Fitz & A Fighter

Get 50% off 1 year of UFC Fight Pass!  Use promo code: MARCHFitz Nation on YouTubeFitz Nation on UFC Fight PassNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchFitz welcomes UFC veteran and MMA coach Din Thomas to the studio to talk about living a sober lifestyle.Both Fitz and Din were all about having a few drinks and enjoying a good time for years, but both went sober starting in 2020.Din talks about realizing he was drinking too much, the shift in mindset, the enjoyment of having no “crutch” with alcohol, and also why he quit as head coach at American Top Team.Catch Din on his podcast "The Lover and the Fighter" on UFC Fight Pass Podcast Central!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Get 50% off 1 year of UFC Fight Pass!  Use promo code: MARCHFitz Nation on YouTubeFitz Nation on UFC Fight PassNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchFitz catches up with good friend Gianni "The Greek" to talk about the wild world of sports betting.  Gianni is a Philly native who started booking bets before he got out of high school and just continued down the same path.He eventually found his way to Las Vegas where he was known as "Vegas Runner" and worked with major betting syndicates for decades.Now, while continuing in the pro sports betting world, he has also joined UFC Fight Pass as a betting analyst for UFC On The Line, giving fans the sharpest takes and letting them in on UFC picks for the biggest events.Catch Gianni on his podcast with Nick Kalikas "The Gambler's Perspective" on UFC Fight Pass Podcast Central.Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Fitz Nation on YouTubeFitz Nation on UFC Fight PassNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchIn this episode, Fitz catches up with Fortis MMA head coach Sayif Saud to talk about Ryan Spann's upcoming main event vs. Nikita Krylov.  They also talk about the heavyweight debut of Jon Jones as UFC 285 approaches.Then, Jeff Novitzky joins the show to clear up the situation regarding Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 and the rules surrounding UFC fighter IV use.  They also discuss more USADA matters as the quest to keep the sport clean is always evolving.Finally, Fitz caught up with Erin Blanchfield the day before her main event vs. Jessica Andrade to chat about the new spotlight on her career and all things New Jersey!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Fitz Nation on YouTubeFitz Nation on UFC Fight PassNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchWhile in Bristol, Connecticut to cover UFC 284 at ESPN headquarters, Fitz catches up with light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith.Smith has an upcoming main event vs. Johnny Walker in May, a fight that has been talked about for awhile as a potential match-up that appears to finally be coming together.They also talk about career longevity for fighters, how Smith has generated headlines through his work in media and more!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Fitz Nation on YouTubeFitz Nation on UFC Fight PassNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchJon Anik joins the show before he hops on the call for UFC 284 to discuss finding his sports broadcast career, voicing opinions publicly, what it was like being an identical twin, changes in being the top UFC voice, how he built career skills, and the challenges of a UFC broadcast.Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassFitz Nation on YouTubeNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchFitz is back with good friend Laura Sanko to chat about her upcoming gig as part of the UFC commentary team at UFC Vegas 68 with John Gooden and Michael Bisping.Laura has been a part of the UFC broadcast team for years, but primarily serving in the reporting role on UFC Fight Nights and then helping to launch Dana White's Contender Series.What's surprising to many is finding out that Laura did not come up the ranks as a sports TV reporter, but in the MMA world.  She fought one professional fight (she won) before becoming pregnant and retiring from competition.But, she has continued to train through the years while growing her broadcasting career.  Being an analyst on a UFC broadcast has been a goal of hers for a long time and now she has that chance!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassFitz Nation on YouTubeNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchFitz strings together a few interviews during fight week at UFC Vegas 67.Included on the show:Veteran MMA coach Sayif Saud on UFC 283, coaching Brandon Moreno and the focus for his team at Fortis MMA after winning 2022 Gym of the Year from MMA Junkie.Heidi Androl on celebrating firsts in 2023 and what her journey has been like covering MMA since 2009.Harrison Green, who joined the UFC social media team at 20-years-old, on the bullet points to grow your following and what the UFC does well on social media.Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassFitz Nation on YouTubeNEW!!!  Fitz Nation merchFitz launches 2023 with a whole new outlook on Fitz Nation.He details changes to the format of the show, going beyond just 1-on-1 interviews with newsmakers in the UFC.On this and future episodes, you can expect segments like Q&A, fight previews for upcoming events, recurring guests, shorter interviews and much more.  The possibilities are endless!Of course, Fitz Nation is streaming on UFC Fight Pass, and some of the new segments will be more video-focused.  The audio version of the show will share the best segments that work in your earbuds.It's an exciting time and I think UFC fans will love some of this new content!  Happy New Year!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

You can watch episodes of Fitz Nation exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASSRenato Moicano is back in the UFC lightweight rankings after his huge win at UFC 281 in New York City over Brad Riddell.  His first round submission was impressive and then he added to the moment by one of the most energizing and memorable post-fight interviews of 2022 with Joe Rogan.Moicano has been a pro fighter since 2010, quitting law school in his home city of Brasilia to pursue MMA full time.  At both featherweight and lightweight in the UFC, he has been in fights with some of the biggest names, like Rafael dos Anjos, Jose Aldo, Brian Ortega, Cub Swanson, The Korean Zombie and others.Included in this episode:how new popularity has changed Renato's life (the value of learning to speak English) upbringing in Brasilia (his father's strong work ethic, growing up in an upper middle class family)deciding to become a fighter instead of going to law schoolwhat drew him to fighting (street-fighting uncles, getting in his first fight at six years old, story of his first pro fight)the feeling of freedom in fighting (how his third fight propelled him)keeping his passion and joy despite the pressurereflecting on big moments in his career (Jeremy Stephens fight, losses, Brad Riddell win)developing his public persona (speaking in third-person, being called “Mohawk”, having a healthy relationship with money)Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

UFC flyweight Cody Durden joins Fitz Nation!  Cody is fresh off back to back wins in 2022 and talks about his journey as a standout high school wrestler who had to leave multiple college scholarship offers on the table to put fatherhood first.  Despite life getting in the way, his dream of becoming a world-class combat athlete remained.  His dedication to being an MMA fighter while working a full time job and helping provide for his family paid off with his entry into the UFC in 2020.  He is a flyweight to watch as he tries to climb the ranks!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

UFC veteran Lando Vannata joins Fitz Nation!  We had a wide-ranging chat about his journey from BMX racer to combat sports enthusiast to UFC action fighter!Included on the show:Lando's gaming rig (passion for car racing, adrenaline of a race vs. the rush of fighting)Cancelling fight with Andre Fili (tumultuous fight camp, expected return date)Being mentally stronger than ever (battling depression early in UFC career, panic attacks, working with a mental coach, always improving)Normal upbringing traveling around the U.S. (loving BMX racing, huge influence of his father, becoming obsessed with UFC after seeing Pedro Rizzo vs. Josh Barnett on VHS)   “Ever since I saw that fight, I was like, “Yep. That's what I want to do with my life.”Why he was drawn to fighting (being the smallest brother, journey through wrestling in high school)Expectations of fighting vs. reality (the value of putting all your energy into one place)       “I thought I was going to retire by the time I was 30. Now, I just have the mindset of breadth over depth.”Advice to his younger self now that he's 30Balancing his goals with growing older (mindfulness, belief in oneself, sports psychology and mental coaching).   “I think the best thing you can do for yourself is learn how to have deep-seated confidence.”Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Fitz is joined by the future UFC Hall of Famer and former champ Frankie Edgar.Edgar held a UFC title in the lightweight division.  He then moved down to featherweight, where he competed in multiple title fights and has ultimately spent the last stage of his career as a bantamweight.Edgar recalls the early days of his MMA career, how coming up short during his wrestling career fueled his drive as a pro fighter, advice to young fighters and athletes and more.Thanks for checking out the show!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Watch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassCheck out my NEW YouTube channelFitz catches up with UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush to talk about his upbringing in Iran, moving to to the United States as a kid, always being a fighter and how he's had to work really hard to be the nice guy people think of him as.Be sure to check him out this week at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi as he takes on Mateusz Gamrot in a big match-up!Follow Fitz:Instagram TikTok Twitter

Watch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassCheck out my NEW YouTube channelFitz chats with UFC welterweight Alex Morono.Morono has an interesting back story as a person who was never an athlete growing up. While he was always active, it was never in an organized activity.  After his mom signed him up at a local boxing gym, he fell in love with combat sports.  Boxing then led to jiu jitsu which eventually got him taking fights.Once setting a goal for fighting 20 times in the UFC, Morono says he now wants 20 wins in the UFC.  As a 16-time UFC veteran, he's on his way.  Enjoy this episode!

Watch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassCheck out my NEW YouTube channelFitz chats with UFC Hall of Famer Cub Swanson as he gets ready to make his first walk as a UFC bantamweight in October.Cub has had a decorated career as a pro fighter and is one of the originals when it comes to transitioning from the WEC to the UFC.  He has fought all the big names of his era and continues to challenge top prospects and veterans as he winds down his career.Swanson was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in the summer of 2022 in the Fight Wing for his epic bout vs. Doo Ho Choi in 2016 (which happens to be one of my favorite fights of all time).Cub will fight Jonathan Martinez at the UFC Apex on October 15th.

Watch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassFitz chats with UFC middleweight Brendan Allen.  "All In" talks about his upbringing in a military family, settling in Louisiana and finding a love for martial arts.Allen is 7-2 in the UFC since arriving through an impressive win on Dana White's Contender Series back in 2019.  He has finished most of his victories, including an impressive W over Kevin Holland in his UFC debut.Allen will fight Krystof Jotko on October 1st at the UFC Apex.

Watch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassFitz Nation is back with new UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer!Joe is the first guest in Fitz Nation history that is a fighter yet to make his UFC debut.  He had a major moment on Dana White's Contender Series in July when he scored a KO win and brought big time energy during and after the fight in his interview.That was put on hyperdrive when he was the only fighter that night to earn a UFC contract and Dana White came with the message of "BE JOE PYFER!" to send a message as to what he's looking for in the UFC.Joe has a very compelling story of a disconnect with his family, and he is candid about his abuse growing up and trying to mentally come to terms with what makes him happy, healthy and connected.Enjoy the show!

Watch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassFitz chats with UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen.Sandhagen is one of the most exciting bantamweight fighters in the world.  He also has a very unique mindset in how he thinks of himself and the place in the world.He talks a lot about the art or martial arts being the most important part.  To Sandhagen, there are two prongs to being a pro fighter:  1) Having a lot of clout and 2) being really, really good.  He's putting all his eggs in the being good basket and so far it's worked out for him!  I think you'll love this episode of Fitz Nation!

Watch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassJalin Turner is the latest UFC contender to join Fitz Nation after his big win over Brad Riddell in Las Vegas.  Turner not only has an impressive win streak that's propelled him to the top 15, but he has also finished his opponents at a dizzying rate, making him a prospect to watch at 155 pounds.In this interview, Turner talks about humble beginnings as a kid in San Bernardino, California, not having his father as part of his life, always having an interest in animals and wildlife, discovering a love for combat sports and stopping at nothing to be a fighter.

Fitz Nation is supported by Manscaped.com!  Get 20% OFF + Free Shipping with promo code FITZ20 at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpodWatch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassJason and Randy Sklar (aka The Sklar Brothers) chat with UFC announcer Brendan Fitzgerald on Fitz Nation about their upcoming show 'The Nosebleeds' on UFC Fight Pass.They also go into their careers as a unique brand of twin brother comedians, and how they transitioned to be known as comedians for sports fans with their hit show Cheap Seats.

Fitz Nation is supported by Manscaped.com!  Get 20% OFF + Free Shipping with promo code FITZ20 at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpodWatch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassCody Stamann is fresh off a recent win vs. Eddie Wineland at UFC Austin and chats with Brendan Fitzgerald about his life and career on Fitz Nation.  Hear Cody's journey from his blue-collar background in Michigan, finding combat sports and diving deep into MMA.Stamann has had a solid UFC run so far and looks to keep building momentum after his big win!

Fitz Nation is supported by Manscaped.com!  Get 20% OFF + Free Shipping with promo code FITZ20 at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpodWatch Fitz Nation on UFC Fight PassChris Curtis chats with Brendan Fitzgerald on the Fitz Nation Podcast.Curtis broke into the UFC in late 2021 with a huge win over Phil Hawes.  He then went on to finish Brendan Allen shortly after.Recently, he earned a win over Rodolfo Vieira at the UFC Apex and takes a quick turnaround and huge opportunity to take on Jack Hermansson at UFC London!

Support the show at MANSCAPED.com by using the promo code FITZ20Here's another repost of an old episode that is relevant this week!  Yair Rodriguez is back in a main event at UFC Long Island this Saturday, so I thought I'd post our chat from February of 2020.This was one of the last shows I did with an in-person guest (as I did for all of the first 23 or so episodes).  After talking with Yair that day, I realized how great it would be to have video of the show as well for use on YouTube (and now UFC Fight Pass).  Watching him go through his memories and feeling the emotions made for such a compelling conversation.I'm a huge fan of Yair's for the fighter that he is and the mindset that he has.  I thought those who didn't listen to it back then still might find it a great listen.

Support the show at MANSCAPED.com by using the promo code FITZ20I spend Friday at UFC X in Las Vegas, the UFC's gigantic fan expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center.As part of my day, I sat down at the UFC social media booth with Kevin Holland.  As always, he was great to chat with.  Hope you enjoy!The video version is available on my YouTube channel.

Brendan Fitzgerald chats with UFC veteran and featherweight contender Alex Caceres.Caceres is a recognizable character to fight fans with his free-flowing style and of course the trademark hairstyle.He has been on a long journey in the UFC and is still going strong as he is about to turn 34 years old.Full episodes of Fitz Nation are now exclusively on UFC Fight PassShow Notes0:00 - Intro1:30 - Veganism (Influenced by documentary forks over knives, wearing a Vegan strong shirt)4:30 - Life Update5:00 - Pinched his sciatic nerve5:15 - Rolling a blunt6:00 - What was Alex's earlier life like?7:10 - Father was a drug dealer7:40 - Molested when he was a child 8:30 - Body dysmorphia 10:10 - Run in with police officers12:00 - Afro-Cuban and Afro-Dominican, Completely Latino12:20 - What Formed Alex15:00 - Alex's belief in the Martial Arts lifestyle 16:15 - Anything is an art 17:04 - The Non-Physical World 18:00 - The Flaws of the Education System 20:25 - Doesn't Have Expectations of Himself22:22 - What It Means To Live With Expectations24:00 - When Did Alex Think MMA Was A Career 26:04 - How MMA Was The Perfect Path27:46 - Alex Smiling during the Fights30:00 - Alex's TUF Experience31:20 - Biggest Lessons He's Learned in MMA33:45 - Alex's Is Afraid to Shine Bright 35:30 - Alex Doesn't Watch Tape37:00 - The Magic Of Not Giving a Fuck38:55 - Managing the Small Things39:30 - Alex's UFC Career 41:50 - What Alex Wants To Achieve

Full episodes of Fitz Nation are exclusively on UFC Fight PassFitz is back with UFC featherweight contender Josh Emmett.   The veteran from Sacramento is ready for his main event vs. Calvin Kattar in a high stakes match-up at UFC Austin later this month.In this episode, Emmett discusses his upbringing with a single mom and older brother that dealt with addiction, how he found wrestling and what got him to pursue being a fighter in the UFC.He also discusses his mindset as a fighter and one who is so clear on his mission to be a UFC champion.  He has never been closer, as he sits in the top 10 with a huge match-up on the horizon.

Check out the full interview only on UFC FIGHT PASS.On this episode of Fitz Nation, Brendan Fitzgerald chats with UFC flyweight contender Maycee Barber.  Barber has packed a lot of life experience into her first 23 years.  She was just 20 years old when appearing on Dana White's Contender Series in 2018, getting a big win and earning a UFC contract.She has been thought of as a bright star and eventual championship challenger, but things didn't go according to plan in her goal to be the youngest ever UFC champion.  As always, the ups and downs of life come with valuable lessons, which she discusses on this episode.

Fitz chats with UFC bantamweight Davey Grant.Grant has really had a nice run of exciting fights since 2020, returning after a long injury layoff to score a 3rd round KO at the first event on Fight Island.In his last two fights, he's gone toe to toe with Chito Vera (now a title contender) and Adrian Yanez.At 36, he says he still has a lot of fight left!Head to UFC Fight Pass for the full interviews of Fitz Nation

In this episode, Fitz chats with UFC light heavyweight veteran Khalil Rountree.Khalil has been in the UFC for years now after appearing on The Ultimate Fighter to get his shot with the promotion.But what makes his story so impressive is about how he grew up.  After his father was murdered when he was 2 years old, Rountree developed into an introvert who saw the world as a dark place.  He got bullied in school and never had a sports background.As a teenager, he started letting himself go and eventually weighed 300 pounds.  There were times when he contemplated suicide before his brother ultimately got him into MMA after he watched The Ultimate Fighter.Hope you love the episode!  Leave a review, subscribe and connect with me on social media @BrendanFitzTV!

Clayton Guida is a UFC lightweight who's been a professional competitor since 2003.He also competed for Strikeforce, becoming the inaugural Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, WEC, and King of the Cage among other promotions.UFC fans know Guida for his long hair and high energy.  He attributes his aggressive attack to his days as a high school and college wrestler, but you may be surprised to find out that he didn't exactly achieve high accolades during his high school wrestling days.In this interview, Fitz and Guida chat about his midwest upbringing in Illinois, how he found MMA at a rural gentlemen's club, and his longevity in the UFC.Check out Gillz and Thrillz with Guida, his new business taking people out fishing and to big sporting events.

Fitz Nation is back with new episodes as Brendan Fitzgerald speaks with UFC welterweight Vicente Luque.Luque is currently ranked 4th in the UFC's welterweight division.  This Saturday, he will fight 5th ranked Belal Muhammad in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Muhammad.In this episode, Fitz talks to Vicente about his roots in New Jersey, but growing up in Brazil after his parents divorced.  They talk about how he found himself getting into fights in school, and why Vicente said it was fun!His MMA career started with inconsistent results, but it's those early career losses he attributes to his overall success since joining the UFC.To watch the show, check it out on UFC Fight Pass!You can also watch clips of the podcast on Brendan's YouTube channel.Be sure to connect with Fitz on social media:InstagramTwitterTikTok

Before new episodes come back at you in the next few weeks, thought I would repost this episode from 1 year ago with Chris Daukaus.He fights this week in the main event at UFC Columbus.  This is an evergreen interview about his life and career, going from 300-pounds to becoming an MMA fighter that balanced training and serving as a Philadelphia police officer.Chris and his brother Kyle are on the roster of UFC fighters that are brothers.  Thanks for checking out Fitz Nation!

Drew Dober fights Terrance McKinney this week at UFC Vegas 50.He is a veteran contender in the lightweight division and has spent time inside the top 15.  This interview is from March of 2021, just before he fought Islam Makhachev.  He lost that bout and then fought Brad Riddell in a Fight of the Night match-up later in 2021.  Now, he looks to turn things around and get back on track, something he has done before in the UFC and tells about in this episode.New episodes of Fitz Nation will be returning in the coming weeks!

UFC announcer Brendan Fitzgerald chats with UFC veteran and The Ultimate Fighter winner Court McGee on Fitz Nation.Court McGee is a UFC welterweight veteran who is off back-to-back wins including a victory over Ramiz Brahimaj in early 2022.In this episode, Brendan Fitzgerald and Court McGee discuss his well-known battle with addiction and how he has remained sober for the last 16 years.  Raised in what many would consider "normal" surroundings for an American kid, McGee started getting into drugs and alcohol as a young teenager.  He spiraled to being a heavy addict with multiple recoveries and relapses and legal trouble along the way.  After truly getting sober, he was cast on season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter and went on to win that season of the show.McGee talks about his life in martial arts and combat sports, using his history with addiction as a platform to help others, and what his journey to overcome means in believing and connecting with a higher power.  We dig deep on his incredible story in this interview.Sign up for The Fitz Nation Newsletter:  https://fitznation.substack.comCONNECT WITH FITZ Twitter - https://twitter.com/BrendanFitzTVInstagram -  https://www.instagram.com/brendanfitztv/

Bryce Mitchell (aka Thug Nasty) is a UFC featherweight contender currently ranked #11 in the division and is scheduled to fight Edson Barboza at UFC 272 on March 5th.In this episode, Bryce talks about his roots in Arkansas.  He was raised by a single mom and his grandparents and has never met his father.  From a young age, he loved competition but was a little rough for team sports like basketball.  He was not the most talented, but he has always been the most fearless among his friends and was drawn to martial arts.  After getting into MMA to learn how to defend himself should he find trouble, he instead loved training, competing and avoiding bad situations altogether.Mitchell talks about his life in martial arts, being aware that coming from the country leads people to believe he's not smart, his distrust for the government, and his faith in God.  We hit a wide-ranging variety of topics and it made for a memorable interview.Sign up for The Fitz Nation Newsletter:  https://fitznation.substack.comCONNECT WITH FITZ Twitter - https://twitter.com/BrendanFitzTVInstagram -  https://www.instagram.com/brendanfitztv/

Sean Brady is a UFC welterweight contender currently ranked #9 in the division and coming off a big win over fellow contender Michael Chiesa.In this episode, Brendan Fitzgerald and Sean Brady talk about his early life in Philadelphia and how he never really found his true passion growing up until he signed up for martial arts as a teenager.  He was battling low self esteem because he didn't know what he wanted to pursue after high school, but once he found martial arts, he put everything into it.➡️  Brady talks about why living the lifestyle of a martial artist is most important to him and that fighting in the UFC octagon is just a part of what it takes to reach what he's chasing. With his record sitting at 15-0 including 5 UFC wins, whatever he's done so far is clearly working!CONNECT WITH FITZ

Bryan "Pooh Bear" Battle is a UFC middleweight and winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 29 in 2021.In this episode, Brendan Fitzgerald and Bryan Battle discuss his unique upbringing in North Carolina, being home schooled through high school and finding martial arts in his early 20s.➡️  Battle also talks about how he chooses to prove those who support him right instead of focusing on the haters and proving them wrong. He has his 2nd UFC appearance coming up at UFC Fight Night on February 5th when he takes on fellow TUF castmate Tresean Gore.

Is It ALWAYS a Good Idea to Be Yourself?  Brendan Fitzgerald talks about when being yourself can hold you back.Sometimes, the habit of "being yourself" can give you expectations to live up to based on what those around you know about you.  While we want to become more, we often want to achieve it by staying true to ourselves, but that can be difficult.  Becoming more than what you are by definition means you can't just be yourself in the process.

