From The Streets To The Octagon: Ramon Taveras' UFC Journey

Welcome to Hometown Jax, the podcast that dives deep into the lives of Jacksonville’s most inspiring business owners, athletes, and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Aaron Bacus and Jason Kindler, we uncover the journeys, challenges, and triumphs that shape our city’s local legends. From overcoming adversity to building a legacy, our guests share raw, unfiltered insights that motivate and inspire.

In this episode, Jason sits down with Jacksonville’s own UFC fighter, Ramon Taveras, to discuss his rise in the world of mixed martial arts. Ramon shares his journey from boxing to MMA, the grueling training camps, and the mental battles that come with being a professional fighter. He opens up about personal struggles, overcoming tragedy, and the mindset shift that helped him push forward. Whether you're a fight fan or someone looking for motivation, this episode is packed with life lessons on resilience, ambition, and never giving up.

Transcript

00;00;00;00 - 00;00;14;29
Unknown
Where are your hosts, Aaron Backus and Jason Kindler? We like to sit down with our guests to hear their journey, their challenges, and how they impact the local community. So grab a seat. Tune in and let's get inspired by Jacksonville's everyday workforce. Welcome to Hometown Jacks.

00;00;14;29 - 00;00;34;28
Unknown
Welcome to Hometown Jacks. I am here with a celebrity today. Ramone Tavares. Ramone is a is a UFC fighter. I've followed you all the way back from, from combat night, and now you. You've got your big, big shot now. So. Yeah. Man, I appreciate, having you here.

00;00;35;01 - 00;00;50;17
Unknown
Thank you. For me. So you're a, I want to I want to start with, with the with the Jacksonville. Were you born and raised in Jackson? Yeah. So I was born in New York and, in Long Island, New York, and I moved out to Jackson, I believe. Like, I can't remember, like, two years old. Navy.

00;00;50;18 - 00;01;12;26
Unknown
Oh, okay. So most most of Jack's contacts. Yeah. Yeah. So, I know, you know, knowing a little bit about. I'm a, I'm a big UFC fan. Big fight fan. But, for the people that, you know, that aren't, you know, diehard UFC fans. Tell us a little bit about what that journey looks like.

00;01;12;26 - 00;01;29;17
Unknown
So, I mean, you know, is it just like, oh, I just wake up one day and I'm in the UFC. It's not like that, right? Yeah. No, it's not like that. It's like, it's a bunch of ups and downs, you know? A super long road I've been doing this for. I think I just like my limit.

00;01;29;17 - 00;01;47;15
Unknown
The 12th year. Yeah. I got into the UFC my 10th year of training, so it's a bunch of ups and downs, but it's a road that a lot of people. I feel like a lot of people from Jax could have made it before me. But they just hit that wall where you just do I keep going and do I give up, you know.

00;01;47;15 - 00;02;02;09
Unknown
And thankfully for me, I kept going and and and I go into the UFC but it's definitely a, a long road. So, you know, on the, on the training side. So what is, what is,

00;02;02;09 - 00;02;07;05
Unknown
what does a fight camp look like? What is it? What is it? Training because I, I like to, I like to train.

00;02;07;05 - 00;02;24;24
Unknown
Yeah, but this is a whole. That's a whole different world. So what what does that look like? What? Like you're getting ready for a fight. A fight came for me. The first thing is versus dieting, you gotta get your diet in check to get to make that weight. I'm one of the heavier bantamweights, which is 135.

00;02;24;24 - 00;02;46;01
Unknown
So the diet is the first thing that I got to get into. And then, some day, like I train Monday, Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday, my rest day. And I believe for those those days I train twice a day. And, that's what I was just going to say. It's not it's not like me going to train. I'm gonna go train and live for live for an hour.

00;02;46;01 - 00;03;02;24
Unknown
And it's not guarantee you, like, nine out of those six days that you train in maybe two. Some days you want to train, right? Yeah. So there's a bunch of, waking up and doing what you don't want to do. Yeah, but knowing that you have to do

00;03;02;24 - 00;03;12;18
Unknown
it. Yeah. You know, so I'm not going to lie, like, after, like, my first three, four weeks of training camp, and I'll start seeing the results and I'm starting to feel better about myself.

00;03;12;20 - 00;03;39;20
Unknown
I get I get in the, the that I get that ball rolling and it's easier for me to do it like, you know, and, that's the hard part. The easy part is fighting, you know, and getting in that cage. So, so all I mean, I mean, all that training, I mean, you know, just thinking about, you know, business wise, you know, like, like, like all the, all the stuff that we do in the business world and but we're always doing business.

00;03;39;21 - 00;04;01;13
Unknown
Yeah. I mean, you're, you're doing all that training and, and the fight is, I mean, Max was 15 minutes. Yeah, yeah. And those 15 minutes fly by quicker than you think, you know, and, but, you know, for the greater, the greater good, you know, you putting in all the hard work that sweat and tears, man, pushing through all the hard times, you know, you get to live your life.

00;04;01;20 - 00;04;21;19
Unknown
You live you you live your dream for those 15 minutes. When, when did that. When did when did that, when did that dream start? Like. Like when were you like. Oh, man, I think I could do so, originally wanted to be a boxer. Okay. Yeah. So I originally started out when I was about 13 years old, walking to, my first boxing gym.

00;04;21;22 - 00;04;42;22
Unknown
I was a football playing football? Yeah. Before then, that was my original dream to be a football player. And, one day, was the aftermath. I was playing Pop Warner football for, league called the Pine Forest. And, one day after my last game as part one to play, my, my stepdad told me he was like, I'm gonna keep it real, you fat.

00;04;42;22 - 00;04;56;01
Unknown
So a lot of people don't know to my nickname is Fat Boy. That's my nickname. I grew up with that name. Nobody. I've heard it before, but I didn't know the I don't know I didn't, Jack, I didn't know the story, man. Yeah. Nobody in Jacksonville calls me Ramone. But, he let me keep it real. You fat.

00;04;56;01 - 00;05;12;17
Unknown
He was like, I don't think you're gonna get any bigger. And I looked at his. He's like, I'm not saying that you can't be a football player. Yeah, but I don't think you can get any bigger. And I was like, well, what do you think I should do it? He was like, what you think about boxing and at the time I was getting to fight a line and and a bunch of trouble.

