So how would you describe your relationship with Arman after the match?

Yeah, you know, it's a, it's a real respectful relationship.

You know, we understood the task at hand, you know, and we're there to sell tickets and put butts in seats, so that's what we did.

It was the biggest sellout in RAF history for a gate.

You know, it was an electrified ful- uh, full sold out arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, so it, it was a true joy to do business with, with Arman, and I'm thankful to him.

You know, I'm thankful to him for, you know, showing up and, and putting on a good show for the fans and, and, and we did our part.

So, you know, it was just an overall great show.

Um, ca- can I ask, what is the, the genesis of the issue with Belal? Where does it, you know, where does it start? How long ago did it begin?

But a lot of these big a- athletes, like again, like when, when people, uh, reach out to you, are you seeing more and more people, uh, stand up for President Trump and, and, uh, the, the right and the right things to do in this country? I mean, are they getting more empowered because of folks like you?

You know, I, I think that, you know, originally, like when I first came out in 2018, people were scared of like how corporate was gonna look at them.

They didn't wanna lose sponsors.

They didn't wanna piss off their bosses, you know? The, the owners, you know, for the NFL, NBA, and NHL.

But now people, you know, it's, it's becoming more acceptable, you know, 'cause Trump's in office and, you know, it's kind of, uh, a cooler thing to be a part of these days 'cause, you know, what he's doing, he's doing great things for the country, and he's putting the country first and, you know, uh, inflation's going down.

We have more protection in this country.

We have a strong leader, you know, and, and peace through strength.

"He, he likes President Trump."

What's going on here?

here?Yeah.

So I had a good meeting with Hunter and, uh, you know, we just talked about the future and, uh, we talked about everything that's been done and, and all the business we've done, and it was a productive meeting.

And I, and I just said that, you know, I, I, I'm very thankful for everything that, you know, the UFC has allowed me to be able to do in my life and, and all the blessings that, that I've received from them.

But, you know, this is the next step in my combat sports, uh, career is to, is to join wrestling full time, my first true love and passion.

You know, I started wrestling when I was in diapers and I was a little kid, and it was family business, you know, to go into the wrestling world.

So now I can get back to, you know, doing what I love the most, you know, which is wrestling.

It came to be in August of '25, but, you know, why so long after the last fight?

... could you even wrap your mind around it?

I couldn't, honestly.

It, it just, everything was going downhills, or uphills, I mean, downhills so fastly.

All the things were starting to fall into place.

You know, President Trump had called me right afterwards and was like, "Hey, I wanna bring you to the Oval Office.

And, you know, I want you to deliver this belt to the Oval Office in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." And Dana White was showing me respect.

Hunter Campbell starts calling me.

Mm.

But after you lose that fight, obviously that's not the case.

Yeah, you know, the first fight, there was a lot of controversies.

It was very close.

It was very close, you know.

It was clearly an early stoppage.

I was in on a double leg, intelligently defending myself with my hand, and he's hitting me in the back of the head for the last four or five shots, and I'm putting my hand behind the back, and then I'm reaching out on a double leg, and Mark Goddard just stops it.

I mean, it's one of the worst stoppages in UFC history.

Where's your mindset in regards to your career?

... could you even wrap your mind around it?

I couldn't, honestly.

It, it just, everything was going downhills, or uphills, I mean, downhills so fastly.

All the things were starting to fall into place.

You know, President Trump had called me right afterwards and was like, "Hey, I wanna bring you to the Oval Office.

And, you know, I want you to deliver this belt to the Oval Office in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." And Dana White was showing me respect.

Hunter Campbell starts calling me.

Mm.

You seemed to be a shoo-in for this card, and so your omission seemed very noticeable.

Yeah.

Honestly, I think a lot of the emotions and, like, that frustration was coming from people outside of me, you know? It, it wasn't really me.

Like, I, I didn't really care.

I was like, "You know what?" Like, I, I wanted it.

I cared.

Obviously, I cared.

What happened?

What do you think so far?

Yeah, it's, it's an amazing thing, an amazing platform that Real American Freestyle has provided for these wrestlers.

You know, back when I was in high school and college, you know, if I wanted to go down this route of wrestling after college, it was like, "Hey, you wanna go to the Olympics? Here's a hot dog, here's a handshake.

That's all you're gonna get." So that's why I went down the UFC route, 'cause it was an opportunity to financially change my future and change my family's future.

So if they would've had Real American Freestyle when I was in college, I definitely would've done it.

So I'm thankful for the opportunity, and, uh, it's gonna be a good, uh, show for all the fans.

So how much was the UFC, before we get back to this, the transition easier? Because when in doubt, take them down.

Yeah, it was, it was an easy transition because not only the, the work ethic they t- they teach you...