poteatdahlion poteatdahlion Fight In Sight Podcast interview

The poteatdahlion poteatdahlion Fight In Sight Podcast interview gave Timmy B a chance to ask South Carolina jiu-jitsu competitor Dalian Poteet about his upcoming Scrap 7 appearance, why he welcomes UFC fighters into wrestling events, and a proposed retirement fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Justin Gaethje. Poteet also explained why his approach to competition is built on action rather than anger.

How did Dalian Poteet get into jiu-jitsu?

Dalian Poteet started training at about 25 after growing up watching the Ultimate Fighting Championship and wanting to become a fighter. He began with jiu-jitsu, wrestling and kickboxing at Revolution Martial Arts, then concentrated on grappling when family life required him to choose one path and he decided he did not enjoy being hit in the face.

As a teenager, Poteet and his friends used to fight in the backyard. They stopped doing that as they got older, but his interest in fighting remained. When he finally joined Revolution Martial Arts, he had several disciplines to choose from rather than a single competitive plan.

After his oldest daughter was born, Poteet said her mother told him he could keep one of those pursuits. Jiu-jitsu and wrestling suited him better than kickboxing. He told Timmy B that he had been training for about seven years and competing for roughly the same length of time.

Poteet played football growing up and also enjoys chess. For him, grappling combines the athletic demands he likes with a tactical contest. That distinction matters to the way he trains: he does not see getting angry as a useful substitute for making decisions on the mat.

What are Dalian Poteet’s next jiu-jitsu events, and what is his Scrap 7 record?

Dalian Poteet said he had a Carolina Combat League superfight and a tournament in its 155-pound bracket coming up, followed the next weekend by Scrap 7 at Triumph Fight Academy on November 22. He had competed twice before under Scrap Superfights, winning one match by decision and losing the other by decision.

Carolina Combat League and its 155-pound tournament

The Carolina Combat League tournament carried a $1,000 prize, according to Poteet. He spoke warmly of Ricky and Ricky’s wife, who he said put on a good promotion. Competing for people he knows in the local community is part of the appeal, as is the chance to enter different brackets and rule sets.

Returning to Scrap Superfights for Scrap 7

Poteet said he knew the Scrap promoter and had competed on the promotion previously, including an appearance in January and another the year before in June. He credited the promoter with putting on strong superfight events. Scrap 7 also offered him a chance to test himself before worlds, which he said was approaching.

His two Scrap results are not his overall jiu-jitsu record. Poteet said he could not give an exact career figure, despite having competed for years. He wanted fans watching Scrap 7 to expect an active match: he prefers sustained exchanges to spending six minutes stalling and said he would try to put on a show.

Why does Dalian Poteet use the name No Mad Jiu-Jitsu?

Dalian Poteet uses No Mad Jiu-Jitsu as an Instagram handle because it works two ways: he has trained at different gyms and while traveling, and he does not want to compete angry. He said some people call him “Dalian the Stallion,” but he does not consider it an established competitive nickname.

Training at The Mat Factory and in Austin

His wife is from Pennsylvania, and Poteet said he checks out The Mat Factory when they visit. His family also travels to Austin, Texas, where his sister-in-law lives, and he looks for places to train there. Those trips help explain the “nomad” side of the handle: he wants good rounds wherever he can find them.

What “No Mad” means on the mat

Poteet said relatives who do not practice martial arts sometimes tell him to get angry before competing. He rejects that approach. Introducing the principle behind his handle, Poteet put it plainly:

“I don't ever try to roll angry for a reason to hurt somebody.”

He described jiu-jitsu as a chess match with athletic demands, not a reason to hurt a training partner. That outlook does not make his competitive style passive. Poteet said he enjoys scrambles and back-and-forth matches, and wants to keep his bouts entertaining as he gets older.

What did Dalian Poteet say about UFC fighters competing in wrestling?

Dalian Poteet supports UFC fighters taking part in wrestling and other grappling events when their promotions allow it. He argued that crossover competition can give athletes useful experience and push opponents to develop better answers to strong wrestling, though he acknowledged that an injury could disrupt a fighter’s plans.

He follows the jiu-jitsu scene more closely than the UFC roster, but also watches some wrestling events. A friend who trains in North Carolina has a strong interest in wrestling, and Poteet encounters experienced wrestlers when he trains in Pennsylvania.

Those sessions affect his view of the crossover. He said some of the Pennsylvania athletes have wrestled since childhood and are now adding jiu-jitsu. Poteet described himself as more of a counter-wrestler who mixes in some judo and scrambles; training with collegiate-level wrestlers exposes him to skills he wants to handle better.

For the same reason, he sees value when high-profile MMA fighters test themselves outside their usual setting. Poteet said wrestling-heavy fighters can force the rest of a division to adapt, just as earlier successes with jiu-jitsu led fighters to broaden their skills. He did not dismiss the injury risk, but considered the opportunity to become more well-rounded worthwhile.

What did Dalian Poteet say about a Volkanovski vs Gaethje retirement fight?

Dalian Poteet said he would watch a proposed retirement fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Justin Gaethje. He viewed both as battle-tested fighters who have entertained fans for years, and argued that a bout between them would be worthwhile even if neither planned to continue competing afterward.

Timmy B raised the possibility of the matchup, rather than announcing a booked fight. Poteet responded by recalling how difficult it was to watch Volkanovski get stopped by Islam Makhachev and how pleased he was to see Volkanovski recover the title. He also said he was glad to see Gaethje win a belt and would not count him out of a fight.

Poteet distinguished the hypothetical matchup from giving an immediate title opportunity to a fighter returning after a long absence. He questioned Ronda Rousey getting Amanda Nunes on her return and voiced a similar concern about Jon Jones receiving a title fight after time away. In his view, Volkanovski and Gaethje would bring recent, sustained competition to a meeting between them.

Dustin Poirier’s retirement also stayed with him. Poteet said it made him emotional because Poirier had fought hard against difficult opponents. That response helps explain his interest in a Volkanovski–Gaethje bout: he values a farewell that lets established fighters compete against someone they respect.

What did Dalian Poteet say about farming and sponsors?

Dalian Poteet works as a farmer and sells meat, but said he did not have a formal sponsor to announce for his upcoming events. Elite occasionally gives him gear in exchange for a review, and he was considering asking the jiu-jitsu clothing company Nomad about gear.

Farming came up when Timmy B asked whether Poteet sold athlete merchandise. Poteet said he did not. He joked about the prospect of selling meat through his athlete profile, but did not say he had set up an online shop or launched any branded clothing.

For training gear, he said he wore an Elite rash guard and liked Nomad apparel. One of his training partners was sponsored by Nomad, and Poteet planned to speak with the company. He also mentioned Gold’s as another option he uses, without claiming it as a sponsor.

His immediate invitation to fans was simpler than a merchandise pitch: watch him compete at Scrap 7 on November 22. Poteet promised to make the match active, consistent with his preference for exchanges over stalling.