MMA Fighting - On To the Next One | Matches To Make After UFC Vegas 102

Episode Date: February 16, 2025

Jared Cannonier pulled off a sizable upset in the main event of UFC Vegas 102 as he battled back from a difficult first round to outlast, and eventually finish the dangerous Gregory Rodrigues in the fourth round. After stopping a two-fight skid, and avoiding the first three-fight losing streak of his career, where does Cannonier go from here in a wacky middleweight divisional picture? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss who could be in line for Cannonier to face next following his big win. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Youssef Zalal following his decision win over Calvin Kattar in the co-main event, Edmen Shahbazyan after his first-round knockout win in the featured bout, along with fellow main card winners Nazim Sadykhov, Andre Petroski, and Andre Petroski, and more from the UFC's return to the APEX. Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr 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

Welcome aboard Air Canada. Rocky's vacation, here we come. Whoa, is this economy? Free beer, wine, and snacks. Sweet. Fast-free Wi-Fi means I can make dinner reservations before we land. And with live TV, I'm not missing the game. It's kind of like I'm already on vacation.

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Save on insurance by switching to Bel Air Direct and use the money to fix your car. Bell Air Direct, insurance, simplified. Conditions apply. The Vox Media Podcast Network. Well, hello there, everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one. Yes, the matchmaking crowns have returned, much like the UFC returns to the world's most famous apex this past Saturday for UFC Vegas 102. A card we will remember for very little and forget very quickly.

I think that is a fair and honest assessment of what transpired at said UFC Vegas 102. But we're going to do some matchmaking anyhow because if a UFC card happens, no matter how it performs, we still get to show up on Sunday morning and make matchmaking selections for the tastemakers, the winners for the main card. I am Mike Heck and joining me to do exactly that is the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the Prince of Positivity, and my best friend, Alexander Kaylee, AK. How are we doing? And apologies to your country after the absolute thumping Team USA gave to Canada on the ice last night.

My best friend, Mike Heck, what is your country? Why is your country so aggressive towards us lately? What is going on? What happened? Well, I thought we were friends. I thought we were, we're about to be annexed. At worst, at best, tariffed into oblivion, into the Stone Age. And now most, most egregious defeating us at the good old hockey game.

I mean, that's just suppulsive. I mean, I don't understand. I honestly was not watching. I was, people should know I'm not a hockey person at all. I mean, this is a massive game. If nothing else had been on, of course, I would have tuned in. Like a hugely fun idea. I love the Four Nations concept.

I think it's so great. But again, I'm just not a hockey guy. And if there's other stuff on, which, of course, we were covering UFC. and I'm still like one of the, I think 20 people who still watches the NBA All-Star Weekends. Like, I tell myself every year I'm out, I'm like, I'm like, no, I don't, like, why would I watch this? And then I always get dragged back in somehow and I always leave feeling the same way. Like, next year, I'm done. I'm not watching NBA All-Star Weekend anymore.

So I should have been tuned in. Yeah, I heard it was 3-1 U.S. Obviously, GSP was there. I had hoped that he was going to get into scrap. I heard there's a scrap in the first, like, minute, right? Like 10 people fighting each other? Three fights in the first nine seconds. Hockey fights league happened in the NHL,

not NHL, whatever, this is Four Nations thing. So yeah, I missed that. I missed it. And I heard the game itself is actually really good, too. Like, not just like the, you know, not just a fight, right? After the fight, you got some serious star power in there. And Herders are a great game. But I'm just not a hockey guy.

I'm not a high guy. I know how un-Canadian of me. But talking about the UFC, I like this card for the most part. I think anyone who listens to our shows, if I've either are not, no, or I don't know if I've done maybe one post-fight show. maybe no post-fight shows. But anyway, I've been pretty positive in general about a lot of the cards this year. Maybe our standards have just lowered to a certain point where, like,

it takes the most basic, like, a basic level of entertainment for me to say, oh, this card was okay. But, yeah, I don't think any of the four, how many cards we have? Four, five, four, five, whatever. I think five cards we've had in 2025 with the UFC. I don't think any of them have been terrible, forgettable. Yes, your point stance. We will not be remembering this card past between the links.

I think whatever. The last time we'll mention it is what you guys do between the links this week, and that's it. We'll probably not talk about it again. But, you know, I think we're getting some good performances from up-and-comers, which is always a boon for the UFC, right? That's hit or miss, right? Sometimes they get these contender series guys, and they just fade away into obscurity. And sometimes they really live up to their promise.

So I think they're in a good talent cycle right now, as far as newer people. And I think some of the veterans who are hanging on are also still delivering. And then again, and then you get solid storylines, hopefully coming out of the top two, three fights of the cards. So mostly positive review for me, Mike, for UFC Vegas 102. This is the tough watch, in my opinion. I mean, there are some moments. Like Elijah Smith and Vince Morales was super fun.

I enjoyed that. Most of the fights are just bad. They just weren't fun. I like the answer. Helmutson. Chaos Williams was interesting. Angel Hill and Susan was fine. I like it.

There's just like no stakes attached to it. It was nice to see Angela Hill finally win a splitie. Esteban Aguilar was real tough to watch. Jose Delgado's real good. He was getting pieced up before he got the finish, which again, it was a cool finish. But in the context of the entire fight, it was what it was. Andre Petroski hit off a vera. I know if you look at that fight.

So good. Way differently than the rest of the universe. I tried so hard to get the word. middle lady tweeted on the broadcast and it just didn't happen. I think the producers understand what I mean when I say middle lady and yeah. I don't know if I've made a better prediction in like the past 12 months of what would happen with this fight. We all hoped on paper this will go to the ground and we'll get to see both guys with

their magically. Petroski do so maybe grinding wrestling, which is I wouldn't be the most entertaining, but at least would be more definitive. And Adel Favera, you know, maybe, you know, do that amazing work. He doesn't think he's so incredible. get to see them actually work in the ground. But you get the sense that they were going to neutralize each other. It's a middleweight bout.

I mean, the rest of you was here for exactly what we saw, which was like a, you know, fairly mid striking battle with respect to both guys. It's not going into the UFC Hall of Fame anytime soon. Yeah, Satikoff Bonfeme was getting cooking. Yes. Or heating up. I know. Ended in a strange, weird way with the doctor stoppage, which maybe there was a confusion

and the translation. At the end, I don't think it was a bad stoppage at the end of the day. Edmund Shabazzian getting another squash match victory in a time where he really needed it. The co-main event was a letdown. Yusuf Zalalal versus Calvin Kater, which is not thrilling at all. A lot of people giving Yusuf Zal a whole ration of crap for that third round. And the main event was awesome. I can't take anything away from the main event.

the main event to me and a lot of other people that I heard from just saved this card from just being yowser but it was like it wasn't 312 was kind of what we expected we got what we thought we paid for this one being on ESPN plus wherever you watch around the world you probably got a little less than you paid for but still card quality some were better than we thought somewhere worse. It's just the way that it is. And now it's on to Seattle. And let's keep this card in the news, at least for today, AK, and do some matchmaking. Let's talk about Jared Canineer. Man, overlooked all week long. Underdog all week long, pretty sizable underdog. Late money came in on Jared Canineer, and I'm going to give myself the old pat on the back,

along with, I'm going to give a long distance pat on the back to E. Casey Lydin. If you go into our fight picks page. EKC and I nailed it. Fourth round finish. KOTKO for Jared Kahnineer survives a scare in round one, battles through the Wiley Veteran. It was a back and forth fight. It was super fun, got fight of the night and very well deserved.

And then Canaanier almost gets Rodriguez out in the third round, pounces on him early in round four, 21 seconds into round four. This fight was over. And Jared Kananier avoids the first three-fight losing streak of his. illustrious career. So, AK, I got to tell you, this is the toughest choice for me on this entire card, because this guy's fought everybody. And with the bigger names that he's fought, I thought the Robert Woodaker fight was interesting. The Sean Strickland fight was terrible. It was

very close, but it was awful. And the Israel-A-Sanja fight was real bad. So I don't think there's a real hankering to see any of these rematches. So this was very tough for me. I'm super curious to see what you landed on for the kill a gorilla let me give some praise to can here for five straight main events uh all of which went to at least the fourth round seven main events in total three fight of the knights mike in his last four fights you realize that for a guy who we kind of we kind of like we kind of you know he's had some like you just mentioned the forgettable decisions he's had in big fights he's kind of hit his stride here he had no no fight in the nights before the vatory fight and then now three in his past four he's becoming the two

Justin Gatechee. I'm 185 pounds out of nowhere. But yeah, good for him. Good for Jared. He did mention that like those $50,000 checks considering probably, we don't know his exact salary, but again, when you've been around the UFC as long as he has, when you are a ranked contender, probably making a decent paycheck. So he's like the 50,000 is good, but it's not like life-changing money for me anymore. That's why we've got to kick those bonuses up to 100 G's, you know, Dana White, UFC, maybe put that money up with all this fat, the fat Netflix cash around be getting soon. But yeah, they've got to be compensating these guys better because it's ridiculous. But sorry, that's, I'm digressing. Big credit to him. That's how you fight a five-round fight.

Weather the storm, again, against another middleweight, maybe that's just not going to work anymore because, you know, clearly his chin isn't what it used to be. But it was enough this time. And he outlasted Grigga Rodriguez, who looked faded already in like the second round. So this was not as hard for me as I thought it was going to be Mike, because I had done my homework previously. I don't think you can pick this name because I think you had booked this guy already for someone else. I had picked this guy to fight the cannoneer Rodriguez winner. I guess I had no real plan for him. So I just defaulted to this and it actually works out really well. I'm going with cannoneer and right under Ritter. Oh, okay. Yeah. I thought about that. Be kind of a tough

spot for Canonair for being honest. But yeah, I just don't know how the UFC views him right now. I really don't know. And again, just look at who he's fought. He's fought, frigging everybody. Fought Rodriguez, Kyle Bajalio, Nassardine Imov, who are the next two guys who most people want to see just fight in number one contender fight. Marvin Vittori, I don't think anybody wants to see that again.

Sean Strickland, I don't think a lot of people want to see that again. Israel Adasana. Derek Brunson isn't there. Calvin Gasselm, he fought and beat. Robert Whitaker was an interesting fight. And then Hermanson, Anderson Silva, David Brand. Dominic Reyes, Janbovich, and the list goes on and on and on. Can we say how amazing it is he has never lost,

that he hasn't lost three fights in a row? Like, I know I always say middleweight sucks, you know, but still, relatively speaking, relatively to like the talent he's facing in that division. The fact that, you know, this losing streak he was on was only the second time he'd lost consecutive fights and has never lost three straight. And he turns 41 in a few weeks.

It's pretty damn impressive. That's pretty damn impressive. Even when he's a 205. This is 205 runs. Sean Jordan, Cyril Ascar, Iwan Kuchelaba. This is 2016, Iwan Kuchelaba. Then Glover to Shera. I think that guy went on to do some pretty impressive things.

I don't really have a gigantic recollection of who Nick Rorick is. He was supposed to fight Steve Bosse that night. And I think this is one of those short-notice replacements. And then he fights Janbovovich and Dominic Reyes, who went on to fight for belts or win belts. and dudes had a pretty solid strength of schedule. The biggest problem here, A.K., and this is not his fault. He's 40, about to be 41.

And with the way the UFC views the Whitakers and the Stricklands and the Adisanas, I think they have better uses for them. And I kind of feel like Cannoneer is in a similar spot. And I think Canineer is happy to keep playing that, hey, I'll be the bulletin board, not your gatekeeper guy. and this is kind of the position he's in. So what I went with is there's a fight happening March 29th, Mexico City, between past main eventors, Kelvin Gasolam,

who he fought already and beat, so we could maybe run a rematch there, but let's be honest with ourselves. I don't think Kelvin Gasolm's going to win this fight. He's fighting B. Joe Pfeiffer. So technically the pick is the winner of this, but if I'm crystal balling it, it's going to be Jared Cannoneer versus B. Joe Pfeiffer

in a five-round main event at the world's most famous apex. Interesting, Mike. Interesting, Mike. I saw, so I got a lot of Piper picks, but I got them for Rodriguez and Petrosky. I did not see it. I don't think I got a listener pick asking for him in Canineer. That is,

that makes some sense. That makes some sense. And again, this is, with respect to everything we just said, the Canier is done and his ranking, he held on to his ranking. He, I know he doesn't like the term, but I feel like he knows where he is that, you know,

he is a gatekeeper. He is a gatekeeper. If by some off chance, he wins like four or five fights in a row. 2026, we'll see him challenge whoever's at the top middleweight for a title. Like, it could happen. It could happen. But this is the nature of the business,

the reality of the game, that you're going to have to fight on up-and-comers if you fought everyone else in the top 10, which he pretty much has. So, yeah, I like the Joe Piper pick. I think he's just in a good position where he has fresh matchup. and many fellow dance partners

to headline at the UFC apex. I mean, I'm just like just looking at the list right now. I mean, could you do Paula Costa, sure? I thought about that was my first choice, but then I realized I'd. I feel like Paula's booked already. I don't know. It just kind of has those vibes.

Is there a hankering for Jared Canaanier versus Roman Delizze? I don't know. Deleez is booked already against Marvin Vittori. Yeah. Brennan Allen is about to fight Anthony Hernandez. I don't think that fight's going to go. very well for him and if Anthony Hernandez wins I don't think fighting Jared Cananier is what he's looking for I mean if it's a main event sure and then you know jack her manson we saw

already we's Roman copulov perhaps like I thought about that but yeah we're just kind of in a position where he's just going to have to he's going to have to fight off these guys the UFC really wants to to give a push to and it's a litmus test he becomes the the Neil Magnet in the middleweight division. What about Tamalidor if he beats Abis this April? That'd be fine.

I would like to see him fight sometime. Not next. I think I would like to see them fight sometime. I would really like to see Michelle Panetta. I'm just curious to how that match it would turn out. It would be a really wild clash of styles. I think it would turn out almost exactly the way we saw last night play out.

Oh, true. A prayer just almost destroys him. And then, Canaaniers is like, all right, I survived you. Michelle Pereira is exhausted and then Canada gets out of there. So it's kind of how I see that one playing out. But we'll see. You know, maybe a boost mug of Maneoff gets a big win.

And the U.C. throws him in his second main event. Who knows? What a world we live in right now? What's the other one? Strickland? Strickland, right? There's Strickland.

What a world. Jen and that we're talking about. Strickland and Abis was his main event, right? Yeah. Oh, geez. And then, but look what happens when you beat Abis at the apex at the main event. You get a title shot. And then you win the belt. So maybe, maybe this is just with the doctor order for Jared Kand-air. Maybe it gets right back into a title fight. I feel like a sample

size of one is not enough. But I see, you know, we have, we have the data. We have that file a set aside if this happens. If we get Kannonair and Abis, then we will now open that file and then we'll call it the data. Yeah, okay, we'll see. Hack the holidays with the PC holiday insiders report. Try this PC porquetta. Crackling, craveworthy. You're going to eat that? Who are you? I'm the voice for the next ad, car commercial, but I noticed that show-stopping roast and... Help yourself. Mmm, designed for indulgence.

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And it doesn't seem like the MMA community is really on the side of Yusuf Salal after this victory. And this was just a smart fight for a guy who wants to get into, I don't think he's going to get the number 10 spot. I think they're going to move probably somebody else ahead of him. And maybe he gets it 11 or 12. But Yusuf Sala on Tuesday will be a top 15 featherweight in the UFC, which is in this. division is not easy to do is a very tough division. However, I don't think he made a lot of extra fans. He probably lost some in the process, just looking at some of the responses I got from most notably the third round because Salal fought a very smart fight in the first two rounds.

I don't know what Calvin Cater was thinking, honestly. I kept hearing his corner saying, just stand your ground. What? I just did. I'm sitting there just pulling whatever hair is left on my head out, listening to them saying, just stand your ground when it was incredibly obvious that the only way Calvin Cater is going to win this fight is if he does what he did in the third round and just do what Calvin Cater does best and that's brawl Boston style just get in there you can't kill him you can't even hurt him Max Holloway hit him 700 times and he kept fighting and kept landing shots you cannot get this man out his strengths is just going forward taking punishment and giving it back and his team was just

like, yeah, just stand your ground counter. No, I just, it drove me crazy. So we didn't get the fight that I was hoping we were going to get. Usis-Zal-Law gets the win. Third round, the amount of people I heard from about the third round is hilarious. I got a lot of texts being like, if this is one, Horizon, Yusuf Zalal would have got a yellow card for how he fought in the third round. I saw managers and other people tweeting out,

this is why we'll never have open scoring in the UFC, because, I mean, we didn't have open scoring here, but we all knew the whole entire world knew that Yusuf Zalal was up two rounds to none. And look, Yusuf wins. Then he accuses Calvin Cater of greasing after calling him a Hall of Famer in his post-fight interview. And then he calls up Brian Ortega. It was just a weird, wacky night for Yusuf Zal. But the most important thing, AK, at the end of the day, is the man got a win.

Now he's going to be ranked. And now we have to think, what do we do with young Yusuf Salal, who on this second run is undefeated and winning fight? and he had three quick finishes and then he gets a win over the top 10 ranked Calvin Cater. I saw some suggestions. I see there were some people that said I like the Brian Ortega matchup.

There were other people who thought, maybe some higher ranked matchups. There were some other people who thought, let's give him a Bryce Mitchell or somebody like that. I say no. I say Yusuf Salal, and I'm putting myself in the UFC's shoes here. The timing of this fight for Yusuf Zulal is real bad.

It's just really, really, really. really bad because there is another featherweight that is on his way and he has got a stylistic matchup next Saturday at UFC Seattle where he is going to look damn good and he might violently finish a man at UFC Seattle. So we're going to have to throw Yusuf Zalalal. He's going to have to put his newly found ranking on the line against a man who will be unranked after he pulls off this win, but he will probably be like the featherweighty featherweight champion sitting at 16 or 17. And this is going to be a friggin' banger.

The fight is going to be used to Solal versus Gian Silva after he obliterates Melsky-Bagh Zerian next Saturday at UFC Seattle. Wow. I first of all, the disrespect to Baghezzarian just being not a footnote in this in this matchmaking of yours, Mike. Amazing matchup, amazing matchup. Zalalal, his stock rose in the most like mundane. way like you said it's almost you know we all know Calvin Cater was ranked at the

UFC rankings ranked in our ranking so essentially as a law will take I think just take cater spot I don't know if I moved to above anyone ahead of Cater I think it's just a matter of like a chess piece just like taking a spot and that's the promo like the promo like the promo wasn't great either you mentioned all the weirdness it was too rambling it's too you got to have a plan when you get in there like you got to have a focus like just do the call out the Hall of Fame comment of Cater was very respectful great to hear we all like Kelvin Cater, not a Hall of Famer. We've got to have some level here.

Can I also call Angela Hill, a Hall of Famer, which we all love Angela Hill. We have to set some sort of bar. There has to be some sort of bar. So these are great fighters who I hope will be remembered forever, but they don't need some sort of official and frankly artificial Hall of Fame designation. It is the UFC that decides things anyway,

not like fans, not a panel of voters as far as we know. So yeah, the other thing is, and I'm going to sound terrible for putting this out there, but like, and this will sound ironic coming for me. Like, Zalal doesn't have the strongest voice, and there's nothing to do about that. It happens. It's called, like, David Beckham disorder.

Does anyone ever heard, you know, if guys familiar with David Beckham, like, you know, one of the most famous athletes in the world, blessed with a, essentially blessed, cursed, with just a kind of meek-sounding voice. And it's, like, I think it's one thing that is, that is, you know, God gave David Beckham everything, except, except a strong, powerful, you know,

a good promo voice. I think the same thing might have happened to. Zalal, this is why we need wrestling managers, I feel like in MMA. But again, I'm mostly kidding. And again,

Zalal, if you're out there, you can make fun of my voice. I'm not one to talk. But yes, it could have been a better night for him. Good for him, good performance.

I actually had lesser problem with the third round, just because, again, I'm always winning above everything. But I also have no problem with people criticizing the third round. So again, I'm with Zalalal as in,

hey, man, you did what you had to do to win, get that paycheck, get your ranking. But I, again, and you definitely opened yourself up to criticism. So anyone thinking he said he had a bad fight is crazy, but saying that, yeah, he didn't endure himself to the UFC.

Yeah, spot on. Spot on. Definitely. Definitely didn't. Mike, I love this a l-lal Janselva matchup. I'm very curious. I wonder what the line in that would be. I think John Silva, of course, as you said,

if he just smokes bug, Bagheasarian, will be the favorite fighter. I think we all see Silva's super exciting guy who hopefully fights for a title someday. My pick is much less exciting, Mike. I didn't really know where to go. So I actually did also want a future matchup. The Josh Emmett-Laure-Murne-Murphy loser?

But this isn't until April 5th, so Zlaal would have to wait a while. Maybe he wants to wait. I don't know. But those are two guys who I also still have ranked ahead of him. So it's just another number to take. The other ones I considered where William Gomi and Hyder Amil winner, but that would be fighting backwards, I think. They're fighting on March 1st.

And Mike, I had to ask, do you think that they would throw him in there with Mosar? No. If Ilya and Volkanowski, too, happens, which we don't know, it's just a, that's just a rumor that's persisting. Because where do we go with Movesar? Like, I think he should get the title shot. If he doesn't get the title shot, what do we do with Mozart? And fight Diego Lopez. I would like to see that, too.

But then we keep hearing rumors about Diego fighting someone else, even though Mosar is saying, I'm happy he's happy to run that back even though he won the first fight. So it's a weird situation. I wish it had been clearer like the ways Zala performs so we could be a little more adventures with this matchmaking. But I think you and I, I assume you got some reader picks. There was one pick that I got from so many people. So I'll save it.

I'll save it for the listeners because I guess I don't know if we missed something like, but I had at least half a dozen people recommend this other name. So well, there's a little teaser. What is it? Just let's say it now. Yeah. Did you see people asking for Aljo? I don't know.

I got a couple. I didn't get a lot of picks. I didn't see that one. That was the most popular pick of any fighter in the card was Yusuf Zalal versus Alcho, which I'm not against. I just had not crossed my mind. And I'm my missing, I just don't know if I'm missing some beef here. I don't keep up with all the social media drama, all the interviews all the time. Did Zal call him out previously or did Sterling comment on him?

I got so much Zala. It's possible maybe people are just trying to find a ranked name, like a ranked name coming off a loss that he could fight. That's my only guess. I don't know if anyone who sent him to the pick gave me like an explanation. But guys, if you guys are out there, and again, not a bad pick at all. I'm just surprised so many people were on the same page. I just, it had, I had not thought of it. I wouldn't hate like a Danny Yee fight either.

Like, that seems okay. I just, if he went out there and just did the same thing in round three to cater that he did in the first two rounds. Right. I think the matchups would be, I think he'd have better opportunities. Like, I can see Yus of get, like, if he went out there and just cooked caterer again in round three and Calvin had nothing for him. Like, I could see him fighting Yayae Rodriguez. Like, that's fun. Yeah, yeah, he's lost two in a row. So it's, it's a sensible matchup. Sterling, I don't know. I mean, they could do that. But why? Like, if I'm Al Jemay Sterling,

am I fighting Yusuf Salal? I don't know. When I only have maybe one or two fights left in me? I don't think so. Like, he gave Mubbs are a really tough fight. Going back and fighting Usis-A-law, I don't think that's one he wants, like, you'd be particularly excited about. So, yeah, Yusuf's in a weird spot. Yes, he's going to get a ranking, but I think some of the excitement dimmed a little bit. But again, I don't blame him for this. I don't blame him for it.

The win is the most important thing, especially with the pay structure and everything. And I just wish he didn't say as much as he said. The greasing thing, I don't think it's a good look either. Why? Why do that? Why did he do that? I'm all for calling out New England cheaters. Don't get me wrong, Mike.

You know, your people need to be put in check. But I did, it's, maybe I wasn't watching the fight closely enough. At no point that I feel like there was some, like, frustration on Zalal's part that, like, oh, I can't grapple with him or something. Like, why even bring that up after? It's such a bad note to go out to one moment to say, this guy's a Hall of Famer, I respect him. And then use your very valuable media time to say, like, oh, yeah, he was, I think he was greasing. And it's like, Mike, why? Why did he do this?

I don't know. What was the gain? What was to gain from this? I have no idea. I truly do not know. And by the way, just for your New England cheater thing, if you noticed, there is a Canadian as the headquarterman for Calvin Cater. What are you trying to say? Razahabee was the headman.

Tyson Chartier was not in the corner. Just saying. Implicating your own man to implicate my people. This is what we've come to. this is what we're coming. Mike, by the way, do you know if, cater, contract status? Any idea if this was last fight, last two fights, any clue?

No idea. Okay, okay. I think we would have heard if it was his last fight as contract. I don't think this is, we would have known. I would assume it would have come up on. I think you would have said something in the media. I know Calvin's not the most open media interviewee of all time, but, you know, I think it's something that probably would have come up,

but I think there's fights for him. And in fact, I have one for Calvin Cater in the wildcard round. So we'll save that. Oh. Because it's a doozy and it's one that absolutely has to happen. If Cater only has one fight left in his deal, then we're doing this one. And that's it. Let's go back to the middleweight division, AK, because what Edmund Shabazian is in a must-win situation,

boy, does the UFC know how to matchmake for him? They just give him the worst middleweight on the roster, the lowest rank out. and they say, you hungry, Edmund, feeding time. They did this once before. They did it again with poor Dylan Butka, who I think may have a job in this company for a long, long time because this man knows how to get got real good and he ain't afraid to get in there and scrap it up.

Edmund just runs over poor Dylan Butka, and Shabazzian gets the win, and nobody will remember it. Unfortunately, it was a cool knockout, but it's just, it's Dylan Boudka. Butka, no disrespect. But where did you go with Edmund Shabazzian? Because he might be the best example of how to screw up a man's career with matchmaking

that maybe I've ever seen in the past six or seven years of the UFC. My best friend, I didn't realize they've done it twice before. You, of course, referring to AJ Dobson that was coming off the Hernandez loss. And then Dalton Lungiam Bulla was also. That's the one. That's the one. AJ Dobson as well, though. AJ Dobson of all I would count because so, but not, now, now,

either AJ nor Dalcha have fought in the UFC since, and I'm going to go on a limb here and say, unfortunately for Dylan, O and 3, probably his last shot for now. Maybe he fights the way back. I'd be very surprised if Dylan gets another UFC fight next. But yeah, you're right. I actually hadn't noticed that pattern. The salvage Edmund booking strategy is certainly compelling, which if your pattern holds, they will now put them in there with like Hodeliofayette or something.

Or Petroski, I don't know, unless that's a magician. God. Brandon Allen, let's go. By the way, I want to retort to our E.K.C. Line, who was not here to defend himself, by the way. But he's calling me a hater for my, my constiposition that I thought Boutka is actually going to pull the upset here and just tackle Edmund. Like, it's not quite as persistent or as good at wrestlers, I thought.

I'm not hating on Edmonds results. This is just reality when I say this guy gets tackled and gets ground out and gets beaten on the ground. It happens. It happens. But he took care of business. He did a good job. I am not going to do what DOT does.

and throw him in there with the grappler next. Kevin Holland, Mike. Whoa. Kevin Holland. After he fights Gutter Nelson. If, after he fights Gutter Nelson. Well, wait, you wait, I'm not done with Kevin Holland yet. But Kevin Holland after he fights Garner Nelson, goes back up to 185 because he can't quit it.

And then, and actually does the smart thing. Again, maybe he takes a fight with a striker. I just think this would be an incredibly fun matchup. I would love to see, I would love to see Kevin and Edmund mix it up at some point. They're probably going on a different pass. We probably don't see it. But this is me. This is a magic wand pick.

Let's give these guys both what they need, which is just fighting other strikers. And hopefully we've got a highlight or a three-round, just like awesome three-round fight out of it. I went with, I'm not even going to, I don't need to take us on a journey. There's two guys in the UFC who, when they fight strikers,

are just incredibly fun for one single round. Edmund Shabazzian is one. Zach Reese is the other. We're just going to throw those two dudes in there. and we'll have a one round fight until somebody falls over. That's it. Beautiful. Put them in the trigon.

Put them in the BYB trigon. On Vice TV. Congratulations to BYB. Getting a TV deal. Get it done. Let's go to lightweight. Nazim Sattikoff. We talked about this earlier.

Kind of a weird finish, but he did kick a man right in the eyeball. And what a kick it was, he was getting pieced up by the Bonfeme, and that kick was nasty. Satikov is real, real good, and he is fun as hell, A.K., so we're going to get all sorts of weird and wacky with this one.

There's no way this fight stinks. You can put this anywhere, and people will be excited about it. It will be as highly anticipated of a matchup on any card as this individual's last fight was at UFC 308. Even though he lost, it's going to be Nazim Sadikov versus Mik Tebek-Oral. Bye, AK, good gravy. That's a good one.

I'm going along the same vein. Someone coming off a loss, but it's just such a good fighter. I'm going with Mike Davis. I'm going with Sadacob. There's so many great matches for Satakab. This was a great matchup. This match with Bonfim was an awesome matchup. For me, it was like a coin toss.

I think I leaned towards, I think I leaned towards. Oh, I did pick Satakoff. But again, you could have gone either way. This is like this chunk of this division is just so thick with talent. It's going to be really hard to break out of it. You need to get like two or three or four wins against tough guys just to move towards the top 15 or top 20. So yeah, that's where Satakub is right now.

Very exciting guy. We'll see a Shmielpan theme again. But right now, yeah, it's Sadako's moment. But yeah, give him a Mike Davis, give him an oral buy, and you're going to have a good time. Back to middleweight, A.K., going back to middleweight. Andre Petroski picks up a win in your fight of the night against Adolfo Vieira. And then Andre Petroski gets on the microphone. It says, I just beat.

the most decorated grappler in the entire UFC. Where is Bo Nickel? Give me Boe Nickel. Where is Bo Nickel? Where is he at? And then Bo Nickel just annihilated him in response. I don't think Andre Petroski should ever call for that fight again. I put a little feeler on Twitter.

What's the appetite? What's the temp check for Andre Petrosky versus Bo Nickel, outside of a member of the media who is admittedly friends with Andre Petrosky, there is no appetite for this fight whatsoever. Like absolutely zero appetite. And there's no chance he's going to get it, especially after the way Bo Nicol just emasculated him on social media. Tough scenes for Mr. Petroski.

Where did you go here? I just, I landed on a name. I have a question mark next to said name, because I don't know. I openly cackled when he said the bonnacle call, not because it didn't make the worst sense. When I thought about it for a minute, I was like, okay, there's like a reason behind it. Just the way he phrased it, you're right.

The, I just beat the best grappler. You can't say that. You can't say that in a fight that had very little grappling. Now, he did avoid takedowns in fairness. And with credit to Petroski, there was little grappling because he did stop some takedowns. So fair, fair. But it's not like he met, he met, right?

but, you know, Hadofo hold for hold and, like, beat him in a grappling contest. That's not what happened. But he did beat one of those decorated grapplers, technically. So I did laugh. But it's not out of the realm of possibility. Boe already killed him on social media, though, so that's me tough. Instead, I went with, like, a rematch that everyone is just dying for.

I mean, we didn't get to see this guy fight on Saturday. Give me Petroski and Malcun, too. I mean, this is, you got to get the people of what they want. You know, we were supposed to be Vietta and Malcun. Petroski stepped in for Malcun. Malcoon beat Petraski. I think that was his first UFC loss. And that was his first loss, right?

Oh, no, sorry, Padeta. Padeta beat him first, and he went back-to-back losses to Malkoon. I guess time to get that back. It's been almost a year since the first spot. So it's time to run it more than enough time as fast effect. Three fights removed from that one. Wasn't that like a weird?

Didn't that end in like a really weird way? Kind of. I honestly barely remember it. I can't lie to the people. I barely remember it. Maybe that's why I want to see it. I want to see the real thing. But, yeah, I think it ended like there was some sort of accidental thing that happened.

So maybe, hold on. You might, let me just look this up real quick. I know, I'm pretty sure something weird happened. This is in March, right? This was March 2024. We were approaching the one-year anniversary of Petroski-Malkoon. Oh, yeah. This was, this was the knockout by.

Oh, he ran into his hip. He ran into his hip. Oh, God. Okay. now I remember this. We could definitely run this back. We have to do this. We could definitely run this back.

Oh, for sure. I forgot all about this. I just put this all together. I put this in our Slack the other day. Do you guys Petroski's 8 and 2 in the UFC? He's fought a lot, man. But that's a great record. Like, again, I make fun of middle weight.

And if you look at some of the names on there, I mean, there's a lot of guys who are not in the UFC anymore. But 8 and 2 is 8 and 2. You got to go in there. You got to win the fights. You got to beat her they put in front of you. and Petrosky just keeps doing that. So it's so weird. Like, he is going to be, I'll say it now.

At some point, I feel like he's going to challenge for the UFC title somehow. I just, Petrosky. I don't know. I got a weird feeling. I got a weird. He's 8 and 2. The numbers don't lie, Mike. The numbers don't lie.

How can you have an 8 and 2 record and not be a title contender? This would be your greatest prediction of all that time. No, no. Like nothing will be bad. Nothing's beating Patty and Tony. Nothing's beating Patty and Tony. I'll tell you what, man. If they make Patty and Michael Chandler,

yeah, it might be right up there. It might be right up there. It feels like every day we're inching closer to that fight. Yep. If you've believed social media, golly, you might, I think you have matched Patty Pimbleau to perfection over the last few years.

But I'm also going with the rematch, also going with a rematch. And since you laid it out, it's not like he beat Andre Patrosky in a grappling match on Saturday, but it's a rematch with a man. who he did beat in a grappling match. Let's do Petrosky versus Eric Anders, too. I mean, I guess,

because they did a grappling match at one of those Fury Pro cards and Petrosky beat Anders. So let's do it at a mixed martial arts boat. Anders coming off of a win over a former UFC champion and Chris Wyden. Let's do that, I guess. I don't know.

I don't know what to do. That's middleweight, man. Middleweight is so good. What a division. I mean, the title picture is actually really nice. It's just when you get to that, once you get out of the top, like, nine or ten names now, boy, it is messy. It's the money division in the UFC right now.

Okay. It is. It's the money division. Go on. It just, just look at all the fights we've gotten in the last two years in this division. Whether we like them or not, they are important fights. You know what I mean? Like, Izzy and.

Izzy and Pereira twice. Then we get Izzy and Sean Strickland and Sean Strickland becomes the champion. Sean Strickland, DDP. Then we get DDP Izzy. Then we get DDP Sean Strickland. Now we're going to get DDP versus freaking Hamza Tamaif.

Like, good Lord. Like, this is a money division. It's not the greatest division, but it is maybe the most top heavy, compelling division in terms of what the UFC is looking for from the fan base they want to acquire, if that makes sense.

At the top, it's really good. I'll say at the top, it's very, very good. Yes. And, you know, if you need a main event for the Apex, you ain't calling Banimate. You're calling Middleweight, baby. You're calling Middleweight. They always come through. When I got a great deal on a great gift at winners, I started wondering,

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and we'll match make for them right now. I'm going to go first. I already teased it. We're doing, and I'm not going to, there's no journey here. It's just a fight that has to happen. And you already know where I'm going with this. It's Calvin Cater versus Edson Barbosa. Barbosa was supposed to fight on Saturday against Steve Garcia.

He's not fighting Steve Garcia. In fact, Steve Garcia is not fighting anybody on Saturday. From what we understand, he'll fight on a later date. It will not be against Edson Barbosa. It'll be against somebody else because Edson Barbosa is going to fight Calvin Cater sometime in 2025. Can't hate on that. I mean, this is why you keep these guys around. This is why, again, even though Cater's on now a four-fight losing streak,

you feel like you can get one more fight out of them. And yeah, it's got to be something like a Barbosa. If they keep Cater around, I hope it's not to face another up-and-comer. I just don't think that's fun. I don't think that's fun for anyone. I don't think that's, you know, cater would sign up for it, of course. But, I mean, I don't think you need to put him in that position. Give him a veteran fight that gets him excited, gets him motivated.

Barbosa would be excited and motivated for it. Again, that could be, that could main event a card at Apex card, I feel like. But I don't know. Maybe having got a four-fight losing streak would be weird. So a three-fight losing streak is also weird. So, yeah, dig that fight. big time Mike I went back to the money division as you called it I'm not done I'm not done middle way yet I may never be done it's just been so I'm having too much fun uh you know that's my

fight of the night right you got to reward the other guy too you know so Hidalfo Hado is getting a match up and guess what Mike guess what I'm giving him Kevin Holland too I'm getting this is the first I'm going so Kevin Holland said he wants to fight like six times what is it Eight times. Didn't he say he wants to fight a lot, 2025 or something that or six times? Seven. Seven. Up to seven times. We got one in the book. Okay, ill-fated, the ill-fated RDR fight. We got one coming up. We got the gunner-nelson fight. We've got the one that I just made that's going to happen after the gunner-nows-and-fite fight when he fights Edmund Chabazian.

And then he's going to get another fight before, like, before July. And he's going to fight his alpha-eana. Because he's a fool. And because he's going to, he might, I guess in my prediction, he'd be. Shebaez Shebaazian, I suppose. He knocks Shabazian out and then gets, you know, says, hey, man, I love fighting at 185. Look, I just beat a top 20 guy, 185. Sticks around. And then for the jokes, we give him Adolfo and watch him get choked out again in under two minutes. So that's it.

So I'm doing the first time ever, the double the double booking. I'm booking Kevin Holland again and again and again. Shout out to Kevin Holland. Shout out to you. Remember, there was a time where Kevin Holland was banned. on this show. You banned him. Wow. Now you've booked him two fights on one show.

Yeah. Won me over. He won you over with his Cavalier attitude. Yeah. He just doesn't care. He just wants to get in there and fight. He makes lots and lots and lots of money and the UFC likes him and the people like him. So he's in a terrific position no matter what happens in these fights. All right, let's

go to the peeps. I didn't get a ton. Didn't expect a ton. I'll start with Zach Dwyer. He might, I think he might be a newbie. That sounds familiar. That sounds familiar. Maybe he's mess with Goddney me before. By the way, Zach, welcome or welcome back.

Welcome or welcome back, Jack. And this is probably some smart booking. And I realized something yesterday too, A.K., I realized something very important when it comes to our fantasy league moving forward. I think the strategy is not just drafting one, but drafting two women's band-of-weights is the way to go. because you can get ranked wins very easily. As Jacqueline Cavalcante showed, beating the now retired Julie Abilah. Shout out to Julia Avila.

And Zach Dwyer matchmaking for Jacqueline Cavalcanti and only Jacqueline Cavalcanti, AK. This is very smart. Jacqueline Cavalcanti is 4-0 in the UFC. Let's give her a former title challenger up the rankings as a test. He is suggesting Jacqueline Cavalcanti versus Arrini-U.

Aldana. Side note, with Chiesan Vieira being canceled, I don't think there's a single women's 135-pound fight scheduled currently. I'm pretty sure. That's correct. Yeah, that's pretty sure. That's insane. He said not a single ranked one or just not a single fight?

Not a single fight. I, oh gosh, is that true? Okay. First of all, I love the matchup. Yeah, I saw people throw it out there, Aldana and Kelvaconte. That's crazy. She's four in the UFC. What the?

I didn't even. Okay, I'm going down the list real quick. Now, the top five is like, no, none of the content is Norma Dumont's not booked. Like you said, Chiasin Fights got canceled. Eileen Perez is not booked. Sorry, I just heard of it, but she could be booked again. Okay, I'm going to have to reach deep here. I'm going to have to reach deep here.

Right, so that means Kailhosa also presumably not booked. Nora Kornil? Did she not? this is such a why did we go down this path this is such a bad this is great this is great podcast content does a women's bandit weight have a fight coming out mike let's keep going on i'm going to look while you yes john ray also agrees with cavalcante versus erini aldana he likes walter walker who boy a couple heel hooks he's he's he's getting out of the heavyweighty heavyweighty category's finishing fights quickly and just the way we like it against

Denise, Bonfim versus Randy Brown, Esteban versus Elliot Tim Elliott, Hill versus Hebas because she's fought everyone else. Petroski versus Brad Tavares, I don't mind that one. Shabazzian versus Anders. John,

how dare you? Why? Why? Why are you doing this to Edmund Shabazi? A guy who will just tackle him and can take a beating. In fairness, in fairness, Anders does not use his tackling as much as, you know, he should.

But he will use it against Edmund Chabas. I would hope so. But he always says he's going to do it. And I think there's some fights where he's mixed it. But I remember from the first time he came into the UFC, he was like, he was like, oh, I have amazing judo. I have amazing jutsu. I got, I can't wait to show people my jiu-jitsu.

And I don't think he, like, took, did any groundwork until like his, like, ninth UFC fights or something. Like he's, I agree on paper. It sounds like he'll just tackle him. But I, I don't know. I don't actually don't hate the Eric Anders matchup. I will tell you this right now because I'm not going to lie to the listeners. If they book this fight, the moment that a line drops, I'm putting money on Eric Anders.

Because he's going to be like a plus 280 underdog for some reason. And he is going to just survive a tough first round and win. That's just how that all will play out. Let's move on. Satticoffers versus Carlos Diego Faheda. Kennedy versus the Allen fluffy winner. How about this, AK? John Ray suggesting a rematch for Yuse of Salaal.

Let's do Yusuf Zal versus Sean Woodson, too, in a American. main event. Sean Woodson looking real good at Featherweight. That makes so much sense because Woodson won the first fight. It's one of the first time was at the draw. They won. He won. He won. He won. Uh, and yet with this wins, the lull has somehow passed Woodson in the rankings, uh, despite Woodson having a very good run in the UFC so far. That actually is the perfect, that is the perfect timing for a rematch. That's really good. That is a really good time. That makes a lot of That makes so much sense. When did that fight happen?

That was 2021. Woodson won a split decision. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that was the last time he used it all lost to fight. That was it, yeah. Draw after that and then... The draw was because he moved to 35, which... Terrible.

Still doesn't understand that. And one more. Let's go to Alex Shea. Alex says, Afternoon, Mike. Got a couple picks for this week's ought no. Jared Kenner versus Brennan-Lennan, win or lose against Fluffy.

And there it is, A.K. Wall versus Al Jermaine Sterling. Shabazian versus Cesar Almeida, I don't think that fight can happen. I think they trained together. Oh, because I saw a couple of people send that, and I was like, oh, that's perfect. I was not aware that they might be.

I believe Cesar Almeida trains at Extreme Couture. Maybe not full time, but when he's there, I'm pretty sure. So it's not doo-doo, obviously, but I think they do train together. Sattikov versus Mick Tebeck Oralba. with me on that. Petroski versus Jun Young Park.

Don't hate it. And I'm surprised we only got one matchup for this young man who looked just fun as hell. One of the big storylines for me, much see viewing moving on, Elijah Smith, getting a win over a very tough Vince Morales. Elijah Smith versus Garrett Armfield is a friggin' banger. Like, that's a good ass fight right there. So I like the matchmaking there. And now we turn it over to you.

Yeah, huge props to people. The listeners actually, who sent in a ton of good, very reasonable Elijah Smith picks. I don't think I'm going to read all of them. It was I got at least like seven or eight different names. But for everyone who sent in Elijah Smith pick, I don't think there was one where I was like,

oh, this is terrible. Like everything made sense. So props to you guys, great job. Some deep digging for some like, you know, some newer names, some logical names for him. And just to very quickly circle back to the women's band and weight thing, like, yeah, just from a.

cursory glance, a little bit of research. By my numbers, they only have like 26 on the roster. So there's not a lot of matchups potentially anyway. And I don't see anyone booked. So good shout there. Was that Zach who pointed that out? Good shot if you ever pointed out. That was good job, Zach Dwyer.

Wow, that's so sad. It's spoken about money divisions. I mean, you know, we got some good thing going. So as I said, Zalala and Sterling was a hugely popular pick. Gabriel Bonfim, Brian Battle. I got from at least half a dozen people. hugely popular. So guys, if I don't, and then a lot of other picks are repeated.

So guys, if I don't read it out, just know it's probably a good pick. It's just you shared it with like two or three other people, so I'm not going to read all of those. Let's go to my email first, Tristan Gordet. Again, some repeats. And then Petroski and Dustin Stoltzvus. That's a very good pick. I like that.

A lot of Stultzvus actually came up here. Instagram, Harry Newhouse. He's down with Petrosky Nickel, like the callout, Jose Delgado, and Bogdengrod. Estabom, Tim Elliott Let's see what else we got Walter Walker De Lima Cavalcanti Carol Hosa Sure

Gerard Biagin Shabazia and Dusko Tudorovich That's good Petroski Eric Anders Walter Walker versus Austin Lane Pinto winner who's the Pinto

Mario Pinto I'm so I feel so bad that I don't know this I'm going to get this right because I think it's very disrespectful for me too I think it is Mario it is Mario Pinto Mario Pinto yeah Mario Pinto sure Walter Walker getting some buzz like you said against a buzz that heel hook and Tino Alvarez also of Instagram Walter Walker versus Budai and Zichukwu winner that's just that's fire Gabriel Bond theme Jake Matthews Delgado and Isaac Dolgarian Wow what do you think of yeah it's a tough ass fight man for your second US that's a super tough fight I don't know.

I don't think they do that. I don't think they do it. Down the road, sure. I don't think they do that either. But boy, that would be interesting, honestly. And then we go to Twitter. Braden O'Neill has Stoltzvist for Gregory Rodriguez. He wants to see Angela Hill Loma Lupunmi 2.

He's predicting that Loma beats Ariana Karnalosi. They're fighting on April 5th. So you don't see that rematch. Yeah, it'll be okay with that. Ketland Suza versus Sam Hughes, win or lose? against Stephanie Luciano. That fight's coming up. Elijah Smith, Allotang-Hy Lee.

Again, good stuff here, guys, good stuff, good picks. Finn Hamilton, Walter Walker versus Marchant-Tobura after he loses to Mick Parkin. Anginal Hill, Jessica Andrage, too. Mike, I think it's time. The first fight was really good. It's kind of forgotten by now. That was a really good fight. Yeah.

I think it's time. Jessica Androge is going to fight jazz with Jazz DeVizier's next. Okay. You've got your, yeah. Yeah, all right. No point. Give it to me. Sadakoff versus the Jalen Turner, Ignacio Bahamundas loser. Ooh, that could be good.

That could be good. That could be good. Edmund Chibazian versus Christian Leroy Duncan. If Christian Leroy Duncan wins his next fight. Let's keep moving on. Again, we've got a lot of similar picks for Canaanier and Gregory Hudriguez. DGB, Walter Walker versus Sergei Spivak. Oh, let's go top of Dean.

Okay, okay, we're going top of Dean. Petrosky, Chris Curtis. Sadacov, Freszyum. Great matchup. I wonder if Satakov... Trasky, Chris Curtis is interesting. Yeah. Yeah.

I think... That's a line I'd like to see, because I assume Chris Curtis would be favored. If by some chance he isn't... I'm taking Chris Curtis all the way. I don't know how Petroski wins that fight. Just by Haas and Chris around. I know that he can do...

40 pounds heavier. But who does that to Chris Curtis, though? He doesn't get Haust. Like his whole career, he just does not get host. Be interesting. In my mind, that's like mine. But he's never fought anybody like Andre Petroski. He is a man who's going to fight for a UFC title, AK.

This is true. You said this. I'm on the same show as saying, as saying, Andre Trosky will someday fight for a UFC title and also saying. But he won't be Chris Curtis. He should be a plus 800 underdog to Chris Curtis. Yeah. Yeah.

That's on the same show. Same guy. Same show. Same guy, same show. Cannerer Strickland, too. Yeah, I guess. Gustavo Martinez wants Paul Craig and Chabazian and Garbo Bonfim, Randy Brown. I think you mentioned that.

Paul Craig? What are we doing? I don't know. I don't know, Mike. People just do this. Stop ruining this young man's career, people. Jesus. Maybe he'll stand.

You saw him stand with Bo Nicol. Well, you know, he's not going to grapple Bo Neckle. Marcus McKehey what's up Marcus thank you as always us for sending in fix Shabazian this is just as bad Shabazian and Petroski come on What are you doing? What are you doing? Terrible Jose Delgado Austin Vashi sure Hill versus Leymosh Lucindo loser it would be a rematch if

LeMosh was the one who came out of that equation But they had a close fight the first time I remember I think it was one of many fights like Angela Hill was just like how did I lose this It wasn't that bad. I don't know if it won't fight of the night, but I remember that being a pretty compelling fight too.

Walter Walker, Thomas Peterson, sure. Calvicante, Kevin Van der Schro. I got a few more here. Speezy 32. Kannoneer-Wittaker rematch. Sattacov versus Jared Gordon. I thought about that, actually.

Angela Hill versus Gillian Robertson, Marina Rodriguez winner. They're fighting at UFC Des Moines. She did say she was surprised that Robertson sort of like jumped over her in the rankings,

so I don't mind it. Mike, how do you feel about Walter Walker and Ty Tuovassa. Do you feel anything? I feel bad for Tai Tuvasa. Like, we want to get this man a win somehow. He's not my beating Walter Walker. He might.

He might. He's going to get tackled in four seconds and heel hooked. Like, that's the whole fight. It's just going to be bad. Oh, no, I don't want to see that. We need to find a big brutish striker who will just throw hands at. Like, Ty Tuivasa and Chris Barnett is a party. Like, I'll watch that.

You know, like, let's bring, if we're going to bring rebellists to Spain back, he should only fight Tai Tuvasa and nobody else. Toby Canceles Shabazian versus Brundage, Brundage, Marquez winner in March 1st. I like the Marquez matchup. I do not like the Cody Brunich matchup, not a fan. No, you know, I can knock out either guy. Brennage is going to tackle. Again.

Benj is going to tackle him. But, I don't hate, I, I, I, out of all the, of Ozzy suggestions as far, that is the least offensive. Yeah, because I put Brundage around the same level as Dylan Boudka. Now, he's a bit better than Dylan Boodgarshan said. But I mean, as far as like, I thought, I thought Dylan would also go to his wrestling as soon as he could, just didn't work out. Four Corner Sports.

What's up? Rodriguez and Chris Curtis. I actually really like that. There's a UFC Apex co-made event I've ever seen one. Cater versus EGAY 2. It's just not bad. It's just not better than Cater Barbosa. They're pretty tight now.

It'd be kind of weird if they fought at this point. Like their first fight was so competitive and their first fight was so fun that like their teams became like they bonded in a big way because of that fight. Like Tyson and Nixick and all the teams just really got together after that and just became real tight. So I mean, I think if the UFC offered both those guys that rematch, I think both of them probably say yes. But I don't know. I think there's just I think there are different places. right now where that fight doesn't make a ton of sense at the moment. And we'll close that with Barry O'Reilly with me on Cannoneer and Derritter,

Walter Walker, Janata Denise, Elijah Smith, Colby thickness. Esteban versus Tyra, he says one guy who just lost his undefeated streak, Tyra, has a chance to take the undefeated streak of another. So, yeah, there's a good storyline there. Man, that's a big step back. I know. Well, for Tyra, yeah. Yeah, I don't know if it goes that far.

Petroski, Hermanson, and this is the one I really liked. Shabazian, Mike, versus Shara Bullitt. Okay. Now we're talking. Right? Now we're talking. He says, Barry says, a great knockout for Edmund, and Shara took a bit of a hit to his rep after the MEP loss.

So this fight tells us if Shara is still legit or if Edmund came back to top 20 or so. I can't imagine this gets booked, but I really like this pick. I would love to see the UFC go outside the box here. and put this together but i i think it's not next but down the road down the road i hope this happens i hope this happens if not next my one concern about this is i actually think edmund has a really good chance to win that fight and if he does then he's handcuffed to just these middleweights who are just got to hoss him around and put him on his back so i mean look it just kind of depends what the UFC's trying to do.

I think at this point, he's not going to win a title. Maybe he gets ranked again if he gets the right matchups. But this guy's, like, let's just do fun things with him in Shabazzian.

Like, it's okay. Let's just throw him in there and have him just run dudes over. I got no issue with that. So, but if we're, if we're gonna do, like, one of those, oh, kind of fights.

Sharabh Bull, it's a good one, man. That's a good one. I loved it. I love that. I'm closing out. with that Barry great job what about what if they did Edmund Shabazzian versus MVP man I don't know so technical so technical but Edmund I think again is is a really good technical striker we just don't he just doesn't win like you know 15 mid decisions because he's

smashing people in the first round he gets going so it's doable it's doable if he wants to around 185 it's doable well there you go the who knew we would the the main event of on to the next one would be Edmund Shabazian after beating Dylan Bukka send us this is where we are Send us your picks. People send us your picks. You can reach me at Alexander K. Lee on Twitter at Alexander KK.K. Lee on Instagram and Alex. at Lee at SBNation.com on email.

My DMs are open, Mike. Yes. M underscore heck, J.R. I'm trying to do more than Instagram. Kind of getting a little lazy with it. We're going to try to step things back up over the next couple weeks. But next week, we're heading to Seattle, everybody. We're heading to the grunge capital of the world,

the coffee capital of the United States, the birthplace of Starbucks, Seattle, Washington. And this card has taken an asswoppen over the past several days, but still pretty solid main card. We got Henry Suhudo, must-win situation against Song Yudong. We have the rematch from the regional scene, or LFA, excuse me, not really regional, but regional plus. Anthony Hernandez versus Brendan Allen.

Rob Font. Bald Rob Fon. Welcome to the club, Rob Fon. So proud of you. Clean-shaven, bald as could be. Just so proud of the man. Rob Fant, no longer fighting Dominic Cruz. Now he's fighting Gian Matsumoto.

Really interesting matchup there. Gianziole versus Melsic Baggsirian. That is going to be pretty fun for as long as it lasts. and how about young man Julius Walker? First UFC fight. It's on short notice, and he will open up a main card on the road outside of the apex in front of 10,000 plus people against Alonzo Menafield.

And the prelims, you get Andre Feely versus McCasey Ocosta. Ewan versus Ebo. Ewan Kuchelow versus Ebo-Ozlan. That's got to be insane. Adam Fuget versus Billy Ray, Goff going down at 170 pounds. Shout out New England. Nersault and Rout Zabaya versus Eric Wachonico. Ricky Simone versus Javid Basharat.

Nick Klein versus Mansour Abdul Malik and opening things up as of right now. The light heavyweight division, Modestis Bukascus taking on Hafeel Cirqueira. That's UFC, Seattle. Okay, we've lost six matchups off this card. including Ketland-Vierre versus Macy Chias on Edson Barbosa versus Steve Garcia. And maybe the weirdest booking of 2025 on the books, which is now taking place to UFC 313, Curtis Blades versus Rizvon Kooniev,

no longer taking place on this card. Yeah, I got a lot of updating to do of our database, I think, because I have no idea what this card looks like right now. I am going to go, as soon as we've been recording this podcast, I'm going to go to UFC.com. and Wikipedia and esbunnet.com, see what their broadcast schedule looks like because I still don't know

what the finalized card is. I totally forgot that Billy Ray, the newly named Billy Ray Gough is fighting instead of... I love that so much. Dula tov. Dula top was going. Doolotov.

Yeah, Dillot was supposed to be fighting. Fugent. Anyway, that card's coming. And not bad. Very excited about the main event. Yes. 6 p.m. prelims, 9 p.m. Eastern main card for UFC Seattle.

So it could be a long night. but I think having the crowd I think you know the stakes are very high for Henry Sehudo I would say he's probably fighting for his career in this one because if he loses another one and loses the song yidong I just don't see a world where he comes back into the title picture but who knows let's see if Henry Sehudo can get the job done and that'll do it for us hope you guys had a great time

we turn the page to UFC Seattle and we'll be back next week to discuss the matchmaking for the big winners of that card for A.K. I. I always remember the golden rule. Don't take this stuff too seriously. I'm a supposed to be fun. Well, more fun next week right here. On onto the next one, the podcast. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Unwrap holiday magic at Holt Renfrew with gifts that say I know you. From festive and cozy fashion to Lux Beauty and fragrance sets. Our special selection has something for every style and price point. Visit our Holt's holiday shop and store or online at Holtrenfrew.com. Okay.

Only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first? There, the last one. Enjoy a Coca-Cola for a pause that refreshes.