Veronica “V-Rod” LoCurto

This is the last weekend that the barber shop is open for the year 2012. That being said we have to go out with a bang and what a better way to start things off then to bring our girl back from Women’s MMA roundup (WMMARoundup.com). That’s right Veronica “V-Rod” LoCurto is back in the shop and with the recent events in Women’s MMA we have plenty to talk about. Of course we are going to talk the upcoming UFC Women’s debut fight with a title on the line. Liz Carmouche and Rhonda Rousey are set to square off in that history setting match and I can’t wait to get V-rod’s thoughts about this. Invicta FC is set to put their second title on the line and we have one of the sides who are set to fight for that belt later on the show. We will take the first hour of the show and talk nothing but Women’s MMA. Phone lines will be open for this whole segment and you know we hope to hear from you with your thoughts on the future of Women’s MMA and if we will ever see more then one division of ladies inside the UFC. Make sure to follow Veronica on twitter @VR0D and their site at @WMMARoundup and don’t forget to stop by their page at www.WMMARoundup.com

Carla Esparza

You thought C was for cookie, but it’s not! C is for Carla Esparza and Champ. Two things that are going to be said in the same sentence, if Carla has her way at the upcoming Invicta FC 4 card, January 5th. Carla is on a 3 fight win streak with the last two coming inside the Invicta FC banner. Carla is set to take on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Claudia Gadelha who is undefeated and knowing Carla that doesn’t mean nothing. The Cookie Monster is ready to bang and I am sure that the fact a bright new shiny belt is on the line makes it even more motivating. Did I mention that her last two wins have come by way of TKO, yeah Carla isn’t here to play games. We will talk to Carla about her training camp heading into such a high level fight, women in the UFC, how this fight is different then any other one in her career, and of course what her goals are for the upcoming year (Something tells me that the first thing on the agenda is to grab up that new belt). You know we have to talk a little Team Oyama and her amateur wrestling career. Make sure to follow Carla on Twitter @CarlaEsparza1

Myles Jury

Alright second hour we turn things over to the fellas and our first guest is a man who has two amazing facts to drop on you. The first is that he has been on two episodes of The Ultimate Fighter. That’s right, he injured his knee on his first appearance in the first episode and lost to Al Iaquinta on his second appearance. Regardless of how those turned out Myles Jury is still undefeated in his career and 1-0 inside the UFC and he’s ready to finally come up in the barber shop. I guess it would be important to tell you that every one of his ten fights has ended inside the first round (Like I said with his hand raised.) Myles is a bad man and we got him and he’s ready to talk his match up against Michael Johnson. We will talk to Myles about being back for his second fight in the UFC, the nerves of hitting the big show for the second time, and of course his training down at Alliance. We have to talk a little about Myles’ time inside the house twice, if he would ever do it again, and where he wants to end up at the end of the year. Make sure to follow Myles on twitter @FuryJury

Antonio McKee

Our last guest is a man who knows a few things about the barber shop and also a man who brings it every time he’s up in the shop. Antonio McKee AKA Mandingo, AKA El Negro is back and you know that means it could get more then crazy. Antonio is set to take on Shinya Aoki in a bout that was scheduled to take place back in 2011. We will talk to Antonio about how things are at the Body Shop, training for a guy like Shinya Aoki and how you look for training partners when facing such an opponent. Antonio is never one to shy away from the tough questions and usually brings them up on his own. You know we will talk to the current state of MMA with Mr. McKee, how things are going for him in CA with his amateur MMA promotion, how much longer we can plan on seeing him inside a pair of 4 oz gloves, if he is worried about going to the ground with Shinya. Antonio is a man who dominates in his fights and when you make him mad enough to turn on the switch someone could get seriously hurt. I’m going to be brave and say that phone lines are open the whole interview, all I have to say is get ready and make sure to follow Antonio on twitter @ElNegro01

This week it’s going down, our first guest is a lady who has been around the sport since the very start. That’s right I said the very start. Kathy Long is a name some of you may not recognize but if you watched UFC 1, you heard her voice. Kathy provided commentary for UFC 1. You may be asking yourself what credentials would a women need to call the first UFC, how about being 18-1 as a professional kickboxer, a black belt in Aikido, an 8th degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo, and this list could go on forever. We will talk to Kathy about how the sport has evolved and where she sees the future of the sport headed. Kathy has starred as Michelle Pfeiffer’s stunt double in Batman Returns, Kathy has also been inducted in to three Halls of Fame; Bob Elias’ Sports Hall of Fame, Inside Kung Fu Hall of Fame (“Female of the Year”), and the Black Belt Magazine Black Belt Hall of Fame (1991 “Women of the Year”). Did I mention she made her Pro MMA debut in 2009 and won that as well. Kathy also owns and runs her own school. We have plenty to talk about Kathy with and my guess 30 minutes won’t be nearly enough time to get it done. Get ready for an amazing interview with a woman who has been around the sport since the start.

Our next guest is no stranger to bright lights and exciting fights and at UFC 155 against Brad Pickett it will be another one of those nights for Eddie Wineland. Eddie has been on the show plenty of times and never disappoints with his interviews. Eddie’s next fight at UFC 155 has fireworks written all over it. We will talk with Eddie about the momentum he has headed into this fight after knocking out Scott Jorgensen in his last fight and how he sees this fight ending against Pickett, My guess it’s another Knockout. We will talk to Eddie about how things are coming along with his bathroom remodel, his dogs (in case you didn’t know Eddie is a big Pit fan and I’m not talking about the College.) Being on the cover of Bully America magazine, and of course his goals for the year 2013. With Dom out of the title picture for a while with an injury it leaves the doors wide open for a lot of fighters to shoot for that top spot and something tells me Eddie will be gunning for all the guys at the top of the weight class. Get ready for Eddie Wineland and make sure to follow him on twitter @EddieWineland

You want a Bad Boy, well we got your Bad Boy. Leonard Garcia is stopping in to the shop and it’s been way to long. Leonard is set to get back into the octagon against Cody McKenzie at UFC 155. You know when the Bad Boy is up in the shop it’s bound to be an interview not to miss. We will talk to Leonard about what he has been up to since the last time he was on the show, as I’m sure he has a story or two from the ranch. We will also talk to Leonard about what this fight means to him and where he goes from here inside of the UFC. With this being the last fight of 2012 you know we have to talk to Leonard about his goals heading into 2013 and where he hopes to be at the close of next year. Leonard is a fan favorite and there is a reason for that, he has fought some of the biggest names in the sport and put on some amazing fights. We will discuss his career and what his favorite moments are to this point and if he could have any rematch who it would be with. Get ready for MMA’s original Bad Boy and make sure to follow Leonard on twitter @BadBoyGarcia

Our last guest is ready to make history! That’s right I said HISTORY! All you Lizbos better get ready cause the shop can’t hold her and neither can the jungle The GIRL-RILLA is back in the spot. Liz Carmouche is set to take on Ronda Rousey in the first match in UFC history for the ladies. Liz is a regular up in the shop and for good reason, she is one of the sports most exciting ladies. Liz didn’t get asked to fight Ronda she asked for it. That’s right closed mouths don’t get fed. Liz is hungry and is also riding a two fight win streak coming into the match. We will talk to Liz about asking for the biggest fight of her career, how she has prepared for a fight like this, how the name Lizbos came about for her fans, and so much more. All I know is that Liz knows what she got herself into with this fight and she also knows what to expect when she hits the barber shop doors. I can’t wait to talk to the Girl-rilla and 30 minutes is going to be hard to fit everything in. I hope you guys are ready cause it looks like the ladies might steal this show like they were Ricky Henderson taking bases. Follow Liz on twitter at IamGirlrilla and get ready for her to make history in more ways then one when she steps into the octagon.

We are back this week with another episode of your favorite MMA Radio show and we hope you are ready. You know one thing we never do on this show is choke, but our first guest is a guy who will choke you and not think twice about it. With 6 of his 7 wins coming by choke, I hope you can protect your neck. Cliff Wright Jr. is stopping into the shop and we are thinking about wearing neck braces or turtle necks. Cliff is getting ready to step back into the Bellator cage and after his last performance you know the man is looking to pick up his second win inside the promotion. If you watched Cliff’s last fight for Bellator you know the man is not one with any lack of submission game. We will talk to him about training for his upcoming fight, how he got started in the sport, what his goals for 2013 consist of, training with the likes of Biggie, Koch, and the rest of the warriors out in Iowa, and so much more. Don’t miss one second of this interview and make sure to follow Cliff on twitter @CliffWrightCR

When you need things busted up you know you could always use a Jackhammer and that’s what we got in the shop for our second guest. Jared “The Jackhammer” Papazian is back in the shop and ready to talk his next UFC fight against Tim Elliot at the TUF Finale. It’s been a minute since we had the chance to catch up with Jared which means just like Jared’s fights their won’t be much break in the action. We will catch up with Jared about life and what he has been doing since the last time he was up in the shop. Jared is making the drop to the stacked Flyweight division and you know we will talk to him about the thought behind the drop, who he feels is the #1 man in the division, and how ready he is to get in the Octagon and go to war. Jared is not the type to do anything but bring it, whether he is on a show or in the cage and you know you shouldn’t expect anything less this go around. Get ready for a great interview and a fight that should produce some serious fireworks. Before the show starts get over to twitter and follow Jared @JackHammer135

Our next guest is a man who looks to finish all of his opponents whether it’s by making you tap, or making you take a nap. The only time he has not finished an opponent is in a fight where he had two torn ligaments in his hand. Did I mention he had the injury before the fight took place. That’s right California’s own Reuben Duran is stopping by to knock this interview out cold! Reuben is set to step back into the Octagon at the Ultimate Fighter Finale and I am sure he is aiming for another Bonus like he took home in his last UFC fight. We will talk to Reuben about his years of training, what made him decide to choose fighting as his full time job, where he wants to be at the end of 2013, and if he has his eyes on anyone in the division. I can’t wait to talk to Reuben about his early days in the sport where as an amateur he won Grappler’s Quest 6 times. Yeah dude is bad, I think that stat put that question to rest. Follow Reuben on twitter @ReubenDuranUFC

Our last guest is getting ready to make his long awaited UFC debut and it all goes down at the TUF finale. Vinc Pichel was supposed to make his UFC debut at the TUF finale last season, but when his opponent fell to the injury bug his debut was scratched. Well now Vinc gets a chance to finally step foot into the Octagon and I can tell you one thing I am sure the man is ready. Vinc was a part of team Cruz and has had some very exciting fights to get him to this point. Vinc is 7-0 as a pro and get this…. ALL 7 of his fights he has won by KO!!! If that stat doesn’t get you excited to watch this man scrap at the finale, you might as well just stop reading this now. We will talk to Vinc about finally getting his debut shot, having hands made of concrete, training at Alliance, and trust me there is way more to talk to Vinc about. If anyone gets to turn the lights out in the shop this week I think we found our closer. Follow Vinc on twitter @FromHellPichel

We are back in the shop this week for show 167 and the shop is packed with some huge names. Our first guest is a man who has worked for ESPN and now calls the UFC home. Jon Anik is opening up the show and we will be talking to Jon about how he got his start covering MMA for ESPN, the day he got the offer to come on board and work for the UFC, and his thoughts on where the sport is heading, and plenty more from his time working for Bellator, and being a movie star. We are going to have Jon for a limited amount of time but you know we are going to cram things in the way only we can. Get ready for one of the biggest names in the sport when it comes to media and commentating and we got him for yall. Follow Jon on twitter @Jon_Anik

Our second guest is a man who is ready to get back in the cage in a match that should provide fireworks for all you fans as he is taking on Yves Edwards. That’s right Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens is back on the show and we have plenty to talk about. Jeremy is a guy that we have kept a close eye on since the start of his UFC career and if you know one thing about the man, he loves to lay his hands on people. Jeremy is one of those guys that always bring an exciting fight and leaves it all in the cage. We will talk to Jeremy about his recent move to Alliance Training Center, how his game has improved, and of course getting the chance to keep Yves as his opponent. Jeremy started his MMA career at 16 and has been going strong ever since. We will talk to Jeremy about the Fill The Cage For Kids event that is going on at Alliance and how you can help fill the cage. Tune in for your helping of Lil Heathen and make sure to follow him on twitter @LilHeathenMMA

It would only be right to bring another killer on the show after Jon, so we decided to bring the man who will put your lights out for good The Mexicutioner. Joey Beltran is back and if you didn’t know Joey loves the kids, so you know we have to talk about that cage that Alliance is asking for you to help fill for the kids. We will talk to Joey about what he has been up to since the last time he was on the show, how things are staying at 205, and of course his upcoming fight. Joey was set to take on Anthony Perosh, but injury changed that. Joey is now going to be facing Igor Pokrajac at UFC on FX 6. We will talk to Joey about his camp for this fight, if he has his eyes on any one fight inside the 205 lb. weight class, and if he has any type of camps coming up for the kids in the Southern California area. Joey is a favorite of the show cause he is a real kat with some real goals outside of the cage. Don’t miss an interview with one of the hardest hitting men in the 205 weight class with a chin of steel, but a heart made of gold. Make sure to follow Joey on twitter @Mexicutioner760

Alright boys and girls it’s time to get back to the normal grind of the shop as we have both our main guys back this week. It looks like Denny and Uly didn’t burn down the shop last week, so it’s back to the grind.

Our first guest is a man that has been in the sport for quite some time and fought the biggest names. So let me be honest and just give you the truth. Yeah that’s right Brandon “The Truth” Vera is kicking off show 166 and you know that means the show is going to be packed with talent. We will be talking to Brandon about the toy drive that is going on at Alliance, it’s called Fill The Cage. Trust me Brandon is one of the hardest hitters and biggest names in the game, but he’s a big name that gives back with a big heart. Brandon is coming off one of the best performances of his career against Shogun Rua. We will talk to Brandon about his amazing career and the time that he has spent in the sport, being part of one of the best teams in the world, watching his teammates become big names in the sport, and the future for the truth. I can’t wait to talk to Brandon and I would suggest you all follow him on twitter @Verafied

Our second guest is taking us to the Gutter, and the gutter is part of Bellator. No, I don’t mean the gutter where trash lies, I mean the Gutter that lays out trash… Matt Van Buren is stopping in to the shop and this is a man I am excited to talk to. We will talk to Matt about getting the call to fight for Bellator three fights ago, how he got into the sport, tasting his first defeat and how hungry he is to get back in the cage to get back in the winning circle, and much more. Matt can turn your lights out like he works for General Electric or he can make you tap on the mat, either way you know if he’s standing across the cage from you he’s looking to get that win. Follow Matt on twitter @GutterMMA

Okay it’s time for the show to get pretty, and get a little devilish. Michele “Diablita” Gutierrez is back on the show and it’s been way to long. We will talk to Michele about how her time in SoCal has been and working with the team down at Alliance. Michele is set to take on Felice Herrig inside the Bellator cage December 14. We will talk to Michele about the rematch and fighting someone she used to be friends with. This fight has had some trash talk already laid out leading up to the fight. You know we don’t really dig trash talk on this show but we will talk to Michele about the emotions she has leading up to this fight, her future in the sport, and what it means to be stepping into the Bellator cage. Follow Michele on twitter @MGutierrezlv

Last but not least is a man that simply goes by GC! Well at least that’s what we call him on the show. George Castro is back on the show, but this time we aren’t really trying to talk the fight game. We are ready however to talk about the gym. Alliance houses some of the best fighters in the world, yet we don’t want to talk about the fighters. We want to talk about the CAGE and how you can help fill it. That’s right you have heard of coats for kids, or the boots that get filled with money, but what can MMA fans do to help kids for Christmas? You can fill the cage! As we lead up to the holidays there is no better way to end show 166, then to inform you of an amazing opportunity to help those less fortunate. Follow George on twitter @GeorgeCastroMMA and don’t forget to FILL THE CAGE!!!

This week kicks off another first for this show. Anton the main host inside the barber shop,is out for the week and left Denny the keys. You know Denny wouldn’t kick it alone inside the shop so he called up our boy Ulysses “Useless” Gomez. So get ready for what we can only imagine to be a crazy night with the Mad One and Useless as they run the shop for one night.

The first guest for the boys this week is none other then Eric Coleman. That’s right the boys got the man behind the lens for Bellator Fighting Championship. The boys will get the chance to sit down and talk the most recent Bellator scraps and of course talk the rest of the year for Bellator and some of the fights that Eric will get a chance to capture with his amazing talent behind the camera. They will talk to Eric about how he got into the business and what brought him into the world of MMA. Eric will talk about his favorite fights to this date, working with two of the best looking ring girls in the business, and hanging with the likes of Jimmy and Manny. You know we have to discuss with Eric the future of Bellator and what he thinks 2013 holds for the company. Eric recently just made a move so you know we have to talk to him a little about that, regardless of the fact that he is rarely at home with the schedule he keeps for Bellator. Make sure to follow Eric on twitter @E_Coleman

You know Drew had to set something special up for the guys and they got it with the last guest, Jade Bryce is back in the shop. If you don’t know Jade, you are missing out.Jade is the girl rocking the cards between rounds for Bellator. Jade is a great guest and a girl who not only is pretty, but she’s got a brain on her as well and I hope the guys are ready. We will talk to Jade about her adventures with the Bellator crew like Eric and the rest of the guys and her partner in crime Mercedes. You know Bellator is giving you the option to vote for who will be fighting in the upcoming 170 lb. tourney, so we have to ask if she’s voting. The world will get a chance to see Jade on Spike TV coming soon and of course I am sure she is excited, but you know we will ask her. Jade is always posting something witty on her Instagram and twitter and I don’t doubt that this interview will be just the same. Hope you’re ready for the fellas and one of the best parts of Bellator.Follow Jade on twitter @thejadebryce

Erik Koch is back in the shop and he’s ready to talk all about his next match up, Frankie Edgar taking his shot at the title, who he would rather fight for the title, and how he feels about having to fight again before he gets his title shot. You know we will talk some food and of course what Erik has been up to since the injury. I hear his new favorite exercise is pull ups. Follow Erik on twitter @Newbreed04

Next up is a man that I think is one of the best talents outside of the UFC and one I have no doubt will be fighting in the UFC soon. Dakota Cochrane is in the shop and I can’t wait to talk to him about his career and of course his most recent wins. Dakota is the only fighter signed to RFA that has fought on every RFA card, and after his latest win I hope we see him on RFA 5. Dakota was undefeated as an amateur and won his first 4 fights as a pro. We will talk to him about being signed to the RFA, losing his first two fights, but coming back to wreck shop as of late. You know we have to talk to him about fighting and beating Jamie Varner on 4 days’ notice. It’s not often that I get excited about talking to fighters, but this is one interview I am pumped for. Dakota is the fighter that I am telling you to keep an eye on this next year and make sure to tune into the show to get to know Dakota Cochrane and follow him on twitter @DakotaCochrane

The second hour gets kicked off by a man who knows a thing or two about kicking. Think I’m joking ask his last opponent. Chidi “Bang Bang” Njokuani is back on the show and it’s been way to long. Chidi is coming off a very impressive performance at RFA 4. Chidi was the first person to finish Phil Dace and you know we will talk to him about the fight. Chidi dominated the whole fight and as someone who was there live all I have to say is go Watch it. Chidi doesn’t need his last name to get him to the big show cause his talent alone will be enough. We will talk to Chidi about being signed to RFA, his goals for the upcoming year, and when he wants the call to the big show to happen. Get ready for one the baddest strikers in the game to break it all down inside the shop this week. Follow Chidi on twitter @ChidiBangNjoku

Last but not least is a man who has done so much for soldiers through his love for the sport. Todd Vance is back on the show and if you remember last time it was awesome! This time I don’t expect anything less as Todd has a lot more going on and we will try to cover all of it. We will talk to Todd about his work with soldiers with PTSD and how he is using MMA to help them find a new outlet. Trust me Todd is making moves like he owned a U-haul company and we aren’t the only one taking notes. Todd has been working on some very special things and I hope we can fit it all in, inside the 30 minute time frame. Make sure to tune in cause Todd brings it.

Our first guest is a man known in the cage, on the mat, and also on the big screen. Din Thomas is kicking things off this week and I can’t wait to talk to a legend in the sport. Din has fought some of the best in the sport from Jens Pulver, Caol Uno, BJ Penn, Clay Guida, Kenny Florian, and plenty more. Din holds an impressive record of 25-8-1 so you know we have plenty to talk about. Din runs two schools out of Florida and also holds the rank of Black Belt in BJJ under Ricardo Liborio. We will talk with Din on his time in the sport, his future, and you know we have to talk about being a big time movie star now as well. Make sure to follow Din on twitter @DinThomas

Our next guest is one of the sport’s most colorful men in the sport and one of the best guys to learn JJ from when it comes to putting it to use in the cage. Eddie Bravo is back and you know what that means, it means one of the best interviews you will hear this week is going down. Eddie does it all from teaching some of the best up and comers in the sport, to working with the established elite in the game. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is not a gym it’s a movement and one that has swept the world! We will talk with Bravo about 10th Planet, the legacy he is leaving on the sport, his time with the UFC, and if he would ever go back to work for them. The only thing you know when it comes to Bravo coming on the show, is that you never know where the conversation could go. Follow Eddie on twitter @EddieBravo

Kicking off the second hour is a man who’s undefeated and waiting on his call from the UFC. Steve Swanson is on the show and you might recognize the last name, but this big brother has made his own name and is waiting for his big opportunity. Steve is 9-0 and just picked up his last two wins in less then 20 seconds… Now you’re wondering what I have been, how is this man not in the UFC? We will talk to Steve about his current streak, what’s next for him, and of course what is next for him. This is an interview that I can’t wait to be a part of as something tells me that we will be talking about Steve long after this interview is over. Make sure to follow Steve on twitter @LilSteveSwanson

We have to close out this show with a huge name and it doesn’t get much bigger then Coach Eric Del Fierro. Coach Eric Del Fierro is the head coach at Alliance Training Center where some of the sport’s biggest names train out of. We will talk to Coach Eric about what is in store for the gym and his fighters in the coming year, and of course if he plans to open a third location. That’s right for those of you that didn’t know Alliance isn’t just holding it down with one location, they’ve got two and I can only imagine what else is in store. We will talk to Coach Eric about having to take care of not only two gyms, but also the stable of fighters that continues to grow by the day. You want the best, well we got him. Make sure to follow Coach Eric on twitter @EricDelFierro

Show 162 is up this week and we have two Phenoms back to back to kick off the show. The first has already been a champion of a major organization and he’s got his eyes set on becoming the champ of Bellator. Douglas Lima is back on the show and it’s been a while since we talked to Douglas. Douglas is set to take center stage of the Bellator cage at Bellator 79 against Kobe Ortiz. Douglas was the winner of the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament, so you know we have to talk his journey through the ranks and if he is planning on trying to get back into the next tournament. We will talk Douglas’ career as there is so much to talk about from his WEC debut that never happened, his time in the MFC and becoming the champ, and now his goal of taking the belt from Ben Askren inside of Bellator. You don’t want to miss the start of the show as Douglas always brings it when he is in the barber shop. Make sure to follow Douglas on twitter @PhenomLima

