It's Time For Sports: Recent Episodes
Christopher Reive
City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman dials in from gym HQ in Auckland to discuss the plethora of fights - both local and abroad - he and his gym are preparing for right now.
Timestamps (approx)
0:00 - Introduction; on returning to Marvel Stadium to corner Junior Fa and Hemi Ahio
2:00 - On discussion over legality of Lucas Browne's KO shots against Fa
3:25 - On how drastically one moment can change things in combat sports
4:45 - On King in the Ring (Saturday June 11 NZT)
8:19 - An update on Blood Diamond
10:30 - On Carlos Ulberg
13:30 - On City Kickboxing no longer being a secret overachiever and now being part of the fabric of the MMA world
16:30 - On Brad Riddell v Jalin Turner
18:50 - On Israel Adesanya v Jared Cannonier
21:00 - On Alex Volkanovski v Max Holloway III and why Max Holloway keeps him on his toes
27:10 - On Kai Kara-France v Brandon Moreno II for the interim flyweight title
33:00 - An update on Dan Hooker
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Alexander Volkanovski's head coach Joe Lopez of Freestyle MMA dials in from Jacksonville, Florida ahead of UFC 273 to talk Alexander Volkanovski x Korean Zombie, Arlene Blencowe x Cris Cyborg II and more.
Listen, enjoy, tell your friends.
DISCLAIMER: Jacksonville hotel connection was not the greatest. Audio is good for the most part, albeit with a few sketchy moments. Bear with it - we did as best as we could.
Timestamps
0:00 - introductions, travel troubles
1:00 - On the team in Jacksonville, ft. Craig Jones, Brad Riddell, Eugene Bareman, Frank Hickman, Jordi Sullivan and so on.
2:00 - On preparing for Chan Sung Jung (aka the Korean Zombie)
2:55 - On Korean Zombie as a fighter and an opponent for Volkanovski
4:05 - How Korean Zombie became the next best option when Max Holloway had to pull out
5:40 - On Holloway saying he would serve as the back up if either fighter was forced out
6:55 - On possibility of UFC returning Down Under, and Volkanovski being a key factor in that
8:16 - On Arlene Blencowe's upcoming shot at Cris Cyborg's Bellator Featherweight crown
10:07 - Game-planning for legend of the game like Cyborg
11:42 - Demand for corners
13:42 - On City Kickboxing; Blood Diamond being his favourite
14:51 - On Volkanovski's growing legacy and the quest to be the greatest
Dave Wood of Integrated Training joins the show to discuss his work around health and performance optimisation. You might have seen Dave's face around as he works with several top New Zealand athletes including the team at City Kickboxing and Olympic surfers Billy Stairmand and Ella Williams.
If you're enjoying the content, remember to follow the channel.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction and background to what he does
1:50 - On advantages he is able to get out of the athletes
3:35 - On need for consistent evolution in MMA
5:06 - On working in an accessible manner
7:40 - On if he's ever worked with someone who can't visualise
9:20 - "the ultimate form of strength training"
11:46 - On why it's important for him to join the athletes in their work
12:50 - The best thing for a normal person to try to learn
15:03 - On the importance and value in breathing as a tool
16:35 - How he started working with City Kickboxing
18:40 - Any particular sport or athlete he'd like to work with?
20:10 - On WSL Piha Pro (probably not of interest to most of you but we love surfing in these parts)
21:20 - How to get in touch with Dave if you're interested in training with him (note: you don't have to be an athlete)
Newly minted IMMAF middleweight world champion Fergus Jenkins joins the show to discuss his recent tournament win and another notable world middleweight championship fight ahead.
Remember to follow us on Spotify and/or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps
0:00 - How it sounds to be able to call himself a world champion
0:30 - Feeling heading into his first major tournament
1:30 - Dealing with the unknown of getting back into New Zealand
2:40 - On his semifinal having weird scheduling issues
4:35 - Making his mark despite being a rather unknown entity
5:50 - On snatching necks
6:20 - Training with Karl Webber - early coach of UFC star Dan Hooker
7:34 - On his plans moving forward
8:47 - On fighters sometimes rushing into the pro game
9:50 - On media attention after his win
10:50 - When he wants to get back in 2022
11:40 - On the rise of MMA in New Zealand and Australia
12:55 - When he started training
13:27 - Adesanya v Whittaker II prediction
14:38 - Fan questions
UFC flyweight contender 'King' Casey O'Neill joins the show from inside the cage at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas to discuss her upcoming bout against Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 271 on February 13 (NZ/Australian time).
Remember to subscribe and rate. You can also find our content on Youtube here: https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps
0:00 - introduction
0:35 - On getting to retire Roxanne Modafferi
1:24 - On early days of her career and amateur game starting in rough fashion
3:08 - On moving to Tiger Muay Thai
5:00 - Apologies for being in the gym/discussing cuts (note: if you train, cut your nails)
5:37 - On training at Xtreme Couture
6:35 - Shout out Joe Benavidez
6:50 - Fighting with Eternal - being the first and only female champion down there
8:14 - On getting the call from the UFC
9:25 - On her dominant first year in the UFC
10:30 - On UFC 271 being an Aus/NZ showcase
11:50 - On being a "Scozzie"
13:05 - Why Aus/NZ MMA is having a moment right now
14:10 - On mentality throughout fight week and approaching the fight
15:24 - Plans for 2022
16:14 - On young fighters trying to rush to a title shot
17:23 - Dream matchup in the UFC aside from flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko fan submitted question
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Shuriken MMA bantamweight Rory O'Keeffe joins It's Time For Sports to discuss the upcoming IMMAF World Championships in Abu Dhabi. Rory will be part of a nine-strong New Zealand team heading over to the event, along with Shuriken teammate Ollie Schmidt.
Get your Rory O'Keeffe and Ollie Schmidt supporter shirts: https://www.rumblejunction.com/
Help support their trip: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/mma-w...
Catch the IMMAF World Champs here: https://immaf.tv/ (from January 24)
Timestamps
0:00 - On his most recent fight (at featherweight on XFC 54 in December)
1:43 - On why calf kicks are so effective
2:47 - On the preparation that has gone into getting to the IMMAF World Champs
4:02 - On having to weigh in every day during the tournament
4:35 - On the MIQ situation and why he won't be returning to New Zealand straight away
6:44 - On the IMMAF World Championship schedule
7:55 - On fighting in Abu Dhabi and the conditions over there
9:20 - On the opposition he might meet
10:13 - On travel plans
10:50 - On plans to stay outside of NZ and why other athletes in various sports might look to do the same
UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France dials in to discuss his bout against Askar Askarov on March 27 (NZT) at UFC Columbus, and a few other various topics.
A video interview is also available on our YouTube channel, which you can find here: https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps:
0:00 - On how the fight came to be
4:21 - On the flyweight title picture (himself, Askarov and Alexandre Pantoja having claims)
7:40 - On knowing he's going to have to do some defensive grappling against Askarov
10:45 - On running a marathon... just because (note: Jordi Sullivan is crazy)
13:25 - On Christmas in the States and holiday in Hawaii
16:42 - On Sport NZ helping get him into MIQ after his fight
17:20 - Who would you rather fight for the belt - Moreno or Figueiredo? - plus, some other predictions (incl. Adesanya v Whittaker II).
UFC No6-ranked flyweight Kai Kara-France dials in from Vegas to discuss his bout against Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269 this weekend.
You can now find It's Time For Sports on YouTube if you prefer to consume content that way. All platforms can be found at this link: https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction and feeling heading into fight week
1:38 - On pushing the pace
3:11 - On Cody probably getting a title shot if he wins
4:31 - On having fun in the fight
6:44 - Explaining why Eugene Bareman wasn't able to stay to be in his corner
9:00 - On having his support system on the ground with him in Vegas
City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman joins the show to clear up a few comments that have made headlines in the last week, review and preview recent fights, and provide a message for Robert Whittaker fans.
You can find It's Time For Sports on YouTube if you prefer to consume content that way https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction and recap of Brad Riddell v Rafael Fiziev
3:50 - Preview of Kai Kara-France v Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269
10:35 - On CKB striking coach Mike Angove leaving the gym to coach at the UFC PI in China
18:08 - Clearing up comments about Khabib Nurmagomedov; response to Javier Mendez
26:12 - A message for Daniel Cormier
28:15 - A message for Robert Whittaker fans
We shine a light on local amateur bantamweight prospect Rory O'Keefe ahead of his upcoming bout at XFC 54 on December 18, and helps us recap UFC Vegas 44.
You can also find It's Time For Sports on Youtube if you prefer to consume content that way. All platforms can be found at this link: https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction and recap of Font v Aldo
1:11 - The legend of Jose Aldo
2:00 - Bantamweight being stacked
2:40 - On Brad Riddell v Rafael Fiziev
5:10 - Stand out performances at UFC Vegas 44
7:55 - Local spotlight on Rory O'Keefe
8:50 - On having to take a fight up a weight class on short notice to get cage time
9:50 - How he found fighting and first experience inside a martial arts gym
11:30 - Fighting background
12:05 - Reflecting on first fight
14:30 - On XFC 54
15:50 - On competing at the IMMAF World Championships in 2022
18:40 - Plans
20:33 - Flying the flag for Scotland
21:40 - How family reacted to him wanting to be a fighter
22:38 - Advice for anyone wanting to try martial arts
23:10 - What he wants to get out of XFc 54 bout at featherweight
UFC No12-ranked lightweight Brad Riddell dials in from Las Vegas ahead of his co-main event clash with Rafael Fiziev at UFC Vegas 44 on December 5 (NZT; Dec 4 local).
You can now find It's Time For Sports on YouTube and Apple Podcasts if you prefer to consume content that way. Both can be found at this link: https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction and training during a near four-month long lockdown
1:00 - On how the fight against Rafael Fiziev came together
2:35 - On the hype surrounding the match up
3:55 - On starting faster
4:35 - On advantages gained by preparing for grapplers
5:54 - On the City Kickboxing group being able to get training in New Zealand again
7:10 - On not having to go through normal quarantine on return to NZ
8:35 - On having a ranking
9:20 - What the rest of the week looks like and walkout song selection
XFC NZ bantamweight champion Aaron Tau dials in to chat about his start as the first winner of a Dan Hooker scholarship, leaving behind a life in Australia to chase his dream and his upcoming title defence at XFC 54 in Dunedin on December 18 (NZT).
You can now find It's Time For Sports on YouTube and Apple Podcasts if you prefer to consume content that way. Both can be found at this link: https://linktr.ee/ItsTimeForSports
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction (yes I did have to stop myself from saying UFC instead of XFC)
1:00 - On holding a NZ pro title so soon in his career
2:00 - On leaving his life in Australia to try earn a scholarship with Dan Hooker at the Combat Academy
10:35 - On Dan Hooker moving back down to featherweight
12:40 - On what he noticed about himself in the rematch against Logan Price at XFC 48 in April.
15:57 - On making his MMA debut in a ring rather than a cage
17:28 - On upcoming defence against Nick Thornton at XFC 54
18:40 - Aims to fight on big Australian cards in the future to catch a few eyes
21:25 - Readjusting to New Zealand life from living in Australia for a decade
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aaron-Tauzemup-Tau-111514127435406
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Olympic bronze medallist, multiple-times Commonwealth Games champion and rising pro cruiserweight boxer David Nyika dials in from Morecambe, UK, ahead of his bout on December 19 (NZT).
Nyika (1-0 pro) has been training alongside Joseph Parker with Andy Lee and Tyson Fury. He'll fight on the Joseph Parker v Derek Chisora II card against a fighter yet to be named (more on that in the interview).
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction, how to say his last name, and settling in to the UK
1:08 - Why he linked up with Andy Lee
2:45 - On initial notes from Lee and Tyson Fury
4:23 - On Tyson Fury being a great bloke
5:50 - On not having an opponent confirmed yet for the December 19 card
7:03 - On if he has signed a deal with a promoter yet
8:38 - On returning to the amateur game for the Commonwealth Games
10:55 - On being the new kid in town and the drive that brings
13:40 - On Morecambe
14:45 - On Joseph Parker
16:15 - On Tommy Fury vs Jake Paul
18:03 - Who has given him his hardest sparring so far?
19:13 - On the art of sparring
22:16 - Inside the final month before the fight
23:38 - 2021 in review
In something completely different for the channel, MMA personality Boogerbeard joins us to talk about his persona, the power of social media and building relationships with UFC fighters.
To get your questions in for our fan questions sections, be sure to follow @ChrisReive on Twitter as the call always goes out on that medium.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction 1:10 - How things started with the Boogerbeard persona 3:05 - On developing more into an online personality 6:28 - On relationship with Israel Adesanya 8:20 - On UFC 263 13:00 - On MMA athletes making an effort to communicate with fans online 15:05 - On fights he would like to see 17:45 - On being exiled by Twitter for a few months 20:25 - Goals with the persona 23:15 - Conversations with Israel Adesanya 24:30 - On providing some positivity in the social space 25:40 - On wild comments sections 27:05 - On dinner with Chael Sonnen 30:17 - Fan questions
City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman joins It's Time For Sports to for a wide-ranging chat on all things CKB.
Timestamps
0:00 - introduction; on months of being unable to train properly
0:53 - On the situation in New Zealand for training and update on possible relocation of fighters
3:10 - On UFC 271 and if Adesanya v Whittaker II will be on it
4:41 - On preparing Brad Riddell and Kai Kara-France in lockdown
7:57 - On Brad Riddell v Rafael Fiziev (December 4)
15:55 - On Kai Kara-France v Cody Garbrandt (UFC 269)
22:50 - On who will be cornering Brad and Kai
25:38 - On Dan Hooker potential moving back down the featherweight
28:10 - Fan questions
You can find our full back catelogue of interviews on YouTube.
Dan 'the Hangman' Hooker dials in from Las Vegas to talk about his recent test cut to featherweight and his plans moving forward.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction and returning to New Zealand
1:36 - On test cut to featherweight (145lbs/66kg)
7:50 - What doors the ability to drop to featherweight opens
12:25 - Gatekeeping at lightweight
14:59 - On being in the same division as a teammate
16:23 - On loss to Islam Makhachev
18:13 - Plans for getting back into the octagon
19:30 - On City Kickboxing probably not having to relocate
21:35 - On cornering Brad Riddell and Kai Kara-France
26:40 - Fan questions
You can find our full back catelogue of interviews on YouTube, Search It's Time For Sports and you should find us from there.