Grappling Hour

Lights Out Xtreme Fighting stand out, Adrian Segovia, dropped by MAMMA this week to do an interview with me. You’ll hear all about our impromptu 30-minute roll (spoiler: he kept things intense even just days after his last fight!) and the hilarious beef I thought we had before realizing he actually beat up my buddy Jake years ago! Adrian opened up about his journey: starting jiu jitsu as a hyperac...

I got the chance sit down in person with UNF champ Byron Valle. We talk about everything from childhood fights in bounce houses to starting Muay Thai at 18. Byron opens up about how his roots and family, especially his late grandfather, have motivated him to stay on a positive path and inspire others, making fighting not just a career but a responsibility for his community. In this conversation, y...

Nate shares his journey from being a childhood pro wrestling superfan (complete with homemade matches, sibling rivalries, ER visits, and decked-out living rooms), to competing in MMA, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, and even teaching striking at 10th Planet Beaumont. The two dive into grappling for MMA, the importance of wrestling skills, and how sibling powerbombs almost set the stage for a fighter’s life...

In our latest episode, we sit down with Sparstar MMA champ Dylan Morales. Dive into Dylan's unique journey, where his love for mathematics meets the art of grappling. Learn about his training techniques, his aspirations beyond the cage, and how he balances his athletic career with academic goals. And be sure to catch him this Saturday, November 16th back at the ‪@SparStarMMA‬ cage. My good friend...

Dory Aoun made an amazing comeback at the PGF qualifiers. One of his early matches ended in controversy, but he managed to fight his way through the consolidation bracket to secure a spot in the highly anticipated seventh season of the PGF. We're stoked to share that he pulled it off. In this episode, we'll hear about his approach to competition, his passion for mentoring the next generation of gr...

As Halloween approaches, the age-old question arises: Which candy reigns supreme? In our latest episode, we dive into a spirited debate between Snickers and Sour Patch Kids. On a recent episode of THE BULLPEN, our hosts KEVIN SHERRILL and TIM FREEMAN passionately argue their cases, bringing humor and insights to this sweet discussion. Whether you're a fan of chocolate's rich embrace or the tangy k...

This week, our buddy NOAH CHEN is back on the show. After snagging the win at Subversiv XI, we'll catch up with Noah about his training routine and what's next on his martial arts journey. We'll also discuss how he earned the chance to represent the US and his exciting plans beyond Southern California. Don't miss this episode with the champ as we reminisce about our time at the last Subversiv. ——...

Gordon Ryan is a big deal in jiu-jitsu, and there might be a rematch in the works with Pat Downey after his recent performance at the Craig Jones Invitational. The big question is: Do we really need to see Gordon vs. Downey again? Tim Freeman and Kevin Sherrill are debating this on BULLPEN COURT, and you should definitely check it out and share your thoughts. The full episode of THE BULLPEN from w...

This week, we sit down with Jared Fekete, a Marine Corps veteran and accomplished wrestler, to delve into his captivating journey. From his early days on the wrestling mat to his transition to jiu-jitsu, Jared's story is one of resilience and determination.  From his epic bear suit walkout at the Subversiv XI to his heartfelt discussion on PTSD awareness, this episode is brimming with insight...

Your first PGF Season 7 qualifier winner, SEBASTIAN ATTARD, joins us to talk about the spectacular performance that saw him go unbeaten at the first trials for the highly anticipated season of PGF. We chart his progress from his early days of playing the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme song to his professional wrestling aspirations and his incredible success in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.  Tune in...

NOTE: We’re re-releasing a remastered version of this episode in honor of our pal Kody Steele earning his contract in the UFC. This episode — recorded in May of 2024 — was released just after we discovered he would be fighting at the DWCS. Hear all about how it happened. Did you hear the big news? Our pal KODY STEELE will be on the upcoming season of DANA WHITE'S CONTENDER SERIES this fall. We wer...

JOHN EVANS makes his GRAPPLING HOUR debut. Wait, that can't be right? He's been on the show before as an analyst and commentator, but – believe it or not – he's never actually been interviewed. In this episode, we delve into John Evans' unique journey in the jiu-jitsu community, his unconventional training methods, and his vision for BREAKDOWN ACADEMY in Hollywood, California. In this episode, Joh...

Today we chat with Abraham La Montagne — namesake of "the Abe Lock" — a move that has a growing list of victims (myself included). In this episode, Abraham shares his journey from his early days in football and wrestling to becoming a professional grappler under the guidance of John Danaher at New Wave Jiu Jitsu. We discuss the value of mentorship, the development of his signature submission, and...

Welcome back to RUNNING THE GAUNTLET -- the show where BJJ and pop culture intersect. On today's show, we've got our pal BRYAN PETERSON joining us to take on the following topics: • FIRE • DOG • SUMMER • DOT • ASK • REBOOT —— WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS. ---- We’re on PATREON now! Head over...

Welcome back to RUNNING THE GAUNTLET -- the show where BJJ and pop culture intersect. On today's show, we've got our pal TRAVIS THOMAS joining us to take on the following topics: • EASY • GO TO • PITCH • HELP • SIGN UP • PUMPS —— WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS. ---- We’re on PATREON now! Head...

Meet Joshua Brown – a rising star in the world of MMA! In this episode, Joshua shares his incredible journey from Division One wrestling to mixed martial arts and training at King's MMA in Anaheim. His dedication to the sport is truly inspiring. We talk about Joshua's wrestling background and how it has shaped his approach to MMA, his challenges, and his future aspirations. Plus, we apologize for...

In this episode, SEAN APPLEGATE shares invaluable insights into the importance of tape study, managing diverse personalities in the gym, and high-level competition strategies. This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge, providing essential guidance for athletes, coaches, and jiu-jitsu enthusiasts on furthering their BJJ knowledge. There are a few takeaways that I think give some fantastic insig...

In one of the wildest BJJ weeks in recent memory, I took some time to address two issues that came up in the community that identify the struggles we have as a sport as we court mainstream acceptance. You can find the full episode of this week's episode of THE BULLPEN with myself and TIM FREEMAN right here: https://www.youtube.com/live/X3ZQs9ABvMw —— WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://ww...

We spent some time going over some of the worst takes about the CJI/ADCC situation -- and wouldn't you know it, some of the takes in the comment section somehow managed to get worse. As such, I took a few minutes on our latest episode of The Bullpen to address those silly arguments. Bring your popcorn, Tim sure did. WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/live/4_fuZyl-jOI —— WE'VE GOT...

Welcome back to RUNNING THE GAUNTLET -- the show where BJJ and pop culture intersect. On today's show, we've got our pal ALEC BAULDING joining us to take on the following topics: • RULE • EDIT • BETTER • RID • CONFUSE • QUOTE —— WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS. ---- We’re on PATREON now! Head o...

In just a few days, the CJI has ignited some buzz. After hearing a handful of terrible arguments about the situation (and the implications it might have on ADCC), I decided to address a few of the worst takes we’ve heard so far on the most recent episode of THE BULLPEN. You can also catch the FULL EPISODE on the GRAPPLING HOUR YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/aIfofNM1obs —— WE'VE GOT NEW...

RYAN AITKEN is a two-time Combat Jiu Jitsu champ, but he knew he was in for an epic tournament at the EBI ABSOLUTES. Not only was he out there to continue showing out for his 10th Planet Atlanta crew, but he knew there would be eyeballs on his performance from major promotions that are taking place this August. What happened that night was a life-changing moment that culminated with Aitken being c...

Welcome back to RUNNING THE GAUNTLET -- the show where BJJ and pop culture intersect. On today's show, we've got B-Team coach and competitor JB BECHTLOFF joining us to take on the following topics: • PITCH • MESSAGE • CREATIVE • FIRE • DON'T • RANK —— WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS. ---- We’re...

EDDIE BERNAL shocked audiences back at Lights Out Xtreme Fighting in May when he announced that he was retiring from MMA. At just 25, the announcement came as a shock to many of his family and friends. So in this interview, I wanted to give Eddie the opportunity to fully explain his reasoning for leaving the fight game -- as well as a chance to tell us what might be next for him. We also cover wha...