Fight IQ

Continual education is such a powerful way to both improve our brain function and advance our lives towards where we really want it to go. That’s why I’m hoping the clips we’ll explore today will resonate with you in some way and provide some insights that will encourage you to take action on achieving your dreams and goals. The fighters and coaches we are going to be hearing from each have some unique lesson that can be translated from the ring into the real world. We hear from top-tier MMA coaches John Danaher and Trevor Wittman, along with UFC fighter Geoff Neil and Heavyweight Boxing great Lennox Lewis to learn their approach to combat sports success. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: John Danaher Geoff Neil Lennox Lewis Trevor Wittman Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon

With time being a very real factor in a fighter's career trajectory, training with a team that has the experience and level of training partners required to prepare you for facing the world’s elite is a major asset. One of the most important factors to the success of a team is the style of leadership employed by the coaches and particularly the head coach. What are the most effective leadership styles when it comes to coaching combat sports athletes and how much does the team dynamic really play a part in the overall success of a fighter? Today we’re going to break down clips from fighters and coaches to learn how they have formed strong bonds within their teams that allow them to flourish on fight night. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Duke Roufus Duane Ludwig Bryce Mitchell Max Holloway Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

How hard are you willing to work to get the things you want in life? Contrary to our instincts, it is the hard work and the willingness to rise above the pack that will allow us to truly thrive and live a life of accomplishment and contribution. Today we’re going to examine the concept of that famous quote from film producer Samuel Goldwyn: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” As we examine clips from current and former MMA fighters, we will explore not only working hard but working smart as well and focusing on the things that matter the most when it comes to producing results. When you have a goal in sight, it’s best to keep in mind that hard work pays off. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Dennis Bermudez Anthony Pettis Randy Couture Dominick Cruz Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

UFC 249 featured two incredible title fights: Dominick Cruz vs Henry Cejudo and Justin Gaethje vs Tony Ferguson. We break down the action and take a look at where the winners and losers go from here. Intro Music by Snyker Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Finally, the UFC is back in action this upcoming Saturday May 9 for UFC 249. Fight fans have been foaming at the mouth in anticipation for an event and this card is stacked from top to bottom. We break down the four fighters in the co-main and main event and I offer my predictions on who will walk away with those shiny gold belts. Listen as we examine clips from Henry Cejudo, Dominick Cruz, Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje and try to determine who will fall and who will emerge victorious in this landmark UFC event that will take place in an empty arena due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Intro Music by Snyker Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Mixed Martial Arts is moving forward at an unprecedented rate for such a young sport. Fighters and trainers have evolved their game and we are always seeing the new and improved phase of martial artists emerge as a result. Evolution and improvement can come about in many areas, some which may not seem as obvious as others but are nonetheless vital pieces to the overall puzzle of high-level performance. Do you find yourself becoming stagnant in certain areas of your life that you’d like to improve? Are there skills that you know you need to develop but find yourself falling short when it comes time to put the work in? Perhaps a mindset shift is just what you need and the fighters we’re examining today all have a unique take on the concept of adjusting your game to reach new levels of self-improvement. If you’re not moving forwards, you’re moving backwards. It’s all about playing the Evolution Game on Fight IQ. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Royce Gracie Dan Severn Michael Chiesa Dan Hardy Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Do you find yourself doubting your decisions and your efforts towards success in life? Are you someone who looks for the reasons why NOT to do something before taking stock of the potential benefits it could bring? Today we’re examining fighters who have paid the price for doubting themselves and who refocused, adjusted their mentality and moved forward to victory. We break down clips from Boxing legend 'Smokin' Joe Frazier and MMA pioneers Guy Mezger, Forrest Griffin and Brian Stann to hear how they manage to quell self-doubt and inspire themselves with confidence. When the pressure is as high as the stakes and you need to perform at your best, you have to believe in yourself without question. We’re going to explore some mental tools that can help you erase your doubts on this episode. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Joe Frazier Guy Mezger Brian Stann Forrest Griffin Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Today we’re talking all about keeping a positive mind and a positive attitude in the face of adversity, perhaps a fitting topic given the worldwide pandemic we are currently experiencing. Instead of buy into the panic and fear mongering, why don’t we instead seek to understand and appreciate each other more so we can ultimately make the world a better place? Are you someone who sees the glass half empty or are you always trying to find the good in any situation, no matter how grim it may seem? The fighters we’re examining today are all known for their positive mindsets and their desire to change not only their own lives, but the lives of others for the better. As the world descends into chaos all around us, there is certainly a light of hope in the darkness of despair. It’s all about keeping a positive mind on Fight IQ. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Rose Namajunas Justin Gaethje Stephen Thompson Vitor Belfort Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

