JAB LIFE

NEWS

Apr 2

Written By Tateki Matsuda

Summary & Key Takeaways

During my Nice trip for the Hololife Summit Côte d'Azur 2026 keynote, I appeared on "Ground & Talk" on JAB Life, the French-language combat sports media platform.
Fellow guests: UFC fighter Axel Sola (11-1-1, fresh off Fight of the Night at UFC London), prospect Samba Sima, and amateur Soan Carpaye.
Hosts Alexandre Herbinet (ex-RMC Sport) and Aldric Cassata (head coach of Boxing Squad) embody Nice's integrated fight ecosystem.
I trained at Boxing Squad—home of Manon Fiorot (UFC #2 flyweight)—because talking about fighting without stepping on the mat is not how I operate.

French MMA Media "JAB Life"

What a Japanese Fighter Discussed at the Heart of Nice's Combat Sports Ecosystem

Fought as a UFC fighter. Researches as a biohacker. And now, sat behind the mic on French combat sports media.

What does a Japanese fighter with all three of those credentials say to the French-speaking MMA community?

During a recent trip to Nice, France—primarily for a keynote at the Hololife Summit Côte d'Azur 2026—I took on another significant engagement.

An appearance on "Ground & Talk," a show within JAB Life, the French-language combat sports media platform.

Here's what happened inside that studio.

What Is JAB Life?

The Voice of French MMA, Broadcasting from Nice

First, some context. JAB Life may not yet be well-known in the U.S. and Japan, but anyone following the French-speaking MMA scene knows this platform.

JAB Life is a dedicated media outlet covering MMA, boxing, and combat sports culture in the Francophone world. Every week it delivers fight debriefs, preview analyses, long-form interviews with fighters and coaches, and historical breakdowns. The show is recorded at Recordia Studios in Nice and distributed across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Now, here's the critical detail.

Inside "Ground & Talk" — What Happened During the Recording

The Guest Lineup

I appeared on "Ground & Talk," JAB Life's long-form interview show featuring fighters, coaches, and key figures from French and international MMA. The episode was recorded at JAB Life's studio in Nice.

The guest roster for this episode:

Axel Sola — UFC fighter (11-1-1). Appearing shortly after his brutal three-round war against Mason Jones at UFC London (March 21, 2026)—a fight that earned Fight of the Night and is being called an early Fight of the Year candidate. Sola was hospitalized for precautionary CT scans after the bout. Samba Sima — Rising prospect generating attention in French MMA. Soan Carpaye — An amateur fighter building a following in France with a compelling personal story. Tateki Matsuda — Former UFC fighter. Appeared as the Japanese guest.

The Hosts Reveal the Ecosystem

JAB Life is co-hosted by two people:

Alexandre Herbinet: Former journalist at RMC Sport, one of France's major sports media outlets

Aldric Cassata: Head coach of the MMA gym Boxing Squad

Notice that?

The head coach of Boxing Squad is also the co-host of a major French combat sports media platform.

In Nice, fighter development (the gym) and media output (the podcast) are integrated through the same individual. When the show's host also coaches top-tier fighters, the analysis on-air isn't outside commentary. It's knowledge from inside the room.

What I connected with wasn't just a podcast. It was Nice's combat sports ecosystem itself.

Boxing Squad

Why I Hit the Mat after Hitting the Mic

One more thing needs to be noted about this trip.

During the stay in Nice, I visited Boxing Squad and joined training on-site. Boxing Squad is the gym led by Aldric Cassata, serving as the training base for fighters at the highest level:

Manon Fiorot — UFC Women's Flyweight, ranked #2 (as of March 2026). Challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the title at UFC 315. Born and based in Nice. Axel Sola — UFC fighter (record: 11-1-1). Earned Fight of the Night at UFC London, March 2026. Based in Nice.

Why visit the gym after the media appearance?

Simple. Talking about fighting without stepping on the mat is not how I operate.

The quality of coaching, the dynamics between fighters, the feedback between rounds—none of that is visible from the sideline. You have to participate physically to access that information. And having done so is what lets you sit behind the mic as someone who knows the environment firsthand, not secondhand.

FRENCH MMA HUB

The convergence of combat sports and sports science is advancing at the operational level across Europe. In hubs like Nice's Boxing Squad, elite fighter development and science-based performance management are already integrated. And platforms like JAB Life are giving that evolution a voice.

In Japan, these two domains remain largely separated.

This JAB Life appearance was one step toward building an international bridge across that divide.

My mission is to operate as a player who connects fighting and science—opening circuits between Japan and the world. The recording in Nice confirmed that one of those circuits is now live.

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