MMA Fighting - BTL w/ Action Bronson | Topuria vs. Holloway, Khamzat's Return At UFC 308, Ngannou's Emotional Win

Episode Date: October 24, 2024

UFC 308 is finally here, and with that comes the highly anticipated main event for the UFC featherweight title between Ilia Topuria and Max Hoilloway. Can Topuria, once again, back up his unbelievable... confidence, or will Holloway regain the 145-pound title? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, special guest Action Bronson joins the panel to discuss Topuria vs. Holloway, what the fight means for both men, and how it could all play out. Additionally, topics include the fascinating co-main event betweem former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker and the returning Khamzat Chimaev, what this fight means for both competitors, the rest of the slate, a look back at PFL Battle of the Giants and Francis Ngannou's knockout win, takeaways from UFC Vegas 99, and much more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between Bronson and MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew.  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

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 When I got a great deal on a great gift at Winners, I started wondering, could I get fabulous gifts for everyone on my list? Like this designer fragrance for my daughter. At just $39.99, how could I resist? This luxurious will throw for my sister. This gold watch for my partner? A wooden puzzle for my niece? Leather gloves for my boss?
Starting point is 00:00:19 Ooh, European chocolate for the crossing guard? At these prices, could I find something for everyone at Winners? Stop wondering. Start gifting. Winners, find fabulous for less. Welcome aboard Air Canada Rocky's vacation here we come Whoa is this economy Free beer, wine and snacks
Starting point is 00:00:39 Sweet Fast free Wi-Fi means I can make dinner reservations before we land And with live TV I'm not missing the game It's kind of like I'm already on vacation Nice Air Canada Nice travels
Starting point is 00:00:54 Wi-Fi available to AeroPlan members on equip flights sponsored by Bell Conditions apply see Air Canada.com You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. The 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. Yes, happy Thursday to us all.
Starting point is 00:01:31 And it's an especially happy Thursday for a couple of reasons. First, it's UFC 308 Eve Eve. At this time, two days from right now. We will be in the middle of the ESPN prelims, making our way to Robert Whitaker versus Hamzaa Chimayef, making our way to Iliot-Tuporia versus Max Holloway for the UFC Featherway title to fight. Everybody in the M.A community is looking forward to,
Starting point is 00:01:55 and we'll discuss those fights and much more. And the second reason I'm especially happy is because of the panel this week. So let us introduce them. First, he's Mr. No Gray area, the hot take kid, the Baron of Boop, and the unofficial Fight Circus Ambassador from M.M.A. Fighting.com. Jed Bishu.
Starting point is 00:02:13 Jed, how we feeling on this UFC 308 Eve, Eve? It's been a mixed week, Mike. I got all sorts of feelings. You did the town hall with Don Davis that I have feelings about. I broke my toe earlier this week. I got feelings about that. And I came into today, ready to give some young whippersnapper the size tens. I thought there was animosity here.
Starting point is 00:02:35 And in the pre-show, this is all good vibes. So I'm losing my edge. I don't know, but it's fine because U.O.C. 308 kicks ass, and none of these people are here to see me anyway, so get to our guest. Nine toes, Jedmishu, and his opponent, very special guest, rapper, producer, songwriter, chef, TV host, and by Cracky, he is an MMA fan, a huge one, weightlifter, fitness enthusiast, the man is changing the shoe game. He is the one and only, Bam Bam Baklava, Broncelino himself, action freaking Bronson in the house.
Starting point is 00:03:09 Action Bronson. There he is. How are you, sir? Good afternoon. How's everybody doing? This is amazing. This is one of my favorite shows on Earth. Jed, that's a lot of fucking hats hanging up.
Starting point is 00:03:20 What the hell is going on over there, you're all right? And I also take issue with some of the Don Davis shit. Who in God's name fucking breaks up every day in a Chick-fil-A? Everyday Chick-fil-A? Was he out of his mind? I thought of that last night When you said it I was like okay whatever
Starting point is 00:03:41 Mike does Duncan every morning You know I can't I can't judge people there But yes that is a lot of chick fillet And hey Don't don't mock my wall of hats You gotta have a different hat for every fit You should know this Yes they're all straw hats whatever
Starting point is 00:03:57 I can diversify in the same genre It's okay I love that It's honestly I'm honestly I'm jealous. That's the problem. I'll ship you a couple. It'll be okay. I got a few to spare. And I know you wear a size bag because after a nice
Starting point is 00:04:16 interaction, I always love to send a gift basket. Oh, thank you. I, size 10, you know, hit me the new kicks. I'll wear the underwear people and suddenly buy them because I'm rocking them. You're cool. You're the man. You guys are ill. I love it. Let's get it fucking more. Let's go. Very happy. action. Very happy all of you are watching here live. So let's get into some house cleaning before we get into why we're all here. Let's put a bow on this past weekend's festivities. Let's start with Francis Inganu and the Professional Fighters League. We had Battle of the Giants
Starting point is 00:04:53 this past Saturday. Francis and Ghana returns to MMA with a very heavy heart and as usual, very heavy hands and some wrestling to booty. He destroys Hen and Fahedah in the first round, ruthless ground and pound, leaves the man unconscious, and reminds you. folks following the two boxing matches, just how dangerous he could be with the four-ounce club. So action, I will begin with you. Francis does the damn thing on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. What was your reaction to it?
Starting point is 00:05:18 I love Francis. He tells a story of struggle, of immigrant, of migration, which all human and animals do. They need to do that. My family migrated here. I'm a first-generation American. on one side, second on the other.
Starting point is 00:05:38 You know, I understand that struggle, so he tells a story that resonates with me, as well as is the scariest, one of the scariest individuals that you'll ever see. I sat behind him at a few events before, and very stoic, you know, just like, you could just feel like there's a very serious presence in the building. No leg kicks, we're gonna stop that man. His wrestling is, they got him,
Starting point is 00:06:06 keyed up over there. They got him keyed up. He's looking like I mean, he's looking like a world beater. I'll give you all those cliches. I love Francis and I honestly love everything that's happening for him and he took a gamble on himself, but it's easy when you're one of the
Starting point is 00:06:26 scariest humans in the world but he actually had a cash that check. And I feel like he's been doing that. There's nobody really. There's nobody really who I've made a list of people for him to fight and it's pretty actually it's ridiculous roug grug sign him fill de freeze where are these guys we're the fool is he under contract what about puginowski bring him in that's right bring him in I'm take my money
Starting point is 00:06:58 anything puginowski does what I don't know is there just a guy that's there just a guy that just drifting along heavyweight on the UFC roster that's coming up to an end that they can just snatch up that they're ready to get rid of that's around that area. I like Volkov. He's coming, you know,
Starting point is 00:07:19 he's looking like he's getting a lot better recently. He's getting stronger, more confident. You tell me, other than that, I love Francis, and I'm very happy for this. Yeah, Pooge would be fun as hell. Jed, we reacted to the knockout in real time, on the watch party, the emotional aftermath of everything, everybody in the cage. Five days later, Jed, we've let it simmer a little bit.
Starting point is 00:07:43 Biggest takeaway from Francis's performance, the build to it, the aftermath, et cetera. Dude, it was what he needed and it was what PFL needed, right? Like, we talked a lot in the buildup, man, this doesn't, this is supposed to be their big event. I don't know if I'm feeling it. The energy's not quite here. What is Francis going to do? Like, what if he loses?
Starting point is 00:08:06 and then Francis comes out and delivers a first round absolute obliteration. And you could just see, I forget who it was I was listening to, so I'm sorry if you were listening and catch me just copying your lines basically of, look what happened after he won. Francis was so overcome that he didn't get up and stand and celebrate. He just kind of squatted next to him. And I was like he reckoned with what has happened to him this year and what this win meant.
Starting point is 00:08:36 the struggle to get here. He clearly needed this for himself. Obviously, the PFL needed a big night, a big performance in a major way. We've already mentioned it. Don Davis was, you know, speaking with you yesterday. He made some claims. I won't repeat those claims because I don't have verification
Starting point is 00:08:56 that the ridiculous numbers he says are true. But if so, the event, like Francis was brought into PFL to lift this organization up to elevate it and whether or not he did numerically, the story that was told, the conclusion, the journey, the emotional dump at the end was really significant, man. And like he did his job damn well on Saturday. He left everybody feeling good about the event. But I got to get to action's point because I don't know if you were going to ask this, Mike.
Starting point is 00:09:28 I don't know if this was part of the plan, but I've been thinking about this since probably three minutes after the event. I had a thought, and I wasn't on the post show, so I couldn't share the thought then, and I wasn't on to the next one. You guys do a wonderful job, you and A.K., but I wasn't there. And I've been thinking about this the whole time. I would love for Francis to fight the winner of Rug Rugged versus Anatole Malikin, the one heavyweight championship. Let's go. That would be sick.
Starting point is 00:09:57 But here's what needs to happen. And I don't know if it will. I don't know if it will, but fans of this show, show we're going to see me say something I've never said on live broadcast before. I support John Jones because Francis can't call out John Jones. There's no world that this happens if Francis and Don Davis are calling for this fight. But if John Jones goes and whoops up on Steve A. Miachichich at 309 and he gets on the mic and says, Dana, done everything you guys have asked, you've said yourself, Dana, you put me in a room with any man.
Starting point is 00:10:34 walking the base of this earth and I'm the guy who walks out. I want to be put in that room. I want to be putting that room with Francis and Goun. We have unfinished business. Let me fight him, please. That gets past to him having to fight Tom Asperon, the Alex Pereira fight, which probably won't happen. And maybe it's a long shot.
Starting point is 00:10:54 But maybe if John Jones is the one who calls for it, maybe that fight actually can happen. Because that is the biggest fight in MMA right now. It is a fight that I still know. need to see even more than I need to see John versus Tom. I need to see that because of the unfinished business between those two. And so that is what I am hoping will happen at 309. And then the Francis opponent will make itself clear.
Starting point is 00:11:19 We won't have to reach for somebody else. It will be evident. Wow. I'm stunned. I'm stunned at this. You'd rather. So you're on John versus Francis over John versus Tom? I didn't think I would hear that for them.
Starting point is 00:11:33 100% I'm on that because I'm ready They have so much history man Like let's see that resolved What do you think about that action Turkey you got turkey involved now There's been so much money being thrown around
Starting point is 00:11:48 And so many hands you know So many handshakes Something could happen here There's nothing that you can never say no Until it's fully a no So someone needs to get in the room together And they need to make something happen here other than that
Starting point is 00:12:04 I mean honestly for the PFL it's like WWF and WCW sure WCW was sick they had a lot of cruiserweight matches and sick ass shit that happened when they brought four rings into the mix
Starting point is 00:12:20 and war games and all that stuff I love it but it's just the brain it's just it's not shot the same it's just not the same you know it doesn't give it the same vibe I want I'll watch anything fight. I watch anyone fight. I love it all. But it's just it's just a lesser, it just
Starting point is 00:12:41 seems like it's a lesser vibe. It's just like I don't know man. I don't even know why I said that. You know what. Well, I'm glad I'm I'm glad you did because. Because you know like at the day he's always talking mad shit about how he's just fucking take care of home instead of like worrying about everyone else's shit. That's what I do with my life. I'm not saying that's what everyone else should do, but I feel like that's a great motto. Well, I want to go back to that for sure because you make a great point, actually.
Starting point is 00:13:10 And Jed, I'll go to you with this because PFL has a little bit of momentum now. They came out of this event. People were talking about them. People were interested in. You could say what you want about Don's graphics because, boy, everyone knows we've had fun with those graphics on this program in the past. But, you know, it drew interest.
Starting point is 00:13:29 Like, look at the website, look at the traffic, had generated, people cared about what PFL did on Saturday. So what do they need to do to keep this momentum rolling? Because as Don said on the town hall yesterday, they did one really good thing that was suggested on the post-fight show. Give away the world championship card for subscribers. Just do that. That's step one.
Starting point is 00:13:54 And then we kind of just go from there. And Don went out there and did it. So how do we keep this momentum? to get people to continue to care about PFL heading into 2025. So I think that was the big one, right? Like coming in saying, hey, we're not going to ask you to pay for another pay-per-view after we just asked you to pay for this one. We've been saying for years that I know their economics to it, that they want to do
Starting point is 00:14:17 pay-per-view, but they should be in a drawing eyeballs business and you draw more eyeballs the freer your product is. If they can start paying people to watch their product, that would be better for them. But in the absence of that, giving them. away the championship for free, free, if you are a subscriber to ESPN plus, I think that's like a good next step. The issue is when you're in a position like them, you need to be able to capitalize on that next step.
Starting point is 00:14:42 And I always like the PFL championships. I think I'm probably in more of a minority of the fan base. It's like, because these fights means something, they are $4 million, even if maybe the names involve, you know, anybody that pumped to Ziaola Popov fight or whatever. Like, I am, I still like fights with stakes. You got to be able to convert this kind of momentum and goodwill into something tangible. And the way you do that is with dope fights. And they can't, this isn't pro wrestling.
Starting point is 00:15:12 They can't, you know, choose the outcomes and make this happen. It is just rolling the dice that the PFL championships in whatever, three weeks or whatever it is, ends up being sick, you know. And so hopefully that's the case. but if it isn't, what they need to do after that is you have to be leading to the next thing because this is where PFL will always struggle to me because the UFC even has a little bit of this, but they are so ingrained as a promotion that it doesn't matter. But yes, the end of the year is kind of a downtime for everybody, but that is a death sentence
Starting point is 00:15:48 for an organization that needs momentum like PFL. If they go to the championship and this event, if this event's awesome, well, they're not doing anything else until, you know, February, maybe they'll do a January thing with the, with the Bellator stuff. They don't have a next event to capitalize on this energy. And so they need to find a way to turn if they get energy off the championship or to say, hey, okay, championship's over. We're moving on. We're moving on to this tangible item next up. And it needs to be something with Gravitas. Preferably it would be a Francis Inganu is doing something. He's boxing Deonti Wilder. But whatever it is, they need to pull it rather than.
Starting point is 00:16:25 out of their hat and say, hey, championships are over, it's on to the January event, January 5th or whatever date, and here's why you should tune in, because they have lost a ton of momentum by not having this sort of thing to follow
Starting point is 00:16:41 up their high water marks. I'm concerned that it's going to happen again. Action, you mentioned with PFL, focus on what you're doing, be the best you that you can be. Don't worry about Dana. Don't worry about the UFC. But as someone who watches the product,
Starting point is 00:16:58 what do you want to see from them? Like, what will get you excited about PFL heading into 2025? Utilizing their roster matchmaking, using their sick-ass fighters to fight other sick-ass fighters, not just making some, you know, trying to, like pulling rabbits out of the hat for me. I don't want to see Deonté Wilder fight in guys, it's ridiculous. That's not going to end well. And I don't think that there's any speculation that,
Starting point is 00:17:25 Deontay even has a chance in that one. This is crazy. Like, look what you just, he'll take him down in two seconds and just fucking pound them out. It's not worth it. You want to get the best fighting the best. And they have great guys on their roster. And they, like he just said, he has whatever, how many guys in the top 25 on the roster, correct? Match them the fuck up.
Starting point is 00:17:47 Match them up. Want to see good fights. That's it. Build them. Make it for stakes. make it, if it's not for a belt, make it for a contender, make it for number one contender, build some sort of like, I don't know, just some sort of, some energy behind it. And not just, you know, it's not just organic.
Starting point is 00:18:11 You have to kind of like push some, you have to push a touch of the narrative and then everyone follows along. But you have to be sure of the narrative you want to push or else everyone's going to just fucking dilly-dally and it's going to be all over the place. like the way it is. It was good to see Don like open to ideas about like just making the season format fun, doing a callout round, which I thought was really cool because people have kind of seeing what they're doing.
Starting point is 00:18:39 Yeah, the draft calling. Yeah, you got to come up with like sticks. Like when they used to do the weightlifting in the middle of the ring for no reason, like see if Barbarian can bench 500 pounds. Have some sort of. skills event. I love the All-Star game with a skills event. Come on. Let's see. Come on. There we go.
Starting point is 00:19:00 Come on. Get them. Actually, I've been arguing for five in years that they need to do a combine. Do a fucking combine. Everything needs a combine. It's more content. It gives you a I like to scout.
Starting point is 00:19:18 I watch the NFL combine. I wish I would have been in it one day. I've been to the draft at the Garden. at the theater at the garden. Lovar Arrington's neck was like this. Bro, I've been there. You know what I'm saying? Like, I love that type of shit.
Starting point is 00:19:33 I need breakdown analysis. I need to see the specimens in front of me. Dude, give me a combine where they're just hitting the punch machine. And up there, Francis Inganu, going to try and break his own record. Can he put a dent in this Oldsmobile? Like, I don't sure just do cool shit. Bonus round from Street Fighter. That's it.
Starting point is 00:19:56 Exactly. Break the batheed. What I'm talking about? You gotta get black belts and shit in karate. Don't you have to do things? Let's go. This is martial arts. Denmark.
Starting point is 00:20:11 I want to fucking see it. There you go, Don. And by the way, if you want to make the fans happy, do exactly what these two gentlemen are saying, plus sign Parker Porter. And then I think you're on to something. The fans are just in unison. to sign Parker Porter.
Starting point is 00:20:26 They want it so badly. It's unbelievable. You've turned Parker Porter into such a thing, Mike. He's the guy. He's the guy. But let us move on. This is tough. If one of you guys dropped Parker Porter
Starting point is 00:20:40 been an automatic point for you, but this is a tough round to score. But the point for Ron 1 goes to, action got me feeling so nostalgic there. One nothing action Bronson. Nicely done. Street Fighter, WWF, Barbarian, Battle Bowl.
Starting point is 00:21:02 Oh, yeah. You're speaking my language. You are speaking my language. But another event happened on Saturday. And look, no disrespect. We're going to roll through this kind of quickly because I know what you all want us to talk about. We're going to get there in the next round.
Starting point is 00:21:16 But UFC Vegas 99 happened this past weekend. Anthony Fluffy Hernandez just beat the holy hell out of Michelle Pereira. And he told me last week, you wanted to make a statement. He's ready to get to a title fight. And while he's not there yet, this performance was something else. He definitely took that next step. So Jed Mishu, he did it against one of your guys. You speak glowingly of Michelle Pereira.
Starting point is 00:21:40 What did you think of what happened this past Saturday in the main event? I mean, it sucked. It didn't suck because Fluffy is obviously like an exceptional talent and fighter. Like this dude's a top 10 guy. I know the UFC rankings don't have him that. When we update our rankings, he will take a pretty major jump for me. I love Michelle Pahetta. He is a psychopath in the best way possible.
Starting point is 00:22:03 All I want is to see Michelle Paheta fight Drickus Duplice and just do very, very silly things in the cage. And we're probably never going to get that at this rate because Fluffy just, I mean, I don't know of a harsh enough word for what happened. Mike, you know my feelings on the phrase weaponized cardio. Maybe I'd allow it for the, you know, whooping he put on
Starting point is 00:22:29 Michelle there. It was he, we used the word drowning probably too much in this sport. He drowned him. He just took him, not even into the deep water. He took him into the shallow into the pool and drowned him and then kept dragging him into deeper water as
Starting point is 00:22:45 he was doing it. It was a one-sided ass whoopin, pillar, almost pillar to post. Michelle had some moments very early on, but it was tough to watch my guy get cooked like that. But at the same time, you just got to give it up to Fluffy.
Starting point is 00:23:01 Like, dude's been on an incredible win streak right now. He's putting on exceptional performances. In a sneaky fun weight class, I don't think it's as good as other people on this YouTube channel have talked about. But middleweight is still a good weight class. It's an ascending weight or a lot of ascending talents. And I think Fluffy is right there in the mix with kind of the best of them, with the Nassarini Revolveh, with the Kyle Baragio, with this sort of.
Starting point is 00:23:27 I don't call them prospects because they're all older, but this sort of next generate, the next wave of dudes coming through to kind of assault the middleweight title as this old guard kind of phases out. Action. You know, we watch fights for fans. We get into it.
Starting point is 00:23:44 We're like, oh, this is cool. This is fun to watch. And there are a few cases. It doesn't happen that often, but every so often, probably once every like 200 fights, I'll watch something and be like, man, this, I feel so bad for him.
Starting point is 00:23:57 It must be a miserable experience to be on the other end of what is happening right now. And I had that feeling on Saturday watching Anthony Hernandez put it on Michelle Pereira. What did you think of Fluffy's performance? And did you come out of it feeling like, you know what? This guy's a legitimate title threat. Honestly, he beat the shit out of him. And it's crazy to think that Michelle Paredo, who's been on such like an upward swing since he's gone up a weight class, to think that he got demolished like that.
Starting point is 00:24:26 but I mean Fluffy ever since he made his debut was it even his debut was it on short notice against Hadofo Vietta was it short notice Can you
Starting point is 00:24:37 No that wasn't No that wasn't his debut No that was a Yeah But still Whatever it was He drowned him And fucking beat the fuck out of him
Starting point is 00:24:50 He's beating the fuck out of him He's beating the fuck out of everybody pretty much And I think that that middleweight is definitely one of those classes. I know you'd like to talk about middle-weighty middle-wates, but I think that this guy, I think he's a true contender,
Starting point is 00:25:07 and you're right about the next wave, and this is just showing it, Kyle Bahayo would be able to show that against Adasania, which is pretty crazy. Never thought I'd see that fight. But, yeah, it's a new day, and it seems like it changes pretty quickly. It almost seems like yesterday these guys were at the top. Like, where's Vittori? And, you know, everyone's just like, it just switches so quickly in this game.
Starting point is 00:25:31 It's crazy. All right, action. This is your moment. Jet has a hat on. Yeah. It's a change the energy after the first round. You got to change the energy. You know.
Starting point is 00:25:45 Freaking crocodile Dundee over here. But actually, what was another big takeaway from UFC Vegas 99? And why is it Brad Citona? I told you. is Brad Cotonin. And it's also Jocelyn Edwards, championship contender. She beat the shit at that girl.
Starting point is 00:26:02 And she's been showing, she's been showing like an animalistic instinct. And I think Brad Cotona got hosed, man. He got hosed on that one. This is a guy who's been around for a very long time, been around everywhere, finally makes his return. Fights a fight where he, in my opinion,
Starting point is 00:26:23 it's 2-1 for sure. beat the fuck out of him and still gets holes, man. It's judging. I feel like becoming a judge, dropping it all and becoming a judge so I could be put under the spotlight as well. But I'll talk and I'll give you my reasoning at least. I won't fucking hide like a little sissy. They still got the fucking judge.
Starting point is 00:26:48 They still got the judge from the Mike Tyson video game that's fucking doing it. I saw him at what in the way. Wouldn't God's name is he do? doing? He's in fucking a video game 1988. Nothing made me happier than Bruce Buffer. And your three judges for this UFC 308 main event,
Starting point is 00:27:12 Sal DeMato, Derek Cleary, and action Bronson. Be the funniest shit in the world of you, man. Do it. Be the judge. So, kick us. I'm doing it. I'm dropping it all. This is this is my calling. My calling is to be in this world. Actually, Bronson is going to save MMA officiating and judging.
Starting point is 00:27:33 Maybe you can be a ref, too. Maybe you can actually penalize fighters for infractions. Frank Trigg. Frank Trigg's a ref. Come on. I'm a ref. I love this. Chad, what say you? When we look back at the end of the... I've refereed
Starting point is 00:27:48 many back-fucking alley fights in Ireland. Real men fighting it out, duking it out. I've been asked to referee those matches and I've done decent jobs. I feel like I'd be okay for this one. I'm sorry. Take your time. The Nevada Athletic Commission needs to give you a call. But Jed, when we look back at the year that was 2024 and we think about the greatness that was UFC Vegas 90. I, of course, remember Anthony Fluffy Hernandez. What else will you remember about the card before UFC Vegas 100? I mean, there are two answers. One. One,
Starting point is 00:28:25 One's the right answer and one's the me answer. And I'll start with the me answer, and it's Austin Lane. I know a bunch of people didn't care for Austin Lane's performance against Rebellis to Spain. And I'm not here to tell you that it was a fun watch. But as a man who was on the watch party with you, and we were talking off air before we went live, and you told me some things. I was like, F it. Rebellis is about to get cooked.
Starting point is 00:28:49 Lane by decision plus 1100. And I fired a bet that I was electric to watch. So, yay for my. bank account. But the real answer is, dude, what do we tell? It's Rob Fawn, man. I keep thinking Rob Fawn is cooked, and Rob Font keeps not being cooked. Rob Font is, he is lose, like he's on a tough streak overall lately, right? Like he's won two of his last like six fights or whatever. Those losses have been hard losses against some of the very best fighters in the world. But amidst this run, he has been put into the position of, hey,
Starting point is 00:29:25 You need to be the old guy who falls on his sword against this next crop, this guy coming up. I was super high on Adrian Yanyes. I was like, he's going to come in and he's going to dummy Rob Font, and it's going to be the end of a very, very good fighter, a top 10 fighter at his peak. And then Rob Fon's like, you must have forgot. F you, and he just boxes Adrian Yanyes's ears up. Same exact shit happened on Saturday. Tyler Phillips has all this momentum, just cracking into the rankings.
Starting point is 00:29:57 Seems like a dude who is going to maybe not make a real title run, but kind of just move into that Rob Font spot as Rob Font aged out of the way class. And damn if Rob Font didn't just do it again, like, hey man, I'm still here. I may lose to the best in the world, but this dude ain't that, and he's about to get the business. So shouts to Rob Font, I did not see this performance coming. Mike, I know you did.
Starting point is 00:30:22 I believe you even wagered on your New England brethren, and congrats to you on that, but got to be the standout for me because it was so unexpected. I can't take you seriously with the hat, Jed. Why not? It's a very serious hat. You get the Undertaker hat on, just waiting for the lights to go up behind you.
Starting point is 00:30:40 It's hilarious. Maybe it's the ear pods attached to the hat, like just underneath it. There's a vibe. You certainly have change of the vibes. Can we rock it to the side? Just get a little... That's good. All right.
Starting point is 00:30:55 I like it. Well, look, vibes have changed. Vives have changed, which means we need to go to UFC 308. That's why everybody's here. Point for round two goes to my favorite Amish journalist, Jed Mishu. One to one, nicely done. Tipped the cap. I said absolutely nothing.
Starting point is 00:31:21 Stoned. Well, look, what a time. to be here and talk about UFC 308 because everybody is excited for this card. Afternoon, MMA, just the way we like it. The main event, Ilya Tuporia, the newly crowned UFC featherweight champion, knocked out Alexander Volcanowski in February. First title defense, and it is against the former champion, the former 145-pound king, the current BMF champion, Max Holloway.
Starting point is 00:31:49 Action Bronson. How excited are you for this one? And do you think this is the best fight on paper this year? I love this fight. I love this card. I'm really looking forward to Anka Lai and Rajesh. I'm looking forward to a lot of these fights. I like watching Sharra Bullitt fight.
Starting point is 00:32:08 I don't know if he's like a great fighter, but I enjoy his antics and his look. Max Holloway, Ilya is going to be, they come from two bloodlines of human beings that are just born for beings. battle, one by sea, one by horseback on land, and air as well. I mean, these men are going to go at it probably like no other. It's either that or someone's going to sleep quick or Max is going to box him up.
Starting point is 00:32:45 You know, he's been showing lots of power lately. I don't know if he's on gear or not, but he's, he's Hawaiian and they have meth out there. And it's a fucking tough life in Hawaii. And they breed very, very special human beings. I know my uncle is a doctor on the island. He helps a lot of these people who are on ice. It's a big epidemic over there. And, yeah, man, Georgia, man, you know, fucking Russia try to take them.
Starting point is 00:33:19 And they won't let them. So think about that type of energy. When Russia tries to take you, they want you. They have you. and they won't let them. So these men are going to clash. I mean, fucking well-dressed Amani Tuma for fuck's sake. Like, this guy, Ilya, looks like he plays soccer for Spain.
Starting point is 00:33:39 He looks Spanish. He has that look. It's kind of crazy. How do fuck did that happen? Max just is, I don't know, man. I'm also saying absolutely nothing here. I'm just very, very ready for this fight. It's one of those that, I don't.
Starting point is 00:33:56 care where I am. I'll be on stage and I'll have my fucking phone in my hand. Everyone will have to wait. Jed, we've been waiting for this one for a while. We've been waiting for it to come together. Once Ilya won the belt, we were like, okay, it's got to be Max. And then Max does what he did at UFC 300. And we're like, okay, it has to be Max. Even since Jacksonville, when Ilya put it on Josh Emmett, we've been talking about this fight, the potential of this matchup. We are 48 hours away, Jedd. Oh, Jed is frozen. He is truly the undertaker. I'll keep going. I'm looking at the body body mechanic. I don't really know why I'm frozen.
Starting point is 00:34:33 Because I... His name out. With Volk out, you know? Like, he threw a fake left hook into a right overhand. Like, just like those body mechanics, you need fast, twitchy muscles. It's like a wide receiver, you know? It's like fucking Jerry Rice. What do you think of Ilius...
Starting point is 00:34:52 Because Ilya is very confident heading into the Volk fight too, action. Because he already changed his Instagram profile to, like, feathering way champion before the fight happened. He feels like he's going to knock out Holloway faster than he knocked up Volcanovokinovsky. The man is just oozing with confidence. As you said, dressed like a couple Billy up on that stage at the press conference earlier today. What do you make of his confidence? Yeah, man. He looked like a trillion dollars. That's what I'm saying. When you look like a trillion dollars, you feel like a trillion dollars, you're ready to, you know, you feel like you could take on the world. It all starts there.
Starting point is 00:35:24 You have to look at yourself in the mirror and convince yourself first. And I feel like that's what he's done. Jed, welcome back. This is the fight, right? We've been waiting for this for so long. We're 48 hours away, Jed. Where are we at here? Dude, I am freaking pumped for it, man.
Starting point is 00:35:41 Like, shouts to Chungus Supreme on Twitter who established, like, what you guys were just talking about, kind of the vibes and the look at the press conference today. He said, and I'm paraphrasing slightly, but Ilya looks like a dude who gives John Wick a tough fight. for like a minute before getting killed. And Max looks like a dude who finished second to Dom Torretto in a Fast and the Furious race.
Starting point is 00:36:06 And I was like, it's just, it nails the vibes perfectly. Because that is like the energy that they both are carrying here. I couldn't be more excited about this fight. And I'll be honest. Like, after Max won at UFC 300, everybody was immediately on Max Rosalia, Max Rosalia, this is the fight. And I wasn't.
Starting point is 00:36:27 I was like, I love that fight. It's a great fight, but I didn't feel the same yearning for it that a lot of other people did, that this is the only fight that matters. And I don't know why, but as this fight has gotten closer, as I've taken more time to look into it and kind of just think about what is going to happen on Saturday, dude, this is one of the best fights the sport can produce right now. I got so many questions about where these two dudes are in their career, what they're going to end up looking like on. Saturday. Like, I think I have an idea of what I think is going to happen, but I have no confidence that that is going to end up happening because anything can unfold on Saturday, especially if
Starting point is 00:37:10 I know Max has kind of poop-boot this idea, but if they come out and Ilya is true to his word and it's like, I'm going to point to the ground and I'm going to ask him to do this in the first 10 seconds instead of the last 10 seconds, anarchy. Absolutely anarchy can ensue. It's the best fight of this, maybe this year on paper, frankly, just full stop, maybe the best fight of the whole damn year. And I could not be more excited about it being, you know, two days away. Jed, there's a lot of talk. Like, we come out of these events, think, or even heading into them, thinking, you know, if this guy wins, they become on a different tier of the all-time grades. And obviously, Elliot Toporia is young and he's on his way up and he's nowhere near a finished
Starting point is 00:37:55 product, which should scare the hell out of anybody at 45, and honestly, probably 155 as well. But Max Holloway, former featherweight champion, lost the belt in 2019, lost to Volcanovsky three times, got perfect gameed essentially by Volkanovsky at International Fight Week in 2022. And then since then, has just battled his way back, beating Arnold Allen, beating Korean zombie, beating, obviously, Justin Gachie. And now he's back here. It'll be five plus years between title runs, just about five years. If Max Holloway beats Ilya on Saturday and wins the title for the second time,
Starting point is 00:38:33 after the year he had, the knockout he had of Justin Gaci, where do you put him all time? Is he top 10? All time. You swerve me because I've been firmly on the corner. Whoever wins this fight Saturday is fighter of the year. No disrespect Alex Pereira. If you want to put him as number one, I can't quibble too much. but if Max finishes this out and reclaims the belt,
Starting point is 00:38:57 he'll be the first male to do, like he will have the record for the longest stint between title runs as a male champion in a white class. I've only been 20 dudes previously who have reclaimed belts and divisions. And almost exclusively when a fighter does that, it is within a year or two after losing it in an immediate rematch or something of the like. The big standout to hear.
Starting point is 00:39:22 as Carla Sparser did it at seven years. But obviously, women's straw weight is not as good as freaking featherweight. And the circumstances of her winning are not as impressive as what Max winning will be. Still an incredible accomplishment from Carla. But this will be, for my money, one of the greatest single feats I have ever seen in this sport. And so to me, very obviously, he will be fighter of the year if he does it. All time, it's hard. Like that conversation then becomes very hard because frankly if he wins the belt,
Starting point is 00:39:55 shit, maybe he puts together a big title run. Like he's still only 33, I think, maybe 32. I know he's got a lot of city miles on him, but like maybe he does have another prolonged run in him. I've been thinking he was going to drop off substantially for the last like four years that hadn't happened. So maybe it's just that guy, Bernard Hopkins, in a way that we can't quantify. It will be hard for me to all-time put him over Alexander Volcanovsky,
Starting point is 00:40:23 and I do not rate Alexander Volcanovsky as high as Jose Aldo as all-time. So I don't know where that leaves Max. Where it may ultimately leave is that Featherweight has three dudes in my all-time top-10 fighters because, like, Max is on the door. If he gets the belt back, I would have no issues with anyone putting him as a top-10 fighter all time. And that's with years left to go in his career. Actually, do you feel
Starting point is 00:40:51 like the winner of this fight is the fighter of the year or do you think it's a lot for Alex Pereira? I believe what Alex Pereira has done has been absolutely unbelievable. But I do agree that probably if I would say
Starting point is 00:41:07 if Max wins, he's the fighter of the year as well. I mean, he's a beloved figure. There's people in this sport that are great they're superstars. But then there's beloved figures. That man could literally do nothing else for the rest of his life,
Starting point is 00:41:23 come back, get standing ovations forever. He's this era's guy. You know, he'll be top ten for the people who've been watching from, I don't know, maybe the mid-2000s or the late 2000s. If you're like real true before that, and of course you're going to put some people in before that,
Starting point is 00:41:44 but I think that Max is the two-way classes, just the longevity, the longevity. He's been able to just like, and it's not always taking a pounding. He takes a pounding, but he's shown that he could not get hit also. But then he doesn't get, he's just one of those fighters. He's just like, you love him. You love him.
Starting point is 00:42:11 He can't do any wrong. So to me, no matter what, he's in that top 10, and Ilya is on his way up. You know, this is like new guy versus old guy, even though Max is not an old man. But I don't know, man. Just boxing. Boxing is like, I don't know, if you could just, if you could box really well, it's fucking dangerous. And they both could box really well just in different styles. So this is one of those, this is one of those throw them up in the air for me.
Starting point is 00:42:48 I mean, I'll say that about a lot of it because fighting is fighting, but I have no idea who's going to win this. But I'm sorry. I need this in my life. This is why I love this shit because I get, I'm just ready to go right now. Daytime also. Come on. It's the best.
Starting point is 00:43:08 Time me up. Sign me up. Chad, I mean, look, we'll reveal the spoiler. I know we have a preview show tomorrow, but we'll obviously switch roles and all that fun stuff. But you said you think you know how this is going to go. How do you think it's going to go? In my head, Ilya is supposed to win this fight. Max is whoever is the guy coming forward is going to win the fight.
Starting point is 00:43:35 And I think Iliate Tuporia is more proven to back fighters up. as consistently as he wants to. Whereas Max is more open to fighting on the outside being pushed around. He can come forward and will come forward, but I think that that is really the determining factor of the fight, because Tupari is much worse the very few times we've seen him moving backwards. And frankly, Max is a worse fighter on the back foot than he is when he has the initiative he's coming forward.
Starting point is 00:44:02 There's a whole, like a billion different tactical adjustments. You've seen him all over him on Twitter. Everybody's got a breakdown on this fight because it's so good. and I don't need to get bogged down into why I think the things are going to happen there. But mainly I just think Ilya had a – that Volk is better at fighting off the back foot than Max is and had success, but Ilya still ultimately got to him. I don't believe Max can be hurt. So Ilya's not going to get to Volk in the same way. But I do think he can have a lot of the same success Volcanovsky had against Max, particularly in the third fight, and pressure him around the case.
Starting point is 00:44:39 and just kind of win a clear competitive fight over 25 minutes. If he chooses to do that, the big question I have for Ilya is, does he really think he can knock out Max Holloway? Because he can't, because no man can. You give me a baseball bat in 24 hours, and I wouldn't put a dent in that man's head. So, like, if he comes out here and does the Connor McGregor Nate Diaz thing, he's like, all I have to do is hit him and he will fall over.
Starting point is 00:45:05 Ilya is going to get gassed out and tuned up when he realizes that, oh, I can't, now I'm tired and he's still standing, and now Max is coming on to him. So I got a million questions, I think, Tuvore is smart enough not to do that, and so I think he will win, but you can't feel confident about the outcome of this fight. This fight's just going to be completely bananas on Saturday.
Starting point is 00:45:30 Action, is this going to the cards? Are we going to need Judge Action Bronson to weigh in here? Hopefully not. You don't want to send them to the judges, because you never know what's going to happen, you know that. And I'm easily greased right now because it's not official. But I really do. To see Max folded up, the way Volk got folded up,
Starting point is 00:45:51 I never thought I'd see Volk get knocked out like that either. I wasn't, I had no visual reference to seeing that in my life or thought that that would happen. So, I mean, everyone has their time. The time comes for every man. and I just don't see it. I don't see it. But if Ilya does win, he's knocking him out.
Starting point is 00:46:13 I don't think he's going to take him to a decision. I think that Max puts out so much volume. He's like the king of a five-rounder. He could fight 25 rounds. It's all the same shit. He'll need one. He could go six, seven. He's just going to need more rounds.
Starting point is 00:46:30 So I just feel like to win, Ilya knocks him out. for max to win decision my god i cannot wait for this freaking fight watch party's gonna be electric can't wait for it 1 45 p.m eastern start time for the watch party so get excited for that
Starting point is 00:46:51 let's move on to some some other fun things that are happening at as great as this fight is there's some other cool things happening as well point for round three goes to action bronson two to one nicely done got goosebumps got goosebumps my man Jackson you watch your show
Starting point is 00:47:12 long enough. My points don't mean shit at the end of the day. The judges, the true judges, are the live viewing audience. You know what's better than the one big thing? Two big things. Exactly. The new iPhone 17 Pro on TELUS's five-year
Starting point is 00:47:30 rate plan price lock. Yep, it's the most powerful iPhone ever. Plus, more peace of mind with your bill over five years. This is big. Get the new iPhone 17 Pro at TELUS.com slash iPhone 17 Pro on select plans, conditions and exclusions apply. Jed, I'll just go right to you because I feel like things are starting to brew up a little bit here,
Starting point is 00:47:54 but this fight, especially because of the main event and how excited everybody is for it, Hamza Tshmaev's fighting on Saturday. And he looks healthy. He was at the press conference. He was at Media Day. I assume he's going to weigh in tomorrow. Dude looks, like I said, he looks healthy. He looks normal.
Starting point is 00:48:12 He doesn't look depleted. He doesn't look, he looks good. Like he looks ready to go. And Robert Whitaker is freaking Robert Whitaker. So are you surprised that this fight is not getting the attention that many thought it would? Or is it because you think, you know what, until I see Hamzat at Fight Week, signing posters and doing the dance, I just don't believe it's happening. Mike, before I even get to that, I need you to reach up behind you and knock on that wood. Don't you hex this man?
Starting point is 00:48:39 We know how this man struggles to make it into the cage. You can't be putting the bad juju out there with this nonsense. Throw some salt over your shoulders some shit because it's not official with Hamza until the cage door closes. I am, knock on wood, optimistic that it's going to happen. And perhaps you're right. Maybe I would actually say not perhaps. I would say in large part I have not been focused on this fight, thinking about this fight, because the question about whether will happen kind of hung in the air.
Starting point is 00:49:11 Now that Knock on wood again Seems like it's going to happen I got pretty juiced up Watching the presser today I was like okay This fight is going to be I think good
Starting point is 00:49:24 Maybe it's just a Hamzaa Shmaia fight And he mauls him It wouldn't shock me at all Given that what Drickas did to Robert Wicker If Hamzart comes out And just like Guys I promise you
Starting point is 00:49:34 I actually am the best fighter in the world And someday I will win a belt That would be cool if this started because we've, it feels like it's been a lifetime with Shemayev now. And instead, it's been like seven fights. And I think if you'd ask any of us back, you know, during COVID when Shemayev came up, hey, in the year 2024, Hamzaa Chamaev still won't have even fought for a belt. We were all been like, you're crazy. It's like he, not that he would have lost. No, he didn't even get an opportunity to compete for a belt. We would have all said that's a nut, it's a ridiculous
Starting point is 00:50:09 this idea, and yet it is the truth of the world we are living in. I want this man to prove that he deserves it because he still needs to do that. And then because I believe that he will, does deserve it and will do so, I want him to get the opportunity because I want to see the best fighters in the world, fight the best guys in the world. And for the last few years, Shemaya has been tough to sort of get where I think he is supposed to be going. So now that this fight looks like it's on track, the matchup itself is. as freaking awesome is Bobby Knuckles, baby. Who isn't excited to watch Bobby Knuckles go to work,
Starting point is 00:50:44 particularly given what he did to Carlyneux of on three hours notice or whatever that was? Like, this fight rocks. The fact that it's five rounds is awesome. Like, this is exactly what you want for a co-main event with a main event that is so, because a lot of times you could take this main event and just be like, we don't need anything else. This sells itself.
Starting point is 00:51:05 The rest of this is poop soup. Nah, they gave us a heater of a co-main, and the rest of the car. which we'll get to. There's a lot to like in the rest of the card as well. It's not amazing, but there's a lot of quality. And the top two fights are so good. I cannot can wait for Saturday.
Starting point is 00:51:23 Action, if you told me four years ago from right now that, hey, in 2024, Hamzaa Chamaa will not even just be, not be a champion, but he won't even have fought for a world title. We all would have thought you were crazy if you said that. And now here we are. We're just waiting for him to get back in the octagon. And he's fighting freaking Robert Whitaker, who's going to be a UFC Hall of Fame
Starting point is 00:51:44 or former champion looking to get his way back. How pumped you for this fight? This fight is one of those that you circle. You circle, you scribble all around it. I'm so psyched for this fight because I love to watch Robert Whitaker fight, but I love to watch Hamzat Shemaya fight. He trains with a good friend of mine,
Starting point is 00:52:06 Elit Lati, who I just randomly, met walking the streets of Sweden back in the day of Stockholm. He goes to me, brother, he just pulls up to me in some little-ass car. He hops out with slippers on. Brother, I'm UFC, Europe, fighter, I'm Al-Latifi Albanian. So immediately we hug, give each other a kiss on the cheek. You already know how that goes. And he's been my brother ever since.
Starting point is 00:52:29 He tells me he's a fucking absolute animal. They train at all-stars over there in Stockholm. Next-level stuff going on over there. The man, you see with his glasses, the intelligent thug look with the hair right now. That's the look I want. That's how I want to look at all times. That man looks like a fucking assassin, gentle. He doesn't talk with a loud voice.
Starting point is 00:52:53 He talks very softly and he's very serious. We've seen Robert Whitaker get absolutely demolished before. I love the man, but I really do think that this is going to be a mauling. I believe that this is going to be a one-sided affair if I had to pick. I believe that the man is feeling much better now. His health seems to be in order. Long COVID seems to have gotten so many different fucking people, that weirdo shit. Who knows what the fuck it is from not having his paperwork set up or whatever the case may be?
Starting point is 00:53:29 They're from a land where shit goes down. You understand? Like, it's not regular over there. So we have to be cognizant of all that type of stuff as well. So I'm just happy that this might go down. But this motherfucker is playing rugby fucking basketball like they're in Rikers Island. And I see him jumping up on the post and he like took a weird move. I don't like that type of shit.
Starting point is 00:53:55 Don't do weird tricks the week of. Do those weird tricks when you're training, not now. Action. Who needs to win more on Saturday? Hamzaa Shima for Magamankalayaev. I think Hamzaat Shemayev needs this win, man, because honestly, he was looking a little suspect against Usman. You could have given Usman the fight,
Starting point is 00:54:17 and you could have, if you could have make an argument for Usman to have the fight, and for, what's his name, Brazilian? Gilbert Burns. Yeah, Gilbert Burns. Did that help? That was it. Gilbert Burns, if you can make an argument for either one of those two men possibly getting a win in those fights,
Starting point is 00:54:46 he needs to step his game up. This is not, this is not, he's not fighting, he's fighting in the top tier now. He's not on the come up anymore. He's fighting top tier guys and he got lucky against Usman. Obviously, he has no knees. Jed, what do you think? Do you agree with that, that Hamza needs this one more? Or do you think it's, it's got to be Magamene.
Starting point is 00:55:08 Michael Ives fighting Alexander Rackich. I feel like, I look at him, he's so good. He might be the best light heavyweight in the world. There's a very good argument that he is the best light heavyweight in the world. But the UFC, for whatever reason, is just not giving him another chance. They still have the bad taste, at least Dana does, from UFC 282. And I feel like if he loses, he's never, ever, ever going to fight for the belt. But Hamzot being who Hamzat is, even if he loses this fight, another win, maybe two.
Starting point is 00:55:37 He's a big enough name. get right back in there. Do you think Hamzaat needs this one more? Do you think it's more do or die for Ankolaev? I think it is Ankolaev, but it's close. Like Hamzot needs to win. A loss here, maybe he can get back eventually. But like, again, we said it a bunch. Like we thought he was fighting for about years ago. And so this sort of setback, there is just no guarantee with what happens for him moving forward with this. I would say that he's at least got a chance still, but he really needs, it is put up or shut up time.
Starting point is 00:56:17 Like he really needs to get this done and make it to the fight and deliver the performance that we expect and hope to see from him. Anka Lyev is going to be the answer, though, because this thing kind of flew under the radar a little bit already this week, but like at Media Day, Ankiyev came out and was like, Yeah, Dana White told me I need to have an impressive performance Saturday to get a fight with Alex Pereira, which is, one, that's hearsay. Like, we don't know that Dana told him that. So take that with the grain of salt or whatever. But assuming that's true, that's a categorically insane thing to be like, hey, you're very clearly, like, if he beats Rockich, he is an undeniable title contender.
Starting point is 00:57:01 Like, he already should have gotten a title fight. If he beats Rockich, there should be no standing in his way. So if this did happen and Dana did really say he needs to win impressively, not just win, well, we're living in the silliest timeline because that would be insane for that to be the case. And I believe that it's true. I am willing to believe that Dana White said that because of the way they have treated him, because of the fact that he should have been the one to at least get offered the fight against Alex Prayer in Salt Lake City. and Dana when asked pointedly about it was just like no no he's already booked okay but why is he booked
Starting point is 00:57:41 I don't know whatever man he's already booked we did Cleo round tree suck it like they don't want him to fight out prayer it is pretty obvious um and maybe it's it not they don't want to fight prayer they just don't want him near the belt I so I believe him when he says this man and he has to be the answer of who needs to win the most this weekend but I do think Jemayev is like right behind him. He desperately needs to show up and get things done because his career is kind of hanging
Starting point is 00:58:11 in the balance. Last thing on this, Jed, I'll start with you. Best fight on UFC 308 that nobody's talking about. Ooh, that nobody's talking about on old 308. Tough because everyone is kind of talking about the big ones. And I don't want to go. I'm going to go with
Starting point is 00:58:34 The best fight is Mick Tebeck Oralbae versus Matusha Becky and that has kind of it's been already co-opted this week of like nobody's talking about how good this fight is to the point that people are talking about it
Starting point is 00:58:49 but that fight absolutely bangs like Oral Bai kind of came out of nowhere and just is unbelievable like I think this guy is a top 10 talent and just needs the win to prove it. Rebecca been around for a hot minute is like a top 20, 25 guy. We're talking about, again,
Starting point is 00:59:08 the best weight class in the sport and lightweight. It makes two top 25 guys. It's always going to be amazing. This fight, I think, will have unbelievable grappling exchanges going on. The work on the floor is going to be sick. And I think oral buy is going to come in here and get another big
Starting point is 00:59:24 performance over a really tough that a lot of people don't know about. And he is going to continue to be kind of the hardcore delight of like, hey, this is the dude of light weight that you should super not want to fight because he's going to be you and he's you're just never going to get me credit for it because people don't know him but he does have a fun hat mike and you know what i like to say if you've got a difficult
Starting point is 00:59:44 to pronounce name and a fun hat you're probably a badass actually what say you what's the low key banger i mean it's it's not really that low key i would imagine it would be jeff neil dosanjos you know they're middle of the road but i love a good middle of the road matchup you know what i mean I feel like Jeff Neal needs to get himself back on track, and he can. He was sick or whatever have you. Do Zandro's is always just looking to fight. He's looking to fight and stay active, and I like to watch these men fight. I feel like this is not low-key.
Starting point is 01:00:23 This is the main prelim, right? Like right before the main card goes on. It's looking like, it looks like a good time to me. I don't have the fucking thing in front of me, I'd be able to tell you a better one with like wilder name. Run through a real quick for me and I'll pick it better. I actually think that's the right answer because that would have been my other answer if it wasn't oral by.
Starting point is 01:00:52 I'm sticking with him. It likes it. Lorone Murphy, Dan Igay, Sharra Bullitt, Armine Petrosian, Ebo Sion versus Raphael Cirqueira. I love Dan Igay. I love that. I love that Lorone Murphy fight. I mean, you know, Lorone Murphy is a dog, and Dan Igay is a fucking dog, and that one's going to be a banger as well.
Starting point is 01:01:13 Abuss Magamatov versus Bruno Ferreira. That's just insane. Kennedy is a cheshrouca versus Chris Freaking Barnett. He's back. Chris Borset, the heavy thing. See, I like that matchup for Chris Barnett. When you're short and fat, you like fighting a toilet guy because they have to kneel down. Then you're able to throw the hook, the upper cut.
Starting point is 01:01:33 You're able to dig that liver. You're able to find the liver like a fucking orca. Bruno Silva Ishmael Nardiev and Renat Fokritinov fighting Carlos Lial. So that's UFC 30308. Should be fun. A lot of big favorites. It should be fun. And 10 a.m. Eastern Star Time for the prelims, which is just scratches me right where rich.
Starting point is 01:01:58 All right. The point for round number four goes to, it goes to Jed. Oral by Rebekchi is friggin. Donculus. Let the confetti fly. And you know what that means? It is time for one more question. It is time for the knock-out round.
Starting point is 01:02:21 One question for each of these gentlemen. Thank you. They will each have 60 seconds to give their answer. And Jed, I'm not even going to be the option. I'm going to make you just go first because it's my show and that's what we're going to do. And you have a funny hat on. And the funny hat tells me you're ready to kick things off. I love the funny hat.
Starting point is 01:02:38 Yes. So at the U.S. 308 press conference, Jed, we learned a valuable lesson. Close mouths don't get fed. As we saw a fighter outside of the UFC goes up and gets on the microphone and asked Dana White, hey, give me a shot at the UFC. I'm 9 and 0 and all this and they have a back and forth.
Starting point is 01:02:59 And Dana says, look, come on up, go to the back. We'll get you squared away. We'll talk. Brings them up on stage and goes to the back. So Jed, closed mouths don't get fed. You have a microphone. You have Dana White right there. And you have 60 seconds to ask for.
Starting point is 01:03:12 anything you want, anything at all. What are you going to ask them? 60 seconds on the clock. Go. 60 seconds to ask Dana for anything that I want. And I want a lot of things. Man, this is a, you gave me a really difficult question here, Mike. All right, I got 60 seconds, close mouth.
Starting point is 01:03:35 Dana, there's a lot that I could ask you for. And I'm just going to have to go with a thing. that I've already mentioned today because I know you hate doing it. I know you don't want to do it. I know that there's no good business reason to do it. Give us Francis and Ghanu, John Jones. I think John Jones would accept that fight if that fight was an option. You've done things you haven't wanted to do before. I'm old enough to remember when you said, I don't really care about Conn McGar going over into boxing. The price was right. We can get that price right. I believe Turkey Alashik will get that price right. You don't have to cope.
Starting point is 01:04:12 I'm sure PFL will let you just have Francis for a day. If you can put PFL shorts on him or something, we can figure this out. But that is the fight that we need. You promise. You say that you make the fights you want to have happen. This is the time, Dana, do it. I mean, that's a solid answer. It's a solid answer.
Starting point is 01:04:31 All right. It was very strong. Action. You have the second showcase here. You got Dana. You could be a fight. It could be a wish. It could be something promotionally.
Starting point is 01:04:42 Whatever you want, action. 60 seconds. Dana White, you got the mic. Close mouths don't get fed. Go. Well, Dana, I would like to sit next to Joe Rogan for every single fight that he calls. I would like to sit in on the meetings. I'd like to sit in on the marketing.
Starting point is 01:05:05 I'd like to have some words, actually. on the, I would like to be able to take over the development program for your merchandising and for your logos and stuff like that, because sometimes it falls a touch short, like the UFC 300 graffiti font logo. I really do feel like I could bring a lot to the table. I'm not looking for a handout. I'm looking for an opportunity. And that's really it.
Starting point is 01:05:33 You could have those fucking 15 seconds to think about it. and then we're done. Drop the mic. Blow the horns. Well done. It's my guy. Shouts to all those guys. Yes,
Starting point is 01:05:48 do on that. Look, you jumping in there and helping with some merch, maybe some graphics, some logos. I'm saying, not big ass.
Starting point is 01:05:58 It's actually doing you a fucking favor. And I think a lot of people would agree. Jed, you're muted. Whoops. Let's get A-B-in-the-boat. We're not a tweet.
Starting point is 01:06:15 Action in the booth with Rogan and Anick would be- With Rogan, third man in the booth? I've fucked with that. Let's go. Let's go. That'd be a lot of fun. Time to vote. Vote in the poll.
Starting point is 01:06:27 Who wins? Action, Bronson, Jedmish you. I think we're all winners here. Don't forget, if you want to take a little nap, not a bad idea because... Yeah. 1 a.m. Eastern time. That's when the way-ins are happening.
Starting point is 01:06:43 So we'll see what Hamzaa Tchamayev looks like. We'll see what I'll see what I'll see what I'll see what all the fighters of UFC 308 look like. We'll be live streaming 1 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning, the official weigh-ins, ceremonial way-ins. I think they're at 8 a.m. Eastern. I don't really know, but just follow the UFC and you'll figure that out. We'll have a preview show sometime tomorrow prior around lunchtime. And then we'll get ready for Saturday. We'll have the People's Pre-Fight show bright and early.
Starting point is 01:07:08 Get your coffee ready. Get your dunks 9.30 a.m. Eastern time for the People's Free Fight Show. Might actually be a little bit sooner than that. And then- Chick-fil-A if you're Don Davis. A little Chick-fil-A. Little Chick-fil-A. And then watch party, 1.45 p.m. Eastern, post-show, Jose and Abu Dhabi, videos, all sorts of fun stuff. And we have Casey here, sleeves optional, which must mean we have a winner.
Starting point is 01:07:33 It's my favorite style of prayer, Casey. Thank you, thank you. Yeah, let's go. Oh, no. Let me take the shots, actually. Are we doing that? The whole thing, yeah. All right, let's go.
Starting point is 01:07:52 Let's go. Oh, God. What's going on here? I got excited. I got excited. All right, all right. All right, we have a game show. Your winner today with, oh my God, it's a blowout.
Starting point is 01:08:11 It's not even close. With 70% of the vote is, he's not even close. Yeah, let's go. Action freaking Bronson. Let's go, the people's champ. I don't deserve you. I don't deserve you.
Starting point is 01:08:31 But like any, like I said, any good interaction, I will be sending gift baskets over. Make sure you send sizes and everything that you wear. And I love everybody. Casey, Jed, Mike, A.K. Jose, all you motherfuckers. Let's go. Staff up. I'm on staff now. I'm on staff.
Starting point is 01:08:57 I accept. We could use you. We could definitely use you right now. We had some people leave us. So actually, where can we get the new kicks? Where are the new, where can they get the new kick? I love you guys. Fuck all that bullshit.
Starting point is 01:09:09 I'm spending it. Nobody needs to know nothing. Fair enough. What a guy. Jed, how are we feeling here? This is a, this is an asswoman. Yeah, it was fun. Take my hand off from, man.
Starting point is 01:09:23 I'm better, I'm better in person. Well, maybe we'll get a in-person BTL one day action. Give me a chance to run it back. Thanks for coming. Guys, this was fun. Shout out to Doc. Don Davis, who, you know, did the town hall yesterday. He didn't have to.
Starting point is 01:09:41 Didn't love everything he said, but takes a man to step up and do that. So, it's a bit, boys, I can't be mad with 48 hours away from 308. Let's get busy. Yeah, right. Hit the, hit the music, Casey. We gone. Busy day ahead. Page Vance is about to slap somebody.
Starting point is 01:10:01 So if you're into that thing, go watch it. But busy day. busy time UFC 308 we're vast approaching we're about 48 hours away from the main card kicking off we have shirts coming off what a day it is bad for Casey for action Bronson
Starting point is 01:10:20 for Jed Mishu I am Mike Hack the iconic voice of Estherlyn takes you home back next week to react to it all good night everybody love you all this has been between the links an MMA fighting production
Starting point is 01:10:38 on the Vox Media Network You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Unwrap holiday magic at Holt Renfrew with gifts that say I know you. From festive and cozy fashion to lux beauty and fragrance sets, our special selection has something for every style and price point. Visit our Holtz holiday shop and store or online at Holtrenfrew.com.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.