The Grapplezilla Podcast

About The Grapplezilla Podcast

Grappling, Wrestling, BJJ, Sambo, Judo, MMA, Chidaoba, Bokh, Catch Wrestling, Shooto, SSireum and more. We live and breathe everything about the Grappling arts. The history, the inside stories, and the tips that will make you a better grappler and a better human being. Now what makes our podcast different is we can veer off into unexpected territory and like a bunch of guys in the Wrestling team locker room, just have fun too! So come listen to our podcast and enjoy! The Grapplezilla Podcast.....Grab, Throw, Tap!

Publisher

Grapplezilla

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Apr 2024

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

71 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   #71 - Holly Anne Frazier -From the Dental Office to the Sambo World Championships | #sambo #girlpower

   The hardest part of training isn’t the throw—it’s getting to the gym after a brutal workday. Holly Ann Frazier knows that challenge firsthand. A root canal assistant by day and elite Sambo and judo competitor by night, Holly shares how discipline, community support, and countless hours on the mat took her to the 2025 Sambo World Championships in Kyrgyzstan. In this Grapplezilla Podcast episode, Holly talks about balancing work, school, and world-class competition—and what it meant to carry the support of her community onto the international stage. She also breaks down the tactical differences between judo and Sambo, including grip fighting, the Georgian grip, drop seoi nage, and harai-goshi. In this episode, Holly discusses: How she balanced a demanding job with elite-level training Crowdfunding her path to international competition What she learned competing at Pan Americans and the Sambo World Championships How she adapts her game across judo, Sambo, and MMA-influenced training Grip-fighting strategy and the adjustments that can decide a match Managing nerves with music, warm-ups, and competition routines The growth of American Sambo and the women helping move the sport forward The athletes and coaches who inspire her development Whether you’re a grappler, martial artist, combat sports fan, or someone working toward an ambitious goal, Holly’s story offers an honest look at the persistence behind competing on the world stage. Subscribe to the Grapplezilla Podcast for more conversations about grappling, martial arts, and the people shaping combat sports. Here is Holly Anne Frazier’s social media account where you can find her online: Instagram: @hawleee_ If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below: https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/ If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated: https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly. Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap! #sambo #judo #usasambo #ussambo #usjudo #usajudo #bjj #womensbjj #grappling #grapplingpodcast #sambopodcast #sambousa #hollyannefrazier #jiujitsupodcast #bjjpodcast #girlpower

2. 

   11 Oct 2026

   #70 - Francis Pana - ADCC, Felipe Pena & Crushing Top Pressure - Grapplezilla - #adcc #jiujitsu #grappling

   Francis Pignoti Pana joins the Grapplezilla Podcast for a deep dive into ultra-heavyweight no-gi grappling, elite competition, pressure passing, and the mindset required to perform on the sport’s biggest stages. From his early days training under Brazilian Top Team to representing Homa BJJ in Montreal, Francis shares the story behind his rise in jiu-jitsu. He breaks down his world championship run, lessons from competing at ADCC, the influence of boxing on his stand-up game, and how he developed a crushing top-pressure style built around control, patience, and exhaustion. We also get into his experience facing elite competitors including Felipe Pena and Luke Griffith, the evolution of heavyweight leg-lock defense, recovery for older athletes, cross-training, coaching, gratitude, and why he believes more men need to prioritize fitness. If you love Brazilian jiu-jitsu, no-gi grappling, ADCC, heavyweight pressure passing, wrestling, combat sports, or the mentality behind high-level competition, this episode is for you. In this episode:- Francis Pignoti Pana’s journey from France to Canada- Brazilian Top Team, Homa BJJ, and building a no-gi game- Winning at the highest levels of jiu-jitsu- Facing Felipe Pena and competing on major stages- What Luke Griffith taught him about elite top pressure- Boxing footwork, cardio, distance management, and grappling- Heavyweight passing, guard work, and leg-lock defense- Training smarter, recovering better, and staying durable- Coaching, gym culture, brotherhood, and competitive mindset Here are Francis Pignoti Pana's social media account where you can find him online: Instagram: @francopana_combateYouTube:  @francopana_combate  (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC7xHlKjRTVwC-tLXbNRmcsg) Threads:  @francopana_combate  (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC7xHlKjRTVwC-tLXbNRmcsg) If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below: https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated: https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly. Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap! #grappling #bjj #jiujitsu #adcc #montrealbjj #francispignotipana #nogi #nogigrappling #bjjpodcast #jiujitsupodcast #grapplingpodcast #bjjfighter #grapplezilla

3. 

   9 Oct 2026

   #69- Brett Pastore - rom New Jersey Teacher to Thai Fight Nomad - The Grapplezilla Podcast

   Brett Pastore has fought his way from a New Jersey classroom to the brutal front lines of global combat sports, and his story is as wild as his style. The American Nomad breaks down why teaching middle school felt harder than MMA, how he ended up training and living in Thailand, and what it really takes to survive across Catch Wrestling, Sambo, Combat Wrestling, Ssireum, MMA, One Championship, and bare-knuckle Lethwei. Brett is a BJJ black belt, USA Sambo national team member, 2021 Catch Wrestling lightweight world champion, and a professional MMA fighter training out of the world famous Tiger Muay Thai and MMA. In this conversation, he reveals how he blends catch wrestling pressure with jiu-jitsu guard concepts, why the “gap system” matters everywhere from turtle to guard retention, and how his aggressive, submission-hunting approach changes when strikes, headbutts, and ring ropes enter the equation. You’ll discover: - Why catch wrestling and BJJ are closer than people think - How combat Sambo and MMA overlap, especially with strikes, grips, and takedowns - What changes when leg locks meet punches - Why One Championship’s rule set and ring create completely different problems - How Brett adapts to wildly different rule sets without losing his core game Brett also shares the story of taking an eight-week camp into bare-knuckle Lethwei against a world champion in Myanmar, what he learned from getting outmuscled and cut open in hostile territory, and why fighting in a ring can be far stranger than fighting in a cage. Along the way, he and the host dig into rule differences, back-of-the-head strikes, folkstyle vs freestyle wrestling, Korean Ssireum, and the technical details that separate great grapplers from great MMA fighters.If you care about high-level grappling, MMA strategy, or the mindset of a fighter who’s lived the real nomad life, this one delivers. Essential listening for wrestlers, jiu-jitsu players, and anyone who wants a brutally honest look at what works when the rules stop being theoretical. Here is Brett Pastore’s social media account where you can find him online: Instagram: @brettpastore.americannomad If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below: https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/ If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated: https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly. Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap! #tigermuaythai #mma #mmafighter #mmapodcast #sambo #bjj #jiujitsu #mmatips #brettpastore #onechampionship #onefc #ufc #podcast #grapplezilla

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

51

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact The Grapplezilla Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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