HKL Does the Voice vs. Mayhem

In the fight world there really isn't a Barbara Walters or Hugh Downs, but instead there is Michael "The Voice" Schiavello. The Voice, as he is called, is best known for his broadcast skills which he displays on HDNet at a near mind-numbing rate. His resume has bulged like a wallet full of receipts within the past few years, eclipsing most of his peers regardless of their positions now. If you are a fan of MMA and you know the Voice, you know that he could almost single-handedly make Strikeforce broadcasts bearable for once, but for now, we'll settle with what we can get. 

What this means is Schiavello puts on his Barbara Walters or amiable David Frost cap and tosses together a decent autobiographical interview with Jason "Mayhem" Miller. Schiavello and Miller have a natural chemistry that works for them, which makes the interview format seem like second nature, playing off more like a conversation between two friends than it is interviewer and interviewee. The first in this series, with Joe Rogan, served as the most famous color commentator in the fight world being interviewed by the man who seems primed to take his spot. This time it plays off a lot less like Schiavello in awe and instead Schiavello in control and getting what he wants out of Mayhem. 

If you aren't a huge Jason "Mayhem" Miller fan the show will still appeal to you, as you get unique insight into the life of a MMA fighter. There have been many biographies written about MMA fighters, but they are usually presented in a dry manner. Instead, this time, we are treated to what feels like a long, freeform stream of anecdotes about how Miller came up into the fight industry, how he originally got interested in fighting and how his family life helped mold him into the workhorse that he is today. 

There is also some rather honest insight from Miller on how it feels to be seen as a television star, starring on a moderately-successful MTV series (hey, it is no Jersey Shore, right?) and how it has affected his career as a fighter. Of course, no Mayhem interview would be complete without talking about the Strikeforce brawl, which Schiavello is able to break up the monotony of the topic with a rather unique and playful approach.

If all else fails, you get to find out how Mayhem feels about Justin Bieber's animal magnetism.

The Voice vs. Mayhem airs @ 10PM Eastern time on HDNet this Friday, July 30th.