money loyalty legacy

Louis “Put the Guns Down” Taylor tells the story of going from gang life and street fights on Chicago’s South Side to becoming a PFL middleweight champion, winning $1 million and helping coach UFC contender Belal Muhammad.

Taylor takes the story back to growing up around 64th and Wolcott, where fighting, gangs and violence were part of everyday life. He recounts a teenage street fight that unexpectedly led him toward wrestling, explains why he eventually walked away from gang life, and discusses what he believes young people misunderstand about Chicago street culture. Louis also opens up about Islam, Ramadan, discipline and why separating himself from his old environment became necessary to reach his goals.

Later, Louis talks about his relationship with Belal Muhammad, whom he has known since Belal was a student training at Bogan High School. He explains their coaching dynamic and what he has learned from watching Belal develop as a fighter. Taylor also shares stories about coming up in wrestling with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, training around Matt Hughes and other elite wrestlers, and surviving the grind of professional MMA.

The episode closes with Louis breaking down the road to his PFL championship. He explains fighting five times in five months, competing twice in one night, fighting through a broken hand, being overlooked as he approached 40 years old, and ultimately winning the tournament and its $1 million prize.

Inside this episode:

• Growing up on Chicago’s South Side

• Life around 64th and Wolcott

• The street fight that changed Louis Taylor’s life

• Fighting multiple attackers as a teenager

• How wrestling became his way forward

• Training at Bogan High School

• Growing up around Chicago gang culture

• Why Louis eventually left gang life

• Being “violated” out of the gang

• Street fights and learning he could stand on his own

• Why Louis rejects the glorification of gang culture

• Lil Durk, King Von and the influence of street culture

• Why people outside the streets sometimes romanticize gang life

• Ramadan and Louis Taylor’s Islamic faith

• Converting from a Christian Baptist upbringing

• How faith gave Louis structure and direction

• Separating from old friends to pursue a championship

• Starting professional MMA at 28 years old

• The sacrifices required to become a world champion

• Louis Taylor’s relationship with Belal Muhammad

• Coaching Belal since his early days at Bogan

• What Belal is like inside the gym

• Why Louis says you do not have to act tough to do tough things

• Wrestling with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

• How Louis and Rampage became friends

• Brock Lesnar and the elite wrestling environment

• Coming up around Matt Hughes

• Louis’ brutally honest Matt Hughes stories

• Fighting inside the wrestling room

• The road to the PFL championship

• Winning $1 million in the PFL

• Fighting five times in five months

• Fighting twice in one night

• Competing with a broken hand

• Why Louis kept fighting past the age he planned to retire

• Watching other fighters leave for the UFC while he remained overlooked

• How the WSOF transition into the PFL affected his career

• Being an underdog entering the PFL tournament

• Why Louis says every champion needs their own fighting style

• The mental approach he used before professional fights

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: Chicago gang culture

00:50 - Introduction

01:13 - Louis Taylor’s PFL championship and $1 million prize

01:39 - Growing up around violence in Chicago

02:04 - 64th and Wolcott on the South Side

02:47 - The teenage street fight that changed his life

05:26 - A pastor recognizes Louis’ fighting ability

06:45 - The injured boy’s family meets Louis

07:02 - Wrestling becomes Louis’ path forward

07:23 - Bogan High School and Chicago wrestling

08:51 - Louis’ early gang involvement

09:24 - Getting out of the gang

10:09 - Why Louis walked away from Chicago gang life

12:03 - Fighting for his family growing up

13:39 - Learning he could stand on his own

13:49 - Lil Durk, King Von and glorifying gang culture

16:04 - Fear, intimidation and street mentality

16:34 - Ramadan

17:16 - Louis Taylor’s Islamic faith

18:44 - Converting from Christianity to Islam

19:23 - Belal Muhammad and leaving street culture behind

20:09 - Sacrificing relationships to become a world champion

21:06 - Starting MMA at 28 years old

22:17 - Belal Muhammad

22:28 - Louis and Belal’s coaching relationship

24:24 - Coaching Belal since Bogan High School

24:58 - Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

25:12 - Wrestling with Rampage in California

26:14 - Elite wrestlers and Brock Lesnar

28:06 - Rampage’s rise in PRIDE

28:49 - Matt Hughes

29:20 - What Matt Hughes was like in the wrestling room

30:02 - Louis and Matt Hughes get into it during training

32:36 - Winning $1 million in the PFL

32:56 - Five fights in five months

33:49 - Fighting through a broken hand

34:32 - Continuing MMA at 39 years old

35:32 - Being overlooked late in his career

35:41 - David Branch and Louis’ previous title opportunity

36:24 - WSOF becomes the PFL

36:39 - Entering the PFL tournament as an underdog

37:24 - Why no two champions should fight the same way

38:31 - Phil Hawes and Louis’ fighting career

39:31 - The mental approach before a fight

41:13 - Staying ready for the PFL finals

41:47 - Closing

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Cody “No Love” Garbrandt breaks down his journey from a violent childhood in Ohio to Team Alpha Male and ultimately becoming UFC bantamweight champion, along with stories about Dominick Cruz, Conor McGregor, TJ Dillashaw, Jake Paul and life at the highest level of MMA.

Garbrandt explains how wrestling, boxing and a relentless mentality helped him escape the environment he grew up in. He discusses being raised without his father, the influence of his mother and uncle, visualization and manifestation, mental health, anxiety and the mindset required to continue pursuing a goal when other people believe it is impossible. Cody then takes the story to Sacramento, where he joined Urijah Faber and Team Alpha Male and trained alongside fighters including TJ Dillashaw, Chad Mendes and Joseph Benavidez while chasing his dream of reaching the UFC.

Later, Cody reflects on defeating Dominick Cruz to become UFC champion, what goes through his mind before walking into the Octagon, learning to “flip the switch” before competition, meeting Joe Rogan and Dana White, and what changed after winning the belt. He also discusses his history with TJ Dillashaw, his confrontation with Conor McGregor on The Ultimate Fighter, influencer boxing and Jake Paul, and why he believes there is still a major difference between boxing an aging MMA fighter and stepping into the UFC.