00;05;12;18 - 00;05;30;02
Unknown
So I was like, I'll give it a try. And we walked into the boxing gym and as soon as I walked in, I knew that's real. I mean, yeah, I was lucky enough to like because I know these people like my age. I'm 31 years old or even older. They still don't know what they want to do. And by the time I walked in, stepped foot in that gym, I knew, this is for me.

00;05;30;02 - 00;05;53;11
Unknown
This is what I want to do. I used to skip school to go to the gym. Really? You know what I'm saying? I was doing a a bunch of shit and just wanted to be at the gym. And then, long story short, I got to some trouble at home. My mom sent me to Georgia at the age of 15, and my dad, I stayed out there in Georgia for 4 or 5 years and like, what made me come back was I got to change my fucking life.

00;05;53;11 - 00;06;20;12
Unknown
I was in Atlanta getting in a lot of trouble, and one day I just woke up. I was like, yo, I got to go back home and change my life, you know? I got it. And then I knew my heart was with boxing. That's right. So I came back to the gym and when I went back to the gym, my original coach, which is my coach, the today Matt Vaughn of boxing, he transitioned the boxing gym into a major.

00;06;20;12 - 00;06;39;14
Unknown
Got it. So I came back out and I was watching people and rolling on the ground like, what the hell is this? You know? But, And jetsam. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, they all came to box. Boom. So we did a couple boxing tournaments. And then one day he was like, what do you think about taking an MMA fighter?

00;06;39;14 - 00;06;57;26
Unknown
And I was like, man, nah, man, I'm looking at the spine and I'm not about to get kicked in the face and I'm about to be rolling around with guys. Next. I might just take one. They got a fight coming up in like two weeks. This guy is a grappler, which is a UFC fighter down. And me and my best friends, his name was Stephen, cause I was leaving.

00;06;57;26 - 00;07;13;08
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, he thought I was going to be easy for. Are you going to knock him out? I was like, man, forget. I'll try. Were you friends with Stephen? With you guys? Boxer. Okay. Because I know you guys are close. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we was a friends then, so, I usually box two at the time.

00;07;13;08 - 00;07;33;08
Unknown
I box that 140. Yeah. And this was my first time getting down on 135 last year to, accept the fight. I'm this way by like, 3 to 4 pounds. And that means Stephen fought. And then, after that, he ended up winning the fight. But it was an all out war. May have. We've had this conversation all the time.

00;07;33;08 - 00;07;50;02
Unknown
I still believe I won like that, but, you watch the tape. Yeah. Yeah, me, him, watch it all the time and talk shit about it. But, after that, I was like, yeah, I love him. You, me. Yeah. I was able to be me. I was able to be free. I was able to scream. I just feel like that was for me, like, you know.

00;07;50;02 - 00;08;05;04
Unknown
And, once I fought that one time, I was like, I want to do it again. I want I ran up like six fights that year as an amateur and won that bell and one of the amateur bell and everything. Like within that one year, I think it was a yeah, I was at a couple of year combat night.

00;08;05;05 - 00;08;25;11
Unknown
Yes. Yeah. You know when you're coming up. But that's when I knew I was like, yeah, this is for me. That's how the MMA journey began. What. So going on the on the boxing side. So I mean, I know just from background you're you're you're your hands are lethal. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So you're but you're you're a boxer.

00;08;25;13 - 00;08;43;02
Unknown
That's that's how you started. Yeah. Yeah. That's the gym. That's how you started. And so I know the transition from boxing to the. Now I got to use my legs. Yeah. So you just I mean, what does that look like? He's just you just have to learn how to kick. You just learn and that. And I think that was the thing for me.

00;08;43;02 - 00;09;02;01
Unknown
I feel like boxing for me at the time, which is weird now because I kind of want to go back to boxing. Really? Yeah. It's weird, like, you know, but, I feel like at the time, I was learning new stuff. Yeah. Like, you know, boxing was the same one two jab, like, you know, and, like, you always get better.

00;09;02;03 - 00;09;18;06
Unknown
You can always get better within the boxing. But I was like, damn, that's cool. Learning how to kick, learning the grappling aspect, like, you know, and I was like, I'm becoming a dangerous man. Like, you know, nothing that I could do all of this, like, you know, and, and, and that's what just made me, like, wanted to learn more and more.

00;09;18;07 - 00;09;40;06
Unknown
More. And I just started learning how dangerous it sure was. And and having my kicks, like, you know, and, it was hard in the beginning, like, it's always going to be hard where these start something new and I have to kick and stuff. But once you get it and you keep up that dedication and put that time in the gym, people think you're going to get it within like the first month or two and have and it takes years mean like, you know.

00;09;40;06 - 00;09;59;15
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. But but that's what that's what made me fall in love with it was learning new things, put new tools and Morrison so that's I can't imagine. Yeah. But when you when you love, when you love it, it's. Yeah. Just it just happens. Yeah. And I know you've had I mean I know you know some of the, the guys, the trainers right.

00;09;59;15 - 00;10;17;02
Unknown
I mean there's some, there's some, there's some talent in Jackson. Yeah. It really is man. And it's I feel like it's sad because I don't feel like Jackson will get the recognition that it deserves. And like I said, I'm one of the five UFC fighters in in Jacksonville. There's a bunch of talent out here on, on the way up.

00;10;17;04 - 00;10;39;07
Unknown
Yeah, I especially the Mason. I just don't think there's like a good spotlight on it, you know? So, this is kind of this kind of off. Yeah. So, on the on the on the Contender Series. Yeah. So those of you that that don't know, fat was on. It was on it was on a Contender Series.

00;10;39;10 - 00;11;02;09
Unknown
And I can remember watching that live and on TV. And Dana gave you that second chance. Yeah. Yeah. You mean so. Yeah. So basically what happened is they stopped the fight early. Yeah. Dana was like, there's no way. Yeah. So what's, what's it like being around, Dana White or all the guys in the UFC? I mean, is it is it is it starstruck immediately?

00;11;02;09 - 00;11;25;04
Unknown
And then you're like, okay. So thankfully for me, I had my big brother Austin. Oh yeah. Yeah. You know, get into the Contender Series twice and it's like I did. I was there for the second Contender Series fight, so I actually got the feeling and seeing what was going on and what was happening, you know? So even then I was like, oh my God, Dana White, I can't believe I'm seeing this guy right now, you know?

00;11;25;06 - 00;11;45;04
Unknown
And, when when my brother made it, I was like, you're I know I'm going to make it like, you know, I know I'm going to be here. And, but the second time was like déja vu. Like, I've been here before. And now when I, when I see one of my teammates or somebody I care for fight, it's like more nervous record for me.

00;11;45;11 - 00;12;03;23
Unknown
Mean I fight like, you know, I'm saying it's like the nerves kick in, my palms begin way on my is like because I know I can't help them. Like, you know, but when I'm say at least you can control when you're in there, when I'm in there, I can control it, like, you know, so I kind of felt that feeling before, but it was still it was still like it was still something new, especially like it's so quiet.

00;12;03;25 - 00;12;24;16
Unknown
Yeah. And being the person getting in the cage, like, I remember walking out and I was like, oh, my God is quiet as hell. Yeah. Like like you could hear a pin drop, you know? And, but it it was one it's like a once in a lifetime experience. Man, I, I wish I could do it again, you know, because I will, because it was like all eyes on you.

00;12;24;18 - 00;12;40;06
Unknown
It ten times more intense. And that was probably, like, the hardest thing I ever did in my life, really, like, you know, because I'm like, man, fuck. Like I fuck up. Now everybody's going to say nobody. It's not like a big crowd and everybody's entertaining you, just like everybody's just locked in on you. Well, and I mean, it's got to be.

00;12;40;07 - 00;13;03;16
Unknown
It's got to be hard to I mean, I'm guessing is that like, especially being on a Contender Series like, this is your shot? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Like all the pressure's on. So you either you're getting a UFC contract or that might be the last. Yeah, yeah. And that's all that pressure, man I can't imagine. So like I said, that's when your training, your preparation leads up to that.

00;13;03;16 - 00;13;22;25
Unknown
Like, you know what I'm saying? Because if you're not doing the correct things, you're not going to feel like you're going to deserve that shot. Like, you know, so me being put in work, going to California, working with Uriah Faber at ten hours from now, and doing all the things I needed to do made me feel like I was supposed to be there.

00;13;22;25 - 00;13;38;06
Unknown
Like, you know, if you're not doing that and you go on to the Contender Series, you're gonna be in your head like, oh shit, I shouldn't do this, I should did that. But I did everything I needed to do. So when I lost it, the first Contender Series, I was like, ain't no way. That just happened to me.

00;13;38;09 - 00;13;56;11
Unknown
Like, I did everything right. I felt great, I was winning the fight up to then, and I just got caught and I felt like I got my opportunity, got stolen from the ref, like calling it and making a bad decision. It was, it was, it was. It was like that. Yeah. Like okay. Thankfully Dana saw it like, okay, I'm gonna give you another shot.

00;13;56;11 - 00;13;56;23
Unknown
Yeah.

00;13;56;23 - 00;14;22;26
Unknown
So like after it happened, I was just sitting there and it was weird, bro. I'm like a big believer in God, and, like, I believe that everything happens for a reason. But I remember being so mad and out of nowhere. I just got a sense of, like, calm, like everything was going to be okay. And, but the first thing this whole new, like, I was meant to be there because the first thing I went to do, my mind was like, when I'm going, what I'm going to do to get here again?

00;14;22;29 - 00;14;37;10
Unknown
Like it wasn't like, no, like, I mean, it's over like this. Was it like immediately I'm in the back and I'm thinking, right, I got to call me to come in. I got to take a fight ASAP. Like, you know, I'm thinking, like, such situations to get back in, out of nowhere. I just heard Dana White's voice.

00;14;37;13 - 00;14;56;16
Unknown
He said that was bullshit. Yes. I'm looking up. I'm late. What the hell is like, That was bullshit. That was a horrible stoppage of, like, the worst I've probably ever seen in my life. He was like, do you make that way easy now, item? I said, yeah. And then he was like, well, I want to see you back in three weeks, okay?

00;14;56;16 - 00;15;12;18
Unknown
I want you to to, to headline the the end of the season. So I said, okay, came back, I believe it was my son's birthday. Yeah. So I came back for his birthday at the weekend here and went back to California. I had the training and then I went back in, got my contract. That's amazing. Yeah.

00;15;12;18 - 00;15;31;20
Unknown
So, and then you talked about Uriah Faber. I mean, is that is that pretty common that. Okay, you're here, and then you you go to, like, a gym? It's a different city. Pretty common. Like, you know, is is the people behind you, man, I ended up meeting a great guy. He's one of my best friends.

00;15;31;20 - 00;15;53;28
Unknown
One of my managers named Gerard Rocks Pool. He actually shot, like, a whole documentary about me. Like, we got in, in in the in the books right now working. And, he started off from, like, the modern day fight when I first won my professional, MMR boat, you know, and, he introduced me to you, right.

00;15;54;00 - 00;16;10;17
Unknown
And then got me out there a year. I, I got lucky, like, you know, a lot of people don't get the opportunity. You're get lucky like that. And, and then, you know, you're. Well, you're. I love the gym out there. I love how they they operate out there. And, ended up signing with you. Right.

00;16;10;17 - 00;16;28;26
Unknown
And being a sports and general manager right now, so. Gary Vee. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So the awesome didn't work, work with me and, I'm just looking. I'm blessed. Yeah, man. That's awesome. Yeah. So you, so Contender Series, you get your contract, and, And there you go. Okay, we're going to run it back. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00;16;28;26 - 00;16;50;04
Unknown
So, what what's it, what's it like? Because that was in January, right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. January when I had my made my UFC. So UFC debut in January. And what's that like. Is it a different level. You're like okay now now I'm fighting on pay per view and I'm on a pay per view. And, I mean, what what what is that what does that feel like?

00;16;50;06 - 00;17;12;26
Unknown
It was weird for me because, a lot of people don't know this. Like, when, when I got my contract, I was, like, happy as I was like, yeah, I made it, but, I kind of lost, like, motivation to keep fighting for, like, time. Yeah, because, like, like, a lot of people know I lost my brother in 2019, and, my whole journey to get to the UFC, it was because of him.

00;17;13;02 - 00;17;34;14
Unknown
And in my mind, I put when I make it to the UFC, everything is going to be better, like, you know, and, I worked so hard to get to the UFC to realize when I got to the UFC and got my contract, everything was still the same. So, I went, got my contract, came back home, started drinking.

00;17;34;14 - 00;17;53;06
Unknown
Like, you know, this fell back into a like, you know, I was like, man, what the what the hell is going on right now? Like, I'm supposed to be happy, but it feels like something's missing because there is something missing you. Were you I mean, was it was it just like, oh, what now? Yeah. What? Like you. Like, you know, I get home and I'm sitting there, I'm like.

