MMA Fighting - HOAM | Will Nate Diaz Return To the UFC In 2024?

Episode Date: February 1, 2024

With the UFC 300 main event still to be announced, many fans and pundits have declared that the biggest fight the promotion can put together for the card would be the trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz? With Diaz seemingly wanting to do things more independently without being under contract with the UFC, but the door being still open following his departure, could Diaz find his way back in the octagon in 2024? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the chatter about a Diaz return to the company, why he doesn't see it happening at UFC 300, or in 2024 at all, and if there's a chance it could ever happen. Additionally, listener questions include the hesitation from the UFC to announce the UFC 300 main event, if there will ever be another McGregor-like star that emerges in the UFC, Kevin Lee announcing he's coming out of retirement, and much more. You can listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10 a.m. ET on the MMA Fighting Twitter Spaces. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR 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

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Visit darktrace.com forward slash defenders for more information. Listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. February 1st. See, I got Friday in February all confused because it's the last. the first day of February, 2024. And it is indeed a heck of a morning. We are live on the M.A. Fighting Twitter Spaces. You can hear the show in its entirety shortly thereafter on the M.A.

Fighting Podcasting Network. Hello there, everybody. Happy Thursday. I am Mike Heck. Hope you're all having a wonderful week so far. It's been kind of a weird week in MMA. Like, we've got some news. But I feel like last week,

There's so much more going on. There was so much more to talk about. Tuesday show we have, like, nothing to talk about. It was just all 300 speculation for the most part and some other things that we discussed. But we have like a couple things that have happened over the last couple days that we could get into. So we'll talk about it.

We will take your calls for most of the show because, again, there's not a ton going on in the news cycle. But there are a few things. First, well, we obviously have UFC Vegas 85, coming up on Saturday. So the rare weekend off has come and gone. And now it's back at it for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I believe it's 11 straight Saturdays.

We're going to have events. So just a quick little breather. And then we're going to be off and running. And now we're in February and things are going to get cooking a little bit with a couple of apexe apex cards. And then we got 298 and then we got Mexico City. And then we're on the road to 299. and Francis Aganou versus Anthony Joshua and UFC 300, so things are going to ramp up real quick.

But as far as things that have happened over the last couple of days, we have a retirement in the world of mixed martial arts. Marco Madsen announced his retirement from the sport. Pretty solid career, decent, guy who was flirting with the rankings. I don't even know, I don't know if you actually made it to the rankings, but pretty solid career, tough fighter, just really couldn't get over that hump, but super talented wrestler.

And we bid him a do from the sport of mixed martial arts. We have a nice little prospecty bantamweight fights that we reported yesterday, Peyton Talbot versus Cameron Simon going down March 23rd at the world's most famous apex. So that is... Pretty much a done deal. I know one contract is signed, the other not quite signed, but it is agreed upon.

So that fight, a big prospect match at 135 going down March 23rd. We also found out that UFC Atlantic City, March 30th, 2024, needs a new main event. Sean Brady versus Vicente Lucke no longer happening on that card. Now, this is an interesting one because, as I told you guys, when this fight was announced, and even like the couple of weeks leading into it, I said after they announced the Aaron Blancheville Man in Fiore fight, not going to be the main event, at least as of right now, they're working on something else, but there's things that kind of need to happen in order for this main event to come to fruition. Dana White announces it.

I came on the show and I was like, I'm a little surprised that it got announced. And the reason why is the reason why this fight's not happening. Sean Brady's still a little dinged up. He even said on the Joe Rogan experience that he was dealing with an injury, he was hoping to get through it,

maybe April. And this is why I was kind of surprised that that fight was announced. So there you go. No longer happening. Right now, no main event announced. as of right now, Aaron Blanchfield versus Manon and Fioro, from what the conversations I've had,

neither has been approached in regards to headlining, so maybe they're working on something else to headline that card, and if it doesn't come through, then they'll just bump that one up. And I think that's a fine main event. Aaron Blanchfield's from the area. I think that's a good one. High-stakes fight.

I've seen worse fight night main events than that. That's for sure. So we'll see what goes on there. And then we're going to go full circle here. Go full circle. We started talking about Marco Matz of retiring. Kevin Lee on social media yesterday, late afternoon, early evening, depending on where you are, says he's not retired anymore.

Six months retirement, done and done. He's getting ready. He's getting back. And he says he's going to return to MMA. Will he return to the UFC? Not really sure. Maybe PFL will take a shot at him. maybe he ends up in their superfight division,

maybe he ends up in the newly established Bellator brand, maybe ends up at BKFC, maybe he ends up with GameBred, bare-knuckle MMMA. It's not a bad name to snag to the roster. So, yeah, it looks like Kevin Lee is coming back. So, yeah, that's pretty much what has happened over the last couple of days. And let's see what is on your mind.

We still do not have a UFC 300 main event, everybody. Still don't have it. Israel Adasani did put a little bit of a teaser on his Instagram stories. We saw some golf swings from Izzy. And then all of a sudden, boom, we see a 300 poster with a little bit of a message. And Izzy got people going a little bit crazy with that. Is he going to fight a 300? Is he going to fight Drick's 2.C.?

we will soon find out one would hope but we don't have an official main event as of yet so let's get into this thing and we will begin with abs Walia go ahead good morning Marka heck of morning I just wanted to ask a few things firstly do you expect

the main event announcement from Dana by end of this week or do you reckon he'll keep us hanging on for maybe another few more weeks out to they finally decide on what should be the main event and take this week as time with it. And also another question is who do you have winning this Saturday between the main event and what's at stake for those two fighters? That's all I have. Have a great day. Do I think the main event will be announced this week? I'll say no. I'll say no. I think, I think, I think data will wait till next week. Super Bowl week. A lot of buzz. Vegas will be going crazy.

