NO HOLDS BARRED

(Photo credit: Lucas Noonan/WSOF)

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.

A surprising announcement was made this past Monday by World Series of Fighting (WSOF), where she had been women's strawweight champion and had not lost a fight, that she was being released from the final fight of her contract "so that she can ideally pursue competition where it is strongest in her weight division."

Now a free agent, we spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Thursday about her plans.

Calling the WSOF people "awesome" and indicating that this was an amicable parting, she said that in her stay there, "It was hard to find opponents." While they still did find her opponents, and she had won all three fights in WSOF, she has not been booked since November and had no fight planned there.

"I just wanted to fight top-level opponents at my weight class," she said. "The ultimate goal is to be the best fighter out there at 115 pounds, and for me to continue proving that, I believe that I have to step up," to which, she added, WSOF management agreed.

"Now I'm a free agent," she said.

"I plan on becoming a UFC champion, because the talent there of athletes they have, the top females in my division. So that's my plan, Eddie."

She did note that as we spoke, she had not signed with any MMA organization, and could also pursue other options.

We also discussed why her focus on signing with a new organization has meant that she cannot participate in the upcoming 2015 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championships, August 28-30 in Sao Paulo, Brazil; her many community activities, including plans for this year's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Pride events in June; and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't 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 PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free 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 free to listen to and is sponsored by:

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 AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Labels: American Top Team, Eddie Goldman, Jessica Aguilar, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, UFC, WSOF

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, and the WSOF women's strawweight champion, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.

Now with a record of 18-4, her next fight will be at WSOF 15 on November 15 when she defends her title against Brazilian fighter Kalindra Faria, who has a record of 15-3-1 and is unbeaten in the last three years. WSOF 15 takes place at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida, and will be shown live in the U.S. for free on NBC Sports Network.

We spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Wednesday.

While this is easily the biggest fight of Kalindra Faria's career, Jessica Aguilar is not taking her lightly.

"She's very experienced. She has a great record. And again, this is an athlete that a lot of people don't know about. And it's always good to challenge myself with the best opponents possible. So it's going to be a great matchup," she said. "She has wins via submission and stoppage. So It's going to be another good fight."

We also discussed her community activities, including her work with GLAAD for the October 16 Spirit Day, which is an anti-bullying event that shows support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. She also works with the Pride Center in South Florida and the Miami Children's Hospital.

We also discussed the growing acceptance of the LGBT community and athletes in MMA and the combat sports, why she believes she is now "at my peak" as a fighter and is still improving, her training with American Top Team, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't 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:

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 AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to TakedownRadio.com.

Labels: American Top Team, Eddie Goldman, Jessica Aguilar, Kalindra Faria, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, Spirit Day, World Series Fighting, WSOF

Photo credit: Lucas Noonan/WSOF

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, and the WSOF women's strawweight champion, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.

She has just successfully defended her title with a dominating five-round unanimous decision over Japanese veteran MMA fighter and kickboxer Emi "The Kamikaze Angel" Fujino, who has never lost in MMA by submission or knockout/TKO. This fight took place at WSOF 10 on June 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was telecast live in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network.

We spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Monday.

While she is happy with her commanding victory, she did indicate that she had hoped to be the first to submit Emi Fujino.

"I need to get stronger and I need to work more on my wrestling and jiu-jitsu," she said.

"Again, I'm back to work and sharpening up those tools. But I'm confident that I'll get better. In each fight that I want to do now from now on for my career, I want to see a different fighter, a more advanced, a more intelligent [fighter]. And I just want to continue showcasing that I'm a better fighter, every fight, from now on."

We discussed how this fight ended up mostly standing, how she "grew" because of this fight, her plans to compete in more grappling events, her work with youth, the support she has received from the LGBT community, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't 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:

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City July 26 and 27, 2014, for the fifth annual MMA World Expo, featuring the Fighters Source U.S. Nationals amateur MMA tournament, two days of ADCC no-gi and gi grappling tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

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/.

The 2014 Catch Wrestling World Championship, presented by the Snake Pit U.S.A., taking place Sunday, July 27, at the MMA World Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. You can only win by pin or submission. Best two out of three falls. All styles welcome. For more information or to register, go to snakepitusa.com.

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, a catch wrestling promotion that works with the highest level catch wrestlers from around the world with the goal of reviving the great sport of catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance organizes catch wrestling sporting events, and its primary organizer is Dr. Raul Ramirez. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.com.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to http://takedownradio.com.

Labels: American Top Team, BJJ, Eddie Goldman, Emi Fujino, grappling, Japan, Jessica Aguilar, jiu-jitsu, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, World Series Fighting, WSOF

(Photo credit: WSOF/Lucas Noonan)

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, and the WSOF women's strawweight champion, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.

Her first title defense will at WSOF 10 on Saturday, June 21, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her opponent will be Japanese veteran MMA fighter and kickboxer Emi "The Kamikaze Angel" Fujino, who has never lost in MMA by submission or knockout/TKO.

This fight will be part of the live telecast of WSOF 10 in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network.

We spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Wednesday.

Speaking of her opponent, she said, "I know that she's very experienced and she's a vet. She's fought tough competition and I know that she loves to fight, she comes to fight."

She added, "That's normal with Japanese fighters. They always come to fight. They're warriors and they're very tough."

And she noted, "She's never lost by submission. She's lost by decision. She's tough to tap. She has a wrestling background as well and she looks strong. So it's going to be a really, really good fight for me."

We also discussed her connections with Japan. "I love Japan," she said, adding that she hopes to fight there again soon.

In addition, she spoke about the many activities in which she is involved outside combat sports in her community in south Florida and elsewhere. Those included hosting an event as part of this year's Aqua Girl events in south Florida, whose aim "is to provide a safe and positive environment for LBT [lesbian, bisexual, and transgender] women to socialize and network"; attending and being honored on stage along with other openly LGBT athletes at the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards in New York; and doing volunteer work at the Miami Children's Hospital, among other things.

Plus, she also recently had a successful return to the mat, winning a gold medal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the IBJJF Boca Raton International Open 2014. We discussed her grappling background, where her MMA career is at right now, her future plans, the growing acceptance of LGBT athletes, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't 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:

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City July 26 and 27, 2014, for the fifth annual MMA World Expo, featuring the Fighters Source U.S. Nationals amateur MMA tournament, two days of ADCC no-gi and gi grappling tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth. This invitational event will be held under catch wrestling rules, where you can only win by pin or submission. It will take place Saturday, June 7, in Collins Court in the John Wooden Center on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.com.

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/.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to http://takedownradio.com.

Labels: American Top Team, BJJ, Eddie Goldman, Emi Fujino, grappling, Japan, Jessica Aguilar, jiu-jitsu, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, World Series Fighting, WSOF

Photo credits: WSOF/Lucas Noonan

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, and the WSOF women's strawweight champion, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.

Her debut fight with the World Series of Fighting was on January 18 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. There she captured WSOF's inaugural women's strawweight title by defeating Alida Gray by submission with an arm triangle choke at 2:45 of the first round.

We spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Sunday.

Having fought in MMA professionally now for eight years, she said that she expects to be fighting for about five more years.

"My goal and my plan is to go out as a champion," she said. "That's what I'm going to do."

Noted for her jiu-jitsu and grappling, she also would like to resume competition on the mat.

"After that, or in-between that, I still want to compete in jiu-jitsu, absolutely," she said. "I went back to training and I'm doing more of that. So I would love to start competing in the grappling arena as well."

Besides fighting and training, she is very involved with many community organizations in south Florida, and plans to do even more than she has already. She is a motivational speaker for the anti-bullying organization Sweethearts and Heroes. She is involved with the Miami Children's Hospital. And she works with the Pride Center in Wilton Manors, Florida, which serves the LGBTQ communities and friends and neighbors in south Florida.

We also discussed when she expects that her next fight will take place, her good experiences working with WSOF, why working with WSOF was the right decision for her, 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 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.

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: American Top Team, BJJ, Eddie Goldman, grappling, Jessica Aguilar, jiu-jitsu, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, World Series Fighting, WSOF

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman opens with a commentary on the resignation of Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer, how this relates to the suspension of baseball drug cheat Alex Rodriguez, how most sports and those regulated by North American athletic commissions are moving in opposite directions on the issue of doping, and the continuing dangers of concussions and brain injuries in combat sports.

On Saturday, January 18, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar, who is the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, will make her debut in the World Series of Fighting promotion. Her opponent will be Alida Gray, 4-0 in MMA, in a bout for World Series of Fighting's inaugural women's strawweight title. This fight will be on the WSOF 8 card at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and will be telecast live in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network.

We had a chance to ask questions of both Jessica Aguilar and Alida Gray on this past week's WSOF 8 media conference call, and play the audio from that discussion.

In addition, also discussed are the continuing failures of the sport of wrestling to market and promote the sport, especially through television, and the emulation of many in combat sports of the worst elements in them, rather than striving for positioning them as real sports.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't 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.

GrappleGnostic, sponsored by Defense Soap. Where the will to win meets the power of knowledge. Features, interviews, analysis, health tips, and information on wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and all the grappling arts, written by some of the best writers and experts in the world. Check out their web site, a http://defensesoap.com/grapplegnostic.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at http://defensesoap.com.

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: A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, Alida Gray, concussions, CTE, doping, drugs, Eddie Goldman, Jessica Aguilar, Keith Kizer, MMA, No Holds Barred, PED, steroids, World Series Fighting, wrestling, WSOF

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.

She has recently signed with the World Series of Fighting, and will make her debut in that promotion at WSOF 8 on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Her opponent will be Alida Gray, 4-0 in MMA, in a bout for World Series of Fighting's inaugural women's strawweight title.

WSOF 8 will be telecast live in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network.

We spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Sunday night.

Having watched some video of Alida Gray, she is confident that she will win this fight and retain her number one ranking.

"I'm going to be ready," she said, "and that belt's going to be mine."

We also discussed her previous fight, a rematch with grappling legend and MMA pioneer Megumi Fujii, which took place October 5, 2013, on the Vale Tudo Japan 3rd event card in Ota, Tokyo, Japan. Jessica Aguilar won that fight, albeit with some controversy, and she explained what happened.

In addition, we also discussed the treatment of LGBT fighters in MMA and her own experiences. Speaking for herself, she said that there was "nothing bad to say from my experience."

Besides reiterating her love of Japan and their culture and fans, we discussed her future plans, how her mother has come to accept that she is a fighter, her training at American Top Team, and the humorous story of how she first became a professional MMA fighter. And towards the end of our discussion, she treated us to a brief rendition of an old Garth Brooks song.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't 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:

LenneHardt.com, the web site of the world's greatest ring announcer, Lenne Hardt. Need a unique and cool combat sports-related gift? At LenneHardt.com, you can order personalized messages, wedding calls, ringtones, phone answering messages, and more, all recorded by Lenne herself, in the style of your choice. For more information, go to LenneHardt.com.

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.

GrappleGnostic, sponsored by Defense Soap. Where the will to win meets the power of knowledge. Features, interviews, analysis, health tips, and information on wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and all the grappling arts, written by some of the best writers and experts in the world. Check out their web site, a http://defensesoap.com/grapplegnostic.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at http://defensesoap.com.

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: Alida Gray, American Top Team, Eddie Goldman, Jessica Aguilar, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, World Series Fighting, WSOF

Labels: Andrei Arlovski, Anthony Johnson, D.J. Linderman, Devin Cole, Eddie Goldman, MMA, NBC Sports Network, No Holds Barred, Ray Sefo, World Series of Fighting, WSOF