MMA Fighting - BTL | Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, UFC 300, More | Fan Q&A

Episode Date: January 4, 2024

According to Conor McGregor, his return is set against Michael Chandler at the UFC's International Fight Week in June. Although the promotion has yet to officially announce, it appears as if we'll see the sport's biggest star before the second half of 2024. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to McGregor's announcement that his bout with Chandler will not take place at UFC 300, but on June 29, along with the opening odds giving McGregor a slight edge. Additionally, the panel takes your questions about the bouts currently on the table for April's UFC 300 event, Leon Edwards saying he'll be defending his welterweight title on the card, what could be the main event, other big stories in the sport with the UFC on break until next Saturday, and more.  Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the downloaded two, ghosts in the machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cudulian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible Original Blockbuster. The Downloaded, it's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love?

The Downloaded 2, Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Support for this show comes from the Audible original, The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cudullian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible original blockbuster,

the downloaded. It's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, what are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The downloaded two Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. On M.MA Fighting Studios, this is Between the Links. And now, your host, my...

The iconic voice of Esther Lynn welcomes you to a brand new edition of BTL. Happy New Year, first show of 2024. And it's great to be back, everybody. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. This week, we're turning the programming over to you. We tend to do this about once a month where my tag team partner in crime and I just answer your questions. We banter back and forth. And that's what we're doing this week because there's no event to preview.

There's no event to recap. We're just going to get after. And I'm sure there's a lot of other things that you guys want to know about. and we're here to discuss them. And joining me in this venture is Mr. Hot Take, Mr. No Gray Area, the Cannonball Kid himself, Mr. Jed Michoud, New Year, New You, Jed. Oh, so new. I'm thinking I might not take this year.

I might just go no hot takes this year, just reasoned down the middle discussion for the entirety of 2024. How do we think, what are we think about that? Do we think that's good for the brand? I mean, it's a great, uh, It'd be a great test of wills. I wonder how long you could go and keep that promise. I mean, last year, it would have died immediately.

So credit to 2024, it's already off to a better start than 2023 because Dana White, to our knowledge at least, hasn't committed spousal abuse. So hell yeah. What a strong start to the year, everybody. We're doing great. All right, let's put this to the best. Jed, they just announced John Jones versus Stepe Miyochich

will take place in June. What's your reaction to this? Did they really announce that? Is that true? No, I'm putting you to the test. I was supposed to say, good God. Do they actually announce it? My honest to God opinion of that will be,

okay, at least it's June. It's not like we're going to wait till next freaking Madison Square Garden card and drag this out even longer. Like, I am resigned to that fight happening despite no one caring about it. Honestly, to the best of my knowledge, no one. I have not had a single fan push back and be like,

I really want to see this fight. It's all like, yeah, we fights, whatever. So if it could just happen faster, that would be great. And we could just move past this point in time. That's the only thing it's going to happen. Okay. Let's just get that done. And then we can all move on with our collective lives.

All right. No, John is scared of Tom Aspin. right. Maybe we are a new jet. We all know it to be true. Everyone knows it. Everyone knows it. Everyone knows it. So prove me wrong, John, or go fight steep in June and then retire. Well, speaking of June, and we'll get to your questions in a moment, New Year's Eve, Jed, we found out, at least this is V. Connor McGregor himself. Earlier in the week, he teased, I'm going to make this big announcement on New Year's Day. I'm going to tell you when I'm fighting and who I'm fighting. he didn't wait that long.

The year's Eve, he announces that he is going to fight Michael Chandler. It will not be the main event of UFC 300, despite that's what Connor wanted, according to people in the know. It's going to happen June 29th at UFC up in the air, maybe 303, which will be International Fight Week, which happens, I don't remember the last time it happened in June if it ever happened in June. So I think we knew this is going to happen, Jed. you were, there was a part of you that was kind of hoping just for comedic purposes that Connor would fight somebody else and that it wouldn't be Michael Chandler because you know how much you love Michael Chandler. But your reaction to Connor announcing this fight, it seems from all accounts that this

is legit outside of maybe the weight class thing, which I think this is Connor saying, hey, Michael, jump and you say how high kind of a thing. But June 29th, not UFC 300. your reaction to a date and not happening at 300, do you agree with this? I think most people in the know expected him to not be at UFC 300. I think that's very foolish, but I forget where it was discussed. I think it might have just been on the MMA hour yesterday

when Ariel kind of pointed out the way they view this is, we can get two bites of the Apple. 300 is going to sell on the back of 300. and Connor will sell because he is Connor. So might as well diversify those bonds. I think that's a, it's not wrong necessarily, but I do think that without Conn-Morger, UFC 300 is now really very likely to underwhelm,

at least compared to the expectations that have been built up about this card because there just is not a marquee fighter. We've got a piece that either came out this morning or is coming out today. I'm not entirely sure which. I haven't checked the website, whether it dropped or not, but basically us predicting what could be the main event for UFC 300.

And I think the answer is going to be Leon Edwards. There is maybe a potential that they can get some sort of mercenary a la Brock Lesnar like they did for 200. But I think you're looking at Leon versus Ballal as the headliner, and they put another title fight, and they really stack the card with people you know. but that's still just going to feel like a good, good pay-per-view and not UFC 300. And so not having Connor on that is pretty, like that, that's pretty lame. But, you know, they'll have Connor do the International Fight Week thing. It'll be good.

They feel like you had another question going on in there, Mike, but I sort of lost track whatever it was. No, I mean, the big question was, why not 300? Why are we even going to be because they just want the money. I get that. And the UFC seems to like to play with fire. And for the most part, it's been okay. Even with like the whole middle-weight division last year,

they played with fire an awful lot with DDP fighting Robert Whitaker and working out. And then them not doing Izzy versus DDP. They did Izzy versus Sean Strickland because there's no way Izzy could lose to Sean Strickland. The fight will be even bigger next year. And then Sean Strickland dusts up D.D. And now Sean Strickland, DDP is like the rivalry everyone's talking about as opposed to Izzy versus DDP. And it all seemed to kind of work up because Sean is now like is becoming a big star for the

promotion. But at a certain point, as hot as they are right now, that luck's going to end. Like it's going to change at some point. And Connor wants to fight at 300. So why risk it and have Connor turn around after 300 and go on Twitter and be like, nah, dude, I'm retiring. I'm not fighting Michael Chandler. I'm not fighting anybody.

You can keep your June 29th and stick it where the sun don't shine. It seems really dumb, but I don't get it. I also just don't get it because if you're not going to have him fight at 300, like, why wouldn't you just go something even sooner? Like, the more you can get him, the better it is. So get him in because he won't always be ready to go. You got to strike while the iron's hot here. And honestly, the best I can figure is that they think that if they all,

offered or tried to book him at 299 or 301, Connor would be like, fuck you guys. Like, I want to fight at 300. But by doing an international fight week, there's enough space from 300 that they can just say, no, whatever this is fine. Again, I think it's really dumb and really not optimal, but I know why they are doing it.

And it probably will work out for them financially in that regard. But maybe not. I truly don't know what UFC 300 is going to sell. There is this idea that it is going to do big numbers regardless because it will be a big card. But UFC 100 and UFC 200 at Brock Lesnar. That's why they were big cards. I mean, the rest of the card was also stacked out.

But Brock did the heavy lifting to draw eyeballs into this event. Leona Ballal ain't doing that. And truly, Mike, like what are the options? because outside of like Alex Pereira versus Israel Dissania at light heavyweight is like maybe an option and maybe there's something to that. That's still not Brock Lesner. Like they don't have an ace up the sleeve here as far as I can figure that wasn't Connor. And so them not doing Connor feels really, really weird to me. Yes.

I think you're right. Is he a blank check and hope his personal problems are behind him? or at least he feels good enough within himself to come back and fight. Because I think that's that is a good. But it's a 300-ish main event. That rivalry carried them for almost two years, man. Like since they signed Pereira, this is building towards this third fight,

this whole thing to where they're at right now. So I kind of think a conclusion to that would be a good one. The other thing I thought of, look, we're not going to get anything massive. We're not like, but Leon versus Bilal is a tough. sell. That's a whimper of a main event. No disrespect. It's just not 300. It's terrible. It's, it's a bad 300 main event. So, but if you did that as the co-main event, did Pereira versus

Izzy for the light heavyweight title because you can't bench Pereira. And if he doesn't fight a 300, if Pereira doesn't fight his 300, he ain't fighting for a while, man. He ain't fighting for a hot minute. So the only other thing I thought of, and this again is not a spectacular main event. you do you shift some things around you do Islam Makachev versus Justin Gaichie at UFC 299

that's the main event and you move Sean O'Malley Cheeto Vera to UFC 300 that's the main event you do Leon Ballal is the co-main event that's fine and then you bring back some fresh names

and stack the rest of the main card up with like fun fights maybe a nostalgic fight maybe you bring back at Anderson Silva for like a one-off or something just to like spice things up a little bit for the hardcore fans. But you do, like, that's not a horrible thing.

It's way, like an O'Malley Cheeto. It's honestly the best idea of heard. Yeah, is better than, it's definitely better than Leon versus Ballal on that spot. That's for sure. It's honestly the best idea of heard. I'm not, I mean, they would need to do it now because Mokachev would need to be ready to fight at the end of March or like in March and cuts a lot of weight. And he is, he's not a dude who's going to move for anyone other than himself.

He's not going to have bail the. company. Why would he give a shit to do that? You know? So they would have to like that would need to be announced really soon. But that's the best idea I've ever heard because like, look, I think Izzy Prayer 3 is a big fight and, you know, we'll do good business. And that's still, that feels to me like the co-main event of UFC 300 because we've, like, that fight happened twice before last year. And they were just big pay-per-views. They weren't, this is the biggest pay-per-view in a decade, which is what 300 is supposed to be.

To me, that is the fight that would be like a zinger of a comane. And like Leon Ballal is the third fight. Like Leon Ballal at most should be the third fight on a card of this magnitude as we perceive it to be. And outside the O'Malley Cheetah thing's good. We are quickly running out of time for that to be viable. And so the only thing that I have thought at all, that is maybe possible, but based on what I have heard from people,

is deeply unlikely. Certainly at this juncture, maybe at least had more cachet previously, was Rhonda coming back because she's no longer doing the WWE thing. They just write her a big check and bring her back the same way they did with Brock basically as,

hey, we need something spectacular to draw eyes in. And Rhonda coming back is a thousand percent that, but that doesn't even seem at all likely. So I just truly don't know what we're going to do to make this event special. Yeah, that's not a main event either, unless she's fighting for the title, which is not. Mark Hunt wasn't the main event either. He was just the premium fight that drew the eyeballs in. If you have Rondon that card, Leon Belaw being the main event is much less bad than it was previously.

Like, it's acceptable because you remember UFC 200's main event was Amanda Nunes versus Misha Tate. And while Misha Tate was popular, nobody knew who Amanda Nunes was. obviously that changed over time, but at the time, that was still not, that was not a headlining event. It was honestly, that whole UFC 200 situation was so similar to where we are now because there was talks of Connor doing it,

this whole thing, and instead it was like, well, now Misha Tate's going to be headlining this event. That's not all that good. And suddenly Brock Lesnar kind of swoops in in the 11th hour and here we go. We're kind of back in the same spot, which gives me some level of confidence

that the UFC has a rabbit to pull out of their hat that I am not thinking of. But also, you've had a lot of time to prepare for this. How are you this fucking bad at it? Like, it's not that hard. It's not like 300 sneaks up on you. You number your fucking paper views.

You knew we've been talking about this for a year. Jim Miller's been talking about it for several years. There is, you have a board of fights and a map plan. It is always there, and it should be, you know, big bold letters and circled five times in red marker. 300. You need to be building towards this, not, oh, shit, 300's here and now we got to keep going. Like, what are we going to do? It's so, it's so really, really dumb the way that this has been approached.

And they may still make, you know, to steal Brock Lesnar's term, make chicken salad out of chicken shit. But they have really dug themselves a whole unnecessarily for this. we will see why to your point mike why book omali vera a month before 300 why do that i don't know you need are you we need a paperview headliner for 299 okay you know what you need a pay-per-view headliner for more than 299 three fucking hundred man like that's what you need more than 299 299 can be a whatever miami pay-per-view it's not like omali and chito are like deeply connected to miami in a way that we got to do this fight here.

Like that can be the Bring Horam-Ossval back fight or whatever to do. You could do other things. There was no reason to book that at $2.99. That fight makes all the sense in the world to be the 300 fight. And maybe just the 300 co-made.

Maybe it's not the main event because I'm still a little unsure on where O'Malley is as a star. He is obviously deeply popular like on the internet, but there's a difference between being very popular and drawing pay-per-view eyeballs. Al Jermaine Sterly made some comments about that fairly recently.

And I think that that's true because of who his fan base is and are they pay-per-view consumers in that way. He's a bigger star than most, but like maybe you do just want to get him attached to 300 to let that be the thing that really kickstarts him to be a massive thing even beyond winning the title. He makes all the sense in the world to be on 300. And they have just sort of errantly put him a month before. and that makes zero sense to me. Yeah. The whole thing is weird. It started with Ariel saying that there's being talks about Islam Makachia fighting Charles

Oliver in January and it's burned into two days later. We're not. So the main events for the next three paper views just like willy-nilly. And now we're in this position and it's just super weird. I'm sure we have a million 300 questions. So let's go to the peeps and we'll fire away. about this 300 stuff, this puzzle being put together, the ideas that have come across,

just yes, just this morning on heck of a morning, the names that are being brought up were unbelievable, unbelievable. My other thought is that there is a world where the winner of Strickland Duplice gets asked to turn around quickly, and particularly if it's DuP-DDP, they do Izzy DDP at UFC 300, and that, I think, honestly, is very, very viable.

I think that's a viable main event for 300. If Strickland wins, they will try to turn him around. There's no doubt about it. Maybe they do Strickland Shemaya. I am certain that. I'm certain that's true. The Shemai's illness, I don't know if that's like viable. I am certain they will try and turn Strickland around if he wins.

And I think that DDP will be asked to if he wins regardless because I think that to me, the only fight that is really like possible is DDP. Izzy, that feels actually like a legitimate U.S.C. 300 headliner to me. Yeah. Boarding for flight 246 to Toronto is delayed 50 minutes. Ugh, what?

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You don't want to know my feelings. Is this the fight? Is this the, could this be the fight island of events? Because I compared UFC 300 Fight Island. We had all these visions in our mind of what Fight Island is going to be and then they announced,

yeah, it's just going to be in Abu Dhabi. Just in this building, in Abu Dhabi. Like, we've already been in. I was going to be. I don't know. I'm trying to,

I wasn't really working in the media space for UFC 100, so I wasn't there for that, that hoopla, but I was in it for 200. And I don't remember this. this kind of just talk forever about who's going to make event 200 who's going to me i just don't mean i know we're yeah because we knew it was going to be connor nate and then both guys said no like for

each other and then they did jones versus dc that was the main event and then jones test positive like two days before the fight well i mean that that's something that's something out of your case control but yeah we had time plus there wasn't 43 events a year they had to fill back then either so yeah it was just it's just yeah this just yeah this 300 Charcot. I'm kind of over it. Like in the sense that I just, it's going to happen. No matter what, it's going to happen. And then 301 will come. And 302 will come. I'm kind of thinking like that. Yeah. But it's just an event for me. That's sort of my issue. Yeah. And like, it's different. To me, it's different when we're talking about PFL pay-per-view or something

like that or another organization where like they're trying, you know, the co-leaders. I mean, they're trying to kind of, they're trying to establish themselves. The UFC, we're talking like, oh, are they going to make a zillion zillion bucks? Or they're going to make a triple zillion dillion bucks? You know, that's what we're kind of talking about with the UFC. And so I don't, like, they've already won the game. Well, that's the thing is I don't give a fuck how much money they make. This is, this is about my level of enjoyment.

And it is more fun as a fan for 300 to be special and big and not just another pay-per-view. Yeah. Because we get 12 to 13 pay-to-fews a year. Isn't that all they did for 200 basically? They colored the canvas. Yeah, they went to the Cage Warrior gold. I hope they don't do that again. That was awful.

I mean, it would be cool if they did something different. And honestly, because they are a creatively bankrupt company, it's UFC 300. If they don't have like Gerard Butler there, I will be fairly surprised. That just sort of seems like a thing that they would do in an event like this. But like, UFC 100 was Brock Lesnar. Like they were like, hey, here's our best star. This is supposed to be our marquee biggest event. We're going to obviously pair A and B together and here is what it is.

200, they had big grand plans with Jones, D.C., and it sort of fell apart, and they made the best of it. This one feels very haphazard. This one feels very much like they are treating it like just a UFC 300 to 301 to 302, and that is disappointing. George S. Pierre was in the co-main event of UFC 100, defending his title against Tiago Alves. The two biggest stars in the sport, and Brock and George were on UFC 100. It was a decidedly,

we are shoving the chips in the middle here because it is both expected of us, and we know that this will be the best thing for us in building our brand. 200, they tried to do that, fell apart a little bit, but they still did okay. And 300, it does not feel like they are trying to push the chips in here. They're just saying, this is a pay-per-view and we will pretend like it's bigger because this is a number.

And to some extent, maybe there's validity in that. It's just a freaking number. It's not their 300 events. It's not even their 300 pay-per-view, actually. So it's just like just doing whatever. But it, I want the lie. We all want the lie that this is supposed to be a big and meaningful event. And at the moment in time, it does not feel like we're getting the lie.

Or it feels like they're giving us the lie without any ability to believe the lie. Like, you just, you got to give us some substance to squint our eyes and pretend like this is a big event. I guess I'm more, I'm more interested. Not the actual card, because the card's going to be, it's going to happen, whatever. I'm actually, are they going to change the show, the poster, the look, I don't know. They'll probably do a cage thing. Yeah. And that's why I'm not particularly like, okay, it's going to be a busy week.

But cool. I mean, I don't know. For you guys, in the buildup, say a month out, I know we're a few months out, but a month out, what did 100 to 200 to, we're not 300 yet? But how did that compare into that kind of anticipation of build up? 100 felt awesome. Yeah, 100. Yeah, 100. So big.

100. And some of that is just time, right? Like 100, 100 is just a more significant number than 300 because in the same way that your first, you know, big sale of a new business is more important than your 50th or whatever. It just feels more meaningful because, hey, this is the sport at that point's established, but it wasn't that long away from, hey, man, this thing might die and the internet's keeping it afloat and we don't know. And now it's UFC has hit 100 events. It is this big grand thing. 200 just felt weird because of all the ancillary shit that happened around it. You know, with Ariel and Brock and all of, like, it felt a little bit more odd.

300 just feels, I don't feel anything for it at the moment. And it's still January. There's still time. I just, I'm trying to read the tea leaves. And I don't see how they can do something. It's going to be like, hell yeah, 300, let's go. Yeah, 200 happened and also the middle of the craziest year in the history of the sport. there were talks about whether the UFC was even,

like they're up for sale. Like the rumors that they were going to get sold and 200 rolls around, Dana denied it. It's all bullshit unless you hear from us, it ain't true. And then a day after UFC, they sold for $4 billion to endeavor. That was the year that we really leaned into the,

if Dana says something's a lie, it is the God's honest truth. Yeah. Because so many times that year, he was like, that's not true at all. and like comically soon after, it would be like, actually it was totally true

and I just lied to you all. Yeah. We'll see. I'm sure there's a million 300 questions on here. Oh, so we'll get after all of them. Well, let's go.

Let's get into this. Let's see what the peeps are thinking. This at least will spark some to bait until George versus Justin BMF. I don't think Justin would take it. He shouldn't. And I don't think Mazel. I don't think Mazel.

I don't think Mazel's fighting in the UFC. When he says unretired, I don't think he's fighting the UFC. I'll be surprised if he doesn't. They will have to let him go to do that. I am not confident the UFC will choose to let him fight elsewhere. He can box in his own promotion. You think the UFC would stop him from boxing in his own promotion? I think they would.

Really? They are a deeply petty organization. And ostensibly he is still some level of a draw for them. I am 50-50. that they would do it. I have no confidence that they'd be like, yes, George, please go compete in combat sports

and make money without us despite being under contract. I wouldn't bet my life that they would say no, but like, I wouldn't be even the least bit shocked if they were like, no. If you would like to fight, we'd be happy to give you a fight.

Who had they allowed that to? That's a star, a main inventor. No one? I honestly don't, can't remember someone. What if they left? what if they did it on

fight pass? You still think they'd do the same thing if they charged a premium? Like they did game bread boxing. We do it on fight pass maybe. Well then they're making money on it. Exactly. So he's back in the UFC

kind of umbrella. Maybe they'd allow that. I'm just deeply unsure. The only fight I would honestly want to be look at him and be like, we can still make money with this dude because they can. Do the,

I mean, if they did the Ascern fight, I'd probably watch it. That's the thing. When Asking came out and said it, like, I don't know that George has much of an interest in it. But also, he shouldn't not have an interest in it. And that, like, that would be the sort of fight that is not really meaningful, but would add legitimate juice to 300. Like, Markham versus Brock Lesnar was not, but for any intents and purposes, a meaningful fight. But it added juice.

Asker and Mosferol, too, adds juice to that card. Like, I just think they could still make money with him if he is trying to fight. and they will see that and be like, hey, George, you're still under contract with us. If you want to fight, let's figure something out. Maybe. I just don't see him fighting an M.MA.

But I could be wrong. I mean, I don't, I think if he totally had his druthers, he wouldn't. I am just not certain he gets to make that choice. It's getting the freaking Leon fight then. That's going to sell better than Ballal. Dude, honestly, I wouldn't hate it. Like, I would hate it for a lot of reasons

because it would be objectively. horrendous. But like, that's better than Leon Belal for 300. And there's a perverse sport that that's true, but it's frigging true.

Is it better for you as a fan of the sport, or is it better for the UFC's bank account? It's better for both. Really? I will watch Leon Belal. I am absolutely of the opinion

that there's two of the top 30 fighters in the world. It's high-level mixed martial arts. It's every, you can want from a sport. That fight is going to be rancid dog poo. It's just not going to be fun to watch.

There is no outcome that that fight is compelling viewing experience. I've watched them both fight enough to know how it works. It may be, it will be competitive and close. No part of it will be like, this is thrilling. I'm very excited to be watching it.

It is, that is all, that is the perfect distillation of a fight that is sporting and important for that reason, but has no broader interest beyond, hey, these are the two best people in the world competing. And so, yeah, like, Corey Masadol versus Leonard, which is significantly more interesting in the latter category.

Man, that's just, I mean, I... Okay, yeah, all right. I want Leon and Belal to fight. I truly, like, Belal deserves it, and I will watch that fight, and I won't be critical of it because it is elite fighting. But it is, that is your vegetables, baby. Like that is eat your Brussels sprouts because that's what this is.

This is meaningful and nutritious and useful, but it is not the star of the show. That is not the steak. It is not the potatoes. It's damn sure not the dessert. That is the leafy greens of fistfighting. That's so good. That's so good. I can't argue that.

Mr. No Hot Take. I'm pretty happy with the leafy greens of his fighting boys. That was good. We got to, we got to, that was great. That was great. We should send the show now. It was so good. Oh, so good.

I had this whole argument for Blab, but I was like, no, no, no, all right. Sold. Yeah, 2024. It's off to a good start. Casey, turn your mic up a little bit. Oh. You're a little quiet. I am.

Okay. I think I got, this got to get a little closer. Or just do that. Yeah. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Do, do.

More 300 questions. I figured this would be most of them. So I'm cool. With three title fights, save the card. Gachi Islam, Edwards, Balal, Waley versus Grasso. So Gachi Islam, I doubt happens in April,

because Islam's not going to fight during Ramadan. Balaul will, because he's done it before. Edwards Boulal could happen. Waley versus Grasso, boy, do I have no interest in that right now? Like, just none. Like, eventually, how could, I mean, Jed, you must be on my side on this. Because Grasso has plenty of options. Way-Lee has options.

She's got Jan. She's got Tatiana Suarez. Grasso has Valentina. She has Aaron Blanchfield. She has Manon Fioro. Macy Barber's on her way up. There's a whole bunch of fighters that are on their way up for a chance to fight Alexa Grasso.

Maybe they do it now. But... That feels like a thing they might try and do just because it has a patina of grandeur about it, champ champ fights, you know? But I mean, you know my stance. I don't ever want champ champ fights to happen. Certainly not under...

Because of what you just said, they both have plenty of work to do before it. I do think to Omar's question, I think the most likely outcome here is either two title fights and a big, you know, kicker or three title fights. Three title fights is just a little harder to imagine because it's hard to figure out who they can fit onto the card at this point based on where injuries are at, etc. But, you know, I think everyone is under the impression that Leon Ballal is happening on this card. And so then you would need two other major fights, i.e. title fights. Maybe you can do Wiley versus Janjohn, Jahn, or something on this card.

I'm not sure how box office that is, but it's not the worst thing I've ever heard. Maybe Sean Strickland retains the belt and gets to turn back around. I do think the most likely outcome for this is we don't get one big fight that really carries the tent pole. this is a three title fight or two title fights and a marquee bmf style you know massive fight as as the feature there right what do you want to see from 300 kisi you want two three title fights like what do you think this is going to look like well sorry we can take islam out of the equation um of course i would like islam to fight on it that would make sense but you know ramadan i'm down of edwards belal um but i understand i understand i understand i understand i understand i

understand it's a big event and I think yeah I would need a couple another title fight I only like way Lee Grasso if way Lee is committed to moving the flyweight not the whole back and forth thing that's all if you're going to move to flyweight cool I could that totally make sense I get that otherwise um yeah um where's tom aspan on all this I haven't heard his name mentioned I think he would make a good fighter to put on this card um it's annoying that he is defending an interim belt because that's just deeply annoying. But I think him versus whoever,

I don't even know who would be in the line. But that's, when are they fighting? Aren't they fighting it in like the end of this month? Or is that February? I just don't remember when they're fighting. And so I don't know how quick the turnaround can happen for it. But yeah,

I mean, if Almeido beats Curtis Blades and you can do Tom Aspinall, Jelton Almeida interim belt defense. I think that's a really strong co-main for an event like this. But I just don't know the timing. But I think Tom Aspinall is a person that should be involved in this fight card.

In one way or another, you should get him. We did, so for New Year's, we did Mirko Krokop for the latest dam they were good. If you haven't listened, go check it out. It's me and Shihinaw Shadi talking about Mirko Krocop. It rules. It's also a little bit less intense than our normal dams,

because there's only two of us, so it moved a little bit quicker. And we talked about Tom Aspinall and how the great part about Mirko Krokop is in, I forget what year it is, maybe it was like 2004. He fought nine times because pride just broke him out every month basically

and was like, hey, just fight. And several of those were against former UFC Heavyweight Champions. Those are awesome. But also, like a month and a half before he was scheduled to face Fador, he just fought one of Fador's teammates and he ran him over and he added a sick highlight to the real and nobody was upset about him getting functioning a squash match

as a build up to this massive fight. I don't care who Tom Aspinall fights. It does not have to be Jailton Almeida or Curtis Blades. He's defending an interim belt and even though I give it more credence than the real title at this point in time, interim belts by definition are totally fraudulent, paper is shit and useless.

So who cares? Just have him fight some dude. Derek Lewis. Dude, Derek Lewis would be terrific. Have him fight Huggy Bear for all the hell I care. Just get this dude out there to whack somebody in violent and exhilarating fashion to continue building him up. Yeah.

And the States on a big heart. Yeah. And the States do. Yeah. It is absolutely fine for him too. Like Derek Lewis is the ideal person because if he wins, it's hilarious. And when he doesn't, Tom, Aspinol just gets another sick hide to the real.

And yes, some people online will be like, well, this is dumb. You got the best fight the best. And then I'll be like, shut up, nerd. Who cares? This fight is sick. And no one cares because it's not for the real heavyweight title. I would care a little bit more if it were, but mostly just give me something cool to watch, man. So if Leon Edwards, Balaamah, Muhammad is the leafy green.

the dinner. What is Tom Aspinel versus Derek Lewis? I mean, that's the crimb broulet at the end of the meal. Like, that is for sure the dessert. You know, it is. I don't know what your preferred dessert is. I'm a big cream broulet guy from going out for like a nice dinner. Love a crumbullet finish. But I mean, that's, that's the ice cream. That's the Sunday right there. You know, that's, we got through Leon and Ballol to get our dessert of Derek Lewis versus Tom Asper.

Tell me right now. I defy any person in the comment section right now to be like, I would not watch that fight. You all would. You would all love to watch that fight. Fight would be insanely fun and so silly, and I don't care. We're booking UFC 300 for them right now. We're putting this all together.

Ideas is flying out. This is why we're here. We're trying to make sense of all of this. What are the 300 questions do we have? I'm sure they're pretty much all 300 questions. I really do think we just solved it with Tom Aspinall versus Derek Lewis. That's it. Shot O'Malley Cheeto Vera, the main event.

Tom Asmadel, Derek Lewis, the co-main event. Leon Edwards. There's your featured bout. You do Colby Covington versus Dustin Porreier and you do. No one actually wants that fight. I refuse to people. Who's Dustin going to fight though? Justin's got to fight somebody.

I agree you should. I think they just run Dustin versus Jim Miller. It's maybe not as exciting as you want it to be. but their last fight was friggin sick and they'll be sick together again and you just run it. That's the only good fight

of that whole card. I was there for that. So just run it back and that's totally fine. Like it would be better for Dustin to fight Ben Wasson de Nis but we just know

that's not happening. So if you can't do Nate and I for the longest time thought that Nate Dustin was the parachute in going to save this thing does not appear to be the case. You know,

just have that happen. But think of that card right now. Those three title fights that you just said, I would immediately be all in on 300. Like, hell yeah. This card is awesome. This card is the event of the year. Like this would be great.

So just do, have fun with it is really the key. It doesn't have to be whatever we're doing. Let's just have some fun with it. And let's let Tom Aspinall kill somebody who doesn't deserve to be there. And that's fine. You know,

and you lost name when you said. Yeah. what did you say kison i was like you lost me when you said have fun with it because this is actually a reoccurring theme with you and back to the ufc just have fun and the ufc refuses to have fun

refuses the unfunge championship yeah the f and ufc is not for fun absolutely um uh so you really man

like Derek lewis is perfect i'm working at the ranking right now i'm like So if they did this, if they had this, if they did three title fights and they did Mazadal Ascran, let's just say they did Mazadal Ascran too. Oh my God. Talk about an event. Would Mazadal, what fight would go on first? Leon Edwards-Blaw Muhammad or Mazdal Ascran? Because if we look at 200, although Edgar was the second fight on the main card and then there were two non-title fights before the main event. No, I was about to say exactly that.

I think Edwards Muhammad goes second. I think they have the intro to pay-per-view card fight, whatever fight they choose to use that as the leverage banger. And then you do, here's your leafy vegetables. And then you go, here's more dessert with Mosul-A-Assin 2. And then here's just a pipeline of candy is what the end of that card is. So I think that would be second from the top. I think you'd do, or second from the bottom. I think you have the intro fight and then you'd go right into the title fight.

this is fun ridiculous uh i i kind of know that it would be a really good card boys it'd be a really good fight card it would feel it would feel 300 it would feel like 300 it would feel like 300 it would be so sick who would accept to fight with brock after what happened at 200 or Derek Lewis. I think a lot of people would accept to fight with Brock. Derek Lewis would absolutely accept to fight with Brock. But that was my whole thing. And I said this at the time,

because I'd like just started working for us basically at that time. And I said I was like, I don't really understand what Mark Hunt's issue is. Everyone knew what was happening. And like Mark Hunt himself said it. And then he got like real up in his fields and cost himself a ton of money. and time and energy over the ensuing eight years or whatever

in his lawsuits. But like, Mark, he, Brock wasn't hiding it. Like, no one was hiding it. Yes,

there was. They sold the lie of, no, he's not doing anything. We all know this. But Mark Hunt himself was like, I don't care how many steroids he takes. I'm still going to knock him out.

Everyone knows the score. You just, just be okay with it because there's no reason not to. I'll fight Brock Lesner. Pay me a bunch of money. money i'll fight him i don't care what he's on who gives his shit the as long as the check clears baby that's what matters all right sure every heavy way to take that fight now yeah dude i'm aspirin all brock lesnar whew who now we're talking brock dc just bring it back bring it back

i i do like the brock dc thing brock dc oh that's now that's fun that that that would be Superfired, that's pulled in something out of the hat right there. That would be saucy. Yeah. It'd be funny saying DC have had a shirt on again. D.C. just, I want to see D.C. Now, when he has not really had to be, like, focused at all, it would be great. The visuals of him standing across from Brock at the stage of their lives.

Oh, my God. That'll sell a million pay-per-views just with that. Take my money. Will the Zufa lawsuit affect UFC 300, seeing. the next hearing except for April. Doubtful. Doubtful.

It just wouldn't affect it at all. No. I would also strongly imagine that that hearing will not go down in April, but we'll see. Yeah. Frizona's going to kick that can

as far down the road for as long as possible. Hell yeah, Jedd, I agree with the card place to get the legit but boring fight out of the way and fill it up with junk food to end the night. That's true. Though I think there may be actually, as I started talking about it, they might just go Tom Aspinall and the trash heavyweight fight first just because you know that that's going to move quickly and you can build some extra time in.

But yeah, you should definitely get the leafy greens out of the way as early as possible. Is it a word that we're all interested in Brock again when his last fight was just an incredibly boring 15 minutes? It was so bad. It was a horrible fight. It was an imagination of what could be Casey, not of what is or what. That's what I think of Leon Belaw. Like, we're imagining it so much worse than what it would actually be. It would probably be a fun competitive fight.

I think we've imagined it exactly as it would be. Lies, lies. I still believe. Man, Leon Edwards was, okay, yeah. I'm watching on Edwards fight for a long time. He has never been interesting, except for one head kick against Kumar Usman. That was deeply interesting. and still, honestly,

maybe a thing that we look back on as one of the most ridiculous aberrations in the history of the sport for him to pull that out in that moment. Incredible. Like, all credit to him, but that's just not to type in the slightest

for how he competes. Yeah, that's all, yeah, I agree. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first? There, the last one. Enjoy a Coca-Cola for a pause that refreshes. This episode is brought to you by Peloton.

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while Peloton IQ counts reps, corrects form, and trackers. your progress. Let yourself run, lift, flow, and go. Explore the new Peloton cross-training tread plus at OnePeloton.ca. What are the chances but Gregor fights in June? Do we actually believe it? I believe it. I believe it. 185 I don't really believe. But I do. I think that's, I think that's, I think that's obviously a lie. Yeah, I do think I I'm optimistic that we will see this fight in June. same unless someone gets hurt which would be really bad yeah i i think it's gonna happen he's

at some point you can't cry wolf anymore you've just just got to get in there and do it i think connor is going to finally fight again uh i think we know the answer of this but but why not but is there why we kind of explain yeah just He's willing to take the rest. Yeah, I agree. They're willing to take the rest to get two big buys. I think that there's also a world where they could still have done that with Connor of, hey, we're going to have you at 300.

And then let's get you turned around for international fight week. Because I think while he's like in a mindset to want to fight, you just need to try and hammer him out as many times as you can. If there's no way to go back to having hundreds of millions of dollars and not caring about fighting. Yeah. If they're fighting without a weight cut, like say they are actually fighting at 85 or whatever, then that is a possibility.

But yeah, the fact that the chant that Connor is not in 300 kind of tells me what Jed's been trying to say that 300 is just isn't the same. Maybe we care more about 300 than the UFC does. Yep. I mean, just go back to every time. It would just be so easy to put him here.

Just go back to every time. Dana was asked about 300 last year. I'm not even thinking about that right now. I'm not even thinking about that right now. I'm worried about the Apex next Saturday. He turned into Bill Belichick. He turned into Bill Belichick. Anytime you asked him about UFC 300.

Oh, we're focused on this week, next week. The Apex. You should maybe be focused on things like 300 a little bit in advance. Also, there's still a chance that they could say, screw it and put Connor there. I know that that is not likely. has said it, but Connor still wants to do it. Michael Chandler has zero agency in this.

He is going to accept the fight if they booked it for tomorrow because he has to. So there is still a chance that the UFC comes up with air on everything else and just says, Yolo, Connor, Michael, you guys want to do this? All right, let's go. I think that we're not giving that enough credence as a viable possibility, but I do think it is still possible. Is the issue that the UFC loses money when Connor fights? He seems very interested in going to...

Is there more to this? I'm going to just go ahead and lay in a little secret. They don't lose money when Connor fights. They make an exorbitant sum of money every time Connor fights. It's just finding... It's just the UFC deciding how much money they want to not make. how much money they want to give it,

they don't lose money in anybody fights. The idea is that they can make more money by having Connor fight outside of 300, which they already view as very profitable. So they don't want to double stack

because the idea is that there would be diminishing returns to double stacking their biggest entities on the same card. There's probably some reason to that, but yet they don't lose money with Connor fights.

They make so much money. money when Connor fights. Is that International Fight Week? Is that 301, 302? What is it? Do we know? International Fight Week? No, it can't be.

It's 303 or 304. Okay. It'll be what, because May will be 301, June will be 302. So 303, I guess. Or I guess maybe it's 302. Unless they do two in June. Unless they're probably going to do two because it's at the end of June. And so it'll probably be June, early June will be 302 and then 303 for,

IFW. What was UFC 101? UFC 1. Oh, was that BJ Penn? I want to say, I'm not looking at it, but I want to say BJ. That was BJ John. 3 was BJ Penn? Oh, you're right.

BJ Penn versus Kenne for Florida. Oh, yeah. I got, I just got my Jose Youngs on right there. Yeah, I was a Jose Young's right there. Also, I just remember it because BJ is one of my favorite fighters ever. You remember the numbers, yeah. Yeah, so I do remember, like, instances like that. but yeah

if what Brandon's saying you just got a message from Shaheen if what Brandon's saying is they don't want to put Connor on an event with another champion and thus that other champion is getting pay-per-view percentages that let's be real

Leon Edwards ain't bringing in a single individual to watch this card that isn't tuning in for Connor so they just don't want to give Leon or et cetera that bump maybe there could be some to that that they would just be paying out more money

than they have to. I could buy that also. Okay. But also, they don't have to put another champion on this card. If you do USC300 with Connor versus Michael Chandler, you don't have to give anybody else a pay-per-view bump. Leon can get shoved to 301 because this event will, with one fight, not matter.

Like, it will no longer have the conversations of, is this as spectacular as it should be? Like, nope, they put Connor back on. We're good. they may not be going to the UK until later on in the year too usually they go on like March or July or both but I just assume that they're going to go to the UK like in the early fall and then that's when you do

Leon and Tom are on that card but you can put Leon and Tom on this card you just got to plan your UK out but also this is the same promotion that had like all their Australian fighters fight like five weeks before they went to UFC Australia. So maybe they're planning to go to London in like the first week of May

who I don't know. Would not shock me if they did something that dumb at this point because they're doing it a lot these days. Who will Jim Miller fight? He's confirmed to be on the card. I still think it's, I think Dustin Poirier has the inside track, honestly, for who Jim Miller will

fight just because I think Dustin would take that fight. It's a fight the fans would enjoy. It's a fight that would be quite fun. It makes a lot of sense to me. But you just give him any other name, maybe not as highly ranked as Dustin, you know, like that, but in that sort of sphere of a dude

who's just been around the block for a whole hell a long time and watch him scrap with each other, you know? Joe Lozahn. Thought about Lozon, like Lozon would be fine. What is the UFC going to do of Tony Ferguson? Because Tony's Tony's

Tony Ferguson? Tony Ferguson would be a terrific fight for Jim Miller. Yep, I like that idea, too. I keep going back to that one, because it seems like a perfect double retirement fight if Tony's going to retire. I think that's a great idea, Casey. Yeah. As Jim better talked about retirement, I know he's kind of made this a goal, but he hasn't said.

Oh, he won't keep going. He wants to keep going. All right, cool. How about Tony Ferguson versus Nick Diaz at 300 at 170? I don't need to see either of those men fight ever again, but I'm pretty comfortable if they never fought again. I don't need to be bringing Nick back. I think Nick's not, I think Tony,

I think Tony were forced to watch. Like he's just going to keep doing it. I think if we just collectively ignore Nick, he probably will stay gone. I don't know if that's true. I'm just going to operate like it is because I don't want to speak in due justice. I will not be manifesting any Nick D.S.

fights for 2024. Thank you very much. God, they're going to make Tony fight Benoit Anthony, aren't they? Oh, don't say that. Don't say that. I don't think they can even sell that at this point. Yeah, please. Please don't do that.

When Dana says, I think he should retire or whatever, I don't think you can then have him fight, like, one of the most violent dudes currently competing. There's our most violent prospect in the world. Enjoy, Tony. Here's the spiritual successor to Justin Gachie. Have fun. Okay.

Good God. We ever seen a wood chipper in human form? Now you're going to fight him. Remember that scene at the end of Fargo? We're going to put that in the U.S.C. Octagon. Ah. Ronda versus Tater, home for the 145 belt is the right co-main event. Your thoughts?

Well, it's not going to be for the 145. It's the worst idea I've ever heard. It's the worst thing I've ever heard. So you're on to. something in general i again i said at the top of this i thought there was a real chance they bring back they try and bring back ronda for this um and maybe you do you know ronda tate or ronda home like because those are big entities it's big fight bring that back seems unlikely you definitely don't do it for the 45 belt because one that's not a real belt um and we don't need to pretend or do it

and that fight doesn't need a belt to be like that's the most transparent uh fake belt that's ever existed if they were to do it and they don't need to it's Ronda Rousey that's all you need to make it something like this I think the fight in general Ronda versus Tate or Holm would be a good add-on as the

Mark Hunt Spice featured belt just not for a title. Yeah I agree or make a fake title. Have fun it can be the women's legend belt or like I don't give a shit you do that I look

Who do you like more, though, if you had an option, take your home in the rematch? I think the Misha Tate fight would be more interesting. I think Holly probably just beats Ronda. And again, no disrespect. I mean, it's going to be disrespectful, but I mean it in the nicest way I can disrespect somebody. Holly Holm is a legend.

She is like the only human being alive who is going to be inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame and the Boxing Hall of Fame. She's accomplished a great deal. She has not been a joy to watch Fight for almost her entire career and certainly the last five years have been real tough hangs.

So I just don't Ronda versus Holly I think Ronda versus Holly is the bigger fight than more people would be drawn to because of how significant the first one was. If I'm just going from what would I rather watch, I'd rather watch Ronda fight Misha

because I think that's a more compelling matchup if that makes sense. Fair enough. But I think Ronda Holly would be the much more likely thing in that instance. But we also forget we can't use Holly because this is a critical, critical thing, ladies and gentlemen. We have, I think UFC Vegas whatever 100 is coming up this year.

And Holly Home has to main event UFC Apex 100. She is just like, I think that's where you do Holly versus Misha headlining UFX 100. I'm seeing lots of in the comments. I'm thinking lots of Ronda hate and stuff. Have fans forgotten?

Or is that one just so new? Or I don't know. Do they understand what a cultural phenomenon that Ronda was? No chance. No chance of bulk of the fans do. Okay.

Because fandom and it is so quick. Yeah. Ronda Rousey is at worst the third biggest star this sport has ever produced and I mean if you're going by produced I think you're going back produced she's yeah and for a long time and people will not believe this but it is absolutely true ronda was a bigger star than connor McGregor because Connor McGregor with Floyd broke through in a way that was undeniable but prior to Floyd everyone knew ronda ralsey my mom like

the invention of the mom test is ronda rousey my siblings and people, they just knew who Ronda Rousey was because of how she was so dominant for such a stretch. And the way she collapsed, like at the end of her career, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way and then vanished. And to my understanding, her professional wrestling career started real well, but then like everyone started hate on her. And I think her image just sort of really got dragged through it. And so people, don't recognize that like this was the biggest star in the history of the sport at the time that like for for a period of time this is she is single-handedly and i this is not hyperbolic at all

she is single-handedly responsible for there being women's fighting in the ufc today without her the dana white in the uc very likely still would not have women competing it under their that's a that's a very strong possibility there was still there was still be i absolutely there It's telling me a woman of the UFC. For years, for years was like, no, we will never do this. And there was the whole Chris Cyborg stuff. And we're talking about Chris Cyborg, one of the biggest female stars in the history of the sport, a woman who can carry a promotional banner in that way.

And the UFC was like, we're good. Don't need it, don't want it. Rhonda single-handedly, the UFC could not deny that this is marketable, this is something they can make money with. And they brought women's MMA into the UFC think it's very possible. that to this day we would still not have that if she did not exist. Yeah. She is, when we did her damn, she is undeniably to me a Mount Rushmore of fighters in the sport.

Thank you. And it just is like you, so many people don't respect her. And I get it. Like her game was pretty limited, et cetera, et cetera. But like it's not like Hoy's Gracie had a whole lot going on beyond the one thing. But she is more meaningful to this sport than everybody that's not named Connor McGregor. hoist, Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dana White. There is not a, there are no people that are more meaningful to MMA than that four right there.

Yeah, I agree. And I think, I don't think a lot of the negative comments are good enough reason for her to do it. Because I think people just have the bad taste in their mouths about how she sort of handled herself after the home loss, how she handled herself for the Nunes fight, did no media, was almost like too good for it altogether. and then went out there and just got run over and then vanished and didn't really say anything. She goes in there, fights Tate her home and just goes through the motions and has a smile on her face, treats it with respect, does it seriously, goes out there, fights her ass off, cuts a good promo

at the end, hey, I had to do this one more time, had to prove to my children that, hey, even when they're down, you can never say never, you can always come back and change your legacy. all of those things. I think the end of Ronda's career just looks a lot different than it does now. It's more about not her star power and her fighting skill

as opposed to what it is her attitude sucked and she thought she was too big for the sport. And her legacy was tarnished because of how she handled herself from a personality perspective. If she comes back and does one more

and does it right, even if she goes out there and gets dusted up by somebody, who cares? As long as she puts her opponent over and says this is a great experience. I needed to do this one more time. I think it's okay.

I mean, I agree. I'm trying to piece out. I'm trying to understand the difference to how fans feel about Brock coming back versus Rhonda coming back. Because Brock got popped bad for Sarah. He's had a horrible fight before he left. Left a sport.

But why do we won't Brock back so much, but not Rhonda? I'm talking about the general fan base. I'm not talking about us. I think that's, there's a lot of answers that I'm not entirely sure what would be the thing. Like what would be the trigger there? Other than, I mean, one. Include both our way past or ethnic crimes, at least in fighting. Not to get two into this, but one, even if you have never seen fist fighting before,

Brock Lesnar is the type of physique that your imagination assumes can do something. Rhonda was a great fighter in her day and very athletic. You don't look at Ronda Ross and be like, that woman is going to absolutely murder anyone that faces them. There is an imagination with Brock just because of his physicality that invites us to want him back and to welcome more. I would also say that there is probably a real part of this that is gender-based. And also, like not absolutely.

absolutely correctly like Brock is a more and this is saying something because it's Brock Rhonda does not have a personality that invites you to like her when she is losing Brock Brock is better about

like Brock was never kind of shitty in defeat like you know the way Rhonda was so shitty in defeat and that really soured like it's the thing with Colby that we talked about after 296 right like and the thing the day

difference between Colby and Chale, there are many, but the most stark one was evident there. We as people are okay with you being an asshole if you're a victor, but when you lose, you have to accept humility. Like that is part of the social contract. You have to be like, hey, it's a better man. You know, I'll come back, et cetera. You can't just kind of double and triple down on being an asshole. And Rhonda did that in a different way that is more antithetical to how, like, we

want to view sports of just taking her ball and literally going home. So, Mike, I think you're absolutely correct. I think like this would be a terrific opportunity for her. I don't know her. I haven't really interacted with her ever. But like she also did this when she was in her mid-20s. I'm still not like an adult, but I was really shitty at that age and I wasn't the best fighter in the world. So I can imagine that like over the ensuing years of having a family and kind of getting kicked in the mouth by life a little bit more, you might be a more humble person and maybe be able to reflect on this and be like, hey,

I didn't handle the Holly thing all that well or Amanda, but I'm in a better spot now kind of emotionally. And this can be a part of my life instead of it was such a severe breakoff of, I'm just out of that world now because it was bad and I didn't like it. Maybe now it can be more inviting. I think the sport would welcome her back with open arms if she came back in that manner to be like, hey, I'm now the old, you know, in the old head, I used to do this, I'm coming back. I just want to be around the sport a little bit more.

You know, hey, I can go see what Kayla's doing. You know, we're obviously used to know each other. And I think that there is a space for her in the sport in that way. And 300 would be an ideal, like, launching pad for that if it's something she wanted to do. I just don't know if she does. Yeah. Yeah. Brock also knew how to be a star, too.

Rhonda didn't. Rhonda just got became this massive star and you're just like, oh shit. Brock was already star in WWE, then tried the NFL thing out and then went to MMA. I already knew how to be a star, knew that the UFC was, and I know people hate to hear this, but it's 100% true. The roots of the UFC are in WWE. Like it just is. And Brock knew how to maneuver in that world and knew how to put himself over in this world.

And then he knew how to use both organizations, WWE and UFC, to work against one other to get bigger contracts for himself. Like, Brock is so good at this game. It's unbelievable. And Brock brings an oar about him where he is the mani Ramirez of MMA. The man can't do any wrong. We knew he was on all the gas. We knew it.

Everybody knew it. Mark Hunt knew it. And then it's just like, who gets the shit? Who cares? It's Brock being Brock. He's a silly goose. Yeah, just Brock being Brock.

He's a silly goose. Why is Brock going in the cage and pushing Daniel Cormier? We know he's not going to fight him. but let's just get him in the cage. Just Brock negotiating so he can get more money on his next WWE contract. But people laid it up. It's just Brock being the silly goose again.

It's just the aura he brings to the table. So Rhonda just didn't really know how to be a star. Brock just, Brock is a star, but he still knows how to do it where he could still be to himself and still find peace within it. It's interesting.

Brock has managed his career as brilliantly as just about any athlete in history has. 100%. of maximizing success while also maximizing his own personal interests outside of that spec. It is truly remarkable. And like, I'm not, we don't need to hold it onto that standard. I'm just like, Rhonda, if somehow you see this, the sport would love to have you back. And you're going to have to take it for a minute.

Like, it's, you won't get to come back totally clean. But like, it would just be cooler if Ronda Rousey was kind of at UFC events every once in a while. And just, ah, there's the Hall of Fame or Ronda Rousey, and they could bring her involved in this sport in one way or another. And if the answer to that is, let's have a fight Misha Tate again at U.C. 300, like, that would be cool. Like, that would be a moment that is cool. So I would hope that would happen. I just, it seems unlikely. I was trying to talk myself into this at the end of the last year and everything I'm hearing is that it's very not live.

So. No, it's not going to happen. Yeah. But Ronda is, I know people very close to Ronda. She's very happy with being a mom, hanging out of Travis Brown and having her little farm wherever she lives outside. God, God, you know, it would be so funny. If they, like, at a, at $2.99 or something, they have, like,

we have this big announcement for UFC 300, and they bring Ronda out. And everyone's like, holy shit. And then she grabs the mic and introduces Travis Brown for one more fight. That would be pretty bangers. Oh, it's so incredible. Charles Brown versus Tom Aspinall. Yes. And that's how you bring it back full circle.

Incredible. UFC 300 rules. Travis is trying to do that. I saw him at the gym a couple weeks ago. Yeah, rolling around some heavy ones. There we go. There we go. You did look like he was just kind of having fun.

The swerve. Ah, it'd be incredible. Do you have anything else? one last thing not about 300 uh what is MVP star power potential if he beats kevin holland i don't know how you guys feel but i don't think he gets a title shot right away but he probably gets one more fight and then gets title shot if he beats kevin holland they're not going to mess around with him if he beats kevin holland they're pushing him to the moon at least that's what i think i think if he beats to kevin holland they should give him a title fight because i don't know that

can earn one. Like, I, I am, I have never understood to what level Michael Vennam Page could be a star. He obviously galvanizes interest in some real ways, but it's really hard to judge how, how big anyone can be in Bellator, frankly. And, uh, you know my views on Michael Chandler. He's not very good. That being said, Michael Chandler is vastly superior fist fighter to Michael Vindam Page. and granted he competes in a hard more difficult division but walterweight's still not easy to make hay in and MVP if they make him if he beats kevin holland which i am supremely not certain he can do but if he does pull it off

i think he could beat many of the top welter weights but i also am not sure that he would beat any of them so because he had mid-fights with some people who are good but limited. Like he's, his stardom has definitely exceeded his ability as far as I am concerned, but I don't know how much so. And I think it's just safer to be like, hey, let's just fire him right into, like they didn't mess around.

Michael Chandler came in, he nuked Dan Hooker and he got a title fight. Was it dumb? Yes, it was exceedingly stupid that he got a title fight, but the UFC got what they wanted with it. Just do that with MVP. He comes in and he beats Kevin Holland. Certainly if he beats him impressively,

you know, with a jump knee or whatever, just put him in. Who cares? He can fight the winner of the inevitable Shafkat, Leon slash Bilal, fight, you know, at the end of the summer. And MVP can just be sitting cage side, and he's got next for the winner of that. That's how I would book him. I think the UFC has a real chance to do that.

But I also wouldn't be stunned if they, like, hey, fight Sean Brady after you beat Kevin on him. Yeah, that's the announcement of MVP is still mind-boggling to me. It really is. They're just going to show up to the press garbage. Hey, I got some fights for you. Like, did he? Michael Page versus Kevin Holland.

Didn't say, hey, we just sign MVP. Just wouldn't ready to announce in the fight. And he was like, what? Hold on a second. I don't know. Do they care? Do they care? I don't know.

I mean, they should. He was potentially a star, so they should at least treat him as such until he loses to somebody bad. But, yeah, I got to tell you. Yeah. Michael Venom Page had a tremendous 2023. This guy knocked it out of the park.

Every decision he made was a good one. It was great. And going on the MAA hour to announce a surprising free agency when even his promotion, his little promoter didn't know he was a free agent. And then just everything that happened, showing up to the PFL event, having the face-to-face with Cedric Dumebe

was fucking brilliant. All of it was great. And then he gets signed to the UFC a week later. I mean, there was no fanfare for his signing. Dana just under the race. Adair announces that he's fighting Kevin Holland, probably because of that terrible main event that we got at UFC 296. But yeah, pretty damn good year for MVP.

I'm sure they paid him pretty well, too. Seems very likely. Man, what is it with Bellator and fighters named Michael, and they just aren't very good? This is tough. Tough. You know who had the best 2023, Michael Chandler, because he just didn't fight,

and it was awesome. I had so much fun watching it not fight. It was really, really enjoyable. It should be like, just flail around begging Connor for his fight. It was awesome. Anyway. I loved, like,

Connor's clearly just so toying with him with the announcement. Like you kind of alluded to this, the 185 thing is just, I don't think any of us really think it's going to happen. But that's really just Connors being, Like, I set the terms and when I say jump, you say how high. And there's not really a good answer for Michael Chandler, but he does come out immediately. And he's like, okay, I'll do it at 185.

Like, we know you will, buddy. We know you'll do it under any circumstances that Connor will accept the fight with you. I won't Connor. It's not. I was like, I'm going to make you tie one hand behind your back. We're still going to take the fight. You have to drink a gallon of milk between each round. Go.

It's just so. eat a whole pizza and a bite. I am not too proud to say that I would be doing any different, but watching this man debase himself for a year on the hope of getting this payday is so, like,

it's so dramatically real. It's like, I will do anything you ask, man, just give me the paycheck. But Connor pushed him in the tough cage. Carter, just like him or not, the way he's handled this has been friggin' brilliant. All of it.

He's killing it. If I were Connor. The video he put together of like training camp is on. It's like Chandler doing the med ball slams and Conner's like chugging proper 12 and then Chandler doing another workout. It's just incredible.

It's all incredible. It's so good. If I were Connor, I would just spend the next six months just kneeling Michael Chandler in this way because it's it's sad. Like it's honestly a little, again, not saying I'm too proud to do it. I totally get it. I'd probably be doing the same thing because it's a big,

there's a lot of zeros coming down the pipeline for you, Mike, but it's a hard watch at points in time. Look, we've accomplished a lot on this episode. This is what UFC 300 should look like. Let's put this all together one last time. We move Sean O'Malley versus Marlon Vera to the main event of UFC 300, the co-main event for the interim heavyweight title, Tom Asvidal versus Derek Lewis.

Then we do Jorge Mazadol versus Ben Ascran 2. Then we do Leon Edwards versus Bilal Muhammad for the Welterway title in the second main card fight. And then the opener, it's still wide open. Ronda Rousey versus Holly Hall. Ronda Misha. Ronda Misha 3 opens the main card. That's the best card that's ever been put together as far as I'm concerned. Yeah.

And the prelims, look, we get Bo Nickle in the prelims. We got Al Jermaine Sterling, Calvin Cater on the preempt. prelims. We get Yerupra Haschka, Alexander Rackich on the prelims. And there's more to come. Dana said he's announcing more fights on Tuesday. So there you go. 300. It's coming together. You're welcome, Sean Shelby, McManor, and Dana White. You're welcome, Nick Con. You can always drop me in email. Just send me an email anytime you need creative ideas. I'll get back to you, boys. Yeah. And that's what, and that's what the promotional, that's what the promotional judging is all about. That's what the promotional

Festivist is all about. We're trying to help you out. Gamebred, bare knuckle, we told you, BECW, 2,000 seed arenas, and then they go and book the Amway Center in Orlando. And I'm just like, well, they didn't listen to the promotional festival. So hit the music. We've done our thing today.

Next week, we'll actually have, ladies and gentlemen, some things to react to. Probably more UFC 300 fights. We have a UFC Vegas event to get ready for, headline by Magabed Ankle Lyon versus Johnny Walker, too. And that will be nine days away from the first pay-per-view of 2024.

UFC 2997 headlined by Sean Strickland. Yeah, versus Drick is two-plusy for the middleweight title. And Meyer Buena Soa versus Raquel Pennington for the woman's van of white title. Enjoy this time off, everybody, because next week we're back at it. Casey, I am Mike Mackay, the iconic 36-1. Good night, everybody. Love y'all. This has been Between the Links, an MMI fighting production,

on the Vox Media Network.