00;17;53;08 - 00;18;16;06
Unknown
Nothing's changed. I still got the same problems. I'm still dealing with the same emotions. I was just blocking it, blocking all that reality. Dealing with my brother to get to the UFC, to thinking that it was going to be better and I was going to feel better, but it didn't like, you know, so to be honest, that was like craziest fight camp I ever been through.

00;18;16;06 - 00;18;31;11
Unknown
I barely train, I did the bare minimum, to be honest. I went to that fight thinking I was going to lose. Like, you know, that was the first fight ever. Like, I'm them on. I don't even know what the fuck I'm doing here right now. Yeah. Like, you know, and, I only accepted the fight because I don't want them thinking I was.

00;18;31;14 - 00;18;49;10
Unknown
Yeah, backing out, like, you know. So I was scared of him or something, but I ended up. But it doesn't change the. When I did walk out, the feeling I got, I was like, wow, I can't believe I'm here. Yeah, like, I wish it was on a different circumstances, but you're here and like, that's interesting. I mean,

00;18;49;10 - 00;18;50;10
Unknown
that's super interesting.

00;18;50;12 - 00;19;10;07
Unknown
Yeah. Without you saying that, I mean, like, I would, you know, you'd think I'd be enjoying thinking like, oh, this is amazing. I'm doing that. But yeah, that's reality. Real life is real life. You know, like my brother says, between me and the. The real fight is outside of the cage. Yeah. You know, live in day to day in, in trying to make a way like, you know, on,

00;19;10;09 - 00;19;29;28
Unknown
Well, that's it, that's it. That's the thing. I mean, you know, the average person, you know, it's just it's. Oh, okay. Well, you know, you're you're in the UFC. Whatever. Well, the big contracts they don't come from. Yeah. Yeah. I mean that's not, you know. Yeah. Yeah I'm I'm not getting paid. Well I mean I'm getting paid good money, but it's not like what people think and like, you know what I'm saying?

00;19;29;28 - 00;19;48;18
Unknown
And I'm happy, like, you know, that I made it that far and I'm there, but I still got a lot of work to do to get to where I want to get right, you know? But, but when my first UFC fight, it didn't go it. I didn't have the feeling or the plan or what I was thinking I was going to feel like, you know, that's why I missed weight.

00;19;48;18 - 00;19;50;04
Unknown
I missed weight 4 pounds

00;19;50;04 - 00;20;04;19
Unknown
because I was bullshitting, like, you know, and, but that's what I knew when I got in the cage. The, I already knew, like. Oh. And at the time, too, in the world knew this, like, me and my coach wasn't on good terms at the time. Is going through a bunch of things.

00;20;06;06 - 00;20;19;22
Unknown
But I ended up hitting them up, like, the week before my fight, like, yo, I need you. Like I need somebody who missed me. I had my wife in my corner, like, you know, because I didn't go out nowhere then, like, you know. Yeah. And I remember just getting in there, and I looked at her. She was like, you're right.

00;20;19;22 - 00;20;33;18
Unknown
And I was like, yeah. And she like, you sure. Like, you know, at the end of the day, I'm gonna fight. Like, you know, because I know that's how I'm with you. She, she knows you best. Yeah. Yeah. You said that was all like, you know, but that fight there, you guys go back and watch. It was a hell of a fight back on.

00;20;33;19 - 00;20;49;12
Unknown
And it the only reason why I was back and forth. No reason why the it was a split decision. Even with that far, is because I was just I was it wasn't in the best shape. Like, you know, you go in do you see me? I'm like a little chubby yesterday, but still like I, we went back and forth and I bloodied him up and like, beat him up.

00;20;49;12 - 00;21;09;06
Unknown
Really? Yeah. But you guys, I mean, we talk about, you know, you talk about weight, man. It it I mean the cuts you guys got to go through, man. We're not I mean it's crazy. It's crazy bro I wish it was a different way to go about the things like that. Go about that. Yeah. Like you know but let me ask you this because this is something I mean, just following boxing mainly for years.

00;21;09;06 - 00;21;34;14
Unknown
And then when MMA got real popular, like I always think, okay, well why why don't you fight? Not you, but just in general, why does it wasn't a fight or fight at like a walk around weight or just a little bit lower? Why is there such a big weight cut? I believe just because people just want to get that, that that the advantage of being a bigger fighter, you know, if I was to fight a 44, to be honest, I'm probably going to move up in weight.

00;21;34;14 - 00;21;50;15
Unknown
But if I was to fight a 45, I'm going to be the biggest in that weight class, like, you know, but I how do you walk around that right now? I've been walking almost 76 miles. Yeah. Like yeah. But a lot of, a lot of a lot of the Batman ways that people walk around that heavy. Right. Like, you know.

00;21;50;17 - 00;22;08;02
Unknown
And so does it. So do you feel okay, so let's say you dropped a 145. So you're cutting 2,530 pounds. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So I mean does it, does it make that much of a difference between weighing in the day before. Right. Yeah. And that day, I mean you can you're probably putting on 20 pounds before you step in the ring.

00;22;08;02 - 00;22;30;13
Unknown
So, I weigh in at 135 and I'll be coming in almost 160. I'll be like 158 between 157 and 160 every time I walk in there. If I make the weight. But, the thing is, is that you don't when you cut in that way. I like my last cut. I was dying, Austin, you know, he's big guy, so he's like, literally picking me up.

00;22;30;16 - 00;22;47;13
Unknown
Carry me to where I need to go. I'm just sitting there like, yeah, I was always down to, like, the last 3 to 5 pounds. That'd be killing you, like, you know. And every time I fall at 140 in boxing and then after I believe I fought twice that 45 minimum, I felt better. Yeah. Like, you know, I just felt like stronger.

00;22;47;15 - 00;23;12;18
Unknown
I felt just more healthier, like, you know. Yeah. I didn't feel like skin and bones, but, Well, I mean, I mean, if you think about that for if you're watching this right now, like, like that would be like, okay, I'm going to drop 20 pounds in a week. Yeah. Yeah. Or a few days. You just because I'm cutting that's 15 to anywhere between 10 to 15 pounds the week of and just water weight again.

00;23;12;20 - 00;23;30;03
Unknown
And it's just wrong. So I believe that within this time that I'm taking off, I would just go ahead, keep hitting the weights and put a little bit more. I want to put a little bit more size on me with the weight, not just weighing that way, and then probably made the jump up to 45. What is what's what's the next steps?

00;23;30;05 - 00;23;48;27
Unknown
What what what's it look like now? So a lot of people don't notice either. Like with the last three fights that I've been that I've fought, I've been dealing with a knee injury. And, I got an ACL surgery back in 2017 when I was an amateur. And I've been. It has been fine. It's been fine leading up to, like, three fights ago.

00;23;49;00 - 00;24;09;06
Unknown
And it's just been giving me problems that the problem that the problem I'm basically been fighting really one leg like my last three fights. And but my last fight is show that I need both legs, like, you know, and I think he knew something about it because you go back and watch, his last fight, he never spam knee, especially oblique kicks, aiming at your knee.

00;24;09;06 - 00;24;27;25
Unknown
He never through those before. He was aiming at my knee. Thank God. Is my back leg. So you just beaten up the leg? That wasn't hurt, but, it prevented me from switching. I switch a lot. I move a lot. So preventing me from switching, and it just showed, like, at this level, I need to have all my tools, like, you know.

00;24;27;27 - 00;24;45;04
Unknown
So right now, tomorrow I go get an MRI again on my left knee. They were trying to do the surgery ACL surgery again before my last fight, but I needed the money for Christmas and stuff like that. So I was like, Now I'm fighting. I need a little bit extra money. So they're going to do that, but think about that, man.

00;24;45;04 - 00;25;02;20
Unknown
I mean, you know, like like just what I was saying in regards to the money side, it's like, yeah, you're fighting on a bad leg because you need the money. Exactly. Like, you know, and, so I ended up fighting with the bad, like, when they needed to be, right. I was surprised the doctors even cleared me because he was like, man.

00;25;02;20 - 00;25;18;29
Unknown
So based on what he said, my ACL was attached. But since it's been so long, he said big like a like a rubber band. And, you keep stretching a rubber band for so long it becomes like, yeah, lose is not tight anymore. So he's basically like ACLs attached, but he's not doing it now. There's no benefit in money.

00;25;19;01 - 00;25;38;13
Unknown
So, this is one of my own. And again, so more than likely I'm going to get the surgery, take the time off, rebuild the strength in my leg, put some more size on me, and then probably made the jump up to 45 and return. But, every time something like this happens in, like, a situation that's like, not what I want to go through, always come back ten times better.

00;25;38;13 - 00;25;57;14
Unknown
So it's awesome. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. To, let's talk a little bit about that. So, you know, with with with anyone, but I know some of your past, like you've dealt with some adversity. Yeah. Yeah, man. And and there was so much man a little knee injury is not. And I've been through it before. It's not going to stop me because I can't start like, you know.

00;25;57;16 - 00;26;10;29
Unknown
So I had to come up with the best feeling bad for you. So yeah. Like, you know, a lot of people feel bad for this though, so they'd be like, why me? Why is this happening to me? And I used to be that person, but now I'm like, man, and don't get me wrong, how are these? Like, what?

00;26;10;29 - 00;26;28;23
Unknown
Why is this going on right now? But I look at myself in the mirror like, what are you going to complain about that you can't stop? Yeah, well, you know, you suck it up and deal with it. It's a it's a it's a, it's a victim mentality just in general with people, man. I mean, it doesn't it doesn't really does any no good anyway.

00;26;28;23 - 00;26;43;20
Unknown
Like, you know, at the end of the day, you still going to have the same problems. You still gonna have to deal with it. Yeah. Like you either gonna man up and deal with it, or you just going to let that shit drag you down like you make it worse, like, you know. And, don't get me wrong, I didn't have this mindset until I recently like.

00;26;43;22 - 00;27;11;07
Unknown
And I was always like, man, fuck, this is some bullshit. This was happening to me. Always making things ten times worse. Drinking. I'm a big drinker, but drinking ways, I'm making it better. Like, you know, I know, but I ended up just having a mars. Which is weird though, because I had to. It was. It was literally my last weekend I started my mindset just started changing and I started not run into the bottle and like, you know, I got to deal with this head on because I keep doing that.

00;27;11;07 - 00;27;28;16
Unknown
I'm never going to get over the things I'm dealing with. I've been there. Yeah, I've been there and it doesn't make things better. You know? So I was like, I got to suck it up, you know, and, went months all month, almost been like a, you know, was was a run into the bottle when shit was getting bad.

00;27;28;18 - 00;27;45;07
Unknown
And, now I'm just, like, in a better mindset. So I feel like this time I feel like everything happens for a reason. Man. God, just let me sit still. I'm about to change locations, like, you know what I'm saying? And get to a better, better state, better training and stuff like that. Everything's happening for a reason.

00;27;45;08 - 00;28;02;14
Unknown
I don't want you to leave, man. Yeah, yeah, I mean, I feel like I feel like, Jacksonville, man, I love Jacksonville. Yeah. I'm always going to be a Duval baby, but I heard you in the ring. Yeah, yeah. Duval. Yeah. I'm always going to be a Duval baby. But I feel like in order for me to to flourish and become the father I want to be, you know, I could be.

00;28;02;16 - 00;28;24;24
Unknown
Yeah. It's got to be outside of Jacksonville. Like, you know, it's because number one is the training. I mean, don't get me wrong, there's great coaches are here, there's great gyms out here. I just feel like everybody don't work together as we should, like, you know, as a as a make community and, getting everybody under one roof, training, different gyms, like, you know, we have a lot of talent, a lot of good coaches.

00;28;24;24 - 00;28;43;16
Unknown
But I just feel like I just need it every every great fighter, different levels to different levels. And I go and I go out to Vegas. I hit the UFC and media, like, there was ahead of us. They're like light years ahead of us, like, you know, and it's just like, you just got to go out. I mean, if you yeah, you got the opportunity.

00;28;43;16 - 00;29;13;06
Unknown
I mean, yeah, I do like, you know, so I got to take advantage because I mean, just, you know, like I say, watching watching your fights, I mean, I know, I know the talent. Yeah, yeah. And I got, I got there just with my hands and, you know, and, and and I haven't been able to even show like I got a few submission wins, but I haven't even got to fully show my wrestling to show my, my, my, my grappling, like, you know, and one of the main reasons because my knee, like, yeah, let let my last fight, I wanted to take him down so bad, but I was so scared to blow my knee

00;29;13;06 - 00;29;33;27
Unknown
out, like, you know what I'm saying? So I was like, I'm looking for like that. Yeah. I mean, yeah, at that level, you need all your tools. And like, I'm looking forward to to again the surgery, rebuilding myself back up, going out there getting the best. Come in. You'll make it. Yeah, yeah I know mean it came to a point was like I'm either going to let my talent.

