MMA Det Mike Davis and Herb Dean’s Dog Sitter Joey Venti being you incredibly researched subjects that will give you information that will surprise the hardest of OG’s
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Pete Rodley: Building UCC, Booking GSP & The Wild Birth of Canadian MMA
Saison 1 · Épisode 350
lundi 28 septembre 2026 • Durée 02:14:03
Pete Rodley was co-owner and vice president of Universal Combat Challenge, the Montreal promotion that helped launch sanctioned Canadian MMA and gave early platforms to Georges St-Pierre, David Loiseau, Ivan Menjivar, Mark Hominick and Patrick Côté.
In this MMA History Podcast interview he traces his path from a traditional karate family and godson of UFC 3’s Harold Howard through IFC work on the reserves, the Combat List era, and the first UCC cards with Stéphane Patry.
Rodley covers the last-minute UCC 1 main-event scramble after Kimo Leopoldo pulled out, Elvis Sinosic versus Dave Beneteau, Wagnney Fabiano, Sean Sherk against Claudionor Fontinelle, the rain-out show, GSP’s debut against Menjivar, Full Contact Fighter ranking UCC among the world’s biggest promotions, and why he walked away before later returning with Freedom Fight.
A detailed look at the names and chaos that built MMA north of the border.
Subscribe to the MMA History Podcast for interviews and stories from the people who lived the early days of mixed martial arts.
0:00 start
0:29 MMA History Podcast intro
1:01 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
1:20 interview start
1:31 beginnings in MMA
4:24 meeting Harold Howard
8:00 attending IFC events
9:10 Battlecade Extreme Fighting 2
9:47 introduction to promoting
10:43 legalities for Battlecade Extreme Fighting 2
12:54 the Bikers in Canada
15:45 partnership with IVC and Sergio Batarelli
17:03 meeting Stephane Patry
21:00 issues with Stephane Patry
22:25 dealings during UCC
25:22 UCC 1 original main event
28:50 Kimo Leopoldo vs Elvis Sinosic cancelled bout
32:00 negotiations with Tom Erickson
34:28 Dave Beneteau
35:33 giving Elvis Sinosic options
42:48 UCC 1 fight card
43:53 experience with Shawn Tompkins
46:16 losing money due to rain
48:49 fighter pay at UCC events
50:03 Claudionor Fontenelle crimes
52:47 title bouts on UCC 2
53:11 UCC 3 fight card
54:00 Jay Winger vs Richard Nancoo
55:56 working with other Canadian Promoters
59:14 experience with Angelo Exarhakos
1:02:12 Renzo Gracie’s influence on Ottawa
1:04:09 Claudionor Fontenelle vs Donald Ouimet
1:06:52 Claudionor Fontenelle vs Sean Sherk
1:07:11 UCC 4 highlights
1:08:16 fallout with Stephane Patry
1:15:23 false rumor of Stephane Patry
1:19:01 finding out Stephane Patry was ill
1:20:03 Claudionor Fontenelle vs Sean Sherk continued
1:21:18 Full contact fighter 3rd place ranking
1:22:03 understanding how to market
1:25:45 UCC 7 highlights
1:26:33 Sean Pierson current career
1:30:35 Gsp vs Ivan Menjivar
1:32:14 taking a swing at Andy Anderson
1:32:53 Kevin Rosier vs Brad Gabriel
1:37:18 UCC 8
1:38:05 Jason Black vs Ivan Menjivar
1:38:49 Tony Fryklund vs Jonathan Goulet
1:39:51 Michael Depasquale Jr
1:41:46 UFC 3 Harold Howard training
1:43:28 Harold Howard vs Royce Gracie
1:48:35 telling Harold Howard to back of Mark Hall fight
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Andy Geer: Elite XC Bought Cage Rage, Then Killed It | Tank Abbott, Bob Sapp & Kimo
Saison 1 · Épisode 349
lundi 21 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:55:20
In this episode of the MMA History Podcast, Cage Rage co-founder Andy Geer returns to cover the promotion’s final chapter. Elite XC and parent company ProElite arrived with cash and television promises, American names poured in, and a run of Wembley Arena cards mixed British regulars with imported stars before the brand collapsed after ProElite failed in 2008.
Geer talks through Kimo Leopoldo’s British debut at Cage Rage 18, where the Pride and UFC veteran lost by guillotine to Dave Legeno, and addresses the talk that followed that fight. He also tells the Cage Rage 21 story in full: Bob Sapp was booked, recorded promos and did the usual cage walk, then pulled out midweek after claiming threats tied to his earlier walkout in Holland; Tank Abbott took the main event on a few days’ notice, flew in, drank the night before, promised a short burst of chaos, and was stopped by Gary Turner.
Also discussed are the UFC dispute over the eight-sided cage and the phrase “ultimate fighting,” the deal Geer says was worth ten million dollars with four million paid in cash, Sky Sports live television, last-minute replacements, and the budget cuts and culture clash that followed the sale.
Cage Rage shut its doors but left a lasting mark on European MMA.
Subscribe for more first-hand interviews with the people who built the sport.
0:00 start
0:37 MMA History Podcast Intro
1:10 Joey Venti’s guest introductions
1:21 interview start
1:34 brawl at the mall 2
3:12 Dan Hardy trained by the Shaolin monks
4:00 Robbie Olivier vs Brad Pickett
Mac Danzig’s Last UFC Run, Training Knockouts & Walking Out “Not For Sale” - feat. Gray Maynard
Saison 1 · Épisode 348
lundi 14 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:59:32
This week on the MMA History Podcast we close the book on Friend of the Show Mac Danzig’s UFC career. Title challenger Gray Maynard also joins Mike Davis and Joey Venti to walk through Danzig’s final run against Takanori Gomi, Melvin Guillard and Joe Lauzon, the camps at AKA and Extreme Couture, the grind of training while raising a young daughter, the Joe Silva relationship, the sponsorship machine, and the decision to walk out one last time with “Not For Sale” on his shorts.
Gray also talks Primed Combat in Michigan and life after the octagon. Mac looks back on the knockouts in camp, the Rico Chiapparelli chapter, and the six-hour nasal surgery that followed his final fight.
Support the Rafiel Torre documentary: a $10 donation gets you the window sticker and yellow card. Link in the description.
0:00 start
0:34 MMA History Podcast intro
1:07 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
1:24 interview start
1:26 Gray Maynard current life/ plugs
3:06 Mac Danzig plugs/ promotions
5:46 Mac Danzig meeting Gray Maynard
7:16 relationship with Shawn Tompkins
9:40 leaving Vegas for California
12:00 reaction to Jim Miller UFC longevity
13:29 Mac Danzig’s relationship with Joe Silva
15:30 Gray Maynard’s relationship with Joe Silva
18:09 Mac Danzig vs Takanori Gomi
24:16 Gray Maynard training at AKA
32:21 issues with Bob Cook as a coach
Matt Grice: UFC Fight of the Night Vet Who Survived Two Car Wrecks and a Coma
Saison 1 · Épisode 347
lundi 7 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:39:32
Matt “The Real One” Grice was supposed to be unbreakable. A four-time Oklahoma state wrestling champion at Harrah High School, three-time Outstanding Wrestler, and the most recruited wrestler in his weight class, a car wreck threw him through a windshield and stole the college career everyone saw coming. He clawed his way back, made it to the UFC, earned Fight of the Night honors against Jason Black and Dennis Bermudez, then a second crash in Shawnee shattered his skull and ended his fighting career.
Most men would have stayed down. Grice didn’t. He rebuilt his life as an Oklahoma City police officer, coach, and gym owner.
On episode 347 of the MMA History Podcast, Matt Grice sits down with Mike Davis and Joey Venti to recount his legendary high school career, the wreck that cost him his years at Oklahoma, the promise he kept to his parents before his first fight, his UFC run, the 2013 accident that put him in a coma, and how he came back to coach the next generation at American Elite MMA.
0:00 start
0:44 MMA History Podcast intro
1:16 Joey Venti’s guest introductions
1:31 interview start
1:47 current life/ career
2:23 4 time state champ in Oklahoma
4:12 recruiting process for wrestling
7:30 getting hurt in a car crash
8:54 wrestling while injured
11:47 taking a season off wrestling
13:05 meeting MMA coach Jason Merrill
14:46 competing in BJJ after 1 day or practice
17:57 taking first amateur fight
19:32 relationship with Ron Tripp
Anthony “Mad Dog” Macias: I Weighed 160lbs at UFC 4 and Padded the Scale to Face Dan Severn
Saison 1 · Épisode 346
lundi 31 août 2026 • Durée 01:39:25
Anthony “Mad Dog” Macias finally sits down with the MMA History Podcast after years of pursuit. At UFC 4 he was billed at 190 pounds, weighed closer to 160, and drew Dan Severn in the tournament. He went on to win multiple eight-man tournaments in Oklahoma and the IFC, then met Kazushi Sakuraba at Pride 7. Macias tells the unfiltered story of the headbutt era, promoter Buddy Albin, the controversial nine-second UFC 6 meeting with Oleg Taktarov, and the early fights that never made official records. He also discusses two decades as an Oklahoma referee and raising sons who now compete.
The only podcast dedicated 100% to preserving mixed martial arts history through interviews with the men who lived it.
0:00 start
0:46 MMA History Podcast intro
1:19 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
1:35 interview start
2:38 current life/ career
3:17 fighting during the headbutt era
5:11 announced as a state champ wrestler
6:04 introduction to submission grappling
6:41 thoughts on promoter Buddy Albin
10:40 Anthony Macias sons MMA career
11:02 lying about weight on UFC application
11:44 Buddy Albins relationship with the UFC
12:39 UFC 4 name draw for matches
14:01 Anthony Macias vs Dan Severn
17:12 Anthony Macias vs Oleg Taktarov
18:22 early training partners
18:48 working for Andy Anderson
19:50 refusing to joining the Lions Den
20:37 cornering Oleg Taktarov
Kimo Leopoldo: I Nearly Beat Royce Gracie & Joe Son stories
Saison 1 · Épisode 345
lundi 24 août 2026 • Durée 02:12:39
Kimo Leopoldo joins the MMA History Podcast to recount the raw early days of the sport, from his Huntington Beach roots and Christian transformation to the unforgettable moment he carried a full-sized cross into the Octagon and pushed Royce Gracie harder than almost anyone at UFC 3. The legendary fighter breaks down the chaotic tournament draw, the street-fight intensity of that classic bout, his contentious partnership with Joe Son, the fallout that followed, and the cascade of high-stakes battles that followed across K-1, Pride, and the UFC.
Kimo opens up about training with Matt Hume and Joe Moreira, the Sakuraba and Takayama wars in Japan, the brutal nine-minute war with Paul Varelans, the Huntington Beach showdown with Tank Abbott, and the controversial Bob Sapp kickboxing match in Las Vegas.
0:00 start
0:28 MMA History Podcast intro
1:01 Joey Venti’s guest introductions
1:12 interview start
1:45 attending elementary with John Lewis
3:12 introduction to combat sports
3:42 getting introduced to Christ by Joe Son
5:10 High School wrestling career
5:51 moving to California
6:12 bouncing at Club Rubber
7:54 watching UFC 1
9:10 Joe Son pushing UFC debut for Kimo Leopoldo
9:47 Joe Son challenging Royce Gracie
10:15 Paul Herrera street fight with Joe Son
10:49 learning Jiu Jitsu from Randy Ziegler
12:24 fight with Gracie’s in Hotel lobby (rumor)
13:09 UFC 3 name drawing for tournament
15:43 UFC 3 promo “fighting for Christ”
John Perretti: My UFC Years – Matchmaking, Rules Changes & The Real Dark Era Story
Saison 1 · Épisode 344
lundi 17 août 2026 • Durée 01:57:15
John Perretti returns to the MMA History Podcast to detail his transition from Extreme Fighting to the UFC and the turbulent early years that followed. The Gene LeBell black belt and key architect of modern MMA discusses the rapid call from the UFC just days after Battlecade closed, the challenges of matchmaking under Japanese financing, and the fight to implement gloves, weight classes, and rounds into a spectacle-driven promotion.
From the controversial UFC Japan card and suspected works to booking future stars like Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson and Carlos Newton, Perretti recounts hostile environments, referee tensions, and the moment five-minute rounds and the ten-point must system finally arrived at UFC 21. Unfiltered stories from one of the key figures who lived it.
0:00 start
0:22 MMA History intro
0:54 Joey Venti’s guest introductions
1:09 interview start
1:11 plugs/ promotions
2:55 Art Davey and Bob Meyrowitz issues
3:55 finding out some fights were works in UFC Japan
6:58 Dealings with Mr Karoke
9:09 UFC Japan Card
10:21 Vitor Belfort vs Joe Charles
12:49 cornered by John McCarthy and Jeff Blatnick
16:00 Tank Abbott pulling out of tournament
17:36 bringing Frank Shamrock to the UFC
18:24 Frank Shamrock vs Igor Zinoviev
21:12 UFC Salary
21:41 170lb 4 man tournament
24:34 Mikey Burnett and Eugenio Tadeu size different
26:00 Jerry Bohlander vs Kevin Jackson
27:22 tension with other UFC staff
Tyrone Roberts: Meskwaki UFC Pioneer on Extreme Challenge, Miletich Gym & Early MMA Days
Saison 1 · Épisode 343
jeudi 13 août 2026 • Durée 01:02:47
Tyrone Roberts joins the MMA History Podcast for a deep dive into the earliest days of Midwest MMA. A Meskwaki First Nation pioneer and one of only three tribal members to compete in the UFC, Roberts recounts his path from high school wrestling state champion to Extreme Challenge standout under Monty Cox and Pat Miletich. He shares stories of tournament nights, Hook and Shoot bouts, a Rings King of Kings appearance in Japan, and his UFC 26 fight against David Dodd, alongside decades of work as a referee across boxing, MMA, and Muay Thai. From the Iowa fight scene of the late 1990s to coaching women’s wrestling today, this conversation captures the grit and longevity of a true pioneer still giving back to the sport.
Subscribe for more interviews preserving the real history of mixed martial arts.
0:00 start
0:31 MMA History Podcast intro
1:03 guest introduction
1:19 interview start
1:29 current career
2:08 1 of 3 to compete in UFC from Meswaki tribe
5:01 Tyrone Roberts vs Rick Graveson
5:38 memories of Extreme Challenge
6:23 Tyrone Roberts vs Joe Leggett
7:25 training with Pat Miletich
9:36 thoughts on Nick Tarpeins
10:02 Reffing fights
10:18 training with Joe Slick
11:02 convincing Andre Roberts to come train
12:54 Ultimate Enticer tournament
13:47 conversations with Monte Cox
14:49 fights that aren’t on record
Charlie Brenneman: From Spanish Teacher to UFC Co-Main Event in One of MMA’s Craziest Journeys
Saison 1 · Épisode 342
lundi 10 août 2026 • Durée 01:29:19
Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman went from junior-high Spanish teacher and college wrestler to Pros vs. Joes champion and UFC fighter. In this episode of the MMA History Podcast, hosts Joey Venti and Mike Davis sit down with Brenneman for an uplifting deep dive into one of the more unlikely paths in mixed martial arts.Brenneman shares how boredom with teaching led him to answer a flyer for Pros vs. Joes, win the competition, and chase competition further into MMA. He recounts early amateur and pro fights in the Northeast, training alongside future stars like Eddie Alvarez, Frankie Edgar, and Chris Liguori, the eye-socket injury that nearly derailed him, and the grind of balancing grad school, local cards, and constant travel between gyms. The conversation builds to his short-notice UFC co-main-event victory over a surging Rick Story—a real-life Rocky moment Dana White himself highlighted—before the career-defining collision with Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.Now a professional speaker who brings lessons of resilience, perseverance, and choices to schools, businesses, and prisons, Brenneman reflects on the mentors, the grind, and the mindset that carried a regular guy from the classroom to the Octagon.Fellow historians, this is one of the more positive and inspiring stories we’ve told. Let us know what you think in the comments.
0:00 start
0:49 MMA History podcast intro
1:22 Joey Venti’s guest introductions
1:35 interview start
1:40 current life
3:21 different Spanish accents
7:31 participant on Pros vs Joes
11:15 promoting IAVA
12:43 Tattoo Sponsor
14:33 Charlie Brenneman vs Kellen Hughes
17:26 keeping opponents pinned down
20:18 reaching out to fighters for training
22:27 taking inspiration from Matt Brown
23:46 Charlie Brenneman vs Marcello Olivera
Frank Trigg Before the UFC | MMA History Podcast #341
Saison 1 · Épisode 341
lundi 3 août 2026 • Durée 01:47:50
This week on the MMA History Podcast episode 341, hosts Joey Venti and the MMA Detective Mike Davis sit down with two-time UFC welterweight title challenger, Hollywood stuntman and actor Frank Trigg for a raw, unfiltered look at the chaotic early days of mixed martial arts. Trigg shares how he coached a talented high school wrestler named Kid Yamamoto in Phoenix before the Japanese star became a Pride FC standout, the real reasons Yamamoto was deported, and the explosive behind-the-scenes fallout from the infamous Rickson Gracie versus Rico Chiapparelli showdown that got Chiapparelli uninvited from major grappling circles. From his time with Real American Wrestling alongside the likes of Randy Couture and Dan Henderson, the first Abu Dhabi Combat Club tournament against Renzo Gracie, early Japan promotions including Vale Tudo Japan against Jean Jacques Machado, Pride Bushido commentating, and the cutthroat realities of 1990s fight money and worked matches, Trigg delivers stories and details few others have ever heard. You think you know Frank Trigg? Think again. Subscribe to the MMA History Podcast for more exclusive interviews preserving the true history of the sport.
0:00 start
0:30 MMA History Podcast intro
1:02 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
1:20 interview start
1:44 training at RAW
2:51 Reality super fighting tournament
4:50 Rico Chiapparelli forced to leave Renzo Gracie’s gym 9:40 wrestlers banned from early ADCC
11:26 high school state titles
12:57 transferring to Phoenix College
13:30 experience living with Homer Moore
15:39 coaching Kid Yamamoto
17:43 manager Rich Hamilton
18:54 training with Townsend Saunders
19:59 interactions with Ron Tripp
20:16 meeting Pat Burris
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