MMA Fighting - On To the Next One: Matches To Make After UFC Vegas 21

Episode Date: March 14, 2021

On the 35th episode of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee put on their matchmaker hats following Saturday’s UFC Vegas 21 at the APEX. Future matchups were discussed for headliners Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad following the accidental eye poke that led to the fight being ruled a no contest, Ryan Spann, Dan Ige, Davey Grant, Matheus Nicolau, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. And welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one here on the MMA Fighting Podcast Network as we discussed the What's Next following a chaotic UFC Vegas 21 event on Saturday night. Most of the car was a lot of fun. Some of it, not so much, including the main event, the return of Leon Edwards, that lasted five minutes and 18 seconds and ended in an accidental yet. horrific and nasty eye poke to Bala Muhammad that led to the fight being ruled a no contest. Just the ending that, you know, we shouldn't be surprised about it in 2021 in mixed martial arts,

but we're going to talk all about that and where we go from here. I am Mike Heck and joining me in this adventure in good times and in bad, the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the best friend. And we need the Prince of Positivity right now. Alex Keeley, how are you, sir? Mike, my best friend, what a marvelous two weeks of storylines we've had we have to sort through, especially in regards to matchmaking. Who, this, March was supposed to bring resolution to a lot of these title fight pictures, contender questions. We are left with so many more questions somehow, and isn't that the beauty of MMA?

But, well, yes, no one could have foreseen, forget, forget not, you know, not being able to figure out, you know, predict that a fight would end in its quality. occasion or no conscience, obviously nobody can predict that. But just that it would, it would, everything would be so murky. We have two more title fights coming up this month, don't we? Then we have the heavyweight title fight and featherweight. And now I don't know what, I honestly, now I'm scared. We used to worry about fights falling through, like title fights falling through. Now we're just, and main events.

Now we're just hoping that they finish. Well, they have a finish at a winner. Crazy. Unbelievable. Especially in March, you know, it's St. Paddy's Day month, a luck. of the Irish, you know, everybody's Irish. Spring is coming. Like, come on now. New beginnings. New beginnings.

Well, let's see if there's new beginnings for the combatants in the main event. Let's begin with Leon Edwards. And you said it best on Twitter, AK, seeing Leon Edwards in a UFC octagon on Saturday. It was surreal. Like, we hadn't seen him since July of 2019. He looked fantastic in the first round. It was like one of the best rounds we'd ever seen out of him. he had Belal Mohammed badly hurt with a head kick.

He was pushing the pace against the guy who typically pushes the pace. Muhammad showed, obviously, his toughness. He survived and then got poked badly in the eye and the fight is over. Man, this was outside of Leon just getting absolutely toasted in the first round. This was one of the worst things that could have happened, in my opinion, looking towards a possible title shot, and then he comes in, has a great first round, and ends in a no contest. What do we do now, A.K.

Mike, this week I did a lot of what I want to happen. I did a lot of what I want to happen. I think we deserve to treat ourselves after some of the drama and disappointment we've seen in the last, again, eight days, eight some days. So I did a lot of what, not what I think will happen, what I want to happen. I will not give up on Leon Edwards fighting Horaceville. I know it's a fight that probably happened down the road somewhere. It's always going to have a decent amount of heat, but I'll, I will never understand how they didn't make that fight happen after the incident. in England.

Like, it was just, it's right there. It doesn't need a title on the line. I know that's where Maswadal is at in his career now. I think he feels like everything has to be for a title. But you use the BMF prop. If they have to make a title fight and they have to give Masvedal, or if he wants championship money, just give him the money. He is a star.

He's more famous than some of your champions. He deserves that championship pay when he fights. So I'm not giving up on that fight. Do it for the BMF belt. obviously ideally you would want to do it in england for the novelty of it and you know make it if you could travel but that might not be an option if it has to be the apex or the apex that's the last life we're living right now but no i won't give up on edwards versus horham as well if i was matchmaking that's what i do next so i don't care what that what should

happen next uh and i guess we can discuss the merits of a mohammed rematch in a minute but i mean go ahead uh mike let's i want to hear what you have to have to say this is such an interesting case because there's like there's so many different teams when it comes to this because there are some people who believe that Leon Edwards shouldn't even have fought Hamzad or fought Blah Mahmah. He should have immediately been thrust into a title fight as soon as he was ready to return. Then you have the other camp who's just like, yeah, he's got an A fight winning streak and he's unbeat in nine, but like look who he's beat. You know, he hasn't beaten a single guy in the top 10.

He beat Hafeeldo Sanjos, who is a former world champion at one. That's the most impressive win he's got. He's got Dominic Waters, Albert Tumenoff, Ficente Luque, Brian Barbarina, Peter Sabata, Donald Seroni, which is a very close fight. If you go back and watch it, Gunner Nelson, very close fight. And then, again, the Dosangos win, who was the champion at 155. So while we're impressed with a guy on a winning streak like that, people sort of look at the overall body of work and look at the resume and compare it to other guys at 170.

And they're like, why are we even talking about this guy getting a title shot? because of who he's beat. And then you have just all these different sides on where we go from here. Like some people, again, think, throw him into a title fight. You're ready to throw him in there with Mazdahl. And I feel like that ship is kind of sailed. If they made it, great. And I want to take that stance with you.

Just say, like, what I want, what I want to see. But I don't know what I want to see. Leon's just such an enigma in that that I don't know. And this really depends on when he wants to come back and fight. Like, there's options for him. Although I don't think Mazadol is one of them. I don't think the title is one of them. Unfortunately, he cannot be too picky here.

He needs to get in there and he needs to get there in there as soon as possible. And it's hard to gauge where this could go because we need to see who Usman does fight next. We need to see who Gilbert Burns is fighting next. He's teasing a fight in June. We don't know what's going to happen. Maybe he fights Wonderboy. Maybe he fights Colby. So the answer to me is it's he that fights Wonderboy or Michael Kiesza.

Like there's just no other option here. Like, it just depends on who is ready to fight first, which I think Wonderboy is probably going to be ready to fight first. I know he's got an MRI on his hands. We need to see where he's going. He thinks he could probably fight in May or June. Kiesa said, I ain't fight until July. He's got a wedding and all this stuff to prepare for.

So it's tough, man. He probably just at this point, needs to stay ready for an opportunity to come along and just pounce on it, right? Yeah, I'm down with either of those options. I know I think it was someone on the post-fight show we did Saturday. that recommended is Lukei Woodley winner possibility. Of course, you mentioned he already beat Lukee.

I think of Woodley wins. I still think there's some juice there. Of course, that was one of the first big fights that was spoiled by the COVID-19 pandemic. I remember that was supposed to be a really big moment for Edwards. That was the fight. That was going to fault him towards a title shot.

I think he would have been favored to beat Woodley, and if he did, it would have made a logical next step for him to get a rematch with Usman. But we all know what happened there. And then just a completely lost 20-20 for Leon Edwards. So, yeah, I like, but I'm okay. I like Woodley Wonderboy. I think these are all, Kiyasa, all good options.

Like you said, he needs to stay ready. What do you think the odds are, Mike, of a Muhammad rematch? Would you take, what kind of odds would have to give you to bet on that? Would you take five to one odds that that rematch happens? I don't think it happens. I think it happens someday. It's not going to happen next. What odds would have to give, 10 to 1?

10 to 1 chance, then that happens? You'd have to give you 50 to 1. Whoa. I just, it's, for, for multiple reasons. One, the fight wasn't supposed to happen to begin with. Two, no offense to Bala Muhammad, but Leon was lighting his ass up. Like, it just was what it was. Bala is tough as anything.

I love Balaamah, but Leon, we could, we could tell in the first five minutes, like, who was the better fighter. Bilal was tough, and I don't think he could have taken much more. Another high kick to the head, which is wide open for him, unless Bala could, could, turn the pacing around and start pushing forward. He just didn't seem like he was all there when it came to that. Plus, you don't know how long Bilal's going to be out for. And Leon needs to fight fast. Like this can't be, we're out for six months, then we fight.

He needs to be back by the summertime by June. Before July, he needs to fight. And he needs to fight somebody. I just, that eye poke was so gnarly in how he looked and how painful that looked. I just don't see a whirlwar balla's back before the summertime. I don't know if we see him again until like. September you know what I mean like he could be out for a while yeah yeah I think you're right I think the timing is is the main factor beyond you're right beyond the fact that

most of us feel that Edwards was the favor in that fight for a reason and he was showing in and even though it was only only got around in a bit of action yeah I don't you're right I don't know how much more how much more Mohammed can do it in rematch with Edwards at this point his career maybe down the road it'd be a more competitive fight at this stage it was yeah maybe it was you know leading towards a in errors but man I would have liked to see how and Muhammad would have done in, you know, a fourth and fifth round. I would have loved to see him get the chance to push it in a fourth and fifth round.

You know, his cardio is, gosh, we really lost something there. But yeah, the timing, you're right. You're right. We do want to see Leon get back in there. The thought of him being on the shelf, if the plan is for a Muhammad rematch and him being on the shelf again for another six months is like, oh, it just be horrible. So, oh, man. But, yeah, 20 months in the shelf, and then that happens. And Muhammad, his first main event, and then that happens.

Gosh, I guess we got to talk more about Balal, don't we? Yeah, I mean, it's awful for Bilal. Like, that was nasty. But at the end of the day, the no contest probably was, like, it's really bad for Leon. This probably was, like, the best thing that could have happened to Bilal after that first round. Like, I don't want to see him in pain, and the reaction to that was bad. But coming out of that without a loss after that first round is not bad. He's not going to lose any juice in the rankings.

He's going to stay right in the top 15. He doesn't go down as a loss. It stinks, and he's going to be in pain for a while. Hopefully he comes back sooner rather than later. But again, I mean, for Bala, I mean, it's tough because we just don't know how long he's going to be out for. I'm happy to hear that his vision is coming back. There's not going to be any permanent damage to the eye. So that's great.

And I'm torn because I haven't really decided on this yet. Oh. Oh, all right. People are getting a live, live decision-making, right? Because I'm torn between two. All right, so here's what I'm going to go with. Okay. Clearly, he deserves a top 15 guy.

And regardless of how long Balal is going to be out for, this division's going to move forward. So if Bilal Mohammed somehow can make it back in, like, July, I'm down to rebook Bilal versus Sean Brady. Do that fight. I'm in. If it's going to be longer than that, A.K. And it all depends on if this man takes that pen and signs a new deal with the UFC,

let's give Bala Muhammad a name that he could be proud of outside of the top 15. Let's do Balaah Muhammad versus Carlos Condit. How about that? Those are my two options. If he can't get it, it's Brady. If he can come back relatively soon, that's the matchup that makes great sense for both. guys. If not, let's reward Balal with a fun fight that he can, that he has a good chance of winning and can get a good rub off of even though the guy's not in the top 15. How about the

natural born killer? I'm okay with either of those options. Pulling the Condit card. I like that for the show. We have a pool of veterans that I feel like in various divisions that we can pull out. And I think we've been fairly judicious with it. I don't think we, Robbie Lawler would be one of them, Carlos Condit, Joseo Aldo, Dominic Cruz. I, I can't. I guess Edgar now is in there. I'm probably forgetting a bunch of names in other divisions. But so there were some heavyweights, unfortunately, who now have been cut. We can't pull those names anymore.

But, yes, I think it's funny that we have these names. And Kana's not a bad one. Kna's not a bad. I should check the tapes to the last time. We should have a limit that you can only bring up like Kahn. If they haven't been booked in a while, you can only. Because obviously we throw these guys to all kinds of matchups with, like we said, guys who are deserving fighters who have kind of fallen on some hard luck.

Mike, do, remember, we had to. Oh, no, we didn't have to match me for Maha. And I'm looking back the last time Balal fought, and he was my wild card pick. I don't think this was on UFC 28, February 13th. I don't imagine he was your wild card pick as well. I could be wrong, though. So this was easy for me. This is easy for me because I already had a pick.

I don't see, again, this was a month ago. I don't see why I should change it. Since no contests, again, are fights that in my mind necessarily just didn't happen. And I would just love to pretend that this result didn't happen. So I had Neil Magny for him then I kind of still like Neil Magdy for him now I think I think that's a good matchup You know what I've got from this conversation we've had so far Mike

Is that even though it No is that even though it's been unfortunate What happened it does feel like there at least As long as Edwards gets back into quickly There's still a good name for him Argued bigger name you know like you said Condit Kesa And for Muhammad

He doesn't lose a rank He doesn't lose a spot You just said, as horrible as the sounds that in no contest is maybe the best thing that could have happened to him based on how the fight was going. Because, yeah, he doesn't lose anything from this. And he's in the same position he was, which is why I think the Neil Magni fight makes sense. I think it would be Neil Magny would like that one too. I think he'd love because, again, Muhammad's kind of got a little buzz around his name. Magnet loves taking buzz away from people's names.

That's why he's been in the top 10, top of dean for so long. So I'll stick with that. I'm not going outside the box here. I had a plan for Muhammad. This doesn't change it. I think we discussed that, and I just said, give him what he wants, which is Li Jing Liang before he took this fight. Sure.

Still an option. If you want to, I hope you don't get a lot of heat for this selection, AK, just because people love the fact that you've been all in on Neal on Neal. I told people, I'm moving on for now. I'm moving on for now. All right. All right. Well, let's go to the co-main event.

Let's talk about some more positive things. Ryan Spann gets a ferocious finish. of one Misha Sarkinoff. He's on to a new year after a very interesting 2020, takes on Sam Alvey in a fight that everyone thought he was just going to steamroll through. Sam Alvey gave the man a fight, and then he gets stopped by Johnny Walker. 2020 wasn't his best year, but he starts off a new year with the fresh paint of coat,

as the kids like to say, ha-ha. Where does Mr. Superman go from Saturday night? Again, what I would do, I would love to see this. I, you know, I'm loath. to match up fighters on considerable losing streaks as fighters who were just coming off wins. But I think name wise, reputation wise, it makes sense. And this guy's kind of beyond winning

and losing streaks at this point in his career. Give me Ryan Span and Tiago Santos. Give me Ryan Span in my head. That is a dynamite matchup. I think Tiago Santos, again, that fight with Rockich was close. I think he lost, but I don't think that was him. You know, I think, with no disrespect to Rockets, by the way. But I don't think that was the best of Tiago.

Santos, I think I want to see, I want, I want Mahatah as much as anything to get a chance to prove how high level he is, that he's still possibly a top five contender light heavyweight. And I think he's like such a better striker than Ryan Spann that, you know, that's his chance to do it. However, when you add in Ryan Span, he's a younger guy, he's got some amazing physical gifts, great finishing power. I wouldn't be surprised if he took out Mahathe's either. So, you know, this is why they make the fights, and I would love to see that would happen.

I think it's a top 10 banger and a good reward for Spann, I think, for the success that he's had in his USC career so far. So he deserves a shot at someone in the top five, top 10. Hmm, very interesting. I think he needs another win. I like it. If they make it, I'm like, hell yeah, let's watch it. I think he's probably going to need another win, though. I liked his idea fighting the winner of Anthony Smith versus Jimmy Crude.

That works. I also like the winner of Paul Craig versus Jamal Hill whenever that one gets rebooked because that's the plan. Of course, I believe they're supposed to fight. What was they supposed to fight next week? It was supposed to fight on this card. It was supposed to be this upcoming card. It was supposed to be 20th.

All right. So something happened. I think it was a COVID thing for Jamal Hill. So I guess they have another date. We haven't been able to confirm what that date is. But either of those work from me. Terrific performance from Ryan Span. And that's a guy.

I'm really excited to see where he ends. up at the end of the year. He could shake some things up in a big way if he can keep his mind right and string some performances together. As we go from Ryan Span to Daddy Dan, Dan Ige, okay, holy cow, 22 seconds, knocks out Gavin Tucker. That was a statement that he made in a bounce back performance following the loss to Calvin Cater in July. A lot of people were on the Gavin Tucker bandwagon. They were ready to watch him slip in there and knock Dan Ige out of the top 15 and send him packing. Danny Yee, confident as ever, use this time off to his advantage.

And you know what? Let's give the man what he wants. He made our jobs easy. Sometimes I get a little frustrated with that, but in this case, I'm giving him what he wants. He wants a Korean zombie. Let's give it to him. Sign me up, AK.

I am in. What say you? This man is a risk taker. Dan Igay. The dynamite, dynamite dad, Dan, dynamite dad, Igay. 50K, living up to his nickname, getting that sweet, sweet 50K, that's gonna go long.

That's a lot of bait formula. That's a lot of formula. Yeah, of course. Of course, E.K. Zombie, amazing matchup. I've totally been down for it. I guess I have to give up on my Barbosa zombie dream for now. Barbosa is going to fight Shane Burgos, May 15th.

So, okay, so I think I've championed for this on like a couple of shows now, and I've removed Arbosa and Zombie for my featherweight matchmaking options, but okay, he's certainly a free man now. Dan Egey makes a lot of sense whenever Dan is ready to come back and fight. Because again, I'm sure he wants to take a little bit more time off than usual to look after his newborn,

which is awesome news. So I did have another option, though. Again, this is something if I was in control, I like a matchup with Josh Evan. I know we've been, we've thrown Josh's name out there a few times, but also been hesitant to do so because he's coming off a knee, it's a knee injury, I think, right? Yeah.

Yeah, he's coming off a pretty serious knee injury. But that was, I think, a, well, that'll be a year ago come this summer. As far as I know, I think he's supposed to be getting a checked on soon. And, you know, hopefully the news is good. And he's able to come back and healthy and nothing lost. Because I think, yeah, that's, I have Emmett just ahead of Ige in my mystery rankings. And, yeah, look, it'd just be a banger.

Same as zombie, it would be a banger. But also, again, I think I go, I think, Ege, after fighting someone, after taking out someone who was a short-nosed replacement, who was pretty far behind him in the rankings, I would argue. Even though, yes, I was on the Tucker bandwagon, and I picked Tucker to win because I'm an idiot. I think he deserves it. A top 10 opponent. I think Emmett is still in there. I'm not sure where his position is shifted while he's been out.

I still have him in my top 10. So I think Egey Emmett is my just over Ege zombie would be my matchup. Now, normally when Josh Emmett's name gets brought up, I'm like, eh, tough to gauge. We don't know when he's going to be back. I think this one makes a lot of sense because, like you said, E. and E. Gay's going to be a dad. He wants to spend some time with his wife and his newborn son, which I believe it's like April 9th, I believe Dan said was the due date. I mean, from what he said, she's already like full term, so that can happen at any point now. But, you know, give him a

couple months, June, July. That should give Emin enough time to get back because Emmett's an animal and probably a very quick healer in tremendous physical conditions. So that makes sense. I would be absolutely down for that as we go from the featherweight ranks to the bantam weight ranks at 35 years young AK, Davy Grant is on fire right now. He knocks out Jonathan Martinez in the second round. That is a super impressive win over a guy many thought was a winner two away from cracking the top 15. That was a big time performance from Davy Grant.

What do you want to see for Dangerous Davy after a huge win on Saturday? Yeah, a dangerous Davy on the feet. A big time performance, striking. If you had told me, oh, he's going to stand his strike with Jonathan Martinez. I'm like, no, he's going to get smoked. He's got to go for that tickdown. Got to go for those subs. But he's got this new unorthodox style.

He's just winging. He's going in there and winging bombs. I mean, he's not like, it's not like a striking. He's become like super crisp and technical. I mean, he's certainly more technical than I'm giving him credit for. But he's really, really strong with full power. And boy, when he finds the button these days, he's shunned out dudes right off. So, yeah, incredible.

sort of resurgence for Grant who's had a lot of trouble with injuries, but there was a number of names here. I thought maybe the Hunter Azure Jack Shore winner, they fought on April 10th. Saeed Nermagamatov been an interesting test. I just say he'd be an interesting test for Saeedner Megamatov. And Chris Gutier has another

name that popped up. But again, what would I do, Mike? What would I do? I am using my Louis Smoka card because Smoka, again, a guy who is a veteran, you can match up with a lot of people. I wanted him for Sean O'Malley. I've wanted that matchup for a long time. Sean O'Malley now is books. He is fighting...

Excuse me. He is fighting Thomas Almeida. So he's off... He's off... out of that pool right now. So Louis Smoke is a free man again. Give me Louis Smoke and Grant. Two veteran guys.

Two great fight finishers. I'm just... That's just an exciting matchup. And one of many... One of many that are at 135. Man, when I was watching that Martinez Grand fight, I was just thinking of myself like, this is like a mid-tier bantamweight fight.

But it totally deserves to be on the main card. And it's... And the first... First round was awesome, and the finish was awesome. So just a great division. Gutierrez was kind of the one that shot in my brain right off the bat, just because Gutieris is probably going to call for that fight because he wants to avenge the loss of his teammate, which he had done before.

He did it with Andre Ewell, and we got a victory. And Gutierrez has been surging right now, so I'd like to see that. But I'm going to go with my gut, the one that, like, jumped into my head that got me fired up when I started thinking about this. Let's give him a gentleman who got his own impressive stoppage. win earlier this month also did it the second round i want to see the legendary english power of davy grant against the legendary second round power of one trevin jones that is high level ferocity at its best i want to see these two guys get in there sling some leather in the first both guys very dangerous

in the second who will drop who there you go there's your matchup that was one of the spoiler for the section ahead that was one of the most popular reader selections so i i've never had any even thought of it, but Mike, you are not alone in this. There is a, there is heat behind David Graham versus Treb & Jones. This is a real thing. So yeah, I love it. Again, I hadn't thought about it until I saw it. And I'm like, this is a really great matchup. Okay. Like, I'm into that. And now you've given it the official stamp of approval. Many of our listeners will be very happy. We're going to continue the weight class elevator going down floors. We go from featherweight to Bannamweight. Now we're going to the flyweight division. Matheus Nicolao

gets a big win over former rise in champ, Manel Cape. It was a bit controversial with the judging because it seems like literally everybody who has eyes and watch that fight scored it for Manel Cape, who now falls to 0 and 2 in the UFC. We did not see this coming, but Mateus Nicolao returns the promotion. And no matter how you slice it, it's going to go on the record books as a win for the returning Nicolao. So this is pretty easy for me, AK.

I mean, 25's awesome. You can mix a match. There's no wrong answer, but I'm going to go with Amir al-Bazi. I think it's a fun fight. 125's great. The scrambles between those guys. The striking changes will be fun. I'll go at that.

What do you think? I'm going higher. I'm going way higher in the rankings. Mateus Nicolao was a top 10 flyweight when he left the UFC. He has done nothing since then to change my opinion of that. Again, he went 2 and 0. I fought one of the fights was for Brave, very reputable promotion. Was supposed to fight Jose Shorty Torres, which, again, I think, between,

two top flywates and a fight between two top flyways that's put off course because of COVID leading to cancellation with some events but on my rankings I have Mateus Nicolao not including the champion I have him at 10th so if we're not counting the champion I do I have right there at 10 I have no issue with yes a lot of great

flyweights as you mentioned have debuted with the UFC since then Albaazi is certainly one of them David Devorak who else was signed him to I think Bonterrine I think was after Nicolao Rolin Paiva a lot of good fighters a lot of good fighters of Cuomances.

So, but I want to give him a top 10 guy. And I think someone who just recently won, last week even, and it thinks it would be a great stylistic matchup. Metteis Nicolao and Tim Elliott. As much as I love the idea, which was brought up by a reader last week, of a cool kind of Tim Elliott, Joseph Benevita's friend versus friend sentimental retirement match for Joe, I think that's a cool idea. I don't think that's going to happen.

So I think Nicolae Elliott is the way to go. and Elliot is just such a great opponent I know we use the term gatekeeper litmus test and sometimes in a derogatory way but I think he does kind of serve that function for the UFC but in the best possible way

I think his fights are exciting and I think he really is like you need to get past him to prove that you have what it takes to be a champion because he gives it for 15 minutes win or lose you are going to learn something and you're going to become a better fighter after you fight Tim Elliott

because he's in the wild man So I think it would be a great fight for both guys and keep them in line for contention. That's an interesting matchup because the Tim Elliott we saw against Jordan Espinoza is not the same Tim Alia we've seen over the last couple of years. This is not the crazy let's get a fight of the night, Tim Elia. This is the more composed whatever James Krause tells me to do I'm going to do and get two paychecks Tim Elliott. So that's an interesting fight. Tim Elliott was eyeing Manel Cape. He liked that option.

He likes Kai Kaher, France. but maybe Mateus Nicolao with the win. Maybe he likes that matchup. Tim Lian ain't going to say no to anybody anyways. So that's fun. I'd be down for that. As you probably know, the first fight on the main card was between Eric Anders and Darren Stewart at 185.

Anders, he looked tremendous. I mean, great, he looked gigantic. He was in fantastic shape. He trained at fight ready for this camp. He was opening up. He had Darren hurt. And then he lands the illegal. the fight is waved off.

The main card starts and ends with no contests. And in the case of the middleweighty, middleweight fight, we're skipping it. We're skipping it. There's no winner. We're going right to the wild card round, AK. We're going right to the wild card round. And before people call us out because we did the main event, it's the main event, guys.

It's the main event. It's the main event. It's Leon Edwards. Of course we're going to do that one. Yes, both fights ended in no contest. But we have to do the main event. So apologies to Eric Anders and apologies and respect to Eric Anders and Darren Stewart for what happened there. But guys, you got to, there has to be, for the most, unless you're the main event, there's got to be a result, an actual result. And after the main event, you probably, until I said Eric Anders and Darren Stewart fought to in all contests, you probably forgot about it.

So you're welcome that we reminded you of more diving into the rules that we haven't done in years. But so now, AK, I'm going to ask you to take one fighter that we have not match made for yet. And you can matchmake for them right now. So my best friend, what is your wild card selection for UFC Vegas 21? Yes, my best friend. Well, you know, I haven't been doing these quick hits in a while. So let me do some wildcard quick hits first.

Ronnie Yaya, up to 145 for Grapplers of Light with Ryan Hall, as suggested by own Gierma Cruz. I would just be, oh, that would just be so, so good. Or as I think it was MMA wagers on our post-byte show, suggested Ronnie Yaya versus Ronnie Lawrence so we can have Ronnie on Ronnie. Hashtag it. Marcello Rojo and Rapparcia. I just want to be booked again soon.

They did Combacha America's Proud. Even in defeat, I thought they did Combachi America's Proud. So great to see them in the UFC. And Manel Cape, work on point fighting. Be more macho. Stop, stop. Nobody, Mike, nobody likes knockouts. Nobody, come on.

Everybody fans don't want to see knockouts. They want to see you using your speed and agility and your physical gifts to be deacon in and out, hitting those inside leg kicks, peppering their opponent with jabs, little clinch, clinch punch, little clinch punches in the body. You got to score points, okay, not knock people out. Nobody cares about knockouts. You got to score points.

You know, he'll figure it out. He'll figure it out. He's in, he's in America now. Okay, not, none, Japan, where they're like, exciting fights. They like guys who finish. Nobody wants that. No, so my actual wild card pick had to go with the lone victorious Canadian on the card. Unfortunately, outcomes for Toronto's Mitsurkanov and Newfoundland's Gavin Tucker.

Thanks for showing off, guys. But it wasn't their night. it was the night for Charles Jordang who picked up a great third round TKO of Marcelo after an awesome fight that should have gotten a fight of the night bonus. It should have done performance bonuses and a fight of the night.

Just give more bonuses. So I like Charles Jordane. I think there was a I was actually struggling a little bit to find options because I wasn't sure if he's quite ready to leap up and face a good featherweight veteran. You know, we talk about lightweight and phantomweight a lot. Featherweight is maybe the third most stacked division

and there's also a lot of people in his range who I feel like he's a little bit above experience-wise or results-wise. I just don't know how to gauge him yet as a prospect. So I went pretty high. I went with someone who was supposed to fight on Saturday. Unfortunately, they had to bow out because their opponent got injured and they couldn't find a replacement. So Hikardo Hamos, supposed to fight Zavarajukukov. Maybe a bit of a step up for Jordane, maybe a little too far as a step up, but I'm willing to take it. that chance and I want to see I want to see Homo's in action soon don't know how long short

Daniel Bion that was a pretty tough fight could it could be a considerable potential medical suspension but if not I'd like to see this one turned around quickly and and I think Homo be a good test for him Mennel Cape should have gotten the win so I'm gonna get I'm gonna make a little bonus pick we need to see Mennel K versus Tyson Mamm we have to see this fight we need to see you know as a case so eloquently we put it on the on the post fight show point fight like a man. Neither of those guys are going to point fight like men. They're just going to go in there and try to knock each other's heads off.

And that's a confidence boost fight for either guy. It's a fight that it's kind of shocking that they haven't fought already. I know. Can we talk to, we both know Tyson. Should we message him? Should we message him? You know his management. Should we tell them, should we tell them campaign for this?

Call out. Let's do the call. Should we set up a quote unquote interview just for the purposes of him calling out Cape? Because it is a, it is a shame if these two never meet in the Octagon. Yeah. For some reason, there is no. this fight shouldn't happen in the UFC. It has to happen. We need to get them both on what the heck at the same time.

There you go. Yes. And just, it'll be respectful. Like, no one's going to talk trash about the other. It's just, you know, Manel probably have that one dark moment in the interview. Called Cody Garber and Cody Garber. I'm still not over that. I'm still not over that. I love that. Oh, that's rough. I don't know. I don't know what I think of what he's going to call Tyson now. I like Tyson now. Yeah, he'll probably, I mean, that's just a great fight. my actual pick

can we give some love to Raniaya I mean my God like just not just us I'm talking about like the fans I think he's becoming he's not Ryan Hall

he hasn't gotten that Ryan Hall like unicorn level swag yet but he's getting there I feel like he's a hardcore fans you know fan like he's on he's up there I want to the UFC needs to give this guy a bit of a rub

too like no matter what, like I'm not saying, like, give him a top five or a top 10, not even a top 15 matchup, but let's give this man a step up for the love of God. Like, I know he fought Ricky Simone and he lost that fight and it wasn't the best performance, but let's give him another chance at like that kind of a fight. Give him a guy right outside of the top 15 with the win, maybe he cracks it. Ronnie Yaya versus Casey Kenney sounds like a blast to me.

Like, let's get in there and let's see how good these guys are. Like Ronnie, I, yeah, like he said in the post fight to D.C., it's not a spring chicken. He's getting up there in age, but he seems to be getting better. I think his durability is getting better. I think his workmanship rate is better. I don't think he's gassing himself out. That was my one concern against anybody he fights, is that he's going to go and he's going to work hard for takedons and the grappling and the submissions. And if he doesn't get it by, you know, the midway point of round two, he starts to fade.

I feel like he kind of conserved himself a little bit better yesterday in that fight in that submission win. So, yeah, yeah, versus Casey Kennedy just sounds like a lot of fun to me. I really like that matchup. And let's see who's next in the top 15 between those two guys. Yeah, this is why you keep a guy like Rodney, Yai, Yara. I hope they keep him around for a long time. Because look, yeah, he's a veteran. He's probably pretty far from telecontention.

But he's the kind of guy who's been around and doesn't carry himself like, oh, I deserve a top 15 guy. as ever top 10 guy. He probably does. But again, if you look at his record, he's really just fought anyone up and down the rankings. He just likes to stay active. He likes to compete. He likes to represent Jiuzitsu, which he certainly did on Saturday with just a completely one-sided performance. He's very much like Damien Maya. When he gets in the ground, it's just magical. How he passes, how he sets up some missions. It's like him and him and Maya, they're not the most muscular guys. They're not these hulking gigantic grapplers.

they're, you know, in good athletic shape. But when you get on the mat with them, they become friggin' francis ghanu. Like, they just look like the strongest human beings on the planet. And really, that is the art of jiu-jitsu. And, yeah, he's just so much fun to watch. I would love to see him test Kenny. Obviously, I think most people would favor Kenny in that matchup.

But, again, this is why they're veterans like Yaya around. You have to, if Kenny was to be heavily favored, then he should dominate a matchup with Yaya, theoretically. But, you know, you got to prove you can do it against the guy that's been around this long. Yeah, and I kind of want to see what Ronnie would do against a guy. I mean, Case is a good wrestler, but he's obviously going to keep that on the feet. Ronnie Ayya has had the tendency to fall in love with his striking a little too much. He did that in the Ricky Simone fight.

So let's see how he does. I think that's a really good matchup. And people forget Ronnie Ayah in his last 11 fights is 8-2-and-1. He's 8-2-1 with a whole bunch of finishes. This guy is a bad man-ma-jama. Let's give him a step up. Whether it's a pair of running shoes or a new car, You check how well something performs before you buy it.

Why should investing be any different? At Fidelity, we get that performance matters most. With sound financial advice and quality investment products, we're here to help with accelerating your dreams. Chat with your advisor or visit Fidelity.ca. Performance to learn more. Commission's fees and expenses may apply. Read the funds or ETFs prospectus before investing.

Funds and ETFs are not guaranteed. Their values change and past performance may not be repeated. I don't know. I don't know. Do we have any check the table? Oh, we do. Well, we have two notes. Well, I'll shout out, I'll shout out, excuse me, excuse me, listener. I don't know why my Twitter is so dry this morning.

First, I'll shout out one of our Twitter, our Twitter pals, who just goes by G, or at Young Rabbi 86, regular listener and contributor. He demanded that I give him credit for Carlos Felipe versus Jason Collier, which is taking place. Jake Collier. There's no Jason. It's no Jason. Is there a Jason Collier?

That's not a thing, is it? There's probably a Jason Collier out there somewhere. Oh, like in the world, yeah. What is the, when is this? Oh, gosh, my gosh, my gosh, my Google is failing right now. When is this fight booked for? I like to say when this is for UFC 263. June?

On, what's UFC 263? June 12th. So Collier versus Felipe, G. And Cicity, he called this one, and that we, he called himself, he said, I'm the thick boy whisperer. So I guess he's telling us he has a, I did not call him this. He called him this himself. So I guess he has a knack for figuring out where these obscure heavyweights are going to end up next.

So I can't like. I actually didn't really go back and check the tapes. I'm assuming he's, he's right. And he actually did predict this. So well done, gee, well done. You are the thick boy whisperer. I can't, I don't remember anyone else calling for this fight. So that's something.

And I also just wanted to give a, A minor shout out. Oh, I had the date right in front of me. To Luigi Benjamini versus Firesium. That's also taking place June 12, U.S.C. 263. These are two names that were very popular with listeners lately, matching up with other people.

Nobody matched them up together. But I just wanted to, so that's kind of my update for you guys who were, like, throwing Vendermini in a lot of matchups and Firesium and a lot of matchups. They got each other. So that's kind of fun. So we didn't, listeners, we didn't quite hit the mark on that one, but you guys were headed in the right direction, that those two were sort of in the same.

year. Just nobody messed them up with each other for some reason. That's it. That's all the check the tapes. We didn't do anything. We didn't do it. We didn't get one. Been nailed Darius versus Tony Ferguson. I might get a little pat on the back for. I took us on a journey. On a journey with that one. Yes. Okay. Yeah. You know what? People check the tapes. Mike was on a Dyeru's Ferguson. I think I think that was a, I have to think

readers kind of like that one too. I don't know. I might have been the only one that was like I don't think that one's going to happen. But it looks like where reports are, it is is being targeted. We have not confirmed that fully yet. Not yet, not yet. And from what I understand, Penn has not hit paper for that fight just yet, but we'll see what happens. I feel confident when we're talking Tony Ferguson. When we're talking Tony Ferguson, I like to know the contracts are signed.

Yes. Yes. All signs are pointing in that direction, but it is not 100% done. What are the, you know what? I'll roll first with the Pete. Yeah, please, Mike, go ahead. What are you going? I'll do the matchmaking, and then we might have to introduce kind of a newer,

segment to the show because some of the DMs that got are a little different. Reactionary, so to speak. John George, regular contributor on the IG DMs, likes Charles Jordane versus Bruce Leroy. But if we want a fun technical match, but if we want chaos, Charles Jordane versus Darren Elkins would be a lot of fun. He also says if Dan Igay doesn't get the zombie fight, I think the winner of Arnold Allen versus Sudey Kusef would be a great matchup to watch.

also featherweight's awesome that's just a great that's a great division Henry Terry suggests Davey Grant versus Brian Keller her that's fun I like that one I thought about it Angela Hill versus Amanda Hebas Ryan Spann versus Nikita Krelloff and another another Charles Jordanine selection this is an interesting matchup AK I want to get your take on this one Canadian to another Charles Jordane versus Jared Gordon there they're there very close to each other in my rankings. I think they're within five spots of another in my rankings.

Yeah, no, I like it. I think, like I said, this is, this is where I was torn on. Do we give him someone more veteran? Do we give him someone who's closer to his level of experience? I think Gordon's maybe right in that sweet spot. So I can see it happening. There you go. But that's all I got in terms of like matchmaking.

The rest are just questions and we'll get to those after. Yeah, I think I might have got a question too. But it might have been, it might have been answered up on Saturday by the result of the main event. Or the lack of result of the main event, I should say. Yeah, so you mentioned some of these already, Mike, but yeah, there's some of the popular reader suggestions. The most popular one, not one of the main card fights. This is what I saw the most recommended. People really want to see Nasrat Haq Pras and Alexander Hernandez.

Oh, that's a good one. The people are talking about it. That was the most popular. I guess, again, the fact that we didn't really have a result in the main event might have made people not like super thrilled with matching up Edwards or Muhammad. but Edwards versus Wonderboy was probably the top suggestion I saw for Lan Edwards, people really launched that one. Ryan Span versus Volkan Usdemir. Yep.

Was the most popular matchup I saw for Ryan. Krilov also came up for Ryan Span a lot. First time, long time listener, first time commenter, Chris at underscore Dragon Slayer underscore number two. First off, just wanted to make sure we showed love for Davy Grant, and he was one of many who threw out the Grant versus Trevin Jones suggestion. So thank you, Chris, for the suggestion. Danny Gay versus Zombie. Danny Gay versus Josh Emmett.

Both of those came up. So people, yeah, we're all kind of in the same area with Danny Gaye right now. That makes sense. Hilvers Hebas, as you said. Another one I saw, a good one I saw for Jordain, which again, a little more experienced, which is why I probably didn't pull the trigger on it, but stylistically, I really like it. Jardine and Makwan Amirconi would be a really good fight. I like that one.

An interesting test for Jordane, because I do think Armarconi is a really good grappler. I do want to see how Jordain would deal with that. Ronnie Yaya. versus Saeed Nirmagometo. Sayyed Nirmagamato, another one of the... I think he's coming up every week. Him and Umar Nirmagamatov. No relation, by the way.

Those two names are both... And I think they both fight at Bantamate, which I think is why I'm getting confused. And I think also why people keep throwing their names out there. Just double check that. Yeah, they're both at Bantamweight right now. So, so Aideen Umar, a lot of eyes in these, I guess, whenever they fight. So, I don't know.

I'll keep people updated when they get matched up. That'll be a check of the tapes, whether we predicted the right fight or not. Courtney Casey versus Victoria Leonardo, I saw come up a few times, and Matthew Semelberger, forgotten in all this, who started off the show with an incredible knockout of Jason Witt. Have we mentioned Semmelsberger at all this shows of work? No, not once, which is unfortunate.

16 second K.O. His knockout was faster than Danny Gaze. Don't listen to what Theo Cormier and Michael Bispinger were saying on the card. That was not a three-second knock. out by Dan Ege, there was other stuff that happened that fight besides that one exchange. Yeah, Semmelberg had a 16-second knockout. And he opened the show, completely forgotten. We're like 45 minutes into this show, Mike.

And I don't even remember mentioning him on the post-fight show. That's crazy. Guys, this business is not just what have you done lately. It's like, what have you done within the last, like, 30 minutes? Crazy. It's rough. So, yeah. So shout-outs to everyone recommending Matthew Semelsberger and Gabe Green.

Very specific, but it came up more than once. So the readers are in tune with one another. They know what they're doing in the matchmaking. I like it. Going to the DMs, I mentioned G.G also, a young rabbi 86, also had some other good suggestions. I'll throw this out real quick. Hock Prosper's Guida, Yaya versus Anthony Birchak, Johnny Eduardo winner. That's on March 20th.

I'd love to see Yaya and Eduardo. Two lifers. I would see that. Birchak, I'm not interested in. Yeah, maybe not. but just two Brazilian gamers. How do you feel

with this one? Eric Anders, Phil Haas. Yeah. I know we talked about the rematch idea for Edwards-Mohamed. I'm more inclined

to make the rematch for Anders and Stewart. Even though it seemed like Anders was on his way, there wasn't a lot of time left in that first round. Had Stewart survived, because he is,

a durable cat, what would that fight have looked like moving forward? I'm intrigued. Because Anders is a big dude. He put on a lot of muscle master this fight. He didn't look like an 85 or he looked like the 205 version of Eric Anders. So I'm curious to see. I think they might run that one back, but I'm down for that fight. That's fun. Fight night main event can mean five more rounds of that, five more rounds of whatever the hell was happening in that first round? Just the chaos. No, we don't need a main event. That was wild. Three rounds. Three rounds is fine.

Three rounds is just fine. I think Anders, I don't know. I don't know if I'm ready to throw Phil in there with that version of Eric Anders. You know what I mean? You think that version of Andrews is too much for Phil Haas right now? It's a big experience gap. I don't know. Phil Haas, if you're listening.

The Eric Anders that fought Christoph Jocko, I actually would favor Phil Haas in that fight. but this is an arroganter's willing to throw and pull the trigger and use his strength and put his hands on Darren Stewart. We didn't see that in his last couple fights. We probably haven't seen this as the clear roundtree fight if we're being honest. But we saw it a lot more on Saturday. Give Phil one more fight before we start throwing him in there with the Erickanders of the world. That suggestion definitely jumped out at me. So I like that.

So thank you. Oh, yeah, but I think it was worth discussing for sure. Absolutely. It made me think. Nicolao I think the ship has sailed But Nicolaovo versus Ulan Bekhov

Just rebook it I don't know I think the win Well It did advance how you feel out to win I thought his performance It's impressive Whether you thought he won or not

I thought it was impressive I thought he did enough to win Though I did pick Cape I just said like I just went in four different directions there I did think Cape won But I had no problem with Nicolae winning let me put it that way

So maybe he's moved on From the Ulun Bekhov Matchup But you could just rebook that I'm fine with that No other question I like this one too. This is all from G.

By the young rabbi 86. Davy Grant versus Amin Zahabi. Love it. I think a very cool matchup. And I bring this because I need to ask you. So he says Ege versus Bryce Mitchell. He's probably a bit ahead of Bryce Mitchell in the rankings, of course. But what is up with Bryce Mitchell?

Why is it taking so long? I haven't heard anything? Why is it taking it so long? He's healthy as far as I know. I don't recall him. Any surgery or anything like that? I mean, that was a taxing fight. against Andre Feeley.

When was that? That was Halloween. That was Halloween. Oh, that was months ago. That was. Bryce, get in there. Get in there. I don't know.

That was months ago. I thought it was like I was suffering from like COVID time distortion. You know what I mean? Oh, that was like in January. It was like October 2020. Anyone who fought, man, you guys are ready. These guys are ready. I don't know if I love that particularly match.

But I do want to see Mitchell, Bryce Mitchell come back soon. I'm not, we're in the third. third or almost in the second quarter of 2021 we're a couple of weeks away mike you book a fight price let's get him in there come on thug nasty uh more from the twitter barry o'reilly semelzberger versus gall yeah i could see that hackpras versus devante smith wow i'd watch that it's a good fight a good match for hack press isn't there it's a good fight a lot of good uh what else which of these i think i picked i think i think i actually booked i think you might have after devante's win i said it's a good for

Devante Smith versus Nazra Hackpress. I'm sticking with it. Yes. Let's do it. This did sound weirdly familiar. And then I think, I forget, did you just bring this up as one of the possibilities, or maybe I saw it more than once? Dan Igay versus Arnold Allen, Sadiq Yusuf winner.

That's been a popular listener. That's what I thought, for sure. So, yeah, I'm into that. Probably more so Arnold Allen, because I would love to see I get a crack at, like, breaking that wind streak, that pretty considerable win streak. But, I mean, Yusuf wouldn't bet be bad. either, but I think I like Ege Allen a little bit more. Ege

Burgos is fun too if Burgos beats that Sabrebozo. I get anything is fun right now. That knockout was amazing. Pissed him. Dang. Dang. Scott McCrae gave me some good suggestions. I like he's Deiola's

Seifers. Cyphers, I always say Cepers. Cyphers has not been released as far as we know, right? I mean, I just assume she's on the verge of me, but I have not heard anything about her being released. No, she was supposed to fight Mallory Martin In February, I think Or in the March paper view

Yeah, whatever Mallory Martin just fought She was supposed to fight Mallory Martin And she got injured So she was out of the fight She hasn't been released, I don't think And then Like this is a family show But I'm not sure, I don't, and Scott's commented

On our show a lot of his comments and a lot of our post-fight preview shows, all this stuff. So I don't think he meant to do this somewhat body play on words here. So he mentioned Manel Cape versus Brandon Royval. Now, I don't love this matchup. I think, I think, I just don't, I think Royval's considerably ahead of Cape in the rankings right now. That's why. If you think it'd be a fun matchup, I just think, I don't think Royval should have to fight Cape right now.

And I made a note to myself to read this because he had it. he said I have a dirty mind raw dog worst nickname in M.A. That's my opinion. Raw dog will pull out the best in Cape both would benefit and I just

the phrasing of raw dog and pulling out just made me laugh. I'm sorry that is just it's a family show. It's a family show. So thank you Scott for that unintentionally

somewhat filthy suggestion a good fight but not one I expect to cease him. I don't like raw dog. I don't like the nickname. You're not a fan. I'm not a fan. Every time I, my, my nose instinctively scrunches up every time I hear it or have to say it.

Get a new nickname, Brian Royval, please. Liam Perry, always coming in hot with suggestions during fight night. He thought I had a couple of good ones. Angelo-Hill versus Marina Rodriguez, I think makes a lot of sense right now. No. Can we talk about answers up? No. No, no, no, no.

Marina is so far. Marina's like a win away from a title shot. Are you kidding me? He's not so. Come on. Listen, I love Angela Hill as much as everybody, but these two aren't even on the same planet right now. Marina three. It is a win away from a title fight.

She just stopped a man to he bus, yeah. That's a lot of keep. Well, I'm just saying, I think that had more to do with her halting a hype train. She probably, a lot of people thought she beat Carlos Sparza, former champion. But she didn't. I mean, she didn't technically. I'm just like Angela Hill didn't be Clodging Adelia if we're going to play that game.

Oh, well, I don't think she's that far ahead of, of Angela Hill. I think. Would she like eight spots ahead of her on the rankings, nine maybe? Four in mine. And yours, that's true. In my, the mystery rankings. And I'll take quick. I'll play your game, heck, I'll play her game.

This is if you're hearing the clattering of my keyboard, that's me going to the UFC.com rankings. They have, all right, six spots. That's a lot. Marina Rodriguez is sixth, Angela Hill is 12th. They have Marina ahead of Claudia Godelia. I wouldn't have her ahead of her. Yeah, I would.

I wouldn't put Marina. No, I would not put Marina ahead a lot of these better-in names. You're right. She might be closer to tell the shot. I need to see one more win. And that win, maybe it should be Angela Hills. So, Liam Perry, I think that was a good suggestion. Don't listen to what Mike has to say.

He's shaking his head right now. Okay, listen. The fight to me, let me just throw this out because I said this last week. I'm going to reiterate it. I'm going to reiterate it. The fight to make is Angela Hill. Hill versus Amanda Lamosh. That's the fight to make.

Oh, yeah. Lamoch is a scary cat. Former 35er. I think she's the next big thing in this division. And how do you decipher if you're really the next big thing? You take on an absolute gangster like Angela Hill. You take on a G who's going to be in your face, throwing hands at you. And if you can survive Angela Hill, kind of like how you mentioned Tim Elliott.

I put Angela Hill in the same sort of category. Game as hell, getting better, good fighter, can hang with the best, but it's kind of the test, like the ultimate litmus test in this division. Like, it's Tisha Torres, and then there's Angela Hill. Angel Hill, you beat Angela, you fight Tisha Torres, you move up.

Oh, excuse me, I got so excited that I smacked my table with my wedding ring. Yeah, Lamos versus Angela Hill is the fight to be. make that's a fun scrap anyways those two are just going to stand there in the pocket and throw hams at each other i love it all right liam pair you made you made mike get fired out you made mike mad i'm mad but i still support it uh i'm glad he matched up for someone for gavin tucker i think this was the only gavin tucker uh there was a few matches i think this is one that really liked gavin tucker Nate landwer thumbs up big thumbs up yes please that is a great fight for nate great fight for nate great fight for gavin a ton of action guaranteed i love

Marcus McAhy sometimes comes in through email, sometimes comes in through DM, this time is through DM. Nicolao v. Kai Kara France. I don't think, I think Cara France might be, well, no, because I think pretty highly of Nicolao, but I just don't think that's a fight Cairo France. His team is probably looking for it right now. I don't think they have much of a choice. I mean, that's, I think that's fine. I mean, Tim Elliott also wants Kai Kar-France, so I'm down, maybe we just throw them all in there,

Triple threat match. Nicolao, Elliot, and Cairo, France. Well, I was going to have some good ones over the next six months, including hopefully, Mano K. versus Tyson Nure. That's the fight. You can do it a 35, too, if you want. Jin Yu Fry coming off her first year she won't, probably saving her job.

How do you like her versus next week's Cheyenne Bayes and Montserrat winner? Well, she won't fight Cheyenne because Cheyenne was a huge benefit for her, Gini Frye in this fight. Oh, we mentioned this on the, on the postway show. That's right. If Cheyenne loses, yeah, I'm in for that. Makes a lot of sense. Monster, yeah.

So, Marcus, you're in the right ballpark. And I wanted to mention one of his comments. He just wanted to say, if you're an M. May fan and you don't like Angela Hill, I don't trust you. We cannot be friends. This falls under what I dubbed the Caceres rule. So he likes, he likes Axis, he likes Anxeris, he likes Angela Hill. And if you don't like either of those fighters, you are suspect, apparently.

I like it. Tocke Gerting Jensen from Denmark, from Denmark. I made a note for myself to read this comment too. I can't remember why. He said, let's try and, oh, okay, he's just insisting we don't do the Edwards-Mohamed matchup. He said, let's try and fix this mess that was the main event. We have to move on. We cannot rematch this.

The fight was lopsided into the I poke. We don't need to see it again. And then he wants to see Edwards versus Wonderboy and Balal versus Lee Jingleang. So, yeah, a very good logical matchups there from Toke. And also, he also brought up Bryce Mitchell. He said, why not Bryce Mitchell for Charles Jordan? So Bryce Mitchell, wherever you are, people are making suggestions for her. You got to, you got to fight somebody.

Ryan Hall, hopefully that fight's still alive. I know we all, that was the big, big, big one in 2020. That must have been come up so many times. So we just don't know what's going on there. But that's probably still the top of Bryce Mitchell matchup would be Ryan Hall, if that can get lined up. And Jack O'Hara, I think a first time, I want to say this, yes, first time contributor to a long-time listener.

Thank you, Jack, for chiming in. He likes Davy Grant versus Randy Costa. Costa is injured. He had to get out of a fight recently, but hoping to fight again in May, I think he said. So, David Grant, Costa? Yeah. I'm down for that fight.

And one, the only one I had to shoot this one down. I like this matchup, but I'm bringing it up because I got, sorry, Jack, I got to shoot this one down. Nazrat Haq Pras versus Droukar close. Good matchup. Close is fighting Jeremy Stevens in a lightweight bout on April 17. So he's accounted for, but I do like the matchup on paper. I also think I'm picking close to win that fight.

So certainly that's something that could be arranged afterwards. But don't count out Jeremy Stevens, especially in a return to 155, could be revitalized. I'm going to have to wrap up here soon. But Instagram DM, I only got one guy. My Instagram, oh, no, no, no. I'm sorry. Someone literally just came in as we were recording. So live podcasting, everybody.

But Jacob Best likes, how did we not mention this as a possibility? Probably, oh, probably because this guy's retired. But Muhammad and Shemaya. Yeah, sure. We don't know when Shemaya's. The thing is, Shemaya, we said this a bunch of times. He might actually be retired.

Like, I don't think so. I still think, you know, whatever that's, that moment was where he had a statement and then it was erased because of the influence of Dana White and, and, and, and, uh, Kadearov, got to help us. I but look if you if I if if he turned out he actually was retired I that wouldn't surprise me either so but I actually like it I like I like the idea of it I knows me tough to figure out whenever again no major injury apparently to Muhammad's eye but again who knows how much time wants to take off that was really that looks really ugly and Shamaa might not even be back this year so I could see how to have me down the road if Shemai if maybe it's not next maybe it's not next that might be a 20-22 matchup for whatever reason I guess I'm assuming Shemaya fights again and uh he wants Davy Grant versus O'Malley He said after O'Malley chins Almeida

So not really not giving Thomas Almeida And see that Amales runs through Almeida and set up a fight with David Grant That would be so much fun Yeah I need to see Grant get more mic time I think he's a nice guy But I think he could talk some

I think he can talk some crap too I would like him to really like I want to see him do an interview Where he doesn't have broken bones And his face or his foot or his leg Yeah His foot was like hanging off his body as he was doing the interview.

He's like, I'm fine. I'm fine. Like, I'm not hurt. And he's like limp, he limped into the interview area, limped away from the interior area. It's like, he probably should have just gone to the back right away. I'm glad he got it. I'm sure he wanted to do a post-fight interview.

But I'm like, maybe just let him go to the back. He had a broken jaw in the fight before and did an interview. Yeah. He really should stop doing that. Oh, man. I'm not going to tell David Grant how to live. David Grant is living his life and I'm not going to tell him how to do it. From email, Matt Brad Burrard.

with a lot of good recommendations, but I really like, again, I like to give ones where we haven't brought them up. JJ Aldrich won. Look, she won her fight. Controversial? Absolutely. Very close fight. Poor Courtney Casey.

Third split decision loss of her UFC career. But JJ Alderich is officially the winner. So someone said her and Molly McCann. Matt Bradbury, I like it. Sure. Makes sense. Molly McCann, I know someone were like, well, didn't she retire? It's like, no, no.

She left her gloves in the cage after her last fight. And she said it was, I think her father had passed, if I'm not mistaken. So it was more of a dedication to her father, I think. Yeah, something like that. Yeah, it was just an emotional moment. Austin Deschamp. I got to ask you about this one, Mike. Davy Grant, a lot of David.

David Grant, he's having a weekend. Davy Grant and Cheeto. Too soon. Too high, maybe. Yeah, I mean, I'd watch, but, you know, we're talking Marlon on Marlon, Marlon, fights of that nature. I don't know if Davey Grant will light the fire.

and her chito vera how i gotta forget marlin on marlin what was this other one okay sorry i'm i'm loading up another comment i like to read ones explanations but the other austin's other one that i really liked this one my number one choice except i have already booked i i have already booked this one for minner derrick minner i really liked derrick minner and julian erosa but actually if i hadn't done that already i actually think jordain versus erosa would be my number one pick uh for jordaine x arosa is is booked, I believe. Oh, is he already?

Oh, that's the other reason I didn't book. Let me just look it up. I'm pretty sure he's booked. Did he already? Oh, I did look at this. Yang Wuchoy, that's it was. Sung Wuchoy, yes, who Jujardine is beaten. But if a Rosas, oh, that's in June.

That's a long time. I don't like that matchup. I mean, it's fine. It is what it's fun. Oh, Sun Wucho and Rosa? Julian Rosa wanted Alex Casares I really wanted to see that Yeah that made a lot of sense

This does seem random This seems like a random He's signed off the first name That was like set in his direction No disrespect to Sungwu Choi But yeah I know what you mean Like he was ready for maybe a slightly bigger name And Choi a good fighter

But not not the most Not exactly the most well-known guy Yeah that's I mean it's fine It's a fun fight I just yeah I thought I mean Choi's won two in a row So yeah maybe Tristan Gordette

He's on the EGay Emmett bandwagon here is and he said the fight sells itself period I think the fight can happen Emmett in an interview said he's hoping to come back in August I'll have an MRI on his knee in the coming oh this is where I got this information from he'll have an MRI on his knee in the coming weeks to see the progress of where it is we all know that Igey is taking some time off for the birth of his child makes sense to me I agree I think that I think the timing lines up so that see so now I'm really sad if it's not Ege Emmett or Ege zombie I'm going to be really sad because I think all of us and the listeners are all like yeah this is one

One of these matchups is money. Or Ige Burgos or Ige Hall. All of these are all fun. E. E.G. versus anybody rocks. Emmett zombie. Now I'm thinking about Emmett Zonby. Maybe we can figure this out.

And I will close with Harry Dwaskin, first of all, for being kind enough to help me pronounce his name properly. He is not from Eastern Europe. So there's no... I was calling him, I was calling him Harry Javoshkin before. I'm a noted over-pronouncer. I try hard when it comes to pronouncing names. No, he is from, I think he said he's from New York. And I think he said, let me make sure I get this right.

He said, I'm from New York. It's just Daweskin. Okay, so Harry Daweskin, thank you for the correction. And he had some good suggestions. I love when people match up contender series names who have yet to debut. So he said, Rafa Garcia versus Tucker Lutz, who was a two-time contender series guy, actually. He made it on his second.

I think he did it twice in one year. year, right? A few people have done that, but he did it twice in one year and he got it in his, got the contract in his second attempt. So love when people do that. And I do want to see Ralph Garcia stick around. So Jose, he agrees with Jose Young's pick, Charles Jordane versus Alex Casares. I think that'd be a lot of fun. So it's the right matchup for him right now as well. My Zordane pick really was not as good as some of these listener picks. I'll admit it. And I just didn't pick Casares because I didn't want to agree with Jose. So full disclosure. I like this matchup. If people are talking about, again,

There's no easy fights in the UFC. There's definitely no easy fights in the Flyway Division. Manel Cape, Malcolm Gordon, Canada's own Malcolm Gordon. And in my words, I think that would be a loser-leaves town match. So a lot would be on the line. I thought Gordon was already released. Oh, it's possible. I could be wrong.

I don't want to speak out of term, but I thought I'm pretty sure I thought Malcolm Gordon was released. I have to double check on that. But yes, I hope not. I don't think that's a terrible matchup. I don't think that's a total match actually like where Harry's head is on that one and then we end with a joke Mike we end with the hilarious

joke from Harry he says Why not Leon Edwards versus John Jones for the eye poke championship of the world LOL Harry What a what a what a charming wise crack But I do like when I do like when our listeners get a little cute so

Yes if we can do a humorous Edwards versus Jones I poking matchup That would be great But I don't see that Dana White booking that one anytime soon. So there we go. Thank you, listeners. Awesome suggestions as always. Thank you everyone who chimed in for the first time. I hope I didn't forget anyone. If I did, of course, blast me on social media. You can send angry, 3D on Twitter. At Alexander K.K. Lee or on Instagram at Alexander K. Oh, no, it's the other way around. Mike, fix us in post. No.

Fix us in false. We're doing it live. 1K on Twitter, Alexander KK-Lee, 2Ks on Instagram, and then Alex Dotley at sbination.com or email. Mike, where can they, where can they reach you? Find me on Twitter at Mike Heck underscore JR on the IGM underscore HeckJR. Shout out to Boston Rich for his question, Cody On as well. Cody on was talking about why people are even suggesting Leon Edwards Fire for a title based on his resume. Boston Rich had a question about Colby Covington.

and him not taking any fights, is it going to shoot him in the foot? Yes. We shall see. We shall see on both of those. So I appreciate you reaching out. He reached out to me. Thank you.

I was like, you must know this guy, Boston and Rich. I'm like, yeah, yeah, he reached out to me as well. Thank you.

Thanks, Mike, for answering that question. I forgot to bring that up. And also, sorry, I mentioned we got up one, we got a message live from the Josh, Josh Abukai. Oh gosh,

I got to read these without betting them. Nazat Haq Pras, Sarukian. Sure, I'm down for that. Jardin versus Loron, Lorone Murphy. couple of people brought this one up. Oh, he also likes Nicolaova's a Roy Ball.

So there we go. That's, he's not alone on that one. And again, another guy is with us. Cape Ver Cavan Nam, David Grant Trevin. This is Davey Grant Trevin Jones. I'm not kidding. That and Hackfrasse Hernandez, the most recommended listener fights of the week. So good job.

Listeners, we could have some really solid check the tapes to look back on later this year. Because I think you guys nailed these ones. There's no doubt about it that the matchmakers listen to this program because they want to get a gauge of where the people want. They have to go to the fastest rising MMA podcast on planet Earth to get these answers. And it's because of you all and your wonderful suggestions. You guys make it happen. And we thank you very much.

Join us next week as we turn the page to UFC Vegas 22 coming up this Saturday. The Go Home Show ahead of UFC 260. The main event this week. Fun one. Very pivotal match of at 185 between Derek Brunson and Kevin Holland. I've been talking to Kevin Holland for many years now since he's on the regional. scene and ever since he's gotten into the UFC, there's been one name that he has mentioned pretty much every single interview of a guy he's wanted to smack across the face. Derek Brunson

is that man. There is heat and we're going to get it. He's going to get his wish. And we'll see it Saturday night and we'll see what's next for those two gentlemen. And Gregor Gillespie. And Gregor Gillespie's back. A popular on to the next one, again, all of last year, Gillespie's for a lot of lightweight matchups, Gillespie's name was thrown out. So guys, he is back. We can So win or lose, we can throw him back into the matchmaking pool. So I'm excited for that as well. He's got a tough one with Brad Riddell. That's a fun fight.

We got Tai Tuivasa coming back against Dantel Maze, Adrian Yannes, Gustavo Lopez, Max Griffin, Kenan Song, Cheyenne Bayes makes her debut against Monster at Ruiz. And her husband, J.P. Bayes, fights on that card as well against Bruno Silva. So it should be some fun matchups. I expect chaos, just like we had this past Saturday. Julia X, Julia. Julia and plus Julia and Julia, this is going to be just tremendous stuff. The return of Montel Jackson, Roman Elise's 185-pound debut,

Grant Dawson's 155 pound debut. There's just a lot to discuss, and we're going to talk about it next week. Until then, for AK, I am Mike Heck. Thank you for listening. And remember, do not take this too seriously. MMA is supposed to be fun. It will have more fun right here next week on onto the next one, the podcast. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Thank you.