Conor McGregor Is Back, Ronda Rousey Viral Win & Irish MMA News | The Energized Show

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Like people will say to us, why are you promoting Conor as well? It's like it's the chap's the biggest name in the country, like and every Irish fighter who fights we promote them. It's just the way it is. >> Yeah. And also also like he's the most relevant news this week. Yeah, he's he's on his comeback. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. >> At the end of the day >> How how could we not mention it? You know what I mean? >> Yeah. Oh, 100% look the guy what the guy has done in the sport inside the octagon is absolutely unmatched and there isn't another fighter I think that's alive today in the MMA space that will be able to do what he's done. >> The energy of show up the Irish. >> Okay. Here we go. >> Okay, what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of Energy Joyce brought to you by Our King's Competitions. Ross >> intoxicated or something? >> How are you doing, man? It's been a while, man. It's been a while. >> Man, it's been it's been a while. It's been a while. Um look, obviously we had a great weekend over at ADCC. We will get to chat about that. Love going to the live events. Love ADCC. Kieran and Darragh and the boys run a great show over there. What and girls of course. Jamie Davern Maria and everyone else unbelievable scenes over there. Well, we love you all. But um some massive news coming out this weekend as well in the MMA world. We had returns to the cage by MMA legends. We also had announcements of returns to the cages by MMA legends Bas Rutten. >> Yeah. This is this is like a crazy week. It's always a crazy week. It isn't it? Very very strange in 2026 that Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey are sharing the headlines all about a make one backs this weekend. So, let's get into it and we might as well start off with the return of the Mac Baseman. We will see him at International Fight Week. Max Holloway, second time around. First fight was a featherweight, this fight is at welterweight. Were you surprised Conor is is back in the end? And are you surprised UFC was actually able to get the deal done with them with the new sort of structure with pay-per-view is no longer being a thing there? >> Am I surprised Conor is back? I'm not surprised Conor is back. I think it was more See the way like Dana White is having these back and forth with Eddie Hearn and now he's having this one with Jake Paul as well. Like it felt like he he was in negotiate in in negotiations with Conor and he's like, "You know what? I'm going to get this done this deal done and I'm going to make sure we announce it when Francis Ngannou is walking out for that Netflix event." >> Yeah. The pettiness is just unbelievable. The pettiness is unbelievable. But I would in a way was it not very anti-climactic for Dana White to be doing an an announcement cage side for International Fight Week? Probably the biggest fight of the of the year between that and the White House, but the biggest star of the sport ever had is making his comeback after a couple of years out from the cage and Dana White is just sitting there cage side. No graphic video package, no you know, return of the Mac. Nothing spectacular. Like not even having Conor McGregor over there to you know, come in and do a quick interview or anything like that. Just sort of announcing it as if, you know, you were reading the newspaper on a Sunday morning. >> Yeah. Yeah, like but but like we've seen for for if you look back from like even 10 years ago, like Dana is not as into it as he once was. Like even the way when he goes to the war room, announces fights. Um Now yeah, it is >> not even allowed to go to the war room. Like he's in the same building. He could have went to the war room and did it. The signal is pretty crap in there. Like the I'll tell you it's less than a 5-minute walk to the war room. He would have went there and done it. >> Yeah, it's just uh his heart his heart's not in it anymore. Like he seems to be more in love with the Zuffa boxing these days than he is with the UFC. But like >> Like you can't possibly you we don't even get if you don't know now you know anymore like. >> Yeah, where's the where's the cooking videos? >> Oh no, yeah. >> The [ __ ] Friday's. The [ __ ] Friday's. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> They they were actually all right like. >> Um Man, yeah, but the thing is I know I'm saying Dana doesn't seem that into it, but like there is some very exciting fights that the UFC have announced. And not even just for the July 11th UFC 329 card, which obviously we're going to discuss. But like even if the international fight week sorry, the the White House card as well. Like I know people were expecting like some apps to chaos and that thing. But there is big fights on it as well. I know we just saw the press conference, but like you see the size of Alex Pereira like like Ilia Topuria's back as well. Like Josh Emmett just wrecking everyone's head. Like that card is actually very good. It's just like you were sort of almost sold that like Darren Till was going to come back on that card or Jon Jones or Conor. But like we are getting big fights. >> Oh yeah, we are. We're we're definitely getting bigger fights. Look, Pereira versus Gaethje is a fantastic fight. Obviously I think everyone wished it was Pereira versus Aspinall like Gaethje versus Aspinall. Um it is what it is. Compare also same with Poirier versus Gaethje like great fight. I think everyone sort of wishes it was Poirier versus Islam and sort of see who is the real king at 155. But look, definitely fights I want to watch. I think the White House has a spectacle. It's going to be sort of interesting to see how that all comes together. I think everyone was dying to see what happened with the sphere. I think this the the new sphere going to the White House for fights. And then obviously McGregor versus Holloway 2 was going to be a huge fight. And obviously, Paddy Pimblett is fighting Benoit Saint Denis on that as well. So, it's going to be very interesting to see like Paddy Pimblett and Conor McGregor at the same press conference. I think that's going to be interesting. What will their back and forth be like? I'll be very interested to see how Conor McGregor what shape he looks in for this fight. It's 170 70 lbs. How is Max Holloway going to look at 170 lbs? Like, you know, but I feel like uh you know, this should be a BMF title. I know Charles Oliveira is the champion, but it feels like it should be a BMF belt fight. That's That's That's the void it gives. Um I was surprised with it. We were surprised with the Max Holloway