Will Fleury | Oktagon World Title Fight, UFC Year Review & Irish MMA Roundup | The Energized Show

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What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode SBG Ireland's Will Fleury joins us to discuss his Oktagon 81 World Title Fight, UFC 2026 Year Review & Irish MMA Roundup. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows! Youtube …

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Like I've lived some things over the last year and a half that have been genuinely life-changing. Like and even like getting to go over there and being a huge name over there, it's class. I love it. I love what that is. Um and it means a lot to me. But I know deep down that I'll regret not going and doing everything I could have done. [music] Diana Joy show up the time. [screaming] >> Okay, what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of Energized brought to you by Orc Kings Competitions. Ross, >> are you intoxicated or something? >> Introduce the guest man. Today we are bringing you the one and only the pound-for-pound number one fighter in Octagon. He is the champ. He's everybody's favorite Care Bear. It's the one and only Will [ __ ] Flurry. How are you doing, my friend? >> Good, man. What's up, man? Thanks, L. >> Really, really good to have you, Will. Really good to have you. Welcome to the show, Will. H you are riding high on Octagon. First of all, how cool is it to see yourself as number one on their pound-for-pound list? >> Yeah, that's it's look, I'll be it's amazing, but Ka is the true pound-for-pound number one in Octagon. I feel like to actually feel like I've earned that, I have to go in and smash midday. Once I smash midday, there can be no question over that. I like look out of the guys left in the promotion, I'm definitely the number one. I feel like if I go in and smash him, it's like you've left the legacy that nobody else has now. And you can beat guys in a division above you who are seven and one in the UFC. So I'm like, "Oh, it's cool. My name's at the top of the list. I'm the number one pound-for-pound in the biggest organization Europe." Great feeling, great buzz. Part of me is like, yeah, do something to earn that now because I was just given that. I was number two. Ka left. He's gone. It's kind of like I want to earn everything. I want to earn that one and smashing bud is the way I'm going to earn that. >> Fair. Fair. And uh we always love you for that, Will, that you do do want to earn it. Obviously, you are fighting fighting Martin Budet. But before we get into that, I just want to ask you about this like obviously you're the light heavyweight champion or the heavyweight champion for those in the world who don't know. Most people I'm sure watching this do know, but what's it like to be the double champ, but then you know for the organization to have to go outside of the organization to fight an opponent for you? From what I could see, the amount of people were turning you down. What's it like to have the belts and people not want to fight you? That must been very frustrating. >> It's extremely frustrating. Yeah. So, I've been ready to fight since September. I told them in June that I would be ready for September. They tried to get a few guys but not like number one it's frustrating because they don't want me to smash any of their German prospects. So I think they were hoping Alex Boick would want to fight. He was logically the next number one like he was the number one contender after he beat Langer. He never wanted to fight. I could feel it. Like I met him at Stokart that night. We used to train together a couple of years ago like seven, eight years ago and I used to beat the crap out of him at sparring. So he then like I knew he probably wouldn't want to do it but it was fairly obvious like when he won the fight he never mentioned my name. It's like you're the number one contender. You're not talking about the champ at all. I kind of called him and pushed him for a while. No response from him. So then I started calling out Vosrron. Vosrron did respond originally. You know sure he called me out. He said he was hunting me down originally and he's obviously not. So both of those guys have gone down the weight division since which has been very frustrating. I don't think they've let me fight Fostrron because they don't want me to smash their German prospect [ __ ] insta wanker type guy. Um, so that's been disheartening and frustrating and equal measure, but I'm really really delighted that Bday signed this because like aside from all the Instagram [ __ ] this is a huge fight. Like this is the fight that actually cementss you as a legit look, Will Flurry is something different. Well, Flurry's special in a way that very very few people have the ability to be. >> Yeah. Did this one like sort of gets you I don't know whether it would look that way or not, but like was officially ranked as like a top 10 heavyweight worldwide. I think a win over Martin Buud really puts you in the mix with the best heavyweights in the world. Do do you feel that do you feel like that's that's where this win puts you? >> Yeah. Um, I think look, am I big enough to be like a consider myself the best heavyweight in the world? Probably not. But can I do I feel like I have a skill set that dismantles most heavyweights? I genuinely do. Like when I watch 95% of heavyweight fighting, I'm like, these guys are not great athletes. They don't have great skill sets. I've come up from middleweight, so I understand physically these guys are going to be a lot bigger than me. they're probably going to be a good bit more robust, but it's the skill set and like that's something I'm incredibly proud of is like I'm going in breaking much bigger men down. And look, I'm I'm going to go and show it in a couple of weeks. But one thing that I've always kind of been frustrated by has been labeled as like, ah, he's he's very tough and he's very big and he's quite strong. It's like, no, early enough on and maybe I was originally and look like there was definitely times where I could have been a better martial artist in my career, but I look at it and I'm like, I've been breaking guys down technically for a long time now. And this fight especially, I think, will show people it's like, whoa, this guy is a very high level martial artist. And like I like I don't think you'll ever be fully satisfied with other people's opinion, but >> I know myself this will mean a lot to me that going in and breaking him down and fundamental like destroying them technically and taking away any weapon he has and then showing yeah look this is what I can do to high level fighters who are a lot bigger than me. >> That would be very satisfying. Well, would you you say your stall s is actually a better stall at a heavyweight or a light heavyweight? >> I think it's easier against bigger guys because they're generally less skilled, but I think if I was to be, you know, top fighter like in the world, it'll be light heavyweight. I don't know if I'm big enough to be like the top heavyweight in the world. I think I can definitely be the top light heavyweight in the world. Yeah, because like I'm and like I don't doubt you could be and I I suppose like I'm not too sure if you watch Yamhovich fight at the weekend there. I'm like do I think Will Flurry could go in there and compete and beat those guys? Yeah, like absolutely I I think he could. I think uh number one I think uh your striking's come on loads especially especially your boxing. I think uh you're obviously putting in a lot of work with Dave Jones and like it's definitely uh shown and then also number two like your grappling game has always been excellent especially that top pressure you know what I mean like you get on top of people like they really really struggle to get them get them off you and I just think that at light heavyweight put it this way you wouldn't be a great stylistic match up for Alex Per who's like the UFC champion like he wouldn't he like you know I mean realistically you'd go in there probably try to take him down and get on top of him you know what I mean like that wouldn't sit here and say this. >> I would love the opportunity to go and prove that. Um, so to me, this fight is a lot about showing that and earning that opportunity and to like show like look guys, I'm not just some European level guy. I've been world class for a while and put me out there and I can do incredible things. And like I think I've already shown you, put me out there, I can do incredible things, >> but it's about making the most of the window I have left because I've put a lot of effort into developing a skill set and now I want to exploit that. >> Yeah. Well, you're coming off the greatest year in your life, will like obviously >> back uh like you're obviously you're fighting Budet on December 28th for the people tuning in. So, make sure to check that out. But like last year um you beat for on December 29th that went all over all around the country because you were the only Irish person fighting that night. You became champion and then tov in March March 8th you became champ champ. Like this is like the biggest year of your career. Um I think that's like we're going to do an end of year awards to see who people think is the Irish fighter of the year. Like um like you're definitely within a show definitely. Um, like do you think like next year what what do you want to like look and see and do with your career? Cuz like obviously against Peday your plan is to defend the the heavyweight title like still be champ. Is there would you think like the UC might come calling as well cuz like you'll have a huge name in Europe. >> Yeah, possibly. Um the like the goal for me now is just to go out there and demonstrate my skill set and demonstrate the fact that like I love fighting and I think that's been fairly obvious over the last few fights. I have a style that's conducive to kind of making it a very entertaining fight. Um and I'm pretty damn [ __ ] good at it. So wherever that leads me, that's where I want to go. And I want to fight the best guys I possibly can in the window that I have left. So getting that like number one thing now I have a main event slot brag to defend my second like you know to defend the heavyweight title as a double champ >> that's pretty incredible you know of a guy who was you know come into the promotion in what April 2024 within 11 months I was a double champ um I feel like the chance of getting significant challenges after this when I win this fight within Octagon. It's hard to know if there will be. Will they sign someone like Gustafson? Will they sign a few big guys who are going to give me like there's nobody in the light heavyweight division who will fight me? Like I've talked about Bosar and I've talked about [ __ ] Bobic. All these guys, they're focused on being German and selling to a German audience. And I think Octon are focused on doing slightly bigger things. So, I hope there's an ambition on their behalf to get guys who are serious and then we can build some really big fights because I love the way Octagon promote fights. I love the shows. They're incredible to be at. The atmosphere is amazing, you know, like every show I've been part of is like besides Birmingham, every show I've been part of is sold out. And it's been like the stadium over in Frankfurt, the atmosphere that night in Prague where everybody was booing the [ __ ] out of me in Sher Carlos. Being part of nights like that, it is incredible. like they are like amazing moments. I've been really like I've lived some things over the last year and a half that have been genuinely life-changing. Like and even like getting to go over there, being a huge name over there, it's class. I love it. I love what that is. Um and it means a lot to me, but I know deep down that I'll regret not going and doing everything I could have done. I feel like if if it is a case where Octavon want me to fight a couple of local circuit guys just to keep the promotion and name going, I'm going to be not utilizing the best of me and I I don't think I'll be fully motivated for that. Like this fight's huge to me. I love this fight. And look, we're already looking past this fight. I'm talking about what's going to happen afterwards. I'm really really like I'm gonna fight a guy who's 135 kilos in less than three weeks. I'm about 106 kilos right now. So, like, you know, the guy's nearly 30 kilos bigger than me. I love that. I love that challenge. This is what I'm here for. Like, but I have a I have a pretty big challenge in front of me and I respect it. And I'm like, okay, there's, you know, fighting someone 30 kilos bigger than you is going to bring unique situations and like if he stay connected, he's got a huge advantage. So, I'm very excited about that. Very excited about what could be after that. But also I understand there could be potential pitfalls afterwards and like beating bed is going to make it very difficult to get opponents without octagon >> like like a win here would be one of the best wins in Irish MMA history. A win over Martin Bouet. He was seven-1 in the UFC. He was a top 10 ranked UFC fighter and you're you're the champion here defending your belt against him. It's going to be incredible. Obviously, he poses massive um physical challenges for you. He weighed in at 266 pounds, so the absolute limit h in his last fight at heavyweight. Tell us this. What has the preparation been like for you? What bodies have you been training with? We've seen you've done a bit of globe trotting as well for this camp. Where's Will Flurry been? And uh who who's been in the ring with you to get prepared for this one? >> A lot of different people. And then so originally in September, I think it was, I went over to Manchester. I was training with uh TBA, Abraham Babley, um Deontay Maxwell, massive C maroonian fell, he's like 125 kilo. Um so I had a week of training with those guys in September. Then I was over in Germany for a week. A couple of big lads over there. Can't remember all of their names to be honest, but I was over with a guy called Thomas Vichman and I was in Leipzig. I went down to Dresden a couple of days and then we were up in a place called Magenberg a few days. So, it was mostly just to get big bodies in and I was kind of doing like a lot of one-on-one training with Thomas and it was all about like Soviet cell phone work. I came back to Dublin. Carl had been like in the meantime while I was away, Carl had come back and Carl's about 120 kilos now. So, that was great. Um, so I had a few weeks of Carl been around and then I went off to Las Vegas for about a month or a little under a month about three weeks and over there like Strickland's quite big at the moment. So I had Strickland. He's about 5 106 kilos. Um and then I was training with Johnny quite a bit as well. So I was like Johnny Strickland, Alex Pissy, this guy Vince um a grappling guy from B team. Huge man about 6'8 and probably about 125 kilo. Uh so quite different body to but big lads, very physical, very good skill sets. And then back for like since the end of November I've been back in Ireland and just last week I was over in Manchester again. Now uh Deonte wasn't there like Maxwell wasn't there. I was training with Eron Babley and Aiba and Mumbo came over with me as well. And Aiva's huge at the moment. I think he's about 103 kilos or something. Massive for a middleweight like and a beast. So I was getting some good rounds in with him. And then Muhammad, like guys, I can't explain. Like, everywhere I bring Muhammad, people are like, "Holy shit." And the guy doesn't even really do MMA. It's crazy. So, look, I know it's not really what we're talking about here, but like I hope to God someday that gets to show the level of talent that he has because he is [ __ ] incredible. Like, I've gone all over the world to train. I've just talked about like all the lads I've been training with there. The lad I'd be most afraid of going in doing around with would be Mohammed. Yeah, we we've seen him we see him in work. We saw him ADCC in Dublin and we saw him on the Polaris squads that he got the last minute nod for. He he is one of the best jiu-jitsu. >> Well, I think people think he's just a grappler and when you do MMA with him, you're like, "Oh [ __ ] he gets this." For a guy who's very inexperienced, like you just understand that he has a natural sense of the thing. It's It's scary. It's like, geez, give this guy a year and a half. Imagine how good he could be. >> Yeah. I I always remember he Did you come won the IMAS or won the the Nationals? And I was like was like >> he did the Four Nations about three years ago or something and he beat England. >> I was like God God love anyone who has to go up and face him because they're going to look at him and like he's not going to have a record and they're going to think like nothing of him or not not much of him. I was like he's going to go in there and turn these guys into pretzels. >> Yeah. And then like [laughter] the lad's given very high like look I'm a big light heavyweight and a guy gives me legit problems. He gives Carl legit problems. He gave Johnny a lot of problems when he was here as well. And like yeah, you're just kind of thinking like if [laughter] you if you were fighting other amateurs, imagine what you'd be doing to these guys. And he did true. He went over to that fornations thing and competed twice and smashed both guys in a matter of minutes. I think they were both first round finishes. >> And he was just like, "Right." >> Yeah. I I love see I love to see him on the amateur scene over here against uh some of the top guys. >> I don't think there's anybody who could do Yeah. Look anyway, right? Different thing. But yeah, hope >> Yeah. Well, look, he's a he's a sublime talent. He's held your camp. >> Incredible talent. >> So, you're going to you're going to call Muhammad out next after Bud. >> Exactly. Yeah. He'll be the next opponent now. You know, why am I picking him up so much? [laughter] >> If Bud gets knee barred, we'll know all about it. >> If he gets knee barred. Yeah. >> Yeah. He'll hook. That's what I'm going for. >> Well, we like like obviously as we were saying earlier, like December 28th, this fight's going down. It's going to be the like the biggest show to check out the final one of the year. Um will we have to ask you as well 2026 do you think Octagon will be like right we're finally going to come to Ireland? >> No, unfortunately. Um I think I've done everything I could possibly have done to create that. >> In the last few months since I've become double champ, I've had that feeling of [snorts] guys, what more could I have done here? I showed up with a broken hand. I knocked a guy out in the stadium. You know, I beat the legend in a very entertaining fight in his home city. I went to the heavyweight, you know, the guy who's competing for the heavyweight title, like who had competed before, you know, was set up to win the heavyweight champ like belt. Um, went to his home city, Stukart. He's Bulgarian, but he's lived in Stokart for 15 years and beat that guy there. So, it's like, could I have done much more UFC? >> Sorry. and now guy who's 135 kilos and 7 and1 in UFC. >> Um I still feel like fundamentally the German audience are too big and [clears throat] too profitable for them to want to go away from. So if they're focusing their energy, it's going to be in Germany. They're just doing a little expansion to Poland now, but it's kind of just inside the border of Germany. I don't know if they're going to be mad to go anywhere else. I think like I think they're trying to expand, but they're probably going to expand [snorts] kind of in the countries next to them and >> kind of do it like a wave across Europe. >> They tried England. England didn't work out for them. To them, England and Ireland are the same thing. I've been trying to convince them of otherwise. The only thing is like I look at guys like uh Paul Hughes there and what he's done and how incredible it was. You know, he beat AJ McKe in my ICB the first time around as well and that still didn't sell out. the Odyssey in Belfast that guy's homecoming and he's an incredible fighter and he deserves it. Like so like I don't know if an Irish audience will sell out a major venue in MMA now and they can like look they can easily sell 15,000 tickets with anybody on the card in Germany. >> So in a way I can understand the logic of them doing that. And I don't like the sport isn't in quite as healthy a place as we think it is here. We don't quite have the fan base behind us that we think we do. Like you go over there, all the major media are involved. Like you know, me being Carlos was under national news the next day. It's huge. Like when I walk around the streets and [ __ ] like if I go to brag, I get recognized everywhere I go. It's mad. >> Like I can walk around Dublin, no bother. Like nobody like [laughter] look like >> it's the beard, man. It's the beard, man. They're afraid of you. >> Yeah. Yeah. But uh I just think the sport here isn't quite as big as we'd like it to be, you know. Um and it's not mainstream here. It's become like it's mainstream in Czech Republic. It's becoming mainstream in Germany and they're big countries and they're doing really well there. I don't think they see it as being in their interest to come to Ireland, unfortunately. And Andre's answer to all this sort of stuff is always like, well, once we know we can sell it out, we'll be there. So obviously [snorts] I don't think I'm invited to sell it out so fair enough. I'll just go over and we'll pass over there. >> Fair. Fair. Well, look obviously uh like you said, you've lived up to your end of the bargain. Um give us I'm going to ask you about one or two fires. I just want to give you a quick quick opinion on them. Um a man who is in Octagon who who uh has had quite a bit of success so far there. Richie Smullen. Um what what do you think his uh octagon career will look like now? How many more fights do you know does he have with him? >> Don't know his whole contract situation, but like I thought if he'd beaten Bushinger, he was in a really good position. Like I think he would have been next for the belt if had he done that. >> Yeah. >> Um it's going to be a slightly longer road now. I think he has the skill set to dismantle any of those lightweight guys. like lightweight is a more stacked division overall, >> but at the same time, I genuinely think he matches up well against any of the guys in the top five. I would hope that they'll give him somebody quite good next and he can go in and demonstrate that. I think just the way that Buookie fight went, you know, made him look a lot like Richie is a very unique fighter with a very like grinding kind of a skill set and he can do that to very high level guys. So he can make very high level guys look very basic. M >> I just think the someone as tough as Bookie once you give them a little crack and you show them that you're a little bit tired and he went for it and he did it beautifully and it was great submission to pull off. I like I hope to God we see small mouth back nice and quick and to give him a good opponent and he'll just go in and absolutely destroy that guy because he's one of the most determined men I know. Like he's a you know if it's about wanting it, Richie's top of the pile. He [ __ ] wants it and the guy's got to work raid and like Yeah. Look, please god we see Richie in there smashing guy soon. >> And what about um more of a controversial figure, Dennis the Menace Friong? >> Uh I look honestly overall I know Dennis just lost so both of those are just coming off lost. But like I think it's been an incredible year for Dennis. You look at where he was two years ago, you look where he is now. He's done extremely well. Like and even in that last fight, the last one, he looked very good for the first few minutes. It was the best I've seen him look like, you go back to the Jacob Dono fight, the fight before that, he fought a little bit crazy in that one. And he left windows open that I was like, man, don't do that. But in the ASCU fight, he looked a lot sharper for the first few minutes. He was tagging him. He was hurting him. I thought he was going to finish him in the first round and then he ended up getting finished himself. It was a very entertaining fight. He looked very good during it. >> Yeah. Especially with the haircut. >> Yeah. There you go. You know, but like I look at that, I'm like, that's a guy who can beat anybody in that division >> for the first three minutes of that fight. It's like, yeah, you could have smashed him. And that lad is one of the harder guys to finish that division. So, I'm looking at that. I'm like, okay, you keep that skill set. you tighten up a little bit, who can't you beat? So, I think that like like I think Dennis probably needs a little bit more of a break cuz he's fought a lot recently. >> Yeah. >> Give him a couple of months, get him back in there, see what he like if he's at that level that he showed in the first few minutes of Halfway, that guy can do very well. >> And uh going from one character to another um Octon's latest Irish signing, um Brian Manning, h how excited are you to see him him and Octon? Another monster man. >> Yeah, he's over at Stukart at the end of January, isn't it? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. I saw they've matched him with Daniel Schwint who's like decent fighter. So, it's a tough debut fight for a guy coming in. I'm surprised they've kind of gone that high with him straight away. >> So, they obviously rate him a little bit. They obviously think that he's legit. I hope to go like look obviously being you want all the Irish guys to come in and start smashing like >> um he's a guy who can create a bit of a buzz as well. So, like, >> yeah, I like obviously I hope he does well, but like it's a like the fights I've watched him, he kind of comes in swinging. Uh, I think with a German guy, they're kind of [ __ ] deep down, all of them. [laughter] So, feel like I feel like it's kind of a good matchup for him like because [laughter] he's aggressive. Those guys hate guys who just go at them and like as long as like just keep the chin down, go at him hard, you know, if he gets one or two back in, keep going at him. But I feel like as long as he's some way smart about what he's throwing, yeah, I expect him to smash it. >> Yeah, he's a good personality to bring into the organization since Shem left as well. So, uh, >> yeah, they seem to like from I think they kind of want all the Irish English guys to come in and be the bad guys. Yeah, the villains, >> you know, like just to be [ __ ] like and just to [ __ ] create some bit of controversy there like >> Yeah, but [laughter] fair. I'm excited to see his walk out anyway. But uh look, Will, this year this year has been all about Will Flurry. This this year will finish off about Will Flurry. Um December 28th, you versus Martin Buy and still Will Flurry comes out with his hand raised. Biggest win of his career, a monumental uh occasion. and still and still one of the most underappreciated fires in the country. Um, look, we we've always loved you here. We we we've had you on for years. You've even been to my house, Bill. Few fighters can claim that. So, uh, thanks a million for your time. We really appreciate you. Uh, I I'll let you have the final word. Anything you want to say before before we let you go? >> Yeah, like genuinely just thanks for covering the sport for so long, L, and thanks for the like I suppose giving a [ __ ] Um, and you know, here I am talking about like Irish MMA doesn't have a lot of mainstream media attention, but it's lads like yourselves and severe and everybody covering Irish MMA who make [clears throat] it a sport here, you know, who kind of highlight what this thing [clears throat] is and some of the characters involved in it and put a bit of effort into it because like I've seen how healthy scene it is over there and how mainstream it is and it's lads like yourselves who are going to make that happen over here eventually or to create the second wave of it cuz we we did have a very mainstream at one stage but it's kind of fallen off a little bit at the moment. But it's kind of the renormalization of MMA in Ireland and even like we're not even fully recognized as a sport here yet. And culturally I think MMA is a little bit in the dumps at the moment in Ireland. It's not considered something that's you know an admirable thing to go and do. I love the fact the elabads are giving people a window to show that that's not the case and that there's a load of really good characters in this sport and that there's a lot of really good people involved in this sport and that overall the sport's incredibly positive thing even if it's not you know it doesn't look like that when you read tabloid newspapers a lot you know appreciate you will and look you're you're uh you're one of the nice guys we we've we've met along this journey um you're the same you're the same guy since met since day one absolutely raw bastard, a big care bear. We absolutely love you. You're an absolute gentleman and go do the business December 28th. Martin Bouet, he's coming for you, baby. >> Cheers. Thanks a lot. >> Thanks for your time, Will. And we'll let you get on with the rest of your day. >> I mean that as well. Like genuinely, like I haven't seen what the whole thing is over there. It's like, wow. But a lot of like it didn't start like that and it's grown a shitload in the last 10 years and now it's become a really like mainstream thing there. I feel like we nearly we need that wave to come back here. Like [sighs and gasps] >> I don't Yeah, I don't know what the solution is. I don't know. But like I appreciate [ __ ] the fact there is few people that give a [ __ ] at least and that there is some sort of a scene here and like it's not massive, but it's something. >> Yeah, but all we can do is keep on trying. >> Yeah, fair play. No, fair folks. These lads genuinely cuz I know it's not easy and I know it's not like leading to some massive glory on your part. It's just you two lads giving a [ __ ] So thanks. >> You're the man. Will appreciate. Thank you. >> Take care of yourselves. >> The enjoy show up the orish. >> So Ross, that was Will Flurry. You're a favorite Flurry man. >> Yeah, Will's an absolute legend. Um known him for years. It's actually mad how long we actually know know some of these fighters when when you really come down to it. But uh really really nice guy. Um massive fight obviously over in Prague against Bud. Expecting to get the job done. He's uh he's really come on level since he's been on Octagon definitely between himself and Ian Gary one of them will be fighter of the year Basmo I think. What do you think? >> Yeah. Well look the thing is fortunately enough the end of year awards are actually voted for the people who follow the page. So it's like whether we think it or not the people that vote actually um they let us know what they think. But yeah, I think looking at it right now like Will obviously become champ in the last year and then Ian has gone is it three and one? >> No, two and0 this year. >> Uh Traf Cap was last year. >> Traffic cap was last year. Okay. >> And Muhammad two big wins. >> Two big wins. So two big wins for Will as well. And then he could like take it over the edge by defending his world title against Budet. That would put him outright as number one in my opinion. >> Yeah. and three if you include Vermola like 28th of December like that's that's very much like I'd include that in this year cuz like >> that's the thing you see last year when we did the awards it was before that fight as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. So that that counts this year that's three three and0 for Will Fur Bosmo tell the people where they need to go. >> Yeah. So if you are new to the Energize Show make sure to like and subscribe. we are here every week and make sure to check out the Energized Show's Instagram page because our goal this year was to reach 20,000 followers on Instagram um and we reach that as well. So myself and Ross were out over the weekend celebrating. So thank you very much for everyone who got in touch with us as well because your continued support helps us helps Irish MMA and uh what Will said there as well about us covering the scene. It's something we love to do. So every bit of support definitely helps. So, uh, make sure to hit the subscribe button as well because we're trying to get to we're trying to get to over two, uh, up to 3,000 followers on YouTube by the end of next year. So, right now, we're on 2,189. So, like and subscribe because I know we're saying we are here every week, but this might actually be our last show of the year because, as you know, we're going to be doing the end of year awards and like that takes up a lot of time as well. So, getting notifiers on, etc. We'll see what happens. We might be back next week. You never know. But we will be coming in very strong in 2026. Ross, how excited are you for 2026? >> Man, I'm absolutely buzzing for 2026. It's going to be a massive year for us. It's going to be a massive year for the Andro show. And I think we're probably going to be at a few more events. We're going to be working with more events. And look, we're going to try and make the show bigger and better as we always do. Basmo. >> Yeah. Going into the new year, we're going to be reaching out to all the Irish MA organizations and the combat sports organizations. just going to ask them do they want us to get more involved with them and uh we'll see what they say and then obviously we get to promote the events even better and be there in a working capacity cuz uh as you know yourselves when we go covering the fights Ross will be doing the interviews I'll be covering the fights and it takes up a lot of time and like as we get older as like more more we have less and less time to give our abs to all for instance this weekend we said we were out on Saturday night and the elite fighting championships was on and then uh on Sunday um we recover over in Gladiator's hair. So, uh, this this is not an easy thing to do. Nor do we look for like, oh, poor me, poor me. We're not looking for that at all. Just >> we try we we try our best, but also I think people have certain expectations of us as well. So, >> it is what it is. Like, we do obviously we do care, you know what I mean? And like if we do miss an event from time to time, like don't get mad at us. We're not paid to cover them. So, [laughter] >> yeah, we're paying for the streams here. Like, we So, that's why every bit of liking and subscribing help. It's costing us time and money to cover them. So, [laughter] we try our best. >> Exactly, but Exactly. But, um, Ross, as you said there, it's been a great year. So, I I just want to say thanks everyone for making sure to like and subscribe and for and sharing cuz uh we really really do appreciate it and we're going to come even going to it's going to be even better in 2026 because every year we keep leveling up. Um, I think even the way Ross edited the Jack Core reel there last week and the new YouTube thumbnails as well. Um, >> man, don't tell people I do that. Then people ask me questions for that, right? >> Ross did it, but I told him to do it. >> There you go. >> Like, but like we're just look, we're just really excited for next year as well because we feel like we're getting better and that's the best thing about it. And if if this is the last show of the year, I just want to say have a very very merry energized Christmas from myself and Basmo. >> Yeah, that's very very true. Um then um >> you know who's going to have a very merry Christmas, Basmo? >> Pod Yan and Joshua Van. They will have very merry Christmas, Basmo. >> Yeah, Ross. Obviously UC 323 happened over the weekend and UC is actually having its final event this weekend but we have to sort of discuss what happened at UC 323. Uh Ross you mentioned Joshua there's two and news P Yan and Joshua Van. Um Ross Pod Van Pod Yan defeated Morav Vashili. What do you make of that victory Ross? And will there be a trilogy? >> I think there'll have to be a trilogy. I think uh Pod Yan H uh looked fantastic against Dashfield in this fight. I thought rounds one and two where I thought we were a bit closer. Yan landed a massive body kick in round three and I felt like he sort of took over the fight there. But as much as I think the scorecards are 4946 across the board. I think it was a closer fight than 4946 would lead you to believe. H Devash Philly was definitely in the fight the entire time. tried to get a guillotine in a few times, but at the end of the day, um, Yan's boxing and his wrestling was the difference in this. He took down Dash Philly a few times and, you know, Morab's, uh, nose isn't the straightest as is, but, uh, it was definitely a lot crooked after this fight and just, yeah, Morab just has a face that's just going to like wear a lot of damage if you can if you can hit him a few times and I think that's where Yam won the fight. he did the most damage and he got his hand raised. It was sort of cool to see someone take the Morab down as well. That that was a a very different twist to the fight. But uh look, Yan definitely deserves to get his hand raised. It could be the trilogy next. But I also think you know Por Yan versus Shaom Ali. If Shaom Ali could beat Song Dong at UFC 324, that could be a fight that people are looking to see. Ex. Yeah, that that very well said. Like I mean obviously Yan will want to fight Shauna Mali again get that win back. >> Okay then. Yeah well look you you picked in that one you thought that Moraba win that and I would have agreed but look Pan got the win and then the co-main event I went with Alexand Alex Pantosia defeat to defeat Joshua Van this is obviously bit of a a weird finish as like Ptoia got his arm broken and Joshua Van is the new and new Ross. What you make of the situation there