Kimo Leopoldo: I Nearly Beat Royce Gracie & Joe Son stories

<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>0:00 start</p><p>0:28 MMA History Podcast intro </p><p>1:01 Joey Venti’s guest introductions</p><p>1:12 interview start </p><p>1:45 attending elementary with John Lewis </p><p>3:12 introduction to combat sports </p><p>3:42 getting introduced to Christ by Joe Son </p><p>5:10 High School wrestling career </p><p>5:51 moving to California </p><p>6:12 bouncing at Club Rubber </p><p>7:54 watching UFC 1</p><p>9:10 Joe Son pushing UFC debut for Kimo Leopoldo </p><p>9:47 Joe Son challenging Royce Gracie </p><p>10:15 Paul Herrera street fight with Joe Son</p><p>10:49 learning Jiu Jitsu from Randy Ziegler</p><p>12:24 fight with Gracie’s in Hotel lobby (rumor) </p><p>13:09 UFC 3 name drawing for tournament</p><p>15:43 UFC 3 promo “fighting for Christ”</p><p>16:48 carrying cross on back during walkout </p><p>18:17 unaware of Joe Sons street activities</p><p>19:45 Joe Sons acting career </p><p>20:12 training prior to UFC debut </p><p>21:25 dealings with Bob Meyrowitz and Art Davie </p><p>21:49 feelings before fighting Royce Gracie</p><p>23:49 Kimo Leopoldo vs Royce Gracie </p><p>27:06 Royce Gracie towel throw </p><p>29:00 interactions with the Gracie’s after fight </p><p>29:45 reason for alternates to have fights</p><p>30:47 apology letter to the Gracie’s (rumor) </p><p>32:20 wore out from walking out with heavy cross </p><p>34:00 negotiations to fight in Japan</p><p>34:32 Kimo Leopoldo vs Pat Smith </p><p>36:36 making $500 to fight Royce Gracie </p><p>38:54 training at J Sect </p><p>39:32 Joe Son vs Keith Hackney </p><p>41:55 Kimo Leopoldo vs Masaaki Satake</p><p>43:34 connecting with Matt Hume </p><p>43:53 incorrectly listed rematch with Pat Smith</p><p>44:44 training with Carl Franks </p><p>45:12 training partners at AMC</p><p>46:39 issues with Allan Goes</p><p>47:58 Royce Gracie blue belt narrative</p><p>51:29 parting ways with Joe Son </p><p>52:28 managed by father Dennis Leopoldo </p><p>53:36 negotiations for UFC 8</p><p>54:40 conflict backstage at UFC 8</p><p>56:11 Tank Abbotts reputation on the streets</p><p>56:47 bouncer Richard Alvarez </p><p>58:27 John Lober </p><p>59:54 Eddie Ruiz </p><p>1:00:37 Tiki Ghosn</p><p>1:01:03 early involvement training Tito Ortiz (rumor)</p><p>1:01:45 crew members </p><p>1:02:26 fallout with Matt Hume after Ken shamrock fight </p><p>1:05:18 training with Joe Moreira</p><p>1:07:34 releasing instructional with Joe Moreira </p><p>1:09:09 Kimo Leopoldo vs Kazushi Sakuraba</p><p>1:13:59 Kimo Leopoldo vs Yoshihiro Takayama</p><p>1:16:44 Kimo Leopoldo vs Bam Bam Bigelow</p><p>1:20:01 dealings with the Yakuza </p><p>1:22:10 interactions with Gerard Gordeau</p><p>1:23:29 Kimo Leopoldo vs Paul Varelans</p><p>1:29:18 NHB era not getting the respect </p><p>1:29:53 Kimo Leopoldo vs Brian Johnston </p><p>1:31:30 negotiations with Pride FC</p><p>1:32:16 Kimo Leopoldo vs Dan Severn</p><p>1:34:41 Rickson Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada</p><p>1:35:29 falling out with the UFC after Pride Debut </p><p>1:36:44 Kimo Leopoldo vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka</p><p>1:37:59 cancelled bout with Gary Goodridge </p><p>1:38:57 no showing event </p><p>1:40:05 Joe Son vs Yusuke Imamura </p><p>1:41:37 current feelings about Joe Son </p><p>1:45: