MMA Fighting - On To the Next One: Matches To Make After UFC 257

Episode Date: January 24, 2021

On the 29th episode of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee put on their matchmaker hats following Saturday's UFC 257 event in Abu Dhabi. Future matchups were discussed for Dustin Poirier—who earned the biggest win of his career with a second-round knockout in the main event—Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler, Joanne Calderwood, Makhmud Muradov, Marina Rodriguez, and more. In addition, they give their reactions to a slew of reader suggestions following the UFC's first PPV event of 2021. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Hello there, everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one. Back for the third time this week as we discussed the fallout from a memorable UFC 257 event this past Saturday night, Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, which saw Dustin Porier and Michael Chandler, reign supreme with memorable finishes in the main and co-main events, respectively. And as always, thank you so much for listening, you crazy, crazy people. especially after this entire eight-day stretch in Abu Dhabi, but I am Mike Hack and joining me as always,

and this crazy thing called matchmaking is the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the best friend, and the Prince of Positivity, Mr. Alex Kaley. How are you doing, my friend, after a crazy night, a crazy week, as a matter of fact? Listeners, if you have been watching and listening and keeping up with every MMA fighting podcast and show this week, you have probably seen approximately like 60 hours

see her like 60 hours of my best friend Mike and or myself and other members of our staff this week so hopefully you did hopefully you did listen to all that and we are just we are in your in your nightmares that is that is the positive note that I want to open this show no it's been a yeah it's been a busy week it's been so great we've gotten so much support from viewers and there's been so much to talk about it's it's funny

I'm glad we've kind of taken it one show at a time. I think when I look back on this week, it's like we have a bunch of storylines that I think we'll be remembering, even in this crazy world of MMA, we'll be remembering this week when the year end comes and, and might see some of the storylines pop up in our best uplifts. I don't know.

But yeah, a solid, solid return to Fight Island for the O.C. I would agree with that. And I think one of the more memorable moments of 2021 will be from the main event. So let's just get right into this thing. Dustin Porreier shuts a lot of people up in the headliner. He knocks out Connor McGregor in the second round. Porriere and his coaching staff, phenomenal game plan. They grapple with Connor early.

They build confidence in Dustin throughout the first round. Come out firing with hard leg kicks in the second that really got to Connor. You could see just how uncomfortable he was getting as the seconds were wearing down. And then Porier lands big shot, then the flurry, and he ultimately puts Connor McGregor away. huge win despite even being an interim champion. This was the biggest win of his career, and it seems obvious that his next fight will be for the lightweight title, most likely a vacant title fight. But the options, in terms of opponents, aren't as clear right this second. So especially if you watch Dustin Porre's post by a press conference, now you're just like,

what the hell is going on? So what do you think happens here, AK, after that incredible moment for Dustin Porier on Saturday night? I don't know what you mean, Mike. It's very clear to me. And then this is a, this is definitely a, not a, trying to help everyone understand what could happen. No, no, no. This is, if I could magically make the next matchup for Dustin Poiré, what would I do? I am going, Poirier versus, I need a little bit more of preface here. In a fair and just world, Mike, a fair and just world that I want to live in, Fourier fights Charles Olivaura for a vacant lightweight title.

That is the fair and just matchup. Is it the most Markleau matchup? Probably not. Is it, are there, I mean, could you argue that some people are more deserving than Olivera? Maybe. I would say no. I think Oliveras should be guaranteed a title shot. But I'm sure there's, like I said, there's names ahead of them, even some rematches that people would want to see with Porier.

But no, if I'm calling the shots, Oliver has done everything he can do. He eight straight wins. He's finished everyone. Yes, he's got some weird loss on his resume. Guess what? So does Porriere. So they're coming from the same, a similar narrative. and I think it's time to reward Oliver with that shot.

And I think Porreier should get, again, reward him with another shot at the undisputed title. So I'm putting, I'm not considering any alternatives. Dustin Porre, Charles Oliverer. That's the one. I want to preface what I'm about to say with the fact that I completely agree with you. The fight to make the fair and just like, remember in 1992, fair to flare? Fair to flare. This is like the fair to flare.

when it comes to Dostapourier in the lightweight division and Charles O'Levara specifically. This is the fight to make. But I had a feeling you were going this direction as well. So allow me to put myself instead in the shoes of the UFC brass here. And the answer is Michael Chandler. Now, if you watch the preview show, I picked Michael Chandler to beat Dan Hooker, but to do so in a way that would put him in a position to probably win one more fight and then maybe get to a title shot.

He gets to the halfway point of the first round and blast Dan Hooker and puts him away viciously in a way that nobody had done before. Yes, I know Hooker was finished by Edson Barbosa, but that was kind of an accumulation of damage throughout that just built and built and got more uncomfortable as the fight went on. But this was like the first punch to the face

that Chandler threw and landed. It was just like one shot, dropped Hooker, put him away quickly. It was just wild. And especially in the sport, especially with casual viewers actually checking this one out because Connor was on it, I think a lot of people want to see it. This is not the hardcore fans fight, but this is like the casual, hey, I'm just getting an MMA now or I'm trying to get back into it kind of fight. Because let's think about it from a business perspective. Michael Chandler, not a cheap acquisition. They spent a ton of money on him, just bringing him in.

They spent even more money trying to promote him and push him in October as the backup fighter to Nomagamato v. Gaichi. and he's gotten this big promotional push, I just have a hard time believing that after all of this push and him delivering a performance like that, that he's not going to be rewarded with the title shot. So I think the UFC is going to do absolutely everything in their power to put together Porre v. Chandler. Porre may not be in love with it,

but he can say what he wants. He wants to check that last box in this Hall of Fame career of his. So there's one thing he's got left to do, and that's become the undisputed champion of the world. So if the UFC says, Dustin, I'm going to give your undisputed title shot, but you got to fight Michael Chandler. I think he will ultimately say yes to that

because I think he believes he can win that fight. I think it's probably, and this is no disrespect to Michael Chandler, but if you're talking Gaichi, Olivera, if you're talking Michael Chandler, I mean, just being honest, Chandler's probably the, I'm not going to say the easier of the three fights,

but probably the most winnable of the three fights if you're Dustin Porre. So unfortunately, for the show's sake, this knocks two winners off the list for me, But I honestly, I think we're going to see Poria versus Chandler, okay? I prefer Olivera, but, but I can't remember the last time the UFC, maybe if ever, has done this good a job of bringing in a new name for a UFC fans, not a new name in MMA. Of course, Chandler is a veteran in Belator star, building him up in this way so that, yes, he was actually in position to deliver and could conceivably, he could, if this, if that title fight was announced, next week, you would hear very little complaint.

Again, you'd hear people saying, oh, Elvara should get it. Or like you said, oh, why not KG? Why don't we see Kachy Porei rematch? You'd hear it. You'd hear it. But it would not be, there would not be a huge groundswell. There would a lot of people saying, yes, I want to see Chandler. And like, especially from the casual set, maybe some people seeing him for the first time,

you know, who are just like, who is this guy? Why is you see, you know, why are they still behind him? And then they see that knockout. And they're like, okay, I need to see this guy again. You know, it was like a positive who to F is that guy. You know, McGregor's famous. who to F is that guy? It was like that, but in a good way. It was like, who to F is that guy? I would need to know more. So yes. I, again, I much, much, much prefer Olivera.

