Cage Rage's Insane Rise: Anderson Silva, Dana White Drama & UK MMA Chaos (Andy Geer Part 2)

In part two of the Cage Rage Chronicles, promoter Andy Geer reveals how the UK promotion went from regional shows to an international powerhouse that attracted Anderson Silva, Melvin Manhoef, and the biggest names in early 2000s MMA. Mike Davis and Joey Venti continue the deep dive into Cage Rage’s explosive rise, the business decisions that built a global brand with almost no TV money, Pride FC crossovers, and the wild behind-the-scenes stories that defined British MMA history. Andy Geer discusses the UFC 38 Lee Murray vs Tito Ortiz street fight fallout, the impact of The Ultimate Fighter (plus his own early reality show treatment idea), upgrading production with Stephen Quadros “The Fight Professor,” Paul Daley’s early wars, sponsoring UK talents like Brad Pickett and Paul Daley to American Top Team, Anderson Silva’s run including his reverse elbow prediction, Pride FC fighter exchanges and rule changes (head stomps & soccer kicks), the Wolf Slayer gym drama involving Michael Bisping, Dana White and Pride executives ringside together, major sponsorship deals including $100k+ betting money on the mat, stacked cards at Wembley, Vitor Belfort backstage moments, and the launch of their contender series. This is the pivotal rise period that helped put European MMA on the map — essential for fans of early UFC, Pride FC, and the gritty business of promoting in the pre-TV boom era. What was your favourite moment from this era of Cage Rage? Drop it below and let us know what you want covered in Part 3 👇 0:00 start 0:47 MMA history podcast intro 1:20 guest introduction 2:39 experience at UFC 38 5:42 thoughts on Lee Murray Tito Ortiz street fight 9:39 Knock Down Sport Budo 10:02 thoughts on Frank Warren 11:21 competitor “Cage Fighting Championship” 12:11 pitching “TUF” to the UFC 15:30 dealings with Stephen Quadros 17:33 experience with Wanderlei Silva 19:15 Melvin Manhoef vs Matthias Riccio 20:52 Cage Rage 10 fight card 22:47 Richard Bowkett vs Atilla Kubilay 25:47 Paul Daley vs Paul Jenkins 27:54 sponsoring fighters 31: