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what’s up guys Brett okamoto ESPN joined by MMA manager Ali AB abdalaziz uh a good time to uh just to have a beginning of the year chat with Ali obviously he’s got a a full roster and this guy always seems to know everything that’s going on in the sport of MMA so Ali I’ll just start with uh some of the sort of hot questions that that this sport is asking about who is going to be headlining UFC 300 is it Leon Edwards and balal Muhammad or is it something else I honestly I don’t know who’s going to hit line the UFC uh 300 I think is you can ask Dana White about that but you know I hopefully you know B Leon can you know can settle their score and and a and I fight on this card but you know it doesn’t matter b will fight anywhere Ramadan not Ramadan you know and he’s ready to to become the wter champion I think he’s on one of the greatest run you know if UFC te 520 streak who beat Steven Thompson he beat Vante he beat so many different guys who in the top 10 he have more win in top 10 guys than anyone in the division right now right um love him or hate him you know you you earn things and he earned it and um and you know when he fought Gilbert you know you know Dan said the winner will get a a title shot and that’s what happened they both stopped in and a short notice fight and and Dana gave his word and listen at the end of the day I know Dana for 20 years and Dana give his word he always come through with me you know I don’t know but I understand it’s a business too but there’s nobody deserving fight for the workto with title balal is getting ready to go to dagistan here very soon soon as he signed his contract and uh and he will do most of his comp in dagistan um so when he goes to dagistan is that uh I mean that’s that’s with khabib like he will be be training with the whole team but is khabib like the head coach over there or is he kind of taking a step back Habib is the guru Habib is the is the mind you know you know listen Habib is a that you know uh he love you know balal I don’t know what he’s going to be involved but listen Islam MF is a softball Leon Edward softball some of the best fighter in the world is is there you know a lot of guys people doesn’t even know about them right and U and I think uh a lot of wrestlers there Leon looks like he’s gonna try to wrestle balal you know and um balal is going to try to strike with him that’s the game plan he said I’m going with him chest to chest Bal don’t believe Leon Edward can box you know he’s a great kickboxer but I’m talking that’s what you know he think and I think Bal you know listen he’s proven uh knocked out TR Brady one of the best WWE in the world um just keeping surprising us back to back back to back said he can’t finish a fight boom knock out sh Brady right banti L knocked him out he come back beat him you know and vasanti is my guy too have a big fight for him coming soon that UFC will announce it um but belal is deserving and even listen I know it’s a lot that guys in the vision they like him they don’t like him you see have to respect him you know and I can tell but I can get on your nerves too sometimes some of the stuff he’s saying it make people mad but guess what when you feel like you earn something and not given it to you you will be annoying you will talk crazy to people and you can do whatever you want right but at the end of the day it’s his time and I think all the top five welterweight in the world were top 10 they know it’s his time and and I believe they all B even Leon he respect B you understand how you not respect a guy right you know they all all those guys in the way Leon Edward camaru they all respect each other because theyve been in with each other or they know they are the best right one guy maybe nobody respect is Kobe coven you know because who he is as a person right but I think all these guys um they respect each other and it’s a good thing yeah well you mentioned Islam makev uh you know helping Leon train he’s the South Paul what is next for Islam you know he has come out and said he’s not really super interested in any rematches when and who could we next see Islam against I think it’s obvious man just in Casi know he said hey fight pH a guy nobody really know him you know you know he wouldn’t fight pH go fight that Dustin pre boom way fight Dustin pre right he’s on a to fight winning streak phenomenal fighter one of the greatest entertainment figh we ever seen he have the BMF title now I don’t know what is that wait you know but when M have wait a lot but you know him in Islam it’s it’s a history you know he fought khabib now he fighting kabib Pari and and he earned it you know he earned it Justin G is a guy never been given it he wants something to be given to him he earned it with sweat and blood and tear inside the kid Islam very interesting to fight in him but Islam you know he did this quote in a pi he have to hold on to it he said doesn’t matter who when and how I’ll fight anybody they give me my opinion and I don’t know if my opinion mean much but you know just in case he has ear it and Islam really excited about fighting him you know at the end of the day it’s it’s a business uh and you know everybody’s making deals and they’re making monies and I don’t believe fighter should sit around withit for shot right I I just don’t think good for the sport good for the fighter good for the business I think guys when you’re ready need to fight you know like banil d rou he was so close he said hey fight this guy boom fight Charles lost fight Arman he fought Arman and B should be getting some a lot of cred because he stepped up when nobody else want to stop in a division and it is what it is he’ll be back B’s always take couple step back and go 10 forward you know and this is who he is as a person and we all love him and respect him for that um if whether it’s gaii whether it’s I mean obviously I think the other name would be Charles alera but if it is gaii if it is Charles alera when do you think Islam would fight I think a lot of us on the outside are kind of they’re looking at that Saudi deal that happens in March is that a possibility for Islam or do you anticipate it fighting later listen the deal was Islam you know to fight March 9 and you know of course the UFC have a headline already have shali they said we can you know he’s the main event and uh and you know and it was not it didn’t work out this way they they did you know said fight in February but it was too close to his fight uh the one he just fought you know and uh and it is what it is you know he he he’s just gonna wait before Ramadan or maybe the UFC call tomorrow omali is out we need Islam maybe you can five March 9 right Islam is always training you’re always in shape he’s a professional uh I never see anybody Habib is the goat is’s the greatest is nobody going to even come close to who he is anybody but but when come to being professional from dagistan I never see anybody from dagistan as more professional than Islam this guy doesn’t eat sugars don’t eat really bread he’s on like it’s crazy how disciplined he is and from dagistan where we eat as Muslim and who like sugar who like to eat this kind of stuff he’s just so disciplined and I think uh you know he’s he’s the pound-for-pound uh King For a Reason uh he’s the guy to beat in the whole UFC not just in his division he’s the guy you want to you know try to beat him and good luck with that because he’s one of the baddest D on the planet you know he already beat ala make it look easy gishi bring challenges you know khabib said gishi was the hardest guy ever hitting he said the hardest guy ever kicked him right and I think it’s a phenomenal fight him and gei but at the end of the day too you know this gu’s in the UFC office make this decision I just make a recommendation in our fight maybe sometime I win fight sometime I lose fight but it depends how they feel um so obviously like you said there was a hope that he would fight in March um so if that card stays intact and om Ali headlines it against Cheeto um you would expect Islam to fight like in the first half of the year though right I mean we’re not talking about a really extended layoff here no no it’s going to fight right after Ramadan like June end of May June Islam will be ready it’s no problem but you know the holy month of Ramadan you know you know as a Muslim you’re not supposed to fight or you know or you try to avoid fighting you know but B get a title shot you know one thing too Bel fought in Ramadan not Ramadan he didn’t really care Bal did what the UFC asked him to do stepped in with Leon on short notice okay stop 85 G on short notice okay he always said yes to everything and historically Dan know white tron Hunter all those guys when guys act like that they get taken care of and I just I have a hard time to believe they will not take care about me personally but I see a lot of crazy things happen but I’m 100% advocated B nobody deserve it more than him and uh and and I just he can’t take it away from me this just my opinion let’s let’s stick with that um group in dagistan and I know that you know you’ve kind of texted me um about this to the side and that is you’re having some trouble getting Newar and Mar of a fight can you just tell me sort of what that experience has been like and what do you think is going to timately happen with itar listen everybody I’m going to mention their name I respect I have no problem with them and I think they’re all great Fighters great Champions Habib Habib was one of the hardest guys to eat fights for Islam M was the hardest guy to get fight for Omar is not even close he’s one of the hardest guys in history and I’m going tell you something I see it Sean Shelby who was on the phone on the email try to get him a fight even went to Hunter and this guys Tred to get him my fight I’m talking about when he when a guy who’s an executive he has so much things to do try to get him a fight and they get on the phone and not telling me I know for sure 100% the UFC did everything they can to get Omar fight ra fun injured Domin Cruz you know injur Cory s haen injur Peter Young turn it down uh ra fun like is everybody become injured or they turn it down you know and I’ll be honest with you like I’m not trying to pick on nobody if you have not fought for almost two years Domino Cruz haven’t fought for two years why you even in a wrink zabid he was not fighting for a year and it was not his fault he got taken out of the rinking you know if you just in the way it’s okay like you a legend great Champion but don’t hold the spot for these guys don’t take the spot from these guys is is is I think is what make me mad people sit on their rinking and they want to fight Kamar man is number one 10 days notice jump you know what I train my guys to fight I don’t train my guys to be like just not doing a fight you know and listen I understand Cory and haager is injured I I respect Cory and haager so much he’s a great guy figure is injured but at the same time he want to fight Cody garbrandt you know like are you injured trying to fight Cody garbrandt I like the fight for Cody garbrandt too you can just say I don’t want to fight Omar because I think Omar will beat me all of you if you guys think Omar beat me just be honest about it don’t say I’m injured I’m this I’m this I’m this said hey I I don’t think I can beat this man I think this man is Untouchable listen matter of time fight him now better before he can get better because if we get better we see the progression of Habib he was good he become great he become legendary he become the goat I’m telling you Omar going to be a champion and he going to be a champion for a long time and and none of these guys in the top 15 is going to beat him you understand you know none of this guy’s gonna beat him you know and the only honestly I don’t know how I feel about this guy but I respect Shan Umali you know why Shan Umali is the only guy talking about Omar he’s the only guy nobody talking about Omar you understand nobody talk about Omar but Sean Mari people was willing to get cut from the UFC and not fight Omar guys he’s human he got two legs two arms he have two eyes and you have the same and it’s not the last name promise you everybody oh it’s the last name Omar is one of the baddest dudes on the planet you know right now I believe Omar Patrick Mak top two guys in the world right now I I I believe that and not because they my guys you know what I’m saying you know and you have to give respect to Al too he’s amazing you know whatever he’s doing for the division I think is great so what do you think is gonna happen with you more then are you g end up having to take a r an unranked I believe I believe in I believe the UFC will get him a five mar9 you know what Omar said give me a guy a new signing somebody old somebody young anybody he’s he said just send me the contract I don’t need to know who just send me a contract and I’ll fight anyone you want me to fight well you mentioned one guy that’s not doing that is kamaru and uh what is what is up next for kamaru what can we expect out of 2024 for kamaru nobody Kamar I don’t care nobody like Kamar Kamar kamaro I’m everybody I ever manag kamaro don’t care about the wake up he don’t care about when he fight he don’t care about nothing kamaru is going to event pick a fight with people because nobody will fighting him nobody will fight him UFC had to force people to fight him you know what I’m saying they have to strip people from like title to fighting this cowardy right you know but in the way kamaru kamaru is like a chameleon he stand alone one of the nicest dude ever one of the most Savages ever and listen let’s talk about Kamar lost F right F Edward whipped his ass for four round got cut second round many people thought Kamar won very close fight after one of the badest on the planet I think I’m out to be a middleweight champion I believe if there’s two more round what will happen in this fight coming off the couch kamaru is going all over Europe hanging out partying enjoying for 10 days and he come back home for 10 days and he went to straight to Abu Dhabi again the jet leag alone from this 10 days is two weeks that show you who’s kamaro Dana White’s favorite fighter is Kamar Usman 100% kab and Kamar I never see they I give more respect to them than than these guys because they never choose opponent they don’t care who they fight and kamaru especially he don’t kabib have to cut the weight he needed time kamaru don’t care middle weight welterweight light heavyweight he was willing to fight y black as heav light heavy and kamaru is going to go down he’s the greatest welterweight of all the time he’s top top five one of the greatest ever in my opinion and his behavior young guys watch kamaru osman’s career kamaru make plenty money not being just a great fighter being step on time when nobody wanted when Co when nobody wanted when Gilbert BR got Co he was really eating flow to Houston and come back and fought went to fight Allan and fought you know what I’m saying it’s like what camaru has done in this company is unmatchable this is my opinion my opinion kamaru kabib is always kamaru and khabib is always gonna be like like a like together because I the respect I have both of them kamaru in the fight game did things nobody did Hab few change Generations you know that’s why all the time they for me they like to neck right uh uh but you know at the end of the day you know kamaru I think kamaru get whatever the do whatever the if he want at this point of career but kamaru won this title back you know camaru say he want to see who’s the guy who’s next for the title and maybe we’ll fight him kamaro you know like you know he’s we we right now is the you know I think I don’t know I think couple more fight one fight left on his deal and and and everything will be good it’s