MMA Fighting - On To the Next One | Matches To Make After UFC 291

Episode Date: July 30, 2023

While Justin Gaethje will likely find himself in a UFC lightweight title fight following his incredible knockout win to capture the BMF title in the main event of UFC 291, Dustin Poirier now finds himself in a tough and interesting spot with his next move. Who would make sense for Poirier to fight next inside the octagon? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what's next for Gaethje and Poirier after their headliner at Saturday's pay-per-view event. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz following Pereira's split decision win in the co-main event, Derrick Lewis after his memorable finish and free agency announcement, Bobby Green after submitting Tony Ferguson, Kevin Holland following his first-round finish of Michael Chiesa, 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 Cudullian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprise his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible Original Blockbuster. The Downloaded, it's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love?

The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Support for this show comes from the Audible original The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco 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 two, Ghosts in the Machine, available now only from Audible. Hello there, everybody. We are live on the MMA Fighting YouTube channel with another edition of On to the Next One coming off of a very emotional UFC 291 events where the highs were very high, the lows were very low.

We have a new BMF champion, and Derek Lewis might have just given us the greatest six minutes in the history of combat sports last night. But a lot to talk about from a matchmaking perspective. Thank you for having us here early on a Sunday morning after a just a crazy day and a half, if you will, of combat sports action. But I am Mike Heck, and as you can see,

my best friend's back and you're going to be in trouble. Hey now, it's my best friend, Alexander Kay Lee, the co-host, the co-matchmaker. How are we doing, A.K., happy Sunday. We're doing good. We're doing good. We're a little, as always, a little sleep deprived after paper for you, a little, even more so. If you, I don't know, Mike, if you stayed up at all for the Risen action, which was extraordinarily eventful for anyone who did not keep up with those results. Both Pitbull Brothers fought at these Risen shows.

And Patricke, the less decorated one, I've won, I think, as expected. right. Am I making stuff? I'm, again, I'm, I'm crazy right now. Patrici won. Yes, Pratrici won. Patricio, a lot of people are probably just finding out now, was knocked out in the first round. So, feel free to catch up in that, guys, while you are watching our show, the wonderful Giermei Cruz stayed up in his time zone to take care of this action. I lost to, Petrishio Pitbull to

to Chihiro Suzuki. So a short notice fight for Bolton guys kind of a wild circumstance dealt with his hers patruchio could well that much but again for anyone out there just hearing about this i mean i'm totally blown away maybe the episode of the year uh but yes uc 291 great show another great show in utah shoutouts shoutouts uh weber state uh in ogden augden utah where i have family the alma mater of damian lillard dame come to toronto come to toronto dame it's lovely up here man hey listen maybe maybe he's watching the show right now. I'm sure he is. I'm sure he is. Yes. Well, I mean, this is this is going to be an interesting

program. Normally, we do this in podcast form. Everyone submits their picks via social media. The live shows are a little bit different. It's going to be chat-based. So if we talk about a specific fight, you have certain matchups that you have in mind for said fight. We'll pull them up on the screen. We'll give our picks for who winners and some of the men on the other end of those victories, the losses, if you will, where they're going to go. We'll go through the main card. And then we'll do wild card picks for us. And then after that, we're just for five to ten minutes, we're just going to get after it.

And just turn it over to you. A nice wild card route will pull up your picks. We'll discuss. And we will go from there. So, AK, are you ready? Are you ready to do this? I'm ready. I'm excited.

This was pretty easy. I guess this usually is when we have a lot of notes. notable names in the main cards. So yeah, I'm ready to rock. All right. Well, let's start with the main event. Let's start with the new BMF champ. Justin Gachie lived up to the nickname. A lot of people penciled this in as a fight of the year nominee. And Justin Gage is like, I've had enough of those. How about a knockout of the year nominee? And I don't know if this one's probably not going to win knockout of the year. I think the Adasagna knockout is probably number one, but there are others. This will be on the top five for sure. Head kick.

knocks out Dustin Poirier, very similar to what happened like 11 months prior in that same building when Leon Edwards knocked out Kumar Ouspin, almost a similar kick set up and everything. And Justin Gachie gets it done, the exacts a little revenge, gets a K.O. the year contender. And this one's pretty easy, AK, we know where he's going. We have a lightweight title fight coming up in October between Islam Makachev and Charles Oliva. if Justin Gaichi is not fighting the winner of that fight for the undisputed lightweight title, something is terribly wrong, right? I mean, listen, a lot of things have been wrong with the lightweight division.

I feel like they never, I should, I mean, Habib got some great fights. He got Pori, he got Gaichi, he got McGregor. So I guess in that sense, they have been, they have had good fortune with putting the other the fights they want in 155. But Makachas run has been a little, I guess a little screwy, though I did love the Volcanovsky fight. I guess I'm just feeling bad about Binaldairus. I just feel like it's so weird that in all this B'Neil Darius somehow didn't get a title shot. Charles and Oliver two, sorry, Charles and Olovera, Charles and Machachev, too, a fine matchup. I'm happy to see it again. I didn't expect

to see it so soon, but yes, the lex logical thing would be for Justin Gitchie to fight the winner of that fight. But I don't know, strange things have happened. There's all those McGregor chatter, all the headlines coming out of 291 are about Gatheeky responding to McGregor. is giving him the I don't care about McGregor response, but I wonder if all the UFC matchmakers are hearing and Dana White is hearing is Gage McGregor, G., how do we make this happen?

This Chandler fight, I don't know. It's, that's murky waters anyway. But you're right, I'm with you. If I were, this is a crystal ball pick, this is a magic wand pick. I think G. has to fight the winner of this one. I just think it makes too much sense.

Yeah, I just don't see a world where G. I understand Gachi wants, I think every fighter wants to get that big bag of money. And if Justin Gachi becomes the lightweight champion, then he can fight Connor and get an even bigger bag of money. And even if he loses to the Machachev-Olivera winner, he could still fight Connor down the road. So that fight is, I guess, a back pocket fight. But I think Justin Gachie truly just doesn't want to give Connor the time of day right now. No one does. Yeah, no one does.

Remember when it was everyone calling out McGregor? Now all the fighters are like, is this guy still like, will this guy go away? Like why you, everyone's always like, why are you asking me about McGregor at this point? It's like, is this really a topic I have to talk about? A lot of change. That's what? You win, what, one fight in six years, seven years? How long has been for McGregor?

It's brutal. It's been a bad run. The only one that's given Connor the time of day is Michael Chandler and Connor ain't given him the time today, even though he's, even though they're on the other team together. Spoke this matchup into existence. We had, we were joking. We've been joking for a long time in our internal slack. I think people have joke on social media as well.

Like how many times has Chandler said, I want McGregor, I want McGregor, an unrelated interview. I think unprompted he would bring up McGregor. We have at least like over the course of two years, like seven or eight, nine different headlines, MAAFind.com with Chandler calling out McGregor in some way.

And it looks like he made it happy. It looks like he did everything to make it happen. And somehow it won't. Somehow it won't. So that's, again, that's this crazy business, right? Yep.

So I guess Michael Chandler's going to have to fight Arm and Sarukin. After all that, what a crazy stretch. I still think the UFC's going to try to make that fight because I think the UFC really likes Michael Chandler, but Connor just does not seem interested in it at all. But that's Justin Geichy. Easy pick. A difficult pick now is Dustin Porier because while we knew where the winner was going to go, and now Gaichy is an interesting challenge for both of these guys.

with how he looked. We had to figure out what was going to happen to the man who did not win the MEMF title. That is Dustin Porier just gets knocked out pretty viciously. He's out of title, the title picture for now. Maybe Justin wins the belt and they revisit that. But it kind of seems like both guys are like, okay,

we've spent enough time in the octagon just beating the hell out of each other. Let's play ping pong or a game of billiards instead. But Dustin Poria, in a very weird spot, went to the post-fight press conference and said, look, I'm not going to fight these up-and-comers. I'm only going to take fights that are going to get me excited. And I don't know what's really there for him right now.

Okay. So I'm curious, after UFC 291, where does the former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Porrego from this loss against Justin Gagey? I had people DMing me one really good suggestion. So I didn't want to steal it, even though I agree with it. And I can't remember if I also previously matched up the suggestion. so and I didn't want to veer from that. So I won't go to that for now.

You mentioned Armand, Srukian. I think that's the way for Porre to go now. It's name value-wise. It is a big step down from the types of opponents that Porre is used to. And I think he has enough leverage and also enough money to not have to take that fight if he doesn't want to. Not that he would ever avoid a fight. I'm sure if they sent him the contract, I'm sure he would sign the dotted line. but again

I think he's one of those guys who has enough cachet with the UFC that they'll they'll want his opinion they'll want his opinion they'll definitely negotiate with his management as far as who he's going to fight next

but I was just kind of looking at the rankings who he's fought already who's already booked maybe he gets the loser Makachev Oliver I don't think so I think I already I can't remember who I said I wanted for that so I had previously

and the other reason I'm going with Sarukian is I had previously, after Armand's last win, said he should get the loser of this fight, I don't really see a reason to change that. This is also, you know, we've talked about people squatting at the top of some of these weight classes, some of the more veteran weight classes, 155, 170, and that has to break up at some point. So I, this is definitely not a crystal ball pick. I'd actually be surprised that this got booked within the next six months, like booked before the end of the year, or if I were waving my magic wand, I would love to see

Surykian get a shot at it. Dustin for you. I would love to see that too. It's just not going to happen. I see a lot of people discussing a Dan Hookery match. Don't really hate that idea. I see a lot of Binaldairoush. Dustin is not fighting Binaldaryush. That fight is not going to happen. So what is the what is the Daryush? What does the Daryush hold up? Justin just doesn't seem interested in it. Just doesn't, that one doesn't seem to get him excited. And Dustin at this point in his career just just wants fights to get him excited. The dude doesn't need to fight anymore. He does not need to, but I still think there's an itch there, but I think he's only, I think he's going to be very

choosy with what he does. So Jed said this on the, on the post-fight show, and I'm going to go ahead and agree with him. I can't really matchmake for Dustin right now. So here's what I think's going to happen. Nate Diaz is going to box Jake Paul on Saturday. That fight is going to happen, and then Nate is going to come back to the UFC. He's not going to go fight for titles or anything like that. But again, poor Michael Chandler. Nate Diaz is going to resign. The UFC is going to do everything in their power

to book the trilogy fight between Connor McGregor and Nate Diaz. And Dustin Porre is probably going to fight Nate Diaz next and maybe his final fight. Maybe he fights Connor again. But I feel like, I feel like Nate's the only guy. Unless Gatesi wins the belt and the UFC. presents the trilogy fight between Gagy and Porre for the title.

Other than that, I just don't think Pori cares. I don't think he wants to fight Sarukian. I don't even think like Fizie would be like a really interesting stylistic matcher for him. And I don't even think that would get him excited. I think it's just, it's kind of just get the Nate fight done. Check that last one off the bucket list. If a title shot happens to come his way, whether it be short notice or the stars aligned for the Gachi trilogy fight. Other than that, man.

I just, he's going to have to have conversations with it in himself. And if he doesn't get what he wants, he just won't fight. And I think he'll be okay with that. So this is not a crystal ball pick either because when it comes to Nate Diaz, we never really know. But I feel like Nate can come back to the UFC. You can fight Connor and fight Porre and then he can go do other things. I think we both agree though, Porre for the rest of the year, probably just chill out.

Probably just chill with his family. Oh, yeah. We're not going to see, we're not going to see Porier until the summer of 2024. That sounds right to me. At the earliest. And that's only if Nate is in the UFC. If not, he's just going to take more time off until something really exciting comes along. So we welcome the Otno picks because I think Porre's name is going to keep coming up for a while.

I want to be like, well, you know, we don't think he's stepping back in any time soon, but certainly a viable pick. What about Colby? What if Colby wins the Welterway title? Because look, we know what's going to happen. You think what if Colby meets Leon? We know. We know that he is not going to be like, hey, Blah, Muhammad, you're next. It's not going to happen.

It's just not. What do you think he, do you think you'd be like, hey, Dustin, let's settle this thing once and for all, give you one last title shot? Man, how? Do you see a world where that happens? I think Colby would take that, or Dustin would take that one, or would he just not do it? I love Dustin Porreier as much as any self-respecting M.M.A. fan. and I guess he could argue his last fight at welterweight he he won that was because both uh, McGregor fights were at welterweight, right?

Yeah. So he could say, yeah, listen, I've, I've got back to back wins at back to back. Oh, no, no, no, no. It was at 55. Last one, one, t five. They're both 1505. Okay. Yeah, both 55 and they never just featherweight.

Jeez, okay. So they've never fought a welterweight. That's, that's a tough sell for me. not a tough sell for the UFC. Not a tough self for the UFC at all. You know, we want to reward this company man. We know he's near, you know, we know he only has a handful of fights left his career. Maybe one.

Maybe only one fight left. You know, maybe it's, maybe it's he gets that title fight. And if he loses, he retires, he wins, he might defend it once. Yeah, I could see the UFC going that way. I hope not. I hope not. Well, if one of the scenario also involves Colby Compton becoming multi-rate champion, which is, again, I hope not.

Don't want to see that. Not curious about how that's going to play out. So it's a good suggestion. There's a lot of ways that Porre can close out his career in an interesting fashion. Again, I would love to see him fight Armand. You're right. That is not even on his short list at the moment. But stranger things have happened.

So I'm going to stick with my Suruki on pick. But yeah, Nate Diaz or, what was I saying? Nate Diazor, how many, my brain just froze as I was talking about Connor, are far more likely. I feel like we get one of these every time we have a show like this. no chance you no chance ufc would make colby versus porre if you got the belt i i mean there's just the world where there's no chance fans wouldn't have it which fans yeah what are you talking about but it's a huge segment of fans would be like yeah it's great it's great how many look how many fans want colby to fight leon right now not a lot not a lot but they're still like everybody wants it

he's the man we have to do it yeah so yeah boarding for flight 246 to Toronto is delayed 50 minutes. Ugh, what? Sounds like Ojo time. Play Ojo? Great idea. Feel the fun with all the latest slots in live casino games and with no wagering requirements. What you win is yours to keep groovy. Hey, I won!

Sporting will begin when passenger fisher is done celebrating. 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Concerned by your gambling or that if someone close, you call 1-8665-3-1-2-60 or visit Connexonterio.ca. It's hockey season, and you can get anything you know. need delivered with Uber Eats. Well, almost, almost anything. So no, you can't get a nice rink on Uber Eats. But iced tea, ice cream, or just plain old ice, yes, we deliver those. 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. Let's move on to the co-main event. Again, this is going to be a pretty obvious one. Alex Pereira outlast Jan Boehovic. Before we get into the matchmaking, because we know who Alex Pereira is going to fight next. We know what's going to be at stake.

A lot of people screaming robbery, AK, saw it all over social media. Continues. I see it in the chat right now, man. We got people saying Jan was robbed. Jan bovich got robbed last night. It was a split decision, close fight. I think we learned a lot about Alex Pereira, no matter how you scored it.

Will there be a robbery review on this fight, AK? I don't think so. Full disclosure, I was mostly on boxing duty on Saturday night watching the pretty solid Spence Crawford card. The main event, Spence Crawford was, I guess we should call it Crawford Spence now, because Crawford won, was incredibly dominant on Crawford's part

and mesmerizing to watch a guy make, a guy who was clearly, now that, you know, the second best welterweight in the world, just be completely, they did not look, that looked like Crawford, like beating up a mandatory challenger. That is how impressive that performance was, not the clear cut number two, well, to wait, boxer in the world.

So that was amazing. The card itself was really good. The co-main event wasn't great, but the first two fights in the main card were pretty solid. So I was watching that. I also had the UFC 291 on, and it was definitely keeping up with you guys talking about it. From what I saw,

I just didn't see enough offense from Yon, to justify calling this robbery. Not that Padeta was crushing it. I think the judges had it pretty right. Of course, Yon had the ground control in the first round, neutralized, excuse me, neutralized Poeton. So you've got to give him round one.

Padeta had picked up, picked it up in round two, was able to keep the fight standing. Had, had, you know, Yon in a little bit of danger, you know, it wasn't like crushing it, but definitely had a little bit of danger. So clear round two for Padena. And then round three, I wish either guy had been able to assert themselves more.

I do give better the slight edge. But again, I wasn't watching round three closely, unfortunately. So I'll check it out. I don't think I'm going to do a robbery review. It's just there wasn't enough offense from either guy for me to be in a huff about it. And the late take down from, you know, Jan obviously does nothing, right? So I'm fine with the result. I will give it a proper rewatch, but I am fine with the result.

And people also know for anyone who wants to like just immediately call the robbery. My bar for robbery is really, really, really, really high. So you're definitely going to the wrong guy to justify that kind of the talk. I'll have to watch it again. So congrats. Congrats to Palleta, I guess. Sure. Like, MMA decisions is not the B.L. End all, but most people scored it for Alex Pereira.

On the watch party, watching it live, I scored it for Alex Pereira. I see, like, Jed said there was a case on the post-fight show for a 10-8 round for Yombovovich in round one. I see other people in there and there are some people just kind of clapping back against that. I think you can make a case for a 10-8. I'm not going to make that case.

I know you want, like, you need all three of the Ds, the damage, dominance, and duration. But even if you don't get all three, you can score a 10-8 based on two out of three. Pereira did nothing in that first round. Did nothing. But sit on his back and almost get finished

a whole bunch of times, just defending chokes. and I get it. Like if you want to make a 10-8 case, I'll listen to you. I would, I did not score that first round 10-8, but Pereira did nothing. And Jan Bolovich was in a dominant position for like three to eight, almost four minutes of that round and almost submitted Alex a bunch of time. So I'm not totally against it. If you scored it a draw, I would listen to what you have to say.

I did score for Alex Pereira. And guess what? If you're the UFC, you are thrilled with the results. And you are thrilled with the two judges who scored it for Alex Pereira because, AK, now we're going to get, for the vacant light heavyweight title, we're going to get Alex Pereira versus Yuri Perashka, maybe before the end of the year, worst case scenario first quarter at 2024.

And for a division that needs a shakeup and for the division that needs positive things to happen, I feel like this fight could turn the momentum around in a good way for this division. How excited are you for Pereira versus Yeri? because we don't really need to dig deep for this next matchup here. No, I'm the Prince of Positivity. I'm super excited. It's definitely been snake-bitten. Light-heavyweight, the history of light-heavyweight,

I think we have to do a comprehensive feature someday because it's really gone to some enormous highs and some weird lows. So it was the marquee championship division of the boom of the UFC, right? We're talking Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz. You can do a bunch of other names in there. But those title fights were enormous for the U.S.C.'s business and for building the brand. And then later you had start, you know, Rampage, Jackson come in, Liota, Machita, Shogun. And it became a bit of, there was a bit of a hot, Forrest Griffin, a bit of a hot potato title.

I think only Rampage among those names that I just mentioned was able to defend it once. Oh, sorry, not Rampage. Machita defended it with the controversial decision. So a hard title to hold on to. And then John Jones came along and just went on a run. And that was its own story. So John Jones era of the light heavyweight division. And in some ways,

that still gave the title more esteem the names he beat, how long he was able to hold on to the title. And then we hit a bit of a low. And as you said, it looks like we're coming out of it. But then we have this bad luck with fights getting canceled, fighters getting injured. We have two fighters have to vacate the undisputed title.

So I don't know where we're going with it. With the title itself, I know we have to have Oxponeta, but you're at Parachika and I'm greatly looking forward to it I'm as optimistic as anyone Mike I want to be as optimistic as you my best friend I just my fingers are a little bit crossed right now though that this this does bring some sort of stability I just hope we at least get the fight even if it's something weird happens after please just give us this give us this matchup and let's not have to wait too

long for it yeah we're going to get this fight and then we're probably going to get Jamal Hill versus one of these two guys which is going to be super fun and who knows we might even get Pereira Izzy at 205 for the title, even though Pereira said, if we do the trilogy, I'll do it 185. Why would Alex Pereira go to 185 ever again after looking so big and so good in this fight? It's crazy.

Yeah, a lot of people are saying you can't score that at 10-8. I'm with you. I would not score it a 10-8, but I'm just kind of throwing out some of the things that people had to say about it. So we know what Pereira is going, A.K., where is Jan Beholvich going now? Like, what does he do?

Do we do the Ancolaeuf rematch now? Like I thought Ancolaiff would fight Johnny Walker kind of as a not just a title eliminator, but kind of a UFC eliminator. Like neither of these guys are on like the UFC's great side right now based on their last performances. What do we do with Janbojovic now? I honestly don't really know.

Realistically, I think it should be either like Johnny Walker or Nikita Krillov. But I have matched those guys up in previous episodes. So I consider them locked in, even though the people I matched them up with are kind of in limbo. Like I wanted Krilov to fight Rockich.

We still don't know when Rock is coming back from his injury. And I wanted Walker to fight Ankaliev. And we just don't know where Ankaliev is, period. The dude has just fallen off the planet since that draw with Rojka. So that's a bit of a murky situation. I think realistically he will see him. If I had to do like Crystal Ball, it'll be him and Walker.

I think he'll fight Johnny Walker, I think. But again, since I don't want to change those picks and technically all four of those fighters are still in play, I'll call my shot in a different way, Mike. I want to see Jan Blakovich fight Anthony Smith after he beats Ryan Spann again at UFC Singapore on August 26th. Interesting. I wonder if, like, Kennedy and Chichuku is in play

if he wins his next fight because he's ranked now. Yeah, I don't know. I kind of feel like Angola. They'll just run that one back. This is a great question, Jeff. Why do people say Jan versus Ankleap is a bad fight? Dana just dumped on that fight, like right after. And I still don't really understand why. Is it the most thrilling fight you've ever seen? No, but it's really interesting because Jan is doing really well, especially with the kicks. And then Ankelai just has to dig deep and get takedowns. and it kind of slowed down at the end after a really interesting start. But yeah, I don't I don't understand why that fight gets so much like negativity.

Draws too. Draws, when people just look back on draws, they always seem unsatisfied with them, which is crazy because some of the most exciting fights in history I've actually ended in draws. But yeah, it was, and again, it's part of this weird light heavyweight title, like funk that we're in. So it was a good fight.

It was definitely a good fight. It had some weird moments. It had some light heavyweighty, light heavyweight moments. But it's not a bad fight. Yeah, I do find it a bit strange that people will look back on it so negatively. Anthony Smith is another possibility, I think. Yeah, that's where I'm going. I think he beats Ryan Span and gets that Blockovitch fight.