I think he'll save it for next week. I hope I'm wrong. God, I hope I'm wrong. Because I just want to know, like, let's just get this out of the way. I just want to move on, talk about other things, have a main event established. We can only speculate for so long, right? We can only do this for so long before it gets a little tiresome, and I think we're knocking on that door right now. Let's just find out what this main event is.

But if I were to bet $20 fictional dollars, I would bet the $1,000. $20 fictional dollars on. It's going to get announced next week or beyond. That's what I would say. As far as Saturday goes, we have Roman Deleidezai versus Nassardine Imabov. That is the main event. Deleizze, not typically a middleweighty, middleweight,

Nasredine Yemabov. Not really a middleweighty, middleweight himself, but has tendencies, I guess, where he could be. It's tough. It's a close one. This is a real close fight. I think Roman needs to get this fight to the ground. I know Roman's got some pop.

He can hit really hard. But if he wants to get into like a range kickboxing match with Nasorini Mavov, more often than not, it's not going to go very well for him. But DeLidezai does have the finishing capabilities more so, in my opinion, than Nasor Dianimov. So I think just for excitement purposes, I will pick Roman Delizze to get a finish. But it would not surprise me if EMOP won. And what's at stake?

Nothing. Nothing really. Just kind of holding their spot. That's really it. Like, a wind doesn't propel either guy into like the title conversation right now. Like Delizia is coming off of a loss to Marvin Vittori. Emovops hasn't won a fight in a hot minute. So, yeah, they just kind of like stick around.

Maybe they find themselves at another apex main event. But yeah, as far as like title contention goes, a win for either guy really does nothing for them at this moment. It's just a bounce back type of situation, really. Not a lot of stakes on this card on Saturday, if we're being honest, but still probably fun. I'd say that the fight with the most stakes in terms of like who can get the most out of this, Natty Ice goes out there and just barrels over Viviani Arrugio. She's, she probably has the most to gain on this entire card, in my opinion. even more so than the main event and the co-main event.

Adam, go ahead. Hey, Mike. First time, long time. Just want to talk a bit about Paolo Costa's Twitter game. Do you think this is like okay for a guy who has pulled out so much of fights? Obviously, he's a funny dude, but, you know, making all these jokes about pulling out of this fight when he has a co-main event spot in like two weeks time. Thanks, Mike. I mean, to quote the great Jed Mishu, if you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly.

And that's what Paulo is. He's got the gimmick. People know he's got the gimmick. And he just goes right into the gimmick and just goes full throttle. He puts that foot down on the gas. So I really hope he shows up to this fight because, man, this division is so different now. It really is. It's so different.

If Paul Costa goes out there and beats Robert Whitaker, you can make a strong, case that he's getting a title shot. You can make a very strong case that he gets a title shot. Especially if Drickus DuPasie is still the champion and him and Izzy don't fight a 300 or anything like that. And if they do, if DDP wins,

like, Costa's over. He's a draw. He's a star. People freaking love the guy. And he can drum up interest in a fight as well as anybody in this division right now. So seems like it's going to happen,

but a lot can happen between now and February 17th, and I just really hope it happens. I really do. Yeah, he's just feeding into the gimmick because he knows people will react to it. Mikey, go ahead. Curious. What do you think Molly's prospects are straw weight

now that she's moving down there? I don't know if this is probably for a one-off just to see what's going on or if it's permanent, but I'm curious to see what her prospects will be in that division. Because I think to a certain degree, straw weights a little deeper than flyweight, maybe barely. So, and she's what, like 30. She's in her 30s, right? She's in her 30s, right? I think 32 or something like that. Maybe in order.

Also, just if it hasn't been mentioned before, I'm just like, it's getting to a point now where I'm like, the UFC should just, if, I saw that Dana White met with the president of BKFC. And I'm over here thinking like, come on, just just have Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler fight each other and then run back Nate and Connor. Just do that. That would be fun. You know, and then do Chandler and Connor later for the summer or something, maybe even

Master Square Garden because it's, you know, both like fighting a massive square garden and stuff like that. You know what I mean? That would be fun. It's like I said, whatever it is that makes sense. So, yeah, I think that would be off for me today. So we got to have a good day. Be kind of. I don't think they're going to do that. I don't think they're going to do that. Because I just don't think Nate's going to come back. I'm not saying he'll never come back to the UFC, but why would he go back to the UFC now? He's been trying to get out of there for so long. For years he's been trying to get out of there.

And then he went and boxed Jake Paula made a shit ton of money. Like, there's no doubt he made more money boxing Jake Paul than any fight he's ever had. So, and now there's, There's this rumored fight with Jorge Mazadol, which is being discussed. It's probably going to happen in a boxing match. Date TBD at this point. It seemed like maybe it was going to happen in March, but now maybe not. I don't know. So, yeah, I don't think it's going to happen.

And plus, like, Nate and Connor, even though they're, like, rivals, they, have an understanding and always have, right? That's why they didn't fight at UFC 200. That's why Nate didn't fight a 200 when Connor had his thing with the UFC. Nate was like, nah, man, I ain't fighting a 200. Like, it's me and him. It's all wait. And then they both made like way more money to fight each other at 202. Nate understands the game right now. He could come, sure, he could come back and make a few million dollars to go box or to go fight Connor McGregor at 300 or some of other card and that would be cool. But they're not going to bring Nate back for a one-off.

Like Nate has to sign a multi-fight deal with the UFC. And then all the prospects of all the things he wants to do outside of the UFC sort of go away because they're not going to treat Nate differently than anybody else. Case in point, why he's wanting to leave the company for so long. Now, I do understand that Nate has seen that from a promotional level and just going through a fight week, not with the UFC. There's probably a part of him. And actually, I know there's a part of him that's like, eh, you know, from that side of things,

maybe the grass isn't as green. But money is very green, and he made a lot of it to deal with the bullshit of the Jake Paul fight. I know he didn't like the build. I know he didn't like any of that shit. But this Mazadol thing, I think, will be better if it ends up happening.

I'm hearing some things about. it. Nothing we could really report at this time, but I think it's going to do well. I mean, I think it'll do fine. It'll drum up a lot of interest. People care about it's two big stars. Getting into boxing match and this is a weird time for boxing. So if Nate's going to make a whole bunch of money to go box Mazadol, go do that. And then guess what? Conner only has two fights left in his UFC deal right now. Connor can go fight Michael Chandler whenever, bounce right back in and fight somebody else, and then guess what can happen?

Connor rides off and could ride off into the sunset and still do the Nate Diaz fight and keep all the money. Him and Nate can share the wealth between the two of them. So when Connor actually fights again, whether it's Chandler or whoever, it's going to get real interesting

because Connor will, especially if he wins, he's going to want to get right back in there. Will the UFC let him get right back in there without signing an extension of some kind. That's where things are going to get real interesting. Are they going to keep them on ice like they did with Nate? Because they know the business savvy of Connor, and they know the business savvy of Nate Diaz right now.

There's no doubt that the UFC is like, okay, there's a chance this trilogy fight could happen not in our octagon. And I think the UFC's going to try to do everything they can to avoid that happening, but will it work? That's the big question. I don't think Connor Nate's going to happen. I don't know why Dave is there. You know, Dave and Dana have a little bit of a relationship.

It's not like they've never met and talked before. And BKFC is trying to get legalized in Vegas. And so he's spending a little time there. I don't know. Maybe get Mike Perry back for UFC 300. How freaking cool would that be? Just for a one-off. But we'll see.

As far as Molly goes, what of her prospect? not much, probably the same as they are at 25. She's 33, about to be 34. She's not going to get a title fight at 115. She's just going to... She'll probably win on Saturday. I mean, we've seen this fight already, and Molly, like, dominated,

and I don't expect this to be much different. But she'll just kind of be what she was at 25. She'll just have fun fights. When they go to the UK, you put her on the card, give her a matchup she could do well in, let the fans go bananas, and there you go. But yeah, is she going to all of a sudden be a title threat at 15? No, I don't think so.

I don't see it. But look, if she's happy and she feels good and she wants some different kinds of challenges in her career, go get them. Go get them. Molly could still be very successful in this sport. at this time. I don't know if she'll win title. She won't win titles at good title fights, but she'll do fine. She'll do just fine. And I expect her to win on Saturday.

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Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the downloaded two, ghosts in the machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Roscoe Cudulian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the audible original blockbuster, the downloaded. It's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide.

Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, what are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The downloaded two, Ghosts in the Machine, available now only from Audible. Cole, go ahead. Hi, Mike. I keep trying to think about why, like, there is no 300 main event yet. Like, the UFC really hasn't ever had this situation where there's, like, one fight, thing like this.

And every time I think about, like, who can maybe, like, fill in and fight at that main event, I always keep going back to, I don't think Connor, I keep saying, like, there's no way Connor's going to be on there. But then I take a step back and look at the situation. And I keep, like, I have a question for you, Mike, like, why else would there be this delay in this fight if they weren't. still trying to get Connor on this card. I feel like this delay has to be somewhat because there at least is a 1% chance that

Connor still fights on the card. Does that make any sense to you? Thanks, man. I think it's more honestly, and I've been saying this from Jump Street. Connor Chandler should have been the main event of this card from the beginning. It just should have been. And I understand the UFC wanting to get multiple bites of the apple makes sense. 300's going to sell no matter what the main event is.

The number is going to be the draw. And then you can still get another Millie pay-per-view by when Connor fights Chandler and it looks like it's going to be International Fight Week. And I've been saying from the beginning, I think there is more of, there's more than a 1% chance that I think Connor gets there. I don't think Connor is plan A at the moment.

I have no insight to this. But I think he's a strong plan B right now. I think at this point, DDP Izzy would be a 300 main event. It's right there. But you just have to get both guys in on it. DDP just had a tough fight with Sean Strickland not that long ago. And can he physically turn around and fight again April 13th in a big time rivalry fight with Israel Adasania? That's the thing. Now, if you can't get there, then what do you do? Because you can't do Leon versus Belaw. You just can't. Can't.

And I think if they called Connor McGregor right now and said, hey, you want a headline 300, he'd do it. And if they called Michael Chandler, he ain't going to have a choice. If he wants to fight Connor McGregor, he's going to fight whenever Connor wants that fight. That's just the position he's in right now. And Chandler is certainly not going to say no to that. So I think it's at worst plan B might even be higher, but I think they will try to do DDP versus Izzy first. And then we'll see how they stack the rest of the deck.

I've mentioned this before, but we'll go back. They have been in this situation before. UFC 200. They didn't have 200 lined up and ready to go. They didn't. They thought it was, they thought, hey, it's going to be Connor and Nate. That's what we're going to do. And then Connor's like, okay, but I don't want to go to the press conference.

And then I want to do this and I want to do that. And then they were just like, nah, now you're not fighting. And then we'll like, we'll give Nate a big fight. Nate's like, nah, I'm not fighting either if he's not fighting. So solidarity, brother. And then we eventually got to John Jones versus Daniel Cormier. And if you remember, John Jones had to come back and fight Ovin St. Proof first. In a fight, that was just awful.

