Fight IQ

"Anything you work towards, there are always obstacles in the way and that's when you either quit or continue on. That's when I say just continue on, overcome that obstacle and move to your goal because you never know which is the last obstacle that's going to try to stop you." - Chuck Norris, speaking on the life lessons learned from practicing martial arts.

Martial arts training should be viewed as a gift. It gives us the capability to improve both our mental and physical health, strengthen our immune system and build a skill set that allows us to better cope with dangerous situations that may arise in our lives. The benefits of martial arts training are so numerous that the ability to defend yourself is just one small piece of the puzzle. With this in mind, there really is no reason not to begin and start changing your life for the better. 

On today's episode we breakdown clips from film star Chuck Norris, former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight champion Georges St. Pierre, his trainer Firas Zahabi and one of the greatest tacticians in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, Greg Jackson, to hear reasons why it's important for all of us to engage in physical training. 

Intro Music by Fesliyan Studios

Outro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Chuck Norris

Georges St. Pierre

Firas Zahabi

Greg Jackson

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"I really wanted to die, I wanted a date with the death man." These are the words of Heavyweight Boxing champion Tyson Fury.

Mental health issues are surrounded by stigma and are a topic that many find difficult to openly discuss, yet we all experience them to some degree or another. Almost no one will go through life without entering a period of depression, anxiety or addiction.   

We have to make a constant effort to look after our mental health and open up about our problems to those who could lend a helping hand. On this episode of Fight IQ, we breakdown clips from Shane Young, Jeremy Stephens, Robert Whittaker and Tyson Fury, fighters who have had very intense mental health struggles and learn that the greatest adversary in our lives is the enemy within.

Intro Music by Fesliyan Studios

Outro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Tyson Fury

Robert Whittaker

Jeremy Stephens

Shane Young

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“Doubt is removed by action so if you’re not working, that’s where the doubt seeps in.” - Conor McGregor

When we go all in on something, it makes us feel better about ourselves and so gives us a massive boost to confidence. It fills us with a sense of purpose that elevates our mood and makes us less prone to anxiety and stress. It makes us feel like we are on a path that matters, the right path for us.

What is your reason for pursuing your passion and are you truly dedicated and committed to it? Today we’re going to hear from fighters about the things that motivate them to step inside the ring time and time again and give it their all. Some fight for money, some fight for fame and some fight for the love of the game. Whatever your reason, if you want to succeed over the long run, you’ve got to be all in.

Intro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Mike Tyson

Michael Chandler

Clay Guida

Conor McGregor

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Israel Adesanya rose through the ranks in the UFC like a meteor crashing to the earth and remained active enough that, in only 2 years time, he was able to dethrone Robert Whitaker to capture the UFC Middleweight title of the world. Israel is never afraid to speak up and let you know just how great he is, but at the same time he possesses a level of humility and self-awareness that I believe are key to the massive success he has been able to generate in the sport of mixed martial arts. 

At the top of the game and in his athletic prime at only 30 years of age, Israel is set to be one of the biggest superstars in the history of the UFC. On this episode of Fight IQ, I’m going to lay out a psychological blueprint provided to us by Adesanya that shows us not only how he was able to tear through the competition and capture the Middleweight crown, but also shows us how we can use his mentality to generate massive success in our own lives.

Intro Music by Tuku Iho Living Legacy

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Too many combat sports athletes end up ‘going out on their shields’ and finishing careers after sustaining multiple unnecessary injuries and concussions all because they just wanted one more shot at the dopamine-boosting feeling of victory.

Today we’re going to examine the psychology of retirement in combat sports to try and determine when it is best to walk away from something you used to love, to pursue a greater purpose. We’ll hear from fighters who left their sport behind and hear their reasoning behind it. Sometimes, the circumstances of life can bring about change when we least expect it. 

We break down clips from former UFC fighters Chael Sonnen, Krzysztof Soszynski and Rashad Evans to learn why they decided to call it quits and why it ended up being the best choice for their careers and lives over the long run.