But boy, no one's going to argue if Chandler Poria gets made. The UFC does deserve a lot of credit. You're absolutely right for putting Chandler in this position. But Chandler, good on him, man, for taking this and running with it. I went to Twitter as soon as he finished knocking him out and I said exactly this. Dear Michael Chandler, do not waste this opportunity. maximize your time on the microphone, call your shot. And man, did he ever. That was amazing.

That was an A-plus-plus. I couldn't type plus fast enough, AK, or enough times. It was beautiful. I am going to deduct a point for being too proper with his grammar. Yes, I understand it was a rehearsed promo, which is good. I've told you, I'm in favor of rehearsed promos. If you are going to nail your moment and you don't feel 100% like someone who's, like, he's a great, and he's really good with the media, too.

but I think even he knows I need to get this right. I can't just fire this off the cuff. So I don't know if he rehearsed it, but certainly something he maybe at least wrote a few notes down before, just in case he won. But as he was calling out in America, Medov, it was just so, it was so grammatically perfect. I'm a grammar nerd.

I couldn't ignore it. And it was just like, and you, Khabib, if so, if you decide that you shall one day fight again, then I, then I, Michael Chandler, U.S.C. Lightweight, shall be here waiting for you. And I'm just like, okay, you know what? you nailed it you nailed it could have been a little more organic

but you but you definitely got your point across and a plus if this were an assignment a plus on grammar for sure oh man yeah I loved it and I loved the way you presented too but if he had just come out and just been like I'm just so happy to be here you know whatever the UFC wants I'm not

he's not getting a title job that promo put him over the top and good out him now when it comes to Connor McGregor, there's always options for Connor because he's the biggest star in the sport. This is going to be a sort of a theme, I believe, between the two of us, AK. This is just too easy to me because the UFC is now at a position where you can finally put together the Nate Diaz trilogy fight. Like, it'll be massive.

Nate is a star. We haven't seen Nate since UFC 244 when you lost to Jorge Mazadal. And you know what? When you match those two guys up, no one's going to care. No one's going to care that he lost to Mazdaal. No one's going to care that Connor just got knocked out by Dustin Porre, the first knockout loss of his career in the UFC. This is the easy fight to make. I know I'm far from alone on this, but it's as simple as it gets considering where he's at coming off a loss like this.

I just don't see any other viable option. Agree or disagree. I've joked that McGregor, whatever happens, you know, could go on to fight a Paul brother or, you know, I assume that Manny Packio's fight us off the table now, though he was still, it was brought. up to him at the press conference and he said uh and he kind of said that it was he thought it was a done deal before maybe not now um but didn't say exactly why the fight fell through uh even before i think last night's fight so i still think you know the chance he dabble's in boxing but if we're talking about staying in m m ms yeah especially with i think nate daz some who was it saying i don't know his manager himself someone saying that his dana white maybe that the plan was for uh dyes will

probably drop back to 155 and i still think he can i know he's a bit older now but uh he's disciplined enough he has the kind of diet for it so yeah i'm i'm with you all the way uh let's not try and ice skate a pill here people mcgregor ds three should have happened a long time ago it's beyond wins and losses as you said mike they could both be on two fight three fight losing streaks one of them could be on a three fight winning streak the other could be on a three fight losing streak it doesn't matter there's it's almost promotional malpractices that second fight hasn't been made um again i'm sure there's reasons mcgregor's own aspirations doing other so outside of the Dias is not giving an F and the UFC probably not wanting to shell out what both these guys are demanding.

I imagine they'll probably want a lot of money. And trust me, it'll be worth it. It'll be worth it. It might cut another profit margin a bit. But a third fight, it will still end up maybe being easily the top 10 of pay for you buys of all time. Maybe even top five you get the build right. So I'm all for that. The other name I'll throw out there.

This was mentioned on the post-fight show we did the other night, Mike. Bye. And I said I would shout this person out. Credit to Isaiah and Jane, apologize if I mispronounce, for suggesting a Max Holloway rematch, which certainly, hey, we just saw the Porre rematch from McGregor's Featherweight days. Why not another featherway callback

to the Max Holloway fight could certainly be done. Yeah, I don't dislike that idea. And that puts Holloway in an interesting position because there's no way he's not next for the title at 145 after the Ortega Volcanovsky v. Or Polkinovsky versus Ortega. a fight but we know what if he decides to just give up that spot and fight Connor instead then he probably falls back in the title conversation so some options for Holloway as well he said he said he's not chasing the bells and and I'm not as confident he gets the third

Volkinovsky fight if Volcanovsky beats Ortega which I do expect I am picking Volcanoz in that fight so if he doesn't want to you know again dablin the oh my gosh will they book a trilogy or not and somehow that McGregor fight comes down the pipeline I think Holloway obviously bite on that for sure forget forget featherway you can always come back down I'll throw out another name that I've seen a lot on social media. A lot of people want to see McGregor versus Tony Ferguson. That seems a very popular choice. I will say I don't love that fight.

I would watch it. I'd be intrigued by it because you get two very powerful personalities, two very interesting styles. But I don't know how you feel like Kay. I need to see Tony Ferguson get a win under his belt first before he fights Connor. Did he invent McNuggets? Yeah. I want to say he did.

Well, I mean, like, McDonald's admitted McNuggets, but I mean, in terms of McGregor. Yes, yes. Fair enough. Fair enough. Yes, but yeah, I do think he's the one who came with that brilliant insult. So on that alone, perhaps he's earned a fight with him. Listen, I'd watch it, but not my first choice. Oh, everyone would.

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So download the app today and get zero delivery fees on your first three orders. Instacard, groceries that over deliver. Service fees exclusions in terms apply. So I already match made for Chandler. Yeah. And sure you could do Gai ChiR. Oliveira against Michael Chandler. if they go another route for Porier,

but I think Chandler will ultimately get the title shot. What say you for Chandler, and even if you want to throw Dan Hooker in there and say some words about him, what are your thoughts on the co-main events and the aftermath? I'll touch upon Chandler quickly. I think I am fixated on a Dosano escape-chew match. There's no, this is not based on any rumors or anything.

There's no necessarily buzz around it. It's just a fight I really want to see, and I think it makes sense for them. I know Gates G can probably hold out for a higher ranked name, but just I really, really like that matchup. I've wanted it since the RDA's last win. I still think that's a good one. So I would have Chandler matchup with my theoretical RDA GageG winner.

That's sort of my preference. So I'm kind of doing a bit of matchmaking upon matchmaking here. And, you know, again, that's what we do. So, again, not against Chandler-Pory at all, but if that doesn't happen, and again, like I said, I prefer Pori Oliva. I think Chandler, Dosanios, G. Dangerous fight for Chandler, it would suck because, again, he's done everything he can to put himself into position for a title shot. So, really, he could only stand to lose.

Especially, I mean, even if you beat Gates G, I think you lose something. You lose a part of your soul. But I would just love to see that fight as a fan, as a fan. Not worrying about, oh, who gets a title shot or lose three guys. What does it mean if they lose? I'm putting that aside. I just would really, really, really like to see that fight. Hooker.

You know, I saw a lot of good readers suggestions. I'll leave it to that for now, Mike. And I'll leave it to you if you have a hooker point you'd like to make. Dan Hooker's great. I disagree with our colleague Casey Lydden who's saying that he needs to go all the way back and fight somebody outside of the top 15. I don't necessarily agree with that. If you did like a Hooker versus Ferguson, I'm cool with that.

There are matchups out there for Dan Hooker. I mean, listen, the loss is a tough one. He had two amazing fights last year. and if he fought the Dustin Porre he fought in June, if he fought like of Dustin Porreier from two years prior to that, he finishes Dustin Porre. Porre's composure in his chin have just gotten vastly better after all this time, which is kind of bizarre to say in a sport like this

that your chin actually gets better. I know he went up a weight class, but he's just so much more durable now that he was before. And the calmness he showed in that moment, I mean, Hooker was seconds away. If there's another referee in there, Dan Hooker could have a knockout win over Dustin Porre. Like, that's how close he was to putting that fight away in the second round.

So this loss sucks. He got caught. He's going to be kicking himself. And he's going to have a lot of time to stew on it in a long quarantine. So I don't know if he, we're still waiting to hear, like, his response to all this, because he did take his gloves off in the octagon. So I don't know what that means. I don't know if it's just frustration or if he's done.

either wouldn't surprise me, if we're being honest, but I still think there's plenty of fights for Dan Hooker. I still think he has a large fan base. And if you look at, like, the YouTube numbers, Dan Hooker did very well. People care about the man. Yeah, look, if Dan Hooker throwing the gloves in, I don't think it was retirement. I think it was a, I'm done with this BS for now.

I just need a break. I think it all hit him at once all the time he'd put into this fight and for it to end so quickly and all the time ahead before he gets to see. go back to New Zealand and see his family. I think we've said it's going to be like until February. I mean, I know that's a week way, but I mean, we mean, we mean, like mid-February, not the first week of February. It's going to be a while, let me put it this way.

Longer, longer than a man who just was in a brutal fight should have to wait to see his wife and children. Okay, so you have to sympathize the guy. One other reason I don't really want to match me for him is I don't even want to see him fight again until like September, until second, last quarter, second half of 2021. He needs to take a break. He was in two wars in 2020. And then, yes, this is a harsh knockout.

So take a break, Dan Hooker. And I'm sure I do think we will see him fight again. Joanne Calderwood got back into the wind calm. She had a great showing against Jessica I. She looked really good in this fight. It was my opinion, AK, I don't know how you feel. This is one of her best performances overall from start to finish. The women's flywood division, as we said at the end of 2020, very, very interesting right now.

what would you like to see next for Jojo, AK? It was a great performance, very composed. Jessica, again, I know people give Jessica a lot of a guff, but she can be a really frustrating opponent to fight. She's in your face all the time. She smiles a lot during the fight. That can't make you happy.

You know what I'm just, there's just an attitude about her. I think the attitude that people don't like about her outside of the Octagon sometimes, it carries over into her fights. And it's, look, she's had a successful career, right? So, yeah, great performance by Jojo. Mike, I don't want her to have to fight again before getting a title shot. I don't want her to have to fight again.

Jessica Andrade shouldn't have to fight again. Lauren Murphy shouldn't have to fight again. I don't want, I know, I know. It's crazy. Like, the Flyway Division is, it's so weird. It's so good right now. And any of those matchups, if you match up any of those three women, it's awesome. You know, I can't complain, but it just feels like they've all done enough, you know,

whether people think they can beat Shevchenko or not. It doesn't matter. Shichchenko has to defend against somebody. And I think those three women have done everything they can do. They've had great runs, experienced, just awesome. So in a perfect world, Shavchenko defends the title three times in like a two-month stretch and then takes the rest of 20, 21 off. But I don't think we'll see that happen.

I would just, that'd be a huge flex. So I'm going way outside the box here. And if Jojo has to fight again, I want it to be in a fight that I think is very winnable for her. And I think would provide some personal vindication. I'm going wild random here. This was a fight, a rematch that happened at 115 pounds. a long time ago, Jojo's first career loss, I would like to see her get a chance to fight

Marina Moros and avenge that loss. That was her first, after the ultimate fighter. I think she was 9-0 at the time, and then she got upset. This was definitely an upset at the time. Moros came out of nowhere, caught her with an arm bar.

I don't think that happens again, and I think Calder would like to get the chance to prove that. So this, I think most of this episode, pretty easy. Early, it's pretty simple. This is the toughest one. Because we have no idea what's happening at the top of this division.

Absolutely no idea. Because it seems like Jessica and Josh is going to get the title shot against Valentina. And that makes a lot of sense. But, I mean, we don't know anything. Like, we haven't heard anything at all. Lauren Murphy, who could get a title shot and no one would complain about it. She's probably going to have to fight one more time. We talked about this a lot on Wednesday.

You could do the Chukagian rematch. You could do Murphy versus Calvio. There's some heat there. You got Jennifer Mai in the mix at number four, so she could play a factor in this as well. But the problem for Jojo is she's fought most of these women already. She hasn't fought Lauren Murphy, but listen, here's the thing. Calderwood got to a title shot. All right?

I know that. She got to a title shot. She was booked. Fight didn't happen. She took a different fight. She took a risk. It fell through. But when Joey and Calderwood got that title shot, the division was far less interesting

that it is right now. I mean leaps and bounds, far less interesting than it is right now. We were just looking for fresh contenders. Like anybody with any kind of impressive win over any sort of a name that's any way recognizable, you were in the conversation for a title shot. And this is no disrespect to Jojo. That's just realism. That's just pure honesty and facts. Jojo will look great on Saturday against Jess Guy. But we cannot ignore the fact that she is two and two in her last four fights. And when you have all these contenders, putting her in a title fight just doesn't make any sense.

And the other win was a split decision against Andrea Lee. It was a very close fight. I thought Calderwood won, but there's discussion there. Like, if you wanted to make an argument for Andrew Lee, I'd probably argue back at you. But if you made a compelling thing, maybe I would be like, all right, I understand where you come from. Joey and Calderon needs another win. She might need two to even get back in this conversation. And this is part of this is a lame answer because we're going to have to wait and see how all this plays out.

how would this all get to put together? I mean, you have Viviana Arrugia out there, who I think is above Jojo right now. So unfortunately, she's going to have to fight backwards. So I'm going with the fight I selected after UFC 255 and going back to the well. You do Joanne Calderwood

versus Antonina Shivchenko. You want to get the champion's attention. You beat the sister. That might be the best available option to her right now and probably the best path to a title shot considering the log jam up the top. Beat her sister, getting Valentina's head a little bit, that's your best path to get back to a title fight

or even in that discussion. So I'm sticking with it, A.K., I think as good as Jojo looked, I feel like the division has just moved so much forward momentum-wise that that win is great, gets her back in the wind calm, but she basically just held her spot. First of all, I'm ignoring the Jennifer Maya Logger. that Calderwood took. That fight shouldn't even count.

It should come for Maya. Good for her. Got her title shot. So in my eyes, Calderwood has won four of her last five fights. The Maya thing was to stay busy, doing the U.S.io favor fight. Shouldn't have even taken it.

So four of last five for Calderwood. In my eyes, I'm being selected here. Secondly. B.S. Secondly, are you using poor Antonina as a prop to build up a Calderwood Shepchenko fight? It's so pro wrestling of you. Oh, I'll give you your shot.

You're going to go through my shot. my brother and you gotta go to my sister first. And then a lot of interference from Valentina, of course, in that fight, should that fight happen. But how dare you use Antonina as a prop for this possible Valentina Jojo matchup? It's not a prop. I wanted Antonia to get that fight after her last performance. After she beat Ariane O'Ipsky, I wanted her to fight Jojo then. I thought she improved that much that I thought, and listen, I don't think Shevchenko's like a super-bechanko's like a super-beye-ylippes.

big underdog in that fight. I think the lines are pretty close. Because, I mean, if we saw the improvements from the previous Shofchenko fight to what we saw against Zariani Lipski at UFC 255, I mean, those are two different people, two different fighters. You know what's different is your Antonina takes from this episode to like the very early, people go back, you know what, early, here's an early check the tapes. I'm not like Mike shaking his head. I'm just saying, Mike was very unimpressed with some of Antonina's results before when we first started recording the show and I'm not saying that's unfair

it's not like she's a top 10 person I mean admittedly a lot some of her notoriety was coming of course because she's she's Valentina's sister and she had a very nice record before coming to the UFC but I am glad to see that Mike has turned around and has a lot of nice things to say by Antonina because we had some again check some of those early episodes

I'm just saying I'm just saying when Antonina's name came up when Antonina's name came up we had a lot of Mike going like nah not even in the discussion. Let me just clarify this once more. Okay, let me just clarify this once more. My issue was never with Antonia Shepchenko. My issue was with the UFC matchmakers because the matchmaking was atrocious.

Atrocious. Hey, Antonina, you ready to make your Octagon debut? How about you fight Roxanne Mataferri? Like, are you nuts? Are you insane? That is the worst decision you can make. What is wrong with you? You know what?

Oh, you know what? You know what we're going to do? We're going to put you in there with Kate. Caitlin Chukagian next. What? Are you crazy? Like, that is not how you build a prospect. That is not how you build a project. It's just terrible matchmaking. I felt bad for Antonina Shefchenko. I wasn't against her performances. I just thought she was put in like an unwinnable position. It sucked. But now, in a way, maybe it wasn't the worst thing for her because maybe those tests put her in this position. She looked amazing in November. Amazing. And I think

she would give Jojo a run for her money. I think that's a great fight. And I think it's the best option for Jojo. It just sucks. It just sucks. Her taking that Maya fight was a terrible mistake, and she'd be the first one to admit it. Yeah. But there you go. 125, so interesting, way more interesting than it was coming out of the Ultimate Fighter.

So we saw a very impressive showing from Mahmoud Muradoff puts away Andrew Sanchez in the third round in the middleweight division. He is now on 14 fights in a row. This guy is super legit. A.K. I'm ready. I am ready to put this man to the test right away. This man that I'm going to put him up against may not like it, but I want to see Murdof again and I want to see if he can swim, so to speak. I'm ready to do it. Let's give him Brad Tavares and see what happens. I think it's perfect. It gives us a chance to get a more realistic glance at Murdov's ceiling. And also we could see if this now healthy, rejuvenated Brad Tavares, is this guy ready to go on another run like he believes he can. So this is my pick. I think it's easy. We don't like to necessarily matchmake from the same card that often.

But in this case, I think it makes perfect sense. What do you think? Let's be honest here. Tavarez versus Carl's Jr. was the battle, I should have thought, I came in that I didn't think this before they fought. The battle of the middleweight, middlemen. Okay. These are the two guys that we always, most people say, okay, when someone's, as you literally

just outlined, when someone's climbing up 185, usually you end up fighting either Carlos Jr. or Brad Tavares, and then you end up getting a proper ranked opponent. So yeah, it makes a lot of sense in that way. And by the way, that fight, my goodness, that was a delicious middle-weighty middle-weight fight,

wasn't it? I know when I say this, some people don't understand what I mean, but the middle-weight division for the longest time, still is, it still is. I was the most fights that seem just not bad. I'm not saying they're bad. They're kind of listless. They're kind of monotonous.

It's like a lot of fighters' division are well-rounded, but don't quite have an A-plus skill, don't have a great finishing ability. And that's how I would describe both Tavares and Carl's Jr. Carlos'rower had a little bit more on the ground. I mean, obviously, his A-plus skill is his grappling, but he just doesn't always get it there. And when he doesn't get it there,

you get these medium-to-high-level sparring sessions. And again, I know it sounds very derogatory. Both these guys have been in the UFC for a long time. So when I say this, they've had a great success getting these kinds of fights, so more power to them. They are both excellent fighters. They just are part of a division where some of the fights are just, you cannot distinguish one from another. So thank you guys for delivering on the middleweight potential of your fight. That said, one, I like Tavares more for, I like Tavares, Sean Strickland.

I don't know why I'm feeling that one. But Mordov, for me, actually, the easier one was rebook Mordov versus Kruc. Christoph Jocko. Jocko, I had to remind myself, is on a three-fight win streak. I think he's a stiff veteran test. So really along the same lines of thinking with Tavares. It was really scheduled for October 31st. I have no problem running that one back.

I still think, I think that's the one to break Mardov. Into a firm spot on the top 20. If people don't have him there already, he's just on the outside of mine. And then after that, then it's for sure a top 15 ranked opponent if Mardov can get past Jocco. people forget that we were days away from getting Murdof versus Kevin Holland on that October 31st card what a ridiculous fight that would have been I can't wait to I have a feeling we will see those two guys fight at some point yes and I'm I am all in for that one but we were so close to getting that fight just kind of sucks we didn't get it but uh turned out really well for Kevin

Holland what a year he had and let's see if Murdof can get close to to that in 2021. So let us head to the main card opener, AK. We will begin with you in this one. Marina Rodriguez, massive underdog. I thought the lines were outlandish. This was, this is worse than DeCirico versus Joaquin Buckley, if we're being honest.

She stops Amanda Hebas, which strikes twice in like a 30 second span. Huge win from Marina Rodriguez. She derails the Hebas train, and now she's in a primo position after going win in her previous two fights. So what do you want to see after an impeccable kickoff to this main card? Well, I feel bad here. I'm going to break out a name that is among our list of fighters who is often brought up on our show by us and by our readers, usually brought us as alternates and as our readers

as suggestions, like Ally Quinta, Gregor Gillespie, Kevin Lee, people who have been a way for either because we know they have injuries and we're just kind of, I don't know when they meet. Josh Emmett's another name that keeps coming up. Justin Schmidt finally did get booked, right? No. No. Anyway, so there's a...

I keep thinking of... There's another name that keeps getting... There's a bunch. People know what I'm tired. Anyone who listen to the show will know. There's always guys who ring up, and it's like, oh, or it could be this person, this person, this person,

depending when they come back, blah, blah. So I'm breaking out someone from the strawweight division who fits that description. I kind of want to see Rodriguez fight Tatiana Suarez. Whenever Suarez comes back, and I know Suarez, I think I've heard aiming for summer return, and I don't know if Hardriguez wants to wait that long for being honest, especially for someone who's a very tough opponent.

But I also think that it indisputably elevates her into the short list for a title shot, if she can beat Suarez. And I think Suarez still needs to be tested. And Rodriguez would be a huge, huge, huge test for her. Because we keep touting her as a future champion. But Marina Rodriguez is no one's walkover. So this is definitely for me, a test for both women to see who gets to title. I know there's a more obvious choice at there for Rodriguez, but I went away from that.

I'm going Tatiana. So if they booked that fight and she beat Tatiana Suarez, I mean, can you think of a like tougher road for like your first five UFC fights in a women's division than like Marina Rodriguez would have? Hit me, Mike. She debuts against Random Marcos, which if they fought now, Rodriguez is probably like a four to one favorite, no disrespect to Marcos. But this is 2018, Randam Marcos.

fights to a draw off the contender series. This is her UFC debut. Then she fights Jessica Aguilar and just just runs right. She just rakes her. Just runs right through her. I mean, I know Jessica Aguilar was a bust in essence.

She wasn't the same fighter once she got to the UFC. But still, at that time, impressive win. Then she decisions Tisha Torres, which is no easy feat. And more oftentimes than not, when Torres is in a position like this

against a fighter, like where Rodriguez was, Torres eats up her opponent pretty easily. Not this time. Rodriguez gets the win. Then she fights Cynthia Calvio in a co-main event. And she won the first two rounds. And then Calvio came back with a great third round after Calvio had a big weight miss, fights to a draw.

Then she fights Carlos Sparza. Loses a split decision. Like there are a lot of people who thought Marina Rodriguez beat Carlos Sparza, who could be getting the next title shot. And now if you put her in there with Tatiana Suarez and she wins, she absolutely would get a title shot. She would jump everybody in my opinion because the strength of schedule is outlandish. And I'd be interested to see that fight. I do agree with you.

I don't think she's going to want to wait that long. So in essence, this was the easiest pick on the entire card for me because I thought the winner was going to get the Michelle Waterson fight. He boss his original opponent for this card. And I'm sticking with that. They are around the same ranking, I believe, is a record. I think Waterson is like one spot above Marina. and come Tuesday,

Marina might take her spot and be one spot above Waterson, a little flip-flop action. This is the fight. No need to overthink this one. Waterson is a name. It makes sense. Hebas probably would have got this fight

to try to get the Waterson rub. She didn't win. Let's give Rodriguez the attempt at the karate-hadi rub there. That's my direction from the jump. This is too easy. It makes too much sense, doesn't it? I mean, I have Waterson at 8 in my rankings

and Rodriguez at 9. Oh, I say my rank is different from the UFC because I rank the champion as just one. So everyone's a good spot lower than they normally would be in the official rankings. Yeah, it makes a lot of sense. Waterson, frankly, has probably a bigger name than Suarez. Again, among casual fans, Waterston is one of the more out there, more well-marketed, excuse me, fighters. So, yeah, I mean, in terms of name value, it bumps her up.

Again, I don't know what puts her quite in that position for a title shot, but impressive victory and the right callout, yeah, for sure it could happen. Like I said, that resume is ridiculous. That U.S.A. Resumates stacked. Yeah, I don't think it's a title shot win. over Waterson, but it's tight eliminator fight time if she does go in there and get Waterson. And let's be honest, you're going to

throw Waterson on a card at this day and age, you're going to get one or two things. You're either getting on the main card of a big pay-per-view or you're headlining a fight night. So either is a pretty good spot for Marina Rodriguez. So now we head to the wild card selections where we

choose one fighter. We have not matched for yet, and we go ahead and do it right now. So, AK, we will begin with you, is your wild card selection coming out of UFC 257? First off, my quick hits. Look, I'm down for Juliana Pena to get a fight with Amanda Nunez after, after she fights the winner

of Kettl and Vayana Kuna Kuna-Skaya. So I'm on the Pena train, guys. I like the call-out. I think she has the kind of personality that can sell a title fight, but I understand the trepidation of people wanting to see her fight Nunez. And I'm not saying she could beat Nunez,

but if Nunez does, my other reason for not making this my big pick is I don't even know if Nunez ever defends the bantamweight title again. Like we said, a lot of us feel like she might retire in 2021. It could be after a big featherweight fight. Could be after maybe something else with Kayla Harrison. That's just one I want to see. So, so, it's so hard to say, oh, O'Pena can just get a title fight. It's so dependent on what Nunea's plans to do. Armand Srukian, future title contender, got to make that way, brother. Got to make that

wait. So I wanted to pick him, but I couldn't do it. Kaleel Roundtree. Finish your plate, my friend. Finish your plate. Man, he, street rules? Let me tell him. Street rules. I think he won that Prachniao fight. Street rules. Scoring, the way an actual fight is scored, not even close. He almost got blown out. I know people are going to look at the two huge strikes he landed in the second round.

He almost floored Prachneau, did not, not a knockdown, and then he head kicked him. And the third round had a huge uppercut two times. I thought he could have passed. And again, this is backseat fighting, by the way. I'm not in there with him. I'm not the guy. I'm not the one who hurts someone and then rushes in and gets Pat. buried or Czech Congo the other way around sorry

and gets Czech Congo so it's easy for me to say oh round why didn't roundtri just going and finish and it's like because look if I say that now we could be talking about a crazy marching fraccneal come back Kio this morning if if roundtree comes in and and gets blasted so

but obviously I'm just saying it was it hurt me almost to see roundtree not win that fight because he was closer to finishing but statistically he just got blown out in the strike so you know you couldn't give him the decision my pick I gotta go with Abloev

I'm going with Mosar Abloyev who found himself in a strange situation having to he he it's Lens who stepped in on short notice right yes it was live no no no no no no no Lens was scheduled to fight Mike Grundy already keep saying this yes you're right yes

so Avloyav stepped in and they did a 150 pound catch rate which is a very good idea and Avloy have won a quote unquote split decision which no Eric Colon no you messed up So unanimous decision win, really, by any other definition for El Loya. And I would like to see him. It's not quite in my top 20 yet.

It's close. I want to see him face another top. I'm going prospect versus prospect. Let's see him. And Sadiq Yusuf. Ooh, I thought we're going to have the same pick, AK. Oh, where are you going with this? I thought we're going to have the same pick.

Okay. So I'm going to mimic everything you just said because I feel like we, I don't know, this has been a while since we've had back to back. same wild card picks, but I almost don't want the man to he bus. I almost went with Sirukian, but I feel like if you miss weight, you don't get to be a wildcard spot. So I'm going with a Vloyav as well. Tough veteran test. I think you need one of those.

Nick Lentz is that guy. He faced a little bit of adversity, but then he went on to beat Nick Lentz for like 85 to 90% of that fight. I actually scored at 3027. for Vloyev. If you scored a 29-28, that's fine. But I thought of Vloyav, even though he was in a tight guillotine and things were getting a little sketchball, I still think he won that round. But Nick Lenz, tough as nails, guy's awesome, short notice.

For Vloia, very impressed with him. I'm ready to throw him in there with another really tough up-and-comer who was actually supposed to compete on this card, A.K. I believe the UFC will ultimately go a different direction with one Hurricane Shane Burgos. I think they'll maybe give him someone like an Arnold Allen. Maybe the aforementioned Sodyk Youssef, because Yusuf's a top 10 guy.

So that leaves one Canadian named Hakeem Dawadu without a dance partner. And Mavzar Ev Loyav likes to shall we say whip nay nay and maybe post out the old

electric slide, AK. So that is my pick. In my own personal rankings, in my own mind, I have a Vylaue ranked higher than Dawadu. Oh. But this is the fight to make, AK. Like, this is, this division is so, so deep that you're going to have to put fights like this together. And even if they did, like, Evloyav versus Sadiq Yusv, I'm cool with that too.

You just have no choice when you have a division this deep. I have Dawu at 20. I have Vloyav at 21. So I have them right next to each other. I'm not sure why I skipped over Daoooo. Maybe I haven't given up on the Dao Duos matchup, even though, even though by any indication, it's possible they could just move on from that. But, uh, yeah, maybe.

I just haven't given up on that one yet. But for sure, I mean, I'm Doha, Do yousuf, Burgos, he's Arnold Allen, I'm down with any of that privilege. He looked great. The fact that have Lov on two weeks notice wasn't even breathing heavy in that fight

with that pace, didn't even have his mouth open. At any point in that entire fight, it's just wild. That is a scary cat, man. Can't wait to see where he go, like what position he's in at the end of the year. So you've heard from us already,

AK, what are the people? have to say oh my goodness well so I've mentioned earlier this week I want to kind of mix up the format a little bit because I do tend to sort of repeat myself and I've wanted of course I want to shout at everybody but you guys have been so so dedicated to getting your picks in it's just there's almost no time to mention everyone so I apologize guys your name doesn't get mentioned I'm reading out picks first starting off with some consent almost consensus picks kind of picks that multiple people had we talked about earlier look this poor A Chandler thing is a lot

esteem behind it. Almost everyone who submitted picks, I would say, I would say three out of four. Three out of four of the readers who submitted picks, Porre Chandler was their number one option for what to do that. I don't know. I feel like we didn't mention this. Chandler versus Olivaura. There's again, a bunch of people mentioned this. Why is this not something weird, like, I mean, we'd love to see it, obviously, but why is it not like in our, almost like in our top three of, like, options? It's probably in my top three. Like, I mean, there's really only three places to go. You give Chandler Tyler to Tyler Tyler's shot, you give him G

you'd give him all there. Like that's it. Another one that came up more than once. McGregor versus Gat G. Man, I don't know if this version of McGregor, unless you don't like McGregor, then have at it. I don't know if you want to throw this version of McGregor in there with Gagee right now.

I think McGregor could really get hurt. I understand that's why some people buy a ticket. It's why some people buy a pay per view. He could really get hurt, but just in Gagee. I do not. like that matchup for McGregor. Right now, I do not like that matchup from McGregor at all, but several people called for it. As you said, Rodriguez versus Waterson, the obvious matchup, I would say almost 100% of the people who mentioned Rodriguez picked Waterson. The other one, they said,

and this would be almost like a mirror match. I do find them very similar in a lot of ways. Rodriguez and Yajajik. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Shout out to my man, Marcel. He also said Jan Jonan would be a fun option for Marina Rodriguez. I like that too. Rodriguez really did a lot for herself. Oh my goodness. Like so many options now. And really, at most, I'd say, like we said,

with the right matchup, probably one fight away from at least being on the short list for a teloshot. A lot of buzz for Amoradov versus Strickland. So yeah, okay, cool. I like that. We got Peña versus Lad. Love that fight. Really?

Love it. I think that's the fight to make. I like it too. I just for some reason I thought, I feel like, I don't know, I feel like Pena's win over McMahon. Maybe I'm overrating it. I almost feel like it puts her above Lad. I'm not sure. I had to think about that.

And then Pena versus Aldana is another one that came up. So it's a lot of options for Pena as well, but important win. I saw this one. I thought it was just one person. I think at least three people recommended this. Dan Hucker versus, and again, it's hard because we don't know the size coming back, but Dan Hooker versus a returning Kevin Lee. Like it.

Yeah. I like it. I'm into it. Although I will say this. I'm sorry to interrupt you. I feel like we have to do Kevin Lee versus Islammachchev. I think you have to make that fight. There's just so much heat there.

Kevin Lee had been calling a Habib for so long. Oh, yes. And you're never going to see that fight. And there's been so much heat between Lee and Makachep. They tried to rebook this fight several times at this point. I feel like this is the comeback fight for Kevin Lee. But if they decide to book Makachev, you know, maybe you do the RDA fight or something like that. If they go that route, then yeah, like I like that.

idea. I like how Makachev has become our, we have Habib at home meme. And then this is, Habib at home, colon, picture of Makachev. And there's no insult to Makachev. It's just, I've seen a lot of people bring him up as a proxy now that Habib is ways. Oh, could we get Markachev versus Tony Ferguson? That was kind of, you know, it's kind of, you know, it's kind of getting Ferguson and and I'm like, I guess. Yeah, sure. Tavares versus Omar Ahmedovs a couple of times. Yeah, I'm down for that. Calderwood Chukagian rematch. Yeah.

It's fine. It's fine. Okay. I thought I had to mention it. And then one that I saw a couple of times. I'm surprised I came up more than once was Battle of 5 and O in the UFC versus 4 and O in the UFC. Giga Chikaze versus Evloyev. So I don't want to match them up. I know I do a lot of prospect versus prospect

up-and-comber matchups. For some reason, I don't like that one. I just want to keep them apart. Yeah, maybe it's, one is like just because they're two really solid prospects, and I feel like both those guys could be in the title picture. So I almost want to wait and like let it burn for a minute. Plus I don't know if it's like maybe the international vibe to it. You know what I mean?

Like when you have two international fighters like that who are on the cup to come up, you almost want to keep them away from each other until it's time. You know what I mean? Like sometimes you get that vibe. Yeah. There are certain times you have to book prospect versus prospect, but there's like levels to the prospect game. And I think both of these guys are on like the tippy top level when it comes to prospects. Yeah. Look, look, we're ignorant North Americans. We tend to lump all these, some of these guys.

We go Europe, Europe or Central Asia, you know, so we kind of lump them all together, which I know is bad for us to do. But yes, yes, you're like you said, international prospects. For some reason, it just feels better to not match them up if you can avoid it. I want to see them kind of flourish in their own way. Going to Instagram quickly, we only had a couple of our boys chime in here. Jacob Best, of course, our usual, a lot of the picks I just said. He wants to Hebas versus Angela Hill. I like that pick.

That would have been, that would be my pick. Well, I think we've said, though, we kind of want to see Hill run it back with, not run it back, but get the chance to fight Tisha Torres, you know, just kind of rebook that one. But I do like, I did, the Hebus, Hill. thing kind of jumped out at me. And then Max Block on Instagram said, Hooker Felder. Now, I don't know if he is, if he forgot that they fought less than a year ago or he just really wants to see that fight run back because it was a close one. And also ruled, which helps. I would love to see that fight again. Again, honestly, yeah, if you booked that as their next fight for both guys, I'd be like, yeah,

that's frigging awesome. I'm not going to, I could, and then you booked it again. I'd be like, yeah, give me a five, a five part series for Dan Hooker and Paul Felder. It's not good for them or their health or they were probably the sanity of their families, but I'm all for it. And if Max did forget, I will say that this is something that can happen. If Felder fights again gets a win, and like I said, if Hooker doesn't come back until way later in the year, maybe doesn't even, maybe even fight again until 2022, I could see Felder wanting to run that. Like I said, it was a close fight, super entertaining.

I could see Felder volunteering to do that one again. So I know it sounds like a weird suggestion, but I'm going to say, I think Max might be on to something here if we're looking really, really big picture. Yeah, that's fun. Yeah. Let's go to Twitter. Solicitations from our own and my fighting account. I asked about Julianna Pena.

For the most part, just people are saying, no, I do not want to see her fight Nunez. Various variations of it's not a close fight, but not said in such a polite way as I just did. And I'm seeing Holly Holm. This is from Jerry at Shakedowne. I think we joked, like, that's probably the fight that's going to happen, right? Because Hollyholm is the ultimate title fight gatekeeper, right? God, I hope not. God, I hope not.

