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 choices. Sadly for ‘Gentle’s Out’, accidents would plague his profession, stunting his profession within the Nationwide Soccer League to simply 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 Combating. Hoping to offer the fan’s with prime quality fights totally free, Merriman is airing LXF occasions on his new streaming service — which provides 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 mentioned on the MMA Weekly podcast. “It is like a free, ad-supported, multisports streaming service.”
Considered one of his standout reveals on the streaming platform is the aforementioned LXF. Merriman has a whole lot of perception in his product and is hoping to showcase a few of his future occasions on the coveted UFC Battle Move.
“I am attempting to get a few of the fights for Lights Out Xtreme Combating on Battle Move now.”
“To me personally, in relation to fight sports activities, I feel Battle Move is one of the best throughout the board as a result of they have a bit of little bit of every thing.”
Merriman went on to elucidate how he transitioned from NFL to MMA post-retirement.
“So, I grew up boxing. My uncles have 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 sooner or later within the health club and [Jay Glazer of Fox Sports] seemed over and mentioned, ‘Oh, sh*t. You possibly can field?’ I mentioned, ‘Yeah, a bit of bit.’ I am not knowledgeable 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 tackle, the subsequent day I confirmed up and it was at Randy Couture’s health club 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 whole lot 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 achieved with my soccer exercises. That is how I obtained 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, but it surely’s sort of grown the final two years.”
Shawne Merriman’s ardour for MMA grew a lot that he had hopes of sooner or later competing within the sport.
“Initially, I used to be planning on combating for Bellator. It by no means occurred as a result of, on the time, you have to assume, I retired in 2013. This entire celeb, influencer stuff did not get huge till like 2019 or 20.”
“So, I used to be forward of my time for the cash that I used to be on the lookout 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 obtained a reasonably respectable relationship with Jake and I seen him work from the beginning…” Merriman mentioned. “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 will make a whole lot 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 would have occurred in that state of affairs is he had a well being downside. Persons are already frightened about him combating due to his age, due to his well being, and the truth that the battle did not occur but due to his well being. It simply takes the steam off a bit of 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 virtually cried. I believed we seen him get assassinated on dwell TV. I used to be shaken. I used to be shaken like hell.”
Be sure to take a look at the sensible MMA Weekly podcast that includes Shawne Merriman beneath!
