O’Malley vs. Vera 2 🏆 Poirier vs. Saint-Denis 🔥 #UFC299 Preview Show With Special Guest MVP 😮‍💨

TNT Sports’ Adam Catterall, Nick Peet & Michael Bisping are joined by special guest Michael ‘Venom’ Page ahead of his debut Welterweight fight with Kevin Holland at #UFC299 in Miami, Florida.

Watch UFC 299 LIVE this Saturday from 1am on TNT Sports & discovery+ ▶️ https://get.discoveryplus.com/gb/watch-entertainment-and-sport?utm_source=search&utm_medium=paidsearch&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAh8OtBhCQARIsAIkWb6_KFUunXmr3j2OBifidMjHVdMKw4jHuf_ToxrSwzzVTPvNad5Ge7AAaAsDFEALw_wcB

Hit ‘Subscribe’ above to ensure you never miss a video from the TNT Sports YouTube channel.

From the front row to your front room. From the centre circle to your sofa. TNT Sports brings you closer to the live sport you love.

Get your Discovery + pass now to experience UEFA Champions League and Europa League drama, exclusive Premier League action, plus Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, Boxing, UFC, WWE and more ▶️ https://auth.discoveryplus.com/gb/product?flow=purchase

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tntsports
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tntsports
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntsports/
Website: https://www.tntsports.co.uk/

We’re going to Miami this weekend on TNT Sports as the Octagon touches down in Florida for UFC 299 in the main event it’s a rematch for the gold as the sugar Sha Sha o Mali looks to settle the score and make the First Defense of his Banton

Weight title when he takes on Marin cheito Vera in the comment event it’s a battle of hardened Warriors as Dustin the Diamond quer faces the God of War benois sanon plus the longer waited debut of Michael Venom pagee as he takes on the Trailblazer Kevin Holland usfc

299 Goes Down live this Saturday on TNT Sports and Discovery plus prelim starts at 1:00 a.m. with the main card from three welcome to fight week on TNT Sports and Discovery plus this is your official preview for UFC 299 I’m Adam catell it is a pleasure to be in your

Company and it is a pleasure to be in the company of these two gentlemen the one and only Mr Nick Pete and the Hall of Famer himself Mr Michael bisin and I’ve got to apologize to the per of you to start off the show gentlemen I tried

I had a word with wardrobe I said Lads make us look like characters from Grand Theft Auto it’s Miami week for crying out loud let’s get the Hawaiians out and he said Lads nobody needs to see that on the TV so Michael I apologize that we

Couldn’t make it happen before you met I didn’t get the m I wish i’ had known I mean Nick looks like a Granddad you look like some kind of young CH that’s about just been released with a tag on his ankle you know I’m I’m looking respectable listen this fight card this

Weekend is unbelievable people saying it’s better than UFC 300 who cares they’re both incredible fight cards and I cannot wait for this one that’s a sign of where the UFC’s at though in it Nick that everybody’s arguing which is the better card was it 298 is it 299 is it

300 it’s backto back Blockbusters from the UFC yeah what a way to start the year absolutely incredible massive title fights this one’s really got me intrigued this weekend cannot wait for this rematch between Cheeto and sha o Mali but let’s be honest a lot of the people watching this are watching for

One reason we’re here for Michael pagee baby Britain’s own Human Highlight real let’s go there’s been plenty of chat building up to this debut what is it going to look like well he’s going to tell you himself he’s joining us on the show a little later on to preview his

Fight with Kevin Holland but we’re going to start with the main event it is the Banton weight title fight it is the rematch it is the sugar show he is back don’t know what color his ha is going to be this week I’m sure he’ll have something themed up for the Miami people

And he is taking on cheito Vera a man that has got a victory over him already Mike it’s bubbling beautifully for his first title defense look this this one’s been bubbling for four years right the first fight we know what happened Marlon went out there kicked him in the leg hit

The peronal nerve dropped him put him down and then put him out with a vicious elbow since then sha oral became an absolute massive Superstar the skills have got better and better he went out there and beat the former champ Oran and then shocked the World by knocking out

Called Alaine Sterling with one of the cleanest right hands that we’ve seen in recent time and on the other side we’ve got Marlon cheito ver a man that is just getting better every single time we see him and he’s always looking for that knockout yeah he had a one against Cory

Sanden but other than that he’s going out there he’s knocking out the likes of Dominick Cruz a beautiful front kick to the face of Frankie edar also got the job done against Pedro Munos in his last fight so this is a brilliant fight it really is there’s contrasting styles on

One side you got om Ali who’s faster he’s Slicker he’s taller he’s younger and on the side of Cheo Vera he walks forward he takes some shots he maybe gets off to a slow start but once he finds his rhythm that’s when he starts