Like, I have not, like, listen, Holly Holm has done a lot in combat sports. She has done a lot. And oftentimes she has come through with some big moments. There have been many times in her UFC run where she has not come through in big moments. And it's been a long time since people have been, like, excited for a potential Holly Holm fight. You know what I mean? Like when was the last time I was like, oh, I can't wait to see Holly Holie home fight somebody. The rematch of GDR is right there and it just seems too easy. Like, and I'm absolutely, especially after what we saw from both of those women the last time they

fought, I really have, we have to see what happens with Holm and GDR. And if Amanda, and it's unfortunately because we don't know what's going to happen with Amanda Nunes. Like she could go in and beat Megan Anderson and just be like, I'm done. I'm out of here. Thanks, thanks for the cheese. peace out. Then you have to do Home versus GDR for the vacant title. That fight has to happen. I'm not interested in seeing Julianna Pena versus Hollyholm right now. I'm just not.

Hollyholm versus GDR is the fight to make. There's no other fight that makes sense. UFC on ESPN24, headline by Hollyholm versus Juliana Pena. It's coming soon. The trash talk would be outstanding. Oh my goodness. I asked our boy,

Sarukian. Again, unfortunately, he missed weight. A lot of people did not seem to care. So Chris Aguilar says Drew Dober, Gregor Gillespie, sure. Uri and Dietrich rebook Hackprass. I wouldn't mind it because he did miss weight. Normally I would say I thought this win kind of moved him past the Hackpast fight. He did miss weight though. I think that's the fight to make.

And I think one, yeah, maybe just rebook it, right? And then one that I think was brought up on our post-fight show, Moikano. I don't know if you brought that up or if a reader brought it up or Casey brought it up. But Casey Casey said Dan Hooker versus Moikano Oh, right, right, right, okay, okay, okay. Yeah, I think I prefer that. I don't know.

I don't see Moikano and, I think Strukeenig, I kind of rate him a bit higher as a prospect, as it were. But yeah, rebooking Hockpress, yeah, I think you're, Yuri, I think you are onto something here. And then I also ask about how Regas. They're just so thrilled with the performance. And I don't know, let me just check quickly. Yes, Lance, at fight lore with a zero instead of a letter.

No. On Twitter, he likes Yuana. Again, that's like I said, that's one that came up. Here's one that. Oh, here we got. This is what I wanted to do. D.E. on Twitter says, winner of Dern and Saurov. Maybe Anserraff. Dern, I think she's above that fight.

Above Marina? I think Marina. No, I think Marina is above Dern right now. Oh, certainly. Yeah, I know Dern is the bigger star. I don't think it'll win. I know it sounds weird. I think Ansaroff is a little more veteran experienced M.A. So I think she's more worthy of fighting Marina than Dern is.

I don't know. But you know what? It's true. If Dern has a first round submission or something, the sky's the limit for her. So it's not out of the question. It's not like super crazy. I don't love it. Yeah, Dern's top.

Anseroff's top five. So if Dern beats her, she jumps probably ahead of Marina. So, yeah, I guess, yeah. I'm with you, I think, A.K. Our boy, Martin, at Mighty Magic Mart on Twitter. I don't know if we mentioned. Did we mention Ferguson versus Harker? I think we just brought it up.

We brought it up. I like it. I don't know. I'm into it. It's fun. Yeah. Brian Shea on Twitter, Brian P. Shea, excuse me, laid out a bunch. Hooker versus Diego Feheda, who is booked?

Is he not? He's fighting Benile Darius February 6th. But yeah, if Diego wins that fight, sure. Oh, I see you answered Mr. Brian Shea. Oh, you've already, Mike, you're on top of things. You have already addressed these plans. And then Casual Eve, Eve, the hardcore casual on Twitter, says, Porre versus Olivera.

Yes. Yes. I'm sorry, we're so far in the show and I've forgotten my own words. Yes, yes. Yes, thank you. Why did I? I was like, why did I make a note for this? Oh, yes, because Eve, the hardcore casual knows what do I fight to make?

It is Porreier versus Oliver. I meant to read that out with more enthusiasm. I blew it. I blew it. Again, got to go to a few of my boys in the DMs. I keep saying, boy. You know what? And some of these people might be girls.

I actually don't know. So my peeps, let's say. Some of my peeps in the DMs. Oh, I want to read this one all the way out. Aronski. says Evelio versus Burgos and he says look two completely contrasting styles

that will make for a weird and probably really good fight. My big caveat is that I want Oh, okay, this is a good part. My big caveat is I wanted to be in a fight night main event. Both guys to serve more eyes on them. I'm trying to think of a

I, the only scenario why I see that happening is if it's booked as a co-main and the main event falls off. And not to install other guy. They just don't have that level of name recognition. but obviously to fight a lot of NBA fans would tune in for. Yeah, I don't see that being a main event anytime soon, though. Yeah, I like the matchup.

I don't like it right now, but I like it. I'd like to see what it happened. I think the UFC really like Shane Burgos, and I'm not saying that whoever they book Evloyv against, they don't like, but I feel like Burgos is kind of in a position where they're like, let's give them a guy like around the same rank or maybe even a guy above because they can do a lot with Shane Burgos. Shane Burgos is a, you know, a good, a good representative of the company.

He's a really good fighter. That fight with Josh Emmett was ridiculous. And you know what I like to see for Shane Burgos more in 2021, A.K.? I'd like to see Shane Burgos in the broadcast booth. Like, not in the commentator see, but put them on the, put them on the desk with, you know, Karen Brian and them. Like we saw Walt Harris did a phenomenal job. We've seen Michael Kiesa. We've seen some of these fighters get these opportunities.

I'd love to see Shane Burgos get that opportunity. Yeah, no, he's good. Anyone who's watching interviews with Burgos, very comfortable, very good with speaking. And, yeah, I bet he'd be a great analyst. I'm going to run off really quickly four lightweight matchups. You tell me which one jumps out of your mic. Michael Perugini wants Sarukian versus Lee. Redwood Rebel likes Hooker versus Fiziev.

Ryan Doherty chiming in with Hooker for his Iaquinta 2. And CD coming in with Sarukian versus Trinaldo. Hmm. I guess Hooker versus Fiziv is the obvious stand out there, huh? Man, that's crazy fight. Which one would you want to see the most? If I'm Dan Hooker, I'm like, eh, not really. I'll take some more time off.

It does nothing for Dan Hooker. It does a lot for Fiziv. And if you haven't followed Hafiel Fiziv on Twitter, do so. Because he's the best fall of 2021 so far. The guy is funny. I like Sirukian versus Trinaldo, because for me, it's almost like a punishment for Sir Rukion. It's like, it's like, oh, you're getting a good fighter on a win streak, but it's a, it's a veteran.

It's a guy who's been around forever. He's not going to be an easy fight. Beating him is only going to raise your profile like a little bit. Like, it's not going to give you a big boost, but it's a fight you have to win. This is for missing. This is, hey, make that way. All right. So that's why I like that.

I actually think that will happen. I do think, I think Serfian Trinaldo is going to happen. And lastly, actually, I'm going to go on Twitter at the end because I think I lied, Mike, before the show. I was saying we did not have a wild matchup. We did have one that came in as we were recording. So I will go back to Twitter at the end. But very quickly email.

Shout out Marcus McGehy, who normally hits me up on Twitter. I forgot him last week. He got his submissions in on time. I forgot to read them. So he hit me up by email. So thank you, Marcus. Avloya versus Dawadu, as you mentioned. Prachniao versus Kendi and Zichukwu.

I just want to shout out Prachna, because we have not matched him up. I don't mind that at all. And then the favorite of his, I liked Peña versus Pennington, a battle of tough 18 teammates. I could see that. I don't know if people still, Pennington's still in that top ten. She's still firmly in that top ten.

I know kind of people forget about her. I don't mind it. Tristan Gordette, Porre versus Gatio Levera winner, sure, if that fight gets made. Chandler, I kind of mention this, Chandler versus DeSanos, and we've mentioned this earlier in the show,

Calderwood versus Caldillo rematch. So, okay, I'm into that. A lot of rematch possibilities for Calderwood. I think that's the message. to take away from here. Matt Bradbury always comes in with 30 matchups from the card itself

and then like 10 extra of just bonus matchups, I guess just like what he was thinking of after this, you know, how it shook up whatever card shook up the landscape. Albaazi versus Devorak both two and own the O'SC, great flyways, I like it. Sarah McMahon versus Penny Kianzad.

Yeah. You know into that. Sarukyan versus Gillespie, sure. Again, whenever Gillespie's ready to come back. But again, I like the Trinololol. the punishment fight. And then this was almost my show, my showender,

because I like it, because it's a battle of, and I'm just putting in this in basic terms for the poster, good versus evil, the ultimate battle, Roxanne Madaferi versus Jessica I. And I'm not saying,

literally evil, evil eye, okay? I'm not saying, I's a bad person. I'm just saying, Roxanne Madaferi has a very soft and gentle disposition, which many people like.

Jessica I is a very confident, powerful woman, and does not always ingratiate herself with the fans. Okay, I'm being as diplomatic about this is possible, Mike. I'm being as diplomatic about this as possible. They'd never fought before for some reason I thought they had. Probably because Roxanne's been around forever. But I think much like we saw some of that with this fight,

huge fan following for Jojo, some animosity towards I. I think you'd see a lot of that with Roxy and Jessica I as well. So I thought that was a cool matchup. I like it. You sold me, okay. Okay, good. That's, yeah, good.

I don't know if I can convince anyone. else but that is that's one bobby at bobby adkins on twitter came in with this it's always a weird one it's always uh with this weird matchup and it's always one where like some fighter has to go to a way a different way class uh he wants to see connor mcgregor uh go back up to 170 to fight wonder boy jeez i'll tell you you know what i would love to see that for wonder boy i would love to see wonder boy get that opportunity sure and that'd be a wild fight. I don't like

Connor's chances in that fight at all though. Me neither. Me neither. It's, I guess people like in the sense that Wonder Boy is probably not going to like do what foray did to him

and like take him out early. But it might be like a Jeff Neal. And I'm not saying McGregor is like similar to Jeff Neal at all. I'm saying as far as how difficult the stylistic matchup is. But Connor's tricky too. Yeah.

You know, Connor might like that kind of strategic tactical like five rounder. It's really not something he's got to do in a long time, like a strategic tactical striking matchup it's kind of cool so again at bobby adkins shout us to you i think that is my

for me i think the reader submission of the week and uh i'm certainly happy to end the show with it yeah that's interesting wonder boy's a big guy though yes i mean like nate's not the smallest guy on earth seroni certainly not the smallest guy on earth but wonder boys like it'd be like conter fighting a 200 pounder

yeah it'd be noticeable when you saw that when you saw them face off you'd be like like oh oh oh right connor's a kinder's a lightweight slash featherweight not a not a not a welter that's interesting i mean a good wonder boy would wonder like me for real i would love to the nmf can you imagine the press conference for that fight it would be amazing wonder boy would like water boy would bring him like a video game system oh yeah give him whiskey and yeah stephen wonder boy at times would have to politely pass connor would have to give him bottle of Pellegrino instead.

I mean, it would just be, it would be just good times. Good times. Self. The readers rule. They do. Readers, you guys are so great. Keep sending them in. Thank you for, thank you for the prompt, Mike.

At Alexander K. Lee on Twitter, Alexander KKK Lee, same thing, just two Ks, on Instagram and Alex. Dot Lee at SBNation.com. My email. Guys, hit me up. Yes, I am on Twitter at Mike Kek underscore J.R. Instagram M underscore Heck.J.R. I even made this big speech about how I'm going to get better with Instagram on the show maybe Wednesday and haven't done anything at all since then. So there you go. So, A.K., for the first time since we began this wonderful podcast of ours, we're going to be off next week because there's no UFC card, nothing to talk about. So we are going to give you the listeners and ourselves a little bit of a breather of a little recharge of the best. batteries because you got a bonus show this week after the Wednesday card.

So it all evens out at the end. We gave you a bunch of bonus content for the new year. I think we've done our part to do that for you. So it all evens out at the end of my opinion. So the week after, there's going to be no rest for a while because we're going to have a least, I mean, I think it's like a seven or eight weekend stretch. We have cards. I know it's all of February.

I believe it's all of March, too. So we have like all February and March. This will be the only week off we have for quite some time. but we'll be back next two weeks from now to discuss the what's next following the UFC's return to Las Vegas on February 6th. I believe it's going to be UFC Vegas 18. That one is headlined by Alster Rovereem versus Alexander Volkov. Huge fight for both guys.

Especially for Alster Rovere. He's on this kind of like Rick Flair tour trying to get back to the top or he's got to win every single fight or title shot just becomes not existent for the rest of his career. So fascinating matchup against the job. against the giant Alexander Volkov. Co-main event, Corey Sanhagen against Frankie Edgar.

Great fight. Very important one. We'll see another big fight at 155. Diego Faheda and Benil Daryush. That's a great fight, a rematch from several years back. And AK, it's finally happening the long-awaited octagon debut

of the former Risen Banaheat champion, Manel Cape, against Alexander Pantosia. This card's real good. This card's real good, AK. That should be the main. main event. That or Edgar, Sanhagic, look, over in Volkov, I think that's ending in a knockout. So that's a waste of rounds. You're just wasting rounds there. You give those, give those two extra rounds to either Pantosier or Cape. That's like a end and finish two, actually. I don't

know if I see that one going to distance. They should have given those rounds to Edgar and San Hagan. So I'm just saying, I'm a bit of an Edgar mark. So whatever. I may be, but I wish one of those smaller guy fights was getting the main event spot. But yeah, wow, I'm just going to card now that's real good it's real good i'm sure i'm looking at the rest of the card nico montaio is back against carol hosa hopefully fingers crossed nico nico let's get let's get back in action uh cody stamenu was supposed to fight mara boulos willie that is not happening he's not fighting andre yuel mccan v sara percopio marion marneau against macy chieson mike rodriguez against danila marquez huio arseh versus timor valley of holy potatoes there's your under the radar fight for that card

Michael Johnson versus Clay Guida. Wow. O'Day Osborne versus Dennis Bonder is on that card. Sung Wu Choi against the debuting Colin Anglin, who just got a contingency contract. We have mentioned on the show, Colin Anglin. We have brought up on the show before as a prospective matchup. So he's becoming a real UFC fighter, guys.

And the return to action for one, Devante Smith. He is back after just a pretty gnarly injury. lost to Kamaworthy, the unfortunate loss of his sister. I mean, the guy has gone through so much over this last year and a half. He returns to face Alex De Silva. So happy to see Devante Smith getting back in there as well. So that's a really good car. This can be a lot of fun. That's going to be a lot of fun. So that's going to be a lot of fun. Until then, we are out of time time for AKI and Mike Heck. We'll see in a couple of weeks. Remember, don't take this all too seriously. M.A. is supposed to be fun. We'll see you next time right here on onto the next one,

the podcast.