Intro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Chael Sonnen

Krzysztof Soszynski

Rashad Evans

Contact: [email protected]

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How much does religious faith play a role in performance and success in combat sports and why is it that so many fighters have a deep conviction and belief in God? On today’s episode of the Fight IQ podcast, we seek to answer that question and delve into the principles of religion to find lessons we can also apply to our own lives, regardless of whether we are believers, atheists, agnostics or refuse to have any label when it comes to spirituality.

There are a lot of fighters who praise God as their first order of business in a post-fight interview. Fans and media have conflicting views on this topic, with some believing that religion is better left outside of the ring and others seeing it as a freedom of speech that is well within a fighter’s right to exercise. What we will focus on is just how putting God first can help athletes achieve victory and remain consistent in high-level performance trough out their careers. Join me as we take a journey into the minds of Faith Based Fighters.

Intro Music by Hildegard Von Bingen

Outro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Muhammad Ali 

Rory Macdonald

Jon Jones

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UFC Light Heavyweight contender Dominick 'The Devastator' Reyes impressed many this past Saturday at UFC 247 when he went the distance with champion Jon Jones in a highly competitive fight that most fans and media thought he should have won. Having flown under the radar for much of his UFC career, he truly got a chance to shine and show the MMA world what he was made of that night and so it is only fitting that we delve into the midset of a fighter many are calling the uncrowned king. 

From dreams of competing in professional football that fell flat and left him in a serious state of depression to realizing his potential as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter, we hear from Dominick Reyes through interviews over the course of his career to learn how he rose through the ranks and got his shot at the world title.

Intro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

MMA Saved My Life 

I've Been Training for Jon Since the Start

I Won That Fight

Contact: [email protected]

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Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

In the realm of Mixed Martial Arts, there are fighters who approach the game from a purely athletic and competitive standpoint and then there are those fighters who are a little more, shall we say, vicious than most. These fighters have a killer instinct both inside the cage and outside of it and I believe this mentality gives them an edge when applied to their sport in the correct way.

How can we learn from this single-minded and determined approach to inflicting violence on an opponent and apply it to our own endeavors? It may seem like an extreme mindset but there are certain advantages that we can extract from a dog-eat-dog style of psychology.

We break down clips from old school UFC legend Tank Abbott, as well as lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and welterweight contender Jorge 'Gamebred' Masvidal to find out how a killer instinct can lead us to victory.

Intro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Tank Abbott

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Jorge Masvidal

Contact: [email protected]

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Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Do the best combat sports athletes in the world feel fear when they step into the ring? Absolutely, the difference between them and the rest of us is how they deal with and process that fear. 

On this episode of the Fight IQ podcast, we delve into the minds of the world's best fighters in the moments leading up to a fight. How do they deal with the stress and anxiety of a huge bout in a way that increases their ability to perform?

We analyze clips from Boxing legend 'Iron' Mike Tyson, UFC Fighter Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone and one of the top MMA coaches in the game, Firas Zahabi, to uncover the fears that lurk in a fighter's mind and how they rise above that fear to conquer their opponents. 

Intro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Mike Tyson

Donald Cerrone

Firas Zahabi

Contact: [email protected]

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Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Injuries incurred, both during training and in a bout itself, can prove devastating to the career of a combat sports athlete. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may force a fighter out of competition for extended periods of time or in the worst case scenario, end their career altogether. 

In this episode, we take a look at three MMA fighters whose injuries had a major impact on their trajectory and how they dealt with them to move forward and thrive or to begin a new chapter in their lives. 

We break down clips from former UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, current UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and former ONE Championship and Bellator champion Ben Askren to find out what it takes to overcome debilitating injuries and perform at the highest level in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

Intro Music by Snyker

Clips used in this episode:

Dominick Cruz

Kamaru Usman

Ben Askren

Contact: [email protected]

Support Fight IQ on Patreon

Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative