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

Episode Date: March 27, 2022

Curtis Blaydes called for an interim title fight against either Stipe Miocic or Ciryl Gane following his knockout win over Chris Daukaus in the main event of UFC Columbus. While his resumé would warrant that opportunity, will he get his wish? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, that question is discussed, along with who "Razor" could face in his next octagon appearance. In addition, future matchups are discussed for Alexa Grasso following her first-round submission win over Joanne Wood in the co-main event, Bryan Barberena after delivering one of the most exciting fights of the year in his split decision win over Matt Brown, Kai Kara-France following his upset win over Askar Askarov, Neil Magny, Marc Diakiese, and more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee. 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 following a very fun UFC Columbus card that was capped off by a statement-making K-O in the UFC's heavyweight division. Thanks for joining us once again. I am Mike Heck, proudly wearing the matchmaking hat, metaphorically speaking, because I'm not actually wearing a hat right now. But alongside the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the Prince of Positivity, and my best friend, rocking the, North Carolina hoodie. Mr. Alexander K. Lee. Good morning, sir.

You know, you could have been wearing a hat. They wouldn't, Mike, they wouldn't know. I know you're used to us being live, we're doing video now without the next one, but there's no video component this week. This is strictly for our podcast list. You could be wearing any kind hat. You could be wearing a top hat for all people know.

That's what I'm wearing. I'm wearing a top hat right now. People imagine Mike wearing a top hat. But you are known for your honesty, integrity. No frills. No frills, Mike Heck. That's what people call you all the time. So I do appreciate you letting people know.

Yes, you're not actually wearing a hat. I am wearing a North Carolina jersey. I just really like North Carolina colors, but there's any Tar Heels fans out there. I guess by the time you, I think by the time we'll listen to this, they'll know. I should have to check the schedule real quick. I think the North Carolina game is first in the day.

Oh, no, it's not. I'm sorry, that's the evening game. So you'll probably listen to this. If you listen to you on to the next one on Sunday, you'll probably listen to it. Maybe while you're watching St. Peter's North Carolina game, and I wish you guys the best of luck. We could see North Carolina

and Duke in the NCAA tournament. Coach Kay's last year, and then getting to face his greatest, his greatest rivals. And I think they just knocked them, North Carolina, just knocked them out of the ACC tournament. So, I mean, the St. Peter's Cinderella story, amazing. But I think it would be cool, too, if we saw North Carolina and Duke Final Four, that would just be completely insane. When I was probably a freshman in high school, maybe through like my entire high school career. I mean, I always wore like the New England sports teams, but when I didn't, I always rock the Carolina stuff. Didn't really care about the team, but just dug the colors, man.

There was a time when it produced a lot of cool players. Obviously, Vince Carter, you know, Vince Carter, Toronto, so there was that connection there. But yeah, it's just a great looking color. It's cool with a lot of history, very successful school. I don't have anyone out there. I don't have, I'm in Canada. I don't have like a hardcore devotion to any college. I can be bought.

I can be bought. Send Otno for the price of, if you want to have Otno points and you want to send them back, I will gladly root for your school. And I will say, you know, we're doing some matchmaking. If I were matchmaking for the NCAA tournament, sorry, St. Peters. I'd rather, I want to see the North Carolina Duke matchup in the final four in Coach Case last year. That's very controversial. Guys, I apologize again. If you guys think that my pick is doo-do, I understand St. Peter's, great story.

But I'm matchmaking for the NCAA tournament. And they couldn't do better, I think, than the North Carolina and Duke. What fight will we remember more? Francis and Gano versus Cyril Gahn or Matt Sera. beating George St. Pierre. Oh, okay. Oh, I see what you're trying to say. Oh, come on.

Duke and North Carolina is way more than Studio California. Come on. Duke, North Carolina and the tournament, it would be like Habibh. Frankie Edgar Gray Maynard, which is a great trilogy, but we still talk about, top of mind, we always talk about Matt Sarah beating GSP, right? At some points, at some point, Cinder Alaska stop dancing. All right, it's a great story.

It's a great story at some point. Come on. Let's get back to the big boys. All right. Let's get to the matchmaking. Let's start with Curtis Blades because if there is anybody who needed to go out there and do something spectacular in a main event spot, considering what this particular division looks like right now, it was Curtis Blades. And that's exactly what he did to close the show. He absolutely destroyed Chris Dawkes, vicious second round TKO.

Great performance. As good as it could have gone. He called out Cyril Gone for an interim title. And then kind of shifted gears, thanks to the poking and prodding of one Daniel Cormier. Interim title wants one of those two guys. Do you agree with him, A.K., and are you throwing him in an interim title fight next? And if you are against whom, is it one of these two guys or somebody else? Yeah, I mean, Magic Wand, this is Magic Wand booking.

I do like the Blades Miochich matchup slightly more than the Gone Miochich matchup. I just think God doesn't need to be thrown in a title fight right away. So, you know, gone is obviously top three, top four guy in the world. And I just want to see him. I think he should have to win a fight again before just getting another title fight. It'll be his third title fight in a row and his second interim title fight in three appearances for Gone, if they just give him the gone Miotich fight. Again, I get it.

He's one of the best. You want to see the best fight the best, so you can't go wrong with that. But Blades has been doing a lot of work. He deserves a title fight. He's been calling for Miotich fight for so long. matchup wise on paper I think it's really good Miotich would probably be favored but I mean Not by much I think blades is a great just skill wise

It's a great match for him I'm removing John Jones from the equation I've said him all the times on shows I just don't trust the guy I personally loathed the idea of throwing him into a heavyweight title fight right away as intriguing as it is I'm like anyone if they booked in Ghanu versus Jones Listen I'll be the first guy tweeting oh this is a sick fighter I can't wait to see this absolutely I'll turn around in a second

But, I mean, I just don't, again, I just don't like the guy's character. I know that's secondary to, for our matchmaking purposes. So, yes, if I could waive my magic wand, I'll say Blades and Myochich. However, so I'm clearly just forfeiting a point here. I think he has to sit and wait. I think if you're Blaz, your best thing is to see, really, you have to just sit and wait. See what happens with Miotich. See what happens with John.

See what happens with Cilogon. See what happens to Cilagan, definitely ahead of him in the pecking order. Some other names have gained a lot of buzz around Blaze. I'll let you talk about it. about that Mike. So he's probably just going to have to sit in wait. But if we're up to me, I would just book Blaise Meotich interim title as soon as possible. That's very likely not going to happen. Look, I don't want to sound like a broken record here, but listen to the preview show, listen to the post-fight show. You understand how I feel about the situation. And you also

understand that I don't think it's very fair. Curtis Blades could fight for a title right now, and I would probably favor him to beat a lot of guys. Maybe not in guys. But maybe, I don't know, maybe this version of Curtis Blades could be Francis Ingano. Who the hell knows? But Francongano all of a sudden is freaking Gable Stevenson up in here, wrestling dudes and taking him down and winning him that way. He's mixing the martial arts more than we thought he ever could. So who knows?

But Curtis Blades against Tai Tuvasa, massive favorite. Aspinall is interesting. And then some of these other names are interesting. I actually think the Cyril Gond callout makes a lot of sense. and I think that's the fight he's going to end up getting. And I understand the interim title fight ask, that he likely will not get. And I think he knows that.

But he sort of dialed that talk back some during the post-fight press conference saying, hey, if I fight Steep A or fight Cyril Gahn and I beat either of those guys, then I get my title shot. And if he does to either of those guys what he did on Saturday to Christakis, he might be right. So gone is the fight sometime later this year in the fall. Perhaps at least it gives him enough time to survey the scene. We'll see what happens in July.

We'll see what goes down with the interim title fight. Gonze is going to be out till the fall, September, October-ish. I think that gives Blades enough time to kind of survey the land. And then if he can't slot himself into a title fight or an interim title fight, you fight, you fight. You fight Cyril Gan. Big opportunity. If you go out there and beat Cyril Gan, you're in. So not a bad spot to be in.

Actually, a much better spot than I thought he would be in. I needed a day to kind of ponder that. He didn't improve too much. Like, I don't think his ranking in terms of how the UFC looks at him as a business, as like a business person and how he could sell pay-per-views changed all that much. But I think people view him in a different way. So good for him. Great performance.

As good as it could have gone. Well done, Curtis Blades. Now, in the co-main event, speaking of statements, Alexa Grasso, gets her first ever submission win, first finish in seven years, defeats Joanne Wood and good grief. What a crazy sort of fall from grace Joanne Wood has had since Valentina Schofchenko had a pull out of their scheduled title fight. But Grasso continues to pick up wins. This is the biggest of her career. And this isn't lazy. You know what? It's the fight to make. Grasso versus Manon Fioro, who got a win over Jennifer Maya earlier, is the fight to make.

It makes too much sense. Same trajectory, same place in the push to a title fight. These are the top two contenders in terms of who could be next for a Schofchenko fight, although Misha Tate could put a wrinkle in that if she beats Lauren Murphy. Shevchenko's fighting Tyler Santos in June, but still, I feel sort of the next in line fight outside of those names are these two ladies. Number one contenders, but or not, this is the fight the UFC should make, at least to me, AK. You forgot to mention this was Alexa Grasso's first submission ever. Not just her first finish in ages.

Her first submission ever. It's her first ever submission win. You did not. You mentioned that it was her first win since. That was the first thing I said. Was it? So it gets her first ever submission win in her first finish in seven years. Unless I'm crazy.

I got to go back at this as a tape. I'm pretty sure I said that. Check the tapes. We'll do it check the tapes later. This was ADCCC, Alexa Grasso. Which was, no, yeah, she looked great. Unfortunately for Joanne. Look, I mean, her ground game,

Joanne Wood, her ground game has never been super strong. She has been susceptible to submissions. I'll never forget the Marina Moro's fight. That was such a huge upset at the time. Now we, I mean, I think we realized, again, great, great stand-up fighter, had enough take-down defense and grappling defense in the past, I think, obviously, to make her a top-10 contender

where she's been for a long time. But, again, you know, then you're fighting the Tyler Santos, is the Alexe Grasso's. You're getting older. Competition is getting younger. It sounds like a weird thing to say, figuratively speaking. And, you know, those instincts just aren't what they used to be. So this is a glaring weakness for her.

Every fighter knows it now. Yeah, she's in a tough spot. But yeah, I got all the credit in the world to Lexa Grasso. She's looked like the top contender that we have wanted her to be since her invicta days. You know, she was just a young. She was in her early 20s, just fresh-faced, you know, 20-year-old. And everyone had her projected for big things, had some issues with making weight at one I think very wisely made the move up to 125.

Who knows? Maybe she returns to 115 someday. Has looked great at 125. 3 and O in the OC so far. I did a little shifting here because this match of, there's an Otno pick I made last week, which is no longer valid. So I think this frees up one of the names in that pick.

Give me Grasso and Molly McCann. I'm kind of curious. I think Meatball Molly deserves a big fight. I wanted her to get Jessica I, but now it looks like Jessica I will be, fighting, who's just guy getting on? Casey O'Neill? KC.O.N. Yeah, right. So, Casey O'Neill got one that Jessica I

sweepstakes, which is to take because Jessica I, I think, again, for some of us, still holds some sort of ranking top 15, top 20, and I guess his view as an easy win for a lot of people, which is, you know, mileage may vary. I don't know about that, but Casey O'Neill's going to be heavily favorite against Jessica I. I think Molly McCann would have been pretty favorite

as well. Regardless, that fight can't happen now. McCann, Alexa, Grasseau. I'm curious. I think, I think Molly deserves a big fight. And I think you have this fight either again, if they return to the UK or you have it in, they can go back to Mexico. Man, if you just am, just please don't have it in like Topeka or something. Just, you know, can't, with all respect to the people of Topeka.

Let's have this regional draw thing. That is an interesting idea. I don't know. Wow. You didn't sell me, but it's interesting. I'm thinking about it. I'm thinking about it. Be a, I mean, the Boston was about to come out, and I'm just going to just go with it here. It'd be a wicked step back for Alexa Grasso.

Maybe, but I mean, look, look, if we're saying Aspinall, yes, Aspinall beat a top 10 guy, it's different. Aspenol got so much buzz from that London car. I think McCann was right up there. It would be Aspinall, probably Patty Pimble, and then I think Molly was third. Molly third, or maybe above Pimble, it depends depending who you ask. But she got so much steam off of that. The Valentina Talk was a little bit laughable. But not her saying she would step up.

for Talas Santos, by the way. I don't think there's anything left about that. I think just anyone who thinks like that she's just going to get a title shot regardless somewhere down the road. She's probably far away from that. But I didn't mind her saying she's stepping for the Talas Santos fight. So if she's in consideration for that, I think because I think the UFC would take that talk seriously, I think the grassoff fight is more than reasonable. I mean, it's interesting. You threw Molly in there. People would watch and like get behind it, but it just would not be a good night, but who knows? Maybe Molly McCann is the, is Michael Bisping after all. She's the 2022 Michael Bisping, which what a crazy story that would be. Let's go to Brian Barbarina,

because Bam Bam was out there doing Bam Bam Things, AKA crazy war with Matt Brown, Fight of the Night Honors, one of the best fights of the year to this point. Barbarina walks away with three paychecks on this night via split decision, gets the 50 Gs. And, uh, well, the Columbus fans weren't having it, despite the entertainment. the heart, the soul, everything that was left in that octagon, AK Barbarina says this is the last fight on his deal, hopes to resign if that's what the UFC wants. They should certainly want that.

But if for some reason they do not want that, that was the last fight inside the octagon. We will see from Brian Bam Bam Barbarina. And there's a lot of fighters who say things like that. We don't really believe him. I believe him wholeheartedly, very honest dude. So what do you think could be next for Barbarina? UFC re-sign him and what do you want to say to the city of Columbus?

Listen, I went in on Columbus on Twitter. I used some profanity, which I normally don't do, but I was just so annoyed. I should have said stupid bastards instead of swearing, so I do apologize for my language. But no, I won't go in any further. I did it on the post-fight show. I mean, you just can't boo an effort like that for either guy. I know Matt Brown, beloved in Ohio, you want to see your guy win. Split decision, very close fight.

I'm sure a lot of those fans thought that Matt Brown won. I thought it was a pretty clear third round for Barbarina. You got to discount those Matt Brown take downs, guys. A great effort on his part. He just didn't do enough damage off of them. So for me, again, close fight, but a solid and very reasonable. Barbarina wins. So please, people don't, I mean, get your boo in.

Once the guy starts talking, shut your effing mouths. I don't think that's a lot to ask. But people are drunk, people are fans. It's not the worst thing in the world. I'm not saying these fans are like, oh, you guys should ever go to a UFC event. again. It's totally understandable. You know, I'm sure these people will go to work on Monday morning and go back to being their normal civilized selves.

UFC, signed Brian Barbarina back, eight fight deal, minimum. Give him a seven-figure contract. Give him all the money he wants, please. Brian Barbarina is a great fighter. He has bled for you and give us the fans and media, Brian Barbarina versus Matthew Sembleberger. Oh, damn. That's fun. Yeah.

That's a great idea. Yeah. And Barstool, call Brian Barbarina. Get this guy on your roster. There we go. Get this guy on your roster. I know most of you guys have no idea who Brian Barbarina is, which is a travesty. But get him on the roster.

Like, Patty, Meatball, and Brian Barbarina? That's a triple threat if I ever heard one. Shout out to Brennan Fitzgerald, last thing I'll say about the Columbus fans, who tweeted out a few minutes ago as you record this, if I'm Barbarina and get booed after a fight like that, I'm immediately shouting out the Michigan Wolverines for beating the brakes off the Buckeyes last season, but he's too good a guy for that. Well done, William Fitzgerald.

He wouldn't do that. He's a baby face Brian Barbarina. He wouldn't do that. Semelsberger is a very fun fight. Oh, I would need it. That's a good one. Now, normally I would shun a fighter for jumping on social media and trying to do our jobs for us, AK. But in this case, I actually think it makes sense because, as we saw on Saturday,

there's still some dog left in the Bam Bam in the Bam Tank. and he can have some fun scraps with anyone. Semelzberger is interesting, but one fighter's at a nice run out of the blade who called him out of the win and I dug it. Phil Rowe. Good vet test for Phil. Phil likes to stand in bangs.

Got a couple of finishes in a row. Bam Bam versus the Fresh Prince. I mean, come on. That just writes itself, AK. That's a fine fight too. I saw Phil Rowe's name come up in the listener's suggestions, but for someone else, there's a little teaser. There's a little teaser for you guys.

Oh. It's not that exciting. It's not that exciting. Okay, fair enough. So let's move. Speaking of exciting, really exciting. Let's move on to Kaikar Franz. Very interesting spot for this young man, AK,

because it just picks up this massive win over Asker-A-Sker-off, a big upset, which I picked, by the way. Judges nailed this one. No robbery. KKF is on a tear. He's maturing as a fighter. And after watching that performance against a guy like Asker-A-Sker-off, I think, not, I'm going to say this, A-K.,

I'm going to say this, AK-K. I'm going to say this, hot take here. I think Kai Kar-France will be a UFC champion one day. After that performance, Kai-Car-France will be a champion. I don't know if it'll be like his next fight, but at some point he is going to wear that title. Because I think Askerot beats a lot of guys in that division.

I think he gives Figurato and Moreno fits at this point. And Kar-France got the win, incredible battle. Not much more room to go up for Mr. Don't Blank. This is tougher than Curtis Blancke. blades, but all signs are pointing towards Figgi Moreno 4. And I wish the UFC could trade back for Demetrius Johnson, AK, because that would be the best answer, Kai Kar-France versus Demetrius Johnson, but we can't really make an official pick on that. And you can't really make an official pick at all, because we need to wait and see what happens

in this fourth fight. But I will say this, KKF's next fight will be for the belts. He will get the winner of the fourth fight. And I feel comfortable saying this, if Moreno wins and they wanted to run a back a fifth time, hashtag would still watch. But I think the UFC will ultimately take a breather with it, unless it's a draw. And I think KKF will get the winner. We'll mix things up a little bit.

So end of the year, I think KKF will get his chance. And you know what? I'm going to go even further than that. At the end of the year, Kai Kar-France will be the flyweight champion of the world, AK. You are overriding your own bold. You know, we do the beginning of the year, our predictions who will be champions at the end. And you're just throwing Kai Kar-France in there. Yeah, listen, it's, I don't think anyone should be shocked.

I mean, he's not the, I know everyone's, anyone's top pick, like sure fire. This guy's going to be a champion someday. But he has great take. He has really good take down defense, we saw. He has great, more important grappling defense, and he might get taken down, but he can get out of trouble. He can avoid submissions. He can avoid damage. He's a really good striker.

And he has knockout power at 125. That's a pretty simple formula to become a world champion. I mean, we complicate these things, you know, when we're talking about the highest levels on MA and try to separate, you know, the wee from the chaff with all these technical terms. Chuck Ladell. I mean, let's talk about Chuck Lidl. I'm not saying KKF is Chuck Lidell, but pretty simple formula. It's brawl and brawl.

Hit the, KO. Power in both hands. WallChairnipin multiple title defense is one of the biggest stars in U.C. history. So, Karf France has that same, again, has that same basic skill set very well-rounded and also, again, an A-plus skill, which is his striking and power. So, yeah, I, listen, I want him to wait for the title shot. Like the talk, again, is of the tetralogy between Figuay and Moreno to possibly happen in July. Nothing is official yet. But yeah, Cara France should wait. He should wait.

If a good fight comes along and there's plenty, I wouldn't begrudge him signing up. I like if Minel Kopp beats Sumadaerji, I would love to see him fight KKF. Maybe not next, but someday. But if it happened, I certainly wouldn't be sad. It would suck to see one of those guys, you know, removed from sort of push back in the title picture. But I just want to see great fights. So, you know, call me a savage. And why did you have to bring out Demetri's Johnson?

Because one, congrats to him. Huge win over Rod Tang, Rod Tang at 1. That was really cool. Mixed rules fight. But now I want, man, I want to see him. I want to see him fight Figgi. I want to see him fight Marino. I want to see him fight Cara France, Pantosia.

I want to see him fight Tim Elliott again. Manel Kopp. There's, oh, there's so many good, so many good flyweight fights. And he should be back. I would love to see him get one more run in the UFC. flyway division just a see just a see i mean maybe maybe he's 90% of what he once was i don't know you know time time takes toll on us all but uh i bet boy he'd be there'd be a ton of fun fights for him and he could beat and he could beat a lot of these guys there would be but dj would never leave

just because he's making so much money at one it's it just makes no sense he's got his legacy's there there's really literally no reason for him to come back to the ufc unless he just hated somebody and wanted to fight him and they let him seem like he hates anybody They let him do what he wants in one, right? He's always said, I want to try kickboxing. I want to try other things outside of MMA. And now he gets to do MMA and do whatever wacky kind of fight that won agrees to throw him in. So it's an amazing situation for him.

Love it. Neil Magny made some history, AK. He ties GSP for the most wins in UFC welterweight history defeats Max Griffin, close fight. To quote and sort of paraphrase Michael Cole from WWE commentary, vintage Neil Magny performance gets in trouble in the first round. comes back and wins the next two, grueling pace in the third round. He wants Shamiath.

Maybe he gets it if Shemayev loses to Gilbert Burns in less than two weeks, but I think Shemayev will win that one. It's kind of a tough pick here because you could go a multitude of ways with Diel Magni. Which way did you go with the Haitian sensation? I saw a lot of good listeners suggestions, so props to them ahead of time. He's got to give up on the Kamsat's fight for now. I love that he's one of the guys who's been calling it forever. He's essentially been calling out Dana White's lie for like the past 18 months that nobody wants to fight Hamzat.

He has mentioned multiple times on social media and interviews. He wants Hamzat. But he just has to give up on that for now. Maybe if Hamzat loses to Gilbert Burns, even then I'm not sure if they give him that flight. That's probably the best case scenario, right, is a loss for Hamzat against Burns. But I think he's got to let that go for now. So I'm going with a somewhat boring choice, but a veteran matchup, one that stylistically, I think, is interesting. And it's a big name for Magnet.

I think he'd quite appreciate, excuse me, having this win on his resume. Stephen Wonderboy Thompson. I mean, is there anybody else? It's not a sexy pick. No, it's the right choice, though. Unless you're just going to throw him to Shafkat Rockmanoff, which I don't think they're going to do. I just don't think that's, I don't think it's. Where do you see a listener picks?

I bet they're filled with Shafcott. There's a lot of them. I looked at him. There's a lot of Shofkot. I pick Shafkot like three different times here. And I disagree with you. He should never give up on the Shemayev call out. He should call out Shemayev for the rest of his career.

And even afterwards. Like if he retires most wins in Walthwaite history, he's sitting there in the little swing bench at the nursing home. He needs to call out Hamsat Shemayev. Even then, the squeaky wooden bench that's, swinging with the chains hanging on the roof, that's, just continue that gimmick, even if you don't get the fight.

But yes, it is the Wonderboy fight. I think it's a good time for it. He gets a guy ranked above him. I know I wanted Wonderboy Mazadol too, but way too many unknowns there with this whole Mazadol-Col-Col situation that we've talked about a ton this past week. So I think Magnin Thompson works just swimmingly, A.K.

So Mark Chakasey kicks off the main card, very smart game plan, uses wrestling. Beats Borchief, who didn't really have much to offer in that regard. And one thing I talked about heading into this fight was win or lose. This is going to be a great learning experience for Borchief, and surely that's what it shall be. Jacasey wins, snaps the two-fight skid. Then he calls out Drew Dobre, okay?

He had a name ready, which was a theme that didn't happen all that often on this card, which really drove me crazy. But I respect the gusto. Does he get this fight? Does it seem like the path? for Mr. Jacasey. Yeah, listen, we had either guys, people not having names or people calling for names that already blocked.

I think that happened twice. Oh, well, I'm Neil Magny and then, uh, and, uh, and then all feral. So, which is fine if you know who you want. But again, you're essentially giving yourself almost no shot to get it other than stepping in as a replacement, which is never, I think, an ideal position to put yourself in. I'd like to dober call it. Makes a lot of sense. But I actually had a little bit of trouble with Jacayzee because, yeah, he's kind of facing

this guy who was, was, was, uh, Borsha favored? as far as you know probably yeah I think he was yeah there was a lot of hype around him right people like him as the team alpha male guy amazing striker and we saw that this fight

when there were exchanges on the feet man borshiv is just so fun to watch I'm looking here as slight he's about minus 140 I guess minus 150 depending where you are where you were betting

so I had trouble man I had trouble I was bouncing out of a bunch of names I kind of settled on this random Clay Gwida versus Claudio Pueyes winner April 23rd I don't know I don't know I'm not sure it was kind of a

are fight to have on the main card in the first place. We thought it was because they were hoping first round knockout either for Chiquese or Borshev, but obviously they didn't get that. They got something completely different, which some of the crowd in Columbus didn't like, put them in a bad mood already. But I thought it was a fine performance by Jekizi. So yeah, give him kind of like a step up, either a veteran name or a guy with a better record than him in the UFC. But otherwise, I don't know.

He's just kind of in that mid-tier. I feel like there's a dozen like okay options. I was torn on the callout because I did and at first I heard it. I'm like, dude, there's no chance you get that fight. And I still, I guess, believe that. However, if they, if the UFC did make that fight and they match Jacasey and Dover up, I would pick Jacie to win that fight. Just because of the, this guy that we saw on Saturday, I would picture Casey to win

because Drew Dover, as we've seen in most of his losses, he just is not great defending takedowns. His wrestling defense is not good. It's really not good. This version of J. Casey would have a very good chance to beat Drew Dober. But he's still not going to get that fight. Because Drew Dober has a lot of buzz right now. He's coming off that huge one over Terrence McKinney.

So outside of a short notice type of situation, highly unlikely he gets this Drew Dober fight because he just stabbed the two fights skid and Drew Dober just got a big finish in the first round against a guy that the UFC is very high on. There are a lot of interesting options here. McKinney would actually be really interesting. But I'm going to go with Mike Davis

because he needs a fight to come back to. Davis is just one of the most unlucky guys in the sport at this point. So give Davis a few more months to get ready. If he's dealing with some injuries, which for some reason this guy always seems to be hampered with him, I just think the fight would be a lot of fun. Good next step for Jacie against a very tough out in Mike Davis who needs to find a way to get back in that cage and get more active.

So I'll go with that, but I agree with you. Kind of a tough choice for Gacy coming off the two-fight losing streak. But let's head to the wild card selection for UFC Columbus, AKA. We'll select a fighter we have not match made for yet, and we will matchmate for them now. Have Adam, my man. Lead us off.

Listen, I got to do it. I've been leading the Nicolao High for so long. I'm a fan. I've been a fan of his since he was on the Ultimate Fighter of Brazil. I think he's always just shown this like fantastic potential. And that potential has become results. I mean, let's look at some of his wins here. John Maraga, one-time U.C. flyweight title challenger.

Louis Smoker, a very respected veteran. He lost the Dustin Ortiz. Man, why is Dustin Ortiz? Why is he not back in the O.C. by the way? I don't know. Great question. Dustin Ortiz is so good. Anyway.

And that bounces Nicola out of the UFC for a bet. He comes back. And then Manel cop, very close fight. I scored it for Nicolao. Tim Elliott, great win. Oh, stop it. Check my robbery review. All right.

It's facts only. Not a robbery. Tim Elliott was a really good win. And then David Devorak, as another solid win. It had a very bad first round, which I think left, you know,

obviously the sour taste in people's mouths. I think people go back and look at rounds two and three. It's actually turned into a decent fight. And David DeVroirac was on a 16-fight win streak. So the quality of Nikola's wins is just super high. I mean, you can dispute the split nods, whatever, but they are wins on his round. So he has really, really ridiculous strength of schedule if you care for that sort of thing in MMA.

So I'm a huge fan. You think Carver France will be the champion. I don't know if I go that far with Nicolao, but I do think Nicolao will fight for the UFC title someday. Probably next year. He just has to keep winning. And he can do that by getting a winning against a relevant top 10 guy. Alex Perez. I think Alex Perez is the way to go.

Very tough. Super, super tough matchup. Not a showcase fight for Nicolaou at all. It's a good fight for both guys. Even, of course, Perez can also get himself back on the championship picture. I think he deserves, you know, to get another shot at it because he did step in on short notice. So I don't think we should frown upon like, oh, he already had his shot. He should get another fresh shot, especially if he takes another, I got like Nicolao and then gets another big win.

So Nicola Alex Perez makes all the sense in the world. My magic wand pick and my what I think will happen pick. That's that and that is good pick. I'm going Bannon weights because I always go Bannon weights and boring. Got to. But Chris Gutierrez, tremendous performance. This guy is officially, he's officially the most, he has replaced Jack Shore as the most underrated fighter in this entire division, unbeaten in his last seven fights, an emphatic finish,

knockout, performance of the night, one of the best knockouts of the year, the spinning backfist, which is interesting because the spinning back fist was to his detriment in the first round. It cost him the first round against a non-backery. But that's how Chris Cudierrez is. He's like a Bannamweight version of like a combination of Piotr Yon and Neil Magni where yeah, his head kind of processes information. But at the same time, he always somehow makes some kind of mistake and it costs him around. And this is what happened here.

But he's just so good. He's just so good because he looked so great in that first round with the movement and the defense and the leg kicks and everything about the way this guy fights right now. It's just so fun to watch. Gets the win, gets the big finish. We're thinking A plus night for Chris Gutierrez. And then he gets on the mic. He does say some nice things.

Shout out to Gutierrez's family and his mom and all that stuff that she's going through. But when D.C. puts that ball on the T for you, you got to have an aim ready. You got to. You got to. I know that's not really your style. And you're not being fake. You're not going to come out and say, you stole everything I worked for you, a piece of crap. You just got to say, listen, hey, it's my time.

Give me some respect. Give me a top 15 guy. You, Frankie Edgar, or whoever, I want to fight you. But he didn't do that. So he's not going to get a top 15 guy. However, he's going to fight Adrian Yadaz. And that fight just rules the world. Chris Gutierrez versus Adrian Yadaz.

Have to make it. Have to do it. I was thinking about Gutierrez, Jack Shore. I think Jack Shore is a little bit ahead of him just because he had some names in mind. Chris did not, but still, he goes out there and beats Adrian Yannas. You cannot deny him a top 15 spot at that point. And for Yana, same thing. He goes out there and beats Chris Gutierrez.

The UFC will strap the rockets to him more than likely. That's the fight. Makes all the sense in the world. Let's do it. Phantom Light is just ridiculous, isn't it? It's so fun. It's so fun. Is on a six, seven fight on beaten streak.

He lost to Hani Barcellus in his first fight. And since then... And I thought he beat Cody Darden. That shouldn't have been a draw. I thought he won that fight. He's won a... Okay, he's beating a bunch of guys who are no longer in the UFC. That's fine.

But, I mean, look, 6-0-1 in your last seven is 6-0-1 in your last seven. And Danat Bakri entered this fight hot as hell. I mean, that guy was on a hell of a streak himself. And I don't even have Chris Gutierrez in, like, my top 20. Like, that's how deep this division is. It's just, like, you can't put him above... Again, Barcellus beat him. Carler Phillips.

Jack Shore, we just mentioned. Maybe people would want to put him above Shauna Malley. But hey, Shana Malley is 7 and 1. People are going to hand on Shana Mali all they want. So, Saeed and Mekomatov, I would put above him. Maybe Casey Kenney. There's an argument to be made to put him above Kenny. But that's how deep this division is.

It's just insane. But that's a great pick, Mike. That's one, again, that I would love to see happen. And that I think will, I think will at least be set up and hopefully go through without any complications. Yeah. My first choice for Yian is the Sean O'Malley fight, but I don't think we're going to get that.

I think O'Malley will end up getting the Patriotunios fight that he wants because that's usually what happens. So do we have any extracurriculars, AK, check the tapes? Do we have mic checks? What do we got? Well, this is almost me, kind of a combination of mic check and a listener pick coming up. But first, I'll say credit to listeners.

At least two or three people, I think, call for Tim Elliott versus Albazzi. It's going down on June 25th. A lot of heat between those two on social media, so they want a fight to happen, and there you go. Four Corner Sports, N.Y. wants a point for, they told me they called, they wanted to check the tapes for O'Neill versus I,

UFC 276 July 2nd. Now, I went back to check. I do keep files in disguise, so you can't slip some of these by me. And Four Corners vs. NYU originally wrote, if I loses to Fioro, then she fights Casey O'Neill. But that fight never happened.

So that doesn't count as you calling the I fight. So that's a big X for me. that is a no point. I may not say, listen, all you got to do is send me a, after the new matchup was made

with O'Neill, oh sorry, after the ViroI matchup fell through, then you got to send me a thing like, okay, well, I should fight O'Neill and say, something like that. You got to send me an addendum,

you don't have to wait for fight weekends. Send me an addendum whenever you want, but you cannot, but you cannot go back and say, oh, well, I essentially said this. It's like, no, you didn't. So you wanted a point, you're getting a big,

you're getting a big X. Mike and I both made an X, they'd have the X sign. And that is a no point, that is a no, no basket, no basket. I'm sorry, no goal, four corners, sports, N.Y. But I will mention their picks later, so it's all love. Okay. All right.

Let's disclose. Disclose them, A.K., disclose him, A.K., disclos him. Marcus McGahey, calling this, by the way, the don't blink edition in honor of Kai Kar, France, of the on the next one picks. Again, arguably the guy whose stock rose the most on Saturday, excuse me. Guys, we like to talk about mostly winners, unless they're in the main event or title fight. Right. Scatogories rule, you're going to get a solo point if somehow you're the only person to predict a fight correctly. It was very rare of these days.

Again, when we first started the show, Mike, we had like a handful of contributions. We were hanging out solo out, no points left and right. Now we have a legion of a listener, a brilliant listener fight pickers. So unfortunately, it also means harder to get those solo points, guys. Guys, mistakes. Wait class, did they fight already and you didn't seem to remember? Is someone have a notable injury that you should be taking new account? Someone's not the UFC anymore.

The fighter could already booked. This happened a lot this week. I mean, look, it happened to Menopiro and, you know, Magnet didn't seem to care, so I get it. And guys, this is the name that came up, but Yanukunitskay is pregnant. Yanukkah, I saw her name come up for Sarah McMahon. She's pregnant. I'm not saying she's never going to fight again, but I'm saying the timetable is so, is so. And some people noted, like, you know, whenever, whenever she's ready to fight again, so it's fine.

But it's just no point in making that matchup, guys, unless you want Sarah McMahon to have to wait six, seven, eight, nine, wait until next year. I don't know how long it's going to take. I think Kuna's guy is pretty far long, but still, it doesn't mean she's going to jump right back in the gym after having a child. She might want to take another year off and just be a mother. We don't know, right? We don't know. So she's out of it. And also, Julia Avala, guys, she just announced that she's pregnant.

Come on. Do I need to add a pregnancy closet? This is common sense, people. This is common sense. Congratulations for the raging pandam, by the way. So, you know, I'm sure that that's going to go great. But people start, and I'm sure she wants to fight again. someday, but

let's just cool it on, if a fighter is pregnant, let's just cool it. Most importantly, guys, you pick much as we do-do, and we don't want to read it. Mike, I want to say something nice for the listeners, too. Good job, everyone. This was the majority of people picking fights for kids for kids. We have good job, everyone who listened to his interview

and I guess understood his weird belly gesture, where he thought he was, you know, he climbed the cage and was like, we thought he was gesturing for a title fight. Apparently he said, like, he's like, Oh, no, I was talking about I'm going to lose weight or something. I'm going to lose weight and drop down to 170. So even I didn't, like, that didn't make sense to me. But thankfully, all our listeners were being very close attention to Kizriev's gesture,

his speech, and most of the matches I saw were for him at Welterweight. I do think he's going to drop back down. He fought many, many times at Welterweight before, for come to the UFC. That makes a lot of sense for him, I think. So kudos listeners. Good job. See, that's our listeners. They're so smart.

They don't miss these things. I will say, I got some middleweight suggestions. I don't mind. That's fine. Some were kind of due to-do-ish, and I'll explain why, I think. Oh, yeah. And some were fine.

Because for Kizriev, like, if Kisreyev wants to come back, like he could be in a Kevin Holland-esque role right now. Yeah. Because you'd have to imagine, after all those fights fell out for all those different reasons, if the UFC wants to book him for a fight in like three weeks, he's jumping on it no matter what the weight class is. So I think he will eventually drop to 170.

but we could see him sooner rather than later. So let's get into this. I'm going to try to fly through these because there's a good amount. Adam Marvin, just this car france for the belts with multiple exclamation points. Curtis Blades versus God of Steepa Jones happens. Dachas versus the winner of Tanner Bozer versus Alexander Romanov. Sure.

Poor Chris Dachas, if Romanov wins that fight. I mean, what a kind of murderous row he's had to go through. I don't want that. No interest. Sorry. By the way, the fight is Dawkins versus Arlofsky. That's what you do. Daniel Marcoulos, Grasso versus the loser.

Misha Tate versus Lauren Murphy. Don't have a real problem with that. Fioro versus the winner of Andrea Lee versus Viviani Arroozzo. By the way, Andrew Lee is a very interesting name in this division as well. If she beats Viviani Ariruzo, she gets up there. But Flywhite's fun right now. Women's 125 is fun.

Brown versus Nicholas Dalby. That's a banger. Ascarov versus Nicolao. That seems to be a very popular one. Magny Wonderboy, Goodyeres versus Victor Henry. Sign me all the way up for that one. Kisriev, Cody Brundage, Maya versus the winner of Macy Barber, Montana de la Rosa.

Daucus versus Volkov. I'm trying to figure out how much stock the UFC is investing into Daucus is a heavyweight mainstay. It's actually not a bad suggestion. What was the Brown pick there? Nichols-Dalby. And did they mention it, what was the pick? Did they have a pick for Barbarina?

No pick for Barbarina. Really? Oh, my goodness, the disrespect. Someone who thought to Brown won the fight, maybe. Well, listen, he's a free agent right now. So maybe they're thinking about it in that sense. Wow. You know what?

One step. What was this? Marvin? Yes. Marvin? No, this is, this is Daniel Markoulos. Oh, Markulos. I'm sorry.

Daniel, one step ahead of me. Well done. Nice. Well done. A.K.'s giving you a half and out on point. Just kidding. No, this is just credit. Mike, that's no laughing matter.

Come on. I know. I apologize. Cut it. We'll cut it in post. This is people's lives. John Ray, Luis Saladanya versus Sean Woodson. That's a pretty big step up.

Yeah, that's a tough one. I think it's a little too soon. I'm glad people were impressive with Sadania, but I mean, let's take it easy. Yeah, I mean, there are people who thought he lost that fight, too. Yeah, I know. Gutierrez versus Haffiel Suns South Shore. Sarah McMahon. There's a guy.

There it is. There was a lot of it. Honestly, there was so much. I saw so much of that. And by the way, I say it is a cool, but I poopoo it on the pick. It is a cool fight. I mean, two, uh, uh, uh,

Kuna's Kai, she fought for the feather, she fought for the featherweight title, right? Yes. Okay. So two former UFC title challengers. Two moms. That's always a great story. So, and just to, hey, I think, and, uh,

I don't know someone say it's a great style matchup, like from an entertainment standpoint, like competitively, uh, entertainment standpoint. I don't know. Could be fun. I don't know. Uh, jackey versus the Jared Gordon Grant Dawson winner. Oh. Not bad.

Magnie versus the loser of Vicent DeLuke versus Blah-Mohamed, sure. Cara France versus Pantosia. Barbarina versus Griffin. Yes, please. Grasso versus the winner of Chukagin versus Amanda Hebas. Although I don't know if Hebas is going to stay at 125. I mean, if she beats Caitlin Chikagan, she might as well stay at 125 because she's going to be very close to a title fight.

Doccas versus Pavlovich. Blades versus Gone. Akiama versus Northcut, two generations of sexy. In one. I'd be shocked if one isn't planning that. Though I think how big... Yeah, the size would... Yeah, no, that's fine.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's fine. That's a... Yeah, I mean, if Sage can't beat 46-year-old Akiama at this point, I mean, we've got to start thinking about a new career, probably. I mean, no disrespect to Akiama, but you've got to... I mean, after all this time off and the experience you've had at this point, like, you've got to go out there and be in Akema if they set up that fight. And knowing one, it's...

It's probably in the works as we speak. By the way, I don't know if this is going to come up in your picks. It didn't come up in mind. Is there any thought to Chris Dawkes getting the Walt Harris? We're always trying to find the right, the right Walt Harris fit. That is a really good idea, actually. That's a really good idea. That's a good friendly fight, feel good fight, right?

Yeah, we get the former cop against Walt Harris. Yeah, I mean, I don't, I don't mind it at all. Isn't you from Philadelphia? Yeah. Why did you? It's just a cop. He's a cop. Chris London, Grasso versus Fioro.

Barbarina versus Shafcott. Good, grief. Hey, we just re-sign you do a four-fight deal, Brian Barbarino. We're going to throw you in there with Shafcott-Rachmano. That sounds like just a brutal night at the office. Neil Magne versus Gunner Nelson, Jacasey versus Matush Gamrot. Good, grief. Nikolav versus Pontosia.

McMahon versus Aldana. Gutierrez versus Shore. I like that one. Kizriev. This is the doo-do one. No offense. I'm sorry. Versus Christoph Jocko, who is booked to fight Gerald Mershardt on April 30th.

But again, maybe it's not do-do. Maybe it's not do-do. Because if something happened, maybe Mier-Shart suffers an injury or something, because you have can slide right in there. There you go. They just said Jocko. Versus Jocco. Come on, guys.

That's a good fight. That Mershirt fights one that people should know about. Come on now. Yes. Drew Hilty. No way the UFC gives Blades a fight against Gahn. He's probably stuck fighting down the rankings. Could see him fighting Tom Aspinall next.

Sure. Blades versus Tommy Aspinall is a really interesting fight. Grasso versus Murphy, win or lose. Barbarina versus Michael Morales, if you really want to test him. But it could be too much too soon. KKF gets a title shot. Definitely wasn't a robbery. But on first watch, I thought Griffin won rounds one and two.

But it'd be like that sometimes. He likes Magni versus. Shafcott, Rachmanov. D1 Jacasey versus Terrence McKinney could be fireworks. Wildcards, run that cap, Nicolaal fight. First decision was egregious, and he likes Chris Gutierrez versus Casey Kenney. Kevin, Blades versus Gone, no interim belts. Chris Dawkus versus Augusto Sakai.

This one I can be down with. Yeah. Daka Sakai could be down with. I think that's a winnable fight for Doccas. Perfect. Grasso versus Jennifer Maya, Fioro versus Chukagan. and after Chukagin fights, Hebas, and may win or lose. Good job in parentheses.

Barbarina versus Cowboy Olivera. KK.F. versus Moreno Figgy 4 winner. Chris Gutierrez versus Frankie Edgar. Sorry, AK. Bonus from last week. Patty versus Chris Gritzmacher, a veteran who's a slight step up for him, but also very winnable. That's the exact kind of fight you book for Patty Pimble. In the UK, Patty versus Chris Gritzmacher.

And let me throw this at you, AK. Matt Brown versus Robbie Lawler 2. Yeah, look, we never got Condit Lawler 2, which you always wanted. I'd be very happy to the Brown Lawler 2 matchup. Though I also liked Barbarina calling for the Lawler fight. But if I'm Robbie Lawler, I would think that Matt Brown fight's a little more compelling. Just name-wise, veteran, someone he himself has probably, I would imagine, had his eye on for some time. Sorry, a rematch eyeing a rematch for some time.

So, yeah, I like that one. I like the Barbarina fight too. Let me just say, by the way, by the Gutierrez, Edgar's suggestion, which I also saw, I have no problem with it as long as it doesn't actually happen. Like, I want the fight to be blocked. Yeah, right. Yeah, I want to see Gutierrez and Edgar on paper. I want us to talk about it on our shows. I want us to, you know, maybe even make it all the way up to weigh-in day.

Both guys successfully weigh in so they can get paid. And then Saturday morning, Frank Hager stubbs his toe. And then the fight just doesn't happen. So I'm all in on that matchup from a theoretical standpoint. Tino Alvarez. Blades gone in France, five round main events. That's actually a really good idea.

That's probably like the exact thing. I will give you an actual Otno point if that happens. On that particular card, in that particular country, you would get an oddno point. Don't they get an extra, you mean an extra Otno point? Well, I mean,

Blades gone isn't, but it has to happen on that card. And this is a solo in this year. Tino will get a solo. Yes. It has to be the, next fight for both guys, it has to be in France. And it has to be the main event.

Then I will give you a full out note point. Alexa Grasso, into a title fight. Winner versus Valentina versus Santo. Sure. Bam Bam versus Tim Means. Karfranz versus the winner of Moreno Figgi. Magni versus Sean Brady. I will address that fight in a moment because that is a very popular one.

Jacesee versus Mike Davis. Well done. Sarah McMahon versus the winner of Norma Dumont versus Mason-Chiasson. That's a 45 though. Yeah. Maybe they're saying Sarah McMahon. just go to 45, take one of them out, I don't know. Yeah.

Gutierrez versus Montel Jackson, great. Kisriette versus Gunner Nelson. Wow. Wow, how about that? Fioro versus Jeskandrage, co-main event to Gons versus Bladescard in France? Wow! All right.

Now we're getting super specific. Who's Descan Drash fighting again? Amanda Leimosh, but that's in May. So we're booking the France card right now. That's what we're trying to do. Down the road. You don't go it all in on the French. Vioro in France versus Jessandrage.

lose in that fight. Again, that's some serious matchmaking, Otno pointage right there. Nikolao Ascaroff, Saldania versus Danny Chavez, like that one. Tino, by the way,

double-dipped. They let me know they were double-dipping to avoid confusion. And also said they were at the event last night. Oh, good. I hope you had a good time, Tino.

I hope you weren't booing, Brian Barbarina. Yeah, because I will never read your picks again if you were. Just kidding. Marcus, we know what's coming. Let's see what we got here. Anything different?

Barbarina, Cort McGee. Sarah McMahon, Irina Aldana after injury, Gutierrez, Douglas Silva-Di Andrade, Kizraev versus Hidalfa Vietta, Nikolao, Perez, Saldanea, Bill Algio. People were really, I mean, Kizraub looked awesome,

no you're on. He's got that glossy, undefeated record again, you know, which always, you know, boosts you. But, man, they really kind of threw them into some tough matchup. That's a lot of, like, like, Holdofo Veyeda.

I mean, a great grappling contest, but man, I don't know if I pick him to beat him. And then he has some check the tape suggestions. Sergio Pettus, Rafian Stats, booked before Pettis pulled out of the tournament. Wait, what? So they're just booking it again? No, he's saying that that was his pick. Oh, claim a point.

And they booked it, and then he wants the point for it. Boy, the tournament, I don't think you get any point. The tournament's an eight-man field. I don't think you. Yeah, I mean, your options, yeah, your options, you have six, seven options. We're trying to get points for tournament seatings. Come on, guys. He wants a point for Nama Yunus as far as a bit a shared point.

He did notice that. And then he wanted Vince Morales versus Nathaniel Wood, booked before Morales pulled out a fight. That was, I don't know. No, not giving it to you, sorry. Too many unknowns. The fight never happened. It was a short notice thing.

No. Tell him. Jared Biagin. Neil Met. The solo, at no point, this has to be, like, it has to be a poster. The UFC has to, like, this is the one, like, we're sending out bout agreements for a,

eight-week training camp kind of thing. Like, if it happens on a short-notice thing, like, you know, I'll be willing to sprinkle in some percentage points. But you can't be asking for full points because we need a fill-in and someone just happens to be in the area 10 days before. Like, we can't do that. That's a good rule. I don't know if I'll make that an official disclaimer because hopefully it doesn't come up

to come up too often. But if it does, if it does, we may have to add it. That's a good rule. Yes. Jard Biagin. Neil Magnivus Schumbry. Okay. I've asked Sean Brady about this particular matchup in the past.

These two know each other really well. They've trained together many times. Don't think it's going to happen. This is not a doo-do pick, by the way. This is just something for future reference. Now, if Brady and or Magni fight again, and you suggest this fight, then it'll be officially in the doo-do pile because we've already let you know about it. Unless a title is on the line, I don't think we see these guys fight each other,

unless the stakes are quite high. I just laughed when you said do-do pile. I'm a child. I'm a child. The Dutupe. Gutierrez, Haliampaiva, sure, Fioro versus Murphy Tate winner, Nicola v. Alex Perez. Mark Chikasey versus Ignacio Baja Mondees, AKAMOND, I actually like this idea. I think it's a sensical fight. Yep.

Like I said, Chikacy, I feel like this is a dozen different good options. He's not, for me, anywhere near like the top 30 still. But he's certainly well above the lower chunk, which is like a lot of newcomers, guys on the losing streak. So he's in that weird mid-tier, and he needs to get, I think, elite well it depends depends on the matchup right but i think he needs at least one more one or two more good wins before we talk about matching him up with like a top 25 opponent it's a long climb it's it's it's it's tough but hey uh he's been hanging around the ufc stranger things have happened maybe we uh we see the late surge of mark jacchise uh barbaraina versus mcgis mciches

cackey versus leo santoosos hold on i have to find the rest of this sorry Gutierrez versus Asso, we already got that one. Carol Hosa versus Stephanie Egger, Matt Brown versus Trevin Giles. Harry Duoskin, Kizria versus Jeremiah Wells, hits the spot. I like that one too. Nikola versus Alex Perez.

If Perez can make weight, if Perez is moving up to 35, he likes Nicolaov versus the Roy Val Schnell winner. Luis Aldania versus Nate Landwehr, Chris Gutieres versus Frankie Edgar. I doubt they try to give someone like Chris the Frankie rub, but I'd be okay with it. More realistically, they screw him, and he has to fight Kyler Phillips.

That's not screwing him. That's a great fight. I mean, that is, yeah, that was quite the statement. Neil Magny versus Luque Mohammed loser for a fight that does something for Magny, or you do Shafcott if you want to use Magne as a gatekeeper. Jekasey versus Jared Gordon. Maybe winner lose. Jared Gordon's fighting Grant Austin.

That is not officially on our website, but I have confirmed it. That is the fight. So I'm not a doo-do-pick. Matt Brown versus Nick Diaz. A bit of a cheeky suggestion, but this would be an amazing fight for two rounds and then sloppy old man violence for one round. We should have a Diaz band.

That is probably, that is a good fight. Like if we're going to get Nick Diaz back, that's the fight to make. But we should have a Diaz ban as well. The guys are just so unpredictable. I almost feel like we need a soft Diaz ban. A soft one, yeah. Barbarina versus Means, beautiful violence, Blades gone, not for interim title.

Tristan Gordette, Kai Kar-France versus Alexander Pantoja, Gutierrez-Montel Jackson, Kisreyev-Armin Petrosian, Neil Magny versus Wonderboy. I know Magny obviously called out Hamzat, but he won't get him unless Hamzat loses against Burns. Magny should just focus on moving up closer to the top five

of the welterweight division facing Wonderboy be perfect. I don't mind the Magny Hamzat callouts. I don't. Again, this is good seed planting because if Gilbert Burns goes out there and beats Hamzaa Chamaif, he's getting the Neil Magni fight. I mean, Neil Magny's going to get the fight. You say that was such confident.

I am shocked you at the retirement home. I think you're right. I think he'll be at the retirement home. I think Hamza will be in the retirement home with him on that same swinging bench. And Magnet will just be taunting him, just poking up with his cane, like, huh? We're going to fight yet? Playing Peanuckle. I love it.

And it will still never happen. Best of seven cribbage matches. I mean, I'd watch those guys play shuffleboard. Yeah, let's go. Canadian Bryant's. Good morning, Mike and AK. Mike, I know you say Bellator, matchmaking is obvious.

But I did say on February 5th, from last week's Bellator card, Enrique Barzola versus Josh Hill, alternate bout for the Bannamoy Grand Prix, and now it is. I don't know if you phrased it quite that way. I have to go back and check that one out, because if you suggested that as like a fight by itself, I would probably give you a not-no point.

So that fight was made... Hold on. On February 5th, after Barzola versus Josh Hill, that's what he predicted. And now it is a play-in matchup for the Bellator Grand Prix, which is super interesting because Josh, because Scott Freaking Coker in December, after Josh Hill knocked out Jared Skagen said, officially the alternate for the Bellator Badamweight Grand Prix. And now we have a chance to fill alternate spots. And now Josh Hill is not said alternate.

He has to fight his way into being an alternate. And then he has to fight Maga Ben Maga Madaf. if he wins. He has to defend the Bell Tor, uh, Bantamweight World Grand Prix, uh, alternate title is what you're saying. Yes.

I'm giving you the point. I'm giving him a point. You're giving him a point. Okay. Okay. So, but that fight was already booked. It was already booked and they just chain.

No, no, it wasn't booked. It wasn't booked. It wasn't booked. They made it. Poor Josh Hill. He finally gets a knockout. Finally makes a statement. And like you said,

Scott Hogger said he is the, he is the, the alternate. And then we can, Enviki Barzola is a really, really tough opponent. I think Marzola will be favored in that matchup. Hill should have got a spot and you should have done one alternate fight. You should have done Barzola versus Sabatello or Albuo versus Sabatelo. Sabatelo should be in that play and fight.

There's no doubt about it. By the way, Sabatel is probably going to go to the finals and he's probably a good chance to win this thing. And he is going to be hated for it. It's going to be super fun, super fun. But he said, I'll love, keep up the great work, guys. I'm going to give you a point out of my collection. How about that? Mark Jacasey versus the winner of Demir Hadzevic versus Steve Garcia.

Neil Magni versus Rachmanov. Magda deserves that Shemaya fight. And if you lose it, it a burns, I love that fight. But spoiler, I don't think that will happen. So let's get Magny the other guy in the division. No one wants to fight, but we know he will. Curtis Blades versus anyone in the top 10. And then we close out with Brandon Nunez.

Jacayi versus Alexander Hernandez. Nikolav versus Ascaroff. Barbarina versus Nico Price. Grassow versus the winner of I versus O'Neill, Blades versus Steep A. Wait, who said Blades versus anyone in the top 10? That was the last person? That was our friend Canadian Bryans. Canadian Bryant.

The only problem with that suggestion is he fought so many guys in the top 10 already. I guess some of them are in the OCE anymore over him and JDS are gone. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if you can just throw them in there with anyone. And he's lost some of the guys in the top 10. You know what I was tempted to do, Mike, was the Derek Lewis rematch, but we're just not quite far away enough from it yet because this was only last, like for me in my mind,

it feels like it was a long time ago. This was barely a year ago. So, sorry, just over a year ago. So I think we see the rematch someday. But yeah, I was thinking that was an option for him just to get that long. That'd be a cool way to like, if he wants to stay busy and get a fight,

to get that win back. Sorry, excuse me, you know, avenge that loss. It wouldn't be guaranteed, but at least to have the chance to do it. And then, you know, that leads into some sort of title fight. But not quite yet. We're not quite in Derek Lewis, Blades. to territory yet.

You're up, my friend. All right, all right. So some of the most popular picks on which you already mentioned, of course, Blades Aspinall, Blades gone. I thought Blades gone was leading, but it is about even, I think, the amount of people suggesting those. Blades versus Milchich, there was a bit of that. At Ayo, its dad says, Steve Bain needs a fight. Jones ain't coming back. And Tommy Aspinall versus Ty Toe Yvesa, that makes so much sense.

I agree with that. Blades has an insane resume, deserves a legacy fight slash matchup. Gaon can take his pick at the end of the year to face one of these winners for an interim title setting up a massive fight with Francis. So I kind of like that idea. So at AOSDAQon is just saying Gone is the one who should wait

for the dust to settle, not blades, and then gone can sort of step in and pick whoever he wants, which is actually not a bad position to be in. So I like that idea. Yeah. Everyone calling for Kaicar France title fight. The other was Kai Kar-France versus Pantoja,

which Marcus McGa, he reminds us, would be like not a rematch, but like 1.5, because they fought in the quarterfinals of the Oldwood Fighter and Pentosia won by unanimous decision. I liked all the Magni

Rachmanov talk Mike. I like people kind of using Rachmanov as almost like a Hamzat proxy for corner spurts and why I dumped on you before but I like what he had to write out with this. So for Magny on calling Hamzat which they're pushing him to get a tell shot,

a guy that the UFC apparently gives a bleep about who is also dangerous. I can see Dana feeding Magny a difficult test in Shopcott which is not an easy fight for shopcott, but if shopcock gets a W over Magni, they can eventually push Shavkat up the ladder,

silence any noise of Magny wanting to fight Kamsat. So kind of a business move there for the UFC. But hey, no guarantees that Shopcott beats Mac. And yeah, shout-outs to everyone calling for Gutierrez versus Victor Henry. That'd just be, that's the E.K.C. Liden special right there. He would love that. That's awesome. Firo versus Lee Arrojo winner was another popular one.

I want to read what Hayes-Ber-Third said here. He said, I don't really want to have. happened, but I think she could be up for the title, Fero, he means, especially if Chukagin beats He-Bas and Misha loses to Lauren Murphy. Yeah, that might clear a path. But for my official suggestion, I'll go with Lee Arra, a winner, which I think would have time to happen. If Valentina makes a double champ attempt after beating, if she beats Talas Santos, and she should, Valentina should definitely be able to do that at this point, regardless if it's at 135, Nunez or Juliana Pena. So, yeah, I agree with all that thinking, Hayes. There's a lot

dominoes that could fall and we could end up with a really fun situation at 125 and 135. Nicolao versus Ascarov and Nicolao versus Alx-Bres both pretty popular about tides. So the Nicolao buzz, it's there. It's there, Mike. People are talking about Nicolow, all right? 2% when I ran the poll yesterday on which flyweight, which of the two women's flyweight and the two men's flyweights who won on Saturday, which one and proved their stock the most.

It was 2%. Come on. Come on, now. Come on now. All right. I want to read a first timer on Instagram. Liam Jeffrey, what is up? A first timer and a fellow Canadian.

So you know they're getting some extra love and getting the welcome to the party pal pick slash gift. Pick on Instagram. Can you put gifts on Instagram? I don't think so. People if you're out there, tell me how to put a gift on Instagram, direct messages. So he likes Blades versus Aspinall. Blaze needs a few wins to get near that telegram.

Aspon is red hot. If he gets by blades, he'll be primed to contend. This is true. Fioro versus Grasso might be lazy matchmaking. Mike, you didn't think so, that it was lazy. All the top flywoods are booked right now. Ferole will get a boost in rankings after beating Maya. Potential number one contender fight.

Yeah, pretty much. Barbarina versus, I think he means, oh yeah, Carlston Harris. Harris gets a chance to rebound after losing to Shavcott. Barbarina gets another fight with a finisher. Car, France, tell shot of Marino Figuayvigui winner, excuse me. Magny versus Rachmanab. Again, a lot of people wanted this. And Jekkeezi versus Hockperast.

I like that. Jekheese says he's still a prospect, so he gets to fight a guy that had some hype who's been struggling lately and the trance to prove that he's still got potential. Hacquist gets a step back and a chance to try and get back in the wind column. So Liam Jeffrey's solid.

Solid first. Otno picks, by the way. Good. Michael Connofrey, the man who runs, of course, Otno and M.M.A. fighting memes, I shouldn't say are his. his his, uh,

no, an MMA fighting memes Instagram page, very entertaining. You guys should definitely subscribe to that. Uh, Magni versus Burns

Shamiyev loser. Now, Mike, you think he definitely gets Shemaya? Do you think Burns also same deal? Do you think he's probably he gets Burns?

Whoever, do you think he probably just gets a loser that fight? I, there's a very good chance. Very good chance. Okay. Um,

right. Um, M. M. HADs, Barbarina versus Trinaldo, Robert's winner, U.C. 274, May 7th. Wait, I'm sorry, I got to go back.

Who were you saying? Sorry, it wasn't Burns. My mind is all scramble. It wasn't Burns. You were saying him and Magni are friends. John Brady. John Brady. I'm sorry.

That's right. Not the Burns. Right. Yeah. So Magny Bruns was just fine. Back to M.A. It's Magny versus Kevin Holland. This soon?

I've got a lot of Holland suggestions here. And it just shows you like how, man, what a name he built for himself, eh, with his run at 185. I don't mind it. I'll tell you what, man. If they book that fight and Kevin Holland beats Neil Magny, I mean, that is... Listen.

That's a huge win. That's a huge win. And Neil Magny's used to this by now. Look, he's used to taking three steps forward, taking one step back. It's happened to him so many times. He'll bounce back from it. It's a big, it's a big low... I think like, oh, I'll say medium reward because then Kevin Holland is a big name.

Obviously, much more to gain for Holland there. So I don't hate it. M.A. has that matchup. Kizria v. the Roundy Browne-Williams-Williams loser, though fighting in 274. Nikolao versus the rival Shnell loser, fighting in 274. Saldania versus Pineda Emers fighting on May 14th. So cool picks there. Jay Steiner, we haven't heard from you in a while, buddy.

Thanks for chiming in. Some good picks here. Sal dana, excuse me, versus Stephen Peterson. Grasso versus the Murphy-Tate winner at EOSY-276. Jay says, I know Tate probably gets a tell shot if she wins, but I'm predicting Murphy to win. This is what should happen, not what will happen. That's probably accurate. Tune on Instagram, throwing out Barbarina versus Li Jingleang.

Banger. Mike, how do you feel about one championship picks? I liked the Northcut, the Northcut, Akia. Right. You like that. I really like that one. How do you feel about these ones? This is Matt Bradbury who says, oh, first he has a question about Belter.

I'm sorry. Matt Bradbury asked us a question. With Peders and Gallagher out of the tournament, who do you think they'll end up fighting? I mean, each other someday, hopefully. But I don't know. Those guys are always getting injured all the time. Is it even worth speculating? Yeah, right.

That's a tough one. If you come up with anything, Mike, let me know. We can circle back to this question. One championship, Angela Lee versus Sohee Ham. Sure. That's the fight. Adriano Marice versus John Lineker. So, Adriano goes up to, what's 145 in one championship,

but a bantam up to bantam wait uh yes i like it and dj versus uh i don't this one works dj versus bibiano i'm pretty sure dj and bibbiano are pretty close friends they've trained together a lot uh so i really don't see that one happening again it's kind of one they might do the whole oh for honor thing but i think dj and bibiana are pretty close right that's that's a fair assessment right uh i think so yeah i don't think they would fight each other i mean if it was like a special rules kind of thing oh sure Maybe a grappling match. Right.

One where they're not bludgeoning each other. So Dan, you versus T.J. Brown, great matchup. And Mike, what about? Barbarina versus Kevin Holland. Yeah. Okay. Do you like that more than the Magi? Yeah, a little bit.

Okay. I'm intrigued by the Magny one, though. I have to say, I am intrigued by the Magny one. I have a feeling that will not go well for Kevin Holland. Unless he bolts Magny in the first round, which is possible. But it could be a very typical Neil Magni kind of fight where Holland would have a great moment early. Maybe you have Magny hurt. And then Magny would take over and just like take him down and grind him out.

But who knows? We got one more Holland's coming. Okay. So we're getting better. We're getting warmer. All right. One more Holland coming. It's near the end.

Liam back to now on to Twitter, Liam Perry. Barbarina versus Griffin. Jekizi versus Jekkeesi versus Jim Miller? I don't mind it. I like it better than Patty versus Jim Miller Yes, as do I I agree with that

Yeah Gutierrez versus Munoz I love it but like you said Sean O'Malley is probably going to book that one Nicolaova versus Pantoja There's another suggestion At BWFC Owen

On Twitter By the way So I've read Owen's picks before I didn't realize What the BWFC stands for I looked it up shout out To Bolton Wanderers Football Club

I know nothing about football guys I'll be honest with you but apparently the team he supports so shout out Bolton Wonders They mentioned the Jocko Mir's shirt fight

but Jocko but they did mention the winner They did mention the winner of that fight for Kizreyev April 30th So Kisriuzri has sticks around 185 I like that Ryan Doherty Just again yeah Crossovers Fioro

Brandon Hahn Just sets this up for Okay I had a little bit scenario here for Magi Magni versus Shemayev if he loses to burns Masvedal versus Shemayev if Shemayev wins Wait, what? Wait, say it one more time?

I don't know, I'm sorry. I screwed that. I screwed that. Brandon Hanna, I apologize I screwed that. Magny versus Shemayev if Shemayev loses the burns. Magne versus Mazvedal if Shemayev wins and beats Burns

and gets a title shot. So if Shemayev's out of the picture, give Magny Mazvidal instead. That'd be awesome, but Masvadol's not. I got to fight Neil Magny, kidding me? Has no interest in it. But I like that match. I actually look where Brandon's thinking is there.

And also, he wants to elaborate because if Burns loses, so this is if Shemaya wins, then he wants Burns to fight Sean Brady. Yeah, I like the Burns, I like that fight. That would make sense. He's trying to say like, so that's why not if like not if Burns, not, he's not looking for Burns Magny. If Burns loses, he wants, he wants that for Brady. So yeah, that'd be an amazing, amazing fight.

Barbarini versus James Krause. Did we say we have stopped picking fights for James Krause? I think we have to. I think we have to. Because Krause is only fighting if he's there with the fighter and something happens at Wayans and he could step in on like a day's notice. Otherwise, it's not going to fight.

No more, no more the. I'm sorry, guys, no more thee. Jukisi versus Jamie Malarkey, love it. And Kizriev versus Lungiambula. So that's a 185 paper, Kizria. At Ayo, it's dad. That one's been read already. That once been read over.

Oh, I'll just, I want to elaborate. You had Gutierrez versus Asun Sao. They just said, Rafael shouldn't be in the top 15 in the OCE rankings anymore, and El Guapo deserves a top 15 opponent, makes sense and to help shape a more accurate top 15. Thank you, A. I'm glad someone has the NBA fighting global rankings in mind.

That's right. 170 pick for Kizb, Carlson Harris. So, yeah. So Carlson Harris, come up a couple of times. But I like Carlson Harris a lot. I still think he has upside at 170, but it is only kind of tough matchups going forward.

Sean Haywood, Fioro versus Chukigee. win-lose-dra-drave for his hebas i think that's the best option yeah i think you just make that fight happen doesn't doesn't matter what happens in the hevas fight uh gutieres versus damon barbaraena versus christos giagos mcman versus the rakel pennington aspen lad loser mike u s tennie two seventy three april ninth mac man versus pennington lad loser sure yeah yeah that makes sense i think that's right Gutierrez versus Kenny. Any reason this fight can't happen? I don't think so.

I think they're... I'm into that. That's good fight. Phil Roe, I said he would come up. Phil Roe for Kizraev. I like that one too. Sure. And Saldania versus Charles Rosa.

Four Corners reports and why I come up again, the third time mentioning them, because they have the other Matt Brown pick. Sorry, the other... I know, I ruined it. Mike, rewind, rewind, edit it, edit it. They have the other Holland pick.

Holland versus... is Matt Brown. More than the Mag, do you like more than the Magny? No, I hate it. You hate it? Oh, so is this the worst of the wall? I just,

I don't want to see Matt Brown in a fight with Kevin Holland. Why? I just think he gets, I think he gets really hurt in that fight. Like, it's a safety thing. Like, it's a cool matchup. Like, you see it on paper.

You're like, wow, this is cool. But I just feel like, there's a very good chance Kevin Holland could seriously hurt Matt Brown at this point 41 year old Matt Brown yeah that's the reason I don't like it

if that makes sense because I care for the immortal one you're a safety first guy as we all know I respect that Marcus McGahey Barbarina versus Cowboy Alivaara Mark Chikisi versus the Yotos Medici Omar Morales

winner May 21st he also likes McMahon for his painting lad loser Gutierrez versus Montel Jackson. Montel Jackson was supposed to fight Saturday, right? He was supposed to fight. Oh, oh, Guillares replaced him, right? Yeah.

Yeah, okay, so there you go. It makes a lot of sense. And 170 for Kisriev, Claudio Silva. I like that. Barry O'Reilly, our man in Ireland, always kind of with great picks. Saldanya versus Melsik, Bogdarsarian, Kizriev versus Dahlavi. There's another 170. McMahon versus Josian Nunez, Mike.

Mike. Bear Reyes says if Josian Nunez can get past can pass the McMahon test she deserves a top five opponents. I've already said Mike I'm in favor of Josian staying at featherweight and being this tiny tiny featherweight with with heavyweight power and eventually fighting Amanda Nunez herself that's probably not going to happen. So I don't know. What do you think? Josian Nunez versus Sarah she would look so tiny I think compared to Sarah McMahon. She looks tiny compared to everyone but I'm with you AK 100%. Let's just yeah throw in there with Strikers or throw it 45 to look like a tiny featherweight that just bolts people. Yes.

But I will say that I do think that's an interesting match. I think it'd be kind of cool, Sarah. Wrestler versus Stryker, classic matchup, right? That'd be kind of cool. Jaquise versus Pimbley. Here's what Barry says about it. Barry says we want to step up in competition for Patty but not a world beater and all English affair to add some spice to the next England events.

And of course, if we're able to happen in Liverpool, then you still get that Pimblet like home field, you know, home court. Cheer. I added that part in for Barry. But why not just have Jacasey and Pimlet fight different fighters? Sure. Yeah. That's an option.

That's an option. I mean, sure. I mean, yeah, I get it. I wish they weren't from the same area. I also think Jakeasy might mess Pimlet up. Maybe. Yeah. I think he's a much better striker.

and he definitely has the grappling to not like get dominated by Pimbley. I don't know if the, and like you said, now you're just having one English guy if you did another English guy. Yeah, maybe that's not, maybe that's not best for Patty. It's kind of, I mean, it's just inside, like I said after what we did not know last week, I don't like anything for Patty Pimbleau. There's nothing I like. There's nothing I like. Outside of him fighting, really, outside of him fighting feather weights that lost on the contender series that move up to lightweight to fight him so he can win and get a big reaction. Like, Patty Pimblech should just fight.

Patty Pimblech should be the WWF Superstars version of the UFC, where you just put him in there, squash matches in the UK, nothing else. Don't move this guy at the ladder. This guy should never, ever have a number next to his name. No, that's what you do with him. That's how you maximize Patti Pimblech. You let him win. You go in there and you give him favorable matchups and let him win.

That's how you build him up. He's not fighting for a title. This guy will never, ever fight for a world championship. I'm sorry, Patty. I like you. You're going to be a star, but you don't need to fight for a title to make that money, son. This is what you want.

Take the Colby blueprint. You get the biggest fights that are most winnable. And every fight for Patty Pimble is a winnable fight, and it is a big fight, and people will care. Patty Pimbleau versus Joe Schmachau. We'll sell. People will care. I'm just making up names, A.K., I'm just making them up.

That guy could fight anybody. Give him matchups. He can win, put him over, let the crowd go crazy, give him $50,000 bonus, and pay him the minimum salary that his manager is going to... What are you doing? What is this? Finish your rant? Yeah, and he's going to make 12 and 12 and get a $50,000 bonus

because he's got terrible management. But go ahead. I'm just joking about the whole argument. Listen, we don't know what we're talking about. We know nothing about this business. I don't know how that's actually going to sound. I apologize. It's hilarious.

Yeah, that just happened. Wake up. Wake up, everyone. Listen, Damon, Jed and I, excuse me. Damon, Jed and I wrote a roundtable discussion earlier this week about Patty Pimble. What is his ceiling? We all kind of took different angles at it. Jed probably the most pessimistic, thinking that, almost kind of going on with what you said, Mike.

Keep this guy in the lower tier of the UFC lightweight rankings and just give him marketable fights. And that's it. And just having to be that kind of draw. Damon, a little bit in the middle. And then me, I know, listen, it's so just cliche, anything can happen in MA. I don't think he's as limited or as bad as people think. I know I just said Jakee would murk him. But that's also just like a most stylistic thing.

I think just Jakeasy is a bad matcher for him. I think with the right matchups, Pimbled can end up with a number of. next to his name. And I don't think that's a bad thing. I think that it will add to his appeal. I think if you can get him a top 10 opponents someday, like in England or in the other, his opponent's home country, I think that's spectacular. That's a great thing. I think we should look forward to that. I don't think we need to protect Patty Pimbilt. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. But I'm a little more bullish on his prospects. I do think he has something just beyond his marketability. I think he's not a terrible fighter at all, which is, I know

damning someone with faint praise. I'm not saying he's a terrible fighter. Like, he's just in a horrible division where the matchups all suck for him. Like, they all suck. They all are all terrible. But I think he's a tough matchup for some people as well.

Like who? Hold on. I like the Chris Gritzmacher idea. That actually, like, makes sense. Hernandez, people love the Alexander Hernandez idea. But that might actually be the fight. Like, that might be the biggest fight you can make for Patty Pimbleau right now.

You put him in there with Alexander Hernandez, because people just don't like that guy. You could put Pimbleau over as a massive baby face in the UK. If he beats Alexander Hernandez, it shuts a lot of people up. But he also could use that cockiness to kind of get in Hernandez's head a little bit, which I think could be very impactful.

So that might actually be the best fight, but Hernandez would have a very good chance of beating him too. It's a, I don't know. Mark O'Madson? For Patty? I like Marco Madsen. I don't think he's like, kills Patty Pimbleau necessarily. He'd be a favorite.

He might be. This is fight ready Marco Mattson we're talking about. This is a new guy. This is with Coach of the Year, Henry Sehudo, running that camp. Joe Selecki? Selecki's not a bad one. But if that fight, Selecki's better on the ground than Patty Pimblit. So that would actually be.

that would actually be interesting but Patty could probably that's not a bad idea I'm saying I know it's a deep division Selecti could beat him though Selecky could beat him Tiago Moises No terrible fight

You think he kills Patty Pilgr? I don't know much I think he kills Patty Pilam but he beats Patty Pimplet Okay Tiago's very good on the ground and his boxing is miles ahead of Patty Pimblitz Miles

I am on I am under underrating Tiago's all-around game. But again, I also think people are underrating Patty Fumlin. I really do.

I've said it before, and I'll probably say it's a million times as long as Patty Pimble exists in the O.C. His fame has so far surpassed his skill set that people are making his

skill set sound worse than it is. I really believe that. I wish he would drop to 45. I wish he would drop to 45. I think if he dropped to 45, we wouldn't think the same way. He's just in the

He's just in this division where he just, he's just not going to be a top 15 guy. But maybe that's not what he wants. Like he doesn't care about being a world champion. Maybe he doesn't care about that. And I, you know, and I may put in the top 15 of my rankings this week. We'll see. Oh, God, I hope so. I don't, I don't do crazy stuff like that.

Well, Jed much put him in the bottom 15 of the lightweight division. So that's a, all right. Let me throw a more name. Let me throw a more name at you. One more name at you. Patty Pimble versus Bobby Green. Well, Bobby Green should have murders. Patty, though.

Does he? Yes. Okay. Well, there you go. Bobby Green is a top probably 25 guy. Yes. And Bobby, you just said Bobby Green murders Patty Pimbley. So that should kind of tell you, this is not saying Bobby, like Bobby Green is a very serviceable fighter.

But Bobby Green is a top 25, top 30-ish fighter. And Patty, and he murders Patty. What does that say? Here's the thing is, though, there's a lot of guys. in the Paddy Pimlet range who would get murdered by Bobby Green, Tiago Moises, whatever the names you want to throw out there. And yet they don't, like, I don't, I don't hate them defending Patty Pimler because I don't even like him that much, like, from a personal standpoint.

But, like, it's just weird to me. Like, why don't we say the same thing about, like, Ludovic Klein? Why don't we say, oh, Ludovic has no chance of ever becoming a world champion? Or Demir Hazzavich has no chance to become a world champion? Or who are some other guys in this range? Jordan Levitt. Why don't we say, oh, Jordan Levitt's never going to be a UFC champion? Ignacio Bahamandaus is never going to be a UFC champion.

champion. Like I would I wouldn't put any of those guys in there with like Bobby Green or Tiago Moises or Ilya or like Drew Dober like you know what I mean like I these guys are are all better athletes than Patty Pimboat though. That's fine that's fine but like he has has a better record and resume than a lot of the guys I mentioned and oh my God feeling I think on this huge Patty Pimble defender I guess I guess I have to I guess I'm just in the other side of this now and it's like again his fame has gotten so big that people are are really I think so down on like he's and it's it's understandable you reach this level of fame and financial success he's got the barstil sports sponsorship you're going there's going to be a level of scrutiny that

other fighters don't have to face i understand that but i see i like i just don't see why he can't i doesn't have the same upside as a mason jones or a euros medich or uh you know what i'm just taking a lot of guys in his range like why i like i don't understand why but we don't look at these guys but but here's the thing we don't look at them as like future champions either they're just good fighters and good fun fighters that we want to watch fight. I don't see people ruling them out, though. I don't see people going like, oh, Mason Jones can never become Shane. You'll say, well, we don't know with Mason Jones.

Patty Pimble is like the one guy in this range where people are just are so certain like, oh, well, there's just no way. There's just no way. And I'm like, why? I haven't seen anything in his career that tells me like, that like, oh, he's for sure just never going to make it. Like we've seen so many less accomplished people rise to like, you know, pretty high in the rankings.

I don't know why he's the exception. We'll see. We will see. That's the beauty of it. I just think the performance is, I mean, we got to get him in there with somebody. Here's what we need. We need to get him in there with somebody who has incredible cardio

but who can crack. Like really crack. That has knockout power. Like if you fought Mike Davis, I would be really interested in how that fight would play out. Because Mike Davis could absolutely crack. And if he takes those shots that he's took in the Kazula fight

and he took at his Venermini fight, Mike Davis probably got to knock him out and then we'll know. But again, that's why you're playing with fire. My only thing is,

obviously he has to prove it. Paddy Pillar has to prove he deserves his type. But at the same time, I have not seen anything other than him, but he gets hurt in his fights, it's fine.

But I haven't seen anything that says, well, this guy has no chance. Nothing. I've not seen anything. I just think he's at a level of facing its level of scrutiny that other guys aren't facing

for some reason, like skill set wise. And it's strange to me. It's just strange to me, considering the business that we, that we follow. Again, that we are things we've seen.

So. Right. And here's, and the thing is, it's because the biggest thing is, we know Patty's a star. We know he's a star. But he's also in a position where,

if he loses once, like, a lot of that fades away. Like, you still, like, you still put him in the UK. That's great.

But they're, like, like Sean O'Malley, you could put him anywhere. and he gets over. Connor early on, you could put him anywhere and he gets over.

Patty is, Patty's kind of like that now, but if Patty loses once, I mean once, that fades away. That global appeal he has right now is gone forever. But,

I don't agree. You don't agree? You think, he's lost, he's 18 and 3. Right. But this is, he's not undefeated.

Yeah, but that was a regional, like a, I mean, a big regional, promotion. But like very few in the United States had any idea who Patty Pimbo was until he gave to the UFC. Hardcore fans knew, but most casual U.S. We would agree that there was a buzz around him, unlike most fighters who, like,

free agent signings. There was a huge buzz. Huge, maybe. But I mean, but most of it is just him. It's the look. It's the hair. It's that. And that's why I'm saying he can afford to lose, and I don't think it's going to kill him. But the global appeal. Because people are rooting for him to lose. Sure. They're rooting for him to lose. But this is why, like, you're playing with fire when you book him right now because he, there is some talent there. There's certainly his talent.

He's not like, there are worse fighters on the roster than Patty Pimba, 100%. But you have to, like, you have to maximize the star power. The star is outweighs the talent by a lot, it seems. And that's what I'm saying. But it's that discrepancy that is, I think, skewing his prospects. A little bit. But he, Patty can make a very good living. just knocking out anybody.

It doesn't matter who he fights. Like, he doesn't need to be a champion. But I think he can do both. Not necessarily become a champion, but I think he can get, I think there's a path to give him winnable fights and get him someday a ranking.

We'll see. I think it can be done. I think it absolutely can be done. We talked more about Patty this week than we did last week. I know. On this show. On this show. On this show.

Listen, people are talking about him. And it's funny because I actually want to talk more about this one from, so Barry Riley, sorry we derailed your picks. Mike, what do you think about Brian Barbarina versus Ian Gary? If Ian Gary beats Darien Weeks UFC 273, April 9th. So the next card coming up.

I think that's a very tough fight for Ian Gary right now. I don't like it. I don't know how you feel better. And I have to see how this week's fights go. This week's fight goes. Next, yeah, April 9th. I'd see how it works. Yeah.

Because Weeks, I mean, Weeks gave Barbarina some problems. He did? He certainly did. But if, I mean, if Gary goes out there and just annihil it. late's weeks, then I mean, I'd be down for it. It's a tough fight. I mean, it's a grueling fight, but it's a tough.

Ian Gary, like, Ian Gary is like the opposite of Patty Pimlet. Like, we, people look at Ian Gary and they think this guy, this guy could be a champion. Like even in a really tough division, like 170, like we look at Ian Gary as his nickname. He is the future of this business. He's super young. He's only going to get better. And he could actually lose a fight. it doesn't derail him at all.

You kind of understand where he's coming from. Like the UFC has been very open and honest. He's been very open. He's got a bright future. He knows it. But a loss doesn't hurt him. Like if you fought Brian Barbarina and lost, like lost a close decision or something,

it doesn't hurt him at all. It hurts him a little bit. Like the cat, the social media Twitter idiots will sit there and be like, Seas, you all overhyped this dude. The Barbarina Boers. But in the long run,

he's got to grow so much from a barboreena fight, win or lose. And it probably be the most important fight of his career. Oh, definitely. So I have to see how the Weeks fight goes, but TBD, but I don't think it's as bad as some people would think it's going to be. All right, Barry. Revisit this one in two weeks.

If Gary beats Daryne Weeks, please send that Barbarina pick out again. Almost done here. Thomas Collins, I like this one just because it remind me this fight was happening. Jakeasy versus Alan Patrici. and Michael Johnson winner, UFC 274, May 7th, we're still a ways away over, over what, like six weeks.

But I just forgot if I was that. You know, Alan Petriek and Michael Johnson? Like, they have, neither of them has won a fight since like 2018. Someone's winless stretch is going to, fingers crossed, again, it's a long time until the fight.

Hopefully both guys to healthy. And that fight happens because that's tough. Yeah. I actually, Michael Johnson was like a really interesting name for Patty. In my eyes. Like that. I like, exactly. But Johnson still, man.

I mean, he can crack. I mean, it's very dangerous. But that that's the kind of name that you kind of look at. Yeah. That's your name. Again, you sell it as someone who would definitely take Patty Pimble it out. And so it doesn't look like a like, oh, this is just a walkover fight for Patty Pimble. I'm sure, again, if you beat Michael Johnson, people would say that.

I just think, just think how the UFC promotes it. This is the guy that almost knocked out Habim Nirmagabed off. It's not true at all. But you know what I mean? It would be hilarious. And did knock out like Dustin Fourier. I mean, again, we always talk about the insane resume of Michael Johnson. So, so bizarre.

I mean, that guy deserves his own podcast someday, just looking at the very strange career he's had. Last couple here. Cody Hartman, just getting in under the wire, Barbarina, Cowboy, Alibara. McMahon versus GDR. Why not? She's not doing anything else, and they've never fought. She called her out. Oh, McMahon did?

Yep. There you go. Well, Sarah McMahon, well done. Gutierrez versus Hollian-Pont. Haiva, Firo versus, yeah, just give her the title shot. Shufchenko. I'm sorry, not give the title shot. Fero versus Shepchenko-Santos loser.

If Shvchenko loses somehow, she's getting an immediate title rematch or going, she's getting another title fight. She's not having to earn it again, so I don't, that's not going to happen. But Tyler Santos, sure. And now my favorite picks of this week came from Dax, a longtime listener and contributor Dax at Pike Putt on Twitter. I like Barbarina versus Kizreyev at 170. I think that's a cool matchup.

Gutierrez versus Haniyaya. I like that because I have them right next to each other in my rankings. I think I have Gutierrez 25th and I have Yahya 24th. You could easily put Gutierrez above him. I just haven't yet. So that's why I like that matchup. I'd want to see him beat. Oh, sorry, I have Gutierrez 25th, Yaya 26.

So I did get put it above. But yeah, they're right next to each other. I'd love to see them fight just to see who really deserves that kind of that position. I could move up a little bit. This is a deep cut, and I love this so much. If, if, I guess they, oh, they, they believe that Bruno Sousa won the fight. So Bruno Sousa versus Kamala Kirk, two. This would be a rematch, Mike.

When you were aware of that? I think so. It sounds vaguely familiar. Bruno Sousa won a close split decision over Kirk at LFA 84 back in 2020. So that's a deep cut by Dax. I think that's really cool. Certainly run that one back. And then this is an interesting one too.

Alexa Grasso versus Tatiana Suarez, two, this time obviously at 125 pounds. Now, everyone wants to know, of course, was going on Tatiana Suarez. She really has, as far as we know, just kind of been wanting to make sure she's like 100% healthy before coming back. People like I remember, she had a lot of wear and tear from wrestling before MMA, and then MMA happened. And she kept a pretty busy schedule. So all the time off she's taking, I think can only be good for her. She has said it does look like she will come back at 125. So I love the idea of running this one back with Grasso, seeing where Grasso's at,

seeing where Svara is at in a new weight class. I do think enough time has passed since the first matchup. Again, pretty dominant win for Tatia on the first time around. That's fine. But this could be a really different story. So very creative matchmaking. I like that one a lot. Yeah.

Well done. Well done. You don't get a point, obviously, but you get like sort of this weekly, you know, the tip of the count. cap for me for your excellent selections there. Very, very good spread of fix. I hope you get an Otno point for one of those. And sometimes it's worth more than not no point, getting the tip of the cap.

That's it, you know, I didn't want to say it because we don't give them about that often. And I'm wearing a top hat, so that took a lot of energy. Wow, you full circle. Like, your brother's whole thing full circle. After we went out a huge fatty filet diversion. We brought it back home. Well done. That's why you are the best in the business.

I'm my best friend. Guys, you can reach me on Twitter at Alexander K Lee at Instagram at Alexander KK Lee. My DMs are open. And I got no emails this week, guys. So hit up my, or at least not on time anyway. So hit up my email, please, Alex. Dot Lee at espionation.com. Mike.

M underscore, heck, J.R. I'm over a thousand followers on Instagram. And I haven't done anything. I mean, I've done very little. And I promised I made a resolution to myself that I would do more. And I'm trying. You're an influencer. You're a legitimate influencer.

I'm trying. I'm like, what, 900, almost a million behind Halwani. Probably over, like, yeah, probably over a million. Who'd he beat? I know, come on now. Who'd he beat? So I don't know what we're going to do next week. You might just take a week off.

Might just take a week off next week. Maybe we'll do it ask us anything because we're going to have like a three-hour show when we return in two weeks because it's UFC 273. Oh, yeah. This card is absolutely ridiculous. We got main event Alexander Bolkenovsky versus. is the Korean zombie for the featherweight title. We got Al Jermaine Sterling making his first defense of his Badaway title against the interim champion,

Piotr Yan, in a rematch. We got some guy, you might have heard of him, this young prospect hoping to be on the come-up, named Hamzat Shumaya, fighting Gilbert Burns in the feature bow. We got McKenzie Durence Tisha Torres. That should have been its own paper view main event. I'm sorry. You could sell 500,000 with that matchup. They should have done five rounds of that.

the way. Yes. Just at least advertise it as five rounds. Right, right. Calvin Gaslam, Nassardine Imovov, maybe the most underrated prospect in the sport right now. Imovov is no joke. Mickey Gaul versus Mike Malott, the Canadian, making, uh, is this his debut? Yes, he was booked, right? Well, he was booked, but he didn't fight, right?

Yes. Yeah. Daniel Santos versus Julio Arce. Ian Gary versus Darien Weeks. Vince Pichel versus Marco Matt. that fight is just going to be a grueling, grueling fight. Aspen Ladd, now fighting Raquel Pennington, Drichus Duplessi, fighting Anthony Hernandez.

Sorry, Chris Curtis fans. That's so good. Jarzina Rosa Strike, Marchine Taibora, and Kay Hansen is back, welcoming Pieda Rodriguez to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. So 13 fights, and I will be there. I cannot wait. Be myself and Jose Youngs.

The two-man crew in Jacksonville, Florida, okay. What county are you going to be? What county is that in? Mike, what county are you going to be? I think it's a double? I think it's, oh, oh, no, I think it's, I think it's, doobol! There you go.

My voice cracker to talk to where too. All right, we're out of here. That's it. UFC Columbus in the books. Join us in a couple weeks. And always remember, don't take this stuff too seriously. Amway is supposed to be fun. We're going to have a lot more fun following UFC 273.

the biggest pay-per-view event of 2020 to this point right here and on to the next one the podcast you're listening to the vox media podcast network