Kenny Mokhonoana | Bellator Dubai, Ireland Vs Dagestan & UFC 311 Recap | The Energized Show

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What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode SBG Ireland's Kenny Mokhonoana joins us to discuss his fight at Bellator Dubai, Ireland Vs Dagestan & we recap UFC 311. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows! Youtube …

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[Music] by day energize show by night here we go okay what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of energize brought to you by or Kings competitions Russ are you intoxicated or something introduce the guest man to today we have pfl Superstar the fighting pride of btown it is Kenny The Black Diamond Moana Kenny how you doing my friend that's a crack boys I love the inct Productions as always man um yeah I'm good man just finished I'm this outside SBG now so um yeah obviously like like I was saying to Dave just given out there so yeah ready to go yeah absolutely ready to rock um Kenny I suppose the the first thing is we haven't seen you since September of 2023 um we didn't get to see you all in 2024 how frustrating was that um what were the reasons that we didn't get to see you for so long yeah so just a lot of unluckiness just bad timing and and things like I was signed with I got released um I was happy about that release um so I got I got signed to Aries I tried to get on to octagon um cage Warriors EFC well like any promotion you can name Brave like all of them have been in contact with them I've had fights just um they've just not went true like like they've tried to change change weight classes just load of different things people pulling out the usual crack like I'm not the only one struggling with this with this problem not getting fights but um yeah just just unlucky and obviously with that can you like how does Harden was that because obviously you're coming off like the first loss pro career and like you obviously want to write that wrong and get back in there and get back in that win column how frustrating was it that you know you were being let down by all the promotions yeah 100% it's frustrating it's hard to like obviously it's hard to go into camp and then you're not in Camp then you're going into Camp then you're looking again for fights then you're like you agree another fight and you're like is this gu even going to take it you're half kind of training you're half going on the diet you don't know so um I've been in contact with the pfl a few times as well didn't work out they like it was like short notice fights and things like that it couldn't take it for whatever reason and um yeah I'm just I'm lucky to to just be back and I like have a good fight to to prove my level and I'm on a big card like um obviously it's um yeah big opportunity and um yeah like it's been frustrating but um yeah I'm I'm just I'm I'm I know I'm lucky at the same time to be in the position right now yeah that's why we are looking forward to seeing you in action on the 25th of January Kenny can you tell us when did you actually find out you're going to be fighting on this card um it must have been like seven weeks ago or something but it was just like obviously I only make money when I fight so like um obviously I just I picked up a job like in Valley coand just the just a factory job and um da rang me in the middle of my shift he was like ring the phone ring the phone like answer the phone answer the phone sorry and um I didn't want to answer cuz I'm like ah he's going to be mounted on my train andz I was I was in I was in one of them RS where I was like a [ __ ] this [ __ ] they're not giving me voice we why we going breaking your up the training for so Dave was ringing me like ring me ring me ring me and I was like a [ __ ] cuz there was like eight Miss cars I was like all right let me bring them I was like get only eight Miss cars and just loow the text message like you know like your BR text you and my thing but I'm sure Dave loves being compared to compared to the m like no but um I rang it I was like a [ __ ] let me just take the [ __ ] the abuse I'm going to get now and then [ __ ] he's just like here you have a fight we have a fight um and will accept it it's whatever H watch and all what like P like he's like this guy is he's like telling me about the guy I'm like I don't know him like like you don't know him his brother pays for United or something I'm like I don't know I don't don't care you know like um yeah I was like yeah that was it and I just like basically a week later I handed me notice and then yeah here I'm I'm in the camp the hardest Camp I've ever been to I've been tra like 100% like and like I've been do with this for like 12 years this is definitely the hardest H hardest H camp that I've ever been a part of man definitely man I'm looking forward to shik um a different a different black diamond than last time yeah but I suppose the the biggest opportunities H require the biggest sacrifices and this one is a massive opportunity there's a lot of Limelight on this card uh it's obviously been build as Ireland versus dagistan part two you're you're part of that that Irish Squad do do you feel do you feel any of that Ireland versus dagistan Vibes or are you just doing k no 100% I feel that 100% I feel like I'm a part of the team um obviously I I feel like I let my coaches down last time and um I just I want to I want to put on a a show I want to show that then that he can do the job because obviously it's a massive opportunity there's so much fighters in this country as well so I feel like um to be in this position it it'll just be stupid to um not take the sacrifice make as much sacrifice sorry as as possible and um give myself the best chance of of winning the fight you know yeah absolutely um look uh John Mitchell was singing your Praises uh last week and saying saying how impressed he is we skills and obviously you know Kelly's over there training there so I'm sure you you'll link up with the Irish Irish Squad when uh when you arri in Dubai but um I suppose the next part I want to touch on is you didn't actually know about the opponent uh Ibraham ibrahimov uh he's getting a massive Push by the pfl he he's he's one of their their faces of the European scene do you think this is a massive opportunity to go in there and sort of upset the apple cart for them and you know show them show them who the Black Diamond is instead of who uh this guy with the famous Manchester United footballer brother is yeah no 100 100% 100% it's even all the all the videos where I see with like khabib chat and [ __ ] and all that stuff like I I want to obviously it's motivating for us and um especially the the magnitude of the fight is my first time being on the main card I obviously want to show everyone like what I'm about and um yeah I want to go in and show like like I see like I see the hype but I see it like but like when we look at we look we look at his um tape we look at his fights previous we see we see um holes that we can exploit I feel like um people they give him a he he has a good fight 100% has me on my game but I feel like um he he's yet to be tested yet like um like like us in the home yesterday was saying like he has like see my last I've been in like I've been like in the take of I've been in like I've had to deal with adversity in my fights and I feel like he's a virgin virgin in that regard you know what I mean and um yeah I I know I I feel like he's looking all them D like they just look like we're going to smash them like but um I I know I'm going to be in um in a 15 minute 15 minutes of hell and um yeah I don't think he's ready for 15 minutes of hell I've been training like like I I said saying like KY and stuff like that like d Dave is pushing me I'm doing Shark Tank rounds every two days and um yeah I'm ready to go to hell and um yeah and I'm not sure I'm not sure about him if he's able for that you know what I mean yeah I suppose that is one thing like you know he hasn't been the distance in a lot of his fights um I think he's only a handful of uh his Pro fights maybe one or two where he's been the distance so he's he's maybe more unknown in those those those deeper waters but uh look I think both you and him will be looking for the finish in this one and it's definitely ones that is going to have all the fans excited for not just the Irish fans the dastani fans but I think this is this is a real treat and I think it's on the main card for a reason uh with that being said obviously you know you're getting this line light from the pfl now is this is this where you want to continue on your career in the pfl is this is this where you want to make a home for yourself um yeah so I signed um a multi contract obviously I thought I thought I want my biggest thing is I wanted to be active and and that kind of led up to my release me complaining a lot like I wanted at least three for a year I was a free agent for for a while and I you see you seen how that year planned out like I didn't get um even one fight for over a year it's very hard like like I'm not the only person I'm not the only fighter in the country that has this problem like um being a free agent and things like that a lot of Fighters have the same problem even an amateur Pro but um yeah like least this way like I'm guaranteed two fights this year if I'm not in any of the tournaments so um yeah I'm excited about that'll definitely be like um back in the mix this year yeah absolutely no we where're like just even speaking to Canen you like you seem like you're ABS glowing you're Absol buzzing to get going and we're really excited to see it back in the cage on the 25th of January and it's also going to be on Pay-per-view this time around can you like how's it feel to be like part of a pay-per-view card I know like we were talking about being part of Team Ireland but like as you said you have been in active like you've been in and out training camps and now you know you're finally going to be able to Showcase your skills once again on the 25th Do's are expensive baby do are expensive like I said honestly like from a bottom I'm actually I know I'm I'm actually um I'm lucky as as much as I work hard I'm actually I'm lucky to be in the position like um there's so much Fighters there's so much top fighters in this country like and um I'm lucky to um be in this position so like I said like I don't want to I don't want to waste this opportunity and I feel like um like I feel like a lot of times like whatever like say if someone like I don't know like say say if someone doesn't make weight or something you look at them like man like you're like and they're in a big top fight or something like man just I wish I could be in that position you know what I mean and and they almost they almost wasted it so um like yeah I don't want to I don't want to waste it cuz I know like obviously I'm I'm very lucky like look how many Irish fighters on the card there's only a few of us so um yeah I want to I want to I want to um put on a great performance a show a show and then put on the best possible performance possible you know what I mean and Kenny who's who's making that Journey Wier um Dave Roads John and the home he in my corner last time so um yeah good to have have him out there as well just just make sure in the home doesn't keep you up too late and doesn't have you late for weighin you mean we don't want righ yeah we keep them under control like I said you know we have to deal with Dave roach and John so be on our best behavior until after the fight obviously yeah of course of course speak now fell will we see him anytime soon then make cage or is he still trying to box the head off SL or what what's he doing I don't know what he's doing but um yeah I'm I'm hoping I'm always like bro every every week I'm like bro can we see can we get fight like can we get fight book like I know you're like Tik toking come on come on bro maybe he could teach you a few lessons and get those Tik Tok followers off you yeah he probably needs I probably need a bit help with that myself but get a v KO will definitely help with the followers sure yeah that's that's that's a fact yeah this is this is also line up to be the last Bator show of that Bator actually have um like you've obviously competed a few times on Bell Tor like um does it mean anything to be part of like the final batt Tor show ever um no not really like I already look from December I was looking at the promotion like it is like pator anyways like I just thought it was the same thing like when I said someone said B Bator I just thought pfl so it's kind of confusing like so um probably for the best I don't I don't I wonder what's going to happen with the title and titles and that like because they're still fighting for the B title I wonder what's going to happen like C and so like I'm just like everyone else just looking on like what's going on like you know what I mean yeah like there seems to be a touch of making it up as as they go along but like at the end of the day as long as the big fights happen that's what really matters like I think the belts are the belts are lovely but I think they're they're effectively a way of making more money so as long as the people are make the RO Fighters are making the big big cash and um you know there's a a clear path to improve the TR of your career I think that's that's what people are looking for and look you know this this card sort of has it all for the Irish fans anyway you know what I mean it has yourself Nathan Kelly on the card John Mitchell on the card so you know cork get someone and you know what I mean if they don't get someone we have to listen to Cork moan we don't and then uh we obviously have Paul 's from up North as well he's fighting for a title so yeah yeah it's an absolutely um massive opportunity for everyone on the card and uh look we're hoping irand go four and0 100% 100% it's it's also good for the people that like tune in and they don't really follow MMA as much and they're sort of like what's like pfl the what's battor what's the difference the way they're just like now it's a new year they're just like making sure it's going all under the one Banner it's just easier to promote them even for ourselves like do covering the MMA scene on Instagram on online in general just being like right it's this one brand and then that just makes it a whole lot easier for people so uh at least Kenny you know you're going to be looking for the pfl world title after this that's it yeah 100% absolutely and I suppose uh can you if they're doing a European tournament next year is that is that what you have your soid set on um no like I'm I know I'm guarant I'm just happy I'm guaranteed fight at this rate like and um I'm not looking past this fight um I'll just get past this and then we'll see what's next like before my last fight I was thinking about money I was thinking about like everything else my my so purpose just is to win this fight like that's it absolutely and and uh anything to say to the fans of the the fighting Pride of btown the fans yeah yeah like tune in obviously I'm fighting this Saturday um the 25th of January on a big on a massive card and um yeah going to make his proud yeah best yeah absolutely will look it's absolutely unbelievable to speak to H before this event we H love seeing your back active we hope 2025 as active as you want it to be and then some and can't wait to do big things massive opportunity and you know what they say h pressure makes diamonds and uh you're everyone's favorite di Kenny God bless God bless Che Kenny and we let you get on with the rest of your day BDU by day energize show by night so Ross that was Kenny Moko Nana yeah he's in good form flowing form um hopefully uh him Dave Ro on for that Floy yeah exactly Jo actually and shout out to Kenny as well happy birthday bud huge birthday for Kenny celebrating it in Dubai rock where is the best place you ever spent one of your birthdays jeez that's ask you a random question uh to be honest I couldn't tell you couldn't tell you I tell us manr I honestly don't know like I like I don't really feel like normally memorable birthday that was like that was the one that's what about I I had to be low key on my birthday so like take take a CH take a chill you know what about your 50th birthday that was a big one yeah that was huge that was huge that was that that was in Vegas and then remember remember you SLA any white in the head like it was gas crack man no wonder no wonder you pass aren't their mates anymore but for people tuning in make sure to like And subscribe because we are here every week uh Ross before we move into the world of UFC we're gonna have to discuss the B for to B card because as we were saying in the buildup to the fight and the event there's four hour on the card and this is one the Irish MMA definitely has to tune in and watch yeah absolutely you might as well start start from the the bottom and work way up to the top obviously uh John Mitchell's on the card um I think it's great see John Mitchell on a big stage again doing it for MMA cork like the more I think after the episode we did him last week the more I'm like geez he's real he actually really is a Pioneer for MMA cork you know I mean like he's he's putting MMA cork on the map like this tomorrow and I mean obviously his gam is called M cork but I just mean Cork and MMA on the map he probably is uh probably easily say he's the best fighter ever cork has had so uh in terms of him make so long may L and like I feel like he's only getting started so um I expect him chalk up another win on on uh on the 25th um yeah I think he's uh he's the main man to be honest down there so uh long may that last he's probably he's probably the biggest betting favorite of the IRS Fighters this weekend yeah I'd imagine so I'd imagine so H then I suppose you have Kenny who we just had on um I would say he's probably the biggest Underdog uh on the card uh Ibraham ibov is uh some of the pfl are really really pushing um they do a lot of social content with them and he's obviously got a lot of followers he's part of that dagani um wrestling culture he's been over with do they call it team Eagle khabib te um training there as well in the build up for this one so uh yeah and obviously Kenny's been on the shelf for a little bit so I think uh Kenny's probably the biggest Underdog but I wouldn't underestimate him Ken he's got some lovely chokes he's got a lovely triangle choke off his back H some nice GE te as well and some nice D chokes so um you know he he's a real threat off his back and I think he might have the advantage on the feet so uh and he's an unbelievable athlete as well to this is like in the fight game sometimes you get big opportunities and these are the ones you have to take and Kenny this this is this is Kenny's opportunity now he's been on the shelf for over a year and now he's back and now he can come back with a bang absolutely and I think he could take this opportunity with both hands no no bother to him uh then obviously we have Nathan Kelly H obviously Nathan Kelly was hoping fight uh magamed chov um but now he's just fighting mag geez when you say the names like like how are there so many it's like they must be like the Murphy's overan imag imagine imagine in school over there just reading all it's like magamed magamed here it's like now the other one yeah seven of them have their hands up yeah oh stop no you mean in wrestling class not school sorry wrestling class yeah so uh look h a t p for Nathan Kelly but I think the other one obviously carried a bit more uh name recognition but Nathan Kelly is on absolute fire at the moment and he's finishing everyone he's coming up against and what nice guy as well I feel like he's really locked in I feel like he has the head screwed on and I feel like he's in a good frame mind to really make a massive run at this next sort of Bellator 2025 campaign Yeah well yeah bour aka pfl the way the way n is just cleaning up now and the Run he's on it actually goes very under the radar it