I told you that we had two Phenoms back to back, so that means only one thing. Sergio Pettis is back in the shop and the kid knows a thing or two about winning fights. He is set to take on Jimmy Jones at RFA 4. This is all about Sergio and we have plenty to talk about. Sergio just signed with the RFA and I can’t wait to be in attendance for this fight. we will talk to Sergio about how signing with the RFA came about and when he was offered Jimmy as an opponent. This could be one of the best fights on the card and I am sure Sergio would agree. Sergio has been thought of as one of the best prospects in the game since before he was 18, with a 5-0 record it would be hard to argue other wise. We will talk to Serg about the pressure people have put on him since the start of his career, how far off he thinks he is from the big show, what 2013 holds in store for him, and of course we have to talk a lil about his goals in the sport, and much more. Follow Sergio on twitter @SergioPettis and get ready for the young Phenom.

You want the Real Deal? Can you handle the Real Deal? Well we got it for you, Chris “The Real Deal” Beal is stopping by the show. Sometimes nicknames don’t fit, but this one is like a glove! With a record of 7-0 Chris might be someone that if he isn’t on your radar, you get him on there quick. Chris is coming off a decisive victory at BAMMA 7 and I’m sure the man is itching to get back to fighting. Chris is one of those guys it won’t be long until you see him in the octagon. Chris is doing everything he needs to do at 135 to get the call up. We will talk to Chris about his last fight, finding a home inside of BAMMA, waiting for the call to the UFC, and his future goals inside of the sport. With the potential that Chris has inside of the sport I can’t wait to get a chance to chop it up with him about how he got into the sport and if he thinks every fight is his biggest fight. You wanted it, so we brought it for you. Phone lines will be open all interview for anyone with questions for Chris and I hope yall are ready, cause the REAL DEAL is coming to the shop. Make sure to follow Chris on twitter @RealDealCbeal

With RFA a week away you know we had to bring on a man who’s packing the stands and looking to make a statement. Efrain “Hecho en México” Escudero is wrapping up the show just like he plans to do at RFA 4 against Tyson Griffin. Efrain has such an interesting story and career I don’t know if we will have enough time to fit everything in, with just 30 minutes. If you don’t know the man won The Ultimate Fighter 8, has wins inside the UFC, Bellator, has fought for Tachi Palace, and now is set to Main Event a stacked card for the RFA. One thing I can’t wait to talk to Efrain about is how he quit College to fight in the UFC, but went back to get his bachelors, just shows how smart and the character of guys we have in this sport. You know we have to talk to Efrain about what 2013 has in store for him, his goals in the sport at this point of his career, life outside the UFC, and his future goals after fighting. You know you can’t miss this show or this last interview. This has got us excited like Christmas morning, get ready for an amazing interview and make sure to follow Efrain on twitter @effyescudero

Music and sports are two things that go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly, like women and shopping, like MMA and Knockouts, and this week we have a man that has brought hip-hop to MMA. Mikey Rukus is dropping in on the show and if you don’t know who Mikey is get over to www.soundclick.com/MikeyRukus. The man has worked with some of the biggest names in the sport from Shogun Rua, Renan Barao, Renzo Gracie, Mark Hunt, Leonard Garcia, and plenty more. See the thing is when a fighter is walking down that ramp to enter the cage, they need to connect with the music blasting over the speakers. That’s where Mikey comes in, music is great but having your own song is that much sweeter. We will talk to Mikey about how he got involved making fight music, his love for the sport, and where he plans on taking this dream. Trust me my boy Mikey is good at destroying speakers and let’s just hope he doesn’t trash the shop to bad! Make sure to follow Mikey on twitter @MikeyRukus

The rest of the show we turn things to the best promotion in the North. Maximum Fighting Championship and you know that means it’s time for FIREWORKS! Sabah Fadai is a man that is no stranger to the show and no stranger to the cage. “The Persian Warrior” is set to step foot back in The MFC Ring and you know that means it’s going to be a fight. Sabah is set to take on Cody Krahn and this is a fight that I think will get fans ready for the main event, it could have been the co-main event in my eyes. We will talk to Fadai about getting the call to face the tough opponent that Krahn will be, fighting again for the MFC, the switch in weight class, and much more. Sabah Fadia has interesting story and we will of course talk about it for you listeners and fans who haven’t had a chance to learn about his past. We will also talk to Sabah about his plans for the rest of 2012 and where he hopes to be this time next year. Get ready for royalty and make sure to follow Sabah on twitter @SabahFadai

This isn’t SPARTAAAA!!! This is FIST-ta-CUFFFFF and that being said we have our own Spartan or a guy who could pull off the look! Joseph “Leonidas” Henle is back, but this time the man is looking to add a belt to his resume along with one more win! Leonidas is ready for the big time and with an unblemished record taking home the MFC belt to Cali is only going to be that much sweeter. Elvis Mutapcic is going to try and stop that, but the problem is I don’t know if a man can stop a train… We will talk to Leonidas about the announcement after his last fight that he was getting the title shot, how hard he has worked to get to this point, and how he feels about everyone that doubted him to this point. Leonidas always brings it and this time I don’t expect anything less. Get ready for some action come October 26, 2012 at the Mayfield Trade Centre, but before that get ready for some action inside the shop this Sunday. Follow the man who could be the next MFC Middleweight Champ on twitter @LeonidasMMA

You know that if we are covering anything MFC that we have to have the Godfather on. Mark Pavelich is back and rarely do you get a Mark Pavelich interview like the one we serve you. We will of course talk to Mark about the MFC 35 fight card in all its hype, but also we get Mark to break down the thought behind the main event and the belt being on the line. The rest of the card is loaded with Sabah Fadai making his debut in a new weight class, a Heavyweight fight that the fans are wanting, and even a co-main event that should deliver. Mark doesn’t follow the beaten path, he makes his own and this is one reason we love having Mr. Pavelich on the show. Mark has an amazing team running the MFC with him and we will talk future plans for the promotion and his team, when we will see the next MFC Belt on the line, and of course when you have Mark on the show you never know what direction an interview could go. So get ready, get set, cause you know Mr. Pavelich could Blow. Follow Mark on twitter @MarkPavelich and the MFC @MaximumFighting

We’re back and ready for another week. Show 160 kicks off with a promotion that knows a thing or two about giving you their all. It’s St. Charles, Missouri’s own Fight Hard MMA. We can’t wait to shed some light on a promotion that leaves it all on the mat with every event. They have had on some of Missouri’s best and the surrounding areas. We of course have to talk the life of a promoter and matchmaking, from fighters pulling out of cards to making sure that you put on the best fights that you can. I love having promoters on the show because we get an inside look of the fight game from the other side of the fence. We will talk their next event, and what the promotion has in store for the rest of 2012. If you’re not from the St. Louis area that doesn’t mean anything, because you might learn a few things about the MMA game and c’mon the name should tell you everything. If you ain’t fighting hard, you might as well not be fighting. You can follow them on twitter @FightHardMMA

If you don’t consider Team Lloyd Irvin as one of the best, if not the best BJJ team in the nation you must be out your mind! That being said we have one of Master Lloyd’s baddest guys on to wrap up the first hour. Jimmy “Jah” Harbison is back and you know that means it’s about to go down! If you don’t know Jimmy won the Grand Slam in 2011. What’s the Grand Slam??? Well let’s just say he won the 2011 IBJJF tournament season winning the 2011 European Jiu-Jitsu Championships, the 2011 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships, 2011 Brazilian Nationals in Rio De Janeiro Brazil, and the 2011 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt World Champion. So if that don’t speak for a resume, nothing will. Jimmy is rolling through to talk about his time down under coaching with Ross Pearson and Erin Beach on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes. Jimmy took over the job as the head BJJ Coach for Ross and you know we got plenty to talk about with this season and his decorated BJJ career, plus you know we have to find out if and when we are going to be seeing the man inside a cage and not just on a mat. Follow Jimmy on twitter @Sweet_Jah

Second hour gets kicked off by one of our favorite things in this sport, no not Bellator but Womens MMA! We decided to ask Veronica from WMMARoundup.com to stop by the show to talk a little about the current state of Women’s Mixed Martial Arts and where it’s headed. After Shannon Knapp and crew put on another amazing event at Invicta FC 3 and the recent news that Strikeforce might be folding, there couldn’t be a better time. Veronica knows a thing or two about the ladies and I can’t wait to get her thoughts on some of the things that have been going down as of late inside the sport with the ladies. From Dana White pushing Ronda Rousey, to Invicta FC, and even if think the UFC will have a women’s division. If you are a fan of the ladies, I would tell you two things. One don’t miss Veronica on FIST-ta-CUFF Radio show 160 and Two make sure you bookmark www.WMMARoundup.com Follow the ladies on twitter @WMMARoundup

Okay so what a better way to end the show then to talk some Bellator. The best apart about it, we are talking Lew Polley’s debut with the promotion. Lew is set to step into the cage at Bellator 77 against former UFC vet Carmelo Marrero. Lew fought earlier in the year at BAMMA Bad Beat 6 winning a split decision. I have a feeling we are about to see Lew come out ready to smash his opponent. Lew is most known for his short stint on The Ultimate Fighter; Dos Santos Vs. Lesnar, but knowing Lew he plans to use this fight to make you realize he’s a fighter not a coach. Lew is no stranger to the show and has as many interviews with us as any fighter in our five year run. So one thing you can be assured is that you will get the best Lew Polley. We will talk to Lew about being at Blackhouse MMA and Check Mat for his BJJ. Getting the call to fight for Bellator and the future for Lew in 2012. Follow Lew on twitter @LewPolley

Tick Tick Tick BOOM!!!! You should already know what that means, yep Tiffany “Time Bomb” Van Soest is back at the shop and this girl is blowing up! Tiffany is set to step in the ring October 13th, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV for the leading Muay Thai promotion in the US Lion Fight Promotions. Tiffany is one of the youngest and fastest rising stars in the sport at only 23 and in this fight she will take on a veteran and all around martial artist in Jeri Sitzes. This in my opinion will be fight of the night on this packed card. We will talk to Tiffany about her training for her upcoming battle, if she is still training for MMA, where her focus is with both sports, fighting for Lion Fight Promotions, and so much more. If you have ever caught Tiff in the Barber shop then you should already know it’s never a dull time. Make sure to follow Tiff on twitter @TiffTimebomb

Our next guest made his UFC debut on very short notice, but we aren’t having him on to talk about MMA, Ulysses “Useless” Gomez is stopping in to talk grappling. Speaking of grappling the man is stepping on the mat at ADCC and looking to take a neck or arm home with him along with a few wins. Useless is a beast on the mat and that’s why we figured it would be a good idea to have him on to break down the upcoming Metamoris BJJ event. I mean cmon you got Roger Gracie vs. Buchecha, Andre Galvao vs. Ryron Gracie, and five more super fights… It’s all submissions and it’s going down at Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA. We will talk to Uly about which fight he thinks will be the one to watch for sure and his match up that he thinks could be the one people are sleeping on the most. Get ready for a full thirty of ground game and grappling with a man who knows enough to carry it himself. Follow Ulysses on twitter @UselessGomez

