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, playing poker with Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio and the time he injured himself in a poker tournament before announcing the biggest UFC fight in history.
Nicholas Julia: K♠J♠5♠ / 4♥6♠9♣5♣
Yuri Dzivielevski: XxXx / 2♥Q♦10♦3♣ / Xx
Yuri Dzivielevski completed and Nicholas Julia raised for his opponent to call. Dzivielevski got into the lead on fourth and check-called a bet before both checked fifth street. Another check-call by Dzivielevski followed on sixth and they checked seventh.
Dzivielevski announced a pair of treys but Julia had that beat with his pair of fives to further extend his now commanding lead.
Nicholas Julia raised in the small blind and Masafumi Iijima defended the big blind. Julia bet the K♦8♣6♥ flop for his table neighbour to call and a second bet on the A♥ turn by Julia did the trick to win the pot uncontested.
Julia then raised the button and Yuri Dzivielevski came along in the big blind. Dzivielevski check-called the K♦6♠5♣ flop and Q♦ turn, then checked the 9♣ river. Julia checked behind and won the pot with J♠5♠ versus 10♣5♥.
Dzivielevski raised from the small blind next and Julia called, but quickly folded to a bet on the Q♠9♠2♠ flop.
Yuri Dzivielevski raised from the small blind, Nicholas Julia three-bet from the big blind, and Dzivielevski called.
The flop came 8♠5♥4♦. Dzivielevski check-called a bet from Julia.
The 7♦ peeled off on the turn and Dzivielevski check-called another bet.
The river brought the the 2♠ and Dzivielevski called a final bet from Julia who revealed A♦8♣ to collect an over three million chip pot as the three players continue to trade chips.
Yuri Dzivielevski raised on the button which saw Nicholas Julia call in the small blind and Masafumi Iijima in the big blind.
The flop rolled out J♦5♣8♣ and action checked around to Dzivielevski who bet and Julia called. Masafumi Iijima raised and Dzivielevski raised which only Iijima called.
Iijima checked over to Dzivielevski who bet on the 2♦ turn and Iijima called.
On the river A♠, Iijima checked over to Dzivielevski who bet and Iijima who called.
Dzivielevski turned over A♦8♦ for aces up and it was good for the pot.
Nicholas Julia raised to 250,000 on the button and Masafumi Iijima called in the big blind. On the A♣6♦5♣ flop, Julia continued for 300,000 and Iijima folded.
Iijima limped the next small blind and Yuri Dzivielevski checked his option. The K♥8♥7♠ flop brought a bet of 150,000 by Iijima for Dzivielevski to call before the former checked the K♦ turn. Dzivielevski bet 400,000 and took down the pot uncontested.
Yuri Dzivielevski raised to 280,000 on the button and in the big blind Masafumi Iijima called.
The flop rolled out 2♥J♣7♣ and Iijima checked over to Dzivielevski who bet 360,000 and Iijima called.
Iijima checked over to Dzivielevski a second time on the 10♦ turn which saw Dzivielevski bet 900,000 and Iijima moved all in, which Dzivielevski responded to by quickly folded.