MMA Fighting - On To the Next One: Matches To Make After UFC Vegas 118

Episode Date: June 7, 2026

Gabriel Bonfim picked up the biggest win of his career in the main event of UFC Vegas 118, dominating former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad over five rounds to extend his already impressive win streak. Bonfim called out another former champion in Jack Della Maddalena after the victory. Is that the fight to make for Bonfim? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss where Bonfim goes from his main event win, and react to Muhammad losing his third straight. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Brendan Allen following his co-main event victory over Edmen Shahbazyan, Tom Nolan after his upset win over Fares Ziam, along with fellow main card winners Bryce Mitchell, Iwo Baraniewski, and more. Plus, the guys take a plethora of listener matchmaking suggestions before revealing broadcast plans for the UFC White House edition of the program. 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

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It's good to be back, ladies and gentlemen, the matchmaking crowns are back on. following UFC Vegas 118, an event that truly happened on Saturday night at the world's most famous meta apex and an event that will truly be forgotten by the time this show comes to an end because it is officially UFC White House week. This is what we've been talking about for over a year now. And finally, it's going to happen next Sunday night, Washington, D.C. South Lawn, all the hype, all the hubbub, it's all going to come into play. But we had one last quick stop at the world's most famous Apex.

And we are here to discuss the matchmaking, the fallout from that event, I and Mike. And joining me as always, the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the Prince of Positivity himself, my best friend in the whole wide world, Alexander Kaylee, AK, happy Sunday to you, my friend. Happy Sunday to you, my best friend. It is good to you back in general. You know who it wasn't good to be back for? It wasn't good for Balam Muhammad to be back in the UFC Apex. The man was UFC champion 13 months ago, you know, lost to JDM,

tough lost to Ian Machado Gary. And then just like that, he's back in the world's most famous slash most dangerous warehouse, tough man and didn't even get to see his hand raised. You know, didn't even get to see his hand raised. So, yeah, you write the card just a little bit forgettable. It's almost like, it almost feels like a joke because, you know, with all respect to Balaw, people always kind of,

certainly when he was coming up, made, oh, that was kind of the joke, like, ah, his, remember the name, but his fights aren't that memorable, and da-da, and then he just happens to headline a card,

which may go down is one of the most forgettable events of the year. And not a bad event. Exactly, exactly. Not a bad event. Like, if you tuned in, it was fine.

But this was also the quintessential sort of modern UFC card where, like, you can try to sell it to someone as like, oh, well, look at all these finishes we got. And that, but it's really like,

Yes, but what were the sticks, these fights? Who are the names involved in these fights? You know, how exciting were the finishes. And all the credit of the world, great 25 Gs to all the finishers, well-deserved. 100 Gs, the guys who got performance tonight bonuses. But, I mean, Mike, you're so right. It's just, you know, not every fight is created equal. And I think we can all acknowledge that.

Not all events are created equal. And this was fine. And congrats to all the winners. Congrats to everyone who got paid. But yeah, this just felt like such a. forgettable appetizer as opposed to the um you know the ufc whitehouse card i said call this a go home show you know like pro wrestling style it's not really that it doesn't really serve and it really serve that purpose of like getting us hyped up for white house it felt completely

detached from like everything else that's happening in the ufc what this event did okay and look i i'm because i i i just want to kind of add on to what you're saying i'm not saying when i say it's forgettable i'm not saying it's a it was a bad watch it was a was it slowed down quite a bit for the last three fights. Like no doubt about it. The action went to a screeching halt. But it was fine. The problem is it just,

if you put this event back like two months ago, we'd be talking about it in a much different point of view, right? Through a much different lens. It's just no one cared because it's just like, all right, let's just get to the White House. Let's just get to it. And what,

what this event did in terms of the White House, was it made me look more forward to June 15th. I'm just like, oh my God, like, enough. Just fast forward me to the fight itself. Like, I just want to see the fights now. I just want to see what this looks like. I'm done talking about it. I don't want to talk about the White House card anymore.

It's been a year of this AK. This is, like, if UFC 300 was a nightmare, this was like the nightmare's nightmare is what this has been. Just the wait till you see what? what this is. Seven title fights. We're going to blow your socks off. And we have like a very good card. But now it's like it's not political. No, it is political. No, it's not this. It's this. Like, let's just get to friggin Sunday. Let's just get to next Sunday. I want this to be to happen. I want to see how it all unfolds. I want to see if there's any chaos. I want to see if the weather

sucks. Like I want to see all of these things. And I also want to just talk about it being a thing of the past. Like that's, this is not Christmas where it's like, oh, we can look forward to next year. This is just like, oh, it's the only time we're ever going to have this. Like, I'm ready to move on to other things

and talk about other stuff. Like, the UFC has a really good summer coming up. And it kind of, this is like the quintessential, unofficial start of the UFC summer is this event. And it's on a Sunday night, which people are livid about. And I don't know, man. Like, I'm just ready for it.

If I have to hear Dana White voice that RAM commercial one more time, I'm going to lose my friggin mind. I listened to that commercial 40 times last night watching this event. Like literally every spot said they went to, that commercial came on. I'm like, Jesus Christ, I will never buy a Dodge Ram. I'm telling you right now, I will never ever buy one. You just shoved it down my throat a little bit too much. But we are focused on White House, but we have to put this one to bed, AK.

You mentioned Blah Muhammad. And before we get to Gabriel Bonfim, where he goes from here. What happened to Blah Muhammad? Did he just say, did he say, did he say the two, is this the reverse Danhausen? Is this, when Ballal actually uttered the two words, Canello hands into a live microphone? Was that the end of his career? Because he has, what is going on? Like, who thought, who thought these game plans were good?

Like, the JDM fight was fun. It was very fun, but he lost that fight. He lost the Machado Gary fight pretty easily. and he got wrecked in here. Like, and it wasn't even like, Bonfie just took the win. This was like, Bonfim's sitting there watching below Muhammad fight,

and he is like Israel Adasania was at UFC 276 when he fought Jared Cannoneer. Jared Cananier's like, I'm going right after this guy. I'm going to take this man's head off, but it said he had a range kickboxing match with Israel Adasani, and he's just like, okay.

Like, I'll take this all day. I'll do his jab and leg kick this dude, and I've won. And that's exactly what Gabriel Bonfame did. last night. So what do you make of this last year of Bala Muhammad's career, these last 13 months? Because I'm puzzled by all of this. It's just crazy, man. I mean, like we said, 13 months ago, this was the number one world to wait in the world.

Now, again, if you're someone who doesn't necessarily the rankings have to align with, you know, who has the U.C. title, that's fine. If you're thinking like, oh, well, Shavcott's really the number one guy or something like that. Or Islam was going to be the number one guy all along, you know, he just need to come up and get it. Whatever, fine. Okay, that's fine. But I think the consensus was when he beat Leon Edwards, he's the number one guy.

He actually was the best 170 pounded over the row. Howard had a very strong claim to it and looked great in Leon Edwards, but not a fight that people love, but it was kind of what you're saying, you know, a man with a plan, a man who saw his opponent's weaknesses and said, I can exploit these. I know how to beat Leon Edwards, pitched a perfect game, became champion. And then the JDM fight, man, he was so determined to, I don't know, prove the doubters wrong, impress the matchmakers win over a wider range of fans, I'm not sure, and God bless him for it, gave us a very good fight.

And since then, yeah, I, winning MMA fights is hard, and B'allal has been very good at that for a long time, again, love or hate his style. So if he felt he had to flip some sort of switch, again, for the sake of entertainment, for the sake of growing his fan base, maybe better financial gain, hopefully. I hope that's what he got out of this. Somehow he's making more money than more power to him. But it is frustrating to watch. It was just, man, his face getting progressively bloodier for five rounds, just

walking into punches, just eating shots. I know he was landing some, so in his mind he's probably like, oh, I'm one good, like, combination away from turning this fight around. But that moment never came. And he was just methodically picked apart. Again, a guy who was championed 13 months ago against a top 15 guy who will now be top 10. You know, congrats to Gabriel Bonfeme. And all the credit of the world, you know, we should say, you know, Bonfim did what he was supposed to do.

Striking looks great. We know he's a good grappler. Maybe all along he's like, oh, I know my grapple is good enough that Bilal's not going to not going to want to grapple with me. And by the time Belal decided to, you know, Bonfam figured I could, you know, was good enough to counter it. It does feel like, of course, that Bilal gave something away here. Maybe gave a lot away. So yeah, we want to praise Bond theme. But yes, Mike, you have to ask a question of what's going on with Balala.

And where does the man go from here? I know where he goes. I know where he goes. He's kind of can't run the F over by Yaroslav Amosov. That's where he goes. That's literally, I'm just looking at Amosov's. As I was talking, I looked up Amosov's page just to try to remember if he was booked or not. Damn, that's it.

Yeah, this is going to be a real, like if last night was bad for Belaw, Amosoff night is going to be just the biggest nightmare of his life, man. That has to be a horrible night for him. I just, I cannot, I just am stunned watching this. Like, and I was live blogging last night. I actually gave Bilal the first round. And then he started going backwards.

And like, I remember at the end of the first round live blog, I'm like, I think Bilal like got out to like such a decent enough lead early that like Bonfem closed the gap a little bit. I was like, but make no mistake about it. Like I gave, I edged Bilal here. But Bonfim has all the momentum here. And if this continues, Bilal is going to get ravaged. And that's exactly what happened here.

I don't know. Great walkout. Yeah, I kind of wish, like I never root for anybody to win. But I wanted Bilal to win only because I wanted to hear him at the post-fight press conference or Paul felt. Because you know Paul would ask him because he's very good at this. Splish-splash. Can you tell us why we walked out to a 1958 Bobby Darren hit song? Like that's what I want to know.

What does that mean? I'm curious. I also didn't notice that. Do they have custom like trons? Do they have custom videos? I'd never noticed that before because there was a little screen and it had the bubble graphic, like a generic bubble graphic that probably they didn't make like, you know, it was just in the system, right?

Just look up. Yeah. I've never seen that. So by the time you guys hear this, you may have already seen that I release an interview Josh Hokit. Josh Hokit told me when he walked out to fight Curtis Blades, his rhymes that he had said at the press conference were popping up on the screen. So he started laughing. He was like, he goes, yeah, I'm starting to walk out.

Like I felt real good about stuff. Like I was feeling confident. He goes, then I'm walking out and looking at the, at the, at the, at the, the, the trot. And it's like all my rhymes are up there on the screen. So I just started laughing. He didn't even know it was coming. I have to think that's something they installed obviously when they dealt all the new seats and everything. You know, once they decided to bring in how they were a thousand, two thousand people. No, they do this everywhere because this is the Miami fight when he fought Curtis Blades. Oh. So like even then he saw like his rhymes on the screen. So they're all getting like custom walkout video trod. I wish they put some of this on the screen. Yeah. And like showcase it.

I just had never. They did it this time because the the pre like the pre walkout was so long. Like they played a lot of the song before Ballal actually came out. And so they showed us like, you know, they showed us the cage and they showed us the video. And so yeah, we normally don't see that. That was so interesting. Now I'm curious. I should, uh, the great Esther Lynn was on site.

I don't know if anyone saw. Esther Lynn shooting her first UFC Apex card. I'm going to actually going to message her. and ask her like, did you see the other trons? Like, what did other people get? Because I didn't recall seeing the other videos on air. So I'm really curious. Yeah.

That was neat. It was neat. And Gabriel Bonfim, man just keeps away today, okay? He wins. Just going out there and winning fights. Now, I was curious what he was going to say on the microphone. I was like, this dude has been calling all Colby after every fight with literally no chance of getting it. But now Colby retired.

Like, is he just still just going to play the gimmick and keep, calling out Colby. Because Colby is even said, like, look, I'm not like retired, retired. I probably get a fight again, but I just wanted to, like, do this so that I could wrestle Armin and wrestle Bo Nickel and have these big RIF matches because I'm not like a UFC fighter technically. And then Bonfim was like, you know what, I'm going to call Jack Delam Adelana. I'm going to call JDM.

Let's do it. Let's run it back. I want to get back in there relatively quick. So JDM. Lace up. Let's get in there in scrap. Like the call-up. Is this where you went, AK?

Nicholas Dalby, too. Nicholas Dolby too, Mike. He has to, until he beats Nicholas Dalby, I do not believe the Cabra Bonfine is a real contender. He must, he must vanquish this demon. No, that's where I should have gone. I love this. I love this idea.

I don't have the, I don't have the call. In Brazil. In Brazil. In Brazil. Finally, someone has to vanquish the Brazil killer, undefeated against Brazil to this day. No, I would love to see that fight again someday. I don't think it happens.

Nicholas Dobby is such a unique, wonderful fighter. And he's just, you know, he's up there in age. He's never going to really get that run at the top, unfortunately. But it's fine. No, yeah, I went lazy. I think the JDM callout is fine. I like Bonfume strategy now. Hey, let's just knock off another former champion.

I think he's aware that, you know, right now he's not in that Michael Morales, Chavcott, you know, Gary Prakis mix. I think he knows he's just short of that. So until he can sort of crack in there, just kind of pick off the other. guy who's just at the edge there and ready to fall out at Jack Tillamadela. So I have them right next to each other in the rankings after Saturday night. And yeah, bumping can creep up one more spot and possibly set himself up for a title shot in 2027.

I love the callout. I think there's a very real chance he could get this fight. I just don't, I don't see. The way he kind of like laid it out was, hey, I don't want to waste any time. I want to get right back in there and fight. and Jdm has taken some beatings, man. Like, Islam just worked him, and then Carlos Pratt just beat the shit out of him.

Like, just battered him. I don't know if J.D.M. even comes back and fights this year at this point after the run he's been on. He should probably sit out a few plays and come back fresh in 2027. So, not to mention, if he does fight, I think the UFC is going to go a different direction with JDM. I said this after UFC, Winnipeg, I think Mike Blatt is going to.

No, this is my wildcard pick after JDM got dusted up by by Pratchez. Mike Malad is going to fight Jad. Like they're going to do that. They're going to push this kid to the moon kid. He's a little bit older. And this is why they're going to give him that fight because they're going to try to get him,

get him a win with a guy who's got a decent size name and was a former champion. But I think if he wants to get back in there, there's another name. He may have mentioned it at the post-fighter. press conference he did not mention in the octagon he mentioned i believe he mentioned sean brady's name and that makes all the sense in the world they're going to philly in two months he wants to turn around quick something tells me sean brady probably wants to fight in philadelphia

gabriel bonfine for sean brady that one works for me okay yeah i i know he wants to get back in there quickly i just thought i don't know if that's what's best for him like i would rather he wait for jdm some point in like uh november december if they can make that happen if they like jdm really needs to take that time off but still ends up fighting again this year. But yeah, if he really wants to get bang in there, two months, pay-per-view, sure, our favorite numbered event, whatever we call it now. Yeah, it makes a lot of sense, makes a lot of sense. He took some damage to this fight, though.

Obviously, he banged up a lot of way more. So I do wonder, I do wonder if he might want to take a regular time off between fights. But him and Brady is definitely intriguing. And if you're Brady, you should be jumping at that fight. 100%. Speaking of UFC Philadelphia, okay, UFC 313. Speaking of a guy who might be wanted to get in there a little bit sooner than he wants to. Let's talk about Brandon Allen.

Fight of the night against Edmund Chabazzian. It was a fine fight, AK. Like, was this Josh Hoke at Curtis Blades? No, it was not. It was not that. I would have honestly rather them, I prefer them just giving Ketland Soza $100,000. And, you know, giving Joe Anderson Bredo $100,000. like we should have done we should have done that we should have done four performance

bonuses but good for brett and all and like the reason he took this fight is because he hadn't fought since october he was promised a bunch of fights none of them happened dude needs to make some money so i get that i was so surprised talking to this man aka and then i he doubled down on it last night after beating em and shabazzia in a fight that did really nothing for him really he's like yeah i'll see you in october i'm like what you're going to sit out another four months while all of this divisional chaos is going down? You're going to sit out and watch all these other dudes fight around you? No, no, no, no.

That's not going to happen, Brennan. If you want to fight for this belt, if you want a chance to run it back with Sean Strickland, who is apparently your mortal enemy and I had no idea about this until last night, you're going to have to fight and you have to fight again soon. You are going to fight a lot sooner than October, Brandon Allen. In fact, Kyle Baha'alio just came out and did a video and said, I was supposed to fight Joe Pfeiffer in Philadelphia at UFC 330, but I injured myself and now I can't do it. Guess whose phone's about to ring to go fight be Joe Pfeiffer at UFC 330? That is you, Brandon Allen.

