real job?”

Gray Maynard: Actually my goal was to try out for the 2004 Olympic team. I moved down to Arizona and I was training for a little bit but it got to the point where I would have had to cut down to 145 and I just couldn’t do it.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Why 145?

Gray Maynard: Because it was such a big jump between there and 163. From where I needed to be as far as my weight and body size I just couldn’t do either one. I was kind of stuck in limbo.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): How hard was it on you to go through all that, to set this ultimate goal and then have to abandon it?

Gray Maynard: It was really tough. I eventually went back home and had to work construction for a little bit and then I got into real estate.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Did you stop training all together?

Gray Maynard: No, I hooked up with the Cobra Kai Jiu-Jitsu school when I got back.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Did you do that with the intention of getting into mixed martial arts?

Gray Maynard: No, I was doing it because I was fat. I wanted to train, I hate not training. I’ve been doing it my whole life.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): How was your experience there?

Gray Maynard: I was kind of doing that off and on and I guess the word got around. I ended getting a call from (current UFC lightweight champion) BJ Penn. He wanted me to come help him train for his match against Rodrigo Gracie.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Wait a second, what do you mean the word got around? What word, that you were tearing it up? It must have been something special if a guy of Penn’s caliber is calling you.

Gray Maynard: Yeah, kind of. I was pretty new, I didn’t even know what jiu-jitsu was. It was cool but MMA was still kinda new and I was like “Eh, I don’t know if I’d want to do that.” But I went down to Hilo (Hawaii) and trained with [Penn] for three weeks. That was a lot of fun.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): It must have been humbling to roll with a guy who was coming off submission wins over Matt Hughes and Takanori Gomi.

Gray Maynard: He called me and I was like “I have no idea who you are but I’ll take a free trip to Hawaii!” Anyway, I went down there and I was like “Man, this guy is a big deal.” We trained for like three weeks and I was like “This sport is pretty cool.” Then I went back home, I still had a job and trained for a little bit more and then I ended up hooking up with [Randy] Couture when he was training for Chuck Liddell. Once I got there I was like “Wow, this is a great camp.” I left my job and just went at it full time.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Quitting your job and moving to train full time is a big step. How did you support yourself financially?

Gray Maynard: I had some cash in the bank and my fiancé had a job and was helping me out. There were a lot of ways.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Was your family supportive? What was that phone call like: “Hey, I’m quitting my job to train as a fighter in a sport you’ve probably never heard of!”

Gray Maynard: In the beginning it was rough, they loved wrestling but they didn’t know what I was getting into and stuff. Now it’s at the point where they’re like “Wow, this is great!”

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Give us some background on how you ended up doing The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).

Gray Maynard: After hooking up with Couture, I had my first couple of amateur fights in Oregon but they were spread out. It got to the point where I was calling all the time bugging everyone for fights. It was frustrating because a lot of times they book you for fights then they don’t happen. It was like “Yep, yep, oh, nope, nope.” Then a couple of people told me that the TUF show was going to have 155 pounders on it. I tried out and that was it.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Was that experience as tough as everyone says? One of your cast mates, Manny Gamburyan, said by the time he left the house he was a psycho.

Gray Maynard: It’s horrible man. You’re stuck in the house, you can’t leave, can’t talk to people. There were a lot of idiots and I just wanted to get out of there. It drives you crazy.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Idiots notwithstanding, who do you keep in contact with from that season?

Gray Maynard: I keep in touch with Matt Wiman, Rob Emerson, Nate Diaz a little bit, Joe Lauzon, a couple of guys.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Speaking of Nate Diaz, do you ever look back at that elimination fight, that you were dominating before getting submitted and say “God, I wish I had that one back?”

Gray Maynard: Yeah, it’s a loss. I hate to lose. I’d love to go back but by then we all just wanted off that damn show. It was the last day and it was just like “God, I have to fight right now? I just want to get out of here!” I hate that I had that attitude.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Is there a chance that guys might subconsciously look for a way out in a fight if the experience has already broken them prior to fighting? Do you think being under that kind of stress affected you performance?

Gray Maynard: You know I talked to Diaz afterwards and we both were like “God, we felt like shit.” We just wanted to get out of there.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): You also mentioned staying in touch with Rob Emerson. Do you guys ever look back on your fight at the TUF 5 Finale and have a laugh over the knockout/tapout?

Gray Maynard: Not really.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): After the fight you were adamant about not being knocked out. Did you watch the replay at some point and say “Yeah, I guess I was out?”

Gray Maynard: I mean I was dazed, big-time. I don’t know if I was completely out but I was dazed for sure.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Is it hard watching yourself on TV?

Gray Maynard: I don’t watch unless I’m watching it in training camp to prepare or correct mistakes. It’s the only time I’ll do it.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): What about TUF? Have you been keeping up with the seasons that followed yours?

Gray Maynard: No, I don’t even watch it.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Has the show run its course or do you think it still has a place in this sport?

Gray Maynard: It’s got its place. It’s a crazy show.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): You probably made the most noise in your division after the win over Frankie Edgar - a win that is even more impressive knowing that you did it with a broken hand. A lot of people, myself included, thought Edgar was the better fighter until you proved us wrong. How much of a factor was the altitude in that fight?

Gray Maynard: It wasn’t a factor. If you train and you’re ready and show up for the fight then we’re all on an even playing field.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): It was the first time I’ve seen Edgar outwrestled. Was there a point in the fight where you felt him break? Or was he dangerous from start to finish?

Gray Maynard: He didn’t break, he’s a tough kid. He was in it the whole time. I had to tell myself “Keep your A-game, keep your A-game” because he just kept coming.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): A lot of good wrestlers end up with the label of being a lay ‘n pray fighter or the dreaded “human blanket”. Does that label concern you and what do you intend to do to prove otherwise, if anything?

Gray Maynard: I’m in a great camp (Xtreme Couture) that keeps evolving. I got Jay Hieron, all kinds of great guys, this team is good. We train to get good in all areas: Jiu-Jitsu, kicks, knees - all that stuff. As we do that, it’ll be easier to feel confident about using those other areas.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): You’ve got perhaps your stiffest test to date when you face Rich Clementi at UFC 90 on Saturday. Where does a win over a talented veteran like him put you in this division?

Gray Maynard: Against a tougher guy.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): So you’re not looking for a future title shot or a certain ranking if you win?

Gray Maynard: Nah, I’m not there yet. I gotta keep going up the ladder.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Is there a lightweight fighter currently in the UFC that you’ve said to yourself “Man, I would love to fight that guy?”

Gray Maynard: I asked for Sean Sherk after the Edgar fight but that didn’t happen.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): That’s kind of a big jump.

Gray Maynard: Yeah, he’s tough man, he’s great. That’s who I want, I want to fight the best. I don’t want easy fights.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Do you consider Clementi an easy fight?

Gray Maynard: No, hell no. That guy’s good. He’s got a lotta heart. It’s gonna be a tough fight.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Let me read you a quote from Clementi: “I like fighting one-dimensional guys. I’m pretty well-rounded. It lets me have a little bit of flexibility.”

Gray Maynard: Well he’s right about being well-rounded. And I was one-dimensional maybe early on and through the TV show, but now I got a little bit more.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Do you think it’s a mistake for him to go into the fight thinking his only concern is your wrestling?

Gray Maynard: I guess we’ll see.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): How many fights do you have left on your UFC contract after Saturday?

Gray Maynard: I think I have four.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Who handles the decision making for your career? Do you have a manager or do you handle everything yourself?

Gray Maynard: I talk to Couture a lot. He kind of advises me. He’s awesome.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Did his departure last year affect your relationship with Dana or the UFC?

Gray Maynard: No, I’m pretty easygoing. They would call me and tell me who they wanted me to fight and I would be like “Yeah, sure.”

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Who are your closest friends in the UFC?

Gray Maynard: Tyson Griffin, Martin Kampmann, Rashad Evans, there are a bunch of guys that are really cool.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): What do you think Griffin’s chances are against Sherk?

Gray Maynard: Man that’s gonna be a great fight.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Sherk of course has a tremendous wrestling background but kind of took a fall from grace with the steroids scandal. Was there ever a point in your training or career that you felt tempted to get that edge?

Gray Maynard: No, I’m a little guy. Probably wouldn’t make much difference.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): But little guys tend to have exciting fights - which leads me to Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson. You have a prediction for that?

Gray Maynard: Joe Daddy has been doing good. Florian was okay against Huerta, I don’t know, I can’t call stuff, I suck at that. I’m always wrong.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): You can’t be any worse than Nostradumbass.

Gray Maynard: Who?

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): So, uh, what do you do when you’re not training? What are some of your hobbies?

Gray Maynard: I like to play games, hang out with my dog, go wakeboarding, just kind of kick back.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Are you married now?

Gray Maynard: No, we’re still engaged. We’ve been together since college.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Nice. Can she watch you fight or is it too hard for her?

Gray Maynard: No, she can watch. She’s been with me a long time so she’s been watching me compete since the beginning.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): You have a couple of tattoos. Give me your favorite and the significance behind it.

Gray Maynard: The one on my chest says: “One life, roll the dice.” I got that when I was in Arizona training for the 2004 Olympics because you gotta get up everyday and take a chance. You gotta roll the dice every day.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Are there days when you wake up and just say “Ah, fuck this?”

Gray Maynard: Oh yeah, but I go out and do it anyway.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Are you getting recognized in the streets now and if so, is it hard to deal with?

Gray Maynard: Yeah I get noticed, but it’s cool. I don’t mind. Doesn’t happen much because I’m usually either at the gym or at my house.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): What was your reaction to the fall of EliteXC? Was their demise good or bad for the sport?

Gray Maynard: Only time will tell.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): How did you get the nickname “The Bully?”

Gray Maynard: I got that when I joined the Couture gym because I like to go hard. I train real hard.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Do you ever worry that such high intensity could make you more susceptible to injury?

Gray Maynard: No, not really.

Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com): Well we’ll be looking forward to some of that intensity against Rich Clementi at UFC 90. We wish you the best of luck Gray and thanks again for making some time for us.

Gray Maynard: Awesome, thanks a lot. And check out my sponsor Desert Volkswagon.