MMA Fighting - On To the Next One: Matches To Make After UFC Vegas 31

Episode Date: July 18, 2021

On the 51st 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 31 event at the APEX.  Future matchups were discussed for Islam Makhachev following his dominant fourth-round submission win over Thiago Moises, Miesha Tate—who triumphantly returned to the octagon after nearly a five-year layoff—Mateusz Gamrot, Rodolfo Vieira, Billy Quarantillo, and more.  Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support for this show comes from the Audible Original, the downloaded two. Ghosts in the Machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cudulian and the rest of the Phoenix Colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the Audible Original Blockbuster. The Downloaded, it's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking,

What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Everybody and welcome to a brand new initiative. On to the next one. We are back and we are coming off. most listened to episode in the history of the show last week following UFC 264. And we thank you very much for that as we are back to matchmake for some of the big winners,

notable names, the tastemakers, if you will, coming out of the UFC's return to the apex this past Saturday night. UFC Vegas 31, where the lightweight division took the marquee once again. And there is officially a new face that is ready to make a title run in this loaded division. We will discuss the fallout of that, a memorable return to the octagon. as well and much more this week on the show. I am Mike Hack and joining me as always is the co-host, the co-matchmaker and the Prince of Positivity.

He's my best friend and your best friend, Mr. Alex Keeley. How are you, sir? Oh, thank you. My best friend, Michael Heck, I don't know. I'm in a good mood after Saturday's card. I don't know if it's because after all the stuff that happened after UFC 264, I just needed kind of a refreshing

low drama card where everyone is went in there and took care of business and kind of did their jobs. I know this sounds boring to people. I'm sure people who watched it were bored at times. But it just felt it was, it was a card, Mike, as we like to say. It was a card. It was a card.

And it was a quality card. I don't even say this out of like out of like, oh, people just showed up and did their jobs, whatever. There was some really, really like, I think some good fights. I loved the main event. I saw a lot of people, the usual, you know, the usual who were like, oh, it's boring. Like, same people who don't like Habib, some people who don't like GSP, like, It was so boring. I'm like, that is, that is MMA there, man.

You watch Makhchev in that main event. That is MMA. So, yeah, I've had a great time on Saturday. Really enjoyed it and was very much looking forward to doing this onto the next one. I feel that way every Sunday morning when I get up and let's do it right now. Let us begin with the man, I guess, it wasn't with whom this card was built around originally, but it became that way, Islam Makhachev, because of course, as we all know by now, the main event was supposed to be Max Holloway versus

Jerry Rodriguez, Holloway gets injured, Makachev and Tiago Moises gets bumped to the main event, and man, this Makachev just keeps sending shivers down the spines of everybody at 155 pounds. He dominates, suffocates Tiago Moises with

pressure, and then like literally nearly suffocates Tiago Moises with a rear naked choke in the fourth round. Eight wins in a row, AK, victorious in 20 of his first 21 professional fights. The man is a problem, and you can put him in there with anybody in the top 10, top 5, top 3. Throw him in there with Charles Oliver right now, AK, and at the absolute worst.

On his worst night, on his worst night, he is competitive with everybody up there. He is in a fight competitively with all of those guys. There's no ifs, answer, butts about it. But again, getting to that level is going to prove to be a little bit of a problem because I don't see a lot of guys really rushing to say, okay, I will fight this guy and put my spot on the line against this maniac. So where does he go now from another dominant submission win? I'm going to go with the obvious pick.

And it's someone who I matched up a couple of times in the show and really enthusiastically. Like, half a while those anos. Halfa dos a year is the way to go. I really wanted him to fight Justin G. I don't. This fight is happening literally just last week, Mike, when we recorded that show. I said, I really want them to remember. Greger fight to finally happen. But we knew McGregor was hurt. We know now very likely out until

next year, I think, I think a full 12 months sounds like, you know, the next time we'll see McGregor's will probably next July. And that's also considering, I mean, the guy doesn't fight that often anyway. So I think RDA is once again free. I hate to do this. I hate to reuse this name when again, I just used it last week. But he's been booked to fight Machachup multiple times. a top 10 guy. He's a former world champion, stylistically, a great match for Islam Makachev. So this is the right test for Islam Makachev right now. And I think one of the, one of the few guys in the top 10 who's like, we'll really jump at the opportunity to fight him. I don't think RDA will be hemming and hawing if a contract gets sent his way to fight

Machachev. All week long, even on the preview show, the people's pre-fight show, even the beginning of the post-fight show, the RDA fight was the only one on. my mind. And in the immediate aftermath of the win, I felt that way, continued to feel that way, but I've talked myself out of it. I talk myself out of it at the end of the post-fight show. I think if you can make this Tony Ferguson fight happen, you have to make it happen and you have to make it happen right now because the story is there. Ferguson still has the name. Yeah, he's on a little bit of a skid right now, but he's got the name, he's got the support, he's got the following. I mean, you saw what happened the last time he fought in Houston. He was

the fan favorite. And more importantly than anything else, he's got the number five next to his name, AK. This is the fight to make. If you're a Tony Ferguson fan, you probably hate to hear this. But if Tony Ferguson believes that if he believes what he says on social media, that he's still a title contender, he's a winner two away from getting back to a title fight, if he believes he can get back to that place he was at prior to the Justin Gachie fight, you got to fight and beat Islam Makachiev to do it. This is the one I would, of course, be fine with the RDA fight, but this has to be the fight, A.K. It just has to be. Nothing else makes sense, really, for either guy right now.

Would have been my number two choice. Makachov himself mentioned it in the Post-Fite press conference. If he had a choice, that's what he would want to do. For the reasons you mentioned, it kind of continues this, kind of gives us the Habib Ferguson fight that was booked many, many times. But sadly, sadly, we never got. And I think, Mike, actually, I think Ferguson fans actually would be excited about the Makachian matchup.

Yeah, I mean, I think at this point, even the most fanatical Ferguson followers, there's a little all alliteration for you, would probably be, you know, would probably be concerned for Ferguson. I think even they would expect him to maybe take a loss there. But for him to get a guy who, as you said, even though, you know, he hasn't beaten a top 10 or top five guy yet, in the minds of many is a top five guy, for Ferguson to still be able to get an opponent like that, I think his fans would like that. I think his fans would see it as.

And who knows, he picks up the win. He's suddenly right back in title contention. which sounds unbelievable, given some of the recent losses he's taken. But I went over Makachev would do that. And I was someone who in their primes, and my primes, I mean, maybe a couple of years ago, you know, Ferguson's a little bit up there now and has some wear and tear. I really thought Ferguson had a chance to beat Habib. Again, it sounds crazy now.

Hindsight's 2020. We see where both their careers went. And it seems like any version of Nuremberg-Metov would have beaten Tony Ferguson. But I really do think in their primes before Ferguson had some of the – of the damage he's taken in his recent fights that I think he would add a chance. And I think the Makachov matchup is, is, is, is, is, is, is, would it please give some, some hint at what could have been. Yeah, I mean, some people, Jed Mishu especially is like, always says that, you know,

do you really think Tony Ferguson was the guy? And it's funny because Tony Ferguson was so far ahead of his time, but he just never evolved from there. You know what I mean? It's just, it's just a weird thing. And maybe this fight will sort of. reinvigorate him. We'll see what happens. And I know I said, this fight is the only one that makes sense for either guy. It's not true, but it makes the most sense for Tody Ferguson. I know a lot of

people want to see Tony Ferguson take this big step back and just find a way to a win. But sorry, bro. It's just not possible in this division, especially if we're a top five guy, which I was shocked he was still a top five guy when I looked at it. I'm like, there's no way this guy's rank number five. But alas, there he is. And this is the fight to make. number six Mike in the NBA fighting global rankings oh yes so apparently apparently we're not too far off from that actually and again considering that we count uh we count the champion as one of the rankings he is actually so technically he would be fifth uh you know the equivalent of fifth in the ufc rankings which counts champion as champion and then goes one two three four five you know contenders

so i mean i don't know where you had him in your rankings mike uh but he's still apparently according to our rankings is still a top five guy. I have him seventh or the number six contender in mind. Yeah, I think he was probably I think I had him a little higher than that. I think it or a little lower than that.

I think it maybe like eight or nine. But still, top ten. Yes, we are. Co-made event, a triumphant return for one Misha Tate, nearly five years removed from her last appearance, the loss of Raquel Pennington at UFC 205, where

Cupcake announced her retirement from the sport. and I said this on the post-fight show, and there's no doubt. I mean, I obviously stand by it. She looked calm. She looked relaxed. She looked refreshed. A new clear outlook on life, AK, on the sport. She's definitely much happier.

You could see it when Bruce Buff was announcing her. And she looked excellent. The entire fight against Marion Reno. It took her a couple minutes to, you know, get her legs under her. But she went in there, beats Marion Renaud. who then went on to officially retire herself, and we wish her the very best in that. But to me, AK, this is probably the easiest one for me,

and I don't think you agree with this, but to me, this is a layup. Holly Holm called for it already. She planted that seed. She planted it several months ago during a live fan Q&A with Lorisanko. Holly Holm wants to avenge that loss from UFC 196. I'm totally okay with that matchup right now.

Tate says she's not here to take part. She's here to become a champion. And when you say things like that and you have a name and you have the cachet, if you will, that Misha Tate brings to the sport, the UFC will more than likely give her the opportunity to accomplish that as quick as possible. And a win over Holly Holme probably gets her there, probably gets her to a title shot, if not at worst, one win away from getting there. So Holm wants it. If Tate shows any interest in that fight whatsoever, I think that fight happens. So that's the fight for me, AK. I don't think you're on the same wavelength, though.

It's a great fight. It's a rematch that I think we all thought we would see someday before Misha retired in 2016. I just, like, I worry that home wins and then just pushes back another, pushes back a potential contender because I don't know if the UFC, I don't know what it would take for the UFC to book home into another title shot with Amanda Nunez. I know everyone views her as like, oh, she's, you know, one of the matchmaker's face. favorites, it wouldn't take much. But considering the first fight was pretty definitive, I don't know if they want to make that happen again,

Holly Holie Holm and Amananunias. And so if Holm beats Misha Tate, then you're suddenly killing this Misha Tate title run before it's even really begun. So I kind of cheeszed out here. I do think the home fight is more likely, but I kind of cheesed out going with, well, I want to make a matchup where no matter who wins,

you get a next title challenger. So it's not my favorite, but I would want to see your first. based one of the young gunners in the Bantamweight Division. Aspen Ladd or Macy Chasson, they're fighting this coming weekend, excuse me. And I'd be okay. Matchup-wise, I don't love it either match-up, but I think as far as keeping sort of a title contender line alive, that's the way I want to go with it. So it was great to see Tate back, great to see Tate back, but I did have a little bit of trouble figuring out kind of what to do with her next.

But there's a lot of directions you can go. Like I said, you have these big-name fights that are still there, like home. And then you can kind of, again, or keep her in the normal contender stream. So we'll see how they go with it. Let me ask you this, A.K., what are the chances that they just give Misha Tate a title shot? So Nunez has fight Julianna Pena next. It's not, it's really not impossible. So if I would say chances out of 10, I'll go five out of 10.

And slightly leaning a little bit lower honestly, like a little bit less than a 50% chance. but just barely lower than 50%. Because I think, and not that they don't think she can, like I think they know she's marketable. I think they know she's still a name. But I think they also have a lot of sort of respect for how she's come back and kind of like, okay, well, I don't know if she would want a title shot right away.

Why are we, I don't know if she would want to tell the shot right away. I don't know if Nunez, we want to fight her next after Pena. I don't know if anybody wants to see that fight next. So they could certainly make it and market it. But it doesn't sound like it's the number one option on anybody's. plate. So it's possible and given her name somewhat likely, but not a desirable outcome.

Right. And the only reason I bring up that question is, I actually, the more I think about it, I'm probably on the higher end of the 5-6 scale. I probably put it like 5.75 because I don't feel like, I don't think we're going to, I think Amanda Nunes at best, and this is just my

brain, three fights total left in her career. Because what else does she have to do? So I would think it would be who of the UFC to put her in the biggest fights possible for those final three fights. And one of those three fights is happening very soon on August 7th against Giuliana Pena. So after that, she probably has maybe two fights left and then she's got to be done. Misha Tate will be one of those two fights at some point.

And now it's either you just give it to her next just so you can have it. And there's no way Holly Holm or anybody else can take that away from her. or you throw Misha in there one more time, you end the career with the rematch with Misha Tate. Either way, I think Misha gets the title shot sooner than a lot of people think. I don't know if that's the right call. I don't think you think that's the right call, but I have a feeling it would not surprise me in the slightest

if the UFC just threw Misha Tate a title shot after that one win. Mike, let me ask you a question, sir. Where would you put Misha in the rankings after her win? So I don't know what your rankings look like, but I'll go, we'll do this, we'll do this quick, but we'll do this one by one. This is what our global rankings look like right now. So starting from 15 and up, would you put her above Alexis Davis? Yes. I agree.

Julia Avila. Yes. Yes, I agree. Penny Kianzat. Close, but yes. Right. It's getting closer here. So I wouldn't.

So this is where I would stop with. This is in my rankings where I stopped with, with Tate. I actually have her just at number 15. in my rankings. I just couldn't pull the trigger. I may be chickened out. I couldn't pull the trigger and put her kind of much

closer to the top 10 spot she was in when she left. It was five years ago. Number 12, would you put her higher than Sejara Eubanks? Oh, yeah. Okay.

Catalosa. Yes. Wow. Okay. Sarah McMahon, who she's beat, I guess you would probably put her above Sarah McMahon. It was a long time ago, obviously.

Macy Chiasan, number nine. Yes. Ketland Viata. Yes. Dang. And then Raquel Payington, you have seven, I guess you would stop there. I would put her above Raquel Pennington right now.

Even though Raquel beat her, I would put her above Raquel right now. I'm looking at the entire body of work. Okay, sure. Yana Kunitskaya. Yes. Wow, Julianna Pena. I would probably stop it there. Okay.

So you would have her, so Julianna Pena is fifth in our. And let me just, let me just make it clear. I'm looking at this from a UFC lens, okay? Okay. This is where they would put her. They would put her. You think Tuesday comes around She's in the top five, six range

Oh God, yeah I think she ends up I think she ends up there My rankings I mean I think she beats I think she's a good chance of beating Pretty much every name That we just threw out

Okay But I see I don't base it on necessarily Who they would beat I need to like That five years off It just You know I just can't put her back Near that spot yet

Though she looks great on Saturday Yeah I just I mean There's so many ways to look at it because the Misha Tateau fought Raquel Pennington was not the Misha Tate who fought Holly Holm or fought Jessica I or any of those other fighters. This is a fighter who had a foot and a half out the door before she made the walk to the octagon and MSG.

So if Misha Tate and Raquel Pennington fight again, I think Mishitae wins that fight nine out of ten times. But I just, I don't know. I like Raquel Pennington. She is a gritty gamer. I just, I don't know. I feel like she's one of the more overreacted. fighters on the roster.

I just do. I can't wait until we see the global rankings in August because I'll tell us, a little inside baseball guys. I think our rankings chat we have and our company chat is pretty cordial, but it got a little chippy. It got a little chippy. And I think I'd love, I don't know. I want to see where Tate's going to land.

So it'll be interesting. Yeah, she'll, I bet she ends up in the top 10. I think that's fair. I think she will too, despite my protestations. Hack the holidays with the PC Holiday Insiders Report. Try this PC porquetta, crackling, craveworthy. You gonna eat that? Who are you?

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Please feast responsibly. To succeed in the future of work, forward thinkers use AI to deliver measurable results. Workday is the AI platform for HR and finance that frees you from the mundane so you can focus on more meaningful work. Workday, moving business forever forward. How about it? And ladies and gentlemen listening to this program right now, there was so much and hype and excitement around this guy, finally signing to the UFC. He had the tough debut fight against Guaram Kutatalatsi, lost a controversial decision in a fight that a lot of people thought Gamerat won, he thought Batush Gamrach won the fight.

But he has bounced back in a big way, back-to-back finishes. And this is a guy who, you know, he got finishes on the regional scene, or not the region, but like KSW and things like that. But he got a lot of like dominant decision wins along the way as well. But man, he's just making quick work of these cats. He did something that hadn't been done in several years. years on Saturday, submits Jeremy Stevens, and he did it without breaking a sweat, A.K., in just over a minute's time, there are just so many fun options for him right now. This was one of the tougher ones because there's so many fun options, but now we get to make it kind of makes sense here.

What makes the most sense in your eyes for Gamrod? Well, let me first say, KSW is so legit, and really, we should probably do a better job of putting guys from that promotion in our top 20 rankings. So, like, again, a Gamrock came over from there, Drix Duplice, um, Phil de Frees is over there doing damage. I know he almost made a lot of, I think he almost made our top 15, uh, heavyweight rankings. He was on my top 15, right? I know he got a few votes. Yeah.

He just missed making my name. Um, Phil de Freeze, uh, Robocop is over there. There's just, again, guys, if you have the time, watch KSW because those guys are legit. I mean, they come over and have success. It's not surprising at all. Um, not to mention all the other Polish fighters who, who didn't necessarily become stars in KSW, but obviously, Giam Blahovic, Jerry Prohachka. Poland's doing all right,

Namae, let's put it that way. So, Gamrod, I think we've decided he does deserve a top 15 guy. So I'm staying right at the edge of that 10 to 15 range. My number two choice would have been Brad Riddell, but I went with Gregorikalespi. I loved the Gregor Gillespie matchup. Very, very tough. Gamrott is so well-rounded,

and as he showed, he showed his spectacular grappling on Saturday against the guy who he knew he would have the advantage against. I think there could be some wicked scrambles with Gillespie. I think Gamera has good stand-up, too, so I would favor him in this match-up. And I think Gillespie, again, deserves a high-quality name opponent as well. So give me Gillespie Gameron. This is actually, it was fun to go down the rabbit hole, but it was actually tough because, like you said, he should get a top 15 guy. But with the way the division looks right now, it is not going to be easy to get him there.

And you mentioned Gillespie. He was probably the first name that popped into my mind. But you also see Brad Riddell up there, and I know the UFC has tried to make that fight before, and I have a feeling they're going to try to make that fight again because it just makes too much sense. You can match Gamrod up with another up-and-coming guy with just a few. I don't know what to do here. So I don't typically make these kinds of matchups, but the road to the top five in this division is just so long that it doesn't really matter. I want to see Gamrod v. Armand Sarukian, or Sarukyan.

Sorry, John Anik. Armand is such a good fighter. But the one thing that's like, I know for a fact the UFC in some of the brass, they see so much potential in Sarukian, but they want him to like dig deep and find that next level. Like dominant decision win is not what they're looking for. They want to see him go up there and have an exciting scrap, try to get a finish, and I, yeah, I don't like making this fight,

but I just feel like with this division right now, I think if he's got to get a top 15 guy, Surukiat is ranked number 15 in the UFC rankings. So to me, I feel like this is the only fight that makes sense to book inside the top 15 with the current landscape, because I really think the UFC is going to go and try to rebook the Gillespie-Ridale fight. But if they don't rebook that fight, for some reason, logistically, they can't make it happen.

You want to throw Gamrod in with one and Sarukyan in with the other? Fine with me. I love Sarukyan. Amazing young talent. I think Gamrod, I would pick him. I would pick Gamrod to beat him. Pretty comfortably, too. I'm very high on the Gamrodite chain.

I mean, this is as recency bias as it gets. We just saw a 65 second submission. So obviously, I'm thinking, oh, Gamrodd should beat four. friggin, should fight for again Charles Olivera. But, but no, I still think, as you kind of said, like the UFC wants to see a little more from Surukian. I do too. If we're talking just UFC experience, I mean, it makes sense.

Seriukians like four fights in, I think. And Gamarad, that would be his, so that would be his, Gamrod's third fight. So three fights versus five fights. So, I mean, from that standpoint, it makes sense. But I would want to keep them away from each other for now. But I did see a lot of listeners digging the Sarukian matchup. Yeah. I think it would be, yeah, Gamarott's fourth fight.

This would be his fourth. Four or four against five. Oh, that's right. Yeah, he's two and one now. Two and one. So, yeah, a lot of fun options for both of those guys. But good win for Sirukian, and he moves on to bigger and better. Hadda bounces back and gets a submission win.

But in the third round, AK, that is huge for him, especially considering what happened in his prior fight against Anthony Hernandez. So far, my pick for the submission of the year in 2021. Nice bounce back win against a game. Dustin Stoltzvitz. say, K, where does he go from here? Why didn't he just choke him out in the first round, Mike? I understand. Why didn't his court...

You know, I call that bad coaching. His coaching should have said, hey, hey, first round submission. And then he would be like, oh, okay, oh, finish him in the first round. Okay. No, no. If you ever want to see, and I assume everyone remembers, I hope that Vietta, Anthony Hernandez's fight is burned to people's brains. If you ever want to see a fighter so

clearly learning from a bad loss and maybe even over-compensating for a bad loss, it was Adolfo Vieira on Saturday against Dustin Stolstice because one, he wanted to show up his stand-up, very nice-looking jab going, and he's a strong guy, so if he gets some striking going,

I mean, I think the power is there. He's a huge, huge, strong guy. So he wanted to show up the striking. Two, definitely paste himself. He probably could have gone all out for takedowns more in the first two rounds, but again, we saw what happened to Anthony Hernandez. He got tired, so until he works out,

those cardio issues, he was probably very smart to wait until the third round for that big burst. So it was just really an amazing two-fight story. Those need to be always be watching together. So I thought about Ian Hinesh. I thought about Eric Anders, and I went a little bit middle of the road here. I like a matchup with Zach Cummings. I don't know where Zach is at, and he's a popular ought-no pick. I haven't really matched them up recently, and I think this is the right time. This is the right time for me to go with Zach. So I like it, experienced guy, good grappler, well-rounded fighter, a very good test for to see how much Vieira has actually improved.

Yeah, this is a little tougher for me because Vieira has a lot of potential. I think the UFC sees it in him, but in a way, like you want to see him to kind of rise the ranks as quickly as possible. You want to test him, but you sort of have to be careful in regards to how you book him. building experience is probably the most valuable thing you can do right now. I like Vietta versus Dusko Tadouravich, AK. That makes sense. It's a tough fight for both guys.

Tadouravich needs a win to stay on the roster more than likely. And yeah, I like that one. I mean, you can't really go wrong at this point. This is one of those fights where you could throw him in there with anybody at 85 and it's fine, like in the, you know, anywhere in the top 40. essentially and all of those make sense but yeah throw him in there with tadorovich fun fight to dorovich kind of has his back against the wall and he'll be coming out guns blazing and we'll see how vietta kind of handles that like will he

maintain a certain pace try not to burn himself out or will he fall into that trap and burn himself out so i kind of want to see that test that cummings is is a good option uh i think i want to see him maybe get one more before he starts fighting another vet like that I can tell you the listeners went in a completely different direction than both of us. I didn't see one Zach Cummings and I didn't see one, Mike, what did you say? My mind just went blank. I didn't see one disco to Doravich.

Yeah, I didn't see one disco Tudoravich. So yeah, that's a little teaser guys for what's coming up because you guys had some really cool and sort out there suggestions. Let's head to the featherway division. This was a card of fighters in certain divisions, kind of scaring the crap out of other fighters. these respective divisions and Billy Quarantillo is one of those guys. He uses that relentless insane pace to put it on

and mercifully stop poor Gabriel Benitez in the third round. Good bounceback performance from the newly married Billy Q. He's about to jump into a honeymoon. But then he calls out Charles Rosec, and you know what? I'm not going to argue with him. That fight makes sense. Let's do it. That's my pick.

I'm just going to make this nice and easy and clear. I want. Nay. need to see Billy Quarantillo and Sung Wu Choi. This just came. I give a tip of the cap to the listeners. A lot of them the last time

a Rosa fought, this was before he fought Choi, wanted to see Quarantillo by Julina Rosa. But then Choi smashed Erosa, and I think Choi deserves that spot. This is another fight of the night. Bonus check for you, Quarantillo. Think about this fight if you're out there, sir. I mean, Charles Roster would also be a great fight.

Really, I feel like Quarantillo is a fight of the nightwaying to happen against almost anyone. But I really, I don't know. I am now fixated on this Sung-Wichoy match-up. So give me that one, please. Let us now head to the Wildcard round, A.K., we're already there. We're going to select one fighter we have not matched for yet, and we'll do so right now. So go ahead, my best friend, and Wild Cardos. Mike, you gave me this idea.

I think you mentioned on the post-fight show. And I love it. I love it. I had to match up D.R.D. Daniel Rodriguez. Unfortunately, he did not get to fight Abuis. Ubukar Nomegometov. And I could see that being rebooked easily. That's probably the simple way to go.

But I also think he's now four and one, five and one in the UFC, five and one of the UFC. Some would say six and no. Some people thought he beat Nicholas Dalby. Great fight. Competitive fight. And so I think he's kind of passed that Abu Bakr Namakamato matchup. Again, at least record wise, talent wise. Obviously the Abuca is very good.

But I think Rodriguez deserves a higher opponent. I'm thinking top 20. and I'm thinking a veteran the top 20 who we're both a fan of. We're both a fan of his coaching, Mike, and also a fan of his fighting. One, Mr. The James Krause. Yes, again, like I said, you gave me this idea. I understand the urge for people to maybe want to see him fight a little bit higher, like top 15, top 10. He is 34 years old, Daniel Rodriguez, but he's only been fighting for six years.

So the mileage isn't there in fight years. He's probably okay. He's still pretty young. I don't want to rush him. But he beats Kraus, then definitely top 15, lower top 10 guy. and I've said it. I do think this guy, if you guide his career right and give him the right matchups,

could legitimately challenge for the UFC welterweight title someday. Welcome aboard, AK. That has been my D-Rod pick since Dwight Grant victory. That's great. You know, you know, these wild card selections, A.K., I like to hop in the vehicle and put the seatbelt on and take everybody on a journey, right? We go on these journeys together and they're long and they're drawn out and you kind of have no idea where to go. I'm not doing it.

You're a little scared. Oh. I'm not doing that here because this could not be any easier. And I am veering very far away from the norm here. I'm picking a fighter that not only lost on Saturday, that not only was finished on Saturday, but he was finished in just over a minute. And there's no explanation needed here. The one fight in the aftermath that makes more sense than any other fight, coming out of this card is Jeremy Stevens versus Dracar close.

Just make this fight. Nothing else makes sense for either guy. For Stevens, if you're the UFC, you approach Jeremy Stevens. You're like, hey, you want to stay on this roster? You fight your car close. And if you don't, you're gone. Goodbye. We don't need you anymore.

There's only so much more you can milk out of Jeremy Stevens that anyone's even going to care about at this point. And this is it. This is the only fight. For Dracar, he gets a shot at revenge. Let's be honest, I liked your car close. Very nice man. I've interviewed him many times. He's a very fine fighter.

Casey kind of made a harsh little point on the post-fight show that, let's be honest, the majority of the UFC fan base, they don't really know who your car close is. They know him now as the guy who got shoved at the face-off before fighting Jeremy Stevens, knocked him out of the fight, and only got his show money in his promotional compliance money. That's all they know him for, okay? So let's just, let's get, let's put him in a position where people get the chance to know him. Let's book this grudge match. There are very few grudge matches left in the sport.

This is one of them. Plus, close tweet out some not so kind things after Jeremy Stevens got submitted. So just book the friggin fight and let's move on. Hilarious. Yeah, people please go to Draghart Close's Twitter account and just check his activity before, during, and after the Jeremy Stevens fight. he was having a good time. He sure was, and that's why you've got to make this fight. Just do it.

Fine. Fine. Yeah, do it. I mean, look, Close said he wanted to fight like end of summer, early fall. Stevens only fought for a minute, wants to bounce back quick. Do it. Just get it done. If Stephen knows what's good for him, he'll be all in on that matchup.

He doesn't, unfortunately. So that's why I don't think it's going to happen. Yeah, then he probably shouldn't be on the roster anymore. They can't make this fight. I'm sorry. You've lost five in a row. That's real. That's real. Yeah. And I like Jeremy, exciting guy. He's a vet. He's been there for a long time. But at some point, you just got to cut bait. And that's it.

And I think we're at that point. And if he beats Strykar close, he stays in the roster, probably gets a new deal. And there you go. We do this dance all over again. We do this dance all over again. Do we have a check the tapes or a mic check or any of our bonus features? One quick check the tapes. though there is some sort of Mike checky comments later, but no, officially for the check the tape section. This is more of, I think, a sigh of relief for all of us, for you, Mike, for me, for the listeners,

because we have been calling for this matchup for a long time as a collective. Thank goodness, Lauren Murphy is finally getting her title shot against Valentina Shibchenko. I think this has been discussed on onto the next one since like late last year, since like 2020. There's just so many times where we said, yeah, you can put Murphy in there with her right now. So that is happening. UFC 266 September 25th. So everyone, that is good news, good news. Hopefully both fighters stay healthy.

Nothing happens as matchup goes as scheduled. And we see a good fight. I think I think Lauren Murphy has earned it. And I think it'd be another nice name for Shichenko to add to her ongoing, amazing resume should she win. So love the matchup. And guys, everyone out there who suggested it, well done. there you go that's the

only tape that's the tape check that's it believe it you've got some other comments directed at you mike but that is the only official tape check right now you've got some other kind of mic checks ish I'll say I'll say I gotta save it

I gotta save it I gotta save it one of these uh on uh what for a fight picks and they just threw in the shots yeah they're in the fight picks and none of those shots comments comments directed to you directed to me

comments Mike just comments all right well you might Maybe I didn't get enough sleep, so be prepared to what, for what happens. All right, I guess we're going to the peeps now. Yes, before you go, Mike, of course, the standard disclaimer. Guys, we prefer to, I mean, at least I do prefer to just talk about winners. I know you guys have suggested for everyone, but unless they're in the main event of title fight,

probably just want to talk about winners. Emphasis on unique matchups. So if it doesn't get read, it's probably because like 50 million people suggested it. The fighter could already be booked. Guys, please pay attention. Go to Topology. Check to see if they have an upcoming fight already. You may have made some other mistake, wrong weight class, someone they fought recently already, you forgot, someone's injured, etc.

And of course, the golden rule, or the Brown rule, maybe we should call it, that your pick might just, your pick might just be do-do. And we don't want to read it. So, Mike, go ahead. God, I can't play. All right. Let's get right into this thing. Brandon Nunez, long time contributor to the program. Lamos versus Gadalia.

D. Rod versus Muslim Salikoff. Billy Q. versus Charles Rosa. Gamrod versus Moikano. Moises versus Dober. Islam versus Benile There you go Evan Rodriguez

Gamrod versus Isma Gulov Winter fights ranked next Vietta versus Jordan Wright It's time Rodolfo gets a true striker versus grappler matchup This fight is great in my opinion That's a new one I didn't see that one

I had not seen that This is a good one from Evan Rodriguez Billy Q versus Lando Vanada Yes I'm sure that's a popular I'm so for it That's so good Another Boise versus Dober pick

Rodriguez versus Jeremiah Wells or Cort McGee. Both are just fun fights. What can I say? I feel like D. Rod is just above both of those guys right now. I would think so, yeah. We have a newbie. John Ray. John underscore A underscore Ray 92. What's going on?

John says, I've been a long time listener. Have always had matchups. I thought of that would happen and never said it. So he's going to do it right now. Nassimento versus Chase Sherman. Yes, that makes perfect sense at this point. Eventually, yeah. He has to fight.

Shea Sherman, of course, has to fight Parker Porter first. Congratulations to Malcolm Gordon getting his first UFC win, and I believe this is the first time his name has ever been mentioned on onto the next one, versus Zalkes Zuma Gulov. Okay. Morozov versus Ray Rodriguez, who is not on the roster anymore, if memory serves me correctly. You know, maybe they bring him back. Who knows?

Amanda Lamos versus Nina Nunes. D. Rod versus Max Griffin. Fun fight. Billy Q. versus Herbert Burns. which I believe was the initial fight to begin with, but Burns is going to be out for a while since he had some,

a torn ACL in surgery. Vienna versus the loser of Puna Soriano versus Brennan. Gamrod versus Surukian. That a boy, John. He like, what? We got Tate Holm, Moises versus Dober again, Mockachev versus RDA.

How about this, AKA? I'm totally against this because of what I just said in the wildcard round, but Jeremy Stevens versus Donald Serroney. I don't see the UFC making that one. Again, it's two guys they love, which could also be a point towards making it because it's like, oh, you know, two guys, two veterans,

give them a main card, co-made event spot or something, you know, a fan favorite spot. Yeah, I'm not in favor of it. Both guys are also in a race to make, you know, to reach fight number 40, I think. And I don't know. I think you should keep on separate tracks right now. But it's not, I don't.

I don't like it, Mike, but it's not, it's not. Yeah. I have no, I have no problem with it. I just, it's not for me. It's just not for me. Our man, Francesco, our big friend from Italy. Let's see if there's anything different here. Vienna versus Andrew Sanchez, Billy Q versus Daniel Paneda.

Amanda Lamos versus Loma, Lomboon-Me, are the newbies from him. I think Lemos is above Lomah. Loma is so far, yeah, and I think Loma is an incredible time. but she's so far behind in the ranking soon. Yeah. Ronan Murphy. Billy Q should fight Lorone Murphy versus Charles Jordan Luzer because it's a good step up for him after a great finish. Vietta should fight the winner of Mahmoud Murdaf versus Gerald Mearshard.

I think Mirdoff is pretty up there right now. He's one of the more popular picks in this show. I was actually okay with that. I actually okay with that. I think that would be a fun matchup either guy. I'm actually okay with that. Okay. another Gamrod v. Moikano.

Those, yeah, co-main and the main seems to be pretty popular. Billy Q is just a popular fighter selection right now. Poppy underscore Bryant. Billy Q. versus Ricardo Hamos. Yeah. Vietta versus Mirchart. Whatever happens.

I believe that's what he's going with. Oh, okay. That makes sense. Yeah. I'm fine with that, too. So thank you, Poppy. Where are we at? and carroll. He prefers Islam

Makashv versus Benil Daryush in the main event for a fight night in October. I just don't know if that fight happens just because you know, hashtag Ali Abdel Aziz. Yeah, Dominance M.A. Come on, guys. You got to look look up that dominance M.A. roster. It's a lot of top 10 lightweights on there, unfortunately.

Sean, our friend Conwizzle 91. He's down with Islam versus Darius RDA. Tate versus Sarah McMahon or Caitlin Vietta. I mean, with the long layoff, I mean, either is fine. I think Tate's going to get a bigger fight than either of those.

Gamron Moikano, Vietta versus Roman Delizze. I thought about that one as well. Billy Q. versus Herbert Burns, rebooked that. D. Rod versus Santiago, Ponzanibio. Yeah, I think that's the highest ranked. I saw someone throw out there. That's probably the highest ranked opponent he could get. Let's go back to these.

Only a few more left. So that's good. Christian League. Good God. Lamos is a lot. a savage. They have to give her a top 10 matchup. Lamas versus Gadelius. Gidelia is the fight to make. Someone who

could challenge her with physical strength in a solid ground game. If Lamos could beat Gadalia, then we're looking at the top three contender. Our buddy, Jack Porter, he claims that we missed him last week and I don't know if he did or not.

Maybe we did. Jack, we either missed you, or you missed us mentioning you, or your picks were doo-do. Sorry, I, that, you look, You got to go back and listen to the episode. We're going to have to figure that out yourself. Yeah, I thought we did go with that. But if we did, I apologize, Jack.

Quintilla versus Venata. Lamos versus Jan Jonan. I just think she's ready for that kind of challenge, but I can see you're having a hard time finding someone to fight her. I am all in on Lamos versus Janjana. Yeah, I know you are. And you said that post-fight show. I'm amazed.

I actually didn't see one, not one person who sent me a DM, suggested Lamos versus Jan. Yeah, I just think it's too easy. Another tape versus Home, Gamrodov versus Surukian. I know he won't take it. but Michael Chandler versus Islam Makachev seems like a great fight.

Sure. Our man, Tristan Gordette, back in our lives after the Vanish Mode thing. He apologized for that last week, so we try to get his picks in. He is with you, A.K., Billy Q. versus Sungwu Choi.

Such a fun fight stylistically. This makes all the sense in the world. Lightweight, he likes Gamrot versus Atman Azitar. Good scrap right there. Middleweight, another Vietta versus DeLides. And he says, didn't mention more. Fight suggested because most of them already mentioned on the post-fight show.

Love the show. Keep up the great work. Thank you, sir. Oh, John George is the one that we might have missed last week. And I don't believe you. I don't believe you. Or maybe just like all the picks were already used or something. But he still said, still one of my favorite podcasts, whether I comment in or not.

But we try to get you in there, John. Islam versus Mike Chandler Slick Kala and I'd rather see RDA versus Justin there you go AK RDAA versus Gachy he's on that train Chandler versus Islam or Gillespie Great Scrap Moises versus Aiaquinta

Where are you at Al We gotta get this amount of fight Again I think he's a name we just need to stop mentioning on this show Until he gets booked because He's a you know Again the man has another job We all know he works in in real estate So

That's right. You may have heard it once or twice. Maybe he's busy selling too many houses. He's got a life outside the UFC. And then John George had a fight selection for one Jeremy Stevens. Maybe Stevens versus Peter Quilly in Bellator. It would be fun. He is a former training partner of Connor McGregor's.

We're doing this already. He's still on the roster. He's still technically on the roster. And then our man will, Michael Machachov v. Dariusier Chandler. Malcolm Gordon versus Mennel Cape. Of course, Menel Cape has a fight coming up. If memory serves it correctly, who is he fighting?

Let me do a quick... How did I forget this? Hold on. A.K. is you going to do that? Real quick. Get to hit the Google machine. O'Day Osborne, dropping down... That's right.

Finally dropping down to flyway to fight. U.C. 265, August 7. And Morozov versus Chris Moutinho. I saw that too. Oh, wait, did I see that for? I saw Mutine. I think it was for, oh no.

I saw, okay, I'll get to the slate. I saw another good suggestion for, for Moutino. All right. Well, maybe we'll hear that pretty soon because it's now your turn, my friend. All right, all right. First of Mike, you mentioned, I want to touch on people necessarily, quote, unquote, getting missed. Like maybe we didn't. Again, these sections, these listeners suggestions tend to go very long.

I think it's essentially the show is half us, Mike, and half or more the listeners. great because we love you guys pitching in but uh i'm sure even you guys listen to the show might get tired of you know kind of hearing the same picks over and over again so sometimes we do skip over um so if you don't get mentioned uh you know sorry about your luck but again uh i always keep track of all your picks guys definitely if i don't mention you but you had a sweet like check you know fight that gets um that gets booked call me out hit me up you know guys hit me up on the dms hit mic up and we'll definitely check the tapes but uh yeah all the contributions are welcome, but for the sake of time, we just don't always get a chance to read everyone.

So, having that said, this is one of the reasons why I like to gather all the most popular picks. By far, the one that was mentioned by pretty much almost everyone who sent in a DM, Islam Makachov versus RDA. That is right now, the top seems very obvious. Everyone remembers it was almost booked. That's the one I saw, at least on my end. Tate versus the Valletta McMahon winner or loser.

So that's happening on August 28th. So one of those two, I agree, it makes sense. First McMahon fight was a lifetime ago, six years ago now, I think. And it was a very competitive fight, so no problem with that. For Gamrod, it was split between Moises and Surukyan. I think it was about an even split as far as which people wanted to see more. I definitely prefer out of those two, even though I kind of pooh-pooted earlier, out of those two, I do prefer the Sarukian matchup.

But again, I had my own pick for him as well. Veera, yeah, we heard Delizze, Muniz, Gregory Rodriguez. was another name that come up. A great grappler who has also kind of fallen in love with his stand-up a little bit. Rodriguez, a bunch of picks for Rodriguez, Michelle Pereira, Nico Price. The biggest one, Miguel Baezza. A lot of Miguel Baezza calls. I like both fighters so much.

I don't want them to fight each other yet, but I understand the call for it. And for Amanda Lemos, one of the hottest names right now at 1-15, excuse me, Michelle Waterson. That was the big one. That's the one people wanted to see. and a lot of love for Malcolm Gordon. People said Iori Ki-Lang, J.P. Base, Jeff Molina. And a couple of people for the comeback kid on Saturday, Rodrigo Nascimento,

they said, Higero de Lima. I know they both trained out of American Top Team, which doesn't mean they can't fight. American Top Team is one of those mega camps where it's certainly possible that he matched up. But just something to keep in mind if you guys don't see that matchup, they might be friends, be training partners. I can't be sure, but they do both. train out of American cop team. All right. Now let me get down, let's break it down here and get to some

more specific picks. I always like to see. So we got a new guy, T.J. Ragusa at the goose underscore, I'm on Twitter hit us up last week. Just a little bit too late missed the deadline. So I want to make sure he got in this time. His profile says he's a boat guy and a habitual line stepper. So I love people like that. And now you're an on to the next one certified fight picker. So I just want to read. He had a bunch of picks. I just want to read a couple of them. Islam, he said he liked the call out of RDA. I thought he could have reached higher, gotten a bigger fight by calling out Tony Ferguson.

I hate the idea of throwing Tony in there with another young stud, but maybe he likes the idea of competing against Habib, even vicariously. Could be an interesting buildup. And as I mentioned earlier, TJ, you're going to be happy because RDA Islam did mention Tony Ferguson in the post-fight. So it's absolutely alive. And he also had a good comments for Misha Taityana Kunizkaya.

He says she had a great performance can still compete the highest level and makes sense for her to compete again ASAP against as high-ranked opponent as possible, of course, keep the Nunez rematch alive. He says, assuming she's now ranked 12, somewhere in that range, most of the women ahead of her are booked. The time could line up for an interesting

prove-it fight against Yana Kuhnitskaya. So a great suggestion there. He said also Quarantillo versus Alex Casares. So Casares, another guy. We want to see him booked soon, but yeah, he's anyone that's kind of coming up through featherweight, it feels like maybe you have to, could run through Alex Caseras.

