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♪
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ANNOUNCER: Trying to finish it!
And it's over!
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And it's all over!
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Phil Baroni!
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NARRATOR: Based on his
over-the-top personality,
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Phil Baroni's claim...
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NARRATOR: ...proves more
than just a post-bout boast.
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ANNOUNCER: The New York
Bad Ass!
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KRISTY: He was on
the cover of magazines.
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He was everywhere.
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NARRATOR: In a fight,
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Phil's punch
can devastate opponents.
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JOSH: One of the most
vicious knockouts
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I think I've ever seen.
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NARRATOR: But his inner turmoil
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proves even more explosive
and dangerous.
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ANNOUNCER: Baroni's...
ANNOUNCER 2: Oh, look at Baroni!
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ANNOUNCER: He's comin'
after him!
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ANNOUNCER 2: Whoa!
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- He would just freak out.
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NARRATOR: Decades of
taking abuse in the cage...
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ANNOUNCER: And the fight
is over!
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It's over!
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JAY: I'm like, "Dude, you're
gonna have no brain left."
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NARRATOR: ...seemed
to fuel the demons
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running loose inside his head...
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RANDY: He would
lose control of it
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and then have trouble
kinda reeling it back in.
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MARK: I knew Phil
was very fuckin' mean
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with his girlfriends.
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NARRATOR: ...until Phil's
loss of control while in Mexico
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reportedly causes a woman
to lose her life.
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- Baroni's in jail for,
allegedly, murder.
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- He apparently had
killed his girlfriend.
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KRISTY: I couldn't believe
what I was reading.
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- As a fighter,
you know how dangerous you are.
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Why?
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Like, why?
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♪
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♪
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♪
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RICH: In this game, there's not
too many happy endings.
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It ends
when you least expect it.
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It's devastating.
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And I think with Phil,
there was never a plan B.
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It was, "I'm going to be
a superstar and a champion
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"and there is
no other alternative.
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"There's no option."
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KEN: Phil was very unhinged.
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He was dangerous to be around.
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He was a liability
to himself and others.
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And I was afraid that something
bad was gonna happen.
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JOSH: Asking me, like, did I
think he'd make it as a fighter?
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Absolutely did.
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Did I think
he'd make it as a human?
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I always had the question mark.
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ANNOUNCER: Stop the fight!
Phil Baroni is victorious!
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NARRATOR: For Phil Baroni,
the battle between fighting
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as a livelihood
and fighting as a lifestyle
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begins in his hometown
outside New York City.
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KRISTY: As a young kid,
Phil always wanted to fight,
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and he would get
into fights with people.
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It's hard for me to say
why exactly he felt
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the need to fight
or what he was angry at.
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I'm Kristy Baroni,
Philip Baroni's younger sister.
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We technically lived
in Massapequa Park.
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It's a suburb on Long Island,
Nassau County.
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Just regular,
working-class town.
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NARRATOR: Growing up,
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a shared love of the most
kid-friendly combat sport
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becomes a way
for the siblings to bond.
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- Back then, like,
wrestling was huge.
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ANNOUNCER: It is now time
for the Royal Rumble!
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[cheering and applause]
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KRISTY: We couldn't wait
for the Royal Rumble to come on.
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ANNOUNCER: This place
is thunderous, Jess!
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I can't hear myself!
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KRISTY: We would watch them.
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We would imitate them.
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He was Ultimate Warrior,
I was Hulk Hogan.
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[Hogan yells]
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ANNOUNCER: Look at the strength!
Look at the muscles!
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KRISTY: We would be
jumping off the couches.
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We would just have so much fun.
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I can remember, he said,
"I'm gonna be like that.
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"I'm gonna be a fighter.
I'm gonna be famous."
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NARRATOR: By high school,
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Phil's still nurturing
his two passions:
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fighting on a wrestling mat
and just plain fighting.
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- When I met him, he was
always getting into fights.
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In wrestling,
there'd be like eight mats
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and like eight
wrestling matches going on,
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and you could hear
some commotion going on
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on the side over there,
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and you'd look,
and it's Phil scrappin'.
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I guess that's why I liked him,
because he was a tough kid.
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My name's Jay Hieron.
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I'm a former UFC fighter,
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former International
Fight League world champion,
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and childhood friend
of Phil Baroni.
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I remember when we were
in 9th grade,
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we were close in weight,
and then two years later,
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he's in 11th grade and he's like
jacked to the gills.
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Crazy.
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- I believe so.
I didn't--
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you know, again,
I wasn't in the room with him,
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but he blew up real fast.
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He was one of the top
wrestlers at the time
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in Nassau County, as I was.
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NARRATOR: Phil and Jay
enrol together
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at Long Island's
Nassau Community College,
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where they become
competitive amateur wrestlers
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at the national level.
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Phil also enters some
bodybuilding competitions
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while looking for more ways
to scratch the fighting itch.
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- He was doing all types
of combat sports.
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Boxing. Toughman contests.
He was already competing.
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ANNOUNCER: Oh!
[indistinct]
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NARRATOR: The Toughman Contest
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gives novice fighters a chance
to try their luck in the ring,
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and Phil's 4-0 record
as an amateur boxer
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lands him a spot
in the competition.
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In a nationally televised match,
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his skills in the ring
are undeniable.
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ANNOUNCER: Ow! Ooh...!
ANNOUNCER 2: Oh!
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NARRATOR: But when Phil
loses his scheduled
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semi-final fight,
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the 24-year-old turns
to his other passion:
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unscheduled fighting.
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ANNOUNCER: And Baroni's...
ANNOUNCER 2: Oh, look at Baroni!
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ANNOUNCER: He's comin'
after him!
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ANNOUNCER 2: Oh!
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- He liked brash fighters
and guys that talk shit
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and showboaters,
and I think he played with that.
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ANNOUNCER: Wow.
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NARRATOR: Including the UFC's
new president, Dana White,
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who's looking for fighters
to jump-start a business
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on life support.
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- We wanna make it
more fan-friendly,
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we wanna get the crowd
involved in it,
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and we wanna bring back
the best fighters in the world.
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NARRATOR: White
and his partners,
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Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta,
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bought the flailing MMA
promotion in February of 2001
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and need to make a splash
with their premiere event
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at Donald Trump's Taj Mahal
Casino in Atlantic City.
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Phil gets added to the card.
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ANNOUNCER: Phil Baroni!
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NARRATOR: Facing off against
Muay Thai phenom Curtis Stout,
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Phil is making his UFC debut
not that far from his hometown.
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KRISTY: People who were
just, like, from Massapequa,
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like Long Island,
wanted to go
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because someone from their,
you know, area was fighting,
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and this was huge.
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ANNOUNCER: The talking is over!
The walking will begin!
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Curtis Stout! Phil Baroni!
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NARRATOR: It's a remarkable
debut for the young fighter.
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ANNOUNCER: And Baroni
continues to punish him!
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NARRATOR: Phil repeatedly
takes Stout down,
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punishing him with a ferocious
ground and pound attack.
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- It was a fast fight.
He was a tough hitter.
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One of the best.
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NARRATOR: Phil wins
his first UFC bout
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by unanimous decision.
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ANNOUNCER: Phil Baroni!
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[audience cheering]
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KRISTY: I was screaming
and screaming.
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I had no voice left.
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And I remember just looking
behind me and looking up
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and going, "Oh, my God."
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"I can't believe it.
This is it."
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- Disappointed you didn't
get the knockout?
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- Yeah, I like to knock
people out for the fans.
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[dramatic music]
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NARRATOR: But months later,
at UFC 34 in Vegas...
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BIG JOHN: Let's get it on!
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ANNOUNCER: Oh, I like it!
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NARRATOR: ...Phil's brief time
as an undefeated UFC fighter...
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ANNOUNCER: Baroni's in
a bad position at this time.
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NARRATOR: ...ends with a loss
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to Olympic wrestler
Matt Lindland.
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It takes just two fights
for Phil's fellow fighters
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to learn how his mental state
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can affect his performance
in and out of the cage.
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JOSH: Phil just had an edge
about him, period.
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Didn't matter if it was
another fighter or a friend.
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I'm Josh Thomson, the former
Strikeforce world champion,
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one of the pioneers
of the sport of MMA.
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JOSH: There was a time
we were sparring,
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and he was getting ready
for a fight
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against a guy who moved a lot.
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When I went in to spar with him,
he's calling me a pussy,
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he's like,
"You won't stand with me."
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And I'm like,
"Your guy that you're fighting
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"is not gonna
fight you that way.
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"You gotta get to me."
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And finally
he throws the gloves off
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and just rushes at me.
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And we just start throwing down.
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People jump in the ring,
separate us.
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Coaches tell us go cool off,
take a shower, get changed.
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Later, Phil's like,
"Hey, man, I'm sorry."
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I'm like, "Yeah, I get it, man.
No worries."
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But that, to me, was one of
the most telltale signs
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of, like, Phil was somebody that
his anger got the better of him.
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NARRATOR: But can
he keep it together
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to earn a much-needed victory?
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With many UFC careers fizzling
after an early spark...
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00:10:01,434 --> 00:10:06,313
Phil enters the cage at UFC 39
in Uncasville, Connecticut,
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determined to be unforgettable,
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sporting a new look
and nickname.
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ANNOUNCER: The New York
Bad Ass!
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KRISTY: I'm seeing
my brother walk out
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with his robe and the music
and dancing.
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We were like, "Oh, my God."
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JOSH: I do remember
watching him.
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I thought to myself,
"This is lame."
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Like, we're here to fight.
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We didn't quite wrap our heads
around the fact
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that this was
the entertainment business.
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And you can see it now,
where the sport is.
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He was ahead of his time.
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JAY: I was fuckin'
cheering him on,
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like, "Let's go," you know?
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I felt like that was
a great character.
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"New York Bad Ass."
Come on, man.
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NARRATOR: The fight itself,
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00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:57,865
against 28-year-old
Minnesotan Dave Menne,
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shows just how tough
Phil can be in the cage.
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ANNOUNCER: And here we go!
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JOSH: Phil came right across
the cage and touched him
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with some big shots,
and Dave got rocked.
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His body was against the fence,
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but Phil just unleashed
a barrage of punches.
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ANNOUNCER: ...finish it!
And it's over!
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00:11:13,131 --> 00:11:14,382
And it's all over!
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- Those punches
were coming so fast
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00:11:15,967 --> 00:11:17,177
it was holding Dave Menne up.
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00:11:17,302 --> 00:11:20,638
10, 12, 15 shots,
all within a five-second period.
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One of the most
vicious knockouts
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I think I've ever seen.
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- I'm the best ever!
243
00:11:30,106 --> 00:11:31,649
- [crowd cheering]
- [Phil yelling indistinctly]
244
00:11:35,653 --> 00:11:38,030
- "I'm the best ever."
You know, it was classic.
245
00:11:38,031 --> 00:11:40,449
He was comin' up.
He was on a hot streak.
246
00:11:40,450 --> 00:11:41,618
- Hey, Mom.
- Oh, my!
247
00:11:43,161 --> 00:11:46,081
JAY: He had that charisma.
Good-lookin' dude.
248
00:11:46,206 --> 00:11:48,875
He'll go out and finish guys
in exciting fights.
249
00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,043
Sharp on the mic.
He could talk.
250
00:11:51,044 --> 00:11:52,795
- Line 'em up,
I'm gonna knock 'em down.
251
00:11:52,796 --> 00:11:54,089
- Dana White liked that.
252
00:11:54,214 --> 00:11:56,673
He's like looking at this guy
like, "Oh, I can market this.
253
00:11:56,674 --> 00:11:58,300
"We could put some money
behind this guy
254
00:11:58,301 --> 00:12:01,637
"and he can sell tickets,
put butts in the seat."
255
00:12:01,638 --> 00:12:04,139
JOSH: For us,
at the time of MMA,
256
00:12:04,140 --> 00:12:07,852
we needed somebody like him
because we needed the bad guy.
257
00:12:11,648 --> 00:12:13,816
- You been working with
some boxers; it shows.
258
00:12:13,817 --> 00:12:15,235
Talk to me, man.
- Hey, hey, relax, relax.
259
00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,237
No one wants to hear
what you gotta say.
260
00:12:20,156 --> 00:12:21,783
JOSH: He was like
the Conor McGregor
261
00:12:21,908 --> 00:12:23,368
before the Conor McGregor.
262
00:12:23,493 --> 00:12:24,702
After the Dave Menne fight,
263
00:12:24,703 --> 00:12:26,162
Phil was an automatic star.
264
00:12:27,163 --> 00:12:29,498
KRISTY: He was
on covers of magazines.
265
00:12:29,499 --> 00:12:31,750
There was billboards
of him in Vegas.
266
00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:33,795
He was in the video game.
267
00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,381
ANNOUNCER: The New York
Bad Ass!
268
00:12:37,382 --> 00:12:39,466
KRISTY: And he was on the cover.
269
00:12:39,467 --> 00:12:41,052
I mean, it was incredible.
270
00:12:42,762 --> 00:12:44,013
NARRATOR: But soon,
the self-proclaimed
271
00:12:44,014 --> 00:12:45,807
New York Bad Ass begins,
272
00:12:45,932 --> 00:12:48,892
as they say in his first love,
professional wrestling,
273
00:12:48,893 --> 00:12:51,311
to live his gimmick.
274
00:12:51,312 --> 00:12:55,274
And that will lead
to a still-ongoing tragedy.
275
00:12:55,275 --> 00:12:58,319
- I think maybe Phil had a little
more crazy than most of us do.
276
00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,113
ANNOUNCER: Whoa!
There it is! There it is!
277
00:13:00,238 --> 00:13:02,364
RANDY: He was a little
more untethered.
278
00:13:02,365 --> 00:13:03,866
He would lose control of it
279
00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:05,826
and then have trouble
kinda reeling it back in.
280
00:13:05,827 --> 00:13:07,244
DANA: Fuckin' relax, Phil!
281
00:13:07,245 --> 00:13:09,079
- And that's
a recipe for disaster.
282
00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:10,873
ANNOUNCER: Yeah,
Baroni's in trouble.
283
00:13:10,874 --> 00:13:12,208
He is totally exhausted.
284
00:13:16,838 --> 00:13:18,298
the.
285
00:13:18,423 --> 00:13:20,008
Baroni gets up.
286
00:13:20,133 --> 00:13:21,592
NARRATOR: In less
than two years,
287
00:13:21,593 --> 00:13:25,013
Phil Baroni has gone from
an unknown guy from Massapequa
288
00:13:25,138 --> 00:13:26,930
who likes to fight...
289
00:13:26,931 --> 00:13:28,850
to an up-and-comer in the UFC
290
00:13:28,975 --> 00:13:31,394
nicknamed
"The New York Bad Ass."
291
00:13:37,067 --> 00:13:39,903
ANNOUNCER: Phil Baroni...
is victorious!
292
00:13:41,196 --> 00:13:43,280
KRISTY: I think
what people don't realize,
293
00:13:43,281 --> 00:13:46,533
he was on the cover of these
magazines and on billboards,
294
00:13:46,534 --> 00:13:47,702
but he didn't have any money.
295
00:13:47,827 --> 00:13:49,746
So, I think that was hard.
296
00:13:49,871 --> 00:13:50,997
That was hard for him.
297
00:14:03,051 --> 00:14:05,260
NARRATOR: While Phil navigates
financial frustrations
298
00:14:05,261 --> 00:14:07,763
with his newfound
stardom in the UFC,
299
00:14:07,764 --> 00:14:09,723
his long-time girlfriend
Michelle
300
00:14:09,724 --> 00:14:11,851
rewards him with some stability.
301
00:14:11,976 --> 00:14:14,687
He also picks up admirers
in the fight world,
302
00:14:14,813 --> 00:14:18,065
including a young
MMA promoter in Hawaii.
303
00:14:18,066 --> 00:14:21,485
RICH: When I first met Phil,
I think I met the character.
304
00:14:21,486 --> 00:14:23,362
I met The New York Bad Ass.
305
00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:27,157
But that actually
faded pretty quickly.
306
00:14:27,158 --> 00:14:29,536
We ended up developing
a pretty good friendship.
307
00:14:30,954 --> 00:14:32,080
My name is Rich Chou.
308
00:14:32,205 --> 00:14:34,498
I've been in the fight business
for over 20 years,
309
00:14:34,499 --> 00:14:35,959
most notably as a matchmaker.
310
00:14:37,752 --> 00:14:42,424
Phil was a major part of making
some really big introductions,
311
00:14:42,549 --> 00:14:44,467
opening doors for me.
312
00:14:44,592 --> 00:14:47,553
I recall just going with Phil
to the UFC offices,
313
00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:51,015
going to meet Dana,
and I could tell very early on
314
00:14:51,141 --> 00:14:53,685
that Dana was a big fan
of Phil's.
315
00:14:53,810 --> 00:14:56,103
And I think they really
wanted him to succeed.
316
00:14:56,104 --> 00:14:58,773
DANA: Phil had kind of
a rocky start in the UFC.
317
00:14:58,898 --> 00:15:00,190
Nobody was happier than me
318
00:15:00,191 --> 00:15:01,943
to see that he got
his head together,
319
00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:04,445
um, as much as
Phil possibly can, and uh...
320
00:15:04,446 --> 00:15:06,114
[laughter]
321
00:15:06,239 --> 00:15:10,034
- He just had to do his part
and win the big one.
322
00:15:10,035 --> 00:15:11,660
NARRATOR: But first,
Phil has to beat
323
00:15:11,661 --> 00:15:13,121
one of his chief rivals.
324
00:15:13,246 --> 00:15:17,500
In 2003, at UFC 41,
he's back in Atlantic City,
325
00:15:17,625 --> 00:15:19,793
battling the fighter
that delivered Phil
326
00:15:19,794 --> 00:15:22,464
his first UFC loss.
327
00:15:22,589 --> 00:15:23,839
MATT: I'm Matt Lindland.
328
00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:25,215
I was an Olympic
silver medallist
329
00:15:25,216 --> 00:15:26,967
in the Sydney games in 2000.
330
00:15:26,968 --> 00:15:29,137
I fought Phil Baroni two times.
331
00:15:29,262 --> 00:15:31,889
Oh, I knew the kid
had heavy hands!
332
00:15:31,890 --> 00:15:35,392
He got one in on me
that really rang my bell.
333
00:15:35,393 --> 00:15:38,312
ANNOUNCER: Baroni, continuing
to pound away at Lindland!
334
00:15:38,313 --> 00:15:40,564
JAY: Phil had him hurt,
but he just couldn't finish him.
335
00:15:40,565 --> 00:15:41,482
He ran out of gas.
336
00:15:41,483 --> 00:15:43,192
ANNOUNCER: Ah,
looking for the takedown!
337
00:15:43,193 --> 00:15:44,986
And Lindland takes him down!
338
00:15:45,111 --> 00:15:48,822
MATT: I was landing
vicious elbows, big punches.
339
00:15:48,823 --> 00:15:51,242
I really did a lot of damage.
340
00:15:51,368 --> 00:15:52,869
ANNOUNCER: Baroni's gassed.
He's exhausted.
341
00:15:52,994 --> 00:15:54,079
ANNOUNCER 2: Yes, he is.
342
00:15:54,204 --> 00:15:55,913
NARRATOR: When a battered
and bruised Phil
343
00:15:55,914 --> 00:15:58,123
fails to win the decision...
344
00:15:58,124 --> 00:15:59,917
ANNOUNCER: The winner...
345
00:15:59,918 --> 00:16:02,379
Matt "The Law"...!
346
00:16:02,504 --> 00:16:04,171
NARRATOR: ...it's everyone
close to him
347
00:16:04,172 --> 00:16:06,424
that ends up losing.
348
00:16:06,549 --> 00:16:09,386
- When things didn't go the way
they were supposed to,
349
00:16:09,511 --> 00:16:12,346
Phil had these tremendous
mood swings.
350
00:16:12,347 --> 00:16:15,099
At times,
he would just freak out.
351
00:16:15,100 --> 00:16:16,768
Michelle was there as well.
352
00:16:16,893 --> 00:16:18,853
She definitely
took the brunt of it.
353
00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:21,021
And then that would pass,
354
00:16:21,022 --> 00:16:22,773
and he'd go
and do something really nice.
355
00:16:22,774 --> 00:16:24,400
"Hey, let me
take you out to dinner."
356
00:16:24,401 --> 00:16:26,276
He would just pretend
like it didn't happen.
357
00:16:26,277 --> 00:16:29,072
That was kind of the cycle
of being around him.
358
00:16:29,197 --> 00:16:31,740
♪
359
00:16:31,741 --> 00:16:35,703
NARRATOR: But the UFC remains
in the Phil Baroni business.
360
00:16:35,704 --> 00:16:39,332
In November of 2003, at UFC 45,
361
00:16:39,457 --> 00:16:41,959
Dana White gives Phil
another shot,
362
00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,003
this time against
veteran fighter Evan Tanner.
363
00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:46,880
ANNOUNCER: Baroni!
[indistinct] by Baroni.
364
00:16:46,881 --> 00:16:48,215
ANNOUNCER 2: He caught him
already!
365
00:16:48,216 --> 00:16:51,052
He caught him already, and he's
trying to go in for the finish!
366
00:16:51,177 --> 00:16:52,678
NARRATOR: But in
the first round...
367
00:16:52,679 --> 00:16:54,055
ANNOUNCER: Big elbows!
368
00:16:54,180 --> 00:16:56,890
NARRATOR: ...it looks like
Tanner has scored a TKO.
369
00:16:56,891 --> 00:16:59,727
But Phil won't accept defeat.
370
00:16:59,728 --> 00:17:00,894
- The ref stopped it,
371
00:17:00,895 --> 00:17:03,647
and Phil started swinging
at the referee at the time.
372
00:17:03,648 --> 00:17:05,942
And I recall Dana pulling him
aside, calming him down,
373
00:17:06,067 --> 00:17:07,277
knowing, "This is bad."
374
00:17:11,239 --> 00:17:14,367
NARRATOR: Phil later claims
the referee had made a mistake.
375
00:17:14,492 --> 00:17:16,452
PHIL: I wanted to continue.
I was trying to express
376
00:17:16,453 --> 00:17:18,328
to the referee
I wanted to continue.
377
00:17:18,329 --> 00:17:20,581
He took it the wrong way
and stopped the fight.
378
00:17:20,582 --> 00:17:23,250
NARRATOR: The UFC backs
their ref by suspending Phil
379
00:17:23,251 --> 00:17:26,046
from the cage for four months.
380
00:17:28,298 --> 00:17:31,258
But sensing the financial
potential in a rematch,
381
00:17:31,259 --> 00:17:33,886
Dana books Phil
to fight Tanner again,
382
00:17:33,887 --> 00:17:37,181
just a few months after
Phil's suspension is lifted.
383
00:17:37,182 --> 00:17:39,808
ANNOUNCER: Oh!
Tanner takes the punch!
384
00:17:39,809 --> 00:17:41,268
Goes for the takedown!
385
00:17:41,269 --> 00:17:43,771
NARRATOR: This time,
Phil makes it three rounds
386
00:17:43,772 --> 00:17:45,398
before getting beat again.
387
00:17:45,523 --> 00:17:48,192
ANNOUNCER: Evan Tanner
is going to win this match-up
388
00:17:48,193 --> 00:17:49,318
against Phil Baroni.
389
00:17:49,319 --> 00:17:50,737
- [buzzer]
- [crowd cheering]
390
00:17:50,862 --> 00:17:52,613
ANNOUNCER: Wow.
391
00:17:52,614 --> 00:17:54,657
RICH: We all wanted this
so bad for him.
392
00:17:54,783 --> 00:17:58,620
It broke my heart every time
he couldn't win those big ones.
393
00:17:58,745 --> 00:18:00,662
NARRATOR: Then he loses
a not-so-big one
394
00:18:00,663 --> 00:18:04,124
against 22-year-old newcomer
Pete Sell.
395
00:18:04,125 --> 00:18:07,044
ANNOUNCER: ...pulls off
an unbelievable upset!
396
00:18:07,045 --> 00:18:09,004
NARRATOR: And
The New York Bad Ass
397
00:18:09,005 --> 00:18:11,131
is officially released
by the UFC.
398
00:18:11,132 --> 00:18:12,342
ANNOUNCER: Wow!
399
00:18:14,427 --> 00:18:16,303
KEN: Phil had a relationship
with Dana White.
400
00:18:16,304 --> 00:18:18,514
He felt like he was
a pioneer of the sport,
401
00:18:18,515 --> 00:18:20,766
so it really affected him
when he got released.
402
00:18:20,767 --> 00:18:23,477
My name's Ken Pavia,
and I was Phil Baroni's agent
403
00:18:23,478 --> 00:18:25,854
for the majority of his career.
404
00:18:25,855 --> 00:18:28,023
The UFC said they were
doing it to make sure
405
00:18:28,024 --> 00:18:29,317
Phil didn't get hurt,
406
00:18:29,442 --> 00:18:31,443
because he was taking
a lot of abuse in his fights.
407
00:18:31,444 --> 00:18:33,321
What they didn't see
was the abuse he was taking
408
00:18:33,446 --> 00:18:35,365
in the gym, on top of it.
409
00:18:35,490 --> 00:18:40,077
Most MMA fighters at that level
spar and train at 50% to 70%.
410
00:18:40,078 --> 00:18:42,497
And when Phil sparred,
he went 110.
411
00:18:49,504 --> 00:18:51,547
KEN: The problem is that
when you're sparring with people
412
00:18:51,548 --> 00:18:54,091
at that level, they have the
ability to give it back to you.
413
00:18:54,092 --> 00:18:56,427
So, as a result,
a lot of what happened to Phil
414
00:18:56,428 --> 00:18:59,514
happened in the gym,
and getting his bell rung.
415
00:18:59,639 --> 00:19:01,974
He just had such an ego
and couldn't let somebody
416
00:19:01,975 --> 00:19:03,143
get the better of him.
417
00:19:04,853 --> 00:19:07,021
NARRATOR: The physical abuse
to Phil's body
418
00:19:07,022 --> 00:19:09,566
doesn't just happen in the gym.
419
00:19:09,691 --> 00:19:12,651
KEN: When he was depressed,
he'd drink too much,
420
00:19:12,652 --> 00:19:13,653
he'd binge eat,
421
00:19:13,778 --> 00:19:16,572
but I saw him for
the potential of who he was,
422
00:19:16,573 --> 00:19:18,866
and I believed in him
at the time.
423
00:19:18,867 --> 00:19:20,702
NARRATOR: So do some of
his fellow fighters,
424
00:19:20,827 --> 00:19:22,495
including an MMA legend
425
00:19:22,620 --> 00:19:25,205
who runs into Phil shortly after
the surprising loss
426
00:19:25,206 --> 00:19:27,250
to Pete Sell.
427
00:19:27,375 --> 00:19:29,752
MARK: Phil trained pretty much
at every gym there is out there
428
00:19:29,753 --> 00:19:33,297
in Vegas, basically because
he got kicked out of every one.
429
00:19:33,298 --> 00:19:35,175
Nobody would
put up with his shit,
430
00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:37,385
and basically he wasn't
welcome anywhere.
431
00:19:38,470 --> 00:19:41,221
I am Mark "The Hammer" Coleman.
432
00:19:41,222 --> 00:19:43,557
I was UFC heavyweight champion,
433
00:19:43,558 --> 00:19:45,393
PRIDE Grand Prix champion,
434
00:19:45,518 --> 00:19:48,146
and I met Phil
"The New York Bad Ass" Baroni
435
00:19:48,271 --> 00:19:50,522
through the fighting days.
436
00:19:50,523 --> 00:19:54,277
So, at the time, he happened to
be welcome in Marc Laimon's gym,
437
00:19:54,402 --> 00:19:56,653
and I happened to be
training in there.
438
00:19:56,654 --> 00:19:58,655
He was just
sitting at the table,
439
00:19:58,656 --> 00:20:00,491
doing nothing
the whole practice,
440
00:20:00,492 --> 00:20:02,577
so I just said,
"How's it goin' there?"
441
00:20:02,702 --> 00:20:05,997
He's like, "It's horrible.
Life sucks.
442
00:20:06,122 --> 00:20:08,415
"The UFC cut me."
443
00:20:08,416 --> 00:20:10,959
I go, "Well, what are you doin'
just sittin' here mopin'?"
444
00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:12,086
You know what I mean?
445
00:20:12,087 --> 00:20:14,630
I said, "I can get you a fight
over there in Japan."
446
00:20:14,631 --> 00:20:16,883
That's how it started
with me and him.
447
00:20:18,009 --> 00:20:19,259
KEN: Phil was
a reclamation project.
448
00:20:19,260 --> 00:20:21,304
I knew that we could
make him a champion again.
449
00:20:21,429 --> 00:20:24,014
We could get him some wins,
and that's why we went to Japan,
450
00:20:24,015 --> 00:20:25,307
to try to do that.
451
00:20:25,308 --> 00:20:26,600
NARRATOR: Getting Phil added
to Japan's
452
00:20:26,601 --> 00:20:29,729
PRIDE Fighting Championships
proves to be the easy part.
453
00:20:33,733 --> 00:20:35,986
The challenge is integrating
the self-proclaimed
454
00:20:36,111 --> 00:20:37,654
"Bad Ass from New York"
455
00:20:37,779 --> 00:20:41,616
into Hammer House,
Mark Coleman's team of fighters.
456
00:20:41,741 --> 00:20:45,245
- I found out real quick
he was a tough, tough character.
457
00:20:46,579 --> 00:20:50,040
I'm a hands-on type coach,
so I do a lot of yelling.
458
00:20:50,041 --> 00:20:53,544
So, first day
he looked up and said,
459
00:20:53,545 --> 00:20:56,463
"Do you ever shut the fuck up?"
460
00:20:56,464 --> 00:20:58,800
He goes, "Shut up!"
461
00:20:58,925 --> 00:21:01,552
This guy was a prick.
462
00:21:01,553 --> 00:21:03,930
Just angry, mean, ungrateful.
463
00:21:05,140 --> 00:21:07,850
I had people at the gym
come up to me, and they're like,
464
00:21:07,851 --> 00:21:09,935
"You know, why do you
put up with that shit?"
465
00:21:09,936 --> 00:21:13,106
I'm like, "I don't give a shit.
It's business, man.
466
00:21:13,231 --> 00:21:14,941
"I'm gonna get this guy ready."
467
00:21:15,066 --> 00:21:16,191
ANNOUNCER: Whoa!
468
00:21:16,192 --> 00:21:18,736
ANNOUNCER 2: ...in a bar
just swinging for the fences!
469
00:21:18,737 --> 00:21:19,820
ANNOUNCER: Oh, nice!
470
00:21:19,821 --> 00:21:22,531
MARK: But he put it together,
and he pulled off
471
00:21:22,532 --> 00:21:25,493
one hell of a Rocky-style
type fight.
472
00:21:25,618 --> 00:21:27,327
ANNOUNCER: It's like
a Rocky movie now!
473
00:21:27,328 --> 00:21:29,496
KEN: Phil was really prepared
for that fight
474
00:21:29,497 --> 00:21:31,498
and went out there
and they just had a war.
475
00:21:31,499 --> 00:21:33,834
ANNOUNCER: The fans, screaming!
476
00:21:33,835 --> 00:21:35,544
KEN: Fans loved it,
and it kind of
477
00:21:35,545 --> 00:21:37,087
made Phil a legend in Japan.
478
00:21:37,088 --> 00:21:38,881
It sort of rejuvenated
his career.
479
00:21:38,882 --> 00:21:41,550
ANNOUNCER: Baroni!
Finally [indistinct] goes down!
480
00:21:41,551 --> 00:21:44,428
There's a kick! Another kick!
Another kick! Another...
481
00:21:44,429 --> 00:21:46,180
MARK: All of a sudden,
Phil Baroni,
482
00:21:46,181 --> 00:21:48,891
he's pretty happy again
with life.
483
00:21:48,892 --> 00:21:50,977
- You wanna go
toe-to-toe with me?
484
00:21:51,102 --> 00:21:52,853
Chin for chin, punch for punch?
485
00:21:52,854 --> 00:21:54,355
You're fuckin' dead.
486
00:21:54,356 --> 00:21:56,190
See that?
You're fuckin' dead.
487
00:21:56,191 --> 00:21:59,234
- But it didn't last long.
488
00:21:59,235 --> 00:22:01,071
By the next day
I got around there,
489
00:22:01,196 --> 00:22:02,489
he's already bitchin'
and complainin',
490
00:22:02,614 --> 00:22:05,617
and feeling like he's the man.
491
00:22:05,742 --> 00:22:07,994
You know what I mean?
He's the man now.
492
00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,120
But... you're just another man.
493
00:22:10,121 --> 00:22:11,664
You're not the man, Phil.
494
00:22:13,208 --> 00:22:14,334
NARRATOR: Phil is soon informed
495
00:22:14,459 --> 00:22:16,835
he's also just
another man to the woman
496
00:22:16,836 --> 00:22:20,047
he's living with back home
in Las Vegas.
497
00:22:20,048 --> 00:22:22,883
JOSH: When Phil fought in PRIDE,
his girlfriend at the time
498
00:22:22,884 --> 00:22:25,345
told him, "I sold everything,
I'm leaving you,
499
00:22:25,470 --> 00:22:27,180
"I'm done with you."
500
00:22:27,889 --> 00:22:31,058
NARRATOR: PRIDE Fighting
Championships is also done.
501
00:22:31,059 --> 00:22:33,353
Following an investigation
into its connection
502
00:22:33,478 --> 00:22:35,270
to organized crime,
503
00:22:35,271 --> 00:22:38,066
PRIDE loses
its main broadcaster,
504
00:22:38,191 --> 00:22:43,154
so Phil is forced to return
to the much-less-hospitable US.
505
00:22:43,947 --> 00:22:46,990
- We sat down in a hotel lobby,
and I watched him eat about
506
00:22:46,991 --> 00:22:49,868
literally ten
ice cream sandwiches in a row.
507
00:22:49,869 --> 00:22:52,414
And I go, "What are you doing?"
and he says, "I'm depressed."
508
00:22:52,539 --> 00:22:55,082
He had an eating issue,
and he wasn't himself.
509
00:22:55,083 --> 00:22:58,043
[crowd cheering]
510
00:22:58,044 --> 00:23:00,921
NARRATOR: But there's
a new MMA player back home.
511
00:23:00,922 --> 00:23:04,133
American kickboxing
organization Strikeforce
512
00:23:04,134 --> 00:23:07,636
has recently expanded
into mixed martial arts.
513
00:23:07,637 --> 00:23:09,054
ANNOUNCER: Good knee,
good knee...
514
00:23:09,055 --> 00:23:11,433
NARRATOR: The promotion
needs an exciting challenger
515
00:23:11,558 --> 00:23:14,768
to fight one of MMA's
legendary stars.
516
00:23:14,769 --> 00:23:19,107
ANNOUNCER: Frank
"The Legend"... Shamrock!
517
00:23:20,984 --> 00:23:23,278
JOSH: There was some buzz
for Strikeforce to have
518
00:23:23,403 --> 00:23:25,779
Phil Baroni
and Frank Shamrock fight.
519
00:23:25,780 --> 00:23:28,657
NEWS: All fighters require
their own source of motivation.
520
00:23:28,658 --> 00:23:31,243
Fuelling Frank Shamrock
and Phil Baroni?
521
00:23:31,244 --> 00:23:32,495
Mutual hatred.
522
00:23:34,581 --> 00:23:35,622
NARRATOR: Beating Shamrock
523
00:23:35,623 --> 00:23:38,460
is Phil's most likely road
back to the UFC,
524
00:23:38,585 --> 00:23:41,463
but despite his recent
successes in Japan,
525
00:23:41,588 --> 00:23:43,339
the Baroni camp is worried
526
00:23:43,465 --> 00:23:46,468
Phil may not be the fighter
he once was.
527
00:23:46,593 --> 00:23:48,887
KRISTY: I definitely started
noticing some signs
528
00:23:49,012 --> 00:23:51,055
that something was going on
with my brother's health.
529
00:23:51,056 --> 00:23:53,307
More aggression than normal.
530
00:23:53,308 --> 00:23:55,977
Mood swings happen more often.
531
00:23:56,102 --> 00:23:57,603
Slurring of the speech.
532
00:23:57,604 --> 00:23:58,897
- I'm comin'.
533
00:23:59,022 --> 00:24:01,315
Guns a blazin', you know,
from the bell, I'm gonna--
534
00:24:01,316 --> 00:24:03,067
I'm gonna push
the fuckin' pace on him,
535
00:24:03,068 --> 00:24:04,486
and then knock him the fuck out.
536
00:24:04,611 --> 00:24:06,653
- When I saw him sparring,
537
00:24:06,654 --> 00:24:10,240
he was getting hit with shots
that he shouldn't get hit with.
538
00:24:10,241 --> 00:24:13,495
And I'm like, "Dude, you're
gonna have no brain left.
539
00:24:13,620 --> 00:24:15,287
"It's gonna be mush."
540
00:24:15,288 --> 00:24:17,332
NARRATOR: As Phil prepares
to step into the cage
541
00:24:17,457 --> 00:24:19,166
for the fight of his life,
542
00:24:19,167 --> 00:24:23,046
the pressure to win pushes him
to put that life in jeopardy.
543
00:24:24,464 --> 00:24:26,383
ANNOUNCER: Old school
versus new school!
544
00:24:26,508 --> 00:24:27,842
[indistinct]
545
00:24:27,967 --> 00:24:28,885
Oh, my God!
546
00:24:33,890 --> 00:24:38,311
this one is personal.ake,
547
00:24:38,436 --> 00:24:41,064
NARRATOR: Two years after
getting cut by the UFC,
548
00:24:41,189 --> 00:24:42,856
31-year-old Phil Baroni
549
00:24:42,857 --> 00:24:45,442
is getting a shot
to silence his doubters
550
00:24:45,443 --> 00:24:47,486
in a sold-out pay-per-view fight
551
00:24:47,487 --> 00:24:50,864
against MMA legend
Frank Shamrock.
552
00:24:50,865 --> 00:24:52,158
- I know you're listening
to this, brother.
553
00:24:52,283 --> 00:24:54,202
Gonna beat the fuck outta you
for five rounds.
554
00:25:06,214 --> 00:25:08,882
- He knew that he could
write his own ticket
555
00:25:08,883 --> 00:25:10,634
for the rest
of his fighting career
556
00:25:10,635 --> 00:25:12,052
with a win over Frank Shamrock.
557
00:25:12,053 --> 00:25:13,972
- I grew up watching
Frank Shamrock.
558
00:25:14,097 --> 00:25:16,307
I know him better than he does,
better than his wife.
559
00:25:17,934 --> 00:25:19,226
NARRATOR: Outside of the cage,
560
00:25:19,227 --> 00:25:23,648
Phil's personal life also
appears to be back on track.
561
00:25:23,773 --> 00:25:25,774
JOSH: He stayed with me
for a couple years,
562
00:25:25,775 --> 00:25:27,485
and then that's
when he met his wife.
563
00:25:27,610 --> 00:25:29,028
And then they got married,
564
00:25:29,029 --> 00:25:30,904
and I was
in the wedding for that.
565
00:25:30,905 --> 00:25:33,408
NARRATOR: Now, as Phil prepares
to take on Shamrock,
566
00:25:33,533 --> 00:25:37,162
fellow fighter Josh Thomson
is taking over Phil's training.
567
00:25:38,496 --> 00:25:40,749
JOSH: Sparring on Mondays,
wrestling on Tuesdays,
568
00:25:40,874 --> 00:25:42,833
sparring on Wednesdays--
569
00:25:42,834 --> 00:25:46,004
we got him into a routine
which other gyms couldn't do.
570
00:25:46,129 --> 00:25:48,590
NARRATOR: But, like with
Mark Coleman in Japan,
571
00:25:48,715 --> 00:25:50,550
Phil doesn't want
to follow the routine
572
00:25:50,675 --> 00:25:53,011
Josh believes he needs.
573
00:25:54,137 --> 00:25:57,390
- Phil don't like authority,
or somebody telling you,
574
00:25:57,515 --> 00:25:58,724
"Hey, man,
do this, do that."
575
00:25:58,725 --> 00:26:00,684
And, you know,
he didn't do well with that.
576
00:26:00,685 --> 00:26:02,853
NARRATOR: So, Phil's open
to Jay's suggestion.
577
00:26:02,854 --> 00:26:05,105
He switched to Xtreme Couture,
578
00:26:05,106 --> 00:26:08,193
a new gym in Las Vegas
run by an MMA superstar.
579
00:26:09,611 --> 00:26:12,321
- I'm Randy Couture,
six-time MMA champion,
580
00:26:12,322 --> 00:26:15,033
and a long-time training partner
and friend to Phil Baroni.
581
00:26:16,701 --> 00:26:18,118
Jay comes to me and he's like,
582
00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,245
"Hey, man, Phil Baroni
really wants to train with us."
583
00:26:20,246 --> 00:26:23,416
I said, "Man, I've heard a lot
of negative stuff about Phil,
584
00:26:23,541 --> 00:26:24,875
"and I don't want
any problems here.
585
00:26:24,876 --> 00:26:26,795
"We're just opening this place."
586
00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:28,295
- Randy trusts me
like a brother.
587
00:26:28,296 --> 00:26:29,713
"Listen, this guy's good.
588
00:26:29,714 --> 00:26:31,215
"He ain't gonna cause
a problem here.
589
00:26:31,216 --> 00:26:34,176
"He's my dude.
I grew up with him."
590
00:26:34,177 --> 00:26:37,012
- So, Phil came in, we sat down
in the office and I said,
591
00:26:37,013 --> 00:26:39,098
"Man, I know you want
to be part of the gym.
592
00:26:39,099 --> 00:26:40,182
"I'll let you train here,
593
00:26:40,183 --> 00:26:42,518
"but if there's any drama at all
you're gone."
594
00:26:42,519 --> 00:26:44,062
- And that was it.
He came through.
595
00:26:45,355 --> 00:26:46,314
- No idea.
596
00:26:47,649 --> 00:26:48,941
JOSH: When you break up
your camps,
597
00:26:48,942 --> 00:26:50,068
you don't have a routine,
598
00:26:50,193 --> 00:26:53,070
it felt like, to us, he couldn't
get out of his own way.
599
00:26:53,071 --> 00:26:55,365
And it was very difficult
for me to watch him do this.
600
00:26:55,490 --> 00:26:58,076
♪
601
00:26:58,201 --> 00:27:00,160
NARRATOR: A month before
the Shamrock fight,
602
00:27:00,161 --> 00:27:02,664
Phil publicly erupts again,
603
00:27:02,789 --> 00:27:05,833
putting more than just
his title shot in jeopardy.
604
00:27:05,834 --> 00:27:07,251
KEN: He was on a promo tour,
605
00:27:07,252 --> 00:27:08,585
and it was in Miami,
606
00:27:08,586 --> 00:27:11,131
and he was with his wife
at South Beach.
607
00:27:11,256 --> 00:27:12,799
The stress was so big
and so intense,
608
00:27:12,924 --> 00:27:14,676
he was yelling at her.
609
00:27:14,801 --> 00:27:17,636
And two really big gang members
walked by,
610
00:27:17,637 --> 00:27:19,931
and said something to him like
"Don't yell at your woman."
611
00:27:20,056 --> 00:27:22,182
And Phil just snapped,
and he jumped over,
612
00:27:22,183 --> 00:27:25,018
and beat the living daylights
out of these two gang members.
613
00:27:25,019 --> 00:27:26,479
And he got arrested for it.
614
00:27:26,604 --> 00:27:27,981
The charges were
eventually dropped,
615
00:27:28,106 --> 00:27:30,566
but I'm thinking,
"Are we doing the right thing?
616
00:27:30,567 --> 00:27:31,985
"He's gonna snap.
617
00:27:32,110 --> 00:27:33,944
"He's in a dangerous place
right now."
618
00:27:33,945 --> 00:27:36,113
NARRATOR: But there's
a bigger, unseen danger
619
00:27:36,114 --> 00:27:39,658
lurking inside Phil that could,
perhaps should,
620
00:27:39,659 --> 00:27:42,787
immediately end
his career in MMA.
621
00:27:42,912 --> 00:27:44,455
- About a week out
from the fight,
622
00:27:44,456 --> 00:27:46,790
Phil had to do the medicals,
623
00:27:46,791 --> 00:27:49,918
and they required a brain scan,
624
00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:51,462
and the doctor didn't clear him.
625
00:27:51,463 --> 00:27:54,215
They said he was not
medically fit to fight MMA
626
00:27:54,340 --> 00:27:57,009
because of scarring
and calcification
627
00:27:57,010 --> 00:27:59,095
and spots on his brain.
628
00:27:59,220 --> 00:28:02,097
I told him, "We need to take
a step back and figure this out
629
00:28:02,098 --> 00:28:04,559
"and get some
professional help."
630
00:28:04,684 --> 00:28:06,060
And he said,
"There's absolutely no way
631
00:28:06,061 --> 00:28:07,394
"I'm not fighting Shamrock.
632
00:28:07,395 --> 00:28:09,688
"This is the moment that
I've waited for my entire life."
633
00:28:09,689 --> 00:28:12,067
And didn't take
no for an answer.
634
00:28:12,192 --> 00:28:14,819
He was gonna get all kinds of
testing and all kinds of work
635
00:28:14,944 --> 00:28:16,738
done after the fact,
and treat it,
636
00:28:16,863 --> 00:28:18,322
and be serious about it.
637
00:28:18,323 --> 00:28:20,157
We were there probably
for a good hour,
638
00:28:20,158 --> 00:28:22,410
and by the time we left,
the doctor signed off.
639
00:28:22,535 --> 00:28:23,495
[crowd cheering]
640
00:28:23,620 --> 00:28:26,414
ANNOUNCER: Phil... Baroni!
641
00:28:28,291 --> 00:28:29,583
RICH: Phil comes up the ramp...
642
00:28:29,584 --> 00:28:32,169
He just had this aura
and this presence about him.
643
00:28:32,170 --> 00:28:34,881
ANNOUNCER: This guy
loves the crowd!
644
00:28:35,006 --> 00:28:36,549
RICH: I just remember
seeing that live
645
00:28:36,674 --> 00:28:39,677
and just thinking,
"Wow, this might be his night."
646
00:28:39,678 --> 00:28:40,804
ANNOUNCER: Frank Shamrock...
647
00:28:40,929 --> 00:28:43,555
NARRATOR: But Frank Shamrock
sees things differently.
648
00:28:43,556 --> 00:28:46,309
ANNOUNCER: ...versus new school!
[indistinct]
649
00:28:46,434 --> 00:28:47,477
Oh, my God!
650
00:28:47,602 --> 00:28:48,560
KEN: In the first round,
651
00:28:48,561 --> 00:28:51,022
Frank landed a lot
of really clean blows,
652
00:28:51,147 --> 00:28:52,774
and really hurt Phil,
put him on ice skates.
653
00:28:52,899 --> 00:28:54,108
He was wobbling.
654
00:28:54,109 --> 00:28:55,276
JOSH: It's that
Mike Tyson saying,
655
00:28:55,402 --> 00:28:57,236
"Everyone's got a plan
till you get hit."
656
00:28:57,237 --> 00:28:58,862
And that's kinda
where Phil was at.
657
00:28:58,863 --> 00:29:00,906
ANNOUNCER: Taunted by Shamrock!
658
00:29:00,907 --> 00:29:02,575
ANNOUNCER 2: Getting
more and more confident!
659
00:29:02,701 --> 00:29:05,578
- At the end of the fight,
Frank got Phil in a chokehold,
660
00:29:05,704 --> 00:29:07,079
and Phil
was trying to punch him,
661
00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:08,330
and then went unconscious.
662
00:29:08,331 --> 00:29:11,084
ANNOUNCER: There's a smile
on Shamrock's face!
663
00:29:11,209 --> 00:29:12,502
ANNOUNCER 2: It's over!
664
00:29:12,627 --> 00:29:13,961
KEN: We ran over to him,
665
00:29:13,962 --> 00:29:16,046
and he opened his eyes and said,
"What happened?
666
00:29:16,047 --> 00:29:19,050
"Please tell me he choked me out
and didn't knock me out."
667
00:29:19,175 --> 00:29:21,052
I said, "Yeah,
he choked you out."
668
00:29:28,727 --> 00:29:30,728
- Phil was just--
he has a huge ego
669
00:29:30,729 --> 00:29:32,396
and is the bad ass,
670
00:29:32,397 --> 00:29:34,024
and the bad ass
doesn't get knocked out.
671
00:29:34,149 --> 00:29:36,483
RANDY: I'd seen that
mentality before,
672
00:29:36,484 --> 00:29:38,194
which I didn't agree with.
673
00:29:38,319 --> 00:29:39,778
"If I go unconscious
I go unconscious,
674
00:29:39,779 --> 00:29:41,948
"but I'm not gonna tap.
I'm gonna keep fightin' this."
675
00:29:42,073 --> 00:29:43,615
That's how you get hurt.
676
00:29:43,616 --> 00:29:45,325
- Whatever, he fought
a good fight, you know?
677
00:29:45,326 --> 00:29:46,952
I'm not gonna
make excuses on it.
678
00:29:46,953 --> 00:29:48,913
I, uh...
679
00:29:49,039 --> 00:29:50,582
He fought a good fight,
you know?
680
00:29:50,707 --> 00:29:52,249
He's-- he's as advertised.
681
00:29:52,250 --> 00:29:54,169
JOSH: Had he won that fight,
682
00:29:54,294 --> 00:29:57,087
I think the story of his career
would have been a lot different.
683
00:29:57,088 --> 00:29:59,049
Everything would've
been different.
684
00:29:59,174 --> 00:30:03,218
NARRATOR: Instead, the Shamrock
fight haunts Phil for years,
685
00:30:03,219 --> 00:30:05,513
further tormenting
his already troubled mind.
686
00:30:07,390 --> 00:30:10,434
- I stayed at his house probably
50 times after this fight,
687
00:30:10,435 --> 00:30:12,354
and every single night
I go to bed
688
00:30:12,479 --> 00:30:15,023
with him sitting on the couch,
watching the fight.
689
00:30:16,066 --> 00:30:17,734
He watched it
every night of his life.
690
00:30:17,859 --> 00:30:20,028
And he never got over it.
It ruined him.
691
00:30:30,288 --> 00:30:32,664
♪
692
00:30:32,665 --> 00:30:35,418
NARRATOR: As for Phil's promise
to take the brain scan seriously
693
00:30:35,543 --> 00:30:38,504
and treat the problem
after the Shamrock fight,
694
00:30:38,505 --> 00:30:42,091
instead, Phil continues
fighting for years,
695
00:30:42,092 --> 00:30:44,010
hoping for another shot
at the title.
696
00:30:44,135 --> 00:30:46,136
ANNOUNCER: Big body kicks
and knees...
697
00:30:46,137 --> 00:30:47,722
NARRATOR: But the road
back to the cage
698
00:30:47,847 --> 00:30:51,141
is littered with the bridges
he burns along the way.
699
00:30:51,142 --> 00:30:53,060
ANNOUNCER: Baroni's
in big trouble!
700
00:30:53,061 --> 00:30:55,396
KEN: He actually owed me money
from some sponsors,
701
00:30:55,397 --> 00:30:58,565
and we parted company because
he didn't wanna pay the money.
702
00:30:58,566 --> 00:31:00,985
I think, at this stage,
pretty much everybody
703
00:31:00,986 --> 00:31:02,696
distanced themselves from Phil.
704
00:31:02,821 --> 00:31:04,571
JOSH: He would sign fights
without telling anybody
705
00:31:04,572 --> 00:31:06,408
and be like, "Yeah,
I'm fighting in three weeks."
706
00:31:06,533 --> 00:31:08,742
"Who are you fighting?"
"I don't know, some bum."
707
00:31:08,743 --> 00:31:10,119
He didn't care.
708
00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:11,537
CORNERMAN: Punch it!
709
00:31:11,538 --> 00:31:13,998
JOSH: I said, "Okay, we're not
trying to be the best anymore.
710
00:31:13,999 --> 00:31:15,582
"We're just trying
to make a living."
711
00:31:15,583 --> 00:31:17,377
ANNOUNCER: Oh,
and Baroni goes down!
712
00:31:17,502 --> 00:31:20,295
And he's--
I think he's broken his leg.
713
00:31:20,296 --> 00:31:22,423
NARRATOR: In a series
of emotional interviews,
714
00:31:22,424 --> 00:31:26,594
Phil seems all too aware that
his best days are behind him.
715
00:31:34,602 --> 00:31:36,145
- You're not done, right?
716
00:31:36,146 --> 00:31:37,521
- Man, what else am I gonna do?
717
00:31:37,522 --> 00:31:40,107
It's what I am,
it's who I am, you know?
718
00:31:40,108 --> 00:31:42,401
No, I'm not--
no, I'm not done.
719
00:31:42,402 --> 00:31:45,112
You'll see me again, I'm sure.
You'll see me again.
720
00:31:45,113 --> 00:31:47,531
JAY: I didn't wanna
see him brain dead.
721
00:31:47,532 --> 00:31:49,617
We had a conversation,
I told him,
722
00:31:49,743 --> 00:31:53,204
"You know, bro, like...
you shouldn't be fighting."
723
00:31:53,329 --> 00:31:56,750
I just kept it real,
like, "Bro, it's time."
724
00:31:56,875 --> 00:31:59,627
And that was one of the last
conversations I had with him.
725
00:32:00,879 --> 00:32:02,129
NARRATOR: In his final fights,
726
00:32:02,130 --> 00:32:04,715
Phil's losses
aren't just disappointing;
727
00:32:04,716 --> 00:32:06,258
they're disturbing to watch.
728
00:32:06,259 --> 00:32:09,428
ANNOUNCER: And that was
a good shot that time by Leben.
729
00:32:09,429 --> 00:32:10,513
ANNOUNCER 2: It's over!
It's over!
730
00:32:10,638 --> 00:32:12,723
♪
731
00:32:12,724 --> 00:32:15,476
NARRATOR: In 2019,
a 43-year-old Phil Baroni
732
00:32:15,477 --> 00:32:17,895
finally retires
from professional fighting.
733
00:32:17,896 --> 00:32:22,442
As the world slips into COVID,
Phil slides into oblivion.
734
00:32:22,567 --> 00:32:26,528
His friends and family struggle
to learn his whereabouts.
735
00:32:26,529 --> 00:32:30,616
- He was travelling around
with no money, with no home.
736
00:32:30,617 --> 00:32:32,952
I did not like
the way he looked.
737
00:32:33,078 --> 00:32:35,037
I heard rumours like
he was using drugs
738
00:32:35,038 --> 00:32:37,164
and he was drinking.
739
00:32:37,165 --> 00:32:39,459
I saw a video of him
with a cigarette in his hand,
740
00:32:39,584 --> 00:32:42,086
and I couldn't even believe it.
He never smoked in his life.
741
00:32:42,087 --> 00:32:43,463
So, I'm like,
"Something's not right."
742
00:32:44,506 --> 00:32:46,256
JOSH: I can't remember,
like, the month or the day
743
00:32:46,257 --> 00:32:47,424
or whatever, but...
744
00:32:47,425 --> 00:32:50,136
I can just remember
that I saw it on the news
745
00:32:50,261 --> 00:32:53,514
that Phil had been
arrested in Mexico.
746
00:32:53,515 --> 00:32:55,141
NEWS: Former UFC middleweight
Phil Baroni
747
00:32:55,266 --> 00:32:57,227
has been arrested
for the murder of his girlfriend
748
00:32:57,352 --> 00:32:59,520
in San Pancho, Mexico.
749
00:32:59,521 --> 00:33:01,564
- He apparently had
killed his girlfriend.
750
00:33:01,690 --> 00:33:04,776
♪
751
00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:14,284
NARRATOR: For years,
Phil Baroni continued to operate
752
00:33:14,285 --> 00:33:16,204
on the fringes
of the fight world...
753
00:33:16,329 --> 00:33:18,373
WOMAN: Keep doing it, Phil!
Keep doing it!
754
00:33:19,416 --> 00:33:21,126
NARRATOR: ...even as his
marriage fell apart
755
00:33:21,251 --> 00:33:23,460
and his addiction issues
worsened.
756
00:33:23,461 --> 00:33:25,547
[fighting sounds]
757
00:33:26,673 --> 00:33:28,382
NARRATOR: But after
living off the grid
758
00:33:28,383 --> 00:33:30,634
in the waning days of 2022,
759
00:33:30,635 --> 00:33:33,805
Phil is accused of something
that staggers his sister.
760
00:33:35,306 --> 00:33:38,351
- I got a phone call
from his ex-wife,
761
00:33:39,728 --> 00:33:44,148
telling me that she has very
bad news about my brother.
762
00:33:44,149 --> 00:33:48,403
And I saw articles stating
that my brother was arrested.
763
00:33:48,528 --> 00:33:51,530
NEWS: Former UFC fighter
Phil Baroni is in custody
764
00:33:51,531 --> 00:33:54,575
in Mexico for allegedly
murdering his girlfriend.
765
00:33:54,576 --> 00:33:58,038
- I immediately fell
to my knees and, like,
766
00:33:58,163 --> 00:33:59,873
thought I was gonna throw up.
767
00:34:01,958 --> 00:34:03,793
'Cause I couldn't believe
what I was reading.
768
00:34:03,918 --> 00:34:07,296
♪
769
00:34:07,297 --> 00:34:09,716
- Phil was living in Mexico.
770
00:34:09,841 --> 00:34:11,717
He was dating a girl.
771
00:34:11,718 --> 00:34:13,470
NARRATOR: The girl
is 46-year-old
772
00:34:13,595 --> 00:34:15,513
Paola Franco Estrada,
773
00:34:15,638 --> 00:34:19,308
a youthful entrepreneur
and shop-owner from Mexico City.
774
00:34:19,309 --> 00:34:21,435
Paola has a 10-year-old son.
775
00:34:21,436 --> 00:34:25,023
She and Phil had been dating
for only a few months.
776
00:34:25,148 --> 00:34:27,024
KEN: Phil claims
she cheated on him
777
00:34:27,025 --> 00:34:28,859
and they had a big argument,
778
00:34:28,860 --> 00:34:31,863
and he walked off
to get beer and cigarettes,
779
00:34:31,988 --> 00:34:34,240
and came back
and she fell in the shower,
780
00:34:34,366 --> 00:34:35,783
was internally bleeding,
781
00:34:35,784 --> 00:34:40,121
and he laid her on the bed
and tried to revive her...
782
00:34:40,246 --> 00:34:41,456
She passed away.
783
00:34:42,749 --> 00:34:45,626
NARRATOR: In an audio message
to a friend in Mexico,
784
00:34:45,627 --> 00:34:48,588
Phil gives his account
of what happened next.
785
00:35:05,230 --> 00:35:06,647
NARRATOR: But
Mexican authorities
786
00:35:06,648 --> 00:35:10,401
believe Phil brutally beat
Paola to death,
787
00:35:10,402 --> 00:35:12,111
and they arrest him
for her murder.
788
00:35:12,112 --> 00:35:13,613
The incriminating evidence
789
00:35:13,738 --> 00:35:17,241
is the former MMA fighter's
own hands.
790
00:35:17,242 --> 00:35:19,119
JAY: His knuckles
were bruised up.
791
00:35:20,203 --> 00:35:22,622
It's... it's crazy.
792
00:35:22,747 --> 00:35:24,666
I mean,
he always had a short temper,
793
00:35:24,791 --> 00:35:28,294
but, you know,
not to be killing a woman.
794
00:35:28,420 --> 00:35:30,922
I didn't-- I didn't think
he's capable of that.
795
00:35:46,146 --> 00:35:47,147
- [sighs]
796
00:35:48,398 --> 00:35:49,774
I-I...
797
00:35:51,609 --> 00:35:54,362
I don't...
I-I try to...
798
00:35:56,531 --> 00:35:58,658
I can't see a world
where he's not.
799
00:35:59,784 --> 00:36:02,202
- Laying your hands on her,
period...
800
00:36:02,203 --> 00:36:03,454
why?
801
00:36:03,455 --> 00:36:07,000
Like, what good comes of
ever touching a female?
802
00:36:08,543 --> 00:36:10,378
Like... why?
803
00:36:12,797 --> 00:36:14,174
Like, why?
804
00:36:14,299 --> 00:36:16,509
- Bro, it's so fuckin' sad, dude.
805
00:36:16,634 --> 00:36:18,970
What a sad story, dude.
806
00:36:21,014 --> 00:36:22,057
Jesus Christ.
807
00:36:26,436 --> 00:36:28,187
NARRATOR: Those who
know the fighter
808
00:36:28,188 --> 00:36:31,398
claim Phil's loved ones
were often on the receiving end
809
00:36:31,399 --> 00:36:33,068
of his pent-up aggression.
810
00:36:34,402 --> 00:36:36,196
MARK: I knew Phil was, uh...
811
00:36:37,322 --> 00:36:41,867
very fuckin' mean
with his girlfriends
812
00:36:41,868 --> 00:36:44,828
'cause I was very good friends
with Angela.
813
00:36:44,829 --> 00:36:48,165
I knew she was terrified of him.
814
00:36:48,166 --> 00:36:51,251
She'd come to the fights
and he would have her
815
00:36:51,252 --> 00:36:55,172
running around doing
all his shit before the fight.
816
00:36:55,173 --> 00:36:58,759
Making her run to the store,
do this, go get him this,
817
00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:00,803
and she'd come back
with a bag of stuff,
818
00:37:00,804 --> 00:37:05,266
and sure enough, "Ah, I didn't
want this, I wanted this."
819
00:37:05,392 --> 00:37:07,476
You know, just complain,
and the poor girl
820
00:37:07,477 --> 00:37:08,686
was just terrified.
821
00:37:09,562 --> 00:37:11,855
I hated that.
822
00:37:11,856 --> 00:37:14,067
- He took a lot of
his frustrations out on her
823
00:37:14,192 --> 00:37:17,654
and other people around him.
He did it over and over again.
824
00:37:17,779 --> 00:37:20,489
He beat up--
he was tough on his wife.
825
00:37:20,490 --> 00:37:22,367
He was tough
on a girl in New York.
826
00:37:22,492 --> 00:37:24,076
He was tough on a girl
in Mexico.
827
00:37:24,077 --> 00:37:26,287
I think that Phil didn't
always appreciate the people
828
00:37:26,413 --> 00:37:27,706
that were in his corner.
829
00:37:30,041 --> 00:37:30,874
- Absolutely.
830
00:37:30,875 --> 00:37:33,335
Phil had moments
where he treated me
831
00:37:33,336 --> 00:37:34,795
like he was very appreciative,
832
00:37:34,796 --> 00:37:37,132
and then he had moments
where I feared for my life.
833
00:37:38,842 --> 00:37:41,678
KRISTY: You know, everyone
looks at him like a monster.
834
00:37:41,803 --> 00:37:44,222
I guess when people say those
things about him, you know,
835
00:37:44,347 --> 00:37:47,058
I understand and I get it.
836
00:37:47,183 --> 00:37:49,602
But they don't realize
that he has a sister
837
00:37:49,728 --> 00:37:52,188
that loves him, and...
838
00:37:52,313 --> 00:37:54,149
[sniffs]
it affects me every day.
839
00:37:57,610 --> 00:37:58,903
It's just hard.
840
00:38:00,572 --> 00:38:02,824
I feel horrible for her
and her family.
841
00:38:05,410 --> 00:38:06,910
NARRATOR: Some of Phil's friends
842
00:38:06,911 --> 00:38:08,996
suspect the fighter's
state of mind
843
00:38:08,997 --> 00:38:11,416
is related to an affliction
that has haunted athletes
844
00:38:11,541 --> 00:38:15,002
with severe head trauma
for years.
845
00:38:15,003 --> 00:38:18,422
CHARLOTTE: A new study on CTE
says the brain injury
846
00:38:18,423 --> 00:38:20,215
might be more common
than we thought.
847
00:38:20,216 --> 00:38:21,341
JOSH: CTE.
848
00:38:21,342 --> 00:38:24,261
It's a degenerative disease,
basically, in your brain
849
00:38:24,262 --> 00:38:25,680
from too many shots to the head.
850
00:38:25,805 --> 00:38:29,683
NEWS: The hallmarks of CTE
are these brown lesions.
851
00:38:29,684 --> 00:38:31,227
RANDY: The chemistry
in the brain changes
852
00:38:31,353 --> 00:38:32,562
because of the trauma,
853
00:38:32,687 --> 00:38:35,523
and that can cause loss
of function, in many ways,
854
00:38:35,648 --> 00:38:36,900
loss of control.
855
00:38:37,025 --> 00:38:39,110
- You get triggered
and you become more aggressive.
856
00:38:39,235 --> 00:38:40,986
RANDY: There have been
a couple of studies
857
00:38:40,987 --> 00:38:43,280
done on a couple of fighters
that have passed away,
858
00:38:43,281 --> 00:38:45,784
and they showed signs of CTE.
859
00:38:45,909 --> 00:38:48,203
NARRATOR: One of those
was Jordan Parsons.
860
00:38:50,288 --> 00:38:53,916
In 2016, after the fighter
died in a car accident,
861
00:38:53,917 --> 00:38:58,003
researchers found evidence
of CTE in his brain.
862
00:38:58,004 --> 00:39:00,757
At 26 years old, he was
one of the youngest athletes
863
00:39:00,882 --> 00:39:03,801
in any sport
found with the condition.
864
00:39:03,802 --> 00:39:06,429
MARK: They can't really
determine if you had CTE
865
00:39:06,554 --> 00:39:07,847
until you die,
but Phil Baroni,
866
00:39:07,972 --> 00:39:12,184
I watched this man
take a lot of abuse.
867
00:39:12,185 --> 00:39:15,896
Yeah, he's definitely
a candidate for CTE.
868
00:39:15,897 --> 00:39:18,190
- Over the few years that
I'd known him at that point,
869
00:39:18,191 --> 00:39:21,236
I was seeing his speech pattern
significantly decline.
870
00:39:21,361 --> 00:39:25,699
Him becoming exceedingly more
violent, very short-tempered.
871
00:39:25,824 --> 00:39:29,202
And the CT scan reinforced
everything we believed.
872
00:39:29,327 --> 00:39:31,745
- Was this the alcohol
and the other substances,
873
00:39:31,746 --> 00:39:34,290
or was this getting punched
in the dome too much?
874
00:39:34,416 --> 00:39:36,667
I suspect both things
875
00:39:36,668 --> 00:39:38,753
contributed to where
Phil ended up.
876
00:39:40,005 --> 00:39:42,506
JOSH: The worst part is,
as a fighter,
877
00:39:42,507 --> 00:39:45,342
you know how dangerous you are.
878
00:39:45,343 --> 00:39:46,761
You know.
879
00:39:58,189 --> 00:39:59,773
NARRATOR: As Phil's
friends and family
880
00:39:59,774 --> 00:40:02,526
reckon with the tragedy
in Mexico,
881
00:40:02,527 --> 00:40:04,279
many wonder
if the fight industry
882
00:40:04,404 --> 00:40:08,116
should at least share blame for
the grappler's downward spiral.
883
00:40:09,534 --> 00:40:10,910
KRISTY: It should have stopped.
884
00:40:11,036 --> 00:40:13,580
He should have seen
professional help.
885
00:40:13,705 --> 00:40:15,373
And that never happened.
886
00:40:15,498 --> 00:40:17,792
ANNOUNCER: It's all over!
887
00:40:24,591 --> 00:40:25,842
NARRATOR: Today,
as Phil Baroni
888
00:40:25,967 --> 00:40:29,053
sits in a correctional facility
in Tepic, Mexico,
889
00:40:29,054 --> 00:40:30,972
charged with murdering
his girlfriend,
890
00:40:31,097 --> 00:40:34,142
46-year-old single mother
Paola Franco Estrada,
891
00:40:34,267 --> 00:40:37,437
with his bare hands,
his friends and family wonder
892
00:40:37,562 --> 00:40:40,899
what more could have been done
to prevent this from happening.
893
00:40:42,317 --> 00:40:45,361
RICH: If a fighter was getting
knocked out too many times,
894
00:40:45,362 --> 00:40:48,072
I think you would see with
some of the bigger promotions,
895
00:40:48,073 --> 00:40:50,074
they would take on
the responsibility
896
00:40:50,075 --> 00:40:51,868
of not booking
that fighter anymore.
897
00:40:52,619 --> 00:40:54,328
KRISTY: But my brother
was going to other countries
898
00:40:54,329 --> 00:40:57,122
to fight,
and they did not care.
899
00:40:57,123 --> 00:41:00,001
God knows what his MRI
was looking like at that point.
900
00:41:00,126 --> 00:41:03,463
I think whatever issues he had,
it made them worse.
901
00:41:05,673 --> 00:41:08,509
RANDY: We don't have the luxury
of a Players Association
902
00:41:08,510 --> 00:41:10,011
that some of these
other professional sports
903
00:41:10,136 --> 00:41:13,597
like football players and hockey
players and other athletes have.
904
00:41:13,598 --> 00:41:14,973
We need to organize.
905
00:41:14,974 --> 00:41:16,892
We need to pay
a little closer attention
906
00:41:16,893 --> 00:41:20,104
to some of our guys
that have put their bodies
907
00:41:20,105 --> 00:41:22,857
through this kind of punishment.
908
00:41:22,983 --> 00:41:24,817
- All of us have
a little bit of somethin',
909
00:41:24,818 --> 00:41:26,319
that get hit in the head.
910
00:41:26,444 --> 00:41:29,655
We gave a piece of ourselves to
become a professional fighter,
911
00:41:29,656 --> 00:41:32,617
and to fight in front of
the fans and to make money,
912
00:41:32,742 --> 00:41:34,201
but there is a time where
913
00:41:34,202 --> 00:41:36,578
you should not leave
everything in there.
914
00:41:36,579 --> 00:41:37,621
ANNOUNCER: And now watch this...
915
00:41:37,622 --> 00:41:39,832
JAY: You can't just be bouncing
all over the place
916
00:41:39,833 --> 00:41:41,835
and still trying to fight.
917
00:41:43,128 --> 00:41:45,295
You put the gloves down.
918
00:41:45,296 --> 00:41:47,881
As a man, you gotta always
look in the mirror
919
00:41:47,882 --> 00:41:50,050
and take accountability.
You have to.
920
00:41:50,051 --> 00:41:51,885
ANNOUNCER: Knocks out
Phil Baroni!
921
00:41:51,886 --> 00:41:54,179
JAY: But Phil,
I don't think he ever did that.
922
00:41:54,180 --> 00:41:56,682
- Where Phil ended up
is one of those things
923
00:41:56,683 --> 00:41:58,308
you just don't wanna hear.
924
00:41:58,309 --> 00:42:00,437
You don't wanna know
that one of your brothers,
925
00:42:00,562 --> 00:42:02,856
one of the guys that...
926
00:42:05,984 --> 00:42:07,235
Yeah, it just sucks.
927
00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:09,946
♪
928
00:42:10,071 --> 00:42:12,240
♪
929
00:42:32,510 --> 00:42:35,513
NARRATOR: Phil currently awaits
trial in Mexico.
930
00:42:38,016 --> 00:42:39,642
- A few months ago.
931
00:42:39,768 --> 00:42:41,977
Phil told me
that nobody speaks English
932
00:42:41,978 --> 00:42:43,729
and he doesn't speak Spanish.
933
00:42:43,730 --> 00:42:47,108
That he weighs 135 pounds
and he used to weigh 200.
934
00:42:48,318 --> 00:42:49,943
He's been
in solitary confinement
935
00:42:49,944 --> 00:42:52,072
for over half the time
he's been in there
936
00:42:52,197 --> 00:42:54,199
because of all the fights
he gets in.
937
00:42:55,367 --> 00:42:58,453
MATT: Honestly, I think I've
always kinda pitied the guy.
938
00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:02,539
He just seemed
really disturbed...
939
00:43:02,540 --> 00:43:05,585
individual that just didn't have
any peace within his soul.
940
00:43:07,629 --> 00:43:10,047
KEN: I feel like on some level
I failed him.
941
00:43:10,048 --> 00:43:11,591
He obviously failed himself.
942
00:43:14,302 --> 00:43:16,553
It just kinda tears at you.
It tears at you.
943
00:43:16,554 --> 00:43:18,806
Could you have done more?
Did you do the right thing?
944
00:43:18,807 --> 00:43:20,224
Are you doing
the right thing now?
945
00:43:20,225 --> 00:43:22,894
RANDY: I think that's
a common human trait.
946
00:43:23,019 --> 00:43:24,645
Survivor's guilt.
947
00:43:24,646 --> 00:43:25,896
Could have done something,
948
00:43:25,897 --> 00:43:28,107
could have steered him
a different way
949
00:43:28,108 --> 00:43:31,068
and maybe things would
have turned out differently.
950
00:43:31,069 --> 00:43:32,570
- I'm sitting here
very conflicted.
951
00:43:32,696 --> 00:43:35,323
Part of me feels like
I'm selling out my old friend.
952
00:43:36,992 --> 00:43:38,409
Maybe me sitting here
953
00:43:38,410 --> 00:43:41,370
talking to you is more for me
than anybody.
954
00:43:41,371 --> 00:43:43,665
But, um...
955
00:43:45,417 --> 00:43:50,212
maybe in some way this can
help somebody out there
956
00:43:50,213 --> 00:43:51,965
not be the next Phil Baroni.