How an old man won a trip to EVO 2024!

oin me at Nebula here---go.nebula.tv/signifiedbsides
Watch my Nebula original on the Boondocks here---nebula.tv/videos/workingtitle...
The new gaming channel (more to come) - / @fdstreams-vl4lr
I get to tell you the exciting story of how i did in the #sajamslam2 and how it won me a trip to the biggest fighting game tournament in the world.

[@Eskay_OW]

During the those first two days I could really tell how much those nerves were getting to you and I wanted to help so bad!! And during finals day when you first started popping off I could tell you figured it out. I was, and still am, SO impressed by how quickly you managed to overcome them!! It took me years and years of competing in tournaments to not feel them anymore, and even with all that experience, I was shaking like crazy until finals day. Beating nerves is something that comes with experience, and even with none, you somehow managed to just throw it all aside on the last day. Mindblowing!! I was grinning ear to ear watching you play without that holding you back on the last day, and I'm smiling even harder watching it here now that I get to see the thought process. I love FD signifier, can't wait to see you at EVO!!

[@pieTee]

eskay in unc FD's comments is the crossover we never knew we needed

[@heyleavemealone2574]

Love you eskayyyyy

[@theelectricant98]

The goat is here

[@qorpse]

It's cliche at this point but the beauty of fighting games is really the friends we've made along the way.

[@NoBotOW]

@@Eskay_OW 🥹🥹🥹 I love you guys

[@Leahcimmichael]

Sajam mentioning that FD will compete in the Slam was like Cyclops and Ryu's handshake. My worlds collided

[@aerodat_]

same here man I was barely an FD watcher till the slam happened but seeing an older black man still compete in my current hobby and be nice as fuck at it?? instantly made me a fan I damn near binged his entire channel in the week following the slam lol

[@StoneEagle194]

Right there with you cuz

[@Meowrailigence]

exactly this. Saw FD in the Slam and my jaw hit the floor

[@gahbunga]

I went into the comments of the announcement and we are far from alone good buddy.

[@itsbchap9494]

FGC Signifier

[@slowboygofast]

FD getting MattMan's name wrong consistently is the most Unc thing he could do. I love it.

[@gwen6622]

its funny cause MarkMan is a different tekken guy haha

[@RoxFontaine]

I was Internet friends with MarkMan.

[@suros8105]

He was also saying Sajam's name wrong during the tournament if I remember correctly, very FD thing to do lmao

[@jurischwarzer9877]

He is a KZbinr, he can't just pronounce everything currently

[@_4_0_4_6]

Getting called markman is such a mattman moment

[@thefoxoflaurels3437]

I feel like FD has a bunch of lore we haven't discovered: bassist in an emo band, knows Esperanto, and own a tricycle. Place your bets now.

[@CompletelyBlankPage]

"Nerds have they hands in everything." - Lupe Fiasco

[@signifiedbsides1129]

I May have played drums in a band for about two weeks

[@alistairlacaille]

I almost got real hype with that Esperanto drop...

[@AntonioGarcia-zy5rs]

What do you mean BASSIST in an EMO BAND?

[@saulitix]

FD still has that dog in him

[@clementinelives]

💯💯💯

[@sebastianherrera6514]

HE WILL FOREVER HAVE THAT DOG IN HIM 🔥🔥🔥

[@BernieSandersOfficial]

Rowlf

[@stephenbrizie5082]

Unc of the Iron Fist! edit for Ante Up, the perfect song for for going full Heihachi.

[@majortom331]

@@stephenbrizie5082 the Leroy Smith of KZbin.

[@theanimerapper6351]

Finding out FD is a pro gamer is like when you find out that the old guy down the street is secretly an MMA guru

[@venicec3310]

Lol

[@cafesoftie]

But he isn't, he's just that asshole who's too good at Tekken and you want to bring him down a peg, but he always knows when to air counter >:( (I was trying to say he's just good at the game, but i decided to turn it into a joke about my insecurity at being bad at video games xD)

[@omgkthxbi]

for me, living in a punk rock town, its finding out your neighbor is in a very well known band

[@MirrorSurfer]

F.D. at the beginning: I'm iaaght.... F.D. at the end: ooooh.....You think Tekken is your friend. You merely adopted the Tekken.... I was boooooorn in it! Molded by it!.....

[@magnafoxodyssey2127]

FD talking about his realisation in having fun rather than being wrapped up in his own head has the same energy as Rock Lee dropping the weights.

[@officialgoogleyoutube]

An old-guy-former-whiz-kid-comes-out-of-retirement-for-one-last-heist story with a wholesome ending? You're gonna get me choked up 🥲

[@Setsunako6587]

Dang, what a synopsis... now you got ME choked up 🥲💕

[@cafesoftie]

Could literally be a movie

[@stimihendrix3404]

sounds like an isekai

[@Kojo02]

FD will be in Top 6, book it.

[@TheYoungOGBaby]

FD said ”I got one more in me”

[@DistortedV12]

Is he actually "playing" in Evo or just watching the matches??

[@ElusiveEliizer]

FD nerding out about a fighting game event while wearing a Napoleon Blownapart shirt is just peak content. The passion for the game is just so energizing. I wish you good luck on your Evo run

[@JackTR21]

You know you're a Tekken player when you called mattman markman

[@MikeNmurdoc]

The whole time i was like... I thought Markman played King, til I checked the names LOL. GGs regardless FD

[@leonardchurch814]

Unc is going to EVO letsgoooooo!

[@raginbull13]

I'm here because of the Sajam Slam. After the tournament I started looking up all the participants and eventually stumbled upon your content. I'm now a massive fan of you and your content.

[@BobDole1216]

Welcome to the fanclub! Glad to have you in here

[@Scriven42]

Regular FD Viewer checking in to say: Watching your joy at playing video games is perfectly cool to mix in with the other content you do. I'm here for it all.

[@goob8945]

Same I’ve been enjoying the Tekken pro arc lol. Hopefully we get an EVO video

[@JStack]

When FD instant climbed to top 1000 in a week I knew dude was nasty. EVO nasty though? LETS GO UNC

[@Chairman_Mao]

That moment with Fairlight is definitely the funniest moment in the tournament but the 2nd funniest was during a match between F.D and LazyMattMan where F.D's controller disconnected. He yelled "MAH CONTROLLER!!!" and I was cracking up laughing.

[@stereokuuji]

The memory replayed in my head Bro I'm dying 😂

[@mot..]

I am genuinely so proud man. How could any young black man not support and respect Signified. Keep going, you are great man.

[@kapow916]

His knowledge positivity and interests have drawed me to his channel. Another dope player is Lil Majin (king player). All around good soul

[@ianoyoo254]

Unc had so much fun he had to tell us…shit is genuinely wholesome.❤

[@DoodOverThere]

Lil Bill gonna interfere with a steel chair

[@fangsabre]

Gonna pull up like Metal King

[@CasualFox12495]

FD in his Muten Roshi era.

[@dopey473]

Literally

[@vexingvexillologist7554]

As a League/TFT fan seeing "FD vs BoxBox" is deeply surreal! Hope you have a great time at EVO 😊

[@fistybaby9489]

Ok, so it was THAT box box lmao. I used to watch him all the time back in season 5 of league but I haven’t seen anything from him sense. When did he start playing Tekken?

[@ilowiriawan3364]

@@fistybaby9489 basically at the launch of tekken 8. i think he played sf6 before too

[@erk8520]

As someone who grew up playing competitive Smash, Tekken, and being a Diamond League player, it was hilariously surreal watching FD vs Box Box's Asuka (my main), dressed up as Ness lol.

[@StakeFromJateFarm]

Imagine self identifying as a "League fan" 🤢🤮

[@erk8520]

@@StakeFromJateFarm it ain't that bad lol. There's far worst games and fanbases out there. We just like to shit on league.

[@SnowWay247]

Couldn’t believe tuning into Coney playing and seeing FD, great tourney

[@DudeWithTheNose]

i think my brain would break if i experienced that

[@creeyis5092]

Tampa Never Sleeps has fantastic weekly tourneys with some pretty legit contenders every week. I'd love to see you pop up! It would be pretty great practice with both high skill opponents and being in the fgc spotlight.

[@laxdemon13]

FD sliding into TNS would actually get me to watch Tekken 8. I watch TNS all the time but for SF6 content. I’m thinking of picking up T8 now. Going from 2D to 3D is a bit intimidating though.

[@tetsujin64]

I'm 36, I used to go to local Florida fighting game tournaments in my twenties. I still game with my friends so as an older man, I'll be rooting for you, brotha. EVO is literally my favorite summer event. My homies and I have watched together every year since 2011.

[@ItsTheFizz]

You'd be surprised how many old dogs are in the Tekken scene who can still fold you with the full King throw combo...

[@iKyleonGunz]

As a local fighting game guru, arcade kid, turned career man, turned to video essay consumer, I'm so excited for you. I've only been to EVO once, but it was a really affirming old man experience.

[@binsuo.1506]

my man had every old head excuse in the book! nah vlog that trip man its a once in a lifetime experience like you said, document it! enjoy sunday too man.

[@NigerianMedic]

Was looking into new controller for my brother after he wore out the Hori controller I gave him years ago, went and bought a Sajam Slam edition leverless controller for my brother after you posted you were in Sajam Slam, thanks FD 😊

[@driftingobsidian8792]

I was so excited when I saw your name for the Sajam Slam 2

[@Masaru_kun]

I'm glad FD shouts out MattMan, because the dude was playing out of his mind in every set, FD was the only one who made it look close. it felt like team Brawlpro was the only team with two pros. Maybe FD just wants to play like a 'normal person', but MattMan sure didn't look like a 'normal person' playing, except for a few moments like against FD.

[@goldenboy_808]

Mattman is so good now he’s reached the top rank and regularly plays with his coach as an equal

[@magicalgirl1296]

Well not the only one who made it look close. That Alisa player named Amaz (who was one of the players FD was beating up in his final day run montage I might add) is the only player in both Slams to give Mattman a tournament loss.

[@GreenShark4]

Unc bouta turn EVO into the Fifth International ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽

[@eduardoserpa1682]

I'm so glad we got an actual tournament report from you, I didn't expect that. The whole event was a ton of fun, and I hope you have an amazing time at EVO.

[@roberto.larios]

Im so mad that not only do I have absolutely no interest in fighting video games, but your narrating style is so good that I’m actually gonna tune in on July 18th and root for your over explaining ass

[@zucchinigreen]

Same lol. I'm here for the journey, and I can't wait for the highlights

[@Aurich451]

I watch your content, I made the logo for Sajam Slam (he's the homie), love to see my worlds collide like this. I know your core audience maybe isn't here for this, but glad you're sharing it

[@walmirxavier1582]

This EVO arc has been a pleasant surprise, I found your channel by chance because your of Hip Hop videos. But seeing you going to EVO is awesome. Show them what a Tekken veteran is made of FD.

[@Gilbot9000]

You fucking rock man. Have fun, whoop all the ass. You earned and deserved this and I can't wait to see you in Sajam Slam 3 taking the top spot

[@NotMalikScott]

This is told like a sports documentary and I love it. It's my two favorite words colliding

[@DrShak2009]

This tournament had a lot of cool stuff in it. I’ve only seen highlights, but it really makes me appreciate fighting games even just as a spectator sport. This is beautiful!

[@1988jeffy]

Excited for this. Also excited for the breakdown of the battle and the cultural analysis. I check everyday 😅. Mad respect for contending with the reflexes of the younger generation.

[@rsotuyo15]

Loooool if you happen to meet him please get a photo with Core A Gaming.

[@daveL-ff3sp]

FYI his name is Gerald.

[@rsotuyo15]

​@@daveL-ff3sp Yeah I know but most know him as the channel, Gerald is a common name

[@acaracaraorange7685]

FGC creators & F.D. crossover is unexpected & awesome. Good luck man!

[@The4thBen]

Bruh, I ended up buying Tekken 8 because of your participation in the tourney and I've been grinding ever since. I'm an older gamer as well, 34, and my first fighting game was Tekken 2, but I never played past passing the controller on the couch with my cousins/siblings. Super casual. Actually learning how to play Tekken 8 has been great though! Learning frames, positioning, counterhits and electrics has been very rewarding. Hoping to hit red ranks soon!

[@venusonearth2189]

This is such a gaggy crossover for me! Bc I play Overwatch and that’s how I know about Eskay, so knowing that y’all competed in this together after also watching your videos for years is wiiiild

[@holloworacle3140]

GO WIN EVO UNC

[@Daffodyl3]

Giving me hope that I can still show up to friendlies in my city despite being a little older. Keep fighting!

[@elchingon12346]

Fiq’s controller disconnects and his character is just standing there, but due to his aura the other player doesn’t even attack 😂 “He’s just standing there… menacingly”

[@D2BII]

12:10 reminds me of my first (and only) taekwondo tournament. My body just wouldn't move like I had practiced for so long. Kicks barely coming out, footwork was terrible, just getting plain embarrassed in the sparring. Referee was calling me on bullshit. Got soundly outpointed and was so discouraged and disillusioned that I pretty much lost all motivation to continue training. I do occasionally miss those days of practicing TKD, but I find that my motivations when I was a teen weren't all that healthy mentally.

[@AlyGhostface]

Old Man FD having fun. Love this wholesome content 😌

[@TyroRobin]

I love fighting games, and I watched pretty much all of Sajam Slam. Watching you on Phi's team was super fun, and after watching KatLink is now my goat

[@gavinfelker7630]

I’ve replayed you ducking that jab dozens of times, and you followed it up with a clean finish. I jumped out of my chair when I first saw it, absolutely insane. Love seeing new and unexpected sides to people I watch; can’t wait to see what you do at Evo!

[@SLATTERDAY]

Unc dropped the nebula ad so smooth, I ain’t even see it coming 😂.

[@panchozari434]

I'll be cheering you on from Argentina Fd! just don't forget to fix your controller 😅

[@snarktf]

Love Eskay, she's seemingly always down to improve. I remember watching her get movement tips from wrthcrw in overwatch thinking like "damn, usually I only see t1 hopefuls get coaching from wrthcrw". Such a crazy thing yo. See you at evo man, make some vlogs while you're there.

[@DDRDAIKENKAI]

FD X Eskay is a combo I never knew I would experience but love all the same. Also, new challenger jingle is quite literally what kept me here on the first video of yours I watched XD Congratulations to you and the team for making it to EVO. I hope to get to see y'all on the big screen!

[@zacretzer]

Let’s go FD! It was so cool to see you in the Slam

[@shmooters5599]

Did not know much about you before the tournament, but seeing all that experience come into play on that last day was hype. It was like all the pieces were coming together, all you had to do was floor it, and that you did.

[@IsaacSperrow]

As Sajam said, a lot of people thought team Brawlpro won the first tournament because they saw the Conney clip of him popping off at Brawlpro winning his match and thought it was the grand finals lol.

[@davisbossling4911]

Unc had to hit himself with the dracula flow real quick. "They must have amnesia, they forgot that I'm HIM."

[@NotsoseriousNick]

I was at Only The Best in Turin this year, a few weeks ago. The atmosphere was electrifying and that event, despite being the biggest in Italy, is only a fraction of EVO, so I can only imagine what this experience will be for ya. Good luck FD, Tekken pros are killer.

[@jamielockdown]

Brawlpro's team didn't win the first Sajam Slam. They came 2nd, but they clutched out a big win for the EVO qualification and the videos they cut focused around that. That's where the viral moment where Coney pops off at Brawlpro's victory yelling "My coach, my idol, my King" comes from. It was just Mandela effect from there lol, I think Sajam even introduced them as tournament one winners at some point iirc.

[@heretustay]

As a long time overwatchh fan (unfortunately), it makes me so happy hearing about how well eskay did and your impression of her. she's the best ☺️ she does the overwatch community proud

[@Undead_Logic]

Did a really great job during the tournament. Was really great to see and a hell of a team comeback in the end. Much respect here from one of the Katlink mod team members.

[@whyisgooglemakingmedothis603]

: WoolieVS FD Signifier collab on Get Into Fighting Games WHEN

[@segara04]

👀👀👀👀👀👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿. In the words of Neyo, "the best thing I never knew I needed"

[@skelingtonrick]

so fucking good man. takes me back to getting my ass whooped harder than I ever though possible at smash bros

[@Str8EdgeJesse]

Im waiting to hear Tastey Steve say, "Make Some Noise!!!!!" When FD makes it to Top 8.

[@paragraphica]

this is so funny I'm literally a yt girl who lives on the other side of the globe, and while watching and being interested in all your educational content is one thing, but I really didn't expect to be so invested in the plot of this particular video and cheering at the end of it, not being into gaming at all. Congratulations!!!

[@netanelaker4437]

This is an insane intersaction of my favorite things and I love it!

[@fp-qb4qe]

ive never played fighting games in my life but they are always so interesting to hear about/watch, i try to catch baaulp's hosting of EVO every yaer so i hope i got to see you play! good luck!

[@scott__french]

Let's go, FD! I'm heading to Evo with my son this year too. See you there!

[@SecretWalrus99]

Seeing Eskay and FD together is a crossover i could not have guessed in 1000 years

[@darcyscout]

I was so happy to see you and eskay on the same team and hearing the stories was everything i wanted. Goodluck for Evo! have a fucking blast

[@bunnywreck]

it was so hype to see you playing on the slam, it was like two world colliding for me also how hyped everyone was about the way you played! time to win EVO now

[@largeproblem]

I’m losing my mind man, this isn’t even some kind of exciting crossover, it’s legit that moment in the movie when the fighter in the ring stands up after getting knocked down, and keeps going. Please keep it up F.D, you’re an inspiration 🙏

[@na_k]

FD, say it with your chest. It's gonna be light work at EVO! From another old head gamer who doesn't have it anymore, I'm glad your fire still burns. The old heads are with you!

[@mrnobody0123]

FD and Eskay crossover are two corners of my youtube bubble that I never thought would collide

[@RhythmLP]

LET'S FUCKIN GOOOO!!! Edit: Just finished the video! Seeing you able to participate in the Sajam Slam and tbh just seeing you play Tekken and have such a passion for it is such a wonderful experience to see. I hope you kill it at Evo and I hope you are able to do more Tekken content in the future. If not I'm definitely gonna cherish this ride!

[@lko990mtapod]

this is some crazy ass crossover that i didnt expected. as a FGC member and a FD watcher i was "WHAT????, THATS SO FUCKING COOL"

[@bravepanda5679]

I'm glad you overcame that mental barrier of tourney nerves and locked in that final day. So sick to see. Fair warning, in person nerves are different different and the crowd might be wild, but hopefully the college experience gives you what you need for EVO. Seeing you compete in Sajam Slam was really cool, I'm happy you had the opportunity.

[@Fern0422]

FD bout to pop out and show em those combos

[@mahershawkat]

god ur fucking awesome FD, was really happy to hear ur name being mentioned as a competitor in the 2nd sajam slam

[@sixtyblackmystictraveler]

You and Foreign have finally gotten me over the line. I subscribed to Nebula because of the quality of your work, wasn’t going to give KZbin my dollars to stop the ads since creators are so limited in their ability to platform what they really find valuable for us as consumers of your content to unlearn and learn from. So thank you 🙏🏽 I send my son another black nerd gamer (built like you and has a bundle of sweetness, tolerance and good will for other humans) your videos. 😊🙏🏽

[@mewwww17]

I watched the first Sajam Slam, started watching some occasional PhiDX vids, and every night's stream of Sajam Slam 2 because of your communtiy posts... and I've played a collective 2 hours of Tekken Tag 2. Nonetheless it's been a really fun world to peer into and cheering you on all the way through to Grand Finals was sooooo fun. Thanks for all the top-tier entertainment, video essays and otherwise

[@VulcanBaum687]

I watched your run live, Phi was a great coach as always but theres no doubt that you were that groups anchor. Chips were down, you were always able to clutch out a victory. It was awesome man.

[@scottbuck1572]

LETSSS GOOOOOOOOOOO, Im hyped for EVO, even more so now! YESSS!!!!

[@Hee-Homie]

As a vegas local, I'm more than pumped to see you at Evo. I just got into your channel this year and learned plenty. Looking forward to next week

[@angrykirby3121]

Dog I was a huge tekken fan AND a big abolitionist so hearing you got in the Sajam Slam was sick as hell

[@AmbrGlw]

as a big fan of you and eskay, watching both of your videos about sajam slam has been such an incredible treat and it's so surreal

[@CH4R10T_TV]

I was so hype seeing you and Eskay ended up on the same team. I'm so glad this worked out well for you, doing as well as you did with less experience in a live tournament setting is actually really good. You should be really proud, it was legendary!

[@liamthomas2032]

I only caught this from Coney's coverage, never even realized you were in this. So glad to see that there's another interest we share. Congrats. and thank you for everything you do. (PS, there are a bunch of tekken pros in ATL if you ever want to expand on tekken stories/content. Speedkicks is local and has an awesome backstory. I believe PhiDX interviewed him on the regional history of the game.)

[@Kingprice08]

Congrats bro

[@PMGSCloud6]

this legit made me cry, what an amazing vid

[@zoerosedunk4548]

FD! We were watching your matches in our house and we popped off when yall made it to Evo! I'll be following your journey in a couple weeks. Fighting games are still peak after all these years.

[@ericmacpherson1713]

I really love the “Breadtuber (I’m sorry) plays video games” sub-genre. This stuff is genuine af

[@rudetuesday]

This is so cool. I'm glad you were able to get that info about The Yips, and were able to reach into yourself for that wellspring of FUN. I am inspired.

[@shyb7847]

That's dope. I barely put any time into Tekken since I got my soul sucked by animal crossing.

[@Chill_Phactor]

Congrats FD! Looking forward to hearing more about your experience at EVO.

[@sacrednyx626]

I loved watching you and others compete in the Sajam Slam. See you at EVO

[@kitoesa4000]

Lowkey got back into fighting games when you started posting about tekken last year, this is so exciting!