Balancing Family and Fighting

Speaker 4
So, I mean, well, we're super active in our church. So they go to like group once a week. We have our, our church has a homeschool group that we're a part of. They go to art classes. Um, we just traveled for a week after my fight, we went to Utah. We went to, um, Zion and Bryce Canyon and the grand canyon and had the time of our lives um but i just felt like really i don't work a nine to five these kids were given to me for a reason why am i having them spend eight hours a day with a stranger and and we're gonna try it and see how it goes. And it's been the best year of my life, getting to spend time with them, like getting out of the rat race a little bit. Like we wake up, we do a devotional, we do all of our chores together in the barn, then we go over and we do school, and then I go train. I mean, no, don't get me wrong, it's the hardest year of my life, but it's the most rewarding by far.
Speaker 1
So I was going to ask about the training. What do you do then? Cause you're training a lot during the day, right? Yeah.
Speaker 4
So, uh, Ms. Shana comes over who is like my right hand man. She's a, she's a stud. My mom comes to help when I get really close to the fight because I'm training when I get close to the fight, you know, I'm training like three times a day, um, including like the slow steady state cardio. That is the bane of my existence. So we do school in the morning, then I'll train and I'll come home. Then we'll do more school. We'll eat together. Then I'll train again. Then I'll come home. Then we'll hang out and I'll go train again. Yeah.
Speaker 1
Wow. That is a lot to handle. It's, it's, I mean, some people were lamenting the fact during the pandemic that their kids were home at, you know, during school hours, you're inviting this. So kudos to you. And, and I'm sure as you're gearing up and cutting weight, patience is kind of low as well, right? You're sitting there doing homework and stuff or teaching lessons and you're freaking calorie deprived.
Speaker 4
Yeah. I mean, and I also fast. So I don't eat my first meal until 12 o'clock. Oh, my. And we wake up at 6 a.m. every day. So like from 6 to 12, I'm just on coffee and God's grace. But it is funny. You know, like we ask. I always want to grow. And like patience is something that I've always struggled with. And so like, now I'm homeschooling my kids, and I have no choice but to learn how to be patient and self control, like with food, you know, never been a strong suit of mine all has have always eaten whatever I wanted. And now I'm fighting at 135 pounds and I literally cannot do that if I want to do what I want to do. So like, God doesn't test us, but he gives us opportunities to grow. And this year has been a big year for growth for me.
Speaker 1
Oh yeah. I mean, we all remember when you first joined our show, you said you'd have to cut off a leg to make 135. Now you've done it twice. You've done it twice. Which one was harder, April or this one? The
Speaker 4
cut was, the actual cut itself was better this time. Like I didn't have to spend as much time and I didn't have to cut weight Friday morning. It's more just like the anticipation of it. Before it was like, oh, can I, oh, there's my dog. Oh, can I do it? And now it's like, oh, I have to do it. If that makes sense. Okay.
Speaker 1
I mean, yes. So, so you got it out of the way, but your, your body knows how it's a great shot, by the way. What a, what a stud. Um,
Speaker 4
I've been gone for three weeks, but,
Speaker 1
but you know, you, you correct me if I'm wrong. You didn't have to go to the hospital the first time, right
Speaker 4
i didn't so
Speaker 1
what happened this time honestly
Speaker 4
i don't know what
Speaker 1
did you feel i
Speaker 4
mean i just don't i hate to make excuses
Speaker 1
it's not an excuse you won the fight in dominant fashion it's
Speaker 4
just like whatever i mean i just was like I had the week before the fight, we went out early. And the week before the fight, I started having like bad cramps. And I had a couple instances where there was blood in my urine. And so we went to the hospital, tried to figure it out. Thought maybe it was a UTI or something, but it wasn't a UTI. It wasn't kidney stones. I don't know know what it was. Do,
Speaker 1
do they think it was related to the weight cut? I
Speaker 4
don't think so. Are
Speaker 1
you worried that you are hurting your body by doing this?
Speaker 4
No, no. Do you feel like it's safe? It's healthy. like, dude, we fight. Like, I get an occasion to fight for a living. Like, healthier relative to what? Like, yeah, I think that it's a chosen commitment and a chosen sacrifice. I always tell my kids, my body, my choice.
Speaker 1
Yes, amen. How's the hand? I know you heard it after the April fight. All good in the aftermath? Killing
Speaker 4
it. Yeah. Look at that. Yeah.
Speaker 1
And to me, there it is. Yes. To the world. Or maybe to people in particular. But to me, what was so fascinating about that fight was, I still will never forget you on Long Island. One of your first PFL fights, you win via dominant, dominant decisions, like not even close. And I'll never forget you walking out in tears. Like if someone just turned on the TV, they would have thought you'd lost because you were so upset that it went the distance. Here you go the distance against much tougher competition. But to me, the big story was Kayla bleeds. She's actually human. She actually bleed and i wanted to see how do you respond in the third round from that quote-unquote adversity and i thought you passed with flying colors i thought that was the great story of that of that fight so thank you did you have that disappointment that you went the distance that you bled that she cut you or were you proud of yourself yeah
Speaker 4
um i mean, for sure. You never want to leave it in the judge's hands. I do believe I'm much better than the performance I put out that night. Uh, to be honest with you, I can't have my kids at my fight anymore because she hit me or the elbow. I think it was really just the elbow just kind of grazed my nose just right. Cause two black eyes cause blood to start gushing. I didn't really get hit with much else, but as soon as I started gushing blood, my first thought, and this is how I know I'm a mom now, like through and through my first thought was, Oh my God, I hope my kids know I'm okay. And like, that was all I was thinking about instead of like, dude, like punch your back. So my kids can't come to my fights anymore. It's too distracting for me. And yeah, I mean, I feel like I definitely, I'm capable of much more than that. And I'm also glad that it was a difficult fight because those fights are important to help us trust ourselves and have confidence when we go, when we get into uncomfortable situations. Like I'm not, I'm not a superhero. I'm human. I bleed. have bad days. I fuck up. I fail. Shit happens. But I trust myself. And I trust my training and I trust my coaches. And I literally remember the second round, I went back to sit down and Mike goes, it might be one, one. And like, I can hear a little bit of like edge in his voice. And I just sat down and said, tell me what you want me to do. And he told me what he wanted me to do. And I did it.
Speaker 1
Wow. That's amazing. I love the bond that you guys have. By the way, were your kids rattled by the blood, by the cut? They were
Speaker 4
totally fine. Yeah. Dude, I was rocking two black eyes this whole past week on our trip. And people kept staring at me and I couldn't figure out why. My kids, they were just like, they don't even care. It's me. I'm the problem. Was
Speaker 1
there any part of you that was like, man, I'm so close. This is everyone believes it's in a more contender fight. Don't slip up. Was there any part of you like almost fighting not to lose as opposed to fighting to win? I
Speaker 4
put a little bit of too much pressure on myself. And that's like, in that regard, whereas instead of just opening up and having fun with it, I was like, yeah, I was kind of like, don't fuck up, like, which I never fight good when I fight like that. I fight my best. I perform my best when I go out there and I just instill my will. And I just think like, there's no way you're ever going to beat me. I'm going to come out like I'm going to crush. And I didn't, I, I didn't do that. So, but that's a me thing. I have a lot of stuff I can work on, you know, thankfully. Yeah, there's a lot of room for improvement, which I'm grateful for. I
Speaker 1
know you were in the back somewhat watching the Pennington-Pena fight because they showed you afterwards. And I'll ask you about that specific moment in a second. But who do you think won that fight? That's still a big topic of discussion. I
Speaker 4
still have to go back and watch round one because I missed it. But I had Raquel winning the fight. I just didn't. I need to watch round one.
Speaker 1
Okay. Are you happy Juliana won? No.
Speaker 4
Yeah, I mean, happy, like, I just don't care.
Speaker 1
It's better for business, no? Yeah,
Speaker 4
I mean, it's going to be more exciting and more fun to, like, whoop her ass. But she's also like, dude, now I have to listen to her talk for... But
Speaker 1
man, you guys back and forth, you guys at the press conference were magic. I mean, that was so good. I said to her yesterday, I only want one thing. And I hope that you will. I would love to have you both on at one point and do like a face-to thing because you guys are so good together in the best. Like to me, I don't know if there's a buildup that is more intriguing and exciting for me than you two. You two guys were flying there. And then they show you on the screen and she doesn't address you. And you're there. And I was surprised. Were you surprised?
Speaker 4
No. No. Why? She's scared of me. I think that I intimidate her. And I don't say that like to talk shit. Listen, I know that she is a good fighter. I know that she's tough as nails. I know that she's like, got a an amazing, like mental fortitude and willpower. But I think there's something about me that like makes her nervous. I don't know exactly what it is. I know I'm a bad bitch. So maybe that that I mean, that in and of itself could be enough. But dude, I said it in another interview. I was like, she started calling out a man. First, it was OK. First, it was, oh, you know, if you want to fight the real fights, cut to 135 pounds and then we can talk. You're not even in the right promotion. So shut up. And then it was like, OK, I put my money where my mouth is and I signed up to fight in the UFC then it's like oh you were in the little leagues now you're running to the big leagues I'm like how do you run to the big leagues does that make any fucking sense then it was oh she's on steroids I know for a fact she's on steroids and then it was she's not the money fight Amanda's the money fight and I want to fight I'm like next thing you, she's going to be calling out Ronda Rousey. And then what does she do yesterday on your show? I was like, dude, this girl just, she's terrified. Well,
Speaker 1
well, uh, speaking of my show and, uh, that comment, her being terrified, she actually spoke of this. Do you mind if I just play it in case anyone missed it? Okay. Here's Juliana Pena talking about Kayla Harrison yesterday.
Speaker 4
Honey, I am not afraid of you. You are not some oogity-boogity person who can't be beat. I see you bleed the same blood as me. I've seen you lose in the PFL, and that's when you came running over to the big leagues. Like, you are in the big leagues now. You were playing over there in the AAAs. You were over there in the minors. Now it's the real shit. Now is where we find out what you're freaking made of. Can you make the weight? Can you fight for 25 minutes? And I guarantee you, I will not go away. If she thinks she's just going to take me out in the first round or the second round or the third round, like, you know, Holly Holm or Ketlyn Vieira, she is sorely mistaken. And I'm just so sick of her trying to act like she's some freaking boogeyman. It's like, I'm not afraid of you. Plain and simple. I am not afraid of you. So
Speaker 1
there she says it multiple times. She's not afraid.
Speaker 4
Okay. You're
Speaker 1
not the boogeyman.
Speaker 4
All right. Then sign a contract, honey. Listen, I don't think I'm the boogey woman. I don't think that I'm like greater than, than anyone or that I don't bleed or that I don't struggle or like, dude, this is this is the difference, right? Like my life has been a fight. My entire existence has been a fight. And so that's why I do have respect for Juliana, because when she gets in the cage, she fights. she has no quit in her. And that's the only saving grace she has in my mind is like, you know what? She's fucking annoying. She talks a lot. She does make some decent points, but I just for whatever reason, don't she rubs me the wrong way but she fights like she just has this indomitable will she doesn't quit and I respect that because that's me I don't quit I I have been fighting since I don't even know like before I don't even know when she started like MMA I think it was like probably like a week before she went on the ultimate fighter show but yeah dude I've been fighting my whole life there's no quitting me I am unfuck with the bull like yeah I
Speaker 1
love this fight I want to see it so badly I'm'm wondering, obviously you want it as well. You want to fight for the belt next. Is there any part of you that is concerned that they do Juliana Amanda next? Because I don't know if you saw like 24 hours after your fight, Amanda popped up dancing on social media. Did you see that video? I
Speaker 4
saw it.
Speaker 1
By the way, I asked Juliana this. I just your thoughts on the dance moves the video good
Speaker 4
for Amanda
Speaker 1
yeah living her best life
Speaker 4
yeah good for her
Speaker 1
do you think she's trying to get the fight first or do you think she's just trying to say I'm the winner I'm getting the winner of this I'm the prize at the end I
Speaker 4
think that she gets the winner
Speaker 1
have you been told this? I think she's
Speaker 4
going to fight me after I whoop Juliana's ass. That's what's going to happen. It's
Speaker 1
an amazing sequence of events, right? I mean, you can't write this script any better.
Speaker 4
Can you imagine, Ariel? Can you imagine? Like,
Speaker 1
I'm so excited. I'm so
Speaker 4
fucking excited. Which one is
Speaker 1
more personal for you, Pena or Nunez? They're not personal at all. Not Nunez? I mean, former training partners, former teammates? No. I
Speaker 4
just don't like the shit that she said about my team. I don't have any personal issues with Amanda at all. I never did. Not one issue with her. I don't take it personally. I don't, like, I'm ATT for life, like, but I personally don't have an issue with her. I have an issue, like, don't talk shit about my team. That's it. That's it. Like, respect where you came from. Respect the people that pulled you out of, you know, the bottom. She wanted to retire before she moved to ATT, before she switched teams. Dan took such good care of her. Like, yeah, I just don't respect that. Don't shit on the people that helped build you. That's absolutely, like, that would be like me saying that Jimmy Pedro and Big Jim didn't help me win gold. Like, I just can't imagine it. It doesn't make sense. Who's
Speaker 1
tougher? Tougher opponent for you? Tougher matchup, in your opinion? Tougher puzzle?
Speaker 4
Everybody's tough until you beat them. No,
Speaker 1
but on paper, who's a tougher... Amanda. Okay. Yeah. Listen, styles make fights. So realistically, when do you think this happens you versus juliana whenever
Speaker 4
she wants i'm ready okay
Speaker 1
because i think she was implying the opposite like no
Speaker 4
i don't understand like i have to remember i'm not dealing with normal people when i speak i said i needed to take some time off like i just took a week off. I went to Utah with my kids. We climbed mountains and repelled. Like we had a blast. Like I'm going back to the gym. What do you mean? What do you mean? I'm going back to the gym. Like time off was like a week. That's what I'm, I took a week off. Like I had a week vacation. I'm like, let's fucking go. March,
Speaker 1
April, something like that, right? Probably.
Speaker 4
Anytime. Okay,
Speaker 1
damn it.
Speaker 4
And dude, there's a couple, you know, she's like, oh, if she can make 135 pounds, she said she's going to make 135 pounds. First of all, that night that I cut weight, I called Hunter and I said, hey, are these young ladies, are they on? Is it happening? And he was like, what are you talking? I was like, I'm, I'm at the sauna right now. Do I need to cut another pound or not?
Speaker 8
And
Speaker 4
they were both going to fight. That's the only reason I didn't cut the extra pound. Number two, if she can make the way, but she's a consummate, like make up your fucking mind. Am I a professional or am I not going to make the way? Like, make up your mind about me. What else did she say? What else was there? Come on, stir the pot, Ariel. This is the part where you've been. No,
Speaker 1
I'm just, you're going through everything. You've got it all. You've got it all. You've got it all. I did, so I was curious. Okay, so Juliana, it's happening, that a lot of people were were were mad on your behalf uh and this could be deemed stirring the pot uh that your former uh promotion pfl on the day of your fight tweeted the video of larissa pacheco defeating you did you a lot of people were mad actually about this and then dana white was asked about it and he took some shots at the pfl and said this is what happens when you're drowning and no one cares about them and they're losers etc did you see it were you bothered i
Speaker 4
didn't see it until uh after the fight i was asked about it the night of the fight um i tend to agree with dana on this where it's like i didn't i forgot that they were having these big fights because I have not seen any promotional stuff. And for the record, I'm two and one against Larissa out of 13 rounds. I did lose three. I think she's a great fighter. And that's in my past. Like, I don't have anything. I'm not going to I'm not going to go low. I'm not going to talk shit about them. I'm not going to air all the laundry I could air about how they handle certain things and the way they have treated fighters. I'm not going to do that because I know that the truth will come out. And, um, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm, I'm proud of everything I've done in my career, including that loss. It catapulted me into making big decisions and changing my life and like becoming who I am today. So.
Speaker 1
Every time Don is talking about this fight, the Pacheco cyborg fight there's subtle shots taken at you i'm sure you hear them right about you i
Speaker 4
don't because i don't because i don't pay attention to that like you
Speaker 1
and don seem to have had a great relationship when you were there
Speaker 4
i really liked don what
Speaker 1
happened why did why does it have to be this way why can't it be like hey we helped her it was a great partnership it was a great relationship we wish her the best she was one of the faces of our organization.

Dustin Poirier, Ilia Topuria, Kayla Harrison, Renato Moicano, Ade Oladipo, today’s news

The Ariel Helwani Show

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