It was just not good. And it was just a matter of like, okay, how is John going to be able to turn around and fight DC in July? And it took a while to get that fight like cooking. and then eventually it got going. So it wasn't like, it was right around the same time frame. And then even then, like, the Brock Lesnar thing didn't happen. And he's the guy who carried the lion share of the weight in terms of getting buys and drumming interest. We didn't get Brock on the card or no Brock was going to be on the card until 199.

The day of UFC 199, less than a month before 200. We didn't know Brock Lesnar was fighting until Ariel reported it. and the UFC officially announced it. That was a month before. So the UFC has been able to pull these rabbits out of their hands. Remember UFC 205? We thought, hey, they're going to do Connor versus Eddie. Oh, now they're not going to do it.

Oh, now it might be Eddie Alvarez versus Habib Dermangam Adolf. And then we found out that Habib was a, was only used kind of as a negotiation tactic in order to get Connor to take the fight. And Connor eventually took the fight because he fought in freaking August in a war with Nate Diaz and then turned around a couple months later and ended up fighting Eddie Alvarez at 155.

So I don't know. Honestly, I wish I hadn't answered your question. I don't know what Dana's got planned. He said it's, he's been teasing that it's got to knock our fucking socks off. It's going to be crazy. You guys aren't ready for the main event. I mean, it seems like we're ready for it.

It seems like we're either going to get Izzy, versus DDP or DDP versus Hamzat, which I don't think they're going to do, or we're going to get Connor versus Michael Chandler. Like, I think we're ready for all of those things. So I don't know what the delay is. We still get time, guys. Still get a little bit of time. We're getting close, but we're not even two months away yet from the card.

So we still get a little bit of time, a little bit of wiggle room. If we don't have this main event announced by $298, then maybe we start to worry a little bit. We start to play the guessing game, but I think we got a couple of weeks to relax with. Santino, go ahead. Hey, how's it going? Yeah, I just want to add a couple questions for you before I jump in. I did want to touch on that 300 that you just brought up as well. I'm in total agreement.

I don't think on realistic fights that there's anything that could main event right now outside of a Connor McGregor fight or an Izzy fight, whether it's DDP or Pereira. The only other options would be like something totally out of the blue off the wall. Like for instance, if they could coax Kavib and GSP out of retirement to headline that card, which I don't see happening. But like on the roster right now and of fights, I don't, like you mentioned Gleon, Belal, I can't see that headline. a 300 card. It's not a fight that's going to excite the casual fan or fans in general, I don't think. But yeah, those are the only two fighters that I can see headlining right now that get a fan base, get people excited and whatnot. But the questions that I had for you were kind of fun ones. I was wondering, from the Mike Heck perspective, for fights that are

not title fights and Serukian Olivera, because you've made a great, clear that's one of your favorites that you want to see and one of many people's favorites they want to see. Is there any fight that's been announced so far that you are just waiting for and you can't wait outside of the Charles and Sarukin fight? And is there any fight not on a main card of a pay-per-view, whether it's a fight night or whatnot or on a prelims that you're super excited for, whether it's stakes or you're just excited for the fighters or you're excited for the outcome? And do you have a have any fighter in mind that when you look at them, you're like, that is that dude. Like you had with the, with Sarukian and other people, anybody come to mind that you think

people should be on the lookout for in the future. That's all I got for you. I have a good one. That's a lot to digest. Yeah, the 300, look, the 300 thing, we also have to like keep in mind that maybe they do go with, like, Leon versus Belal, and it's just like, okay, it's just a good card, like a really good card like $2.99 is. But I don't think they're going to do that.

I think the UFC does care to some degree. I think they are listening to the fans a little bit. Like I think they're trying to make this one different. They don't have to, but I think they are trying. So I'm not going to sit there

and like shit on them because I really do think they're going to try to make something big happen. The one that would I'm telling, and I've said this before, if they somehow get Connor Nate done. Like that would be ginormous.

It would be honestly, I would be more surprised if George St. Pierre fought a UFC 300 than if Nate Diaz fought a UFC. I mean, I'd be way more surprised

if Nate Diaz fought a 300 more so than if George St. Pierre came out of retirement. Even Habib at this point. Like that would be surprising, but seeing Nate at UFC 300 would be really shocking based on like what I

conversations I've had. And I'm not the only one that's saying this. Like, I don't think they fights at the UFC at all this year. I would be really surprised. And I'd be shocked if he's on 300. I know it seems like, oh, Nate could just, it's so easy.

Just call him. Just offer him $10 million. Nate's going to be like, nah, dude. I'm going to go box Mazdaal and make more money and do way less work. Like, that's, that would be a shocking, shocking thing. if Nate gets on that card.

But yeah, it's Connor. DDP Izzy is perfect for 300. Especially with like the new UFC, the modern UFC. The UFC as we know it today, where things are going to get real ugly in the build and the UFC loves it. This is how we are now.

And there you go. What fights am I looking for to the most? I mean, Dustin Porre, Ben-Wasantity, rules. I know it's kind of a cheap answer, but that fight is

friggin spectacular. Really, really good. Really looking forward to that one. Let me look at, let me just take a gander. I'll tell you what, Jeff Neely and Gary

is going to be interesting once we get there, which is coming real quick. That one's coming real quick. So, I mean, that, there's going to be a lot of eyeballs on that, on that fight when it comes around. That's for sure. That's a good one. I love, honestly, I am fascinated by the Al Jemaine Sterling Calvin Cater fight.

Is it going to be like a fight of the year contender? Probably not. But I'm super intrigued by it. I have a lot of questions about Al Jermaine at 145, and I think this matchup will answer a lot of them. 290, I mean, 299 is a shitload of them. I mean, Curtis Blades, Jelton Almeida, super. super high stakes. I don't know.

There's a lot. I think I'll go with Aljo and and cater, because that's not going to be a main card fight. Michelle Pereira versus Michael Olegzecatch is going to be insane too.

Love that fight. There's a lot to like. There's a lot to like with the, with the pay-free cards. Up-and-comers, guys who need to watch, I mean,

I told, I'm Al-Scaraf was probably like the next guy up when it comes to, you know, how I felt. about a fighter. Like, if we're going to the next, like,

Sarukian wave, it's probably Alaskarraf. Because the way I viewed Sarukian after watching him fight one time and just be like, dude, this is the guy. Like, this is, this is a guy who could be the guy.

I felt the same way about Ikram Alaskarraf when I saw him fight. And then I saw he got put on the contender series, and I'm like, why is this guy on the contender series? This guy could be most of the top 10 right now in the middleweight division. And he's gone the contender series? I couldn't believe it.

And then he did what we expected him to do. And he's doing what I've expected him to do. Now, the problem is he can't get back in the cage. I loved the matchmaking between him and Anthony Hernandez. Loved it. But for some reason, he just can't get in there. And it's tough. I mean, he did fight in October, so I'm not going to take, like, too, too much away from him.

But, man, that was a good one. That was a good, it was a good one. And I think if he, if he got that fight at 298 and he took care of business, and Anthony is a tough son of a bitch, but I do think it grim would have got him out of there. Like, they could have just ran with him. But now we slowed the train down a little bit. So, yeah, he's, he's super good. C.V. go ahead.

Yo, Mike, can you hear me? Hey, happy Friday, Friday, Jr. I know it's not free for all Friday, but bear with me here. I'm not sure I won't be able to join the space tomorrow, but I see AKs here, so this is perfect. So I just listened to the latest, Damn, They Were a Good episode. I'm not going to spoil who the fighter was there, but I'm going to tell like a little short story here. Back in the day, when I was a young inn, I used to work at a 7-Eleven. used to do the night shifts, aka if you know the young, no, not the young, Spadina in College area.

It's a very sketchy area here in Toronto, especially at night. It's right beside a mental institute and this after-hours bar. I think it's closed now, but yeah, we get a lot of characters there. But yeah, anyways, I was working one night shift. Maybe this was like around 10 o'clock. I saw this guy walk into our store. He's kind of buff wearing a beanie. He was just drinking a Red Bull.

Comes up to the register. I was a cashier that night. He buys a pack of condoms. And I was like, oh my God, are you GSP? And he said, yes. I was two starts truck to take a photo with him. But my coworker that day, he managed to get a scan from the security cameras. And I don't really know where I'm going with this story.

but that's why GSP's the goat. Thanks. I mean, what a story. It's nice to know that even a fighter, known as the greatest of all time in many people's eyes, practices safe sex, according to your story. So that's pretty crazy. That's pretty crazy.

Yeah, I've had weird interactions with people because I bartended and, like, weighted tables when I was like, like, I was waiting tables when I was like 16, 17, 18, because like you can make damn good money doing that. And then I started bartending probably like mid to late 20s. And like I've served like John Lithgow, which was a fun one. I've had run-ins with like Rob Lowe,

even Bill Belichick back in the day. Working at Friendlies in Woburn, Massachusetts. Good old Bill Belichick came in and sat down and had himself some food and a fribble at Friendly. So, yeah, Bill Belichick didn't buy condoms from my store. But still, yeah, that's pretty funny. But yes, go listen to Dan. They Were Good on George St. Pierre. I can't wait to listen to it myself.

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Conditions apply. Cole has more to say. Thanks, Mike. I know you'd be surprised if Nate Diaz came back for 300, but like, does that apply for Nate ever fighting in the UFC ever again? Because I, would the UFC actually sign a guy who just lost to Jake Paul? Like, is that correct? crazy of me to say because I have no desire to see Nate ever fight in MMA ever again,

like maybe less than Brock. Like, I just don't, like, do you think that even the UFC thinks that they can't sign a guy and get behind a guy who just lost to Jake Paul in a boxing match? Or does like that Jake Paul losing to Jake Paul's stigma, is that kind of like worn off? And if people kind of forgot about that, all right, it's all I got. Does it go for like forever? No. No.

I can see Nate back in the UFC someday. Just not now. Why would he come back now? He just left. He just left. And we knew what the UFC was trying to do. They chucked him in there with Hamzaa, or tried to chuck him in there with Hamzaa Chimayas.

We knew exactly what that was going to be. They were trying to like get him. and melted on the way out to try to take all the value away. And it worked out in his favor. He ends up getting Tony Ferguson. And he dominated him and finished him in a main event. And of course, like in that situation, you have to save face. Hey, anytime you want to come back, like, this is your home, Nate, this is your home.

That's what Dana said. Like, that's what you should be doing in that situation. Try to get the guy back because he got so over and everyone was so happy for him. that he kind of stuck it to the UFC. Like the MMA gods smiled at somebody that we actually like. That doesn't happen. It's a very rare thing. It's like a unicorn what happened when Nate Diaz.

But he's been trying to get out of there for so long. He knew he could make more money outside of the UFC. He knew he was a bigger star than even he was perceived in the company. and he is. He is beyond MMA. That's how everybody knows who Nate Diaz is now. Like, they passes the public's test. If I went to Publix right now and asked anybody who Nate Diaz was under the age of 55,

I guarantee you like 80% of people who know who Nate is. Because he's created this persona for himself. I'd say the UFC didn't help at all. but Nate built all these opportunities for himself. Nate got the Conner fight on his own. He cut that promo after the Michael Johnson fight. One of the legendary promos. RDA is out.

Nate was right there ready to go. And Nate took that opportunity. Fucking ran with it. And now he's one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport. Nate ain't coming back to the UFC for $5, 10 million. Hell no. he's going to come back for way more than that and I don't think the UFC is going to give it to him.

They don't need him either. They don't need him and Nate doesn't need the UFC. But could I see a world if the right fight came along? Like if Connor McGregor fights Michael Chandler and wins and then signs a multi-fight extension with the UFC, I would, if there was a futures bet on Nate fighting in the UFC again,

I would slam it. because Nate now realized the only time he's going to get this payday is going to have to do it in the UFC because by the time that deal ends and Connor gets through four, five, six, whatever fights

he signs the extension for like do we want to say like 44 year old Nate Diaz fight like 39 year old Connor McGregor? I don't know. I don't know. Maybe there's an appetite for that down the road. Maybe the combat sports landscape just changes that

much. But could I see him back in the UFC someday? Yes. Do I see him at 300? No. Do I see him anytime in 2024? No. Could I see it in 2025? Sure. I just think there's so much more Nate wants to accomplish. And if you can go box Jorge Mazadol and make like $25 million to do it, sure. The whole Jake Paul thing, guys, we knew what this is going to be. We knew what this is going to be. we're in Dallas, jump on the MMA hour with Ariel. Ariel asked my prediction for the fight. And it was exactly the way I thought it was going to go. Jake's going to win.

Nate's going to find a way to get some buzz from it. And he did. Nate can lose a fight but still win. He does it every time. And that's what he did against Jake Paul. Who was everybody talking about after that fight? Were they talking about Jake Paul? because he won a decision against a much smaller, much older Nate Diaz?

No, they were talking about Nate slapping a gilly on him. And Nate stealing rounds down the stretch. Nate being competitive with Jake Paul. Like, that was the story. So at the end of the day, like, it doesn't matter. We knew what Nate was in there for. I think Nate was boxing Jake Paul because he has his eye on becoming a world champion boxer. No.

He went in there to get a huge bag of money. and he got it. There was not an empty seat in that building in Dallas, not one. They were buzzing. And they weren't buzzing for Jake. They were buzzing for Nate. So he doesn't need the UFC. UFC doesn't need him.

But I do think there's a respect there. And I think the relationship has gotten much better between them. And I think the door is still open for a return. I just don't see it happening this year. I would be shocked. I would really be shocked. If Dana White's like, what's up, guys? Boy, do we get a badass main event for UFC 300?

Connor McGregor, Nate DS3. I'd be like, holy shit. Like, that's probably the only fight the UFC could make where I would be like, what? For sure. But I can see Nate still coming back. Just not now. Jay, go ahead.

Hey, Mark. Are you able to hear me? Yes. All right, so I didn't get to ask you this on Tuesday, but do you, What are your thoughts on Chachari's comments about the Japanese combat, the combat sports world over there and also the statements that the Risen CEO and K1 CEO that made about Chhatri

because it seems like they're burning bridges between each other and they specifically aren't fond of what Chachry's been saying about the fighters over in the Japan market? And also what I wanted to ask is, is Kevin Lease, still signed with the UFC or is he a free agent? Because I would be really interested to see him in the PFO and not really in the UFC anymore.

Not that he's not competitive, but I think he would have a way better time over at PFO. But thanks then. Have a heck of a more. It's a good question with Kevin Lee. I mean, I don't see the UFC playing hardball with Kevin Lee in terms of like, a contract. Like, I think if, I think if, like, Kevin Lee wanted to leave, they were just like, okay, bye.

Like, I just don't know what he brings to the table right now. Like, they've given him so many chances. They've given him, like, big opportunities and big fights, and, like, they've tried. I just, I don't know. There's, like, always potential there. Like, when it comes to, like, athleticism and potential and, like, you know, all the other intangibles that create a star, like, Kevin Lee. has all of that. He has it all. But it's just like between the ears, when he gets into that cage, man, it just all goes to shit for some reason. Like you could see the talent. It's all there. Everything. He's got a great personality. Like he says he's great on the mic, everything. But I don't know. I just don't, I don't think the UFC keeps him around unless he takes like a super duper discount. And even then, like, I think Kevin's best opportunities are outside of the UFC.

because what's he going to do? If he fights at 55, he is in a division where he's going to get run over. And if he goes to 170, he's got to be an undersized guy who is going to have a real difficult time beating top guys. But if he goes to PFL, different story. Maybe the PFL can find some use for him on like the pay-per-view cards or whatever.

I don't know if he would do a season. I mean, that's a lot of stress on a guy who's gotten injured a whole bunch. I honestly I think like the best place for him right now would be game like game bread like you'd still do MMA you just don't have the gloves on and they're signing everybody right now just look at the fucking roster like look at the the names that are on their next card like they don't have a breakout star right now like their biggest star and this includes like Junio Santos who is like a former UFC champion

like the guy who has created the most buzz for them is Randy Costa. Like they're, they need a star. They need like a face. Mike Perry's the face of bare knuckle as a sport and he's the face of BKFC. GameBrand doesn't have that face yet. Randy Costa could be that guy because he's got all the intangibles and he's a fucking wrecking ball and he can talk and he's fun to watch. Kevin could be that guy too. So I think it's like an untapped market that could create some buzz. I actually think that's a really good spot for him. Like if I, if I was, if he called me right now and said, Mike, where should I go? I'd say go call Jorge Amazol right now and go to get, see, see what game bread will do.

And then just bring him to the next card and announce that he has signed with your promotion. You already have his next fight booked for the next card. That's, that's what you do. I don't think there's a place for him in the UFC right now. I don't. And the chatry stuff like, look, Chachry's like a it's a side eye thing for me. Like I know he's there and I know he says things but I just, it's like, okay, he says things.

I don't pay attention to anything he says at this point because half the shit he says is absolutely insane. It's ridiculous. And he's not even like funny about it anymore. Like at least Don Davis, I can listen to Don Davis and I know half the things he says is absolutely ridiculous but at least he's funny about it.

Chhatri just says like ridiculous shit all the time. It's like, and then I just, it's gotten to the point where I just have to have to ignore it. So shame on me. I'm not really familiar with like a lot of what's going on there. Just because when it involves Chatri, I'm just like, nope, which is too bad because like the one cards have actually been pretty fun. But you just got to like bring somebody else in to do the talk and please for the love of God. Dominic, go ahead.

You're muted, Dominic. Dominic. Can you hear me? Yeah. Okay. Sorry, bud. You're good. You know, I kind of agree about the Diaz thing with you, you know.

A lot of times I listen to what you say on the show, and it's kind of spot on with what goes on, you know. And, you know, something I wanted to ask, just a question, but I seen something on social media real quick that I wanted to know. Is Aspinall and Stepe going to fight? No. That must have just been a crazy joke poster or something. But anyway, the UFC, I've been a big fan from day one, right?

And something that my girlfriend mentioned yesterday, it kind of got me thinking, and I was listening to you. I wanted to know what you think about it, right? Basically, you know, I've been a fan since the beginning, right? And I think this craziness that's going on, and it's not just with UFC, it's like in all sports, right? Where, like, you know, these owners, and I'm still a Dana fan, but like these owners, you know, these sports are becoming so larger than life. And it's like almost to the point where like it's not even accessible almost anymore to the normal person, you know? To even like to go to the Super Bowl, you know what I mean?

It's like three years or worth a vacation. You know, to go see the Super Bowl or to go to one of these events, you know. I want to know what you think about, you know, basically these sports becoming so much larger than life. And these, you know, the guys getting paid what they're worth and stuff like that. But it's almost to the point where it's like the normal person can't even access any of these events. What do you think about that, Mike? it's tough man like it's tough to be it's tough to be a sports fan if we're being honest it's it's like i think i'm in like the best world as far as like my sports watching like in terms of being a

fan because obviously i'm from i born and raised in boston lived in massachusetts most of my life i've made it very public who i cheer for it's all the new england teams red socks patriots bruin Celtics, what have you. But now, like, because I live in South Carolina, I don't have to worry about buying tickets to Fenway Park or buying tickets to Gillette Stadium or the TD Garden. Like, I don't have to worry about any of that stuff. I could just watch it from afar. But back then, like, man, when the Red Sox started winning titles and, like, making

playoff runs and started signing these big names, it was super expensive to go to a Red Sox game. really expensive. And I remember the last time I went to Fenway Park, it was for my dad's birthday. I bought tickets for him, myself, and my son. And we wanted to have like the generational Red Sox game. And we went and we got like tickets.

And man, it was like, they weren't like horribly priced, but they were still like, I mean, it was like three, three-something dollars for three tickets to Fenway. And we weren't sitting like in, lower bowl. We sat in the roof box, we like sitting in the roof box. But even just like everything involved, like food and soda and all the stuff that comes

with going to a sporting event, just so expensive, just unbelievably expensive. I will say this about the Red Sox. They treated by son like he was the greatest thing on earth. They saw him, little kid, they walked off to him, like gave him gift bags. They asked him who was the first time going to a game and they treated him like he was a superstar. So I respected the crap out of them for that because I hadn't taken my Sunday Red Sox game. So I thought that was great. So they made it like a little bit more worth a while. But man, it's just God, even just going to a Patriots game in general is super expensive. And you got to pay for parking and all this stuff. It's been like this for a while if you're a Boston sports fan. It really has been.

And now, like, you're seeing some of the smaller markets spend a little bit more money. They're starting to find success. It's a lot more expensive to go to games. If you're an MMA fan, I mean, shit, you could not go to an event. Like, you could just sit and watch it home. Every event, the fight nights, the pay-per-views, et cetera. And you're spending thousands. Like, you're spending well over $1,000 on all of it.

It's a lot. And then, like, wow, the UFC. coming to town. It ain't cheap. It ain't cheap. I will say this. If you're from one of those smaller markets and you're getting a fight night, like that's the event you go to. Like, you're still going to spend kind of a ridiculous amount of money, but at least you get the experience of going once. And I think every fan, if you're going to be, if you're in this for the long run, I think everybody should experience it once. But I'm here to tell you, as someone who has been to multiple fight cards as media and multiple as a fan before that,

you only need to do it once. You only need to go once. It is way better watching it on TV. It really, truly is. So, yeah, it's tough. It's a lot of money. It's expensive. And the UFC knows people are going to pay it.

Just look at what they did with the last London event. They, like, priced out the rabid fan base. look at the pay-per-view they did in Brazil a year ago that place wasn't sold out there was no buzz there was like no crowd reaction to anything because they priced out

the people who would normally go but they're still getting huge gates and making a whole bunch of money so I ain't fault in the UFC on their business practices because they're frigging murdering it right now they're just printing money they're on fire

but it's eventually going to run out Like, this ain't going to last forever. It's just not. I really do. I mean, I don't know. But what they're doing now, they're just, they're smashing it. But for the fan that just, you know, doesn't have $600 per ticket to go to a UFC card, you're just not going to get that experience.