and where does Joshua Van go next because Pantosia is obviously going to be out for at least a year I'd say. Yeah, I think uh I probably butcher his name, but Tiara who beat Moreno uh v pound round two early on. I think that's probably your next um next 12 fight. Although Brandon Royal I think is fighting Manuel Cape um in the last fight of the year. You know, Roy Val and Van had a fight of the year contender. You know, if Roy Val gets a win, could he get back in title contention? If Manuel Cape gets a big win, could he get into title contention? I think they're going to wait and find out and see what happens with uh this weekend. See how everyone is. But uh it's going to be one of those three guys next. I don't think Panto is going to be back soon enough for uh the next fight out to be honest. It looked like a nasty arm break. >> Yeah, especially at the elbow as well. Like it just didn't look right. >> Yeah, it didn't. Hopefully he's back sooner rather than later. Uh Ross, you mentioned that uh Tyru Tara defeated Brandon Moreno. And also you want to mention that Henry Cejudo is defeated by Payton Talba. Henry Ceudo the triple champ. He says he's he's hanging he's hanging up the gloves now at the right time. >> Yeah, I think so. I think Pton Talba actually looked fantastic in this fight. He actually took Henry Zudo down some times, landed some uh lovely combinations. Uh Henry Zudo tough as they come. I just don't think he has the capability to become champion again. and you sort of don't want to see someone fight, you know, and be like the punching bag for the up andcomers on the way up. And I think he's hanging them up at the right time. But I think there's plenty of opportunity for Henry Ceudo to be a top coach and plenty of opportunity for him to be a media personality or like sort of on your ESPN. He's a good analyst. So Henry Ceudo, the king of cringe, will not be going anywhere anytime soon, I don't think. >> No, he's definitely going to stay around it. Um then as we mentioned as well, the UC's final show of the year is happening this Saturday as Brandon Royal faces Manel Cape in the main event. Um also keep an eye out for Morgan Sharier is fighting on the card and give me a look here. Yeah, not the world's greatest card, Ross, but that's what happens, man. That is what happens. Um, UFC overall the last year. What would you give the UFC as a rating out of 10? [snorts] >> Could be like six and a half out of 10. >> Yeah, I think Yeah, the way they're stacking the pay-per-view cards have been pretty good. >> Yeah, I feel like they sort of with that doing that like press conference though, that seasonal press conference like they should bring that permanently. Um, I think like that adds a bit of bit of a pause. I I think if they continue down that route, I think it's better. And I also think like they should announce fights at press conferences as well. So like Dana White going live all the time. Uh I just think it adds a bit more to it. So I'd like to see them do that more. Dana White has signed a new deal with the UFC. He will there be there for another five years as well. So hopefully he'll be reinvigorated. I think that's the thing like uh because they're sort of these massive fights are just sort of spat out >> that it's not like oh my god you know. >> Yeah. But I feel like PFL haven't risen to the challenge this year. I know that like obviously the Nurmag made off and the youth fights were were big fights and people sort of got hyped for them but I feel like UFC can sort of phone it in and like just be number one and that's just it. And I feel like not fully, but I feel like there is a touch of them phoned in h that they can just put out whatever and the fans just have to accept that that's that's what they're getting, you know? >> I know. Yeah. Well, that's the that's the pity about it. But like PFL are actually having their final event of the year this Saturday the 13th as well. Um in the main event, it's Nemco against Ferrer. Chris Cyborg's taking on uh Sarah Collins. And uh also for people who support NextG, Lean Gittens is making his PFL debut against Taylor Lapoolis who previously defeated um Kan Laran. >> No Irishman on the card. >> No. >> Yeah. But uh yeah, but that's Saturday night. Uh we also mentioned D is on this Saturday. Um before we wrap things up, we just have to discuss some of the Irish MMA that went down over the weekend. Um, we'll start off on Saturday night. We were looking at Elite Fighting Championship six that went down in Cork as in the main event, MMA Corks, Jody McCarthy got the victory. Ross, what do you think MMA Cork have in their hands and Elite FC have their hands as Jody McCarthy being the main event of their not only this show, but potentially more shows? Yeah, I think she's like the next biggest superstar after um Brian Manning. I think she's she's the one to hold the mantle for main event main event McCarthy. We can start calling her. I've just coined that phrase. [clears throat] I'm sure she'll love that. So, look, she's won the belt there. She's obviously an elite striker, so she's going to be a talent that people are going to want to see. So, let's let's see more of her and let's continue to get uh opponents out there for her. Obviously, uh, Shan McGra was supposed to fight Luise Brady, Shan McGra had to pull out of that one. I don't know what what the weight difference is there, but maybe can McCarthy go up and become a double champ. Maybe can she be the bantamweight champ and the flyweight champ? Who knows? But that's something I would be interested in. Also, uh, shout out to Naraj Philly, uh, who won the super featherweight title. Uh, he's out of MMA Cork. and then to Jordan White out of Hulan Martial Arts who went and won the Banttomite title. And from what I saw, um there was an really big finish from um from Reno Flardy at the event. And also shout out to um Ryan Hulahan and Oliver Balah. They uh they put on what I thought was fight the night. They actually fought to a draw, which is obviously a rare occurrence in MMA. So, fair play to the lads there. >> No, fair play to the lads. Also, I want to give a shout out to Evolution Muay Thai that had their event on in our town on Saturday night as well. And then Russ, we have to move it to Sunday as Gladiator had their second event of existence and in the main event, Jack [ __ ] got the victory. Um, and he's now gone 4-0. Uh, we put the reel out on our Energize Shows Instagram page if you haven't seen the fight. Um, Ross Jackore 4-0 now. Where would you like to see him go in 2026? >> I know he was sort of saying that he probably have one more fight before Cage wires. I think he's ready for Cagewires in February. I think let the ZKJ man fight on Cage Wires 200. H he's 4-0 now. Give him a chance to go 5-0. He is uh he looks like one of the top prospects in the country. He looks very very sharp in there. He puts it together very very effortlessly and yeah I think he's he's definitely one to watch. >> Then up the course you up the your favorite core man. >> My favorite Danny did not like that one but [laughter] there we go. >> No that that that didn't go down well. Um Ross then in the co-main event Alex Fagen was defeated by Marco Boychuk. Marco's now gone 3-0. And this is Alex. This is Alex's um debut as a pro. Ross, what you make of that fight and where the boat men go next? >> Yeah, look, I think it's back to the drawing board for Alex Fagan. Um he won't be happy with that uh performance that he put on. I think we've both seen him um in some unbelievable fights. We saw him with some big wins up at um Akuma fighting championship. So love to see him back. But uh Marco Boychuk, he looks like a man to watch out for. He looks big and strong and lightweight. He he looks like he's a force to be reckoned with. And um I actually think like somewhere like Octagon would be a great place for him to him to fight. So I think they should definitely be looking him. So hopefully the Morris martial arts man when they will get onto him, you know, cuz uh he looks like a top talent there. >> Exactly. Yeah. Like that was a big that was a big pro fight to to pro debut fight to take for Alex, but Marco got the victory. Ross, is it what other fights on this on this card really impressed you? >> Yeah. Um, Sen Kley won the super middleweight title. Um, Ethan Lewis went and picked up the bantamweight title. So, they're just the champions there. But, I was actually uh really impressed with Rean Dun Levy who got a win over Jason Treen. Um, put on really good uh grappling masterclass some might say. Um, probably my fire tonight. Um there was two of them. It was the Lewis versus own Garl. Own Garl like if he got the belt that night, no one would have blinked an eyelid. That that was actually one George gave the fight 3027 to Lewis and another George gave the fight 37 or 27 to Garl and then the other George gave 29 28 Lewis. So and like all three rounds were razor close but uh I thought Ben Houston versus Shay Donley was an absolute scrap in there. And then there were sort of two finishes the night. Bradley Royce had an unbelievable uh finish of NextGen. And then uh Ben Harding had an unbelievable finish as well. H the only thing is I feel like Ben Harding is too advanced for novice fighting. He should be fighting an amateur. Um just like he's been training martial arts, I would say, for what probably 10 years now at this stage. He I feel like he he was like the kid to watch out for when we started covering the sport. And uh he's still still apparently the kid. So, uh, yeah, that that is, uh, definitely one to look out for. And I think, uh, Joshua Hoget as well is someone who else who I was like, "All right, he's quite impressive as well." So, I'd like to see, uh, him step up from novice to amateur as well. So, yeah. Um, great great night of fights. Uh, fair play to Gladiot, Danny Karen, the lads. Um, Aaron Wallace and Steven Moore doing great jobs uh, as ref. Uh Aaron Butler and Phil Campbell on commentary, you know. Um we had NC Shuer and Amy Skoolie or not Amy Skully, Amy Kelly on uh on photography, you know what I mean? Great show, great night. >> No, that's no compar the page keeps everyone up to date on stuff like when people do a good job, we always say that we always say it. So, uh look and they as well. They really do. Sorry. UFC is Aaron Wallace, I should say. >> UFC is Aaron Wallace. Exactly. Uh then we also want to give a massive shout out to Crank Invitational that happened on Sunday as well. And they will have many more shows in 2026. Uh Ross, just as we wrap things up, we have to give a couple of shout outs going down this week as >> Oh, Blaz, you forgot one. Don't forget about Evolution Fighting Championship. >> I already did. Then >> the the kickboxing >> the Yeah, the Muay Thai event. I already said that. >> Did you? Oh, sorry. Yeah. Then Thursday, mate. Come on, man. This the Energize Show. Uh, Thursday the 11th. >> Professional. >> Thursday the 11th, UA Warriors goes down. SPG court, Fufu Farz is fighting on this card. Fufu was making a big name for himself on the UA Warriors scene. So, that is going to be on Thursday. Then also um on Saturday then, WOW fighting championships. Elia Taporas fighting promotion. Also, Cristiano Ronaldo is just after investing in it as well. There's three Irish fighters on the card. H Nikolai Gro Grov is defending his world title. Darl Sullivan is also fighting on this as well. Um, also previously said by Dar Kelly. Dar O Sullivan has some of the best standup he's seen. So, make sure to check that out. And also, Team KF's Craig McGraten is competing on the card as well. And then on Sunday the 14th, Satanta Muay Thai is having their final event of the year. Ross, that is everything. This could be the last show of the year. Who knows? It's been a crazy year. Like, this is 10. We're doing the Enjoy Show 10 years now. Absolute bananas stuff. Ross, anything else you want to say? [snorts] Yeah, message us if you want us to do another show next week. Let us know. Um because we're 49 minutes in now. If you stayed this long, well then like your opinion is valid. But uh guys, just thanks a million for following us and supporting us all year. We we will not be going anywhere next year. We are working on some uh some different bits and pieces. So hopefully we can deliver you some top of the range shows, some top of the range content and keep you up to date from start to finish on what is happening on the Irish MMA scene. We thank you. We love you. And as always, [snorts] >> stay the enjoy show up the Irish. It's the face that runs the place. Chaos Cortis. I want to thank the Irish MMA community so much for getting behind me. Yep.