00:00Now you're jumping in here against a guy trying to make his name off of yours in Rabadinov.
00:03You talked about how good he was.
00:05You know, you got to see him.
00:06I'm sure that gives you a good advantage than just kind of trying to come in here fresh-faced,
00:09not knowing what's going on with these guys.
00:11You were there.
00:12You saw the whole show.
00:12You saw him.
00:13Do you think you hold an advantage coming in here in the semifinals
00:16and not having to do the weight cut and all the prep that these guys had to do for the first round?
00:20Or do you think it's a disadvantage because, you know, you're kind of a late addition
00:23and not, you know, going through the fight camp before now these couple weeks?
00:27No, I think it's an advantage.
00:29I think, you know, I haven't brutalized my body in so many years
00:34that I'm going to step in there very fresh.
00:37And not only that, just because it's a short notice for me, it's a short notice for him too.
00:42You know, he has never fought somebody of my caliber.
00:45He's never fought somebody with my experience.
00:47And he's never fought somebody of my size, strength, and technique.
00:51So I definitely feel I have a lot of advantages going into this one.
00:55Plus, on top of that, I got nothing to lose.
00:58You know, this guy is the reigning defending champion of PFL.
01:04So if he loses to me, it's really going to set his career back a whole lot.
01:08And I think he's got more pressure on his shoulders than me.
01:11People have already forgotten about me.
01:13People have already doubted me.
01:14So I've got nothing to lose and everything to prove.
01:17And when you've got an experienced, strong fighter with that type of mindset, it's very, very, very dangerous.
01:24So I think this is a very dangerous fight for him.
01:26I think it's a very dangerous fight for him to take.
01:28And I actually respect him for taking the fight because it's not going to go his way.
01:32And, of course, you know, things in PFL are different.
01:36You know, they've always had the different format.
01:38Usually, you know, up until this year, it was the regular season.
01:40Then the playoffs this year, it's just a straight tournament they used to see with, you know, things like Bellator or Pride.
01:46And the best part, I'm sure, for, you know, all fighters is that payday at the end of the rainbow.
01:50It's not just what you get coming in each fight.
01:53You got that big check waiting a little less than previously at 500 grand.
01:56But I'm sure that, you know, still is a great factor to get you motivated, any fighter motivated, especially, you know,
02:01I know you when you left the UFC in 2023 when the big things you talked about was, you know, the pay and that you guys were, you know, kind of getting shafted.
02:08You said, you know, that I'm famous, but I still got to struggle, you know, to pay my bills because, you know, people know my name,
02:13but I'm not getting the checks that I deserve off of that.
02:15How do you feel about joining the PFL now and having that big check hanging over there to possibly get the end of this rainbow?
02:21You know, that was then and this is now.
02:25I'm a father now.
02:26I've got a son who's two years old.
02:29So, you know, you're speaking about something that I said two years ago.
02:33And one of my big motivations is to advance the sport.
02:37And I think for that to happen, the pay does have to be right.
02:41That's the only way you're going to get top level athletes to continue on the legacy of the sport.
02:46But for me personally, especially with my life now, money isn't really my prime motivating factor for this.
02:54It's mostly pushing myself, seeing who I am, and really going out there and proving to myself that I'm one of the best when I really put my mind to it.
03:04So I think that's really my motivation.
03:06I'm not looking forward to the finals.
03:08I'm not looking forward to the big payday.
03:11I'm not looking forward to the check or anything like that.
03:13My eyes are solely focused on this man and what he brings to the table.
03:18And what he brings is speed.
03:22He's very technical on the feet.
03:23I think he's one of the most technical boxers out there.
03:26And I can't wait to prove what my skill set actually is.
03:31At the end of the day, I'm a martial artist.
03:33And the martial art is above all.
03:36Yes, the pay will be great.
03:37Yes, we're in a sport.
03:39Yes, this is a business.
03:40Yes, this is, you know, you want to continue to drive the business and drive the sport to new levels.
03:46But for me, as an individual, I don't really care too much about it anymore.
03:52I've had nothing and still prosper.
03:56I've had everything and still prosper.
03:58So at my age now and my understanding of how the world works, money isn't a motivating factor anymore.
