Breaking The Guard Podcast

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Episodes

A Mixed Martial Arts talk show featuring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belts David Avellan (creator of the Kimura Trap System and ADCC 2009 Bronze Medalist) and Robert Drysdale (2005 IBJJF World Champion, ADCC 2007 Absolute Champion, co-founder of Zenith BJJ). Both of them have extensive backgrounds in MMA and BJJ as students, competitors, coaches, and school owners - pulling on their combined experiences to discuss the mental aspect of training, proper preparation, championship mindset, and more.

Episodes

Jul 20, 2026

BTG 200 - I'm getting too old for this

Jul 20, 2026

23 min

Two old veterans of the fight game tasted defeat this weekend. One of them walked away from the game, while the other one is still holding out. I'll revisit this topic of the purpose of continuing to compete in sport as an older athlete.

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DavidMMA.com - David Avellan's new website, where he is posting new articles daily, new courses being posted frequently, covering techniques, news, fitness, breakdowns, and much more. You can join as a guest for free to see what the site has to offer.

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Jul 13, 2026

BTG 199 - A Flying Disaster

Jul 13, 2026

20 min

After 5 years waiting for his return from a terrible leg break, Conor does the unthinkable and blows out his knee doing a flying kick. I'll remark on this incident and reflect on the coaching and strategy behind this as well.

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Jul 6, 2026

BTG 198 - Walking and chewing gum at the same time

Jul 6, 2026

25 min

I'm turning 45 tomorrow, so I reflect back on some important ideas I have come to realize this year. First, the importance of systems in being an effective multi-tasker. Second, measuring everything is not always necessary, and trusting your TRAINED intuition can be more valuable.

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Jun 29, 2026

BTG 197 - Crime and Punishment

Jun 29, 2026

30 min

Fresh off the heels of another fouling scandal at UFC Fight Night 280, I put more teeth into my agreements for being much harsher on scoring fouls, also talking about my view on crime and punishment in general.

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Jun 22, 2026

BTG 196 - McGregor finally coming back to MMA?

Jun 22, 2026

10 min

Conor McGregor has teased fans for years about his return, but it seems this time it's finally happening on July 11th against none other than Max Holloway. He has waited too long, or can he revive his career and have a glorious return?

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Jun 15, 2026

BTG 195 - UFC Freedom 250

Jun 15, 2026

34 min

UFC Freedom 250 went off without problems, as no weather issues, bugs, or heat set back this event with a 100% finish rate. I'll review the whole fight card, what I liked about it, what I didn't like, and the implications of the title fights.

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Jun 8, 2026

BTG 194 - Off Day

Jun 8, 2026

18 min

I think it's safe to say that everyone has "off" days, where you underperform in a very noticeable way. Sometimes these off days are hard on you, especially for top performers gearing up for another event - a bad day can feel like a disaster. I'll talk about how I handle these and would council others to.

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Jun 1, 2026

BTG 193 - UFC BJJ Opens

Jun 1, 2026

27 min

The UFC BJJ moves into the amateur tournament circuit, butting heads with IBJJF and ADCC. They have signaled one thing in the ruleset that can be a GAMECHANGER for grappling, and if pulled off, can kill off one of the things that drags down the sport.

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May 25, 2026

BTG 192 - Freak Shows

May 25, 2026

23 min

We have a few freak shows this weekend, and it seems we are going back to the circus for sporting events. I give my take on sensationalist nature of marketing events, and what the athletic commissions responsibilities to fighter safety tie into this.

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May 18, 2026

BTG 191 - MVP MMA DOA?

May 18, 2026

26 min

MVP MMA made history as the first MMA promotion to be on Netflix. I also got a lot of eye balls, and the main card was all finishes. Sounds like a knockout, except it wasn't. It also makes me worried if it has a future, or will it just feed off past stars and fade away? I also talk about my recent travels, and the importance of discipline.

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