NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses Anthony Joshua's tenth-round TKO victory over Carlos Takam on October 28, and the controversies it caused regarding the fast stoppage and Joshua's less-than-stellar performance.

Next in an unofficial trilogy of top heavyweight fights will be WBC champion Deontay Wilder's rematch with Bermane Stiverne this Saturday, November 4. Wilder is 38-0 with 37 knockouts, Stiverne being his lone opponent not stopped within the distance. This rematch of their 2015 fight takes place at Brooklyn's Barclays Center and will be shown in the U.S. on Showtime and in the U.K. on Sky Sports.

Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller, 19-0-1 with 17 KOs, wants to get into title contention when he faces former title challenger Mariusz Wach on November 11 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, New York, in a fight which will be shown on HBO in the U.S.

We spoke with "Big Baby" and promoter Eddie Hearn on a media conference call this past week.

In addition, on his media conference call, Deontay Wilder was asked about racial inequality in the U.S., in light of the growing revolt by athletes against racist killings by police. We play Wilder's remarks on that subject, complete and unedited.

And we discuss what all this means for the heavyweight division, and much more.

You can play or download No Hold and here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: Anthony Joshua, boxing, Carlos Takam, Deontay Wilder, Eddie Goldman, Jarrell Big Baby Miller, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses the fight between IBF and WBA heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) and IBF mandatory challenger Carlos Takam (35-3-1, 27 KOs).

This fight takes place Saturday, October 28, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, with an expected crowd of between 70,000 and 80,000. It will be shown live in the U.K. on Sky Sports Box Office, in the U.S. on Showtime, in many countries in Africa on Kwesé Free Sports, and in many other countries around the world.

Topics include the global importance of this fight and event; the international popularity of Anthony Joshua; the significance of this fight for Africa, especially since Joshua's family comes from Nigeria and Takam is originally from its neighbor, Cameroon; what to expect in this fight; the state of the heavyweight division; how most of the U.S. boxing media understands none of this; and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: Africa, Anthony Joshua, boxing, Cameroon, Carlos Takam, Eddie Goldman, heavyweight, Nigeria, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with MMA legend Frank Shamrock.

Now 44 and retired as a fighter for many years, he will be returning to competition at the Rizin Fighting World Grand-Prix 2017 Autumn this Sunday, October 15.

This match, however, will not be an MMA fight, but a submission-only grappling rules match with a ten-minute time limit. His opponent will be another MMA legend, but someone whom he never fought in MMA, the 48-year-old Kazushi Sakuraba.

This event takes place at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan.

The main event on this card is a women's MMA fight between RENA and Andy Nguyen, which is a first round fight in the Rizin Woman's Super Atom Tournament.

We spoke with Frank Shamrock by phone Saturday while he was in Japan (Friday New York time).

Asked why he decided to take this match against Sakuraba, whom he called "a master at submissions," he said, "The reason why I always wanted to fight him, we had the same lineage of teachings. His teachers are my teachers."

He continued, "The main reason I want to fight him is, we have the same style, and I've never fought my style, my lineage before."

We discussed more on how that lineage comes from catch wrestling, how he was contacted to be in this match, how he has had "three careers" in the combat sports, why real professional catch wrestling can succeed if it is entertaining, how this match is a one-off, how Rizin can expand its popularity beyond Japan, his current work in television and a campaign to build awareness about mental health, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: catch wrestling, Eddie Goldman, Frank Shamrock, grappling, Japan, Kazushi Sakuraba, MMA, No Holds Barred, Rizin

Twenty years ago today, on October 11, 1997, the pioneering grappling event known as "The Contenders" was held. John Perretti was the main organizer of it, and we interviewed him on No Holds Barred about it in December 2012. Here is the original information on that show, as well as links to that original podcast:

From 2012 - No Holds Barred: John Perretti on His Pioneering 1997 Grappling Event, The Contenders

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again speaks with lifelong martial artist, former UFC and Battlecade Extreme Fighting matchmaker, TV commentator, and our senior correspondent, John Perretti.

On October 11, 1997, before the major no-gi grappling championships of today, John Perretti was the main organizer of a pioneering grappling event known simply as "The Contenders". The format was a seven-match card, held in Sioux City, Iowa, pitting a team of various martial artists against a team of elite U.S. wrestlers. Victory in each match could come by submission or, if there was none, judges' decision. There was no striking permitted, and the matches were held in a cage. The martial artists won, four matches to three, including three wins by submissions, but controversy ensued during and after the event about the rules and decisions.

This ended up being a money-losing, one-shot deal, because attendance was sparse and pay-per-view buys were minuscule. Still, it is considered a pioneering event because its concept helped inspire the numerous no-gi grappling championships which followed it.

Calling the event his "brainchild," John Perretti said in this interview, which was recorded by Skype Sunday, "I am to blame for all the problems with it." But he added, quoting a widely-held view about this event, "It's the greatest show no one ever saw."

We thus discussed what happened at this historic event, many of whose matches can be seen on YouTube, some of the lessons for today, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred at here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City February 16 and 17, 2013, for the fourth annual MMA World Expo, featuring an amateur MMA tournament, grappling, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, February 16, and Sunday, February 17, 2013, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

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American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Contenders, Eddie Goldman, grappling, John Perretti, mixed martial arts, MMA, No Holds Barred, submission, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses some of the latest trickeration and treats in boxing, including theories why the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz fight was never meant to take place, and how the rematch between Wilder and Bermane Stiverne, whom Wilder defeated in 2015, was the plan all along. Also examined are the many misconceptions and mountain of misinformation and disinformation which had been spread about anti-doping procedures and why Ortiz was legitimately facing sanctions for taking two substances banned by all anti-doping organizations that were in his blood pressure medicine.

On October 14, the PBC returns with a split doubleheader full of title fights, but of planned, different levels of competitiveness. First up, live on Fox and Fox Deportes in the U.S., and taking place at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, there are two featherweight title fights. Leo Santa Cruz will face Chris Avalos, and Abner Mares will fight Andres Gutierrez, both of which are designed as showcase fights to set up a much more anticipated Santa Cruz-Mares rematch following their 2015 fight, won by split decision by Santa Cruz.

Then on Showtime in the U.S, and taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, there will be a tripleheader of 154-pound title fights. WBA super champion Erislandy Lara, considered by many to be the best in the world in that division, will fight unbeaten Terrell Gausha. WBC champ Jermell Charlo will have a stiff test against undefeated Erickson Lubin. And IBF champ Jarrett Hurd will make the first defense of his belt against veteran former champion Austin Trout.

We discuss what is behind these fights, which may eventually lead to title unification fights, and get comments from Jarrett Hurd, Austin Trout, and Erickson Lubin from this past week's media conference call.

(Photo of Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder by Esther Lin/SHOWTIME.)

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: boxing, Charlo, deception, Deontay Wilder, doping, Eddie Goldman, Gausha, heavyweight, Hurd, Lara, Lubin, Luis Ortiz, Mares, matchmaking, No Holds Barred, Santa Cruz, Stiverne, trickeration, Trout

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses why the Nov. 4 heavyweight title fight between WBC champ Deontay Wilder and Luis "King Kong" Ortiz will apparently not take place due to a positive PED test for Ortiz. Discussed is what we know so far, how taking a medication which contained substances prohibited by anti-doping organizations led to this, the failure of Ortiz's team to list this on the forms they submitted or apply for a therapeutic use exemption, the consequences of such actions for Ortiz who already had been fined and suspended for PED use in 2014, and more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: boxing, Deontay Wilder, doping, Eddie Goldman, heavyweight, Luis King Kong Ortiz, No Holds Barred, trickeration