MMA Fighting - No Bets Barred: Can All Five Unbeaten Prospects Keep Their 0s At UFC Vegas 87?

Episode Date: February 28, 2024

UFC Mexico City is in the books and that means it's back to the APEX as UFC Vegas 87 goes down this Saturday, headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev. Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a recap of UFC Mexico City and PFL vs. Bellator before turning their attention back to the APEX. Can all five undefeated prospects on the card stay that way? Is Eryk Anders being a massive betting favorite a huge trap? Will Alex Perez and/or Matt Schnell pull out before Saturday? Plus, some fun facts about Suriname! All this and more are discussed on this week's episode. Tune in for episode 80 of No Bets Barred. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

The Downloaded. It's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, what are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The downloaded two, ghosts in the machine. Available now, only from Audible.

What is going on, y'all? We are back. Another edition of No Bet's Bar at this time. UFC Vegas 87 Rosenstrike versus God. Building Stern. I was making a very lame joke because it would be better than the main event we're getting this Saturday

No, I can't even lie, I didn't hear what you said. Gildenstern. Oh, yeah, me main event, you know, Rosenstrike, one and four in his last, or one in three in his last four. This will be his second UFC fight. Getting any Abis Magamatta vibes from this? I don't know.

But I saw something today, Connor, that it brought me down. I'm not going to lie to you. It brought me down. Let's hear that, man. Confirmed this. And I believe this is true. Maybe I miscounted somewhere, but because we've had so many new UFC champions in recent years, a lot of turnover. If you remove John Jones, Jarzina Rosenstrike, this will be his sixth main event.

That is more than any. non-John Jones current UFC champion has made evented a card inside the UFC. That is incredible. That is an incredible statistic. And I mean, what can you say? The UFC likes the heavies. They love the heavyweights. There's nothing like a heavyweight main event,

especially at the apex. They love the heavies. But I saw that on Twitter. Forget who it was. They're sorry if it was you. Shout out to you if you were the one. And then I was like, that can't be true. Like, surely that's,

that's not true. And then it's like, actually, Jarzinger, this is a sixth event. And a lot of new champions, not headlining a lot of cards. Wiley Zhang, not headline a lot of cards. It's just,

it is what it is. How many of those main events have been at the apex as well? I think Volkov was at the apex. I would bet. I'm not looking at it, but I would bet four. I mean, four already, so this would be the fifth,

would be my guess. Gosh. Augusto Sakai Jarzino Rosenstrike was a main event I mean Shemil Ghaziev is not that much different than Augusto Sakai for being honest I

The headline UFC Vegas 20 UFC Vegas 26 Who else Who else has the headline Well then he also has a couple headlines Pre-Apex era I think four of them have been in the apex Volkov, Gadsiev, Sakai, and Gan.

That's a lot. I would assume the Overeem. Overeem was pre-Apex, right? So that had to have been out, just because that's Overeem. Overeem wasn't fighting by the time we're apex. Did he fight Inganu in the Apex? Was that on another card? It wasn't the Apex, but that was when the Apex was being used for Apex reasons.

That was May of 2020. Oh, okay, okay. Actually, that was actually in Jacksonville in May of 2020. That was that they hadn't built the Apex yet. Oh, okay. So then yeah. So that wasn't even there. That wasn't a headliner than if that was in Jacksonville.

No, no, no. That was the Ferguson Gagey card. In my mind, that was the headline fight for whatever reason. But yeah, man's getting a lot of traction out there. He's out there just putting in the work as a main inventor for the UFC. And three and five. Three and five in his last date. We did BTL today.

We did a little early. We were recording this on Tuesday. We had a question come in, and I learned a lot of facts about Suriname, so that was cool. But I got to tell you, that's been the best part of this being event is me learning about Suriname. I then went down a deep rabbit hole, and I got inspired by you, fight feasts, wonderful fight feasts. I'm actually looking it up right now, Serenom food. What are we talking about? I got to tell you, the cuisine.

looks exceptional. I mean, it's apparently a very melting pot culture, just a lot of diversity, a lot of different, you know, communities coming in. Cuisian looked amazing. And I could not find a Cernames restaurant in Atlanta in my searches. So, because I was going to do it. I was going to be like, you know what, I'll do a little C-Birk special for Saturday. I'll go out. I'll get some Surinamese food, you know, put it up on the Twitter. It won't be as highly produced as fight feasts, but I could do my own thing. And then it was tough for me to find any Surinamee's food. Yeah, I'm not having a ton of luck finding it in NYC either.

I feel like that's the niche of the niche. It's a small country, Connor. 93% of it is covered by rainforest. This was one of the fun facts we learned. That's cool. Population is 600,000. So there are more people by many magnitudes in New York City than in the country of Suriname. Official language is Dutch.

Shout out. That's pretty sick. I would never have guessed, Matt. I did not know that. Dutch, the official language. They asked, and I guessed Spanish because, you know, South America and was incorrect. But if you look up the cuisine, it looks like something I'd be interested in. So if you're Surnamese out there, you're in the Atlanta area, you know, hit me up, shout out.

I'll come over for a home-cooked dinner any time you want to offer that, you know? Brother, you could have asked me what three countries does Sernon border? I never, ever, ever would have guessed. Brazil, Guyana. And then French Guinea and Ecuador. Guyana. Guyana. Actually, man, I guess it wouldn't really fit.

There is a Guyanese? I mean... There's a Guyana restaurant right near me. That's got to be similar. I did not look up Guyanese cuisine to know, but I just sort of have to assume that there's some overlap there, right? Got to be. Dutch?

Dutch. How many countries in South America have the official language of Dutch? Can't be a lot of them. Can't be a lot of them. All right. Well, that was, that's interesting, man. Vigy boys. Shout out.

Yeah. Fun facts. With God and Jed. He's got to be the only fighter from Suriname in the UFC. Oh, I want to say that's not entirely true. I could be off. Maybe now. He was definitely the first.

I do know for a fact that, but I feel like it's... You know where Carlston Harris is from? Guyana. Is that right? Oh, yeah. Oh, see? Right next door. Right next door.

I knew he had a flag you don't see too often. Let me take a gander and see if I see any other Surinamese. Oh, Tyrone Spong, who's not in the UFC, but is apparently Surinamees. I mean, there you go. It's surprising how many Brazilian fighters there are. I mean, they are legendary when it comes to the sports of mixed martial arts. And then just to the north, Serenom, Biggie Boys, their greatest export. I mean.

the cuisine is their greatest export. If you looked at some of those. Well, that's to be seen. We haven't tried it yet. That's to be seen. Some of those pictures, man. It's, I got to tell you what they're cooking up.

Seems like something I want to be part of. I might have to do a little further research on this. If I can figure something out. All right. Last week, Mexico City, uh, PFL Bellator. How'd we do?

Not great. As has happened every week but one this week, it came down to the main event. I lost the main event. Yeah, I lost the main event on two fronts. Split decision and just, I mean, obviously I also lost the under with you. Yep, yeah. Split decision main event.

I scored it from Reno, but I have no issues with you scoring it for Royval. It's not a robbery, but once again, the difference every weekend this year basically has just been like, all right, I hope I got the main event right. And I have been pretty bad at getting main events right this year. I haven't filed in a winning week yet? No. Another small loss. I am down five units on the year total.

Just I had the one actual $2.90. It was at least like a real losing week. Like everything else I've lost like a little under a unit and just can't get the main event to hit or else we could get into the black stuff. I was on the cusp of having my biggest week ever. I was up 11 units going into the main event. Nice. Missed the under. Miss Brandon Morano to finish a parlay.

So still finished up like seven units on the week. Back to back, great weeks. Firmly in the green now for 2024. Hopefully can continue that trend upwards. But yeah, the Jack or Manson fight, Jack or Manson, Joe Pfeiffer,

needed either the under or Joe Pfeiffer. Missed them both. Main event here. Needed either the under or Brandon Moreno. Missed them both. So unfortunate, but it is what it is. So happy to get away in some green,

clean sweep for me on PFL. Nice four unit. Dub, Arnold, PFL. I love that for, I mean, our Romero bet hit, love that for us. Romero under easy as pie in that main event. I realized after they did the stare-down at the way ends, I was like, I can't believe I bet on Ryan Bader. The size difference. I have regrets about this.

And then I was still like, I don't know, man. Because then the odds kept moving towards Faheda. And I was like, I mean, he's still not very good. Why is Ryan Bader this big of an underdog now? And then it was like, oh, because as soon as he hits Ryan Bader, Ryan Bader is going to be out. He does not want any part of L. Problema. And so I have only myself to blame.

Also, if I had just not made that bet, we'd be fine, too. Yep. I mean, that's the thing. Losing bets are, they hurt. They hurt bad. Not making a bet. It's a lot better than losing a bet. I can tell you that much.

But we push on. I've internalized that for this week, Connor. Mm. That's a good way to do it. it. I don't even have that much action, but I have too much action for this card. I can tell you that much. I don't even have that much action, but I got too much action for this card. I have three bets. One, one is a gimmick parlay. Oh, I love it. I love it. Well, the good news is flywood unders. I think we can officially stamp, you know, they're going to be a case-by-case thing.

I had a tough go. It looked good for a minute. Two-and-one. I was like, man, and two-in-one and then the the fights that were favored to end inside the distance to go. It was looking good. But alas, we roll on. I mean, Altamorano, like, I was like, I was like, okay. Look like it. All right, there's some chances here. Really look like it.

And then it was like, oh, never mind. Bummer. Things just, unfortunate. Unfortunate is the word. All right, UFC Vegas 87. Let's start with the main event. We just mentioned it. Jarzino Rosenstrike, taking on Shamil, Gatsiev.

Right now, Shamele is your favorite. In just his second MMA fight, in just a second, UFC fight, getting the main event, spotlight, minus 162, Rosen strike coming back at plus 136. Don't, I can't decide on a side. I have no faith in Shemil's cardio. He's been over the one and a half just one time. And he just punches as hard as he possibly can every time you swing. I also think Biggie Boy has faced the better level of competition.

I kind of feel like this is going to be a slug fest. Shemil could maybe take it to the ground. Probably his best option with Charzino's grappling abilities. But I don't know, man. I don't know if I can trust Shemil on just his set. I mean, this guy was an underdog to Martine Boudai in his very last fight. And now we're getting him as a minus 165 against a guy who was a lot more experience than him. And if this fight goes longer, we've seen Biggie Boy go to decisions before, five round decisions.

I really don't favor him. So I don't know on a side. I am going to go with the under one and a half, though, as I just mentioned, Shamele. Been on over one and a half one time in his career. And then Biggie Boy, nine of his last 13 have gone on to the one and a half. I think someone's getting caught here. And I think it probably happens in the first round. Very likely.

This will not, I repeat, not be a heavyweight over. Ladies and gentlemen, if you're a part of heavyweight over bandwagon, Rosenstrike and Gasev are both enemies of the state. I mean, Gauziev just has no interest in seeing past six minutes in a fist fight. I'm going to say even when he goes to the second round, he's like, it's time to get out of here. First minute of the second round. I screwed up by going to the second round. He sits on the storm and is like, what am I doing?

I can't believe. Why is this why not over? Why am I still invested in this? just fight. Going to finish it right now. So as persona non-grada and flyweight or heavyweight overnation can't take the action here, I would encourage people not to bet on Gasev. However, this is what I've done because he's part. Not bet on him straight.

I've put him in a parlay. And Connor, it's a pretty simple parlay. There are five legs to it. Wow. We'll get to it. It pays out 244. This will be the last leg. I'm making it known right now.

He's only in this parlay to fulfill the gimmick. And should the other four legs cash, we will be hedging with a bet on Giresigno Rosenstrike prior to this fight going down. So it's not good enough odds for me to take Rosenstrike, who hasn't looked particularly great lately, but someone's just going to get knocked out whether if Gasea has a great chin, it's probably Rosenstrike. if Ghazi of Chin, which we just haven't seen tested all that much, isn't that great, it's probably going to gas out and where the strike's going to tag him.

Five legs to the parley? Five legs. You've figured it out, haven't you? I have figured it out. I had one theory. I thought it was going to be the guys ending their last name in V Parlay, but that would only be four. What it is is the undefeated process. The undefeated parlay.

I mean, how can it lose? They've never lost. They've never lost. They've never lost. I mean, you're talking, what are we got? 22, 38, 42, who's the last one? Who's the last one? And 10.

So, 52 and O combined between the five. I mean, 52 and O, that's better than Floyd Mayweather. You're saying. That's better than Floyd Mayweather. That's almost two Habibs, really. That is almost two Habibs. That is true. They've never lost.

So all I'm doing is betting on something that has never happened, continuing to never happen. You know? There it is. It's hockey season, and you can get anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. Well, almost, almost anything. So no, you can't get a nice rink on Uber Eats. But iced tea, ice cream, or just plain old ice? Yes, we deliver those.

Gold tenders, no, but chicken tenders, yes. Because those are groceries, and we deliver those too, along with your favorite restaurant food, alcohol, and other everyday essentials. Order Uber Eats now. For alcohol, you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region. See app for detail. This episode is brought to you by Peloton.

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And I assume you're taking the undefeated 10-0 Vitor Petrino here. He's undefeated, so yes, I am taking Vitor Petrino. I also think of this undefeated parlay, the leg I'm probably the most concerned about is Gasev. But I think Petrino could get upset. I mean, Tyson Pedro hits her a hard guy who's been around the block. He's seen a lot of things. But Petrino's dope and you can take this to the ground and just have his way on the floor. So I like Petrino here.

Yeah, I think this is going to be a slug fest. 10 wins for Pedro. All 10 of them are in the first round. Petrino, I mean, if you go back and watch that Bukascus knockout, I mean, that thing was nasty. Another thing in your favor, little MMA math, never fails. You know, Petrino beat Buccas. Tyson Pedro did not. So yeah, I mean, that is going for you. We're cooking. I mean, we're cooking. But I am not going to take the under. I'm not going to take a side. I'm going to take a prop. I'm going with Petrino by K.O.

Plus 175 here. I mean, I'm getting the undefeated minus 300 prospect favorite who has won seven of his 10 fights by knockout against the guy who, has never won if the fight leaves the first round, has also been finished in the first round. That's a huge swing in odds. I mean, we're talking about almost 500 points there to take what I think is the most likely outcome. So Petrino by K.O. Plus 175 is my pick.

I do want to circle back just because I forgot I put a note here, but we didn't talk about it. If you want to bet Gaseev, don't put him in, I mean, unless you're betting him in, you know, undefeated parlor, that's fair. You can get Gasev by knockout at plus 175. That just seems like a substantially better, bet that's what i was thinking that's what i was thinking i mean it's just like i think i think rosenstrike right now

is plus 125 uh plus 140 now and i think him inside the distance uh yeah it's the classic where they haven't updated yet right now on bet online rosin strike plus 140 rosin strike into the distance plus 125 that's just plus tv gambling right there that's just good that's where you want to get your money on that's good gambling right there uh all right let's keep it rolling to the third fight the featured bout Alex Perez taking on Muhammad Mohayev another undefeited his resume is 10 and 0 for big m squared Muhammad Mahjave he is a favorite that is growing quickly when I checked the odds on Sunday he was minus 240 he is now minus 360 so growing a lot of these favorites are are ballooning and ballooning fast so get in why you can I'm assuming

you're taking you aforementioned Muhammad Mahiyev I am taking the aforementioned Muhammad Mahayev. I also, I don't want to double up, but I strongly considered Mahiyev by submission prop bet. I'm just not going to because, you know, haven't won yet this year. Doubling up seems like maybe not the best way to move forward in that scenario. But Alex Perez has been submitted like five times in his career. Mahiab is a tremendous grappler, a tremendous wrestler. I am also, because I'm not doubling up, I've just gone, I mean, it's a flyway fight, you know.

But we've learned with Mahia, if you don't take the unders. You take the fight, does not go to the decision. Always. It's minus 125. Instead of doubling up with a Mahiav by submission and under. And I just, I'm taking the fight does not go to the distance here. Yeah, I'm actually on that as well. A lot of questions.

I figured you would be. Yeah. A lot of questions going into this one, man. I mean, first and foremost, back-to-back fights here, back-to-back fights here, back-to- back flyweight fights. Do Matt Schnell and Alex Perez both make it to the Octagon on Saturday? Since 2020, they combined 19 canceled bouts between them. It's a lot. They were supposed to fight each other and it got canceled four times. Both of them withdrew. Perez missed weight one time and then at one point it got rescheduled. Like it is madness. Both these dudes are are having a hard time making it

into the Octagon and they fighting back-to-back fights on Saturday. I mean, You can look at it that way. What I look at it is they are so committed to the flyweight under lifestyle. Yes. Sometimes it catches up to them. They can't even make it to the cage. That's how committed they are to the fights not going 13 minutes, you know? That actually makes a great, you make a great point with that.

Perez alone since November of 2020, he said 10 bouts canceled or rescheduled, only fought twice, but man, when he was in there. It's not for long. He got submitted in the first round in both of those. But, like, in all honesty, it's tough to know where he's at at this point, his career. You know, he's not old. He's only 31, but, like, 30 and a half years of just constantly canceled fights. And then when you do fight, you're getting out of there.

And, like, I think he has a combined fight time of, like, four minutes over the last four years. It's kind of tough to know where your head's at. And like you said, he's been subbed five times. Mahayev, he almost exclusively wins by. submission when he does get finishes. And I kind of just feel like that's, that's the fate of Perez here. Because they go off what you said, Mahayev, the 11th hour killer. You can't take the under. The only time he's been to a decision in the UFC was against Charles Johnson, who we know hates others. I mean, the number one hater. The number one hater of unders. So yeah, I mean,

four of his five wins have come by finish. I like the fight does not go do a decision on Perez, man. not just the last two fights ending in the first round, six of his last seven have entered in the first round. So I like this, man. Minus 120 for a fight doesn't go to a decision. It's a good price. Especially because we've talked about a lot of other programs on the NBA fighting network this week,

but a lot of stakes suddenly for this. I got Mahalo Mahaya's going to come in a little juiced up because if he gets to win, I think he gets a title shot. We think 301 against I think 301 against Alhandra Pantoja because... Second youngest champion of all time, just a few days behind John Jones. He would be the third youngest champion because Josiah, but, you know, nobody ever respects Josealdo.

I get it. But yeah, I mean, I just don't think you can get Brandon Royval a title shot against Alhantio Pantosia. It's not like he lost to Pantosia like a year ago. He lost to Pantosia two months ago. Lost Pantosia in December. For the second time. That was the second time he lost.

That was the second time because he lost him again like two years before. He has lost twice to this man in the last 26 months or whatever. I'm also just not sure a split decision win. Like I like split decision win gets you right back into the title shot like that. So yeah, I do think it's a valid point for Mahayev and, you know, undefeated at that point. He'll be so young. There's a storyline to build. Six wins, five, like if he goes out, assuming he does it, five finishes.

Like that's, I think he's the front runner. So he's going to be jukept. He's going to come in there. he's not going to get the knockout because he doesn't throw punches. He really doesn't throw punches. It is astonishing how few strikes he has thrown in his UFC career to be five in a Oh, honestly,

please give him the title shot because I undefeated prospect. 65 strikes total. Against Alejandro Pantosia. I like our odds there. It would be fun. So, but yeah, I think he's going to be juiced up. Alex Perez likes to get finished. We're going to get a finish here.

All right. Let's keep it rolling. To the next fight of the night, Matt Chanel taking on Steve Urseg. Right now, Ersseg is your favorite. Coming in at minus 310, Schnell plus 250. Yeah. Another guy, I mean, we just talked about him, Schnell withdrawing quite a bit of.

He was actually just to have this fight at 295, just a few months ago. And it's tough to trust his durability, man. He's getting up there 34 years old. Last time out he got dropped twice and cored pretty bad by Nicolao. It's been finished in all five of his UFC losses. He got finished on the ultimate fighter. I mean, it's just, I just feel like Ersac has a,

I feel like these guys are fairly matched in skill. And Ersig has a much better durability advantage. And I think that's what's just going to come to, fruition here and he's he's going to get his and race come Saturday night. I agree. Schnell, you know, a trooper for unders. Got to love that about him. 19 of his last 22, if you count, the ultimate fighter, have not seen the third round. I mean, that's a, that's a commitment to the lifestyle, which I respect. I'm interested to see how Ursig looks because he, you know, I mean, he just came on the scene basically out of nowhere. I mean, Eternal MMA champ, but comes in beats David

Devorak that immediately gets him. I think that was short notice too. I want to say that he was a short notice replacement against Devorak. So immediately gets himself a ranking and now now he's fighting a top, you know, 12, top 15 dude. I don't know what, what Schnell is in the OCs rankings. And it's kind of a going concern. But two decisions, two for UFC fights. I want to see if he can get a finish. You can't get a finish over Matt Snell. That's a bit concerning. But I think he does. I have, you know, I look. at the under and then I said we're doing not goes the decision for uh majev Perez we could just do it again here and then the spirit of flyweight unders is still carrying forth taking the

does not go to decision minus 215 I mean you're talking about a guy in steve urseg I mean great nickname by the way astro boy you're talking about a guy and steve ursick that got the call out of nowhere to jump in on u.S. 289 last year against david devorek as a massive underdog, pulls off the dub at plus 240, goes out there and gets a win against Alessandro Costa, and then could beat number nine ranked Matt Schnell. He's number nine.

Wow. You're talking about this guy could potentially go from chilling and fighting an eternal MMA. One year ago, he was fighting an internal MMA, Eternal MMA 73. You're talking about from June of last year to now, nine months. He goes from not even talking about going and fighting in the UFC to being a top 10 flyweight.

I mean, look, he was on my, we did our voting. He was one of my breakout fighters for a rookie of the years, not breakout. We don't do the same for 2023 because dude came out of nowhere to be one of the 15 best flyweights in the world. Not nowhere. Eternal M&M. May, you know, Australian MMA, it's a developing scene. but not a lot of people heard of Steve Ursaig until he just bust in and now look at him go. Look at Astro boy out there.

Steve E, baby. Astro. Shout out. Steve E is just a great name. Currently 9,500 followers on Twitter. Let's get him to push. Just 413 more to we're at 10K, folks. Let's get the K next to do it. Come on.

Come on. Stevey. Show the love. We got Ely at frigging 3.5 million or whatever. We can't get Stevie up to. 10K. A number is growing given his last week. Every time I check it, he has 100,000 more followers.

At tracks. Yep, 3.5 million now. Yeah. I mean, yesterday he was at like 3.3. Att tracks. Oh, and it looks like he broke a record on El Hormegero for the most watch show ever, 5.1 million viewers. Yeah.

So, I mean, the hits just keep on. coming for Iliad. 27. It's 27. Star. Star. I'm going to be looking to make a trip across the pond to Hispania if that fight gets made.

I can promise you that. I mean, that would be electric. That would be an all-time trip. That would be a trip. I would never forget. Swipe the card, baby. We got American Express for a reason. Get those points.

America was built on credit card debt, baby. All right, let's keep it rolling. To another fight with an undefeated prospect in it. under Magammeda, taking on Bexot Al-Macon. Is Bexot Al-Macon the Steve Urseg of 2024? Dude, legitimately he could be not, I mean, it's not going to be because Umar is that dude. Like I've been saying for like two years now, I think Omar's the best bandway in the world. He's just going to have to be able to prove it.

He's not going to get the opportunity for a while. Didn't fight it all last year. the number one most ducked fighter in MMA right now like as soon as he gets his day in court it's going to be a bad time for his ever's opposite and instead he gets the worst kind of fight imaginable an incredibly difficult opponent

that not a soul is heard of uh you watch any bexat tape dude's gamer dude can fight I did watch some bexat tape some of it was did you watch the one where like the octagon was like covered in rugs Yeah. And like,

it was a deep dive. It was a deep dive. I'll tell you that much. I couldn't agree with you more either. This dude goes from having a fight bulked with number four bantam weight, Corey Sandhagen, to a Kazakhstan fighter making his UFC debut that, like you said,

no one has heard of, but he is 17 and 1. A 26-year-old dog, just a, I mean, one, it's going to be a really fun fight. think because I think I think Beckett has enough to offer to not

just be like a total pushover. Maybe we get something like a mobster have Lov, Diego Lopez type performance where he loses but it's compelling, it's interesting. I'm not sure just because again, I'm so high on Umar, but I do think Bexar has a bright future. But I think Umar is the champion in waiting

in this weight class. It's just how long that waiting lasts. And if the managerial staff, at Bexit Inc. was cooking at all. He's got a few fights on this deal. Stepping on the short notice fight of Omar and Baga met up. We'll hook you up with a couple more shots at it after this. For sure.

Also, shout out to Bexit. 44,000 followers on the gram. Come on. Quadruble Steve E, baby. Come on. Astro boy, get your numbers up, man. Yeah, I do think it's going to be a fun fight, man. I mean, I think Umar, like you said, just high on Umar, I think he's probably just, just a class above him or two.

Because, I mean, he did look good on some of that tape, but the level of competition is not Omar and Magamatov. Well, no. It really, it took him getting to that Octagon League that he's been in in the last five or six fights, where he's really started fighting dudes with, with real records behind their names. So, yes, I mean, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the under, undefeated, Nirmagamadov, that's a minus 1,200 favorite. It's probably going to end up getting his hand raised on Saturday. But that's not my bet.

I'm using Umar as a parlay piece. As am I. I took him earlier this week at minus 700. You know, still a very inflated price, but a little bit off the top. What I am doing, I'm taking the fight doesn't go to a decision at minus 150. I know Umar, not the biggest finisher. I think nine of his 16 fights or seven of his 16 fights have gone to a decision. but he's finished four of his last five. And I do think he is a level above Bexit here. I think

Bexit is going to be, I don't want to say overwhelmed, but I feel like it's going to be like, oh, man, this dude is the real deal. And if he's not, and he is this year, Steve Erseg, 16 of Best gets fights have not gone the distance. So yeah, when you got an undefeated Namakamatov as that big of a favorite, who's finished four of his last fights, I like him to do. get the finish. But say he doesn't, I think if Bexit's pulling it off, he probably gets it done by finish. That's how most of his wins come. I understand the bet. I just don't, I don't have one beyond the Umar as a parlay piece that's adding no value. I mean, minus 1,300 is just doing nothing. So it's a five-leg parlay, but it's five legs that can lose. One of the legs offers nothing should

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With Amex Platinum, $400 in annual credits for travel and dining means you not only satisfy your travel bug, but your taste buds too. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. All right, let's head to the prelims. Eric Anders taking on Jamie Pickett in what some are saying is the middleweight fight of the year. There's been a lot of them. But yeah. This is peak middleweight right now. Never thought I would say these words, but coming in as your minus 425 favorite.

Eric Anders. Your thoughts? I don't believe that Eric Anders should be a minus 400 favorite over really anyone in the U.C.'s Middleweight division. That being said, if he was going to. and be a minus 425 favorite over anyone. Everyone's going to be one. Kind of feels like it be over Jamie P.

I don't want to disrespect Jamie Pickett because I don't know him. I'm sure he's a lovely question. I am unclear why he is currently employed by the UFC. He has lost four in a row. He two and six in the UFC overall. and his last one he got 30-27 by just Josh Frimd. Like, Josh Frim, fine, but if you're getting 30-27 by Frimd, at the end of a three-fight losing streak already,

I'm not, I just don't know what's keeping you around in the UFC. I don't know why they have not parted ways. Because of that, I can't bet on him, but at the same time, I would never touch Air. Andrews at this price. This was to me a very obvious, just don't be involved in this fist fight. I am involved.