I just didn't like what I saw for Anthony Smith in the Johnny Walker fight. So I just don't know how much is left in there. So it's, yeah, maybe Span. I don't know. I don't know, man. That's a tough one. You want to know what else is a tough one, AK? The man who delivered the great.

greatest free agency announcement in the history of combat sports. His name is Derek Lewis, who comes out and flying knees, Marcus Rejari to Lima, to begin a sequence of events that none of us will ever forget for the rest of our lives, just runs over Ruggiero de Lima, finishes him in 33 seconds. He takes his pants off, swings his shorts around. He's doing the DX chops. He's dancing around, throwing his cup in the crowd and his gloves in the crowd, and then says, hey, I'm a free agent now.

Kind of want to stay with the UFC, but hey, F it, it is what it is. Derek Lewis, free agent, AK. Are you booking him? Are you booking his next fight? As you... As you brought this up, my best friend, your timing, as always, is pre-turned natural.

I don't know how you do this. The PFL just tweeted out, quote-unquote, heavyweight free agent with the meme of someone whispering and someone else see her and the hair is standing up on their skin. So that has to be some of the talk coming out of this, right? I think we mentioned it a lot on slide. I don't want to step on your pick if this is your pick that Derek Lewis would kind

of make a lot of sense as Francis Ngandu's first opponent in the PFL. Maybe we can run back that, you know, run it back into that atrocious first meeting and, you know, be optimistic that there's no way it would play out the same way it did when they fought before. You give Francis a guy with name value, you know, hopefully someone that France could knock out, though it would be hilarious if Derek Lewis went to the PFL and Kato,

chaos, so I see that's out there in the PFL. I could probably listen to our show. Mike, I think they were listening to the show like right now and just put that tweet out as you were talking. That's pretty crazy. I went with Jarzino. I've seen this,

we had the suggestion a lot on onto the next one. Feels like it could have happened at any point during Lewis's winstreet. I'm sorry, losing streak. And now that he's back in the wind streak. I don't, back in the wind column, I don't feel that it has to change. I still think Jarosino makes a lot of sense. Just a matchup we haven't seen before. A fight guaranteed, there's that word again, guaranteed to end the knockout.

And it makes a lot of sense if Lewis just does decide to return to the UFC. And if he really believes that he can get a tell shot again, this is one of the guys, I think that he would have to go through. Why would he go back to the UFC, though? like serious like i'm not saying this to be to just be like oh i don't like you why would he go back the like his opportunities to make money in this sport are outside of the UFC he's already fought everybody like yeah the jarzino fights there who else is he going to fight alexander romanov like why would he fight him why would he fight is he going to fight jailton

almeda if he loses to curtis blades like who wants to see derrick lewis fight those guys no PFL, man. Like, go, go make $2 million to fight Francis and Gano. Go do that and then go to BKFC and make a whole bunch of money just beating up a bunch Shaheen Al-Shadi laid out, a bunch of five-foot-six non-athletic bar fighters.

Why would he go back? I just, why would he go back? I don't understand. He's comfortable with the UFC. I think, I think it's, it's, it's, it's, uh, it's about making money. Of course he wants to make money. But you know, the UFC will take care of him.

the level the PFL will. I can see that like the PFL will legitimately offer him what? A million for one fight, two million? The PFL, yeah. He'll get two million to fight for answers. The UFC would do something like, you know, four million for like an eight fight. Like they would offer more. It just, it would be for more fights, right?

It would be for, again, six fights, seven fights, eight fights, whatever one of their crazy contracts is when they re-sign a name person. And I know that's, and again, I know the math there is like, well, that sounds dumb. Why would someone take four million for eight fights as well as the two million for one fight? I know, it sounds dumb. But, you know, when you're so entrenched in a company, when it's something you've known for so long, when there's still names, he's probably interested in fighting at, well, I shouldn't say. He never interested in fighting any names. He never calls anyone out.

He doesn't care. I misspoke. I could see him wanting to stay. He said kind of offhandedly at the Post-Fide press conference that he would like to return to the O.C. But, again, I'm sure he hasn't really talked to his manager. I'm sure he hasn't really thought about the possibilities, you know, in any serious way. And yeah, once they start talking about it, and if the PFL makes an offer, at least gives him a phone call Monday morning, Tuesday morning, it becomes a very realistic possibility. So I always assume people are going to stay with the UFC.

I think when Francis, when his free agency started drag on, I think I started saying like, ah, he'll probably just come back at some point. And I was wrong about that. I was wrong about that. He went to the PFL's. So wouldn't be surprised at all to see to see Lewis do the same thing, especially again, you're right, one fight. And who knows, maybe he can do the one fight and then come back to the UFC sometime in the future, right? nothing rolls that out. We could get Derek Luce, Greg Hardy, and BKFC.

Don't even. Don't do it. It could happen. That would do crazy numbers. I understand the comfort level. So, like, if he went back, I get it. But he's just fought everybody. Like, he's fought Tytuvaas already.

He's fought everybody. Jarzino. Yeah, except Jarzino, but there's just nothing really there. Like, I'll sign one fight to fight Jarzino, sure. But if you're Derek Lewis, like, you're at the peak of your powers in terms of negotiation, knowing that you got finished in the last few fights, you did not look great, and then you show up in just incredible shape and you get one of the best highlights of the year. I mean, his value is just so high right now.

Like, Bellator, I see people saying like Belator smart, Derek, go, Derek, Derek's not going to Belator He's not Unless they I mean if they somehow combine Like it kind of ends up Like who wants Do you really want to watch Derek Lewis fight Ryan Bader?

No you don't want to watch Derek Lewis fight Ryan Bader You don't want to watch that It'd be a homecoming is what one Belter fight under his belt Beltor 46 June 2011 Unanimous decision win over Tony J. I don't know I'm sure we all remember this I don't know why I'm recapping this for people It would be a return to Beltor

Yeah I don't know what's going to happen. My peg is Francis and Gano. I think Derek, you do everything, Derek Lewis, and he's got time because Francis isn't going to fight MMA until March or April of next year. And yeah, there will be a matching clause. But if the, if FFL is going to offer Derek Lewis $2 million to fight Francis and Gano, you think, I mean, the UFC can be petty, but Derek's always been really good for them. This has always been a pretty good relationship there. And I know the UFC would love to retain Derek's services, but it's not like losing Derek Lewis would hurt them. in the long run it's not like oh well we're gonna we're gonna have a terrible first quarter of

twenty twenty four because you don't have derrick lewis it would sting but be a free agent man go explore your options go see what your value is um and go get that francis fight man like go get it and go make that money and then go to get to b kfc even if he can't get the frances fight i hope the possibility of the move gets his gets you know and he returns the fc i hope that ufc contract is a big boost from what he's fighting for now i hope that last contract he signed is just for millions of dollars because yeah this man's putting so much so much sweat equity so much blood for the UFC he deserves to get easy no matter what his next contract is it still probably won't be what they owe him but I hope it's at least close I hope it's at least close

to make him make him whole yeah Arlofsky Arloffsky Derek Lewis no like nothing no doesn't get your doesn't get your goal no no no the chance to beat a legend the greatest heavy weight of all time according to Jedmerich. Yeah. And look, Derek Lewis goes to the PFL. He's not going to be like, oh, I'm going to do the season

and try to win a million. No, he's going to be on the, no, he's going to fight Francis and then like maybe do one more pay-per-view fight and that's it. It would be a very short contractor here would make a bunch of money. So we'll see.

Someone suggested Derek Lewis versus Andy Ruiz. This crossover boxing right now, it's a thing, AK. I mean, if you're Andy Ruiz, you probably got to consider that, right? That's a fun. Of course. That's a fun way to, yeah, make a payday, right?

Again, you assume he'd probably be the favorite in a matchup with Derek Lewis. So yeah, Andy Reeves, if you're out there and you're listening, I know, you've had bigger boxing matches than this, but, you know, the fight game's fickle. I think, and I'm looking at Ruiz now, he's 33 years old. You could do a lot worse for heavyweight, for bankable heavyweight opponents than pretty popular UFC star in Derek Lewis. Yeah, I just go out there and make a ton of money. That's all I care about.

go make as much money as you can. If it's in the UFC, then stay in the UFC. But if it isn't, go get that money. Please go get that money. Remember at the beginning of the show, I was like the highs were very high and the lows are very low. And I feel like the lows are very low for the beginning of the main card because Tony Ferguson, Michael Kiesa just looked terrible.

Tony had a moment. Knocks down Bobby Green. There was a pretty nasty. eye poke from Bobby Green to Tony Ferguson that honestly I watched the fight again this morning I don't know why I did that to myself I watched the first half of the fight and then I had to turn it off because it was just getting really sad but I had to remember the moment when the eye poke happened and how much things changed from that point and they changed a lot they changed the entire

momentum of that fight just swung away from Tony Ferguson had green in trouble green was breathing heavy got knocked down I poke happened Green got to take the time, got his wits to him, calm down, and then he just beat the hell out of Tony Ferguson the rest of the way, puts him to sleep with an arm triangle in round three. And Tony Ferguson now on a six-fight losing streak, Bobby Green gets a victory. Where does Bobby Green go from here, okay? What do we do with King or Bobby Green or whatever we're calling him?

Yeah. I don't want to say much about Tony Ferguson. I just that I've been saying all week. I've been saying since the banal Darius fight, I just can't pick this guy to win fights anymore. We always seem to mention him showing flashes. He showed some flashes in the ADS fight. He showed flashes in the Michael Chandler fight.

He showed flashes on Saturday. And there just comes a point where you can't, you only have flashes. It happens to any great athlete, right? You only have flashes of what you once were. And in the fight game, it might be more true than in any other, than any actual sports. So, well, you know, listen, we can talk about Tony Ferguson more later.

I'm sure we'll have suggestions from the listeners for what T. Berg should do. For Bobby Green, I'm cheating here, Mike. I'm cheating. I'm picking a name that I actually didn't pick for too long ago because I realized that that pick was silly. That pick was silly. I should have silly. I should have said, this guy gets the winner of Bobby Green for his attorney Ferguson. I want to see Bobby Green and Dan Hooker. It's a great fight.

Yeah, I can't believe it's never happened before. Makes a lot of sense for both guys. Yeah, because I think Byrd Green will have a number next to his name. Well, maybe not in the O.C rankings. Definitely not in our rankings. But he has a name in MMA. He has been around forever. We talk about Tony Bergson being a veteran.

I mean, Bobby Green, this was, I don't even know how many fights. This is from now like 50. And Bybee is just, it would surprise people, I think, how many he's had in the O.C. This was his 22nd UFC fight and his 47th pro bout, 46th pro bout. He's been around. So Dan Hooker shouldn't shy away from that matchup. Hooker's back on track at 155. And this is a winnable fight for both guys.

But if Hooker beats him, three straight for Dan Hooker, and he can start talking about top 10 opponent again. Good pick right there. I see Bobby Green versus the Maffirvolo picks from the Pips. I didn't know if you were going to change course and do Patty versus Bobby Green. the battle the winner gets patty i don't know i don't mind that bobby's in a weird spot i kind of think they're just going to run back the jared gordon fight like it's not i don't think that's like a sexy pick obviously but i kind of feel like

bobby was booked to fight jim miller i'm sorry jerry was booked to fight jim miller got pulled from the fight because he went to the media day and said he had some concussions and i feel like they're just going to try to put that one back together somehow and maybe those two guys will fight for the chance to fight Patty? I don't know. I kind of think that's where we're going to go. I do really like the Dan Hooker suggestion. I like that pick a lot.

Jalen Turner I see out there. Patty, yeah. Because I don't think like that that win doesn't do a whole lot for Bobby. It's a good win. I mean, it's a name to have in the resume. In terms of like title contention, there's just not, I mean, doesn't do a whole lot. So it's just kind of a vet fight. and Bobby Green gets it done.

And there you go. So let's go to the other thing that happened on the main card. Kevin Holland just runs over Michael Kiesa. This fight was not competitive. I think like going back and sort of rewatching the watch party, I think GEC and I made it sound like it was way more fun that it actually was. Because Kiesa just showed a bunch of durability and he was scrappy, but just didn't really have anything for Kevin.

He just looked like a dude who had to. and fought in almost two years and looked like a guy who's on the back nine for sure and kevin just kind of ran him over so i think this one was pretty easy for me it's jackdell and adelaena that's the fight we do with jdm these two guys are kind of on a little collision course kevin's talking about jdm the entire time i think that's the direction we go aka are we cueing the band here oh man we should have that was the way i was going to go with it because i wasn't here for the uh the the card that Jack Delamadena just fought on. So I was like, oh, well, that's perfect because, you know,

I wasn't here to make a pick for JDM. And Holland makes a lot of sense. But I didn't settle on that. I didn't settle on that. First of all, he should be banned again. We had banned Kevin Holland before. We banned him during that, I think that year he went like 5 and 0 because he just kept taking short notice fights and we're like, forget making matches for this guy.

It's pointless. There's no way to predict what he's going to do next because he might fight again in a month. We should ban him again for the middleweight talk after. I think he says something like he wants to, what do he say? He wants to go back to 185. Was that in the post the immediate post-fight interview, right? Not the press conference. Oh, he didn't do the press conference.

Or he did a presser backstage. But he said at some point he wants to fight a middleweight, right? He said that. He said that a bunch. He's willing to bounce back and forth. Why? I want to ban him. And it's, and it's, I know, but like, well, he was like a top 10 middleway.

And that's fine. He had some great wins of metalweight. But his ceiling is so clear in that division. it is now if you get the right matchups like Alex Panetta style sure he could maybe you know sneak his way into a title shot but I he's already had a run up there and his wrestling deficiencies plus the size difference with some of those guys it's too much it's too much why go back up to 25 stop it

stop it Kevin Holland I won't ban him but I will say if he wants his next fight at 185 Mike why don't we do it against a guy who is supposed to fight Saturday and who his fight should also his his next fight should also be at 185. Michel Pereira. Michelle Pereira screwed up big time. And I don't know if he's done at 170.

I have always been surprised that he can even make the cut down to welterweight. He is enormous. We talk about how big Alex Pereira is for middleweight. I would say the same thing for Michelle Padetta at welterweight. I'm like, I don't know how this guy's making the cut. And he's missed once before. And now two misses. And both times he missed pretty bad.

Oh, no, sorry, one pound the first time. Now three pounds this time. All the power in the world to one. Wonderboy if not taking that fight. And I know we shouldn't reward Michelle Podetta with a name fight in Holland. But again, if we're going to do something wacky, if Holland insists that his next fight to 185, why don't we do something fun here and have him fight Michelle Podetta,

who again, is ready to, I assume is ready to fight any time now. He wasn't injured. He just screwed up his weight cut. I'm not sure what the excuse is going to be. So, yeah, let's just see what happens. Let's get crazy. Let's see what happens there. And then Michelle Padetta can try to go back down to 170,

and Kevin Holland should go back. down to 170. I see a lot of people saying Kevin Holland versus Ian Gary next of Ian Gary beat Jeff Neal. That was to me the fight. After Ian's last win, I wanted the Kevin Holland fight. I thought that made a ton of sense. Great name value, good call it, all that.

Yeah, we'll see. We'll see what happens with Kevin. Kevin's in that position where you just fight anybody. Just cash those checks and people are going to watch. This episode is brought to you by Peloton. new era of fitness is here. Introducing the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus powered by Peloton IQ, built for breakthroughs with personalized workout plans, real-time insights, and endless ways to move. Lift with confidence while Peloton IQ counts reps, corrects form, and tracks your progress.

Let yourself run, lift, flow, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus at OnePeloton.ca. When I got a great deal on a great gift at Winners, I started wondering, could I get fabulous gifts for everyone on my list? Like this designer fragrance for my daughter. It's just $39.99. How could I resist? This luxurious wool throw for my sister. This gold watch for my partner? A wooden puzzle for my niece?

Leather gloves for my boss? Ooh, European chocolate for the crossing guard? At these prices, could I find something for everyone at Winners? Stop wondering. Start gifting. Winners find fabulous for less. Let's go to the wild card round, A.K., we will matchmake for a fighter that we have not matched for yet, and we'll make a match for them right now.

So it could be somebody who fought on the main card and didn't get a win, anybody from the prelims. Where are you going with this one, A.K., who's your wild card selection for UFC 291? Well, we're definitely going to be friends forever on this one. I think we've got it, Mike. I think we've wildcards friends forever because Tony Ferguson is not retiring

and his next fight should finally be against Patty Pimble. This is the time is now. my best friend, Tony Ferguson, Patty Pimbley, it made sense before. It still makes sense now. Let that be Tony Ferguson's retirement fight. We either get a great Robbie Loller type moment where Ferguson finishes Patty Pimbleau to the cheer of an appreciative Las Vegas crowd. Or we have one of the five most depressing moments in M.A. history when Patty Pimbleau either submits Tony or knocks him out cold. So I'm not giving up on this.

I still think it's possible. I would want to rather see Tony retire, but if he's not going to, guess what? Hashtag Al Kakuwey, Patty the Baddy, Still Al-Wa-Baddy, still alive. I said on the preview show that at that moment, I was, I didn't hate it as much as I did before, but now I think I hate it more than I did before, because it just, it would just be the saddest thing ever. This is not my wildcar pick. It's Tony Ferguson Joe Lozon, UFC 300. Just do it.

Just throw those two dudes in there. And that's it. Like, it'll be fun. And one of these, like, veteran dudes, just go ahead and do that. And it won't be incredibly sad either way. Jim Miller's okay, too, for Tony. I went a different direction. Did you, you didn't go Tony Ferguson?

I did not. No. I don't want to match me for him at all. I know. So this is, as people know, when it goes to a live show, we don't do like a full slate of listener picks. We're going to go to YouTube comments for those suggestions. So I did want to point out, Justin with a Y on Twitter said, I had an epiphany when I woke up this morning. Sign sure dog legend Jay Ellis and let Tony fight him at 170 or 155, depending on what

Ellis can cut to. He last weighed in at like 167 pounds. Easy win and Ellis can get a decent payday. I don't hate this idea at all. And I think the UFC needs more Jay Ellis. I think he should be a designated retirement opponent for any of these beloved fighters that we have like Justin Porre somewhere down the road. If he goes on a streak and wants to go out to win, you put him in there with Jay Ellis. I think the possibilities are. Kamar Usman, I don't know.

I don't think he's going to lose the streak anytime soon. I think if you lose one more time, he's probably done. But should he go down that? Tyrone Woodley versus Jayles would have been a great, I think they already fought, actually. Would have been a great way for Tyrant to end his U.S. career. So Justin with a Y, I like where your heads at. Taran has not bought J.Ls.

I like we were heads at. Let's get J. Ellis in the U.C. Let's get J.L.S. paid and get them and put some of these stars out on a high note. Don't hate that. Kind of a New England legend. Jay Ellis. He just fights at like every Cage Titans card and like every New England fights cards. It's crazy.

Dave Asking of Lowe's on still fighting. He is not officially retired. He hasn't fought since UFC Boston in October of 2019. He's supposed to fight Donald Soroni. if you can remember that, and then he hurt himself putting his socks on, which is, I still can't believe that's an actual real thing.

But Lozan said, like, he wants, if the date, the opponent, and the location is perfect, he would do another fight. So,

yeah, I think Lozan would certainly take that one, and I kind of been cool with that. I'm going with a guy who's supposed to fight on Saturday, but didn't. And not jump here. I'm going with Wonderboy Thompson,

okay? I'm going with Stephen Thompson. Curious. I was curious to see what the reaction to all this was. And I don't blame Wonder Boy at all for not taking this fight. Like not even a little. There are some people out there who just like to complain and just throw shade at everybody. But the dude, the dude's already been here and lost.

And his title hopes are dangling by a very thin thread where any loss, he's just never going to fight for the title again. He still truly believes he can get there. And I think, honestly, with his popularity, I think he can get there too if he's booked the correct way. Now, how is the UFC going to proceed with this? Are they just going to... I see a lot of people, and I saw this on the post-fight show, too.

Send him to Sydney to fight JDS. No, that fight's not going to happen. They're not going to do that right now. Wonderboy certainly isn't going to take that fight. He's not going to take that big of a step back, even if he feels it's a winnable fight. Could the UFC throw him a guy like Sean Bray? who will just try to take him down and kind of smother him for 15 minutes.

I could see a world where that happens as well. But I landed on a different one, AK, I landed on a different one. How can we, because the UFC is very storyline-ridden, how can the UFC capitalize on something where they put Wonderboy Thompson, they give him an opportunity to accomplish that dream of getting one more title shot? but they also put him in a matchup that's probably not going to go very well for him how about kamar usman how about we do stephen thomas and thomas a khaer ushman a very winnable fight for kamar ushman these two guys have never fought each other and if somehow

kamar ushman wins maybe in the ufc's eyes kamar does the ufc a favor knocks wonder boy out of title contention, Wonder Boy never gets his shot. And if somehow Wonderboy Thompson beats Kamara Usman, you got a guy who is very popular and what a story would be for, you know, a guy who will probably be 41 years old by the time this happens, gets one last shot at the belt, very positive thing. What do you think, A.K.? I kind of like that.

And Newsman's available and Wonderboy wants to get back in there. Maybe you chuck that on, in November at M. or do it in December or maybe even sooner than that. How about that? Yeah, and Usman versus Wonderboy had been discussed to some degree when Usman was a champion, you know, and when they were just trying to figure out names for him to fight as his reign sort of started carrying eyes or knocking off, you know, all these contenders. Wonderboy's name was always in there.

He just had was never, he just has not been able to put together that run that would get him a shot at Usman. Uh, it was definitely like the name by Thompson, of course, even though it's a very difficult match it for him. It could easily turn into him getting out-wrestled and smashed against Gilbert, against Bilal Muhammad. It could go very poorly for him in that sense. But he's definitely not going to say no, because that's still a top three well-to-weight in the world to be able to get that matchup again.

After losing said fights to Balal and Gilbert would be a major coup for Wonderboy and his team. I don't think it happens. I think I don't know what U's my first. one's next fight is going to be, but I think they go in a different direction. But the logic behind it is very sound. The logic behind it's down. It's not, it is not crazy at all. I mean, you can do Bilal versus Usman, but Bilal is probably just going to wait for a title shot.

I hope so. We've seen Burns Usman. I don't think they're going to book that one again. Usman's probably not going to fight Chofcott, even if he beats Calvin Gasolam. I kind of feel like it's there, and it makes sense. And it's just be like a weird and sort of eye. a left fieldy enough fight to just boost up a main card pay-per-view fight, like just a tinge in just a weird and compelling way. And again, it's a, it's probably Kamar Usman minus like

300 in that fight. And if Usman goes out there and just smothers Wonderboy and wins a 30-27, then we don't talk about Wonderboy fighting for a belt ever again. Maybe Uspen does them a favor. And if somehow Wonderboy like just runs over Kamar Usman, give him one last shot at the belt. I see people saying like that fight would never happen. Dan Henderson got a title shot against Michael Bisbig. It could happen. The UFC loves these stories, the one last shot.

Can he get it on one last shot? And Wonderboy, again, is a popular fighter. His stuff does views. People care about him. Blal doesn't get that same thing. You know what I mean? Like, I know, like, Bilal should certainly get the title fight before Wonderboy does. I'm not saying, like, he jumps the line altogether.

But I think that's in play. The UFC loves telling those stories. So you've you've laid it out so neatly now I'm almost sure it doesn't happen like you've been you've done too good of a job you've done too good of a job you've made it sound too convincing and now I know the you see will not have the same kind of logic because they're yeah oh yeah I'm sure contracts have already been sent out shopcott no longer fighting Calvin gas alone they're just gonna throw him to the wolves like well I mean if you don't want to find whichever bear you got fight this dude they're probably got off from Sean Brady as well yeah just a fight that Wonderboy is just not going to like but I don't know be kind of cool let's go for it. So this is we're going to do for the next seven or eight minutes because I do have to check out of this hotel and get ready to fly home. We're just going to let it fly here. So you guys chuck in your your matchups, whatever ideas you got, throw them in there and we'll pull them up and we'll discuss. Let me do, oh, we'll get to Fuzz 26 a second. Let me do a quick shout out to a couple of people in my DMs.

I do want to get Brad Lee in here because he's a first timer. It says first time on no picks, please show mercy. Peretta versus Year Ancolaia for 2-05 Bell, Gayche versus winner of Islam Charles 2. Obviously, Holland JDM, sure. Lewis versus Francis and PFL, but if he says UFC, then Rosa Strike, correct. Green versus Miller at UFC 300,

Coppola versus Chris Curtis. What do you think about Green versus Miller at UFC 300, Mike? Sure. Yeah. And Zoe Simpson, I want to shout her out because she says, Tony Ferguson versus Dan Merkliata. Poor Dan eating that upkick. Also, Herb Dean, with that Slopheedon,

with that slide during the main event one of the best options I've seen ever so they got a little creativity there a lot of Wonderboy MEPs I don't like here's here's how I feel about this one one Wonder Boy is asked about it at the media day and he said him and MVP are like buddies now so he doesn't really

want that fight and do you really feel like like honestly if we really think about the potential of that fight and how it could play out I just I feel if they fought 10 times, eight of them are going to be not fun. Super terrible.

Yeah. Just not. I still want to see it, but you're great. Yes. Yeah. Just, yeah. I just don't think it's going to be as great as you think it is stylistically. I just don't.

Let's, I have one time, our first timer as well. Eric does sports. Let's see. I wanted to share a post-291 thought and pick. If it's not too late, this is a no way meant to be a doo-do, but hear me out. Is there an ice cubes chance in Hades or Hades that the UFC would consider turning Alex around and offering Izzy the novelty shot at the vacant 205 belt in Sydney? It's so dumb, but it is so UFC.

I would love that. My imagination just can't see Strickland and Izzy fighting right now, but I could see the UFC upping the dumb, dumb ante to milk the Alex matchup and save Yuri for a European card. I hate to come out of the gate hot, but I can't get the evil thoughts to stop. Thanks for hearing me out. That's good. Great website.

Some might say the best. Cheers Eric does sports in Colorado. It's good. Let's go full doll. I have no interest in the Strickland. I just near your match. Zero. I mean,

one, because Strickland's a piece of human garbage and shouldn't be getting UFC title shot. Two, I just, I stylistically, I have no interest in it. I don't know why.

That fight's going to happen. Oh, gosh. I hope not. I mean, that's a dumb matchup. Let's go full dumb and just, yeah, I do a quick to a turnaround from Panetta

and just have that trilogy. I don't think that happens either. I think you're right. I think Strickland's probably more likely, as much as I hate that matchup. But, yeah, I want to see Jamal Hill fight Izzy for, I want to see Izzy get a shot that LeHevue title against Jamal Hill, before Jamal Hill was forced to vacate. So, I don't know. There's no really, like, amazingly great options for Izzy right now for that paper view.

I'll go through as many of these as we can. Another Tony versus Pegg. I saw a few of these. Derek Lewis versus Tom Aspenol. Like, are you interested in that fight at all? I mean, it's one of the names I thought of just because he hasn't. fought Tom Aspinall before, but I don't think it makes much sense for either guy right now. That's not moving Aspinall's resume at this point in his career.

Yeah, and I don't want to see Terric Lewis resign and fight Tom Aspinall. Like, I just think Tom runs them over. Unless he's getting paid, unless he's getting paid like $2 million to fight Tom Aspinall, then that I'll do it. Yeah, go for it. Yeah, if you give him the money to the Francis money, then sure. Miranda Maverick versus Antonia Schochenko, Gabriel Bonfim versus Randy Brown. Gabriel Bonfam is going to be a problem.

Roman Coppilov, dude got hoes. out of a bonus. If there's any robbery last night, is Roman Kabaylov not getting a bonus? Big time. Euris Medich versus Alex Marono. I really like that fight. That's right.

What was the Bonfitte? Man, I see a lot of people wanted to throw Bonfiem in there with like a top 20 guy now. He looks legit. I like that Randy Brown idea. That's a good one. I know his brother just lost.

I still think his brother's going to be a really good fighter for a long time too. So, but yeah, I know Gabriel's undefeated. He's on a submission streak. I understand. I understand the hype. I think for me,

make a pick for him? I can't remember. I think for me, I have, um, it's not quite in the top 20 yet, but sure. If you, if he will want to push him up there fast, I understand why. Hey, Wonderboy, you didn't want to fight Michelle Pereira. Now you have to fight this three. Porea versus Holloway three? Three? I'm not against it. I'd love to see him fight Gage again. I'd love to see him fight Holloway again. There's so many poor. I wouldn't mind seeing him beat up Connamer Gregory. I think that'd be hilarious. So any rematch, chills you about for Porre is welcome, really. Gatji title shot Pereira versus year in December. Green versus Joel Alvarez.

Holland versus Magny at 170 or Holland versus Paul Craig at 85. Another bond female, Alex Marono. That's the first one. Coppulov versus Gregor Rodriguez, Jake Matthews versus Chaos Williams. Yeah, Coppelov, Gregor Rodriguez. That's not bad. Coppilov. Mike, I'm amazed.

You haven't taken another victory lap for helping to turn Coppulaf. I've heard around. Because I had left him for, I was high in him when he signed with the UFC. He looked like, dude. in his first two UFC fights. And I was like, this guy is, that's it. Like he's, he might win a fight, but he's not going to last long. Three fight win streak.

All knockouts, right? Yeah, he's belting fools. This is, and the one, and, again, you're right, he should have got a bonus. I mean, it was the best, it was, I mean. You were about to say it was. I was not the best finish of the car. It was better than he deserved it over Bobby Green and Kevin Holland, for sure. Dustin versus Wonderboy?

Is Dustin the only guy who would be eligible for both the BMF title and the NMF title? Yeah. Right? He seems like a nice dude. I know we only see. NMF title fight? I love that idea. He just go from the BMF to the NMF.

He seems like a nice dude. I just love how he handles himself in the interviews after. You guys haven't watched Dustin Porre's post-fight media scrum. Please go to MAAfighting.com and MAA Fighting YouTube and check that out. just rich with wisdom beyond his ears. Bonfim versus Gunner Nelson. Yeah. That's freaking interesting.

