FULL SEND PODCAST - MMA Guru | Ep. 181
January 15, 2026
Episode Overview
In episode 181, the Full Send Podcast is joined by MMA Guru, a British MMA commentator and popular YouTube personality known for his blunt, often polarizing opinions and comedic takes on the MMA world. The episode offers a candid discussion about MMA Guru's rise, his philosophies on fighter criticism, the evolving landscape of UFC promotion, and internet personalities in both sports and streaming culture. The podcast blends humor, behind-the-scenes commentary, and fan perspectives on the fight game.
Main Discussion Topics
1. MMA Guru's Background and Persona
- First time in the US: Guru shares the rare story of leaving the UK, his motivations, and why he generally avoids travel.
- On being an 'expert': Despite never attending a live UFC event, Guru defends his knowledge and online presence.
- Physical Appearance: Discussion of public perceptions vs reality—losing weight, being “chubby-faced”, and online trolling.
- “That's okay. I got a chubby face, but I was. I was like £300 though, to be fair.” – MMA Guru (03:02)
2. Online MMA Critique & Fighter Reactions
- Critical Style: Guru claims to have changed the culture by being openly critical and even harsh towards fighters.
- “Before I came along in MMA media, everyone was too scared to, like, be critical with the fighters. And I kind of started saying, this guy's trash.” – MMA Guru (04:13)
- Interactions with Fighters: He describes both real and online run-ins, including confrontational DMs and live interactions.
- Events on Stream: Recent encounter wrestling with Arman, manager warnings, and challenge for a monetary takedown.
3. Fandom and Fan Culture
- Dagestani Fans: Guru explains the intense nature of Dagestani MMA fans, online hate, mutual trash talk, and playful “inbred” exchanges.
- “They're in my live chat...trashing me, trashing me. So by the end of the stream, I'm like, Giving them the final word of just like, what kind of do.” – MMA Guru (05:21)
- Fan Evolution: Nostalgia about early Nelk pranks vs modern virality and the difference in internet culture.
4. MMA Career and YouTube Path
- Origins: Starting YouTube in 2018, slow growth via fighter interactions, and monetization via super chats and donations.
- Blow-Up Moments: Landing in high-profile online beefs, fighters responding, and the UK style of witty online banter.
- “Fighters would go after me and I'd have all the time in the world while they're busy...Within eight hours, I've conjured up a storm online and then they're just— their phones blowing up.” (33:52–34:11)
5. Critiques of UFC Promotion and Dana White
- Praise & Critique: While acknowledging Dana White’s transformative impact, Guru argues the UFC could be even bigger with more effort, higher production, and new promotional approaches.
- “Dana's supposed to be doing the promotion for this, and he's out here on the back tables with Steiner. That's the fact.” – MMA Guru (10:59)
- Modern vs. Old-School Promotion: Missing face-to-face trash talk segments and calling for dynamic pre-fight content.
- “They need to bring that back. But it feels like, you know, when they get to a certain level of business, they can just sort of downgrade.” – MMA Guru (12:25)
6. MMA's Current Stars and Marketability
- Best and Worst Self-Promotion: Praise for Islam Makhachev, saying he goes out of his way to do interviews and engage fans. Lack of a true modern successor to McGregor’s level of promotional skill.
- “He [Islam] promotes himself quite well. He's always doing interviews. Funny moments. Always doing some kind of collaboration with people like Aiden.” – MMA Guru (14:48)
- Memorable Trash Talk: Recalling the wildest and most heated moments in recent press conferences, e.g., O'Malley, Pimblett, Colby Covington.
7. Fight Picks and “Dream” Matchups
- Big Fights UFC Needs to Make: Makachev vs Topuria, Alex Pereira moving up, McGregor’s next appearance, and which fights deserve marquee billing.
- White House Card Predictions: Speculation on seven-title fight claims, the politics behind American vs. International headliners, and the real drawing power of McGregor.
- Controversial Outcomes: Guru’s take on notorious bad judging decisions (e.g., Reyes vs. Jones).
