Australian UFC great Kyle Noke has opened up about his relationship with 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin, revealing what he was like off camera and the most important lesson the Aussie icon taught him about life. Noke, who retired from the sport in 2016, was hired by Irwin as part of his personal security after the late wildlife warrior became fascinated by the sport of MMA and wanted somebody to train with.
![[Noke says the most valuable lessons he learned from Irwin were about fatherhood]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/02/93258911-14203771-image-a-138_1734489373628.jpg)
Irwin built a cage for training MMA at the zoo and had Noke practice with him every morning. 'He was the same as he was on camera - except he swore a little bit more,' Noke revealed on the Mind Your Head podcast. 'I hate to tell everyone - so the "crikeys" and all that [were] so he wouldn't say f**k on TV.'.
![[Irwin built a cage for training MMA at the zoo and had Noke train with him every morning]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/02/93259047-14203771-image-a-145_1734489847900.jpg)
Noke says that some of his fondest memories of Irwin were after they'd finished their morning session. Kyle Noke, who was The Crocodile Hunter’s bodyguard for several years, says Irwin was the same off camera except he swore a bit more. Noke says the most valuable lessons he learned from Irwin were about fatherhood.
![[Noke says he wouldn't be where he is today without Irwin's support]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/02/93258913-14203771-image-a-139_1734489386308.jpg)
'My favourite days were when we'd sit down after training and me and him would talk for hours,' said Noke. 'He'd just tell me stories about when he was younger and his life.'. The pair bonded over MMA and pretty soon Irwin was so intrigued by the booming combat sport that he wanted to walk away from his TV work so he could have a charity bout against Vin Diesel or Wesley Snipes.
![[The former UFC star says Irwin (pictured with his family) always had time for his kids no matter how busy he was]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/02/93259035-14203771-image-a-143_1734489703810.jpg)
