MMA Fighting - On To the Next One: 2021 Predictions Extravaganza

Episode Date: January 3, 2021

On the special 25th episode of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee take a deep look at some of the burning questions the 2021 year in MMA has to offer. They begin with a slew of "buy or sell" questions that had been put together throughout 2020 before making their predictions for male and female fighter of the year, and who will be holding UFC titles when 2021 comes to a close. Finally, Mike and AK give their fiery hot take prediction for the year. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Hello there, everybody, and welcome to 2021. And welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one here on MMAfighting.com. I am Mike Hack and my, oh my. I am excited for this week's show. It is one of my favorite shows I have done over the last few years. And it makes its debut right here on MMA Fighting and on this show that we have put together over the last several months. But this year, instead of putting our prediction hats,

on in regards to matchmaking for the previous weekend's cards, we're going to take a look at 2021 as a whole with some buyer sell questions, some bold predictions, who will be wearing titles, taking home awards next year, et cetera. It's the first of hopefully many prediction shows here on onto the next one here on M.A. Finding and joining me in this venture is the Prince of Positivity, the co-host, the best friend and more. Mr. Alex K. Lee. Happy New Year, Sir. How wonderful it is my best friend to be spinning it with you Mike I you know I'm known I believe for my spot on my spot on predictions so as you know I my spot on predictions my my incredible wins on between the links as you know both things all our long time listeners and readers know me

for so I cannot wait for this show and I cannot even more I cannot wait till 12 12 months from now when we revisit all of these predictions and and we're just like man that was so easy so easy that we predicted that. So gosh, 2021 was so predictable. Everything we called happened. That's amazing. And we knew it would, but man, still, it's incredible how good we are at this. So this is going to be a lot

of fun. Will it? What A.K. doesn't, will it be, Mike? What A.K. doesn't even realize is that this is a show that I work on from January on. I start throwing these ideas into this little

program that I have found and I compile them. And, and And then we run through as many as we can. All right. So we have a whole bunch of interesting questions in regards to what happened in 2020 going into 2021, into 2021 that either listeners have submitted. And I'll have you know that there were some that always submitted over the years to my old freelance email that did again this year in anticipation for this. Some are on Twitter. Some are just burning questions in general.

I'm going to ask said questions. I have no idea what we're even going to talk about yet because there's so many. There's like 90 of them, but we're not going to do 90 of them. I never have any idea what's going on, Mike. This is, and this is, so this is, I guess, I guess it's normal for me then. Yes, so this is going to throw you all sorts of off here, but we're both going to respond to these questions, whether we buy or sell the thought. And like AK said, we're going to track them. And when we do the show next year, we'll take a gander how we did.

And we'll build upon this in that way. Now, some of these are simple. Some of these are thinkers. And, you know, feel free to elaborate if you wish. K. And, uh, like, is this like a special check the tapes? Is this like kind of like a massive check the tapes? I think so. Yeah. The media's tapes. Checking the readers tapes. There's a lot of tapes here. Oh. Okay. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm glad we talked about all this before the show. I'm completely there. Yes. There we go. So I'm going to

click the mouse here on my little program and we're going to shuffle these up. Like I said, there were actually, let me just go down. There was 87 options. What? So I'm going to randomly. This is what you get up to in your spare time? Just what you get up to in your spare time. Different things, man. And whatever we get the several we're going to talk about, we're going to talk about. All right. Let's see what the first one.

Okay. This one would probably be one of the first ones I would talk about anyways if you came off the top of my head. All right. First statement, AK, and this is a very popular one, by yourself, Connor McGregor, will fight in the UFC at least three times in 2021. Oh, at least three times? Three or more times? in the UFC? I'm selling that.

I don't think the value is that high, but I'm selling now. No, no, he's not going to, what? He's not fighting three times. Let's get out of here. You could maybe talk me into a couple of times and then like a fight circus two-on-one match or something. In the UFC, no.

No, sold. Already sold. Can I even sell that? I don't think I own stock in that. No, gosh. I'm selling, if this question was, will Connor McGregor fight at least three times in 2021? I'd probably buy it.

But three times in the UFC, I'm selling it. I think he does fight twice in the UFC, and I think he does end up in some crazy boxing bout that makes absolutely no sense, but it'll make a ton of money. So I think he is going to be more active this year. I just don't think he'll be doing his quote-unquote season in fighting three times in the octagon. Maybe he does, but I'm selling the crap out of that.

Do you think it was just the pandemic that stopped booking at least one more fight in 2020? I think it was. I think it was. And I think finally Dana realized that we don't know when this is going to end. You know, we have these ideas of filling up an arena and selling out stadiums. I think he's just kind of, he's folded at this point. And it's just like, we got to get this man fights.

So I think he is more, I think he fights more than once in the UFC. I don't know if he fights three times to the UFC. So I will sell that. No way. Clip this. Send this to Casey. Flip it. The next, ooh, next one, we're going to the world of Bellator, AK.

Oh, I love the, I love being there. By yourself. It's beautiful this time of year. By yourself. Patricio Pitbull ends 2021 with two Bellator titles. Which he already has. Which he has right now, yes. Okay.

Well, no, I'm going to say no, because I do think he's going to vacate. I do think Bellator has been pretty good about not stripping people. We look at Bader, right? Ryan Bader has, they've set day up until he lost it to Nemcov. They're like, yeah, whatever. Just if you can defend one every one of them, every six months, pretty much, you're happy, you're free to retain both, which I think is a smart strategy on their partner. And same with the UFC.

I understand why they don't allow that. I think the UFC has reasons to keep introducing interim titles, which I hate, I hate it, but I'm just saying I know why they do it. I know why they're quicker in certain situations to strip people of their titles. There's a lot of politics behind it, but I don't blame the UFC fully for making these decisions. I don't like it, but I don't want to do it. So no, I do think he's going to vacate one of the titles probably 155.

I think 145 is his home. He could stay 155 because I guess some new talent has come in there. One Mr. Anthony Pettis may be competing in 155, so that's the title fight he may want to book. But otherwise, no, I think it'll be really hard for him. I don't, but I will say, again, I don't think he's actually going to lose one. I think he'll vacate one. I think he'll want to give his brother Patricchi a chance to compete for the lightweight title again. So no, I'll sell on that one as well.

I'm going to buy this one because I think he's going to get to A.J. McKee. I think he'll beat A.J. McKee in a classic. And I don't know if he's going to hold the two titles he currently has, or if he relinquishes one and then goes for a third and drops to 35. But I do think he does end the year with two titles, A.K. I'm going to buy that one. I'd love to see him try 135. I'd love that'd be, again, just a whole new roster of opponents for him to run through.

He might even end it. I mean, maybe that's the end of the year, and he ends a three. Who the hell knows? But I think he does end with at least, too. This has actually been a popular one on Twitter and in the emails. Colby Covington and Jorge Mazadol will be the coaches of the returning ultimate fighter. Buy or sell? I think at this point, I'm going to buy.

I'm going to buy. I'm not buying a lot of stock in it. But I'm willing to make a minor investment. I hate, I've said this before, I think the ultimate fight would be best served. If you won, didn't book people who were already in compelling matchups that don't need build, like Covington, Mazavadol, that fight already, you could book that three months from now. Or sorry, you could book that January, February, March, book any of those dates, it's going to sell a ton, right? People are going to watch it.

You do not need this. How long is the show, the show is like 12 episodes or 10 episodes, something like that? It's like three months, plus the filming. So there's this huge, it creates this huge, huge delay when these matchups happen and are supposed to happen. And then if people, if you just look at the last like in 12 seasons that the only fighter would have, because it's all of them, a lot of these fights did not materialize because, yes, guess what? In four months of a fight being booked, a lot of bad crap can happen, unfortunately, and sometimes we'll get injured. There's other reasons that these fights don't happen. It's just so risky to delay them.

So for a fight like coming in Mazadol, I wish they would just book it ASAP and give them a short camp. Like these guys need that long. Give him a two-month camp, whatever, and just make it happen. But do I think that they want to do it? Yeah, I do. I think they want to return with a splash. It's the UFC's baby. You know, they've never given up in the ultimate fighter.

I think it will make for pretty good television. But I hope it doesn't. But I'll buy on that one. Yeah, if they're going to find two coaches for it to bring back with a serious impact, you can't do better than coming to in Mazbadoll right now. Yeah, I'm buying it because if this is going to work in any, any way, it has to be these two guys because Connor isn't going to be on it. None of the big stars are going to be on it.

These are the two guys. This is the only way it works. And that is not even saying it's going to work, but this is the only way it has a chance to work because I think people know my feelings on the Ultimate Fighter. I think it's a watered down product that has not evolved since season one. So if we're going to get any kind of an audience on it, it has to be those two guys. And it's funny enough to stick with this theme, AK, the next one, buy or sell

this is so ridiculous the UFC will publicly will publicly make it known sometime in 2021 that this upcoming season of tough will be the final season of the show we tried again we made an attempt to resurrect it

didn't work it sucks we're done hard sell no hashtag tough never die why would you even ask that question this is this show The show is an institution not just of the MMA, not just of the combat sports, but of America,

okay? Would you, would you cancel the Simpsons? Oh, yeah, the Simpsons is still. Let's cancel the Simps, that's the level I put the Ultimate Fighter on, okay?

That's, it's, they're neck and neck. Like, Simpsons, maybe, in terms of cultural relevance, just above the Ultimate Fighter. That's the impact that Ultimate Fighter has had on all of our lives.

How dare you say this to be the last season? No, much like Habib, we've got to go from that magical number 30 because I think this is season 29 coming up, not including all the international additions. So I think they've got to at least do top 30. And by the way, it's going to

come back and be a smash hit. All the kids are going to be talking about it on the Twitch and on the TikTok, whatever kids use these days. I'm young. I know what I'm talking about. So no, it'll be a smash hit. And if anything, 10 more seasons. 10 more seasons, Mike. I'm

selling, but I really wish they would just make that announcement that, listen, we're stick with the contender series. We don't need this damn show anymore. But props to those who are going to make the show. I know that filming and cast selection from what I understand has been delayed a little bit due to the pandemic. So we will see it at some point, I think. But I don't know.

We'll see what happens. Ooh, buy or sell. Zabit Magamad Sharapov, AK, will fight for the UFC featherweight title in 2021. Yeah, I'm buying. It has to happen. If we don't get, I think we brought us on a previous show, Mike, but if we don't get the Zabit's year matchup, or even if we do, maybe Zabit beats the year,

and that's how he gets his teleshot. But I do think he's in that sphere where he just needs one win. It doesn't, honestly, it doesn't matter against who. It should be against a year. I think that should be the number one contenders bet. But if for some reason, whatever Yaya is heard or they can't fight, he just needs another win just to remind, because he didn't compete, we didn't get to see Zabit,

compete at all, unfortunately, in 2020. He just needs to remind people why he's so highly touted. So I think one win gets him into it. I would pick him to beat a year. I'd pick him to beat a lot of people at $1.45. I'm trying to think which matchup would get in his way. There's not too many. So yes, will he compete?

Will he win it? I don't know. Will he compete for one? Yeah, we will seize a beat. Compete for the title in 2021. Big bye. I'm selling this. Oh.

I just don't know if it lines up for him. I just, time frame-wise, I just don't know if it lines up, unless it's a short notice thing. because Brian Ortega is next and Calvin Cater's fighting Max Holloway January 16th and then he'll be like in line after that

especially if Calvin Cater beats Max Oluge. Like if Calvin Cater beats Max Holloway, he gets, he's getting the winner of Volcanowski versus Ortega. There's no doubt about it. You beat Max Holloway, your next fight is for the belt. So the beat's going to have to get booked against the top guy since he hasn't fought

since November of 2019. It's been well over a year. And he's probably going to have to do it in a made event slot. He's going to have to go five rounds to earn it. So I'll sell on 2021. I just think him waiting for a title shot in 2020 or just sitting around and waiting for a year and not taking any other fights. I think that one's going to sting a little bit.

I think when Cater offered to step in on October 29th, that I know he just fought Calvin, he should have taken that fight. He should have taken it. And I think it's going to hurt him because Cater earned Cater's activity this year. honestly was the biggest story of 45. He's the one guy that kept this division moving forward. Yeah, Ortega beating Korean Zombie was big. It's a fight we wanted to see.

And Ortega surprised a lot of people with the stand-up. But I think Kate are knocking out Stevens and then jumping right back in there and taking on a tough guy like Dan Igay, a guy that's way behind him in the rankings and just being a company guy and saying, you know what? I'm taking this fight. I think that's going to serve him well, especially if he beats Max Holloway. So I'm going to sell that. But there is a caveat.

If Zabit, like, steps in on short note. he might get it. But who knows? Two, two things, two more things, though, Mike. One, I think Volcanovsky, I don't know why. I have a feeling he defends his title three times in 20. Maybe I'm just being optimistic. I like Volcanovsky.

I would like to see him defend his title three times. And this is assuming he wins all them, of course. Two, if Holloway beats Cater, then that leaves again. That leaves that number one contender spot wide open after, after Ortega and after Ortega is done with Volcanowski. So, I don't know. That's like. Cater isn't the way.

Yes. But so is Holloway. Like if Ortega... They're not booking hot. No, no, no, no. What I'm saying... What I'm saying, but what I'm saying is if Ortega beats Volcanovsky and Holloway beats Kater, you know damn well they're going to rebook that rematch.

I guess I'm just picking... There's too many hurdles. There's too many hurdles. Let's head to the next one. Ooh. Buy or sell A.K. That won Kevin Holland will equal or surpass his 2020 activity in... in 2021.

So, sell. He's not fighting once a month again in 20. I would, if we got like 10 Kevin Holland fights in 2021, that would be amazing. But I think the young man has had some good fortune with not getting injured. Of course,

he's taken advantage of the UFC's rapid matchmaking during this, you know, pandemic period. So no, there's no way he fights more than, does he, does he match, does it only surpass or match? So he has to fight,

I think the question is, does he fight five? five times or more in 2020. Oh, so could he equal it? I'll still go under. I'll still go under. I'm going four. I think we maybe see four.

I think he's, hopefully for his sake, be a little more choosy with his matchups. For our sake, I hope he isn't. But for his sake, I think he's a little more choosy.

And Kazdat leverage, I think he gets, you know, after beating Jacques today, that's a big one. So I don't think he hits five again. No. I think he does. I'm buying it.

I think he does. I think he does. I think opportunity is going to knock again. I think he's going to jump on it. Now, I'm not saying he's going to win all of these fights, but I think even if he drops one along the way, that's just going to get him more activity.

So I think he does, I think we might see him. You know what, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say bye. Let's go to the night. Let's go. Oh, my gosh. I hope so. This one's wild. Oh, no.

This one's wild. Okay. Buy or sell AK that Nick and Nate Diaz combined will have more UFC fights in 2021. than Uriah Faber. Let me do some math here, one second. Equal? I think honest, I think it's a good chance

none of these guys fight. Oh, so sell then, so sell. If I'm going equal, then yeah, then hard sell. Well, you know what? That's not fair because I think on our own show, I think on this very show, on the next one, I think I have predicted like Nate Diaz. I think I have matched him up with people.

And while Nick, I think still remains a wild car, I know his management keeps leaking all these videos and information that he's coming back he's coming back okay i don't know what's going on with that guy i still think nate is more likely to fight i'm going to uh i'm going to sell i'm going to sell i'm honestly not sure if any of these guys fight in 2021 that sounds a little pessimistic i know uh favor i know still out there favor's not retired i know he's he's waiting for any any good matchups that pop up and there's a lot of 135 uh i don't know i'm going to say i'm going to say either uh it's it's one and one combined uh diaz's fight and favor fights and favor fights

or zero Diaz's fights and Faber fight. So either way, I don't think they fight more than he does to get around. To go with the exact phrasing of the question, I'm going to sell. This is a thinker. Yeah, really, seriously. This is tough. I do think Faber will fight at least once. And I think they will pull the trigger on the Dillishaf fight.

I think they're going to do it. But I think that's going to be it for one-year-eye, Faber. And now we need Nick and Nate to fight twice combined for me to buy this. I just can't. I'm selling it. I don't know which one is going to. I think one of them will fight once and the other will not. So on the same wavelength you're at, I will sell and say that they're even Stephen at the end of the year.

I think one Diaz brother will fight. I think Faber will get one in and that's it. If this were actual stock, Mike, it would be irreversial. responsible for you to put any money on the Diaz is doing anything. That's true. So yes, you're doing the wise. You're not, Mike, we're young, but we're not as young as we used to be. Okay, we can't just throw this prediction money around all willy-nilly and say,

yeah, the Diaz is, no, we are now adults. We are adults and we have to be responsible and responsible to our listeners. Buy or sell. Colby Covington will fight for the UFC welterweight title in 2021. These are good. this is good these are good these are good questions no they're good no I really have to think about it

I mean yeah you know I'll buy I'll buy I'll buy I think I would I would pick him if the Masvedol fight does happen I'll pick him to beat him I'll pick Covington to beat most guys at 170 and I think there is while I hate his

his takes on the first fight as far as it being quote unquote controversial there's nothing controversial about it I do think he's at least done himself the service of keeping that heat with him in Usman, and I do think it's a rematch people would want to see. Again, I think the narrative is false that there was any controversy, but there are people, but it doesn't matter what's, you know, in MMA, what's real or what's, or what's not, it's what you can, what you can

get people to believe. And then a lot of people who think that that fight was ended prematurely and that, oh, maybe Covington, it would have gone to a draw, which it wouldn't have, they knew the scorecards. But it was a competitive fight. Most importantly, I'm glossing over this. It was a really, really fun fight. I actually, I love that fight. So would not, would not, would not hesitate to watch it again. And I think it's a very distinct possibility for Usman to have to do that rematch. Yeah, I'm buying it too. I think

he does be Mazadol or, you know, even if he doesn't, I think he'll get the rematch at some point with Usman or if it's Burns or Edwards or Shemayev. Like, it doesn't matter. I think Colby, because of who he is, the buzz he generates, good, bad, and different, he's the ultimate heel. And in some cases,

which we've discovered in 2020-K, in some people's eyes, he's the ultimate baby phase. And with that said, because Walterweight really needs a boost, especially in the title picture after 2020, I think he does fight for the belt at some point in 2021. Let's see with it. AK Buy or Sell, and you may have to pull up the UFC rankings here to do this, Byer Sell that a current top five fighter that is on the active UFC roster right this. this moment, will sign with Bellator or the PFL in 2021. Why are you guys making me think?

You guys, whoever's asking these, whoever goes, kudos to whoever got this question. Top five, a current top five ranked contender in the OC will sign with Belator in 2021. Or a PFL. Or PFL, goodness me. People's making some move. You know, I shouldn't have said, I shouldn't have said that so incredulously. PFL has been making some very, very good side. I'm really excited with the 2021 PFL season.

And let me, I'm just looking at some of these names here. They don't have a men's flyway division, so unlikely. While you ponder. Please, go ahead. Just for mathematical reasons. That was great listening for people by the way. Yeah. Just for mathematical reasons, I'm going to buy it because I just think someone's

contract's going to run out. One of them will say goodbye. I say it happens. Who? I have no clue. It's a total shot in the dark. But if I'm just going buy or sell based on the question, I'm buying it. That someone currently in the time,

top five is going to go elsewhere to one of those organizations. I can really see now, I'm just glancing at the women's rankings. For some reason, I could see one of these names like a, man, like a Raquel Pennington, or even, I don't people won't believe this, but after some of the cuts we've seen, even like a Holly home, like near the end of the year maybe, if things don't go well for her and her, whatever, her fights in the UFC, I do think she's a big ticket item that, that, you know, could be part of the veteran cuts. I'm not wishing any of this one, anybody, question.

but I've never wished fighters get cut from their car positions. I'm just looking, but yeah, Belator has some really, have really, really solid women's divisions, at least at 125. And if they want to get 135 going, Pollyholm would certainly be a good name for that. So I'm still, you bought, right? You said mathematically. I'm buying, yeah. I'm still going to sell.

I'm still going to sell. Even though I just kind of threw those names out there, and I do think there's an opening, especially for some of these women to maybe go over to Belator. I'm going to sell. Yeah, yeah. I know, top five, anyone top five right now? This will be a fun one to revisit later. Yeah, we'll have to maybe screenshot the rankings.

I don't know. Or we can just kind of eyeball it. I think we'll remember if this happens. Okay, yeah, good question, but I'll sell. Buy or sell that Connemar Greger, John Jones, or one of these sports major stars will say on social media at least once in 2021 that they are retiring. Oh. Oh, hard buy.

Guaranteed. I'm, I should, I need to open up like a Twitter or a tweet deck right now. actually keeping track of this because John Jones, I think hasn't tweeted. I don't know if I'm wrong. I think he hasn't tweeted as of this recording, something like four or five days. He's been too quiet. I'm worried. I'm worried that.

Oh, no, he just, some weird link. Anyway, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, will they actually retire? No, but I like the phrasing the question. Will they say it on social media? They retire. Yes. Bye.

Bye. Both of those guys are going to do that. And maybe one more. There'll be at least those two are going to do it. So I couldn't buy, I mean, I couldn't pull my wallet out fast enough to buy that. Oh, speaking of John Jones, AK, buy or sell that Johnny Bones will fight for the heavyweight title in 2021.

I'm so, I just don't want to talk about John Jones to heavyweight until he just fights there once. This question has been, oh, God, at least two years, we've said this is a possibility. Is he going to do it? Yeah, you know, yes. I don't want to overthink this. Bye, bye.

That's it. That's all I want to say about it. I'm going to clip that that's a great reaction we need to start soundboarding these I know Jesus Christ

I'm going up my god I'm buying it on last week's show we talked about Jones and Ngano and how it didn't happen I don't think they'll make that mistake in 2021 and that's assuming Angano

and Steepa actually happens I'm just going to buy it. I've no rhyme or reason. There's so many other. There are hurdles to this, of course. Many. Many hurdles. Many names that could thwart this from happening. But you know what? Good juju. I'm buying it. What's the next one? It is award season after all, so I think this is a fitting question, AK. Ooh, there's a couple of these back to back. All right. PFL getting some love here. buy or sell a case someone from the pfl will be nominated for one of the major end of the year awards on mma fighting so end of voting someone from the pfl roster will be in the top five for end of year awards in 2021 whether it's fighter of the year knockout submission of the year someone from the pfl is going to be in the top five of one of those awards like our consensus top five yes um by the way way I just realized before I said something about I'm gonna I'm gonna check myself now I

think I said something about Pettus being built I'm sorry I forgot Pettus is with the PFFM I'm sorry Anthony F I'm sorry so for hopefully people who were cursing me 20 minutes ago for bring that up I just thought of that myself right listen long enough to guys yes I'm I'm an idiot but at least I recognize that I in our consensus top five also this I remember Ray Cooper his first year he got some fighter of the year votes if I'm not mistaken This would have been the 2017, I think the inaugural, whatever the inaugural PFO season. So it's happened already. I don't remember if he made the consensus top five, but I remember he got votes from more than one member of the staff.

So is this the year that one actually makes the consensus top five? I'll sell, I'll sell. But I do think there'll be support for it. I do think you'll see those names for people keeping up with our end of the year articles. We have a little chart at the bottom that says how everyone voted. I think you will see the name on there, just not in the top five. it's going to take a lot for that to happen in my opinion. I'm not saying it can't,

but it's going to have to be something amazing, especially since they didn't have a season in 2020. So I'm going to sell that, but I think the chances of it happening are higher than most people think, just because of some of the signings they had and some of the names. Like a lot of times you just,

you tend to, because you're trying to get through these, you tend to overlook some of the fighters that, A, you didn't hear the name a lot or you didn't speak about a lot. But now you got guys like Verdoom and Pettus and Roy McDonald and so forth and so on. And I think if either of those guys have a great submission or a great knockout or just a fantastic year and win the million, I think the chances of them getting on that list is better than say maybe like a Lance Palmer or somebody like that back in, you know, 2018 or 2019. So I'll sell, but I think the chances are good.

And it's just the benefit of staying busy too, right? I mean, look, this past year, our fighter of the year was determined, most of the people in our fight of the year list, a lot of them never fought more than twice, right? So it's just a matter of if you do really well in the PFL, if you happen to go undefeated, you win both your regular season fights, and then you kind of run to the tournament. We're talking about, like, I think you have to go, you have to go two and no, you can go two and no in the regular season,

and then there's three tournament, three tournament fights? Three tournament fights, right? And there's a quarterfinal, semi-final. So you could go five and oh. Five and a year for any fighter, even if it's kind of a kind of a, unorthodox pfl format where you have like some two round fights in there um five and oh it has to be like if you're like a verdoom you and you have a name like someone recognized it forbesa redume anthony pedd if they go five and oh in 2020 we're going to be talking about it it has to

be mentioned again regardless of whether it happens in a tournament or over the course of you know the 12 months it matters so yeah just by staying busy i think they keep themselves in that fighter of your talk speaking of pfl by yourself 2021 will be widely consistent a success for the PFL. Because 2018, AK, very successful year, in my opinion. I think PFL was what the sport needed, in my opinion. We kind of scoffed at the concept. We had low expectations, and they delivered a pretty fun season.

I didn't scoffing nothing. 2019, not so much. A lot of chaos. It had its moments, but most felt it was a pretty big letdown compared to the year before. 2020 was what it was. big signings, no fights. So buy or sell the 2021 will be widely considered as a successful year for the PFL. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know, big buy, big buy. I'll definitely buy on that. Again, successful can be, you know, there's, it depends how you define it. I don't know if we'll ever kind of know exactly how well a company like the PFL is doing financially. They don't really tout that stuff, kind of like the UFC does or happens to do in videos that they make for their president, for example. I don't see the PFL doing that.

But I mean, as far as public recognition, I do think, yeah, the names they signed, the attention that's going to get, I think the fights will, fingers crossed, who's to know, but I do think that the fights will be better. And I think anyone who checks out the PFL this year will be pleasantly surprised. So the fact that they didn't have, like I said, they didn't have a 2020 season, unfortunately, gives them a lot to sort of a lot to bounce back from. And I think they will. I think, like I said, the talent's there.

I love the tournament format. The playoff format is a little screwy, but I mean, there's not a lot they can do about that because doing the two fights in one night for the playoffs. But yeah, I think anyone who checks it out, it will be considered a success. So, yeah, I mean, widely, I don't know. But in general, in general,

I think we'll look on 2021 as a big positive for the PFL. I'm actually, I'm buying it too. I'm very optimistic. In fact, this is, Hot take alert, I think 2020, despite not having any fights, was more successful for the PFL than 2019 was. They were in the news a lot. They had some huge signings. And I think they have more buzzed at the end of this year than they did at the end of 2019.

So with that said, I think the signings have been great. I think there'll be some very interesting brackets, some very interesting potential matchups for these tournaments and these seasons. I think it's going to be a pretty good year for the PFL. So I will buy that. Oh, regaton air horn. Wow. 2020 was the success. I think so. I think so. They didn't sit on their asses, that's for sure.

We kind of expected to sit on their asses, but they didn't. So good on them. We knew this was coming, AK. Oh, no. What is it? Buy or sell, Habibn-Magamagamata fights in 2021, or has a future fight before the year is over. Oh, that little caveat at the end. Nope, sell.

Sell on both. Sell on both. Do I think Habib will fight again? Yes, I do. I'm very strong on the Habib will fight again someday. I think it will be like earliest 18 months from, as we're speaking, like 18 months from now. I don't think the George St. Pierfight is not happening. It's certainly not happening next year.

So if that fight's not happening, I don't see an immediate thing that's going to. I think there has to be a name at lightweight that comes up by 2022 that people are saying, man, what if I bet this guy could be Habib or, you know what I mean? I think there has to be that talk out there. I think he just wants to take time away from the sport. This guy has been doing combat sports since he was a child. I know he'll still have his hand in it, of course. He bought the guerrilla fighting championship.

He's made Eagle Fighting Championship, so he's going to be working on that. And I think coaching and working on his own promotion, that's going to keep him satisfied for now. Among other things he has his hands in, no. I don't think we see him in 2020 in 2020, despite what Dana White wants, despite what Connor McGregor wants. And I don't think we has a fightbook for the end of the year. So I'm selling on both accounts. Let the Eagle rest. You know, A.K., if you asked me this question six hours ago, I would have sold it.

But there's a meeting coming up between Danaway and Habib Namauga-Badha, and probably Al-Aid al-Aid al-Aid al-Aid-Ziz and some others. Do I think it's all fight-related for Habib? No. But I think there's going to be some sort of business plan in place between the UFC and Eagle Fight championships. And I think part of this deal will be Habib, maybe we'll co-promote, maybe we'll do something where you can become an official feeder for us. But in order for that to happen, give me one more, bro. Just give me one more. Get that 30. And I think they're going to handshake and agree on it. So do I think Habib fights in 2021? No. Do I think,

There is a fight on the books for 2022 by the time we do this show next year. Yes. I'm buying it. I'm buying it. Dance for me. Dance for me one more time and I will co-promote your rinky dinky little Russian. Wow. We will help you.

We will promote you. We will put you on our octagon. We will run promos. Just give me one more. Just give me one more. I think some trolls have called you Dana White so much that you're starting to think like him. Sinister. Sinister.

I think one hand's going to wash the other here for one more fight. The machinations. I thought you were. Mike's not just a kind-hearted family man. There's a darkness in there. I don't know. I just think, I think business is going to play out. And I'm not happy about it.

I'm not happy about anything I'm saying. I just, I'm taking a shot in the dark. Wow. But let us move on from this talk. I'm feeling a little evil right now. Buy or sell that Cody Garbrandt will fight for a UFC title in 2021. Will fight for a?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He's getting that 125 or 135 shot. Yeah. Yeah. That's a buy. That's a buy.

Nothing needs to be. If I hadn't seen the figurato fight originally booked, I probably would have said no. But clearly they're willing to just throw them in there. So yeah, easy bye. I have said this many times since UFC 256.

Nobody lost that flyaway title fight except for Cody R Brand. He was the big loser. at UFC 256. I think, and I'm going to sell this because I don't think he gets to the Bannamweight title this year. I think he, I mean, he's got a long way to go to get there.

And I think that 125 has built so much momentum over the last three months that the division doesn't need him anymore. They needed him earlier. They don't need him anymore. Figgi and Moreno are going to rematch. Moreno said April or May,

Figurato said April or May. More May. I expect those two guys to beat the snot of each other for 25 more minutes. And by that point, those two guys are just going to be like recovering. I think the division will officially move on without him unless he takes a fight at 25 beforehand.

I think the days of him just being slotted in to fight for a title without a test at 25, those days are over. I think the division has moved on without him. I think the excitement for the division has moved on. I think Figurato is a big part of that. I think Brandon Morano is a big part of that. Plus, I'm not counting Brandon Moreno out in the rematch either.

And if Brandon Moreno wins that fight, guess what we're going to see? The third fight. So I don't think he's going to fight for a title this year. I agree. Figgy and Moreno will beat the crap at each other. And then, unfortunately, there's a chance. If it's that brutal, that maybe Figy only fights once in 2020. I hope that's not the case.

Which points? Cody Garbrandt versus a returning Henry Suhudo for an interim phantom wave. I don't know. I just feel like they're going to slot Cody in for a title fight at 135 or 125 or 125. Somehow. 12 months is a long time. I'm going to buy. I'm sticking with my buy.

But you make a good point. He's going to fight at 35. I don't like his chances against anybody in the top five. Nope. I don't. I just don't. All right. We get a few more left. I'm getting chills just thinking about this. This is a really good question.

Buy or sell AK, Kevin Holland fights for a UFC title, and Hamzat Shemayev does not in 2021. First of all, Holland, do you think he ever drops down to 170? He actually has not fought at 170 in the UFC yet, right? We know he can. He's mentioned it several. He hasn't done it yet, right?

He's strictly fought on 185 in the UFC, right? Yes. So really we're asking to see compete for the middleweight title and Shemaya does not get a... Oh, you know what? Yeah, I'm going to go, I'm going to go buy on that. Not a big buy.

I'm going to go soft buy on that. I'll take a buy a little, just a small investment in that because I don't think Shamiya, I don't know if he wins the Edwards fight whenever that fight happens. I've been, you know, me, I've loved talking about Shemaya,

one of the best stories, 2020, super fun character. But I've also been, at the front of the let's pump the brakes I've been pumping the brakes constantly Mike on the Shamaia train it hasn't worked by the way the brakes are faulty so I need to go into the I need to go get these checked out because I've been pumping the brakes and this train just keeps hurtling forward so my my break pumping doesn't really matter but I I don't know again if he's quite ready to challenge for a tell yet and I think we might

see that I think we might see him take a loss sometime in 2021 whether it's to Edwards or if he has to fight someone else after Edwards before getting a Like I said, we don't know if that's the case. He might get the teleshot right away. I don't think so. So I'll go with Holland. I think there is a path. I think there is a path for Holland to fight for that 185 title.

He might only be one win away. That jacquet, that's what gets you to that top five. And I think he's right in there. So yeah, I'll buy. I'll buy a good question. And I'm going to buy on that. That's a big breath. I'm going to buy it too.

I'm going to buy it too. Although, like I said last week, if Shimae, if he's Leon Edwards, by come January 21st, this question is, gone because he's fighting for the title. But there you go. Reluctantly. For Leon Edwards. Hashtag poorly on Edwards.

One of my favorite hashtags. Don't be wrong. Some of his matchmaking was self-inflicted. I totally understand. But it's also, for me, is a don't hate the player, hate the game situation, all right? He's been in putting some very difficult situations. Maybe he hasn't always made the right decision as far as what fights and what he's angled for and what fights accepted, blah, blah.

He's won eight straight. At 170? Where are we with, eight straight fights? He's won eight straight fights, and Shemaiah beats him, beats him and takes his spot. Oh, gosh, that's disgusting.

That's so disgusting. I'm sorry. That's how the spike game works. It's not the first time this sort of thing has happened. It won't be the last time this thing has happened. I'm not naive,

but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I'll do like four more. All right. In 2021, A.K., by yourself, we will see John Jones versus Israel Adasania. This is, wow, that's a tough one. Will we see, you know what?

No, no, we won't. No, we won't. I do believe that, I can't, I can't remember what I said earlier. I do believe if John Jones fights, he's going to be dabbling at heavyweight. And I think he's been taking it pretty seriously. And I think we're going to have another year of, oh, this guy's dodging me. He's got one up to heavyweight. And it's like, oh, well, you said you'd come up to heavyweight.

So, you know, whatever. It's just hurting my head, just thinking about the tweets and thinking about the stories we might have to write off of these tweets. So no, they, they, they, they, they, they miss. each other. They miss each other and yet and yet the trash talk persists. So that's a sell. This seems like it should be an easy buy. Doesn't it? But like I go back to the Jones versus Inganu question and the reason why I was so hesitant was because this question might come up because it all depends on whether or not to Sanii beat John Belhovic for the light heavyweight title, which will be no easy feat.

And if he doesn't win that fight, Jones off the table for the foreseeable future, right? Like, if he loses to Blajovich, how can you sell Izzy going up to heavyweight to fight John Jones? It just doesn't work. Not to say the UFC hasn't booked nonsensical fights and tried to justify it in the past because they have. I'm going to buy it, but with little confidence. Honestly, unless they just go ahead and skip the Boch fight and go right to Jones, which they should have done in the first place, I'll buy it, but not putting any money on it. Ooh, AK, buy or sell by December 31st, 2021,

Mike Perry will no longer be on the UFC roster. By the, is we going to be the question? By the end of 2021, by December 31, 2021, Mike Perry will no longer be on the UFC roster. Obviously, I want this to be true, but I'm actually going to sell. I was just looking at Mike Perry's record earlier today, actually. 7 and 7 in the UFC. So, you know, a 500 record doesn't really jump out at you. But he is, as far as the UFC looks at him,

someone who draws at least a considerable amount of interest to his fights, not a main events guy, but as far as mid-tier, mid-card guys go, he is one of the most talked about guys. Now, this year, very much for the wrong reasons, there was a lot of outside of the cage, very regrettable outside the cage antics. I just don't know if they reached the point with him where his baggage outweighs his value.

So I do think if he, I honestly think he only needs to win one fight or something. And I don't know if he'll compete more than twice in 2021. I think if he lost, he wins one, maintains a 500 record, I think they'll be okay with keeping him around. Again, I don't think they should. I would have cut time.

Todd was Mike Perry a long time ago, but he does, there are, there is a fan base for him. I don't, I don't know why. Well, that's not sure. I do know why. But no, I'll say, I'll say sell on that. Sorry, by, this, he will be on the roster, right? The question is he will not be on the roster. He will not be.

So I'll sell on that. I think they'll find a way to keep him around. He's on a, he's on a thin thread, though. And I think the next matchup he gets will be very telling for us of what, what they think of him. If it, you know, obviously they match him up with like a, like a, like a set, what Ponzi Neum was matched up. Sorry, like, I don't know. Who's like a, like a, I'm looking all the top ten.

Like Damien Maya, I don't know. That would never happen. But if they match him up with someone who we, who is clearly going to truck him, obviously that means the writing's on the wall. If for some, if you guess like a Nate Diaz fight or something, guess what? They're probably keeping around for a long time. Yeah, I'm going to sell this to. I felt like the demeanor of Mike Perry heading into the Tim Means fight.

I mean, obviously. hearing what his ex-wife had to say did not help things at all in his case. But I feel like he was a little more composed. I feel, you know, you could just kind of see it in his eyes that, I don't know. It just seemed like he was trying to me. And I think that his fiancé being pregnant

and him about to be a dad, that changes things in people. And I think once that baby's born, it's shit or get off the pot-tie. Like if you're going to be this person that you're telling people you're going to be, now's the time. So I'm going to sell that. I think it creates positive change in him. Well, I hope you're right, Mike.

And really for me, though, I would like to see someone like Mike Perry step away from fighting. Whatever this guy needs to do to sort out his life and to do right, do right more. Most importantly, do right by his fiancé, by his incoming child, by his friends and family, people who have stood by him. fans who have many, many fans who stood by him, whatever he needs to do right by them, whether it's continue fighting or, again, step away, maybe find something else to do with his life, then that's what he should do. But for me, again, you know, I'm way over the Mike Perry experience. I don't wish ill upon anyone, but I do hope that I'm not interesting watching him fight anymore,

and I hope he's sorts things out. And like you said, most importantly, he's a good father. Yes. Last two, AK. Ooh, this is right up your alley, buddy. Right up your alley. Hit me. side of what we have already seen.

In 2021, AK, by our cell, we will see one UFC fighter past or present make their television debuts in the WW or in AEW.

In 2021, we will see what, what is it? A UFC. A UFC fighter, past or present, make their TV debuts in

WW or AEW that we haven't seen already. Oh, that we haven't seen already. That's tricky because I think a Ronda Rousey comeback is in a card somewhere, whether it's this year or 2022, sorry, 2021 or 2022 that we haven't seen that. You know what? It's such a broad, it's such a broad list though. Really, any like UFC fighter or Belltor or UFC fighter is like a name fighter. Yeah, make their debut. Because remember, it could even be for a one-off. You know, Mike Tyson popped up an AW for what I think would turn out. I don't know if it was planned to be

an actual long-term angle, but he showed up a couple of times. This is an easy buy for me. Yeah, We'll see someone pop up again on one of the major. We'll see someone from a major MMA promotion who we know, who we recognize who has name value pop up on one of the major professional wrestling promotions. Yeah, definitely bye. If this was like a year ago, I probably would have bought this one without hesitation because I thought Daniel Cormier seemed like a no-brainer.

Not to even like wrestle, but to be like on the team somehow in WW. Like on the broadcast team or a manager or a mouthpiece or something. But now he's like fully on Team U.S. I know he signed a deal with ESPN. He's got the podcast. I'm not sure for how long or what's in those contracts. But I am going to buy this.

I do think we see someone major with the name in the pro wrestling world. I could definitely see Colby there at some point. Like I know he's been on impact, but I think we might see him like AEW or something. But I think we do see somebody from this world on television somewhere. You saw the cameos from Vitor. and Rashad and I think this was during the Tyson I think this was part of that

right there was like a pull apart it was like pull apart with Jericho and Tyson Sehudo was there too was in there that was fun so didn't mention Rashad at all for Rashad that was cold-blooded

that was cold-blooded we recognize we recognize Rashad we see you oh remember this is random folks last one AK buy or sell 2021 will be the final year.

We see Joe Rogan commentate on a UFC fight card that is not part of his podcast. Again, this is something I want to see happen? Yes. Not because I want to see Rogan out of a job. He just, he doesn't need it. Let him over this way. He won't miss out on those UFC. I'm sure it's nice to be collecting those UFC checks, but the man's made a lot of money.

Feel free to review his 2020. It's been a good one for Joe Rogan. The Joe Rogan business has been booming. So if he wants to keep doing UFC cards, you know, good on him. But I think he came under a lot of scrutiny this year for his commentary on some of these paper view cards he's done. Certainly from us. If anyone listened to any of our post-fight shows, any of our recent, whether recently or I think

even earlier in the year, pretty universal in our criticism that he's really fallen off as far as keeping up with the product, his ability to sort of recognize the pertinent narratives that are unfolding in front of him during a fight. And these are problems he's had in the past, too. This isn't new for 2020. This is starting in 2019, 2018. This is, if you've been a critic of Rogan and his fight commentary, it only got worse this year. Nothing changed.

It got worse, not better. Do I think that he actually will be done by the end of the year? I'm going to sell because I think he really enjoys the fact that he only has to do the pay-per-views. There was a stretch there where he got burnt out when the UFC schedule was really, like, ramping up. And we were, you know, once it started getting to where we are now, the sort of 40 to 50. cards a year schedule. That's when Rogan, you thought like, holy crap, he's going to step away.

He just, he doesn't want to do this. But clearly they work something out. He only does pay-per-views. He really likes it. So I'll say no. Do I think it'll happen someday and someday in the next couple of years? I would wager. But this specific question, end of, excuse me,

end of 2021. No, I don't think Rogan's done. I think he likes this schedule. I think there's a lot of big matchups that he wants to be, he wants to be there for. Maybe a reduced schedule. Do we see him skip some pay-per-views? Maybe.

Maybe. Maybe we actually point where he's not every pay-per-view, but is he officially part of, with being part of the broadcast team? No, no. Rogan's still around. All right. I'm going to sell this.

And I want to preface this, because I know a lot of people on, like, the comments and Twitter are just like, all these guys do is crap on Rogan. He's great. Joe Rogan is a massive part of how far the UFC has come. And his contributions will never, ever, in my mind, or most other fans' minds be overlooked or ignored. But his last couple of years have not been great.

Let's be honest. And I'm going to throw this out there, and I know I've said something of the sort in past shows. I don't blame him completely for this, okay? I think the three-man booth hampers him in a huge way. It's easy to have a three-man booth with two-color guys, when both color guys are UFC fighters or were UFC fighters or were former UFC champions. But it is tough to mix in a guy that is well-versed in the world

that has incredible knowledge of martial arts but is trying to get his words out there to match up to the other color guys. Like I'd like to see the UFC one time in 2021 let John Anick and Joe Rogan do a pay-per-view by themselves. Let those two guys have at it. and then you can bring in a Trevor Whitman or you can bring in like DC or Bisbing or Felder and they can do the Whitman role.

You know, give quick thoughts between rounds and what they saw, talk about corner advice, and they can give insight in that way where they can still contribute to the broadcast but they're not there the entire time. And I think if Rogan was by himself doing color, I think he would be much better.

And I think it would go over better, honestly. To me, when you have Rogan there, it's too many cooks in the kitchen. trying to, as they say in the pro wrestling world, they're trying to get their stuff in, A.K. And it's very hard to overcome, especially when you've been in that seat since, I mean,

the beginning, since the rise of the UFC, he's been in that seat in a two-man booth. He's been there forever. So a lot of people are writing him off. I'm not writing him off just yet. I just think he needs to be the only guy in the booth with Anik to thrive.

So that's my pick. That's my sick. Three-man booths in any sport are difficult. I'm always in favor of two-man boots over three-end booths. You're right. There can be some really good ones. There's some really magical. When you find the right three people, there are some really,

really magical combinations in there, ones that can endure and last for decades. But for the most part, yes, especially in a sport like MMA, where there can be such a clash of personalities. And it's not saying that people don't like each other. It's just once you get in that booth,

you have to perform a certain way. And sometimes your style is just not going to mesh. Like I said, there's two color guys. Sometimes the style is just aren't going to mesh. It's not personal. just the way it is, right? Not everyone can blend with everybody. It puts a lot of perplex in on the annex to kind of not just call the fight, but they're

also having managed the two, kind of the two personalities in the booth. And it just doesn't lead to an enjoyable broadcast, not in my opinion anyway. So yeah, you're right. It's not just an indictment of Rogan. It's three-man booths in general are notoriously difficult. I'm with you. I think an Annick, Rogan, I wouldn't mind seeing Anik and Rogan again. It might not have the same kind of frat-boy energy that I know some of the viewers like. I know they like when Rogan's just kind of chumming it up with DC. and they're just laughing about everything every five seconds. And that's fine.

Look, if you're having a good time with that, again, I don't want to judge. But I just think that these podcasts can be more professional. And I think that Rogan has taken, can take away from that a lot of times. But you're right. Him and Annick, it would be a different story. We have a totally different field than some of the things we've seen with Rogan lately. You know what we're going to do one more, AK. I lied.

Last one. We won't dive deep into this. Because I do like this one. And I think it's a really interesting question. Buy or sell, AK. that the same amount or more current UFC champions will retire in 2021 as they did in 2020. How many were there in 2020? It was Suhudo and Habib.

So at least two. Oh, so I mean, obviously there's one in my mind. I don't know if I want to say it. No, I'll say it now because it's whatever. It's the ongoing discussion. Obviously, Amanda Nunez is a big one. I don't think Amanda Nunez. even though she's relatively young,

she is embarking on the journey of motherhood, which is a huge, huge thing. And her youth, if anything, is a good thing because theoretically she could retire and choose to come back two years from now, three years from now, and probably still being a very high-level athlete. But I'll say that's one.

I'm almost expecting. Stipey-Miochich, I think, is another one people are talking about. He's certainly up there in age. That heavyweight division is only getting younger, hungrier and scarier. and, you know, it's not a lot of reason to stick around other than if he enjoys it. He's made good money. Was it two or more than two?

Two or more. I'm going to, you know what? I'll buy it. I'm kind of leaning towards Miochich and Nunez walking away. Nunez maybe temporarily, but retirement is a retirement, even though people can retire multiple times this business, still a retirement. So, yeah, I'll buy on that. I have nothing more to add to that.

I'm buying for the same reasons you just said. So now we're going to shift gears. Segment two, we're going to make our guesses for who we predict will be the male and female fighters of the year in 2021. And AK, I'm going to start with the female fighter of the year. And I think both of my picks are possibly out of left field. But much like my fight predictions, I'm going with my gut. I have this feeling deep down, okay, that Amanda Hebas is going to have a massive, massive year. I think her 2020 was gigantic.

It was a breakout year for her, but I think 2021 will be even bigger. I think she's going to go on a big run, maybe even get to a title shot by the end of the year. Not saying she'll fight for the title by the end of the year, but I think she'll earn a title shot by the end of the year. And with that, just to be different and not pick a champion and not pick Amanda Nunes or Valentina Shiff Chanko, I'm going to go with a man of Hebas to get it done. What say you, and then you can jump right into the male fighter of the year if you'd like. The year of Hebas? So you're expecting her to fight at least like three times.

She's going to stay busy. Yep. Get a big win in there. Maybe knock off like a, maybe knock off a Mackenzie Dern. Maybe knock off. She's fighting Marina Rodriguez. Okay. I think she'll probably get the Waterson fight back.

And then she might get, you know, maybe she gets in a, Asparza or somebody of that. Maybe she gets a rose. I don't know. I have her ranked ninth right now in my rank. Because I have her ranked ninth behind Michelle Waterson, Esparza, Claudia Godelia. Yeah, I mean, I could see her beating some of these names. I could see her beating Marina Rodriguez and getting some of these names ahead of her and climbing.

Wow, that's a good one. I'm going to go with, I'm kind of boring answer. I'm staying in that division. I think Zhang Wei. I think Zhang Wei, I hope she gets a chance to stay busy. she can make some serious statements and if maybe the Tatiana Suarez fight finally happens obviously Suarez is to fight first before

you know get a win again before coming before getting that tell shot Jan Shaanan I think Jan Shaanan I do think we're going to see that fight I'm sure the OSC would love to have it in China but you know we don't know if that's even possible I think she's going to stay busy so I'm just going to go with the champ of 115 I like we said I think we think Nunez is going to retire, and if she's active, I don't know if she'd fight more than once. So it's just hard to, even as dominant as she is, it's hard to say this should be the female part of the year. So yeah, I'm just going to be boring. I just think John's going to find a way

to stay busy. You know what? Maybe she ends up fighting Hebas. Maybe we get that fight, right? Maybe, you know, so maybe our answer is somewhat tied together. Wouldn't that be something. Yeah, well, someday, it wouldn't surprise me. My male fighter of the year, are we going to talk about your end, not to tip our hats a little bit, is there one other segment coming up with title, talking about champions? Yes. Okay. Well, this kind of tips my hat because

I think this will be my second time I voted for this guy's Friday of the year. I think Izzy Adisnia. I think Izzy, I think maybe he does the dual division champ thing this year. I don't know. It's hard to predict champ champ stuff, but like we said, we already know

he's going to fight Blahovitz, so that's in the books. He's going to beat him. I don't know. I bet against Blahovitz, so many times, I'm probably wrong, but he has a very good chance to. And if he does, it's possible that he holds on to both belts throughout the end of the year. Maybe this is a Kevin Holland fight in there. I don't know. We mentioned that as well. So if he does, even if he only fights twice, if he wins the light heavyweight title and defends the middleweight title, that's a pretty strong case of fight of the year. So I'm going, again, both-played picks, kind of safe, kind of boring, but that's what they call me, safe and boring, A.K. Lee.

It's crazy, A.K., because for the last, however many years that I, have done the show. I have picked every single year, Tony Ferguson to be the fighter of the year. And you're doing it again. This year I will not be doing that for a number of reasons. And I got to say, it's a bit relieving to not have to do that.

But I'm changing gears in a big way. This year, and people are going to call me out for this, and I don't care. I can't wait. Maybe it's the regional bias in me. But there is something in the air here in New England. If one team falls off,

Another team steps up. If it's not the Pats, it's the Red Sox. If they both suck, it's the Bruins of the Celtics. But regardless of what happens in the winter or spring, there is good juju for New England mixed martial arts. And I have no scientific evidence to support this pick. But I have a feeling, AK, this is going to be the year that Calvin Cater doesn't just get over the hump

because he did that already in 2020. But this is the year that he turns into a big giant ball like you see in Indiana Jones, rolls over that hump, down the hill, and takes out every 45 are in his path. Of course, my pick could be gone

come January 17th after he fights Max Holloway. But I feel he matches up really, really well with Max. But if he's going to get that shiny gold belt wrapped around his waist at 145 pounds, it has to be this year.

If it doesn't happen this year, it's not going to. And with that said, just because I want to be a genius. I'm taking a flyer out on the Boston Finisher, A.K., kind of a hot take of my end. But that's what I'm doing. I think that Cater fights three times. I think he wins the belt and defends the belt this year.

Listeners, as soon as the words New England escaped, like slips, my head was shaking. For a full, I think the last minute, my head is just, I look like a, like a, like a, like a, not a bobblehead, but whatever, like a, you know, some sort of mechanized toy with my head. Just rhythmically shaking left and right. You are wild, man, sir. You, you, you, New England guys, you guys are wild. I love the audacity. I think it's completely crazy given, again, like I said, given the chance that John Jones could become the heavyweight champion.

Adisnia could be a dual champion by, again, the end of the first quarter of 2021. This seems, featherweight is just, I'm just looking at some of the matchups with featherweight. It's just like, I just can't see Cater beating all these guys. Maybe he beats Holloway. I'm picking Holloway, I think. Maybe he beats Holloway. But I'm just looking at him. It's a killer division.

Which, yes, if he were able to pick up big wins over like Holloway, Volcanowski, and then like, Zavit or something. Zavit, you know, wins the beat rematch. Okay. All right. He's the fighter of the year. I just don't think any of that's going to happen. Like, come on. I don't do this.

Listen, I don't, I pick mine so that I'm by myself. on an island at the end of the year. It's more interesting than my pick, that's for sure. I'll give you that. But I like to take flyers out and I'm taking a flyer out here. Wow. I just, listen, I, as you know, I interview a lot of fighters. And when I come out of a Calvin Cater interview,

I legitimately believe everything he says. Like, I just, it's not just because he's from New England. It's just I truly believe what he says. And the way he has approached this fight game, him and font it's different than everybody else it's just different it's no trash talk

it's none of that it's on to the next one pun completely intended next man up but eventually he's gonna have the if he beats max hallway he can finally get up and stand on that rooftop and say give me what I deserve

give me that title shot no more next man up no more whoever the UFC wants to give me I'll fight it's give me that damn belt has there a I'm sure the answer this is obvious. I'm going to feel like a full. Has there been a UFC champion from the New England area?

No. Well, Tim Sylvia. Oh, Maine. The maniac. Yeah. Okay. That counts. No, that counts.

That counts. But no one from Massachusetts. No, from Massachusetts. Right, right. Okay. Speaking of hot. And that was a- I'm reeling right now.

I'm not ready. I'm not ready. I'm not ready. Oh, my gosh. Well, I mean, that was a hot take. And speaking of hot takes, we will have our burning hot take at a moment. But first, let's talk those UFC titles, my friend. We're going to predict who will have.

have a world title in each division come December 31st, 2021. So, okay, let us begin with the UFC Straubweight division. Zhang Wei Lee, will she still have the belt at the end of the year? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I admittedly, like I said, you know, she could run into Hebas mania. I'm also a believer, by the way. Well, I'm going to say, I'm a believer in McKenzie Duren, just not for 2021. I can't imagine, even if it happens like by the end of the year, if it's like McKenzie Duren versus Zhang, I, you know, just the skill set just isn't there yet. So, I'm sorry, I'm talking about the wrong division. Just, we've been talking for a lot of time.

We have. We have. He was, no, no, I'm talking about the right division. I know what I'm talking about. I know what I'm talking about. People, trust me, trust me. Don't edit any of this out. This is all real talk.

Okay, no, I'm just sorry, I'm just looking at my own ranks, right? Yes. If someone like on McKenzie Dern, a god title fight against Jean-Willy at this point, I just don't like your chance. right now. So these are fighters who I see as future champions. I do think Duren can be a champion someday. Of course, I'm on-Hivas, I think it could be a champion someday. Jan Shaunan, Tatyana Suarez. We still think on paper should be a great matchup, but there were some questions

in the answer-off fight that need to be addressed. Do I think any of these women can beat Zhang Wili in 22-1? I just do not. So safe answer, Zhang. Okay. I will agree. I just don't know. I just don't know how active she's going to be. Like, she may only end up with one title defense against this year, maybe two. But, you know, and she's a tremendous fighter. So I think she will end the year with the title. But I think for the interest of time, AK, I think will we ask, will we go through this? We'll just say, like, if it's still going to be the champion, just say, yes, I think it'll still be the champion.

If it's going to be new, we'll just say who the new champion is. Men's flyweight. I'm sticking with the current champion. I believe Davis is a figurato will end the year at the belt. And like I said last week, even if Brennan Moreno wins the run. rematch, they'll fight again, and I think Figurato will win the trilogy. Do you think it's figurato? Yep, stick with Figurato. Shevchenko, women's flyweight. Yep. Unless for some reason she vacates, I can't imagine why.

Maybe she goes up to 135 or something, but no one's beating her at 125. Not this year. I am with you. Peter Jan, the current 135 pound champion. Does he end the year with the strap? No, my friend. I got a weird feeling that, you know, we're going to see a familiar face at the top, I think T.J. Dillashok gets it back. I think at 135, I still think he's the best. I hated the 125 drop. I know why he did it. You know, maybe in another world, he doesn't get caught and that we have to see a more competitive fight with Sehudo, but I hated, hated, hated that drop.

He should stick at 135. I think he is, he is the best 135er in the world. I'd love to see the cruise rematch someday. I don't, I guess that ship's probably sailed, but other than that, I think he's the best. So I'm going, I'm going, Dillard. I'm going Al Jermaine Sterling. I think he wins and he ends the year at the belt. So I'm going with Al Joe. I think it's his time. There's like five names at the top of 135 that I could see.

It's what a ridiculous division. It's so good. It's so good. Women's Bannamweight, AK, currently held by Amanda Nunes. I'm going to say, AK, at the end of 2021, there will be no women's Bannamweight champion. I think Amanda Nunes will defend both of her titles one more time. And then she walks away as the pinnacle of women's MMA.

And I'll just go ahead and knock another one. out of the equation because I will say at the end of the year there will be no women's featherweight champion because one for the same reasons I just mentioned and two I don't know if the UFC moves forward this with this division so yeah my pick there will be no with their 135 pound women's champion I think Nunez will vacate but I think there will be a vacant title fight booked between one miss Holly home and a rematch with Jermaine Jermaine de Rondami and Jermaine de Rondami beats her again and we have we get the most unlawed likely of two division UFC champions. So I'm throwing it out there. GDR, two division UFC champion, not at the same time. I mean, we'll have the status of having been a two division UFC champion by the end of 2021. I don't know why.

I just got a weird feeling. If it's not Nunez and it's not vacant, GDR. Featherweight. Alexander Volcanowski. Will he end the year of the title? This guy is so, yes. And I think the, like, people will, there might be some close decisions in there. I think the disrespect will continue, but I think he's going to silence a lot of people.

I think he's going to defend the title three times. And just remind people, he's like maybe the most unappreciated guy, definitely most unappreciated champion. I think Volcanowski is so, so good. And I actually really enjoy watching a fight. Decisions are not. I don't think, I think his decisions are actually really compelling. So, yep, I'm going, I'm sticking with a champ.

You already know my answer. Calvin Kater will in the year is the featherweight champion. I think women's featherway, I think we're in agreement on. Lightweight, we have no champion Who will end the year as the champion? Well, it is going to be arrested from Dagestan And I think his name is Islam Makachev Wow

Yeah, I think he's going to do it I'm going with Charles Olivera Right, yeah, yeah Welterweight, I'm sticking with Kamar Usman to be the champion by the end of the year I'm not touching that Just looking at the rankings I just don't see anyone at Welterweight right now

Who's in the immediate outside of Burns Burns is the most immediate threat. I think he wins the Burns fight, and then after that, I don't see anyone who's close to being him. Middleweight, the champion is Israel out of Sanya. I will say he will not be the middleweight champion at the end of the year because he will vacate that title.

And Robert Whitaker will end the year as the champion. I like it. I think because I picked him from my fight of the year, like I said, I do see him doing a light heavyweight win, potentially, and then a middleweight title event. So I think they will let him keep it for the end of the year. Maybe we see the Whitaker rematch. Maybe that is the title defense in 2021.

And I would pick Addisonia to win that. So I'm going to Disney. I think he will be allowed to retain. Maybe early 2021 we see a vacating, depending on what his status is after that. But I'll see if it's to, he decided they finally make the John Jones fight happen. But yeah, no, stick up with the champ. Well, Adasania will not hold the 185 pound title at the end of the year. I do think he will hold the 205 pound title at the end of the year.

Janbovich is the champion. now I think Adasanya will be the champion at the end of the year. I agree. And I've picked against Blachovits so many times. This is probably way off because he's proven. He's an amazing fighter who has proven me wrong time and time again. But, yep, I think Izzy, two-division champion in the year. Heavyweight right now at Steepai Miichich.

My pick, Francis Ngano will win the air as the champion. Has to be, right? It's his time. And I'll be honest with you, I would even... It's not impossible that he wins a Miyoc-a-Mach match. I don't know if I'd pick him. Like, should that fight eventually be booked, which I think it has to be, I'll probably dig a little deeper into thinking about the matchup.

But on paper, I don't see why, I don't see why Inganu can't win the rematch. I don't see why I can't win the rematch. We don't know how much it's improved. Maybe not at all. Maybe it's, you know, that Myochic wrestling is just too much. But yeah, I'm with you. I think one way or another, whether it's he beats Mioch or it's because he wins a vacant title. Ingan, it's his time.

Lastly, AK, it is time to bring that heat. It is time for the fiery hot take prediction of the. the year, a prediction so fiery that if this prediction actually comes true, you are a god amongst men. So with that said, A.K., let us heat this place up a bit. What is your fiery hot take prediction for the year? Two things. Two things first.

Okay, it was a little preamble. One, when I worked at the score and we did our, when I worked the score in Canada, we did our bold predictions. The rule was actually, if the prediction came true, your prediction wasn't bold enough. So you definitely want, so you want to go completely wild. I wish my predictions were a little more wild, but I tried to follow that. Also, our old pal, I said our pal, our pal, Aaron Bronseter from TSN, when he used to do, when he does these year-end shows, he likes to do three hot takes in order of least caliente to Mui caliente, to mas caliente. So I've done that.

I've given you, I'm going to give you three hot predictions here, like in order of, in order of how likely there to happen. So this is lukewarm. Season 29 of the Ultimate Fighter on ABC every week, you know, part of the ABC deal. Yeah, maybe on ESM Plus as well, simulcast, but it is a bit of a banner program on ABC featuring, maybe featuring Colby Covington, Jorge Mazadol, but that is part of the ABC UFC deal. They're taking this seriously and it'd become the most watched show in America. That's not part of my prediction. That's just what I want to see. Hot number two.

So this is only my second one miss. And this is really more for 2022, but I want to get it out there now because I'm so confident this is going to happen someday. Maybe not in 2021, but I'm so confident it's going to happen. A Paul brother is going to compete inside the Octagon. It is going to happen. I'm really leading towards 2022, but it is going to have people. There's no stopping this train. There's no stopping this train.

My hottest prediction, and yes, I think this is less likely to happen because it involves two promotions having to work together. I think the UFC as a parting gift for this great champion, they find a way to make Amanda Nunez and Kayla Harrison happen. Wow. I think it's a non-title of 145 bout so Harrison can have that extra pound to work with or a 150 catch weight or Noonius goes up to 155. But again, like I said, this is so hot that I think it's impossible because it would require me working with the PFL or someone else. Nunez Harrison. I think that's my hottest prediction.

UFC finds a way and says, thank you, Amanda Nunez for your service. We want to give you one big, one more big fight. And then here it is. Those are some crazy takes, A.K. But I am going with maybe the craziest take and the history of the sport. Oh, this is. Brace yourself. Are you ready?

for what I'm about to say? I'm buckled up. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I will be solely on an island by myself if this comes true. My fiery hot take prediction for 2021 is that UFC President Dana White will attempt to rebuild his relationship

with the MMA media. In fact, he will see the era of his ways for that silly video, and he will look down deep inside and say, look, I get it, There are some people that wanted us to fail. Maybe I was a little too harsh. Maybe it wasn't you guys that cover the sport.

So let's start over. Let's be friends. The relationship between Dana White and the media will be much better than it was in 2020. You win. Mike, you win. You win. I thought my predictions were unbeatable. You win. That is, no, that is the hot.

Again, going by the rule of my editors at the score would be super happy with you for that prediction. because they would just be like, perfect, put it down. That's not happening. We love, that's, that's what the readers want is, and listeners want to, they want to see, the listeners want to hear, that kind of crazy stuff. I, you know, I wish good peace and goodwill to all people on Earth. So I would love for that to happen, Mike.

Me too. What a wonderfully spicy prediction to rest of end on. Absolutely. So with that said, we put a bow on our prediction show. We prepare for next week's show, which is the other end of the top five sandwich. We started with the five fights. We missed in 2020. We'll end the pre-euro.

event programming with the five fights we need to see in 2021. And I'm excited to go that route before it's full-on matchmaking again, but with that said, it's on to next week for AK, I am Mike Heck. Hit us up on the Twitter with your bold predictions. AK is at Alexander Klee. I'm at Mike Eck underscore JR. Remember, friends, do not take this too seriously. MMA is supposed to be fun.

With that, we'll see you next week for the top five fights we have to see in 2021, right here on onto the next one. The podcast.