- “Reyes beat Jones. Three, two. That was a crazy man.” – MMA Guru (35:01)
8. Internet and Streaming Culture
- Rise of Live Streamers: Contrast between long-form streaming vs. old-school YouTube production, “clipping culture”, and the blurred lines between reality and content.
- “Clipping culture has just completely changed the game.” – Kyle (49:53)
- Risks and Reality: Streaming beefs, live altercations, doxxing concerns, and the volatile world of influencer events.
- Bone-Smasher Fads: Highlighting Clav's extreme self-improvement antics for content.
- “What does that mean? —Smashes his bones to get his jawline better.” – Kyle and Salim (51:44)
9. Press Conferences & MMA's Entertainment Value
- Decline of Trash Talk: Guru laments the loss of classic press conference chaos, citing the McGregor-Aldo era as the high-water mark.
- “They used to like get up and fight each other, throw hands.” – MMA Guru (63:16)
- Comparisons to Stick-and-Ball Sports: Unique risks and freedoms allowed to UFC fighters under Dana White, juxtaposed with PR-polished leagues like the NFL and NBA.
Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments
-
On Fighter Critique:
"Before I came along in MMA media, everyone was too scared to, like, be critical with the fighters. And I kind of started saying, this guy's trash."
— MMA Guru (04:13) -
On Dana White’s Promotion:
"Dana's supposed to be doing the promotion for this, and he's out here on the back tables with Steiner. That's the fact."
— MMA Guru (10:59) -
On Self-Awareness:
"I don't think I'm like, in any way relevant, but I'm on, like, why the. Am I on full send? I have, like, 3K viewers on, like, a regular live day."
— MMA Guru (55:12) -
On Old School vs. New School Content:
"Now you can just go stream daily and go get that same virality for you. So you almost don't need to put in that crazy travel effort, collab effort anymore to get that same kind of notoriety."
— Kyle (50:05) -
On Early UFC Pressers:
"GSP told us... He's like, Conor won that fight when he won the press conference."
— Kyle (63:21) -
On the Risks of Streaming:
"Live streaming is just like. Makes you immune to the law more in some of these cases... you're in GTA just going out looking for an altercation."
— MMA Guru & Salim (53:44–53:54) -
On Fat Jokes & Nina Drama Beef:
"As a fat person, I think that's like, my word. So it's like our culture. So no one's going to tell me who I can and can't call fat. It's like the N word, Salem, you know what I mean?"
— MMA Guru (56:06)
Key Segment Timestamps
- [02:14] Guru’s intro, living in the UK, reason for visiting the US.
- [03:13] Weight loss, body image, and grappling stories.
- [04:13] How Guru changed MMA media culture.
- [05:21] Insults from Dagestani fans and streamer banter.
- [10:59] Dana White’s performance as a promoter.
- [14:48] Which fighters are best/worst at self-promotion.
- [22:51] White House card predictions and Trump rumors.
- [33:35] Guru’s rise through online drama and fighter interactions.
- [35:01] Most controversial MMA decisions.
- [39:15] White House card fantasy booking.
- [49:53] “Clipping culture” and the impact on new streamers.
- [51:44] Bone-smashing and extreme self-improvement in streaming.
- [63:16] The loss of great old-school press conference chaos.
Tone and Dynamic
The episode's tone is irreverent, brash, and self-aware, with Guru’s British wit playing off the Nelk boys' laid-back banter. The group openly mocks themselves, MMA fans, and internet personalities, keeping the humor sharp but insightful—particularly about the intersection of online fame and the fight game.
Guru’s willingness to lampoon both fighters and himself, as well as his openness about internet culture, gives the conversation an edge that’s both comedic and surprisingly honest, especially when discussing the limits of trash talk, internet fame, and the future of combat sports entertainment.
Conclusion
Episode 181 offers a frank look into MMA critique as content and the shifting sands of fight promotion, celebrity, and internet virality. Guru’s takes on Dana White, fighter marketability, “hardcore” vs. casual fandom, and the wild world of streaming provide a lens into how the MMA audience—and media—are evolving in 2026.
Fans and casual listeners alike will appreciate both the combat insight and the comedic, unfiltered breakdown of everything from UFC business strategy to YouTube beefs and the insanity of modern streaming culture.