I like it. Yeah. I see people throwing that one out there. Again, Bonfeme, top 20, top 25 guy could be next. Two fights into the UFC career in a very strong division. Maybe do Bonfim and Jake Matthews. It's not a bad one. I like that too.

Yeah. Dessa versus Armand, never going to happen. Holland versus the RDA-Lukee winner. I could see that happening. Good matchups. Holland, stay at 170. Just stay at 170. I see now Desson versus Max let's see you know the nose you're just driving me insane

Gerard Biaghan Jake Matthews Kevin Lee too Kevin Lee's done man is he done I think he's done Did he say he's retired? He said he's retired oh did I miss that um I guess I missed that yeah he's oh oh m a phyttony retires from m mhmapon You might have been on vacation when that happened. Okay. This was three weeks. No, this is the last card I saw, I think, before I went on vacation. He'll be back.

He'll be back. You know, I'm not calling that dude. He'll be back. Yeah, so I want Tristan's like, you need to call doo-doo on the Chris Cup. Ah, it's a first timer. It's a first timer. It's a first timer. Yes, Chris is fighting Fluffy Hernandez.

But maybe he knows something we don't. I don't know. Justin versus Connor. I think that's, that fight could happen. I do, too. We should say... Not next. It's not happening next.

MMA fighting Jose Young's is vehement. That fight will never happen. He is on record. He is on record on, I think, what was the preview show or whatever show we were during this week? He said, that fight will never happen. So I'm just saying, you guys, make up that what you will. That's going to be one of the ones that, like, got away that we never got to see. I mean, there's just...

Even that fight's probably going to last, like, seven minutes. but it's going to be like maybe the craziest seven minutes we've ever seen. Strickland versus, neither have them fought on this card, but yes, that fight's probably going to happen. Tony versus Michael Johnson 2 AK.

Do you like that idea? Interesting. Interesting. I don't know why. Both guys have been around forever. Would this be the first time ever that two UFC fighters fought on losing?

streaks of five or oh no sorry Michael Johnstonna what was Michael Johnson Michael Johnson is he did he come off a win he beat Marcha case he lost his last fight oh I lost it okay Diego Faheda like right yeah his long losing streak was a while ago what a weird fight this would be this would be a six fight losing streak versus a guy in a who's

lost six of his last eight what a weird what a weirdly sellable fight Tony won the first time right no Michael Johnson won the first time yeah Johnson won't so weird fight I don't think it makes sense and yet it makes so little sense that it makes sense sometimes that happens sometimes that happens yeah I'll try to find a couple more Holland versus Jeff Neal could run that one back I'm

surprised they haven't gone to that well we talked about that forever right we said forever why is this rematch in the year not happening the UFC I don't both guys would be interested for sure yeah they fought on the regional scene already and I believe Jeff Deal won that fight. Oh God. This has to be a joke Gino. Jesus Christ. Arm versus Tony Ferguson. Why did they even pull that up?

Here's his attention you ordered, Gino. Here's the attention you ordered. Yes, it versus Drod. Drod is fighting Santiago Ponziadio. Yes. Just announced, like just kind of confirmed. So that fight's happening, I believe, September

16th. Kesa, another guy, I'd be surprised if he saw him fight for the end of the year. It's tough. He's, he's had been a lot of tough fights he's a little bit up there in age i think he's uh over you think he crossed the cross the 35 barrier uh yes he did pat last december so it'll be 36 by the end of this year and it was back problems that kept him that have kept them out for so long right mike this guy issues his back or back spine yeah in any in any sport i'd tell you once those back issues start coming along it's it doesn't it doesn't get better it only gets worse so yeah this is fine for

ufc 300 bobby green jim miller joe loz on tony first Ferguson, that's it. That's literally the only thing I would want to see from Tony Ferguson. I'm into that. Maverick versus Casey O'Neill. Casey O'S obviously booked. She's fighting Viviani Araujo at, on that Sydney card, I believe. 293.

How smart was Miranda Maverick to take this fighting? Oh, brilliant. How smart was it? Like this short notice opportunity comes up. She looks at the matchup stylistic and she's like, I'm pretty sure I don't need to prepare. I don't need a full can to repair for. uh priscilla catcher not that she's like overlooking priscilla catchware it's just such an obvious grappler versus striker matchup and when priscilla catcher has fought grapplers it has not gone well for her

so good for you miranda madrick she she's she's a smart cookie and it gets right back on the on the winning track after a disappointing performance against um jasmine yes adopches more wonder boy jdm i just don't think that happens i don't think wonder boy takes that fight he's certainly not going to need to take that fight not yet could happen down the road um i think wonder boy probably probably wants to see more uh i do like kevin hall and jdm i think that makes a lot of sense wonder boy versus widenman for the nf nff yeah i don't yeah i mean what they're their family they would never that's that's one fight you'll never you'll never see you can see that fight at like upstate karate probably like once a week yeah at the gym probably yeah but they're not going to play each other

I don't mind it. I don't mind it. But that has to be, I mean, all the talk about how to that would be a double retirement fight. Yeah. Wonderboy versus Uyspin. There you go. I think we're done.

We've done it. You guys did a great job. I am a zombie right now. I don't even know how I'm doing this. I don't know how I'm doing this. But I got to get ready to get the hell out of here. I got to check out of the hotel. I got to edit and put all this stuff together and then get some food.

and then off to the worst airport in America before I get on home. So thank you all very much. Another very busy week ahead. So get excited. We have UFC Nashville. Let me pull up that card because we will be back next week to discuss that. I don't know if I'm going to be on the show next week. You might have to tag me out, AK.

No problem. We could get the wonderful Jedmishu back in here. Yeah. I'm trying to remember what my travel schedule looks like because I will be in Dallas for Jake Paul versus Dave Diaz. The entire MMA our crew also in Dallas for Jake Paul versus date Diaz. UFC Dashville, Corey Sanhagan

versus Rob Font, Jessica Andrage versus Tatiana Suarez, Dustin Jacoby versus Kennedy and Chichuku. That's a good top three for a fight next year. Gavin Tucker is back, AK. Oh, never gone. Never gone, Mike. Never gone. Canada's never gone. Against Diego Lopez. Tanner Bozer, final fight

of his contract, be his final fight in the UFC after his wonderful rant with my friend James Lynch about UFC sponsorships taking an Alexa Kamer Ignacio Bahamundez versus Ludovitz Klein. There's a few names here we haven't

seen in a while. Yeah. There's a few names here. Okay. Billy Quarntillo, Damon Jackson, Highony Barcellus, Kyler Phillips. Love it. Jeremiah Wells, Carson Harris, good fight. Jay Cadley, Cody Durdon. There's some heat on that one. And O'Day Osborne versus Asu

Alma Bias. Another alliterative flyweight? This is, what is this division is crazy. It has to have pound for pound, the most alliterative fighters in the game. Yes, we lost one with Zalga Zuma Gula. He'll bounce up somewhere. He'll be fine. Yes, absolutely. That's it.

So thank you all very much. Let me make sure we get out of here the correct way. I got to do a professional job here. So we're going to make sure we have the theme song in the background. But yeah, hope you guys all enjoyed UFC 291 and just a wild. Mike, the music's drowning you out, Mike.

The music's drowning you up. Is it really? Yeah. How loud, huh? No, you're back. You're back. You're back. All right, here we go.

And listen. Case is way better at this than I am. But thank you all very much. Back next week on onto the next one, the podcast, recapping UFC Nashville for a.k. I am Mike Heck. You're the best. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

And be nice to each other. Peace out. You're listening to the Vox Media podcast. network.