Explore every episode of the podcast Anything Combat

Born in Grozny, Chechnya. Raised in Salzburg, Austria. Fighting out of Rabat, Morocco. Five-time Austrian national wrestling champion. UFC middleweight. Johnny K sits down with "The Austrian Wonderboy" for one of the most layered conversations the podcast has had — a fighter who had to be cut from the UFC, rebuild himself, and earn his way back to the organisation with a point to prove. He talks through his first-round KO of Ryan Loder in Qatar, what that finish meant after years of grinding, and where his head is at heading into the next chapter of his UFC career. He takes us behind the scenes of Kill Cliff FC in Florida one of the most competitive training environments in the sport his private camps in Morocco, his time at Wild Card Boxing with Freddie Roach, and what it means to share a cage-side with Brendan Allen and train alongside fighters at the highest level. Ismail gets into his relationship with Mairbek Taisumov the Chechen-Austrian fighter who proved to him that someone from Austria could make it to the top of MMA, and who became one of the most important figures in his career.

This podcast occured before the rescheduling of the confirmed upcoming bout against Marvin Vettori at UFC 332 Oct 3.

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ANYTHING COMBAT

JOHNNY K

In this episode of the Anything Combat Podcast, Johnny K sits down with Dani Rodriguez, one of the most accomplished Muay Thai fighters to ever come out of Switzerland.

Dani is the 2022 Rajadamnern Stadium super-welterweight champion, a four-time title defender, Rajadamnern World Series winner in 2022 and 2024, former WBC Muay Thai Swiss champion, former WBC Muay Thai European champion, and a fighter with an incredible record of approximately 50 wins and only one loss.

Johnny and Dani also discuss his battles with Yodwicha, the lessons from losing after a long undefeated run, his preparation for elite opponents like Petchmorakot, the pressure of tournament fighting and whether he believes he is currently the number one Muay Thai fighter in the world at 154 pounds.

Follow Dani Rodriguez on Instagram and subscribe to Anything Combat for more conversations with the fighters, coaches and minds shaping combat sports.

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DANIEL RODRIGUEZ

ANYTHING COMBAT PODCAST In this episode of the Anything Combat Podcast, Johnny K is joined by Josh Trambulo and Nikos Trepca to breakdown the UFC Perth card. Main Card Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates (Main Event – Welterweight) Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld (Co-main – Lightweight) Tim Elliott vs. Steve Erceg (Flyweight) Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Perić (Heavyweight) Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland (Heavyweight) Preliminary Card Cameron Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek (Middleweight) Junior Tafa vs. Kevin Christian (Light Heavyweight) Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert (Middleweight) Colby Thicknesse vs. Vince Morales (Bantamweight) Ben Johnston vs. Wesley Schultz (Featherweight) Jonathan Micallef vs. Themba Gorimbo (Welterweight) Dom Mar Fan vs. Kody Steele (Lightweight) --

COHOSTS: NIKOS TREPCA: https://www.instagram.com/nikos.the_carer.trepca/

JOSHUA TRAMBULO: https://www.instagram.com/jaymigzzzcoaching

MAT MASTERS ACADEMY: https://www.instagram.com/matmastersacademy/

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Anything Combat hosted by Johnny K. In this episode, Johnny K sits down with Marat Grigorian, a K-1 World Grand Prix champion, former Glory Lightweight Champion with multiple title defences, and one of the most respected strikers in the sport. The conversation covers his career at the highest level, his reputation for knockout power, and his experience competing against the best across K-1, Glory, and now ONE Championship. Grigorian also addresses the circumstances around his previous cancelled bout and looks ahead to his upcoming fight against Kaito, breaking down the stylistic matchup, his preparation, and why he believes his power and pressure will be the deciding factors

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MARAT GRIGORIAN https://www.instagram.com/maratgrigorian/

In this episode of Anything Combat with Johnny K, we break down the highly underrated matchup between Aljamain Sterling and Yousuf Zalal, Aljo’s career, separating the controversy from the skill, and explains why his wins over elite names like Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo have aged incredibly well.

From his suffocating grappling style, relentless control time, and “human backpack” ability, to his awkward and unpredictable striking, Sterling’s championship-level experience to Yousuf Zalal entering his prime on an impressive streak.

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In this episode of Anything Combat with Johnny K, we’re joined by finisher and rising UFC lightweight Mandel Nallo ahead of his highly anticipated debut. Nallo dives deep into his mindset going into the biggest moment of his career, breaking down his matchup with Jai Herbert, the stylistic challenges, and why he brings something completely different to the division. We also explore his development at Tristar under Firas Zahabi, the evolution of the gym, and how training alongside elite fighters is shaping his game. He talks about: His journey to the UFC and staying patient through setbacks Breaking down Jai Herbert’s style and striking approach The mental side of fighting on the biggest stage The culture and resurgence of Tristar Gym

Johnny K Anything Combat Podcast Become a Combatant

Mandel Nallo ratgarbage.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ratgarbage/

UFC middleweight Azamat Bekoev joins The Anything Combat Show to tell his story — from growing up in the mountains of North Ossetia to fighting on the biggest stage in the world. In this episode, Azamat talks about his upbringing, street fights that shaped his mindset, discovering MMA, and the sacrifices it took to reach the UFC. He breaks down the Ossetian fighting style, his journey to American Top Team, selling everything to chase his dream, and how he’s preparing for his upcoming fight. A raw, honest look at the mentality of a fighter who refuses to back down from anyone.

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In this episode of ANYTHING COMBAT WITH JOHNNY K, we break down the high-stakes clash between Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg — with the light heavyweight title picture on the line.

Procházka’s wild, unpredictable pressure and finishing instinct meets Ulberg’s sharp, technical striking.

BECOME A COMBATANT

BECOME A COMBATANT

In this episode of the Anything Combat Show, Johnny K breaks down the highly anticipated matchup between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira.

Holloway’s elite boxing, relentless volume, and cardio against Oliveira’s dangerous grappling, knockout power, and submission threat | Holloway’s resurgence at lightweight, Oliveira’s incredible finishing run through the division, and what this fight means for the lightweight title picture.

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BECOME A COMBATANT

In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, Johnny K sits down with viral wrestler Georgio Poullas, the man behind the “Take Me Down, Win $1,000” challenge, as he prepares for his biggest test yet against Arman Tsarukyan. Giorgio breaks down his return to full-time competition, the rise of Real American Freestyle, and why he believes this matchup will prove he’s more than just an internet wrestler.

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JOHNNY K

In this episode of the Anything Combat Podcast, Johnny K sits down with Namo “Grandson of Saladin” Fazil, one of the most explosive and unfiltered rising fighters in MMA. Fom living in Finland, growing up in Iraq and Kurdistan and finding his fighting home in Thailand, Namo breaks down the journey that shaped him into a professional fighter. He opens up on fighting for his Kurdish people, feeling like he never belonged, his viral win over an undefeated Chechen opponent, training with elite fighters like Khamzat Chimaev and his ONE Championship war at Lumpinee Stadium and why he believes the UFC call is only a matter of time. BECOME A COMBATANT

BOGDAN GRAD

UFC featherweight Bogdan “The Unleashed” Grad joins The Anything Combat Show with Johnny K for an introspective conversation. In this episode, Bogdan opens up about the mindset shift that changed his career — from the loss on Dana White’s Contender Series to redefining who he is inside the cage and earning his place in the UFC. He explains why fear is not weakness and what it truly means to be “unleashed” when the cage door closes.

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AKA THAILAND

MIKE SWICK

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ANYTHING COMBAT Johnny K sits down with UFC middleweight Cam Rowston, a City Kickboxing veteran preparing for his upcoming UFC bout in Sydney against Cody Brundage. Cam opens up about his journey from Sydney to New Zealand, explaining how a short family holiday turned into a life-changing move that placed him inside one of the most elite MMA gyms in the world.

Rowston breaks down his preparation for Brundage, comparing him to past opponents and outlining his approach as a rangy striker. He reflects on the importance of shared suffering in fight camps, particularly when training alongside teammates on the same card, and why Australian and New Zealand MMA is currently experiencing one of its strongest eras.

CAM ROWSTON

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DUVAL PIERRE

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In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, host Johnny K sits down with world-class boxing and MMA coach Jason Parillo, the mind behind champions like BJ Penn, Michael Bisping, Cris Cyborg, Mackenzie Dern, and Chito Vera. Jason talks about his intense recent travel for cornering back-to-back fights, the reality of 35-hour flights to Abu Dhabi, and why winning makes the trip home a lot easier. He breaks down why losing in boxing can destroy a career while MMA allows fighters to evolve and come back stronger, explaining how multiple disciplines create more paths to victory. Jason dives deep into how he brings professional-level boxing into MMA—footwork, balance, distance control, stance, and how he adjusts his coaching to each athlete’s unique style, whether they’re long-range movers or in-the-pocket fighters. He shares stories about training under Hall of Fame coach Jesse Reid, the psychological side of coaching, how mentorship shapes fighters, and why the mental game matters just as much as the physical. Parillo reflects on how fighters find mentors by staying hungry, working hard, and putting themselves in the right rooms, and he explains how he notices talent, builds trust, and helps fighters find their identity. From his own fighting days to coaching world champions, Jason gives a raw, honest look into the craft of developing elite combat athletes and the spiritual, emotional, and technical depth it requires. This episode delivers one of the most insightful breakdowns of coaching, mindset, and mastery in combat sports.

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JASON PARILLO

COOPAR ROYAL

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AMIR SUBASIC

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In this episode of The Anything Combat Show with Johnny K, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jiří Procházka opens up following his emphatic knockout victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. Jiří makes his intentions clear: he wants the title shot next—and he isn’t backing down. He reflects on the emotional moment of watching Alex Pereira reclaim the belt, the personal meaning behind a potential third fight, and his unwavering belief that he will find a way to win.

Beyond competition, this conversation dives deep into Jiří’s unique warrior philosophy. He speaks candidly about mastering the mind, embracing risk, meditation, darkness retreats, ice swimming, and using adversity as a teacher. Jiří shares how losing his father at a young age shaped his inner world, how he reframed pain into purpose, and why discipline, self-awareness, and belief are the foundations of greatness.

JIRI BJP STORE

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In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, host Johnny K sits down with Joe Lopez, head coach of Freestyle MMA, UFC championship-level coach, and longtime coach of Alexander Volkanovski, for a wide-ranging on elite MMA coaching, UFC politics, fighter development, and the future of Australian MMA.

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In this episode, Johnny K sits down with UFC lightweight Kody Steele, one of the most exciting rising prospects in the division. Cody opens up about his journey from wrestling in Washington, to relocating across America, discovering Jiu-Jitsu in Texas, earning his black belt, and eventually transitioning into MMA—where he rocketed into the UFC in just a few short years.

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Max McIntyre on The Anything Combat Show

In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, host Johnny K sits down with Australia’s fastest-rising boxing star, Max McIntyre — IBF Youth World Champion, undefeated at 8–0, and the youngest Queensland champion on record.

Max also shares his long-term vision — visualizing massive arenas, brutal finishes, and becoming the undisputed world champion. With raw confidence, showmanship, and elite skill, he explains why December 6th is the night he plans to steal the show once again.

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Max McIntyre

In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, Johnny K sits down with rising ONE Championship Muay Thai contender Nico Carrillo, fresh off a dominant victory over Luke Lessei. Nico reflects on his transition to a higher weight class — a change that has dramatically improved his health, confidence, and performance. He admits that fighting at bantamweight left him entering bouts at around 50–60% capacity, and looking back, he feels he may have waited too long to move up due to being so close to a title shot.

Nico also opens up about his loss to Nabil Anane — a defeat he doesn’t shy away from. He attributes the outcome to an extreme weight cut and poor health but refuses to make excuses and holds no grudge. He believes letting go of the past prevents bitterness and allows life to move forward. If the opportunity comes, he’d love to run it back — not out of hatred, but to rewrite the story.

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NICO CARILLO - NICOS INSTRUCTIONALS

In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, Johnny K sits down with UFC bantamweight Muin Gafurov to explore his journey from growing up in the mountains of Dushanbe, Tajikistan to competing on the world stage. Muin reflects on being raised in a family of wrestlers, judokas, and Sambo athletes, crediting his uncles for introducing him to Combat Sambo and shaping his MMA foundation. He explains the influence Sambo has had on his fight IQ,

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In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, host Johnny K sits down with Coach Samir Aliev — former Moldovan MMA champion, Combat Sambo master, and one of the most respected coaches rising from Eastern Europe’s fighting scene.

Samir shares his journey from Azerbaijan to Moldova, how his freestyle wrestling roots and Combat Sambo success shaped his philosophy, and why he believes wrestling is the hardest and most complete combat sport. He opens up about his injuries, retirement, and rebirth as a coach, driven by faith and purpose to guide a new generation toward greatness.

The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of modern MMA grappling, the underrated power of Greco-Roman transitions, and how fighters like Khabib, Islam, and Chimaev revolutionized control, pressure, and chain wrestling. Samir reveals his unique coaching system, built from years of trial and error without formal guidance, now molded to help his students avoid the mistakes he made.

From the psychology of control and endurance to his encounters with legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov, this episode delivers a raw look into the mentality, discipline, and systems that create elite combatants.

SAMIR ALIEV

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UFC lightweight Nazim “The Black Wolf” Sadykhov joins host Johnny K on The Anything Combat Show for an in-depth conversation about his incredible knockout win over Nikolas Motta in front of a roaring hometown crowd in Baku, Azerbaijan. He reflects on earning $100,000 in bonuses, how that changed his mindset, and why money will never replace his drive to build a lasting legacy in the UFC.

The episode dives deep into Nazim’s origins — from his early training in hand-to-hand combat and sambo to developing his kickboxing and striking game under a Ukrainian TaeKwonDo master. Nazim also reveals his relationship with Chingiz Allazov, the ONE Championship pound-for-pound king, and discusses plans to train in Dubai and prepare for a potential fight in Qatar.

Now undefeated in the UFC with four wins and one draw, Nazeem talks about why he believes top lightweights are already avoiding him, how he’s evolved since his Contender Series debut, and his hunger to break into the Top 15 of the most stacked division in MMA.

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Anything Combat Show, host Johnny K sits down with ONE Championship Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane, one of the most talented young strikers on the planet.

At just 21 years old, Nabil has already beaten elite names like Superlek Kiatmuu9. Nabil decided to move from Muay Thai to kickboxing, his mindset after avenging his loss to Superlek.

Nabil shares his thoughts on top names like Jonathan Haggerty, Tawanchai, Regian Eersel, and the fast-rising Yuki Yoza. Nabil talks about growing up in Muay Thai, learning from legends like Dieselnoi, and training under Mehdi Zatout at the world-renowned Venum Training Camp. He also discusses his brother Younes Anane, the next generation of Algerian fighters, and the lessons Muay Thai has taught him about life, focus, and discipline. From rivalries and revenge to legacy and mindset, this episode gives a raw, authentic look into the mentality of a world champion chasing greatness in combat sports.

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In this episode of The Anything Combat Show, host Johnny K sits down with one of the masterminds behind Australia’s MMA dominance — Joe Lopez, head coach of Freestyle MMA and long-time mentor to UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski.

We discuss Volkanovski’s statement win over Diego Lopez, how the champ silenced doubters, and the tactical blueprint that made the difference. Lopez shares candid insights into the next wave of featherweight contenders — from Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev to rising Aussie prospects like Kasib and Colby.

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On this episode of The Anything Combat Show, host Johnny K sits down with newly-signed UFC fighter Mandel Nallo — a veteran of the sport whose unorthodox style and 100% finish rate just earned him a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.

This episode includes Mandel’s mindset as one of the oldest fighters ever signed through the show, how creativity drives his “maximum damage” fighting style. He opens up about years living at Tristar Gym, training under Firas Zahabi, sparring with GSP, and surviving the uncertain grind of life before the UFC.

MANDEL NALLO

RAT GARBAGE STORE

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UFC featherweight contender Youssef Zalal joins Johnny K on The Anything Combat Show to break down his upcoming clash with Josh Emmett at UFC 320.

From his early kickboxing roots in Morocco to his resurgence under coach Marc Montoya at Factory X, Zalal opens up about his evolution as a fighter, the lessons learned after being cut and re-signed by the UFC.

He ref;ects on how his performance against Ilia Topuria aged better than anyone expected.

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In this episode, we dive into Lone'er Kavanagh vs Charles Johnson, Johnny K unpacks Lone'er Kavanaghs future potential, Johnson’s killer résumé, and how these performances shake up the rankings.

Joshua Van’s elite boxing and upcoming title shot against Alexandre Pantoja and grappling threat Tatsuro Taira and Ramazan Temirov this episode covers the flyweight division.

Once seen as shallow, flyweight is now stacked with rising stars and dangerous veterans, making it one of the most unpredictable weight classes in the UFC today.

On this episode of the Anything Combat Show, we are joined by one of Europe’s most dangerous welterweights — Roberto “Robocop” Soldić. Known for his knockout power, Soldić has built a reputation as one of the most exciting fighters outside the UFC, making waves in KSW and now ONE Championship.

We speak on his transition to boxing and his humble beginnings in Bosnia to becoming a two-division world champion, his mindset going into wars inside the cage, and what drives him to keep chasing greatness.

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In this episode of the Anything Combat Podcast, Johnny K sits down with Lubomir Guedjev, the International Growth Director of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), to talk about the explosive rise of one of combat sports’ fastest-growing promotion.

Lubo shares how BKFC is expanding across the globe with upcoming events in Montenegro, Italy, Bulgaria, and Dubai, and reflects on the key moments that fueled the sport’s surge — from Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi to the star power of Mike Perry and Conor McGregor

He gives an insider’s perspective on David Feldman’s fighter-first leadership, the organization’s approach to fighter pay, and why bare knuckle boxing delivers a raw, unmatched excitement compared to traditional MMA and boxing. Lubo also opens up about what it meant to bring BKFC to his home country of Bulgaria, the potential of new tournament structures, and what fans can expect from big names like Yoel Romero making their debut

Lubomir Guedjev

Mike Swick

Entrepreneur

15x @UFC Veteran Founder/Owner: AKAThailand, FightClubExperience and LiveMuayThaiFights

This episode of the Anything Combat Show wit UFC veteran and AKA Thailand CEO, Mike Swick explains the post-fight journey of building one of the most unique fight gyms in the world. Swick shares the origin story of AKA Thailand, from his early days training in parking garages in Bangkok to designing a luxury fight facility in the jungle. He talks about the obstacles he faced with land scams, partnerships gone wrong, and the relentless drive that helped him turn failure into massive success. The episode also touches on his passion for freediving, philosophy on failure, celebrity guests like Wiz Khalifa, and how he’s redefining what it means to be a fighter.

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Undefeated Karate Combat World Champion Shahzaib Rind sits down with Johnny K ahead of his much-anticipated bout against Luiz Rocha on August 22, 2024. With an unblemished record of 8-0 and two world titles under his belt, Shahzaib opens up about the journey leading to this title unification fight.

We explore whether Rocha presents the toughest challenge of Shahzaib’s career and how this fight differs from those before. Shahzaib discusses the improvements he’s made since their fight was originally scheduled and what version of himself fans can expect to see on fight night.

He discusses his training sessions with UFC standout Caio Borralho, and shares his thoughts on a potential stylistic clash with kickboxing superstar Chingiz Allazov if he enters the KC arena.

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Malcolm “The Machine” Wellmaker

In this episode, we sit down with a dynamic knockout artist whose three wins which consisted of three punches has an average fight time of just 141 seconds in his last three performances. But behind the numbers is a deeper journey of perseverance, discipline, and self-belief.

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Youssef Boughanem x Johnny K

In this episode, we dive deep with legendary Muay Thai fighter and rising MMA talent Youssef Boughanem. With multiple titles at Lumpinee, Rajadamnern, and victories over icons like Saiyok, Sudsakorn, Rungrawee, and Wanchalerm, Youssef now finds himself undefeated in MMA under BRAVE CF, sitting at 4-0.

Unpacking his latest MMA win against Dimitris Moirotsos, breaking down the effectiveness of his Thai clinch in MMA, and how he mentally prepared despite complications before the bout. Youssef shares the evolution of his MMA game, the wrestlers and training partners he's working with, and what he’s learning from veterans like Nicolas Ott.

We talk about his approach to fighting, including mental preparation, what fans don’t see behind the scenes, and the sacrifices fighters make. He reflects on which of his historic Muay Thai opponents was the toughest and how he analyzed his weaknesses over the years to stay dominant.

AC1 EP15

BOA CONSTRICTOR

Pavel Trusov

Athlete

Jonathan Haggerty is a British professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer currently signed with ONE Championship. He is the reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion and former ONE Flyweight & Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.

LUKE LESSEI

3x Unified World Champion | WBC & WMC

Freddie

Joseph Anthony Martinez is an American ring announcer known for having worked with Mixed Martial Arts promotions Invicta FC, and the UFC.