BECOME A COMBATANT

JOHNNY K

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.

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

SPONSOR: Christopher Borg - Borg Financial

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

SPONSOR: CHRISTOPHER BORG - BORG FINANCIAL

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,

BECOME A COMBATANT

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

SPONSOR: CHRISTOPHER BORG - BORG FINANCIAL

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

SPONSOR: CHRISTOPHER BORG - BORG FINANCIAL

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

SPONSOR: BORG FINANCIAL

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

SPONSORED by BORG FINANCIAL: https://borgfinancial.com.au/

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

BECOME A COMBATANT

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

ANYTHING COMBAT

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

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.

AKA THAILAND

MIKE SWICK

BECOME A COMBATANT

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.

Malaysia's top muay thai prospect

BLACKPANTHER

PRO MMA fighter

Arslanbek Ruslanovich Makhmudov is a Russian professional boxer who held the WBC-NABF heavyweight title between 2019 and 2023.

Former Ukrainian amateur boxer 🇺🇦30+ Fights | 13 Years of Training⠀Revealing Eastern European Boxing Style

Black belt in Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

Lerone Murphy (born 22 July 1991) is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

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

BECOME A COMBATANT

🥊 Head Coach @imavov_nassourdine UFC🥋 BJJ & Luta Livre Black Belt🥉World Amateur MMA

Kris Gethin is the co-founded of Kris Gethin Coaching, Unmatched Supplements and the Kris Gethin Gyms franchise. He is also a natural drug free pro bodybuilder, IRONMAN triathlete and ultramarathoner.

Albert Tu'ua

Darko"The Hammer"Stosic

Thank you to Katarina Stam for being the Anything Combat Balkan correspondent connecting the podcast with Balkan talent.

FREESTYLE MMA

JOE LOPEZ ☯️Head Coach @freestyle_mma 👑Home of UFC Champ Alex Volk 👊🏾Head MMA Coach CKB & Bangtao MMA

Fernand Lopez Owonyebe is a French former mixed martial artist and current MMA coach. He is best known for having co-founded MMA Factory, the biggest MMA gym in France

Youssef Boughanem is a Moroccan-Belgian Muay Thai fighter, kickboxer, and mixed martial artist. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium, Rajadamnern Stadium, Omnoi Stadium, WMC, WBC, ISKA, WKN, WAKO, Thai Fight, MAX Muay Thai, and IBF champion. Boughanem currently trains out of Petchsaman Gym in Thailand.

Frank Gilfeather is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster. Gilfeather, a former Scottish amateur boxing champion from Dundee

Journalist

Host of ‘Fight Week on Fox Sports'

Owner of @hammersgym 24/7 💪🥊

President of @vamaa2024 -

Founder @warriorswayevents

MARK HAMMER

BECOME A COMBATANT

DAMIAN VON EUW 🇨🇭

Martial Artist

Phil Daru is an American former mixed martial artist and college football player. Daru is noted for training UFC fighters, boxers, Olympic athletes, and NFL football players.

https://www.instagram.com/ilkemma/

Darko"The Hammer"Stosic