MMA Fighting - On To the Next One | Is Jared Cannonier vs. Khamzat Chimaev the Fight To Make After UFC Vegas 75?

Episode Date: June 18, 2023

Jared Cannonier delivered one of the best performances of his career in his main event victory over Marvin Vettori at Saturday's UFC Vegas 75. With the road back to a title shot with Israel Adesanya likely a long one, could Cannonier make it a bit shorter by facing Khamzat Chimaev next? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what could be next for Cannonier following his record-breaking showing against Vettori at the APEX. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Arman Tsarukyan following his third-round TKO win over Joaquim Silva in the co-main event, Armen Petrosyan after handing Christian Leroy Duncan his first loss, Manuel Torres following his vicious finish of Lucas Almeida, along with fellow main card winners Pat Sabatini, Nicolas Dalby, and more. 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 reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible original Blockbuster. The Downloaded, it's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking,

What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The Downloaded 2, Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Support for this show comes from the Audible original, The Downloaded 2, Ghosts in the Machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco 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 two, Ghosts in the Machine, available now only from Audible. Everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one. Yes, a very busy weekend of mixed martial arts action. It's in the books, and it was capped off on Saturday night, really, really late at night, with UFC Vegas 75.

It will take a look at that event from a matchmaking perspective. We had a hell of a main event, some great performances, and we're going to discuss the futures for some of these athletes who delivered on the medium-sized stage, I guess that we can call the UFC Apex as a building. But I am Mike Heck, and joining me as always, the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the Prince of Positivity.

You might know him from the hit show Tough Hang, but I know him as my best friend, Alexander K. Lee. Hello, AK. What's up, my best friend? I appreciate the tough hang nod there. The show, which, again, we don't know. Maybe on hiatus, given news that happened this week. We're actually still kind of waiting to see what's going on with the Ultimate Fighter 31.

But yes, I always appreciate the plug. I'm doing great. Caught up with some of UFC Vegas 75, actually shortly before this recording. So I'm somewhat caught up. But yeah, it was a busy weekend, wasn't it? And I don't know. Again, I didn't, I'll be honest, I didn't watch everything. Mike, you watched, what, Bellator?

Did you watch PFL as well? No. Okay. I wonder. It was one or the other. And look, I knew what was going to, I knew what PFL was trying to set up. We knew it was coming. We knew we were going to get his face off.

We were getting some sort of interaction between France and Gano and John Jones. And the good news was, I didn't need to watch the event to see the clip because Jet Michou was. Jedmishu was on site. The clip was everywhere. And the only thing I was really interested in was Larissa Pacheco and how she was going to perform. And her fight lasted like 42 seconds. And she just absolutely destroyed Amber Liebrock. So I got everything I needed from social media and MMAfighting.com.

Yeah. If you're a PFL, I feel like, again, I did not watch the full event. But just on paper, you got, yes, listen, that's the two things you need to hit. It would have been nice, I guess, if they got a, I don't know, a big finish in the main event. They should just put Larissa Pacheco in the main event. What are we doing, people? They should have put Pacheco on the main event. Beltor should have put Pitbull and Sergio on the main event.

Like, it's just, I don't know what these guys are sticking with this bizarre. Like, we have to put the heavier people to close the show. It's just getting ridiculous. It's getting ridiculous. We know, we know why anti-Delijah Mori screams in the main event. We know why. They, oh, all right, to set up, right, okay. That is exactly why.

Is one of these guys? So is anti-delagia. Like, well, no, anti-Dilesia, did he make the playoffs? No? No, but Mory's Green is, John Jones is going to be a Mory Screens corner. So that's why they did it. You set this up. They knew Francis was coming.

They had this all planned out. But that couldn't have been the, you know, did that have to be at the end of the show? Did that have to be? I guess you run it like a pro wrestling angle, right? Because I tune in next time to see what happens on PFL. You got to have the cliffhanger. Yeah, I don't know. It's so silly.

Delicia didn't. Oh, yeah, Delicia didn't make it because. the playoffs because he missed his first fight of the season. So, okay, fine. But I still think I wish they'd got to get behind Pacheco a little more. I get it. She's not Kayla Harrison. But frankly, like, she's somewhat more exciting as far as being a fight finisher.

And I feel like there's some star power there. And I don't know. I just feel it's a little disrespectful. She was a 22 lightweight champion. She's going for a featherweight title this year. So I don't know. I wish to give her a little more respect. And then Bell Tor, inexplicably, they were Mero.

Nemcov fight just because of the heavier fighters going, it's so silly. And like, you knew that fight, I guess you're hoping that someone's getting knocked out, but you know there's a potential for a lot of uncomfortable weirdness. And, you know, well, hilarious. Don't get me wrong, Mike. hilarious. I love a good time as much as anyone.

That was not as high level of fight as Sergio Fettus versus Bushersio Pitbull. Yeah, it was very weird because coming in, Bellator clearly had the best card on paper. I would say UFC was number two, PFL is number three.

And we had this sort of conversation on the post-fight show. PFL in terms of headlines and buzz and what we're going to talk about throughout the week, they won the weekend. There's no doubt about it. The Ingano John Jones thing, that's the people are going to remember more than anything else from this weekend. So good on them. In terms of in cage action, the UFC had the best car to the weekend. They had the best car to the weekend.

Bellator and PFL are neck and neck because I didn't watch PFC. but it seemed like at least their main card, at least there were some finishes, at least it was a little more excited. Like Sergio Paz looked incredible and he deserves a lot of credit for that performance, but I don't know. It's kind of a tough night for Bellator,

if we're being honest, because the matchmaking, the card order, all of it, man. Like the prelims were good, but they just don't seem to give any damn about the prelims at all because it's just one fight after the other. No, no, Junior. who should be on a rocket ship to superstardom right now

gets a brutal knockout finish. Dude just looked like a million bucks dancing around. Guy has star written all over him. No post-fight interview, no nothing. They just went right to the next fight and then right to the next fight. No time to waste.

We get 30 seconds at the desk with the man of Gere and Josh Thompson. And then both guys are already in the cage. There's no walkouts, no nothing. And then we get to the main card and Daniel James and Golkin Saracom is the first fight. How is this possible? How is Neveni not opening your main card?

Or Colgan. Colgan Emmanuel Sanchez would have been a good one. Like, put, how do you expect to build stars if you're burying them on the prelimbs? It's wild. There were also five post slims, by the way. Oh, my God, yes. Two of which ended in first round finishes, which no one will ever see. No one will ever see these finishes.

I don't know what if they were like, I mean, it's probably a good thing. You know, people thought that the way the card looked like it was laid out on paper. They thought this Vladimir Gouvaea was going to close out the prelimbs. People were confused. So I guess it's, it's only fair that considering his lack of experience and his opponent's lack of experience, they ended up in the post limbs. But apparently also, again, they got themselves a nice little 20 second finish, which again, no one will ever see because it was a post limit. So, I want Bellator to do so well. Like, I really do. I know. The Bellator rising cards, I think it's going to be fun. Yep. And then, like, their next

standalone event is that August card, and it's Logan Storley, against a guy that could be another guy who could be a star for them. Brennan War with the story and the way he fights and like how much of a boost he got from that Sabahamasi win on CBS, open up the main card, like looked like this is going to be a big year, and they're like, hey, Brennan, congratulations for getting yourself over. Now we're going to throw you in South Dakota against Logan Storley and a stylistic nightmare of a matchup for you. Like, why are we doing this fight? What's the main event in that card, though, Mike?

That is the main event. No. What? No. That's the main event. Come on. It's the main event. Come on, Mike.

It's the main event. I root for Bellator too. And I will say this. I talked to some folks from Bellator. They wanted and they fought for Sergio Pettis, Patricia Pitus to be the main event, and they were denied. They were denied.

I just don't get it. And it's such a great moment either way because even, you know, listen, if Patricia had won, it didn't look even worse that they didn't have it as the main event. But even Sergio winning is a great moment. Comes back from a year off. Everyone's counting them out. We're all like, oh, everyone's writing the story of, wow, Patricia's about to become a three-division champion. Where will we rank him pound for pound in all time when he beats Sergio Pett?

Sergio in his post-fight interview was like, yeah, man. Like even I started to think like, holy crap, can I beat this guy? But I mean, it's such a great culmination again of, not even say a culmination, because I think Sergio has so many great fights ahead of him. But like, I tweeted it. So it's like he's got what, Patricia Pitbull he's beaten now, Kyogi Horaguchi, Brandon Moreno. He has a win over Brandon Moreno. And people can say it was before Brandon Reno was good at the is. That's fine.

But this was in a UFC main event spot. And this is Mexico City, right? So it's not like, it's not like no one knew who Brandon Moreno was the time. like Brandon Reno was a top contender at the time. Sergio Pettus beat him. Joseph Benavides. It's a great run he's been on, again, for a guy who was a blue chip prospect from the beginning. So that would have been a nice moment to have as the main event.

Instead, you get this all of this respect. Listen, love Nemcov. I think he's the second or third best light heavyweight in the world. This was not the matchup for him to be in the main. This was the time for him to be the co-main. But what are we going to do, Mike? Look, they weren't going to beat out PFL after that moment. in terms of buzz

but you met like I think people would have been excited with that Bellator card had it ended with Pettus' performance the post fight and then him facing off

with Patchy Mix like that would have been a great way to close the show because people are fired up for that fight and then we had 25 minutes of Yole Romero doing YOL Romero

and it's almost like it was forgotten about and Nemcov we don't have a like opponent for him right there's no obvious he wants to go to heavyweight he wants to go to heavyweight

He knows there's no opponent for him. Yeah, he's going to have to go fight Ryan Bader for the second belt. He's going to have to. He's beat Corey Anderson. He's beat Phil Davis. He beat Ryan Bader. He beat Ryan Bader for the Light Heavyweight. Yeah.

In a Light Heavyweight title fight and now he has no choice. There's no one right now at Light Heavy. I mean, that's one reason Yuel got the shot. I mean, Star Power, but also there was really no one like ahead of him. You really couldn't complain him on him getting the shot because Nemcoff's beaten every other notable 205 or so. Weird way. Weird way to end the show, Mike. Weird way to end the show.

I'm on very little sleep, so I'm just letting out frustrations here. Yes, please. Positive. Let's turn this positive. Happy Father's Day. To all the dads out there. Happy Father's Day to you, Mike. Thank you very much.

Happy Father's Day to my dad, to A.K.'s dad, to all the dads out there. My dad, shout-out's Peter Lee. Peter Lee, my hero. Yeah. Good old Peter Lee. Real quick before we get into the matchmaking, AK. You made a bold statement. A bold statement on BTL.

8.4. 8.4. on the gymnastics scale for UFC Vegas 75. And again, the way the criteria is, this is not, oh, this is an 8.4 card on paper. You're saying that if everything delivers and this is the best card it can possibly be, then 8.4 would be the number. That's how it would be graded if everything goes right.

A.K., you got chastised for this. I did. I gave you a bunch of crap. Viciously. Even in our Slack channel. Even in our Slack channel last night. In the middle of the main card. After I heard, the prelims were pretty decent, I heard.

That's, people told me that there's a lot of drama. There's a lot of drama. I feel like, I don't know if it hit a full 8.4, but this is like the, is the Vadim Nemcoff the best light heavyweight in the world conversation right now? Because I don't think he is, but you can make a compelling case that 8.4 happened last night. I don't think it did, but I think it was close. I think you were knocking on the door. And even if not 8.4, let's say like, let's say this was,

I guess 7.6, 7.7. Let's say it didn't even hit 8. Let's say it even hit 8. I still think if certain things had gone, you know, right for the UFC, it could have approached that number. So I think, yes, this card, if anything, is a testament to the gymnastics's degree of difficulty scale. I think so.

Jed would disagree. Jed, I think would still insist that, like, even if, even if, like, let's say, I don't know, Petrosian Duncan had ended in a first round knockout, Dalby Salicab was, you know, It was like another fight, like fight of the night candidate. It's still like, like peaks at a seven. I would disagree. I would disagree. I think most people who watched this probably walked away thinking it was better than it looked on paper.

And that's really the point of the degree of difficulty scale is it sort of to go beyond like, yes, listen, we know a lot of these apex cards. If you're just going by on paper, they're out of 10, like card quality, star power. Of course, they're all like six and sevens. So the degree of difficulty is always high. higher than like the what what the actual result could be unless everything goes you know super well which again some ways did it i didn't think that i even said myself the canoneer vittori made event i was like oh boy like this is one thing bring the score down because i was not interested in this fight like at all and turned out pretty good turned out pretty good a pretty solid main event one fight

of the night you got some finishes some standout performances and i was going to say this for later but mike i got a shout out some of the old ass mfers on this card because listen we got a lot of cars these days where it seems like some of the older fighters are sort of getting, you know, sacrifices aware, for lack of a better term. But you got 39 years old. Jared Canineer winning the main event. Nicholas Dalby, 38, 38 beating Muslim Salikov. Not exactly a spring chicken himself.

I guess either way, you've got an old guy winning that fight. Kyeong Ho Kang, 35 years old, beaten a young whippersnapper and Christian Kinonez. Even Armin, Armin's why. Armortigian 32. So I think Sabatini, Sabatini's still. 32. So it's all about the young cats. You know what? This is Father's Day weekend. Perfect thing. I'm sure some of these guys are dads. And there you go.

Showing off the dad's strength. Yes. Well, let's just start with the main event. Jared Canaanier. To me, that was the best performance of his career. Marvin Vittory rocked him early. It looked like we were going to get a rare Marvin Vittory first round finish for a moment. And Canonair recovers. Second round begins. And it is just the Jared Canonnierer show for the next 20 minutes of

fighting. Record-breaking performance lands the most significant strikes in middleweight history. The old record is 186. Officially the UFC said he landed 241 significant strikes. And Marvin Vittori, tougher than a $2 stake, eight and wore every single one of those 241 significant strikes that Jared Cannesair landed. Cannesair gets a big win. He's in a very weird spot right now, AK, because he just fought Israel out of Sanya in a fight that nobody wants to see again. And I thought Canaanaires post-fight interview his call-out, if you will, pretty good.

Like, he's like, I want the title, but understood kind of the position that he's in saying, hey, something happens. Izzy's going to headline in Sydney. If for some reason you can't get an opponent to turn around in time and you need somebody to fill that slot, give me a call. I'm ready to go. I thought that was the right way to do it. To me, this is the easiest fight to make out of all of these fights.

This is easy. You've probably seen the listener picks. It's probably the most popular one you got. There's only one answer to this. There is only one answer to this. It is Jared Kennedy versus Hamzaa Chimaeuf, October 22nd, Abu Dhabi, UFC 293. There is no other choice here. I have another choice.

You do? Wow. I don't know. It's weird. Like, it makes somewhat, I just, I think maybe I'm just hesitant to, I can't remember the last time I threw out Hamzad. It might have been recent. I actually don't know.

Like, when I say I can't remember, I really can't remember. Just because I have no faith in this guy. Abu Dhabi makes so much sense for him to come back. Kananiere, you're right, makes a lot of sense for him. He was asked about Khamsat, of course. Like you said, it's pretty much out there. It's this very public thing. Everyone's like, well, who else is there for Jared to fight?

Because he's fought everyone in the top 10, pretty much, or everyone in the top 10 is booked. Or both, or both. He's fought guys in the top 10 who are booked. So there's not a lot of sense in him running it back with some of these people. So I guess Hamza is the fresh name out there. But I just have this weird feeling that it won't fit so neatly. I'm glad Jared's open to it, especially under the assumption that should he beat Hamzat, he would be the number one contender, which again, no guarantees.

He should be. And I don't know about the backup thing either, Mike, because I don't think he's number one on their list. I don't think he's number one in the U.S.s list as a backup. I'm not sure who would be, but I don't think they're going to have Jared be the first call just because that first fight, boy, that left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouth, first fight with a disson year. I did a little crystal balling. I did quite a bit of crystal balling, actually, because I actually had difficult trouble this week.

Maybe it's because I wasn't watching the card fully, but I'm going to say he's actually going to end up fighting Jerkus Duplacy, DDP, after DDP loses to Robert Whitaker. I know a lot of us are counting out Duplice, probably still unfair, but I'm a firm believer. Whitaker wins that matchup nine times out of 10. Maybe when they step into the octagon, it will be the one time out of 10 that Duplice wins and everyone gets kind of gets there, finally gets their Duplice, Dissania title fight. But, and if that happens, great, I've got kind of a feeling it's not going to go that way.

So I'll go with him losing that fight and then having to fight Kenner. Yeah, I just feel like the only way Canaaner gets back to a title fight is if he fights on Dats Chamaif. Oh, I agree. I just don't think the UFC cares about Jared Kenner ever getting near a teller I don't know that factors into the decision making

maybe maybe the opposite they would think Hamzat just needs one win at 185 Jared Kaner is a great option he beats Kananir one-time telechallenger we can throw Hamzat right into a title fight so that side of it I see but I don't know I just don't I just think if he wins any fight at 185 Hamzat's that being that they'll

throw him in a telos shot but yeah Kenner makes a ton of sense yeah It's an interesting fight. You got to give Hamzot somebody. You can't just, I mean, could they just throw them in there with Izzy? I don't know how Izzy would feel about that. So we'll see. But if 185 is the place and we're going to build Hamzaa versus Izzy in some way, shape, or form,

you got to do this fight. You got to do this fight. If Hamzaat doesn't fight in October, if he is not on that Abu Dhabi card, I don't know how I'm going to feel, man. Like, I'm just going to be like, this dude may never fight again. Because it's been so long, man. Like it'll be 13 months. It'll be 13 months in between fights.

I will never, the peak of Hamzat mania just feels like a fight like a lifetime ago. It feels like 10 years ago because we all thought, man, this guy's fighting like every, this guy's fought like twice in a week, three times in like two months. Oh man, this guy's going to be unbelievable. It's got to be the next superstar. I was just going to fight all the time. Little did we know he would become one of the most active and difficult guys to get back in. And again, I'm not blaming him. I've said, I have said before that I do wonder if there's something going on in history.

side, but of course the UFC, the matchmakers and their side, for whatever reason, can't get him a fight. So everyone takes some responsibility because this guy should be a star, and they just, they can't get him fights. Mike, how has, I know we're not doing Vittori, but how has Vittori not fought Derek Brenson yet? How does this never happen? I don't know.

It might happen now. I feel like it has to, right? I was just thinking about Derek Prenson for Canier, and I was like, now Canyar, like smoked Derek Brunson, so we never see that one again. So I'm like, Votori? And I'm like, yeah. And I thought, oh, Votori and Brunson must have a lot. already fought too. And I'm like, oh, they haven't. So Brunson, get on that. I know they've been

mentioned before. I think something, Kevin Holland or something said they should fight. So Kevin Holland, get yourself at no point if that happens. Yes. Marshall's buyers travel far and wide, hustling for great deals on amazing gifts. So you don't have to. They've bagged this season's Italian leather handbags. Designer. Handpicked the finest sweaters from the rest. Ooh, cashmere. Landed makeup pallets from the brands you love. brushes too, and hustled all those wishless topping toys. So plush. Our buyers have got you covered.

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on C4A or in magazine Let's go to the co-main event and let's go to the biggest favorite on the card

Armin Sauru Kian who had a very Armin Surukian fight. First round just goes out and just rag dolls

Joachim Silva has him on the ground, he's beating him up, almost got a submission just frustrating the man

wearing on him, putting all that weight on him, making him work. Second round, Sarukian does what he typically does. Goes out there. He's on the feed. He's trying to knock out Joachim Silva. He's throwing a lot of strikes. He's landing. Silva's chin holding up a lot better than people gave it credit for. And then Joaquin slavals and Sarukin wobbles and everyone's like, oh my God, this is going to be a disaster. But Sarukian recovers, gets the takedown, ends the round with some momentum. And then round three, he just says, F it.

I'm just running through this dude. and he did exactly that. Slams Joachim Silva on his head. It starts to land in vicious elbows. Keith Peterson was all about the nonsense last night, not just in this fight, but in other fights. That fight should have been stopped about 18 strikes earlier. But Serruchin gets the third round finish.

Seems like Benil Darius is the easy choice here. But Serukin threw a little hurdle saying, looks like Darius might not be able to fight till December. Might don't really feel like waiting that long. So he turned his attention to Michael Chandler and said, look, as you mentioned, AK, with this whole Connor McGregor situation, Usada, the allegations, what's going on with tough, all of it. He's saying, look, you ain't fighting Connor. So you got to fight somebody. So just fight me and I'll kill you.

Pretty much what he said into a live microphone. So are either of those options, your choice for the 26-year-old phenom, Arm and Serukian. They are not. But only because literally on last. literally on last week's episode, I want, I want it been Neil to get the Michael Chandler fight down the road. So I cannot deviate from that yet. But if I, I like Syracian's callout, if I'm any, like, up and coming lightweight, you know, from the in the 7 to 20 range, whatever, guys who are like, you know, not veterans, guys who have not had title opportunities yet. Michael Chandler

is the callout right now. Try and get that Michael Chandler fight. Because it does, it does feel like, for all the reasons we've mentioned, man, that McGregor fight isn't serious jeopardy. Before, before, like, the ultimate fighter started before these allegations came out this week, these sexual assault allegations against McGregor came out this week, people were saying like, there's no trust there. There's no trust. There's like,

ah, gosh, is he really going to do a whole season of tough and fight Michael Chandler? And look at him, he's out and about. Look at all the partying. And like, does it seem like he's repairing?

So, like, it's weird. As we've seen them interact more, like, as theoretically we get closer to an actual date and as we've actually seen like Connor on the show and stuff, it's somehow has become more and more.

more and more unlikely that the fight happens. So all you lightweights out there, yeah, looking to take a top 10 spot. The name in the top 10 to go after right now is Michael Chandler. So I like that. I just can't pick it for Surukian because I said I think Benile should try and get that fight. And it's also just a fight I'd love to see. But I understand, again, if Benile's not ready for a long time, Chandler might fight someone

else. So good job by Surikian. But I'm going with another veteran and another chance for Armin to crack sort of the top five, top six. I want him, and I don't think there's a chance either of these guys take it. but I'm waving my magic wand. I want the loser of the BMF title fight, Dustin Porre, Justin Gaichie, U.C. 291.

I think they should have to fight Armin. Yeah, it's, I thought about that, but again, Shrewkin just wants to get back. It seems like he wants to fight in October and Abu Dhabi. That's what he's targeting. I just don't see a world where either those guys are ready for October. But it could happen. That's, if it's a wait till December to fight either Darius or Gachia or Pori,

some pretty good options. I ultimately landed on Benile there. I don't think Surrican's going to get what he wants. And honestly, I think the UFC might kind of pushing prod baniel to just be like, nah, dude, suck it up. You're fighting in October. Like, if you ever want to get even, you want to sniff what that world title smells like, you're fighting Armin Surruki and Abu Dhabi.

That's it. And he'll do it too. He'll do it. He's such a company man. He's such a company man. But that's the fight. This makes the most sense. Serkin had to go way back to fight.

No one wants to fight this dude. Daryish's coming off the loss. We know the position he's in. He's in that Belal Muhammad position. This is the fight. This makes the most sense. Unless something crazy happens and he has to step in on short notice or something. Does Surykhya need to keep the martial arts apart, Mike?

What do you think? Does he get a little too? Because he's a good striker. That's one thing that's so exciting about him. He is a good striker. And you could see intentionally that he wanted to prove on, because I guess it was an opponent that's like we said was a little bit lower tier than he should be fighting now with respect to Joachim Silva.

It did look like he was messing around a lot. Does he need to keep the martial arts apart if he's really going to, you know, really going to be a champion? Not particularly, but I think a lot of people saw that first round and we're like, oh, we're going to get this for three rounds, which is fine. He's going to win, but this wasn't, that wouldn't have been the type of thing fans wanted to see from Marvin Serruc and being a minus 1050 minus 1100 favorite. So I actually thought this worked out pretty well for him. Overcame some adversity.

Yeah. Got clocked. Joaquin Silva's stock rose a little bit. And then he just got him out there in the third, got the big finish. I think this was pretty good. A minus performance, honestly, despite getting hit in the second round. I did like that at the end of the second round. He got rocked.

And then he wasn't tentative. He actually got like more aggressive. He came out in the third round and just like, nope, I'm coming forward into the fire. I'm like, this kid is crazy. Like this, he was not, maybe he was rocked and just didn't have a good sense. I don't know, but he went forward instead of like, like, oh, I should be wary of this guy strikes. And I'm going in now. And I'm imposing my will.

So what an exciting player to watch. Gosh, this guy needs, I hope he gets one of those big fights. Chandler, Darius, Poria, Gachie, one of these guys, enough with him fighting backwards. This is ridiculous. He's a top five talent. He is a top five talent. Speaking of Armands, let's go to Armine Petrosi. and on the People's Pre-Fight show, I made some bold proclamations.

One was an actual proclamation. I said, the main event will be the fight of the night, is going to be a war. They're going to get after it, and it's going to be way more fun than people think it's going to be. So I know that one. Well, then. And the other proclamation was more of a wish. Please, please, please, do not give me a 15-minute arm in Petrojan fight. So I guess the M.A. gods are like, all right, we'll give you the main event prediction,

but we can't give you everything. But Petrosian goes out there, he wins. Hans Christian Leroy Duncan, his first loss. And a lot of people feel, you say this all the time. You go on Twitter and you see a guy lose the first fight. Oh, he's exposed. He exposed him. Petrojan just looked good.

And CLD didn't really have a lot for him. Petrusia had a good performance. This is, it was just a 15-minute middle-weighty, Arm and Petrosian type performance. So for the first time on onto the next one, AK. It's magic wand time. It is magic wand time. I don't think I'm reaching too deep for this magic wand pick

based on the betting odds and how people view this. Armand Petrosian versus Bo Nicol after UFC 290. That's what I'm going with. What did Armand do to you for the state? Why? Why are you doing this to Armine? I got to tell you, after watching that fight against Christian Leroy Duncan, It might not be the most aesthetically pleasing fight of all time. Petrosian wins.

That's a huge win. Yes. And honestly, people are ready to like, I saw people say, hey, if Izzy needs an opponent after Bo Nickel beats Trashon Gore, let's just give Bo Nickel the title shot. I'm like, are you high? Like, you have to be on something to think that. There's no need to rush Boe Nickel,

but we have to give him a step up after this, like a pretty good one. Towards the top 20, top 25, top 30. I think Petrojan is kind of right in that mix. I think this is a good, I think this is a good fight. I think it's a really good test for Bo to see where he's really at. And if Bo goes in there and runs through Armand Petrosian, I think you can give him a top 15 guy after this.

So yeah, let's give him the Bo-Nichael fight. I mean, rankings-wise, he's kind of in the rain. Like, that wasn't like crazy. It was a name I sort of looked over, but I wasn't, I'm not crazy about it. First off, let me say, yes, I've talked a lot of crap about our in prochurchian fights. I'm with you. I was like, please God, not in a projordian decision. And I made some bold proclamations myself. They're on M.AFighting.com comparing CLD to like the style of like Anderson Silva and Israelite disannia, which I'm not wrong.

I'm not wrong, by the way. He's just not anywhere near as good as those guys yet. But he does have MVP, I think it was another one I saw online. I'm like, yeah, yeah. That same kind of loose, hands down, kind of, you know, a lot of feints, a lot of, you know, a lot of probing sort of with the lead hand and things like that. So I'm not like crazy. If you squint, you can see hints of those more accomplished fighters in Christian Lee or a Duncan style. But yeah, listen, that cutesy stuff, it needs a lot of refinement against a guy like Arm and Petrosian is a pretty seasoned kickboxer. Again, not to be confused with the other Armand Petrojan, but this one is also a good kickboxer. Again, he just needs to mature.

You need to mature if you're going to win and fight like that. And I heard, again, I did not watch this fight, I'll admit, but I saw a lot of people saying, best performance of Petrojans of your story. career so far pretty pleasing like you said like not not a barn burn or not a fight at night or anything but I maybe I owe Armin Trojan apology because I did see a lot people saying like you know good performance good strong performance again against a guy who

was you know I think a lot of people thought oh I was just going to hit a first round to kill this guy so I don't know I didn't go the bonnical direction I'm of the sense I just want to keep giving Armin stand up fights so get let's go with the July 1st Abdul Razak al-Hassan versus Bruno Faheta winner.

So just more stand-up fights for Armand. I get using him as a litmus test for Bo-Nickel, but I'm just going for ignoring contender applications here. I just look for hopefully another good stand-up fight. Got no issue with that. No issue with that whatsoever. Let's go to the featherweight division, the most underrated division in all of mixed martial arts.

Just so many killers, so many savages. Pat Sabatini had a tough performance. against Damon Jackson comes back, taking on the chaotic, big finisher in Lucas Almeida, and Pat Sabatini was like, he's the big finisher?

No, no, no, no, no. I'm the big finisher, Daddy-O, and he goes out there and just malls Lucas Almeida, gets him out of there, beat him up, submits him, gets it done.

It's Sabatini versus Signor Perfecto time, AK, Sabatini versus Bill Algeo is the fight I'm going with. Patty Sabes. Patty Sab's making a statement for sure. I did not have a lot of faith in Lucas Almeda's take down defense. And I think I was picked like Sabatini by decision.

But I'm like, I don't know. I just think he's a bit too skilled for Almeda. So, yeah, I was happy to see that result for sure. Better talk next time, Mr. Lucas Almeida. I went with a more bizarre direction here. Mike, I don't know why I landed this. I went through a bunch of names. And I'm like, you know what?

Sabatini, again, strong grappler. I kind of want to see him in there with, With Cron Gracie. Is that crazy? Is that... I know a lot of people never want to see Cron fight again,

frankly, in MMA after the Charles O'Dane fight. I understand that. I think the Sabatini matchup will play a little more into his style. Though I wonder... Or if not,

I would love to see how Sabatini approaches that challenge. So, if Cron is going to fight again, I think it'll be Sabatini. I would want to see him in Sabatini. I think that could be fun. I think that could be fun.

trying to put this. I had a lot of trouble this week, Mike, with matchmaking. No, no, I know. I know. This is not an easy card. I had a lot of trouble. That is, if everything goes perfectly, that's an 8.4. That's an 8.4.

That's an 8.4 fight. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. I agree. The more I think about it, the less I dislike it. There is some sense here. Oh, my gosh.

Isn't there? You got me thinking. That might actually be the correct answer. Isn't there? Come back, Kroen. Come back. Don't wait another three years to fight. Holy smokes.

Well, look, in terms of stocks rising this weekend, Sergio Pettis is number one. No doubt about it. Underappreciated, under the radar. Dude does not get enough credit. His stock rose tremendously this weekend. Number two for me is Manuel Torres, AKA, because that was a brutal knockout.

That was a nasty finish, gets it done. Calvin Cateresque. It was a beautiful thing. And maybe the third best standing elbow knockout of 2023. There's been some good ones. Lorenz Larkin is still the best one. And people aren't going to remember that one at the end of the year, but you really should.

I'm going to keep putting that knockout on your radar. So when you're making your list, you don't forget that one. But this guy is fun. He is exciting. What do you want to see next for him in the UFC's Cadillac Division, 155 pounds? Manuel Torres versus fill in the blank. Yeah, listen, kudos to the mastermakers and the schedulers for putting this one on the main card. Because Torres Moda was about your lock for someone getting knocked the F out.

I mean, this is two lightweight guys who's just going there looking to finish. And in this case, Torres picked up, again, one of the best ones of the year. So congrats to him. I want to see more finishes, man. I want to see more finishes. I want to see Manuel Torres in more. more highlight real fights. So on, I'm just wondering there with Yoros Medici.

I think Medici has never been to the scorecards. Torres once, once I want to say, in 15 fights, and only one of it, all, 12 of his wins, 12 of 13 wins by knockout or submission. So like I said, we're creating a huddle here. We're a highlight factory and on onto the next one. And Manuel Torres, get in there with Yos Midech and just try and take each other's heads off, please. I wrote four, I wrote four total words.

words for this one. September 16th, Euro-Spanic. Cue the music. Are you serious? Three, four. Friends. Friends forever.

Yep, that's it. September 16th, Team Mobile Arena. There you go. Manuel Torres on the Mexican Independence Day card. How did we do that? We had to land somewhere. I mean, this is kind of a dart throw kind of a card. Yeah.

I'm kind of stunned. I'm kind of style. I wish the video was out because after you said that, I was like, ooh, we got one. I wonder if we'll get another one here, AK. I wonder if we'll get another one here. This is actually a decently popular pick. We go to the welterweight division, the main card opener, Nicholas Dalby, as you mentioned earlier, taking on the King of Kung Fu Muslim Salikoff. And wouldn't you know it, Nicholas Dalby coming out there and just putting on a show.

Great performance. Gets it done. 22, 4-1, 22nd pro win. What are we doing here? What's next for Nicholas Dalby after this good performance? This nice win. Is that three straight wins now for Nicholas Dolby? That is.

Three straight wins. Claudio Silva. Damn. I keep doubting this guy. I'm pretty sure I picked against him. I know I picked Salikov to win this one. Four and one in his last five. Damn.

And I'm pretty sure I picked against him in least with these other two fights. So I, listen, I got to stop counting out Nicholas Dalby. He's legit. He's overcome a lot in his personal life, a lot in his professional life. He's always a fun fight out there. Could we be friends forever on this one? I went high because I feel like I was like, he deserves a top 20 opponent. But once I made that sort of designation in my mind, it was actually really hard to find someone who either he hasn't.

Because I was like, I was like, yeah, Rodriguez went in perfect, but they fought already. And he beat him. There's no reason to go over that fight again. I think there was some dispute in the scoring. But again, if you're Dalby, you won the decision. So what's the point? And then once you go past Dalrygues, you're talking top 15. And a lot of those guys are booked.

Again, it just don't make sense for Dalby right now. So I did find one name. My only reluctance was I feel like I've used this name a lot, but I can't remember last time. So I'll throw it out there. If anyone's keeping score, you guys can call me out. Gare yourself an honor point for calling me out. I think you give him Vicente Lucke. Ooh.

Okay, it's not a friend's forever. Oh. But that's due to, okay. Luke is booked? Yeah. He's fighting Hotfield de Sanjos main event, August 12th.

Oh, I keep thinking those two Oh, you know, it's a whole other thing. I'm not going to go down. I'm not going to go down that road. Give him the winner of that fight. Give him the winner.

All right. I'll take the doo-do. No, no, no, no. It is do-do. But I will just, just for my own record-keeping in my mind, I'm going to change that

to Lucay Dosanos. But that is, yes, I will take the doo-do. Thank you for reminding me. What do you got? Sometimes in life, a.k. Things are just sort of normalized, right? You go in there, you have a fight with Muslim Salafs. It's very technical. It's fun. And you just want to see who the better man is. But sometimes

in life, the milkshake of life, you need to sprinkle on some chaos. And I think Chaos Williams just might be the guy for one Nicholas Dalby for his next opponent. Let's just go out there and do a little Nichols-Dalby versus Chaos Williams action. I think that's a fun fight. Chaos was tested pretty hard in his last fight. Nicholas is going to give him a good test. Let's see where both of these guys are. I think these guys are ranked right around the same. Maybe Chaos is a couple notches higher,

but kind of want to see Nicholas Dalby get a little bit of a step up here. Let's give him Chaos Williams. I think so I have Dalby a bit higher, but right in that same range, though. I have Dalby like just in the top 25 chaos right around the top. And again, this is Walter Wade. Anything from

like 20 to 35, it's pretty tightly packed together. It's not like they're separated that much so yeah great fight love it love it i'm all i'll tell you what i had the most trouble with the wild card round aka yeah i was trying to be like fancy and and cute with this in some way like do i want to move marvatory up to light heavyweight and then nothing really compelled me there but we're going to do our best here to give our wild card selections we will matchmake for one fighter we have not match made for yet could be somebody who got their hand raised on the prelims, somebody who was not successful

on the main card. However you want to slice it, okay? So who is your wild card selection for the 8.4 UFC Vegas 75? Yeah, I should have just made it Vittori Brensen now that I think about it. That would have been the logical thing to do, but I do have another wild card pick.

Kyeongho Kang, again, another guy, like Dalby, I keep picking against him. I think, I think Kyeong, let's see, he's one is past two. I'm pretty sure I picked him. I definitely picked him to lose this one. And I think I picked him to lose against Donat Bakrari as well. But anyway, I don't know. I don't know what it is. I don't know why the student people I just, I just can't get her. It's often veterans too. I've been accused of being agist. So maybe that's it. Not inaccurate.

I do always tend to say like, oh, this guy's 33, 34, 35, 36. They're on their way out. This is so-and-so's, you know, their opponent's time to make a statement. I keep saying that. And Kangho Kang just keeps hanging in there. He's been pretty inactive too. I think that's the other thing. I'm like, oh, well, how, like, how committed can this guy be to the game? He keeps getting injured or whatever. He just can't get, you know, can't get fights frequently. He's won enough. Again, two straight now. Really, five of his last six. I mean, this is dating pretty far back. I am, you do have to stretch back a few years here, but five of your last six still five year last six. I shouldn't hate on that. So anyway, I'm going to him in another old ass MFer.

Give me 35-year-old Kyeongho Kang versus 37-year-old Douglas Silva, Diann-Jrash. There you go. Just get, let's get, listen, let's get these veteran bandtonweight. I think we think of it as a young, speedy division. There's a lot of great veterans in there, too, and a lot of great fight for them to have. So I say throw those two in there together. It's a good fight. Like I said, there's not a lot of things that I'm clamoring for matchup-wise. Like, there was not one fight where I was like, oh, man, I can't wait to see Sergio Pettis patchy mix on this UFC Vegas 75 card. The can in there homes that one, maybe, but nothing really stood out from what we typically get for wild card. So my first thought was, let's just do

Jimmy Flick versus Dennis Bondar in a loser leaves town match. something like that. And I kind of, that was like the best I could think of. But then I was like, you know what? Let's stick a little bit deeper. Let's take this a little more seriously. I'm going with Daniel Argetta.

He got hosed by Keith Peterson. And look, Ronnie Lawrence got hosed as well. The right decision came to be. Keith Peterson was like, I screwed up after the replay. Rule to no contest. Completely the right call. But if Keith just hung on for like eight more seconds,

Argetta would have gotten the, tap or I think Ronnie Lawrence would have went to sleep. So if we just wait eight more seconds, we're talking about Danny Argetta having a performance, maybe getting a bonus, all of that. So I'm going to treat him as a winner. And another fun addition to this band and weight division, aka it's Dania Argetta versus Javid Basharat. I think that would be a fun-ass fight.

I got to see these two guys getting some scrambles. I'm ready for it. I like that fight. I think it's a good step up for both guys. Basharat is, to me, he's got top. top 10 at worst written all over him probably top five maybe a guy will challenge for a title but we got to test him on the way up there's no rush but i want to give him tough fights on the way up and it's hard not to have a tough fight at 135 our geta would be a tough fight i would probably

pick basherap but that's the kind of fight he needs on the way up to the ranking so i like that idea yeah yeah javid's got a bit of hype behind it but not so much that if you match him up with I agree I had that people back. Oh, he's, why is the UFC? Why aren't they giving a top 25, top like 15 guy? I think people know he's not quite there yet. Not that he couldn't be competitive against those guys now, but it's, it's hard to sell him, I think. But yeah, he's three and O in the UFC so far.

He looks awesome. I think I've said on one of our prediction shows, or I don't know if we were asked on an no Q&A or something, like where is he going to be? And I said he'll be ranked, I think, like top 15 by 2024. And obviously, I'm not saying a win over our good. It gets him there. but a win over our good gets him again that you know stays undefeated keep the hype going and then we're really talking about a top 20 top 15 opponents so I think by the I still stand by the end of

next year job it will be we'll have a number next to his name completely agree do we have any check the tapes submissions or anything like that oh I don't know you know I haven't gone over I should say I have not like I actually got quite a few submissions I apologize to listeners I have not looked over them thoroughly we're going to kind of kind of have to do this one live and I'll go and check the tapes of anyone. Like if I notice anyone say like, oh, I called this fight and I think there's at least one person. You know what? Let me do one right now.

I remember there was earlier this week. John Ray, regular listener contributor, John Ray. He wants an odd no point for Ian Machado, Gary versus Jeff Neal. I don't remember if he's the only one who picked that. Probably not. The only one. But he's the only one who reminded me. So at least a half point.

Guys, I should add to the disclaimer. If you want your out no point, feel free to poke me and annoy me. and remind me because I've done a very bad job this year of keeping track of previous ought no selections. So don't be afraid. And I'll say this, John Ray went the extra mile. He sent me a screenshot, Mike. This is why I'm giving at least a half point.

Because he sent me a screenshot. Some people just go like, oh, I called this, and then I have to scroll back up to the DMs and try and find it. Send me a screenshot. Keep those receipts, people. You'll get your half point. So John Ray is definitely getting a half. And everyone else got a sprinkling of the other half who picked that one.

Yeah, there's a bunch of divided Otno points going around. Two fights in particular that got added to the UFC Boston card, UFC 292, both women's flyweight fights. Creene Silva versus Marina Morose as MMA fighting first reported. And Natty Ice, Natalia Silva versus Andrea Lee going down on that card as well. That fight is great. That is a great fight. And a lot of suggestions for both those fights. So with Amex platinum, $400 in annual credits for travel and dining

means you not only satisfy your travel bug, but your taste buds too. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. 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. Do you want to give the usual disclaimer? We'll go to the peeps.

Yeah, I'll give the quick little disclaimer here, guys. Hopefully you guys can be the only one. One of you out there can be the only one who picked a fight. Then you get a rare, very rare. I don't even know if we've given one out. maybe we gave a couple of this year. Very rare. Solo,

no point. Please watch out for your mistakes, guys. People wrong weight class. We see that a lot. I don't know why. People who have fought already. Just throw it two. Or two or three, you know, next to the matchup.

So we know you remember. Notable injuries. People have been released not fighting in the UFC anymore. Fighters who are already booked. I just gave you an example of that guys at the top of the show. People who are notable teammates who train together frequently. You know, not to say that guys who train together can't fight. But there's not people who've been trained together for years.

Probably not going to fight each other. etc. And most importantly, the golden rule. Your pictures might be do-do and we don't want to read it. Let's get into this. Jason, good morning, Mike, here on my picks for the next one. Happy Father's Day. Thank you. Canaaner-Shimaev. I'm not going to keep reading Canada Shemayef. I think 95% of people said that. So if I don't read it, don't take offense to it. Everybody said that. Vittori versus the winner of Sean Strickland versus Abis Magamadaf. Petrosian versus Shabazzian. Interesting. Sabatini versus Charles Jordane. Nicholas Dauby versus Jake Matthews,

a Jedd Michoud former top 15, top 10 maybe, welterweight and NBA fighting his corporate rankings. Manwell Torres versus Michael Johnson, AK. What do you think about that idea? Wow, that's such a big step up experience-wise, though. But again, I think they've shown it lightweight.

They're not afraid to do that. Like, Nicholas Motta fought Jim Miller in his UFC debut or his 1-0-0-1-1 or something. I can't remember. So it could absolutely happen. I prefer to just match up with similar experience. But at lightweight, it's so competitive. Like, really, you could get thrown right into the shark tank.

And vice versa for Mike Johnson, you could fight a veteran one week and you could fight an up-and-coming killer the next week. So, yeah, it's totally possible. And the last election from Jason, I don't know if he's just super high on Armand-Saurukian or just not convinced that this guy is ready to give anything to Isl-Machachev. But he's going on Armand-Sarukian versus Charles Oliver, AK. I mean, I want to see it someday. Hopefully not next for Charles. Hopefully Charles gets a title shop, but I was not going to circling's coming for that spot. But I loved Armin Edmund.

I think Armand Edmund was a really, really nice choice. I believe this is John Ray. John Bukas versus Dong Jung, Hernandez versus Costa, because it's not like there's a lot of men's flyway. It's Kengheng versus Julio Arcei, Dalby versus D-Rod, which doesn't be two, right? Oh, John Ray. Do-Doo. It's okay. He still gets his half-point.

Still gets a half point. Yeah, but come on. That's a two, John Ray. Torres versus Ricky Glenn. Is Ricky Glenn booked? I'll look really quickly. Yeah. I don't know.

I don't have time to always vet all these, but I kind of feel like he's booked. Yeah, I definitely have not vetted any of these. No, he's not. No, I don't see anything that we've confirmed, at least that's for sure. Sabatini versus Diego Lopez. That's a good one. Petrogyan versus Julian Marquez. Surukian versus Darius.

Sorry again, Benny. Vittori versus Brendan Allen, assuming he beat. It's Bruno Silva. Okay. What was the Sabatini? Sabatini and... Diego Lopez. That's a great fight.

The other thing is, I want... I think Sabatini at some point deserves to move up, right? I feel like he's getting a lot of tough... He's that guy who's getting a lot of tough fights in the lower half of featherweight, and, like, he... At some point, he deserves his own shot moving up.

I say this having given him... He got the Damon Jackson fight. He might have given him a top 15 ranking. This is true. He did, and he just fell short in that opportunity. And I say this also having... matched him up with Cron Gracie. So I get it.

I'm not exactly, uh, not exactly practicing what I preach here. But, uh, yes, I hope 17 you can find a top 25 further. It's hard,

though. Again, a lot of them are other booked are just, um, a little, a little too far out of reach, I think. Let's go to Tino.

Modestis Pekoskas versus Felipe Lins, Argetta versus Al-A-Latang-A-Li, Terissa Belaida versus Mandy Boehm, Hernandez versus Charles, Carlos versus Charles, Gung Ho-Kang versus Douglas Silva-Dand-Draj with you-A-K. Alessandro Costa versus Sumedarji,

Nicholas Dolby versus Li Jing Liang, Manuel Torres versus Euro Shmettich. Oh, this is like a... Damn. UFC fight September 16th

Team Mobile Arena. You're friends, listen, people are talking about it. People are talking about it. That'd be a great... God, that'd be a good fight. Petrosian versus

Mikhail Olegzezek. Pat Sabatini versus Jonathan Pierce. I think this is a popular one. Pierce, I believe, had a, because he was scheduled to fight Bryce Mitchell before if Loya have stepped in, I think Pierce has like a pretty serious injury.

I don't know 100% what can be revealed and whatnot. I don't think he's, I'd be stunned if he fights this year from from what I hear, but maybe not. But that fight, that's a fight that could happen. That's a fight I would love to see. Harry, Medescus, Modestis versus the

Negu, Negu Mariano. Carl Siddhas versus Clayton Carpenter. Mr. Perfect. Ooh. You like vet fights, AK. What do you think of this? Mr. Perfect versus Pedro Munoz. I like, that would be like pretty, like, let me see where I have Muno's rank still.

Hold on. Pedro for me is still like, I'm sure Luffy will disagree because it's a great division. Like, he's still like a top 20 phantom weight for me. That's a big, but you know what? Hey, maybe a Kung Hokang finally deserves that opportunity. Sure. Yeah, sure. I think I have him higher than top 20.

I have honestly, he's 12 in my U.S. UFC rankings, only, he's 12. If you throw in Bell toore, he's probably again, 15, 16. But just band, he's top 15 for me in the UFC. So, I don't know. He just beat Chris Gutierrez. I know, I know. He went out. I think there's a little bit of that losing streak there.

But it was all against good, like, opponents. So, you know, whatever. Sure. Costa versus Victor Altamorano, Dalby versus Chaos Williams. Manuel Torres versus Slava Claus. Good grief. That could be, that could be fun. Petrojan versus maybe the new middleweighty, middleweight champ, Mark Andre Barrow.

Yes. This could be for the middleweight title. If I hadn't already matched up, Baguio with someone else last week, I don't remember who. I think a winner of another fight or something. If I hadn't done that, Bakuio was actually my number one pick. That would have been my number one pick for Petrojan. Surukian versus Greg Gillespie. People just want to see this fight.

It's never going to happen. Kenner versus the Costa Alaskaroff winner. Speaking of fights that I don't think is ever going to happen. Costa-Lascar is that fight? Is it official? What's going on with that? It's UFC official. I don't know if it's going to happen, but it's UFC still promoting it as if it's happening. And I hope it does. I hope it does. Especially Hamzaa-Pala-Pala-Pala was the fight to make all along. That was the fight to make. Or you could do Paula Costa versus Robert Whitaker instead of DDP. All sorts of different options. But I got to tell you, Costa Ilyskaroff, El-Scaroff. That's a very intriguing matchup. Drew, he's with you, A.K. This was one of the more entertaining fight cards of the year.

8.4. 8.4. That elbow from Torres was like a nuclear bomb. He likes a rebooking of Armand Surukian versus Hanata Moikano. Might get flamed for this, but I've said for a while at the highest levels, Armand striking is a liability, is a good left kick to the body, but is severely lacking with his hands and other weapons. Someone like Benny is too much for him at present moment.

Okay. Good breakdown. I like the breakdown. Yeah, I like the breakdown. Petrojan versus Cheedy, despite Cheaty losing two straight, this fight is a striker's delight. Sabatini versus Johannes and Brito, Torres versus Gris versus Nelson, couple Nordic boys getting after it. Burr. That's hilarious.

Emoji and everything. Gerard, Martin Vittori, Hamz Atchamai F. What about Vittori? coming off of a loss fighting Hamzaat Shamaev. I just want to see Hamzaat fight somebody. I just want to see him fight somebody. And I'll guarantee you if he beats Vitori coming off a loss that also puts him in the title fight,

makes him the number one contender. They want to see Shemaiah fight for a UFC title. They have wanted that for like two years, the UFC. It's just things just have not worked out. There was COVID. There was him. If he had beaten Nate Diaz, we all know if he had beaten Nate Diaz,

he would have gotten a title fight, probably 170 if he had actually made it. But everything was Tombside. It's just so screwed up. Nothing is easy. They would have made 175 pound division. There you go. They've given him the title.

Yeah. If he beat Neideaez. Yeah. This is a complete opposite of what you want, AK. Kyeongho Kang versus Cameron Simon. That's a weird one. I mean, that's a middleweighty bantam weight fight. There'll be, I wonder what the betting line is on point deductions because I'm taking it.

I'm slamming it. Something funny is going to have in there. Serugan versus Grant Dawson, winner lose, Petrosian versus Eric Anders, Manwell Torres versus Nerulo Alive, and Alessandro Costa versus Jeff Molina. Now, are we banning Jeff Molina from booking for the time being? Is he off because he's embroiled in the James Crestes? He's suspended, isn't he? Because of the James Crestuff, or something else.

Yeah, or something to that effect. So I'm not sure what's happening, honestly. I'm okay with still matchmaking for it. I'm okay with you. You never know. He could pop up any day now. But yeah, I'd love to hear. I really want to know over that investigation.

What's going up with that? Toby, let's see. Dalby versus Ponziabio. Torres versus Alexander Hernandez, AK. That's a nice step. Wow, that's what to push up the rankings. There you go. One way to do it.

That's if Hernandez stays at 155. He's talked about wanting to go back to 145. So, CLD versus Phil Haas, Petrojan versus MAB, another one. Phil Haas. Is Phil Haas not booked? Oh, no, am I confusing Philhaz and Philvro again? I'm Alaskaroff just melted him not very long ago. I was thinking about Philbrough.

I got mixed up my fills. I mixed up my Phil. Sorry, that's fine. It's fine. I apologize. Sabatini versus Jack Shore. That's an interesting fight at 145. Yes.

Someone else mentioned that. Hold on. Is Jack Shore? So Tristan, our pal, Tristan, Gordette had that as well. But then here's a little note. You know, Tristan, this will be your shine this week on the show. Jack Shore might be up for a while and may need surgery due to an injury that has been lingering prior to his last fight. He said he might have re-agravated the injury during the fight against Americani.

Definitely would want to see this fight in the future, but he's changing his pick to Sabatini and Mr. Senior Perfector, excuse me. Both fighters will still fight each other in 2020 at CFFC. The fight was canceled due to Sabatini coming down with an illness. So Jack Shore, availability, unclear. But yeah, thanks Tristan for reminding us possibly more injury woes for him. possibly possibly marveitore versus anthony smith at two oh five i don't that's not a bad one it's not bad if anything's we keep going i don't mind that one vittori's like cannonier he's fought a lot of

people in the top ten if he hasn't they're already booked so he has to he's going to have to be creative i think with his next matchup and this one i'm all actually could look when you follow media members for matchmakers just remember who you're following and remember this program. Okay, just remember the show because I saw somebody with the audacity to say, you know what would be a fun fight? Manuel Torres versus Jim Miller. That is not a fun fight. I have Z. I mean, if there's a number less than zero, I would use that for how much interest I have in that. No, we're not doing that. Jim Miller should be fighting newcomers or veterans, but actually this idea from Toby actually makes sense. This is the other side of the coin.

almost. Jim Miller versus Joaquin Silva. I would be okay if this fight was made. But throwing Jim Miller in there with Manuel Torres, are you insane? What are we doing here? We want this guy to fight at UFC 300 and you want to throw him in there with that absolute murderer? What's wrong with you? Come on. Be better. Have him and Jim Miller never fought? No, never been booked or anything. I'd love to see that fight. I would love to see Joachim Silva and Jim Miller as I want to see that fight inversely proportionate to how much I want to see Manuel Torres and Jim Miller, which is to say, not at all.

Oh, man. Marcus, what do we have here? Martin Vittory versus Kelvin Gastilum, but Gasolm is moving to 170, but maybe it's one of those things where we just don't believe it yet until we actually see it? Yeah, I'm okay with making matchups there, but yeah, that's like the, I remember when Gasselom made that announcement, I think we all had the thought of

I'll believe it when I see it. He likes Syrucian Gamrot 2. There is a 2 there. I thought about that as well. Like, they've both fought twice, I want to say, since that fight, one of your favorite fights of 2022. It still feels a little too soon. It still feels like, but I'm not against it. I'm not against it.

Controversial decision for sure and a great fight. But it would have to be five rounds. It would have to be five rounds again, though. That's the only thing why I don't see it happening again is if we only got three rounds of it, it's like, it'd be a bit disappointing, right? Yeah, you want to say, there go. There should be more rounds for the rematch, yes. Yeah, do like, do some sort of competition beforehand for like round points. Like, let's just have fun with this.

That's the best, that was the best fight in my opinion of 2022. You love that one. My favorite fight. Sabatini Nate Landware, AK. I just, I don't like the style matchup. I thought about it. I don't like style matchup. Torres versus Muhammad Naimov, interesting.

Nicholas Dolby, Mike Malot, Kyeongho Kang versus Victor Henry. That's kind of right in the wheelhouse, AK. That's solid. Solid pick. Very solid pick. Robbie, good day. You flaming pelicans. Okay.

Let's go. No. Votory versus... We got doo-doo right off the bat, though, unfortunately. No. Some doo-do. Some pelican-shaped doo-doo. Vittori versus Andre Munez.

Gives both guys a chance to bounce back, but I think it would be worth Vittori looking at a move to 205. You can immediately fight anyone 60-15, fast-track up the rankings. Moonez booked versus Paul Craig in London. That's doo-doo. July 22nd. That is doo-doo Robbie. Come on now.

Surukian versus Fiziv, sure. Manwell Torres versus Mike Davis. That is a friggin' banger. Mano-Divis, man. Getting a stock up, though. These are all great matchups that he could actually get. He could climb the charts really fast, basically these first two U.S.

performances. Wildcard. Put a rocket on Dan Argeta. Give him Douglas Silva Day and Drog. Bonus bloody Bellator bits. The only fights I'm interested in seeing for Nemcoff are against the top UFC light heavyweights, but it seems like we got Fador 2.0.

And then he says, can we stop saying Romero is the greatest fighter to never win a championship now? He's had five opportunities and didn't do it more hype than performance since his 2014-2016 UFC run. Yeah, I think that narrative has fizzled out over the last few years. Some people on M.A. fighting might disagree, including two people who heading into Friday had Yol Amaro ranked in the top of 15. their leadhead very rankings i'm not going to name names i think i'm one of them right no you're not i pull i don't think you oh no no no yes you are yes you are mike i'm sorry oh my best friend

yeah it's just not a good division uh it's it's wait wasn't you i think i'm one of them i think i'm at 15 because i had somebody else there and then they lost and i was just like well i guess i have to put them there like my best friend all i'm saying is i've taken a lot of crap for some of my rankings and i just want to say anyone who had your mirror in there i i won He just seen a back-to-back knockout wins. It was getting a title fight. I'm most unhappy about it. Name one of the people he knocked out.

Alex Pleasy. Broke his face. That was a good. And that was a stupidly fun fight as well. Not fun. It was a weird one. It was a classic weird one. Yeah, and people were picking against you all in that fight.

I was. I definitely was. And then Melvin Manhoff, a fight we didn't even want to see. Oh, God. We end with JD. First of all, thank you and AK for all for all the hard work. that you do, it does not go unnoticed. Sirukian versus the winner of Jalen Turner versus Dan Hooker.

Torres versus, oh, boy, Torres versus Jordan Levitt. Levitt was booked. I forget which card. Maybe the July 1st card, but he's not fighting anymore. Someone else is in. When you said, oh boy, I swear to God, I thought you were going to say Patty Pimble. I thought you were going to say Patty Pimble. I actually don't hate that idea at all.

Leave Patty alone. And. Marvin for Tori versus whoever sold them those sunglasses. Oh. That's pretty funny. Wait, what are these? I miss this. And I think, honestly, I think a matchup that needs to be made, not fighting, obviously.

Maybe a debate. And I'm not talking about the Joe Rogan RFK debates. I'm talking about maybe a Dominic Cruz versus Keith Peterson debate of some kind. Because I think those two need to be in a room doing. something together. If I don't know, as I said again, I was keeping up with a slack on this one. I don't know if this, if this was either the greatest night to have Dominic Cruz on or the worst possible night to have Dominic Cruz on because it was, I'm to understand.

It was pretty much the Keith Peterson show in there for a lot of these fights. And Cruz had a lot of opportunities to share his, and remind people of his opinions of one Mr. Keith Peterson. I'm to understand. Look, if Dominic Cruz. reversed positions with Michael Kiesa last night, I would have absolutely no issue with what Dominic Cruz had to say. You go back to the desk,

you got time between the prelim ending and the main card at a beginning, and you want to ask Dominic Cruz about that, and Dominic sitting at that desk says what he says, I don't have a problem with it. But as a color commentator, wearing the headset, calling fights, I'm not a fan of it. I'm not a fan of it.

The commentary was, Cruz is not great. main event i thought they did a great job brandon fitzgerald's the man love that guy i think he he does a really good job felder have did you see pa felder last night that dude is he said he could fight a spelt whatever he's doing the triathlon stuff he looks frigging incredible he looks he could fight at bannamly right now and it would not surprise me dude looks looks incredible so good for him yeah cruz is rough man cruz is rough you got a you got to pick your spots for that stuff and doing it in the middle of a broadcast as we're trying to figure out what's going on because there's so many people

confused on what was happening, why it was happening. And instead of getting explanations, we were getting some of it. Brennan Fitzgerald was the guy giving it to us, which probably shouldn't be that way. It probably should be one of the ex-fighters, one current fighter giving us this explanation. But Brennan Fitzgerald did, that was not the time. That was not the time to plant your flag about Keith Peterson and how bad of a referee you think he is. And he's not a very good referee. He had a rough night last night, but come on, not the time to do it, not the place to do it.

And this is in the apex where he probably, Keith Peters could probably hear some of the junk that was being said from the commentator's booth, I imagine. And I get like, look, Keith gets properly bashed for some of the decisions he makes. And sometimes he does a really good job. Sometimes he is Mr. No Nonsense. And he's taking points. He's doing things the right way. I felt bad for him last night. dude made a mistake saw the replay didn't argue it and when he was raising the two hands for the no

contest that dude looked like he was going to cry i felt bad for him man i felt for him it's not an easy job i know we rag on him that the judging thankless jobs you get crapped on for the bad decisions you very rarely get praised for a good one tough night for keith peterson and i felt bad for him in that moment don't complain to keith about them oh you cost one of these guys half of their you know money. It's like, listen, complain to the UFC. Send your letters to the UFC and Dana White about the pay structure. It's not Keith Peterson's fault. I get it. He's responsible in this one circumstance for Dan Aggrair or Ronnie Lawrence, you know, not getting the chance to go all the way and

possibly earn a win bonus. But the win bonus show, so wind show structure sucks. And that's not Keith Peterson's fault. So if you're mad about the Keith Peterson thing, go ahead, send him whatever an angry message and then send an angry message to the UFC and Dana White and the guys who are responsible for this pay structure because it's terrible. It's terrible. AK, have it, my man. All right, we got a few here. Dax at Pike Putt.

Wanted to talk about a little bit of Bell Tour. Apparently, Dax was in the building. They say, I know you don't take Bell Tour picks, but I have won. This Norbert fella versus Johnny Eblen way too soon, first of all. Secondly, Dax says Norbert would open as plus 150. I think he would be much. They have a lot of respect for Johnny Evelin out there. I think Norbert would be.

plus 300 at least underdog right mike he's not no you think it'd be closer i don't think so i don't think he's that he's that he's that like uh that legit right now i'll tell i'll tell you what if he opened as a plus 300 no no junior would get a lot of money put on him would you would you so you so again i i know i i don't know a lot of number outside of some hives i've seen he you think he's like he could legit like what like maybe one went away so here's here's where bell atore is going to be be tested because they have something here. I, like, there's two guys that I've been really high on for a long time. And I, I don't know if I was like, but I was definitely one of the early media members on

both these guys, Surukian and No No Jr. Those two guys at worst, Norbert Noveni Jr. is the fifth best prospect, not in Bellator, in all of MMA. Ooh. And he's, and that's at worst. I would put him maybe behind Usman or Maga Madoff. That's how high I think he is. Wow.

Wow. Like I don't know if I, like I think Usman's young enough to kind. I know he's a champion. I think he's still kind of at that age or you can consider him a prospect. I think Sarukian not really anymore because he's 26. I think there's a cutoff there. No, no, I believe is like 23. So he's just getting going.

And he's already got the foundation that's there. Bellator could build this thing, could start building this thing up right now. I'm not saying these two should fight right now. But by the end of 2024, these two guys could fight each other. No No Jr. could fight three more times. Eblen probably going to beat Fabian Edwards. He'll fight one or two more guys.

Norman Nivenny Jr. I would pick Norman Nivenny Jr. to beat a lot of the middleweights in Bellator right now. I don't know if I'd pick him to beat Johnny Ebblin. But if you gave me No No Jr. at plus 300 against anybody, I might actually come out of MMA gambling retirement and just put a small shekel on that price because right now,

I would probably pick Johnny Eblen to win that fight, but Norbert Novemany Jr. is competitive with Johnny Eblon right now. He is competitive. That fight is interesting. And to me, as far as future Bellator matchups, this is the most intriguing build to a fight that Bellator has in front of them right now, outside of

outside of Usir and Ramagamadoff, AJ McKee. If this lightweight Grand Prix plays out and those two are in the finals, that's massive. It's going to be a very big deal. But other than that, golly, Evelyn, No-No Jr. For the middleweight title, end of 2024,

early 2025, sign me the hell up. But yes, I like where your head's at. It's too soon. You can't do that right now. That was a great, by the way. That was a great selling of. Eblen of Norbert. So hey, Josh Thompson, if you're out there.

You're happy now? Listen, there's your, there's your belt. That was free Bell Tour promotion. That's one thing, Josh, I agree on. Yeah. We have both been on No No Jr. Good. Jump Street.

So we're on the same page here. You're on the same page. That was a free promo Bell Tour. That was a free promo courtesy of my best friend, Mike Heck. So just because he looks like Dana White. They know how I feel. Yeah. They know what I feel.

Yeah. And let's not forget also, let's not forget that Beltor goes to Italy pretty regularly. So I'm just saying, it's going to be a great place to have a middleweight title fight, you know. Dax also says, Canineer, the loser this fight looking like, oh, no, no, try to make a prediction ahead of time, thought that Canineer was going to lose. Said the loser this fight looking like Canineer, well, turned out to be Vittori, needs to fight for the middleweightiest middleweight title versus Brendan Allen when he beats Bruno Silva next week. So calling their shot, though. So technically Vittori versus Brendan Allen, I guess, which I think is possible.

And they noted that they were at Belator And they said watching this card on TV Was better than being at the Belator show So, ouch. Really? I don't know. It's a lot, man. It's just a lot with the potent

There's too many fights. 15 is too many. It's too many for the UFC. Imagine if you stayed for the Postlims. Imagine if you're the family member of one of those fighters And you're like, you got to stay. It's too much, man. 15 is too.

Belator should have it. Belcher should have no more than 10 fights. 10 is like the absolute max. Get in there, six prelims. You just bang them all out. Or just slow it down so we get to know these fighters a little bit more. And then do the four-fight main card. Like 15 is way too many.

There was going to be 18 fights on this card, AK. We lost three, like Monday. 18 fight. Can you met? We would have eight post limbs, AK, eight. You're muted, but we were at eight post limbs. Yeah, Austin Vanderford was supposed to be on there. And we miss on that one of the interesting, like really interesting fights on the card.

But I digress. Eric Beauchin has best to be before, but first time sending an auto pick. So welcome to the party pal. Ken near Shemayev, Surukian, Chandler, given recent circumstances. Petrogy and Pfeer. Petrogyn Pfeer. Did you get one of those? Did you get a Petrojan Piper?

I thought about that. Piper posted on Instagram recently that he had some surgery. So I have no idea what that entails, how long he's, going to be out for. So if it's a short, if it's just like a surgery that's only going to take three or four months to get back, sure, I'm down for that. But yeah, Pfeiffer, nickel, one of those guys that they are pushing, this is a good next step for either guy, I think. I hope Petroski just spoils it for everyone. I hope he, I like Petrosky. I hope he, like, he, I feel like he's not getting talked about enough, but just because, dude, he's getting, the UFC believes. They're

giving him the Gerald Mirchart test, just like they did with Joe Piper. So, all right. I think he's getting lost in the shuffle. I like Petrosky. Ken near, sorry, this is from SST. Ken near, Rob, DDP, loser, but like me, essentially assuming Trichus, because he says, Whitaker is about to make Trichis look like Looney Tunes. So there's a prediction there. Sabatini versus Gerardis and Brito, Dalby versus Jeremiah Wells, and said, sleeper, solid card.

8.4. That's all I got to say. German likes the idea of Sirukian-Daruch. Petrosian versus Olux Sachuk. Yes. Yes. I like that. I don't know why I hadn't thought.

I guess because a little Cetia is coming off a loss. But I could totally see that happening. Alessandro Costa versus Malcolm Gordon. Sure, sure. Four corner sports. It's just going to see ones we haven't read before. Joaquin Silva, Terrence McKinney. Mike, what's going on with Terrence McKinney?

Does he not have a player? He's booked. He is booked. This is a doo-do-pick. This is a doo-to-pick. Oh, Nassim Sadakov, July 15th. Four-corner Sports. I'm sorry.

It's a bit of doo-doo for you. Armand Petrosian, Cairovia Barrio, part two. Wait, why? Hold on, no.

What? Why? Why? Like, I'm glad he remembered the two, but, like, that's almost makes it more confusing. Like,

that's the fight happened less than a year ago. That would happen nine months ago. If he had said Petrosian, Bahalio, I would have just been like, oh, he just forgot, like,

the fight happened, and that would have made more sense than wanting to see them run it back. Oh, my gosh. That's July, wow. July, 2022. I mean, I guess it's a...

Dude, Kyos coming off of a finish. It wasn't like a particularly close fight, if I remember. It wasn't like a pretty memorable fight, but it wasn't close. No, I think it was 3227s. DM me later. Explain yourself, please. Our pal, Tote Gertin Jensen, excuse me, Tope.

Dahlby should welcome Gosselin to 170. There you go. Other picks. Surukian Fazeve, Crystal Ball pick. Manuel Torres, Gregor Gillespie. So there you go. So I'm bringing out Gregor Gillespie. be kind of in a

I wouldn't expect it that one. If you're manual Torres, that'd be a great fight to get. Thomas Collins, what do we got here? Modestis Pukascus, Devin Clark, Armand Petrosian,

Jacob Malcun, so middleweighty, my goodness. Nicholas Dalby, Alex Marano. Man, have they not fought or been booked? That's a good fight.

That's a good fight. No, I seem nothing. There you go. That's a good fight. That's a good fight. I thought about that. Thomas.

And last one from Twitter. Annie Gula Holly, something new here. Surukyan, Gammarot, that's a two. Annie, that's Mike's favorite fight. How can we not put a two next, though? That is, I don't know. I don't know if I should read.

A loyal heck of a morning listener. This is, I don't know. I should read the rest of these. Pascas versus Philip Lins or the winner of Roundtree Dock. Is Routretax didn't get rebooked, did it? It did. Oh, what are we seeing that? What is that happening?

August. I like that match up. August 12th? Correct. You are correct. So is this just an apex card? Yes. I believe so. August 12th.

And Dalby versus Brian Barbarina, winner lose in his next fight against his weird, like, middle white fight he's taking against Murdov. Yeah. Do they not fight? My brain is so mashed right now. Who is this? Dalby and Barbarina.

No. They have not fought. That seems like a fight that happened or was booked. But it didn't. Yeah. We've been doing the show for too long, Mike. All right. I'll quickly go to Instagram.

There's only a couple of people on here. Who do I got here? Martin Grisham saying, it wouldn't surprise me if they got desperate to find an opponent for Izzy and just booked Izzy versus Kennear, too. So I'm kind of like what you're saying. It's not out of the realm possibility. He is the backup for, I mean, he doesn't even have an opponent for that for Sydney yet, but they find someone for the opponent and then have Kenner in the back pocket.

One outs MMA on Instagram. Welcome to the Party Pal. Armand versus the winner of Hooker versus Turner. Some animosity between Dan and Armin and the person. There you go. Some heat there. Marcus, and we'll end with Matt Bradbury.

Another Prakoskas versus Linz, sure. Another Kang versus Victor Henry. I like it. Another Dolby versus Morano. Manuel Torres versus John McDessi. Sure, sure. Armand Petrosian, Chidi, and Jukwani. I actually really like that one.

They're actually pretty close together in my rankings. And Jared Kanier, Shemayev, Marvin Vittori, Alan Silva, winner. So, solid rounds of picks overall, guys. Just a little bit of do-do, but hey, I had to do to myself earlier. So that is life, guys. Please keep sending in your picks. You can get me on Twitter at Alexander K. Lee on Instagram at Alexander KK.K. Lee.

And email, Alex. Dot Lee at SB Nation.com. So let me just throw out a little disclaimer for next week because there is a very real world where A.K. and I are going to record the show after the card. There's a very real world because. We're getting an ABC card, baby. UFC Jacksonville, ABC, which means noon eastern prelims, 3 p.m. Eastern main card. That scratches me right where I itch after a six-fight main card at the apex with, that started at 10 p.m. Eastern.

This is the makeup. And it's actually pretty darn good card. We got Josh Emmett, Ilya, big fight at 145 in the main event. Amanda Hebas, Macy Barber, Big one at 125 in the co-main event. We have a title fight in the feature bout. Brendan Allen puts the middleweighty, middleweight title on the line against Bruno Silva.

David Onama is back against Gabriel Santos. Cody Brundage versus Cedricke Dumas. Tetsuru Taira is back, AK. Against Clitson Rodriguez, Matush Rebecca versus Loik Rodzaboff. Tabitha Ritchie versus Gillian Robertson, AK. Love it. is happening on the card. Love it. Neil Magny versus Phil Hawes. I mean, Phil Roe,

Haha. Justin Taffa versus Jacksonville's own Austin Lane, former NFL player. Randy Brown on this card against Wellington Termin. Jamal Emers is back against Jack Jenkins. Great fight. Trevor Peake against Chepe Mariscall. Trevor Peek's supposed to fight Victor Martinez. And Zalgas Zumagulov will hopefully Make the walk with that new hairstyle. He was supposed to fight on Saturday's card.

He did not. He will face newcomer and very exciting flyweight prospect. Josh Van. Great fight. Josh is really good. You're supposed to fight on the contender series. Gets the call up. This card's pretty solid.

What do you think, AK? Is this going to beat an 8.4 on the, I mean, you don't have to give your answer now, but is this better than an 8.4 off the top of your dome? Mike, solid card, early start time, Jacksonville. It's really only one word I have to describe my feelings about this. A dooval! I'm very excited for this. All of it is great.

All of it is great. But then we get to look forward to another apex card, headline by Sean Strickland, Abis Magamata. But that's July 1st. This is UFC Jacksonville. A lot of people asking if I'm going to this card, Up in the air. If I go, it will not be for the entire week.

It'll just be for Fight Day. But still up in the air, I would say 40-60 that it's happening. But who knows? Maybe I'll get the call. And it's only a couple hour drive. Be happy to go and make a day of it. So I'll let you guys know either way. AK, thank you very much.

Again, happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Back next week to recap UFC Jacksonville from a matchmaking perspective. And always remember the golden rule, everybody. Don't take this stuff too seriously. supposed to be fun and we'll have more fun right here next Sunday, maybe next Saturday night, ladies and gentlemen, right here and on to the next one, the podcast. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.