00;29;34;00 - 00;29;52;21
Unknown
Yeah no not get to where I know it could be. Or I could just take them sacrifices because I have these opportunities and and make the most of it again. No. That's awesome. And it sucks because, like, you leave your family, your friends behind and and a bunch of you comfortable here, that's another thing. A lot of people just get comfortable.

00;29;52;23 - 00;30;14;11
Unknown
Yeah. Like, you know, so the comfort of you for any anything like any in business, that's what I. Yeah. Tell my team all the time I like it doesn't matter how successful you are when it like you get complacent. It's done. It's done. It's that's that's that's your max. Like, you know, that's that's all you ever be. And, I don't ever want to be comfortable again.

00;30;14;11 - 00;30;32;09
Unknown
I'm scared to be uncomfortable. Yeah. And I find myself being comfortable sometimes. Yeah. You know, and every time I leveled up was because I put myself in an uncomfortable position or situation, like, you know, and, So I'm looking forward to that. Like, and I'll be telling my friends all the time, like, bro, like you just comfortable, man.

00;30;32;11 - 00;30;50;12
Unknown
I don't get off because I can't. Yeah, I'm the same. I'm the same way. I mean, I, I, you know, my motor runs, I can't I can't sit still once I start sitting still, it's, it's not good. And it is weird because people respond like, a lot of people be having FOMO, the fear of missing out, like, not miss.

00;30;50;12 - 00;31;10;05
Unknown
No, not the man. Every time my left came back is the same people doing the same shit like, you know, so it's like you go do something with your life. So, you talked a little bit about your brother. Yeah, yeah. And, I'm sorry to. Yeah, yeah. Hear that? And, and I know he was, you guys were close for part of your life.

00;31;10;05 - 00;31;27;16
Unknown
And so you talked about, you know, that was. That was your thing. You were going to. His name's Gabriel. Yeah, yeah. Gabriel. So, Gabriel, you're going to, you know, you wanted to get the UFC for him. And then, I mean, there was a video that went viral. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, yeah, I mean, that's do when I saw that.

00;31;27;16 - 00;31;58;01
Unknown
Just knowing you a little bit. Yeah. Like whatever, brother in this world, man. Because the like I was saying, like that happened like when, when I was like, getting in a better mindset. I was so narrow that that that whole last year I was like shit for me because I was getting ready to fight in Manchester in July, I was going to Manchester to fight and two weeks before the fight, this one made my knee like ten times worse.

00;31;58;04 - 00;32;19;12
Unknown
Two weeks before that fight in July, we were grappling because the guy was a grappler and and the guy was grappling, man. Just just, like, dove at my knee. And I thought, I pop like, you know, I thought I was, like, completely too. Yeah. And, knee swelled up. I had to get goddamn. All right. That's when we found out I was even, like, doing that.

00;32;19;12 - 00;32;41;15
Unknown
And to me, like, I've been fighting because it been giving me problems. Had the poor from that fight come back that week and I got shot at. I was supposed to be at Manchester. Yeah. Like, you know. So, I'm at my mom's house. My brother, my mom was going back and forth about him going out to get diapers, and I'm like, yo, I think I got diapers for my nephew in my trunk.

00;32;41;17 - 00;32;57;13
Unknown
And you go outside to see. And ever since my brother passed away, you know, he got he, he passed away due to gun violence as well. I'm always like, aware of my surroundings and what's going on. Yeah, and I'm walking outside. I see the car, like, creeping up, and I'm like, fuck. Like, you know what I'm saying?

00;32;57;13 - 00;33;18;10
Unknown
Like, all right. And, I already had that feeling something was going to happen. I started turning, I had a feeling of going back in the house, but I'm so dumb, bro, because, like, I had a feeling going back in the house when I fucked that one little, bitch. I know, it's like, you know, and, walked in my car, but open my trunk first light to see what there's going to do, and I start slow and knock.

00;33;18;10 - 00;33;32;25
Unknown
I knew my gun was in the car, and that's when it started shooting. That's why I reacted so quick. I already had the feeling something was going to happen. Whatever they soon. I'm not going to lie, man. It was like the longest, like 10s of my life. Like I literally sat there. I was like, this is exactly what I said to myself.

00;33;32;25 - 00;33;49;24
Unknown
I said, fuck, I'm rather die. And then I got out of nowhere. I was like, fuck, I'm doing. I'm about to let them kill me. So I ended up grabbing my gun. But I'm waiting. Issuing in the field like this forever. Like I'm trying to find a way to pop. Like trying to find a perfect time to pop out and,

00;33;49;27 - 00;34;03;23
Unknown
And got quiet. Something like they trying to run me down or whatever. And I ended up popping up here, and I seen them getting in the car. That's when I start shooting back. But it was like, totally unexpected. Like, you know, I don't bother nobody. This where was give me pistol to do, like, what is he doing to me at your mom's house.

00;34;03;24 - 00;34;21;29
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're like, what are you doing to piss people off? But he must be in the street still doing this? Is that like, No. Everybody knows me. They got nothing bad to say about me. I know for people over, I don't bother nobody. Mall loan spell. I'm all about spreading love to run on. It had nothing to do with me.

00;34;22;02 - 00;34;42;23
Unknown
I ended up finding why it happened and stuff, but it had nothing to do and I was just at the wrong place, wrong time. And they seen me like, you know what I'm saying? They're like, oh, there he goes, at least, like, you know what I'm saying? And, but whatever, you know, and that's when I knew my mindset was changed because after that happened, I got in the car, you know, my wife is freaking out.

00;34;42;23 - 00;35;03;15
Unknown
You know what we're going to do? Well, we I'm like, I'm going to be all right. Like, if it was my time to go, that would have been it. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, we're going to be fine. And then she's like, how would you say that? And it was just weird because I remember ducking down and like, yeah, I'm, I'm going to die for, like, something was like, covering me, like, you know, like, I feel like some something was like.

00;35;03;17 - 00;35;22;10
Unknown
It was weird, man. But, But yeah, man, I was wild. And then I had to deal with that. And when, my manager flew me out to California for a few weeks of chilled out there, came back, and I was like, going to fight again. Like, I need money. Like, this is what this is the whole reason why I got to the UFC.

00;35;22;10 - 00;35;36;10
Unknown
I need to get some money. And they were trying to do the surgery. I was like, I gotta it's about Christmas time. And so I've been dealing with all that last year like, you know, and and I was, you know, that's. Yeah, I mean that's, that's a lot to deal with other than just. Yeah, just train like the knee.

00;35;36;12 - 00;35;52;07
Unknown
The knee is like, even if they can't run because it was like, that's like, I like that's when it happened. Like, you know, some money was like super swollen and stuff like. So this, Yeah, it was a wild ending of my year last year. But, I'm looking forward to this year. So what's it with? And I'm sorry that happened.

00;35;52;07 - 00;36;11;07
Unknown
Yeah. I mean, that was that was just me. I felt that's I awesome. Something bad for myself. When I got to California and, to be where I was expecting like, know the UFC. The my, my manager is reaching out to the UFC to try to help me and, Grant bro, how he asking people? I don't ask people.

00;36;11;09 - 00;36;29;11
Unknown
I don't reach out. He decided to do all of that. And, I was like, whatever you think, like, you know, and then, unfortunately, they didn't help, like, you know, and they got shot down. And, at the time he was, he was making this team help, hopefully, you know, so I'm like, yo, something might happen, like, you know, so when it when it didn't help, I was like, damn, fuck.

00;36;29;11 - 00;36;49;29
Unknown
Now what I'm going to do, like, you know what I'm saying? Because at the end of the day, like my mom with my brothers was gone. We're stuck in the same place. Like, you know, they, they felt differently. So at the time, for me, like, you know, I'm real, right? So ended up coming back home. Yeah. Getting things situated and ended up moving us out the house.

00;36;49;29 - 00;37;05;18
Unknown
But we were hanging out. But. That should just make me strong. I was going to say I just. You made me stronger. You're you're tough, dude. I don't mentally and and I'm happy to hear you help me. I'm happy nobody help me. Like, you know what I'm saying? Because it made me stronger. I made a way. I figured it out.

00;37;05;18 - 00;37;21;13
Unknown
Like, you know what I'm saying? And, they can never throw none in my face. Nobody can. Like they ever say. They did anything for me since I was a kid. Up to now, I did all this on my own with the little bit of support that I had. And, now it's crazy that I got a lot of support.

00;37;21;14 - 00;37;39;08
Unknown
And to be real is crazy because it's not from the UFC, is not from my family. Some people I don't even know. Yeah, like, you know what I'm saying? Which is wild. It blows my mind. But people really believe there's people out there that truly believe me. No doctor reach it to to a level that nobody in Jacksonville took it to.

00;37;39;08 - 00;37;56;15
Unknown
So I'm very grateful for them people. That's that's looking out for me and supporting me and, and, helping me along with my journey. You know, you, you're going to get there. Yeah, man, I know is at a point where, like, I feel like I've seen your interviews before, man. Man. I'm like, dude, you're going to be there.

00;37;56;20 - 00;38;14;28
Unknown
There is. There's a point where I was like, man, I feel like. I feel like I was never going to get there. And it's crazy because I'm just coming off the loss. Yeah, and just like, it made me more motivated. Like, it's like because I know I wasn't there 100% like, you know, and I know the truth behind everything.

00;38;15;00 - 00;38;27;29
Unknown
I just don't run. There's a lot of fighters. I can't stand this. There's a lot of fighters that will lose his run to the. And that's why they lost. Like, you know, I'm saying explain our loss because it is a loss because of that. Yeah. No I you sign a contract, you go in there. You lost. You lost.

00;38;28;01 - 00;38;52;23
Unknown
Yeah. There's no excuses of that. And I had a million excuses. And another thing like nobody I know, the week of my fight on mom's house got shot up again. Yeah. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, nobody will even know that. I made no excuses. I was dealing with that. And that's why when I went into fight two, I was a I wasn't like, fighting to win.

00;38;52;26 - 00;39;12;17
Unknown
Like, you know, I was I was fighting to highlight them to hopefully get that 50,000. Make a change for my family, get them out of there and fix things. But man that loss was the best thing that ever happened to me to be honest. Really. Yeah man. Especially like with the people that was around me where I was going in there with the intentions of doing things for him.

00;39;12;17 - 00;39;29;12
Unknown
But I was going to use the money for. And when I lost and things and it go my way, everything played out how I was supposed to. Yeah. Like, you know, I'm saying everybody show that you can't lose and that's what you need. Sometimes you learn more from your losses than your wins. And I rather me lose losing.

00;39;29;13 - 00;39;47;29
Unknown
That's good advice. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that is good advice. People will be blind to it like I first. I'm not gonna like that should with any of them. With me. I can't believe I just lost like, damn like, you know what I'm saying? And then days and weeks was gone, but things started getting exposed. I'm like, that's what.

00;39;48;01 - 00;40;02;01
Unknown
That's what I didn't get what I thought I was going to get, like, you know, I felt great other than money, but like, this is where I have been. And, now I'm just happy so that it happened, like, you know, I learned so much now only from myself during that fight and how to deal with a loss like that.

00;40;02;01 - 00;40;19;14
Unknown
The first time I ever went in there and lost a decision like, yeah, let me see. Like, you know what I'm saying? You going down to get knocked down, but you knocked me out or you stood me like it. And now he actually beat me. So I'm like, I learned, all right, I got to get this surgery, I got it, I got it, I got to get out of Jacksonville.

00;40;19;14 - 00;40;36;19
Unknown
Gotta start about my training again. A lot of it that were like the mental thing to like I was scared to leave. Scared? Even the people behind that thought care for me and and stuff like that. But now everything just gave me a clarity of what I need to do, like. And I'm. And I'm set on that go and I'm going to make it happen.

00;40;36;21 - 00;40;56;08
Unknown
It's awesome. Yeah. That's that that makes the in yeah. That's just good. That's just good advice. It's good because a lot of people would take a ticket. Oh or go to a problem in like and they'll just be stuck in the problem. Stuck there man. If you could just figure out how many people take losses every day.

00;40;56;09 - 00;41;12;24
Unknown
Yeah. You just you know, I lost lost my brother, like, you know, was the biggest loss I ever took. But so losing the fight or losing anything in life was like nothing to me. And this is like, okay, how can I get around this? What can I learn from it? How can I come out stronger? And every time I came, I even went through some shit.

00;41;12;24 - 00;41;29;02
Unknown
I always came out stronger, you know, whether I was in the right mind space or not, I ended up becoming a different person. You know? I'm happy I'm the person I am today. Like, oh, man, we're rooting for you. We are rooting for you. So, in, in on the on the family side, you got, what you get.

00;41;29;10 - 00;41;51;29
Unknown
I know you're married. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I got, I got, I got four kids, two girls, two boys. I love them to death. Man is like, my upbringing and everything I've gone through made me become a better dad. Like, you know, I'm nothing. How is nothing? How? I was raised, man. Like, you know, and kids live a great life.

00;41;52;01 - 00;42;14;22
Unknown
The kids live a great. And they look up to their dad and they. Yeah, they don't know what the hell is going on. They don't know. Are they know that their dad's a UFC fighter and that they're living a good life like, you know, so that's all that matters to me. It's funny though, because, like, you don't realize all your hard work until your kids show you that appreciated and appreciate what you do for them, you know?

00;42;14;29 - 00;42;30;25
Unknown
And my oldest is ten years old. And the first second he gets to brag about me, boy, he's proud. And of course he is. Yeah. So that makes me happy. Like, I was going to say that's that. That being a dad myself is like, man, that. And that's got to be the that's the problem right there. You know, as long as it.

00;42;30;25 - 00;42;45;14
Unknown
And that's the it can be the bad moment to as a father like you know when I lost me he took it harder than me. Like, you know what I'm saying? I have to look him in his eyes. But that that's an opportunity, opportunity for me to show him how to overcome that. Yeah. You know, and, I'm looking forward to showing that.

00;42;45;14 - 00;43;02;13
Unknown
And when he gets older, he'll learn everything I ever been through and gotten to the position I am today. And and I'm just happy they got somebody that they can look up to, man. Because I had nobody to live up to when I started this journey. And I feel like if I had somebody to look up to. Yeah, it'll make it easier.

00;43;02;15 - 00;43;19;18
Unknown
Yeah. Like, you know, I used to I was like I said, I was a big boxing fan. I'm like, you looking for me, by the way, I would never get right there. I'll never be like that. And normally I know I could. I could get to, like, you know, not just me, just building off the, the self-motivation. Like, which would you ever consider boxing.

00;43;19;21 - 00;43;39;10
Unknown
Yeah, I was, I was, I was, I was just on Jake Paul. Yeah I was just talking and I'm just different. That's different. But, but that's after my, my career. Like, you know, I, I enjoy I'm in May, I enjoy the UFC. I'm very grateful for them. And, but yeah, boxing is definitely not out of the out of the picture for me.

00;43;39;10 - 00;43;58;22
Unknown
That's something I got. And I want to do like soon. Like I want to make a little run in the UFC. Yeah, make my money. And then I want to make my little run in boxing because I. So that just being a I mean, I grew up a huge boxing fan Tyson you know, that was but I actually so I was in Vegas for Wilder Fury two.

00;43;58;23 - 00;44;19;02
Unknown
Okay. And did I feel like like it was like my transition there where I went, I was like, okay, man, UFC is way more exciting. Yeah. You know. Yeah. So and and it is the way the reason why the UFC is way more exciting is because the people yeah, people, they're wild directors. They're like, you know what I'm saying?

00;44;19;04 - 00;44;36;11
Unknown
And boxing, they more like classes watching. But what I love about boxing is that you live by the sword, you die by the sword. There ain't no take it. Don't get me wrong loving me, I love taking people down. The wrestling, the grappling, all that stuff. But, you live in and you die by that sword. So it's like, who's the best out of these two hands?

00;44;36;11 - 00;45;01;06
Unknown
Like, you know, that's what I like about it. Yeah. So, like, if you lose, you lose, you listen to the better fighter, like. Yeah, but, well, hopefully, I know, I know Dana Dana White's doing. Yeah. Just the two. Yeah. You just a little boxing promotion or something like that. Yeah. Because I mean, pretty much the, the, you know, the promotional side in my, in my opinion on a, in a fan's perspective is, I mean, it's it's been dead.

00;45;01;09 - 00;45;21;11
Unknown
Yeah. It's been dead. That's hopefully who they'll be up especially for boxing the promotions. Yeah. But like you know what I'm saying. But I'm pretty sure Dana White could take it to another level. Yeah. He has a lot of eyes on them. A lot of people know about the UFC. Like for instance, a lot of people do like, instead of saying like, do you do me, do you do UFC?

00;45;21;12 - 00;45;30;03
Unknown
Yeah, because that's what they know. If they know UFC, I'm pretty sure you can get a lot of eyeballs on it. Yeah, yeah.

00;45;30;03 - 00;45;43;17
Unknown
Anything you want. The people of Jax to know, the fans, anything. Because I've been I've. I've sincerely enjoyed our time. Yeah. Just getting to know you a little better. Yeah. I knew you on the surface a little bit.

00;45;43;17 - 00;45;52;02
Unknown
Yeah, man. You're good. Dude. Yeah. No. Thank you, I appreciate it, and I appreciate you for having me.

00;45;52;05 - 00;46;12;07
Unknown
If I could tell anybody anything is don't give a like, you know, there's a many times where I feel like it was over. I feel like, I was doing a bunch of nothing. I feel like all the work I was doing that time was for nothing. But if you just keep pushing forward, man, you never know what's on the other side.

00;46;12;07 - 00;46;31;13
Unknown
Like, you know, to all the young kids out there growing up, the neighborhoods that I grew up in, I mean, there's so much more to life. There's so much more out there than just what you see in your neighborhood. The UFC does show me so much, man. I've been to places I never thought I would ever visit.

00;46;31;16 - 00;46;52;14
Unknown
The. Don't introduce me to some of the greatest people I ever met. People I never even thought I would meet. Like, first that I met Mike Tyson, like, you know, really? Yes. I was like, if you just keep pushing, man, find a go. Find something that you want to do. Just keep pushing, don't give up and just know that man is is always something better on the other side.

00;46;52;28 - 00;47;10;15
Unknown
And Jacksonville has a lot of talent. A lot of people don't know about. And it's unfortunate that they don't do enough to, put spotlight on people like that. Like, you know, who might get a little shot at the news about it is more they could do, like, you know, but, but yeah, man, I love Duval.

00;47;10;20 - 00;47;19;12
Unknown
Awesome. Well, man, it's been pleasure rapping with you here. I, I appreciate it, and thank you for coming off. Thank you. Thank you for having me

00;47;19;12 - 00;47;33;18
Unknown
The Hometown Jack's podcast is recorded and produced by First Coast Mortgage Funding. Located in the heart of Jacksonville. Do you want to be our next guest? Visit our website at Hometown Jack's podcast.com. We can't wait to hear your story.