Tedd Williams MMA & Gladiator Challenge episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 2, 2026 · 2H 6M

Tedd Williams MMA & Gladiator Challenge

from MMA History Podcast · host MMA Detective Mike Davis, Joey Venti

Send a textTedd Williams MMA & Gladiator Challenge Tedd Williams is a UFC veteran, grappling pioneer a national AAU Sambo champion, Gene LeBell black belt, and 7-1 pro fighter and one of the longest tenured promoters in the country.  Tedd Williams shares stories from the sport's raw early days: training with Bas Rutten, his UFC 24 main-event elbow KO over Steve Judson, co-founding King of the Cage, launching Gladiator Challenge, and building the regional scene that helped launch fighters like Urijah Faber and Charles Bennett.A deep dive into MMA's Wild West era straight from one of its true architects. 0:00 MMA history podcast intro  0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 0:50 interview start 1:40 learning Sambo early on 3:36 training with Gene LeBell 5:15 training with John Perretti 6:37 interactions with John Lewis 7:28 starting friendship with Oleg Taktarov8:29 using sambo to become a better wrestler 9:26 starting Victorville Jets program 11:33 Universal above ground fighting 14:10 Antonio McKee vs John Smith 15:27 Antonio McKee gun story 17:15 owning half of KOTC at the beginning 21:09 meeting Terry Trebilcock22:39 using same venue for KOTC and Gladiator Challenge 25:24 hosting Gladiator Challenge in Colorado 26:41 Tedd Williams vs Robert Burnell 28:06 Empire fighting 29:10 Bas Rutten invitational 30:14 training Bas Rutten 33:00 Tedd Williams vs Joseph Marquez 34:46 Tedd Williams vs Travis Fulton37:30 experience with Jamie Levine 38:29 Tedd Williams vs Joe Campanella 40:25 Holiday Fight Party 47:20 Phillip Miller split from the UFC50:45 Phillip Miller vs James Zikic 52:07 Lee Murray and Tito Ortiz street fight 54:26 letter to get into ADCC 200056:46 training with Rowdy Roddy Piper57:44 Tedd Williams vs Steve Judson 1:02:08 false UFC fighter resumes 1:03:13 Tedd Williams fight camp exposed 1:05:17 cancelled bout with Andre Roberts1:06:27 friendship with Cal Worsham 1:09:37 dealing with Dan Severn 1:10:30 cross training bjj and wrestling 1:11:02 KOTC purchased by EliteXC 1:19:43 Tedd Williams vs Bill Parker 1:21:39 dealings with Bob Shamrock 1:23:01 Tony Galindo 1:23:41 Ken Shamrock backstage fight with Mark Hall 1:24:15 attending regional shows 1:25:25 pushing Tito Ortiz out of cage 1:30:05 KOTC Wet ‘N’ Wild 1:34:43 selling Gladiator challenge video library 1:37:16 KOTC losing money 1:38:07 experience with Charles Bennett 1:41:58 Charles Bennett changing name to Felony 1:43:03 sued by Terry Trebilcock1:46:43 Gladiator Challenge, KOTC buyouts 1:50:27 relationship with Chris Cordero 1:52:36 Experience with Rafiel Torre 1:55:49 Gerald Strebendt 1:56:34 interview wrap up 1:59:55 outro/ closing thoughtsPlease follow our channels on Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram: MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632 Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitreRecords Keeper-  Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstressSocial Media Manager Andy Campbell  @martial_mindset_Thumbnails Julio Macedo  @juliosemacentoInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-powerMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231VenmSupport the show

Send a textTedd Williams MMA & Gladiator Challenge Tedd Williams is a UFC veteran, grappling pioneer a national AAU Sambo champion, Gene LeBell black belt, and 7-1 pro fighter and one of the longest tenured promoters in the country.  Tedd Williams shares stories from the sport's raw early days: training with Bas Rutten, his UFC 24 main-event elbow KO over Steve Judson, co-founding King of the Cage, launching Gladiator Challenge, and building the regional scene that helped launch fighters like Urijah Faber and Charles Bennett.A deep dive into MMA's Wild West era straight from one of its true architects. 0:00 MMA history podcast intro  0:32 Joey Venti’s guest introduction 0:50 interview start 1:40 learning Sambo early on 3:36 training with Gene LeBell 5:15 training with John Perretti 6:37 interactions with John Lewis 7:28 starting friendship with Oleg Taktarov8:29 using sambo to become a better wrestler 9:26 starting Victorville Jets program 11:33 Universal above ground fighting 14:10 Antonio McKee vs John Smith 15:27 Antonio McKee gun story 17:15 owning half of KOTC at the beginning 21:09 meeting Terry Trebilcock22:39 using same venue for KOTC and Gladiator Challenge 25:24 hosting Gladiator Challenge in Colorado 26:41 Tedd Williams vs Robert Burnell 28:06 Empire fighting 29:10 Bas Rutten invitational 30:14 training Bas Rutten 33:00 Tedd Williams vs Joseph Marquez 34:46 Tedd Williams vs Travis Fulton37:30 experience with Jamie Levine 38:29 Tedd Williams vs Joe Campanella 40:25 Holiday Fight Party 47:20 Phillip Miller split from the UFC50:45 Phillip Miller vs James Zikic 52:07 Lee Murray and Tito Ortiz street fight 54:26 letter to get into ADCC 200056:46 training with Rowdy Roddy Piper57:44 Tedd Williams vs Steve Judson 1:02:08 false UFC fighter resumes 1:03:13 Tedd Williams fight camp exposed 1:05:17 cancelled bout with Andre Roberts1:06:27 friendship with Cal Worsham 1:09:37 dealing with Dan Severn 1:10:30 cross training bjj and wrestling 1:11:02 KOTC purchased by EliteXC 1:19:43 Tedd Williams vs Bill Parker 1:21:39 dealings with Bob Shamrock 1:23:01 Tony Galindo 1:23:41 Ken Shamrock backstage fight with Mark Hall 1:24:15 attending regional shows 1:25:25 pushing Tito Ortiz out of cage 1:30:05 KOTC Wet ‘N’ Wild 1:34:43 selling Gladiator challenge video library 1:37:16 KOTC losing money 1:38:07 experience with Charles Bennett 1:41:58 Charles Bennett changing name to Felony 1:43:03 sued by Terry Trebilcock1:46:43 Gladiator Challenge, KOTC buyouts 1:50:27 relationship with Chris Cordero 1:52:36 Experience with Rafiel Torre 1:55:49 Gerald Strebendt 1:56:34 interview wrap up 1:59:55 outro/ closing thoughtsPlease follow our channels on Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram: MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632 Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitreRecords Keeper-  Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstressSocial Media Manager Andy Campbell  @martial_mindset_Thumbnails Julio Macedo  @juliosemacentoInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-powerMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231VenmSupport the show

NOW PLAYING

Tedd Williams MMA & Gladiator Challenge

0:00 2:06:25

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Big Old Life: Heather Blackbird interviews people on planet earth. Heather Blackbird loves asking questions. This podcast is a learning experience. Join me, Heather Blackbird, as I talk to people about their lives. Frequency of new episodes is a little all over the place and I'm learning as I go. Big Old Life is a small way of talking about the vastness of life, one person at a time. If you are reading this or found this podcast it's probably because someone you know gave you a link to it. :) Explicit The Sacred +Profane Podcast nephtaragrace The Sacred + Profane Podcast is a provocative conversation dedicated to cementing a better future for all. We specialize in unpacking the nuances of what is considered sacred and profane, particularly focusing on sex, death, and all that pertains to the circle of life. Our aim in focusing on such ”taboo” subject matter is to demystify what is unconscious, bring to light what has been known for centuries as ”the occult,” and empower the rapid transformation that is occurring on the Planet. Explicit Undeniable w/ Braxton Curtis Braxton Curtis The official Podcast of Braxton Curtis.A Father, Husband, and Business Owner just trying to figure it all out. Explicit Bitcoin Gateway Lea meakin Welcome to Bitcoin Gateway, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of Bitcoin, hosted by Lea Meakin. This show is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the complex world of cryptocurrencies and wants a simple, straightforward explanation. Each episode, we’ll break down the basics of Bitcoin, explore its history, and discuss its potential impact on the future of finance. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just looking to expand your knowledge, Bitcoin Gateway is here to help you understand Bitcoin, one episode at a time. Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of MMA History Podcast?

This episode is 2 hours and 6 minutes long.

When was this MMA History Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on March 2, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Send a textTedd Williams MMA & Gladiator Challenge Tedd Williams is a UFC veteran, grappling pioneer a national AAU Sambo champion, Gene LeBell black belt, and 7-1 pro fighter and one of the longest tenured promoters in the country.  Tedd Williams...

Can I download this MMA History Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!