like that was the fight that they went with. Cuz you were you were you were sort of predicting it was going to be Masvidal. Yeah, well, I think that I was sort of hearing like rumors that I think it I think the options were sort of Michael Chandler, but that's what it kept me getting called about. And it was like it almost felt like they were flogging a dead dead horse trying to do Chandler again. Um And he's also on the the White House card. Yeah, exactly. Um Mr. America. And then Max Holloway was there. And I I was like, oh, if that's 170 70 lbs, is he going to go there? And then I was also thinking, Conor, would would you not be better off fighting someone who has sort of been out of the cage nearly as long as he has, who's probably not in the best fighting shape to come back in? But I also thought Nate Diaz was another option that could have been. And then he lost the weekend. So, I I I thought maybe uh that could be a fight that they get done and get over the line. But look, it's Max Holloway. Uh second time now. Argue with me. Um let's let's see what happens. Um Look, 170 lbs. I I suppose if you're going to ask me who the betting favorite is, you'd have to probably say Holloway is at this stage with the activity, with the accolades he's he's produced. And you'd have to also say a five rounds in terms of like Holloway's cardio, which has been flawless throughout his entire career. And if anything, he gets better as the fight goes on. To McGregor's cardio, which sort of tends to always dip after about seven or eight minutes. You've got to trust Holloway to survive this first seven or eight minutes. And probably rally back and beat Conor. Was that Is that Is that Is that the the way people are going to see the fight play out? >> Um fair point. I think a lot of people are going to think that. Like obviously Conor's come back from the leg injury. >> Mhm. >> Like judging from the last fight, he looked like he was like getting very, very tired against Poirier as well. As Poirier like was pushing on. Like how good is the cardio of Conor's cardio going to be? As he said, Max Holloway's been very active. Now, you could you could be like, "Right. Max Holloway, how is he going to compete with the at 170 lb?" Like obviously he's never fought that weight. So, there's going to be discussions either way. Like is this Like is this Conor's last ever fight? If he loses, like will he come back and fight again? Like in the UFC. Like obviously these Netflix like opportunities are going to be knocking around. Or even the boxing or even the bare knuckle. So, like the the betting favorite now would have to be Max Holloway. Um like obviously Conor now compared to when they fought, like how long ago did they fight last? It was Conor's second ever >> was like eight years ago. >> Mhm. >> 12,013. >> Yeah. Like Conor is a completely different person now than he was then. He was like making 145 lb with the like the skin of his teeth. Like he was a pure like >> Here Here's the odds, Bas Rutten. I have them live here. >> Yeah. >> Conor McGregor, 11 to 4. Max Holloway, 1 to 4. So, put 40 quid on him, win a tenner. Betting on Betting on Max Holloway. Huge favorite. >> Yeah. But like the thing is like it like what type of person is Conor now? Like he's like gone all in now on on like um um like being following God and Jesus and and like Max Holloway is like I think he has a few more fights left in him in the in the UFC as well. So, it's going to be very very like interesting that but the thing is like there's a lot of nostalgia in this as well. Like like we started covering it at Irish MMA more and more and more because of what Conor was doing. And like so like it's very nostalgic for us as well along with him like those people are Irish. watched them come up. So, I I suppose we've seen the rise and fall of Conor McGregor and we were there for every moment of it. And you know, I suppose now he's trying to get a bit of a redemption arc and get back into the fray and I think we always had like Conor was at his best when he was fighting and he was at his most light when he was actually in the cage fighting and all the reasons people dislike him are for out the cage and at the end of the day whether you love him or hate him, you put MMA on the map in this country. He's made MMA a mass sport in this country. The amount of people are fighting now today whether it's directly or indirectly because of him. Cuz at the end of the day you know, the amount of people who saw Conor McGregor like Ian Garry's who like Ian Garry says like to this day like yeah, he started fighting cuz Conor McGregor fought to start fighting. But how many people are now fighting because Ian Garry's fighting which indirectly means they're fighting because Conor McGregor was fighting. You know what I mean? So, like Yeah, the butterfly effect to it now. So, like that's what that's what's going to happen, you know what I mean? Like I know Paul Hughes and Conor McGregor maybe aren't the best friends anymore after sort of Conor's Twitter rant at Paul Hughes, but like the amount of people in Belfast who are fighting because of Paul Hughes and obviously Paul Hughes would have you know, looked at what McGregor was doing and been very inspired by that as well. So, like at the end of the day as you say, there's a butterfly and snowball effect that's rolled the whole way through and benefited Irish MMA by Conor McGregor having the legacy he's had inside the cage. >> I know it's mad, isn't it? It's absolutely mad. Like he was the king of the country at one stage and then like the fall off was just like very hard to watch. And so it's going to be really interesting to see what type of like training he's going to be doing. Like is he going to be part of an absolute team? Is he like It's going to be just interesting. So like there's no point in making a judgment on what it like what the camp is going to be like. It's just like we're going to see the evidence in the build up. Like he's he's a master creating content. Like people will be putting content out. Like who's going to be in the corner? Like give us a prediction here. Who's going to be in the corner? >> I think we'll see John. I think we'll see Peter Sutcliffe. And maybe the doc. Like I think it's going to be a very boxing camp. >> Roddy. Sorry, Roddy. Yeah, Roddy will be in there as well. >> What about What about What about Ido Portal? Bring him in. >> No, no, he won't be. Sorry, I actually forgot I forgot Roddy cuz it's going to be a striking heavy camp. Like this fight's going to play out on the feet. Max Holloway's going to want to play it on the feet. Conor's going to want to play on the feet. Although who knows? Maybe Conor looks and goes, "Look, we just saw Charles Oliveira beat Max Holloway. And he took him down. And he dominated him on top. Maybe that's the Maybe that's the path to victory. You know what I mean? Very few people have actually tried to go in there and wrestle Max Holloway. So maybe it's like maybe I'll try that way." >> I just can't believe it's all happening. Like I know he was >> [ __ ] in last time and they were meant to do the >> Chandler fight you were a bit like Ah, that's a bit of a handy one. Like you know what I mean? >> Yeah, but you remember we were meant to be going to the press conference in the 3Arena. Like there was all this hype and like we were meant to be doing before the stare down. All this stuff. >> Smooth as creamy as they are in the game. Like and then that all went to [ __ ] >> Mhm. >> So >> This is happening, but you know >> Yeah. So like it will be very nostalgic. Um like everyone is going to keep an eye on it. I you see the thing is I didn't go by any newspapers today, so I I don't know I don't know if they announced if it's on >> anyone buys newspapers anymore. >> No, well I meant to say I meant to say like go past like I wasn't in the shop. >> Yeah, I know what you mean like it's a good feel for whether it's big news or not, whether the papers put you know on the back page or not. >> I don't know if they would. >> No, I don't >> The newspapers aren't really like talking about >> No. >> Well, unless it's Slater. >> Unless it's Slater, yeah. >> But that's that's the situation. You know what I mean? Like like people will say to us, "Why are you promoting Conor as well?" It's like the chap's the biggest name in the country like and every Irish fighter who fights we promote them. It's just the way it is. >> Yeah. >> And also also like he's the most relevant news this week. He he's he's on his comeback. You know what I mean? >> Um >> Yeah. >> At the end of the day >> How how could we not mention it? You know what I mean? >> Yeah. >> Oh, 100% Look, the guy what the guy has done in the sport inside the octagon is absolutely unmatched and there isn't another fighter I think that's alive today in the MMA space that would be able to do what he's done. Yes, there are fighters like Alex Pereira. If he wins, they'll be like technically a third belt in the third weight class. That is that is really really cool and you know you have to give credit where credit's due, but like no one will have changed the game the way the way he did. Like if you look at Poirier, Poirier's trying to you know replay the McGregor phone book or play book and he's trying to roll that out, but look, this is a guy who changed MMA as a whole for the better in a long period of time and you look whatever you think about him personally, you can't take that away from him and that's that's just it. You know what I mean? There's there's no there's no denying it and look we'll see him for you know it will nearly be 5 years to the day. Like his last outing was the 10th of July 2021 against Dustin Poirier. This fight is going to be the 11th of July 2026. So, let's see what happens. Let's Let's see how it all plays out, and let's see what the build looks like. I wonder what the press conferences will be like. I wonder what the crowd reaction will be like cuz I think for the first time in a while, like he'll be going up against someone who's massively a fan favorite as well. I know Poirier was a bit of a fan favorite, and Tyrone was, but McGregor was able to turn that crowd against him effectively. >> Yeah, like obviously we're going to This is going to be a running theme on the show for the next few weeks. So, make sure to like and subscribe cuz we are here every week. But like as Shana was walking out of the cage there over the weekend, it's like on the bottom when they give us like the stats and all the stuff, she it said one of three active Irish MMA fighters. And I was like Well, Ian is. Shana Shana is. And then like Conor hasn't fought in over 5 years. Yeah, like when when Shana >> made that walk, and just to touch on Shana, obviously. When Shana made that walk at the weekend, like I don't think she gets enough credit in the aspect is she is the only active UFC fighter fighting and training out of Ireland. Like the only one. Male or female. And at the end of the day, only herself and Aisling Daly have ever made the walk as women in this country. And I feel like whether people, you know, criticize her performance or not, you have to value what is she what she's actually doing for Irish MMA, and women's MMA, and women's MMA in Ireland. At the end of the day, she is putting on the map. She is showing that there is a path to get to the UFC. And it's going to be easier for other girls to try and get into the UFC if she's still there. That's That's like 100% almost thing. And also, she's got two wins in the UFC. Yes, she might have three losses, but she's won won. and every time she gets into that cage, she breaks another record. She every time she does this, she makes that makes it harder for the women behind her to say they'll end up with the most fights in UFC history. Her next fight will be will be the sixth fight in UFC history. And knowing that, she's starting to surpass a lot of the dudes as well in in the UFC. I would say like if you think about it, it's probably what? Conor and then what you're looking at? Paddy Holohan, Neil Seery, Paul Redmond. >> Paul Redmond as like the guys with the next most men fights maybe. >> Joe Duffy as well. >> Joe Duffy. Yeah, Joe Duffy. Uh I don't know Norman Parke from Northern Ireland. You know, Rhys McKee. Like they're the ones who are up on that sort of five, six fights in the UFC, and she's right there. Yeah. Exactly. So, like she she's right there up there, and like I think it's going to be she's young in her career in terms of like number of fights, but whether you like it or not, she's already a legend in Irish MMA. She actually is There's no There's no no no ifs, ands, or buts about it. And uh Look, obviously the result didn't go her way. >> And also sorry, just to put it away, the the way she flies the flag so proudly as well, man, you know? >> Yeah, like she she she she rallies that flag around the place, which is great to see. And we always say you're always for our show rally the Irish flag around them. And I I I just seeing like Look, obviously when she lost, I like there was sort of like eight comments of support, and then like sort of two negative comments. I just thought like the negative comments were just a bit unnecessary. To be honest, I don't think they were >> Where is this? >> There's no need to kick her when when she's down, you know what I mean? >> Where is this? >> Just just like on social media in general. Um I was just like