Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
Brendan Fitzgerald
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Top 10 Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Lando Vannata
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
11/17/22 • 50 min
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UFC veteran Lando Vannata joins Fitz Nation! We had a wide-ranging chat about his journey from BMX racer to combat sports enthusiast to UFC action fighter!
Included on the show:
- Lando’s gaming rig (passion for car racing, adrenaline of a race vs. the rush of fighting)
- Cancelling fight with Andre Fili (tumultuous fight camp, expected return date)
- Being mentally stronger than ever (battling depression early in UFC career, panic attacks, working with a mental coach, always improving)
- Normal upbringing traveling around the U.S. (loving BMX racing, huge influence of his father, becoming obsessed with UFC after seeing Pedro Rizzo vs. Josh Barnett on VHS) “Ever since I saw that fight, I was like, “Yep. That’s what I want to do with my life.”
- Why he was drawn to fighting (being the smallest brother, journey through wrestling in high school)
- Expectations of fighting vs. reality (the value of putting all your energy into one place) “I thought I was going to retire by the time I was 30. Now, I just have the mindset of breadth over depth.”
- Advice to his younger self now that he’s 30
- Balancing his goals with growing older (mindfulness, belief in oneself, sports psychology and mental coaching). “I think the best thing you can do for yourself is learn how to have deep-seated confidence.”
Fighting Nerd: An Interview with Caio Borralho
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
10/30/23 • 40 min
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Welcome to another episode of Fitz Nation as I sit down with Brazil's Caio Borralho!
Caio takes us through his evolution as a Fighting Nerd, revealing how he transformed his fear of confrontation into a badge of honor. With raw honesty, he discusses the importance of maintaining his authentic self amidst the glamour and brutality of MMA. This is a captivating insight into the mind of a fighter who views pressure not as a burden, but as a privilege.
In the final segment, Kyo delves into a less violent battle - the daunting journey of fatherhood and how his faith played a major role in navigating the uncertainties of becoming a father. He also shares his profound appreciation for Sao Paulo, a city that has given him so much and instilled in him a hardworking attitude. As he passionately discusses his ambition to become a world champion in the next five years, you can't help but feel inspired by this Fighting Nerd's cerebral approach to MMA. This episode is a treasure trove of insights, making it an absolute must for any MMA enthusiast wanting to understand the sport beyond the cage!
Dricus Du Plessis is campaigning for his shot at a UFC title
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
09/13/23 • 31 min
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Get up close and personal with Dricus, the South African sensation shaking up the world of mixed martial arts.
Dricus lays bare the electrifying rush he experiences in the moments leading up to a fight and reflects on his celebrated clash with Robert Whitaker, a fight that gripped the world and catapulted South African mixed martial arts into the limelight. He also shares about the burden of self-imposed expectations and the unwavering belief he harbors in his own potential. A foot injury that forced him to decline a fight offer also crops up.
Delve deeper into Dracis's future fight plans and the navigational challenges he faces within the labyrinth of mixed martial arts. We unravel the intricate balance between personal dreams and the demanding needs of the promotion. Hear how Dricus manages to embrace tough decisions while keeping his passion aflame. His readiness to take on grueling fights and his relentless pursuit of the UFC world champion title also form a crucial part of our conversation.
Finally, we talk about the possibilities of Israel Adesanya's rematch with Strickland and the factors that could sway the balance. Dana White's surprise at the suggestion of a rematch piques my interest and the implications for the sport.
Josh Emmett
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
06/08/22 • 48 min
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Full episodes of Fitz Nation are exclusively on UFC Fight Pass
Fitz is back with UFC featherweight contender Josh Emmett. The veteran from Sacramento is ready for his main event vs. Calvin Kattar in a high stakes match-up at UFC Austin later this month.
In this episode, Emmett discusses his upbringing with a single mom and older brother that dealt with addiction, how he found wrestling and what got him to pursue being a fighter in the UFC.
He also discusses his mindset as a fighter and one who is so clear on his mission to be a UFC champion.
He has never been closer, as he sits in the top 10 with a huge match-up on the horizon.
SHOW NOTES
0:00 - Intro
1:44 - Josh’s thoughts on the fight several weeks out
2:44 - Josh’s reflection on tribulations of the game and how he understands it’s his time now despite being 37
4:43 - Josh offers his thoughts on what it will take to beat Volk
6:47 - Talks about upbringing
8:50 - Connection with Dad
12:25 - Breaks down his usage of the term “tough” to describe childhood
14:35 - Explains his brother was murdered several years ago
15:25 - Why he fights
16:14 - Why Wrestling Clicked
20:05 - Talking about his school, which was almost 80% athletes
22:30 - How life changed going down a COMBAT sport as opposed to a regular sport
25:15 - Why Josh likes wrestling despite the grueling nature of the sport
27:25 - Reflection on his mindset before he realized athletic success
31:30 - Josh’s love for competition
34:03 - Josh admitting he doesn’t “like to fight”
37:40 - Viewing MMA as a job versus athletic endeavor
41:15 - Why Josh chose to pursue fighting
43:30 - What advice would Josh tell a younger version of himself
Drew Dober {repost from 2021}
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
03/10/22 • 50 min
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Drew Dober fights Terrance McKinney this week at UFC Vegas 50.
