Butterbean talks career highlights in Boxing, MMA, and Pro Wrestling

Butterbean is a decorated Tough Man competitor, a former super heavyweight world boxing champion, and is a pugilistic pop culture icon.

The man known as Eric Esch has also had high-profile efforts as a professional wrestler and as an MMA fighter. We covered several subjects such as:

-Co-workers at a factory thinking Esch would be great in Tough Man competition and how that kicked off Butterbean's combative career

-If his amazing streak of success in Tough Man bolstered his confidence to embark on a run in professional pugilism

-Being on the cover of Toughman Contest for the Sega Genesis

-Still working a factory job while being the main character in a video game

-Often playing the role of road warrior set to take on the hometown fighter looking for a name-value win

-The immense level of pride in winning his IBA super heavyweight World Championship and other meaningful titles throughout his career

-Mark Coleman suggesting Butterbean try MMA and how his journey began in that space

-Having as many submissions as striking finishes across his mixed martial arts endeavors

-Discussed bouts with Ernesto Hoost and Mark Hunt in the context of if there was any other fight throughout his career that was talked about but ultimately didn't come to fruition

-If Butterbean noticed any Yakuza involvement with PRIDE back when he was competing for them

-Competing in YAMMA Pit Fighting and the memories of competing in a unique framework like that

-Esch's thoughts on the rise in popularity domestically of Bare Knuckle boxing

-Negotiations for a Bare Knuckle fight in the past

-The sizable payouts in K1 and PRIDE FC from back in the day

-Minowa throwing two dropkicks at him during a PRIDE fight and what was going through Butterbean's head

-Butterbean's involvement in multiple pro wrestling efforts over the years

-Initially being involved with Marc Mero and how he really built ou Butterbean's base as a pro wrestler