Phillip “Pip” Henderson - Dynasty Combat Sports

Phillip “Pip” Henderson joins Caught on the Mike for a conversation centered around resilience, entrepreneurship, leadership, and the growth of combat sports in the Midwest.

As the driving force behind Dynasty Combat Sports and Disorderly Conduct MMA, Pip has helped build Nebraska’s premier combat sports promotion while also leading successful ventures in construction, development, and manufacturing. From overcoming adversity at a young age to creating opportunities for fighters, entrepreneurs, and communities, Pip’s story is rooted in discipline, vision, and refusing to let circumstances define the future.

Throughout the episode, we dive into the rise of Dynasty Combat Sports, the evolution of Midwest MMA, balancing multiple businesses across different industries, handling pressure as a leader, and why creating opportunities for others has become such an important part of Pip’s journey.

A powerful conversation that goes far beyond fighting.

#CaughtOnTheMike #DynastyCombatSports #MMA #Entrepreneurship #Podcast

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 1:06

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Caught on the Mike. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Caught on the Mike. From building businesses in construction and development to building Nebraska's premier combat sports promotion, Philip Pip Henderson has built a career around creating opportunities where others see obstacles. As the force behind Dynasty Combat Sports, he's helped grow Midwest MMA into a legitimate proving ground while simultaneously expanding into manufacturing, development, and entrepreneurial ships multiple industries. Today on the show, we talk business, resilience, leadership, reinvention, and the mindset it takes to build brands, build people, and build a legacy. Pip, how the hell are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_00 2:03

Man, I'm good, dude. It's so good to finally be on here. We've been talking about this for a while, you know. I know, right? Hey, but as they say, all good things take time, and here we are.

SPEAKER_01 2:15

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You know, it feels like I just saw you, and I I actually did like two days ago. What a night at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, bro.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

Man, wasn't it? What about the bare knuckle fight, man? And oh man, there was some there was some bangers. It gets better every single time, dude. Oh, I I'm I'm telling you, man, and like just the uh um the the action is just non-stop. It it was uh like you said, it keeps getting better and better every time, and and this one was no different, man. And and and that that that stoppage in the fifth round is something you very rarely see, and it was uh man. I got you know, hats off to Henry for putting that one together. And uh yeah, man, great night. Great night for sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:04

I gotta tell you, man, I have had the privilege of calling fights for almost two years for Dynasty now, and it's good to feel a part of the family. I absolutely love it. I love getting hang out with all of you guys. I love the photo we got at the end of the night the other day.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

That was a good one. Yeah, yeah. That was like, you know, a lot of times people, you know, when you take so many pictures and a few stand out, and that one was, you know, there was some uh upper echelon of some of the Midwest finest in that one, dude, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

Yes, that's exactly what Caleb said right afterwards. He was that was like fucking MMA Avengers. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:42

Dude, we should we should hey we should take that picture through AI and say turn us all into different Avengers, and that that'd be my that'd be my that'd be my fucking screensaver.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Oh my gosh. Well, let's get right into this. Um, you started your entrepreneurial journey at only 17 years old. Yeah what did life look like at that point and what pushed you towards building your own path instead of accepting the hand that you were dealt.

SPEAKER_00 4:09

Man, uh as my wife will say, I have a uh um it it's a it's a it's an authority problem. So I just uh you know, I I don't know, man. I I've just always been different, you know. I I I've never wanted to be uh like to say locked in a cage, you know, no one likes that, but like it just in life in general, man. I I've always wanted to spread my wings and have different boundaries, um, or or set my own boundaries is what I should say. I I I don't like being confined and restricted to different things, and I I think a lot of the times a lot of people get set in their ways and they're just cool with it. And I'm just the opposite, man. Um I I I like to do more and and and to try to see how far I can push things in life.

SPEAKER_01 4:55

Yes, I I think a lot of us are cut from a similar cloth, and that's why we become such fast and like hard friends because because we know, we recognize it's like that real seas real mindset. And it's just like I was the same way, man. I've lived on my own since I was a junior in high school. I was orphaned as a kid, so it was like everything that I made, I built from the ground up. So when I see other people that are have that similar mindset, it's like fuck yeah, this guy's my brother, you know.

SPEAKER_00 5:27

And a hundred dude, that that's 100%, dude. Um, I lost my mom at 16, and uh it was a very traumatic point in my life, and then um, you know, it uh about five months later, I lost a very good friend as well, and and that was that was hard to deal with. And basically, my dad came to me one day, and you know, by this point, I I just turned 17 and he was like, hey man, you know, uh my dad was 50 when he had me, so he he he's an older gentleman, and he was actually in the Korean War, and he told me, he said, Hey son, the house is paid for, bills are there, but um, I'm leaving. And I said, Where are you going? He said, I'm gonna head over to Saipan and Guam for a reunion, and I don't know when I'm coming back, uh, but you know, if you need food and clothes and anything else to survive, you're gonna be, it's on you to get it. And I was like, Oh shit. So that's on myself. I I've literally been on my own since 17 years old, and and I went and and I did what I had to do, and and then next thing you know, here I am now.

SPEAKER_01 6:29

Yes, yes, and that's a good lead-in because your story revolves around resilience and accountability. Looking back now, were there specific moments early on that became defining lessons and how you approach leadership in business today?

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Yeah, man, and and like um, yeah, yeah. So, like as a young kid, like I told you I lost my mother and I lost a friend, and and I had to go to work and do these things. And and I've I I've worked since the age of probably 15, and I I worked for other people when I was younger, and and it was those people that I worked for that made me learn how I wanted to lead today. So I've worked for the guy that was, you know, the complete and utter asshole that would yell and scream at you and throw shit at you if you didn't get it right. And I was like, that didn't get anywhere. So I don't want to be that type. I I worked for the guy who was kind of the pushover, and he kind of just we did what we wanted to, and it was like, I'm not gonna be that guy because nothing ever got done, you know. So it's just I I kind of take all these different people that I worked for or scenarios that I had in my own life, and I use them to redirect who I am today and and how I want to lead. Um, a lot of times when I was younger, you know, I had I had an older crowd around me, and they were like, hey man, you want to make a few bucks? And and they would they would, you know, push certain things on me that weren't always the best for me to try to, you know, to do what I did. And of course I was like, hell yeah, I want to. So I I did, you know, and then that's kind of part of the thing I do now, man. That's why like I I I try to give back and I I try to do that to kids nowadays, but in a positive way.

SPEAKER_01 8:11

Yes. Yes. You know, you've succeeded across multiple industries, concrete construction, home development, manufacturing, and combat sports. What do you think separates entrepreneurs who survive from the ones that consistently scale upward? Because, like we pointed out, like just the dynasty combat sports in the last two years, it feels like it's scaling on a much bigger scale. And that's before you get into some of your other businesses as well.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

Yeah, man, and and honestly, like for me, the biggest thing with it, and and and I'll tell and a lot of people tell you, man, I'm about putting the right teams and people in place to be on your team, man. And uh a lot of people think, oh, I'm an entrepreneur, I'm a leader, I can do this myself. Man, I thought that back in the day, and I I fell flat on my face, you know. So trying to do everything yourself just doesn't come that way, man. It it's not a reality, it's not a real thing. And sometimes I struggle with certain things and I still try to do too much. But with the fights, we've got such a good team in place, man. We've been together for years. And out of all my businesses, I would tell you that Dynasty Combat Sports flows the easiest. Um, especially like when it comes to fight night. You know, now I'll say things leading up to it can be challenging with, you know, uh a fighter, something happened, and somebody gets injured, uh, somebody accepts a fight, then backs out, or or you book a guy, and next thing you know, they're they don't answer the phone. You know, they're just up and gone like a fart in a wind, you know, and you're like, what the hell happened? So luckily we have people in play, like, you know, uh train my partner and brother in the fights, and you have Henry up there. They're leading the march at the beginning of the show, man. They're really putting in all the work and the time and the dedication to make sure that everything before the night of the fight happens, that everything is ready to go. And then on fight night um is where I come into play, man, and I handle the production and I handle how I want things to run smoothly with the fighters. Then you bring in a guy like Q, you know, he's my right-hand man. He sat beside me for years listening to me do the fighter, you know, at the fighter meetings and the in the speeches and the talking to them and uh setting up the locker rooms and seeing how I want things ran. You know, then we've got the cage crew, and uh, I can't call them kids anymore, man. They're they're young men and and they're you know, they they've got careers that they've chosen and done, and and it's really cool because a lot of them, they're little entrepreneurs themselves, you know, little businesses here. Uh and and it's it's so awesome to see that and to see these kids grow from a young age and up. But when it comes to the to the fights and the camaraderie, man, it really comes together on fight night. And I think a lot of people see that from the fans to the fighters themselves. We have coaches and fighters come up to us afterwards and say, man, we really appreciate the hospitality. You guys were there, you did good for us. If they ask a question, we don't try to bullshit them when it comes to the you know medical forms afterwards. We make sure that we get them filled out to them and and and back to them right away. Uh just just a matter of fact, you know, uh on the co-main with Nate Morrow and his opponent, you know, he uh thought he had a broken nose, so he had to go to the ER. We sat there and I talked to him and his mom and his his his wife, and and it was just, you know, I I assured them that everything was gonna be okay. We walked him through the process. Uh I gave his mom a big hug more than once, you know, and and confirmed he was gonna be okay. We're gonna do what we say we do. We have insurance, we have all the things that that uh you know the state requires us to do, and and and we're not gonna leave you out like that. We're not gonna just send you off and and not take care of it. So, but but that team we have in play, man, is really what makes it it run as smooth as it does.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Yes, yes. What was it about MMA and promoting fights that clicked with you on a deeper level to make it be the smoothest business of all of your businesses?

SPEAKER_00 12:07

Bro, I'll I'll tell you, man, it it started off uh it was a hobby, to be honest with you. You know, I I had the concrete company and and I got my start in MMA just as a as a fan, and I would go to a local show um and and I it because I was friends with the promoter, and I would literally go and buy a table to show support from my friend in this show. And it was a good time, and I started bringing people um to it, and it was uh it was a good time. And then it just kind of branched out from there with with again seeing these younger kids fight, and I was thinking, man, how how can I help? You know, I would see people out there and they they have a they'd have a fan base, you know, they'd have a crowd around them, and you could tell they kind of had that it to them. And I just thought to myself, how can I help this young man, you know, benefit in a positive way and and get him leading in in a right direction to help out his career, right? And that's really how it started.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

You know, when I speak with like celebrity publicists and I'm booking like musical guests for my show, yeah, we haven't talked about this much, but my background is in music long before this. But when I'm talking to a lot of these people that I help have book on my show, you know, I I say to them, I'm like, one of the things I'm the most proud of is that I get to sit cage side and be a commentator on one of the Midwest's most recognized regional MMA brands. What were some key moments for you where you realized that Dynasty was becoming something much bigger than just local fight cards?

SPEAKER_00 13:46

First off, man, I gotta say too, when I was talking about the crew earlier, I definitely needed to include you and Caleb because it is since you guys have come on before, and I I will tell you this, we would struggle to find commentary. Uh, we would struggle to find good commentary, right? We've had guys that would get on there be half drunk and lit. I've I've had commentary people pronounce the wrong name. They kept calling it Destiny Fight Club, and I was like, what the fuck? You know what I mean? Like, I'm not even shitting you, man. And so, like, to have people of your caliber or caliber of knowledge in professionalism has been great. It's things like that have that have made Dynasty become what it is today. It's it's the teamwork, it's the people involved that do it. And and for us, man, and and for myself, I want to say thank you for that for for your level of professionalism, but for calling the fights, being there. I mean, you guys do an a phenomenal job, man. So I can't thank you enough for that.

SPEAKER_01 14:42

Dude, I gotta tell you, I am grateful for that. Thank you so, so, so much. Uh, and thank you for the opportunity. One of the things that Caleb and I talk about, and we will text like for days on end before an event and then after event, is how we can be better the next time around and elevate the prod product at large. You know, people are gonna clip this stuff. We live in a world that's all about the quick clip and the social media clip and such. So if we're acting whack ass and like mispronouncing names and miscalling, you know, fights, like that's a reflection on you guys, but it's also a reflection on us. And we don't want to look like clowns. And honestly, all we want to do is bring value like a good team member would.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

Yeah. And and and and that's again, man, like I can't stress on the teamwork enough that we have in the key players that are in there. It it's it's uh, you know, if we if we were a baseball team, man, we'd be headed to the World Series. And and that's how I I I firmly believe that, man. But you know, for me, when when I started noticing the change is when um when we got to the to the arena space, man, and like we were kind of when we started off, we we were always ballrooms and and smaller shows, and which there's nothing wrong with that, man. That's where we were built. We were we said, you know, we were homegrown, blue-collar, just kind of some simple dudes that came out and and and actually it used to be a party, is all it was for us. Is we were just trying to throw just a badass party with some fights at it, kind of. And, you know, now having, I mean, and and I remember when we were at the Persian tourum, I thought that was cool. Well, then when the Persian was closing and they were open pinnacle, and they said, Hey, do you guys want to do a show here? I was like, what? You know, and and that to me was like, man, it was the pinnacle, you know, of of it. And then we we got to go into Liberty First Credit Union or or Ralston Arena, as it was once known, and and I remember having uh like DC 50 there, and I was like, Holy shit, man, I can't believe we've had this. And and I'm gonna say a little something too when he talked about, you know, you being in the music industry and and that's how you got your clip. Well, I don't know if you know this, man, but Dynasty and my first thing was in music. The the whole Dynasty, you know, was it it's DC, and it was it was Disorderly Conduct Productions and Disorderly Conduct Music, and we kind of took that and and just and just rolled with it, man. Um it's amazing to see people start off in one industry and and then it leads to another. And um music is life to me, so that's uh all day long, man. And and I probably got one of the weirdest playlists you'll ever hear in your life, you know, and it's just uh yeah, it's it's just amazing what what uh what music can do for a person in the soul and uplift and and hit on the emotions, but it's it carried me over into this and into different into other different businesses. And um, but yeah, just being able to be at these arenas and like I I never forget, man, like like at the first pinnacle show, and and I come out after the first intermission, and I was just you know, I went and got a drink, and I was just sitting back, you know, at the walkout, and I was just looking, and I was like, Man, we fucking did it. You know, like you know, and and and me, me and train, man, you know, my my my brother and partner in this dude, we just started off two dudes who we were just two, man, we used to call it the hustle and the muscle, you know, and and uh and and for us to come from what what we did and what we brought of this again, something that grew, you know, was a hobby, now it's grown into a full-scale business. And and and we are a force to reckon with here in the Midwest. And in each show, we we try to bring something different as far as from the talent to the production, and we just keep trying to grow it, man.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Yeah, it's it kind of became a joke like about a year ago, like we couldn't go to a dynasty event and not see a big name in the MMA world there. You know, we've seen Jamal Hill there. Terrence Crawford sat with uh Caleb and I at the commentary booth one night for a little bit, and you know, it Houstons come back and fought. Yep. Derek Miners fought three events in the last last year.

SPEAKER_00 19:00

I mean, you know, speak so Derek, that last win, he is 16-0 at Pinnacle Bank Arena at Dynasty Combat Sports.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

Dang!

SPEAKER_00 19:09

Ain't that fucking something, dude?

SPEAKER_01 19:13

One of the most unique finishes I've ever seen was that twister finish.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

Yeah, dude, I'm gonna tell you, Darren Knuckle MMA was made for Derek. I mean, it literally knew like when it when the fight was happening, I had a laugh because I, you know, I'm I'm sitting Cade side, but I'm actually back like up against the bicycle rack, and I'm I'm talking with the security guard actually during the fight, and some guy in the front row was talking, and they were uh I could hear him talking about it, like what was gonna happen and and how this was gonna happen. And I just look back, I said, as soon as I saw him, you know, get the takedown and and the way he he moved to the uh to position, I go, it's over. And he goes, he goes, No, it's not. I said, in about 10 seconds, give it give it 10 seconds. And then next, you know, fucking six seconds later, you know, tap and I was like, he goes, How'd you know? I go, uh, I had a feeling. You know, it's just, I mean, I've been with Minner, you know, hit his whole career, man, started off as an amateur and and ran up through his UFC runnings and then hit his comeback fight. And now here, man, it's good to see someone like him uh get that W and especially like in that fashion uh under the bare knuckle MMA, you know. And uh I started working on bare knuckle MMA. I've been talking to Dean Toole for, I don't know, a year or two now. And and he's if for those that don't know, he's the matchmaker for Game Bread, uh Jorge Mazdwal's bare knuckle MMA promotion. And in order to get them here, we had to get it sanctioned. So last legislative session, um, I know a couple state senators, and I went in and I was like, hey man, I I I sent him a couple emails and then I shot him a couple text messages and I didn't hear nothing back. And I was like, I finally reached out one last time and I said, I said, Senator, you know, I understand if you don't want to do this, but can you just give me a yes or no? And he was like, Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Pip. I I I forgot to get back to you, and he's like, Hell yeah, man, let's do this, you know. So we were able to introduce bare knuckle MMA. We've got uh amateur boy thai sanctioned. We were able to get they call it MMA on ice, but it's basically bare knuckle. It's the best part of hockey, man. There's no game and all fight. So it's it's pretty cool, you know. And then and what was it four years ago or so? Um uh train and I and Henry were able to go to session and get with the senator, um, uh former Senator Justin Wayne, and he was able to get bare knuckle uh boxing uh sanctioned here. So that that led to BKFC coming in, and and it just kind of uh you know it made me think too, man. I was like, you know, this is something that's pretty cool to be able to go and actually get these these uh you know, these different sorts of combat sports sanctioned and and being able to be under the the Athletic Commission banner and to be able to open up opportunities for different fighters and and not only just an MMA but in the In the boxing, bare knuckle boxing, now the bare knuckle MMA. And uh we're hoping that we can do an ice war fight coming up here soon. You know, I I think uh Liberty First is the perfect place since it's got ice on the floor already. Um I've got a pic, I I've got a vision in my mind, like I just want to take out a section of the floor, like kind of back by where the bars are, rope it off, and then you know, boom, that's where they're gonna bang it out right there. And uh just switch it up, man. Keep the shows going, you know. That's why we introduced the youth wrestlers in there and and and keep them going because it's uh it's just you know, I want to give the kids a chance, man. And and I started off my combat career as a wrestler, right? And that's how I I kind of got my love for it. And and with these kids, you'll see them like they might have wrestled at Pinnacle Bank Arena in a tournament, but there was another, there was a thousand other kids with them. So they didn't have that spotlight on them. So them for them to be able to come out, man, and and down the catwalk and have their own walk-out music and and all that and get the spotlight on them, man, it's pretty cool to do that for these people and these kids.

SPEAKER_01 23:02

You know, one of the things that I really admire about the organization at large and and you personally as an entrepreneur is you share a lot of um self-critique, like, and you don't get ahead without looking for ways to be innovative and trying new things, and sometimes that means looking at your shit and saying, Okay, what do we need to improve here? So if you were to look at dynasty combat sports right now, and maybe even your other businesses as well, what specifically needs to improve? What do we need to do to take things to the next level?

SPEAKER_00 23:42

To be honest, you know, like um it's all about innovation, man, and and I'm a big believer in that, and and um innovation means disruption. So sometimes people can get a little bit uncomfortable with that. But for me, um one thing I I would love to do, and and and Pinnacle Bank does a great job of the production side of it with the lights and the catwalk and and all that stuff. Um, I would like to do, you know, and and this is my own critique, man. I would like I I think a little bit more production um at Liberty would be good, you know. Um, you know, it's like big fights, big lights, man. So I would like to do a little bit more. And and we are actually working on that now. It's not like it hasn't been talked about. You know, everything is about dollars and cents and we're making things work, but I think the production level, you're gonna start seeing some things come from us that you haven't seen before that are you like, oh shit, they stepped it up. You know what I mean? Because for me personally, man, I want to turn Dynasty into a brand where where people want to come to the dynasty fights, right? They want to come, man, I gotta go to the dynasty fights, man. That last one was fucking off the chain. They had this, you know, that's why we got like the t-shirt gun, you know, shooting out t-shirts and getting the crowd hype. You know, we got an MC that does a great job of getting crowd interaction. But, you know, that's that's a thing for me, man, is to bring back that I want people to want to come to the actual event itself and not so much because, like, oh, you know, so-and-so's fighting or whatever. Like, it you're always gonna have the the fans come for their fighters, but I also love to grab the fans that just want to come to the actual event itself for the experience, right? And and that's that's one thing that we're really working on here in 2026. And you're you're gonna see a few things here and there, man, coming up in the in in the future that you'd be like, oh shit, I just I didn't I didn't catch that last show. What are they doing? You know, so so get ready for it, man. We we got a few tricks up our sleeves that we're gonna pull out, and that's it, man. I I just think you got to keep trying to, you gotta kind of level up each show. You know what I mean? You can't get stagnant, and and that's just in business in general. And for me, what makes me strive is like me winning is bringing people along to win with me, right? Not just it ain't about this, actually isn't anything about me at all, man. This has this has shit to do with me, dude. This is a I do this for everybody else. This has nothing to do with me uh personally. I like to uplift people, and I feel that uh the only way I'm win is if people are winning with me and are along with me for that ride, man.

SPEAKER_01 26:09

You know, I wonder if, you know, because I have I share a very similar mindset, and I wonder if that has to do with our time in the music industry as well. Because, you know, one of the things that I learned, and unfortunately I didn't learn it until I got a lot later in the game. I wish I would have learned it in my late teens and early 20s, is instead of making fans of a certain individual or a certain band or a certain group, it's making them a fan of the product at large. And whenever I flip that script, my shows that I used to put together, it was the difference between drawing 150 people at the waiting room to selling out the waiting room. And and it was really a matter of just a couple of years where you know I flipped that script and I figured it out, but of course it was towards the end. But I I I hear a very similar sentiment with the dynasty product, and I couldn't agree with you more. Like it's man, there's so much.

SPEAKER_00 27:08

Yeah, no, for real, man. And like it's just I think if you start taking things and you're like, and if you're thinking about, oh, what do I think could be better, or or what like you can have a bunch of ideas, but to to really get it under grasp and see the whole picture, I think you gotta think, man, what would the fans like? Like, what would they want? Like, what do you think that people are are lacking in our show? And I'll ask people, man, I'll be like, hey man, you know, like who you here to see? What did you like about the fights? Like, you know, me, I don't sit down, so I'm out in the crowd, I'm I'm working and talking to people. And those are actually questions that I'll ask people, like strangers especially, you know, and and that was one of the things with having an MC is I'm like, hey man, like like interact with the crowd and ask them who they came to see, you know, and ask them if it's their first time at a fight. Um if it is, you know, say, hey man, congratulations. Here's two free tickets to the next event, you know, get their name and give it to me. And you know, like for me, I make sure I get comp tickets for every show, right? Like, I I want to be able to go out and I'll I'll I'll be at a restaurant and I'll I'll talk to the waiter and ask, hey man, you know, you ever go to any fights? You ever watch like UFC style? And and some of like, oh yeah, man, you know, and I've asked, have you ever been to a show? And and some have, and not that it's been ours or one of the past, or they've never been, and I'm like, well, hey, check it out, man. Here, here's a couple free tickets to the show, you know, or or I I go through Stories Coffee and the girl's like, you know, here's your thing, and she's really nice. And I'm saying, hey, do you got any plans, you know, Friday night? You know, do you got a boyfriend, you know? And I'm like, not I'm not hitting on you, but I'm like, here's two tickets for you and your boyfriend to come check out some fights, you know. And um, I did an event a while back. Uh I I grew up playing baseball, right? And I had a thing where the old organization that I played for, they they redid the fields, they had a ribbon cutting, the mayor was there. I I got to speak at it and speak to the kids that were playing on on my time and what that little, you know, what that organization meant to me as a kid. And and I got to meet up and link up with some old teammates that I had. And and one of them I was talking to was like, man, you do fights? And I was like, Yeah, and he goes, you know, he he he brought up something that his daughter had been to summon Link in. Unfortunately, it wasn't our show, and I was like, I go, bro, let me get you some tickets to a real event, right? So I said, and he was like, I said, This ain't no 300 people in a in a in a shit box. Let's let's go ahead and get you out to the arena. And then so I did, man. I actually gave him and his family some tickets to the to the Liberty First Show, and then his daughter and her boyfriend live in Lincoln, right? They go to UNL. And uh he hit me up, he said, Hey man, is is that office on table for my daughter and her boyfriend? He said, Hell yeah. So, you know, I gave him a couple table seats that I had comped over, and and they loved it, you know. And he texts me back and he's like, dude, thank you so much. They had an excellent time. And it's giving that people that that experience, you know what I mean, and just giving giving something to someone who might not have been there or might not have ever came. And then they next time are like, oh shit, that dynasty fight, you know what, man? They I got some free tickets, I'm gonna go ahead and buy some this time, you know. And it's it's just the like I try to think outside the box, I think a little different. So it's kind of, you know, when they say you got to spend money to make money, that's kind of my thing. And it's like, I have no problem hooking somebody up with something that that wants to go. It's something I like to do. Um, I call myself a connector, so I like to connect people together and and bringing them out to the fights. It's it's just one big, it's just one big family to me, man. That's what I want.

SPEAKER_01 30:33

Yes, and it just gets them through the door. Like back in the late 90s, early 2000s, like Best Buy would sell a CD from an artist that you like for $6.99, and they would call that a loss leader because they're selling that CD at a loss, but it gets them through the door, and hopefully they buy other shit and then be a fan of the actual the the store, you know? And you can you can apply that to so many different industries and be successful, and that's how word of mouth advertising works in the grand scheme of things as well.

SPEAKER_00 31:06

Yeah, no, man, it it's a hundred percent, dude. And and we're organic, like I said from the beginning, grassroots. It was just us, you know, we were just normal people doing normal stuff. You've never seen us at a show in a suit and tie that that's just not us, you know. Although I do like to dress up every now and again, but uh we show up and we're comfortable, man, and and and people know that, you know, and and I think it's just kind of that authenticity the authenticness of us that also has helped the show because we're just we're real, man. We don't bullshit, we don't give smoke and mirrors, we tell you the way it is, and and that's how it is. And I think that's got a lot to do with our success today.

SPEAKER_01 31:45

Dude, leaning into the fact that you're not afraid to be an innovator, and this is kind of taking the conversation to a different element of your life, you've also brought Nebraska's first SIPS manufacturing to Omaha while continuing development in business projects outside of MMA. How do you balance being involved in so many different industries without losing that focus that you obviously have and that passion that you obviously have?

SPEAKER_00 32:14

Man, honestly, it's uh I'm just built different. And I mean, I don't know how else to put it. Like seriously, you know, people ask me all the time, you know, how do you do this? How do you focus? And and I'll admit, man, sometimes I lose focus on one thing or I have to shift a little bit of focus to something else. But but again, I try to implement the right people for my team. I have a family that is very supportive. I have a loving wife who who literally is I I bounce ideas off her all the time, you know, and sometimes she's like, oh my God, that's great. And sometimes she's like, no, that's not it, you know. And and uh she's my soundboard, man, and my children are very supportive. My oldest son actually works right beside me um at the fights and in my concrete company. Um so I'm teaching him one day to take over the range so he he can do the same thing. He's got the entrepreneurial spirit. Uh even my youngest son, man, he he's not huge into the fights, but he comes out and he works the lights for us, and he, you know, he he works the booth. And and back in the day, I mean, there was times I I mean, I shit shoot not do like I remember September Fest when we did September Fest a couple years, and it it was me and my two boys, and they were probably, you know, fucking 12 and 8, and we're out there, we're setting up tables and chairs and and putting the numbers on the chairs and the tables, and and it was like it was a really a family affair, man. And um, I also wake up about four o'clock in the morning every day, and and I'll get my day started. And you know, I always start off first thing at the gym, and it it gives me clarity and it gives me that little bit of me time alone to to do it. And then in the craziness, sometimes, you know, I might be at the gym on my phone, sending emails. And the greatest thing I ever learned was you can actually uh you can actually send an email, but you can time it to go out at, you know, so people are like, Why are you emailing me at 4 30 in the morning, dude? What are you doing? And so it's not like a crazy person. I can put it to send at 8 a.m. like a normal guy. So, so that's really helped out a lot. But like, um, you know, with the other stuff, man, I just got in with the right rooms and and in the right crowd, and and I I found the right people to help me along on my journey, man. Like, I I got people who believe in me, who believe in the product, who who want to see me succeed. And those are people that I keep around me, man. I used to have a bunch of people who just wanted to, you know, to kind of just be there. And and and some were yes, man, and and some are just haters that stuck around, you know, and know that they'd say, you know, I uh man, good luck. I want to see you succeed, but behind my back, they were fucking, you know, fuck this dude and blah, blah, blah. And and I just I just try to put myself with the right people, man, positive people. Some of them have been strangers, some are people that I still, you know, I've known since kindergarten. And it just, it's a different array, but um, I just keep pushing forward. And and I I don't, and I've said this before, man, and I don't mean to sound like an arrogant prick, but man, I I'm not okay with mediocre. Like, I don't, like, some people it's cool to be in your lane and wake up and go to your nine to five and everything is good and hunky dory and and cool, man. I I'm that's great for you, but it's not for me. And I'm not saying that like I need to become a billionaire or even any of that. I'm just over here trying to figure out like who can I help next? What can I help next with? And and that's like where even with the housing man, when it comes to to the housing sector, you know, I could go build a fucking million dollar house if I wanted to. I I could go do these certain things or put my mind and focus onto that stuff, but instead I find myself in the affordable realm. You know, I feel that affordability um shouldn't end at the ribbon cutting. I think it should last a lifetime of a structure, and the people that I'm helping, you know, are in that poverty level where sometimes, you know, it's either they gotta pay their heating bill or their cooling bill or they gotta choose to eat. And I don't think that's fair. So um, I'm trying to bring a product here that can help solve that, you know, with with energy efficiency and in and structure. And and I uh I was fortunate enough to to get involved in it a few years ago, and it's um I was actually with another company, I was working for that company, which is actually strange because I don't really work for, you know, like using them on my own, but our our morals and values just kind of disaligned at the time, and and I I took what I've learned and and I said I can do this shit myself, man, and I'm gonna make it, I'll make it how I want to make it. I'm gonna do right by the people. This is my city, my state. I want to help out who's here. And and and that's what I did, man. I took the leap of faith and and I talked to several people that kind of are mentors to me and different things and asked their opinions. And I went to people that I work with in the industry, like, hey, I know we've been working under this umbrella, but if I went and chose to do it on my own, you know, would you support me? And they were like, dude, yeah, do it, you know, and and so I did, man, and it's been great. I've been working with the city of Omaha and uh um what was called the Omaha Inland Port Authority, and we're working to build uh an innovative construction campus in North Omaha. We're looking to bring different innovative building practices into one area of town that that needs help in rebuilding. A lot of our city is moving westward, and some of these, you know, uh other parts of the city get left behind, and we're trying to we're trying to change that. And I I'm glad to be a part of it. The people in that space and these rooms that I've met, and and they're just they're great people. They all have the same mindset, they're here to help. And and not just say they're here to help. You know, a lot of people are like, Oh, yeah, I'm here to help. And they're not, they're in it for for the wrong reasons, but these people here are actually in it for the right reasons, and it's it's it's a great, it's a great feeling to have, and it's it's nice to be able to meet with these people and and bounce ideas off each other, and and it it's crazy, man, to think that I'm I'm a part of something like this. And and and once it kicks off, man, it's gonna be the first of its kind, you know, in in the world from what from what we've we've been doing.

SPEAKER_01 37:52

Dude, I love this reoccurring theme about innovation and challenging yourself to be an inner innovator. So whether it's a fight card, a construction project, or a major business venture, leadership usually gets tested when things go wrong. How do you personally handle pressure and decision making when the stakes are high?

SPEAKER_00 38:15

Man, it just depends on the situation. But over the years, man, one thing I I've had to learn to do is pivot, man. Like pivot. Like you can't, you you have a plan, like, ah, this is my plan, and then all of a sudden something comes up and you're like, fuck. You know, that didn't go where I'm supposed to go. You know what I mean? So what do you do? Do you sit there and you cry about it and be like, oh my god, it didn't work out, or you'd be like, fuck, man, I guess I'm gonna try this, you know, and pivot to the next one. And I've been doing that my my whole life, man. You know, I I've had uh, you know, I talk about going to prison and and and stuff like that. And it's like I I could have taken that and let everything collapse and fold and and just be like, oh, that's it, man. I'm just gonna be this is my life, or I can take it and I can pivot from it, I can build off of it and I can do better. It's a lesson. I I got a saying, man, there's never losses, only lessons, you know. So it's you have to think about that. You can either sit there and and cry and get down about it, or you can regardless, the day goes on, right? Like you're not, it's it's not, it didn't kill you, you know, like they would have said, like, but did you die? And it's like, no, I didn't, you know, it sucked, I might have lost something, but you can either make it break you or you can make it make you. And and that's what I try to do is just build off of that and and don't let anything get me down and or down for too long. You know, you got you got 24 hours in a day, man. Live that shit to the fullest, you know. And and and here's another thing, man. I got kids, you know, and and they might not be, well, I uh one is little, I got I got from 28 to 2, man, so I got a ride a wide array, plus grandkids, man, and I'm not gonna let them ever see me down and out, or you know, when I'm dead and gone, be like, oh man, my dad just, you know, sat down and just let the world get him, or you know, my papa folded under pressure. You know, fuck that, man. I ain't gonna let that shit break me. I'm gonna show them, man, like, hey, we can do this, right? Like, this is real shit. And and I'm not don't fold for nobody, man. Don't let no one tell you no. Don't let no one dim your shine. Don't let no one try to, you know, make it out to be like you can't do something. And and and I I've thought about that, man. Like, even in the fight world, there was uh I've helped out people like like uh you know, like uh disadvantaged fighters, man. Some of some of the handicaps. And I was like, I watched a thing about a guy, you know, on HBO one time, and I was like, uh Garrett Hovey, I think was his name, and it's he was a fighter with Down syndrome. And I thought, Jesus Christ, man, if this kid can do it, like anybody can, you know. So we had an adaptive fighter, we called it. And uh I thought, you know, people always tell these people, you know, growing up, oh, you can be anything you want, you know, but oh, but you can't fight. You know, what the fuck is that, man? Like, like, come on. So I I helped out some adaptive fighters throughout the years with sponsorships and different things, and it was like they deserve it too, man. Everyone deserves a shot, everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and and that's how I live my life with it, man.

SPEAKER_01 41:08

You know, one thing that has been a common reoccurring theme on my show, and I I have to be vulnerable and kind of throw this out into the universe is like imperfect versions of ourselves. Like we uh have so much knowledge that we gain over time, and how we might view the world 20 years ago is definitely much different than how we view the world now. Like, I'm definitely one person that 20 years ago I would totally yuck another person's yum and say, ah, that sucks. That's shit. You know, you know, and now I'm like, no, I see value in that. I see value in what everybody brings to the table. You know, you talked a little bit about your past, and a huge theme in your story is that your past doesn't define your future. Why is that message so important for you to share publicly, especially with younger people trying to reinvent themselves?

SPEAKER_00 42:03

Man, because it is true, you know, like you talked about the things you thought 20 years ago, you don't think about that now. And and I think a lot of people get stuck in in that period of their life or like they're in it and they're like, oh man, and I'm like, hey, dude, listen, you know, what you think now is not what you're gonna think in, you know, maybe six months or a year or 10 years down the road. So you have to be open. We're human, man. We all grow, right? We're just like we're just like flowers, right? You gotta you gotta add a little bit of water, some sunshine, and those different things in life will help you grow. And and I I I truly feel, you know, my dad had a saying, man, he was like, the sun's gotta shine on a dog's ass every now and again, you know, and so I think that everybody, you know, like it's true. It might not, you might be down and out, but like you just can't get caught in the in the all the in the in the pity parties, man, and in the poor me's because there's a lot of people out there, like, no matter how bad you have it, man, somebody always has it worse, right? Like, and in every day that you wake up and you're breathing and you're able to walk, you know, get out of bed and and and get dressed and do certain things, there's some people who who can't do that. And and one of them big things is freedom, man. Like, you have the freedom to live your life how you want to live. So you can choose to do whatever you want, but I choose to do it positively and and to try to be a better person and to make the world a better place. And you know, and and I I've been through some shit, man. I I've lost my mother at a young age. I lost my father, I've lost siblings, you know, I've lost friends, you know. And I when I mean lost, I mean dead. Like they ain't coming back, man. I can't pick a phone up and say, hey mom, I got a problem, or hey dad, can you help me out? Or hey bro, I got this, you know, like like they're gone, man. And and so like I had to learn to be able to, you know, to also like turn to other people to help me out. I I I found some good people in my life, but also like sometimes you gotta buck up and just in in and want it for yourself too. You know what I mean? And and that's For that's a big thing for me, man, is like I don't want to be the Philip I was at 16 and 17. And what's crazy is like a lot of people to this day still think of me as that as that person, man. And like dude, the growth I've had and the things I do, or it's it's just it's it's it's crazy, man. Because some of these people, you know, bring up things and I'm like, man, that was that was 10 years ago, you know what I mean, or 15 years ago. And I'm like, I that's I'm not even the I'm not even the same person at all I was back then. I mean, it's to a point I am, I'm always gonna be me, but like when it comes to two thoughts and beliefs, like sometimes, man, you you outgrow those thoughts or beliefs, or or something happened to you that made you realize, shit, man, I was wrong. You know, and that's another thing, like uh accountability to me, accountability goes a long way. And the moment that I started taking accountability for all the shit that was going wrong in my life, it changed, man. You know, like man, I used to blame the cops, like, oh, I can't believe I got arrested, I can't believe that cop was there, you know. And it was like, no, man, you shouldn't have put yourself in that situation, dumbass. You know what I mean? Like, and that that was a real thing, you know, and it just that that that's really it, man. It it's mindset, man. Mind over matter, and and uh I I I truly feel that that's it. You know what I mean? It's you you gotta find a little bit of a cell i i in yourself to do it and and and move on to be the bigger and better person.

SPEAKER_01 45:23

Yes. Familiarity bias is what that's called when people from your past only recognize you from your past instead of all the the progress that you've made in life. And I don't think it matters what adversity you've gone through, how successful you've become. People just wrongfully get that image of you in that one position in life, and it just sticks there. And and sometimes that's that's something I have to fight to overcome every single day. But then at the end of the day, it's like fuck them, who cares?

SPEAKER_00 45:56

Yeah, you know, and here's another thing with that, man, is like sometimes your growth, they don't like that. It makes them like like they're stuck where they're at, right? Like it and and they're not happy. So they're trying to bring you back to where to their level, you know, and like and I I I know people like that, man, and like, you know, some people still do the same things day in and day out, you know, and it's like it's like the bar scene and this and that. And I'm not I'm not knocking anyone for it. If that's what you want to do, that's cool, man. It's a free country, you can do what you want. It's just not for me. You know, I I don't find the uh I don't find that as an outlet that helps me anymore, you know. So I don't do it. It's not that I don't, I don't care if you do it, but like don't hate on me because I ain't, you know. It's it's just but again, like as you start to grow in life and and people grow apart in different paths, you'll get them same people who don't like your growth, who don't like your, you know, even if it ain't success per se, they defend like your growth or like he doesn't, you know, he he's doing this now and blah blah blah. And it's like fuck you hating on me for, man. I just changed, like I'm just I'm just doing me. I don't say anything about you doing what you do, you know what I mean? So sometimes I I I truly feel that when it's like that, it's just because you've outgrown those people or you've outpaced them and and they're not okay with it. So they don't know what else to do, but try to see you as that person that that was back in the day, you know, and it it just is what it is, man. And and you can't people please all the time, and so you're never gonna get everyone a hundred percent satisfied with what you're doing, and and you gotta be okay with that. Like you've gotta have the confidence and the self-worth to be like, you know what, it's okay, man. I can't please everybody and and just run with it and just be you, be a true, authentic you, and then that's that's when life gets better, man.

SPEAKER_01 47:44

Absolutely. I so agree with that. One of the terms that I use a lot is looking through windshields as opposed to looking through rear view mirrors and just kind of like look at progress that way. And speaking of progress, you've already built successful companies. One of the Midwest's premier MMA brands, when you look ahead five to ten years, what are you ultimately trying to build? Not just as a businessman, but as a leader and a legacy builder.

SPEAKER_00 48:14

Man, I'm trying to build a family dynasty, bro. Like, like to me, truly it is it's about it's about family and leaving a legacy for my kids and my grandkids that that that they might not have had, you know, and an opportunity, you know, not saying they couldn't do it without me, but like I I just want to be able to to set a standard for my kids to see that they can do anything that they put their mind to in life, because if I can do it, literally, man, anybody can do it. I know people say that a lot and everything, and but it it's really true, man. Like I've um I've I've fought back from some some dark places and and and I was able to pull it out. And and I'm not saying I'm the greatest thing, you know. I I still deal with turmoils and struggles, like like every other human, man. We're all human at the end of the day, but I man, I'm just trying to build a dynasty, man, for my family. I'm trying to leave a family legacy that that people look at me and say, Man, I'm proud to call that man my dad.

SPEAKER_01 49:07

I love that. My closing question that I ask every guest on the show, it doesn't matter what industry they come from, and it's kind of off the wall, but I love everybody's different perspectives. If you had the opportunity to give advice to somebody, what's your advice for making the world a better place tomorrow than what it is today through the lens of your experience?

SPEAKER_00 49:30

Man, I'm gonna tell you right now, first off, when I say when I'm doing legacy for for people to say they're proud to be my that I was their father, I want to also say that I want people to be proud of me that I was their friend or that we, you know, like I'm a friend that they were proud to have, right? But the one thing that I will tell you, and I say this quite a bit, but is to be the person you needed to be when you were younger. That's it, man. Like, like, like if you think about it when you were going through hard times and you were struggling and you were whatever, and you just needed that one person to be like, you know, hey man, let me help you or or what's going on, you know, be that be that ear that someone needs, you know, just to just to spill it, right? You know, don't you don't have to say nothing, but just just man, a smile and a hi and a how you doing can go a long way. And if you need to be, just be the person that you needed when you were younger, man. And and that that's really it. That that's that's truly my my thing. That's the best advice I can give anybody right there.

SPEAKER_01 50:28

For sure, man. I gotta tell you, uh, it's been a hot minute since I've had a personal friend on the show. You know, I've uh had people from all industries on, and uh it it's been going really well, and I I feel truly blessed as as I'm sure you do with the the level of success that you had. When I started this show five years ago, which again, humble brag moment, that's a long time for a podcast to list last. Most of them usually end after a year. But you know, when I started this show five years ago, um, one of my goals was to have a cast of recurring characters, people that I sincerely cared about. And man, I am so proud to call you a friend, and I am so proud of you as a human being, and I cannot wait until we can do this again in the future.

SPEAKER_00 51:18

Man, anytime you want to do it, I would love to come on. It's great, Mike. You're always a great person to talk. You're you're always like enthusiastic. You're you're one of the good ones to be around, man. You bring that positive energy, and I think that's why we vibe so much. You know what I mean? It's just like you said earlier, man, real recognized, real, and and and that's what we got going on here. So it's nice to be able to talk life of people who've been through the same things and want positive things for everybody else in life, not just themselves, you know, and uh that's it, man. I would love to come back on here and and and and talk more about whatever it is we want to talk about.

SPEAKER_01 51:51

Fuck yeah, dude. Now, here's the grand opportunity. Plug all your shit. Tell everybody where they can find your businesses and things that you have coming up online.

SPEAKER_00 52:02

So, man, uh first off, I'm gonna plug the fights. So we've got Dynasty Combat Sports coming back for our uh our summer showdown. It's gonna be June 27th at Liberty First Credit Union. You can get the tickets at nitrotics.com. Uh, you can check out the Facebook page, Dynasty Combat Sports at Facebook. Uh, we've got an Instagram, and then you know, for business for me, man, uh Dynasty Concrete LLC, you can check us out at dcconcreteomaha.com. Uh, we got Dynasty Concrete Omaha on Instagram. I do not have a Facebook page, personal or business. Um, I also have what's called S Panels Omaha, and you can check out the website at uh www.spanelsomaha.com. We also have an Instagram, S Panels Omaha. Uh yeah, man, and and I got another one coming up, man. Be on the lookout for dynasty development. We're gonna be we're gonna be doing some cool things with some development and and some housing, and uh we're gonna we're gonna definitely put a dent in Omaha, man, and try to make it a better place for sure. I mean, not Omaha's a bad place, but I'm gonna try to do some good things here, man. And you got some speaking engagements coming up, right? Yeah, yeah, actually I do, man. So so June 6th in the morning, uh it's Startup Summer Summit us, and and I'll be there speaking, man. There's actually a lot of great speakers. So if you're an entrepreneur or business owner and you're looking to level up and get to the next level, man, you need to come check it out. You can get tickets online. You can go to my Instagram page, man, uh at DC Pip is my Instagram. You you can find me in there and follow the links and check the post and follow along for what I got going. And that's it, man. I I'm just here to build a better community and a better place for people to live and help out those who want some help and and make friends along the way. Hell yes.

SPEAKER_01 53:47

Not just friends, family, my guy. Absolutely, brother. Well, thank you so much for doing the show, Pip. The world's a much better place with you and it, my friend. I appreciate it, brother. I appreciate that for sure. You as well, buddy. Once again, I'd like to thank my friend Pip for joining me on the show today. Make sure you are following Dynasty Combat Sports on Instagram at DynastyCombat Sports. Follow Dynasty Concrete Omaha at Dynasty Concrete Omaha. And follow to Fumajos at Ask DocTannels.