UFC announcer Brendan Fitzgerald

Fitz chats with UFC featherweight Charles Jourdain, who is coming off a big win vs. Andre Ewell at UFC Fight Night on 12/18.Jourdain is about to sign a new contract with the UFC and is one of the most exciting featherweight prospects in the promotion.  His signature win came against Doo Ho Choi in 2019, but he has thrilled fight fans with each performance and hopes to deliver more in 2022 and beyond.CONNECT WITH FITZ

Many of us are working on establishing new good habits at this time of year.  I am no different, and after recently reading Atomic Habits by James Clear, I was inspired to make a quick bonus episode to pass along what I have found to be helpful.I'm planning to try to put out a mini bonus episode each week with a good story, something I've learned or anything else that might lend itself well for your listening pleasure.You can also watch these episodes on my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/brendanfitzgerald

UFC bantamweight Randy Costa chats with UFC announcer Brendan Fitzgerald about his unlikely rise to being in the UFC.  Costa participated in martial arts but never thought of himself as a fighter.  As a tribute to his friend, Devin Carrier, who tragically died in a car accident, he took a pro fight and found success.  The rest, as they say, is history.Costa has two UFC knockouts and fights Tony Kelley at UFC 269 this weekend!CONNECT WITH FITZ

Eryk Anders interview with UFC announcer Brendan Fitzgerald | Fitz Nation PodcastUFC veteran Eryk Anders joins Brendan Fitzgerald to talk about his journey to becoming an MMA fighter and getting to the UFC.  Anders grew up in a military family, moving often throughout his childhood and living in all parts of the world.In this chat, he talks about the grind of earning a college football scholarship at Alabama, finding jiu jitsu and martial arts after college, and becoming an MMA fighter.  He's getting ready for another UFC appearance at UFC Fight Night in November against Roman Dolidze.CONNECT WITH FITZ

Charles Rosa has been a steady customer in the UFC featherweight division for nearly 10 years.  The Boston native has produced memorable fights, like when he fought Yair Rodriguez at UFC Mexico City to a Fight of the Night bonus.  He also produced a Fight of the Night vs. Shane Burgos, and an incredible return to action after a neck injury with a submission win over Manny Bermudez in October of 2019 in his home city of Boston.Rosa has a recent win over Justin Jaynes and he takes on Damon Jackson coming up on October 9, 2021 at UFC Fight Night on ESPN+.   Charles' charity CHUCKY'S FIGHT:  http://www.chuckysfight.comCONNECT WITH CHARLES

Ricky Turcios is coming off his win at UFC Fight Night in August, a victory which crowned him winner of The Ultimate Fighter.A veteran of season 1 of Dana White's Contender Series, Turcios was the standout personality on the The Return of the Ultimate Fighter for his positive attitude and the amazing fights he delivered.He ultimately earned a win over Brady Hiestand to win the tournament.CONNECT WITH RICKY

Devonte Smith is a rising lightweight contender in the UFC.  He is 3-1 since joining the UFC in 2018 with all 3 wins coming by knockout.From Cleveland, Devonte has had to ride the rollercoaster of life's ups and downs, coming from a big family and draws inspiration from his mother to always make things work.Devonte talks with Fitz about his early years and being a martial arts fan, his early career when he stopped fighting to work and help buy a house for his family, and much more!He has a fight coming up on October 2nd vs. Jamie Mullarkey at UFC Fight Night on ESPN+.

Dan Ige chats with UFC announcer Brendan Fitzgerald about becoming a dad as a fighter, mental approach, what he learned from Khabib Nurmagomedov, his future as an MMA manager and much more.Ige is coming off a main event appearance in the UFC over the summer against The Korean Zombie.FOLLOW :Twitter: https://twitter.com/dynamitedan808Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynamitedan808CONNECT WITH FITZ

Mike Moor, better known as "Mindset Mike," is a mental coach for combat sports athletes, including fighters in the UFC.I thought since a lot of my conversations with fighters have gone down a path of personal development and mindset traits that have allowed them to reach the sport's top level, it would be interesting to talk to someone who helps get them there.  This is part 2 of my interview with Mike and I think anyone interested in the realm of the mindset of world-class athletes will enjoy!