A (2:06)

have bestowed upon me.

C (2:07)

Mr. Brad Slater said that, that it's the best. But I want to know, are you more of a Nicky or Brie? I mean, what does Brad say?

A (2:14)

You know, that's a good point. I think I'm right down the middle with which, you know, it's a great combo. And that's where I'll suddenly the third.

C (2:23)

Hey, my favorite vinos are ones that are blend. So I like when things are blended.

B (2:27)

Oh, there you go, Nikki.

C (2:28)

You know, hey, you like that?

B (2:29)

Yeah. So before we get into talking about ufc, we need to know more about you, Megan. So Nikki and I were like, what's life like for you right now in Las Vegas?

A (2:39)

Yeah, it is great. First of all, it's like a million degrees here already.

B (2:43)

Is it?

C (2:44)

And is it? Yes.

A (2:45)

103.

B (2:46)

Wait, but was that just a heat wave or that's like stain?

A (2:51)

I think it was a little bit of both. I think it's gonna stay like 80s 90s, but it's been great. I have an eight month old, so I've been taking him into the pool. He loves it so much. He's a water baby, and so that helps when we're in the desert. And yeah, it's great. I mean, ufc, as you guys know, you know, with your line of work, it just. There's no off season. Right. So we're just constantly in motion. But it's been a lot of great fights and a lot of work in Vegas, so not a ton of time on airplanes. And then, you know, we're kind of starting to hit the road a little bit more coming up soon.

B (3:21)

Okay, so you're, you have an eight month old. When you guys hit the road, is he going to come along or stay home with dad?

A (3:28)

Yeah, he comes along. Him and dad come along for most trips. I was just in Seattle for like a quick weekend trip. I didn't bring him to that, but he's come to Miami. He'll come to most the big events. I, I feel like I need to get him used to this way of life because, you know, we're constantly on planes or in hotels traveling, and I, I don't want to know, have to always leave him behind or find somebody to watch him because I selfishly want to be with him.

C (3:52)

You know, I want to spend every

A (3:53)

second that I can with him.

C (3:54)

I love that. You know, Teo, my son, started traveling with me when he was six weeks old. And honestly, he is the best traveler. He loves it. He's five and a half now, and he actually gets mad at me when he can't come. And this time around, like, he's on the road with me right now and think, I did Pittsburgh, New York. We were going to do Boston, but we're going to now end it here in New York.

B (4:17)

He's been incredible.

C (4:18)

He's taken in the city. I'm actually having a lot of fun with him because I'm seeing it in different ways. Like, I never thought I'd go see the Statue of Liberty super close up. That was one of the things you want to do. And I was like, wait, this is really badass and I love it. But it's smart that you're doing that because he loves planes. He loves travel, he loves hotels. Oh, my goodness.

B (4:36)

Loves hotels. Well, it's funny because I look at it a little differently. Like, I traveled a lot with my daughter, who's my firstborn. But after I had my son, you know, I was like, I'm not taking two on the road. And you know, my husband's retired now, so I'm lucky the kids staying with him. But I kind of like, selfishly kind of like my alone time on the airplane. I'm like sleeping girl. You just got shows. You just got back on the road. Spa day.

C (4:59)

You just got back.

B (5:00)

I mean, I miss the kids, but also I'm like, you know, kind of enjoying.

A (5:04)

No, I, I do get that because this past weekend in Seattle, I was, I slept till 7:30. I was like, I had so much guilt when I woke up. And then I was like, that was kind of nice.

C (5:12)

That was good, right?

B (5:13)

You almost want to text your husband and be like, gosh, my sleep was so bad. It's like the best slumber ever. Yeah, okay, I know.

C (5:21)

Well, so when life does get hectic, what is your go to reset?

A (5:25)

It's a good question. I am really big on just trying to get outside and walk. Like, even if it's just walking to a good coffee shop. So I feel like I did something while I was there, you know, in whatever city I'm in. Because, you guys know, it's not like we're, oh, let me just sightsee for the entire trip. It's usually just work related. So I do a lot of, like, if I can spend some time outside. And I found, especially when I was, you know, struggling with fertility issues and then, you know, fear of, is the pregnancy going to last? I did a lot of Pilates Reformer just, I feel like the way the breath connects with the body, you have no choice but to kind of only be focused on that. So I felt like if I could do one of those two things, that's that that was like the way I could reset myself in a very short amount of time and be a better version of me than I started. Ah.

B (6:12)

You know what's so interesting is since I've been back wrestling, I've been doing a lot of weightlifting, but the one thing I'm missing is the Pilates Reformer because I used to be so dedicated to that. And I, I feel like, I love the feeling of weightlifting. I'm noticing how strong I am. You know, the booty's getting a little bit bigger, the legs more defined, but I think I miss the stretching part of a workout. And, and that's what I love about the Pilates reformer. It's, like, tough, but it's probably, I think, the greatest workout.

C (6:39)

Oh, I agree.

A (6:40)

Oh, I agree for sure.

C (6:41)

Big time. And you know what? It, what, what is it about, like, coffee nowadays? Like, I don't know if it's being a millennial, a mom, traveling a lot, but coffee and coffee shops hit so differently because when you're like, at least if I could go walk to a coffee shop, I. I for. It's like a sp. Spiritual thing for me now. I mean, it just makes my day Christmas morning.

A (7:03)

Yes, yes. Especially, like, I found a great coffee shop in Seattle and I was like, oh, yeah, okay. It was just like this weird connection where, like, I wasn't even talking to anybody there.

C (7:13)

Yeah.

A (7:13)

It was just. I had this lovely cup. I felt like I had some energy. It was probably a placebo effect, right? Yeah. And I don't really remember that from when I was younger. Like, I feel like everybody was just dunking our Starbucks, which love them too.

C (7:26)

Right.

A (7:26)

But now it's, you know, everybody has this beautiful Instagram worthy space and they're making these drinks that I want to take a picture of. And.

C (7:33)

Yeah, it's so true. Oh, my goodness. It really is.

B (7:36)

So combat sports is something that's always been a part of your life. Your grandfather was a boxer, your dad and your brother were wrestlers, which is incredible. When did you know that getting into broadcasting around combat sports was what you wanted to do?

A (7:49)

Really, a lot later in life than, I think, a lot of people who are already in this field. You know, I went to college for political science, but I was always obsessed with sports, particularly the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. I know, I know.

B (8:01)

You guys know, we, we cringed a little bit, but we didn't want you to see it. Right.

A (8:07)

So I would go to these internships, and I would love my job, but I would always talk to everybody about whatever happened in the game the night before. And finally, you know, end of my junior year, beginning of my senior year of college, they were like, why don't you do something in sports for a living? And it. I just, I never connected the dots. It wasn't like I didn't think I could do it. I just never even considered it. And I had no concept how to get into it. And so once I had so much encouragement, I was like, I do love it. I might as well try. And it was just a natural fit. I started interning for a mixed martial arts show, and I knew a lot of the guys, because my brother had wrestled around the same time that they did. And so it was like a really easy fit. You know, I understood the boxing part of it. I understood the wrestling part of it. Jiu jitsu was pretty easy to pick up because I got a lot of the grappling. And so it just started feeling like, wait, these are my people. I grew up on a wrestling mat. My brother's 10 years older than me. I would be at every wrestling practice and tournament and match. And, you know, so it was like, oh, this is. This was my natural environment. And then, you know, I feel like I always approached it as, you know, it was my brother or my husband who is a retired fighter, and like, okay, I want people to see all of these athletes outside of just the athletic prowess that they have and who they are as competitors. I always felt like I had this desire to humanize everybody because I got to see that side of him, but fans don't always. And so it just. It just honestly was the most natural thing I have ever done. And that's how I knew, like, this is the right thing for me.

B (9:38)

Yeah. You know, and I have to say, it is such a talent to be able to humanize these athletes, especially because, like, we, you know, being around the combat sports industry, so many of them, people don't realize, but they're introverts. Like, they go out there in their machines, but a lot of times when you see them backstage, they're quiet. They want to be to themselves. So it. It so much talent and a craft that you're able to bring so much out of them. I mean, do you go into every interview and you kind of have a game plan or you just. It's natural for you, you know, what you're doing.

A (10:12)

I think it's a little bit of both. Like, you do you want to do everything you possibly can to be the most informed and well researched about them, but then. And you guys can probably, you know, speak to this as well. It's like sometimes you see someone's body language before or after a competition, and that tells you everything. And it's like, okay, all those questions are going out the window. They're either like on cloud nine or they. They just want a huge fight. And they. They don't seem like they did it all. You would have thought that they. They were the one who did not get their hand raised. And so I always try to just, like, let that lead me first and foremost. And then the knowledge and the information that I've, you know, obtained that always is there to dwell upon, but, like, it's. It's what's in front of me first.

B (10:52)

Yeah, I mean, what's probably the hardest question you've had to ask a fighter after a match?

A (10:58)

I would say usually for me, what's the most challenging is. Well, there's two. When they do not win that for me, a lot of times they do have enough character that they want to come talk and say no. You know, I spoke before when I thought I was going to win, and I need to speak now. That's such a sensitive time, because in an individual sport, you know, there's. There's just them, their hopes and dreams, whether it's their first fight of their life or, you know, a world championship that they've been competing for for 10 years. It'. You know, at that moment, it's. It's the biggest thing that. That will have ever happened to them right then and there. And so, you know, being able to give them a platform, but the right amount of compassion and understanding to feel comfortable to. To share their thoughts, that's probably no matter what the question is. It's just, you know, the most challenging moment. And then sometimes on the flip side, I find it really hard. And it is, you know, part of my job is you might be. Have just become world champion. You might have won the biggest fight of your life. And we have to say, well, what's next?

C (11:59)

We.

A (11:59)

We don't even very much let anyone live in the moment, you know, because it's always moving forward. And so I. I find that to be challenging, too, because it's. Sometimes I'm like, hey, I want you to enjoy this as much as you possibly can. You've learned every second of it. But what do you want to do next?

C (12:11)

Right? It's so like, the question when you have your first baby and they're like, so when's the. The next one coming? And you're like, wait, I just had a baby. Like, let's just literally, you know. Do you ever get nervous going live?

A (12:25)

Mm, that's a good question.

C (12:26)

Not.

A (12:28)

Not really. I'm really weird. I can know that a ton of people are watching, and I have no problem talking into the camera. But if, like, I have to say that same thing just in front of 30 people who are listening to me, then I would be nervous. I get that. Yeah, it's weird.

B (12:44)

I know what you mean. It's. You know what it is? It's like when you see the sea of people, everyone kind of blends. Or it's Just almost like so much chaos is going on and it's all blurry. And I think, too, we probably have these, like, your adrenaline kicks in and all that. But when it's an intimate setting and people are just so quiet listening, I'm like, holy smokes.

A (13:03)

This is like, yes, weird.

C (13:05)

Totally. And for me, it's like, I could talk to hundreds and hundreds of people, but if you put 30 people I know in front of me, it's so weird how that can change the game for me.

A (13:14)

Yes. It's like the stranger thing is like, whatever. Yeah, I don't know them. But then it's like, oh, my gosh, I know them. I can't find any words at all.

C (13:21)

Oh, yeah.

B (13:22)

Well, especially this one over here is like, miss. What do you mean, tmi? And it's like, when there's people around. Well, I feel like you hold back a little bit when it's strangers. You let loose.

C (13:32)

I do. Well, I kind of thrive on. Not that I thrive on shock. You kind of do, but maybe. Yeah, you're right. But, like, not in a bad way.

B (13:41)

No, no, you're right.

C (13:43)

I do. I tend to say things.

B (13:44)

No, I'd never let you be.

C (13:45)

Well, because I don't care if I think strangers judge me. But then also when I know it's like a group of my people, then I'm like, oh, are you guys gonna go talk about me after this?

B (13:53)

Yeah. But then she's a. She's the type, too, that in the middle of night, severe anxiety and be, like, severe too much. And this. That I'm like, really?

C (14:02)

Well, because this is the thing. I can't. For some reason, no matter how many times I tell myself before I go out and do a live show and interview, I'm always like, think about what you're gonna say before you say it. And I still can't get that down. Whatever comes to my head, I'm just gonna say it. And a lot of the stuff I do is live. And all of a sudden, in the middle of the night, I'm like, what the fuck? Why did I say that? What was I thinking? Did I really have to make the sixes for Dick's jokes? Like, that was in a formal setting, but I thought it was funny. Or, why were you so vulgar, Nicole? Why does your mind go straight to the gutter, whatever it may be? Or why did you have to say

B (14:43)

that part about your life?

C (14:44)

Does anyone really want to know that part of your life? This happens to me all the time. I mean, my poor team at Times will get text messages from me at like three in the morning. Like, so, hey, can you reach out to that person I didn't interview with and like get all this cut? Don't really want that out there. It's wild.

A (15:00)

I totally get it. Whenever I'm about to do a hit, like, especially if they're like, hey, we need to fill. I'm like, well, let's see what comes out of my mouth.

C (15:06)

Yeah, yeah, honestly.

B (15:08)

Well, and I think too, because we're next to each other a lot, so it's almost like when you're with a sibling, you're almost like. And like we'll laugh about it right after, like, oh, what we said in that interview. And. But then I'll wake her up at night and be like, what we said in that interview. And I'm always like, who gives a shit?

C (15:23)

Yeah, she's always like, who gives a shit? And like, she does have a lot of empathy, but I have a massive heart. Like I'm, I have a lot of empathy, but I have a. I wear my heart on my sleeve. So if I ever feel like I've hurt someone or offended them, like for instance, when I've had like, maybe it was probably my first public breakup and I would be very uncomfortable when people would ask me questions, especially when they were told not to and then they'd ask me something, I would just make a joke out of being very uncomfortable. But then that would air and that would really hurt the other person. And I was like, I. I didn't mean to say thank you. Next it was just Ariana said songs out and they asked me a question and that's the first thing that I thought of. I mean, think of like a few things I have said and I'm like, and then it'll keep me up all night because I'm like, oh my gosh. I didn't want to say that about that person. I didn't even mean it. But I was uncomfortable, right?

A (16:09)

I mean, especially when things are alive, people. I mean, it's such a delicate high wire act that I, I think unless you live it, people don't really understand the pressure and everything that's going on around you while you're trying to focus on this one thing. It is a lot.

B (16:22)

Oh, for sure. And I'm just like, My sister went. Her nervous tick is. She has a vulgar mouth.

C (16:27)

So it's crazy. I don't know why God gave me a vulgar brain. But hey, everything goes straight to dick jokes, vagina jokes, anything like that. And I'm just like, sit there and if I know.

B (16:41)

Poor Megan. Poor.

C (16:42)

I know. I mean, I liter. We were at, it was the horse races years ago, and they brought up the number six horse and it was such a formal setting and they're introducing us to the jockey, but the team. And then he's about to leave and I don't know, I should have just let them walk away. And of course, I had to end it with, oh, you know what they say about six? And everyone stops and goes away. I'm like, six is for dicks. And everyone just gets so quiet and you see how disgusting.

B (17:11)

Well, I was shocked. I was like, you know what six are for? And I'm like, there's no way. She's about say dick. And then I saw her mouth say dick. And I was like, oh my God.

C (17:21)

And then I was like, I was in shock. Not the right time. And I just, like, I could tell,

B (17:28)

I'm, well, we were never invited back, so there you go. They were really offended.

A (17:31)

But they'll never forget you, right?

C (17:33)

Hey, they'll talk about me every Christmas and I'm fine with it. If I'm the sixes for dicks, girl, that's fine.

B (17:39)

Or maybe every horse race. Oh my gosh, you are so crazy. Thanks to Paramount for bringing you this special episode.

C (17:46)

UFC 327 is coming Saturday, April 11, and one of the biggest matchups to watch is Tatiana Suarez versus Lupi Godinez.

B (17:55)

It's a high stakes fight in the straw weight division with Suarez returning to prove herself and go Dines stepping in with momentum and a relentless pace.

C (18:04)

And the best part is Paramount plus is the new home of UFC bringing every moment of the Octagon together in one place.

B (18:12)

From major numbered events like UFC 327 to fight nights and more, it's all available with one subscription, so you don't have to search across platforms or miss a fight.

C (18:22)

It's simple, seamless, and built for fans who want every moment.

B (18:26)

Paramount is the new home of UFC 1 subscription every fight stream UFC 327 live April 11th on Paramount Plus. Well, Megan, I, you know your husband Joe, who is also a UFC fighter, and my husband actually sings his praises. He said he was tremendous. Yeah. In the Octagon. He always loved watching his fight. What is it like to share the love of this sport while also building a life together and having a little boy?

A (18:55)

Yeah, it's. It's incredible. We've gotten to travel the world together, you know, and someone else's dime, right?

B (19:00)

Like, which Is the greatest.

A (19:01)

All over the world together. Yeah. And it's. It's so cool. I've watched him fight. I've worked. I worked the majority of his fights, which was an entire thing in itself, which was insanity. I actually. Now that he's retired, I'm like, how did I even do that?

C (19:13)

I know I couldn't do that. That'd be hard.

A (19:16)

It would be really hard. Nuts. It actually. And, like, it actually got harder as his career went on. Like, it was so fun in the beginning, and then every fight just felt more and more important, and I, like. I don't know. It was bananas. Now I'm like, I don't know how I did that or. Yeah, anyway. But, no, it was. It was incredible. And, like, it's so fun because, you know, they'll come to Miami with me, or they were at the Madison Square Garden fight, you know, he and veto. And it's so cool because people love him so much, and that means way more to me than, like, anyone saying anything about the work that I do. Like, the love and respect and admiration that he gets, like, is. And still to this day, being retired for many years, it's. It's so beautiful to me, and it's so important to me that, like, that just kind of adds a little pep to my step. And, you know, when they're like, joby, we love you. Like, you're a legend. Like, yeah, he is. Thank you. And, you know, it's cool to bring our son around that, you know, and have him, like, start to. He'll grow up hearing things like that. And I think it's so important that he knows, you know, how much his dad did and how hard he worked and that if he works just as hard, he can do anything he wants to, for sure.

B (20:21)

Would it make you nervous if he followed his dad in his footsteps?

A (20:26)

Yeah, it would make me super nervous, But I'm already like, if that's what's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. You know, Like, I'm gonna. I'm gonna try and make him go to college and go down that kind of route, But I think on both sides of the family, there's a whole lot of combat sports. So I would be a hypocrite to tell him he couldn't, Right?

B (20:44)

Oh, my gosh. That's right. Because of your brothers, your grandfather. Oh, my. Or your dad.

C (20:49)

All of it. And you named him Vito.

B (20:51)

I mean, that just like, a tough boy name. Yeah.

C (20:54)

Like someone I don't want to mess with. Mean.

A (20:57)

His last name is Benavidez, which is the Mexican half of him. And I'm like, he's an Italian half.

B (21:01)

Yeah. Such a good name.

C (21:04)

It's a good name.

A (21:05)

Thank you.

B (21:05)

Such a good name. So you have a podcast called Becoming a Fighter. Tell us more about your podcast and where everyone can listen to it.

A (21:13)

Yeah, you can listen to it anywhere. You download your podcast and on YouTube as well. It's in video.

B (21:18)

Oh, nice.

A (21:19)

Basically, it is probably my favorite project that I do, and it all goes back to, you know, who these people are inside the Octagon. I think a lot of times, if you're not around combat sports, you assume the worst about who's competing or who's performing. And there's a lot of people who will look at the UFC and think, oh, they're just, you know, they're just brutes, or they're not smart individuals, or, you know, they're. They're nasty humans outside of there. And that couldn't be further from the truth. And so, for me, it's just like, I want to know, how did you become a fighter? Because no one's path to. To competing inside the Octagon is the same. Not one person has followed, you know, this blueprint that everybody else then followed along. And so, for me, it's all about, you know, what did you grow up like? Because usually not everything went perfectly in their lives to, you know, decide that this was the best way to make a living. But it is such beautiful journeys for every individual. We've got, you know, moms and dads and college educated and even higher education than college. We've got people who knew right in high school they were starting to take amateur fights. There's so many different stories that I think, you know, anybody from any walk of life, you don't have to ever have seen a UFC fight to listen to this type of journey and understand, like, wow, that's pretty inspiring. And the perseverance that it takes, the. The love of sport, the love of life that it takes. And so, you know, my goal, whenever I sit down with somebody, it's always, I pretend it's Joe sitting across from me. And I'm like, what would I want people to know about Joe and who he is and how he grew up and how he ended up in the octagon? And so that's always the goal. Like, I just recorded one with Max Holloway from Hawaii, and he just has this incredible story, and it's so funny, but there's so many things had to fall into place for it to all work Out. And so it's just, it's, for me, it's the best version of storytelling that we can do. And it's, it's just the highest honor to sit across from someone and have them tell you just how it all came to fruition and, and it's super fun.

B (23:21)

Now, are there any stories that we should be looking forward to in the big event coming up? UFC327.

A (23:27)

So in our main event, there's, there's two title fights on this one. In our main event, former champion Yuri Prohashka, he's competing the same week his baby is due.

B (23:36)

No way.

C (23:37)

So.

A (23:38)

Right, right. And we're all just like, what is happening?

B (23:41)

Yeah.

A (23:42)

So he believes, I think his baby is due three, three days after his fight.

C (23:45)

Oh, my God.

A (23:46)

But it is literally within days. And so he is fighting a guy named Carlos Ulberg, who's from New Zealand, who they are desperately trying to get on the Bachelor. I think they've asked him like three or four times.

B (23:57)

No way.

A (23:58)

Super handsome dude.

C (23:59)

Wow.

A (23:59)

Very soft spoken. They're kind of opposites. Yuri lives this, like, very samurai lifestyle and Carlos is super chill. He comes from, you know, a big team called City Kickboxing Israel. Adesanya is from there, you know, former champion who just fought in Seattle. So that's our main event. And then in our co. Main event, it's the flyweights, which is my husband's division that he helped. He was the first flyweight win, first flyweight title fight. So I, I have a special connection with them. Champion is Joshua Van there. And he's facing a guy from Japan named Tatsuro Taira. We've never had a Japanese champion in all the years of ufc, which is kind of crazy because as you guys know, there's. There's incredible combat sports. Athletes from Japan.

B (24:38)

Oh my gosh.

A (24:39)

And, and their culture is so into it. They're so behind their athletes. They, they're so wonderful whenever we go over there for our events. And so it'll be really neat to see if he's able to kind of etch his name into the history books. And I know you guys mentioned at the very top of it, we talked about Tatiana Suarez quickly. And Tatiana, she was going. She was essentially on the track to be an Olympian in wrestling.

B (25:02)

Wow.

A (25:03)

She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. And yes. I mean, barely over 18 and she gets thyroid cancer. Her life completely changes. And then she just, she, she beats cancer. And then she's like, you know what? I think I have more in me. And she's become a world class fighter. Absolutely dominant inside the octagon. And so there's. There's just a tremendous amount of stories in every single fight. But I would say those are kind of the highlights for sure.

B (25:29)

Yeah. Wow, that sounds really great. So the bachelor or trying to be the bachelor. He's single, Nikki.

C (25:35)

I mean, how old is he?

A (25:38)

I think he's in his late 20s, early 30s. But his age.

C (25:42)

Does age matters? I don't think it does.

B (25:46)

I don't think it does.

A (25:47)

I mean, I mean, Tickets.

B (25:49)

Hey, go.

A (25:50)

Just let me know.

C (25:51)

Put it in there. When?

B (25:53)

Yeah, April 11th. Well, that's my anniversary, so I guess if I want to be wife of the year, I should take my husband.

C (25:58)

I mean, what a fun anniversary that would be.

B (26:01)

Let's all go.

C (26:02)

Let's make it happen. Okay, you guys could, like, help me out. The only thing is, is when you go for like that age, like, I don't want marriage and babies. He's still probably looking for, oh, yeah, a wife and kids.

B (26:12)

So.

C (26:13)

But hey, I'm. I'm here for the good times, so

B (26:15)

I'm in the in between.

C (26:16)

I'm the good time before they want the serious.

B (26:19)

And we need to just go back with them to New Zealand and do wine country. Yeah, there's a lot of good wine there.

A (26:24)

Listen, look at this. Feels like. This feels like fate.

C (26:27)

It does feel like fate. It really does. I agree. I love this.

B (26:31)

Oh, my gosh, Megan, you are so incredible. We. Anytime Nikki and I are in Vegas, we need to all meet up and have some wine time. We would love that. And then we can talk about our kit because, yeah, I feel like when moms get together, we all love to show pictures, talk about our kids.

C (26:45)

Yes. And you know, Brie, because I know you're about to get in some inspiration affirmation. But before we get into that, I do have one last question for you because I would just. I'm so curious about this. What does it mean to you to be a voice for women in this space that's so male dominated?

A (26:59)

That's. That's. Yeah, it's important. I feel like I have to know more then maybe if there was a male in my position, I feel like I have to be ready for anything that they throw at me. I take it so seriously because I never want to come on air and have someone just think I have the job because I checked a box. I want them to know I have the job because I am the best at it. And so, you know, I take it so seriously whether it's the smallest fight night in our UFC apex, and, you know, there's a lot of newcomers on the card, or it is, you know, Madison Square Garden, and it is the biggest stars of the sport. I just feel like I cannot in any way drop the ball, because then, unfortunately, it would be dropping the ball for a lot of other people, too, and particularly a lot of women. So I just feel like the standard is higher, and that's okay. I can live up to that standard. And I think, you know, all women, you know, in our. In our spaces that are mostly male dominated, I think we probably all feel like we have to earn our job every week for sure. But I. But I definitely don't feel like it's a bad thing. I feel like it just helps me be my very best. And if that's how I have to live and operate, you know, in this field, then I'm totally okay with it, because I know the standard will never waver. But, you know, I don't take it for granted, and I just look to prove that it doesn't really matter what my gender is. It's just like, oh, she. She kind of is the best storyteller. She's the best at, you know, at interviews, and that's why she has the job.

B (28:27)

And you are.

C (28:28)

Amen.

A (28:28)

You.

C (28:29)

I hope you're so good at what you do. You really are grit and grace and all of the above. That is for sure.

B (28:36)

Yes. Well, Megan, we always end our episodes with little inspiration, affirmation. Is there a quote or a motto you live by?

A (28:41)

Okay, so this isn't gonna be super, like, inspirational. You guys are gonna be like, this is such a dumb quote, but I swear, it's what I live by, and it has gotten me to this point. So fake it till you make it.

C (28:52)

There you go.

A (28:53)

You know, I. I know it's not like, oh, this. This beautiful, you know, poem or anything like that, but. But I think a lot of times, as we were just, like, in the last question, talking about, sometimes you don't feel like you necessarily are welcomed into the room. You don't know if you have the respect of people yet. You don't know, you know, if you have proven enough to show you belong. But if you. If you do the work and you fake that confidence, whether or not you actually have it in the moment, I think it carries you so far, you know, doing hits on live tv, sometimes you don't know what's going to come out of your mouth, and sometimes you don't necessarily feel great. Maybe you Just sprinted there or whatever it might be. And it's not your best, but if you fake it, that viewer at home is gonna, they're gonna listen to what you're saying. And if you fake that you have enough confidence to be in that room, eventually everyone's gonna think, yeah, you, you do belong. And I think that's carried me so far, especially younger in my career. I, I was constantly second guessing myself and having low confidence and just, I did all the work, but it just still, I didn't know if I belonged. And it was like, okay, I can't let somebody else make me feel inferior. I have to just pretend they don't bother me. And eventually pretending led into actually believing.

B (30:11)

Gosh, I love that.

C (30:13)

That's so good.

B (30:14)

And it's so true for women in male dominated industries.

C (30:18)

That is 100% even for men. I mean, I think immediately as Santino Morello when they asked him, hey, do you know Italian? And he said, yes, but he had no idea what Italian was. And then he created one of the greatest characters in WWE that is just so memorable. But he did the total fake it till you make it. Like he knew it was his one opportunity to finally have this breakout chance. And he was like, yes, I know Italian. And he went and learned it.

A (30:43)

And that's amazing.

C (30:44)

It was created. A star was born. And so I completely agree with that. It's great advice.

B (30:51)

That's right. And for all of you, please stream UFC 327 live April 11th on Paramount Plus. And also if you want to see videos on the Nikki and Bri show, you can see videos on our IG page, TikTok, Facebook and the Nikki and Bri show is Also on Sirius XM Stars 109. You can also call our hotline at 833 Garcia 2. And please follow Megan on social media. You can find her on Instagram at Megan Olivy. And you can hear her podcast Becoming a Fighter wherever you get your podcast. Oh, Megan, thank you so much for joining us.

A (31:27)

This was a pleasure. I appreciate it so much. I'm so glad Brad knew that we

C (31:31)

would all he knew get along. He always knows.

B (31:34)

He does always know, that is for sure.

C (31:35)

Like we could talk about so much, which we'll save it for another time.

B (31:38)

For sure. Definitely. Well, you enjoy that sunny weather.

C (31:41)

Thank you, Miami. Yes, for sure. Bye.

B (31:46)

Thanks again to Paramount plus for supporting this special episode.

C (31:50)

Don't miss Tatiana Suarez vs. Lupi Godinez at UFC 327 on Saturday, April 11th

B (31:56)

with Paramount plus every fight is right there. When you need it.

C (32:00)

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B (32:02)

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B (32:51)

hey everyone, when you're doing it all, you need all the electrolytes.

C (32:55)

I mean whether that's 7am Pilates class to be hydrated for. I know for us we have power lifting in the mornings after school drop off. There's a lot to be hydrated for.

B (33:05)

Being a mom, taking my kids to school, making them breakfast, lunch and dinner.

C (33:10)

And let's be honest, what you need is you need Gatorade, which hydrates better than water itself.

B (33:15)

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C (33:24)

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B (33:33)

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C (33:37)

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