Tag: JNPO Classic

JNPO Classic: A talk with Tyson Griffin, UFC 136 recap

Posted on by Josh Nason

On another JNPO Classic, we head back to October 13, 2011, for an edition of the WGAM MMA Show featuring guest Tyson Griffin, then of the UFC.

If you’re new to these, I used to host an MMA show on ESPN NH and am posting those old shows from time to time here on my JNPO feed.

On this edition of the show, my co-host/product PJ Huot and I recap UFC 136: Maynard vs. Edgar III. We talk about the main event, Kenny Florian’s performance against then-featherweight champion Jose Aldo, and Chael Sonnen’s famous promo about Anderson Silva following his win over Brian Stann.

Given Aldo’s late career resurgence, enjoy listening to my frustrations about what he had become nine years ago.

Then, we talk to Tyson Griffin who was preparing for a fight with Bart Palaszewski at UFC 137. We talk about the three Fs (fighting, food, fishing), the upcoming bout, and some deep career stuff.

Click below to get into the MMA time machine.

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JNPO Classic: Lamenting the UFC’s 205-pound division in 2011

Posted on by Josh Nason

On another edition of JNPO Classic, we head back to October 6, 2011, and found ourselves in a familiar position as today: groaning about the state of the UFC’s light heavyweight division.

If you’re new to this series, it’s a week-by-week look back at the short run of the WGAM MMA Show, a program that ran on ESPN NH for under a year, co-hosted by myself and producer PJ Huot.

There was no guest on this week’s show, so we did a lot of previewing and looking ahead. The big news of the week was Lyota Machida getting the nod to face then-light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at a December 2011 PPV in Toronto. We weren’t fans of that decision and spent a good amount of time trying to understand why UFC couldn’t just wait for Rashad Evans to heal up from injury.

We said, “The light heavyweight division needs help.” It’s a sentence that can still be used to describe the division nearly seven years later.

We also did a full preview of UFC 136: Edgar/Maynard III in Houston, co-main evented by then-featherweight champion Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian. 

Enjoy this weekly look back at MMA history:

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JNPO Classic: Travis Browne was a Blink182 groupie; fans turn on Jon Jones

Posted on by Josh Nason

At one point, Travis Browne was surging in the UFC heavyweight division and was closing in on what seemed like big things. On the September 22, 2011, WGAM MMA Show, yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot talked to him as he prepared to fight at UFC 135 against Rob Broughton.

We began the show by previewing UFC 135, headlined by then-light heavyweight champion Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson in Denver, CO. This is where the Jones train began to come off the tracks as he famously griped about having to autograph a replica title belt and the fans that once adored him began to turn on him. 

We also discussed Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck and I regrettably poked fun at Mark Hunt.

We then talked to Browne for a solid 15 minutes about his SportsCenter highlight of knocking out Stefan Struve, his upbringing in Hawaii, and how he was a self-admitted Blink182 groupie. This was such a difference between the angry guy I listened to at a press conference years later after the UFC’s last visit to Boston.

We wrapped up by previewing the Michael Bisping-Mayhem Miller season of TUF and discussing Kimbo Slice vs. DADA 5000 — a fight that wouldn’t happen until years later.

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JNPO Classic: Marcus Davis and the reality of post-UFC life

Posted on by Josh Nason

In our somewhat weekly jump back into the MMA Wayback Machine known as the WGAM MMA Show, we head back to September 15, 2011.

The highlight of our show that week was an interview with Marcus Davis who was back on the indie scene after being cut from the UFC. He was preparing to fight two times in one month, including one in his home state of Maine. He discussed his feelings about being cut from the UFC and why he felt a bit slighted when compared to Dan Hardy who was on a career slide at the time but was a Lorenzo Fertitta favorite.

Also, take note of the talk about weight cutting, especially when it comes to today’s environment when seemingly every weekend, someone misses badly.

Yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot did a preview of UFC New Orleans, headilned by the Battle Of The Jakes: Ellenberger vs. Shields and caught up on the news of the week including a bad night for Strikeforce in Cleveland.

Click below to head back in time:

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JNPO Classic: The strange story of Nick Diaz’s removal from UFC 137

Posted on by Josh Nason

Twice a week, we go back in history to go through the WGAM MMA Show archives, a radio show I did for ESPN NH back in 2011-12.

On the September 8, 2011, guest-free edition of the show, there was no shortage of news, led off by the truly bizarre set of circumstances surrounding Nick Diaz and his no-show of a press conference that cost him a shot at then-welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

We talked about it all: the presser here above, the missed flights, the new fight between GSP and Condit, Diaz’s escape out the back door and more. (Here’s the column I referenced on the show.)

We discussed the other big news that Brock Lesnar wasn’t going to retire and was set to face Alistair Overeem, the news that the first UFC on Fox show date was locked, and plenty more.

Enjoy this wild listen back at history now.

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JNPO Classic: John McCarthy and a fantasy MMA draft

Posted on by Josh Nason

On the September 1st, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show, yours truly and co-host producer PJ Huot talked with “Big” John McCarthy about his first book and the controversy known as RampageGate.

We kicked off the show talking about the allegations that UFC light heavyweight ttle challenger Rampage Jackson was lobbying against the champion Jon Jones. We then speculated on who Dana White was going to announce for the promotion’s debut on Fox before discussing the rumors of Brock Lesnar retiring from MMA.

We also quickly ran down UFC 134 and Anderson Silva’s middleweight title defense dominance of Yushin Okami.

McCarthy was our special guest, doing an extended interview about his first book. Six years later, this interview still holds up, especially his thoughts on what Joe Rogan sees as a broadcaster as opposed to what he sees while reffing inside the cage. 

We closed things up with doing a fantasy MMA draft, an idea that will be brought back to JNPO proper soon.

Enjoy!

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JNPO Classic: Jon Anik and UFC’s return to Brazil

Posted on by Josh Nason

On the August 25, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show, we were preparing for Hurricane Irene and for UFC heading to Brazil for the first time in 13 years.

Yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot did an extensive look at UFC 134 from Rio, headlined by then-middleweight champion Anderson Silva vs. the recently re-signed Yushin Okami. We then talked about Fox’s announcement of a one-hour debut show and the fights that I thought should be on the show. (Spoiler alert: I was right!)

We then did a long interview with Jon Anik, now of the UFC and then of ESPN as the co-host of MMA Live. We discussed his career and how he got into the business of MMA, what event days were like at Bristol, the MMA vs. boxing debate, and even his difficulty in tweeting and watching fights at the same time.

We then finished up the show with a review of the movie Warrior.

Click below to listen:

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JNPO Classic: UFC jumps into the Foxhole

Posted on by Josh Nason

With UFC on the doorstep of the end of their seven-year deal with Fox, we get into the wayback machine for the August 18, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show* and get out at the week the news broke.

Yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot talked about what we knew about the then-announced deal and what we thought it could mean for the promotion’s future on PPV and how their calendar would look. Given everything that’s happened since then, it’s a fun listen.

We then went to an interview with Duane Ludwig who was fresh off a sensational UFC on Versus fight against Amir Sadollah the week prior, a bout that was one of my favorite of all time. The now-retired fighter talked about that fight, his large memorabilia collection and getting autographs from guys like Joe Rogan and Fedor, and the controversy over his four second knockout that wasn’t a four second knockout.

*The WGAM MMA Show was a weekly program for ESPN NH that lasted for nearly a year…until it was canceled. 

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JNPO Classic: The UFC 133 road trip story

Posted on by Josh Nason

Our run through the near year-long WGAM MMA Show series continues with the August 11, 2011, edition of the show, featuring a road trip recap and an interview with a UFC lightweight contender.

Yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot recapped UFC 133, a show that was eventful for some bizarre reasons like Dennis Hallman’s wardrobe malfunction. It’s a non-hyperbolic review of a show that included Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Alexander Gustafsson, Chad Mendes, and Johny Hendricks. 

I also explain why I was in the stands for the show sitting next to Mike Sempervive rather than sitting on press row.

We then interviewed UFC lightweight Jim Miller on his impending Versus co-main event against Ben Henderson. It was a pretty ho-hum interview until we got into a discussion about beer, baking, and making furniture.

We then closed the show by previewing the UFC on Versus event which was headlined by Dan Hardy vs. Chris Lytle and featured what is one of my favorite fights of all time in Duane Ludwig vs. Amir Sadollah.

Click below to listen:

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JNPO Classic: How I helped Jorge Rivera charge his iPhone

Posted on by Josh Nason

On the August 4, 2011, edition of ESPN NH’s WGAM MMA Show, yours truly was ready to hit the road to UFC 133 in Philadelphia, PA.

After hearing of co-host/producer PJ Huot’s nose hair trimmer incident, we did a full preview of the card which includes my continued mispronounciation of names like Alexander Gustafsson.

We then talked to now-retired UFC middleweight Jorge Rivera, getting the true story about how I helped him charge his iPhone at UFC Boston, his thoughts on three planned fights with Alessio Sakara falling through, and how the gameplan had changed for his UFC 133 opponent Costa Phillipou. He told us about his relationship with Ranger Up and thoughts on a possible retirement.

We wrapped up the show with a review of the big Strikeforce show that was puncutated by Dan Henderson’s memorable knockout of Fedor Emelianenko.

Step back in history with us on the latest edition of JNPO Classic:

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JNPO Classic: The one with Mike Pyle

Posted on by Josh Nason

Our walk down MMA Memory Lane continues with the July 28, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show featuring an interview with UFC welterweight Mike Pyle

Yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot discussed the news that UFC was bringing a title fight to free/cable TV for the first time in five years with then-bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson, set for Versus with a co-main event of Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles.

We talked about Alistair Overeem’s announcement that he was going to fight for United Glory while still under contract with Strikeforce, another blow against the quickly declining relationship between UFC and Strikeforce fighters.

We then had a 15-minute chat with Pyle, who was preparing to face Rory MacDonald at UFC 133 in Philadelphia. We hit on how he’s fought fast-rising prospects before (John Hathway anyone?), how Bruce Lee and Royce Gracie were influences on his career, how he got to the UFC, and how he got the gig on the Universal Solider sequel.

We also previewed a PPV quality Strikeforce show headlined by Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko that also featured Miesha Tate vs. Marlos Coenen, Tim Kennedy vs. Robbie Lawler, and Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley.

The latest JNPO Classic is here:

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JNPO Classic: The rapidly disintegrating Strikeforce Grand Prix

Posted on by Josh Nason

On the July 21, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show, yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot were in the middle of a heat wave and the NFL lockout.

The studio was air conditioned, so we somehow powered through it, joined by then-rising UFC middleweight Mark Munoz and writer Spencer Kyte, then of Heavy.com.

We began the show talking about the Strikeforce Grand Prix falling apart due to injuries and the growing discontent within the organization about not being absorbed into the UFC. We discussed the lack of production changes with the UFC product, something that six years later is still not that much different.

I talked about my debut in the commentary booth for the Global Fight League, an experience that was about as last second as they come. 

We then did an interview with Munoz (a winner of six of his last seven) who was set to face Chris Leben in the main event of UFC 138 in England, a bout that would be the first five round non-title fight in UFC history. While this was a fairly vanilla interview, I got Mark’s thoughts on PED use in the sports and the TRT debate that was happening at the time.

We closed out the show talking to Spencer about whether Strikeforce was dead and the upcoming Fedor vs. Dan Henderson fight.

Enjoy this latest look back at history now:

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JNPO Classic: Godspeed & party on with Bas Rutten

Posted on by Josh Nason

The July 14, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show was a fun one, thanks to a great talk with former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten.

Yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot began the show by talking about the strange circumstances around the UFC 133 main event and how Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis changed to Evans vs. Lyoto Machida and then Evans vs. Tito Ortiz. That led to a discussion about whether guys like Evans should wait for title shots or stay competing until they get the call.

We went over the top stories from the first half of 2011 which we thought was the UFC buying Strikeforce.

We then did a fun 15-minute interview with Bas Rutten who was on to promote Inside MMA on HDNet (now AXStv) getting on cable systems in New Hampshire. He talked about Ortiz getting the opportunity against Evans, why he moved from Thai boxing to MMA, why he decided to leave active competition, his run on the FX series Lights Out, and more.

Enjoy the latest edition of JNPO Classic now:

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JNPO Classic: A tale of two UFC interviews

Posted on by Josh Nason

On the July 7, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show — a weekly radio show I co-hosted on ESPN NH — we had the high of a great interview and the low of a bad interview due to…a golf game.

Producer/co-host PJ Huot and I recapped the awesome UFC 132, headlined by the first meeting of Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber, a quick fight between Chris Leben and Wanderlei Silva, and the resurgence of Tito Ortiz.

Then, we had a fairly disastrous interview with then-UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard. The problem? He was on a very windy golf course. The questions weren’t great, the answers weren’t great, and overall, it sucked. However, I still felt like he was going to be a big star. Let’s move on.

On the flip side, we did another interview with UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon. There was no golf course, but a good conversation about how he used tech to gameplan for fights, his t-shirt sales, his big moment in Boston’s TD Garden, and rumored fights with Charles Oliveira and Donald Cerrone.

Listen to the 7-7-2011 edition of the WGAM MMA Show now:

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JNPO Classic: Carlos Condit and the build to UFC 132

Posted on by Josh Nason

Back on the June 30, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show — a weekly show I used to host on ESPN NH — myself and co-host PJ Huot were getting ready for the 4th of July weekend and a pretty exciting UFC 132 card.

The highlight of the show was former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit as our featured guest as he set to make his fifth appearance in the UFC, taking on Stun Gun Kim on the PPV main card.

Condit was on with us for roughly 15 minutes, going through everything from the origin of his nickname, his preparation going into the Kim fight (originally slated to be Chris Lytle), the transition in going from the WEC to UFC, and Kim’s unexpected trash talk. I think I said “talk about” roughly 1000 times.

PJ and I went over the full card, headlined by then-bantamweight champion Domnick Cruz and Urijah Faber’s first meeting and also the first time a 135-pound title fight headlined a UFC show. We talked about the co-main event (Wanderlei Silva vs. Chris Leben) and what we expected to be the final ride for former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz who was set to face Ryan Bader.

Enjoy this look back at MMA history:

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