always easy business with kamaro no like hiccups and none of that stuff it’s always great so you say uh fight somebody who’s next for the title I think in M everybody knows that that would be shaat rockov after BW did we see that fight kamaro and shaat at the end of the day you know they from the same gym you know I prefer not to but you have Gilbert burn there the same gym vti Lucas there sh there Kamar there the only guy I’m going to feel B bad is Henry ho because he have all this guys here but you know at the end of the day they’re professionals they these guys is professional they are the best in the world 100% nobody better than these guys in the world and sometime they have to make some decisions and it’s not me you know I’m not gonna be like oh let’s fight no you know at the end that’s not what I do at the end of the day they all grown people they have great coaches Kamar also have Trevor Whitman in his corner and I don’t know if this is even the fight Kamar want or the UFC want but I know kamaro kamaro will fight anybody you understand for the right price kamaro I think kamaro will fight me I get out his ner he like to beat me and sometime he tries but uh you know kamaru man is people will appreciate kamaro when he retired not now you know what I’m saying because kamaro Kamar people appreciate appreciate just engagement retire for sure kamaru 100% because Camaro just put so much of joy in people his life how you don’t appreciate this guy right you know uh you mentioned paty mix earlier and then obviously you have Usman and roov who’s a Bellator Champion do you have any Clarity like what to expect next year when it comes to Bellator not only your Champions but some of these other guys who are with the promotion man you know uh uh you know now I think batur pfl batur they have their own little army to be honest with you you know they have you know they they have Pete I think Pete is a great businessman I do they have don don is a [Â __Â ] a Savage he’s a maniac like honestly man I love that I love that um you have Ray who I think if they made Union one day he be the head of the union for the fighter because all advocate for the fighters and you bring Mike Hogan I’m Bor my opinion he’s top three or four best mine in MMA of all the time this is my opinion right easiest guy to deal with sometime he talk with you two guys like that Hunters like that too he talk with you and sometime [Â __Â ] why did I do that you understand he got just ways making feel people better uh you know making people feel better doing certain things to make you comfortable make you feel safe right about giv I never did business with Bor before when I started own business with my Hogan said okay now I have I think 45 in Bor something like that and you know they all bring something so unique you know you know pet is cool and Collective Mike is wild and crazy Ray is just straight as they come and I I I think bro and honestly like with name was mik now I think you know I think they’re going to do a lot of great work man they they they do a lot of great work uh they built in a huge Gard in Saudi Arabia February 24 February in the three weeks you’re gonna have February 24th you’re gonna have the UFC and you’re gonna have a boxing fight guarantee you they all try to compete who’s going to get the more shine and pfl right now the car they built in is crazy I can’t discust it but I think will be one of the best cards of the year like you know but also UFC have some of the biggest stars in the sport you think they’re GNA let pfl oh I’m G let you have a bigger C than me I don’t know it’s gonna but but it’s all good you know what it’s good for everybody yeah it’s good for Saudi is good for pfl is good for the UFC is good and who’s going to win is the fan right is the fan and the fighters right you know and uh and it’s going to be man it’s awesome time man you know awesome time and uh and I’m excited about to see this three week span Who’s Gonna Shine more my opinion no that’s true I mean obviously I was aware of all three but they’re back to back back to back I feel I I think Mike my Pat Patrick Mi will fight probably in Marchman who fight after Ramadan you know uh you know uh you know and and we see what happened you know he’s still the champion opinion you know uh and I I think everything will work out you know it’s it’s a lot of you know a lot of good people involved in this business and when you’re a lot of good people involved a lot of good things happen you know I you know don’t agree on everything as a promoter and a manager that as long as the respect is there and the trust is there you know and uh I think everything could be fine you know what I’m saying and at the end of the day like sometime hey we’re not going to agree we’re gonna agree like the Nissan short situation I spoke against it right you know two-time Champion but at the end of the day also I know pfl always do the right things at the end of the day or they try to do the right things but I understand too this is a business sometime we’re not going to agree on business terms but I think long as we have respect for each other that’s what’s matter yeah yeah of course and that’ll bring me to my last question and that is is regarding pfl and uh someone who’s been the face of pfl and that is Kayla Harrison we have not heard much about what could be her future after she came back and as been lad what are you thinking this year for Kayla Harrison Kayla in a space right now you know listen at the end of the day I said you know I to respect of every I respect of Kay I respect of bfl I respect of everybody it’s it’s it’s a business transaction I don’t discuss business publicly because I think business at this level when you when you when you discuss publicly I think uh you know you know people get their feeling hurt get insulted especially when people who are being good to you you know and good to Kayla and I think right now we we look you know listen it’s a lot of stuff going on with Kayla uh you know an amateur manager or an amateur fighter will talk about a public mess everything up right and I feel that Kayla’s in the transitions um pfl did a lot of good things for Kayla man you know she’s a multi multi millionaires she carried the promotion in her back uh and they love KY you know what I’m saying when do you think there will be a resolution though like we we’ll see her fight multiple times this year or like is is it really really up in the air listen at the end of the day if you let K fight every month she fight every month she’s a competitor right and I think like I said it’s it’s a it’s a high level business and I think sometime the media play with this thing and mess everything up and respectfully you’ll be the first person to know when this happen I I would I promise you I I’ll talk with you but right now I’m trying to stay positive you know uh and and sometime you know we always have to think you know of course kale as my priority I’m always going to do what the best for K right but also you have to understand the whole picture you know who did what who does who who does what but when you know I just don’t talk about contractor money publicly I just don’t think it’s it’s correct and you know very soon we all going to know what’s going okay well I mean obviously I’m curious what’s next for Kayla and you um sidest stepping the question and not telling me anything just made me even the more even more Curious so I am looking forward as always to see what uh what Kayla’s situation is because listen at the end of the day Kayla’s big news you know Kayla’s big news but I can tell you this kill don’t turn down fights she don’t choose fight and she like to fight and if you out there say Kayla teer me down and all this [Â __Â ] hey stop line that’s all I’m going to tell you but all right yeah that’s a great that’s a great way to end the the conversation but actually I got one more for you what is your goal Ali do you have like one specific goal for 2024 is there a certain fight that you would love to make is there something that you would like to do with with your roster or something in the sport like do you have a personal goal somewhere or something um that stands out for the year yeah I have a goal I I I want to do good business with people but everyone to be happy benefit Ben benefit I want my goal to make 10 millionaires this year there’s 10 more millionaires no millionaires this year and I think I will or or maybe 10 at minimum 10 between 20 millionaires I already have 17 millionaire I manag around they’re millionaires like you know they become from zero to Millionaires and this goal I want to make between 10 to I I I want to be in the big business I don’t want to you know I I want to build young Talent you know um uh you know a lot of guys a lot of guys who’s young uh uh who’s coming up you know uh from Sweden this young kid is35 pounder who’s 10 and one I think this guy is a superstar uh uh I he’s from Hamza gy uh you have a lot of young guys I want to give my time to I want to allocate to you know you know um I want to help Cody you know I want to help Cody garbrandt to get back maybe one day fight Sean alali I think everybody would love to see this fight Sean omali Cody garbrandt and uh by beating figero first and I think this is the fight to make to be honest with you figero two former Champions and I want to be servant of my athlet they are bigger than me I I just want to serve them not nonstop 24/7 and I want to be fair to everybody promoter athlete media sponsor I I want to be a nicer person I want to be nicer to people you know and that’s all I want and I don’t want to have beef with nobody and the last year was kind of cool I I’m always in the news doing something f with somebody I just want to have peace but that’s it I can have peace with everyone except one one person in this game I want never have peace you know you know who is Conor McGregor I will never have peace with this guy he’s he’s an idiot this guy keeps sending me videos on Instagram and the direct messages like we going back and forth I’m sending that too but he’s a guy I would never have peace with or maybe he find God or something maybe we’re gonna have peace but I’ll never have peace with this guy ever you know you uh you having peace and being nicer to people I love that man I think that is a great a great uh a great goal for 2024 always fun talking to you Oli I’m sure I’ll see you at at a fight soon but um in the meantime and yeah take care of yourself and I’ll see you at at an event very soon pleasure thank you guys thank [Applause] [Music] you