Hayes Bethard first said he was sad to see my streak end on between the links this past week my glorious two-fight win streak he's a friend it might just be assigned

to focus on cementing your reign as the tag team champions of course with Kristen King the King and I tag team champions the only titles I really care about and he also said he's the Monday morning quarterback

this is also coming off of BTL but he says why not Luke Rockhold versus Jack Hermanson? I like that Misha versus Pena she loses to Nunez Vietta versus

Coleroberson and Quarantillo versus Pineda or the Jordan-Laureone Murphy loser on September 4th. I can only mention that one. Marcus McGahey, always coming in, usually with titles for his onto the next one's suggestions.

This card was so nondescript. All he put was the 617 edition of his October. Marcus, I don't blame you. Like I said, it was a great card, a little bit lacking in narratives. He likes Gunrod v. Mugulabs.

Screw it, just throw them in there together two really elite lightweights. Corntilla versus the Elkins Minner winner. I'd just like saying that. And then this is a truly insane deep cut for Marcus. Mike, tell me how you feel like. Nascento versus Giacomo Lemos. Or Giacomo, Giacomo.

Wow. Do you remember who that is? It rings a bell. But I can tell you that if there's one name I didn't expect to hear on the show, it's probably that one. For anyone remembering, I'm going to say Jacamo. Jacamo Leimosch was supposed to make his UFC debut at two, UFC 240, two years ago, two jolies ago, my friends,

against Tanner Bozer. He unfortunately tested positive for a banned substance, but would be eligible, would be eligible, would be eligible, Pete, I believe, as of this month. So Marcus Beguer, you're a cheeky bugger, and I respect that. So he's breaking out the Jacamo Leimos card. It could happen, I guess.

I don't know. Javan Johnson, Mike, this guy's like you. He's always got stories. So I don't want to... I didn't understand this one. He said, I'm calling for a partial check the tapes here. He says, despite all of your, what if he loses, talk, he's talking to me. Islam ate up Tiago.

So he says, Chandler v. Makachev, that is the fight. This is how he becomes champ in 2022. Also, I like the hangman too much for the UFC to feed him to Islam. Also, he wished me a happy birthday. It's not my birthday. So I'm not even sure what kind of tape checking. I guess he's checking the tape that Islam might lose to Moises. I'm not even sure.

Javan Johnson, explain yourself later. And he says, I like this. So alternatively, alternatively put a Gaithy-Channler fight on the Olivera-Pourier card, if that a fight happens. And then let Islam be the backup for both those fights. And then, assuming he isn't needed, give him one of those losers. And so depending on everything plays out, he says the matchup, we'll seem obvious. So it took us on a little jersey there, Javon. A little journey there, Javon.

and I was somewhat confused. Nate Andrews, Gamrod v. Fajeda. He once, he also suggested Vieta versus Wynn, but I should let him know that the Wynn-Hausfight, I believe, has been rescheduled. It has been. Yep. Yeah, okay.

So, you know, that can still happen, but it's not going to happen soon. Quintillo versus Shane Young. He says, P.S., Mike was so right about Amanda Lemos. He deserves a raise in Ombudsman. Otno points. So Mike, we'll talk to management and getting you some more Otno points for this episode as compensation for your fine work.

Thank you. And, yeah, and his PSS was asking you about well, he says, a note on Darren Wind. Do you guys ever remember that dude who Mike checked Mike about how the dude wanted Darren Wynn to fight Derek Brunson? I don't remember this, Mike. I don't know.

I remember this. Okay, he says, sometimes I remember that and I get confused why someone would say such a blasphemous thing. So I guess Nate's got your back, though. has called you out before so Nate give it and Nate take it away we're friends now you yeah this is how this show works uh Braden O'Neill uh beaida versus Jacob malcun oh there's some deep cuts uh Rodriguez did you did you mention this one Rodriguez versus Shavkat Rachmanov did I mention that one um I think we want to keep them away

I think I think I threw Rachman off like right into the top 15 sure okay And then Morazov versus Hunter Azure. Love that matchup. And yes, I'm not smother for sure, but I just wanted to mention, we mentioned a couple of times already. I have to read Chase Sherman's tweet. He just said, he tweeted, said, will someone tell Rodrigo, I will happily oblige after I handled business on August 21st. He fights Parker Porter. He's been asking for me after every fight.

Give the kid the fight tags at McMaynard. It's starting to get weird. Eyes emoji. And he had some other follow-up comments to that. But, yeah, some very funny response. This happened a couple times. Semi-Casual MMA asked Gamrott versus Sodeek Yusuf. I don't know if they're suggesting Gamut drop back down to 145.

I don't know if he wants to do that. So I don't know if I move back to featherways in the cards. Maybe people got confused too because he fought Jeremy Stevens, who was recently fighting at featherweight. Yeah, maybe. He's fought a featherweight. Yeah, for sure. He won a title at Featherweight. He looks so good at 155.

There's no need to do that. Yeah, but I understand that sort of the inclination there. Stephen Breit at Vieira versus Damien Maya going back up to 185 Huh Don't we just want to see that at a grappling show though Do we need to see that in the octagon? We'll see that in the next three years

Like somewhere else Yeah, just grappling Why why add the stand-up or whatever I did anything else to elbows At Machachachov Darius Again, we've kind of explained to people Why this wouldn't happen again Same management

He had some very nice things to say about Darius Post-fight So, but he did, he did, but he did not say, by the way, he was asked about Darius. He did not say the flight could never happen. He just says, I don't expect it. He even said Darius might be too big of a step up in competition. So very respectful of Dariush. I don't think that's happening anytime soon.

J.C. Rodriguez, Tate versus Avela, Quantillo versus Choi. Thank you. And Morozov versus Aiman Zahabi. Chris Baker, he also likes Vietta versus Julian Marquez. For Corner Sports, and Y, likes Tate versus Durandami or Lad. of course, again, Ladd is fighting this weekend against Macy Chasin. And again, another, I think, suggestions to drop down to 145 to fight Casares. Wow.

I don't mind the fight. I just don't think he's going back to 145. I don't think he needs to. Denny Capp's coming in with a lot of sort of alternative suggestions. He kind of messed me before the card, actually, which is probably a smart thing to do. And it's just like, if this happens, if this happens. So Machachab versus Gillespie, I agree. And Gamrot versus...

Oh, I didn't say Maccachev versus Glemy. Did I? Either way, I like that matchup. And then he kind of flipped, oh, sorry, he flipped around the way I wanted. He said Macachamette v. Gillespie, Gamrot versus Ardia. Barry O'Reilly, oh, these is another deep cuts one. Nassimento versus the Man Mountain, charges Daniel, Morzaa versus Tony Gravely. Rodriguez versus Michelle Perrida. Did you see a lot of those, D-Rod versus Michelle DeMolidore?

I saw a couple more on the post-fight show than anything, but hell yeah, let's go. Yeah, they're talking to me into it now. Again, I think Rodriguez is well ahead of him in the rankings, but I mean, how can you say no to that fight? Vieira versus Dalje Lund Jambula. He just called it a Battle of the Jacked guys. And then Tate v. Aldana. I do think the Tate v. Adana matchup really could happen. Liam Perry likes Vieta versus Mirchard Muradav winner, which we discussed before, and I like.

And Rodriguez, D. Rod, versus the Kevin Lee, Sean Brady loser. That's been rescheduled for August 28th. Okay. I think if Sean Brady, yes, actually that makes sense. If Sean Brady loses, I do think, yeah, he was by Daniel Rodriguez. I think that actually works really well.

Kevin Lee, I don't know. Kevin Lee, if he loses, might have to try some else. Thomas Collins, another person who has checked the tapes before. Thomas Collins says, I want to read a couple of these. They're really well-written. Corntillo versus Omar Morales, two excellent prospects, rebounded with wins this year following losses late last year.

Great matchup and a win for either of them could see them facing someone on the fringes of the tough Denex plus they both have wins over Gabriel Benitez so good thinking there and yeah, Gambrot versus Zaytar I hadn't thought of this Mike until you mentioned it and until Thomas Collins mentioned it here he says let's see how his style holds up against his Zaiter's power

whether he has learned any lessons from that controversial loss to Guram and he also had some other good ones Morozov versus Tony Kelly I like yeah almost done with the Twitter here guys Brett Mobbly coming in with Brett Makhchev versus Chandler

Chandler's been shown to you willing to do these favors. Islam needs a big win to put him over. He's a company man. He did the J.O.B. for him, Mike. I like the idea there. Quarantillo versus Swanson. He says, I like this.

Ian Gary, big signing from Cage Warriors this week. He announced it with a big video and everything. This kid understands the business undefeated so far, 7 and 0. So he likes Jared Gooden as a first matchup. I love that. Again, we're talking about doing the J.O.B. I think Gooden, a solid opponent, but someone that Ian Gary could beat. And then he said, do you have, is there anyone else you think that Ian Gary

could match up with? Any names at Welterweight come to mind, Mike? Um, I mean, throw them in there with anybody, honestly. Yeah. I had time to prepare for the question, obviously. So I said, maybe Matthew Semmel'sberger, some of the Jedi kind of came to mind. And yeah, so what about the other big cage warriors signing Patty Pimble? Who should he fight with? He has a fight booked, I believe. I believe he is going to fight. fight Luigi Benjamini on September. And the last of the Twitters is coming in, coming in just under the gun here, Dustin Gedco.

Dan Rodriguez versus Shafcott. He says, I love this fight at Welterweight. Surely someone like Balal Muhammad wouldn't fight that far back. So I guess he's just saying no Balal, D-Rod. And Shopkaat and D-Rod are surging contenders. A win would be a boost for both of them. I agree. Silva, he had a quick, he wants Hadolfo Vietta to fight Bruno Silva.

middleweight Bruno Silva, not flyweight Bruno Silva. Yes, there are now two Bruno Silvas in the UFC. Middleweight Bruno Silva is a striker. So he says, oh, you're a striker now in regards to Veda. He says Bruno Silva puts Hadolfo on ice. Gish. Gamrott versus the Fazeve Bobby Green winner, August 7th, and then Tate versus Avila or Penny Kianzad. He says, I know Holly Holmes is a popular option, but no need to waste that fight this early.

It's not often big fights are available at 135, let alone with Nunez. So he refers to the Tate versus Home rematch. It's kept in the back pocket until they're either both legit contenders or until they're clearly not. So I like that thinking. I like that thinking, Dustin Gedco. Just a handful of others here, guys, from email and Instagram. Bear with me. Robert Miller, thank you for chiming in for a second time.

He likes Quintillo versus Choi. He liked Rosa call out, Mike, but he says Choi and Billy Q, automatic banger. And he would tune in to a card just to see them fun. So you see if you're listening that as one guaranteed viewer. And then Rodriguez versus Pereira is another vote for that. He says Rodriguez, so calm when he fights. He wants to see what Pereira will do against another calm guy, now that we have a kinder gentler, Michelle.

So he just thinks that it would make Rodriguez be a completely different fighter. So, yeah, that'd be fun. Zach Leff also coming in. Thank you, Zach Leff coming on the emails. I like Machiajep versus Gillespie, yes. And Quarantillo versus Erosa. So he's not, so he still thinks that match up. is a compelling one.

And I don't think many people would disagree. And Austin Deschamp says a couple of, coming in with what he calls, a couple of do-do free suggestions. Always appreciate Austin. Lamos versus Nina Nunez. Billy Quintillo versus Ryan Hall. Wow. How do you feel about that?

I mean, go ahead, make you a little speech about how he didn't file. No, I don't even, no, I'm not going to, no, we're just going to move on. Daniel Mardriguez versus Max Griffin Moving on, moving on. Instagram Instagram By the way, he was not the first person who I saw suggest that

And I don't want to talk about it anymore Oh, here we go, Mike, this is for you. Trip Harper, Trip Harper, first time or first time long time. He says, tell Mike, I'm a fellow Western mask guy. Shout out, chickapy. Nice. And I've messaged him, but I've tried And I never got read.

So Mike, you might have to check your requests. You're probably, he's probably in your requests unread. So he's my, he's my listener now. And no, he says, my picks aren't do-do. So he knows that's my, that's not, you're not, that's not it, Mike. He likes Machchev versus RDA, Tate versus Kunitskaya, Gamrod versus Selecki, or again, Fazeve if he beats Byre Green. And he, this was a weird one.

He says Quarantillo versus Sarukyan. So, Tripp, I loved your message so much. I don't know, but I don't know if you mixed up what division Syrucian fights in or you're suggesting Quarantilla go up to 125 or a Sarukian go down Sarukian go down to 145 either way. Tripp, I loved your message. So if you made a mistake, whatever, happens to all of us. I love you.

I love just shouting on Mike. And then he says, thanks Alex. Tell Mike, thanks for nothing. Sell out. I'm joking. You guys the best. I listen every week. What's his name, Tripp?

This is Tripp Harper. I don't understand. Wait, Mike, where do you live now again? I live in Lennox. Is that a hoity-to-to-dy part of, I don't know in the Massachusetts dynamics. I actually live, technically I live in Lennox Dale, which is like a village town, very small, in between Lennox and Lee. Why is he calling you a sellout? I don't know. I have no idea.

But anyways, so I do want to, let me just say one thing here. Do it. Since our friend is in Chickapy, Massachusetts, I would like to invite him, which I'm not going to pay for. He could pay for it himself. August 7th, which is also the day of UFC 265, I'm going to be pulling some double duty that day. So I'll be doing some work for M.A fighting, obviously, doing the main car and the post-fight show and all that stuff, whatever I can do. but I will also be ring announcing that night for an MMA promotion, a local promotion called Ammo Fight League. They are back doing their first event in nearly two years.

And it's taking place, my friend, at the legendary Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts. So you should come out and check out that show. Check out some regional MMA, some decent names on there. And I will say that all of those shows, you will run in. to some very noticeable people. Glover Tashira typically has fighters on that card, so he's usually there. He will be getting ready to fight for the light heavyweight title.

Nick Newell, who's got a movie coming out. I think when I spoke with him at the Bellator Media Day, before his last fight, I think he said he had like seven or eight fighters already scheduled for that card, so he'll be there. Matt Bissette is typically there, former UFC fighter. He's getting ready to fight for CES.

So you typically run into, Joey Gomez, who fought in the UFC, was supposed to be on this card, but he is not on the card. So it should be fun. So come out and see us and, yeah, come say it to my face, bro. Come say it to my face.

Chip Harper, please. Trip Harper, if you are listening, please. I'm going to message him in the DMs to make sure he listens. Chip Harper, please take him up on this offer and take pictures, put it up on the gram, tweet it out. I want to see this meeting in the minds

these good old Massachusetts boys. So that's I love how that turned out. Michael Connoffrey, Michael Connoffrey, Mr. McIntyfrey, rest me with a lot of stuff, and I feel like he, his, his, I don't know if he was in his cups by the end of it, but Gordon versus Zuma Gulov, another guy, so another one who likes that one.

Morza versus Davy Grant, I love. I love it. I think that's right. I think that's the right way to go. 100%. Bring back some grappling from David Grant. I love, I love K-1, Davy Grant, but I kind of misses,

grappling a little bit. It's good grappling. And I'm sorry, I said before. No one mentioned Lemos versus Jan. Incorrect. Michael Connofrey coming in with Lamos versusian. And he likes Viera versus Marquez. This is where it starts getting a little loopy. He says, because he says, I want to see, I think, fluffy, jiggly panda

Marquez would be a good fight for yoked Brazilian Chad Hidalpho Vietta. So, okay, interesting way of selling it. He says he thinks Rolfo Vietta should go by Dolfo Vietta from now on. Yes. I dig it. He's playing around with the names. He did the same thing with.

He says, Misha versus Yana, to determine the better Russian name fighter. Misha loses, she has to change her name, Michelle. Anna loses, she changes her name to Jennifer. Okay. Michael, it's your world, man. That's a Jose Young's type of stipulation. Mike, believe me, I have not gotten to the funniest IDM,

listener suggestion listener DM of the week it is coming I'm saving it for last it's so good all right hey but literally

before you before you please before you get to that last one tag me in because we just got a newcomer

that wanted to okay get called here okay I got a few more and I'll tag you in first literally just for

onto the no again my favorite username always Nassavento versus Espino Morizov versus Valleyev

a bangor probably too soon for both guys let's keep them apart and Coronillo versus Epoloeia

oh that'd be tough That'd be tough. I like the thinking. Again, I don't have to want to match up those guys right now. Brandon Haley, Vieta versus Juniang Park, rebook Quintelope versus Burns, Morozov versus Thomas Almeida. People are really high. I think people are listening to me, Mike, and they're high on Morrow. I am very high in Morsal.

He's good, man. He's real good. I think these picks are a little too high up, but I'm not against them. And this is the one I liked for. So someone mentioned Moutino for Malcolm Gordon. Because I know you had spoken to Moutino. He's fought at 125 before. Obviously, he doesn't love it.

I think he loves, I think he enjoys not having to cut the extra 10 pounds. But he didn't say it was impossible. Now that he's in the UFC, maybe a couple of trips to the PI, kind of help him out. Maybe he can make fly weight comfortably. So I like that. If he can do it, I would love to see him fight Malcolm Gordon. Here's a trivia question for you, AK. Who was the last person Chris Moutino fought at 125 pounds?

I assume it's someone in the UFC. Was in the UFC. and this answer may surprise you since in his last appearance. He missed weight in his last two appearances for the UFC. Two-way classes above that. And then in his next fight after the UFC, he fought at 155, and he missed weight again. Manny Bermudez. He fought Manny Bermudez for the Cage Titans amateur flyweight title.

What an awesomely talented guy who just could not get that part of it, right? I know. It's insane. That part of fighting, right? And I understand, look, we said weight cutting sucks. Like, I'm not, I'm saying maybe, maybe, you know, again, it's just, you got to do it. You got to do it. You got to do it if you're going to become a high-level fighter. You just have to.

So, you know, I hope there's still, I hope manny's out there doing okay, but it does suck. That guy who's like, just such an really, really, really good fighter, just hated fighting that scale. Hates fighting that scale. Matt Bradbury, always coming with good picks. I'll read some of these. I love the thoughts he puts into them. Rodriguez versus. I'm sorry guys, I'm going to scroll up here.

He wrote a novel up here. Versus Max Griffin. I lied, it cannot read this whole thing. It's a lot of them, Matt. You are a very, very thoughtful man. And I respect it. Yeah, he just kind of comparing who wherever he goes and Griffin have fought and, yeah, just kind of why it would be a... I mean, look, it would just be a great match.

I think anyone just saying their names, anyone who knows about them, it's a great matchup. Cronillo versus Hamos. Again, I really like that one, too. Stevens versus Alexander Hernandez So this is if again he stayed at Of course we stayed at 1505 Which sounds like the plan for now

And he said this is the battle of loud mouths We'd love to see knocked out And one of them will be So that's a bit of a mean spirited matchup But okay Matt And then Makachev versus Isma Gulov He just says that sorry Islam

I know he deserves a top five to ten fight But I want to see this fight so whatever. Matt, that is the way to think. Forget rankings. Forget, oh, is this first our title contender? Do you want to see two people fight? Is that not the essence of why we watch this sport? So, Matt, thank you for throwing that out there.

And I know a few other people did as well. So I'm totally down. It's not going to happen, but honestly, like, again, we don't need to protect people around here. And JD felt coming in, just suggesting Makachov versus Hooker. So he says, you know, that's one that's been discussed. He's down for it. Mike, who's this newbie? Please let us let us grace them All right shout out to Andre

Got in at the buzzer MMA dot sky planet A lot of these were sort of repeats That we talked about but still wanted to get them on Wouldn't be surprised The RDA Hooker booked early this week The logical choice ranking wise for Islam Islai A but I would really really love

To see Gillespie versus Islam That is my first choice For Misha my choice is Aspen Ladd if she wins I'd rather see the stylistic matchup Than the revisit the home fight at the moment I'm high on Gamer GameraGamrod In the fight to make a Surukion It's a high-skilled matchup right there.

Then Vietta versus Roman Delizade, two huge middleweights with a similar record for Billy Q, the winner of Air Jordane and Lorone Murphy. And then he just said dynamite. There you go. Thank you, Andre. Who's this, Andre? Let me get the handle here. Did he have a last name?

Just Andre. MMA dot skyplanet on Instagram. Oh, Eminet well, welcome, Andre. I also have someone. So this is going to, this man's going to close to the show. He says, just call me Bob. I don't know if he doesn't want me to say his full name. Sir, if you're out there and you do, I'll say it again next week.

I got to read this whole thing. This is a trip. Okay. So it's so well that out. He says, want to shoot over? My long time, first time. So I can get that dopamine hit for someone you listen to talks about you. So I hope it's just begun, Bob.

Islam versus Tony. It's a necessary step up. It's Walmart brand Khabib versus Tony. And you have the promotional interest in putting over an up-and-comer off of a big name. Misha versus Holly Home. I don't care about the business or titles, and I don't need to explain why that's a good fight. Just gimme, gimme.

I'm going to give a two-fur for Gammarot, but I'm relinquishing any check-the-tape's credit because I don't want to start any nonsense. Gamrod versus either is Magula or Surykian. There aren't too many fighters around. Gamron, the rankings coming off wins and aren't scheduled. Plus, those would be fun matchups to say.

Also, want to run this line by you guys to see if it's actually funny. Hold on, Mike. Let me just see if I can read this. What? He wants to run this line by us. to see if it's actually funny. Gamrod is trying to make trench foot sound sexy.

I don't understand it. I'm not done, Mike. So Bob keeps going. Adolfo Villana versus Julian Marquez. I don't have an explanation for this one. It just smells good. He says he hit the message limit. IG was telling him I'm rambling.

Sorry, I'm milking my first time. Give me Billy Q versus Jeremy Stevens. reward that performance with the right to send Jeremy, quote, when they tap me, I don't effing move Stevens to bare-knuckle or do another hair club for men commercial or whatever. P.S., happy birthday. It's not my birthday. But I feel like it is my birthday after reading that message, Bob.

So thank you for whatever that was. Wow. And that's it for me, Mike. Jeez. Where can readers send suggestions to you, Mike? Twitter at Mike Heck underscore J.R. Instagram M underscore HECKJR. I mean, I don't even know how we follow that up.

How is that even possible? Guys, email me at Alex. at espionation.com. Twitter, DM, Alex, Alexander K. Lee. Let me try that again. Tour DM, Alexander K. Lee. Instagram DM, Alexander KK. Lee. You guys are the best.

That's it. I love all these people, Mike. Yes, they are amazing. So that is it. We are putting a bow, at least for this particular program, on UFC Vegas 31. Join us again here next week as we talk about the

fallout of UFC Vegas 32 and this, at least on paper, is a much different card. No offense to UFC Vegas 31, but let's be clear. Paper comparing the two cards. This is the much more interesting card. The main event is an absolute banger.

Corey Sanhagen versus the returning T.J. Dillishaw, the former UFC Bannamway champion. Co-made event, Aspen Lasson, versus Macy Chesson. Macy Barber is back against Miranda Maverick. Really good fight, 125 pounds. Mickey Gall is back.

He will take on Jordan Williams, who makes his UFC debut at 170 pounds, not his UFC debut overall, but his moved down to 170. Kyler Phillips is back against Helium Piva. Darren Elkins versus Derek Minner on that card. The People's Main Event at 135 pounds. Adrian Yonnas versus Randy Costa.

I feel like we should talk about that fight anyways, no matter what happens. Ian Hinesh versus Nastardine. Imov, Julio Arsei, moves down to 135 pounds to fight Andre Eul. Punis Soriano versus Brennan Allen. This card is ridiculous. Chris Dawkins on the prelims against Shamil Abdurahimov. Sajara U. Banks welcomes the 4-0 Elise Reid to the UFC.

Deanna Belbita versus Hannah Goldie, Trevin Jones versus Aaron Phillips, A.K., this is a really good fight night card, is it not? I like it, and I'm glad we get to see the return of poor, poor, misunderstood T.J. Dillashaw. Again, anyone who's seen the promos or for the fight pass documentary featuring T.J. Dillishaw, I'm sure, again, we all sympathize with this horrible two-year suspension that T.J. Dillishah had to go through and cannot wait for him to come back. So, yeah, it's a core. Look, all being flip-ins aside. It's a corker of the main event. It's a fight, I think.

Sandhagen has wanted for some time. Glad to see he's getting it. He might get more than he bargained for. Again, T.J. Dillusha, I think when he, before he cheated and was suspended, was maybe in my top five pound for pound guys, clearly in my mind, the best, the best Bantamweight fighter in the world. But we'll find out. We'll see what he's got left. So many questions. So many questions regarding the past of T.J. Dillishaw that will, that will, we'll

we'll never know the answers to. But one question that will be answered is, does the man still have it? Does he still have what it takes to fight for a title? And if he beats Corey Sanhagen, the answer is yes. And if he lose to Corey Sanaghan, we still don't know if the answer is no, because Corey Sanaghan is that damn good.

So I'm really looking forward to that fight. One of the best fight-night main events we are going to see in 2021. Sure. But that's it. We're out of here. So thank you for listening. We appreciate it very much. Always remember.

That's it. That's it. But always remember, ladies and gentlemen, the real theme of this show is that do not take this stuff too seriously. MMA is supposed to be fun. And we always have fun here on onto the next one, the podcast. See you're next week. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Hi, I'm Sophia Loper Caro, host of the Before the Chorus podcast.

We dive into the life experiences behind the music we love. Artists of all genres are welcome. And I've been joined by some pretty amazing folks, like glass animals. I guess that was the idea was to try something personal and see what happened. And Japanese breakfast. I thought that the most surprising thing I could offer was an album about joy. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, and remember, so much happens before the chorus.