Kimo Leopoldo: I Nearly Beat Royce Gracie & Joe Son stories

Kimo Leopoldo joins the MMA History Podcast to recount the raw early days of the sport, from his Huntington Beach roots and Christian transformation to the unforgettable moment he carried a full-sized cross into the Octagon and pushed Royce Gracie harder than almost anyone at UFC 3. The legendary fighter breaks down the chaotic tournament draw, the street-fight intensity of that classic bout, his contentious partnership with Joe Son, the fallout that followed, and the cascade of high-stakes battles that followed across K-1, Pride, and the UFC.

Kimo opens up about training with Matt Hume and Joe Moreira, the Sakuraba and Takayama wars in Japan, the brutal nine-minute war with Paul Varelans, the Huntington Beach showdown with Tank Abbott, and the controversial Bob Sapp kickboxing match in Las Vegas.

0:00 start

0:28 MMA History Podcast intro

1:01 Joey Venti’s guest introductions

1:12 interview start

1:45 attending elementary with John Lewis

3:12 introduction to combat sports

3:42 getting introduced to Christ by Joe Son

5:10 High School wrestling career

5:51 moving to California

6:12 bouncing at Club Rubber

7:54 watching UFC 1

9:10 Joe Son pushing UFC debut for Kimo Leopoldo

9:47 Joe Son challenging Royce Gracie

10:15 Paul Herrera street fight with Joe Son

10:49 learning Jiu Jitsu from Randy Ziegler

12:24 fight with Gracie’s in Hotel lobby (rumor)

13:09 UFC 3 name drawing for tournament

15:43 UFC 3 promo “fighting for Christ”

16:48 carrying cross on back during walkout

18:17 unaware of Joe Sons street activities

19:45 Joe Sons acting career

20:12 training prior to UFC debut

21:25 dealings with Bob Meyrowitz and Art Davie

21:49 feelings before fighting Royce Gracie

23:49 Kimo Leopoldo vs Royce Gracie

27:06 Royce Gracie towel throw

29:00 interactions with the Gracie’s after fight

29:45 reason for alternates to have fights

30:47 apology letter to the Gracie’s (rumor)

32:20 wore out from walking out with heavy cross

34:00 negotiations to fight in Japan

34:32 Kimo Leopoldo vs Pat Smith

36:36 making $500 to fight Royce Gracie

38:54 training at J Sect

39:32 Joe Son vs Keith Hackney

41:55 Kimo Leopoldo vs Masaaki Satake

43:34 connecting with Matt Hume

43:53 incorrectly listed rematch with Pat Smith

44:44 training with Carl Franks

45:12 training partners at AMC

46:39 issues with Allan Goes

47:58 Royce Gracie blue belt narrative

51:29 parting ways with Joe Son

52:28 managed by father Dennis Leopoldo

53:36 negotiations for UFC 8

54:40 conflict backstage at UFC 8

56:11 Tank Abbotts reputation on the streets

56:47 bouncer Richard Alvarez

58:27 John Lober

59:54 Eddie Ruiz

1:00:37 Tiki Ghosn

1:01:03 early involvement training Tito Ortiz (rumor)

1:01:45 crew members

1:02:26 fallout with Matt Hume after Ken shamrock fight

1:05:18 training with Joe Moreira

1:07:34 releasing instructional with Joe Moreira

1:09:09 Kimo Leopoldo vs Kazushi Sakuraba

1:13:59 Kimo Leopoldo vs Yoshihiro Takayama

1:16:44 Kimo Leopoldo vs Bam Bam Bigelow

1:20:01 dealings with the Yakuza

1:22:10 interactions with Gerard Gordeau

1:23:29 Kimo Leopoldo vs Paul Varelans

1:29:18 NHB era not getting the respect

1:29:53 Kimo Leopoldo vs Brian Johnston

1:31:30 negotiations with Pride FC

1:32:16 Kimo Leopoldo vs Dan Severn

1:34:41 Rickson Gracie vs Nobuhiko Takada

1:35:29 falling out with the UFC after Pride Debut

1:36:44 Kimo Leopoldo vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka

1:37:59 cancelled bout with Gary Goodridge

1:38:57 no showing event

1:40:05 Joe Son vs Yusuke Imamura

1:41:37 current feelings about Joe Son

1:45:08 Kimo Leopoldo trading cards

1:46:45 Raul Ries

1:47:02 Joe Son vs Joe Moreira

1:48:34 Kimo Leopoldo vs Tim Lajcik

1:49:32 cancelled bout with Bas Rutten

1:51:47 running into Tank Abbott at a bar

1:54:08 Kimo Leopoldo vs Tank Abbott

1:57:20 Kimo Leopoldo vs Bob Sapp

2:05:54 conversations after Bob Sapp fight

2:07:30 interview wrap up

2:09:20 outro/ closing thoughts