Enson and James are back, this time joined by MMA legend Denis Kang. In this episode, Enson and Denis share their favourite Pride FC stories, discussing the differences between fanbases in Korea and Japan, and what it was like fighting in these legendary promotions. Denis opens up about his transition to Pride, his match against Akiyama, and the challenges of the Pride Welterweight Tournament. They also dive into behind-the-scenes insights, including experiences with Pride management, payment structures, and the rumored Ultimate Fighter appearance. Beyond Pride, they reflect on bare-knuckle fighting, the evolution of MMA, and how social media could have changed their careers.
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Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
01:32 - Last time Denis & Enson saw each other
02:30 - Denis showing support for Enson
05:15 - What brought Denis to Pride
06:19 - Difference in fanbase
07:30 - Enson's trips to Korea
09:30 - Difference in fighting in Korea to Japan
12:26 - Denis getting noticed in Korea
13:50 - Fighting Akiyama
15:37 - Pride Welterweight tournament
17:13 - Thoughts on tournament format
21:57 - Thoughts on BareKnuckle
24:10 - Thoughts on current MMA landscape
29:22 - Lumax Cup
32:05 - Ganryujima
34:04 - Experience with Pride management
39:10 - K1 payments
40:42 - Ultimate fighter rumor
43:25 - Dealing with loss in Pride tournament
46:24 - Transition to coaching
50:15 - Injuries
51:50 - Mindset of fighting changed?
54:54 - Differences for fighters today
57:02 - What rules would you bring back
58:53 - Denis favourite fights
01:00:30 - Having Social media back in the day
