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Jon Stewart
Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners like in depth interviews and and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
A.J. Jacobs
Dressing. Dressing.
Daniel Cormier
Oh, French dressing.
A.J. Jacobs
Exactly.
Daniel Cormier
Ah, that's good.
A.J. Jacobs
I'm A.J. jacobs and my current obsession is puzzles. And that has given birth to my podcast the Puzzler.
Daniel Cormier
Something about Mary Poppins?
A.J. Jacobs
Exactly.
Daniel Cormier
This is fun.
A.J. Jacobs
You can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears. Listen to the Puzzler every day on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Martin Luther King III
Welcome to My Legacy. I'm Martin Luther King III and together with my wife, Andrea Waters King and our dear friends Mark and Craig Kilberger, we explore the personal journeys that shape extraordinary lives.
Daniel Cormier
Join us for heartfelt conversations with remarkable guests like David Oyelo, Mel Robbins, Martin Sheen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Billy Porter.
Ben Askren
Listen to my legacy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is my legacy.
Daniel Cormier
The Volume. Hey guys, what's up? It's dc. Look, I know that you want the best for your family and I do too. America is fighting against dangerous chemicals in our foods and Backyard Butchers is a top healthy pick for 2025. So see why 600,000Americans trust the Backyard butchers. Guys, I am talking straight. US Born and raised beef right out of those green pastures in Texas. They're faith based American first founders. They work directly with local ranchers to bring you wholesome meats for you and your entire family. No overseas mystery meat, no hormones, no preservatives, just pure, top quality beef. The way it should be. So whether you choose the popular backyard box or A customer favorite steakhouse reserve box. Hey, you'll be eating right. And here's the best part. If you subscribe today, they'll make sure you get your choice of two 10 ounce ribeyes or 2 pounds of wagyu ground beef. And it's absolutely free. Plus use my promo code, dctv@backyardbutchers.com for 30% off each subscription. You know, I'm always trying to hook y'all up, but 30%, I'm really in my bag. That's backyardbutchers. Com dctv. Hit that promo code, guys. 30% off of some of the best meat you ever gonna taste. The real deal. Let's go. What's up, guys? Welcome to a brand new episode of Funky the Champ. I'm Daniel Cormier. That's my main man, Ben Askren. What's up, Funky man? How you been?
Ben Askren
Well, I was thinking. It's been a while. I was thinking you have a huge appointment this Sunday. Ohio, Oklahoma State, Iowa, Sunday night. Are you watching it or not?
Daniel Cormier
Yo, I'm watching. I'm going. Hey, I'm going on frl. I've never been.
Ben Askren
Oh, really?
Daniel Cormier
I'm going on fro Thursday. When's the 24th? Whatever dates the 20.
Ben Askren
Oh, that's the Monday after. The Monday after.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I'm gonna talk about. I'm about to. I. I don't even go on podcasts. I'm going on.
Ben Askren
Do you think they can win or no?
Daniel Cormier
Yes.
Ben Askren
Okay.
Daniel Cormier
I think we could win 25. 33. We're gonna have some. We're gonna struggle.
Ben Askren
Yeah.
Daniel Cormier
41. Oh, that's a good one. That's a good match right there.
Ben Askren
41. I say yes.
Daniel Cormier
No. We'll win 49. They win 57. That's teamer.
Ben Askren
Yeah, teamer. Yep.
Daniel Cormier
So, you know, they win 65. It's a tough 75. Yo, our guy. Our guy's like crushing people right now. Yeah, he's just a man, bro. 70, 74.
Ben Askren
They gotta go. So Nelson brands just came back. So it's Nelson Brand. It has been Patrick Kennedy, Hamidi, I, I would think is the significant 84.
Daniel Cormier
US 97. That's.
Ben Askren
That's 1. That's gonna be tough, Steven.
Daniel Cormier
Here's the problem, though. Here's the problem.
Ben Askren
Servers are really good, but Henderson could get bonus at heavyweight.
Daniel Cormier
That's the problem. Henderson's pinning everybody, bro. The big dog. The big captain. What's up, Cap? Yeah, I tell you, I never felt so. I never felt so American. I didn't even feel as American as I do. When I watched Wyatt Henderson when I was in the Olympics, when I see that big boy from the Air Force come out. What's up, Captain? I'm so such a fan of white, bro. I was at the Las Vegas Invitational and saw him and I'm like, wyatt, he gave right up to me. Gave me a hug. Because I seen the captain. When I see him pin everybody like.
Ben Askren
That, man, oh, man. In the orange singlet, Wyatt get you all pumped up?
Daniel Cormier
Oh, he came running up dc dc. Hey, bro. I love hey.
Ben Askren
Well, America. America let Oklahoma State have him for the year because, you know, he couldn't have any more eligibility at the Air Force Academy. And they gifted him to Oklahoma State for one year.
Daniel Cormier
Well, they didn't gift him. I mean, we worked really hard to have. And honestly. Hey, hey. Thank you. To the old staff setting the wheels in motion before they left 100. You know that all those transfers are already there whenever you stop, bro, I swear to God, the 74 pounder was already.
Ben Askren
Actually, I heard that about committee.
Daniel Cormier
The mini Amin was going there. Like, those guys were going there. But I mean, obviously David, when David got the job and made it easier to make the commitment, but committee and. And the. The heavyweight thing was already in the works. And yeah, we got a lot of transfers. 41's a transfer, 57 to transfer. A lot of transfer.
Ben Askren
Jameson came together.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it is what it is, but whatever. Hey, bro, we gotta talk about mma. I would talk to you about wrestling all day, but we have to talk about mma. So. Yo, can I be honest with you? And I don't like doing this. I don't like. I don't like being supportive. So Jon Jones the other day was like, freaking out, walking down the street, and he was saying some crazy stuff about his kid and Ben. You know what's crazy, man?
Ben Askren
I don't know.
Daniel Cormier
You said he was on vacation. I didn't know he was on vacation.
Ben Askren
I thought he was on vacation. That was what I thought.
Daniel Cormier
Okay, if he was on vacation, haven't we all been there? Maybe not that extreme, but it's like, our kids drive us crazy. And you know what the worst part is? When you go back to that hotel room, you're the bad guy. Everybody's found a way to make you're the bad guy because you're upset about them being bad. And so I don't want to defend him, but I mean. I mean, come on, man. He's got like, not say you're going to kill him, but like, oh, my God. My children are being so bad. Have we not all been there?
Ben Askren
You know what, Amy? Amy loses her temper more than me. I read this article on how when the kids argue and it actually makes them like smarter and they're like honing their argument skills. So I'm like, ah, I don't really love it, but I'm just gonna lock in and tune them out. And Amy, Amy get pissed at. I'm like, you stop arguing back there.
Daniel Cormier
Hey, imagine if we saw Amy walking down the street on her vacation, just talk, mumbling to herself.
Ben Askren
I don't think she had those emotions.
Daniel Cormier
She be walking around kicking her kids ass. Talk about kicking her kids ass. I mean, that was, that was just crazy. I'm not gonna lie to you.
Ben Askren
Oh, my God.
Daniel Cormier
Okay, but listen, we're not gonna talk about that. I just figured we should mention it because. Okay, so we have a whole bunch of fights. One that they're still trying to make, you know, with Jon Jones is the Tom Aspinall thing. Dana said he's working on International Fight, but that's not the story. The story is Francis Ngannou saying that he believes the fight could happen if not for Dana White. Dana White's the big obstacle. Francis said, but are we ready to kind of just let go of the Francis Ngannou?
Ben Askren
That one ain't happening.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, like if you didn't make Tom Aspinall, like, he's not going to get to fight Jon Jones. Francis Ngannou. Right?
Ben Askren
That ain't happening. I don't know why. You know, obviously I was outside of the UFC for a long time and I always had the desire, but it was like, yes, I would love to fight these guys, but I'm under no delusion that Dana White is going to do some type of co promoter or something, because he just does. Doesn't do that, you know. So the idea that Francis is going to fight John, that's a. It's a pipe dream.
Daniel Cormier
You see, that's the difference between you and most fighters. Like, you know, you're like, danny, Dana's not gonna favor. I think fighters believe that by going public and saying it, it might actually happen.
Ben Askren
Well, there's just. Dana is just so stuck. I mean, and this has been the case for a while and I guess, I suppose, although it can be frustrating for the fighters, you know, the UFC brand, it's almost like you can kind of put anyone there on a Saturday night. You're going to get X amount of people to tune in. Like you're going to get some solid viewership and so Dana has almost always put brand above athlete. And, you know, it's been pretty rare when someone could break through like. Like a Connor. But then you could see even. Even then, when Conor breaks through as big as he became, Dana still doesn't fold in negotiations to him. You know, we let him have the Mayweather thing, but then after that, it's kind of been like, kiss my ass, Conor.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, kind of. Kind of like Connor became big. Bigger, honestly, he felt bigger than the brand. But Dana always would say stuff like, the UFC will always go on regardless of what happens. Like, when one person leaves, always gonna be ufc, because they built it to that point. And when you talk about cross promotion, it's almost like there really is no point. They don't have to do it. And in business, in most instances, right, the. The powerful entity doesn't generally sway. You have to make adjustments, and you have to make. You have to give in to be on their side. So if there is a. A cross promotion or if there is a hope of Francis Ngannou fighting Jon Jones and getting back to that, it would have to be in the ufc. And I don't know at this point if either of those parties want to entertain that, because it didn't feel like Francis liked the UFC at the end. He felt like he should be doing much better. He left with a ton of power, though, as the world champion, so he's been able to make a very successful career outside of the ufc. But it still feels like if he's going to get that fight and if he wants that fight, as much as it seems like he might want that fight, he's not to go back to the UFC.
Ben Askren
He 100 have to go back to the UFC. And, you know, I mean, the one thing like, I wanted to do, I wanted to try to be the best in the world. And I know that's why you went without. Without fighting, without fighting the right people. Francis has already. Already achieved that, and so maybe he doesn't feel the need. And I. I do believe. Oh, my gosh, your camera's freaking me out. How it zooms in.
Daniel Cormier
It's got a great.
Ben Askren
Oh, my gosh. That's weird. But for instance, as well, Francis, I believe. I don't think he's lying. I don't know. This is debatable. But I believe he made significantly more money doing the boxing fights outside of the ufc. And so it's like, hey, if you've already proved you're the best in the world, and listen, there was this Jon Jones Thing because he, Jon Jones didn't fight for a four year window or whatever. But yeah, go make you already prove your best world. Go make a whole bunch more money. I think that's great. But if he does want to fight Jon Jones, he's gonna have to come back.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, he just says that that's the issue. Right. Because he feels like they can make that. But he said he's not losing much sleep about it because he's being. He's been very successful, he's very happy and he's doing things his own way. And with all the stuff that Francis went through, right. Losing his son, Kobe, coming back fighting Hidden Ferreira, now it sounds like he's gonna box again, man. I did, I did a video on this the other day. It said Francis wants to box again, but this time against Deontay Wilder. Dude, can you believe that?
Ben Askren
Well, after the first one he like, he did really good and we're like, wow. And then the second one he didn't do quite so well. So now it, I don't. It's like, is there a strong desire to see him box again? I. I don't know. I think he's actually like, you know, like say a Mike Tyson or something where, you know, in the pfl, if a lot of, if a lot of people don't have, if they don't have compelling opponents, it's going to be not that much desire. But I think people would tune in to watch Francis and gu tape's head off with a massive uppercut or something like that.
