Kimo Leopoldo joins the MMA History Podcast to recount the raw early days of the sport, from his Huntington Beach roots and Christian transformation to the unforgettable moment he carried a full-sized cross into the Octagon and pushed Royce Gracie harder than almost anyone at UFC 3. The legendary fighter breaks down the chaotic tournament draw, the street-fight intensity of that classic bout, his contentious partnership with Joe Son, the fallout that followed, and the cascade of high-stakes battles that followed across K-1, Pride, and the UFC.

Kimo opens up about training with Matt Hume and Joe Moreira, the Sakuraba and Takayama wars in Japan, the brutal nine-minute war with Paul Varelans, the Huntington Beach showdown with Tank Abbott, and the controversial Bob Sapp kickboxing match in Las Vegas.

0:00 start

0:28 MMA History Podcast intro

1:01 Joey Venti’s guest introductions

1:12 interview start

1:45 attending elementary with John Lewis

3:12 introduction to combat sports

3:42 getting introduced to Christ by Joe Son

5:10 High School wrestling career

5:51 moving to California

6:12 bouncing at Club Rubber

7:54 watching UFC 1

9:10 Joe Son pushing UFC debut for Kimo Leopoldo

9:47 Joe Son challenging Royce Gracie

10:15 Paul Herrera street fight with Joe Son

10:49 learning Jiu Jitsu from Randy Ziegler

12:24 fight with Gracie’s in Hotel lobby (rumor)

13:09 UFC 3 name drawing for tournament

15:43 UFC 3 promo “fighting for Christ”

16:48 carrying cross on back during walkout

18:17 unaware of Joe Sons street activities

19:45 Joe Sons acting career

20:12 training prior to UFC debut

21:25 dealings with Bob Meyrowitz and Art Davie

21:49 feelings before fighting Royce Gracie

23:49 Kimo Leopoldo vs Royce Gracie

27:06 Royce Gracie towel throw

29:00 interactions with the Gracie’s after fight

29:45 reason for alternates to have fights

30:47 apology letter to the Gracie’s (rumor)

32:20 wore out from walking out with heavy cross

34:00 negotiations to fight in Japan

34:32 Kimo Leopoldo vs Pat Smith

36:36 making $500 to fight Royce Gracie

38:54 training at J Sect

39:32 Joe Son vs Keith Hackney

41:55 Kimo Leopoldo vs Masaaki Satake

43:34 connecting with Matt Hume

43:53 incorrectly listed rematch with Pat Smith

44:44 training with Carl Franks

45:12 training partners at AMC

46:39 issues with Allan Goes

47:58 Royce Gracie blue belt narrative

51:29 parting ways with Joe Son

52:28 managed by father Dennis Leopoldo

53:36 negotiations for UFC 8

54:40 conflict backstage at UFC 8

56:11 Tank Abbotts reputation on the streets

56:47 bouncer Richard Alvarez

58:27 John Lober

59:54 Eddie Ruiz

1:00:37 Tiki Ghosn

1:01:03 early involvement training Tito Ortiz (rumor)

1:01:45 crew members

1:02:26 fallout with Matt Hume after Ken shamrock fight

1:05:18 training with Joe Moreira

1:07:34 releasing instructional with Joe Moreira

1:09:09 Kimo Leopoldo vs Kazushi Sakuraba

1:13:59 Kimo Leopoldo vs Yoshihiro Takayama

1:16:44 Kimo Leopoldo vs Bam Bam Bigelow

1:20:01 dealings with the Yakuza

1:22:10 interactions with Gerard Gordeau

1:23:29 Kimo Leopoldo vs Paul Varelans

1:29:18 NHB era not getting the respect

1:29:53 Kimo Leopoldo vs Brian Johnston

1:31:30 negotiations with Pride FC

1:32:16 Kimo Leopoldo vs Dan Severn

1:34:41 Rickson Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada

1:35:29 falling out with the UFC after Pride Debut

1:36:44 Kimo Leopoldo vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka

1:37:59 cancelled bout with Gary Goodridge

1:38:57 no showing event

1:40:05 Joe Son vs Yusuke Imamura

1:41:37 current feelings about Joe Son

1:45:08 Kimo Leopoldo trading cards

1:46:45 Raul Ries

1:47:02 Joe Son vs Joe Moreira

1:48:34 Kimo Leopoldo vs Tim Lajcik

1:49:32 cancelled bout with Bas Rutten

1:51:47 running into Tank Abbott at a bar

1:54:08 Kimo Leopoldo vs Tank Abbott

1:57:20 Kimo Leopoldo vs Bob Sapp

2:05:54 conversations after Bob Sapp fight

2:07:30 interview wrap up

2:09:20 outro/ closing thoughts