FLA Exposure

Episode #110 - Ali Wasuk

Ali Wasuk, what a wonderful guy!  A talented bantamweight out of Tristar Vancouver under Kajan Johnson.  We spoke about why he got into Martial Arts, growing up in Toronto and the influence of his older brother, a black belt in TKD who would help mould him into the man he is today.  We spoke about his mother, his family and the upbringing in Afghanistan and how hard she worked to get her three kids to safety during the war.  A really candid interview with someone who has experienced so much in such a short time of 29 years old.  I love hearing stories like this, someone who really can inspire you with the positivity and just being really candid about the memories and experiences they have had in life.  We covered his game, what he's been working on and the future for him in MMA.  An exciting prospect who is extremely articulate and presented himself very well.  Great interviews make me happy, well done Ali!  Thanks for listening everyone, enjoy!

Episode #109 - TJ Grant

Nova Scotian icon & legendary martial artist, TJ Grant dropped by to catch up and chat about his fantastic career and everything in between! Now running his own club,  Grant's Martial Arts, we spoke about the transition of getting to this point, teaching kids and growing his club.   He's overcome alot in his career, we covered the tough points on concussions and it being part of the sport.  The risks involved and the decisions that you have to make as you grow further and how big of an asshole Joe Silva really was.  Opinions on hard sparring, head gear and how young athletes should be looking at forging a career in this game!  Thanks for tuning in, one of the best yet!  Fantastic guy who has done alot for the East Coast scene!  Enjoy & make sure to stop in and say hello next time in the Lawrencetown area!

Episode #108-Corinne LaFramboise

Coming off an incredible fight at UAE Warriors last month in Abu Dhabi, Corinne Laframboise is as tough and talented as they come!  Representing BTT in Montreal, she's on the cusp of the big show.   We spoke about coming her getting started in martial arts through the love of Jiu Jitsu; her winning at the highest level in grappling an the transition to MMA.  We spoke how she's coming off that loss and what it means to her.   Travelling so far during covid and the process in place, how the swab felt up her nose for the covid test after having it broken during the fight & what she is fixing right away in hopes to get back in the cage for the third time in 2020!  Super motivating, encouraging and positive!  These are the people who motivate me, give her a follow and pay attention, she's just getting started!

Episode #107 -Mitch Clarke & Dan Hubler

Mitch Clarke, former UFC lightweight and current grappling coach at Shave Bears MMA dropped by to catch up!  Mitch was on an earlier episode and someone who has become a great friend over the years!  He's competed for us a few times, competed against some of the best names in the sport at the highest levels and now competed against the famous Maritime Madness One Chunk Challenge!  Take a listen, take a gander and enjoy, and try for yourself at www.maritimemadness.com!
Dan Hubler, the former co owner of Newaza Apparel, Dream Jiu Jitsu Tournaments and the now owner of IPAJJF.com!  We spoke about reducing workload to enjoy life more, living in California and the expectations that come with it!  We covered the hard parts of tournaments and why they can be so draining on an event organizer & the entire process.  Dan is heavy into the MMA sports betting and someone who really is getting heavy into this, playing live lines, multiple bookie sites and taking advantage of some really great odds!  Give him a follow online and try it out, great way to make some extra money and enjoy the fights a tad more!  Fantastic episode with two great people of our fight community!  Thanks for listening and enjoy!

Episode #106 -Brett Beaton & Ryan Rohovich

Smooth conversation with both of these guys!  Brett Beaton, talented boxer out of the City of Lakes Boxing Club in Dartmouth and the co-owner of Hustle.Believe.Achieve joined us to chat about his amateur career, why it's important to him to lead by example and how nutrition and training people has really become a big motivator for him.  A super great guy with a fantastic head on his shoulders, nothing I love more than someone who is talented, hard working, young and doing the right things!  Big future for this guy when he turns pro, the former Maritime Champion has it going in the right direction!  Ryan Rohovich also popped by to chat about being the main event for our first card and having the fight get cancelled the day before due to a snow storm!  He handled it like a boss, very classy and understanding although it was a gut wrenching call for Jon and I to make!  We discussed the impacts of having more cancelled pro fights then actual matches, the mental side of overcoming that when living in a small community and being the only professional fighter.  His role models, and the super important role his family plays in his career! A candid conversation with two fantastic men and athletes!  Thanks for tuning in, enjoy!

