MMA Fighting - BTL | Reaction To Jon Jones GOAT Promo, Pereira Teases Middleweight Return, UFC vs. Bellator, More

Episode Date: September 5, 2024

Just when you thought the Dana White promotional push of Jon Jones' UFC greatness would slow down a touch, it got taken to another level this week with a promo dedicated to Jones being the greatest fighter in the promotion's history. Was this a move that should be taken as a positive one, or negative? On an all-new episode of Between the Links, the panel reacts to the airing of the Jones promo during Tuesday's edition of DWCS, how White has been handling the situation, along with the UFC heavyweight champ. Additionally, topics include Alex Pereira teasing a move to middleweight to fight Dricus du Plessis after his UFC 307 main event with Khalil Rountree Jr., Shavkat Rakhmonov claiming Belal Muhammad declined a title fight for October, and the back-and-forth continuing between the two, the UFC bringing UFC Vegas 97 headlined by Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady, while Bellator counters with Bellator San Diego with a lightweight title fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Alexander Shabily, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Shaun Al-Shatti. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Shaun Al-Shatti: @ShaunAlShatti 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

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. From M.M.A. 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 Thursday, everybody. Fun show this week. The UFC is back in action this weekend. Bellator is back this weekend.

The world is clamoring. They're waiting for that. We have UFC champions in the news. We have pop-up surprise promos that had fantastic reactions, all of that and more on today's program. But before we banter about, let us introduce the participants, the panel, if you will, some MMA fighting family feud action. At least today it is as we first welcome Mr. No Gray area to the program,

the hot take kid, the big booper himself, Jed Bishu. Hello, sir. Here he is. Hi. Hello, everyone. It's good to see you all. I'm thrilled to be here. It's right, Casey.

Give me that Zoom. Just bring it in tight. Yeah, I don't know. We're going to talk about some stuff today. Oh, wow. Just keep going, Casey. Go watch our draft show. That's all I have to say today.

Yes, go watch the draft show. And back on the program, he is the best writer in the history of MMA media, in my opinion. He's my bald brother. Today, today, he is deputy editor for MAAfighting.com. May have just seen a big announcement on Twitter. It's usually a very special show when this man is here. Today, I would say it is a very bittersweet show. This will be his last appearance on the program as a member of the MMA fighting family,

although he's always going to be family to us. He is Mr. Shaheen Al-Shadhi. I disagree. Where is he? Where is that? There he is. Shaheen, welcome back, my man. fellas, it is an honor and a pleasure and a privilege to be here.

Let's see if I can remember how to do this. It's been a bit. But I could, I mean, there would be no other way for me to go out than to go against my forever frenemy jet over here. So this just feels perfect. We ain't frenemies. Oh, we lop it off the F? We lop it off the F?

No, the F is for you, sir. We ain't you frenemies at all. I love this energy. I'm here for this energy all show. Let's do that. Your last time on Between the Links will body you. Get the hell out of my cage. I like that.

Let's see if you can keep that up. I'm into this. I love this so much. I love this so much. I mean, honestly, what better way to start? Because gentlemen, I'm curious to get your reactions to this.

So let me paint this picture as we kick off round one. It's Tuesday night. The Contender series is on ESPN Plus. John Jones teased a little something was coming. before the show started, and a lot of people assumed, hey, it's a little over two months away from UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden. This is going to be the night where John Jones versus Steppe Mietichich, that fight is going to be rebooked. It's going to be announced. It's the worst kept secret in MMA right now. But finally, we're going to get the announcement.

We can finally move forward with this heavyweight division, figure out the championship, roundabout ridiculousness. The promo begins. We start seeing the promotion of John's greatness, his stats and his accolades and accomplishments. And we're waiting for the steep A graphic, the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, as the promotion has been saying. But it never came. What we got was a promo just proclaiming that John Jones

is the greatest of all time. And boy, this led to people sort of losing their minds, whether it be what the F was this or that's it. Or, I mean, people just thought we were going to get this announced fight. And then it became, Dana White is really going all in on this thing. This is what happened. So I'm going to get my thoughts in a moment.

But Jeanne, I want to begin with you. When you saw this promo, what was your reaction to this? Well, number one, I didn't believe it because first Jed was covering this event for the website. And he drops that into the private slack. And it's just like, this has to be a joke, right? Like, there's no way that we're going to just keep pushing this bit this far. But also, like, I kind of just don't even really understand where this one's coming from. Is anybody really arguing about John Jones being the goat?

Like, is that a discussion that people are having that is some heated, heated, furious discussion on the internet? Like, are people pushing back against that? I feel like it's unanimous that it's either him or like GSP. And if you go GSP, it's just kind of because, you know, John Jones is a big old POS who just does a bunch of steroids and has been caught repeatedly with all sorts of various things. And so you kind of just shy over to GSP.

It was a little cleaner with that in that regard. Like, I don't know that this is the big debate that we're having of John Jones's goatdom. It's more of just like what does pound for pound mean and this weird insistence to almost like crap on other champions to prop up John and right after other people did stuff, Islam Makachev, Alex Pereira. Like that's more of what this is.

So I didn't really understand this. But hey, man, it led to literally the funniest thing of 2024 for me, which is John Jones. Someone tricking John Jones. I don't know who did this and whoever you are out there. I love you so much. I am so happy and so proud of you for doing this. and pulling this off.

But whoever tricked John Jones into posting a screenshot that had been covertly intercepted at the bottom saying, I am ducking Tom Aspinall, that is 10 out of 10, 5 stars, A plus, no notes. That is the best thing that has happened in 2024. And I love that this is just forever in the MMA lexicon that this happened. Jed, you're a big John Jones guy. I'm sure when you saw this from you were like, absolutely right, absolutely right. They should do number one pound for pound. Love ranking this guy.

He's, he's my favorite. What did you think of this? So it legitimately was like how you were saying. Like I was watching this covering the contender series. I was like, okay, time to start writing up the like Jones versus me. It's officially official. And it was like, man, this is going to be a long commercial. Like they're really laying it on thick until we get to the steep part of it.

And then the steepe never came. It's like, all right, cut to the next promo about the Ford F-150 or whatever the hell it was. I was like, what was the purpose of that? And then my honest to God, my first reaction was sadness after it. Not because this is sad and like just uniquely just pitiable, but because a few weeks ago, Dana promised us something. He said, I got something for y'all's asses, you know, all the doubters and the haters of the John Jones. And we were all, all of us were anticipating.

a big internal joke that this was going to be another Dana hit piece on the media of all the people saying John Jones isn't the great. And I was pumped because I was going to be on one finally. I have somehow not been on the previous Dana hit pieces. And it was like one of the first comments that was said in our internal discussion was, Jed, you're definitely going to be on this. Like, I know. Because if there's one guy, you could just pull a compilation of singularly from shitting on John Jones. It's me. And then this is the response. my day in the sun was taken from me so we can glaze John Jones for no reason. Like, I don't, it's just so, so silly.

It was just so ridiculously silly thing. And the fact that, like, this is still going on. Like, you have fights and fighters to promote and fighters to promote who will be with your company long term. Like, Islamachiev is the current best pound for pound champion. Ilya has a chance to be the next Connor McGregor. Sean O'Malley is like the guy you picked and has a fight coming up in two weeks in an event you are calling the greatest live sporting event of all time. Sean O'Malley himself is coming out and complaining that he's not getting promoted,

that just sphere is being promoted, but that he, the handpicked successor, is kind of an afterthought here. And instead of doing anything to promote this, Dana White is making a sizzle reel for John Jones Goat Hood and complaining that the sphere show costs a lot of money. Like, I don't, it's just a really weird place that we're in right now. And I don't, like, I don't know what's coming next. Like, I genuinely have no idea what to expect as this story continues to unfold for reasons that baffle my mind.

It's become genuinely hilarious, because in a weird way, like, Dana White is actually doing the thing that, like, people consistently complain that he doesn't do. Like, he's not really a promoter, right? Like, he is a promoter in name, and he is obviously the head of the UFC. But, like, he does not promote his fighters very often. And so in a weird way, like, he is actually doing his job in that regard. And this has become unwittingly,

and I think just because he is choosing to dig his heels so deep into the idea of this fucking MMA media sucks so much, I'm just going to make this my thing, that this has now become like the longest fight promotion for a fight that I can ever remember scenes since basically Connor McGregor and Jose Aldo toured the world. Like that was the only other fight I can think of where they were talking about this six months beforehand,

seven months before. But he's like, there's no talk about Steve. There's no talk about Stepe in this other than to say, what am I just supposed to disrespect Steepay by not giving him the fight because John got hurt? Like, they're not, no, this isn't, that could have just been a fight promo. You could have just tacked on 10 minutes of Stepe, the heavyweight goat coming in November.

Like, but no, it's just there. He's promoting an asset who at best has two fights left and far more likely has one bit left with your company. It's very silly. See, you're wrong, though, because there is some Stepe talk. The Stepe promotion is, well, Steve-A's definitely going to retire after this fight because he's old. that's the promotion. That's what we get. And that's what we deserve. But really, this is genuinely the longest fight promotion since like Connor McGregor Josie Aldo World Tour. And it's for a fight that's still like several months away when like you said, there's a $20 million money pit of the show that's

literally next week. And I have not seen a single Sean O'Malley promo anywhere. It is just, I love that this is sort of the place we've reached. It really tickles me in like a really just delightful way. I am so happy with where this whole thing has gone because it's just gone to such an absurd place and this man just is so stubborn and digs his heels in so much that it's just, it's really entertainment.

Dude, the hit factors comment just popped up for me. The reporters in the M.A. media are the ones creating the John Jones narrative and blaming Dana for glazing. Dude, I don't know what you call what Dana's doing here other than glazing. Come on, guys. I'll be just honest about what's happening.

We're creating the narrative when they're, again, putting together a sizzorial comprised entirely of John Jones things. I will say, though, Jed, because you hit it at the top and I share these sentiments with you. I am so deeply disappointed this was not a media hit piece because I was just really looking forward to like, I thought there was like a 3% chance that it's literally just a seven-minute super cut of you.

And like that would have just been, the best. That would have been the absolute best. And I frankly, like, I need that to still exist. So if anybody is out there is watching this and y'all just have some free time on your hands and you're pretty good at video editing, if you could put together like a media hit piece of just Jed over the past what year, it was probably a sense, like when do you think you started this? Was it November last year? Because I remember the conversation with you. It wasn't November last year, but it was pretty soon after that just because of maybe I mean maybe it was right after it because of I think it was immediately after the MSCEN's not going to get to fight him which is weird

so it's very possible I guess that this is a year long crusade I'm almost positive that I remember having a conversation with you after the MSG show and sort of coming to the conclusion of like the only way that this is John's going to fight this man is if we shame him into it and you have just really taken the mantle in a in a tremendous way so like I just need the past 10 months of Jed in like a seven minute video. Someone please do this for me. Also shout out to the It Factor. Yes, the media did bring up John

at the Contender Series press conference because they ran a fucking commercial promoting John. Come on, man. Hey, the It Factor. Do you remember It Factor how this all started? Jose Young's asked Dana White a question about how great is the Makachev is at fucking lightweight. And it turned into Dana White,

putting over John Jones. The question had nothing to do with John Jones. It's like seven way classes away. That's how this all started. That was the downhill effect of all of this. And now it's come to this. And the media's having fun with this too. And I got to say something, ladies and gentlemen,

you may not believe me, but it's true. I thought this was freaking fantastic. It's silly as hell. But I love that Dana is leaning into this whole thing. He's playing this perfectly. I laughed my ass off. I've watched that promo like seven times and laughed, even cried a little watching that promo because of the troll job.

And this was the best use of the UFC production team who are incredible of putting these packages together. We can't put Francis and Ghanu on a countdown show because Israel had Asana said his name, but they can make sure that a John Jones is the best ever video can be made to be aired on Dana White's contender series. This is just A plus stuff right here. I agree with both of you guys, especially you, Shahim, because you said, yes, Dana's being a promoter right now. This is what a promoter is supposed to be doing.

It's a stubborn as hell pull. But boy, do I respect the hell out of it because he is promoting, even though there's other things he could promote. And there hasn't been a ton of examples of any of this over the last several years that you can look at maybe since Mayweather McGregor. This is the last time I've seen Dana really put a push behind anybody. like this. And the other thing that I kind of took away from the Shaheen, Dana White's having a little bit of fun here. Like he's not being a miserable, you know, just the miserable guy who hates everybody. We don't see this side of Dana all that often too. Like we, we, we could say he hates MMA media and he could say it

all he wants. And yes, his approach to the MMA media has changed. But this version of Dana is something frankly, I have missed. At least that's how I feel. Like, do you, get the vibes from that as well that like you know Dana knows he's got to do this and yes it's the media has made him salty but at this point he's just like look it's part of the game let's just have a little fun with these guys they're you know at least the ones that come to the contender series right yeah this this just feels fun at this point that's what I'm saying like this is all funny I feel like everyone's sort of understands the bit at this point and the longer we can keep this going like honestly like I have to say it's just so delightful like I'm

really just happy that we have reached this weird place with this because this is going to just be a thing forever now. And I'm just like, again, you, like you said, Mike, we don't really see this side of Dana. Usually it's a lot more mean-spirited. Like, this just feels very ingest, tongue-in-cheek at this point. Like, I'm sure he still very much believes a lot of what he's saying, but it's just, yeah, like everyone's in on the bit. And that's okay. Like, that's, it's okay for us to have a little fun thing like this. Except I don't think Dana's in on the bit. Like, he's in on the bit, certainly to some extent. And, like, it's fun when he's fun when he opens up depression.

Like, hey, have you guys heard about John Jones? It's great. My only issue with this, and it's not a real issue, I don't really care. I thought it was hilarious and weird. To your point, Shaheen, it didn't address the actual bit. And the actual bit is that John Jones is not the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. And the commercial did not address that. It addressed him being the greatest fighter ever.

Makes it even funny. Makes it even though. And Dana like can't, and that's the thing is I don't, I genuinely just think that Dana does not understand the difference between pound for pound and greatest of all time. So long as, so long as like in his head, I believe,

because that was brought up again in the Contender series and just kind of, I do not think he makes an A plus B connection of as long as John Jones is at least ostensibly an active fighter, he is the best pound for pound fighter because he's the greatest fighter of all time. and it has nothing to do with recency whatsoever. Because, like, he still can't get there. So I don't know to what extent he's in on that part of the bit.

But, like, this is obviously fun. Like, this is, it made Tuesday more fun to have that happen. The fact that every, that he essentially keeps conflating these two things and just doesn't seem to understand the actual, like, thing that people are arguing, especially when it's like, Mike, you'd mention how this started. Like, this starts after Islam Makachev and Dustin, have basically the fight of the year or at least one of the top three fights of the year. And Islam's like in this incredible moment.

And then that's when we decided like, well, Islam's not very good. He's not John Jones type of thing. Like the fact that this is like where we started and this is where we've reached makes it even funnier to me. Because it's just a continuation of again, this weird conflation that like, no, dude, that's not what no. Nobody's talking about this, man. Like you are talking about a different thing than anyone else. Also, this is why our wonderful producer, Casey, Casey is such a woman with a director.

I see what you're doing down there on the screen, Casey. I see it. I love it. I love you so much. It's just wonderful work. A plus. Give this man an Emmy. Oh, yeah, definitely.

He should be nominated for an Emmy. Jed, you brought something up. I'm going to put you on the spot here because, like, what do you foresee being the next step to this from Dana White? And I know Dana's talking about AI doing the rankings, which, by the way, the second I saw him say that, I went to. like three different AI sites and ask the question of who the best pound fighter in the UFC is and it's his Lomachachev every single time on every single site. But I digress.

This cannot be the last thing that comes from this, right? It just can't. I mean, it's probably the last big thing for like a minute because I do think Dana is enough of a promoter to not make next week focused on the John Jones story just because it's fear and they had cost them $20 million and they still have a lot of seats of for it. Like, I think that he'll be able to kind of separate those two entities out to reasonable. But, like, I'm sure that this will keep coming because it's, it is easy engagement from Dana. If, if Dana is not being, you know, all that excitable at one of these, you know, contingencies, post-pressure things, kind of quickest way to get him to start talking about something

that might generate a headline is just bring up John Jones and Steepay and let him get angry and animated. So like it'll probably happen. I just don't know how much more juice there is to squeeze from this particular stone. So like something else will happen. And certainly as November gets here and this starts being a thing, then maybe there will be a media hit piece, you know, after John beats the sin out of steep A, then Dana will drop, you know, the post 300, all these people doubted this event, look at how great it was. Maybe that's when my time will come to shine. But, I just, I don't know how long we can keep this going because it's not novel. It's not that interesting.