And if I were you, from a business perspective, I would take that fight. I would probably have signed the dotted line last night after you walked backstage. Because if you do not fight Joe Piper at UFC 330, you're not fighting for the belt anytime soon. You're so far back as it is. But you go out there and beat Joe, you're in the mix. You're officially in the mix. You're not in the mix right now. You should be in the mix.

You go out there and spoil Dana White's plans of making Joe Piper a thing in a champion. That might just do it. You're going to fight Joe Piper in August, Brennan, you're in big trouble. It makes a lot of sense. I like the match up too. winnable fight for sure very winnable fight for brendan again and like we said with brady if you're joe piper great opportunity that's that's a top well now a top five spot i mean i i forget i keep forgetting brend allen came into uh ufc vgas 218 is a top five fighter he's leaving

as a top five fighter that number is still there for the taking so yeah piper would totally be down for that um but mike what about what about brennan allen's feelings you know what i mean what about what about raven as i like to say um what about raven mike i i when When does he get what he wants? Because he did the UFC as solid fighting RDR. No, again, a good opportunity for him, you know, when he stepped into Vancouver. So he had a lot to gain there. He didn't initially want to fight Edmund. I know you didn't interview with him and at some point he just made sense and he was fine with it because he wanted to fight and he wanted

Drickus and did not get that. So sort of kind of ended up getting what he wanted at least he got to fight this month. But still, it wasn't like his number one option. I just feel like he's always having to settle for what the UFC gives. him. When does he get what he wants? I'm with him. I have campaigned. I've picked this many times and I still think he can get it. And I'm following up on, after Sean Strickland's winner for Hamzot, I said I have a feeling Brendan can get this fight if he beats Edmund. So I

it's a long shot. I know I think it could happen and he finally gets that Sean Strick rematch for the title. I think Nasrudein is going to get passed over. I just don't think they love Nasrudeen so much that he's been able to sit for so long. part of it was again the last nassaridine wasn't like super memorable it was a good win it just wasn't memorable and you could say the same about brennan al and shabazzian that's fine like like we were just saying it one fight of the night it wasn't really like a fight of the year candidate but i i'd like to think that the stars will align for brennan to get that rematch and i really

want to see it i'm very curious to how we'll go like i think strick can be logically favored but man brendon has been just really solid for a long time and i think if we've seen it middleweight really solid can take you a long way So I don't know if I'm crystal balling this slash magic wanding, but I'm still getting Alan Strickland 2 vibes. Still getting the vibes, Mike. I don't know when. I don't know when. I will say, I cannot pick an event.

I still like it. Well, Sean is fighting Hamzat again. Like, I'm so, I've never been more convinced about anything. They are going to do this fight again. I don't want to see it. No. I don't care. Don't care.

Like, I would rather see. I like let Sean do other things. Like let's let other guys get their chance. That's what I would like to see. The problem is Brennan is so far back in this conversation. Like he's behind Emovoff who, he lost to Emovoff in a non-competitive. Yep. Not fun fight.

It's true. Very boring fight. He beat the ghost of RDR who cut weight a billion times. But hey, you can't use that as an excuse. He whoop that ass. And like if anything big was going to happen for Brennan Allen, it was going to happen after that fight. It just didn't.

And he's learning the hard way, like how the UFC kind of runs the fight booking side of things. And so the way he's going to get his day in court is he's just going to have to fight all the time. He's going to have to fight all the time, stay out in front, and get wins. If he waits till October, he is so screwed, man. Like he's in such a bad spot.

And it's not fair because he deserves a big fight, now he deserved the ddp fight i didn't think he'd get the ddp fight but he'd certainly deserved it and i just i don't know where he goes from here the reaction to brennan allen is so interesting because i like brendan like he's a good interview and he's like a nice dude and he's only like he's only like 29 right maybe 30 yeah he's like in his prime yeah he's like i don't even think he's hit his full prime yet and his full potential yet let's so like his best days are ahead of him probably but like there's just this lack of any caring when it comes to Brendan from the fan base that is just remarkable but you go out there and beat joe pifer

like that that'll do it that'll get you back on track so it's going to be interesting to see where they go from here if he gets a title shot good for him i just don't see it happening let's go to the lightweight division a k how about one thomas nolan Where has Ziam gone? Like he is out. He's going to be out of the rankings, probably out of championship conversations, maybe forever. This is one of those guys like a Belaw, like a Brennan Allen who just can't afford a loss anywhere. It took him so long.

He still can't get a ranked guy. He was out there seven wins in a row. He still can't get a ranked fighter. And they give him Tom Nolan, who, you know, Tom is a talented guy. Maybe some people thought he was like a little too rough around the ears, a little too green. but Tom went in there and fought like a very patient, very high IQ fight, and gets the biggest one of his career. And then he called out head out to Moikano,

which thought was a great call out, AK. So Tom Nolan versus Phil in the Blank, who you got? I love the callout. I feel like so many people have called out money, which is great for the money brand. Moycano pretty much has his pick of like, like, I think like four or five people to fight next because everyone just keeps calling it for his name. He's, he's well known.

He's, again, he's been holding onto her ranking forever. and I think he feels beatable, though I do think he's an extremely dangerous opponent, but I get it. I guess he feels beatable, right? He doesn't have like a, he's never, he doesn't have like a colossy record, right?

So it's a logical call it for everyone. I like it for Tom Nolan. Not my pick. Love with his physicality. He still has like a lot of developing to do, but I do kind of want to throw him to the wolves. I'm almost going to treat him like they treated, uh,

for us. Like I almost feel like I, like he should get a fight up. but I'm actually going a little back at the rankings, but someone with more name value than him at this point. Mike, what do you think of him and Grant Dawson? Oh, really? What is that?

Oh, Mike's a little happy dance. What is that? I knew I had a feeling, but I was signaling for the band. We did. Plug it in. Plug it in. Three, two, one. Friends forever.

The Prophet. Oh. Let's do it. The profit. Love it. Done. Yeah. Tom Nolan is a bully, man. But can you bully Grant Dawson? I don't know. That's a question I have, okay.

I don't know. This was more about and it's kind of like I view the the Bonfim-Bel fight in a way. Like it was, you know, shout-up Bonfeme, but like this is more about like, man, what the hell has happened with Bal-L?

Even though Bonfim, like, you're just got to take the win the way you can get it. And this fight was more like, All right, Tom is kind of like who I thought he was, but maybe Fores was not who I thought he was. And that's okay. But I need one more. I need, and the good thing about lightweight is, even if it's not a ranked dude, like it's still tough and we could still get the answers to all of our questions with the fight like Grant Dawson.

So love the idea. We're very, we're good at this, AK. We're not bad. We're good at this. We're not. Time for your favorite thing to do on these shows, AK, matchmake, for Bryce Mitchell. Oh, Lord.

By the way, I said this on the post-white show and I stand by it. To me, Bryce Mitchell was the MVP of UFC Vegas 118. Oh my goodness. I know.

Didn't think those words were going to come out of my mouth, but he was the MVP. He had a good performance against a young, hungry fighter, kind of humbled the 21-year-old, talented Santiago Luna.

Not only that, he tossed him around. Then he finished him in the final 10 seconds of the fight. Like, This is a great, great performance from Bryce Mitchell. It looked really good. I thought he would win.

I didn't think he would just flat out dominate Santiago Luna the way that he did. I thought Luna would be somewhat competitive and maybe some 29-28s. But that is not what happened here, A.K., this is one-way traffic. And I've been thinking about this. I don't know how to match bait him. I really don't. I was going to go with Montel Jackson. That's where I was going.

And then I will, I'll shut out the great Blaine Henry. Henry, MA fighting social guy. Throughout the suggestion, I'm like, you know what? I love this and I'm taking it. Taking it is my own, but credit given. Bryce Mitchell versus Raul Rosas Jr. is where I'm going. It's good.

It's good. It's logical. I know earlier in the year I had picked a Raul to fight Cheeto Vera. I still think that's the way they're going to go. So I won't veer from that pick, but it does make sense for Bryce. I had to work a little bit harder because I had rolled out Roses because he would have been a great choice. Mike, I am going to go with, I hesitate to say this because obviously there's so much weight that comes with this kind of comparison. He's almost, I feel like, the Canadian Bryce Mitchell.

He's very outspoken and a bit of an odd duck, which, again, I know is a very gentle way to describe Bryce in some of his past comments. Charles Jardin. Charles Jardin. Really good fight. Another former featherweight. So two guys who sort of come down and are supposedly fighting at their ideal weight class. I know Bryce is having a bit of trouble with the weight cut, but two and O so far hasn't missed. I just like the matchup statistically.

Personality-wise, these guys could end up being best friends or worst enemies. I'm not sure. Like, I don't know what the lead-up would be. Charles Jardin loves making weird comments and memes. and he, Bryce would be a perfect target and I just don't know how Bryce would react to that. Bryce has been known to get very, very

personal and spiritual with his rivalries like John Silva, but not apparently him and John Silver are buddies, so I guess it would be okay. He had all the love in the world for Santiago Luna. I'm very curious how he would react to Charles Rodney. And Mike, I got a touch upon it. You saw me before I mess this on social media.

I was so confused by him saying anyone who didn't watch his drum because he was saying like, oh, I'll fight anybody. Like, I want to, I think he was talking about how he wants to get back in the cage soon and maybe even take a spot at the White House if I'm in Zahabi or Shauna Malley can't fight. And then one of the things like, the only guy I won't fight is McGee. McGee is my brother.

A lot of people don't know this. McGee is my brother. And I wouldn't, we have the same father. And I know I should have interpreted this in a spiritual way. I understand that. And later I got a lot of replies saying like, he meant like his brother in Christ and like, Jesus is there, you know, and God is their father. Okay.

Yes. probably just the way he phrased it in the moment. You guys should just watch a scrum. It really made it sound like he was saying biological. But he did not say that. He did not say biological father. So he probably was talking spiritually. But now I really need to know if Bryce Mitchell and Marcus Buey are half brothers

because I don't think so. But I just don't know what's the Bryce Mitchell story. It just gets crazy every time he goes out there. So if anyone knows for sure, let me know. I suddenly think they're not. I think he met spiritually. But that was weird. Yeah.

I wish that he had like a pretty good week. Definitely. He didn't like say anything. I mean, Bryce is just Bryce at this point. But he didn't say anything like heinous at all. No. He made headlines for like not horrible reasons. And goes out wins and still like says something that makes us question like have followups for the man.

Like and I like the post fight stuff of him just, you know, taking. half his time like putting Santiago over and I know this isn't new to him but I thought the way he did it was really classy Bryce turning baby face here like this is this is an interesting story okay we could do a whole show on Bryce you've interviewed Bryce before right we've interviewed Bryce before I think right we've spoken to Bryce like I and again I say this I preface I cannot preface this enough I understand he has made horrible horrible horrible horrible inexcusable comments that have hurt and offended numerous people I understand that but you and I have spoken to this guy I really believe, and this is, I'm not excusing his behavior.

In his heart, he is like a decent person. I actually really believe that. And again, when you interview someone, you see them a different way. Like, I totally understand that. Like, it's just very little biased. I inherently believe he's a good person. I do think he's so extreme in some of his views. And obviously it's cloud's ability to like show respect to certain communities and to just be like a decent person in some regards.

But overall, like, I think he means well. I just wish this guy would get a little more, I don't know, life experience or education or perspective. Because I do think guys like him, like, yeah, some of their deeply personal beliefs conflict with like sort of modern life and ideologies. And, you know, but I- He's a child.

Like, he's a child. He's a child. Very much he's a child. I think that's, yeah. I mean, not an excuse because he's a 30-year-old man. But I know what you're saying. Yeah, that's in this actually the right way to put it.

Yeah. You have to like mold his brain like, like Plato. And someone's in there molding it, man. Hopefully we still can. Hopefully we still can. I don't think it's too late. I don't think it's too late. I don't know.

I mean, him at Bannamweight is actually like, it's super interesting. He's a big dude. He's a big dude for this division. So took the fight on like a week's notice, like made the weight, went on there and performed like he did. I thought he was huffing and puffing a little bit after the second round. I was like midway through the second round, I'm like, man, he's breathing really heavy. But then he just went out there and Bryce Mitchell's ass.

So good win for Bryce, good win for Thugnasty. And that leads us to probably the man of keeping. in the next fantasy season, Iwo Baranuski, who has three first-round knockouts in the last six months, seven months, actually. I thought he was three and oh in 2026. He's actually two at O in 226, but his other win was in December,

so we're knocking on the door. Just runs this dude over. I had people literally on the people's pre-fight show being like, man, everybody's sleeping on Justin Tafah, or junior Tafah, like, he's going to go out there and surprise some people. I'm like, No, he's not.

In fact, I went in, I went into the show and I was like, I don't, you guys are asking me for like my good dog picks. And I was like, I'm not betting on anything on this card. And then I actually went and looked at the betting lines and I'm like, oh, yeah, I am. I bet on I will bet. I put the biggest bet of the year on Iwo Baranuski at minus 310. I was like, what in the world? How is this guy not minus 17 billion in this fight? and the fight went exactly the way I thought it would.

And then I made another nice bunch of shekels. I took some of those winnings. And I threw it on Brennan Allen at minus 180. I'm like, what is happening here? This is free money. The freest money I've ever seen. Even though Brennan tried everything he could to not win, he still won. And this is just great for me.

But Ewo just clobbers, clobbers dude. And that's it. Hope Junior's okay. because we didn't see him when the winners were announced and that's usually a bad thing, usually the stretch your job, but, uh,

okay, how are you booking my boy? Man, Iwo, I was so fun. And, and, and,

and junior top of his team, by the way, you got to, like, not do stuff like this. I, I understand for fighters, you got a fight to get paid,

you know, and you got bills to pay, you got a life to live for sure. So maybe they're just like, hey, we got this, we got this thing we got to take care of. Can you go in there and get an extra, you know,

five figure check. Yeah, sure. I'll do it. And maybe a little extra for taking out a short notice. That's great. But damn, man, he just, like, righted the shit. Like, he finally got a win against Kevin Christian. And then a month later, just hops back in.

It says, ah, whatever. Who cares how wins and losses? I mean, him and his brother keep getting fights anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter. Anyway, sorry, that's a whole other thing. Ewo. I had, again, I had sort of pre-picked this because when Modestus Pukas had that weird split decision win last time, I'm like, well, he doesn't really get to go off much. I think he has to be like a gate, almost sort of a gatekeeper guy right now.

And now he gets to keep the gate against a three and O person. So let's see if Ewo can sort of jump into the top 20 at light heavyweight here. I don't have them quite there quite yet because let's be honest, he's just been running through the drags of the division. But Modestis firmly in the top 20, borderline top 15. So I think that fight is going to happen. So Ewo and Modestis. I mean, you've already put this one out there.

So we can't really friends forever this one. but I'm doing the same exact thing. We're doing Modestis. That's just going to be fun for as long as it last, but I think you always going to get him. If he runs through Modestis, like I know we kind of were kind of been critical of Modestis over the last few years

just because like the inconsistency, but very talented, very good light heavyweight. If he runs through him, man, I'll be like, I would be blown away. I would be really,

and I'm very curious to see what the line would be there too because you're right. He should have been a minus a thousand against junior Tafa. And I wonder if this recalibrates like, because he should, I don't think he should be like minus 300 or minus 400 or minus 400.

against Modestus. He might be the underdog in this fight. And we're going to have him with Modestis. He might be. He should be. Like slight, like a small dog. I'm curious. I'm curious to see what the line with me.

Yeah. I think that's why you do. Like, I love the Ewan Kutalaba fight, but like Ewan just fought. And like, possesses is just so much better of, of a litmus test,

like a more fun one. Because like D-Wan Kutalaba could come out real quick. And that might not be good for him, but I want to see Yuan just slug it out a little bit long. because like, Iwan can, Ewan's got some judo, dude's got some throws, like some sick-ass throws.

We don't even really get the chance to see them. Maybe against Ewan, we will, but yeah, let's have a little bit more fun with, with Destus first. Let's go to the wild card round, A.K., I wasn't sure where I was going to go here

and I landed on something I thought was fun, but we're going to select one fighter we have not matched for yet. We'll matchmake for them right now. AK, who is your wild card selection coming out of UFC Vegas 118? I was tempted to like match up Jaisla Chavez. What a weird fight.

Her and Dubin, I was like, yeah, this is, when I went to split, I'm like, yeah, that's, it happens when you put into very, very, very inexperienced. Probably should not be in the UFC fighters. Great story for Juselah, by the way, though, guys. Rejerk Jermak Cruz's interview with her going from ring card girl to UFC fighter, not in like one fight, but she was a ring card girl most part time. And my goodness, I think within two or three years, she is now in the UFC. Insane.

I did go with a female fighter, though. Ketland Sousa, Mike, Keltin Sousa. You talk about this. being a forgettable card. I bet a lot of people don't even remember. She started this card off with a headkick of Ariani Cardinalosi. Now, why am I picking Ketland Susa? I got a weird hair up my butt, Mike. I don't know why I'm doing this and it's probably not fair to Ketland. I kind of, I want to see her fight Alice Ardellion. Now, Ketland after, I don't know if she's in the U.S. I don't see the U.S. Strawy Rings. I don't think she's there, but I have her like close.

I have her in the 17 spot. So Ketland's not ranked. I wonder if they'll put her at number 15. Mizuki's number 15. Tinar is 14. She probably shouldn't bump other of those names out, to be honest. But Ketland is experienced. She's tough.

Also, Delian, I've been saying, sorry, guys. I've been saying for a long time, like, I don't think she's good. And then she's won three straight fights. Now, you could say she's won three straight fights against other fighters who aren't good. Fine, maybe. But I generally have a rule. You go on a three-fight win streak in the UFC. It's time to bump up in competition.

maybe this is the bump up. Maybe we give her a top 20 straw away. And I don't think she would win. I would, the Ketland would be heavily favored, probably. But Alice O'Donan is not a super young fighter. And the time is now to figure out whether they have something with her. Because she's got a lot of charisma, great social media following.

Put some actually not terrible fights outside the Sean abandoned one, which wasn't great, but kind of entertaining. So, yeah, I'm having an experiment here. Give me, get me, Kentlin Sousa and Alice are doing an experiment. Friends forever? Friends forever. Oh, no. No, no.

I thought so. That would have been amazing. I truly had no idea. And then I was just like, let's just do something weird and fun. And then I was like, I got myself really excited about this. I'm booking, I'm actually booking an actual date too, like an actual event. I don't know what the date is going to be, but we imagine sometime in the month of September, we're Noce, UFCing it up. and Edgar Chyres will more than

likely be on that that fight card and his opponent is someone who's he has already booked to fight this month he's fighting in Baku against Asu al-Mabayev win-lose or draw I just wanted to see

Edgar Shires fight Charles Johnson in a fight two large gigantosaurs of fly weights getting in there and fighting and there's no way that fight's stinks. That is the main card opener of Noce UFC 2026, Edgar Shirez versus

Charles Johnson, regardless of the result, June 27th. What a call. I love that. I love the date as well. That is expert not-no matchmaking mic. I love that. Again, we're good at this. You know how else is good at this? The peeps. The long-time listeners,

I mean, not always. We have a lot of do-do sometimes, but I'm feeling good about this, A.K., so I'm going to rifle through. I got about five of these. So we'll start with our guy, Micah Phelan, Bonfim versus JDM, Muhammad versus Amasov, Alan versus Pfeiffer at 3.30 if the knee injury mentioned isn't a big deal. Shabazzian versus Bo Nickel next, win or lose at the White House. You like this? Win or lose?

For Bo Neckle? Yeah. I feel like if Bo wins, I know, I'm just to look at my own rankings here. I feel like if Bo wins, he's going to call. for well I do have the next to each other in my rankings I have bow at 21 I have Edmund at 22 Edmund didn't really fall by the way after that loss he just kind of he was at 22 and castated okay no I should get a higher ranked opponent no maybe like both wins are not good I like Kyle is Kyle like I thought about is Kyle Doc is Kyle Doc is his best win yes that

will be like by a lot right if he pulls it off yes that's yeah yeah he might lose I'm so I God I can't wait for that fight I can't wait Tom Nolan versus Moikano Bryce versus Alex DePorea interesting Interesting What's sorry what was that Bryce Bryce Mitchell versus the other Toporia Yeah someone said he mentioned that

He didn't mention it post like he was asked about it though I think he had said previously he was interested in fighting I didn't see the interview when he said that But yes I believe he had mentioned fighting Alexandra Oh this is really good too Ewo versus Bogdan Guscoff Iwo versus Yes

Yes These are all good Ewo thoughts Yeah Yes Costa versus Shira Like we're just Just In-house matchmaking

Okay Were they never Were they never booked To fight each other That sounds so familiar to me I don't know I dude Like I should be getting

Fantasy points For what Costa Did the match now last night No it doesn't work that way Mike Oh yes Shira's and Costa We're booked for UFC

Oh nocha UFC 2 Or whatever the last Notia UFC was Noch 3 San Antonio, yeah. Yeah, San Antonio. Yeah, that was third one.

McGee versus Figgy. I actually liked that one. I wasn't blown away with Marcus McGee last night. I really wasn't. He was fine. Dude just hadn't fought in a while. This is another example of like, go get a paycheck. We got to show some respect to John Yannis, you know.

You and I have said a lot of stuff by him being like a gibbroni at the 135, but hey, got a win last time. It looked like a tough opponent for McGee. Maybe John. We were going to sacrifice, remember we were going to sacrifice him to Tommy McMillan? Now, like, I think he's a lot of him. a minus 400 favorite against Tommy Macmillan. Probably. As is,

who did Minnillan actually end up getting? Oh, Manuel Soza, is that his name? No, I'm seeing Alberto Montez. Oh,

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it. Oh, I don't like that. I don't like that for Tommy,

but we'll see. You don't? I think Montez is not bad. We don't have a lot of, like, high level experience to work with here, but I do think he's like, I think he's better than John Janus.

I don't know, we'll see, we'll see. I don't know. I don't know. I mean, look at, look at his run dude. Yeah. Like, he hasn't fought really anybody.

Carlos Calderone was his contender series win. Yeah. And then he was out for two years and then beat Ricky Terseos. Yeah. The ghost of Ricky. Maybe this is good. Actually, this is good. Maybe this is good.

All right. Yeah. What else you got? Brito versus Chepe Mariscoll. That's very fun. And then Micah adds, great card. Paul Felder is always amazing with the interviews. I still have a couple of the matches from there.

Shout to Paul Felder. Big time. Just makes everybody better. He's so good at this. So good of this. Fitzgerald, Felder, and anybody but D.C. and Bisbing is spectacular. Like, it all, like, Felder makes Cruz so much better. The Sanko is like, it's Sanko fits and Feldor is just, that should always be the fight night.

Trio, always. But shout out. And shout out to Justin Bernard. He did really good last night. He was solid. He was solid. Very, very good. Uh, left lane.

On theme, JDM, Blal versus Euros Medich after UFC, Serbia. Alan Bahalio, Edmund Kopiloff. That's nice. Nolan versus Dawson, he's with us. Ferez versus Chris Duncan. Bryce, another Bryce DePore at Ewo versus Dom Reyes. That makes me sad. Yeah.

He would definitely be favor against Dom. Which sounds weird because I think Dom is like a good fighter. I just think he's viewed as being chiny. and I don't think you can beat you I guess I got like you whoa I mean who knows look what Dom did to Johnny Walker you turn him into someone who doesn't punch ever

Costa versus Tagir Beghi versus Montel Jackson Chiris versus Tim Elliott Brito versus Doho Choi Caitlin Sousa versus Jessica Androj Yeah where is Jessica Andraj right now She's got to be in the last few fights of like her

contract slash career right so Yeah I should be a little picky I think Harry Doorski Brito versus Danny Silva Uh, uh, uh, chiquelay versus McGee. No, there's nothing there.

McGee versus Raul Roses unless Wicklacks can get rebooked quick. Okay. Ewo versus Nergazai, Bryce versus Hione Barcelos. I don't love that one. Like it's, I'd watch it. It'd be fun fight, but like, Barcellus deserves like a top 10 guy at this point. Um, and Bryce is like a good name, but like, no. He deserves a top 10 guy.

Luna versus Jaalong, Tom Nolan, Mason Jones. God, that's a heater. That's good. Bilal versus Joaquin Buckley. We were talking about this on the post-fight show, Jed. Who would you, not Jed, with Jed? You're with Jay, yes. Would you pick, who would you pick in a Balal versus Buckley fight?

Do I even have to think about this? Oh, gosh. I would pick Balal. Five rounds of the apex? Yeah, that's a five-rounder, isn't it? Brutal. Uh, yeah, I'll, man, I'll pick Bala, I guess. Oh, that's a depressing fight.

It's just a depressing. All he has to do is tackle him, but he's not tackling people. So that, like, that makes it interesting to some degree. He's got some, I mean, it didn't look like in his last fight, but I still think he has some take down defense. Just didn't have in his last fight. Not against, like, dudes who can actually grapple that. Yeah, that's true.

A couple more. John Ray, we have Bonfim versus Brady, Muhammad versus Amosov. What else we got new? Tom Nolan, Daryush. John is with you. Mitchell versus Jordane. Baranuski versus Bilato.

Costa versus the Nassimenta-Riposa winner. McGee-Chito, Chiras-Elliottes-Eliate, Chandlerz, versus Cornol. Finally, some Chelsea Chandler getting some love and respect on the program. Damn right. Damn right. God, this is fun. Burrito versus Morgan Shariari.

Chavez versus North. Susa versus Tisha Pennington, who, I don't think. she's like retired retired just yet but it seems like she's retired retired i don't know she'll fight it not off the table you think she'll fight again i think she'll fight again for sure yeah okay i think she's gonna get a retirement moment i don't know if she's got a great retire hopefully not at the apex hopefully in front of her crowd but it'll be tough i think i think she'll have to take whatever they give her when she decides to come back yeah uh finally jamal smith

bond fiend versus michael morales the only reason we're not doing this because michael morales keeps saying he has a fight book right doesn't he hasn't even saying for like two months like I'm booked. I'm booked. Or like he has an opponent, some idea of an opponent. Yeah. I don't think anybody knows anything. No. And I, and I, and I, I would be surprised if he actually has an opponent locked in. I'm sure his, he, he has names. I'm sure his team has been like negotiating. Maybe there's a verbal agreement out there, but we have not heard an actual booking for Malcolm Morales yet. I truly have no idea who he's fighting. Like, honestly, with, without Kamar Usman in the picture, like, we assume, listen, that's the worst kept secret in the sport.

who like who is it i don't know are they just going to give him gary and like just if tipporia wins like we have not booked islam's fight yet like we have not booked anything that's not official that that don't know supposed mohammed gary fight is not signed it is not signed boy if you're i'm hearing gary you're hoping you are a big just a gaitchi fan i got to tell you uh belaa versus the meditch d rod winner let's see if we get anything new Nolan versus the Klein Musayef winner Ziam versus Alexander Hernandez

I like that one Mitchell Roses Jr., Ewo versus Umar C McGee Jorraine McGee gets a chance to avenge his teammate Kyla Phillips, sorry, a little bit of storyline Chirazes versus Albaazi

Costa versus Jose Ocho and Brito versus Charia there you go that's my picks Okay, we got some newbies this week

so I'm always happy to say that I'll start on the Instagram Kyle Thornton, welcome to the party pal. Bond theme, JDM, Brendan Allen versus Kyo in a UFC fight. Yes, I would hope so. Tom Nolan versus Raffa Garcia, Bryce Mitchell, Montchall Jackson, or Josh Emmett a few more times.

Okay, well, can't blame you, Kyle. Can't blame you for luck. Brendan and Kyle, they karate combat grappled, right? Brendan and Kyo? Yeah. I think so? Yes, I think you're right. Because I feel like they fought and everybody,

I didn't fight, but they did kind of. Baranuski, Volkan, Ouzdemeer. Oh, my goodness. Hold on. I have Ousdemear as my number 10, light heavyweight. I mean, I'm fine. He's number nine in the UFC's official ranking. That's a top 10.

No, I would pick Vulcan to be him. And I've been a Vulcan. I know I've been a Vulcan supporter for a long time. These are exactly the kinds of guys I think that he would beat still. And I think Iwo is awesome. I think I was so awesome. 27 years old, a baby, essentially a 22 year old in any other division. I would love to see him get the hard push.

I just think it's fun because he's just murdering people. The level, the jump in competition from like a junior to a Volkan is enormous. I don't think he beats Volkan. I just don't think he doesn't do it yet. Do the Bukascus fight? If he just, I mean, if he rinses Bukascus in the first round, then we could start having these conversations. Fine, fine.

given at least a top 11 to 20 guy 15 to 20 15 to 20 15 to 20 first but I don't want to go deep to the top 15 yet Harry Newhouse I'll try to avoid some repeats here bala Muhammad miktibak oral oh I could read even more depressing for ballal uh what else we've got yeah that could go real bad for him Bryce Mitchell versus uh jacob wicklash because wicklash was a version supposed to fight magee right so uh right hopefully wicklash gets back in there yeah that's interesting I thought about this too. Iwo and Jacoby. That's a huge test.

I mean, Iwo is the favorite in that fight. Damn. I think Iwo is so good, but I'm so clearly blinded, Mike, by, like, this is such a classic on paper. Oh, and on the highlights. Sorry, and even the highlights. Looks amazing, right?

8 and O, all first round finishes. This guy's the goat, right? This guy's the goat. And then you look at the names. You're like, he has not fought anyone. Oh, I want. I want to see him fight for the title tomorrow. Alessandra Costa versus Niam Jargal to Mendembroil.

I just had to read that out. We just don't get enough of Niam Jargoal callouts. Chelsea Chandler, Melissa Croden. Okay, okay. All right, I'm a Canadian. J.S. Chavez versus Vanessa Domopoulos. Oh, former ring card girl versus Vanessa Domoplas was a stripper?

Is that accurate to say? She was a dancer, I guess. A dancer. But she knows how to dance on a pole. This sounds so sad. Everyone out there who says I'm being sexist. Just go to her social media. She's a proud exercise-wise.

She's a proud pole dancing. I interviewed her. We talked a lot about that. This is part of her story. This is a part of her story. I'm sorry. I know people just maybe haven't seen demo in a long time. I'm not being a sexist pig.

Not in this occasion anyway. Kentland Susa and Mizuki. Yeah, that's probably right. Fight for the ranking. Thomas Collins. Bond theme, JDM. Marcus McGee, Marlon, Marlon Vera.

Okay. Nolan versus Viziv Torres loser at Baku yeah and he also wants to see Alan and Joe Pfeiffer you see 330 okay fine Jared Bia again Bonfam Brady as I think again we're all thinking about Philadelphia I'm sorry to do anything new here Tom Nolan Dan Hooker um hmm I just don't think that makes a lot of sense for Dan but Dan doesn't say no to fights that often so I mean who is he Friday like Who's he going to fight it? Hmm.

I mean, it's not, but you know what? It's funny because people, it seems like hooker's been out forever. November's like not that one. But I mean, we're getting to, we're getting to, yeah, that was a long time ago, territory, but we're not there just yet. I think it's because it feels like he only fights like once every like eight months or something. So when he's gone for like two or three or four months, you're just like, oh, well, we've never seen this guy fight this year. So it, yeah, it doesn't help to be fairly inactive. Alex Van Dam.

Love this name. Alex Van Damme Brady, man. A lot of Bonfine Brady. Maybe it's happening. Maybe, yeah, that Philly. Maybe Philly fans, start buying those tickets now for Bonfine Brady. I don't know if it happened. Also likes Iwo and Bukovskis.

McGee and Figgi. Yes, I like it. And Kairz Ulan Bekob. Okay. Let me go to the Twitter. We got a welcome to the party pal from the MMA patron. Somewhat long-time listener, first-time submitter. Cool.

Ewo Alonzo Menefeefee. field yeah makes a lot of sense Tom Nolan drachar close unless Moikano accepts so dracar close can I interest you in Tom Nolan and your car close Mike okay yeah has close fought since getting knocked out and submitted in the same fight again he's in that he's in that Dan we were just talking about Dan Hooker like it's not that this guy's gone for a year at a time but it feels like he fights once every eight months right and it just feels like he's gone for years for like a year at time. Yeah, he beat up at Sembaraosa in August. Do not remember this at all.

Sorry, sorry, Dracar. Drak's a really good fighter too. It's just, yeah, yeah. Again, just one of those guys who's like can win four or five, six straight fights and the UFC has no, the UFC does not acknowledge him. He doesn't gain a lot of ground with the fans. But yeah, I don't mind it. I don't mind it. Where was I? Forrest Z. I'm Chris Duncan. Okay. Brennan Allen Cayo, Edmund Shabazzian, Calvin Gastilom. Edmund Shabazian, Calvin Gastilum.

Boy, trying to send Calvin home, I guess. Yeah. He's tough, but I think Edmund should beat him at this stage. He should beat Calvin Gasol. He should.

No? Yeah, probably. Yes, okay. I don't know, man. I mean, it's easy to book. I mean, it's another dominance versus dominance matchmaking. So easy to book.

Bond theme, if not JDM, then Leon Edwards. Boy, Leon has got to pick his next fight very carefully. and I do not think he wants to fight Gabriel Bondi. I'm still like not convinced he's in the UFC. Oh, Leon.

Yeah, I'm not convinced. I'm not convinced. You think he's just done with the, with, I don't know. Like, I don't know, but like if you told me tomorrow, like, if roster watch is like, fight or move Leon Edwards tomorrow, I'd be like, okay. Because the, because the, uh, D-Rod fight made a lot of sense. Well, we thought like, oh, yeah, he should fight D-Rod. That probably makes a lot of sense.

No, he shouldn't fight D-Rod. He should fight Jorge fucking Mazel. Well, we know that that happened. What are we doing? This is crazy. I'm sorry. This just went out crazy. I'm sorry.

It's okay. No, you're right. It was my fault. I knew that was a sensitive spot. Bilal, Mike Malat, and I had Bryce. I had Bryce Mitchell matched up with Mercoskee, but they might be brothers unclear. So I guess Charles Redding. Yeah.

Sorry, everyone. I hope I didn't put fake news out there. It was just very funny. It was a very funny thing to say. I think people are right. It's a religious thing. DGB also wants EWOL KON. You guys are, man, you guys, I don't know if you're disrespecting the Vulcan.

protecting Volkan or giving too much love to Ewo. You can't give them that too enough love to Ewo. Balal and Neil Magni, they've never fought? No. How can that be? Wait, they really haven't fought? Hold on. No, nothing.

I don't even see a booking. A booking that fell through. No kidding. Yeah, that actually, age-appropriate matchmaking at its finest. I actually, I like this idea. And perfect for the apex. He wants Bond-Been, Amosov. I don't think that makes sense for either guy right now.

God, I love that fight, too. It's a good fight. I just don't know if this is going to happen right now. Four Corner Sports. Nolan Rebovitz. What else we got here? Santiago Luna, Timi Quamba. Yeah, I'd like to see Santiago get back in there soon.

I think he's a very talented guy. 21 years old, Mike. Yeah, he's going to be good, man. Oh, that is a baby. Jarnison, Brita, Bredo, David O'Nama, Jordan Levitt, Jack Jenkins. Barry, Barry, O'Reilly. What's up, Barry? He said, our beloved countries with the battle on the pits of the night, and we somehow

got to draw. Maybe you should do a robbery review for that game. Yeah, let's send that World Cup around the corner. Team Canada will make it out of the group stage. All right, got a lot of injuries. We already have injuries piling up. Geez, for the fights. The fight's the movie started.

Barry. Jason Chavez, Veronica Hardy, another but far tougher Venezuelan fighter for Chavez. Yeah, way tougher. I don't think Justice Chavez is ready for Veronica already yet, but we'll see. Edgar Chiraeis Ochoa. Fun fight between two guys just aside the top of 15, winners of potential dark horse and the fun division.

Okay, yeah. Shout us from my man, Jose Ochoa, for sure. McGee, Charles Rodin. Costa. Al-Bazi, two. Costa has been hot and cold. This may be the beginning of a surge in the rankings. Abazi has not looked good at all recently.

The fight tells us we both are at. Oh, Mike, what do you think of this? I can't imagine they would book this, but Iwo and Zhang Mingyang? I don't think that makes sense for Zhang. Boy, Zhang's getting brutalized in that fight. Probably. That does not go well. But he is like a one-round guy as well, though, right?

Like maybe. Yeah. I actually kind of like not thought about that. And I mean this. I mean this with the utmost respect. If he got knocked up by Alonzo Menefield, this is bad. He was, he got some punch. He got some shots in.

Yeah. Not enough. Not enough. That was not Iwo Baranuski. That was Alonzo Menefield. That not a good night. It's going to be. be real bad. Barry, I'm kind of with you on this one. I'm kind of like, I don't want it. I don't know

if I want it now, but I feel like I do want to see them fight each other someday. I'm kind of with you, Barry. Bryce and Cheeto. Hmm. I don't know. I don't know. I really don't know. I'm really don't know. I'm very curious see what fight Cheeto decides to take next. Brendan Allen, Joe Pfeiffer, Gabriel Bonfheim and Shavkat. I saw a few people mention this. I saw a few people mention this. Have him be the one to sort of welcome Shavcott back. I'm sorry. Did I skip? I'm sorry. Picks by Frod. Rod. I just look my picks in order here. Ewo Medes. Ewo That's right.

UFC Serbia. Also, anytime I hear Baranuski, I get reminded of head coach Andy Reid screaming Bundle Ruski in a state farm commercial. Mike, do you get that reference? Fumble Ruski, Bundle Ruski. Yeah, I get it.

I might not have gotten that one, Canada. Priscilla Katura, Puja Tomar. This has to be it for Priscilla, right? If her contract's done, they're not bringing her back, right? I don't know, man. We talk about the importance of having the Priscilla Cachua is... I know.

On your roster, because without... Without having a Priscilla Cachua on the roster, do we have this emotional moment, this feel-good story for Chelsea Chandler? I don't think so, A.K. Is that what it was? I don't think so. I think if she fights anybody else,

probably doesn't get that moment. She should give five Gs of that finish bonus to frigging Priscilla. Yeah, she should. Priscilla gets got real good. And you could, use her as like you know who I really like you can be like I really like this fighter but we need to get her a win in like something emphatic let's throw in there personal catcherware there's there's

there's value there she's uh anyway shout out you're right shout out chest jamler good for her first round arm bar my goodness you know made at 135 like yeah look good she actually was really good for her uh spezy 32 i love this jza chavez and virgina tureen um i thought it was like i was going to do it i thought it was like too soon i'm like just you know keeping away from each other but I probably think they're a little more invested in Turin than they are in Chavez. So, yeah, I would just do it. I think Virginia Tree would be a huge favorite in that fight. But I don't know.

Chavez won, right? So one split decision. Why not? Kyris, Tim Elliott. Sure. Bryce Mitchell Roe versus Jr. Yeah. Tom Nolan, Jalen Turner, two gigantic lightweights.

I think Jalen, is Jalen gone up to Walter Wade or what? She should, but probably won't. Okay. Maybe if I can happen. Dakota. Same thing new here. Nolan Dawson, yeah, yeah, yeah, Mitchell, Pitbull, Iwo, Jacoby, okay, Mickey Jordan, okay, well, thank you, Dakota.

Sorry, guys, I've just, there's so many people. You guys are so good to send him to Zip. Tom Samuel, who was a new guy last time. Tom Nolan, oh, another Tom Nolan Hooker one, okay. Bryce Mitchell, Alexander, Deporia, yeah, he said he wants it, Ewo Alonzo Medafield. There you go. Losing fighters, Edmund Cam Raustin. Wow.

Oh, Cam Rousin's on a nice run. I was going to say that's like a big drop-down, but Cam's on a run, man. Yeah, maybe this is where Edmund is now. Costa versus Suoyang Yu, Tafa versus Ibo-A-Asslan. I should not read any evil-A-Slan picks. I'm furious that they released Yvonne or son. I can't get over it, Mike. I can't believe they would do this to me.

And let's close up with the emails. Lucas Cortes enjoyed the fights, thought they're pretty good, kind of under-delivered. It was one of the best apex lineups in a while. A lot of bad fight IQ, but that's easy to say from my couch. No, you can judge them, Lucas, it's fine. Brito versus Larry Ann Douglas. That'd be awesome.

Oh my God. That's a banger. Belal versus Buckley. Did Bilal's injury last year change his game? I haven't heard anyone mention this. It's the only explanation I have for him. Mike, injury excuse? What was the injury?

I don't know. I do not remember. I literally threw that to you hoping like Mike remembers better than I do, probably if there was some sort of injury, right? I mean, there's... Oh, facial. facial injury. Okay, sorry, this is just a quick Googling. I've never, his face got injured in the fight with.

Oh, broken nose and orbital. Orbital. Well, what not like? You make you grapple more? Yeah, I mean, that would make me only, like, exclusively just tackle people. He should be a panic wrestler. He got hit more. He got hit more in these last three fights.

He's ever been hit. I don't know, man. I don't know, I don't know. But maybe it's just messed with him mentally in some other way. I don't know. I don't know. Bombing versus JM. I want to see if JDM can get his leg murder twice.

Well, that's not nice. Allen versus DDP Usma winner. I want to pick something more unique, but just makes sense. Yes, if that happens. But I don't, I feel like whoever wins that is, we'll just move on from Brendan Allen. Like, he's just not getting the winner in that fight. Like, Camar Usman is not going to fight Brendan Allen if he beats Junkus duplice. It's like zero chance that he would do that.

Mitchell versus Victor Henry. I'm only bringing this up because I don't think this is going to happen, guys. According to Mitchell, he spoke to Henry's team. And I don't know if Victor Henry and his team, over this, but a knee injury, a pretty serious knee injury for Victor Henry. Maybe Mitchell was wrong. Maybe Bryce was talking out of, out of pocket here. But he said he heard that his opponent got a major knee injury,

and that could be like at least a year. So I don't think we get that rebooked anytime soon. Tristan Gordet, after Chiraz, Joseph Morales, Marcus McGee, Harani, Barcellos. Thank you, Tristan. And then let's close out with Eli Hitala, who says this week, I want to do something different. So let's try Otno Losers Edition, see if we get some different, more unique matches for these guys.

Oh, how low are you willing to go, Mike. Bilal versus Kevin Holland, Jacobi Smith winner. Kevin Holland might be the right guy for him right now. If he wasn't already. Neil Magny just seems like the right one. Yeah. You mentioned this before, Edmund and Roman. I actually love that matchup.

First of the M. Mbivis, Santiago Luna. Colby thickness. Yes, I think that is the right direction. Like, Jordan Levitt, Tommy McMillan. Tommy's booked. Tommy's book, Eli. We just mentioned this in the show.

A little bit of do-do there. And lastly, Junior Tapa versus Yuel Romero and the BKFC. Tafa is wasted an M.A. I believe this would be the right course for the young man to take. And I also just love seeing you all compete in any and everything. Let's just throw these two trucks on one another and see who comes out. Maybe with the potential matchup with the one and only,

Parker Porter waiting in the wings. Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend. What is happening here? Oh, there's so much, like I'm so scrambled. Mike's shaking his head. Mike's shaking his head, guys. are you suggesting that BKFC, who has lost so much steam over the last couple of years, I mean, so much steam, finally has, we finally have the chance of getting like, we're not getting Darren Till Mike Perry.

Like I've just accepted that we're never going to get that fight. Come on. But we could get Darren Till versus Yol Rivera. Like that is right there. You all was in the building at this. most recent BKFC event and Dave Feldman was asked about this and he said that you all was like yeah I want that fight we're trying to make that fight like and you want to put junior taffa in there instead of darren till no no no no no no and then you want to and then you want to sacrifice him potentially

to the legend that is packer porter come on man just just just give tafa porter like just do that yes yes because I will say just do it storyline let's go I will say I will say that may be why junior is taking so many fights i wonder if he's just trying to fight out his ufc contract and then eventually like you said make a move to bkfc or some other other combat sports field raf you know maybe he wants to show his wrestling skills right i don't know but uh yeah maybe that's one why he's just like jumping in there just boom fight off fight off fight off fight off free agent maybe it's a good explanation as any why he keeps doing this crazy that's it so that's it thank you man great listener picks uh for a great card that we'll be talking about so much

Can't wait to hear you and Jed talk more about USC Vegas 118 on between the links this week, my best friend. Yes, that'll be on Tuesday, by the way. Oh, so you definitely actually, this was actually a chance you will be talking in Vegas then. Probably not. But, uh, what's coming up? What's coming up? There's nothing happening. Yeah, there's an event.

UFC White House. Oh. A.K., I think we're going to be live after the White House. Not after the White House, but, uh, I'm thinking like the day after at noon Eastern. A little Monday matchmaking? A little Monday matchmaking. Interesting. Live on the YouTube's

Following UFC Whitehouse Ilya versus Justin Gathe of course is the main event The problem is AK Like the first two fights like we don't even need to matchwork for Like we just know what's happening Like if Gachi wins he's fighting Armin If Ilya wins he's fighting Islam Although he should be fighting Armin

Maybe I'll just throw that out there Just to try to get the vibes in my favor We know where the Pereira Gahn winner's already going So that'll be easy We know where all the people should be going Let's add that way. We know where everyone should be going. Does Gathe retire if he loses?

He has to, right? TBD. I'm saving my spicy take for the light. You want to hear my Justin Gitchie loses and retires take, guys? You got to watch onto the next one next Monday. But what if he'd already retired? Why'd you do this to me, Mike? He should retire if he wins too.

I'm just throwing that out there. He should, he should, I think he's way more likely to retire if he wins. I shouldn't say that. Because everyone says when you get the belt, you want to keep it. That's when you make all the money. And the arm in fights big. I know, I know. Yeah, he's not going to retire if you wins.

Yeah. Pereira, gone, obviously. If you're just listening, I spoke with Alex Pereira. That is on our YouTube's. Sean O'Malley versus Aiman Zahabi. Go Canada. Could be the biggest winner of the day. Could be the biggest winner, guys.

I don't know. I don't know. I spoke with Aemansahe, last week. It was a terrific time. He is hilarious. But Armand Saruki and to me is pound for problem the funniest fighter on the roster. Amon Zahabi might be number two. He is a joy.

That is an interesting fight. Derek Lewis and Josh Hogan has spoke with both of those men. Hoka going tomorrow on the YouTube's. Derek Lewis later in the week, as you'd expect from both guys, a little bit chaotic, a little bit off the rails in totally different ways. So that's interesting. Marisha Ruffy versus Michael Chandler is a fight that is certainly happening. That's flying under the radar, right?

Like there's no one's talking about it really. Yeah. And it's, it's got to be a banger. Like, it's going to be an absolute heater. Uh, my made event, the people's made event, the hex made event. Bo Nickel versus Kyle Dachis. I can't wait to see what happens. I feel AK and this is maybe the boldest take.

No one has more to lose than Bo Nickel on this entire card. No one has more to lose than Bo Nichols. He loses this fight. He's done. He's done. Yeah. You can't do anything with him anymore. He's done.

He's only 30. But he's done. He's done. He's done. That's it. It's a wrap. Yeah. I mean,

it's not like he's never fighting again. But like, we were talking, Damon Martin on an episode of Between the Links, after Bo Nickle's second UFC fight, he's like, just throw him in there with Israel, he beat him right now.

Yeah. It's been said. It's been said. And now he's going to lose a, Kyle Dawkes, which is very possible. I've already put a bet on Kyle Dawkins of this fight because it's just for the funsies. Just for the funsies for the watch party.

There will be a watch party. And of course, it kicks off with the best opening fight in UFC history. I know the circumstance are differently. Stop your crying. Diego Lopez for Steve Garcia. Just enjoy it. That fight's what a setup fight.

I feel bad for, I actually feel bad for Bo Nicol and Kyle Dawkus. How the hell are you going to follow that? How the hell are you going to follow Diego Lopez versus Steve Garcia? Those poor guys. You should just, yeah, there's like no good spot for them. You should have just thrown them right before the Sean O'Malley's a hobby fight or something. But yeah, Sunday night, 8 p.m. Eastern. That all goes down.

This is going to be a long night. You thought the MVP card was long and the pacing was atrocious? this is going to take the cake, folks. No doubt about it. Busy week, obviously. Jose will be in Washington, D.C. all week long. Media Day, Wednesday. Friday will be the press conference.

Saturday will be the way in. Sundays the fight. We got R.A.F. I'll be there in St. Louis this weekend for Hamzaa Chimaif's debut against Dylan Danis. Armin Sarukin back again against Tony Ferguson. What? Aaron Pico's making his debut.

There's so much happening. So stick with us at mayfiting.com. It's going to be a great time. A lot of fun for A.K.I. Mike Keck will see you next Monday live on the YouTube's right here and on to the next one, the podcast. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.