JNPO Classic: The one with Mike Pyle
Our walk down MMA Memory Lane continues with the July 28, 2011, edition of the WGAM MMA Show featuring an interview with UFC welterweight Mike Pyle
Yours truly and co-host/producer PJ Huot discussed the news that UFC was bringing a title fight to free/cable TV for the first time in five years with then-bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson, set for Versus with a co-main event of Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles.
We talked about Alistair Overeem’s announcement that he was going to fight for United Glory while still under contract with Strikeforce, another blow against the quickly declining relationship between UFC and Strikeforce fighters.
We then had a 15-minute chat with Pyle, who was preparing to face Rory MacDonald at UFC 133 in Philadelphia. We hit on how he’s fought fast-rising prospects before (John Hathway anyone?), how Bruce Lee and Royce Gracie were influences on his career, how he got to the UFC, and how he got the gig on the Universal Solider sequel.
We also previewed a PPV quality Strikeforce show headlined by Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko that also featured Miesha Tate vs. Marlos Coenen, Tim Kennedy vs. Robbie Lawler, and Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley.
The latest JNPO Classic is here: