Mark Coleman: The Hammer Still Swings
Mark Coleman: The Hammer Still Swings
Mark "The Hammer" Coleman is a UFC Hall of Famer, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and one of the true pioneers who built mixed martial arts from the ground up. A decorated Division I wrestler who became the first dominant ground-and-pound force in MMA history, Coleman's legacy is inseparable from the sport itself. In this Chats with Ben conversation, he sits down with Ben Bubb to reflect on building MMA from nothing, what the fighter's life actually costs, and why he's never stopped competing — in or out of the cage.
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"I was the first guy to take the best wrestlers in the world and turn them into MMA champions. Nobody knew if it would work. We made it work."
"Ground and pound wasn't a style. It was survival. You figure out what works with what God gave you."
"People don't understand what it costs to be a pioneer. There's no roadmap. You're just going forward and hoping the ground doesn't give out."
"Pride FC was the peak. Those were the best fighters in the world at the time, and we were all in there together. That doesn't happen anymore."
"I never did this for money. I did it because I needed to know what I was made of. I still need to know."
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UFC Released Him After 8 Losses. He Came Back as a Two-Division Karate Combat Champion | Sam Alvey
UFC Released Him After 8 Losses. He Came Back as a Two-Division Karate Combat Champion | Sam Alvey
Sam "Smile'n" Alvey is one of the most polarising figures in recent MMA history — a fighter who absorbed 8 consecutive UFC losses, got cut, and somehow came back as a two-division Karate Combat champion. Known as much for his infectious smile as his warrior mentality, Alvey's story is a master class in resilience, reinvention, and refusing to let the institutions of sport define your identity. In this Chats with Ben conversation, he sits down with Ben Bubb to break it all down — the losses, the cuts, the comeback, and what drives him to keep going.
"People wanted me to quit. Eight losses in the UFC — that's a message. But I wasn't listening to their message. I had my own."
"The UFC cutting me was the best thing that happened to my career. It forced me to figure out who I am as a fighter, not just what organization I fight for."
"I never stopped smiling because I genuinely love this. The losing doesn't change the love. If anything, it deepened it."
"Karate Combat gave me a platform when everyone else said I was done. That's not something you forget — you fight for that."
"Most fighters fight to not lose. I fight because I love fighting. That's a completely different headspace."
→ Chats with Ben — all episodes | Shop BLANC
Robin Gracie: Losing Was Never an Option
Robin Gracie: Losing Was Never an Option
Robin Gracie is the youngest son of Helio Gracie — one of the founding fathers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In a family where the name alone carries the weight of martial arts history, Robin carved his own path: through the military, away from the spotlight, and back to the art that shaped everything. In this Chats with Ben conversation, he sits down with Ben Bubb and gives his first-ever interview — opening up about growing up under the most legendary name in combat sports, what the Gracie legacy actually means, and why losing was simply never allowed.
“In our family, you don’t lose. It’s not about ego — it’s about what the name represents and what it demands of you.”
“My father never said ‘you can’t lose.’ He just showed us what it means to truly believe in what you do. That belief doesn’t allow for losing.”
“I went to the military to find out who I was outside of Gracie. I needed to know if I could stand on my own.”
“People see the Gracie name and think they understand what it means. They don’t. It’s not a brand — it’s a responsibility.”
“My father gave jiu-jitsu to the world. Now we have to make sure the world gives it back properly.”
Gordon Ryan on Mental Toughness, Pressure & BJJ Dominance | BLANC
Gordon Ryan is the most decorated no-gi grappler in history — multiple ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champion and the founder of Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu. He doesn’t just win matches; he systematically dismantles opponents before they ever touch the mat. In this Chats with Ben conversation, Ryan sits down with Ben Bubb to unpack the psychology of total domination, the role of pressure, and what truly separates elite competitors from everyone else. “I don’t try to win. I try to make it so uncomfortable that my opponent gives up before the match is over.” “People think pressure is about physical strength. It’s not. It’s about making your opponent believe there’s no way out.” “The mental side of this sport is where most people lose — not on the mat, but in their head the night before.” “I study my opponents obsessively. By the time we compete, I’ve already beaten them a hundred times in my mind.” “Dominance isn’t built in competition. It’s built in training when no one is watching.”Gordon Ryan on Mental Toughness, Pressure & BJJ Dominance | BLANC