To do some damage and as I say with the with the personal beef with the history with this being the only loss on Sha or Mal’s record I’m telling you this is going to be something special going to be a great fight week as they build up

To this one Nick as Mike alluded to there the first time that these two guys met was during the coage season 2020 how much better is sha or Mali in that period of time to where we see him today I think it’s chalk and cheese for me he’s a completely different fighter

Yes he was he had the confidence and he had the swag back then but back then he was faking it until he made it right now he’s made it he carried himself like he was a champion he told us all he was going to be the champion but he never

Actually believed it no fighter actually does until they get there well guess what he got there he come he come back out of that Cheeto loss for five wins together went through P Peter Yan the former Champion that’s solidified as status as a genuine title Contender and

As Mike just said scored one of the best knockouts you’ve seen in this weight division against aljo to become Champion now he will have the confidence of a champion the confidence that he always pretended he had and I think he’s a completely different animal buto Vera

Mike how I mean you’ve been there and I know that it came at the back end of your career how much does a title win do for your confidence what does it do to validate what you originally thought in your head yeah I mean you just said the perfect words it validates everything

You’ve done throughout your career all the training all the sacrifice everything that you’ve put in your mindset your approach to mixed Marti lots and listen let’s remember om Ali is beautiful on the feet and I really mean that he’s really nice to watch and puts together slick fast combinations but

He’s got great Jiu-Jitsu as well he submitted takori git a man that has a world class ground game so he’s not a onetick pony but the confidence is a big thing let’s remember listen he’s had some great performances against people like Chris matinho and Julian piver

These are guys that aren’t at the top of the food chain so people were always saying oh he’s fighting easy competition well he kept up against Pedro Munos that ended because of an iog sadly then he goes out and beats poran that was a great fight poran at that time his stock

Was ridiculously high a former champion of course that beat some great Fighters and then tops It Off by knocking out Alain Sterling a man that’s defended the bantamweight title more times than anybody else am mandera just come off an incredible victory over Henry cejudo and

It wasn’t even close I think it was the second round if I’m not mistaken gets the job done that right hand it was absolutely perfect and that’s what cheo’s got to be careful of because om Ali is taller he is longer and with respect to Cheeto because we’re good

Friends he’s faster and he’s smart he’s he’s got excellent footwork the combinations that he has the way he cuts angles the way he moves around the Octagon that’s going to be cheo’s problem can he get on the inside and can he defeat the speed of sha noral because

If he doesn’t make something happen as the fight’s progressing then sha noral is just going to pick him apart on the outside he’s going to dance around the octagon and make it a very very frustrating night for him I asked you the question Nick as to

Where shaali is now in 2024 where do you think Cheeto is now in 2024 compared to where he was in 2020 has he peaked already or is he still in the middle of that Peak we just don’t know you know he’s since that om Ali fight while om

Al’s gone on this unbeaten run he’s obviously gone five- two the fight straight after he lost against Jose Aldo no shame there one of the best that’s ever done it and then not too long ago he lost the split decision last year to codyy sandhagen as well so there is the

Rivalry there he has got that back story with Ali which is no doubt why he jumped ahead of the queue here to get this opportunity but cheo’s listen he did it the first time so in chito’s mind he can absolutely do it the second time when

You go back and watch that first fight sha is lighting them up with kicks kicking him From Here There and Everywhere te kicks leg kicks thr yard high kick and Cheeto as usual bit of a slow starter can only just get going but after two minutes of Taken kicks Cheo

Throws one leg kick that lands and busts sha Al’s leg completely and utterly spasms out on the nerve Shawn basically can’t continue eventually collapses and cheito gets the job done that’s the only takeaway Cheeto needs when he looks in the miror he knows when I hit you you

Went down and I finished you and I can do it again how much as well Mike does it make a difference in front of the fans last time obviously was in the Apex we were in the middle of Co all behind closed doors now the fans of Miami will be out

In full Force yeah look listen it’s going to be a sensational atmosphere Miami is always a special one but let’s be honest the the bantamweight title is on the line okay so fans no fans in a car park in the UFC they’re fighting for the belt and for Cheeto Vera this is all

He’s ever wanted listen I know Cheeto very well we’ve both got the same coach and Jason Perillo used to have a coach back in the day um this man is so disciplined I am telling you he takes No Rest days he’s always doing doing something even on the days where he’s

Not in the gym he’s doing a 24-hour fast because he wants to reset his cycle he’s doing ice B he’s doing saers you name it everything that he does is cated towards being the best fighter possible he is extremely disciplined and one thing to remember about Cheo Vera the man’s never

Been knocked out and yes he does have slow starts and that has kind of played his career but as the fight progresses he gets The Knockout I mean he did it against Dominick Cruz slow start kind of did it against Frankie edger got taken down a couple of times s granted against

Cory sandan that one really bit him in the backside so we can’t afford to do that however the power is on his side I think forito Vera he’s got to move the head more okay the head movement is a little stagnant and even though typically that’s his style and he does

Kind of ease into the fight he’s got to have a little bit more of a sense of urgency you can’t rely on getting the knockout you can’t allow Shaw normality to get ah head on the scorecards early because as you’re getting ahead on the scorecards early you’re also getting

Aead in your own head the confidence starts to grow so om Ali has got to do his thing be on the bike as I said use the reach and use the Range Plant his feet look for The Knockout of course but just maintain the range and Cheo Vera is

Going to go at him not like a bad out of hell he’s also got to be not afraid to mix in the takedowns because om Al’s got sorry cheo’s got a very very good ground game but as I say for cheito ver it’s all about a sense of urgency from the opening

Bell man you’ve sold it to me mate I’m in I’m in now listen as you as you know I will be staying up to watch this throughout the course of the night but I completely appreciate that some people that are watching our show might be thinking to yourself I’ll be doing this

In the early hours of the morning it’s it’s a stretch staying up at 3:00 in the morning so don’t forget Discovery plus is the home of the UFC on demand streaming download the app there’s loads of spoiler-free access to all the fights markers there for each individual fight

Of which you can speed along to whatever’s tickling your fancy go and get yourself stuck in but but for the aror for the for the fans that are staying up throughout the course of the night like us three uh make sure you come and join us on TNT Sports and

Discovery plus 1:00 a.m. for the prelims with the main card from three that is your main event that is the Banton weight title the rematch between sugar Shan and Cheeto all right that’s finishing off the show before it might take him a little bit of time to clear

Out all the Claret that he’s going to be on the Octagon mat let me tell you because this is a fight the cor Main Event Dustin the Diamond puer taking on benois S a man that is really showing some Sensational promise against the man that has been there and got the T-shirt

Mike for those that know what they’re watching this is mouthwatering it’s got violence written all over it and it’s over five rounds that’s how good this fight is they like hold on we need to give these guys overtime listen Dustin poer the man is a fan favorite almost

Every time he steps in there it’s a contend of a fight of the year we know the story we know the career there’s been extreme highs there’s been extreme lows go like when he lost to khabib for the Undisputed title but look at the fights with Michael Chandler the fights

With just engaging just the pure violence that he delivers but by the way it’s educated violence he’s got a high level Jiu-Jitsu black belt the man can wrestle and on the feet he’s got beautiful boxing with very very good power then on the flip side we’ve got

The Sergey Frenchman Ben sand the former French Special Forces a man with crazy intensity six wins in the UFC five by way of stoppage last time out against mat faola head take but Ben was on the knee less miles on the clock right less Knockouts if you will and just thriving

With confidence right five Knockouts or five stoppages in a row at the highest level right and this is what he wants this is the breakout fight for Ben wand he realizes right now the face of French MMA is serel G but he firmly believes that that’s going to be him and I’m

Telling you you go out you beat Dustin poier yeah you’re the face of French M you might be the face of the lightweight division very very soon this is a spectacular fight because for benoir it’s a chance to break into the absolute Elite for Dustin poier this is about

Proving Hey listen whoa whoa guys I slipped Justus in Gage you got me okay but I’m still here and I’m still coming for that belt so it’s a crucial fight it’s a cracking fight and one of the takeways from your little Dy there Mike is educated violence love that can you

Imagine that at a dinner party whilst you’re all sat around what did you go to school did you go to college yeah I’ve got a Bachelor of Arts in MA in mathematics yes I’ve been well educated in physics I’m educated in VIIs you know what I mean and I throw down

And I can’t wait for this to get down on uh on Saturday night um Nick on on this particular fight what is in this for Dustin because when this fight was made I think a lot of fight fans looked at it and went o that’s high risk but I don’t

Really see the high reward in beating benw send at this stage we know as fight fans it’s a cracking fight but what’s in it for him I think what’s in it for him to staying relevant in this lightweight division because the top of the lightweight division’s been stagnant for

Quite a while now it’s been the same names kind of going in against each other all the time you know Dustin is an established pay-per-view star kers fights with Conor McGregor but that has allowed him opportunities in big fights to stay at the top so everyone he

Thought’s been kind of in the top five for the last few years well that Cycle’s drying out now and we need fresh opponents for Islan makev we need to give this lightweight division a good shake up and this is the first sign of that and it’s only the fact that Dustin

Is an absolute stud that he’s like yeah man Bring it on Bring on whoever whichever guy wants to take a shot at my spot my number three ranking bring it on and benoir sand is happy to take that shot is it a big step up for a Frenchman

You better believe it is but when a guy is 13 and one with 13 wins all finished es the one defeat was his UFC debut in a fight he took a late notice in a different country in the welterweight division that’s when you looking at a fighter that’s incredibly special and

Then you look at their history Mike touched on it then French Special Forces nothing’s going to scare this guy certainly not even someone of the caliber of Dustin parier he’s been chomping at the bit for an opportunity at a top five guy he’s got it now can

Dustin at 35 hold on to his spot I don’t know whether he can Mike does the winner of this give themsel a real good opportunity to be fighting is L marev next and the reason why I asked that is because obviously we’ve got some good fights in and around these

Divisions we’ve got Olivera taking on cukin a lot of people think that Olivera is going to be next in line you’ve got Justin gatei but he’s defending against Max way we don’t know what the outcome of that fight is going to be so does the winner of this get an opportunity to

Really put the head above the parit and say when Islam’s back and ready I’m the guy well the reality is it all depends on performances right and what happens on the night if let’s say Ola and S rukin go out there and have a boring fight which is not going to happen let’s

Be honest I hypothetically say that if that did happen and this was a barn burner and we get an amazing finish then maybe but if we just look at everything with a level head I don’t think so I think Ola versus S Ruki and I think the

Winner of that rightly gets a shot against U Islam makev I think for Dustin poer here this isn’t about getting the tie off I I me benoir S as great as he is is still ranked number 12 this is as I say it’s reminding the fans and

Proving to himself that his career isn’t over that he’s still one of the best and with another win he’s right back in those conversations but Beno sand this is stepping up this is proving that hey everything I’ve done so far this isn’t a fluke I’m here I’m not here to take part

I’m here to take over quoting the famous Conor mcgreer uh but when you look at Ben wandon either way that he does it as well he’s not like some marud he’s a very skilled St Striker he’s got great wrestling good submissions as well he’s a well-rounded mixed martial artist and

As Nick touched on when you look at the Man’s eyes you can see an intensity burning behind those eyes he’s a very very serious individual so for Dustin it’s about you know cementing and and reminding the world that I am still one of the very best and for Beno this is a

Chance this is the key to the door to be considered as one of the greats of the division soundss good do it can’t wait for it it’s going to be brilliant go man event now it’s time for the people’s man this is what you tuned in for ladies and

Gentlemen you’ve been waiting for a long period of time three are about to become four because this man is making his UFC debut the one and only get your hands out and start doing that all this type of stuff on the show you know how we’re rolling today Michael benen is’s in the

House how are you mate you good I’m great man that was a that was that was a great intro I love that I love that people when you make that when you make that walk everybody’s going to have their hands up going be doing all this type of

Carryon I love it I love it Michael let me ask you this in your storyed career of which there’s been a ridiculous amount of highlights I mean the shows that you put on if people haven’t seen your fight they are in for a treat but in terms of your story career now

Finally making your UFC debut on such a remarkable card where does this rank for you in terms of I I I don’t want to say personal achievements but milestones in your career yeah it’s definitely a milestone I’ve always you know what it’s I have to say it’s a big milestone simply because when

I first even made that thought of okay joining in getting into MMA the goal was the UFC there was there was nothing else about at that time um so that was the goal obviously you know your direction can kind of move slightly differently with the signing of Bellator

And and obviously I was a big fan of them and and and what they were doing um and obviously being there a long time like you say created many many memories but it was always in the back of my mind that yeah H the UFC like I still want to

Make it happen at some point and uh yeah we’re here now we’re here now and I’m so definitely a big box being ticked off and I I literally can’t wait to show the world uh at at the at UFC level uh my talent how much this by has been driven

By fans you know people stopping you in the street big fans at MVP and even you know even despite everything that you’ve achieved already in your career when are you going to get in the UFC when are we going to see you at the Big Show when’s

It finally going to happen as much to appease them as it is to appease your own your own challenges to be fair I try not to uh have fans dictate anything as much as I like I love putting on a show for for the people that is one thing I

Love I love to do when I when I get in the cage in terms of life decisions I have to focus on myself and family and what you know what it means to me what it means for my family what it means for my close ones my loved ones

That is for me more important so yeah it didn’t really have a big effect but like I said what it meant to me anyway was uh was massive and which is why you know we’re here and we made it happen when it comes to opponent matchups for debuts

When they announced this I’m going to be honest with you every single fight fan did that little her breathe over their teeth and give it the old chef’s kiss thought yes mate this is a this is a fight chef’s kiss you you you must have done the exact same thing because

Stylistically this just works for for beautiful VI yeah it is exactly what you said um 100 like the name was you know a couple of names was mentioned but I just had a feeling that knowing Kevin Holland in terms of his his personality his Persona that he puts

Out he’s the guy that will put his hand up to do to fight everybody and I I know there’s a few people happy that you know you get to to we get to see how he is uh first um but Kevin Holland’s that guy that will put his hand up and like yeah

I I’ll be the I’ll be the first uh to to guard the gate and and and see what this guy’s about so yeah and what what a great matchup what a great match up well yeah it is a great matchup because you have such a fan friendly style and as I

Said before you put a show on I mean I I said this to you recently you are one of the most humble nice genuine gentlemanly human beings you could ever meet but then you step into the Octagon or into the ring or whatever it is there’s a

Flip switches and you become a different person right you are the biggest showb on planet Earth and I absolutely love it right that’s part of your style but Kevin Holland’s kind of the same he’s a show man as well as well as being tall as being big as well as being very

Skilled and also a fan favorite so not only is it UFC 299 which is a landmark card this is stacked from top to bottom this is a fight that’s really standing out there as Adam said the people’s main event but when you look at Kevin Holland

As a fighter you assess his skills what is the path to Victory and what weaknesses do you see to be fair um his weakness it’s not really that much of a weakness his weakness is him believing that his standup is going to be as good as my

Standup and that’s not a weak that’s not a weakness he’s a tough guy yeah that guy can take a a hit but I feel like a lot of people a lot of exceptional Strikers a lot of tough guys have come in and stood in front of me different

Show but stood in front of me thinking the exact same thing yeah he’s not going to be able to do that to me he’s not going to be able to do this to me you know I’ll be able to do this do that do this and when they get the reality check

It’s too late sometime for the for the for the majority of people is it’s way too late to then try and reassess and make those changes at the time while I’m bouncing around like a madman in front of you and dancing so um like I said

It’s not really much of a weakness I think he’s going to go for plan a initially when that doesn’t work he’s going to try to resort to everything else in the file and but it’s going to be way too late by then gai she may be

Known as the the Highlight re but real fans know that when it comes to viral moments when it comes to Spectacular One strike Knockouts you are indeed the Highlight Reel from tornado kicks to flying knees to one punch knockouts to one kick Knockouts you’ve literally done

It all Michael When You Close Your Eyes this is the UFC now this is the Champions League this is the big show when you close your eyes you envisage the victory envisage your arm being raised what bit of magic can we expect to see to be fair I just especially over

The last couple of weeks the Camp’s been very rough Camp’s we know we know what we’re in for with with the likes of Kevin Holland we know he’s an exceptional athlete so the the work that’s been put in um is is immense uh it’s it’s it’s he’s a difficult Fighter

By way of saying I’m just going to knock him out because he hasn’t it hasn’t happened you know he has never been stopped before um but I’m a very frustrating fighter to be stood in front of uh and if he doesn’t decide to go down I I genuinely believe he’s going to

Be a bloody mess CU I’m going to be landing shot after shot kick after kick punch after the punch um you know I wouldn’t be surprised if he waves waves the flag and says you know what y you got me or um like I said my hand is just

Raised at the end and it was just uh back and forth or one-sided uh traffic because again I’m I’m I’m very difficult to land on so as tough as he is I I’m not really I’m not really about uh for the majority of the time I definitely believe I’m one of the

People that’s been hit the least in in the AM amount of fights that I’ve had in MMA and it’s it’s that way for a reason so like I said I’m very frustrating fighter I just see if he decides to if he is Tough Enough To

To you know take the sniper shots that I have um then my hand gets raised either way but if he’s not then I I genuinely believe I can find that shot um I’m hoping a specific kick just just for the fans Mike when we when we sat down in

Your gym on the on the signing of the UFC you said I’m not going to be here for a long time I’m going to be here for a good time now it’s not I don’t normally stir the pot mate but I’m going to do it right now just for the show

Okay so 299 that’s the focus that’s what you that’s what you locked in on Kevin Holland right but not for a long time we’re here for a good time would then insinuate to me that we might some point down the line in your division getting a

Little bit of Brit on Brit violence is that what we’re is that what we’re talking talking about because the Champions are a British fighter currently holding that belt and I know that you’re smiling there you haven’t come here just to make up the numbers you’ve come here to play at the very

Very top table so is that the direction that you envisage this going yeah 100% that’s the direction um regardless let’s say Leon didn’t have the belt that would be the direction anyway in terms of heading for the top of the mountain I want the belt I’ve come here I want to I

Want to get the I want to get one or two fights out and then push for whoever’s got the belt I just believe Leon still have that belt so then it allows me to manifest what that’s going to look like and uh it hasn’t happened before we two

British Fighters you know uh guys like yourself Michael that just knocked down that door allowing uh you know that kind of inspiration to other British Fighters like us like myself to be like oh we can we can do it cuz you know we’re used to seeing the Americans we’re used to

Seeing the Brazilians and stuff holding belts but you know we wasn’t used to seeing that and you’ve seen what’s happened there thereafter and now we’ve come to a point where we can have two British Fighters so regardless of the result we it comes back to the UK and

That’s that’s an amazing uh place to be so I’ve definitely uh I I’ve definitely manifested that I want to make it so much so that it’s such a big fight such a a wanted uh fight that we can fill a stadium and that would be the that would

Be the goal that’ll be the goal so me you’re selling the dream here Sunshine you’re selling the dream and you’re exciting the fans there Mike but for yourself because we all want to see that I mean you versus Leon in a stadium in England I mean come on it doesn’t get

Any better than that but in terms of this being a big moment making your UFC debut and as you mentioned there you know the potential for such historic fights and let’s be honest moneymaking ability down the line um how much is this of course it’s going to excite you

But does it kind of put a bit of a burden on your shoulders mentally as well because now it’s here you’re in the UFC it’s the big shot and you have this potential door that you can walk through for lifechanging money and I’m sure you’ve done very well throughout your

Career as well but on one hand does that excite you but on the other hand does it provide a little bit of stress or pressure for one of a better word to be fair I feel like my style is one of those styles that can always be

Uh assigned to pressure because like I said a lot of people want me to fail a lot of people want to see me win but have to win in a specific fashion you know it’s not just okay just winning a fight anymore it’s like oh no but we

Want to see that fancy kickle so I think my the I’ve kind of I’m used to because of my style I’m used to be in a position of added pressure so I’m comfortable Under Pressure I’m very relaxed I’m very you always got to live up to that

Expectation I’ve always got to live up to the expectation if I do something spectacular in that fight it’s great for that moment but people want more every single time so I come to the a new fight and they’re like well what are you going to do now and you know I started this

Whole thing of walking out and making walkouts a thing making celebrations a thing but what are you going to do this time and so I’ve always I’ve always kind of uh lived under that rock of pressure and I’m very comfortable there I’m very very comfortable there so this is just

The same Rock in my opinion with a different title um and uh I’m going to show show the world uh how comfortable I am I’m sure that hasn’t passed you two gentlemen by that Mr Venom page has got quite a few siblings yeah some of them

Actually reside in Miami so when I was talking to him originally about maybe making the debut maybe we should do that in London or maybe we should do it in the UK you go n man Miami is technically my home this is this is a true thing

Isn’t it I mean you you’ve you’ve been inundated with family members that are actually based in the states getting themselves to 299 so you’re not going to be on your own out there are you not at all it genuinely does feel like a a home away from home

Um obviously I got three older siblings that live over there uh they got nephews niece cousins aunties like there’s be loud man yeah there’s a lot there’s a lot of family over there but also just through them seeing my career their friends and all of their you know their

Extended friends and work colleagues and so on and so forth that are also eager to kind of be a part of this uh this I know honestly when I spoke to my sister about it um and I was like um yeah yeah sis you know I’ve signed um I’ve signed

To the UFC and she’s like oh my God that’s great like she’s she’s pumped she’s pumped and we’re talking about sh that’s good that’s good who you fighting I’m fighting Kevin H oh that’s a great fight that’s good that’s good that’s good where is it gonna be Miami she went

What there was a bigger reaction there was a bigger reaction because of Miami than being signed to the UFC and fighting K Holland so it’s it’s it’s it’s going to be epic mate listen it’s a it’s brilliant to have you we’ve been waiting for a long time we’ve now got it enjoy fight

Week take everything in and then get that snake out my friend give it one of them on on on Saturday night we’re looking forward to the show Mike thank you very much for being on the show and enjoy UFC 299 see you guys always good to see you guys take

Care there you have it make sure you’re tuning in to Michael Venom P’s debut against Kevin Holland at UFC 299 before we carry on previewing the rest of the card little bit of a an extra plug all right these two are probably going to give you some Gip now because this is a

Little bit of my work it is what went down make sure you’re checking it out on the Discovery Plus app uh every now and again get to sit down with a legend of the sport picking their brains looking back at a fantastic career and you can check these out on the Discovery Plus

App uh there is one currently up with the one and only ruthless man himself Robbie Lawler yanan J’s on there as well and this fella was number one in the series that’s right if you want to see what went down with Michael Bisping you’re more than welcome to go and check

It out on the Discovery Plus app and there’ll be many any more coming up over the next 12 months or so now then let’s get back on with UFC 299 Gilbert Burns Jack Dela Melena Oh my days what a fight this is now there seems to be a tale of

Two guys coming into this fight mate you’ve got Gilbert Burns who’s been to the top of the tree and just fallen short and maybe in that stage now where he’s fighting for a little bit of relevance in the division and then you’ve got Jack Delan Melena who is the

Rising star and a person that now is stepping up to take on one of the very best to prove that he can go to the next level this is brilliant matchmaking it’s fantastic matchmaking and both of these guys are just incredible Fighters they really are who doesn’t love Gilbert

Burns right the way that he fights the the performances that he puts in every single time look at that uh when he lost the belt to Kamar Usman almost had him finished pushed Hamza chimy to the absolute limit now granted last time out it was a loss against B Muhammad but he

Did this is not not a joke it was not an excuse he tore his shoulder in the first round and was essentially fighting with one arm so this for him is a big rebuilding opportunity I spoke to Gilbert recently he has been training like an absolute madman you know why

Because he knows what he’s going up against Jack DEA mad when he came to the UFC we knew straight away we had something special on our hands the boxing skill that this man possesses it’s Second To None I believe his hands are absolutely Ely beautiful toughest fight of his career last time

Out against uh Kevin Holland who of course is fighting Michael Ben and Paige but he passed the test Okay Kevin Holland is an awkward guy he’s tall he’s very long very rangy but he’s still got the job done and as we said before about Dustin poier and Ben wasand there’s kind

Of a similar thing here Gilbert Burns wants to fight for the BT he still wants to become the champion and he’s got to defend that spot against Jack DEA madelina a man that’s coming through the ranks and looking been Sensational every single time brilliant fight is there any questions for you

Nick over Jack Dela Melena because the rise was strong everybody was on the high and then into the Kevin Holland fight maybe he wasn’t at his blistering best that we expected going into that and obviously comes through with a split decision Victory many even question whether he did actually win it there are

Still questions there aren’t there there are still questions because that was a sixth fight in the UFC the first four fights no question whatsoever four first round finishes absolutely Sensational fifth fight get a replacement opponent in basil we all remember basil how brilliant he was coming at late notice

Pushes him to a split decision Victory then he’s just been it against Kevin Holland found it going tough again another close fight another Split Decision Victory I think people are starting to realize that maybe Jack Dela Melina isn’t Untouchable as he was first progressed isn’t this incredible super

Super talent and can be got it and I think that’s the opportunity that Gilbert Banes has here cuz this is a big step up for Dela melaa make no mistake about that even though Gilbert at 37 years of age these days he is still an absolute class act as Mike said consum a

Professional one of the most beloved fighters on the entire UFC roster you will not find a single person in this Sport with a negative word to say about Gilbert Baines and he’s up against it Jack Melena you know and Gilbert’s so strong on the ground he’s built like a

Proverbial brick out house should say Well done and he can bang he can absolutely bang as well you know can he push it over five rounds like he like he did against balow Maybe not maybe not at this stage of his career but he can absolutely go for 15 minutes and Jack’s

Up against it um when we’re speaking about questions surrounding Fighters I suppose the most amount of questions would be surrounding a fighter that is in a fight that is kicking off the main card py Yan the man that was been there D it got the T-shirt one on a phenomenal

Run of Victories and now hasn’t been able to string one together in his last three don’t get me wrong Elite level opposition he has come across we haven’t seen him for a year he’s taking a bit of time out and now he’s taking on a guy

That seems to have got it together in the UFC in son Yong a lot of promise from son Yong bit of a bumpy start but now he seems to have got that rhythm going this is a massive massive Crossroads fight for Pian coming into

This at USC 299 Mike I I it really is and I hate to make the same point but it’s kind of one of them again isn’t it poran the champion the former Champion he’s beat some incredible Fighters beautiful boxing amazing footwork good grappling skills as well but he’s lost

Four out of his last five now that sounds like I’m not hyping him up morab de vales a man that’s flying okay and turned into a viral sensation shaal the champion Split Decision very entertaining fight and then before that Alaine Sterling Split Decision before that a victory over Cory Sanden right

Now one of the very best people at bant a man that a lot of people feel that should be fighting for the belt Cory sandan is tall he’s long he’s strong he can get the job done everywhere and pean beat him okay so don’t let the record

Fool you P Yan is still a man to take very seriously and on the flip side s Yong we know what he brings to the table beautiful boxing massive massive power there’s a reason why this is kicking off the main card I can’t wait for this one

Seems like the Penny’s dropped with song You D in the last couple of fights Nick yeah I think you know he’s he’s not only is he winning fights he’s winning Main Events names where and his face and his name on the poster and that’s a big

Thing to get over it’s a big headle to get over you know he’s got to of course he’s got to win over Cheo Vera who’s in the main event in his back Locker as well keep that tucked away in case in case Cheeto wins that could be like your

Stefan St Ace card in the hole to one day get a title shot if you can put the wins together but the common opponent here of course is Cory sandan you know as Mike’s just said then he’s only won one of us last five Peter Yan doesn’t

Tell a real story the first fight against al jooe was a real tough disqualification defeat that he lost the title then he got a win over Cy sandan then he had the rematch with Aldo then he went St straight in with sugar Shaw then he goes in with mirab these are the

Best guys at the top of the division but also then you go okay well he beat sand die and sandan beat y dong but actually when you look at how sandan beat y dong he was stopped on a doctor’s cut a doctor’s stoppage because Yong had a

Massive Slice Above his eye was in no fit state to continue sand can cause the cut don’t get me wrong but it was still a doctor’s stoppage so I think this is a really interesting fight yong’s still only 26 years of age even though he feels like he’s been around forever but

Peter Yan’s got a t up we Peter will be sent back to the Scaffolding in Scotland if he’s not careful because losing to Habit and this guy is losing consistently yeah listen great fight to kick off the Mard at UFC 299 I’m not going to dwell too much on the prelims

Because it’s just St from top to bottom we could be here for about a three-hour sh jent um but I do obviously want to highlight the heavy weights you’ve got Curtis blades taking on Jon almea lots of hype in and around jayton almea he’s been brilliant so far really has been

Sensational Curtis Blades of course has that victory over Tom ASP and that’s kind of what I’m leading you Mike winner of this versus Tom asp you think next well it certainly seems to be trending in that direction I haven’t heard anything official but we know that Tom

Wants that fight back okay it is a it is a loss it’s a legitimate loss for Tom although we know it’s not really he blew his knee out very very early in the fight however in the history box it’s a win okay I love that I love that it’s a

Legitimate loss but it’s not well no it is it’s a legitimate loss but he didn’t go out there and get beat he he threw a leg kick and fell on the floor cuz he blew his knee out cuz he’s two gun God damn big Tom Chill your boots lay off

The bloody the rice pudding or whatever it was you’re eating up there um he blew his leg out he wants to get that one back okay but Jalan Arma Curtis blades they’ve got very very similar Styles jalon Arma last time we saw him just destroyed Derek Lewis took him down Time

After Time didn’t allow the man with the most knockouts in the history of the UFC any bit of success at all CH Down lead on him had the mount for almost 25 minutes but he didn’t finish it and in my opinion that kind of cost him a

Little bit you’ve got to go for the Finish Curtis blades I believe has the ability to stop the wrestling and I think he’s better with the hands however that doesn’t mean anything we don’t know who’s going to win this fight but yeah I agree I think the winner of this one

Potentially is who we get to see Tom maybe stepping in there and defending the interim title there you go and it would be remiss of me not to mention uh Joo Nick um who is is alluding to the fact quite strongly that this will be her last one

In the UFC what a career Joe wood Joe for Joe cwood has had in the UFC listen 16 fight career after an extensive and hugely successful kickboxing career and might had as well an absolute Pioneer for British MMA never mind Scottish MMA I never felt like Jojo was going to be our first

British female champion with all due respect JoJo as S as she is that was never felt like it was going to be a role her role was to inspire the first British female champion and absolutely she’s done that during the career quick question for Mike here Mike any idea

Where JoJo won her first ever UFC fight and who was in the main event well OB take yeah yeah yeah I’m going to say 2015 glasg r i up against T’s lest right I got a we Victory and I’m assuming she were on the card she wasy that’s a good

Accent that Mike that was her first fight after tough after being in the tough finale and she got her arm raised then and one of Journeys she’s taken us on you know to been absolutely incredible the the story of MMA has taken it from Scotland to Montreal now

To Las Vegas M what a career she’s had it’s been brilliant hopefully she gets a sign off in style let’s not forget there was a time there as well when she could have sat on the bench and got a world title fight for the UFC but she didn’t

She took on Jennifer Meyer back in 2020 I think that was some people are say mistake now she lost to Jennifer Meer she lost their title opportunity but that’s the type of fighter JoJo was take on anybody anywhere anytime brilliant I just got to jump in there and say a

Couple of words because I know you’re trying to wrap up and kick us off but I I didn’t get to say she should be proud of herself what an incredible career that she had she always showed up she never shied away from any challenges as a person she’s one of the sweetest

People that you could ever meet she’s an absolute sweetheart of a person I’ve always enjoyed my interactions with her but inside the Octagon flip there switch flips or flip switches whatever it is something goes off and she changes and she’s in an incredible fighter beautiful tie boxing I heard about her reputation

From the kickboxing and tie boxing world before she came to the UFC my old coach da moris was like she’s going to be the champion she never achieved that but she certainly did herself and her should be proud Joan if this is the end congratulations well said mate looking

Forward to seeing it and you can check it all out on TNT Sports 2 and Discovery plus Saturday night yeah it’s the place to be for UFC 299 the prelims get going from 1:00 a.m. in the morning with the main card from three the cherry on top

Of this stacked cake is the bantamweight championship fight as Sha Norman makes his first defense against an old fall in Chief so Vera