look, I think at the end of the day, one, she's the only Irish woman competing in the UFC at the moment. Who is she the only one who's like the only Irish fighter who's active and training out of Ireland at the moment as well, which is Kelsey. She's actually a lovely person as well. When you talk to her it's like, you know what I mean? It's not like you can say you have something personally against her either. So, I just think at the end of the day that fight she lost the first round. She She won the second round. And like the first round was actually quite close as well. And then obviously the third round she got caught. And she got submitted. That girl was very, very strong and looks like she's in the weight class she was supposed to be in all along. Like she was actually shredded at that weight class. And I think they will see her on the back out there again. It is what it is. The UFC really like her as well. They give her a massive push. >> That Dana White privilege. >> Yeah, exactly. Although she'll probably say, yeah, she wants a massive push in the pushing that paycheck. But uh these things happen. But these things happen. But look, at the end of the day I've said that about seven times at the end of the day. But uh she is she is someone who is an absolute trailblazer for this country and can't wait to see her go back out there and right right the wrong. She's put up with a lot like a lot in her fight fighting career. Like a lot of people don't know this but she got injured when she fought when she was pregnant. No, she was pregnant at the time. Like she is a very, very resilient person and I've no doubt she'll be back better and stronger than ever. >> I thought Oh, yeah. Yeah. No, you're right. Yeah, no, I agree. Yeah, you know what? It was just when she lost it was like it was actually very heartbreaking. You're like, >> Yeah, but like I don't be funny. Like I also feel like we've seen her obviously lose lose a few times in the UFC. She actually seems to take it a lot harder than most of the people who lose, which obviously means she cares a lot. Like she looks so genuinely devastated in the cage when she lost. And we've seen her do that before. Some people sort of lose and go, "Oh." "Well done. You got me." And she looks like she her heart's been broken. You know what I >> Yeah, man, she's ultra competitive, though, like >> You know what I mean? Like, jeez. >> Yeah, so that's that's what I mean. That's why she has the resilience. She's lost and come back before. And she'll she'll she'll do it again. You know what I mean? She's two and three in the UFC. Uh I suppose you get that all the time. You see her next and be like, "Oh, she should be good." It's like like there's not an abundance of women in the strawweight division already, and she's very much representing Europe. She's representing Ireland. And she's in this she she it was one and one going into that third round. It's not like she was absolutely trounced for >> Yeah. >> 10 minutes and then just finished off in the last 10 minutes, you know? >> No, I agree. Yeah, like What what like some of the girls in in those divisions like have terrible records as well. >> Yeah. >> It's like relax. Like, you know what I mean? Like, getting caught Like it's >> Yeah, that doesn't it doesn't make sense to me at all, but Look, that's what people are saying. Like, I know people like But the thing is you need haters as well. Like, as much as support she's like massively supported. I'm sure every like everyone in the Irish MMA community was tuned into that, like >> 100%. >> Yeah, and like a lot of them I'd say over 90% of them are definitely there to watch her win as well cuz like >> Yeah. >> When when someone like that wins, it gives more opportunity to Irish fighters that want to fight in the UFC in the future. That's the thing. Like, the reason there's only three people right now in Conor and Sean. So >> Yeah. >> And we want to see more. And like there is more talent that's coming through, especially in the likes of Cage Warriors. So like we will see what happens in the future, but like >> Yeah, how would you say who's fighting there next? >> Yeah, like Pady McCarty's probably next man up. Like it the likes of your Keith Kells and your Max Lally's are like looking to get there, like Alexander O'Sullivan is another person that comes to mind like who was a a huge, like title like let's call it eliminator that like would want to get there as well. Your Solomon Solomons as well. The list goes on, like obviously we're going to leave people out. But like it's up to them to make that push. >> Yeah. >> And we will we will be behind you the whole time. Like, you know what I mean? So like look, these people are trying to chase their dreams and we're here supporting the whole way through. So like the only thing you need is an Irish flag, baby. >> Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Yeah. And look at as well as well as we're going to while we're speaking about Triller Battle um women's MMA, we might as well head over to Netflix and have a look at Ronda Rousey. She beat Gina Carano in 17 seconds. Um obviously Ronda Rousey was more vocal and stirred up more drama in the build up to this fight, I think, than she has for any of her other fights. What did you make of the build up for the fight, the fight itself, and then the actual event itself? >> Yeah, well, the thing is let me start with the event. I thought the build up for it all was actually done very well. So like the likes of the press conferences, the interviews like they everyone did their fair share. Like your your Nate Diaz's, your um Mike Perry's, like Ronda, Gina, Francis, they were all doing all the interviews. Like they were going on every sort of podcast that they possibly could. Even Jake Paul was promoting as well. And um like like everyone was giving it a big push. So like I have to say like all the all the content that was put out was very good at a very high level. Then when it came to the night of the event the arena was empty. >> Yeah. >> Now LA is known as a place that don't really give a [ __ ] about anything bar the LA Lakers, right? So like like that's why you don't really have like your like I don't know how many boxers like do like Didn't Jake Paul fight in LA? And the the the arena didn't really get sell sold out well, either. >> Yeah, I think so, yeah. >> Yeah, I I who he was fighting, but it was it was known that LA isn't great. Now, when the UFC comes into town, they sell tickets everywhere, but I think it's still known that LA isn't really the place to go to. That's why they go to Vegas. So, like the arena was actually empty. And it's it's very surprising cuz you have Ronda Rousey, who's a legend. Like Nate Diaz, he's from there. Like he's he's an MMA legend. Like Mike Perry is also like like a perfect foil to for a fight. Like Francis Ngannou, I don't think he really sells that well every wherever he's gone. But I mean, all them names together >> You would expect you you expect to sell out like human beings. >> Yeah. Now, now I don't know how high the prices were for the tickets, but I did I suppose they were outside giving away free tickets as well. But look, that that's another thing. And with Netflix's name on it as well, you might be like like we're walking around, we would go. So, I don't know what what the story was there. Um the fights themselves, I don't think they really lived up to what the real buzz was. Like >> They're a lot of for here finishes, weren't they? >> Well, well, put it this way. Ronda Rousey Ronda Rousey Ronda Rousey winning after 70 seconds, it was just a bit like the we put the reel out. Like we're like that was just over straight away. Like all the hype was like, "Okay, is that it? Like where is Ronda going next?" And then like the Perry Nate Diaz fight, like that was like look at that was a scrap. And then obviously it had to be stopped because of what happened to Nate's face. Like I I don't know how much longer he can go on like getting punched in the face, you know what I mean? He'd probably be a great person to go into like the the the jiu-jitsu scene, maybe the UFC jiu-jitsu just to like get it give it a bit of hype almost like the way they did with Dillon Danis could do it or something. And then like the Francis Ngannou Francis Ngannou can just knock out all these people like on and on and on. Like the Who's the Renan Who did he who did he beat in PFL? >> Renan Ferreira. >> Renan Ferreira. Like I mean, like >> Insert name here. >> Yeah, he needs like a proper opponent. Now, the way him and Jake Paul were having a back and forth, that might be a boxing match in the future. For instance, Rico Verhoeven's fighting Usyk this week, this Saturday um in Egypt by the pyramids. So, maybe Rico, he he wants to potentially get into MMA. He could fight um he could potentially fight the Francis Ngannou in the future. So, overall, I thought the promotion was great. I don't think I actually don't think they could have promoted any more or better. But then at the end of the day, the people weren't interested. What are your thoughts on it? >> Yeah, I thought it it was strange that like Junior dos Santos was like streaming on different platforms. So, like didn't get to see it even though it was awesome the clips online like when you click on the event. >> Junior dos Santos >> Yeah, kick off with Junior dos Santos. I actually thought Junior dos Santos actually just looked all right. It's just his chin is gone. Um as I was saying, reportedly it was 80,000 which I think is very cheap for him. One thing that I did think that they did really well is I don't know there was actually a lot of criticism for Ariel in the aftermath saying like he's instigating stuff and whatever, but like I thought he was trying to make the show as entertaining as possible. Um I thought it was cool to see Cain Velasquez there as well as part of the broadcast. I thought that that was a that was well played. You know, they cut to Jon Jones at one stage. They cut to CM Punk at one stage. Uh obviously Tyron Woodley was there on as well. I liked the way Mauro Ranallo was on commentary. I thought that was a that was that was good fit. And Kenny Florian, I liked the way they weren't like afraid to say oh in the UFC this person did this in the UFC this person did that. They weren't shying away from the fact that they were in another promotion. I think that's a smarter thing that actually builds relatability to the audience that they're like oh he did this in the UFC, he must be good. You know what I mean? It it actually sells the fighters to to the people watching at home. So, I thought that was very interesting. Uh I actually thought the dos Santos vs. Spong like that was an interesting match up cuz obviously JDS is obviously a far better martial artist, but the younger, more athletic, and less weathered by MMA, the Despaigne was obviously the victor there. Uh Salahedine Parnasse obviously massive hit in KSW and French MMA, uh he he's someone who they could build as a star if they're going to continue on with MMA Netflix. Uh Ngannou versus Lens, like Lens is a light heavyweight, he just is. And he like he weighed in 220 lbs, like could he cut 15 lbs? Absolutely. And Ngannou actually knocked him out cold. Going to be very interesting to see what they do with him next. Obviously, he is a free agent. I feel like they were trying to tease the Jon Jones fight, but I don't think UFC is ever going to let Jon Jones ever let contract to fight anywhere else. So, we will see what happens there. I know Ariel was trying to get him and Jake Paul to have a bit of a back-and-forth. So, we'll see what happens there. I think they're going to do uh Perry versus Diaz in uh I'm going to say Mike Perry looked like he was absolutely jacked. Um he looks like he's uh definitely having uh some of those Mexican supplements. So, you know, one again one thing I'm going to say about Mike Perry, has anyone ever left the UFC and grown their own stardom and become a bigger star than the way Mike Perry's done it? I don't know I don't think they really have. >> not become a bigger star? >> Yeah, become bigger star >> than the way he used to be. >> More known, created more headlines in the combat sports realm. >> I don't know. Uh for some reason Ronda Rousey came to mind cuz when she went to the WWE, did she not get a little bit bigger? >> Yeah, but I think she's still on you're still on the same parent TKO company though, you know what I mean? >> Yeah, but that that was that was only after though. >> No, I think Ronda Rousey is She was star in in MMA than she was in WWE. >> Yeah, but yeah, but I just felt like it kept going up. You know what I mean? Whereas Mike Mike Perry >> Yeah, Mike Perry was like a mid-tier fighter in the UFC and then like became the face of bare-knuckle boxing and then like obviously dirty boxing successful there. Like whatever you like fought Jake Paul as well. Like whatever Mike Perry's doing has sort of really worked out for I don't think there's many fighters to leave the UFC and it goes that good for them over a long period of time. So like obviously very interesting. Nate Diaz bit like we used to say. He can retire and Carano was obviously just like far too old like losing in 13 seconds. Like like stop that. And then >> No, no, the Carano thing as well. I don't think a lot of people I don't like look I think >> No, I don't I think she's she's so old that a lot of people who follow MMA don't actually know that she was the big she was the Ronda Rousey before Ronda Rousey. >> That's it. That's what I was going to say. They're they're they obviously had the meeting beforehand. They were like, "Right, what fight can could we do that people will be that never got?" So they could be like a GSP versus Anderson Silva something like that. >> They won't do Rousey editions on Cyborg Rousey. That'll be the fight that people would be >> But the the the thing is Gina Carano was so long ago, man. Yeah, that's the thing. And like she was >> She was like when she was like, "Oh, I lost 100 lb to make the weight for this fight." Like last year I was 100 lb heavier. I was like She's clearly not going to be like outrageously athletic if she like spent the whole year losing weight. >> Ronda was jacked, man. To speak of Mike Perry, Ronda Rousey was jacked. >> Yeah, 100% Like she was like, "Oh, I'm going to take this money now and go off and have some babies and stuff like that." So it's just like If I was Netflix and I knew that was her plan all along, I wouldn't have been as keen to have the event in Paris how much money cuz at the end of the day >> It looks like the fight looked like It looked like they pre-agreed that almost. That was a old school Ronda Rousey. >> Oh, yeah, 100%. So look, cool to see Netflix do. Thought the production was cool. Thought the team run the event. I did get why Jake Shields is in some sort of weird bubble sitting there. Thought that was a bit weird. Uh cage side and just like his own like VIP section built with his misses. Thought that was like a bit cringe, to be honest. Um Like just sit there beside everyone else like a normal person. Um >> Maybe he's worried about getting COVID, man. >> It'd be killed to see them keep on doing it, but I feel like they probably made made a big loss in this event by the looks of things. It would be, but it just >> It goes to show that the UFC is like just on a different level. Like the Like the Wherever they go, they're selling out. >> It's It's not really working. >> A lot of these shows have been backed by Saudi. And like if they make a loss, no big deal, whatever. But like I don't think Netflix is necessarily in the business to keep on losing money. And keep on running them events. So I wouldn't be surprised if it was one and done. Maybe they'll try one more event when Ngannou was the headline. Who knows? You probably You probably sell that to a board of executives. Um but I think I think Look, hopefully MVP maybe staying in the in the MMA business. I think that that could be Just killed to see where they go next. But Yeah, it was a interesting one-off event. But I suppose a lot of nostalgia to it. And I just don't think nostalgia sells and hits the way people think it does. And I Look, I think I said before, I think it'd be killed to have like an MMA Legends League, if that makes sense, for people who are older and still want to compete. So be it, but also I suppose there's always the backlash to that being like people in their late 40s and 50s shouldn't have to still be fighting. They should have made enough money from the sport, but a lot of them obviously haven't. So It is The issue is The issue is with these fighters like the the the They've been competitive their whole life. So to just have to stop is just Yeah, it's hard. >> They always want Yeah, they just always want one more go. Look at Conor. He's like been out for 5 years and he's like I'm going back in. >> Yeah, they want more and more and more. >> Exactly. So, it will be interesting to see what happens in the future. But, like it the build-up was cool. Like it is nostalgic and it's like >> Mhm. >> It Do you know what I mean? That we're in this covering this cuz we love it and like it was good entertainment at the end of the day, but uh We will we'll see what happens next. Like as you said, potentially could be in Ghana. Like Look, let's see what happens next. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Then um Ross, I'll see you over the weekend Arnold Allen defeated Costa in the main event at UFC Vegas. Uh what would you like to see Arnold Allen do next, Ross? >> A recent UFC London event cuz if there was a UFC London event on the horizon, it would easily be a main event or co-main event Arnold Allen Murphy versus uh Arnold Allen. I think it's a great fight between two UK featherweights uh all-timers really. Um why not they're both sort of in the top six or seven of the division, even top five now after that win for Arnold Allen maybe. And why not pit them against each other and see who is who is the the king of the UK at the featherweight division. >> No, that would be a great match-up but exactly, Ross. Um the thing is this weekend there is no UFC. So, like the things to look forward to I think is Rico Verhoeven against uh Alexander Usyk for the world title on Saturday. Uh I think that's on Netflix as well, isn't it? >> It is, yeah. >> Yeah, at the pyramids. >> In Egypt. >> Yeah, man. That's crazy, isn't it? I can't wait to see what that sort of buzz is as well. >> But, if you're not getting if you're not getting that that fixed from the boxing buzz, what else is on? >> This Sunday, Irish MMA is back as Your Fighting Championship returns. And it Ross, there is some very interesting match-ups to look out for. The thing is Decky Bakk Lien is running the show and he does a great great job. Like, he's a fighter and he's also a promoter. And like, the thing is, there was two pro fights scheduled to be on the card, but they both fell off. Some amateur fights have fallen off as well. So, like, fair play to him for keeping the ball rolling. So, like, Ross, I think the main event is going to be Michael Shields from Fight Academy Ireland taking on one of the Carmody brothers known as Shane Carmody for the featherweight title. Ross, these two lads are very very exciting. Both were nominated for the Energized Amateur of the Year. Like, what do you make of this fight? And two, do you think this is the main event to be had at Your Fighting Championships? >> Yeah, May 24th, this Sunday, Canal Court Hotel in Newry as always, Your Fighting Championship 18 goes down. Fair play, Decky McAleenan. 18 shows, unbelievable stuff. And Michael Shields versus Shane Carmody, I think it will be the main event. Uh Michael Shields is one of the best amateurs in the country, but one of the best amateurs featherweights, one of the best amateurs in the country. We saw him recently at Gladiators here get the win and bring home the belt there against Ross George. And look, Shane Carmody, the Carmody brothers, they're constantly going viral. Um all of them are absolute jiu-jitsu phenoms. So, it's going to be very interesting to see can Shane Carmody get this one to the ground and really try and put the pressure on on the grappling realm. Um another fight I'm really looking forward to is Ricky DeRouche versus Brandon Shields. A flyweight scrap, these two are both fun, fast, explosive. I can't wait to see that one again. It it it's going to be a really really interesting scrap. And then Ross George fighting Aidan Fagan, two amateurs who are veterans of the scene. That's really really cool to see. In terms of the girls who are fighting, we have Faith O'Brien versus Lisa Murtagh. Faith O'Brien, she definitely got a a decision didn't go her way, which she definitely felt no felt should have went away last time so she'll be looking to right those wrongs and Lisa Murtagh will be looking to get in the win column as well. Gemma Coll Hill versus Megan Bar is another scrap those two girls love to throw hands. Ailis Newland is also fighting against Rosa Dietra. So look plenty of plenty of women's action there on the card as well and another one that I think is an unbelievable scrap is Henry Lekam from C Mac. He is going against Daniel Keown. So these are Keown sorry two unbelievable grapplers one from martial arts one from C Mac. I think it's a great card like you're you're definitely going to get your money's worth if you're there in person or if you're watching on the link. Can't wait to see it. Your Fighting Championships going down May 24th Canal Court Hotel in Newry. Michael Shields, Shane Carmody main event for the featherweight gold. Can't wait to see it. Ricky To Rio versus Brandon Shiels that could low key be fight of the night. Can't wait to see that one as well. Ross George versus Aidan Fagan another grappler delight. Kyle Heary a man who we've seen plenty of times absolute phenom out of SPG Drogheda. He's going to be a tough man to beat on the night. Gemma Coll Hill and Megan Bar those two girls are going to try have an absolute scrap. Henry Lekam versus Daniel Keown that one is an unbelievable banger. Fighter Bruin versus Lisa Murtagh you know what Decky McAleenan another stellar card. Your Fighting Championships 18 live from the Canal Court Hotel. Be there get the stream support Irish MMA and stay energized baby. Decky's energy is a free link really man. Jesus mate. I was saying Ross would he deserves an after that like who who else has cut these promos like Ah sure look. Oh has to be done has to be done. We we love it, man. It's just the passion we have for the show, man. The passion we have for the show. >> Can't beat that passion, mate. Like, jeez. >> Yeah. Shout out also to Ayna Boyle and Kevin Kehoe who had their fights pulled, unfortunately. Um, hopefully get to see them make their pro debut soon. Poor Kevin Kehoe, I think that's at least second time it's happened to him. So, he must be feeling it. Um, he must be feeling like he's cursed. >> Yeah. Give someone else a shout out there. >> Shout out to all the refs who are reffing the event. They'll they'll they'll do a stellar job. And, uh, we'll probably see, uh, Amy Kelly and and Nikki Kehoe Kehoe at the events as well. They'll they'll they'll be people you do not miss. And then, we'll probably see Jess and Dawn on the core team there as well. They're they're looking after the fighters every single time. Week in, week out. And, uh, Andrew McGahon will be on comms as well. So, shout out to him as well. And, uh, why not Team Torres have a have a shout out as well. So, that's that's the team for the local show. So, we get over you. All right. Don't You know what, Paz? You You can have a shout out for having to listen to me. Paz, your your grill's looking great. Shout out to your barber, man. Shout out to the mustache. Get the mustache again. >> Oh, stop me. Um, few other MMA events or Irish MMA events will be going down the next few weeks as well. So, we can't wait to look forward to them as well. Clan Wars 55 goes down on the 13th of June. They already have a fight set up on that. That is like has is is unmissable. Saki versus Destiny. >> Yeah, absolutely. Man, I'm actually obsessed with this fight. I think this fight is going to be absolutely electric. This is a don't blink and miss a fight. You know, Simon Saki, heavyweight king. I think he actually picked up a another belt in boxing there only, uh, last weekend. He is someone who looks absolutely phenomenal. He he he knocked out Johnny Warden in his last fight. Unbelievable scenes. He is so heavy-handed. He is such an animal in the cage and he's coming in against Destiny Ezobi and he's fighting out of Sandymount. Couldn't believe it when I spoke to Darren Toner from Sandymount at the weekend. He's only 19, that fellow. He is an absolute phenomenal athlete. His fight IQ is really, really high. This fight is ending up in a knockout. Someone's getting their hand raised. Someone's going home with the Clan Wars heavyweight belt and it is not to be missed. This is going to be one of the fights of the year. This is a Ireland's answer to um I don't know, Francis Ngannou versus I was going to say Derrick Lewis, but that sounds insulting. >> No, it was Hagler versus Hearns. >> Hagler versus Hearns, there you go. >> Yeah. >> Lewis versus Holyfield. >> Oh my god, man. This is the the battle of the big dogs. Also, Cage >> have power. These boys have power. >> Yeah. Don't miss that. Also, Cage Contenders going down with 4th of July. >> I love that you called it Summer Slam as well. >> Yeah, James Slavin's going to be returning in the main event of that as well. And Lee Fighting Championships 9 goes down on the 18th of July as Kyle Sullivan will be returning to the cage. And also, Virtuous 6 goes down on 22nd of August and there's already some interesting athletes announced on that card as well. And we will be there as always cuz it is if you if we're at the Energy Joy show there, it's going to be an Energy Joy night, I'll tell you that. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Ross, before we discuss ADCC Ireland that went down over the weekend, we have to give a massive shoutout to Thai Gannon who got another viral finish uh representing Dublin Combat Academy over the weekend. Ross, this chap, 17 years old, doing his Leaving Cert next month. What do you make of the potential in this chap? >> Look, obviously we're not as ingrained in the in the Thai boxing community as we are in the MMA community, but this kid has something special. Whenever he's fighting, I will be watching. He looks phenomenal every time he goes out there. He's fighting guys who have 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 fights in the Thai boxing world, and he's going out there and making them look like amateurs. He is an absolute generational talent, it seems to me, and I think the sky's the limit for him, not only as a Thai boxer, but I also think as someone who could really bring the sport generationally to a next level with that talent. I think He's got a lot of this kid. He's got the swagger. He's got the skills there. He's got the mindset for it. I think this guy is going to bring Thai boxing in Ireland and in Dublin to the next level. I think he might be the best to ever do it out of the country. >> Well, look, I wouldn't disagree. Also, he has a sport as well. The whole community, like, are supporting him as well. Uh that's why we also you have to give a shout out to Siam Warriors that goes down on the 23rd, this Saturday as well. Um Ross, over the weekend we were at ADCC Ireland, a third event. It It was always It's always a great show in DCU. Um what did you make of the event? And um are you already looking forward to the next show that they have coming up as well? >> Man, the show runs so flawlessly. I absolutely love it. It's an event that I look forward to working every single time. It's great to see the jiu-jitsu athletes be able to, you know, get a bit of a shine on, get get to see them go out there and do do their bits. Um some of the submissions you see, some of the you know, escapes from submissions you see, some of the exchanges you see are absolutely frightening. And there's always There's always moments that are close to going viral as well. I think yeah, you're recording someone, they ran through the barrier. Uh Chris Roster there was trying to put him put himself in between them to save them. Uh I think at the uh uh Prior from uh Fight Academy Ireland, he obviously got a and chose opponent unconscious. Uh That that was the only one that sort of got a lot of traction on the day. So like there's there's plenty of these and then obviously when it gets to the pro absolute finals and John Luke versus Germaine, the place is almost like a cauldron. Like everyone's waiting and baited breath for someone to make a mistake and someone to capitalize on. So it really really is a day that people really really care about. I was actually laughing. I saw a picture of people in compound martial arts on Sunday. Filmed one of the sessions there and there's there's a young 17 year old standing in the corner of the picture. I'm not too sure what his name is, but he was wearing his medal still. What's it called? In the club the next day at the photo. I was like the fellow hasn't taken it off. But obviously those medals mean a lot to people and look the belt means a lot to people. Look, if you can call yourself an ADCC Irish champion in any division, obviously you know what you're doing on the GT space. So fair play to him. >> No, I 100% agree. Russ over top five of who impressed me over the weekend and I want to hear your top five and you can't pick the same as me, man, right? You're always doing that. Okay, I'm going to start off with obviously John Luke Maltese who won the whole the whole entire competition. Like so he impressed me the most. Germaine Mogilevsky as well. Then Connor Devani impressed. Yehor Yevsiuk as well. And then of course Kieran Davern who was back and we cannot wait to see him at Polaris on the 6th of June. >> Nice. Yeah, very very impressed. Obviously John Luke and Germaine went against each other in the absolute pro final. John Luke won the sub 100 kilo bracket and Germaine won the plus 100 kilo bracket. So two absolute elite competitors, two absolute gents as well. The one thing I will say the camaraderie that you see there is incredible as well. Like all the guys like shaking hands afterwards or like you know, giving each other the fingers but then laughing about it afterwards. I just thought it it's good banter, like >> Yeah, even the comment section is it's his own little community going on there, isn't it? Like, yeah, yeah, it's funny. >> Absolutely so. Look, I I love to see it. I love to see it. Um for me, some of the standouts I I had to like look this guy up cuz I was like, who is this guy? Jacob Bunkeowski came over from Poland and uh really, really good guy. Uh he won his division. I think he was in the 70 kilo bracket. And he he won that one. Really, really good grappler. Uh Christian Lalley blew me away. Uh he won his division and it's rare that we'd be really covering the sort of the the juniors, but obviously, you know, when your surname is Lalley, there's there's a bit of reputation that goes with that and he really knocked it out of the park. He actually beat his own teammate uh in the final. So, that that was a a very, very good interest to watch. Two lads in the sub 91 kilo brackets and intermediate really, really impressed me. Uh Jacob Carrigan, we've seen him fight compete on Versus before. And Adam Mills, uh Adam Mills had a buggy choke, uh guillotine, and a rear naked choke to uh get the job done. Three sub wins, no points against him. He looks really, really impressive there. Uh I must say. And uh shoutout to big, big man Ryan Higgins as well. Kenneth Hand raised getting the getting the gold medal as well. It really, really was great to see. Really, really enjoyed it. Uh I thought unbelievable event, unbelievable athletes, and I as you say, roll on the next one. Can't wait for it. >> Yeah, the next ADCC for the adults is on Saturday, September 5th. It's going to be the Irish Open Championship. We're already looking forward to being part of that as well. Cuz uh no, it's just uh it's great crack, man, isn't it? >> Yeah, it really, really is. Important for it. >> Yeah, and then uh for all you jiu-jitsu nerds that are still here, uh Irish BJJ goes down this weekend. Uh The uh the >> I think the Irish Open, is it? >> Yeah, the Irish Open the 23rd and the 24th. And then also the Slice and Scrap returns this Sunday as well. So, as always, we'll be keeping you up to date with all the latest mixed martial arts news. Ross, that's everything absolutely covered. Um there was so much to get through that we decided to do ourselves. Like we will have more guests in the build-up to everything else as the summer is about to kick off with all these events we mentioned earlier with the the likes of your Clan Wars, the obviously your fine championships this weekend, Clan Wars coming up, Cage Conflict, Elite Fighting Championships, Virtuous, and much, much, much more. >> Yeah, you better believe it. And as Bugs Bunny says, that's all, folks. So, if you are watching this show, make sure to like, share, subscribe. And as always, stay energized. >> The Energized Show, up the Irish. The Energized Show, up the Irish. It's the face that runs the place, Chaos Cartel. I want to thank the Irish MMA community so much for getting behind me. You up the Chaos Cartel.