[buzzsprout episode='124930' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | Mike Wootten is the kind of guy who gets up at 6 AM just so that he can record a podcast with us.
Right off the back, that should let you know the kind of awesome this guy is (I mean, personally I wake up early for no one-- let alone to talk to two idiots like me and Kev).
When we talked about the possibility of having Mike coming to listen in on the "1 Minute Review" of his The Ultimate Fighter episode, Mike didn't complain or even ask us to re-arrange our podcasting schedule, he just laughed and warned us he might sound a little sluggish in the morning.
Fortunately for all of us, Wootten was anything but sluggish.
In fact, we learn more about Mike than anything we've found out about on episodes of The Ultimate Fighter (here's hoping his big win over Josh Hill gets him some more screen time going forward). After our "1 Minute Review," Mike gives a great recap of his fight with Hill, tells us about the crazy stuff he and his other cast members requested from the show's producers, and even touches on what some have called the quote of the season when he describes the very real medical condition known as "weight cut penis."
Yes, you read that right. And, for whatever reason, he's an expert at it.
Then, right after we finish talking with Mike, we've got the delightful Roxanne Modafferi dropping by to chat with us.
I knew early on in the season that Roxanne was going to be high on our Ultimate Fighter booking wish list.
It wasn't just the breath of fresh air her personality has brought to the show (name another TUF cast member who openly declared their love for all things Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Dragon Ball Z in their first talking head), or the fact that she's universally beloved by her fellow cast members or even that she describes herself as a jiu-jitsu fighter (which is automatically good in Kev and I's book).
Our want to get her on the podcast had more to do with the fact that her warrior spirit and positive attitude perfectly exemplify the essence of martial arts. And not only has she put in the work to help put women's MMA on the map, but she's also the kind of person who treats her opponents with respect and the reverence that's so often lost in the sport. With such pure joy in her voice when she talks about being a mixed martial artist, it's no wonder she has earned the nickname "The Happy Warrior."
It's that very joy that has endeared her to so many fans on this season of TUF and makes for some great (and very different) conversational points on the podcast. We chat about her recent move from Japan to Vegas, the state of mind she was in when she created a person made entirely out of toilet paper rolls, and we even wax poetic on the finer points of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
But Wait, There's More:
As two major BJJ enthusiasts, you didn't think Kev and I would just let the Abu Dahbi Combat Club (better known as ADCC) just go by without making fun of it, right? Don't worry, we've got you covered with a Top 10 List that points out the Worst Parts about the tournament. We hope that we accurately capture the frustrations that so many of you BJJ nerds feel as well.
And Don't Think We Forgot About:
UFC 166 happened. Kev and I share our different takes behind the fight that was the conclusion (we hope) to Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos. Listen in and tell us what you think folks.
We can't wait to hear what you all have to say!