JRE MMA Show #160 with Francis Ngannou

38:22Well, he was knocking everybody out not just knocking everybody out But the way he did it like he melted guys He put pressure on them and knockout power but intelligence and just great technique But the cardio was crazy and I remember thinking like this dude doesn't get tired and then watching him train I'm like, oh, well, there it is. I mean he's not just doing like normal mitt work I've seen other guys work out with a do mitt work to do their things like his stuff is cardio intensive man He has he wants to have a full gas tank when he gets in there. Yeah, you know How crazy was that crazy was that fight where they called the fight because he stepped on a piece of glass Inside the cage.

39:03I don't know man. I don't even know what that referee was doing. Oh, they had to pull it out of his toe Yeah, like he's like he's like stepped on something. I stood something in my toe and then I was like fights off Yeah, I think you stop the fight and you even check the canvas if there's no more piece of it That should be over a tall Dangerous that should it is dangerous, but that that should be a no contest. There's no way that you got us a loss That's fucking insane. No contest at all no chance How the fuck is that a guy getting about like yeah, I broke or something that didn't happen nothing piece of it glass A piece of any shooting to a show and he's saying just let me get it out of my toe.

39:43Yeah Let me get this out of my toe. It shouldn't be there and you know things happen Who knows how it even got in there who knows what happened the odds just some random freak accent He steps on something that nobody you know what it could have been stuck to someone's shoe and someone's walking around the cage with that Stuck in a shoe and it falls out of the shoe and it sticks in his toe. He stands on it He gets in his toe and he just points down. They say stop the fight. Yeah, he's like I lost twice like first undead See if you find that jamming see if I was reading as someone's explanation of a mark God or didn't this that he did what you're supposed to do like a fighter can't ask for a timeout and so like no No, that's wrong.

40:19He's not a time out. There's a foreign objects inside the cage Yeah, before and object the humidity sections of the referees guidelines and To me to continue this is just someone's actually do they say to me to me that's what this is oh That's ridiculous. No, no, no, no, no, that's ridiculous. I'll find a fine The footage though because the footage is it's so obvious or something wrong the referees should just say time Ask what he said what what it wasn't like he was in trouble when he was looking for a time out. Yeah It was just he was dead in the 50 50 position. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. It's not like nobody is losing position So here it is he's standing there Yeah, it's not like nobody is losing nobody is losing position from that It's not like you take a punch.

41:07I want to recover from that fucking crazy Yes, no, I just don't understand that at all I haven't talked to mark about it. That wasn't a good decision. I don't understand I mean, maybe he's hindered by the rules. Maybe that's just with the rules state you have to do When the fighter says you have to stop something for a second. I don't know what the rules are in terms of that I've never seen that happen before. I've never seen someone step on something inside the octagon and then point down to their foot I've never seen it so I don't But man, what a shame but came after that and he won he won his next fight He's gonna fuck up a lot of people man.

41:48I was bummed out that he went to the pf. I wanted that guy in the UFC He can fucked up a lot of people and you know, he's got a lot of years on the fact He said he said he wanted to go to the u .s .A And then they give him some sort of contract then I'm like no bro. They gave me a bad contract. Yeah I think he said that on the on the tweet, right? I don't know I don't know about let's make it Well, that's crazy. That guy could be a superstar. He could be a superstar. He's a superstar. Yeah He's a superstar. They got filled up the best arena in Paris. Yes, and France is a superstar Yeah, I mean, and that could translate 100 % of the United States into the rest of the world I mean, he's that good.

42:31He's that good. Yeah, he's he's one of the best in the world And the fact that he's over there just like well great for the pf. L Great for the pf. L, you know, but for the UFC like that's a big loss Like anytime you can get an elite kickboxer and he did the lot of training. He did a lot of training and wrestling went to a .k .a Train there. He's he's really worked on his take down defense and he wants something Yeah, he definitely wants something and he's working on it and the guy has serious discipline and work ethic And he's just smart man and way he fights. He's just like he sets guys. He talks so much shit before the fight too He's fun.

43:06Did you watch his first fight at the pf? Yeah The guy bring a brother mattress Like what the fuck is this? Said Jordan go to sleep And he put the guy to sleep. Yeah in few seconds Well, the the difference between his level of striking and most guys in that division level striking is like this Yeah, there's a huge gap of the giant gap. The other people the other guy We're just trying to compensate with the arrest and all judges who are some exactly or and even if you don't Have a better wrestling than him at least you grab him you avoid some punch. Yes, and the thing about him is and every fight starts standing up So one thing if you're a really good wrestler you have to take the guy to the ground But the fight starts standing, you know with sedric the fight starts in his best place And then you see how he was fighting the second fight He was very low.

44:02He went very low like oh, yeah, you're a wrestler. Yeah, let's see how you're gonna yeah get that level change Yeah, I'm already down here. Mm -hmm. So getting very very intelligent very smart And again his level of striking and we see that with like guys like Alex Perreira Right like that level striking when you're a glory champion the level striking is so high It's so above the average MMA fighter Then when he gets in there with these guys they don't they don't want none of that and then as soon as they start to get like a A little wrestling Defense and stuff like that they become a trouble.

44:41You can't take him down anymore And then you you you stand in front of him. He's smoke you. Yes. What could you do? Well, you see that with Alex Perreira now. Yeah, take down defense. It's much better And he keeps getting better. He's evolving so quickly Like now because he's been training. Yeah, he's been training for so long He's been training for so long and then he's also training with Glover, you know, Glover to share Also former champion, I mean Glover was a guy that was locked out of America for six years He couldn't come to America for six years because he had visa issues And he was like the boogie man.

45:15We would all hear about him in Brazil and everybody would talk yeah Glover was like one of those guys before he entered into the UFC that I think he wasted his prime Unfortunately in Brazil. I don't I was a wasted his prime But I think his prime years were outside of the United States That's why when he won the title he was like 42 43 43 what exactly is a prime years for a guy that won a title of 44 43 I think you get to the you get to the point to you get you to think that maybe 43 is the prime years You want to title is that here right? Yeah, you watch that. Yeah, I'm like 43. He's not at all You know, I think at 43 you can still do something.

45:56Yeah It will depends on the division right like George Foreman when the heavyweight title 45 yeah, yeah Heavyweight Because they don't push on that gas, you know, right right or some punch and move how all the set trick Cedren Dombe. Yeah, how old is he? I want to say he's young. Yeah, he's young. He's young. He might be 30. How was it? 31 That's a good idea. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, with that level of kickboxing. Woo And power man, you know like it's not just like technique but power and endurance like it's a rare combination He has a very very good endurance and extreme power. Yeah, he hit like a deaf guy Yeah, he's a fucking killer.

46:50I'm excited to see what happens Do you understand the pfls point system? Do you understand that system? What do you mean you know how they have points like if you get a knockout in the first round you get one point or three points Yeah, what the fuck are they doing that that's that's for the regular lesson. I think it's um Just to push push people for a better fight everybody knows that you get a knockout You get you deserve something better. You get a finish you get something Rapid you can't always get a finish But what if you're fighting a guy that's like your level like you're both elite and you're both fighting in like this incredible fight You shouldn't be penalized because you can't take out a fighter who's the best in the world in the first round That seems crazy to me.

47:34Yeah, but either way if you win a fight you're winning something Yeah, you just win you just win more Is like having a win bonus or something. I don't like my own either. I hate win bonuses. Yeah, me too. I don't like I don't like I don't like boxing set up better where you have a contractual You have a contract you're gonna get paid 10 million dollars whatever it is That's what you get you don't get 10 million dollars, but you only get five million if a shitty judge Gives it to the other guy which we've seen so many times in the UFC guys lose half their paycheck because of a bad decision Yeah, but what does that benefit Well, I don't know who it benefits.

48:18I don't think it benefits anybody. I think it's bad for everybody I think it's bad for the audience because they're like what? Because it makes them angry. It's bad for the fighter for sure if a fighter loses their paycheck Who's half their paycheck because of a bad decision? How about the promotion? I don't even think it's good for the promotion. I think it's unfair. I don't think it makes any sense No guys trying at the elite level everyone's trying to win. They're all trying to win. Yeah No one's not trying to win. Absolutely. No one's gonna just coast for the most part you get there by winning.

48:49Yes The whole thing is the glory of victory. So what you trying to do? You're not gonna fight less hard. I just don't understand the logic behind it I think it's a flawed concept. I think it's something that never existing combat sports before MMA and really shouldn't exist I think fighters fight their best especially at the elite level. They fight their best Yeah I agree with you because like when you lose a fight I'll let you get your full pay on that fight. Yes, but that won The last one helped you with the advantage you on the next fight right, you know on next negotiation I'm like oh you lose two fight in a row right so you you don't have a power position anymore But like just to pick half of your purse because you lose a fight Yeah, it's crazy.

49:37I don't like it at all. No. I don't like it at all It just doesn't make sense to me. I've heard people try to argue it and every time they try to make an argument for it I'm like I don't get it Doesn't it's not fair for the fighters fighters only have if they're really lucky Like what's the most fights that a elite fighter in the UFC has like 50 45 50 fights, you know, maybe 55 maybe there's a few guys that have like that level fights most guys they top off way less than that Oh way way less. Yeah way less So the idea that you just by the time you start your career if you already you have like your enjoy.

50:17Yeah, good luck Right good luck to reach 25 breath especially ACL surgery out for a year shoulder surgery You're out for a year broken hand you're out for five months. I might never be the same. Yeah Yeah, you know, and most people is not like there is a age to start like you oh you start at 20 or 25 Right some people would get there at 30 over 30. I mean, well, how will you really start a training so late like what all do you when you start a training But 27. Yeah, that's crazy. Yeah, it was 27. Yeah, but it was my only That was only when I could have trained right, you know, yeah, so you only have a certain amount of years.

50:56Yeah, yeah, but Just want to do the best out of those years of course, but for you to be fighting on a system that penalizes you If there's a bad judge and you miss half your paycheck does the pfl do wind bonuses to do the same thing Uh, I don't know exactly You know your your skat your contract is probably different than everybody else's Yes, I haven't yeah my contract is different. I know I either way. I wouldn't go for that the wind bonus stuff I have nothing against bonus But don't split my my uh my paycheck into talking about like winning bonus. No, give me my paycheck if you want to Uh, give a bonus for the win.

51:41Let's do another deal on that one. Yeah, that makes sense Yeah, that makes sense. I just I think I got whether I lose or I don't lose our win I train I get prepared for the fight. I come I give it I give everything for that fight. I should get paid. Yes I And the same thing that I give in that fight to lose Could you get me to win? Yeah Yeah, no, I agree. I agree and so now the pfl and bellator are one organization now, right? The pfl acquired Bellator. Yes, that was going to yes to the Saudis or something to do with that as well. Don't they own part of it? They invest in the pfl. Yes In the main pfl because there's a main pfl A house pfl that has like the pfl and the bellator now And then now they're having like a pfl regional pfl like a pfl meena that launched this year and then pfl Africa that's launching next year And that's your shirt.

52:41Yeah, and so you're a part of that. That's what right. Oh, yeah, that's that was the biggest Uh, I think that was the biggest reason for me in that contract the pfl african part was the most important one In that contract You know like um before that I was trying to like even to the ufc I have requested to like oh, I want to be the ufc ambassador in Africa. I want to do something out there I'm like, oh no, we don't know you know, this is not we don't and then I get the pfl They say okay, we're doing this we'll do that the show me the road map like okay, we launched pfl africa 2000 uh 25 you're the pfl africa chairman um like which extent because I don't want that bullshit of Paper chairman or whatever it is like I wish it's then like what exactly are you seeing in pfl africa and then the put it out and Give show me some element.

53:40I'm like good then I'm on board Hmm Well, that is one good thing about going over to the pfl because you you have so much value Like for you coming over you were the Undisputed heavyweight champion of the ufc you come over the pfl everybody knows who you are now it elevates the pfl So it's nice because it'll allow you to do more things And uh to be honest one thing I have a healthy relationship, you know, it's it's peaceful Get to the point of my life that I really get tired or sick of drum hmm uh Sometimes I just get into something into some find myself in the middle of some drama and then I just work it with Whatever you want to say you say something you might say I disrespect you you say oh ideas are that Bro, I don't have so much energy to give into that so that was part of what was going on with the ufc There was a lot of drama that's yes, and that's we'll take a lot out of you you get to the point that you're like I want you I just want this to be over right.

54:49I just When I get to be over right back to my life, but you are already in the middle Whether you want to go back you have to deal with drama if you have to go forward You have to deal with drama. So you better keep going forward. Yeah, especially I mean like how much time do you have left around how many more years you think you're gonna be fighting yeah And those matter I mean Soon 38 and I think I gonna be I really want to retire in my As I say I want to leave the sport before the sport leaves me Smart. Yeah, so I'm thinking in my average like 41 so three more years. Yeah 41 By that do you have a thought of how many more boxing fights versus how many more MMA fights you want to do?

55:39Mm -hmm Not exactly. I think I would take it how High comes I'll take it how he comes and so the next fight will be MMA definitely or maybe maybe maybe in a Maybe in my 40s. I still feel like I have it, you know, right if I feel like at 41 I feel like I have it right. Keep going. I keep yeah, yeah, keep going away. Yeah, I keep yeah exactly Keep regenerating. Yeah, and then take one at at at the time, you know, but What I what I really don't want to do is to like wake up and go to the gym like I'm forced, you know If I feel like I have it or I'm excited. Oh today is a sparring day. I'm going to get there Where are gonna beat somebody up?

56:28Are they gonna beat me up? Either way? I'm excited. You know if I still have that I keep going right right as soon as I don't have that even if I'm not 40 yet. I think is a sign is a call out Yeah, well, that's intelligent that's smart That's the way you phrased it. I like the way you phrased it. Leave the sport before the sport leaves you Yeah, that's because we've all seen guys who hung around too. I was still I was still always do the sport I will never really leave the sport by the competition at that level You know, you need to be really you need to be into it. You need to want to be there You don't just want to do it because okay, I have to know you don't go Play with punches because you have to know right right right right right you better be into the acid.

57:14Yeah So do you know for sure that you'll be fighting MMA next or is it possible that a big boxing match Could present itself and you would do that next I will say MMA next definitely. Yeah, I will say MMA next because I suppose to fight Um It's been over a year a little over a year now since the PFA agreement and then Supposed to have a fight in the year so now we Getting little out of the timeline Mm -hmm. And uh By the time we were figured out who should be my opponent and I think Things are very clear now Renan Ferrer amid his uh, serve very clear that is a uh, Challenger That should be the fight is the opening that can make that fight happen And let's assume you get past that will you then decide whether or not you're gonna fight MMA next or boxing next or Because one of the things about the pf.

58:18F. L. is there's not a lot of Challenge it's not a lot of very compelling challenges for you there. Mm -hmm. Unfortunately At least now they could sign some more top fight heavyweights I mean who knows what happens with many people need who knows what happens with John Jones I mean, I don't know what happens to these guys. I mean they he could wind up going to the pf. L Who fucking knows you could if they come up with some big money, you know You could get a lot of people that will be willing to go over there. Yeah Yeah, um, I mean like after I think after this fight. I'll see what's happened.

58:51I don't really have a uh Clear mind on what will happen, but I will say most likely boxing Most likely boxing. Yeah, most likely boxing. Do you have an opponent in mind? No, no absolutely not we will see the landscape and what I can get Hmm who I can get because my My expectation as you were asking me earlier like how many fighters do I think I can do in MMA boxing I think if I get to um if I get to like a good four fight uh plan in boxing, I think that could be good you know Get like a good four fight and then you build like no war on war work work on war could should be next That could be my uh my Potential retirement plan Well, it sounds like you already made a good amount of money like isn't Yeah, I have made a good amount of money, but uh You also have to remember that I started this sport for passion Mm -hmm, you know you don't start this sport for the money because at first day is no money right at first It's just punch a flying over your head all over and you have to touch and then fight and Get paid fight for free for quite some time, you know, so I love the sport.

1:00:24I still love the sport. I love the sport of I love combat sport. I love fighting and I think I'll Do it on sir. I feel like I cannot do it anymore. Is boxing more unique to you because it's a new challenge Boxing is different to me because it's even my my boat my um my Even the muscles memory are not the same the functionality of my body is not the same, you know or like MMA that I know every single Action in MMA every single moment. I've been there tens of times. I know I get this But boxing you still like okay You know you might get even in some position and get stressed because you never been there You don't know you have to figure out Right, you know, instead of it being instant.

1:01:16Yeah, then you I'll answer you or you get there to three two three time Then you're like, oh, it's okay. I can deal with it, you know MMA I go in MMA fight with the knee injury. I'm still like I get this But boxing let it different. Hmm. You you basically know that Question in yourself about if you can handle this right like I get this right right right There's a lot of thinking because it's a new thing for you. Yeah, when you train for boxing I know you have a dewey Cooper you have Eric makes it like did you bring other people in to help train you in boxing? Yeah, I brought a John Boomba from France.

1:01:59Uh, he assist Do we sometime because he's he's very like um He has a very good amateur style Which I think is something that I still need to build in my game and Yeah, other than that I have a trip which is my string on conditioning coach So I put those element down. Did you get a chance to spar any top heavyweights in America? Mm -hmm top heavyweight like who um, I would say Carlos Takam um Guido he's at top right now. He's my um his mother's sparring partner, but in America not other top uh, I get Jeremiah Milton as well um But not the big name in America which is even more impressive your performance against Tyson Fury when you consider like you really didn't even spar Elite heavyweights I Listen, I think sometimes we um We don't give credit to some people because they don't just have a name Mm -hmm because they are not they haven't have is get have a stage to play on right, you know And we think like oh, it's nobody.

1:03:24Oh, it's not a elite. Let me take you some example before Andy Ruiz a fought Antonin Joshua Would you think about him as a elite fighter? Not a lot of people But he was there and he was just good at as he is right now But because he didn't have the scene to be seen To be exposed so nobody care about him and he should say oh as far with Andy Ruiz I'm like yes, but you haven't spar with it. You see yes, and there's a lot of people like that out there Right a lot of people that haven't got their shot yet, but they haven't got their shot but they are there Right present there elite well when you first bade your way and you know when you told that story on the podcast of your journey Leaving Cameroon and making your way and getting Turned back so many times when you first arrived and you finally got to France you wanted to be a boxer Not even before I left I wanted to be a boxer The decade before I left I wanted to be a boxer that wasn't even a question I always knew what I wanted So when it finally went full circle and you became a boxer again did it feel like oh this is how it was supposed to be I was living my dream There is no way that I don't think there's a way that things are supposed to be You get what you get and then you make you You you be grateful and then you made the best out of it.

1:04:52Yeah, you know So I was living the dream, you know, I ended up having the fight having to fight To best to best boxer in the world after Having a great MMA career Not bad from a guy coming from where I came from No, it's amazing. Basically from having the path that I had You know and one knows some good thing might happen. Oh some good things. I'm sure what's what happened But that your path is incredible and I encourage anybody that hasn't heard it to go back and listen to the first podcast You and I did together where you explained it. I I was stunned. I remember for the rest of the day all I could think about was your story and how insane it is That what you had to go through to finally make it to Europe and incredible story You know, just as I was talking I was saying earlier Because some people hasn't been exposed to having Get the big big stage like They don't care about them There are a lot of people out there with a better story than mine with a better the stronger than mine that even me I'm impressed.

1:06:05I'm like bro, how do you do that? I don't think I could have done that, you know But and they are a lot not like one or like two three a lot of people, you know, but I think I happen to be the one that have The scene and have been exposed my story have been exposed to the world It's you have to do that struggle and have the juror again experience to to tell my own story wish they don't have Well, I'd have be happy to have them on too if they had a story like yours and the success that you've had from that It's very inspiring and it's it speaks to the human spirit Because that's that's what people loved to hear about about a someone who did not give up and struggled so hard What how many times did you get sent back seven eight times?

1:06:53Um six times six times in the in the ocean six times And then I made I made it seven times crazy Craziness and magic number it is a magic number right it's lucky number seven Yeah, it's an incredibly inspirational story and and I love the fact that you're dedicated to doing this thing in Africa now And to give more people an opportunity and to give them a path towards a career You know Regardless of what you might think of of of my life. I think I'm a very blessed guy. I think I'm a very lucky guy First of all to like I think even if when I explain you might not really understand where I came from and to imagine that I'm here today Calling the short bro.

1:07:51It's crazy. It's just insane. You know, so I think I'm a very lucky guy got have really blessed me and then um I also think those blessings comes with a lot of opportunity that I can bring back You know because what when I was there for so many time I can't tell you how many time that my hope was to some Body to come do something to some good summer return to take some action that I would take advantage on you know, then he happened that I've been blessed to be to be the guy that can do that and even without taking Even without that taking anything out of me, you know, so like I'm like He will be a sin not to do not to do something, you know like For example for the pf.

1:08:54I've become my my dream about that what gave me excited about that is just seen my surf Not have to leave Africa as I did and then have to compete in the Good platform Like that have to make it living Have to fight in the uh In that level and just stay home Right and don't have to Risk all this life go through all the stuff to the ocean through the ocean the bar wire the prison stuff that I've been doing To do that, you know, I just have to stay home and do that right so now It's a new is a platform that's gonna give opportunity to many people that maybe have a plan to go through that Same path and that might not have made it, you know, they're just doing it at home.

1:09:46That's beautiful How could you not do Think of doing something like that when you have a opportunity and it's not like oh Is a word that the curry and put on your head and you a burden that you have to carry is the opportunity that you can just Participate and make it happen. So tell me how does this play out? Do you establish gyms in Africa? Are you gonna put a gym in Cameroon or are you gonna how are you gonna do this? I have two gyms in Cameroon already Oh, you do yeah, we threw my foundation. I have one gym one gym for six years now. Oh wow Yeah, and then the second gym been around for almost two years and we built that one with a partner um, I mean a partner helped us to build that the like our project uh, with the foundation and then they joined us premier bed They joined us to that to build the phone that gym for us a very big Bigger stream So we have that so and we were in the project to build the third one, but with the pf One thing that I required uh, I requested and then it was granted was that everywhere that we are going to do We're gonna try to build gyms around because yes, it's good to bring pf to bring competition around But remember so many many of those people that have nothing many of those kids that want to fight they might be training in the Beach on the beach.

1:11:16They might be training. They don't really have a gym to train at but yet you are expecting them to compete at the highest level So it's at least good to have a system that will help them you know, it's like having a garden Right. Yeah, having a garden to create talent. Yes, you need for your organization, you know, so helping them to help you because At the end of the day you need talent at the end of the day they talent need organization So the thing is that with pf Africa, we're gonna build gyms That fighter who use and develop and then we're gonna also implement help like get coaches experience experience coaches That can go and teach and also Let's teach another coach how to properly train at that coach at that level stuff like that.

1:12:16So Uh, that's that's the goal, you know, it's it's about like building something It's not like here that you come and everything is established and you have your promotion and go No, it's like building something working from the grass Yeah, that's beautiful. Yeah, so Africa is obviously a huge continent and there's so many countries in it full of talent What is the scene like in Africa right now in terms of like what are the local promotions and How many of them are there and how many like how many like young talented fighters do you see that are coming out of there that could Eventually come over to pf L or the ufc or belt or or what fc or any of the large organizations Okay, so you asked me the question like many American was is the scene in America in Africa in the different Africa is 52 country Right, and I never been in five or ten I So I know South Africa has a large scene, you know, obviously drug is duplicities from South Africa.

1:13:20There's a lot of good fighters The organization that I think is EFC something like that Nigeria been doing good Those who have a I think is African knockout that Usman Kamaru is part of right There are also some regional organization that might be smaller or Not like quite popular is a one large organization and ever over there at all no no Most of them are fairly small. Yeah, because again You have to build everything from the scratch right so everything is true everybody is trying to do the best out of what you get right right Like if you do have a good organization You need to build gym you need to give those fighter way to train you need to help them about like have experience get experience get training Top coach even get top coaches.

1:14:13Yeah, and then More people training at least they have training partners, which is not they don't have right You have seen I have seen a lot of some African fighter that are really good But they don't have they'll have to go somewhere else because they don't have a training partners You know, but with with this Program they're gonna have is gonna be a whole ecosystem a hero ecosystem in the fact that you're gonna have a gym that you're gonna train and then Maybe provide a fighter for we're gonna fight in the promotion and that My my half money and then that money will attract people, you know um Will attract other people to training because he got he have seen other one making it living out of Training he have seen that is possible.

1:15:02He has seen the opportunity right next to his dog like right They're here. I don't have to travel. It's not in America anymore. It's not in Europe anymore Right is here. I just have to stay here and get dedicated. So it's possible And that's interesting too if the pf has a mean if they establish pf. Africa The beautiful thing is that if they have top level fights over there and then they take those fights and they broadcast them all over the world Then there's so much opportunity. Yes. I mean the The fighter of pf. Africa will not only be seen in Africa not to mention that The champions of the pf.

1:15:44Africa Just as pf. Mena and pf. A year of they will all come together to fight for the main pf. time, you know, so that's exciting everybody is getting that big stage is They are all working. They are all still under like the the glow the main pf. Yeah, you see Which is something that is very interesting and then we give more More spotlight more opportunity also get a Attention of media and then who says media says attention of sponsor that will go maybe to gym to fires and that create that will create the ecosystem around That media interests sponsor come around and then fire get paid and then maybe his parents are not get paid or I don't know he has a assistant or somebody working to work for him get paid and the money is now Yeah, and everybody do you see yourself After your retire from fighting going into a coaching and mentoring role for fighters Do you see yourself being more of an executive position like working with either pf or whoever?

1:17:03I don't really I never see myself as a coach. I don't have like a Vocation for that is not something that I have I look I'm looking forward to Although I see myself like Maybe stay in the spot somewhere like I also don't see myself as a manager That's a hard job And yeah, I know cool our bullshit. Yeah, I'm like I just think that to be a good is a job that you think like to be good at it You need to be screwing somebody Right most likely not always but most likely might be on the table So I don't see myself like that, but I see myself really like working on like The growth of the sport Basically in Africa and again, that's why like the pf Africa comes to me like the writing yeah, you know the The the retirement plan Think that I could be focused on being working on I know how Africa work perfectly.

1:18:19I know how PFA work perfectly. I know Pit Mary and Don Davies they're very excited about it, but bro That why people from America and they don't know how Africa works I'm from Africa and I know the deep ground of Africa and I know the challenge That I know the problem there as a lead and I think that's where I will impact I think a role of executive will be like is some fancy thing that yes I might have but I think my good job is to I'd to work on the film because I know the problem the road the field the route Yeah, what could be done what need to be done what fire what then what they need you know I think that's what I would be best at Also for young like being like Yeah, it's cool to be chairman of pf Africa, but I'm not going to sit in the office I'm like, oh, I'm a chairman and then westwood and tie every day to to run stuff, you know, I think I can But I think like for you for a young fighter um There's no greater source of my inspiration than a guy like yourself I mean if you look at your career you've only been fighting for 10 years What look at all you've accomplished?

1:19:41UFC Heavyweight Champion fought two of the best boxers alive Your international superstar you made millions of dollars like that is the height of inspiration on mic So sorry, everybody knows yeah, but when you say that out loud Maybe you get some lawsuit You know Money is like honey you always I truck bees So true that's so true a lot of stickers out there Hmm So let's forget about the money, but just look at you the accomplishment and just knowing that you can't wait Especially again if someone hears your story of how hard it was for you to literally essentially walk from Cameroon to maracco and then make it all the way over to Europe and then make a career and fighting and then make it United States Get into the UFC and then in a matter of a few short years become the UFC heavyweight champion for young fighters That's like Like that guy did it like he did it.

1:20:42I he did he came from where I came from I can do it now Once someone has done it it makes it more accessible at least mentally to a lot of people. Yeah, absolutely and I think that's the Fundamental idea about my foundation My found the reason why I did the foundation uh for me he was just so um Not only those kids can have access in the gym Which is something that migraine up I was just dreaming about it the only gym that I have seen Until I was 22 was the gym that I saw whether in my dream or in the TV I never see a real gym even though I always want to do combat sport, but uh I They I thought like you if you build like nice gym not only those kids have access He make them Have this feeling this connection with reality like oh the thing that I always see in TV is here is possible You know, and then the guy that maybe I've seen in TV on TV or heard about Is also here like he's around he came here.

1:21:49So it's possible, you know because um So the idea of the foundation was just to motivate kids allow them to be believe in themselves And I think it's to what we're working on Uh to help them believe trust have it trust in themselves It's self -believing have it serve a confident on in them self And this doesn't matter what they want to do in life you might want to be a doctor you might want to be a lawyer Accountant journalists whatever you want to do, but uh I do Think that a guy that believe somebody that believe believe in himself Success for that guy is just a matter of time and you can be a champion in whatever you do Say like it doesn't you don't have to be a fighter to become a champion I'm glad you brought that up because it's another question I wanted to ask you is do you have any other aspirations of doing things outside of fighting once you've retired Because one of the things you were talking about before the show started was producing you were talking about production Like film and filming things and do you have other aspirations?

1:22:56I have a lot of aspiration, but not like a job I have a lot of passion, you know, I'm passionate about a lot of things today today um, I use I can I have Quite the resource to have some hobbies, you know, stuff that I uh, I'm excited about I'm passionate about I create a Small production in in Cameron in my village just to train kids so they can have to touch camera like this All those stuff that we have here. I have it back home. They touched learn on it You know, I just want them to be able to operate a good camera if someday they want to do or somebody want to do a movie There have somebody that can operate a nice camera just home don't need to go to Europe or in America to bring people Because local they can do and they have been trained in on good cameras, you know, so I have started stuff like that a lot What inspired you to do that in terms of cameras and production and stuff?

1:24:00I always love cameras. Yeah, I always love I see and I always impress and then I see stuff here And then I see the challenge the difference that are you know like you will see somebody that Make a film A movie that might be beyond Netflix with a very low quality of camera Then I'm like what if this guy has a has a access on a good camera. What can he do? Right, you know, well, that's one of the things like you're talking about with fighters Yeah, there's a lot of people they're that are very talented. They just haven't had their shot their shot yet Absolutely, there's a lot of people like that with filmmaking and with stand -up comedy and writing Every true.

1:24:43Yeah, everything. Yeah, and I always have another opportunity. I always say this. I think I'm a we might have become U .Fs the first African champion Just because there wasn't so many people that have a chance I mean like when you look at a Camaro a disagne I I'm sure if you go to Africa you can find some more the fucker who can be also But lucky us Didn't have that chance yet, so that's very how we take we take the opportunity Right, but you open the door though and it makes it possible for others Which is yeah, that's one of the more important things about accomplishment But we time goes by the challenge will become tough and so far and we will come around and we will be there we might come very shut Well look at Brazil You know, I mean look at Brazil this so many champions so many elite fighters come out of Brazil now It's because hoist grace you open that door and then you have see just became place for and then if you take even that Droid Gracie on his prime put him here is gonna get beat up by maybe by some kickbox Yeah, you know, but he's he was the one that opened that door you know that gave that opportunity That made the path through that Yeah, it's just it's so important that you recognize that that like your position is not just as an individual But your position is as an inspiration to others and to give people this this they see it like I can do it.

1:26:22He did it. It's possible Yeah, I think in life we we take every opportunity that we have we Get to the point again that we have a opportunity to affect all the life How many people affect all the life? How many people in their lifetime walk around and Parents walk to them. I'm like oh my kid want to become be like you right you know, I think I think it's something really cool. It's really great. It's very cool Like a parent that won the best for their kids that yes kids wanted to be like you. Yes, it's different because He's not very smart. He's no wise and even kids want to be Do some dumb shit?

1:27:06So you might be a bad guy and kids don't want to be like a drug deal But a parent that really protective about their kids like one the best for their kids And then they'll come like oh Your son is such an inspiration. I can't want to be like you So that's that basically like him approving that He he kids should be like you he hope for his kid to become like you that's a big statement Which is pretty cool. Yeah, it is pretty cool. It's really cool It's really cool and it's uh there's such a unique time for people too because Internet is available pretty much all over the world now So kids in all these countries, especially if they have phones they have access to All of this information.

1:27:54Oh, and it's messy. It's coming for from all over And you can they can find everything. Yeah everything Now how to help them pick what's It's good and what's not good right that's the problem. Yeah, because information is good but Lot of it's bullshit. Lot of it is bullshit You have to filter because some some of them are just bad seat Yeah, that's true too. Yeah, and then is all you see what what's happening in the amazon There's this very small Uncontacted tribe and they got Internet access and now a lot of them are just on their phones all day Mm -hmm And then the tribe leaders are like what the fuck everyone's lazy you guys are becoming like Americans now Here's on your phone all day.

1:28:44They're looking at tets and look at a porn and like you know Of course And this thing that they thought would be a beautiful thing. Oh, this would be so great We're gonna get access to information people gonna get educated And instead, you know a lot of them are just looking at tiktok videos Yeah, but they got to have to figure out how to manage that people for the most part are lazy Really you think so? Yeah, I think people for the most part are lazy If you give them an opportunity to be lazy I feel Uh, no, it's hard to be disciplined Especially if you don't have examples of other disciplined people around you.

1:29:22You know some people might have might just Have been educated keep going to school. Mm -hmm Because they choose school over work That's true and some people choose work over school. That's true as well. Yeah, and then you go to school And after being graduated or big oil or have your PhD and then you are like oh, he's educated Is this in fact you were running away from from a job I'm sure that's educators That's the problem with our universe Those people want to teach you of the day Yes, you are educated But in reality you are lazy if you have a job if you have a job That is going to wear suit and act like a boss every day.

1:30:10You can't do it But he feels has to like start something and work really hard You can't stand it right. Yeah, he can stand it. There's a lot truth in that But someone will also be a worker because they had a vision. They want to do that They're excited of a knowledge to Emplement into something and then after that they just started business and this you know Because starting a business never is never easy. Right. You have to be a worker when you have a bus when you start a business You it's not like a 9 to 5 job, you know, you don't have time sometimes you have to wake up at midnight or at 2 a .m to Pick up a call because this guy is I don't know in China in Europe and the time different and you have to keep going You have to be on this time you have to be on meeting in the meeting at this time So that's where you know if you are a worker or not But you should see that the office 9 to 7 yeah where your suit and manager of these and that and that Yeah, I feel lazy Unless if people do a good job too because lazy people find a strategy of avoiding work That's true, which is very intelligent.

1:31:28Yes, yeah, they find ways. Yes That's true. You get things done without really putting in the work. That is true Yeah, there's so many books like that the four hour work week, you know There's a lot of books on people just trying to avoid work. Yeah But they still have to move To wash their dishes. Yeah, close like dishwasher for example I think he's a idea of some lazy person that didn't want to wash dishes Are you agree with me? So lazy person didn't want to wash dishes so they hired a dishwasher no they invent oh they invented dishwasher Oh a machine. Yeah, they taught about it like yeah, how can I get my dishes clean without have to wash it?

1:32:11Or also, it's more efficient because you get put them in the dishwasher It's efficient, but the idea Come from laziness I mean he might be I'm not saying is the thing but he might be going to have a point anymore How can I but I see me to wear a clean clothes right how can I do to get my clothes Clean without washing them Wash me see That's true right because you only wear like one piece of clothes a day And you only eat use one plate when you eat how hard is it to wash that one plate? Yeah, it takes 30 seconds You get some soap you get a sponge Rinse it off put it in the dryer you're done Like I have a that's a good point man.

1:33:02Yeah, I never thought of it that way again My house and this something that I Still don't understand Sometimes I'll leave plate around and then if I have my house keeping coming They'll always take plain Take them and put in the dishwasher And everything in the dishwasher and I don't know what happened if it's the dishwasher Something wrong with it you never get think clean Properly well you kind of have to clean them before you put in the dishwasher Which is crazy so if you just clean them a little bit more you wouldn't have to put them in the dishwasher You probably save time okay personally.

1:33:39I never use a dishwasher I don't know how it works and I don't know how it works The easier things for me is after using one or two plates I wash it I put it there Yeah, it's easier or even if I stack like Three four plates after I come take five minutes clean it put it there. Yeah It's easier for me to run a machine and this which I don't even know how it works Too much and it's gonna sometimes me might be loud I just want to wash my TV and that shit is Behind me That's true. Yeah, that's true. That's a good point. Yeah, that is a lazy person's invention a smart lazy person Yeah, yeah people are very creative Very I never thought about it that way, but I think you're right Yeah, but then there's some things like vacuum cleaner you need that You have the fuck you're gonna get anything out of a carpet without a vacuum cleaner.

1:34:41Yeah, you need that Yeah, there's some inventions they clean that make sense But I think I mean everything makes sense. Yeah, even like a wash machine makes sense Yeah, you know after training you come you put your clothes there you train to twice a day you put your clothes after two days You press that button on the machine When you're when you're leaving because that Yeah, come back is done you put in the dryer again Yeah, no, that's a very good point though about inventions and and also about how lazy people avoid work and about a lot of educated people are just avoiding work Like continuing their education.

1:35:23I know personally people that have done that they get their PhD they get grants they get loans I know you go you go in like a family house And then there are like maybe four kids There's there there's dishes they have to clean the house Uh And then someone have a homework and even if he does have a homework Is reading a book is a bit of the book so that means he's not cleaning anything Because he's reading you guys are not reading you have to clean So yeah, he's Well people love to put off things they're supposed to do You know, it's it's an interesting thing to about fighters because the difference between There's a lot of factors involved in being a fighter.

1:36:09There's the mentality There's the ability to focus and to perform under pressure. It's very difficult to do But there's also the ability to prepare properly So like to have the discipline to do everything that you're supposed to do And it's even more just more difficult to challenge it people. Yeah, I think I think fighter fighting is more about discipline because not always Uh, talented people will make it No, you might have talent as much as you want if you don't work if you don't put Some work in and then get disciplined you will not get there you know, right like if if you look like the champions of every way class Every promotion Most likely they are not the most talented guy But they are the hard they are very hard workers Yes, and they have like something very special that That distinguished them.

1:37:07Do you know the expression Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard Yeah, yeah, that's it. That's true. Yeah, it is absolutely because Talent one of the things that's unfortunate about talent is that when you're talented you're better than everybody else in the gym And so you can kind of get away without training as hard maybe you have physical gifts Maybe you just have an understanding and then you take it for granted because we didn't have to work to get it Yeah, you don't even have the feeling that you need to work To to to work more to improve it because he was just there right so You don't even understand that they work for it.

1:37:44Right. You just you just Uh happen to have it. Yep, and then they say you have to work for it come on bro for what right? I didn't do anything Right and if you can get away with it for a while you develop habits of not training 100 % not really putting 100 % into it, but still being successful because you're talented But then you run into someone who's talented and has discipline and that's when you get fucked up Okay, that's the problem right when you get talent and discipline you get a Michael Jordan and then you get Mike Tyson Talent and discipline you get Mike Tyson Yeah, and then you get to you also get like some people that are not talented, but they are just the Best worker in the room Uh your talent will have it at some point talent will have a limit.

1:38:34Yes. Yeah talent has a limit Especially if someone is willing to really outwork you really outwork everyone Yeah, he has to because like when you don't have talent You basically start from nothing Then you have one then you have two then you know that you have those two because you've been working So you have to keep working right only to maintain the to keep the two but to get the three and the four Yes, and then you get into that process and then you get to work Yeah, but when you get talent you wake up someday you have five out of ten without working Yes, you don't understand that you need to work to get the six and seven right the guy that Only has like the two He already understood that he already knew that he need to he need to work to get those two to get the three Yeah, so at some point he's gonna catch you at five.

1:39:26Yeah, and if you're not improving he's gonna keep going up He's gonna get the six seven and he's gonna get the seven and he's gonna get the seven and you're gonna get the seven and you're gonna get the seven At five or barely go at six seven. Yeah, and then there's guys that are really good in the gym And then when they get to the bright lights they can't perform. Yeah, which is the craziest thing There's these superstars in the gym and I remember From my kickboxing days there was guys that were just so good in the gym and then they would get into that ring and they were just You could see it.

1:40:03They're just diminished like they were 50 % of themselves when they compete I don't know and maybe it says there's something about anxiety their inability to manage stress maybe I don't know. I mean, I don't know what it is. I always feel like some people can overcome it And they don't and some people do some people they start off as great gym guys and then they perform badly But then eventually they figure it out. Yeah, they just keep keep growing and learning But there also a lot of people that go to the gym to become a world champion at the gym You know, I have seen a lot of there's a lot of people that You get even in the gym they are coming to try and to figure out that guy It's good.

1:40:51So I might have to check him out You know, they have that mentality Right, so in the gym while you maybe as a professional fighter you are there to train Have you got training to learn? Yes, because you know that you only have one place that you want to show up It's in the fight right to the two other months You're in the gym and sometimes if you have somebody in front of you that You feel like he's not catching up with your level You give him a advantage. I'm like, okay Let me start on the back. Right. Let's start on this position Right, so he can challenge you more. Yes, you know what you're doing.

1:41:34You know why you are doing that That takes a healthy control of your ego You take it you see a guy that is a good wrestler or a good judo suit but has very bad striking You know that he's he you always start on a Stand up you'll always start up and then he he might not be able to take you down. I'm like, okay Let's go The start on the ground. Step on me. Have right. Right right right right right right right right because you know that you want to work that position You're taking advantage on him But some people are there like to prove that oh, I'm something they're competing instead of training Yes, they're competing.

1:42:15Yeah, and they don't usually gain more on that and those people who get in the fight and it's different Yeah, it's different. It's that is a very interesting thing right It's like some people understand it objectively like I'm here to learn and grow And I need to work on my weaknesses to make them my strengths and some people want to avoid their weaknesses So they only work on their strengths so they look good in the gym. Yeah, yeah, because that care about how they look Yeah, I see that a lot with kickboxers that didn't want to do judo Because they didn't like to get tapped because on the feet they were a killer and then they go to the ground They look at beginner.

1:42:54They don't like that. They don't get dominated on the ground So they would just like skip judo to classes skip wrestling training. They don't want to have anything to do with that I think was also about like a generation that People around the gym Wasn't act wasn't understanding also like Daisy gym there there are people that if you are training with them and something happened and you tap They'll be like oh we're pussy Right, you know and nothing those kind of people they don't have the attainment to improve, you know Well instead of like oh no, you shouldn't do this or you should do this instead to avoid To avoid that.

1:43:36I'm like oh no, bro. You don't tap like yeah, you don't tap then what you go to sleep Oh, you break your arm or you break your arm. Yeah, you don't tap in the gym. You're training year more on Yeah, it's a stupid thing to not tap in the gym and I've been stupid before It's like a thing that people do where they they think that they're Yeah, yeah, all you're doing is getting injured and it's if you don't tap to an arm bar You're gonna fuck your elbow up and then you might not be able to train right for months. Yes Yeah, you have what yeah, you know the graces have a great perspective on that they always say keep it playful They always say that when you're in the gym You're you're just training and learning and you gotta keep it playful Marcel Garcia says that all the time Who's one of the greatest judo guys of all time?

1:44:20He says you have to open up your game in the gym You can't be closed off be too defensive. You have to open up your gym your your game and learn that what happens if you get stuck in that position Yeah, learn when you get caught you caught you tap and even if you don't get caught sometime Get your position in some in get yourself in a position to get caught Let somebody caught you and trying to defend. Yes, understand like how to get out of there. Yes, you do that That's why they call practice. Do you think you'll ever compete in judo? You ever think that's something that's interesting to you me.

1:44:54Yeah, no I don't think so I don't have any knees or ankles to give up That's a good point Man, I watched a video this past we can look at getting his leg broken if I was 25 years I'm gonna send you this Jamie because this is horrific if I was 25 20 25 I would take those chances to all those tough fun Yeah, why I don't have anything to give up. Yeah, that's um, I'm gonna show you something Jamie This This video scared the fucking shit out of me This video is this guy gets caught in this heel hook Oh, sorry, where is it? Yeah, I'm a senator to you Jamie Yeah, I'm senator to you Jamie This is horrible this guy gets caught in an inside heel hook Like 10 seconds in the match and he doesn't tap and his leg snaps in half Yeah back step watch this that's stupid Check this out.

1:46:05So this guy they scramble. Oh Oh That's sound Play that again so I can hear that sound That's how to fix it that's how to fix it Pinch me in the face, bro Yeah, that leg might not might not ever be the same again. No pinch me in the face No, not the leg yourself Like do you imagine like just thinking of the did out of your leg Make this sound like oh god damn it's that right here right? Yeah, like right there. Yes, like the spiral. Yeah, spiral fracture was the shin horrible And the sound was like a baseball bat breaking Yeah, I'll never forget the sound when Chris wideman kicked your eye a hall and snapped his knee and snapped his shin in half The sound was so horrible That crain he's never been the same again, you know, it's like That those breaks like especially the shin break You know, I wonder like with connoble Gregor is ever gonna come back again Yeah He it's like it's very difficult to come back from that break that that was that's one of the worst injuries And I think like for that kind of injury the most the most difficult part is the mental part You don't know if it's gonna be taking right to try to get to like you know like Actually, I've just leave you have a rehab right but you rehab the part that is injured right The rehab of your mind to be able to trust that again Right, you know, I'm like I don't know about that.

1:47:53Maybe we just keep skip this part Well, even when you're not injured like your fight with steep A and then you fight Derek Lewis in the back of your mind You're still thinking about the steep A fight right? I'm suffice in steep A. I'm so like what damn why did I do these? No, you actually to be patient. I should these you know, I'm there fighting steep A And then I get surprised when the fight was over And I'm like I'm like okay, this is it We staff one more round right now. It's over Bit true Because I was just being patient. Yeah, well you came back from that though. How did you come back from that?

1:48:34How did you get your mind straight? I mean, I think I get to the point that I just Let it go and I'm like, okay Because I'm like if this the end at least let's finish how we started And at the beginning he was all phone right right right Feel like at some point along the way I lost that phone. I don't know when but I lost that phone And it's about like oh, we need you have to we shouldn't lose this blah blah blah blah So did you make a decision in your mind to go back to having fun again? Yeah, you was just like have fun and then whatever happened Happened don't don't care if and if this is it if you lose again And then maybe have to be I have to get caught or whatever At least Enjoy So it's just and then I get in China have to fight Curtis blade 45 second.

1:49:34It was over. I'm like yeah now bad having fun Fun for you. Yes, I have the performance of the night. Thank you going so Did you ever work with a psychologist or a performance coach or did all just you figure it out yourself? I try but I think I have it like a personal blockage. I don't believe in that really yeah I don't know I talked to myself a lot I spent time with me with myself. I mean I Most of the time I'm by myself. I'm a lonely person So I spent time with myself and I talked to myself a lot. I figured out analyze and this was just me like growing up You know didn't even have like didn't have friend didn't have like a people to hang out with Or wasn't welcome Among kids so I created my own World in my mind that My own friends and everything in my mind so just used to hang out with myself.

1:50:42So I get used to I Just like that. Well, that's so much better for a person in your position in life than to have an entourage So I know a lot of guys when they get very successful. They have an entourage So they're surrounded by yes men all the time and that is one of the worst things that happens to a successful person But for them for for some people is cool You know like even now I think no later than last week. I was in the restaurant and I Walked there by myself to get to post it down The people look over there like is that fucking Francis and guys? Yeah, other my food need the people freak out Like was is that Francis and some people remind you I'm like yeah, are you expecting somebody and most of the time The answer is yes Basically like leave me alone right So you generally like being by yourself.

1:51:39Yeah, I like to I do that a lot and people I'm like Are you leave here by yourself? Are you by yourself? I'm like what's the problem by being by yourself? It's it's been independent. Yeah, I don't need anybody to be to decide on my happiness or me having fun Whatever, you know Like sometime I was spent two days in my house without going out Yeah, I'm good with it and I can go out. I can't do whatever I want, but I just want to be there I did that recently you know my family was out of town and I was home by myself for three days. It was glorious I loved it. Yeah, just because you time to think about things.

1:52:22I do that a lot But recently I've been changing a little bit because like Staying home a lot will make me think and will make me sad Things I lost my kid my boy then you make me think and make me sad and if I stay there I will keep I will keep having those thoughts the sadness around is like the energy around me. It's just sad You know, so Then what I do is like when I start to share something like that I just have to force myself like get out grab the car key get the hell out of here Like I'm running away from something then by the time you even find the car key you find your shoes you do this Your mind is already thinking of something But if you just so sure yeah, if you just sit in your couch then it's keep going keep going then it's sad Then you pace you then you're like Hit life everything your son was 15 months old 15 months old what happened bro I think he has some malformation on his brain Which is something that we didn't know he He fainted he passed out twice The first time was in Kimmyron.

1:53:46We took him to the hospital. They didn't find anything The second time was in Saudi we took him to the hospital. They did they ran a lot of exam. They didn't do anything They did the EEG didn't do the scum the scan or the MRI because I think According to them their conclusion was that he has a swollen lung You know, and that was what was pressing his chest and stopping him from breathing and create that faint so After all those exams they give him some medicine that he's going to be okay Nothing to worry about because at first They even taught about like asthma they give like ventilator and then that afterward after some result that took him up out and then You know, he put me in confident Even though like I don't know sometime I think You know Someway in my mind I have to think that yes, but He didn't show any stress respiratory If he was something from his long But I'm like bro He those was professional doctor and these and then I trust that yeah, so I basically like Put my god down And I remember being just getting into buy And that day I was thinking like oh life is Meanwhile, I'm not doing bad life is good You know, I want to the gym like maybe I should go to club tonight And I don't go to club.

1:55:43I don't go out Like man come on which kind of guy you? I want to the gym go to workout Uh, I'm in the bike cycling then I tried to call I wanted to talk to him when I was in on the phone under a bike Then I call his mom his mom didn't pick up the phone and I'm like ah after I'm done I'm gonna go take my shower lean the bed and call him And uh 30 minute after I was on the leg machine my phone rang He was my little brother Say pro things are no going where here. I'm like what is it Kobe? Pass out. It's not previewing his we are at the hospital. They kicked me out from the room No, I'm like what's happened and then as we are talking he's also trying to get information So I lose him for like three four minutes then after I call again again And then I'm talking to him Why he's talking to the nurse and uh the nurse was like who are you are you?

1:56:53He's her dad He said no Then why you I miss uncle where is that he's that is not here Where? He's gone Just like that He's gone. What do you mean? He's gone How come he's gone This kid was 15 months he was bigger than 15 months he was growing he was the most joyful happy kids around Hey, what do you mean he's gone gone where? Well, that was it I thought I was dreaming. I thought they're gonna say some no that's not true Then I keep calling again And everybody is confirmed. I call my mom. My mom is just on tier Like pro What the fuck is this And I was it Wow And I never realized I have been in the situation that I have seen people losing their kids Uh morning maybe I Definitely older kids But I'm like man this more must be Hard Even though I can feel it at that moment I mean, I don't you don't know like what could be your reaction You don't know I have been in the situation that I'm like bro I don't cry I never cry Uh, I mean not like I never cry but I don't I don't just don't just happen.

1:58:35I don't know why No Maybe because you don't have your reason When you feel like something really hurt inside you like you can breathe is hurting That was it and When did this happen April 27th So this before the Joshua fight? No after after the Joshua fight. Yeah, April 27th Almost too much after That was it and then all of the sudden you realize how A kid that wasn't there two years ago Have became a Major part of your life or if it's not like your life Then You realize that all the things that you were worrying about Didn't mean shit at all. Nothing mean Like nothing You was the only thing at time that really marred Yeah, but it's not there anymore But You know one thing is that You know my dad passed away I was 15 and he was he gets sick Just stay at home for like months And couldn't even go to the hospital And get to the point that he couldn't even go to the bathroom on his own nothing But I was 15 I was stuck at school You know, I was telling myself like I was a kid what could I have done and then after A couple years I left school and then I started thinking I'm like, okay I hadn't asked you and excuse when my dad passed away I think I'm becoming an adult and I Powerless I still can do anything if something like that happened what happened if my mom Gets sick like what happened if I have my own kids like Someday and they need me or I would provide for them like or protect them And Those was one of the thought that I always have like pushing me living Like no, I need to do something I need to take action Then After years You get to the point that you feel like you have get have it figured out like okay I can afford a healthcare for my family I can take care if somebody needs to go to the hospital or whatever it is I can make it I can do it you know Then all of the sudden your own kids which is the one that rely on you or you Um, you couldn't even do anything for him he did like by the time he get to the hospital he was gone You couldn't fight for him I'm like pro let me fight let me say I have tried let me say I did something Let's make all this world Was the point if after all this I get to the point that I'm still This powerless in front of a real situation And that That was That's hurt I'm sorry to hear that man.

2:02:15I can't imagine I can't imagine and it's also the the pain of knowing there's nothing you could have done Yeah, it's just a medical thing that he was born with Yeah, he was born with because because when he happens everybody was confused nobody knows so Get home then what should we do Let's do it a topsy With the whole tower was tough because you think that they say you know what that they're gonna tear him Got him got his head Like I mean it kid that yesterday you were going excited to talk to him now they are talking about like Got him this way this way Like how come that is like oh But you know It's at least good to know what happened maybe that might save somebody in the future Because he's still a mystery there So say let's do the autopsy that's why they find all this out Yeah Two the last time I saw him Was me living Cameroon going to the elevator and he was at My he was with my little brother and He didn't want me to go because he became My body so much that he didn't When I'm around you don't want me to to leave him alone He can I can take him whenever wherever I go Him in my north don't eat it does a care as long as he's with me like That was it he was my my mate like 15 months But he's barely working but you know When I walked in you know that I walked in you don't have they don't have to ask like who Who worked in they know that is he start you know he reaction Oh, then you started think about all those little thing all those little Things that you guys have just you want him Then he's over Then he's over When he was the day that I was living He was crying like wanted me to go with him But I keep going I knew that home.

2:04:58I'm going to be back I have no clue that that was it I always say I should have go back one more time He's found one more day I don't know how can one more time man That was it And then he get back in the apartment and see all his toys The stuff that he was playing the thing that you take you take from him the other day and put here is right there But he's not there anymore. I will never be there anymore Yeah I Kobe was his name I named him after Kobe brand Because I had a great memory of Kobe brand then day that the U .S .E was launching was announcing the partnership with Buddy Amon was in New York I just arrived in the U .S.

2:06:11at time my English was so bad I mean New York we have to meet to meet in this room This event to make the announcement And I'm there little early then Kobe came little early too Meet me in the waiting room Just Kobe and I there for like 30 minutes I don't my English is very bad. I'm embarrassed I don't want to speak and then he keep talking asking equation talk about my story ask me where I came from And how do I get and all like wow this impressive. I'm like this is Kobe right? I don't want to Porder him but this question me Really excited about it get me to talk Then I feel bad. I'm like oh no your English is really good.

2:07:02I understand what you're saying And then how about these that Like for 30 minutes Until then they know why was the next guy that walked in the room and he say wow Do you know this guy's story? Do you know his story? He did this he did that and I say yes I know like wow this crazy Wow It's crazy how we in America we don't know what's going around the world And Kobe was there talking like that. I'm like this is Kobe brand You know so that was like my moment with Kobe Wow so when he passed out when he died I You know I was in LA when I heard about the news and he hit me really bad And I decided I can't make Kobe and I have a Kobe So that's it Then the day that he passed the way Just the day before They were just Making his a little basketball court that I have for him.

2:08:09He's ground playground for him, you know Because I was so a wait for him to start to be strong on his feet so we can go work We can do these we can play soccer. I've been looking for soccer click click for him These dad, you know you have all the project I have thought of like which school should he go like think oh What should I do? You know you never know maybe something happened to me I should set up something to keep him safe You know you think like that But not it never crossed your mind that You would be the one living first from the moment that He was Born not like when he was born when he started react and you really see like a living person You really start a plan out like how to Protect him how to build a security around him, you know he He wasn't just a kid he was a project.

2:09:22He became a huge project Everything that you think of that's good that you want or is for Kobe is for him all of the sudden Then he's got Yeah Oh you've been through a lot in here live frances. Yeah, you've been through a lot Well a lot of people have been through it. You didn't just know Yeah, then after that you look people that have been through that logic kid You respect them more you give them some more respect like my older brother lost two kids And I feel so bad Not really being there for him because I didn't understand I know that he lost kids, but I didn't know what exactly that means right now that I understand I'm like man I should have been more you know, I feel bad that I didn't connect to his To his sovereign to his pain And you respect him more from being through that to overcome that twice Then you think like you just that thing like now In fact, I think he's I'm not the toughest one though I'm being Putting in test and realize that I'm not as tough as I think Whew There's nothing anybody could say That's the craziest thing.

2:11:05There's no comfort that anybody can give you If that I mean if they ask you what you want or how What can comfort you you don't know So it's nothing. It's nothing. It's really about like facing it daily You know take it one at a time. Do you have other children? Yeah, I have another girl I have another girl But when it happened like that You feel like I don't know even though you're in your mind you think like you used to have a lot going on a lot of thing to be grateful about But in your heart you feel like your bro you have nothing Nothing is worth it I mean I always love life and know that I have Know that I have everything of society but At least for once I'm like At least whenever I die I'm gonna go see my kid.

2:12:16I'm gonna see him I'm not afraid of it. I still want to live but At least whenever you know you get to You get to that point to think like that So somewhere you're looking forward for whenever that happened Wow Yeah I'm very sorry for your lost man. I really am. I wish I could say something But there's nothing to say. It's nothing to say. Thank you. Thank you and thank you for being here man Thank you for everything. You're you're an inspirational man. You really are. Thank you. Appreciate you Appreciate you being here and the best of luck to you and in everything in life Who's he That's why like I really want to come back and do something You know like because I really think like maybe I should I get to the point that I'm like Why do I fight for you know, I don't Even Half two I don't want but Bro that boy For 15 for only 15 months, I think he He took me something, you know like he was active full of life and I think if there's one thing that He He would have been doing You would have been doing he would have been doing something not staying there not being a reason of Giving up or whatever and the thing that's That's the only way to honor him His memory.

2:14:10Keep him in life Get a purpose Make him a Motivision Yeah I think so we will see we will see how he plays out. Yeah Again, thank you, Frances. Thank you for being here, man. I really appreciate you. Thank you. All right Five You