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Wiz Khalifa and Superlek Kiatmoo9 | Source: YouTube/YOKKAO
Wiz Khalifa and Superlek Kiatmoo9 | Source: YouTube/YOKKAO

The Punch That Hurt Jay Glazer: Wiz Khalifa Explained the Technique Behind a Body Shot and His Go-To Combination for Defending Himself

Milla Sigaba
Jun 18, 2026
10:12 A.M.

His music career made him famous, but one hobby introduced him to championship fighters, elite trainers, and a training environment unlike anything most fans would expect. It also led to a moment that left a veteran sports insider talking.

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For years, Wiz Khalifa's dedication to fitness has been almost as well known as his music. What began as a personal commitment to health eventually evolved into a serious passion for martial arts, particularly Muay Thai.

Wiz Khalifa performs during the 2024 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 28 in Indio, California. | Source: Getty Images

Wiz Khalifa performs during the 2024 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 28 in Indio, California. | Source: Getty Images

That journey brought him into contact with some of the biggest names in combat sports and led to training sessions with former UFC champions, Hall of Famers, and high-level athletes.

During a 2018 appearance on "Hot Ones," he reflected on those experiences, including the body shot that reportedly hurt sports broadcaster and NFL insider Jay Glazer and the simple move he would rely on if he ever had to defend himself.

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Wiz Khalifa during Rumor Friday's at Red Martini on August 12, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images

Wiz Khalifa during Rumor Friday's at Red Martini on August 12, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images

Wiz Khalifa's Training Partners Included UFC Legends

When host Sean Evans asked Khalifa about training at Unbreakable Performance Center in West Hollywood, the rapper described an environment where sharing space with celebrities and professional athletes was simply part of the routine.

The gym's membership has included actors, musicians, and elite fighters, creating opportunities that most people would never encounter. For Khalifa, some of the most memorable experiences came through sparring. He said:

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"I got to spar with Chuck Liddell, freaking Randy Couture, Tyron Woodley, who's the UFC champ now."

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Those names carry significant weight in mixed martial arts history. Liddell, known as "The Iceman," became one of the UFC's first mainstream superstars and held the light heavyweight championship during one of the sport's most important growth periods.

Couture built a Hall of Fame career while winning UFC titles in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions, an achievement few fighters have matched.

Randy Couture acknowledges the crowd prior to his Light Heavyweight bout against Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in the Rogers Centre on April 30, 2011, in Toronto, Canada. | Source: Getty Images

Randy Couture acknowledges the crowd prior to his Light Heavyweight bout against Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in the Rogers Centre on April 30, 2011, in Toronto, Canada. | Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Woodley was the reigning UFC welterweight champion at the time of the interview and was widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the sport.

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Rather than interacting with those athletes from a distance, Khalifa explained that training at Unbreakable often meant working directly alongside them. "There's no real filter in between," he revealed. "It's like you're just right there with those people and you just get it on."

Tyron Woodley poses on the scale during his ceremonial weigh-in ahead of his fight as part of Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua at The Fillmore Miami Beach on December 18, 2025, in Miami Beach, Florida. | Source: Getty Images

Tyron Woodley poses on the scale during his ceremonial weigh-in ahead of his fight as part of Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua at The Fillmore Miami Beach on December 18, 2025, in Miami Beach, Florida. | Source: Getty Images

But when Evans asked what made a body shot so effective, Khalifa offered a surprisingly technical explanation.

Khalifa and Liddell even crossed paths outside the gym. In November 2018, the rapper performed at a celebration attended by the former UFC champion following Liddell's third fight against longtime rival Tito Ortiz.

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According to reports from the event, the UFC superstar was welcomed with applause and "ICEMAN" balloons while the rapper entertained the crowd with a live performance.

Chuck Liddell throws a punch against Tito Ortiz during Chuck Liddell v Tito Ortiz 3 at The Forum on November 24, 2018, in Inglewood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Chuck Liddell throws a punch against Tito Ortiz during Chuck Liddell v Tito Ortiz 3 at The Forum on November 24, 2018, in Inglewood, California. | Source: Getty Images

The Body Shot That Got Jay Glazer's Attention

During the same "Hot Ones" interview, Evans brought up comments from Glazer, who had previously said Khalifa was the only person ever to hurt him with a body shot despite the sports broadcaster's years of training with accomplished fighters.

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That same year, Glazer spoke highly of the rapper's abilities while discussing his progress in martial arts. "Yeah, oh yeah. 'Cause he's in it and his work ethic is ridiculous," he said.

Jay Glazer speaks on SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVIII on February 7, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images

Jay Glazer speaks on SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVIII on February 7, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images

In fact, he was so impressed that he believed the rapper could potentially pursue professional MMA if he chose to. But when Evans asked what made a body shot so effective, Khalifa offered a surprisingly technical explanation:

"For real, for real, there's a lot of rotation, like, just in the hips and, like, you gotta throw somebody off."

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The rapper then explained exactly how he caught Glazer. "With Jay, I just caught him. We were up close with each other and I faked him high and he went high and I seen that open and I just snuck one in real quick," he noted.

The Move He'd Use to Defend Himself

Toward the end of the exchange, Evans posed a hypothetical question — if Khalifa ever found himself in a situation where he needed to protect himself, what would be his go-to combination?

The rapper's answer was straightforward. "My go-to combination if I had to defend myself, I'd probably just do a nice little teep, just kick somebody in the face from real far away," he admitted with a laugh.

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The technique he referenced is a staple of Muay Thai. Often described as a push kick, a teep is designed to create distance, disrupt an opponent's movement, and prevent them from closing the gap. In competitive fighting, it can be used both offensively and defensively.

In Khalifa's case, however, the answer also reflected his sense of humor. Rather than describing a complicated series of strikes, he chose one simple move that would allow him to stay as far away from danger as possible.

Whether sparring with UFC champions, discussing body-shot mechanics, or joking about self-defense, Wiz Khalifa spoke with the perspective of someone who had spent years learning the craft rather than merely treating it as a celebrity hobby.

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