It's just kind of interesting because it's a pretty like low period. We're in the doldrums of stuff happen. So this is interesting in context of everything else. Gene, do you think this stops here? This is the last thing we get for a while or you think we get through sphere and then start ramping back up again? No, this isn't, I mean, this is just going to continue until not. November. I think that I don't know how to, I don't know how to frame this, but I think that the traveling core of MMA media who are at these sort of press conferences are like they, they, there are not a

lot of subjects that they are going to pivot to. This is something that it's going to keep being revisited just because that this is, this is the kind of space that we're in at this point and you, you're looking for these 30 second sound bites, right? You're looking for these clips. And Dana White's going to give them to you. He's going to deliver and it's just going to be the same thing over and over. So I just feel like we have another two months of this. Like, everyone's already sick of it. People will be more sick of it. And in a weird way, it's like turning people against John's legacy entirely in a way that's

almost unfair and like not correct. But like that in and of itself is also funny. Also, how have we not discussed? Like I mentioned it, but how have we not discussed the fact that John posted this meme with this thing below it? Like, is the funniest thing ever, right? Like, the fact that this man is just so desperate for this. No, it's just...

The, I love... The funniest thing ever is that he then deleted it. Because he... Like, if he just left it up, it was like, whatever, Yolo, like, but he deleted it because this man is like chronically online and figured out he got burnt. And so then he got... It's pretty good. It's very, very funny.

I wish I would have been in the room to write a 2,000-word fly-on-the-wall feature of seeing his reaction once he saw what it actually was that he posted. That might have been my Pulitzer is being able to put that out there. Probably threw another phone in the pool. Do you guys remember when like, I'm not even like less than two weeks ago, John made a big performative. I'm throwing my phone in the pool because I'm focused on me and I don't have too much time for this internet shit.

Yeah, that's the, that's the Jones is because within a week of that, he's still just being online. It's unbelievable. I know Sheen said that people are getting sick of this. I'm not one of them. I hope this goes on forever. I hope Steve A beat John and we still. I love it.

I think it's hilarious. I think it's so funny. We're just making the same loop. Oh, I know. But that's why it's so funny. There's no new information because John isn't fighting. I know. But that's why like we know he's about to.

But until he does, this is going to be the story. I just want to see how many different ways Like you say I want to see how many different ways We can eat this this Reese's right Like I think we can get a little more creative with this I don't think we're done at all We might even get a promo a week about this

Which sign me the hell up for that Because I just want to see how stubborn Dana can get from this And I respect to God If the UFC's almighty Promotional Power is just put to Backing this stupid ass fight Instead of the good fights that they have Like, Ilya is fighting Max Holloway.

Like, that is the universal number one fight that can be made for it. And no one, like, they are not talking for shit about that because we're spending every waking moment talking about John Jones committing elder abuse on a retired firefighter. I don't know the world I'm living in. It's all just so funny. God, I hope. God, I hope Steve wins. and I've never said that sentence in my life. And God, I hope so great.

It would be the funniest thing that has happened in sports if Steepa wins. Jed, why do you not have chicken? It will never happen, but we deserve it. Why do you not have chickens can't be goats merch? Buddy, I know that you're leaving us so you don't like, but come on, we can't make Vox merch. It's like impossible to get merch. I don't even need Vox merch. I need Jedmishu-specific chickens-can't-be-goats merch.

Man, maybe I'll do that. Maybe I will go to 309 and just sit in press row with the chickens-can't-be-goat shirt. I would buy that right now. I would buy that right now. Also, not for nothing, I'm wrapping the true goat. My goat, all elbows, baby, the legend. That's my goat. That's my goat.

The iconic voice. iconic lens. Esther Lynn does it all. We have other things to talk about, guys. We could do this forever and ever, but we have a visitor. You do. Yes. John Jones is coming for you.

Oh, hey, John. How you doing? The point for round one goes to Jedbushu, one to nothing. Yeah, it's got on. Good stuff. Can you guys imagine how fun that will be if Steepi wins? Very interesting. I may never stop laughing if Steepet wins.

Oh, yeah, 100%. I think there's like an actual 20% chance that like all of this is happening strictly because of Jed. Like that Jed caused this entire thing to happen. 100%. Definitely. Definitely. But anyway. It will be my greatest accomplishment if John does fight Tom Aspinall.

I am going to take credit for it. It will be my greatest accomplishment. I will give you credit for it. I will thank you forever for it. But guys, there's another big story this week. it is about Poleton Alex Pereira because he doubles down

in this challenge for Dricus Duplice. No, it's not DDP come to 205 but Pereira going back down to 185 for this fight to happen. Of course, Jed Bishu, the big booper, is booked for his next title defense

in around a month's time against Khalil Roundtree Jr., UFC 307. But Pereira said, no matter what happens, win or lose, winner cry, this is the move that he would like to make. So I ask you, Jedmishu,

is this the right move what did you think of Pereira going back to this well i get it right after ddp beats izzie right good time to get in the headlines but a few weeks later we're we're posting the same photo and putting out the same message didn't see it coming it's a bit weird right like i don't hate it um i'm not like i just in a vacuum and be like i'm not really sure you should make that weight cut again alex perrero but i'm not him he knows his body he's a professional on an all-time great and so if he can safely do it and compete sure the thing that i find weird about this is that he had already started he and his camp and the ufc to some extent had already begun the hey what if perera just tries to become the first three division champion and so this is functionally a pivot away

from that it's not saying he can't go back up to heavyweight but it is and i don't know if it's just a timing thing of it doesn't seem like I'm going to get the heavyweight thing. And so this is a big fight with trickus duplice. And I would, you know, let's let's just try and get the biggest bag we can. Let's get the biggest thing happening. And that seems more attainable. Maybe it's that. But it does seem like if I'm him or in his corner, I'd be like, hey, man, let's, we should really be focusing on the heavyweight thing. Like that's, that is attainable for us. Maybe not right now. We've got to do Kuliel Roundtree and then if Magamundanklyev beats Alexander Rackich coming up we probably at that point will be forced into fighting Ancolaev but if he doesn't then you know John fights steep double

retirement you versus Tom Aspinall is a fight that is very possible to happen so it's just weird in that where he is focusing his energies in like broadly speaking yes like you want to keep this iron in the fire if you physically can adding simultaneously. two-weight world champion to his resume is that's a nice little box to tick as opposed to just being a two-weight world champion. And then if he does that, then he can still, maybe the UFC would still be like, Yolo, go fight Tom Aspinall, try and be a simultaneous three-weight world champion. So, like, a lot of it does make sense, but it is a little weird in that it makes sense to do it right after DDP wins. Doing it now is a little odd, particularly because, like, I don't think

any of us believe Cleo around Gigi is about to defeat him, despite the fact that he is the glory killer himself. But like, you have an actual fight against the dude that you got to beat before any of this is reasonable. Now, the DDP stuff, he said that win or lose wants to do it.

And so maybe this is a hedge. But it's, the timing is odd, even if the kind of message makes some sense to me. Gene, were you surprised by this? I've remained surprised by it. Like, I don't like this. Like, you know, like Alex can do what Alice can do.

But just from my perspective, like, I don't really understand this. I don't really want to see that fight at 185. Like I just, this is a man who at this point is walking around. I would like to see that fight at 185. I just, it did. I wouldn't, gross isn't the right word, but the idea of watching this man who's been walking around at like 235, 240, cut down, cut back down to 185 where the last time we saw him, he was looking pretty frail. Like, I just don't really have a lot of. interest in this. This light heavyweight version of Alex Pereira has been so fun. And he, again,

he's such a gigantic man. Like, I just, nothing about me is interested in seeing him go backwards. And that's what 185 would feel like to me. It's just like going back to get this thing that you already had, I don't really understand why you would need it again. The heavyweight idea is much more intriguing to me. And I understand like, hey, if he's 235, 240, that's like a bigger ask against the guy like a Tom Aspiral who cuts weight to get to 265. Like, it's not me getting in there. So it's easy for me to say. But like, why not go try to become the first three division champion? You're already like this one of one incredibly unique specimen just in the history of mixed martial arts and in particular the history of the UFC. Like there will never be another person

who did what, or does what Alex Pereira has already done. Why not try to put that, push that even further into the stratosphere, man? Like no one, I don't can't imagine anyone's anytime soon getting a chance to do the three division champion thing. That feels so much more intriguing to me then just like, hey, we're going to revisit what we were doing in 2022. Like, I don't know. I've enjoyed the light heavyweight version of them so much. And he's looked so powerful, so durable. Like, he's just looked like a much better, more polished 2.0 kind of fighter at light heavyweight.

See him go back down. Just, I don't know. It doesn't do anything for me. And in particular, when middleweight right now, there's so many other cool options, right? Like, it's not like we're lacking opponents for Drickus duplice. Like maybe the Sean Strickland rematch is a rematch and doesn't do much for you. but you still have like a Hamza Ashimaev out there. You have guys like a bone nickel coming up.

You have other middleweights coming up. Like I don't know. This to me, I don't really get it. I don't really understand it. But if DDP does beat him, then he's beaten the last four middleweight champions consecutively, which is pretty goddamn sick.

Sure, for DDP. I guess for, I understand why DDP would want it. I don't understand why Alex would want this. He's already a champion. Like he's already getting champion. points. He's already getting paper B points. Again, I agree on the Alex thing. My point was just to refute your, you don't care about it. I'm like, I would absolutely love to watch that fight. I guess I would be dope as hell. I think it's not, like, it's silly, but like, sign me up for that if we can make that happen. I just feel like at this age with how old Alisper is and how accustomed his body must be at this point to being this big. I just don't have interest in seeing a diminished version of this dude who is pretty much the most interesting man in MMA right now. Because you're just, you're just, trying to keep ddp down everybody just like this guy isn't very good and so they don't see him

win while being ugly because that's all this man does it would be the best perere would and ddp it's fine i'm good i'll win in the fourth round dna white didn't say yeah let's do this but he certainly didn't treat this like the perera versus john jones conversation sheen did he because because that was just like an immediate no on Pat McAfee. Instead, his reaction was kind of putting Pereira over, guys nasty, this is why we love him, he wants to go up, down, all around. And the UFC, because of this,

they're like, cool. We have, like, a lot of options that we can explore here with this guy. You think this fight could actually happen, Shane? Like, I know you're not a fan of it, but you think Dana and the matchmakers see this, see the reactions to it and think to themselves, man, if Pereira goes and dusts up Khalil Roundtree at UFC 307, which a lot of people think he's going to do.

He wants this fight. I'm sure DDP ain't going to say no to it. What do you think the chances are the UFC would go to this well, have Pereira going on to 185 and fight Drickus Duplice for his next fight? Yeah, the reaction from Dana wasn't surprising to me. It always felt like at least my sense of my read of the situation with the heavyweight thing was that it was just very clear that like the heavyweight division is not ready for a moment like that, right? Like it is so jammed up with the first topic that we discussed on this show with the John.

Jones, Tom Aspinall, Steepa thing like there. We are not going to get clarity at heavyweight anytime soon. Even after November, like we are still waiting for whatever Tom Aspinall then would do with the winner of that situation. So it's just like even talking about Alex Perra to heavyweight doesn't feel like something that's attainable until like at earliest late 20, 25 probably. So like why even entertain it? So in that sense, I sort of understand why Dana was consistently deflecting on it. I think the middle way, him being open to the middle way just feels like, him again trying to be a promoter right like him trying to do what we ask him to do to be like oh man this Alex Pereira guy he's so badass you see him just wanting to do so many different things you know

it keeps it helps us keep our options open that to me just feels like Dana trying to prop up one of his biggest stars and frankly the dude who has completely saved 2024 for the UFC and who is either going to be first or second in every person's fighter at the year ballot if he ends up beating cluel roundtree i just don't think that this is something that will actually happen like this to me feels like a lot of talking, a lot of stuff to just sort of keep, keep names and headlines and just keep the news cycle going. But I just can't see a world where all parties involved get around and just like, this is the best next step for all of us is to go back down to 185, cut this weight and try to get a title that we have already had. It just doesn't make sense to me.

You feel like the UFC is taking this seriously at all, Jed? Like they're looking at this as an option like, hmm, maybe we can do this in 2025. This would be fun. Yeah, for. sure. I mean, just because it's, it is what Dana said. It's good to have options. I don't think this would be their first choice, but, you know, I mean, frankly, you just kind of never know with where they're going to feel compelled to put their power points, basically. Like, all right, where do we need a big fight? They really seem to hate Magerman Angoliath for reasons that I still don't quite understand. But they just like, like pretty clearly do not care for him and don't want him near the title if they can help it.

So it wouldn't shock me. They're like, hey, we'll put a pause on this, you know, particularly like if, if Uncle I of Rackich is weird or like, you know,

uncle has had a bunch of like, kind of a run of odd performances happening in there. Something like that happened. Then we'll jump the opportunity to not be like, we got to have him fight this dude. So, and there's not another clear cut light heavyweight contender right now. So yeah,

like I think, This is certainly one of the options for him. And it will just kind of depend on how the next few months break down and sort of what they decide is the biggest business and the best use of one of their most important stars. Chaos of foot at light heavyweight. Chaos of foot at middleweight potentially. Who the hell knows what's going to happen in 2025?

We don't even know what's happening at Welterway right now. And guess what? We're dropping down to Welterweight for round number three. The point for round two goes to Chiquin Al-Shadi. Nicely done. One to one. There's the confetti. Let it fall.

All right. Down to 170 we go because things have gotten pretty interesting in that division because I spoke with Shafkaa Rakhmanov last week, revealed a bit of some exclusive news, alleges that the UFC already offered him a title fight against Balal Mohammed. It's not in December. It's not early 2025. They wanted to do it at UFC 307, Salt Lake City, October 5th.

which is a little more than two months after Bilal Muhammad won the title against Leon Edwards in a pretty hard fought battle. There's more wrinkles to this all. But let's just start here, Shaheen. Because speaking to others close to this situation, this fight was absolutely offered to Shafkat Rachmanov. This is not a man who's just saying things to Garner headlines. This fight was actually offered to him.

He says Balal turns it down, which is obviously completely understandable because he just won the belt. But man, feel however you want about Bilal Muhammad. one of my big takeaways was this seems like it was certainly a choice to put this fight on the table, isn't it? For October 5th, that just seems like unfairly too soon. Are you surprised? I mean, not really, but still. Yeah, like this is what they do, man.

Like, he's not the first nor will he be the last champion to sort of be asked, hey, do you want to make a turnaround right after winning the belt? Like, we've seen this consistently. So I'm not surprised that they offered this fight. I'm not surprised Bilal turned it down. Like you said, this man literally just won the belt, and Shavkat has not fought this year. So I don't know that, like, it's not as if Balal is holding up this situation. But I'm happy that they're trying to keep this division moving.

This division has been such a slog for so long at this point. Welterweight has sucked for a while. And it's just, I'm glad we're trying to finally unjam it a bit and get things moving. So maybe it's not going to happen in October. Maybe it's not going to happen in November. But if we can get the even motivation to get a Walterweight title fight between these two men, one in particular who I think has been the heir apparent at 170 for a long time, Shavkat Rangmanov.

He is the ungrounded champion in my eyes and he will win that belt whenever he gets that opportunity. The fact that there is even just a level of urgency to get us there, to get this thing moving, I'm super here for it and I appreciate it. Because, again, Walterweight has been such a slog for a bit now. And I just, it's a good division. I want to see things happen. I want to see movement. And it looks like we're finally trending that way.

Jay, what did you think of this? Just hearing Shafcott mention it and because it seems like this is something the UFC would absolutely do, fair or unfair? I think it's fair. I don't think, I think it's unfair if they hold it against Ballol for turning this down, which I'm not sure that they have or would. But I think, like, we were talking about it at the time of, like, what the hell is going to headline Salt Lake City? Because Maguene Goliath is book, so who is Pereira going to fight if it would even be him?

They've got to slot something else in there or accept this to be a dead pay-per-view like they did with UFC 301. And so I think that made sense to just test the water, say, hey, like, Shavkov, would you be into this? Sure. Okay, Balal, can you make this turnaround? And I think offering that to him is fine. If they then punish him, however they might do so, then that would be pretty shitty. But I don't necessarily think that's what's happened here. My biggest takeaway from this, though, is that, and this isn't just germane to Bala Muhammad.

It's really to all fighters, but especially all fighters who, you know, achieve a level of fame and success. For the love of God, get a PR person and have them handle it. handle your communications. Like, because what should have been a very simple, hey, I was offered this fight, B'all didn't,

I thought he was good, like, and a kind of a snide little comment from Shavcott being like, I thought he's going to be a fighting champion, then ballooned into this absolute monstrosity of bad PR for B'Lah where he's like,

why don't you fight Ustman and determine the real number one contender? Like, and so now there are people who are like, B'all's ducking Shavkat. Ballal isn't ducking Shavcott. He will fight Shavkat. He is not making himself any fans with his reaction to what has happened here because he didn't have a PR person.

Like he's just out there tweeting and that's that's bad. Like don't don't be the guy. Don't be John Jones. Don't tweet through it. Get somebody to do this for you because now that is part and parcel of this story is there are a non, like there are so many people doing it to John Annick felt compelled to go on his own Twitter and be like, Ballal's not ducking Shavkat, you guys are weird. Like, it's, that's not what you want to happen. You don't want the narrative around you to be,

I am afraid to fight this guy as the new champion. And it didn't need to be because it's not true. But he took the one line of action to, to functionally validate what Shavkot said. Because that's what Shavkat was saying. Shavkat was saying, I'm ducking you. And his response is, oh, you think I'm ducking you? Why don't you go fight Kamau?

Instead, it's the work fucking answer you could have to an accusation of ducking. Like, it's so bad. And I just, like, these two dudes are going to fight that will probably be 2025, though it could be the December pay-per-view. My best guess is that they are still waiting to see if maybe they can tuck the Connor Chandler fight to that. Though I've also, you know, we've also kind of heard rumblings of January for the Connor Chandler fight.

But they're going to fight. And this just kind of became something that did not need to be anything. because it was poorly handled. So that's kind of where on that case. Is it interesting to hear you say that, please, please. It's interesting to hear you say that, because to me it still feels like it's nothing. Like I don't know,

I don't feel like this is some big burning topic at the MMA world right now. Like it doesn't feel like this has become a mountain molehill type of situation. It doesn't feel like people are really latching onto this. Like this is such a minor blip in the radar of like social media drama that like I think it's going to be forgotten by next week. Like to me like sure, maybe. Everything gets forgotten by next week.

Sure, but it just doesn't even feel like, like I don't even feel strongly one way or another about it. I feel like probably, yeah, Balal's answer was dumb. But like, no one's going to be thinking about that by the time he actually, this fight actually does take place. So to me, this is such a non, this is like such a non topic, you know. I mean, we wrote like four stories on it this week. And, and like that's for what's happening.

within the span of six weeks. God forbid something does occur and that this fight doesn't happen in December because, you know, knock on wood, like ball gets injured or something. Like, this is just bad PR. Like, it's just laying the foundation for people to approach you with negative

energies functionally as the champion. When like, you should still be riding high on the, I rub all your noses in it. None of you said I would beat Leon. Look at me. I'm the champion. Like, his response could have just been everybody said i won't beat leon and i whipped his ass shavkat you're next and that would be fine but but you're not next in six weeks because that's an insane ask if i mean to me if anything else

like my biggest takeaway from this whole saga has just been like i am glad that we're not fucking around i'm glad that it's shopcott i'm not i'm glad we're not doing shopcott usman i'm glad we're not trying to shepherd usman into some weird cutting of the line to get back to the title because that would have have just been infuriating. Like, Schofkat's the guy. I'm glad we're just treating him like the guy, and we're going to hopefully be able to do this, whether it's December or January.

And again, there's a level of urgency to get this division going because this could be a very fun division. And if we kept, we sort of keep putting these roadblocks in front of ourselves, it'd be very dumb. So just my biggest takeaway from this is just like, hey, they're actually treating this the right way. They're treating this the correct way they should.

I'm not 100% sure. Like, there's still a world where Oussman gets there. I don't think that's going to happen. I'd be stunned. I'd be stunned. I mean, the literal company line after Ballal won was, hey, man, Ousman's in the mix now. Like, I, it's a non-zero chance we get Oosman, which would be very, very silly. But I think ultimately we will get Chavkat.

So let's just hope for the good things. We want the good outcomes. I would like Chavcott to fight. I would like him to fight in 2025 because one of us here drafted Chavkat. on their fantasy team for the remainder of this year and that one of us isn't me. So I would like him to not fight and for Shaheen to get zero points. Yes.

I hope. Sure was. I hope Shafcott is your Alessandro Costa, Shaheen. I hope they booked this fight for December and you get excited and then it doesn't happen. And then you lose it all together. Kind of like what I'm dealing with right now. But I, yeah, I mean, I guess like one of the big reasons I brought this up is because, like you said, Shaheen, this division can be fun. Like, there are a lot of really interesting options and the

Balal-Shafkat thing is kind of taking on a life of its own. And then Bilal's obviously had the chance to respond to Shafkat. He's done some interviews. And I kind of like Jed was saying, I have a friggin headache after this because it starts with Shafkot should fight Usman. And then it's, no, Usman's a tougher fight than Shafkot. But I also would rather fight Shafkot over Usman. I don't know which way is up or down at this point after listening to a Blal Mahanan interview. but that's besides the point. Kamar Usman is the other name that continues to come up in this conversation, Shaheen.

And boy, oh boy, there are a lot of contenders right now. We got JDM. We got Ian Gary. We have a host of others coming up. Sean Brady's fighting Gilbert Burns. Fee wins, he gets put in that conversation as well. Seems like Kamar Usman wants to fight. Ali Abdel Aziz sent out a tweet and said,

we got offered a fight. We said, yes, we're waiting on the other side to accept it. Who should that other side be? Who would you like to see Usman fight? If he wants to get a title shot, I don't give a shit who he fights. Just get a win and then you can have one. I'm fine with that. But him getting thrust to a title fight, oh, and three, is a no-bueino for me.

But who should he fight now? I mean, there's options out there, right? I think Ian Machado, Gary, makes a lot of sense. That feels like a logical step for Ian Gary. What's Jack Delamatta doing right now? Is he booked? I think he's still a little dinged up from the Burns fight. Yeah.

I mean, if he's able to go, something like that would work. I wouldn't even be opposed to just going farther down the list and giving him like a walking Buckley of walking Buckley beats Wonder Boy. I think there's just a lot of options right now. Also even this weekend, right? Sean Brady, like if Sean Brady beats Gilbert Burns. Right now, Kamar Usman's in that weird spot in his career

where he's going to try to be used sort of as like a stepping stone, like an advancement opponent for some of these lower rank guys. And I think that fits. That's right. There's a lot of guys down at 170 that would really crave and savor that matchup. To me, the Ian Gary won't probably makes the most sense. So he feels like the most ready to take that next lead. Do you agree with that, Jeb?

I honestly wasn't even paying attention because I was looking at Sheen. I just realized that in our three non-champions thing that we do at the start of every year, if Max beat Dillia, then there's a really, and I've got to fight this year, there's a really good chance we go over this year. Dude. Because I have Shavcott. So if Shavkat does fight and win the best, belt, that would be terrific for us.

But, uh, so what was the question, Mike? Sorry, I was, I was deep in that hole. Kamar Usman versus Phil and the Blankman. Watch, is there a jet plane flying behind one of you guys? Can you guys hear that? Okay. I'm sorry. I did not.

I could not realize that everyone's hearing this. These dudes just decided to do all of these long work on my neighborhood now. So I'm a, oh, that's a classic. That's standard BTL right there. Oh, yeah. it's usually my house. Yeah, they're pulling a mic back right now and I don't appreciate it. They sure are.

It's because I hired them. I hired them to come there at this time of day. It was perfect. What was the question, Mike? Sorry. Usen versus fill in the blank. Oh, who would Usman be a good fight for? I don't know.

Anybody like, well, like, I'm astonished we didn't ever, like we didn't get the Usman versus Wonderboy fight. Like, just the fight made all the sense in the world at this stages of their careers to do. But now Wonderboy's fighting Joaquin Buckley. So, I mean, I guess you just run him against like a Jack Della if JDM is ready to go. But I got to tell you, I think JDM is a really good chance to lose that fight. And that's probably not where you want to be. He, Usman is in the bad position that Max Holloway was in where he's too good to fight up-and-comers, probably.

and but you also don't really need to do the title thing with him again. What would make sense for him would be to go up and challenge for the middleweight belt. And now that Izzy has lost it, at least that is in option. So I honestly would kind of like to see Usman just take a late career run at 185. I know the Hamzaat fight didn't go his way, but it was also super short notice and very competitive. So like I'd, if I'm booking Usman, uh, I would just be like, hey, man, let's abandon welterweight. We don't really care enough to have you do this again.

Let's just go up and try and chase down somebody at middleweight because there are a lot of other kind of fun matchups that we haven't thought about before. So that's where I'd go with it. Or split the difference. Kevin Holland. I know Kevin Holland's booked, but Kevin Holland's both a Walterweight and a middleweight.

Run those two. Yeah. Kevin Holland's fighting Roman Delise in October. And Kevin's the kind of guy who would turn around in December. do him and Usman in like Tampa or something. That would be like a fun little main event to have to close out the year. It's better than a lot of the other main events we've gotten this year. Also like why are we doing the Kevin Holland Roman Deleads?

Roman Deleads they just beat like a ranked light heavyweight. So now he's fighting a ranked welterweight or whatever. It's just very weird matchmaking. Fun times. Guys, there's a lot of MMA this weekend. There's a lot of MMA this weekend. That's what we're going to talk about in round. number four point for round three goes to jedd miss shoe it's jedd mashu it gets it was close there's a

battle i didn't have that audio i'll take it i mean that was kind of a big part of it but it was worth every penny that i paid those landscapers i was going to say that's a brilliant play that's a brilliant play i i deserve that that's annoying what you're a muffler you don't hear it oh i don't even notice it i usually drowned it out with the radio how's this oh yeah way better save on insurance by Switching to Bel Air Direct and use the money to fix your car. Bel Air Direct, insurance, simplified. Conditions apply. Well, Jed, if there's one thing that I know about you,

it's that you love talking about Bellator MMA, because they are back this weekend. Belator San Diego. Yeah, Belator San Diego. We got Usen Ramaga Maedon versus Alexander Shobli for the lightweight title. It's actually a good Belator fight. That is a good one. There should be a million dollar prize attached to this too,

but I'm not really here to throw anybody under the bus. Lorenz Larkin is back, Douglas Lima versus Aaron and Jeffrey. There's some other names on the card as well. And then over at the old world's most famous apex, UFC's got a pretty decent one here. We got Gilbert Burns versus Sean Brady, Jessica Androge versus Natty Ice,

Kyle Nelson and Steve Garcia, Matt Schnell fighting, Trevor Peaks fighting. These are all kind of fun things happening. So Jed, if you can only watch one of these events, which one you're picking? So I'm looking at the Bellator card right now because I was unprepared for that to be this weekend. And this card is, I mean, it's a Bellator card. I think I'll still take it if I have to pick one, not because it's a better top-to-bottom card than the UFC,

though it may actually be, primarily selecting this because the main event is very, very good. that's no disrespect to you about and Bernstein Brady I think that is obviously a matchup of top 10 welter weights or whatever but you know Nermengamatov Shibli is two top 20 lightweights

I have Ushman very very high in my lightweight rankings like undefeated a Nirmengrammedov of the camp like that is arguably the best camp in the world at this point in time and like that fight is enough to pull me over and then there's other

stuff that's at least decent enough on this Bellator card, it is largely the reflection of this UFC card because this is, there are three really good fights on this fight card. This is a three fart card if we're taking the scoring system into account. And then it's all bad. Like, it's all all bad beyond those three. Like the, after the three kind of ranked fighter or three ranked fights that are happening in this fight card, it is the same as looking at the Bellator undercard where you've got like a couple of wrestlers kind of making their way into Bellator and stuff. Just stone prospects, like nothing accomplishment wise for most of these people. So, you know, comparatively, Belator has the fight I'm the most interested in seeing.

And so that will win the feud. Gene, Jed is taking Team Bellator here. Are you there as well? I mean, you look at the two. I think Bellator probably has. at least in my eyes, objectively the best fight, right? Because I think what Jed said about the main event is exactly right. I think Usman and Nurga Manoff is one of the best lightweights of the world.

People just don't realize that yet because of where he's been. So I'm interested to see any time he can get like a real test. And Shabwe is a real real test for anybody. I'm kind of, I'm here for that. But if you give me a choice between the two, I guess I would sort of shade to the UFC. And maybe that's strictly a selfish thing because I am so deeply all in on like these next three UFC events, next four, UFC events for this fantasy draft that we did because I front-loaded my entire team basically in September. So I'm either going to end this month, like, totally winning or just very much

ending this whole experiment in last place. So I'm just so invested. Like my number two pick, Isaac Delgarion out here, like I'm the only person in the world waiting for that one, but I'm very excited about it. So I just, maybe I'm just too personally invested in this UFC card, but I guess I would shy there. Who drafted? Somebody drafted Amorim too. That's got to. That's A.K. written all over it. I almost drafted Kyle Nelson. Mike, don't you? No. AK has

Natty Ice though, right? Because he stole her from you. Yeah, sure did. Nobody... I think I got two or three names here on this one, so like, it's big business. I should have Alessandro Costa knocking out Matchnell. I mean, you do have

Alessandro Costa. He's got to fight. Is it knocking out Matchnell? That was a great pick Like an unranked dude Gonna get a ranked win Big moment, big spot Probably finish

And now Oops I was so mad When you saw that from me He was literally the only flyweight I had on my list Because it was like I know one's gonna take this

I'll get this And then But now it worked out for you Good things happen The chaos of fantasy sports Yeah On your way out the door You got to

laugh as Alessandra Acosta sits on the sidelines while Isaac Dalgarian is like probably going to close is the biggest favorite in the history of the UFC at this point against Brendan Moraw which is a lot is fairly sizable it's pretty big it's pretty big she a couple big main events here I love this Usman of Raghavada Alexander Shopley fight I think this is the one I mean I think everyone wants to useman versus Aegean McKee and now Usman's kind of throwing that idea out there as well but I love the Shobbly fight it's just the two best dudes that were that tournament.

And Burns and Brady's a good one, man. Like Brady coming off that lost of B'alal, he bounces back. He just beat the soul out of poor Kelvin Gasol. And then Gilbert Burns is kind of was beating JDM. Fight was his until like the last two minutes when JDM hulked up, ate his spinach, and knocked him out. So what's the biggest storyline with these two fights for you? Like what stands out the most?

What are you going to be looking for just, you know, maybe 30 seconds on each fight? I mean, I think for in my eyes and probably for the eyes of like some like the actual hardcores, right? Like you, Mike, Jed as well, maybe I'll throw you in there as well. Like it feels like Usman Nirmirga Manoff is probably the biggest story just because it's again this question mark of how good is this guy really? This is someone that everyone in that team, you know, that he could be even Nirmogamatov, Islam Akashv team.

Everyone extols this man's praises just says this is one of the best lightweights in the world, if not the number two lightweight just because Islam is obviously number one. I just want to see this guy get tested as much as possible. So that's probably my lead narrative, but really close second to that is what's happening right now with Gilbert Burns. Because Gilbert Burns has been a very intriguing piece in this Walterweight division for a long time now. And he is at a really important inflection point, a really important crossroads within his career.

He is getting up there in age. He has now lost several in a row. And the JDM fight, Mike, you mentioned it. He was winning that fight until he wasn't. And then it ended very brutally. And that's the type of fight. At his age, you don't know. if that's when things start falling off a cliff.

So to me, I want to know and I need to know, is Gilbert Burns still somebody who's going to matter here in this Walterweight division? Or is he going to start being almost in that? I wouldn't put him in that Kamara Usman place yet because Usman hasn't lost several in a row. But just, again, that advancement level place for the young talent of like, hey, you're just going to book the Gilbert Burns against the Ian Garys of the world, other guys like that. And that's just now his role now.

I'm curious to see where we are with Gilbert and what he has left in the take. What's a you, Jed? I mean, I think that is Gilbert's role now, is he is the ultimate gatekeeper. He's the gatekeeper to the stars. He is, he's like RDA, if RDA never won a belt, right? Like there, you know, you can do a lot of fun things with him, but ultimately he's not going to make a real title run at this age. And so his purpose is to, you know, check on the guys who are the guys who are the guys

who are supposed to be title challengers. JDM almost past that test. and then, or almost failed that test, and then pulled it out in the end. Like, Sean Brady has title aspirations, they're realistic title aspirations. And so where is he really? Did he improve off the loss? Like, what's going on? However that goes, oh, look, my landscaper's hit.

Shaheen getting involved in the game. And made a couple of phone calls to win the, to steal the round from me. That's shame. So, yeah, I was trying to get them during the final question round. They came a little early. So that's my bad. That's why I'm going to filibuster here until they leave before we get to round five. Assuming we get there, I might win this round.

You never know. Maybe upset of the century, I win round three as well. My point being, Gilbert Burns kind of already is in the gatekeeper to the stars role. And that's why I'm less interested in the Belator main event. Not because this isn't a great fight it is, but the Belator main event features, you know, one of a guy who I think might be one of the five best lightweights in the world from the camp that has produced the last two great light weights and very possibly the next great bantam weight like I talk about it all the time because I don't think Abdulmanoptoner Gmettov really gets talked

about in the sort of way he should be but you're talking about a dude who just took a bunch of guys and was like I'm going to make you the best fighters in the whole goddamn world and it's pretty insane that like maybe we're near the end of Islam's career and Usman's just right here to pick up the pieces, you know? Last thing on this and then we'll move on. I hear the landscaper's just loud and proud outside of Jen Mishu's window here. Great work. You can't even hear me.

Great work. Great work. Just great job. Jed, fight her to watch outside of the two main events. Why would you come to me first? Go to Sheehan. Guys, I'm into this now. I literally did not hear parts of what you were saying

before you got to the fighter to watch outside of the two main events. That's all you need to hear. I have AirPods in. Like I have noise cancelling AirPods in and could not hear you. So loud was the landscaper at my door. Fighter to watch outside of the two main events. I mean, this is obvious. This is obvious.

I mean, just keep giving me. Give the man what he wants. It's Natty Ice. Give the man what he wants. That's not even pandering. That's just true. Like, there's a real world

where Nicolias Silva wins this fight. And then, like, now she's a legitimate in the title conversation at 125 or whatever. Like, Jessica Androge is,

you know, kind of in the Gilbert Burns role at this point of her career because she's been around forever and was a champion in a lower weight class but kind of bumped up and is doing this stuff.

Like, this is the test for Natty Ice. If she fulfills all the promise you have spoken so highly of with regard to her, Mike, then, I mean, Flyway's kind of crowded, but she gets to be in the group that is crowding the title picture if she gets this. To me, that's easily the biggest stakes of anything outside of main events this weekend. Shehian, what about you? Is it John McAllululi, who makes his return to cage fighting for the first time in over a decade to fight Bryce Meredith at Bellator, Sandier? or is it somebody else?

No, I mean, this... Shaheen, did you even know that fact? Because I didn't. I did not know that fact. Actually, maybe AK pointed out earlier this week, so you did. He did. 12 years after his last fight, he returns, and he's fighting in Bellator. What a comeback.

What a comeback story. No, no, Mike. I mean, let's be clear, this was just an elaborate setup for you so that we will both talk about Natalia Silva for you. So, no, I'm not going to indulge you. My, Jed already did it. You already got Shannady Ice Talk. I'm a point to my guy.

I'm like the only Lorenz Larkin fan left in this world. I love this man so much. He has won't. He's only lost like one of his last nine since what, like 2017, 2018? Like this dude just secretly wins. And Bellator mismanaged this man's career to such an outrageous extent. He completely fell off the map. He was like a legitimate top seven, top eight,

Welterway when he went to Belator and then just disappeared off the face of the earth. But he is so damn entertaining. He wins consistently when he does get a chance to fight. And I'm just excited that he is getting a chance to fight. Now, I think if he wins this, they're framing this as if like, hey, this is a number one contender fight. The fact that Laurenne Larkin has not actually fought for the welterweight title except for one opportunity against Douglas Lima like in 2017, this entire time they have had him there just speaks to how Bellator has mismanaged a very exciting, very good talent. So yeah, it's Lorenz Larkin. Come on, man. is Lorenz Larkin fight weed.

Get excited. Lorenz Larkin has probably been in more number one contender fights over the last five years than any fighter has ever, ever. Shaheen, I don't want you to look this up. Who is Bellator's current Walterweight champion? Oh, you son of a bitch.

Oh, man, you're putting me on the spot. Oh, Magummedamato, right? No. No. Magumavamav. It is a Magamato. It's a Magamara. It's a Magamatta in his name.

It's Ramazan Kuramauga mettoff. There you go. Yeah. He beat Jason Jackson. Yeah, yeah. Yes. But like, I had to really think about that.

It took me a minute to not be like, is it still Jason Jackson? Because I had to go back and think, or did Jason Jackson lose in like a weird, like, Bellator PFL thing that wasn't, like, a title fight? Because that's the state of Bellator. Lorenz Larkin may get a title fight that no one will remember or care about. out. It's just been a tough year. It really is. There is another world.

Like there's a separate timeline where Lorenz Larkin just became sort of like a weird, I wouldn't say Mike Perry type of figure, but just like that guy at Welterweight who's putting on bangers for like the past 10 years and is just like a genuine fan favorite who people are just really excited for every time they see him on the card.

Instead it's just whatever this is. The man gave up a title fight to go and fight in general. Japan. Like that was his big thing. You wanted to fight on when Bellator did the New Year's Eve card for like the first time. He was like, I want to fight on that car. I don't care about the belt. I don't care about it. I don't care about it. It's like, that is a belt that is meaningless. Like it's just not an important piece of hard word to have whereas fighting in Saetama is sick. So like yeah, I'm totally humble with that from him. Well, let's move on. everybody we get the landscapers we get all the trades uh within our three homes point for round four goes to i'm now pulling up my rankings to see if i've ranked kuro magumatov i assume i would have but i feel like you had uh yeah it's chihina hollshadie two to two nicely down yeah beautiful oh yeah i i have him fairly high that's okay good i actually have him one spot behind sean brady

i'm glad you forgot his name then as did i it took me a minute to think it out and be like, wait, it's not Jason Jackson, is it? That's right. It was for a moment. For a moment in time, it was Jason. What a wild moment in time that was. It sure was. Time for the knocker around. 60 seconds for each of these gentlemen to answer said question. And once that is over, we'll go to you the peeps to decide who will win this week. And Jed, you get to decide whether you want to go first or second. You're going to get the same question. I'm making Shaheen go first because I am hopeful that the landscaper will leave my house by then. If I get an extra 60 seconds, maybe that will be the difference.

So Shaheen, your last appearance ever on this program, you may go first. Damn, you all just kicking me off. Okay. It is September 5th, Shaheen, 2024. We only have a few months left in this crazy roller coaster of a year in mixed martial arts. arts that has been 2024. We still have some big events coming up. We got sphere. We got MSG. We got Abu Dhabi. Maybe the return of Connor. Maybe not the return of Connor. Not really sure. But time to bring out the old crystal ball, Shaheen. You are a man with ideas and taking those ideas, putting them to paper and just illustrating a story that even people, most people may not even

thought of. So my question for you, Shaheen, is if you had to guess in this final three plus month stretch of the MMA world here in 2024. What's going to be the biggest story? What's going to be the biggest headline? What's going to create the biggest post-fight show moment for the rest of the year? What is this year going to be defined for based on what happens over the next three-plus months? Go. So those are different answers because the biggest post-show moment for us or for you guys will be

the UFC 309 post-show. I am so sad, frankly, that I will not be there. for it because whatever happens, whether it's Steepa upsetting, whether it's John winning, then retiring, whether it's John winning, they're just kind of being like, eh, I'm probably not going to fight Tom. I just would love to be there for Jed's reaction. And in particular, the pre-show reaction, when he's really letting us know what he thinks before the cameras are rolling, because that's just the best magical Jed of all. Like that is just unfettered, uncensored Jed. Y'all don't even understand how ridiculous this man gets in these moments. So like that's the real answer. But in terms of

like what's the biggest headline itself and what's the biggest takeaway or i'm sorry a story that looking forward to for the rest of the year it's got to be ufc 308 and the whoever wins that fight because i believe in jad i think jett has said this as well alice perrera is having a tremendous year he has saved the oc multiple times but whoever wins that fight max holloway ilia tipporia will end up being the fighter of the year considering what they have already done i mean whoever wins that will be two and oh with two outrageous wins so that to me that's my most anticipated fight of the year and whoever wins that will just emerge as an absolute superstar and just with a crazy win on their record. I love that. I love the new clock. I said it before. I'll say it

again. I'll say it every week from here and out. Jed, same question for you. Hopefully the landscapers have left the area. What will be the biggest story of the rest of the year? What's going to be the best headline? What's going to be the thing that happens that gives us the best reaction? Go. So she needs wrong two times over. Sure. great fight. We've talked a lot about it. It's an unbelievable fight. The biggest fight of the year currently booked is Ben the Bain Davis versus Oscar in one of just the most since national pizza mat. I've seen BKFC has done it again. And getting Oscar versus Ben is, that's everything we could all hope for. Setting that aside, if we're talking just about the UFC, if we're talking about MMA instead of bare knuckle, I'm going to go out. I don't know if this is a limb. I don't know if this is a limb. but it is where I'm going to plant my flag. I think this time it might be real, guys. I know that I have been one of the leaders of it's not real at all.

What are you doing? I think you have seen three ten is finally going to be the return of Connor McGregor. He is going to knock out Michael Chandler who sucks. You don't even believe what you're saying right now. We're back to where it would be the biggest thing that's happened this year outside of Ben versus Oscar. You didn't even remotely believe what you were saying in those final 20 seconds.

I always believe everything I say, Shaheen. That's why I say it. What do you think I'm just out here just firing out takes? Ridiculous. Yeah, actually, yes. But sometimes when you go out there and you fire out takes, Giuliana Pena upsets me and then you have recording of saying it that you can then play. Yes.

You've had a few of those. Although I think you truly believed in your heart of hearts Indrikus duplicacy against Robert Whitaker. I did believe that was not a bit. Yeah, that was not a bit. That was not a bit. And one of your greatest stakes of all time. Brian Campbell chastised you on this program.

