All Hands on Deck: Meet the Sherdog Staff – My Dinner With Andre – Sherdog.com

The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championshippay-per-views has changed: UFC 246 is only available on ESPN+ in theU.S.

Kyle Barrowman: Ken Shamrock.Aside from being my all-time favorite fighter, I would just love totalk to him about the early days of MMA, and in particular aboutthe early (secretive and still to this day mysterious) days ofPancrase. To hear his behind-the-scenes stories aboutcoming up in the Japanese professional wrestling circuit andinitially training with and then competing against legendaryfigures like MasakatsuFunaki and MinoruSuzuki, forming the Lions Den, competing in and becoming anearly champion of both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase not to mention his additional behind-the-scenes stories from theAttitude Era of the WWF would be incredible. He has lived andexperienced such a historic life/career that I can only imagine howmany fascinating stories he has to tell.

John Brannigan: I bet Quinton "Rampage"Jackson knows a good place or two to eat!

Jason Burgos: Its atossup between two talented pugilists, and one I actually didinterview for a short spell this past spring. The first would beDanielCormier, and its (as my kid would say) obvi because he isDaniel-Freakin-Cormier. The man is one of the greatest ever. But,what makes Cormier special, and I felt it a bit at the post-fightpresser for UFC 230, is there is a welcoming warmth to him.Meaning, despite his legendary status, he would likely make thisregular ol MMA journalist feel like a long-time friend.

The other would be ChaelSonnen. I spoke with Sonnen at the media day for Bellator 222,and he too has a very welcoming aura. However, it comes with ahumorous charisma that is quite enchanting. Plus, I have to get allthe details on the basement training session he told me aboutbetween himself and Georges St.Pierre years back. I would also find out why that session madehim believe Rush is the most talented fighter he ever competedagainst, even over legendary former opponents Jon Jones,FedorEmelianenko and AndersonSilva.

Edward Carbajal: Bas Rutten.He's in the "pioneer" wing of the UFC's Hall of Fame, but I alwayssaw him as the first modern fighter, a strong striker that washungry to learn wrestling and submissions. He's a Kyokushin karateguy that knew he had to add to his toolbox of skills, and itinspired me as an Ishin-Ryu practitioner to add Brazilian jiu-jitsuto my own training. I know he's a grandfather now but I also knowhe used to have a good time.

Tristen Critchfield: Ivenever been one to be enamored with celebrity, so Im going to go alittle outside the box and share a table with retired UFCmatchmaker Joe Silva. Assuming this meal will include candidconversation, I think Silva would have some of the best insight andmost interesting anecdotes regarding the formative years of thelargest promotion in mixed martial arts. During his tenure with theUFC, Silva largely preferred to remain behind the scenes andrejected most media inquiries. That, too, plays a big role in mychoice.

Ben Duffy: Id go withElvisSinosic. As a pioneer of Oceanic MMAhe fought on the veryfirst modern Australian NHB card and was the first Aussie to fightin the UFC as well as the first to fight for a UFC titleand MMATwitters most vocal advocate of eating lots and lots of steak, Ican only imagine the stories and the food would both bestellar.

Mike Fridley: I wouldbe honored to have a steak and a few lemonades with KazushiSakuraba, the best personality MMA has ever witnessed.

Brian Knapp: ChuckNorris.

Tudor Leonte: If I hadthe chance, Id love to have dinner with Gina Carano.She has Italian origins, so Id definitely take her to eat somespaghetti alla carbonara and taste some fancy Prosecco whilelistening to some of Adriano Celentanos songs. We would talk abouther career, we would blame CristianeJustino all night for inflicting the only defeat on the lovelyCaranos record and we would also discuss her recent role in "TheMandalorian." Next time she comes to Italy, I definitely have toask her out. After asking Kevin Ross blessing, of course.

Jay Pettry: Instead ofpicking an active or retired fighter, I would opt to sit down withArt Davie for the good part of an evening. One of the creators ofthe UFC, an executive at K-1 USA and also the man behind the legendary sportXARM? The stories would be unlike any we could hear elsewhere, andit would serve as an inside look behind the curtain at how thesekinds of organizations get off the ground. It would be a way tolearn from a man involved from the very beginning how the sausagethat is MMA was made, and I am genuinely curious if he in hiswildest dreams believed what he put together all those years agowould turn into what we have today.

Keith Shillan: DanielCormier. He has a great personality, appears to be someone thatis easy to talk to, and obviously can throw back a beer or two.

Mike Sloan: If thisquestion is for living or dead, I would pick the late, great HenryArmstrong, who I consider the greatest pound-for-pound boxer inhistory. However, since this is most likely for combat sportsfigures who are still breathing, I would have to go withMarvelous Marvin Hagler. Hes the only elite all-time great boxerfrom the 1980s whom I havent yet met, and hes always been one ofmy all-time favorites.

Tyler Treese: Pancrasefounder and legendary badass MinoruSuzuki.

Anthony Walker: Id probablysit down with Gene LeBell.The stories hed share on his friendship with Bruce Lee, chokingout Steven Seagal, and his mixed-rules bout with Milo Savagewould be fantastic. Even though his mind is probably packed to thebrim with useful insights on hand-to-hand combat, I wouldnt go inexpecting a lesson to be applied at the next training session.Instead, Id just enjoy the moment. A medium rare steak, whiskey onthe rocks, and fun conversation with Judo Gene soundsperfect.

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