Naomi Davoudian returns to the Off the Mats Podcast for a conversation about growth, adaptation, and what happens when life forces you out of your comfort zone.

Since her first appearance on the show, Naomi has experienced several major changes. She relocated, joined a new academy, began training under a new professor, and returned to the competition mats. We discuss the challenges of leaving behind familiarity, walking into a new gym as the "new person," and learning how to build trust and confidence in a different training environment.

Naomi shares her perspective on adjusting to a new coaching style, finding her place within a new team culture, and how those experiences have influenced both her jiu-jitsu and personal growth. We also break down her recent experiences competing, the lessons learned from preparation and performance, and how her definition of success has evolved over time.

This episode is about more than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It's about embracing change, staying committed during uncertain seasons, and discovering who you become when you're forced to start over.

Whether you're a competitor, hobbyist, or someone navigating a major life transition, this conversation offers valuable insight into the challenges and rewards of starting a new chapter.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

Off the Mats Podcast #314 welcomes back rising MMA fighter Beltus Tabot for a follow-up conversation focused on growth, pressure, and the evolution that comes with pursuing success in mixed martial arts.

Since his first appearance on the show, Beltus has continued to develop both inside and outside the cage and is recovering from a knee injury. We discuss the lessons learned during his time away, how his training and fight IQ have evolved, and the challenges that come with increased expectations as his career progresses.

Beltus shares his perspective on confidence, discipline, mental toughness, and the realities of balancing life beyond competition.

Beyond fighting, we explore who Beltus is away from the cage, including his interests, support system, and long-term goals. We close the episode with a fun rapid-fire round covering favorite techniques, walkout songs, and more.

Whether you're an MMA fan, martial artist, or someone pursuing ambitious goals of your own, this conversation offers insight into the mindset required to keep moving forward when the spotlight gets brighter.

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Follow Beltus Tabot and stay tuned for future fight announcements as his journey continues.

Xavier Lee joins the Off the Mats Podcast for a conversation about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, competition and the realities of training as a bigger grappler.

Known online as Professor X, Xavier has built a strong presence in the BJJ community by sharing insight on big-man jiu-jitsu, wrestling-style pressure, technical control, and confidence on the mats. In this episode, we talk about his jiu-jitsu journey, what led him to training, how he developed his game, and the lessons he has learned through competition.

We also discuss the difference between using size intelligently and relying on strength, the responsibility of being a good training partner, competing at brown belt, building confidence through jiu-jitsu, and how the lessons from the mats carry into everyday life.

Whether you are a new student, a bigger grappler trying to find your style, a competitor, or someone who loves hearing real stories from the BJJ community, this episode has something for you.

Follow Xavier Lee: @iamxavierleebjj

On this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with my Colompton Beer Club co-host, Steve, for a different kind of conversation. Instead of beer reviews, sports talk, and the usual chaos, we talk about Steve’s fitness journey, his personal goals, and what it means to start making real changes when life is already busy.

We discuss motivation, discipline, accountability, nutrition, confidence, and the mental side of getting healthier. Steve opens up about where he is starting from, what he wants to improve, and how difficult it can be to stay consistent when motivation fades.

This conversation is not about becoming a fitness influencer or chasing perfection. It is about being honest, setting realistic goals, and learning how to keep showing up.

Whether you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, lift weights, walk on the treadmill, or are just trying to get healthier one decision at a time, this episode is for anyone working to become a better version of themselves.

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Off the Mats Podcast welcomes Crazy 88 MMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt Matt Sargeant for his first appearance on the show. In this episode, Matt shares his journey into BJJ, what led him to step onto the mats for the first time, and the realities of surviving the white belt experience.

We discuss the mental and physical challenges of learning jiu-jitsu, the importance of consistency, the culture at Crazy 88 MMA, and how training changes the way people handle stress, pressure, and confidence outside the gym. Matt also talks about earning his blue belt, dealing with expectations after promotion, and what keeps him motivated to continue improving.

This conversation focuses on growth, humility, discipline, and the everyday reality of balancing life with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training.

If you’re a grappler, martial artist, or someone thinking about starting jiu-jitsu for the first time, this episode will feel familiar.

No Star Wars nor X-Force were discussed or harmed in the making of this episode.

We break down expectations and concerns surrounding Avengers: Doomsday, and take a hard look at the trend of unnecessary sequels, why they keep happening, and whether audiences are finally pushing back. From there, we shift into horror, discussing franchise rights, ownership battles, and how those behind-the-scenes decisions shape the films fans ultimately get.

Things take a turn into the philosophical as we unpack one of the most debated concepts in storytelling: time travel. What are the rules? Do they even matter? And why do so many films get it wrong?

This episode is less about headlines and more about perspective, how fandom, media, and storytelling are evolving in real time.

If you’re into Marvel, horror films, franchise culture, and conversations about where entertainment is headed, this is one is for you.

In this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with Lou Temlett, host of the Jiu-Jitsu Lou Podcast, for a conversation about what it really means to grow in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while documenting the journey in real time.

Lou didn’t wait until she felt like an expert to share her voice; she built her platform as she progressed through the ranks. We talk about starting jiu-jitsu, the mental and physical challenges of the early days, and the reality of reaching blue belt, where expectations rise and confidence doesn’t always follow.

We also get into balancing training with real life, including parenting, time management, and staying consistent when motivation fades. Lou shares what she’s learned from interviewing grapplers across all levels, why everyday stories matter in a sport often dominated by high-level voices, and how podcasting has shaped her perspective on jiu-jitsu.

This episode isn’t about techniques or highlight reels, it’s about discipline, identity, and the process of becoming better over time.

If you’ve ever questioned your progress, struggled with consistency, or wondered if you belong on the mats, this conversation will hit.

Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is where expectations shift, and the margin for error gets smaller.

In this episode of the Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with Crazy 88 MMA teammates Jeremy Collins, Danny Mahoney, Navarro Chamberlain, and Andrew Carter following their performances at the IBJJF Pan Championship. This isn’t a beginner conversation; it’s a look at what changes when you reach one of the highest levels in the sport.

We break down what the brown belt level actually demands, what gets exposed in high-level competition, and how IBJJF Pans tests your technique, conditioning, and decision making under pressure. The group also shares insight into the mental side of competing, including managing expectations, dealing with losses, and refining your game as you move closer to black belt.

This episode focuses on progression, accountability, and the reality of leveling up in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, on and off the mats.

This week on Off the Mats Podcast, we welcome back one of our early guests and a good friend of mine, Jenn Brooke, for a powerful and honest conversation about her journey to 397 days of sobriety.

Jenn was a guest during the early days of the podcast, and this episode captures a full-circle moment comparing who she was then to who she is now. We dive into what led to her decision to get sober, what those first difficult days looked like, and how her life has changed since.

This isn’t just a conversation about quitting alcohol. It’s about discipline, identity, and learning how to show up for yourself when it matters most. Jenn opens up about the mental battles, the lifestyle changes, and the unexpected truths that come with choosing sobriety one day at a time.

We also explore how consistency, structure, and mindset, concepts familiar to anyone training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, play a major role in long term change outside the gym.

If you’ve ever considered making a major life change, struggled with consistency, or wondered what it really takes to rebuild your life from the ground up, this episode offers a real and relatable perspective.

In this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with Muay Thai coach and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt Brandon Davis, also known as Coach Thor, from Crazy 88 MMA in Severna Park.

Brandon returns to the podcast to catch up on everything that’s changed since his last appearance, including the stresses of coaching, his evolution as a martial artist, and what it actually takes to stay consistent on the mats over time.

We talk about recent Saturday training sessions at Crazy 88 and the mental stress that comes with retooling technique, something every grappler experiences but rarely talks about. From there, the conversation shifts into the pressure of being a coach, balancing personal growth while guiding others, and what responsibility really feels like when you’re leading a room.

We also break down the UFC Freedom 250 fight card with predictions and reactions to the main matchups, before closing things out with a discussion on the NFL offseason and how competition, preparation, and mindset carry across sports.

This episode is less about technique and more about what happens behind the scenes, the adjustments, the pressure, and the long-term commitment it takes to keep showing up.

If you train, coach, or just appreciate the process of getting better over time, this conversation will hit.