1
00:00:08,842 --> 00:00:10,801
Trying to finish it!
And it's over!
2
00:00:10,802 --> 00:00:12,094
And it's all over!
3
00:00:12,095 --> 00:00:14,388
Phil Baroni!
4
00:00:14,389 --> 00:00:16,765
Based on his
over-the-top personality,
5
00:00:16,766 --> 00:00:18,435
Phil Baroni's claim...
6
00:00:20,019 --> 00:00:22,939
...proves more
than just a post-bout boast.
7
00:00:23,064 --> 00:00:26,525
The New York
Bad Ass!
8
00:00:26,526 --> 00:00:28,444
He was on
the cover of magazines.
9
00:00:28,445 --> 00:00:29,571
He was everywhere.
10
00:00:29,696 --> 00:00:30,655
In a fight,
11
00:00:30,780 --> 00:00:33,365
Phil's punch
can devastate opponents.
12
00:00:33,366 --> 00:00:34,868
One of the most
vicious knockouts
13
00:00:34,993 --> 00:00:36,243
I think I've ever seen.
14
00:00:36,244 --> 00:00:37,537
But his inner turmoil
15
00:00:37,662 --> 00:00:40,039
proves even more explosive
and dangerous.
16
00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:41,750
Baroni's...
Oh, look at Baroni!
17
00:00:41,875 --> 00:00:42,833
He's comin'
after him!
18
00:00:42,834 --> 00:00:43,917
Whoa!
19
00:00:43,918 --> 00:00:45,128
He would just freak out.
20
00:00:46,463 --> 00:00:48,757
Decades of
taking abuse in the cage...
21
00:00:48,882 --> 00:00:50,507
And the fight
is over!
22
00:00:50,508 --> 00:00:51,633
It's over!
23
00:00:51,634 --> 00:00:54,054
I'm like, "Dude, you're
gonna have no brain left."
24
00:00:54,179 --> 00:00:55,722
...seemed
to fuel the demons
25
00:00:55,847 --> 00:00:58,098
running loose inside his head...
26
00:00:58,099 --> 00:00:59,267
He would
lose control of it
27
00:00:59,392 --> 00:01:01,436
and then have trouble
kinda reeling it back in.
28
00:01:01,561 --> 00:01:04,313
I knew Phil
was very fuckin' mean
29
00:01:04,314 --> 00:01:06,482
with his girlfriends.
30
00:01:06,483 --> 00:01:09,318
...until Phil's
loss of control while in Mexico
31
00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,447
reportedly causes a woman
to lose her life.
32
00:01:12,572 --> 00:01:15,241
Baroni's in jail for,
allegedly, murder.
33
00:01:15,367 --> 00:01:16,910
He apparently had
killed his girlfriend.
34
00:01:17,035 --> 00:01:18,620
I couldn't believe
what I was reading.
35
00:01:18,745 --> 00:01:22,332
As a fighter,
you know how dangerous you are.
36
00:01:22,457 --> 00:01:23,957
Why?
37
00:01:23,958 --> 00:01:25,085
Like, why?
38
00:02:36,823 --> 00:02:40,034
In this game, there's not
too many happy endings.
39
00:02:40,035 --> 00:02:44,121
It ends
when you least expect it.
40
00:02:44,122 --> 00:02:45,290
It's devastating.
41
00:02:46,624 --> 00:02:49,502
And I think with Phil,
there was never a plan B.
42
00:02:49,627 --> 00:02:52,921
It was, "I'm going to be
a superstar and a champion
43
00:02:52,922 --> 00:02:54,841
"and there is
no other alternative.
44
00:02:54,966 --> 00:02:56,925
"There's no option."
45
00:02:56,926 --> 00:02:58,845
Phil was very unhinged.
46
00:02:58,970 --> 00:03:01,014
He was dangerous to be around.
47
00:03:01,139 --> 00:03:02,891
He was a liability
to himself and others.
48
00:03:03,016 --> 00:03:05,435
And I was afraid that something
bad was gonna happen.
49
00:03:06,811 --> 00:03:10,023
Asking me, like, did I
think he'd make it as a fighter?
50
00:03:10,148 --> 00:03:11,316
Absolutely did.
51
00:03:12,942 --> 00:03:15,402
Did I think
he'd make it as a human?
52
00:03:15,403 --> 00:03:17,238
I always had the question mark.
53
00:03:17,364 --> 00:03:20,116
Stop the fight!
Phil Baroni is victorious!
54
00:03:21,326 --> 00:03:23,578
For Phil Baroni,
the battle between fighting
55
00:03:23,703 --> 00:03:26,998
as a livelihood
and fighting as a lifestyle
56
00:03:27,123 --> 00:03:30,210
begins in his hometown
outside New York City.
57
00:03:30,335 --> 00:03:32,545
As a young kid,
Phil always wanted to fight,
58
00:03:32,670 --> 00:03:35,255
and he would get
into fights with people.
59
00:03:35,256 --> 00:03:38,218
It's hard for me to say
why exactly he felt
60
00:03:38,343 --> 00:03:41,096
the need to fight
or what he was angry at.
61
00:03:41,221 --> 00:03:43,890
I'm Kristy Baroni,
Philip Baroni's younger sister.
62
00:03:44,516 --> 00:03:46,266
We technically lived
in Massapequa Park.
63
00:03:46,267 --> 00:03:50,270
It's a suburb on Long Island,
Nassau County.
64
00:03:50,271 --> 00:03:54,067
Just regular,
working-class town.
65
00:03:54,192 --> 00:03:55,443
Growing up,
66
00:03:55,568 --> 00:03:58,321
a shared love of the most
kid-friendly combat sport
67
00:03:58,446 --> 00:04:00,657
becomes a way
for the siblings to bond.
68
00:04:01,700 --> 00:04:04,077
Back then, like,
wrestling was huge.
69
00:04:04,202 --> 00:04:08,831
It is now time
for the Royal Rumble!
70
00:04:10,625 --> 00:04:13,128
We couldn't wait
for the Royal Rumble to come on.
71
00:04:13,253 --> 00:04:15,295
This place
is thunderous, Jess!
72
00:04:15,296 --> 00:04:17,131
I can't hear myself!
73
00:04:17,132 --> 00:04:19,008
We would watch them.
74
00:04:19,009 --> 00:04:20,260
We would imitate them.
75
00:04:20,385 --> 00:04:22,761
He was Ultimate Warrior,
I was Hulk Hogan.
76
00:04:23,888 --> 00:04:26,598
Look at the strength!
Look at the muscles!
77
00:04:26,599 --> 00:04:28,935
We would be
jumping off the couches.
78
00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:31,729
We would just have so much fun.
79
00:04:31,730 --> 00:04:34,481
I can remember, he said,
"I'm gonna be like that.
80
00:04:34,482 --> 00:04:37,277
"I'm gonna be a fighter.
I'm gonna be famous."
81
00:04:39,321 --> 00:04:40,322
By high school,
82
00:04:40,447 --> 00:04:42,781
Phil's still nurturing
his two passions:
83
00:04:42,782 --> 00:04:47,287
fighting on a wrestling mat
and just plain fighting.
84
00:04:47,412 --> 00:04:50,123
When I met him, he was
always getting into fights.
85
00:04:50,248 --> 00:04:51,791
In wrestling,
there'd be like eight mats
86
00:04:51,916 --> 00:04:53,626
and like eight
wrestling matches going on,
87
00:04:53,752 --> 00:04:55,837
and you could hear
some commotion going on
88
00:04:55,962 --> 00:04:57,087
on the side over there,
89
00:04:57,088 --> 00:04:58,965
and you'd look,
and it's Phil scrappin'.
90
00:04:59,090 --> 00:05:02,135
I guess that's why I liked him,
because he was a tough kid.
91
00:05:02,260 --> 00:05:03,510
My name's Jay Hieron.
92
00:05:03,511 --> 00:05:05,346
I'm a former UFC fighter,
93
00:05:05,472 --> 00:05:08,599
former International
Fight League world champion,
94
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,602
and childhood friend
of Phil Baroni.
95
00:05:12,437 --> 00:05:13,855
I remember when we were
in 9th grade,
96
00:05:13,980 --> 00:05:16,399
we were close in weight,
and then two years later,
97
00:05:16,524 --> 00:05:19,194
he's in 11th grade and he's like
jacked to the gills.
98
00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:20,612
Crazy.
99
00:05:23,073 --> 00:05:24,406
I believe so.
I didn't--
100
00:05:24,407 --> 00:05:26,534
you know, again,
I wasn't in the room with him,
101
00:05:26,660 --> 00:05:28,495
but he blew up real fast.
102
00:05:29,537 --> 00:05:31,622
He was one of the top
wrestlers at the time
103
00:05:31,623 --> 00:05:33,583
in Nassau County, as I was.
104
00:05:34,793 --> 00:05:36,543
Phil and Jay
enrol together
105
00:05:36,544 --> 00:05:38,838
at Long Island's
Nassau Community College,
106
00:05:38,963 --> 00:05:40,882
where they become
competitive amateur wrestlers
107
00:05:41,007 --> 00:05:42,674
at the national level.
108
00:05:42,675 --> 00:05:45,928
Phil also enters some
bodybuilding competitions
109
00:05:45,929 --> 00:05:49,557
while looking for more ways
to scratch the fighting itch.
110
00:05:49,682 --> 00:05:52,394
He was doing all types
of combat sports.
111
00:05:52,519 --> 00:05:55,646
Boxing. Toughman contests.
He was already competing.
112
00:05:55,647 --> 00:05:57,648
Oh!
113
00:05:57,649 --> 00:05:59,067
The Toughman Contest
114
00:05:59,192 --> 00:06:02,404
gives novice fighters a chance
to try their luck in the ring,
115
00:06:02,529 --> 00:06:05,239
and Phil's 4-0 record
as an amateur boxer
116
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,408
lands him a spot
in the competition.
117
00:06:07,409 --> 00:06:09,369
In a nationally televised match,
118
00:06:09,494 --> 00:06:12,038
his skills in the ring
are undeniable.
119
00:06:12,163 --> 00:06:15,250
Ow! Ooh...!
Oh!
120
00:06:15,375 --> 00:06:16,835
But when Phil
loses his scheduled
121
00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,460
semi-final fight,
122
00:06:18,461 --> 00:06:21,089
the 24-year-old turns
to his other passion:
123
00:06:21,214 --> 00:06:23,090
unscheduled fighting.
124
00:06:23,091 --> 00:06:25,093
And Baroni's...
Oh, look at Baroni!
125
00:06:25,218 --> 00:06:26,052
He's comin'
after him!
126
00:06:26,177 --> 00:06:27,345
Oh!
127
00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:39,314
He liked brash fighters
and guys that talk shit
128
00:06:39,315 --> 00:06:42,235
and showboaters,
and I think he played with that.
129
00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:43,653
Wow.
130
00:06:49,534 --> 00:06:52,995
Including the UFC's
new president, Dana White,
131
00:06:52,996 --> 00:06:55,415
who's looking for fighters
to jump-start a business
132
00:06:55,540 --> 00:06:56,790
on life support.
133
00:06:56,791 --> 00:06:58,585
We wanna make it
more fan-friendly,
134
00:06:58,710 --> 00:07:00,419
we wanna get the crowd
involved in it,
135
00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:03,131
and we wanna bring back
the best fighters in the world.
136
00:07:03,256 --> 00:07:04,298
White
and his partners,
137
00:07:04,299 --> 00:07:06,134
Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta,
138
00:07:06,259 --> 00:07:10,095
bought the flailing MMA
promotion in February of 2001
139
00:07:10,096 --> 00:07:12,806
and need to make a splash
with their premiere event
140
00:07:12,807 --> 00:07:17,019
at Donald Trump's Taj Mahal
Casino in Atlantic City.
141
00:07:17,020 --> 00:07:19,355
Phil gets added to the card.
142
00:07:19,356 --> 00:07:22,651
Phil Baroni!
143
00:07:22,776 --> 00:07:26,612
Facing off against
Muay Thai phenom Curtis Stout,
144
00:07:26,613 --> 00:07:31,451
Phil is making his UFC debut
not that far from his hometown.
145
00:07:31,576 --> 00:07:34,329
People who were
just, like, from Massapequa,
146
00:07:34,454 --> 00:07:36,246
like Long Island,
wanted to go
147
00:07:36,247 --> 00:07:39,166
because someone from their,
you know, area was fighting,
148
00:07:39,167 --> 00:07:40,126
and this was huge.
149
00:07:45,465 --> 00:07:48,510
The talking is over!
The walking will begin!
150
00:07:48,635 --> 00:07:51,178
Curtis Stout! Phil Baroni!
151
00:07:51,179 --> 00:07:54,556
It's a remarkable
debut for the young fighter.
152
00:07:54,557 --> 00:07:57,601
And Baroni
continues to punish him!
153
00:07:57,602 --> 00:07:59,853
Phil repeatedly
takes Stout down,
154
00:07:59,854 --> 00:08:03,774
punishing him with a ferocious
ground and pound attack.
155
00:08:03,775 --> 00:08:06,486
It was a fast fight.
He was a tough hitter.
156
00:08:06,611 --> 00:08:08,070
One of the best.
157
00:08:08,071 --> 00:08:10,406
Phil wins
his first UFC bout
158
00:08:10,407 --> 00:08:12,074
by unanimous decision.
159
00:08:12,075 --> 00:08:15,035
Phil Baroni!
160
00:08:16,579 --> 00:08:18,832
I was screaming
and screaming.
161
00:08:18,957 --> 00:08:20,041
I had no voice left.
162
00:08:20,166 --> 00:08:23,085
And I remember just looking
behind me and looking up
163
00:08:23,086 --> 00:08:25,546
and going, "Oh, my God."
164
00:08:25,547 --> 00:08:27,215
"I can't believe it.
This is it."
165
00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:28,966
Disappointed you didn't
get the knockout?
166
00:08:28,967 --> 00:08:31,845
Yeah, I like to knock
people out for the fans.
167
00:08:34,639 --> 00:08:38,225
But months later,
at UFC 34 in Vegas...
168
00:08:38,226 --> 00:08:39,393
Let's get it on!
169
00:08:39,394 --> 00:08:40,854
Oh, I like it!
170
00:08:40,979 --> 00:08:43,857
...Phil's brief time
as an undefeated UFC fighter...
171
00:08:43,982 --> 00:08:46,734
Baroni's in
a bad position at this time.
172
00:08:46,735 --> 00:08:47,902
...ends with a loss
173
00:08:48,028 --> 00:08:50,196
to Olympic wrestler
Matt Lindland.
174
00:08:51,948 --> 00:08:54,701
It takes just two fights
for Phil's fellow fighters
175
00:08:54,826 --> 00:08:56,077
to learn how his mental state
176
00:08:56,202 --> 00:09:01,165
can affect his performance
in and out of the cage.
177
00:09:01,166 --> 00:09:03,043
Phil just had an edge
about him, period.
178
00:09:03,168 --> 00:09:06,086
Didn't matter if it was
another fighter or a friend.
179
00:09:06,087 --> 00:09:08,882
I'm Josh Thomson, the former
Strikeforce world champion,
180
00:09:09,007 --> 00:09:11,217
one of the pioneers
of the sport of MMA.
181
00:09:12,844 --> 00:09:14,678
There was a time
we were sparring,
182
00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:16,430
and he was getting ready
for a fight
183
00:09:16,431 --> 00:09:17,931
against a guy who moved a lot.
184
00:09:17,932 --> 00:09:20,642
When I went in to spar with him,
he's calling me a pussy,
185
00:09:20,643 --> 00:09:22,144
he's like,
"You won't stand with me."
186
00:09:22,145 --> 00:09:24,480
And I'm like,
"Your guy that you're fighting
187
00:09:24,481 --> 00:09:26,107
"is not gonna
fight you that way.
188
00:09:26,232 --> 00:09:27,691
"You gotta get to me."
189
00:09:27,692 --> 00:09:29,318
And finally
he throws the gloves off
190
00:09:29,319 --> 00:09:31,237
and just rushes at me.
191
00:09:31,363 --> 00:09:32,863
And we just start throwing down.
192
00:09:32,864 --> 00:09:35,657
People jump in the ring,
separate us.
193
00:09:35,658 --> 00:09:38,578
Coaches tell us go cool off,
take a shower, get changed.
194
00:09:39,913 --> 00:09:41,789
Later, Phil's like,
"Hey, man, I'm sorry."
195
00:09:41,790 --> 00:09:44,250
I'm like, "Yeah, I get it, man.
No worries."
196
00:09:44,376 --> 00:09:47,087
But that, to me, was one of
the most telltale signs
197
00:09:47,212 --> 00:09:51,800
of, like, Phil was somebody that
his anger got the better of him.
198
00:09:51,925 --> 00:09:53,467
But can
he keep it together
199
00:09:53,468 --> 00:09:56,638
to earn a much-needed victory?
200
00:09:56,763 --> 00:10:00,642
With many UFC careers fizzling
after an early spark...
201
00:10:01,434 --> 00:10:06,313
Phil enters the cage at UFC 39
in Uncasville, Connecticut,
202
00:10:06,314 --> 00:10:08,524
determined to be unforgettable,
203
00:10:08,525 --> 00:10:10,609
sporting a new look
and nickname.
204
00:10:10,610 --> 00:10:14,697
The New York
Bad Ass!
205
00:10:14,698 --> 00:10:16,783
I'm seeing
my brother walk out
206
00:10:16,908 --> 00:10:19,743
with his robe and the music
and dancing.
207
00:10:19,744 --> 00:10:21,912
We were like, "Oh, my God."
208
00:10:21,913 --> 00:10:23,831
I do remember
watching him.
209
00:10:23,832 --> 00:10:26,167
I thought to myself,
"This is lame."
210
00:10:26,292 --> 00:10:28,585
Like, we're here to fight.
211
00:10:28,586 --> 00:10:30,838
We didn't quite wrap our heads
around the fact
212
00:10:30,839 --> 00:10:32,840
that this was
the entertainment business.
213
00:10:32,841 --> 00:10:34,676
And you can see it now,
where the sport is.
214
00:10:34,801 --> 00:10:36,344
He was ahead of his time.
215
00:10:36,469 --> 00:10:37,761
I was fuckin'
cheering him on,
216
00:10:37,762 --> 00:10:39,347
like, "Let's go," you know?
217
00:10:39,472 --> 00:10:40,932
I felt like that was
a great character.
218
00:10:41,057 --> 00:10:42,892
"New York Bad Ass."
Come on, man.
219
00:10:53,403 --> 00:10:54,529
The fight itself,
220
00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:57,865
against 28-year-old
Minnesotan Dave Menne,
221
00:10:57,866 --> 00:11:00,659
shows just how tough
Phil can be in the cage.
222
00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,161
And here we go!
223
00:11:02,162 --> 00:11:04,830
Phil came right across
the cage and touched him
224
00:11:04,831 --> 00:11:07,374
with some big shots,
and Dave got rocked.
225
00:11:07,375 --> 00:11:09,043
His body was against the fence,
226
00:11:09,044 --> 00:11:11,337
but Phil just unleashed
a barrage of punches.
227
00:11:11,463 --> 00:11:13,130
...finish it!
And it's over!
228
00:11:13,131 --> 00:11:14,382
And it's all over!
229
00:11:14,507 --> 00:11:15,966
Those punches
were coming so fast
230
00:11:15,967 --> 00:11:17,177
it was holding Dave Menne up.
231
00:11:17,302 --> 00:11:20,638
10, 12, 15 shots,
all within a five-second period.
232
00:11:22,015 --> 00:11:23,350
One of the most
vicious knockouts
233
00:11:23,475 --> 00:11:24,851
I think I've ever seen.
234
00:11:29,105 --> 00:11:30,105
I'm the best ever!
235
00:11:35,653 --> 00:11:38,030
"I'm the best ever."
You know, it was classic.
236
00:11:38,031 --> 00:11:40,449
He was comin' up.
He was on a hot streak.
237
00:11:40,450 --> 00:11:41,618
- Hey, Mom.
- Oh, my!
238
00:11:43,161 --> 00:11:46,081
He had that charisma.
Good-lookin' dude.
239
00:11:46,206 --> 00:11:48,875
He'll go out and finish guys
in exciting fights.
240
00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,043
Sharp on the mic.
He could talk.
241
00:11:51,044 --> 00:11:52,795
Line 'em up,
I'm gonna knock 'em down.
242
00:11:52,796 --> 00:11:54,089
Dana White liked that.
243
00:11:54,214 --> 00:11:56,673
He's like looking at this guy
like, "Oh, I can market this.
244
00:11:56,674 --> 00:11:58,300
"We could put some money
behind this guy
245
00:11:58,301 --> 00:12:01,637
"and he can sell tickets,
put butts in the seat."
246
00:12:01,638 --> 00:12:04,139
For us,
at the time of MMA,
247
00:12:04,140 --> 00:12:07,852
we needed somebody like him
because we needed the bad guy.
248
00:12:11,648 --> 00:12:13,816
You been working with
some boxers; it shows.
249
00:12:13,817 --> 00:12:15,235
Talk to me, man.
- Hey, hey, relax, relax.
250
00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,237
No one wants to hear
what you gotta say.
251
00:12:20,156 --> 00:12:21,783
He was like
the Conor McGregor
252
00:12:21,908 --> 00:12:23,368
before the Conor McGregor.
253
00:12:23,493 --> 00:12:24,702
After the Dave Menne fight,
254
00:12:24,703 --> 00:12:26,162
Phil was an automatic star.
255
00:12:27,163 --> 00:12:29,498
He was
on covers of magazines.
256
00:12:29,499 --> 00:12:31,750
There was billboards
of him in Vegas.
257
00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:33,795
He was in the video game.
258
00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,381
The New York
Bad Ass!
259
00:12:37,382 --> 00:12:39,466
And he was on the cover.
260
00:12:39,467 --> 00:12:41,052
I mean, it was incredible.
261
00:12:42,762 --> 00:12:44,013
But soon,
the self-proclaimed
262
00:12:44,014 --> 00:12:45,807
New York Bad Ass begins,
263
00:12:45,932 --> 00:12:48,892
as they say in his first love,
professional wrestling,
264
00:12:48,893 --> 00:12:51,311
to live his gimmick.
265
00:12:51,312 --> 00:12:55,274
And that will lead
to a still-ongoing tragedy.
266
00:12:55,275 --> 00:12:58,319
I think maybe Phil had a little
more crazy than most of us do.
267
00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,113
Whoa!
There it is! There it is!
268
00:13:00,238 --> 00:13:02,364
He was a little
more untethered.
269
00:13:02,365 --> 00:13:03,866
He would lose control of it
270
00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:05,826
and then have trouble
kinda reeling it back in.
271
00:13:05,827 --> 00:13:07,244
Fuckin' relax, Phil!
272
00:13:07,245 --> 00:13:09,079
And that's
a recipe for disaster.
273
00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:10,873
Yeah,
Baroni's in trouble.
274
00:13:10,874 --> 00:13:12,208
He is totally exhausted.
275
00:13:16,838 --> 00:13:18,298
the.
276
00:13:18,423 --> 00:13:20,008
Baroni gets up.
277
00:13:20,133 --> 00:13:21,592
In less
than two years,
278
00:13:21,593 --> 00:13:25,013
Phil Baroni has gone from
an unknown guy from Massapequa
279
00:13:25,138 --> 00:13:26,930
who likes to fight...
280
00:13:26,931 --> 00:13:28,850
to an up-and-comer in the UFC
281
00:13:28,975 --> 00:13:31,394
nicknamed
"The New York Bad Ass."
282
00:13:37,067 --> 00:13:39,903
Phil Baroni...
is victorious!
283
00:13:41,196 --> 00:13:43,280
I think
what people don't realize,
284
00:13:43,281 --> 00:13:46,533
he was on the cover of these
magazines and on billboards,
285
00:13:46,534 --> 00:13:47,702
but he didn't have any money.
286
00:13:47,827 --> 00:13:49,746
So, I think that was hard.
287
00:13:49,871 --> 00:13:50,997
That was hard for him.
288
00:14:03,051 --> 00:14:05,260
While Phil navigates
financial frustrations
289
00:14:05,261 --> 00:14:07,763
with his newfound
stardom in the UFC,
290
00:14:07,764 --> 00:14:09,723
his long-time girlfriend
Michelle
291
00:14:09,724 --> 00:14:11,851
rewards him with some stability.
292
00:14:11,976 --> 00:14:14,687
He also picks up admirers
in the fight world,
293
00:14:14,813 --> 00:14:18,065
including a young
MMA promoter in Hawaii.
294
00:14:18,066 --> 00:14:21,485
When I first met Phil,
I think I met the character.
295
00:14:21,486 --> 00:14:23,362
I met The New York Bad Ass.
296
00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:27,157
But that actually
faded pretty quickly.
297
00:14:27,158 --> 00:14:29,536
We ended up developing
a pretty good friendship.
298
00:14:30,954 --> 00:14:32,080
My name is Rich Chou.
299
00:14:32,205 --> 00:14:34,498
I've been in the fight business
for over 20 years,
300
00:14:34,499 --> 00:14:35,959
most notably as a matchmaker.
301
00:14:37,752 --> 00:14:42,424
Phil was a major part of making
some really big introductions,
302
00:14:42,549 --> 00:14:44,467
opening doors for me.
303
00:14:44,592 --> 00:14:47,553
I recall just going with Phil
to the UFC offices,
304
00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:51,015
going to meet Dana,
and I could tell very early on
305
00:14:51,141 --> 00:14:53,685
that Dana was a big fan
of Phil's.
306
00:14:53,810 --> 00:14:56,103
And I think they really
wanted him to succeed.
307
00:14:56,104 --> 00:14:58,773
Phil had kind of
a rocky start in the UFC.
308
00:14:58,898 --> 00:15:00,190
Nobody was happier than me
309
00:15:00,191 --> 00:15:01,943
to see that he got
his head together,
310
00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:04,445
um, as much as
Phil possibly can, and uh...
311
00:15:06,239 --> 00:15:10,034
He just had to do his part
and win the big one.
312
00:15:10,035 --> 00:15:11,660
But first,
Phil has to beat
313
00:15:11,661 --> 00:15:13,121
one of his chief rivals.
314
00:15:13,246 --> 00:15:17,500
In 2003, at UFC 41,
he's back in Atlantic City,
315
00:15:17,625 --> 00:15:19,793
battling the fighter
that delivered Phil
316
00:15:19,794 --> 00:15:22,464
his first UFC loss.
317
00:15:22,589 --> 00:15:23,839
I'm Matt Lindland.
318
00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:25,215
I was an Olympic
silver medallist
319
00:15:25,216 --> 00:15:26,967
in the Sydney games in 2000.
320
00:15:26,968 --> 00:15:29,137
I fought Phil Baroni two times.
321
00:15:29,262 --> 00:15:31,889
Oh, I knew the kid
had heavy hands!
322
00:15:31,890 --> 00:15:35,392
He got one in on me
that really rang my bell.
323
00:15:35,393 --> 00:15:38,312
Baroni, continuing
to pound away at Lindland!
324
00:15:38,313 --> 00:15:40,564
Phil had him hurt,
but he just couldn't finish him.
325
00:15:40,565 --> 00:15:41,482
He ran out of gas.
326
00:15:41,483 --> 00:15:43,192
Ah,
looking for the takedown!
327
00:15:43,193 --> 00:15:44,986
And Lindland takes him down!
328
00:15:45,111 --> 00:15:48,822
I was landing
vicious elbows, big punches.
329
00:15:48,823 --> 00:15:51,242
I really did a lot of damage.
330
00:15:51,368 --> 00:15:52,869
Baroni's gassed.
He's exhausted.
331
00:15:52,994 --> 00:15:54,079
Yes, he is.
332
00:15:54,204 --> 00:15:55,913
When a battered
and bruised Phil
333
00:15:55,914 --> 00:15:58,123
fails to win the decision...
334
00:15:58,124 --> 00:15:59,917
The winner...
335
00:15:59,918 --> 00:16:02,379
Matt "The Law"...!
336
00:16:02,504 --> 00:16:04,171
...it's everyone
close to him
337
00:16:04,172 --> 00:16:06,424
that ends up losing.
338
00:16:06,549 --> 00:16:09,386
When things didn't go the way
they were supposed to,
339
00:16:09,511 --> 00:16:12,346
Phil had these tremendous
mood swings.
340
00:16:12,347 --> 00:16:15,099
At times,
he would just freak out.
341
00:16:15,100 --> 00:16:16,768
Michelle was there as well.
342
00:16:16,893 --> 00:16:18,853
She definitely
took the brunt of it.
343
00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:21,021
And then that would pass,
344
00:16:21,022 --> 00:16:22,773
and he'd go
and do something really nice.
345
00:16:22,774 --> 00:16:24,400
"Hey, let me
take you out to dinner."
346
00:16:24,401 --> 00:16:26,276
He would just pretend
like it didn't happen.
347
00:16:26,277 --> 00:16:29,072
That was kind of the cycle
of being around him.
348
00:16:31,741 --> 00:16:35,703
But the UFC remains
in the Phil Baroni business.
349
00:16:35,704 --> 00:16:39,332
In November of 2003, at UFC 45,
350
00:16:39,457 --> 00:16:41,959
Dana White gives Phil
another shot,
351
00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,003
this time against
veteran fighter Evan Tanner.
352
00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:46,880
Baroni!
by Baroni.
353
00:16:46,881 --> 00:16:48,215
He caught him
already!
354
00:16:48,216 --> 00:16:51,052
He caught him already, and he's
trying to go in for the finish!
355
00:16:51,177 --> 00:16:52,678
But in
the first round...
356
00:16:52,679 --> 00:16:54,055
Big elbows!
357
00:16:54,180 --> 00:16:56,890
...it looks like
Tanner has scored a TKO.
358
00:16:56,891 --> 00:16:59,727
But Phil won't accept defeat.
359
00:16:59,728 --> 00:17:00,894
The ref stopped it,
360
00:17:00,895 --> 00:17:03,647
and Phil started swinging
at the referee at the time.
361
00:17:03,648 --> 00:17:05,942
And I recall Dana pulling him
aside, calming him down,
362
00:17:06,067 --> 00:17:07,277
knowing, "This is bad."
363
00:17:11,239 --> 00:17:14,367
Phil later claims
the referee had made a mistake.
364
00:17:14,492 --> 00:17:16,452
I wanted to continue.
I was trying to express
365
00:17:16,453 --> 00:17:18,328
to the referee
I wanted to continue.
366
00:17:18,329 --> 00:17:20,581
He took it the wrong way
and stopped the fight.
367
00:17:20,582 --> 00:17:23,250
The UFC backs
their ref by suspending Phil
368
00:17:23,251 --> 00:17:26,046
from the cage for four months.
369
00:17:28,298 --> 00:17:31,258
But sensing the financial
potential in a rematch,
370
00:17:31,259 --> 00:17:33,886
Dana books Phil
to fight Tanner again,
371
00:17:33,887 --> 00:17:37,181
just a few months after
Phil's suspension is lifted.
372
00:17:37,182 --> 00:17:39,808
Oh!
Tanner takes the punch!
373
00:17:39,809 --> 00:17:41,268
Goes for the takedown!
374
00:17:41,269 --> 00:17:43,771
This time,
Phil makes it three rounds
375
00:17:43,772 --> 00:17:45,398
before getting beat again.
376
00:17:45,523 --> 00:17:48,192
Evan Tanner
is going to win this match-up
377
00:17:48,193 --> 00:17:49,318
against Phil Baroni.
378
00:17:50,862 --> 00:17:52,613
Wow.
379
00:17:52,614 --> 00:17:54,657
We all wanted this
so bad for him.
380
00:17:54,783 --> 00:17:58,620
It broke my heart every time
he couldn't win those big ones.
381
00:17:58,745 --> 00:18:00,662
Then he loses
a not-so-big one
382
00:18:00,663 --> 00:18:04,124
against 22-year-old newcomer
Pete Sell.
383
00:18:04,125 --> 00:18:07,044
...pulls off
an unbelievable upset!
384
00:18:07,045 --> 00:18:09,004
And
The New York Bad Ass
385
00:18:09,005 --> 00:18:11,131
is officially released
by the UFC.
386
00:18:11,132 --> 00:18:12,342
Wow!
387
00:18:14,427 --> 00:18:16,303
Phil had a relationship
with Dana White.
388
00:18:16,304 --> 00:18:18,514
He felt like he was
a pioneer of the sport,
389
00:18:18,515 --> 00:18:20,766
so it really affected him
when he got released.
390
00:18:20,767 --> 00:18:23,477
My name's Ken Pavia,
and I was Phil Baroni's agent
391
00:18:23,478 --> 00:18:25,854
for the majority of his career.
392
00:18:25,855 --> 00:18:28,023
The UFC said they were
doing it to make sure
393
00:18:28,024 --> 00:18:29,317
Phil didn't get hurt,
394
00:18:29,442 --> 00:18:31,443
because he was taking
a lot of abuse in his fights.
395
00:18:31,444 --> 00:18:33,321
What they didn't see
was the abuse he was taking
396
00:18:33,446 --> 00:18:35,365
in the gym, on top of it.
397
00:18:35,490 --> 00:18:40,077
Most MMA fighters at that level
spar and train at 50% to 70%.
398
00:18:40,078 --> 00:18:42,497
And when Phil sparred,
he went 110.
399
00:18:49,504 --> 00:18:51,547
The problem is that
when you're sparring with people
400
00:18:51,548 --> 00:18:54,091
at that level, they have the
ability to give it back to you.
401
00:18:54,092 --> 00:18:56,427
So, as a result,
a lot of what happened to Phil
402
00:18:56,428 --> 00:18:59,514
happened in the gym,
and getting his bell rung.
403
00:18:59,639 --> 00:19:01,974
He just had such an ego
and couldn't let somebody
404
00:19:01,975 --> 00:19:03,143
get the better of him.
405
00:19:04,853 --> 00:19:07,021
The physical abuse
to Phil's body
406
00:19:07,022 --> 00:19:09,566
doesn't just happen in the gym.
407
00:19:09,691 --> 00:19:12,651
When he was depressed,
he'd drink too much,
408
00:19:12,652 --> 00:19:13,653
he'd binge eat,
409
00:19:13,778 --> 00:19:16,572
but I saw him for
the potential of who he was,
410
00:19:16,573 --> 00:19:18,866
and I believed in him
at the time.
411
00:19:18,867 --> 00:19:20,702
So do some of
his fellow fighters,
412
00:19:20,827 --> 00:19:22,495
including an MMA legend
413
00:19:22,620 --> 00:19:25,205
who runs into Phil shortly after
the surprising loss
414
00:19:25,206 --> 00:19:27,250
to Pete Sell.
415
00:19:27,375 --> 00:19:29,752
Phil trained pretty much
at every gym there is out there
416
00:19:29,753 --> 00:19:33,297
in Vegas, basically because
he got kicked out of every one.
417
00:19:33,298 --> 00:19:35,175
Nobody would
put up with his shit,
418
00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:37,385
and basically he wasn't
welcome anywhere.
419
00:19:38,470 --> 00:19:41,221
I am Mark "The Hammer" Coleman.
420
00:19:41,222 --> 00:19:43,557
I was UFC heavyweight champion,
421
00:19:43,558 --> 00:19:45,393
PRIDE Grand Prix champion,
422
00:19:45,518 --> 00:19:48,146
and I met Phil
"The New York Bad Ass" Baroni
423
00:19:48,271 --> 00:19:50,522
through the fighting days.
424
00:19:50,523 --> 00:19:54,277
So, at the time, he happened to
be welcome in Marc Laimon's gym,
425
00:19:54,402 --> 00:19:56,653
and I happened to be
training in there.
426
00:19:56,654 --> 00:19:58,655
He was just
sitting at the table,
427
00:19:58,656 --> 00:20:00,491
doing nothing
the whole practice,
428
00:20:00,492 --> 00:20:02,577
so I just said,
"How's it goin' there?"
429
00:20:02,702 --> 00:20:05,997
He's like, "It's horrible.
Life sucks.
430
00:20:06,122 --> 00:20:08,415
"The UFC cut me."
431
00:20:08,416 --> 00:20:10,959
I go, "Well, what are you doin'
just sittin' here mopin'?"
432
00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:12,086
You know what I mean?
433
00:20:12,087 --> 00:20:14,630
I said, "I can get you a fight
over there in Japan."
434
00:20:14,631 --> 00:20:16,883
That's how it started
with me and him.
435
00:20:18,009 --> 00:20:19,259
Phil was
a reclamation project.
436
00:20:19,260 --> 00:20:21,304
I knew that we could
make him a champion again.
437
00:20:21,429 --> 00:20:24,014
We could get him some wins,
and that's why we went to Japan,
438
00:20:24,015 --> 00:20:25,307
to try to do that.
439
00:20:25,308 --> 00:20:26,600
Getting Phil added
to Japan's
440
00:20:26,601 --> 00:20:29,729
PRIDE Fighting Championships
proves to be the easy part.
441
00:20:33,733 --> 00:20:35,986
The challenge is integrating
the self-proclaimed
442
00:20:36,111 --> 00:20:37,654
"Bad Ass from New York"
443
00:20:37,779 --> 00:20:41,616
into Hammer House,
Mark Coleman's team of fighters.
444
00:20:41,741 --> 00:20:45,245
I found out real quick
he was a tough, tough character.
445
00:20:46,579 --> 00:20:50,040
I'm a hands-on type coach,
so I do a lot of yelling.
446
00:20:50,041 --> 00:20:53,544
So, first day
he looked up and said,
447
00:20:53,545 --> 00:20:56,463
"Do you ever shut the fuck up?"
448
00:20:56,464 --> 00:20:58,800
He goes, "Shut up!"
449
00:20:58,925 --> 00:21:01,552
This guy was a prick.
450
00:21:01,553 --> 00:21:03,930
Just angry, mean, ungrateful.
451
00:21:05,140 --> 00:21:07,850
I had people at the gym
come up to me, and they're like,
452
00:21:07,851 --> 00:21:09,935
"You know, why do you
put up with that shit?"
453
00:21:09,936 --> 00:21:13,106
I'm like, "I don't give a shit.
It's business, man.
454
00:21:13,231 --> 00:21:14,941
"I'm gonna get this guy ready."
455
00:21:15,066 --> 00:21:16,191
Whoa!
456
00:21:16,192 --> 00:21:18,736
...in a bar
just swinging for the fences!
457
00:21:18,737 --> 00:21:19,820
Oh, nice!
458
00:21:19,821 --> 00:21:22,531
But he put it together,
and he pulled off
459
00:21:22,532 --> 00:21:25,493
one hell of a Rocky-style
type fight.
460
00:21:25,618 --> 00:21:27,327
It's like
a Rocky movie now!
461
00:21:27,328 --> 00:21:29,496
Phil was really prepared
for that fight
462
00:21:29,497 --> 00:21:31,498
and went out there
and they just had a war.
463
00:21:31,499 --> 00:21:33,834
The fans, screaming!
464
00:21:33,835 --> 00:21:35,544
Fans loved it,
and it kind of
465
00:21:35,545 --> 00:21:37,087
made Phil a legend in Japan.
466
00:21:37,088 --> 00:21:38,881
It sort of rejuvenated
his career.
467
00:21:38,882 --> 00:21:41,550
Baroni!
Finally goes down!
468
00:21:41,551 --> 00:21:44,428
There's a kick! Another kick!
Another kick! Another...
469
00:21:44,429 --> 00:21:46,180
All of a sudden,
Phil Baroni,
470
00:21:46,181 --> 00:21:48,891
he's pretty happy again
with life.
