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MMA History Podcast

MMA History Podcast

By: MMA Detective Mike Davis Joey Venti
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About this listen

MMA Det Mike Davis and Herb Dean’s Dog Sitter Joey Venti being you incredibly researched subjects that will give you information that will surprise the hardest of OG’s


From the No Holds Barred to the Modern Era and everything in between: from choir boys to felon’s we interview everyone


Please leave us a review on iTunes and a comment on Spotify

© 2026 MMA History Podcast
Combat Sports & Self-Defense Politics & Government Wrestling
Episodes
  • Tank Abbott Fighting in the 90’s
    Feb 9 2026

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    Ep 315 Tank Abbott Fighting in the 90’s

    The Original UFC bad boy, David "Tank" Abbott, joins us for an unfiltered deep dive into the wild early days of MMA.
    From his explosive knockouts at UFC 6, legendary clashes in the tournament, street-fighting roots, and raw takes on the politics, "works," and personalities that shaped the sport - Tank holds nothing back.
    Now retired in the desert, this powerhouse legend (natural 625-Ib bench, no-BS

    0:00 MMA history podcast intro
    0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
    0:51 interview start
    6:58 packaged by Dave Thomas for the UFC
    11:02 meeting with Art Davie
    16:44
    17:30 receiving letter of intent to fight in the UFC
    21:44 attending UFC 5
    24:19 interactions with Joe Son
    29:19 issues with Jim Brown
    43:42 Ken Shamrock vs Royce Gracie “rematch”
    44:58 Ultimate Tank ppv
    45:50 cornering Vanilla ice for a fight
    46:31 thoughts on Tito Ortiz
    50:48 technique vs being tough
    52:02 Tank Abbott vs John Matua
    58:02 making the UFC entertaining
    59:05 Tank Abbott vs Paul Varelans
    1:03:03 Tank Abbott vs Oleg Taktarov
    1:07:17 Pat Smith altercation backstage
    1:09:46 attack on Pat Smith in elevator
    1:14:30 Ken Sharock calling the cops
    1:15:29 writing apology letter to John McCarthy
    1:16:59 becoming a paint artist
    1:17:44 training with Mark Schultz
    1:19:38 wrestling Chael Sonnan
    1:21:46 first fixed fight in the UFC
    1:23:09 Ken Shamrock not being pushed in UFC
    1:24:58 Tank Abbott vs Dan Severn
    1:30:17 Altercation with Allan Goes
    1:40:55 sucker punched by Wallid Ismail
    1:46:04 Bas Rutten vs Kevin Randleman
    1:47:05 Allan Goes incident in Puerto Rico
    1:49:28 thoughts on John Perretti
    1:52:38 meeting Tito Ortiz
    1:55:32 Tito Ortiz stealing check from car
    2:02:12 Tank Abbott vs Scott Ferrozzo
    2:09:13 Tank Abbott vs Cal Worsham
    2:11:25 Direct wave TV sponsor
    2:11:44 Canceled bout with Ken Shamrock
    2:14:39 fighters taking steroids
    2:17:07 Don Frye worked fight with Mark Hall
    2:18:04 Big Al throwing burger at Frank Shamrock
    2:19:55 thoughts on the UFC hall of fame
    2:25:00 Ken Shamrock calling out Tank Abbott
    2:27:35 Pride Fc using Tank Abbott for promotional material
    2:32:05 Tank Abbott vs Maurice Smith
    2:34:26 Dan Severn pulling out of Maurice Smith fight
    2:38:37 interview wrap up/ outro

    Please follow our channels on

    Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram:
    MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632
    Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitre
    Records Keeper- Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstress
    Social Media Manager Andy Campbell @martial_mindset_
    Thumbnails Julio Macedo @juliosemacento

    Instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qr

    Spotify
    https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8g

    Apple Podcast
    MMA History Podcast

    YouTube
    https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_J

    Outro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-power

    Mike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632
    Cash App - $mikedavis1231
    Venmo - Mike-Davis-63
    ZELLE: Cutthroatmma@gmail.com / ph#: 773-491-5052

    #MMA #UFC #NHB #MixedMartialArts #MMADetective #MikeDavis #MMAHistory #OldSchoolMMA #MMAPodcast #fightpodcast

    Thank You for your support

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 45 mins
  • James Hergott - MMA Film Maker
    Feb 5 2026

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    Ep 314 James Hergott - MMA Film Maker

    James Hergott is one of the OG’s when it comes to filming the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

    While currently promoting his film Super Car Saints available on Amazon Prime; his past incudes Striking Truth with George’s St Pierre & Fighting for the Troops.

    This episode is special drop where we discuss MMA History current issues along with James past history

    It’s a fun listen

    Please follow our channels on

    Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram:
    MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632
    Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitre
    Records Keeper- Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstress
    Social Media Manager Andy Campbell @martial_mindset_
    Thumbnails Julio Macedo @juliosemacento

    Instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qr

    Spotify
    https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8g

    Apple Podcast
    MMA History Podcast

    YouTube
    https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_J

    Outro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-power

    Mike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632
    Cash App - $mikedavis1231
    Venmo - Mike-Davis-63
    ZELLE: Cutthroatmma@gmail.com / ph#: 773-491-5052

    #MMA #UFC #NHB #MixedMartialArts #MMADetective #MikeDavis #MMAHistory #OldSchoolMMA #MMAPodcast #fightpodcast

    Thank You for your support

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 15 mins
  • The Fall of Extreme Fighting Battlecade - John Perretti
    Feb 2 2026

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    Ep 313 The Fall of EF Battlecade - John Perretti

    John Perretti, Battlecade: Extreme Fighting creator/matchmaker & former
    UFC matchmaker.
    Deep dive into the promotion's last event via Extreme Fighting 4 (Des Moines, March 28, 1997):
    It featured Olympic gold medalists
    Kenny Monday & Kevin Jackson on one card, along with epic clashes like Paul Jones vs.Eric Paulson and a mid-show power outage, we talk about Gracie hesitancy on certain matchups (including near-misses with big money offers), Bas Rutten bad blood, and John's take on grappler-to-striker limits.
    Raw, firsthand history from the source.

    0:00 MMA history podcast intro
    0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
    0:57 interview start
    2:19 Extreme fighting 4 in Iowa
    3:20 budget for Extreme fighting 4
    4:09 Ralph Gracie vs Eugenio Tadeu rumor
    6:28 allegedly matchmaking Brazilians to lose fights
    7:40 training Igor Zinoviev to fight Royce Gracie
    9:47 Bas Rutten altercation with Rickson Gracie
    11:55 Roster of fighters at Extreme Fighting 4
    12:50 power outage during event
    14:14 Allan Goes vs Todd Bjornethun
    18:14 Gary Myers vs Tommy Glanville
    19:38 Paul Jones vs Erik Paulson
    21:22 Kevin Jackson vs John Lober
    22:37 creating modern MMA
    25:12 Extreme fighting changing how you viewed the sport
    26:13 thoughts on Joe Moreira
    30:06 John Lober personal issues
    32:12 Matt Hume vs Pat Miletich
    35:44 financial issues coming into event
    37:18 Kenny Monday vs John Lewis
    43:47 John Donehue reffing all 4 events
    44:43 Maurice Smith vs Kazunari Murakami
    51:24 altercation with Ken Shamrock in lobby
    56:18 drug issues at the Lions den
    58:13 matchmaking fights in the UFC
    1:02:05 realizing Extreme fighting is finished
    1:05:15 Igor Zinoviev injured out of extreme fighting
    1:05:38 receiving a call to work for the UFC
    1:10:02 Art Davie’s letter to congress to ban MMA
    1:11:41 plugs/ promotions
    1:12:42 interview wrap up
    1:24:19 outro/ closing thoughts

    Please follow our channels on

    Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram:
    MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632
    Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitre
    Records Keeper- Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstress
    Social Media Manager Andy Campbell @martial_mindset_
    Thumbnails Julio Macedo @juliosemacento

    Instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qr

    Spotify
    https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8g

    Apple Podcast
    MMA History Podcast

    YouTube
    https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_J

    Outro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-power

    Mike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632
    Cash App - $mikedavis1231
    Venmo - Mike-Davis-63
    ZELLE: Cutthroatmma@gmail.com / ph#: 773-491-5052

    #MMA #UFC #NHB #MixedMartialArts #MMADetective #MikeDavis #MMAHistory #OldSchoolMMA #MMAPodcast #fightpodcast

    Thank You for your support

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 34 mins
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