He is a veteran contender in the lightweight division and has spent time inside the top 15. This interview is from March of 2021, just before he fought Islam Makhachev. He lost that bout and then fought Brad Riddell in a Fight of the Night match-up later in 2021.
Now, he looks to turn things around and get back on track, something he has done before in the UFC and tells about in this episode.
New episodes of Fitz Nation will be returning in the coming weeks!
Bryce Mitchell
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
02/02/22 • 89 min
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Bryce Mitchell (aka Thug Nasty) is a UFC featherweight contender currently ranked #11 in the division and is scheduled to fight Edson Barboza at UFC 272 on March 5th.
In this episode, Bryce talks about his roots in Arkansas. He was raised by a single mom and his grandparents and has never met his father. From a young age, he loved competition but was a little rough for team sports like basketball. He was not the most talented, but he has always been the most fearless among his friends and was drawn to martial arts. After getting into MMA to learn how to defend himself should he find trouble, he instead loved training, competing and avoiding bad situations altogether.
Mitchell talks about his life in martial arts, being aware that coming from the country leads people to believe he's not smart, his distrust for the government, and his faith in God. We hit a wide-ranging variety of topics and it made for a memorable interview.
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Max Griffin is most dangerous when he's having fun
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
11/18/20 • 59 min
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Max Griffin is a UFC veteran of 10 fights coming off his biggest win, a TKO victory over Ramiz Brahimaj that produced a gruesome ear injury that went viral.
While he's been getting attention because of that, there is, of course, a lot more to his story. He was into martial arts as a kid before suddenly giving it up at the age of 13. Years later, he had an epiphany in which he realized he needed to be a pro fighter and be the best in the world. After weighing in as high as 237 pounds after working at a pizza restaurant, he has changed his life and won his way to the UFC. Follow Max on social media below and lookout for him in the Octagon in 2021 and beyond!
Here is the water video Max was referencing in the show: https://www.gaia.com/share/ckh6vkn8n001a0io2aaw69bhd?rfd=rR54yS&language%5B%5D=en
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Max Griffin
Twitter: @maxpaingriffin
Instagram: @maxpaingriffin
Follow Fitz
Twitter: @BrendanFitzTV
Instagram: @brendanfitztv
John Morgan on finding his passion and having the first question
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
10/07/20 • 58 min
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John Morgan is the lead UFC reporter for MMAJunkie.com. He was awarded the MMA Journalist of the Year award back in 2009 and is nominated basically every year. Fans know him for seemingly always asking the first question to Dana White at UFC press conferences, and for his noticeable blue polo shirt on press row next to the Octagon.
We talk about the Return to Fight Island and what will be a 5-week stay for him, why he started covering MMA after a successful career in the restaurant business and all that goes with covering MMA and the UFC.
Follow John below and always check out MMAJunkie.com for the latest in MMA news.
John Morgan
Twitter: @MMAjunkieJohn
Instagram: @johnmorganmma
Follow Fitz
Twitter: @BrendanFitzTV
Instagram: @brendanfitztv
#18 - Anthony Rocco Martin (aka Tony Martin)
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
12/16/19 • 78 min
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Check out the show on YouTube!
Follow Fitz
Twitter: @BrendanFitzTV
Instagram: @brendanfitztv
Anthony Rocco Martin
Twitter: @TonyRoccoMartin
Instagram: @anthonyroccomartin
After taking November off, Fitz & A Fighter is back.
On the eve of UFC 245 in Las Vegas, Fitz pays a visit to Rocco's hotel room to get the full story of the fighter many know as Tony Martin.
Renato Moicano
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC
12/01/22 • 55 min
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You can watch episodes of Fitz Nation exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS
Renato Moicano is back in the UFC lightweight rankings after his huge win at UFC 281 in New York City over Brad Riddell. His first round submission was impressive and then he added to the moment by one of the most energizing and memorable post-fight interviews of 2022 with Joe Rogan.
Moicano has been a pro fighter since 2010, quitting law school in his home city of Brasilia to pursue MMA full time. At both featherweight and lightweight in the UFC, he has been in fights with some of the biggest names, like Rafael dos Anjos, Jose Aldo, Brian Ortega, Cub Swanson, The Korean Zombie and others.
Included in this episode:
- how new popularity has changed Renato’s life (the value of learning to speak English)
- upbringing in Brasilia (his father’s strong work ethic, growing up in an upper middle class family)
- deciding to become a fighter instead of going to law school
- what drew him to fighting (street-fighting uncles, getting in his first fight at six years old, story of his first pro fight)
- the feeling of freedom in fighting (how his third fight propelled him)
- keeping his passion and joy despite the pressure
- reflecting on big moments in his career (Jeremy Stephens fight, losses, Brad Riddell win)
- developing his public persona (speaking in third-person, being called “Mohawk”, having a healthy relationship with money)
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FAQ
How many episodes does Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC have?
Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC currently has 161 episodes available.
What topics does Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC cover?
The podcast is about Ufc, Mma, Martial Arts, Interview, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education and Sports.
What is the most popular episode on Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC?
The episode title 'What happened to Ian Heinisch?' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC?
The average episode length on Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC is 52 minutes.
How often are episodes of Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC released?
Episodes of Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC are typically released every 7 days, 2 hours.
When was the first episode of Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC?
The first episode of Fitz Nation: Stories and Life Lessons from the UFC was released on Apr 28, 2019.
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