Strange Wolves MMA Podcast

It's the Strange Wolves lockdown special! The fight companion special that nobody asked for! Unusual times bring an usual podcast, fully remote via Zoom for the first time ever. Vinny is absent this month due to technical difficulties (he finds technology difficult). He's replaced by Barry, simply because he can work the internet. Bringing the sum total experience of one podcast episode, and having basically watched no MMA in three years, this may have proven a poor choice. Marcus has carefully curated / randomly chosen some fights available to watch for free on YouTube. You can watch along here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL16F8DC4DDAF20703 John, Chris, Tom, Marcus and Not Vinny bring you riveting commentary and insight into such classics as: Gomi vs Diaz Frye vs Takayama (a masterclass in mutual brain damage) Aldo vs Brown Asian child 1 vs Asian child 2 And a whole host of other fighters you forget existed (Keith Jardine), barely recognise (Sean O'Connell) or have never heard of (Geronimo Dos Santos). Topics of conversation include: John's seasonally appropriate t-shirt, Chris' disregard for the #realheroes (his brother Eric), PFL's innovations (wife cam). For tattoo fans, there's also a deep critiquing of arguably the worst tattoo in MMA. Look, you have literally nowhere else to go, you might as well give it a watch / listen.

It's the Strange Wolves Janu-February 2020 podcast - the first ever Election Special! "Who likes politics?" is about as in-depth as that gets. Marcus makes some admissions about his web browsing activities that will definitely require him to not just clear his cache, but burn down the house containing the hard drive. Topics covered/regurgitated this month are either a homage to the greatest hits of the podcast, or show real contempt for the listener. You decide! For example: 1) Tom covers a top 5 so memorable that he forgot he had done it before. 2) John talks about Josh Barnett's love of Black Metal (again) 3) Vinny pushes up a half-baked conspiracy, then claims to be "just asking questions" (that's kind of every time though) The campaign to get Eric Flynn, Irish MMA superstar, and brother of on-again off-again podcast member Chris, starts here. Was the McGregor vs Cerrone scrap a staged fight, choreographed in advance by the UFC? No. That doesn't have to stop the wild, unsubstantiated rumours though. Could Vinny and John beat armed guards in a fight? Yes, apparently. Probably best not to test that theory, boys. The movie review this month is "Death on Ninja Mountain (Battle of the 3 Skulls), but sure, you've all seen that a dozen times. The episode ends with a bold prediction that this will be the best write-up ever. Not even close lads, I absolutely phoned it in.

Merry Chris-"Low T"-mas! Fifth choice podcaster Chris Flynn comes off the bench to join Marcus, Vinny and Tom for a Christmas special at Fat Tony's (https://fattonyslifestyle.com/) for the second episode running. In John's absence, you'd expect less (no?) talk about black metal, but weirdly, there's at least as much as ever. Chris gives away his mother's Christmas present, assuming she's a regular listener (and why wouldn't she be?). Enjoy your dinner voucher, Mrs. F. Tom's top six concerns the greatest upsets in MMA history. There's a few upsets in the list itself, given that they were won by heavy favourites. Marcus details his recent gig, really abusing his podcast platform to plug his music. Hustling hustler Ollie Mannion drops by for an impromptu interview / haircut to promote his new gym, Hustle fitness, and possibly the recent Jennifer Lopez film, Hustlers (available now to stream, probably). There's some discussion of the upcoming (at time of recording) UFC show, which seems a bit foolish, given they got most of the predictions wrong before anyone got to hear the podcast. This month's movie review is Raw Force, which frankly sounds like they made it up to test if people were still listening. Nice try, lads. Finally, on a seasonal notes, Chris reveals the content of his naughty and nice lists.

The first ever live recording of the Strange Wolves podcast comes to you from Fat Tony's Barbershop and Café ( https://fattonyslifestyle.com/ ) If you think this means the guys have sold out their principles, you're wrong. They never had any principles. John and Vinny ask some questions that are maybe not in the best interests of a regional MMA podcast from Galway, that lasts for two hours. 1) Has everyone lost interest in MMA? 2) Who's got time to spend hours on all this extra MMA related content? The public setting allows for the first ever guest slot on the show, with Naomi dropping in to answer questions with more grace than they deserved. Tom's top 5 concerns the best (?) drug cheats in MMA. Another guest / Tony's employee teaches John and Vinny what a boomerang is, and then there's an extended discussion of everyone's lingering injuries. Middle-aged Martial Arts? Which MMA fighter would you like to go for a pint with? Marcus would rather go thirsty than drink with Frank Mir. An hour and a half in, Vinny want to "change the subject slightly", and the talk about some MMA. Make of that what you will. The movie review this month is John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China. It's a goddamn classic, and I won't hear a word against it, Marcus.

Vinny, John and Marcus are joined by former podcast regular, Chris "Low T" Flynn, after a lengthy absence. Marcus' open song goes to a lot of places it probably shouldn't, but ends with a touching tale of a love that can never be. A quick foray into ASMR take a very sudden left turn into depravity. Vinny's double-life is exposed. Obviously he denies it, but he would, wouldn't he? Listeners questions lead to a segue about Hulk Hogan and Bubba the Love Sponge. Chris does his best not to break down while discussing the rumours of his chemical deficiencies. There are support groups, Chris. The Top 3 this month seems simple enough: top 3 favourite fighters for each member of the podcast. John answer with an entire organisation, Chris wanders off talking about UFC 1, Vinny brings up Yoel Romero's recent court case victory. Somehow they eventually only give two answers each, making it either a top 2 or a top 8, but definitely not a top 3. Maybe it's Chris' influence, but there seems to be an awful lot of Mixed Martial Arts chat this month, which you could argue makes sense for an MMA podcast. I guess. UFC, One FC, Bellator all get a mention. Seriously, there's a good hour in the middle that's pretty much all MMA. Well, MMA and steroids. You wouldn't get this carry-on with Tom "Baby Daddy" Hogan. Paddy Holohan's recently election win gets things back off topic, as a tenuous link to the Maria Bailey swing insurance scandal. John's own political past is dredged up, showing us the great leader / fearsome dictator the country lost with his retirement from public office. There's more MMA talk after that, in an unprecedented podcast event. I mean, surely this will never catch on? It doesn't last long, turning into a music discussion, ranging from AC/DC to Kendrick Lamar. Enjoyment of rap is split along generational lines: Marcus and Chris (20s) are fans, John and Vinny (60s?) are not. Black Metal is for everyone though. Somehow after all that, there's room for a review of early 80s non-classic 'The Octagon' starring Chuck Norris. Sounds shite, to be honest. Marcus reckons he could take the Rock in a fight. Can someone out there make that happen? Vinny finishes thing off with a rap that proves that maybe occasionally editing stuff out might be a good thing. Orange.