Inside this episode:

• Growing up around violence in Ohio

• Cody’s father being incarcerated

• His uncle becoming a father figure and introducing him to boxing

• Wrestling as Cody’s first competitive foundation

• Fighting in the streets before professional MMA

• His mother refusing to let Cody and his brother quit

• Building mental toughness from childhood

• Teaching those same lessons to his son

• Visualization and manifestation

• Writing down his championship goals as a teenager

• Learning how to overcome self-doubt

• Working with a sports therapist

• Mental health, anxiety and depression

• Why Cody says being a fighter cannot become your entire identity

• Moving from Ohio to Team Alpha Male

• Urijah Faber and Cody’s first experience in Sacramento

• Training with TJ Dillashaw, Chad Mendes and Joseph Benavidez

• The difference between simply fighting and living like a martial artist

• How Team Alpha Male gave Cody structure

• Telling Urijah Faber he would become UFC champion

• Fighting his way into the UFC

• Cody’s rise through the professional ranks

• Preparing for his first UFC world-title fight

• Dominick Cruz

• Why Cody visualized himself beating Cruz long before fight night

• Becoming UFC bantamweight champion

• What winning the belt actually felt like

• The mental state Cody enters before a fight

• Why he describes himself as being almost “blacked out” during the walkout

• Learning how to “flip the switch”

• Intrusive thoughts, nerves and anxiety before entering the Octagon

• Bruce Buffer announcing his name

• Cody’s first interview with Joe Rogan

• Dana White and the growth of the UFC

• What happened after Cody became champion

• TJ Dillashaw and their past rivalry

• Why Cody no longer holds onto the anger

• Conor McGregor and their confrontation on The Ultimate Fighter

• Whether Cody believes Conor was performing for the cameras

• Fame, money and how becoming champion changed people around him

• Bare-knuckle fighting

• Training with Chad Mendes

• Jake Paul and influencer boxing

• Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Ben Askren

• Why Cody challenges influencer fighters to try MMA

• What it feels like to knock someone out

• Cody’s legacy as a fighter

• No Love Bullies

• Preparing for UFC 300

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: Finding calm inside the chaos of fighting

00:40 - Introduction

01:33 - Cody Garbrandt’s background and UFC championship

02:11 - Growing up around violence in Ohio

02:21 - Cody’s father in prison

02:31 - His uncle, boxing and a father figure

03:28 - Street fighting, boxing and wrestling

05:19 - Family violence and Cody’s upbringing

05:35 - Wrestling, football and learning not to quit

06:24 - Building mental toughness from childhood

07:18 - Teaching resilience to his son

08:54 - Developing mental fortitude

09:47 - Visualization and manifestation

10:21 - Visualizing himself as a state champion

12:03 - Using manifestation to chase impossible goals

12:31 - Working with a sports therapist

15:34 - Mental health, depression and anxiety

16:29 - Being more than just a fighter

17:11 - Moving from Ohio to Team Alpha Male

18:59 - Urijah Faber and Sacramento

20:41 - Training with TJ Dillashaw, Chad Mendes and Joseph Benavidez

22:17 - Urijah Faber tests Cody in wrestling practice

25:13 - Cody tells Urijah he will become UFC champion

26:00 - Fighting his way toward the UFC

27:32 - Learning to live like a professional martial artist

29:45 - Becoming a world champion

30:37 - Preparing for his first UFC title fight

31:18 - Dominick Cruz

31:28 - Cody and Cruz carrying the promotion

33:45 - Reflecting on winning the UFC title

34:45 - The people who stayed loyal through wins and losses

35:23 - What Cody experiences during a UFC walkout

35:48 - The mental transformation before fighting

36:20 - Learning to “flip the switch”

37:20 - Intrusive thoughts and pre-fight anxiety

38:21 - Hearing his name announced

38:37 - The meaning behind “No Love”

39:49 - Cody’s first Joe Rogan interview

40:10 - Joe Rogan

40:50 - Dana White and the UFC

42:05 - What it felt like having the UFC belt wrapped around his waist

43:19 - TJ Dillashaw and their past rivalry

44:22 - Conor McGregor

45:00 - Cody’s Ultimate Fighter confrontation with Conor

46:34 - Was Conor performing for the cameras?

47:20 - Fame, money and becoming champion

49:00 - Bare-knuckle fighting and Chad Mendes

50:26 - Jake Paul and influencer boxing

50:57 - Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Ben Askren

52:03 - Why Cody challenges influencers to fight MMA

53:17 - What knocking someone out feels like

56:08 - Cody Garbrandt’s legacy

57:37 - No Love Bullies

01:00:21 - UFC 300 and closing

Watch this episode on YouTube

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WATCH GENE BORRELLO'S REAL MAFIA SHORT FILM

Gene Borrello and former Mafia members reenact stories from their lives in the streets:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/modernmafia

BEST-SELLING YOUTUBE GROWTH EBOOK

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Anthony “Hootie” Russo begins this three-part series with firsthand stories about Ozone Park, the Gambino Mafia, making money in the streets and the lifestyle surrounding a New York organized-crime crew.

Hootie explains why his crew stayed focused on street rackets instead of construction and other traditional Mafia businesses, and describes what life looked like when money, restaurants, clubs, casinos and travel were part of the everyday routine. He recalls spontaneous trips from Atlantic City to Las Vegas, partying in casino suites, the New York and Vegas nightlife scene, and the camaraderie that made the lifestyle so attractive to him.

The conversation then moves into Hootie’s Sicilian-American upbringing, street fighting, confidence and prison. He explains why jail was viewed as an expected consequence of choosing the street life, what prison politics actually looked like from his perspective, and why he believes anyone entering that world had to accept the consequences without expecting the crew to rescue them.

Later, Hootie explains why he chose to stay around wise guys even though he was already making money independently. He then breaks down a typical week in the life: collecting sports-betting and loan-sharking money, operating high-stakes poker games, meeting at the social club, eating together, gambling and handling business between it all. He closes by describing the crew’s eventual RICO case and the realization that the lifestyle they had built together was coming to an end.

Inside this episode:

• Growing up around East New York and Ozone Park

• Why Hootie calls himself the “Prince of Ozone Park”

• Why his crew focused on street rackets

• Making money independently inside a Mafia crew

• Why every night felt like Friday night

• Rolexes, restaurants, clubs and New York nightlife

• A spontaneous Atlantic City-to-Las Vegas trip

• Flying first class to Vegas at 23 years old

• The “went out for milk and ended up in Vegas” story

• Life inside the social club

• Sicilian vs. Neapolitan culture

• Growing up in a Sicilian household

• Italian-American identity in New York

• Atlantic City casino trips

• High-end suites and casino hosts

• Lennox Lewis and a Las Vegas nightclub story

• The Vegas adult-entertainment convention

• Women, nightlife and the attraction to power

• A story involving Furio from The Sopranos

• Where Hootie’s confidence came from

• Boxing and learning to fight as a teenager

• His mother pushing him to defend himself

• Growing up around tough older street guys

• Entering jail with a high classification score

• How Hootie says prison politics really worked

• Why jail was considered part of the street life

• What Hootie calls earning your “badge”

• Why his crew told members not to expect financial rescue

• Hootie’s view on the myth of Mafia “hitmen”

• Returning immediately to the streets after prison

• Why Hootie still wanted to be around wise guys

• The appeal of American organized crime in the 1980s and 1990s

• A typical day in Hootie’s Mafia life

• Sports betting and bookmaking collections

• Loan-sharking collections

• High-stakes poker games

• A poker game generating roughly $30,000

• The crew’s daily schedule

• Playing Jeopardy for money

• Why Hootie says they rarely carried incriminating evidence

• The crew anticipating a future RICO indictment

• Knowing their era together was coming to an end

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: How a Mafia crew makes money

00:44 - Introduction

02:03 - Money, New York City and Hootie’s heyday

02:22 - “The Prince of Ozone Park”

03:05 - Ozone Park, Howard Beach and New York

04:45 - Finding a crew his own age

05:02 - Money, Rolexes and the lifestyle

06:01 - Atlantic City

06:31 - Flying to Las Vegas at 23

08:30 - Going out for milk and ending up in Vegas

08:50 - Life at the social club

09:44 - Italian-American and Sicilian culture

15:05 - What partying in Vegas actually looked like

17:32 - Lennox Lewis and the nightclub story

19:32 - The Vegas adult-entertainment convention

24:08 - Casino nightlife and New York gangsters

26:53 - Women, money and power

29:44 - The Sopranos and the Furio story

31:11 - Where Hootie’s confidence came from

35:01 - Learning to box and fight

36:37 - Growing up around tough older street guys

37:39 - Going to jail

40:17 - Why prison was considered part of the life

40:34 - Earning the “badge”

42:40 - What the crew told members about jail and lawyers

43:03 - The code inside Hootie’s crew

44:16 - The myth of Mafia “hitmen”

45:15 - Prison gangs and surviving incarceration

48:18 - Returning to the streets after prison

49:42 - The wise guy Hootie wanted to be around

50:40 - Why Hootie chose the Mafia life

52:04 - A regular day in Hootie’s life

52:19 - Bookmaking and weekly collections

52:52 - Loan-sharking and sports-betting money

53:09 - The $30,000 poker game

54:44 - Jeopardy, cards and crew routines

56:00 - How business was handled between everyday life

57:01 - Why Hootie says they avoided physical evidence

57:32 - RICO and knowing the end was coming

59:11 - The crew predicts its own RICO case

01:00:12 - Drugs, money and the crew’s rules

01:01:08 - Closing

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Shonie “Mr. International” Carter takes us inside his wild career as a UFC veteran, former WEC champion and old-school MMA pioneer, from a confrontation involving Floyd Mayweather to underground fights, UFC 22 and the night he says he wrestled a bear in Russia.

Carter begins with the story behind his run-in with Floyd Mayweather while filming BET’s The Iron Ring. Shonie was in training camp for a WEC world-title fight when he says tension developed between him, Mayweather and Floyd’s security while Carter was working a heavy bag. He explains what happened, why the situation escalated and how a room full of MMA fighters changed the dynamic.

The conversation then goes deep into the early days of MMA. Shonie recalls competing before modern UFC fame and money, fighting multiple opponents in a single night, taking fights on extremely short notice and facing elite martial artists before most fans knew their names. He discusses Pat Miletich, Carlson Gracie, his first UFC appearance at UFC 22, fighting Manson Gibson on roughly an hour’s notice and a proposed underground fight involving Kimbo Slice.

Then the episode takes a completely different turn. Carter tells the story of traveling alone to Saint Petersburg, becoming connected with Russian fight promoters and people he describes as Russian Mafia figures, entering a tournament and eventually being challenged to wrestle a Russian brown bear. He describes the match, the aftermath and the increasingly surreal night that followed through Russian casinos, nightlife and a graveyard gathering before later reconnecting with Fedor Emelianenko’s longtime manager Vadim Finkelchtein.

Inside this episode:

• Shonie Carter’s MMA and martial-arts career

• Becoming “Mr. International”

• UFC, WEC, Bellator, Strikeforce and The Ultimate Fighter

• Leaving WEC training camp to film BET’s The Iron Ring

• Shonie’s confrontation involving Floyd Mayweather

• Floyd Mayweather’s security confronting Shonie at the heavy bag

• Why Shonie says the situation nearly escalated

• MMA fighters vs. the boxing entourage

• Shonie’s view of boxing vs. mixed martial arts

• Anthony Pettis and Roy Jones Jr.

• The old-school Chicago fight scene

• Fighting six opponents in one night

• Underground MMA before the sport became mainstream

• Wrestling, judo, karate, kickboxing and Muay Thai

• Training with Carlson Gracie Sr.

• Julianna Peña and the evolution of women’s MMA

• What early MMA fighters were actually paid

• Fighting Manson Gibson on roughly one hour’s notice

• The anything-goes rules of early combat sports

• Fighting Pat Miletich before Miletich became UFC champion

• Miletich Fighting Systems and early UFC history

• Kimbo Slice’s camp challenging Shonie to fight

• Working regular jobs while building an MMA career

• Shonie’s first UFC appearance at UFC 22

• Throwing up backstage before his UFC debut

• What the walk to the Octagon felt like

• The mentality required to switch into fight mode

• Traveling to Saint Petersburg, Russia

• Arriving in Russia without his original training partner

• Shonie’s stories about Russian Mafia figures

• Entering a Russian fight tournament

• Fighting under unfamiliar rules

• Why Shonie says he was furious after the decision

• Being challenged to wrestle a Russian brown bear

• Why he agreed to wrestle the bear

• Trying to use wrestling techniques against a bear

• Getting slammed and mauled around backstage

• The physical aftermath of the bear encounter

• Russian casinos and nightlife

• A surreal night with Russian mobsters

• A graveyard gathering in Saint Petersburg

• Meeting a Russian Spetsnaz figure

• Reconnecting years later with Vadim Finkelchtein

• Fedor Emelianenko and old-school Russian MMA

• Michael Jai White

• Bruce Lee and martial-arts philosophy

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: Russian Mafia and the bear

01:01 - Introduction to Shonie “Mr. International” Carter

02:07 - The Floyd Mayweather story begins

02:28 - Leaving WEC training camp for The Iron Ring

04:53 - Floyd Mayweather arrives

05:11 - Floyd’s security confronts Shonie at the heavy bag

08:53 - Why Shonie believes the confrontation started

10:00 - Boxing vs. MMA

11:14 - Anthony Pettis, Roy Jones Jr. and the boxing world

13:00 - MMA fighters surround the situation

14:30 - Looking back at the Mayweather confrontation

17:30 - Fighting multiple opponents in one night

19:00 - Shonie’s wrestling, judo and martial-arts background

20:09 - Carlson Gracie and grappling

21:04 - Julianna Peña, Amanda Nunes and women in MMA

22:39 - Fighting six opponents in one night

24:49 - Fighting Manson Gibson on one hour’s notice

26:32 - The money and rules in early underground fights

29:42 - Fighting Pat Miletich

30:00 - Miletich Fighting Systems and early UFC history

30:40 - The proposed Kimbo Slice fight

31:27 - Working multiple jobs while fighting professionally

32:27 - Shonie vs. Pat Miletich

33:42 - Underground fighting gains attention

34:09 - Fear and nerves before professional fights

34:37 - Shonie’s first UFC fight at UFC 22

35:37 - What the UFC walkout felt like

37:36 - Wrestling a bear in Russia

37:50 - How the Russia trip began

39:49 - Arriving in Saint Petersburg alone

39:56 - Shonie’s Russian Mafia story

40:30 - Living and traveling with the Russian group

41:31 - Entering the Russian fight tournament

42:38 - Shonie’s tournament fight

44:00 - Controversial decision in Russia

45:00 - The bear challenge

46:00 - Standing face-to-face with the Russian brown bear

46:30 - Trying to wrestle the bear

48:00 - The bear takes Shonie down

49:00 - Recovering backstage

50:00 - Russian casino and nightlife

51:00 - Vodka after the bear match

52:15 - The night becomes increasingly surreal

52:54 - Entering a Russian graveyard

54:01 - The mausoleum

56:37 - The graveyard party

58:45 - Russian mobsters and snooker

01:00:10 - Meeting a Russian Spetsnaz figure

01:02:45 - Vadim Finkelchtein confirms the bear story

01:03:10 - Fedor Emelianenko and old-school Russian MMA

01:03:50 - Michael Jai White

01:04:34 - Bruce Lee

01:05:30 - Closing

Watch this episode on YouTube

Read the full episode transcript

WATCH GENE BORRELLO'S REAL MAFIA SHORT FILM

Gene Borrello and former Mafia members reenact stories from their lives in the streets:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/modernmafia

BEST-SELLING YOUTUBE GROWTH EBOOK

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Former Gambino crime family associate Anthony Ruggiano Jr. tells the story of growing up as the son of Anthony “Fat Andy” Ruggiano Sr., entering the street life as a teenager and developing a personal relationship with John Gotti long before Gotti became one of the most famous Mafia bosses in America.

Ruggiano begins by discussing his cousin Gene Borrello and how their lives took different paths inside New York organized crime. He then explains why the power and respect surrounding his father attracted him to the Mafia from childhood, how Fat Andy tried to warn him about the consequences, and why Anthony still chose the life at 16 years old. From there, he takes listeners inside the Copacabana, New York nightlife, celebrities, wise guys and the access that came with being part of that world.

A major portion of the episode centers on John Gotti. Anthony recalls partying with Gotti, watching strangers ask him for autographs, Gotti’s charisma and ego, the way old-school mobsters reacted to his celebrity, and personal stories that reveal a side of Gotti most people never saw. He also recounts Gotti helping him after treatment, giving him money and arranging for him to get a car, and explains why Gotti had such respect for Fat Andy.

Later, Anthony describes Mafia disputes, street fights, weapons, gambling debts, bookmaking and a violent confrontation with a biker gang that ended in a death. He also explains how he made money through numbers, sports betting, vending and gambling machines, stolen cars, credit-card fraud and chop shops. The episode closes with Anthony explaining how the same life that left him without conventional job skills eventually became the experience he used to rebuild himself and become a counselor.

Inside this episode:

• Anthony Ruggiano Jr.’s relationship with cousin Gene Borrello

• Gene’s early years around the Bonanno crime family

• Vinnie Asaro and Gene’s connection to that crew

• Growing up as Fat Andy Ruggiano’s son

• The respect and power surrounding Anthony’s father

• Why Anthony wanted the Mafia life from an early age

• Choosing the street life at 16

• Fat Andy warning Anthony that prison came with the job

• Why Anthony says the warning had the opposite effect

• Growing up without a normal teenage life

• The Five O’Clock Lounge story

• Going through the kitchen at the Copacabana like Goodfellas

• Tom Jones at the Copacabana

• Don Rickles and Anthony’s family

• Wise guys, celebrities and New York nightlife

• Why celebrities and Mafia figures crossed paths so often

• Money, women, restaurants and nightclub access

• Going out with John Gotti

• What John Gotti was like away from the cameras

• Gotti being treated like a celebrity

• Strangers asking John Gotti for autographs

• Why old-school Mafia figures hated Gotti’s public image

• Gotti’s belief that the public loved him

• Anthony’s view of John Gotti’s ego

• John Gotti’s hand-painted ties

• Studio 54 and the cocaine era

• Anthony entering treatment

• John Gotti helping Anthony after treatment

• Gotti arranging for Anthony to receive a car

• The relationship between John Gotti and Fat Andy

• Why young gangsters in East New York wanted to be like Fat Andy

• Personal John Gotti stories from the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club

• The portrait John Gotti helped Anthony obtain for his parents

• Living under constant surveillance

• Violence and rivalries between New York neighborhoods

• When Mafia figures carried guns

• How gambling disputes were settled

• Sports-book debts and Mafia sit-downs

• The Lower East Side tunnel story

• A violent confrontation with a biker gang

• Selling pills through a neighborhood connection

• The bar fight that ended in a death

• Police corruption and shakedowns

• Getting caught with a pound of marijuana

• How Anthony made money in the streets

• Numbers and bookmaking

• Running a vending and gambling-machine business

• Credit-card fraud

• Stolen-car crews and chop shops

• Delegating multiple criminal operations at once

• Leaving the street life without conventional job skills

• How Anthony eventually became a counselor

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: Mafia nightlife, violence and prison

01:06 - Introduction

01:44 - Gene Borrello

02:03 - Gene’s transformation while Anthony was in prison

03:19 - Gene, Vinnie Asaro and the Bonanno connection

05:00 - Prison, recovery and adjusting to a changing world

06:57 - Choosing the Mafia life at 16

07:16 - Growing up as Fat Andy’s son

08:24 - The respect and power surrounding his father

10:19 - Fat Andy tells Anthony prison is part of the job

11:54 - The Five O’Clock Lounge

13:00 - Living like Goodfellas at the Copacabana

14:13 - Tom Jones and Anthony’s first Copa experience

15:37 - Wise guys and celebrities inside the Copacabana

16:50 - Don Rickles

17:19 - Why the Mafia had access everywhere

18:00 - Women, money and New York nightlife

19:20 - John Gotti

19:59 - Gotti being treated like a celebrity

21:14 - Cash, tipping and the lifestyle

22:00 - Anthony becomes his future father-in-law’s “worst nightmare”

23:57 - What John Gotti was really like

24:38 - Knowing Gotti before he became famous

25:51 - Gotti signing autographs

26:40 - Why old-school Mafia figures hated Gotti’s celebrity

28:20 - Anthony’s view of Gotti’s ego

29:03 - John Gotti’s hand-painted ties

29:20 - Gotti buys Anthony a car

29:55 - Anthony returns from treatment

32:05 - Fat Andy’s reputation in East New York

32:37 - A personal John Gotti story

34:30 - The portrait of Anthony’s parents

36:49 - Prison, surveillance and accepting the consequences

37:22 - Fear, violence and neighborhood rivalries

38:48 - Ronnie “One Arm” and carrying weapons

39:39 - Sports books, gambling debts and Mafia sit-downs

41:16 - Rivalries inside organized crime

42:00 - The Lower East Side tunnel story

43:15 - The biker-gang confrontation

43:57 - Selling “goofballs”

45:00 - The fight that ended in a death

45:28 - Police investigations and corruption

46:11 - Getting caught with a pound of marijuana

47:19 - Anthony explains why he was a good earner

47:58 - A typical day running multiple rackets

48:16 - Credit-card crews

48:32 - Stolen cars and chop shops

49:00 - Vending machines and gambling operations

50:00 - Leaving the life without conventional skills

50:57 - Becoming a counselor

51:04 - Closing

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WATCH GENE BORRELLO'S REAL MAFIA SHORT FILM

Gene Borrello and former Mafia members reenact stories from their liv...

Top Chef Season 15 winner Joe Flamm reveals what competing on one of television’s biggest cooking shows was actually like, from being cut off from the outside world and living under strict secrecy to Last Chance Kitchen, winning the finale and hiding the result for months.

Flamm explains how contestants surrendered their phones and wallets, lived without normal access to the outside world and spent nearly two months surrounded by cameras and production crews. He breaks down the pressure of elimination challenges, what really happened after contestants were sent home, the off-grid hotel where eliminated chefs stayed, the drinking and partying that followed elimination, and how Last Chance Kitchen gave him a second shot at the competition.

Joe then tells the story of winning Top Chef in Colorado, the strange aftermath of the finale and the extreme measures production took to keep everything secret. He recounts being driven across Colorado to make his surprise return to the competition, taking over the wheel during a violent mountain storm despite not being authorized to drive the production vehicle, and arriving in Telluride without identification, access to his wallet or a legitimate explanation for why he was there.

Later, Flamm discusses what fame after Top Chef was really like, why he used television to build his restaurant career rather than leave the kitchen, growing up and building his career on Chicago’s South Side, the risk involved in opening restaurants, balancing family with an all-consuming profession and why he does not aspire to sacrifice everything for three Michelin stars. He also talks about Chicago restaurant culture, tavern-style pizza vs. deep dish, working in Italy, some of the strangest food he has ever eaten and the legacy he hopes to leave through the chefs who work under him.

Inside this episode:

• Winning Top Chef Season 15

• What Top Chef contestants give up when filming begins

• Why producers took Joe’s phone and wallet

• Being isolated from the outside world for two months

• Making monitored phone calls home

• Living without television, news, phones or clocks

• The pressure before the first elimination challenge

• Winning his first Quickfire

• What really happens after a contestant gets eliminated

• The secret Colorado hotel for eliminated chefs

• Why Joe describes it as chefs on spring break

• Drinking after being eliminated

• Restaurant Wars

• Last Chance Kitchen

• How being eliminated changed Joe’s mindset

• Returning to the competition

• Winning the Top Chef finale

• What happened immediately after the cameras stopped

• Celebrating with the chef he had just defeated

• How exhausted the contestants became during filming

• Living with cameras and production crews around the clock

• What the Top Chef house was actually like

• The secret trip from Denver to Telluride

• Driving through a violent Colorado mountain storm

• Why Joe had no ID, wallet or explanation if police stopped him

• Production dressing Joe as a cowboy for his surprise return

• How producers captured the contestants’ real reaction

• Hiding the Top Chef result from friends and family

• Why Joe did not even tell his mother he won

• What becoming famous after Top Chef felt like

• Being recognized around Chicago

• Why Joe went on Top Chef in the first place

• Using television to build a restaurant brand

• Why restaurants remained his real passion

• Public attention and the loss of personal boundaries

• Growing up on Chicago’s South Side

• Dropping out of college to pursue cooking

• Working for free and grinding through restaurant kitchens

• Living in his parents’ basement as a young chef

• The financial risk of restaurant ownership

• Why failure has to remain a possibility

• Running restaurants while raising a family

• Building teams he can completely trust

• Joe’s philosophy on work-life balance

• Why he does not want the three-Michelin-star lifestyle

• Eating at other restaurants as a professional chef

• How restaurants treat him differently after Top Chef

• The restaurant accident involving his child

• Why the movie Waiting reminds him of his early restaurant days

• Chicago tavern-style pizza vs. deep dish

• Foods Joe Flamm does not enjoy

• Working in restaurants in Florence, Italy

• The strangest dish he was served in Italy

• What Joe Flamm wants his legacy to be

• Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: The secrecy and isolation of Top Chef

01:03 - Introduction

01:58 - Salt Bae and celebrity-chef culture

04:33 - The intensity of competing on Top Chef

05:17 - Producers take contestants’ phones and wallets

06:19 - Two months cut off from the outside world

08:00 - Fear of being the first chef eliminated

10:06 - Joe’s first Quickfire and early challenges

12:03 - What really happens when you get eliminated

12:14 - The secret hotel in Broomfield, Colorado

13:00 - “Chefs on spring break”

14:00 - Drinking after elimination

14:56 - Last Chance Kitchen

16:24 - Winning Top Chef at the Aspen Mountain finale

18:10 - The strange aftermath of winning

19:54 - Celebrating after the finale

20:20 - Cameras, handlers and life inside the Top Chef house

21:51 - Joe’s secret return in Telluride

22:20 - The seven-hour Colorado driving story

24:15 - Arriving in Telluride

25:00 - Production turns Joe into a cowboy

26:00 - Capturing the contestants’ surprise reaction

27:00 - Keeping the Top Chef victory secret

28:57 - What becoming famous felt like

32:45 - Why Joe went on Top Chef

33:01 - Using television to build his restaurant career

34:00 - Fame, public attention and boundaries

36:00 - Returning to life on Chicago’s South Side

38:21 - Dropping out of college and betting on himself

40:00 - The early grind of becoming a chef

42:00 - Risk, vulnerability and restaurant ownership

45:24 - Running restaurants while raising a family

46:22 - Joe’s philosophy on work-life balance

48:17 - Why he does not want the three-Michelin-star lifestyle

50:29 - What a chef notices when eating at other restaurants

52:30 - How restaurants treat Joe differently

53:38 - The restaurant accident involving his child

57:01 - Waiting and the chaos of restaurant culture

58:39 - Chicago deep dish vs. tavern-style pizza

60:30 - Working and eating in Florence, Italy

63:36 - The legacy Joe Flamm wants to leave

64:24 - Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse

64:36 - Closing

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WATCH GENE BORRELLO'S REAL MAFIA SHORT FILM

Gene Borrello and former Mafia members reenact stories f...

Former Bonanno crime family enforcer Gene Borrello breaks down what his life in New York organized crime actually looked like, from making tens of thousands of dollars a month and partying in Manhattan clubs to robberies, Mafia violence, prison and the constant possibility that somebody could try to kill him.

Gene explains how growing up around Howard Beach and Ozone Park made Mafia figures local celebrities, why women and nightlife became part of the lifestyle, and how he went from carrying large amounts of cash to spending thousands of dollars on club tables. He recalls partying at places including 1 OAK, carrying weapons into clubs, getting banned after a violent incident and the rules that came with representing a Mafia crew in public. Gene says that at his peak he was making roughly $40,000 a month before additional scores, but spending money nearly as quickly as he earned it.

The conversation then moves deeper into the mechanics of the life. Gene discusses Mafia sit-downs, collecting debts, loan sharking, robberies, stolen jewelry, fences in the Diamond District, violence ordered by senior figures and why reputation could become more valuable than money. He explains why movies often get Mafia work wrong, calls Goodfellas the most accurate Mafia film from his perspective, and gives his opinion on The Sopranos and A Bronx Tale.

Later, Gene recounts entering Rikers Island at 18, fighting in prison, spending time in solitary confinement, carrying weapons, robbing major drug dealers and becoming increasingly paranoid after attempts were made on his life. He describes being groomed as the next generation of his crew and functioning as Ronnie’s right-hand man before arrests ended that trajectory. The episode closes with Gene discussing federal prison exposure, cooperation, regrets, why the Mafia lifestyle ultimately was not worth the price and what he hoped to build after leaving that world behind.

Inside this episode:

• Gene Borrello’s life in Howard Beach and Ozone Park

• Why Mafia figures became neighborhood celebrities

• Women, status and the gangster lifestyle

• Manhattan nightlife and Mafia-connected club culture

• Sound Factory, Limelight, Tunnel and 1 OAK

• Carrying large amounts of cash

• Gene says he made roughly $40,000 a month at his peak

• Spending money almost as quickly as he earned it

• Partying around professional athletes and celebrities

• Bringing weapons into nightclubs

• Why some clubs allowed Gene’s crew to bypass security

• Spending $5,000 on nightclub tables

• Getting banned from 1 OAK

• Violence inside clubs and consequences for the crew

• Blackjacks, batons and Gene’s preferred weapons

• Why Gene says early-2000s Mafia life still involved serious gun violence

• Beef with Albanian crews

• Gene’s house being shot

• How Mafia sit-downs worked

• Rules surrounding debts and violence

• Why reputation mattered as much as money

• The earning power of Gene’s crew

• Starting around Mafia figures as a teenager

• Robberies with Bobby G

• A robbery connected to Angelo Ruggiero’s family

• Stealing high-end Rolex watches

• How stolen jewelry was fenced through the Diamond District

• Why Ronnie repeatedly ordered Gene to slow down

• Being threatened with getting shelved

• Tests of whether young associates would commit serious violence

• Gene’s “weapon drawer”

• The mini-axe story

• Vinnie Asaro and the older generation

• Gene’s family history around organized crime

• The Five Families and federal surveillance

• Listening to 50 Cent before robberies

• Why Gene says Mafia movies misunderstand how violence was rewarded

• Why reputation inside social clubs meant more to him than getting paid

• Goodfellas vs. A Bronx Tale

• Gene’s opinion of The Sopranos

• Why Gene considers Goodfellas the most accurate Mafia movie

• How loan sharking worked

• Entering Rikers Island at 18

• Gene’s first prison fight

• Surviving prison without backing down

• Life in solitary confinement

• Working out while incarcerated

• Gene’s preferred firearm

• Scanners, crash cars and planning robberies

• Targeting high-level drug dealers

• Why reputation felt better than being a millionaire

• Senior Mafia figures warning that Gene was becoming a liability

• Multiple attempts on Gene’s life

• A $10,000 price being placed on Gene’s head

• Retaliation after his friend was shot

• Surveillance and paranoia

• Circling his block before going home

• Learning Mafia sit-downs and hierarchy

• Being proposed for membership

• Why Gene says his own behavior hurt his chances

• Becoming Ronnie’s right-hand man

• The plan for Gene to become the next generation of the crew

• Money and greed inside organized crime

• Facing decades in federal prison

• Why federal racketeering sentences changed everything

• Gene’s regrets about people he hurt

• Why he says the Mafia life is not worth it

• Losing friends to death and prison

• Transitioning from fast money to ordinary life

• Gene’s book and plans for film or television

• Why Gene believes his generation represents a different era of the Mafia

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: Violence, money and fear in the Mafia

00:49 - Introduction to Gene Borrello

01:17 - Women and the gangster lifestyle

02:36 - Howard Beach, Ozone Park and Mafia neighborhoods

02:51 - New York nightlife

03:25 - Carrying large amounts of cash

04:27 - Gene says he made $40,000 a month at his peak

05:17 - Partying, celebrities and weapons in clubs

06:31 - $5,000 tables and nightclub spending

07:36 - Getting banned from 1 OAK

08:42 - Violence inside clubs and protecting Mafia money

09:25 - Blackjacks, batons and weapons

10:24 - Fear, gun violence and Albanian crews

11:21 - How Mafia rules and sit-downs worked

12:33 - Money, ego and the wealthiest crews

14:01 - Entering the Mafia life as a teenager

15:06 - Angelo Ruggiero and a robbery gone wrong

16:00 - Rolexes, stolen jewelry and the Diamond District

16:31 - Ronnie tells Gene to slow down

18:00 - Testing young associates with serious violence

20:02 - Gene’s weapon collection and the mini-axe story

21:49 - The mobsters Gene idolized growing up

23:05 - The Five Families and federal surveillance

24:35 - What Gene listened to before robberies

25:15 - What Mafia movies get wrong

26:16 - Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale and The Sopranos

28:25 - How Mafia loan sharking worked

30:27 - Entering Rikers Island at 18

31:34 - Gene’s first prison fight

32:35 - Life in solitary confinement

34:50 - Gene’s preferred gun

35:22 - Scanners, crash cars and robbing drug dealers

35:53 - Why reputation became more valuable than money

38:08 - Attempts on Gene’s life

38:40 - A $10,000 price on Gene’s head

39:20 - Living every day under threat

40:02 - Paranoia and constantly watching his surroundings

40:51 - Learning Mafia hierarchy and s...

Kimberly B. Brown, daughter of NFL legend, actor and activist Jim Brown, takes listeners inside what it was like growing up in the Hollywood Hills surrounded by athletes, entertainers, activists and some of the biggest names in American culture.

Kimberly remembers celebrities constantly coming through her father’s home, including Arsenio Hall, while Big Daddy Kane actually lived with the family for a period of time. She shares stories about Jim Brown’s legendary Hollywood house, Diana Ross, Huey P. Newton, Maxine Waters and the unusual childhood that made being around famous people feel completely normal. Kimberly also explains the values and confidence she inherited from her father and why Jim Brown’s influence extended far beyond football.

The conversation then turns to Kimberly’s own work as a professional networker and socialite. She explains how she builds authentic relationships with athletes, entertainers and business leaders, how she approaches high-profile people at events and why supporting other people has been one of the keys to building her network. She also discusses Daughters of Legends, the project inspired by Jim Brown’s legacy and his historic involvement with Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell.

Later, Kimberly takes listeners inside the celebrity-event world. She recounts getting VIP access to Shaq’s Fun House during Super Bowl weekend and ending up onstage while Shaq DJed with Snoop Dogg and Diplo. She explains what major Super Bowl parties are actually like, remembers visiting the Playboy Mansion as a child, including swimming in the famous grotto, and tells stories involving Jamie Foxx, Tyrese, Wiz Khalifa, Flo Rida and other celebrities she has encountered through the years.

Inside this episode:

• Growing up as Jim Brown’s daughter

• What it was like being raised in the Hollywood Hills

• Jim Brown’s fame beyond the NFL

• Growing up around actors, musicians, athletes and activists

• Arsenio Hall visiting the family home

• Big Daddy Kane living with Kimberly’s family

• Kimberly’s running joke with Big Daddy Kane

• Why Jim Brown’s house became famous among his friends

• Diana Ross and a story from Jim Brown’s Hollywood house

• Why Kimberly describes the house as a legendary party house

• Huey P. Newton

• Maxine Waters meeting her husband at Jim Brown’s home

• Why Kimberly considered celebrity life normal as a child

• Jim Brown’s influence on Kimberly’s personality

• Dating while being Jim Brown’s daughter

• Recording conversations with her father

• The origin of Daughters of Legends

• Jim Brown’s reaction to Kimberly’s idea

• Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell

• The historic Cleveland Summit

• Building on Jim Brown’s legacy through Daughters of Legends

• What it means to create your own legacy

• Kimberly’s approach to professional networking

• Building relationships with celebrities, athletes and business leaders

• Why supporting other people strengthens your network

• Reading people and recognizing opportunists

• Faith, fear and self-confidence

• Jim Brown’s lesson about the fear of success

• Removing negative people from your life

• Why Kimberly says your environment can derail your goals

• Working on One Night in Miami

• Why some friendships changed as Kimberly became more successful

• How Kimberly approaches high-profile people

• Queen Latifah, Common and celebrity-event networking

• Getting backstage at major entertainment events

• Why Kimberly uses “targets” when networking

• How she decides who she wants to meet at an event

• Shaq’s Fun House during Super Bowl weekend

• Getting upgraded to VIP access

• Ending up onstage with Shaq, Snoop Dogg and Diplo

• Running into Shaq again at another Super Bowl event

• How shy people can become better networkers

• Why Kimberly says fear has to be overcome

• Building major events after previous failures

• Why failure can be a powerful teacher

• Kimberly’s Blue Line events

• Super Bowl parties and celebrity networking

• What Shaq’s Fun House is actually like

• The rides, DJs, open bar and carnival atmosphere

• DJ Paul and Three 6 Mafia

• Hollywood Hills mansion parties

• Jamie Foxx’s parties

• Visiting the Playboy Mansion as a child

• The Playboy Mansion zoo

• Swimming in the famous grotto

• Tyrese’s celebrity party

• Wiz Khalifa

• Flo Rida

• What Kimberly wants her own legacy to become

• Continuing Jim Brown’s legacy through Daughters of Legends

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: Wiz Khalifa, Shaq and Jim Brown’s advice

00:51 - Introduction

01:00 - Introducing Kimberly B. Brown

02:33 - Growing up as Jim Brown’s daughter

03:11 - Jim Brown’s acting career

03:30 - Attending Hollywood movie premieres

04:34 - Realizing how famous her father was

05:28 - Growing up around celebrities

05:34 - Arsenio Hall at the family home

05:59 - Big Daddy Kane lived with Kimberly’s family

06:13 - Kimberly’s running joke with Big Daddy Kane

07:07 - Jim Brown’s legendary Hollywood house

07:33 - The Diana Ross story

08:02 - Why the house was known as a party house

08:34 - Growing up in the Hollywood Hills

09:06 - Huey P. Newton

09:26 - Maxine Waters meets her future husband

10:08 - Why Kimberly thought her childhood was normal

11:47 - Dating as Jim Brown’s daughter

12:15 - Parties and life inside Jim Brown’s world

14:05 - Recording conversations with her father

16:47 - Kimberly’s celebrity and athlete network

18:00 - Traits she inherited from Jim Brown

19:39 - Jim Brown’s open-door personality

20:22 - Becoming a professional networker

21:29 - The origin of Daughters of Legends

22:17 - Developing Daughters of Legends

22:30 - Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell

22:41 - Building on the legacy of the Cleveland Summit

24:13 - What qualifies someone as a Daughter of Legends

25:38 - Bringing legendary families together

26:41 - Building relationships through the project

28:14 - Jim Brown’s lesson about fear of success

29:40 - How Kimberly approaches networking

33:22 - Hollywood, negativity and pursuing your goals

35:20 - Losing friends while becoming more successful

35:27 - One Night in Miami

38:38 - Supporting people as a networking strategy

41:40 - The importance of networking

42:00 - Joseph Sikora and celebrity connections

43:16 - How to contact high-profile people without becoming annoying

46:01 - Missy Elliott

47:15 - Networking at the Grammy hip-hop tribute

47:26 - Queen Latifah and Juicy J

48:01 - Meeting Common

49:03 - Getting backstage at major events

49:46 - Shaq’s Fun House

50:16 - Getting upgraded to VIP

50:39 - Onstage with Shaq, Snoop Dogg and Diplo

51:04 - How Kimberly approaches a networking target

51:45 - Running into Shaq at another Super Bowl event

52:18 - Networking advice for...

MMA veteran and Anthony Pettis Fighting Championship middleweight champion Kevin Nowaczyk breaks down his journey through professional fighting, from training alongside Belal Muhammad and Julianna Peña to traveling to Abu Dhabi, meeting Khabib Nurmagomedov and getting multiple opportunities with The Ultimate Fighter.

Kevin explains what it is like training inside a room filled with UFC-level fighters and how MMA preparation has evolved from the brutal hard-sparring culture of the past toward smarter drilling, recovery and fight simulation. He reflects on coming up around fighters including Anthony Pettis, Sergio Pettis, Ben Askren and Andrei Arlovski, the sacrifices required to pursue professional MMA and the injuries, weight cuts and mental pressure that come with trying to reach the UFC.

A major section of the episode follows Kevin to Abu Dhabi with Belal Muhammad. Kevin recalls meeting Khabib and his team, Khabib grabbing his cauliflower ear, joking with him throughout fight week and taking photos together after Belal’s fight. He also shares his impressions of Khabib away from competition, briefly discusses his changing opinion of Conor McGregor and recounts unexpectedly ending up in a room with Khabib, Islam Makhachev, Dana White, Steven Seagal and other major figures from the fight world.

Kevin then gives a behind-the-scenes account of his complicated history with The Ultimate Fighter. He explains the audition process, making it through the interviews as a young fighter, turning down his first opportunity because of a relationship, getting another call from the UFC years later, flying to Las Vegas on almost no notice and finally returning for another shot. He also discusses the isolation surrounding the process and the flash knockout that ended that opportunity.

Later, Kevin gets into extreme weight cutting, preparing for fights at Belal Muhammad’s house, his friendship with Julianna Peña, winning the Anthony Pettis Fighting Championship middleweight title despite entering with a knee injury, and scoring a knockout in under a minute. The episode closes with stories from Kevin’s life outside the cage, his philosophy on legacy and his goal of eventually reaching the UFC middleweight division.

Inside this episode:

• Kevin Nowaczyk’s professional MMA career

• Winning the Anthony Pettis Fighting Championship middleweight title

• Training with Belal Muhammad and Julianna Peña

• What a UFC-level MMA training room actually feels like

• The difference between old-school and modern MMA training

• Why hard sparring has become less important

• Training around Anthony Pettis and Sergio Pettis

• Training around Ben Askren

• Kevin’s early years around Andrei Arlovski

• Watching elite fighters prepare behind the scenes

• Kevin’s rise through the Midwest MMA scene

• Traveling to Abu Dhabi with Belal Muhammad

• Meeting Khabib Nurmagomedov

• Khabib grabbing Kevin’s cauliflower ear

• What Khabib is really like away from competition

• Why Kevin says Khabib was surprisingly funny and relaxed

• Kevin’s changing opinion of Conor McGregor

• Khabib joking with Kevin during fight week

• Taking photos with Khabib and Belal

• Islam Makhachev

• Dana White

• Steven Seagal unexpectedly appearing in Abu Dhabi

• Being surrounded by UFC fighters, sheikhs and celebrities

• Cauliflower ear and what causes it

• Kevin’s first experiences walking out for professional fights

• Fear and mental preparation before competition

• Matt Serra’s upset of Georges St-Pierre

• Why flash knockouts can happen to elite fighters

• How modern fighters prepare for unexpected scenarios

• Simulating an entire fight inside the gym

• Injuries as one of Kevin’s biggest career obstacles

• Recovery and longevity in professional MMA

• The physical toll of years of fighting

• Kevin’s first Ultimate Fighter opportunity

• How The Ultimate Fighter audition process worked

• Grappling and interview stages during tryouts

• Why personality mattered to producers

• Making it through the final interviews

• Being selected for The Ultimate Fighter

• Why Kevin turned down his first opportunity

• Getting another UFC call years later

• Flying to Las Vegas on almost no notice

• Returning to The Ultimate Fighter selection process

• The isolation fighters experience behind the scenes

• Losing his qualifying fight by a flash knockout

• Kevin’s extreme old-school weight cuts

• Cutting roughly 20 pounds in two days

• Fighting at welterweight while walking around near 200 pounds

• Why Kevin eventually moved to middleweight

• Cutting weight at Belal Muhammad’s house

• The scale disaster before weigh-ins

• Julianna Peña and Kevin’s friendship

• Peña offering to take Kevin to the hospital after a training injury

• Training with Ignacio Bahamondes

• How Kevin connected with Anthony Pettis

• Fighting for the APFC middleweight championship

• Entering the title fight with a knee injury

• Fighting an opponent known for leg locks

• Knocking out his opponent in under a minute

• Life outside the cage with Kevin and Ross

• The infamous Tuesday-night Chicago story

• Kevin’s philosophy on legacy

• Wanting to leave people better than he found them

• Kevin’s UFC middleweight ambitions

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open: Khabib, Steven Seagal and The Ultimate Fighter

00:54 - Introduction

01:08 - Introducing Kevin Nowaczyk

01:25 - Training with Belal Muhammad and Julianna Peña

02:24 - Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes

03:20 - Kevin’s Anthony Pettis Fighting Championship title

04:31 - Anthony Pettis, Ben Askren and Roufusport

06:00 - How elite MMA training has evolved

07:54 - The Ultimate Fighter inspires Kevin’s MMA journey

09:00 - Kevin’s early boxing and kickboxing years

10:07 - Training with UFC-level fighters

11:00 - Training around Andrei Arlovski

12:18 - Why talented fighters sometimes never reach the UFC

13:20 - Kevin’s professional MMA ranking

13:45 - Traveling to Abu Dhabi with Belal Muhammad

13:49 - Meeting Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team

14:12 - Kevin’s changing opinion of Conor McGregor

15:03 - What Khabib is really like in person

15:34 - Khabib enters the training room

16:00 - Khabib grabs Kevin’s cauliflower ear

16:42 - Islam Makhachev and the UFC warm-up room

17:44 - Getting a photo with Khabib

18:10 - Khabib jokes with Kevin and Belal

19:00 - Why Khabib is one of MMA’s biggest legends

20:00 - Cauliflower ear explained

22:10 - Steven Seagal appears in Abu Dhabi

22:52 - Dana White, Khabib, Islam and the Abu Dhabi fight scene

24:30 - Kevin’s first professional fight experiences

27:30 - Flash knockouts and MMA upsets

28:00 - Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre

29:36 - Old-school hard sparring

31:00 - Why Kevin changed his training philosophy

32:14 - Kevin’s biggest career obstacle

32:42 - Injuries, recovery and staying healthy

35:00 - Preparing mentally for fight night

36:00 - Simu...