Between Rounds

Between Rounds: The podcast where fighters and coaches bring you closer to the action. Candid conversations, behind-the-scenes stories, and the grind that makes the glory. This is the voice of MMA, told between rounds.

Between Rounds is a sports podcast hosted by Themmalab, with 45 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Themmalab hosts Between Rounds, a sports show with 45 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #29

  Urijah Faber On Building A Legacy, Championship Mindset, & The Evolution Of MMA | Between Rounds 29

  Sep 1, 20261h 38mS1

  MMA legend and Hall of Famer Urijah "The California Kid" Faber joins Between Rounds for Episode 29! In this episode, Faber reflects on his iconic career, from pioneering the lighter weight classes during the legendary WEC era to battling inside the UFC Octagon. He dives deep into what it takes to build a championship mindset, the lessons learned from founding Team Alpha Male, and how fighting has evolved both inside the cage and behind the scenes. Plus, Urijah shares his insider perspective on fixing the regional MMA pipeline and building a lasting legacy in combat sports. #MMA #UFC #UrijahFaber #TeamAlphaMale #BetweenRounds #WEC #MMAJournalism

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  Episode #28

  Robert Drysdale On The Real History of BJJ, Carlson Gracie, & BJJ’s Biggest Myths | Between Rounds 28

  Aug 18, 20261h 28mS1

  ADCC champion, BJJ world champion, coach, author, and historian Robert Drysdale joins John Crouch for Episode 28 of Between Rounds.Drysdale takes a deep dive into the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and challenges some of the stories that have been repeated for generations. He explains why he believes modern BJJ is much younger than most people think, how a 1975 rule set helped create the ground focused sport we recognize today, and why Carlson Gracie may be the most important and underappreciated figure in the development of modern Jiu Jitsu.Robert also breaks down the roles of Helio, Rorion, Royce, Rickson, Maeda, and other legendary figures, discusses the relationship between Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and shares stories of forgotten Vale Tudo pioneers like Euclydes Pereira, Ivan Gomes, and Waldemar Santana. He also explains why researching the history has forced him to question long accepted narratives and why he believes you cannot simply trust what you read online.The conversation eventually turns to Robert’s own career as an elite competitor and MMA fighter, the intense fear he experienced before competing, what he learned from training and coaching in Las Vegas, and why trust, loyalty, and team culture can matter more than having the most talented individuals in the room. **Topics include:**• The real origins of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu• Why Robert believes modern BJJ took shape in 1975• Carlson Gracie’s overlooked impact on Jiu Jitsu• Helio Gracie and the myths surrounding his story• How Rorion Gracie and Royce Gracie changed martial arts forever• Royce Gracie vs. Rickson Gracie’s competitive legacies• BJJ’s connection to Judo and Mitsuyo Maeda• Forgotten Vale Tudo legends like Euclydes Pereira and Ivan Gomes• Why Robert questions accepted Jiu Jitsu history• Social media, AI, and misinformation• Robert’s fear and anxiety before competition• His ADCC and MMA career• Why great fighters need coaches they truly trust• The importance of culture and loyalty inside a fight team• Robert’s philosophy on coaching and developing athletesSubscribe to Between Rounds for more conversations with the fighters, coaches, and personalities who have shaped combat sports.#RobertDrysdale #BJJ #BrazilianJiuJitsu #JiuJitsu #CarlsonGracie #GracieJiuJitsu #ADCC #MMA #UFC #ValeTudo #BetweenRounds

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  Episode #27

  Art Castillo Talks Early MMA Stories, Building Western Wyoming, and Coaching Philosophy | Between Rounds #27

  Aug 4, 20261h 18mS1

  Art Castillo joins John Crouch on Between Rounds for an in-depth conversation covering his entire path from small town Wyoming wrestling to leading a national championship program at Western Wyoming. Coach Castillo opens up about his upbringing in Green River, overcoming a devastating knee injury during his senior year of high school, and navigating the chaotic early days of regional combat sports. The discussion dives into his time at Dana College training alongside chaos magnet Buddy Leister, cornering Benson Henderson before either of them had high level experience, and the wild stories that defined their early years in the sport. Coach Castillo also breaks down taking over Western Wyoming, the grind of building an elite junior college environment from scratch, maintaining academic excellence alongside athletic success, and why leading with love, self awareness, and empathy is the true foundation of sustainable elite performance. Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:33 Art’s Wrestling Journey37:23 Becoming a Coach54:43 The Mental Game01:08:38 The Castillo Way #BetweenRounds #MMA #Wrestling #BensonHenderson #CoachCastillo

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  Episode #26

  Anthony Njokuani Talks First Nigerian UFC Fighter, WEC to UFC, and Coaching | Between Rounds #26

  Jul 21, 20261h 11mS1

  <p>Former UFC, WEC, One Championship, and World Combat League veteran Anthony Njokuani joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on Between Rounds.Anthony reflects on moving from Nigeria to Garland, Texas, growing up as a problem child, and finding structure through breakdancing as a teenager. He shares how a chance encounter at a local gym led him to train under 6-time world champion Saxon, pivoting from top-tier b-boying to building an undefeated kickboxing record and jumping headfirst into mixed martial arts.We dive into his time in the World Combat League, fighting for the Oklahoma Destroyers, navigating early short-notice fights...

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  Episode #26

  Anthony Njokuani Talks First Nigerian UFC Fighter, WEC to UFC, and Coaching | Between Rounds #26

  Jul 21, 20261h 11mS1

  Former UFC, WEC, One Championship, and World Combat League veteran Anthony Njokuani joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on Between Rounds.Anthony reflects on moving from Nigeria to Garland, Texas, growing up as a problem child, and finding structure through breakdancing as a teenager. He shares how a chance encounter at a local gym led him to train under 6-time world champion Saxon, pivoting from top-tier b-boying to building an undefeated kickboxing record and jumping headfirst into mixed martial arts.We dive into his time in the World Combat League, fighting for the Oklahoma Destroyers, navigating early short-notice fights against top-tier competition, and his high-stakes WEC run—including his infamous knockouts of Chris Horodecki and Bart Palaszewski. Anthony breaks down his move to Las Vegas to train under Nick Blomgren, his battles against future champions and top contenders like Edson Barboza and Cowboy Cerrone, and the reality of fighting in bare-knuckle MMA.Beyond his fighting career, Anthony discusses his transition into coaching, opening his new martial arts gym, preserving traditional striking discipline versus modern MMA fight trends, and the life-changing perspective of becoming a father.⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 Intro & Nigerian Heritage01:21 Raising Kids06:26 From Nigeria to Texas: The Early Years13:53 From B-Boying to Muay Thai & WEC Wars50:24 Making it to the UFC & Epic Striking Battles57:09 Bare Knuckle MMA, Coaching & Passing the Torch1:06:21 Fatherhood, Roots & Legacy Topics include:Moving from Nigeria to Texas and growing up in GarlandBreaking, b-boy culture, and developing early athletic footworkMeeting Saxon and transitioning from dancing to Muay ThaiFighting in the World Combat League with the Oklahoma DestroyersShort-notice fights, WEC title contention, and iconic knockoutsRelocating to Las Vegas to train with Nick BlomgrenBattles against Edson Barboza, Cowboy Cerrone, and Benson HendersonBeating 14-time K-1 champion Andy Souwer in One ChampionshipThe intensity and physical toll of bare-knuckle MMAOpening a new gym, coaching philosophy, and traditional fight IQFatherhood, family roots, and building a legacy#MMA #UFC #BetweenRounds #AnthonyNjokuani #WEC #MuayThai #Kickboxing #BareKnuckleMMA #FightPodcast #MartialArts

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