471
00:21:48,892 --> 00:21:50,977
You wanna go
toe-to-toe with me?
472
00:21:51,102 --> 00:21:52,853
Chin for chin, punch for punch?
473
00:21:52,854 --> 00:21:54,355
You're fuckin' dead.
474
00:21:54,356 --> 00:21:56,190
See that?
You're fuckin' dead.
475
00:21:56,191 --> 00:21:59,234
But it didn't last long.
476
00:21:59,235 --> 00:22:01,071
By the next day
I got around there,
477
00:22:01,196 --> 00:22:02,489
he's already bitchin'
and complainin',
478
00:22:02,614 --> 00:22:05,617
and feeling like he's the man.
479
00:22:05,742 --> 00:22:07,994
You know what I mean?
He's the man now.
480
00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,120
But... you're just another man.
481
00:22:10,121 --> 00:22:11,664
You're not the man, Phil.
482
00:22:13,208 --> 00:22:14,334
Phil is soon informed
483
00:22:14,459 --> 00:22:16,835
he's also just
another man to the woman
484
00:22:16,836 --> 00:22:20,047
he's living with back home
in Las Vegas.
485
00:22:20,048 --> 00:22:22,883
When Phil fought in PRIDE,
his girlfriend at the time
486
00:22:22,884 --> 00:22:25,345
told him, "I sold everything,
I'm leaving you,
487
00:22:25,470 --> 00:22:27,180
"I'm done with you."
488
00:22:27,889 --> 00:22:31,058
PRIDE Fighting
Championships is also done.
489
00:22:31,059 --> 00:22:33,353
Following an investigation
into its connection
490
00:22:33,478 --> 00:22:35,270
to organized crime,
491
00:22:35,271 --> 00:22:38,066
PRIDE loses
its main broadcaster,
492
00:22:38,191 --> 00:22:43,154
so Phil is forced to return
to the much-less-hospitable US.
493
00:22:43,947 --> 00:22:46,990
We sat down in a hotel lobby,
and I watched him eat about
494
00:22:46,991 --> 00:22:49,868
literally ten
ice cream sandwiches in a row.
495
00:22:49,869 --> 00:22:52,414
And I go, "What are you doing?"
and he says, "I'm depressed."
496
00:22:52,539 --> 00:22:55,082
He had an eating issue,
and he wasn't himself.
497
00:22:58,044 --> 00:23:00,921
But there's
a new MMA player back home.
498
00:23:00,922 --> 00:23:04,133
American kickboxing
organization Strikeforce
499
00:23:04,134 --> 00:23:07,636
has recently expanded
into mixed martial arts.
500
00:23:07,637 --> 00:23:09,054
Good knee,
good knee...
501
00:23:09,055 --> 00:23:11,433
The promotion
needs an exciting challenger
502
00:23:11,558 --> 00:23:14,768
to fight one of MMA's
legendary stars.
503
00:23:14,769 --> 00:23:19,107
Frank
"The Legend"... Shamrock!
504
00:23:20,984 --> 00:23:23,278
There was some buzz
for Strikeforce to have
505
00:23:23,403 --> 00:23:25,779
Phil Baroni
and Frank Shamrock fight.
506
00:23:25,780 --> 00:23:28,657
All fighters require
their own source of motivation.
507
00:23:28,658 --> 00:23:31,243
Fuelling Frank Shamrock
and Phil Baroni?
508
00:23:31,244 --> 00:23:32,495
Mutual hatred.
509
00:23:34,581 --> 00:23:35,622
Beating Shamrock
510
00:23:35,623 --> 00:23:38,460
is Phil's most likely road
back to the UFC,
511
00:23:38,585 --> 00:23:41,463
but despite his recent
successes in Japan,
512
00:23:41,588 --> 00:23:43,339
the Baroni camp is worried
513
00:23:43,465 --> 00:23:46,468
Phil may not be the fighter
he once was.
514
00:23:46,593 --> 00:23:48,887
I definitely started
noticing some signs
515
00:23:49,012 --> 00:23:51,055
that something was going on
with my brother's health.
516
00:23:51,056 --> 00:23:53,307
More aggression than normal.
517
00:23:53,308 --> 00:23:55,977
Mood swings happen more often.
518
00:23:56,102 --> 00:23:57,603
Slurring of the speech.
519
00:23:57,604 --> 00:23:58,897
I'm comin'.
520
00:23:59,022 --> 00:24:01,315
Guns a blazin', you know,
from the bell, I'm gonna--
521
00:24:01,316 --> 00:24:03,067
I'm gonna push
the fuckin' pace on him,
522
00:24:03,068 --> 00:24:04,486
and then knock him the fuck out.
523
00:24:04,611 --> 00:24:06,653
When I saw him sparring,
524
00:24:06,654 --> 00:24:10,240
he was getting hit with shots
that he shouldn't get hit with.
525
00:24:10,241 --> 00:24:13,495
And I'm like, "Dude, you're
gonna have no brain left.
526
00:24:13,620 --> 00:24:15,287
"It's gonna be mush."
527
00:24:15,288 --> 00:24:17,332
As Phil prepares
to step into the cage
528
00:24:17,457 --> 00:24:19,166
for the fight of his life,
529
00:24:19,167 --> 00:24:23,046
the pressure to win pushes him
to put that life in jeopardy.
530
00:24:24,464 --> 00:24:26,383
Old school
versus new school!
531
00:24:27,967 --> 00:24:28,885
Oh, my God!
532
00:24:33,890 --> 00:24:38,311
this one is personal.ake,
533
00:24:38,436 --> 00:24:41,064
Two years after
getting cut by the UFC,
534
00:24:41,189 --> 00:24:42,856
31-year-old Phil Baroni
535
00:24:42,857 --> 00:24:45,442
is getting a shot
to silence his doubters
536
00:24:45,443 --> 00:24:47,486
in a sold-out pay-per-view fight
537
00:24:47,487 --> 00:24:50,864
against MMA legend
Frank Shamrock.
538
00:24:50,865 --> 00:24:52,158
I know you're listening
to this, brother.
539
00:24:52,283 --> 00:24:54,202
Gonna beat the fuck outta you
for five rounds.
540
00:25:06,214 --> 00:25:08,882
He knew that he could
write his own ticket
541
00:25:08,883 --> 00:25:10,634
for the rest
of his fighting career
542
00:25:10,635 --> 00:25:12,052
with a win over Frank Shamrock.
543
00:25:12,053 --> 00:25:13,972
I grew up watching
Frank Shamrock.
544
00:25:14,097 --> 00:25:16,307
I know him better than he does,
better than his wife.
545
00:25:17,934 --> 00:25:19,226
Outside of the cage,
546
00:25:19,227 --> 00:25:23,648
Phil's personal life also
appears to be back on track.
547
00:25:23,773 --> 00:25:25,774
He stayed with me
for a couple years,
548
00:25:25,775 --> 00:25:27,485
and then that's
when he met his wife.
549
00:25:27,610 --> 00:25:29,028
And then they got married,
550
00:25:29,029 --> 00:25:30,904
and I was
in the wedding for that.
551
00:25:30,905 --> 00:25:33,408
Now, as Phil prepares
to take on Shamrock,
552
00:25:33,533 --> 00:25:37,162
fellow fighter Josh Thomson
is taking over Phil's training.
553
00:25:38,496 --> 00:25:40,749
Sparring on Mondays,
wrestling on Tuesdays,
554
00:25:40,874 --> 00:25:42,833
sparring on Wednesdays--
555
00:25:42,834 --> 00:25:46,004
we got him into a routine
which other gyms couldn't do.
556
00:25:46,129 --> 00:25:48,590
But, like with
Mark Coleman in Japan,
557
00:25:48,715 --> 00:25:50,550
Phil doesn't want
to follow the routine
558
00:25:50,675 --> 00:25:53,011
Josh believes he needs.
559
00:25:54,137 --> 00:25:57,390
Phil don't like authority,
or somebody telling you,
560
00:25:57,515 --> 00:25:58,724
"Hey, man,
do this, do that."
561
00:25:58,725 --> 00:26:00,684
And, you know,
he didn't do well with that.
562
00:26:00,685 --> 00:26:02,853
So, Phil's open
to Jay's suggestion.
563
00:26:02,854 --> 00:26:05,105
He switched to Xtreme Couture,
564
00:26:05,106 --> 00:26:08,193
a new gym in Las Vegas
run by an MMA superstar.
565
00:26:09,611 --> 00:26:12,321
I'm Randy Couture,
six-time MMA champion,
566
00:26:12,322 --> 00:26:15,033
and a long-time training partner
and friend to Phil Baroni.
567
00:26:16,701 --> 00:26:18,118
Jay comes to me and he's like,
568
00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,245
"Hey, man, Phil Baroni
really wants to train with us."
569
00:26:20,246 --> 00:26:23,416
I said, "Man, I've heard a lot
of negative stuff about Phil,
570
00:26:23,541 --> 00:26:24,875
"and I don't want
any problems here.
571
00:26:24,876 --> 00:26:26,795
"We're just opening this place."
572
00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:28,295
Randy trusts me
like a brother.
573
00:26:28,296 --> 00:26:29,713
"Listen, this guy's good.
574
00:26:29,714 --> 00:26:31,215
"He ain't gonna cause
a problem here.
575
00:26:31,216 --> 00:26:34,176
"He's my dude.
I grew up with him."
576
00:26:34,177 --> 00:26:37,012
So, Phil came in, we sat down
in the office and I said,
577
00:26:37,013 --> 00:26:39,098
"Man, I know you want
to be part of the gym.
578
00:26:39,099 --> 00:26:40,182
"I'll let you train here,
579
00:26:40,183 --> 00:26:42,518
"but if there's any drama at all
you're gone."
580
00:26:42,519 --> 00:26:44,062
And that was it.
He came through.
581
00:26:45,355 --> 00:26:46,314
No idea.
