MMA Fighting - On To the Next One | 2022 Predictions Recap

Episode Date: January 1, 2023

With 2022 being such a crazy year in the world of mixed martial arts, we felt it was important to look back at the predictions that were made heading into a memorable year for the sport. In part one of our two-part predictions extravaganza, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee look back on some of the responses they had to listener questions in regards to what 2022 was going to bring. Topics include Conor McGregor's activity for the year, whether or not Jon Jones would fight Francis Ngannou for the heavyweight title, or at all in 2022, Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz competing, Kayla Harrison, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal's rivalry, Kamaru Usman's championship status, Khamzat Chimaev, Jake Paul, UFC champions in each division, bold predictions for the year, and more. In addition, we will need you help for part two: our 2023 predictions extravaganza episode. Submit your "buy or sell" questions the same way you send your matchmaking suggestions to Mike or AK on Twitter, Instagram, or email by Thursday, Jan. 5 — and, please, be as creative as you'd like. 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

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 Cudulian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprise 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. The Vox Media Podcast Network. Hello there, everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of On to the Next One. By the time this drops, it will be, what will the date actually be?

I mean, I probably should have been a little bit more prepared for this. It'll be January 2nd. So happy New Year to everybody. Oh, wow. We're recording this a little bit, a little bit early, but it'll be January 2nd by the time this all comes to fruition. But this will not be a matchmaking episode. This is my favorite series of programs that we do on this show for On to the Next

One, it's the first of two parts of our predictions extravaganza. And what we're going to do is next week's show, we're going to do our 2023 predictions extravaganza show. You guys have already submitted a bunch of stuff. We still would like you to submit your buy or sell questions. We'll talk about that at the end of the show. But today, we're going to be recapping and going through our 22 predictions, which we put out there at the very beginning of the year. We're going to see how we did compared to how the year actually played out. and it was a crazy year like it typically is for the sport of mixed martial arts.

But I am Mike Kack and joining me as always the co-host, the co-matchmaker. He's my best friend. And yours too, the incomparable Alexander K. Lee, aka, how are you, my friend? I'm doing great, my best friend. I can't wait. I can't wait to recap our 100% accurate predictions. I'm pretty sure I had stuff like E. Casey Liden and Oscar Willis would go to and in 2022.

I think that prediction was in there. Leon Edwards, obviously, I mean, really, that was something we all predicted that Leon Edwards would win the UFC title and by knockout, headkick knockout. You know, when that happened, we were all kind of shrugged our shoulders. You know, I think we predicted that a guy who has been primarily a kickboxer for most of his career would suddenly jump into the UFC title picture and beat Israel out. I hate to spoil the show, Mike, because, again, we predicted all these things. So it's going to be kind of a boring episode.

But, you know, we got to do this. People need the content. So I'm ready to go over all the amazingly accurate things that we said when we did this last time. Yeah. So typically the show happens. It goes into the world. It goes into the archives. And then I don't listen to it again until December.

And it just so happened to be traveling to New York for the UFC 282 watch party. And I was like, you know what? I'm going to go through all this. stuff right now and pulled out the old laptop, listened to the podcast, which is a lot of fun. And we'll be back on video again, by the way, for the predictions extravaganza because you guys loved it so much. And we'll do timestamps again, so don't worry about that. But let's just get into this, AK.

Are you ready? Of course. Of course I'm ready. Yeah. What's the first prediction that we nailed? Well, we did nail the first prediction. The first prediction was Connor McGregor fights at least twice in 20. And these are buy-sell questions, by the time.

Oh, yes. We both sold this. And we were both correct, AK. We were both correct. So one notch on the old belt apiece. Someone said two fights twice? He's going to, he, he, it was the, the, they set the number of two. Fights at least twice in 2020.

Oh, that was, that was, that was easy money. That's, that's a low, that was like, that's just, you know, that just gets us on the board. That's like, that's not a, you're not getting a lot of profit on that one. That's, that's like a, that's like, that's like plus, like, like, like, plus 800 or something like that's not that's that was easy or minus 800 sorry i always messed that up minus 800 it's like going to uh to a bar trivia night the first questions always lures you into a false uncertainty and that's what this was question number two still with kara begger connor gets a title shot in 2022 you bought this okay i sold what and yep you bought this

you bought this one you said he would come back and fight charles olivore there for the title when he was ready to come back. I sold this one because I just, it was just too risky, although I kind of agreed with you, but I ended up selling in the end. So, yeah, you were, you were incorrect about that one. Mike, not that I believe in this sort of thing, but that was kind of a reverse jinxing. I'm not going to lie. I think part of it was I really did not want that to happen. He's so undeserving of, he was so undeserving of fighting Charles at any point this year. If you wants to fight him now, I mean, I'd still be into it, but I have a feeling that

McGregor's wisely would avoid fighting Charles Olavera at any, whether it be it lightweight, welterweight, any weight class, that's not going to happen. So a little bit of reverse jinksing, a little bit of reverse jingzing. I admit it. Now, this one's interesting, AK. I need a ruling on this because it's, it was a question that meant a lot as the new cycle was there, but then obviously things changed completely. by like February or March.

And here's the question. The Bellator Bannamweight title will change hands more than once during the Bellator Grand Prix. Now, what's interesting about this is that Sergio Pettis, it was supposed to be a part of this Belator Grand Prix. He got injured and did not compete at all. So we introduced an interim title. And it was won by Rafion Stotz. He's had one title defense against Danny Sabatello. I mean, it didn't change, I guess, the interim title.

Do we count the interim title as the actual belts involved in this Grand Prix? Or do we just kind of throw this question into the draw pile? Yeah, I think we might have to label this an incomplete. What was the buy sell again? That the Bannamweight title will change more than once during the Grand Prix. And that was obviously what Sergio Pettis involved. You sold that? you didn't think it would change hands at all.

I bought it because I thought it would change hands more than once. It's kind of an incomplete. I guess technically it's a sell because the actual title didn't change hands. The interim title didn't change hands. I mean, it was one, but it didn't change hands. So that's kind of an incomplete. Yeah, it's an unfortunate because it was a really, a really compelling question when it came about and then, you know,

just things just didn't work out for Sergio, unfortunately. Yes. All right. So we'll throw that into the draw category. So no points, no nothing, no notches. Next question, and this is one of the things you mentioned at the top. Kamara Usman will lose the welterweight title in a fight in 2022. So we were talking maybe he relinquishes the belt to move up,

or he just straight up retires or leads to the UFC. Can I predict we both bought? We both sold. We both sold. We both sold that he would be the champion at the end. We both predicted he would be the champ at the end of the year. He would not lose the title in a fight. And he did.

I guess we didn't think that the Hamzaat fight was going to happen. Or we didn't believe that even if Hamzat got that fight, that he would beat Usman. Well, I think speaking of Hamzaa Chamaif, that is actually the next question. Of course it is. The next question was Hamza Chimayev would fight for the welterweight title in 2022, and he would do so without beating or competing

against a top five opponent. We were so close. Yeah. We were so close. We both sold this. We got, we sold it, but I guess because we thought he would beat a top, oh, I guess we were saying he wasn't, this goes along, I guess, with the Usman question. I guess for some reason, we were thinking he just wasn't going to get that title fight in 2022,

for whatever reason. Yeah, or we also thought that he might fight a Gilwood Burns or somebody like that. Which he did. on the way up or maybe Leon Edwards. So he would fight a top five guy. So he would have to go through a time. So even if he did get the title shot, it wouldn't be by avoiding,

not avoiding, by not booking a high-ranked opponent. Kind of like, you know, as like Islam did. Islam had a little bit of luck, not to take anything away from Islam. Whoever has proposed that question.

They were close, though. I mean, they were close. Because if he had beaten, we do feel like if he had the Nate Diaz fight had not fallen apart and he had run through Nate Diaz, he's probably getting a title fight before the end of the year. That's an interesting one. Yeah, whoever proposed that, they were right in the money with like how many ways that that question could go.

Yeah, I mean, he did fight Gilbert Burns, so we would have been wrong anyways. Oh, true, that's true. Yeah, because we both ended up selling it. So we both would have been right no matter of it. We were right. Okay, yeah, there we go. Next question. Colby Covington and Jorge Mazadol will coach.

the upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter. You bought this, A.K. No, I didn't. That's a lie. You sure did. You sure did. That is a lie.

I will be checking my own tapes later. Why would I do? Why would I do that? Because you thought it was like a horrible idea and the UFC loves horrible ideas. And you thought, you know what? I'm just going to buy this one. And then you gave your whole your whole spiel about,

listen, just have, just book them to fight. And not have them coach. But yeah, you were like, you know what? They're probably going to end up doing it. And I sold it because I just didn't think we'd get all parties to agree to it. But we knew the UFC would want to do it. And you thought the UFC would get it done. I was in a sour mood when we did these.

I thought McGregor was going to get a title shot out of nowhere. I thought we were going to get a horrible ultimate fighter coach pairing. Did I predict slap fighting as well? Like, what was wrong with me? What was I was I just I just didn't sound like I was very positive on this episode. Why was it so crusty? Oh, my gosh. Yeah, you weren't actually, you were a little cresty with that one because you just thought the idea of having coaches and then booking them to fight in the future.

Uh, was just a terrible idea. Maybe I was reverse, maybe I was reverse chinksing again. Again, not that I believe in that sort of thing, but maybe another reverse jyncing. I don't know. So I, I think I take the lead by like a couple. Okay. The next one we both got right. It was Kayla Harrison will not compete for the PFL in 2022 because she was a free agent at the time.

And we both sold that. We both predicted she would fight for the PFL in 2022. So that was an easy point. The next question was Amanda Nunes will have the final fight of her career in 2022. So the question, because I had to listen to it a couple of times, it was that she would announce her retirements before the year was over. Or we would feel like she's done, at least by the end of the year. I bought this. I thought for sure this is going to be it.

If she fought Giuliana Pena again, I actually predicted Julianna to beat her. And then she would retire after that. And I said even if she won, I thought she would get that one back. And then she'd go off on her merry way. That did not happen. You sold this, AK. You were right on the money that Amanda Nunes would not retire by the end of this year. And you got it done.

Well done. Yeah. And who knows? maybe we hear just maybe she makes a decision of the blue and says oh you know what i'm just not coming back but yeah i don't think we got a strong retirement indication this year it does sound like she'll want to fight again maybe we're heading towards that third valentina fight finally uh mike with uh talos santo's fighting aaron blanchfield now so they're obviously not doing the instant rematch with uh chofchenko maybe that's where it's headed i'm not sure i'm really i'm really not sure what to do next

with Amanda Nunes. But yeah, I do think we will see her fight in, in 2023. Yes, but as we record, we still have like a week and maybe Amanda announced her retirement then. Maybe. And we flipped this whole question around. Next question, Sean Strickland crosses the line so badly that it gets to the point that the UFC has to issue a punishment or some sort of public response. And we both sold this and we both were correct. We know why.

We know why. next question jake or logan paul will sign with an mma promotion with the intention to fight in the future so they would just lock down a future deal kind of like what gordon ryan did with one before he got released in that contract that if he does choose to fight in m mb a he has to fight for that promotion and you sold this you didn't see it happening this year maybe happening in twenty twenty three so maybe that's a question that'll come up on next week's program i bought it, but WWE doesn't count, right?

We don't count WW. I was going to say, did it say MMA promotion? Was that specifically the question? Yeah, it was MMA promotion. Because I was, I would say, pro wrestling is the one true sport, but it is not

the same as MMA. If they had said, like, combat sports promotion, no, I think we're talking about them, getting into like an octagon or a cage or something. But yeah, Logan Paul definitely made moves. Yeah, huge signing. with WWE, impressed a lot of people in that realm for a guy with, again, very little experience

as a professional wrestler. So he made moves, but yeah, not in MMA. So it just, I still think it'll happen someday. I think I've been saying forever that one of them is going to fight in the UFC, though that seems less likely now with sort of things that happened this year. Bellator still a possibility, but it'll happen. One of them will fight in MMA. I just don't know under what circumstances.

Yeah, I could see a world where. I mean, I don't think Jake Paul's ever going to fight for the UFC, but I wouldn't count Logan out. Dana and Logan are buds, they're boys. Yeah. Remember they do their own show. They can't do a Paul Brothers' MMA show, like a one-time thing, you know, where they just both compete on it. Yeah, right? They could.

So that would be a possibility. Maybe that's a good question for the 2023 prediction show. Yeah, yeah. This was probably my favorite response from you because you didn't even let me finish the question before you answered and just a kind of cocky way. Dylan Dettinus fights in 2022. You couldn't have sold this any quicker. You're like, sell. You didn't even let me finish the question.

And you sold this immediately. I also sold it right behind you. And who knows? This could still be a pertinent question in 2023. I know he's booked to Box KSI on January 14th, but I'm like 35% convinced that fight actually happens at this point. Yeah. Can we do a buy sell right now?

Does that fight happen? I'm selling. I'm selling harder than than Dylan Dennis does every day of his life on social media. Yeah, him fighting in, sorry, him not fighting in 2022 was like minus 3,000. I just was not going to happen. This guy's, he's just not a fighter. He's not a fight? I don't know what he is.

He's a man who needs a hug probably, but he's not a fighter. Next question. We're both incorrect, okay? We both got this one wrong. John Jones fights for the UFC heavyweight title in 2022. We both bought this and we were both wrong. Now, once we made this prediction, we had no idea what was going on with France and Ganu. We had no idea that he had a knee injury.

We had no idea that things between Ngano and his team and the UFC were in such dire straits heading into UFC 270 and his fight with Cyril Gan. So we both bought, we both figured this fight was definitely going to happen. and it just didn't. So we were both incorrect, AK. But that'll be another fun question for 2023. Yeah, it's going to be a question every year until it frigging happens. I don't think we owe anyone an apology for dreaming. Like, I think we all saw a best case scenario where one of the greatest fighters we've ever seen

finally makes that move to heavyweight, gets a big fight with, again, a Cedel Gahn, or a, sorry, excuse me, or Francine, or Ceyl Gond, or Steve Mioch, Curtis Blades. I don't know, there was so many good options. And while I'm sure you and I both kind of thought there's a sense that it could drag out a little bit, I don't know if we thought it would drag out the whole year, plus, of course, the France's drama. So, yeah, disappointing. Disappointing that we were wrong on that one, but I would make that prediction the same way, nine, nine times out of 100. 100%.

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Visit our Holtz holiday shop and store or online at Holtrenfrew.com. This next question was one of the more interesting ones on the docket. And we're going to throw this into the draw pile, okay? The combination of Steppe Mietich and Robbie Lawler will have more UFC fights in 2022 than the Diaz brothers. And we're pushing here. This is a push because Nate fought once, Nick did not fight. Robbie Loller fought once, Steepay did not fight. So one apiece.

So it goes into the drop pile. Okay, okay. What I feel... We both bought this, by the way. And we almost got this correct. Because had Robbie Lawler fought Santiago Ponsonibio, as he was scheduled to do at UFC 282, we would have got this one correct. Oh, that should count. No, it shouldn't actually, given that that is part of the MMA equation when you are thinking of like, oh, Wilson, like, how often does weird stuff happen to a fighter?

You know, does age, you know, the age and shopwornness of some of these fighters maybe get in the way of them getting into fights sometimes. It was steep A and who? Steepa and, oh, Steepie and Robbie Lawler. The combination of them two would have more fights than the Diaz brothers. In the Diaz brothers. Oh, that's a good question. That was a tricky one. That was a good one.

But we both bought that and we were both incorrect. All right. Well, well, not a draw, draw, draw. It was a draw. It was a draw. You're right. You're right. But technically, no, it's not a draw.

Nope. Wait. It's not a draw. We're both incorrect. We're both officially incorrect because they did not have more fights in the Diaz brothers. They have the same. Oh, that's even more. Yeah.

So we were both wrong. I'll take, I'll hold that. Yeah. It doesn't go. Let me just go into the draw pile. Sure. Put it in the ad pile. There you go.

There you go. Hashtag rules roll, Mike. You know that. Yes. Rules rule. We have the utmost integrity. We want to make sure we keep that intact. Next question. Nate Diaz competes in a fight.

outside of the UFC in 2022. We both sold this, and we were both correct. Too soon. But the 2023 and ADES questions are going to be fun as hell. I think we thought the free agency was happening, but let's be honest, the gears in the Diaz world move at their own pace, to put it generously.

And the thought of him fighting on his UFC contract and then getting something done before the end of the year was just, it seemed highly unlikely. Yes. Next question was Jake Paul will fight a former UFC champion or a current UFC rostered fighter in 2022. And we both sold this, AK, and we were both incorrect. Because we didn't think the Anderson Civil fight would happen. We thought that might have been the only one.

But both of our sort of mindsets on this was Ben there done that. He's going to fight Tommy Fury. He's going to fight actual boxers in 2022. And it turns out he didn't fight Tommy Fury. He fought once. and he fought Anderson Freakin' Sola. Someone, I don't think anyone's going to ask, I don't think anyone cares about this fight anymore, Mike.

So I'll just throw this out there. Are you buying or selling on, buying or selling, excuse me, on Tommy Fury, Jake Paul finally happening in 20203? I'm selling it. I'm selling, right? I think it just never happens now. I just don't think he's going to do it.

The ship has sailed more than once. I just don't think Tommy's going to fight him because I don't think Tommy's going to beat. I think Tommy loses that fight, and I don't think he wants to lose Jake Paul. No, I think they've seen, yeah, I don't know. I don't know. They've seen the writing on the wall. It does not look good. Yeah. So we'll do that there's a, there guys. That's a freebie. That's a freebie for you guys. We're both selling, I think, on that fight. Not just not happening in 2022, but ever happening.

So, all right, I'm going to go with the no-brainer one first. And then I'm going to go to one that we might have to discuss a little bit because it's a very strange question, especially thinking where things were in January of last year. Or yes, of last year as this comes live. So we'll go with the no-brainer. PFL finds a home on a major network slash streaming service in 2022 because they were without a deal by the time we recorded this show last year. We both bought it back with ESPN. So that was an easy one. Here's the non-no-brainer, AK, because closing out 2021 and heading into 2022, in fact, we did a draft. We did a fantasy promotional draft podcast for the amazing M.A. Fighting Podcast network. And with these organizations, we had the UFC, we had Bellator, we had PFL, we had one championship.

And we were like, we need a fifth. We need a fifth promotion so we could have five people involved. And because of how red hot they were heading into 2022, we went with Eagle FC. We went with Eagle FC as the fifth promotion. So the question was, by the end of the year, Eagle FC will face more scrued. scrutiny than have success. Now, it's a very strange question right now because I don't think, did Eagle FC even hold an American event in 2022?

Did they go back to Florida at all? Technically, they started the year in America. That was the Karatanov Spong fight. So that was in January. That was in January. But after that, they haven't been back since. After that, no, they have gone. Oh, no, I'm sorry.

March, March. So early in the year, it was, yeah, I'm sorry. It feels like last year. It was early this year was Karatanov, Spong, and Kevin Lee. Man, that was this year? That feels so long ago. It does. March 11.

Both last year. Okay. Okay. But since, let's keep moving the goalpost a little. Since March. Oh, Dos Santos. You know what, Mike? We are just completely wrong because they also,

Dos Santos de Castro was in May. May. But since then. But since then, no, sir, you are correct. They've held several events, but all. all overseas, not in North America. Where are we? We're in Asia.

We're in Kazakhstan. Tatarsan. So yes, not in North America. Yeah. So, I mean, very strange that they had three U.S. events in a five-month span and then just no more. We haven't heard literally anything from them in terms of coming back to North America or to, you know, you know what I mean? Back to the, I mean, they have like their own arena. They have their own little app where you can watch the fights.

Like they have all these things. They have this all-star panel of talents on the broadcast. I don't know if Henry Sehudo's talent, but Jill Sunnan is there. I mean, Kamar Usman, I mean, heavy hitters across the board. And then since May, nothing. So I don't know where we go with this question because you sold this. You thought it would be a very successful year for Eagle FC. I bought that they would have more scrutiny than.

success for multiple reasons, none of which have, we haven't really dug in too much because of just the whole dominance MMA involvement and all that, just kind of integrity questions. But I don't know, man. Was this a successful year for Eagle FC? It was a successful year. And I'm taking the win here, Mike, because technically there is no scrutiny because nobody is talking about Eagle FC. There's no conversation about Eagle FC in the last at least three or four months.

Like maybe there's some, you know, after the, you know, the May event, people still talking about it. Like, when will Eagle the FC? Oh, when's their next event, like, in North America? But since then, really, I don't, I, you know me, I'm on, I'm a social media addict. I'm on Twitter all the time. And even on our MMA fighting, like, dot com forums, which is like the most hardcore of the hardcore, I never, I rarely see anyone asking like, oh, what happened to Eagle FC? And people bother us all the time, Mike, about like, oh, why aren't you covering this promotion?

Why aren't you covering this promotion? blah blah, blah. I see that all the time, a lot of stray comments like that. And people aren't even asking about Eagle FC. I've included it, some of their promotions highlights a couple of times and like Miss Fist. So it has had some mention in anime fighting, but yeah, very little presence in the greater in the community right now and certainly no sign of another event in North America. But at the same time, I almost think it's a good thing. Like, I think they're actually handling sort of the elevation.

of the promotion really well. I think, like, you know, they dipped their toes in the water with three U.S. events this year with recognizable names at the top, you know, Karatanaup and Spong, Leon Sanchez, and then, and then Jr. in the May events. And there was clearly interest, and we can certainly corroborate that with the site traffic we saw. They got very, very good traffic on M.AFling.com. So there is interest there.

But those events, I don't know how much, you know, financially might have cost the money. It might not have been, they might be lost leaders. You know what I mean? they might not have, those events might not have made money themselves, but at least it, in the long run, it hasn't given them some sort of foothold in North America. So maybe they're just sort of reassessing money-wise, sort of the value in how many North American events they want to do. Like, I think they're doing the right thing and not trying to over-expan too quickly. Because, yeah, they really hit the ground running, and now I think they're sort of pulling back.

And I think that's, that might be wise, assuming there's not some other issue that's, that's keeping them out of North America. I think, yeah, you, yeah, you make a great point about nobody talking about. with them so there is no scrutiny anymore and there hasn't been for the last seven months anyways so i'll give you that one i k you get the victory on that one let's move to this question belator will be able to realistically stake the claim they have the best fighter in the world in one or more divisions and we caveat of this by saying that it is a universal agreement and we both bought this one i think we're both wrong i k i think we're both wrong now

we have one panelist in the MA fighting global rankings who likes to go rogue every so often. And the way we sort of explain this whole thing was that once Corey Anderson and Vadim Nemcoff had their rematch, Corey Anderson would beat Vadim Nemcoff and we would know he could at least make the case that he might be and there is at least a discussion if he had. That did not happen in the rematch because Vadim Nemcoff beat Corey Anderson, retains the Bellator light heavyweight title, won the million dollars, and I just don't feel that he is universally considered,

or at least in the discussion, for being the best light heavyweight in the world. I just don't know if Bellator has one of those right now. I think they have a future one with Usman or Magamatov, perhaps, but I just, I think this is a, I think we're both wrong here. Try to, if it, change my mind. One or more? one or more one or more so we just need one you just need one uh Chris I work

no we're not gonna I mean do you I mean is that not a real division it's not a real division it's not a real division and Amanda already beat her so I don't think we oh this is true it's true we can't even yeah we can't even make that case I'm looking at Amanda to beat cyborg every single time I do too I hate field I hate the fluke talk I'm just looking at the list of a bell tour champions right now it is, it is tough. Do you think Vadim, if he had never fought Yuri, not if he had beaten Yuri back in 2015. Obviously, if he had beaten Yuri,

then you'd have a lot more people saying, like, ooh, now he really has a case. If he had never fought Yeri, and his only loss was a bit, like, like the split decision to Carl Albertson, which I'm just looking at right now, which happened right after the Yeri loss, and then he hasn't lost since the Uberson fight.

Do you think he'd have a strong case if he hadn't lost to Yeri? Because I do feel like a lot of people, that's one thing people are holding against them, is like, oh, well, I mean, you know, NEMCOB is great. He's got a strong resume,

a strong resume you can have of not having not fought on the UFC, but he does technically have a loss on his record to the, well, now vacated UFC champion. No, I think he'd have a better case if the first Corey Anderson fight didn't happen. Because he was getting killed in that fight. And then it was just,

you know, the accidental clash of heads and ended in a no contest. And we didn't get a, but nobody, like very few picked Vidin, Demkoff to beat Corey Anderson the rematch based on what we saw in the first fight. And it turned out we were all wrong that Vadeem made the adjustments and he ended up winning the fight. So had it been reversed, like had Vadim been winning that first fight and it ended the way that

it did and then came back and won it again, I think he would have a case. I just don't think he has one right now. I think it's close. I think he's a top five, I think he's easily a top three to five guy at worst. Yeah, yeah. But to say he's the best, I just don't, I just don't know. I don't know if he beats Yuri. I don't think he beats Magamana Akhalyaf. Him and Jan Bohovic should be interesting.

I thought I'd probably end up picking Vadim, but I just, I can't pull the trigger on him being the guy. That's fair. But if Corey had won, there's a case to be made. Yeah. There's a better case to be made. He's beaten Glover. I mean, he's beaten Jan.

He's got some nice wins on it. unfortunately he did not beat Badim Knavso completely out of the discussion Johnny Eblen I think would be a very live dog against Alex Pared he'd probably be like minus 300 oh sorry plus I want to keep messing this up he'd probably be like plus 300 just because the name value the different the but

but I think Robert Whitaker beat but I think Robert Wittaker's style yeah there's a lot of exactly yeah exactly there's a lot of people who people feel like oh you think Robert Woodcar would style on Johnny Eblen yeah I think Whitaker would win I think Whitaker would beat him I think Ebling could beat I think Ebelin could

beat both Pereira and Adasania on a good day. I just don't know if he could beat Whitaker. I don't know if he could beat Marmiteri. Sure. Just the stylistic. It's a stylistic thing. And no one right now,

I don't think anyone right now would say he's the best middleweight in the world. I think people would think he could beat a lot of the best middle weights. I just don't think anyone right now is making the case. He's like number one. It's a tough sell. Yeah.

I would say if we're having this If we do this again I would say Depending on how active he is I would say Johnny Evelyn is probably The guy we're looking at He's very good Like if he has like two or three title defenses

I think he's the guy we're looking at But the problem is he's just not getting the same level of competition No Like he already beat He beat the best dude Like Yeah I mean what's what's there for him right now?

There's just not a ton. Really? I don't know. Like if Yowell moves down to 1.85 in fights? But even then, like, I'd probably pick Eblen to win that fight right now just because Eblen's young and Yowel, as much of a freak athlete as he is, is just not that dude. I don't know. I don't know.

I feel like. Tokov. Yeah, maybe Tobin. Fabian Edwards, there could be something there. I mean, as far as building up his resume. Yeah. There's some, there's some Pat Downey would have been nice if he didn't just get his head knocked off. Oh, Pat Downey's nowhere near that.

Pump the brakes. We've got pumped the brakes on that one, that's for sure. Yeah, it's not a strong, it's not one of the, it's not one of the, it's not one of the, it's not one of the, it's not one of the, it's not one of the, it's, it's, it's not one of the, it's, I think he's, it's, it's, I think he might be the dark horse in this conversation for the next couple of years. So we'll see what happens. We also, uh, in Nemcoff, he's going to be fighting Yol Romero February 4th. So we'll see how his year plays out. And who knows the future of Paulo Costa? Maybe his, maybe the, the countdown clock strike zero and he becomes a free agent.

And I mean, there should be, I mean, Bellator and PFL should already be talking to his, his people right now. He's, I would like the PFL move for him, but he's a perfect. fit for belatory i don't know there's something about him that is so bellatory it's just he belonged he could compete in both divisions i feel like he there's he can still fight a middle way compete in both divisions oh gosh he just he's such yeah if you're scott gocker you've got to get paula costa if that's that's an option yeah i want bellator to succeed so much like i really really do i really want them to succeed so hopefully 2023 could be their year all right let's move on uh the next question, Henry Sehudo comes out of retirement and fights in 2022. We're both in agreement.

We're selling this. We both agreed he would come out of retirement, but we also both agreed that he would not fight in 2022. We nailed it. And we might, he might not fight in 2020. He might not fight in 2020. And we also nailed though that the coming out of retirement talk, which was the bane of your existence for most of 2022, if we're being honest. I mean, this is what I wish we had been, For your sanity, I wish we had been wrong because it caused you a lot of anguish. The most fascinating part of re-listening to this episode was that how I felt about Henry Suhudo coming out of retirement back in January of last year, much different tone. I mean, just much different tone. I was just like, all right, he's coming back.

I wasn't against it at all. I just knew it was coming, but I just could not have predicted that he would just be so bad at this. just so awful at it. I didn't think anybody could be as awful at this as he is. That he would become your nemesis. Who were your top nemesis in 2022? Like, obviously, Henry Sehudo is up there. Josh Thompson.

Josh Thompson is definitely up there. But Josh Thompson is part of my MMA media New Year's resolution in 2023. That I am not just, I'm just, I'm going to accept him for who he is. I'm not going to, I'm not going to blast him anymore. It's not because of him because I've said this many times. There's enough out there for me to blast and I have and I'm just not going to do it anymore. But it's gotten to the point where every time Josh Thompson has tweeted in 2022, it makes me mad and I want to respond to it so badly.

But I'm just not going to do it anymore. I have accepted Josh Thompson for who he is. And I've accepted the fact. that Josh Thompson has is coming from a good place. He's coming from a good place. Sure. He really is. He wants Bellator to succeed.

He wants, he's like me. Like, we have a lot more in common than I thought. Like, I want Bellator to do well. I root for them. But the difference between us is, I don't work for Bellator, and I can be honest about Bellator. He can't, and he won't.

And that's okay. What I would like Josh's resolution to be in 2023 is just accept, buddy, you are a member of the MMA media. Hashtag one of us, bro. You have your own podcast with John McCarthy. You're both well-known figures in the space. You're part of the media.

You're not a journalist. There's a difference between being in the MMA media and being a journalist. The fact that you were on a Bellator broadcast giving your thoughts and opinions and breaking down fights, you're a part of the media. Troy Aikman is a member of the NFL media. He's a colored commentator.

But he's a member of the NFL media. He ain't breaking free agent pickups or trades, but he's part of the media, as are you. So rather than just dump on us and at least have some knowledge before you throw some stuff out, Josh, like this whole, well, the media's afraid to cover Bellator because the UFC is going to get mad. Can we stop this?

Just stop this. I'm willing to make amends with you, Josh. I'm willing to put this all out there and just say, hey, I get where you're coming from. You're a passionate individual. perhaps I went a little too hard in the paint. I've already addressed all of that. But before you just throw out things,

just do your research. Do your research. And I know you listen to my shows. I know this because you tweet things that I say. For instance, I have said, I don't need to go and cover UFC events anymore. I don't, like, none of that bothers me. Like, I'm not afraid to be banned by the UFC.

First of all, they wouldn't ban me because I cover Bellator. I have a great relationship with people who work. work at the UFC. Great relationship with all those people. But I don't even cover events anymore. I go and do the watch parties now. So I don't even to be on site. And I've even said, I don't even want to go, like, I don't even want to be there for fight night. Like if MMA fighting just set me out to do media day interviews with fighters on scene, the press conference in the way and stuff, and then I flew home Friday night and just sat in this chair with you and just covered the events and did the watch race, I'd be, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

I don't need to be at the fights. I don't need to be at the events. I just like being on scene so I could just do stuff. I like just not knowing what's going to happen and just doing things. So that's true. Like we're in a different world. The pandemic has changed the way we can cover events. We could do post-fight shows.

We could do all the stuff from our houses from Command Center 4.0. But Josh, I like you, buddy. And my resolution for 2023, one of my resolutions for this space is to just understand you a little bit more. I want to have a conversation with you. It doesn't even have to be like, it doesn't need to be recorded. It doesn't need to be a video or a podcast.

It could just be you and I talking on the phone because I'd love to know where you're coming from and I would love you to know where I'm coming from as a member of the MMA media and what we're trying to do and what we're supposed to do, what our job actually entails. So I'm not going to let Josh get me down.

I want to be friends with Josh Thompson. I want to have a real. I want to just clear the air with him. Let's have a clean slate for 2023. We all want the same thing. We all want Bella Torts to succeed and do well. So let's just start there. No more bullshit.

Let's just have a good year, you know? Let's stop with the animosity. For the listeners, by sell, will Mike and Josh Thompson bury the hatchet in 2020? That's for you guys out there. Let us know on social media what these things will happen. Hit us up the DMs, hit us up in the replies. I am curious. And Mike, if it does, if you do a show with Josh,

I need to at least at one point break out a, you know, Josh, we're not so different, you and I, something like that. That would be, it has to be said. I have tried to do that so we can have a little debate, a little back and forth and do it publicly, and he declined that opportunity. Fair enough. So I understand.

So let's move ahead. 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 rank on Uber Eats. But iced tea, ice cream, or just plain old ice? Yes, we deliver those. Goaltenders, 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 details. This episode is brought to you by Peloton.

A new era of fitness is here. Introducing the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus, powered by Peloton IQ, built for breakthroughs with personalized workout plans, real-time insights, and endless ways to move. Lift with confidence, while Peloton IQ counts reps, corrects form, and tracks your progress. Let yourself run, lift, flow, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus at OnePeloton.ca. This is kind of incomplete, too, because it's just not that time yet. And maybe things will change.

And if they do, we'll have all sorts of crazy reaction videos and podcasts and stuff. But for the time being, Francis and Ghanu, win or lose at UFC 270, will sign a new multi-fight deal with the UFC by the end of the year. There is no deal. From where I sit, talks are going good, better than most expected. But there is no deal. There is no deal as of right now. So incomplete pile. But you said we sold though, right?

We both sold. No, we both bought it. Oh, we both bought it. We both bought that he would resign. Now, again, this is before Francis's MMA hour appearances and the documentary that has come out in the fourth quarter of the year on Francis's YouTube channel. These are all things we didn't know at the time of this, but I still feel that a deal will be done. Not maybe not before, not by the time this episode airs, though. So right now we're taking an L.

But if things change, well, people, you know, you know to give us our point. If things, if it is a different case by the time, by the time you're listening to this. Yes. Right now it goes into the incomplete pile, but it will be moved. If, you know, we bring in 2023 and a deal is not done goes into the L pile. I'm betting it's an L. Yeah, I'm betting it's an L. It's not looking good.

Oh, this one's sad, man. This one's sad. We both bought this too. Joseo Aldo will fight for the Bannamway title in 2022. We both bought it. Why did you even read this one out? You should have just left it, left it out. I even, I am so mad right now.

As I was typing this out, I put a sad face. I put a sad face. Jose Aldo will fight for Bannamway title, sad face. Nothing in MMA this year made me more randomly mad. I say random as in like I would just think of it out of nowhere. Like I'd just be having a normal day. I'd be with friends. I'd be out with friends, just hanging out, playing with their kids, you know, having friends and family time.

And then I would just like pause and people would just like look at me like, are you okay? And I think I'd be like turning red and just start shaking. Because I would just think about how badly they screwed up. Jose Aldoziozzi. From the UFC. The title fight with Al Jiao was right there. It was right there. everyone wanted to see it

there's a lot of people betting wise it would have been a field day for the UFC and anyone who makes money off of that because the odds would have been like fantastic like he would have been he would have been the underdog I think going in Josie Aldo but it would have been real close

and a lot of people would have been making money I would be shocked if Aljo ended up in the underdog by fight night I don't think that would have happened I think it probably would have ended up with he'd be like minus 150 favorite and Aldo something like plus 175 or something underdog.

Like really, really close. And just from an entertainment standpoint and a passing of the torch and just there's so many. And they gave us like instead the two, and somehow like they diverged in the two worst possible directions they could have.

Like we didn't only not get this great potential Aldo farewell fight and one last kick at the can against a good style matchup for him. We got this horrible Marabd-Valishvili fight. Aljo's bodyguard as it were.

I don't know, and Aldo had to go through him for some reason that we'll never understand. Terrible style matchup. It was not a particular fun fight to watch. In elevation. Well done. Well done there, UFC. One of, again, I didn't think it was a robbery, but certainly one of the most dispiriting decisions of the year. And then we got these, just the atrocity that was Al J. Dillishaw, which, I, listen, before the fight, I actually thought that matchup was okay.

I still prefer it Aldo, but I wasn't like crapping on it. In the aftermath, we now know, like, that's just, that whole thing was just highway robbery as far as the fans getting their money's worth. Just a terrible, terrible fight, terrible decision. And again, Aldo and Aljo was right there the whole time. Like, why did you bring this up? It's so annoying. It really is so annoying that they screw this up so badly. On principle, that should be a win for us.

On principle. Yeah, I agree. That shouldn't even go in the Elfile. It's so annoying. so stupid. Next question. Either Sean O'Malley or Sean Brady fights for titles in 2022. We both sold that. Both correct. Next question, we will see more than one current UFC champion fight for a second title in 2022, excluding Amanda Nunes. We both sold that as well. So we were both correct. I don't think any, and nobody did, right? What was that? What was that one again?

we'll see more than one current UFC champion fight for a second title in 2022, excluding Amanda Nunes. I don't think anybody did, right? No, no. It wasn't a thing this year. Yeah, we both thought there could be one, and it just didn't happen. Next question, the biggest selling fight of 2022 involving an MMA fighter will not happen in the UFC. Now, we don't get a lot of numbers, but we can kind of gauge this spot.

traffic and interest. And to me, we both sold this, and I think we're both right. I don't think Jake Paul Anderson Silva did better than, like, 281 or a lot of the UFC events. Yeah, I'm trying to think

what Jake Paul fight would, could have done that. I don't think the Tommy Fury fight had that much steam on it. But that wouldn't even matter in this question anyways, because it didn't involve an MMA fighter. It didn't involve an MMA fighter. Okay, okay.

Yeah, yeah. No, I think, yeah, that's a win for us. Yeah, because it would have been, he would have had to fight like Mazadol or Nate or somebody like that. And other than that, I just didn't see, or Connor. But we kind of figured none of that would happen. Yeah, that was our thinking, yeah. Next question.

The UFC will end the year with the same amount of divisions they began the year with. So it was what, do they add one? Do they just completely eliminate 145? We both bought that they would just keep things the way they are. we are correct. Yeah. Listen, and the other thing is possibly what, adding Adam weights. And while we think that's a possibility somewhere down the road,

it's just not something they need to do right now. We were talking about on a recent show, or Jed brought it up. Like, they can barely find spots for, like, their women's band-weight fighters. So adding another women's division might just muddle up things further. Or if you want to make the counterargument that you would get more women's fights

because, you know, you add another compelling division. I suppose that's a possibility as well. But right now, it feels like they're at the right number of divisions. And Dana White has never really expressed a strong interest in bringing in the Adam weights, unfortunately. Yes. You see Scotty Cokes. See Scotty Cokes. This is exactly what you need to be doing.

Bring in a 105 division. This is it. The fans want it in the UFC, and Dana doesn't want it. So just bring them over there. Let's do it. 105. PFL, do a 105 season. How fun would that be?

I would, that would be fantastic. Next question. And we both got this one right. I didn't list the names, but they were, I looked it up because it's hard to like go back and look it up. But in January of 2022, like early January end of December of 2021, at least three currently ranked UFC fighters will find new homes in MMA in 2022. We both bought this and we're both right. We're both right. Okay.

Aspen Ladd. Marl Marius Shane Burgos all signed with the PFL and they were all ranked and there's probably more but those are the three that immediately that's all we needed

that's all we needed now this was a very sort of intriguing question at the time but then it's sort of the way the year played out it doesn't seem as cool now but the last buy or sell question we got was

the UFC will be without three or more of these names at the end of the year. Francis and Ghanu, Connor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Israel Adesania, Dustin Porier,

and Kamar Usman. And we both sold it. We were both right. Now, at the time, we asked this question, this is a much more fascinating question than it is not, because Izzy ended up signing a new deal

before his fight with Robert Whitaker, and Usman ended up losing the belt, so he's not going anywhere. Connor didn't even fight. Nate's obviously gone for now, but who knows, he'll end up coming back and Porreier doesn't seem like he's going anywhere. He's just not going to fight three times a year.

So, yeah, we're both correct on that one. Yeah, interesting question at the time, though. Did anyone give us a buy and sell asking, will a fight between Derek Minner and Shailon Nairdon BK turn the entire UFC gambling empire upside down, leading to the besmirching of one of its most respected coaches and creating one of the most, unexpected and possibly damaging stories of the year. Did anyone ask that? Because I would have sold pretty hard on that.

I'll be honest to you. Don't think I would have bought on that if that had come up. Would not have bought. No, nobody asked that. I don't think anybody saw it. I didn't think anyone. Boy, no Derek Miner related questions in the, oh my God.

No, no, I have a feeling that 2023's predictions will have some sort of gambling topics of some sort. I would imagine. But, so let's go with our UFC champs predictions. Oh, no. You ready for this? Are you ready for this?

No. We will begin with the women's strawweight division. The current champion in Zhang Wei Li, aka you chose Rose Dame Yunus. You chose Rosemiannius. I chose always the bridesmaid, but never the bride. Marina Rodriguez.

And both incorrect. Women's flyweight, pretty simple. We both picked Valentina. We were both correct. That's a layout. Women's bantam weight, aka you chose Amanda Nunes. Yeah. I chose Valentina Shifchenko, because I thought the rematch was going to happen, and it didn't.

So you get that one right. Women's 1.45. I said there would be no champion, because I predicted Amanda Nunes would retire. So the division, there would be no champion. Right, right. Do you remember who chose A.K.? Uh, Kale Harrison? No, I said, I did I?

You sure did. Wait, I said that, and she was going to stay at the PFL. That made a lot of sense. I guess I thought she could win the PFL season and then come over. Right, no. But you didn't, you weren't saying specifically that Kayla would, you just said that she would fight for the PFL in 2020. Right, right.

She would have at least one fight for you. Yeah, she would fight Cyborg. Maybe they would do the pay-per-view or whatever. She would fight Cyborg, and then she would fight Cyborg, and then she would fight cyborg and then she would go to the UFC and fight of Man Nunes and have an amazing year. Yeah, and not lose to the rest of Pacheco. Yep. That, yes.

What an interesting prediction that would be. Let's go to the men's flyweight division. I chose the man who probably still should be champion, at least in my eyes, Brandon Moreno. I thought he beat Davis to figure out. Fantastic fight. A fight I highly recommend you go back a watch because it's, it flies completely under the radar because it happens so early in the air.

what a spectacular matchup that was. But I thought Moreno won. I probably should get this, but I didn't. Davis and Viguerre was the champion. He is an interim champion. That doesn't count here. Do you remember who you chose A.K.? Did I stick with Figgie?

You did not. That's what a new name in there? A new name into the mix? You did. Mateus Niccolo? Nope. You picked Pantosia. Ah.

Did he fight this year? Yeah, who did he destroy? Alex Perez, right? Didn't he destroy Alex Perez? I got to look this out. This has to have been a while ago. Yeah, July. This is so long ago.

Yeah, July. So like in the summer. Was that his only fight of the year? That was the only fight this year here. He's not a super busy guy. One fight in 2020, two fights in 2021, and now just one fight in 2020. But, you know, listen, he should wisely be picking his spots because this is a guy who should have fought for a UFC title by now. the Ascar Ascarov lost set him back

But it would be really disappointing if Pentosin never fights for you Whether it's against Figurato or Moreno I like the Moreno matchup obviously we've talked about their history a lot But even a fight with even a rematch with Figgy for the title would be nice Their first fight was great So hopefully hopefully it's actually fight for that title I hate to be the bearer of bad news and sadness But men's bantam weights

I chose Josie Aldo to be the champion at the end of the year. Sorry. You did not choose Josealdo, A.K. Do you remember who you chose? I must have gone, I must have gone Piotrion. You did.

You had no faith in the Funkerian. I had no faith in the Funkmaster. I owe him an apology. We had Friends Forever moments for both the featherweight and lightweight divisions, A.K. We were correct for the featherweight division. Both picked Volkanowski would still be the champion.

Men's 155. We both went with Charterweight. Charles Olivera and obviously Islam Makachev is the lightweight champion of the world. We had a Friends Forever moment at 170 as well. Both wrong. Both pick Kamara Usman. That spot filled by Leon Edwards. So that'll be an interesting one for the 2020-prediction show.

Men's 185. Both wrong. You chose Israel Adasania. Yes. I chose Robert Wooder. We were both wrong. Men's 205. We did not see that Alphabet thing coming.

I mean, we, we just didn't believe. We didn't allow ourselves to believe. Well, I thought Whitaker is going to beat Izzy and then maybe fight one more time. Maybe they would run it back or again or whatever. Men's 205. We were both very, very close, but both wrong. You picked Machimann Ankelaif. I picked Glover-Teshirea.

Did not happen. Although Glover-Teshire, of course, is going to fight for the freaking belt three weeks later. against Jamal Hill. So he'll probably still be in the mix for the end of 2023. AK, you are correct as of right now for the men's heavyweight choice. You picked Francis and Ghanu. I went with John Jones. There you go.

Let's move on to the final thing that we're going to cover. We both put out our Muay Caliente predictions. Oh, my gosh. For the year. How many? How many? We just did one. Just did one.

And being best friends like we are, we both traveled the same highway. We just took different exits. So do you remember what your prediction was? The Kayla Harrison stuff? Nope, that was 2020. Not Kayla Harrison related. Okay. Well, I thought it would tie into my she's going to come to the UFC or something and

beat Mananine Nunes or win a bacon. I don't even know. It was just a UFC. It was a UFC prediction. It was anything. It was any. No, but I land. landed on a bold UFC related prediction?

We both went the same direction, but we went different ways. Who is the fighter involved? Kamsat Shimaev. Oh. Oh, wow. What was my bold prediction for Kamsat? Obviously not that he would finish the year as a UFC champion. No.

Oh, that he would lose, that he would lose. That he would lose. Yeah. That he would lose. Yep. So there you go. I didn't go that route. My prediction was very close.

It was very close. actually he wasn't close because even if even if that fight in how did that work yeah he couldn't have done it anyways because he had a draw and then a loss my prediction was Anderson Silva would have more boxing wins in 2022 than Hamzaa Tshamayev had UFC wins

and it didn't happen because Anderson Silva didn't win a single fight in 22 he fought to a draw and then lost to Jake Paul so that was a that was an interesting interesting prediction, but we were both, both wrong. So there you go. That's what we did. Those are our 2022 predictions. And now that you got a little bit of a taste of the buy sell, if you're hearing this for the first time, we're going to give you until Thursday, January 5th to submit your picks for the 2023 predictions extravaganza. They're going to be buy cell questions. Make them interesting. There's

obviously going to be some usual ones like Connor does this John Jones does this but make him interesting. Patty. Patty Pimbley. Come on guys. Give us some patties. I'm sure Patty will have mentioned a lot. I had one. I have to find it but there were comparing sports. Someone did this comparing to this. I don't know. It was like more significant strikes than points in this specific basketball game. I don't know. It was weird. I like those. Okay. But we we can have some fun. mixing and matching, but think outside the box. Let's have some fun. And you will submit those by Thursday, January 5th,

to the same places you would submit your matchmaking suggestions for on to the next one. So, AK, let the peeps know, because I know you've gotten a bunch already, right? Oh, yes. Yeah, yeah, I've gotten a bunch already. Keep them coming, guys. I like them in the DMs. I mean, if you want to just hit us up in the Twitter or social media replies, that's fine too. But I like them in the DMs.

At Alexander K. Lee on Twitter. at Alexander KK Lee on Instagram. That's 2Ks on Instagram. Alex. Dot Lee at SBNation.com. But yeah, guys, hit us both up. I already see a bunch. I can tell it's going to be another great show.

Another great show of 100% accurate by cell predictions, Mike. I mean, we're killing it. The last two years. I mean, we're getting 4.0s. Yeah. Straight up. Valedictorians, baby. You could hit me up on IGM underscore heck J.R.

Hot, no, yeah, I was going to give you my whole different email address. I don't even have anymore. M underscore, heck, JR. You could also send them, because this is where a lot of people were sending them, because I started doing this before I got to M-A Fighting, and this is a very popular segment that we did on different podcasts that I hosted. You could actually hit him up, hit me up on this, my old email address for that podcast, because that's where a lot of these come in. S-FLC podcast at gmail.com. It makes my life easier because everything's just all in one place. because people look forward to the show, they're submitting these throughout the year. So something crazy happens. Their heads are already moving, and they already start submitting these picks. So you can hit me up there as well if you want to submit picks that way

or just do the usual way in the Instagram DM. So that is it. This is a lot of fun recapping everything. Do you feel better, A.K.? I know you were a little bit nervous, but I feel like we didn't do too terribly. No, I think we did okay. I feel a little bad about some of my more cynical predictions,

if I'm being honest. I'm still kind of reeling. I kind of wish I'd gone with my heart and not sort of with my gut and brain and kind of trying to, whatever the opposite is, a speak something into existence, speak something out of existence. I feel like I may have gone out of my way to do that a couple of times. And I wish I hadn't. But, you know, in the end, I think a net positive, I want to say for us and for all of them. Yeah, I have a feeling these upcoming 2023 predictions.

I saw questions are going to be freaking wild after the way of the way of the. this year closed out. So again, submit those by Thursday, January 5th, and we're going to pick 25 or 30. They're just going to be randomized. We're going to throw them in the little generator that I've created,

and we're just going to go willy-nilly. We don't know what we're going to do. We have knowledge of what the topics and the questions can be, but we don't even know if we're going to answer them. We're just going to throw them in, randomize them, and then we'll do 25 to 30. We'll do our UFC champion predictions.

We'll do our Muay-Caliante predictions. And then who knows, maybe we'll go back to the Fighter of the Year predictions, because people are not letting me forget about my Calvin Cater pick from 2021. So for male fighter of the year. And listen, if you beat Max Holloway, probably would have happened. But that's it.

We'll see you next week on the 2023 predictions extravaganza for AKI. I am Mike Heck. Always remember, don't take this stuff too seriously. MMA is supposed to be fun. And we'll have a lot of fun next week. Favorite show of the year right here on. On to the next one, the podcast. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.