At the start of MMA’s development, it was a sport fraught with danger and cloaked in mystery. Men were entering into the cage under a rule set that made the risk of severe and permanent injury very real. Combatants learned quickly and in very brutal fashion, which martial arts and combat styles actually won fights when the rules barely existed. On today's episode, we break down clips from key figures who were there when No Holds Barred was in it's early stages, before it became the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Hear insights from old school veterans Mark Coleman, Don Frye and Pat Miletech, along with referee 'Big' John McCarthy and learn about the unique psychology of early MMA fighters. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: John McCarthy Mark Coleman Don Frye Pat Miletich Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Tony Ferguson is one of the most dynamic and fascinating MMA fighters alive today, both in regards to his style in the octagon and his outspoken and often cryptic personality. A man of many mysteries who sometimes seems to speak in riddles, some call him crazy but to me he is just a misunderstood genius whom history will look back on as one of the all-time greats in the ranks of the UFC. Ferguson has had a turbulent ride to get where he is today but he remains positive and uses the obstacles in his way as tools to propel him to the next level of mastery in the art of war. On this episode, we explore his unique psychology and mental approach to the fight game to learn lessons that will serve us in our own battles. Outro Music by Snyker Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

"Anything you work towards, there are always obstacles in the way and that's when you either quit or continue on. That's when I say just continue on, overcome that obstacle and move to your goal because you never know which is the last obstacle that's going to try to stop you." - Chuck Norris, speaking on the life lessons learned from practicing martial arts. Martial arts training should be viewed as a gift. It gives us the capability to improve both our mental and physical health, strengthen our immune system and build a skill set that allows us to better cope with dangerous situations that may arise in our lives. The benefits of martial arts training are so numerous that the ability to defend yourself is just one small piece of the puzzle. With this in mind, there really is no reason not to begin and start changing your life for the better. On today's episode we breakdown clips from film star Chuck Norris, former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight champion Georges St. Pierre, his trainer Firas Zahabi and one of the greatest tacticians in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, Greg Jackson, to hear reasons why it's important for all of us to engage in physical training. Intro Music by Fesliyan Studios Outro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Chuck Norris Georges St. Pierre Firas Zahabi Greg Jackson Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

"I really wanted to die, I wanted a date with the death man." These are the words of Heavyweight Boxing champion Tyson Fury. Mental health issues are surrounded by stigma and are a topic that many find difficult to openly discuss, yet we all experience them to some degree or another. Almost no one will go through life without entering a period of depression, anxiety or addiction. We have to make a constant effort to look after our mental health and open up about our problems to those who could lend a helping hand. On this episode of Fight IQ, we breakdown clips from Shane Young, Jeremy Stephens, Robert Whittaker and Tyson Fury, fighters who have had very intense mental health struggles and learn that the greatest adversary in our lives is the enemy within. Intro Music by Fesliyan Studios Outro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Tyson Fury Robert Whittaker Jeremy Stephens Shane Young Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

“Doubt is removed by action so if you’re not working, that’s where the doubt seeps in.” - Conor McGregor When we go all in on something, it makes us feel better about ourselves and so gives us a massive boost to confidence. It fills us with a sense of purpose that elevates our mood and makes us less prone to anxiety and stress. It makes us feel like we are on a path that matters, the right path for us. What is your reason for pursuing your passion and are you truly dedicated and committed to it? Today we’re going to hear from fighters about the things that motivate them to step inside the ring time and time again and give it their all. Some fight for money, some fight for fame and some fight for the love of the game. Whatever your reason, if you want to succeed over the long run, you’ve got to be all in. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Mike Tyson Michael Chandler Clay Guida Conor McGregor Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Israel Adesanya rose through the ranks in the UFC like a meteor crashing to the earth and remained active enough that, in only 2 years time, he was able to dethrone Robert Whitaker to capture the UFC Middleweight title of the world. Israel is never afraid to speak up and let you know just how great he is, but at the same time he possesses a level of humility and self-awareness that I believe are key to the massive success he has been able to generate in the sport of mixed martial arts. At the top of the game and in his athletic prime at only 30 years of age, Israel is set to be one of the biggest superstars in the history of the UFC. On this episode of Fight IQ, I’m going to lay out a psychological blueprint provided to us by Adesanya that shows us not only how he was able to tear through the competition and capture the Middleweight crown, but also shows us how we can use his mentality to generate massive success in our own lives. Intro Music by Tuku Iho Living Legacy Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Too many combat sports athletes end up ‘going out on their shields’ and finishing careers after sustaining multiple unnecessary injuries and concussions all because they just wanted one more shot at the dopamine-boosting feeling of victory. Today we’re going to examine the psychology of retirement in combat sports to try and determine when it is best to walk away from something you used to love, to pursue a greater purpose. We’ll hear from fighters who left their sport behind and hear their reasoning behind it. Sometimes, the circumstances of life can bring about change when we least expect it. We break down clips from former UFC fighters Chael Sonnen, Krzysztof Soszynski and Rashad Evans to learn why they decided to call it quits and why it ended up being the best choice for their careers and lives over the long run. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Chael Sonnen Krzysztof Soszynski Rashad Evans Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

How much does religious faith play a role in performance and success in combat sports and why is it that so many fighters have a deep conviction and belief in God? On today’s episode of the Fight IQ podcast, we seek to answer that question and delve into the principles of religion to find lessons we can also apply to our own lives, regardless of whether we are believers, atheists, agnostics or refuse to have any label when it comes to spirituality. There are a lot of fighters who praise God as their first order of business in a post-fight interview. Fans and media have conflicting views on this topic, with some believing that religion is better left outside of the ring and others seeing it as a freedom of speech that is well within a fighter’s right to exercise. What we will focus on is just how putting God first can help athletes achieve victory and remain consistent in high-level performance trough out their careers. Join me as we take a journey into the minds of Faith Based Fighters. Intro Music by Hildegard Von Bingen Outro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Muhammad Ali Rory Macdonald Jon Jones Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

UFC Light Heavyweight contender Dominick 'The Devastator' Reyes impressed many this past Saturday at UFC 247 when he went the distance with champion Jon Jones in a highly competitive fight that most fans and media thought he should have won. Having flown under the radar for much of his UFC career, he truly got a chance to shine and show the MMA world what he was made of that night and so it is only fitting that we delve into the midset of a fighter many are calling the uncrowned king. From dreams of competing in professional football that fell flat and left him in a serious state of depression to realizing his potential as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter, we hear from Dominick Reyes through interviews over the course of his career to learn how he rose through the ranks and got his shot at the world title. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: MMA Saved My Life I've Been Training for Jon Since the Start I Won That Fight Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

In the realm of Mixed Martial Arts, there are fighters who approach the game from a purely athletic and competitive standpoint and then there are those fighters who are a little more, shall we say, vicious than most. These fighters have a killer instinct both inside the cage and outside of it and I believe this mentality gives them an edge when applied to their sport in the correct way. How can we learn from this single-minded and determined approach to inflicting violence on an opponent and apply it to our own endeavors? It may seem like an extreme mindset but there are certain advantages that we can extract from a dog-eat-dog style of psychology. We break down clips from old school UFC legend Tank Abbott, as well as lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and welterweight contender Jorge 'Gamebred' Masvidal to find out how a killer instinct can lead us to victory. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Tank Abbott Khabib Nurmagomedov Jorge Masvidal Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Do the best combat sports athletes in the world feel fear when they step into the ring? Absolutely, the difference between them and the rest of us is how they deal with and process that fear. On this episode of the Fight IQ podcast, we delve into the minds of the world's best fighters in the moments leading up to a fight. How do they deal with the stress and anxiety of a huge bout in a way that increases their ability to perform? We analyze clips from Boxing legend 'Iron' Mike Tyson, UFC Fighter Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone and one of the top MMA coaches in the game, Firas Zahabi, to uncover the fears that lurk in a fighter's mind and how they rise above that fear to conquer their opponents. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Mike Tyson Donald Cerrone Firas Zahabi Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Injuries incurred, both during training and in a bout itself, can prove devastating to the career of a combat sports athlete. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may force a fighter out of competition for extended periods of time or in the worst case scenario, end their career altogether. In this episode, we take a look at three MMA fighters whose injuries had a major impact on their trajectory and how they dealt with them to move forward and thrive or to begin a new chapter in their lives. We break down clips from former UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, current UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and former ONE Championship and Bellator champion Ben Askren to find out what it takes to overcome debilitating injuries and perform at the highest level in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Dominick Cruz Kamaru Usman Ben Askren Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

UFC 246 saw the return of MMA superstar Connor McGregor as he faced off against battle-tested veteran Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone and what a triumphant return it was. We break down all the action that took place inside the octagon and talk about where the winners and the losers go from here. Intro Music by Snyker Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

How can we rise to the occasion and perform at our best when the stakes are at their highest? The ability to focus on the task at hand with laser-like precision while drowning out the roar of the crowd and the magnitude of the moment is one of the defining factors of the very best fighters. This episode seeks to break down exactly how they thrived in the moment and how we can do it as well when the pressures of life reach a boiling point. All of the interview clips featured here are post-fight thoughts from challengers for UFC titles who succeeded in becoming champions against all odds. We hear from current Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, former Welterweight and Middleweight champ Georges 'Rush' St. Pierre and former Bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt as they walk us through how they handled the intense pressure of competition to capture that gold belt and cement their legacy in MMA history. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Israel Adesanya Georges St. Pierre Cody Garbrandt Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

'The Notorious' Conor McGregor is undeniably the biggest star in the history of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. His tireless work ethic, desire for greatness and incredible self-belief have propelled him to become a two-time UFC champion and saw him step into the sport of Boxing to compete with the best in the world, Floyd Mayweather. At the heart of Conor's success lies a very specific mindset that forged the path for a young lad from Dublin Twelve to rise above his surroundings and make a massive impact in the world around him. Brash, outspoken and often controversial, McGregor is a one-of-a-kind athlete and persona that is unlike anything the sport has ever seen. Join me as I break down the mentality of Mystic Mac and uncover words of wisdom we can all be inspired by. Music by Guifrog Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone is one of the most active and record-holding UFC fighters on the roster, holding the most wins and most finishes of opponents in any weight class. He’s always so close to getting that gold championship belt and as of this recording, he’s set to fight Connor McGregor January 18, 2020. Whether you’re a fan of Cowboy or not, he comes across as a really genuine guy who has an incredible passion for the sport of MMA. His focused mindset and ability to talk freely about his own fears and insecurities surrounding his fights make him both effective in execution and endearing to MMA enthusiasts and casual fans alike. In this episode of the Fight IQ podcast, we break down Cowboy's psychology and his mental approach to the fight game. Along the way, we'll learn some things we can apply to our own way of thinking to generate success in our own lives. Music by Lobo Loco Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

At the highest level, combat sports is a game of inches. Every advantage a fighter can gain over his opponent, no matter how small, will play a role in the outcome of the bout. One of the greatest skills a combatant can possess is control over his own mind, which leads to true mastery of self. As human beings, it is in our very nature to be at war with ourselves. How can we enter that battle with the greatest chance of conquering our inner demons and emerging victorious? In this episode of the Fight IQ Podcast, we break down clips from former UFC fighter Randy 'The Natural' Couture and current UFC fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov and Brian Ortega to find out how they keep tabs on the enemy within. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Khabib Nurmagomedov Brian Ortega Randy Couture Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

How much does confidence play a role when it's time to lay it all on the line and get into a fist fight? Confidence affects so many factors when it comes to combat sports. Whether it's the confidence to overcome incredible odds, erase self-doubt or deal with elements outside of a fighter's control, the foundation for a strong mental state begins with self-belief. We break down clips with words of wisdom from UFC old-school veterans Mark 'The Hammer' Coleman and Dan 'The Beast Severn', along with current generation fighter Kevin Lee, to find out how confidence has played a role in their success. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Kevin Lee Mark Coleman Dan Severn Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

UFC 245 was the most stacked card of 2019, with three title fights being contested and some big names competing from top to bottom. We break down all the Mixed Martial Arts action, examine the winners and losers and see what's next for the competitors involved. Intro Music by Snyker Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

What are you willing to go through to get what you want in life? On this episode of the Fight IQ Podcast, we take a look at athletes who will do whatever it takes to achieve victory. Clips from UFC fighters Jorge Masvidal, Darren Till and Tony Ferguson shed light on the lengths they go to in search of a winning performance come fight night. Intro Music by Snyker Clips used in this episode: Jorge Masvidal Darren Till Tony Ferguson Contact: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

The war of words between opponents leading up to a contest can almost be just as entertaining as the fight itself. We know trash talk sells pay-per-views and generates attention on social media but how does it impact a fighter's performance, positive or negative? We break down some of the rivalries in mixed martial arts and examine how the psychological tactics used affected the final outcome of the fight. Intro music by Snyker Clips Used in This Episode: Micheal Bisping and Georges St. Pierre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWThMqH0uh8 Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyIOzSUI9pI Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Rose Namajunas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSb3ENhdwIg We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

The coach-fighter relationship plays a key role in the development of an athlete's skills and impacts their confidence when it comes time to step into the ring. How do the world's best combat sports coaches get the most out of the fighters that work with them and how can a fighter make themselves more coachable? We draw on the wisdom of world-renowned Boxing coach Freddie Roach, as well as notable MMA coaches Firas Zahabi and John Kavanagh to gain some wisdom that will make all us of better coaches and students in our daily lives. Intro music by Snyker Clips Used in This Episode: John Kavanagh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3MgSH6OmEY Freddie Roach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5mbb5c58pw Firas Zahabi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47t3sfgZsXA We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

Today's episode of the Fight IQ Podcast is all about how to lose a fight. We hear from UFC fighters Daniel Cormier, Rich Franklin and Alexa Grasso as they offer different perspectives on losing a bout and how they take lessons away from their losses and use them to form new strategies. "You're only as good as your last fight." is a common expression in the fight game, tune in to find out why that isn't necessarily true and learn ways you can take your losses the right way to have them lead to a whole new level of success. Intro music by Snyker Clips Used in This Episode: Daniel Cormier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laX2WKxotGk Rich Franklin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L3OG-fl9tE Alexa Grasso: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAs29hS8oxo We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

This episode of Fight IQ is a special one for me personally as I break down some martial artists who really influenced my own life throughout the years. The three men I've highlighted here have instilled me with a strong work ethic and a sense of honor and integrity that I try to apply to my own life. Most of us grew up with heroes we looked up to and aspired to be and hopefully, those heroes helped us grow as we set out to emulate them in one way or another. For those of us who didn't simply look up in awe but who tried to follow in the footsteps of their idols, this episode is for you. Intro music by Snyker We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative

When it comes down to the competition in combat sports, it really is an individual event. On the night of the fight, it's all up to the athlete to perform under the intense pressure of the spotlight. However, the weeks, months and years leading up to a bout are, at the highest levels, a carefully crafted training regime. There are coaches, training partners, nutritionists, sports psychology coaches, physiotherapists and more behind a fighter's ultimate success or failure inside the ring. In this episode of Fight IQ, we get to the bottom of how great teams are formed and operated by analyzing interviews by MMA pioneer Ken Shamrock, accomplished MMA head coach Duke Roufus and Ex-Navy SEAL Jocko Willink. Intro music by Snyker Clips Used in This Episode: Jocko Willink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvozT0_nf-k&t=139s Ken Shamrock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxUXAZ0ORvE Andre Filli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Hm9vDyWpY&t=300s Duke Roufus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh-FVF5ZNKM&t=915s We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative.

Robbie Lawler is a Mixed Martial Arts fighter who really embodies the traditional martial arts mindset of respect, humility and honor in the cage. In fact, a lot of his ways of thinking align very closely with certain tenets of Stoic philosophy. In this episode, we take a listen to clips from Robbie Lawler's interviews alongside professors of Stoicism and draw some parallels that can inform us of the basis for Stoic philosophy and how it ties into this particular kind of warrior mentality. Intro music by Snyker Clips Used in This Episode: Professor Michael Sugrue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5897dMWJiSM Professor Massimo Pigliucci: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4VFVaSxg1c Academy of Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0MzQZ_eFEY We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative.

Whether in the ring or in day-to-day life, having a game plan can be the ultimate indication of success or failure. This episode is all about the preparation necessary to approach each individual bout and what it takes to analyze and break down your opponent. Just as important as formulating a game plan is knowing how to adjust and refocus the plan as circumstances around you change. We draw on the combat wisdom of UFC Light Heavyweight champ and consensus pound-for-pound great Jon Jones, along with renowned coaches Greg Jackson and Firas Zahabi to paint a picture of the perfect strategies to approach your next big project. Intro music by Snyker Clips Used in This Episode: Greg Jackson Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5OYXVdcgQg Firas Zahabi Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDsoWp743gM Jon Jones Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CB1w7Tw_qs We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative.

Not many other human beings on planet earth know how to overcome odds and win through adversity better than professional combat sports athletes. In this episode, we listen to and break down the wisdom of current and former UFC fighters Holly Holm, Chael Sonnen, Ben Askren and Daniel Cormier as we seek to answer the question: "What does it take to bounce back from failure and make an even bigger impact than if you hadn't failed in the first place?" Intro music by Snyker. Clips Used in This Episode: Holly Holm Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP9XzZY--_M Chael Sonnen Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-j8zanQj64 Ben Askren Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu1EbUgFwl8 Daniel Cormier Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8JGhT5G_v8 We’d love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Support Fight IQ on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative.

The Caucasus are a region of clustered, mountainous terrain with a massive diversity of cultures and languages that has basically been through hell and back over the course of human history. From foreign monarchs looking to expand their empires to tribal in-fighting and religious wars, the region has a great deal of experience with warfare of all kinds. It should come as no surprise then, to find out that the Caucasus produce some of the greatest combat sports athletes and overall warriors on the planet. Nestled in the forested peaks and reaching treacherous heights, the small but fierce nation of Dagestan remains the most fascinating case study from a martial arts perspective as it has produced several champions including freestyle wrestling Olympic gold medalist and consensus pound-for-pound wrestling great Abdulrashid Sadualev and the current champion of the UFC’s lightweight division, the undefeated Muslim warrior with a seeminly indomidable spirit, Khabib Nermagomedov. What this episode seeks to explore is how the region of Dagestan produces so many world-class combat sports athletes to the point where fighters from all over the world are travelling there to learn martial arts. Thanks to Khabib’s dominance in the UFC, a lot of interest has been sparked in his homeland and for good reason. As we take a closer look, you’ll see just how the Dagestani culture is tailor-made to produce the types of fighters who possess both an iron will and a work ethic in training that almost no one can keep up with. Intro music by Snyker We'd love to hear from you: info@fightiqpodcast.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/fightiqpodcast Brought to you by Hi-Kick Creative.