582
00:26:47,649 --> 00:26:48,941
When you break up
your camps,
583
00:26:48,942 --> 00:26:50,068
you don't have a routine,
584
00:26:50,193 --> 00:26:53,070
it felt like, to us, he couldn't
get out of his own way.
585
00:26:53,071 --> 00:26:55,365
And it was very difficult
for me to watch him do this.
586
00:26:58,201 --> 00:27:00,160
A month before
the Shamrock fight,
587
00:27:00,161 --> 00:27:02,664
Phil publicly erupts again,
588
00:27:02,789 --> 00:27:05,833
putting more than just
his title shot in jeopardy.
589
00:27:05,834 --> 00:27:07,251
He was on a promo tour,
590
00:27:07,252 --> 00:27:08,585
and it was in Miami,
591
00:27:08,586 --> 00:27:11,131
and he was with his wife
at South Beach.
592
00:27:11,256 --> 00:27:12,799
The stress was so big
and so intense,
593
00:27:12,924 --> 00:27:14,676
he was yelling at her.
594
00:27:14,801 --> 00:27:17,636
And two really big gang members
walked by,
595
00:27:17,637 --> 00:27:19,931
and said something to him like
"Don't yell at your woman."
596
00:27:20,056 --> 00:27:22,182
And Phil just snapped,
and he jumped over,
597
00:27:22,183 --> 00:27:25,018
and beat the living daylights
out of these two gang members.
598
00:27:25,019 --> 00:27:26,479
And he got arrested for it.
599
00:27:26,604 --> 00:27:27,981
The charges were
eventually dropped,
600
00:27:28,106 --> 00:27:30,566
but I'm thinking,
"Are we doing the right thing?
601
00:27:30,567 --> 00:27:31,985
"He's gonna snap.
602
00:27:32,110 --> 00:27:33,944
"He's in a dangerous place
right now."
603
00:27:33,945 --> 00:27:36,113
But there's
a bigger, unseen danger
604
00:27:36,114 --> 00:27:39,658
lurking inside Phil that could,
perhaps should,
605
00:27:39,659 --> 00:27:42,787
immediately end
his career in MMA.
606
00:27:42,912 --> 00:27:44,455
About a week out
from the fight,
607
00:27:44,456 --> 00:27:46,790
Phil had to do the medicals,
608
00:27:46,791 --> 00:27:49,918
and they required a brain scan,
609
00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:51,462
and the doctor didn't clear him.
610
00:27:51,463 --> 00:27:54,215
They said he was not
medically fit to fight MMA
611
00:27:54,340 --> 00:27:57,009
because of scarring
and calcification
612
00:27:57,010 --> 00:27:59,095
and spots on his brain.
613
00:27:59,220 --> 00:28:02,097
I told him, "We need to take
a step back and figure this out
614
00:28:02,098 --> 00:28:04,559
"and get some
professional help."
615
00:28:04,684 --> 00:28:06,060
And he said,
"There's absolutely no way
616
00:28:06,061 --> 00:28:07,394
"I'm not fighting Shamrock.
617
00:28:07,395 --> 00:28:09,688
"This is the moment that
I've waited for my entire life."
618
00:28:09,689 --> 00:28:12,067
And didn't take
no for an answer.
619
00:28:12,192 --> 00:28:14,819
He was gonna get all kinds of
testing and all kinds of work
620
00:28:14,944 --> 00:28:16,738
done after the fact,
and treat it,
621
00:28:16,863 --> 00:28:18,322
and be serious about it.
622
00:28:18,323 --> 00:28:20,157
We were there probably
for a good hour,
623
00:28:20,158 --> 00:28:22,410
and by the time we left,
the doctor signed off.
624
00:28:23,620 --> 00:28:26,414
Phil... Baroni!
625
00:28:28,291 --> 00:28:29,583
Phil comes up the ramp...
626
00:28:29,584 --> 00:28:32,169
He just had this aura
and this presence about him.
627
00:28:32,170 --> 00:28:34,881
This guy
loves the crowd!
628
00:28:35,006 --> 00:28:36,549
I just remember
seeing that live
629
00:28:36,674 --> 00:28:39,677
and just thinking,
"Wow, this might be his night."
630
00:28:39,678 --> 00:28:40,804
Frank Shamrock...
631
00:28:40,929 --> 00:28:43,555
But Frank Shamrock
sees things differently.
632
00:28:43,556 --> 00:28:46,309
...versus new school!
633
00:28:46,434 --> 00:28:47,477
Oh, my God!
634
00:28:47,602 --> 00:28:48,560
In the first round,
635
00:28:48,561 --> 00:28:51,022
Frank landed a lot
of really clean blows,
636
00:28:51,147 --> 00:28:52,774
and really hurt Phil,
put him on ice skates.
637
00:28:52,899 --> 00:28:54,108
He was wobbling.
638
00:28:54,109 --> 00:28:55,276
It's that
Mike Tyson saying,
639
00:28:55,402 --> 00:28:57,236
"Everyone's got a plan
till you get hit."
640
00:28:57,237 --> 00:28:58,862
And that's kinda
where Phil was at.
641
00:28:58,863 --> 00:29:00,906
Taunted by Shamrock!
642
00:29:00,907 --> 00:29:02,575
Getting
more and more confident!
643
00:29:02,701 --> 00:29:05,578
At the end of the fight,
Frank got Phil in a chokehold,
644
00:29:05,704 --> 00:29:07,079
and Phil
was trying to punch him,
645
00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:08,330
and then went unconscious.
646
00:29:08,331 --> 00:29:11,084
There's a smile
on Shamrock's face!
647
00:29:11,209 --> 00:29:12,502
It's over!
648
00:29:12,627 --> 00:29:13,961
We ran over to him,
649
00:29:13,962 --> 00:29:16,046
and he opened his eyes and said,
"What happened?
650
00:29:16,047 --> 00:29:19,050
"Please tell me he choked me out
and didn't knock me out."
651
00:29:19,175 --> 00:29:21,052
I said, "Yeah,
he choked you out."
652
00:29:28,727 --> 00:29:30,728
Phil was just--
he has a huge ego
653
00:29:30,729 --> 00:29:32,396
and is the bad ass,
654
00:29:32,397 --> 00:29:34,024
and the bad ass
doesn't get knocked out.
655
00:29:34,149 --> 00:29:36,483
I'd seen that
mentality before,
656
00:29:36,484 --> 00:29:38,194
which I didn't agree with.
657
00:29:38,319 --> 00:29:39,778
"If I go unconscious
I go unconscious,
658
00:29:39,779 --> 00:29:41,948
"but I'm not gonna tap.
I'm gonna keep fightin' this."
659
00:29:42,073 --> 00:29:43,615
That's how you get hurt.
660
00:29:43,616 --> 00:29:45,325
Whatever, he fought
a good fight, you know?
661
00:29:45,326 --> 00:29:46,952
I'm not gonna
make excuses on it.
662
00:29:46,953 --> 00:29:48,913
I, uh...
663
00:29:49,039 --> 00:29:50,582
He fought a good fight,
you know?
664
00:29:50,707 --> 00:29:52,249
He's-- he's as advertised.
665
00:29:52,250 --> 00:29:54,169
Had he won that fight,
666
00:29:54,294 --> 00:29:57,087
I think the story of his career
would have been a lot different.
667
00:29:57,088 --> 00:29:59,049
Everything would've
been different.
668
00:29:59,174 --> 00:30:03,218
Instead, the Shamrock
fight haunts Phil for years,
669
00:30:03,219 --> 00:30:05,513
further tormenting
his already troubled mind.
670
00:30:07,390 --> 00:30:10,434
I stayed at his house probably
50 times after this fight,
671
00:30:10,435 --> 00:30:12,354
and every single night
I go to bed
672
00:30:12,479 --> 00:30:15,023
with him sitting on the couch,
watching the fight.
673
00:30:16,066 --> 00:30:17,734
He watched it
every night of his life.
674
00:30:17,859 --> 00:30:20,028
And he never got over it.
It ruined him.
675
00:30:32,665 --> 00:30:35,418
As for Phil's promise
to take the brain scan seriously
676
00:30:35,543 --> 00:30:38,504
and treat the problem
after the Shamrock fight,
677
00:30:38,505 --> 00:30:42,091
instead, Phil continues
fighting for years,
678
00:30:42,092 --> 00:30:44,010
hoping for another shot
at the title.
679
00:30:44,135 --> 00:30:46,136
Big body kicks
and knees...
680
00:30:46,137 --> 00:30:47,722
But the road
back to the cage
681
00:30:47,847 --> 00:30:51,141
is littered with the bridges
he burns along the way.
682
00:30:51,142 --> 00:30:53,060
Baroni's
in big trouble!
683
00:30:53,061 --> 00:30:55,396
He actually owed me money
from some sponsors,
684
00:30:55,397 --> 00:30:58,565
and we parted company because
he didn't wanna pay the money.
685
00:30:58,566 --> 00:31:00,985
I think, at this stage,
pretty much everybody
686
00:31:00,986 --> 00:31:02,696
distanced themselves from Phil.
687
00:31:02,821 --> 00:31:04,571
He would sign fights
without telling anybody
688
00:31:04,572 --> 00:31:06,408
and be like, "Yeah,
I'm fighting in three weeks."
689
00:31:06,533 --> 00:31:08,742
"Who are you fighting?"
"I don't know, some bum."
690
00:31:08,743 --> 00:31:10,119
He didn't care.
691
00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:11,537
Punch it!
692
00:31:11,538 --> 00:31:13,998
I said, "Okay, we're not
trying to be the best anymore.
693
00:31:13,999 --> 00:31:15,582
"We're just trying
to make a living."
694
00:31:15,583 --> 00:31:17,377
Oh,
and Baroni goes down!
695
00:31:17,502 --> 00:31:20,295
And he's--
I think he's broken his leg.
696
00:31:20,296 --> 00:31:22,423
In a series
of emotional interviews,
697
00:31:22,424 --> 00:31:26,594
Phil seems all too aware that
his best days are behind him.
698
00:31:34,602 --> 00:31:36,145
You're not done, right?
699
00:31:36,146 --> 00:31:37,521
Man, what else am I gonna do?
700
00:31:37,522 --> 00:31:40,107
It's what I am,
it's who I am, you know?
701
00:31:40,108 --> 00:31:42,401
No, I'm not--
no, I'm not done.
702
00:31:42,402 --> 00:31:45,112
You'll see me again, I'm sure.
You'll see me again.
703
00:31:45,113 --> 00:31:47,531
I didn't wanna
see him brain dead.
704
00:31:47,532 --> 00:31:49,617
We had a conversation,
I told him,
705
00:31:49,743 --> 00:31:53,204
"You know, bro, like...
you shouldn't be fighting."
706
00:31:53,329 --> 00:31:56,750
I just kept it real,
like, "Bro, it's time."
707
00:31:56,875 --> 00:31:59,627
And that was one of the last
conversations I had with him.
708
00:32:00,879 --> 00:32:02,129
In his final fights,
709
00:32:02,130 --> 00:32:04,715
Phil's losses
aren't just disappointing;
710
00:32:04,716 --> 00:32:06,258
they're disturbing to watch.
711
00:32:06,259 --> 00:32:09,428
And that was
a good shot that time by Leben.
712
00:32:09,429 --> 00:32:10,513
It's over!
It's over!
713
00:32:12,724 --> 00:32:15,476
In 2019,
a 43-year-old Phil Baroni
714
00:32:15,477 --> 00:32:17,895
finally retires
from professional fighting.
715
00:32:17,896 --> 00:32:22,442
As the world slips into COVID,
Phil slides into oblivion.
716
00:32:22,567 --> 00:32:26,528
His friends and family struggle
to learn his whereabouts.
717
00:32:26,529 --> 00:32:30,616
He was travelling around
with no money, with no home.
718
00:32:30,617 --> 00:32:32,952
I did not like
the way he looked.
719
00:32:33,078 --> 00:32:35,037
I heard rumours like
he was using drugs
720
00:32:35,038 --> 00:32:37,164
and he was drinking.
721
00:32:37,165 --> 00:32:39,459
I saw a video of him
with a cigarette in his hand,
722
00:32:39,584 --> 00:32:42,086
and I couldn't even believe it.
He never smoked in his life.
723
00:32:42,087 --> 00:32:43,463
So, I'm like,
"Something's not right."
724
00:32:44,506 --> 00:32:46,256
I can't remember,
like, the month or the day
725
00:32:46,257 --> 00:32:47,424
or whatever, but...
726
00:32:47,425 --> 00:32:50,136
I can just remember
that I saw it on the news
727
00:32:50,261 --> 00:32:53,514
that Phil had been
arrested in Mexico.
728
00:32:53,515 --> 00:32:55,141
Former UFC middleweight
Phil Baroni
729
00:32:55,266 --> 00:32:57,227
has been arrested
for the murder of his girlfriend
730
00:32:57,352 --> 00:32:59,520
in San Pancho, Mexico.
731
00:32:59,521 --> 00:33:01,564
He apparently had
killed his girlfriend.
732
00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:14,284
For years,
Phil Baroni continued to operate
733
00:33:14,285 --> 00:33:16,204
on the fringes
of the fight world...
734
00:33:16,329 --> 00:33:18,373
Keep doing it, Phil!
Keep doing it!
735
00:33:19,416 --> 00:33:21,126
...even as his
marriage fell apart
736
00:33:21,251 --> 00:33:23,460
and his addiction issues
worsened.
737
00:33:26,673 --> 00:33:28,382
But after
living off the grid
738
00:33:28,383 --> 00:33:30,634
in the waning days of 2022,
739
00:33:30,635 --> 00:33:33,805
Phil is accused of something
that staggers his sister.
740
00:33:35,306 --> 00:33:38,351
I got a phone call
from his ex-wife,
741
00:33:39,728 --> 00:33:44,148
telling me that she has very
bad news about my brother.
742
00:33:44,149 --> 00:33:48,403
And I saw articles stating
that my brother was arrested.
743
00:33:48,528 --> 00:33:51,530
Former UFC fighter
Phil Baroni is in custody
744
00:33:51,531 --> 00:33:54,575
in Mexico for allegedly
murdering his girlfriend.
745
00:33:54,576 --> 00:33:58,038
I immediately fell
to my knees and, like,
746
00:33:58,163 --> 00:33:59,873
thought I was gonna throw up.
747
00:34:01,958 --> 00:34:03,793
'Cause I couldn't believe
what I was reading.
748
00:34:07,297 --> 00:34:09,716
Phil was living in Mexico.
749
00:34:09,841 --> 00:34:11,717
He was dating a girl.
750
00:34:11,718 --> 00:34:13,470
The girl
is 46-year-old
751
00:34:13,595 --> 00:34:15,513
Paola Franco Estrada,
752
00:34:15,638 --> 00:34:19,308
a youthful entrepreneur
and shop-owner from Mexico City.
753
00:34:19,309 --> 00:34:21,435
Paola has a 10-year-old son.
754
00:34:21,436 --> 00:34:25,023
She and Phil had been dating
for only a few months.
755
00:34:25,148 --> 00:34:27,024
Phil claims
she cheated on him
756
00:34:27,025 --> 00:34:28,859
and they had a big argument,
757
00:34:28,860 --> 00:34:31,863
and he walked off
to get beer and cigarettes,
758
00:34:31,988 --> 00:34:34,240
and came back
and she fell in the shower,
759
00:34:34,366 --> 00:34:35,783
was internally bleeding,
760
00:34:35,784 --> 00:34:40,121
and he laid her on the bed
and tried to revive her...
761
00:34:40,246 --> 00:34:41,456
She passed away.
762
00:34:42,749 --> 00:34:45,626
In an audio message
to a friend in Mexico,
763
00:34:45,627 --> 00:34:48,588
Phil gives his account
of what happened next.
764
00:35:05,230 --> 00:35:06,647
But
Mexican authorities
765
00:35:06,648 --> 00:35:10,401
believe Phil brutally beat
Paola to death,
766
00:35:10,402 --> 00:35:12,111
and they arrest him
for her murder.
767
00:35:12,112 --> 00:35:13,613
The incriminating evidence
768
00:35:13,738 --> 00:35:17,241
is the former MMA fighter's
own hands.
769
00:35:17,242 --> 00:35:19,119
His knuckles
were bruised up.
770
00:35:20,203 --> 00:35:22,622
It's... it's crazy.
771
00:35:22,747 --> 00:35:24,666
I mean,
he always had a short temper,
772
00:35:24,791 --> 00:35:28,294
but, you know,
not to be killing a woman.
773
00:35:28,420 --> 00:35:30,922
I didn't-- I didn't think
he's capable of that.
774
00:35:48,398 --> 00:35:49,774
I-I...
775
00:35:51,609 --> 00:35:54,362
I don't...
I-I try to...
776
00:35:56,531 --> 00:35:58,658
I can't see a world
where he's not.
777
00:35:59,784 --> 00:36:02,202
Laying your hands on her,
period...
778
00:36:02,203 --> 00:36:03,454
why?
779
00:36:03,455 --> 00:36:07,000
Like, what good comes of
ever touching a female?
780
00:36:08,543 --> 00:36:10,378
Like... why?
781
00:36:12,797 --> 00:36:14,174
Like, why?
782
00:36:14,299 --> 00:36:16,509
Bro, it's so fuckin' sad, dude.
783
00:36:16,634 --> 00:36:18,970
What a sad story, dude.
784
00:36:21,014 --> 00:36:22,057
Jesus Christ.
785
00:36:26,436 --> 00:36:28,187
Those who
know the fighter
786
00:36:28,188 --> 00:36:31,398
claim Phil's loved ones
were often on the receiving end
787
00:36:31,399 --> 00:36:33,068
of his pent-up aggression.
788
00:36:34,402 --> 00:36:36,196
I knew Phil was, uh...
789
00:36:37,322 --> 00:36:41,867
very fuckin' mean
with his girlfriends
790
00:36:41,868 --> 00:36:44,828
'cause I was very good friends
with Angela.
791
00:36:44,829 --> 00:36:48,165
I knew she was terrified of him.
792
00:36:48,166 --> 00:36:51,251
She'd come to the fights
and he would have her
793
00:36:51,252 --> 00:36:55,172
running around doing
all his shit before the fight.
794
00:36:55,173 --> 00:36:58,759
Making her run to the store,
do this, go get him this,
795
00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:00,803
and she'd come back
with a bag of stuff,
796
00:37:00,804 --> 00:37:05,266
and sure enough, "Ah, I didn't
want this, I wanted this."
797
00:37:05,392 --> 00:37:07,476
You know, just complain,
and the poor girl
798
00:37:07,477 --> 00:37:08,686
was just terrified.
799
00:37:09,562 --> 00:37:11,855
I hated that.
800
00:37:11,856 --> 00:37:14,067
He took a lot of
his frustrations out on her
801
00:37:14,192 --> 00:37:17,654
and other people around him.
He did it over and over again.
802
00:37:17,779 --> 00:37:20,489
He beat up--
he was tough on his wife.
803
00:37:20,490 --> 00:37:22,367
He was tough
on a girl in New York.
804
00:37:22,492 --> 00:37:24,076
He was tough on a girl
in Mexico.
805
00:37:24,077 --> 00:37:26,287
I think that Phil didn't
always appreciate the people
806
00:37:26,413 --> 00:37:27,706
that were in his corner.
807
00:37:30,041 --> 00:37:30,874
Absolutely.
808
00:37:30,875 --> 00:37:33,335
Phil had moments
where he treated me
809
00:37:33,336 --> 00:37:34,795
like he was very appreciative,
810
00:37:34,796 --> 00:37:37,132
and then he had moments
where I feared for my life.
811
00:37:38,842 --> 00:37:41,678
You know, everyone
looks at him like a monster.
812
00:37:41,803 --> 00:37:44,222
I guess when people say those
things about him, you know,
813
00:37:44,347 --> 00:37:47,058
I understand and I get it.
814
00:37:47,183 --> 00:37:49,602
But they don't realize
that he has a sister
815
00:37:49,728 --> 00:37:52,188
that loves him, and...
816
00:37:52,313 --> 00:37:54,149
it affects me every day.
817
00:37:57,610 --> 00:37:58,903
It's just hard.
818
00:38:00,572 --> 00:38:02,824
I feel horrible for her
and her family.
819
00:38:05,410 --> 00:38:06,910
Some of Phil's friends
820
00:38:06,911 --> 00:38:08,996
suspect the fighter's
state of mind
821
00:38:08,997 --> 00:38:11,416
is related to an affliction
that has haunted athletes
822
00:38:11,541 --> 00:38:15,002
with severe head trauma
for years.
823
00:38:15,003 --> 00:38:18,422
A new study on CTE
says the brain injury
824
00:38:18,423 --> 00:38:20,215
might be more common
than we thought.
825
00:38:20,216 --> 00:38:21,341
CTE.
826
00:38:21,342 --> 00:38:24,261
It's a degenerative disease,
basically, in your brain
827
00:38:24,262 --> 00:38:25,680
from too many shots to the head.
828
00:38:25,805 --> 00:38:29,683
The hallmarks of CTE
are these brown lesions.
829
00:38:29,684 --> 00:38:31,227
The chemistry
in the brain changes
830
00:38:31,353 --> 00:38:32,562
because of the trauma,
831
00:38:32,687 --> 00:38:35,523
and that can cause loss
of function, in many ways,
832
00:38:35,648 --> 00:38:36,900
loss of control.
833
00:38:37,025 --> 00:38:39,110
You get triggered
and you become more aggressive.
834
00:38:39,235 --> 00:38:40,986
There have been
a couple of studies
835
00:38:40,987 --> 00:38:43,280
done on a couple of fighters
that have passed away,
836
00:38:43,281 --> 00:38:45,784
and they showed signs of CTE.
837
00:38:45,909 --> 00:38:48,203
One of those
was Jordan Parsons.
838
00:38:50,288 --> 00:38:53,916
In 2016, after the fighter
died in a car accident,
839
00:38:53,917 --> 00:38:58,003
researchers found evidence
of CTE in his brain.
840
00:38:58,004 --> 00:39:00,757
At 26 years old, he was
one of the youngest athletes
841
00:39:00,882 --> 00:39:03,801
in any sport
found with the condition.
842
00:39:03,802 --> 00:39:06,429
They can't really
determine if you had CTE
843
00:39:06,554 --> 00:39:07,847
until you die,
but Phil Baroni,
844
00:39:07,972 --> 00:39:12,184
I watched this man
take a lot of abuse.
845
00:39:12,185 --> 00:39:15,896
Yeah, he's definitely
a candidate for CTE.
846
00:39:15,897 --> 00:39:18,190
Over the few years that
I'd known him at that point,
847
00:39:18,191 --> 00:39:21,236
I was seeing his speech pattern
significantly decline.
848
00:39:21,361 --> 00:39:25,699
Him becoming exceedingly more
violent, very short-tempered.
849
00:39:25,824 --> 00:39:29,202
And the CT scan reinforced
everything we believed.
850
00:39:29,327 --> 00:39:31,745
Was this the alcohol
and the other substances,
851
00:39:31,746 --> 00:39:34,290
or was this getting punched
in the dome too much?
852
00:39:34,416 --> 00:39:36,667
I suspect both things
853
00:39:36,668 --> 00:39:38,753
contributed to where
Phil ended up.
854
00:39:40,005 --> 00:39:42,506
The worst part is,
as a fighter,
855
00:39:42,507 --> 00:39:45,342
you know how dangerous you are.
856
00:39:45,343 --> 00:39:46,761
You know.
857
00:39:58,189 --> 00:39:59,773
As Phil's
friends and family
858
00:39:59,774 --> 00:40:02,526
reckon with the tragedy
in Mexico,
859
00:40:02,527 --> 00:40:04,279
many wonder
if the fight industry
860
00:40:04,404 --> 00:40:08,116
should at least share blame for
the grappler's downward spiral.
861
00:40:09,534 --> 00:40:10,910
It should have stopped.
862
00:40:11,036 --> 00:40:13,580
He should have seen
professional help.
863
00:40:13,705 --> 00:40:15,373
And that never happened.
864
00:40:15,498 --> 00:40:17,792
It's all over!
865
00:40:24,591 --> 00:40:25,842
Today,
as Phil Baroni
866
00:40:25,967 --> 00:40:29,053
sits in a correctional facility
in Tepic, Mexico,
867
00:40:29,054 --> 00:40:30,972
charged with murdering
his girlfriend,
868
00:40:31,097 --> 00:40:34,142
46-year-old single mother
Paola Franco Estrada,
869
00:40:34,267 --> 00:40:37,437
with his bare hands,
his friends and family wonder
870
00:40:37,562 --> 00:40:40,899
what more could have been done
to prevent this from happening.
871
00:40:42,317 --> 00:40:45,361
If a fighter was getting
knocked out too many times,
872
00:40:45,362 --> 00:40:48,072
I think you would see with
some of the bigger promotions,
873
00:40:48,073 --> 00:40:50,074
they would take on
the responsibility
874
00:40:50,075 --> 00:40:51,868
of not booking
that fighter anymore.
875
00:40:52,619 --> 00:40:54,328
But my brother
was going to other countries
876
00:40:54,329 --> 00:40:57,122
to fight,
and they did not care.
877
00:40:57,123 --> 00:41:00,001
God knows what his MRI
was looking like at that point.
878
00:41:00,126 --> 00:41:03,463
I think whatever issues he had,
it made them worse.
879
00:41:05,673 --> 00:41:08,509
We don't have the luxury
of a Players Association
880
00:41:08,510 --> 00:41:10,011
that some of these
other professional sports
881
00:41:10,136 --> 00:41:13,597
like football players and hockey
players and other athletes have.
882
00:41:13,598 --> 00:41:14,973
We need to organize.
883
00:41:14,974 --> 00:41:16,892
We need to pay
a little closer attention
884
00:41:16,893 --> 00:41:20,104
to some of our guys
that have put their bodies
885
00:41:20,105 --> 00:41:22,857
through this kind of punishment.
886
00:41:22,983 --> 00:41:24,817
All of us have
a little bit of somethin',
887
00:41:24,818 --> 00:41:26,319
that get hit in the head.
888
00:41:26,444 --> 00:41:29,655
We gave a piece of ourselves to
become a professional fighter,
889
00:41:29,656 --> 00:41:32,617
and to fight in front of
the fans and to make money,
890
00:41:32,742 --> 00:41:34,201
but there is a time where
891
00:41:34,202 --> 00:41:36,578
you should not leave
everything in there.
892
00:41:36,579 --> 00:41:37,621
And now watch this...
893
00:41:37,622 --> 00:41:39,832
You can't just be bouncing
all over the place
894
00:41:39,833 --> 00:41:41,835
and still trying to fight.
895
00:41:43,128 --> 00:41:45,295
You put the gloves down.
896
00:41:45,296 --> 00:41:47,881
As a man, you gotta always
look in the mirror
897
00:41:47,882 --> 00:41:50,050
and take accountability.
You have to.
898
00:41:50,051 --> 00:41:51,885
Knocks out
Phil Baroni!
899
00:41:51,886 --> 00:41:54,179
But Phil,
I don't think he ever did that.
900
00:41:54,180 --> 00:41:56,682
Where Phil ended up
is one of those things
901
00:41:56,683 --> 00:41:58,308
you just don't wanna hear.
902
00:41:58,309 --> 00:42:00,437
You don't wanna know
that one of your brothers,
903
00:42:00,562 --> 00:42:02,856
one of the guys that...
904
00:42:05,984 --> 00:42:07,235
Yeah, it just sucks.
905
00:42:32,510 --> 00:42:35,513
Phil currently awaits
trial in Mexico.
906
00:42:38,016 --> 00:42:39,642
A few months ago.
907
00:42:39,768 --> 00:42:41,977
Phil told me
that nobody speaks English
908
00:42:41,978 --> 00:42:43,729
and he doesn't speak Spanish.
909
00:42:43,730 --> 00:42:47,108
That he weighs 135 pounds
and he used to weigh 200.
910
00:42:48,318 --> 00:42:49,943
He's been
in solitary confinement
911
00:42:49,944 --> 00:42:52,072
for over half the time
he's been in there
912
00:42:52,197 --> 00:42:54,199
because of all the fights
he gets in.
913
00:42:55,367 --> 00:42:58,453
Honestly, I think I've
always kinda pitied the guy.
914
00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:02,539
He just seemed
really disturbed...
915
00:43:02,540 --> 00:43:05,585
individual that just didn't have
any peace within his soul.
916
00:43:07,629 --> 00:43:10,047
I feel like on some level
I failed him.
917
00:43:10,048 --> 00:43:11,591
He obviously failed himself.
918
00:43:14,302 --> 00:43:16,553
It just kinda tears at you.
It tears at you.
919
00:43:16,554 --> 00:43:18,806
Could you have done more?
Did you do the right thing?
920
00:43:18,807 --> 00:43:20,224
Are you doing
the right thing now?
921
00:43:20,225 --> 00:43:22,894
I think that's
a common human trait.
922
00:43:23,019 --> 00:43:24,645
Survivor's guilt.
923
00:43:24,646 --> 00:43:25,896
Could have done something,
924
00:43:25,897 --> 00:43:28,107
could have steered him
a different way
925
00:43:28,108 --> 00:43:31,068
and maybe things would
have turned out differently.
926
00:43:31,069 --> 00:43:32,570
I'm sitting here
very conflicted.
927
00:43:32,696 --> 00:43:35,323
Part of me feels like
I'm selling out my old friend.
928
00:43:36,992 --> 00:43:38,409
Maybe me sitting here
929
00:43:38,410 --> 00:43:41,370
talking to you is more for me
than anybody.
930
00:43:41,371 --> 00:43:43,665
But, um...
931
00:43:45,417 --> 00:43:50,212
maybe in some way this can
help somebody out there
932
00:43:50,213 --> 00:43:51,965
not be the next Phil Baroni.