EPISODE · Oct 20, 2025 · 1H 37M
GRAPPLING HOUR with Nathan Hawthorne
from Grappling Hour · host raf esparza
Nate shares his journey from being a childhood pro wrestling superfan (complete with homemade matches, sibling rivalries, ER visits, and decked-out living rooms), to competing in MMA, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, and even teaching striking at 10th Planet Beaumont.The two dive into grappling for MMA, the importance of wrestling skills, and how sibling powerbombs almost set the stage for a fighter’s life. Nathan talks growing up in a wrestling-obsessed family, how injuries shaped his toughness, and what it’s like to balance fighting with being a high-stakes casino dealer. Hear stories about rolling and sparring with friends, learning from legends at Team Millennia and Team Quest, and why he’s chasing a full-time fight career.They swap tales of pro wrestling finishers gone wrong, MMA setbacks, the grind of fight camps, and throw in plenty of jiu jitsu—and gambling—wisdom along the way. Find out Nathan’s favorite wrestlers, what it’s like to fight with his family in the crowd, and the surprising skills being a casino dealer brings into the cage.All this plus behind-the-scenes banter, lessons for up-and-coming fighters, and some signature Grappling Hour laughs. Whether you’re a combat sports junkie, a pro wrestling lifer, or just love a good martial arts story, you’ll want to tune in for this one!——WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.---- We’re on PATREON now!Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else. ----👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA ----YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=enYOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour
What this episode covers
Catch up with Nathan Hawthorne as he sits down with us for a candid conversation about fighting, pro wrestling, and life outside the cage. From childhood WWE injuries to his journey in MMA and working as a casino dealer, this episode covers it all. Nathan’s childhood was influenced by pro wrestling, including wild homemade matches and ER visits T ransition from soccer to MMA, and how competition and family drove his fighting career Behind-the-scenes stories about family wrestling events, favorite wrestlers, and collecting championship belts Juggling a casino dealer job while building a reputation as an exciting fighter across kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA The mental side of fighting, lessons from recent setbacks, and what’s next for Nathan as he approaches the pro ranks
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GRAPPLING HOUR with Nathan Hawthorne
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