But like I said, if you can go once, great. Find a regional show to get that experience. If you want to just do that. And I think you'll have a better time just watching it at home with your friends. friends or your family and getting a bunch of food and you'll save a whole bunch of money, but still get the same experience of watching fights. Jarrell, go ahead, and you will be our last caller today. What's up, Mike? Can you hear me?

Yep, what's that, man? Man, all the questions about Connor and Nate and UFC 300, combined with me listening to the Kimbo damn episode last night, made me want to chime in. One, I don't think the Connor and Nate thing is going to happen for the same reason you're saying, to like Nate sign an exclusive deal right now. Don't see that happen. And Connor only having two fights left. I do think, however, though, that, you know,

the only fight the UFC would do a one-fight deal for somebody would be, like, Connor with one fight left on his contract and then doing a one-fight deal with Nate just to make sure it happens under their banner. Not really sure that the fighters would do that, though, unless they were getting, like, big paid. But either way, all that leads me to my question. Is there a ceiling?

on how big a star someone can become within the UFC now. I thought about it because, like, Kimbo was a big draw, really without the backing of the UFC, if we being honest, and it showed when he wasn't in the UFC. You've got dudes like Connor, Nate, and even like John Jones at times, kind of like knowing the level of stars that they are and that kind of working against the UFC.

And then I guess, like an example of that ceiling and I guess how I believe the UFC approach how I see the UFC approaching it is what we saw play out with Francis when he was negotiating with the UFC and kind of how everything's played out since he's left the UFC. It almost feels like, I would say that he's necessarily a bigger star, but you definitely seen him kind of like reap the benefits of becoming that started. It almost felt like the UFC didn't want him to get to, you know, a particular level. But that's all I got.

Is there a ceiling? I'll say yes. But I don't know. We have to kind of wait and see how it plays out. What, there's so much that has changed since 2016. So much has changed. Where in 2016, we saw World War the Fighter became bigger than the promotion. And it happened a lot.

Connor McGregor, number one, Nate got to that point. Lesnar was there. And, well, it helped the UFC make a lot of money. It also caused a lot of headaches for the UFC. And they are in a position where they don't have to deal with that anymore. Like, Connor is the biggest star in the history of the sport. 1,000%. If he came back tomorrow, he would be the biggest draw and he will do a million pay-per-view

buys. Easy. Connor McGregor could fight me at UFC 300 and it's going to do $1.5 million. him and he'll beat my ass and you will spend $80 on it because that's who he is. But the thing is, the UFC doesn't need him anymore. They really don't. They are the star. Those three letters are the star now.

It's a whole different world. They built themselves and put themselves in this position where the biggest star in the company is Dana White. He's the one. Those three letters. That's it. That's what you spend your money on. and now they have this new movement that they're trying to get to this whole attitude of like we're not policing our fighters at all and people fucking love that shit they love it as far but in terms of a ceiling if there's one guy who

I think is going to be the perfect litmus test to all of this is going to be Sean O'Malley if Sean O'Malley goes out there in March against Marlon Vera and puts the wood to him and gets another highlight real finish, like they're going to try to push that guy to the moon. 1,000%. What Sean does with that is up to him, but I think he's at a position where he already has like a, the audience that they're trying to cater to right now all love him they all love him

his friends the milk boys they all they sponsor him right up day in his avenue but when Sean O'Malley is calling for boxing matches which right now we think is absolutely ridiculous but if he goes out and just beats the shit at Cheeto Vera and knocks him out at UFC 299 will they let him box

it's going to generate a lot more buzz it's going to draw a lot more interest and if Sean wants to get it will the UFC allow it they didn't let Francis do it they tried it with Connor I bet the UFC's kicking themselves in the ass for not being a part of the Francis situation

seeing what he did with Tyson Fury what he's about to do with Anthony Joshua do they let that slip away again with a guy like Sean I don't know but I think long of like the days of the fighter getting bigger than the company and getting bigger than Dana, I guess to some degree, I think those days are over. But the UFC can still pick and choose who they want to push and they can dictate how big of a star you want to be.

It's just not going to be, we're not going to have like another Connor situation. I just don't think that's going to happen. I don't think the UFC will let that happen. They want to have control and they should. They should. But this is a big year for the UFC. Like, this is a huge year. They need to create a star.

Because that TV deal is coming up. We just saw what WWE just did. Signed it with Netflix. Minimum, they're going to make $2.5 billion going to Netflix. And if this all plays out, they're going to make $5 billion. UFC's going to, like, their numbers are going to be maybe not exactly the same. same, but it's be pretty damn close. They need to have a monster year.

Everything needs to go well. But I do think there is a ceiling to some degree where a fighter can create their own luck and break through the ceiling, but the UFC can help give the 10 fingers, so to speak, and kind of throw you through the ceiling if they want to do so. But they're only going to do that with certain fighters,

if that makes sense. All right, last one. Then I've got to go. BTL coming up in a little over an hour's time. Big facts. Take us home. Big facts. Are you there? The most power Twitter has ever seen. You waited for that? You waited to just do that? Oh, good Lord. That's how we end the show. Be better, Big Fax. You can do better. I know you can. But thank you all very much. You're the best. Tomorrow, we'll be back. Lots going on. We'll be getting ready for the way-ins for UFC Vegas 85. And yeah, we'll have a preview show. It's going to be like a normal week again. BTL coming up, 1230.

Q&A edition. Special Q&A edition. We tried to it once a month, and it just so happens. It's February 1st, and it just so happens. It's kind of a weird week, but there's not a lot of, like, big stuff going on.

So we're going to turn it over to you guys. Jed, Casey will be there as well. And I believe it's Casey's birthday, too. So we'll have to do a little something, something for that. So we'll see you in a little over an hour's time. But until that, everybody, have a great rest of your Thursday. And have a heck of a morning.

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