Episode #105 - David Feldman

Dave Feldman, President & CEO of Bare Knuckle FC joined us today to discuss the BKFC brand, his work over the last decade to build it to this point and the struggles behind the scenes to become as big as they are today!  We covered how athletes can become a BKFC athlete, the important steps any athlete should be taking to become noticed and what's important to Dave as he continues to take his brand to the global scale!  BKFC possibly coming to Canada, the movement from his most recent signings and more!  An extremely wise man with alot of knowledge in our sport that comes from an incredible humble background and has constantly faced the odds and beat them!  Honoured to chat with Dave and stay tuned for some BKFC Canada news:)  Thanks for watching, enjoy!

Episode #104 - Travis Conley & Devin Pirata

So much fun catching up with these two talented athletes out of Kansas City!  These guys are both Black Belts out of the Mid West who travelled to Nova Scotia back in 2017 to compete for our Chokes By The Ocean event!  We spoke about the trip, why they made it and what the experience was like.  We covered the differences between the US & Canada and why the US is struggling so bad with Covid and being divided, shocking we couldn't find an answer!  Jiu Jitsu & Fighting and how it changes lives, Dark Matches for the WWE, learning to wrestle under the famous Harley Race and the effects this sport has had on both of their lives.  Truly wonderful conversation with two really great men with positive and welcoming attitudes on life!  Thanks for tuning in, enjoy!

Episode #103 -Matt Poulin

Matt Poulin, the head coach for the Canadian National MMA team and owner of TMAC in Timmons, Ontario!  Matt has cornered over 500 fights all over the world and has an extreme wealth of knowledge in martial arts!  A fantastic guy who understands the importance of support at the grass roots level.  Living 10 hours north of Toronto, he knows what it is like living like we do on the East Coast.  We spoke about his team, how his gym is the HUB for alot of the high end training in Northern Ontario & Quebec and the experience level you gain from having the different rule sets at amateur versus pro.  He is someone that understands the game inside and out and wants the best for everyone involved.  A really informative chat with someone who has been in the game in Canada for almost 20 years, in almost every corner of the martial arts game!  Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!

Episode #102 - Braulio Estima

Braulio Estima, a legend of the grappling world.  3 time world champion, ADCC champion and 3rd degree Black Belt, Braulio Estima joined us for an incredible discuss on life.  He went over alot of great philosophy on life learnt through competition and training at the highest level.  He spoke about us coming out of COVID in a few years time with a new level of appreciation for the things around us that our generations has yet to feel. He dove into his prep for competition and how, why he wanted to always improve and get better, which led him into the life he lives still today, helping others and improving himself daily, being a better version of Braulio on his own terms, not others.  The evolution of Jiu Jitsu, why there is no right or wrong answer, just love Jiu Jitsu.  An incredible journey into the mind of one of the greatest ever to compete in professional grappling!  Stay tuned for an Episode coming up on September 2nd with Braulio as he will dive deeper into his philosophies into this mindset!  Thanks for tuning in & enjoy! 

Episode #101 -Mark Hominick

If you are an MMA fan, especially a Canadian one, you best know this guy! Mark Hominick, one of the true originals of the Canadian MMA scene and heritage.  A veteran of the UFC, WEC & Affliction, this guy put our country on the map with the likes of GSP, Patrick Cote, Rory MacDonald and Sam Stout!  We were really excited to have Mark join us and catch up as it's been a few years since we spoke!  We spoke about his days fighting, his days with TKO and the experience he gained moving to the bigger stage.  Mark goes over what he feels day to day, still loving the sport as much as he did in Grade 9 when he fell in love with it.  We spoke about his travels, the fun times, the eras of fighters over the years, sponsorship in combat sports and how coaching and building other people up around you can only benefit everyone in the gym!  A true pioneer that I am lucky enough to call a friend!  Honoured!  Enjoy and thanks for tuning in!