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Tedd Williams MMA & Gladiator Challenge

Tedd Williams is a UFC veteran, grappling pioneer a national AAU Sambo champion, Gene LeBell black belt, and 7-1 pro fighter and one of the longest tenured promoters in the country.
Tedd Williams shares stories from the sport's raw early days: training with Bas Rutten, his UFC 24 main-event elbow KO over Steve Judson, co-founding King of the Cage, launching Gladiator Challenge, and building the regional scene that helped launch fighters like Urijah Faber and Charles Bennett.
A deep dive into MMA's Wild West era straight from one of its true architects.

0:00 MMA history podcast intro
0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
0:50 interview start
1:40 learning Sambo early on
3:36 training with Gene LeBell
5:15 training with John Perretti
6:37 interactions with John Lewis
7:28 starting friendship with Oleg Taktarov
8:29 using sambo to become a better wrestler
9:26 starting Victorville Jets program
11:33 Universal above ground fighting
14:10 Antonio McKee vs John Smith
15:27 Antonio McKee gun story
17:15 owning half of KOTC at the beginning
21:09 meeting Terry Trebilcock
22:39 using same venue for KOTC and Gladiator Challenge
25:24 hosting Gladiator Challenge in Colorado
26:41 Tedd Williams vs Robert Burnell
28:06 Empire fighting
29:10 Bas Rutten invitational
30:14 training Bas Rutten
33:00 Tedd Williams vs Joseph Marquez
34:46 Tedd Williams vs Travis Fulton
37:30 experience with Jamie Levine
38:29 Tedd Williams vs Joe Campanella
40:25 Holiday Fight Party
47:20 Phillip Miller split from the UFC
50:45 Phillip Miller vs James Zikic
52:07 Lee Murray and Tito Ortiz street fight
54:26 letter to get into ADCC 2000
56:46 training with Rowdy Roddy Piper
57:44 Tedd Williams vs Steve Judson
1:02:08 false UFC fighter resumes
1:03:13 Tedd Williams fight camp exposed
1:05:17 cancelled bout with Andre Roberts
1:06:27 friendship with Cal Worsham
1:09:37 dealing with Dan Severn
1:10:30 cross training bjj and wrestling
1:11:02 KOTC purchased by EliteXC
1:19:43 Tedd Williams vs Bill Parker
1:21:39 dealings with Bob Shamrock
1:23:01 Tony Galindo
1:23:41 Ken Shamrock backstage fight with Mark Hall
1:24:15 attending regional shows
1:25:25 pushing Tito Ortiz out of cage
1:30:05 KOTC Wet ‘N’ Wild
1:34:43 selling Gladiator challenge video library
1:37:16 KOTC losing money
1:38:07 experience with Charles Bennett
1:41:58 Charles Bennett changing name to Felony
1:43:03 sued by Terry Trebilcock
1:46:43 Gladiator Challenge, KOTC buyouts
1:50:27 relationship with Chris Cordero
1:52:36 Experience with Rafiel Torre
1:55:49 Gerald Strebendt
1:56:34 interview wrap up
1:59:55 outro/ closing thoughts

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Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram:
MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632
Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitre
Records Keeper- Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstress
Social Media Manager Andy Campbell @martial_mindset_
Thumbnails Julio Macedo @juliosemacento

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MMA History Podcast

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Outro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-power

Mike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632
Cash App - $mikedavis1231
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MMA Docu Series

Dive into the incredible story of Marco Ruas, the barefoot Brazilian who stepped into the UFC octagon before the sport even had a name. Often called the forgotten pioneer, Ruas arrived at UFC 7 in 1995 with a revolutionary well-rounded game—blending Muay Thai devastation, judo throws, jiu-jitsu mastery, and luta livre grappling—that shattered the era of pure specialists. Watch as he dismantles opponents like Larry Cureton with early heel hooks, outstrikes Remco Pardoel, and methodically chops down the massive Paul Varelans with those legendary low kicks that echoed through the arena.

We explore his gritty Rio origins, training under legends like Oswaldo Alves and Luis Alves, his vale tudo roots, the rivalry with the Gracies that never fully materialized, his dominant UFC 7 tournament win that proved versatility was the future, later battles against names like Oleg Taktarov and Maurice Smith, and the heartbreaking what-if matchup with Don Frye that fans still debate. Beyond the cage, Ruas's lasting impact shines through as a coach—he mentored Pedro Rizzo, whose devastating leg kicks carried Ruas's influence forward to shape fighters like Jose Aldo.
If you're into MMA history, early UFC pioneers, or the evolution from vale tudo to modern mixed martial arts, this mini documentary uncovers why Ruas was truly ahead of his time—the first complete fighter who forced the sport to evolve.

Hit play now and discover the man who mastered MMA before it even existed. If you love deep dives into MMA's roots, subscribe to the channel for more untold stories from the early days of the UFC and beyond—new episodes drop regularly!

00:00 - Introduction
00:10 - Marco Ruas: The Forgotten Father of Modern MMA
01:53 - Marco Ruas as a Neighborhood Legend
02:21 - Early Life & Martial Arts Training in Rio
03:39 - Public Challenge to the Gracie Family
04:48 - Birth of Ruas Vale Tudo
05:38 - The Devastating Power of Ruas’ Leg Kicks
05:56 - UFC 7: One-Night Heavyweight Tournament Debut
06:38 - Quarterfinal vs Larry Cureton (Heel Hook)
07:12 - Semifinal vs Remco Pardoel (Striking & Grappling)
07:42 - Final vs Paul Varelans (Leg Kick Masterclass)
08:36 - Aftermath: How Ruas Changed the Game
09:24 - Later Career Fights & Transition Out of UFC
10:00 - Mentorship, Pedro Rizzo & Jose Aldo
11:43 - Brutal Training Stories & Seminar Pain
11:56 - Legacy & Reflection
12:06 - The Fight That Never Happened vs Don Frye

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Paul Buentello BEFORE the UFC

50 Fight Club Member Paul Buentello started his journey fighting for Steve Nelson in the very tough and rugged Amarillo Texas MMA scene.

Buentello dives into what it was like fighting absolute legends in Evan Tanner, Gan McGee and Bobby Hoffman prior to getting his opportunity within the UFC.

This is a feel good story featuring a guy that is hard not to like

0:00 MMA history podcast intro
0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction
0:52 interview start
1:00 reffing fights
4:38 training taekwondo early on
5:48 training partner Cedric Marks
7:38 Ultimate Athlete 2 riot
9:36 guarding the pain inc booth
14:11 stiffed on payment for Kerry Schall fight
19:22 USWF 8 man tournament
24:56 Paul Buentello vs Dan Severn
28:43 competing in tough man contest
33:57 Lenard Garcia coming out of USWF
34:33 Paul Buentello vs Larry Parker
39:00 training with Sven Bean
40:36 Paul Buentello vs Todd Broadaway
42:40 Heath Herring current life
44:49 getting mistaken for Babalu
47:08 losing to a WWE wrestler
48:44 Paul Buentello vs Jimmy Westfall
51:50 forcing hands into smaller MMA gloves
53:36 Paul Buentello vs Bobby Hoffman
55:18 UFC current crowd compared to previous
57:58 self managing early career
59:09 driving 27 hours to IFC event with daughter
1:02:39 Paul Buentello vs Rocky Batastini
1:04:08 Paul Buentello vs Gan McGee
1:05:29 Paul Buentello vs Rico Rodriguez Wet & Wild
1:10:39 leaving to California to Train MMA
1:12:38 training with Cain Velazquez
1:13:25 Cameron Earle story
1:17:54 Paul Buentello vs Roger Neff
1:19:57 Paul Buentello vs Mike Kyle
1:23:48 KOTC contract
1:25:20 journey to get to the UFC
1:27:13 training for Gary Marshall
1:30:49 experience with Bob Cook
1:31:45 thoughts on Frank Shamrock
1:34:18 meeting Andy Anderson
1:39:48 training partners at AKA
1:42:22 cancelled bout with Forrest Griffin
1:42:57 Bobby Hoffman protected KOTC
1:45:29 Paul Buentello vs Andy Montana
1:46:21 Paul Buentello vs Lloyd Marshbanks
1:48:59 mentally not prepared for first UFC fight
1:50:32 getting into the UFC
1:52:27 relationship with Joe Silva
1:53:05 refusing to use PEDs
1:54:35 traveling the world to fight
1:57:01 paying dues to fight
1:58:58 Bob Cook gym stories
2:03:07 interview wrap up
2:06:37 outro/ closing thoughts

Please follow our channels on

Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram:
MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632
Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitre
Records Keeper- Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstress
Social Media Manager Andy Campbell @martial_mindset_
Thumbnails Julio Macedo @juliosemacento

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qr

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8g

Apple Podcast
MMA History Podcast

YouTube
https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_J

Outro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-power

Mike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632
Cash App - $mikedavis1231
Venmo - Mike-Davis-63
ZELLE: Cutthroatmma@gmail.com / ph#: 773-491-5052

#MMA #UFC #NHB #MixedMartialArts #MMADetective #MikeDavis #MMAHistory #OldSchoolMMA #MMAPodcast #fightpodcast

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