Bruce Buffer Raises the Stakes in UFC & Poker

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the eighth episode, Connor speaks with legendary UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer in an exclusive in-depth interview after Buffer's deep run in the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $50,000 High Roller. Buffer, a longtime poker player, finished in eighth place for a career-best $212,423 after kicking off Day 3 with his trademark "it's time" introduction.

Buffer talked about finding his long-lost half-brother, Michael Buffer, and becoming his manager, the early days of the UFC, the similarities between poker and martial arts, his relationships with Joe Rogan and Dana White and the time he injured himself in a poker tournament before announcing the biggest UFC fight in history.

This interview was filmed at the 2024 WSOP inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Bruce Buffer by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Bruce Buffer and Connor Richards on X.

Learn More About Life Outside Poker!

Time Stamps   TIME TOPIC   0:00 Intro   0:44 Final tabling the $50k High Roller   3:25 Bustout hand   4:15 Learning poker from his dad   5:40 Playing poker with Tobey Maguire and Leonardo Dicaprio   6:47 Growing up in Malibu   9:07 Finding his half-brother Michael Buffer   12:31 Trademarking Michael's phrase and becoming his manager   13:41 Early UFC days   14:48 Having a fighter's mentality in poker and life   15:49 Dana White   16:26 Changing public perception of UFC   17:39 Standout personalities in UFC   19:02 Joe Rogan   21:40 Meeting the cast of Friends   22:14 Rolled ankle in poker tournament before biggest UFC fight in history   23:27 Advice for staying motivated   24:20 Different businesses   26:21 Angel AI   27:05 What makes you hopeful?   27:38 Advice for younger self   29:10 Favorite life lesson from poker