06/16/2025
Repost from
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You might not know it. But Jiu-Jitsu has been an incredibly important part of my life.
2015 was the breakout year of my career. I had been covering MMA full-time for 8 years and calling fights for 11.
That January asked me to call matches at the Gracie Worlds. I had never called jiu-jitsu before and didn’t really know what to expect.
I called those matches with and impressed him while hiding how over my head I felt.
Eddie offered me a position with EBI on the spot. He claimed at EBI 3 he needed a black belt play-by-play guy. This is as close to a black belt as I’ll get.
After a decade of FM radio and podcasting, I was finally seen as more than an MMA podcaster.
The last decade has been much different than the first. I‘ve called over 200+ combat sports events. But jiu-jitsu has given me some of my favorite and most cherished moments.
From Gordon Ryan’s EBI crowns, to EBI 10 in Mexico City, the birth of Combat Jiu-Jitsu, pairing with .ninja whose become one of my best friends. From EBI, CJJ, , and calling matches at the UFC Apex. There’s no better color commentator in grappling.
I owe much to those who gave me chances.
Especially . I’ve called 170+ events that live there forever. While sometimes I feel I’m one of the sport’s better kept secrets. It’s pretty amazing that my resume basically lives there on-demand.
On Fight Pass, I’ve had a first row seat for BJJ’s coming of age. A sport confined to gyms & expo halls, marketed more collect competitors fees than fan’s attention. That has all changed.
Tomorrow starts the road to crowning UFC grappling champions. A title that will define the winners’ and sport’s arrival.
I’m not synonymous with jiu-jitsu. But it’s at my core as a broadcaster and human.
Tomorrow’s a win for everyone involved with the sport. Be proud because this has been a long time coming.
Live at 12p ET/9a PT. I’ll be watching!