BAMMA USA is ready to put on Badbeat 7 and if you didn’t know, one of California’s young up and comers is on the show. Nick “Nicky P” Piedmont is ready to scrap come Friday October 12, at the Commerce Casino. I know Nick’s nickname is “No Limit” but Nicky P just has a ring to it we can’t shake. What might get shook is his opponent come October 12. Nick is taking on Sevak ‘The Silverback’ Magakian and the experience might be in Sevak’s favor, but Nick has never worried about that. Nick has been training very hard for this fight from what I’ve heard and you know the man shows up ready to do damage when the bell rings. I mean look at his last fight where he put his opponent to sleep before the two minute mark of Round 1. We will of course talk to Nick about how training has been going down in sunny San Diego with his team at Alliance, how San Diego is treating him, and if the beach is a benefit or a distraction. I can’t wait to have Nick back on the show as it’s never been a bad interview and this time will be no different. If you are in the area get over to the Casino in Commerce and get ready for a show. But before you do that follow Nick on twitter @NickPiedmontMMA

It’s no secret that we love Bellator MMA here on the show, so why not end this stacked show with a man getting ready to step into the Bellator Cage on October 12. AJ Matthews is set to make his third fight in a row for Bellator, and the man is looking to make it a Hat-trick in the form of wins. Charlie Rader was on the recieving side of a vicous KO from AJ in his last fight, and I can only hope AJ plans to trump that win this time around. AJ is training out of Alliance and that means we have plenty to talk about. I can’t wait to get to know more about AJ from his time growing up and how he got in the sport, to breaking down his future as he is now 6-1. If you have ever watched AJ fight you can say the man has an intensity about him that is hard to match.I’m sure his opponents would co-sign on that statement as well. With four wins coming by way of TKO//KO AJ is a fighter you don’t want to leave the room during one of his fights. You know we have to talk to him about his submission game and if this could be the fight where we see him submit his opponent or if he’s cool with racking up another KO for the record. Phone lines are open all show and you know if you wanna talk to a man who could very well be a fight or two away from a title show hit us up. Add AJ to your twitter feed @AJ_MMA and watch out cause you never know when he’s going to land with his heavy hands, but something tells me that October 12 The BOOM is COMING!

Another week and another show, but this week is not like every show. You know that we love MMA, but nothing gets our blood pumping here at the Barber Shop like Women’s MMA. This week we have a special treat for you guys and gals, Invicta FC is taking over the show and I promise you it might as well be the fourth of July cause it’s going to be FIREWORKS!

Our first guest is the boss behind the promotion. Invicta FC’s own Shannon Knapp. If you don’t know about Shannon’s past it’s deep. Shannon has worked for King of the Cage, World Fighting Alliance, International Fight League, Affliction Entertainment, UFC and Strikeforce and you thought you knew MMA. Shannon started Invicta FC back in 2011 after the purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa. Shannon has created the largest female promotion in the world and it’s just in it’s third event. We will talk to Shannon about the journey to this point, the future and where she sees Invicta FC in the next few years, the struggles of running an all womens mma promotion. Invicta FC 3 is set to take place October 6, 2012 in Kansas City, Kansas. The card is stacked and you know we have to talk to Shannon about the current line-up and putting together some of the biggest women’s fights the sport has seen. I’ll be honest giving Shannon only 30 minutes is going to be a squeeze, but I’m sure we can get it done. Just a little fact for you, the term Invicta, a Latin word for “invincible and incomparable”, was chosen by founders Knapp and Janet Martin since the terms invincible and incomparable are very masculine, but the term appears in the feminine form in Latin, and they thought it was a good description for women’s MMA. Make sure to follow Shannon & the Invicta promotion on twitter @ShanKnapp & @InvictaFights

So we could only give Shannon 30 minutes cause we have three of the sports best finishing up the show. Our first guest Stephanie “Macaquinha” Frausto is back for her second fight for Invicta FC in what I think will be a banger. Stephanie is set to take on Amy Davis, and I can’t see this one being anything but entertaining. Stephanie is younger sister to Zoila Gurgel, and recently moved out to Ohio to train with her sister. Since the move she has already picked up one belt and dropped down in weight. You might remember her first fight where she lost a razor thin decision to past guest Ashley Cummins. Stephanie has improved her ground game since the move and it could be the key to victory against Davis. We will talk to Stephanie about the move, training with her sister, the fight against Davis, and so much more. All I know is that Macaquinha is ready for the fight and ready to leave fans with something to talk about. Follow Stephanie on twitter @StephMacaquinha

Kicking off the second hour is half of the Co-Main event for for Invicta FC 3. Sarah D’Alelio is set to take on Shayna Baszler and as an MMA fan I can’t wait to see this fight. Sarah is a Monster when a fight hits the ground and it’s no surprise why that’s her nickname. She sports a record of 6-2 with 5 of those wins coming by way of submission. I don’t see how this fight goes to the cards and if it does I’ll be shocked. Sarah is riding a two fight win streak and did I mention she has fought on every Invicta card to date? Ending both fights before the end of the second round. We will talk to Sarah about fighting for Invicta FC, her time in the sport facing some of the biggest names, and how much longer she thinks it will be until she gets a shot at an Invicta Belt. Get ready for The Monster and make sure to tune into her fight October 6.

Ocotber 6 will see the first ever Invicta FC champ crowned, and our last guest is looking to be the one taking the title home. Jessica Penne is set to take on Naho Sugiyama. Jessica has an amazing record of 9-1 and is looking to give Naho her first loss of her career. This fight is going to end before the last bell rings I would be willing to put money on it. Jessica is no stranger to Invicta FC as we saw her beat Lisa Ellis at Invicta FC 1 by TKO. Don’t think cause the girl is small that she doesn’t pack a punch. We have so much to talk to her about from her time in the sport, to fighting for the first ever Invicta Belt. Penne has always been around sports playing Softball and Soccer since the age of 7, she is no stranger to competition. She even tried out for the wrestling team, but was told girls couldn’t be a part of the team. Penne has been involved in the sport since 2006 where she picked up her first win by triangle choke. We will talk to her about how she got started in the sport and the journey to where she is now. From what I hear, a kickboxing class is what sparked the fire. Get ready for one of the hardest hitting 105 female fighters in the sport to drop bombs on the air and leave the shop a wreck just like she plans on doing come OCtober 6. Follow Jessica on twitter @JessicaPenne.

Show 157 kicks off with the alarms sounding, it feels like a Tornado is getting ready to touch down in the shop… I hope you guys are ready for this. Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres is opening things up, and you know how much we love to talk WMMA! Tecia is set to make her Pro MMA Debut at Invicta FC 3, October 6 in Kansas City. She is set to take on Kaiyana Rain who is also making her pro-debut. At only 22 years old Tecia is one fighter to keep your eye on. Tecia started her Martial arts career with Karate and continued until recieiving her black belt. Did I mention she had 7 amateur MMA fights and 20 amateur Muay Thai fights. This might be her pro debut but she is far from a rookie. We will talk to her about what lead her into the sport of mma and how she even got fighting to begin with. It has to be a pretty amazing feeling to know that for a WMMA debut she’s fighting for the biggest womens organization out there, and you know we have to talk that. Get ready for a storm, cause The Tiny Tornado is here. Follow Tecia on twitter @TeciaTorres

Stepping into the cage might be one of the hardest things for anyone to do in their life, but overcoming PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by War is something no one should have to battle and overcome. Our next guest Todd Vance did just that and is helping others to do the same. Todd has a very interesting story and one that involves a lot of Martial Arts. Todd took his first Muay Thai fight at just 16 years old in the Southern Cali area and amassed an amateur record of 11-1. Todd joined the army shortly after High School and ended up joining the Boxing team and even became a combative instructor. He led a squad in Iraq on more then 300 missions, the dude is a real life G.I. Joe. To combat his PTSD Todd took to MMA. Did I mention the man’s life is what the movie Dear John is based off of? Well we will have plenty to talk to Todd about from his time in the service, using MMA to overcome a very tough condition, and of course how he is helping others do the same. Todd before we have you on, thank you for service brother, and I can’t wait for Sunday.

It was not very long ago that we had Shah Bobonis on to announce that he was going to be scrapping for the XFC. Well guess what it all goes down next Friday September 28 and I can’t wait! Not only is Shah riding a 5 fight win streak into this fight, but the man is 8-2 in his last ten fights. Inside the cage Shah Floats like a butterfly, with the mouth of Ali. Dude has no problem letting everyone know his thoughts on his fellow fighters and his thoughts on the sport. Shah will be taking on undefeated prospect Cornelius Godfrey, and has made it no secret he plans on making the night his night and giving the young prospect his first loss. We will talk to Shah about what it means to get a multi-fight deal with the XFC, his thoughts on his opponent and the match up, as well as how long he wants to wait for a title shot inside the XFC. I know we’re ready, Shah’s been ready, the question is are you ready? Follow Shah on twitter @ShahBobonis

Have you ever stopped and wondered how UFC fighters stay on track? I mean yeah they have coaches and trainers, but who runs the show? Well it’s our first guest, that’s who. Burt Watson is back on the show and ready. Burt is the UFC’s biggest hypeman and the man who tells every fighter “It’s Time to Roll, Baby!” Burt is not only in charge of making sure that fighters and their camps are picked up from the airport, he makes sure they are good from the hotel to the venue and every step in between until they hit the cage. (And you thought you had a tough job). We will talk to Burt about his recent time working in the UFC, his past and how he got to where he is today, and so much more. Burt is not only a great interview but the man doesn’t ever loose the hype! If you have ever wanted to know how the UFC runs behind the black curtain, there is not a better person to hear it from. Phone lines will be open for Burt his whole half hour, and you know Burt is always ready to ride with his Buffalo Soldiers!

Up next is a man who is no stranger to this show and one who is back for the fourth time. Reppin St. Charles MMA, Alp Ozkilic is dropping in to talk his next fight on Sept. 22nd for Titan Fighting Championship against Ray Grindstaff. You know we have to talk to Alp about the fight, being on AXIS TV for this fight, and of course I wanna know how they made him so pretty on the poster. Alp picked up his first loss in his last fight, so we will talk if this has made his game better and what her learned from that fight. Alp is an amazing wrestler and has a very bright future in the sport. Alp was even called out to Vegas to be a part of Team Cruz. I am sure we will find some time to talk about his time out here in Vegas and if after being a coach if he would ever enter the house as a fighter. Get ready for another solid one from Alp and follow him on twitter @AlpOzkilicMMA

Have you heard the proverb of the Gazelle and the Lion. “Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle… when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.” Well we have the Gazelle on the show, Walel “The Gazelle” Watson that is, and I can promise you that Walel is doing more then just running as he gets ready to step into the cage with a lion. Walel is set to step in the cage against Mitch gagnon at UFC 152. We will talk to Walel about the match up, how important he feels this fight is for him, and his current mental state going into this fight. Some are saying this is a must win for both fighters, so we will ask the tough questions. Does the Game plan change for this fight with so much on the line, do you play it safe or lay it all on the line, and much more. Make sure to follow Walel on twitter @135Gazelle

So it’s almost tradition here on the show to have someone from each season of The Ultimate Fighter, well this year we are going to try and bring you as much coverage as we can with TUF:The Smashes. Our first guest is known for his Dead Aim, and if you don’t believe me Google Erin Beach. That’s right we got Beach back on the show to talk about his time down under coaching with fellow teammate Ross Pearson on the first season ever filmed out of the states. We really don’t know a lot about this season and I can’t wait for Erin to be the one breaking it all down for us. We will talk about his time away from home, coaching a group of new guys, and see if we can’t get a few stories about what the coaches did in the off time when the cameras weren’t around. All I know is you don’t want to miss this and you should prolly get over to twitter and follow Erin @ErinBeach619