does it does but I feel like this one might be different I feel like he's on the main card of a pfl event in Dubai with a lot of uh eyeballs on it and I feel like obviously the nuraga madeof camp will have a lot of eyes on it now after H Umar lost to morab to Philly um you know I mean that you know he'll want to put a bit more respect back on the N Maga made off name and I think uh the main event now with Paul Hughes uh on this one is bringing a lot of attention to the card so I think that will have more people watching than normal for a pfl card and I think Nathan Kelly has the skill sets and has the finishing capabilities to basically have highlighted the night I suppose and get the jobed on like when he had that elbow Koo that was OBS frighten like you know we've seen some beautiful head arm chokes from he's just been really dominant in the pfl and I think this is a great opportunity for him to get a high out ra finish and make that big name for himself yeah hopefully he gets the opportunity get in the mic after as well uh going into this I think Nathan is the will be the bet in favor but not by much yeah I think it could be close I think um I think he personally he's for me he's the favorite as in terms of I think he's the person who'll win but like again B betting lions are based on who's betting on on the actual fight and magamed could have a lot of people betting on him come fighting night but I still think Nathan Kelly is the man to beat in this fight he's the aide for me yeah also anytime anyone's bet than they see norov or magam medov or anything like that you're like he's a good just throwing the [Laughter] accumulator but not this time but not this time baby then Ross you saved the main event for last yeah Paul Hughes big news Hughes um he is uh looking to become the last Bellator Champion in history obviously with Bellator folding now this is uh a bit more Monumental it's a bit more historic you know I mean he could be a trivia quiz forever he was the last person to ever win a Bellator World title and it will be Paul Hughes and I think and the only ever Irishman yeah and and the only every Irish man or woman to to win one and I think if you look at Paul hu's mindset you look at his capabilities and I really think people were unsure whether Paul Hughes was at this world class level when he was in cage warries because we've seen cage Warriors Champions go to the UFC and maybe not be as successful we've seen obviously seen some go and be super successful and you know you're like how are he doing that step up and then we saw against AJ mcke that he absolutely blew the water blew him out of the water in there and again AJ mck has gone toet to Toe with all the best in this Division and I just think it was man magov might underestimate Paul two his downfall and I think Paul is ready for it I feel like he definitely puts in The graft definitely trains hard he is super intelligent guy um his FOID IQ was through the roof and I think it's gonna be very hard to look past Paul hes in this fight uh what would you say the betting lines of this are on this oh it's a US man R will be the favorite going into it I think like you said like any sort of dagani name will hold a lot we but the Naga mof name will hold a lot we we sh we saw with Umar and Nago off he was I think two to five favored against morab going into that fight you know what I mean that Nago madeof like name basically means win when it comes to MMA and I think I think this arand versus dagistan 2 um there's going to be a massive amount of bragging rights riding on this one and uh I think this is borderline personal without it being personal if that makes sense H I don't think it's actually personal between Paul ues and Usman but I think it's personal between Ireland and dagistan and uh you can really feel that sentiment uh when speaking to all the fighters over the last couple of weeks yeah especially looking at all the content as well um I actually think Paul does better when he's the underdog and he feels like people are Downing him as well cuz the the way he came back after that the way he came back after the a key fight he like really had a be in his Bonner over people saying that he wasn't going to win that fight and then this opportunity comes next the one he called for the one that was the that had to be the fight this was the fight that had to be made it's a it's a great way to end the life of Bellator with this like like they're going to there's going to be loads of people from Russia and dagistan checking it out um there's going to be plenty of Irish people as well and people in the UK going to be looking at it as well because uh people like Paul really draws in people's attention like whether you love them or hate them you're going to want to see and then obviously the way Usman is undefeated people are going to want to see him compete as well because there could be talking him going to the UFC next or who knows what happens down the line with Paul like uh if he doesn't get treated the way uh world champion do who knows what happens because people at the moment that are following the bellat tours or the pfls like big names are leaving the company and um so it's going to be interesting to see who will go where and like obviously a lot of these Fighters are saying they want to go to the UFC the likes of pit wants to go AJ mcke and the list goes on there's no point really getting into that but um that's for another show Russ but uh no I think it's going to be really really good uh for the of people living here in in Ireland and in the UK uh it's going to be on a great time as well I say Paul be in the cage just after around 10:00 maybe we're not staying up to like 4: or 5 a.m. the way it is with the U for a main card so uh you can get your like you can get your fix early yeah that's so good man like when you stay up for the UFC you're actually just like a absolute like shell of a person the next day so um it's going to be five rounds Ross what way do you see this one ending I think it's going to go to the distance or I'm going to say Paul 's a winner decision Paul's G Paul's saying he's going to knock him out so what Paul says usually happens so I'm going to go with Paul with The Knockout I just I'm here for like um tell us this BS obviously bellor has now come to an end at promotion uh from 2008 to 2025 was it was it run time obviously now being acquired by the pfl uh what are maybe one or two of your favorite bat T Irish moments for as in like the bellor Dublin well whichever any sort of time there was an Irish athlete involved in the promotion that you can sort of remember go oh that was cool how many JS were there one or two me war well when we first started out the first organization to give us media credentials was Bellator and I remember going that and then just feeling like totally like we didn't fit in like and none of the media really like even wanted to look at us either so and we were like right down the back and then as time progressed we eventually were up the front and then more and more people were uh nicer to us because uh people that want people that want their seats getting taken these days Ross you know but uh Bellator more like personal then like it's more like oh like they were good to us to kick off so like they helped us along our journey yeah well the likes of like PT was uh very sound to us when we first started out um I don't even know uh nor MRA after after he like softened up I I just think that like people like the media I think are always big gr people we like we love them all the time yeah I don't I don't like the media SC like the they don't see as there's many opportunities in this scene so they don't want to give up their seat for anyone especially when us two come in so uh that's totally understandable but uh look where we are now um like that's why I'll I'll always thank belor for that because like it was that was actually a really cool experience um there's something about the the more more not so much the fights like I remember the Richie smullen fight and Rees mcke was that on that event that was yeah but that was Obama fight when it was B Bator yeah but it was just that event like the way that like the atmosphere I was like I hadn't ever really seen it like that and then um the there's something just about when that was perod qu interested in entrances go off the way the whole Arena sings It's really really like it makes you sort of proud to be Irish like it makes you proud to cover the scene as well uh and then his comeback against Ryan scope that that that that just really that that that just was epic um what else um I think gher was a big thing as well like seeing like you know this young Brash kid who was constantly touted as like a McGregor wannabe like playing his trade and like racking up the winds and sort of like he was choking choking people out left right and Center I feel like that was that was always something that people um look forward to and like his walk out you know Free From Desire was always a a bit iconic in its own right yeah also when we went to bellor 200 in London and snuck into snuck into the Afterparty that was great crack as well yeah that was really cool we got hang out with our MVP that was that was good crack yeah um yeah like Bator was a it was a like definitely a much needed um secondary promotion to the UFC and like UFC needs to be pushed by these other promotions and uh I just hope pfl can sharpen up where they need to sharpen up and continue to be provide an alternative home to to these voters you know um and like I feel like pfl seemed to have been a bit you know handed a few Hospital passes along the way and I feel like they actually haven't handled the hospital passes in the best manner like towards the end of bellator's tenure like they gave some Fighters massive contracts that were like sort of Ott compared to their previous contracts knowing that pfl were coming in to buy them over and then pfl were like left with these mive contracts so therefore they're you know someone like we say pit for example was probably given a contract of somewhere between 800 Grand to a million a fight each time he fought and then like pfl had to try and find a show to put him on and then you know when you're starting a show with one fighter who's earning 800 to a million and you're not selling out Arenas like the UFC are it's a pretty stuck you know rock and a hard place to like get that Fighter the amount of fights that they want clearly they want to fight Lads of times because that's a million quid every time they fight so like there was that and I feel like pfl never really came out and spoke about that being like look some of these events aren't actually financially viable to put on so therefore that's why that person's not fighting every week you know uh but I felt like their calm sometimes leaves leaves lot to be desired and I feel like even the transition to Bellator I feel like I think Ariel broke the news that Bellator is no longer but like they haven't really come out and said Bellator is no longer everyone's just sort of accepted that Bellator is no longer and Don Don Davis still the voice because I don't see Dan Hardy being as vocal anymore H it looks that way it looks like Don Davis is still the guy but like I don't see him as like an MMA guy more tweet he more tweets it out rather than like or link or yeah like you WR he he doesn't actually go on a show and speak about it yeah and yeah so I feel like they could deal with getting someone more on Face camera run the show like like what happened to Ray Foo I feel like he sort of just like disappeared off into the Into the Wilderness they need someone who's going to be the Frank Warren to Eddie Hearn type of thing and some who was like actually going to get up at the end of every pfl press conference and say if few bits you know what I mean and face pfl from a management standpoint and not well not on Davis no but but like the thing is I think Dan Hardy when he was doing it he like it wasn't his choices and he was sort of just being passed on he information he was he was trying to sell what he was given I suppose he wasn't actually making the decisions or co-decision making so yeah I think I think that they need to find a charismatic outspoken executive effectively Wonder where's uh Eno classes yeah that's what I think yeah well it's it's more like uh obviously we do a Combat Sports show um if PE like obviously not everyone knows about us so like if people are following the likes of The Bella tours sorry to be pfl and they don't really know what's going on compared to if they knew what was going on and would want more content on that then they could find it here like sort of if I'm explain that correctly it's more like they need to let people know exactly what is going on now I know they put out this tournament but like they haven't picked Fighters and we don't know who's going to be on that yeah but that would all to me that's an irrelevant announcement unless you have something to go with it you it's like it's like UFC going yeah we're going to do F Island in July it's like tickets are on sing now it's like all right they probably s out half the arena with that loan but it's like stop trying to like sell us events without telling us who's fighting you people are saying this is going to go back to cage Warriors people are saying stuff about cage Warriors although cage like gr B doesn't really come out and say anything he just like announced shows and then he starts nailing some fights yeah but cers aren on the same scale PF on yeah true yeah even though and Bellator saw them as a threat when they went to when K went to the three Arena they were getting all up arms and you know saying like they were taking P people's pictures and like saying like the Areno was empty before the first fight even happened so like obviously the AR is gonna be empty no fights are happening um so like I think I feel like that was sad on their B to honest yeah well look we can say it how it is cuz like whether people like it or not like yeah we have no skin in the game no uh the only people we really care about is the fers exactly exactly and and our families man yeah you better believe it you better believe it but uh baso UFC 311 wrap that one up there wrap that one up there I think but look just Bor was like like I said like it will be missed and like hopefully pfl can uh can deal with Justice and I think that's that's sort of it really you know uh just in terms of um that going forward hopefully we'll still see as many uh shows and do as Bellator did so I think Bellator were sort of doing two year in their in their Heyday so hopefully we'll see two a year by the pfl at least one and yeah I think uh look obviously Paul ues is going to be a massive factor in that um but also if he is their face their company they're going to want to him fighting in America as well so he might be doing one in Ireland one in America you never know uh but let's see how that fight all plays out and then we'll have a better idea of what pfl's future in Europe will look like yeah well if anyone from pfl is listening like obviously if you're having Paul Hughes on the next one you're going to have to stack with Irish fighters on the card as well for people to want to really really tune in because or else people will just tune in for that fight and then tune back out yeah Big T and uh yeah I suppose B UFC 311 headline by Islam makev versus money moano yes Ross uh when we were breaking it down last week it was originally meant to be a rematch of Islam makev against Arman suin H the day before the fight Arman had to pull out due to a back injury um if anyone watched that face off that Arman and Islam had it looked like AR shot the bed but Ross as you said Islam Mev defeated money moyano in the main event and has now defended the UFC lightweight title four times which is a record Russ what do you want to see next from Islam makev I think I want to see Islam makev versus Ilia Toria I think Toria I think he's sort of almost rumored to be fighting vul next but I feel like I want to see vul almost beat someone else first to get like that under's belt and go in against such a heavy hitter like Toria I feel like uh we had that narrative now from the co main event that uh you know morab J Philly the Georgian has now gone and beaten the dagistan and now uh we you could have Georgia versus dagistan too uh with h ilot aoria coming up in weight class against Islan makev and I feel like there's a lot of similar narratives in ter terms of stardom that ilot Toria has gained that c McGregor gained going from featherweight up to lightweight and I feel like he's gained this sort of super stardom H he's one of the biggest stars in the sport right now the way like Sergio Ramos walks out with him to the weins and uh the you know welcome that he got at the babell um UFC clubing Instagram posts with Real Madrid and these are all things that like are Next Level superstar that like none of the other Champions have managed to amass and I think that um with that being said I think Islam's obviously the pound-for-pound number one at the moment um and what what would say it is at least top five I would say sort of top four um like maybe even top three I think is like sort of Islam J Jones Pereira and Ilia I feel like those four are probably ahead of everyone at the moment and uh I think look the winner that could easily make claim to be the pound-for-pound number one the world um who would you ra so You' rather see Islam maev fight against ilot aoria um for some reason I think that I'd rather see Islam fight Bal Muhammad and see if he become champ champ yeah well Islam BL are best mates they've already said they're not going to fight each other so that oh here's here's the one Islam said he could go up and fight Trick's two dup C how would you feel about that one yeah why not it's not going to happen but it's I've never seen someone go up like sort of two weights for a totle yeah but if anyone called be Islam no yeah but what is that definitely not happened he's like enough fight no yeah question that's a Pity um Dan Russ in the co-main event morab deash your doubleganger defeated Umar Ander M just same nose just same nose same same world totle same world tot um defeated Umar and the magov gave Umar his first ever loss uh Ross what you make of the Roy of morab to Vash and what would you like to see him do next I feel like he was maybe the biggest winner of the night because not only did he beat Umar uh as an underdog I also feel like even the way Umar was like trying to take him down at times and he was like sort of goting him and like showboating to like you could see photographers from in the front row and he was like Umar had his hands around his waist and he was like this guy can't take me down and like he set gsp's record he got seven takedowns against the D dagani and the dagani only got two so like I feel like morab is definitely now in the conversation for the bantamweight ghost like he's beat Jose Alo he's beat chalii he's beat Henry cejudo he's beat n magov he's beat P Yan like he's beat like the who's who who B way I suppose you're sort of looking at him going who's actually next for this guy to fight like you sort of go through the list and you're like shaali looks like he's lurking around for rematch even though like I don't think I think like if they fought again morab would beat him except like better um obviously like I don't think they're going to do an Umar rematch um like they're not going to give sanen a toil shot like Yan is probably the next valuable Challenger even though Mor's already beaten him and yeah like he's he sort of cleared out the division in his own right yeah and the thing is as well he was he obviously like after fighting at the UFC noce yeah and he was the main event there in the sphere against sha MTI and then fighting in this event and he's the co-main he's gonna want to be a main event again yeah well like I think I I think what's St wers from in in this F as well like I feel like he has like a better relationship now with Dana White I feel like he was a bit I know a bit strain that relationship and I feel like that relation that over I think he was sh he because he beat Shan no he was showing he had like a massive C in the build to Mary fight and then I think he said something about having like staff infection and something like that and Dana was like Dana then gets blown up in like this fight gonna be called off is this F called off and then like then it was like why would you show that like that was just silly so I think um that's where the issues lie but um yeah personally I think Yan deserves the fight after beating Figo because I would have thought like prior to the Fig fight I would have said Fig's probably next for to uh but I think the UFC is gonna go with Sean Mary bounc really I think so yeah even though he's coming off the loss against them the money fight yeah I think yeah moraba probably want to go for the money more although like Yan as you said per Yan getting back into toil contention because it looked like he was going to be caught one stage yeah big time he's uh reurn it around so yeah so then um Ross y Baska defeated jamahal Hill um you saw that happening yeah yeah y Pras like pinged him around for two rounds and then got him out there in the third it was uh it was just all one way traffic tou M Hill actually looked a bit out of shape from what I lik him uh but yeah yasa looked cerebral in there he looked he just had him on the back foot for the entire fight and for me like I thought I thought it was sort of obvious going into fight that was going to happen but like it's always easier to say that after the fact but uh I think y basa is now the front runner to be the number one Contender at like heavyweight despite the fact he's lost twice to uh Alex Pereira I think like that's probably his next fight the winner of Pereira versus anv and who you think is GNA win between Pere anv even though like my head says ano has all the skills to get the job done I just can't really look past Pereira so I'd say Pera I I want prea to win I think everyone wants prayers win like an have they they hav really promoted an like in any sort of way I think it wasn't because he they he drew against yanovich for theway title they're like right you two Lads are not fighting again for the title we're getting two new L Jamal Hill absolutely ruthless mate um then Ross Jolan ala won as well on the main card um what you make of Jolan ala and where did you see him going in 2025 see if Jon Jones didn't exist i' say J no versus Tom next for the heavyweight title that's what i' probably say um but I know like does he rematch Curtis blades in the future maybe um does he F vov does he fight um seroy pavlovich I feel like they're the sort of he's in that like I think he's like one more win away from effec fighting for the belt but it's more I feel like JN Jones and Asel just need to moved along otherwise that division like people are like fighting for broads made spot effectively yeah book that fight Dan will you uh then Ross renier the rder defeated Kevin Holland yeah in a much better performance this time out than uh it was in his last uh he seems to have got the UFC Jitters out of the way and look I feel like he's going to be someone who's a hard matchup uh in that middleweight Division I could definitely see him next in there against maybe a Robert Whitaker who was funny enough training with Israel out it yeah I think it's a good match up I think like a win there for Rob would do like wers for him in that Division and I think a win for derder would sort of have maybe one more win away from getting into that title shot conversation and then is there anything else you want to say about the card Russ especially the way you were SH now pton Talbert as well just because he had his belly button pierced yeah and he lost so uh shout out to BARC OLS who got the job done the veteran uh obviously I wrote him off too soon um so there we go there's one hype CH Train That's slightly come off the tracks okay okay Ross um for the people tuning in make sure to like And subscribe as we said the UC is going to be back on the first of February Israel adna is going to be taking on nardine imamov Russ uh what you make Israel Adisa being besties with Robert Whitaker now yeah I think it's cool for them I don't want to see them really fight again another time so like they might as well be mates H they're both from the same region they're both massively propping up that region in terms of star power so yeah why not and I think uh the two of them are at a stage now where they could definitely help each other uh ADV and stay towards the upper end of that division yeah make sure to watch out for that podcast coming out as well soon and also the next pay-per-view will be UFC 312 DX two ceas is taking on Sean stricken for the second time that's going to be going down February 8th so the UFC is back baby and also it's seven weeks until you see London but um Ross before we get into the world of Irish MMA over the weekend Patty the baty took on AR on Dennis frong in Manchester top teams gym um this was this fight ended in the first round first of all do you know the backstory of this fight and also what do you think of the fight yeah I think basically the backstory came from I tell tort of the way Dennis treated uh Jake is it mchu you say h and George stains on octagon England versus Ireland uh first of all I think like obviously Dennis was doing a lot of pranks on these um uh Patty was sort of calling a bulling and then obviously Dennis frong for his last F got like a last minute replacement looks like they plucked some young fell off the street and Fring pong pinged them around the place um it just looked bad for ping pong FR pong taking the fight but obviously Fring pong want to be paid as well so like it's it's you're s of stuck being a rock in a hard place um so the matchmakers to make the fight like yeah and I think like sometimes FR pong's Tong Che online sometimes he's like yeah like people don't know whether he's been serious or not and like I think Dennis was saying like oh I'm just levels above this guy I was like well like I think anyone's levels above that guy um type of thing and I think it just robbed up Pat the wrong way and then we saw Dennis do a callout video of Patty and then I Think Jesus I think Patty showed one of his friends like Robin his den like f Fong's and gum Shield off J T and it seemed to get like worse and worse and worse more spiteful so then they agreed away definitely not here for that that's definitely below the belt excuse the literally um and then Patty I think they were trying to arrange a date and then Patty was on holidays for two weeks and then all of a sudden it went down in Manchester top team um and look fight was on the on the feet Patty was sort of getting a few leg kicks in uh like I don't think anyone did any major damage on the fee and then frang true I think it was left hook PTY got the take down and then got on top and chok Dennis out Dennis tapped out and it is what it is hopefully the beef is now squashed yeah but PTY didn't let go once Den start toen though but I think it wasn't like and then may fight I think it was supposed to be like a I think they said it in the build up to one of SCS and contous type things so like that word for word so MCR jumped in anyway yeah so look it was what it was at the end of the day I suppose it helped Dennis get his name out there and I suppose it just goes to show if you're uh going to open your mouth to Patty the you better be there to back it up yeah did um and then Dennis then signed with octagon he did yeah so I think I think it's a a bit of funny one because obviously Dennis back and forth and I think he's like bad mouth of octagon but uh obviously they must see some value in him and at the end of day he does he does build hype for his own fights quite well so uh he's he's definitely unique character and we're going to see see how how this plays out for him so hopefully he gets the fights he's looking for and hopefully he can be active because I think that's that's the overall thing I think he's uh his issues he's had a lot of people pull out on him and you know let's let him get in there with some real opponents yeah also he seem to be a f as well so hopefully everything goes according to plan for Dennis in 2025 uh Ross speaking of going to plan will flurry who won at the last octagon in December and became the Octagon light heavyweight champion is now going to be fighting for the Octagon heavyweight title on March eight uh Ross will flurry looking to become the first ever Irishman to become well champ champ in octagon yeah of course he's fighting the number one ranked heavyweight in octagon H Tov I think his name is I think he's 11 six he's Bulgarian um yeah I think will will flurry has the skill set definitely to be able to do it um he's got great takedowns good on the mat I assume that's where he's probably going to take take the fight not today I think he'd be afraid to have it on the feet and I I I think Will's probably going to walk around in around that 230 Mark and maybe even way close 240 I just hope he doesn't try and put on too much way and then it slows him down or like make some gas out that bit earlier H because he looked really really good in the last fight against verola but uh I fully believe will Flur will be able to become champ Champion yeah we'll uh keep you up to date on that as well uh before wrap things up there's just some fights in the Irish M MMA scene that are coming up that you're definitely going to have to make sure to tune in and watch uh your Fighting Championships is back on February 23rd if you didn't see on our Instagram we were collabing with the pro fights and the title fights um just want to watch out for is Aaron McDonald is gonna be taking on Jake Gilpin in a professional fight catchweight of 74 kilos then H Lewis burn is taking on Alex mcook in FWE Division and then Kieran Brady is going to be taking on Georgie groov in the bantamweight Ross um TOS on them fights well I just think the Georgie grov and kieren Brady W is like such a high level fight it could easily be on cage Warriors it could easily be on knun easy on NFL and uh you're are getting AF getting over the line so uh I think that's going to be one of the biggest fights of the year and I think it's definitely going to be the biggest Bantam way uh domestic fight we get of the Year anyway H I know we'll probably touch on some of the other promotions on what they've announced but that that that for me is definitely going to finish the year as a top three best fights books of all year I think in terms of Ona yeah then cage conflict on March 88th has now announced their main event it's going to be Brian Manning against Shawn McCormack in the middleweight division Ross this is a huge matchup for cage conflict yeah like like it's a bit like uh you're were like this is what we have in the cas conf right yeah well we see this and we give you this back you know what I mean h this is a huge fight um obviously Brian Manning Main Event Manning as he's now calling himself uh going into enemy territory no better bule to do it and he's going in there against sea mccorn who not only will be looking to get his hand raised I think he'll be looking for uh spot on the cage Warriors card in April with a win here and no doubt about it he could definitely get it he's a big boy um he went back and forth with h Oban Elliot and went to to him so he we know he's at a high level as well so uh I think this is an unbelievable fight I think we'll also see the likes of uh Nadine abisa on that uh cage conflict card as well and uh graem Sheen so there's more Pro fights to be added on that cage conflict card as well yeah but the thing is for that main event like the like Brian Manning was saying that he's been in contact with cage Wars and octagon amongst others and then Sean obviously fighting on cage Warriors before I think like the winner of this will definitely be fighting on a bigger shot next so it's a huge opportunity for B Lads and uh we look forward to tuning in and covering the vent as well and then H just before rting clamor is March 22nd they've announced little Shay Lam is taking on Jamie mcaker for the Welterweight Title so uh more fights will be followed on that but uh they're big fans of Jamie mccar but yeah they are they are he well he seems to set a lot of tickets he seems to make a lot of noise so and look I I'm here for that so uh shout out to all three promotions putting on absolutely fantastic shows and uh some brilliant uh brilliant uh top billing from uh all three promotions so I'm looking forward to them uh orm May is Alive and Kicking exactly so uh as we said this weekend Bellator dub boy is on Saturday 25th also fans if you're if you're fans of bar knuckle fighting as well bkfc is back and uh Jeremy Stevens who the [ __ ] is that guy is taking on um Eddie Alvarez so make sure if you're watching that listen now for Eddie Alvarez's wife shouting in the background Eddie the man jez Ross another absolutely stunning episode you better I can't wait I can't wait for pfl road to the boy Champion series it's going to be an epic one I love it you love it and if you love The en ofo show make sure to like share subscribe leave a comment below tell us how won you lost as always staye JSU by day energize show by night