Okay. I'm looking to make it three for three on the year. First, we bet Stoli-Arenko, Jalizio Stolio-Ranko at Chalk. We lost in pretty bad fashion. Next up, Devin Clark. We bet Devin Clark at big chalk, brown bear. Lost in an embarrassing passion.

And here we are again. Back to the West. back to the well to bet a fighter that should not be this big of a favorite over anyone and i'm betting them and then on saturday when eric hunders gets starched by jeremy picket and i'm like man how did i have a losing week this week i can go back and say because i bet eric anders as a minus 334 favorite so i got a little bit of value lines moved a little bit got a little bit of value but uh yeah i do think he is better than Jamie Pickett at M.MA.

And I think he's better in about every facet of it. And I think he gets it done. I think he finishes him. I think he finishes him. Do you parlay him with somebody or is a straight bet? Parlayed him. And I took Anders inside the distance, plus 145. What I love about betting him in a parlay piece

is that, you know, at least if it hits, you're getting a lot of value for it. You know, it's like taking the dog shot. You're getting paid off. when it does it. If it does it. If it does it, we will sit. I hope this wins.

I think this is an incredible move from you, though. I'm actually hoping that it doesn't, so we can just sit here and be like three for three, baby. Lioranko, Clark, and now. Who's the next one that we can find for you? Oh, I'm sure it's coming on one of these apex cards. We'll be at apex 100 before we know it. Next up, Bantamweight, Javid Boshra, taking on.

Amen Zahabi. Ariel Hawani returns to the Octagon. Right now, Basraat, minus 700 Zahabi plus 500. You're going Bosradae, huh? I mean, you know it. Is he undefeated? He sure is in the undefeated parlay. That's just the simplicity that I bring to the table.

I've also just never been sold on Arrow Hawani as a fighter. Broadcaster, maybe the best of there's ever been. boxer, darts? I mean, sure, Eddie Hearn gave him the business a little bit the other day, but I mean, that the triple 20, who's a hell of a dart player, fist fighter. And Javid Basharad's very good at the fist fighting.

So I do believe that the Basharad brothers rise will continue. Yes, this is tough for Zahabi here. I mean, I know he's got like the best striking defense in the band and weight division at like 73% of this because Ricky Tersios went like 20 for 280 on strikes against them. But I sure, dude, like I just feel like there's levels of the strike. Outside of him getting caught, I feel like his ability to mix in the takedowns and his striking capabilities, he's going to roll here.

Very much. Also, Connor, I'm excited to tell you that I've found the next one in the lineage. You know, in a couple of weeks, I mean, obviously next week we got a big card. But in a couple of weeks, we've got yet another venture into the apex. I think that will be Apex 88. Yeah, Apex is 87. I have no idea of man inventing. Yeah.

Had Tai Tui Vasa, Marcia and Taiburo, great. On that fight card, a little fight called Kennedy-insichu versus Ovent St. Prue, in Zichu, a minus 400 favorite. that just feels like a parley piece that's what it feels like to me right that feels like a barlet we all know kennedy inschukwu i know him well that's a man you want to trust with minus 400 odds over anybody the only i guess it's also the common denominator here it's just like well anders is fighting james picket i mean insichu is fighting oven saint prou yeah osb is old man again yeah it's true that's what it is that's what it is and who exactly

was Julia Stoerranco fighting? Oh, God. Juan of Carolina, I can't even remember. I cannot tell you who Devin Clark was fighting at this point. I cannot tell you. Also, you were correct. It was Luana Carolina. Devin Clark was fighting.

Marcy and Brack. Marcy Brack. So in two weeks, I anticipate that Kennedy and the Jukew will bat parlay leg from Connerbergs. If it's not there, I'm going to be disappointed. Oh, that's Comain. That's Comain. That's the good business.

That's big business. This card is not good. This card is not good. Yeah, but that's... The apex cards are like getting to a point where it's just like, you have to just know that the apex cards are going to be just dogs. Yeah, they're going to be bad. I actually don't...

I don't mind this one. I kind of like a lot of the fights this week, but it's not great. But I like a lot of them. The best two things going for this card is not the fights themselves. It's the last. lack of fights. We're up to 11 now. They have added a couple. We were at nine yesterday and I was feeling real good. Ten is the magic number. Also, you say we're up to 11, but as you previously noted, Alex President Matt Schnell are both scheduled. We're losing both those. At least one of these

is gone. Yeah, so we might as well say 10, perfect, clean 10. 1.30 start though. Supposed to be in Saudi Arabia this week. They're not. 1.30 p.m. Start. I'm down with that. Pristine. I might be at lunch and just have it stream. on the phone, boys. Love that. Where are we at on fights? We got a three left, and I don't have much to say on all of these.

I have almost nothing. Beautiful. Loik Radzabov taking on Abdul Karim Al-Sawadi. Right now, Ossawadi is your favorite minus 162, Loik plus 136. I got nothing. I'm staying away from this one. I just, I have nothing, but I do. want to let everyone know in case you're unaware uh al-sawadhi was the desert force champion

and uh they give out a shield it it's like in lieu of a title belt it's just like an old like a a knight shield that's massive and his tapology photo is him with the desert force featherweight champion shield and it's the size of his body it's truly an incredible photo and i wanted to shout that out Can we just talk about Desert Force being a pretty sick name? I have to say. I mean, it's an awesome name. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I see that now.

Actually, I had not put two and two together when I was going to his topology earlier. Yeah, that's a big old shield, man. It's a gigantic shield. It's awesome. So that's all I have to say on this fight. I have no action. Yeah, I got nothing either. Let's keep you rolling.

To Christian Leroy, Duncan taking on Claudio, Hebero, and Duncan. Your favorite and growing, minus 298. Habero plus 240 Barrow gets hit a lot man 31% striking defense been knocked out he's obviously got a puncher's chance hits like a truck but

CLD man tall range he uses that kickboxing I think he avoids the power and gets this done probably finishes him too I mean normally I would agree I don't have any bet here but in case you

missed it last week Chris Duncan Tough Night at the office Oh that's That's nice preview there And I'm just saying Previously Chris Duncan Was that last week or was it

That was last week Maybe I was last week, yeah Previously I had the Chris Duncan Parley which was very successful With Chris You know with the original The first Chris Duncan Going Christian Lerud Duncan

Taking an L now Maybe I don't know I don't know if that's foreboding I don't know what it is But I'm staying away Yeah, I guess you could have done the anti-Christ Duncan Parlay. That would have been great. That would have been great stuff.

All right, we keep it moving. So two fights I'm curious to pick your brain on. They've just been added. Ludovic Klein taking on AJ Cunningham. Right now, Ludovit minus 800, AJ Cunningham plus 575. AJ Cunningham, where did he come in on your Dana-Wy contender series ranking list? He did not get, let me check.

I'm pretty sure I didn't rank him because he lost. Knockout. Yeah, lost my knockout. Let me check and make sure, because I did pick a couple of people who lost that I was just like maybe would be okay. He was not one of them. Feels like he might be losing this weekend. I mean, it's not set up well for him. I will say that. Stephen Wynn. I mean, I have to remember what I thought of Stephen Wynne. But I remember what I thought I mean I'm going to pull up my rankings and to look at old Stee Wynn. Oh, yeah, Stephen Wyn was a just another guy. So if you lost to a just another guy, maybe not ideal.

Though I will say, Shemil Ghaziev was also a just another guy. And look at him in the main event. Look at him now. He's main event. In the main event. Last but not least, Venetius Olivero taking on Bernardo Sopa. Sopa coming on very short notice, flying in from Sweden. Actually, he had to fight booked for next week at AFN in.

Sweden. Still on his tapology of having a fight this week and next. We'll see. I mean, where did Venetius Oliva come in on your... I'm sorry. I'm a bit distracted by... Have you pulled up Sopas tapology? This is a fascinating tattoo he's got going.

It's an eyeball, but with Roman numeral clock face in, you know, around the... Just... Crying. Crying and on the other pectoral appears to be a lion. So he's really gone for the most cliched tattoos imaginable, which, you know, good for you, I guess. As far as... I don't know, that's pretty cool.

The Lion King is his nickname as well. Is that really his nickname? Interesting. Interesting. If you scroll down on topology, too, you see Anishia Solvera, and then on the second, and then Ricardo Montero at AFN5 on that. Oh, yeah, look at that.

I mean, maybe he's still doing it, you know. You know, maybe next week. Just go get that paper. I liked Oliver coming off Contender Series. It's an exciting dude. Young can work. I know absolutely nothing about SOPA, so I obviously don't have any action. But I did like Oliver, so I'm excited to kind of see if he is, you know, can follow up on what I thought was a very strong effort on Contender series.

He's like, he's still 27, 26? fairly young so yeah minus 148 right now for uh for olivera uh yeah i've watched zero tape on uh yeah there's nothing about them don't don't really know what to know what to do with it and that's that's ufc

Vegas 87 sounds good to me i mean that sounds terrific because you know what this means now right Connor let's go on to 299 299 Anthony Joshua versus Francis Ngano. Next week is a big one, folks. Big one.

We work through this right now. We get to the reward next week. Next week will be unbelievable. I mean, this is what we're into the sport for. I had people asking us today is $2.99 better than $300. It's not, but it's a damn good fight card. And you add in. You add in Inganu.

Joshua on Friday before. Got us. The scheduling there to have that on Friday. It's just so good. It's so good. But we'll talk about all of that next week. See you then. Love you all.

Listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.