Dylan James Bowker

Saad Awad Talks Bellator 273, Fortis MMA, and 165 Pounds

Saad Awad tests skills with Chris Gonzalez at Bellator 273 on January 29th. This lightweight bout transpires at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and broadcasts on Showtime.
I spoke with Awad ahead of this fight and we touched on several subjects such as: -Being a homeowner for just a bit over a year now
-Overall thoughts on his first-round win over Nate Andrews at Bellator 259
-The competitive benefit of feeling like one's back is against the wall ala Awad's fight with Evangelista Santos
-Immense stresses of the Israeli Palestinian conflict and the catharsis of the last win to spotlight the situation
-Why a lightweight rankings spot isn't necessarily in Awad's crosshairs
-If Awad is doing tape study on Chris Gonzalez or if that's allocated to the coaches more so
-If there's a chance for a 165 lb weight division to become a broadly instantiated weight category in MMA
-Reflecting on moments throughout his decade-plus pro career as Awad carves out new memories
-Getting in work over at Fortis MMA

Bobo O’Bannon on BKFC Fight Night: Jackson, Alan Belcher Bout, and More

Bobo O'Bannon takes on Alan Belcher at BKFC Fight Night: Jackson. This heavyweight clash transpires on January 29th at Jackson Convention Complex from Jackson, Mississippi.
I spoke with O'Bannon ahead of this collision and we touched on several subjects such as: -Why O'Bannon is so consistently underrated despite being demonstrably successful in BKFC
-How the preference is for surrounding perceptions to be on him as the underdog versus the huge favorite
-If this Belcher bout is a title eliminator fight
-O'Bannon ultimately being his own toughest opponent as he advances in his career
-The lifestyle changes that have really bolstered Bobo's BKFC efforts
-Putting in full-time work as a Millwright when not knuckling up
-If Bobo's kids are at that age of comprehension yet where they fully understand what dad does
-The regular presence of Britton O'Bannon at fights and if she'll be present at BKFC Fight Night: Jackson
-The humbling level of fan support with Britton's health situation
-BKFC fans appreciating how forthright and honest he is
-O'Bannon's ability to push through difficulties and focus on the positives as an attribute within the combative competition
-General thoughts on what O'Bannon has seen from Alan Belcher

Hideki Sekine Talks Nye Win at Rizin 33, Exploding Ring Death Matches, and More

Hideki Sekine finished Shoma Shibisai via second-round ground and pound at Rizin 33. This transpired on December 30th, 2021 at Saitama Super Arena.
I spoke with the man known as Shrek after his Shibisai victory. We touched on several subjects such as: -The importance of being able to impart all of that wisdom from MMA and submission grappling
-Hideki Sekine working with Rizin lightweight champion Roberto de Souza
-The camaraderie with winning Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu teammates at Rizin 33 among Hideki Sekine and Roberto de Souza
-If there was a tangible sense of feeling the momentum swing that Hideki Sekine felt in the fight
-Utilizing the German suplex in a pro wrestling context and the feelings associated with connecting on it in MMA kind of context. As he did in the Shibisai bout
-The experiences that Hideki Sekine has had getting to work under UWF rules
-The influence of Nobuhiko Takada vs Rickson Gracie at the first Pride event on Hideki Sekine's MMA journey
-The hugely euphoric moment of winning on a new year's eve MMA show in Japan with the backdrop of Hideki Sekine being a paying fan of over two decades worth of NYE shows
-Hideki Sekine working FMW legend Atsushi Onita in a Current Blast deathmatch which is pro wrestling featuring rigged explosives
-Hideki Sekine's past bout for the ONE Championship heavyweight title and if a Rizin title in that weight category is something he covets in his future
-If Shrek has seen the Shrek is love, Shrek is life video and the backstory on his nickname

Takanori Gomi Talks Rizin NYE Fights, Boxing Aspirations, and Legendary Legacy

Takanori Gomi went to a draw against Tenshin Nasukawa in a custom rules bout on December 30th, 2021. This transpired at Rizin 33 from the world-renowned Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
I spoke with The Fireball Kid after his NYE clash and we touched on several subjects such as: -Gomi's go-to post-fight beers
-The experience of testing skills with Tenshin Nasukawa in a custom rules bout on NYE
-Looking to secure a spot on that June event headlined by Tenshin vs Takeru
-Gomi's hybrid rules fights on consecutive Rizin New Years cards and what his future is
-Gomi's huge legacy as a lightweight champion in Japan and his thoughts on Japan's modern lightweight king Roberto de Souza
-His last MMA fight being at Rizin 11 in July 2018 and Gomi's mixed martial arts future
-Gomi's feelings on some perceiving his Tenshin bout as a Pride vs Rizin, cross-generational clash
-What fighters inspired Takanori Gomi when he was a young fighter on the rise
-The feelings associated with defeating his idol for the prestigious Shooto lightweight championship over twenty years ago

Jasmine Jasudavicius Talks UFC Debut and Bets on Tattoos Pre-UFC 270

Jasmine Jasudavicius tests skills against Kay Hansen at UFC 270. This flyweight fight transpires at Honda Center in Anaheim, California on January 22nd, 2022.
I spoke with Jasudavicius ahead of her Octagon debut and we touched on several subjects such as: -The great work that is customary at Niagara Top Team
-The surging numbers of women's mixed martial artists throughout southern Ontario
-The growth in international recognition for NTT and where their skillsets are at on a global level
-The work at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas and relatively recent efforts working with UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno
-Sharing this card with Moreno and picking the brain of a reigning world champion
-Who will be cornering Jasudavicius for this UFC debut
-Living in Prickett's house being a pseudo rite of passage for NTT fighters
-When Jasmine's friend is going to get her face tattooed on her as per their bet surrounding Jasudavicius becoming a UFC fighter
-When the Kay Hansen fight initially popped up on her radar
-The stylistic proclivities of Kay Hansen and what the tape study dynamic is like
-If the future is at flyweight or if a strawweight return could happen at some point down the line

Hiromasa Ougikubo Talks Grand Prix Victories on NYE at Rizin 33

Hiromasa Ougikubo bested Naoki Inoue and Kai Asakura to capture the Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix championship. This transpired on December 30th, 2021 with Rizin 33 at Saitama Super Arena.
I spoke with Ougikubo after this remarkable accomplishment and we covered several subjects such as: -How Ougikubo is doing following this momentous night
-Getting engaged after proposing to his girlfriend on the Rizin NYE card
-The methodology backstage maintaining oneself between the first and second fights in a one-night tournament
-Ougikubo himself being the most daunting opponent beyond Inoue and Asakura
-Garnering two underdog victories to capture the Rizin bantamweight grand prix title
-avenging his loss in the finals to Kai Asakura and the feelings associated with that
-If the Grand Prix title holds supreme value or if challenging for that belt Kyoji Horiguchi has and garnering that will be the ultimate capstone
-Fighting for Shooto as well as Vale Tudo Japan and the rich traditions those promotions have
-Ougikubo thinking about hanging them up several times and what ultimately keeps bringing him back to competing each time
-What Hiromasa Ougikubo does outside of fighting to find happiness
-Ougikubo playing guitar and if he plays in a band

Xiong Jing Nan on Striving for Six Title Defenses Over Four Years at ONE: Heavy Hitters

Xiong Jing Nan tests skills with Ayaka Miura at ONE: Heavy Hitters on January 14th. The former defends her ONE strawweight world title against the latter inside Singapore Indoor Stadium.
I spoke to Nan ahead of her next title defense and we covered several subjects such as: -Nan having a fight week birthday on January 12th
-The history-making headlining title fight at ONE: Empower and what that meant for the champ
-Xiong Jing Nan's comments about putting "happy strikes" on Michelle Nicolini and what that meant
-The great work with Evolve MMA compatriot and fellow strawweight Alex Silva
-January 20th marking four years of Nan's reign and what that milestone would mean if reached
-How the methodology would shift if another atomweight title shot comes for The Panda down the line

Meng Bo Discusses Tiffany Teo Clash at ONE: Heavy Hitters

Meng Bo and Tiffany Teo test skills in a consequential and intriguing strawweight fight at ONE: Heavy Hitters. This takes place on January 14th and emanates from Singapore Indoor Stadium.
I spoke with Bo ahead of this clash and we covered several subjects such as: -New aspects added to the training camp as Bo transitions to a different weight category
-If the Strawweight move was a goal for a while or if it was a "fresh coat of paint" scenario after being ousted from the ONE Atomweight Grand Prix
-If there are different dietary options available as well as increased strength and conditioning that Meng wasn't able to do before as an Atomweight 
-If a Strawweight Meng Bo means that same big punching power but with a stronger cardio base to sustain bigger output
-The excitement with getting to fight such a high-level contender and multi-time title challenger in Tiffany Teo
-Tiffany Teo's striking acumen and if Meng Bo sees this fight as largely playing out to the feet
-Bo shaving her head after the Ritu Phogat loss and the symbolism of that gesture
-Meng Bo's new year's resolutions for 2022
-The hypothetical of a fight with fellow Chinese MMA compatriot Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE strawweight belt
-Bo's feelings on many pundits seeing her as a strong candidate for being ONE strawweight world champion by the end of the year
-Meng Bo being the youngest of four sisters and their thoughts on her MMA career