Jalin Turner, Rising Mixed Martial Artist (MMA) and Street Skateboarder – UNLEASHED Podcast E320

The “Tarantula” joins the podcast! UNLEASHED is proud to welcome 28-year-old mixed martial arts talent Jalin Turner from San Bernadino, California. In his exclusive interview with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney, the Lightweight division fighter speaks on overcoming fears and rising beyond limitations to fight among the best in the sport.

Only a few mixed martial artists have climbed up the ranks with the speed of Jalin Turner. A pro since 2016, the California native from San Bernadino blazed through fighting promotions from Tachi Palace Fights, King of the Cage, World Series of Fighting, Bellator MMA all the way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He’s already made his presence felt: After earning eight of nine wins in the UFC via knockout or submission, Turner ranges among the new faces to watch in the Lightweight division. The secret: Maybe the fact that he overcame his mortal fear of spiders by raising hundreds of tarantulas? Or his technical skateboarding skills for tricks like 360 kickflips that are unmatched by any other fighter on the circuit? Hear Turner speak on his love for MMA, talent for action sports, and plans to rise all the way up – only on UNLEASHED!

Press the play button (and hit Like) on the new episode of UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney.

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Transcript

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I fought like four times a year sometimes. I was just like, just always trying to fight and just always trying to just get there, get there, get there. Like, it just didn't matter. I just wanted to get there. You know? And then, you know, and I get there I’m like, okay, like, let's do the same thing. Let's keep ramping it up. And then life was like, no, sit down, sit back. Injury, didn't fight for a year, and then didn't fight for ten months. And I was like, yo, this is crazy. I've never did that like in the like five years that it took for me to get there, like I did not like, sit down, you know? So, now I've got a lot more patience and now like, understand why I had to, like, sit back because I, it just made me better. Like every time I go fight again, I'm always better and everybody sees it. They see the progression in my training. So that's what happened. That's what it's for. How? Oh, we're rolling. We're rolling. Yo. All right. We have Jalen Terno, whatever. Born in San Bernardino. Now, I was born L.A., born in L.A.. We're in L.A.. South Central. Dang. Yeah. And then were you raised in San Bernardino? I moved to Fontana when I was like two or three years old. I lived out there like half my life. Then I live I moved to San Bernardino when I was like 13 or 12. Fontana is where the the NASCAR track is. Yeah. Do you ever go to that? Go to that? Do you ever go to that? No, not I recently started going to Fontana. Since we go to races out there, that's where they do the is a drag racing. You've been to a drag race there? I've been to a drag race. I was surprised. There was like no guys and dresses. Just cars going really fast. You're that's what I know. We're going to play a video here right now. Jalen a 28 years of age and one of our member guys fighting in the UFC. Brittany, have you guys met before? No, but I worked his fights. I worked his first fight, which we had discussed prior, was Khabib and Conor. Yeah, it's a great way to be introduced into the UFC. What, you were on that fight card? Yeah. Oh shit. I'm so happy. People do remember that fight, though. You want to fight? Yeah. Oh, it's why they fought twice or just once? Just once. Dang, that's gnarly. But you lost that fight. Yeah, let's not talk about that. We got a video here of you not losing this. No volume, but I think we're good. Oh, my favorite fights right there. It looks like it feels so good to make some, like, connection that's just unstoppable. Yeah. I mean, a total. The most of the guys in your weight division. Yeah, I'm one of the tallest. I think there's, like, only two or three. Oh, that was sick takedown. And you feel like that's an advantage, right? Yeah, definitely. I mean, every single one. Yeah. You've got these long arms, these long legs that you can wrap around really come from anywhere. Mm hmm. Eh, But your natural energy, since you've been here versus, like, what we see in your performance is completely it's like you become a whole other person. Do you feel that way? Yeah, definitely. You have to have to tap into my dark side when I go fight. Does your dark side have another name? No, no, because you don't seem like you have a dark side. You seem like shy and funny. That's definitely my natural characteristics. You were trying to giggle before the show. You're going to get all my giggles out. He's trying to get his giggles out and he's a skater. Sick? Yeah. Like he's broken bones, skateboarding. Many boulder broke my arm, broke my fingers, my bum rolled ankles, everything. What have you broken more bones and skating or fighting? Skateboarding is way harder than fighting. I'm broke. Way more skateboarding and fighting. Really? Yeah. I accomplished way more in my career fighting than I ever did skateboarding. Are you trying to be pro skateboarding? Yeah. You know, like little kid dreams, like. But it didn't go. I didn't go too far. Who do you look up to as a skater? Oh, man, I got a long list. Let's go to Chris. Chris Cole, Anton Dixon, Nick Tucker, Nigel Houston. Um, Suzanne O'Neil. I mean, that's the list right there. So he's in the know me, you know, like everyone of those. So, so bad ass. Yeah. I mean, shit, we should have had you at X Games. Have you got to meet any of them? Um, I met Chris. I was going to say, because he's been a monster guy. I've seen him kicking it around quite a bit. He's one of my faves, too, man. Yeah, I grew up in New Jersey, so like that East Coast flavor. Anyway, with, like, it's all of the misfits and that music I love to ask. Yeah. So how'd you get into fighting? Did you wrestle as a kid? I wrestled a little bit in high school, and I broke my finger right before the season started. Saw the doctor told me I broke my finger on my growth plate, and I was like, What the heck is a growth plate? You know, I was like a sophomore in high school. So he told me he was like, Well, unless you want a stubby finger when you're an adult, I suggest you don't do it anymore. I was like, Dang. So I stopped. Then they cut the wrestling program the next year and that kind of like halted my whole, like, wrestling career. And fast forward a senior year in high school. I started training like with my homies in the backyard. I just like backyard sparring. I was like, like, man, I can be good at this. I was like, let me, you know, let me start training. I was training in my backyard. I use a couch as a punching bag. And I went to this local gym that a fighting trial made the team and I started fighting ever since. That's crazy. So you didn't go straight to you came up through Ballito? Sure. I came up through so many organizations. I thought King of the Cage World Series of Fighting Bullet tore through so many promotions and smash Global. I fought like every fight I had as a pro. It was pretty much through a different organization. That's kind of crazy, right? And is that a little is that is that not normal? Not definitely not normal, right? Yeah. Most people like stable when promotion get built up throughout promotion and then just go from there. But I was like, I'm okay. I just want to fight. I just want to get to the U.S. as fast as I could. Right? And that was kind of the road you had to go. A lot of these fights, international fights to now, they were all they're all local. They're all local. California. So who who was your first original coach? Adam Rottweiler. Yeah. Yeah. And that's still your coach now? No, I train with a I don't know and then Gonzalez Now. Nice. Yeah. And then my first jujitsu coach was Brady Fink. And then you still have Brady now? Nah, it's funny. I just recently seen him. I seen him in years. Yeah, I just seen him, like, a couple of weeks ago. He's probably proud of you. Yeah, he always he always told me I was going to be a champion. I was going to be good. I was like, Well, like when I first started, he was like one of the first people I ever, like, really believed in me. I was like, Oh, let. And then when is your next fight? Um, honestly, I don't know. We'll see. We're working on something. We're going to something soon. It's under wraps. Yeah, you're under wraps? Yeah. What do you mean? When you're prepping for a fight for you, do you stay? Like, are you staying in the gym? Are you staying? Like, in case you get a call, say, Dana or whomever calls you, they're like, We need you in two weeks. Are you ready now? No, no, not. I'm not that guy anymore anyway. So, yeah, I just feel like I've just. I don't know. I just put myself in a position to not have to be that guy. Right, right, right. Like I did that on my pro day on my UFC debut. You know, like, I take, like, fights on shorter notice. I, I'm just like, I'm I'm past that point right now. You know what I mean? Like, and I've been doing that so long. I don't like to, like, stay in the gym all the time. Like I do other things like, I like, I like to skateboard, like to be out with my family, with my dogs. Like, I just like to like, get away. You know? I feel like if I'm in the gym too much, like I go like, a little crazy. How long is your camp usually? Like eight weeks. Eight weeks? I'm honestly, like, six weeks. I'm good. Really? Yeah. Okay. That's good. I mean, makes a lot of sense, right? Because, like, fighting on short notice, it's like you got to think of this as a career to right where you don't want to. Just like not just take every opportunity, but you want to make sure you're prepared and like it's something you feel confident going into. Whereas like, you know, even though it's May and fighting, right, it's it's a career. So it's like it is pretty strategic. Yeah. Like if they gave me like a short notice fight for, like some crazy something worth like, you know, something like just extravagant, like I do like the Michael Bisping thing, Like if it were like two weeks notice, fight for the title. Like, I'd do something like that, you know? But right now my and I'm chilling, trying to still make my way up. I bet you take a short notice fight with me. I mean, you don't pay me. I was just thinking of adding to the victories because I don't know. You're going to pay me. Then I'm in. Diego would pay you. I don't know. Britney would probably pay you more. Actually, I love the ring, girl. Don't worry. I don't fight for free anymore. You know you shouldn't. Absolutely not. How'd you get your nickname? I had a little big collection of tarantulas back in the day, and I used to like that name at the gym because I always liked Anderson Silva. He was already the spider. So I was like, Oh, they are. The trans is a dope name, you know? And I really own tarantulas. So you have spiders? Yeah, like lots of them. I got like, I like seven right now. So collection, you mean like, and they're all, like, crawling. Yeah. They're not just like, you know, they're in containers. Yeah, they're not like in an amber block, so, you know, they're alive. Yeah. I've never actually. I've been so scared of spiders my whole life, but I've always, like, wanted to hold a tarantula. Should have told me I would have brought one. Oh, I wish you did bring one. I would have showed you. Really? Yeah. What's the biggest one you have? Um, it's probably about, like, fully stretched out as big as this can. Like that big weight. Well, how dangerous it is. Like some of them. Um, you had to go to a hospital, but that's not going to kill you. It's just going to be really painful. But they could kill a lot of stuff around the house. Like if you're a mass or you kill them. Mouse. My dog's like, Yeah, well, yeah. What are your dogs? Think about these spiders. They like them. That's why I know they like them in their cage. I'm sure they're like anything you like. Do you take them out? Yeah. Often? No, not too often. It is like if I have, like, a guest coming over, like, Oh, they want to see it. Like, I'll take one out, like one of my friendly ones, you know? How do you know? I mean, are they different colors? Like, who's friendly are different colors, different species, different temperaments like, like people, you know, like, who's the unfriendly one? I'm really going down this spider hole. I mean, this is interesting. Never known anyone that had this money. My son, Tiger, she's. She's pretty. She's pretty bad. Yeah, she'll. If you touch her and mess with her show by so bye. Like, like right off the bat. Are these poisonous? Yeah. Venomous. Yeah. Can you ever take the venom out of it? No, I was. Even if you take their fangs off, they'll regenerate their fangs within the next month. Well, he knows a lot about spiders. Yeah, I hope so. Yeah. Seven. Yeah. They'll regenerate their legs. You know, at some point you had 200. Yeah, well, that's even scarier. Yeah. Now I'm scared of you. Yeah, There's a movie about. There's like, there's arachnophobia. Do they? Yeah. Do they play together? Like, are they in the same tank, man? And so I got, actually I got one species that is communal so you can put them in the same tank together. The rest of the other ones are separated because they'll probably eat each other. Do you ever put, you know, Hollywood beta fish when you put a fish tank in the fish tank and then they like try to other males really? Do they do that? Like if you put it next to each other, they like no, don't get they could be they could be next to each other. But like if they're in the same container, like the bigger one's going to eat the smaller one no matter what. No matter what. Yeah. Unless as a communal species, what does that mean? And before I is a communal species, it means I can cohabitate together. Right. But I had 20 of them in the beginning and I only got five. So because of their strong survival, they all were doing the math here. 15 of them got eaten. Yeah. What do you feed them? Crickets. Other spiders. She's like, just the other spiders. Like I said, the toughest laughs. Figure it out. You have kids. You got two kids? Two kids? They like two spiders. Yeah. I got a video on Instagram with the home on the transfer the other day. Wow. Imagine walking into a house and seeing somebody with 200 spiders all in different containers. It's actually got a funny story about that. Let's go. I bred some. I put the babies in the container and I didn't know there was like a little tiny hole that they could fit through. I have at least 50 babies. Get out. My mom and my sister freaked out. They're all over the house. Oh, my God. Yeah. And so when they're babies, are they, like, as temperamental as when they're adults or they're, like, more a lot more passive, like. Yeah, it just. I don't know. It's like, Yeah, they're trying to run and get away from everything, but they're like, they're all the babies are like, Do you ever find just like, dead ones just hanging around cause you didn't catch all 50? No, I didn't actually know. I think I know 50 of them. No, no, no. I didn't find out. They're out. That's why I had to move. Just restless in the neighborhood. They're, like, moving to California. My mom was like, if I see them, I'm killing them. All right, Gilly, I got. Yeah, you should. How did you get, like, where did this obsession come from? Was it passed down, like, from other family members or something you just picked up at school? Now, I kind of just like, okay, so growing up, I love Steve Irwin. Like he was like, my idol meets spider. Yeah, that's right. And like, you know, I end up, like, hanging out with some friends and they hated spiders and, like, I just hung out there for years, so I kind of, like, acquired, like, a fear of them. And I was like, I got so bad. My mom and my sisters asked me to kill a spider and I wouldn't do it. And I was like, This is not me, you know? So I was like, okay, how am I going to get over this fear? I just I don't like having fears. I don't like knowing there's something I can control me that to that extent. So I go to a pet store, a buy a tarantula, and I watch it drink water, and then like a few days later, like, let me hold it. And I was like, Oh, this is crazy. This is a completely misunderstood them. And I just got obsessed with them. I just wanted a big collection. I want to know about every single species and all of them colors, whatever, everything. This might be a stupid question, but how many times have you been bitten? I've never been bad. Really? Yeah. Do you think that's because you're. They know that. You know that you're what? I'm trying to. They know that. You know that. We all know that way. But I don't know, like, they even like they have like a sense of who's cool or not. I feel like they probably do, right? They can sense it. Can you come back and bring us spiders and we just put it on the table and see who it bites. Let's do it. I'm with you. Honestly, you got to do something pretty pretty dumb to get bit by tarantula. You know what I mean? Like mess with it. Yeah, because they're going to warn you before they even try to bite you. Unless, like, you're like, I don't know, like, you can hold them, and then sometimes an instance will happen, but, like, that's, like, super rare. Wow. I don't think. Yeah, I've never been bitten over ten years of having them, so. Wow. Yeah, I'm kind of fascinated. And then where did the Steve Irwin thing come from? Was that from the TV show? Was that TV show? I watched him as a kid. You know what I mean? Like that. Yeah. Well, first thing I wanted to do and be in my life was the black Steve Irwin. Like, that was like my thing. You kind of. That would be a good Let's go swimming with stingrays, right? Yeah, I can do that. Rest in peace, Steve Irwin. Man, it's crazy. His kid, his kids run the the farm in Australia. Yeah, the sanctuary up in. It's the Sunshine Coast. I've actually. I've actually been there. It's. It's. How long's it been now. It's been man. I think I was in like middle school or elementary school happened. I don't know. It's been a while. You ever pick up any fight moves from watching them? You're like grappling. You're like, way. That sounds like a good idea. Watching the spiders fight. Yeah. You never know. Maybe they're like, Wow, What? You know, or something. Do that again. That was like the fake out, which I'm. I mean, they have more legs to fake out. That's true. That would be a sick move if you ran and then jumped and then double punch double kicked the time they'd be sick. But if I don't make contact, I'm a fall in my eyes. I don't know. Right through where they have to catch you. Yeah, I mean, awkwardly. Use all your hands and legs in a way. In a move. That's a move. That's it moves or. Or I can use three and I still keep oh on my next fight. Oh no. And then kind of like that's the tarantula leg. That's your signature move up. There you go. All right. Your last fight was came to decision UFC 290. Dan Hooker, what did you take away from that fight, man? I say I don't know. It was a tough fight with a lot of I was, uh. It was a war. I haven't been in a war like that in a long time. Like years. Do you like that stuff? That's all right. That's. I like. I like. I like clean finishes more than anything. Right. You go get in there and get in. Get out. You know, my do my stuff be done. But I mean, the fans like it. That's all I care about. You know, fans enjoyed it, but that's kind of it, right? It's it's is is a couple of things. It's there's entertainment value, there's showmanship, and then there's winning. And I guess you want to do all three. But still, if it's going to come to a decision and you're still entertaining and it's still part of the night or whatever, it's ideas, you've got to be able to take something away from that, right? Yeah. You know, I'd rather they have it go down like that and, you know, any other way, there's value in it, you know? I mean, my stock didn't go down. No, no. So, um. Yeah, I don't know. I just look at it like that. Like, even. Even, like, post-fight, like, I think about it. I'm like, man, like, I take away less damage in him, so you know what I mean? Like, that's a victory in itself, You know what I mean? Like, I know what I can do to a human being. Like. Like I'm breaking orbital bones and breaking arms and like, Oh, shoot. Like, I I'm kind of that kind of scary, you know? Like, all right, cool. As he's smiling, saying, I know terrifying is scary. Is there a dark side? Do you have a dark side? Yeah. Hey, how are you? Everybody does. Yeah, right? Yeah, that's fucking true. How do you switch that on? Like when you're in the ring, You're not smiling like this right now? Not at all. Not at all. As you listen to a lot of gangster rap, what kind of rap you're listening to East Jee For the most part, that's like my, like pre fight playlist and I just get in the zone and get ready to go and I'm on business. Who do you want to? I guess at some point, obviously, you know, you want the championship, you want the belt. Is there somebody that you would prefer to fight or you're just fucking whoever it is at that time? I'll stand up and take it, whoever it is at that time, I don't I don't have no name attached to anything. Anyone like I don't care. I'm going to find everybody eventually anyway. You know what I mean? Like, that's that's how I look at it. That's a good way to look at it. Yeah. What about this? You know, uh, this Jake Paul kind of saga boxing thing that's going on. Nate Diaz for last week, did you watch any of that? Nah, I didn't watch it. I was like, I'm a homie. Tell me the the updates. And that was it. I was with my kid at the movies. Right? Do you is there an opinion you have about, you know, where a lot of these fire fighters are being able to retire and kind of go out in a way like that? Or do you have an opinion on that and get the money, as you know, go ahead and handle business, get that money? I don't you know, I'm mad about it. You know what I mean? But I wish we get some dubs in there. You know what I mean? That's it kind of sucks, right? Yeah. So I can fill you in. Nate did a good job. He didn't not. Not do a good job. He finished it. It was exciting. He kept the crowd going where some of these other ones. You know, the Tyron Woodley stuff wasn't pretty to watch that last one. People get knocked out like that. That sucks because it ruins a bit of a legacy they have. But they're also getting fucking paid. So you know, kudos to that. How long can Jake keep doing this? I don't know. But the crazy thing is, is the way you know, I didn't know too much about this either, but he's really putting on, like, the only really big boxing tournament. And I noticed female boxing. I never watch female boxing before. Obviously, MMA UFC has you know, they've done a really good job of that. I've never and I'm not saying, you know, the most exciting or whatever, but I'm saying it was it's still cool to see, you know, so love him or hate him, It's it's definitely it's an interesting path that they have laid out. And, you know, it was it was interesting to see, you know, everyone loves not maybe not everyone, maybe not you, but Nate Diaz is fucking cool in my mind. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Heck yeah. Him and his brother, what they did for the sport, what they stand for is, is, is, is, is cool. And you know that you kind of need legends, icons like that or whatever, you know? So was it a little, like, one sided in a way? Well, Jake's a boxer. These guys aren't boxers. Oh, okay. You know, they're like Sudanese. Two time Olympic silver medalist, snowboarder. So Danny comes from that side of the world. So he he's he's also not he's not really watching that stuff. Not all the time. I mean, I got my ass kicked enough growing up. It just brings back memories of school and stuff where I'm like, Oh, man, I got in summer so bullied I was a little bit bullied. Well, you bullied. That's why you're bullying now. See, that's what happened. Is he a bully? I mean, a little bit, apparently in the politics. You bullied her? Yeah, I believed her. Yeah, that's game. She was making fun of every outfit I ever wore. I thought outfits were great. Thank you. You didn't bully me. You weren't bullied in high school. He was, I think, go to high school. The cause you were kicked out. So lucky. How was your high school days, man? I hated high school. I hated high school so much. I mean, it was cool. Like, I had, like, you know, little cool times here and there. But for the most part, I was bullied, too. Really? Yeah. Like, yeah, I think everyone's like, you know, what's crazy is, like, I look back on, you know, times like that and you look back and you I believe Adam was bullied in both kind of ways at a younger age. Kids are so fucking mean. Yeah, it's crazy. Now is worse. Yeah, well, it's also really hard when you, like, move to a new school, and then it's like everyone's like, Oh, we got to beat up the new kid, you know? Yeah, I feel like, yeah. You know, I always wonder with, like, you know, being a professional fighter, like, do people, like, challenge you at the bar ever or like, want to fight you just to be like, yeah, no, I just the opposite is obviously you don't really love you. It's like the bullies love you guys, right? Yeah, that's the scary part. I don't look like none at all. No. So the last time I did get into some crap, like it was at a club situation, so, yeah, they didn't know I was a fighter. What if they don't? They still don't tell you. There's some some some crazy drunk instance that that happened. Oh, yeah. We don't have to go into. I don't drink, I don't drink alcohol anymore. Oh, really? Yeah. Wow, man, I feel sorry for that guy or guys. Yeah, yeah, more like guys. Definitely multiple. But I think I broke my. I broke my hand. Actually, I broke my hand and I think I broke somebody's face, but my gosh, Yeah, but, and I'm getting jumped by some people, so it was crazy. That's cool. It is. It happens. It's like it's got to be pretty cool. Like, I ah, I grew up watching all the cool, like, you know, martial arts and kung fu movies and like, one of my dreams just, like, kick in a whole group of dudes asses. Just, you know, I don't know, like the one on one thing. Yeah, that's cool. Whatever. You're in a fight. But, I mean, I'm talking like some sick. So where do you say, like, you and Jaylen is going to start hitting fucking the bars? Beat? I mean, he like, dude, he like gets him a little dazed and I just finishing like he's got some like some scores to settle in Huntington Beach. He's like, Come on, Jack. Oh, actually, yeah. I want to go to Huntington Beach. I would train for that. Train for that just Yeah, right. And my God, there's some dudes with, like, star tattoos flying out a window and shit. You just doing the scorpion fighting moves the whole. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know where we could make it happen. I got to come train with you. Then just do it as And you got to see. I've never been snowboarding ever done. We can trade. Let's do it. Yeah, cause there's actually a few guys up in Mammoth I'd like you to meet. Hey. Hey, Shaun, Meet my friend Jaylen Waddle. He's going to beat up Shaun White. No, not Shaun White was talking about the guy that sold us the Gua suit. And. Oh, yeah, you can beat up that guy. Yeah, We got a few people for you. Yeah. Are you watching what's coming up right now? John Jones deep home. That's going to be a rough us. I love Steve Bay. He's the man fucking people's champ. Everything That's going to be a tough fight, huh? Yeah. Yeah. I feel like they teach him off a little. Jon Jones is too damn good. And that's the that's. That's the hardest part. He's is too good. Britney was just hanging out with him and she said he's huge right now. Well, he's huge, but he's in the gym. We were I was I was telling him I was out with some friends. We face time, John. He was in the gym like he's back on his two days. He's ready. That's right. I'm actually painting the shirts for the bay. John Jones for U of C. I'm painting that. You are t shirts? Yeah. Oh, that's cool. I don't want me to. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. I mean, what's your opinion on this fight? Me? Yeah. I mean, like you said, I mean, John, it's John Jones. He's just. He's such an incredible athlete. Incredible entertainer, and I think he's an he's in a really good place. I mean, when I saw him, he came to my art show. And then when, you know, everyone can't be watched. Joe Rogan posted about your art show. I didn't get an invite. And he was one of but I mean, I'm I don't know if I'm team Jon Jones even though I mean yeah I think it's a great I can't wait to see him. Where is that fight was in Vegas Madison Square Garden of New York. The New York fight? Yeah. You guys think that Conor is going to fight Nate Diaz? Like, is that going to happen again? I would like to see that. I just like to see kind of get back in the ring at this point. Plan is simple. Farrell like he sees in the world, I'm like, just fine. He's over there driving his Lamborghini boat fricking by and whatever. Making kids everyday make babies. I mean, like he doesn't have a she doesn't have an off clock. She's pregnant again. Thank you. Yeah. Yes. Okay. No off clock, No o'clock. He's busy. He's busy. Two days in the gym. Out of the gym. Two a day. Two days, man. I guess if you're in his position, too, it's like he's a plumber from Ireland that got rich as fuck and is like, Dad, I'm living. Yeah, I'd have more kids if I had more money for sure and I was living like him. I'd have like seven kids right now, for sure. He's working on it. Yeah. I'll be right behind you. Got time. How old are your kids? My son's five and my daughter's four. What are they into that they just want? It's a little bit better. Everything. When they watch you fight, do they get really like, do they get nervous or how is it do you take him to the fight? Had they been to the fights? I, I don't think I ever take them to like my personal fights. It's a weird thing, right? I look at it sometimes when I fly to get beat up and their kids are there. I'm like, Oh, yeah, see it? For me, it's like I feel like I'm going to go to war. I'm going to go to battle. So I don't want to have my kids there, you know, like good or bad, if I feel like I'm going to win 110%, or if I feel like I'm win like 90%, like I don't want them there at all. So, you know, I just they they watch my sister at home, you know, and I just keep like that. But I'll take them, like go out, somebody else fight, you know, how's like your mom and sister with you fighting. They, they, they support it. They watch me, you know. Yeah, they, they help me. Like when I'm. I'm trying training camp. I have, like, I need somebody watch my kids. Like they're there for me. Like, I got a good support system behind me. You need that? Yeah. Like, if I didn't have it, I wouldn't have made it this far, to be honest. Yeah. Yeah, That's like you. That's. You need that backbone. Yeah. And to be able to lean on that backbone like, super important. He's a family man. Danny's trying to have kids soon. Yeah, come on. So I'm trying. It looks like a lot of work. Is it a lot of work? No. You sure? Everybody made it seem so, like, so much harder than it actually was. You know what I mean? Like, I always wanted to be a dad when I was young. I like, long story short, I always wanted to be a dad. I wanted, like, five kids. And people were like, Oh, yeah, you have kids, this and that. Like, no is pretty chill. Congress. The question, is your dad around? No, he wasn't around. He he and my mom got divorced when I was like seven years old. He was like in and out of my life until, like, I was like a teen. And he just kind of, like, dipped our heads when his new wife. All right, cool. You know, I seen him before. I. I think after my son was born, he, you know, he went to, like, be in his life. And I was like, all right, cool. I'm okay with that. And then they never hit me up again. I was I would ever like, do you hit you up now since he's seen you on TV? No. Dang. Yeah. That's why. That's why you're a super dad. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. That's how I look at it. Like I don't have any any animosity. Bad blood, Like, I don't care. Like, you know, like I came to peace with the situation, and it just made me want to be a better dad. It's crazy, man. Like I. My dad's in my life now, but when I was younger, I didn't like there was a period I see my dad's like eight years or something so crazy, and it's just like, weird to think about that. They're they're around, but they're not in your life. Or do they care? Do they not? And it fucking the mind fuck. But it also like, you know, sometimes, you know, you can take those negatives and create a positive or create drive. I think everyone needs drive. So it's like, you know, sometimes you look back on some of that heartache, but I think that's, you know, maybe where some of your aggression comes from to when you get in the ring. That's definitely true. And every negative I've ever had in my life, I turn to a positive. So I've always been that person. You're one of the happiest people I think we've ever sat at this table. Your smile is like radiating. I know. I wish you'd smile like that more than. Well, I do too. I know I'm smiling right now. I like hide my teeth for some reason. I like small. I have small teeth. I don't know what it is, but great smile. Thanks. Did great. Yes. Thank you. When it comes out now, you can't turn now. Okay. And I'll stop. Okay? No, you little smile. I keep it on. Brittany's got a pretty smile. Yeah, I mean, thank you. Would you let your kids fight it? Yeah, definitely. I'm not, like, pushing it on them, but if they make the choice themselves, then, yeah, but they got to learn to fight regardless. They're going to be in the gym and learning the little techniques here and there. You know, we can't let them get bullied. So. No. Yeah. Nothing better than a little girl choking somebody out straight up. Do they fight with each other all the time? They do. Do you think you inspire them a little bit when they see dad on TV? Definitely. It's all tap. Tap. So the brother and I wonder if they're in school, like whatever my dad cook your dad's 100%. Yeah, that's what kids do. Yeah. My son is a terror. He's like my dad. Stronger than you any like any friend I go to. My dad's stronger than you. You in armor? So, my dad, I don't think you're a You look like you could be stronger than my dad. Don't like, bro. Like, chill out. Oh, really? He's like you like this guy. He's huge. You're like, Okay, like a Jon Jones. You're like, crazy. Who are your idols? You said Anderson Silver, A little bit like from the Spider thing. Was that the spider thing or is that because Anderson Silver was genuinely an idol and somebody to look up to? He's there for somebody I looked up to for a long time, honestly, mainly him. You know, he was like the number one on my list from when I started to and even now, you know, I had to train with Jon Jones. I always looked up to Jon Jones. I think he's the greatest of all time, you know, And that's pretty much it, too. People are really like, really looked up to, you know, I admire, like the long, lanky guys, you know, like Carlos Condit was dope to watch, Cowboy was dope to watch. I watched Israel before he even got in the UFC. I was telling everybody he's going to be a champion before he even, like, made it to being a champion in the UFC. Um, yeah, dude. Just anybody with a long, lanky frame like I was just all for. Yeah, that was just try to tailor my game around those dudes. Do you think that Jon Jones could be one of the best athletes of all time? Like, not just may you have like, of oh, I never thought of that. But yeah I think that's should be in the conversation now. Yeah, I can see that for sure. My favorite Jon Jones story was his first when he won the title and he had saved that woman who got mugged in the park. Did you ever hear that? So it was the morning of his fight. I don't remember where it was. And he was meditating in a park and a woman got mugged and he was like, the guy mugged the wrong woman at the wrong time. He ran after this guy got this woman's purse back and fought and won the title that night. That was Jon Jones's first fight in the UFC. Well, first title fight. And I feel that that's live. I was there. That's pretty cool. That's good info, right? What does it take to be a champion? Like to really go after it? Is it more like different style? I can answer that question when I become champion. Okay, then I will come back. We'll do this podcast over again and I'll answer that question. But you know, on the way to the top right now, it's been and it's been it's been tough. It's been rough. You know, like I've been making little changes here and there, but at the same time, like, I don't know, like, I don't know. I don't know. You know what I mean? That's a good question. I like that. But like I said, I won't really be able to fully answer that question until I do get that better. I'm okay. So we're going to come back to that one. What keeps you going? Like, what is this like this hunger? Is it just for the bell? Is it for the success? Is it for yourself? Is it for your children? What what drives you through, honestly, is all of the above. And like, honestly, like for the most part, it's going to sound crazy to say, I don't know what else to do. I don't know what else I would want to do with my life. I don't know what else will wake me up in the morning and make me want to go run ten freaking miles. You know what I mean? Or just grind as much as thinking about another man trying to beat me or take to take food away from my kids. You know? What's your camp look like? Like, what is it you said ten miles. What is like your diet? What's your camp? What's your training schedule? And die. I got to leave all the good foods and desserts. Um, I like tea Day on the weekends. Sometimes, but what's your cheat day? Food? Anything that's sweet. Anything that's a burger, anything that's a pizza, Anything full of carbs me, too. Yeah, I just got hungry again. It looks like you probably don't have to cut much weight, though, when you fight. I thank you. I appreciate that. I feel I like Slim. You do? Yeah. You look good. See, everybody called me a weight bully and all this crap. LeBron. Not a weight bully. What's a weight bully? This new term, that casual little kids call bigger fighters. Since I'm six three and £155, like, they're like, Oh, my gosh, you're a weight bully. Well, like, what are they saying? What does that mean? Like, because you're you walk around at the weight, you're fighting it. I don't like when I'm different. I won 155 right now, but I guess because since I look bigger than most of the division, they they think I'm like size. She's got like six seven inches on most of them. Right. That's not a weight bully. That's a height bully. Exactly. Tall. That's just. You're born that way. Yeah, exactly. Their problem, not yours. I'm the week has anything. Hmm. I'm the weight bully. So what? So you do two days? Yeah. Two. It is eight. Sometimes three do my runs in between. Oh, wow. It just depends on my day. It depends on, like, Monday. My names are. Fridays are like my like usually, like three, like three days. Tuesday, Thursday, sometimes two, sometimes one. Just depends on my day, you know, like, and I, I like to take rest days. I like to, like, break up and like, listen to my body. You know what I mean? When I fought Jimmy Malarkey, that was the most wrestling that I ever had in the camp. And I was the first time I went into a fight without without an injury. And I felt I felt so good. And do you have, like, a way to turn it off in between you're training? Like, are you like video games just playing with your kids, skateboard, meditate? Like what is your so reset? My reset is just being with animals, being with nature, going on a hike or be with my kids, you know, and that's like my normal everyday life. And that's why I always, like, like to do. That's why I just like, don't get hell bent in fighting and being in the gym, being in the camp, you know, because my first like until I got to the UFC, I trained every day like I didn't take a break unless I was injured, you know? And when I got to the U.S. and I had my meniscus surgery, that's what the first time I ever had a long layoff. So I completely changed my whole mindset. It completely reset me and I was just like, man, like taking time away is actually good because it made it what it fortified my mind, you know? And I was like, I really want to do this even more. And it just helped a lot. And also I like to get away and just be normal and just do my normal life, get out of the gym. And then when I come back, I'm hungry again, you know. Do you feel like you getting to the UFC, like that was almost a burn out period because you were going so hard? And definitely I, I, I would fight. I felt like four times a year sometimes I was just like, just always want to fight and always want to just get there, get there, get there. Like it just didn't matter. I just wanted to get there, you know, and then, you know, and I get them like, okay, like, let's do the same thing. Let's keep ramping it up. And then it's like life is like, no, sit down, sit back injury. They didn't fight for a year and then they didn't fight for ten months. And I was like, Yeah, this is crazy. I've never did that like in like five years. And it took for me to get there, like I did not like, sit down, you know? So now I've got a lot more patients and now like, understand why I had to, like, sit back because it just made me better. Like every time I go fight again, I'm always better and everybody sees it. They see the progression in my training. So that's what happened. That's what it's for. Wow. I had a question like you talked about kind of fighting healthy in injury, I feel like, because when we kind of see the fight cards, you look at these like, you know, two figures and they just look so strong and healthy. But I know from like snowboarding and competing, you know, there was a lot of times where you're not like you're nursing a small injury here and there and and that's pretty common. You think for like everyone, everybody definitely super common. You know, like like I said, those I've had I don't know how many fights. And that was the first fight I've had with no injury. Think about that. Like, I felt good. It felt amazing, you know? I mean, like nothing was nagging, nothing was really bothering me. Nothing. I was like, Oh, I going to worry about this or or I can't do this technique because this is hurting. You know, It's just like, smooth. I could do whatever I want, execute whatever I want. Yeah, cause you're not, you're not stressed. And then going in like that, your mindset is probably because you can do anything you want. What do you like more striking or getting them down on the ground and choking them? I like training, grappling a lot more than I like training striking. I'm just better at striking and I just utilize it a lot more. It's just my bread and butter, you know? I mean, like I feel like I'm levels above everybody in the striking room, but I love grappling. Like people don't realize, like wrestling started me. Like that's what got me into me. And I just I don't know. I just everybody is just like, you're better striker than everybody. Strike strikes, right? You know, I think about it like everything about like back about my last fight I'm like, I should have grappled more like I always think about that like why don't I should of take down here in there, You know what I mean? Like, I like I got offense, you know, like, I don't know, but does that kind of depend on your opponent too? Yeah. Yeah, it does. But also, like me looking at I guess this is something I could take away from the fight, like finding more ways to win instead of just being an entertainer. Like, I feel like if I would have, you know, got a takedown in each round, I would have won, like, solidified those rounds. You know what I mean? Like, little things like that, like to become a better competitor, to figure out how to win. What's your opinion on, you know, like it again, this is more so going back into the showman side of it. But like the way that people the way that the build up is now. And I think that it changed a lot. But I think UFC or may especially from the Conor McGregor stuff, what's your opinion on this? Like what it's turned into, it's, it's, it's like a show before the show. I mean, are you a shit talker who loves it? He's good at it. I feel like, no, I feel like he's not. No, I'm, I'm so calm and cordial. I want it to be We can be friends for life. I don't care. You know, we're going to go fight. You know, I'm going to punch him in the face. I'm going to try to knock you out. So I don't I'm entertained by it. Like I like watching people talk shit. I like hearing people, like, give their spills and everybody and like the bad blow, whatever. But for me, I don't, I don't. I don't do it. It's not my thing. It's not me. You know, I got tried it once and I was like, it was just cringe. I was like, That's not me. You're like, Hey, you want to eat my tarantula? I'd be so good at it. I'd be like the best shit talker. And then I just get knocked out. I got to flex four, you know? I know what you need to do. You just need to show up with your spiders. I did that right away. Way before you did. Yeah? Yeah. Just add a little extra weight. You're like a huge weight bully, and now you're like. That only weighs, like, one ounce. What's a big ass tarantula? You did show up at the weigh in with it? Yeah. How? How was in the box, was it? No, I just held it in my hand. I stepped on a scale and then I just open My hand was Please do it again. They won't let me. Y like you have to get everything pre-approved before, like, all this to do it. And then, like, I'll be on stage and it is handed to me for a second. Yeah, I'll give it back and then let's do that. Don't you mean I'm down? Okay, let's get it. Wait. They told you not to bring spiders? Yeah. No, I didn't bring it. She did. Yeah. Yes, exactly. See, I'm. I'm not going to. Yeah, You know, I'd rather ask for forgiveness and permission. Exactly. I suppose that. Yeah, I would love nothing more than at a press conference when everybody's sitting in a row. If you just unleashed your spiders and they're just, you know, just going up, Dana's are, you know, really good. There it is. Yeah. It's completely like blasé. Like where do you go? That would be so uncomfortable. I'm uncomfortable with the conversation still matter. If I really brought one and set it down right, I would love it. I love it. I would jump off spiders. I'm Australian so I'm used to it. I like snakes. Yeah, I guess I spy. You've snakes. I got snakes too. How many snakes you have? I got one snake. Big snake. California snake. Yeah, it's probably about like. Whoa, that's a big snake. What, do you feed him? Mice. Yeah. Yeah. So what did you feed the spiders? Cockroaches? Yeah. Crickets. Crickets, Lizards. Snakes. Do they eat mice? Snakes? Do they do They're big enough. Yeah. Say, yeah. Yeah, I can do snakes. I had snakes down. Snakes, tarantula. And then I did it, and I didn't. Didn't Henry bring snakes once or they fake? I don't know, maybe. Oh, yeah, that's fake. I think they think they were fake. Right. You did that. Yeah. That guy annoys me. There's a lot of people just gets he just gets under your skin for some reason. That's his, uh, that's his spiel. Yeah. King occurrence. Is he going to keep fighting? You think? I have no idea. He came back to annoy you. Take him back. He got beat and I think. I don't think he thought he was going to get beat, but he got beat. I mean, he was trying to fight. He was trying to fight O'Malley. Oh, yeah. He was about to fight in Boston. Yeah, but Henry never got that fight. I wonder how that one would have gone. Didn't he get surgery or something after the last fight? I think so. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. I mean, he should've retired, to be honest. He should have just stayed out, and then he would have been fine. Yeah. Yeah. You have to feel bad for him now, but you need somebody. You need bad people. Like, it's like fucking you need a you know, it just can't like them all. But that's even like this power slap thing. It's hard because you don't know these people. You know what I mean? Where's your see or you know who they are? So there's good person or bad because you don't like that person or there's the the powers that not yet. There's only a few personalities, but it's hard to root for somebody when like, Well, who is he? Yeah. The next thing you know, he's sleeping on the ground. Like, what's it sound like in the crowd, though? After each lap? Is it like, Oh, it's pretty entertainingly. Yeah. And I'm not just saying that because we sponsor it. It's actually entertaining. It's entertaining. I can't tell if they're acting mad. Sometimes they hit the ground. They're like out. It's like lights out. It's it's very real. They're not acting like crazy. I feel like it's almost I'd almost rather be punched with a mic in, like, something on as opposed to being, like, open handed. I get to the face and then like, if you catch it in the ear, I feel like a slap is just so disrespectful. So what? You mean something bad? It's like your mom came in just like, wow, watching a fully grown man slap a fully grown man behind your back. So they have to make the thing, have to take it in. They hold the thing. So what if they let go? Do they, like, lose points? Yeah, that's crazy. But the thing is, my favorite knockout is always this one. This. This nerve right here. Because you when a fighter does that, you could sometimes. I mean, it's always hard, but if you get it right, it'll just go out. So that slap is right where that nerve is. So that's why they keep. I mean, that's my favorite knockout. What's your favorite knockout? Um, show? I don't know. This one's a good one. I just was down when it went to sleep, and I had kicked them right. I like you don't want to. You don't want to see the guy still looking at you after you kick him in the head. Exactly. Yeah. And no, the only human beings to be able to take a full head kick. Yeah, Yeah. It's kind of gnarly. You landed well, like, right here, side of his head and broke his orbital bone then. So it's not his. Yeah, not him. That's crazy, right? Crazy. That's tough, dude. I ever fought for sure. How hard is it to land a head kick, or do you seem like a really solid kick? It's really hard, actually. It's really hard to land a solid flush head kick. So when I. When I threw it, I was like, Oh, it's perfect. Like, I kind of faked it low and I came up high and I and I seen him bite and I was like, Oh, yes, boom. And like, when he grabbed me, I was like, Although he's still in here, like, he's not he's not asleep. I'm like, Yeah, all right. You know, she's asleep to stop you, like, keep our kid and then disengage. He goes and does a head kick and Dustin Poirier blocks it and still puts him to sleep crazy, right? Like, what's this? Does this make good what's going on in the universe right now? But that's the craziest thing about your job and what you do it. It's it's one can work one con. It's not. It's all it's not like you guys are in there doing it, but it's like. But a head kick, knock out is very, very impressive. And definitely that's a showstopper. Yeah, for sure. For sure. Because that's entertaining. Hey kicks a crazy. I love thinking that's probably my favorite. Hey Kicks. Nah. Can you head kick, Danny? Yeah, of course. No, I'm too short, man. Man What about Uppercut outs, though? I want to see some uppercut finishes. I feel like that's a percussive nice, too. I don't throw enough uppercuts. You could put them to the moon. Why not? It's because people. Because you're not close to people. Yeah. Yeah. I'm too long. Too long for that. You have to do that other one. Overhand. Overhand. Yeah, that would work. I like body shots, my favorites. Just, like, drain the energy right out of them. Here's somebody in the solar plexus or the liver. The liver. Right. The livers where people just drop. If you hit that in the sweet spot, they're done. Oh, yeah. I think. I think I had Dan really good in the liver the first round. I think he, uh. He felt that one. You're like, I've hit him in the body. I was like, Do like, how are you still, like, come off like, you're the zombie. That night, I kept telling everybody, like, in interviews, I was like, It depends on what Dan shows up. You know, If he shows up, it's going to be a long night. It's going to be crazy. And it was. He showed up. Let's go wild. I want to fight again. Dang, Do you want to fight him again? I want to fight again in general, right? Yeah, I fight him again. I fight. Yeah. I love that term. You just said that he's a zombie. That you just given him everything you got in there. Just like. Yeah, you can't stop him. You're like, Yo, let's check his pulse next round. Like, this guy's here and here. Yeah, like he's a cyborg. Definitely. What's hotter? A head kick or a 360 flip on a skateboard to land? Yeah, basically flip, for sure. Can you really land 30, 60 flips? Dang it. I learned him switch first. Actually, I couldn't land a regular one for so long. It was so weird. Like, everybody was like, how did you. That's like learning to run before you learn how to walk. I was like, I don't know. I just felt better. Switch sounds dangerous, but what if you had to come out on the skateboard with a tarantula just like Ollie, like eight stare? I'd do it, kick it out, throw the board to the crowd. I think we're really. We're really coming up with some ideas. You can. I would be such a better showman. I would stretch it. Great, horrible manager. But I think. Oh, he just rolled his angel. It's okay. It's okay. Let's start the round. Like, give us snake. Just, like, circling the cage. Yeah, that'd be sick. You know what I mean? Like, just incorporate just everything I'm into, like, animals, skateboarding, whatever. Like, you know, I watch when I get the boat. They're not going to deny me for half of this shit, I'm telling you. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Once you get there, you can do whatever want. It's through that it's proven. You get that belt, I'll get a tarantula tattoo. Word. Word. Oh, dang. Yeah. Sit still. I want to get a tattoo. Yeah, just got a tattoo. I didn't. I didn't get one of the. You have any tattoo? No tattoos. You don't seem like a tattoo guy. Yeah, I mean, I used to want one, but I just. Well, what did you want? Yeah, it was a He was Dragon of the Darkness Flame from this anime called you. How cool is it? Like it just wraps around your arm. It's a dragon. That's cool. Do you read a lot? Mm, Not as. Not as much as I should. Hmm. A little bit. Here and there. You seem like you read a little bit. I appreciate that, you know, he knows big words, spoken, well-spoken. Well, well-spoken and fucking gnarly. So we've got you all fired back up to fight. Probably not going to fight this year, though, huh? I wasn't planning on it, but I think an opportunity is arising, so we shall see. Cool. All right. We can't really go much more into that. But also. Wow, super impressive that you can skate like that. Thank you. We got to we've got to connect him with Nyjah and maybe, maybe after you fight. Nyjah’s The fun guy. I'm not going down any rails. No stairs, maybe a ledge. That's about it. So I was just with somebody. I was with Thomas, our skate team manager from Europe, and he's like, Dude, like, they just had no idea in Europe. And he's like, Man, they had him on a team trip and he's like, Dude, like all the other skaters get bummed when he comes to skate because he certainly he's good and he does. He makes it look easy. I got beef with him because he was so much better skating when he was like 11 years old. Oh yeah. I was like, before you before we interviewed him, he did like one of our first ones, Danny, to do some research games. He took up my knowledge tricks by the time he was leaving. Yeah, it's pretty impressive. He's had beef with him ever since. No beef, but obviously some jealousy. He makes it look so easy. He does. He does anything nonchalant kind of guy, and he does hammers like. I mean, he just, like, really lays some insane parts down. Definitely. Yeah. All right. Well, we really appreciate you here at Monster Energy. Before we leave, we do this like lightning round that we kind of just fire some questions off. I didn't mean to do that. Oh, Jalen Turner, Guys, we really appreciate you, sick man. I've got to go look at. I'm going to when we get done, I'm going to look at some of that skate footage and I think let's drop some of those skate videos that will then play when there's this at the end here, which we're going to drop in. Anything else, any loss, Like you're a family man, you're a good man, you're a smiling man. You don't look dangerous, but you are a scary motherfucker. You hit the nail on the head with all that. All right, first lightning round question. You name all of your tarantulas? No. Do you name any? Yeah, well, actually, because I want to jump in on that. You not name them because they might get eaten like you. Like name the baby. Yeah. You like Jeffrey got eaten again. Oh, you name them all the same name. After having so many for so long, you just I coming up with 200 names. That's a lot. And not even just that. Like you kind of like it depends how connected you get with it, you know? I mean, walk out song you always wanted to use. Um. Uh, shoot. I don't know. I got a bunch. Yeah, I got a bunch. You don't? Yeah. You can't say ex What if someone takes it? Greatest, greatest MMA fighter. That was a bad press. Sorry, I asked. I was like, what's what's your next finishing move? Going to be the greatest MMO fighter of all time. Jon Jones. Best place you've traveled for me. Dubai. If you could give yourself younger self some advice. Um. Shoot. I don't know. Be patient. Be more patient. Be patient. Yeah. Stay away from the girls. Stay away from the girls. Yeah, yeah. Drama girls are drama. Such drama. That's drama. No comment. Well, let's end it there for the lightning round. I heard. Well, we really appreciate you, and I really can't wait for your next fight. But thank you for your time. Thank you, guys. Appreciate you. When I get that bell, we're coming back round back to Dracula tattoos, and then we'll go live with the bell. Yeah. Thank you. How?