Adam Cullen & Luke Riley | Cage Warriors 146 Manchester Countdown | Energized Show

Summary

What is up and welcome to the Energized Show! On this episode Next Generation MMA's Adam Cullen & Luke Riley join us to discuss their Cage Warriors 146 Manchester matchups on Saturday the 12th of November Live on UFC Fight Pass, Training in Next Gen & More MMA craic. Like…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Energize show up the Irish. Okay, what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of Energize. Ross, introduce the guests, man. Today we've got a next gen and Cage Warriors Manchester special. We have on the feared welterweight, Mr. Adam Cullen. He hails from France and we have on the feared featherweight, Luke Riley. Lads, how are we doing? Good evening, man. All good. All good. Thanks for having us. No, it's good to Adam, how far down the Cage Warriors roster or how high up in the Cage Warriors roster were you going to go to find a Frenchman to beat? It's getting embarrassing now, isn't it? Like I think I'll by default I've got to be number one now. I'm just the number one man in Cage Warriors because can't get anyone in there with me, so going up to welterweight probably after this one or then they'll be scared of me, so middleweight. Uh basically I'm going to have to fight Mac Bonner, aren't I? Mac Bonner Mac Bonner will be on Cage Warriors 147, by the way. Oh. He will indeed, indeed. Uh tell us this, Adam. What I want to know is uh Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane, Adam Cullen, like rank them top uh pound-for-pound fighters from France. Well, obviously me number one. And then cuz you know what, Ngannou got the nod, didn't he, over Gane last time, so him number two. But uh we'll see if he wants to get it on for his number one spot. We'll uh we'll have to see. On Cage Warriors obviously. Yeah, well that's a Combat Sports exclusive here, Ross. Yeah, you're moving up the moving up the heavyweight too to get that fight. Uh Adam, how frustrating was it not being able to find a lightweight? Like there's loads of lightweights out there and not one of them would accept the call to fight you. But it's it's just standard now, isn't it, cuz they're all just [ __ ] bags. Like I'm not being funny, apart from me now, obviously Figueredo's on the UFC, George has the belt, he is the number one lightweight. He's not going to belt to isn't he? Like it's simple as I don't get if you if you want to be in the sport and want to go to high levels and want to get to the UFC I'm the man that you've got to got to [ __ ] beat, do you know what I mean? But people just don't want it. People are just padding the records, that's happening in all the way through with the Cage Warriors divisions. There's people who just want to pad the records, take easy fights all that [ __ ] and it's it's embarrassing. Do you know what I mean? But it's like I've got literally got to only fight in this kid cuz his opponent pulled out of well so I like pure luck that I've got cuz no one wants it. I think I've had seven people saying me down at You know, kids from Poland, other French kids, other people that were already on the card and then went and got matched with someone else cuz they didn't want to go with me. It's embarrassing. Yeah, and and similar similar enough yourself as well, Luke, like we see Cage Warriors my Manchester getting announced. We see like your guy's face on the poster and then obviously we reach out to you be like, "Who you fighting?" And it's like, "Haven't a clue. Don't know yet." [ __ ] no. What's going on? Just the [ __ ] Like I said, cheers before the real lads of rosters are going to [ __ ] peaches [ __ ] lads [ __ ] The kind of name Yeah, that was ringing me, lad. Yeah, lads just the [ __ ] gang of [ __ ] lad. It is what it is. [ __ ] You can only be who you're putting in from yourself this kid, the title, sure. [ __ ] I'm going to [ __ ] him up. Cuz people can again now that this fight Yeah, the two lads compete at Cage Warriors 146 this Saturday. Adam Cullen is on a seven-fight win streak and Luke Riley's on an eight-fight win streak. Uh maybe lads you you're going to have to probably fight each other, but this time in the Cage Warriors cage rather rather than in the Next Gen gym. That'd have to be done. [ __ ] Next Gen cage for me, lads. Like the size of a 50p coin. No no was no was gabbing Adam in that one. No. Do you think Do you think it's you know, the guys from Next Gen the individual skill set? Do you think it's the reputation of the gym? Do you think it's a a combination of everything that why people find it so hard to get matched from Next Gen? I think you just can't deny the performances, can't you? If you're looking at lads in our gym, like not only are we winning, we're literally stopping everyone. Like and I think like we must be winning like 95% of our fights are like across the gym. So, and obviously like the name comes with it with like them in the UFC, but I think watching individual performances well, people are [ __ ] realizing that like we're onto something different, you know, we're the real deal in our gym and you just don't want don't want anything to do with it. Like people just don't want hard fights and it's simple as I put it. It's embarrassing. Yeah, like another thing we were talking about as well was Luke Riley, you're you're about to fight on the last one of the cards recently and so was Nathan Fletcher and your your opponents just didn't arrive on the day to make weight. Like Luke, when that happens, like what sort of goes through your head? To be fair, like a lot of the times before fights I just sort of like it's not 100% but in the back of me mind if it like I'm already predicting like a pull out, so when Remus rang, I was with Ben in the old ceremony, when he rang the phone, you just know it's bad news because he wasn't earning anything. Rang the phone and I was like, he's pulled out and then he said, it's just part of the fight game, lads. You've got to take it on the chin and move on. Obviously it was [ __ ] gutsy but where the Wales card was like 3 weeks after, I just I said to me instead, "Well, I'll stay in the gym, just get me on this." And then got on the Wales card and done what I had to do. Yeah, Luke, um I know I know that's obviously part of the fight game you have to swallow as well, but tell us this the sort of third wheel in the cog that's not here, Nathan Fletcher. We've seen him post on social. He's had 10 people turn him down. Like, what what is that like? Is Is he demoralized in the gym? Is he keeping his spirits high? How's Nathan doing with with that? Yeah, he sure starts he's keeping himself in high spirits, but [ __ ] honest like honest to god on me heart breaks for him because he was unlucky with the London and he couldn't even fight on wires because he was going away the next week. And he's not fought since. It's going to be over a year's time since he's been in the cage. It's just [ __ ] It's heartbreaking. That's just The people who have turned him down as well, it's not even like the names who have turned him down. It's just a [ __ ] joke, to be honest. Like I said before, it's just a roster full of [ __ ] like But the last one I heard I actually was. I actually was one of them people that pulled out. I apologize. That's the furthest point this club has ever lasted. The last one I've heard of somebody turn down was the last one I was singing in a nightclub, and that's a fact. Yeah, I don't know I know your pain. Yeah, I feel your pain. But uh boys, obviously the gym is gym is riding high at the moment, you know, um like as we as we alluded to earlier, the reason for all these guys turning you down is because the gym is absolutely on fire. Um what's what's the atmosphere like these days? Obviously, you know, Molly's getting ready to go over to Madison Square Garden. Paddy's fighting again at the end of the year. What's the atmosphere like these days? Everyone's just flying high at the minute. Like obviously, we've just got huge fights coming up like MSG, like the most brilliant next thing debut or something in New York. Um obviously, Paddy's on that Vegas card, some massive card. And like we've all we've all just active at the minute, you know what I mean? Everyone's coming off big wins and that. So, the whole gym should bouncing. Obviously, cameras in there all the time for them, too. And like everyone on big win streaks, it's just sick. And it's good to But honestly, you see how busy it's going to be like It's a joke. Yeah, we literally have to split the sparring up cuz we can't fit any more people on the mat. People come from all over to get dancing. And will will never get Do you think you might even get to a stage where you'll almost have to turn people away? 100% we're getting to that. Do you think you'll have to get a new facility? Yeah, 1 million percent. Maybe not maybe expand I don't know. [ __ ] I mean I'm panicking hearing him say that now. What? I mean he's having a heart attack thinking about a new facility. May- maybe maybe some sponsor comes and builds a new next chance to lead out there. And remember doesn't have to worry about it. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Lads, can you tell us who's going to be in the corners this weekend cuz obviously you're going to fight on the Saturday night and so is Molly. So I'd like to send people away with Molly. Who'll be in your corner this Saturday night? Um in my corner I've got Adam Ventre. Um Paddy the Baddy Pimblett. And Ben Kelly. Talk to you with the lads you know what I mean. I think uh Paddy will struggle to get to the cage with all the people asking for photos won't he? Might just have to do it from like the walkway or something but yeah. It'll be a bit of mayhem I think when he turns up. I know yeah. Can I get me two of like that for a selfie? Who knows? Unfortunately if things keep going same way as they're going you might have Nathan Fletcher in your corner as well. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, hopefully he gets to fight. Yeah, yeah, fingers crossed cuz like that'll be absolutely heartbreaking for him especially considering the way things are at the moment. He has a win over the current champ in that division as well so like fingers crossed and The champ wants that fight doesn't he Matt? He always calls for that fight over and over again. As he's saying, he wants Nathan because because of what I would Nathan dealt with him last time. As far as we're last time I spoke to Nathan, I think there was a I think there might have even been a text exchange between the two of them on on Instagram. So, uh yeah, that that would be definitely a an interesting one to watch back anyway. Yeah, definitely. I said that's what I would have done in the Mason and Yianni fight. Like, to Nathan in the gym, like, make sure stocks go up south. Like, make sure stocks go up crazy and show off your own [ __ ] coach you Do you know what I mean? Coach you really are after he beat Whodan. So, Yeah, definitely. Yeah, absolutely. Uh Adam, obviously, you know, you sort of alluded to it earlier. I wanted to touch back on it. How far away do you think you are from a title shot now at 155? Because at the end of the day, you had that undefeated feeling streak. No one wants to match up against you. Like, do you think that title you're on the cusp of that title shot? I've got to be having an eye after this one, like. I know with this guy, it's not like a contender or nothing, but that's not my fault at the end of the day. I've said yes to all these contenders, and they've all said no. So, I think realistically, let's have it right. That bum guy is fighting George Hardwick. And Hardwick's going to muffle him. Like, let's have it. You know what I mean? I don't think anyone disagrees with that. Hardwick will batter him. And then, to be fair to George, to say he did after that, he deserves to get signed, doesn't he? He'll be like 11 and one with like seven finishes or something. Like, fair play. He should be going. So, then 2023, I think that's my time, isn't it? And I'll be fighting for this title, and I'll be the defending champion then on. And then, I'll just smoke everyone till I get signed. If George does go to UFC next, who do you think could be the other body standing across from him? Is there anyone in the lightweight division who you think is worthy of that shot? Who would it be? Especially who is who, you know, who hasn't already failed me down? Like, uh who would you who would you put in there with me? Maybe Madibek Amagov? I'd smoke him. Yeah, well, he also adds that that French element to it. So, like it keeps the rivalry going. Yeah, it could do, but yeah, he's he's not on my level, unfortunately. Like, I watched him on the weekend. He seems like a nice fellow and that's me. I've met him a few times in the old town and that, but that lad wasn't up to much on the weekend, was he? He he struggled. He he he couldn't hang with me. I think he I think he'd only had like one fight in like the last three or four years. So, I think uh it's good good to have him back in the division anyway. He's He's a He's a good name. So, uh He's entertaining, isn't he? He's got He's got power. You can't deny that. He's got punching power. He He gave out to me cuz I didn't understand why he wore that that anime hat, uh which we found out about later stage, and I told him I wasn't a nerd in school. So, like same. Uh yeah, shout shout out to Cage Warriors for having us over the weekend as well. I know we said it all fair, but like what an event. Yeah, fair enough. And then and then it was and take his money off him. Take his lunch money off him. Yeah, that's it. I'll stop him when he won the lockers. Uh Luke, obviously, you know, we saw Paul Hughes crowned as the featherweight champion. Like it would be an absolute scene if he wasn't signed to the UFC after that fight. It was incredible. What did you make that fight and where do you think that leaves the featherweight division? Well, I think it was a good fight. I'll be honest. He fought He Hughes He surprised me. I thought I had Vu Channing going to win that fight and he for for perhaps the easiest fight I've had. He He's I'd shoot the game plan at him. He looked very well. I think Vu Channing's power just I think Monty felt Vu Channing's power and it was just He just walked through him and it's It's like a bit like the Eglin fight. I felt that the power from the first shot and I was like there's no shot you can hit me with that can phase me. And when that when that happens in the cage, I just just [ __ ] You can just walk through with someone and I think that's what happened. Vu Channing's just didn't match the power it there to really put him on the back foot and he just there walked through him up with the the featherweight division it's [ __ ] it's a bit [ __ ] up now, isn't it? So, who would just Hardwick fight few China for what happens now? My personal opinion on it is Hardwick fights someone for the vacant belt but I think Jordan's going to be out for a while. I think someone else is going to have to fight him. He's not jumping in after that. It was a war, wasn't it? It could be That was a such a war lads. Yeah, they like they like There was so many moments like after that fight like I remember it was it was probably 2:00 in the morning. We were back at the fighter hotel and like Jordan walked in and the entire hotel like stopped and like clapped him clapped him over at the elevator as he as he went and I went like Yeah, fair play to him. That Facebook and Twitter was crazy that [ __ ] the swelling in his eyes was His eyes were all closed like Yeah, I don't I don't know to be honest I don't I'm just here. I don't really care. I'm just doing my own thing lads. They could [ __ ] featherweight division can do what the [ __ ] they want. I don't I'm doing my own thing so They can all They can all get it when their time comes lads. When I'm ready for the belt I don't I'll I'll make that call and then I'll fight whoever is [ __ ] got it lads. Simple as that. But as Charriere fights on at our unplugged so maybe if he wins it'll be him versus Oh yeah, Charriere and Hardwick maybe yeah. Forgot about him. Or they could do a rematch with Hardwick and Pasquali. Pasquali, yeah. He he he's in there around but I think I think Charriere is like to take that out. Yeah, that was the draw. That was the draw. So like From what I've seen Hardwick saying no he wasn't really he didn't sound too interested in a rematch of that. He was saying he it was a draw but he that's a win for him sort of thing so I don't know. No well that's that's the thing is things are going to be very very interesting lads like you know what I mean? Obviously you lads have to get the W this weekend and then you know look beyond into 2023. I'm Indian was saying some of fighters some event to be announced at the plugged event Ross I think. Yeah, yeah he did so. Obviously you have this event unplugged then the end of the year so look I I expect another big year in 2023 from from the next gen boys you guys are flying that flag high and proud and we're looking forward to it so I think maybe we'll finish off with a Adam give us a prediction how how do you get a chaos out of here on this one? I'm just going to smoke him in every exchange. However he wants to go I can see him I can see him getting like panicking and panic shooting on me or anything like that but anywhere the fight goes I'm going to batter him I'm less than 5 minutes definitely. And then what about yourself Luke how do you get rid of the Thai butcher? Ooh with a knee. That'd be a good one. Knocking a Thai butcher out with a knee or like an elbow. I'm game for it I'm game for it. Yeah what about what about Molly's special? Yeah, yeah. Yeah how does how does Molly get the job done this weekend as well lads? People doubt him. Don't I [ __ ] wear a wig? I've not really studied like her opponent so I don't is she jujitsu is she? She's a grappler I I I definitely she'll knock her out. Yeah second round. Yeah second round. Maybe not another elbow she might be waiting for it. Maybe after she holds the other one this time spin the other way. Yeah. If you smell what Molly is cooking. Now we'll go guys uh thanks a million for joining us we we really appreciate it can't wait to watch you guys fight over the weekend it's going to be absolutely incredible fingers crossed our boy Fletch gets on the card as well and you know it'll be a trifecta but um if you haven't watched this on YouTube make sure to like share subscribe hit the bell notification to make sure you see all the Androids content if you're watching on fight pass hit a favorite and as always stay energized. Energize show, up the Irish. I've seen you guys a couple of times. I've seen a couple of clips that you guys have done. Some of the views with Dylan Moran and that, but I saw So, keep going. Keep up the good work, guys.