Daniel Cormier
So I do feel that. But with the boxing. So my thought on the boxing was this. I didn't like him fighting boxing against the best boxers in the world initially.
Ben Askren
Yeah.
Daniel Cormier
Then he fought Tyson Fury so well. So I was like, oh, well, maybe he can box these guys. Right? But then here was the, here was the issue. Right. So here was the issue. He fought Tyson Fury and I thought he fought Tyson Fury relatively well.
Ben Askren
Yeah.
Daniel Cormier
To say that he's a, he's a amateur, a amateur boxer fighting against the world champion. But then when he got the fight against Anthony Joshua, I was kind of happy because I was like, well, Anthony Joshua is traditionally like the most conservative of those big time boxing champions because he doesn't want to get hurt. He's been knocked out. He. And then he knocks Francis out the way that he does. Deontay Wilder is like Francis, but he actually boxes, he throws while he doesn't know how to control himself.
Ben Askren
But he gets really hard and he.
Daniel Cormier
Hits really, really hard.
Ben Askren
Yeah.
Daniel Cormier
And Francis even said somebody's going to sleep like 90. Who wants to be involved in something where, you know somebody's nine out of ten times somebody's getting knocked out?
Ben Askren
Well, I suppose if you think it's you, if you think you're the one who's gonna do the knocking out, probably not a big deal, right?
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. But after that, like after getting slept the way he did.
Ben Askren
Yeah, that would be. Yeah. I think he should just tell the pfl, line it. Line me up some subpar competition, let me take their heads off, because I think he'd be.
Daniel Cormier
I think he still makes big money for the. For fighting in mma?
Ben Askren
Yeah, I believe so.
Daniel Cormier
Probably making like three, four million dollars a fight. Maybe five.
Ben Askren
Yeah, very solid.
Daniel Cormier
The number I heard he was getting from the UFC was crazy.
Ben Askren
They said they are higher, low.
Daniel Cormier
7 million a fight to stay.
Ben Askren
Really?
Daniel Cormier
That's pretty good, Ben.
Ben Askren
Yes, of course. That's really good.
Daniel Cormier
That's really good. I heard they offered him 7 million per fight to stay.
Ben Askren
Oh, on the. Oh, I got you on the new contract. Yeah. Not what he was making. That was the new offer.
Daniel Cormier
That was the offer to try to keep him.
Ben Askren
Yeah. But then, man, it's interesting, but I. I don't think he's gonna fight in Jones. I. Listen, I don't even know if you had. What's that, Kelsey? The new polling thing that everyone's doing. You see this? It was a presidential. Took off during the presidential elections.
Daniel Cormier
That was all that. All that. Oh, my God.
Ben Askren
Betting markets.
Daniel Cormier
Yes, but then all that, like, new betting, new gam. New, new, new, New voting. That's all just to make our country just more and more fight with each other. Well, this, this. This one says. This one. It's like. It's the craziest thing.
Ben Askren
Okay, but if there was a Kelsey odds on does Jon Jones fight again, I believe they would be less than 50%.
Daniel Cormier
You don't think he's gonna fight again?
Ben Askren
I think. I think it would be less than 50. I think it would be somewhere around third, 20, 30 that he fights again. Yes. I mean, John's not young. He's 30. Probably 39. 38. Not young.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, somewhere in that range. No, no, like 37. Dude, he's like 37.
Ben Askren
No, he's Max's age.
Daniel Cormier
He's like 37 years old.
Ben Askren
Damn you. You're right, 37. Max is 38. So that's why I was saying 38.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, he's like 37 years old. He's young. I fought the guy. I fought the guy all Them times or at least was scheduled to fight him all the times I knew I was old and I knew that he was really, really young. So.
Ben Askren
All right. But yeah, I would, I would say if. If there was odds, I think it's less than half that he. He ever fights again.
Daniel Cormier
Wow. I think he's gonna fight again. I just don't fight Tom Aspinall. Hey, Bal Muhammad said, that's your boy. That's your boy.
Ben Askren
I like Bal. We were never super close. I like him, but we weren't that close. So I don't know, saying your boy is maybe a little more extreme. Just to be clear on that.
Daniel Cormier
To be clear. That's you. That's you getting scared as to what I'm gonna say next. So you're trying. I go as a, as a. As a baseline. Just know I like him, but you can't say that. We're really cool. The sphere. What's next? Okay, so you're boy Bal Muhammad.
Ben Askren
Yes.
Daniel Cormier
Right. There's a lot of rumblings. Islam Khachev is a very dominant champion from a weight below, right?
Ben Askren
Yeah.
Daniel Cormier
Bilal Muhammad says or. I don't know, man. It felt like. It felt like Islam wasn't as against it or to me. Bilal said, I would never fight Islam because that's a different. For him and me, we've trained together, and when you're sweating with somebody and you're bleeding with somebody and you train with somebody like that, it's a different relationship. I wouldn't be about the money for me or for him. I would assume I would never want to do that. They've helped me so much. So I'd rather go to 185 and let them just take the 170 belt if that's the case.
Ben Askren
That was a crazy statement.
Daniel Cormier
Hey, bro. Bro. Like, so I was in a situation with Kate Velasquez, but.
Ben Askren
And I had every day.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, but every day we trained. Like, I was never away from Cade Velasquez. I knew Kane Velasquez's family. I was in his house. Yeah, but law says. I mean, does that relationship doing a couple training camps together warrant that type of statement?
Ben Askren
Well, I mean, I, I was just thinking, like, not even that, but why does he have to. He didn't give up his title. Like, But Islam has 155 and you got 170, so. And honestly, at 170, there's kind of a lot of good fights for Balal to still have some younger up and comers. Dyla Maddalena he's fighting Shavkat, right? There's kind of a few guys in that he could fight. I mean, Islam has a little bit cleaned out 155. So maybe that's the problem. I guess he still can fight surrounding even though that one fell through. But it feels like they have their spots. And then Islam also has the tapuria fight. So Islam's got his thing. Balls got his thing. Why does ball need to move? It's kind of silly, you know? And honestly, so that, that case, I'd be like, dude, if we're buddies, why are you trying to come up here? You got, you got two good fights. You could have Armand and then you can have Ilya. Those are two good fights. I got my fights that I'm going to have. Like, why do we need to be doing this?
Daniel Cormier
Do you think? It was just like not the right timing for it? It's like it's not realistically a, a thing right now because of all the reasons you just stated, like, yeah, it's not a pressing matter. Like that Islam's on his way up right now. I need to get out of the weight class or even state that I would move weight classes or you think it's just about getting ahead of it? Like, I know what I would do. I'm gonna let the world know what I would do so that I don't deal with all the stuff that comes with. If this man says, I want to fight at 1 7.
Ben Askren
Yeah, I just, I don't know. I don't know why he bothers saying that. And if he, if he. And so the other thing I feel about Bilal and this is the weight class thing is 170 is the right weight class for him. He's not small for the weight class. I think he's just, just about the right size. He's also not gigantic for the weight class where it's like, oh my God, how is he making that weight? He has to move up, right? And there is A. It's £15. It's not, not a tiny gap. So there is generally a size difference between a good size 185 and a good size 170. Those are different things in my opinion. And obviously there are certain guys who are very big for the welterweight. They're very, you know, small for middleweight etc. But I think he should stay at welterweight. I looked. He's 36 years old, right? Which is if we look historically welterweight below it start to decline. He need. He. There's plenty of guys he can fight. So I mentioned Shavkat. I mentioned Dylan Medena. Joaquin Buckley's doing a good job at that weight class. Sean Brady's doing a good job at that weight class. Machado, Gary could get a few. I mean, there's like, a lot of young guys to fight. He should say, hey, young guys, line them up. I'm here to defend my title while I still can. Let's knock these out.
Daniel Cormier
I think what people don't understand about you guys at welterweight is that, like, you're thicker than people imagine, right?
Ben Askren
Yeah.
Daniel Cormier
The law might not look big, but he's got big old legs. His back is humongous. I think he's a pretty decent sized welterweight. But there's a clear difference when you look at welterweight and middleweight, right? You get those guys, like, Izzy doesn't look like he could make 170. And I always tell people that I'm like, I was never a heavyweight. You know, who was a heavyweight, like Derrick Lewis and. And Kane, like those guys, because no matter what they did, Ben, they could never make 205. They could never get down to 205. So for me, watching Bilal say that, I just don't understand the reasoning. I don't understand the reasoning because it's not needed. And if you're being completely truthful, he does have the type of style that could present problems for Islam because he has good boxing, he has good wrestling, he's good pace and cardio. He can defend takedowns. He seems like the type of guy that would be a person that could compete with Islam.
Ben Askren
Absolutely. So that's what I'm saying. Just stay where you're at. Islam's got two big fights on the horizon. Bilal's got a plenty that I just mentioned there. Really, this discussion doesn't even need to happen, in my opinion.
Daniel Cormier
But we are. Because he said it.
Ben Askren
We're talking about why he. I don't really know why he bothered. I mean, if that question, when it came up, he could have just said, hey, look, I want to fight. I want to fight and defend my title as many times as I can. I want to see myself as one of the best welterweights ever. Here's who I can fight. Yeah, Shavkat, I can fight here. You know, like, I just kind of start going down the list, you know.
Daniel Cormier
How many title defenses does Malone have?
Ben Askren
Well, I mean, I mentioned all those younger guys.
Daniel Cormier
How many title defenses does he have?
Ben Askren
Oh, only to be talking about zero right now.
Daniel Cormier
How many title defenses?
Ben Askren
I believe he's got 0.
Daniel Cormier
0. He won the belt and has not fought since.
Ben Askren
I'm right on zero, right?
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. He's a won the belt, beat Leon Edwards, and hasn't fought since. Yeah, how can we be talking about him?
Ben Askren
He has a fight coming up against Shavkat.
Daniel Cormier
Shavka was supposed to fight him in December, and then Shotgun was supposed to fight him in December, and then Bilal got the staph infection, so Shotgun fought Ian Machado.
Ben Askren
Gary, aren't they. Aren't they rumored to be fighting on maybe UFC 3 15? Is that what I heard? Is that.
Daniel Cormier
It's in Miami?
Ben Askren
Oh, they're fighting the Miami one.
Daniel Cormier
No, there's Miami. What's your schedule look like in April?
Ben Askren
Dude, you're that. UFC 313 is when they have piano. We have the piano here, so shut up.
Daniel Cormier
Dude, it's the same weekend.
Ben Askren
Yeah, same weekend. No, they're not fighting on that card. I just looked at that car.
Daniel Cormier
Daniel, I was gonna offer you up an opportunity for us to do our first in person show, but you're busy.
Ben Askren
Eventually you're busy.
Daniel Cormier
When can we do our first. Hey, can you come to Vegas? March 4.
Ben Askren
March 4. March 4. That's not a weekend, is it?
Daniel Cormier
Our March, the pay per View weekend. March 7, maybe, is the pay per view weekend. But remember, we would have to do it in the week. Right? Like March, the Friday night. We'd have to do our live show. Yeah, you and me, sit down, 30 seconds, and then do it. Or we do International Fight Week. International Fight Week might work, too.
Ben Askren
That might work, too. Hey, but I want to get back to. Where are these guys fighting?
Daniel Cormier
Bilal, Muhammad and Shafka. They're not scheduled to fight, dude, that's. That's why I think so.
Ben Askren
I'm so. I'm going crazy. I thought. I thought it was UFC like 315 or something.
Daniel Cormier
That's why people come to me and going, well, your partner said. I'm like, who? And they're like, ben. I'm like, he lies all the time.
Ben Askren
No, I don't lie. I said, if I know it's true, I'll say, this is true. I said, I thought I heard that they were fighting. They should be fighting. Why are they scheduled? Let's put these guys staff. You get better for that in two weeks.
Daniel Cormier
No, but it's. I think Shavkat hurt himself. But listen, they go. They go, hey, Ben said this and Ben said that. Ben. I said. I said, who? I said, do you listen to him? I go, he's a liar. I go, I do two podcasts. With two liars. You're a liar.
Ben Askren
Jail's actually a liar. Chael will deceive on purpose. I'm saying I thought I heard this and I'm. You are the industry insider. I want you to set me straight.
Daniel Cormier
You literally just announced that below fighting.
Ben Askren
No, I. Oh, my God, you're retarded. You can say again. That's great. 2025. Take that, Daniel. I got all my. I got all my insults back.
Daniel Cormier
Dude, you got him back. What happened? What happened to you? Why are you, like, back where you got nice?
Ben Askren
The culture took him away.
Daniel Cormier
You had got nice. You. You had got nice for a while and now you're back to being Ben Asker, that guy.
Ben Askren
I can't imagine all the insults you just used to lay on people in the locker room in like 2000.
Daniel Cormier
You imagine.
Ben Askren
Oh, my God. You would have been canceled like 27 times, probably. We would have one locker room conversation with Daniel Cormier.
Daniel Cormier
Dude, if they had a camera down there, I'd be done. I would not be sitting in this position today. I was bad. Hey, so like Daniel Zepeda. Daniel Zepeda's here. If he's like a spaz and he's like crazy and loud and everybody's like, oh, Daniel. I'm like, he's actually me. He's like. He literally is my, like, karma for being bad when I was a kid and growing up. He's so bad, bro. He's so bad.
Ben Askren
Really? Stay so. He can't be that bad.
Daniel Cormier
No, dude, he just. He's got like this endless energy. He jumps and he's bouncing off the wall. He's like a crazy little kid. Dude, he was yelling last night in the living room, playing video games. Finally. I'm like, stop, Daniel. It's like he's dressing me. Dude. All the gray hair in my beard is from Daniel Zapat.
Ben Askren
Damn, he's so.
Daniel Cormier
Everyone's forgotten who runs this valley. Time to remind them.
Martin Luther King III
Yellowstone fans, step into the Yellowstone universe.
Daniel Cormier
Our family legacy is this ranch. My protector of my life.
Martin Luther King III
Hosted by Bobby Bones, the official Yellowstone Podcast takes you deeper into the franchise that's captivated millions worldwide.
Daniel Cormier
Action.
Martin Luther King III
Explore untold behind the scenes stories, exclusive cast interviews and in depth discussions about the themes and legacy of Yellowstone.
Ben Askren
You know, the first students to settle.
Daniel Cormier
This valley fighting was all they knew.
Martin Luther King III
Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the ranch, welcome to the Yellowstone. Bobby Bones has everything you need to stay connected to the Yellowstone phenomenon.
Ben Askren
I look forward to it.
Martin Luther King III
Listen to the official Yellowstone podcast Now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ben Askren
Let's go to work.
Katherine Legge
Hey, you guys, I'm Katherine Legg. I'm a racing driver who's literally driven everything with four wheels across the planet. And I've got a new podcast. It's called Throttle Therapy. This season I'm gearing up to make history, competing in some of the world's most notorious racing events, starting at the Indy 500. Join me as I travel from racetrack to racetrack in my quest to continue a memorable career in racing. I'm also going to bring you inside stories with legends of sports, new faces from the next generation of auto racing, and conversations with the people who supported me through throughout my career. We'll be getting into everything from karting to nascar, even Formula one. Whether you dream about being a pro athlete or an astronaut, we're talking about what it takes to make it. Listen to Throttle Therapy with Katherine Legge, an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Daniel Cormier
Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. I'm Mark Seale.
Mark Seale
And I'm Nathan King.
Daniel Cormier
This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli. The five families did not want us to shoot that picture.
Mark Seale
Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli is based on my co host Mark's best selling book of the same title. And on this show we call upon his years of research to help unpack the story behind the Godfather's birth. From start to finish, this is really.
Daniel Cormier
The first interview I've done in bed.
Mark Seale
We sift through innumerable accounts. 35 pages isn't very much, many of them conflicting.
Daniel Cormier
That's nonsense. There were 60 pages.
Mark Seale
And try to get to the truth of what really happened.
Daniel Cormier
And they said, we're finished.
Ben Askren
This is over.
Daniel Cormier
It's not going to work.
Ben Askren
We gotta get rid of those guys.
Daniel Cormier
It's a disaster.
Mark Seale
Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire and many others.
Ben Askren
Yes, that was a real horse's head.
Mark Seale
Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the cannoli starting February 19th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with a Star. So where else are you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I. I texted you, and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but, like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like, it's all colored. They changed it, and the heart's a little pink. It felt like, I told you I loved you. I'm gonna be honest. It was a little pink.
Ben Askren
There was something sentimental when you.
Daniel Cormier
When you send it, it's like, do I send the heart now?
Bobby Bones
I don't like the color edition.
Daniel Cormier
It's extremely pink.
Bobby Bones
Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ben Askren
Speaking of instigating, I saw a clip of you instigating. I think Colby versus Key is a good idea. That's about the same level. At this point, I don't see why not. I don't know if Colby really wants to fight anymore is what it's seems, but other than that, I think it's a really good idea. What are they ranked right now? It's probably somewhere.
Daniel Cormier
Yes. Is not ranked, but Kobe is. Kobe's like.
Ben Askren
Kobe's nine.
Daniel Cormier
Hey.
Ben Askren
Yeah.
Daniel Cormier
Kobe said that in a couple years, he's gonna do wwe.
Ben Askren
Yeah. I mean, what. What other skills does that man have?
Daniel Cormier
Dude? Why? Why? Okay, so can we get to the bottom of this? Can we get to the bottom of this?
Ben Askren
What?
Daniel Cormier
Why? Why was the problem? Those are.
Ben Askren
I mean, everything. I.
Daniel Cormier
What's the problem with Kamaru Usman? What's the problem with all the wrestlers? So initially, I thought the problem Kamaru Usman was he was black. But then I. I was like, you stop it.
Ben Askren
You such a turd. Come on.
Daniel Cormier
Not. Okay, okay.
Ben Askren
Hey, did you see. Did you see that clip where Colby tried giving Kamaru a handshake?
Daniel Cormier
No, Wait, so that happened last week, and then.
Ben Askren
And then Uman kind of, like, denied him. It was on. He's got, like, a channel. And then he said, I didn't try to shake his hand, but everyone was screenshotting him with his hand, like. Like, out like this.
Daniel Cormier
Wait, tomorrow.
Ben Askren
Luis, bring that up.
Daniel Cormier
They were in. They were in. They were in Vegas last weekend because we're filming the Ultimate Fighter and Kobe.
Ben Askren
Yep.
Daniel Cormier
Is working with Coach. Chill.
Ben Askren
And watch this. Watch.
Daniel Cormier
Oh, he tried to chase him. So Kamaru just. Oh, that was.
Ben Askren
And then that was very cold. But then Colby said, I didn't try to shake his hand.
Daniel Cormier
So Colby did this, and then he did this. Oh, my God.
Ben Askren
No. These guys. I don't know. Obviously, I. I was trying to pick a fight with them, right? I mean, when I was. When I was in the ufc. But Colby. Colby is generally a douche. I don't like him. Marty, I actually thought.
Daniel Cormier
Stop calling Marty.
Ben Askren
I thought we. Listen, that was how I knew him. I thought we were cool. I thought. I thought we were fine. I had no issue with him. I actually thought, hey, this guy's a pretty good wrestler. I can avoid him. Because when I got the ufc, it was like. I don't remember. Oh, Colby got hurt, and that was why Usman ended up fighting Tyron. I thought, oh, I could just jump over, you know, jump over him.
Daniel Cormier
You gonna fight Tyron?
Ben Askren
No, no, no. I wasn't gonna fight Tyron. I was gonna, but I was, like, gonna jump above him, like, without having to fight him, you know, like, in the rankings, you're like, who are the easiest guys for me to fight in the rankings? And then I'm gonna jump my way towards the top. Top. You know, that was kind of what I was thinking. And I said, marty on accident. Not even on accident. It was like. That was just like, you know, he was at the train center. That was what I knew, man.
Daniel Cormier
Could you please say Kamaru, dude?
Ben Askren
And then. No, no, I'm referencing what I said previously.
Daniel Cormier
Oh, okay. Okay, okay.
Ben Askren
Yeah. And then he got all pissed about it, and it was like, I don't understand what the issue is. And then, since then, I knew I made him mad, then I just had to keep it going.
Daniel Cormier
Why? Why, why?
Ben Askren
Daniel, you are the king of that. There is no one that does that more than you do it.
Daniel Cormier
You can't show. You can't show you.
Ben Askren
There's no one who does it more.
Daniel Cormier
Than you give a small glimmer Hope if I can look and see the light. Yes, there it is. Like, a little bit of the light that gets you. I wouldn't touch you.
Ben Askren
Yes.
Daniel Cormier
You cannot show no one like that. It bothers you. You just can't let them see that.
Ben Askren
You know who's the easiest ever in history? You're gonna laugh so hard.
Daniel Cormier
Who?
Ben Askren
Mark Ellis.
Daniel Cormier
Oh, my God. I used to drive him crazy, bro. You know what I would do to him? You know what I Would do, too.
Ben Askren
What?
Daniel Cormier
You know, we started. He was actually my coach when we started the kids club. Like, him and I started it together. So when Mark would be sitting next to the mat, right? Every time he would go and sit in a certain chair, I'd be like, move, Mark, move, move. So, like. Like, the head goes right. So, like, if he sat on the left side, I would make sure I was Mark, move. This is the side I love to sit on. And I would sit on the left.
Ben Askren
Oh, my God.
Daniel Cormier
And if he sat on the right because he was trying to avoid the left chair, I'd go like, mark, Mark, get up. I like this. The chair I like. And it would. Dude, he would get so pissed off behind a chair because I would just make him move chairs every time he sat at the bed.
Ben Askren
You see what I mean? Now? You know exactly what I mean.
Daniel Cormier
Is that good, though? Is that a good one?
Ben Askren
Oh, that's right. Mark. But the thing with Mark is. Mark, sorry. We're putting you on blast. I don't know if you listen to this or not. He wouldn't figure out. Like, Daniel. Like, if you did, like, the first time, I'd probably move. The second time, I would be like, why you make me move again? By the third time I tell you, kiss my ass. I ain't moving. Sit in the other chair. But Mark was too nice. He wouldn't do it.
Daniel Cormier
You know who I've done it to for 15 years? Who?
Jon Stewart
Cassandra.
Ben Askren
Cassandra. Tell him to kiss your ass.
Daniel Cormier
She can't help it, dude. She can't help it. It doesn't matter what I do. It doesn't matter what I do, bro. Like, for 15 years, I can bake her mad. I've done it for 15 years.
Ben Askren
Oh, my God.
Daniel Cormier
And it's been successful 100 of the time. You can't see me coming. Like, she can't see me.
Ben Askren
Wow.
Daniel Cormier
You can't see me coming. I get you.
Ben Askren
I can't. No, you.
Daniel Cormier
I do stuff to you, too. I get you. I. I've gotten you on multiple occasions.
Ben Askren
No, you haven't, Ben.
Daniel Cormier
When we're on the Olympic team, you're telling me I couldn't get you?
Ben Askren
No, you liked me because I was the only one who was.
Daniel Cormier
Tell the.
Ben Askren
Daniel.
Daniel Cormier
Now I'm the one that I. Now I remember why. Because we. We. I couldn't get you. And you were pretty sharp about it. You were good.
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
Ben Askren
And that was why you liked me. That's.
Daniel Cormier
We came. We still. We're still friends today because, you know.
Ben Askren
Because all them other Dudes let you bully them.
Daniel Cormier
Bully and pick on them. Why were they so scared of me? I didn't even know.
Ben Askren
Hey, we should give a shout out to our Olympic teammate. Well, we have a couple. Yeah. Henry's fighting this weekend. Good luck, Henry.
Daniel Cormier
Yep.
Ben Askren
Did you see what Coach Schwab did at Northern Iowa?
Daniel Cormier
Did they beat Iowa State the other day?
Ben Askren
They beat Iowa State's butt. And that place was rocking. It was freaking awesome.
Daniel Cormier
It was rocking. Dude. Doug Schwab is doing a tremendous job over there, but he's kind of like. But like, when I see Schwabi, he's a little bit. He's a little weird, man. He's just like. He's small. Yeah. He's also just kind of like. He's. He's weird. A little bit weird. You know, he's like, not like brands. Not like brands weird that far. Hey, did you see the other day.
Ben Askren
Tom, Terry Brands, when he ran up in the stands?
Daniel Cormier
Oh, my God, he's still awesome. Is he ever gonna not be awesome?
Ben Askren
Bro, grow up. You're 55 or something. You can't be running into the stands.
Daniel Cormier
Is he never gonna not be awesome is the question. Did you see him? Yo, did you see him? The other day they were arrested. A duel. It was against Minnesota. It was at 1:49 or 141. And the guy was rest. No, it's 125. Joey Cruz. Hey. He's behind the bench, behind the chair. And he's like hiding under the chair. And his hands are on the back of the chair and he's like bent under. And when Joey scores, he runs him in front of the chair.
Ben Askren
No, I missed that.
Daniel Cormier
It was awesome. I'm like, yo, is this guy.
Ben Askren
Because he got taken down to go to overtime, that he was like, sitting underneath the chair. Oh, my God.
Daniel Cormier
Making himself really, really small. He was scared. He was scared. He was scared. It did take. Not happen. And he charged around.
Ben Askren
No, the Nebraska one, though. Daniel, he. Okay, so some people don't know what we're talking about. You may remember Terry Brown's assistant.
Daniel Cormier
Google Terry Brands.
Ben Askren
And you'll see Twin is the head coach in Iowa. And he. He. Listen, he's too old to be doing this.
Daniel Cormier
No, no, he's not. It's awesome.
Ben Askren
Yeah, he is. He ran into the stands.
Daniel Cormier
Yep.
Ben Askren
And taunted a fan from Nebraska after they won the duel. They were. It was like. It was. It was on the rocks for a minute. They were like, maybe gonna lose.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. Yeah.
Ben Askren
And Buchanan came through and pinned his dude. He Runs up in the stand and gets in the fan's face.
Daniel Cormier
Ben, when he did it. He did it at Oregon State, too. At Oregon State. He started. He got into a fight with the football team.
Ben Askren
Oh, my God.
Daniel Cormier
Like, yo, he's still awesome. Yo. Did I tell you the story, like, before we go? Like, because we're going.
Ben Askren
Yeah, I gotta go.
Daniel Cormier
Did I tell you the story about when I saw Tyler. Tom. Tom Brands in Denver?
Ben Askren
Oh, yeah, you said in the airport, right?
Daniel Cormier
We hugged each other. Yeah, 10 times. Because we were so uncomfortable. Like, what are you saying to each other? He's like my Olympic coach, you know, he randomly sends me messages like, congratulations on being the first black commentator in the common era of the ufc. In the modern era. Because one time in Black History Month, they started honoring me for being the first black commentator in the.
Ben Askren
You really first. I come here. Not modern era.
Daniel Cormier
Jim Brown was. Jim Brown was.
Ben Askren
Okay.
Daniel Cormier
You know who Jim Brown is, right? The football player?
Ben Askren
Yes. My son loves football, so I'm telling him all about. You know who my favorite is? I bet you're gonna love my favorite. Who you know my favorite football player is.
Daniel Cormier
Who?
Ben Askren
Barry Sanders.
Daniel Cormier
He was the best, wasn't he?
Ben Askren
He was like. It's like, you still watch. I. I showed my son clips on the other day.
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. Yeah.
Ben Askren
The way he moved was like. No one moves like that. The way he moved was, like, otherworldly. It was really bizarre.
Daniel Cormier
It was bizarre. Isn't it great to show him, like, Michael Jordan and Barry Sanders, your kids, and they're like, this was sports when you guys were growing up. That's like, how. That's how little Dan always reacts. Hey. Yeah. So, yeah, yeah. Jim Brown was. That's the. I'm the first guy. So.
Ben Askren
Hey, are you going to NCS this year?
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I'm calling it again. They got me. They got me. Remember last year? I was acting like a little baby because those people were picking on me. Dude, why do wrestling people pick on me? Because I have too much fun? Is it too fun? Ben. Ben, would you. Hey, let me ask you this, Ben. Do you like your wrestling a little bit more vanilla? Just be honest. Do you like your.
Ben Askren
I can't remember. I can't remember. I don't actually remember why people are picking on you. I do get frustrated when. And this would not be you not talking about you. I'm talking about other people. Sometimes they put commentators on there who don't know a whole bunch about wrestling, and that annoys the. Out of me.
Daniel Cormier
So now you're telling me I don't know wrestling. This is the crazy thing.
Ben Askren
This is like, where you trying to instigate right now. I literally said, not you. But I think. I think you. And who are you commentating?
Daniel Cormier
Jordan Burrow.
Ben Askren
I think you guys just started talking about something. People like, hey, hey, sons of bitches. Like, I want you guys to commentate this match, not just have a conversation about something else.
Daniel Cormier
You have to talk about stuff, man. You have to make this interesting. You have to.
Ben Askren
What were you talking about? Origami or, like, crochet or something?
Daniel Cormier
I was talking about maybe, like, I was like, hey, have you ever seen the game Twister? It seems like this is a game of Twister because these two guys are, like, rolling around. They're stuck together.
Ben Askren
Oh, my God.
Daniel Cormier
It's like that. So.
Ben Askren
Okay.
Daniel Cormier
All right, Ben. I'll let you go, man. Hey, guys, that was another episode of Fucking the Champ. I've been asking. I'm Daniel Cormier. I'll keep. Catch you on the next one. Peace.
Ben Askren
See ya.
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports, and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors. And with extended interview interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
A.J. Jacobs
Dressing. Dressing.
Daniel Cormier
Oh, French dressing.
A.J. Jacobs
Exactly.
Daniel Cormier
Ah, that's good.
A.J. Jacobs
I'm A.J. jacobs, and my current obsession is puzzles, and that has given birth to my podcast, the Puzzler.
Daniel Cormier
Something about Mary Poppins?
A.J. Jacobs
Exactly.
Ben Askren
This is fun.
A.J. Jacobs
You can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears. Listen to the Puzzler every day on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Martin Luther King III
Welcome to my Legacy. I'm Martin Luther King iii, and together with my wife, Andrea Waters King, and our dear friends Mark and Craig Kilburger, we explore the personal journeys that shape extraordinary lives.
Daniel Cormier
Join us for heartfelt conversations with remarkable guests like David Oyelowo, Mel Robbins, Martin Sheen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Billy Porter.
Ben Askren
Listen to my legacy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is my legacy.
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me at former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing With a Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit everything. Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode Title: Daniel Cormier TV - Daniel Cormier & Ben Askren on Jon Jones-Francis Ngannou Fight, Makhachev-Belal, Ben vs. Usman
Release Date: February 19, 2025
The episode kicks off with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier and former Bellator Lightweight Champion Ben Askren engaging in their signature banter. They discuss upcoming events and appointments, setting the stage for an in-depth analysis of current and potential matchups in the MMA world.
Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren dive into the anticipation surrounding significant MMA events, particularly focusing on Jon Jones' potential fight against Francis Ngannou. They discuss the logistics and possibilities of such a matchup, highlighting the complexities involved in making high-profile fights happen.
The conversation shifts to the much-anticipated fight between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. Cormier expresses skepticism about the likelihood of the fight materializing, citing Dana White's influence as a significant obstacle.
They discuss how Dana White prioritizes the UFC brand over individual athletes, making cross-promotions rare and challenging. The duo also touches upon Ngannou's success outside the UFC and his reluctance to return, further complicating the potential bout.
Cormier and Askren delve deeper into Dana White's management of the UFC, emphasizing his reluctance to accommodate fighters' personal goals if they conflict with the brand's interests.
They critique the UFC's business strategies, noting how White's decisions often place corporate interests above fighters' desires, leading to challenges in booking marquee fights.
The discussion moves to the current state of the UFC, focusing on fighters like Islam Makhachev and Bilal Muhammad. They analyze the competitiveness within weight classes and the strategic decisions fighters make regarding weight divisions to maximize their careers.
They argue that staying within one's natural weight class allows fighters to perform optimally and maintain their competitive edge, rather than seeking higher weight classes for potential title shots.
Cormier and Askren share personal stories and anecdotes, providing a glimpse into their camaraderie and history within the MMA community. They reminisce about past interactions with coaches and fellow fighters, showcasing their deep-rooted relationships and playful rivalry.
These exchanges highlight their mutual respect and the long-standing friendships they've built over the years, adding a personal touch to their professional discussions.
The hosts discuss influential figures within UFC, such as coach Terry Brands, and their impact on the sport. They critique and commend various personalities, reflecting on how leadership styles affect fighters and the overall dynamics of the UFC.
Their analysis underscores the importance of leadership and mentorship in shaping fighters' careers and the UFC's reputation.
The conversation shifts back to current UFC events, discussing specific fight cards and athlete performances. They analyze the outcomes of recent matches, fighter preparations, and strategies that influenced the results.
Their insights provide listeners with expert opinions on fight performances and future predictions, catering to MMA enthusiasts seeking detailed analysis.
As the episode wraps up, Cormier and Askren exchange final thoughts and humorous remarks, maintaining their engaging and entertaining dynamic. They invite listeners to tune in for future episodes, ensuring a sense of continuity and anticipation for upcoming discussions.
Fight Realities: High-profile fights like Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou face significant obstacles due to management and contractual issues within the UFC.
Dana White’s Influence: Dana White's prioritization of the UFC brand over individual fighters' desires creates challenges in organizing marquee matchups and cross-promotions.
Weight Class Strategies: Staying within natural weight classes is crucial for fighters to maintain performance and competitiveness, as highlighted by the discussions on Islam Makhachev and Bilal Muhammad.
Personal Relationships: The longstanding friendship and playful rivalry between Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren provide entertaining and insightful perspectives on the MMA world.
Leadership Impact: Influential figures like Terry Brands play a pivotal role in shaping fighters' careers and the dynamics within the UFC.
This episode offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of current MMA dynamics, fighter strategies, and the intricacies of UFC management, all enriched by the charismatic interaction between Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren.