Yazan Odeh interview

Summary

Yazan Odeh is an amateur MMA fighter coming from Holohan martial arts, he tells a story of getting stuck in the middle east during a time of conflict, he describes what that was like, we speak about his upcoming fight on Elite and much more

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Okay, so I'm here with Yazan the Falcon O day, someone I've wanted to talk to for quite a while. We spoke to at the last elite. He told me about a story that I really want to get into now in a second. He fights out Hulahan martial arts. He's fighting again this weekend um at elite again. So thank you very much for joining me. I really really appreciate your time, especially on the Sunday. >> Thank you for having me. >> No, it's my pleasure, bro. How are you? Um the story you told me after the fight, do you want to get into that because it's it's a bit of a mad one, bro. Oh yeah, literally it's it's a bit of a mad one for me and N Tucker on this one. [laughter] >> It's a bit of a mad one. But nah, listen. So what happened was is I'm just going to get it straight in. Look, listen, thanks for having me. It's it's a pleasure. And um what happened was is that um me and uh No Tucker, shout out to Nile Tucker. We we we planned a trip to go to Jordan to gain some martial arts experience from the Jordanian boys. these Jordanian boys, they train in the 50° desert on daily basis. And I'm like, "Wow, I need to go in and check it out." So, we were wrestling, striking, you know, typical MMA training over there. And we planned um for like a week and a half to stay over there, like a week to stay over there. And my dad had a house over there, so we kept took her in. And um what happened was is that on the day that we were supposed to be going back, we got stopped by the uh Jordanian authorities said we can't be flying off. They shut down the airspace and our fights our flights have been have been postponed until further notice. I was like, "Oh my days, what's happening?" Now I was laughing at the start. We were both laughing. We were both laughing. And we were both laughing like we were and they were like, "Oh no, like you know, Israel and Iran are having a war and Jordan had to be in the middle." [laughter] >> That must be so surreal to be like cuz I'm assuming rockets are going over your head. Yeah. >> Yeah. Obviously, obviously, obviously. Like, you know, like and Tucker was like, "Oh, let's just watch fireworks." [laughter] I'm like I'm like, "Tucker, that's not fireworks. That's the real right here." You know what I mean? So we were sitting down and we were like um uh you know we had to be quarantined. Sirens were there. They were like we had to remain indoors because just in case one of the rockets malfunctioned and which was true. Rockets were malfunctioning and they were falling on us. And I'm like oh my days and this was this was the moment I knew where it was real. I was like no how are we going to get back? And I was sending videos to the HMA lads and I'm like and they were like what is that? What's happening? And I'm like, "Boys, it's a long story. You know, you don't get it." >> And And like, how long were you there for for the time as well? Cuz cuz I was >> We were supposed We were supposed to go back on like the 13th of uh the 13th of June. Okay. We flew off from the 1st. We were supposed to be back on like like the 13th. On the day of the 13th, the on the day, not the night before, on the day of the 13th. the Jordan the the the the Jordanian king the the the he shut down the airspace and shut down the borders and told everyone to quarantine because there's Israel and Iran are having are going at it and we're stuck in the middle. I'm like oh my days and he's like oh we're going to stay like that until further notice. We continued all of month of June in Jordan [laughter] >> we didn't come back till July. And what was the kind of atmosphere around around the country at the time? Was it like nervousness? Was it >> No, listen, because the people live over there, so they can't for like once every maybe two, three years they see something like that, okay? And uh like don't get me wrong, Jordan is a brilliant country for like tourism. tourists from America, Canada, Brazil, whatever, they always go down to watch to see the Dead Sea, to see Petra, to see the to see like the the the Rome coliseum. Like Jordan is a very historic place for people to visit. Um, and the people over there, they were they were they were very good, like you know, they they know how to handle situations like this. They were s they were calm, they were they were cool, they were collected, they were they were looking after tourists as well because tourists don't see something like that on daily basis. So they were like, "No, it's okay. You know, you're ground. Nothing will happen." And uh while rockets were flying for like over a week and a half, two weeks. Uh these rockets started to malfunction and some of them were falling in Jordan. >> Wow. >> And and and the closest And there was one that fell I think it was like maybe less than 100 yards away from where my dad's house was. >> Wow. And and you can and you can hear like even when when it was landing up to the to the to where it was supposed to land, we can literally hear it landing because Jordan and Palestine is literally they're they're not even half and we're not even we're half an hour away from the border. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And and we were like what what are we going to do? We contacted the Irish embassy. We we were just sitting there and and was like, you know what? Let's just sit there and just watch this and see where we're that close. I was like, "Oh, okay. Let's just there." And we finally got back. We we like the second they opened the borders, we managed to get into the airport first, booked the first flight to Istanbul, and then we got back to Dublin >> to to D. And like that's that's a whole lot for me to be taking in now on a on a Sunday morning. [laughter] What effects did that have you as a person? Like what did you change any perspectives on things? Oh, a lot of things because I used to not appreciate the little things in life. I because like like the fact that there's people over there receiving these type of rockets on like from time to time. It made me think as a person, wow, like you know, it made me appreciate the small things that we live like I I wake up healthy. I I'm able to, you know, walk around. I have a healthy body. I I go and I see a healthy environment. uh I'm able to walk around safely. Uh like just the other day I was raging about, you know, having to put having to fix my car. But then I'm like, it got me thinking at least like I have a car. Some people walk on their feet. Some people don't some people don't even have legs and they still walk and they still manage to make something out of themselves. And you know, I always say to myself, negative things that we think it happens in our life, I always I always turn it into a positive thing. Like for example, if I missed the bus for work, ah, so what? I missed it. It's not my fault. >> You know what I mean? Or like, oh, like let's just say something fell. So what? Let it fall. Like you know, at the end of the day, no one is perfect. I'm not perfect. Nobody's perfect. Do you know what I mean? So it made me appreciate the small things. It made me change the perspective of life in a in a way like appreciate those small things. >> Yeah. Cuz like you said, you're you're like you miss your bus, you put money into your car, but then you look at these people that are getting bombs dropped on them and having to go around with their daily lives. Like we were talking previously, like school children still doing their homework, which I think is so surreal. And then just bomb dropped around them, but life still has to go on there. It just it >> absolutely like you know, life has to go on. Life has to go on. Like you know if people are living in tense in the cold winter that are still trying to look for education and people looking for jobs and you know trying to make better of themselves like in in the middle of the conflicts. I honestly do think that you know if they're able to do it we can do us as human beings on the other side of the planet seeing it we can be able to manage way better if you know what I mean. >> Yeah. We we've more tools at our disposal. There's a lot more infrastructure and it's a lot more kind of >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's we we don't and we don't have the threat of of of being physically hurt or or dead or or stuff like that as well. So >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Absolutely. Like you know like it's just it's just that it's just these small bit like the these small things um uh that people need to understand. And have you seen the movie Zombie Land? There's a little the the main protagonist in the movie said enjoy the little things. >> Yes. And that's the same thing. Enjoy the little things like you know there could be like a watermelon there like why is it sitting there? Why is nobody eating it? You know what I mean? >> Yes. Stop and smell the roses. Take it like take in the these because a lot of people want to rush to certain goals and stuff as well and they don't enjoy journey the journey to the goal. I think that's the best part. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I used to always say I like you know I have a dream obviously like you know I want to reach that dream but then I'm but then I'm there thinking I'm like my whole life is relying on that dream forgetting my current situation what what I have right now. Yes, you need to build steps to get to that goal. Like you just there's just no direct route. And there and there's milestones and goals that you probably never even thought of or would have wrote down or visualized that you'll come across and go, I never like I never expected to do commentary this year. So sort of way there's something will happen along your career and you get these milestones and goals that you never thought or never expected and that's what makes the journey. And like I said, these small things worthwhile cuz these small things are going to make that ultimate goal. You know what? >> And it's not just that, Justin. Not just that, like it changed the way I preserve things. Like, usually walking into an MMA fight, it's you're already nervous. You're already you're already scared. You're already like, you know, when you're you're in the arena getting your hand wraps and you're hearing the people roar and then you can and then your opponent is on the other side of the dressing room getting his hand wrap and he's also himself. And it got me thinking after my situation in the Middle East and I'm like if I if if people are able to do this, you know, I'm able to do this with no fear, if you know what I mean. So obviously like when I was rapping my in the last DFC, they were wrapping my hands and I'm like shaking. I'm like and I'm holding my hand. I'm like, why am I shaking? I'm not even nervous, but why am I shaking? Like my hand was wouldn't stop shaking while while the Cman was wrapping my hands. But when I was behind the curtain and the warm-up was finished and they announced my name and my music played, I just knew that, you know what, all the fear went out the window. The second I heard the music for the all the fear went out the window and I just went in, didn't even look at the fans and I just went straight in and I'm like, this has to be done now. >> Yeah. And then you went in, you fought a really good guy and you won. And then that's where we kind of had the conversation was you were walking back out and that's when we kind of arranged to have this. But >> yeah. Yeah. >> In the like you took that fight once you came back. Talk to us about how that fight came about, how it was uh fighting on EFC and how how they treat you cuz And >> is a good promotion, but how I got on it was kind of a bit funny. I was strolling through Instagram stories and then I kind of just seen they were like all fighters wanted. Now, keep in mind, I always send shows to Patty or to whoever's matchmaking or to the lads just in case if they want to fight. I didn't even think of it. I the first of all, I thought of it as, okay, okay, there's a show here. Get a few lads on. That's that that's my first intention. And then a few days later, Patty comes back saying, I found your opponent on that show. I was like, wait, what? I was like, who is it? He was like, oh, it's just good jiu-jitsu lad, you know, go in there and you know, I think you're a little bit better, you know, go in. I was like, who is it? I was like, you know. He's like, "Ah, he's he's a good jiu-jitsu. Just go in. You he's great, you know." I was like, "All right, cool." He was like He's like, "He's good, you know, but you're a little bit better." I was like, "That's that's that's all he told me the entire camp. He he's good, but you're a you're a little bit better." So, I think he's trying to push me there. So, I seen the post and I'm like, "Oh, [laughter] me?" I'm like, "Patty, do you know who that is? [laughter] And but you got in and you and like like I said he's he's very good and you got to how did it feel like said like the kind of nerves when when you got in the cage what did it feel like then being in the cage with him. Did it change your perspective perspective on anything in the cage kind of what you seen? Was there like you said was there no fear going in cuz like first of all he's a lot bigger than than he than he looked on the screens. He's a lot bigger. I was like what the hell what is he on? I was like, "Whatever he's on, I'd love to get on that." I mean, I'm looking at him and I'm looking at like, "But are you sure that's the same? Are you sure that's same lad that I'm fighting?" But then I'm like, but then like as he's walking in and I'm I'm seeing him and I'm like, "Okay, you know, now now it's just time to do my to do. But that lad is strong. He's strong." I'm like, "Wow." Oh, like even when when when we ended up on the grappling exchange, like the dude was the the the brother was attacking triangles and arm bars from the bottom and he nearly got me in some of them and I was like, "Wow, this dude has been grappling for a long time." And then there was a moment in the fight, I think it was in the second round, where he kind of um uh he took my back. And when he took my back, you know, I he I could I could feel his body, you [snorts] know, go back. He wanted to kind of push me back to the mat so he can be able to get the choke. But then, you know, when he was on my back, I was loose and, you know, he was loose. He wasn't even too heavy on my back, but I can still feel that most of his strength were on that chin lock. >> Yeah. And I stood up and then he was able to dig it in deeper and then I can hear the fans go crazy for him and and as he was like, you know, going in and I just look across and I see Patty and I see Tucker and then Tucker's looking at me like this. He's giving me that look like he's like don't like just don't like don't. So in my mind I was like a  I have nothing to lose at this point. So I just jumped and I pulled the mic off of cher. >> I I I remember that. I remember that cuz I remember him getting the back and it was like that like I said the cheers throughout and then like I thought it was a really good fight to watch cuz I remember I actually brought the Brian Manning's opponent from Dublin cuz he flew into Dublin and we were standing there and I was like see this scrap these two boys. I was like this is a very overlooked underrated scrap. This is going to be a very very good one. So I was looking forward to it. But the big cage, talk to us about the big cage. >> No, the big cage, like I I it's more comfortable. It's more comfortable. Like the the the mats were the mats felt good. Like even stepping on it, like it felt so good. Like it felt relaxing. The cage was good. It was so much room. You'll be able to move around and actually work your style. Uh the small cage is good, but the problem with the small cage, they have a harder floor, >> which makes you hard to like strike or move in. And you know, I felt that the bigger cage was better. That's just for me as as a person who fought for the smaller cage. They're not bad, but I felt like the bigger the bigger cage is better. And I think promotions should work on the bigger cages. >> Yeah. No, it it is because especially as a striker, you want to be able to move around, be evasive, and and sometimes with a smaller cage, couple of steps and you could be up against the fence. But from what I the cost of that cage >> for my if if I'm not going to say on air in case I'm wrong, but I've heard the cost of that cage is ridiculous. Like >> I mean, listen, the listen the EFC is doing the right thing by investing. I don't see it as a waste of money. I see it as an investment for their future >> because what if they could be known? What if I I feel like EFC is the is is trying to make a name for themselves by bringing in the bigger cage. They're probably saying, "No promotion has a bigger cage. Let's bring in the bigger cage. What's wrong with the bigger cage?" >> So, when I actually seen the bigger cage in person the first time, I'm looking I was like, "Wow." Wow. Like, like it's huge. It's monstrous. But it was good. like I'm able to get in and I'm able to, you know, get a feel of it. It was It was great. It was great. >> Yeah. Know, and I get you what you're saying with the big cage as well. And especially cuz just say if you're bringing pro fighters over to fight and they see this big cage, they're going to be like, "Wow." Cuz it's one like it's UFC size like other bigger promotions across Europe don't even have one that size. And like I said, it's an investment especially for pro fighters that go Joe that want to go on to the other promotions go right. So this is kind of this is the cage. This is what we're going to be So, it's good for them to have that going forward. But you obviously like the show cuz you're back again next week. Talk to us about how you're feeling in the leadup to this one. >> Oh, like same as last time. Like, you know, I feel good. You know, weight wise, I feel good. You know, this the the featherweight is very good for me. Featherway is a very good weight class for me. When I started martial arts, you know, I used to find it difficult to go down to featherweight because I didn't have the enough knowledge to understand what a weight cut is or understand the weight drop and how the weighing worked. But now like I'm um now I'm what five six years into the game and um I have more knowledge and understanding how to like change up the diet and work so f so and getting down comfortably and fighting good. So going leading up to this one it feels very good just like the last time. Uh obviously nerves are there but like you know it's it's natural and um yeah the like the lad that I be finding his name is Ethan Shaky and Ethan is known for his well dynamic striking background if I'm not mistaken. Uh he's known for being a WKU national champion and you know I'm aware of that. But let's be let's let's be real. I'm also WK WKU national champion myself. So uh you know I know he's going to be bringing his agame. He's gonna be bringing his striking. is going to be doing his thing, but I'll be going in there and this is an MMA fight. That's not a striking fight. I'll be going in. I'll be doing my thing and um I'll be getting that win. And and this is not a call out, but I know I have a goal. And my goal is that once I get past Ethan Shaky, I'd love like he doesn't have to accept it, but like I'd love to get an opportunity to fight Jake Knight for that featherweight belt. That's a good fight. I like Jake Knight. >> I'd love I'd love Look, Jake Knight is known for being the best, okay? And this is not a call out. This is not disrespectful. This is not If Jake Knight would love to fight me after Ethan Shaky for that featherweight belt, I'd love this. For me, this would be um for me, this would be everything. Even if I don't manage to win that belt, obviously winning the belt is the goal, but like getting the opportunity to go in with a lad that I've been watching for a long time, even way before I started my amateur career. Like I've been watching this guy from the Tyreeko Plat in Cage Legacy to what he has done in the IMAS. Like this guy like, you know, he's going to go a long way. And for me, I'd love to have that experience to be able to go in and get a fight with Jake Knight for that featherweight belt. >> That that would be good. Obviously do the business this weekend. And that's something that elite might have to set in motion. It depends as well. I think Jake's probably not far off pro. I can't say anything because I don't know, but I I would say it depends when the next Elite could be. Um but yeah, it would be it would be a cracker. But you've got you're in a fantastic gym. Obviously Patty Hulahan, you've got obviously Shauna, you've got Georgie, you've got Jordan White, uh Caleum Leech, you've got I I can't even remember all the fighters and that's not We could be here all day. What's it like being in that gym? Sarah Carney looked fantastic last week. >> Listen, I get I'm the punching bag in there. I get my head slapped off with all of them. [laughter] [gasps] >> Nah, no. I look for real. Like, you know, it's good to have different styles in the gym. Like, you know, you have Abdul Rahman, the guy with the with the with the karate background, with the reach background. You have Ucha with the strong wrestling background. You have Caleum Lee. Look, listen. Caleb is a whole different topic. Let's not talk about him. This dude is something like like like the second this dude is on top of you, that's like having the moon sitting on you or something. How you going to get that moon on you off of you? You know what I mean? [laughter] Then you have Gorg Gorg with like, you know, he's wellrounded. You know, he's wellrounded. He's very good. He has a like he's he's the best. He's the best. I've said it time and time again. Gorge is the best. And you know, you have Jordan White with that karate southpaw background. Good sparring partner for me. I know he's fighting Johnny Dougen as well on the same card for that bant belt. So that is a fight I'm looking forward myself. Um yeah, like these these lads are very very good. Like you know they they're looking after me. And in let's not forget the hands of Kee Tate. Kint Tay is like his hands are monstrous. So like the these lads like they're put they're putting it on me. I'm they're helping me push my limits. Uh becoming better and not just as a fighter but as a human being like you know these lads are genuine. They want you to do better. >> Yeah. Yeah. And Grov I forgot to mention him straight off the bat. I think he's so overlooked. I think cuz he's not social media heavy but I think he's probably one of the best in the country. And it's a shame that social media equates to popularity in MMA sometimes because I think he doesn't get the flowers he deserves him. >> Not just in MMA, like not not just in MMA, like in in in general like you have boxing, kickboxing, karate, like you have these social media lads going in doing it, but you forget about the lads that actually like that are way better that just does it in silence and they go in there and they make an impact. So when audience come like, who is this lad? We don't know him, but he's doing well. So, like, you know, like I always say like just do your thing, bro. That's that's it. Just just do your thing >> cuz the cream always rises to the top and then his talent will show through and and then he'll get to the place he wants to be. But look, this has been a fantastic conversation. I've really really >> Absolutely. Appreciate appreciate you having me. I've been watching you for a long time. So, I know and I've always said when am I coming on? [laughter] >> Thank that means a lot to me because I didn't realize I had an impact or that fighters viewed me like that. I thought I was just here to do a couple things. The fact that you said that to me actually means a lot to me. >> I appreciate it, man. Appreciate it. Cuz I've been watching you since like like back in my noviceses days and I'm like ah, you know, I want to get on this one day. I want to be able to do this one day. Then I'm like, you know what? One day it will happen and and it did and I appreciate you bringing me on. >> Yeah. Know and I appreciate you coming on and spend especially so close to the fight. I won't be there but I will be watching on pay-per-view. I'm going to let you go. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? Once again, thank you for your time. This was a a pleasure. It was a a unique story, not something that I would get very often. Um, >> no, thank you. Thank you very much. >> We will catch up uh coming up in the future towards your next fight and next fight and next fight. So, this won't be the last time you're on. It's the first time, but it won't be the last time. So, the floor is yours. >> No, thank you very much. And honestly, appreciate it for, you know, having me and um tune in. That's all I got to say because, you know, that's going to be a fight, you know, you don't want to miss. >> Perfect. I can't wait to see. I think it's going to be a very good fight. It's going to be a very good card. And yeah, best of luck next weekend and I will talk to you then. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.