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Raf's Recollection | More about our interview with Josh Clark and our review of "Over/Under Kevin" with Brandon McCaghren coming soon.
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Fox Sports Juan
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Raf's Recollection | This is a hell of a show. We've got a little bit of everything on this one.
We begin with my BJJ podcast arch-nemesis, Paul Moran, from Open Mat Radio who helps us with our comprehensive coverage of last weekend's FIVE GRAPPLING event out in Anaheim.
Paul describes how the event looked on the live stream and we contrast it to the observations I made while watching the event live.
Obviously, Paul does the best he can to match the superb BJJ analysis and commentary that I bring to the table. But, along the way, we make some solid observations about the production, presentation, and spectacle that was FIVE GRAPPLING (if you haven't done so yet, check out my EXCLUSIVE interview with James Puopolo above)
Also, we get to know more about Paul and his whole life story blah, blah, blah. Paul's so great, he's beloved in the jiu-jitsu community, go support his critically acclaimed podcast Open Mat Radio or something. Boring. Onto the next guest.
On a serious note, tho. Check out all that FIVE GRAPPLING had to offer. The entire event is up for view right here:
James Koh
I have such an appreciation for newscasters who bring a positive perspective to the sport of mixed martial arts. If you aren't lucky enough to catch the kind of solid work James Koh does out here in LA with his show Cage Talk, you are truly missing out on the work of a sports journalist who shares a true passion for MMA.
Cage Talk is a panel sports talk show that airs immediately after every UFC on FOX telecast. Not only is it fun and full of energy, but James finds great ways to get UFC Fighters to help break down fights. It's unlike any other local programming put on by our Los Angeles, FOX 11 affiliate—and it's the perfect show for those who are looking for a lively discussion right after a major UFC card.
I was so glad we were able to get James on to talk about a variety of topics, including last week's Pacquiao fight, comparisons between the UFC and the NBA (don't get Kevin started), and even bring on the UFC Middleweight Champ, "GSP," to respond to criticism James makes about his fighting style.
For more of James Koh, give his work a look right here.
Davey Grant
And, of course, it wouldn't be a true installment of Verbal Tap without another spectacular "1 Minute Review" with yours truly. This week, we brought in Davey Grant to help us make sense of what the hell went down the week of his semi-final match-up against Anthony Gutierrez.
We learn a little bit more about DJ Davey G and even get a chance to have him try to talk shit to "Chris Holdsworth" on our show.
Truth be told, now that we've had both cast members on the show, Kev and I are going Switzerland on this one and staying out of making any predictions.
We're just looking for a great match between our friends Holdsworth and Grant—and we have no doubt we're in for a great fight. Truly, may the best man win.
Next Week on Verbal Tap
Don't forget, next week is our big 50th Podcast. You're definitely gonna want to tune in for that one. Tell a friend and get excited.
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Raf's Recollection | Of all the Ultimate Fighter cast members I've done impressions of, perhaps no one has had a better sense of humor about it than Jimmy "Crash" Quinlan.
On one particular installment of the show (Episode 14), Kev and I spent approximately 10 minutes worth of time discussing the finer points of a Jimmy Quinlan impression.
Which is why it was somewhat refreshing when I ran into Jimmy at the UFC Fan Expo earlier this year, I didn't get punched in the face (he had more than one opportunity to do so). When you do impressions of folks with such a strong wrestling background, you almost expect to be on the receiving end of one of their patented overhead slam takedowns. Fortunately for me, Jimmy's always just laughed off the impression and played along.
It also doesn't hurt that Jimmy identifies himself as a bit of a "smart ass." So not only does that make him exactly the type of person we like talking to on the podcast, but it also makes him the kind of guy who is impervious to comments like "What is happening?" and "wtf am I watching" when he posts videos like this:
We at Verbal Tap wish nothing but the best to Jimmy as he takes on Luc Bondole at New England Fights' "NEF X" this Saturday at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. For more information about tickets, hit up this website and be sure to follow Jimmy on the Twitter at @JimmyCrashBJJ.
Also on the podcast, we do our World Famous "One Minute Review" of the second episode of The Ultimate Fighter, we play a game of "Over/Under Kevin" to figure out how to bet on this week's UFC 165, and we also chat about this video:
I must have watched this clip over 20 times in the past few days. Maybe it's because it bares a certain resemblance to a Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer's signature move: Rolles Gracie does the best Ric Flair fall I have ever seen in MMA. Ever.
If you doubt me, simply watch the video above and compare it to the art that is the Ric Flair flop below. #YoureWelcome
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Raf's Recollection |Have you, like I, been counting down the days until the return of The Ultimate Fighter? I know it's only been five months, but it's felt like an eternity.
For those new to our program (welcome), we here at Verbal Tap live for making fun of The Ultimate Fighter. We even have a signature portion of our podcast where we review each episode of the telecast in one minute's time (coincidentally named our World Famous "One Minute Review").
What's that? It's impossible to make fun of all things Ultimate Fighter related in just one minute's time? Well, I'd invite you to listen to our podcast and try and tell me differently ;-)
Now before any of you TUF purists who are new to the show start trying to troll our comment boards, allow me to say this: Kev and I love the show. We're huge fight fans and we're rooting for new talent to work it's way through the ranks (one need only to look at the roster of guests we've had come on the show to know how much we support it).
Nonetheless, it's probably important to mention we're going to tell a lot of jokes at the show's expense. We're gonna make fun of the fighters. And we're gonna have a blast doing it, so don't take it too seriously folks. So sit back and check out our first Ultimate Fighter review, we're gonna make it a blast for you all this season.
But that's not all we've got for you this week. In addition to discussing last week's UFC Fight Night 28, we also talk to Fight Master's Joe Williams.
What you may know about Joe "Mongo" Williams from the show is that he's a strong competitor with a fantastic wrestling background. What you might not know is that he is secretly a comic at heart.
You read that right.
Additionally, we talk about Joe's next fight, some pranks that happened between Team Shamrock and Team Warren that never made it to air, and we even get Joe to play a game of Rep that Tweet with us.
So download the podcast and let us know what you think, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | If you practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the meme over on the right hand side here pretty much says it all.
As much as we want to go around and spread to the gospel of BJJ to our friends and family, there are some who—despite our best efforts—will never care about the "gentle art."
I know it hurts to hear. I know that it's a lot to take in all at once. But it's better that it comes from someone who cares.
The realization that some people will never care about a sport that you and I love so much is a fact of life that stings and sometimes causes us great emotional strife (stay with me here, it's going to get better. Promise).
Our guests on Episode 37 of Verbal Tap know this struggle all-too-well. Marshal D. Carper and Darryl Cozza are two BJJ practitioners who wrote an uproarious eBook entitled, Don't Wear Your Gi to the Bar, that teaches you how to survive everyday social settings while still preserving your inner BJJ nerd.
And in Verbal Tap first, I'm gonna go ahead and put this as the very first book to receive MUST READ status from our podcast (calm down, we're not starting a book club yet or anything).
Aside from an obvious love of sport, there's a real wit in this eBook that accurately describes the losing battle that is explaining the culture, beauty, and art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to people who just can't get past why you like dressing up in pajamas and choking your friends.
Wanna know the most insane part?
These guys aren't even charging you a single dollar to read it? Simply follow this link and download it from their website. All for Free.99.
All the guys ask in return is that you share the book with your training partners and other BJJ enthusiasts (and maybe even drop a five star review on sites like Amazon if you dig it). Also, for you non-cheapskates who like to promote authors on the independent circuit (like a real American), there's also an option to buy a version of their book.
While the book is a great display of subversive humor, there's more to Marshal and Darryl than well-written jokes and Game of Thrones/BJJ metaphors.
They're not just funny, their BJJ knowledge is legit.
As we discover in the podcast, the eBook is only the first in a long line of instructional BJJ videos and articles from the pair. Recently, the duo have launched their own online venture entitled, ArtechokeMedia.com, a website that's designed to promote "the organic growth of jiu-jitsu thought, theory, and technique." The guys were nice enough to send a preview of their next project to Kev and I during the podcast--and all we can say is that you all are in for a treat when they launch it in the coming months.
It's truly spectacular.
And, for me, that's what made this booking so great. While we do our fair share of talking with pro fighters and MMA personalities, at our core Kev and I are major BJJ enthusiasts. When you hear these two explain the rationale behind the website (they want to shine a light on the unsung heroes of BJJ such as coaches, instructors, and mentors who may not necessarily be on the covers of magazines, but who make significant contributions to the sport), it's hard not to do the same and give a voice to two individuals who, themselves, are doing exactly that through their humorous writing and insightful videos.
Maybe that's why we like the sport so much. There's a camaraderie in jiu-jitsu that extends beyond the walls of a gym or a dojo, independent of affiliation and ranks, that consistently introduces us to people like this. Even though we have never physically met Marshal or Darryl, our overall hope of growing and sharing the sport is one and the same and Kev and I would be down to roll with them when/if the opportunity presented itself.*
Of course, cool people like us already know the caliber of folks who train BJJ. Even that smug, appropriately cast "Gatsby" Leo DiCaprio meme knows the deal.
So check 'em out on our podcast and while you wait for the episode to download, enjoy Marshal and Darryl at their finest.
*However, if when I actually meet them they're a couple of d-bags, I reserve the right to take all of this back
Raf's Recollection | Check back later for more with Chris Lozano.
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Raf's Recollection | More to come later about Bubba McDaniel and Fox Sports 1.
Raf's Recollection | Coming Soon stories about this week's podcast with Zombie Mike Dubois and Ernesto Torres from the Results Will Vary Podcast.