Tracy Reeder returns to 4oz to Freedom ahead of his October 17 fight against Ruslan Bolkvadze at RKENA Hosting PFL in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Reeder shares the financial reality of fighting full time, the illness that sidelined him, and how he rebuilt his momentum before getting the PFL call. He also discusses his short-notice debut against Gadzhi Rabadanov, adjusting to a replacement opponent, and why he plans to pursue a finish while staying ready for all three rounds.

We also talk about representing Oklahoma and his team before getting into the personality behind the fighter: cats, airplane movies, paperwork, and the gym's running joke about fighting in “Atlanta.”

Watch and explore the episode: https://4oztofreedom.com/episodes/tracy-reeder-targets-a-finish-vs-ruslan-bolkvadze-rkena-x-pfl/

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Morquez “Black Clover” Forest returns to 4oz to Freedom ahead of his October 16 fight against Levan Khabalaev at PFL Chicago.

Forest looks back at the controversial decision against Dakota Bush in his last PFL appearance, what he saw when he rewatched the fight and the biggest lesson he took from it: fight his fight and don't leave things in the judges' hands.

Next comes Khabalaev — an opponent Forest was actually offered twice on the regional scene before their paths finally crossed in PFL. Morquez explains why he expects a dogfight, what stands out about Khabalaev's striking and why he's preparing for his opponent to show more than we've seen so far.

We also get into Forest's evolving training camp, working alongside Shane Burgos, the coaches who give him the honest feedback he wants and his current situation with PFL.

There isn't a multi-fight deal in place yet, so Forest knows exactly what he wants to accomplish in Chicago:

Show them what they're missing.

“They are getting a superstar. Period.”

Then we step away from fight talk with rapid-fire questions about anime, why Vegeta is overrated, living in the One Piece universe, his hatred of octopus, Reacher, 13 Ghosts and the everyday task he's embarrassingly bad at.

Morquez Forest vs. Levan Khabalaev kicks off PFL Chicago on October 16, 2026.

Rich Chou joins 4oz to Freedom to discuss his return to MMA alongside Scott Coker and what they’re building at Ki MMA.

Rich shares how Scott brought him into the new promotion and why they agreed Ki MMA needed its own identity. They discuss developing rising fighters alongside established names, choosing featherweight for the first Grand Prix, and a tournament rule that could keep a fighter in contention after a decision loss.

Rich also talks about scouting talent at gyms, what he looks for beyond a fighter’s record, why fighters need more options, and what fans can expect from Ki MMA.

Chris Droege is 2-0 as a professional after scoring a second-round TKO over Gabriel Tabet at Samourai MMA 21 in Montreal, and he joins 4oz to Freedom to break down the victory.Droege discusses fighting in enemy territory, why he felt the stoppage may have come later than necessary, executing his coaches' game plan, and how his wrestling and extensive amateur experience have prepared him for his professional career.We also talk about what comes next, including potential grappling matches and another MMA fight before the end of the year.Then we get into one of the more unique sponsorships you'll see in regional MMA: Tropidelic. Chris explains how his friendship with the band developed, how they became a sponsor, attending Everwild with the group, and the phone call he received from James on fight day.Plus, Chris talks music, his favorite Tropidelic songs, post-fight food, his faith, and the grit, honesty and gratitude that he believes define him.FOLLOW CHRIS DROEGE:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tha_grit/FOLLOW 4OZ TO FREEDOM:Website: https://4oztofreedom.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4oztofreedompod/X/Twitter: https://x.com/4oztofreedompodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/4oztofreedomSubscribe to 4oz to Freedom for more MMA interviews, regional MMA coverage, fight news and original content.#MMA #ChrisDroege #SamouraiMMA #Tropidelic #MMANews

Former LFA and CFFC lightweight champion Robert “Contact” Watley joins 4oz to Freedom ahead of his lightweight bout against Gino “The Ghost Assassin” van Steenis at PFL Tampa on August 22, 2026.

Watley explains why facing a dangerous knockout artist has injected new energy into his preparation and brought something out of him that he wondered if he still had.

After suffering a 34-second knockout loss to Dakota Bush, Watley reflects on where he forced the action, the importance of respecting the natural flow of a fight and the work he has done to restore his movement after dealing with foot injuries.

He also discusses his comeback finishes against Morquez Forest and Mads Burnell, why Forest remains the hardest puncher he has faced and his interest in eventually getting some “getback” against Bush.

Plus, Watley talks about returning to meditation and scripture, fighting one day before his 37th birthday and the family, coaches and teammates supporting his career.

PFL Tampa takes place August 22 at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:51 Fighting one day before his 37th birthday
1:43 Mental, physical and spiritual preparation
3:05 Preparing for Gino van Steenis
5:20 Championship experience and restoring his movement
7:01 What went wrong against Dakota Bush
7:38 “The fight is like a dance”
8:01 Comeback finishes against Forest and Burnell
9:17 Is Morquez Forest still the hardest puncher?
11:08 Forest vs. Bush and wanting “a little getback”
12:15 The strange world of MMA matchmaking
13:18 Faith, family, coaches and sponsors
14:27 Final thoughts on PFL Tampa

Dakota “Buckshot” Bush joins 4oz to Freedom ahead of his lightweight bout against Morquez “Black Clover” Forest at PFL Tampa on August 22, 2026.

Coming off a 34-second knockout of Robert Watley in his PFL debut and riding an eight-fight winning streak, Dakota explains how repeatedly drilling the same sequence led to his spectacular finish in Pittsburgh.

Dakota also discusses preparing for a late opponent change, why Forest’s short-notice opportunity makes him dangerous, and his belief that fans will soon see him headlining PFL cards and facing ranked opponents.

He opens up about his family leaving a comfortable life in Missouri so he could pursue his dream at American Top Team, the sacrifices they have made together, and why having his wife and children with him during fight week provides even more motivation.

Plus, Dakota breaks down his post-fight Oreo collection, the flavors he is most excited to try, and the approximately 20,000-calorie Sunday he has planned for after the fight.

PFL Tampa takes place August 22 at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Cold open
0:16 Introduction and fight-week mindset
1:07 Reflecting on the 34-second Robert Watley knockout
2:18 Building an eight-fight winning streak
3:15 Preparing for Morquez Forest on short notice
5:21 Breaking down the matchup with Forest
6:42 Big-stage experience and headlining PFL cards
7:56 Family sacrifices and moving to Florida
9:42 PFL rankings and potential next opponents
11:04 Post-fight Oreos and a 20,000-calorie Sunday
13:32 Sponsors, American Top Team and his family motivation
15:04 Final message ahead of PFL Tampa

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Does Dakota Bush extend his winning streak to nine, or will Morquez Forest earn the victory in his PFL debut? Leave your prediction below and subscribe to 4oz to Freedom for more PFL interviews and coverage.

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Brandon Lewis joins 4oz to Freedom ahead of his PFL debut against former PFL Europe champion Lewis McGrillen at PFL Charlotte on August 7, 2026.After his original opponent, Sean Mora, withdrew, Brandon was matched with McGrillen, who is making a quick return to the cage. Brandon explains why he plans to steal McGrillen’s spotlight, why he does not believe his opponent has had enough time to correct the mistakes exposed in his last fight, and what fans can expect when Brandon “flips the switch.”Brandon also discusses his move to Syndicate MMA, training alongside Merab Dvalishvili, overcoming back surgery and career setbacks, and who he is outside the cage.PFL Charlotte takes place August 7 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Cold open0:12 Introduction and birthday wishes0:55 Lewis McGrillen replaces Sean Mora2:48 How the PFL opportunity came together5:04 Moving to Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas7:06 Training alongside Merab Dvalishvili8:40 Planning to steal McGrillen’s spotlight11:08 McGrillen’s quick turnaround and recent loss12:08 Back surgery, setbacks and career expectations13:21 PFL rankings and taking it one fight at a time14:28 How Brandon’s MMA training has evolved15:53 Gaming, anime and life outside the cage17:43 Brandon’s Bloodsport-inspired walkout song18:03 Celebrating his birthday during fight week18:42 What fans can expect at PFL Charlotte19:59 Family, sponsors and growing his social following21:05 Final message and nickname discussionFOLLOW BRANDON LEWIS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonlewismma/X: https://x.com/BrandonLewisMMAFOLLOW 4OZ TO FREEDOM:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4oztofreedom/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4oztofreedompod/X: https://x.com/4oztofreedompod/Who wins this bantamweight matchup? Leave your prediction below and subscribe to 4oz to Freedom for more PFL interviews and coverage.#PFLCharlotte #BrandonLewis #PFL

Step inside the cage with Jamelle “The Beast” Jones as he prepares for his return to the PFL stage at UBS Arena, Belmont Park, NY, facing off against undefeated Russian standout Khabib Nabiev on July 31st. In this exclusive interview, Jamelle opens up about the relentless drive it takes to come back after setbacks, balancing fight camp and fatherhood, and what he learned through years of grinding in regional MMA—and on the big stage.

Hear Jamelle break down the mentality that’s powering this comeback, the challenges of juggling family life and elite training, and his mindset shift dropping back to light heavyweight. He shares what motivates him in and out of the gym, the musical energy that fuels his workouts, and why he’s hunting for the KO—not just a win—when the cage door shuts. Plus, Jamelle talks fight IQ, legacy, and what being a true OG in the sport really means.

From goal setting with his son to betting on himself every round, Jamelle brings heart, realism, and brutal honesty you won’t find on the fight poster. Don’t miss his prediction for how he’ll make a statement on July 31st.

Be sure to follow Jamelle at:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/jamellejones/

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