He did. I think he called you a moron, at least he insinuated it. And boy, he came back on after that and ate some humble pies. He's like, okay, man. You're crazy, Jed. You're crazy. And then he goes out and done. He has twice been indignantly mad about a position I've had.

The other time was when I was like, look, I know that this Leon Belal fight is not exciting, but it is a matchup of two of the 20 best fighters in the world. And he was like, how do you think Belaw Muhammad is one of the 20 best pound for a pound? That's absurd. Who's he beaten? I don't know, a bunch of dudes for a long time. He wins. Like, those are the two times Brian has been upset at me.

It happens on this program. Brian, get upset at people. It happens. Cast your votes, get them in tomorrow, everybody. Preview show. We didn't have one last week, obviously, because there was no event to preview, but we'll have multiple events to preview. We'll talk about Bellator. We'll talk about UFC Vegas 97, People's Free Fight Show on Saturday, 3.30 p.m. Eastern time,

which is just perfect. That's how all, what time the People's Prefight Show should start before all of these Apex Epex Cards, which means we have a 7 p.m. main car, which is great. We'll post-fight show, all sorts of fun, and then we will turn the page to UFC 315. 306 in the sphere and all the talk about the UFC dropping the ball and not enough tickets being sold and all that all that nonsense that uh is getting up being a non story by the time this event happens anyways i don't see casey yet so that much mean that we're that this is a close battle here up there he is it is a very close battle yeah i need some more votes can we talk about no in a way because that was pretty cool hold on i have a question for you jid i have a question for you because i don't know if i'm

I'm going to be able to ask you this. So like obviously next week is the continuation of this Shevchenko Grasso thing, which is memorably, infamously, maybe your worst moment ever on M.M.A. fighting. Do you get tremendous PTSD when this fight continues to come up? Like when you see Shevchenko Grasso on the schedule, on, you know, the sort of the calendar that we're looking at,

do you just think of all the dollars that you lost? I try not to think of that, Sheen, for I think self-explanatory reasons. You know, I made my business. piece with it. Sometimes when you go out on a limb, the limb cracks and your fat ass falls straight to earth in violent fashion. And you just got to pick yourself up and start climbing that tree again, buddy. So was it a good moment? Sure wasn't. It was one of the, not just one of my worst moments on air. One of my worst moments like of my life was captured in video form. Like I have, it's actually

a very liberating thing because like mostly like oh what's the worst thing that ever happened to you this isn't the worst thing it's ever happened to me certainly but like i do at least have like a video clip to go well this is probably a top five bad thing that's ever happened to me and there was a camera on me in real time as it occurred so um you know powerful i get that forever that's a powerful thing it is you get your ralph wiggum yeah your ralph wiggum like seen your heart break i think we slow mode it and everything it was good We sure did. We sure did.

I'm not happy about this, but the production work on it was that exceptional, Casey. I'd like very, very well done production. So, yeah, it wasn't great. All right. I want to be very clear. Caleb Hawkeye, whatever, I never once said I dared to be great because I didn't. I dared to be an asshole and punished. I had never had dared to be great.

Yeah, I don't think putting money on volunteer ship, Chase. I dared to be an arrogant POS and reaped what I sowed. Oh, God. That is a tremendous comment, Kail. Don't put it in the newspaper that I dared to be great. Well, Casey, how great was he? How great did the NBA fighting viewers believe Jed was today? All right.

Your winner today with... You know what? I don't care what the fans say. Your winner is the quitter, the loser, the treacherous. Oh, I hate him. God, I love him so much. Chihino Shadi. Hey!

Yes. I shouldn't have been... I will take the pity vote. I will take the pity vote. Judge Casey just overrules the jury. overrules everybody. The man with no sleeves has all the power here on this program. Jeanne Al Shadi with blue and yellow confetti.

Just falling down upon him. Sheeheed, congratulations. When I brought this up to you last week, I said, you got to come on this week. You said, absolutely. And all you wanted was a win. No matter how you got it, you just wanted to come out of here at the victory. So obviously, a pretty surreal day for us all. I give you the floor, my friend.

I'm just trying to get that record up to 500. That's little victories. Little victories. Now you never won. Amen. Hey, I can come back. Jeez, kicking me off already. No, I mean, in all seriousness, man.

Obviously, I announced this morning that tomorrow's going to be my last day at an MAA fighting with Vox Media. I've been with this company 13 years, man. This is now the second time. I'm sort of leaving in this way. But I cannot have. I just do not have the words to express how much this place is meant to me. This place has been family. This place has been home.

My entire adult life has basically more or less, except for a few years been spent here at MMA fighting, here with Vox Media, here with you, you wonderful listeners, readers, everyone who has supported what we do, even the critics, everyone. We appreciate you guys so much. You are the reason why we can do what we do. This has been a really weird and bittersweet week for me. And in particular, this moment, I think I stared at that, you know, post-announcing things. for a good, like, hour before I actually fired it off.

I love you guys so much. Mike, Jed, Casey, everyone else on the team. It has been a great joy in my life to come back here a second time around these past three years and really just been able to help in any way I can. I have enjoyed every single day. We are so damn lucky to be able to live this kind of life, man, the fact that we get paid to do this job.

I do not take it for granted. It is not lost on me that we are so extraordinarily lucky. I am fans of all of you forever. if you ever need anything any of you guys I got you forever I'll be a fan from afar this isn't this isn't goodbye as we once said a long time ago this isn't goodbye just to see you later but thank you to everyone who again has supported MMA fighting over the years I know you guys are going to continue to crush it because this is the best damn team in the whole entire sport but yeah I love you guys I really do God getting all

misty-eyed in here this is good line say no see you later. Get the hell out of here. Go on, get. Damn. I respect that. I'm here for Petty. I'm here for Petty always.

Jed, do you want to, Jed, do you want to just go ahead and break some news now? Because this is a glorious name of us. No. Well, we already know that. That's not breaking news. I was saying,

I thought we broke that news. I feel like it's time just to, so I don't cry my eyes out. on the way out of here. We should mention that the next ranking show is going to be a special one. Because I think people have been following along long, long enough to know how the time frame works. And there's a certain individual that we discussed earlier in the program.

And things are going to get real spicy. You want to let people know what's officially happened? The Coward Jean Oshadie won't be part of this ranking show. He has to miss out on this because he didn't want the smoke. but as of yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, as of September the 4th, do you know what happened? It's been 18 months since Jonathan Dwight Jones has competed, making him ineligible to be ranked in the MMA fighting global rankings.

So our next ranking show, we haven't had one of those in some time. Our next one, which should come out in what a week and a half, whatever, after 306, John Jones will no longer be ranked. It will be a glorious day. We might have to go video so I can. have balloons and I don't know like the kazoo thing that shoot like you they're sound and it shoots out I don't know the hell you call those but it's going to be a party up in here and sheean you're not invited you are not invited to the party it is genuinely

one of the greatest sadnesses of my life that I will not be there to strike John John Jones for my ballot I'm very upset by this I he's already off my pound for pound this this is only going to meet him like five spaces down my heavyweight to zero but it's going to be the best and then and so sheen you were actually right earlier because when we move him remove him then someone will bring that up and then we'll start the whole dana white john jones circle again he is active he just fought the best guy in the world that's not francis ingano because we didn't keep him he's absolutely he fought him 18 months ago like that's sure they're their children who have been born and are now like walking and he speaking that that were born after John last competed.

But, you know, recent. He's active. So a lot of things are forward. My child has been towards it. Also, Casey, you're just crushing it today. Look at this. Look at this. It's so good.

It's so good. Casey, hit the music. We are done. Let's put a bow on this week. Appreciate all of you joining us. We'll be back on Thursday, big ass show, getting you ready for UFC 3.0. six, Noce UFC, two title fights, Diego Lopez, Brian Ortega, et cetera. Lots of fun stuff going through.

A lot of stuff happening. A lot of stuff happening. The Bush is pretty sick. Yeah. The life. For the great Chehina, Al-Shaddy, one last time. For Chadishu. I am Mike Eck.

She can't say for life. For life. Good night, everybody. Jesus. Love you all. Love y'all except Shaheen. Except Cheyne.

Love all the rest of you. Y'all means all other than Sheen Al-Shadi. I love all of you and Jed and Mike. In particular, Jed and Mike. This has been Between the Links

and a MMA fighting production on the Vox Media Network. We love you, Shaheen. Esther. You can tell that Esther actually just sitting there waiting to say this. Esther, we love you. That's my goat.

That's my goat. Shut up, Jed. Esther, we love you.