MMA Weekly launched its official podcast this week, and the primary episode was excellent. Shawne Merriman made a legendary look, talking all issues MMA, Jake Paul’s boxing profession, and Donald Trump’s assassination try.
Merriman is a former NFL standout who rose to superstardom throughout his debut season with the San Diego Chargers. The linebacker captured the NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award and went on to make three Professional Bowl and two All-Professional alternatives. Sadly for ‘Gentle’s Out’, accidents would plague his profession, stunting his profession within the Nationwide Soccer League to only seven years.
Nonetheless, soccer is not the one sport Shawne Merriman has a eager curiosity in. Whereas making an look on the MMA Weekly podcast, Merriman mentioned his transition over to combined martial arts.
The 40-year-old is the founding father of rising fight sports activities promotion Lights Out Xtreme Preventing. Hoping to supply the fan’s with top quality fights without spending a dime, Merriman is airing LXF occasions on his new streaming service — which gives quite a few different sporting occasions and films, appropriate for each sporting fan.
“So, I simply launched Gentle’s Out Sports activities TV — my very own streaming service,” Merriman stated on the MMA Weekly podcast. “It is like a free, ad-supported, multisports streaming service.”
One in all his standout reveals on the streaming platform is the aforementioned LXF. Merriman has a variety of perception in his product and is hoping to showcase a few of his future occasions on the coveted UFC Combat Move.
“I am attempting to get a few of the fights for Lights Out Xtreme Preventing on Combat Move now.”
“To me personally, relating to fight sports activities, I feel Combat Move is the perfect throughout the board as a result of they have a bit little bit of every part.”
Merriman went on to elucidate how he transitioned from NFL to MMA post-retirement.
“So, I grew up boxing. My uncles had been skilled boxers. So, naturally, from the place I grew up in PG County, Maryland, Washington DC, we simply grew up boxing.”
“I used to be hitting the mitts someday within the gymnasium and [Jay Glazer of Fox Sports] seemed over and stated, ‘Oh, sh*t. You’ll be able to field?’ I stated, ‘Yeah, a bit bit.’ I am not an expert boxer however I can go.”
“[He said], ‘Have you ever tried MMA? I feel it’s going to assist you out in soccer.’ So, he textual content me an deal with, the following day I confirmed up and it was at Randy Couture’s gymnasium when it was in LA.”
“I went in there with Randy the primary day and I used to be pummelling and doing floor work, a variety of hand fight stuff and I simply noticed what it did for me as a soccer participant.”
“So, I began coaching with all these guys. All of the big-name guys within the mid 2000s, I began hanging and coaching with them after I used to be finished with my soccer exercises. That is how I received into the enterprise.”
“Then I ended up launching my very own promotion in 2019. So, it has been loopy, man. We’re a regional group, however it’s form of grown the final two years.”
Shawne Merriman’s ardour for MMA grew a lot that he had hopes of someday competing within the sport.
“Initially, I used to be planning on preventing for Bellator. It by no means occurred as a result of, on the time, you have to assume, I retired in 2013. This complete celeb, influencer stuff did not get large till like 2019 or 20.”
“So, I used to be forward of my time for the cash that I used to be searching for. It was loopy to them for what I used to be asking for [but] now it is a place to begin.”
Merriman later turned his consideration to Jake Paul’s splash within the boxing world.
“I’ve received a reasonably first rate relationship with Jake and I seen him work from the beginning…” Merriman stated. “I noticed him working. Working hills, sparring different guys that had six to 10 professional fights, and getting after him.”
“[I watched him] getting clocked, coming proper again, and I used to be like, ‘This dude is gonna be one thing.’ I do not understand how far he is gonna take it, however he’ll make a variety of noise on the trade…”
Associated: Jake Paul stops Mike Perry after scoring a number of knockdowns
The NFL veteran went on to debate the controversial Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson matchup.
“I feel it’s going to occur however I feel the steam is off of it… The worst factor that might have occurred in that scenario is he had a well being downside. Persons are already anxious about him preventing due to his age, due to his well being, and the truth that the combat did not occur but due to his well being. It simply takes the steam off a bit bit on what it was.”
Transferring on to the failed assassination try on Donald Trump, Merriman opened up about being emotional watching all of it unfold.
“I used to be watching it dwell when it occurred. When it occurred, I believed he was swatting it like a bug… After which I heard the gunshots and I heard them drop.”
“I teared up. I teared up, man, as a result of I believed that we have all watched the previous president get assassinated on dwell TV. I used to be tearing up as a result of, clearly, I am shut with Donald Trump, and I am shut with Jr…”
“I nearly cried. I believed we seen him get assassinated on dwell TV. I used to be shaken. I used to be shaken like hell.”
Be certain to take a look at the sensible MMA Weekly podcast that includes Shawne Merriman under!
