Join the MMA Detective Mike Davis and co-host Joey Venti for an exclusive deep dive with Paul “The Hitman” Herrera — Division I All-American wrestler (Nebraska, 142 lbs), Tito Ortiz’s high school wrestling coach, and core member of the legendary Tank Abbott crew in Huntington Beach.

In this raw, no-holds-barred conversation, Herrera recounts the Wild West days of MMA: his Olympic Trials run, training with Mark Schultz at BYU, the infamous UFC 6 elevator incident with Pat Smith, dojo-storming Alan Gomez alongside Tank Abbott and Eddie Ruiz, cornering Tito Ortiz’s UFC 13 debut, his own UFC 8 fight against Gary Goodridge, and his bout with Kazushi Sakuraba in Japan. He also details promoting the underground Hitman Fight Series and his current coaching at Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center.

The MMA History Podcast is the only show 100% dedicated to preserving mixed martial arts history through first-hand interviews with the men who lived it.

0:00 MMA history podcast intro

0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction

0:51 interview start

0:54 plugs/ promotions

1:33 recruited to California for wrestling

4:02 early UFC matchmaking

5:17 Olympic training center for wrestling

7:18 taking 2nd place at the Olympic open

10:07 scarce info online for Paul Herrera

11:16 coaching Tito Ortiz in high school

13:38 meeting Tank Abbott for the first time

18:25 relationship with Kimo Leopoldo

20:29 Kimo Leopoldo’s reputation

22:02 interactions with Joe Son

22:40 Randy Ziegler

23:10 relationship with Tito Ortiz

25:13 Dojo storming Allan Góes gym

30:46 animosity towards Tank Abbott at UFC 6

34:08 Tank Abbott vs John Matua

34:49 impression on Dave Thomas

35:50 Tank Abbott vs Paul Varelans

36:46 Oleg Taktarov vs Anthony Macias fixed fight

38:45 Tank Abbott vs Oleg Taktarov

39:22 Pat Smith backstage incident

43:43 running into Pat Smith in elevator

48:00 accused of stealing from Bob Meyrowitz

49:17 putting on Hitman fight events

51:09 relationship with Mark Schultz

54:45 training with Mark Schultz

56:27 Rickson Gracie meeting with Mark Schultz

58:20 invited to fight at UFC 8

59:27 Paul Herrera vs Gary Goodridge

1:00:24 training tape leaked to Gary Goodridge

1:02:17 using substances before Gary Goodridge fight

1:06:43 Refusing hospital treatment after UFC event

1:09:36 Tank Abbott and Allan Góes incident

1:11:24 UFC 9 attendance

1:12:07 preparing Tito Ortiz for UFC debut

1:13:40 Tito Ortiz vs Guy Mezger

1:17:45 Tito Ortiz first MMA fight

1:18:27 Tank Abbott fallout with John McCarthy

1:21:46 Tito Ortiz paid under the table for UFC debut

1:24:53 issues with the Brazilians at UFC after party

1:28:01 Paul Herrera vs Kazushi Sakuraba

1:35:18 the beginning of Japanese hijinks in MMA

1:37:21 Yakuza involvement in fights

1:39:10 John Lober vs Ryushi Yanagisawa

1:39:59 experience with John Lober

1:41:10 Aaron Brink

1:42:24 hosting underground MMA events

1:44:33 first impression of Aaron Brink

1:45:54 choosing to get sober

1:47:07 career highlights

1:48:07 experience with Sean Strickland

1:51:29 interview wrap up

1:53:26 outro/ closing thoughts

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Join hosts Mike Davis and Joey Venti on the MMA History Podcast for Episode #323 with John "The Natural" Alessio. The former UFC Welterweight title challenger, 50-fight veteran, and Canadian MMA pioneer discusses his remarkable career from outlaw shows in British Columbia to the bright lights of the UFC, PRIDE, King of the Cage, Pancrase, and Super Brawl.Alessio turned pro as a teenager after spotting a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu bumper sticker at a gas station. He shares wild early stories, including no-rules biker-backed events in a Sikh temple (with mid-fight police interventions and headbutts allowed), mismatched weight bouts in Japan, altitude struggles in tournaments, training at the Shark Tank with Ken Shamrock and legends like Pete Williams, and his UFC title shot against Pat Miletich at UFC 26 at age 20, making him the youngest fighter ever to compete for a UFC championship.Now a veteran with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on the FBI fugitive apprehension task force, Alessio also talks police jiu-jitsu training, life after fighting, and the raw, unregulated era of the sport he helped build. Packed with OG tales of Jason Height, Eddie Millis, John Peretti, Stefan Patry, Shawn Tompkins, and more.If you love early MMA history, Canadian pioneers, and unfiltered fighter stories, this is essential listening.Subscribe for more interviews and deep dives preserving mixed martial arts history.0:00 MMA history podcast intro 0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 0:54 interview start 0:57 current life/ career 3:49 50 fight club members from Canada 4:33 training accident with Javier Vasquez 6:45 Jason Heit9:11 beginnings in MMA10:34 Bikers supporting early MMA in Canada15:06 Ultimate Battle 4 man tournament 16:38 Adam Ryan 17:29 John Alessio vs David Harris19:33 Extreme Challenge 4 man tournament 23:39 dealings with Bill Mahood24:21 Kalib Starnes vs Nate Quarry 26:29 connection to Pancrase27:06 meeting Phyllis Lee 27:27 meeting Eddy Millis in Japan 28:04 John Alessio vs Kosei Kubota30:51 quitting Job to be a full time fighter 32:37 early support from friends 33:29 John Alessio vs Jason Meaders34:23 never turning down any fights 37:52 John Alessio vs Egan Inoue41:42 John Alessio vs Jay R Palmer43:14 John Alessio vs John Chrisostomo43:39 partying with the Lions Den 46:42 Lions Den initiation 49:03 John Alessio vs Pat Miletich52:40 UFC not acknowledging John Perretti 55:32 parents trusting fight career 58:14 arm barred by Pat Miletich 59:35 John Alessio vs Joe Doerkson1:00:34 getting cut from the UFC after title fight 1:03:29 Andy Anderson story after UFC event 1:08:34 declining involvement with the Bikers1:12:52 cancelled bout with Yves Edwards1:15:24 John Alessio vs Thomas Deny1:16:44 starting bad seed incorporated 1:17:59 dealings with Bobby Hoffman 1:19:07 Aaron Brink story 1:20:56 Bobby Hoffman story 1:24:40 fighting in the early MMA era 1:27:46 training camps with Billy Rush 1:28:53 Jeremy Horn not self promoting 1:31:08 John Alessio vs Sean Pierson1:31:37 interactions with Stephan Patry1:33:01 John Alessio vs Jason Black1:37:00 head kick KO to Sean Pierson 1:38:59 becoming a well rounded fighter 1:40:21 developing jiu jitsu with Javier Vasquez 1:41:17 interactions with Rafiel Torre1:42:58 John Alessio vs Chris Brennan 1:46:52 John Alessio vs Eiji Mitsuoka1:49:16 John Alessio vs Jason Black1:50:40 John Alessio vs Jason Black1:51:56 training with Karo parisyan1:52:57 John Alessio vs Ronald Jhun1:55:25 John Alessio vs Jonathon Goulet1:57:46 coached by Shawn Tompkins2:01:10 partying with Bas Rutten 2:01:40 John Alessio vs Shannon Ritch2:02:50 training with Dan Henderson and Matt Lindland 2:04:12 interview wrap up 2:05:23 cancelled bout with Joey Villasenior2:08:02 cancelled bout with Nick Diaz 2:10:56 outro/ closing thoughts#MMAHistory #JohnAlessio #UFC #EarlyMMA

Jake "Irish" O'Brien joins the MMA History Podcast for episode 322. The former Purdue wrestler and UFC veteran recounts his journey from dominating Indiana high school wrestling as a three-time state champion to becoming one of the most promising young heavyweights in early UFC history.

O'Brien shares rare stories from the Midwest MMA scene, including his wild amateur debut in a Cage Rage tournament against a one-armed opponent, early pro fights under Keith Palmer at venues like the 82nd Saloon and Madtown Throwdown, and training alongside legends such as Chris Liddell and Alex Stiebling at Integrated Fighting. He details his explosive UFC run, highlighted by a standout TKO victory over Pride veteran Heath Herring, and memorable bouts against elite competition: Andrei Arlovski, Cain Velasquez, and a young Jon Jones at UFC 100.The conversation covers O'Brien's wrestling roots, his identical twin brother's boxing background, the challenges of balancing college athletics with unsanctioned fights, the evolution of regional MMA in Indiana, and life after the Octagon, including coaching at Top Level gym in Indianapolis and his current work as a rural mail carrier. He also opens up about personal challenges, family resilience, and the support he received during difficult times.Hosted by the MMA Detective Mike Davisand Joey Venti, this episode preserves the unfiltered history of mixed martial arts through the eyes of a true pioneer who faced multiple future champions and helped build the sport's Midwest foundation.Listen for insights into early UFC matchmaking, the raw intensity of 2000s regional shows, and the lasting impact of wrestling in MMA.Subscribe for more interviews and stories direct from the men who lived MMA history.#MMAHistory #JakeOBrien #UFC #Wrestling